Search the Community

I'm on day 25 and I feel terrible. My headaches have returned with a vengeance, I'm tired all the time, my anxiety is through the roof, I've lost my appetite entirely, and I've lost all motivation to get things done (which is a huge problem because I'm self-employed). I can't believe that I'm feeling this awful when I'm so close to day 30. I was supposed to start feeling the "tiger blood" at least a week ago. I didn't have these issues before I started this round. I've tracked a couple days of my calorie intake just to be sure that my problems aren't being caused by insufficient calorie intake. Despite my lack of appetite, I've been able to force myself to eat about 2200 calories per day, which has been enough to maintain my weight. In a normal day, I usually have 4-6 servings of fruit and 6-10 servings of vegetables. My macronutrient breakdown is about 20% protein, 40% fat, and 40% carbohydrates. Other info that might be helpful: This is my second round of Whole 30. I did one 6 months ago and felt so amazing afterwards that I decided I want to do it twice per year to keep myself on track. I have a neurological condition that required surgery 5 years ago. I've had almost no symptoms since then. I kept up with clean eating after my first round of Whole 30, but I reintroduced sprouted wheat bread and became less strict with occasionally eating out (once per month maximum). I exercise 5 times per week: HIIT/strength training combo workouts M/W/F, light recovery cardio or yoga T/Th. This is more exercise than I did during my first round. I'm a 21 year old female, 5'3 and 115 lbs. I've stayed the same weight since I started, which is good because weight loss is not a goal of mine. I've practiced intermittent fasting for over a year now. I use the LeanGains 16/8 protocol. Before starting this round my diet was not great because I had been on the road for 9 days. Lots of sugar from sweetened dried fruit in trail mix, not enough fruits or veggies, and occasional fast food. Has anyone else experienced this? Does anyone have any idea about what might be causing it or how to make it better?

Hi all! This is my first post on the forum. I am 10 days into my W30. I was a little nervous coming in as I am recently pescatarian (after about 10 years as a vegetarian, and several of those spent as vegan). I have done some elimination diets in the past but have always struggled with feeling like my body was lacking or missing something. I have quite a few gut issues as well as auto immune-related conditions (anxiety, asthma, heartburn, ibs, graves disease *in remission* to name a few)...I have often felt like a lot of my health issues were directly related to my gut health as every other aspect is 100% unremarkable on paper. According to labs and tests I am one of the healthiest women alive, but inside I feel like I am dying / falling apart. It was upon my acupuncturist's recommendation that I give the Whole 30 a try. As an aside I have been gluten free for coming up on 4 years now, I went GF in an attempt to help my thyroid and the switch was the reason that my levels normalized and have been normal for about 3 years now! With that said, when I switched to GF I started ironically (or maybe not so ironic) eating a TON more carbs (mostly in the form of brown rice and sugar in processed foods.) My days before Whole 30 included shrimp, hummus, oats, gluten free bread, amys tv dinners, fruit and peanut butter - I also probably had pizza about once a week. I considered myself to eat "fairly healthy" but in retrospect it probably was not a very balanced diet with very little protein. The first week I dealt with a LOT of spaciness, often feeling like I'm in a dream, not really here and VERY anxious. I was able to push through a little bit of this but mildly exerting myself. Starting around day 3 I started experiencing bouts of light headedness, one day, starting to grey out and seriously thinking I was going to faint. I have been feeling like I am eating enough - and not really getting very hungry between meals - the only times I have snacked have been when I am having intense afternoon slumps. I normally exercise 3-4 days a week but have only worked out once since starting this because I just don't have the energy and feel so sick and light-headed when I have tried to exert myself much. By Day 5 or 6, the spaciness and brain fog had lifted slightly but then I started getting horrible crashes in the afternoon between about 2 PM and 7 PM. On a few of these days I have had some increased energy starting around 8 or 9 PM and lasting through until bedtime. I feel pretty relaxed at bedtime but then have woken with horrible anxiety or starts for most of the nights I have been on the W30. My blood pressure and blood sugar have remained normal/stable although today when I was feeling particularly tired and light-headed, I took it and it was 110/61 which is the lowest its been in a while. I mostly just wanted to share my experience as well as the food I have been eating to see if I am on track and need to eat more and/or different types of foods to maintain energy and mood. I am not sure at this point what is W30 and what is anxiety but I have been feeling pretty damn crappy, weak, tired, anxious and light headed for a week now. The most frustrating part is that I actually felt way better before I started doing this but am trying to stick it out until the end as I really want to see what good this could do my body, specifically my gut health. I just don't want to do it at the cost of hurting my health more. As a pescatarian I am pretty maxed out on eggs and fish and ways to get creative. I don't know if anyone else has concerns about mercury but eating seafood every single day and sometimes twice a day does make me a little nervous. Since my only sources of protein are really nuts, fish and eggs, I burn out pretty quickly. Any feedback and/or recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thank you! Monday: Breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs with guacamole and 1 1/2 c coconut chia pudding with sautéed bananas and pureed almond meal Snack - Cherry Pie Lara Bar Lunch - shrimp curry (coconut milk, spices and coconut amigos as sauce) - with red onion, zucchini, red bell pepper, carrots and portabella as veggies Snack - Electrolyte "smoothie" - 1 c kale, 1 banana and 1 c cashew malk Dinner - blistered shishito peppers cooked in olive oil with lime and basil, 2 hard boiled egg whites, spinach and kale salad with small amounts egg yellow and white, celery, raw shisito peppers with oil and vinegar dressing Tuesday: Breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs, 1/2 c hashbowns, 1/2 avocado, 4 or 5 cherry tomatoes and 1/2 banana Lunch - salmon and avocado salad with lemon, green onions, tomatoes, parsley & baked sweet potato "fries" Snack - Electrolyte "smoothie" - 1 c kale, 1 banana and 1 c cashew malk Dinner - egg quiche (piece about 5"l x 4"w) with white onions, mushrooms, spinach, pumpkin & crab dip (crab, w30 approved mayo, red peppers, jalapeños, green onions) with some plantains (fried in coconut oil) Snack - 2 coconut rolled dates with 1 tsp each almond butter Wednesday: Breakfast - leftover egg quiche (piece about 5"l x 4"w), 1/2 avocado, 1/2 banana Lunch - leftover egg quiche (piece about 5"l x 4"w), 1 medium sized tomato, handful macadamia nuts, handful cherries Post-Workout Snack - 3/4 sweet potato with 2 tablespoons almond butter and cinnamon Dinner - We are going to make grilled shrimp with butternut squash noodles, cashew cream sauce and sautéed spinach or zucchini)

