For one, yes I am extremely out of shape. Depressed, anxious. It's very hard for me to find motivation to do anything a lot of the time, let alone exercise. But this past week, I've been trying to. I've tried in the past and it only lasted about a week...but this time I really want to keep at it. My psychiatrist told what I've always known: for anxious, depressed people like me both medicine and exercise helped boost endorphin activity. I know that. So I'm trying.

The problem is that whenever I exercise (and it's usually for no more than 20 minutes), I feel sick afterwards. Drained, headaches, nausea, weird feelings in my chest,shaky...and this is only going on an elliptical for 20 minutes or just doing crunches and jumping jacks for 20 minutes. I know I'm out of shape, but should I really be feeling this way after a work-out? Once, about a year ago, I worked out for about an hour (stupid, stupid idea for out of shape people) and was so sick afterward that I barely left bed the next day and missed all of my classes. It almost makes me afraid to work out period. I don't know if this is a factor, but my heart rate is a bit higher than most...but really not significantly. I'm just curious as to if this sounds bad, or just normal for out of shape people? I'm kind of getting a little freaked out. Thanks.

Ashlee, I suffer from anxiety/depression myself. I'm no doctor, but the symptoms you described sounds like a panic attack. Just to be on the safe side, I'd call the doctor, just to make sure the problem is not physical. If you need to talk to anyone, PM me - anytime!! :bighug:

I'm thinking maybe you should start slowly. Like if you do jumping jacks, instead of doing 20, maybe do 10 or 5. Start slow and maybe stretch first then maybe start for five minutes and see how you feel.

That being said, I don't have any depression or anxiety problems so..

Ashlee, I suffer from anxiety/depression myself. I'm no doctor, but the symptoms you described sounds like a panic attack. Just to be on the safe side, I'd call the doctor, just to make sure the problem is not physical. If you need to talk to anyone, PM me - anytime!! :bighug:
Hmm, I've never thought of that. I certainly have had my fair share of panic attacks, and I guess maybe it's similar to what I'm feeling now. It's just strange to me that exercise could make that happen...

Thanks, though. :)

I'm thinking maybe you should start slowly. Like if you do jumping jacks, instead of doing 20, maybe do 10 or 5. Start slow and maybe stretch first then maybe start for five minutes and see how you feel.

That being said, I don't have any depression or anxiety problems so..
Yeah, maybe even what I've been doing is too much for me. I really don't know. :/

Hmm, I've never thought of that. I certainly have had my fair share of panic attacks, and I guess maybe it's similar to what I'm feeling now. It's just strange to me that exercise could make that happen...

Thanks, though. :)
My pleasure. Though I do agree with Waterston Fan that taking exercise slowly is a good idea, too. Feel free to talk anytime if you need to. :D

My pleasure. Though I do agree with Waterston Fan that taking exercise slowly is a good idea, too. Feel free to talk anytime if you need to. :D
Thanks :) You guys are absolutely right. I had thought I WAS taking it slowly with only 20 minutes.

It's quite normal at first. You should be starting out only long enough to get your heart rate up (and they say it is supposed to be at least 20 minutes). Also, you SHOULD sweat. For me, believe it or not, that's the part I find so difficult. I HATE sweating. Anyway, it is normal to feel slightly lightheaded afterwards, and maybe even a slight headache, but it should go away in a short period. If it doesn't then you're over doing it. Cut back a bit but keep it up. It's consistency at this point that's so important for you.

Once you find that you can get through two workouts without feeling really sick afterwards (I know a lot of people, myself included who actually throw up), then increase it even only 2 or 3 minutes per day. Doesn't sound like much, but you'd be surprised. My ex did this and his was middle-aged, on high blood pressure meds, and super stressed, and it did takes months, but he's now in the best shape of his life (the #&*@%$)!!!! ;)

Remember, it didn't take you weeks to get the way you are, so don't expect to get fit overnight either. The main thing is to STICK with it as you've said, and to continually, but safely push yourself.

Also, huge, HUGE to keeo hydrated. A lot of it could be you're not drinking enough water (or gatorade even) before, during and after your workout. Try working out about 2 hours after a light meal. That will give you more energy for your workout, without weighing you down heavily.

Hope this helps! And good luck! Kudos for your efforts. :wave:

Ashlee -- If you exercise with your favorite sit coms it might go better for you. Hard to believe I started way back in 1981 :eek:

It's quite normal at first. You should be starting out only long enough to get your heart rate up (and they say it is supposed to be at least 20 minutes). Also, you SHOULD sweat. For me, believe it or not, that's the part I find so difficult. I HATE sweating. Anyway, it is normal to feel slightly lightheaded afterwards, and maybe even a slight headache, but it should go away in a short period. If it doesn't then you're over doing it. Cut back a bit but keep it up. It's consistency at this point that's so important for you.

