Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hi all,

For the past couple of days I have been relatively low carb and paleo - eating liberal amounts of fat, a moderate amount of meat and some veggies (occasionally starches like parsnips and sweet potatoes). Anyway, my question is: has anybody else experienced any dizziness when briskly walking/exercising for extended periods of time? I say extended, I mean around thirty minutes or so. Could it be that I am just in the process of adapting to using fat for fuel? I'd say my carbs were around 50g/day. Also, I've not felt this when lifting weights however this morning I did feel very dizzy afterwards...I had some coconut oil and the feeling seemed to subside, although returned when I was walking to work.

I am also currently eating only one meal per day, of around 1600 calories. I eat this meal at around 6pm. This is just what works best for me - I do not really feel hungry at all until about 5pm. In the past I have maintained this style of eating ('warrior diet' style I guess) for months at a time. I am 22, 5'4, 145lbs, male and I walk four miles every day and lift weights three times per week. I have been on and off low carb diets for around two years but let's just say that over Christmas I probably managed to undo everything I've achieved...

I am trying to lose a couple of lbs (hence the low (?) calorie intake) but also get stronger.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - I hope I have given enough information.

Jason

flag	asked Jan 13 2011 at 14:15 Jason 1,239●3●9

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Up the calories, friend, in the way that feels best to you. Calories are the primary fuel of the body - the brief dizziness spells are similar to the warning lights on a car when you are nearly out of gas. It doesn't help that you only add to the tank once per day while the engine is still ticking hot, and even then only fill her up halfway. Car analogies aside, your body is saying "I need fuel to work." I'd recommend adding a small meal (400-600 calories) about an hour after you wake up, it's important to make sure that your body has the basic fuels when its still "starting up." – Mitschu Jan 22 2011 at 18:41

I didn't see the part about "trying to lose weight", sorry. What I said still applies though. Losing weight by cutting down on food is a bad thing, a VERY bad thing. Instead, keep eating a normal diet (2000 or so calories) and making your body burn through the excess with exercise you are comfortable with. Eating less tells your body "Not enough food available, store more fats for the upcoming emergency." Exercising more tells your body "Tap into the reserves, this guy is going crazy and exerting our daily supplies!" – Mitschu Jan 22 2011 at 18:45

Stephen-Aegis · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-17 10:56:45Z UTC

I experienced the exact same thing while adapting to burning fat. If I worked out fasted, id near pass out.

It takes a couple weeks depending on the individual to make the transition from high carb to using fat for fuel. Once complete however, as long as you dont go back to high high carb, you can eat carbs without them destroying your ability to fast and use fat for fuel.

as for Strength while lean, I use a cyclic IF Fasted training protocol.

on non-workout days, I eat usually twice lunch/dinner. Low Carb, mostly meat with some veggie garnish. these meals are ONLY to satiate hunger, and if not hungry, I dont eat em. some days, especially the first day post workout, i only eat once.

On workout day, I fast until the afternoon, then absolutely bust my hump working out. if its not High Intensity, Sweating, Breathing hard... then youre doing it wrong. usually 20-30min tops.

after the workout, I eat like a champ. 1+LB Steak 2 Potatoes Veggies, HUGE quantities, I feast like its Thanksgiving dinner.

doing this, ive managed to maintain my abs, and put on almost 30lbs of muscle now.

Tammy · Answer 2 · 2011-01-13 18:14:52Z UTC

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Check your iron levels and or potassium levels. Low carb, low calorie diets sometimes make you excrete lots of potassium and you could be low. Symptoms can include dizziness vertigo, muscle cramps, constipation. Low iron can also cause some of these symptoms. A supplement could help.

answered Jan 13 2011 at 18:14

Tammy
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Thanks, I will log my intake on fitday for a while to see any potential deficiencies. – Jason Jan 17 2011 at 8:56

Jamie · Answer 3 · 2011-01-13 14:23:47Z UTC

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I would add more starches and salt. Also, with paleo it's easy to NOT eat enough. Read the latest post on the huntgatherlove.com blog

answered Jan 13 2011 at 14:23

Jamie
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I do eat a japanese seaweed salad a couple of times a week and I also use himalayan rock salt (perhaps overhyped) and rock sea salt. Should I be using a different type of salt perhaps? – Jason Jan 13 2011 at 14:36

Kruno · Answer 4 · 2011-01-13 15:32:05Z UTC

Trying to lose weight and grow stronger at the same time is very difficult. It would be best to decide what you want first and concentrate on that.

As for switching to low carb paleo with the amount of exercise you are getting should be done during couple of weeks. You need time to adjust to burning fat.

Jeromie · Answer 5 · 2011-01-17 02:21:05Z UTC

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Carb cycle. Increase on workout days and keep low on non-workout days (walking not considered workout day).

answered Jan 17 2011 at 2:21

Jeromie
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Thanks; I have started to do this naturally but will make more of an effort to really make sure I am consuming more carbs on workout days. – Jason Jan 17 2011 at 12:27

bbg · Answer 6 · 2012-01-31 15:27:55Z UTC

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i know how u feel

answered Jan 31 2012 at 15:27

bbg
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Dizziness when briskly walking…

6 Answers