Today is only day 5 for me and I have already lost a few pounds! But last night when I got home from work I was so tired. I couldn't do anything at all. I have 3 kids and I fed them but thats about it. I couldn't keep my eyes open. It was the most awful feeling because I've never been so tired. I was even 1 hr late to work today. Is this normal? I remember my mother having a burst of energy at some point on this diet (Atkins) but I don't recall anything about feeling like falling on my face :D

Rosie

hi Rosie, nice going with the wt. lost so far!!
 

Several possibilities come to mind.

First, are you taking any vitamins?? It would be a good idea. No need to buy a special "Atkins formula" (although they're fine) -- you can use any of the good-quality multiple vitamin & mineral supplements sold everywhere. Look for a formula that's "forte" or "extra", "super" or "stress" -- these will have extra B-vitamins .. :)

Next is potassium. Ketosis, and all the water yer drinking will flush out this mineral, so you need to take extra to keep from getting depleted. Low potassium is the most common cause of fatigue, muscle aches, etc. for lowcarbers. You can take it in pill-form, but the easiest (and cheapest) is to use a salt-substitute such as NoSalt, or HalfSalt (I think it might be called LiteSalt in the US) -- this has potassium chloride in it, and you sprinkle it on food just like regular salt. If you don't use salt on your food, one suggestion is to buy the NoSalt, which is 100% potassium chloride. Add 1/8 tsp to a glass of water (you can barely taste it .. ;) ) which will give you 325 mg potassium.

Calcium and magnesium also play an important role in muscle function and fatigue. Consider taking a Cal-mag supplement, twice a day (take the second dose at bedtime .. :) ). Either 1:1 or 1:2 (ie, twice as much calcium as mag) is fine.

The final note .. do make sure you're eating enough PROTEIN. Have a small protein-y snack mid-afternoon. So often, we have our lowcarb lunch, then go all afternoon, busybusybusy, until dinnertime 6 hrs later .... and eat nothing. No wonder we feel faint! A small pouch of nuts, cheese strings, a lowcarb protein shake, a flip-top can of tuna ... Or have something ready to grab in the fridge the minute you get in the door --- some hard-boiled eggs in the shell, leftover cold meat, etc......

hope there's something helpful here.

Doreen

I'll give it a try
 

I haven't been taking anything so I will definitely start on the vitamins. Thanks for the advice. I just had a baby a few months ago and I still have a healthy supply of prenatal vitamins. Someone suggetsed I continue to take them. Will this be a fine supplement for this diet?

Thanks again,

Rosie

Doreen, thanks for the tip. I also am new to this board and the diet. I started on Monday of this week and already dropped about 8 pounds but like Rosi I am about to fall flat on my face.

Plus my adorable hubby made regular chocolate chip cookies tonight and I am resisting them but I feel like throwing him and the cookies outside to the dog house ;) (At least once he remembered he felt really bad about doing so and hid them)

65 pounds to go and counting!

Talking of chocolate, my husband brought these liitle sweetened dark chocolate drops home from the supermarket the other day. (Thinking he'd found baking chocolate).

Last night I sneaked two (only small) and they were yummm. When he got home from work I said "You'd better take that chocolate to work because I ate some". Anyway, lo and behold, today when I thought I'd sneak another one, I went to the cupboard and the cupboard was bare!!! The snake - he took me at my word .....

As to tiredness I felt terrible the whole first week and I dont think I started feeling energetic until I started to have, protein and a few carbs at every meal. I found the two meals without carbs on the induction diet just about impossible and I didnt get the 'longevity' aspect of feeling good and not feeling hungry until I modified it. But maybe its also that I eat red meat (or fish) and veg probably twice a day. 2 dozen pistachios as a snack also gives me a real pick me up when needed.

Nicola

The first two weeks as your body goes through detox, it is completly normal to feel drained and tired. But then the energy kicks in WHOOHOO :)

yawning yawning....
 

I get so tired too, but usually around 2-4 in the afternoon, after dinner though my energy kicks in again and I can't seem to get to sleep.
I am taking my vitamins, but still go through this... Though I do a hour cardio (5 days a week) and then weights... No wonder I am so tired... LOL
Hope all goes well with yall.....

3 more pounds to my next goal!!!!
60 lbs to go...

DebbieT
PP since 3/27/01
220/203/140