Thread: New to Paleo diet have some ??????

I am new to this style of eating and have been faithful for 3 days thus far--However, I just want to clarify if any others have dealt with these symptoms and how long on average does it last?

1- I am EXTREMELY hungry all the time eating 5-6 times per day
2- I am tired and weak (started yesterday (day2) and today (day 3)
3- Starting to experience lightheadedness

Now Im eating PLENTY and know that it usually takes about 2 weeks for the body to acclemate to a dietary change (especially a major one)--Is is jsut because my body is so used to ALL those carbs in the grains and cereals that I used to eat? I know I wont enter ketosis since Im eating plenty of fruits and veggies all with natural carbs--I also know that the brain only functions with glucose--Is is bacause my brain is having to acclemate to a DIFFERENT kind of carb? (you know less potent?)

I do have a history of diagnosed hypoglycemia--other than that--Im rather healthy--Any thought would be greatly appreciated--

HI, AngelJo, welcome to LCE!

I don't really have much to add to the analysis you've already done.

I think your brain/glucose is fine with the veggies and fruit you're eating, I don't think it makes a difference that you've stopped eating grains and sugar. Maybe somebody else will chime in with another point of view.

The symptoms you're describing sound like what a lot of people experience when they first lower their carb intake. Well, the tiredness, weakness, and lightheadedness do. I'm not so sure about the feelings of hunger. Do you have an estimate of how many carb grams you're eating per day?

I was one of the lucky people who felt instantly much much better on low carb. If what you're experiencing is related to changing to low carb, I would think you would start to feel better after a week.

I'd be interested to hear what plan you're following and the reasons you chose it.

My favorite low-carb system is Protein Power by the Doctors Eades. I really love their book "Protein Power Lifeplan." They are very attuned to the paleo approach to eating - they call it the Purist plan.

I, too, am very interested in the paleo approach to eating - the idea that humans are not well adapted to eating grains and other foods that did not become prominent in human diets until the beginning of agriculture.

For me, personally, the thing that really makes me paleo is not consuming any dairy products. I find that I feel a lot better without dairy in my diet. Sometimes it has been easy and other times hard to do without cheese and cream. Grains, potatoes, beans, sugar - I wouldn't be eating those anyway. Too many carbs, and I don't even miss them.

Glad to have another paleo person to chat with!

Alice

Well I have been tinkering with the paleo diet for some time--It's taken me about 2 years to clean up my act. While I never really drank--I don't drink at all now--About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with reactive hypoglycelmia and about 4 years ago my father was diagnosed with diabetes type 2--While I have NEVER been over weight, I wanted to make sure I would never become diabetic like my father . Unfortunately some think that you can't ever become diabetic if your thin--WRONG!!! you can depending upon what you eat and how much. For me my only downfall then was coffee--and lots of it--was I began to see that I was draining my adrenals and therefore went about stopping all caffeine about a year ago. I'm still caffeine free but wanted to improve my diet even further. Unless I forget to eat or wait too long betweej meals, my blood sugar stays around 90-110. Otherwise I plummet to 40-50--so to answer your question I became interested in the Paleo diet in order to eat healthier... I was eating out way to often and simply would find the fastest way to fix a meal. Unfortunately, it was not always the best things to eat. While I don't eat a ton of carbs, I do find that I feel MUCH better when I keep my milk. so instead of omitting milk from my diet I now simply cut back. I'm still researching this plan and making appropriate tweaks here and there as I go along. I knew I simply needed to eat more fruits and veggies instead of relying upon vitamins and supplements all of the time. Thanks for teh warm welcome!!! Take care

AngelJo - how are you feeling now? Have the hunger, tiredness, and so on improved?

I really admire you for being so pro-active about your health and way of eating.

Fascinating that you feel better with milk and I feel better without. I know that paleo plus dairy is fairly common among those interested in paleo-style eating, so you're definitely not alone in that.

Have you read "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetic Solution?" I think his first name is Richard. He has a fascinating personal story and lots of expertise with diabetes.

Alice

yes I have read that one--was fascinating to read as well--after reading so much on nutrition, it thus prompted me to get my Ph.D. in Holistic Nutrition. The hunger pangs have subsided since I've incorprated the milk only back in. The light headedness dissipated when I took a potassium supplement. The tiredness is slowly improving. Another good book to read is the Metabolic Plan by Stephen Chernisky. He also has a great book on caffeine and the hidden dangers. Hope all is well on your end!!

I'll be sure to look into Stephen Chernisky's books. I hope my library has them.

I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. The potassium supplement rang a bell - I know my favorite authors, the Eadeses, recommend that, especially at the beginning.

I'm impressed by your knowledge and the fact that you went on to get an advanced degree in Holistic Nutrition. Are many of your colleagues supporters of paleo eating, or low-carb in general?

I'm doing fine, thanks.

Alice

More and more of my colleaugues are becoming informed of the benefits of this style of eating--In fact, I live in a very rural area and some of the doctors here think their Gods since no one else is here to challenge them--I have several friends that are doctors that are very open to the holistic nutrition side of things rather than simple shove meds down your throat!!

Take care