Going off the rails and questions
simbartes
Posts: 64 Member
A few days ago I decided to have a piece of bread with some processed meat for lunch (it was half a grilled meat and cheese sandwich). One piece of bread... just one.
Well the next morning my feet were a little swollen. By mid morning my sandals were digging into my feet and my toes turned a dusky shade. I had to take my shoes off. I put my feet on a spare chair but it didn't help. By the time I got to go home I couldn't fit my feet in my sandals at all. I had to walk to the car barefooted (rather embarrassing). When I got home they were twice their normal size.
I ate very low carbs (for me) that day. I drank lots of water. The next morning (second morning after my carb binge) all that water flushed out of my system and my feet were a lot less puffy. By the third morning my feet were normal again.
Has this happened to anyone else? The discomfort of my feet swelling like that was enough to swear me off bread and other very high carb foods forever. Are there other foods that can do this that I need to know about? I'm usually the sort of person who has to experience something for myself to believe. But ya know I just don't want to experience that again, and I would like to learn from those who have more experience in this woe.
Also I count net carbs. Between 40-50 net grams per day keeps me in ketosis. Should I reduce the carb count? Should I be counting whole carbs? If I count whole carbs then how do I get enough of my fiber for the day?
Also, I've heard/read about everyone having amazing amount of energy on waking up. I'm finding mornings are really difficult for me to get going. Once I'm up and have had breakfast (a new thing for me) then I'm fine and have all the energy I need. But how come I am so exhausted on waking up? The only thing that's changed is my diet, my sleep habits and stress levels are the same. Is there something I can do better to have more energy on waking?
Any advise is welcome.
Well the next morning my feet were a little swollen. By mid morning my sandals were digging into my feet and my toes turned a dusky shade. I had to take my shoes off. I put my feet on a spare chair but it didn't help. By the time I got to go home I couldn't fit my feet in my sandals at all. I had to walk to the car barefooted (rather embarrassing). When I got home they were twice their normal size.
I ate very low carbs (for me) that day. I drank lots of water. The next morning (second morning after my carb binge) all that water flushed out of my system and my feet were a lot less puffy. By the third morning my feet were normal again.
Has this happened to anyone else? The discomfort of my feet swelling like that was enough to swear me off bread and other very high carb foods forever. Are there other foods that can do this that I need to know about? I'm usually the sort of person who has to experience something for myself to believe. But ya know I just don't want to experience that again, and I would like to learn from those who have more experience in this woe.
Also I count net carbs. Between 40-50 net grams per day keeps me in ketosis. Should I reduce the carb count? Should I be counting whole carbs? If I count whole carbs then how do I get enough of my fiber for the day?
Also, I've heard/read about everyone having amazing amount of energy on waking up. I'm finding mornings are really difficult for me to get going. Once I'm up and have had breakfast (a new thing for me) then I'm fine and have all the energy I need. But how come I am so exhausted on waking up? The only thing that's changed is my diet, my sleep habits and stress levels are the same. Is there something I can do better to have more energy on waking?
Any advise is welcome.
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Replies
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Have you had edema before? It might be worth asking your doc about it.
Your kidneys regulate your fluids as well as a bunch of other stuff. Carb intake impacts the kidneys through multiple mechanisms.
The effects you're experiencing, including the low energy, are potentially due to sodium loss and retention, but edema is a sign that your body is having trouble with the changes in fluid/sodium balance.0 -
@simbartes,
Edema is what a lot of obese diabetics get. I had it for years. They sell special socks for the condition, I used to wear them. It totally went away after I started keto. Or I wonder if you have a food allergy with gluten? IDK.
You could do an experiment again and see if it happens again, if it does, eliminate bread. In the 11 months I have been on the diet, I only recently ate a half piece of toast. I did it because I was going to do hard labor (building a shed) and I wanted a few carbs in me to burn off.
If you want to do Keto, most keto'ers do not subtract fiber from their carb count.
Energy when waking up? hmmmm.... if you want a lot of energy, try water fasting for 36 hours, you'll have more energy than you'll know what to do with.... well, maybe not right now....do that later after you get keto adapted.
Magnesium citrate helps for sound sleep, are you taking that? Please read this short article...
"Keto-flu" and Sufficient Intake of Electrolytes
I hope this helps,
Dan the Man from Michigan
Keto / IF / Sedentary
100 pounds down, 24 to go.
