Exhaustion after exercise
Discussion
I'm in my early 40s and have excercised regularly since the age of 11 when I started rowing.
Over the last few years I've noticed that after a workout or a run I'm absolutely knackered straight afterwards and work the next day is a real struggle. In addition I feel bad tempered, listless and unmotivated the day after at work and will avoid certain complicated procedures if I can.
At lunch time I'll invariably have to sleep the day after a workout.
I went for a 7 mile run yesterday (pushing baby in a sports buggy so a bit harder) and today I struggled to get up and felt washed out all day.
Often after getting back from a run and sitting down, I'll get up but then have to crouch down to avoid falling over from dizzyness.
Is this an over-forty in thing or what?
Over the last few years I've noticed that after a workout or a run I'm absolutely knackered straight afterwards and work the next day is a real struggle. In addition I feel bad tempered, listless and unmotivated the day after at work and will avoid certain complicated procedures if I can.
At lunch time I'll invariably have to sleep the day after a workout.
I went for a 7 mile run yesterday (pushing baby in a sports buggy so a bit harder) and today I struggled to get up and felt washed out all day.
Often after getting back from a run and sitting down, I'll get up but then have to crouch down to avoid falling over from dizzyness.
Is this an over-forty in thing or what?
Have you seen your GP recently? BP checked?
My GP has refused to sign a sports medical cert because at my age (43) he wants a full blood test and stress test with a cardiologist..Blood test done, cardiologist booked for this Thursday.
I'm actually quite glad he's taken this approach...The French like to play the system though
My GP has refused to sign a sports medical cert because at my age (43) he wants a full blood test and stress test with a cardiologist..Blood test done, cardiologist booked for this Thursday.
I'm actually quite glad he's taken this approach...The French like to play the system though
I'm nearly 43. If it helps, I don't feel this unless I really, really push myself eg 2 hours of singles tennis in the sun. But the next day, I'm ready for more. In fact, some days, I'll do an hour of strength work in the gym, an hour of dodgeball and two hours of tennis depending on my schedule.
Are you eating enough and reasonably decent quality food?
chris watton said:
What about diet? I am sure this also plays a very important role along with exercise.
Are you eating enough and reasonably decent quality food?
As mentioned have a close look at your diet - scrutinise areas where it could be improved - how about taking a week off from exercise completely and see how you feel, if not maybe get some blood tests done. Your age shouldn't really have too much of a bearing to how you feel. I'm nearly 43 and have a limitless supply of energy.
I've had some of what you describe sometimes, after exercise.
I tend to go to the Gym at lunchtime and come back in the afternoon full of energy and with a clear head, but sometimes I'm lethargic, can't concentrate and pretty much yawn for Europe.
I also have an incredibly short temper, which is unlike me.
I reckon it's to do with a diet, I've just not nailed what though.
I tend to go to the Gym at lunchtime and come back in the afternoon full of energy and with a clear head, but sometimes I'm lethargic, can't concentrate and pretty much yawn for Europe.
I also have an incredibly short temper, which is unlike me.
I reckon it's to do with a diet, I've just not nailed what though.
As well as diet it could be electrolyte imbalances. Do you use anything to replace the electrolytes you lose during excercise? It can also be other causes like stress in your life stopping you from sleeping as deeply as you used to which reduces your ability to recover.
Another factor could be the intensity of the excercise maybe try a heart rate monitor to help keep you from overexerting as with age your heart changes. In fact while max heart rate (and the associated training "zones") change your lung capacity actually increases, but making sure you're doing mainly aerobic excercise will help reduce the stress on your glycogen stores which is a factor in feeling fatigued. If you use your reserves during excercise, then your body has to spend time afterwards replacing those reserves, which means more work being done while "resting".
Usually though, as mentioned by others, it's diet. A good few weeks of healthier eating will help you feel better. This doesn't mean rabbit food and crazy raw food diets, it just means eating less processed food and getting a good balance of nutrients and fibres along with carbs, proteins and good fats. Never cut out fat if you're trying to build / maintain muscle as it's the main building block in testosterone which is the hormone associated with muscle growth.
