Working out = Cramping & Chills?

beautifulLIE1

beautifulLIE1

New member
So I've recently been working out quite rigorously. I'm 5'4", 236 lbs so I'm not exactly athletic, but I work out on a regular basis. Lately I've been going to the gym 5 days a week.

Usually I'll go for 30 mins on the eliptical med intensity vs high intensity intervals. I burn about 435 cals and run around 2.4 miles. Then I get on the treadmill for a mile at about 4.9 (I have small legs, and I'm working on it! Don't hate! =) ). It usually takes me ~ 12 mins. Then I do the weight circuit, some free weights... All in all I'm there for like 1.5 - 2 hrs.

A few times now I've gotten home and had intense chills and felt nauseous. Once I vomited for no reason that I could tell but I figure that could have been a bug going around. Also, about 3/4 through my cardio my right shoulder starts to cramp (always my right, never my left). I'm running, so why on earth does my shoulder cramp!? I don't get it.

This all happened again tonight. I got home and immediately ignored my salad for dinner which I was dying to eat... just to throw myself in the shower and try to warm myself up. I was soooo cold!!! I once had to have an ultra sound and I had to drink ALOT of water. It made my body temp drop. It felt just like that. So I warmed up in the shower, threw on layers of clothes, and ate dinner. Now, 2 hrs later I'm getting back to normal.

I thought at first that maybe I drank too much cold water after my work out (I drank probably 1.5 bottles at 16.9 leters), then drove home in the cold weather... Any thoughts? Maybe I'm just being a n00b, but I haven't had this type of reaction in the past.
 
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Now everyone should be aware that internet diagnosticians are usually full of crap and arguments from claimed authority is BS but still.

The nausea and chills is in itself not something I'd be overly worried about, it might be a sign that you're overdoing it but I'm sure people who are experts in training will know more about that. I'd just add that nausea and chills are not shocking reactions to stressing your body, it is, woo'ishly speaking, probably just your body going "screw you, why you hatin' on me? what'd I ever do to you?" etc.

The shoulder thing would however promt me to actively seek out a physiotherapist or doctor depending on what your healthcare system makes the cheapest, preference given to the physiotherapist since he is likely to give you a better answer. I'd venture the guess that it might simply be something to do with you using your upper body for a lot of things while running.. I mean.. it isn't as if you aren't using your back, stomach etc. so it might just be bad movement habits? people get the weirdest cramps from bad habits I'm telling you.

Anyways, I'm sure someone who is more knowledgeable about exercise and not just medicine will come along and give you a much shorter, more coherent and precise answer. I would advice you to then ignore my advice and listen to theirs :)
 
yeah, mostly what CP up there said.

You wouldn't happen to have low blood pressure, would you?
Are you stretching before and after?
 
Doctors have said my blood pressure is normal so I don't think that's it. I do stretch some after but not before. I heard it was bad to stretch cold muscles and you should stretch after.... is that BS?

I'm not totally freaked or anything. Just thought it was a bit weird and that the forum might have some thoughts / advice. I'll definitely ask my chiro and/or my doc next time I'm there about the shoulder. Thanks so much for the replies!
 
I think the don't stretch when cold thing is mostly about your muscles being much more "soft" when warm (for lack of a better word) but I'm unsure on that one :)

I'm also going to change my advice to "ask your doc, not your chiro" since I intended for it to be an actual physiotherapist and not a chiroquacktor :) (no offense).
 
You're probably just over doing it - that happens to my friend when he stops working out then will start hitting the gym again - he'll go for hours ands REALLY push himself - then he'll go home and feel like a rock fell on him - nausated, tired, lathargic. But after a few days of that - he's good as new and the work outs don't do that to him anymore.

Maybe down the intensty or duration a bit and see how you feel.
 
I'm not gonna say about the shoulder - agree with Clever about talking to a dr. or therapist.

The other - GOOD LORD you're doing a lot of working out. What you're doing is really, IMO, unnecessary. And lifting weights every day is actually counter productive and will cause you to move backwards with regard to strength and muscle and "toning".

Also I don't know what you're eating before / after you workout, but that can have an effect as well. Cramping is often caused by a lack of electrolytes - if you sweat a lot and drink plain water, the dilution of electrolyes can cause cramping and nausea.

Often eating a banana will help with some of that. I tend to try to have a small snack about an hour before I work out (a combination of protein and carbs) an then a protein drink right after.

I would say that right now what you're doing withyour exercise is a lot of flailing around ... trying to fit in a little bit of everything and not really having a PLAN in place or working towards a concrete set of goals. Having a structured workout plan that will help you achieve your goals will be much better and probably put much less strain on your body.

I'd say to start by reading the sticky posts in the exercise area of the board. There's a lot of good information there that will help you maybe think about where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. :)
 
Thanks for the feedback. I've calmed down when it comes to weight training because I'm taking 4 hours of martial arts a week + running about a mile / 30 mins elliptical about 4 days a week. It's a lot for me to take and now I'm only doing weights twice a week or so. I'll definitely check out the sticky topics. While I've read most of them already it's been a while and a refresher is always a good idea. Having a snack has definitely helped.

My goals right now are mostly getting my mile time up. I'm interested in pursuing a career in government and I have to run 1.5 miles in 12.5 minutes. That's about an 8 minute mile (?) and I timed myself on the track the other day I run a 11 min mile... so I have a ways to go. I'm also starting weight watchers on Wednesday, which may or may not be your thing, but I figured I'll give it a shot.

Anyways, thanks again. The cramping is much better and I haven't felt nausea since I first started! Things are looking up. =)
 
Excellent, good to hear that the nausea is over :) as a sidenote remember to stretch the muscles that have been cramping, they can get incredibly tight after a good cramping session :)
 
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