Hey. I just re-started CAD 1/1/04. and started back in the gym yesterday. I had not been in the gym for the whole month of december. Since being back in, with the seriously reduced carb intake, i'm feeling a bit weak. Definitely not at strong and not as pumped. I'm a runner and weightlifter. Any suggestions?

Thx

Gia...

Yes, this is rough. It may take you a little bit of time for your body to adjust, but the weak feeling should dissipate with time. Your body is adjusting to getting it's fuel from fat, rather than glycogen.

Jen
175/132/120

Thanks for the info. I guess I just have to stick it out. And that's the best part anyway- Forget the Special K, I would not mind using my thighs and stomach as fuel for my running!

Gia...

Gia - definitely stick it out - you'll feel great soon!

Ya know what totally cracks me up? Those Special K TV adds that say if you replace two meals a day with a bowl of Special K then eat a sensible dinner for two weeks, you'll lose 6 pounds. Well, of course you will, considering that each bowl with milk is about 100 calories - so you're STARVING all the time! How long do you think you could keep that up? Not me - I hate to be hungry!

Jen
175/132/120

Jestey--- LOL OMG. I am always yelling at the TV when that comes on! That's exactly what I say: "OF COURSE YOUR GONNA LOSE WEIGHT! YOUR EATING FREAKING CEREAL FOR 2 OF YOUR MEALS!!!!! Yea, if you wanna live like that for the rest of your life, then by all means, but yea, i'd like to see that last...." That stupid commercial gets me so mad! LOL

Anyway, I'm also posting again b/c of the excerise weakness again. I worked out 3 times this week, the first time was when I posted this thread, then the second time was much better. But today---whoa---
I did my routine, and it was really really hard! Like, this is my normal routine (30 min run, 40 min circuit--abs, arms, legs) and I normally kick a$$ and take names and leave that gym feeling like a supermodel/action hero! But today, it was truly painful. I just had such low energy. I mean at one point, I couldn't even unscrew the saftey on one of the machines! Wondering if anyone has come up with something for this? Certain vitamins, or a way of eating the night b4 going to the gym, something? Any advice would really be appreciated! I LOVE working out!!! It is truly therapeutic, not just for my body , but for my mind and my soul. But working out feeling the way I did today (today was def the worst) is not fun.

Gia...


159/153/130...120?

Gia, I had the same problem in the beginning. I guess I must have adjusted, cuz it's gotten better. In fact, Protein Power says to not eat anything before muscle work and then eat protein afterward to up the Human Growth Hormone stimulation. So that's what I do.

I like the fact that we LCers can exercise HALF the amount than HCers to get weight LOSS benefit. Have you read any books on weight training and aerobics? I just kinda do what feels right. (of course those books were probably written for carb loaders)

LOL about the commercials. I pi$$ and moan at them ALLLLLL the time. It is really funny. I swear at the TV, tell them they are full of $hi* , and mutter, "unbelievable" under my breath and walk off shaking my head. It's pretty funny to watch. It gives DH a chuckle.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

Hi Barb, yes, I do actually have a lot of books on fitness, weight training for women, etc. I was thinking about what you said while running yesterday --us low-carbers can work out 1/2 the time and still lose. And, the thing is, for me, of course losing is great but i LOVE working out! When i don't have my 70 minute gym endurance I don't feel good about my work out. So i'm hoping that my body continues to adjust like yours did. I will also try to look into more vitamins--I'm thinking maybe atkins has something good...

Gia...


159/153/130...120?

Gia,
How many calories are you consuming per day? You may feel weak from lack of fuel. I would up your calorie intake a bit with some higher fat foods. Plus make sure you are getting the right amount of protein. If you would like a general idea of the amount an active person needs of protein here is a good website to calculate it.
Calculate

HTH

Jen

Atkins since 11/11/03

5'3" 140/131/115

I really should get a better signature...

Jen, thank you. I am definitely gonna use that link and calculate. And now that u mention it, I guess it is a possibility that I'm not eating enuff calories. I am telling you--I forgot what its liek to do CAD (and do it w/o cheating)--I sometimes have to FORCE myself to eat b/c my appetite diminishes so much. My big caloric meal is of course my RM and I'm thinking that's gotta be pretty hight. but for the rest of the day, I don't eat too much. HOw many calories do u think one should be eating?
As a guess, I'd think 1200? I have to say when it comes to being schooled about calories, I have no concept of of what's right

Gia...


