low carbing it - ugh!

starxlr8

starxlr8

New member
DH and I started low carb induction yesterday (him more Atkins-like and me more South Beach-like) and I'm totally miserable. It's not the cravings, its a continuous feeling of mild nausea - like a sour stomach feeling, even after I've eaten. After only one day, the thought of eggs for breakfast was stomach-turning... so I just had a roma tomato and cottage cheese with a small glass of unsweetened vanilla almond milk (hoping it would coat my tummy).

Has anyone has success in adopting a low(er) carb lifestyle after these tortuous first few weeks?
 
I did south beach last year right before I found out I was pregnant with the twins. The first couple days were the worst - particularly day 2. After that it got much easier and I thought it was a great fit for me personally - I felt much more satisfied because I could eat meat, cheese, eggs, etc. I lost 10 pounds in the first 2 weeks, then found out I was pregnant and switched to a more typical eating plan (although I ate very south beach-ish for quite a while during the pregnancy - I just didn't limit portions at all).

I thought it was a great eating plan and I plan to go back to it when I can commit the time to the food prep.
 
the first week is the worst but then I feel better than ever! Your body is going through withdrawals so you're going to have symptoms like your going through withdrawals. I have terrible migraines and that nauseous feeling and everything... you'll get through it... the hardest part is the first few days. Good luck!
 
I hated low carb. I have many many friends and family who do wonderfully on low carb and do great after about a week and lose a bunch of weight. I am not one of those people. I am cranky, tired, and basically not a fun person on low carb. I always say that if you feel okay by the end of the 10 days or so then you'll be fine; if not, then it is not meant to be.
 
I actually took a nutrition class last semester and it talked about low carb diets being the WORST diet you can be on because it's soooo bad for your body. Throws you into Ketosis to work, which isn't healthy for an extended period of time.

The best eating plan to lose weight (according to the book) is to eat a balanced diet of carbs/proteins/fats of 1200 calories. Cut out all saturated and trans fats and exercise.

That being said, I'm sorry you feel icky. I would be on carb withdrawals too!
 
I didn't eat carbs for almost 2 years...of course I wasn't thinking right back then either lol

I lived on hot wings :0/

anyways good luck with it!
 
I did it for almost a year before I had kids and lost 20 lbs...but I was miserable the entire time lol..I need bread and sweets..life is no fun without them. And the MINUTE you stop low-carbing it you gain it all back..or at least I did. I found after my babies that the best way for me to lose weight was just portion control and to try not to snack so much. Of course I'm not always good at that either lol...dieting just sucks all around doesn't it? lol
 
Yes, I can totally relate. I started South Beach in June and I absolutely love it! I'm actually back on Phase 1 for a few days to purge my sugar cravings after eating about 8 pounds of birthday cake last week.

During the carb-free period at the beginning, I felt sick too. I was told by the people on the SBD.com message boards that it's probably from the increased fiber intake and that I should drink more water. It was probably a bit of carb withdrawal (total sugar addict here!) too. Good news is that it did pass within a few days and I've felt great ever since. Stick with it, drink lots of water, and it will pass.

Total SBD convert here!
 
Traci Reed said:
I actually took a nutrition class last semester and it talked about low carb diets being the WORST diet you can be on because it's soooo bad for your body. Throws you into Ketosis to work, which isn't healthy for an extended period of time.

The best eating plan to lose weight (according to the book) is to eat a balanced diet of carbs/proteins/fats of 1200 calories. Cut out all saturated and trans fats and exercise.

That being said, I'm sorry you feel icky. I would be on carb withdrawals too!
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South Beach is not low carb. It's "good carb." At the beginning you cut out carbs to get your blood sugar stabilized, then you add the healthy ones back in in the appropriate amounts.
 
Traci Reed said:
I actually took a nutrition class last semester and it talked about low carb diets being the WORST diet you can be on because it's soooo bad for your body. Throws you into Ketosis to work, which isn't healthy for an extended period of time.

