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Low carb Newbie and I feel terrible - is it carb 'withdrawal'?

Ellie-70

Ellie-70

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone,
I have been restricting 'bad' carbs e.g chocolate and biscuits, for a month but I have only been restricting all carbs to 50 - 60g per day for the last week. Yesterday I felt terrible - lethargy, irritability, aches and pains, feeling chilly and generally under the weather and I had no energy at all. I ate less than 20g of carbs yesterday because I slept on and off all day. Today I feel the same and I am craving sugar and carb foods - for some reason I am longing for ripe bananas!
I ate a good breakfast, I fried 2 eggs, 2 tomatoes and 2 big mushrooms and I had tea with cream. I also had sugar free jelly with cream afterwards as I still felt hungry and was craving something sweet. I am trying to reduce my carb intake to about 40grams per day as my blood glucose levels are still often in the eights after eating and I also have a lot of weight to lose.
I caved in half an hour ago and ate some Greek Yoghurt sweetened with Xylitol and I feel a bit clearer mentally but my body is exhausted and aching. I would kill for a cup of tea and half a dozen McVitie's Digestive biscuits right now! I just want to go to bed and stay there.
Did anyone else feel like this with they first went low carb? I have seen lots of posts on the forum from people eating as little as 20g of per day and they say they feel well. I have read a lot of articles online about 'carb flu' etc but I want to hear from real, living people who have been through this personally.
Please advise,
Ellie
 
Hi Ellie-70

1/ I am a living person
2/I have been through it personally
3/my normal carb intake is 20 grams/day but at present doing 14 grams/day as an experiment.
4/I am feeling great

I wonder if you are eating enough, protein and fats.?Remember that the eliminated carbs must be replaced by some other source of energy [calories] and this is fat. You will also need adequate amounts of protein in order to feel satisfied.
Most people will need a bit more salt and more fluids also when they are on the LCHF way of eating.We excrete more fluids/electrolytes as our bodies stores of glycogen become smaller. Failure to replace them will make you weak and tired. [ been there, done that myself]

Another problem is simply getting used to to your new eating habits , it can take up to three weeks to get accustomed to this new diet, take it a day at a time. If you get the munchies go for a walk, drink water and the "crisis will pass". It does get easier with time.

You are not alone, I think everybody goes through their own" tough times" in the beginning.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I'm type 1 and keen to start a low carb diet although from what Iv researched the best approach seems to be lchf - I am desperate to lose weight, I need to lose about 1 1/2 stone, but I'm worried that consuming fat will cause me to gain even more weight!!! Any advice greatly appreciated
 
jack412 said:
yep the first week sucks, I ate more protein that then went to glucose, at a pinch use carb if you have to, but it only delays ketosis..also you need a teaspoon of salt a day in water/food I ate coconut oil off a spoon

the good news is tomorrow you won't be hungry/starving feeling

study these two links and it should help
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarb101/a/firstweek.htm

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm
Click to expand...
Fat will not make you fat believe it or not, it's the carbs that do that. Only yesterday someone on here was saying that if they want to gain weight they eat more carbs & more fat if they want to lose weight. It's a balancing act when it comes to weight, all you can do is try it & get the balance needed to lose the pounds.
Good luck.

Oooops replied to wrong one ment to be 1 below.
 
lisajohnson101 said:
I'm type 1 and keen to start a low carb diet although from what Iv researched the best approach seems to be lchf - I am desperate to lose weight, I need to lose about 1 1/2 stone, but I'm worried that consuming fat will cause me to gain even more weight!!! Any advice greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
heathernlass spiker robert and a few other T1's LCHF

I know it doesn't make sense but the fat doesn't make you fat..it's the carbs
 
lisajohnson101 said:
I'm type 1 and keen to start a low carb diet although from what Iv researched the best approach seems to be lchf - I am desperate to lose weight, I need to lose about 1 1/2 stone, but I'm worried that consuming fat will cause me to gain even more weight!!! Any advice greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Better now.
Fat will not make you fat believe it or not, it's the carbs that do that. Only yesterday someone on here was saying that if they want to gain weight they eat more carbs & more fat if they want to lose weight. It's a balancing act when it comes to weight, all you can do is try it & get the balance needed to lose the pounds.
Good luck.
 
Hi Ellie.

I understand how difficult it is and I am just like you about the carb and blood sugar but don't worry I have worked it out by myself what to eat and which foods that you need more energy and not to feel hungry for longer without raise blood sugar. I have tested my blood sugar with a glucose monitor after meal, I promise you that it's actually work. I have so many recipe ideas including breakfast, main meal, snack and even sweet, I will write you tomorrow, a full recipe and meal plan. :)

I hope you are well and check my message tomorrow.

Shahid Ali
 
lisajohnson101 said:
I'm type 1 and keen to start a low carb diet although from what Iv researched the best approach seems to be lchf - I am desperate to lose weight, I need to lose about 1 1/2 stone, but I'm worried that consuming fat will cause me to gain even more weight!!! Any advice greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Fat in LCHF diet will not make you gain weight. As a T1 the main thing that makes you lose or gain weigh is having less or more insulin. The only safe way to reduce your insulin requirement is to reduce carbs. The only sustainable way to reduce carbs is to increase fats.

In conclusion: Eat fat to lose weight.
 
Ellie-70 said:
Please advise,
Ellie
Click to expand...
Yes nearly everyone feels like that I think, especially the first time.

Great advice given above on how to avoid and minimise this - plenty of fluids, salt, other electrolytes (might explain your banana craving), loads of fat, don't overdo the protein.
 
