Body Awareness with the LC WOE
jetsamflotsam
Posts: 170 Member
What does eating LC feel like physically to you? I'm at the end of day 4 and my gut feels decidedly hollow. Even after a large meal where I'm no longer hungry, I still have that weird hollow feeling. I'm extra alert and my chronic insomnia is REALLY bad now - I went to bed at 11 PM last night and didn't fall asleep till sometime after 3:30 AM. I only had a headache the evening of day 2 and after upping my sodium (and taking some painkillers) it has gone away. I was constipated the first few days, but back to normal today... Did you have that feeling of a hollow gut at first? Will that feeling pass eventually? It's not really hunger, it's different... I think it's my body adjusting to lack of carbs/sugar in my system... How long does it take to fully adjust? It's not pleasant at all and I hope this isn't how I'll always feel!
0
Replies
-
Can't relate to the hollow feeling so hopefully that will be a temporary thing.
In terms of sleep - maybe try magnesium (not oxide) before bed as for lots of people it can have a real soporific effect.1 -
Can't relate to the hollow feeling so hopefully that will be a temporary thing.
In terms of sleep - maybe try magnesium (not oxide) before bed as for lots of people it can have a real soporific effect.
I wish magnesium worked. I've tried everything to no avail. I have sleeping pills for the nights I have to get up early the next day and otherwise I go to bed at a normal time and listen to the most boring podcast I can find to make me sleepy. LOL0 -
Is it hollow as if you just gave birth to ET, or more like someone stole your spleen while you were sleeping?1
-
My sleep changed dramatically. I used to have delayed phase sleep -- often up till 3am, 4am, etc.
Now my sleep is ultra-regular. 11pm - 7am pretty much every day.
I changed three things at around the same time:
1) I added a blue light filter to my devices (e.g., https://justgetflux.com/)
2) I did regular outdoor exercise. Much more sunlight exposure. Fatigue probably helped, too.
3) Low-carb
My theory is that lowering carbs lowered insulin, and lower insulin levels make us more sensitive to melatonin.
Increased melatonin sensitivity can make your sleep better or worse. In my case, it made it better. Perhaps because of (1) and (2). Experiment with light.5 -
-
I felt like it was easier to suck in my gut, rather quickly after beginning this woe. Some will begin to burn visceral (the fat around your abdominal organs) fat right away. I don't have any supporting evidence, but did learn it here. Sleep issues, I have also had to deal with! It's 4:35 am, on an off work day, if that tells you anything. I haven't found a solution, obviously, that works for me! Still looking though! I hope you find your solution!0
-
sleep issues... oh boy. I've struggled with insomnia for YEARS. Decades. I've never had a problem FALLING asleep but I can't STAY that way longer than 3-4 hours without drug assistance, and in the year that I've been eating low carb it has morphed into the opposite of @wabmester's - I have Advanced Sleep Phase disorder, which means I fall asleep stupid early and then I'm up for the day at midnight (usually between 11:45p and 12:10a, like clockwork every night). Last night I fell asleep at about 6:40 and actually "slept in" until 12:38! A "late" night for me is staying up till 8:30pm LOL. I don't really mind it; I've built a successful life and habits around it (like grocery shopping at the 24-hour store at 3am because I can, etc) - but my husband hates it because it means we have no night/social life together.2
-
I understand the hollow feeling. I had it round about week three I think. I swear by the BPC or BPT and water, water, water in the mornings now. It does something to me that makes my entire day go much more smoothly. No hunger for hours and is satisfying. Because Rowdy is always working the ranch in the evenings we usually eat very late dinners - like 8:30, 9:00 then we head to bed shortly after. I don't have a chance to feel that hollow feeling at night.
When you see my snacks or lunch in my diary it's usually not because I'm hungry but because I should eat or I simply want to eat. I still just want to pick up something and eat it sometimes. Usually that's when you see the sugar free Hershey's or Russell Stover's. Sigh...I may never be a perfect Keto model...
@Phrick I feel your pain. I have had insomia nearly my entire life; even as a kid. I am cyclical. Sometimes I can't fall asleep for hours and hours. I recall being awake 48 hours sometimes because my body said nope, no sleep for you. Then I cycle through the sleep, wake, sleep, wake, sleep, wake portion of my life. And then I will cycle through the sleep for 3 hours and up for the next 21. Sigh... when I was younger I'd do whatever it took to sleep...OTC pills, scripts, even a strong drink on occasion to help.
