Trying to understand Atkins, hypoglycemia and exercise...help!

[gshoemate]

I was diagnosed with low blood sugar almost a year ago. I have been doing pretty good with limiting my carbs and keeping it under control. When I talked to my doctor about exercising he told me that I needed to drink a half of slim fast before and after to replace the carbs burned up during exercising or I would have an attack. So my question is....if I go on Atkins and my carbs are very low, what will happen when I exercise and will I have energy to exercise? I can't seem to find a proper balance in order to lose weight.....it's all to confusing. TIA.

 

[mommyflower]

Ginger,
I just sent you a PM. I don't understand why your doctor suggested a slim fast. Slim fast is very high in carbs. I do understand that you may need to eat before and after, but I would suggest something with protien. I don't have problems with my sugar after exercising as long as I have eaten recently (like in the last two hours) and it was a high protien meal. For example I wouldn't eat a yogurt for breakfast and expect to make it through a workout. I also eat a small snack after, like a couple slices of cheese. You will be fine if you do Atkins. You will have energy probably more than you have had in the past. Like I wrote in your PM, you really just have to test your body and find out your limits.
Not to say anything bad about your doctor, but do you think he is telling you the right things to do? I know some doctors don't know much about it or they don't agree that it is even a condition. I know my doctor agreed I had it and basically I was on my own from there. No help from him. I have also heard of people going to nutritionist and getting the wrong kind of diet because the nutritionist don't believe that the low carb diet is healthy. I just wanted to give you a heads up just in case. I did a lot of reading and for me low carb is the way to go. And all the proof I need is how I feel now.
I hope all this is helpful!

 

[gshoemate]

Thanks Tabitha. I don't think my doctor went into much detail about it because I had gestational diebetes with my #2 so I know how to count carbs. It was easy to behave when I had to face that insulin needle every morning. He also told me that I could eat my regular meals like normal just watch the carbs. He even said that if I had a balanced meal, meat, veggie, salad...that I could have dessert. He really wanted me to cut out the quick eating that I was doing, a pepsi and oatmeal pie for breakfast, handful of doritos for lunch...and eat more sensible. However, I just had dinner and ate mashed potatoes and I can already start to feel the shakes coming on. Oh well, trial and error. I'm excited about starting Atkins...hopefully I will see an improvement with my overall well being. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[lmhall2000]

I have a tendency to get very hypoglycemic- the room starts to darken when I first get out of bed in the morning and now that I've picked up the exercise I really can not do induction phase while exercising. If you're doing less than 3 days a week of exercise I think you'd be okay- rely on a handful of nuts before/after to help with the low blood sugar- cheese/meat just doesn't seem to ward off my attacks as well as the nuts do. If you plan on doing more than 3 days a week then try adding more fruit- Atkins limits you to berries which can be hard to find this time of year- South Beach lets you have all fruits except bananas and even wheat bread- I find if I give myself a half an apple after my workouts (before doesn't really affect me because I usually am working out right after dinner) that I don't get all dizzy the next morning or right after the workouts. Grapes, oranges, even lemon juice in some water helps me. If I do induction it's just to stop my carb madness then I really pick up the exercise and add 1 slice of wheat bread and more fruit. Hope this helps!

Tara