So you’ve signed on to Paleo Plan and you’re 5 days into it. You’re not feeling the amazing effects of the diet that so many others before you have, and in fact, you feel worse! Naturally you’re asking, “Is this really worth it?” Almost everyone who is on the Paleo Diet or similar plan has been right where you are – you are not alone. Let me explain what’s going on.
This way of eating is pretty different than a normal American diet, so there are a lot of changes you’ll be making. These changes will NOT go unnoticed by your body. What I mean is, you may experience some (or a lot of) detoxification symptoms, including intense cravings, headaches and fatigue.
Why? You took out a lot of toxins from your diet, in the form of phytic acid and lectins in grains and legumes, preservatives and other additives, refined flours and sweeteners, and dairy (which is more toxic to some than others). Since you’ve probably been eating these things your whole life, your body is going through some serious withdrawal. But it’s also finally getting a chance to clean out some built up toxins. Without all of the harmful foods constantly bombarding your liver and other organs, and with the addition of tons of nutrients and protein from the fruits, vegetables and meats you’re now eating, your body is going to take the opportunity to do some much needed cleaning. This purging is exactly what causes the symptoms you may be experiencing right now – the toxins are in your circulation being dealt with instead of being suppressed. It’s like when you do a good deep cleaning of your house – you turn it upside down before it looks immaculate. In the first 3 days to 3 weeks, you may (or may not) experience:
Headaches
Fatigue
Dizziness
Irritability
Mood swings
Nausea
Intense cravings
Sinus drainage
Diarrhea/Constipation
Flu-like symptoms
Brain fog
Increased urination
Increased appetite
Increased thirst
When I first went Paleo, I remember having to pee about 25 times a day and feeling like I was walking through oatmeal for the first 3 weeks. Walking up a flight of stairs was a big accomplishment. I was so tired and groggy – I just wanted to sleep, but then on the 21st day everything finally cleared and I felt fantastic. A lot of people only experience symptoms for a few days to a week, and there’s really no way of predicting how long your detoxification period will last.
If you are a coffee or other caffeinated beverage drinker and you’re giving that up, you should almost undoubtedly expect some symptoms. Caffeine is an addictive substance, as you know, and your nervous and endocrine systems will need some time to re-boot. Maybe warn your significant other that you might not be the sweetest, most docile partner for a few days…
So during those difficult moments when you’re wondering whether or not this diet is in fact hurting you – not helping – remember that after the storm of detoxification subsides, you may very well experience:
More energy
Emotional Balance
Clarity of mind
Fat loss/Muscle gain
Strength gains
Fewer aches and pains
Less sinus congestion
Fewer seasonal allergy symptoms
Digestive ease
Clearer skin
Fewer colds
And that is why you’ve chosen to do this. Stay strong – it WILL be worth it.
What are your experiences with detoxification? Any words of wisdom for your fellow Paleo Planners?
137 Comments
Lesley
I stumbled upon this and it encouraged me so much to continue. I thought something was wrong with me. Everything I read told me I should feel energized, “like a new person” but I felt so lethargic, runny nose, just darn tired. I could totally relate to walking through oatmeal. I am on day 19 today and feeling a bit better. Thanks for posting this.
Michael
Oh thank god for your info! I have been on and off low carb for three years and never felt like this! I blame the dairy and coffee well day 5 now, not happy to wait another week but I am hoping to feel better than my low carb rountine. Mike
steve
I struggled from the start, the first day I needed a nap at 2 and another at 4 and was in bed for the night at 8. If got a little easier after a week, and then after a month I started to feel better.
Now when I get up in the mornings I feel like working out, not guzzling coffee. There are moments when my wife says you need to eat…but she hands me an apple verse a carb.. down 15 pounds my first month which is not bad… within 5 pounds of my goal
Lisa
I actually felt great before I started paleo, no headaches, regular digestion, plenty of energy without any caffeine, but I wanted to get more lean so I decided to try paleo. I’m at 5 1/2 weeks now and I’m still not adjusting. Now I have frequent light headaches, my digestive system is a wreck, and my energy is low, and the worst part is that I haven’t lost a pound or leaned out at all. Are there some people that take over 6 weeks to adjust??
Neely
Lisa,
This sounds terrible – I’m sorry to hear it’s not working for you. Taking over 6 weeks to adjust is not normal at all; I think there must be something else going on here. Are you eating regularly enough? It may be that your blood sugar is not being regulated. Are you eating heavy Paleo carb sources like sweet potatoes and squash or tapioca products? You might want to try doing that if you’re active. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but you might be sending your body into starvation mode if you’re not getting enough carbohydrates, especially if you don’t really need to lose much weight. Check out this post here about using carbs to feel better and even lose weight. You may also have started to eat something in mass quantities that your body doesn’t like – for instance, almond butter or even some vegetable or fruit. You can be sensitive to any food, and your symptoms sound like they could be a food sensitivity. Please email me if you need any further help with this. Good luck to you.
Neely Quinn
Nutrition Therapist
Paleo Plan
Rita
Thank you for this article — please post more on this!! My boyfriend and I are doing Paleo and are in week two. We’ve both already shed several pounds and have been amazed by how our appetites have changed. My boyfriend who has always been an insomniac, has also been sleeping so soundly he sleeps longer than me. So, we’ve been happy so far with the results, but the downside is we’ve been facing terrible fatigue. In particular, i’ve been having body aches, grogginess, and difficulty concentrating and head aches. We are just wrapping week two though, so hopefully the fog will lift soon!! Any other info you could post on this would be fantastic!
Neely
@Rita – Keep up the good work. You’re right – the fog will lift soon. Remember that it may take up to a month, so don’t give up!
Sarah
A week in and I was sick as a dog for two days…insane headache, vomiting, and diarhea. Luckily the worse of it went away quickly and I am feeling better now. The headache still lingers but I am just waiting to “detox” and hopefully I will be good to go.
nutrimentalist
I’m pretty stunned about this round of detox symptoms: sinus drainage galore & lots of fatigue. I’ve been eating 80% grain free and zero cane sugar for about a year now. Clearly that last 20% is something my body is happy to get rid of!
@PamelaMKramer - A Renaissance Woman
Happy to have found this! It’s Day 3 and my brain is climbing the walls but my body is dragging the earth. I feel freaking HORRIBLE. I just want it to be over. lol
Robin
Thanks for this post! I suffer from fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, so I am used to the side effects of the diet you listed. However, mine have been so much worse than they normally are. I have been having intense, uncontrolable cravings for sugar :-( Today, I gave in and had a handful of jelly beans and felt awful afterwards (mentally). Otherwise, I have been 100% paleo for 10 days. Today was a setback, but your post has helped me understand that I am not alone and that I CAN DO THIS!! Thanks again!
Kay
Thanks for the post, I had just decided that I would give it three more days before giving up! I’m a week in and have actually gained about 3 pounds! I am totally constipated and am breaking out like a teenager. I’m very frustrated. I went from a pretty carb heavy diet to tons of veggies and fruit and fish… I’m going easy on the nuts, so I’m confused. Are my symptoms normal???
Neely
@Kay – Honestly, almost anything is “normal” during detox. It’s hard to say at this point if you’re having a reaction to some of the foods (or maybe even just one of them) or if you’re just detoxing. I’d give it another week. Make sure you’re eating enough protein (meat) and fat, as you need them a whole lot to get through this detox period. Let me know if you want extra help. Good luck and keep going!!
jessica
Thanks for sharing! The first 2 days were a breeze, but day 3 started with a migraine and “flu” like symptoms. I am determined to stick to this lifestyle. Glad what I am feeling is normal, now only if I could fast forward the next few weeks!!
Jessica
Hello
I am on day 8 of this and I feel great I’m down 5 pounds I now need to detox from coffee and reading all this I am a little worried. I have not felt sick at all maybe that is because I still drink coffee?? Thanks for sharing Iam going to take this one day at a time and still have 15 pounds to go :]
debra Lee
I also am on day 10 down 5 pounds of which I think is water weight. Still fatigued but feeling good about my efforts. 100% no grain, dairy, or sugar Still drink coffee and read conflicting messages about it from different blogs. I think I should quit as I feel it more intensely as I get cleaner. The jitters are my adrenals are going crazy.
I hope for energy and better sleep as my sleep problems have worsened. I imagine its all part of the detox. Super important to drink the water at least half your body weight
In ounces. Good luck to you all.
Alistair
Hi Neely,
My question relates to detox & breastfeeding, my wife & i have been eating paleo but my concern is that whatever her body removes through detoxing is going into her breast milk.
Can you offer any insights into this?
Obviously we want to be healthy but we dont want to put any toxins into our baby.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Neely
@Alistair – Very good question. It’s true that toxins can exit the body through breast milk. However, you have to ask yourself if it’s better for your child to have the toxins from the foods your wife was eating or the temporary toxins from the detox period. It’s hard for me to say what you guys should do at this point, not knowing your wife’s health status or your child’s. Are either of them having detox symptoms? Are they very intense or just uncomfortable? If they’re just uncomfortable, I’d say it’s worth it to keep going. Make sure your wife is drinking a LOT of water to flush things out, moving around quite a bit, not wearing super tight bras (the lymphs need to be able to flow in that whole area), eating enough calories in order to keep her milk production up, eating enough carbohydrates to do the same, and eating enough fat to balance things out. Now is not the time for a super high protein diet. Lean AND fatty meats, coconut milk, coconut oil, plenty of fruit and sweet potatoes, and lots of veggies. The baby needs lots of fat and sugar at this time – that’s what breast milk is mostly made of. If you guys want any more help, I’m available for private Paleo coaching. Otherwise, good luck to you!
