Leaving and coming back to low carb

[MoNoCarb]

I guess I didn't really leave low carb, I just kind of modified to a kind of low GI diet with moderate carbs (30-40%ish). Problem is, once you start eating brown rice, it's all too easy to occasionally have a second helping, or eat white rice, or give in to the bread basket, which leads to an ice cream, or to a frappucino, etc, etc. I didn't gain any weight, but I didn't lose any either.

I restarted Atkins induction three days ago in an effort, if I'm honest, to get 10 pounds off in about 6 weeks. And, I could also see that moderate carbs is difficult because you don't get the bonus of hunger surpression of ketosis.

But you know, I discovered something VERY INTERESTING when I cut the carbs right down again - I actually feel A LOT better when I'm not eating (many) carbs. MUCH clearer headed, more energy, the dark circles under my eyes went away overnight, I woke up before my alarm this morning, I had a brilliant workout yesterday.

Some of this must also surely be down to the 3 litres of water I'm drinking, but I actually do think that low carb agrees with my system.

[SHNUDI]

Thats great....
I feel the same way. I've never felt more energetic than when Im LC. It's fantasic.
I lost 20 pounds a year ago and after my wedding I put it all back on. I realize now that I'm crabby, and my moods are all over the board when Im eating foolishly. I started Atkins again a month ago, and I feel totally in sink with myself again. My skin looks great too.....
Sharon

[cre8tivgrl]

I've tried some different programs and have found pretty much the same thing... that if I indulge in this carb, I'll graduate to that carb and so on. I just have to follow Atkins to get the benefits.

[ddaniels]

The only area where I haven't seen much improvement since starting Atkins is my energy level, which is disappointing, since SO many people get improved energy! The other benefits have been great, of course, so I have no plans to change what I'm doing, BUT I'm still as exhausted as I was when I started! Even with other things causing my tiredness, I expected at least a little bit more energy!

[serrelind]

I took some time off lowcarb myself and I think I need to get back. After one day of getting back (combined with adequate sleep), I notice a tremendous improvement in my moods -- I feel so much more sane and I'm A LOT more productive at work. I have been a total work horse today. When I ate high carbs, all I thought about was what I was going to eat next meal. Grrrrr. I think eating lc agrees with my system too!

[SusanKH]

Serrelind, me, too. :agree: Isn't funny how one high carb leads to the next and the next and the next. It reminds me of that old Lays commercial, "I bet you can't eat just one". Guess what? They were right. If I could eat just one, I wouldn't be fat. I've been just kind of doing LC and it's time to get back to really doing it.

[MoNoCarb]

ddaniels - sorry to hear that you aren't getting that ketosis energy surge that so many of us low carbers feel.

One of the things that I think helps with the energy, clear skin and clear mind is the enormous amount of water I drink when I'm low carbing. Ketosis makes you thirsty and since all sugary drinks and juices are off the menu, I end up drinking like 3-4 litres of water a day. That obviously helps with everything.

The other thing I have to watch is calorie intake. Some days I have struggled to eat 1000 calories on lc. Since ketosis is such an appetite surpressant and since cutting out starchy carbs eliminates huge numbers of calories automatically, I sometimes have to sort of force myself to eat enough calories. I'm trying to aim for about 1200.

Maybe you're not eating enough cals?

At the end of the day, I am truly starting to believe the following things:

1. Metobolism is MUCH more complicated than we have been lead to believe in the past.

2. What works for some people's body chemistry may not work for everyone's.

3. Some people are more carb sensitive than others and need to follow a stricter LC regime than others.

4. Some people need more carbs than others in order to feel good and to function at peak level. And to lose weight!

5. Any change in diet may take a long long time to demonstrate whether it is effective or not.

6. Exercise is always good for everyone, no matter you size, body chemistry or goals.

7. Water is the best thing to drink by a mile - any other beverage whether sugary, caffeinated, full of chemicals, whatever - is just not ideal.

8. We would all benefit from trying to find beauty and health in ourselves, even at higher than "ideal" weights. I am starting to realise that I look good at a strong, toned 180. I look pretty good now. My desire to weigh 135 pounds is silly.

[Judynyc]

I expected at least a little bit more energy!


ddaniels....

Have you been checked for anemia? I ask because I was anemic and did not know it. Always weak and tired. After I took Slow Fe(time released and has Vit C for better absorbency, very little stomach upset) for 3 months, my energy came way up!! :idea:

[ddaniels]

Judy and MonoCarb- thanks for your ideas! Actually, now that you mention it, I do have a low Ferritin level. (I'd forgotten all about that!) It was 9 when it was last checked 6 months ago. A couple years ago I tried taking iron (before I started LCing) but it gave me awful diarhea (sp?). Then I tried it again after I started LCing, and instead it made me horribly constipated! I think I made the assumption that somehow my iron needs would get met through my change to a low carb diet. And I'm a little confused about what a low Ferritin level means, since my health practioner never said I was anemic. I know it measures "stored iron", but I'm not sure what that would mean to my energy level if it was low.My other blood work that checks for iron (RBC?) is apparently normal. I specifically asked to have my ferritin checked since a low ferritin level is sometimes associated with restless leg syndrome, which I have. I know that at least part of my fatigue is due to the leg problem, since it messes up my sleep, as demonstrated during my sleep study.

Maybe I've had a bit of "magical thinking" where LCing is concerned and just assumed it would fix whatever it was that was making me tired!

[Pandora23]

I can't function on low carbs, I feel much better around 40-70 than 20.