Extreme fatigue?

[never2late4any1]

I have been in Induction for approximately 9 weeks. The number on the scale hasn't changed in over a week, but initially I dropped two clothing sizes. My keto stix read small to moderate every day.

I have been exhausted over the past week. I've fallen asleep in chairs and feel unable to do even the smallests task.

Typical menu:

BR: 2-3 scambled eggs, sometimes with 2 slices of bacon

SN: 1 oz of hard cheese or 6 olives

Lunch: 1 cup of chicken salad witn mayo and chopped celery.

SN: 1 oz of hard cheese or hard-boiled egg

Dinner: 6 oz of protein (beef, fish, pork) seasoned and sauted in olive oil with one cup of cooked vegetables (usually fressh broccoli/cauliflower mix)

I don't eat raw veggies for digestive reasons. I suspect that I am picking up hidden carbs enough to make the total 20 g per day. I also am taking a liquid multi-vitamin and extra B-12 daily.

What should I increase to boost energy...protein, fat or carbs? Thanks for any help in advance!

[liv]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

I would visit the doctor and have some levels checked. How long since you checked your thyroid?

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

I would visit the doctor and have some levels checked. How long since you checked your thyroid?

I went to an outpatient lab and had them check all of my levels when I started Atkins in October '08. Everything was in the range of normal except my triglycerides, which are high (300). Hypothyroidism came back negative. But I should probably go to the doctor and have her order the more sensitive test. No health insurance, so the expense is an issue. Thanks for the suggestion...if I don't get feeling better soon, I will have the doc do the tests.

I just did a google search on this topic and magnesium supplements (300 mg per day for women) was suggested. Magnesium supports insulin's ability to transport fuel? First I have heard of this.

[liv]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

With a son graduating I am guessing you may be in age level where thyroid issues may come in. Yes some low carb people out there (like the Eades) really recommends magnesium and potassium supplements. It is worth a try. But just in case go see your doctor. I would feel better knowing you did

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

With a son graduating I am guessing you may be in age level where thyroid issues may come in. Yes some low carb people out there (like the Eades) really recommends magnesium and potassium supplements. It is worth a try. But just in case go see your doctor. I would feel better knowing you did

Thanks...I will put a doc visit on "my list"

I'm also going to give the potassium and magnesium supplements a try.

[abs1981]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

thats funny you say that. I am on day nine and today I was totally winded while I went food shopping. However, I work out so...
right now I want to drop dead. I need sleep.

[carbless_in_seattle]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

move onto OWL rung 1-- 9 weeks of induction is a giant winding pitch for the failure homerun.

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

move onto OWL rung 1-- 9 weeks of induction is a giant winding pitch for the failure homerun.

I have 100 lbs to lose and I am 51 (post-menopausal). I keep re-reading Atkin's DANDR, and if I've understood what I am reading correctly, Atkins believed that Induction was safe for 6+ months for anyone who had a lot of weight to lose and may be metabolically challenged (over 50 female).

Do you think that if I added more carbs, I'd feel less tired and start losing pounds again? I really am curious as to why you think too much Induction will set me up to fail. Thanks!

[AlaskaGirl]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

I think you might need to add more fat & protein. You are not eating a whole lot- maybe you can add a dessert or something with some fat calories as well. Hard cheese is always lower in fat and occational baccon isn't enough. You have a great menu- just a little shallow on the calorie content. Maybe you should consider moving up to the dairy rung and holding there for awhile? It is another way to get more of carbs and fat/ protein calories that your body maybe craving.

Are you keeping track of actual calories, protein, & fat? You really need to.

Also be sure to be drinking your water & getting in some exercise.

Also your body may be fighting a cold or something. Have you been feeling run down for the entire time or just recently? I notice with age I now get tired a few days before I actually get sick.

I would look for one of those free health fairs. You can get your blood tested pretty cheap then. We have them up here every few months. At the very least monitor your temp and blood pressure.

Hang in there.

Julie

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

I think you might need to add more fat & protein. You are not eating a whole lot- maybe you can add a dessert or something with some fat calories as well. Hard cheese is always lower in fat and occational baccon isn't enough. You have a great menu- just a little shallow on the calorie content. Maybe you should consider moving up to the dairy rung and holding there for awhile? It is another way to get more of carbs and fat/ protein calories that your body maybe craving.

