Felt weak on OMAD, calories, electrolytes or hypoglycemia?

(Fabian ) #1

Hi everyone,

Started OMAD + Keto last week. I have experience doing both but separately…
Wanted to lose a bit of weight and see what results I would get on my tennis elbow and chronic back pain. I consumed around 1600 / 1700 calories during a 1.5 hour window. I supplemented with sodium, potassium and a bit of magnesium.

The first 5 days I felt really good (no hunger, energy at the gym, no fatigue, no stress, no anxiety, my back and elbow were much better …)
I checked my ketone levels on day 5 (it was 1.8)

On the sixth day, I felt weak around 12:00 (I was supposed to teach at 18:00) and thought I looked pale while I was teaching on Skype. As I had 2 more classes to teach, I just quickly ate 2 bananas and a coffee with milk between two classes to give me enough energy to go on…

Could it be hypoglycaemia (is it possible on Day 6?), not enough food ? not enough sleep? (baby has been ill lately). I would like to know your thoughts as I would really like stick to that protocol (OMAD + Keto / low carb) long time.

Thank you!

(Robin) #2

I hate that feeling! The obvious urge is to eat something like a banana. But try eating a bunch of keto food instead and see what happens next time.
I guess my fear is that treating a spell of hypoglycemia by giving it sugar will just prolong the dependency.

(Joey) #3

It takes weeks for one’s mitochondria to become fat adapted. I wouldn’t be too quick to embrace a OMAD eating pattern while undergoing such body changes.

Definitely cut out those carbs - let your body adjust over time. And in the meanwhile, EAT, EAT, EAT low-carb to properly satisfy your hunger. However much that is … it is. Honor your hunger - but do it without the carbs. They are the problem, not your solution.

Basically, what @robintemplin just said :wink:

#4

Hi Fabian, I have not been on this ketogenic WOE very long, I began 12 Oct 2022. Transitioned to carnivore and now the only amount of carbs I get is from cream, cheese, eggs, meat and fish. I find I cannot fast, or eat just the one meal, so I eat 3 regular meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I have coffees with cream inbetween for pick-me-ups. I would worry what would happen to one’s metabolism eating OMAD, as the body gets used to that, might down-regulate one’s metabolism, or think too few calories are consumed and go into a kind of crisis or preservation mode.

#5

Yep, this. Feeling weak, needing food? Pretty normal, I surely would get that after some days on some calorie deficit. I would eat keto food, it’s not like banana would be good when I need food (fat and protein, mostly) anyway… It’s merely delicious…

I plan to do carnivore(-ish) OMAD since some time, it never happened but I won’t just give up. But I am sure I will need some TMAD days too as I can’t always eat much enough at once (without a good plan, at least) and while 1600-1800 kcal is often fine for me, sometimes my body wants more…
Feeling weak always means I need food even if I don’t feel hunger. So I eat a proper meal when that happens.

IDK about your body stats and energy need but 1600-1700 kcal isn’t enough for all of us… Especially not longer term.

(Joey) #6

Yes, this ^^^

Our bodies are remarkable at maintaining homeostasis. If you starve yourself, your metabolism will slow down to preserve limited fuel.

If you’re not hungry, don’t eat. When you are hungry, do eat.

Good health is more about WHAT you eat, not when. When we eat healthy choices, our hunger signals can be trusted to lead the way.

#7

And it may give us a perfect OMAD… Maybe even would have that if I just could figure out how not to eat when not hungry… I am horrible at that.

The two are very much correlated in my case. If I eat late, it probably triggers eating some wrong things unless I am in a determined phase. And my stomach often converts into a bottomless pit in the evenings anyway and it combined with my total lack of discipline… It usually doesn’t end well.
For some of us, the right timing is quite important.

And starving is bad even on 5MAD. It’s not specific to OMAD. If one can’t eat properly in one sitting, they shouldn’t do it, I don’t even know why so many people try…
But 1600-1700 kcal may be perfect for many people. Just not all of us.

#8

Hi Shinita, it’s individual. I find I am eating more meals because I simply cannot eat a lot in one meal. I eat when I’m hungry, stop when I’m full. A couple of pork chops or a plate with eggs and bacon rashers will leave me full till my next meal. My body will tell me if it’s had enough of the meal, or if it desires more to eat. Sometimes I’ll include a fourth meal in the evening more as a nutritional snack, if I so require it, like an extra pork chop, chicken thigh or small plate of bacon rashers or perhaps just some slices of cheese, or a coffee with cream, but generally I eat three regular meals in a day. My body is feeling good on this WOE because I don’t deprive myself. And yet I don’t really crave things either, but I am recognizing my body’s hunger and satiety signals. So each day leaves me feeling both satiated and satisfied, and with a sense of luxury, because the foods on this WOE are not just delicious, but dense in nutrients.