Cardio/Stamina question

slieber
slieber Posts: 765 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello All,

I have a question regarding strength/cardio/ballet training. Recently, I upped my ballet training to about 3-5 hours per day. Because of this, I've cut out the cardio I usually do at the gym. I try to do weights for upper and lower body (targeting muscles that aren't worked in ballet) at least twice a week.

Recently, over the past week, I've found that I'm more winded and kind of "black-out-y" during ballet class. I'm not a young person, mind (I do this for fun, would you believe??) but I have been dancing for over 35 years.

Over the regular class year, I take about an hour and a half to three hours per evening, after working all day, AND a gym workout of nearly an hour beforehand, where I used to do 20-30 mins cardio. I would intersperse weights depending on how many ballet hours I had coming that night, and of course wouldn't do two weight days in a row. But I ALWAYS did the cardio.

As I said above, I haven't done any cardio for the past three weeks but now feel winded during some of the exercises in class. My HRM registers higher heart-rates than I used to get, as well, during these exercises. Usually it's at 160+ when I feel out of sorts.

Should I re-start cardio and hope this helps? I do have a doctor's appointment scheduled for the start of August - general, comprehensive physical. I do NOT have a history of heart trouble, nor high blood pressure. None of the women in my family have this issue.

Thanks for any opinions.

Replies

  • bpotts44
    bpotts44 Posts: 1,066 Member
    I would consult your doctor.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    When you see the Dr. make sure he checks your iron levels. Low iron could cause those symptoms.

    I don't think you could lose that much cardio fitness in three weeks since you are staying active with dancing and other exercise. Other causes could be dehydration if you're not drinking enough or simply low blood sugar from not eating enough carbs before the dance sessions.
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    Thanks for that suggestion about low carbs and iron. I'm having full blood work before seeing the doc so that will be checked. I'll try to up the carbs and see if that helps, in the meantime.

    I don't get heart palpitations or anything, just winded and black-out-y (not dizzy, except under the normal circumstances - like multiple turns).

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