DIET: CHRONIC FATIGUE
Question: I have been following the recommended diet for 2 weeks now and have lost 6 pounds, but I feel extremely tired and even have dizzy spells. Is this normal at the beginning of a diet?
Answer: I would suspect that many dieters believe that tiredness and dizziness go hand in hand with dieting, but it is not "normal" and certainly not healthy. If a diet is balanced and provides a reasonable number of calories and amount of fluid, you should feel well. Dieters following a very low calorie diet that results in the body getting little energy (calories) may frequently suffer from fluid and salt imbalances that can result in tiredness, lethargy, and dizziness. Dieters on a strict low-calorie diet should be supervised by a doctor.
If you are following the recommended diet, which provides a very moderate calorie decrease, it is unlikely that the calorie level would cause tiredness. It could, however, be caused by a major change in your eating or exercise pattern, by not getting enough fluids, or by other factors. Since you have lost quite a bit of weight in the first 2 weeks, it is possible that your calorie goal is a little too low; however, it is common to lose more quickly at the very beginning of a diet. If your weight loss does not balance out to a healthy loss of 1-2 pounds per week, you could increase your calories a bit.
See Also:
Diet Types
Diet: Atkins
Diet: High Fiber
Diet: Meat Consumption
Diet: Mediterranean
Diet: TABB (Trim & Beautiful Bodies)
Diet: Vegetarian
Diet: Low Fat
Diet: Stomach Shrinkage
Diet: Zone Diet
Diet: Zone Diet & Athletes
Diet: Low Sodium
