How donating blood affects performance

[doczessop]

Hi All

As a blood donor I am interested in people's experiences with exercise and performance post donation. I am in the field and should know better but did a strenuous workout after two days. Bonked on second climb and had to cut short.

The issue is that as potential recipients of said blood we really need to donate. So just wanted to gauge other hubbers experiences.

[Pieter1]

I'm usually fine. I dont do any activity on the day tho but never felt is while riding or runing the next day.

[dirtypot]

I try to donate when I can, but if I've got a race coming up or even a long training ride then I'll give it a miss - makes me feel like a noob if I try and cycle after giving blood    No power.

[Pulse]

I only donate in thr 1st half of the year, my major events are from Sept onwards, and stop donating about 2 months before that

[JJ]

I dont donate as much as I should, Im usually denied due to low blood pressure, but I did manage to donate last year and after that I was nowhere on the bike, performance wise for atleast 2 weeks. It was a spur of the moment decision to go donate. Maybe not the best idea to donate if you are in a big training block.

[Wannabe]

Do a thread / topic search.

This was extensively discussed earlier in the year.

[Pure Savage]

I get owned for close to 3/4 weeks.

[doczessop]

Thanks will try again. Tried but couldn't pick it up

[Wannabe]

Also a donor.

I do not donate after a strenious training session or race, or for at least three weeks before the next race, otherwise I'm "pap"

[doczessop]

Okay just picked up about five threads in the last five yrs discussing this exact thing. Maybe I am still feeling the effects of my donation!

[s14phoenix]

I have donated blood to many rocks, trees, sandy corners etc... my ego suffers a bit afterwards but that's all...

 

Not actually tried willingly donating blood and tried to see effects after.

[DJR]

We're not talking about donating to yourself here, are we?    

[droo]

We're not talking about donating to yourself here, are we?    

 

I was gonna say, apparently it helps if you put it back after a few weeks...

[Frosty]

I can't say that I've noticed any change in performance (up or down) - I usually won't donate inside of 2 weeks before an important race.

[doczessop]

Of course in this case it will be better to receive than to give????

Sorry that was almost a ball up

[Dexter-morgan]

I definitely effects me for about 5 days after, I feel weak compared to fresh, donating my 100th unit tonight.