We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
A Shaky felling
jenniejengin
Posts: 784 Member
Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
0
Replies
-
Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?0 -
do you feel incredibly hungry with this shaky feeling?0
-
Hi there - I think I can help shed some light on the shaky feeling you're having. I don't know what you're eating before your workouts. But it's possible that you may not have enough glycogen in your muscles before you workout and/or you're having a little bit of a low blood sugar thing. I know that if I don't eat enough carbohydrates before my workout then I'll get that shaky feeling during the workout. So depending upon what your workouts are try eating about an hour before working out something like toast with peanut butter or some kind of healthy granola bar or something that can boost your blood sugar a bit.
Try that and see if it helps.0 -
I am new to this healthy eating thing. I always ate junk foods/candy. I am learning about carbs and things of that nature. I have always had a hard time eating over 800 calories or more. I am finally eating about 1200 or more this past week. I be thinking that I need to add more sugar, I don't know. I do not eat junk foods much anymore. I really can not explain the feeling. I just know that it is not right.0
-
I have gotten a shaky feeling if I haven't eaten. You need to eat more calories and it should go away.0
-
I wonder if you are eating TOO MUCH sugar at one time. A spike in sugar intake will cause an insulin spike. When you exercise, you use up all that sugar and then there's too much insulin.0
-
I know that I do seem to be hungry all the time. I have a very very hard time trying to keep up with the calorie increase to the point that I hate eating. I really really have to force myself to eat. It is like I am tired of eating. As far as eating b4 workouts and time I eat b4 workouts varies. I just workout when ever I get bored and nothing to do or I feel that I have enough energy to do so. I can tell you this, I have increased my weights. I never used weight to build.0
-
I am new to this healthy eating thing. I always ate junk foods/candy. I am learning about carbs and things of that nature. I have always had a hard time eating over 800 calories or more. I am finally eating about 1200 or more this past week. I be thinking that I need to add more sugar, I don't know. I do not eat junk foods much anymore. I really can not explain the feeling. I just know that it is not right.
Are you also drinking enough water?
It could be carbs or even fats.
My other guess is that your body's just adjusting to the new lifestyle.
If you're having a hard time eating more calories, you may need to up your metabolism.
Here are some other facts about metabolism:
Fact #1 A slow or sluggish metabolism is not the major cause of weight gain.
A caloric imbalance is the cause of weight gain (consuming more calories than you burn in a day). If you have a slow or sluggish metabolism? A brisk 30 minute walk each day would get you started in the right direction to speed it up.
Fact #2 Lifting weights (or other resistance exercises) and cardio exercise will give you a higher metabolic rate.
Specifically, a combination of circuit weight training and high intensity interval cardio will get your metabolism “revved up.”
Fact #3 Sweating is not a gauge of how many calories you are burning.
This may be bad news for sauna and steam room lovers! Weight loss or gain is a product of calories consumed or burned. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight and vice-versa.
Fact #4 The best time to exercise is whenever you have the most energy.
Working out at any time of the day will increase metabolism for several hours, depending on intensity.
Fact #5 Your metabolism doesn’t necessarily have to slow down as you get older. Again, a combination of circuit weight training and high intensity interval cardio will keep your metabolism “revved up” throughout your life.
Fact #6 Eating smaller, frequent meals will keep your metabolism “revved up” during the day. Your metabolism will slow down if there are too many hours between meals.
Fact #7 There is no significant evidence showing that eating certain foods/drinks such as peppers and green tea will speed your metabolism for a long period of time. Actually, any food will speed your metabolism within the first hour after you eat. A high-protein food might speed metabolism for a longer period of time since protein requires about 25% more energy to digest. Your best bet is to follow Fact #6 when it comes to eating
http://www.thefitnesspersonals.com/blog/?p=167
Good luck to you and if you have questions, let me know!0 -
I only get this when my blood sugar gets low. Eat a banana.
And, you absolutely CAN and should be eating more than 1200 calories. Make it a priority to get to that at least every day. Your body needs fuel.0 -
I wonder if you are eating TOO MUCH sugar at one time. A spike in sugar intake will cause an insulin spike. When you exercise, you use up all that sugar and then there's too much insulin.
