Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Losing weight, but had a problem

I started a ride saturday at 268 pounds, I haven't weighed that since, well, maybe High school. Just a month ago I started a similar ride at 282 pounds.

Anyway things were going good, about 50 miles in most of the slow pokes had pealed off and it was just three of us climbing up to the end. I was out ahead and climbing the last long hill, about 1.5 miles at around 5-6% so not that steep but kinda long. That used to be the kind of hill that killed me, several years ago I would have been gasping for air and weaving to try to make up.

about half way up the other guys were closing in so I hit the gas and felt a twinge in my right calve. I kept pedaling and had a short painful muscle cramp. I immediatly dropped to my lowest gears and the cramp subsided but threatend to return if I ever tried to push.

I limped the last 4 miles to the car pedaling very easily but felt the cramp almost happen with every rotation. Once back to the car I felt completely exhausted, much more so then usual. A short time after the ride I started getting a headache above my left eye that lingered all day. A while later I was laying the floor then got up and had the strongest vertigo I'd ever experienced. My vision went purple and hazed, I had to grab the door frame to keep from falling, and my jaw litterly fell slack. Had vertigo a few times since then but nothing as strong.

If dehydration comes to mind as a cause for these symptoms I drank about 100 oz of water and about 40 oz of gatorade over six hours. (we stopped alot) It was hot, and I did sweat alot, but I felt like I drank my normal amount.

I had a glass of orange juice and a Protein shake for breakfast, ate a power bar, a granol bar and about three little boxes of raisins on the ride.

I'm taking phentermine to loose weight and it seems to kill my appetite really well, maybe to well?

Anyone got any ideas what I should do differently next time?

What is phentermine? Is this something the doctor perscribed to you? When i ride really really hard, it seems like mt calf muscles cramp up no matter what. I haven't had any other problems though. I wish i could do something to get rid of that cramping, i'll stop and stretch multiple times.

Isn't that the stuff that messes with your heart???

I'd ask a doc..................

I have done, dehydration, hypthermia, drank till I couldn't find my own face, been run over by a semi,, nothin like what yall had...............

Phentermine is an appetite supprecent, I guess its kinda like speed. Doctor prescribed. I posted about it awhile back.

I've been road bike riding on and off for 15 years and never had a problem with cramps, maybe I haven't been trying hard enough...

Isn't that the stuff that messes with your heart???
You're thinking of Fen-Phen drug cocktails, which were never approved by the FDA as a combo. The combination of Fenfluramine and Phentermine was prescribed by doctors, because once the FDA approves a drug, prescribing it in proper combination is the responsibility of the doctors and pharmacists. (And they were all over they money they could make with the combo, so never looked into contraindications and other such "trivialities".)

Have you tried something as simple as making sure you're getting enough Potassium? I know that when I'm cramping up, eating a banana or two really helps out.

Have you tried something as simple as making sure you're getting enough Potassium? I know that when I'm cramping up, eating a banana or two really helps out.

Oranges work well, too.

Cramping could be dehydration easily, but it could also be because of the lack of proper vitamins & minerals. Replacement of water before and during activity is always needed, and you may have lost a lot of electrolytes (sp?). Your fluid levels sound good for the time frame for what I would drink during a non-workout time frame for water. I don't use sports drinks unless I am working out hard for long periods of time and sweating a lot. Which it sounds like you were, so it was a good thing to drink.

Is there any chance your blood sugar was way off and that was causing your cramping and dizzy feelings? I am not a diabetic, but others that are, have told me of similar experiences when there blood sugar is all messed up.

Usually with cramping for me, nothing fixes it immediately. It usually means that I had not been eating and drinking properly the days before and it comes back to get me. If I am going to do a long/hard workout and I know it in advance, I will push more fluids the day before, and I will eat a larger number of fruits and vegetables the day or days leading up to it. If I don't, I will usually get tired quicker and I can really feel it. Eating a banana before hand was something I used to do, now I don't do that except the day before and if I am planning on eating during a long or hard work out, I would have one then also, but it will not help me with cramping immediately.

over six hours. (we stopped alot)

I had a glass of orange juice and a Protein shake for breakfast, ate a power bar, a granol bar and about three little boxes of raisins on the ride.





To me that really doesn't seem like enought nurisment for a 6 hour ride. Remember you have to feel the machine. Even though you want to loose weight your body can't run entirely off of fat stores. You might not be eating enough and your body might be lacking vitamins and mineral from lack of proper nurishment. You don't want to starve a hard working body. Loosing weight that fast isn't all the healthy to begin with. So don't be afraid to eat more especially when you are burning off 1000's of calories on a 6 hour ride.

I tend to agree that your are "shorting the machine for fuel". Perhaps a multivitamin, add some potassium and calcium to the diet as well.

Anyone got any ideas what I should do differently next time?

Yeah -- go see a doctor instead of asking for advice on the internet.

First go see your Dr. definitely not a normal reaction.

That said - most likely dehydration/electrolyte issue. Make sure you are getting enough Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium in your diet. Also looks like your weight is dropping fast are you on any kind of Blood Pressure meds ? If so it might be time for an adjustment of your BP meds. FWIW I've been through all of the things listed above all had pretty freaky side effects.

Shog