Protein Power and panic attacks....

[Deuceacre]

Hello,

Had a question for you. I have panic attacks and take a very low level of Luvox to control them . Whenever I do a low-carb diet, I get them alot more frequently. It's very noticeable. Could there be a reasonable explanation for this? I've quit low cab diets many times because I get the symptoms of dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and panic. I believe in the diet, just haven't been able to make it work. Any recommendations?

[Belfrybat]

Welcome, Deuceacre. :)

I don't have panic attacks, but a similar-feeling condition of SVT - superventricular tacchycardia. Whenever I get much below 50 ECC, I have more attacks in spite of being on meds. No one, including my cardiologist has been able to explain why. Cardiologist just said, "
don't go that low". So I don't. During the weight-loss stage I stayed around 50 ECC and cut calories a bit so I could lose. I occasionally would go lower for a few days without problems, but if I stayed at 40 or below for more than a week, I ended up with more spells. My blood pressure also drops too much when I go extra low on carbs, so that might be the cause of the SVT spells, but who knows?

You can get the benefits of LC at a higher level than Intervention, so you might consider experimenting with 45-50 ECC, and even higher if necessary.

[laughingW]

I've quit low cab diets many times because I get the symptoms of dizziness, nausea, insomnia, and panic.
Those are all symptoms of blood sugar falling rapidly. In the beginning when you run out of sugar because you aren't taking in many carbs, and your liver and fat-making enzymes aren't fast enough to save the day with gluconeogenesis and fat-burning, this can happen.

Does all this happen in the first two-three weeks? It takes longer than that to transition from running on mostly sugar, to mostly fat.

I agree with Belfry on just having a little more in the beginning as you transition.

[Deuceacre]

Thank you for the great responses. I have the increased symptoms even after months of low-carb dieting, so I don't believe it's from the adjustment of my body to the conversion to fat burning unless my body is taking a really really long time to do it.. I'm also having this issue at even 100-150 grams of carbohydrate a day. It's been really frustrating. I believe it's the right way to eat for optimal health, but I surely don't feel good doing it. I certainly look better and my blood work is better, but that's it. Even after doing this diet for six months before, I still didn't have the energy to do what I did off the diet. I never got the energy boost. I "bonk" during my workouts quite frequently. My doctor doesn't give me an explanation except to increase my carbohydrate intake, which then results in my bloodwork results being worse. So, which do I pick? Look better, have good blood work, and feel bad,or feel better but be fatter and have poorer blood work. I've seen so many people have success with this, I refuse to give up on it. There's a answer somewhere for me.

[laughingW]

How much protein are you having? There is a reactive hypoglycemia that comes up with larger protein intake. Bonking during workouts - at what intensity? All of them, or just the high intensity, sugar burning ones?

[Deuceacre]

All of my workouts are fairly high intensity. I do alot of crossfit workouts (www.crossfit.com) I still train in fight training though I haven't fought competitively in years. Alot of sprints and endurance work. I'm taking in a gram to a gram and a half of protein per pound of bodyweight right now.

[laughingW]

Did you ever try the Crossfit formula of only .8 or .9 times bodyweight in protein grams per day, and then some carbs at the level you think is good, and then the bulk of your energy from fat? Like 2-3 times the amount of protein grams, in fat grams?

I wish I had better sources for you, but it still sounds to me like your sugar burning and fat burning taking-turns are whacked out. Also maybe the HPA with stress. Do you ever just stroll around? Go to the mall with the girlfriend? (wicked peals of laughter) Sounds like you like the intensity and ground-and-pound.

Google Mike o'Donnell and "Is Your Exercise Keeping You Fat"

I think somehow your volume of protein, plus intensity, plus frequency, is overbalancing on the sugar-burning side and not letting the fat-burning team in there. Yes I know it's not really either /or... but something is preventing using stored fat for good energy and good looks (that's one reason you bonk) and it's usually hormonal.

[Deuceacre]

I'll check out Mike. Thank you for your help. Yes, me and the wifey tool around..But I train pretty intensely. Haven't tried eating a higher amount of fat. Other than nuts and oils, how do I do that? I eat plenty of meat. I take 2000IU of fish oil daily per doctor recommendations. I could try less protein and more carbs, but in the past that has made me gain weight unless I do ridiculous amounts of cardio. I really appreciate you giving me input on this. It means alot. Thank you.

[laughingW]

Hop on over to the Crossfit nutrition section and ask them how they increase the fat. From watching on the sidelines it looks like a lot of olive oil, nuts, and not being afraid of the fats that come in quality meat.

Maybe you could also ask or check with Robb Wolf with Crossfit Norcal, I think. He also understands this stuff really well.

[Deuceacre]

I'll try there, thank you

[Tricia]

Have you ever had your adrenals tested? Going low-carb lowers cortisol levels, and if yours are low to begin with, they can go too low. When cortisol is too low, many people experience adrenlaline spikes - which cause panic, shakiness, etc. I suffered from this problem for years, undiagnosed. When I first tried low-carb six years ago, it got so bad that I could not sleep.

The proper way to test is with a saliva test, done four times over the course of the day - 6a; 11a; 5-6p and then close to midnight. Cortisol should be high early in the morning - it's what wakes you up; and then gradually decrease over the course of the day to a low level at night. However, when your level is too low, you cannot sleep. I would lay in bed for hours, with major palpatations and trembling.

Now that I have been diagnosed and treated, eating low-carb leaves me steady, calm, and I sleep like a baby.

Tricia