Newbie with question

[bride2be06]

How do you do it?

I just started Atkins a few days ago. I'm doing fine with the eating so far, but I have no energy at all. I am desperately trying to keep up my normal workout, and even hoped to increase my strength training some since I know I will lose some muscle mass by eating this way. The problem is, 5-10 minutes into my workout I am completely drained. Not really tired like I need to sleep, but I just can't get my muscles to want to do anything. I know my body is supposed to be burning fat & protein for energy since there are no carbs coming in, but there sure isn't much energy in my fat & protein, lol. Can some of you please share how you dealt with this? Is it something that gets easier over time? Is there something you recommend I take for energy before workouts? Thanks in advance

[not2late]

Re: Newbie with question

How do you do it?

I just started Atkins a few days ago. I'm doing fine with the eating so far, but I have no energy at all. I am desperately trying to keep up my normal workout, and even hoped to increase my strength training some since I know I will lose some muscle mass by eating this way. The problem is, 5-10 minutes into my workout I am completely drained. Not really tired like I need to sleep, but I just can't get my muscles to want to do anything. I know my body is supposed to be burning fat & protein for energy since there are no carbs coming in, but there sure isn't much energy in my fat & protein, lol. Can some of you please share how you dealt with this? Is it something that gets easier over time? Is there something you recommend I take for energy before workouts? Thanks in advance

Welcome.

Sometimes the fatigue is due to the carb withdrawals, Dr. Atkins talked about in chapter 11 of the book. So you will need to make sure you are eating the vegetables. In fact, you might want to divide your vegetables in the 2 cup, 1 cup method, because the vegetables on the "other list" are relatively higher carb.

The other thing that can cause fatigue is not eating enough food. So you might want to post your typical menu in the Review My Menu forum of this board.

[Elizellen]

Re: Newbie with question

I know I will lose some muscle mass by eating this way.

I have read on these forums and other lowcarb boards that this is not true.
By eating Atkins even if we dont exercise we increase our muscle while losing fat.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Newbie with question

Sounds to me like you've got fatigue from carb withdrawal. As soon as your body switches from using glucose for fuel to using your stored body fat as fuel, you'll get lots of energy. This shouldn't take but a few days more.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Newbie with question

actually eating Atkins you will add muscle mass as the human body stock piles extra proteins in muscles and organs before it converts the excess to sugar for storage. UConn has a study with a special machine that actually measures muscle mass and it should an increase in muscle mass for all the folk in the atkins group they tested.

In adition to the withdrawls from the detox part of induction your body needs to do some fine tuning to be able to burn fats for fuel more efficiently.

Your muscles right now have lots of glucose burning "equipmnet" and needs to make more fat burning equipment. They need to build up their fatty acids supply, the carrier molecules for the fatty acids, grow more mitochondrias the powerhouses used to burn the fatty acids, and the transporter molecules. Once your body adapts you will be able to workout again at your former level.