Any runners that are anemic?

ChristyP0303
ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I really want to get into jogging but I can't last more than a couple minutes before I lose control of my breathing. I even tried the C25K program. I read that shortness of breath can be caused by low iron. Has anyone else noticed this and if so, how do you treat low iron? What supplements and dosage do you take? And can you tell a difference?

Thanks!

Replies

  • donnacervelli11
    donnacervelli11 Posts: 109 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....)

    P.S: I should also add that mine was a pretty mild case. If you feel like that's what you have, you should get checked out by a doctor, because from mine told me it could get serious especially if it's not just iron deficiency but a blood disorder.
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....).

    I do eat red meat a couple times a week and spinach as often as possible. Mine is also due to low iron and I am horrible about taking medication. I do good to take my thyroid pills daily and I can't take the iron with the thyroid. Ugh!

    I only feel it when I do intense exercise...so jogging, climbing stairs and squats too for some reason.

    I also felt it was because I wasn't an experienced runner but in other people who are starting off, it seems to fade quickly with them. Just not with me. :-(
  • donnacervelli11
    donnacervelli11 Posts: 109 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....).

    I do eat red meat a couple times a week and spinach as often as possible. Mine is also due to low iron and I am horrible about taking medication. I do good to take my thyroid pills daily and I can't take the iron with the thyroid. Ugh!

    I only feel it when I do intense exercise...so jogging, climbing stairs and squats too for some reason.

    I also felt it was because I wasn't an experienced runner but in other people who are starting off, it seems to fade quickly with them. Just not with me. :-(

    It took me a good 2 - 3 months before I could run for a solid 30 minutes without wanting to die.

    If you have trouble with your iron pills (I do too, if I don't time them right they make me horribly nauseaous) you may want to look into cutting out dairy, caffeine, whole grains and legumes from your diet. These foods can restrict heme-iron absorption if you have a tendency towards iron deficiency.

    I should be avoiding them too, but I don't. So, it's yucky iron pills for me.

    Have you ever had your hemoglobin tested?
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....).

    I do eat red meat a couple times a week and spinach as often as possible. Mine is also due to low iron and I am horrible about taking medication. I do good to take my thyroid pills daily and I can't take the iron with the thyroid. Ugh!

    I only feel it when I do intense exercise...so jogging, climbing stairs and squats too for some reason.

    I also felt it was because I wasn't an experienced runner but in other people who are starting off, it seems to fade quickly with them. Just not with me. :-(

    It took me a good 2 - 3 months before I could run for a solid 30 minutes without wanting to die.

    If you have trouble with your iron pills (I do too, if I don't time them right they make me horribly nauseaous) you may want to look into cutting out dairy, caffeine, whole grains and legumes from your diet. These foods can restrict heme-iron absorption if you have a tendency towards iron deficiency.

    I should be avoiding them too, but I don't. So, it's yucky iron pills for me.

    Have you ever had your hemoglobin tested?

    At this point, I'd like to be able to last 5 minutes! haha

    I'm not sure what the hemoglobin is...my iron levels have been tested. Is that the same?
  • goalpeace
    goalpeace Posts: 272 Member
    I am anemic, low blood pressure but I can run well. I do get tired though.
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I am anemic, low blood pressure but I can run well. I do get tired though.

    Do you take anything?
  • MadisonLeo
    MadisonLeo Posts: 89
    I am anemic, due to low iron and I am up to 6 miles. I am training for a 1/2 marathon (7 weeks to go) and it is hard for me to breathe. However, I focus on my breathing and try to keep my heartrate below 140 (target is 126 - which means I am breathing properly).

    I am always fatigued after a run. I have increased my water intake to minimum 100 ounces a day which helps.

    I eat alot of dark leafy greens for iron. I am also going to start taking a pre-natal vitamin. Those are good for anemia.
  • donnacervelli11
    donnacervelli11 Posts: 109 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....).