yesterday I went to see a wedding venue, fell in love with it and put a deposit down. I then started to freak out about how much I would have to save money-wise and the changes to be made. More than ever I wanted a glass of wine to relax the anxiety and nerves so my head would quieten down (I was on day 8), I was so close to just giving up my whole30 (not feeling the magic yet, obviously to be expected on day 8) I also gave up caffeine 2 days ago to help with my migraine headaches so yesterday I was really feeling it. I even asked my OH if we could go via my house first so he could drive us to dinner then I could drink. BUT when the waitress came to take my order and asked what drink I would like, I imagined Melissa next to me saying "you're not going down like this" and I ordered a sparkling water

I am planning on starting my 30 days on February 1st (right after my bday) and I've been researching and preparing for these 30 days and have been going through the book "It Starts with Food" and ordered the cookbook. I am excited but also very nervous for these 30 days! One huge concern that has come up while researching what I can and can't have I realized I can no longer take my Vitamin D gummy vitamins. I struggle with anxiety (one of the reasons for this is my binge/comfort eating) and one of the ways that I am able to help my anxiety is through taking Vitamin D every day. It took awhile to find the right Vitamin D and now that I have found it I am beyond nervous that I have to let it go for the 30 days. So, I am asking for any advice on what a good whole30 approved Vitamin D I could get? It's important that I stay on vitamin D especially since I know in the beginning of the 30 days there is a very high chance my anxiety is going to rise tremendously! So... any advice or suggestions would be wonderful! Thank you!

Hi All, I'm on my first Whole30 and talked several friends into joining me but by Day 16 I thought I would be feeling great but it's quite the opposite. I have had anxiety the last four days or so and terrible insomnia. My pants feel tighter and my skin is still breaking out. I can't figure out where I'm going wrong. The lack of sleep is affecting my workouts Breakfast: 2 eggs, procuttio, handful of berries (I have a hard time with veggies in the am) Lunch: Compliant chili with half an avocado, small amount of berries Snack- Rx bar dinner: pork loin and roasted brussel sprouts.

