New to Atkins but feel awful :(

[cerdes]

Hi Everyone
First of all, this is a fantastic forum and very inspiring to see so many people lose such impressive amounts of weight!

I'm a 24 year old female from Melbourne Australia. I've gained 10 kilos (22 pounds) over the past six months due to a change in job that's meant a lot of travel, and a lot of sitting around. I used to walk about 10km a day and go running four times a week, but I've found that very difficult in my new job.

Anyway, I'm 5'8 and currently weigh 75kg (). I have an initial goal of getting down to 70kg () before getting down to my ideal weight of 65kg.

I've chosen Atkins because my Mum has been living the Atkins way for years now and it's worked incredibly well for her. She feels and looks fantastic. So here I am, giving it a go.

It's my fifth day on Induction phase and I am well and truly in ketosis. However, I feel awful and have been feeling worse as the days progress. I feel nauseated like nothing else and I've been finding it difficult to go running - which is really important to me.

I'm seriously thinking about dropping Atkins and counting my calories instead (not much fun, and I know I'll feel hungry - but better than feeling nauseated).

Did anyone else experience severe nausea during induction? Any tips for reducing it? Is it worth pushing through the next 10 days?

Thanks heaps for any advice or support in advance and best of luck!

[GaynorA]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Hey there hon. Sorry to hear you've been feeling grim. Why don't you post what you are eating on here - including any supplements you take. There are many people who could give you some advice. It sounds like you do a lot of exercise - so there may be something going on there (e.g., not eating enough, not drinking enough, not making sure your vitanutrients are in check). Just a thought. It could also be what I've heard refered to as "Induction Flu". I didn't go through that - but lots of people did, and they will be able to tell you what the symptoms are. Anyway, take it easy and look after you. Lots of love to you.

[cerdes]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Thanks for the reply Gaynor!

OK for breakfast I usually have eggs and bacon.

For lunch, I will have a salad (lettuce, a little bit of tomato, sometimes avocado and feta cheese) with lamb or chicken. Sometimes I'll put a little bit of sour cream with the lamb.

For dinner I have sashimi (raw tuna, salmon etc) with a bit more salad. Or a quarter chicken.

Snacks are usually cheese. Once I had some diet jelly for a dessert.

I should have mentioned this earlier - before I go for a run, I'll have half a banana. I know I'm not supposed to eat fruit during induction, but I found I was having a very hard time running without the carbs for energy and was cramping up a bit. The banana helps give me energy for the run - and I'm losing weight and the ketosis stick is dark purple - so I figure it's OK.

I have thought perhaps the nausea is from sharp changes in blood sugar due to the banana, but I only run twice a week at the moment, and I feel sick all the time - not just after my run.

Will stick to it for another 3-4 days and see how I feel - I'm definitely eating enough - I calculated at least 1600 calories a day, and eat between 20g of carbs (days I'm not running) and 35g (with half the banana).

What do you think? The nausea is pretty bad. But I'm losing weight!

[sallyseachange]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Welcome Cerdes! Sounds like you're off to a great start, so sorry you're feeling grim. Usually people go through a few days of induction flu, where your body weans itself off the high carb foods. It is rather horrid but usually doesn't last all that long. One day, you wake up feeling a million bucks... and never look back! I hope this is what you have, and not some horrid tummy bug (I say this because of the nausea)... although even the nausea could be a symptom of induction flu.

Pls don't give up! It's so worth pushing through this, whatever it is... and then I'm sure you'll be fine.

Keep us posted on how you're doing. We're with ya all the way.

[SwissMiss]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Hi Cerdes,
I'm just getting through my first week of the induction phase and also experienced it to be quite hard on my body. I was extremely tired, dizzy and also felt very sick for the first 4 days. I pushed myself on the crosstrainer anyhow and also felt very sick afterwards, also due to feeling crappy I could only work out for 30 minutes. But since I've got through the initial induction flu I've been really feeling super and was able to increase training time again day after day.

Perhaps you should substitute the Banana with another low carb / high fiber source such as a rich fiber whole weat wasa.

Just stick with it and you will soon feel better - promise!
Good luck!
Salima

[sillygirl]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Yes, it sounds like you have the "induction flu". Drink plenty of water and it will go away in a few days. This is your body ridding itself of carbs. Hang in there, give this a chance. Your mom is proof that this style of eating works.

The banana is not a good idea, it's very, very high carb and essentially defeats the purpose.

[D14965]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Hi from Geelong!

I would ditch the banana -- its probably not helping you to get through the induction flu process but rather making your vblood sugar levels go up and down like a yoyo!-- try adding a potassium / magnesium supplement ( i use Blackmores Kmag) this will help prevent the cramping ( bananas are a good source of potassium - so these will replace that) once you are through the induction flu and your sugar levels even out you will find you have a lot of nice even sustained energy -

Goodluck!

[GaynorA]

Re: New to Atkins but feel awful

Hey there. How are you getting along. People have given you some really good suggestions. I hope you are feeling better now. Luv to ya.

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