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I'm dizzy most of the day

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Is this normal during induction? I'm on day 11 and I'm dizzy most of the day. First, before you answer, let me fill you in:

-yes I eat all my veggie carbs
-yes I drink my water
-yes I spread my meals and my carbs out throughout the day
-yes I exercise (but i haven't been overdoing it like i used to)

I am hypothyroid but i take medication and I'm regulated right now.

I have had a history of Vertigo when I fly and that's what it feels like. Like if I'm walking through a room and I stop - it feels like I keep going. Or if I turn my head everything is blurry.

So is this a common side effect from induction?

 

Maybe if you ate a few more carbs that might help your "flighty" feeling.?

 

I think its very normal...its called Atkins flu...I had it for 10 days...don't think it should last more then 2 weeks...I would confirm with Colette you may need to see a Dr...♥

 

It is normal to get dizzy, yes. However if it continues, you really might want to check in with Collette regarding this.

I have been on Atkins for 6 months, and I still sometimes get dizzy but mine is always defintely first thing in the morning after waking up and not having had any water or food. As soon as I hydrate and eat, the dizziness passes.

Are you able to isolate specific times when you are dizzy?

How long do you go between meals?

Helen

 

How fast are you losing weight (pounds or inches)??

It could be that you are losing too fast. This cause's an electrolight imbalance.

Are you salting your food to taste??

Drinking a cup or 2 of broth daily will also help re-balance things.

While this is a common enough experience during Atkins, it is usually the easiest thing to "fix".

If the broth/bouillion (not salt free, that defeats the purpose!) isn't to your taste. And you already salt your food.

You could try taking a potassium supplement.... or increasing your intake of potassium rich foods.

Some Atkins friendly potassium rich foods are....

Avocados, raw 1 ounce - 180 mg
Brussel sprouts, cooked 1 cup - 504 mg
Spinach, cooked 1 cup - 839 mg
Tomato products, canned sauce 1 cup - 909 mg
Winter squash 1 cup - 896 mg

HTH

Heidi :)

 

I suggest checking your blood pressure, a low carb diet can cause dizziness due to a lowering of the blood pressure. Also, a plunge in blood sugar levels after a spike in blood sugar can cause dizziness. After a period of time on Atkins your blood sugar spikes should subside and any symptoms of the "Atkins flu" will disappear.

From Colette:"If you lose too fast, especially at the beginning of the program, you may be experiencing an extreme diuretic effect. This could deplete you of water and also some electrolytes, which contain sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Signs of electrolyte depletion are muscle cramps and heaviness in your legs when climbing steps as well as dizziness.

You may need to add more vegetables to your meals to slow down weight loss and add a mineral supplement to replace lost minerals. If you are not experiencing a diuretic effect it may be an adjustment in your metabolism.

Glucose is the body's preferred source of fuel. Atkins sets up an alternative metabolic pathway for producing energy: You switch from a primarily glucose metabolism to a fat metabolism. Withdrawal occurs during the adaptation period in which that switch takes place. Until you adapt to this new fuel source, you may feel tired or dizzy, have headaches or experience other symptoms. Some individuals make the switch later than others.

When your body becomes accustomed to burning fat for fuel, these symptoms should go away. In the meantime, you may alleviate them by increasing your carb intake slightly. Do this by eating more vegetables such as salad greens, spinach, broccoli and string beans. Once your body adjusts and symptoms have abated, reduce your carb intake to 20 grams a day again. Be sure not to go more than 4 hours without food and avoid low blood sugar which can also cause dizziness."

Terry (whyguy)

 

I'm going to suggest something completely different: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. You said you are dizzy when you turn your head. (I got dizzy bending over to make the bed, turning my head too quickly, etc.)

The fix was very simple: It's called the Epley maneuver. My health care person helped me to do this the first time, but the idea is that the little floating things in your inner ear are out of whack, thus creating dizziness. You need to get them lined up again and you can do that by repositioning them through controlled and specific movements of your head.

Anyway, I think a couple of days of intermittent dizziness or overall weakness might be diet related. But with your history of vertigo when flying (this is generally an inner ear thing), I would look at the mechanical cause first.

Google "Epley maneuver" and you'll learn more. Perhaps that's the answer!

Best,
Kathy

 

Thanks everyone - very useful information. I'm definately going to check out the Epley Maneuver.

 

Please do keep us posted!

Best,
Kathy

 

A few years ago I lost 70 pounds with Atkins. I was dizzy for the first 2 or so months until I added more foods and carbs. Looking back, I think I was not eating enough calories. When I fill in my diet on FITDAY I have to really work to get enough calories. At the beginning of the diet this time I was feeling that way again, and increasing my calories made a big difference.

I did really loose fasy that time, though!!

I also get vertigo on planes and occasionally other places, too, like cars. Make sure you check your calories!!!!

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