ok when i started the SBD i had totally cut off all caffine to which im used to have about 3-4 sodas a day. so now i have this odd head pain. not really a headache.. it just feels like permanent brain freeze. its been going on for the past 3 days.

im just wondering if im the only one?!

I think this is normal, especially if you're cutting out caffeine. Today is my first day on SBD and I'm already developing a bit of a headache.

I don't have headaches (knock on wood) but am very tired and have terrible taste in my mouth. This is Day 4 of Phase 1. When does the tiredness go away?

The caffeine withdrawal should be more of a dull, niggling headache rather than a sharp one but I have heard of really heavy caffeine consumers getting quite bad headaches. Perhaps you will be better to cut back to one diet soda a day and do a two-stage caffeine withdrawal. Think about it if it is affecting your work/life too badly but you should be pretty close to the end of the withdrawal process now. Dehydration will also result in a headache so remember to consume LOADS of water.

The fatigue is normal. Your body is restabilising itself and withdrawing from carbos and sugar. It will pass after about 5-7 days then you will feel really energised, and of course you should find that you have dropped quite a bit of weight which is very motivating.

hey dt, chick, etc...

I'm on day four today, and I also have had headaches off and on. I don't drink diet soda but I have allowed myself to have unlimited coffee and tea (usually that means 1-2 cups of coffee in am, and 1-2 cups of tea in the afternoon). Certain things I will not change. I cannot change my caffeine habits, and I also have to have a sweet pickle or two chopped up in my tuna. Everything else is totally on program.

I'm losing weight too fast now, I think. I was alarmed when I got on the scale this morning and was eight pounds down. That can't be healthy.

Anyway, I have had some headaches and some tiredness, but other than that I feel better than I have since before I had kids, seven years ago.

A lot of the early weight loss is water loss but you will notice that your clothes are looser when you try them on.

Keep drinking the water. That helps with the tiredness and the headaches. I did not stop caffein either, but I have to soon as I am off on a retreat at Easter where it is proscribed, so I would rather have my withdrawal in private....! I am what you might call a heavy user of the big C.

yeah my headache is def. not as bad today. but it is still there at times. i cheated today and had a barq's root beer. oops. bleh. but it did not taste very good at all. i was told that would happen if i gave up caffine and then tried it a few days later. not good at all.

but yes.. day 4 phase I today and im still so so very tired. ick.

hey destructive,

I think it takes awhile to feel normal after you quit caffeine. It might be the diet, but it seems people (myself also) have MORE energy, not less, with the diet. Maybe in a week or two when your caffeine habit is broken you'll feel better.

I have to commend you, but my goodness, quitting caffeine to me would be like quitting everything. I've been a coffee drinker since the age of fourteen. To me life is good with caffeine!! I tried to quit one or two times but felt like DEATH, even a week later. Not everyone has such an extreme reaction, but my point is....its really hard.

Good luck!! MM

I'm finishing day 12 (down 6 pounds), and yes, I had headaches the first week, too. I also have experienced fatigue, too, possibly due to a cross country trip last week. I also have had a bit of intestinal discomfort.

However, my jeans are looser, and the first person asked me today if I'm losing weight. I hugged her!

Looking forward, however, to the energy that all the long timers talk about. Maybe I should be drinking more water.

thank you moonmirror. my BIGGEST problem is.. now that im not drinking all the soda. im not really drinking anything. i will have a glass of water or 2 a day. but that is it. and i hate it because i know im supposed to be drinking more. but the thought of drinking any water besides dasani makes me sick. lol and going out and buying bottles of water each day to fill the quota can get expensive. but i guess if that is what it takes i may have to break down and just do it. for my health.

Destructive, why don't you get a big bottle of spring water? You can usually get a 4 litre bottle (or whatever size you American girls have down there ) at the grocery store. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than buying the little bottles.

i would if i could find it. i mean i know they have big ones.. but probably not in the brand i like. but if anyone knows of any where that they do.. please let me know!

evil caffeine headaches....ugh! I used to get them all the time, then went cold turkey a few years ago and endured headaches for about 2 weeks! But ever since, I don't get them anymore, even though I do indulge in coffee a couple of times a week. You could still have coffee, but would have to use nondairy creamer and sugar substitute. It's no chai tea latte, but if you love coffee (or in my case, on days I have school before work and NEED coffee), it's better than nothing.