NatalieCatalie_

Thank you @Jmb369! My first night wasn't very restful, but I know it will take a few weeks to really get used to using it. I'm going to look up that "Go To Bed" challenge!

Seems I'm not the only one who has let this forum fall by the wayside. About two weeks ago I gave up on this round of Whole30. I was just feeling so discouraged with having no energy and not feeling much better after hitting about day 15 or 16. However, good news, I got a CPAP this morning! Finally! After months of waiting. My plan is to give myself a few days to get used to it then on Monday I will start a fresh new Whole30.

@Jmb369 so sorry to hear about your friend and the emotional storm cloud. I say don't let this derail you. I know they want you to start over, and if you do, that's fine, but I will not personally hold it against you if you go right ahead with day 12. Either way, it's good you were able to learn from this experience. I have noticed several times this past week that I have wanted to cave and have sweets in order to soothe my emotions. I have been battling depression and anxiety for years and I've had a flare up the past month or so. It would be so easy to give in and say "oh well, I give up, I'll feel better after I eat some Ben and Jerry's" but I know that it will only feel good in the moment. Afterwards, I'll feel the effects of the sugar. Doing Whole30 is teaching me that I have to find other ways to soothe myself when I am feeling negative emotions. This is why I love this group, I am able to have a community of others who struggle with many of the same things. Realizing we are not alone in our struggles makes such a difference. *hugs*

I'm still here! Finally got news from the doctor that I do have sleep apnea. It's mild (I stop breathing about 4-5 times an hour) but he said that severity of apnea doesn't necessarily correlate with severity of symptoms - my symptoms are severe. I am tired all the time, late for work most mornings, low energy on the weekends, and don't like driving much because I'm so tired. However, I'm still sticking with Whole30! I should be getting a CPAP in about two weeks so I'm really excited to see how I'll feel after a good night's sleep. I'm coming for you, Tiger Blood! Hope everyone had a pleasant weekend and are feeling strong going into our second week of Whole30.

I am also experiencing this. If anything, I'm actually feeling better because I know that despite a little hump I'll have to get over in the first week, I'll start feeling better very soon. I'm already reaping one of the rewards of going sugar free: clear skin! I looked in the mirror this morning and I was like "whoa!"

Happy Day 2, Friends! During my first round I was temporarily living with my parents so my mother was able to help cook for us, grocery shop, etc. but I have since moved back home and live alone. So this round I will be on my own for meal planning, shopping, and resisting temptation. I work full time so I'm really going to have to manage my time and plan for meals, quick breakfasts, and packable lunches. I'm up for the challenge. Believe it or not, I STILL have not gotten treatment for my sleep apnea. My sleep study got pushed back three times. I was eventually denied the in-house study by my insurance and finally given an at-home test. I will discuss the results with my doctor on Jan 16. (The earliest he had available!) I definitely feel like the daytime sleepiness has gotten a lot worse so hopefully Whole30 can help with that a bit.

I'm on board for the Jan 2 start and forum group; thanks @Jmb369! Hope everyone is enjoying their December holidays!

Just checking in on the group! I totally failed at reintro so I'm back on the 100% Whole30 horse as of yesterday. I know where I was before with my blood sugar all over the place and that's not a place I want to go back to so I'm keeping that in mind to motivate me. I also learned that after several weeks without alcohol, red wine is not my friend. I overindulged on Saturday and had an "emotional hangover" (serotonin was a mess) that lasted a good two to three days after. Today is the first day I've actually felt back to normal mentally. I am going to allow myself a few treats on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but December 26th I'll be right back at it. My mom was unable to finish her Whole30 with me in November because of a family emergency. But she is going to start on January 2 so I will do that one with her! *hugs*

I had a feeling 30 days wasn't long enough to really conquer my Sugar Dragon. Today I didn't "feel like" eating my paleo lunch so I went out for pizza. Now I'm bloated and feel bad (emotionally) about eating it. I think for me, it's easier to just stay 100% paleo. Little exceptions here and there start me on a slippery slope that heads back to a place a I don't want to be. Tonight I'm going to do another batch of meal prep and hop back on the horse this minute. @liv.88 I think we've both learned the hard way that our Sugar Dragons are still lying there ready to strike when we let our guards down. That's why I'm glad we have this forum, to help keep us accountable and encourage each other. @Ktjoh07 I like the idea of a Whole15 before Christmas. I think I will do the same and then on Christmas I will eat 90% compliant so I don't feel like complete garbage the next day.

