Uh...bowel...issues during exercise

smelliefeet
smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
edited December 3 in Health and Weight Loss
Sorry if this is graphic, but I was wondering if anyone else had this issue. It's not something I need to go to a doctor for (I've worked in the medical field for 7 years, and I've never been diagnosed with any medical problem or any medical issues)

Sometimes when I really push myself during workouts I feel really good & energetic, and sometimes I feel very lethargic and like my body is working against me. Today was one of those days. I continue to try to push my body to exercise, even though I feel like my legs are led weights, and then it ALWAYS happens, in the middle of my work out (usually 20 minutes in) I have INTENSE stomach pains and I have to run to the bathroom, and 15 minutes later (on the... ehm...toilet) I feel exhausted like I just ran a marathon.

What gives?! I drink the same amount of water every day, I only have 1 cup of coffee per day, I work out around the same time, and I've been doing similar exercise for the past several weeks (I am alternating P90X workouts - i'm not doing them as the routine states I'm alternating them with 40-minute cardio like running or elliptical some days and then purely weight lifting other days)

Usually the cramps come on when I'm doing intense cardio, like on my 40-minute runs when I am sprinting.

It happened again today, and now I definitely can't finish my workout. I feel dizzy/lightheaded and I'm just drinking water and I'm going to lay down for the rest of the day.

Let me add - I am TOTALLY regular! I go #2 the same time each morning and a very good consistency... haha. And I usually go 1-2 times a day, totally normal. That's why these exercise emergencies are alarming to me.

My diary is open if anyone wants to take a peek. I weigh my food and try to track as religiously as possible!

Thanks in advance for any insight <3
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Replies

  • Rach0792
    Rach0792 Posts: 44 Member
    Sorry if this sounds dumb of me but Do you usually go to the toilet before workouts too? If not then have you tried waiting to do your exercise after you have been to the toilet that day?
  • Spliner1969
    Spliner1969 Posts: 3,233 Member
    There were a couple of things I had to work on when I first started my journey to fitness. First was my fiber intake. I wasn't getting half of what I needed. Second was my water intake, I wasn't getting a 3rd of what I needed. Once I fixed those two things it made me very regular. As in every morning when I get up I drink a cup of coffee and then a pre-workout drink and have no issues going to the bathroom before my workout. It took a couple months, and if I slack off on water intake or fiber intake at all it can screw up my rhythm. Too much sodium can also do it because you'll need 2x the water that day to compensate or your body just absorbs it trying to flush out the sodium. Anyway, just a thought. I dunno about being lethargic unless it's just a symptom of constipation for you, but you may want to think about coffee or a pre-workout if it helps as well. Get a gallon container of water and make damn sure you drink it each day and start tracking fiber with MFP, I don't track sugar so that fiber shows up at the bottom of my diary and I can keep an eye on it.
  • smelliefeet
    smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
    Let me add - I am TOTALLY regular! I go #2 the same time each morning and a very good consistency... haha. And I usually go 1-2 times a day, totally normal. That's why these exercise emergencies are alarming to me.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    1. Your fiber intake is low. I see no (as far as I know) source of insoluble fiber in the most recent 3 days. You had constipation, it's even possible with daily regularity. But also you had a bowel mass that was moving slowly through your gut. Something about your physical activity stimulated your bowels to move.
  • smelliefeet
    smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
    JeromeBarry1 wrote: »
    1. Your fiber intake is low. I see no (as far as I know) source of insoluble fiber in the most recent 3 days. You had constipation, it's even possible with daily regularity. But also you had a bowel mass that was moving slowly through your gut. Something about your physical activity stimulated your bowels to move.

    I am going to have to flatly disagree. I eat A LOT of fruits and veggies daily. Like, that's the basis of my entire diet. If I eat an egg or some yogurt or tunafish, there's always a fruit / several veggies I eat alongside it. I eat celery almost every day, even if I may not log it (tryin' my best).

