Disclaimer: I do not advocate changing anything about your diet or any other behaviors that could affect your health and wellbeing. This post is for entertainment purposes only (depending on how well I write it).
The following post covers my own personal "Carb Flu" experience after embarking on the 30 day diet challenge described in the book:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test indicates that I possess an ENFP personality type. If interested, you can search the web to look up exactly what that means, however, the cliff note version as it relates to my decision making process is as follows:
I typically glean "barely enough information" to support what I have already decided to do anyway, make sure my internal excitement amplifier level is set to 10, then with zero regard for caution, jump in headfirst and deal with whatever happens real time.
This mostly works for me until it doesn't; Like the time I decided I was going to become a professional poker player! Ouch!
I am reminded of another recent historical event in which I returned home from Las Vegas and completely retooled my diet in one day. Shortly therafter, I found myself with a new friend I called CF ("Carb-Flu"). Yes, it's a real thing, and yes, it's even less fun than it sounds. So, what is this non-hilarious, slightly uncomfortable, phenomenon?
The Carb Flu is like an annoying little brother that constantly attacks you when you least expect it. Suddenly, you find yourself feeling tired, irritable, and craving the company of Captain Crunch and Oreos like they're their your long lost spouse lost at sea.
Your family may start to wonder who the hangry troll is welded to the sofa. And let's not forget the brain fog that makes you question if you've accidentally stumbled into a parallel universe where thinking clearly and decision making hadn't been invented yet!
The Carb Flu is basically your body throwing in the towel after being deprived of its favorite energy source. Carbohydrates are like the cool kids that everyone wants to hang out with. They're the ones that provide quick fuel for your body, and when they're suddenly taken away, your body goes into shock. It's like being invited to a party and then being told you can't come in. Your body is left confused, grumpy, and desperately searching for a way to get back to what used to be normal.
Another name for the "Carb Flu" is the "Keto Flu", Keto being short for Ketosis. Per the myclevelandclinic.org website, Ketosis is defined as a metabolic state that occurs when your body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.
Per the Intermountain Health "Health News and Blog:"
When your body enters Ketosis, flu like symptoms can occur. These symptoms are a result of the withdrawal from carbohydrates. Your body burns carbohydrates (glucose) by default. Converting to a fat burning process confuses your body.
Symtoms you can expect include:
• Stomach aches or pains
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Sugar cravings
• Cramping
• Muscle soreness
• Irritability
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Poor focus and concentration
• Brain fog
These symptoms can last from between 7-30 days for most people.
I experienced most if not all of the "Carb Flu" symptons at one point or another during the 30 day challenge.
Brain fog coupled with sugar cravings had me questioning my "well researched" choice to follow an ancestral diet; hands down, the worst two symptoms of the lot.
I am not sure at what point my body starting burning fat instead of glucose?
The "Carb Flu" felt like it lasted all of 5 weeks. In some ways it was worse than a hangover from consuming too much alcohol because you just didn't know if or when it would end.
When I would start to question myself, I would research the internet to make sure everything was normal albeit uncomfortable. I would also reread the passages in "Wired to Eat" about the benefits of a healthy gut and what I could expect on the other side of this drastic change in diet.
I made it through the Carb Flu and was caught off guard by some very unexpected positive changes.
When I ditched the daily dose of Captain Crunch, Oreos, Doritos and most other forms of highly engineered processed food in favor of foods without labels, my taste buds woke up!
I remember jonesing for strawberries at one point. The minute that berry touched my tonque, it felt like a flavor explosion in my mouth and I swear I had an out of body experience!
It wasn't just foods I craved that tasted great, everything tasted great and it still does to this day. I haven't done any formal research on the topic of eating a high simple carbohydrate diet and its effect on taste, however, I have to believe that all those carbs had to be creating some form of palate fatigue.
The egg dish I typically eat for breakfast tastes like a gourmet meal prepared by someone who actually knows how to cook! I make it every morning and I do not know the first thing about cooking. Check out my Starting the Day post to learn more.
Another unexpected observation post "Carb Flu" was that my pants started to fall off - let me rephrase that - sorry for the mental image of a 57 year old man with no pants. I needed to start wearing a belt, because I was actually losing weight!
Belly fat mostly gone, handlebars gone, the muscular build underneath the fat blanket started showing up in my mirror every morning. At first I thought I may need to get law enforcement involved as I didn't recognize the strange man in the mirror.
The last big surprise was that I had my annual physical about 2 months after the start of the challenge. My doctor called and told me my labs looked great compared to previous years and to keep doing whatever it is I was doing.
Thanks for reading......Paul
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