Hi Everyone,

I'm new here, although I've been reading everyone else's posts and find them really helpful, so thank you, everyone!

I'm on day seven of Induction, Atkins-style. I've been very strict; total carbs definitely less than 20g a day. Tons of water. While I'm thrilled with the weight-loss results -- and the fact that I'm not hungry! -- I'm really worried about the havoc this WOE seems to be playing with my mood. I'm incredibly irritable, lethargic, depressed, and having trouble concentrating -- I feel like I'm having the worst case of PMS in history. I understand this can often occurs in the first few days, but I was hoping by day seven I'd be experiencing the fabled breakthrough, and feeling just the opposite. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Any tips? Should I stick it out? Add more carbs? Help me before I strangle some random stranger on the street!

Thank you!

SelenaK

Hi. It's common, though you're right, you usually feel better after a few days. You're right to compare it to PMS: it could be hormonal. Insulin is sort of the "master" hormone, and it has surprising affects on your other hormones. If it's that time of the month, that could be your problem. This will sort itself out within a few cycles.

Are you taking all of your supplements? I would take a multivitamin, calcium/magnesium, and potassium. The easiest way to get more potassium is to use Half Salt or NuSalt, which is 50% potassium.

It could also be that 20 g of carb is too low for you. Since you don't have much weight to lose, you might want to start boosting that a bit sooner. Maybe add in some berries and nuts.

Keep us posted...

Hi Selena, I am curious about this too. What time in your cycle is this? i stay lowcarb but have never really done induction and want to but it always seems that the time i decide to start is after ovulation before TOM. And I never feel so good. (understatement ) O read in a lowcarb book that it is much easier to do this when beginning right after your period? well, congrats on your success!!! and i hope you decide not to give up...and not to strangel anyone! have a good weekend, K

Well, thank you for the quick replies -- wow, the Internet's great, isn't it!

As for TOM, kind of tricky; I'm on the Pill, so my cycle is artificial, so to speak. I don't usually get PMS symptoms when I'm on the Pill (one of the reasons I take it; another one is that I've had benign ovarian tumors in the past, so my doc thinks the Pill is essential). Yes, I'm two days away from the withdrawal week of the Pill. (For those of you who don't know, when you take the Pill, you usually stop taking it every three weeks to allow your body to have a "withdrawal bleed," which is kind of like a period, but not really, in that you're bleeding in response to the withdrawal of artificial hormones, not in response to your own hormones -- it's not really a natural cycle.) But this month is a little different, since I didn't stop taking the Pill during my last cycle, because with my boyfriend visiting from out of town, it would have been really inconvenient to have a period then. (My doctor says it's fine to do that every now and again.) Given this, I reckon my body doesn't KNOW I'm about to have a period. So yes, in a sense, I am premenstrual ... but how the heck would my body know?

Incidentally, it's evening now -- I live in Europe -- and I notice my mood and energy are picking up a bit again, as they have since I started this WOE. Isn't low-carbing supposed to eliminate the afternoon slump?

I'd say boost your carbs a bit too. Induction is supposed to be 20/day, under is ok, but only by a gram or two....otherwise you might not be eating enough.

If you post a day or two's menu most people on here can give you some other suggestions.

Also...are you eating any new foods? You might have an allergy or intolerance. Feeling lousy for a few days on induction is common....it's withdrawal...but you should be over it by the end of the first week or so.

Thanks! I'll try boosting the carbs tomorrow by 5 or so grams, and I'll look for a magnesium/calcium/potassium supplement. If that doesn't help after a day or two, I'll post a few menus. I did enter my meals in Fitday, and found that about 70 percent of my calories were coming from fat -- is that too much? I've been taking the advice to eat fat very much to heart, but maybe I'm overdoing it? I'm drowning everything in olive oil. It sure does taste good ...

had the same thing happen to me. But it only lasted about a week

Don't worry about the 70% fat, that's what almost everyone has on induction.

I had the same problem. I kept looking for the problems to go away and get the great energy I heard so much about. What I put my poor kids through. My induction mood lasted until about day 11 or so and I didn't get the boundless energy until day 14. Hang it there it does get better.

Just wanted to let you helpful folks know -- day eight and I'm feeling MUCH better! Thanks for encouraging me to hang in there. My dad noticed how much weight I've lost, too, and told me I looked as if I was glowing!

Whoops, I meant day nine ... not that it matters much.

When I was on low carb for the first time I was so tired I could not function, I was not taking the calcium magnesium and zinc and the Potassium, I went out and bought them, and I started taking them in the parking lot of the store, i felt much better later that day.
If you are losing very fast that can happen too, and make sure if you up your carbs you do it with healthy ones, not the low carb bars or something, the last time I was low carbing those bars kicked me right off my woe. It took me a few weeks to get back on. Also, plenty of water is very very important, look at what happens to plants when they need water, they wilt, we do too, but in a differant way. They are finding that dehydration causes a lot of problems that they did not know about , it is so important to get enough water daily, especially on a low carb diet !!
Congrats on the weight lost, you are doing great and I am glad you are feeling better, it just takes time to get there !! Stephie

I was an evil wench my first few days on plan. I slept a lot and drank a lot of coffee. After 4-5 days I felt like a new person - very happy and clear-minded. HTH!