Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Since starting the Paleo Diet, I notice that if I go too long between meals, I get really cranky and weak feeling. This normally happens on the weekends...when activities break the whole breakfast, lunch, dinner at pretty much the same time each day routine. Did anyone else feel this way? Does it go away?

flag	asked Feb 19 2012 at 6:46 Megan 309●3●6

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It depends on what I've been eating, and for how long. If I've been eating a ketogenic diet for at least week with big breakfasts and abundant fat that doesn't happen. But if I graze a bit here and there by "cleaning up" my toddler's leftover fruit and cheese I feel like I can destabilize my blood sugar in a matter of hours, and get that feeling should I attempt to go more than 3-4 hours without eating beyond that point. – Happy Now Feb 19 2012 at 7:31

It could be that your blood sugar gets too low. Do you track your food intake: protein, carbs, and fat? I find eating the same amounts of carb and protein from breakfast to breakfast, lunch to lunch, and supper to supper, from day to day, very stabilizing. Dr. Richard Bernstein explains this and the science behind it in his book, The Diabetes Solution. Much of the book can be read here: diabetes-book.com/readit.shtml – PaleoGran Feb 19 2012 at 12:39

Ebice · Answer 1 · 2012-02-19 07:25:16Z UTC

Fasting for too long will make anyone irritable and weak feeling. Paleo allows you to run longer on a meal but you still don't run well on empty. If your trying to do an extended fast, the feelings will pass. Otherwise eat something.

Eric · Answer 2 · 2012-02-19 06:51:42Z UTC

Food can have an effect on how calm you are. Likely the best solution is to make sure you have breakfast on the weekends just as you do during the weekdays. Perhaps even have your food pre-made for the weekends. I always have my meat for lunch pre-made but on the weekends I sometimes do not. I always like to have a meal or two in the freezer. I have found this very useful.

Diana Rodgers · Answer 3 · 2012-02-19 10:48:34Z UTC

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If it's happening only on weekends, also check your sleep. Low sleep can affect how sensitive you are to insulin. I also agree to include more fat. I personally do best on a relatively high fat diet.

answered Feb 19 2012 at 10:48

Diana Rodgers
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If anything, I sleep too much. I don't feel like I ever get enough sleep, but I can sleep for 10 to 11 hours on the weekends. Also, the weekends are my "big breakfast" days - unlike the week. During the week, a typical breakfast is two hardboiled Omega3 eggs and a smoothie (berries, almond milk and coconut). Weekends, it is bacon and an omelet loaded with peppers, onions and turkey. – Megan Feb 19 2012 at 19:56

Tazchick · Answer 4 · 2012-02-19 10:13:57Z UTC

My usual is about 6 hours if I'm ketogenic or close to it. Most of the time I've learned to prepare for it, because once I'm out of energy, I maybe have another half hour on the bicycle before I have nothing left. This didn't use to be a problem when I was on Atkins. I think I knew where every 7-11 and Circle K was for "emergency bunless hot dog and diet Pepsi stops", LOL , gross, I know, live and learn. I haven't tackled it with Paleo yet because it's been too cold for all day rides. This summer I'll probably be looking at ways to keep some Paleo foods edible for that long in my bike basket.

JRAC · Answer 5 · 2012-02-19 10:31:25Z UTC

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The brain is screaming for more sugar. :-)

Feed the bugger!

answered Feb 19 2012 at 10:31

JRAC
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Feel very irritable if I go too long between meals…anyone else experience this?

5 Answers