So so sorry, totally lost here (insulin spike). Please break it down for me, not understanding.0 -
I know that I do seem to be hungry all the time. I have a very very hard time trying to keep up with the calorie increase to the point that I hate eating. I really really have to force myself to eat. It is like I am tired of eating. As far as eating b4 workouts and time I eat b4 workouts varies. I just workout when ever I get bored and nothing to do or I feel that I have enough energy to do so. I can tell you this, I have increased my weights. I never used weight to build.
You may also want to figure out your BMR and TDEE...
You shouldn't be eating under BMR (especially now while exercising).
Eating calories 15% under your TDEE is a good approach to fat loss.
1200 calories seems too less to me.0 -
I only get this when my blood sugar gets low. Eat a banana.
And, you absolutely CAN and should be eating more than 1200 calories. Make it a priority to get to that at least every day. Your body needs fuel.
I was eating banana all the time but read somewhere that it makes you gain or something to that nature. I read it in something about "5 things that you should avoid" I think that is where I read it.0 -
I am new to this healthy eating thing. I always ate junk foods/candy. I am learning about carbs and things of that nature. I have always had a hard time eating over 800 calories or more. I am finally eating about 1200 or more this past week. I be thinking that I need to add more sugar, I don't know. I do not eat junk foods much anymore. I really can not explain the feeling. I just know that it is not right.
Fact #6 Eating smaller, frequent meals will keep your metabolism “revved up” during the day. Your metabolism will slow down if there are too many hours between meals.
Fine with everything you said except this. Meal frequency has no effect on metabolic rate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2387273
See the panel on the right for more studies that link to this one on the same topic.0 -
Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?
Weak, exhausted, shaky, give me something to eat fast feeling.0 -
I am new to this healthy eating thing. I always ate junk foods/candy. I am learning about carbs and things of that nature. I have always had a hard time eating over 800 calories or more. I am finally eating about 1200 or more this past week. I be thinking that I need to add more sugar, I don't know. I do not eat junk foods much anymore. I really can not explain the feeling. I just know that it is not right.
Fact #6 Eating smaller, frequent meals will keep your metabolism “revved up” during the day. Your metabolism will slow down if there are too many hours between meals.
Fine with everything you said except this. Meal frequency has no effect on metabolic rate.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2387273
See the panel on the right for more studies that link to this one on the same topic.
You're right, it's broscience...
However it did help me get my metabolism up from my experience, but It's not proven.0 -
I only get this when my blood sugar gets low. Eat a banana.
And, you absolutely CAN and should be eating more than 1200 calories. Make it a priority to get to that at least every day. Your body needs fuel.
I was eating banana all the time but read somewhere that it makes you gain or something to that nature. I read it in something about "5 things that you should avoid" I think that is where I read it.
There is no such thing as a single food that makes you gain or lose weight. Bananas are totally fine. I eat them regularly.
It's all about fueling your body and maintaining a small calorie deficit so you lose fat weight and maintain your lean mass. Sounds to me like you're not eating nearly enough for your workouts which is causing the shakes, weakness, and lethargy.
There are a lot of calorie dense quality foods out there including nuts, red meat (in moderation), avocados, quality cheeses, etc. Fill 'er up girl. You should not feel hungry if you're doing this right.
You need to figure out your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). This is your BMR (basal metabolic rate) + calories from normal activities. MFP calculates this for you under your "goals" section. Go in there and see what it says for your daily energy usage. Then set your goal to be 20% less than that. This will keep you feeling full, strong, fit, and fueled, but also help you drop the weight. It will be slower than what you're probably doing now, but much more sustainable in the long run.0 -
That happens to me if I work out hard and my blood sugar gets really low. I always carry a protein bar (like Zone Perfect or Pure Protein) or even have a Muscle Milk-type of protein shake. A banana works, too--- but I like to fuel up with protein after working hard! Your body needs fuel and you aren't supplying it enough.