Tracy Seman
Great article. I have a few clients struggling through their 30 days and being able to show them another person perspective is very helpful. I keep telling them the same things you’ve posted. I 100% agree with the 3 weeks till you really feel better and lose cravings for old foods.
Amy
Thank you SO much for this article. I’m day 3 and have a lingering mild headache. Glad to hear that it’s normal. My question is rapid weight loss at the onset of the diet. I’ve already lost 8 pounds which seems extreme to me, but I’m feeling fine except for the mild headache, mild carb cravings, and mild fatigue. Keep in mind I have over 100 pounds to lose.
Neely
@Amy – If you have that much to lose, then it doesn’t really surprise me that you’d lose so much in the first week. A lot of it is water weight in the first couple of weeks. It will probably slow down a bit. Congrats on your success so far!
Tamra
I just wanted to share that I’m on Day 28 and this past week has been wrought with muscle pain and fatigue. I’m not giving up though as the weight loss is worth a few days of feeling like ick! :)
I can already feel the benefits of Paleo…and love it. As long as I start feeling better in the next week :).
Thank you for all of the good information.
Rachael
I’m not 100% Paleo yet, but I have been dealing with most of the detox symptoms, and I just thought I was getting sick and the fatigue was due to being sick. I guess my question is, would I also experience the detox symptoms even though I am not completely Paleo?
Neely
@Rachael – It’s certainly possible. Anytime you clean up your diet at all you may experience symptoms.
Rachael
thank you :)
Jason
5 days into it and not feeling so great. Having an opposite reaction to just about every positive feeling I was hoping to feel. I have a light headache most of the day along with a lack of concentration, but the worst is this fog or feeling of being disconnected from reality. I have been eating a lot of protein, veggies, and nuts, and two or three fruits per day. I was previously in fairly good shape but now I could not even think about working out, and I am having a hard enough time making it through a full day of work (luckily I work alone, I could not imagine having to work in a social setting with my current lack of focus). I even woke up this morning feeling like I used to after I would go out and drink too much.
Any tips on making the transition any easier to cope with?
Neely
@jason
Drink lots and lots of water. Try to make yourself go for light walks or do other light exercise so that you can keep flushing out toxins. Eat plenty of fat and protein, only organic foods of possible (no need to stress your liver out anymore with pesticides). Stay strong and know that this is totally normal. It’ll be worth it!
Susan
Hi Neely, Thanks for the info. Have you heard of anyone getting a detox rash? I have been on the diet since Dec. 6, 2011 with some breaks. I was very exhausted and dizzy the first month. I started getting a rash around my shoulders and neck that has now gotten very bad the more strict Paleo I am. This is not normal for me. I thought at first it might be too many nuts so I cut those out. Now I am going to cut eggs out. Just not sure if it is a food I am eating more of that is causing a new food allergy or some strange detox. On the good side, the diet has really helped my digestion problems and my knee pain. I have also lost about 13 pounds. Thanks in advance if you have any ideas.
Neely
@Susan – It sounds more like a food sensitivity or allergy at this point. Your detox shouldn’t last that long. Are you eating foods you didn’t really eat before? Eggs and nuts were a great place to start. If those aren’t working, then it’s time to start thinking outside the box, like pork, beef, chicken, lamb, tomatoes, bananas, and ANY other foods. Glad to hear it’s working for you in other areas, though!
jerrad
My wife got me to do paleo with her because it is popular with her crossfit gym. She had flu-like symptoms last week, but has been fantastic since then. Infact, she cheated and drank on a girls’ night and credits the diet with having absolutely zero hangover the next day. This is our second week, and I have phased into it. I was not aware that peanuts are a no-no and last week purchased some, and finished them out of hating to throw them out. Otherwise, I was fully paleo. One day after stopping the peanuts, I now have the headaches and weak feelings described by others here. I have increased my water intake, but to no avail. I have three questions. 1. Could the intense cross-fit exercise be helping my wife speed through her detox phase better than my sedentary exercise existence right now; 2. If I could draw a correlation to the peanuts, should I first try increasing fats with something like olive oil and dial-back leaner protein a bit until the detox is over?; 3. Is it ever advisable to just say to heck with it and go on a full liquid/herbal detox for a week to power through it and hit the reset button on my system before proceeding further into paleo?
I ask for solutions because my job is rather intense and I cannot afford to be foggy for very much longer before people will take notice as work output suffers. Thank you so much for this article and your continued work!
Neely
@jerrad – Congrats on taking the Paleo plunge with your wife! To answer your questions, 1. I kind of doubt that intense workouts during a cleanse would help the detox along. I usually suggest light exercise to keep things moving, but not intense exercise that will tire your body out further. 2. Yes, fat is always something I suggest to eat quite a bit of, especially during detox. You want your body to get used to eating Paleo foods in the proportions that your body is designed to eat them. Not saying that everyone will do well on the same proportions exactly, but much of the body’s preferred source of fuel is fat. I’m not a fan of just eating lean meats, either. Saturated fat is actually quite good for us and necessary. In Cordain’s first book, he told us to eat mostly lean meats because he knew most people would be eating factory farmed meat with less than ideal fatty acids. If you’re eating pasture raised meats, eat the fatty cuts, too.
The quicker you can get used to eating lots of fat instead of lots of carbs (SAD carbs, that is), the better off you’ll be. That’s why, 3. I don’t really ever tell people to do fasts. Part of the detox period is to learn how to eat Paleo, and to get your body used to eating Paleo. Not to get it used to eating nothing but juice and herbs. Plus, most people are pretty toxic and need a lot of amino acids to make glutathione and other things necessary for detoxification. You don’t get much of that from juice. I understand your job is intense, but I can only imagine that staying on the path you’re on will yield results more quickly than a fast. So, in summary, eat more fat, eat plenty of protein, do light exercise (even walking) and drink at least 2 liters of water a day. Get enough sleep, eat enough calories, and you should be good in a week or so. Detox shouldn’t last more than a month, so I’d say if you’re still struggling after that amount of time, you should look at other things like food sensitivities to Paleo foods, caloric intake and carb intake. Which, by the way, you need to be eating enough carbs for your body type, too. You don’t have to be super low-carb on this diet. Eat sweet potatoes and fruit regularly and see if that helps. Good luck!
Neely
Jason
Neely I commented on day 5 and am now at day 26, and still feeling the brain fog and fatigue. I no longer am getting headaches, and there was a period that I was feeling “almost normal” but now I feel almost as out of it as I did at the start. I have tried to up the fruits a bit and to eat some sweet potatoes but nothing has helped. I have lost 15 pounds, but I did not really start this to lose weight, I just wanted to get healthier, not sure that it is working. Any ideas?
Neely
Hi Jason – Are you eating enough calories overall? Start tracking your food in fitday.com or a new one called slimkicker.com to figure out how many calories and how much fat, carbs, and protein you’re getting. Check back in with me after doing that for about 3-5 days with your results and your stats (weight, height, desired weight, and activity level). We’ll do a public troubleshooting session here to help people do this on their own.
Jason
Neely, I have been eating about the same amount every day. I start the day with a two egg omelet with some peppers and onions, a side of salsa, an orange, a handful of almonds or cashews, a large glass of water, and coffee.
Lunch has typically been 8oz. fish (mostly salmon), a cup of veggies, more nuts, another orange or apple, and water. Occasionally I will substitute a paleo approved chicken sausage for fish.
I will snack on baby carrots, nuts, and sweet peppers, and drink water throughout the day.
Dinner has been my largest serving of meat, either a whole chicken, a pork roast, beef roast, sweet potatoes or carrots (cooked). The dinner meal has almost always been a slow cooked meal (for convenience) which leaves me with plenty of leftovers for a couple of days. and I also have a mixed green salad with balsamic and olive oil.
I ran the calories a couple of different ways and it looks like I am getting about 2,300 per day with 62% fat, 23% protein, and 15% carbs. I try to drink at least 1/2 a gallon of water per day, but sometimes I might drink as much as 3 cups of coffee along with that.
I have been very active on some days and sedentary on others, typically I am as active as my body allows me to be, my work is fairly labor intensive, and I am on my feet all day, but I am self employed and have not been working as hard or long as normal because of my grogginess.
I am 30 years old, 5’10″ and went from 185 to 170 and I would not want to lose much more. I do gain and shed weight fairly easily, even when I was eating sugars. I would lose through exercise and gain through over indulgence, but would typically stay around 170-180 for the last ten years.
I did feel a lot better today than yesterday when I wrote, but I just never know what I am going to feel like day to day. I have yet to feel the clear headed and rejuvenated feeling which was a main reason that I wanted to commit to this lifestyle change.
