Recurrent Illness after training, can you beat the GP.. I know you can.

I have a chart on the wall. Green ticks signify training of some sort, blue crosses - illness.
 
Now the illness is like a very very very very mild cold. Listless aches in muscles like viral. Headache mild, want to close eyes.
 
This happens when I get to a certain point in training, or when I change  my routine. I am 42.
 
It goes like this.
 
Train,
Rest
Train
Rest
Rest
Traing
Rest
Train
Ill
Ill
Ill
Ill
Start again train
Rest
train
rest
train
Ill
Ill
Ill
 
Do you think...
 
1/ This is normal for someone over 40
 
2/ Is this the body asking me to stop whilst it catches up repairing?
 
3/ Do you think I am not eating enough carbs? ( I avoid too much bread, white pasta etc. I only eat brown rice and salad, maybe 4 slices of bread a day max. )
 
My GP cannot answer this. Its so frustrating as I am lifting basically nothing...
 
My last full body workout was - hardly any weight... on any
 
3 x squats
3 x dips
3 x lat pull downs
3 x close grip press
3 x tricep rope
3 x bar bell shoulder press
 
 

How long has this been going on weeks. months, etc... are/were you fine before working out? Certainly when you get older (I've found a huge difference past 40 personally) you need to allow more time for recouperation, and make sure you get decent amounts of sleep and eat well. If you are doing all this there could be an underlying problem, if you suspect there is you could ask your doctor to have some tests, as exercise is good and something that your GP should be promoting. If you're doing everything right and still feeling ill then you need to get to the bottom of it.

I do have very mild asthma - but I think everything checks out ok, all my bloods were ok, and immune function seems fine. its been like this for many years I'd say at least 2 years.
 
I did think there might be a sinister blood issue, but that would show a reduction in general immune function.
 
It seems odd that over 40 i simply cannot do
 
1/ Later than 10 or 11 at night
2/ Less than 8 9 0r 10 hours sleep
3/ No more than 3 units of alcohol.
 
 

I'm not coming to any conclusions here on medical grounds as I'm not qualified to do so, but from my experience past a certain age if you are training very intensely it almost hits you overnight - well for me it was over a number of months. I'm almost 43 (not old I know) and trained tonight and thought what the fcuk I felt bloody awful lifting weights I'd lifted when 14-15 lol, just no energy, light headed and generally weak. I guess you need to start taking more care of yourself and make sure everything is right and adjust your training to what you are capable of. I don't mean don't push yourself but I've found that if I don't get enough sleep etc... it really affects my workout when a few years ago it didn't.
 
I've also found as I've got older my life has become more stressful and this can have a profound impact on the body, don't know if this rings true with you ?

i have exactly the same problem- im not over 40 (yet- i'm 36) but for me this change happened after i had my daughter 3 years ago. I could have written your post word for word! If I weight train  heavy or even light more than twice a week, i get ill.   I'm ok with teaching the aerobic type classes i do 4 times a week but if i have to cover any extra or if i even attempt more weights thats it- i get a cold or general illness feeling.   I teach 2 bodypump classes which i can cope with on a moderate weight but if i try to increase the weight i get ill.
I mentioned getting ill all the time to the dr and as blood tests were all ok she put it down to immune system due to having a toddler at nursery bringing so many germs home...
I eat plenty of carbs so its not that for me.
 
I'm inclined to think its general exhaustion lowering the immune system so if you can take more recovery and sleep more, then do. Unfortunately i dont get the luxury of uninterrupted sleep very often and i dont get much time where i can really relax. If its the same for you i'd imagine its your body saying 'stop putting so much stress on me!'

Assuming there's no underlying problem I'd look at your diet. Volume/weight wise I'd doubt you're overtraining but a poor diet can have that effect. Adequate protein is a must. I doubt carbs would be an issue unless it's very low. My carb intake is nothing like when I was younger (I'm 41) and I'm fine energy wise. Today I had a bowl of muesli, 3 potatoes and some veg for carbs. I'm 100kgs and train hard + cardio most days but take plenty of protein and supplement with bcaas, glutamine hmb, creatine. Post your typical diet up mate!

 
Stats : PS - I am 6 foot large rugby player size and weigh 15 stone 10 - look OK high bpdy fat tho.

Weight 15.9
30.2% body fat
48.8.% water
10.5 Stone Muscle content
2073 Kcals required per day
13 Visceral fat.
 
OK
 
To those who said my OP rang true can you replicate the following:
 
Illness Symptoms:
 
Heavy feeling in the head, behind eyes. Not headache.
Chest feels heavy not tight or painful ( I have asthma )
Body feels exhausted, sort of not wanting to walk up stairs if out shopping.
General feeling of tired body limbs but not the same as lactic acid ache.
Sort of down in the dumps and not very motivated.
Lack of mental energy for working or concentration.
Distinct feeling of listlessness, want to go to bed.
 
