dizzy near the end...

[pptraxxx]

I am alternating between one day of a cardio workout and one day of circuit weight training. During the last couple of weight training routines, I get light-headed near the end of the workout. I don't know if I'm breathing too hard and that's making me light-headed or if I am eating wrong before-hand and therefore, maybe I do not have the proper fuel for sustained energy. My workout is about 35 minutes long - basically 15 second breaks between reps.

Regarding the breathing, I am breathing a deep breath and exhale with every rep. Regarding the eating, an hour before working out I typically eat 1-whole egg w/ 2 egg whites, a piece of whole grain toast (plain), and 16oz water. Then, about 15 minutes before the workout, I eat a power performance bar for a glucose/fructose charge. I drink another 16oz of water during the workout.

What do you think is causing this lightheadedness and what might be a fix?

[Cynic]

Do this:

Stop the total rhythmic breathing. That doesn't mean to hyperventilate, but make it less of deep, relaxing breaths.

Eat a bit more carbs. A bowl of oatmeal w/ fruit is a very good option.

[Ogedei]

So you do a set of squats, wait 15 seconds and then bust out a second set?

Do you count this 15 seconds? Or is it approximate?

Either way it seems like an awfully short rest period.

Could be a carb thing as cynic suggests. You could always make a PWO type drink and take it in with you and drink some of it slowly throughout the sets.

[pptraxxx]

Originally Posted by Ogedei

So you do a set of squats, wait 15 seconds and then bust out a second set?

Do you count this 15 seconds? Or is it approximate?

Either way it seems like an awfully short rest period.

Could be a carb thing as cynic suggests. You could always make a PWO type drink and take it in with you and drink some of it slowly throughout the sets.

The 15 seconds is approximate and is actually probably on the long side - I follow the DVD and they move from one exercise to the next with about 15 seconds of rest which is taken simply to show you the next move and them BAM your doing it. The routine never repeats an move or does a second set - it's like: push-ups - heavy pants - military press - arm curls - back scratchers - lunges - stretch....on to phase 2 (a different set of moves), stretch and on to phase 3, end.

I probably do need to back off on the "heavy' breathing, but, it must be the carb thing that's the problem. I thought the power bar with it's 22g of carbs eaten right before the workout would be enough when combined with the eggs and toast meal eaten an hour earlier but I guess not. I will up the intake b/4 and try the carb drink during the workout....thanks.

[AFI82]

Are you able to actually control your breathing like that through the entire workout? Do you find that towards the end, you have to concentrate harder to maintain the breathing pattern?

If so, then that might be a big part of it. Lots of times, while running, I would try to keep a steady pattern of breathing. But every now and then, I would just have to let myself breath in and out as fast as I needed to. You're bound to get tired at some point, and you need more oxygen.

[newdawn]

I sometimes find that if I try to keep a breathing pattern, i.e. on the rower (exhale with stroke, inhale with recovery), that I get too tired near the end and I need to breathe more often than the rhythm of my exercise or I'll get dizzy.

[Ogedei]

In terms of all this breathing talk. I would just like to add the following thought.

If you are getting winded and are using a breathing pattern of 1:1, it may very well be because you are not exhaling enough CO2 and inhibiting how much O2 you can bring in. You could try to exhale longer than you inhale.

One of the breathing concepts I have seen in swimming and now in running is to exhale forceully and to not inhale per say, but to just the the air replace the vaccuum that has been created naturally. Breathe out forceully and just let the air come back.

Og.