Neely
Jason – Ok, here are my suggestions. If you want to go about this systematically, I would try one thing at a time to figure this out. My first suggestion is going to be to cut out the coffee. I know you probably love it, but I have heard so many people tell me that cutting out coffee gave them more energy. Try that first. If after 3 weeks (it probably won’t take that long), you’re still feeling groggy, then you’d add either more fat or more carbs. If that didn’t work, then I’d start to take a look at food sensitivities. The first food I’d consider removing would be nuts, since they’re quite hard on your digestive system. Start with the coffee, though. When you drink coffee, you’re drinking a stimulant drug, causing adrenaline and cortisol to be released in your body, which when done chronically can cause symptoms like fatigue and grogginess (as well as a long list of other symptoms). It’s causing a blood sugar spike, which is followed by a blood sugar low, and that’s exactly what you’re trying to avoid on the Paleo diet to begin with. Read this post for more info on coffee’s effects on your body.
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/06-28/the-cruel-calling-of-coffee/
Let me know what you think, if you’re willing to do this, and if you have any questions. If you don’t have questions, then let me know how you’re doing in a week or so. Good luck!
Caroline
I started the paleo lifestyle almost 2 months ago now. I have MS and I heard it could help. It was going great at the beginning, I felt an increase in energy, I felt less hungry then before, I lost a couple lbs (who doesn’t like that), but in the last 2 weeks I’ve stated craving old ‘naughty’ foods (I haven’t had any tho), I’ve been lethargic, sleepy, and my legs are so heavy. Could I be starting detox symptoms 6 weeks into it?
Neely
Caroline – Are you eating enough food? Do a diet journal online at fitday.com or myfitnesspal.com and find out how much you’re eating. Also, do you exercise or are you active throughout your day? If you’re not getting enough fat or carbs, you’ll feel fatigued. Keep me posted.
Caroline
I went to fitday.com and I appear to be getting enough nutrients. (I’ve been following the ‘minding your mitochondria’ diet from dr. Walh’s (3 cups of greens – 3 cups of colored veggies – 3 cups of sulfur foods). But now that I’m analising everything, it does seem that I’ve had way more almonds the past couples weeks (earlier i was using hazelnut flour and switched to almond flour 2 weeks ago). Could an allergy to almonds cause fatigue and general weakness?
Neely
Caroline – Yes. Definitely. Take the almonds out and see if it makes a difference. If it doesn’t, write me back and we’ll brainstorm.
Jessica
Hi, I’m on day 10 and I have a few questions. I started paleo because I have pretty bad IBS-D and I was hoping it would help with that. I’m not eating nuts and very little fruit as I know those are hard for IBS-ers to digest. The first week my bowel movements were awful and then for a few days they got less frequent and more formed. Now since last night I’m back to the dreaded D. Do you think I’m still detoxing, could paleo not really help with IBS or could I be sensitive to a food I’m eating? Thanks!
Neely
Jessica – You could definitely still be detoxing, but even if you aren’t technically detoxing, remember that healing takes time. You may suffer from the dreaded D for months sporadically as your gut heals, but I think it will become less and less frequent as time goes on. However, yes, you may be sensitive to something you’re eating. I’d give it a month and keep doing what you’re doing. If the diarrhea doesn’t get better, then start looking at foods that may be causing it and potential supplements to help your digestive system heal. I wrote a blog post on that here: http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/06-22/supplements-do-you-need-them/
Good luck!
Kelly
I started Paleo one week ago and I’ve been strictly following it and getting about 50-75 g of carbs daily [eating veg/fruit]. It IS working – I’ve lost 5 lbs this week and I have never been able to lose weight before on any diet. It also seems that I was probably allergic to wheat or something I’m not eating any more because I’ve completely lost all symptoms of the serious GI problems I’ve had my whole life. I am so hopeful that this is the answer I’ve been looking for. However, this detox period is getting really rough. I went from feeling hungry and light headed the first couple of days to feeling worse and worse until now on day 8 when I feel exhausted, flu like body ache, total brain fog [can't think or concentrate], extreme irritability, and today I’ve had several episodes of my heart racing for no apparent reason. I really feel *awful*. My question for you is – have you ever known anyone who stuck with Paleo and these symptoms did not disappear? I’m willing to stick this out for at least a month, but I’m so worried this is going to be permanent! Can you reassure me that it does eventually get better? Are there ever people who don’t recover from this as long as they eat Paleo?
Neely
Kelly, I’d say put your food into an online food journal to see how many calories you’re eating. It’s easy to not eat enough, which could be causing your symptoms. Are you working out a lot? You may need even more food if you are. But it could just be the detox that’s doing this. I’d say stick with it for at least a few weeks and then decide if there’s something else going on that’s causing your symptoms. My detox was awful, too. Hang in there!
Kelly
Thanks so much for your response! I’m eating right around 1600 calories a day, but I do work out a lot. However, I felt *dramatically* better today so I’m hopeful that I’ve reached a turning point… I’ll let you know how it goes. Thank you for your help!!!
Wendy
Hi Neely,
I have been on a completely grain-free paleo plan for about 5 weeks. I have a wheat allergy and have been mostly gluten-free for about 6 months and also a corn allergy that I largely ignored until starting on my paleo plan. I have 100 lbs to lose and have lost about 12 in 5 weeks. I think this is pretty so for having made such drastic changes in my diet. I have been 100% adherent on the no grains aspect of this, have made it through the cravings.. and am now enjoying the ability to say no to things because I’m simply not hungry. I still consume dairy products (full fat Greek yogurt, raw milk cheese and occasionally organic whole milk). I have come-and-go fatigue and haven’t yet started to exercise. Is that what my body is waiting for to start shedding weight? I’ve never had an easier time sticking with something.. and this is my forever way of eating. I’d just like to get this extra weight off so I can enjoy life – now!
Neely
Hi Wendy- So happy to hear you’re having success so far! I know you’re anxious to lose the weight, but 12 pounds in 5 weeks is over the standard 2 pounds per week, so I think you’re doing awesome!the things I would suggest are to try exercising, like you said. Also, stop drinking caffeine as it stresses your body out and can inhibit weight loss, and maybe experiment with taking out the dairy. Knowing you have those other food sensitivities makes me think you likely have an issue with dairy, too. Those things often go hand in hand. If all that doesn’t work, then you’d start looking at calorie intake. Keep me posted and good luck!
Kelly
I just wanted to report back and thank you for this site. I am just over 2 weeks into this and I feel great! I’ve lost 8 pounds and after Day 8 I never felt sick any more. I would not have known to stick it out without your website and I am so grateful to you! Thanks for taking the time to help others!
Neely
Kelly – You’re so welcome! I’m happy to hear it’s working out for you!
Wendy
Thank you so much for your reply. After reading some of the other comments and your replies to them, I realized last night that my daily carbs are very, very low. I rarely hit 30 carbs.. I am going to try to bump that up a bit, wisely (sweet potatoes?).. and see if my body might be a bit happier. I am going to exercise as well. I read in a couple of places that 50-100 carb grams is a good range for weight loss, less than that continually might keep my body holding on, thinking it’s starving? I am enjoying intermittent fasting as well (not eating from 7pm to 11am the following day).. and perhaps I’ve just shocked my body and it thinks it needs to hold on for dear life. A big part of the 12 lbs I lost was water, I was very aware that I was retaining fluid when I started. Can you offer your opinion on a good carb range for weight loss? What I read was 100-150 to maintain, 50-100 to lose.. less than 50 and you’re in ketosis, which is good in short bursts, but not daily. I think I’ve confused myself. :)
Neely
Wendy – Yes, try between 50 and 100g carbs a day. But if you’re exercising a lot, you may need to eat more. Also, get used to the diet for a while before you try intermittent fasting. You need to get your blood sugar under control and THEN think about dabbling in IF. Otherwise, yes, you’re shocking and stressing your body when it’s already been stressed for too long in terms of food. Good luck to you!
Susan
For the last several months, I assumed I was “eating right.” However, the biggest lesson I am learning is that “my” definition of eating right differs from my body’s definition. Previously I was eating balanced meals (that included dairy/traditional carbs); working out 6 days a week–but with not much results other than subtle body changes here and there. I was building some muscle, but not burning much fat.
Today is my 6th day on Paleo (or what I call detox-day 6). The first few days were rough and I had lots of issues going on within my body. I knew the headaches were a given (hello, coffee addict here), but each day there was a new, odd thing going on. It wasn’t until I saw the detox withdrawl list (just yesterday) that I had that “ah ha” moment and said “no wonder!” Before reading the list, I had experienced 7 of the withdrawl signs. But the irony is that they only lasted a short time. It was if my body was saying “ok, this isn’t working–let’s try something else to get her attention!”
But i’m sticking with Paleo and I feel like i’m getting over that hump. I have dropped 4lbs in the last 6 days and have more stamina in my workouts as well as feeling stronger. I still eat throughout the day–I try to get at least 6 meal times in (3 meals and 3 snacks); but the Paleo way. Even when I know it’s close to a meal time, i’m not “starving” as I use to be in the past. It all feels like it’s coming together in the right way and I feel so much better knowing i’m taking great care of the body I was given.
So to those of you who are just starting to detox, or in the thick of it–hang in there; you can do it!
stacey
I have been on the paleolithic way of eating for almost 4 months….I feel amazing….skin hair nails….healthier…I have lost 33 lbs…sleep like a baby…the first few weeks were tough but not impossible…I have no more cravings and feel like I have control…Best thing I ever did for myself….Love being healthier and seeing my family adopting the lifestyle!
lauren
i’m so happy to read this list! i’ve been on scd (which is similar to paleo) for a few months but ever seince the switch to paleo a few days ago i’ve felt terrible… i’ve also developed a weird bumpy rash across my whole chest and stomach… hopefully this is a detox symptom too?
i’m really looking forward to getting over this hump and experiencing some of the benefits.
celia gallegos
I get real bad anxiety sometimes and am ready to start the paleo diet this week; however, reading this list is making me somewhat anxious of what I’ll have to deal with the first couple weeks…will going through these symptoms increase my anxiety at all?? Because I am definitely looking forward to what’s to come afterward! I would just hate to get too nervous/anxious before that….
