3rd day of 16:8. So hungry, dizzy and need advice.

[IamSamantha]

Hi everyone. I'm very new to this and have been spurred on to do this after blood pressure and blood sugar issues. I have 8 stone to lose to get into the right weight category. It's a lot but I must do this now for myself and my family. I've lost 7lbs in 5 days of trying but 3 days of fasting. I've already noticed legs, feet, stomach etc all less bloated and I've lost a lot of water.

I'm not sleeping well, very fitful. Had 2 hours max last night and I've taken a holiday day today because I just need it.

Last ate at 7pm I'm finding I get full so fast when I eat and I'm having to stop far quicker than I would usually. I'm on 2 meals a day and trying to keep carbs low, protein up and eat nutritional food. This morning I'm feeling hungry, dizzy and sick. I'm craving toast, crisps, etc. I've had coffee and cinnamon this morning, I'm drinking plenty of water.

Any advice is welcome as I feel a bit out of my depth.

What are you eating?

Your body may be detoxing if you were previously eating a lot of carbs/sugar/processed foods and aren’t now so you may feel a bit worse before you feel better.

For me, 7pm is late for me to eat so I don’t sleep well if eat that late.

I've just started but I am eating as I would normally without worrying about carbs and calories etc.

Low carbs really doesn't agree with me.

When I crave savoury foods its because I need more salt. Maybe try an electrolyte drink.

I also don't sleep well if I've done a low carb day.

Lunches have had veg (peppers, onions etc) and cheese omelette with salads. A 2 egg omelette and I can't finish it.

Dinners have been beef and sweet potato stew, stir fry egg brown rice (added seeds and nuts) and pork (less rice than veg).

If I wanted a snack it's been unsalted nuts, not a lot, small palm. I put some in Greek yogurt yesterday as mid afternoon snack as first meal was smaller due to time pressure.

Last night I had cheese and celery with half a green apple as I got hungry again.

I am a carb junkie, I crave them and have not been as careful as I should have which is probably the reason for the pre t2 situation. Today I want crisps and bread and chips etc. I won't go there.

I'm noticing I'm going to the toilet far more frequently. My skin and eyes have brightened in just 3 days. I am also walking everyday for upto an hour.

I am getting anxiety spikes periodically but I'm perimenopausal and it's not unusual for me to get this. I'm also recovering from a cold and cough which is proving difficult to shift.

I need to low carb to get my blood sugars under control. Its one of the benefits of IF and had put two other family members into T2 remission, they've come off their meds and one has got 6 months to go before no longer considered diabetic.

I think there's a good chance this might be all normal. In fact some of it sounds like a very good sign! Perhaps it's a mind shift that's needed, which is as we know harder than the change in eating! For instance, hunger = good, you are in calorie deficit. Your skin and eyes have brightened and you are less bloated. This is amazing!

Sleeping badly, well, that also might be adjusting to being less full of food. You do need to allow your body to adjust. It may also be other stuff: I've barely slept a wink this week because of Truss/mortgage... It may also be perimenopause.

It sounds like you're doing brilliantly. Keep up the drinking loads of fluids, and if you're hungry in the evening try a mug of ginger and lemon with hot water: soothing, medicinal, and hot water will soothe/remove hunger pangs.

Do try to eat the meals you do make though - finish that omelette!

And well done. Hugely impressive and you should be proud. After the first few days it'll become much easier. Courage, ma brave!

I’m the opposite with carbs - I feel sluggish, don’t sleep great when I have them. I have loads more energy and motivation when I don’t eat carbs (rice, bread, pasta - I eat carbs in fruit/veg no problem). I think it’s about finding what works for you.

For me, sweet potato plus rice would make me feel sluggish. I’d have chicken breast, salmon steak or similar with veg/salad.

I agree with the salt, my body seems to need salt, I put sea salt on everything!

It does sound like it’s your body detoxing. Keep going and you’ll probably feel less hungry and loads more energy soon.

OK thanks. I will keep going because I must and if I stop now I will just carb crash and be in an even worse state and be so disappointed in myself so I must keep at it.

It's difficult for a forever fat person to understand what it actually feels like to be hungry and full. I'm conditioned poorly to eat something if I feel ill, tired, dizzy, etc etc. My food cues need a total reset which I'm hoping will happen.

I honestly don't think fasting is for everyone. I've tried it and I've never felt so ill. I couldn't concentrate at work and it triggered really bad binge eating habits. It's enough to maintain a calorie deficit, if fasting makes you ill then just stop.

It's difficult for a forever fat person to understand what it actually feels like to be hungry and full. I'm conditioned poorly to eat something if I feel ill, tired, dizzy, etc etc. My food cues need a total reset which I'm hoping will happen.

It sounds like you’ve got a really good awareness of poor food association/bad eating habits and what you struggle with which is really good and will help massively.
Fasting should really help as your body regenerates cells and is able to do all kinds of things it can’t do when it’s constantly digesting food. There are some good podcasts which can be helpful to listen to help fully understand it as it’s quite complex but really interesting.

Sitting down to eat and eating slowly can really help too. So, eating nuts from the packet standing up in the kitchen/cheese straight from fridge etc isn’t great. Putting them in a bowl, cutting cheese up with some salad etc, getting a glass of water and sitting down at the table to eat can really help. It makes you more mindful of what your eating plus you feel like you’ve eaten more if it’s all out on a plate rather than bits here and there straight from the packet.

