Almost blacking out wile squating

billsica

I'm relatively new to heavy lifting, except for bench, but that's a different story. So I don't really know everything yet.
Like the title said. I was doing a personal best today at 3 sets of 5 reps at 390lbs. During the second set I got really light headed and felt like I was blacking out for a moment, but then it passed and everything else was fine.
I always concentrate on my breathing. Is this normal, or is there something I can do to prevent this?

Lyadeia

Was it simply too heavy? I've honestly never had this happen, but it happened more than once I would probably get checked out by a doctor to make sure everything was OK.

DirtyTrickster

Maybe up and down too fast, or the bar was pinching something. Or like the previous poster, it was just too heavy.

If nothing else, talk to a dr just for peace of mind

DopeItUp

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

Regardless, make sure you're drawing air into your belly, not your chest when you set up for each rep. Drawing it into your chest can make you pass out easily. I've almost passed out from doing just one rep of 135lb deadlifts (which isn't even warmup weight) before I realized what was wrong and corrected it.

billsica

I think it was the right weight. I have been working up to it, and honestly I feel that I can still increase.
It only happened once. . That's a good idea, if it happens again a dr visit may be in order.

Bar pinching something sounds reasonable.

billsica

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

TJMiddaugh

if its not the weight being too much and your sure your breathing correctly i would say it might be some sort of circulation problem. i would bring this up to your doc next time you go just to be safe

stines72

might be where you are resting the bar on your shoulders. i feel lightheaded if it presses against certain areas.

DopeItUp

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

Okay, apparently I need to get my crap together. Been lifting for a year and I can only do 200x5. Edit: of that year, only the past 3 months squatting properly with a barbell. But still. 390x5 is insane in that amount of time.

billsica

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

Okay, apparently I need to get my crap together. Been lifting for a year and I can only do 200x5.

I've been running for 3 years and I was a swimmer back in my youth. I think my legs have always just been large. my upper body is lacking, my bench /deads/ OHP are all way way less.

Mcgrawhaha

squatting, lifting, bearing down, etc. can cause pressure on you vagus nerve, which can in turn effect your heart rate, causing dizziness and fainting. there are many activities that can cause this, be careful, maybe squat and rise a little slower, make sure your hydrated, and pay attention to your body. have you ever noticed, when having a sports physical done, many times, the dr will have you squat and rise, while listening to your heart. i dont think its something to be over concerned with, but do be careful.

DopeItUp

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

Okay, apparently I need to get my crap together. Been lifting for a year and I can only do 200x5.

I've been running for 3 years and I was a swimmer back in my youth. I think my legs have always just been large. my upper body is lacking, my bench /deads/ OHP are all way way less.

That's fascinating, what's your bench/dead/OHP? Just curious.

diolpah

Are you this guy's brother?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8RcDb_wZfQ

billsica

squatting can cause pressure on you vagus nerve, which can in turn effect your heart rate, causing dizziness and fainting. there are many activities that can cause this, be careful, maybe squat and rise a little slower, make sure your hydrated, and pay attention to your body. have you ever noticed, when having a sports physical done, many time, the dr will have you squat and rise, while listening to your heart. i dont think its something to be over concerned with, but do be careful.

This makes a lot of sense. I'll have to work on my rise. I'm also doing the high position of the bar, I don't know how to do the low position. .. er, I never had them check my anything wile squatting. That must be for girls, the Dr just grabs my boys and tells me to cough.

Mcgrawhaha

squatting can cause pressure on you vagus nerve, which can in turn effect your heart rate, causing dizziness and fainting. there are many activities that can cause this, be careful, maybe squat and rise a little slower, make sure your hydrated, and pay attention to your body. have you ever noticed, when having a sports physical done, many time, the dr will have you squat and rise, while listening to your heart. i dont think its something to be over concerned with, but do be careful.

