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Hi everyone. I’m new here, and found this board because I’m looking for some help. Here is a history of my problem (I’ll try to keep it brief).
I am a woman in my mid thirties, and have been exercising regularly for several years. I am an expert snowboarder, and work out to keep in shape and improve my riding. I work every group, but make sure I especially keep my quads in shape. I’m not interested in gaining size; endurance and strength are my focus.
I work out at home (I am a housewife). My normal schedule was as follows, 5 days per week:
First thing in the morning: 20 minutes of stretching legs (have had 4 knee surgeries, and need to stay stretched to hold off a tendon replacement)
Morning workout: 60 minutes of cardio, strength training, and abs. Either a few sets on each group every day, or more sets on upper or lower body, alternating upper/lower days.
Afternoon workout: 30 minutes of moderate resistance/moderate RPMs exercise bike
After bike: 20 minutes of heat on knee, followed by 30 minutes of stretching legs.
This schedule was great until I got pneumonia in April. Had to take 6 weeks off of exercising. After that, had to come back slowly as I regained lung strength and capacity.
About 6 weeks back, about ¾ back to my previous levels, suddenly everything was easy. I added weights to my leg sets, and resistance to the bike. Still easy. Added more weights, and duration to the bike. Still easy. Added sets with weights and resistance to the bike. Still easy. (This all happened over about 2-3 weeks; I had increased weights, duration, and resistance by about 50% each with no problems or fatigue.) Suddenly, one day, what was easy the previous day felt near impossible. My quads were fatigued. I reduced weight and bike duration, but the pain got worse. I eliminated weights and reduced resistance, just doing the moves to maintain flexibility. The pain got worse. I couldn’t get my quads to rest; they were spasming and cramping. It hurt to go up and down stairs. I had most of the symptoms of overtraining syndrome; serious fatigue, high resting pulse rate, depression, confusion, infections, weakness (the other groups were weaker than usual), difficulty sleeping (couldn’t get my quads comfortable), lack of appetite, tendonitis, hands shaking, constant deep pain in my quads. It was really surprising and terrible.
I tried reducing my workouts, or only working other groups, but I was very weak. I kept stretching twice a day, and added more time with heat and some massage. It took 2 weeks of total rest until I could go up stairs without pain. I then rested another week.
Being without symptoms, I eased back into workouts. First, I used no weights, doing strength training 3 days, and 10 minute sessions on the bike the other two. I gradually increased weight, days with weights, and days and time on the bike. I was about halfway back to my post-pneumonia levels when it happened again; sudden, intense fatigue and pain in my quads, skin infection, overall fatigue, weakness, depression, fast pulse, the whole ball of wax. The kicker is this; I didn't start getting the fatigue and soreness in my quads until 5 days after the last real workout. (I had used no weights, and no time on the bike in between.) I just don’t get it.
My real problem is this: it is November, and ski resorts are opening. I need to be ready for the snow. It kills me to not exercise; I’m addicted to my workouts. I’m hoping someone can suggest something (supplement, stretching regimen, light exercises, anything) that can help me to get out of this more quickly, and keep it from happening again. As for diet, I’m a vegetarian who eats very healthy, with dairy (mostly nonfat), eggs, soy, and protein powder as my protein sources. I have increased my intake recently in response to this, but it was never too low.
Please, can someone help me? I would love any suggestions!! Thanks!
I am a woman in my mid thirties, and have been exercising regularly for several years. I am an expert snowboarder, and work out to keep in shape and improve my riding. I work every group, but make sure I especially keep my quads in shape. I’m not interested in gaining size; endurance and strength are my focus.
I work out at home (I am a housewife). My normal schedule was as follows, 5 days per week:
First thing in the morning: 20 minutes of stretching legs (have had 4 knee surgeries, and need to stay stretched to hold off a tendon replacement)
Morning workout: 60 minutes of cardio, strength training, and abs. Either a few sets on each group every day, or more sets on upper or lower body, alternating upper/lower days.
Afternoon workout: 30 minutes of moderate resistance/moderate RPMs exercise bike
After bike: 20 minutes of heat on knee, followed by 30 minutes of stretching legs.
This schedule was great until I got pneumonia in April. Had to take 6 weeks off of exercising. After that, had to come back slowly as I regained lung strength and capacity.
About 6 weeks back, about ¾ back to my previous levels, suddenly everything was easy. I added weights to my leg sets, and resistance to the bike. Still easy. Added more weights, and duration to the bike. Still easy. Added sets with weights and resistance to the bike. Still easy. (This all happened over about 2-3 weeks; I had increased weights, duration, and resistance by about 50% each with no problems or fatigue.) Suddenly, one day, what was easy the previous day felt near impossible. My quads were fatigued. I reduced weight and bike duration, but the pain got worse. I eliminated weights and reduced resistance, just doing the moves to maintain flexibility. The pain got worse. I couldn’t get my quads to rest; they were spasming and cramping. It hurt to go up and down stairs. I had most of the symptoms of overtraining syndrome; serious fatigue, high resting pulse rate, depression, confusion, infections, weakness (the other groups were weaker than usual), difficulty sleeping (couldn’t get my quads comfortable), lack of appetite, tendonitis, hands shaking, constant deep pain in my quads. It was really surprising and terrible.
I tried reducing my workouts, or only working other groups, but I was very weak. I kept stretching twice a day, and added more time with heat and some massage. It took 2 weeks of total rest until I could go up stairs without pain. I then rested another week.
Being without symptoms, I eased back into workouts. First, I used no weights, doing strength training 3 days, and 10 minute sessions on the bike the other two. I gradually increased weight, days with weights, and days and time on the bike. I was about halfway back to my post-pneumonia levels when it happened again; sudden, intense fatigue and pain in my quads, skin infection, overall fatigue, weakness, depression, fast pulse, the whole ball of wax. The kicker is this; I didn't start getting the fatigue and soreness in my quads until 5 days after the last real workout. (I had used no weights, and no time on the bike in between.) I just don’t get it.
My real problem is this: it is November, and ski resorts are opening. I need to be ready for the snow. It kills me to not exercise; I’m addicted to my workouts. I’m hoping someone can suggest something (supplement, stretching regimen, light exercises, anything) that can help me to get out of this more quickly, and keep it from happening again. As for diet, I’m a vegetarian who eats very healthy, with dairy (mostly nonfat), eggs, soy, and protein powder as my protein sources. I have increased my intake recently in response to this, but it was never too low.
Please, can someone help me? I would love any suggestions!! Thanks!
