heart rate during cardio

[DumpyMom]

Newbie here. I'm just starting to workout and have been doing some weight lifting (machines - that's another story). Love lifting even though I can't do much weight yet and HATE cardio. Tried adding cardio in the other day - because I'm told I should if I want to lose weight (I'm 37, 5'3", 201 lbs).

After doing lower body workout I decided to get on a bike. Had to stop after 10 minutes because I was so dizzy. Thought I was going to pass out and felt very flushed, nauseaus, got a headache. Next day I still had a headache and felt groggy. Heart rate was at 175 when I stopped. Read for my height and weight max heart rate is 189.

I'm an 8 yr breast cancer survivor (last treatment 2 yrs ago) so I know if I mention to dr he'll send me for $$$ worth of scans. Trust me - I'd go to him in a minute if I even thought for a minute it was cancer-related. I've since read that I shouldn't do cardio when doing leg work out. Could this be what caused me to get so dizzy? Does heart rate cause this?

Thanks in advance for any info. Dea

[anandagirl]

First of all, you need to be REALLY careful. If you think your doc would send you in for tests, you might consider the idea that you NEED them.

That being said, max HR has nothing to do with height and weight, but more age: the formula is 220-age=MHR.

Your HR might have gone up so high because you are new to exercise and you pushed yourself too much too soon? Next time I would try walking on a treadmill since that is a movement you do every day and see how your heart rate reacts. Defintiely pay attention to how you feel before upping the intensity.

EDIT: I don't think doing a leg workout before cardio had anything to do with this - as far as I know, that has more to do with fatuging the muscles and not being able to up the intensity because of the fatigue

Again, the recommendation is to see a doctor before beginning any sort of exercise program, so please keep that in mind. Good luck with everything!

[Jamie M]

Heart rate could have caused it. Most people go at about 60% of the MHR. I would definately see a doctor though. Cancer can always come back...
You might also want to check out your blood pressure. It may have risen too much.

[DanishThorn]

Originally Posted by DumpyMom

Newbie here. I'm just starting to workout and have been doing some weight lifting (machines - that's another story). Love lifting even though I can't do much weight yet and HATE cardio. Tried adding cardio in the other day - because I'm told I should if I want to lose weight (I'm 37, 5'3", 201 lbs).

After doing lower body workout I decided to get on a bike. Had to stop after 10 minutes because I was so dizzy. Thought I was going to pass out and felt very flushed, nauseaus, got a headache. Next day I still had a headache and felt groggy. Heart rate was at 175 when I stopped. Read for my height and weight max heart rate is 189.

I'm an 8 yr breast cancer survivor (last treatment 2 yrs ago) so I know if I mention to dr he'll send me for $$$ worth of scans. Trust me - I'd go to him in a minute if I even thought for a minute it was cancer-related. I've since read that I shouldn't do cardio when doing leg work out. Could this be what caused me to get so dizzy? Does heart rate cause this?

Thanks in advance for any info. Dea

Are you eating enough? I know you called yourself a "newbie", and I too am just learning about proper nutrition with working out, but most women new to training dont allow themselves enough calories and/or enough carbs. You might get dizzy if you havent had enough calories to sustain your body.

Just a thought...

[imperfectly_lou]

175bpm isn't really that outrageously high (its often my HR as well) but because you describe yourself as a beginner and your doctor has recommended other tests, I would definitely get it checked out

[DumpyMom]

Thanks everyone.

Just to clarify - my dr did ok me to exercise and he hasn't said I need more tests. I just know he will say I need them if I tell him (I go for sinus infection and they do a cat scan of my head ) I'm very aware of my odds for recurrence and I don't take chances. Get my bloodwork, routine scans, etc. But I did make an appt for next Tuesday.

Danishthorn - I have been looking at my food logs and I think you may be onto something. My friend had said not to eat to close to working out and I think I may be waiting too long. I had the same problem with upper body workout yesterday and I've never had an issue getting through that. I also think I've cut too many calories. I'm going to eat before I go today and see how that goes. After dinner last I played soccer with my daughter and didn't have an issue.

Other thing is about 1-2 months ago I started taking a med for migraines that is also used for blood pressure. Completely forgot about that because it was so long before I started working out. That may be a cause also.

Thanks again.