I'm tired; having hard time w/cardio since upping weight

sleepytexan

Hi all,

I've been doing Stage 1 of NROL 3x/week for 5 weeks now. Prior to starting NROL, I used to do 6 days/week cardio with some paddleboarding (primarily core/resistance) thrown in on top. Although I have cut back significantly on cardio, I still need to teach 2 spin classes per week, and they are much longer and more intense than the book recommends.

I've been doing:

M: NROL
T: teach 45 min spin
W: NROL
T: teach 45 min spin
F: 1 hour paddleboarding
S: NROL
S: off

I'm eating at TDEE, but these past two weeks as I'm increasing weight, I am wiped out during spin class. For example today, I only averaged 206 watts (thought I was gonna die, too), when I usually hit around 230.

Actually, I'm wiped out in general --TIRED.

Anyone else experience this? Will it pass? I've been teaching spin for over 8 years, so I'm certainly used to it.

What do you think?

kmorris246

Hey sleepytexan! I've noticed since starting New Rules of Lifting that I've had to increase the amount of sleep I get at night. I've always been able to get by on about 6 hours of sleep/night ( I know, I know- thats bad anyways). However, once I started following this program, I need at least 7-8 hrs every night, or I am completely wiped out.

Don't know if this would be an issue for you or not? But, getting the extra sleep has helped me out tremendously!

sleepytexan

thank you; yes I am definitely getting more sleep just bc I am forced to! I am collapsing into bed; I told my husband the other night, "well, I've made it to 8:30 pm. That's late enough".

I am up about 6 am every morning, but I am able to sleep later tomorrow (I hope) -- 4 kids, 14 - 4 have the day off school. If anyone wakes me before 7, they'll regret it.

meshashesha2012

isnt human growth hormone linked to weight lifting and i think i read that it's released when we sleep, so the sleepiness could be a sign that the program is working and muscles are being beat up and trying to heal .. yeah that's my totally scientific chickscience explanation :laugh:


as for the cardio. YEP. i cant crank the resistance up so much on the spin bike anymore. on a scale of 1-10 i can probably eek out out a 6. so yeah i'm definitely not getting as much out of my spin class as i used to.

i also can only do HIIT on the treadmill, the versaclimber or the rowing machine. everything else requires me to crank the resistance up to much to balance out going fast. resistance hurts my thighs and hamstrings and whatever that little muscle is in between your butt and the top of my hamstring. that thing has been on permaDOMS for the past month


as for being tired, i think i get really tired if my protein isnt right. i'm also finding out that the types of protein are making a difference as well. meat and fish protein seem to work the best but i really dont want to eat that much meat and fish everyday.

these next 6 stages are going to be very interesting

sleepytexan

maybe so--I like your chickscience! anyway it's 8:16, so I only have to stay up for 14 more minutes, ha!

I have dramatically upped my protein since a few days before I started the program; I come very close to 30 percent every day. Pants are tight, ugh, but I'm going forward with it.

I would normally paddleboard tomorrow, but it's supposed to rain. I'm actually kind of relieved, ugh.