I'm a big believer in giving blood and do so whenever I can (every 3/4months).
Now when you donate they take around 500ml (around 1/8th of your blood). They say not to do intense exercise for 24hrs and the blood will rejuvinate within a few days. But surely with your donation goes lots and lots of red blood cells (that carry oxygen to the muscles) that you've worked so hard to get. These surely cannot redevelop back to the full capacity on their own, and therefore by giving blood you're taking a backwards step in your fitness. Donating blood is almost the reverse process of blood doping - instead of swopping your blood for some fully charged with red cells, you're giving 1/8th of them away! daft for anyone working hard to constantly improve fitness.
Am I right with my theory? and has anyone else felt terrible during training for some weeks after donating? :cane:
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Former Member
A few weeks ago after a meet I went to give blood and they had trouble filling the bag. Knowing that I was going to give I paid attention to staying hydrated several hours beforehand but it must not have been enough. Then the tech kept adjusting the needle and my arm was black and blue for several days. It didn't hurt but it looked horrible. Otherwise i felt fine afterwards. Even though that happened I am going to try to donate on a more regular basis....
A few weeks ago after a meet I went to give blood and they had trouble filling the bag. Knowing that I was going to give I paid attention to staying hydrated several hours beforehand but it must not have been enough. Then the tech kept adjusting the needle and my arm was black and blue for several days. It didn't hurt but it looked horrible. Otherwise i felt fine afterwards. Even though that happened I am going to try to donate on a more regular basis....
