Confused Newbie

#1

Hello. I’m just looking for guidance. I’ve been living the keto way for about 7 or 8 weeks. It’s been difficult because I don’t eat this much meat and I used to stay far away from pork. I’m concerned because I’m feeling feeling very low energy, my memory is fucked and it doesn’t look like I’m going to switch to fat adapted any time soon. I’m afraid now. Can anyone offer a way forward things are getting depressing.

#2

Are you keeping up your electrolytes?

#3

Hi.

You need to make sure you are getting lots of water and lots of salt. These are not just good advice on a keto they are vital.

Are you eating enough? That will definitely impact energy level.

Are you iron deficient? Have you had any recent lab thyroid function tests? Plenty of vitamin D?

Some people can handle only meat but if I eat too much protein I’ll get drowsy and sluggish.

Any medication or pills can interference with ketone production.

What works for me is:

Meat of any sort with veggies and butter on top. Or simply bacon and eggs. And avocado and feta cheese thrown in here in there.

(I saw an interview with Dr Eric Westman recently he was asked what success rate he gets, he said pretty well 100%. Keto is like gravity it works. So there’s lot of hope)

(Scott) #4

After the first week I felt generally good but it was my running that suffered. My legs felt like they had lead in them. I also had to insert walk breaks which is unusual. At about the three month mark it changed. I could go out a run five miles and even the hills didn’t phase me. Stay with it you should get an energy boost soon!

(Carl Keller) #5

Hi Sherilisa.

It might help if you can tell us what you are eating in the average day. My first impulse is to think you are not eating enough food since you are low energy at 7+ weeks.

#6

Hello All,
And thank you. I have since writing this post increased my electrolytes, added some psyllium husks to increase the flow and increased my fats. This has helped immensely. I still however can’t walk up a flight of stairs without exhaustion, but I’m encouraged to plow on.

Most days I have a coffee bullet for breakfast, lunch is usually dinner left overs or a salad and cheese with bacon. Dinner is a heafty meat and a few veg sides, but I’m not able to pile in loads of food anymore. I think you’re all correct I just got so low and dejected I couldn’t think what to do.

Many thanks. I’m going to soldier on because I want to see how my health changes once fat adapted.

~L

#7

Hello Again,
I decided to continue with this post as I think it’s relative.
As I said I increased electrolytes and ruffage and that seemed to help. But as I gathered my symptoms and assessed them I realise some how my thyroid is acting weird. I’m on thyroxine for low thyroid. In doing research around that I’ve found ketosis is not recommended for low thyroid. “They” believe that the higher glands pituitary and hypothalamus (hope that’s correct) require glucose to function properly. “They” agree their testing parameter have a little to be desired, but it’s a place to start. My symptoms were the same as when I first discovered the thyroid problem. I am insatiably tired and hangry and feel low all the time now. Eat every 2 or 3 hours. I get hot flushes all the time. My bowels are off,. I can’t keep myself warm.
I’m thinking perhaps not so low carbs. I’m glad to have a direction. And perhaps to be able to bring my energy and mood up. Anyone have any experience with low thyroid and keto?

~L

(Carl Keller) #8

Hi Sherilisa.

While I am not an expert, I do believe that simply removing the inflammation from your body is going to benefit you. Dr. Jockers has a good article on hypothyroidism and keto that might help you.

https://drjockers.com/ketogenic-diet-hypothyroid/

#9

You say you upped the electrolytes, but what of your iron and Vitamin B12? How much meat are you eating?

#10

Thank you. Funny u should mention that because I can feel the inflammation buildup and I’m addressing it today.

#11

Well I’m good with protein and I use nutritional yeast, and hemp juice as my supplements. Occasionally I take a tablet vitamin, but I prefer food to tablets. Going for blood work next week.

#12

The body makes all the glucose it needs when functioning properly. consuming glucose is not needed. also watch the keto staples they can have bad effects on the thyroid. These are the cabbage group, and good alternative if you desire the cruciferous group is kimchi or sauerkraut the fermentation help remove the harmful plant matter.

#13

Nice tip. Didn’t know that. I’ve been eating lots of cauliflower

#14

make sure your Iodine consumption is high also, so add in fish roe or shell fish.

#15

Those don’t sound like they would have good bioavailability. The only real place you can get B12 is animal products, anything else you won’t absorb well. I would try upping your meat consumption, red meat specifically, and see how you feel.