Donating Blood on Wednesday
 

Next week I'm donating blood for the first time. What should my workout look like for the days leading up to and after?

Up to, no change. Afterward, take it easy for a few days, drinking plenty of fluids and eating sources of food that will assist in rebuilding red blood cells (or, just simply eat a normal healthy diet).

I give blood all the time (yesterday as a matter of fact) and it's not a big deal at all. Take it easy for a couple days afterward, ride if you feel like it, but don't worry about training. Your blood may take a couple weeks to be back to normal, but most likely you'll feel pretty normal after 5-6 days. Above all else, listen to your body.

The only caveat is if you're racing during this period. If so, expect to be a little slower even if you feel fine.

Just remember, if you go back and ask for your blood back just to be faster, that's cheating. :)

Az

Leading up to? No change needed. After: plan to feel fatigued for at least a week or so following...I always feel like I've gained about 30 pounds, very sluggish relative to the effort I'm putting out. Cut your expectations way back. I would avoid riding at all within the first 24 hours, and only moderately for the next few days. I would avoid the heat if that's an issue. Drink *plenty* of fluids, regardless. If you have a race or hard ride planned within 2 weeks or so following the donation, I'd consider changing the donation until after the event.

No change to training before giving blood. Day of, drink plenty of fluids and eat a good meal. Treat the day after as a recovery day. Take an easy ride if you choose. Depending on your level of fitness, you should be back to normal within a day or so.

Not sure how the blood donations work but I donate plasma 2 times every week and I ride to and from the appointments. If it is real hot out and I don't drink enough I may get a little light headed but other than that no reprecussions from it. Plus I get paid for this. Blood they just take from me.

Man Wednesday evenings are my hard days too! Oh well, rest week! :) :beer:

See if they will hold onto it for you, and in a couple of months, give it back to you right before the last big race of the year, I mean, a "scheduled" medical procedure.;)

Forget mine, I want Floyd's! ;)

My experience is closer to 'nothers than it is Az B's. I'd recommend not riding the day of donating. You'll probably be fine, but until you've donated a time or two and know what to expect, why risk it?

Follow the eating and drinking advice and the next day go just as hard as you freaking can. Let me put it this way... you won't be setting any new max heart rates. ;) For me, it takes about a week before I can really put out again, and a couple of weeks to get back to full steam.

Should I do my monthly TT course just to see what effect it had on me? LOL! :D :D

Two weeks is long...

As others have already stated, change nothing leading up to your donation, and ease off a bit for 1 or 2 days after. A few hours before your donation, drink 1 or 2 glasses of water which should help speed up the time it takes to give the pint of blood.

One caveat -- DO NOT let them talk you into a double red-cell donation.

I'm usually 90%+ in 24 hours.

Try it but have a bailout plan.

Two weeks to be back to 100%. Actually maybe around a week. It varies. I've personally never felt 100% within 24, 48, even 72 hours. I've been giving blood 2-3x a year for about the last 18 years. Your mileage may vary, of course. Listen to your body.

You can replace the plasma losses in about 24 hours if you are well hydrated.

You can't fully replace the lost red blood cells for at elast 2 weeks. Making you marginally slower until then.

That being said, feel free to train after one or two days if you're feeling fine.

Man it wasn't Wednesday, it was today. My 'crit levels were only 42! Darn, no wonder I'm such a lousy endurance athlete. I need to boost that. Iron?

Well, somebody mentioned in another thread that your body produces more EPO after blood donation. So you got that goin' for ya :)

Unless you're iron deficient, taking more won't raise your hematocrit.

Niether will training harder or longer.

Sadly, there isn't that much one can do to raise thier HTC.

There is one thing though, and I'm banking on it right now. My crit was at 38, but 2 weeks ago I moved to altitude, so hopefully I'll be set

No sweat
 

I've given blood before, and they told me to take it easy and don't exercise for 48 hours. I was 20 at the time so of course I dis-regarded and went to a pretty hard Tae Kwon Do class...no visible effect on performance just 4 hours after giving blood. I don't know if it's just me or if they're full of it. I would say test yourself and see what your tolerance is, each person is different.

Man, everything is 10-15bpm higher.