Hi, I'm new here. This looks like a great forum with excellent support.

My question: When does the energy come in induction?

I've been exhausted for so long prior to starting this plan with constant headaches, sore feet, and indigestion. I haven't had time or energy to get into a consistent exercise program for years. I used to be an athlete. It's hard to believe now.

My father has diabetes Type II, and it felt like I was on my way there too (plus I was diagnosed nearly a year ago with high cholesterol). I had tried CALP before, but had fallen off the wagon due to stress. I do remember CALP had made me feel so much better physically though. Well, stress seems to never go away and my weight seemed to keep going up, so I decided to plow ahead with another low carb diet again. I decided to go with Atkins just because of the popularity of this type of lowcarb plan. Products and support are much easier to find for Atkins in the stores and the internet.

Anyway my mother-in-law is coming from far away with my husband accompanying her so she can visit for a few days and I just have no energy it seems to clean up the house before she gets here. I'm getting totally depressed looking at it. And I'm getting depressed at having no energy. Along with stress over having her here. But I decided my health has to come before anything and anyone from now on.

It's all I can do to look after my daughter, and get organized for this new WOE. I just started this plan yesterday and already the indigestion is decreasing. From what I've read, during induction people are tired, but I'm wondering when most of you have experienced that surge of energy you're supposed to get?

Thanks!

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Atkins 08/22/04 203/194.5/135 5'7"

The first few days are usually rough - some people get dizzy/shakes. I think my energy started showing up around day 5-10. can't remember for sure.

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Mary Kay
2009 WW - 228 / 204

I want a Christmas Onederland!!

Welcome, Stephy.

Please make yourself at home!

Some of us (that means the group of which I am a part - LOL!) never get that "surge of energy" that many experience. What happened to me, after feeling like a piece of bleep, for a few days, was that I realized that I had a nice even level of energy all day long. This was quite a switch from the roller coaster I had been on before starting this way of eating. No more crashes. That was such a huge difference that it has provided the primary motivation for me, for almost 6 years now.

It sounds as if you have some blood sugar issues already. From what you've said, I'd bet anything that you've at least got metabolic syndrome - it's a pre-diabetic state. Your md can confirm this with readily available tests that are outlined in the second of two books I'd recommend. The REALLY good news is that you CAN stop the progression to type 2 diabetes. (Has for me.)

I urge you to read two books: Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and Atkins Diabetes Revolution. For those of us who already have some impairment of blood glucose metabolism, this way or eating is a real blessing.

Meantime, just do your best to suck it up for your MIL's visit and don't "drop out" of induction. If that's not possible, then let it go and start again at the end of her visit and come here for help and support.

We're here for you.

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i remember feeling tired and crummy til about the 4th day. then it was *TRY AND STOP ME!*

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~~funkynut

started: 1/8/04
263/223/150 (5'6)
223/223/210 ~ halloween challenge
223/223/205 ~ thanksgiving challenge

MaryKay, Thanks, yes, I do feel weird. Kinda dizzy -- almost like I'm in a fog or a cocoon. I had the shakes at first, then I ate more protein and bought some low carb dressing and had that on my salad which cut down on the shakes. Plus I've actually started to take a multi vitamin for the first time in a long time which seems to help.

Thanks Maggie. Yes, I had gestational diabetes when pregnant, and you are far more likely to end up with the real thing later than those who don't have gestational diabetes. But despite all that knowledge of my high likelihood of getting diabetes (e.g. father has it too) I was still unable to muster up the chutzpah to permanently remedy the situation. Everything else just seemed to keep getting in the way, or there was always an excuse.

Metabolic syndrome = pre-diabetes? Interesting. I'll have to research that. I really haven't had much of a chance to pursue these issues with my doctor. But I have an appointment set up for next week so I will ask. How did you find out about yours, and what symptoms did you have?

Thanks for the recommendation of the Atkins books. I do have the New Diet Rev. but so far I've only read the Essentials. The bookstore didn't have the Diabetes one, but I'll definitely get it ASAP since it sounds right up my alley.

I agree with you about sucking it up for the MIL's visit. I might actually have a caffeinated coffee tomorrow just so I can kick start getting things ready for her arrival. I've been going caffeine-free now for two days (I'm a huge caffeinated coffee addict). Hopefully that's all it will take to buckle down. Thanks so much Maggie for your insights!

Funky Nut, you actually did experience a surge of energy? Once that happened did your level of energy stay up or stabilize? Thanks for any info.

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Atkins 08/22/04 203/194.5/135 5'7"

Hon, do yourself a favor, hire a cleaning crew to help you get the house ready for the MIL visit.

or

tell her you are so comfortable around her you're not stressing about silly things like dusting - cause you know she loves you just the way you are.


The first few days are rough, but the energy does come back.

and welcome to LCE!

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when life hands you lemons, order lobster!

April Rose,

ha! too funny! I need a new house! Even a cleaning crew with burly bodybuilders couldn't make a dent in this horrendous mess! LOL!

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Atkins 08/22/04 203/194.5/135 5'7"

Stephy,

I did not experience that "surge" of energy Atkins talks about. But slowly, and without noticing it, my energy level must have increased because I don't feel like taking a nap at 4PM! I can stay active until I hit the sofa in a horizontal position around 8:30 PM. Then I'll fall asleep! (I do get up at 5 AM).

