Thread: Very Low Energy

Hello Atkins friends,
I hope you're all doing well.
I'm very happy about my weight loss. I never loss so much weight in such a short period of time. But there's an issue I thought I'd ask about.
Has anyone found low energy with this diet? Is this typical? If so, does anyone have any advice? As I mentioned, I'm happy with my weight loss, but my energy is very low. It's harder to be active than before. Is that the trade-off? Could it be the carb bank?
Any "friendly" comments / help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Colette

Colette- how long have you been low-carbing? what plan are you following, and do you have and read the book for that plan?

actually, after the first 4 days or so, most people experience a SURGE of energy, not the other way around. usually when people say they are having low energy, i see different scenarios...

1. they are not following any plan at all but doing their own lc version without reading any books or being fully informed.

2. they are in induction, and are having normal sugar withdrawls, which pass after about 3-4 days.

3. they are deliberately eating less than 20 carbs trying to lose faster, or starving themselves trying to lose faster.

4. they are not taking vitamins and not eating enough veggies. veggies aren't optional, and low carb is NOT just steak, eggs and bacon cheeseburgers. if you are doing this, you're not following a real low-carb plan.

5. they have other health issues which need to be managed first, or in addition to, their low carb eating.

being in contact with a doctor can be quite helpful, especially if you have any other health issue besides weight.

in particular, if you are trying to do atkins, i can't stress enough: GET THE BOOK and read it. it will help you troubleshoot issues, because feeling lethargic is the opposite of what you would expect after a week on low-carb.

Goddess is right on, syzygy. I have never had so much energy as when low carbing, and I think that is the common physical reaction. Low energy is a sign of something, we just have to figure out what.

Can you post us a couple days worth of menus?

Congrats on your loss so far!

Have to ditto the great advice above...

It *IS* normal to have very low energy/fatigue in the first week of eating this way, but after that, you should feel better than ever. If you don't, something's not right!

>>Make sure you are eating enough -- DON'T skimp on food!!! You don't want your body going into *starvation mode* as this will screw up your metabolism, long-term.

>>Make sure you are drinking PLENTY of water -- most people use 1/2 their body weight in ounces as a guide. I prefer to drink a bit more and keep it around 128oz./day. Water helps your body shed the fat more efficiently.

>>Make sure you are taking a good multi-vitamin each day.

I agree that a couple days' sample of your menus might help us better pinpoint the problem.
I wish you the best,

Originally Posted by goddess

Colette- how long have you been low-carbing? what plan are you following, and do you have and read the book for that plan?

actually, after the first 4 days or so, most people experience a SURGE of energy, not the other way around. usually when people say they are having low energy, i see different scenarios...

1. they are not following any plan at all but doing their own lc version without reading any books or being fully informed.

2. they are in induction, and are having normal sugar withdrawls, which pass after about 3-4 days.

3. they are deliberately eating less than 20 carbs trying to lose faster, or starving themselves trying to lose faster.

4. they are not taking vitamins and not eating enough veggies. veggies aren't optional, and low carb is NOT just steak, eggs and bacon cheeseburgers. if you are doing this, you're not following a real low-carb plan.

5. they have other health issues which need to be managed first, or in addition to, their low carb eating.

being in contact with a doctor can be quite helpful, especially if you have any other health issue besides weight.

in particular, if you are trying to do atkins, i can't stress enough: GET THE BOOK and read it. it will help you troubleshoot issues, because feeling lethargic is the opposite of what you would expect after a week on low-carb.

Hello goddess,
I've been doing low carb since January 25th. I asked my doctor (a hematologist) if he could recommend a good diet, and he told me without hesitation "Atkins". Since I already had a pamphlet on how the diet worked, I decided to give it a try.
I'm currently going through a treatment (phlebotomy), so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with my energy levels. Because of my past "anemia" diagnosis, I'm not sure because there was a time when I had enormous amount of energy due to the iron overload...which is being corrected now.
I'm eating more carbs now because I'm out of phase I. Also, I did experience sugar withdrawals for about 1-1/2 weeks. I was a real sugar-holic and am so glad that in addition to losing weight, I've met my second goal of cutting out the "white death"...(they call it)....also hampers the immune system.
In the beginning I was taking in no more than 20 carbs daily (according to the booklet) for the first week. I'm at ease and am not trying to lose too fast. I'm just glad to lose weight and feel that gradual weight loss is better and will last with proper maintenance. I've always been a veggie person, so that's never been a real issue.
Thanks for your interest.

P.S. Your website blog is really cool!

