First day at the gym and I passed out!

[Josh2xh 70]

So today was my first real day at the gym. The day before I rode the bike for 45 minutes and that doesn't really count. Today I worked with a trainer on a strength assessment test. We only did about 5 workouts and I past out at the end for a few minutes. They thought it was a blood pressure issue so they were trying to get some circulation but that just made it worse.

I became semi-coherent after about 5 minutes but my vision started to blur. After 15 minutes the blood pressure didn't seem to be the problem and I remembered when I got home after surgery I had the same problem and my wife made me eat Peanut Butter to get my blood sugar up. The trainer brought over some honey and that seemed to do the trick. They still made me sit eat honey and hydrate for the next hour though (I am glad they did).

I am concerned about low blood sugar and passing out again, but I hate to give up core training. I also have tried really hard to cut out carbs and sugars but I don't want to pass out again. I also believe bending and standing really had something to do with it. Normally I get light headed when I stand from a sedentary position.

Does anyone have some nutrition suggestions?

P.S. if you are going to pass out you will want to be at LA Fitness with one of their trainers. I think I would have been screwed anywhere else.

Edited June 15, 2014 by Josh2xh

[dkelle11 6]

How long had it been since your surgery? My surgery is tomorrow. I am used to some pretty intense strength and cardio workouts. They are telling me 3 to 4 weeks before I can go back. I just don't want to wait that long.

As for your issue do you eat before you go. Protein is your best friend when trying to keep your blood sugar stable. Have you tried drinking a shake before your workout?

[Sboulie 90]

That's what I do. I drink a medifast shake on my way to the gym. Never have this issue

[2Big2Skate 328]

I remember feeling extremely weak and feeble when I went back to working out. Take it easy. It'll be a couple months before you can push yourself. I found that when my daily calories increased, and i added more good carbs, I could do more in the gym. You do need carbs. But not at the expense of Protein of course.

[terry1118 1,274]

So today was my first real day at the gym. The day before I rode the bike for 45 minutes and that doesn't really count. Today I worked with a trainer on a strength assessment test. We only did about 5 workouts and I past out at the end for a few minutes. They thought it was a blood pressure issue so they were trying to get some circulation but that just made it worse.

I became semi-coherent after about 5 minutes but my vision started to blur. After 15 minutes the blood pressure didn't seem to be the problem and I remembered when I got home after surgery I had the same problem and my wife made me eat Peanut Butter to get my blood sugar up. The trainer brought over some honey and that seemed to do the trick. They still made me sit eat honey and hydrate for the next hour though (I am glad they did).

I am concerned about low blood sugar and passing out again, but I hate to give up core training. I also have tried really hard to cut out carbs and sugars but I don't want to pass out again. I also believe bending and standing really had something to do with it. Normally I get light headed when I stand from a sedentary position.

Does anyone have some nutrition suggestions?

P.S. if you are going to pass out you will want to be at LA Fitness with one of their trainers. I think I would have been screwed anywhere else.

My husband works out every other day for two/three hours - half cardio, half heavy lifting. He had trouble making it through at first. He was working out, then following his workout he'd have his Protein shake. His trainer told him he needed to eat something an hour before his workout so he'd have enough energy to get through it. His trainer told him to eat a PB&J sandwich - natural, unsweetened Peanut Butter and sugar free preserves on whole grain bread. Obviously you can't eat that but maybe the same idea applies - maybe some form of protein/healthy fat/complex carb combo to give you energy and keep blood sugar stable?

[Josh2xh 70]

I think eating before might be the trick. I only had a Decaf coffee with half a cup of milk and 15 grams of Isopure Protein. And that was about 2 hours before the workout. I need to eat some carbs and more protein.

[swimbikerun 1,039]

Ok well here I have to deviate. I did a lot of swimming just out from surgery at one month on a lot less food. My body got used to it. I was eating healthy veggies and fruits and lean Protein. Just not a lot. Maybe my body learned to process all of the, I had my gallbladder but at a month out it started giving me major fits and the like.

I didn't do a lot of lifting, it was mostly all cardio. Some lifting, but I was having a blast doing all the swimming, running, and exercise classes I couldn't before.

[cutiepieinchi 158]

How long had it been since your surgery? My surgery is tomorrow. I am used to some pretty intense strength and cardio workouts. They are telling me 3 to 4 weeks before I can go back. I just don't want to wait that long.

As for your issue do you eat before you go. Protein is your best friend when trying to keep your blood sugar stable. Have you tried drinking a shake before your workout?

My surgery is also tomorrow. I am going to lightly hit the gym week 3 and go from there

[dkelle11 6]

My surgery is also tomorrow. I am going to lightly hit the gym week 3 and go from there

Ya thats what i was thinking too Good luck tomorrow!

[Josh2xh 70]

Ok well here I have to deviate. I did a lot of swimming just out from surgery at one month on a lot less food. My body got used to it. I was eating healthy veggies and fruits and lean Protein. Just not a lot. Maybe my body learned to process all of the, I had my gallbladder but at a month out it started giving me major fits and the like.

I didn't do a lot of lifting, it was mostly all cardio. Some lifting, but I was having a blast doing all the swimming, running, and exercise classes I couldn't before.

This makes a ton of sense. My only concern being all cardio doesn't address loose skin.

How are you doing with the loose skin? I really don't want plastic surgery. Hence the passing out on day one.

[swimbikerun 1,039]

I have a boatload of it but I'm no spring chicken and I was large for a while. That really determines a lot of it.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that passing out is a potentially serious problem. I think you should get seen by your PCP to explore possible issues from low blood sugar to orthostatic hypotension (and likely a bunch of others I know nothing about, since I'm not your health care provider), rather than seeking diet advice from strangers on the internet or random athletic trainers at the gym.

[boccob81 244]

My first day I did the elip and did it for 20 mins only .. I thought I was going to die .. Heart hurt to but the next day it was better I have done 3 days of cardio so far sat and sun off start back up Monday for 5 days going to up to 30 min then next week 40 I hope

[swimbikerun 1,039]

I have to agree with Bufflehead. I have orthostatic hypotension (some times getting the top number up to 100 can be a chore) and doing PT & OT this week they checked my BP several times.

Of course they tell me to tell them when I'm going to pass out. I think they've figured out for someone who swam their way to metabolic alkalosis and back to back weekend ER visits so that I could be in the top 10 in the nation in the swim challenge, probably I'll wait until I'm really out of there before I'll admit defeat.

I get it naturally ... my buddy holds the course record for one of the "Life" runs here: about 130 miles in 24 hours. His wife and daughter did over 50 in 24 hours.

[Josh2xh 70]

I am going to go against the grain here and say that passing out is a potentially serious problem. I think you should get seen by your PCP to explore possible issues from low blood sugar to orthostatic hypotension (and likely a bunch of others I know nothing about, since I'm not your health care provider), rather than seeking diet advice from strangers on the internet or random athletic trainers at the gym.

I will book an appointment this week with my DR. Something has to be wrong. Might be a blood pressure issue on top of something else.