A few questions...

Al said:

Your advice wanted...

As a 53-yr old man who has been taking it easy for two years and just
started training again a few weeks ago in order to get fit and burn
flab, if I train hard enough to make myself feel nauseous, does that
mean I am overdoing it?

What causes the nausea?

For a reasonably healthy 53-yr old male, how long does it take to
fully recover from a workout (both with regards muscle recovery and
nervous sytem recovery)?

They tell me to "listen to my body" - but if I did that, I would
probably *never* do any exercise. Can anyone provide insights on how
to listen to one's own body and recognise when one is fully recovered
from a workout?

When one has fully recovered, is that the best time to work out again
- or is it better to wait another day or so?

Is it still believed that the body starts to create cortisol after
about 40 minutes of working out and that it is therefore advisable to
limit one's workouts to 40 minutes approx?

Does this cortisol production also start after 40 minutes of
cardio/aerobic exercise?

Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I bet
the experts here are going to want that info.

As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout. Intense
squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might cause that. It
ought to go away pretty soon after the workout. Some people avoid it by
training with either an empty stomach (or some people like to have some
food in there, like me).

jP

Al said:

Your advice wanted...

As a 53-yr old man who has been taking it easy for two years and just
started training again a few weeks ago in order to get fit and burn
flab, if I train hard enough to make myself feel nauseous, does that
mean I am overdoing it?

What causes the nausea?

For a reasonably healthy 53-yr old male, how long does it take to
fully recover from a workout (both with regards muscle recovery and
nervous sytem recovery)?

They tell me to "listen to my body" - but if I did that, I would
probably *never* do any exercise. Can anyone provide insights on how
to listen to one's own body and recognise when one is fully recovered
from a workout?

When one has fully recovered, is that the best time to work out again
- or is it better to wait another day or so?

Is it still believed that the body starts to create cortisol after
about 40 minutes of working out and that it is therefore advisable to
limit one's workouts to 40 minutes approx?

Does this cortisol production also start after 40 minutes of
cardio/aerobic exercise?

Thank you,

Al

Like I said before: get your annual physical! That way we know what
we're working with here :-)

Ari

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

jP said:

Quoted message said:

Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I bet
the experts here are going to want that info.

Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so as
to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises then
one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup while I'm
doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on biceps. I
sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for 40-60 minutes
on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to criticism and
seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along, based on my limited
knowledge.

At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
time. Not too pleasant...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout. Intense
squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might cause that. It
ought to go away pretty soon after the workout. Some people avoid it by
training with either an empty stomach (or some people like to have some
food in there, like me).

Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or deadlifts.
I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the exercise or whether
it is because I'm going straight into these heavy exercises at the
*beginning* of the weight workout. I get the impression that if I took
more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't happen. If it's not a hazard
then I'm not too woried about it. I just thought it might be the body
'advising' me to take it easier.

Al

On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:17:51 +0800, spodosaurus

spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com said:

Quoted message said:

Like I said before: get your annual physical! That way we know what
we're working with here :-)

Ari

I visited my doc this morning with a suspected hernia , but it turned
out to be a painful 'nodule' deep inside my groin which the doc didn't
recognise. He has referred me to a surgeon who will take a look and
decide what needs to be done. While I was at the doc's I asked him if
I was OK to work out in the meantime. He said "yes". I addes: "and
lift weights"? He suggested I should avoid lifting heavy weights until
we get the 'nodule' diagnosed by the surgeon. But then he would say
that - to cover himself...

I had a blood pressure check about 4 months ago which checked out
fine. I don't have any illnesses that I know of, apart from an ongoing
hay-fever thing that saps my get-up-end-go somewhat. I don't take
drugs or drink (except occasionally, for medicinal purposes).

How does that sound?

Al

Al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:17:51 +0800, spodosaurus

spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com said:

Quoted message said:

Like I said before: get your annual physical! That way we know

what

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

we're working with here :-)

I visited my doc this morning

Did you happen to mention that your heart rate remains elevated for
several days after a workout?

Aspiring Tortoise said:

Quoted message said:

Al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:17:51 +0800, spodosaurus
<spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote:

>>Like I said before: get your annual physical! That way we know

what

Quoted message said:

>>we're working with here :-)
>>
I visited my doc this morning

Did you happen to mention that your heart rate remains elevated for
several days after a workout?

No, I forgot to mention that! But from what I've read, after the
event, it was just a typical case of overtraining. It only happenned
when I worked out heavily on two succesive days, about ten days ago
(something I'm not yet fit enough for). - and, I don't think my heart
rate was massively elevated - just a little. I didn't actualy record
my pulse rate; I'm just going by feel.