    I don't know that I agree about the constipation... I mean, I wish I could have taken a picture of the TWO bowel movements I had before exercising today... and the two yesterday. I mean, they were... substantial. I am lactose intolerant and the last time I drank milk I got constipated and it was a similar pain in the stomach. I have not had milk in a long time. I wonder if I have some other food intolerance and that might be what is bringing on these bouts?
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    Could it be an electrolyte issue/dehydration? muscle weakness and cramping and diarrhea are symptoms of it.
  • Kelll12123
    Kelll12123 Posts: 212 Member
    I'm an avid runner and I have this problem sometimes. For me, it's eating before the workout. How soon do you exercise after eating? Some people are more sensitive than others. I have to wait almost two hours after eating anything at all.
  • itsbasschick
    itsbasschick Posts: 1,584 Member
    i've had similar problems when eating too many fruits, veggies and fiber.
  • smelliefeet
    smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
    1. My first inclination was dehydration, but I drink lots of water on a regular basis and my pee is clear!
    2. I prefer eating on an empty stomach but if I have to wait until the afternoon to run, I also wait at least two hours to run after I eat.
    3. THIS is actually accurate sounding. Like I said, the majority of what I eat are fruits and veggies, but I don't plan on changing that any time soon. I feel my solution may be just deal with it when it happens and try not to let it set me back.
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    Maybe consult your doctor?
  • curlsintherack
    curlsintherack Posts: 465 Member
    about 2 weeks ago I nearly went code brown on a run. I made it in the house walking on tiptoe with my cheeks clenched.
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    I sometimes fart when I run...
  • smelliefeet
    smelliefeet Posts: 71 Member
    It's really comforting to know that this happens to lots of people. It sounds like it's not actually a problem - it's just something that happens sometimes and it's largely unavoidable. Bodies are mysterious things!
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    I think the key is your statement "when I really push myself"... Stop pushing yourself quite so hard...

    This article is from Runner's World, but it's pertinent to what you are experiencing as well.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/injury-treatment/skip-the-pit-stops
  • samanthak1213
    samanthak1213 Posts: 1 Member
    I used to be a runner and after my last race 2 years ago I developed bad cramps and couldn't get off the floor and couldn't stop going to the bathroom. I didn't exercise for a week after and then as soon as I went to the gym bam! I had to run to the bathroom. It only was when I ran. Even it was 5 minutes. I stopped running and switched to other forms of cardio and eventually it started happening anytime I got my heart rate to a certain point. I was exhausted all the time and got up to going to the bathroom 30 times a day and went from 120 to 98lbs which seemed to be almost overnight. I went to the doctor and they did blood tests and couldn't find anything for 8 months. Finally I had a colonoscopy and they told me I developed microscopic colitis which was exercise induced. I learned how to manage it today but sometimes jump roping or something similar still irritates me. If I go running I have to take an anti diherea pill! Haha. Hope this helps
  • bladebiker
    bladebiker Posts: 133 Member
    This is very common in runners, I've had it myself take a look at this link. http://running.competitor.com/2014/03/training/why-do-i-have-to-poop-when-i-run_70934
  • callumwalker1995
    callumwalker1995 Posts: 389 Member
    Put it this way, don't squat if you need to go for a number two either, very nearly had a bad experience after having severe cramps. I had been constipated for about 4 days. Your issue really sounds quite normal tbh, my sister always says she needs the toilet when she runs - she does 10k
  • fireytiger
    fireytiger Posts: 236 Member
    Happens to me too. Doesn't matter what I do, about 5-10 mins into my walk/run I often end up feeling that horrible cramping and need to rush home for a bathroom. And even worse, sometimes it's just gas! :( Full disclosure, I do have IBS, so that's part of it. The other part can be what I've eaten recently. The worst experience I had was a couple hours after eating a LOT of steamed broccoli. I was laid up in bed afterwards for the rest of the evening with stomach cramps and gas. :/ I'm sure you wanted to know all about that though hahaha. :D
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Redbeard333 wrote: »
    I sometimes fart when I run...

