I am excited about starting the diet but after looking around on here I see people talking about the S.B. Flu. I am confused how the lack of carbs could make you sick when in fact you are eating carbs (from Veggies) I have a physically demanding job and don't want to end up passing out or something. Any advice?
Whoa! This is not a low carb plan, even on Phase I. People who make sure to get the alloted servings of veggie and legumes plus the recommended dairy usually escape the "flu".
If you make sure to eat your beans and dairy then you should be getting enough carbs and should be fine. I never had a problem with on phase 1. You just may not want to start an exercise program until you are in phase 2 but you should not have to worry about passing out.
I am following the plan exactly and I did have the SB flu on days 2/3. The worst part for me was a headache - I did not feel like I was going to pass out or anything. I eat the beans, lots of veggies and do get the recommended dairy in daily. I guess you get it or you don't.....hopefully you'll escape it!
Drastically cutting caffeine can give you the headache part of the flu. The other symptoms can be due to change in diet by cutting sugar and starch. Sometimes artificial sweeteners are the culprit.
I had some slight nausea and poor appetite on day 3 of Phase I. I wasn't eating beans or enough dairy, so I think it was from the reduction in carbs from my former way of eating.
I didn't get the flu. I was using the original book and didn't know about adding beans. I was using limited artificial sweeteners and I didn't have a lot of sugar in my diet to cut out. Not sure why I didn't get it.
I was a simple carbaholic and even though I was good about beans and dairy, I suffered with it for a couple of days. I never gave up my one good-sized cup of coffee in the mornings with a cup of milk, and beans and peanut butter were my best friends.
I think I was just suffering the withdrawal symptoms of simple carb addiction -- no more pancakes, white bread, cookies, cakes, etc.
I totally have the SB flu. I took a two hour nap today and need to be working! I will try to eat more beans. I did use sugar often in my coffee and with sweets, so I can see this being a huge change. My body is just dragging and I am wiped out! Help!
Cutting the sugar out and the caffeine down is what gave me my headache and sluggish feeling. Unlike the others, I didn't feel it until Day 7 or so though! And was over it in a day
about 3/4 of the way through phase1, i had a bit of the sb flu. it was definately a sugar withdrawl, cause i don't care what anyone or any diet says - i will consume caffeine as a necessity and as i please. so with that not an issue, i would get very shaky, or just feel weak. an 8 oz glass of nf milk or a cup of nonfat plain yogurt would fix it right up quickly. even so, the "weird" feeling passes in a day or so.
South Beach Flu Questions........
