Workout question/problem:

OK, so I'm about 20-30 pounds overweight at the moment and I've decided to get back into decent shape. I've been going on long-ish bike rides, going to boxing classes etc., and I recently got a membership to a local gym. I'm just focusing on cardio at the moment, and I had my first real workout there yesterday. It was pretty mellow, I basically just did about 20 minutes on the stairmaster-thingy (I believe that is the technical term) at a fairly low rate (I think it said I did about 70 stories) and then I did about 10 minutes on the eliptical machine. So far, so good.

So today, I went back to the gym, did another 20 minutes on the stairmaster-thingy, this time at a slightly higher rate (I think I did around 80 stories this time), then I went to the treadmill and did about 15 - 20 minutes there (I ran about a mile - I know, I'm slow) with no break inbetween either workouts. Through out the run on the treadmill, I kept track of my heartrate - it was hovering between 145 and 170 (it was usually between about 150-165), which I think is probably too high for a fat fuck like myself. Anyways, the problem is that when I stepped off the treadmill, I got incredibly dizzy. It was like the world was still on the treadmill while I was standing still. This began to subside after about 20-30 seconds or so, though I felt a little dizzy for a little while afterwards.

So, my question is, did I push myself too hard? Getting dizzy like that kind of freaked me out...

It may have been that. I tend to feel that way after intense cardio, and intense is a subjective deal.

How well were you feuled up for your workout? I know you are trying to lose, but making sure you are nourished properly is important. I like to get some carbs in there no more then 2-3 hrs prior, and as well have maybe a banana closer to, like say 1 hr or less. It sounds like you needed some sugars in ya. A simple banana will help with that.

agreed with Youngblood also try drinking I find it helped when I had those problems.

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

It may have been that. I tend to feel that way after intense cardio, and intense is a subjective deal.

How well were you feuled up for your workout? I know you are trying to lose, but making sure you are nourished properly is important. I like to get some carbs in there no more then 2-3 hrs prior, and as well have maybe a banana closer to, like say 1 hr or less. It sounds like you needed some sugars in ya. A simple banana will help with that.

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I had a bowl of cereal about 2 hours prior to working out, I also had a big glass of water with some orange flavored metamucil :). That was all.

I should also note that I didn't bring any water with me, so maybe that was the problem.

Obviously without seeing you I can't say for certain if it was a problem with your blood pressure/sugar etc but the fact that it happened when you got off the treadmill and after a long break from the gym leads me to believe it was neither.

When I first started working in the gyms I hadn't really used treadmills before, I practiced using all of the machines I'd be putting clients on and found that initially I got dizzy when I stepped of the tread mill because

a) I wasn't used to it
b) I got off too quickly

You'll find that even though your eyes know you're not moving forwards your body feels as if you are and is giving that feedback to your brain, so to suddenly stop and move the other way is going to give you motion induced dizzyness.

Try again next time but this time give yourself a good few minutes to cool down on the treadmill to a slow walking pace, then put your feet on either side of the tread, keep looking forwards and holding the handles and give yourself half a minute or something to collect yourself before slowly stepping off.

after a while you'll just be able to hop off the thing, I could demo it to clients and then just get straight off. If that doesn't stop it then I'd reccomend getting a proper physical before doing any more training/trying a static exercise bike etc.