No more squats at beggining of workout!!

[Allon]

I just feel to sick afterwards to do anything else.
I haven't yet thrown up but I am not pushing my limits when squatting and still I feel dizzy and sick - forget about how tired I am after 2-4 set of squats.
I think I will do the squats from now on towards the end of the routine, not last as I will be too tired to squat properly but definitely after any other heavy exercises I have on that day.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

do you eat before your workout? are you a smoker (tobacco or other)? do you take any pills before a workout? are you breathing properly during your squats?

 

[Allon]

If I eat before it is even worse, but I have to eat 2-3 hours before workout, I will try without eating for 4-5 hours maybe?
I AM A SMOKER (I know) - mainly tobacco.
No pills. Natural for me.
I Breath properly during squats and even take a 1 second rest between reps.

Did I mention it feels like my brain is going to explode after the squats?

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

You may be holding your breath while while squatting up on the concentric which is causing a lot of pressure in your cranium and increasing your blood pressure.

I don't know how you breathe when squatting, but maybe take a deep breath into the lungs or diaphragm, then squat down, and then as you ascend blow the air out forcefully. I never get light headed this way, even on max attempts. Try to blow the air out forcefully through the sticking point, rather than hold it in.

Also, if you use a belt it could be on too tight, restricting your air flow. I prefer not to use a belt myself.

Waht kinda reps and sets do you do?

 

[Allon]

Thanks Ghetto, I don't use a belt. I am pretty sure I don't hold my breath at all. I breath in while going down and exhale while going up. I will pay more attention next time I go (tomorrow).
I am just starting HST so things are changing but the usual amount of reps I do is around 10, I was trying to do 12 and I could apart from the dizziness. so I was sticking to 10. When looking for my maxes on 15 I also got lighteheaded a bit with the lower weight, as I said I am not using max for doing 10 reps but 10 reps is what I was usually doing. I aim for 3 sets + 1-2 easy warm up sets. I was doing the warm up sets with 5-6 reps of light weight to make sure I don't get dizzy before the working sets... I even started doing leg extensions for warm up sets.
Many times I would have to just give up in the middle of the 3rd set due to the feeling and that is after about 3-5 minutes rest between sets, leaning on the Barbell hoping not to pass out

 

[b fold the truth]

You really might have a problem with blood sugar. This could be causing the head aches, puking feeling, etc...

You should NOT breathe in on the way down either...ever.

You really live in Tel Aviv? I'm not far from you.

B True

 

[Allon]

You really might have a problem with blood sugar. This could be causing the head aches, puking feeling, etc...

You should NOT breathe in on the way down either...ever.

You really live in Tel Aviv? I'm not far from you.

B True

Thanks. So should I just hold my breath while going down? I think I will check with the doctor abou8t my blood sugar etc... I thought what I was going through was normal when starting this thread but now I realize I may need to have this checked.

Yep I am in Tel Aviv. Haven't been to Cyprus or Turkey or Greece yet, but will definitely get there one day.

 

[b fold the truth]

Thanks. So should I just hold my breath while going down? I think I will check with the doctor abou8t my blood sugar etc... I thought what I was going through was normal when starting this thread but now I realize I may need to have this checked.

Yep I am in Tel Aviv. Haven't been to Cyprus or Turkey or Greece yet, but will definitely get there one day.

Well...you ever seen a powerlifter squat? Notice that their face is red and cheeks poking out? It is because they held their breath.

Before you got to the gym...you need some light complex and simple carbs. 1 hour or less before I train I will eat 100grams of oatmeal mixed with 2 tbsp of sugar and 2 tbsp of honey. I also drink 1 liter of GatorAde during my workout. Has helped me a lot.

I watched Tel Aviv play basketball in one of the Euro final 16 matches here in Limassol, Cyprus in February. I was near scared to death as the team had men in jeans, white t-shirts, black leather jackes...and carrying fully automatic weapons. Good team too...beat us by 21 I think.

B True

 

[Allon]

Thanks for the tips BFold - much appreciated.
I will make sure to eat carbs a few hours before workout and also at the same time not eat anything for 3 hours before squatting. Also may drink carb drink during or just before workout.

Yep Tel Aviv are good at basketball, seems to be the only sport we Israeli's are good at Israel is all about security. We get searched before entering any public area here. Hopefully one day we will have peace.

I was in Bulgaria in August, it drove me crazy that whenever somebody said yes they shook their head and nodded for saying no. It was crazy! I heard in Greece it's the same. You in the Turkish or Greek side of Cyprus?

