help!

I'm in need of a little support, or advice??  I have been trying to stay away from flour since Monday.  I did eat something I think Tuesday?? something like that....but today I feel weird.  Right now (it's midnight) I'm having palpitations, I'm dizzier than heck, I have a headache that feels like a tension headache, and I even feel a little queasy.  I'm still eating starches though, so that is what is confusing me.  Although the past few days hasn't been many.  But still!  Should I be doing this just taking flour out of my diet??  Good lord am I that addicted to the stuff??  My head feels like it's going to explode, and I can't relax at ALL.  I'm taking advil like crazy, any other suggestions??  This is nuts.  I just ate some oat bran to see if it calms me down a bit, hopefully it does.  Suggestions??  I close my eyes and I get so dizzy that I can't sleep, I have to open them up immediately.

Holly
When I quit sugar and flour with Atkins in March I had to make sure I got enough protein and good fats or my blood sugar would drop like a stone- very similar symptoms to what you have going on. I have to drink O.J. to get thing back in balance when this happens or I end up stuffing my face until the shaking stops, usually 45 minutes or so.  Try to get enough protein as you give up the instant fuel of refined carbs. even 1 oz of cheese every couple of hours can help stop the crashes. It sounds like you are doing the right thing giving up the flour and sugar, you just need to manage the blood sugar issues more closely.
Jan

Hey Holl, from what you are describing, to me it didn't sound like the Atkins flu (detoxing from sugar and starch), for one, you haven't given up sugar and haven't completely given up flour(starch).  The symptoms you describe sounds more like an anxiety attack, my sister has them ocassionally.  When you were talking about being a food addict and actually being upset at the thought of never eating a certain food ever again, it sounds like you are stressing over the thought of giving up flour. 

The symptoms of anxiety:  - Anxiety is a vague feeling of malaise, which translates as a state of apprehension, quite intense distress and nervousness: knots in the throat and/or stomach, difficulty breathing, palpitations, perspiration etc. 

I think that if you look at this as part of your food addiction it will make it easier to deal with.  And yes, I think you are THAT addicted to the stuff!  You have these same symptoms with practically every plan you've ever been on and got off of because of them.  Instead of blaming the plan, you need to start concentrating on what you can do to control these feelings of anxiety so that they don't get in the way of your weight loss efforts.

I wish I knew more about food addiction so I could help you some but it is definitely something that you need to research more.  I hope you are feeling better now.

 Mary 

This soounds a little like me after I stopeed eating Bread and on top of it all I became a total B**ch. It took a while to get out of my system and that's when I began to beleive what Oprah has always said...food can be an addiction. I was like an heroin addict getting off the stuff cold turkey. If you are concerned check with your Dr. it may be mithing but better to be safe than sorry