When most acute:
Immediate need to fall into bed in middle of the day and feel almost flu like. Lying down even experiences pain rather like ME, VIRUS or feeling of bad poison running through veins.
Burning behind eyes, wanting to sleep or close them.
Groaning a little with the pain or exhaustion.
 
Intervention:
Paracetamol helps. As does complete rest. Doing nothing.
Even eating **** helps. Not actual ****! Chocolate and so on.
Really early nights before 9 or 8 also help.
 
Trials:
I have tried going to bed early and really sticking to that - it seems to make a profound difference.
As does NOT doing any weights.
 
What makes it worse:
1. Thinking I am fit and cardio and then doing a Krav Maga fight train exam - getting through it - then spending 2 weeks in bed unlike ANYONE ELSE in the exam! Some 150....
2. Yes long periods of anxiety or any altercations or stressful or anger moments of any significance. IE really having a fall out like x 100
3. More than 1 late night past 11 or long XBOX sessions.
4. Whiskey
5. Periods of extreme computer work or striving.
 
My notes to you:
 
Making a human in your body and then making it come out is not to be taken lightly! In the olden days a woman would be in the cave doing nothing, and the man would go out and do the body pump classes. You are doing both and you are not 19.
 
Stress and worry of a newborn is also going to obviously take its toll. The amount of mental energy, KEY, is profound when having a child I imaging not to mention it waking you up for several years.
 
If you have had a baby, can do any exercise and don't look horrific in jeans then you are above 99.9% so be cool.
 
-
 
My diet for IRON -
 
Mon -
Protein shake - Bowl porridge
2 Haddock portions - 2 handfuls of brown pasta
2 Chicken breasts - 1 can of beans.
Protien shake
Yoga - Quite tough
Whole packet of Nairn's Oat cakes - Low GI
Can of tuna
 
Tuesday
Protein Shake with milk
Training - full body - not much weight but hard exercises compound
4 eggs and 2 toast
2 Haddock portions and brown pasta
2 pork lions , broccolli, boiled potatoes.
 
Wednesday
Vegitable drink, spinach, brocolli, banana, carrot, ginger, tomatoe, cucumber ribena, water, apple juice. 1 pint.
3 eggs - 2 toast
Starbucks panini
2 chicken breasts, pasta tomatoe sauce, low fat cheese.
Vegatable drink 1 pint.
 
Thursday
3 wheatabix with Perfect Sweet ZYLATOL sugar.
Training - full body B work out not much weight but v hard compounds
2 x haddock fillets , brown pasta
Protein shake
Packet of Oat Cake biscuits
Steak and salad with french dressing
Tin of tuna on its own
 
Friday
3 eggs 2 toast
Vegetable drink 1 pint
Marks and Spencer chicken sandwich
Packet of oat cakes. Packet of Maltese's.
2 chicken breast, boiled potatoes, gravy,
2 slices of bread
Veg drink 1 pint
 
Saturday
3 wheatabix
Training very long brisk walk for 3 4 miles.
4 eggs 2 toast
Tesco spicy pasta pot
2 chicken breasts with salad
2 packets of Nairns biscuits
Protein shake.
 
Sunday
2 x haddock and brown pasta
Roast dinner
Chocolate biscuits and top gear x 4 plain chocolate butter m+s biscuits
 
Coffees. - 12 -15 cups decaf per day - no sugar
aspertane or zylatol - 24 sweetners
Juices - 4 pints of low sugar juice - 1-2 pints of water in bed.
2 x nicotine tablets 1mg a day
Trident Sugar free chewing gum x 6 per day
 
Suppliments:
1 x paroxetine tablet
1 x multivit
3 x garlic tablets with meals
4 x Asthma inhaler
 
Today's not well day diet up till 7pm - craving calories.
Porridge
Protein Shake
2 x bottles of 500 ML lucozade
1 x Big and tasty Mcdonalds and fries
1 x Fillet steak and salad
1 x packet of oat cakes.
 
 
I was so encouraged to see your posts, as this is so depressing, even knowing someone is going through this might help us all....Please help... it feels like I am dying...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I now doubt it's your diet.
I also doubt anyone here could point you to a solution unfortunately.
Would you consider yourself depressed? Your whole immune system will be down if you have been depressed for an extended period. Failing this, it must be some underlying physical problem. I'd be back at my GP tbh. If the symptoms are there, which they are, then get back in there and he must look for other reasons/causes for your problems or refer you.
 
Hope you get to the bottom of this! Good luck and post back!

Thanks for looking at the diet.
 
You are right its hard to know the difference between tired from training and the body wanting rest and the above symptoms.
 
I also found this from a nutritionist who says I and the other posters might be suffering from Adrenal Stress Disorder.
 
A excerpt here:
 
When adrenal stress disorder is present, a person tends to consume large quantities of adrenal stimulants and refined carbohydrates such as sugar, starch, caffeine, and alcohol. Whenever there is stimulation, depression, follows that eventually needs more stimulation. This continuing cycle may eventually lead to addiction.
 
