Hi there everyone! I am very pleased with most everything so far doing the lc woe. However, I'm wondering if anyone have suffered from insomnia due to this woe. I've slept normally until this week. I started Induction on Monday. I haven't slept for 3 nights straight and it's becoming very hard for me to chase my 3 little ones around all day on no sleep. If this has happened to you or if you have read anything about it I would greatly appreciate your help. Everything I read about insomnia says to eat a carbohydrate rich food before going to bed because it will help you relax and drift off to dreamland. I don't want to break my lc woe, however I'm becoming desperate for some zzzzzz's. What about eating 1/2 an apple, with peel with some peanut butter. I don't want to get out of ketosis. Thanks for your advice, in advance.

Sugarless,

Often doctors will recommend something like non-prescription Benadryl to help you sleep. If you are not on any prescription meds & do not have health problems (like glaucoma), it is a safe way to help you get drowsy for a few nights. Are you under any extra stress? Do you exercise (I mean besides chasing your kids around)? Some people find that exercising at night makes them sleepy, other people find that it's better in the am. I am relatively new to this WOL, so I can't advise you on the apple w/ pb affecting ketosis or not. I hope this helps some--I didn't want you to feel like your post was ignored! Take care!

Lori

Lori,

Thanks for your reply. My doctor recommended the Benadryl back when I was pregnant a couple of years ago. I tried it but it made me feel like a zombie all of the following day. Maybe it just reacts differently with different people? I just read something in Protein Power about how being in deep ketosis can cause sleeplessness. According to the ketostix, I have been in deep ketosis for the past 3 or 4 days. It suggests increasing the carbs a little. I will try it tonight and see what happens. Thank you for caring.

Sugarless are you taking any supplements? I used to suffer from insomnia and I was the lightest sleeper around; the furnace turning on in the basement would wake me up! When I started LCing I started taking a calcium and magnesium supplement. One of the great side effects of magnesium is that it helps you sleep better. Specially if you take one of the pills an hour before bed. The supplements usually come together in one pill with a ratio of 2:1 (333 mg calcium / 167 mg magnesium) I take one with every meal (3x a day) and one an hour before bed. It has helped me so much it's unbelieveable. Make sure you pick up a chelated kind as it's more easily apsorbed by your system.

Nat

I too had trouble sleeping when I first began L C ing. I take calcium magnesium also. One in the morning with my other supplements and two at night. It really does help!

Someone tell me if I am wrong on this thought but I used to suffer from "restless leg syndrome". This would happen after a week of heavy exercise or when I first was going through induction. It would drive me nuts and keep me awake at night, tossing and turning. I don't know if this could possibly be the problem but I have since learned that a calcium/magnesium supplement along with some potassium really helps. The potassium will help especially if you are losing a lot of fluid. I think the calcium/magnesium along with potassium has been the best addition I've made with this woe (much better endurance and usually sleep like a baby).

Also, just remember its probably temporary and you will start sleeping better as your body adjusts to this woe. Good luck!

I suffered from insomnia the first week of this WOE also. I would sit up watching TV half the night, fall asleep for a little while and then wake up after about an hour of sleep with pounding headaches. By day 7 this all stopped and I felt like a million bucks! I personally think it is all the sugars and toxins fighting inside your body because they don't know whats going on. You are cutting off the sugar supply to your body, and it is fighting you every step of the way while it exits. Your body is undergoing a fantastic change, and you will feel better in a few days.
Keep drinking a large amount of water everyday, and this will help with flushing out your body.
It is a wonderful burst of energy that you will experience in a few days, and you will probably be sleeping better very soon.

You're right, DeeSinn. The potassium will help with the general fatigue that accompanies the flushing out of excess fluids and the loss of minerals that accompanies the first few weeks of LCing. Magnesium and Calcium help with muscle cramping; Potassium helps with muscle fatigue. Both will help you feel better; and the magnesium will help the potassium and calcium do their jobs.

Nat

Thanks so much to everyone. Your advice will surely help. I'm currently taking a multivitamin. I checked the label and it has 200mg calcium and no magnesium or potassium. I will go to the store today to purchase some calcium/magnesium and potassium. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this. Thanks again, and happy lowcarbing!

I always had a problem sleeping.. yes I went to a sleep doctor
I haven't tried Magnesium but I do take a potassium suppliment which has vitamins A,C, and others in it. Antioxidates I think they are called... they have helped me sleep alot better with less sleepiness in the day time.
It doesn't help when you are natural a night owl when you have to get up early (5:30) to start your day. How I wish schools and work would operate from 9-6 instead

Hi Sugar,

When I first started this diet I found myself sleepless as well. I found myself awake way early in the morning. Things have not changed much but I find myself heading to bed earlier (and getting a bit of exercise there, if you catch my drift) and awake at 6am (a bit more exercise!) and enjoying the day way more than sleeping in til 8am! Sunrises are something I had never experienced before either. I am enjoying less sleep.