Once you find that you can get through two workouts without feeling really sick afterwards (I know a lot of people, myself included who actually throw up), then increase it even only 2 or 3 minutes per day. Doesn't sound like much, but you'd be surprised. My ex did this and his was middle-aged, on high blood pressure meds, and super stressed, and it did takes months, but he's now in the best shape of his life (the #&*@%$)!!!! ;)

Remember, it didn't take you weeks to get the way you are, so don't expect to get fit overnight either. The main thing is to STICK with it as you've said, and to continually, but safely push yourself.

Also, huge, HUGE to keeo hydrated. A lot of it could be you're not drinking enough water (or gatorade even) before, during and after your workout. Try working out about 2 hours after a light meal. That will give you more energy for your workout, without weighing you down heavily.

Hope this helps! And good luck! Kudos for your efforts. :wave:Thanks for the advice, Cathie. That actually really helps a lot. I'll definitely keep everything you said in mind. :)

Ashlee -- If you exercise with your favorite sit coms it might go better for you. Hard to believe I started way back in 1981 :eek:
lol that's actually not a bad idea

lol that's actually not a bad idea
That's a GREAT idea. :D

Are you exercising on an empty stomach? I'm in pretty good shape, but sometimes I feel nauseated if I haven't eaten enough. You don't want to exercise on a FULL stomach, but eating a granola bar or a handful of walnuts beforehand can help. Or exercise 2-3 hours after a meal. Also, drink lots of water! You may be dehydrating yourself. Good luck!

Are you exercising on an empty stomach? I'm in pretty good shape, but sometimes I feel nauseated if I haven't eaten enough. You don't want to exercise on a FULL stomach, but eating a granola bar or a handful of walnuts beforehand can help. Or exercise 2-3 hours after a meal. Also, drink lots of water! You may be dehydrating yourself. Good luck!
Thanks for the input! No, I make sure that I'm not exercising on an empty stomach...but I guess possibly I'm not drinking enough water. I do try to both drink some while I'm working out and after, though.

Ashlee -- If you exercise with your favorite sit coms it might go better for you. Hard to believe I started way back in 1981 :eek:

I agree! I take my portable dvd player with me on the treadmill and put in one of my M*A*S*H dvds. One episode is about 25mins, so I get almost a 30 minute work out without even thinking about it. It really works for me :)

I'm way out of shape too, but I don't think you should be getting sick after only 20 minutes unless you're just working way too hard. Ellipticals are tough, I think! Anyway, try slowing down and if that doesn't work, see a doctor, definetly.

I suppose someone already said that, but that's my 2 cents.

I HATE sweating.

I thought I was the only one! I think mostly I hate it because it messes up my hair. I sweat and the hair that I worked a half an hour on to get straight curls back up. Weird reason, but I hate sweating nevertheless.

I thought I was the only one! I think mostly I hate it because it messes up my hair. I sweat and the hair that I worked a half an hour on to get straight curls back up. Weird reason, but I hate sweating nevertheless.

I hate it too! I always sweat down my back and right around the hairline on my head. :crazy:

If you go to the doctors, have he/she check your iron levels. Your Iron might be low.

If you go to the doctors, have he/she check your iron levels. Your Iron might be low.
Actually I AM anemic...but I'm taking iron pills. I was wondering about that, though. Thanks. :)

I'm way out of shape too, but I don't think you should be getting sick after only 20 minutes unless you're just working way too hard. Ellipticals are tough, I think! Anyway, try slowing down and if that doesn't work, see a doctor, definetly.

I suppose someone already said that, but that's my 2 cents.
Thanks for the input, I definitely appreciate any of it. At least I'm not the only one that thinks it's a little odd. It's kind of scary.

Actually I AM anemic...but I'm taking iron pills. I was wondering about that, though. Thanks. :)


Me too, and what you're describing sounds like your Iron might be low a tad. You might want to up the mgs on your Iron. If I feel sluggish some days I take two pills instead of one and I drink more water.

Me too, and what you're describing sounds like your Iron might be low a tad. You might want to up the mgs on your Iron. If I feel sluggish some days I take two pills instead of one and I drink more water.
Okay, thanks! The iron pills I take are 27mg...but last time I was tested (which was awhile ago now) they said my iron levels were fine and to keep taking what I was taking, so I didn't bother to take anymore than one. Since I'm sure you know more about it than I do, it's definitely alright to take more than one of the 27mg if I feel this way? I'm paranoid when it comes to putting things in my body. :lol:

Okay, thanks! The iron pills I take are 27mg...but last time I was tested (which was awhile ago now) they said my iron levels were fine and to keep taking what I was taking, so I didn't bother to take anymore than one. Since I'm sure you know more about it than I do, it's definitely alright to take more than one of the 27mg if I feel this way? I'm paranoid when it comes to putting things in my body. :lol:

Sure, your mg are low, I'm on 65mgs. And on the days when I feel as though my iron is low I take two pills and it's fine. Just don't overdose on them LOL. I would not take 3 but taking 2 is fine.