So this amazing thing happened last night (D8 evening): I craved coffee. I can't usually deal with caffeine AT ALL. It doesn't just make me anxious (crazy anxious), it makes me super depressed and despondent.... and downright weird for hours. Sometimes I can't even handle the levels of caffeine in decaf, tea, or dark chocolate. However, in the last couple of days my body has been all "Hey. hey, get me some coffee!" and I got interested...and I brewed up my first intentional full-caff coffee in maybe 8 years. (I've been "accidentally" caffeinated many times, curses Baristas!). And I am FINE! How cool is that?

Hi all! I have posted before and also responded, but never introduced myself! I am currently on day 13 and can honestly say I have only had one really terrible day (day 11, working in the field...boss forgot to order me lunch and I was in a private business club where I could not order anything...there's a longer story to that, but I eventually ate something compliant about 7 hours after my breakfast!). Today is my birthday and it was odd to celebrate without being surrounded by food! I got together with my family last night and we did surf & turf - lobster tails with ghee, organic sirloin, roasted brussels sprouts and roasted garlic cauliflower mash. It was great! They have all been very supportive and my live in boyfriend has committed to the 30 days as well. He had it much harder than me with the sugar as he loved drinking soda, but he's now feeling great! I saw a rise in my anxiety at first, but it's leveled off as I get used to the program. If I'm being totally honest, I NEVER thought I would make it this far. I can commit to things, but I am a binge eater and thought this would be impossible for me. I made a very concerted effort to make different meals every day, which involved spending entire Sundays in the kitchen, but it has been absolutely worth it. While I know W30 is not for weight loss, I wanted to get some opinions from those who have walked this path already. I have a significant amount of weight to lose. I have lost before with Weight Watchers (not ever interested again...I wouldn't eat all day then eat junk, but stay within "points" so it was OK). I do need to lose the weight, as well as testing out this helping an autoimmune disease I have, and I'm wondering how W30 will play in to this. I plan to do a W60 and incorporate AIP after that if I don't see changes with my autoimmune issue. I really do not want to count calories again...can I do W30 as a sustainable and realistic way to loose this excess weight (FYI - I'm talking 90 lbs, not 20). Thanks and I look forward to chatting with you all!

Hi, After about 12 years on Paxil, I'm working with my doctor to slowly decrease my Paxil dosage so that I can get completely off the med. I know that Paxil can cause awful withdrawal symptoms for some folks, so I'm trying to prepare the best I can to head off any serious withdrawal problems. I've been on 30 mg - doc recommended 20 mg for 2 weeks, then 10 mg for 2 wks, then switch to Prozac for 4 weeks, then off Prozac. I quit drinking weeks ago (shouldn't have been drinking while taking the meds, but still did); now I'm doing a round of whole 30 b/c I think it will help also (did it about a year ago). I'd appreciate any other ideas or thoughts on whole 30 compliant types of foods that would be especially helpful for me during this time. thanks all!

