Low-carb flu

Lol, the trekkies are taking over the thread Wow Nosher, can't believe you met Patrick Stewart, I bet he was a lovely bloke, he just seems to come across that way. I'd love to go to a Star Trek convention one day (I already have my uniform, science tricorder and communicator ), preferably one with Nimoy and Shatner, but I really like 2nd Gen too.

Anyway, back to my low carb flu! I had a very bad night last night. Didn't sleep very well, upset stomach, I think from all the fat, and a headache. I got up and had some salt in water and feel much better, just a bit foggy now, but I have really achy, wobbly legs, it's not looking good for my ballet on Monday I've also lost my appetite, which isn't great as I think I need a few more carbs as my BGs have been dropping into the threes, which is probably contributing to me feeling awful.

Clivethedrive you mentioned that 79g of protein sounds about right (Brunneria, I'm guessing they mean pure protein, but I'm just guessing). This is such a small amount, a small tin of tuna is 130g (drained weight), can 79g really be right for a whole day? I usually have a small salmon fillet or piece of chicken for dinner, but this sounds like it would be more like what I should be eating for a whole day! Most of my fat is coming from coconut and olive oil as I can't have dairy with the SIBO, so I'm finding it hard to get all my fat from these sources as it's not pleasant to eat so much off it.

Spiker, I'm 105lbs not kgs, so I don't really want to lose more than a pound or two on LCHF. Do you really think 79g of protein is a massive amount? As I said, it's less than a tin of tuna, and probably less than a small piece of fish or chicken.

Sorry for the long post everyone, thanks for all of your helpful replies

Just realised were I was going wrong with the protein. I was stupidly assuming that a piece of protein would be 100% protein, and forgetting that there would also be water, fat, small amount of carbs, etc. Checked my tin of tuna, and although the drained weight is 130g, the protein content is only 35g. Now 79g of protein per day does sound like quite a lot

Lol, did you manage to say anything at all to him?!

I think you're right Nosher, I think my low BG levels are making me tired too, although I've been feeling a lot better as the day's gone on.

In terms of what I've been eating, I had a fried egg with some fried courgette this morning with peppermint tea with coconut oil mixed in and my BG's were in the mid 5s until lunch time. The foggy head disappeared, but the shaky legs didn't go away. For lunch I had half a tin of tuna mixed with olive oil with 75g of fried courgette, 50g of green beans and some olives, followed by peppermint tea and coconut oil. My BGs after this have stayed in the mid 4s. For dinner I'm planning a two eggs omelette with prawns, 50g of peas and fried red pepper, then tea with coconut oil (I've started to write down what I'm eating and the amount of carbs/fat/protein in all my meals so I can get a better handle on were I need to increase or decrease the ratios.

I think I may need to step up my carb consumption at lunch and dinner time, although I have to be careful with some of my veggie portions because of the SIBO. Last night before bed my BG was only 3.6, so I had some fried red pepper and a few spoonfuls of coconut oil. I think as long as I stay under 50g of carbs I won't risk leaving ketosis, so I could probably safely add some more. I've really lost my appetite though, so it's a real struggle trying to force myself to eat bigger portions, particularly in the morning. I definitely think that the low BGs due to too low carbs is contributing either somewhat or completely to my lack of energy.

Oh no, you guppied him, lol!!

Is mid three's really considered normal? When I said I'd add more carbs, I meant veggie carbs not rice or bread or anything like that, just to try and get my blood sugar up slightly, particularly as I'm not comfortable going to bed when my BG is in the threes. I can have small amounts of fruit, but it tends to bloat me, which suggests it's not good for my SIBO I'm drinking plenty of water and taking salt and magnesium, so I'm thinking that coming down from my Christmas binge and the resulting high BG levels is probably partly responsible for the foggy head and wobbly legs (teens to fours is a big drop), plus not eating enough veg, then add in carb flu, it kind of explains it all. I don't think I need to see my GP because I remember feeling worse than this when I first went low carb after first being diagnosed, I think just need a bit longer to adjust maybe?

Spiker said:

Take less insulin not more carbs.

Click to expand...

I'm not on any meds just yet

nosher8355 said:

Mid threes is not in normal range. Sorry!
Ok wait a little more. But keep an eye on your bloods if you are heading towards a hypo.
If in fact you are having a hypo, then that something else is going on. And that's why you are feeling poorly. And a visit to the GP is in order.
Under 3.5 is defo a hypo.

For your next meal no matter what you have will you record before, one hour after, two hours, three hours, then four if possible. It will give you an idea of what's happening.
Take care.
.

Click to expand...

Things is, it's definitely the diet, because I felt fine before starting it, well apart from sleepy when I had too many carbs. Yeah, I'm recording my BGs tonight, I had a few more veggies with my dinner too.

I think another thing contributing to my low BGs is the amount of fat I'm eating, it's keeping my BG low after eating as I'm usually mid 5s after lunch and dinner, but like I said, I've been mid 4s this week. I've skipped the coconut oil tonight as I've had enough fat today to reach my minimum target.

So, I'm having trouble understanding how people keep their BGs up when on a LCHF diet as too much protein and carbs (even from veg) converts to glucose and can stop ketosis. Is it just a matter of finding the right ratios? I've followed the recommendations from the 'Keto Calculator' today, so I'm hoping this will help me balance everything, plus I could eat a few more veggie carbs and a bit more protein as I'm only reaching the minimal levels just now. I think a few more days and I'll have this all sorted. It's just a matter of trail and error for the first few days, hopefully