Originally Posted by jooneezgrl

Goddess is right on, syzygy. I have never had so much energy as when low carbing, and I think that is the common physical reaction. Low energy is a sign of something, we just have to figure out what.

Can you post us a couple days worth of menus?

Congrats on your loss so far!

Hello jooneezgrl,
Thanks for the congrats.
I think maybe my past anemia and treatments may be the cause. See what I wrote to goddess.

I don't really have the time right now to post an everyday menu, however here's an example of a few.

A.M. Scrambled Tofu with Quoron Soy Chicken or other soy burger product and Green Tea. (Sometimes I may have 3 hard boiled eggs instead of tofu)
Snack (if any): Atkins meal bar or just Tea.
Lunch: Green beans, Soy patty, Green Tea
Dinner: Large Red Leaf Salad with orange wedges, apple wedges, and celery with homemade orange/basil/garlic dressing. (my husband loves it too).
Also with that the main course could be a piece of Salmon or white fish with Green beans, bok choy, or other green vegetables. (I stopped eating carrots though). Sometimes I will mix an ounce of cooked salmon with my salad...yummy! Sometimes I will serve dinner with scrambled tofu as well.
Hopefully dear one, this will help. I am so amazed at how much support everyone here has given me.
Thank you.
Colette
P.S. YES, how can I forget, my red pomelos. They are my favorite snack. I usually have one large one in the afternoon also. Yum, Yum, Yummy!

Originally Posted by Lawbooks

Have to ditto the great advice above...

It *IS* normal to have very low energy/fatigue in the first week of eating this way, but after that, you should feel better than ever. If you don't, something's not right!

>>Make sure you are eating enough -- DON'T skimp on food!!! You don't want your body going into *starvation mode* as this will screw up your metabolism, long-term.

>>Make sure you are drinking PLENTY of water -- most people use 1/2 their body weight in ounces as a guide. I prefer to drink a bit more and keep it around 128oz./day. Water helps your body shed the fat more efficiently.

>>Make sure you are taking a good multi-vitamin each day.

I agree that a couple days' sample of your menus might help us better pinpoint the problem.
I wish you the best,

Hello Summer,
You're right, I'm guilty as charged. I don't drink enough water. However, I feel I eat plenty...until I'm full. I don't feel as if I'm starving, and believe me, I've been on those type of diets already in the past.
I'm gradually getting back on the vitamin ban wagon. My doctor (for medical reasons) told me to lay-off the multi vitas, however, that was almost a year ago. My health has improved greatly since then, so when I see him in a few weeks again, I will definitely ask him about it. I believe in vitamins :-)

I think I'll have a cup of "Green Tea" now. Does anyone care to join me? LOL
:bellydanc
Have a good day!

Hi Good job on your achivement! Well honestly whenever I eat Low carb I have more energy. It's strange but i do! Maybe its physiological or I'm eating better foods. I always feel energized when I workout wether its Weightlifting, or Running I have more energy. If you feel one day that you have no energy to work out you could always try yoga or palates as working out!
Well good luck with your Low carb eating!

Originally Posted by Alaina

Hi Good job on your achivement! Well honestly whenever I eat Low carb I have more energy. It's strange but i do! Maybe its physiological or I'm eating better foods. I always feel energized when I workout wether its Weightlifting, or Running I have more energy. If you feel one day that you have no energy to work out you could always try yoga or palates as working out!
Well good luck with your Low carb eating!

Thanks Alaina,
I've thought about a lighter workout such as Tai chi. I liked it before, so I will try again. The benefits for health are there as well. I tried yoga a few weeks ago...not for the first time. I was so sore and out of shape. I was embarrased because I could not keep up with the class. Some of the poses I'm just not ready to do I guess. Perhaps my energy will come later on. I will meditate of this one.
Colette

Hi, Colette

Sorry you are feeling a bit low. Hopefully, it will pass soon. That )fatigue) happens to me sometimes, too. In my case, I'm pretty sure it's ~not~ the LC diet that causes my low energy periods. I've been eating this way for over 2 years, and the low energy periods don't correlate with how well I'm doing on the LC front.

One thing that may help is to keep a journal and record your food consumption (check out www.fitday.com or www.dietpower.com). In fact, I think there are some free tracking tools available at LCE now, too.

In addition to food consumed and exercise performed, weight and measurements, also keep track of how you feel. As time goes by, those records will be a good tool for scoping out what's working and what isn't. We are all different and a big part of lifetime weight control is figuring out your own body's needs. And, curiously, as your body changes all the time, keeping up with your body's needs. As Maggie sometimes says, this is the University of You!

