I feel weak, shaky, and nauseaus. Am I eating too little?

JenMcCrory

I know this is going to sound awful but I was trying to do the Paleo thing to see if I would feel any better.

It sounds like the low carb flu. If you look at any paleo website I think most people experience this the first week or two and then the cloud disappears. If you want to keep eating this way research it a lot.

eatathome

Try drinking a glass of orange juice and see if you feel better.

I sometimes get low blood sugar, but I also have panic attacks. . .sometimes it hard for me to tell the difference. But sitting down and slowly drinking a natural sugar can help with both.

acogg

most people will tell you yes. i would ask you first if you are doing cardio or just cutting your calories? i looked at your diary you could probably use another piece of toast. i personally lost all my weight on a 1200 cal a day routine but i never try to cut my carbs out i just eat clean and eat lots of yogurt and salad. try eating yogurt, greek yogurt. your body might just need time to adjust to dropping in calories and not eating sugar. i think maybe go to 1400 first, then 1300 then 1200 if you can. but dont eat any junk food. im not a nutritionist or anything, just another fatty on a diet

This the same as my opinion. Remember, this is not supposed to be a crash diet, this is a rest of your life diet. Take it gradually, incorporating new habits a little at a time. Small changes in your everyday choices will pay off best.

ambervaldez79

I appreciate all the suggestions. I had cut out dairy too but I just ate a bowl of plain yogurt. I think I need to modify it slightly to include some yogurt and just more substance. A strict diet from a 3000+ diet of junk is a shock to this body! haha.

acogg

You could also be feeling this way because you are tired , since Im quite anemic I usually eat a date when i feel a bit weak, and multivitamins help me feel normal as well.

I hope it's after dinner and a movie. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Graelwyn75

Going from one extreme to another will tend to do that to you, as will jumping on whatever the latest fad bandwagon is.
It is much better to find a moderate approach that you can stick to for life and that works for you.

SanteMulberry

I bought a glucose meter today because I immediately thought my sugar was too low. I checked it twice and it was in a normal range. I know this is going to sound awful but I was trying to do the Paleo thing to see if I would feel any better. Having said that, I haven't actually had any bread in the past few days! My muffins are made WITHOUT sugar and flour but almond meal. Also, I''m really lazy and work out maybe 2 times a week. I live a sedentary lifestyle.

You said the spinach almond milk smoothie helped? I'd take a guess that your magnesium levels are too low (since spinach and almond milk is pretty high in magnesium). Taking oral magnesium supplements is not a good idea. Oral magnesium supplements tend to do more harm than good because they cause diarrhea in most people. So not only don't you absorb the magnesium, but you can end up depleting other minerals as well) Try taking Epsom salts BATHS instead. Epsom salts are pure magnesium sulphate. Just follow the package directions for how much Epsom salts to put in your bath water (which should be as hot as you can stand it and you should take at least a 15 minute bath. Epsom salts are cheap and easily available at Wal-Mart or pharmacies. I just bought a five pound package for five dollars and change. The thing that's great about Epsom salts baths is that the more magnesium deficient you are, the more magnesium you will absorb through your skin! You never have to worry that you will overdose because, if you don't need the magnesium, you won't absorb it. But magnesium deficiency is VERY common, unfortunately--and the worse it is, the lousier you feel.

Alternatively, you can get "magnesium oil" at your health food store. It isn't really oil but seems "oily". It is derived from concentrated sea water. Works pretty much the same way as Epsom salts baths except that it is magnesium chloride rather than magnesium sulphate and you should dilute it by half with distilled water before applying it to your skin. It can feel a bit sticky on your skin. Putting it on after a hot shower helps it absorb better and makes it not so sticky. I personally favor the Epsom salts because we often have a sulfur deficiency in addition to a magnesium deficiency. Chloride deficiencies are rare because we eat so much salt (sodium chloride). Magnesium deficiencies as I said, are VERY common and lead to many of the symptoms you describe--especially if severe. Feeling very low in energy is also a symptom---it comes from the lack of magnesium ions in the blood. Magnesium ions are an essential part of the transport system for ATP--the enzyme that is associated with energy production in the mitochondria. You also may be a bit dehydrated because of the severe restriction of carbs that can be part of a Paleo diet. If you are magnesium deficient, you are also quite likely to be potassium deficient as well because adequate magnesium levels are essential to the absorption and storage of potassium. Good luck!

acogg

Something tells me this girl is strong enough. We will be seeing an inspirational thread before too long.

SanteMulberry

You could also be feeling this way because you are tired , since Im quite anemic I usually eat a date when i feel a bit weak, and multivitamins help me feel normal as well.

I hope it's after dinner and a movie. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

LOL---I was going to say the same thing. :laugh:

eatathome

I bought a glucose meter today because I immediately thought my sugar was too low. I checked it twice and it was in a normal range. I know this is going to sound awful but I was trying to do the Paleo thing to see if I would feel any better. Having said that, I haven't actually had any bread in the past few days! My muffins are made WITHOUT sugar and flour but almond meal. Also, I''m really lazy and work out maybe 2 times a week. I live a sedentary lifestyle.

You said the spinach almond milk smoothie helped? I'd take a guess that your magnesium levels are too low (since spinach and almond milk is pretty high in magnesium). Taking oral magnesium supplements is not a good idea. Oral magnesium supplements tend to do more harm than good because they cause diarrhea in most people. So not only don't you absorb the magnesium, but you can end up depleting other minerals as well) Try taking Epsom salts BATHS instead. Epsom salts are pure magnesium sulphate. Just follow the package directions for how much Epsom salts to put in your bath water (which should be as hot as you can stand it and you should take at least a 15 minute bath. Epsom salts are cheap and easily available at Wal-Mart or pharmacies. I just bought a five pound package for five dollars and change. The thing that's great about Epsom salts baths is that the more magnesium deficient you are, the more magnesium you will absorb through your skin! You never have to worry that you will overdose because, if you don't need the magnesium, you won't absorb it. But magnesium deficiency is VERY common, unfortunately--and the worse it is, the lousier you feel.

Good info, I did not know this. I tried taking magnesium supplements for migraines and it didn't work out because of the diarrhea (uh, I only take them when I'm constipated now). I'll try Epsom Salts too!

maqsmj

I have been on a "clean" diet for the past three days. It consists of fruits and veggies, nuts, and lean meats. I have been keeping track of my caloric intake on here and I am around 1200. I feel freakin' awful though! At one point this evening I felt like I was going to vomit. I drank a spinach and apple smoothie made with almond milk and that seemed to help. Is this normal? My eating was really bad before i tried eating clean. I ate way too much junk food, so I'm not sure if my body is going through withdrawals. Any advice is appreciated?!

just eat and match your caloies as a start that is not so hard to do, and forget clean and dirty food, in the end it is food, i even eat pizza reguallry

sarahisme18

I got two hours of sleep last night so I used the coffee to get through the day. i had one in the morning and one at lunch. Haha!

Aha. I think we found the problem....

Becky388

I didn't read all the replies but if you were trying to go paleo from a junk food diet, your body is probably revolting from the drastic cut in carbs (not necessarily a bad thing, personally I prefer the lower carbs - haven't been doing that lately though, I fell off the wagon then got ran over by it, LOL ). 1200 calories may be too few also. I'd up the total calories a bit but continue eating the same. It generally takes a week or two for your body to adjust to the lower level of carbs once it does, it's smooth sailing unless you eat something bad that triggers all the cravings.

dayone987

1200 calories is not a lot for someone who weighs about 190. I'd suggest you eat more (just my opinion)

love22step

In your profile, you said you had an addiction to sweets. I would expect you to have withdrawals. Checking with your doctor is a good idea, but you might feel better weaning yourself from the sweets over a period of time. Cutting out sweets, cold turkey, is like going cold turkey to stop smoking. Good luck!

ambervaldez79

I haven't taken a bath with Epsom salts in a Long time. I feel so relaxed afterwards tho. I have a huge container I need to break out. I realized after all the comments that I just need to gradually adjust and eat more. I've gone from an anything-goes binge eating to a very restrictive plan. I think I just need to re access my goals realistically! Thank you for all the comments!! :happy:

BeDawn

A lot of people I know (including myself) felt absolutely shocking for the first week or two after cutting sugar and going clean. I found that my body was just getting over the shock of the lack of excess sugar I was consuming (and it was a LOT). I was irritable, horrible to be around and suffered from shocking headaches, but was lucky that this only lasted about 10 days. I started on September 1 so have been completely clean now for three months. And I feel freaking amazing! Don't gve up hope, perhaps give you intake a 100-200 calorie boost?! It's so worth it

I have been on a Doctor supervised, low calorie, no processed carbs diet for over two months now. The first 9-10 days were hell; headache, nausea, crankyness, tired, weak, etc. I swear it was withdrawals. I am so glad I hung in there, because it was only temporary. I eat less than 1200 calories a day and I have felt fine since. (I have weekly monitoring appointments with my Dr. so please consult a Dr. if you plan on eating less than 1200 a day)
I know everyone is different, but most people go through a similar 'detox' experience when they start eating clean.

PamelaKuz

Get more sleep, drink less coffee. Hope you feel better tomorrow!

