Did I do somethin wrong?

[wonika]

I started SBD today. I tried Atkins back in October but because of the holidays I didn't stick to it. I changed to SB because it seemed more sensiable to me.

This is what I ate today:

Breakfast: Omelet (two eggs, two pieced of Canadian bacon, chopped onion, low fat cheddar cheese) (one cup of coffee w/splenda and sugar free french vanilla creamer)

Snack: Low fat mozzarella stick

Lunch: Med size salad with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, cheese, chicken strips, Italian dressing (olive oil)

Snack: Sugar free Jello & Coffee w/splenda and sugar free french vanilla creamer

Dinner: Hamburger steak and collard greens


In between the afternoon snack and dinner my sugar level dropped and I got weak and shaky and really hungry.

What did I do wrong and will this happen everyday?

:confused:

[skalar]

It shouldn't happen everyday, but maybe it means you need to have more calories starting off. My first two days, I had the same thing happen... so I upped how much I ate at lunch, and then I didn't get hungry in the afternoon.

After awhile, I lost my hunger altogether (forgot to eat my morning snack today :( ). So you may be challenged in a few weeks at trying to eat everything you are supposed to!

[wonika]

Thank you for your reply. :) I will try to eat more for lunch and see if that helps. I also have a headache but not sure if that has anything to do with the diet.

[skalar]

Thank you for your reply. :) I will try to eat more for lunch and see if that helps. I also have a headache but not sure if that has anything to do with the diet.Yeah, I had headaches too for the first three days or so. That comes from two things for me: I cut back on caffeine, since it's an appetite stimulant and because of the sugar withdrawls. I got over it after a few days though.

The key for me, is eating regularly (I must snack, or I get really shaky). And once I'm shaky, I have to eat a lot to get rid of it. Just like the SB book says... it's easier to prevent the blood sugar drop than to fix the situation once you have it. So just be sure you eat regularly enough, and that you have enough calories. We aren't like the people that have only 20 lbs to lose, and can eat those skimpy little menus in the SB book without some side effects (in my opinion). :)

[wonika]

So, I need to have more then the two snacks in between meals? Do I just double my snack or should I eat something else...What did you snack on in phase one to keep you blood sugar level up? Any help would be great because that didn't feel good at all yesterday. I really appreciate you prompt kind responses. You are really helpful and friendly! :agree:

[skalar]

In phase I, I would usually bring a piece of cheese and a V8 low sodium can (6 oz) to work as a snack. I had back up of celery w/ laughing cow cheese (only between 30 to 60 calories depending on how many cheese pieces you use). In the afternoons, I would usually have my pistachios, because I could eat them over 30 minutes. I had a bunch of cut up celery I kept in the fridge, so if I was still hungry, I'd wait awhile and then have some celery and dip it into the dressing I keep here at work.

I don't like to eat much in the mornings... just the way I am. So I make sure to eat more at lunch. Often, I find the salads I eat for lunch more filling if I throw a hard boiled egg on them (plus I use less salad dressing then).

When are your biggest hunger times? Or times that you like to snack?

Just as a note: I'm just giving you my perspective of what I had to do to change my diet. Please experiment a little and find out what works for you. I'd hate to tell you how to do things, just to make things harder for you. It's all about finding the balance that gives you enough energy during the day, but still has you lose weight.

I'm also of the perspective that I want to lose weight slowly and deliberately. So I don't mind going a little higher in calories to have a steady weight loss. My friend Ginny, started SB a week after me and she's sticking to the exact menu plan in the book. She has already lost 25 lbs in four weeks. I'm at about 17 lbs in 4.5 weeks. She's hungry all the time, but determined to lose weight. But I think she's going to burn herself out... and who knows if she'll make it to goal.

So if you are of the mind that you want to lose fast, fast, fast, then you may not want to take all of my advice. I haven't stalled yet, and I haven't been hungry after my first few days, but I'm not losing as quick as I can. I'm happy with what I'm doing though.

Sorry for the long-winded post. But I didn't want to lead you down some path that you didn't want to take. :)

[wonika]

I really appreciate your advice....My husband and I are doing the diet together and he has to loose 100 pounds before he can have a surgery he needs so I am trying to stick with it so he does too but the sugar low I had yesterday was terrible. I don't mind loosing weight slow as long as I am loosing. If I give up then he gives up and that is not good.

I ate breakfast a little later today to see if it would help but even after breakfast, cheese stick, and Sugar free Jello I can feel my sugar dropping and I still have 20 mins to lunch. Keep in mind I didn't eat breakfast until 8:30 so I ate all that in 3 hours and my sugar still dropped. Technically I am not hungry but because my sugar is low I have to eat..

I am going to try to eat more between meals and see if that helps but is acceptable for phase one....how much more can I eat before I am not technically doing phase one?

Thanks so much for your help!

[Judynyc]

I am going to try to eat more between meals and see if that helps but is acceptable for phase one....how much more can I eat before I am not technically doing phase one?


Have you seen the meal plan charts for each phase? You can find them in the food list link in my signature.

If you are hungry, we are told to eat something. A hard boiled agg and V8 juice usually tides me over until my next meal.......or a serving of hummus w/ sugar snap peas. There are many foods that you can have as a snack that will help you low blood sugar and keep you in phase I!! :idea:

I felt awful for several weeks when I first started. Between my low blood sugar and withdrawal symptoms from all the processed carbs, sugar and flour...I was a mess!! I did not do my first 2 weeks perfect as I kept eating a fruit to help me feel better. When I felt better, I did my 2 weeks perfect and as time went by, I felt better and better...its worth it to go through the uncomfortable feelings while your body goes through these changes. :agree: :thup:

[wonika]

Yes, I seen the meal plan charts..I've been studying the South Beach Diet for about a month. I've read the book too.

I didn't know that I would feel so bad. My husband said he had a headache today too.

I will try to eat more snacks throughout the day to try to keep my blood sugar level.

Thanks for your help. It makes me feel better to know that others are/or have gone through what I am going through now!

[wonika]

I went to the doctor today because I was feeling bad...I was feeling dizziness, nervous, anxious, jittery, fast heart rate, disoriented....when I got there my blood pressure was way up.

They said that it was because of the diet and my body was adjusting....has anyone else had these symptoms and how long did they last?

They told me not to do phase one of the diet...I swear I was having a panic attack....

[skippie]

I wouldn't want to second guess your doc as you just saw them today.

But I can tell you what you discribed is how I felt from the carb withdraw when I started SB.I was a real carb junkie before SB. But high BP is nothing to mess with, mine has been really high for years I take meds for it. SB has helped to lower my BP some but not enough to get me off my meds yet.

I'd do a follow up with your doc. As I don't understand how SB could cause your BP to incress. You should be cutting back on processed foods, salt, fat. Was it high before? Are you stressing about things?

[wonika]

They said it was high because of the symptoms from the detox...It was really bad today...I had to leave work...She said that my body chemistry wasn't made for phase 1 so she told me that I need to skip to phase 2. I still feel so bad. I may do what Judy did and gradually go to phase 1.

[Judynyc]

They said it was high because of the symptoms from the detox...It was really bad today...I had to leave work...She said that my body chemistry wasn't made for phase 1 so she told me that I need to skip to phase 2. I still feel so bad. I may do what Judy did and gradually go to phase 1.


Please start your day tomorrow with a bowl of old fashioned oat meal and then have a banana later in the day. Please go slowly as you have already gone through alot and it would be a waste to throw it away.

You can do this!! :thup: