Heavy lifts and getting light headed/blacking out

[phuture]

I notice that I find myself feeling light headed and almost blacking out and getting dizzy on certain heavy lifts. For example a seated row machine where I max out at 4 reps.

I always make sure to breath in (my nose) before I do the lift. Maybe this has to do with me being congested.

Has anyone else noticed or found a way to deal with this?

[mslman71]

Exhale through the positive portion of the lift and see if it helps or at least breath between reps.

[-=FLEX=-]

Are you breathing in and holding it?

You should breath in/out on each rep.

[Caesura75]

As already mentioned, poor breathing is often the reason. However, it's also worth having bloods taken and blood pressure checked (if you haven't already), just to rule out other potential causes.

[DesertDude11]

I used to feel that way when I took a certain pre-workout supplement. Do you take anything with major stimulants in it?

[Phattso]

Are you on any prescription meds?

[mslman71]

As already mentioned, poor breathing is often the reason. However, it's also worth having bloods taken and blood pressure checked (if you haven't already), just to rule out other potential causes.

Agreed. Holding your breath during exertion will cause your blood pressure to spike, and then fall dramatically afterwards. There's a term for it but can't recall it now.

[Corbi]

Maybe it's a tumor?

[billb7581]

That happened to me the other day doing some heavy (for me) rack pulls, I wasn't breathing properly... I was holding my breath.

[AndrewR770]

Ok, so what's the answer with squats? As I read a little while ago on here, when doing squats, you're supposed to hold your breath throughout the movement to maintain inter-abdominal pressure to stabilize your spine. While I do breathe in between reps, I noticed that I was a little lightheaded at the end of my last set though not close to blacking out.

Pause longer between reps or what?

[dungeonmistress]

Maybe it's a tumor?

[phuture]

I'm not holding my breath and always exhale during the lift.

I was using jack 3d (older formula)- never noticed this before though.

I'll lift tomorrow without the jack and see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback.

[MartinMaggie]

Two years ago I posted about this in another sports forum. I was also told that I don't breathe properly, which was true. As I got lightheaded in leg press, there was another good advice - don't squeeze handles so hard. I paid attention to it and this advice helped.

And when I joined powerlifters they put me on almost aerobic mode for months. Now I can run like never before in my life. And in exercises where I used to feel lightheaded, I just now gasp for air.
I think improving aerobic ability may also help with this.

[CU314]

That happened to me a couple of years ago while bench pressing. Pretty scary.

[FFOGG]

it happened to me benching and heavy legs presses ..are you using a belt ?? mine was way too tight stopped wearing one after that

[ntrllftr]

I'm not worried about the breathing for you. I'm more concerned as to why you are doing such low reps on an exercise like seated cable rows?

[dungeonmistress]

I'm not worried about the breathing for you. I'm more concerned as to why you are doing such low reps on an exercise like seated cable rows?

^^^this. Yes, I wondered that too, but got sidelined from my thoughts by Peter Griffin singing about tumors lmao.

[wrhalljr]

Could be breathing as others have stated, however for me it was a pre-workout with too much caffeine in it...got light headed, passed out and had heart arrhythmia...no excess caffeine or stimulant pre-workout for me anymore...

[beachguy498]

I go with the breathing thing and make sure you eat before you lift. Makes a world of difference.

Rob

[JerryB]

I avoid was you are experiencing by none holding my breath too long and not using too much weight on certain exercises. I train not strain through my routine.