Why do I feel like CRAP on low carbs?

MissLaurenR88

just started doing low carb since yesterday and I seriously felt like CRAP!! is it because my body is so used to eating alot of carbs like whole grain bread/wheat cereal/brown rice..? I am aiming for under 50 carbs and high protein with cardio to lose weight.. is this just how you feel in the beginning but eventually your body adapts?

sweettthings

They call it the "carb flu". Give it a few more days, you'll feel better than ever.

ThePunkHippie

I tried eating low carb for about a month, & I was really moody. I ended up giving up before I killed someone & just working on eating my carbs in forms of whole grains instead.

dg09

just started doing low carb since yesterday and I seriously felt like CRAP!! is it because my body is so used to eating alot of carbs like whole grain bread/wheat cereal/brown rice..? I am aiming for under 50 carbs and high protein with cardio to lose weight.. is this just how you feel in the beginning but eventually your body adapts?

It will take a week or two to pass. You should definitely read up on keto/induction flu and see if the symptoms are something you will be able to handle. But it will pass once your body adapts.

VirginiaWoof

why is everyone so anti-carb? aren't healthy carbs good?!

MB_Positif

Honestly, because you need carbs. I promise you they are not the devil.

JennedyJLD

Because low-carb is NOT a healthy way to eat. Yes, you'll lose weight more quickly, but it won't be healthy or sustainable. Your body NEEDS carbohydrates to carry out various functions, and decreased serotonin (happy hormone) production is a very common side effect of low-carb diets.

bluefox9er

Honestly, because you need carbs. I promise you they are not the devil.

^^^^^ THIS!

XXXMinnieXXX

Maybe stick to 100 carbs, then gradually reduce them further if its something you want to do. 50 sounds super low! X

Elf_Princess1210

Because you need carbs. Go to www.eatright.org

RaniMerryman

yeah, I started the low carb thing.... did it for about 2 weeks and yes, your body freaks out like a 2 year old whose lolly you just stole. It will pass and I would suggest after 2 weeks, start adding in high fiber carbs or healthy carbs. Quinoa has become a fav of mine. Carbs actually boost Seratonin, I believe. After 2 weeks, I didn't crave the sugar or carbs though.... gl OH.... and I just read a study that said you know when you are at the right carb level for your body when you no longer crave them.... but I do think cutting them out for a couple of weeks is more like a detox....bad idea for long term

chocoholicdiva

Another thing they often call it is "hanger", you get angry because you're hungry. Similar symptoms at first, then the moodiness starts to kick in. Don't worry, you'll survive!!!

Toddrific

Oh someone said you "need carbs" waits for the you don't need carbs crowd.

To preempt them, your body can produce what it needs for energy from fat and protein.

You are probably feeling bad because your body has to switch it's functions to create this energy better.

Elizabeth_C34

I never could stick to the low carb thing for long. I was always tired, never had enough energy for the day, and just felt very irritable and "blah." I didn't get over it in any reasonable amount of time either. I did it for 3 months.

You don't have to do low carb to lose weight. Just balance your intake with protein and fats too.

EDIT: my carb intake was between 50 and 80g per day during that time.

chevy88grl

A lot of people will tell you that you'll feel better in a week or so when your body adapts. However, when I tried it? My body never did adapt. I felt awful, gained weight and didn't sleep well, but was so exhausted.

I found that for whatever reason, my body doesn't do well on low carbs and once I added carbs back in - the weight I gained fell off, I felt better and my sleeping returned to normal.

Do what works best for YOU.

mermx

I eat high protein low carbs and haven`t noticed any crap days.

Some carbs are good I havent got a problem with them..I just find high protein helps me lose weight and makes me feel better.

Serotonin (happy hormone) has nothing at all to do with low carb diets.....take this from a psychologist!!!

High protein feeds muscles etc etc lots of threads on this.

Eating clean is more the way to go no processed foods

editing to add eat fat too!!!

AZKristi

How "low carb" are you going? It is normal to feel a bit bleh when you initially are reducing carbs or sugar in your diet. This eases in a week or two or three. If you are still feeling bleh and you are farther in than that, you may have cut your carbs too low.

nerdygirl2

I so agree. Healthy carbs are part of a healthy diet. And yes you can lose weight with a balanced diet.

ashleab37

They call it the "carb flu". Give it a few more days, you'll feel better than ever.

You don't know that. A lot of people cannot handle low carbs. I did low carb for about 3 months when I was younger and progressively felt worse, and worse, and worse.

ashleab37

Serotonin (happy hormone) has nothing at all to do with low carb diets.....take this from a psychologist!!!

