Day 4 - Bad headache,nausea, weak

[mich24]

Dear Chris,

First, thank you so much for this wonderful forum and your book. I am a believer that what good you put out comes back greater, so hopefully it will come back to you tenfold! It's a tremendous resource and gift for us all working through your program.

My question is about some reactions I've had today. This is my fourth day. Days 1-3 I had hardly any reactions -- mild headache that faded quickly, little nausea if I was hungry/time to eat.

Today, though, on my way to work, I got a strong headache on the top of my head (scalp), strong nausea, and then an overall feeling of weakness (not tired, maybe lethargic). The headache has subsided to a light one, but it was very scary! I was going to teach my class (I'm a college professor) but fortunately was able to have my TA cover it. Normally I can teach through illness, but I didn't feel I had the energy to do so today. If these reactions should subside by end of week 1, that would be great as I don't teach again until next week.

I'm thinking this was/is sugar or carb withdrawal? Also, I take paxil for stress/anxiety (every other day, I'm slowly working off of it) and didn't take it yesterday, but took it about 20 minutes before the headache happened and had eaten a snack about 1 & 1/2 hours before. I normally never have reactions to it though. Also, I taught until 8 pm the night before, didn't get home until 9:30 and couldn't bear eating another meal, so I had nuts and fruit (for a total of 2 meals & 3 snacks). I felt fine when I woke up this morning, had breakfast and a snack.

I feel you probably need my diet history as well. Prior to starting TYT my main foods were fruit, veggies, cereal, oatmeal, lean cuisine/WW meals, pork, chicken, ham, turkey, bread, cookies, candy, lowfat ice cream, and diet soda. So, I definitely could be having major carb/sugar withdrawl!

Also, I am a (recovering) weight watcher. I have been a lifetime member for 8 years now and had quite a bit of success until this past year.
I am 5' 7" and have always struggled with my weight. Three years ago I got a divorce and lost 10 lbs. I think from emotional stress. This put me at 130-135 lbs. which is low for me (I wasn't eating any differently when I lost that weight). Since that point (the past three years) I have been lenient on WW, not going to meetings as much, counting points some days, having cheat meals/days others. Last year (January 2007) I was at 155 (which is still an ok weight for me). Then I met my new boyfriend who's a chef (french fine dining), who lived an hour away, so I would travel to see him every weekend, which meant I was (or wasn't!) grocery shopping in two places, eating breakfast on the go in the car, eating his creations and things he ate, etc.

Then -- I got a job interview at a very prestigious university/program in the spring, while I was finishing my dissertation for my PhD. Meanwhile, I was working full-time as a visiting professor at a research university that was also anxious for me to finish, and my advisor (in a different state!) was leaving in the fall for Finland for a year. It was an incredible amount of stress. I stopped counting points, started eating candy, etc. -- it was the only thing that could get me through as I poured hours into lectures, interview prep, analysis and writing -- not to mention that healthy eating and exercise totally went out the window.

I successfully finished my dissertation and PhD with flying colors, but I sacrificed my health and it just keeps getting worse. I now have all these wonderful work opportunities coming at me, more and more, there's all this research I want to do, and a personal & social life I want to live. I just want to have more energy, focus, get my weight down, and not worry about food.

So, after the dissertation was done, I went on the 5-factor diet. I really wanted to get away from WW as you can eat 20 points of bad food a day, which I did!! I wanted better eating habits & a life change. 5Factor was ok, I lost about 10 lbs. but then gained it back and more. Snacking on the go is incredibly hard on it (turkey jerky?) and the recipes/program can be a bit complicated. The cheat day did me in though. I was so deprived of sugar all week (not a lot of fruit on the diet) that I'd go nuts on the cheat day, get a headache from the sugar, but still eat the stuff. I started eating stuff I hadn't in years (being on WW) and got used to being able to eat "bad" things & lots of them.

I went off that, back on WW, but didn't have much success. The points/food just didn't fill me up anymore and I knew the program so well it just wasn't working. Then I tried a green tea detox for 3 days before a conference (didn't want to look bad for all my colleagues -- oh how we are judged & judge ourselves!) Three days of fruit, veggies, and green tea, that's it. I had a cheat day before I started it, made it 1 & 1/2 days, and then gave in to carb heaven! I've been "dabbling" in WW ever since, with no success.

It is very sad, but the truth, that in this whole process I've put on almost 60 lbs! I am not one who can not watch what she eats and get away with it. I went from being a very beautiful women to a larger version, god bless my boyfriend who's stuck around this whole time (we are now living together by the way, which has taken some stress out of my life from commuting and makes food shopping easier).

So, it's this diet or back to WW as it has worked for me in the past. I really hope TYT will work. I really don't want to go back to WW! I think it can create/enable bad eating patterns and actually gets you addicted to certain foods. You only have so many points, so you want every morsel to taste good, and you become obsessed with eating things that taste good and fill you up -- not necessarily eating well.

