Q for fitness experts (men's) re lightheadedness

Does he normally have problems with pain in his legs or swelling? Sometimes a person can have a problem with leg circulation ... If he's eating as you say, and it continues to happen, I'd absolutely have a doc check it out.... Have him keep a diary of what he eats and times, fluid intake and times, and his physiological response to the different exercises for a week..... That will help the doc if it continues and he needs to be seen.... Linda/RN

The simple answer is usually the right answer.

Without knowing his goals, or how qualified the trainer is.. I think doing weight lifting first is he answer.

@Koos: he had been doing the cardio before weights but today I asked him to mix it up a bit and also not to put so much stress on one muscle group at a time. The trainer who created the plan is trying to make him work harder and work each muscle group to exhaustion consecutively so for eg, upper body cardio exercises and upper body strength are together. I don't think he has enough time to recover between exercises or muscle groups so I tried to get him to break up the weights training with cardio to give it a rest in between. He didn't listen though! I've tried to point out that doing the exercise at full intensity and then a) not completing the workout and b) being completely unable to do anything else the rest of the day is not helpful. Any more ideas?

@Linda: thanks for your reply. He has had some trouble with cardiac arrythmia in the past caused by uncontrolled oesophagitis but unless there is something he isn't telling me I don't think it's that. No problems with the legs other than running injuries. It's very peculiar. I think I'll make an appointment at the dr for him.

It sounds like you are dealing with a couple of donkeys here--the "trainer" and your boyfriend. I don't care how young he is, or even if he is reasonably fit, to put a beginner on a program like you describe is stupid. The proof is in the results--how is feeling lightheaded and sick a good thing?

I have worked with clients from the age of 12 through 90. There is one priniciple that always applies to starting a workout program--you always start and initially stay at a level that you can comfortably tolerate. No matter how low the exercise level is, that's where you start. After that, you can increase according to your level of adaptation. You don't get results any more quickly by beating yourself up at the beginning. It takes a certain amount of time--different for each person--to adpat to a new routine. That can be hard for people to accept--someone who is motivated and has a "program" from a "trainer" wants to start strong and see quick results. Unfortunately, that is often the exact wrong thing to do.

The only way you can tell whether this is a physical problem or just a bad workout strategy is to drop everything down to a basic level and see how it goes.

I have had experiences where people do have specific problems with a leg press or squats. Basically, some people either hold their breath or physically struggle with redistributing blood flow after that type of heavy exercise exertion. Once again, the solution is the same--you start off with a level of weight that you can tolerate, no matter how low, and work up gradually.

I read somewhere that the fitness benefit from a workout starts dropping off after 45 minutes. 75 Minutes seems like a long time, especially for a beginner.