Are you keeping track of actual calories, protein, & fat? You really need to.

Also be sure to be drinking your water & getting in some exercise.

Also your body may be fighting a cold or something. Have you been feeling run down for the entire time or just recently? I notice with age I now get tired a few days before I actually get sick.

I would look for one of those free health fairs. You can get your blood tested pretty cheap then. We have them up here every few months. At the very least monitor your temp and blood pressure.

Hang in there.

Julie

Thanks so much for your input! You reminded me that I need to keep better track of the actual facts on what I eat. So I signed up with fitday.com about an hour ago. What a great, free tool!!! I plugged in today's menu and discovered that I was only eating about 1200 calories...probably not enough for a woman who weighs over 200 pounds...and the ratios were a little off. I probably need to add a few grams of veggie carbs.

As an overweight woman who lived in denial over how much weight I was packing on, tools like www.fitday.com are crucial. At least for the moment, I am not trusting my perceptions. I never want to be a slave to NUMBERS, but I need to take a serious look at them occasionally to make sure that I am on track!

Thanks so much for your support!!!

We have blood labs that travel and work in our geographic location every three months. (Cholestcheck is one such company) Many blood tests available including complete lipid panels, thyroid checks and liver function tests. I spend $100-200 every 3 months. It saves me the doctor's fee and if any level comes up as something to worry about, THEN I go to the doctor.

[tfek70]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

Be careful about the potassium supplement. OTC potassium supplements are limited to 99 mg. It may say 550 or 595 mg, but if you read the fine print, only 99 mg is potassium. That being said, it is recommended for adults to get up to 4700 mg/day. Obviously one shouldn't take 47 pills a day for potassium, therefore it is best left to a doctor. Too much potassium is more serious than not enough. It will lead to kidney failure, not might, will. Using OTC potassium is like trying to empty the ocean with a thimble. Please have your doctor check your potassium balance and please don't self medicate this mineral.

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

Be careful about the potassium supplement. OTC potassium supplements are limited to 99 mg. It may say 550 or 595 mg, but if you read the fine print, only 99 mg is potassium. That being said, it is recommended for adults to get up to 4700 mg/day. Obviously one shouldn't take 47 pills a day for potassium, therefore it is best left to a doctor. Too much potassium is more serious than not enough. It will lead to kidney failure, not might, will. Using OTC potassium is like trying to empty the ocean with a thimble. Please have your doctor check your potassium balance and please don't self medicate this mineral.

This is very interesting information! Thank you! I think I should probably just suck it up and spend the $250 for a comprehensive visit to my doctor with a list of these questions. I went to Walgreen's this afternoon and looked at both the Magnesium and Potassium supplements. I didn't buy anything because I was presented with such a confusing array of options and no concrete info.

It is difficult and a huge financial burden to not have health insurance. But my very good internist charges $250.00 for a complete physical work-up and I pay another $200 for lab work. I just need to suck it up and spend the $450.00 to know where I stand at this point in my Atkin's journey. It really is not such a huge investment into what will be a good and positive future.

[AlaskaGirl]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

Please read Sherris post below. It just reminded me of something I haven't done since I restarted. I also thought of you. I know the title sound weird but it is about supplements.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/main-atkins-diet-forum/67650-newbie-help-addiction-supplementation.html#post1006094

[chilee1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

I was just questioning this myself, I have been so sleepy lately, and I'm only on day 12 of induction...last time I did induction I remember all of a sudden getting a boost of energy, I was up until midnight some nights just plugging away on house work, I rode my bike 30 minutes five nights a week, this time around, however, I just can't get motivated to move...I'm going to look into the magnesium supps myself, maybe a run in to the doc won't hurt, either. Thanks for the post and good luck, I will watch to find out what you find out

[never2late4any1]

Re: Extreme fatigue?

Please read Sherris post below. It just reminded me of something I haven't done since I restarted. I also thought of you. I know the title sound weird but it is about supplements.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ml#post1006094

Thanks so much for the link! This is another subject that I don't know much about, but I look forward to researching it online tomorrow! I haven't paid any attention to what I need to do for me over the past few years...I find the info on supplements very interesting!