Runner moms/Workout Queens - After You Eat (2 Questions)

Updated on May 31, 2014
A.G. asks from Houston, TX
12 answers

Do you find the more you work out, the less and less you want to eat?

Does anyone ever feel sick after they run or workout? (No I'm not pregnant.) Say I always run 7-10 miles every other day, and I ran only about 5 miles yesterday, anything I eat today I feel a bit queasy. Or if I spent the last week weight lifting for 2 hours a day, anything I eat in the next few days I feel queasy.

This has been going on for the past few months. Nothing in my diet has really changed and nothing in my workout really changed. I don't get diarrhea or throw up; my stomach just starts feeling upset. I've tried eating more protein, or less sugar, or more water, or less grains. Nothing makes me feel digestively calm a day or 2 after a run or workout.

This doesn't happen if I don't work out for a week. It only happens if I work out on a regular basis.

What can I do next?

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So What Happened?

No its not the weather. We've actually only had 2 days of 90 degree weather. Its been hovering around the 50's/60's here in Houston since Feb/March-ish.

I'm wondering if my body is just giving out and I'm pushing myself too hard (I just turned 36.). But I'vebeen running for years and weight lifting for a few years and this hasn't happened before. I do protein shakes after every workout, oatmeal and lean meats for my next meal and I drink 60-70oz water every other hour or so, even more in the summer. I've never had a nutritionist but I may just make an appointment with one, just to see how I'm doing.

Thanks for the feedback ya'll!

Featured Answers

J.S.

answers from Richland on

I always eat less when I am working out regularly but I have never felt queasy except if I work out on an empty stomach. Even that went away after I ate.

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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

I don't workout to this extent, and I don't have that kind of reaction, but I do walk three to four times a week, a mile or two at a time. I've found that doing so makes me want to eat less, and sometimesI don't want to eat for a few hours after I exercise.

I wonder if you are staying hydrated enough just prior and during your workouts. I have discovered that if I get dehydrated around the time I go walking, I can get a bit queasy. I never throw up. If I stay on top of my hydration, then I'm good.

Have you talked top your doctor about this? It may be time to get some support and advice. Also, perhaps some time with a nutritionist might be good, because there might be something out of balance with your body that needs to be readjusted.

Just a though, maybe backing off a little on your routine a bit might help too. I have to wonder if your body is trying to tell you that you're overdoing it a bit and you need a break in your routine. I don't know though, you know your body best.

Good luck in what ever you do! Just remember to breathe!

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

See a doctor.
Could be diabetes, hypoglycemia, electrolyte imbalance (dilutional hyponatremia - too much water) and/or pushing yourself too hard or something else.
A doctor can help figure out what is going on so you can get to the bottom of it.

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S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

hm. well, it HAS happened, but it doesn't often. i'd certainly take as a sign that something needs to be checked out.
i just ran my first marathon and trained all winter, so i was doing a lot of really long, slow runs. i would sometimes get a bit nauseated in the latter part of a run 18 miles or more, and i think it was because the only nutrition i can reasonably expect my poor bod to absorb when i'm working it that hard is energy gels, which are awesome the first couple of times but quickly grow overly sweet. but i can't eat any actual food during a run, so the only way i can re-fuel is with the gels.
however, that's very situational.
i WISH i wanted to eat less and less! i started running to help me with weight loss, and while i'm pretty tickled at my 26.2, i haven't lost a frickin' pound. running increases my appetite, and while i eat a very healthy base diet, i still love my sweet treats and haven't fixed THAT half of the equation yet. i have to be content for the moment with being a very fit fat girl<G>.
it's odd that the nausea and appetite loss happen even when you switch up your workouts to weight lifting. and you shouldn't have to take a week off exercise altogether to feel better.
i think it might be time to explore this with a nutritionist. i'll be very interested to hear how you resolve this, A., please keep us posted. and WOW on 7-10 every other day! even when in active training i only did one long run (ie over 6 miles) or maybe two per week!
khairete
S.