 

[needsize]

I have always ended up feeling really sick on leg day. I eat 2.5 hours before I train, oatmeal and whey, but even a half assed leg workout makes me sick. It starts with squats, but gets worse with leg press and hacks. I just rest longer in between sets, to keep it manageable. It also helps that I have my entire quad routine down to 5 working sets
I still have to sit or sometimes lay on the gym floor for 10 minutes after finishing quads before I can even think about starting on hams

 

[b fold the truth]

Thanks for the tips BFold - much appreciated.
I will make sure to eat carbs a few hours before workout and also at the same time not eat anything for 3 hours before squatting. Also may drink carb drink during or just before workout.

Yep Tel Aviv are good at basketball, seems to be the only sport we Israeli's are good at Israel is all about security. We get searched before entering any public area here. Hopefully one day we will have peace.

I was in Bulgaria in August, it drove me crazy that whenever somebody said yes they shook their head and nodded for saying no. It was crazy! I heard in Greece it's the same. You in the Turkish or Greek side of Cyprus?

I'm on the Greek side

Confuses the heck out of me that a "nod" means no...lol. Where I"m from in the US we say..."naaa" for the word "no". Here...the Greek word for "no" is "nai"..pronounced nearly the same. Confuses the heck out of me. Also...Greeks speak Greek LOUDLY. I always think that people are fighting all the time...lol.

If you ever get this way (cheap flights) then you should come and hang out. Guns are illegal here though

B True

 

[Allon]

Thanks Needsize, I know I am not the only one going through this... I will go to the doctor anyway though just to make sure nothing is wrong with me.

Thanks Bfold - That would be great!! I was just in Europe for a month so no way I iwll get time off work in the near future, but who knows... I hate guns so that is a plus!

 

[b fold the truth]

Only once have I do the sled drag in a contest and not puked.

Something about those quads...

Are you in pretty good cardio shape as well?

B True

 

[Allon]

pretty good cardio shape but as I was just on holiday it dropped. (I was gone a month and then was ill for two weeks when I got back!) so maybe that is connected. I have been doing cardio since I got back and am not as good as I was before so maybe this is connected, but I did have the dizziness before going away also.

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

i am going to contribute your sickness to smoking, and perhaps low blood sugar. a sugar drink before and during workout helps. however, smoking weed really gets my blood pressure screwed up, and when i do anything physical (even days after smoking) i get light headed and dizzy. tobacco cant help out either. i think the sheer pump of the legs draws so much blood out of the head anyway, added to the pressure of holding the breath for stability, the head really gets a whammy. dont know what to say except cut the smoking, and eat/ drink a very small amount of sugars before and during your workout.

 

[Allon]

i am going to contribute your sickness to smoking, and perhaps low blood sugar. a sugar drink before and during workout helps. however, smoking weed really gets my blood pressure screwed up, and when i do anything physical (even days after smoking) i get light headed and dizzy. tobacco cant help out either. i think the sheer pump of the legs draws so much blood out of the head anyway, added to the pressure of holding the breath for stability, the head really gets a whammy. dont know what to say except cut the smoking, and eat/ drink a very small amount of sugars before and during your workout.

Thanks for your opinion. I appreciate it!

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

no problem bro, just helpin out- i had the same problem. karma is always welcome

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

That's a good point Johnrobholmes.

Any kind of smoking whether it be cigarettes or weed will tweak your blood pressure and make you feel like crap when really exerting yourself because you have so many carcinogens and other crap floating around in your blood stream and brain.

 

[yomama]

I just feel to sick afterwards to do anything else.
I haven't yet thrown up but I am not pushing my limits when squatting and still I feel dizzy and sick - forget about how tired I am after 2-4 set of squats.
I think I will do the squats from now on towards the end of the routine, not last as I will be too tired to squat properly but definitely after any other heavy exercises I have on that day.

It's all because the blood is all in your legs and not in your head. I get sick if I dont do legs at least once a week. Laying down after squatting helps a lot and wearing a hat!!

 

[Allon]

Great responses guys!

I don't think I can or should I say "Want enough to" stop smoking but I am cutting down.
I squatted yesterday and I followed your advise to hold my breath while going down (I think I understood you correctly) anyway, I breathed in while up, held breath while going down, and breathed out while going up, it seemed much better. I was only doing 6 reps as I was looking for maxes for HST, but I think that even if I had done more reps I would have been much less light headed. It really seemed to make a difference. I'll let you all know next week when I'm doing 15's.

 

[Allon]

Karma to all of you but ----- "You must spread some Karma around before giving it to GhettoStudMuffin again."

 

[b fold the truth]

Update?

B True

 

[Allon]

I am not working out until Sunday, (deconditioning before starting HST cycle) will let you guys know how it went then.

