Need Help With Dizziness During LB Workout

M

Marlene815

Active Member
Need Help With Dizziness During LB Workout***Update**

Has anyone ever experienced dizziness when doing lower body weight training?

I've been doing Lower Body Pyramid for a few weeks now and everytime I do the workout I get dizzy. Though I am new to Cathe, I am not new to strength training as I've been doing Jari Love for a few years without ever having a problem. I've also done Chalene Xtreme a couple of times also. I'm in fairly good shape and have been doing high intensity cardio for years without a problem either.

I thought maybe I needed to use lighter weights and it did help a little at first but when doing squats I got dizzy again and had to stop the workout.

What can I do to get through the workout without getting dizzy?
******UPDATE*******
Tonight I had a successful LBP workout! Yeah! I attribute this to:

1. I used lighter weights this time.....25, 30 and 35 lbs...
2. Instead of looking down at the television (it's an older floor model tv) I focused straight ahead
3. I'm getting used to the routine
4. I made sure to eat lean protein before starting the workout.

So I guess I will stick with lighter weights for the next month or so and then increase. Thanks to all of you who helped me troubleshoot my workout.....
 
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Dizziness could come from different sources

Marlene:
I recommend seeing your doctor, or at least checking the internet. I have a mild case of BPPV (benign paroxsysmal positional vertigo), which is described here:
http://www.medicinenet.com/vertigo/page9.htm

For me, I get a touch of dizziness doing standing dumbell rows -- one or two arms -- whereby one bends over. Also, I have trouble doing lunges with weights, so I use a balance stick. Both of these are heavily used in PLB, as well as other Cathe lower body videos.

So , besides use of a balance stick for weights, I just bend over to a 45 degree angle (instead of 90 degrees). So with that, I can do all of cathe's lower body DVDs. My problem -- and I think this is shared by others -- is that Cathe's lower body videos are HARD (e.g., 60-90 lunges in a row, etc.).

Good luck overcoing your dizziness.
-- David
 
I have trouble with leg workouts and getting dizzy as well. I find eating something before my workout helps a great deal. And sometimes it's as simple as a sinus infection for me.
 
Some things you might consider:
Are you getting enough fluids? (not just water, but fluids and high-water-content foods that contain electrolytes).
Are you holding your breath instead of breathing deeply?
 
I have the blood pressure issue too - I notice it most often when I'm doing up and down type moves - like mountain climbers or burpees then going into upper body moves like overhead press.
 
Marlene,

Are you having this problem with other lower body workouts right now? You posted that you haven't had problems w/ other instructors in the past, but I wasn't sure if you were fine if you did a Jari Love now.

You may have an issue w/ low blood pressure like someone else suggested or some impingement in your knee area that's affecting your circulation.

If you are able to do other lower body workouts w/o a problem, it may be the depth of your Cathe squats that's causing dizziness. You might try not going quite as deep and see if that helps.

Lastly, I get dizzy during workouts when I have fluid in my ear. It sort of accumulates there since I had an ear infection many years ago. To get rid of it, I have to pop my ears while in the shower. (For me, it's too painful to do it unless my ear canal is slightly moist)

Good luck!
 
kathryn said:
Some things you might consider:
Are you getting enough fluids? (not just water, but fluids and high-water-content foods that contain electrolytes).
Are you holding your breath instead of breathing deeply?
Click to expand...

I get plenty of water and other fluids and I pay close attention to my breathing. I'm find that I am ok during the set but between sets, when changing weights is when the dizziness occurs.
 
jonahnah said:
Marlene,

Are you having this problem with other lower body workouts right now? You posted that you haven't had problems w/ other instructors in the past, but I wasn't sure if you were fine if you did a Jari Love now.

You may have an issue w/ low blood pressure like someone else suggested or some impingement in your knee area that's affecting your circulation.

If you are able to do other lower body workouts w/o a problem, it may be the depth of your Cathe squats that's causing dizziness. You might try not going quite as deep and see if that helps.

Lastly, I get dizzy during workouts when I have fluid in my ear. It sort of accumulates there since I had an ear infection many years ago. To get rid of it, I have to pop my ears while in the shower. (For me, it's too painful to do it unless my ear canal is slightly moist)

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Joan,
I don't believe so. I've only done LBP recently although I am considering going back to Jari Love for my LB work and see what happens. I find that I am ok during the set in LBP but when I stop and change weights is when I start feeling dizzy. This usually happens during lunges. I'll be fine during the 1st set but between sets when I switch to the next higher weight is when the dizziness starts. I make it a point to keep my head above the heart and breathe deeply but it doesn't help much. I'm wondering if it could be heart rate and blood pressure. I can feel my heart rate increase during the set and then suddenly stopping to change weights could be a problem. It is very frustrating and disruptive to have this happen during my workout.
 
Marlene815 said:
Joan,
I don't believe so. I've only done LBP recently although I am considering going back to Jari Love for my LB work and see what happens. I find that I am ok during the set in LBP but when I stop and change weights is when I start feeling dizzy. This usually happens during lunges. I'll be fine during the 1st set but between sets when I switch to the next higher weight is when the dizziness starts. I make it a point to keep my head above the heart and breathe deeply but it doesn't help much. I'm wondering if it could be heart rate and blood pressure. I can feel my heart rate increase during the set and then suddenly stopping to change weights could be a problem. It is very frustrating and disruptive to have this happen during my workout.
Click to expand...


