"listen to your body" or "just push through"

I'm 22, 5'6", and 194 lbs. For the past week and a half, I've been tracking calories and working out. I've been eating between 1500 and 1700 Cal/day and using the interval settings on the cardio equipment. According to the machine, I burn an average of 510 Cal/day. Things had been going well until today. I barely got to 231 Cal (under 20 min) on the machine before I decided to quit. I was feeling lightheaded and fatigued. I was literally shaking, and for a few minutes, I didn't think I could walk to my car. Still, I could hear my old high school track coach in my head, yelling, "Keep going! No slacking! No pain, no gain! Push through! Push, push!" I felt terribly pathetic for wimping out like that today, but I was also worried that I was doing something wrong. Is this kind of fatigue normal, or should I change something I'm doing?

Wed. Sep 12, 11:24pm

can you go for a check up? Listen to your body. Why not walk/ or do something you can do but move Don't be all or nothing! Wishing you the best

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 10:26 AM

I'd say fatigue is one thing - often our minds quit on us long before our bodies and it's easy to talk ourselves into quitting vs. pushing through and challenging ourselves. When you start feeling lightheaded and shaky...I'd err on the side of caution if for no other reason I wouldn't want to hurt myself falling off some machine! Sometimes we just have 'those kind of days.' If it's an anomaly then just give yourself a break, no calling yourself pathetic or a wimp, and get back at it tomorrow. If it keeps happening - reevaluate.

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 10:38 AM

Distinguishing between those two things is "developing judgment." Which usually comes with experience. Personally, if I'm shaking and lightheaded I get off the machine before I faint and hurt myself. That's basic intelligence, which you clearly have.

Different days are going to be different. Maybe today you have a little fever that is burning more calories. Maybe you went into it dehydrated. Maybe you need to rest every 7th day to avoid overtraining. Maybe you didn't sleep well the night before. Adjust accordingly -- it's never a recipe that you can follow to the exact calorie every single day.

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 11:04 AM

i have to agree here. i think you were right to listen to your body! i have days when i can fairly easily run 5 miles, and then i have days when for no apparent reason it feels impossible to even run 1. you're allowed to take some time off, especially since you've been doing so well. i also find that i feel better when i alternate methods of exercise, even if it's as simple as running outside one day and doing the elliptical the next. good luck!

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 5:47 PM

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