I'll just note that your sample menu has a couple of items that would likely derail many LC dieters, I think. The Atkins bars can be real weight loss stallers and they are may well cause carb cravings. Back when Dr. Atkins was alive, in one of his newsletters he recommended only eating a 1/3 or 1/2 a bar a day. Now that was Dr. Atkins himself writing, not the company Atkins Nutritionals, which makes bazillions of dollars off those suspect bars. My private belief is that Atkins knew the bars were an iffy food, but he wasn't averse to all the money pouring in. Because I know how my body reacts to most sugar alcohols (just like sugar), if I were to I eat an Advantage bar, I'd count it as 11 net carbs (21 g. total minus 10 g. fiber). Interestingly, those Advantage bars have about the same number of calories as a full-size Snickers bar.

>>Dinner: Large Red Leaf Salad with orange wedges, apple wedges, and celery with homemade orange/basil/garlic dressing. (my husband loves it too).<<

In phase 4 of the Atkins diet, some people may be able to tolerate apple wedges on occasion. But it's unlikely that oranges or dressing made from orange juice would work for most LC eaters. Those fruits are both high glycemic foods and not recommended for most phases of Atkins diet. For a 1/2 of a cup, apples slices are about 7 g net carbs and oranges sections are about 8 g net carbs. 3 oz. of OJ is about 9 g net carbs. You would be most likely be much better off with the carrots.

I'm guessing that you are still going by that pamphlet? If that's the case, and you cannot get the book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution soon, how about going through the Atkins website? Though it pushes the Atkins' label products , it still has a lot of good information about how to do the Atkins diet: http://atkins.com/

And as for being out of shape - I'm ~so~ with you there, girl! Talk about deconditioned! I injured my foot last fall so most of my favorite exersize options just aren't doable. That's made it harder to maintain my weight loss; but I am keeping up the good fight, and looking forward to getting back to my long walks and dance classes!

collette-sounds like you have a good handle on your menu in general, but others i know will help point out problem areas. again, if you don't have the actual atkins book, get it, and this is exactly the kind of issue that you want to consult it about. i suspect your medical treatments may be a factor from what you've said, and that sounds like a good thing to discuss with your doc. good luck! ps thanks for the comment re: my blog.

Originally Posted by teelbee

In phase 4 of the Atkins diet, some people may be able to tolerate apple wedges on occasion. But it's unlikely that oranges or dressing made from orange juice would work for most LC eaters. Those fruits are both high glycemic foods and not recommended for most phases of Atkins diet. For a 1/2 of a cup, apples slices are about 7 g net carbs and oranges sections are about 8 g net carbs. 3 oz. of OJ is about 9 g net carbs. You would be most likely be much better off with the carrots.

Like Teelbee the apple wedges and oranges first caught my eye when I read your first post. Sometimes something like that can bring you down quickly. That happened to me this weekend. I was a little higher on carbs but they came from a high GI food and I actually had to take a nap. I haven't had to take a weekend nap for ages. I use to take them all the time when baby was napping on the weekends. Even if you are within the right carb amounts high GI foods can bite you in the end. I do eat carrots but limit them. (I got a little out of hand for a while with them.) But it's a your mileage may vary thing.

Hopefully your energy will come to you soon. I started otu very slowly with the exercise and that has made a difference as well. I don't workout for really long periods of time but do steadily most days.

Originally Posted by CushieButterfield

Like Teelbee the apple wedges and oranges first caught my eye when I read your first post. Sometimes something like that can bring you down quickly. That happened to me this weekend. I was a little higher on carbs but they came from a high GI food and I actually had to take a nap. I haven't had to take a weekend nap for ages. I use to take them all the time when baby was napping on the weekends. Even if you are within the right carb amounts high GI foods can bite you in the end. I do eat carrots but limit them. (I got a little out of hand for a while with them.) But it's a your mileage may vary thing.

Hopefully your energy will come to you soon. I started otu very slowly with the exercise and that has made a difference as well. I don't workout for really long periods of time but do steadily most days.

Thanks for your input, I will definitely give it some thought.

Originally Posted by goddess

collette-sounds like you have a good handle on your menu in general, but others i know will help point out problem areas. again, if you don't have the actual atkins book, get it, and this is exactly the kind of issue that you want to consult it about. i suspect your medical treatments may be a factor from what you've said, and that sounds like a good thing to discuss with your doc. good luck! ps thanks for the comment re: my blog.

Yup, I have only the pamphlet of diets. I know I should get the actual book
Oh, how cheep I am.