Hello, all. Do/Did any of you experience(d) extreme headaches when you started eating better/working out? This whole week I have been eating fruit or veggies for breakfast, a salad (with grilled chicken and fat free dressing) or Subway sandwich for lunch and something reasonable for dinner (usually a salad with chicken if I didn't have it for lunch or something else low calorie/low fat). I didn't cut out sweets as I was never really into them but my sodium is down (for a snack to fill up my sodium cravings I might have one or two tortilla chips as opposed to 10+, string cheese or something similarly light)...could that be causing the headaches? I'm drinking lots of water- 10-12 glasses a day. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing or has experienced something similar when starting a new regimen?
As an aside, I'm traveling this weekend to see family (which usually means bad for you food like Taco Bell, pizza, etc.). My mom is supportive of my loosing weight, and wants to loose herself as well... any favorite recipes you want to share for something filling but healthy for dinners over the course of the weekend? Taco Bell (the bad stuff not just tacos) will be calling to me hard once I get off the train ride home but I want to stay strong.
Edited to add- In between a few other light snacks every day (plus a glass of wine or two...I know, I know empty calories) my calories come in daily between 1200-1500.
Last edited by asweetchicagogirl1; 03-12-2010 at 01:39 PM.
The thing that causes terrible headaches for me is Splenda/artificial sweeteners. If you have anything in your diet that consists of them, and you hadn't eaten them before, this could be the case.
You could try tracking when the headaches start - is it prior to a work out/after a work out, etc.
Another thing I've heard is that if people go from drinking soda to not drinking any, this could cause headaches b/c your body is in caffeine with drawl.
If you cut out caffeine that can def give you a headache. I find that when I go too long without eating I will get a headache so maybe if you've cut down on the amount/how often you're eating its your body telling you that you need more water or you need to eat more often.
Hmmm....I thought it might be the caffeine as well (and am drinking a cup now as I missed coffee this morning) but I really only drink one to two cups of coffee a day (no soda really). Yesterday threw me off because I had my coffee but now that I think on it, I added artificial sweetner, as I was trying to stay away from cream. I didn't think that could cause headaches but I never drink coffee with artifical sweetner (it tasted awful going down) so that could very well be it.
I get headaches from artificial sweeteners as well.
When I stopped drinking pop, usually once a day I would replace my sweet craving with crystal light or something, but I'm pretty sure that is giving me headaches, because I'm over the caffeine thing now. I haven't had it in a few days and now I haven't had a headache either.
I cut out sugar a little over 3 weeks ago. With this, I also cut out caffeine because I was no longer eating soda or chocolate. The first week, my headaches were terrible. But now I feel great. I used to get headaches at least 2x a week, if not more, but I have not had one since the first week of giving that stuff up.
I have never been into artificial sweetener. It always gave me headaches. I would rather have the real stuff than the artificial sweetener (but right now I am not having either!)
I didnt even think about the artificial sweetners causing my headaches! I have headaches all the time but I may die if I dont put something in my coffee and tea! lol
Maybe I'll tough it out for a week and see if it solves my problem.
I agree with Feral. Dehydration can cause frequent headaches, especially right after exercise. Maybe try upping the amount of water you drink in a day (if you rule out the sweetner, that is) and see if that helps.
Of course, this is just my guess. If these extreme headaches persist, I'd definitely recommend going to a doctor.
Last edited by Song of Surly; 03-12-2010 at 09:00 PM.
Artificial sweeteners don't bother me, but I find that eating a lot of fruit does. I'm super sensitive to sugar so I find that fruit gives me a huge sugar rush then I crash with a nasty headache. I also get headaches, if I go to long without eating.
Headaches and Healthy Alternatives
