Could this be Atkins or something else?

[wayless]

OK...this is my second time trying Atkins. My first time was the summer of 2003. I stayed on for about a month or so before falling off. My first week of that plan, I was sick (weak, headaches, etc.), but I eventually improved.

Fast forward to Jan. 1, 2006--here I go again. I just started induction. Initially, I had a severe headache, crankiness, etc. The headache was gone by day 3, but I am *VERY* weak. I would say exceptionally weak from my personal history. Even just WALKING from one room to the next is somewhat difficult.

Now I have to say that I got sick on Christmas day with a pretty bad cold. I suffered with it for most of last week, and on Dec. 30th, I finally went to the doctor and got on an antibiotic, which I finished yesterday. My cold symptoms are still somewhat present, though much better from last week, but I'm not sure whether my extreme weakness and fatigue are from the cold or if this is something that people might experience during induction?

I've been drinking TONS of water. I had 5 or 6 16oz. bottles of water at work today, alone. I just got home and plan to have at least 2 or 3 more 16oz. cups of water tonight. I've stuck to plan diligently...getting in all my fresh veggies and a little fat, and my protein.

Any thoughts?

[Kent]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

It certainly sounds a lot like Induction flu. Your body is slowly converting fuel sources and being resistant to the change. On top of that you are also giving up a lot of former comfort foods and the ability to eat whatever strikes your fancy. All of that together can make life a bit miserable for awhile. Keep up the diet and eating cleanly, and it will soon get better. Pretty soon, you'll have more energy than you know what to do with.

If you still feel this way in a week, take some l_carnitine which helps the transportation of energy from the consuming of Fat. I have always found this supplement to help immensely.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Wayless, glad you joined. Welcome and how much fun is this going to be.
Post a couple days menus for us and let the experts see what your eating. The engery should be kicking in soon, but if it continues you might want to call the doctor. I don't think its Atkins related.

[wayless]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Wayless, glad you joined. Welcome and how much fun is this going to be.
Post a couple days menus for us and let the experts see what your eating. The engery should be kicking in soon, but if it continues you might want to call the doctor. I don't think its Atkins related.

Yesterday

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs in butter, six slices bacon, 1 slice american cheese melted on eggs
Lunch: 2 cups lettuce salad w/1tbs italian vinaigrette dressing, 2 halfs deviled eggs, approx. 1/2 cup chicken salad
Afternoon snack: 1oz. string cheese
Dinner: 3 pieces smoked chicken (2 thighs, leg) and a cup of cabbage seasoned w/turkey bacon (roughly 4 pieces of bacon in cabbage).
Evening Snack: 1oz. string cheese

Water intake: roughly 70oz.

Today

Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs in margarine w/ 1/2 tsp dried chives and cilantro
Lunch: 2 pieces smoked chicken (1 leg, 1 thigh) and 1 cup of salad w/1 tbs italian vinaigrette
Afternoon snack: 1oz. string cheese
Dinner: 1 piece smoked chicken (leg) and 2 smoked rib bones, 2 cups salad w/ 1 tsp vinaigrette dressing
Evening Snack: 1oz. string cheese

Water intake: roughly 100oz.

[coitrina]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Hi, I am absolutely new here but I couldn't help but wonder how many calories all that is in one day. To me, it doesn't seem to be enough. Have you joined the fitday.com and plugged all that food in to see the outcome? My husband weighs 294lbs and is used to eating probably..ohh heck..3500-4500 calories a DAY just to maintain his weight. I am giving him around 2000-2300 calories a day now because I don't want him to experience too much fatigue. If he doesn't eat enough calories, his poor body is going to feel extremely fatigued because it won't have any 'gas' in the tank. It takes alot of calories for him to weigh 294lbs..that's without exercising. I know this isn't really a 'watch your calorie' diet, but I actually think maybe you should get MORE. Like I said, plug those numbers into fitday and see exactly whats going on. Maybe get a look at those fat percentages....and pump it up. Eat butter instead of margarine. Your diet looks low fat, high protein. Of course, without plugging everything into fitday, it's hard to tell just by looking

[not2late]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Unless you have an allergy to the other veggies on the salad list, you might want to ditch the all-lettuce salads and start adding a variety of veggies.

