[KTna]

Hi all,
I am a calorie counter. I stick to around 1300-1500 calories per day, works for me.

I have been getting very dizzy and lightheaded lately when standing up, and I have experienced heart flutters fairly often in the last 2 weeks (about 4-5 in that time).
Now, the dizziness doesn't seem that odd to me as I have always had low blood pressure, though lately I am more sensitive.

So the question is, do I see a doctor about this, or is it normal?
My husband is starting to think I have a problem, and he wants me to eat more, but I really want to lose at least 20 more lbs.

[leannealise]

No questions about it...go see a doctor. It is always better to be safe than sorry and when it involves your heart, you better listen up. Take care of yourself. Keep us updated.

[aphil]

Yes...see a doctor. It could be your blood pressure, or any number of things. It may not have anything to do with your calorie intake at all though...but ask your doctor to make sure.
At a 1300-1500 calorie level, it COULD be your calorie level if you exercise a lot, and it is pretty strenuous, or for a long period of time. Make sure that you give the doctor your calorie intake level AND the amount of exercise you are doing. If you are doing 30 minutes of walking a day it isn't a problem, but if you are working out for 2 hours a day, then you need to be eating more calories-so the doc needs to know what you are doing.
It could also be your blood sugar as well...I have blood sugar issues and if I eat refined carbs or sugar without any protein I have dizziness and such as well. Make an appointment-and journal when you have these feelings for a few days. Is it right after exercise? Had you not eaten in a few hours? If you have eaten recently, what was it that you ate? The journaling will help the doctor figure out the whats and whys contributing to the problem.

[KTna]

OK, I think I will call the doc for a checkup. Haven't had one since losing the weight, so I think it would be good to go anyhow.
I was talking with my father about it, and he gets them also. He thinks it is the caffeine, for him in the coffee, but I drink as much tea. I think between that and stress, and possibly not eating enough once in a while - that might explain it.
On his recommendation I cut down to 2 cups of tea a day and haven't had the symptoms yet since then.
I thought it might be the exercise also, because I was doing 30 min cardio with occasional strength training 4x/week, plus around 4 miles walking daily and I was eating 1300ish calories a day, so I cut down on the exercise (actually since it is so hot I havent done ANY this week yet).
I get a strange feeling after exercise as well, so when I go to the doc I will ask about that, too. I get like pins and needles in my legs - like a popping sensation. Not painful, but he might be interested in that as well.

[aphil]

If you are walking 4 miles a day, plus doing another cardio/strength workout on top of that 4 nights a week...you really should be eating more than 1300 calories a day. Try easing it between 1400-1500 instead. You can actually slow your weight loss by eating too LITTLE if you are exercising a lot.