    I do eat red meat a couple times a week and spinach as often as possible. Mine is also due to low iron and I am horrible about taking medication. I do good to take my thyroid pills daily and I can't take the iron with the thyroid. Ugh!

    I only feel it when I do intense exercise...so jogging, climbing stairs and squats too for some reason.

    I also felt it was because I wasn't an experienced runner but in other people who are starting off, it seems to fade quickly with them. Just not with me. :-(

    It took me a good 2 - 3 months before I could run for a solid 30 minutes without wanting to die.

    If you have trouble with your iron pills (I do too, if I don't time them right they make me horribly nauseaous) you may want to look into cutting out dairy, caffeine, whole grains and legumes from your diet. These foods can restrict heme-iron absorption if you have a tendency towards iron deficiency.

    I should be avoiding them too, but I don't. So, it's yucky iron pills for me.

    Have you ever had your hemoglobin tested?

    At this point, I'd like to be able to last 5 minutes! haha

    I'm not sure what the hemoglobin is...my iron levels have been tested. Is that the same?

    Your hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. If you've had a CBC test done (which you might have if you're iron levels were tested) your doctor might already know this. Basically the lower your hemogloblin levels the more trouble your body will have circulating oxygen i.e: cold hands and feet, trouble breathing during strenuous exercise.

    Luckily mine were fine - I just low iron anemia. But some people have low hemoglobin anemia and I think that's a different kind of treatment.
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I'm anemic and I'm training for a half marathon. Mine is from an iron deficiency though, not low blood count/over destruction of red blood cells.

    I'm taking prescription iron supplements. I should be watching my diet and eating less grains and more iron rich foods like shellfish, greens and red meat - but as you can see from my food diary, I'm not good with staying on the wagon.

    Do you always feel short of breath or is it only when you run?

    I mostly felt tired and bruised really easily before I was diagnosed. I felt out of breath when I first started running, but I chalked that up to me being pretty out of shape (and not a runner....yet....).

    I do eat red meat a couple times a week and spinach as often as possible. Mine is also due to low iron and I am horrible about taking medication. I do good to take my thyroid pills daily and I can't take the iron with the thyroid. Ugh!

    I only feel it when I do intense exercise...so jogging, climbing stairs and squats too for some reason.

    I also felt it was because I wasn't an experienced runner but in other people who are starting off, it seems to fade quickly with them. Just not with me. :-(

    It took me a good 2 - 3 months before I could run for a solid 30 minutes without wanting to die.

    If you have trouble with your iron pills (I do too, if I don't time them right they make me horribly nauseaous) you may want to look into cutting out dairy, caffeine, whole grains and legumes from your diet. These foods can restrict heme-iron absorption if you have a tendency towards iron deficiency.

    I should be avoiding them too, but I don't. So, it's yucky iron pills for me.

    Have you ever had your hemoglobin tested?

    At this point, I'd like to be able to last 5 minutes! haha

    I'm not sure what the hemoglobin is...my iron levels have been tested. Is that the same?

    Your hemoglobin is the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. If you've had a CBC test done (which you might have if you're iron levels were tested) your doctor might already know this. Basically the lower your hemogloblin levels the more trouble your body will have circulating oxygen i.e: cold hands and feet, trouble breathing during strenuous exercise.

    Luckily mine were fine - I just low iron anemia. But some people have low hemoglobin anemia and I think that's a different kind of treatment.


    Ahhh That makes sense! I'll have to have him check that at my next appointment. Thanks!
  • ChristyP0303
    ChristyP0303 Posts: 212 Member
    I am anemic, due to low iron and I am up to 6 miles. I am training for a 1/2 marathon (7 weeks to go) and it is hard for me to breathe. However, I focus on my breathing and try to keep my heartrate below 140 (target is 126 - which means I am breathing properly).

    I am always fatigued after a run. I have increased my water intake to minimum 100 ounces a day which helps.

    I eat alot of dark leafy greens for iron. I am also going to start taking a pre-natal vitamin. Those are good for anemia.

    I am always fatigued no matter what I do! So frustrating!

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