Headaches

sejx

Hi All
As soon as i try a lose weight/watch what i eat. I suffer bad headaches and generally feel crap. I seem to fail as i cant get past this. Does anyone else suffer the same and how long do the headaches last. Or can they be avoided. Advice much appreciated
Thanks

ladyreva78

This sometimes happens to me too for one of two reasons:

1. I try to cut too many calories.
2. I change the way I eat too radically

Meaning, a 2lbs loss a week is utopian for me and liable to send me to the ER because of a migraine attack. I do best at between 0.5lbs and 1lbs per week.

Radical and/or rapid changes to my diet are also problematic for me. My hormones tend to go crazy leading to pretty much the same problems as cutting too many calories.

Finding MFP was a game changer for me. I started simply tracking my calorie intake and making sure I stayed below my maintenance but in a zone that doesn't cause me pain. Then, one small habit at a time, I started changing my diet to what I consider healthier, all the while staying within the narrow deficit window that makes me lose weight but doesn't set off my headaches.

It helps to keep a food log (with added notes on headache strength and frequency) to figure out the circumstances which lead to said headaches.

kommodevaran

Do you cut calories severely - weight loss goal larger than 1% per week?

Do you cut caffeine intake severely?

Do you drink enough?

z4oslo

Its more likely this is caused by lack of micronutrients, and not macro.
Ive "always" had headaches, but when i started taking supplements, in addition to eat more vegetables ive not had a single day with headache, despite eating less calories than i burn.

Check with your doctor if you are low on certain minerals or vitamins.

RoxieDawn

Have you given yourself time to adapt to eating lower calories for a certain period of time to get past side effects when first dieting.. like dealing with hunger cues, headaches, perhaps some low energy at first when dieting?

Side effects usually go away if you get past the week(s) to make the necessary adaptions to what you are doing.

Are you possibly cutting caffeinated beverages from your diet?

Staying hydrated during the day (it does not have to be just water) will help as well..

DeficitDuchess

For me sugar substitutes, cause headaches & also increases my appetite! I mention this because when 1 attempts to lower their calories, they typically began swapping sugar; for alternatives & might not naturally consider that, to be a possibility; as I didn't either.

subakwa

I find spreading my calories through the day, rather than skipping meals, helps stave off headaches I used to have prior to losing weight from bad eating practices (too busy at work to stop and eat so then binged in the evening).

jo_nz

I find it easier to make changes gradually and one at a time - could you just change one part of your diet?

I started with removing sugar from my tea & coffee - that was all. It didn't end there, but that was my first step.

Also, I previously had trouble when I tried to cut out snacks - I now understand that I am better to reduce the amount and improve the quality of my snack than to get rid of it completely. For me, if I leave it too long between eating, then I get nasty headaches.

Spliner1969

Have you ever had your blood sugar checked? My wife isn't diabetic, yet, but she is hypoglycemic. So unless she eats smaller meals six times a day a big meal or reduced eating 3x a day will really mess up her blood sugar. It gives her headaches, makes her tired, etc. It might be something to think about discussing with your doctor.

ARGriffy

Are you doing low carb (the typical starter low carb, bread /potatoes/pasta etc) as this gives me a horrific headache