Good Morning!

Not sure where this question should be posted but this was my best quess. I'm going to give blood at my daughter's school this afternoon. Should I:

(a) Do my evening workout as usual
(b) work out, but no as much
(c) give it a rest for the evening ?

Additionally, do y'all think I should eat any differently. Back when I was in college we were excused from PT if we gave blood, but I'm not sure if this was a reward for giving or as a precautionary measure. I would rather do my evening workout as usual.

Thanks for any input. I don't comment too much on this site because I don't consider myself an expert on anything dealing with fitness, but I enjoy the forums very much. If I have any complaint its that y'all are going to cost me a fortune. I have to wear a suit everyday and this morning I thought my pants were going to fall off. ALTERATIONS ARE GOING TO KILL ME!

Thank for your help in advance.

Good Morning!

Not sure where this question should be posted but this was my best quess. I'm going to give blood at my daughter's school this afternoon. Should I:

(a) Do my evening workout as usual
(b) work out, but no as much
(c) give it a rest for the evening ?

Additionally, do y'all think I should eat any differently. Back when I was in college we were excused from PT if we gave blood, but I'm not sure if this was a reward for giving or as a precautionary measure. I would rather do my evening workout as usual.

Thanks for any input. I don't comment too much on this site because I don't consider myself an expert on anything dealing with fitness, but I enjoy the forums very much. If I have any complaint its that y'all are going to cost me a fortune. I have to wear a suit everyday and this morning I thought my pants were going to fall off. ALTERATIONS ARE GOING TO KILL ME!

Thank for your help in advance.

I have been giving blood since 1988 in five diefferent cities with 3 different groups. A message that they have been consisent on is that they have all strongly recommended not working out for the next 24 hours after donating. Be sure to drink lots of non-alcoholic beverage afterwards.

When someone donates blood as you are planning, one has removed approximately between 5 - 10% of blood volume. This is past the volume that is known to affect athletic performance if this change had occurred through dehydration.

Do the donation to make your daughter proud and give your body a week to rebuild the blood but importantly take the next 24 hours off.

Dietitian/former Physician Assistant student

Total blood volume is reduced for only a short period of time, as the volume of plasma expands rapidly to compensate. Your red cell volume is slower to return to normal, as the cells need to be mobilised/manufactured from/in your bone marrow. That's the reason you are only supposed to donate 3-4 times per year.

You will not be in tip-top shape. Think of it as having an illness. You wouldn't think of exercising when sick (if you would, tisk tisk), so why exercise when your body is taxed in other ways?

Andrew.