But here is perhaps a better guide to my current state of fitness: I
did a one-hour cardio session (jogging) the day-before-yesterday in
the morning. I used a heart-rate mionitor this time. Before the
workout, my resting heart rate was about 69 bpm. During the cardio
session, I maintained a pulse rate of 120 to 140 bpm. Afterwards,
throughout the day, while walking around, my heart rate fluctuated
between 90bpm and 100 bpm. The following morning it was back to pretty
much my normal resting rate of about 70 bpm. And that was the longest
cardio session I've ever done in my life!

Thanks

Al

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Al) writes:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

How does that sound?

Your doc hasn't been pressing you for a full physical? Hell, I'm 54
and mine was pestering me for a full physical for two years or more.
I finally went and did it before starting my workout regimen at the
beginning of March.

--
Jim Seymour | "It is wrong always, everywhere and
WARNING: The "From:" address is a | for everyone to believe anything upon
spam trap. DON'T USE IT! Use: | insufficient evidence."
[email hidden] | - W. K. Clifford, ca. 1876

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] (Al) writes:
[snip]

Quoted message said:

How does that sound?

Your doc hasn't been pressing you for a full physical? Hell, I'm 54
and mine was pestering me for a full physical for two years or more.
I finally went and did it before starting my workout regimen at the
beginning of March.

--
Jim Seymour | "It is wrong always, everywhere and
WARNING: The "From:" address is a | for everyone to believe anything upon
spam trap. DON'T USE IT! Use: | insufficient evidence."
[email hidden] | - W. K. Clifford, ca. 1876

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Al) said:

Aspiring Tortoise said:

Quoted message said:

Al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:17:51 +0800, spodosaurus
> <spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Did you happen to mention that your heart rate remains elevated for
several days after a workout?

No, I forgot to mention that! But from what I've read, after the
event, it was just a typical case of overtraining.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Might be (I wouldn't know). Might not be. Why don't you ask your
doctor and see what he/she says? At 53, you're not that old, but
you're not an invulnerable 18-year-old anymore, either.

I went and got a full physical before starting my workout regimen.
Then I eased into it. I figured it this way: Yeah, I wanted to lose
fat, get trim, feel better, look better--but I didn't want to kill
myself or be laid-up for an extended period trying to get there.

--
Jim Seymour | "It is wrong always, everywhere and
WARNING: The "From:" address is a | for everyone to believe anything upon
spam trap. DON'T USE IT! Use: | insufficient evidence."
[email hidden] | - W. K. Clifford, ca. 1876

In article <[email hidden]>,

(Al) said:

Aspiring Tortoise said:

Quoted message said:

Al <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 19:17:51 +0800, spodosaurus
> <spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Did you happen to mention that your heart rate remains elevated for
several days after a workout?

No, I forgot to mention that! But from what I've read, after the
event, it was just a typical case of overtraining.

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Might be (I wouldn't know). Might not be. Why don't you ask your
doctor and see what he/she says? At 53, you're not that old, but
you're not an invulnerable 18-year-old anymore, either.

I went and got a full physical before starting my workout regimen.
Then I eased into it. I figured it this way: Yeah, I wanted to lose
fat, get trim, feel better, look better--but I didn't want to kill
myself or be laid-up for an extended period trying to get there.

--
Jim Seymour | "It is wrong always, everywhere and
WARNING: The "From:" address is a | for everyone to believe anything upon
spam trap. DON'T USE IT! Use: | insufficient evidence."
[email hidden] | - W. K. Clifford, ca. 1876

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

jP said:

Quoted message said:

Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I bet
the experts here are going to want that info.

Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so as
to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises then
one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup while I'm
doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on biceps. I
sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for 40-60 minutes
on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to criticism and
seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along, based on my limited
knowledge.

At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
time. Not too pleasant...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout. Intense
squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might cause that. It
ought to go away pretty soon after the workout. Some people avoid it
by training with either an empty stomach (or some people like to have
some food in there, like me).

Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or deadlifts.
I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the exercise or whether
it is because I'm going straight into these heavy exercises at the
*beginning* of the weight workout. I get the impression that if I took
more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't happen. If it's not a hazard
then I'm not too woried about it. I just thought it might be the body
'advising' me to take it easier.

Getting a physical is good advice, but if we were betting on your life
here I'd bet that you're just getting a good workout and you should suck
it up and deal. A little light-headedness and/or nausea after DL's and
squats is hardly surprising, esp. sets of 10 if you're taking them to
nearly your limit. Running on short rests between sets will contribute to
this.

I'd suggest giving yourself a little more time between sets. You can go up
to an hour without worrying much about cortisol--and you can get some
carbs+protien into your system before the workout if you're going to
obsess about it. You could reduce number of exercises or sets, too, until
you're more in the swing of things.

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

jP said:

Quoted message said:

Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I bet
the experts here are going to want that info.

Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so as
to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises then
one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup while I'm
doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on biceps. I
sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for 40-60 minutes
on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to criticism and
seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along, based on my limited
knowledge.

At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
time. Not too pleasant...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout. Intense
squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might cause that. It
ought to go away pretty soon after the workout. Some people avoid it
by training with either an empty stomach (or some people like to have
some food in there, like me).

Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or deadlifts.
I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the exercise or whether
it is because I'm going straight into these heavy exercises at the
*beginning* of the weight workout. I get the impression that if I took
more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't happen. If it's not a hazard
then I'm not too woried about it. I just thought it might be the body
'advising' me to take it easier.

Getting a physical is good advice, but if we were betting on your life
here I'd bet that you're just getting a good workout and you should suck
it up and deal. A little light-headedness and/or nausea after DL's and
squats is hardly surprising, esp. sets of 10 if you're taking them to
nearly your limit. Running on short rests between sets will contribute to
this.

I'd suggest giving yourself a little more time between sets. You can go up
to an hour without worrying much about cortisol--and you can get some
carbs+protien into your system before the workout if you're going to
obsess about it. You could reduce number of exercises or sets, too, until
you're more in the swing of things.

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 00:51:27 -0000, [email hidden] (Dopey

censored) said:

Quoted message said:

Your doc hasn't been pressing you for a full physical?

Not at all. I guess he took one look at me, when I mentioned working
out, and figured I'm OK to go. He also had my medical records in front
of him on the computer screen.

Aside from that, I've been doing heavy workouts now for about 3 to
four weeks, and have suffered no ill-effects apart from that one time
when I overtrained, and my nervous sytem got frazzled.

In any case, I figure that working out is going to make me more
healthy than I am already. I mean, it's more likely to improve my
health than ruin it, wouldn't you say?

Anyway, if I die, I die. You've gotta go some time, right? Better to
die on the bench press than on the John with my pants down in a
nursing home, doncha think? Might even get to see a lycra-babe give me
the kiss of life, as I float on up to the higher planes...
whooo-doggie!

Al

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 02:58:15 GMT, Hugh Beyer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:48:11 -0400, jP <[email hidden]> wrote:

>>Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I bet
>>the experts here are going to want that info.

Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so as
to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises then
one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup while I'm
doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on biceps. I
sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for 40-60 minutes
on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to criticism and
seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along, based on my limited
knowledge.

At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
time. Not too pleasant...

>>As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout. Intense
>>squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might cause that. It
>>ought to go away pretty soon after the workout. Some people avoid it
>>by training with either an empty stomach (or some people like to have
>>some food in there, like me).

Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or deadlifts.
I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the exercise or whether
it is because I'm going straight into these heavy exercises at the
*beginning* of the weight workout. I get the impression that if I took
more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't happen. If it's not a hazard
then I'm not too woried about it. I just thought it might be the body
'advising' me to take it easier.

Getting a physical is good advice, but if we were betting on your life
here I'd bet that you're just getting a good workout and you should suck
it up and deal. A little light-headedness and/or nausea after DL's and
squats is hardly surprising, esp. sets of 10 if you're taking them to
nearly your limit. Running on short rests between sets will contribute to
this.

I'd suggest giving yourself a little more time between sets. You can go up
to an hour without worrying much about cortisol--and you can get some
carbs+protien into your system before the workout if you're going to
obsess about it. You could reduce number of exercises or sets, too, until
you're more in the swing of things.

Thank you for the input. That 1-hour-before-cortisol is good to know.
So, yes, I could take more of a rest between sets. I suspect this will
be better for muscle-building, but not so good for metabolism-raising,
yes?

Al

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 12:57:52 GMT, [email hidden] (Al)

Quoted message said:

Anyway, if I die, I die. You've gotta go some time, right? Better to
die on the bench press than on the John with my pants down in a
nursing home, doncha think

It all depends on the reason your pants are down. The john is the only
place to have sex in a nursing home. Um, not that I'd know that...

TBR
"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and
more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day
the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the
White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
"Anyone with degrees from Yale and Harvard is presumed to be intelligent,
but George W. Bush has managed to overcome that presumption."

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 02:58:15 GMT, Hugh Beyer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

> On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:48:11 -0400, jP <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>>>Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I
>>>bet the experts here are going to want that info.
>
> Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
> treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
> lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
> starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
> muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
> For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
> time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so
> as to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
> minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises
> then one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup
> while I'm doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on
> biceps. I sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for
> 40-60 minutes on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to
> criticism and seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along,
> based on my limited knowledge.
>
> At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
> workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
> Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
> workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
> between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
> anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
> nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
> feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
> time. Not too pleasant...
>
>>>As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout.
>>>Intense squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might
>>>cause that. It ought to go away pretty soon after the workout.
>>>Some people avoid it by training with either an empty stomach (or
>>>some people like to have some food in there, like me).
>
> Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or
> deadlifts. I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the
> exercise or whether it is because I'm going straight into these heavy
> exercises at the *beginning* of the weight workout. I get the
> impression that if I took more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't
> happen. If it's not a hazard then I'm not too woried about it. I just
> thought it might be the body 'advising' me to take it easier.

