Anyone else experienced sugar withdrawal?

Cherry_Bomb

A couple of weeks ago I cut out sugary foods and drinks from my diet. It's mainly been drinks really. Lucozade was my downfall! Also minimal (if any) carbs.

For the last 4 days I've been feeling really run down (symptoms of any other withdrawal. Headaches, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite) and I'm thinking its all related.

Just want to add I'm in no way worried about it. Im not after medical advice. I know whatever it is will pass but I was just curious if others had experienced anything similar after massively cutting down their sugar intake.

Hughjass

I have, its not good but stick with it if you can, I never managed too but have minimal sugar now so am happy with that, the headaches are the worst, you have my sympathy but well done two weeks is quite a long time

belfastgirl23

I am trying to eat less sugar and if I have a sugar binge now I feel depressed and crotchety afterwards. Beyond just feeling disappointed in myself - actually feeling grumpy. So there are definitely chemical side effects!

daska

Well done you!

Low carbers call this carb flu. It lasts a few days usually. Make sure you drink plenty of water and up your salt intake for the next few days to help your body adjust - could you drink a cup of hot marmite or bovril?

Don't forget there's all sorts of other chemicals in lucozade and the like: colours, flavours etc. chances are your body is missing those as well.

Cherry_Bomb

Thanks for the replies! The headaches are definitely the worst. No amount of painkillers seem to shift them!

Will definitely stick with it though. I'm hoping I'm going to wake up tomorrow feeling a bit better.

Will look at upping my salt intake too. Not sure if I could handle bovril or marmite though!

Thanks again

MasterPoo

To me sugar is like a bad habit I can't kick!! I generally eat very well and would ideally like to kick this habit but I fail all the time. My cryptonite is chewy sweets (Haribo's etc).....and yes all those symptoms are common! I once managed to give them up and ice cream for lent! So stick to it, you are doing well!

Tygermoth

Ugg this is the worst. I remind my self how nasty it is to get back on the wagon when that bar of galaxy is singing my name and looking all come hither at me.

Its like a nasty hang over, you promise you wont ever drink again... then a few months later it seems like a really good idea lol

I find once free of sugar i have boundless energy, less fluctuations in mood and no headaches. So its should be a no brainer, right?

Luckily i have a huge event planned in July and i have made a carb promise to myself and have strictly kept it which is no mean feat as my boss is a feeder

I'm not kidding, every week since i started she has brought something for each day - cakes, biscuits, cup cakes, doughnuts, huge bags of sweets, mcds breakfasts and KFC lunches and get pushy and stroppy if they are left unfinished or as she puts it 'wasted'. i swear she has upped her game because she noticed i am abstaining she bought a massive bag of cheesy doretos (sp) 'especially for me because i know you love them' as she knows its my kriptonite - I took them home and gave them to the OH (with a tear in my eye i may add lol)

and she has the perfect figure lol

MasterPoo

Tygermoth, I think she is a calculating cleaver :;&'nb*^%# LOL!!!!! Get them all fat and I stay trim!!!!

Signed Paranoid and Jealous

heartbreak_star

Yeah I found I got carb flu when I went semi-paleo - I still have one cheat day a week where I eat carbs (brown rice usually) so I must have had a hellishly carb-heavy diet beforehand!!

HBS x

loveabargain13

I've just stopped with sugar in my tea after 28+ years.... Don't drink fizzy drinks but I'm not sure I enjoy tea quite as much but at least I've gone 3 weeks without sugar

Good Luck too!

avstar

I'm a low carber and no sugar at all, and have experienced the classic low-carb flu a few times I've fallen off the wagon!

First time I ever did low carb I also cut out caffeine too...good grief was that the worst headache in the world?! I took to my bed :rotfl:

Stick with it, once I got over the first few weeks and my blood sugar levelled off I felt great.