Exercise gives me bad headaches and fatigue

EmiLouize

Hi there, I've been exercising (cycling) consistently around 2 - 5 times per week for about one a half years now. I usually workout in the late evening, somewhere between 7 and 9pm, but sometimes I get lazy by that time and give up on the idea. The obvious solution to this would be to exercise earlier in the day, however when I do I always get a really bad headache and feel absolutely exhausted for the rest of the day. I always eat something about an hour beforehand and drink at least 500ml of water during exercise so I don't know what's causing this. I feel fine whilst exercising and directly afterward; it's about 2 hours later that I start to feel awful.

Does anyone know why this might be? I'm wondering if it may have anything to do with my Vitamin D Deficiency I had for about 4 years that I was recently treated for, as that caused chronic fatigue almost all day every day.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have!

meshashesha2012

how many calories are you eating overall?

Louttie

More water. water water water

SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage

How is your hydration the rest of the day? Drinking a bunch of water DURING isn't nearly as important as having proper hydration throughout your day and in the 24 hours before. If I exercise while dehydrated, I get a nasty headache too.

mundaycarroll

I know you mentioned you drink a lot of water while you exercise, but do you drink a lot of water throughout the day before and afterwards too? I know when I'm dehydrated and don't realize it I get the worst headaches ever after I'm done working out and usually want to take a nap.

EmiLouize

I can't drink as much as I would like throughout the day because I need to wee too frequently hahah. I used to take a bottle of water with me everywhere but I soon got seriously fed up of having to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes.

EmiLouize

And I'm eating about 1200 calories overall at the moment

Serah87

And I'm eating about 1200 calories overall at the moment

That maybe your problem right there. Your 18, I'm 45 I eat 1900 calories to lose weight. Figure out your TDEE and eat 20% less than your TDEE!!

Read this OP: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1235566-so-you-re-new-here

and this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants


Also you don't have much t lose, so half pound a week is good, do 10% less of TDEE.

meshashesha2012

And I'm eating about 1200 calories overall at the moment

That maybe your problem right there. Your 18, I'm 45 I eat 1900 calories to lose weight. Figure out your TDEE and eat 20% less than your TDEE!!

agreed. you arent eating enough. OP i bet you could eat 1000 calories more and still be able to lose weight

EmiLouize

I feel like 1200 is a good amount for me, I'm not often extremely hungry and I still get to eat things I enjoy. If I ate any more than that I wouldn't even feel like I was trying to lose weight if I get anywhere near 2000 calories I feel like I've binged on a sickening amount of food

Serah87

I feel like 1200 is a good amount for me, I'm not often extremely hungry and I still get to eat things I enjoy. If I ate any more than that I wouldn't even feel like I was trying to lose weight if I get anywhere near 2000 calories I feel like I've binged on a sickening amount of food

That's what you think.......but your body disagrees with you. Your body needs fuel. Read the links!!!!

EmiLouize

I did read them

meshashesha2012

okee dokee then.. enjoy your headaches and fatigue

EmiLouize

But the point of my question is that I only experience the headaches and stuff if I workout early in the day. When I exercise in the evening I feel great! I was just wondering why the time of day could affect me so much, is all

ThickMcRunFast

Well, your problem is not eating enough


If you don't want to eat more, then I suggest not exercising as much.

Also, half a liter of water isn't really all that much for strenuous exercise.

Good luck.

shankasaurus

I was really hoping there was someone out there who might know what causes that reaction. I had the exact same problem a couple years ago, I was biking 20 miles a day 3 times a week and I would get headaches and just be run down and dizzy feeling. Everyone suggested I drink more water, so I did, everyone said more protein, so I ate more protein, then they suggested carbs. Anyways I just wanted to chime in, I'm a big girl and I wasn't eating in a deficit at that time, so maybe it's a vitamin deficiency?

I never did figure it out and instead I just stopped biking.

dakotababy

I have been doing some looking into electrolytes and imbalances. Perhaps it is that?

I have recently been getting headaches and feeling incredibly tired after working out. I then crash for a nap and wake up in agony.

brianpperkins

But the point of my question is that I only experience the headaches and stuff if I workout early in the day. When I exercise in the evening I feel great! I was just wondering why the time of day could affect me so much, is all

Do you eat the same amount of food an hour beforehand when you exercise earlier or only when you workout in the evenings?

