Question: Sometimes when I exercise I feel light headed half way through a class. What could this be?
Answer: This is a fairly common complaint amongst people who are exercising at a higher intensity. This is a classic symptom of hypoglycemia. This is when your blood sugar levels are depleted by exercise and the levels plummet making you feel light headed and week. The time you are most susceptible to this is when you train in the morning after sleeping all night.
Remember after sleeping for approximately 8 hours then obstaining from food in the morning your bodies blood sugar levels will start to decline. And if you commence a training session that morning without any fuel source consequently as the body burns sugars your levels deplete and you may suffer hypoglycemia.
To keep blood sugar levels up for your training session you should eat something light 1-2 hours prior to training. The snack should be carbohydrate based for sustained energy. Do not eat any meals just before training as the body has to try to break it down and digest it. To do so the digestion process draws blood from the bloodstream this can also make you feel week. This is similar to how you feel after you eat your Xmas lunch and you become tired straight after.
If you often suffer from hypoglycemia you should carry a packet of jelly beans with you in case you feel faint and during the workout just eat a couple this should elevate your blood sugar levels.
Question: I suffer from Asthma and have trouble breathing when exercising. What can I do to prevent this?
Answer: If you suffer from Asthma it is great that you are exercising but there are a few precautions to follow. Asthma can be brought on by a number of things including exercise, cold weather, allergies, dust and respiratory infections. Any of these factors can cause Asthma which is a narrowing of the airways resulting in labored breathing.
To minimize this you should be monitored by a doctor and make sure you are taking your preventative medication as prescribed if applicable. Also it is very important to take your reliever medication prior to training and keep it close to hand while training.
Here are some guidelines for training
By following these guidelines Asthma should be more controlled but if your breathing is greatly restricted during exercise Stop immediately and seek medical attention.
Question: I am a 51-year-old women and have done no exercise since I left school. Is it too late for me to begin?
Answer: That’s a question a lot of people ask. There is no maximum age requirement to begin exercising. Some people are under the impression that once you reach a certain age, you are beyond help and training is out of the question.
If you commence training and you stick to it, you can make tremendous long-term improvements. There are people in their 60s and 70s who are competing in marathons and triathlons who only commenced training later in life. You just need the dedication and a great attitude.
As soon as you start training, you will see improvements in numerous areas and will feel a great deal better for it. To make a start, you could take a short walk 2-3 days per week and eventually increase it to 5 days. It is important for you to start gradually and increase your work load progressively over time. You also might want to visit a fitness centre, as there is a great variety of equipment that would be beneficial to you.
You should definitely incorporate resistance training into your program, as this will increase your bone density and offset the chance of osteoporosis. Another benefit of resistance training is, you will add lean muscle to your body, which will tone you and increase your metabolic rate (kilojoule burning).
Remember we only get one chance in life so do your best and don’t waste it.
Print Friendly
Share Article