Maggie's advice is right on! If MIL visit and induction both at one time is too daunting, perhaps concentrate on MIL visit right now (that visit is cast in stone, induction is not, at the moment). You can always go back to induction when she leaves. Eat healthy while she's there, watch the carbs, but forget about "induction."

And, my house is always a mess, too. I work from home, have my own business, and never have time to dust, etc. Thank God for holidays! What I do, sometimes even a month before holiday, is to start "small". One day it's cobwebs. Another day, some seldom used rooms. Another day, put away all the piles of papers that accumulate on DR table . . . you get the idea. Then 3 days before holiday/visit, I dust, vacuum, wash floors. I allow three days so I don't get overwhelmed!

You have found a great site! Please let us know how the MIL visit went!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

The last time I did induction, I didn't get my surge of energy until after the first 14 days. I'm a rare one, I think. I also jog and I was jogging while in induction so not sure if that might have contributed some. Regardless, I found that when the energy did come it made the horrible induction period well worth it. I have not had children but I would relate it to what mother's say about giving birth--once it's over, it was well worth it.

I'm just now getting back to this website after over a year away. I'm not doing induction again, I just continue to watch my carbs. And, I know when I've had too many.

In my opinion, one of the worst mistakes a new person to lc can make is just eating nothing but crap lc, like hot dogs and pork rinds all day. The salt content will make us retain water and it's just not a healthy way to eat all the time.

Good luck, I'm sure your energy will be up before you know it and you'll find yourself wanting to exercise to get rid of the energy.

I found that by day 6 or 7 the headache was gone, I no longer had the shakes and I did have more energy though it wasn't a "surge" like some think/talk about. It was more like--hey--"I feel pretty good" all the sudden thing!!

If MIL is anything like my FIL--take it one step at a time--even while she is there--avoid the sugar adn highly processed things--but I wouldn't worry about the whole ball of wax--but if you can manage it--feed her just like youa re eating!!!!! She'll get over not having potatos or pasta while she is there!!! She can have bread if she wants--but if it isn't on the table-chances are she won't fuss too much--FIL would have asked but if I said I didn't have any--he'd accept that!

Good Luck

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Stephy, I was overweight - and continuing to gain slowly, had a history of type 2 diabetes in my family, had an ok fasting blood glucose level, but had the typical "roller coaster" problem of high's and crashes - with the crashes coming about 1-2 hours after a meal - getting sleepy, then sometimes shakey, and definitely in "sugar seeking" mode, which started the whole thing rolling again. An abnormal 3 hour glucose tolerance test was the clincher.

When you're discussing this with your md, you might want to suggest a glucose tolerance test w/ insulin levels. That's probably the most precise way to identify early abnormalities of blood sugar metabolism.

HTH.

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You know Stephy, if you're quitting caffeine cold turkey, that could be contributing. I did it over a couple weeks by mixing decaf and caf and gradually upped the ratio of decaf so now I'm drinking decaf - no withdrawal. Do not underestimate the effects of caffeine withdrawal - they are mighty. Headaches, sluggishness combined with sugar withdrawal - Whew! Just a thought - be good to yourself and take it one step at a time! Debra

Yeah, ditto the cafffeine. I'd done that years earlier for a GERD problem. Felt like the top of my head was going to blow off. I didn't quit caffeine when I started this WOE. It worked anyway.

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LOL , I love that. I feel that way about this place sometimes, too.

But seriously, I agree with the caffiene statement. Maybe taking it a step at a time would be better. I know that I am seriously caffiene sensitive. Big time headaches when I stop, so I'm not stressing about that aspect now that I am re-Inducting.
I'm on day 2 and feeling pretty good, but I know that I'm like others that had the ups and down and am more on an even keel with lc. My SIL had really bad carb withdrawl when she did induction- headaches, shakes, tired etc. It does get better.

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Janine
189/182/165

Hi, I just wanted to write a great big THANKS to everyone above! Such great support here, and it has really helped.

Re: caffeine in coffee. I had started decreasing my caffeinated coffee intake down to one or two cups per day for about 3 days before I started induction. So, yes, I am sure that much of it was caffeine withdrawal. I don't know how long it takes to fully purge an addiction to caffeine. This morning I had that foggy, cotton-in-the-brain feeling again, but I promised myself I would only have one cup of caffeinated coffee if later on the day I had no energy to clean.

Like Maggie wrote, I "sucked it up" and made myself do an area I had been dreading. That was the hall where my ancient cats had puked and made other messes that I cringed to go near (sheesh-- I am such a WHINER!!!). Along with that were lots of other messes made by two-legged creatures (who have been royally pissing me off lately because I have to constantly nag at them to clean up after themselves -- grrrrr). Once I got that particular area done, it was motivating to me. I had been cleaning while feeling like a robot or zombie, and I just wanted to collapse. So I came here and read your encouraging messages, made myself some caffeinated coffee, had an extra-strength Tylenol, and proceeded to do some more cleaning of two more rooms. Anyway, I'm not quite ready yet for MIL's arrival, but one more shot at it tomorrow, and I should have the most essential stuff done for her arrival.

Overall though it seems as though I actually had more energy this afternoon. I don't know whether that was purely artificially induced or not. I am feeling less like a zombie right now. On a more positive note, my chronic indigestion, which I'd had for weeks, is definitely disappearing. That alone makes this whole thing worthwhile.

Thanks again to everyone for your comments.

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Atkins 08/22/04 203/194.5/135 5'7"