Lightheaded at the Gym

crazyjerseygirl
crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
edited November 15 in Fitness and Exercise
I keep getting lightheaded at the gym when I am lifting and standing. It's like my body has to choose to send blood to my muscles or my brain, and it chooses muscles every time!
It never happens when I run or do floor exercises.

Stats: I'm obese, 220ish at 5'8". I'm not terribly fit but I ran 5ks last year though they took 45min (plodding speed!). My bp is usually 120/80 or lower and all of my physicals have come back healthy.

I'm eating before working out, but only 15min before, it's a 5:15 class!

Any suggestions?

Replies

  • bethgrayster
    bethgrayster Posts: 56 Member
    I have low blood pressure and have had the same issues. I find having something with a bit more sodium before I work out (30 minutes) and making sure I'm staying hydrated have helped me.
  • alyhuggan
    alyhuggan Posts: 717 Member
    What exercises are you referring to?

    It's not uncommon to get light headed from deadlifts and squats as they incorporate so many muscles at once. However, I have got light headed after other exercises as well. As far as I know it isn't dangerous, just keep yourself hydrated and if you feel light headed give yourself a bit of rest before the next set.
  • Marcia661
    Marcia661 Posts: 183 Member
    My daughter has the same issue, we have to make sure she gets protein in before we head to the gym for 5:00 am. I make her devilled eggs which she loves and it seems to help.
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    alyhuggan wrote: »
    What exercises are you referring to?

    It's not uncommon to get light headed from deadlifts and squats as they incorporate so many muscles at once. However, I have got light headed after other exercises as well. As far as I know it isn't dangerous, just keep yourself hydrated and if you feel light headed give yourself a bit of rest before the next set.

    It's those exactly! The class trainer prefers full body exercises so these were squats with a chest press really fast (yeah this is making more sense on a full blooded brain!)
    Oh and he had me sit down and recover, and my only exercises after that were ones where I could lay on the mat
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    bethgrayster wrote: »
    I have low blood pressure and have had the same issues. I find having something with a bit more sodium before I work out (30 minutes) and making sure I'm staying hydrated have helped me.

    I'll check my regular breakfasts for Na, thanks! I probably should drink more. My house is dryyyyy
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    Marcia661 wrote: »
    My daughter has the same issue, we have to make sure she gets protein in before we head to the gym for 5:00 am. I make her devilled eggs which she loves and it seems to help.

    Perhaps for next breakfast I'll try a slice of husbands frittata (not a euphemism) and a ton of water. Thanks so much!
  • kpw818
    kpw818 Posts: 113 Member
    I've experienced this, and I have some issues with blood sugar. Definitely have a protein+carb snack before you hit the gym. I always try to eat before lifting and longer runs. Its actually been a little scary for me to experience this smack in the middle of a set.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I used to get like this before I started getting more fit and used to exercise. A few times I had to stop and eat a banana, and I felt better. Or an apple. Something with a bit of sugar.
  • Smallc10
    Smallc10 Posts: 610 Member
    I do this so I have to have a snack with protein in it within an hour of going to workout. I also do a protein recovery shake afterwards and doing this I haven't gotten lightheaded in a long time!
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    JarethG wrote: »
    alyhuggan wrote: »
    What exercises are you referring to?

    It's not uncommon to get light headed from deadlifts and squats as they incorporate so many muscles at once. However, I have got light headed after other exercises as well. As far as I know it isn't dangerous, just keep yourself hydrated and if you feel light headed give yourself a bit of rest before the next set.

    lol. Yes, it is uncommon for a trained lifter unless you're playing around with valsava improperly. Untrained, well, just moving can cause lightheadedness.

    This actually comforts me because I am just beginning! If getting fuzzy is just a passing phase I can work through it!
  • sistrsprkl
    sistrsprkl Posts: 1,010 Member
    I had this issue last summer. I posted on here and people suggested I was low on electrolytes. I think they were right. So now, I try to drink extra water and add an electrolyte tablet. Seems to have helped.
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    sistrsprkl wrote: »
    I had this issue last summer. I posted on here and people suggested I was low on electrolytes. I think they were right. So now, I try to drink extra water and add an electrolyte tablet. Seems to have helped.

    Huh. I didn't even know such a thing existed!

    To google!
  • LovelyIvy466
    LovelyIvy466 Posts: 387 Member
    This used to happen to me when I was anemic. If eating and other recommendations don't help, might wanna get checked.
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    LovelyIvy466 wrote: »
    This used to happen to me when I was anemic. If eating and other recommendations don't help, might wanna get checked.

    Thanks! I donate blood after and haven't failed in 2years so I think I'm ok on that front! It's still going in my mind though!

  • determined_14
    determined_14 Posts: 258 Member
    I kinda black-out every time I get off the floor after a mat exercise. (Or stand from bending over, or get off the couch sometime after my recovery period, etc...) I'm not overweight and I've been working out pretty hard for a solid year, so I don't know what my problem is. I read somewhere that people with this tendency die younger though... ;) I guess we'll see.
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    determined_14 wrote: »
    I kinda black-out every time I get off the floor after a mat exercise. (Or stand from bending over, or get off the couch sometime after my recovery period, etc...) I'm not overweight and I've been working out pretty hard for a solid year, so I don't know what my problem is. I read somewhere that people with this tendency die younger though... ;) I guess we'll see.

    Meh, I plan to be a crazy old lady by 70! I heard it's just more common in tall ppl. I'm 5'8" which is a decent clip for a lady. We'll see!
  • bloodsy
    bloodsy Posts: 34 Member
    Most likely low blood pressure(normal) and it spikes during exercise. It's nothing dangerous and by being active it elevates and remains regulated.
  • rick_po
    rick_po Posts: 449 Member
    Dehydration can definitely cause a blood pressure drop, especially when exercising. Electrolytes (including sodium) and water can help.
  • katie5524
    katie5524 Posts: 85 Member
    It could be you didn't warm up enough before your workout I know once I went with a friend and she doesn't need to warm up before jumping right onto the weights where as I do so I said Meh I'll skip it what could happen and I got really light headed and the more I tried to work out the worse it got it ended up being an aweful experiance for me as someone who's not 100% when it comes to weight lifting maybe try squeezing yourself 10 mins early to class go for a run on a tred mil before hand but other than that it could also be a water thing and not durring before the workput drink at least two or three cups of water depending on how much you sweat ( if not you'll have to run to the bathroom ) but that usually helps too :) good luck
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