I don't think it sounds like an insulin spike.0 -
I know that I do seem to be hungry all the time. I have a very very hard time trying to keep up with the calorie increase to the point that I hate eating. I really really have to force myself to eat. It is like I am tired of eating. As far as eating b4 workouts and time I eat b4 workouts varies. I just workout when ever I get bored and nothing to do or I feel that I have enough energy to do so. I can tell you this, I have increased my weights. I never used weight to build.
Not trying to be mean here - but if you are hungry all the time, how come you have to force yourself to eat? If I am hungry, it's definately not a problem for me to eat!
If you do have problems getting enough calories (which at even 1200 with working out you almost certainly are not getting enough) then try to eat calorie dense foods such as nuts, avodados, protein drinks etc. Also, take the advice/suggestions of the other posters about when to eat before/after working out e.g.banana.0 -
I only get this when my blood sugar gets low. Eat a banana.
And, you absolutely CAN and should be eating more than 1200 calories. Make it a priority to get to that at least every day. Your body needs fuel.
I was eating banana all the time but read somewhere that it makes you gain or something to that nature. I read it in something about "5 things that you should avoid" I think that is where I read it.
There is no such thing as a single food that makes you gain or lose weight. Bananas are totally fine. I eat them regularly.
It's all about fueling your body and maintaining a small calorie deficit so you lose fat weight and maintain your lean mass. Sounds to me like you're not eating nearly enough for your workouts which is causing the shakes, weakness, and lethargy.
^^this0 -
I am new to this healthy eating thing. I always ate junk foods/candy. I am learning about carbs and things of that nature. I have always had a hard time eating over 800 calories or more. I am finally eating about 1200 or more this past week. I be thinking that I need to add more sugar, I don't know. I do not eat junk foods much anymore. I really can not explain the feeling. I just know that it is not right.
Are you also drinking enough water?
It could be carbs or even fats.
My other guess is that your body's just adjusting to the new lifestyle.
If you're having a hard time eating more calories, you may need to up your metabolism.
Here are some other facts about metabolism:
Fact #1 A slow or sluggish metabolism is not the major cause of weight gain.
A caloric imbalance is the cause of weight gain (consuming more calories than you burn in a day). If you have a slow or sluggish metabolism? A brisk 30 minute walk each day would get you started in the right direction to speed it up.
Fact #2 Lifting weights (or other resistance exercises) and cardio exercise will give you a higher metabolic rate.
Specifically, a combination of circuit weight training and high intensity interval cardio will get your metabolism “revved up.”
Fact #3 Sweating is not a gauge of how many calories you are burning.
This may be bad news for sauna and steam room lovers! Weight loss or gain is a product of calories consumed or burned. If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight and vice-versa.
Fact #4 The best time to exercise is whenever you have the most energy.
Working out at any time of the day will increase metabolism for several hours, depending on intensity.
Fact #5 Your metabolism doesn’t necessarily have to slow down as you get older. Again, a combination of circuit weight training and high intensity interval cardio will keep your metabolism “revved up” throughout your life.
Fact #6 Eating smaller, frequent meals will keep your metabolism “revved up” during the day. Your metabolism will slow down if there are too many hours between meals.
Fact #7 There is no significant evidence showing that eating certain foods/drinks such as peppers and green tea will speed your metabolism for a long period of time. Actually, any food will speed your metabolism within the first hour after you eat. A high-protein food might speed metabolism for a longer period of time since protein requires about 25% more energy to digest. Your best bet is to follow Fact #6 when it comes to eating
http://www.thefitnesspersonals.com/blog/?p=167
Good luck to you and if you have questions, let me know!
Thank you so much. I drink only water, very seldom do I drink anything other than water. Beer sometimes on the weekends.I do not get out much to do anything. I usually workout with exercise dvd's. I sometimes go out in the yard and jump on the trampoline. Also, since I been working out more, I have a hard time sleeping. My body wants rest, but my mind keeps going overtime, I do not know if I put it right, but that is the best way I can explain it.0 -
do you feel incredibly hungry with this shaky feeling?
