I've lost that peppy feeling
Question:
<snip I’d started taking her water up earlier, but didn’t realize how much earlier it needed to be. Good ideas and I’ll try them. While I treasure the last hour’s sleep in the morning, I’d be willing to give it up if it meant not rolling out of bed and into sweats at 3:00 a.m.
*squirms* I don’t feel right about depriving dogs of water (or any animal really) I’m not trying to be flamey here either. Just from my own experiences. I had a dog who’s kidneys packed up and he was constantly drinking, so he had water all night. My current dog does too. He’s 6, and sleeps in my room, and has access to water all night. He very rarely asks to go outside, but when he does I take him out. I look at it like this: He’s helpless, and can’t let himself out. Imagine if you were him and really needed to go, or had an upset tummy. I don’t know, I guess I just see it from the dog’s point of view. Maybe if I had a dog who wanted to constantly go out I’d feel differently. 
F/31/5′4ish 220/154/140 Low Carb since 6 Sep 01 http://members.fortunecity.com/zephrine/weebleswobble/
Response:
Last fall I went on a low-fat, low cal WOE, took vitamins and had a daily exercise program (lots of sweating). Lost weight, about 20lbs in four weeks, BUT found that I was NOT getting enough calories to sustain daily life! One day, I just couldn’t move during an aerobics class. Literally could not do anything without getting winded. Legs ached. Had problems walking up my front stairs. What I did to remedy the problem–fell off the wagon, and reverted back to my unhealthy WOE.
I probably should at least do a rough guesstimate of my calories. I feel like I’m eating a lot, but then I’m so accustomed to trying to keep my calories way down and eating meat and fats feels so counter-intuitive, that I may be getting less than I thought. This time around, I know to watch my caloric intake and get atleast 1200-1300 cal/day and spread the meals evenly throughout the day. And one vitamin that I found to make a huge difference in my stamina and general energy level is Co-Q 10. (Good for the heart muscle and gums. I take 150 – 200 mg daily.) Calcium (with Mag/Zinc/Vit.D) seems to prevent leg cramps/aches.
I do take the Co-Q, but I’ll have to check the bottle – I may not be taking enough to make a difference. It’s wonderful to have that peppy feeling. How you find your’s soon!
Thanks, now I feel like I have possibilties to explore. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
Response:
*squirms* I don’t feel right about depriving dogs of water (or any animal really) I’m not trying to be flamey here either. Just from my own experiences
The dog is only being "deprived" of water for a few hours in the evening. BECAUSE she has a problem. The same way you don’t give bed-wetting kids liquids after their evening meal. There’s nothing to squirm about. She’s not harming, depriving, abusing, or neglecting her dog. Connie
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip I’d started taking her water up earlier, but didn’t realize how much earlier it needed to be. Good ideas and I’ll try them. While I treasure the last hour’s sleep in the morning, I’d be willing to give it up if it meant not rolling out of bed and into sweats at 3:00 a.m. *squirms* I don’t feel right about depriving dogs of water (or any animal really) I’m not trying to be flamey here either. Just from my own experiences. I had a dog who’s kidneys packed up and he was constantly drinking, so he had water all night. My current dog does too. He’s 6, and sleeps in my room, and has access to water all night. He very rarely asks to go outside, but when he does I take him out. I look at it like this: He’s helpless, and can’t let himself out. Imagine if you were him and really needed to go, or had an upset tummy. I don’t know, I guess I just see it from the dog’s point of view. Maybe if I had a dog who wanted to constantly go out I’d feel differently.
I do see things from the dog’s point of view. That’s why I take her out everytime she says she needs to go, even though there are times I’d gladly clean up a mess in the morning rather than have to get up now. I think that if you were going out at least once every night and sometimes 2-3 times you would feel differently, though. Especially since I live in a city. Everytime she needs to go out I have to put on enough clothes to be street-decent and take her for a walk around the block. While the neighborhood I live in is quite safe, it can feel a little creepy walking around at 3:00 a.m. Naturally I’ll talk to her vet about the health ramifications, but I doubt he’ll disapprove. When I mentioned this when she lived w/ me before, it was the vet who suggested taking up her water. As a practical matter, she knows where I put her water bowl when I take it up and she’s quite capable of indicating when she wants something, when we go into the kitchen, she doesn’t make a bee-line for the water bowl down there, and when I put the water down for her in the morning she doesn’t do an impression of a camel that has just made it to the oasis. Taking her water up in the evenings hasn’t solved the problem, but I’m getting to sleep through more nights Martha "and that’s a *good* thing" — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
Response:
Hey Connie, Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for a lot of essential body functions. During sleep you progress through a set of "cycles" and when these cycles are interrupted, you will probably see negative results. I would certainly think this sleep interruption is causing your lack of energy.
That’s good to know. I tend to underestimate the importance of solid blocks of sleep as some of my friends have infants who don’t yet sleep through the night, so I sort of think of that as normal. But, then, I also expect them to be zombies. <g I have two dogs, so I understand the "really, really" part. (G) Try limiting her water after 3 PM, and completely taking away her water after 6 PM. Make sure you take her out the very *last* thing before you turn out the lights. Try getting up a half hour or hour earlier; once she’s used to the new schedule she may be able to wait, knowing that her earlier morning potty time is imminent. Has she been checked for
I’d started taking her water up earlier, but didn’t realize how much earlier it needed to be. Good ideas and I’ll try them. While I treasure the last hour’s sleep in the morning, I’d be willing to give it up if it meant not rolling out of bed and into sweats at 3:00 a.m. diabetes, which is very common in older dogs? If that’s no problem, then do whatever you can to extend the *uninterrupted* time you get to sleep. And good luck!
