Fatigue during exercise

[Sonya Parker]

One thing that has kept me in decent shape are my workouts. I started Atkins 9 days ago, with about 10 lbs to lose. I typically run for an hour (1/2 hour in the morning and half hour in the evening) plus to 1 hr of weights. all approx 4-5 times a week.

Since I started Atkins, I am struggling to do my one hour of cardio at the pace i used to before. It has gotten better than it was the first 2-3 days but I still can barely manage the 1/2 hour in the morning. Since I am used to working out first thing in the morning before breakfadst, this is especially a struggle.

Any tips for how to keep up energy levels so I can keep my exercise routine?

[Finelly]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I think you're going to have to give up on the "workout before breakfast thing". It's bad for you anyway.

As for the stamina and energy, that's really common in the first 2 weeks. You'll find that in a few days, you'll be back up to normal! It took me until, oh, last Friday to get there, I think.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

actually the working out before breakfast is a fine time to be working out and burning body fats.
Your body needs to adjust to fat burning metabolism and build more fat burning power houses (mitochondria) in your cells and increase its stores of the fatty acid transporters. Some folk can go from day one just fine and others need a few weeks to get there.

Make sure you are getting enough vits and minerals in your foods and supplements. Some folk are deficient in L- Acetyl Caritine, a major transporter of fatty acids, and need to add that to their sups too in the beginning.

[jroche5998]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I think you're going to have to give up on the "workout before breakfast thing". It's bad for you anyway.

As for the stamina and energy, that's really common in the first 2 weeks. You'll find that in a few days, you'll be back up to normal! It took me until, oh, last Friday to get there, I think.

The first statement is absolutely false, or else our military is in huge trouble. Every US serviceman does PT (physical training) first thing in the morning, BEFORE breakfast. What better way to burn fat than to burn energy when the only thing you have to burn is your stores of it. Besides if you ran after breakfast you would have cramping and digestion issues. You don't want your body trying to digest when you are expending tons of other energy.

The second statement is true, your energy level will adjust. You'll get some decent energy soon.

[ttdriver]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I think you're going to have to give up on the "workout before breakfast thing". It's bad for you anyway.
Wrong.

The main reason you're struggling is because your body is switching from a carb-burning metabolism to a fat-burning one and that takes time to adjust to. Once adjusted, you'll have more energy than ever before.

I agree; working out BEFORE breakfast is BY FAR the best way to go.

Betty

[jadzia007]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I'll stick with you Finelly. I won't say one way or the other is better....I'll just say...some people are different and have different needs. I used to try to work out before eating bfast. Used to get sick....lightheaded...all that jazz. Even when I was in the military during PT...I got sick. But ya know...when you are in boot camp...you do what you need to do to get by...so I ran...puked...ran some more. When I was training for my triathlons I wouldn't dream of working out before breakfast. Ok...I know it's different cause I was using a ton of energy, but...I'd get up at 3 or 4 in the morning to eat....before my morning workouts. Maybe get thru this two week phase...and if things don't change....then you might have to try and tweak some things for your workout. Maybe a light bfst before hand.....or a few bites of something. Good luck.

elle

[Sonya Parker]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

Any professional in the fitness industry will tell you that your best cardio workout is first thiing in the morning before breaksfast.

Why?
The concept behind empty stomach cardios is that first thing in the morning, after an all night fast, glycogen stores in muscle and liver tissues is mostly depleted and blood sugar is low low low. Since these quick energy stores are depleted the body will be forced to burn fat for energy during exercise. Have you ever heard the addage that the first 20 minutes of cardios serves to burn off carbs while fat burning only occurs in the second 20 minutes of cardio (and beyond)? Well, doing cardios first thing in the morning eliminates the need to burn off the carbs and allows one to jump right into the "fat burning" stage during the session.

Its a matter of preference, as some people just cant get themselves awake enough to exercise first thing in the morning. I find it the opposite for me. I'm also at my lightest in the morning and since I run a lot, its less pressure on my joints.

Due to the ultra low-carbing on Atkins , it makes it difficult to do lengthy cardio sessions without stopping for rests. I used to be able to a straight 2 miles without stopping. Now I have to every few minutes since my legs get fatigued, being a large muscle group, it requires plenty of energy.

I intend to stick with my workouts to the extent I possibly can.....hope my energy levels return soon.

[jroche5998]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

As far as the lengthy cardio on Atkins. I've done ten mile runs and had no issue. I have a theory regarding "second wind" and "the wall". Those two phenomenons occur when the body runs out of glycogen stores and has to convert to a ketogenic process, or using fat for fuel. The process of converting to a lypolitic machine from a glycogenic machine is difficult for the average person. Look at the struggle we went through during our initial induction "flu" period. Because we are in lypolysis already we don't experience those two phenomenons because we are using fat for fuel already 24/7. Because of this we don't experience "the wall" or "second wind". At least I never have , although I believe "the wall" is around 20 miles and I haven't run that distance yet. But there are several triatheletes and marathoners who are low carbers and don't have energy issues. It's like 2big said once your body builds more mitochondria to transport the fat energy should never be an issue. It hasn't been an issue yet for me.

JMHO

[Finelly]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

All I can say is, "ok", if working out before breakfast works for you. For me, it led to hiatal hernia, dizziness, etc. A friend of mine who is a cardiologist and is married to a running coach said "stop that. Eat first, even if only a protein drink" (this was before Atkins). So I did. End of problem.

[Iapetus999]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I like to do cardio after breakfast but before lunch.
I just don't eat many carbs for breakfast if any.
Whenever I work out at night it feels a lot different.

Fat is your body's preferred energy source. Carbs are a "convenient" energy source for the body because they are processed easily. But any extra carbs get stored as fat. By eating a previously hi-carb diet, your body adjusted to burning carbs. Now you need to adjust it to burning fat.
If you keep working out you will find you will be able to go farther and faster than you did on hi-carb.
That holds up for about 2 hours tho...your body still burns carbs and if you run out you will eventually hit "the wall." But training for fat burning pushes the wall out...hopefully past Marathon distance...

[cajunthunder]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I have been experimenting with doing my cardio before I eat and I was surprised that I didn't have any problems. I do my hour on the elliptical at a moderate pace, wearing my HRM and feel fine. I am quite hungry when I'm done though! Not carb craving hungry, just FEED ME hungry. I guess this is normal?

[Iapetus999]

Re: Fatigue during exercise

I have been experimenting with doing my cardio before I eat and I was surprised that I didn't have any problems. I do my hour on the elliptical at a moderate pace, wearing my HRM and feel fine. I am quite hungry when I'm done though! Not carb craving hungry, just FEED ME hungry. I guess this is normal?

I find on longer workouts I'm less hungry. Also low-intensity workouts=less hungry.
Races/sprints etc will trigger more hunger. Hi intensity exercise will cause blood sugar drops more than lo and then cause hunger.
Not a big deal either way.