Pasha said:
Hi Ellie-70

1/ I am a living person
2/I have been through it personally
3/my normal carb intake is 20 grams/day but at present doing 14 grams/day as an experiment.
4/I am feeling great

I wonder if you are eating enough, protein and fats.?Remember that the eliminated carbs must be replaced by some other source of energy [calories] and this is fat. You will also need adequate amounts of protein in order to feel satisfied.
Most people will need a bit more salt and more fluids also when they are on the LCHF way of eating.We excrete more fluids/electrolytes as our bodies stores of glycogen become smaller. Failure to replace them will make you weak and tired. [ been there, done that myself]

Another problem is simply getting used to to your new eating habits , it can take up to three weeks to get accustomed to this new diet, take it a day at a time. If you get the munchies go for a walk, drink water and the "crisis will pass". It does get easier with time.

You are not alone, I think everybody goes through their own" tough times" in the beginning.
Click to expand...
Hello Pasha,
Thanks very much for your helpful reply. I have had four hours sleep since I posted and I feel a bit better. I do eat enough protein, in fact I worry I eat too much protein. Today, Monday, I have had two eggs fried in butter; a chicken breast in Chasseur Sauce; 50g blue cheese and a 200g strip loin steak (fried in olive oil and butter). That seems like too much protein to me, what do you think?
As for fat consumption, I fried tomatoes and mushrooms in butter along with eggs; I used at least 60ml of olive oil to sauté the veg for the chicken Chasseur, I fried the steak in oil and butter and there was the fat in the cheese and yoghurt I ate. I have also had five teas with cream. I am finding it difficult to stomach the extra fat but I will try and increase it bit by bit.
The sugar and starchy foods cravings are very strong but I have had 36g of carbs today, none from grains, potatoes, root veg or legumes.
I have always disliked salty food so I am forcing myself to add salt in my cooking and add salt at the table. I may just add a teaspoon of salt to some warm water tomorrow and drink it if I still feel terrible! I drink far too much water as it is as I still have that 'diabetes thirst' even though my morning blood glucose was 5.3 this morning - the lowest reading I have got since being diagnosed three months ago.
Thanks Pasha.
 
lisajohnson101 said:
I'm type 1 and keen to start a low carb diet although from what Iv researched the best approach seems to be lchf - I am desperate to lose weight, I need to lose about 1 1/2 stone, but I'm worried that consuming fat will cause me to gain even more weight!!! Any advice greatly appreciated
Click to expand...
Hi Lisa, though I feel under the weather I did lost 4lbs in this first week of lchf. I try to stay below 50g of carbs a day. I know it could have just been water loss as with the start of any new diet but at least it was a loss!
 
s_ali83 said:
Hi Ellie.

I understand how difficult it is and I am just like you about the carb and blood sugar but don't worry I have worked it out by myself what to eat and which foods that you need more energy and not to feel hungry for longer without raise blood sugar. I have tested my blood sugar with a glucose monitor after meal, I promise you that it's actually work. I have so many recipe ideas including breakfast, main meal, snack and even sweet, I will write you tomorrow, a full recipe and meal plan. :)

I hope you are well and check my message tomorrow.

Shahid Ali
Click to expand...
Thanks Shahid, that is very kind of you and I look forward to receiving your meal plan.
 
Hi Ellie-70

Firstly CONGRATULATIONS on the great FBG result, thats great proof of real progress. To be honest I do think that you are eating a bit too much protein at the moment but would not make any reduction for the moment. I think that the main issue at the moment is to get used to the low carbs and increasing your salt intake. As you say you can easily make a brine solution and drink it throughout the day..

As time goes by and the carb cravings subside you will be able to fine tune your macro nutrient ratios to give yourself the best BG values you can attain.

IE , Carbohydrate- protein -fat ratios for a given calorie intake tailored to your weight, height, BMI etc

Once again, congratulations on your fantastic FBG, you must be thrilled to bits .
 
Ellie-70 said:
I worry I eat too much protein.
Click to expand...
Yes probably
I am finding it difficult to stomach the extra fat but I will try and increase it bit by bit.
Click to expand...
Excellent approach, it's normal to feel queasy adding fat and a good idea to do it gradually
my morning blood glucose was 5.3 this morning - the lowest reading I have got since being diagnosed three months ago.
Click to expand...
Hoorah!!!
 
Pasha said:
Hi Ellie-70

Firstly CONGRATULATIONS on the great FBG result, thats great proof of real progress. To be honest I do think that you are eating a bit too much protein at the moment but would not make any reduction for the moment. I think that the main issue at the moment is to get used to the low carbs and increasing your salt intake. As you say you can easily make a brine solution and drink it throughout the day..

As time goes by and the carb cravings subside you will be able to fine tune your macro nutrient ratios to give yourself the best BG values you can attain.

IE , Carbohydrate- protein -fat ratios for a given calorie intake tailored to your weight, height, BMI etc

Once again, congratulations on your fantastic FBG, you must be thrilled to bits .
Click to expand...
Thanks again Pasha for your help,
Part of the reason I am going too heavy on the meat is because it doesn't take any carbs from my daily carb allowance as I want to be able to have some treats like a little dark chocolate, some nut butter, berries etc. This morning I made pancakes from ground almonds and Greek yoghurt and they were really nice. Fried in butter of course! I had a few raspberries with them. I can't remember the carb content as I am not at home now but I did write it down. I also drank half a tsp of salt in warm water - horrible!!!
Thanks again,
Ellie
 
Spiker said:
Yes probably Excellent approach, it's normal to feel queasy adding fat and a good idea to do it gradually
Hoorah!!!
Click to expand...
Hello Spiker,
Thanks for the input. Do you think extra nuts and seeds and salad vegetables would be a good idea to replace some of the protein heavy animal produce? I already eat a lot of cooked vegetables.
 
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