Not your typical weight lifting question

zsaoosh
zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So I was 139 lbs at 5’6.5’’ and came out of the bod pod at 33% body fat. Pretty high for my weight. SO I have been told to lift hard. I started to lift about 2 months ago hard 8-10 reps, 3 sets and trying to beat my weight each time. I am not losing weight anymore but I am loosing inches and gaining strength. BUT my issue is I feel sick, weak and feel like I might faint or vomit. Cardio I can go an hour no prob and feel great, but lifting is horrible. I went and asked the lady that did my bod pod (she is a food, nutrition and exercise specialist) and she said that there is a chemical that is released when you push yourself to the max through lifting or cardio such as sprinting that can make me feel sick. She suggested that I ease up. She looked at my food, water and so forth and saw no issue with that. I really don’t want to ease up, I am doing great and feel awesome about my progress. Does this happen to any of you? What do you do to get over it? Any suggestions? Thank you

Replies

  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    what does your lifting look like?
    are you taking rest periods between sets?
    Are you breathing properly?
    are you hydrating enough before/during?


    It could be a lot of things.
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I think your work out is too intense for a beginner. There's no need to try to beat your weight each time. When I first started, I used to do too many exercises and I quickly felt overwhelmed. I would tremble and feel dizzy, but I never felt sick. I hated the feeling and I soon gave up.

    I'm not necessarily recommending it to you, but I now do a different workout that consists of a couple of exercises for each body part, 5 sets of 5 reps. It's split over two days, and ideally, is done twice a week.
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    I rest for maybe 1 minute. I drink water before and during. I try to control my breathing. What does my lifting look like? Hmmm probably a mess LOL. I do full body 3 times a week for 60 minutes if that helps at all.
  • Jugie12
    Jugie12 Posts: 282 Member
    first of all, congrats on your progress and keep going!!!!

    Have you noticed that you start yawning uncontrollably when you start feeling awful? I take a low-cal gatorade with me when I lift heavy because water doesn't seem to stave off the puke feeling like something with a little 'ooomph' in it does. I like the G2 gatorade stuff.

    Make sure when you get dizzy you sit down for a minute and sip your drink... it's better than puking or passing out and hitting your noggin on a machine or weight plate, lol
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    Food diary. Let's see it.
  • MissMollieD
    MissMollieD Posts: 130
    I agree with Jugie, I think you need some electrolytes during your lifting.

    Also, I think your lifting routine is engaging too many muscle groups in one work out to go as hard as you are going - and it's depleting all your resources. You might want to try a Bi's/Chest one day, Tri's/Back another, Shoulders/Legs another. Your shoulders/legs day should rock you because those are big muscle groups. You might also notice bigger strength gains lifting like this.
  • jallen1955
    jallen1955 Posts: 121
    It sounds like you are doing too much.

    The feeling you need to puke is likely your body telling you that it cannot digest whatever is in your stomach AND do the lifting as well.

    I would recommend moving to a shorter workout. Do upper body one day and lower the next. Try not to eat anything within an hour BEFORE your workout and then have a recovery meal afterwards.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Bump.
  • Ali_TSO
    Ali_TSO Posts: 1,172 Member
    bump
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    How many calories are you eating a day? What does your diary look like?
  • ashleymichaud
    ashleymichaud Posts: 119
    first of all, congrats on your progress and keep going!!!!

    Have you noticed that you start yawning uncontrollably when you start feeling awful? I take a low-cal gatorade with me when I lift heavy because water doesn't seem to stave off the puke feeling like something with a little 'ooomph' in it does. I like the G2 gatorade stuff.

    Make sure when you get dizzy you sit down for a minute and sip your drink... it's better than puking or passing out and hitting your noggin on a machine or weight plate, lol

