low blood sugar?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-16-2004
low blood sugar?
3
Tue, 03-16-2004 - 12:49pm
Hi everyone! I started the South Beach Diet the end of last week, so today is day five. I'm a high school senior at a state funded gifted boarding school, which means the cafeteria options are abysmal and being a teenager I don't have much cash to spend on groceries. My parents like to help out a lot but it's also hard to prepare food in a dorm. Anyway I'm afraid that I'm not eating enough, not because I'm constantly hungry but this morning I woke up very groggy and my arms felt like they didn't have very good circulation, I was slightly fatigued, and my heart rate was elevated. It might be that this is something entirely unrelated but the fact that I have drastically altered my diet seems like it could be the problem. I'm thinking that I might have had low blood sugar? Has anyone else ever had symptoms like these? I'm feeling better now in the afternoon I've eatend some tuna and lettuce, but I find it hard to eat as much vegetables as recommended just because they are not available to me.

Also I was wondering if the fake crab meat was allowed during Phase 1? I've been on other low carb diets and I'm fairly certain that it wasn't because it's high in carbs...

Thanks!

Emily

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2003
Tue, 03-16-2004 - 1:26pm
I felt the same way when I started. I do not know if I was actually coming down with something or if my blood sugar was to low. I did up the amount of food I was eating and then it also helped when I went to phase2 and added in some strawberries to my daily intake. Good luck and stick with it, I know its hard when you are feeling so rough. BTW I am 3 weeks out now and feel good.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2003
Tue, 03-16-2004 - 1:50pm
Emily,

Before I began SBD, I dealt with low blood sugar from time to time. So during the first 4 or 5 days, I felt absolutely horrible. But it does get better. Make sure you're snacking regularly to curb hunger and a drop in blood sugar. I found that I had to have maybe 3 snacks a day, instead of just 2, because I didn't want to pass out! :-) I'm on day 12, and I feel a lot better. I guess my body finally adjusted. Hang in there, but please don't make yourself sick while doing it.

Good luck!

BJ

>pregnancy week by week
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-05-2004
Tue, 03-16-2004 - 9:14pm
Hi Emily,

I know I keep saying this to everyone who feels lightheaded, but watch your iron intake. Foods such as spinach and certain beans have higher iron....are you eating some of those? I am anemic, and I will definately feel lightheaded, weak and groggy if I skimp on the iron. Many women are anemic and do not even know it! Give it a try, spinach is basically a "free food" ( in terms of how much you can have) and relatively inexpensive. I know beans are not expensive, either. It is tough to do this diet on a budget, that is my problem too! Good Luck!

Kristin