She hasn’t, and I should get that done. She’s got chronic lung disease and wasn’t expected to see the year out (2+ years ago), so some things that she probably would normally have been checked/treated for have been pushed to the back burner. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
Response:
I’ve been Adkins since 6-4-02 and have lost 22 lbs. but am in a stall right now. What really caught my eye about your post was the aching when going upstairs–that’s me, too. I feel the same way. I also take extra potassium and magnesium with the calcium. Sorry I can’t say something that helps, but I’m with you and will be looking forward to answers from the ng.
It’s frustrating, isn’t it. Aside from wanting it to be over, I worry that it will work it’s way out and I won’t know what was causing it or how to correct it next time. Sometimes I feel that my care of my body is like an unsupervised science project. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
Response:
I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*). do you live in the D.C. area? those are some of the longest escalators i’ve ever seen! and one was broken last time i was there so had no choice but to walk. just curious. this BEAUTIFUL weather is making me
Yup and you’re brave. A few summers ago, the up escalator wasn’t working when the former object of my affections came to visit me. I seriously thought I might have to call the paramedics, and suggested that in the middle of a D.C. summer there was no disgrace opting for the elevator. <g euphoric and missing the east coast! although the residuals of hurricane lili is supposed to hit here later. it’s just starting to rain. and i wouldn’t even care, but we need new gutters!
You could send it here! I’m hoping the cooler weather sets in soon – I want crisp nights and wonderful breezy days. Martha — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
Response:
Last fall I went on a low-fat, low cal WOE, took vitamins and had a daily exercise program (lots of sweating). Lost weight, about 20lbs in four weeks, BUT found that I was NOT getting enough calories to sustain daily life! One day, I just couldn’t move during an aerobics class. Literally could not do anything without getting winded. Legs ached. Had problems walking up my front stairs. What I did to remedy the problem–fell off the wagon, and reverted back to my unhealthy WOE. This time around, I know to watch my caloric intake and get atleast 1200-1300 cal/day and spread the meals evenly throughout the day. And one vitamin that I found to make a huge difference in my stamina and general energy level is Co-Q 10. (Good for the heart muscle and gums. I take 150 – 200 mg daily.) Calcium (with Mag/Zinc/Vit.D) seems to prevent leg cramps/aches. It’s wonderful to have that peppy feeling. How you find your’s soon! –Web
Response:
I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*).
do you live in the D.C. area? those are some of the longest escalators i’ve ever seen! and one was broken last time i was there so had no choice but to walk. just curious. this BEAUTIFUL weather is making me euphoric and missing the east coast! although the residuals of hurricane lili is supposed to hit here later. it’s just starting to rain. and i wouldn’t even care, but we need new gutters! pam
Response:
I feel tired, my thighs ache going up stairs. While I don’t feel desperate for a nap in the afternoons the way I used to, I do get somewhat lethargic. I should be getting enough potassium and magnesium. I take supplements of both and the atkins shakes, which I have for breakfast, have a fair amount of potassium. I’m also taking a good multi-vitamin. I’m confident I’m eating enough, and I think there’s decent variety in my diet.
I’ve been Adkins since 6-4-02 and have lost 22 lbs. but am in a stall right now. What really caught my eye about your post was the aching when going upstairs–that’s me, too. I feel the same way. I also take extra potassium and magnesium with the calcium. Sorry I can’t say something that helps, but I’m with you and will be looking forward to answers from the ng. Katt in Texas
Response:
Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a little dog in my life. She is an older dog and frequently really, really needs to go out in the middle of the night, so my sleep is not as undisturbed as it might be. I’ve also had some stress in my personal life, but I think I’m dealing with that ok.
Uninterrupted sleep is necessary for a lot of essential body functions. During sleep you progress through a set of "cycles" and when these cycles are interrupted, you will probably see negative results. I would certainly think this sleep interruption is causing your lack of energy. I have two dogs, so I understand the "really, really" part. (G) Try limiting her water after 3 PM, and completely taking away her water after 6 PM. Make sure you take her out the very *last* thing before you turn out the lights. Try getting up a half hour or hour earlier; once she’s used to the new schedule she may be able to wait, knowing that her earlier morning potty time is imminent. Has she been checked for diabetes, which is very common in older dogs? If that’s no problem, then do whatever you can to extend the *uninterrupted* time you get to sleep. And good luck! Connie
Response:
Hi Fellow Low-Carbers, I started low carbing in august. I started w/ the Eads’ plan, but cut my carbs back to <20. After an initial rocky transition (I did *not* feel well for the first few days), I hit the energy boost, feeling of well-being, etc, that are some of benefits of this diet. The problem is, now I’ve lost it again. I feel tired, my thighs ache going up stairs. While I don’t feel desperate for a nap in the afternoons the way I used to, I do get somewhat lethargic. I should be getting enough potassium and magnesium. I take supplements of both and the atkins shakes, which I have for breakfast, have a fair amount of potassium. I’m also taking a good multi-vitamin. I’m confident I’m eating enough, and I think there’s decent variety in my diet. I haven’t restarted my exercise program, but I do get at least 20-30 minutes of brisk walking in each day, and, when I was feeling perkier, I was walking up the escalators (that may not sound like much, but the escalator at my home stop is *LONG*). Of course, this may not be diet related, I have recently reacquired a little dog in my life. She is an older dog and frequently really, really needs to go out in the middle of the night, so my sleep is not as undisturbed as it might be. I’ve also had some stress in my personal life, but I think I’m dealing with that ok. So, can anyone suggest how to get back to feeling the way I was? Martha, living la vida lo-carb — "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go." — T.S. Eliot
