Jittery and fatigued...HELP!!

With losing weight, I get stressed, jittery and fatigued easily. I have had a complete Hysterectomy in 2012 and am on no hormones. The only way I have found to ease my stress/jitters is to go off my diet and eat. Any suggestions on how to get past the moods?

Replies

  • mygrl4meee
    mygrl4meee Posts: 943 Member
    How much are you eating? It shouldn't be like that.
  • vespiquenn
    vespiquenn Posts: 1,455 Member
    Is your diet too restrictive?
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    Hummm fatigued maybe not enough calories? Jittery maybe too much caffeine or sugar?

    For stress... sleep is key! get 7-8 hrs of sleep at night. I use Olly Restful Sleep Melatonin to help me sleep.

    Full Fat
    Fiber
    Protein

    Help me stay full.

    I also started taking Maca Root (google it to see if it may help you) for a natural hormone balance.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    I'm on a 1200 calorie diet, but if I get stressed/jittery I'll eat like a nutrigrain bar or other food to ease the tension. I believe hormones/chemicals are stored in the fat and as you lose the fat this releases them into your system. Just not sure how to deal with it to keep losing weight.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    I don't think my diet is too restrictive. I allow myself only 2 cups of coffee a day and my sugar level is fine also. I will look into the sleep melatonin and hormone therapy. THANK YOU!
  • OldHound
    OldHound Posts: 17 Member
    If it's just a matter of a small amount of food like a nutrigrain bar, why worry at all about it? Maybe try an apple or a few strawberries or some fresh pineapple?
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    I am fructose intolerant. Fresh fruits hurt me the worst. I don't understand it but I can eat a nutrigrain bar and only get a headache.
  • Bxqtie116
    Bxqtie116 Posts: 552 Member
    It sounds like 1200 calories may be too strict for you to handle. Try adjusting your goal to lose 1 lb per week to increase your calories and see how that helps.
  • hiyomi
    hiyomi Posts: 906 Member
    1200 may not seem restrictive, but your body is telling you otherwise. Listen to your body and try upping your calories for a week or two and see how you feel then.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    What are your stats? 1200 cals is not a lot of food.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    Yes, if you can give us a bit more info it will help -

    How many pounds a week are you trying to lose?

    Do you exercise? How much?

    Do you eat back exercise calories?

    How many pounds are you trying to lose in total?

    I think it is likely that you are undereating and it is messing with your blood sugar. It also might help to rebalance your diet to include more whole grains, protein and fibre in order to allow yourself to cope better with a reduced energy intake.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    1200 calories really isn't strict....if you eat the right foods 1000 can fill you up....but I do eat as my body needs it.....even if I have to go over the calorie intake level I do..I just use it as a guide...I do think this diet is messing with the blood sugar levels, but I'm not a diabetic...my stats?...I have 60 pounds to lose...and any weight I lose, be it a half a pound or 2 pounds a week I would be happy with...I fell in December and have not been able to walk much since...I am getting better, but it's a slow process....I am using a cane part of the time now, mainly when I'm out and about. In the house I have things I can hold onto. Thank you all for your help! It's much appreciated!!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    @mamagotti82 if I drank two cups of coffee a day I'd be jittery too. Try switching it out for tea and nothing with caffeine in it after lunch. Try this for a week and see if it makes a difference.

    1200 calories may be too little for you. I was fatigued when I was on a medically supervised VLCD diet. If the multigrain bar works for you but you are worried about the calories try eating half.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    It could be reactive hypoglycemia. Blood glucose levels falling after they went high after a meal. It often gives symptoms like shakes, jitters, weakness, light headedness, brain fog, and such. Symptoms usually improve after eating.

    If that is the case, eating protein with lower carb meals can help regulate blood glucose. A low carb high fat diet will also do the trick.

    I went very low carb over a year ago, to deal with insulin resistance. My daily bouts of shaking and weakness stopped within days.
  • Alienique
    Alienique Posts: 122 Member
    I don't think my diet is too restrictive. I allow myself only 2 cups of coffee a day and my sugar level is fine also. I will look into the sleep melatonin and hormone therapy. THANK YOU!

    Are you drinking these cups of coffee on an empty stomach? How big/strong are they? I know, personally, if I've eaten little (or worse yet, not at all) caffeine affects me much more intensely. That could be causing/contributing to the jittery-ness.

