Why do I feel crappy?

(Nimitta) #1

I’ve been doing a ketogenic diet for about 3 1/2 months. I track my meals with the MyKeto app, maintaining 75% fat, 20% protein (~100g), and 5% carb (20 g). the protein amount is the level recommended for my body size and exercise frequency. I’ve lost 30 lbs (From 260 lbs to 230 lbs, ~1.5 lbs per week0and love this diet (feel energetic, low hunger, satisfied with the foods I eat, etc.) I’m eating about 2000 calories per day. I’ve been exercising ~5 days per week.

For the 1st 2 months, I felt awesome. After the brief, mild keto adaptation period, I felt not only physically but emotionally better (less anxious, less irritable, more balanced).

But then I started to feel “off” physically and emotionally. I feel restless, some muscle tension, almost lightheaded at times, like something is not right.

My blood glucose is a steady 100 fasting, and does not rise after eating (seems to be “physiologic insulin resistance”, not concerned about that)

My electrolytes are normal according to a recent blood test, and I take electrolyte supplements, which have no effect on this feeling.

It’s not emotional distress. My life circumstances have been good and I’m pretty happy.

So what the hell is going on?

Thank you

#2

Possibly need a magnesium supplement. It is very hard to tell from a blood test. Need 420mg +/- daily. Its easy to tell if you have too much magnesium, but you can google that info because it is all over the net. It pulled me out of the same rut.

(Nimitta) #3

I’ve been taking 600 mg of magnesium citrate for several years, and have felt fine. That wouldn’t seem to be it.

(Tanya Walker) #4

After about 2 1/2 months on Keto I started feeling crappy too, light headed and dizzy. Blood sugars and blood pressure were both good. Dr checked my hemoglobin level and I was severely anemic. Completely unrelated to keto diet.

(Luc) #5

It could be some mineral/vitamin deficiency. Log your food for a few days on cronometer. The free version also tracks your vitamin and mineral intake. When I did that I discovered that my average iron intake was 19% which was low, so I needed to work on that.

(Holly Cadieux) #6

I’m in the same boat as you. Feel off lately. In full ketosis right now but my energy level is lower and having hard time sleeping and getting up in the mornings. I used to have a banana with yogurt each AM but stopped that as that prevents ketosis. I miss whatever that banana did as it’s the only change I made to my diet.

(Nimitta) #7

My doctor doubts that it’s anemia & my blood test results seem normal. I also take multivitamin supplements so I doubt it’s a deficiency.

(Jane ) #8

Have you had your thyroid checked? Salt itake? Potassium? Those are what jump out at me first…

(Nimitta) #9

I think the problem was unrelated to the ketogenic diet. I was taking methylfolate on the recommendation of a nutritionist. During the winter, it was a godsend, but in the summer it was too much. I felt overstimulated.

I’ve weaned off the methylfolate and feel normal. So I believe it had little or nothing to do with the keto diet.

Thank you all for your help!

(Martha Mac) #10

I’m going to suggest potassium

(Martha Mac) #11

This is so interesting!

#12

I have never felt so lethargic in my life. This is the end of week 9 and i have had approx 1 cheat meal the whole time, ice cream on Sunday. I have been carnivore for almost 3 weeks and yesterday i felt so horrible I came home from work and by 6 pm i was asleep. I woke up a few times bt did not move from my bed, basically just long enough to realize i felt like death and needed to stay there. It wasnt until 5 am that I felt like Id be able to make it into work today. I slept til 7 logging in 13 hours of rest. I’m thankful I listened to my body as after last weekends camping in the rockies i have zero time to take off.

I feel like I need to start over, like completely start keto over. Not sure how I do that though, you gain so much knowledge its hard to disregard some of it and i feel like i kind of need a fresh approach. Does it feel like Monday to anyone else? :wink: