help! feeling dizzy and lightheaded
hipsgalore
Posts: 204 Member
Hi all low carbers!
I am doing Atkins. I am on week 3 still with induction. for the last 3 days or so, I have been feeling dizzy and light headed. is this normal? is this related to low carbs? is there something I can do to feel better?
please help!
I am doing Atkins. I am on week 3 still with induction. for the last 3 days or so, I have been feeling dizzy and light headed. is this normal? is this related to low carbs? is there something I can do to feel better?
please help!
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Are you eating enough? And regularly?0
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How many carbs are you eating per day?
Some times a little increase in the carbs can help because if I go below 30 net carbs per day I get dizzy and light headed.
But just to be on the safe side have you talked to you doctor?0 -
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Could be low blood pressure. Could be low minerals (potassium in particular). Could be carb withdrawal. Could be an inner ear infection!
Do make sure you're eating enough, particularly of energy-dense food (ie fat!) and use sea salt or other forms of mineral supplements, and drink plenty of water. If this doesn't help within a couple of days, consider visiting the doc as it might be nothing to do with what you're eating!0 -
By chance can you open up your food diary? Difficult to determine where it is locked up.
Sounds like the answer (in my mind) will be found in what you are documenting for food intake. Could also be in conjunction with your every-day course of events as well.
If you are low-carbing now for three weeks, youre either not eating appropriately enough or, there are some underlying things going on that you should be addressing with your doctor (including sharing your food logs with the doctor as well)0 -
Increase your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.0 -
Increase your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
THIS! You need more sodium & potassium on a low carb diet. You should read "The art and science of low carbohydrate living".
"The short answer is that the amount of carbohydrate in our diet changes our need for salt. High carbohydrate diets make the kidneys retain salt, whereas a low carbohydrate intake increases sodium excretion by the kidney.
Salt and water are more efficiently excreted, which is a good thing as long as you maintain an adequate minimum sodium intake. Ignore this lesson and you are likely to suffer the completely avoidable problems of headache, fatigue, weakness, and constipation"0 -
This is exactly what I was going to quote but I didn't feel like charging my Kindle. lolIncrease your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
THIS! You need more sodium & potassium on a low carb diet. You should read "The art and science of low carbohydrate living".
"The short answer is that the amount of carbohydrate in our diet changes our need for salt. High carbohydrate diets make the kidneys retain salt, whereas a low carbohydrate intake increases sodium excretion by the kidney.
Salt and water are more efficiently excreted, which is a good thing as long as you maintain an adequate minimum sodium intake. Ignore this lesson and you are likely to suffer the completely avoidable problems of headache, fatigue, weakness, and constipation"0 -
Yes. It's called 'Keto Flu' and is temporary. Your body is adjusting to using fat as it's primary energy source - shouldn't be but another day or two. Results vary and I never had a problem as others have. Carbs help you maintain water - the low carb theory being that excess retention is what leads to high blood pressure, not fat.
It's crucial that you get enough electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium) because of that. Go buy "Lite Salt" at the store which has potassium salts, mix in a touch of soy sauce, and consider magnesium supplements.
Or? Get it through your food like you should via LOT's of Avocado and Almonds. Then supplement with Lite Salt as needed. That's what I do.
http://www.reddit.com/r/keto/wiki/faq0 -
Hips;hipsgalore wrote: »Hi all low carbers!
I am doing Atkins. I am on week 3 still with induction. for the last 3 days or so, I have been feeling dizzy and light headed. is this normal? is this related to low carbs? is there something I can do to feel better?
please help!
A cup or two of beef broth (NOT "low salt") should fix you up.
Drink one an hour or two after your first meal of the day, second mid afternoon or as soon as you feel the "light headiness" coming on.
A multi vitamin containing potassium and magnesium daily is advised as others have mentioned.
Add "sodium" as an item on your diary - shoot for 3-5000 mg per day and plenty of water.0 -
tcalhoun72 wrote: »This is exactly what I was going to quote but I didn't feel like charging my Kindle. lolIncrease your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
THIS! You need more sodium & potassium on a low carb diet. You should read "The art and science of low carbohydrate living".
"The short answer is that the amount of carbohydrate in our diet changes our need for salt. High carbohydrate diets make the kidneys retain salt, whereas a low carbohydrate intake increases sodium excretion by the kidney.