In Chapter 11, Dr. Atkins says that the addition of veggies might help with the carb withdrawals. Lettuce is very low in carbs. By adding the salad veggies with a slightly higher carb count, your fatigue might go away. It's worth a try, especially since lettuce isn't the most nutrient-packed vegetable in the world.

If that still doesn't break your fatigue, then I suggest on Day 15 you move into OWL. Again, the addition of 5 net carbs of the Induction vegetables might help to energize you.

[wayless]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Thanks for all the responses. As far as the caloric intake, I can tell you that I've been eating until I'm no longer hungry. I don't really limit myself beyond the limited foods. If I get hungry after a meal, I feel free to snack a little. I have some delicious-looking, fresh, smoked salmon, cream cheese and celery on hand for snacking that I haven't even cracked open yet because I haven't been hungry enough after a meal to eat any of it.

As far as my salads, some of them have been spinach or mixed with spinach (like last night was a mixture of lettuce and I threw a bit of spinach in there). I plan to go shopping this weekend to get more varieties of vegetables. For now, though, the bagged salads are the easiest way for me to stay on plan at home and at work until I adjust to this WOE.

I've been doing lots of research on side dishes that are induction-friendly, so eventually I'll expand my menu, but it takes a bit of time to adjust to cooking and eating like this--ESPECIALLY for someone who does not enjoy cooking (even a little bit).

[not2late]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Thanks for all the responses. As far as the caloric intake, I can tell you that I've been eating until I'm no longer hungry. I don't really limit myself beyond the limited foods. If I get hungry after a meal, I feel free to snack a little. I have some delicious-looking, fresh, smoked salmon, cream cheese and celery on hand for snacking that I haven't even cracked open yet because I haven't been hungry enough after a meal to eat any of it.

As far as my salads, some of them have been spinach or mixed with spinach (like last night was a mixture of lettuce and I threw a bit of spinach in there). I plan to go shopping this weekend to get more varieties of vegetables. For now, though, the bagged salads are the easiest way for me to stay on plan at home and at work until I adjust to this WOE.

I've been doing lots of research on side dishes that are induction-friendly, so eventually I'll expand my menu, but it takes a bit of time to adjust to cooking and eating like this--ESPECIALLY for someone who does not enjoy cooking (even a little bit).

Spinach is a very low carb veggie like lettuce. Unlike lettuce, though, it's nutritional profile is better. When I make up my salads, lettuce comprises about 25-30% of it. The other 75-80% are other salad veggies like cucumber, red peppers, celery, etc.

[Elizellen]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

And remember that margarine is not on the induction allowed list!! Use butter as suggested or oil for cooking instead. It will taste much nicer too!!

[wayless]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

And remember that margarine is not on the induction allowed list!! Use butter as suggested or oil for cooking instead. It will taste much nicer too!!

Whoa! I didn't catch that. I called myself cutting out unnecessary fat. I have been using non-hydrogenized, soft margarine (so no trans fats). OK...well, I guess I'll go back to butter. It's definitely tastier.

[wayless]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

I just thought I'd post a quick follow-up about this. I am now almost certain that what I described in the original post was not caused by Atkins. Sure, you get kinda weak and headaches and cranky when you first start induction, but my weakness was EXTREME. I won't get into the details too much, but I'll just say that I had another problem going on that I believe was the culprit.

I just thought I'd clarify this, so that no newbie comes in here and freaks out thinking this WOE is going to kill them or something. LOL In fact, I just completed day 6, and I'm feeling leaps and bounds better than I was even just two days ago. I feel myself getting a bit stronger every day, and I'm struggling less and less with adjusting to eating this way.

In other words, it's alllllllll good!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

glad you cameback oand told us you were doing better. Happy low carbing

[Elizellen]

Re: Could this be Atkins or something else?

Thanks for the update.

I am glad you are feeling better now