Twitchy legs while on diet.

[littlebrownmouse]

DH is on a diet, he's roughly following slimming world and is losing weight well. The problem is, he's gone from being really relaxed and sleeping like a log to having twitchy legs and being generally restless and fidgety in bed. He has always slept really well but is now up most nights with restlessness and twitchiness. He is convinced he's suffering some sort of withdrawal symptoms from something that's missing in his diet, but what could it be?

Restless legs can be a sign of low potassium cant it? I may be wrong but I am pretty sure - best google it though.

I went to slimming world for a short time after having DC4. It was my first and last time on a diet. I was shocked at the crap you could eat and some of their rules i.e. fruit juice is naughty, tinned pease pudding is good

Has he stopped drinking coffee, tea or cola?
Has he stopped eating sugar/sweet things?

Any withdrawal would depend on how much of something he was eating before he started the diet.

He's not really eating any crap, loads of fruit and veg, pasta, protein such as lean meat, eggs etc. You're right about the rubbish you CAN eat though. Willgoogle potassium. Thanks.

I think magnesium supplements can help

I read about magnesium when I googled actually.

I think the magnesium is worth looking in to, if he's eating lots of healthy foods then he shouldn't be too deficient in minerals, but a sudden change in diet, weight and fluid status can definately do that.

Caffiene withdrawal or alchocol withdrawal is common with changes of diets - did he have those things regularly before and not very much now?

Also, restless legs (assuming it is that) can be triggered a bit by low blood glucose. Is he having his evening meal but nothing much afterwards? If he doesn't already have a small snack containing fats, proteins and carbs before bed then maybe it'd be worth a try - something like a glass of milk and just a very small handful of nuts. Or a couple of oatcakes and peanut butter. I often get restless and can't settle if I'm a bit hungry x

If he is doing Slimming World, then he could use a B for some salted cashews. Oatrcakes and so on he would have to syn and they are pretty high

As it can be linked to iron deficency how about water melon or steak in his diet?
Also make sure he isnt having too much caffene, but he is having enough fluids

I got this when doing Atkins because you don't absorb vit B easily if you're not eating carb.

I was just coming on to say that either potassium / magnesium / copper /zink or some such mineral was the likely culprit. Can't remember which...