Going through withdrawal

Skinnyjeans_Sarah
Skinnyjeans_Sarah Posts: 52 Member
in Getting Started
It might not happen to everyone, I'm not sure.. But for me, every time I start on a diet it takes 3-7 days for my body to adjust to this new routine.

And it really sucks, cuz I feel crummy and I'm more moody so to speak... Just not very fun adjusting. Anyone else know what I'm talking about out there?

How do you guys react to changes in your diet?

Replies

  • ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken Posts: 1,530 Member
    If it's any where near PMS I don't even try it. It's like running against the wind. But once I do establish my new plan it does take a week or so for me to adjust. Especially when everyone around me is slugging down the junk food like it's going out of style. I have to just find new things to do besides sit around trying to behave myself. Maybe a walk after dinner, or a short nap after lunch. Something to change up what I do helps me get through that tough initial phase.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited September 2016
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.
  • ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken Posts: 1,530 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.

    I don't think it's a matter of not "feeling better" but rather the body trying to hang onto old ways. I know I both felt better and yet struggled with the beginnings of a new plan no matter how good the change was I was making.
  • Skinnyjeans_Sarah
    Skinnyjeans_Sarah Posts: 52 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.

    I don't think it's a matter of not "feeling better" but rather the body trying to hang onto old ways. I know I both felt better and yet struggled with the beginnings of a new plan no matter how good the change was I was making.

    Exactly. The food that my body is used to for the most part is junk food. So to cut myself off from it and start taking in healthy foods shocks my system, and takes me a little while to adjust to.

    If you start off feeling better than worse, then I envy you lol.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    I think a lot of it is psychological, but there definitely is a period of withdrawal from sugary things, caffeine, excessive carbs. So if those are things you are cutting back on, there will be a few days of physical discomfort. I find that I get sugar "hangovers" now if I eat too much of it after long periods of abstinence. It's interesting - to me at least. :lol:
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    I don't see any food as junk, I've not cut anything out of my diet, I just eat less.

    No wonder your miserable if your going without the foods you like.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    vincearah wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.

    I don't think it's a matter of not "feeling better" but rather the body trying to hang onto old ways. I know I both felt better and yet struggled with the beginnings of a new plan no matter how good the change was I was making.

    Exactly. The food that my body is used to for the most part is junk food. So to cut myself off from it and start taking in healthy foods shocks my system, and takes me a little while to adjust to.

    If you start off feeling better than worse, then I envy you lol.

    I'm mentally battling myself before I start eating better, though, when I've been eating mostly junk. I hold on and think I will miss it. Parts of me want to stop, other parts want to continue. It doesn' feel like a shock, but something I have to overcome. When I've decided I've had enough, and actually start to eat better and move, it feels good.

    (My biggest struggle was that I couldn't keep up "healthy eating" for very long. It took time and research to understand that I had been misguided.)
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    What kind of diets are we talking about here? I never consciously and willingly start any changes that aren't improvements - and improvements to my diet makes me immediately feel better.

    I don't think it's a matter of not "feeling better" but rather the body trying to hang onto old ways. I know I both felt better and yet struggled with the beginnings of a new plan no matter how good the change was I was making.

    I agree. Yes, when I start a calorie deficit, I am a bit agitated and sometimes get a headache. However, it gets better once I adjust.
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited September 2016
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    I don't see any food as junk, I've not cut anything out of my diet, I just eat less.

    No wonder your miserable if your going without the foods you like.
    Agreed.
    Weight loss is about calories, not cutting out certain foods/caffeine/food groups.
    Yes, you can lose weight including chocolate/ice cream/pizza in a diet with healthier meals.

    You have to think about what is to you, sustainable for life, not just while you're losing weight.
  • jimmyhsharkey
    jimmyhsharkey Posts: 51 Member
    This happened when I switched to paleo. Once I got over the "flu" as I called it I felt/feel great. Mine last 3-5 days if I remember right.
  • ksenya03
    ksenya03 Posts: 51 Member
    I got horrible withdrawal symptoms when I cut out caffeine (not part of dieting was for other reasons several years ago). The symptoms lasted about 2 weeks. As part of general diet though I think anytime you make a lot of changes all at once it can be hard on the body. It's part of why making many small changes over time is much more sustainable.
  • Hamsibian
    Hamsibian Posts: 1,388 Member
    Yes, yes, yes! I have definitely felt withdrawal symptoms after I cut out processed foods. It's actually pretty normal, it just means that your body is readjusting and may be getting rid of some bad bacteria at the same time. It's a toll on the body, but after about a week or two, you should be just fine.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    The director of our province's weight loss program says we should start our resolutions on a warm and sunny day after a long relaxing vacation, not in January.
  • ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken
    ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken Posts: 1,530 Member
    cerise_noir wrote: »
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    I don't see any food as junk, I've not cut anything out of my diet, I just eat less.

