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Energy levels ?

Sam50

Well-Known Member
Messages
228
Location
West Sussex
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Morning lovely people,

Just wanted to ask if anyone else had noticed low energy levels in the mornings when first starting on a low carb/less calories diet ?

Hubby is finding that he is lacking in energy in the mornings, feeling a bit 'lead legs'. Is improved after lunch. I'm wondering whether this is just his body adapting to less calories and a lot less carbs ?
Admittedly we've had a full on weekend of decorating which was quite physically demanding.

For breakfast he usually has a small amount of carbs in the form of Bran Flakes or Weetabix (maybe up to 50g) and Greek yoghurt with berries. I think he is probably on around 800-1000 calories a day which is a not a lot for a man his size.

On diagnosis the doctor also told him that he was fighting 'some kind of virus'. Closer examination of his blood test results showed that it was very likely to have been shingles. So I'm wondering whether the morning fatigue is a legacy from the virus combined with adapting to a different form of diet.

Doctor assured him that he would feel more energetic once his BG dropped. Post meal BG has dropped from 21.2 to 9.5 in the past 6 weeks so we know that is going in the right direction.

Thoughts please ?
 
I don't recall any particular feeling of low energy when I (we) began low carb. Your husband has so many different things going on,
reducing carbs
low calorie diet
raised blood sugars
blood sugar levels dropping, possibly faster than his body is keeping up
recovering from shingles
a weekend of decorating​
that it would be impossible to say exactly what was making him feel a bit slow in the morning. Who knows, perhaps he is fighting off another virus.
Some/many people do feel a bit different, one way or another, when they start low carb. In our case, it was a sudden rush of joy and energy, nothing negative. If it's not so good, sometimes it is lack of salt in the diet, which can be easily remedied.

My recommendation, stick with it, things are getting better, we all have low energy days from time to time.
Sally
 
My experience of these heavy legs in the morning was when I was on chemotherapy a few years ago, a common symptom of chemo. I know this isn't at all the same thing. It was bad enough in my case to make me have to sit down to clean my teeth. Mine significantly improved by having a bath with Radox muscle relaxant bubbles, every single morning as soon as I could after getting up and having a cuppa. It got the blood flowing, and was very successful. It may be worth a try.
 
thanks Sally and James I think you are probably right in that it is a combination of many factors in a short space of time. I did wonder if the sudden drop in blood sugars might be at the bottom of it all. Am sure it takes time to adjust, don't worry he intends to stick with the programme x
 
thanks that's a good idea x
 
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