Blacking out setting up for squat (need help)

Torobestia

Torobestia

Well-known member
I've experienced a very strange feeling/situation a few times already. When I set up for the squat, I like to have the bar somewhere in the vicinity of my nipples so that when I rack the weight I don't have to tiptoe or anything. So what I normally do when I set up is I place my hands where I want them on the bar, dip under while pulling (contracting the shoulder blades), and then rising up to place the bar where I want it on my traps while working on packing the upper back. The last few workouts I've done squats, at least once I've actually experienced a total black out when the bar meets my traps. It's a complete black out, as in I completely disconnect with time and years could pass and I wouldn't notice it when I come back to reality. When I "come back" I'm also really light headed and my vision seems "enhanced." Any idea what is happening?
 
Torobestia said:
I've experienced a very strange feeling/situation a few times already. When I set up for the squat, I like to have the bar somewhere in the vicinity of my nipples so that when I rack the weight I don't have to tiptoe or anything. So what I normally do when I set up is I place my hands where I want them on the bar, dip under while pulling (contracting the shoulder blades), and then rising up to place the bar where I want it on my traps while working on packing the upper back. The last few workouts I've done squats, at least once I've actually experienced a total black out when the bar meets my traps. It's a complete black out, as in I completely disconnect with time and years could pass and I wouldn't notice it when I come back to reality. When I "come back" I'm also really light headed and my vision seems "enhanced." Any idea what is happening?
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I'm no doctor but Ik towards the center of your neck you have a spot if you hit it you have a good chance of passing out. However the 'enhanced' vision may be from your body tensing up super tight and releasing allowing blood flow to circulate better through your eyes? Lol just my two cents. Good luck bro!
 
Sounds like some sort of ischemia at the brain. Same thing when you stand up quicly and your vessels do not constrict fast enough and you get light headed (or pass out if you have a vasovagal syndrome).

Br
 
If it continues, alternatives could be Front Squats or single leg squats (rear leg elevated is my preference) loaded with DBs. Not much help with your diagnosis but I certainly wouldn't want to continue squatting with what you described but I also wouldn't want to give up the benefits of squatting. Best of luck, regardless.
 
It happens to me too sometimes, but for me it's normal
I've had that for years, I feel it coming now, I learned,
I stand still (bb on the traps) and wait it to go away before doing the first rep
At least for me I think it's a combo of fasted training/blood pressure/low blood sugar levels
like I said, I'm used. Same when I do deadlift or when overloading some back exercise
like t-bar BB rows or one arm DB rows
 
I have experienced that enhanced vision, its derealization from anxiety for me but I havent had blackouts, I get lightheaded sometimes and I think its cause I dont have enough sodium in my diet for the amount of water I drink, I have recently increased my sodium intake and gonna see how it goes, we need sodium to regulate blood pressure.
 
Woah, thanks a lot for the responses, guys. I didn't get any notifications that people had posted here until today.

I think you all are on to something regarding blood pressure. I know my resting bp is very stable going towards low (110/50 [or was it 55?]), and while I don't train fasted per se I usually don't eat 4 hours preWO, and I graze so that means I am headed towards empty. Also, the squat is the very last movement in my routine. So these are all things that may be doing something. But it's odd to me because it's only the squat. Also, when it comes, I obviously don't unrack the bar and wait it out, then I unrack and do the set.

Lastly, I haven't tried using a pad since I have pretty thick traps.
 
AutoKal47 said:
It happens to me too sometimes, but for me it's normal
I've had that for years, I feel it coming now, I learned,
I stand still (bb on the traps) and wait it to go away before doing the first rep
At least for me I think it's a combo of fasted training/blood pressure/low blood sugar levels
like I said, I'm used. Same when I do deadlift or when overloading some back exercise
like t-bar BB rows or one arm DB rows
Click to expand...

Quit trying be so lean and eat up them carbs haha
 
AaronJP1 said:
Quit trying be so lean and eat up them carbs haha
Click to expand...

I'll stick to passing out i think lol
actually it happened to me today on my heaviest set of
BD flys, the crazy part is now that I'm so used to it I don't
freak out anymore but the fear of dropping the weights on
your own face actually gives you a nice kick of adrenaline
to smash your last set ;)

lol if it wasn't slightly life threatening
I could turn this into a protocol..
 
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