So if my legs are wavering badly during a workout...

COtuner · 03-18-2009, 08:53 PM

Did I not take enough time off in between sets, am I super setting with the wrong combination of exercises, or am I just too darned tired and risking injury for working out too late in the day?

Ran into this on a weird one. Doing a super set of seated cable rows using a wide grip, then jumping straight into pushups off the cable row bench... 3 sets of 15, no stopping in between.

My legs were wobbling, not my arms?? I'd just come off a super set of dumbbell rows and bench hopping with about 3 minutes rest. The legs did not wobble again the rest of the 40 minutes afterwards, not even in squats.

(I super set through my weight workouts right now because my trainer wants me keeping my heartrate in zone 3)

*Sunny* · 03-18-2009, 09:15 PM

I'm no weight lifting expert, but I find that I'm a lot more "wobbly" if I havent worked out in a while, especially my legs.

Do you stretch before and after your workout? Do you warm up your muscles with some cardio before weightlifting?

Maybe it's a vitamin thing?

VTR-RC51 · 03-18-2009, 09:23 PM

That's odd...I usually get the wobbles when I've over exerted myself and those particular muscles that I'm working on are done for the day!

During your cable rows, are you using your legs to push off the platform? That could be the cause, try keeping your legs stationary.

itsallgrand · 03-18-2009, 09:33 PM

Bench hopping? As in, hopping from one side of the bench to the other as though it were a low pummel horse?

Maybe an ignorant question but not sure what exercise that is. Wondering if involves leg work.

I've had my legs wobble either when I've gone past my limit or are hitting it, or if I've just not gotten enough sleep, food or recovery time (sleep is a bugger). Other times, legs will a-wobble if I've pushed myself too far (even if it's not a lot of leg work going on); but usually that comes with dizziness and stars for me too.

Super setting is what I've been doing too - and it's some damn hard work. I find sometimes my heart has some trouble keeping up with the muscles - easy to get the wobblies or dizzies when I push too hard and fast.

anyways, if you figure it out - would be interested to hear.

lost! · 03-18-2009, 09:36 PM

I wobble all the time when I'm weight training. I think it's a good sign, because it means you are exerting yourself and your muscles are struggling - but these means they can grow stronger. If you start wavering so much that you think it's a hazard and that you might injure yourself, maybe take more time off between sets.

COtuner · 03-18-2009, 10:14 PM

I work out 4-5 days a week and keep changing up my routine every month as my trainer assigns. Alternating cardio and resistance, days off in between varies depending on intensity of workout. Sometimes it's every 3rd day, sometimes every 4th day.

Sunny - I warm up on a stationary bike beforehand (10 minutes at around 85-90 rpms average, light resistance setting), I'm hydrated, fed, and don't need to stretch too much due to working out midday during a break from the office. I'm pretty limber by 2pm. (trainer signed off on this) On a nutriton plan that's about as pure as you can get - my doctor can find no deficiencies or fault other than a natural iron deficiency that rears its head at least once a year. Maybe that's part of it... but it's still weird that it's only for those 45 pushups that it happens.

As for bench hopping.... it's what I call it. Stepping up on the bench and down the other side, leaving the first foot planted, then changing. Doing this rapidly to boost the cardio rate before jumping back to the dumbbell row.

Maybe I am pushing on the foot rests during the cable row... that's a good idea to look into, VTR. I just increased the resistance by 5 pounds and switched to the wide grip handle, which is really causing me to struggle by the 13th rep. Second set I'm tiring by 10 and 3rd set by 8 so maybe I am using my legs unconsciously to offset the added weight. I'll try knocking off 2.5 pounds on Friday and see if that makes any difference. Thanks!

shikashika · 03-18-2009, 10:45 PM

I do a lot of weight training as well and am well aware of the 'wobbling' after weight training.

Do you drink a whey protein drink after your weights workout?

That really helps to stabalise me. I ALWAYS have some protein after a weights workout.. VERY important.

I usually do a cardio workout.. try and do some high intensity workout in the morning.. and then do the weights in the PM after work. I think if you want to get some gains, then you need to separate your workouts.

