Headaches after working out?

srhdwll
srhdwll Posts: 65
edited September 27 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this but I just want to see if anyone else has any insight. :)

I do an hour of cardio 5x a week. 35 minutes on the elliptical and then 25 on the treadmill. I leave my water in my car and drink 20 oz on my 5 minute drive home. I don't drink any water at all during my workout.

I have been leaving the gym with a killer headache for about 2 weeks now, every day. Dehydrated? I workout in the morning after coffee and breakfast and at least 2 16 oz glasses of water before I even leave for the gym.

Replies

  • Kirsty_UK
    Kirsty_UK Posts: 964 Member
    I think you already know the answer ;)
  • srhdwll
    srhdwll Posts: 65
    I think you already know the answer ;)

    LOL, I think so too!! I just don't like the answer!! I have the smallest bladder ever and I don't want to break the momentum I get going in my workouts. :sad:
  • TrailerM
    TrailerM Posts: 17
    Exactly, more water.

    I used to get monster headaches every few days. Now, I have started drinking anywhere from 64 - 96 oz a day, and havent had a headache since. I think I read a stat that most headaches are because of dehydration.
  • Fleur933
    Fleur933 Posts: 156 Member
    try having water an hour or so before you go. also....sometimes potassium is an issue. eat a banana on workoutday. My sister swears this cuts her head and muscle aches alot.
  • TheGoktor
    TheGoktor Posts: 1,138 Member
    I'd also save the coffee until after the workout - it might help you be less dehydrated.
  • srhdwll
    srhdwll Posts: 65
    try having water an hour or so before you go. also....sometimes potassium is an issue. eat a banana on workoutday. My sister swears this cuts her head and muscle aches alot.

    Oh, great idea! I drink about 32 oz before working out and 20 oz after, maybe potassium is my issue!
  • TheGoktor
    TheGoktor Posts: 1,138 Member
    try having water an hour or so before you go. also....sometimes potassium is an issue. eat a banana on workoutday. My sister swears this cuts her head and muscle aches alot.

    That's interesting, I wonder if that would help with my leg muscles when I jog? Thanks for the tip - I shall try that tomorrow! :bigsmile:
  • JesaGrace
    JesaGrace Posts: 799 Member
    I'd also save the coffee until after the workout - it might help you be less dehydrated.

    I think maybe coffee afterward would help as well......that's a big thing in all this HYDRATE HYDRATE HYDRATE!!
  • spirited_angel
    spirited_angel Posts: 142
    try having water an hour or so before you go. also....sometimes potassium is an issue. eat a banana on workoutday. My sister swears this cuts her head and muscle aches alot.
    Completly agree,i drink water throughtout my workouts and eat a banana afterwards,and i dont get headaches anywhere near as much!!
  • srhdwll
    srhdwll Posts: 65
    There is no way that I can save the coffee until afterwards. I tried that the first week I was going to the gym in the mornings (I used to go at midnight when I got out of work) and it was not pretty or fun.
  • wheelieblade
    wheelieblade Posts: 323
    If you only have a small bladder would be better to wait and have the coffee after your workout coz its a diauretic
  • flash53
    flash53 Posts: 46 Member
    Yep your dehaydrated. I have a small bladder too. Don't drink coffee before or after a workout it can dehydrate you. Just at least sip on the water while working out. You don't want to pass out from beaing dehydrated or worst case senario have cardic arrest.
  • ilsie99
    ilsie99 Posts: 259
    Your problem is that you are severely dehydrating and then rehydrating immediately. Your brains natural defense mechanism is to store all of that 20 oz of water you are drinking on the car ride home, so your brain cells are swelling up to 2-3x their normal size. Try to GRADUALLY rehydrate yourself after your workout, not all at once.

    I know it sounds counterintuitive, but there really is science behind it.
  • TheGoktor
    TheGoktor Posts: 1,138 Member
    There is no way that I can save the coffee until afterwards. I tried that the first week I was going to the gym in the mornings (I used to go at midnight when I got out of work) and it was not pretty or fun.

    And that seems like the perfect reason to *not* have it beforehand! If you're saying you *can't* do that, it sounds as though there's a caffeine addiction, which is really not good... How badly you want to be healthy and free of headaches? Being healthy isn't just about eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise!
  • srhdwll
    srhdwll Posts: 65
    There is no way that I can save the coffee until afterwards. I tried that the first week I was going to the gym in the mornings (I used to go at midnight when I got out of work) and it was not pretty or fun.

