AlisonA
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 10:43 ET

I started the diet a week ago and have lost 7 lbs.  Yay!

Overall I'm not terribly hungry and my cravings have essentially gone (for now).  

That said -- I'm REALLY lightheaded, forgetful, and people are starting to notice.  Like at work (not good).  Nurse told me to take more potassium, which I'm trying.  They also said I could have 1 more protein/day, but that's not really working.  

Is this normal? If so, does it go away?

Winterjade
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 11:16 ET

For me not so much as lightheaded/forgetful ness but I have been getting dizzy spells, espcially when I get up from a sitting position. I just have a few mini bretons or if I am at home I have a pickle as the sodium helps alot

~Holly~
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 11:35 ET

Interesting!!! this is the exact problem im having. They just told me today that im only allowed to workout 3 times a week now (which i dont agree with)
and that im allowed an extra protein only on days i workout. I get these dizzy spells if im working out or not so im not sure if this will help. I also just started an extra pottasium.

NPacheco
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 14:38 ET

Wow I didn't realize that other people were having the same problem.  I actually fainted on Monday during my Step class -- mucho embarrassing.  There happened to be a nurse in the class and she was questioning me about my food intake and her and the gym first-aider agreed that I need more food esp before the class.  I told the clinic about it and they said for me to have extra protein -- to actually increase my protein to 3 servings of 4 ounces and see if it corrects it.  I'm going to the gym tonight so I hope I don't have a repeat performance.... The weird thing is they didn't want me to increase my carbs with like maybe an extra serving of bread only on gym days -- but the gym specifically advised me to increase carbs.  Any thoughts?

reener
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 19:22 ET

me too.  First they increased the Potassium tablets twice, then they switched me to K-lyte, then they increased the K-lyte, then they decreased my blood pressure meds, then they stopped the blood pressure meds, then they told me to sip the k-lyte over a 15 min. period no gulp.  Now I am fine unless I forget the K-lyte.....which reminds me.....The other 2 other things are drink lots of water, Yes more and do not totally eliminate salt. The Dr has been very helpful.

Michelle
Posted: Sep. 24 2008, 22:25 ET

This feeling of lightheadedness, dizzy spells, clouded brain is your electrolites being out of whack!  Drinking as much as we do to continually flush the pipes, also depletes the potassium in your body and your blood pressure begins to drop.  It makes complete sense that while on this diet, blood pressure pill dosages would be lowered and in many cases eliminated.  Likewise, many blood pressure pills also deplete the potassium in your system so usually increasing the potassium will help this situation as it balances things out.  

If you are exercising a lot you are burning more of the food that you do take in and therefore you probably do need the extra protien on days that you are working out.  The clinic does not have you add carbs as then you body will be working to burn those rather than burning your fat - which is the whole purpose of doing Dr. B.  If you have extra protien, it won't kick you out of ketosis and therefore your body will continue burning fat.

All this makes sense in my head LOL but getting it into words wasn't so easy, so helpfully it will help you to understand what's going on.

AlisonA
Posted: Sep. 25 2008, 11:48 ET

So, Michelle -- if you experienced this, did this clear up in you, or is it ongoing?  I'm not on blood pressure meds, and am taking more potassium, and I stopped working out because of how I felt, so I'm trying to figure out if this is a temporary condition or generally to be expected -- if the latter, I'm going to have to suspend it temporarily as there is a lot going on at work and I just can't afford to be in a stupor.  Thanks!

Ada
Posted: Sep. 25 2008, 16:36 ET

Not to worry Alison.  Make sure you keep telling the clinic how you are feeling and they should make the necessary adjustments.  It can also be that your body needs a little more time to get deeply into ketosis and burn fat at the maximum rate it can (for energy).  

If the nurse said to take more potassium I would encourage you to do so religiously.  The proper dosage makes a huge difference in how one feels on this diet.

Good luck with it.  Keep us posted.  

MOM24QTS
Posted: Sep. 25 2008, 17:13 ET

I had those issues too and the potassium increase worked for me and I am a daily runner so I would call the clinic.

AlisonA
Posted: Sep. 26 2008, 16:37 ET

Thanks for the comments -- I really appreciate it!

NPacheco
Posted: Sep. 30 2008, 10:30 ET

Hi All,

I went to my Step class again last night and managed to not only make it through the class but also NOT pass out.  I made sure I ate a protein bar plus spaghetti before I went though and I think that made the difference because at the end of the class I could feel the light-headedness again and I was definitely hungry.  I know Dr. B doesn't care about calories but even at my 13th week of maintenance my calorie count is still kinda low.  I've talked to different nurses about it at the clinic and they tell me not to focus on it and just worry about portions but it seems that on maintenance the 2 have to go hand in hand.  Also I'm supposed to be at 'everything in moderation' but they still mark up my sheet like I'm on strict.  Any one have thoughts about this?