When do you stop feeling miserable dieting? Or do you not?

[QS90]

Just that really. I'm a month in doing very low carb, and have lost a stone. I don't feel hungry, and eat plenty of chicken / avacado / other good foods, and take a vitamin and all that. But despite being slimmer and satiated, mood is really low. I definitely used to comfort eat cake, which obviously can't now do. Will my mood eventually balance out? Or is this it now until I get to my target weight (which should be approximately a year) and can eat a bit more normally again? What has your experience been? Anything I can do to force my brain to cheer the flip up, without binging on a load of sugar and alcohol?

I should think it's the low carb making you feel like crap. Are you able to eat some without going on a crash for sugar? I always feel really low on low carb.
is there any exercise you like doing? Might help lift your endorphins?

I don't know what the solution is OP but I feel your pain. I'm on wegovy and it's working so well but I feel like I've lost a friend. It's really exposed my psychological issues with food

A stone in a month is amazing. I think if you carry on you'll start to get your mood boost from the weight loss and from feeling healthier.

If you're craving chocolate or a sweet comfort food, those high protein bars do the job quite well. Grenade, Trek, etc. They have sweeteners so aren't the healthiest, but they are low carb and they trick the brain for a while.

Personally, I try to find those 'highs' elsewhere. Exercise/endorphins help. I also try to stay busy, plan nice holidays, dance, laugh a lot.

It's a bit easier when you get to goal and you can indulge once in a while, too. You just have to be careful not to backslide into it being your only 'high' again.

I allow myself to have treats. I work it into my calorie allowance. So I don't feel like I'm depriving myself and it's sustainable.

Why are you miserable? I'd say have a crack at addressing that and yes yes yes to exercise to give you a natural boost. Doesn't have to be formal gym / classes - YouTube dance fit videos / roller skating - try loads until you find something you will enjoy

Thanks all for the replies. I must say I don't excersize, which I used to do a lot before having children but never have the time for now (they're 1 and 4). But perhaps I should try and find a way to shoehorn that into the week too - I did used to really enjoy hiking / gym / dance classes!

@Newnamesameoldlurker Solidarity ✊️😭

Exercise is the main thing that helps me not feel this way but tbh it’s probably the low carb adding to it. It’s not for me. I am a moderate carb person. I don’t mean cakes, I mean bread, rice potatoes etc. I don’t over eat them but I still eat them. I am less miserable eating moderate carbs and exercising

@FusionChefGeoff I do have moderate money and relationship problems, but have done for a while. When I had cake the issues were much more bearable lol. The less cake I have, the more it seems like it might have been a bit of a crutch?

Interesting what a few people have said about low carb. I read that in theory your body starts making ketones and your mood should improve as your brain uses them for fuel, but doesn't seem to have happened so far... My mum did moderate carb / very healthy mediterranean diet a few years ago - she's lovely and slim now, and has kept the weight off too. But she was unbearably grumpy and miserable for about two years on it, which put me off and made me think the ultra low carb would be a bit better, but perhaps not 🤔

Does it make you hungrier to do this or not really?

I saved any carbs for the evening. That helped me. When you start to see results that gives you such a buzz. Dropping a dress size

Honestly I think this bloody awful weather all autumn and winter hasn't helped.

OP that is an insanely quick shed; a calorie deficit of over 48 000 in 4 weeks! That's a stonking negative 1600 kcal per day, that is bordering on the impossible. No wonder you feel crap!
I'm 50+, short and not very active, and my total daily energy expenditure isn't even 1600 kcal. I've lost 5 stone in a year with the help of that jab, but also by being in a pretty aggressive deficit of 1000 kcal/day + low carb, 80% of the time. It would have been horrific without the appetite suppressing effect of ozempic/wegovy, and it's still not been without effort.
I'm not a dietician but I've learnt so much this year. I work in entertainment and have spoken to a few experts who train Hollywood stars and oversee their diet and exercise before filming. One big take home for me was the 17/20 rule some of them advocate. Ie make sure 17 of 20 meals are nutritionally sound according to your diet, but also allow yourself three more 'normal' meals. Not to be confused with cheat days where people just gorge themselves, but say pasta with cheese and wine occasionally, because as one of them said; 'life is also for living'. I have used this principle and made space for "re-feed days" which means I have been able to enjoy myself on holidays and work trips - just in moderation. The positive effect on my wellbeing and energy has been tangible. Great for re-setting leptin levels too, and it just makes it more sustainable long term.

The other big take home is that I would not have been able to do this with younger children or a more physically demanding job. Any exercise beyond dog walks is a no-no. There is simply not enough fuel for it, and pushing yourself to work out when you are eating within such an aggressive deficit can make you really ill.