Daily, Health

Exercise induced asthma

1 Comment

For the longest time, I’ve had issues with breathing while working out.  I always thought it was a mental issue where I got so excited for working out that I literally couldn’t get a deep breath in. My boyfriend said to me once “If it’s mental, you should be able to force yourself to breathe. Asthma causes your airways to constrict so you literally cannot suck air in.”

My friend who I used to go running with me, tried to talk me through the breathing troubles, which worked sometimes. Then I quit running.

The other day, I was working out at CrossFit and again, a new girl working out there asked how I was feeling (small world, it was Stephanie’s friend!!!!). My breathing was off and I’m sure it scares people if they’re not used to seeing it. I hold my stomach and try to get a really deep breath in, and it usually doesn’t work, so I have to wait a few seconds and try again. Like I’m gasping. Quietly, so people won’t notice.

I was getting ready to roll my eyes at her, and go on my spiel about how this always happens to me and that I’m okay as soon as I stop. But instead I kept quiet and told her I was okay and my breathing always gets like that. She mentioned that she had the same symptoms as I do and she finally went to get a puffer since she was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma.

It’s funny though, because I thought I had asthma as well. Two years ago, I went to a drop in clinic who then referred me to a specialist at the hospital and I got a pulmonary function test. They didn’t put me though any sort of exercise activity at all. I was sitting down breathing through a tube, then holding my air with this tube. Of course the results came out fine, above average in some cases.

Well, I’ve had enough of this breathing issue and not being able to take deep breaths or get enough air into my lungs. Yesterday, I went into a drop-in clinic to ask for a prescription for a puffer. I was so nervous that the Doctor wouldn’t believe that I needed one. It was quite easy to get a prescription from him. He just listened to my lungs and of course as we both knew, my breathing was normal.

I don’t have any issues with wheezing when I workout, which concerned him that this inhaler may not work, as I just have shortness of breath.

He gave me this inhaler to try out for a while and he mentioned if I don’t see any results within the first week or two, to come back and we’ll have to do more tests. He said it could be issues with my heart (!?) and to do ultrasounds and x-rays.

Let’s hope it’s just what I thought it was after all, exercise induced asthma.

I’ll report back when I can of how it’s going.

Continue Reading

CrossFit, FitFluential, Fitness, Workout Schedule

My CrossFit Journal (Year 1, week 14)

3 Comments

Oh dear. It’s been AGES since I did a CrossFit weekly post. Apologies!! I’ve been a slacker.

What I did this week? See below!

______________________________________________

year 1, week 14, day one

5×3 – Clean Pulls

3×3 – Tempo Dead Lift
*3 seconds from ground to knee on way up, 3 seconds from full hip extension to knee on way down

AMRAP 10
200m Sprint
15 Hollow Rocks
30 sec. Superman Hold

For the AMRAP I completed almost 4 full rounds. The buzzer went off and I had 4 seconds left to hold my Superman pose. I did it anyway. It was a tough WOD on the abs. There were 2 guys in the class and 3 females including me. I loved being the second fastest runner (one of the guys was ahead) and the other guy swore to me: “Holy shit you’re fast!”. That is, until I burnt out on my 3rd round. Like I said, those abs… ugh it was wonderful.

______________________________________________

year 1, week 14, day two

5 rounds

800m Run
30 Toes To Bar (T2B)

We had a 40 minute time limit for this WOD. I ended up doing the 5 complete rounds of running. I had 2 minutes to complete the 800m run as time was running out. I got back in 4. So obviously I didn’t finish the last set of 30 T2B’s.

I posted this picture of me right after I finished. I’m purple!!!

 

______________________________________________

year 1, week 14, day three

18min time limit

5 Rounds of:

12 Deadlifts; 155/105lbs
9 Hang Clean; 155/105lbs
6 Push Jerks; 155/105lbs

So I obviously didn’t do the prescribed workout since my weakness is in my shoulders. I ended up using 55lbs in total. I’m usually like a rotating helicopter with that weight over my head usually, and I wasn’t wobbly!

I’m surprised I did the full WOD. We only had 18 minutes for 5 rounds. Coach shouted out TEN SECONDS, as I had 2 push jerks left of my 5th round. Go the very last one up over my head as the timer buzzed. Sooo awesome. I felt great.

I felt so great I asked my boyf to take a photo of me flexing, hahahaha!! Check it out. I kinda love it. All that stuff in my left hand are screw drivers and my new license plate sticker for the year. Thursday was the last day to swap it out so I met him down there and he changed the sticker for me. Whatta guy.

______________________________________________

Continue Reading

Daily

Reversing the effect of DOMS

No Comments

The reason I love working out at my local CrossFit box is because of the forever changing movements. I’m never plateauing with regards to my workout regime. Whenever the coaches put us through a tough WOD (workout of the day), it’s almost guaranteed that I’m going to be left with soreness on the third day, or most commonly heard as DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness).

To counter act the DOMS I usually workout through the (good) pain and it often goes away. But sometimes life gets in the way and I have to skip a few WODS at CrossFit and I don’t go as often as I’d like.

As suggested by my Boyfriend, who has been competing in Ironman Triathlons for the last four years, he takes many vitamins and supplements, and protein shakes on a daily basis. So, now I too have been taking some supplements, and one of them includes this Swiss Natural MicroLactin in 500mg’s.

They’re monster sized pills. You can get them at Walmart for sure, and I think it was about twenty bucks.

What is MicroLactin?
It’s a product that promises success in better joint mobility and less pain. But that is not the main selling point for this product. Athletes who want to train harder with more frequency and want to increase their strength and endurance would take something like MicroLactin. Think about the build up of lactic acid in one’s body when working out. That is what causes you to be stiff or sore after a work out. MicroLactin helps DOMS and joints heal faster. Michael Phelps tidbit: Michael Phelps actually has a really unique diagnoses where he actually produces less lactic acid than others which means it takes him less time to recover, and more time to train. Thus he wouldn’t need this product ;)

Be cautious of MicroLactin if:
Even though it says it’s safe for those who are lactose intolerant. I would suggest that people who are lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy should not take this as it contains milk protein concentrate, the product is 97% lactose free. Just be cautious.

I’ve only been taking these supplements for the past three weeks, and while it’s difficult to really say how it effects my body in such a short amount of time, I do feel a bit better with regards to being less sore after a workout.

Do you take any supplements or vitamins on a daily basis?

I’m not a professional in taking supplements, and in fact I’m quite new at it. These are just my opinions on taking these supplements myself.

Continue Reading