Neely
Celia – You may or may not experience any of these symptoms and it’s impossible to predict if you’ll feel more or less or the same amount of anxiety during the detox period. However, I will say that the end result will probably be worth a little anxiety if you do end up experiencing some during the detox. Good luck!
celia gallegos
Another question…I am planning on combining this with a crossfit workout. I am very petite so I don’t want to LOSE any weight (I’m about 100 lbs, 5 ft), but would like to eat healthier, gain muscle and tone up. Is paleo still a good plan for that??
Thanks!!!
Neely
Hi Celia – That’s what size I am as well, and I don’t have any problems with keeping weight on. You’ll figure out how much food and how many carbs you need to eat over time to stay at the weight you’re at now.
Kylie
I am on day 5 and was wondering what in the world was going on with me today. After reading your list / article I feel like I must be on the right track. You have definitely been helping me through this experience and even though I am always doing google searches for different paleo questions I have I always end up back to your site.
Kirstie
I feel very frustrated right now. I have been doing a “modified” Paleo for three months now. The digestion seems better, less pains, etc…but I feel so awful right now. I have had very limited wheat and yet I still feel like I bloat after meals. Yes, even with just animal protein and veggies. I have had the worst spring allergies of my life. My nose feels consistently restricted due to swollen nasal passages. I tire easily during exercise. And I’m not nearly as thin as I feel I should be for how much I’ve changed my diet. I keep waiting for the miracle morning where I wake up and feel like a new person. I would like to be feeling BETTER by now, not worse.
Neely
Hi Kirstie – I’m wondering what a “modified” Paleo diet is for you? You may need to go full Paleo for those allergies and other symptoms to go away. And even then, you may have specific food sensitivities that are causing these things. I mean to things like apples or pork or foods you think are benign – you can develop immune responses to anything really. Anyway, try going full, strict Paleo – and by strict Paleo I mean just meat, eggs, veggies, fruits and coconut products. Stay away from nuts, as they can cause problems for a lot of people. Do that for a month or three weeks and see if it helps. Then if you’re still having problems, you’ll want to have a food sensitivities test done. If you want, I can do that for you. Just keep in touch!
Ogre
I’m not going to lie, I’m on day 2 and I feel like I just got hit with a brick at a Slipknot concert.
Kassandra
I’m on day one of restarting paleo after being “off the wagon” for a few weeks. I feel like I’ve ruined everything with my little temper tantrum of being angry that I can’t eat the same things “normal” people eat. I know it’s not true, but it feels that way. Anyway, I can speak from both ends of this – right now it feels horrid, but I know from experience that when you’re completely on track you will feel amazing. As Dr. Michael Eades says in one of his posts, “If you’re three days into your stop-smoking program, and you listen to your body, you’re screwed. If you’re in drug rehab, and you listen to your body, you’re screwed. If you’re trying to give up booze, and you listen to your body, you’re screwed. And if you’re a week into your low-carb diet, and you listen to your body, you’re screwed. Actually, it’s okay to listen to it, I suppose, just don’t do what it’s telling you to do because if you do, you’re screwed.” Paleo is exactly the same way (and I do VLC or “very low carb” paleo). So yeah, listen to your body in the middle of detox, and try – as I’m trying right now – to hear those screaming cravings and random pains as a neon sign that you’re doing something right.
Cp
I’m on day 3 and slept a good 12 hours last night… I have headache, brain fog and a godawful taste in my mouth but I know it is for a greater cause I finally feel as though I am treating my body with some respect. I no longer feel guilty after eating and although I am detoxing right now I am trying to set small goals which is helping. This is coming from a 200lb pastry addict who ate 4 chocolate covered doughnuts as an after dinner snack! Gonna stick this one out, it doesn’t feel like a fad to me it feels right. No real cravings either and hunger isn’t as bad as it has been on other ‘diets’ I just can’t wait for all this crap to be out of my system! I woke up through the night 4 times to pee last night I have never drank so much water! :)
Connie P
Day 2 of Paleo and I feel like crud. My joints ache, I’m fatigued. My stomach is not happy. And I have this strange sensation of thermal heat inside (not sure how else to describe it) and chills. I would say that yes, I am in the throws of the paleo DTs! Seeing the trainer today. Hopefully he will have mercy on me! But probably not
Ann
Connie, i’m on day 3&feel the same way! Súper dizzy, feel like i have the flu-achey/chills/exhausted & sweating like a mad women! Hope this passes soon, got kids 2 take care of!
alex stobe
@Connie P – the strange sensation of thermal heat inside is your body starting to use fat as an energy source. Carbs have 4 calories per gram but Fat has 9 calories per gram. So your body is getting twice as much energy for gram of “fuel” it is now using. I have that feeling too – it’s weird but awesome!
Morgan
It’s great to know I’m not alone! Since I started paleo three days ago, I’ve been waking up at 8 to go to crossfit, and by the time I’m home around 3 all I want to do is SLEEP! My moods have been terrible, and everyone around is noticing. Ha! I hope these headaches and mood swings go away ASAP!
BMels
@alex stobe & Connie P – how cool that you guys can actually FEEL your bodies using fat as fuel!! That’s so rad.
I’ve been on and off the paleo wagon for the last two years, but have been eating at least 70% paleo all of the time, and am recently back on the strict paleo lifestyle. I remember when I switched to full paleo for the first time ever after eating the standard American diet my entire life…wow, the detox outlined above hits the nail on the head.
Then about 2 weeks into the diet I caved and ate a whole bowl of Nancy’s Natural mac & cheese spirals (comfort food of mine) and it was like all of the symptoms I’d felt through the detox stage happened all at once that night, but times ten. I think that these terrible symptoms you feel is what your body has been feeling all along, albeit probably more subtly, your whole life – you just got used to it. With all of those toxins working their way through your system it’s going to hurt…but not as much as it is eating that way again and reintroducing those foods.
Stick with it guys!! It gets better than you ever imagined it could be!!!
stephanie b
I’m on day 6 on detoxing as well! For the first three days my stomach had this constant funny burny pain but thats gone away. And I can feel my body burning differently as well I agree its like this funky heat everywhere tingly feeling. Especially when I’m resting I can really feel it its crazy! You really hit the symptoms spot on and it makes me desk better I’m not alone in this. :) my latest symptom is headaches. But when I get them I eat a banana and drink a bunch of water as the banana can help because the headaches often signify a dip in potassium or its just dehydration. I drink so much water now haha and never have I peed so much in my life!
James M
I am in day 3 of my Paleo experiment coming off a low fat higher carb diet that drove my LDL cholesterol even higher (181) even while increasing my running above 25 miles a week! So this experiment is not to lose weight but to see if I can get that number and total cholesterol down (244).
Has anybody had bad insomnia problems in the first weeks of Paleo? I am getting headaches but no surprise there even though I don’t consume caffeine. The insomnia is not fatigue based where I am so tired but can’t seem to doze off, it’s more like I am wide awake fired up and ready to go. I have been fearful of a pending collapse into extreme exhaustion do to a lack of sleep the past two nights but so far even the afternoon doldrums are not prevelant. Before Paleo I didn’t have much trouble with sleeping.
Jen
I am so glad I just read this! Yesterday my Google search was “nausea, paleo”, today it was “tired, headaches, paleo”. I do occasional cleanses and have a good grasp on a range health and nutrition “schools of thought”, but completely forgot about the detox stage! I have continued to have coffee (1-2 cups) each morning, and do eat plain, low-fat, greek yogurt with raspberries as a mid-morning snack. I have been doing this for only four days, and already feel the lightness of not consuming gut-irritating carbs and sugars. I do workout 5-6 times per week, quite intensely (I am not Crossfit type of intense though!). Is it ok to keep the plain greek yogurt? I know eating the yogurt and berries together might be a bit of a sugar spike in my day….will eating yogurt wreck my chances of getting lean and more fit from my workouts? I probably only have 5-7 pounds to lose, realistically. When does the weight loss kick in?
THANK YOU! You guys are great!
Neely
Jen – It really depends on whether you have an issue with dairy. I always tell people to take dairy out of their diet for the first few weeks to a month and see how you do without it. Then reassess after that time. You might find you feel less bloated, more energetic, have better skin, etc. if you don’t eat dairy. But if you find that you’re perfectly fine eating it, then I don’t see any reason it would keep you from your weight loss goals. The weight loss kicks in at different times for everyone, and sometimes it doesn’t kick in at all unless you start watching your calories/carbs, etc. If you need help, just let me know.
Jen
James (Sept 5),
I am also having trouble sleeping! I assumed it was the stress of dealing with a lot with work and life right now. Is it part of the paleo detox?
Ashley
I plan to start in a week but have a few questions. I have been a smoker for close to 10 years and was wondering if anyone had quit smoking and done this at the same time. This is my plan and want to know what to expect. My family is doing this together and want to know if anyone has had their child participate as well. Is this safe for her. Also one last question my daughter has a tree nut allergy and coconut oil is everything what are my other options for meals she will be eating.
