Continue Whole30 or Start Reintroduction?

[JeneneTucker]

Hello! I am hoping to get some advice as I have not been able to make up my mind for the past few days...

 

I am 27 weeks pregnant and today is Day 30 of my first Whole30. I have loved this experience and feel so much healthier than I did pre-Whole30, but I'm not sure if I should extend my Whole30 another 15+ days or not. My NSVs are: feeling generally healthier, slight increase in energy, and just feeling good. However, I still have very low energy throughout the day and I still have (possibly more?) acne on my face.

My question is this: Do these symptoms indicate that I should continue my Whole30 to further eradicate any inflammation in my body, or should I just chalk them up to pregnancy and start my Reintroduction tomorrow?

 

Thank you for your help!

[ShannonM816]

This might be related to your pregnancy, or it might be that there could be some changes you could make to what you're eating that might help. If you want to list a couple of days' worth of typical meals, including approximate portion sizes, water intake, and exercise, we can take a look and see if there's anything that stands out.

[JeneneTucker]

Meal samples from last week (to the best of my memory).

*Times are approximate

 

Wake @ 8:00

M1 @ 9:00: Pork chops with sauerkraut, sweet potato lattkes, green beans (leftover from yesterday's dinner).

M2 @ 1:00: Avocado chicken salad w/ pecans and raisins, or more leftovers.

M3 @ 6:00: Zucchini noodles with beef spaghetti sauce.

Bed @ 10:00

 

Wake @ 8:00

M1 @ 9:00: Zucchini noodles with beef spaghetti sauce.

M2: @ 1:00: Miscellaneous leftovers

M3 @ 6:00: Roasted Cod with herb mayo sauce, roasted carrots and green beans.

Bed @ 10:00

 

Wake @ 8:00

M1 @ 9:00: Scrambled eggs, roasted carrots and green beans.

M2 @ 1:00: Avocado chicken salad w/ pecans and raisins, or more leftovers.

M3 @ 6:00: Sausage, potato, kale soup.

Bed @ 10:00

 

I don't know what to put for portion sizes as that is nothing something I really keep track of. For each meal, I try to have about a handful size of protein, lots of veggies, and a good amount of fats. I have noticed that my portion sizes increase with each meal. For example: breakfast tends to be a small meal, lunch a little bit bigger, and dinner is large.

As far as water intake, I could definitely be better about it, but I do try to drink at least one 24-ounce bottle of water throughout the day.

I haven't been exercising at all due to the lack of energy (except, of course, for chasing a 20-month old around the house).

 

I have been thinking that I may actually have been getting too much sleep also. Yesterday, I got up at 5:00 (when my husband gets up for work, and when I like to get up so I can get things done before my toddler wakes up) and I noticed that my energy was significantly improved even with a very busy day. *When I do get up at 5:00, I add a meal around 6:00 of a salad with two hardboiled eggs.