Sure, your mg are low, I'm on 65mgs. And on the days when I feel as though my iron is low I take two pills and it's fine. Just don't overdose on them LOL. I would not take 3 but taking 2 is fine.
lol okay...thank you so much, that helps a lot.

I would suggest something low-impact to start with. Aerobics, yoga, strength training, pilates. Go swimming. Yoga and pilates are very low-impact and hopefully won't make your body go crazy. Swimming takes care of the sweat issue. ;)

I agree with what the others have said... Plenty of fluids, stretch before a workout, go slow. Also you may want to switch to a treadmill instead of using an elliptical trainer. More low-impact, and won't be as hard on you. :)

I thought I was the only one! I think mostly I hate it because it messes up my hair. I sweat and the hair that I worked a half an hour on to get straight curls back up. Weird reason, but I hate sweating nevertheless.


Yup - that's my reason too!! LOL Mainly. In the hot summer I hate it - I feel like my makeup runs, my hair frizzes, I can't stand wet under the arms or down the middle of my back!!

I've even dreamt of getting my sweat glands removed.....I'd rather pant like a dog if I had to! :lol:

I hate it too! I always sweat down my back and right around the hairline on my head. :crazy:
Yes! The hairline! Yuck

And I sweat like mad on my upper lip for some reason. First place I break out. I look like Richard Nixon on the day he resigned! :rolleyes:

:lol: Cathie!

I have short hair - that issue is taken care of. :D Then I shower afterwards.

I did discover something recently, though - there's a damned good reason running shirts and skorts exist! I never did any actual running until recently, and HOLY COW the CHAFING on my arms. Freaking hurts!

:lol: Cathie!

I have short hair - that issue is taken care of. :D Then I shower afterwards.

I did discover something recently, though - there's a damned good reason running shirts and skorts exist! I never did any actual running until recently, and HOLY COW the CHAFING on my arms. Freaking hurts!

Yah but you're lucky - your hair is straight when it's short - mind would look even more like pubic hair if I were to cut it that short! :rofl: SERIOUSLY!!

I never could run because of my asthma. Swimming was my thing - or I could usually handle bicycling. True, they now have those shirts that are supposed to draw the sweat away from you.

That's the other thing. I don't think I've ever been able to shower quickly in my lifetime. So working out at lunchtime and that sort of thing just isn't for me. It'd take me two hours to fix my hair and makeup again! I know....I'm patheticly high maintenance! :lol:

Yah but you're lucky - your hair is straight when it's short - mind would look even more like pubic hair if I were to cut it that short! :rofl: SERIOUSLY!!

I never could run because of my asthma. Swimming was my thing - or I could usually handle bicycling. True, they now have those shirts that are supposed to draw the sweat away from you.

That's the other thing. I don't think I've ever been able to shower quickly in my lifetime. So working out at lunchtime and that sort of thing just isn't for me. It'd take me two hours to fix my hair and makeup again! I know....I'm patheticly high maintenance! :lol:
Well, I DO have wavy hair... but I haven't really had decently long hair since '07, so. And now that I think of it, my hair loses waviness as I get older... I had a mini-afro when I was a very little kid in the mid & late 80s.

I've never been one for running - every time I would think about running, I would think back to when it would be physical fitness week (end of every semester, I think) in PE class. My class would do the mile run on the last day of the week and OMG. HATE. My teacher would yell at us, "RUN! KEEP RUNNING! DON'T WALK!" :crazy: So yeah. My last semester of PE classes was 7 years ago (end of 2001), and it's taken me this long to get over that blasted memory. But believe it or not, I'm starting to like it now - thinking about taking up jogging this spring. :)

ANYWAY. I'm done hijacking this thread. :lol: Back to you, Ashlee! Keep us updated. :)

Well, I DO have wavy hair... but I haven't really had decently long hair since '07, so. And now that I think of it, my hair loses waviness as I get older... I had a mini-afro when I was a very little kid in the mid & late 80s.

I've never been one for running - every time I would think about running, I would think back to when it would be physical fitness week (end of every semester, I think) in PE class. My class would do the mile run on the last day of the week and OMG. HATE. My teacher would yell at us, "RUN! KEEP RUNNING! DON'T WALK!" :crazy: So yeah. My last semester of PE classes was 7 years ago (end of 2001), and it's taken me this long to get over that blasted memory. But believe it or not, I'm starting to like it now - thinking about taking up jogging this spring. :)

ANYWAY. I'm done hijacking this thread. :lol: Back to you, Ashlee! Keep us updated. :)
haha don't worry about it

I think I may mention it to my doctor next time I go and bring up the anemia relation, but in the mean time I'm going to try to not exert myself so much.

Lord knows i am out of shape and lately I have been eating so much junk.

What I do(when the weather is nice enough)is go out for walks, at least a half hour. After doing that I feel so refreshed, and its a good way to burn off a few calories.