Blog #10 Keto: Abbreviations, Acronyms & Terminology Used on the LCD & Keto Discussion Groups Updated
Blog #13 DittoDan's Milestone's, First's And Good Changes Since Starting the Ketogenic Diet Updated
DittoDan's Keto Blogs
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Edema is what a lot of obese diabetics get. I had it for years. They sell special socks for the condition, I used to wear them. It totally went away after I started keto. Or I wonder if you have a food allergy with gluten? IDK.
I had edema when I started (and wore the socks). The first week on LCHF, I was in the bathroom just about every hour on the hour and the swelling became minimal - now 6 weeks in, I have virtually no swelling. I still have problems with certain foods like ham for one. I don't know if it's the curing process, or the sodium, but it affects me.
I like Dan's idea of trying the food again to experiment, but I'd do it product by product - just try a piece of toast and see if it affects you, then the meat etc.0 -
As someone that always had to make sure to get enough fiber in the past due to IBS, I have found that my 20ish net carb Keto diet has completely eliminated my IBS symptoms and I don't pay any attention to fiber as a goal anymore.
Even though I mostly count net carbs, I still don't let the total go over too much. I would be uncomfortable to go over 35 total. Sometimes I like to have a quest bar in the morning, but I never eat a whole one for this reason.
But, each person is different. I have no health issues that I do this for. I really have no reason other than its what I decided, to be this strict with it. Others notice changes they don't care for upon crossing a certain limit. I've only had a bad day after a bunch of carbs like you mentioned. But it wasn't swelling for me. You may need to do some experimenting to see what you think fits best for you.
As far as the swelling, I can't really advise you there except to say that if it concerns you, definitely see your doctor.0 -
@simbartes this happened to me this last Monday. At lunch I had some fried shrimp and when way over on the carbs because of not checking the amount on Captain D's website. By 10 pm I was aware of my feet swelling setting at the compute. My toes once again looked like fat cigars vs. cigarettes. 48 hours all was back to normal and I got back into nutritional ketosis.
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I have found that "fibre/fiber for the day" is another one of those medical myths...Once I was keto-adapted, everything settled down "down there". I have gone off the rails since coming back from holiday - I did really well on holiday only put on 2 lbs which came straight off as water weight, but have now put on 6lbs fallin g off the keto diet and into higher carbs. Today is day 1 of getting properly back on track and hopefully some of the 6lbs will show to be water weight too!
My husband has IBS like @Sunny_Bunny_ but can't let go of the idea that he needs fruit and veg in decent quantities, although he has reduced the amount of bread etc that he eats and that has helped some.
Good luck @simbartes0 -
thank you folks. I appreciate the advise.
I don't have any underlying medical issues other than obesity related pre-diabetes and hypertension according to my doctor.
I'm thinking I will start counting whole carbs instead of net carbs and keeping it less than 50 a day. Lets see what that does!!! I enjoy this way of eating and see it as very sustainable. I am just not willing to totally give up vegetable.... not just yet LOL
next week I might also do an experiment and have a small piece of bread, see if my feet swell again like they did. If that happens then I know its my body protesting the carbs!!
Again, thanks for the responses0 -
I would eliminate bread for 3 weeks before testing and make that the only new food for a couple of days.0
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With the pre-diabetes AND hypertension I'm thinking this might be more sodium related. It can be hard to pinpoint exactly what is going on. I personally don't swell with carbohydrate intake, but I notice that a lot of carbs come hand-in-hand with extra sodium, so that seems to be where much of the swelling can happen.0
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Has anyone tried dry brushing to help with a situation like this? I just recently read about it, but don't know anyone who has used it...0
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I was gonna suggest avoiding wheat for a while too. If you've been subconsciously avoiding it and re-introduced it with the sandwich, it may have triggered the swelling. Also the early morning exhaustion may be low sodium? That happens to me sometimes, and after a little salt I'm usually okay.0
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I tried dry brushing for a while. It felt good but did not seem to do much for the swelling. I also did lymphatic drainage massage. The only thing that helped was wearing compression garments, but I grew tired of them and they were very hot in the summer. I wore them from shoulder-to-ankle for over a year. I had poodle ankles whenever I took them off lol.
The best solution for me is to try to control edema through very low carb eating.0 -
I tried dry brushing for a while. It felt good but did not seem to do much for the swelling. I also did lymphatic drainage massage. The only thing that helped was wearing compression garments, but I grew tired of them and they were very hot in the summer. I wore them from shoulder-to-ankle for over a year. I had poodle ankles whenever I took them off lol.
The best solution for me is to try to control edema through very low carb eating.
That makes me very sad that you had such problems, yet happy because you're controlling it better now. (hugs)0
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