When do I stop feeling like s**t then?

[IBlameThePenguins]

I'm on day 4 if low carbing, and I feel really awful! Headachey, shakey & generally low in energy. will this stop soon? Right now I just want to guzzle a bottle of cola & down a great big bowl if carbonara! Any words of wisdom from you seasoned low carbers?

[HumphreyCobbler]

yes - you could be low on potassium. Eat some lo-salt and see if you feel better. I felt like this and it cured me immediately. Stick with it, low carbing is the best thing that ever happened to me.

[BIWI]

You should be through the worst of it by now.

Drink plenty of water and up the amount of fat you're eating. Take it easy, try and have an early night if you can and hopefully tomorrow you will feel better.

Whatever you do though, don't fall face first into a plate of pasta! You will only undo everything you've achieved so far!

[BIWI]

.... or a drink made from boiling water and an Oxo cube or some Bovril or Marmite. The salt in those should help you.

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thank you so much. I really needed some encouragement! BIWI, could you recommend some good fats to include? Also, what.should I eat to increase my salt levels (or should I just pop a load of salt on my dinner?)

Will try the early night, but 11week old DS may have other ideas!

[IBlameThePenguins]

Ah, cross posted. Thank you so,much BIWI & Humphrey...am off to find a stock cube!

[thebestpossibletaste]

When I first started eating low carb I felt awful til day 6 but I gave up caffeine and all sugar too.

[BIWI]

Ooh yes - the worst withdrawal I ever had was from caffeine

[BIWI]

Good fats:

• cook with butter or coconut oil
• add butter to your veg
• make an oily dressing for your salad
• mayonnaise (just check the carb count on the label - or make your own)

• fatty cuts of meat - pork belly, lamb breast, chicken thighs

• avocado also good

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thank you! I drank some oxo (quite good!) & have been drinking water like it's going out of fashion! Am also upping my good fats.

I feel much better in myself today, but have developed a huge case of the squits (sorry! ) is this normal, our am I just some kind of freak??

[BIWI]

I would think it's just a period of transition, IBlameThePenguins, and hopefully you'll be fine tomorrow!

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thank you! Sorry... I am a total newbie, please forgive all the questions (and the TMI!) xx

[BIWI]

No worries! Ask away! In fact, there's a whole questions thread about low carb - hang on ...

[BIWI]

here

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thanks for this thread BIWI! Have had a trawl through. Can I just ask a couple more questions?

I am breastfeeding my 12 week old DS. There is talk on the thread of staying just out of ketosis if you're BFing. How do you know if you're in ketosis? I have been following the rules, but have been adding the odd onion into cooking etc, so maybe slightly more carby! (on the plus side, i've already lost 2inches from my arse!)

Also, if I am adding the odd extra carb (always in veg form, not processed, should I eat less fat, or continue with the same amount?

Sorry if this is badic stuff! Thank you in advance!

[BIWI]

No it's not basic stuff - it's a question that's often asked! Here is something I have c+p from lowcarbdiets.about.com:

Question: What is Ketosis?
Answer: A lot of people are confused by the term "ketosis." You may read that it is a "dangerous state" for the body, and it does sound abnormal to be "in ketosis." But ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (Remember high school biology? This is the "energy molecule.") But ketones are also produced as part of the process.

When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor).

If enough acetone is in our urine, it can be detected using a dipstick commonly called by the brand name Ketostix (though there are other brands, as well). Even though everyone is generating ketones continuously, this detection in the urine is what is commonly called "ketosis."

The higher the concentration of ketones in the urine, the more purple the sticks will turn. The Atkins Diet, in particular, advises people to monitor ketosis as an indication of fat burning. Other reduced carbohydrate diets don't pay much attention to this, or aren't low enough in carbs to make much of an impression on the sticks. (The latter type of diet is sometimes called a "nonketogenic" low-carb diet.)
Why do some people think ketosis is a bad thing?

There is an assumption that if a body is burning a lot of fat for energy, it must not be getting "enough" glucose. However, there is no indication, from studying people on reduced carbohydrate diets, that this is the case (though there is usually a short period of adjustment -- less than a week, in most cases). Although it's true that our bodies can't break fat down into glucose (though, interestingly, they easily use glucose to make fat), our bodies can convert some of the protein we eat into glucose. Indeed, this works well for people who don't tolerate a lot of sugar, because this conversion happens slowly so it doesn't spike blood glucose.

A dangerous condition called ketoacidosis can develop in those with type 1 diabetes, and it is sometimes confused with normal ketosis. The body usually avoids this state by producing insulin, but people with type 1 diabetes are unable to produce insulin. Even most people with type 2 diabetes who inject insulin usually produce enough insulin of their own to prevent ketoacidosis.

[BIWI]

When you say about adding in the odd extra carb, it really depends what you mean! If you end up eating high carb and high fat, that won't be good - although it will still be the carbs that result in you gaining any weight.

What were you thinking 'the odd extra carb' might be?

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thank you so much BIWI! That's really helpful!

By the odd extra carb, I mean, maybe an onion in cooking 2-3 times a week (in a meal for 5 people, so I would be eating a 5th of the onion.) We sometimes add chopped toms too (maybe once a week) but are sticking to the sains basics cartons). Otherwise eating Greek yog, eggs, shed loads of green veg & salad with butter & oily dressing, plus chicken, turkey mince etc.

Thanks again for your advice!

[MarshaBrady]

I remember on day 2 feeling like I was going to faint, was a very odd sensation.

It should be over very soon, nearly there! You'll soon feel that low carb energy kick in.

[IBlameThePenguins]

Thank you marsha! It is indeed very odd! I think I am definitely over the worse of it now. Just the odd headache!

[LongDeadMotherofHorrors]

I know this might sound a little bit of a cheat but I have found that chewing sugar free gum has helped distract me during carb cravings. I have been on a very low carb diet for 10 months now and only crave carbs just before my period. But right at the beginning it was an adjustment and I found the best way of mitigating the initial low energy downer was to have a variety of yummy drinks to hand which made me feel zingy and also made me feel like I'm treating myself e.g. ginger root tea, mint leaf tea, licorice tea. The best best thing is that once I had adjusted into the low carb approach (after 10 days) I felt MUCH more energetic, less bloated and generally rather whizzy!

[BIWI]

IBlameThePenguins - you will be fine doing that. But one suggestion - if you use shallots instead of onions you will reduce the carb count. Shallots are 3.3g carbs per 100g compared with 7.9g for onions! (Buy the echalion/banana shallots - they are bigger and longer and much easier to peel than those pesky little round ones!)

[IBlameThePenguins]

Good idea longdead. Thank you! I am slowly getting better with herby/fruity teas, but have but down from 8 cups of normal tea to 2. I now space the 2 out and really savour them.

Thanks for the advice (again!) BIWI... I am so determined to shift this post baby chub, so really appreciate you taking the time to help me! Out of interest, would you recommend using the keto sticks?

[BIWI]

No don't bother - if you're drinking the amount of water that you should be, you'll be flushing out all the ketones anyway