Stay with a hungry feeling0 -
No worries.I wonder if you are eating TOO MUCH sugar at one time. A spike in sugar intake will cause an insulin spike. When you exercise, you use up all that sugar and then there's too much insulin.
So so sorry, totally lost here (insulin spike). Please break it down for me, not understanding.
Insulin is the hormone that breaks down and handles sugar.
It is made on demand, by your pancreas, when your blood sugar increases (from eating).
When you eat, the sugar in the food gets into your blood. This makes your pancreas secrete insulin to capture that sugar. The amount of insulin your pancreas makes depends on how much sugar you eat. This is why it is so important for diabetics to be very careful about their sugar intake (and carbohydrates are sugar). They cannot manufacture insulin, so they have to give it to themselves, and calculate the dose they need.
When you eat a LOT of sugar, your pancreas makes a lot of insulin. When you exercise after you eat a lot of sugar, your muscles also use some of that sugar, so your pancreas makes what it thinks is the right amount, but since your muscles took some of that sugar, it can end up being too much. This is true for me when I eat a bagel and then exercise. I totally crash about an hour later. A healthy person can usually handle that kind of thing, but when you eat a LOT of sugar at once, it can happen.
When you have too much insulin, you get an awful shaky feeling. When a diabetic takes too much insulin, they get this feeling, and sometimes can have seizures or pass out. Giving someone in "insulin shock" something sugary like fruit juice will mop up the excess insulin. Similarly, when you get that shaky feeling, eating something SMALL but sugary will alleviate the problem.
This is a very simplistic way of putting it, but I hope it illustrates what I am talking about.0 -
Hi there - I think I can help shed some light on the shaky feeling you're having. I don't know what you're eating before your workouts. But it's possible that you may not have enough glycogen in your muscles before you workout and/or you're having a little bit of a low blood sugar thing. I know that if I don't eat enough carbohydrates before my workout then I'll get that shaky feeling during the workout. So depending upon what your workouts are try eating about an hour before working out something like toast with peanut butter or some kind of healthy granola bar or something that can boost your blood sugar a bit.
Try that and see if it helps.
Can you please explain the glycogen thing and low blood sugar please?0 -
I know that I do seem to be hungry all the time. I have a very very hard time trying to keep up with the calorie increase to the point that I hate eating. I really really have to force myself to eat. It is like I am tired of eating. As far as eating b4 workouts and time I eat b4 workouts varies. I just workout when ever I get bored and nothing to do or I feel that I have enough energy to do so. I can tell you this, I have increased my weights. I never used weight to build.
You may also want to figure out your BMR and TDEE...
You shouldn't be eating under BMR (especially now while exercising).
Eating calories 15% under your TDEE is a good approach to fat loss.
BMR and TDEE, sorry, you talking to a newbee, I am lost? I appreciate the time that you are taking to explain all. I been seeing people on here speak of TDEE and I was scared to ask what they mean.
1200 calories seems too less to me.0 -
Hi there - I think I can help shed some light on the shaky feeling you're having. I don't know what you're eating before your workouts. But it's possible that you may not have enough glycogen in your muscles before you workout and/or you're having a little bit of a low blood sugar thing. I know that if I don't eat enough carbohydrates before my workout then I'll get that shaky feeling during the workout. So depending upon what your workouts are try eating about an hour before working out something like toast with peanut butter or some kind of healthy granola bar or something that can boost your blood sugar a bit.
Try that and see if it helps.
Can you please explain the glycogen thing and low blood sugar please?
Our bodies need a certain amount of glycogen to be healthy. As carbohydrates are digested and broken down by the body, they are converted into glucose (blood sugar), which is then used or stored as energy. If the glucose is not needed immediately, it will be stored in a person's liver and muscles as glycogen, which is the storage form of glucose. When the body then needs some extra energy, it will turn to the glycogen reserves and convert them into energy.0 -
That is exactly the feeling that I am talking about. Try cutting WAY back on sugar. Eating 175 grams of carbs a day is what MFP recommends for me. If I consumed all of that at once, I'd probably lapse into a coma.Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?
