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A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 10:33 am
by janus77
Howdy all.

Wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like what i'm getting. I do a couple of interval sessions on the bikes at the gym during the week (lunch break), and commute by bike most days (5km each way). I have a pretty good idea of how hard i can push myself these days and still make it through the session. I'm sweating a lot more than i used to (am now 34, and a bit chubbier than i have been), i'm chalking this up to a bit of lard over my entire body between the skin and muscle keeping me warmer, so needing to sweat more to cool down.

I find if i push myself to a certain level i'm recovering fine, i'll be stuffed after the workout, but not truly belted like i can be if i give it that last 5% effort.

Occasionally i'll decide i'm feeling good, so for a couple of the intervals i'll up the resistance even more to push myself harder than normal and give it 100%, when i do this, i'm finding my recovery is different. Firstly let me say i am staying hydrated, and i'm doing an adequate warm up. I feel hot for days afterwards, i'll still be sweating lightly on my brow 3-4 hours after the workout, i'll wake up the next day feeling a bit hot. I sometimes get a (heat?) rash on my forehead a few days later too, it gets itchy and the skin gets all rough, will take a week or two to settle down. I'll feel hot for days, like i did a hard one on Monday and today there's still a remnant of "heat" in my head and core today.

Not sure what is happening, it doesn't seem critical, but i've not experienced this in the past. Maybe it's just that i'm getting older, and my body can't take the same punishment as it used to? I might need to build up more slowly instead of sometimes pushing myself to the limit, but i want to be able to do this!

Any ideas what might be going on? I'm going to see my GP next week anyway, so will ask him.. but i'm pretty sure he'll just tell me i need to take it a little easier if i'm having this reaction.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:19 pm
by rustychisel
early onset menopause???

Actually, no idea, so a GP visit is best, but it's my experience that belting the km's on the bike keeps your metabolic rate up there. My partner still complains that I'm like a furnace to sleep alongside (hot hot, geddit?, nudge nudge) and I regularly wander around in shorts and T-Shirt when she is rugged up on a cool evening.

Best//

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 3:42 pm
by janus77
Hope not, i'm a dude.

I usually run pretty warm too at all times, strange that i feel like i'm overheating for days at a time after a particularly intense session.

Maybe a couple of teaspoons of HTFU in my coffee would help.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:26 pm
by foo on patrol
It could be an allergy to something that, you have come into contact with and by putting in the effort on the the bike, that produces heat = sweat = reaction to the contaminate! :idea:

My wife has reactions to different chemicals and when she sweats, it comes up like a heat rash and drives her up the wall. :(

Foo

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 6:46 pm
by sogood
Hard to know how consistent the correlation is. Worst case, it's psychosomatic. ;)

Going to your GP to have a check up is the correct solution.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 10:04 am
by janus77
So chances are i'm just getting soft.
Well, only thing for it is to keep pushing through i guess.

As for allergies, i don't think it is, usually if i'm allergic i get a feeling like an intense head cold, which has not happened in this case.

Yesterday i toned down my cardio session a bit so i wouldn't bring on the heat. Still a bit hot this morning.

potentially there's a simple explanation: I am fat.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:18 am
by sogood
janus77 wrote:potentially there's a simple explanation: I am fat.
5km is not a short ride. If you are overweight, then aim for weight reduction first. Don't push excessively until you've lost all the excess and have the physique to train for fitness. Pushing too hard without the physique to do so can be detrimental and sometimes puts you at risk.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 12:58 pm
by janus77
Fair comment. Actually i've exaggerated a little, I'm not really "fat", just have a bit of lard on me compared to if i was in prime condition.. maybe 4-5kg overweight at 81kg. And i've been commuting to work for 4 years, so generally my bike fitness is ok. I do stay active in general, the overheating thing is a little worrying because i'm not super unfit.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:52 pm
by Addictr3
Strange. Still feeling hot after 48 hours? When you sleep are you sweating a lot? Next time take your temp?

I'd go see a doctor, but local GPs (no offence) wont do much. Maybe google some stuff (dont take it all to heart) just get a basic idea.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 8:24 pm
by trailgumby
I have similar issues. I find the best remedy is to have a tepid or cool shower after the workout.

With me, it also exhibits as difficulty getting to sleep / remaining asleep because my metabolism stays elevated and I run hot unless I lose the body heat prior to bed with the cool shower. I deal with it by trying to fit the heavy workout in the morning, when the elevated metabolism is an asset, and keep the intensity dialled way down in the evening. Unfortunately, with my current work schedule that's not practical midweek. So a quick cool shower when I get home works best.

