Crashing after a workout--is this what it looks like?

castelluzzo99
castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
First, you can see my diary. I'm currently trying to eat at a deficit, but I'm also doing P90X, and I'm trying to make sure I eat enough to not crash after a workout. I'm just finishing the second week, and so far it has been good. I've got more energy and am sleeping well. I usually work out in the evening, and finish around an hour before bed, which is usually enough time for me to relax and unwind before bed. I'm usually very sleepy by bedtime!

Anyhow, yesterday I got mixed up on my calories for my meals and ate more than I usually do for lunch. So I wasn't hungry for supper and skipped it. After my workout, because my calorie count was so close to a 500-calorie deficit (just a little bit more than that), I didn't have anything after my workout (which was Legs & Back--lots of squats, lunges, and leg-assisted pull-ups). I checked to make sure meals were ready for the next day (minor prep like soaking beans), sat down and planned a week's menu (about half an hour), then got ready for bed. I was really sleepy by bedtime, sleepy and tired.

In the morning, I had the hardest time waking up, even though I had slept enough hours, and I just felt like I hadn't slept well--I was dragging all through my early morning routine. And I was up about an hour late too, in spite of only being 10 minutes late for bed. I had no energy, and took about twice as long to do anything until about an hour after breakfast. Then my energy returned and the rest of the day went normally, though I did have a little residual tiredness, just not as bad as before breakfast.

I'm just wondering if this is what crashing after a workout is like. In hindsight I think I should have had something--even if it was just a couple of prunes or a half a glass of juice. But I didn't have anything, because I wasn't really hungry and I was so tired. If I had eaten normally for lunch I would have had something, because I burned enough calories in the 45 minutes I worked out to justify at least 100-150 extra calories, maybe 200. Today I did Kenpo X (in the late afternoon--Fridays I can't work out in the evening), and then I had a smoothie, and I feel great now!

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced something like that.

Replies

  • castelluzzo99
    castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
    Well? Anyone?
  • DesertGunR
    DesertGunR Posts: 187 Member
    In a way it was a crash. The body might not have had enough to work with for a proper recovery. Then again it could be just a bad nights sleep. It's one of those 50/50 things. Some days and nights are better than others. All of us no matter how elite, have bad days.

    If you feel it was a mistake to eat to much at lunch that day that caused it, then try and plan out better lunch portions in the future. As well as providing yourself some good protein to eat, whether you feel like eating or not, for recovery afterwards. If, despite better lunches and post workout recovery eating you are still experiencing bad night sleeps and early morning difficulties. Since you are most likely intensifying your workouts as you continue into PX90, there is also the possibility that you may now need more than the hour of "wind down" time before actually going to bed. You may also have to adjust what you have for breakfast on bad mornings to provide a quicker recovery to get on with your day.

    Try not to let this get you down. Keep an eye on it, so to speak, and adjust accordingly. Realize that as you intensify your workouts what worked for nutrition, recovery time and sleep time will change. What worked for the last two, three or four weeks may not work now. The body is changing in more ways than one.

    Good Luck!
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    edited May 2015
    castelluzzo99 wrote: »
    I'm just wondering if this is what crashing after a workout is like.

    You didn't bonk or what you might have heard described as hitting the wall. Something like that would need you to be training for in the order of three to four hours, and burning 3000-4000 calories.

    However I suspect your deficit may be a bit aggressive and you've just got a bit worn out.

    fwiw the times I have bonked have been out for a ride for 5 hours or so without any fuel.



  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Way to many variables to know.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories