No Flu Here, Am I Doing It Wrong?

TheYoungRetiree

I know there's set way to experience the paleo/primal lifestyle (well, trying to get it 80% of the time!). I started last Friday though and have yet to be struck by this infamous "carb-flu". I did have a very debilitating headache on Saturday, where I slept until about 2 in the afternoon to just get rid of. Other than that- nothing. I am pretty sure my diary is open to anyone who wants to stop by and have a look see to possibly help me out. I'm afraid I'm doing something wrong though.

I did have some of the coconut shrimp left in the fridge on Saturday boosting those carbs up to 145 for the day, and since then have hit 91, 64, and 78 today.

Do I have to brace myself for the inevitable to still hit me?

Any tips and advice would be great!

sed1217

I'm new too, this is my third day of primal/paleo. I was fine the first day, actually felt very energetic. But yesterday and today I feel like I have the hangover from hell. Very sluggish, head throbbing, just want to lay in bed (can't do that, work!). I wanted to go to bed yesterday by 7 PM. It was nasty. I'm also transitioning from a very high-carb lifestyle though. It could be that you were already eating a fairly solid balance of foods and that cutting down on carbs isn't a total shock to your system. I checked your diary, things look (to my rather untrained eye) good. You might check your meats to make sure they don't have a lot of added sugar (like teriyaki meats can). But, really, I think you're doing great. You're lucky that the lack of carbs isn't doing to you what it's doing to me!

I've drunk at least 12 full glasses of water each day of paleo/primal so far, and I've already dropped 3 pounds. This process is *painful* but effective!

Cerebrus189

What are your macronutrients set to? It seems like you might not be getting enough fat. Mine are set to 60-70% fat (the bulk of my calories), 20-25% protein and 10-15% carbs, never over 100 grams per day and sugar limited to under 25 grams a day. I change my numbers as needed when I'm working out but never exceed 25% protein.

Watch those sugars from fruit. You'll want to pick fruits like berries and melons because they contain less sugar. Fruits that contain the most sugar are grapes and bananas. Also carrots have quite a bit of sugar for their size. If you're going to do fruit, you'll want to limit it to a single serving per day while you're looking to lose. I've found that I can typically only get away with eating fruit a few times a week, same with nuts, in order to continue losing.

Also as far as the dressings go, even if they say organic, the Annie's Cowgirl Ranch is a no-no. These are the ingredients: WATER, *EXPELLER PRESSED VEGETABLE OIL (*CANOLA AND/OR *SUNFLOWER), *APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, *CULTURED BUTTERMILK, *CANE SUGAR, SEA SALT, *WHOLE EGG, *ONION, *GARLIC, *CHIVES, *PARSLEY, XANTHAN GUM. The second ingredient is a vegetable oil, totally not primal or paleo, and not good for you. It also contains sugar. You'll find the best dressings to have on hand are the ones you make yourself. Identifying commercial dressings that are paleo/primal approved will come with experience.

As far as carb flu goes, I've seen some people that don't get it until they're a week into Paleo/Primal. I had it for almost 2 weeks when I first started from about day 3 on. Not everybody gets it though. It depends on how you were eating before you started Paleo/Primal.

Mrs_Duh

I'm sure that everyone is different. I hope you don't have to experience this carb-flu! I had a very high-carb lifestyle before, which has to be the reason why I'm feeling this way.

PitBullMom_Liz

I've been doing Primal for a month now and haven't experienced the Carb Flu. However, I had a friend who does Atkins tell me to eat lots of fat and lots of protein and that will help. So I have been and hey, maybe that's why I haven't gotten it! I was very carb-heavy before - LOVED pasta and bread.

TheYoungRetiree

Thanks y'all! I had bought the organic ranch to carry me over until I could get all the stuff to make my own and have since thrown it out. Thanks for the tips. Ummm- worst headache of my life again today and I'm not sure if it's something I ate, or just getting used to it. I think I'll just be prepared for the worst of it.

I don't know what everyone means when they say % of fat and protein? I have no clue what to do there!

*Obviously, the brain fog is hitting me hard and I would swear to you I'm slightly stupider since starting this!