Dizzy, Exhausted, Headachey, Confused?!

nickyfm · March 2013

Okay so for those of you who know me, you'll know that I am by no means new to the diet game.

I have lost and gained the same 12 pounds over and over. But it's always just been a case of eating sensibly and getting back into my exercise routine.

But this time around it seems impossible!! I have been falling off the wagon since December, because once i reach day 10 (NOW), i get terribly dizzy, fatigued and grumpy. But it never used to be this hard!!

I exercise about 6x per week. Pole dancing 2x, Cardio 2x and weights 2x. Between 200-400 cal burn. I have been trying to eat at 1,250 (Seem to never lose if i eat more. Might be the PCOS) but today and yesterday i had to eat in the 1,400s because i was so dizzy. I drink lots of water and eat my veggies. I can't figure out what is going on?

Diary is open, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!

EDIT: I have been checked for Hypoglycemia and diabetes, but I do not have blood sugar problems. I also take a multivitamin and Iodine supplements (i get deficient and my thyroid doesn't work properly if I don't)

sarahmoo12 · March 2013

do you eat back your exercise cals ?

nickyfm · March 2013

do you eat back your exercise cals ?

I have today and yesterday, but not usually. I just don't seem to lose when i eat over 1,250, exercise or no exercise. It's frustrating!!

sarahmoo12 · March 2013

yea but I think exercise cals are different I dont think it matters if you go over 1200 by say 350 cals if you have already burned those off. Im no expert though but just from reading these threads and from you being dizzy ect id say your kinda starving your body ??
Do you feel hungry ??

Sarauk2sf · March 2013

To clarify...do you have PCOS?

twelfty · March 2013

i'm gonna say either too much caffine, or not enough water, or not enough sleep or a combination of any of the 3

awesomelion · March 2013

Sounds a bit like what happens when I don't have enough electrolytes, you sound like you'll be sweating a lot but maybe only replenishing the water not the salts? If that sounds possible, consider some supplements or maybe have some Powerade Zero?

twelfty · March 2013

Sounds a bit like what happens when I don't have enough electrolytes, you sound like you'll be sweating a lot but maybe only replenishing the water not the salts? If that sounds possible, consider some supplements or maybe have some Powerade Zero?

^ this too

kurting81 · March 2013

IMO you need more carbs. I wonder if you are in a constant state of ketosis and that makes you feel sickly. Maybe try adding some more fruit to your diet. I don't believe you will gain any weight with higher calories coming from fruits.

melaniecheeks · March 2013

Current weight and height, and goal weight?

nickyfm · March 2013

Sounds a bit like what happens when I don't have enough electrolytes, you sound like you'll be sweating a lot but maybe only replenishing the water not the salts? If that sounds possible, consider some supplements or maybe have some Powerade Zero?

^ this too

Yah i might need to have more electrolytes. Will bring Hydralite powder with me to the gym and see if that helps

Current weight and height, and goal weight?

Current weight :125 pounds
Goal weight: 115 pounds (Sounds little, but i used to be 110 and i am very petite)
Height: 5"5

nickyfm · March 2013

To clarify...do you have PCOS?

It's mixed. Some Drs say I have PCOS, others say PCO. But i do have cysts on my ovaries and some side effects like acne, lack of periods etc

Do you feel hungry??

Starving!!

XXXMinnieXXX · March 2013

You're diary looks great. If it's a massive drop in carbs from what you were eating before those ten days, it does take a while to adjust back to that level. If you can ride it out another week I think you will be ok again. You know what works for your weight loss. Stay hydrated. Notice you drink red bull. Have you cut back on them or other caffeine? If so could be a major cause. Reckon it took me about three weeks to adjust to the same carbs as you.

Zara x

paulperryman · March 2013

like others said could just be you aren't eating nearly enough or are lacking in nutrients to power everything, especially the brain which is also a muscle. Exercise is great for muscle building and aerobics but its a killer to your body unless it is adequaltely fueled (unless ofcourse you are overweight) then you don't have to refuel nearly as much.

