Lifting, bruising, lower heart rate, what's going on?

RachelsReboot
RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok I have a few questions, first off since I have been lifting more weight I am getting weird bruises like on the outsides of my thumbs, insides of ankles, outsides of knees and tops of feet. Is this normal? Is this from lifting or do I need to be looking for another cause? I notice they are a lot darker on my strength days and while I can see the ones on the top of my feet being there for a reason, the others just don't make sense.

Second, when doing cario, I am no longer meeting my target heart rate even though I am moving like crazy and pushing myself to get through (mainly because my arms or legs are hurting) but my heart rate used to get up to 145-160 pretty quick and stay there, now it's just hanging out at 125 or so then as soon as I am done it drops down to 64-68. Is this just a sign of improving health or should I be concerned?

Sorry if these are stupid questions I just have so many changes going on that sometimes I can't remember what's supposed to be going which way!

Replies

  • Amyann44
    Amyann44 Posts: 24 Member
    I don't no about the bruising but I believe a lower heart rate is a sign that you are getting fitter. I have noticed mine getting lower doing the same exercises
  • naturerunner
    naturerunner Posts: 24
    64-68 is a pretty healthy resting heart rate, and you are getting in better shape so that is why the change during exercise. but the bruising you might want to ask someone about. Maybe a doctor or even a trainer might have some ideas why. I know when my iron is low i bruise easy. might want to get that checked.
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    64-68 is a pretty healthy resting heart rate, and you are getting in better shape so that is why the change during exercise. but the bruising you might want to ask someone about. Maybe a doctor or even a trainer might have some ideas why. I know when my iron is low i bruise easy. might want to get that checked.

    Should have mentioned that I supplement with vegetarian iron daily and my last checkup my iron was within normal range.
  • Aliciaaah
    Aliciaaah Posts: 379 Member
    I got a weird spotty dark bruise on my thigh yesterday while strength training too! I was working my arms the whole day and don't quite know how I got it. And I've also noticed my heart rate hasn't been quite as high. You're not the only one!
  • LPS1986
    LPS1986 Posts: 104
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.
  • ster81
    ster81 Posts: 249
    I got a weird spotty dark bruise on my thigh yesterday while strength training too! I was working my arms the whole day and don't quite know how I got it. And I've also noticed my heart rate hasn't been quite as high. You're not the only one!
    where you doing isolation bicep curls where you had your elbow rested on your thigh while doing the curls? i've gotten bruises there when doing this exercise...
  • zafferFL
    zafferFL Posts: 402
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.

    I don't think she was being rude at all. It was sound advice to discuss things like bruises out of nowhere with your doctor.

    Having said that, in 16 years of lifting, I have never had a bruise unless I have bumped a knee against a weight rack or something. Hands can get sore and get the "bruise" type of pain, but that's due to grip.

    I will second advice to take this up with your doctor, not common in lifting.
  • EBFNP
    EBFNP Posts: 529 Member
    I am a NP, but I think you should see your doctor with any medical concerns. I can give medical advice despite what the above said. However, without a detailed history and physical it would be inappropriate in this forum to discuss further. Good luck!
  • MOMvsFOOD
    MOMvsFOOD Posts: 654 Member
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.

    I don't think she was being rude at all. It was sound advice to discuss things like bruises out of nowhere with your doctor.

    Having said that, in 16 years of lifting, I have never had a bruise unless I have bumped a knee against a weight rack or something. Hands can get sore and get the "bruise" type of pain, but that's due to grip.

    I will second advice to take this up with your doctor, not common in lifting.

    That was totally rude- no question about it. I'm sure she is intelligent enough to consult a doctor for major medical concerns, and am jealous that everyone has such great medical insurance they can run to a doctor for every minor question ....... personally at $165 a whack after my co-insurance, I save the doctor visits for a little more than just bruises, or a lower heart rate, or the sniffles for that matter.
  • LPS1986
    LPS1986 Posts: 104
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.

    I was by no means intending to be rude. However, if it is rude, I offer you these thoughts:

    1) There is a difference between common knowledge about lifestyle changes in these forums and addressing potentially bigger causes that could be detrimental without medical attention.

    2) Based on experience, it is easy to look for answers from others. However, when my best friend experienced something similar, mostly after lifting weights, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Would you take that as a first answer? Probably not. Would you see a Doctor after hearing that answer? Hopefully. Is it better not to share a diagnosis, or medical thought, and cause someone to feel beside themselves for a week until blood work and more testing gets back? I think so. Which is better?

    3) I do not have insurance but I live with Diabetes. I deal with it because my life depends on it - with a Doctor. I totally understand what it feels like to carry medical debt.

