I tried atkins once before and quit for a reason other than a carb crave, frankly, I don't even like sweets. I work from home, and publish a trucking website. It's my job to custom design a sales campaign to help small fleet owners get freight. Each customized campaign requires tremendous creativity in this highly competitive field. I felt a considerable drop in my creative thought process when I was in ketosis, and was less apt to care about things that are important to me. I also noticed a considerable drop in sexual desire and even borderline erectile dysfunction, when previously we were sexually active 2-3 times per day since we both work at home. I am not trying to be explicit here, but I was wondering if anyone else had felt a change in thought patterns...

Ron~

Since you're just two days into induction, I presume you are referring to your previous experience when you talk about the changes you noticed. I'm wondering how long you followed the Atkins plan before, and if you upped your carbs after two weeks or remained at induction levels for longer than that.

I think it's pretty common for people to feel a little "zoned out" mentally and physically during the initial phases of low-carbing. Your body is developing new metabolic pathways, and it does take some time to adjust. Feeling a lack of mental & physical energy is your body's way of asking you to take it easy while it makes these changes. If you continue to feel wiped out beyond 10 days or so, I'd say you're not eating enough.

Dehydration can also cause that brain-fog feeling. Make sure you're drinking LOTS of water, and always eating enough to sustain your basic metabolism....be generous with the protein, eat frequently, and don't worry about going over the 3-cup prescription for salad and green vegetables, especially if you feel weak - you're a pretty big guy, and nobody ever got fat eating too much spinach.

A couple more thoughts - did you cut out caffeine the last time? That would certainly contribute to your feeling wiped out. And be sure to take a good multi-vitamin every day.

Best wishes,

Sky
Atkins since 8/02
186/144/under 150

[img]http://www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif[img]

Ron--I second Skylark's post--it is not uncommon to have a period of adjustment during induction--brain fog--physical weakness, etc--they should resolve as your body adjusts--

ouis

Sidebar: Frankie, I deleted your reply because it was intrusive and unrelated to the matter at hand. -- Moderator

Ron, Welcome to the board!

First let me say, that many of us -- when we first begin this woe -- have that vague, foggy feeling that comes with the onset of ketosis. I, personally, contribute it to carb "detox". ***MOST*** of us find that after we have been eating this way for a while, we are clearer-headed and sharper in our thought/creative processes.
That said, you notice I said "MOST?"
That is because I have known one other person who complained of the side effects that you mention.
Even though she stayed true to low-carb for 6 weeks, she never got out of the *brain fog* and she became very forgetful and absent-minded. This is why we say that this woe (way of eating) is not *necessarily* for everyone. Maybe you should try a less-stringent form of low-carb? Something like the Zone or Sommersizing?

As for personal <ahem> reactions, I have only heard positive *side effects* from this woe, but maybe someone else will chime in. Just an aside on this topic: if you were not drinking adequate water (This way of eating can be VERY diuretic) while eating this way, the dehydration could have had some effect on this.

Actually, now that I mention it (and as Sky pointed out), drinking inadequate water really can contribute to brain fog, too. How much were you drinking, btw?

Summer


www.herstorygirl.com

You can get over that by doing a couple of things. First, like others mentioned, drink plenty of water. Dehydration can affect your sense of well being and cause fatigue. Second, make sure you're EATING ENOUGH FOOD. This doesn't have to be a low-calorie diet. You should eat the way you would feel comfortable eating every day for the rest of your life.

I suspect most people have experienced an increase in libido, rather than a decrease, on this WOE, but everybody is different. Again, I suggest the two things above.

Decrease in mental function... There are studies that show that people perform slightly less well on standardized tests on low-calorie diets than they usually do. That's one reason I suggest eating more food. People who are new to low-carbing often suffer misconceptions about this.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."