Your body can't motabolise if you aren't fueling it so it's a catch 22 you need to eat more to burn more. 1200 is bare minimum for any woman, with 1800 being the average minimum for men and that's just to exist not even taking into account day to day activities. Exercise puts you into a massive deficit which is taking from what your body needs to survive.

as for eating back calories, personally i can't eat all of them back that'd be somewhere in the vacinity of 2500-3000 each day i exercise and i feel overfull at 2000 so i try to eat some of them to keep around 1500-1600 which is my MFP suggested daily intake not including exercise, my training sessions are right b4 dinner time M-F and just after breakfast on sat and sunday so i've already fueled up either way. and i have 20Kg's of excess to lose, you will differ obviously.

on a side note if you drink lots of Caffeine it will do that to you, i know first hand. Too much and you will have headaches, muscle twitching, brain fade, lack of sleep, heart arythmia and high blood pressure.

XXXMinnieXXX · March 2013

I noticed that you're eating a lot of the same foods every day, maybe try switching it up a bit to see if that makes a difference.

Also, about half of your calories come from snacks, maybe try eating less snacks, and instead eating more substantial meals.

Does more food on dizzy days cure the dizziness? If so, eat as much food that day as you feel you need. So you'll lose a day or two...that's better than falling off the program because of feeling dizzy and defeated.

Remember, you don't have to be perfect every day as long as it averages out over the week. It may be that you did some tough workout the day before and your body needs more fuel the next day than normal.

To clarify, if your goal is 1200/day and then you burn 300 calories at the gym, your quota for that day goes up to 1500. You need a deficit between what you need to maintain your weight and what you eat, in order to lose weight. If you eat 1200 cals and don't exercise you burn a 300 cal deficit. If you exercise away 300 cals and eat 1500 cals, you still burn a 300 cal deficit, ao lose the same amount of weight.

Eating snacks through put the day, will likely keep her more stable than larger meals in my opinion!

nickyfm · March 2013

like others said could just be you aren't eating nearly enough or are lacking in nutrients to power everything, especially the brain which is also a muscle. Exercise is great for muscle building and aerobics but its a killer to your body unless it is adequaltely fueled (unless ofcourse you are overweight) then you don't have to refuel nearly as much.

Your body can't motabolise if you aren't fueling it so it's a catch 22 you need to eat more of the right stuff to burn more of the bad stuff. 1200 is bare minimum for any woman, with 1800 being the average minimum for me and that's just to exist not even taking into account day to day activities.

Personally i only do if i feel hungry otherwise i'l just eat some of them, but my training sessions are right b4 dinner time M-F and just after breakfast on sat and sunday so i've already fueled up either way. and i have 20Kg's of excess to lose

on a side note if you drink lots of Caffeine it will do that to you, i know first hand. Too much and you will have headaches, muscle twitching, brain fade, lack of sleep, heart arythmia and high blood pressure.

That's true! But my energy is so low, that I keep on trying to source fake energy to compensate. Which is probably adding to the whole problem of dehydration. So many good points raised here. So glad to see everyone who has replied is so insightful!!

4theking · March 2013

Several things here running through my mind some of them previously mentioned.

Dehydration
Heart issues
Change in diet with less carbs
Your body is just starving
Sodium is too low

I would recommend one day a week to eat a bit more and have more carbs. Somewhere around 2000 calories. I have found with myself, if I sweat and don't intake extra sodium, I will experience these same symptoms. I had the blood work done and my aldosterone levels came back low. It was a 'light bulb' moment for me. Once I added in more sodium to my diet, symptoms went away.

paulperryman · March 2013

http://www.fitsugar.com/Why-1200-Calories-Day-Important-When-Dieting-13080864

Sarauk2sf · March 2013

To clarify...do you have PCOS?