    If trying not to put the fear of God into someone while pushing them in the appropriate direction is rude, I am sorry for having been rude.
  • RachelsReboot
    RachelsReboot Posts: 569 Member
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.

    I don't think she was being rude at all. It was sound advice to discuss things like bruises out of nowhere with your doctor.

    Having said that, in 16 years of lifting, I have never had a bruise unless I have bumped a knee against a weight rack or something. Hands can get sore and get the "bruise" type of pain, but that's due to grip.

    I will second advice to take this up with your doctor, not common in lifting.

    That was totally rude- no question about it. I'm sure she is intelligent enough to consult a doctor for major medical concerns, and am jealous that everyone has such great medical insurance they can run to a doctor for every minor question ....... personally at $165 a whack after my co-insurance, I save the doctor visits for a little more than just bruises, or a lower heart rate, or the sniffles for that matter.

    Yes I am, I asked if it was a lifting thing because I am new to this and while I am concentrating on what I am doing I could be unconsciously doing something else to cause them. Someone with years of experience might say, oh yeah, I've gotten these here and realised when I was doing such and such.

    I've done construction work for years and get these bruises on my shoulders now and then, I know it's from carrying boards, but if I get a kid that volunteers to do a build (I do non-profit work) and carries one board among the 900 other things they've never done before and they come back the next day and have a bruise there and don't know how they got it I can easily say, did you carry any boards yesterday? If so did you carry it like this? Yep, that's where that came from, same for a little bruise on your thigh, does your hammer hang from your belt and come to about right there?

    I asked a simple question and didn't need a lecture on seeking medical advice, I seek plenty of it and Doctors are not God's and don't know everything and the ones I see sure aren't gonna have much experience with lifting weights.
  • shiseido_faerie
    shiseido_faerie Posts: 771 Member
    Regarding the bruises, nobody on here is a Doctor and, if they are, they would be unable to provide you with medical advice as it is against ethics. That said, I highly recommend you share this with your Doctor rather than speculating with others on a public forum. It could be a number of things. I would not take the risk on your life by consulting with people that do not have an MD beside their name.

    However, as you increase fitness, the lower your heart rate will be (just to echo others). I find this to be in line with other things that I have read. You might want to discuss this with your Doctor as well!

    Wow, that was a little rude. I wasn't asking for medical advice, I asked if it was a lifting thing, I am under a doctors care and didn't ask anyone to speculate on a medical condition, I SPECIFICALLY asked if it was related to lifting because this is when I notice it. I'll ask my doctor at my next visit but figured I'd ask in case it was one of those, watch how you hold the bar when you do this or that because it may put pressure here or there. Geeze, SMDH. Guess noone should ask another question here about anything since no body is a doctor.

    I was by no means intending to be rude. However, if it is rude, I offer you these thoughts:

    1) There is a difference between common knowledge about lifestyle changes in these forums and addressing potentially bigger causes that could be detrimental without medical attention.

    2) Based on experience, it is easy to look for answers from others. However, when my best friend experienced something similar, mostly after lifting weights, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Would you take that as a first answer? Probably not. Would you see a Doctor after hearing that answer? Hopefully. Is it better not to share a diagnosis, or medical thought, and cause someone to feel beside themselves for a week until blood work and more testing gets back? I think so. Which is better?

    3) I do not have insurance but I live with Diabetes. I deal with it because my life depends on it - with a Doctor. I totally understand what it feels like to carry medical debt.

    If trying not to put the fear of God into someone while pushing them in the appropriate direction is rude, I am sorry for having been rude.

    I do agree with this, though I am a little bit paranoid of unknown bruising because I did have leukemia personally.
    I'm not saying freak out, because it very likely is nothing major (as another poster said, could even be iron....perhaps your levels have changed as you've started lifting) i'm just saying that if you can afford to, it can't hurt to run it by your doc. At the very least, keep a record of it and let them know next time you're there. Everyone gets occasional random bruises but if it's frequent or recurring it warrants a mention. I haven't heard of anyone bruising just from lifting alone.
  • Aliciaaah
    Aliciaaah Posts: 379 Member
    I got a weird spotty dark bruise on my thigh yesterday while strength training too! I was working my arms the whole day and don't quite know how I got it. And I've also noticed my heart rate hasn't been quite as high. You're not the only one!
    where you doing isolation bicep curls where you had your elbow rested on your thigh while doing the curls? i've gotten bruises there when doing this exercise...

    Yeah, and that's how I figured I got them, but I didn't remember hitting particularly hard. Although I was doing them standing, and they weren't quite resting on my thighs. It doesn't hurt or anything, I'm not worried about it!

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