Neely
Ashley – Yes, this is totally safe for your child, but read this blog post about it: http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/09-06/is-paleo-safe-for-kids/
As for smoking, I’m sure it’ll be hard to do all at the same time, but if you’re going to feel terrible in the beginning of smoking AND in the beginning of Paleo, you may as well do it all at the same time, right? It really depends on your personality how you want to tackle it.
Shelley
I am so glad I found this website. I am on day 6 and was thinking I would have to go to the doctor because my sinuss feel full, my head is cloudy and I feel dizzy.. not like im going to pass out, but when I move my head dizzy. bUT, from what I am reading.. it means it is WORKING! YAY! I hope it passes soon as I work and dont want to be saying silly things because I am not thinking straight LOL… today I was ready to just say.. pass me a burger.. but instead have my veggies and chicken and almonds
Chris
I am on day 2 of Paleo, and I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has posted on here. It really helps to be able to confirm that the
horrible symptoms I am feeling are in fact the sign that I am doing the right thing. One thing I will add, is that there is a little voice that keeps telling you that if you just put the diet down and eat what you want, you can then re-start it and get a break.. don’t give in, I made that mistake before only to look back and wonder how good I would feel weeks later if I had stuck to my plan.
We can all do this!!!!
I will report back in a week.
thanks all!
Jacy
Wow! so glad I found this column! This is day 5 and I thought I was literally losing my mind. My symptoms are headache and total brain fog! I am still running, but I am careful to have something right before and after my workouts to keep my energy up. I am going to stick this out, I will wait for the fog to lift. I believe the paleo way of eating is the way of life.
Lisa
OMG, I am so glad I found this! I too got up this morning and Googled “Paleo headaches” and it was the first search result. So helpful and the comments have been gold. I am on Day 3 and definitely have most of the symptoms, including the flu-like ones. But now I feel like celebrating them as they are a sign that my body is being reborn as it was meant to be, free from the toxins and impurities that I have been ingesting my whole life. Hallelujah!
For the first time, although sometimes I *miss* certain foods, I have no real *desire* for them, because I have faith that the results of omitting them from my life will be so much better. I’m going full Paleo, but am still drinking coffee (1 cup/day), and today am so happy that almond milk agreed with me since yesterday’s coconut milk in my coffee made me extremely nauseous. Every day is a new adventure, but I’m loving it. My goal is to lose 30 lbs. and I’ve started a brisk walk each day as well. Day 1, I went 1.8 miles and yesterday was 2.25, which included a walk to the grocery store (for only “clean” items of course), then I carried them home! If you want to share in my journey and comment, I’m blogging at http://lisagunggoll.wordpress.com. But I’ll be checking back here frequently. Thanks again!
Dove
I started paleo with my family. My husband is a Celiac and I just wanted me and the kids to eat better. I haven’t been on it long. I must be lucky because I have not noticed any particular detox effects, but I HAVE noticed that my bloat is gone, I feel lighter and more energetic, and it is easier for me to roll out of bed in the morning. My goal is for my family to eat as nature intended and for me to shed just a few pounds after having two kids in 3 years. I am loving paleo so far as it seems to be just an instinctive way for me to eat.
corinne
I’m so glad I found this! I was loosly paleo for a couple of weeks when I decided to say screw it… in a huge way.
I reasoned with myself that I’m a perfectly healthy and lovely 27 year old, who lost her body issues years ago. Plus, it was my day off, and it’s my birthday month, and… boy howdy, I identified with every excuse I could think up.
My Sunday was filled with a box of organic toaster pastries, an organic chocolate bar, nachos, a cookie, a brownie and more. oh god. so much more… I felt awful all through the night and immediately pledged to get back on the paleo wagon and to get serious about it. Working/living at a gourmet organic b&b, I knew it might be hard, but I also knew it was worth it. I quit drinking, knocked off the creamer and coffee, snuffed out my last occasional cigarette, and decided that it was time to feel as good as I possibly can, with no excuses.
For the past four days, I’ve felt like a monster is seeping out of my pores. I have headaches, flu like symptoms, and I’m irritable as all hell (boyfriend verified). I’m constantly thirsty, and my muscles feel like I’ve been in a boxing match. But parts of me feel instantly better. No more bloat after meals, and my digestive system is rocking!
But thank you for posting this. I just needed someone to tell me that it was going to be all right. I wanted someone to say that it was okay if I didn’t have enough energy to clean the Yurt today. I needed someone to tell me that one day soon, this will be over and it will all be worth it. Thank you! Thank you!
Dani
Thanks so much for posting. I’m on day 4, and I had to search “paleo first week and headache” as I’ve had one pretty much since the first day. Recovering Coffee addict. Lots of gluten, and a fair amount of sugar and salt pre-paleo. The strangest thing is that walking up the flight of stairs at work seems so hard. I’m not super fit but I do yoga and take long hikes and never feel fatigued after such a simple exercise. I was relieved to see these types of symptoms listed, and am really excited to keep going on this life-changing journey! I have eliminated nightshades as well, and after 1 month of paleo, will try paleo for autoimmune, as I think I might have some issues with nuts and eggs… but I thought eliminating SO much the first month would be too daunting and lead me to feel overwhelmed and not stick with it. Anyone have experience with the auto-immune protocol and did you start right away?
Jessica
Wow…the internal burn! Back and stomach for me. Thankful to know its a detox symptom. I knew I would have some, but they are different than I had imagined. Even having been gluten and dairy free for a bit first….still feel like I’ve been hit by a truck today. Day 4, here I come!
dogdone
I am in search of a diet to get rid of my horrid Fall sugar and generally eat eat eat cravings, especially butter! I also have some connective tissue disorder I think as well as arthritis. I took a food sensativity test for IgG and grains were OK but not cow dairy (but goat OK) and not eggs. Should I go on paleo and give up grains even though the test said they were OK? I’m so confused and want to eat all the time. I’ve put back the some of the weight I lost from calorie counting. Help!
Neely
dogdone – Yes! Give it a try and see how you do on Paleo. Better than calorie counting :)
Carl
Day 5 here. I have been very strict paleo over the last 5 days. I am 100 pounds over weight and previously would eat out 12 times a week. Today was hell. I felt like my blood sugar was at 0 all day, my legs and arms ache and my adreline has been on over drive. I am going to eat a bit more meat tomorrow and see how I do. I am glad I found this because I was beginning to think I was crazy!
Adam
I quit smoking 10 weeks ago. I started Primal diet 4 weeks ago. The symptoms of detox/withdrawal were identical. I just kept telling myself it would be worth it. I was right-I’ve never felt better in my entire life.
Amanda
I started eating paleo about a week ago, with a few modifications to get me through the first two days: I had whole milk with my coffee. (Last night, I had a small cheat “treat” and ate two grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas.)
On my second day, I had a debilitating tension or sinus headache and had to leave work. My boyfriend massaged my forehead, I took two Ibruprofen, and I drank plenty of water, and it eventually subsided. But I’ve been feeling similar, smaller headaches almost every day since.
Now, I think that my paleo transition may be affecting my immune system. I rarely, if ever, get sick. I now have a very sore throat, mucus buildup, and strangely, lots of ear wax. These are my body’s cold symptoms. It doesn’t feel like the natural product of paleo transition…it feels like I’m sick.
Molly
Thank you for this article! I just emailed a friend to ask her if she went through a detox period when she started eating Paleo…then I googled it and found this :)
I’m on day 5 and started my period yesterday, and to put it simply: I’m a MONSTER! :( I was just bragging to my husband how I’m not craving any grainy foods (we already avoided dairy and gluten, so it seemed like a natural transition to Paleo)…but apparently my cells are craving them and making me very irritable!
Anyway, it was relieving to read this and I’ll stick with it to see how I’m feeling in another week or so.
Jennifer
I am absolutely thrilled to have found this blog; it has been most helpful. For me, I sort of “fell” into a mostly Paleo diet just by doing lots of research on what I needed to do to lose weight. I cut out the sugary foods, fast foods, sodas, and processed carbs. With that and exercise, I lost about 50 pounds. Pretty substantial stuff. However, once I got down to my “dream weight,” I found myself comfortable and indulging a little more here and there. I got into a new relationship and would dabble in pizza and a few desserts. I didn’t want to seem like the girl who was unnecessarily obsessed with her weight. (Read: How many times do you see a skinny chick turn down fatty foods and think: “WTF? Eat a doughnut! You’re skinny; you could stand to eat some more!”? Yea. The REASON she’s skinny is BECAUSE she says no.) Within three months, I packed 15 pounds back on. (Maybe I indulged slightly more than a “little here and there.”) I figured my intense exercise regimen would be enough to keep the weight off! I worked out 4-6 times a week, with a great mixture of cardio and strength training and yoga. I drank lots of water. Was this enough? No.
After researching Paleo, I found out something completely new to me: weight loss and overall health is primarily diet. It was a huge WOW moment for me, especially because I’ve been nursing a foot injury for the last five months. I was so afraid to take time off of exercise to let my foot/ankle heal, because I figured I’d just BALLOON up and get fat. So I continually re-injure my foot.
Taking a new approach now: Paleo diet with low impact cardio a few times a week. Lots of stretching and strength training of the core. Essentially, I’m going to cut my exercise in half but really amp up my eating plan.
