NOTE: I have revised AGAIN how I make lather---most recent update is 8 Mar 2015. Now I find I use the damp-brush method exclusively now: wet the brush well, give it a shake or two (and experiment with practice lathers to see how much/little water to leave in the brush) and start brushing the soap briskly and firmly.

I have found that Barrister & Mann, Dapper Dragon, Green Mountain, Mike's Natural, and Stirling Soap Company lather better (for me) if I start with a brush add small amounts of water while loading the brush to get a good lather, though others have no trouble doing what they usually do.

Experiment with adding small amounts of water and not and see which works better for you. (And, of course, when you build the lather on your beard, you can add small amounts of water to the brush and work it into the lather if the lather seems too dry.)

Here's how I made lather. If you have a boar or horsehair brush, wet the knot thoroughly under the hot-water tap and let the brush stand, dripping wet, on its base while you shower. That serves to soak and soften the knot. Then:

For soap and harder shaving creams: Wet brush fully---sopping, dripping wet---and then shake it 2-3 times to remove most of the water. You can hold the tub of soap over the sink on its side in case of spills, but if you've shaken just right the brush will still contain water but not so much as will spill away. (Practice lathers can help you discover the right shake.) Brush the soap briskly and firmly (enough so that the bristles splay somewhat) until the bubbles being formed are microscopic, at which point the brush is fully loaded.

Brush the soap until the bubbles being formed are microscopic---creamy rather than foamy---then bring the brush to your (wet, washed) beard and work the lather up and into the stubble, taking your time. If the lather seems a little dry or a little stiff (too much soap), then run a driblet of water into the center of the brush and work that into the lather on your face. I've never had lather that's too wet with this technique, but sometimes I do need to add a little water.

Loading the brush fully, for a three-pass shave, takes me about ten seconds, as shown in this video, but you may at first have to load for perhaps 15-25 seconds.

Do several to practice. Try loading for shorter and longer times. Try adding little driblets of water, working it into the lather, little by little, until you can tell the lather's too wet. I.e., play around with it to get experience and try things out. (Since making good lather is a matter of experience, get as much experience as quickly as you can.)

I've found that the "microscopic bubble" indicator is the most reliable sign that the brush is fully loaded.

If the lather's still bad, suspect hard water and test water hardness by doing a distilled water shave: if the lather's noticeably better with the demineralized water, your water's hard.

One remedy: run the sink half-full of hot water (or cold water, if you like a cold-water shave). Dissolve a pinch or two of citric acid in it---not much. Use that water for the pre-shave beard wash, the lather, and rinsing the razor and splashing water on your face at the end of each pass. Do the final rinse with tap water. Use the lather from a distilled-water shave to define the baseline quality of lather you are going for.

You can get a small container of pure citric acid on-line (here, for example), but it's also available in healthfood stores (it's used as a salt substitute and also to prevent mold when growing sprouts) and where canning or brewing supplies are sold.

Read this post and this post to see the difference it made in two instances.

For soft shaving creams: If it's a firm, hard cream (like Figaro, for example, or Tabula Rasa, or Coate's Limited Edition or Dr. Selby's 3x Concentrated Shaving Cream), make lather as if for a soap, as described above. If it's a relatively soft cream (AlsShaving.com shaving cream, TOBS Avocado, Castle Forbes, or the like): wet brush well, shake it a couple of times, and twirl the tips in the tub. (If the cream's in a tube, squeeze out a little and put it on the brush or smear it on your wet beard on your cheeks.)

Then use the brush to spread the cream over your entire beard, so that your beard is coated with a thin layer of almost pure shaving cream. Run a driblet of water into the center of the brush, and brush your beard to work the water into the shaving cream. Repeat as needed until you get the lather where you want it.

Again, play around: keep adding little bits of water until the lather's too wet, testing it perhaps along the way between thumb and forefinger to see how slick it is. Slickness will increase, and then when the lather's too wet, slickness will fall off sharply.

The more you play around with test lathers, the faster you learn to make good lather.

1 - realize that this diet means serious business when we say drop the fucking carbs. Make it a rule to stay under 20 a day, and then you can gradually work your way up after being in ketosis for awhile. This is where ketostix do come in handy, if say you cheat one day and have 30g of carbs, but aren't sure if it knocked you out or not (otherwise you don't "need" them - if you're eliminating carbs you're in ketosis)

2 - eat fats to satiety, no magic number

3 - proteins are the next "goldilocks" number - too much and it'll turn into carbs, too little and you won't maintain muscle (if you're trying to tone up at all). The keto calculators should definitively answer the specifics here for your body weight.

4 - I highly recommend some form of electrolyte/vitamin supplementation. This should be a mandatory sticky - if you are avoiding most of the bad fruits (because they're bags of sugar and carbs for the most part) and eating real/good/clean food, you'll be getting way less salt than the average processed food consuming American. I recommend these - http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S this is way more economical as opposed to Powerade Zero. If you feel like crap and are getting cramps, you need to replenish them electrolytes (especially if exercising). Another good way to up the salt intake I've read a lot of folks here do is simply to drink a few tablespoons of beef broth a day (plus other good minerals in there).

5 - my personal rule I'll share to help, as it helped me the most - No cheat meals by myself, period. Resist the temptation to pull over and get fast food now because you're "soooo hungry". This frees me up to have the occasional dinner out / dinner date and not be guilty about it. Life happens, you will want to enjoy yourself, and you should, if you've been strict and honest with yourself about no cheat meals on your own.

6 - I hope you like avocado, bacon, and spinach. Those are my 3 staples I eat pretty much every day, despite them getting very boring, I really love eating them all together still. Avocado is very important because of the fat content + fiber, and so is spinach/broccoli. Keto is cutting out bread entirely, so you have to get your fiber from healthy vegetables, or you'll notice you'll be in constipationland, population you, very quick.

Keep calm and keto on.

Not exactly related, but some tips I've found helpful:

Feeling Dehydrated? These do the trick! I drink at least one packet a day and it works wonders.

Constipated? Spoonfuls of flaxseed or chia seeds help (they're low calorie and have only fiber & good fats). Psyllium Husk Powder is also pretty effective. Having trouble washing it down? I mix 2tbsp of powder with 3-4tbsps of heavy cream, dash of cinnamon, maybe some splenda and its like eating oatmeal.

Don't notice any progress? Keep calm and keto on. Have faith, log your food in MFP, and take progress pics. You look at yourself in the mirror everyday. Sometimes, its hard to see the progress. Sometimes, it doesn't show on the scale. But, damnit, this diet works. Stay under 20g of carbs and run a daily calorie deficit and youre bound to lose some weight.

Lastly, enjoy the improved energy and focus after your body adapts. It' wonderful and probably my favorite part of keto. If you feel off, you're probably just dehydrated.

Best of luck!

I'm like you- always hypotensive, former college athlete, low resting HR- and I'll go horizontal every so often in freak circumstances like you did. Got the workup, all they found was a 1st degree AV block that probably was not the culprit. But! While the cardiologist said she couldn't point the finger at anything specific, she suggested that I may have a propensity towards low electrolyte levels and should try to avoid drinking pure water when I feel wonky and shoot for Gatorade or something similar instead. Now I put half a packet of this lovely shit in my water bottle before my shift and it works like a charm. Even cuts back on motion sickness in the rig. Give it a shot, I heartily recommend it.

I use 1 tbs powder and 7 tbs water. There is a guide on here somewhere that describes how to. If I understand correctly, the glycerin just adds thickness to the solution. I'm acne prone so I just use water.

This is the powder I got: http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Powder-L-Ascorbic-GMO-Quali-C/dp/B00GLX3C4G

It dissolves completely in seconds.

Links to the products in the pictures:

Better Than Bouillon
The chicken flavor (2g carb/serving & sodium 29% DV) is my favorite, but they have other flavors too (the vegetable base only has 1g carb/serving).
Sometimes I add Sriracha (1g carb/tsp), garlic powder (2g carb/tsp) or a tablespoon of tomato paste (2g net carbs/Tbsp).

Nu-Salt
(potassium 15% DV/serving) I can usually find it at the grocery store for less than $3, and there's about 90 servings per can. I've tried some of the other potassium based salt substitutes and this one tastes the least like chemicals (it still doesn't taste good, but the benefits outweigh the flavor).

Magnesium Carbonate
(1/4 tsp = magnesium 84% DV) There are a few different forms of edible magnesium salt. This type is hard to find in it's food-grade form, but it has the least offensive flavor IMO. Bonus; this form of magnesium is also used as gym chalk, so you can use any extra to dust your hands if you take up climbing ;)

Emergen-C Electro Mix
This is one of the few electrolyte mixes that doesn't have carbs, but does have a decent amount of potassium (most have potassium <3% DV, this one has potassium 12% DV). Bonus; it also contains calcium, manganese and chromium.

I found that I needed to make a bowl of salty broth about once or twice a day when I was starting out with the keto diet (to help with digestion, occasional muscle cramping, slight nausea, the habit of eating larger volumes of food, etc.). A few months into it I had throttled down my salt supplementation to about a two times a week. Of course, everyone's body and experience is different, so you should do what feels right for you.

get this : http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S

The first time I tried keto I couldn't stick with it due to the constant muscle cramps but with just 1/2 a packet of day of this stuff I have yet to have a single one. For $6 you can't go wrong.

For me, i drink 1 packet of electro mix with some mio in the morning (mixed with 1L of water) and then i make another one right before my workout and drink that during and after my workout in the evening(after work). I believe working out drains electrolytes even faster on an active lifestyle, so i guess a steady state of electrolyte intake throughout the day does the trick. I haven't gotten any electrolyte deficiency symptoms( at least so far), but I know I'm not getting enough sodium in my diet(5k mg is a monster amount imo)

I've done keto and working out before AND totally ignored electrolytes so I know the bane of that deficiency, which I wish upon nobody.

I buy Emergen-C Electrolyte Mix.

This is as cheap as I can find it on Amazon, and it says 100% pure. I've never used it, so I'll leave the judgement to you. I've never seen it sold pre-mixed in PG at any of the usual DIY vendors (ecigxpress, Wizard, High Desert, RTS, One Stop, Nude, Bull City).

speaking of potassium (and other electrolyte) supplements, I highly recommend this stuff. been buying it ever since starting keto. Helps me drink a lot more water!

http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S

jarrow, thorne, source naturals are all very good. NOW is decent. I try other brands on occasion based on amazon reviews and my own research of ingredients.

your vitamin c should be food-based, not ascorbic acid. good vitamin c isn't cheap, but it's worth it. ascorbic acid is nasty stuff.

