Weakness not paired with Keto flu

(S Hardy) #1

Hi,
I’ll make a long story short: been keto for six weeks exactly today. This is my second attempt, I had tried the diet three years ago and fell off and abandoned.

Starting by the second or third week, I’ve had amazing days where I felt energized and not hungry for hours if not whole days. But those episodes are separated by others where I feel completely “emptied” of any energy. I’ve tried as I might to find common denominator or a triggering factor, I can’t see of one. My ketones would be in the 1-2 mmol/l range and glucose from 3.7-4.4 mmol/l so everything normal. I just don’t get it.

Does it mean I may not be fat adapted yet?

(S Hardy) #2

Just want to add more data: this time my girlfriend is onboard with me and she is a fantastic cook. While I spend time educating myself with the more technical and science stuff liked to this diet (in a limited way obviously) she parses every keto cookbook she can put her hands on and makes delicious AND keto meals everyday. Lucky me! So we know what to eat and we do not cheap. We measure ourselves every night with ketones et glucose strips. We’ve never fell off Ketosis. Although she has more easiness to make ketones than me (she remains in the 3-5 mmol/l range all the time)

We also drink tons of salted water, take magnesium, potassium and kelp supplements.

I keep carbs under 30 grams everyday, protein intake is around 90-110 grams and the rest are good fats (coconut, butter, olive oils)

These episodes of weakness usually proceed after a meal. This morning, my breakfast/lunch was a four eggs omelette with cheddar cheese, a small piece of almond bread with butter on. I’m lost

#3

Hi and welcome,

Energy can be up and down in the early days. Just keep going.

Of course it assumes you are not iron deficient, no thyroid issues, plenty of vitamin D …

Make sure you eat plenty. Don’t be afraid of a tablespoon butter or olive oil …

KCKO (keep calm keto on). See how you are in a couple of weeks

#4

How are your Vitamin B, D, and Iron levels?

#5

Hmm too much food (especially protein) makes me drowsy.

Besides its early days. Keto adaptation is taking place…

It does get better.

#6

I’m experiencing the same. Except not after meals. Just in general. Idk what’s going on lol. I’m approaching 8 weeks. I’m not hungry but thought maybe the sluggish feeling was due to not eating and tried force feeding bacon. That made me feel worse. So now I’ve spent the day in bed as my energy is zero and just don’t feel well in general. Almost feels like carb flu but I thought I was over that :woman_shrugging:t3: Maybe tomorrow will be better!

(Scott) #7

It took me about three months to feel adapted. I was okay with that.

(Bunny) #8

That (weakness) happened to me also followed by more intense adrenal flight or fight responsiveness, it takes a while for your metabolism to re-adjust (around 27 weeks or so) then everything (metabolism) stabilizes.

You may want to increase magnesium (for energy) potassium and sodium intake.

Most importantly tell your doctor what you are experiencing and about increasing your sodium intake?

(S Hardy) #9

Thank you all. A few answers:

Iron and vitamin D are ok and supplemented too.
I have an ever slight hypothyroidism, not worth medicating. But the fact that these episodes show after certain meals that have nothing in common is puzzling. It is not a feeling of sluggishness that follows a large meal. It feels more like a complete energy drain from the inside out.

I’m having a green tea right now and it seems like it is recessing. (I wrote this post while experiencing low energy)

Also, I don’t fear fat, I love it. I use MCT in my coffee every other morning. Use butter and olive oil at satiation. And don’t think I’m missing on that side.

#10

Sounds like you’re doing everything right.

Sodium is definitely essential.

Some people say keto adaptation takes 6-8 weeks, but Dr Volek speaks in terms of months if not years. People on this forum who run say it was about 3 months or so before it all felt good.

Your body is following a well orchestrated adaptation cycle. Dormant “software” is now running, mitochondria are getting repurposed and trained. Brain, heart, liver, muscles or burning different fuel. …

A lot also depends on how insulin resistant you were before keto.

In weeks 1 to let’s say 3 my energy was up and down. It seemed near superhuman at times, yet easily drained at other times.

Then weeks 4 to 6 I was experiencing tiredness and low energy (but I wasn’t eating a lot).

Now it’s normal. I don’t feel superhuman or easily drained. Need a good night sleep or I will know it.

But no power lows at 10:30am or 3 pm like before keto.

I think KCKO. See how you go in a couple of weeks.

(Robin) #11

I’m sorry, what does KCKO stand for? Interesting that you kept track of how you were feeling, that is really interesting to me. I should have done that. I’ve been KETO for 1 1/2 years, my hubby 1 year. He struggles with depression still and seems to nap most days.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #12

Hi there. I would suggest a food journal to figure out if it’s just one or two things that might be causing the drop in energy. I figured out in month two that when I hit the eggs really hard (eat them many days in a row) I get head, stomach and joint aches. Now I can have them but only occasionally.

Also, it’s not always keto. Depending on where you live and what the weather is like, this time of year is tough on many people. I am personally managing the desire to nap, being tired after meals and general surliness. I am craving Spring like I used to crave cake, so I know that’s where my sleepiness is coming from. I also don’t experience it during the surprise warm and sunny day, here and there.

(Kirk Wolak) #13

Your liver converts the fat to energy. This is a NEW pathway for your liver (who previously converted glucose to fat for you).

Like any muscle. It will get tired in the beginning… You have stages:

  • Keeping with with low demand (initial keto flu and low energy goes away)
  • Keeping up with moderate demand (next stage)
  • Boundless energy. Liver can keep up continuously, even if you are running a marathon

Find yourself on that spectrum, and work to the next level.

ALSO, pay attention to specific foods. I turned out to be allergic to egg whites and dairy. So, of course, the cheese omelettes were killing me!

Find a safe meal. Eat that, when in doubt. (mine is bacon, or natural sausage). I can put down 2,000 calories of either with no ill side effects.

Also, if you eat too much fat, you may be SHUNTING your bodies ability to burn your own! And the transition will make you tired… (Your body is trying to trick you into giving it fast burning carbs, which it has been better trained to burn)…

(S Hardy) #14

I can hardly believe it yet, but it seems that a quarter of a teaspoon of sea salt under my tongue when I feel this way relieves me of this dreaded symptoms. This is a big surprise since I should be adapted or nearly so by now.

I’ll keep you posted.

#15

Good news.

Remember now matter how keto adapted we are, we still need plenty of sodium - daily. I keep thinking yeah yeah I’ve had plenty but yesterday’s lot doesn’t count for today.

Yes keep us posted, it’s all good to know.

Cheers