SOMETIMES I do a swim after my weights workout, as there is a pool at the gym I go to, but I still make sure I have a protein drink after my weights, before i swim.

I find that when I feel light headed or sick after a workout, it's usually because of not eating the right thing at the right time.

catfeeder · 03-18-2009, 10:59 PM

Sounds a though your legs take on most stress and need more recovery time. This may sound counter-intuitive, but going lighter on the upper body could help this--it's about the spine and central nervous system. For instance, if you damage your neck area you may never know the problem is the neck without an MRI. So when your body speaks a caution, just pull back and reintroduce elements of your routine slowly enough to get feedback.

COtuner · 03-18-2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shikashika

I do a lot of weight training as well and am well aware of the 'wobbling' after weight training.

Do you drink a whey protein drink after your weights workout?

That really helps to stabalise me. I ALWAYS have some protein after a weights workout.. VERY important.

I usually do a cardio workout.. try and do some high intensity workout in the morning.. and then do the weights in the PM after work. I think if you want to get some gains, then you need to separate your workouts.

SOMETIMES I do a swim after my weights workout, as there is a pool at the gym I go to, but I still make sure I have a protein drink after my weights, before i swim.

I find that when I feel light headed or sick after a workout, it's usually because of not eating the right thing at the right time.

Thanks for the thoughts and input. I'll try to respond:

Protein is not a problem - I eat an extremely well balanced 5 meals a day. No one I meet can believe how healthy I eat - even my doctor is handing out sheets with a sample set of my meals to his patients.

I can't really handle many shakes as I have a sensitivity to something that's in most prepackaged foods. But I get a lot of protein trust me (40-70 grams a day)

I do separate my workouts - cardio one day, weights the next, per my trainers recommendation. (he specializes in injured athlete rehab - that's his grad degree). I used to be a pretty elite caliber athlete so had a lot of good training and experience in my past.

This wobbling is within the first 15 minutes of my workout and never reappears no matter what I do the last 45 minutes (well, unless I overdo my lunges and try to do 4 laps of the studio floor). Only the one combination. I also wonder if I'm pushing off my feet too much and not putting enough weight on my arms during these particular pushups - being at an incline on the bench might switch my weight bearing too much towards my feet. I do this when driving stick in my car on long trips too - press my leg hard against the dead pedal and then my leg starts to kill me after an hour of this.

COtuner · 03-18-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catfeeder

Sounds a though your legs take on most stress and need more recovery time. This may sound counter-intuitive, but going lighter on the upper body could help this--it's about the spine and central nervous system. For instance, if you damage your neck area you may never know the problem is the neck without an MRI. So when your body speaks a caution, just pull back and reintroduce elements of your routine slowly enough to get feedback.

This would back up what was said earlier by another member, that I might be pressing too much with my legs while doing the seated cable row. Or the other one that I am putting too much pressure on my feet while doing these pushups.

Given that I am doing my workout mid afternoon, after being on my feet since 5 am and constantly moving between meeting rooms, climbing stairs and walking between buildings at work all day long, my legs do get a lot of work.

03-18-2009, 08:53 PM	#1
COtuner Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 4,102	So if my legs are wavering badly during a workout... Did I not take enough time off in between sets, am I super setting with the wrong combination of exercises, or am I just too darned tired and risking injury for working out too late in the day? Ran into this on a weird one. Doing a super set of seated cable rows using a wide grip, then jumping straight into pushups off the cable row bench... 3 sets of 15, no stopping in between. My legs were wobbling, not my arms?? I'd just come off a super set of dumbbell rows and bench hopping with about 3 minutes rest. The legs did not wobble again the rest of the 40 minutes afterwards, not even in squats. (I super set through my weight workouts right now because my trainer wants me keeping my heartrate in zone 3)

03-18-2009, 09:15 PM	#2
Sunny Offline Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: America Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 230	I'm no weight lifting expert, but I find that I'm a lot more "wobbly" if I havent worked out in a while, especially my legs. Do you stretch before and after your workout? Do you warm up your muscles with some cardio before weightlifting? Maybe it's a vitamin thing? __________________ Handle every stressful situation in life like a dog would: If you can't play with it or eat it, just pee on it and walk away.

