Tomi -
I'm glad you found the info about the "carb flu" online. I was surprised no one mentioned it.

You will feel better soon - by the end of the week at the latest if you stick with it.

I was lucky - I did not get sick when I started - but was prepared by my coach to the point where I almost took the 1st 3 days off from work (I'm a preschool teacher) because I was so afraid of how I would feel.

I would suggest if you are hit this hard in the beginning to carry your salt with you because you might be one of those people that has some dizzy spells going forward as your body adjusts. I did have some dizzy days even though I wasn't sick at the beginning. I found a little lick of the hand, with a sprinkle of salt really helped at those times. Of course it made me think tequilla and lemon would be the next thing..... It never was......

You can do this - It will get better!

I don't know about your coach but drinking alcohol is completely against protocol and my coach will kick people out of the program for drinking, because they must feel you're not completely serious about it if youre going to cheat. In a year from now or less what will make you feel better? All the weight you've lost or that beer every night? I guess thats somethong you'll have to ask yourself. the first week is hard as your body is trying to adjust to not having carbs, but soon you wont even crave them!

Thanks so much onmyway! I wish I could like posts here It's an adjustment to think of getting enough salt, instead of too much, for me at least.

Thanks Crystal! I already don't crave carbs in food, and after Friday I don't even feel like having a drink at all. All the advice and support here is really helping me make the mental adjustment too.

First, Welcome!! Here is my 2 cents. This is your journey, no one elses. You need to do what works for you. You are the one who has to live with you ,your choices and consequences, no one else. This isn't an "i cheat or don't cheat" forum, its supposed to be a support forum. I wish you nothing but health , lost pounds and happiness, however you wish to go about it!

I agree that its a support forum, but I also understand how annoying it can be to hear people that are not following the protocol talking about how they had a beer, or should I have a glass of wine, or I had a glass of wine am I gonna have a stall? There is no room for alcohol on IP. Zero, zip, none. Its something we all have to deal with if we want the results that IP can deliver. If not, why do it? Wouldn't those who can't commit to giving up alcohol or birthday cake short term be better off going on Weight Watchers, where they can work those treats into the plan? Why set yourself up for failure?

In my opinion, its up to the individual, its her money, her time and her effort or lack of. Its no one's place to tell her, or anyone else, what she should or shouldn't do, or to judge her. (I'm not saying you have, I'm talking in general) She knows the score and how this program works.

Why is it annoying to hear if someone isn't following the protocol? It's their decision and doesn't impact others lives in any way. When I see that someone has had a bad day or a "cheat" it doesn't make me feel like my journey is in jeopardy. If it did, I would move on from that thread.

Maybe they want it but adjusting to the rigidity in the beginning or throughout is hard for them, and they are stumbling, it isn't an insult to anyone else who is OP or not. Who knows what she is going through, we don't walk in her shoes. We are all only human and it may take someone a few falls before they figure out what will work best for them.

I'm NOT judging her, and I can relate. in fact I would kill for a glass of wine! Its a big part of my social and cultural experience. I'm Italian and wine was always on the dinner table. I was allowed to have a small glass by the time I was 14. And I do agree that people need to be 'supported' during their cheats, but not coddled. This is NOT meant to be mean or to be directed to one individual. But I do find it frustrating when I read a long rant about unmet goals and unhappy weigh ins only to have it end with - 'but I was totally OP except I didn't eat all my veg, I didn't drink all my water, I went to Zumba 3x, etc., etc., etc.

Wow there is so much good advice here! We are all here for our bad habits that got worse, some of us have taken IP as a gift and are treating it as the "last diet" I know I am! Visualizing what I will look like at christmas or my husbands reunion or Maui this year is way more meaningful than having a drink with friends, if they are your friends they will encourage you on your journey, not sabatoge it like so many times I have been told- one drink won't kill you, they obviously have not been in ketosis, from what I read it will! Lol

Hey thanks Happymom! Same to you!

Having spent the weekend reading this forum (and other diet forums) I understand how my post could be annoying to those who come here looking for reinforcement, not exposure to tales of cheating and debauchery.

Yes, lots of great advice, which will help me resist temptation! /r/keto also has a thread on alcohol and ketosis which is very informative (and pretty rowdy). General consensus seems to be that alcohol affects you very differently on ketosis, with lower tolerance and worse hangovers. Fortunately for me, at my first weigh in I'm on track - 5 lbs down, woot!

That's a great first week weigh in! Congrats!

I hope it's ok to link this Harvard Business Review Podcast. It speaks to how/why different people respond to 2 types of motivation...Promotion & Prevention. I found it interesting anyway.

http://blogs.hbr.org/ideacast/2013/0...ve-motiva.html

Wow awesome first week! now keep up the good work!