Depression:
Yes I am depressed and have been on medication for years but recently I would not class myself as being so. Depression for me is a very dark place, tearful, lack of interests or concentration, mild depression yes can also manifest itself with these sorts of symptoms.
 
I would say I was very grateful and reasonably contented if not a little frustrated and striving. My yoga teacher notes that I am far too regimented and goal orientated, my gains are slow and it annoys me for instance, if someone beats me in business I am furious and so on. 
 
Trouble is I have run out of spiritual teachings - these tend to soothe me a great deal. But you are right, does my INNER self feel depressed... well yes but only when I feel like ****. When I feel strong, I feel upright and healthy and fit looking.. like a spartan.
 
I did want to ask, when you are supposed to train again... is it when all the lactic acid has completely gone? or just gone enough so you feel well enough to train other body parts?
 
 
 

Hi, at the risk of sounding too simplistic I think I'd be depressed if I had all your symptoms. We all know that chronic pain will eventually drag your spirits down.
 
Re: the lactic acid...lactic acid actually leaves the muscle relatively shortly after training which is why after resting for a minute you can generally lift the weight you just struggled to failure with so it's not the lactic acid that you're feeling. Sore muscles will be the result of microscopic tears in the muscle tissue caused by adequate training. Generally if you're strength training, hit the muscle group every 5 days. So while one muscle group might be sore, let it rest while you train another. Training hard though, as you get older especially, takes a lot out of you so you need your immune system to be at it's best. I think you need to get to the root of your problem before you concentrate on physically stressful training. I'm 41 and am fine healthwise but I have my diet/supplements pretty much nailed. There's so much that could be causing your problems. Your spleen for example! But don't get paranoid though, hopefully you should get referred to someone who can help.
 
Re the spiritual teachings....just try to find some inner peace. Life is far too short to waste time/energy being upset. Easier said than done sometimes but it's true!

If you are 41 can you run me though your feelings or training days - so I can learn what is more "normal"
 
My GP will just say I am normal. And I will need evidence that someone else my age does not, nor has ever felt these symptoms.
 
You are a nice man.

I work 9-5s or sometimes a little earlier so my training is usually in the evenings except on my days off where it's usually earlier. I have always kept my weights sessions short but as high in intensity as I can with each set to failure. Diet is so crucial to have enough strength and energy for the workouts. I also can't imagine a session (including cardio) without music. Some days where I might have planned to workout I won't because I'll be feeling like overall I'm overworked. That day off is never a problem as I come back stronger and more intense the next day. I just make sure my cals, especially carbs justify my resting by reducing them from where they would've been had I trained. I always keep my protein up. I honestly feel fine on training days though and haven't noticed a drop in energy levels from my 20's which is great but I'm always ensuring adequate nutrition and rest between workouts. I don't stress either really, thankfully.
Supplements I take:
http://monstersupplements.com/store/p/533/1/Reflex-Nexgen-Multi-Vitamin/Mineral/Herb---90Caps.html
 
http://www.predatornutrition.com/pd-ibcaa-1000-grams.cfm
 
http://www.myprotein.com/uk/products/creapure
 
http://www.myprotein.com/uk/products/hmb
 
http://www.myprotein.com/uk/products/glutamine1
 
http://www.bodybuildingwarehouse.co.uk/better-body-sports-bbs-c-bolic---60-caps-3427-p.asp
 
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Omega-3-Fish-Oil-1300mg-60-Capsules-_1139896/
 
Plus a good clean diet! :)

I have been through on a lesser scale some of the symptoms that you have posted.
 
I was training too hard and too often and not listening to my body.
I got to the point where I was picking up colds etc much more often and taking longer to recover from workouts.
I'm 46 by the way.
 
I reduced my training days from 5 or 6 down to 3 or 4 and my health has been much better since.
I do have a couple of little niggles that are bugging me just now, but I am making good gains and don't want to stop training. i will have to though even if it's just for a week.
 
Take care and I hope it sorts itself out.

Im 46 and I find that recovery takes longer as you get older, it may well be you just need more rest between sessions or simply to eat more.
I am dieting at the moment and have been getting light headed during leg sessions, I have switched to Monday legs (still have carbs in my system after weekend food intake) and things seem fine now.
Listen to your body, it knows best.

Jeff45


Im 46 and I find that recovery takes longer as you get older, it may well be you just need more rest between sessions or simply to eat more.

 
This imo,after a certain age we are not only fighting the weights,we are also fighting  the years,keep going simply take longer for rest and lift less weight for a while and see what happens.

i have bechets syndrome and it sounds a little like that although you say the blood work is ok next time you feel drained get a blood test and get a dr to look at your eyes preferably at a eye hospital. as im not a dr  dont take my word for it im just saying it sounds similar thats all.