Carb Withdrawal

KBGirts

Hey guys.... not much activity on the Paleo Group forum is there?

I am new to Paleo. I have always believed the premise of the diet but never felt like I needed to try it.... I felt like I could eat healthy without subscribing to any "diet". Then I watched the documentary Fathead. I really enjoyed the film and everything that was said made sense (although some of it made me mad at our government and some of it was scary).

It wasn't the film in itself that made me decide to go Paleo.... it was the film in addition to previous reading I had done on various diets that made me think that Paleo makes the most sense. I dropped processed foods and products made from grains as well as grains themselves beginning with my Monday dinner, 3 days ago.

So starting with day 2, I have felt pretty lethargic and tired, often lightheaded and dizzy, felt nauseated slightly after lunch yesterday, and over all don't feel very sharp. I've had a slight headache since starting and I feel hungry (even though I know I'm not, I just "feel" hungry) all the time except for immediately after a meal. I realize that these symptoms are simply my body going "Crap, we don't have any carbs for energy, what the hell do we do???" and it will take a while for it to say "oh wait, we have all this fat we can use.... okay" In all actuality, I kinda like feeling this way because I know my body is going through a change.... YAY!!!

Have you guys been through this? How did you cope? How long did it last? How did you feel after it was over? Also, how much weight have you lost while being Paleo? Any insight would be much appreciated!!!

KMAMinx13

I started being interested in Paleo about ten years ago after reading Neanderthin by Ray Audette. I never got serious about Paleo though until the last couple of years. I just saw Fathead about three months ago - it is excellent. I've watched it a dozen times! Not sure if you know but you can watch it for free on Hulu.

I've read quite a few books on the subject such as Life without Bread, The Paleo Solution, Primal Blueprint, etc. and they're all good but I find that I gravitate back to Neanderthin and Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It by Gary Taubes more than any other books on the subject. Dr. Atkins and the Drs. Eades are also on the right track but not necessarily Paleo.

I'm not sure if you've read Gary's book but it is just a great and simple explanation of the Paleo plan even though he does not reference it as such (that I can recall). Gary also wrote Good Calories Bad Calories which is also great but at 500+ pages, is a cumbersome read. I like Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint and his website but find that for myself, I have to eliminate dairy. Perhaps I will begin to incorporate dairy back into my food plan later but for now I am strictly Paleo.

Regarding carb-flu (the symptoms which you are experiencing), I always feel similar symptoms when I come back to a strict Paleo plan. I got back on plan on 1/1/12 and had a headache until the 5th. Not really light-headed but really wasn't interested in eating but DID crave the sugar. I have been great at eliminating all corn and bread from my food plans even when I don't stick to Paleo but the sugar is where I fail. I use Steviva brand stevia in place of sugar normally but have decided to eliminate that and caffeine from my food plan for at least the first three months so that I can really get my body adapted to Paleo eating. I pushed through that first week by reminding myself that, "this too will pass". You're right; it has to happen so that we can begin ridding ourselves of the toxicity of these elements from our systems.

As always, I feel great now that I'm past that first seven days or so. No headaches, no huge appetite, and not really craving sweets at all. Eating the healthy fats and good proteins keeps me satiated. I also don't have any problem drinking plenty of water and I actually crave it. I overdid it the last week of December in anticipation of the New Year so I was full of sugar. I also had pre-menstrual bloat and I think that those two factors contributed to my ten-pound weight loss from 1/1/12 to 1/8/12. I do consider that an anomaly but I won't deny that I definitely feel it and appreciated seeing it!! This is going to be the year. I am dedicated to doing this and sticking with it. My house is prepped and my mind is set. I’ve also been getting back into mountain biking for the last couple of years.

http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Get-Fat-About/dp/0307272702/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1326420806&sr=8-1

KBGirts

Hey thanks for all the info!! I have not read any of those books, but now that I'm really getting into it, I will. Today marks the end of day three and I am looking forward to what the next few days will bring! So excited about trying out this new lifestyle!

spngebobmyhero

I don't get the carb flu when I don't eat carbs, but I hear this is pretty common. I heard in a recent podcast that some people get it and others don't, but they weren't sure why.

You don't necessarily need to be carb-free to be paleo, there are plenty of carbs in veggies and fruits, they just aren't the poison that grain carbs are. I think my intake is about 100g a day.

KMAMinx13

I agree. Paleo is definitely not carb-free. I eat more healthy carbs on Paleo than I did when I was on the "Low-Carb" plans and I still lose weight and feel good.

KBGirts

I've been getting about 50 grams per from veggies and nuts. It's now day 5 and it's taken me some time to adjust how to eat. I do feel like I'm not eating enough vegetables so I will increase that which will increase the carbs. The carb-flu symptoms were not debilitating, just noticeable, so that was good. They seem to be gone now, but I have noticed that I feel like I am having to put out more effort during my workouts.... My perceived effort is higher for the same workout. It's like my body still doesn't know how to access fuel when it needs it.

Kymmu

I found the first 30 days the hardest, but then it just got easier and easier. it's been a year now and my new way is just second nature. When I look back at the food I used to eat and I thought I was being healthy....I was so misinformed.
Lots of friends and co-workers have asked for advice but can't stick with it, for lack of family support, or just lack of willpower.
It's worth the initial struggle!

KBGirts

I found the first 30 days the hardest, but then it just got easier and easier. it's been a year now and my new way is just second nature. When I look back at the food I used to eat and I thought I was being healthy....I was so misinformed.
Lots of friends and co-workers have asked for advice but can't stick with it, for lack of family support, or just lack of willpower.
It's worth the initial struggle!

Today I did not take my lunch to work and all my coworkers wanted to go to Olive Garden.... So I was surrounded by pasta. I ordered the grilled chicken with veggies sans apricot sauce (I'm sure there was sugar in that) and I had a caesar salad and mussels. I don't know how Paleo caesar dressing is, but I was so happy that it was not difficult for me to resist the bread sticks. Normally I could eat an entire basket plus a pasta dish.

I have heard a good 30 days to truly see a difference. I am 1/4 the way there.

Kymmu

Great effort.
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I thought someone may find this helpful!

missxlaur

this is hitting me so bad. i feel like i'm having migraines

this is my third day paleo. i'm definitely noticing that i'm uninterested in eating and all i want to do is lay down. womp.

KMAMinx13

It's the sugars/grains that your body is eliminating and still seeking.

I also get headaches (I don't get migraines anymore) and I lose my appetite and want to sleep too. Whenever I go off plan and eat poorly, it takes me about 5-7 days to get it back. I just keep reminding myself that "this too will pass".

Keep drinking water to flush your system and eat plenty of good fats and protein when you're hungry. I know others who have had moderate carb-flu for a few weeks initially. You're doing great. Don't push yourself too much physically right now. Don't cave to the cravings but listen to your body and rest if you need it.

Kymmu

Hang in there!
I wasn't addicted to carbs so maybe it was easier for me. Make suer you have lots of good fats to help you convert from being a sugar burner to a fat burner.
If you can keep going it will be worth it- promise!

KBGirts

this is hitting me so bad. i feel like i'm having migraines

this is my third day paleo. i'm definitely noticing that i'm uninterested in eating and all i want to do is lay down. womp.

Wow! I haven't been this bad. That sucks! Keep at it, though!!! I wish you the best of luck.