Not just partying, even a workout can give you a 'hangover'

Thought a hangover was something you experience only after a night of hard partying? Well, think again.Even a particularly tough workout can leave you with a hangover - one where you wake up with a splitting headache, uncontrollable nausea and extreme exhaustion.
The 'fitness hangover' is a real thing, says exercise junkies. The phenomenon is causing them to miss out on work, and other life commitments, besides leaving them dull and listless.
According to a recent American study, 25% of fitness lovers have missed work because of post-workout exhaustion, while 55% have chosen to stay indoors after a particularly harrowing fitness session.Marketing professional, Nidhi Vishwakarma, who has been going to the gym since a year now, says, “My friends who have been working out for quite some time now say that they feel active and fresh afterwards, but in my case, I feel lethargic most of the time.Sometimes my muscle pain is so severe that I have had to go late to office, as even walking hurts. Even though I like exercising and I try to go regularly - at least 4-5 times a week - there seems to be no solution to this issue. Sometimes, I feel a party hangover is better than this, as at least it goes away in some time.”
Resident doctor Ghazi Ahmed says, “It's been three years now that I have been hitting the gym, and on days when I am mentally tired, I feel more nauseated and tired physically as well. No matter how much I sleep or how much nutritious food I eat, if I am mentally not ready to work out, I feel anxious.” Athlete Karishma Tanwani says she faces the issue whenever she's training for a tournament. “That's when I have to go to the gym twice a day and work out for hours at a stretch, which leaves me feeling drained out and literally, hungover. Even though I want to win desperately, the headache and nausea makes me feel horrible.”

Fitness trainer Satish Kumar says that over-training is one big reason why this happens. On days that one feels their body won't be able to handle rigorous training, it's better to do a light workout or even skip the gym."Stress and dehydration are the other two big reasons," he says.
Adding to this, trainer Digvijay Patel says, “In my opinion, people are not able to choose the correct exercise according to their needs, medical condition and age. Many don’t workout under supervision either, which further impacts their health. When doing any physical activity, it is very important to eat a nutritious diet as well, and I have seen people coming in the morning or evening on an empty stomach, which leaves their body with no energy or stamina to do anything. In addition, people start doing high intensity workouts like cross fit without warm-up, and then don't cool down after, which is not good for the body.”

Expert list out the various ways to tackle this hangover:Hydrate: “A fitness hangover occurs when the body is severely dehydrated. And so, the first thing one should do is drink plenty of water. It is recommended to have enough water before, in between and after workout. Apart from this drinking coconut water, mango juice and orange juice can also prove to be beneficial," says physician Madhu Agrawal.
To avoidpost workout nausea, it's important to ensure you eat right before them. Eating Greek yogurt, fish, chicken and wholegrain bread 30 mins prior is advised,” says Madhu.
- Fitness trainer Atul Sharma says, “Apart from eating right, it is important to right too. If you go to the gym early morning, make sure you get at least 6-8 hours of sleep the night before, as that helps reboot the body. The muscles need enough time to relax and adjust. If at all a person doesn’t feel like going, then skipping is best, rather than forcing yourself to, because not going to the gym for a day or two won’t affect your training much.”