is it normal to have daily headaches in a calorie deficit?
skyhowl
Posts: 206 Member
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?
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
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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.1 -
I'm on a 1200 calories diet and not having headaches. I'm honestly not sure though.1
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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.2 -
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 calories0 -
cafisher0404 wrote: »I'm on a 1200 calories diet and not having headaches. I'm honestly not sure though.
thank you0 -
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.3
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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.1
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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 0 -
Caffeine withdrawal was my first thought too...Or dehydration.2
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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.
i like salty food , good for me
. will try that, thanks 1 -
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.
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When I don't get enough sleep I notice lingering headaches. Could that be a reason?0
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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 you0 -
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 help0 -
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.0
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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 hungry1
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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?0
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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.0
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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!1 -
No, it's not normal to have a headache when dieting. I see several potential causes, some which are already mentioned.
- Caffeine withdrawal. - that should sort itself out in a couple days
- Exam withdrawal. - time for a party!
- Just not enough calories. - up your calories by at least 200 a day. You'll still lose and you'll have more energy.
- Anemia. Get more iron in. Raisin bran for breakfast, and steak for dinner.
- Electrolyte imbalance. Salt your food.
2 -
I'd like to throw out that the weather can induce headaches in some people. I get bad headaches, not quite migraines, when there's a low pressure system sitting over the island.0
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TinklesOdd 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
1054 when you are 5'8" - why?
Guess you have set an aggressive rate of weight loss and not eating back exercise calories is making your deficit excessive irrespective of headaches or not.
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robingmurphy wrote: »Are you hungry when you get the headache? For many people a headache is a sign of letting themselves get a little too hungry
no not really, surprisingly i don't get hungry that much (even before dieting, i sometimes eat a lot but most of the time i don't enjoy eating). some days i will be hungry but i can manage these days by choosing the right macros so i feel full.
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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!
i've calculated my BMR on three websites, it is around 1580. but i don't trust these calculators, i don't know. i feel like i need to know how do they know that this is the energy required for my body to function correctly. i will try to do some research after i am done with my exams next Tuesday.
also, my boyfriend is actually the one that is helping me in this process. he used to be a personal trainer "he is not qualified or anything" but he tells me if i choose to do this my way. i should stick to my way and not to ask him for help. so i am afraid i won't lose weight my way "upping my calories"0 -
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.
yeah, i think that my headaches are worse now since i am really busy with my exams, i don't really feel like i need to eat until i get home.0 -
No, it's not normal to have a headache when dieting. I see several potential causes, some which are already mentioned.
- Caffeine withdrawal. - that should sort itself out in a couple days
- Exam withdrawal. - time for a party!
- Just not enough calories. - up your calories by at least 200 a day. You'll still lose and you'll have more energy.
- Anemia. Get more iron in. Raisin bran for breakfast, and steak for dinner.
- Electrolyte imbalance. Salt your food.
thank you for your help 0 -
CharlotteDiva wrote: »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.
well, i will see what i can do about that thanks 0 -
TinklesOdd 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
1054 when you are 5'8" - why?
Guess you have set an aggressive rate of weight loss and not eating back exercise calories is making your deficit excessive irrespective of headaches or not.
I agree. That's a crazy-low amount of calories for your height and weight.
I'm 5'8", currently 165. I started out with 1200 - long, long ago before I knew better. Once I learned more, I set a less aggressive deficit and added exercise calories and ate some of those. Last year I also bought a Fitbit (Charge model) and my deficit is based off of the burn provided by myFitbit. I lose (slowly, by choice) eating a daily average of probably around 1800, maybe closer to 1900.
I'm guessing you chose 2lb/wk. At your weight, you shouldn't have a goal of more than 1 lb/wk; .5 lb/wk would be better. Of course, it's also important that you log accurately in order to make sure you are actually creating the deficit you chose. Just be aware, everything is an estimate - some are just more accurate than others - and you need real world results before you will know how accurate the numbers are. That's true for everyone. Choose reasonable goals. Meet those goals for 4-6 weeks. Adjust as necessary.
And tell your boyfriend he's crazy if he thinks eating more than you are won't get you to your goals (unless I misread your statement).0 -
One vote for not eating enough0
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