I'd take it from a psychiatrist, maybe, but a psychologist has no medical qualifications so why would I care what a psychologist thinks?

SeasideOasis

I don't understand the 'low carb' diet thing.

I agree, people eat too much white enriched crap. Get that out of your diet - I will COMPLETELY support that.

However, fruits and veggies have carbs. If I eat 4 celery stalks, 1 carrot and 1 apple in a day (those are my snacks for next week) that is 44 carbs right there. No one can tell me that my fruits and veggies are bad for me. Also, I dont see the problem with whole grains in the forms of multigrain/multiseeds breads, whole wheat pasta, wheat cous cous - Etc.

I think a lot of people have the wrong idea -=shurgs=- I also do not believe it is sustainable in anyway.

RunnerBlonde808

I have been low carbing for about 5 weeks now (net 20 per day). It takes more than a couple of days to really tell if you are going to be able to handle It. If you are still feeling that crappy after a week you might not be able to handle it. I love it now that I'm past that part. Getting amazine results. Pounds and 3 inches in my waist lost and I'm only 4 pounds from my ultimate goal. 6

BrianSharpe

Here's why you feel cruddy...

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/carbs.html

I'm a runner, I love my carbs.

SeasideOasis

Serotonin (happy hormone) has nothing at all to do with low carb diets.....take this from a psychologist!!!

I'd take it from a psychiatrist, maybe, but a psychologist has no medical qualifications so why would I care what a psychologist thinks?

Actually, from someone who almost finished a degree in Psychology (but at the last moment realized I would take everyones problems home with me and would get depressed myself), I am calling you out on this one.

When you getting your degree, you learn A TON of stuff about medicine. I had to know every little drug, what was in them, how they affected the different hormones in your body - etc.

Most doctors get little to no more training about FOOD and HORMONES than a Psychologist. You can take that to a bank.

Edit - The last sentence, I mean the effects on foods WITH hormones, not that doctors do not get special training in detail with hormones - obviously.

2Bgoddess

how low are we talking? I am on a low carb (dr. perscribed diet, and my carb intake is 70-100g a day. 20?? how do you even do that?

SeasideOasis

Here's why you feel cruddy...

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2004/carbs.html

I'm a runner, I love my carbs.

Nice source!!

mermx

Serotonin (happy hormone) has nothing at all to do with low carb diets.....take this from a psychologist!!!

I'd take it from a psychiatrist, maybe, but a psychologist has no medical qualifications so why would I care what a psychologist thinks?

Because a psychologist hepls a lot of people that suffer from medical disorders..ie depression due to serotonin deficiency which is certainly not due to diet low carbs...I am medically qualified as it happens as a doctor:-)

ashleab37

Serotonin (happy hormone) has nothing at all to do with low carb diets.....take this from a psychologist!!!

I'd take it from a psychiatrist, maybe, but a psychologist has no medical qualifications so why would I care what a psychologist thinks?

Actually, from someone who almost finished a degree in Psychology (but at the last moment realized I would take everyones problems home with me and would get depressed myself), I am calling you out on this one.

When you getting your degree, you learn A TON of stuff about medicine. I had to know every little drug, what was in them, how they affected the different hormones in your body - etc.

Most doctors get little to no more training about FOOD and HORMONES than a Psychologist. You can take that to a bank.

Edit - The last sentence, I mean the effects on foods WITH hormones, not that doctors do not get special training in detail with hormones - obviously.

I'm in the exact same position as you, actually. That's not the point though. If you have no medical *qualification* (and it's not - that's what psychiatry is) you have no right to refer to your qualification in a misleading way when giving advice.

I learned a lot about health/medicine when studying psychology, too, but I would never quote those studies when giving advice in a forum where people are unlikely to know the difference.

nikkiprickett

I have to tell you that I did the low carb thing for about a year and was considered anorexic because carbs are your main source of energy, I felt like crap all the time but didn't want to stop for fear of gaining weight...

I would try to track calories instead, I've been doing that and I still have energy but I feel so much better because of the fact that I still get the things i need!!

Be careful whatever you decide to do though, I usually stayed under 40 carbs a day and I look at what i'm supposed to have and it's ridiculous!!

VirginiaWoof

I'd take it from a psychiatrist, maybe, but a psychologist has no medical qualifications so why would I care what a psychologist thinks?

Psychologists are properly qualified! My psychologist has ten degrees, a PHD and lectures in German and English (she's prettu motivated). She's awesome. And yes, she's a Doctor!

EDIT: Serotonin is directly related to mood so of course a psychologist would understand this...

Saruman_w

Because you're removing a good source of energy. Just make sure your carbs fit within your calories, don't try to eliminate them entirely.