    Also, 1200 calories is not too restrictive of a diet if you work your way down to it gradually, but a jump from, say, 2500 calories to 1200 might be a bit too much for your body to handle. As a general rule, don't make caloric deficits of more than 1000 - you'll put your body into panic mode and ruin your metabolism.
    Oh, make sure you're getting enough carbs. Going too drastically from a high-carb to low-carb diet will definitely make you feel burned out.
  • CattOfTheGarage
    CattOfTheGarage Posts: 2,745 Member
    edited August 2016
    1200 calories really isn't strict....if you eat the right foods 1000 can fill you up....but I do eat as my body needs it

    And yet you're getting symptoms which indicate your body is not coping with it.

    1200 IS strict. I know, I've done it. I routinely eat 1200 net on weekdays and it is difficult even when I can exercise. When I injured my knee earlier this year and could not exercise, it became pretty much impossible.

    Why are you so wedded to 1200cal? You are recovering from an injury, cut your body a break. It needs calories to heal. Why not set your goal to half a pound a week, at least until you are able to exercise and have exercise calories to play with?

    Maybe you will find that increasing your calories does not help and you need to try something else, but maybe it WILL help, and it's the easiest thing to try in the first instance.
  • nikkitimkitembo89
    nikkitimkitembo89 Posts: 27 Member
    That happens to me sometimes but I just eat a snack and drink some water and it subsides I'm on the 1200 calorie plan but you have to listen to your body so if I get jitter or feel off I eat a serving of nuts, a piece of fruit, some veggies and hummus etc. And I usually feel better in 20 minutes this has not happened but if I were still off I'd ear more healthy snacks and my jittery feeling is once in a while probably when I have expended more energy than other days
  • nikkitimkitembo89
    nikkitimkitembo89 Posts: 27 Member
    Oh also try making your own bars at home it will be be better for you processed foods are just bad even the ones that look healthy like nutrigrain, Kelloggs etc. Also for stress I always love a hot bath with essential oils and Epsom salt some nice zen garden music and a good relaxing tea like camomile nothing with caffeine if you do it right before bed you will sleep like a baby
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    Assuming your blood pressure is normal or low you can take licorice root to help your body handle the stress, but not if blood pressure is already high. If blood pressure is high then Nervous Fatigue TCM will accomplish the same thing.

    Also, you may want to try DIM as a hormone balancer.
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    With losing weight, I get stressed, jittery and fatigued easily. I have had a complete Hysterectomy in 2012 and am on no hormones. The only way I have found to ease my stress/jitters is to go off my diet and eat. Any suggestions on how to get past the moods?

    Go speak with your doctor or a medical professional, no one on here knows your medical history, has seen your blood work... It would all just be assumptions.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    @jgnatca ...My coffee is not a strong brew. I have one cup in the morning and one after lunch. So I don't believe my coffee is the problem. Again, 1200 is just a tool. Like today, with my meals and snacks all totalled 1300. The nutrigrain bars are so small, it's not worth the trouble to only eat half.
    @nvmomketo ...it does sound like it could have something to do with my blood sugar...I just eat when I get that way and I feel better.
    @Demaniacle ...I don't always drink my coffee on an empty stomach..they are about 8oz cups and it is not a strong coffee...I drink Kava coffee...it is an instant coffee which is like 90% acid free...easy on my stomach...I do try to listen to my body...I eat if I have to...even if I'm over on my calorie intake.
    @CattOfTheGarage ...I am not wedded to 1200 calories....just a guideline.
    @nikkitimkitembo89 ...thanks for the info...I'll have to try the camomile tea.
    @tcunbeliever ...I do not have high blood pressure...I may try licorice root, thanks....what is DIM for hormone balancer?
    @johunt615 ...I tried the melatonin...there is NO WAY I can take it....very bad headache and tons of pressure on my chest...I still need to try the Maca root. I'll let you know how it goes.

    To all....my jitters and fatigue have gotten better. I guess my body had to get use to being on a diet again. Thank you all for any info/ideas/opinions given!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Ha! My insomnia resolved itself when I gave up tea (I never took up coffee). If you don't try anything different don't expect a different result.

