Plumb worn out!!

[godsrosebud01]

Hi everyone,


This is day 4 for me - I have been following the eating plan faithfully. I am 32 and weight 345lbs. And today I am just exhausted, I have not done anything out of the normal for me today but man am I tired!! Is this normal?? Also, I have been having bad leg cramps at night? Are these things part of the detox? if so will they go away???

Would love to know that if I just stick with it I will make it through this lol cause sugar sure sounds good right now :o

Thanks for you help

:P

[Rainey]

I haven't been at this long enough to really answer your questions. However, in the past, I've had a problem with severe leg cramps that woke me up several times a night so I'll share what I know about that.

In my case the underlying problem was low thyroid hormone levels. Taking my meds helped in the long run. In the short run, before I isolated the main problem, taking electrolytes at bedtime helped prevent them and, when they were raging, standing in a tub of the hottest water I could handle shut them down so I could get back to sleep.

Hope someone has more general info about how the FAA plan impacts on leg cramps. But be advised that they're tricky. If you google medical sites on leg cramps you'll find that they could be caused by too much water consumption and too little, too much exercise and not enough. Not satisfying or productive! :shock:

[step3]

Dear godsrosebud,

CONGRATULATIONS on the completion of Day 4 of following the suggested FAA food plan! I really am happy for you; you've made a very good decision for yourself.

Yes, the horrible fatigue is one of the possible symptoms of withdrawal from sugar/flour/wheat. There are many different symptoms that can happen and this was one that I had too. I myself also had raging headaches for a few days. The worst of detoxing is over for most people (but not all!) in 3-5 days, but we're usually in withdrawal for a while after that with the symptoms just not as severe. The leg cramps, if you didn't have them before you started on the food plan, is no doubt a symptom of withdrawal. Anything at all that suddenly comes up physically (feeling like we have the flu or a bad cold, dizziness, etc.) after beginning to get the sugar/flour/wheat out of our bodies is more than likely withdrawal symptoms.

Here are two things to know about withdrawal symptoms, godsrosebud~ first, they are a very good sign because they are proof positive that you are a food addict. Non- food addicts aren't addicted to sugar/flour/wheat and so they don't have detox symptoms. The other thing to know is that they do go away! So yes, hang in there, it's going to pass and you're going to be feeling very good quite soon. Not only will you be feeling physically well, but the cravings for s/f/w leave almost all of us, along with that hunger that is a part of food addiction. If you stick with the food plan and the suggested meal scheduling, you'll find that you'll be hungry at meal times, but not usually in between (unless you get some emotional hunger, but that's a story for a different day). Generally, eating according to the food plan leaves a person physically satisfied, feeling well, and with no more obsession for s/f/w. That's why I like following it as it's written and I do suggest that others give it a try. It definitely works!

I liked the kind advice you received in the previous post about what to do with the leg cramp problems. That person is right about doing a Google search on leg cramps and getting some more ideas of what will bring relief.

With my fatigue, I was hardly functional for about 2 days. I'm so lucky that I have a wonderful husband that was able to make a couple of the meals for me when I simply couldn't get out of the bed to do it. I hope, if your fatigue is that severe also, that you have someone that can help you. If not, you might want to get as much preparation of meals done when you're having a fairly good spell so that it'll be easier for you when the tiredness overcomes you. I will also say a prayer for you, that things go well for you.

Again, I'm happy for you that you've made such a wise decision for yourself. Please keep coming back and letting us know how you're doing.

Blessings,
step3

[here42da]

I am happy to hear all of the sharing on issues that have been a part of my experience in my recovery as well as before. I too have had my share of muscle cramps. No one seems to know what the cause is. The doctors just seem to say some get them and some don't. I have two types, the one that is in my foot toe or calf, but then the other is the worst when it happens and is in the upper leg. I have been told it is because of a muscle that goes from behind the knee to the groin area. I have talked to family physicians, chiropractors, massage therapists, as well as radiation and oncology doctors. No answer. I wanted my family physician to send me to a nerve doctor, but she wanted to send me to a foot doctor instead, and of course she would have to refer me to a neurolagist. I have talked to many, considered restless leg syndrome, all lab levels are fine, but what I have had to do now is take one to two servings of magnesium citrate, every day. This helps to keep them at bay. I don't want something to use after the fact. I don't want them to happen, period. If I don't get the bad one stopped quick enough, then I can't stand up straight for about 15 minutes. The easier one I can hop out of bed, and start walking to stop it. It has been quite frustrating to deal with, however, it causes me to reflect on problems that others may have that could be so much worse then what I am dealing with.

[godsrosebud01]

Thank you for your help!!! I will try your suggestions with the hot baths - they let up last night so that was great!!

I am soooo relieved to hear it will pass (being tired) and that I am ok and on my way!!

Blessings to you all!
:D

[Rainey]

here42day-

The cramps you're describing sound very much like the ones I used to have. I had them in my foot so bad that, when they were going, my foot resembled a chimpanzee's with the four smaller toes going off in a completely different direction from the big toe. Over time, the cramps broke down the tendon that holds the first of those toes in line and now they're permanently headed east when the big toe heads north.

Got them inside my upper thigh too. Try stretching that muscle when you're half asleep and half in your primate brain from pain! I know you know what I'm talking about! I wish you didn't have to.

If you can hobble to the bathtub, here42day, sitting down in hot water stops the cramps in their track fast. I tried sleeping with a heating pad but 1) it wasn't enough heat to stop the cramps and 2) it wouldn't stay in place. I had to hunt it down under the blankets.

Hope the magnesium citrate works for you. If that's not enough try an electrolyte supplement to get a spectrum of minerals and electrolytes. Then get your thyroid levels checked out. ;)

Cramps are so frustrating to pin down. :evil:

[step3]

My husband sometimes gets cramps in his calves, very painful. He'll hop right up out of bed and start walking it off.... but he also always eats some salt. Maybe that'll help?

[Diane]

Dear godsrosebud,

Welcome to FAA and congratulations on your 4 days! My name is Diane. I have been in FAA recovery since 2005 one blessed day at a time with the help of my God, the tool of sponsorship and the FAA fellowship. I have learned that I cannot do this alone and I am grateful for that. I would suggest you consider doing the following:

* Read over the FAa foodplan which is found within the Guide To Abstinence on the FAA website;
* Go to meetings (face to face, online, FAALoop, telephone, FAA Online Support) - whereve you will be able to connect with other loving food addicts; (this will be build your recovery support network);
* Read over the FAa Tools for Recovery which can be found on the FAA website;
* Order FAA Literature (Newcomer's Packet) which includes helpful information especially a booklet "Understanding Food Addiction and Why Abstinence Is Necessary" (a nutritionist's perspective);
* Keep coming back

Feel free to email me and keep coming back! This program truly, truly works one blessed day at a time.

In gratitude for the FAA fellowship,
Diane
Queens4463@aol.com