The heat rash in my case is a sensitivity to perspiration... possibly an allergy to my own sweat. I get dry patches of skin which then flake off... sometimes in sheets. This kind of allergy is a known condition, although I don't know what it's called. If I rinse my face off thoroughly after the workout the rash doesn't start. If I forget and leave it overnight, no amount of antibiotics, moisturiser, or barrier creams will stop it, and I need a presciption steroid (Desowen) to get it under control as the normal 1% over-the-counter steroid creams won't touch it. I was told by two independent specialists it was seborrheic dermatitis, which has a genetic basis, but I'm questioning that diagnosis now.

I hope this is useful.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:49 pm
by sogood
trailgumby wrote:With me, it also exhibits as difficulty getting to sleep / remaining asleep because my metabolism stays elevated...
A very common symptom in those who have over-trained. Take a break, rest, periodise the training program.

You are working too hard! :wink:

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:57 pm
by orbeas
Also over exertion then having a coffe amplifies the dehydration prosses i find.
I find drinking cordial is better

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:39 pm
by trailgumby
sogood wrote:
trailgumby wrote:With me, it also exhibits as difficulty getting to sleep / remaining asleep because my metabolism stays elevated...
A very common symptom in those who have over-trained. Take a break, rest, periodise the training program.

You are working too hard! :wink:
Yes, I agree it is a common overtraining symptom, but at the moment, with the exclusion being placed on any thought of riding by my slowly healing collarbone, overtraining is most unlikely! :lol:

Periodizaton works great. Best piece of training knowledge I've acquired ever. :!: :D

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:38 am
by greyhoundtom
When you see your GP make sure a blood test and urine test are scheduled to check both liver and kidney function.

Reducing the protein and increasing fresh salads in the diet may also help.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:24 pm
by janus77
Thanks all for the advice, Trailgumby, i tried cooler water in the shower and it seemed to work a bit.
I'm also drinking 3-4 coffee's in the morning before i go to the gym which might be a bit much.
am making myself drink a litre of water before i go to the gym now to see if that helps.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 3:14 pm
by janus77
reckon the heat rash is a reaction to my sweat too, i didn't rinse my face when i arrived home the day before yesterdya, and now i have the rash, but other days i have been rinsing and not getting any rash.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:14 pm
by jet-ski
wow, 3 - 4 coffees? you could definately try cutting down on that

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:54 pm
by winstonw
Exercise related rash can be due to sweat glands clogged with dead skin or bacteria, and the sweat perfusing into the skin layers and irritating things.
If the rash is symmetrical across your forehead, you might consider experimenting by applying various treatments to one side only i.e.
when you don't have the rash, regularly use an antibacterial soap on the one side, then rub light to moderately with a skin abraser to remove dead skin and bacteria, then apply an antibacterial powder before bed.

I'd still suggest you look at your diet especially the % fat, which when high is more likely to slow lymphatic drainage and circulation through the skin and sweat glands. Fat in the form of lipids can be a constituent of sweat. Protein in the form of amino acids can also be present in sweat and is a food source for some bacteria.

I'd be interested in the insights your GP offers.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:12 am
by Ken Ho
sogood wrote:
janus77 wrote:potentially there's a simple explanation: I am fat.
5km is not a short ride. If you are overweight, then aim for weight reduction first. Don't push excessively until you've lost all the excess and have the physique to train for fitness. Pushing too hard without the physique to do so can be detrimental and sometimes puts you at risk.

Nah, it's a warm-up.
You are one conservative dude.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 8:15 pm
by ozrider
janus77 wrote:Thanks all for the advice, Trailgumby, i tried cooler water in the shower and it seemed to work a bit.
I'm also drinking 3-4 coffee's in the morning before i go to the gym which might be a bit much.
am making myself drink a litre of water before i go to the gym now to see if that helps.
I'm no expert I think you're on track with the extra fluid intake.

I used to have the same issues, in fact on 2 occasions on very hot days I have gotten so bad I could not get my body temp down.

Bottom line, dehydration. What I thought was hydrated was no where near what was needed.

Weigh yourself before you exercises and then after, what you have lost is pretty much fluid. I can lose a couple of kilos after riding for a few hours even though I'm drinking water. The other thing to consider is that if you lose a litre of fluid through sweat, drinking a litre of fluid will only replace a portion of it.

Re: A strange reaction to heavy cardio sessions

Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 9:04 pm
by koen
No one has mentioned I think that the sweat response is conditioned by training. If I am getting fitter I would expect to sweat more and it will be less salty, and the red face is less noticeable. It can be an individual thing though.
I have also found , as mentioned.. probably near the overtraining end of things, that I get odd hot flushes out of the blue. It has happened a couple of times over the years to the point where we have joked about menopause :shock:
On another topic really , after ross river virus I found for at least a year that anaerobic work really knocked me up. I would be fine if I didn't get the heart rate up too high.
All the best with it