I like https://smile.amazon.com/Synergy-Radiance-Wholefood-Vegetable-Company/dp/B008HFOLXW/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499146191&sr=8-3&keywords=vitamin+c+food+based

and

https://smile.amazon.com/Jarrow-Formulas-B-right-Supports-Cardiovascular/dp/B0016003Z0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499146227&sr=8-1&keywords=b+right

I use these to get electrolytes - they make me feel a lot better on days when I'm just terribly thirsty and can't seem to drink enough water. No carbs or calories!

I'm not sure about bouillon, but I do like Emergen-C Electro Mix. Flavors not bad. Also has no carbs. Mixes really quick if your in a hurry.

I got mine offline... if you get it at a store you MUST be sure it is 100% pure with no fillers or anything else. I bought this one off Amazon, but if you can’t buy it there, be so so so sure that if you buy pure vitamin C in a store there’s nothing else in it or else you risk overdosing on whatever the filler or additives are. Follow up on the brand you buy in store, and don’t trust the sales clerk 100%. Hopefully though, you can just buy the one I linked you because that’s the one.

alright here goes my exhaustive list of stuff that goes into my preworkout! i love to research the stuff that works, and then experiment to see how effectively they work for me, especially on keto.

1. 1 scoop of pre jym from bodybuilding.com - just because i don't want to add all those ingredients (good compared to most) on my own and it tastes pretty good (raspberry lemonade). it does, however, have 4g carbs per scoop - https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/jym/pre-jym.html
   
   
   
2. 1/2 scoop of optimum nutrition hydrowhey protein powder (about 15g protein) - fast digesting preworkout protein seems more logical than just bcaas. keeps me satiated during my workout and seems to boost recovery times because i have the full gamut of proper amino acids in my bloodstream as exercise-induced insulin rises. turbo chocolate and chocolate peanut butter are my favorites. vanilla surprisingly sucks and gets very foamy - https://www.bodybuilding.com/store/opt/platinum_hydrowhey.html
   
   
   
3. 1 tsp curcumin powder from bulk supplements - expensive but 1kg lasts a long time - go to examine.com to see the dozens of benefits it has across the board. i use this to help alleviate my disc issues, but it feels great for workouts because it reduces inflammation everywhere, especially joints. you can get pills instead, but they're not as cost effective and i like to blend it into my shakes. MAKE SURE YOU PAIR IT WITH BIOPERINE (already in pre jym but super cheap anyway) OR GET THE BIO AVAILABLE TYPES. otherwise, only your gut will get the benefits -
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GHY364A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
4. 1 digestive enzyme pill - research has shown that such enzymes not only help with what you'd expect, digestion, but also boost muscle synthesis, immune system, reduce soreness, etc. - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RH5K26I/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
   
5. 1 tbsp extra citrulline malate - because 1 scoop of pre-jym doesn't have the clinical dose of around 8g. research has shown that it reduces soreness and speeds up muscle repair. i believe it helps performance as well - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EYDJU50/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
6. EDIT: 1/2 tsp (not 2 tsp) extra beta alanine - because 1 scoop of pre-jym doesn't have enough. this stuff kinda acts like creatine, boosting the number of reps you can do. especially helpful on my high rep/speed days. great for crossfit types of workouts if you're into those. i like the tingly feeling as well - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EIO4I8E/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
7. 1/2 tsp potassium citrate - i take electrolytes before and during my workouts -
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ENSA93S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
8. 1/16 tsp magnesium glycinate - one of the most bioavailable forms of mg and doesn't mess up your digestion -
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F7OZJR8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
9. 1/2 tsp calcium citrate - Ca and Mg go well together in the body. also, multivitamins rarely hit the RDA for calcium -
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F8I5XPG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
   
   
   
10. 1/2 tsp pink salt - sodium! need lots of it because i sweat a lot - https://www.samsclub.com/sams/himalayan-pink-salt-5-lb-fine-grain/prod20131268.ip
    
    
    
11. 1/4 tsp vitamin c - i take a lot of vit C to help with disc healing. collagen synthesis requires vit C. of course, great anti-oxidant, great for skin, etc. -
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYIM9Y8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    
    
    
12. 1/2 tsp ALCAR - i supplement this mostly for the nootropic effect (boosts the brain and concentration), but it supposedly helps with fat breakdown and energy a little bit. i feel razor sharp concentrated during my workouts with this. also, it's just plain old good for the brain. -
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E7H96DY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
    
    
    
13. 200 mg L-theanine - smooths out the jittery feeling from caffeine to provide more stable energy. also good before bed to get higher quality of sleep. -
    https://www.amazon.com/BulkSupplements-Pure-L-Theanine-Powder-grams/dp/B00E7GESLA/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492089341&sr=8-1&keywords=bulk%2Bl-theanine&th=1
    
    
    
14. 100mg pill RALA - good for the nervous system and energy - https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Stabilized-R-Lipoic-BioEnhanced/dp/B000I4C19G/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492089382&sr=8-1&keywords=doctor%27s+best+rala
    
    
    
15. 200mg coq10 - good for the heart, boosts energy a bit - https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Bioperine-Supplement/dp/B00HRGN36S/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492089466&sr=8-2&keywords=doctor%27s%2Bbest%2Bcoenzyme%2Bq10&th=1
    
    
    
16. 320mg saw palmetto extract pill - good for men's prostate health, keeps good testosterone high (instead of DHT), and for me, prevents the hairloss that creatine (i think) has induced. not just bs bro science, go to examine.com for research. i personally have regrown a lot of hair by taking 2-3 three of these a day for the last three months! - https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Palmetto-Softgels-Count/dp/B006RQ6TAG/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492092375&sr=8-1&keywords=doctor%27s+best+saw+palmetto
    
    
    
17. 1 tbsp psyllium husk powder - keeps my digestion on track, prevents the indigestion i tend to get from MCT oil - https://www.amazon.com/Bulksupplements-Pure-Psyllium-Powder-grams/dp/B0100QRXOO/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1492092483&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=psyllium%2Bhusk%2Bpowder&th=1
    
    
    
18. 10g MCT oil - i either use brain octane or miCkey T Eight because they are pure C-8 caprylic acid instead of blends of the crappier acids. definitely boosts energy during long workouts. careful, it tends to mess with your stomach if you don't ease into it. if you're good with coconut oil, you're probably good with this. - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RUCHISS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    
    
    
19. 100mg hyaluronic acid - helps with joints and skin. i have noticed my knee and elbow pain going away while taking this. skin complexion also improved. - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00663G8WO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    
    
    currently experimenting with:
    
    
    
20. clear muscle - i usually supplement HMB, but this is the newer liquid variant. its pricey, and i haven't noticed anything bad about it, but it's hard to say if it's working better than the much cheaper powdered HMB. studies are probably very biased, so i can't really trust them - https://www.amazon.com/MuscleTech-Advanced-Strength-Building-Capsules/dp/B00JQ3WXS4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492094034&sr=8-1&keywords=clear+muscle
    
    
    
21. phospha muscle - phosphatidic acid has shown some promise in studies, but again, probably biased research. also cannot tell yet, but i have seen some decent strength gains pairing this with clear muscle. we'll see! - https://www.amazon.com/MuscleTech-Phospha-Clinically-Phosphatidic-SoftGels/dp/B00UVAG1PM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1492094155&sr=8-1&keywords=phospha+muscle
    
    
    phew! making this list made me realize how much time and effort i put into the trial and error of my preworkout. of course, i supplement a lot of this stuff with my other meals as well. as you can see, i'm very big on supplements, biohacking, and nootropics. i read up a lot on research in my spare time.

I'm not saying you're going to have the same results, but here's my story.

I recently saw my nutritionist after 61 days of keto. I brought my bloodwork which had been taken the day before. Everything except my LDL cholesterol was fantastic. I mean perfect. Great kidney function, great liver function. Really good HDL. My LDL was 163, but I've always had elevated cholesterol (even when I was a vegetarian).

Now - I work out 45 - 60 mins a day, 4 days a week so part of this might be from just plain good livin', but I've lost a solid ten pounds during my time with keto. I had stalled out (I've lost about 60 lbs in the past 2 years), and keto was the ticket to get things going again. I'm getting close to my goal weight, so 10 lbs of weight loss in 2 months is a really big deal for me.

I've had exactly one day where I ate more than about 50 grams of carbs. Every other day of the past 60-ish has been pure keto. I have not suffered from the dreaded hangover. Some pointers:

• ElectroMix is your best friend. Drink that with 25 oz of water when you get up in the morning, every single morning.
  
  
• Shoot for 125 oz of water per day. Minimum. MIN. I. MUM.
  
  
• Take a b-complex vitamin and a few potassium pills in addition to the ElectroMix in the morning.
  
  
• At night, right before bed, take a calcium/magnesium pill. Don't take the magnesium in the morning or with food or it'll clean you out. This is the dreaded "keto fart effect".
  
  
• An avocado a day keeps the cravings away. Eat one after lunch / before dinner. Perfect snack. A lil' salt and pepper and you're good to go.
  
  
• Add cheese to everything. Making eggs? Add cheese. HEY - tuna salad? Throw some cheese on that bitch. Eating your avocado? Add that cheese, son! Cheese is your god now.
  
  
• If you're in the good ole U-S-of-A, remember that you're usually looking at total carb counts on labels, not net carbs. Keto is concerned with net carbs.
  
  
• Need a boost? Try Spark Energy from Advocare. It has some carbs, but not the sugar and other stuff that's really bad for you. I cut a few carbs from my day to make room for this when I have a really hard workout. Yes it's a bit pricey.
  
  
• Miss your macros for a day? Don't sweat it. Try and stay close, but don't freak out if you're missing your macro by a gram or ten.
  
  
• A month or two of keto won't kill you no matter what your nutritionist/mother/priest/parole officer might tell you. Just get started and you'll see the difference pretty quickly.
  
  Anyway - just my story. YMMV.
  
  Good luck!

I order my groceries through FreshDirect so technically I get 90% of my stuff online :).

