Hi, I have started this diet many times and throughout the day found myself screwing it up putting carbs in my mouth and not even realizing it. I have been pumping myself up trying to get in the right mind set to do this. I have read your post and I'm amazed at all of your excitement and will power! I will be 32 this December and would love to drop 40 lbs by then, not only for myself but for my little girls! What I was wondering is...... I started this a couple days ago a by the end of the day I had horrible headaches, I don't know if I'm stressing myself out over this or what?! I know they mentioned headaches, have any of you experienced the overwhelming feeling of this, or am I just CRAZY! LOL Does this mean I'm not ready, or is it just mind over matter? I woke up today thinking you guys might be the support I need to do this. Thanks for listening, and any suggestions would help me out tremendously.
Thanks... Gina

Gina, it's carb withdrawal. For some of us going w/o sugar can be like kicking cigarettes or drugs for that matter. If you're doing Atkins by the book and giving up caffiene as well then you can add that withdrawal to the list.

Drinking your water (at the very least 8 glasses a day + 1 more for every 25 lbs you want to lose), keeping protein snacks handy and taking the supplements listed in the book will all help. The headache, the 'icky' feeling, the dizziness and the fatigue last a few days - then you feel like a million bucks.

The key to success in the first few weeks is planning. plan your meals. Plan your menus out in advance. Take the time to do this and it will be a lot easier in the long run. It will become the habit and it will feel 'normal'.

Hang in there
Nat

Gina,

The first week will be your worst. Most of us went through horrible detox and carb withdrawals.

Best advice is start on a friday so you have the weekend to cope with headaches and muscle fatigue. Your body will ache, your head will probably feel like it is going to fall off, but the good news is around day 5 your body stops complaining and actually starts feeling pretty darned good.

Drink lots of water, lay in a supple of vitamins and supplements, get plenty of rest and eat whenever your body tells you it is hungry. Only eat allowable foods though. After about the 5th day or so you will feel a new burst of energy

Gina
The above posts are excellent! NAT is right-she helped me too-I drink 150 oz of water every day and it does help. The water will also help you with any initial constipation.

I just wanted to let you know that I had severe (almost threw up everyday) headaches for the first 7 days of LCing. You can look in my journal at the first few pages and see for proof

It is now 6 weeks-I have stuck to LCing with no straying and I feel great. I have lost a lot of weight and more importantly INCHES!! It is so worth the headaches for the first few days. It WILL get better-I promise. DO this for yourself...it is worth it!


Good luck!
Vicki