I have found that Keto has helped that a lot. Some nights it takes a while to fall asleep, but I generally stay asleep now until morning. On weekends I can actually sleep "all day". Meaning I can sleep til mid morning and it feels good to know my body is no longer fighting with me on this.0 -
My insomnia issues started in puberty. This year I finally got fed up and got a sleeping pill prescription because I was exhausted beyond comprehension. It helped get me on a semi regular sleeping pattern and now I just take one once mid week to ensure I fall asleep the night before the one day I have to get up early. The other nights I've given up on and just sleep in as late as I need to. I think mine is hormone related and it's interesting to hear you all have sleep issues too!!0
-
I know you said that you started taking a sodium supplement, but how much sodium are you getting? It's possible you're deficient and may need yet more. I know, it seems like it'd be a ton, but insomnia is a symptom of sodium deficiency. It could be that you were deficient to begin with, and low carb is exacerbating it.
As for the hollow feeling, I don't get that per se, but the feelings of fullness and hunger have changed. I also no longer feel bloated (and can now tell when I'm feeling bloated as opposed to it being "normal"). Hunger is no longer the gut-gnawing "must eat now!" feeling, but rather the "hey, the tank's empty! Stop and grab some chow when you get a sec, would ya? No rush, though" kind of feeling. Fullness is more of a "no longer interested in food" feeling, as opposed to feeling physically stuffed.3 -
I'm not tracking sodium so no idea... Just taking more as needed. Not feeling quite as hollow now. But definitely thinking about food a LOT more this week.0
-
jetsamflotsam wrote: »I'm not tracking sodium so no idea... Just taking more as needed. Not feeling quite as hollow now. But definitely thinking about food a LOT more this week.
It's difficult because with a new way of eating and all the research / ideas for meals / shopping etc.. That comes with that, it does bring food to the forefront of your mind!
0 -
jetsamflotsam wrote: »I'm not tracking sodium so no idea... Just taking more as needed. Not feeling quite as hollow now. But definitely thinking about food a LOT more this week.
It's difficult because with a new way of eating and all the research / ideas for meals / shopping etc.. That comes with that, it does bring food to the forefront of your mind!
Exactly... And I'm trying to figure out how to get the most value/volume out of my macros... it's still a work in progress...0 -
I kind of know what you mean about feeling hollow. It's like there is nothing in your stomach even though your just ate a 1 lb steak but you are NOT hungry.
I also had a strange buzzy feeling. Like my whole body was humming. I've had that feeling before when I could not sleep. But I had no sleeping problems when I went on LCHF. I now work a very physical job and sleep always comes. But I had that buzzy feeling anyway.
It took me about 3 months before it all went away, the buzzing and the hollow feeling. Now I feel normal. But when I over do it with carbs or fruit, I'll start getting that buzzy feeling again. When that happens, I cut back the carbs and everything feels normal again.1 -
cedarsidefarm wrote: »I kind of know what you mean about feeling hollow. It's like there is nothing in your stomach even though your just ate a 1 lb steak but you are NOT hungry.
I also had a strange buzzy feeling. Like my whole body was humming. I've had that feeling before when I could not sleep. But I had no sleeping problems when I went on LCHF. I now work a very physical job and sleep always comes. But I had that buzzy feeling anyway.
It took me about 3 months before it all went away, the buzzing and the hollow feeling. Now I feel normal. But when I over do it with carbs or fruit, I'll start getting that buzzy feeling again. When that happens, I cut back the carbs and everything feels normal again.
YES!!! You've described it perfectly... I just needed to hear I'm not imagining it and will eventually I'll feel normal again. Thanks!0 -
For years...had the hardest time shutting my thoughts off. Found out my Dad has the same issue and uses melatonin for it. I researched melatonin production and made some changes, as I hate taking meds. To my chagrin even the vitamins I take...
I implemented a few things including LCHF...not sure which or if it was a combo that helped but it works for me:
-have an orange party bulb beside my bed (cheap off Amazon).
-Adjusted screen brightness down on my devices.
-Began using a standing fan every night to create white noise so I don't listen for every little sound.
-Use a sleep mask without fail.
-workout usually at 4:30 most mornings
It wasn't unusual for me to still be awake at 2 or 4, then have to get up for work at 6:30. Doesn't happen often anymore, only when I'm really stressed.1
This discussion has been closed.