Why is Primal making me crazy??

Gatus98

I've been transitioning into a Primal lifestyle, and I love it. I've been eating mostly whole foods, and healthy for the past year, but I just recently gave up the grains. I still eat dairy, especially Fage Greek yogurt. Can't part with it right now. LOL. I'm still following the diet relatively loosley compared to others, I'm sure, but the more time that goes by, the more I adhere to it. I was pescatarian for years, and I don't mind dietary restrictions. I should add that I'm also trying to stay around 25% carbs and shed some stubborn fat. I got past feeling fatigued and flu like during the first week. However, now I'm finding that my otherwise mild case of anxiety has gone through the roof! Is this a coincidence, or have other people experienced this? Is it a passing phase, or will low carb just not cut it for me? I realize that I can eat more carbs and still follow a primal diet, but I'm so ready to drop these last 10 pounds and the lack of carbs isn't bothering me otherwise. I was just wondering if there was any correlation between my change in diet and my looney behavior? Thanks

Dragonwolf

Eat more fat. Fat is your fuel source when you drop carbs, not protein. So make sure you're getting enough to properly fuel yourself.

Ditch the coffee or switch to decaf. Caffeine and alcohol have a more potent effect when you go low carb, so the anxiety feelings you're getting might be related to your coffee intake.

Finally, trade more of your carb sources for non-starchy vegetables and whole foods. As it stands, a lot of your carb sources have been sugars and starches, which kind of works against being low carb. A good chunk of your foods are also pretty heavily processed. Get more whole foods and a good variety, so you get a good amount of nutrients. If you still want your chocolate fix, go for dark chocolates (and not this 52% that most are, aim for at least 70%, the darker the better), it's the darker chocolates that have the awesome health benefits.

Gatus98

Eat more fat. Fat is your fuel source when you drop carbs, not protein. So make sure you're getting enough to properly fuel yourself.

Ditch the coffee or switch to decaf. Caffeine and alcohol have a more potent effect when you go low carb, so the anxiety feelings you're getting might be related to your coffee intake.

Finally, trade more of your carb sources for non-starchy vegetables and whole foods. As it stands, a lot of your carb sources have been sugars and starches, which kind of works against being low carb. A good chunk of your foods are also pretty heavily processed. Get more whole foods and a good variety, so you get a good amount of nutrients. If you still want your chocolate fix, go for dark chocolates (and not this 52% that most are, aim for at least 70%, the darker the better), it's the darker chocolates that have the awesome health benefits.

Thanks for all the helpful info! I was afraid the coffee was going to come into play :-/ I'm all for ditching as much processed food as possible. I'm a work in progress. :-)

bostonwolf

Agreed. When you first start cutting carbs you are knocking a lot of calories out of your diet that need to be replaced. Healthy fats are the easiest way to do it.

Avocados and nuts are my favorite sources.

Akimajuktuq

25% is not low carb. Not at all. To address anxiety, depression etc you would benefit from cutting sugars and trying a low carb approach for awhile (approx 10% from veggies). You likely need MORE FAT in a bad way.

Primal/Paleo resolved my depression, binge eating disorder, a long list of other health issues, and also reduced my chronic anxiety to very manageable levels. However, I follow a very high fat version because that's what works for a severely disordered metabolism and brain health issues. This lifestyle should not increase anxiety (after the first week or so, but you are not fully on board hence the importance of doing an initial 30 day strict Paleo diet plan) and if you are experiencing that you really need to look at the foods you are still eating and the macros.

I have to say that I am enjoying my life far more, and am a better mom, without the depression and anxiety. No food is worth feeling like crap.

PS. If one is considering a fish oil supplement, quality matters. I would mostly recommend eating real, wild fish if fish oil is the goal. However, one of the best supplements out there imo is Green Pastures high vitamin butter oil/fermented cod liver oil blend, the gel not the capsules. The taste is unpleasant at first but both my child and I don't mind it at all after getting used to it. -she even asked for more last night. lol

Jenny_Rose77

Yeah, looking over your diary, I wouldn't really call it "Primal." Please understand, I'm not criticizing at all. I am totally taking the slow and steady approach myself (months easing into it). So there is nothing wrong with it at all. I would just say it's probably more likely the sugar and the grains than the "Primal" foods that are causing the anxiety. Also, as someone who definitely struggles with anxiety, I found that taking a fish oil supplement helps tremendously. I started taking fish oil way before I even heard of Paleo (it's been a few years), and within a week or so, I noticed a huge reduction in my anxiety. HUGE. And that was while still basically otherwise eating crappy. So I would strongly recommend looking into fish oil.

Gatus98

Thanks again for all the helpful insight. I guess I'm in the very beginning stages of transitioning, and I should follow the Primal diet more strictly. I just wanted some reassurance that that was the right direction and not the other way around. It seemed like the more I adhered to it, the worse the anxiety became. I should probably give it 100% for at least 30 days as was suggested, and see how I feel. Also, I went from around 40% carbs to 25%, and that feels low to me! Finally, my diary sucks and is almost never complete. I actually quit logging all together a few days ago. If I had known I would be asking for advice, I probably would have been more accurate :-/ Thanks for taking the time to help me sort through all of this.

Gatus98

Yeah, looking over your diary, I wouldn't really call it "Primal." Please understand, I'm not criticizing at all. I am totally taking the slow and steady approach myself (months easing into it). So there is nothing wrong with it at all. I would just say it's probably more likely the sugar and the grains than the "Primal" foods that are causing the anxiety. Also, as someone who definitely struggles with anxiety, I found that taking a fish oil supplement helps tremendously. I started taking fish oil way before I even heard of Paleo (it's been a few years), and within a week or so, I noticed a huge reduction in my anxiety. HUGE. And that was while still basically otherwise eating crappy. So I would strongly recommend looking into fish oil.

You mean to tell me Lindt chocolate bunnies and chocolate ganache cake pops aren't "Primal" ;-) I have the fish oil at home. I should take it.

butterbear1980

What are your macros set at? Your protein seems a bit high and fat a bit low. It seems to me you are undereating. What's your BMR and tdee? What % deficit ate you eating at. I'm 5'3" and anything under 1600 and I feel crazy, snippy, impatient,
mean, and anxious. You are doing great and making great food choices!

Sabine_Stroehm

Eat more fat. Fat is your fuel source when you drop carbs, not protein. So make sure you're getting enough to properly fuel yourself.

Ditch the coffee or switch to decaf. Caffeine and alcohol have a more potent effect when you go low carb, so the anxiety feelings you're getting might be related to your coffee intake.

Finally, trade more of your carb sources for non-starchy vegetables and whole foods. As it stands, a lot of your carb sources have been sugars and starches, which kind of works against being low carb. A good chunk of your foods are also pretty heavily processed. Get more whole foods and a good variety, so you get a good amount of nutrients. If you still want your chocolate fix, go for dark chocolates (and not this 52% that most are, aim for at least 70%, the darker the better), it's the darker chocolates that have the awesome health benefits.

Good advice.

butterbear1980

Another idea...as your gut flora changes for the better it can cause some wacky albeit temporary behavior. Have you recently started a pro biotic or upped a probiitic food? Even if you haven't your gut is changing and yes its changing even if its not 100% "clean food" switching from SAD to 80% clean is still a huge awesome change.