Felt like I was gonna have a heart attack at the gym

DaveV · #1 05-08-2009, 02:39 PM

Wow, that wasn't a good feeling. Was feeling faint and my heart was beating like crazy. Got on the treadmill and walked slowly and my HR was 140.

Last night I didn't get a good sleep and didn't have a chance to take my SSRI medication. Then this morning had sex (don't know if that has anything to do with it but listing everything I did), got home, had a 50g whey isolate shake, then 200mg caffeine and some green tea extract. Then walked 20 minutes to the gym and was feeling anxious and anxiety. Then did DB shoulder presses and was doing weight that I would max out on 4 reps at 12 reps a set. I was like super strong today. Then I did side laterals at a stronger weight than normal. Then I was starting to really feel sick so I tried db shrugs at a higher weight and everything was light to me.

Then I checked my HR and said screw this and walked home. Felt better when I got home but what the hell?

I was for some reason stronger, but feeling like I was gonna die.

Anyone have any insight into this?

joneser3eb · #2 05-08-2009, 06:04 PM

you have become superman? i dont know dude, prob just one of those days where everything was clicking and your body was able to lift more. i have had those days. not the felt like was gonna die part, but lifting heavier.

ZachE84 · #3 05-08-2009, 06:08 PM

140 HR during lifting...wow! I only get that high while running for 30 minutes, but I don't take any of those pills.

Hammer · #4 05-08-2009, 06:35 PM

That early morning sex will do it every time

Throw those hits of speed in the corner and have that shot of tea........and see if that's enough for you to feel strong. Good luck!

Jawesome19 · #5 05-08-2009, 06:52 PM

I vote the caffeine did it, sometimes to much caffeine can throw your heart into an irregular beat especially if you have an underlying irregular beat or anything like that.

Cavalli · #6 05-08-2009, 07:13 PM

I watched a documentary the other day about this. I believe it was called crank….lol just kidding

I think its the caffeine; is that a new supplement for you, or have u been using it for awhile?

ecko31s · #7 05-08-2009, 07:25 PM

Maybe it was adrenaline running thru your system or something. I use to be extra strong in the gym after combat missions in iraq. For example, normally I would bench 110lb dumbells on a incline for 10 reps, but after a mission, out of no where I benched 110lb dumbells 22 times on the incline. I kinda scared me too, because I was like where did that come from, and it was the same on most other compound exercises. As far as your heart rate, mine has been at an average of 156bpm during weighting for the past six years, so i don't think that is to high during intense weight training. It all depends on the intensity level of your workout. Just like if your sprinting as fast as possible your heart is going to be beating like crazy compared to a light jog.

keeptruckin · #8 05-08-2009, 09:20 PM

Sounds like a rush of adrenaline to me.

Blazing87 · #9 05-08-2009, 11:37 PM

possibly low sugar level methinks... happens to me quite a lot.

For me anyway... what happens is i eat almost the same thing and same amount before the gym. so my body is used to workin on what i put into it and the work i do in the gym.
So when i have days well outta the ordinary like the one described, when you suddenly feel like superman, the body gets a shock and ends up using everythin in my body quicker than usual... and by the time i come to the end of my session even before the end, i`d feel faint and the heart rate would sky rocket.

thats the theory given to me by my doc anyway... when it got really extreme and i ended up hyperventilating and my beody literally "siezed" up on me

DaveV · #10 05-09-2009, 12:15 PM

Adrenaline sounds like it could be it. When I get anxiety it's like a lot of adrenaline in my body and I get nervous as hell. I usually don't take caffeine, or even drinks pops that much. When I usually do take it I will take 100mg, but this time I took the whole pill of 200mg.

I've only been working out 3 months and took a week off. Someone was telling me that might be why I was stronger. The body had time to fully recover.

I don't know if I'm gonna take caffeine anymore. I'll still take the green tea because it has health benefits but the caffeine I'm gonna have to think about. And I'm definately going to always eat some whole food before weight training. I can do cardio on empty stomach but weight training I like to eat something beforehand.

Thanks for all the replies. It was a scary feeling.