Headaches after interval training.

Hi,

I have always been doing Yoga, moderate impact cardio and kickboxing workouts. Generally, workouts that make me energetic, relaxed and upbeat.

Recently I started lifting weights with some interval training to lose stubborn fat. My favourite is Jillian Michaels '30 day shred' or bodypump from the local Y.

It is going on pretty well. Though I lost only 5 pounds in a month, my strength has increased tremendously. I am able to complete 7 intervals (previously, I would have been gasping for air after 3 intervals)

Whenever I do these vigourous total body workouts, I get a terrible headache and feel irritable for a couple of hours.

Is this normal?

Not in my experience. I've been athletic most of my life and have never associated hard workouts with headaches.

Be sure you are very well hydrated, of course; and if it not related to that, I'd say to see your doctor.

i have gotten bad headaches from bodypump and abs classes but i think from perhaps bad form with crunches (my neck) and all the lights in the gym...

i don't know, i get bad migraines often soo.

goodluck. hope your head feels better.

Actually I sometimes get headaches after a big workout too. Like today! I am always super well hydrated though, so sorry I don't know why I get them either. I know it sucks though...

the number one cause of headaches and fatigue is dehydration.  not to go too much into detail but you should be drinking enough water so that your pee is the color of lemon juice (very pale yellow)

the second is not fueling your body properly.  you should not workout on an empty stomach, and you should also eat a healthy well proportioned snack right after your workout.  depending on what youre doing, mix the ratio of carbs to protein - if your workout was cardio heavy, increase the carbs.  if it was strength training, increase the protein.

third, make sure you are getting 6-8 hours sleep.  too little (or too much, in fact) can cause headaches as well.

i used to suffer from headaches and migraines all the time.  now that i make sure i drink enough water, eat well before and after workouts and get enough sleep, i rarely get them at all; now it's only when i'm really stressed out.

I think mine is related to high blood pressure and not breathing properly during my workouts because I stay very hydrated.

I asked my personal trainer this today. She said that I need to remember to keep well hydrated and to keep breathing well throughtout my workout. I had a SUPER hard class today and did what she said and had no headache YEEHA

Thanks all of you.  

The Gym instructor observed me and mentioned that  I was carrying a lot of tension in the neck area during squats and lunges. Apparently I am holding my breath when I put weight on my right leg(since my right knee is slightly weaker).  I started doing them at a slower pace and remembered to relax my neck and shoulders. It helped a lot.