I feel queasy when I do a HIIT workout – what’s going on?
Exercise-induced nausea can occur during or after exercise and can be caused by overexertion or even what you ate before your session. ‘When you exercise, there’s a shifting of blood flow away from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and towards the working muscles,’ says dietitian Helen Bond. ‘Then, when the GI tract and stomach are deprived of blood, digestion slows dramatically, which may make you feel sick.’ Some studies have demonstrated that runners have more trouble with upper GI symptoms than cyclists, which means, depending on your workout, it could also be travel sickness (yes, really). Inhaled a shake just before starting to stretch?
‘If your stomach contents are jostled around, you may not feel so great,’ says Bond. Your body can only use food it’s already digested just before you exercise. Foods high in fibre, fat or protein take longer to digest, so should be eaten long before your workout begins – especially if you’ll be running. ‘Have a small snack like a banana or a yoghurt no later than 30 minutes before you start,’ says PT Matt Roberts. And try to keep it down.