Within the last week, I’ve been about 90% Paleo, and I’ve already noticed a difference. I’m less bloated and my bowels have regulated (sorry for that TMI). My skin IS breaking out, though, which I assume is my detoxification from dairy… which is something that has always remained in my diet.
I’m turning this comment into a blog entry in itself… Ha! Sorry so long!
To wrap it up: I am excited to move forward with this diet and to have found such a supportive and helpful website.
angela
Hey everyone. My boyfriend and I cleaned out our apartment of all grains, dairy and processed food last night. We began eating paleo style yesterday and we were full of energy and up cleaning until midnight. We didn’t get to sleep until 3am which sucks but I feel very well rested today anyways with a minor headache. I’m 24 years old and I have about 53lbs to reach my goal weight of 150. I started my journey with weight loss around a year and 3 months ago and have lost a total of 23 lbs (that I know of) without cutting grains and dairy and extreme exercise. Its been difficult for me to lose weight so I’m hoping this helps me!
josh
I thought i was doing something wrong. I seriously feel worse now than before i started detoxing. I’m glad i read this. It seriously feels like someone is sitting on my head lol. I’m peeing more than i ever have in my life. Drinking more water than i thought i would. I was going to stop when i started feeling so bad. Now that i have read this i will try and stick with it. I plan on detoxing for 45 days.
Momofateenathlete
So, we on day 4 of this (w/5 kids ages 4-14) and my husband and I have headaches and are GRUMPY and the younger kids are all doing okay BUT my 14 year old daughter who is a very competitive athlete is really struggling… she feels Nauseated most of the day and has on and off headaches. Tonight she threw up a ton and says it “was really weird throw up”… didn’t want to ask… anyway, she has a tournament this weekend (10 volleyball games over 2 days) and I am afraid this is going to mess her up – she is the captain of her team and they need her. What should I do? She plays year round so I can’t wait until the season is over to do this. Should I be easing into this instead of just detoxing all together? Thoughts? Help!
Neely Quinn
Momofateenathlete – Whoa! She probably needs more food and carbs. Please read these posts and change things up a bit. http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/06-07/paleo-for-the-active-person/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/09-06/is-paleo-safe-for-kids/
And let me know if you need more help. Hate to hear that she’s suffering so much!
pam stauber
Today is day 15…I am miserable; following the typical detox, I suppose. I have fibromyalgia and it seems to have flared up, big time. I have not lost any weight..in fact gained 2 lbs. I am not happy about that, because I thought this plan would be the answer to my weight issues. Am willing to keep on keepin’ on, hoping that everyone’s experience with this plan will become mine, as well. I don’t eat a lot of dairy..cream in my coffee-decaf, in the a.m., and yogurt occasionally. I also eat real butter when I have butter. Usually on veggies.
Neely Quinn
Pam stauber – I hope it gets better for you! If it doesn’t, consider the idea that you’ve introduced a new food that your body doesn’t like (that you’re sensitive to). Coconut? Sweet potatoes? Lots more eggs than usual? You may want to seek the help of a naturopath who’s into Paleo if it doesn’t settle down in the next week. Best wishes.
Ish Sarah
I’m so grateful for this page because no where else online really explains the detox phase. I have been doing paleo for 22 days now and I’m still not getting better. Symtoms change but lately it has been an overal emotional, irritable, depression, kind of feelings. I get headaches and body aches. But mostly the emotional/mental part of it is really getting me down to a point where it is affecting my relationships and I avoid contact with people in person as much as possible. Is this normal for anyone going through this phase? And is there something I might be doing wrong? It seems hard to believe that one day (the end of the detox) everything will all get better. Any advice or tips would be so grately appreciated.
Neely Quinn
Ish Sarah – That sounds rough. If it makes you feel any better, my detox lasted 21 days and I definitely had most of those things going on during that time. You may have other things going on, though. I have a few suggestions: try adding in some more carbohydrates (fruit, potatoes, sweet potatoes, plantain, tapioca flour, honey even) and see if that lifts your spirits any. Some of us are just not meant to be on a super low carb diet because it makes a lot of us feel really depressed. That’s what happens to me, too. I don’t know how many carbs you’re eating at the moment, but try adding a couple more sources per day and see how you do. No need to be miserable. This is especially applicable if you’re also active and trying to do a “normal” (read: pretty low carb) Paleo diet. The other thing I’m wondering is, did you also recently come off of cigarettes, coffee/caffeine, or diet drinks? Sometimes the detox from those can be way worse than you’d ever expect it to be, and that just takes time to abate. Also, in this time have you begun taking any drugs – over the counter or otherwise? It’s worth asking, since they can have such serious side effects. Lastly, make sure you’re eating enough food overall. You may want to just record what you’re eating in a free online journal like http://www.myfitnesspal.com and see how much food you’re taking in, as opposed to how much food you should be eating approximately (it’ll tell you). Those are my suggestions. Good luck to you!
Alysha
Hi,
I’m on day 7 and feeling very jittery, heart racing. This started on day 4, along with lightheadedness. I realized I wasn’t getting enough calories on that day, so I stepped it up. Since day 4, I have only felt jittery a little bit. But today is awful. I’m so jittery that I can’t sit still at work and my heart is racing like mad. Which is also giving my weird vision. Any suggestions to make it stop? It feel awful and scary (and makes me want to quit).
Thanks!
Neely Quinn
Alysha – My suggestion is to eat more food and eat more carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes, potatoes, fruit… Are you on any medications? If so, you need to talk to your doc about what changing your diet like this might do to your prescriptions, etc. Also, are you drinking a lot of caffeine – any caffeine? Maybe stop taking that and any supplements that have caffeine or stimulants in them.
Alysha
Hi Neely,
I was drinking coffee daily. I haven’t since day 4 because of the heart thing. I didn’t know cutting carbs could do that. I was actually actively avoiding high carb foods. Including potatoes. Pretty much just ate veggies, fruit, meat, and nuts. And I’m not on any meds, so I think you’re right about the carbs.
Thanks so much!
Neely Quinn
Alysha – I just want to be clear that it doesn’t do that to everyone. Cutting carbs can be really easy for some people, but not so much for others. When I cut carbs way down I feel awful too. If you’re active, it’ll especially hit you hard. Please keep me posted!
Jen
I started a 7 day cleanse diet. On day 3 now. Feel downright awful. But, I have lost 8 lbs in two days like that. I had 9 extra lbs of baby weight. I’m 5’11 and pretty athletic; the weight melted of through breast feeding and crossfit after 3 months. I am doing this cleanse to feel fresh again. We are mostly vegetarian, but you know how little treats add up…with the way I’m feeling now, I must have had a lot of yucky stuff in my system! Will follow up when cleanse is complete!
Jen
Update: something very interesting occurred on the course of day 3. After feeling like the sickest I’ve ever been (aches, pains, chills, sweat, nausea, foggy feeling), I took a 30 minute nap and went through a mean period of chills, then sweat it out and I felt so much better. The aches and pains? Still there, but want to see what happens over the course of 4 more days.
Jessica
I’m on day 15 and have gone through most of the detox symptoms listed here and am still struggling with a few. I mainly am doing this because I suffer from constant digestive issues (bloating, gas, etc) and have have Juvenille Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was 9 (I’m 32). I am trying to follow the inflammatory/paleo diet which restricts even more things and man, I am overwhelmed!! I’ve been gluten free for almost a year and felt benefits right away but I swear I felt terrible again shortly after that. I think because gluten free diets are still high in sugar and grains.
The hardest thing for me right now is the cravings for sugar (I love me some cookies and candies!). I cheated yesterday with one square of dark chocolate and felt guilty afterwards. So, here it is 15 days in and I’m still dealing with intestinal pains and gas almost everynight. The first week I had a headache everyday and that seems to have subsided a few days ago. Now the fatigue is overwhelming. I went to bed last night at 8:30 (on a Sat night!!). I just want to feel better!
My question is: Is it totally not ok to eat grains of ANY kind, ever? I still have been eating brown rice with some of my dinners. I am staying away from potatoes, peppers, etc due to the inflammatory aspects, and am not a huge fan of sweet potates and yams so is there any way that brown rice is ok? I also have been eating all kinds of nuts (because that’s all I feel I can have for a snack) and have been recently reading everywhere that nuts are really bad for digestive issues. UGH!! I feel like I’m running out of food options. I also eat 2 eggs EVERYDAY and feel like this can’t be good for my cholesterol.
Neely Quinn
Jessica – First of all, I’d suggest you not worry about the autoimmune protocol for now. When you’re first starting Paleo, it’s better to just do a basic Paleo protocol so you can get used to the diet without feeling totally overwhelmed and deprived. Once you’ve been doing it for a few months, see how you feel. THEN decide if it’s not enough, and if you need to start experimenting with the other potentially inflammatory foods (eggs, nightshades, nuts, seeds). It’ll also give you a better idea of what’s working and what’s not. Grains should be out for the first month. Add those potatoes back in instead. And the idea that dietary cholesterol causes heart disease is a myth. Just google “cholesterol paleo” and you’ll find a huge cache of info on that, including posts I’ve written.