Getting a physical is good advice, but if we were betting on your life
here I'd bet that you're just getting a good workout and you should
suck it up and deal. A little light-headedness and/or nausea after DL's
and squats is hardly surprising, esp. sets of 10 if you're taking them
to nearly your limit. Running on short rests between sets will
contribute to this.

I'd suggest giving yourself a little more time between sets. You can go
up to an hour without worrying much about cortisol--and you can get
some carbs+protien into your system before the workout if you're going
to obsess about it. You could reduce number of exercises or sets, too,
until you're more in the swing of things.

Thank you for the input. That 1-hour-before-cortisol is good to know.
So, yes, I could take more of a rest between sets. I suspect this will
be better for muscle-building, but not so good for metabolism-raising,
yes?

Al

Right, but you're better off separating the goals. When you mix them
you're prone to end up with a workout that is a sucky weights workout and
also a sucky cardio workout.

And the whole cortisol thing is down in the last 1% of things to worry
about anyway.

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 06 Aug 2005 02:58:15 GMT, Hugh Beyer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Al) wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

> On Fri, 05 Aug 2005 00:48:11 -0400, jP <[email hidden]> wrote:
>
>>>Post some specific details about the training routine you use, as I
>>>bet the experts here are going to want that info.
>
> Thanks.. The routine I do is warm up for 5 minutes jogging on
> treadmill. Then I go immediately into a basic full-body workout
> lasting about 40 minutes. I do two sets of ten reps on each exercise,
> starting with squats or deadlifts. I just try to work all the major
> muscles, varying the specific exercises somewhat each time I do it.
> For example, seated rows one day then bent-over barbell rows the next
> time, etc. I try not to wait around very long between exercises, so
> as to keep my pulse rate up, and so that I can fit as much into 40
> minutes as possible -- so I'll do, say, one set of, bicep raises
> then one set of tricep push-downs so that the biceps can recoup
> while I'm doing the triceps. Then I'll go back to the second set on
> biceps. I sometimes don't bother much with my legs since I jog for
> 40-60 minutes on days between weight workout days. And I'm open to
> criticism and seggestions on the above. I'm just muddling along,
> based on my limited knowledge.
>
> At the moment, I typically take a day or two off after a weight
> workout, then do a 40-60 minute cardio workout on the following day.
> Then I 'll take another day or two off then back to the weight
> workout. I don't think I'm fit enough to train every day, alternating
> between cardio days and weight days... not doing 40 minutes each day,
> anyway. I tried working out on two consecutive days last week, and my
> nervous system seemed to go all out of kilter. I couldn't sleep and I
> feld exhausted yet buzzing with strange nervous energy at the same
> time. Not too pleasant...
>
>>>As for nausea, that can happen during or after a good workout.
>>>Intense squats, abdominals, or even a long cardio session might
>>>cause that. It ought to go away pretty soon after the workout.
>>>Some people avoid it by training with either an empty stomach (or
>>>some people like to have some food in there, like me).
>
> Yes, I've noticed that it happens most during the squats or
> deadlifts. I didn't know if that was due to the nature of the
> exercise or whether it is because I'm going straight into these heavy
> exercises at the *beginning* of the weight workout. I get the
> impression that if I took more of a rest between sets, it wouldn't
> happen. If it's not a hazard then I'm not too woried about it. I just
> thought it might be the body 'advising' me to take it easier.

Getting a physical is good advice, but if we were betting on your life
here I'd bet that you're just getting a good workout and you should
suck it up and deal. A little light-headedness and/or nausea after DL's
and squats is hardly surprising, esp. sets of 10 if you're taking them
to nearly your limit. Running on short rests between sets will
contribute to this.

I'd suggest giving yourself a little more time between sets. You can go
up to an hour without worrying much about cortisol--and you can get
some carbs+protien into your system before the workout if you're going
to obsess about it. You could reduce number of exercises or sets, too,
until you're more in the swing of things.

Thank you for the input. That 1-hour-before-cortisol is good to know.
So, yes, I could take more of a rest between sets. I suspect this will
be better for muscle-building, but not so good for metabolism-raising,
yes?

Al

Right, but you're better off separating the goals. When you mix them
you're prone to end up with a workout that is a sucky weights workout and
also a sucky cardio workout.

And the whole cortisol thing is down in the last 1% of things to worry
about anyway.

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