is it normal to have daily headaches in a calorie deficit?

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skyhowl
skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
hello, I've been logging for 40 days on MFP, i am 173 cm (5 ft 8 in), my starting weight was 84 kg (185 lbs) and my current weight is 78 kg (172 lbs). i am eating the amount of calories as advised by my diary (1210 calories).
i also started running and doing indoor cycling, been doing good for the first 25 days but stopped because of my M.Sc exams, will start working out again next week.
my question is, i've been having a daily headache for the past week or so. is it normal? could it be related to my diet?
note that the weather got extremely hot in the past few days, i've been trying to stay hydrated throughout the day so i don't get dehydrated.
my boyfriend keep telling me that it is not because of the weather or exams and that it is normal and you should feel that way when you are on a low calorie diet. any help?
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Replies

  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
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    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    hello, I've been logging for 40 days on MFP, i am 173 cm (5 ft 8 in), my starting weight was 84 kg (185 lbs) and my current weight is 78 kg (172 lbs). i am eating the amount of calories as advised by my diary (1210 calories).
    i also started running and doing indoor cycling, been doing good for the first 25 days but stopped because of my M.Sc exams, will start working out again next week.
    my question is, i've been having a daily headache for the past week or so. is it normal? could it be related to my diet?
    note that the weather got extremely hot in the past few days, i've been trying to stay hydrated throughout the day so i don't get dehydrated.
    my boyfriend keep telling me that it is not because of the weather or exams and that it is normal and you should feel that way when you are on a low calorie diet. any help?

    Are you eating back any exercise calories? If not, then that would explain the headaches. You're on a 1210 calorie diet but probably netting less than 1000 on most days.
  • cafisher0404
    cafisher0404 Posts: 77 Member
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    I'm on a 1200 calories diet and not having headaches. I'm honestly not sure though.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
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    Keep well hydrated and keep your sodium levels up. Excessive sweating combined with drinking a lot of water can drop your blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) and the first symptom is usually headache.

    And no, calorie restriction on its own shouldn't cause headaches. I have always been susceptible, but the frequency and severity of my headaches remains unchanged. Lack of caffeine or interrupted sleep patterns are my two big triggers, although heat-related headaches (from dehydration, hyponatremia, or both) can happen too.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    synacious wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    hello, I've been logging for 40 days on MFP, i am 173 cm (5 ft 8 in), my starting weight was 84 kg (185 lbs) and my current weight is 78 kg (172 lbs). i am eating the amount of calories as advised by my diary (1210 calories).
    i also started running and doing indoor cycling, been doing good for the first 25 days but stopped because of my M.Sc exams, will start working out again next week.
    my question is, i've been having a daily headache for the past week or so. is it normal? could it be related to my diet?
    note that the weather got extremely hot in the past few days, i've been trying to stay hydrated throughout the day so i don't get dehydrated.
    my boyfriend keep telling me that it is not because of the weather or exams and that it is normal and you should feel that way when you are on a low calorie diet. any help?

    Are you eating back any exercise calories? If not, then that would explain the headaches. You're on a 1210 calorie diet but probably netting less than 1000 on most days.


    i haven't worked out for over a week, but when i used to workout, i tend to eat just a few of my exercise calories, my average net calorie over the past week is 1054 calories
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    cafisher0404 wrote: »
    I'm on a 1200 calories diet and not having headaches. I'm honestly not sure though.

    thank you
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 9,988 Member
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    Just a random thought - you didn't by any chance increase your caffeine intake while cramming for the M.Sc. exams, than eliminate or reduce your caffeine when you were done with your exams? Caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, and for some people they can last for days.
  • sarahthes
    sarahthes Posts: 3,252 Member
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    I agree it sounds like your electrolytes might be off a bit. It's common on low carb diets but excess sweating can cause it too if your sodium intake is low. Try making and drinking some broth (like Oxo brand or similar) when the headache comes on. If that makes it go away you have your answer. You could make broth part of your meal plan or you could just start salting your food a bit.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    rankinsect wrote: »
    Keep well hydrated and keep your sodium levels up. Excessive sweating combined with drinking a lot of water can drop your blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) and the first symptom is usually headache.

