Guess what? I tried to exercise the other day for the first time in a very long time. A few minutes or so later I got lightheaded and I ended up on my butt. I believe I know why I felt faint, but before I get into it I’m just gonna go ahead and say this: exercise is hard!!! It gets you out of your comfort zone and challenges your lungs, heart, and muscles to work faster, harder, and do things they don’t frequently do. On the flip side though it makes them stronger and better… but damn it, exercise is hard!!!
Those who know me well enough know I’m not a big fan of exercising, especially typical gym workouts. There’s nothing appealing to me about being crammed in a loud, stuffy and sometimes smelly gym. And if I’m being honest, I get very lazy and my entire body aches at the mere thought of working out. I do however want to get in shape (again) or at least try.
Growing up in Haiti I jumped rope, played football (aka soccer), and volleyball. I’ve also done yoga off and on for many years since migrating to the US. The only problem is that I can never bring myself to fully commit to any of it. The one thing I do regularly and always enjoy however is going on long walks, even more when I feel stressed. It helps to declutter my mind and makes it easier for me to gain new perspectives. Besides, I’ve always loved the outdoors and how great it feels to fill my lungs with fresh air while being kissed all over my face by the sun.
In my line of work I am very active. Even though staying active is great and has lots of health benefits, it still isn’t true exercise. For any activity to count as such it has to go on for 10 minutes at least uninterrupted and must increase your heart rate and your body’s use of oxygen. Exercise puts stress on the body and causes the muscles to burn; that’s the part I hate the most. What I do love however is how I feel afterwards: good and full of energy.
When I got furloughed a few years back thanks to covid-19, I used to wake up early in the morning to go on long walks. For three months straight I walked between 3 and 5 miles almost every day. I even added some squats, intermittent jogging, lunges and jumping jacks into my routine. The results were phenomenal. I felt great and I looked great. Lo and behold, I started to love working out. But inevitably I got called to return to work; and just like that my morning exercise routine became a thing of the past.
Lately though I’ve been feeling sluggish. So on a whim I got up, laced up, and went for a little jog. The first 15 minutes of intermittent jogging were great. After arriving at the park I felt so confident that I started doing some jump squats. That’s when things went south. I felt faint and I had to quickly sit down because I was afraid I’d pass out. I know it’s not uncommon for some people to feel lightheaded if they take on more than their body can handle too quickly. And that’s exactly what I did. I was doing too much, too soon.
It is fact there could be other serious reasons for feeling lightheaded during or after a workout that can indicate an underlying condition that needs medical attention or treatments, but in my case I think it was dehydration and possibly exhaustion. I was pushing myself way too hard and my body wasn’t having it. I see this as a wake up call that I need to try and get fit again. Now more than ever I want to look good and feel good about myself, for myself; and part of achieving that means restoring and retaining my love and hate relationship with exercise. And who knows? Maybe one day I might even end up working out in a stuffy gym. I will definitely post a follow up if that ever happens :).
Learning from my shortcomings, here’s how I plan to reduce the risk of me ending up on my butt again during exercise in the future:
Get adequate rest — Exercise puts stress on the body. Yes, It’s good stress and it’s short term stress, but it’s still stress nonetheless. Getting good-quality sleep is good for the brain, gives more energy, and helps the body perform better.
Stay hydrated — I need to remind myself to constantly hydrate. Not just during exercise but throughout the day, every day.
Practice proper breathing — Avoid holding my breath during exercise is very important. Taking deep and regular breaths throughout the entire workout will facilitate higher oxygen intake.
Don’t overdo it — Try not to push my body too hard. I must keep reminding myself to increase the intensity of exercises gradually.
Eat a snack at least one hour before exercising — A snack of complex carbohydrates like oatmeal, banana, or proteins can help get my body ready for exercises.
Thanks for reading about my new journey to getting fit and healthier. Until next time, xoxo.
Your barefoot gal,
Carli