How do you cope with the energy loss?
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sposluk
New Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Mon Jul 07, 2008 1: 06 pm    Post subject: How do you cope with the energy loss?
I actually just went through a pretty bad break up, and didn ' t eat for almost 3 days... after my loss of appetite, I figured I ' d at least capitalize on the gospel that I ' m not craving food. I started Atkins like a week ago, and I ' m so extremely tired. I used to have like 3 cups of coffee a day ( at least! ). How is everyone dealing with the energy loss? Any tips?
KypDurron
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 427
Location: Wisconsin
Mon Jul 07, 2008 1: 36 pm    Post subject:
Well first of all the more information the more people can help....
What are you eating regularly.... some people in here really don ' t feel the energy loss. I ' m one of them.
The feeling of energy loss comes from a few things and most of them are passing or fixable.
1: the brief feeling of energy loss while your body switches from carbohydrates to fats for energy. Some people feel a bit funky during this period but it goes by pretty quick.
2: A low metabolism rate in addition to the carbohydrates. You ' ve been intaking lots of sugars which keeps you jazzed all the time. Without those, if your not a regular exerciser, your going to notice a bit of a drop in energy. Ballot up the stride in your activities will turn you into a energy dynamo.
Speaking from experience, nothing empowers you more than going to the gym or getting some exercise. It ' s the best way to take control of your own life and build some self esteem and confidence.
As far as the energy level goes, once your body hits ketosis and you eat a proper statement atkins diet, you won ' t feel tired. Energy is energy is energy is energy, and every pound of fat that you have on your body is worth 3500 calories. That ' s more than a days worth of fuel, once you train your body to burn that instead of the sugars you are taking in, you will have all the energy you need to feel just like you did before.
sposluk
New Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Mon Jul 07, 2008 1: 52 pm    Post subject:
I ' m eating a hard boiled egg in the morning... sometimes I ' ll splurge on Fiber One if I plan to cut out other carbs in the day. Lunch is a salad ( mixed, green and red leaf ) and 4 oz. turkey patty. Dinner is spinach with either chicken breast or another 4 oz. turkey patty.
Tril
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 1325
Longitude: ( very ) Northeastern USA
Mon Jul 07, 2008 2: 11 pm    Post subject:
Sounds to me like you ' re not eating enough for starters. Eating too little will backfire... plus, you ' ll be tired. Fiber One is NOT ok on Atkins. Indite the list of foods for Induction and come from this rule... if it ' s on the list you can eat it, if it ' s not, you can ' t eat it. Period. It ' s not just about the number of carb grams per day... it ' s the kind, too, that ' s important. Your carbs should mainly come from vegetables ( 12 - 15 net carbs per day ). The rest ( 5 - 8 ) can come from cheese ( up to 4 ounces / 4 carbs per day ), olives ( 10 - 20 depending on type ), avocado ( 1 / 2 ), sour cream ( 1 oz ) or cream ( 3 oz ), and lemon / lime juice ( 3 TBS ). NO cereal.
You ' re only a week into this... most people get their energy back a week to two weeks ( longer for some, sooner for some ) into Induction.
Other things that can effect energy level in addition to what Kyp said:
1. Emotional state... your break up could be causing a lack of energy
2. Hydration... often times people who change their diet stop drinking certain things like soda, juice, milk and don ' t replace that liquid with water. Make SURE you ' re drinking enough water. One sign of dehydration is lack of physical energy / strength ( and headaches ).
3. Supplements... highly recommened on this diet.
4. Exercise... get up, get out and get moving. Be an object in flow. [ / icon_wink. gif] You ' ll gain physical strength that you need.
Do you have a copy of the book? If not... get one. The library is free and you can find them at discount stores like Goodwill ( paid 99 cents for my copy ). Then read it. Also, read the FAQ on this forum!
Tril
Last edited by Tril on Mon Jul 07, 2008 2: 59 pm; edited 1 time in total
KypDurron
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 427
Location: Wisconsin
Mon Jul 07, 2008 2: 46 pm    Post subject:
Yeah, you gots to cut out the cereals... they ' re naughty.
sposluk
New Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Mon Jul 07, 2008 3: 04 pm    Post subject:
thank you guys! i know it says the energy should come back after a week or so... its just hard getting there with work and all.
Tril
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2008
Posts: 1325
Location: ( very ) Northeastern USA
Mon Jul 07, 2008 3: 19 pm    Post subject:
It IS hard... that ' s why you need to do all the OTHER things ( besides eating carbs ) to help regain your energy. When you ' re feeling tired, drink some water. Make sure you ' re taking a vitamin supplement every day. Go for a walk every day. Take care of your emotional health. Smile. [ / icon_smile. gif]
Tril
KypDurron
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 427
Location: Wisconsin
Mon Jul 07, 2008 3: 44 pm    Post subject:
Even at work there are things you can do. Some of them will have people looking at you wierd... some will not.
I know that my gf was in the best shape of her life when she had a sit down office job that gave everyone the exercise balls to sit on instead of chairs.
There are also google - able websites that have lists of exercises you can do at your desk if you are a sit down job. Some of them are actually pretty nice... good isometric stuff.
Honestly though, I would splurge on a gym membership. they ' re fun. Find one that ' s 24 hours though, thats my suggestion.
sposluk
New Member
Joined: 07 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Mon Jul 07, 2008 4: 11 pm    Post subject:
i actually work at a gym part time ( on top of my office job ). i work out at least 5 times a week. cardio 45 minutes each time. i love working out. the endorphins used to be ridiculous. now, im just so tired.
KypDurron
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 427
Location: Wisconsin
Mon Jul 07, 2008 4: 30 pm    Post subject:
Dunno what to tell you except for the standard platitudes.
I believe I will dig into my history and channel my old wrestling coach.
ITS ALL MENTAL! BREAK THE BARRIER! BREAK IT!
" but coach, I just [ / icon_puke_l. gif]d!..... and my eyebrows are frozen with iced sweat... do we have to run outside?... honestly? "
No seriously though.... the energy will come back. I don ' t have any energy issues any more and I spend a lot of time doing active things. My legs feel a bit rubbery sometimes but I ' m training for wrestling and for some medium distance runs right now so I ' ve been doing a lot of running.... and I ' m pretty sure that ' s the reason for it.
karenjs
Senior Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 544
Location: San Jose
Mon Jul 07, 2008 5: 21 pm    Post subject:
If you were taking in more than three cups of coffee per day, you are likely going through caffeine withdrawal. That takes about four days to get through.
After that, the quality of your energy will improve, as well as the quantity. Your energy will be more sustainable with fewer highs and lows, especially if you are spreading your carbs out throughout the day, as you should.
Are you taking in enough fat? Doing Atkins as a low fat diet is dangerous to your health. Use olive oil and vinegar on your salad. Eat a few ounces of cheese each day. On Induction, you should be taking in plenty of calories from fat and protein, but only 20 carbs, mostly from vegetables. It ' s the key to switching over your metabolism to fat - burning.
Also, be sure to vary your vegetables, eating a variety of veggies from the Induction Acceptable List and Other Vegetables list. Spinach and lettuce can get really boring, and eating different veggies also ensures that you take in lots of nutrients instead of the same ones every day. Also, cook your spinach sometimes and eat it raw sometimes. Believe it or not, how you prepare it releases different nutrients to your body.