Day 31 - It's over! Wow... I didn't think I'd make it, but I did! Typing this as I eat my usual omelet, but with feta . Interesting... while I'm excited to have the cheese, now that I'm eating the thing I've eaten for breakfast most of the last 30 days, I don't feel like the feta is really necessary. The first several days I was eating this for breakfast, all I could think about was how it needed cheese. Posting this in Success Stories because I really hope this inspires some of you! Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help in any way. So... recap. I'm copying this from my "home" thread, where I had borrowed Kate's format. Starting with the things I wish I had done better: Eaten out less. I got lazy some nights or on weekends mostly and ended up eating my "safe" meal at Chipotle. I still ate food I cooked most of the time, but I wish I'd been more prepared for that to happen. Paid attention more to my eating. I still tend to multitask - as I'm doing now - and don't even leave my desk for lunch. Since I'm in a support role, that means lots of distractions while I'm eating. I intend to start leaving my desk to eat more often. Slept more. Though I'm getting more sleep than I was before, I'm still short of the ideal amount, and I feel it. Drank more water. I definitely increased my intake, but this is still a work in progress. The days I hit my water goal, I felt great. I have to make a conscious effort to stop and drink some water more regularly, especially while I'm working. Given myself more time for prep at the beginning. I was very miserable at the beginning, in part because prep took so much longer than I thought it would, so I lost sleep over it. For the benefit of those reading this who haven't finished (or maybe even started) yet... things that really helped me: The forums! I was part of a really fantastic thread - read there for more tips (Strength in Numbers) - and everyone's encouragement and advice helped me make my way through the 30 days. I also loved reading some of the moderators' posts and encouraging others. Clarified butter. I wrote down my NSVs as they happened. I told everyone I know about the plan and how excited I was about it. I marked my work calendar with the days in permanent marker. I acknowledged my struggles as they happened, documented them in the thread, and talked my way through them. I tossed my (cheap, $5) scale and everything I couldn't eat. I made a display out of spices and produce that doesn't need refrigeration in my kitchen (making it all very visible and accessible meant more of both went into all of my cooking). I took meal planning and grocery shopping seriously and wrote it all out. I'm putting up a chalkboard strip on the wall in my kitchen so the week's menu is always visible, even though I've finished my Whole30. I rewarded myself with non-food items during the plan - new books at the midpoint, flowers at the beginning of the fourth week, and a new, fancy scale and fitness tracking wristband for finishing. Benefits Aesthetic Roughly 8-10 lbs lost (hard to say because there was so much fluctuation up to my start date) Definite loss of fat around the midsection, front and back Face seems thinner (to me) Softer, smoother skin and hair Stronger nails that grow like crazy Less tired-looking Less acne/less oil on face Down a shirt size and a pants size, my ring comes off much more easily, and I have to use a tighter hook on my bra Cooking & Eating Reintroduced to my kitchen - woohoo! Loads more confidence in the kitchen Much easier to make good choices now (also don't feel like I'm missing out) Weirded out now by things that companies position as food that really aren't food Heightened awareness to what's in everything Comfortable eating without worrying about calories (this is so huge) CLARIFIED BUTTER!!! Lots of cool new tools and techniques in the kitchen No negative reaction to eating cooked spinach (always upset my stomach before) Emotional Cut the cord with sugar - no longer feel like something is really wrong if I can't have it (bahahahaha my sugar dragon is DEAD) Able to work through tough moments more, rather than avoiding them by eating something compulsively in the moment or later on Significantly reduced anxiety and depression (though this is a process, and I'm only beginning it as of about three weeks ago) Don't feel limited by the scale Proud of myself for completing the challenge, proved to myself that I have much more discipline than I give myself credit for (just have to stop being so darn lazy, and tiger blood helps with that) Smiling a lot more More confidence socially Don't feel the need to have alcohol to have a good time (proved this to myself last night, when I didn't break the guidelines to have a drink at a company happy hour - hung out with my club soda with lime and had a great time) Don't feel impacted by advertisements for food anymore (they seem so bizarre now!) Health Minimal/no heartburn (no Tums needed for over a month now!) Improved vision? (leaving a question mark there because this seems absolutely crazy but I can't ignore the fact that I can read small print signs with my bad eye that I for sure couldn't have read before, though my vision isn't perfect; will confirm when I see the eye doctor soon) Lower resting heart rate (have to confirm this, but I just did a few runs through it using the stopwatch on my phone and counting myself, and all were lower than the last several measurements) Better recovery time on injuries, sunburn, and illness Improved dental health (no change in toothpaste or routines, but less gum and tooth pain) More regular digestive activity Easier to get out of bed every day All in all, I'm totally thrilled that I did this, and even if I hadn't lost weight, I'd be thrilled with every other benefit. I will continue to eat with intention and try to stay away from take-out. I was actually REALLY hungry for breakfast this morning, despite a good dinner last night, which is so different from my life pre-Whole30. Again... please let me know if I can help you!

