Is it normal to feel sick when starting an exercise routine?

miam4nia
miam4nia Posts: 137 Member
edited October 2 in Fitness and Exercise
Some other times I've tried to start exercise routines I just give up after a week because I end up feeling really sick!
This time I've felt like I've just had the flu, but I'm going to push through it and not give up my new healthy habit.

I was just wondering if there were other people out there who felt this way when they first started to exercise, and if so, when does it start getting better?

Replies

  • Elaineheikura
    Elaineheikura Posts: 28 Member
    How much are you exercising?

    Elaine
  • jennajava
    jennajava Posts: 2,176 Member
    Your sugar may be getting low. Drink a protein shake or something like that just before you exercise.
    ********************I would see a doctor though. That sounds very out of the ordinary.*************************
  • mccrockl
    mccrockl Posts: 55 Member
    Although I would second the "see a doctor" advice, I would also ask if you are taking supplemental vitamins. My boyfriend works out a lot and if he forgets to take his for a couple of days he gets sluggish and feels horrible.
  • miam4nia
    miam4nia Posts: 137 Member
    Well the first day was pretty hardcore, I did a couple of classes PLUS walked on the treadmill for half an hour....which was when i started feeling very sick. But since then all I've been doing is 1 hr on the treadmill, 5 k/hr speed per day....but I still feel sick.

    I was just wondering if this was normal...like your body's way of detoxing when you began eating right/working out?????? could this be a possibility?
  • Vegan_Chick
    Vegan_Chick Posts: 474 Member
    Drink some sort of high carb drink before/during your workout. I mix lemon juice, lime juice, agave, and 3 dates in water and sip on it. Its keeps your fuel going. I would not recommend drinking a protein shake before a workout. Cramps will form and you will get even sicker. Drink a protein shake after you work out for best results.
  • momma_roo
    momma_roo Posts: 146 Member
    I was feeling sick during exercise and after a few months I found out I was lactose intolerant. It had nothing to do with the exercise. Make sure you're eating enough and drinking enough water. If you aren't getting enough calories or hydration that could also be why. Don't give up on exercise it will make you feel so much better in the end!
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    Figuring out when you eat and when you exercise is different for everyone.

    Some folks claim they can only exercise on empty stomach. Some need a little of something, and some folks do their best after a meal.

    Make sure you have enough water, and I agree with the supplement advice. Sometimes our foods do not provide all the nutrition we need and a multivitamin can help pick up the slack.
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
    There are many times that I push myself too much during my workouts, and find myself not drinking water during the workouts. Those are the times I feel like "OMG I'm going to barf all over myself...." and later, after I've cooled down (maybe an hour or two), I feel like I'm just still nauseated, kinda like a low blood sugar attack. I have to kind of play mind tricks with myself. I drink at least 1 bottle of water during my workout, and immediately after, I drink a Crystal Light-mixed bottle of water, usually the Orange drink. I trick my tastebuds into thinking I'm drinking orange juice (one of my downfalls), and I also get an extra 2 servings of water in. I also make sure that I eat at least 90 minutes before, OR after I work out, so my body doesn't get too hungry, which can also make me feel a bit sick sometimes.

    If this feeling of "sick" can hinder you to where you actually don't exercise as much as you'd like, once again, seeing the doctor is a good idea.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    Some other times I've tried to start exercise routines I just give up after a week because I end up feeling really sick!
    This time I've felt like I've just had the flu, but I'm going to push through it and not give up my new healthy habit.

    I was just wondering if there were other people out there who felt this way when they first started to exercise, and if so, when does it start getting better?

    If you just started it might be too intense right now. And it's new to the body. The body is seeing it as stress and that will lower your immune system. Start easy and work your way up. If you are sick don't push through it. Your body is trying to tell you that it doesn't like what you are doing to it.
  • xinahay123
    xinahay123 Posts: 63
    sounds like your blood sugar is dropping (happens to me occasionally now, but more often when I first started working out). Eating carbs before a workout should help (think complex, not simple) I also find eating a banana to be helpful before I workout, and a protein shake after very helpful. Don't give up!! You can do this!
  • xinahay123
    xinahay123 Posts: 63
    oh and hydrate hydrate hydrate. Maybe ease up on the cardio too. Ease yourself into it, let your body adjust, exercise should make you feel good, not like puking!! ;0)
  • tmiqueen
    tmiqueen Posts: 254 Member
    When I started to exercise, I started with 5 minutes of walking. When I finished, my legs were hurting so badly that it felt like someone was taking a railroad spike and hammering it into my calves with a sledgehammer. Within a week of doing it on a regular basis, it finally subsided and now it doesn't bother me unless I push myself further.

