can't handle circuit training

[caricampbellcool]

Hi everyone,

Every time I try to do weights and cardio simultaenously,
such as the leg portion in BMax, I can't handle it, as I often get very very tired or even nauseous. I usually have to take longer breaks between the cardio and the weights.
Does this happen to anyone else? I hear Cathe's circuit tapes are great but I am afraid I won't be able to do them.
Thanks for any input!
Cari

 

[Lynda]

Is there any possibility you are anemic? About 4 years ago, I was having terrible problems getting through BodyMax and some other workouts that are equally tough and move quickly from aerobics to weights, and then I discovered I was VERY anemic. When I started taking iron, I stopped getting lightheaded and nauseous after a few months. I love Circuit Max and BodyMax right now, but maybe you should stop the tape and take a slightly longer break before either the weights or cardio.

 

[caricampbellcool]

Thanks for the tip. What kind of iron do you take?
I heard some can make you nauseous. Did a doctor tell you that you were anemic? I think I might be (I used to be tired a lot, B vitamins have helped, but I have dark circles under my eyes).
Thanks!

 

[Brinley]

How would you tell?

Hi Lynda,
I'm just curious how one would find out if they're anemic. I have some pretty troublesome tired spells occasionally and I've felt lightheaded the last couple of days (yes, I'm currently menstruating) so this post is making me wonder. Some days I can almost breeze through Body Max and feel very strong the whole time. Other days, I can barely make it even when I've been eating lots of food and have rested sufficiently. I just hate feeling so wiped out like that.

The last time I went to give blood, my iron level was right on the borderline, they almost didn't let me donate. My blood droplet didn't even start to fall in their trial test so they had to spin it to make sure I was okay. If my iron level had been up to par, it should've sunk pretty quickly, but they didn't mention any possibility of being anemic.

Why would circuit training make you feel bad as opposed to straight cardio or weights? I don't usually do Circuit Max so I'm not as familiar with the effects of circuit training that way. Thanks for any help you might be able to offer.

 

[Loriv]

Just wanted to say that you could be anemic, but for the first couple years of working out and improving my strength/endurance, I felt the same way. Make sure you drink enough water everyday (pop, coffee, milk and juice are extras - I try for 1 gallon of water + milk in a.m. and fruit and veggies throughout the day) and keep in mind the longer (in months/years, not hours) you work out, the easier it will get. If you are getting nauseated and cannot finish the segment or tape, depending on how much have have finished in the past, then you are working way too hard and you need to not push so much. Try doing the tapes without weights (if they are using weights), and finish the tape. Then add weights as you get stronger but make sure you can still finish the tape without dying. Just because the person - especially Cathe - is lifting 20 lbs. that doesn't mean you have to. The same thing with aerobics, if you can't finish the tape, do the steps without moving your arms (using only your lower body) until you can stand to add your arms and all of the fancy movements - or - pause the tape, take a short (30 second - 1 minute) break then start again. It all takes time and building up. Believe me, I am the worst when it comes to comparing myself to others and it was the hardest lesson for me to learn. : ) Just keep trying and you will make it!!

 

[Loriv]

RE: Iron

As for being anemic, I am a firm believer of taking a one-a-day multivitamin with minerals and eating a lot of dark leafy greens!! If you think you may be anemic, try eating a lot of spinach, greens, or any other vegetable rich in iron with a lean steak and see if it ends up giving you a boost in energy.

 

[Lynda]

You definitely have to do a blood count ordered by your doctor. I was having terrible periods because of a fibroid tumor, and yes, losing a lot of blood. Since a hysteroscopy which discovered the fibroid, I've been on loestrin-fe birth control pills, and I haven't had this problem, and so now I am no longer taking iron--and I'm no longer anemic. I took two "Slow-FE" (sorry--I can't remember the dosage)per day, and I took them with a big glass of water immediately before my morning workout. The packaging was a pain, I think because you don't want kids to get into it, but I decided on this expensive kind because it promised little stomach upset and slow absorption. The first, much cheaper kind, played havoc--not so much with my stomach as my intestines. But, if you ask your doctor whether a blood test might be in order, s/he will also tell you how much iron to take.

 

[mogambo]

It is a fact that iron is absorbed better when taken with vitamin C. So, take the pill with orange juice, or with C. Also, prune juice has a tremendous amount of iron, in case you don't want to eat meat.

 

[Brinley]

Ah, a warrior's drink!

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-21-01 AT 10:05PM (Est)[/font][p]Kudos to everyone catching the Star Trek reference! I always thought Worf looked like he had an especially high iron level Live long & be healthy!!

Thanks for the tip Mogambo, I'll be keeping that info in mind in my quest for a high iron level. I actually like prune juice so that's great.

Since I'm not a vegetarian, I decided to chow down on some beef liver last night. It might be purely psychological but I do feel like I have a lot more perk today (not that I would describe myself as 'perky'). Well, I don't guess I'd have felt so good for the two hours of hill & valley mountain bike riding I did today if I was still feeling low on iron. Maybe it was just a good day, gotta love 'em!