WHY DO I HAVE HEADACHES SINCE STARTING MY DIET?

redheaddee

I have been doing well for about a week, but I have a dull, achy headache almost constantly now. I am drinking more water, so I don't this I am dehydrated. It seems to get a little better once I eat. Any suggestions?

**Allow me to update...
OK, first off, WOW at the number of responses I got and quick!!!
To answer some questions:
a) I have not cut out caffeine, I only drink one cup of coffee a day anyway. NOT gonna happen!
b) I don't know how to make my food log viewable but I''ll work on that.
c) I have set myself to 2000 calories to start. I am trying not to set myself up for failure as I have some in the past, so I figure as I get used to this I will drop it a little to 1800, etc. I have been right at my goal, usually within 100 cal of my goal for the day. I know this will take time so I am trying to make smart changes!
d) and yes, I had a very crappy diet before. I would eat out 3-4 times a week. BAD!!

I think it may be the sugar as several of you have suggested...in keeping the journal I noticed REAL quick that I was getting a LOT of calories from sugar (especially in my morning coffee!), plus I am a sweet hound. Now I have drastically reduced my sugar intake to only what occurs naturally in food. I am using stevia instead of sugar in my coffee, and have had almost no chocolate in a week!

Thanks for the ideas, y'all are great

mea9

Detox?? Sometimes that happens when you go off sugar.

llm12

You aren't eating enough to fuel your body.

mamaDaisyJ

did you quit soda? could be caffeine withdrawals

AmeChops

Do you feel nauseous at all?? How much of a reduction on calories have you made?? It might be that your body isn't getting enough goodness

Dornroschen

If we could see,
Your diary,
Maybe we,
Could help thee.

27strange

I automatically think of three things without having much info provided.... sugar withdrawals, caffeine withdrawals, dehydration. You have ruled out dehydration, what about the other 2?

MsKeelah919

Perhaps its a detox symptom. If prior to this diet, you ate crap and stopped suddenly, you may experience 'side effects' as your body moves these offenders out of your system. It should pass soon.

bunny888

Could well be because your system is de-toxing if you're eating a lot more fruit and veg and drinking more water. Keep up with drinking the water.

angeliis02

I get those types of headaches for 2 different reasons - caffeine withdrawals and artificial sweeteners. If I drink more than one Diet Drink a day or put Splenda in my coffee I get headaches from the artificial sweeteners.

stefraab

I have been doing well for about a week, but I have a dull, achy headache almost constantly now. I am drinking more water, so I don't this I am dehydrated. It seems to get a little better once I eat. Any suggestions?

let's see your diary...

dia77

drink water, tons! that will help you go through this.

sarahemily72

Have you given up caffeine?

Danahimself

did you quit soda? could be caffeine withdrawals

Have a glass of water


I like the all caps in the topic also..

mosneakers

Are you staying close to your calorie goal?
When I started, I was well below the calories I was alotted ("I'll lose weight faster." Uh no!!!).

Did you eat mostly crap before?
When I started eating cleaner, my body wanted to fight me. My body wanted pop, sugar and cookies, but I said no. In return, I got headaches for about a week. Now, I get headaches after I splurge with some pop, a few cookies or other stuff I know I shouldn't be eating. I guess it's my body's way of saying it doesn't want it now.

Good job taking in a lot of water - that's always a good thing!

GLLove

This happened to me too when I first started I had my goals set to lose the max 2 a week and felt horrible, I readjusted and felt better and starting actually losing more. You could be having the same problem? IF so, you arent eating enough. Adjust your goals. You can always cancel out food with exercise, but you need food for energy.

ChantalD75

I stopped drinking coffee and have been having headaches daily...

totustuusmaria

I am not a doctor or nutritionist or anything special but a 20-something MFP-er. But, my friend has a habit of barely eating or being very picky when she does eat (cheese, fries, candy, chicken fingers... basically the diet of a 5 year old). She gets constant headaches. She insists on going to the doctor when this happens. They tell her every time she is lacking some specific nutrient. Last time it was potassium. Perhaps since you have changed your diet you have not gotten a specific nutrient that you had before in your diet. Watch and make sure you are getting enough of the vitamins and nutrients you need and choose foods that fill you up in those. See if that helps your headaches.

And too, you could be going through a crash-withdrawal.

Only my opinion.

cathyAprice

too little carbs (the good kind) can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness...

Atlantique

I have been doing well for about a week, but I have a dull, achy headache almost constantly now. I am drinking more water, so I don't this I am dehydrated. It seems to get a little better once I eat. Any suggestions?

Sounds as though you either aren't eating enough or you aren't eating frequently enough if it gets better when you eat.

Other possibilities:

-You cut out a lot of carbs. This makes many people feel awful for at least a few days. also known as the Atkins Flu.

-You cut out a lot of caffeine and are going through caffeine withdrawal. You can alleviate that by having more caffeine. If you went cold turkey on the cafffeine, you can stick with it as you should be almost through it, or you can try to get off the caffeine more gradually.

-You raised your protein by quite a bit. It takes a lot of water to process protein, so you may need even more water than you believe you do.

tayteetots

I've gotten more headaches at work since I started the diet when I'm too busy to be able to eat regularly enough.

jujubean1992

are you eating ENOUGH sugar? headache is the first sign of low blood sugar... especially if it goes away or gets better when you eat.

mollycivinskas

That happens to me too, and I noticed it's usually when I exercise really, really long and hard, and don't eat very many calories. I, too, noticed that they tend to go away when I eat. So when I do eat, I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies, and during meals, I make sure to include lean protein. Please let ME know if you find any additional solutions.

RMinVA

Perhaps its a detox symptom. If prior to this diet, you ate crap and stopped suddenly, you may experience 'side effects' as your body moves these offenders out of your system. It should pass soon.

Exactly. If you have cut way back on refined carbs/sugar those effects are not uncommon. And they are amplified if you have eliminated caffeine too.

pa_jorg

Have you been adding crystal light or any of those powders to make it easier to drink water? Those and the fake sugar they're made from can give you headaches.

mollycivinskas

P.S. Too much water combined with a lot of exercise and sweating can also be bad. If you're exercising a lot, make sure you replenish your electrolytes with Gatorade or something like it (I like G2- it's very low calorie.)

PalmettoparkGuy

I agree.

stephr2014

Have you cut down on carbs/ Sugar? because this could be why your getting your headaches, but it will pass.

MAG2010

I get headaches something FIERCE when I detox off sugar!! Just drink lots and lots of water!!! It gets better I promise!!!!

MsLadyVirgo

Bump

AmeChops

Hopefully your headaches will calm down soon...making changes always upsets the body a bit, if it does carry on though maybe have a chat with your doctor...looks like you're making changes for the better though. good luck to you :-))