Donating blood effect your workout?

I consider myself to be in good shape and run anywhere from 5-7 miles on Saturday mornings.  I am really bummed becuase I quit this morning after 1.25 miles (and I never quit!).  I donated a pint of blood about 48 hours ago, and am wondering if that is why I felt so crappy this morning.  My heart was racing and I was tired immediately after I started.  Anyone else had similar results?  They tell you not to work out for the rest of the day, on the day you donate--so I really didn't think this would effect me 48 hours later.  I'm pretty bummed because I was counting on the extra calorie deficit tonight--I am going out to dinner (Italian food) with friends. 

Should I have a small snack for energy and try again?  Or just figure my body needs the rest?  Help :)

I would say your body needs the rest and it is wise to listen!  You can try again another day, right?  I hate missing a workout too, but sometimes your body just needs it.

That sounds entirely logical that the blood loss had an impact on your run.  Consider that you're body has been expending extra calories to replace that blood, so you've been in a bigger deficit than you were calculationg.  Go ahead and enjoy your Italian dinner as if you had completed the long run today. 

If you've been eating regularly and drinking plenty within the last forty-eight hours, you should be just fine by now.  Do you donate regularly or was this your first time?

Either way, don't feel bad for not completing your run.  You made a good effort, so go out and enjoy your dinner.  You may find you feel a bit better after eating a big, full meal.

Keep that in mind the next time you do donate.  Drink plenty, take it easy for the day, eat a hearty meal and some snacks, and try to get an apple in your stomach.  They really do help.

Blood donations will mess up your running big time.

Last time I donated blood it seriously screwed up my running- and it wasn't even a full pint!  I had a 5K (which I was only doing for fun, not for competition or anything) 2 or 3 days later and it was much MUCH harder than it should have been.  It probably took me a couple weeks to get my running back to how it was before the blood donation.

I don't donate blood anymore.  Also, I was such a slow bleeder that after more than half a pint had been collected, they decided I was too slow and made me stop.  My donation was worthless since it wasn't a full pint.  They just threw it away.  It didn't help anyone - AND it messed up my running.  A lose-lose situation as far as I'm concerned.

I used to donate regularly, but it's just not worth it anymore.

You can also donate different blood components. If whole blood is having a bad effect, try donating plasma (the liquid part of blood). You are normally given saline at the time and your body rebuilds it really quickly (within 48 hours), so that the effect on your body is like being slightly dehydrated for part of a day. Drink water and you are great.

It is fantastic you are donating; so many people do not and the need is always there. Any type of donation is terrific. Please give donating a different type a try; when I donate plasma I don't have any complications or difficulties in energy. 

Does donating blood affect your workout? yes yes yes!

I love giving blood, I do so whenever I can, because of the high iron count I have, and the feeling that you've done some good for someone who really needs it. If I do give blood, my advice would be to take it easy for 1-3 days, depending on your recovery time, and drink lots and lots of water - more than you normally do. I have worked out on the same day I gave blood, about 6 hours later and couldn't pump half of my workout in the gym that I had done the day before, I felt like I got hit with a mac truck strength and endurance wise!

I take at least a day off of working out, so if I know i'm donating blood on Monday, i'll work out hard Saturday and Sunday so i can relax Monday and Tuesday, and maybe only do light cardio on Tuesday.

Don't feel bad about the calories now, I bet your body is busy at work burning energy to make new blood to pump back into your system to make up for what you lost, don't get so bummed!

Take it easy! -Remy

As the others have said, yes.  Every time I have donated blood it has affected my workouts for a few days afterwards.  And that is considering that the day I donate I make sure to have a calorie surplus to help out my body.  So, if you had any kind of calorie deficit the day you donated, that could make your recovery time even longer.

YES! 
ONE TIME I DONATED BLOOD IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN PUKED/PASSED OUT AT TRACK PRACTICE ... I think I was also menestrating which added to the whole thing, but yes, make sure you are eating enough and getting enough iron! 

Original Post by carolcabbage:

You can also donate different blood components. If whole blood is having a bad effect, try donating plasma (the liquid part of blood). You are normally given saline at the time and your body rebuilds it really quickly (within 48 hours), so that the effect on your body is like being slightly dehydrated for part of a day. Drink water and you are great.

you usually get paid for donating plasma too! 

 

I have not donated in about 6 years, the last time I did I almost passed out shopping at Costco a few hours later and I'm just a bit down and don't have the energy for good workouts for a few days. I switched to giving plasma (I think that's it) where they pull the blood out, filter it for the plasma and pump your blood back in (I like the idea better as it keeps longer for their use, but I don't tolerate the anti-coagulent very well). I might try again now that I'm in pretty good shape with platelets, but I'll have to time it perfectly to match my workouts.  I have one Saturday a month when I don't have a workout so if I skip my Friday night workout and donate Friday afternoon I should be good to go by Monday night.

Does anyone notice that they're still tired 2 weeks later? I'm gassed too. I just started running again and 2 miles was hard but not stop and take breaks hard. After donated I can't run a full 2 miles 2 weeks later and I'm tired all the time. I had good iron levels when I donated so I don't know whats going on. Oh and I'm craving carbs like no ones business. We'll I'm off to run and look forward to hearing from you all!

Original Post by leahdunn309:

Does anyone notice that they're still tired 2 weeks later? I'm gassed too. I just started running again and 2 miles was hard but not stop and take breaks hard. After donated I can't run a full 2 miles 2 weeks later and I'm tired all the time. I had good iron levels when I donated so I don't know whats going on. Oh and I'm craving carbs like no ones business. We'll I'm off to run and look forward to hearing from you all!

That's definitely not normal if you only donated a normal amount.

Are you eating enough in general? It sounds like you may have cut your calories a bit too much.

Ya donating blood affect your workout and health too. And if you donate blood then it's wise step to take a rest before performing any hard task.

Yes platelet or plasma donation stuffs my training. 117 units donated. Twice on training days made me feel rotten... However you should keep donating as your gift to your community and keep training as your gift to yourself. Peace.

Plasma levels come back in a couple of days, but if you gave whole blood, it takes 3-6 weeks to completely recover.

Eat foods high in iron as your body replenishes its blood supply.  Spinach is an easy, healthy choice.

As for your running, you should start to see improvement soon.  In the meantime, try walking.  It's not as satisfying, but if you go longer, you can still eat Italian food without all the guilt.

I give blood fairly regularly and do so after my races.  I hope you won't let this experience keep you from doing a really great thing in the future.