The best eating plan to lose weight (according to the book) is to eat a balanced diet of carbs/proteins/fats of 1200 calories. Cut out all saturated and trans fats and exercise.

That being said, I'm sorry you feel icky. I would be on carb withdrawals too!
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and that's why Atkins and South Beach Diets only have you do low carb for 2 weeks, then you eat a balanced diet.
 
Traci Reed said:
I actually took a nutrition class last semester and it talked about low carb diets being the WORST diet you can be on because it's soooo bad for your body. Throws you into Ketosis to work, which isn't healthy for an extended period of time.

The best eating plan to lose weight (according to the book) is to eat a balanced diet of carbs/proteins/fats of 1200 calories. Cut out all saturated and trans fats and exercise.

That being said, I'm sorry you feel icky. I would be on carb withdrawals too!
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Well, I'm following the rules and not keeping my carbs too low for more than the first two weeks and then slowly adding fruits, beans, whole grains back into my diet. (I have never been so mentally excited about apples and oatmeal ever before!) We're also being careful to manage saturated fat by eating chicken, fish, veggies, turkey bacon etc. and limiting the high fat dairy and red meat.

More importantly, this was recommended by my doctor for managing some health issues. I'm very anti-diet and I know this is a sensible approach for the long term for me. I've known it for far too long now and have been avoiding tackling it. While this two week period is not a necessity, I do hope it will help jump start my motivation and curb my longing for burritos and bagels.
 
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Well I'm glad you're being safe for sure! I've had a few friends that had a lot of issues with low carb, thus my hesitation about it... :D
 
Traci Reed said:
Well I'm glad you're being safe for sure! I've had a few friends that had a lot of issues with low carb, thus my hesitation about it... :D
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I understand, and I do think it can be unhealthy if all you're eating is eggs, beef and cheese. A few years back I knew people who did that.

After the first two weeks, it is actually very much like a diabetic diet.
 
I *have* to live a low carb lifestyle. I was carb free for about 10 months. Now, I eat what I want in moderation. I also had a little bit of assistance. :0\
 
Just be careful when you start adding things back in. My family all did the Atkins diet a few years ago, and every one of them has gained it all back. I started, but I just didn't feel healthy. I love the slogan, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." I think that's the ideal diet, personally. Real food in sensible portions with lots of fruits and vegetables. With plenty of exercise, of course.
 
cheltzey said:
Just be careful when you start adding things back in. My family all did the Atkins diet a few years ago, and every one of them has gained it all back. I started, but I just didn't feel healthy. I love the slogan, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." I think that's the ideal diet, personally. Real food in sensible portions with lots of fruits and vegetables. With plenty of exercise, of course.
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Hee Hee Micheal Pollan's mantra for life :)

This is basically the approach we're taking. Our diet was horrid, so getting back to good foods, in good portions, with lots of water and exercise is how we're approaching everything right now. I can't go the route of Laura or my DH (who did a healthy but radical eating plan), so my weight loss is going to be slower, but I'm happier with how we're eating as a family.

However, I did buy the South Beach book from Half Price Books (you'd be amazed at how many copies are in their bargain bins now LOL) to look over and glean from.
 
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Atkins the right way is healthy & balanced. Many people don't read the book (the original version from before he died) and just cut out all carbs and don't follow the plan correctly or exercize. My blood work came back the best ever while I was following the Atkins plan. Then I got sucked back into my eating out/fast food cycle and gained back.

Eating Atkins following the correct phases will give you back good carbs, and keep the processed carbss out of your diet.

I ate LOTS of seafood and chicken as well. I also made sure to eat green leafy veggies to get my fiber & drink 100+oz of water.
 
I've done Atkins after lots of research, and lost a lot of weight. I got prego right after I lost 20 pounds on it, which really kind of sucked LOL

I never found myself nauseous. I just had a REALLY hard time finding food to eat when I wasn't at home to prepare my own food. I actually do well on the diet because it's food I LOVE, cheese, meat, spinach, etc.
 
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