That being said...the stuff I get outside of that site are:

1. Japanese Mayo to make the spicy mayo that you get at sushi restaurants (just mix in Siracha).
   
   
2. Emergen-C Electro Mix for my electrolytes kick.
   
   
3. Erythritol cause....sugar.
   
   
4. Stevia for a different sweetener used in mostly drinks/liquids where it's more difficult to dissolve the Erythritol.
   
   
5. [Liquid Smoke] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0005Z8NCM/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
   
   
6. BACON JERKY!
   
   
7. Maple flavor
   
   
8. Awesome awesome peanut butter
   
   
9. Kerrygold unsalted butter. My grocery store doesn't carry it :(
   
   
10. Vitamins from various places...Vitamin D-3, Magnesium, Daily Multi-vitamin, Cod Fish Oil, etc.
    
    EDIT: Formatting.

Saw this linked here the other day.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S

Morton's Lite Salt is straight-up the cheapest, though least tasty way to get both sodium AND potassium, and you probably need both. For palatability you can add Mio or Stur or a similar flavor enhancer.

Electro-Mix is an excellent option if you need potassium in particular. It's reasonably tasty for a no-sugar option. (I strongly recommend staying away from sugary things like gatorade and powerade, as advised by Chase.)

Another option is LyteShow, though it is a much pricier option than the other two. Na/K balance is pretty good though, and it is a good option if you just want to be able to add "x drops to x amount of water" without too much thinking.

I would look into a magnesium supplement as well--malate, taurate, citrate.

The FAQ here has guidelines of:

• 5000 mg of sodium chloride
  
• 1000 mg of potassium, in the form of potassium chloride or potassium sulfate
  
• 300 mg of magnesium
  
  Personally I get a quick sodium fix every day by having a lunch at work that is just a cup of broth made with 2 bouillon cubes (almost 2g sodium right there) and topped off with heavy cream.
  
  Electro Mix is a great and cheap way to get electrolytes.
  
  

I like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1394485841&sr=1-1&keywords=emergen-c+electro+mix

Why is no one telling him about his electrolytes?

When I started to follow protocols from /r/ketogains and /r/bodyweightfitness and /r/c25k and such, Keto did not pose an issue in terms of strength or energy; the problem was my electrolytes!

If you exercise very hard, you may experience what I did: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyponatremia

Basically, it feels like you are going to die. You throw up over and over and cannot stop, and it just feels like death is upon you lol. I drank more water thinking it was dehydration, but this actually exacerbated the effect by washing out even more electrolytes from my system.

If you are using Magnesium Citrate, NoSalt, and Chicken Broth to supplement your Magnesium, Potassium, and Sodium already (to prevent keto flu, for instance) then you are already good to go. If not, you will need something like this: Emergen-C Electro Mix ( http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S ) or just Powerade Zero (no sugar drinks of course!)

Do not underestimate the nightmare hat is hyponatremia when it comes to a fully Ketogenic diet (which is often slightly deficient in Sodium, Potassium, and/or Magnesium)!!!

Edit: other accounts http://www.reddit.com/r/keto/comments/1tbml4/dont_be_like_me_get_your_electrolytes/

We take a packet of emergen-c immune booster each day starting about a week before our festivals, each morning during, and each day afterwards for about a week (they come in different flavors if you're not a fan of orange). Personally I've found this helps prevent catching any cold or other sickness that will definitely be floating around the festival, especially since my husband always has a goal of getting as many high fives as possible!

Think about it, even those not on drugs will be sweating their asses off; there will always be someone who throws up on the ground, and you'll be using public restrooms: your immune system will thank you for the boost!

I got severely sick one time, for a week after EDC Orlando I couldn't move out of my bed and couldn't keep anything in my stomach. No fun. I definitely stand by the Emergen-C's.

Of course, I'll beat the dead horse with drink lots of water, have some Gatorade or pedialite in your hotel room, or something to replenish the electrolytes. I've read some people like Nuun (sp?) tablets to put in their camel backs if you can get them in.

Have fun, and remember your safety is #1! <3

Well, the main side effects I have experienced are:

• Minor auditory and visual hallucinations when weaning up (but they go away after a few weeks and aren't hard to deal with)
  
  
• Dehydration: Get some gatorade mix. I use electro-mix drinking two-3 nalgenes with a packet or two in each one; if I don't, my lips get super parched, and my eczema breaks out by my elbows.
  
  
• Frustration: Not anger. Initially (when weaning up) when I can't do something, it pulls on me in a weird way that's hard to explain. Kinda motivates me to do more though, which is actually nice.
  
  Those are the main three, I have some older posts and journals written about this, but if nothing else, the side effects disappear over time (minus the dehydration part, that is still with me two years in). It takes a long time for that (many months if not a year or two) but as of right now, I don't even really think about "being sober" anymore - this is my new sober. It will cause a little bit of a shift in personality, and my friends/family have commented on that before, but...such is life. We change as people over time anyways; this is just a thing to accept.
  
  Good luck! Hopefully it controls your seizures!

Thank you so much!! It definitely was still a struggle but I had tried and failed many times in the past and this time when I discovered Vitamin C usages for opiate withdrawal, the difference for me (compared to my previous attempts without it) was truly a night and day difference. This is the one that I used: https://www.amazon.com/Thompson-Ascorbic-Antioxidant-Supplement-Excipients/dp/B000WUCMGS/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=vitamin+c+powder&qid=1562011964&s=gateway&sprefix=Vitamin+c+powder&sr=8-3 I had tried Vitamin C tablets and chewables but they really didn't work. The high dose powder is absolutely the way to go. And I jumped off completely at 2mg.

First 90 days:

• 8 of these (100 milligrams iodine/iodide): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CYVLFG
  
  
• 12 of these (nutrient support): https://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research-Nutrients-Soy-Free-Detoxification/dp/B000VYZCTY
  
  
• Salt pushing for the first week (1/2 teaspoon as needed; use distilled or fluoride-/chlorine-free water): https://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Sea-Salt-Ground-Ounce/dp/B009NT3JD4
  
  First 90 days (maybe):
  
  
• May need extra vitamin C (if iodine still not being absorbed; 2-5 of these): https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Vitamin-Sustained-Release-Tablets/dp/B0013P1GD6
  
  
• ATP cofactors (may or may not be needed; buy if still experiencing low energy after the first week): https://www.amazon.com/Optimox-Cofactors-Production-Vitamins-Magnesium/dp/B002D9DFQ2
  
  Maintenance:
  
  
• 1 (up to 4) of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074CYVLFG
  
  
• A good multivitamin like AOR Ortho-Core, Life Extension Mix (+ Once-Daily Health Booster), Thorne 2/day, or Life Extension Two-per-day
  
  
• A good omega-3 supplement like Doctor's Best Real Krill Enhanced (500 mg+ krill, more DHA than EPA, at least 500 mg DHA): https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Enhanced-SUPERBA-Softgels/dp/B003XA2IGS
  
  
• If necessary, add extra selenium (Selenomethionine) to ensure at least 200 mcg is taken each day: https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Selenium-200-VCaps/dp/B00SJKPBNY
  
  Extras/Tips:
  
  
• Use magnesium oil spray as a deodorant (2-3 sprays under each arm): https://www.amazon.com/Life-flo-Pure-Magnesium-Oil-Ounce/dp/B004NHN9OA
  
  
• Use something like Uncle Harry's Natural Toothpaste to keep teeth clean: https://www.amazon.com/Uncle-Harrys-Fluoride-Free-Toothpaste/dp/B003CTU27W
  
  
• Maybe you'll like Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap: https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Pure-Castile-Liquid-Soap/dp/B00120VWJ0
  
  
• Use MSM lotion + castor oil (if you generally apply lotion): https://www.amazon.com/NWC-Naturals-Ultra-Extra-Healing-Lotion/dp/B004RC9KH6

I use this: Emergen-C ElectroMix Electrolyte Replacement (Natural Lemon-Lime Flavor, 30-Count 0.14 oz. Packets) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_kxRzCbE8DS711

Plz do so you can tell me if it works for you! I also did some research and emergency-c even has packets for hydration which probably works better than the ones you’d use when you’re sick.


https://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Hydration-RASPBERRY-Electrolyte-Replenishment/dp/B06XNRCG2T


The only benefit of the ones you’d use when sick is that they have a good amount of vitamin C which may help get better sleep.

I’m the same way. You might be low on electrolytes. A nutritionist once told me that electrolytes help your body absorb the water. There’s a product called, “Electromix” that works really well. One box will last you months. Sugar free. You can get it on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-ElectroMix-Electrolyte-Replacement-Lemon-Lime/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=electromix+lemon+lime+30+packets&qid=1573468666&sprefix=electromix&sr=8-3

Terrasoul Superfoods Amla (Amalaki) Berry Powder (Organic), 1 Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071CT2BLC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_n1QUAbPRWW98X

I got mine from here the bag zipper really sucks. I’ve been eating a teaspoon a day and it’s been nice. Can’t really compare it to anything else. Haven’t seen it at Whole Foods maybe I’m just looking in the wrong section

yeah the flame kind of ruins everything. anyways what you should have done was make some tea. crush it all up or in your case take the powder add it to a pot with water. I use 100% pure citric acid but you can use 100% pure lemon juice. put a little bit of that in with your mix. Now slowly turn the heat up. continuously stir it. you only want the water to have a couple bubble ups every now. To much heat and again you will ruin the psilocybin. so take it slow. let it go for about 20min. Before you start the process you can take a MAOI e.g: syrian rue. However, Read up on MAOI before taking them and what they do. They could mess with other medications and food.

If it were me (and that is all I can comment on as I don't dispense any advice) I would most likely use lope.

I'd start the night before going CT with 5 pills (2mg each) it takes a bit to get into the system and this jump starts it.

Then I'd go 5 pills (twice per day) on day one. And then 4 pills (twice per day on day two). And go down a pill per dose per day accordingly.

I would not use it more than 5 days. There is no need. Most people with shortish habits wake up on day 5 feeling MUCH better. But even a person with a longer habit really need not use it longer than 5 days.

The other supplements I'd recommend are a GOOD multi with minerals (like the senior ones) and maybe even supplemental vitamin C with rose hips (the rose helps absorption) or maybe this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Bronson-Vitamin-Premium-Non-GMO-Ascorbic/dp/B0006ZNFT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478780712&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=vitamin%2BC&th=1

Then to top it all off I'd use a few adaptogenic herbs to help repair the HPA axis. Ashawagandha at night and rhodiola in the morning. The other good morning supplement is L-tyrosine……and of course eat super clean too.

You may have a really sketchy appetite for awhile. Make sure to get nutrition anyway. Easy foods loaded with nutrients are best. Such as scrambled eggs, orange juice and other fruit juice, greek yogurt, bananas, peanut butter, whole wheat bread or pasta.

The key is it has to sound appealing or you won't eat it. Clearly there may be "cleaner foods" out there, but appetites are funny at first, so go with what you WILL eat.

Drink lots of water. Make yourself MOVE even though you don't want to. Do not allow yourself toy sit at home staring at the computer screen (you will be tempted to because kratom seems to affect people like this).

Get outside and WALK or ride your bike…..try and create a new schedule for yourself. Think about the things that caused your addiction. Were you attempting to avoid something? figure out how to address it.

If you need help sleeping then use valerian, melatonin or passionflower (or even a mix of these). The passionflower is good for any anxiety. Kava is also good for anxiety. Just use these WHEN NEEDED and especially don't abuse the kava. I live in a legal state and used MJ with very good effects.

Don't go ballistic with yourself though. Be gentle and loving. Do not berate yourself for getting to this point…….we all get lost on occasion and this doesn't make us bad people. Indeed we are GOOD people.

And we can turn anything around for the better……no matter how hopeless we feel, that is a complete mirage. Don't fall for it.

Come here often. Report your progress in the daily updates thread…..make friends with a few people. Most of us were "closet users" and having company on this journey can really be helpful.

Drug addiction is often fueled by feeling alone in this world…. maybe think a little about that (if it fits anyway). We deserve to be happy and to be thriving……life is to be lived. And not in a comatose kratomized way……finally :

YOU ARE MUCH STRONGER THAN YOU KNOW……GOOD LUCK !

I'm a big fan of ElectroMix. I have one packet a day.

I should say, I'm not an expert, I've just done a ton of research with my own interests in mind.

Re IPL, the jury is actually out on that. I was disappointed to find that out! The results aren't as cut and dried as I had hoped they would be. If you have fair skin (which you might if you have broken blood vessels), you risk negative outcomes such as burns.


I have those little capillaries, so I'm trying other things before being willing to test IPL, and when I do test it, I will start first with one on my thigh before risking my face.


HOWEVER, here is what I'm trying right now, and am measuring the results:

• Horse Chestnut
  
  
• Pine Bark Extract
  
  
• Rutin
  
  
• Black Currant Seed Oil
  
  I started this protocol about a week ago and will keep at it for about six months, and I'm tracking my results. So I'll post here if I see any progress! :)
  
  Oh, and about the skin thinning: I'm not sure of the mechanism, but I recall something about the result of the way the body treats the skin in the area once the muscles atrophy. So perhaps if the muscles aren't being used...? I don't want to speculate, and I can't remember the precise cause of the thinning, sorry to say.
  
  EDIT: One thing I do remember is that if you have started while young and want to stop, unless you've gotten to the stage where the muscles have atrophied OR had a reaction, your face just returns to as it was. So if you started without really needing it, you can always take a break. Often, having it will train you not to move your forehead as much, which means you can go without and still get results.

I take extra electrolytes with on a ketogenic diet, I use Emergen-C or however it’s spelt. Little green packets, don’t taste great but always felt they worked well. Ordered them from amazon.

Edit: Linky link

Here is your solution.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00

However, it doesn't contain sodium, so I throw in a few fast food salt packets.

Be careful if you're getting sick, and as others have said, make sure you always have insulin on board. The risk is increased because you're consistently producing ketones and imbalances in BS+ketones will lead to DKA. So you have to be even more vigilant about BS & insulin levels, but that turns out to be a lot easier when you're not eating carbs. :)

I've been doing keto pretty frequently for several months now, only taking a few days off over the course of it, and I feel amazing. I probably average 40-60 carbs a day and don't seem to exit keto at those levels.

/r/keto is a good resource as well. I've found that magnesium/potassium/sodium levels are really important for me, so I drink sugar-free Emergenc Electrolyte Mix frequently (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/).

Emergen-C ElectroMix Electrolyte Replacement Natural Lemon-Lime Flavor

I started with a long braid that I would fold back up my head and then back-and-forth a few times. I found this was sometimes challenging to get all organized into my cap (and I have become lazy and I just got tired of braiding it). So I started doing a loose bun. I use the pinless technique from this YouTuber:

https://youtu.be/gVkg9TJDrL4

(I’m not a big hair-do kinda gal so this, braids and down are about all it do in life.)

Also she has an excellent swim cap one using the Speedo long hair cap:

https://youtu.be/czj4DOl6UO4

I find it’s very hit or miss how wet my hair gets. Sometimes bone dry and other times not so much. Granted, I’m a bit impatient and not nearly as meticulous as she is in her video. 🤷‍♀️

Also, fwiw, I rinse my hair with dilute sodium ascorbate (vit C) after each swim to help get rid of any chlorine. Like a teaspoon or 2 mixed in a big cup of water.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MGSHGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_trDxDbYBH4XMX

Hope that helps!

I bought this stuff

I usually mix it with water flavoring stuff since the lemon-lime flavor isn't very strong. I dig it!

Even with broth and Powerade Zero, you may not be getting enough potassium and magnesium. Powerade Zero has piddly amounts of potassium (1% per serving) and I'm not even seeing magnesium on the nutrition label.

Get some lite salt (or half salt) and use it liberally. This will increase how much sodium and potassium you're getting. And try Electro Mix for more potassium and 30% of your daily magnesium. You can also eat nuts and/or take a supplement.

I went through this phase as well and what helped me was to eat COLD fats. Eat a salad slathered in fatty dressing, tuna salad smothered in mayo, shredded chicken dipped in ranch dressing, etc. It helped me a LOT, as did upping my magnesium and potassium.

And don't force fat down your throat. If all you can handle is lean meat, eat that. If you hit your protein goal and eat under your carb limit, you're good to go.

I'll just leave this here.

You may need more electrolytes. You're probably sweating a lot and plain water sometimes needs a boost!

Pick up some electrolyte packets. I like ElectoMix by EmergenC. I keep a couple in my purse and my yoga bag. All you need is a cup or bottle of water to mix the powder in and you're ready to go!

Nuun makes electrolyte tablets. They reforms latex their product a year or two ago and it tastes pretty good. Same with the ElectoMix, just mix it with water and you're set.

ElectoMix

https://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S

Nuun

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Nuun-Active-Hydrating-Electrolyte/dp/B001QW1L72/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1468125794&sr=1-1&keywords=nuun

This bad boy! So the red/orange container is gelatin you can make into jello and the green one is gelatin that won't gel and you can put into your coffee. But what really helps me is using the red/orange container gelatin to make jello with Powerade Zero or I'll use water that's been mixed with Emergen-C Electro Mix and sugar-free syrup for flavor.

From my research stay away from Knox gelatin (yucky taste) and Sugarfree Jello (only has a minute quantity of actual gelatin).

When making jello with this gelatin use these instructions (taken from the first review in Amazon for this gelatin, but I modified it a little to make it keto-friendly):

"i start off by mixing 1 cup of COLD liquid with the 2 tablespoons of gelatin in the measuring cup.
keep mixing till all the gelatin has been mixed with the liquid, don't leave any chunks.
then let sit for 5 mins. This will bloom the gelatin.

After the 5 mins, dump the cup of liquid/gelatin into a dish, and then clean your measuring cup, then pour
another cup of liquid into your measuring cup. I then microwave this cup for 2 minutes (maybe another minute after i test it)
then take it out to measure the temperature. you want to try to get the liquid around 160F degrees. (should be pretty hot to the touch)

then i mix in the sweetner [I don't add any] to taste, then add the hot liquid to the cold, and mix it.
it should all be clear after you mix them together, and then i leave it sit on the counter for a few minutes,
then put it in the fridge. It takes a few hours to harden."

I eat it all, I try to make 2 tablespoons of gelatin by daily dose so I use half the liquid mentioned above so there is less jello to eat because even then there is still a lot of jello to eat!

Let me know if I'm not clear! I can type slower than I think!

I just recently started using this on recommendation from another thread...and it works wonders for me with getting the potassium/magnesium/electrolytes. For someone who runs/bikes 6 out of 7 days this stuff is almost mandatory while doing keto.

www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408545422&sr=8-1&keywords=electromix

https://www.amazon.com/Source-Naturals-Advanced-Liposomal-Delivery/dp/B00028Q3RO/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474555600&sr=8-2&keywords=msm+cream

https://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Argan-Hair-Face-Skin/dp/B01GUEVP7G/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1474555736&sr=1-6&keywords=argan+oil

https://www.amazon.com/BRI-Nutrition-Grapeseed-Extract-Proanthocyanidins/dp/B017PV5KFG/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474555767&sr=1-5&keywords=grape+seed+extract

https://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Non-GMO-Premium-Ascorbic-Bronson/dp/B0006ZNFT2/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474555792&sr=8-5&keywords=vitamin+c

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Lakes-Gelatin-Collagen-Hydrolysate/dp/B005KG7EDU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1474555813&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=grate+lakes+collagen

No it’s a kind of vit C that’s paired with fat. Check it out on Amazon here.

Emergen-C Hydration+ (18 Count, RASPBERRY SPLASH Flavor) Sports Drink Mix with Vitamin C, Electrolyte Replenishment, 0.33 Ounce Powder Packets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XNRCG2T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Yod8CbKZ1KCRF

If you don't mind buying, 1 of these makes 1L and they taste great:
https://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S

There are a few cheap electrolyte mix options out there that you could look into, I've tried this one and liked it, tasted pleasant. It doesn't have any sodium so you may want to grab some sodium bicarbonate to throw in.

Nuun isn't terrible either, lesser amounts of everything but has some sodium, couple of the flavors are pretty good.

As mentioned taurine helps, it's also dirt cheap at bulk powder sites.

Lastly, watch how much you take at once and the speed with which you drink it. Keep the doses sane and you'll be fine.

Much more.

https://www.amazon.com/Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-Bioavailability-Professionally-Phospholipids/dp/B000CD9XGC/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1500749726&sr=1-4&keywords=liposomal+vitamin+c

$30 for 30 packets of 1000mg liposomal vitamin C. A bottle of 100 capsules of 1000mg vitamin C may only run $7. So you are paying about 15x more. However liposomal supposedly are absorbed much better.

I don't know how much it matters though, I'm still assuming the body purges most excess vitamin C. But I really don't know. The human body only stores about 2,000mg of vitamin C in it, and at doses above 100-200mg a day, plasma levels stop increasing.

