Day 18 - Feeling light headed, distant and weak

[Mark Bailey Jr.]

Hi there ..

I'm wondering if anyone can help me because I'm struggling majorly. There is not a day that has gone by during my Whole 30 that I haven't felt lethargic, light headed and dizzy typically during the hours of 10am to 5pm (work of course). I expected it the first 14 days, but things haven't gotten any better.

I wake up refreshed and ready to go, then something happens around 10am. I start feeling distant in my head. I can't focus enough to get any quality work done. I literally feel like I'm sitting at my desk and my head is across the room. I would describe it as the same feeling I had when I got a concussion snowboarding in March of this year. That's what I mean by "distant". When I had my concussion I just felt slow. Things just don't compute the way they should. Some days have been worse than others. There was one day where I felt like I was going to pass out. I just hate going about my days like I'm not really there.

I talked to my trainer about it and he told me to take in some more carbs by way of sweet potatoes. I'm currently taking in about 1.5 to 2 sweet potatoes a day and I'm not feeling any better.

Before the Whole 30 I was a heavy protein powder user more than carb loader. Is there a chance I'm not taking in enough protein? Maybe my body is still getting used to the lack of protein? Is it carbs? I'm lost and I seriously need your guidance. Is this typical?

6ft 170lb male

Example of my daily food intake

Meal 1

Black Coffee

Glass of Green Smoothie (70% kale, spinach, chard - 30% blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and coconut oil)

Slice of Egg Frittata

Meal 2

Black coffee

Large Spinach Salad

Cherry Tomatoes

EVOO and balsamic dressing

Slow cooked pulled chicken (about 2 palms worth)

Half a sweet potato

Pre WO meal

2 whole hard boiled eggs

Post WO meal (I do a fit camp high intensity workout 2 days a week and train in the gym the other 3. Total of 5 days a week)

Slow cooked pulled chicken (about 1 palms worth)

Sweet potato

Dinner

2 palms worth of protein (mahi, chicken, ground beef or turkey)

oven roasted veggies ... varies from night to night

Of course I always get some type of fat in whether it's a dressing on salad or ghee

Anyone see what could be going wrong? I really appreciate you taking the time to help me by the way.

[Mark Bailey Jr.]

I just wanted to add that I am supplementing with Magnesium, Enzymes, fish oil and multi vitamin every day. I thought my problem could be caused by the Magnesium, but I'm not sure. I take 350mg at night.

[Tom Denham]

Your breakfast appears light on protein when you say a slice of frittata. I think a big dose of protein at breakfast is important. I'm just a little taller and heavier than you and I usually eat 4-5 eggs and frequently an entire avocado for breakfast.

You also seem to be really heavy on poultry. I'd switch some meals to red meat. Eating 2 palms at meals 2 and 3 suggests you are getting enough protein, I'd just seek more variety. Your carb intake sounds okay too, especially if you are eating 1 or more sweet potatoes per day.

You report feeling off from 10 AM to 5 PM. So around 5 you start feeling better? That's curious. Are you drinking plenty of water?

Magnesium tends to be self-limiting. If you take too much, your bowels complain through diarrhea.

[Mark Bailey Jr.]

Hi Tom -

Thanks for the quick response. I totally agree. I don't think I'm getting enough protein or fat in the morning at all. Thank you for your perspective. I'm going to change that over the next few days and I'll report back!

[Robin Strathdee]

Just another thought - could your iron levels be low? Maybe adding in some more red meat, like Tom suggested, would help?