It's mixed. Some Drs say I have PCOS, others say PCO. But i do have cysts on my ovaries and some side effects like acne, lack of periods etc

People with PCOS often do better with lower carbs (not low, just lowish/moderate). However, on looking at your diary, you are already pretty low on carbs. If I were you I would try to up your calories a bit, but to up them by increasing fats and protein and keep your carbs at the 100 - 120g level.

twelfty · March 2013

also one thing that has just occured to me this can be the symptoms of a potassium defecit, avocados are a good source, do you get cramps of any kind often?

RainHoward · March 2013

go see your doctor.

CoderGal · April 2013

1250 calories? Good lord no wonder you feel like crap. So did these people.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419136-what-am-i-doing-wrong
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/419393-need-serious-help-please
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/420759-gaining-weight-on-a-low-carb-diet-please-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/421412-so-fed-up-there-has-to-be-an-easier-way
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/446248-why-am-i-gaining-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/447513-disillusioned
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/448803-not-loosing-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/454374-gaining-with-scrict-diet-and-workouts
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/455392-no-results-at-all-despair
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457566-why-cant-i-loose-weight-or-inches
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/457037-feeling-disheartened
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/467001-why-1200-c-a-day-and-still-no-weight-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480698-assistance-please-this-is-getting-ridiculous
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/480186-tiredness
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/487729-the-scale-wont-move
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/493331-i-need-some-straight-up-advice-on-this-dieting
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/503342-mfp-lied-help
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/509836-i-can-t-seem-to-lose-any-weight
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/517635-what-is-wrong-with-me
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/526497-1000cal-day-diet-daily-work-out-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/552142-giving-up
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/557832-why-am-i-not-loosing-weight-help-im-doing-everything-i
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/585081-help-working-out-and-eating-1200-calories-no-change
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/589043-sick-of-trying-with-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/665625-could-someone-look-at-my-logs
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/668039-why-haven-t-i-lost-weight-in-2-weeks
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/680195-helppppp
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/705854-hair-loss
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713154-900-calories-a-day
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/713967-not-seeing-any-progress
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/721909-1200-every-day-and-no-change-demotivated-completely
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/739340-1200cal-daily-for-3-weeks-and-havent-lost-a-single-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854231-calorie-problem
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/854236-stuck-fat
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/867360-i-m-scared
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/873449-need-advice
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/890176-not-losing-with-1200-calorie-plan
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/892991-4-weeks-dieting-and-haven-t-lost-1-pound
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/901715-anybody-busting-their-butts-and-seeing-no-results
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905033-why-am-i-not-losing
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/905493-daily-600-net-calories-no-weight-lost-what-s-wrong

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/919346-still-think-your-1200-or-less-diet-is-a-good-idea

I recommend what Sarauk said. High deficit diets are not beneficial when you have PCOS. A friend of mine went through the same thing and suppressed her metabolism to nearly nill eating about 1200 for a while...then 1000...went down as far as 800 until she started listening to me. Now she's losing at about 1600.

I recommend you check out the following link:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/952996-level-obstacles-lose-weight-target-fat-easy
With that being said keep in mind that you have PCOS so your metabolism will be suppresed from these numbers. That being said, from the experience I've had with a few friends in person, and many people online, their metabolisms weren't nearly as suppressed as they thought.

pennock10 · April 2013

I also have PCOS and cannot lose weight consistently. I went off the BC around August and since then with a recent surgery I am up 20 lbs. Dr. wants to put me back on synthetic drugs and I want to do all natural but no such luck finding help with it yet.

Is your thyroid in check? Metabolism fluctates with age.

domdoan · April 2013

have a deload week every three weeks. sounds like you need one now. (deload=1/2 your workout with 1/2 the resistance)

cool down your cns, because it is shot.

plus up the calories. dont break down you metabolism.

Dizzy, Exhausted, Headachey, Confused?!

Replies

Categories