Heads-up for Atkins Dieters

[thotfulspot]

So, I had been on this stinky plateau for almost the last month, and had gotten really tired in the afternoons, too, to the point that I was lying down for a deeply necessary nap right after lunch every day. I figured that hey, winter has been hitting me harder every year, and it should get better with more sunshine.

Luckily, I had an already-scheduled blood test (ugh) last week, and the doctor found that my potassium was very low, and therefore so was my energy. I checked it out, and doggone if I hadn't been focusing mostly on foods that happened to be low in potassium. I added tomatoes and avocado to my daily diet right away, and the doctor sent a prescription for tablets to take every day until I have another blood test (ugh) to confirm that everything's back on track. I can confirm it already, because my energy came charging back, I'm not napping anymore, and I started to lose weight again a couple of days ago.

Just a suggestion to check out your supplements or your diet to make sure you're getting your potassium!

Oh, and after I found out what was going on, I checked my multivitamin and Dr. Atkin's book again. Potassium is clearly listed as a recommended supplement, and is not in my vitamin. Whoops!

 

[DoeWDW]

Thanks so much for the reminder!

I use Morton's Lite Salt which has lots of potassium in it, instead of regular table salt.

I've heard that a pork chop has lots of potassium in it also.

Glad to hear you're feeling better - how scary!

 

[perfectmatch300]

I was getting bad muscle cramps in my hands & legs when I first started Atkins. I was told it was due to low potassium, so I added a potassium supplement to my daily routine & have had no problem ever since.

 

[sm4987]

me too. I am taking those potassium supplements now and feel real good. I'm doing SBD, but it never hurts

 

[nativetxn]

Excellent reminder. I eat tomatoes and avocado on a regular basis so my electrolytes still seem to be in balance. Hope you get that energy back very soon.

 

[sha_lyn]

I take potassium and magnisium, and I drink bottled water that has electrolytes added to it. I had terrible leg cramps in induction, before I added the supplements.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Thank you sooooooo much for posting this information. Im on SBD starting today and I dont know what made me open this thread but I did and Im glad I did.

My postassium was low when I was very ill in the hospital in late December early January and they gave me supplements which stopped when I left the hospital. I remained on really high doses of Prednisone while recouping at home and even after I returned to work. I finally finished the prednisone but my muscles have been aching so badly I can barely move or walk. I thought it was a flare up of my fibromyalgia from going off the prednisone but it may be more than that. I read this thread last night and called my doctor this morning. He said it could well be low potassium and that would also explain the tiredness I feel no matter how much sleep I get.

Thanks so much for posting what you did. It may well have helped someone who isnt even on Atkins.

 

[Otto's Doll]

What foods are high in Potassium that are allowed on Atkins? And, unfortunately, I HATE tomatoes.

I am in Ketosis, but have noticed I am a bit sleepy in the afternoon, and that never used to happen. I am wondering if this could be part of the problem.