I've been low carbing for one month now. Things are going well, I'm losing weight at a steady clip, and I haven't found it all that difficult.

But all of a sudden, the last few days, I have been absolutely exhausted! I've been going to bed earlier, and getting more good quality sleep. But despite that, I'm just dead by the end of the day! Any thoughts on this?

Have you changed anyhting recently - new foods? Different exercise pattern? Family issues?

Have you tried adding potassium to your diet like Morton's Lite Salt or NoSalt?

Are you losing too quickly?

Magnesium, magnesium, magnesium...

Here's a blog post about feeling tired and magnesium:

http://merryweather-healthandnutrition.blogspot.de/

It might help.

Amanda

i second magnesium but also salt. i've really found that not enough salt affects me in many ways. we've been taught how bad salt is for us but especially for low carbers, you need lots!

Are you getting enough sodium? See the thread in my signature. All the magnesium/potassium supplements in the world won't help much if you don't have enough sodium to make your kidneys hang onto and recycle those minerals.

I'm thinking it was a magnesium and potassium deficiency. I was actually getting some arm tingling today while feeling tired. I went to the store, bought a bar of Lindt 90% and a banana. I ate a few squares of chocolate and the banana, and 30 minutes later I'm feeling great. Not tired, no tingling, feel like a million bucks. I guess I need to eye my nutrient intake a bit closer!

Won't help a bit if you don't get enough sodium.

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V

And just another followup. I ate some almonds, which I read are also high in magnesium. I now feel great! I'm going to say with certainty that I was mag deficient.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! And Amanda, I read that blog post about magnesium and being tired. It makes sense and was wonderful advice! Thanks!

Ok I knew magnesium was important, but I just spent a good amount of time reading about it, and woah! I gotta make sure I get enough of this stuff! After my little snack on 90% cocoa and almonds, I feel so relaxed, not anxious, almost a bit stoned. Way better than a couple hours ago!

Glad to hear this, bbmedic413!

But make sure you don't skimp on salt, either, Nancy is absolutely right about that. All of the salts are lost when beginning any weight loss diet, so you need to make sure you replace the lost sodium and magnesium and potassium.

I love to have a refreshing drink which the Indians swear by: fresh lemonade (made with freshly squeezed lemons, natch, but also regular sugar - but my homemade version is way less sweet than anything store-bought) with a little salt added. I just have a wee glass with maybe 1/4 teaspoon salt mixed in and glug it down and it always picks me right up, almost better than a strong cup of coffee!

Oh, and, by the way, you are aware that the chocolate is also high in caffeine? So the pick-me-up effect of the choccy/almond snack may be that it gives your adrenals a boost.

Glad to hear you're feeling better, feeling tired is just 'orrible.

Amanda

Definitely feeling better. I actually stopped drinking coffee after my exhaustion spell and upped my magnesium supplement from 250mg per day to 500mg per day, and that seems to have done the trick! Thanks for the advice!

I take a multi vitamin, magnesium, extra vit. C, D3, upped the sodium intake

I got super duper tired about 1-2 months on plan. couldn't keep my eyes open. everyone suggested magnesium and believe me it helped alot. also with the kinda brain fog I was getting.

Hi guys,

I'm reading all of this with interest. It's interesting that my memory is short, and that having done this WOL before, I was a bit more regimented and took supplements and watched my salt etc. I actually saw the Magnesium tablets in my cupboard this morning and wasn't sure why I had them - now I know!

I have days where I'm quite tired, and others where I'm not, but I certainly haven't been taking on enough of either salt or magnesium.

I have also noticed a bit of bloating and wonder if it's this - I am also investigating if it's a dairy 'thing', which I really hope it's not as that makes up a large part of my diet.

Thanks again,
PG!