Day 2 of new regime and I feel like crying

[Dontlletmedownbruce]

Any words of motivation please? Any mental exercises or tips? I know in a few days I'll be feeling lighter and that will motivate me but right now I am still at my heaviest (obviously, it's only been 1 day!!). I feel like I can't do this. I have a tummy ache, headache and feel like crying. There is possibly a hormonal element too. Definitely sugar withdrawal.

I just want to get to Thursday for my weigh in. I'm on a supervised nutritional diet so this isn't calorie deprivation.

Go slow and steady
It’ll take a while to get used to the change
Keep snacks light
Eat proper meals

One change at a time is the best way to bring change. Too many at once and it’s souls destroying and you give up!

Agree with pp. Too many changes at once is going to cause havoc on your mind and body. Make small changes and build up from there. Sugar withdrawals are rough. One day at a time and it will get easier, try to replace the bad sugars with fruit and yoghurt so you still get your sweets fix but its better for your body. Also remind yourself that you dont need to miss out and eating doesn't have to be boring, work of eating the things you like in moderation and remind yourself you don't need It everyday.

Thanks so much for the replies. Yes it was sugar withdrawal I think, I actually had the shakes a few hours after I posted. My goodness, I feel like a drug addict. I am going to just really focus on sugar withdrawal being phase 1 and not worry too much about portions for a while, then phase 2 will be gradual reduction in calorie intake. I managed yesterday with a few bits of fruit and allowed myself 1 tsp of honey. Funny enough I wasn't hungry at all, if anything I was nauseous.

I've been really examining my diet and it's shocking how much sugar and starch I consume. I'm not really into fatty foods so have managed to become obese on sugar alone.

I've been doing breathing and stress management techniques for the past 48 hours, I think I'll need to keep that up for the next few weeks.

What exactly is the new regime?

Just remember that any physical sensations or discomfort, hunger, cravings, etc that you're experiencing are not a crisis and don't have to be addressed.

Try to trust the process. Don't panic.

It's a high protein low carb diet from a nutritionist weight loss clinic. Lots of protein and 2 small portions of complex carbs. 1 portion might be a few tbsp of brown rice or 1 slice wholemeal bread or 1 potato. 2 fruit portions per day max, that must be eaten with protein to prevent glucose spike so I can have an apple and a babybel cheese, or a kiwi with some natural yoghurt for example. Also 2 protein supplements bars per day starting off to prevent hunger. It's relatively high in calories for a diet but it's designed as far as I know to prevent hunger and wean off bad carbs. I've done it before many years ago and it worked well but this time I've had a different reaction. I should admit I was eating lots of crap until 72 hours ago including a couple of bars of chocolate a day, cereal with sugar, honey on toast, biscuits etc. A diet far too high in carbs and sugar.

That’s quite a drastic change to bring in. Can you break it down a bit into stages? Stop processed sugar for couple days, then stop all forms of sugar, then replace refined carbs with complex carbs…etc?
it will be less brutal.

@Dontlletmedownbruce i'm guessing there's some complexities here as you say you are with a clinic.

I haven't eaten the amount of sugar that you describe, but I tried giving up sugar a couple of times. It was weirdly miserable and I didn't lose any weight anyway.

I can't do low-carb. I just feel absolutely dreadful on it and it's not worth it.

Then again, I admit I may not be the best person to ask. I'm feeling quite grumpy today because although I have lost weight, I'm just tired of the whole thing really.

I'm not even really restricted, so I shouldn't really be grumbling.

But are you sure you want to go at it this hard? I have a feeling there's some information missing from your post.

Im finding it a little difficult to tell if this diet is actually medically overseen with expert guidance or not but it does seem very drastic.

you are going through withdrawal of caffeine and sugar and will feel miserable as a result, my experience of going from very high to very low carb is that it will take about 10 days to regulate and reach a point where you no longer feel starving hungry and ill. I would have suggested eating more but your diet seems very strictly regulated so I’m not sure if you’re allowed to, but recommendation for things like keto/low carb bootcamp is that you restrict carbs but protein and fat is unrestricted so if you are hungry then eat but within those food groups, so eggs, cheese, avocado, nuts, seeds, meat, yoghurt, fish, seafood, non-starchy veg (broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach)

Thanks for all the support! I'm starting to feel better already so hopefully the worst withdrawal is over.

@InfoSecInTheCity yes I can eat most of the things you name including some carbs so it's not as severe as keto. For example my lunch yesterday was half a wholemeal bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon. I had eggs for breakfast, a cheese snack and a chicken salad with fruit and yoghurt for dinner. There is plenty I can eat.

Thanks @DoItLikeAWoman I am trying to not worry too much if I go over portion with protein rich foods but I'm being very strict on the sugar and UPF carbs for now. In a few weeks when I'm weaned off I'll try to revisit portions and calories. I'm also trying to count little victories.

@EmeraldRoulette it's not a terribly complex case actually. I was always overweight around 12 st but started to rapidly gain about years ago to 14 st. I did a few plans and started to maintain at 13 5lbs but i was doing it badly, replacing good proteins for UPS and occasionally bingeing. It wasn't good for me mentally or physically so i threw money at the problem and got expert help. I did the same program about 15 years ago and it worked well for me.

I've been doing breathing exercises when I need to. As @mathanxiety says there was a panic element to starting the new plan. Yesterday I had to go to a specific shop for get something for DD and I always get a particular unhealthy treat that's only available there. I got panicky because I didn't think I had the strength but I did as instructed, I visualised myself walking past the items and getting my other items, I had a snack in the car and did some breathing exercises before I went in. And I did it! It's small but it made me feel like I can do this.

How are you getting on OP?

Thanks @Fat2FitAt40 ! Going quite well i think. I was over the worst of it but I had a family wedding so drank a bit of alcohol yesterday, hopefully it won't trigger much of a relapse. After about 4 days I started to feel better and by day 7 I was feeling positive about myself for the first time in a long time.

I'm trying to count personal victories, last night really salty greasy chips were produced at 1am and i said I wasn't hungry and I felt no resentment. Normally if I say no I feel really angry and deprived. So despite the relapse I feel i can do this now, whereas before when I first posted it felt impossible to me

Brilliant@dontglad to hear you're in the zone now. The first few days are always brutal and feel overwhelming but you've got this!! I can relate to the feelings of resentment and missing out when having to refuse things you want but can't have, it's not easy!