Newbie

Hi group!! I was living LCHF (moderately) and dropped about 8 lbs. fell off over the last 2 months and now starting again! Mad at myself, but determined to be successful.

I'm 5'7, 183 lbs and looking to hit 175. I'm a new fitness instructor and new to weight lifting! I'm looking to drop these last few pounds and lean out!
Thanks for having me and forgive me in advance if my questions make no sense! I think my macros are correct, crossing fingers. I'm also doing IF with 16:8 eating window.
Dealing with headache, nausea, but I'm pushing through

Debbie

Replies

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    Welcome to the group. :).

    I would guess that your headache and nausea are from low electrolyte levels from the water loss associated with cutting carbs. I know it sounds high, but consider upping your sodium to 3000-5000mg per day. It really does make a big difference, often within an hour or two. Add salt to your food, drink a salty broth, or even add a small tsp of salt to water.

    It should help with energy too.

    If you let your sodium be low for too long, your body will get low in potassium and magnesium and you may get muscle cramps. If you are there already, consider taking a bit of extra vitamins.

    Hope the LC flu passes for you soon.
  • SoosannahK
    SoosannahK Posts: 238 Member
    Welcome! This is a fantastic supportive group. I second the broth. I drink it now some days just because :) It has become a comfort food of sorts for me especially on dreary cold rainy days. And I am in love with the pink Himalayan salt maybe because it's so pretty but it still taste like salt to me ;)
  • ladipoet
    ladipoet Posts: 4,180 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Welcome to the group. :).

    I would guess that your headache and nausea are from low electrolyte levels from the water loss associated with cutting carbs. I know it sounds high, but consider upping your sodium to 3000-5000mg per day. It really does make a big difference, often within an hour or two. Add salt to your food, drink a salty broth, or even add a small tsp of salt to water.

    It should help with energy too.

    If you let your sodium be low for too long, your body will get low in potassium and magnesium and you may get muscle cramps.

    Second this and welcome!
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Welcome to the group. :).

    I would guess that your headache and nausea are from low electrolyte levels from the water loss associated with cutting carbs. I know it sounds high, but consider upping your sodium to 3000-5000mg per day. It really does make a big difference, often within an hour or two. Add salt to your food, drink a salty broth, or even add a small tsp of salt to water.

    It should help with energy too.

    If you let your sodium be low for too long, your body will get low in potassium and magnesium and you may get muscle cramps. If you are there already, consider taking a bit of extra vitamins.

    Hope the LC flu passes for you soon.

    This! For sure! It's the number 1 complaint made when going low carb. It's completely avoidable. Up the salt now, and I would add a magnesium citrate or one of the "ates" versions of magnesium ASAP. Almost everyone is already deficient in this incredibly important electrolyte, but losing sodium has most certainly affected your magnesium too.

    Welcome!
  • macchiatto
    macchiatto Posts: 2,890 Member
    Ditto the pp's advice, and welcome to the group! :)
  • fatchimom
    fatchimom Posts: 256 Member
    Welcome Debbie!!! You will LOVE this group!! Please feel free to add me as a friend if you want.
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    Welcome! Please don't ignore the sodium recommendations! You will feel so much better!
  • lovesretirement
    lovesretirement Posts: 2,661 Member
    Hi there! I am relatively new as well! I have to vouch for the addition of sodium to rid yourself of the headache and flu-like symptoms. As suggested here, I used the beef or chicken broth to fix that issue and still add it to my day sometimes.

    Welcome!
    Connie
  • livedaily1913
    livedaily1913 Posts: 6 Member
    :o you've enlightened me! I have no energy but headed to the gym for fasted cardio. First up, ACV shot and some salted water until I purchase broth today! My goodness thank you. Yesterday was so rough.
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Welcome to the group. :).

    I would guess that your headache and nausea are from low electrolyte levels from the water loss associated with cutting carbs. I know it sounds high, but consider upping your sodium to 3000-5000mg per day. It really does make a big difference, often within an hour or two. Add salt to your food, drink a salty broth, or even add a small tsp of salt to water.

    It should help with energy too.

    If you let your sodium be low for too long, your body will get low in potassium and magnesium and you may get muscle cramps. If you are there already, consider taking a bit of extra vitamins.

    Hope the LC flu passes for you soon.

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    You are ahead of me. I was really slow to start salting and felt poorly for a week. LOL ;)
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    :o you've enlightened me! I have no energy but headed to the gym for fasted cardio. First up, ACV shot and some salted water until I purchase broth today! My goodness thank you. Yesterday was so rough.
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    Welcome to the group. :).

    I would guess that your headache and nausea are from low electrolyte levels from the water loss associated with cutting carbs. I know it sounds high, but consider upping your sodium to 3000-5000mg per day. It really does make a big difference, often within an hour or two. Add salt to your food, drink a salty broth, or even add a small tsp of salt to water.

    It should help with energy too.

    If you let your sodium be low for too long, your body will get low in potassium and magnesium and you may get muscle cramps. If you are there already, consider taking a bit of extra vitamins.

    Hope the LC flu passes for you soon.

    Yay! So glad you gave it a try right away. That feeling, which can be corrected, is something that causes too many people to decide that LC is not a fit for them. Some people even go about saying its bad because they never found out how to avoid the so-called "flu symptoms", which is a term that I hate! If it were just called low electrolyte symptoms, it would automatically be understood that raising electrolytes would solve or prevent it entirely.
  • SamandaIndia
    SamandaIndia Posts: 1,577 Member
    Water, a multi mineral supplement (includes salt) and magnesium citrate are a great way to dodge this flu. Good luck and welcome.
  • CMYKRGB
    CMYKRGB Posts: 213 Member
    Welcome!!