159/153/130...120?

Jen, It said my recommended blocks are 12, which is 90 grams of protein. I take it this is pertaining to the zone diet. Can you explain what this means?

Also, my body fat % is 33 which I figured it was about that. I have the body type ( i foget the name) but that kind that has a high amount of muscle and easily built muscle but a high amount of body fat that is hard to get off. It recommended that I should be at 125lbs and said that right now 50lbs of me is all fat!! AHHHH. scary!

If anyone else read this, even tho its a bit-- informative in a scary way-- i do recommend that link to calculate this stuff. It's pretty great.

Gia...


159/153/130...120?

Hey, Gia - are you still having weakness problems? I got to thinking, and I did have a very similar issue last summer when I first started LCing, but I guess I didn't make the connection to the WOE because my problem happened in August, two months after I started LC. Anyway, here's what happened. I dor a major charity bike ride each summer - I do the one day course, which is between 85 and 95 miles, and I usually keep my average speed at about 15.7. Last year was my third ride so I wasn;t a total neophyte. Anyhow, I barely finished - I had sharp pains in my belly, I couldn't eat and my legs felt like rubber! I thought I had the flue. The the next weekend, I did (attempted) a 50 mile ride and bonked at mile 32 (seeing spots, on the verge of barfing, you get the picture). Again, I thought I had the flue, because I routinely ride 30-50 miles at a crack.

But, ever since then, no problems. I think I just had to retain my body. Do you exercise in the morning or at night?

Jen
175/129/120

Wow, I know how you feel! I actually JUST this second, came back from the gym and it was really really really hard. I ended up doing 40 minutes overall compared to my 70. I ran for 10 compared to my 30. And let me tell you--my legs are throbbing. I was dying during those 10 minutes. Then I did some of my circuit (abs, legs, and arms) and was dying during all of that too. I came upstairs and it took all i had to get my clothes off and get in the shower. I have to leave for work soon, but i am resting right now b/c i am EXHAUSTED. I definitely have to do something about this b/c this is not working. But I refuse to give up locarb and i refuse to give up my workouts and LOVING my workouts! I have to find the connection somehow. I did get to thinking , the one day that I had a pretty good workout, I had eaten eggs b4 the gym. I usually work out on an empty stomach- 1-b/c that's what most books/trainers recommend 2-b/c if i do eat, i have to wait a few hours b/c i will feel sick during my workout if i just ate. But maybe when lo-carbing its important to have something in your stomach. I would think that the carbo rich RM from teh night b4 would be enuff but it doesn't seem to be. I am definiatley pretty upset about this. but i am determined to figure it all out! In answer to your question, Right now I just graduated college and work in the afternoons/nights so im working out like late morning/early afternoon. Once I start a 9-5 , it will have to be at nite.

Gia...


159/153/130...120?

Gia - sounds like a plan. The only time I work out on an empty stomach is first thing in the morning, right after I wake up (I am a morning person, LOL!). In biking season, when I ride in the evenings, I usually have a snack (maybe nuts, or lc granola, or something like that) about 1/2 hour 45 minutes before I hit the road. Also, I found that if my ride was going to be longer than an hour and half (unless first thing in the morning), I needed to eat a sanck during the ride, as well.

Jen
175/129/120

GIA!!!!! you can't survive on 1200 calories especially not with 70 minute hard-core work outs. The average woman at 150 pounds who is excercising between 30 and 50 minutes per day needs approximately 1900 calories to sustain health of organs and muscles. So thinks about it this way... adjust your caloric intake based on yourself.. if you weight more, or workout more, your body needs more calories. I wouldn't suggest going about 2300 calories per day, but think about it.... healthy is what you are looking for so find a balance that works for you!

MeganRose LC WOL since 2 JAN 2004
(fell of the wagon for a few days but I'm back!)
240/225/145
80 lbs to go!
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" -Confucious

"The dawn of a new day must only come after the ending of the final setting sun the night before."

Meganrose - good job picking that one up! She's right Gia - no wonder you have been feeling so crappy. With your level of burn you have got to eat more!

Jen
175/129/120