Low Carb Twilight Zone???

hi MFPers -
i have insulin resistance (and PCOS) and have been doing a VERY low carb meal plan (7% carbs, 55% fat, 38% protein) for the past 4 days in order to force my body into learning how to burn fat (this seems to be the recommended therapy for IR)....i have been eating a hearty diet with plenty of cals, plenty of good fats, and lean proteins but i think this very low carb intake is putting me into the twilight zone!!! i feel sooo funky and out-of-sorts!!! has anybody else experienced this? if so - how long does it last???? i barely have the energy to get dressed in the morning and my workouts have been a bust as i literally have hit a wall at the gym ! i am fully motivated to be there, i just can't will my body to even take another step....this is very unusual for me - i am usually full of life and have a zip in my step....but this fog has to lift soon or i might just get into trouble (i nearly drove my car into the garage door a few minutes ago! yikes!)
thanks friends
:sad:

A Low-Carb Diet Shown to Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Study Proves Very Low Carb Diet is Effective


Does a low-carb diet really help control or even reverse type 2 diabetes? According to a study from Duke University, a very low-carb diet (20 grams or less a day) gave participants better blood sugar control and more effective weight loss than participants who followed a low-glycemic reduced calorie diet.
Eighty-four people with obesity and type 2 diabetes took part in the study. During the study, both groups also had the supportive benefit of group meetings, nutritional supplementation and an exercise program. After 6 months, the low-carb group had lower hemoglobin A1c results, lost more weight, and 95% were able to reduce or even totally eliminate their diabetes medications. The reduced calorie group did lose weight, and 62% of them were also able to reduce or eliminate their medications, but the low-carb diet group had better overall results.

"It's simple," says Eric Westman, MD, director of Duke's Lifestyle Medicine Program and lead author of the study. "If you cut out the carbohydrates, your blood sugar goes down, and you lose weight which lowers your blood sugar even further. It's a one-two punch."

The low-carb diet used in the study is very restrictive on carb intake, with participants eating under 20 grams of carbs a day. This may be difficult for many people to stick to, but as Dr. Westman says, "This is a therapeutic diet for people who are sick," says Westman. "These lifestyle approaches all have an intensive behavioral component. In our program, people come in every two weeks to get reinforcements and reminders. We've treated hundreds of patients this way now at Duke, and what we see clinically and in our research shows that it works."

Keep in mind that there is more to these results than just diet. Both groups also exercised regularly as well. Diet combined with exercise is the cornerstone of diabetes management. Before starting any diet program, please talk with your doctor, or healthcare provider.

Source:

(Jan. 5, 2009). Low-Carb Diets Prove Better at Controlling Type 2 Diabetes . Retrieved February 19, 2009, from DukeHealth.org Web site:

I too have Insulin Resistance. This is what my Nutritionist told me to do. Which is 20g or less per meal. Check it out:

Here is some examples of what my diet will look like:
Protein- MUST be present in all meals plus all meals must be low fat.

Protein Examples:
eggs, egg white, cottage cheese, fat free ricotta, greek yogurt, low fat cheese, veggie burgers, skinless chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, lean meats(at least 93% lean or greater), pork tenderloin, soy beans, protein powder(no sugar).

Veggies: 1 cup or more of veggies, 2 cups or more of salad greens

Carbs: Only 1 carb per meal - Unrefined(whole wheat)
Examples: 2 slices of low carb bread, 1 slice of regular bread, 1 low carb wrap, 1/2 large potato or sweet potato, 1 small potato, 1/3 cups of beans, 1/3 cups of brown rice, 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Pasta, 1 Piece of fruit(fruit is the best carb but it still has to be limited to 1 per meal)

Breakfast Examples:
Greek yogurt w/fruit, cottage cheese w/fruit, veggie omelet w/ 2 slices of low carb bread, special K protein plus cereal, kashi go lean cereal, low carb wrap with low fat cheese, protwin shake(skim milk, berries, whey protein)

Snack Examples:
handful of nuts and fruit, low fat cheese and fruit, hummus and veggies, non fat ricotta w/ sugar free cocoa sprinkled on it, apple with Peanut butter(must be all natural PB)

As you can see there is a Protein to counteract the Carb.


Hope it helps!!

Maria

Fat: 50%
Protein 40%
Carbs 10%

I too have Insulin Resistance. This is what my Nutritionist told me to do. Which is 20g or less per meal. Check it out:

Here is some examples of what my diet will look like:
Protein- MUST be present in all meals plus all meals must be low fat.

Protein Examples:
eggs, egg white, cottage cheese, fat free ricotta, greek yogurt, low fat cheese, veggie burgers, skinless chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, lean meats(at least 93% lean or greater), pork tenderloin, soy beans, protein powder(no sugar).

Veggies: 1 cup or more of veggies, 2 cups or more of salad greens

Carbs: Only 1 carb per meal - Unrefined(whole wheat)
Examples: 2 slices of low carb bread, 1 slice of regular bread, 1 low carb wrap, 1/2 large potato or sweet potato, 1 small potato, 1/3 cups of beans, 1/3 cups of brown rice, 1/3 cup Whole Wheat Pasta, 1 Piece of fruit(fruit is the best carb but it still has to be limited to 1 per meal)

Breakfast Examples:
Greek yogurt w/fruit, cottage cheese w/fruit, veggie omelet w/ 2 slices of low carb bread, special K protein plus cereal, kashi go lean cereal, low carb wrap with low fat cheese, protwin shake(skim milk, berries, whey protein)

Snack Examples:
handful of nuts and fruit, low fat cheese and fruit, hummus and veggies, non fat ricotta w/ sugar free cocoa sprinkled on it, apple with Peanut butter(must be all natural PB)

As you can see there is a Protein to counteract the Carb.


Hope it helps!!

Maria

I don't understand why 20 grams per meal???? That is not what I have been told and what I read and research..........

I can't handle wheat, I am allergic to it...........

I stick to protein (and I eat the skin on the chicken for good fat - animal fat is not bad for you), veggeis and fruit, nuts...........no bread, pasta, rice or potatoes...........

Check out my blood work - click link in my signature..............