Good for you! Though, if that's tastes a dreadful as it sounds, try this : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_4P3-yb6FMSCK4

They sell banana cream on amazon as well with amazon fulfillment. Its cheaper as Lorann's shipping is generally pretty pricey. Also they take forever to ship it out from them directly, whereas Amazon is the same day.

You can also make your own citric acid, its a lot cheaper than buying it! Just PG + citric acid 10%, heat it up and stir it until all the crystals are desolved and you have a lifetime supply of citric acid for $6 - Citric Acid on Amazon

I lift heavy and usually follow with about 30 minutes worth of tabata-style cardio and treadmill and on my first round of keto, I felt HORRIBLE when I finished for the first week. This time around, I know better.

I do a Powerade Zero and [dump one of these in it] (http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421278358&sr=8-1&keywords=electrolyte+mix). If I'm feeling iffy about my sodium intake, I'll sprinkle some light salt in the drink as well.

Here you go!

It's not the best taste in the world, but definitely passable. I try and drink one every other day.

406mg potassium supplement with Magnesium too.

Well this thread is a shitshow, but my long ride snacks usually consist of: cheese. All the cheese. Cheese crisps. Nuts, nuts, and more nuts. Nut butter packets. Jerky/sausage/cured meats. Sometimes low-carb protein bars. Seed crackers (Trader Joe's). If it's cold enough outside for me to transport it without it getting spoiled, I love putting Kerrygold butter on just about anything I'm eating.

If I feel low on electrolytes I like this stuff, and sometimes I'll mix in some Lite Salt as well. I take magnesium glycinate at night and I salt the crap out of my food so I don't find that I typically need to consume a ton of extra electrolytes on long rides.

I haven't tried MCT oil powder mixed into water yet, but supposedly it's awesome for fueling endurance rides.

I would drop the vinpocetine:

http://www.longecity.org/forum/topic/23457-vinpocetine-ditch-it/

Try taking the bacopa before bed, it makes some people tired.

Maybe lay off the CILTEP for a few days and try supplementing some glutamine, did wonders for me.

Try adjusting your choline intake, too much makes some people depressed, but not enough will also make you tired and brain foggy. Too much will give you muscle soreness and possibly a headache from muscle tension.

You could try some n-acetyl-tyrosine and see if it helps your motivation. I wouldn't take too much though since one of your ADs is a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Have you always felt this unmotivated, or is it a recent phenomenon? If it's just a recent thing, what has changed in your life that might have caused it? If it is chronic, and n-acetyl-tyrosine works for you, you might want to ask your doctor about trying ritalin/methylphenidate.

I would also try to get off the SSRI/SNRI, serotonin is depressing. There is a common misconception, possibly due to incorrect ideas about how MDMA works, that serotonin makes you happy. SSRIs actually increase suicide risk for the first few weeks because the excess serotonin makes you depressed. The anti depressant effects take a few weeks because they are due to physiological changes in your brain due to the extra serotonin.

Do you take a multivitamin or any vitamins other than D? Personally I think the base of any nootropic stack should include a good multivitamin, some antioxidants, and probably fish oil, although some people react negatively to fish oil. Not including any racetams or ciltep or anything purely nootropic, every day I take:

AOR Ortho Core

B Complex

Vitamin C

Vitamin D-3

Vitamin E

Fish Oil

Green Tea Extract

Pine Bark Extract

Magnesium

Calcium

Probably less important, but I also take acetyl carnitine, alpha lipoic acid, alpha gpc, glucosamine/chondroitin/msm, rhodiola rosea, eluthero sibricus, jiaogulan, mushroom product including reishi and chaga, glutamine, l-phenylalanine, creatine, coq10, ashwagandha, lion's mane, bacopa, and astragalus.

In addition to all that I take various nootropics sort of randomly as I feel like, including sulbutiamine, piracetam, aniracetam, pramiracetam, noopept, and forskolin/artichoke/hesperidin.

Last, and probably most important, get plenty of good sleep.

If you want another alternative, pick up a box of E-mergency's.

They are deliciously orange flavored (they have other flavors, but I don't like any of them - get the orange kind), and are loaded with vitamin c and many other vitamins and minerals. I've been drinking them since I was a little kid, and they are still my favorite alternative to water.

You can buy them at your local health food store, although I think Walmart also has them now.

I find that this works extremely well for me and has no carbs: http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-820340-Electro-Mix-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1377660782&sr=8-3&keywords=electrolyte

Cheers to this. I do a packet of the Emergen-c electrolytes (link) add a little no-salt and also a little salt. It gives me the feeling I get when drinking a gatorade without the pound of sugar.

https://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electrolyte-Replacement-Potassium-Magnesium/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525986472&sr=8-6&keywords=electrolyte+powder

I used this at coachella and it saved me. emptied a couple into my camelbak every refill

I thought it’d be useful to post a nicely-formatted list of everything I was taken, with links to the products as well as the evidence-based papers and studies for each.

Methodology

I won’t take anything based on someone saying “this worked for me.” It needs to have real, scientific evidence. I have read hundreds of journal articles, seeking out quality evidence for things that have been shown to help with ulcerative colitis.

Of things with evidence, I tend to focus on things that have the fewest side effects possible.

Unfortunately, some of these things are only available as “natural supplements” which means that rather than the active ingredient being perfectly isolated, they contain a bunch of other random stuff from wherever that came from. I tried to choose companies for the natural supplements that seemed reputable, so at least I’d hopefully be getting what they claimed I would.

Background

I was having a flare—including abdominal pain and blood in my stool. I continued taking my oral mesalamine, then as I had for previous flares, added a mesalamine enema, used nicotine patches, and took wheat grass tablets. I added each one every two weeks. After eight weeks, the blood had long since stopped, but the pain didn’t.

I contacted my doctor. He added prednisone at 40 mg/day. That made things worse. After a week, he upped me to 60 mg/day. After one week of that, and no improvement, I added many other things, as outlined below.

After taking all of these things for a month, the pain hadn’t stopped.

I had a colonoscopy, which showed no inflammation. None. My doctor and I agree the pain is likely from something else; I will soon have a CT scan to help figure out what.

Do any of the things below work? In theory any, all, or none of them could have contributed to my colon being perfectly normal and healthy. There is no way to know which, if any of these, did anything.

Everything I was taking, dosages, and evidence

IMPORTANT: Almost all of the studies referenced below combine these things with mesalamine. So nothing is a substitute for that! These must be taken in conjunction with mesalamine.


|Drug|Dosage|Study|Quality of Evidence|
|--|--|--|--|
|Prednisone ℞|40-60 mg/daily, then taper|Many|Excellent
|Lialda (mesalamine) ℞|2.4 g/daily|Many|Excellent
|Apriso (mesalamine) ℞|1.5 g/day|Many|Excellent
|Mesalamine Enema ℞|Nightly|Many|Excellent
|Visbiome (was called VSL#3)|225 billion CFU/day|Meta-analysis|Good
|Nicotine Patch|14 mg/day|Meta-analysis; Placebo-controlled|Good
|DHA/EPA (also sold as “fish oil”; this one is vegetarian because I am)|1080 g DHA+540 mg EPA/day|Meta-analysis|Good
|Wheat grass tablets|21 tablets/day|Placebo-controlled|Good; small study
|Sunflower lecithin|10 g/day|Meta-analysis|Good to moderate
|Curcumin (from tumeric)|2.6 g/day|Meta-analysis|Moderate
|EGCg|400 mg/day|Rat study|Good in rats; poor in humans; WARNING: Dosages over 338 mg/day cause liver toxicity
|Bupropion immediate release ℞|100 mg three times/day|Rat study; TNFα only|Poor; only shown to lower TNFα; no studies on its effect on UC; study done in rats
|Rutin|1.8 g/day|Rat study|Poor

℞ indicates a prescription drug. Mesalamine and prednisone are commonly prescribed for ulcerative colitis. Bupropion is normally prescribed as an antidepressant so your gastroenterologist may be reluctant to prescribe it for this, especially since there are no studies of its effect on ulcerative colitis in humans.

Hey! So those are actually not the right ones- those are vit c and pretty high in carbs- here are the ones I meanelectro

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002HWRY5S/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SY115&simLd=1

Somebody here suggested this sugarless electro mix. I love it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002HWRY5S

I think pedialyte is a great fix but I found these BADASS Emergen-c electrolyte packets that have no sugar like the regular packs and almost double the potassium.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

I've been looking for a Vitamin C powder to regularly make DIY Vit C serums from. The Lotion Crafter one is a little on the pricy side, and I'm on a budget, so I was wondering if I could buy a normal ascorbic acid crystals powder from Amazon like this one, so long as it has no other ingredients other than ascorbic acid? Or should I only be looking at powders that specifically say L-ascorbic acid, like this one?

Coconut butter packets
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048IH71A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Almond butter packets
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KMMOGPG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Electromix
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just bought Terrasoul Superfoods Amla (Amalaki) Berry Powder on amazon. In the question section they say . . .

>Our Amla powder is imported from India and packaged in Fort Worth, TX. It is certified organic and tested for heavy metal contaminants, and is one of the highest quality available.

There might be a better source out there.

edit: I'm adding some other quotes found on their amazon page:

> Each lot is independently lab tested in the US for quality and purity

>. . . we test all of our Amla powder batches for heavy metal contamination, pesticide residues, molds and pathogens, and purity.

> . . . we test every lot we purchase with composite sampling for lead before we package the product.

I suppose that it's implied that because it's tested, it doesn't have a high amount of lead (but I didn't see them state that specifically).

Also, examine.com says . . . "Despite the fruits having no detectable fatty acids, the seeds possess an oil that is rich in linoleic acid (44.0%) and oleic acid (28.4%).[10]" The amazon listing states . . .

>It doesn't contain the seeds.