Another factor could be the intensity of the excercise maybe try a heart rate monitor to help keep you from overexerting as with age your heart changes. In fact while max heart rate (and the associated training "zones") change your lung capacity actually increases, but making sure you're doing mainly aerobic excercise will help reduce the stress on your glycogen stores which is a factor in feeling fatigued. If you use your reserves during excercise, then your body has to spend time afterwards replacing those reserves, which means more work being done while "resting".
Usually though, as mentioned by others, it's diet. A good few weeks of healthier eating will help you feel better. This doesn't mean rabbit food and crazy raw food diets, it just means eating less processed food and getting a good balance of nutrients and fibres along with carbs, proteins and good fats. Never cut out fat if you're trying to build / maintain muscle as it's the main building block in testosterone which is the hormone associated with muscle growth.
How much are you doing in a week? Sounds like you need a break.
The epilogue sums it up nicely
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/coachcorn/o...
The epilogue sums it up nicely
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/coachcorn/o...
It's definitely not an age thing, I did a fast 65 mile ride one day, followed it up with a hundred miler the next day and was in the pool for a mile at 7 the next morning. Felt great and nothing ached, i was fresh as a daisy and I'm fifty tomorrow 
I get the dizzy thing if I get up quick but I put that down to a low resting heart rate
The irritability does sound like it could be nutritional...
I get the dizzy thing if I get up quick but I put that down to a low resting heart rate
The irritability does sound like it could be nutritional...
For me it is usually too much quality in a short time frame, I am a bit wiser these days and I can see it coming but the first indicator for me is a sort of blinkered effect, annoyance at distraction. I get in the car and drive 30 mins and realise I haven't put the radio on.
Take a week off, eat well and then don't put your trainers on until you are itching to get out the door.
Take a week off, eat well and then don't put your trainers on until you are itching to get out the door.
Thanks for all the replies and advice chaps.
I don't think it's a diet thing as I eat pretty well and don't drink to excess or smoke. I flippin hope it's not low testosterone, that would be too much! Interesting to hear about the vitamin D thing.
Ozone I have a known wheat intolerance so don't eat it anyway so it shouldn't be that.
Need to find the time to make a doc's appointment. Since the run on Sunday I'm going down with yet another chesty cough, about the tenth (no exageration) in the last year. Maybe get some bloods done.
Going to force myself to do a gym workout, if you ignore it sonetimes it goes away by itself
ETA I really like this:
I don't think it's a diet thing as I eat pretty well and don't drink to excess or smoke. I flippin hope it's not low testosterone, that would be too much! Interesting to hear about the vitamin D thing.
Ozone I have a known wheat intolerance so don't eat it anyway so it shouldn't be that.
Need to find the time to make a doc's appointment. Since the run on Sunday I'm going down with yet another chesty cough, about the tenth (no exageration) in the last year. Maybe get some bloods done.
Going to force myself to do a gym workout, if you ignore it sonetimes it goes away by itself
ETA I really like this:
272BHP said:
Some of the best advice I ever got with regards to training:
'The two biggest mistakes are making the easy days too hard and the hard days too easy'
ETA 2- Someone mentioned over-training. I do a 7 or 8 Km run on Sundays, Wednesdays bench press and squats (nothing too heavy) and Saturday last pulls and hyper extensions. Should be ok right?'The two biggest mistakes are making the easy days too hard and the hard days too easy'
Edited by Driller on Wednesday 28th January 18:23
Edited by Driller on Wednesday 28th January 18:27
Driller said:
ETA 2- Someone mentioned over-training. I do a 7 or 8 Km run on Sundays, Wednesdays bench press and squats (nothing too heavy) and Saturday last pulls and hyper extensions. Should be ok right?
That is in no way overtraining!Edited by Driller on Wednesday 28th January 18:23
Edited by Driller on Wednesday 28th January 18:27
I'd suggest non urgent GP visit, there's something wrong if you can't cope with that. I'm presuming you eat properly, drink enough water and get plenty of sleep (and don't weigh 37 stone)
Let us know how it goes
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