Shaky, Lightheaded and naseous after workout...

I'm not exactly in shape and I am a very anxious person. I started working out with a personal trainer doing an interval type training program. This may be a rhetorical questions, but is it normal to feel light headed, shaky and like I'm going to puke after a workout? I'm guessing it's just my body not used to working out, but it's always nice to hear someone say "its common." I work out early so I just eat a Kind bar before the workout and a protein shake after. I seem to be feeling a bit better an hour after the workout but BLAH! That's scary stuff when you're not used to it!

Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I've done some workouts that have made me dizzy or sick. A few times I have had to stop and eat a banana (helps with my dizziness) and get back to it. I'd say it doesn't happen anymore but I always try to veer my trainer away from doing circuits so who knows. But yeah, it's okay.
  • kCalCrusher
    kCalCrusher Posts: 54 Member
    Thank you! That's a good idea... I'll bring something with a little sugar in it to eat during a break to see if it helps. I was doing interval/circuit type training ;o)
  • martyqueen52
    martyqueen52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Are you eating before hand (2-3 hours before workout)? And what does it usually consist of?
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Yeah, just be careful if you eat the kind bar, a banana, and a protein shake unless it's just protein in water. You could end up eating more calories at the gym than you burned ha
  • kCalCrusher
    kCalCrusher Posts: 54 Member
    I work out at 7am and get up at 6am so I usually just eat something really light, like a piece of fruit or granola bar before I work out. Plus, like arditarose said, I don't want to eat 600 calories for breakfast because I always have a protein shake when I get home.
  • martyqueen52
    martyqueen52 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Well... depending on what time you eat dinner your food might be totally digested and you're running on an empty stomach, literally.

    From my personal experience, it sounds like you can't tolerate training fastened (empty stomach), which is perfectly fine... I can't do it either. IF POSSIBLE, try working out later and eating a decent breakfast / lunch, letting it digest 2-3 hours or to where you feel comfortable, THEN trying training. If the same thing happens, it's probably something else.

    Also, depending on how you tolerate carbs try adding or removing them from your meal before working out. For example, I train like crap with carbs in my system.... so... I avoid carbs until after my workout 3pm usually... then I down carbs all night long, lol.
  • cbhubbybubble
    cbhubbybubble Posts: 465 Member
    If I work hard, I can definitely feel shaky and rubbery....have had my leg muscles do the wibble wobble on my way out the door a couple times, but not lightheaded or nauseous That sounds a bit like dehydration or overexertion to me
  • kCalCrusher
    kCalCrusher Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks for all the answers... I'll try switching things up a bit and see what happens. I think over exertion has a lot to do with it so hopefully it will let up as I adjust to the training. Thanks again, everyone!
  • Sphyk1
    Sphyk1 Posts: 85 Member
    I had to start out just walking and lifting light weights so I wouldn't get too dizzy. Then I was able to do more and more. Now I can do spin bike for an hour and lift decent weights :) Don't get discouraged, just pace yourself and it will happen!
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I think you are working out too hard at the outset. Do something easier and ramp up slowly. If you push your body too hard too soon you will certainly feel shaky and barfy. I have been there!
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I think you are working out too hard at the outset. Do something easier and ramp up slowly. If you push your body too hard too soon you will certainly feel shaky and barfy. I have been there!

    But...then you get over it.
  • timberowl
    timberowl Posts: 331 Member
    Are you taking any other supplements? Pills, patches, etc? Those can really screw up your stomach and give you the shakes.
  • Indygirl_81
    Indygirl_81 Posts: 142 Member
    This happens to me sometimes because I tend to hold my breath or not breath correctly during some types of workouts...
  • veloman21
    veloman21 Posts: 418 Member
    How long are your workouts? 30-60mins? If so, then food is probably not an issue as your body will have more than enough glycogen reserves to cope with energy needs. (Assuming you had a decent dinner the night before)

    Most commonly the feelings you describe are due to over exertion. Are your workouts mostly cardio or strength training? If cardio, you might consider wearing an HRM and learning what your HR zones are.