SunofaBeach14

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

EmiLouize

I also used a TDEE calculator and it gave me a result of 1777.

EmiLouize

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

Ignoring is different to politely suggesting that their advice might not be correct for me

Serah87

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

Ignoring is different to politely suggesting that their advice might not be correct for me

No you don't like the answers you are getting, so good luck in whatever you are trying to do. :flowerforyou:

EmiLouize

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

Ignoring is different to politely suggesting that their advice might not be correct for me

No you don't like the answers you are getting, so good luck in whatever you are trying to do. :flowerforyou:

Yeah I'm really enjoying the snarky assumptions being made about me right now.

shankasaurus

My doctor ran a bunch of tests, did blood work etc, and she couldn't figure out what was causing it either. Her suggestion was for me to try eating more nutrient dense foods and cut back on inflammatory foods, which she didn't extrapolate on so I had to do internet research and that kinda led me down a rabbit hole.

OP, you're not alone, but my experience may not be the same as yours, so seeing a doctor to rule out any possible health concerns sounds like good advice.

meshashesha2012

I also used a TDEE calculator and it gave me a result of 1777.

that can't be counting your exercise though..

EmiLouize

I also used a TDEE calculator and it gave me a result of 1777.

that can't be counting your exercise though..

It was. Exercise 3x per week. BMR came out around 1250.

brewinggirl_butskinnier

But the point of my question is that I only experience the headaches and stuff if I workout early in the day. When I exercise in the evening I feel great! I was just wondering why the time of day could affect me so much, is all

Is it possible that you're going to bed before the tiredness and headaches hit you when you work out in the evening?
So you work out between 7 and 9 then go to bed around 10 or 11 pm...then you don't feel crappy because you're in bed already.

It's also possible that if you aren't going to bed within the normal time frame of when you feel crappy after a workout that you're just not trying to be as active in the later hours of the evening (watching tv or something would be less taxing than if you were trying to work).

Honestly I would agree to try to eat a bit more and particularly maybe some protein after your workout.

I also agree with the water recommendations...yes you will have to pee a lot BUT if you drink a ton of water throughout the day, and do it for like 2 weeks, your bladder gets used to it and you have to pee less (not scientific but it works for me).

ThickMcRunFast

I was really hoping there was someone out there who might know what causes that reaction. I had the exact same problem a couple years ago, I was biking 20 miles a day 3 times a week and I would get headaches and just be run down and dizzy feeling. Everyone suggested I drink more water, so I did, everyone said more protein, so I ate more protein, then they suggested carbs. Anyways I just wanted to chime in, I'm a big girl and I wasn't eating in a deficit at that time, so maybe it's a vitamin deficiency?

I never did figure it out and instead I just stopped biking.

Your case is a bit different from the OP (who really has a clear answer). Usually, exercise-induced headaches have three causes: dehydration, salt imbalance, and sugar imbalance. Since you already tried water and carbs, it might be electrolytes and salt. Were you by chance trying a low-sodium diet?

Also, being low in magnesium can sometimes lead to headaches.

Though, if your headaches were accompanied by nausea, double vision, or fainting, you should see a doctor.

SunofaBeach14

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

Ignoring is different to politely suggesting that their advice might not be correct for me

If it's not hydration or calories, then aside from the possibility that you're cutting back on caffeine, cigarettes or sodium, then it's very likely something you need to speak to your doctor about. I'm leaning towards too few calories myself, but meh.

EmiLouize

Please give me an internet diagnosis but I'm going to ignore you when I do? Yep. MFP.

I'm going to throw out a wild suggestion here and tell you to see your doctor.

Ignoring is different to politely suggesting that their advice might not be correct for me

If it's not hydration or calories, then aside from the possibility that you're cutting back on caffeine, cigarettes or sodium, then it's very likely something you need to speak to your doctor about. I'm leaning towards too few calories myself, but meh.

That's fair enough. I did listen to you and calculated my TDEE as I was instructed to do. I just thought in the meantime I'd share how I thought 1200 calories was doing for me so far

EmiLouize

Thanks for your help. I really can't drink much water though, it really is a problem for me, even with the amount of fluids I'm drinking now I still have to go to the bathroom at least once an hour. But thank you anyway I haven't just ignored your comments and of course I'll take them into account