Calorie Restriction: Health Benefits and/or Oddities
I have two main "symptoms" that reoccur with calorie restriction:
1. Cold that won't leave, I wish it weren't winter (okay, we all have this)
2. Decreased time needed for sleep
3. Inability to take naps (used to be able to lay my head down 1 hour everyday)
Is this my inner drives kicking in? My bodies cue, signaling me to start running around, searching for food?
I'm not tired, I'm not lethargic, but am slightly adjusting to not being able to sleep as long. This morning I was laying in bed, fantasizing about coffee at 4am. I finally gave in. I'm not sure if this is positive or negative.
Also, note, I recently started eating all my carbs in the afternoon and eat salads/veggies and proteins in the evening. I could imagine that would impact sleep.
Has anyone else found their need for sleep diminished?
In addition, anyone else have any interesting health benefits when calorie counting?
I feel the need to nap MORE, almost like sometimes my body just doesnt have enough caloric intake to function (i feel the need the nap between all rigorous activities, rather then snack).
I drink (booze) less, far less, the more you sweat, the more you dehydrate, the more...not so great alchahol becomes.
I need sleep less too...that's a good or bad thing depending on how much sleep you're used to getting.
we really only need 5-7 hours, but I used to need a full 8-9 to function. now my sweet spot for sleep is 5-8 hours...and its a lot easier for me to wake up. I think this is because I've stopped overeating, because all the crap I was eating was making me lethargic...
also losing weight might give you more energy too.
so do you feel like you have more energy, or like you can't sleep even though you need to?
I definitely do not sleep as much. I used to regularly take 1.5-2 hr naps in the afternoon (I teach at a college, so I had the luxury of doing this because of my nontraditional schedule). I used to have a running joke with my husband: When I would yawn, we would say, "Well, there goes two hours." Since I've lost weight, I cannot remember the last time I took a nap.
For me, this is a good thing. I don't think it was normal for me to feel so lethargic in the afternoon.
Sleep is the first thing to go for me, the first few nights I started restricting my calories I found that I was tired, and able to fall asleep soundly for a few hours after that not so much.
Have energy but sometimes too irritable to fall asleep. I take Melatonin when I feel this may be an issue and so far it has been helping.
I need less sleep too. If I try to get more than 7 hours it just doesn't work. I'll just wake up and my body is ready to go. 6 hours is usually sufficient. I used to always need 7 or 8 so I don't know if this is a big change or not, but it's certainly something I've noticed recently.
When I used to eat a lot I would usually feel sick after my meals (and yet I still did it anyway, wtf me) and I've noticed that I generally feel a lot better now that I'm eating lower-calorie. I don't feel sick and lethargic and I don't want to just sleep after a meal.
I mentioned this in another thread but I've noticed that since upping my calories that I'm not AS COLD as I was during my weight loss phase, but I'm still colder than I was a year ago. I don't know if it's me getting used to the cold weather or just the extra calories speeding up my metabolism or something.
I have all of those things happen to me! I've always been a peppy person, lol, to the annoyance of my husband... but now I have tons more energy. I used to sleep about 6-7 hours a night, now I'm at 4-5, which is in line with what I needed as a kid and what my Dad also sleeps at night... I don't feel tired in the afternoons anymore, which is a plus!
As far as the always-cold thing? I was cold before. To the point I'll be wearing 3 or 4 tanks and a t-shirt and a hoodie, lol. I have very low BP, I always have, it runs in my family... and my doc/ob attribuate my coldness to that. And I'm sure it's not helping that I'm loosing weight!
And I agree on the booze thing, I no longer drink. The calories arent worth it and I dont like how I feel or what it does to my body!
I too, am always cold. I find it interesting that sontaikle isn't *as* cold since upping calories. I'm assuming you're maintaining? I wonder if always being in a calorie deficit (losing mode) has something to do with being cold? Perhaps it's one of the ways your body "makes up" for energy that isn't there, where if you're eating at maintenance-level calories, your body has sufficient energy to keep itself warm? I have no scientific basis for this "theory", just kind of thinking out loud, lol.