    And that seems like the perfect reason to *not* have it beforehand! If you're saying you *can't* do that, it sounds as though there's a caffeine addiction, which is really not good... How badly you want to be healthy and free of headaches? Being healthy isn't just about eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise!

    There is no possible way for me to give up my one cup of coffee in the morning, that one cup used to be an entire pot of coffee. I work late and get up early with my daughter, I average about 6 hours of sleep on a good day.
  • TheGoktor
    TheGoktor Posts: 1,138 Member
    There is no way that I can save the coffee until afterwards. I tried that the first week I was going to the gym in the mornings (I used to go at midnight when I got out of work) and it was not pretty or fun.

    And that seems like the perfect reason to *not* have it beforehand! If you're saying you *can't* do that, it sounds as though there's a caffeine addiction, which is really not good... How badly you want to be healthy and free of headaches? Being healthy isn't just about eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise!

    There is no possible way for me to give up my one cup of coffee in the morning, that one cup used to be an entire pot of coffee. I work late and get up early with my daughter, I average about 6 hours of sleep on a good day.

    How is it not possible? Will you actually die without coffee before gym? Will the world implode?!

    Surely you mean that you're not prepared to give it up, or that you don't want to? If your life depended on not having coffee until after the gym, you'd soon do it! You've done really well to cut down thus far, so if you really are determined to get rid of these headaches, and genuinely want to, you're more than capable of doing whatever it takes to be pain-free! I'm not saying you are making excuses but you *did* ask for advice!

    And not to sound like a smug git, but I generally work between 12 and 16 hours a day, have around 4-6 hours sleep (am usually up at 6am, and have just started doing c25k at 7.30am); I rarely drink coffee or any caffeine, yet I can function perfectly well!

    If you really want something badly enough, you'll do whatever it takes.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    Your problem is that you are severely dehydrating and then rehydrating immediately. Your brains natural defense mechanism is to store all of that 20 oz of water you are drinking on the car ride home, so your brain cells are swelling up to 2-3x their normal size. Try to GRADUALLY rehydrate yourself after your workout, not all at once.

    I know it sounds counterintuitive, but there really is science behind it.

    This! Except I'd say that it is the vascular system in general that is swelling.

    With Cardio, you naturally retain fluids during and just after (you notice your heart rate monitor straps getting tight?)

    Migraines are caused by vasodilation. Often stimulated by exercise. Then you are adding even more fluid right after exercise. It's best to hydrate all during the exercise - not in big chunks before and after.

    Potassium is great for muscle recovery, never thought about it for vasodilation, but it makes total sense.


    Would you rather go to the bathroom or have a headache? You will probably find you are able to make it through your one hour of cardio. Try it! Sips, two to four ounces at a time - not 20 ounce chugs :laugh:
  • srhdwll
    srhdwll Posts: 65
    Your problem is that you are severely dehydrating and then rehydrating immediately. Your brains natural defense mechanism is to store all of that 20 oz of water you are drinking on the car ride home, so your brain cells are swelling up to 2-3x their normal size. Try to GRADUALLY rehydrate yourself after your workout, not all at once.

    I know it sounds counterintuitive, but there really is science behind it.

    This! Except I'd say that it is the vascular system in general that is swelling.

    With Cardio, you naturally retain fluids during and just after (you notice your heart rate monitor straps getting tight?)

    Migraines are caused by vasodilation. Often stimulated by exercise. Then you are adding even more fluid right after exercise. It's best to hydrate all during the exercise - not in big chunks before and after.

    Potassium is great for muscle recovery, never thought about it for vasodilation, but it makes total sense.


    Would you rather go to the bathroom or have a headache? You will probably find you are able to make it through your one hour of cardio. Try it! Sips, two to four ounces at a time - not 20 ounce chugs :laugh:

    Awesome! Thanks!! I forgot to bring my water into the gym yesterday out of habit, but I will try this. :)
  • ilsie99
    ilsie99 Posts: 259
    Also, no need to give up the coffee. There's not enough diuretic effect for it to make any difference, and there are plenty of studies done with distance runners that show that it positively affects performance. Not to mention positively affecting your mood.
  • SimonJKT
    SimonJKT Posts: 1
    I am having more headaches when taking whey protein and my urine is much more yellow than usual. I think I need to drink more water. Great advice. Thankyou.
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