Exercise Induced Vomiting: Causes, Consequences & Prevention

A lot of us have been there. And if you haven’t, consider yourself lucky. Throwing up after working out too hard is anything but fun. 

It usually happens when you go in, guns blazing, way too hot and heavy. If you’re looking for longevity and performance gains rather than a rapid-fire sprint that’ll bench you for days, then vomiting during exercise is something you want to avoid. 

Mental Toughness?

Some look at throwing up after working out too hard as a sign of mental toughness… but mental toughness isn’t necessarily the goal for everyone. 

Nick Norris, co-founder of Protekt, looks back on his high school wrestling days. “It’s great to create mental toughness,” he says. “And I think I gained a lot from that as a wrestler in high school, because it galvanized some mental toughness in me that I could always tap back into. I knew that I was capable of dealing with really uncomfortable situations. But if you're looking at pure performance gains, exercise induced vomiting shouldn't be your goal.”

The older you get, the more detrimental it’s going to be to puke during or after your workout. The reason is because consistency is key - working out every day gets you those gains you’re shooting for. And when you toss your cookies during a workout, it’s gonna cost you - and you’ll pay the price in the form of the days you’ll need to recover. 

Pushing Yourself To A Fault

Of course, pushing yourself during exercise is good and we encourage it. But you have to know when to stop. How to create a fitness plan is not about running your body ragged every time you work out. 

“It's actually a surefire way to end up very damaged. It could take years off your athletic capability if you don't build up to doing something huge,” Tim Duba, co-founder of Protekt, says. “The long term effects could be devastating. You might never run again.” 

There are outliers that exist who can push their body to crazy limits - but they come few and far between. 

“There are people who can do crazy things at the drop of a hat. But for the average person, if you're going to stick with anything, we prescribe simple, effective routines. Find a time to work out that works for you, stick to a diet that you can manage, and keep a healthy bedtime routine. 

Those are all things that will affect how you feel. That's the reason we started Protekt - to keep you in an optimal state to perform your best.”

Hydration

Hydration plays a key role in avoiding exercise induced vomiting. If you wait to eat until after you’ve worked out, or allow a chunk of time to pass after your last meal, and make sure you’ve got enough water in your system, it’ll benefit you. 

A great way to make sure that you’re adequately hydrated enough to enjoy your workout is with Protekt’s Liquid Hydration Supplement. All you have to do is add it to 16oz of water, and it’ll help you retain all the hydration that you need to succeed.

This electrolyte supplement paired with a balanced diet, good sleep, and knowing your limits will help you on your journey on how to stop feeling nauseous after working out. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Protekt products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.