I have never been a napper, but I like my sleep. 7-8 hours is typical, I can get by on 6 but I'd rather have 9--especially in winter. I do find it much easier to wake up in the morning though now that I'm thinner.
Unna, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has experienced a racing heart when drinking alcohol. I don't drink much anymore either, but when I do (I drink dos equis! lol...couldn't resist)--other than the obvious need to drink less that I did when I was heavier--I also need to drink much more slowly. I get the fast heartbeat if I drink too much, too fast.
I too, am always cold. I find it interesting that sontaikle isn't *as* cold since upping calories. I'm assuming you're maintaining? I wonder if always being in a calorie deficit (losing mode) has something to do with being cold? Perhaps it's one of the ways your body "makes up" for energy that isn't there, where if you're eating at maintenance-level calories, your body has sufficient energy to keep itself warm? I have no scientific basis for this "theory", just kind of thinking out loud, lol.
I'm trying to eat at maintenance. I think I might actually have to go a bit higher than my planned 1600-1700 calories. I was losing on 1200-1400.
When I was losing I was often so cold that I literally felt like my bones couldn't get warm.
Almost IMMEDIATELY upon upping my calories to 1600-1700, I did not feel as cold anymore. Whereas I needed socks to keep my feet warm around the house during weight loss, I'm much happier going without socks and I suddenly don't like wearing them anymore. I don't feel the need to bundle up anymore and I don't need 5 blankets (literally) when I go to sleep. I'm still colder than I was when I was 200 pounds, but I feel like some of my old self is coming back. Not in the bad way mind you, but rather the me that used to love the cold weather and run outside without a jacket. I don't know if I can forgo the jacket anymore, but I've certainly noticed that I am not chilled to the bone at least.
I always thought that the cold feeling was just me carrying around less insulation. I'm wondering if calorie restriction has a bigger role. I think you might be on to something.
so do you feel like you have more energy, or like you can't sleep even though you need to?
Yesterday I was having a SUPER long day - since I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4am, I was feeling drowsy around lunchtime. I really really wanted to take a nap, but couldn't. I was thinking about how much that sucked!
Like Lin43, I also study/teach at university. In the past, I would always "let my brain process and heal" from the new information by laying my head down and taking a nap. I can't do that anymore.
So, I like the extra energy, and at the same time, I miss the cat naps!
In addition to the increase in energy, decreased need for sleep, and biting coldness, I also find:
-I have more peace of mind and a more positive attitude, less worries
-My periods have really lightened up/ including cramps (this could also be an effect of adding more tofu into my diet).
-My bowel movements have changed in form. I know, TMI! But we are all adults here - they went from being a bit larger and firmer to being smaller/more fluid-like (I've always been regular).
The coldness is definitely an issue, but when it was at its worst, I was eating too little. I do believe that.
As others have during their diets, I've adjusted my calories as I've gone along. I find a ceiling of 1400 is good, and while I strive for 1200, I manage about 1350 daily. Sometimes a little less/a little more.
Sleep? I have had insomniatic bouts now and again. However, during the work day, if I find myself tired, I have no problem taking a 1/2 hour nap. Matter of fact, I have a portable alarm clock at work for just that reason, and even if I just close my eyes and don't sleep, the rest helps refresh me.
Isn't weight loss supposed to increase energy? Isn't exercise supposed to do the same?
Maybe the decreased need for sleep is all of the endorphins firing? I'm not a big exerciser; I'm trying to walk 3 times a week or a 1/2 hour, which is huge for me.
lol And for those of us who are mathematically/computer-inclined, there's always the symptom of number addiction. We becoming addicted to new ways of tracking our calorie totals, exercise burns and deficits translated into projected weight loss. I have not yet gone off the deep end--I just have a color-coded Excel macro tracking weeks and months--but I am currently learning how to program in a Unix environment and I suspect the days of script-run calorie-counting shall soon commence....
Calorie Restriction: Health Benefits and/or Oddities
