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Total lack of energy

faw1001
faw1001 Posts: 131 Member
edited November 8 in Social Groups
I recently decided to give primal eating another go after failing to lose weight eating this way a year or so ago (my fault for trying to invent too many primal treat foods!).
I think I have stuck to it pretty well for the last week and although I have added a lot more fat than I am used to into my diet and I am not hungry at all (which is unusual for me), I have hit a wall as far as energy goes. I have no energy to do anything - even walking is slow going atm, and I am really tired all the time.
I am eating roughly 1600 cal a day which is several hundred cal more than I did on low cal.
Is this normal to feel so drained at the start? If so how long does it normally last?

Replies

  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    Sounds about right.

    How long it lasts depends largely on your own body, but you can help mitigate things by making sure you're getting enough of the following:

    Electrolytes -- sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium
    Food in general -- don't intentionally try to restrict your calories during this time, so your body has the fuel needed to clear out the things it doesn't need and build up the things it does
    Water -- Drink all the waters!
    Sleep -- It could be you just need to get some more sleep. If that's the case, then try to make sure you get it.
  • faw1001
    faw1001 Posts: 131 Member
    Dragonwolf wrote: »
    Sounds about right.

    Sleep -- It could be you just need to get some more sleep. If that's the case, then try to make sure you get it.

    Thank you for the advice. I am crawling into bed between 8.30 and 9pm and getting up at 6 so I get lots of sleep (such a nana lol) but I could defo increase my water intake.
  • emma7437
    emma7437 Posts: 225 Member
    I find when I take grain out of my diet about 48 hours in I can hardly stay awake and I am exhausted. I have been told it is just my body wondering where the energy from grains is, but then it goes and I have plenty of energy. I notice this when I fall off the wagon and then get back on it so I would say dont worry, although when you are in the middle of it, it is awful, really exhausting!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited November 2014
    lol dragonwolf, I was going to say something like: a lot of how you feel now depends on what you ate before, then I clicked your link. It said it much better than I ever could.

    OP: give yourself some time to adjust. You'll be grand if you can make it through the fog.
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    It goes away and then you will feel back to normal or better. I felt like I was dragging for a couple of weeks and then, poof, felt fine.
  • cindytw
    cindytw Posts: 1,027 Member
    It really does depend on where you come from. For me, that has been Paleo/Primal a while, fell off track and am getting back to basics and LOW carb on Tues. I will have some fruit and starch cravings but nothing unmanageable. Because I have been down this road before. Being new, you have to dial in the right electrolytes, stop being afraid of sodium, make sure you are getting potassium, magnesium, and FAT. You will be fine once the adaptation is complete. I know, I have been here many times!
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