03-18-2009, 09:23 PM	#3
VTR-RC51 Offline Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: On top of Haleakala Volcano, Maui Gender: Male Posts: 103	That's odd...I usually get the wobbles when I've over exerted myself and those particular muscles that I'm working on are done for the day! During your cable rows, are you using your legs to push off the platform? That could be the cause, try keeping your legs stationary.

03-18-2009, 09:33 PM	#4
itsallgrand Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: following my grace... Gender: None Specified Posts: 6,788	Bench hopping? As in, hopping from one side of the bench to the other as though it were a low pummel horse? Maybe an ignorant question but not sure what exercise that is. Wondering if involves leg work. I've had my legs wobble either when I've gone past my limit or are hitting it, or if I've just not gotten enough sleep, food or recovery time (sleep is a bugger). Other times, legs will a-wobble if I've pushed myself too far (even if it's not a lot of leg work going on); but usually that comes with dizziness and stars for me too. Super setting is what I've been doing too - and it's some damn hard work. I find sometimes my heart has some trouble keeping up with the muscles - easy to get the wobblies or dizzies when I push too hard and fast. anyways, if you figure it out - would be interested to hear.

03-18-2009, 09:36 PM	#5
lost! Offline Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 1,076	I wobble all the time when I'm weight training. I think it's a good sign, because it means you are exerting yourself and your muscles are struggling - but these means they can grow stronger. If you start wavering so much that you think it's a hazard and that you might injure yourself, maybe take more time off between sets.

03-18-2009, 10:14 PM	#6
COtuner Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Gender: Female Posts: 4,102	I work out 4-5 days a week and keep changing up my routine every month as my trainer assigns. Alternating cardio and resistance, days off in between varies depending on intensity of workout. Sometimes it's every 3rd day, sometimes every 4th day. Sunny - I warm up on a stationary bike beforehand (10 minutes at around 85-90 rpms average, light resistance setting), I'm hydrated, fed, and don't need to stretch too much due to working out midday during a break from the office. I'm pretty limber by 2pm. (trainer signed off on this) On a nutriton plan that's about as pure as you can get - my doctor can find no deficiencies or fault other than a natural iron deficiency that rears its head at least once a year. Maybe that's part of it... but it's still weird that it's only for those 45 pushups that it happens. As for bench hopping.... it's what I call it. Stepping up on the bench and down the other side, leaving the first foot planted, then changing. Doing this rapidly to boost the cardio rate before jumping back to the dumbbell row. Maybe I am pushing on the foot rests during the cable row... that's a good idea to look into, VTR. I just increased the resistance by 5 pounds and switched to the wide grip handle, which is really causing me to struggle by the 13th rep. Second set I'm tiring by 10 and 3rd set by 8 so maybe I am using my legs unconsciously to offset the added weight. I'll try knocking off 2.5 pounds on Friday and see if that makes any difference. Thanks!

03-18-2009, 10:45 PM	#7
shikashika Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Gender: Female Age: 32 Posts: 5,299	I do a lot of weight training as well and am well aware of the 'wobbling' after weight training. Do you drink a whey protein drink after your weights workout? That really helps to stabalise me. I ALWAYS have some protein after a weights workout.. VERY important. I usually do a cardio workout.. try and do some high intensity workout in the morning.. and then do the weights in the PM after work. I think if you want to get some gains, then you need to separate your workouts. SOMETIMES I do a swim after my weights workout, as there is a pool at the gym I go to, but I still make sure I have a protein drink after my weights, before i swim. I find that when I feel light headed or sick after a workout, it's usually because of not eating the right thing at the right time.

03-18-2009, 10:59 PM	#8
catfeeder Offline Platinum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Northern New Jersey Gender: Female Posts: 2,560	Sounds a though your legs take on most stress and need more recovery time. This may sound counter-intuitive, but going lighter on the upper body could help this--it's about the spine and central nervous system. For instance, if you damage your neck area you may never know the problem is the neck without an MRI. So when your body speaks a caution, just pull back and reintroduce elements of your routine slowly enough to get feedback.