I don't remember if this happened to me last time (though my wife says it did), but I really have been feeling tired and weak over the past 2 weeks. The difference is dramatic. I certainly was not like this well into the LCE as my way of life (several months after induction). I have been incredibly fatigued and my muscles, especially my arms and shoulders, get tired from the smallest exertion. For instance, just combing my hair makes my shoulders feel like I've just been lifting weights.

I'm hopeful that his is just a sign that my body is moving back into the mode of getting energy from my fat stores rather than the quick and easy blood sugars it had access to for the previous 3 or 4 months.

Any words of wisdom?

Thanks.

Ken

Hi Ken - My thoughts are you should always check with doctor and make sure all is well. I quickly added a multivitamin and a few other things when I felt weak. My potassium levels were a bit lower than they should have been and in the past I would have eaten banana but didn't want to have the blood sugar rise so I did it in other ways. I put all my food and now supplements I take into Fitday (free site) and it tells you how much of this and that you are getting. I was low in my potassium intake so when I corrected that I started to feel better fast.
Generally my energy and strength has stayed pretty good with maybe a day here or there not feeling as wonderful!
Best wishes and good health.

I'd get a checkup if I had tiredness and weakness lasting 2 weeks, Ken.

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ken-if someone goes from a very high level of carbs to tightly controlling them, it's common for them to feel crummy for about a week. we call it the "induction flu" sometimes, because it's similar.

it's not common for that to last much over a week, however. and i've never heard someone describe it two weeks in of having issues to the point that small tasks like combing their hair is difficult.

i would definitely make sure i was taking plenty of vitiamins and consider a doctor's visit in your future if it doesn't let up very soon, because it's not something i'd anticipate as a normal adjustment period to low carbing.

let us know how things go, ken!

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When you start LCE you can lose a lot of water, and that water can contain sodium, potassium and other electrolites. According to Michael Eades M.D. in his book Protein Power (page 183 in my copy), if your potassium levels fall too low you can get problems like fatigue, weakness & muscle cramps. Perhaps this is what you are experiencing? Please note I am not a doctor, so I am not trying to diagnose you in any way.

Funnily enough I too am experiencing fatigue in my limbs this week and am wondering the same thing myself - if perhaps my own potassium levels are depleted. I went into a pharmacy today and asked about potassium supplements and was given a stern talking to by the pharmacist. She said that taking potassium supplements could be dangerous (which is why they didn't sell them) and that you should only take them in consultation with a doctor.

Bananas contain a lot of potassium, but they also contain lots of carbs. You can buy (over here at least) something called Lo Salt (a replacement for normal eating salt), which is low in sodium but rich in potassium. I got some of that today. Hope it does the trick...

Avocados are also very high in potassium, and are a good lc fruit.

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Thanks folks. Yeah, it is kinda weird. I'm taking Nu Salt 3 times a day, and eating some Emerald Almonds (lo carb and high in fiber and potassium) and strawberries too. Has anyone got any data on whether using salts to supplement for electrolytes is sufficient to supply what is needed?

Ken

My two cents. I am tired alot lately, and I am on day 40. It comes and goes from time to time. I could have a huge burst of energy and then feel exhausted afterward.
But, nothing to the extreme of what you are talking about. Go see doc.

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I just keep rowing toward shore....

I am pretty sure I sussed the reason for the tiredness. It is one or a combination of three things: poor sleep (nothing to do with LCE-I have apnea), induction flu, and dehydration.

I say "induction flu" because the biggest part of the problem seems to have abated. This is either because of the extra water or the passage of enough time, or both. I took a look at how much water I was taking in daily and was surprised that it was as little as it was. I bumped it up to about 100 oz per day and that seems to be enough.

It's actually amazing how much water I have to drink. Last summer I was drinking a LOT of water at a few of my camping events (where I get quite a bit of exercise). At one of them I drank 2 gallons of water in a 24 hour period and was still very dehydrated (based on nature's "color" litmus). I just REALLY have to be very disciplined about it.

Speaking of which...time for another 13-ounce glass...my 4th today so far.

Ken