gym rats, i have an exercise question
 

so i can't find a solid answer online, was looking to see if anyone had any background on this. i work out pretty regularly, 4-5 times a week. i was doing cardio on saturday, doing sprints with a sled and weight on it when as soon as i was done i felt really light headed, almost dizzy. its not the first time its happened like this, but was the worst. i've noticed this before when i have tried to max out on bench press too. obviously when i'm straining myself is when it happens. i have a trainer but he isn't really medically trained....

is there anything to do to prevent this? i've read everything from eat more to rest to more sugar before? has this happened with anyone?

blood sugar is too low... eat more carbs before the workout or have a gatorade...

dont light up a cigarrette while doin the sprints :winkwink::winkwink:


j/k :pimp:pimp:pimp

Yup blood sugar is too low. Have a banana right before you work out. The glycemic value is so high it's almost like just eating sugar.

its either blood sugar or how you breath when you are under strain. Try thinking about each breath you take when you are lifting heavy or if your heart rate is high while doing cardio. It happens to me from time to time on a heavy lift.

how long into your workout does this happen?

Id check your blood pressure too, but make sure to drink plenty of water or gatorade as PR_Glen said before/during workouts.

You want to be very careful as you could faint and end up hurting yourself. Would be worthwhile to talk to your doctor about it

I had it happen to me once and crouched down in case I actually passed out. In my case I think it was caused by slight dehydration - too much coffee and sodas, not enough straight h2o.

Dehydration can cause low blood pressure which raises your baseline heart rate, which only goes even higher as you exercise.

Happens to me with my breathing. But i focus on it much more now. When you're straining it is easy to forget to breath.

couldn't it be depleted glycogen stores? here's why i ask- 2 of my weekly workouts are fasted training, i don't eat for 16 hours before those sessions; but that doesn't cause me to have the above issue UNLESS my workout goes past a certain amount of time- after my glycogen stores are burned up.

we should all be checking our blood pressure even if we don't have problems. There are no symptoms if that is high, you just drop dead without warning :( Good news if its high? Meds can save you with almost no side affects.

Scuba Steve, if you are pushing that hard that often you COULD just be hyperventilating and that can cause you to pass out depending on intensity but I would put more money on the low blood sugar we mentioned before.

ss, what sort of eating plan are you on currently?

don't end up like this guy



one of the comments in that vid explains it nicely

The reason this happens is complicated. Long story short, bearing down and holding your breath while straining to the limits of your ability causes your blood pressure to skyrocket and your blood vessels to dilate to compensate. When he dropped it and yelled triumphantly, his blood pressure went back down to normal, but the blood vessels remained dilated. Suddenly a lot less blood is getting to the brain, which decides it's a good time for a nap. Right into the dumbbells.

signs of glycogen depletion: headache, fatigue, dizziness or weakness in the knees.

holy crap, did he just lift that using only his lower back? wow.

i thought it was the blood sugar, so i specifically ate a banana right before i went to work out. i'm also hydrating every 10 mins. it was outside, in about 86 degree weather, but its nothing i'm new to.

the sled sprints came at about 40 mins into the workout. when i do max bench its the first thing i do when i get there. i'd be surprised if its hyperventilating, i have a trainer with me that i would assume would point it out...

could i need just more than blood sugar, like one banana isn't doing it?

my diet is better than average but by no means hardcore. i cook a lot of my food, stay away from red meat except for maybe once a week, lots of chicken/fish, whole wheat if i do eat bread/pasta, try to stay away from processed sugars but i do indulge maybe once a week

i had my blood pressure checked actually 2 weeks ago at regular dr check up, 120/80, heart beat resting at 60. was told that is good for my age, 27. i don't think its that, but is there a way to check it during a workout?

i use my home heart monitor.

another reason that could explain it: over-exertion.

It could be, for sure. Typically though you'd expect to see other symptoms of this, but not necessarily. :2 cents:

increase your carbs during non workout times, off days etc, to load your glycogen stores up to the max, then if it happens again, you will know it's not a blood sugar/carbs issue.

yeah, just some food for thought/discussion eh. several different things could of added up to cause it a couple times. blood sugar is the most likely but that, to me, implies an overall food issue not just going into workouts with low blood sugar. more food for thought........

So you don't experience the light headedness and dizziness until 40 minutes in to your work out?

You need more carbs pre-workout. The Banana is great simple carb, but mix it with a low glycemic value complex carb like oatmeal. Have a bowl of oatmeal with banana, or blueberries, before you work out. If you're really pushing yourself hard with max weights and THEN doing cardio afterwards, you can almost expect your blood to become glycogen depleted and that will cause the symptoms you're experiencing.

Listen to your body, it's telling you it's hungry. If you're doing heavy work outs you're going to need to supply heavy amounts of nutrients.

You say you're hydrating every 10 minutes. Are you sweating heavily and hydrating heavily? If the answer is yes, throw some electrolytes in to your water while working out or switch to gatorade.

ok cool, thanks war and dyna

going to try and get some carbs/extra sugar in before today, see what happens

not more than normal, no. i've always played sports, so i'm able to gauge off this. i alternate actually between gatorade and water, off and on

wc knows!

Yeah more carbs in the day then.

Do you ever find yourself craving carbs at night? This is a big indicator for me. If I'm craving carbs at night, I know for certain I need more early in the day.

Take some of this before you workout:-

http://i.imgur.com/AKw3s.jpg

It will blow your mind.

did it for a bit, wasn't worth the massive diarrhea that happened nightly haha

sounds like you workout pretty hard too eh, perhaps emphasis carbs on your workout days??

my current eating plan has me cycling carbs, i'll include a plate of pancakes on exercise days- 2 stacks! made a massive difference.

Yes. This is one major factor.



This was another major factor that nobody thinks about and constantly forget when lifting heavy.



These were the 2 factors that made me dizzy and light headed during heavy lifting and squat days.



Also keep in mind if you are thirsty, you are dehydrated. Need to drink water before you get thirsty when you are at the gym lifting heavy.:2 cents:

gotta get more carb posts in this thread before the no-carb guys get here! ahahahahahah.

The reason I doubt it's breathing is because he has a trainer. If your trainer doesn't notice fucked up breathing during at least the bench press while he's spotting, then he needs to be fired. So while it's possible, I'd say unlikely.

this is the heart monitor i use, recommended!

http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HEM-712C.../dp/B00006WNPX

They say you should check BP at different times of day too and get some averages.

I knew dyna mo would be in this thread answering heh

GFY Fitness Trainer ;P

noxplode is just a fluff supplement, nobody needs that... If it has taurine in it then I think it would put your heart at risk too in my opinion...

i'm a fitness enthusiast, i enjoy conversing with others who share that interest. be it irl or on message boards

but my experience and knowledge are more about nutrition than exercise.

taking dietary supplements that contain too much caffeine ?