Weak, exhausted, shaky, give me something to eat fast feeling.
Try not eating high-carb foods, or just a little bit at a time. You don't necessarily have to cut down on total carb intake, but try to spead it out over the course of the day.0 -
That is exactly the feeling that I am talking about. Try cutting WAY back on sugar. Eating 175 grams of carbs a day is what MFP recommends for me. If I consumed all of that at once, I'd probably lapse into a coma.Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?
Weak, exhausted, shaky, give me something to eat fast feeling.
Try not eating high-carb foods, or just a little bit at a time. You don't necessarily have to cut down on total carb intake, but try to spead it out over the course of the day.
Sorry, but this doesn't sound anything like an insulin spike. Looking at the OP's food diary for the last week, I don't see much of anything in there that is THAT much carb or sugar intake in one sitting.
I think this is a simple case of not eating enough to fuel one's self. Seen it lots of times and guilty of the same thing myself when I first started.0 -
That is exactly the feeling that I am talking about. Try cutting WAY back on sugar. Eating 175 grams of carbs a day is what MFP recommends for me. If I consumed all of that at once, I'd probably lapse into a coma.Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?
Weak, exhausted, shaky, give me something to eat fast feeling.
Try not eating high-carb foods, or just a little bit at a time. You don't necessarily have to cut down on total carb intake, but try to spead it out over the course of the day.
They are right, try high complex carbs (wheats/oats) for the MOST part, you CAN have the occasional low complex carb (foods high in sugar).
But I think you're probably just not eating enough calories to begin with, you need to add more cardio consistently in your workouts (higher metabolism rate) as well as enough fats/protein to recover.0 -
It sounds exactly like it to me. A cupcake would do that to me, workout or not. I agree about increasing intake though.
That is exactly the feeling that I am talking about. Try cutting WAY back on sugar. Eating 175 grams of carbs a day is what MFP recommends for me. If I consumed all of that at once, I'd probably lapse into a coma.Since I been working out more than I have ever done before, I seem to get this shaky feeling that I just can't seem to explain. Can someone please help me to try to understand this?
What do you mean shaky? Light headed? This seems serious.
Are you on a low carb diet? Are you over training?
Weak, exhausted, shaky, give me something to eat fast feeling.
Try not eating high-carb foods, or just a little bit at a time. You don't necessarily have to cut down on total carb intake, but try to spead it out over the course of the day.
Sorry, but this doesn't sound anything like an insulin spike. Looking at the OP's food diary for the last week, I don't see much of anything in there that is THAT much carb or sugar intake in one sitting.
I think this is a simple case of not eating enough to fuel one's self. Seen it lots of times and guilty of the same thing myself when I first started.0 -
I only get this when my blood sugar gets low. Eat a banana.
And, you absolutely CAN and should be eating more than 1200 calories. Make it a priority to get to that at least every day. Your body needs fuel.
I was eating banana all the time but read somewhere that it makes you gain or something to that nature. I read it in something about "5 things that you should avoid" I think that is where I read it.
There is no such thing as a single food that makes you gain or lose weight. Bananas are totally fine. I eat them regularly.
It's all about fueling your body and maintaining a small calorie deficit so you lose fat weight and maintain your lean mass. Sounds to me like you're not eating nearly enough for your workouts which is causing the shakes, weakness, and lethargy.
There are a lot of calorie dense quality foods out there including nuts, red meat (in moderation), avocados, quality cheeses, etc. Fill 'er up girl. You should not feel hungry if you're doing this right.
You need to figure out your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). This is your BMR (basal metabolic rate) + calories from normal activities. MFP calculates this for you under your "goals" section. Go in there and see what it says for your daily energy usage. Then set your goal to be 20% less than that. This will keep you feeling full, strong, fit, and fueled, but also help you drop the weight. It will be slower than what you're probably doing now, but much more sustainable in the long run.
Thanks so much I will try to do this.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.3K Introduce Yourself
- 43.9K Getting Started
- 260.4K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 440 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.2K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.7K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions