Where Liz Links: Blah.

February 10, 2004

Blah.

No journal entry today - just a blog entry, while Penny dozes on my lap. She's sick, and so am I, though I at least have thus far avoided throwing up. (But I was awake from 2 - 4:30 doing slow, calming breathing exercises trying to avoid it. And suffering the pink hippo syndrome - you know, "Don't think about X," - so of course all you can think about is X? For two and a half hours, my thoughts ran in this circle: Don't think about throwing up. Or food. Think about the chapter you're writing for the novel. Okay. She gets on the horse and is thrown, and then we have to describe the demon... He has to be horrifying and awful. You know what's awful? Throwing up. Don't think about throwing up!

Anyway, I think I'll be okay as long as I don't have to go into the kitchen too much - last night's dinner was kind of greasy, (don't think about food) and the lingering smell is pretty stomach-churning.

All I want is crackers and broth. Well, I can have the broth, anyway... What do you eat on Atkins when you've got a stomach bug? Are you out of luck? Do you have to go off the diet until you're well again? I don't really want to start induction all over again. Bleah.

At least Penny seems to be in a fairly good (if sleepy) mood.

Posted by Liz at 08:10 AM

And then they said...

I have the perfect cure. Just don't think about 'Muskrat Love'

Posted by: Jennie B. (email) on February 10, 2004 08:21 AM

From the Atkins site:
"What kind of comfort food can I have when I'm sick?
When you're under the weather, beef or chicken broth and herbal teas can be especially soothing. Make hot chocolate from Atkins(TM) Shake Mix or just heat up an Atkins(TM) RTD Shake, perhaps intensifying the flavor with Atkins(TM) Sugar Free Syrups. A variation on another perennial comfort beverage is hot lemonade sweetened with Splenda(TM)."

The same page also mentions dizziness as a frequent side-effect of the Induction Phase as a result of "carbohydrate withdrawal." Adding a few more low-carb leafy green veggies, protein snacks at regular intervals, and (of course) plenty of water may help alleviate that.

A little further down it says that if you're losing weight very fast, you may also be losing electrolytes from the "extreme diuretic effect" of beginning weight loss. The recommendation there is water, more green, leafy veggies, and a supplement to replace lost minerals.

Aktins detractors, btw, mention that nausea is one reported side-effect of the diet.

These are all off the site. No where in the entire index of _Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution_ does it mention illness or what to do about it. :/

On the other hand, you may just have what Penny has. :D

-Your Non-Local, Friendly Librarian

Posted by: Gris (email) on February 10, 2004 02:47 PM