Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 The reaction you describe is one that I get ONLY on a days that I haven't eaten a lot. I don't feel faint, but do need to stop for 5 secs until dizziness clears. I have reason to believe this relates to low blood sugar, since I'm prone to hypoglycemic episodes (different symptoms). A number of sites link hypotension & low blood sugar... and many suggest a need for improved hydration ... so perhaps I should try more water on days that I'm eating lighter.. http://www.drdaveanddee.com/hypotension.html and http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/drbernstein/posturalhypotension.shtml chris wrote: >Just a quick question for the group: > >When I first started CRON, I admit that a little to gung ho and probably should have waded in more gradually, but live and learn, right? Anyway, I first started with 1,500 kcal/day, which for my build and activity level was 'way too little, and I was very weak for the first week. The second and third weeks were better, but i still sensed that it might be better if I upped my intake a bit, so I did, to 1,700 kcal/day. I felt stronger but I would still get dizzy if I stood up too fast. I felt fine except for that, but I decided to move up again to 1900 kcal/day, and that seems to have >taken care of the dizziness. I feel completely normal now. > >My question basically: what caused the lightheaded feeling? Was it low blood pressure, or is there another common reason for this phenomenon? Unfortunately, I wasn't taking my blood pressure at that time, or I might >understand better. For reasons of health, I kind of like the idea of lowering my blood pressure, which tends to be at the high end of normal. But, the dizziness when standing up doesn't feel " right " , and I don't know >if I should just try to tolerate it and lower my intake again or what. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Another possible reason (discussed in " Beyond " ) is not enough protein in your diet. Sorry I can't find the passage in the book at the moment, but Walford says that if you're feeling weak, to up your protein. on 7/5/2004 2:52 AM, chris at motjuste@... wrote: > > Just a quick question for the group: > > When I first started CRON, I admit that a little to gung ho and probably > should have waded in more gradually, but live and learn, right? Anyway, I > first started with 1,500 kcal/day, which for my build and activity level was > 'way too little, and I was very weak for the first week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2004 Report Share Posted July 6, 2004 Dizziness when standing up abruptly is often caused by the body not adjusting the blood pressure upward (to reach the new higher elevation) quickly enough. This is typically evidence of below average BP " and " aging. I agree that below average BP is preferable to above average and you can learn to just be careful upon first rising (I am). In my experience it always passes quickly. Low blood sugar events will also pass, but not as rapidly as BP events. Just like BP, blood sugar is probably better on the low side of average just as long as you keep your brain fed. If your brain isn't getting it's sugar it will let you know. JR -----Original Message----- From: chris [mailto:motjuste@...] Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 1:53 AM Subject: [ ] lightheadedness Just a quick question for the group: When I first started CRON, I admit that a little to gung ho and probably should have waded in more gradually, but live and learn, right? Anyway, I first started with 1,500 kcal/day, which for my build and activity level was 'way too little, and I was very weak for the first week. The second and third weeks were better, but i still sensed that it might be better if I upped my intake a bit, so I did, to 1,700 kcal/day. I felt stronger but I would still get dizzy if I stood up too fast. I felt fine except for that, but I decided to move up again to 1900 kcal/day, and that seems to have taken care of the dizzyness. I feel completely normal now. My question basically: what caused the lightheaded feeling? Was it low blood pressure, or is there another common reason for this phenomenon? Unfortunately, I wasn't taking my blood pressure at that time, or I might understand better. For reasons of health, I kind of like the idea of lowering my blood pressure, which tends to be at the high end of normal. But, the dizzyness when standing up doesn't feel " right " , and I don't know if I should just try to tolerate it and lower my intake again or what. Thanks in advance, (|-|ri5 ________________________________________________________ This email has been scanned by Internet Pathway's Email Gateway scanning system for potentially harmful content, such as viruses or spam. Nothing out of the ordinary was detected in this email. For more information, call 601-776-3355 or email support@... ________________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2004 Report Share Posted July 6, 2004 Hi, Chris. The lightheadedness you were experiencing could have been the result of reactive hypoglycemia (I have that condition, so I'm all too familiar with the sensation you described). In some people, its not how low your blood sugar goes technically but the simple fact that its dropping that your body will react to. I don't know how often you were eating, but you might want to try spacing out your