Leg workouts incorporate the big muscles and that in turn will cause the blood to flow there during exertion. Depending on your muscle genetics, blood flow to all those big large muscle groups can deprive the the rest of the body enough to bring on sudden dizziness, especially when you stoop down and pause a bit (like in changing weights on your bar). I also found out for myself that when I was low on minerals, and especially low on iron, I would nearly faint while stooping down during a workout. Your blood ferritin levels should be above 40. I was really surprised to find mine below 12 (almost anemic) . If you sweat heavily like I do during a 24 hour race or endurance cycling, you deplete yourself of iron and other minerals working the larger muscles like that. When I don't pay attention to hydration, this can be a clear cut sign too. Drink up girl! Good luck on this, its not fun.
 
DirtDiva said:
I also found out for myself that when I was low on minerals, and especially low on iron, I would nearly faint while stooping down during a workout. Your blood ferritin levels should be above 40. I was really surprised to find mine below 12 (almost anemic) . If you sweat heavily like I do during a 24 hour race or endurance cycling, you deplete yourself of iron and other minerals working the larger muscles like that.
Click to expand...

DirtDiva...what a great tip. Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of iron supplements do you recommend taking? And how do you have your blood ferritin levels tested? I don't have health insurance or a primary care physician...but would like to see if this is an issue for me.

Thanks!

:)Jonezie
 
Jonezie said:
DirtDiva...what a great tip. Forgive my ignorance, but what kind of iron supplements do you recommend taking? And how do you have your blood ferritin levels tested? I don't have health insurance or a primary care physician...but would like to see if this is an issue for me.

Thanks!

:)Jonezie
Click to expand...

I hear you on lack of health insurance, I've been dealing with that too...

I wouldn't recommend iron supplements unless you need them, unfortunately that means getting a blood test :(. Excess iron is oxidative on the body, but here's what I've learned over the years.

And I'm just keeping this is the women's category, not kids or men, etc.

Endurance athletes that sweat can use up 30% more iron a day. I'm talking about 3 to 4 hours a day, possibly more of heavy training/exercise.

Women who have heavy periods.

Women with celiac's disease or gastric bypass.

Women who are strict vegetarians that are also athletes.

I started feeling tired after racing, or snowshoe racing, I know...who wouldn't feel that way right? But this exhaustion started to last, then while cycling, my heart would start to pound out of control (another sign of iron deficiency). I would feel dizzy bending down and then getting up quickly. My nails were brittle and my skin was extra pale. So there are some reasons to be suspicious. The test itself is pretty simple...here's where you get this done too:
http://www.healthcheckusa.com/lab_tests/Individual_Tests/Ferritin

here another one:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ferritin/test.html

You have to check if they have a place close to you, its way cheaper then a doctors office, it cost me nearly $250 to see a doctor with the test, and usually you can do it this way for less then $50.

This is what I use now, especially before a strenuous event or if I'm training for an event. Its very gentle, http://www.amazon.com/Flora-Floradix-Iron-Herbs-liquid/dp/B000R15O5S Haha, I call it my pony-up swig and take it down before mountainbiking in the heat.

Hope that helps some. The other test is a general hemoglobin stick in the finger, which isn't as comprehensive as serum ferritin, but may be an alternative for you.
 
DirtDiva said:
I hear you on lack of health insurance, I've been dealing with that too...

I wouldn't recommend iron supplements unless you need them, unfortunately that means getting a blood test :(. Excess iron is oxidative on the body, but here's what I've learned over the years.

And I'm just keeping this is the women's category, not kids or men, etc.

Endurance athletes that sweat can use up 30% more iron a day. I'm talking about 3 to 4 hours a day, possibly more of heavy training/exercise.

Women who have heavy periods.

Women with celiac's disease or gastric bypass.

Women who are strict vegetarians that are also athletes.

I started feeling tired after racing, or snowshoe racing, I know...who wouldn't feel that way right? But this exhaustion started to last, then while cycling, my heart would start to pound out of control (another sign of iron deficiency). I would feel dizzy bending down and then getting up quickly. My nails were brittle and my skin was extra pale. So there are some reasons to be suspicious. The test itself is pretty simple...here's where you get this done too:
http://www.healthcheckusa.com/lab_tests/Individual_Tests/Ferritin

here another one:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ferritin/test.html

You have to check if they have a place close to you, its way cheaper then a doctors office, it cost me nearly $250 to see a doctor with the test, and usually you can do it this way for less then $50.

This is what I use now, especially before a strenuous event or if I'm training for an event. Its very gentle, http://www.amazon.com/Flora-Floradix-Iron-Herbs-liquid/dp/B000R15O5S Haha, I call it my pony-up swig and take it down before mountainbiking in the heat.

Hope that helps some. The other test is a general hemoglobin stick in the finger, which isn't as comprehensive as serum ferritin, but may be an alternative for you.
Click to expand...

Interesting DirtDiva. I have been sweating pretty heavily...I ride my bike for an hour or so a day in addition to my workouts plus it's hot outside but I doubt that equates to high endurance. It is definitely something to think about. I tend to drink lots of water but I will pay even more attention to hydration, electrolyes, etc. As for the ferrin testing, I might check into it at some point....Thanks for the advice.
 
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