4th Day on Induction, need motivation. :(

[AudreyM]

Today was day 4 being back on the program and I have the Induction Flu badly. I was doing ok until after lunch today when I got a killer headache in class. I left early when it wouln't go away but then I got majorly sick on the bus (headache, stomach ache, dizy) and almost didn't think I would make it home. As soon as I walked in the door I just threw off my jeans and crawled into bed to sleep for several hours, hoping it would go away. Now i'm awake and I still feel like crap.

I know it's only temporary but i'm feeling discouraged because i've already missed a little over three days of class that I have to make up and I feel like if i'm sick tomorrow i'll have to miss another one. Bleh. I do have the extreme luck of one of my teachers living a low-carb lifestyle so I know she understands, at least. But still. *L*

I'm wondering if there are any tips you guys can give me for getting through these next couple days? Any kind of food I should really make sure I get my daily amount of? I'm wondering if I feel so bad because I haven't eaten my veggies yet, only meat, 2 eggs, and 2oz of cheese. My mom's picking me up a salad for dinner since my head hurts too bad to cook, so I will be getting them, but maybe waiting until the end of the day for veggies is not a good idea?

[sunflowergrl]

Drink lots of water!! Take a hot bath, and eat veggies at every meal. I had the Induction Flu very bad! It is a good sign, you are ridding your body of the toxic carbs. It will pass, and you will feel outstanding when its over. I saw on a post that the worse you have the flu, the better this WOL is for you. I am not sure if its true, but I believe it!! My whole diet was carbage before I started this WOL. and I feel better than I did in my 20's. Its worth it, I promise. Keep us posted on how you are feeling, and dring lots and lots and lots of water!

[tabekat]

Its just my opinion but I personally think attitude is everything. If you keep affirming you will have the induction flu badly, you will.

If you keep affirming you feel great, you will.

I know that I didn't believe in induction flu and I didn't experience induction flu. Just a little froggie in the throat, which was totally ignorable and went away.

I see no reason to skip school or any normal activity just because you are low carbing. Being on Atkins will help you achieve your goals, not be the thing that stands in the way.

Have veggies every meal. They are so nourishing, yummy and delightful! Keep going, and stock your fridge with veggies. One thing I love about Atkins, MORE is less!

[AudreyM]

Thanks you guys.

The first time I was doing Atkins I was barely sick. I thought I would make it without getting bad this time, but ugh, I was so bad earlier I actually took my temperature to make sure I wasn't coming down with the real flu. I had some salad and another egg along with a big bottle of water, but I was completely full before I could even finish the salad. I'm feeling a bit better now but i'm still light headed and have an itch in my throat.

I'm going to try and get a good night's sleep (won't be able to sleep more than 5 or hours though, since I took a lonnnggg nap this afternoon) and see how I feel in the morning. I can't wait until I get that big burst of energy that comes in a few days. It's a been a long time since i've felt like that.

Also, I was going to wait until Day 7 to weigh myself, but I needed to encouragment today so I took an early peek at the scale...I lost 6lbs!! No wonder I feel weird. That definitely makes me want to keep going!

[Kent]

Glad you are feeling better... It is amazing what wonders the scale can give at times to lighten one's mood. (Get your tape measure out soon though too.) I am another one who had a bad case of Induction flu, but I think mine was mostly mental as life and food became a chore. Keep drinking the water -- you'll become fast friends with the commode pretty soon. The more you drink, I am convinced the faster the tiredness and aches will pass. If not, well you have something to do to pass the time.

[zelda]

It's def. not mental. I was barely eating any processed food before this and I remember withdrawing from carbs. It was awful. When I get that bad headache I take a hot bath and rub some tiger balm on my neck and shoulders. It also helps if I can bribe my husband into rubbing my shoulders for a few minutes (I normally offer him a million dollars!). Also try to un-tense. I find that when I start to feel that headache I am squinting, tensing my jaw, shoulders etc. Sometimes just consciously untensing myself helps. I hope you feel better> I would not have wanted to go through carb withdrawl while in college.

[AudreyM]

Kent - Thanks. Food was a chore for me the first time around but then I discovered how good eggs and mozarella cheese are to have around. I try to limit myself to only one stick of moz cheese a day because they are 1oz each and I don't want to over do it. But hardboiled eggs...That's my snack food! *g* And i'm definitely trying to drink at least 64oz of water a day, plus more! Lucky for me i'm always thirsty so I drink a lot anyway.

zelda - Thanks for the advice, I will try to take it easy the next few days. It is hard in college, partly because I have to stay in each class for a while, but majorly because my bus ride is an hour each way. So the headaches make me really, really motion sick. I'm going to try and bribe someone into driving me tomorrow because I really dread getting on that bus like this...

[sunflowergrl]

Hope you get better soon. Induction Flu is NOT in your head, it is real!! I didn't believe in it, and then I got it. I did NOT talk myself into having it. I hope that post didn't make you feel like you were doing something to yourself, you are NOT!! It will pass, and you will feel so much more energy! I hope you find someone to drive you today. Please keep us posted on how you are feeling. Take care!

[coitrina]

I just wanted to chime in and say I get headaches once and a while STILL, and I Have been on this WOL for over 2 months now. When I get mine, it is because I Haven't had enough water. I have grown up in the Sonoran desert <arizona> and I used to get bad 'heat' headaches. It happened when I was dehydrated. I know you are still in the very beginning, and going through the induction flu, but that might not be ALL that it is. Up that water intake because this WOL can dehydrate ya quick! Also, as previous posters said, eat your veggies at EVERY meal because that IS where you get your carbs, and your body will most likely not go through withdrawl quite as bad. Think about weaning someone off of heroin, or having them quit cold turkey. If you aren't getting your veggies, your quiting cold turkey <in essence> so give yourself those good carbs!!! Every meal!!!No matter what!!

[Eleonore]

Originally Posted by zelda

It's def. not mental. I was barely eating any processed food before this and I remember withdrawing from carbs. It was awful. When I get that bad headache I take a hot bath and rub some tiger balm on my neck and shoulders. It also helps if I can bribe my husband into rubbing my shoulders for a few minutes (I normally offer him a million dollars!). Also try to un-tense. I find that when I start to feel that headache I am squinting, tensing my jaw, shoulders etc. Sometimes just consciously untensing myself helps. I hope you feel better> I would not have wanted to go through carb withdrawl while in college.

OMG!!! I thought I was the only person using tiger balm for headaches...my bf thinks it is the weirdest thing. I cant wait to show him your post.