One last question (sorry for the long email!). For those of us with a lot of weight to lose, I have seen your posts on what to do (stay on week 3, double fish oil, etc.), but I'm wondering, will we just keep losing until our body reaches its natural/appropriate weight? Then we just eat/exercise that way to maintain? Just curious.

Thanks so much! You're wonderful!!

Michelle

[Site Administrator]

Hi Michelle!

I just spotted your post in the success story section and am relieved that the terrible headache seems to have been a one-time occurrence (and possibly related to factors other than the TYT eating plan) and that your overall sense of well-being seems to be stabilizing. The "yucky" feelings of week one are a distant memory for most by week two. That being said, people with extra weight to lose, and those who have struggled with bad diets for many years (and I'm sure from other posts you know my opinion of Weight Watchers!) are at increased risk for insulin resistance and I am finding that, in some cases, it can take more than a week for people to start feeling "energetic."

Until you get the insulin resistance under control, many people continue to experience cravings (though I believe there is a also a psychological-- versus purely physiological component to them), and are ESPECIALLY senstive to hypoglycemia. You need to be extra vigilant about eating something every two to three hours. Carry fruit and nuts with you at all times! If you start to experience light-headedness, even if two hours haven't yet elapsed since your last meal or snack, EAT SOMETHING!

[mich24]

Hi Chris,

Thanks so much for your replies. They are very helpful & I can only imagine take up a great deal of time, so many, many thanks!

I'm on day 9. I still feel a little off, but keeping with it! Thank you for letting me/others know about being vigilant about eating every 2-3 hours, making sure to have fruit/nuts on hand, particularly if you have 40+ lbs to lose. It's hard to believe what I've done to my body and I guess now I'm coming off it (& it's not always pleasant - but worth it I'm hoping!)

Just one other question: for those with 40+ lbs to lose. I've seen posts where you've recommended staying at week 3 for as long as possible, adding yogurt and cottage cheese, doubling up on fish oil, and potentially adding a cheat meal once a week.

I did have some cravings yesterday & am looking forward to weeks 3-6 & beyond. I'm wondering if it would be better for those of us with additional weight to lose to stay on week 3 for as long as possible with a weekly cheat meal or keep progressing through the weekly plan (i.e., week 1, then 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 etc.). I ask because I may need to do one or the other to keep going, though hopefully my cravings will subside as you mention.

If the former, stay at week 3 with yogurt/cottage cheese/weekly cheat meal, is the cheat meal as in the book, anything you want for 90 minutes? Also, do we stay on the week 3 diet, but progress with the exercises? Is there an ideal amount of time to stay at week 3 (e.g., 3 weeks) or just as long as we can stand it?

If the latter, progressing normally through the weeks, can you do the post-week six diet (i.e., adding weekly cheat meal) and still lose weight?

Lastly, when do we stop doubling up the fish oil?

Thanks, again, so much! This forum is an enormous help!

Michelle

[Site Administrator]

Hi M!

[mich24]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, I literally had a cheat meal about 10 minutes before receiving your email! So, some damage was already done.

I found it quite productive though! Normally I LOVE sweets - candy, chocolate, and I had been looking forward to having some of this. But, when I did, it really did not taste good to me & was way too rich! It was like the taste buds on my tongue actually changed! I could in no way eat what I ate before. It's a miracle! And this has actually helped quell my cravings, because I know it just doesn't taste good and makes me feel bad.

This cheat was on day 1 of week 3. I am hoping I don't need to go back. Weeks 1-2 were hard for me as I do not really like meat. I have been eating it, but am very much looking forward to introducing dairy and whey protein powder (a smoothie in the morning will be heaven, as I'm not crazy about eggs either!)

My question is, due to the cheat, do I need to stay in week 3 for a while longer? I hope not (please!) Also, I've considered what you said in your last reply for those with 40+ lbs. to lose and I think I might just progress normally through weeks 1-6, even if it means I lose at a slower rate. My thinking is that the addition of foods during these weeks will make a HUGE difference for my staying on the program, so it may be worth it.

Thanks for all. I really appreciate it.

Michelle

[Site Administrator]

Hi Michelle,

No-- no need to revert all the way back to week one. Stick with three for now and if you progress to four (and I agree with your rationale for doing so) you may wish to consider staying with week 4 for as long as possible before moving on to week 5. As you discovered with your "cheat"-- many of the things that are added back in small amounts in week 5 should no longer have such a strong appeal and may not be too difficult to avoid at this stage. The less HGI carbs, the better-- especially if you have extra weight to lose and a long history of insulin resistance.

Best Wishes,
Chris

[mich24]

Thanks so much for responding. It really is a huge help.

I have been having some cravings and wondering if I can do this, but I am sticking to it. I was eating A LOT of sugar before starting TYT, so I'm
trying not to be too hard on myself for the cheat and for still having some cravings and not feeling quite like myself.

I'm going to start week 4 on Sunday. The addition of protein powder, cottage cheese, and yogurt will be a huge help to me. I may not even need the condiments or fruit juice. And I think I can stay at this week (vs. week 3) until I get my cravings under control.

Thanks so much again. I will keep everyone posted on my progress!

Michelle