    I also used to feel short of breath and like throwing up when I first started running (back when I was still able to run), but after my lungs and body got used to the shock of actually being USED, it started going away, but it'll still flare up during a new or harder exercise.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I think you might be overdoing it a bit! Two classes plus walking on the treadmill?! I'm exhausted just reading that! How about taking it slow and building up - just one class or just walking on the treadmill each day. Then once you feel like you need more of a challenge, bump it up and add another class or start walking faster/running. Doing so much without letting your body adjust will definitely cause you to feel run down! Those kinds of symptoms are your body's way of saying "what the hell are you doing to me?!". :)

    Also, make sure you're eating enough, eating properly and staying hydrated. Hunger and dehydration will contribute to that run down feeling as well.
  • rmansfel
    rmansfel Posts: 1 Member
    I've also found that eating a banana before I workout helps me a lot during a workout. You also may be feeling sick because your heart rate is climbing too high while you are exercising. When I first started working out, I would start feeling sick when my heart rate would climb above 150. Now after 6 months, I can do most of my workout with my heart rate in the 150-160 range. So maybe back off a bit on the intensity until you get into better shape. I highly recommend purchasing a Polar heart rate watch/monitor. It will help you know if you are working out too hard or not hard enough based on your heart rate.
  • Navmachine
    Navmachine Posts: 63
    a high amount of excersize on the first go can make you feel a little queezy...i'd suggest getting your body used to a workout by building up to intensity and time to avoid that.
  • miam4nia
    miam4nia Posts: 137 Member
    Wow! First of all I'd like to thank everyone for the valuable advice....

    I am on a low carb diet...so could it possibly be that my blood sugar is too low? How do I raise my blood sugar without overdoing it with the carbs?!?! I have been drinking a lot of water, and my food diary is public.
  • katya143
    katya143 Posts: 313 Member
    FOR ME THIS IS THE CASE!!!!!! Yesterday i ran on the treadmill for 45 minutes, bet 5.5-7.2 mph and I got off the thing and almost threw up!!! I guesss it depends on how hard i push myself!
  • r121567
    r121567 Posts: 23 Member
    miam4nia:
    How long did it take for you get past the felling ill.
    I understand what you were were describing = not nauseated, more like a general unwell feeling. I had that the 3-4th day I started really working out. I literally felt like I had the flu - muscle aches (of course), stiffness, headache, even ringing in my ears one evening. I am pretty sure I was dehydrated the first week so now I am drinking a least a gallon of water a day. Over the weekend I didn't do my normal exercise, instead I walked on the elliptical - when I resumed my normal routine, I was back to that all over achy feeling.
    I am assuming that my body is in shock and my fat cells are revolting!
  • Weight_less
    Weight_less Posts: 102 Member
    I feel sick when I'm starting to run. Especially in the morning! I can't stand that feeling. So I quit running... I do other exercises like bike, dancing, lifting weights, walking.. And feel good.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    Wow! First of all I'd like to thank everyone for the valuable advice....

    I am on a low carb diet...so could it possibly be that my blood sugar is too low? How do I raise my blood sugar without overdoing it with the carbs?!?! I have been drinking a lot of water, and my food diary is public.

    Low carb makes me feel like garbage all the time, but especially when working out. Carbs are for energy, if you're not getting enough your workouts are going to suck.
  • sl1ngsh0t
    sl1ngsh0t Posts: 326 Member
    this happens to me and I try and push past it for as long as I can. Over time I discovered that a lot of it was tied to how soon I was eating before exercising (especially when running) and how much water I was consuming (wasn't enough).

    I'd recommend doing what you can and not overdoing it. Push as hard as you can, challenge your limits, but know when to stop before you take it too far. You have to start somewhere. The pain will go away if you just don't quit.
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