Zinc Orotate - this is an aromatase inhibitor, which prevents the production of estrogen ( http://amzn.com/B004UAPG46 )

Ultimate Ascorbate C - not sure of the benefits of this particular one, but it's more than just vitamin C ( http://amzn.com/B00016AOZE )

Vitamin E - "use this if you're gonna have a lot of fat oxidizing in your blood" - Charls ( http://amzn.com/B0014H1P5C )

Fish Oil - gotta have this if you wanna shoot big loads. i mean, come on ( http://amzn.com/B002CQU564 )

Source Naturals Men's Multivitamin - this is the best multivitamin on the market in my opinion. i'm so happy charls introduced it to me. most vitamins aren't bioavailable for shit, so you aren't actually absorbing most of the stuff you're ingesting. however, this formula is crafted to be the most bioavailable multivitamin ever. good shit. if you don't get any of the other stuff, GET THIS. ( http://amzn.com/B001B4N87G )

Activated Charcoal - This helps whiten your teeth. Explains why Charls has such good teeth. ( http://amzn.com/B00016WU2E )

Charls introduced all of these in the Fallout 4 stream. He didn't go into much detail as to when he takes them. Although, he did say that he takes 2 fish oil gels a day. Just look some of this stuff up and see what works for you. Source Naturals Multi (3x a day) and Fish Oil (2x a day) is what works for me.

bleh, get a good electrolyte water like this one: http://amzn.com/B002HWRY5S

Get off the artificial sweeteners, you'll feel better and after a long enough break when you taste them again they'll be pretty disgusting :)

My goto drink at a restaurant is unsweetened iced tea now, with a squeeze of lemon.

Might want to scope out those testosterone levels. Total T, free t, and e2 at a minimum. Just kind of a standard thing that's good to rule out. I reccommend taking five of these in the morning

These are not bad: http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-Lemon-Lime-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S.

Emergen-C Electro Mix is a great electrolyte. Just add to water and be done.

The first week for me was horrible. I started a new job, the new job was very busy so I didn't have time to eat... thus was crazy hungry but really trying to stay on track. Plus I felt crappy and was really spacey. Not good for a new job. Oh and when I exercised my legs felt like they had cement on them. It gets better.

ELECTROMIX! Great to throw in water. https://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S

I focus on Potassium, Magnesium and Sodium.

EmergenC Electro Mix (sugar free) has Magnesium and Potassium

Natural Calm (Magnesium) (Stevia) (whoa, is Stevia Keto? I can't remember.) (I bought natural calm before keto to help me with Restless Leg Syndrome.)

I figure I get sodium in all the salt I put on my food (Himalayan Pink.)

Potassium-from my research (I can send one more link, I don't have time right now) it seems like we basically can't get enough potassium.. so go nuts. We would need like 40 cups of spinach a day or something.. crazy.

I've used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_CmXuDbBTBJ40E
while on keto before. It's 10 calories, but that shouldn't end your fast by any means. It also doesn't have sodium, so you'd need to add some salt. I wouldn't pay more than $15 for any electrolyte mix.

Emergen-C Electro Mix Lemon is one of the best things out there.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=pe_385721_37986871_TE_item

1. I missed telling you about my new tattoo lol
   
   
2. I didn't actually, sorry, I'll be honest - I have been at work evenings prepping for inventory and so I barely have been on myself
   
   
3. /u/konnichiwa and /u/doctorohw I miss you guys
   
   
4. MAY THE FORTH BE WITH YOU
   
   
5. Get your vitamin c

The most important thing is to find out what it is you are allergic to. Only then you can do something about it. It is not just pollen. It can be mold, it can be foods, it can even be something in the toothpaste you are using. In the worst case scenario it is a histamine intolerance, which is quite annoying to deal with.

The second thing is to increase your immune system. Without going on a whole dietary change, a person will need to reduce their exposure to the allergen AND increase their innate immunity. This is done with increased levels of vitamin C** and increased consumption of pre-and-probiotics.

• An example of a prebiotic would be unripe bananas or uncooked potatoes without peel.
  
• A supplement form of this is called resistant starch.. use google in this case to find out more.
  
• An example of a probiotic is kombucha, raw apple cider vinegar, full-fat yogurt without added sugars or fruits, fermented (must be in the fridge section, not on an aisle shelf) sauerkraut - relish - pickles and kim-chi.
  
• A supplement form of this is doable but choose a high quality one, and don't just get acidophilus alone. Try to get a multi strain including bifi-, lacto-, and Saccharomyces boulardii.
  
  ** Not referral link!
  

I just followed the suggestions in the FAQ, so I went out and bought the highest does of Magnesium supplements I could find. The FAQ suggests Potassium Sulfate or Potassium Chloride, but I unfortunately could only find Potassium Gluconate, which is what I use. But if you can find what they list in the FAQ, i'd go with that. Something about the suffix "gluco-" doesn't seem keto-friendly to me. I also bought Benefiber to keep myself regular, and I use salt liberally. And I take a multi-vitamin. A cup of chicken broth was all I needed for the one headache I got in my first 2 weeks.

Emergen-C makes a supplement powder called Electro-Mix that makes a lemon-lime, sports drink type thing with electrolytes. Full disclosure, though: it tastes kind of yucky, IMO. It doesn't have enough flavor to really stand on its own, so it just tastes like you're drinking water that is "off." I'm thinking of adding lime juice, or maybe putting it in seltzer water to see if it tastes better.

This is what worked for me! Obviously every body is different, but I think it's a good place to start! Good luck!

Try electro mix supplements - over 400mg per packet and no carbs

http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S

>Public interest in the subject, stimulated originally by the vigorous advocacy of Nobel laureate Linus Pauling during the 1970s continues to be high.

When I was in high school (a Math & Science Magnet, mind you) I was assigned to do a presentation on Pauling and the health benefits of Vitamin C. It wasn't 'til much later in life that I discovered it was all largely bunk (and that teacher was a bit of a quack).

Interesting side-note: I worked in public education for a while, myself, and the faculty and staff there virtually lived off Airborne and Emergen-C. The administration handed them out for free at the beginning of each year, encouraged us to use them, and kept an extra supply stocked in the office. A number of teachers drank it daily, especially during winter, over our lunch breaks like hot tea, each pack/tablet providing a 1000mg megadose. (2000mg is the Tolerable Upper Intake Level, beyond which much further could lead to diarrhea -- nevermind that none of them were deficient, most likely, in the first place. Don't recall any scurvy outbreaks while I was there...) Could never figure out why they just didn't eat a piece of fruit! "Apple a day..."

This is what I take: Pure Radiance C. It is vitamin c from berries.

I had this same problem when I started time before last. Turns out, keto in the beginning makes me have an upset stomach, and then I get in this awful cycle of upset stomachs because my stomach is irritated. I've taken to taking chewing pepto until my stomach calms down.

As for the weakness, I was having the same problem too. I was pitiful. Then I started drinking these once or twice a day, and I feel great! No sign whatsoever of Keto Flu. Seriously. I cannot stress this enough. These packets are marvellous.

LyteShow seems to be a little expensive (I looked on amazon). I think my favorite electrolyte go-to would be this: http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415343741&sr=1-1&keywords=electro+c

It's way cheaper, and it's one packet per LITER of water, plus for each packet you get more electrolytes than each serving from the LyteShow which is also 3 times more expensive per electro c box. The Electro mix also is sweetened with Stevia, has no carbs, and tastes wonderful. I'm a stickler for quality, and I am surprised how wonderful it really is. I have it on auto pay on amazon for 2 boxes per month.

For the Vitl product, is this what you would recommend?

I use these mainly on days that I work out for the electrolyte replenishment but they could probably work on a regular basis, too, to help with potassium. It's not a HUGE amount of potassium but it's another way to get it besides a salt substitute.

Electro-mix

Hydralyte does have sugar, just less than Gatorade.

As I understand it, Vitamin C and glucose use the same receptor on the cell so they will compete, and so in a high-glucose environment you may need to consume more Vitamin C. I guess it depends on how much of this stuff you're drinking.

You might look for a better electrolyte source. I use this stuff. (Note: it's not the tastiest thing in the world.)

Read This: http://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/html/05231301/05231301.html

Look At This: https://www.amazon.ca/Now-Foods-Vitamin-Crystals-227/dp/B00028LX1U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1459102388&sr=8-3&keywords=pure+vitamin+c+powder

I use lemons from the kitchen (when I am doing small amounts of water) and now I am going to use Vitamin C powder as I use larger amounts of water. Lowers your PH and treats the clorine.

I mix two of these: http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=pd_bia_nav_t_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0ZWS3PPVR78PPCF95RAT, with a kool-aid package, 2 spoons of stevia (which is made to measure like sugar) and 2 liters of water. Its a easy way to get on the right track. You can also try mixing some NoSalt with your food.

This is really sounds like an electrolyte issue. If electrolytes are off, water and macro changes won't do much. I use Morton's Lite Salt on everything (it's half sodium salt and half potassium salt). Buy it at your supermarket, it's usually right near the regular salt, but in a smaller container. I also drink Electromix drink packets for potassium and magnesium - I buy those at Whole Foods or you can get them online. Finally, I also take magnesium malate capsules. With that regimen, I get no cramps and have never had any keto flu and feel great.

If you're still twitching, my money is on your electrolytes still being way too low. I aim to get at least 1000-1500 mg of extra potassium a day above what I get from diet. I also aim to get 300-600 extra mg of magnesium. And, salt what you eat.

I learned that from Konrad, the guy who makes KWZI inks - he recommended using crushed vitamin C tablets, but I bought the powder as it's more pure and easier to use. In my experience soaking the nib in it for a while really helps clean and brighten it up, and it seems to help get rid of any iron particles left in the feed or section. http://kwzink.com/language/en/manufactured-inks/iron-gall-inks/fountain-pens-iron-gall/

There have also been discussions on the FPN forums of this and various other mild acids to use, but vitamin C seems pretty harmless, easy to obtain, and works well. Some people recommend using it for IG inks before using any base cleaner like ammonia. Very diluted vinegar is another possibility, but I'm not sure if it might react with some pen materials, not to mention leave an odour or film.

You can get pure ascorbic acid/vitamin C powder in a lot of drug stores or online at places like Vitacost or Amazon. Just get the pure stuff, without any additives or buffering or calcium. About 1/4 teaspoon in a glass of water, or however much will dissolve, is plenty. (It dissolves better in warm water although I usually just use cold.) Here's an example from Amazon - https://smile.amazon.com/Thompson-Ascorbic-Antioxidant-Supplement-Excipients/dp/B000WUCMGS/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543188838&sr=8-6&keywords=vitamin+c+powder

A bottle like that will last a long time (unless you also take it as a vitamin!). I only use it occasionally.

With all this said i want to go back tonight and look what led Stroud was drinking in the Amazon, some black derived liquid from some tree . I gotta find it on survivorman lol he said it's very good for heart haha.

You probably want something like this.

