Weight-Loss Change in diet - and I'm feeling worse??

[amy1986]

Hi everyone, I'm new here, just trying to find some answers as to why my new healthy eating regeime seems to be having the opposite effect to what I want...

So I'm 21 years old, 5'6 and weigh 150lbs; I've been this weight since I was about 16 and while I'd ideally like to lose around 20lbs that's not really my main concern. Due to events in my life recently I've become aware of the need to start a healthier lifestyle and diet has been a part of that.

I've been eating what I consider extremely healthily for the last week - and - I feel worse than I did before I started! I'm lethargic, headache-y and I've broken out in pimples on my face which isn't usually a problem I have at all.

I'm essentially following a low-GI diet which has helped me lose weight before, but as I say I'm not radically trying to lose weight. These are all foods I normally eat, just not in the same quantities or in the same way, so I doubt I have any kind of intolerance as usually I'm fine. I don't have a scale here so I dunno if my weight has changed over the last week.

Here is an honest food diary for yesterday. The other days this week have been very similar. Does anyone have any suggestions to what I'm doing wrong?

8.30am: small bowl of museli with skimmed milk.
11am: around 1/3 of an avocado with balsamic vinegar.
2pm: salad made of mackeral, small portion of rice, mixed leaves and roasted vegetables.
4.30pm: one pear, small handful of sunflower seeds.
7pm: two oatcakes with low-fat hummous.
9pm: lentils in tomato sauce with vegetables and chilli, portion of bulgar wheat, low-fat plain yogurt

Throughout the day I drank 2 litres of water.

Any thoughts?

 

[maleficent]

get an account at or one of the100s of other food diary sites and start tracking calories and nutrients for a week and see were you are... calories and nutrients wise..

Are the foods you're eating of the processed variety of fresh - have the producers changed formulas and you're allergic to something?

What else may have changed in your life that would cause the lethargy? could you be pregnant?

 

[Susana1]

Sometime, should be attention one the "portion" of vitamin C and iron. Wherever could be so many reasons...for those symptoms. In your place, I'll ask to your doctor about that problem.

 

[fayeruth]

One of the reasons you may be feeling worse...

Whenever you change your diet for the better (ie more healthy) and start cutting out things like, sugar, refined foods, fast food, pop, candy, coffee etc, your body goes through a period of 'detoxing'. Its now no longer getting pumped full of the bad foods and has the chance to expel them from you body. Depending on how much 'junk' or unhealthy food your body was used to getting, this period can be anything from 1-3 weeks! Can consist of any of the following; headaches, tiredness/lethargy, irritability, mood swings, nausea, skin breakouts etc. By drinking alot of water it is also helping your body flush out these toxins that have built up over many years. Its a horrible phase, but if you can stick to your new healthy diet and get through it, you will soon begin to notice the differences. Exercise will also help alot during the detoxing period (even tho its the last thing you feel like!)
I recently did a cleanse and I experienced one of the worst detox phases ever! I could hardly think my headaches were so bad. But the end results were worth the pain!!!

Hope this helps!

By the way, Im 24, about 5'2 and currently weigh far more than I should! But I am working on that. I used to do alot of track (100 & 200 meters) and competative swimming and then didn't train for a long time so my once muscular physique is now more fat than muscle. Haha! I'd like to lose around 20lbs.

 

[busy91]

Sounds to me like your body is detoxing.

When you switch from a diet of high fat and unhealthy food, to a diet with mostly healthy food, your body starts to get rid of all the garbage that is in it. You will be tired, have a headache, zits, bad breath, body odor, gas.

Although you say you are eating the same things? Is there anything new you are eating at all?

As annoying and gross as it is, it is a good thing. It usually only lasts about 2 weeks at the most.

That is my 2 cents.

 

[nasus]

Wow I really didn't think of that before, but that is so true. Along with the detoxing, I think it definitely took me awhile to lose my craving for something super sweet every day. I definitely still have the urge to splurge on something sweet once in awhile, but at least it's not dessert everyday anymore.