So I have stalled on induction (not a long stall, it's only been a few days of no progress and after a rather disgraceful Thursday night party I'm expecting a reset period). But I was also considering some of the effects I have been experiencing on induction and my eating habits/medications from the last few years. So now I am wondering if I am dealing with systemic candida? I think I am - I used to binge on a lot of sugar (cookies, sour worms) plus I have been on antibiotics for acne for over 3 years and suffered from some vicious vaginal yeast infections regularly until I got that under control with boric acid. Mentally, I feel foggy all the time, I know that is a definite change from how I was 3 years ago - my memory used to be excellent, now I constantly space out, I find I can get pretty darn cranky these days too. I used to go through TOM ok, but the last 2 years the cramps are terrible. I always feel a little 'worn'. I want to take the spit test but I have to wait until tomorrow morning.

I was sick with some kind of flu/cold bug for 3 weeks that had me on the couch, tired to the bone and eating very little. Then that finally went away and I felt insanely energized, I would work in the garden from 10am to sundown swinging a pickaxe and hauling plants. After a few weeks my energy declined but I was still feeling adequately able, I was able to do moderate-strenuous calisthenics for 50 minutes on a regular basis. But with my weight still creeping up and regularly losing control with the sweets and goodies I decided to return to Atkins.

By induction day 5 I had headaches, no energy, weakness, no enthusiasm for anything just a severe case of the blahs that just didn't seem to want to go away. This is pretty unusual for me - I am pretty physical, can lift a fair amount easily and then all the sudden doing light resistance exercises was just too much.

Today, I still feel drained and foggy. I am working on my exercise program but my energy is really not where I had expected it to be at this point (start of week 3). I have had some improvement by taking a daily multi. I do find myself craving sweets but my daily coffee gets me through that.

So does this sound like candida? Am I experiencing die-off symptoms?

Thanks,
Alane