Looking for some advice here.
I’ve been doing a very low-carb diet for four weeks now (probably not strict enough to be called “keto - I estimate <50g carbs/day) to try to treat some PCOS-like symptoms. I haven’t restricted my food/calorie intake at all, I’m getting in tons of good fat, and have been feeling fine until the past five days - but now I feel incredibly weak.
I work a physical job, and when I went in on Wednesday, I just felt drained. Everything was so much effort, and my muscles were shaking with exercise I would otherwise be fine with. Same story on Thursday, if not worse. It’s now Sunday and I’m so fatigued it’s a struggle hold my phone to type this. Once I rest for a while I feel okay, but after five minutes on my feet I feel like I’ve gone for a run: out of breath, weak at the knees, fatigued.
I’m not mentally tired at all, though. I don’t want to sleep, I just can’t use my muscles!
I haven’t changed my diet at all in the past week so I’m wondering what’s up for me to be feeling this way now. I’ve read that it can take some weeks to be fully fat-adapted, but why did I feel fine before and not now? Is this my body telling me that keto is not for me? It sure feels like it! If it doesn’t improve I feel like I’m going to have to get off of low carb for the sake of work, so I’m just throwing this out here to see if this is normal and will pass.
I know salt can be a problem. I was very vigilant about salt in the first week to avoid keto-flu. As of yesterday I’ve been lacing my food with salt, drinking lots of water and I took a magnesium supplement this morning. However, I don’t feel any the better for it.
I’d really like to still continue with the diet, but I’m on the fence because I feel so tired that it’s impractical. I’d very much appreciate any advice/shared experiences. Ultimately, I’m wondering if this is a phase, or if low-carb does not work for me and I need to quit.
Thanks in advance!