    Anyhow I'm glad the jitters seem to be resolving themselves.
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    @jgnatca ...My coffee is not a strong brew. I have one cup in the morning and one after lunch. So I don't believe my coffee is the problem. Again, 1200 is just a tool. Like today, with my meals and snacks all totalled 1300. The nutrigrain bars are so small, it's not worth the trouble to only eat half.
    @nvmomketo ...it does sound like it could have something to do with my blood sugar...I just eat when I get that way and I feel better.
    @Demaniacle ...I don't always drink my coffee on an empty stomach..they are about 8oz cups and it is not a strong coffee...I drink Kava coffee...it is an instant coffee which is like 90% acid free...easy on my stomach...I do try to listen to my body...I eat if I have to...even if I'm over on my calorie intake.
    @CattOfTheGarage ...I am not wedded to 1200 calories....just a guideline.
    @nikkitimkitembo89 ...thanks for the info...I'll have to try the camomile tea.
    @tcunbeliever ...I do not have high blood pressure...I may try licorice root, thanks....what is DIM for hormone balancer?
    @johunt615 ...I tried the melatonin...there is NO WAY I can take it....very bad headache and tons of pressure on my chest...I still need to try the Maca root. I'll let you know how it goes.

    To all....my jitters and fatigue have gotten better. I guess my body had to get use to being on a diet again. Thank you all for any info/ideas/opinions given!

    Understood! I can't live without my melatonin
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited August 2016
    First thought with title of this post is you are eating enough. Second thought after reading your post was, probably isn't eating enough. After reading comments, you definitely are not eating enough. 1200 calories isn't strict? 1200 calories is the diet of a toddler. 1200 calories is the number MFP absolutely refuses to go below because it is dangerously low. I am not even that overweight and I lose weight if I eat 2400 calories a day. 1200 a day I'd probably be damn dizzy and irritable too if not just plain unconscious. I ate 1200 calorie for dinner and I'm losing weight.

    If you have symptoms that you aren't eating enough and those symptoms are relieved by eating then you probably weren't eating enough. Just eat more. The goal is to be at a slight deficit and lose weight slowly and reliably over time, not to see how little you can eat.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    @Aaron_K123 ...it sounds like you have a very active metabolism....I don't...but it does appear I'm losing weight slowly. My metabolism is on the mends. I am in the process of learning to eat properly again. Praying to get off the rollercoaster of diets this time.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited August 2016
    The only way to "Activate" your metabolism is to eat more and exercise, not eat less. If you are jittery and fatigued you aren't eating enough, end of. Eat more, that will help your metabolism...and once you start feeling better, no longer jittery and fatigued, start going for regular walks and get some more exercise. But first step, eat more.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    @Aaron_K123 ...it sounds like you have a very active metabolism....I don't...but it does appear I'm losing weight slowly. My metabolism is on the mends. I am in the process of learning to eat properly again. Praying to get off the rollercoaster of diets this time.
    Energy need is based on height, weight, sex, activity level. Your metabolism is fine. Weight can come off at a rate of up to 1% per week, on average. You can't lose faster than that. But you can lose that fast if you don't mess up. Eating too little is messing up, because it makes you ill and then it makes you overeat to compensate, and then there is no net weight loss. Stop praying. Get off the rollercoaster by eating properly, make that a priority. Have a slight deficit, and stick to it, your body can handle that easily.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    DIM = Diindolylmethane is an extract from cruciferrous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, etc.), it transforms strongly bonded estrogen into weakly bonded estrogen which makes it easier for your body to shift around or eliminate as needed to keep things in balance.
  • mamagotti82
    mamagotti82 Posts: 10 Member
    @tcunbeliever ....Thanks for the info....I may try and push more broccoli.
  • SophieSmall95
    SophieSmall95 Posts: 233 Member
    Aaron_K123 wrote: »
    The only way to "Activate" your metabolism is to eat more and exercise, not eat less. If you are jittery and fatigued you aren't eating enough, end of. Eat more, that will help your metabolism...and once you start feeling better, no longer jittery and fatigued, start going for regular walks and get some more exercise. But first step, eat more.

    Hi.

    just so you know that is pseudoscience. it's not based on fact or any actual scientific research. It doesn't work like that, this is 101 stuff on my degree. It's just nonsense.

    Also OP said on one of her posts she had a fall and injured herself and so is not as active as she used to be.

    Also bare in mind of course you can eat more than OP and still lose weight you're an active guy in his 30s. OP is an inactive woman in her 50s, these make a big difference in how much energy the body uses and needs. Please bare that in mind in the future before you start telling people they're not eating enough or to eat more.

    I'm on average 1200 calories a day (more on active days) completely safe and healthy for me and approved by my doctor and it only puts me 400 calories a day under my TDEE. This is because I am very short (4'9), a woman so by default can't eat as much as you and generally inactive (though eat significantly more if I have an active day).