    Have you told your trainer how you feel? If so what did he/she say?
  • andeey
    andeey Posts: 709 Member
    Used to have this problem, too, and found a Kind bar wasn't cutting it for pre-workout. Try mixing up what you're eating before the workout to see if that helps. Not everyone can handle working on an empty stomach.
  • quellybelly
    quellybelly Posts: 827 Member
    edited October 2014
    I also do fasted workouts, and eat only a banana or granola bar beforehand - less than 130 cals. Nothing wrong with that, but you might not be eating enough overall. I used to get nauseous and dizzy after my workouts when I wasn't eating enough throughout the day. Once I started eating more, I felt a lot better! I didn't necessarily have to eat more BEFORE my workout (eating too much beforehand gives me a stomach ache) but eating the right amount the day before has really helped. Good luck!
  • rprussell2004
    rprussell2004 Posts: 870 Member
    edited October 2014
    ELECTROLYTES.

    DEHYDRATION.

    Solution: Drink gatorade. (Or your preferred version.)

    You need fluids, potassium, sodium and magnesium.
  • Maybe discuss this with your trainer. He/She may have some ideas of how to help with this and if you are being over-exerted...they need to be aware of it.
  • Sounds like a blood sugar issue. Blood glucose meters are cheap. U might check ur blood sugar during one of these episodes just to see where you stand. Some gatorade would help with that as well as any electrolyte imbalance.
  • schnicklefritz1
    schnicklefritz1 Posts: 130 Member
    This used to happen to me as well. I started drinking electrolytes during the work out and I try to get a protein shake in about an hour before my work outs(150 calories). This has helped me a lot. Good luck and don't give up working out. Sweat is fat crying, just remember!!! ;)
  • wildeyezz
    wildeyezz Posts: 84 Member
    After my first training with a personal trainer I felt like I was just going to drop on the floor. I couldn't feel my legs and I was lightheaded. But after that I was fine. Make sure you are well hydrated and fueled up. It will not always be like this. Hang in there!
  • dcresider
    dcresider Posts: 1,272 Member
    Sounds like hunger and dehydration. No need to eat 600 calories. Just have a small bagel with peanut butter and a few sliced of banana and water or eletrolytes.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    you may not be getting enough fuel/energy from your diet overall, big picture. eating a bar before a workout is a good habit, but if you are underfueled over all, or aren't getting enough iron or something, then you're taking an Aleve to heal a broken bone. I would take a look and see how much Im eating over a week and how much of my nutrients I am getting and compare it to how many calories I burn each day, including stuff before and after work. See what kind of balance I am looking at. If Im eating enough, I'll perhaps try getting more sleep and taking an iron pill for awhile. If that still doesn't work, I'd try switching around the timing of my workouts. There are lots of ways to figure it out, but trial and error is your friend, just as in most things you'll need to figure out in this awesome addiction called fitness.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    dcresider wrote: »
    Sounds like hunger and dehydration. No need to eat 600 calories. Just have a small bagel with peanut butter and a few sliced of banana and water or eletrolytes.

    That's like...600 calories. or at least 450.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    But I live in NYC so I don't know what you mean by "small bagel"
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    But I live in NYC so I don't know what you mean by "small bagel"


    same.

    Brooklyn bagels = size of your face.

    do you mean those mini frozen section ones?
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    gothchiq wrote: »
    I think you are working out too hard at the outset. Do something easier and ramp up slowly. If you push your body too hard too soon you will certainly feel shaky and barfy. I have been there!

    But...then you get over it.

    Yup, and sometimes you don't, so you throw up. Then get back to the work out. It's not the end of the world.
  • kCalCrusher
    kCalCrusher Posts: 54 Member
    LMAO at these comments. I'll play around a bit and see what happens. Considering I've been a lazy slug for the last year I don't expect it to be easy. I just don't want the PT to have a need to use his defibrillator for the first time. Thanks, all!!