 

[Allon]

Update long overdue here

I started squatting regularly thanks to the general consensus on this site meaning not in the smith machine, and without that "pussy pad"
Feels much better.
Took all the information I was given in this thread and incorporated the principles into my squats. I am not squatting at start of workout, but after a few other exersizes so my blood is pumping by the time I get to them.

So far all is good. Not near as dizzy as I used to be. Had a few workouts without getting sick feeling at all. Dumped my HST routine about 2 weeks ago as it was not agreeing with me, and have since FULLY recovered from slight chest and back injury.
My legs have grown, pants are getting tight, loving the squats!

I definitely would not be making progress I am making if it weren't for the advice I get from people on this site. Love this site!!!

 

[seizer]

I had the same problem to, actually 4 months ago i fainted in the gym!! What i do is have a nice big meal with plenty of carbs and protein about 1.5 hours before the workout and then i am so energized. Lots of carbs does it for me. Also, if you aren't already, give some creatine a try, that helps alot, especially when u take it with the meal. Just what works for me.

 

[Allon]

Thanks ceasar, actually, I find that before squats I mustn't eat for at least 2 hours, but I make sure to have a pro shake and a bowl of muesli with oats at that time. Just started on creatine and it may be helping also.

 

[JKurz1]

I have always ended up feeling really sick on leg day. I eat 2.5 hours before I train, oatmeal and whey, but even a half assed leg workout makes me sick. It starts with squats, but gets worse with leg press and hacks. I just rest longer in between sets, to keep it manageable. It also helps that I have my entire quad routine down to 5 working sets
I still have to sit or sometimes lay on the gym floor for 10 minutes after finishing quads before I can even think about starting on hams

YUP!

I've knocked my squats down to 3-4 intense working sets in the 4-6 rep range....sucks, but I doont get as noxious afterwards.........although I do have a hard time eat PW...........thank GOD for shakes....

 

[mrplunkey]

I just feel to sick afterwards to do anything else.
I haven't yet thrown up but I am not pushing my limits when squatting and still I feel dizzy and sick - forget about how tired I am after 2-4 set of squats.
I think I will do the squats from now on towards the end of the routine, not last as I will be too tired to squat properly but definitely after any other heavy exercises I have on that day.

Here's what I do... get a large cup of icewater. Drink the water between sets and occasionally eat some ice as well. Don't go overboard, but chilling-down my stomach does wonders for my nausea. I have "squatted till I puked" before, and chilling-down my stomach a little as I lift works wonders for me.

Squats draw blood from your body into your legs, hips and core. That's why you get lightheaded and/or see stars near the end of each set. We have a very basic wiring scheme where if our visual information doesn't match what our motion and balance senses are telling us, our body assumes it's been poisoned. So what to do if you're poisoned? You empty your stomach. That's why people get seasick, throw-up on roller coasters, get queezy on elevators that start/stop too quickly, etc. etc. -- it's biological.

Now... the first part is pretty well-established, the rest is my own theory. I think chilling-down your stomach reduces it's overall sensitivity to the nausea signals.

Who knows though, it may just all be in my head -- I just like not having to pop outside and hurl!

Thanks,

 

[Allon]

Thanks MRplunkey (Your name makes me smile)
I actually drink ice cold water at the gym from the cooler the whole workout, it is much better now that I am not eating at least 2 hours b4 leg workout and taking creatine, maybe I am also more used to the squats now. + moving the squats to after something like shoulders so it is not first thing in workout is also helping this.
Thanks everyone for your advice!!!

 

[Akerstei]

ok, I know you have gotten a ton of responses, but let me have a try. This could certainly be a diet issue. Well I should start by saying, shalom chaver- abba shelli gar b'yisrael, b chaifa, ani b hazot habrit... anyway, have you been working out long? have you been regular with it? I know that when I first get into any sort of routine, It's hard as hell and I want to puke almost immedietly, especially when doing super-sets and things where I dont get much rest. Going too fast too soon could do this too you. Well, Im not sure if this is accurate, but it sure could help to maybe take longer rests between sets, or dont go so heavy when you are starting (if that is the case) hope this is helpful
Eli

 

[Allon]

Thanks Eli - Toda
Yeah, I have taken down the weight and am doing 3-4 sets tops.
I was pretty new to squats when I started this thread so I definitely think you are right, I just needed to get used to them.

 

[Beachbum1546]

do you do cardio?

On some of my leg days i'll be so exhausted and dead i just cant get myself to continue. I'll be breathing so hard, light headed, and too spent to even stand up.
I attribute this to too little carbs before my workout and too little cardio. I basically never do any cardio. I know I know, it's terrible but i just hate it and at this point in time i dont want to burn any muscle.