Your last post struck me. It takes a lot of time and determination to teach yourself these things - like the fact that hunger pangs are just a signal not a demand. Feeling hungry does not mean something bad is happening, its just that your body (mine too) does not know how to process the feeling in a healthy way. You seem really aware of all this which helps you see it for what it is and address it.

Processed foods are literally addictive to the brain, it will complain and manipulate and trick you to try and get you to eat them - until you retrain it.

The things you are describing sound normal however it is easy for us on the Internet to say. If you are unsure get checked over - don't abandon your progress and jump back on the carb train, get medical advice first. With a large amount to lose your body is going to have additional stresses and strains to deal with so it is important you get proper support and advice not just the moral support of people on the Internet.

It sounds like you are doing brilliantly, but you are doing a lot all at once so don't be afraid to say actually I'll step back one element until I'm used to another element, for example stick with the low carb - but start the IF 2 weeks after the low carb so your body can get in step with you. The most important thing is finding a way to do this - not what you do or how you do it. It doesn't have to be textbook, just effective. 😊

I'm on day 2 for the same reasons having used IF and low carb in the past. I have the cold starting 😆

@JustALittleHelpPlease Spot on, especially about feeling hungry and the processed food.

If you’ve ate a lot of processed foods previously, you may be experiencing withdrawal symptoms from the sugar and all the other rubbish in them!

Think of it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. If you have an off day, eat out, go on holiday etc it’s not the end, just carry on.

I’m slim and I naturally IF (been doing it long before I heard of it)!! Some days if I’m not hungry/busy I’ll go longer (20 hours), other days if I’m hungry, I’ll go shorter (14/15 hours). 18 hours is probably typical for me. If you’re not used to it though, start smaller and work up on the days you feel like you can.
I’ll go for meals out/takeaway etc now and then, eat what I want on holiday. I do adjust afterwards, so if I’ve been for a meal out, I’ll be more aware what I eat next couple of days/eat lower calorie/less food/extra work outs.

I do mainly eat non - processed foods which I think helps massively.

I don’t eat for emotional reasons, so if I’ve had a bad day I don’t reward myself with cake/chocolate.

I do assess if foods are ‘worth the calories’. So a shop bought dessert that’s 400 calories and probably isn’t that nice, I’d think it’s just not worth it. A really nice tiramisu from a good Italian restaurant, I’d think definitely worth it! So it’s about being mindful - think how much will you enjoy it, is it worth putting on weight/not losing weight for, how will you feel after eating it v how will you feel not eating it.

I weigh myself every day which I find really useful, so if I’ve put on a small amount of weight it means can lose very easily. Also weight fluctuates so helps not to be disheartened if doing a weekly weigh in and you haven’t lost. Better to do 7 days and take an average.

Thank you for your comments. I'm pleased I posted. Detoxing never entered my mind. It's only in the past few years I've started to recognise that some foods just aren't worth the calories. Instead of then going and finding something else to fill the gap I've been trying to consider calories which has been an eye opener and massive education.

I may have eaten good food but I totally underestimated the calories in everything. I eat without realising and snack all the time. I think IF is ideal for addressing this.

I know my cues are off and it comes from my upbringing. Not allowed to leave the table until its all gone. Eat the boring stuff first then your sure not to leave anything. Every off feeling was accounted to low blood sugar, including any negative feelings or emotions. I stress eat, anxiety eat, bored eat.

I know why I'm fat and I know the theory behind what I need to do but blimey doing it is really really hard. It's such an emotional tangle but only I can do it.

I can't wait to feel better in my clothes, to gain confidence and it's so good to recognise that I need to look after me now. I need to put me first now. I've given myself to everyone else for years and nothing has been left for me. It changes now.

Lunch was green beans & boiled eggs salad, olive oil/lemon dressing. I feel better for eating already.

Yes, these processed foods are designed to be so, so addictive, part of the obesity problem we have. Feeling tired and rubbish won’t last for long, you’ll have loads of energy soon!

You sound so aware of yourself which will honestly really help.
You’re right, it’s really, really hard though.

Once you start to lose weight, feel better in clothes as you say, it will give you a huge boost to carry on.

You’ll probably make some bad decisions along the way, main thing is learn from them and carry on rather than being in the mindset your diet is ruined and you’ll start again next week/month whatever. Accept this is probably part of life, like any aspect we don’t always do what we should! The good thing about IF is it does give you more leeway than just calorie controlling.

Eating foods you really enjoy is key too. I know if I have a meal I wasn’t that fussed on, I’m rooting in the cupboards afterwards as even though I’m full I’m not ‘satisfied’. So things like lemon dressing to make it really tasty is ideal.

You sound really determined and like you have a good understanding and are in a great mindset. Best of luck, keep updating how you are getting on x

Hi @IamSamantha I've a thread running here which I started over a month ago. I've a lot to lose too, maybe we can spur each other on.
I think in another few days your symptoms should ease, the first while of low carb is tough going and the cravings are unreal.
I'm not eating low carb but have reduced my carbs and eat much less sugar and processed foods. I do bouts of fairly low carb days if I feel I've allowed carbs to creep up.

I think what helps make this doable for me is drinking lots of water and eating meals I really like. I rarely feel deprived or struggle but when I do my head is my own worst enemy. Luckily its only short lived moments of doubt/frustration but it takes willpower and focusing on the bigger picture to get me through.
Best of luck, we can do this.

I'd like that, thank you. Stomach rumbling tonight and hungry but mentally food is not an option. I could murder some toast but it's not happening and all down to my body adjusting.

Just keep thinking the toast isn't worth the years of t2, medications, heart disease etc.