so after nearly three weeks of palpitations, irregular heart beat and heavy feeling in my chest, i've eaten some grains....

[losenotloose]

And potatoes and I'm back to normal. I'm quite disappointed. I've read Dr Briffa's book, looked on lots of low carb/paleo website and was completely convinced that low carb was going to be a brilliant way of life for me. But surely these symptoms were a sign low carbing wasn't doing me much good.

Where was the extra energy I've heard about? I felt like I was coming down with a heart attack! So, I've had an ECG and blood tests and await the results.

Three days ago I decided it was silly to be religiously following this new diet whilst feeling like crap and I'm already feeling better.

The thing is, I wasn't even doing bootcamp, was eating berries and nuts, loads of veg, loads of water etc.

I am now seriously sceptical about low carbing and good health.

[losenotloose]

And before anyone asks, yes I've been eating enough, lots of fat, breakfast every day. What's gone wrong?

By the way, dh has been eating low carb also, great first 10 days, lots of energy, but is now finding it a strain to climb the stairs at work. Not long ago he did the London to Brighton bike ride, and cycled back again! He's a healthy, normal weight 33 year old. Not good.

[CarolBornAMan]

so it is not for you - but it does work for lots of other people .. not sure what your point is?

[PeppiNephrine]

Its not the amazing good for everyone miracle diet that some people think it is.

[losenotloose]

Well, I think it's sold as an amazing good for everyone diet when it seems it can be dangerous for some.

In Dr Briffa's book he says the actual requirement for carbohydrates is none at all. Well, what was going on with me then? I'm not saying it's bad for everyone, but where's the acknowledgment that it's not good for everyone?

I just think in general there should be more honest, unbiased information out there, not a one size fits all theory. There's so much conflicting information out there. "eat vegan for best long term health", "eat low carb for long term health". Which is true, cos you can find arguments for both all over the place. It's like religion, if there's so many gods, which one do I believe in? I don't want to just lose weight, I want to be healthy.

[ihatethecold]

I agree with you. I think that big changes in your diet aren't always
Good.

I decided to do the 8/16 diet, so I would only eat in an 8 hour period and fast for the remaining 16.

It gave me the worst migraine that made half my face droop.

It was scary as it lasted 6 hours.

Was also eating lots of protein to keep me full up.

[KarinMurphy]

Heart palpitations when low carbing is usually down to electrolite imbalance, mainly low potassium caused by drinking very large quantities of water. It can also be caused by dehydration oddly enough.

You can still follow a paleo way of eating even if you're not happy low carbing. You could get your carbs from rice, sweet potatoes, white potatoes etc. and still get the benefits of clean, grain free eating.

[losenotloose]

Well I was thinking of just having carbs with one meal a day so that I'm getting what I need without overloading.

Have been supplementing potassium for about 5 days as heard it could be to do with that!

[Snatchoo]

That's a shame lose but if it's not working, it's not working!

Why not look into The Harcombe Diet, it's the same principle but she allows carbs. It's on a fat meal OR carb meal - don't mix the two basis.

I really liked it and found it works (although I'm staying away from carbs for now) and intend to work it into maintenance when I get there!

[PrettyBelle]

I did Atkins for 2,5 months, found it easy to maintain, felt no cravings, lost some weight. Then out of nowhere I developed terrible stomach cramps which subsided only when I, desperate for some relief, ate a bowl of plain oats porridge. This continued for a week - I tried getting back to low-carbing, got stomach aches, had some grains or a piece of wholemeal bread and felt instantly pain-free. Not sure what happened but afterwards I never went back on Atkins.

[Itstartshere]

I think everyone is different! Personally I have to eat a little bit of sweet potato or squash or parsnip, not every day but certainly say 3/4 days out of the week. Then I feel fine. Otherwise my energy dips really low But I do notice my energy picks up when I eat more fat and drink more water in general. Sometimes I think it's actually really easy to have quite a low number of calories on this diet too and you need to make sure you're eating enough.

I really don't think oats/wheat/other grains are bad for you unless you have gluten intolerance/celiac. I had bread on my holiday and obviously I stopped losing weigh but I felt absolutely fine.

Find what works for you and do it.

[CiderwithBuda]

I think you are right in that not every thing will suit every one. I am doing bootcamp at the moment and feel fine. But that maybe because I slipped up at the weekend and had carbs. I did notice that in my first week/ten days my legs were like lead going up stairs and I felt a sort of whooshing in my head. I won't stick to it long term but am ok doing it now. I do want to reintroduce some carbs. But just not the crappy, sugary, processed ones that none of us need.

Even Atkins was only ever meant to be short term. The plan calls for people to gradually reintroduce carbs till they find their set point at which they maintain their weight loss but don't gain. Of course most people go back to eating the donuts etc that made them fat in th first place!

I'm planning on reintroducing pulses and some grains. I'm missing porridge and granola in the mornings. A few years ago I cut out wheat and sugar. That worked well and is what I am planning on getting back to.

The other issue for me with very low carb is that is is a very unforgiving way of eating. A slip up (and lets face it we all have them) can really undo everything.

