Possible Low Blood Sugar? May be an issue...need advice

Okay, this advice isn't for me, it is for Craig, my fiancee, buuuut, he never logs on so I'm going to ask it for him.

We're getting married in 50 days, and I finally was able to talk him into getting into shape for the wedding with me. So we made a pact to try and lose between 5-10lbs, but mainly just tone up. Craig used to be a total jock in high school and he's still in shape, he's just packed on a few beer pounds. Things have been going well, he's cut out sodas and sweet tea, and has been eating the salads I make for dinner (when we go out he's been ordering salads too). The biggest part of it is he has kept the junk food OUT of the house and that has helped me with snacking, because he was the only one who used to buy it. I workout a couple more days than he does, as I have a gym at my work and get payed an hour a day to workout, but I have been skipping a couple of my daily workouts at work so I can go with Craig to the gym, because otherwise, he wont go.

Anyway, on to the problem...we have been managing to go to the gym together for the past month an average of 2-3 days a week. We try to sit next to eachother on the bikes, or get 2 treadmills together, cause we find competing with each other for distance really motivates us. After a 20-30 minute cardio warmup, we go for some strength training, free weights, machines, etc for another 30-40 minutes. The thing is, and this has happened a few times already, is after our cardio warmup, and about 10 minutes into the weights, Craig says he hits this point where he gets dizzy, starts seeing waves of flashing lights, and he just kind of blacks out. He'll be standing there fine, but he wont respond to what I say, and he just looks soooo out of it. I was a little dissapointed because I was barely even winded and I was so pumped to finish my workout and we had to go home.

I think it may be his bloodsugar, could it be because he has cut out so much sugar by knocking out soda and sweet tea from his diet? I bought him some glucose tablets to take as soon as he starts feeling dizzy, and he says it helps a little...I just didnt know if anyone had advice, or knows about what this possibly could be? Maybe he isnt getting enough to eat? I suggested he eat a protein bar or drink some orange juice before a workout. He tries not to eat too close before a workout as he has some trouble telling the difference between a "snack" and an actual meal. Then he gets too full to go to the gym.

We could use any advice. Thanks!

 

This has happened to me, too.  I can't say for certain whether or not it's blood sugar, but in my case, it boiled down to the fact that I wasn't eating the right things at the right times to coincide with my workouts and activity levels.

Basically, when doing cardio, you want to eat carbs before the workout.  If you're just doing a regular cardio workout (meaning, the usual stuff at the gym and NOT running 10 miles or doing a 50 mile bike trip) it helps to eat some carbs about 60 - 90 minutes prior, and then eat another small amount just before starting (small meaning a few crackers, a little box of raisins, etc.)  The carbs give your body the energy it needs to do cardio.  Eating something 60-90 minutes prior gives them time to get into your bloodstream, and then the little snack right before will give a boost later on.

If you are doing the higher intensity stuff like the long runs or bike rides, then there's more to it and you have to arrange your calorie intake a day or two in advance for those.

The best thing I can say is to search the forums here and at other places for things like "what to eat before a workout" and nutritional needs for different activity levels.  My problems were linked to the fact that I wasn't eating enough of the right things at the right times to support the level of activity I was doing.  And of course everyone is different, so it will take some research to find the best thing for you and him.

Good luck, and good job to both of you for getting active!

Thanks for the advice, I was thinking it was something along those lines. Craig's idea of a "snack" has always been a plate full of nachos with melted cheese. Then he's too full to workout, and by the time his tummy feels up for it, it's time for a pre season football game and his butt is glued to the couch.

I'll recommend to him about what you said, and will definetely look around on those threads for more advice on pre workout foods. Thanks!

You might want to have him check his blood pressure, too.

I've been getting light headed a bit recently.  I wasn't too worried about it.  Then, I went to give blood last week.  I was on the borderline of not being able to donate, because my blood pressure was 68/90!  I'm now thinking I know why I've been getting those dizzy spells.  I still have no idea why my blood pressure is low, though.

If I cut carbs out of my diet and then try to exercise this definitely happens to me. =/ But low blood sugar and diabetes run in my family, so I have to eat a peanut butter sandwhich or something before working out or it totally destroys me. I don't know any facts on it, but I think having him eat a protein bar or something would probably help.

Also, make sure he's drinking enough water! I also get dizzy if I don't have enough water.

BTW - I think it's great you guys can work out together! My bf would be sooo pissed if I beat him that it's not worth it. =P

Original Post by tincognito:

BTW - I think it's great you guys can work out together! My bf would be sooo pissed if I beat him that it's not worth it. =P

 Haha, yeah! Our first time working out together I beat him by 1 mile on the bike. He insisted that it was because I was working on a lower level, and therefore able to go farther, but when he looked at my level compared to his, I was on 10 and he was on 8! That shut him up real fast. He beat me last Saturday for the first time though on the bike, so I need to step up my game now :)

And thanks for all the great advice, Im going to have him read this thread when he gets home from work. I hope it is nothing serious and just a case of not eating right before a work out.

Has he been eating enough carbs and protein after his workouts lately? If not, he could not have enough of it saved up to expend that energy on the weights. Eating a snack between cardio and weights is also a great idea.

"As long as you've replaced your carbohydrate glucose stores after any previous exercise session with proper eating, the body will have stored up to 500 grams, or a pound of glycogen.

A jogging or running treadmill session of forty minutes may use about 600 kcalories of energy, depending on your size and pace. Of this, some fuel will be fat, some will be stored glucose and some blood glucose. A reasonable estimate is that you would use around 80-100 grams (3 or 4 ounces) of stored glucose out of, say, 400 grams that you have available. You can see that you have plenty left in reserve for strength training.

What's more, if you replace some of this used fuel with a sports drink or energy bar before you start the weights, you’ll only be a little depleted from when you walked in the door."

 

 

The low blood pressure thing is true for me. I've always had low blood pressure and it seems to effect my blood sugar levels. When I was younger I used to pass out alot. Basically anything that would spike my adrenaline would shut me down (e.g. playing too hard, tripping and skinning a knee).

For me the best thing to do is have something sweet to drink (hits my system faster that any type of food product) and sit down for a few minutes. This is followed by massive hunger so I have a protein-y slow digesting snack.

I've been keeping blood sugar pretty steady so I haven't had a "spell" in a while :)

I have a similar issue with my workouts. I have been checked by the doctor and I am borderline hypoglycemic (lower than average blood sugar levels). I also have a fairly low blood pressure.

Over head lifting can cause a drop in blood pressure and dizzyness/blacking out/fainting/nausea.

Water water water! Before and during!

I also agree with the snack. Eat a protien bar before working out - the pre-packaged snack will help him with the idea of portion control and could give him the extra uumph he needs to do the workout without the spells.

If he does start feeling that way have him sit down and put his head between his knees. Or lying down and elevating his legs above his heart should help too. After a few minutes it should pass.

Maybe he's being too competitive with you and is pushing himself harder than he should be - maybe try a few days with doing your cardio apart so that he doesn't overtrain?

If snacks/water don't change things - he might want to go get checked out by a professional!

Best of Luck sorting it out! I know it is NOT a fun feeling!

If it's blood glucose eating more protein the meal before &/or fruit right before the workout should do it.

If that doesn't do the trick, he should have his blood pressure checked. My son's is low and his body gives an improper response to some circumstances that causes his blood pressure to really tank & him to pass out. It's fairly common and can be treated by staying hydrated, getting more salt, and medication if necessary. It's not dangerous.