Chapman40

If you are a sugar junky like me cutting out the sugar all at once will make you sick. I did not look at what you have been eating, but make sure you aren't cutting all of the carbs. You need good carbs with your proteins to have energy. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, add avocado, and eat a yogurt. If you are sucralose or aspertain that can cause it. I eat regular yogurt not low fat for that reason. How many pounds are you trying to lose? If you set that in your profile higher than two pounds a week then you are eating to few calories. My calorie goal since I started is 1200 and have lost 1 - 2 pounds per week, 19.8 lbs in 11 weeks and dropped almost two sizes. I have not had any weakeness.
How often are you eating? That can also be a cause for how you are feeling. I eat small amounts about every two hours.

lizalouise

I've just started reducing my carbs and total calorie intake to something similar. This article helped me understand better what was going on with my body http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/saturated-fat/tips-tricks-for-starting-or-restarting-low-carb-pt-ii/

CelebrateLife

It's withdrawal from the "bad foods" Your body is Adjusting and Detoxing itself now that you're eating clean
I actually did the same thing not too long ago and it really cleanses the body in time your symptoms will pass and you'll feel amazing but I advise you to slowly incorporate healthy carbs back into your daily regimen -- reason being your body needs it to function at its optimal level and your brain needs it to function as well but what I want to say is that your body will want it so bad you feel it coming and you'll end up reaching for something unlikely healthy because it comes on as a sudden urge and you can't really help it

I hope this helps Good Luck!

Btw I had an uncontrolable sweet tooth going from a whole cake every week fresh chocolate from the chocolatier cookies ice cream oh you name it but after that initial cleanse that youre doing and now eating clean I have no more cravings if anything I'll have a piece of dark chocolate 75%

HopefulLeigh

I got two hours of sleep last night so I used the coffee to get through the day. i had one in the morning and one at lunch. Haha!

There's your answer. It's not the coffee. It's likely not the calories. It's very probably the lack of restorative sleep that your body very desperately needs no matter your diet. I get the shakes and nauseated when I'm running on fumes too. Go nap.

SanteMulberry

A lot of people I know (including myself) felt absolutely shocking for the first week or two after cutting sugar and going clean. I found that my body was just getting over the shock of the lack of excess sugar I was consuming (and it was a LOT). I was irritable, horrible to be around and suffered from shocking headaches, but was lucky that this only lasted about 10 days. I started on September 1 so have been completely clean now for three months. And I feel freaking amazing! Don't gve up hope, perhaps give you intake a 100-200 calorie boost?! It's so worth it

I have been on a Doctor supervised, low calorie, no processed carbs diet for over two months now. The first 9-10 days were hell; headache, nausea, crankyness, tired, weak, etc. I swear it was withdrawals. I am so glad I hung in there, because it was only temporary. I eat less than 1200 calories a day and I have felt fine since. (I have weekly monitoring appointments with my Dr. so please consult a Dr. if you plan on eating less than 1200 a day)
I know everyone is different, but most people go through a similar 'detox' experience when they start eating clean.

Yeah---when you go from a high sugar diet to a no-sugar diet, the yeast colonies in the intestines start to die off (they overgrow in the presence of sugars). Naturopaths call this a "die-off reaction". As yeast colonies die, they shuck toxins into your innards, which are then absorbed and make you feel LOUSY. Acidophilus supplements help to get the right bacteria growing in your gut and they will suppress yeast growth in the future (provided you don't go back to loading up on sugar again). Concentrated sugars kill off the good bacteria in your intestines (that's why you should try to eat PLAIN yogurt as the flavored, sweetened stuff doesn't have very many active cultures left by the time you eat the yogurt). The full-fat Greek or Balkan style yogurts are quite nice plain---mild tasting they are similar to sour cream in taste.

By the way, full-fat dairy is especially important for children. Low-fat diets are dangerous for children--their developing nervous systems NEED cholesterol and they need fat to help them absorb fat-soluble vitamins (most especially vitamin D). A much better plan is to cut out sugar for them, if they have a weight problem. Much better to eat fruit and drink water if a child has a tendency to be too fat.

Fruit juices are a bad idea for several reasons. Commercial fruit juices are often tainted with unacceptable levels of pesticides because they squish the hound out of the whole fruit (including the peel) in the course of making the fruit juice. Also, heat is often involved in the making of the fruit juice so that means that the vitamin C content is essentially zero. Eating the whole fruit is a much better idea. There have been several incidents recently where an entire huge shipment of orange juice was recalled because it contained unacceptable levels of fungicide. Fruit juice is also bad for the teeth as the acids etch the teeth and the concentrated sugars feed the decay-causing bacteria in the mouth. If you feel that you must give them fruit juice (and it IS a healthier alternative to soda pop if those are the only choices) then it is best to dilute it with water.

Firefox7275

Coffee triggers the release of adrenaline which can cause blood sugar spikes and troughs, not a good combination with a low calorie and low carb diet. Also lack of sleep messes with your body's ability to process food, carbs especially, and release energy. Try spreading your protein, fat and carb intake out through the day better because there is virtually no fat or carbs and very little fibre in your chicken/ veggie meals. Paleo is not supposed to be low fat AFAIK.

Also please research nutrition and get a much better variety of foods - you will end up deficient in nutrients if you try to live on chicken, a small amount of veg, muffins and protein shakes. Without grains or pulses or much dairy you need LOADS of vegetables AND nuts/ seeds for essential minerals. Be sure to get plenty of oily fish for the long chain omega-3s essential fatty acids.

DanaDark

1200 calories. Yes, you are eating too little.