Dizzy, low energy, lightheaded - caloric deficit?

Nanananaba

Hi!

I've been counting calories time to time using this app, but not everyday. Also I worked out pretty regularly. I like going to gym and sweat. I'd run for 20~30 minutes and lift weights with no problem when I'm not trying to do caloric deficit. I'd usually take average 1700 kcal daily. Sometimes way over since I got my bf.

Recently, I realized I've put on about 11 pounds last few months. So I decided to go on a diet and it's been only three days. I'm 5'6" female, 29 yrs old, and was 130 lbs when I start cutting calories to 1300 daily, and now I'm 128lbs. I don't think I've lost fat, I know you'll say it's water weight and I agree lol. I've been following what this app is suggesting based on my profile (lightly active / want to lose 0.5kg (about a pound) a week) and I feel like I'm losing too fast. Which I'm not complaining, lol, but a little worry.

When I search online, it seems like 1300 cal a day is acceptable when one's on diet.

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right, but I'm feeling dizzy and lightheaded almost whole day, it also caused me some trouble when I was working out this morning. I wasn't so energetic compare to before and dizziness kept stop me lifting weights.

I ate all of my exercise calories (about 200) today. I thought I should and it was about 1500, and I'm dizzy .

jennybearlv

I get that way when I don't eat enough carbs. Maybe try paying attention to macros and see how you do. If you feel you are losing too fast then you may not be eating enough. Adjusting MFP to lose at a slower rate or just adding a couple hundred calories a day could help.

Nanananaba

Thank you!! Yes I just realized I didn't have much carb since yesterday. I'll put some rice in my diet!

HarlemNY17

Water weight goes FAST trust me and you lose it before you lose fat . You're doing nothing wrong interms of your calorie intake however you may be dizzy because of low carbs which is energy and you need them to pull through exercise

Veganvibesss

Make sure your eating the proper foods, try quinoa, lots of veggies, fruit, oatmeal, healthy but filling

RosslynP

If you continue to feel out of sorts, might be worth upping your calories to around 1500 / aim to lose half a pound a week and also eat some of your exercise cals on top of that, and see how you go. I know it is slower (and harder when you don't have too much to lose) but 1300 calories just might not be enough for you, particularly if you exercise quite a bit.

Also, if you lift weights regularly, you might want to assess how much body fat you have versus muscle (and whether any of your 11lb gain might be muscle weight rather than just fat).

crackpotbaby

Or you could try seeing a doctor.

Ironandwine69

Sometimes dizziness is lack of electrolytes. Take an electrolyte supplement and see how you feel.

hedwardsb

My stats are similar to yours. I'm about 5'5" and started at about 134 pounds with recommended calories around 1300 to lose 1/2 a pound a week. I have found that I am too cranky and low energy unless I eat between 1400-1600 calories daily. In addition, I usually have at least one day a week, maybe more depending on my activity level, that I eat in excess of 2,000 calories. I'm steadily losing weight, and I feel energetic, so that's what works for me. MFP's recommendations are not the be all-end all.

DX2JX2

Start eating to maintenance immediately and stop your exercise program.

It's likely not related to nutrition since you haven't been on a deficit for terribly long but still..better safe than sorry until you figure out what is going on. It could be vertigo, an inner ear infection, or a number of other things.

See a doctor and don't exercise or try to limit calories until you do.

bribucks

Could be low blood sugar, if you were working out in the morning and hadn't eaten much. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water.

Another option would be to slowly reduce by 100cal until you get from 1700 to 1300, so it isn't such a shock on your system. Eat 1700 this week, 1600 next week, etc.

xvolution

If you can, check your blood pressure when the dizzy spells happen. It's one of the signs of low blood pressure, which can be caused by dehydration/imbalance of electrolytes (I get these spells a few times a week myself, and my BP has been as low as 80/57 during one of them).

katnadreau

How much are you wanting to lose? I'm 32, 5'5, 139, wanting to lose about 9 more lbs, and I've seen it said many times that once you're within 10-20 lbs of your goal you should slow your loss to .5lb a week. I did that and I'm at 1630 (plus exercise calories). Maybe you just need more food to fight off the dizzy feeling.

Nanananaba

@katnadreau my goal is 119 lbs // toned body, which I used to be, and that's the figure that initially attracted my bf lol. So my goal is very necessary haha I had more carbs today and I feel a lot better!! Thank you all for your comments!