Lisa
I am about one week into the Paleo diet and am starting to see the light. The few first days were extremely difficult. Not only did I have a lingering headache, but also had the so called “fog” to a point where I had a hard time managing to hold a conversation. After the third day, the fog lifted and along opened the gates of nasal drainage and chest congestion. Whether or not these symptoms are caused my recent diet changes, I’d happily take them over a clouded mind. What stands out to me the most is the fact that I have zero cravings for grains, legumes, ect. Prior to starting the Paleo plan I was eating an upwards of 3,000-4,000 calories a day, mainly from grains. My stress coping mechanism was to stuff my face with as much instant-calming/food coma-inducing foods as I could. Now I’m eating when I’m hungry and not obsessing about food. For the first time, I have found something I can easily do for the rest of my life without feeling deprived.
Kerryjoy Chorizema
Day 7 for me – from day 4 started having pains in gut – eventually very watery diahorrea. Since then experiencing the same – excuse the description, but its such a jettison and can be a lot of liquid. I feel weak and tired – have been living with Polymyalgia Rheumatica for 6 months – major inflammation = stiffness and pain for most of the day. My naturopath has me on buckets of anti-inflammatories etc. I’m trusting the Paleo diet is for me. I’m feeling anxious and would really appreciate your advice – with thanks.
Neely Quinn
Kerryjoy Chorizema – You may want to consider that you’re eating something new that you’re sensitive to. Sometimes people don’t do well with coconut milk (the guar gum gets them or they’re just sensitive to coconut), the nuts, and some other things that you don’t normally eat many of on a normal diet. Maybe wait it out another few days, but start experimenting with those foods. It might be helpful to ask your naturopath for some guidance as well.
Terry Sue
I started low carb in December 2012. I cut out the Wheat, Rice, Potatoes. I upped Dairy because of the fat and immediately lost 15 lbs. I stayed at this weight for about 2 weeks no huge die-off or feel bad. I started surfing the web when I looked at the cross fit program. I saw a mention of the Paleo Diet. I thought wow I can have Fruit. So I figured I would switch over to Paleo. The problems started when I gave up Dairy and coffee. I felt like a mack truck hit me. I am having issues with my vision and alot of gunk going down the back of my throat. Also I have had a severe headache for the past 2 days and feel feverish. I do not sweat so I took a detox bath last night. That helped a little but the loss of vision has gotten me a little nervous. Has anyone else had symptoms like this?
LucyT
Hi All,
Glad to see I am not the only one going through detox systems it is satisfying to know the body is healing itself! Even through all the brain fog, hot flushes, headaches and other flu like symptoms I am still feeling much better! One question for any of the women reading this discussion board – have any of you experienced very (very) heavy periods? I am hoping this is part of the detox process – the body clearing itself out if you will. I haven’t had them this heavy since I was a teenager. I am 37 years old and am hoping this isn’t yet menopause (no history of early onset in the family I might add). Any comments/thoughts???
Cheers Lucy
Laura
Hi! On day four with on and off headaches nothing serious, tired, brain fog, hard to think of the right word. Not easy as I am a hairstylist and have to talk all day! Oh my, the clients are understanding. Sleeping really well, waking early and have more energy. I did do one in fared sauna and that seemed to make me super groggy and tired, but I pushed the liquids and am going back tomorrow morning again. I think it helps along with my swimming to get rid of the toxins. My acupuncturist advised me to go to the next level of health. So that may be part of the easy detox. Oh one thing I read too that really helped me, is to eat kale if you are having a sugar craving. Great receipts for salad with lemon and oil and garlic with some nuts…Boy that saved me a few times already. Made this journey a lot smoother. Thanks for all the above posts, makes me feel like I can do this for life. No weight loss, but I don’t weight myself..so maybe! :) Good luck peeps!
Mike R
I switched to a diet that resembles a detox with lots of raw veggies and fruit, switched coffee out for green tea (no sugar), minimize meat intake with the exception of an occassional organic chicken breast and fish. I have been making smoothies in the morning with organic veggies, fruit, and brown rice protein. Did well last week with the exception of a mild headache (probably caffeine withdrawal). A couple days ago, I developed a mild sore throat; it got pretty bad last night. After my hockey game last night, I developed flu-like symptoms, slept like crap, and woke up as if an asteroid fell on me. I’m attributing all of this to my blood stream flooding with toxins that have built up over years. As I’ve been reading, it seems I might be correct. Thoughts/suggestions? Thanks.
Lisa
Thank you for this article and thread. I am on day 3, and feeling just plain odd. But my biggest question – if you can address it – is about the fact that I have type 1 diabetes. I have read nothing but wonderful things about doing paleo for type 1, but my issue right now is that my blood sugars have spiked very high. Even after a meal of virtually no carbs (2 eggs and some spinach sautéed in oil) my blood sugar will be dangerously high – I have given myself some insulin with the meal. But it seems the more insulin I give, the higher my blood sugar.
I guess I’m wondering if this could also be part of the detox? Have you ever heard of this before?
Elise
I’ve been on Paleo for 2 weeks now and have noticed I’m not retaining fluid in my ankles and knees already which is a good sign! However I’m a Type 1 diabetic and can’t seem to find anything online about Paleo and Type 1 diabetes. I see plenty of information about Type 2 diabetes and Paleo but this is not always relevant to Type 1 (insulin dependent). I’ve read that most people within a few days are losing weight on the Paleo, however even though I have lost fluid I haven’t seemed to lose any weight, if anything I’ve put weight on. My blood sugars are also very low in the mornings, maybe I need to adjust my long acting insulin at night. I have woken with blood sugar lows then need to eat sugar/carbs to bring my levels up to normal again. Is this just confusing my body? Is there a reason I have not lost weight? I’m not overweight, I’m fit and 31 yrs old, I exercise regularly, but was hoping that after 2 weeks on Paleo some weight would be lost. I do have clearer skin though and have been experiencing sinus symptoms, headaches, fatigue, nausea etc, so the toxins must be leaving! I have also not given up coffee as I love coffee too much. Could this be causing issues?
Neely Quinn
Elise – Definitely talk to your doc about your insulin so you can adjust it as needed. I don’t know why you’re concerned about losing weight if you don’t need to lose weight. Do you want to lose weight? Paleo often will get you to a normal, healthy weight, so your body might just be fine where it’s at. Coffee can definitely affect all kinds of things in your body (see my articles on coffee), so if you really want to see for sure how it affects you, I always suggest that people take all caffeine out of their routine for a month, then add it back in (if they want) and see the effects. Often people notice they sleep better, have more energy, have better blood sugar control, have less achy joints, and the list goes on…
Jackie
Great article. I did the paleo diet in august 2012 and lost 15 pounds in that first month. Then I got sick with a bad cold so I stopped working out for two weeks, then I started losing motivation, birthdays, holidays galore… Yeah that old story… But now I am back full storm I need to lose the rest of my 25 pounds of pregnancy weight I put on a year ago. I am on day 3 and have had the headaches which im prone to anyway but ive also lost three pounds already! This happened last time and then it kind of slowed down but I do have to say, for me this diet is extremely effective in fat loss and I wish to see everyone succeed. Thanks for sharing the info!
Sharyn
Thank goodness I read this I am in week 3 or maybe 4 and I am sooooo tired . I can hardly walk up stairs at all. Waiting for the good stuff to kick in and theis “cold” to go away!
Tracie
Im on day five and have cut all the bad foods from day one (except my morning coffee which I dilute so i can add less cream and sugar). I feel icky and yucky, those are the only words i can use to explain how I feel. I have noticed a difference already, my stomach is not bloated and im not sluggish anymore but i stayed home from work today cause I just feel icky and my brain seems to be foggy. Will this last a long time? should I have not gone cold turkey and introduced this diet slowly? I have no cravings which is good im not hungry all of the time. Also the biggest thing I noticed is the my stomach and gut do not make any more noises :) It was like a groaning factory before.
Rachael
I’m considering putting my entire family (me, husband, 4 kids 6 and under) on a paleo diet. My daughter (6) has some really terrible behavior issues. She’d be considered textbook oppositional defiant disorder. We homeschool and our entire day is just getting her to comply with simple requests and treating others with kindness. We’re considering sending her to school but I don’t want to go there until we can at least make some drastic dietary changes. Anyway, we try to eat a traditional foods diet. We eat about 90% real foods. But we’re a busy family and are not always immune to the occasional chick-fil-a lunch or dinner! My 3 yr old also has eczema which I think is caused by dairy, so most of our meals are at least adaptable. I think the Paleo thing is going to be an OK transition… if I can convince them not to eat peanuts! :) I worry about my husband, though. he works very long, long hours in the TV industry and despite my efforts to pack a lunch, he does go with the crew and eat out and drinks a lot of coffee and tea to keep up… we’ve started using certified therapeutic grade essential oils and they’ve helped us in a lot of areas. I’m hoping they help with his energy so he doesn’t have to depend so much on the coffee. But he can not have the detox process affect his work. We’ve been putting a drop of lemon essential oil to help us detox our livers and drink more water. I guess my question is do you think lemon essential oil in our water will help us to get over the detox process quickly? I went on a 5 day sugar fast once and I was an ugly awful mess… which, I can’t really afford to do being around small children all day! They need for me not to be irritable all day long!
Neely Quinn
Rachael – Unfortunately, I don’t think the lemon oil will do the trick, although it may help (a little). There’s not really any good way to get around it. It’s kind of like asking whether an alcoholic can get away with detoxing without feeling awful for a while. Make sure that first week isn’t super stressful, sleep as much as you can, drink water like it’s your job, put salt on your food, eat a lot of fat, and do NOT go no carb. Eat potatoes, sweet potatoes, fruit, Paleo baked goods, etc, every day at least a few of those things, along with your other veggies. It will ease your transition – trust me.
