Blog

1

I am relatively new to Paleo. Well, new in the sense that I have just begun to actually implement it. I have known about it and done much research into it for about a year or so now. But after having been on the diet for just a few days, I am noticing some major issues I did not have before.

I am exhausted in the morning when I wake up. Now it used to be that I would only be exhausted when I got either too little sleep(say less than 6 hours) or too much(10 or more), but when I started the Paleo thing, I made a commitment to getting around 8-9 hours. And when I wake up, I'm exhausted.

As well, I am experiencing some issues with my stomach. After every meal I am noticing gurgling and today I started experiencing severe stomach pain for about 20 minutes after finishing my lunch and dinner. I am certain I am not ill and have never had any stomach issues before. As well, I am making sure to get the right nutrition(I am very big into fitness so I know how to watch what I eat. I also take a vitamin supplement in the morning that has never bothered me) and have decent quality food. In addition, I feel hungry very quickly after meals(within 2 hours I want to eat again).

What is your response to these issues?(I also have some critique about the evolutionary and historical aspects of it, being amateurishly versed in population genetics, but I will keep that to myself for now.)

flag
3 
 Please post what you are eating as there are nearly as many different versions of paleo as paleohackers! – Dave S. Nov 30 2011 at 0:07
The majority of my diet recently has been(in addition to a vitamin supplement in the morning) Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, pear, chicken, turkey, flank-steak, and a bit of tuna, and drinking water and supposedly natural juices. I'd say in volume its about 2/3 plant matter. – Harrison Nov 30 2011 at 0:17
To those who say I am not getting enough fat- the steak and chicken are quite fatty. And the Turkey is deli type turkey. Are those not fatty enough? And if not.. are scrambled eggs acceptable as healthy and good-fatty? Or do they have too much cholesterol? – Harrison Nov 30 2011 at 0:54
2 
 i thought you said yourve been reasearching for a yr...surely by now you would know eggs are awesome, dietary cholesterol is healthy and deli turkey is an amazingly bad choice. processed meat is horrible for you. throwing so much roughage/protein at your digester is prolly causing it, be nice to it. – Mallory Nov 30 2011 at 1:44
It's not much of a choice. I have very little choice in what I eat since I'm a college student. But I normally would eat all of those(in slightly smaller amounts) things plus plenty of grains and whatnot, and never had any issue before. Very little has changed, aside from lack of grain. – Harrison Nov 30 2011 at 2:13
show 1 more comment

4 Answers

5

What you are describing is known as the "low carb flu." Your body--and hence your gut flora--are used to you eating processed foods and lots of grains. We call them the "bad bugs" as they aren't preferred for best health and can be part of chronic immune/health issues and they are now screaming for you to go eat a bag of chips or something.

It varies in severity and duration based on what you ate before, but it should be over soon. All of a sudden you should feel great with a ton of energy and that will mean you have converted from the "bad" gut flora to the good ones, at least partially.

Once you're through the initial transition, you will still probably find your metabolism changes/improves for weeks or even months. You should regain the natural ability to switch easily between burning carbs and fats for energy, at which point it's your choice which foods to limit and which ones to emphasize.

Hang in there! If you've made it this far, you're nearly done with the transition.

link|flag
I also had a low-carb flue when I started, but I think Harrison might be making it worse by eating virtually no carbs. – Renee Nov 30 2011 at 2:15
2

honestly, it sounds like you aren't eating enough fat.

fats and carbs are the primary sources of energy for the body. so when you cut one, you need to make sure you up the other.

in this instance you have cut carbs from your diet. nix the lean meats (chicken, turkey, flank steak, etc) for the most part for now and eat more beef, fatty fish, pork, coconut oil, avocados, eggs (with the yolk of course!), olive oil, etc.

get rid of the mindset that dietary fat makes you fat. it doesn't.

i guarantee you will feel much better.

link|flag
1

Where are you getting fat from in this eating plan? Sounds like a generally low-fat list of foods, could be having a negative impact on your hunger and satiety levels.

link|flag
1

Sounds like almost a starvation diet you're on. All low-carb vegs and lean protein. Certainly not Paleo. Add some fatty cuts of red meat, coconut oil, avocados, bacon and eggs, and some starchy vegs for your carbs.

I am editing this to add a link to a great post of Melissa's on her blog: http://huntgatherlove.com/content/are-you-faileo-diet

link|flag

Your Answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.