I was gonna link you pure curcumin at bulk supplements.com and grapeseed extract and black pepper extract (very dangerous be careful) on amazon.

You want this though

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K8QLGHN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_clg5CbYW15VDE

You can take up to 7g vitamin c in this way without diarrhea

I took this brand and it worked well for me. I also tried the Dr. Mercola brand, and it didn't work any better than regular vitamin C for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Powder-Ascorbic-Ultra-Quali-C/dp/B00GLX3C4G/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1485922793&sr=8-2&keywords=vitamin+c+uk It always kicks in fast and strong... wow, anyone tried?

Congrats! Try these for the ion deficiency problem (stevia, no carbs): EMERGEN-C ELECTRO MIX Lemon-Lime, 30 ct, 4.2 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_H5U3wbHKM9PRV

My go to are the Emergen-C electrolyte packets, they're relatively inexpensive and while they may not taste amazing a packet will make a liter and they don't have all the sugar that gatorade has.

Edit: Or if I'm planning ahead I'll grab a coconut water or two.

Emergen-C makes a mix.

I found this but it has 10 calories so i guess it would break the fast

https://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electrolyte-Replacement-Potassium-Magnesium/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1537017822&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=electrolyte&th=1

I bought this from amazon and mixed ~3g in 10mL of PG. I ran some hot water over the bottle to help it dissolve. Cheap, easy, and I have enough citric acid to last a lifetime of vaping.

I used this with WL PG, and double boiled the solution for 15-20 minutes until completely clear. I did use measuring spoons instead of scale so it is approx 10% citric 90% PG.

Not that I recall. You dont need much.

By my math (see below), Ito En's Oi Ocha bottled green tea uses abt 1/2 teaspoon pure ascorbic acid per gallon.

You can get pure ascorbic acid crystals/powder at natural food stores, or: 1lb https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0013OUMVO/

8oz https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00028LX1U/

Ito En's Oi Ocha (ingredients: water, tea, ascorbic acid (vitamin c)) has 220% rda vit C per 8 oz, rda is 60mg, so 132 mg per 8oz, or about 1g per half gallon, which comes to about 1/2 teaspoon (which is 2.25g according to Now ascorbic acid label) of pure ascorbic acid per gallon (whew.)
https://www.amazon.com/Ito-En-unsweetened-Green-Ounce/dp/B0017T2MWW


From Serious Eats: http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/05/best-bottled-iced-tea.html
"Bottled iced tea needs some kind of acidic preservative, but it turns out different brands used different kinds. The Japanese teas all use ascorbic acid (vitamin C), while the Western ones opt for citric acid."

this stuff?

http://www.amazon.com/Vitamin-Highest-Purest-Beautiful-Radiant/dp/B00MBXVE1I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422215465&sr=8-1&keywords=Vitl&pebp=1422215486408&peasin=B00MBXVE1I

I use this Vitamin C (I was looking for a cheaper alternative than PC's very expensive serum) on Amazon

I must say I am VERY happy with it and it is a fine substitute for PC's serum. Just wanted to share :)

Also, muscle flutters/twitches, aching hands/feet and later on heart flutters and arrhythmia.

Headaches that don't go away with tylenol/ibuprofen or migraine meds are more common than actual migraines, but are also one of the first signs of sodium deficiency.

I like these packets: They're cheapest if you buy the 5-box quantity, but even $0.20 a packet isn't too terrible since it tastes nice and has zero carbs. http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421521222&sr=8-2&keywords=electro+mix

It's sodium ascorbate not potassium, my bad: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MGSHGQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XRXRDb4Z0GXQS

> Does it help with anything besides medical cases like sepsis?

as somebody mentioned you can make ur own liposomal, ive been to the professionally made site. tons of reviews, fakespot gives an A, Haven't read all the reviews but their system is searchable, and i'm sure there are people reporting a caffeine like effect.

https://www.amazon.com/Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-Bioavailability-Professionally-Phospholipids/dp/B000CD9XGC/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=livon+labs+liposomal+vitamin+c&qid=1574625752&sr=8-4#customerReviews

> is intranasal/anal the same as going through the veins though?

asked the question cuz im curious as to these details as well

Electro Mix and salt in his food should take care of this.

> ascorbic acid

2.2lb/1kg for $20 plus ~$7 shipping
http://www.amazon.com/BulkSupplements-Ascorbic-Vitamin-Powder-Kilogram/dp/B00AYIM9Y8/ref=cm_wl_huc_item

Might be too late to get these before your vacation. These work well for colds or flu. 0 carbs.
https://www.amazon.com/Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-Bioavailability-Professionally-Phospholipids/dp/B000CD9XGC/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1521563307&sr=8-3&keywords=lypo+spheric+vitamin+c

This is my same routine and I felt like I was having the same issue, especially while working out. My legs felt so fatigued and heavy. I started drinking a glass of Electro Mix before working out and it has helped a lot. It's only 10 calories per packet so it should not kick you out of your fast. Even if supplements aren't for you, make sure your electrolytes are in check.

What kind of powder can we buy that has the proper electrolyte balance, and isn't loaded with sugar. I like electro-mix when I work out, but I'm wondering if there is anything better.

I take Alacer Electro Mix.

https://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S/

if your sweating at work you should add something like Alacer Electro Mix to at least 2 bottles a night.

Someone recommend this one: http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electro-Mix-30-count/dp/B002HWRY5S/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1335381599&sr=1-1-catcorr

Its got zero carb, mine is in the mail right so I'm looking forward to test it. I think Hammer makes a low carb electrolyte blend too,

You can find Natural Calm on Amazon, for sure. It's a powder.

ElectroMix should be near Emergen-C stuff. But you can probably order it from Amazon, too, that might be the easiest way:

http://www.amazon.com/EMERGEN-C-ELECTRO-MIX-Lemon-Lime-4-2/dp/B002HWRY5S

Some people were mentioning that electromix had been re-formulated and now has sugar, so make sure to double-check the label before buying or taking!

Our current stack looks like this and is still a work in progress. Please comment as to what might be better options, thanks!.

Updated 8/30:

Protein Smoothie - Garden of Life, 1x/day in am
https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Organic-Vitamins-Probiotics/dp/B007SYT7LO/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1503340441&sr=1-4&keywords=garden%2Bof%2Blife%2Bprotein%2Bpowder&th=1#customerReviews

Green Drink - Garden of Life, 1x/day in am w/ prot smoothie
https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Vegan-Superfood-Powder/dp/B00FB1S988/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1503340620&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=garden+of+life+green+superfood+powder&psc=1

Multi - Centrum Silver then changing to Pure Encapsulations, 1xday in am w/ breakfast
https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Encapsulations-Multivitamin-Essentials-Hypoallergenic/dp/B00CBYG1L0/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1503339918&sr=8-4&keywords=pure+encapsulations+multivitamin

Lecithin (phos choline) - Moms Organic Market sunflower<br /> no link<br /> <br /> Fish Oil - Nordic Naturals, 2x/day in am/pm<br /> https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Naturals-ProOmega-2000-Lemon/dp/B017UTEA4K/ref=sr_1_30_s_it?s=hpc&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1503340380&amp;amp;sr=1-30&amp;amp;keywords=nordic+naturals+fish+oil<br /> <br /> B12 - Jarrow Forumla Methyl, 1x/day in am<br /> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VE9B9II/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;amp;th=1<br /> <br /> Ginko - Moms Organic Market, 2x/day in am/pm
no link

L-theanine/Gaba - Allergy Research Group, 2x/day in am/pm
https://www.amazon.com/Allergy-Research-Group-Vegetarian-Capsules/dp/B000GU4TXI/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1503340983&sr=1-5&keywords=allergy+research+group

Melatonin - Moms Organic Market, 1x/day in pm<br /> no link<br /> <br /> Digestive Support - Trifal Ayush Herbs, 1x/day in pm<br /> https://www.amazon.com/Ayush-Herbs-Herbal-Supplement-Trifal/dp/B0012ZY6VG/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=hpc&amp;amp;ie=UTF8&amp;amp;qid=1503341173&amp;amp;sr=1-11&amp;amp;keywords=ayush+herbs<br /> <br /> Magnesium - Mega Mag Moms Market, 1x/day in pm
no link

Aloe Vera - Solaray, 1x/day in pm - plan to discontinue when done
https://www.amazon.com/Solaray-Aloe-Vera-Gel-capsules/dp/B00014FGHW/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1503341317&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=solaray+aloe+vera&psc=1

Vitamin C - Viva Naturals, 2x day in am/pm
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C6C3GCY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

DHEA - Zhou, 1x day in am
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UXLUFJ2/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Phos Serine - Doctors Best, 2x day in am/pm<br /> https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036FWOJQ/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&amp;amp;th=1<br /> <br /> Alcarn - Natures Trove, 2x day in am/pm
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NCOTSWG/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

CoQ10- Garden of Life Raw, 1x day in am
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JAT54S/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

B Complex - Garden of Life Raw, 2xday in am/pm
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098U0SQO/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Current on order:

Turmeric/Curcumin - Key Nutrition
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWA6WO8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1ILK2NFE4Q1Q1&th=1

PQQ - Health Through Nutrition
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SA2JLBY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AP6P3N856MFIS&th=1

Resveratrol - BRI Nutrition
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPW9X32/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A196A8GC0YNHR&psc=1

Alpha GPC - VitaMonk
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K13ACDA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A3PSSFJH9JG29L&psc=1

Alpha-Lipoic Acid - Doctor`s Best
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004O672ES/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Bacopa Monnieri - Pure Mountain Botanicals
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S02A1UO/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ashwagandha - Nutra Herbs
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GZALWGO/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Bacopa will be replacing Ginko and Alpha GPC will replace the lecithin. Any other suggestions are welcome, the stack in its current form is a bit unmanageable however it helps to empty the capsules into the protein smoothie in the morning and into a blueberry keifr milk smoothie in the afternoon or early evening.

> Ever since I started this I have felt awful. Throat fullness/tightness, headache, fatigue dizziness & nausea. Anyone else have this problem?

Iodine alone without cofactors can make for an unpleasant experience, what you're experiencing isn't unusual.

I have a few suggestions, but I do not know what is in your chaste berry supplement and multivitamin so be sure to check them for selenium/selenomethionine so you don't take too much.

