I decided to check out my gym’s weight lifting class this morning. It’s been a little over a week since I’ve worked out. But I figure I’m in good shape. I consistently err on the side of more weight than the instructor recommends. After all, most of the people in the class are female, and they’re socialized to be less athletic, right? (okay, so I have an arrogant, misogynist, prick inside, check. But at least I try to keep it in my own head).
Fast forward to half way through the class. I’m having trouble keeping up. Dripping sweat. My mouth has gone dry, I’m seeing stars. I can feel something unpleasant approaching though I’m not sure whether I’m about to vomit or faint. I decide both would be very bad outcomes. I sit down on my bench. When I feel like I’m out of imminent danger, I go to the back of the room to avoid disrupting the class further. This after only 30 minutes. My water bottle isn’t helping.
I’ll go with lower weight next time.
when did you eat before class?
oh, about 10 hours before. =)
Mixed vegetables, rice, and bubble tea.
you need to eat sooner than that.
Good to know. =)
I’m sure you know this, but I’m sure that contributed significantly more to your faintness than the weights you were using. Silly stevie.
Actually, no, I really had no idea. An unappreciated danger of a morning workout it seems. =)
I’ve often wondered about sports nutrition. What and when to eat, etc, etc. Sounds like a post unto itself.
Aha! Well, now you know! 🙂
It can be tough to find the exact balance, since you don’t want to eat -right- before you exercise, but if you go too long, your body doesn’t have enough energy to get you through it. Particularly in the morning, when your body is still in fasting mode. For me, I try to eat something small and light an hour or so beforehand.
I remember first learning this lesson in 7th grade, when I had PhysEd first thing in the morning. One day, we had to run some distance (like 1/2 mile or so), and halfway through, one boy was throwing up over the fence. Teacher asked “did you eat breakfast?” and then proceeded to give us a 10 second lecture on why breakfast was important.
Yup sounds like classic low blood sugar symptoms.
http://www.diabetes.com/blood_sugar.html
Eat!
Indeedy. Hmmm.
i’ve been there, it’s so internally surreal when the light-headedness and twisty tummy thing starts ;-/ with me it’s never been with lifting, tho, but when i was training for boxing and was being pushed.
i suspect it’s an individual issue, whether carrying a bit more weight or less, assists in the workout. too many trainers have a one-size-fits-all method.
for me, i’ve found out the lighter i am, carrying the less mass, the more ragged i can run myself in the workout. weird how that works. but u may be the same; carrying a few more pounds only inhibits.
for some (supposedly), more weight (as long as it’s just a couple pounds and you’re still in proportion) means more to burn off, which feeds the workout better. just make sure you’ve loaded up on carbs (as i do) an hour and a half or two, before an intense workout; try to minimize carbs after.
oh, I meant i’d use lighter weights, not try again when I lost a few pounds. (who knows if/when that’d happen. =)