Salt and water are more efficiently excreted, which is a good thing as long as you maintain an adequate minimum sodium intake. Ignore this lesson and you are likely to suffer the completely avoidable problems of headache, fatigue, weakness, and constipation"
+1
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Try a cup of chicken bouillon with a dash of heavy cream. Tastes like cream of chicken soup and has lots of sodium. Works for me. Good luck!0
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tcalhoun72 wrote: »Increase your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
I didn't know this.....thank you! I thought I still had to watch my sodium intake.
Good to know
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Esauc;esaucier17 wrote: »tcalhoun72 wrote: »Increase your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
I didn't know this.....thank you! I thought I still had to watch my sodium intake.
Good to know
You actually do "still have to watch my sodium intake" - just not in the way you did before. (exactly the opposite).
Especially for those who opt for VLCHF or keto adaptation, sodium requirements are GREATLY increased (due to physiological changes which radically increase the body's penchant to expel them).
Most (if not all) of the "salt will kill you" hyperbole you've heard your entire life from the "medical professionals" is, simply put, BS.
Personally, I wouldn't advise "lite salt" as it contains only 50% sodium and will require much larger quantities to get to where you need to be. It does contain potassium, which is a benefit, but you can get that from a multi-vitamin.
As previously posted, daily sodium intake levels for those at VLC levels run 3-5,000g/day.
Eliminating processed foods (as you should) dramatically decreases sodium intake so it has to be replaced (and increased) elsewhere.
Add the "sodium" column to your diary at least for a few weeks until you get a handle on how much it takes to hit that goal.
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deansdad101 wrote: »
Esauc;esaucier17 wrote: »tcalhoun72 wrote: »Increase your salt.
Start using Morton's Lite Salt, it is high in potassium and magnesium. You need both and you lose both quite rapidly on low carb.
I didn't know this.....thank you! I thought I still had to watch my sodium intake.
Good to know
You actually do "still have to watch my sodium intake" - just not in the way you did before. (exactly the opposite).
Especially for those who opt for VLCHF or keto adaptation, sodium requirements are GREATLY increased (due to physiological changes which radically increase the body's penchant to expel them).
Most (if not all) of the "salt will kill you" hyperbole you've heard your entire life from the "medical professionals" is, simply put, BS.
Personally, I wouldn't advise "lite salt" as it contains only 50% sodium and will require much larger quantities to get to where you need to be. It does contain potassium, which is a benefit, but you can get that from a multi-vitamin.
As previously posted, daily sodium intake levels for those at VLC levels run 3-5,000g/day.
Eliminating processed foods (as you should) dramatically decreases sodium intake so it has to be replaced (and increased) elsewhere.
Add the "sodium" column to your diary at least for a few weeks until you get a handle on how much it takes to hit that goal.
Thank you so much. I'm going to bump up my sodium column right now!
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I'm feeling a little dizzy and lightheaded myself today, so came back to reread this thread. I drank a cup of broth, ate some fat (avocado), took my multivitamin and potassium supplements and salted the heck out of my lunch. I haven't drank as much water as I ususally, do so have to really focus on that as I'm not feeling much better yet.0
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DAM;I'm feeling a little dizzy and lightheaded myself today, so came back to reread this thread. I drank a cup of broth, ate some fat (avocado), took my multivitamin and potassium supplements and salted the heck out of my lunch. I haven't drank as much water as I ususally, do so have to really focus on that as I'm not feeling much better yet.
Took quick look at your diary and it looks like you've upped the sodium the last couple days so that should help but yes, the H2O matters (a lot) so I'd focus on that if you've slacked off a bit.
For me, two cups of broth (be sure it's full sodium) a day worked a treat so first thing I'd try if I were you is to add a second cup every day.
I'd focus on hitting 4-5000 sodiums every day, upping your intake of H2O and give it a couple days for your body to adapt.
It's been a while since I was experiencing the same symptoms but if I remember correctly I think it took at least a few days in the 4-5k range (every day) before things stabilized (and the light headiness went away) for me but it definitely worked.
Two cups a day is now pretty much routine for me and since doing so the light headiness has pretty much disappeared unless I'm sweating profusely in which case I'll add a third.
I'd give it a week or so with every day in the 4-5k range and if still no joy a trip to your doc would probably be in order.
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