Are these symptoms normal when exercising?

Espressocycle

I've recently gotten serious about mountain biking, but especially where I ride, it's pretty strenuous. Especially when climbing, I have to spend half my time sitting on logs trying to recover. After a bout of climbing, my heart is pounding, I'm breathing like a woman in labor and sweat is just pouring off of me. I'll often tremble involuntarily. Sometimes I'm also super nauseous and absurdly thirsty.

I thought it was heat exhaustion, but it happens when it's not that hot too. I drink a sugar-free electrolyte drink before and during my rides.

Is this normal? I'm hypothyroid, but my numbers are good with medication. Apart from that, no medical problems. It just seems like I can't handle intense exercise, and I'm not seeing progress in this area.

PikaKnight

Tagging so this shows up on my feed in case any of my runner/biking pals can help you.

jadedone

I feel that way if I don't have enough food. Or electrolytes. I am hypo too. I try to have some sugar before a workout. Like a handful of raisins or a banana or something.

michellekicks

Are you using a HRM? It sounds like you may be overdoing it... at least on the hills. I've run hard enough to feel like passing out... with my HR at about 95% for an extended time, but I've not felt quite what you're describing. I get super chills after an intense workout (i.e. long run). Can you choose slightly lesser grade hills to climb? Change gears to make the climb easier? I'd recommend a HRM if you're not already using one.

R4eBro

I would see a doc!! Sounds like low blood sugar or it could be something else...seems unusual!

jayjay12345654321

974 calories burned in exercise would make me nauseated, too. Are you burning these calories first thing in the morning before breakfast? Maybe changing what time of day you do it can give your body time to prepare for such a strenuous workout.

Mads242

I am also a regular mountain biker and I have also had this feeling. For me it was also combined with throbbing in the veins on either side of my neck.

Once I got a heart rate monitor I could see that I often had heart rates around 195 ( I am 25yo so this is around my max heart rate). I think it is a combination of actual exertion and (for me anyway) adrenalin associated with the activity. It didn't really stop until I picked up other cardio and increased my endurance. I do 20 mins cardio or runnning intervals most nights a week now and my max heart rate when mountain biking is now more like 180 (average is 150-170).

In hind sight I was overexerting myself and thinking that it was normal. Since it was only weekly it didn't really impact my fitness but did make me feel exhausted on the day.

TL:DR Get a heart rate monitor to check you aren't overexerting yourself.

Otterluv

Are you using a HRM? It sounds like you may be overdoing it... at least on the hills. I've run hard enough to feel like passing out... with my HR at about 95% for an extended time, but I've not felt quite what you're describing. I get super chills after an intense workout (i.e. long run). Can you choose slightly lesser grade hills to climb? Change gears to make the climb easier? I'd recommend a HRM if you're not already using one.

I came in here to say this ^^^^

Very intense exercise can cause nausea and vomiting. You may want to baby step your way up to those intense climbs.

MelodyandBarbells

Or, the HRM will at least help you know you're not crazy. If I feel light headed and my HR just hit 197, I take a well earned several seconds breather. If I'm just not feeling right and my HR is 133, it may be time to pack it up for the day and come back when I'm better rested.

Espressocycle

I have an HRM, although I can rarely keep it reading once I start sweating. The terrain is what it is, can't change that. I'm thinking some added interval and weight training is the way to go and maybe swapping out some of my sugar free sport drink for one with calories. Just worried that something medical night be going on.

JoRocka

I get that way if I'm light on food- I don't work out well fasted.... so I get super shaky and takes forever for my heart to come down if I am running on empty.

I'd start with a HRM- and making sure you have a snack/orange juice/gatorade to refuel yourself if you are out all day.

omma_to_3

I would start by switching to full sugar electrolyte drink instead of sugar free. Other than that, try to eat before you go. An English muffin with peanut butter sits well for most people before intense exercise (like running).

semarsh12

If you haven't already, talk to your doctor and get a baseline EKG.

helpfit101

I think you'll do better with a banana or a nut bar of some kind than with the sugar water. I don't think you need electrolytes unless you lose a lot of liquid or bike for more than say an hour and a half. Burning so many calories you could have a couple of bananas even.

