AD - Tell me it gets easier

[tjksask]

So I am on my 4th day trying the AD (doing the 12 days no carb startup) and I am finding it way tougher then I expected. It feels alot like when I quit smoking, I know I am not hungery but I have this insatiable craving for like chocolate or cookies or something. I am also feeling very low on energy. It is 2pm right now and I am about to go home from work, it is my lifting day, but all I want to do is go straight to bed and sleep for the weekend because I feel so drained!

I guess I was looking for some insight from someone who has done this diet. Does it get easier after the first 12 days? Is it going to get much worse before it gets better?

Thanks!

[pagangoddess]

I didn't experience much fatigue during the 12 day start up. It cleared up after about 3 days. But I'd say stick with it for at least the first 12 days. I don't think 4 days is enough to really judge a diet. However I could be wrong. There are others much more knowledgeable than I. Hopefully they will chime in.

[herf]

Thats just carb craving, thank god I didn't get it to bad unless it was right in front of my face! BUT It helps to cook up some sugar free jello or drink a can of diet soda. Sugar free Jello helped me the most. The crashing is supposed to lessen after day 5. If it does not, I think i read that a few people have a harder time converting over to fat burning, and it could take the full 12 days. Another thing is are you sure your eating enough fat?? Fat is your fuel source, if you don't eat enough, your going to crash, even if you're fat adapted. If your still tired after day 5, go from no carb to max of 30 a day. You can still phase up on 30 max and follow the diet.

If I were you and still crashing after day 5, re-read the ebook and look for the section in the book that says

How and When To Increase Dietary Carbohydrates

its around page 71.

[hotpepa]

It's not a no-carb start up. It's 30 carbs or less a day. I suffered from some fatigue during the 12-day induction phase, but it has been much better since. Approximately 2 months in, my energy level is much higher except during the weekend carb-ups.

I think everybody reacts differently. This diet seems right for me. I don't even look forward much to the carb-up weekends. It's almost a chore to eat carbs. But that's me and maybe my body just "agrees" with this way of eating. I never thought it would be this way. I've always been against low-carb, high-fat diets . . . til I tried one.

[silentbob]

I remember when I did my start-up - it was like running into a brick wall for 2 days! I felt like the living dead - it was all I could do to keep my head off my keyboard! But it got better and then my energy levels went through the roof - I ended up feeling fantastic!

[Bramasole]

My carb craving phase was very very tough the first week and moderately tough the second week. After that, no more cravings.
If you can have enough self control to last two weeks it becomes very easy after that.

Any time you crave carbs go eat some meat and drink water. You won't really want the meat and won't satisy your craving but it will help fill you up and assist minimizing craving a bit.

Good luck hanging in there. It really does get easy soon. Be strong.

[tjksask]

Thanks for the info and encouragement guys. I thought I would just post a little update because there seems to be alot of people starting an AD on these forums ATM.

Today is my 7th day of the AB startup period and the severe carb cravings have definately subsided quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, the cravings are still there, but they are very manageable now. My energy level seemed to return to normal+ soon after I made the original post, last couple lifting sessions went great. I even had the energy to go for a brief run on my rest day, which I usually do not.

A couple of other concerns I am running into now: Rage and backed up plumbing. Even using a fiber drink 3 times a day I still haven't "worked things out" in the last 4 days. I also found myself losing my temper a few times over silly things in the last few days. I would rage for like 5 minutes then mood swing back to normal and feel really stupid about it.

Anyways, overall it is getting easier. I will maybe do another update on symptoms after the first carb load to see where that puts me.

[silentbob]

Can't help you with the rage thing - must be something on your mind to make you that angry, but I guess the carb cravings won't help.

As for the plumbing - the first period is difficult (in more ways than one!), but it get's better. Soon, the fat acts to soften the stools and you'll be pooping like a trooper Have you been keeping tabs on how much fibre you are taking in per day? Be careful with fibre supplements - a lot of them contain sneaky carbs that aren't counted as fibre (such as maltodextrin)

[MrWalk]

The key to the rage is right there in your post. Backed up plumbing itself is enough to cause irritabilty, mood swings, and rage.

Cravings, rage, constipation. Just pretend you are a pregnant woman and you'll feel better.