Extremely exhausted -going into week 4

[LoFo]

I started the Carnivore (with Dairy) 3 weeks ago to the day and my energy levels are just tanked I usually get tired by about 7pm and fall asleep around 8-10 and on weekends I do the same but won't wake until about 10 the next morning- and even still I feel exhausted all day and want to take a nap. I still get pretty bad headaches & lightheadedness.  I know you're supposed to get lots of fat and lots of electrolytes- I think I am?

My typical day: Breakfast: 1 tbs of butter, a pinch of sea salt, a little milk w/ coffee 2 eggs with a little shredded cheese and cream cheese and 2 slices of bacon (I think I’ll start adding 2tbs to my coffee) 

Lunch: 2 chicken thighs with homemade buffalo sauce and extra butter

Afternoon Snack: Pork rinds and maybe 1/4 of cottage cheese

Dinner: 8-10 oz pork shoulder with 1 tos cream cheese

Before bed: 3 tbs milk, hot water & magnesium

I also drink an electrolyte mix (ultimate replenisher) everyday.

Another TMI note is that I have only just started having this shits over the last few days. I have been majorly consitpated the last 2 weeks incorporating magnesium and even laxatives into my diet. I did lose 10 lost the first week and then plateaued and haven't lost any since.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Really looking forward to an energy burst and actually feeling good!

[Bob]

Welcome aboard Lauren.

4 hours ago, LoFo said:

I started the Carnivore (with Dairy) 3 weeks ago to the day and my energy levels are just tanked... I feel exhausted all day.

Your still relatively new to the way of eating, even after 3 weeks. The adaptation/transition period, characterized by the unpredictable back and forth between feelings of constipation and diarrhea, and lethargy is typically 3-6 weeks. It was almost 2 months for me. Even then, fat adaptation takes time.

When I started the carnivore diet I had a broken ankle, so I was sitting around and napping often anyway, so I can't say if I experienced the same thing.

4 hours ago, LoFo said:

I know you're supposed to get lots of fat and lots of electrolytes- I think I am?

Carb Manager is a handy app and it is free to download and use on a smart phone (at least on Andriod). You can track your calories (not so important) and macros with it to be sure. You want to aim for 30% calories from protein, 70% calories from fat, and 0% (-ish) calories from carbs. This can be accomplished with a 1g of fat per 1g of protein ratio. 

Your menu looks alright but I would double check the cottage cheese, cream cheese and homemade buffalo sauce for any hidden carbs or sugars. 

Congrats on your first 10 lbs. Is it your aim to lose weight? 

[LoFo]

Welcome aboard Lauren.
Carb Manager is a handy app and it is free to download and use on a smart phone (at least on Andriod). You can track your calories (not so important) and macros with it to be sure. You want to aim for 30% calories from protein, 70% calories from fat, and 0% (-ish) calories from carbs. This can be accomplished with a 1g of fat per 1g of protein ratio. 
Your menu looks alright but I would double check the cottage cheese, cream cheese and homemade buffalo sauce for any hidden carbs or sugars. 
Congrats on your first 10 lbs. Is it your aim to lose weight? 

Bob, thanks so much for taking the time to reply! It makes me feel so much better that others have had it rough the first couple weeks. I have a few family members who are doing it and they have more energy than ever so I was feeling quite discouraged!
I checked in on my carb/sugars using my app Lose it(very similar to carb manager) and I’m getting around 7 carbs and 4g of sugar a day, I could probably cut that down. I also did look and I’m hitting that 70% fat 30% protein so I must just be on my way!
My aim is totally to lose weight, but also just to feel better. The goal is to lose about 40 lbs over the next however long it takes but in addition feel better, gain muscle. All the good stuff! Seriously thank you!!!


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[Scott F.]

Excellent reply by Bob.

I would suggest fat content, electrolytes, and hydration.

The carnivore diet can be ever changing as your body adjusts/heals (maybe the most accurate term is 'detox' but it carries a lot of negative connotations to say someone is in 'detox')

Some changes are faster for others, slower for some. If you are having really loose stools there is a good chance you are dehydrated, and dehydration will lessen your electrolytes. 

Hopefully it works for you, but it takes time and sometimes the time is based on whether you eased into Carnivore or went cold turkey. It is as individual as anything out there.

I basically read other people's experiences and see where they may apply to me. Some do and some don't. I switched cold turkey to the diet as far as meals are concerned but I sort of eased into it because I had just bought a 12 pack of Mountain Dew and a tub of ice cream. I simply couldn't see tossing that out. LOL Plus, I had/have an occasional glass of milk. So, although my actual meals are straight carnivore (meats, salt and water) the occasional glass of milk can cause a stall and at times it may trigger some loose stools (but I have not sure enough tied the two together, but it sort of feels/trends that way).

Again, hoping you can get your plan figured out.

This is a good place to ask, talk and even vent. 

Scott

 

[Geezy]

Welcome to carnivore talk LoFo. 
as Bob said you are just in the beginning and yes, the majority of us, those that just go in cold turkey, experience these things. Your gut biome has had a lifetime of eating bad foods and now must switch over from digesting and utilizing crap food to digesting real nutrient dense food. It’s a transition that takes time. In some animals it can kill them but fortunately humans are more resilient. 
Your fatigue is due to your transition as well. Your body has been running on glucose for its whole existence and now it must change over to burning fat for fuel. For some people that switch turns on very quickly and for others, myself included, it can take some time. There’s no magic tricks to this. We all have different physiologies so this affects us all differently. 
Just keep eating a high fat, moderate protein diet with plenty of salt and water. Just make sure you are eating enough. I personally don’t eat by the clock. I eat when I’m hungry. That may be once a day or on some occasions twice a day but never three times a day. 
I eat until I’m comfortably full.  One meal will generally hold me for 24 hours. 
My last bit of advice would be to stop eating dairy as a meal. While dairy is considered carnivore in that it’s an animal product it does contain carbs and sugars. If it’s made from skim or low fat then it’s nothing but sugar. Read your labels on everything, it’s very important. 
If you must eat dairy then the conventional wisdom from the popular carnivore doctors is to only use it as a condiment, such as a slice of cheese on your burger or some butter in your coffee. I know this is something that I struggle with as I love dairy but I love it because it’s addictive. I’m in the process of breaking that addiction. 
I hope this helps and know that you are not alone. We’ve been there, done that and we are here to help you through this. 

[Orweller]

Bigger meals, fattier meat. Chicken and pork rinds should be considered a supplement to a meal. You will figure it out. You're still in a transitional period. This is the time to find out how bad you've eaten all those years lol. Good luck! 

[ketomonster]

 I don't know what you weigh, but that diet sounds pretty lean to me. No chicken for me (to little energy in chicken)  . I'd suggest increase your fat (has twice the energy of protein or carbs) even if you have to ask a butcher for some. Myself I get tired of eating meat at every meal, so I use whole fat dairy products in the mornings once in awhile to break the monotony. Your cottage cheese and cream cheese should be whole fat and not measured with a tablespoon!