I read a small snippet in a recent issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine about nose bleeds being considered a badge of honor for powerlifters. Apparently, when a powerlifter lifts some extremely heavy weight, the pressure caused from lifting it often causes nose bleeds. These nose bleeds are considered to be a job well done among powerlifters. Essentially, it means that the powerlifter can handle the massive pressure of the lifts and has excellent muscle control.
photo credit: highstrungloner
I have heard of grueling workouts before that have made people vomit afterwards. Puking is also another physical response to what some consider an awesome workout. I've watched weight loss shows on television where the trainers push people to keep going. Often the person is physically exhausted and complains that they can't breathe or even take another step. Yet, the trainers are still yelling to keep going.
I'm sure most of that drama is for ratings, however, it still leaves the impression that pushing yourself to pain beyond what you can handle or to physical symptoms like vomiting is a good thing. I'm sure there are many sports or exercises that have their own badges of honor.
Do you feel that pushing yourself beyond what's considered average to the point of physical pain or bodily responses such as vomiting and nose bleeds to be a good thing? Or is it okay as long as it is considered a "normal occurrence" in a particular sport or exercise routine?
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Yikes, this reminds me of all those ads years ago that told you to go for the burn, and then they turned around and said it was really harmful. Pushing yourself too hard has to be as damaging as not doing enough…
I have to agree doin to much is just as harmful as not doin enougj.
I always get crazy fatigued when I try to push myself too hard, and then I fall off my training regime – not good!
I remember being pushed to that breaking point back in college training. Nothing good comes out reaching the stage of vomiting during a workout.
It’s good to push yourself but not too hard. More often than not, people end up doing more damage than good.
I’ve read about throwing up, but never about the nose bleeds. I believe it’s important to push yourself as much as you can in every workout. But if your body reacts by vomiting or bleeding, it’s most likely telling you it’s had enough. I don’t know about anybody else, but when I vomit, I lay down and rest. I don’t exercise.
I could see, during the heat of competition, a power-lifter’s nose bleeding. But not during regular training. That would probably mean a lack of sensible progression.
As far as anyone vomiting during a workout, that is plain and simply an indicator that you’re trying to do a workout that you are not fit enough for, or you have a poor diet and did not plan your eating around your training. Unless you’ve ingested something you shouldn’t have, is vomiting ever a desired thing? I know for me it’s not, and I would never use that as an indicator of how good my workout was.
I can attest to this. Growing up as a ski racer our coach would constantly make us work out until we puked…. you almost weren’t able to be done with the routine until you puked. If you hadn’t puked it is almost as if you hadn’t tried hard enough.
Puking, nose bleeds, soreness, fatigue should not be the end goal, nor are they to powerlifters. The end goal is improving performance. If one of the above happens to be a result of your training and one is progressing then so be it. Managing CNS fatigue is extremely important, but so is hard work. Most people are either too focused on managing fatigue or too focused on getting fatigued depending on how we think. The reality is we need to focus on results not feelings. Sometimes we will puke, get nose bleeds, get sore, be fatigued, but these are never the goal or at least should not be the goal. Anyone can make you puke, how many trainers can help you get you the results you want?
Playing basketball most of my life, I can say that when we pissed off coach he would line everybody on the base line, and roll the basketball, he would say “don’t let the ball beat you past half court” needless to say everybody looked like thy just fought a UFC match.But it taught me to push myself, even now when work out I get so jacked that I have thrown up, so I can relate.
As a health and wellness professional, I can tell you the goal is always to produce results that the clients are happy with and will consistantly continue on their own. Making people puke or bleed is not a desired outcome for either of us. However, like anything thing else there are extremes. Powerlifters, professional athletes and yes tv shows are extremes. Not the hoped for norm.
When I was younger I used to work out at a gym owned by a former Olympic Lifter and he had a bucket next to the squat rack that had a sign on it that read ‘Puke Pail’. Needless to say I ended up leaving the facility. You don’t need to lift until your nose bleeds or you puke. You merely need to work hard and focus on your fitness goals. Power lifters are extreme weight lifters and there are many things they do in the weight room and outside that I would not consider healthy.
I agree with the article from a runner’s point of view. During my interval workouts I often vomit. This seems to get me used to that feeling, which of course comes during a race. It also seems to train my body to hold back the sensation to do so for a longer time.
My trainer pushed me hard, worked out yesterday on biceps and leg presses that at the end of it after shower,had a nose bleeding.I have been exercising and would puke at times but had never had nose bleeding .this prompted me to find out if this was in order.Now from your commends i get to see that it is a sign of extreme.