    And no, calorie restriction on its own shouldn't cause headaches. I have always been susceptible, but the frequency and severity of my headaches remains unchanged. Lack of caffeine or interrupted sleep patterns are my two big triggers, although heat-related headaches (from dehydration, hyponatremia, or both) can happen too.

    umm, didn't know about that, i usually drink lots of water even when it wasn't hot (my family comment on how much water i drink, i always feel thirsty). and when it gets hot, i drink more water and i don't really eat that much. the past few days i almost ate nothing until my dinner. it could be that :). thank you for your help
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    edited June 2016
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    Caffeine withdrawal was my first thought too...Or dehydration.
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    sarahthes wrote: »
    I agree it sounds like your electrolytes might be off a bit. It's common on low carb diets but excess sweating can cause it too if your sodium intake is low. Try making and drinking some broth (like Oxo brand or similar) when the headache comes on. If that makes it go away you have your answer. You could make broth part of your meal plan or you could just start salting your food a bit.

    i like salty food , good for me :D. will try that, thanks
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
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    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    [

    umm, didn't know about that, i usually drink lots of water even when it wasn't hot (my family comment on how much water i drink, i always feel thirsty). and when it gets hot, i drink more water and i don't really eat that much. the past few days i almost ate nothing until my dinner. it could be that :). thank you for your help

    Have you had your blood sugars checked, always feeling thirsty is a big warning sign for diabetes.

  • kalm3
    kalm3 Posts: 67 Member
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    When I don't get enough sleep I notice lingering headaches. Could that be a reason?
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    Just a random thought - you didn't by any chance increase your caffeine intake while cramming for the M.Sc. exams, than eliminate or reduce your caffeine when you were done with your exams? Caffeine withdrawal causes headaches, and for some people they can last for days.

    i am actually not into coffee, i go for months without any coffee or tea. but i had a few cups of coffee in the past week. if that's the reason, hopefully my headaches will stop soon. thank you
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    firef1y72 wrote: »
    TinklesOdd wrote: »
    [

    umm, didn't know about that, i usually drink lots of water even when it wasn't hot (my family comment on how much water i drink, i always feel thirsty). and when it gets hot, i drink more water and i don't really eat that much. the past few days i almost ate nothing until my dinner. it could be that :). thank you for your help

    Have you had your blood sugars checked, always feeling thirsty is a big warning sign for diabetes.

    i did a blood test 3 months ago, everything was fine except i was anaemic. thanks for your help
  • skyhowl
    skyhowl Posts: 206 Member
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    kalm3 wrote: »
    When I don't get enough sleep I notice lingering headaches. Could that be a reason?

    maybe
  • subakwa
    subakwa Posts: 347 Member
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    It could be your eating pattern. I notice headaches if I fast too long. I didn't know that was what was causing them when I was working and not eating until I got home and assigned them stress and computer work. Since counting calories however and varying patterns to achieve 1200 most comfortably I have been able to correlate no eating in the day with afternoon headaches.
  • robingmurphy
    robingmurphy Posts: 349 Member
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    Are you hungry when you get the headache? For many people a headache is a sign of letting themselves get a little too hungry
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,182 Member
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    I don't experience headaches, neither before nor since being in a substantial calorie deficit and diligently keeping sodium low. Would you care to consult a neurospecialist?
  • CharlotteDiva
    CharlotteDiva Posts: 4 Member
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    I have been on 1200 calories per day for about 2 months. I recently had the same problem with headaches. According to my Doctor, it might be due to a lack of magnesium. She prescribed magnesium as a supplement (1 tablet per day during breakfast). For the moment, no more headaches. Happy.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
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    You're really tall to be at 1200 calories, especially with your average exercise. The headaches might be due to not eating enough?

    You should look at your BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate) and your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure). Your BMR is the minimum number of calories your body needs to maintain functions--like brain activity, heart beat and breathing. You should not eat below your BMR without a doctor's supervision. Your TDEE is how many total calories you burn each day including exercise. You cut calories from this number to come up with your deficit for weight loss.

    What's your goal weight? If you're at 1200 calories with your height, it sound like you might have set your weight loss to 2 pounds per week. That can be too aggressive if you have less than 50 pounds to lose and it seems that's likely.

    Generally, if you have 50+ pounds to lose, you can try 2 pounds per week. 25-50, 1.5 pounds per week. Less than 25,1 pound per week. The closer you get to your goal weight, the harder it can be to lose and you really need to have tight logging. As people lose weight, they typically adjust their calorie allotment down, and you have no where to go from 1200. 1200 is consider the minimum due to being to meet basic nutritional needs.

    You also want to give your body enough calories so you don't lose too much lean muscle mass.

    I would guess the headaches could be caused by low blood sugar, due to not enough food.

    Please take care of yourself and your body--you're all you've got!

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