okay, i know you're supposed to be quite tired/sluggish for the first couple days of atkins while your body transitions into fat burning mode. however, it's been a week, and my energy hasnt improved at all. ): how can i fix this? i normally run & bike a lot, but at this point even walking up a staircase takes serious effort. its really bothering me.

Are you eating enough food? Getting "most" of your up to 20 net carbs from your vegetables?

Dr Atkins wrote in DANDR about "ascent weakness" and suggested adding some more induction vegetables to improve matters.

Not sure about "walking up stairs takes serious effort".

However I did notice that my work outs suffered for the first 4-6 weeks. The first 1/2 was OK. I did notice a drop off in endurance and power for the other half of my work out. It improved over time to the point where I felt better and had more endurance than before I started the diet. This seems to be a very common experience. Obviously the duration or intensity of the "weakness" varies.

Dehydration can be an issue as well as electrolyte depletion: salt, potassium, magnesium, calcium and you also need D3.

I second mike d - you'll be low in electrolytes. Magnesium depletion is the one that often causes the low energy.

Are you taking any supplements, as Atkins recommends?

If yes, let us know which ones. It is difficult - if not almost impossible - to get decent Mg supplements at shops in the UK: you really have to use a good online retailer.

I can recommend a couple of things if you want me to!

amanda

and I 'third' it!

this is very normal as you are converting to burning fat instead of storing it...I just read a great article where it said the fatigue could last a few days or be a a couple weeks or so...and not to exercise until you feel you body 'flip on' the fat burning switch and you feel so much better with alot of energy.

I agree with keeping your water up and taking the supplements.

I had horrible induction flu for two weeks, including the tiredness/weakness you describe. I kept well-hydrated and made sure my electrolytes didn't get too out of whack. Other than cycling the 9 km to work, which I had to do, I didn't exercise at all.

It was totally worth putting up with that miserable fortnight for how good it feels at the other side.

Oh, and I got plenty of fat in my diet too, which I'm sure helped. Are you eating enough?

I've seen your journal- you definitely need more vegetables in your diet- you're eating pure lean protein, meat and occasional cheese and "chocolate thingies"...that is not what Atkins meant in his book. No wonder you're exhausted and sick of this. It also explains your dehydration.