I've been on diets before, but this is the first time that I've cut out everything bad from my diet. I'm on Optifast so in the intensive phase can only have the shakes, & 2 cups of vegetables a day.. oh and lots and lots of water.

Before this I drank Coke all the time, had lots of coffee, heaps of carbs and practically lived on sugar. I've only been on this since Monday and I have been feeling rotten. My mum thinks it has something to do with detox and all the poisons making their way out of me, but I wasn't sure if it really worked like that.

I had a horrific headache on Tuesday, and felt queasy Tuesday & Wednesday...

Does this sound like the expected reaction after cutting out everything so suddenly??

Thanks
Tania

It might very well be - people do have withdrawal symptoms when they cut things, especially caffeine.

It might also be that your body is reacting to having so few calories to work with all of a sudden. I think you should discuss this with your doctor - I do hope you aren't doing this restrictive of a diet without doctor supervision - just to make sure you aren't doing damage to yourself by making such drastic changes all at once

Well I have to tell you that I have a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to the word "detox" used in conjunction with a diet. Our bodies don't need to "detox" in the sense that most dieters and diet plans use the word. And you're right - it doesn't really work like that.

However, it is possible to go through *withdrawal* from caffeine and sugar.

Withdrawals mean that your body is *missing* what you normally put into it, not that poisons are leaching out of your body.

There's a difference.

Many people who give up caffeine - not just in sodas, but in coffee, tea, even chocolate, suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Your body gets used to the boost from caffeine and not having it any more can give you headaches, make you feel drowsy, make you feel ill, and so forth. And when you feel like that, your immunity is lowered, so it's easier for you to catch colds or flu or whatever. So it's possible that you could get sick from going cold turkey - not because any kind of "poison" is draining from your body, but because your body is learning to adapt to not having the usual level of caffeine, sugar, etc. put in it.

I do have other issues with the Optifast diet - I don't think that kind of deprivation is healthy ... but I won't go there ... yet.

Good luck to you!

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The queasiness could be anything, but the headache is very, very likely caffeine withdrawal. It helps to go off caffeine slowly. I don't have any idea about Optifast guidelines, but if it's OK, you might do well to have black tea for a while (less caffeine than coffee) and gradually cut back or switch to decaf.

Hey tc76!

Gee, I think if I made a sudden switch like that, I'd feel horrible too! It's sort of the reverse of going from zero to 60 in 10 seconds.

I'd say what you're experiencing is only to be expected--but you don't have to go that route to lose weight. There are other programs that don't give you "metabolic whiplash."

You might want to do some reading. YOU: On a Diet is a book that can tell you a lot about the body and weight loss. Also, if you can see a nutritionist or dietitian, you can perhaps get a plan more tailored to your needs. Your doctor should be able to refer you if you ask.

Good luck! Hope you feel better...

Jay

What a great phrase. I'm gonna have to remember that one!

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Sudden caffeine withdrawal is miserable. The good news is that once you are off you may find you are sleeping better and feel better. I echo the black tea suggestion, but ultimately they want you off the soda.

When I was on optifast (and then they did no veggies, it was just shakes) some folks really felt awful for a while. Similarly, when I started Atkins I was sick for about two weeks, and found that folks on an Atkins Board called that the "Atkins flu".

Talk to your program about how you are feeling, they need to know and can help you plan.

Thanks for all the great advice everyone (and for the giggle at the Metabolic Whiplash comment - my mum loved that too!). It really sounds like it was the caffeine and sugar. I basically drank coke like it was water and ate sugary things nearly everyday. I guess it is not surprising that my body reacted. Didn't occur to me before I started though.

My headaches have eased off a bit, although I am still feeling a bit queasy - more so in the mornings.. I've decided to relax just a little in regards to food. For example, last night instead of the dinner shake I had some fish instead, and it made me feel a whole lot better. So if I am not feeling well I think I will eat a meal (although not the huge portion size I used to have).

I will go see my doctor on Monday though. I started optifast without going to the doctor first, because a dietician did put me on it about a year and a half ago and I was about 13kgs lighter then so I figured her advice from then was still valid. Probably not the best idea considering my reaction. So I'll make sure I'm doing the right thing when I see my doctor!

Thanks again...

ooooohhhhh yeah. Detox. Ouch. I am on liver detox and wheat/dairy free diet right now. For the first two weeks I was absolutely miserable and crying every day.

Now I'm better.

So what I am saying is -- any kind of withdrawal and detox for the first two weeks are ****. Just know that after that you will defo start to feel better!

~CGH~