When the sweat is pouring off you you do replenish fluids by drinking don't you? Water is fine. I mean.. try to keep up with what you sweat out. To know how much you sweat out weigh yourself before and when you get back, if possible.

Also, build up slower. I don't think you need much strength training if you're specifically wanting to do mountain biking. You could do some intervals in the gym on a bike, at least you'll be able to monitor your heart-rate.

BeachIron

You've recently gotten serious about mountain biking?

My guess is that you need to be patient as your conditioning improves. Of course you do need to get sufficient nutrition to fuel your body and drink lots of water, but you don't need to be consuming any food on your rides unless you're going for several hours.

sijomial

I have an HRM, although I can rarely keep it reading once I start sweating.

That's a rubbish HRM then!! Suggest you get one that works when you are exercising....
If you know your max heart rate (actual not calculated) then it would be useful to know what numbers you are hitting on climbs.

swapping out some of my sugar free sport drink for one with calories.

If you are doing endurance cardio you have to fuel yourself properly - calories,fluids and electrolytes. Are you eating beforehand? Are you eating whilst riding? Do these symptoms get worse after the first hour or so? I'm wondering if you are bonking (glycogen depletion).

Just worried that something medical night be going on.

I really would discuss this with a physician.

annakow

Need to ask your GP. I had the same thing this morning after 1h in the gym , just took my levo in the morning 75g. Maybe it's to much burning on empty stomack

Espressocycle

I ate a couple meals before my ride, but it was a bit carb-heavy. The one time I did a really long, awesome ride without issue, i had half a block of scrapple for breakfast, a nut/fruit bar before the ride and a quart of Gatorade during.

I do the electrolytes simply because I sweat A LOT. I'll easily go through 100 oz on a 2-hour ride and not even have to pee. But I think I figured out what's going on... some of these symptoms are something like hypoglycemia and I think it's from caffeine. I used to get sweats, shakes and weakness, plus crazy hunger after biking home from work until I stopped having a second cup of coffee later in the day. Usually I drink my daily cup after I get to work, but this morning I had a half cup before my shower and I'm feeling very sweaty/weak/shaky...

This is horrible. I love coffee. It's a 20-year love affair.

jonnythan

Not uncommon. Climbing on a bike is seriously hard work; if your heart and cardiovascular system aren't in great shape, you can expect to get winded regularly and need time to recover. It's tough to deliver that much oxygen to all those leg and core muscles, and it'll take time before your heart and blood vessels are up to the task.

jlapey

Sounds like you're doing too much, too soon. Back off, eat properly and increase over time. If you're just starting out, you shouldn't expect to be keeping up with big boys yet. You have to work up to that. Fitness isn't just a matter of dropping pounds, you also have strengthen your heart, lungs, muscles, etc as well. This is done through progression, not jumping in and going all out on the first day.

BeachIron

I ate a couple meals before my ride, but it was a bit carb-heavy. The one time I did a really long, awesome ride without issue, i had half a block of scrapple for breakfast, a nut/fruit bar before the ride and a quart of Gatorade during.

I do the electrolytes simply because I sweat A LOT. I'll easily go through 100 oz on a 2-hour ride and not even have to pee. But I think I figured out what's going on... some of these symptoms are something like hypoglycemia and I think it's from caffeine. I used to get sweats, shakes and weakness, plus crazy hunger after biking home from work until I stopped having a second cup of coffee later in the day. Usually I drink my daily cup after I get to work, but this morning I had a half cup before my shower and I'm feeling very sweaty/weak/shaky...

This is horrible. I love coffee. It's a 20-year love affair.

How much conditioning work do you do? Weightlifting? Backpacking?

How long have you been mountain biking?

Before concluding it's a medical condition or issue with caffeine . . .