Q Hi, I wish to know why do I feel so tired and lightheaded after I workout in the gym every morning. The thing is, I was overweight three years ago, and I lost almost 15 kilos since. I workout in the morning, after which I have to study. My workouts consist of weight training and cardio. My tolerance to cardio has always been poor since I was a child. After a heavy cardio workout, I feel breathless and lightheaded. My BP is always low. My diastolic BP seldom goes to 60. Today my BP is 106/56. Which it is everytime. I like to keep fit. I eat home made food. Am a vegetarian, dont drink or smoke. Im 27 years old. Am 59 tall and weigh 74 kilos. Sometimes I feel I either have a cardiac or a respiratory ailment which has not been diagnosed. I have no past history of any major illness. I would like your opinion on this matter. Thanks
Tiredness after workout is normal many times. But as you are suffering from low blood pressure or hypotension this may be reason. If you feel exhausted all the time, fall asleep during the day or experience mood swings, re-evaluate your workout routine and take steps to avoid tiredness. Drink about 2 cups of water two hours before exercising; consume up to 1 cup of water every 15 minutes during your workout; after your workout, drink about 2 cups of water for each pound of weight that was lost during your workout. If you exercise for longer than one hour or sweat profusely in hot weather, drink sports drinks instead of water during and after exercising; this will replenish lost electrolytes. Stay properly hydrated, because dehydration can trigger tiredness. Eat a small meal that contains carbohydrates about two hours before your workout to supply your body with glucose, which is used for energy during exercise. Consume a snack that contains carbohydrates within 30 minutes after exercising to replenish glucose stores and avoid tiredness. Give yourself a day off from exercise in between workouts so your muscles can repair themselves and you dont over-train or burn out. Schedule sleep into your day so you get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Kindly consult a cardiologist for respiratory or cardiac symptoms.