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V.B.

answers from Jacksonville on

Any chance it could be related to diabetes?

I only ask b/c I did some reading about diabetes recently and came across information about how working out can cause some negative and dangerous things if you are diabetic and untreated. I had no idea that exercise and diabetes could be a no-no. I always heard that exercise was good for helping combat it.

So, when (not if... but when) you check with a medical professional for possible reasons you are having this issue, I would also ask for testing for that (if they don't recommend it on their own). You'll need to fast before your appointment, I believe, so be sure and ask before you go in what/how long regarding fasting, since most bloodwork seems to require fasting of some variety or other.

I don't work out as hard as you, (nor as regularly)... but I do like to run when I can (though this year hasn't been going well for me in that department). But I never feel sick a day later from eating. I'm 45. And I only feel sick if I over heat (running in high heat and humidity usually) or eat too much or to recently or the wrong thing BEFORE working out. AFter, it doesn't much matter what I eat...

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M.M.

answers from New London on

To me it sounds like something it wouldn't hurt to check out especially since it's not normal for you to feel this.

And it says you live in TX...could it have something to do with the heat?

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

I would say that the nausea is due your blood sugar being out of balance. If mine drops too low, I will feel nauseous and dizzy after a hard workout. It will throw my system off for a few days, too.

As silly as this sounds, sometimes I need a good greasy high calorie meal to put things back. It's almost like you are reverse taxing your system.

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C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Not me...I feel hungry and ready to chow down. I always try to eat protein after a workout for good muscle power. :) I would guess you have a stomach bug. Or are you always like this? Are you pushing yourself super hard? When people run marathons and do boot camp and things like that they will get queasy and throw up. It's pretty normal, but then it goes away after the race.

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B.S.

answers from Denver on

I run a lot, have done several marathons. The opposite happens to me, the more I run the more I eat, and want to eat. The only time I don't feel like eating is an hour or two after I run, but I try to eat a little protein during this time frame because it helps with recovery. Some people do have really sensitive stomachs, I'm one of them but not in this case. I would just try to eat small meals throughout the day, so you still have the energy to maintain your workouts. I eat Luna bars when I know I should eat something but don't want to. I'm sure it's nothing serious but worth mentioning to your doctor.

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A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

NO! The more I workout, the hungrier I am. It's the most frustrating thing about working out to me...I feel like I get so hungry, I'd be better off exercising less at times. Sounds like something weird is going on with your system. Now SOMETIMES, if I'm a a really healthy, well-balanced mode, my appetite is more manageable...but it's never hard to eat like you describe.

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C.S.

answers from Rockford on

I would personally ditch the protein shakes. So many of them are contaminated with heavy metals. Cut them out for a few weeks to see if that's what's causing your stomach to be upset. If I don't eat something before I work out I get nauseous. I have to have something little before - a few bites of banana, lara bar, string cheese etc. If I workout on an empty stomach then I feel nauseous afterwards and don't feel like eating. Also, maybe try shaking up your routine a bit? I"m 36 and can no longer run more than twice a week because it's too much for my body so I do HIIT training and weights/toning the other days. I'd also see your regular doctor to rule out anything mentioned below. Good luck!

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B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi! This must be making your crazy. I don't think you are pushing yourself too hard, unless you are not feeding your body properly. Not all protein shakes are created equally, soy based shakes are known to upset the tummy, and any kind of artificial sweetner can cause nausea.

Many of my athlete friends and I use a particular brand as our nutrition of choice to keep us functioning at our optimal level. Your aches and queasy-ness come from stuff you are eating, it is good to take a serious look at it.

A bit of advice when going to a nutritionist, ask A LOT of questions. Don't assume because they have a certification that they are any good. I know many nutritionists who still believe we can get all our vitamins and nutrients from our traditional food source.

I will PM you a link to the nutritional program I have been using for over 8 years.

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