Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

[Miclam]

Hi all. I'm on the LAST day of induction, and everyone at the office was having bagels, so I made a bad decision and had one too. 50 grams of carbs, eh, not so bad for a one time deal (believe me I won't be cheating again), but now I'm feeling really lightheaded. Is this to be expected when cheating on induction?

[not2late]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

It depends on how your body reacts to large amounts of carbs. The bagel caused a huge blood sugar swing, which your bod responded to by pushing out insulin, which dropped your blood sugar to normal quickly, so you're experiencing a type of hypoglycemia.

[bizzlekitty]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Bagels would be my downfall too. I still miss them. But then, I remember how unfulfilling they would be.

When I have had cheats, I had light headedness, nausea and a headache, but I would imagine that symptoms would vary. If you're body has become used to doing without those processed carbs, it's a bit distressing to have it again, all of a sudden.

Drink some extra water and continue on with Induction. Make sure you get your veggies in too.

Good for you for recognizing what you did and the determination to get back on track. That is what is most important.

[Jerzaka]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Fresh "everything" bagels loaded with cream cheese was my downfall!

NEVER again!

[Miclam]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Fresh "everything" bagels loaded with cream cheese was my downfall!

NEVER again!

Haha, yeah, that's what I had.

Man, I am feeling so guilty right now. It looks like I'll be doing some extra cardio tonight.

Thanks for the answers guys.

[Miclam]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

I tested my ketone level earlier and it was down from moderate to trace. Is that typical after a carb "binge" (i don't know if 50g qualifies as a binge, but whatever)? Is it temporary until I get this out of my system or do I have to start from scratch again?

[bilowi]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

If I were you I'd get back on track right away and work out (like you said earlier). You can get yourself back in line. Just don't go off the deep end with carbs now or anything. I know for me a binge starts small and then next thing I know I'm completely off program. Maybe have a nice protein full dinner.

[Miclam]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

If I were you I'd get back on track right away and work out (like you said earlier). You can get yourself back in line. Just don't go off the deep end with carbs now or anything. I know for me a binge starts small and then next thing I know I'm completely off program. Maybe have a nice protein full dinner.

Yeah, that's the plan. I hope I didn't just stall my weight loss for a few days.

[not2late]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Miclam would be better off with a high fat dinner than a high protein one. Excess protein is converted to glucose (sugar) and whatever isn't used by the body will be stored as fat. So eating a big steak after eating a bagel = more glucose = body fat.

Dr. Atkins wrote that your ability to get into lipolysis/ketosis is dependent on the fat-carb ratio not the protein-carb or fat-protein ratios.

So eat an Induction friendly meal tonight and continue with your Atkins tomorrow.

[burtonator]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Bad idea..... once you get your head back on straight ... I'd recommend adding 2-3 days to your induction due to your cheat.

Some people have reported significant weight re-gains when they cheat so you might notice that too.

But don't worry... Atkins works REALLY well that a cheat is really only a bump in the road on the long downhill drive to weight loss.

Also... you might have pushed yourself out of ketosis which might be really bad. 50g of carbs is a lot...... I'm not sure. Stick to induction for a few more days just to verify. Remember a BIG part of Atkins is stabilization of your insulin levels ...

Onward!

[Miclam]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Good news! I checked my ketone level today and the pad turned purple, so all appears to be well. I'm going to extend induction by a week (was planning on this anyway), then move on to OWL.

Thanks for the advice, everyone.

[not2late]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Some of us have very high Critical Carbohydrate Losing Levels and can tolerate carb levels of over 60 net carbs daily. The majority of us have CCLLs between 20-50.

Also, you should really rely more on your weight loss than those ketostix. Ketostix don't tell you if you are metabolizing your body fat (which is what we want to lose) or if you are metabolizing the fat you ate in your meals.

[Miclam]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Some of us have very high Critical Carbohydrate Losing Levels and can tolerate carb levels of over 60 net carbs daily. The majority of us have CCLLs between 20-50.

Also, you should really rely more on your weight loss than those ketostix. Ketostix don't tell you if you are metabolizing your body fat (which is what we want to lose) or if you are metabolizing the fat you ate in your meals.

You mean inch loss, right?

[Sweet_Sadie]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Miclam,
What are your stats? I mean, how did you do on induction? Starting weight, pounds lost etc? Inquiring minds (those of us on induction) want to know!

[not2late]

Re: Cheated On Induction - Feeling Lightheaded

Weight loss can be measured by either pounds loss or inches loss. That's why Dr. Atkins recommended we weigh and measure ourselves to gauge our losses. That's another reason why an Atkins weight loss plateau, or stall, is defined as 4 weeks without the loss of pounds or inches.