    Does it sound like a machine gun? :lol:
  • charlieandcarol
    charlieandcarol Posts: 302 Member
    Really common running issue. This lady Beth writes an entertaining blog and the subject often comes up

    http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/05/how-to-not-crap-yourself-on-run.html

    Be warned if you don't like the words fart, shart or poop you probably won't find her blogs amusing but she does include some practical tips to try.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    You guys are really scaring me. I have my first 5k coming up in 2 weeks :)
  • Neanbean13
    Neanbean13 Posts: 211 Member
    Honestly go to a doctor? Everyone here is just guessing.
  • mitch16
    mitch16 Posts: 2,113 Member
    johunt615 wrote: »
    You guys are really scaring me. I have my first 5k coming up in 2 weeks :)

    I have never had an issue during any of my runs/races. Butterflies and a nervous stomach, sure--but try to keep your daily constitution before your race. If you didn't read the articles essentially the gist is that your body is worrying so much about controlling your heart rate and keep your other muscles moving that your digestive tract runs awry.

    If you don't already wear a heart rate monitor, it's a pretty good idea... (Do not test it out for the first time at your race though.) If you are forcing your heart rate into the 90%+ range, you might start to feel some symptoms. Like I said, I never get digestive issues--if I overdo it (more likely during spinning class then running), I end up with a migraine. After a while of wearing a HRM you'll actually be able to correlate your heart rate and your perceived exertion/physical symptoms so you know how hard you can actually go without running into trouble.
  • Mini_Medic
    Mini_Medic Posts: 343 Member
    I've had this, typically after or during running. I always get my daily constitutional in, but I still get stomach cramps and diarrhea, and I have correlated it to low sodium, which I do accidentally by drinking too much water and flushing it out. Just an idea...
  • nof60
    nof60 Posts: 8 Member
    This is an absolutely natural reptile brain reaction to vigourous exercise. All animals void their bowels before and during run to "lighten the load". Your reptile brain is mistaking the endorphin rush from vigourous cardio esp sprint exercises for a flight fight response and triggering your body to spike adrenaline. You may feel giddy, excited, unfocussed and jumpy at the start of the exercise or at the warmup. This adreniline dump causes your bowels to empty and the adrenaline crash is what you are experiencing while on the toilet or when you stop the exercise causing the feelings of dizziness after. Its a brain trick thing.
    The Cure???
    Re wire your brain I guess. Back away from the sprinting / super intense cardio for a bit. Do slow jogging, walking etc instead. Longer duration at a much lower rate. Change the time you do the exercise. After stretching and warmup maybe sit down and force yourself into 10 minutes of deep breathing and meditation. If you feel the cramps or any other stress responses stop and sit down doing deep breathing. Go through your regular warm up to do sprints and then go lift or something else a few times. The only way to get rid of this is to change it up and rewire your response to the stimuli.
  • Samanthor
    Samanthor Posts: 85 Member
    I experience this, too, but I have lots of "urgency" issues and actually am headed into the doctor tomorrow for a colonoscopy which I suspect will end in an IBS diagnosis. Good luck to you!
  • Redbeard333
    Redbeard333 Posts: 381 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Redbeard333 wrote: »
    I sometimes fart when I run...

    Does it sound like a machine gun? :lol:

    More like a "braat.... braat.... braat...." On my treadmill in the basement, not a big problem. Out in the real world? Gotta check my surroundings first!
  • grinning_chick
    grinning_chick Posts: 765 Member
    Whatever you do, OP, just don't be like this woman:

    http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/caught-on-camera-runner-repeatedly-targets-home-with-feces/21026628

  • missemmibelle
    missemmibelle Posts: 100 Member
    charlieandcarol wrote: »
    Really common running issue. This lady Beth writes an entertaining blog and the subject often comes up

    http://www.shutupandrun.net/2012/05/how-to-not-crap-yourself-on-run.html

    Be warned if you don't like the words fart, shart or poop you probably won't find her blogs amusing but she does include some practical tips to try.

    Oh god, and the comments too! Funniest blog I've read ever.

    *kitten* happens. I can think of three occasions where I was far away from home and in full panic mode because I needed to go so bad!

    Therefore, I plan my routes to include public bathrooms. Gas stations, community colleges, fast food places, etc. And I usually run at dusk or at night.

    I'm not qualified to remark on source of the cramps or your nutrition but jogging does seem to make #2 a much more urgent situation than it usually is. Hope you find a solution soon :)
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