Is this low carb flu?

[crispinglovershighkick]

I've been struggling with hot flushes and I read that LCHF is meant to help so I started lurking on this board and using CarbManager to get my eye in. Sure enough, hot flushes went almost immediately and I've got on very well for about 3wks.

I'm not a slave to the macros - fat is usually over the limit, carbs and protein slightly under - as I understand fat is meant to ease the transition. I'm enjoying my food and haven't felt deprived, no terrible cravings.

My energy has been trickling away these last few days (maybe since Friday?) and after meals I have the sensation of my stomach being full but no feeling of satisfaction, as if I've just necked a big bottle of water. I've tried adding fat, am eating loads of veg, drinking water. I've tried an cup of decaf coffee and a couple of brazil nuts after a meal. I've tried drinking more water and eating bigger meals. I'm taking an electrolyte supplement (using one of the low salt products plus a sport supplement with potassium and magnesium).

I've tried low carb a couple of times in the past (not properly really, just winging it) and never got very far due to this feeling - tired, starving, panicky - which usually defeats me almost immediately! I've got this far, just wondering if I can push through or if I should pull back and reduce carbs more gradually?

I've just found myself sitting on my bed staring into space with my mouth hanging open, which is pretty much how I've felt since the end of last week.

If your carbs and protein are too low then no wonder you have no energy. Try increasing them and then see how you feel.

If your protein is too low you’ll feel like that. Carbs are not needed at all but too low on protein and you never feel satisfied. Eat high protein, moderate fat and low carb. Make sure your magnesium isn’t oxide as it’s not well absorbed. Got for citrate if you can get it.

You haven't mentioned sodium though. Are you using salt in and on your food?

Thanks very much, that's helpful. When I say carbs and protein are under I mean only just under, if I haven't had any meat or fish i find it tricky to bump up the protein.
I'll check the supplement ingredients, thanks.

It's not just the supplement ingredients though @crispinglovershighkick. You need sodium, i.e. salt, in your diet. Are you cooking with it? Are you adding it to your food? It's a vital electrolyte.

Sorry BIWI, I thought I’d answered, yes,I’m cooking with and liberally adding salt to food.

Meant to say there's also salt in the electrolyte tablets.

How are you feeling now @crispinglovershighkick?

Came across this on FB today which might be of interest

Much better thanks BIWI! I was/am salting everything liberally and there's salt in the electrolyte tablets so I'm pretty sure I've been getting enough sodium. I remember my gran feeling similarly unwell when her potassium was very low due to diuretics, maybe it was that?

I went back to my pre-LCHF breakfasts - an egg or two, buttered (now LC) toast - and felt better. In an effort to clear my head and get some energy I'd been eating a lot in the morning but it doesn't really suit me.

Dh and I went for a bike ride yesterday and at the 1.5hr mark (hours after a small breakfast) I ate a couple of brazils and drank a bottle of water and wasn't hungry until dinnertime even after two more hours of cycling, which is amazing for me. He's like a camel, loads up on one meal and doesn't need to eat all day while I've always been the opposite. So that was an eye opener.

So far so good