Carb Crashing and How To Deal

For those of you who have already undertaken a primal diet, you know how hard the first few days (or week) can be. If you are planning on trying a 2-week, 30-day or indefinite challenge, there are some things you should know. One of them, and the one I wish I knew about, is the 'carb crash.'

The Paleo/primal diet, by definition, is low carb. Fruits and vegetables have carbs, but nothing like the French bread or tortillas you are used to eating. Plus, these are natural carbs and your body processes them in a different way; they move through you much more quickly without all that gluten to hang on in all the wrong places.

The first day of eating primal I felt unstoppable! I could do anything, conquer the world! I kept saying "Oh, I get it now...this is why people have embraced this way of eating!" By day three, I didn't want to get out of bed. The sugar and carbs from the grains and processed foods I had recently eaten were out of my body, and I was mourning their absence. I was thinking "I will never last 30 days; has it ONLY been three?!" But with encouragement from my fellow Paleophiles, I hung in there and pushed through the crash. Once my body got used to digesting the natural carbohydrates, I had a boost of energy and my motivation was renewed. Since the end of the 'crash', I have noticed that I will periodically have a smaller dip in energy every now and then if I don't eat enough.

Tips for surviving the 'carb crash' without losing sight of why you've chosen to go primal (because let's face it; you can't avoid it. If you can't get out of it, get into it!):

1) Be prepared. If you know it's coming, it's going to be easier to get through it by telling yourself "This WILL end", and it will...I promise.

2) Drink a lot of water; like I mean, a lot! Being well hydrated ups your energy and keeps hormone levels stable, which helps your blood sugar normalize. You should always drink a lot of water of course, but when you feel like you can't lift the bottle to your lips, it's much harder to do. Power through.

3) Stay in bed. If you don't have energy and you feel like reading a book or watching TV, do it! In a few days you will have an abundance of energy, so save your output for a time when you have some to give.

4) Don't give up! This is a phase, so keep your eating clean and regular. Don't eat a sandwich because you need a 'boost.' I swear, when your body adjusts, Paleo will be all the boost you need. "You only think you need it until you don't eat it!"

5) Don't fast during this time, even on accident. Make sure you're eating every few hours. This will also help blood sugar stabilize and will minimize the energy drain. The natural sugars in watermelon are a quick pick-me-up, and hey, you're getting your water as well.

Good luck, and remember: if you ever need encouragement, I'm always here!