Low Energy on the Primal Diet page

[lchanggt]

I've been on and off the primal nutrition diet and one of the hardest things is that while I'm eating primal, it seems like my body has a problem getting enough energy out of the protein / fat / vegetables that I consume.

My stomach ends up feeling full because of all the protein and vegetables I've eaten, but at the same time, I feel like I have no energy and it seems that I can't digest enough protein fast enough to get energy to just go on with my day. I end up just having to eat fruit or dark chocolate or something with carbs which I'd rather not do.

Anyone else encounter this type of problem before?

[Sue]

Don't keep going on and off it. Give your body time to adjust to it.
Really don't know why you should be low in energy unless you are very low in carbs.

[peril]

What is your balance of protein/fat/carb? It sounds like you may be eating too much protein and too little fat.

Also, lethargy comes with reduction of carbs until your body adapts to burning fats - the low-carb flu. Unless you stay low-carb you will not get over it and adapt properly

[Chaohinon]

You said yourself you need carbs. Why not try a more benign source, like sweet potato/squash, rather than sugar?

[Barb]

After several months of quite low carb primal eating I struggled with bouts of low energy also. This was clearly not because I hadn't adapted to low carb, but came after my adaptation period. i just added in more carbs - fruit and potatoes - and started feeling great again. The whole point of this way of eating is to feel good and have lots of energy - so I eat enough primal carbs to feel energetic. I am still significantly below the carb level I ate on a "healthy" SAD. But I just don't stress about exactly how many carbs I am eating anymore. I focus on eating whole, unprocessed primal foods. Works for me.