How is everyone doing a week after finishing? I have to admit I have struggled a bit with bingeing on sugar. Now that I am no longer in that 30-day mindset, I find myself wanting to go back to it as a way to self-soothe and fill emotional voids. Of course, my body reacts by getting a headache the next day. And on Sunday, I took a shot of bourbon to celebrate the Westworld finale and it just gave me a yucky anxiety attack. So looks like I'll be staying sober. Also going to try to abstain from sugar completely except for special occasions like birthdays and such. Unfortunately, the sleep study I was supposed to have last night was pushed to next Friday because my insurance was still pending. *eye roll* So now I have to wait even longer to treat the OSA, which is still something that affects me daily. Hope everyone else is having success with re-intro and learning more about their bodies and behaviors!

Here's the blog post I wrote about my first Whole30 experience. I'm more motivated than ever to stay the course and love my body by feeding it with nutritious foods. https://nataliedt2.wordpress.com/2016/12/01/my-whole30-story/

Weighed in this morning and I have a grand total of 6 lbs lost. At first I was like "aw only 6" but then I remembered reading that with Whole30, because we are giving our body the best nourishment, when we lose weight it isn't water and muscle, it's fat. So I thought about how much 6 lbs of fat is and realized how much that actually is. As far as non-scale benefits: my skin is clearer I no longer feel controlled by fluctuating blood sugar and hanger I have had overall less severe anxiety and depression I feel more confident I have a sense of accomplishment my clothes are fitting loser and more comfortably I no longer see food as a reward I know I can say "no" to sweets and junk and not feel like I'm missing out I no longer feel anxious about being social, going out, etc without food plans bc I'm no longer anxious about having a blood sugar crash lots of others that I probably haven't even realized yet! My weigh-in this morning also made me aware of how much I still rely on a number like weight to determine my feelings towards myself and my appearance. I probably won't weigh again for another 30 days because I want to be freed from feeling dependent on a number. I plan to take some time to really think and write down how I feel about the past 30 days and also post some photos. I will be putting it on my blog and will post a link when I'm ready to share it. Hope everyone else is happy with their results!

Day 30!!! We're here! I'm so amazed with myself for sticking with this. In the first few days, I really wanted to quit. I thought that it would be hard the entire time and that I was somehow depriving myself or trying to do too much. But I have been astounded with both myself and the program. I am a big skeptic of diets and eating plans, including this one. I'm so grateful I found it on Instagram and gave it a try. Looking forward to weighing in tomorrow and taking my "after" picture. I also plan to stick around on this forum and others. Especially after I get my OSA treated and start having more energy.

@Ilovebeer slow cooker jambalaya?! That sounds delicious! Where can I find the recipe?

I made it through my long holiday weekend without any slip-ups! I resisted Thanksgiving sweets and red wine, even though I really wanted them a few times. In those moments, I told my mom and she helped keep me accountable, I drank water, and munched on a handful of almonds (only to realize I wasn't actually hungry, just experiencing a passing craving). Every time I look in the mirror I'm like, "Is that really me?" I realized that at my heaviest, I had avoided photos and looking in the mirror because I wasn't happy with what I was seeing. I am trying to practice self-love and body positivity. But I have to say that seeing a less-heavy version of myself in my reflection has been really encouraging. Clothes are fitting more comfortable and other people are starting to notice the physical changes in me as well. And my skin! It has been so clear and glowy! It's wonderful. As for reintro, I think I'm going to stick with total Whole30 eating until I have my sleep study and get my OSA treated. I want to experience that full tiger blood effect. That will be in the next three to four weeks, hopefully. I do plan on having a sweet or two on Christmas. @liv.88 try taking a photo of yourself and comparing it to an older photo. Sometimes looking at them side-by-side will help you see the way your body has changed on the outside. The photo below is a comparison photo of myself from before I started Whole30 and on Day 25 of Whole30.