food in mini-meals that occur every three hours or so. This has been working for me, as it keeps my sugar levels at a steadier state without having to eat more. Also, watch your iron levels. That light-headed sensation is also a common symptom of iron-defiency anemia. It could have been that the first time you attempted 1,500 calories you weren't getting enough,in which case a supplement or a few more iron-rich foods might help too. > > Just a quick question for the group: > > When I first started CRON, I admit that a little to gung ho and probably > should have waded in more gradually, but live and learn, right? Anyway, I > first started with 1,500 kcal/day, which for my build and activity level was > 'way too little, and I was very weak for the first week. The second and > third weeks were better, but i still sensed that it might be better if I > upped my intake a bit, so I did, to 1,700 kcal/day. I felt stronger but I > would still get dizzy if I stood up too fast. I felt fine except for that, > but I decided to move up again to 1900 kcal/day, and that seems to have > taken care of the dizzyness. I feel completely normal now. > > My question basically: what caused the lightheaded feeling? Was it low > blood pressure, or is there another common reason for this phenomenon? > > Unfortunately, I wasn't taking my blood pressure at that time, or I might > understand better. For reasons of health, I kind of like the idea of > lowering my blood pressure, which tends to be at the high end of normal. > But, the dizzyness when standing up doesn't feel " right " , and I don't know > if I should just try to tolerate it and lower my intake again or what. > > Thanks in advance, > > (|-|ri5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2004 Report Share Posted July 7, 2004 Hi JR: Curiously, with regard to lightheadedness my personal experience has been the reverse. I often experienced it between the ages of ten and fifteen. Never noticed it since. As a teenager I not infrequently had to hold onto something to steady myself to avoid falling over after getting up suddenly from the dinner table. (fwiw) There appear to have been no long term consequences associated with this. Rodney. --- In , " john roberts " <johnhrob@n...> wrote: > Dizziness when standing up abruptly is often caused by the body not > adjusting the blood pressure upward (to reach the new higher elevation) > quickly enough. This is typically evidence of below average BP " and " aging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 7, 2004 Report Share Posted July 7, 2004 Thanks to everyone for their responses. It's possible that it was a blood sugar issue, or even a combination of that and (s)low blood pressure. I think my iron consumption is/was adequate, so I don't think it was anemia. I may not know the answer definitely until I experiment some more, but that is down the road a bit. Right now I think I've got a good balance of CR, slow weight loss, and a good, healthy feeling (in spite of slightly high BP). So, I won't be changing much any time soon. (|-|ri5 > > > Hi, Chris. > > The lightheadedness you were experiencing could have been the result > of reactive hypoglycemia (I have that condition, so I'm all too > familiar with the sensation you described). In some people, its not > how low your blood sugar goes technically but the simple fact that > its dropping that your body will react to. > > I don't know how often you were eating, but you might want to try > spacing out your food in mini-meals that occur every three hours or > so. This has been working for me, as it keeps my sugar levels at a > steadier state without having to eat more. > > Also, watch your iron levels. That light-headed sensation is also a > common symptom of iron-defiency anemia. It could have been that the > first time you attempted 1,500 calories you weren't getting enough,in > which case a supplement or a few more iron-rich foods might help too. > > > > > > > Just a quick question for the group: > > > > When I first started CRON, I admit that a little to gung ho and > probably > > should have waded in more gradually, but live and learn, right? > Anyway, I > > first started with 1,500 kcal/day, which for my build and activity > level was > > 'way too little, and I was very weak for the first week. The > second and > > third weeks were better, but i still sensed that it might be better > if I > > upped my intake a bit, so I did, to 1,700 kcal/day. I felt > stronger but I > > would still get dizzy if I stood up too fast. I felt fine except > for that, > > but I decided to move up again to 1900 kcal/day, and that seems to > have > > taken care of the dizzyness. I feel completely normal now. > > > > My question basically: what caused the lightheaded feeling? Was it > low > > blood pressure, or is there another common reason for this > phenomenon? > > > > Unfortunately, I wasn't taking my blood pressure at that time, or I > might > > understand better. For reasons of health, I kind of like the idea > of > > lowering my blood pressure, which tends to be at the high end of > normal. > > But, the dizzyness when standing up doesn't feel " right " , and I > don't know > > if I should just try to tolerate it and lower my intake again or > what. > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > (|-|ri5 > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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