I'm kind of new, really tired, is this normal?

[cmarie]

I started PP in June 08 and I've lost almost 16lbs so far. My original goal was 20lbs, so I'm almost there. Up until last week I felt great, lots of energy, sleeping great, looking forward to the next day. Then recently I began to feel tired, sluggist, bloated and my energy level is very low.

My weight has also creeped up a couple of pounds this week. I've been very careful to keep my carb meals at or under 10gm per meal, eating 2 snacks of less then 5gms each. I really haven't varied my meals much because it's just easier to fix the same thing for work every day. I drink lots of water (love water) and also coffee with soy milk in the morning. There have been a few nights recently that I have had leg cramps in the middle of the night that woke me up.

Daily I take a multivit., vit.C, Calcium, fish oil, flax seed oil supl., fiber supl, folic acid and coQ10. I'm very concerned with how I'm feeling.:confused: I don't feel sick, I just have no energy.
Is there something else I should be taking? Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal? any and all advise is welcome. help please.....

[razgarcia]

What you are experiencing is not all that unusual, and with proper diet and exercise you should be feeling better in a few days. It would be helpful to see a profile of what you're eating--you mentioned your ECC, but what about protein and fat, and from what sources. And also, knowing your weight and height would be helpful. You may need to increase either your fat or protein intake, or both.

As for the nocturnal leg cramps, I get those, too. I found that taking 2 99 mg potassium tablets (it probably wouldn't hurt to double that if you need to) and 300 - 500 mg of magnesium citrate just before going to sleep greatly alleviates the cramps.

[Rhyme'n Reason]

I agree...and congratulations on the great results. That's a lot for your body to adjust to. We all fluctuate from day to day, but the trend towards better health is usually apparent.

[Karole]

My first thought on the leg cramps was a lack of potassium too. Do you take any bp meds ?? Dr. Eades cautions folks who do, to make sure which type of meds they take as some will cause the body to hold on to potassium and some cause it to shed it. Check with your pharmacist to be sure.(If you do take bp meds)

If you are not taking any that causes you to hold onto pot. , he (Doc) recommends extra each day. Can't recall the page number though and don't have my book as I loaned it out. (It never stays at my house very long anymore.)

[Belfrybat]

Welcome to board and congratulations on the weight loss. I agree with Raz: take both magnesium and potassium. The easiest way to get the potassium down is to either switch to Lite Salt, or take 1/4 tsp. of no-salt in a glass of liquid or sprinkled over food. I mix mine with Crystal Lite.

I forgot to mention the current slow down -- you've lost 16 lbs. in a bit over a month -- that's a huge amount of loss since you only had 20 lbs. to lose. Your body may need to pause and regroup -- that is very normal and the Drs. Eades speak about that in Protein Power. Weight loss is not done in a straight line. As long as you are getting enough nutrients and sufficient calories, the weight loss should start up again in a few days.

Hang in there -- your body will respond to your healthier way of eating and will thank you for it.

[cmarie]

I think I'm getting enough protein and fat; my diet doesn't vary much because I find it much easier when making lunches for work.
I'm 49 yrs old, 5'4" and currently weight 149lbs.
Breakfast is usually 2 eggs either hardboilded or fried in olive oil spray. sometimes with cheddar cheese melted on top.
mid-morning snack is usually slightly less then 1/2 cup cottege cheese with cinnomon. Lunch is 3 oz tuna (packed in water) mixed with mustard, 0 carb mayo, 1/8 cup red wine vinager, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pkg splenda, 1/4 cup chopped red grapes and approx 1 tablespoon chopped onions, thyme and black pepper on a bed of 2 cups of baby spinich leaves.
My afternoon snack is usually 2 oz cheese (usually chedder), sometimes pork rinds if I want something crunchy.
Then my evening meal consists of 3-4 oz meat, usually shrimp, chicken or turkey sometimes with a small spinich salad and an oil and vinager dressing I make myself. I sometimes like to make up my tuna mixture and eat it again.(I love that tuna stuff)
in the evening before bed I sometimes have a glass of red wine (approx 4 carbs) or sugar free jello if I want something sweet (0 carbs)

I really don't excercise, I did joined the gym with great plans but have yet to see much of the inside of the place. :(

I don't have High bp nor am I on any bp meds. My cholesterol is slightly high and was creeping up every year. that is one of the main reasons I started PP. I'm going to have my cholesterol retested in a week or so. hoping to see much improvement. I'll keep you posted.

thank you for all your advice. I'm going to try potassium and magnesium citrate.

also, please let me know if you think I'm getting enough protein and fat.

[cmarie]

oh man, I started PP in the beginning of May not June. that would be a hugh amount of weight in only a few weeks. It's been more like 10 weeks so far.
I am also so impressed at how quickly everyone responded to my questions. Everyone is so wonderful. Thank you all for your support. :nod:

[Ammy]

HaHa...I WONDERED about that...it WOULD have been a HUGE drop!! Possible, but not likely...

Welcome cmarie!!

IMO you're getting good amount of protein and fat.

Are you satisfied after eating, or do you find yourself getting hungry before it's time to eat?

[maxlharris]

I really don't excercise, I did joined the gym with great plans but have yet to see much of the inside of the place. :(

This is a bit of financial advice. The gyms count on a certain number of people joining and not using the facility to make money. You are pure profit.

You should take a real look at whether you are gonna use it. Set a deadline by which you must use it a certain number of times (say, 6 times between today and August 1) or you will cancel and request a refund. Otherwise it's burned money.

I talked about this with my former supervisor in Kansas City, who had joined the Y and then proceeded to never go. After explaining the economics of gyms (a profitable gym will have about 2 regular users for
every 3-4 memberships, with a high number of memberships), and the way to figure if you were ever going to use it, her husband goes every day, and she goes 3-4 times a week, and brings her granddaughter.

Again, it's money being burned if you're not using it. Set up a use schedule. If you make it, fine. If you don't, get out and save what money there is to be saved.

[maxlharris]

On the loss phase, the last pounds are the toughest. You will probably not drop them at 1.6 lbs/week, which is still very fast.

I'm going to guess that in May, you dropped probably 10 lbs. Maybe 12. In June, 4-6.

You might try eating a little more. You might try varying your diet a little. A little variation can go a long way. You might want to take a multivitamin. Use Lite Salt. Take an EFA supplement (with a solid amount of either/or/and EPA/DHA... try for 2g/day). Drink more water. Maybe drink less. This should pass.

[Ammy]

also...on the gym front...there are SO many ways to get exercise during the summer that are FREE...
you may want to consider dropping now, then when you are on a regular workout routine but it's getting cold outside, THEN rejoin...

Just adding to Max's thoughts...I HATE wasting money!!! Paying my gym membership each months is what keeps me going back!

[cmarie]

I really not hungry at all. I do know that I should vary my diet more. I'm going to try to spend more time creating different meals.

In the very beginning, I lost 6 lbs in just a couple of days, the next few weeks it felt like it was melting off. then the last week or so it has creeped to a stop. I'm not even close to being depressed yet... I love the results so far and I plan to make this my lifestyle, my way to great health. (With everyones help and support of course)

I do take a multivitamin, but I haven't used salt in years. Guess I should start? What is the salt for? and what is EFA supplement?

I'm hearing you on the gym membership....:o

[maxlharris]

Not salt, but Lite Salt, which has some KCl (potassium chloride) in place of NaCl (table salt). The potassium is helpful since a lot of the regular sources of potassium are out on a low carb diet.

An EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) is a supplement that uses fats from fish to get you the good Omega-3 fats that you need for proper health. You see Krill Oil, Fish oil, Salmon Oil, Cod Liver Oil and EFA. I like the capsules I get at Trader Joes.