300-600mg magnesium (malate and taurate are good ones)

100mg B2 riboflavin twice a day (the yellow component of a b-complex)

500mg niacin twice a day (use inositol hexanicotinate, usually called "no flush" niacin, 500mg of true B3/niacinamide/nicotinic acid will ruin your day)

200mcg selenomethionine (be sure to check the multivitamin and other supplement for this, you don't want more than 400mcg in a day)

1,000mg Vitamin C (3 times a day)

1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt (Redmond Real salt works too)

I believe these will help you see a welcome improvement, this is a great baseline to start out with.

More info available in [Iodine by David Brownstein M.D.] and [The Iodine Crisis by Lynne Farrow]

Quick links:

[Magnesium malate]

[B2/B3 cofactors]

[Selenomethionine]

[Vitamin C]

[Celtic sea salt]

[12.5mg iodine](what you're taking now is probably great, though the books recommend 50mg)

Whenever I feel a cold coming on (or am sick) I LOVE to down those EMERGEN-C packets. I promise you guys this shit works. I don't really swear by many supplements 100%, but this stuff is good. Healthy too, pretty much all vitamins.

http://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Vitamin-Orange-Packets-packets/dp/B0009RF8LA

FYI LG, your citric acid link is broken. This seems to be what you want.

supplementing with a trace mineral formula may not be a bad idea. We get a lot of it in the diet, but amounts vary from the soils crops are grown in. Another mineral not mentioned that is sometimes not there in ideal amounts in the typical diet is Boron.

I had deficiencies in manganese and iron.

I've never seen a B complex that had sufficient Biotin for my needs. I take 800 mcg over 3 times a week (about every other day) as a maintenance dose; I used to take 2500 mcg for some months at that frequency as a booster dose.

I believe most of Biotin is synthesized internally by gut bacteria; so peeps on antibiotics should be supplementing with a decent dose of biotin imho. Those eating processed foods containing preservatives, esp sodium benzoate, would benefit much from biotin supplements as well in my opinion.

I supplement with zinc once in a while but I'm careful not to exceed a daily average of 15-20mg (on avg, over a week). I rotate the trace metals I take and try to take them with my morning coffee. (Metals have an added nice property of alkalizing that acidic beverage.)

Another good combo is ascorbates of trace metals:

https://www.amazon.com/Source-Naturals-Ultimate-Ascorbate-Supports/dp/B00016AOZE

Good points.

In the OP I mentioned I'm also taking Electro Mix which does contain other electrolytes. Here's a link to the product if you're interested in checking it out: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've supplemented with Magnesium / Potassium in the past but have found that Electro Mix + salt water works for me. I also have electrolyte capsules that I carry with me but have rarely had to use them.

I know that Vitamin D is fat-soluble, but haven't really dug into researching whether or not it's completely useless to take while fasting. If it has even a fraction of the benefit it normally has I'd consider it worth it and if not, oh well I wasted a few bucks. I'll take it just in case though.

I just drink one these electro mixes mixed into my water each day. It makes it really easy and convenient. I leave a box at home and one at work.

If I get a really bad headache, I pop one of these Potassium supplements and it goes away in about 10 minutes.

I'd consider either carrying a bunch of these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRY5S/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

Or making my own ketoade concentrate and putting it in a clean water bottle (emptying out a Dasani bottle). Or both!

My ten-serving ketoade concentrate recipe:

1. One 10oz bottle of magnesium citrate.
   
2. Ten tablespoons of lemon juice from concentrate
   
3. 50 grams of Morton's Lite Salt
   
4. 10 good squirts of MiO lemonade flavor
   
5. A little warm water to help the "salt" go into solution
   
   The above assumes that I'm getting some more salts from other sources. I also add in a multivitamin that includes some potassium and magnesium. Otherwise, what other folks here are saying - at the high end of what's needed for protein. Enough fat for satiety.
   
   If you don't mind toting it, a head of cabbage stays good for a long time out of the fridge and the leaves make good carriers for tuna (I'm thinking packets of tuna in oil + packets of mayonnaise + seasoning of your choice).

but who was FAQ?

If you read the FAQ (almost) everyone loses weight in the beginning, has a stall for around a month or at least a few weeks, then weight loss picked up.

2 weeks isn't that long of a time for a stall, just keep eating as you should and don't weigh yourself as often.

Get some electrolytes for the exhaustion, here are two good choices on amazon: Celtic Sea Salt Electrolyte Powder and Emergen-C Electro Mix

Fish oil does wonders! Not so much serotonin related, but more so overall well being and anti-inflammatory. Take a read into it.

Emergen-C helps for that recovery and flu if you're prone to getting sick from festival dust and all that.

Not sure if you have picked any up yet but here is what I get if you can wait on the shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0014UCJ8Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1418907275&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

I like these
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002HWRY5S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417828620&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

Glad to hear you're feeling better.


I must add, I had a bad experience about three and a half months in. Finally the bruising pointed to vitamin C as the culprit. The turn-around in energy and fatigue was fast!


A month ago my doctor told me to go off all supplements - except for the electrolytes - for a month to see how I did. I didn't even make it three weeks before needing C again. Spoke to the doc and he has me on 500mg a day from now on. Took the first double dose yesterday and today the lights are back on.


Some of us need more than others. If you're bruising or your gums aren't great, this may be contributing to your problems. Muscle spasms and inflammation are one of my symptoms.


This is the one I just ordered. I'm just adding it to my salt water.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AYIM9Y8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I discovered Emergen-C Electrolytes through this sub. Now my husband makes a glassful too instead of relying on gatorade after his basketball games.

I also use magnesium oil on my legs to help with leg cramps. Whenever I drink alcohol (wine typically) my legs will cramp at night. Water and magnesium helps with that.

Appreciate the detailed response. I also noticed cutting was easier during lower protein (I wonder how much of that was muscle mass?).

Based on your comments about micronutrients...

I drink a lot of water and live in a warm climate. A doc friend told me to supplement electrolytes esp during workout days. I noticed big difference in how I felt/tiredness when I started taking these electrolytes before workouts.

I think it's easy to ignore the micronutrients especially when you are more concentrated on macros/cals. I also take this, which seems to cover most micronutrients, in case I miss those in food/supplements.

Would something like this in addition to eating leafy greens and such be something good?

Sure. I'm always happy to make recommendations. Keep in mind that I don't sell any of these products, nor do I have any affiliation with the companies. I'm just a happy customer.

You'll notice the fastest results with these. Within about 10 days you'll notice that your skin is smoother and younger looking:

Phytoceramides:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IT4POOG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Collagen supplements:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00028NGEC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


These take longer to notice but are also very effective since they actually slow down and reverse the aging process within your body. They take about a month and a half to notice.

Hyaluronic Acid
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S97MOU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

L Carnosine
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007DJAFQA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, you'll want to take a vitamin C supplement with the collagen to make it more effective. This is the one I use:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013P1GD6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


If money is an issue then I would say just go with the Phytoceramides and Collagen. And, instead of taking 6 collagen pills a day, you can take 3 a day and they still work fine; that way the bottle will last you like 84 days instead of 42.

I meant the protein powder as strawberry. I had some of the Phase8 by Muscletech for that (which honestly isn't all that great...) but the flavor was there (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/muscletech/phase8.html). Electromix is actually pretty decent through (http://amzn.com/B002HWRY5S)

Here are 2 of my main suppliments that I take on a daily bases. Warning these two items cost just under $100 bucks. But if you can afford it, this is what you want for anti ageing (check the amazon reviews)

1. Amazon choice: Lypo-Spheric C : https://www.amazon.com/Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-Bioavailability-Professionally-Phospholipids/dp/B000CD9XGC
   
   
2. Aloe Force : https://www.amazon.com/Answers-Aloe-Force-Dietary-Supplement/dp/B000EIJM7K/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1519399852&sr=1-1&keywords=aloe+force

Okay...

Sorry for any confusion.

Let's look at it this way. Q&A.

When an artery clogs, is the clog (plaque) made up of "cholesterol"? Answer is yes.

Does this mean that cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis? Nope.

Does what you eat effect your chances of atherosclerosis? Yes.

Does a lack of exercise, and/or smoking increase your chances of atherosclerosis? Yes.

Does what you don't eat effect your chances of atherosclerosis? Yes, eating the wrong food increases your chances, and yes, eating the right foods, decreases your chances.

Does reducing the amount of cholesterol in the body, with a drug, reduce the chance of an artery clogging? I think the answer is yes.

Is there currently any drug that cures atherosclerosis? Nope.

Is there a procedure that can "cure" most atherosclerosis conditions? Yes. Angioplasty.

Does this procedure save a lot of lives? F*ck yea!

Can a person radically improve their changes of plague build-up via the consumption of the right types of vitamin c supplements, and/or fruits and vegis that contain high amounts of vitamin c? Yes.

Has the link between vitamin c intake, via food and/or supplements, and a reduction in the rate of heart attacks been proven? Yes

Do all over-the-counter vitamin c supplements get fully absorbed by the body? Answer = Most don't. Most supplements pass through. Waste of money.

Is there a vitamin c supplement that has a much higher rate of absorption? Yes.

Here's a link to one brand - there are others

Is the consumption of saturated fats the direct and only cause of atherosclerosis? Nope.

Has this been proven? Yep.

Can a person, or perhaps even the entire human race, consume higher than currently specified levels of saturated fats and never have any signs of atherosclerosis? Yep.

Did the U.S. government incorrectly set a standard to reduce saturated fats, on the belief that reducing saturated fats would reduce atherosclerosis, and therefore set in motion, a food policy that would ultimately cause more harm than good? Yes.

Has this been fixed? Nope, but for the first time in a long time, the USDA has reset its standards for the consumption of saturated fats, based on earlier and more recent studies on these and other fats and human health.

Could we "cure" heath disease via diet (including supplements) and without using drugs? I'm 80-90% on yes.

Not even the perfect diet can get you this amount of Vitamin C

https://www.amazon.com/Lypo-Spheric-Vitamin-Bioavailability-Professionally-Phospholipids/dp/B000CD9XGC

gamechanger

Vitamin C solved for the rest of your life

pro-tip: vitamin c and d3 are like the only vitamins where over saturation is beneficial

Don't despair. Btw not promoting amazon since I don't get referrals or anything. But to let you know there IS an alternative. 3 carbs but hey more manageable and when I'm refereeing it's better than anything I've found. Darned if I know where the carbs are

https://www.amazon.com/Emergen-C-Electrolyte-Replacement-Potassium-Magnesium/dp/B002HWRY5S?th=1