Newbie and Feeling Unwell

ajrhodes21

My first day using MFP today. Eating healthy, balanced portions at meal times and drinking plenty of water. Although not feel great, headache, no energy etc... Is this normal through a change of diet? So tempting to graze so I feel something more like, but if these are normal symptoms, then I want to push my way through. Has anyone else experienced this?

tinkerbellang83

Not particularly normal for 1 day, that said a lot of people go all gung ho the first couple of days/weeks and perhaps a tad too aggressive.

Have you chosen a suitable rate of loss based on your current weight and how much you have to lose?

Are you getting sufficient protein, fat, vitamins and minerals?

If you're exercising are you eating back calories burned, as MFP expects you to?

TavistockToad

ajrhodes21 wrote: »

My first day using MFP today. Eating healthy, balanced portions at meal times and drinking plenty of water. Although not feel great, headache, no energy etc... Is this normal through a change of diet? So tempting to graze so I feel something more like, but if these are normal symptoms, then I want to push my way through. Has anyone else experienced this?

have you cut out all of your morning coffee?

h1udd

do you normally drink 7 cans of coke a morning and stopped ?

toxikon

I assume you've done a bit of a 180 on your diet, and your body is adjusting.

- Did you eat enough salt? Your body needs sodium.
- Did you cut out a lot of carbs/sugar? If you're low enough, you may be experiencing the "keto flu".
- Did you increase your water intake a lot? You may have diluted the sodium/electrolyte balances in your body.

Keep in mind that there's no need to eat 100% "clean and healthy" to lose weight - in fact, it's often not sustainable and people will relapse into old habits quickly. All you need to lose weight is a calorie deficit. You can still enjoy fast food, desserts, etc in moderation.

MegaMooseEsq

I didn’t experience this myself when I started losing weight, but I also made pretty gradual changes to reduce calories - if you’ve made a lot of dramatic changes to your diet and cut your calories way down very quickly, it may be why you aren’t feeling well. Or it could be totally unrelated - it’s hard to say without more specifics. But in case you have made a lot of changes at once, you should know that it isn’t necessary. One of the great things about MFP is that you can lose weight eating whatever you want to eat as long as you stay in your calorie goal. Good luck!

quiksylver296

Sounds like caffeine withdrawal. Did you cut out your normal caffeine in whatever form?

Lounmoun

Have you changed your diet a lot? You might want to make more gradual changes.
Is your calorie goal agressive? Trying to lose 2 lbs a week is too aggressive for most people who are not 50+ lbs overweight. Maybe choose a slower rate of loss and eat more.
Are you exercising? With MFP you are supposed eat more calories when you exercise.

LivingtheLeanDream

When you change what you eat radically and reduce your calories the first few days at least are going to be tough. Have you reduced your calories too aggressively? perhaps change goal from losing 2lbs a week to 1.5 or 1lb?

kshama2001

Also wondering about caffeine withdrawal.

RadishEater

One thing that stuck with me from health class, was that caffeine withdrawal symptoms can be to the severity of having the flu and last for quite a while too. Obviously, this depends on the person and their prior caffeine intake, but even changing your caffeine intake a bit and additionally changing your diet might be amplifying negative effects.

Gradual changes are the best in my opinion (because that is what worked for me). Let you body and mind slowly adjust to your goal lifestyle.