WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

How Do You Know You're Working Out Hard Enough In HIIT?

How Do You Know You're Working Out Hard Enough In HIIT?

‘The Workout That Helped Me Lose 3Kgs Of Pure Fat In 4 Weeks’

‘The Workout That Helped Me Lose 3Kgs Of Pure Fat In 4 Weeks’

The Best Type Of Workout To Do If You Want To See Results Fast

The Best Type Of Workout To Do If You Want To See Results Fast

Jessica Alba's Go-To Workout Burns More Calories Than A HIIT Class

Jessica Alba's Go-To Workout Burns More Calories Than A HIIT Class

{headline}

{headline}

This Workout Burns Way More Calories Than Any Other

This Workout Burns Way More Calories Than Any Other

This Is The Best Anti-Ageing Workout, According To Science

This Is The Best Anti-Ageing Workout, According To Science

Can You Really Get Fit In 60 Seconds?

Can You Really Get Fit In 60 Seconds?

{headline}

{headline}

This Workout Keeps Burning Calories For Hours After You're Done

This Workout Keeps Burning Calories For Hours After You're Done

How Many HIIT Workouts Should You Really Be Doing Each Week?

How Many HIIT Workouts Should You Really Be Doing Each Week?

This Aussie Mum Lost 29kg By Following This Fitness Regime

This Aussie Mum Lost 29kg By Following This Fitness Regime

How To Design The Most Effective HIIT Workout

How To Design The Most Effective HIIT Workout

Could A Healthier Gut Be The Key To Greater Gym Gains?

Could A Healthier Gut Be The Key To Greater Gym Gains?

Does Sweating Burn Fat? Here's The Expert Opinion

Does Sweating Burn Fat? Here's The Expert Opinion

This Is The Best Workout To Do If You Hate HIIT And Want To Lose Weight

This Is The Best Workout To Do If You Hate HIIT And Want To Lose Weight

  1. Home
  2. Health

Turns Out Your Favourite Workout Could Be Making You Constipated

We unblock the truth. - by Lucy Bode
  • 24 Apr 2019
Turns Out Your Favourite Workout Could Be Making You Constipated
Getty

Chances are you’ve heard of runner’s trots or at the very least could hazard a guess at what they may entail. Yup, it might not be pleasant but diarrhea is super common among cardio-loving folk. Which is why it may come as a surprise to learn that some forms of exercise can actually cause the opposite tummy trouble (read: constipation).

Of course, it’s dependant on many factors; mainly, how hard you go, the food you’ve eaten and your general gut health. But experts say there’s one workout, in particular, that’s known for blocking things up: high-intensity interval training.

RELATED: This Is The 'Goldilocks Zone' For Optimal Poops Per Week

In an interview with MBG, functional nutrition program instructor Dr Robert Berzin explained that HIIT-related digestive problems are something she sees a lot of. In fact, exercise is a key factor in the timing of our bathroom habits, although it’s surprisingly often overlooked.

“One patient of mine was doing high-intensity interval training almost every day, and it was actually overly stressing her body,” she told the publication. “What we know is that for the gut to move, it has to relax. And when you’re in a state of stress all day, and then you do high-intensity interval training over and over again, sometimes it never gives the gut that time to relax, digest and move.”

In short, HIIT is very intense on the body – something that’s great for building endurance and muscle but not-so-great for keeping us regular.

sweat
Getty

So, what’s a girl to do?

“Incorporate more restorative exercise, more pilates, more yoga and more walking,” Berzin suggested. “We also advised [my patient] to stop doing HIIT workouts so close to when she was eating—this would give her digestive system a chance to do its job well.”

Now, to be clear: if these symptoms don’t apply to you, keep doing what you’re doing. HIIT workouts have many benefits (including boosting the metabolism and keeping your weight loss goals on track.) But if you’ve been smashing out daily classes and feeling pressure in the pipes, it might be worth taking it a little easier from now on.

RELATED: Shift Work Is Messing With Your Digestive Health, Study Says

  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Workout
  • Cardio Workouts
  • Full Body Workouts
  • Gut Health
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is Women Health’s digital editor, social media specialist and the go-to girl for all things holistic wellness. Her background as a journalist and passion for food, fitness and integrative medicine has led her to write for some of Australia’s leading publications over the course of her career.

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

How Do You Know You're Working Out Hard Enough In HIIT?

How Do You Know You're Working Out Hard Enough In HIIT?

‘The Workout That Helped Me Lose 3Kgs Of Pure Fat In 4 Weeks’

‘The Workout That Helped Me Lose 3Kgs Of Pure Fat In 4 Weeks’

The Best Type Of Workout To Do If You Want To See Results Fast

The Best Type Of Workout To Do If You Want To See Results Fast

Jessica Alba's Go-To Workout Burns More Calories Than A HIIT Class

Jessica Alba's Go-To Workout Burns More Calories Than A HIIT Class

{headline}

{headline}

This Workout Burns Way More Calories Than Any Other

This Workout Burns Way More Calories Than Any Other

This Is The Best Anti-Ageing Workout, According To Science

This Is The Best Anti-Ageing Workout, According To Science

Can You Really Get Fit In 60 Seconds?

Can You Really Get Fit In 60 Seconds?

{headline}

{headline}

This Workout Keeps Burning Calories For Hours After You're Done

This Workout Keeps Burning Calories For Hours After You're Done

How Many HIIT Workouts Should You Really Be Doing Each Week?

How Many HIIT Workouts Should You Really Be Doing Each Week?

This Aussie Mum Lost 29kg By Following This Fitness Regime

This Aussie Mum Lost 29kg By Following This Fitness Regime

How To Design The Most Effective HIIT Workout

How To Design The Most Effective HIIT Workout

Could A Healthier Gut Be The Key To Greater Gym Gains?

Could A Healthier Gut Be The Key To Greater Gym Gains?

Does Sweating Burn Fat? Here's The Expert Opinion

Does Sweating Burn Fat? Here's The Expert Opinion

This Is The Best Workout To Do If You Hate HIIT And Want To Lose Weight

This Is The Best Workout To Do If You Hate HIIT And Want To Lose Weight

WomensHealth
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $39

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now