Low carb diet = MASSIVE HEADACHE?!?! Need advice please!

Salt. Add at least 2g per day.

Low carbing is diuretic - makes you lose water by peeing, which loses sodium. Light headedness etc can also result.

Obviously if you have a high blood pressure or similar medical disorder this may not be appropriate, but the "Atkins Flu" is easily avoided by salt intake.



Atkins is spelled with a t not a d by the way ;-)

have you though about getting rid of the crystal light and Atkins bars? The chemicals in both of these items could be giving you headaches. Maybe try a protein shake with almond/coconut milk and some fresh brewed iced tea with lemon as substitutes. You could also add some cheese or bacon to your eggs in the morning to give you some more calories. A good, filling breakfast well help you through the rest of your day.

I would have a horrific headache if I ate that every day....you need more calorie intake. 900 is not much at all even though you are eating veggies. I tried the 50 grams carbs or below as well and it is difficult. Do that two days a week...I have read that just going low carb two days a week can benefit you as much as doing low carb every day.

Remember....this is a lifestyle, not a diet. Can you sustain this every day?


Good Luck!

Did you recently give up caffeine?

At the time of the change in your diet, did you also give up caffine? I know if I go without it, after a few days I develop a massive headache.

900 calories isn't even enough for your body to function on

What about her fat reserves, that's how diets work !

You don't have to eat what your body uses, if you did we could never lose weight.

Caffeine is fine, promotes fat burning in some studies. It's the sodium balance, it really is that simple.

Low carb diets give you some side effects for the first week. Stick with it and they will go away. Don't take any notice of people saying you are eating too little and trying to make you eat fruit which is high in sugar. Low carb works and it works fast which is very mitivating. My advice is to drop the weight fast with low carb and then look at maintaining with a sensible diet regime still using this site. Some people are very sensitive to carbs and cannot lose weight without restricting them. I am one of those, many people on here do not understand low carb diets and metabolism and spout a load of nonsense.

Your body's whole purpose is survival - to keep functioning - and if you cut your calories too low your body will re-act by making you tired to slow you down and to conserve calories or by making muscles and joints sore - to slow you down and to conserve calories etc etc . The headache is because you are on too low a calorie intake and your body is re-acting. Whatever type of diet you are on isn't the issue but you need to be realistic about how many calories your body needs to function properly.

Hi there, what's your stats? What has made you watch these macros?

900 calories a day is really not enough as I highly doubt your BMR is that low and, if you are doing regular exercise, or a job where you're on your feet for a good part of the day, you'd need to eat more anyway. Unless you're obese and under medical supervision, by depriving your body of essential fuel, you're going to do yourself damage and, you'll start to lose muscle mass, not just fat. You do not want this to happen.

Regarding headaches - Have you cut out stimulants such as caffeine and alcohol? If so, that will be causing the headaches, along with the major change in diet! With low carbing you can put yourself into a state of Ketosis, meaning you may notice a change in your toilet habits. http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/whatisketosis.htm

I think as a minimum, you should be drinking 2lts of water a day to keep you hydrated, and more so for when/if you work out.

If you're wanting to lose weight, you need to adopt healthier cleaner eating habits. Literally, cut the processed food/drinks out of your diary! Lean meats, the rainbow effect when it comes to fruit and veg, plently of fluids, good quality food.....opting for stir fried, grilled and baked foods opposed to deep fried. I'd also cut out the pop/soda and limit things such as caffeine and fruits high in sugar.

Good luck with your journey

Atkins is spelled with a t not a d by the way ;-)

does it really matter how we spell something , i cant spell and if people kept pulling me up on it it would stop me using this site.