Hello am new to all this message stuff so if I get it wrong please bear with me!I have been trying the Atkins diet now for 3 weeks and am now on 20/30 carbs per day.I am in ketosis and losing weight(great!) and taking supplements every day.The only problem is I am suffering from REALLY bad headaches.I am drinking lots of water every day so it doesn't appear to be dehydration.Please help me cause the headaches seem to be getting worse and I am about to give up!

Louise, headaches are part of the detox - they usually don't last longer than 3 or 4 days (but can last as long as 5). 3 weeks is unusually long. Among your supplements are you taking potassium? It's usually the culprit when headaches are concerned. The Eades, of Protein Power, suggest 400mg of potassium while actively losing - and then again when exercising intensely, or on days when it's very hot. Are you taking 400mg? Upping your current dose might do the trick. If you're drinking a lot of water (in excess of 4 litres) I'd think this would be the problem.

Nat

Could you be in major caffeine withdrawal? Or could it be allergies or sinus irritation (maybe due to low humidity/changing weather systems)? Don't give up, you'll figure it out! Rather than giving up entirely, consider raising your carbs slightly with good vegetables and fruits and see if that helps. But first, as Natrushka said, definitely check your vitamins, you may not be getting enough potassium and magnesium. Feel better!

I am only taking 40 mg of potassium and 60 mg of magnesium I was told that too much potassium could give me headaches(by a doctor)so I was trying not to take too much.Should I be taking more?400 mg seems like rather a lot.
I live in Scotland and this forum seems to be the only place I can get advice because nearly all healthcare professionals here are way behind you guys in fact are dead against low carb diets!!
So I appreciate any help you can give Cheers!

Hi Nat:

Good to see you back (also LOVE your atavar)!



Is it bad to drink too much water? I drink 3.5-4.5 liters/day. Or is that in relation to too little potassium?

Wanda

Louise, too much might make you feel bad, but too much while eating LC and too much while eating high carb are not the same

When you eat LC you lose a lot of water, and as you replace it you are not replacing the salts / minerals and electrolytes you also lost. This leads to an imbalance.

If you have no heart problems and / or are not on any blood pressure medications then potassium supplementation while LCing is very much a requirement. 400mg is recommended by the Eades - both doctors - in Protein Power.

If you're only taking 40mg of potassium and 60mg of magnesium it's little wonder you feel awful! Please let us know if the extra Helps!

Nat

Wanda, hi the answers to your questions are "yes" and "yes".

Yes, it's bad to drink "too much water" - but 3.5 - 4.5 litres isn't too much. And it's not bad in that you shouldn't drink that much water, it's bad in that it is in relation to not getting other things (such as potassium, sodium, and minerals). It's all about the right balance and ratios - if you drink the water you need to make sure you're getting everything else as well.

The supplements we take as LCers are sufficient for the water we drink - even those of us who drink more than 'average' - it's people engaged in intense exercise or activity for long durations that experience the deleterious effects of 'drinking too much water'. Think Marathoners, construction workers on very hot days, etc. BTW, it's called "Water Intoxication"

HTH
Nat

Thanks Nat! You are such a wealth of information.

Wanda

Thanks to you all for replying.I started drinking coffee again but just a couple of cups a day and bought potassium tabs and Magnesium tabs so am now taking about 400 mgs of each of these a day.This has worked WONDERS!! I feel soooo much better and am now back on track thanx ebody I really needed that help!xxxxxx

is motrin ok for headaches i get the too some times, but i drink alot of water and they dont last for more than 2 days.