Jen
What about cheating on the paleo diet? I’ve been doing paleo for about 6 months now. I took a cheat weekend as we were traveling. I developed severe flu like symptoms including a fever, chills, nausea, severe diarrhea. Do you think this is the flu, or caused by my grain binging?
Neely Quinn
Jen – Never can tell, but it might be the bingeing. It happens to a lot of people… I wrote a couple articles on this: http://www.paleoplan.com/2012/05-10/if-youre-gonna-cheat-try-to-cheat-paleo/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-15/cheating/
Kara Tullman
This made me feel a lot better! I am on day 15 of a dairy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free diet (similar to paleo) for my fibromyalgia. I have been feeling ALL of the symptoms, which has been a struggle to deal with at college miles from home. The first week I had trouble cutting out fruits and other grains, but now I have found new types of nuts to compensate. I am wondering how long these symptoms will last, as my doctor only mentioned the idea of symptoms for 1-2 weeks.
beverly
Thanks for addressing detox issues! I’m on day 6 and while I don’t have headaches, the fatigue is huge. Like a couple of other posters, I have bowel issues. Not the dreaded D but frequent elimination (small. formed) with cramping. I had a wine habit (which caused a wine waist) so maybe it’s the liver cleansing itself? I’m drinking lots of water but barely eat anything simply because I’m not hungry. Anything ingested no matter how small seems to cause a trip to the toilet within 15 minutes.
On the plus side, I don’t seem to have any sugar cravings and in order to stay on track, I cook up lots of meat at one time so there is always something carb-free and convenient to eat in case hunger strikes. The guy who wrote the Primal Blueprint eats lots of salads so that’s my next meal plan since they are a fave. If only I felt well enough to eat.
Jessie
OMG! Thank you so much for writing this, and thank you to all who shared your stories. Now I KNOW I am not alone in this. Sadly, I am only on day 3 of Paleo and I did give in (had coffee and toast) because I felt like my brain was going to explode. I have a history of migraines and this headache was nearing migraine status. I also couldn’t understand the nausea but now I see that it’s normal. Aside from that one lapse today, I do believe that I can stick to it because of the info provided here. Thank you all.
Alun Thomas
Hi folks,
Just like to say well done for those of you who are trying with Paleo – it’s not easy at times to resist all that bad stuff! Ive been eating Paleo for a couple of years now and have transformed my body using this way of life. At the start, it’s difficult to know if you’re eating enough of the right things, too many veggies, not enough fat, too much protein etc, but usually, if your body is giving you bad vibes in the way of headaches etc ( as it did with me ), it’s maybe a sign that you need to tweak things slightly. Remember that Paleo is not low carb – it’s low processed carb. As long as you keep up the good fat intake ( which I assure you does wonders for fat loss and keeping headaches away , not to mention satisfying your appetite ) and DON’T watch your carb intake, you’ll minimise your side effects. A good way of ploughing veggie carbs into your body is to make smoothies , and a lot of them! PS: since your body has a difficult time dealing with lots of Fructose, don’t eat too much fruit. Dont skimp on the veggie carbs though guys, especially if you’re active like me. So, in a nut shell, things that halpe me feel wonderful? Avocado, fattie organic meat, LOADS of veggies, reasonable amount of berries, lots of butter, lots of nuts, coconut water, almond milk, and constant grazing – not meals.
Hope this helps;)
Check out ‘Paleo in a Box’ if you want some good advice.
Heather
Hi I’ve been Paleo for at least 6 weeks maybe a little longer. Lately the brain fog and fatigue has gotten worse, or at least pretty consistent. I am sleeping better thought, my first couple of weeks I couldn’t sleep at all.
I am 5’3″, I weigh 110. I take in between 1500-1800 calories a day. My carb intake is somewhere between 17-20% of my caloric intake. fat is 57-60% and protein is 26-28%. so approximately 60-100 grams of carbs a day. I eat very little fruit. I use coconut oil regularly I was wondering if it might be candida die off? or maybe just transitioning into fat burning. I am hoping my body can adjust to using fat for energy.
I do yoga and walking, some light arm and leg work but nothing too strenuous 4-5 times a week. I have worked up to a walk/jog interval training at times when I have enough energy. Any suggestions?
Neely Quinn
Heather – I’d experiment with eating a little bit more food and some more carbs and see how you feel.
Allison Gould
Okay it’s only day 2 so I shouldn’t be complaining yet but man I don’t feel well. Woke up from a headache since yesterday and just feeling nauseas. I am originally a vegetarian- haven’t ate meat yet just fish but sort of scared to eat meat with these feelings. Any suggestions? Three years ago I became a vegan and I remember feeling really bad for 3 days and than the fog lifted. I hope this is a similar case!
Stephanie
I have leaky gut and 7 autoimmune diseases. I have started a strict paleo (was modified paleo for a while with white rice) and a low FODMAP diet. I am a week into it and feel awful. I have had a headache for 5 days :( I weight 103 lbs 5’5″ and and I am 37 yrs old and have some rheumatoid cachexia. I don’t think I am getting enough carbs. How do I know how much carbs I need? I need to gain some muscle. I do eat a tablespoon of coconut oil in my smoothie every morning. Lunch is usually a salad of spring greens with chicken, supper is a meat and a low FODMAP veggie. I eat citrus fruit or kiwi in between meals. I was on chemo shots and they messed up my intestines so I am trying to heal them to stop the leaky gut. How do I know how many carbs is for me? Thank you!
Neely Quinn
Stephanie – Considering your complicated situation, I actually don’t feel comfortable giving you any advice without getting a history on you first. If you’d like to make an appointment with me, just email me at neely@paleoplan.com.
Stephanie
I appreciate that, but I cannot afford it. I have done some more research and seems I need 100g for me.
ellscee
Thanks for this information. My husband I started our second week of Paleo. We are loving almost all of the recipes and are enjoying spending time in the kitchen with each other. It’s definitely a partnership in this journey! We have both been experiencing headaches and fatigue and couldn’t really figure out why. I was beginning to think that eating Paleo wasn’t a good fit. So, yes, thank you for this little article. We do plan to stay strong and are focused on the benefits you have listed! Thanks again!
Andrea
Thanks for the article! Is insomnia a normal part of the detox? I’m two weeks in, the first week was fine except for some low blood sugar- which I’ve alwys had. Now the low blood sugar is better but insomnia set in for the past week! Ugh!
Rebecca
Today is day 8 for me. I didn’t realize that I was having detox symptoms until I read this article. The first 5 days of eating paleo, I drank tons of water, I was hungry every 3 hours (on the nose), and I needed to pee every five minutes. Day 6 and 7, I felt great. I had energy and a clear head. Today I woke up feeling like I had a hangover. I think the amount of water I was drinking in the first few days was really helping me with any other symptoms.
I decided to start eating paleo because I have sensitivities to potatoes and soy. I was searching for recipes to make my own chocolate desserts without soy and that is how I discovered paleo. Soy is in so many processed products so it was an easy decision for my to jump in head first. I am enjoying the freedom this way of eating has given me because I don’t need to constantly read food labels anymore. I eat whole foods without worry.
I have lost 3 pounds so far. I also have hypothyroidism, so seeing any weight come off is a huge accomplishment.
Christie
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you! I am so grateful to read everyone’s post. I am in day 6 and yesterday felt like I was dying…. I kept thinking about how I needed to chuck the self-pity every time I said “crap this is so hard”. I would take a moment to remember that I was NOT trying to get off heroin, fight cancer or diabetes. Then I start crying because dang it, this crap is hard! When I was 29 I weighed 275lbs., I wore a size 26 and I started dealing with the reality that sugars were killing me. I started living by the diabetic diet plan, 30min of exercise a day and dealt with my emotional triggers (12 step program). I also have not eaten any chocolate or coco since September 19, 1999. It took me really three years to not want Chocolate. I have had three children and 2 normal size pregnancies and I have been able to maintain a weight loss over 100lbs and size 12 for 9 years, I am 42 now. A few years ago I started living life trying to be “normal” and guess what? It turns out that I am just not like the others :). In 2011, I found out after I had a hysterectomy (removed because of extreme pain due to inflammation) that I have interstitial cystitis which is an inflammation of the small tissue. I have been fighting the idea of this food plan for about two years because I kept saying that I knew what is best for my body….. only to watch my weight go up 25lbs. When I started this food plan I weighed 189 and because I have been told not to weigh for a month I don’t know how much I have lost yet. But I can tell that I definitely have lost weight. Today my goal is to keep consistent. I know that this extreme fatigue is normal because of all of your post. When I woke this morning it was not as bad as yesterday. The reality is that if I want something different in my life, I have to start today and keep doing this one day at a time. I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing because it feels right and fighting it feels wrong. Even though I feel like you wrote, “like I was walking through oatmeal”. I am hopeful to find a healthy weight that is even beyond that size 12 that I maintained for so many years. I am confident that it will come if I am willing, willing to do it when I’m with my friends, at family reunions or holidays. Did I say this was really hard? I may feel like crap now but I know from others experience that I can live a life that is healthier and one where my body is not in pain. The easier softer way is not so easy.