    You mentioned yawning, that happens to me too. What causes that?
  • fingersmagoo
    fingersmagoo Posts: 16 Member
    Hey, I get the same thing. I have to sit down and rest a bit. In my last workout, I drank about 16oz of water before and another 8oz during the workout. It seemed to help, but it was the first try at it. So I am not sure if ti was the remedy or not.
  • VMarkV
    VMarkV Posts: 522 Member
    Do you eat before lifting weights? Ideally, you should not lift weights after eating...you need to wait 2-3 hours for you stomach to empty. Eating and weight lifting too soon can cause GERD. Drinking water is perfectly fine before, during, and after
  • estrange22
    estrange22 Posts: 210 Member
    I eat a banana about 45 minutes before I lift and stop drinking water 30 minutes prior. I sip water a few times during a lifting session but the key word is sip. I have found that this combo really helps prevent nausea. I agree with the folks that said maybe you're lifting a little too intensely. Try to split your muscle groups and keep in mind there is no need to up your weight every single time you workout. I go up in weight about once every week unless something is so easy I can do 12 reps with ease. Good luck!
  • BlueInkDot
    BlueInkDot Posts: 702 Member
    I'm no expert, but when I'm feeling beat during my lifting, I usually take longer breaks and drink more water (and more and more and more...). Also making sure I eat enough protein (read: as much as possible) and get enough sleep will help keep me from feeling crappy.

    I know what you mean about not wanting to let up on the weight increases. It feels awesome to be getting better and stronger. On the other hand, you don't want to risk injuring yourself. Maybe slow down the rate at which you increase your weights? You can still increase the weights, but maybe increase them every 2 or 3 workouts, instead of every SINGLE workout. Know what I mean?

    I'm really impressed with your workouts though, it sounds like you're doing a good job. :)

    Good luck!
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    first of all, congrats on your progress and keep going!!!!

    Have you noticed that you start yawning uncontrollably when you start feeling awful? I take a low-cal gatorade with me when I lift heavy because water doesn't seem to stave off the puke feeling like something with a little 'ooomph' in it does. I like the G2 gatorade stuff.

    Make sure when you get dizzy you sit down for a minute and sip your drink... it's better than puking or passing out and hitting your noggin on a machine or weight plate, lol

    Thank you! Yeah I yawn and all of the above. But I will try gatorade. Thank you
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    How many calories are you eating a day? What does your diary look like?

    I eat 1500 a day on work out days and stay above 1200-1500 on non work out days. I dont have my diary open because I calculate my cals and add most in by numebers and not food. But I can tell you that I have coffee, water, 5 egg whites with veggies and a little cheese and fruit for breakfast. Then I have a little bit of carbs an hour before working out before lunch.
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    I eat a banana about 45 minutes before I lift and stop drinking water 30 minutes prior. I sip water a few times during a lifting session but the key word is sip. I have found that this combo really helps prevent nausea. I agree with the folks that said maybe you're lifting a little too intensely. Try to split your muscle groups and keep in mind there is no need to up your weight every single time you workout. I go up in weight about once every week unless something is so easy I can do 12 reps with ease. Good luck!

    I try to go up but its more like every week. I try to do my whole body 3 times a week because I only have time for 3 lifting work outs a week and want to make the most out of them. If I do arms only 1 day a week, am I really doing much at all?
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    I'm no expert, but when I'm feeling beat during my lifting, I usually take longer breaks and drink more water (and more and more and more...). Also making sure I eat enough protein (read: as much as possible) and get enough sleep will help keep me from feeling crappy.

    I know what you mean about not wanting to let up on the weight increases. It feels awesome to be getting better and stronger. On the other hand, you don't want to risk injuring yourself. Maybe slow down the rate at which you increase your weights? You can still increase the weights, but maybe increase them every 2 or 3 workouts, instead of every SINGLE workout. Know what I mean?

    I'm really impressed with your workouts though, it sounds like you're doing a good job. :)

    Good luck!

    Thank you! I have really been trying hard and I dont go up every time, but it seems to be getting easier and easier. I go up if I need too. Legs seem to go up almost every workout and arms go up maybe every 2.
  • SierraElegance
    SierraElegance Posts: 86 Member
    I lift 5 days a week-- but 2 days are legs and one day is glutes. So you could do all those in one day, arms/shoulders on another and back/chest on the third. So absolutely you can get a good workout that way! I am training for competition and still only work arms, back and chest once a week!
  • zsaoosh
    zsaoosh Posts: 402 Member
    I lift 5 days a week-- but 2 days are legs and one day is glutes. So you could do all those in one day, arms/shoulders on another and back/chest on the third. So absolutely you can get a good workout that way! I am training for competition and still only work arms, back and chest once a week!
    Hmmm you look amazing! Maybe I am just eager and need to slow down but I love the way my body is changing.
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