Light headed after workout?

[Sunshine9]

So I recently upped my exercise, and I feel absolutely fabulous. I enjoy working out before, during, and after. My question though is that in the past week I have noticed that in the hours after exercise I feel tired (normal) and a bit light headed. Tonight about two hours after working out I was walking somewhere and I felt a wave pass over me like I was about to pass out.

any thoughts?

I was thinking it might be something i'm NOT eating enough of, or my blood pressure adjusting? I've had pretty low blood pressure in the past, so getting light headed upon standing was normal for me.

I aim to eat moderate sugar, moderate fat, lots of greens, and enough protein. So that looks like a few green smoothies a day with apples, a banana or two, berries, bee pollen, maca, kale, spinach, romaine, avocado, lemon, etc. I drink a lot of water, close to a gallon. I don't TRY to do it, i just notice that I do. It's very hot here lately, I sweat a decent amount, and my body just wants it.

any input would be greatly appreciated :)

[spicyfull]

Seems like you covered everything. I think I would be also after working out for 2 hours. What about eating something afterward.....maybe some Trail Mix.
Stop by a Drug Store and check your BP.........

[the_lab_rat]

Whoa, that same scenario happened to me yesterday! Ran for 1.5 hrs, it was hot out, I drank enough and had a green smoothie afterward... but BAM, walking down the isles of Whole Foods I almost fained several times. I know mine is related to blood pressure, always had low blood pressure except at my fattest weight. Oddly, the more I exercise, eat well, and become healthier, the more this occurs. I wonder sometimes if it's also related to dehydration? Like, even though you drink a bunch of water, maybe your body just hasn't absorbed it all yet? Or maybe it's related to electrolyte balance, since you've been out sweating and maybe haven't replenished some electrolytes? Hmm, those are all my ideas! I wish I knew the answer, because fainting in public is embarassing :p

[Elizabeth]

Are you having a banana or something about a half hour before the workout and then a drink/smoothie or fruit after?

In intense workouts you can deplete your gycogen stores and your blood sugar can drop. I had that happen when I was working out a lot, and even blacked out for a bit..LOL..on the aerobics floor.. I was not eating enough and/or at the proper times..

Congrats on your increase in activity! I need to start exercising like that again. It felt fabulous!!! :D

[Sunshine9]

Oooh ok. Usually right after working out i drink lots of water, because i'm thirsty. and i'll eat right when i get home (30-40 min later). I think today I'll try making some sort of raw electrolyte drink and see if that helps.

What are electrolytes exactly....?

i'm glad you guys have experienced similar sensations, so i feel less crazy! i figure my bod just has to get used to this new found circulation and health.

[Sunshine9]

also anyone know how to raise blood pressure? my first thought is always SALT but i eat enough salt, probably too much because my eyes are puffy on occasion. i think i'll ask my ND what she says because i happen to be going to see her today.

thanks again ladies! if you have any more suggestions please keep 'em coming!

[GHOST27M]

Make sure you eat enough salt from SEA SALT and not the white sea salt that is still bad for you (should be a dingy color mine is from france so its kinda gray and it is moist not dry).


Also we need IODINE every cell in the body uses it (found out this yeserday)

I use nori and DULSE for Iodine.

Those 2 things are VERY important for balance.

Did you know salt was used for currency at one time? you would die without it.

[jenniem]

Hi Guys,

I was having lightheadedness and shortness of breath a lot. Mine came not from exercise but from overdoing a breathing exercise I was given. I was told that when I felt tension in my body to breath into it deeply. So if I felt a twinge in my back I would breath in deeply while expanding the muscles in the twingey area.

Unfortunately the more I deep breathed the more tense I got. I was overbreathing! I had some friends over for dinner a couple of nights ago. I started to get the lightheadedness and shortness of breath. One of my guests suggested that I might be over breathing. I didn't really believe it until she asked me to expel as much air as I could from my lungs and hold my breath. I held my breath for 30 seconds before I got bored. I reckon I could have gone another 20 seconds or so easily.

Apparently when we over breath it can upset the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen in our bodies. We end up with to much oxygen in our blood and so the blood cells won't let the oxygen in and even though there is TONS of oxygen in our blood stream, we feel like we are starved for air. It's like I was hyperventilating or experiencing a mild form of asthma.

Since then I've really watched. Most of the time when I get short of breath I just breath out and hold it as long as I can . Then I'm fine! Nothing to do with food at all. Only thing is, I've gotten used to breathing deeply and I'm having to retrain myself to breath the way I was again.

Here's a link for you to read if interested:

http://www.breatheeasy.com.au/breathe.html

I hope I've gotten the science around the right way. It's not my forte....

Anyhow (sorry for long post, I tend to ramble!) the reason I mention it here is that after exercise you might be breathing more than normal in deeper patterns. Something to think about maybe?

Best wishes all.

Oh. I have a rawbie friend who blends dates with water as a post run drink. He runs marathons and swears by it for electrolytes. If he has no dates then he drinks young coconut water.

xoxoxo

[Sunshine9]

Interesting- i do tend to breathe more deeply after exercising to try to cool down. i'll have to play around with that.

Yesterday i felt so light headed and depleted i didn't work out. I talked to my ND, and she said the symptoms i am experiencing are electrolyte imbalance, so she said green juice would help, or to try Emergen-C packets. I immediately got a juice after my session and felt a lot better. Later I picked up an Emergen-C packet - totally not ideal, but i felt so depleted - and i almost immediately felt better. i think i'll take them for a few days to balance out, then maintain with green juice.

thanks for all the advice guys! i hope this helps.

if anyone has any other thoughts, i'd love to hear it

[Mehrad]

So I recently upped my exercise, and I feel absolutely fabulous. I enjoy working out before, during, and after. My question though is that in the past week I have noticed that in the hours after exercise I feel tired (normal) and a bit light headed. Tonight about two hours after working out I was walking somewhere and I felt a wave pass over me like I was about to pass out.

any thoughts?

I was thinking it might be something i'm NOT eating enough of, or my blood pressure adjusting? I've had pretty low blood pressure in the past, so getting light headed upon standing was normal for me.

I aim to eat moderate sugar, moderate fat, lots of greens, and enough protein. So that looks like a few green smoothies a day with apples, a banana or two, berries, bee pollen, maca, kale, spinach, romaine, avocado, lemon, etc. I drink a lot of water, close to a gallon. I don't TRY to do it, i just notice that I do. It's very hot here lately, I sweat a decent amount, and my body just wants it.

any input would be greatly appreciated :)


Ok when you workout its always important to have a Post Workout snack, now this should include fast digesting carbs, so maybe complex veggies or even a smoothie straight after you workout (and I mean straight after!) to make your workout not fritter away after hours of working out, its also ideal to have a mix of carbs and protein as a post workout if your lifting weights but that really is up to you!

Hope I've helped