This makes a lot of sense. I'll have to work on my rise. I'm also doing the high position of the bar, I don't know how to do the low position. .. er, I never had them check my anything wile squatting. That must be for girls, the Dr just grabs my boys and tells me to cough.

the dr checks all my kids squat and rise heart rate for sports, for my daughters and my son. my son has a heart problem, so, my dr has given me a thourough run down on the vagus nerve, because my son is extra extra sensitive to fainting. have you ever been on the toilot and felt dizzy or like you were going to faint after bearing down? thats your vagus nerve, runs through your entire torso, and is repsonsible for alot of unexplained dizzy spells and even fainting!

the vagus nerve is a cranial nerve, which pretty much governs your heart rate. you can even control it at times, by pinching the bridge of your nose between your eyes, which will slow your heart rate. people do this when they are stressed as a natural reaction to stress, not even realising why they are doing it; which is lowering their heart rate to relax! crazy huh!

gerard54

It almost happened to me the first time I tried to get 405 up deadlifting...

billsica

Bench 185
Dead Lift 250
OHP 100
Pendly row 150

ninerbuff

Look up Valsalva maneuver in lifting. Also high intensity lifting does raise your blood pressure quite high while doing it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

ninerbuff

bump for OP

GetSoda

Bench 185
Dead Lift 250
OHP 100
Pendly row 150

You are a t-rex. Awesome.


Anyway, it happens. Keep an eye on it.
Have you greyed out yet doing deadlifts?

IIISpartacusIII

I'm relatively new to heavy lifting, except for bench, but that's a different story. So I don't really know everything yet.
Like the title said. I was doing a personal best today at 3 sets of 5 reps at 390lbs. During the second set I got really light headed and felt like I was blacking out for a moment, but then it passed and everything else was fine.
I always concentrate on my breathing. Is this normal, or is there something I can do to prevent this?

Try using a weight that allows your knees to bend during the squat. Drop the ego lifting and settle for reality and you should be fine.

Loftearmen

I'm relatively new to heavy lifting, except for bench, but that's a different story. So I don't really know everything yet.
Like the title said. I was doing a personal best today at 3 sets of 5 reps at 390lbs. During the second set I got really light headed and felt like I was blacking out for a moment, but then it passed and everything else was fine.
I always concentrate on my breathing. Is this normal, or is there something I can do to prevent this?

That happens everytime I hit a huge squat or deadlift. It takes about 15 seconds for my soul to re-enter my body and I come to kneeling on the floor. It's just part of the territory.

Loftearmen

I'm relatively new to heavy lifting, except for bench, but that's a different story. So I don't really know everything yet.
Like the title said. I was doing a personal best today at 3 sets of 5 reps at 390lbs. During the second set I got really light headed and felt like I was blacking out for a moment, but then it passed and everything else was fine.
I always concentrate on my breathing. Is this normal, or is there something I can do to prevent this?

Try using a weight that allows your knees to bend during the squat. Drop the ego lifting and settle for reality and you should be fine.

phjorg

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

I'm calling BS. You call yourself new, yet are pumping out world elite numbers??? Something isn't smelling right there...

KiltFuPanda

I'm confused, you're new to lifting but you're squatting 390x5?

I've been lifting since January, my squats just have improved a lot. So I'd consider myself new still.

I'm calling BS. You call yourself new, yet are pumping out world elite numbers??? Something isn't smelling right there...

I'd believe it - swimmers have some freaky strong legs. All it takes is getting the CNS firing correctly and getting good form down to make fast gains. A lot of athletes from other disciplines find that their first few months of lifting are marked by skyrocketing numbers.

For example, I started out last May squatting a 1RM of 350, but I've got 6 years of Highland games and 5 years of kung fu prior to that. Both require strong legs, but arm strength is mitigated by speed or technique. Now it's almost 1 year later and I've hit 600 lbs on a squat and 565 on a deadlift. My bench isn't up to speed with that (260).

In regards to blacking out - I've gotten close to that on higher weights. If I hit a dizzy point, I back off for a little while and go to a lighter weight.

iAMsmiling

I can get light headed after any heavy lift activity. Feels like the lift keeps blood from flowing properly. Perhaps it's the vagus nerve thing mentioned.
I'm careful to stay in place for a few seconds after a lift so I don't drop.

ArroganceInStep

Yup, might want to get checked for high BP and the like as heavy lifting can be problematic with that. But otherwise it's just the suck you have to get through to lift heavy *kitten*

wolfpack77

This is "relatively" normal for high intensity exercises such as squat, deadlift or benchpress. In general it is the result of big blood pressure spikes as a result of exertion. Many lifters experience this after doing big compound movements.

Although some light-headness is normal, you should not feel like you're going to pass out. If you're experiencing this all the time you need to back off the intensity and wait longer between sets.

GetSoda

Though I wonder.


Are you going below parallel in your squats? (Hips level or below knees)