But I think the general message is that we were never designed to eat the sheer amount of carbs that we eat. Especially the crappy nutrition-free ones.

[Beechview]

OP very low carb diets don't agree with me either. I'm currently following the Harcombe diet as Snatchoo mentions.
I'm having one carb meal a day (usually breakfast) then 2 protein and veg meals. I'm feeling really well on it.

[oohdaddypig]

Have a look at what a guy called paul jaminet says online about going too low carb. It's just not good for you.

He advocates "safe" carbs in the form of rice and potato. A lot of former "no carbers" are changing.

I don't think anyone should do low carb long term....

[Sleepwhenidie]

This just proves that the 'perfect diet' doesn't exist, we are all different! We could probably all do much better with less/no processed carbs but beyond that it's trial and error to find what suits your body.

[CiderwithBuda]

I must look into the Harcombe diet. I think I have the book on my kindle.

[oohdaddypig]

I think it is telling that a lot of former low carbers are switching to moderate "safe" carb.

The evidence seems to be suggesting that in the long term it can affect adversely the thyroid and decrease mucus production causing immune issues, dry eyes, stomach problems, amongst other things.

A lot of staunch low carbers only switched because they ran into these problems...

It seems that some people can cope being minimal carb longer than others. You also end up eating a lot of protein, which is not without its issues either.

If low carb is working for you then that's brilliant but I think that the flip side is becoming more apparent.

[Beechview]

Yeah, I think that vitamin and fibre supplements being recommended as part of a low carb diet is telling in itself.
When I did Atkins, I lost loads of weight in 2 weeks but I was constipated and my breath was foul. There's no way that we're meant to be doing that if that's a side effect.
I actually think that the ideal diet is a low gi type diet where you can include some complex carbs but its mostly protein, veg and pulses.

[TheArticFunky]

I've always found that serious low-carbing makes me very hungry and if I'm hungry I'm more likely to reach for the chocolate/ wine.

I watch my carbs but I still have them. I have a few nights a week where I have meat/ fish and vegetables for dinner with no carbs, however I will probably have had bread at breakfast or lunch. When I have pasta or potatoes I have child sized portions, this works so much better for me than the very strict approach that lots of people follow.

[MissBeehiving]

I do low carb for the majority of the time and it works well for me - it keeps my weight stable and I don't get sugar lows. If I feel like having some carbs a couple of time a week then I do - I'm not that abstemious but is sustainable because it's easy.

I also have familial high cholesterol and so and blood tested fairly frequently - and since I started low carb my cholesterol levels have been the lowest they have ever been, so it's obviously healthier for me personally.

[BlackAffronted]

I managed an 8 hour zumbathon while being strict LC, so some of us do get bag loads of energy. A year ago, Id have collapsed after an hour!

[dementedma]

I signed up for boot camp at the start and was losing weight but after 10 days was exhausted, short tempered and ill. I fully accept I maybe wasn't doing it properly but felt dreadful. Came off it and now feel back to normal. However I am going to start again on Monday and see if it happens this time..?will let you know how it goes at the second attempt

[MaryBeardfanclub]

A book was published in 2011 called The Art and Science of Low Carb Living. If you are interested in how the body responds to this way of eating and why for instance you do feel lousy for the 1st 2-3 weeks it is all explained in the book. It's written by 2 scientists and is aimed at healthcare professionals but is still quite readable. The book explains how you cannot just cut out carbs and all will be well. You have to manage your electrolytes and minerals to avoid side effects and ensure success.

You feel better after eating carbs because your body has not yet adapted to using ketones.

THere are some blogs I have read who suggest that women do better on low carb if they include sweet potatoes and white rice sometimes. I manage fine without but I would be open to including these foods if I felt like it in the future

I also read an interesting blog post on the Wheatbelly blog about strategies for coping with the wheat withdrawal symptoms in the 1st few weeks here

[bishboschone]

I love low carb but it did exactly that to me. I had panic attacks and heart palpitations in the night . I thought I was dying !! I had an ECG because it was that bad . It didn't occur to me it was my diet until I decided to eat a few carbs and now feel better .

[losenotloose]

Well, I'm largely low carbing, but having a small portion if white rice or sweet potato every day or so. I can see the logic behind low carb and believe it is better to have less carbs, but for me this is working better. However, I'm not losing weight. But I'm not overweight so maybe that's why, would love to be slimmer, though!

[holmessweetholmes]

Hi Losenotloose. I was on the bootcamp thread and quit because I wasn't losing weight. I remember you posting before about the palpitations (I've had them too).
Bootcamp wasn't working for me so I'm doing a kind of version of my own and am losing weight and feeling better. Basically I am having a small portion, or two teeny portions, of strictly wholegrain or veg carbs per day. I'm having plenty of veg, meat, fish, eggs etc, plenty of fat, but olive oil or nut oil rather than meat fat or butter. One small piece of fruit a day if I feel the need. No sugar or refined carbs. It's kind of like the Harcombe diet but without the non-combining thing.
It's really working for me so far. Sounds a bit like what you're doing, but if I eat white rice I can't stop!