Dizziness after exercise?

[jennielea]

Hi everyone. I joined a gym today. Yipee!! Well this is my fourth week of atkins and my first day of working out. I did the elliptical for about 10 min(that's all I could do) and then worked out with weights for about 25 min arms and legs. Well I was so dizzy when I got on my car and the whole way home. It was pretty scary. I've been drinking lots of water. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Please let me know if so. Thanks Jenn

[kkat55]

I'm not sure, but this is happening to my husband today. He woke up and had to sit on the side of the bed for about 15 minutes. He was so dizzy. It finally calmed down enough for him to go to work, but he just emailed me and said that he has been dizzy off and on the last hour or so.

The first things that come to mind are: low blood pressure, low blood sugar or some type of inner ear thing going on.

I hope someone can give us some ideas about this.

[Elizellen]

I've not experienced that Jennielea - it must have been really horrid for you.
I hope you felt better shortly afterwards

Just one thought - are you taking the right supplements/vitamins etc? Some people find they upset their electrolyte balance with all the water and peeing we do on Atkins and need extra.
Perhaps someone on the exercise forum will have some suggestions to help?

Oh - nearly forgot - congratulations on starting your exercise element of this WOE.

I actually had a slight pass-out experience when I was on Weight Watchers prior to getting pregnant with my first daughter. I was using the weight machines at the gym with dh and said "I feel dizzy" and then blacked out for the briefest second. FREAKY!

At that time, I was eating INSANELY LOW FAT. So that's my only question.... do you have enough fat in your diet?

I'd imagine on Atkins, you do, but if you were trying a low-fat version, I could see that happening?

oh and YIPPEE for you on joining a gym! I'm a gym freak! Ya'd never know it from my stats, but I *LOVE* working out

[Finelly]

Happened to me at the beginning. My body was not used to exercise while in ketosis. I made sure to eat a fatty snack before and immediately after, and it stopped after a couple of days.

[Yoly1001]

Funny your posting this, this actually happened to me today. I went into the steam room for the first time ever and after 5 minutes i couldn't handle anymore. I made my way to the door and things started goign black, i got dizzy and almost passed out. As soon as i got out the cool air cleared my head and i was ok, safe to say no more steam room for me.

[Brook]

If you are working out too hard, it's your body's way of saying, "HEY!! SLOW DOWN!!! IF YOU DON'T SLOW DOWN WE'RE GONNA GET SICK!"

Seriously. If you get to feeling faint or experience nausea while working out, drop the intensity. If you get to feeling that way after your workout, spend more time cooling down. It's not okay to go from mega activity to sitting on your butt. You've gotta give your body time to cool down and your heart rate time to drop back down to a normal level - but you've gotta keep moving while you do that.

HTHS
~Brook

[Weighless]

Hmm...I've always felt half sick to my stomach after exercising. I've always chalked it up to motion sickness. Think I'll concentrate on cooling down after working out...and see if that helps. Thanks Brook.

[jennielea]

Brook you are right. I have a tendency to say that's it I've had enough and just get in the car and take off without cooling down. That's when I got sick.
I also sat down today and figured out that I am not eating anough fat. I am eating mostly protein. I have read the books and I think that my mind is stuck in the " I can't eat fat" mode. I think the only time I am getting fat is in my salad dressing and tuna salad. I've been mostly eating porkchops, pepperoni, cheese etc.. I'm going to sit down now and figure out my menu for a few days.. Thanks Jenn