    No wonder your miserable if your going without the foods you like.
    Agreed.
    Weight loss is about calories, not cutting out certain foods/caffeine/food groups.
    Yes, you can lose weight including chocolate/ice cream/pizza in a diet with healthier meals.

    You have to think about what is to you, sustainable for life, not just while you're losing weight.

    Weight loss is about what ever each individual chooses. Some people want to eat more healthful and nutritious foods. Some people want to eat all the processed food they like and not be over weight. It's all individual. For me it is not so much about looking good but feeling well. More nutrient dense foods tend to help me feel well. So I eat more of those types of foods. Also, I love vegetables anyway so I am not giving up all things delicious, I am limiting the things that make me feel poorly and increasing the ones that make me feel great.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Hamsibian wrote: »
    Yes, yes, yes! I have definitely felt withdrawal symptoms after I cut out processed foods. It's actually pretty normal, it just means that your body is readjusting and may be getting rid of some bad bacteria at the same time. It's a toll on the body, but after about a week or two, you should be just fine.

    Getting rid of bad bacteria?
  • Skinnyjeans_Sarah
    Skinnyjeans_Sarah Posts: 52 Member
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »
    I don't see any food as junk, I've not cut anything out of my diet, I just eat less.

    No wonder your miserable if your going without the foods you like.

    Difference of opinion then... Some foods just don't have anything good to offer your body though, that's what I refer to as "junk".
    I cut it out of my diet because eating small amounts is just teasing myself to want more.

    You see right now my restraint isn't too good, so I prefer to just stay away all together.. It actually works for me.
  • almostanangel21
    almostanangel21 Posts: 143 Member
    Cravings kick my butt sometimes (especially around this time of month), but I've never had nasty withdraw from a normal, balanced diet. I did have problems in the past when I went on some "x food group is evil" diet, like low-carb. Then again, I generally like home-cooked, relatively balanced meals; my problem was hormonal on top of stress-eating.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    edited September 2016
    vincearah wrote: »
    Difference of opinion then... Some foods just don't have anything good to offer your body though, that's what I refer to as "junk".

    I can't think of a single one that has NOTHING good to offer your body. Even calories (in the right amounts, of course) are good things. Many of us dislike them because it's easy in our society to overeat, but calories quite literally save our lives.

    Foods that are basically pure sugar (hard candy, pixie sticks) may truly have nothing nutritious apart from the calories, but other than that, most food has vitamins, minerals, etc. that are useful, even food commonly called "junk". Even the purely sugary foods have their uses - if you're doing a long endurance activity, they are fairly lightweight, palatable, and provide rapid energy to your muscles with minimal effort needed to digest. That certainly shouldn't be the only thing you eat, but those foods have their uses.

    Plus, part of eating is pleasure, too, and you need to satisfy that aspect of your food needs, just like you need to satisfy your nutritional requirements. There's a reason we don't buy bags of "human food" like we have specially formulated pet foods and just eat the same thing every day.
  • Skinnyjeans_Sarah
    Skinnyjeans_Sarah Posts: 52 Member
    rankinsect wrote: »
    vincearah wrote: »
    Difference of opinion then... Some foods just don't have anything good to offer your body though, that's what I refer to as "junk".

    I can't think of a single one that has NOTHING good to offer your body. Even calories (in the right amounts, of course) are good things. Many of us dislike them because it's easy in our society to overeat, but calories quite literally save our lives.

    Foods that are basically pure sugar (hard candy, pixie sticks) may truly have nothing nutritious apart from the calories, but other than that, most food has vitamins, minerals, etc. that are useful, even food commonly called "junk". Even the purely sugary foods have their uses - if you're doing a long endurance activity, they are fairly lightweight, palatable, and provide rapid energy to your muscles with minimal effort needed to digest. That certainly shouldn't be the only thing you eat, but those foods have their uses.

    Plus, part of eating is pleasure, too, and you need to satisfy that aspect of your food needs, just like you need to satisfy your nutritional requirements. There's a reason we don't buy bags of "human food" like we have specially formulated pet foods and just eat the same thing every day.

    I suppose so. But I'm sticking to what I know works best for me.

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