Question about side effects (sorry if repeat)

clayswife13

I am wondering what some side effects (the not so good ones) that you have experienced. I have been on the Launch Pad and unless I totally overlooked it I did not see it and when I google it all I get are reasons you shouldn't eat this way (whatever, people are stupid). Anyway, I am just trying to understand what "could" happen (not that it will). Especially since I am 7 weeks postpartum as well and there are a lot of side effects from that and simply having a newborn.

wabmester

Side effects of what? You're obviously changing your diet, but maybe you could tell us more about what you've changed. What's your carb target (in grams)? What kind of foods are you eating? Are you supplementing?

It's all about implementation. If you do some crazy stuff, you may experience crazy side effects.

auntstephie321

There is a link to side effects on the launch pad near the bottom

clayswife13

wabmester wrote: »

Side effects of what? You're obviously changing your diet, but maybe you could tell us more about what you've changed. What's your carb target (in grams)? What kind of foods are you eating? Are you supplementing?

It's all about implementation. If you do some crazy stuff, you may experience crazy side effects.

Sorry I have cut my carbs down to between 55-100g per day. So far I have not been over 65g so I may adjust that down after I see how things go for then next week or so. Right now I am mainly eating meats (mostly chicken but that is nothing new), low carb veggies (such as cabbages, green beans, ect); low carb dairy and some berries (the equivalent of no more than 4 strawberries a day). Only supplementing I am currently doing is a prenatal vitamin a day (again, not new). I will be going to my PCP in the next couple of weeks and am going to request lab work to check my CBC, Lipid profile, glucose, and comprehensive metabolic panel, hopefully by then I will have made changes long enough to see if I need to add any other supplements. I am just trying to figure out mainly what to expect in the first couple of weeks as my body makes a change from energy from carbs to energy from fat.

clayswife13

auntstephie321 wrote: »

There is a link to side effects on the launch pad near the bottom

Thank-you I found it, I must have overlooked it earlier.

KarlaYP

Look at the "keto flu" information in the Launch Pad too. It's great info on what to expect. Once again, this is different for us all. I hardly experienced any, where others report true flu like symptoms.

wabmester

clayswife13 wrote: »

I am just trying to figure out mainly what to expect in the first couple of weeks as my body makes a change from energy from carbs to energy from fat.

At 65g/day, you were mildly ketogenic after day 2 of your diet. The main side effect in the first couple weeks is lightheadedness, fatigue, and maybe a mild headache.

These symptoms are a result of sodium loss and the associated water loss (which will also present as a quick weight loss in the first week or so), and you'll get almost instant relief by simply increasing your sodium intake.

IMHO, it's a good idea to increase your sodium intake even before you get symptoms, and stay hydrated. You can relax the sodium intake after a couple weeks, and just add as needed to relieve any symptoms.

You may also see a change in bowel movements, including frequency. Hydration will help, but other than that, no need to do anything preemptive.

That's pretty much it. At that level of carb intake, I wouldn't expect anything crazy.

minties82

I thought I wasn't pooing enough, that's about it. Realised that it was fine to go once every 2-3 days and forgot about it. I never got the low carb flu or anything.

My grandma tried keto without doing ANY reading, gave up on day 6 as she had a constant headache and felt queasy. I had sent her lots of links and told her to come here but she just winged it apparently. She takes pills to eliminate sodium so I didn't think that would work well with keto.

She also thought that a lack of hunger was a bad side effect :-)

DianaElena76

I can't remember if you answered this elsewhere, but are you breastfeeding? I was BFing my youngest when I started this WOE, so I kept my carbs higher at first and made sure to eat more calories than recommended. Aside from that, "keto flu" pretty much describes it. Oh, and some people get a rash. I just remember the first time I tried low carb I got headaches, dizziness, nausea, and constipation.. but this time around (thanks to this group) I knew to make sure I was eating plenty of fats and to supplement with additional sodium/potassium/magnesium. I also stepped down gradually this time, spending about a week at a carb level of 80, then a few weeks at 40g per day, and then down to 20ish from there. I don't know if that is why I didn't get any icky symptoms or if it was "doing it right" (electrolytes, plenty of water, plenty of fat). Everyone is different.

ShootingStar72

I had 1 day when I accomplished very low carbs, and a mild headache was the only side effect. However, it was also windy that day so may have been allergy related. I have slowly worked my carbs down over the past month to less than 50g, which has probably helped alleviate any "flu" symptoms; besides I did not know how to eat LC at first and it has taken me a while to figure it out. No cold turkey for me! Good luck, I hope you cruise right on through with no side effects!

clayswife13

Thanks everyone....I really feel great other than being VERY fatigued. Yesterday I nearly fell asleep driving! Scared the crap out of me because that has never happened before. Can't really blame the fatigue on my son because he is on a thick formula to reduce reflux and usually doesn't wake for a feeding but one time and this week the time he wakes up has been getting longer and longer (4am this morning). I think my sodium intake has been where it needs to be because I have been having to eat a lot of processed foods this week because I basically woke up Tuesday morning and decided that was the day to start...my sodium has been way over every day...anyway thanks for all the info!

wabmester

You'd be surprised how much extra sodium you need. The standard recommendation is for an ADDITIONAL 1-2g per day. You can get about 1g from drinking a bowl of broth. A little less from a McDonalds burger. About 300mg from a dill pickle.

KarlaYP

I have not slept very well since beginning LCHF, but I don't work so I'm able to nap during the day if I need to. I had been reluctant to supplement potassium, thinking the magnesium and sodium was enough. Apparently not. I began a potassium supplement three days ago and have slept better the past two nights. The reason I began it was for leg cramps at night that magnesium, and sodium, were not eliminating. Sleep is an extra benefit I didn't expect!

ajmurray1234

I wake up feeling a bit discombobulated; but that ll goes away soon enough. It's just been a week for me on 20grams of carbs per day.

nvmomketo

I had the fatigue and a headache. I upped my salt a LOT by taking a tsp of salt in a glass of water every morning - I can't get enough salt otherwise.

My only other problem is the runs. Things are moving a little too quickly now. LOL My guess is that it is from too much coconut (coconut cream, coconut oil and shredded coconut) and nuts. I haven't cut them back enough to make any difference yet. It's a minor inconvenience so I'm not fussed over it.

GaleHawkins

My first 90 days was all over the board then things moved into a more predictable pattern.

After a year of being off sugar and grains for a year this week I added some sugar a few times. I had frozen custard twice and ate three very ripe oranges on Thursday. I did have a few aches and pains but we put in long days (worked a trade show for 12 hours straight on Monday and was up 20 hours including driving 400 miles to Canada after the trade show. We drove/rode about 2600 miles sleeping in hotels of varying quality for 7 days so I can not say any pain was due to sugar after reading about half of Dr. Davis' Wheat Belly Total Health while riding this week. He is anti grain but not anti on all types of sugar. He does state most humans have problem dealing with more than 25 grams of carbs at any meal. He states like the first 15 grams does not really count so 15x3 = 45 grams of carbs daily. He talks about ketosis but is clear in his practice it is the grains that messes up his patients when it comes to body weight.