So, Day 13 -- still hardcore missing oatmeal and greek yogurt with honey over the top, but that's another thing. I am so tired. Exhausted. I slept for almost 10 hours last night, and woke up this morning in a sort of daze, even though I ate really well and completely yesterday. Had a decent breakfast (4 deli turkey slices with leftover roasted veggies drizzled in olive oil and an apple) and a good lunch (heaping handful of turkey meatballs with pesto over more roasted veggies -- sweet potato, asparagus, brusselsprouts, and onions). I was running some errands and I was still feeling pretty groggy, and on the way back, I dozed off behind the wheel -- closed my eyes for two seconds, but next thing I know I'm slamming on the brakes and hitting the bumper of the guy in front of me on the freeway. His car was fine, and I lost a few plates off the front of mine, but no one was injured thankfully. I just couldn't stop crying afterwards -- here I am, doing everything in this program as right as I can, and still feeling exhausted and run out and miserable. On top of that, this whole thing has seemed to make my depressive episodes and my anxiety worse; I get stuck in terrible negative thought spirals, and the obsession over what I can/can't eat seems to be taking me back to my disordered eating habits, which I've worked hard to get away from. I keep waiting for the magic to hit -- I want to stick with this program, I only have another 17 days, but I am tired and miserable and sad and I feel like I could fall asleep standing up at any moment throughout the day. I feel like I should be past all these things by now. I'm doing everything by the book (and I'm working REALLY HARD to cut back on my fruit snacking, though I'll still eat an apple to hold me over from lunch to dinner sometimes), and I don't understand why nothing seems to be working. I also still have the headaches that I got every few days before I started the program -- nothing head-splitting but enough to be a nuisance while I'm trying to work. Please advise.

Yesterday was day 10 and it was SO HARD! I thought about quitting several times. Well not quitting per se but having a small cheat - diet dr. pepper and a cupcake. I didn't do it but today is not any easier I made it through but I am really hitting a wall. I'm tired of cooking, I'm tired of not eating anything that I WANT. I know that I'm doing a good thing for my body. I can tell, my joint pain is less and I definitely feel better but being so strict is just beginning to make me sad. Someone, anyone talk me off the ledge!

Hello Whole30ers! I'm on Day 19 of my first Whole30. Aside for a quick visit to KillAllTheThings land in week one, the program has been going well for me and I've noticed some very positive changes like improved focus, clearer skin, less gas, no PMS, being able to go hours between meals without feeling like I'm going to faint, and feeling like I'm finally conquering my sugar dragon. YAY! In the last 3 days, however, things have gone a little downhill. I've had bad gas, constipation/diarrhea, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes on my neck, and my mood has fell. I'm in bed today feeling pretty sick, bleh, and discouraged. I'm not sure if this shift has been caused by something in my diet, or if it's simply all part of my body adjusting and like any standard cold/flu rest will cure it. I was diagnosed Bipolar 2 a few years ago so I'm pretty hypersensitive to these kinds of changes in my body. As soon as I have a low day I'm like, "Oh crap no not again I've been doing so well!! " etc etc and stress out. Which obviously doesn't help haha. Can anyone with a mood disorder/depression/anxiety relate? Anyways I'm trying to think of anything in my diet/lifestyle I can control that could be an issue... - Too much omega 6 or nuts. I know the importance of keeping omega 6 to omega 3 ratio intake in check with a mood disorder, so maybe that's been out of whack and causing the change in mood? I've been having up to 1 avocado a day, which I know is high in omega 6. I have a little olive oil here and there in a dressing, and I cook with coconut oil. I don't eat many nuts BUT I've had more almond butter in the last few days. Do nuts also influence some kind of hormone? - Too much fructose. I'm not eating a lot of fruit on Whole30, and when I do it's almost always eaten with a meal. I eat 1-2 bananas a day, occasionally by themselves. I had dates with almond butter and coconut flakes as a snack 3 days in a row a couple days ago. Maybe that was too much sugar? Could that cause digestive upset or mood changes? - Increased exercise too quickly. I did two pretty intense workout classes last weekend. I walk a lot but haven't done proper makes you sweat exercise in over a year. I felt great during and after the workouts, but maybe that was too much stress on my body right now and made me sick? - lithium withdrawal. I had been taking lithium for nearly 3 years and have been VERY steadily decreasing it from 1200mg 18 months ago to 300mg a month ago. I dropped down to 300mg 6 months ago and stopped taking it altogether 1 month ago, a week before starting my Whole30. I'm not on any other medications or birth control. I take vitamin D, B vitamins, omega 3, magnesium, and a probiotic. I didn't feel any lithium withdrawal when I stopped a month ago, I was on such a lose dose, but maybe it's coming back to bite me now? I'm sure my liver/kidneys are under some stress right now clearing out that medication and adjusting to a new diet. I know I've probably put my body through too much at once, especially stopped a medication so close to a Whole30, so it's hard to tell what's causing what. My diet isn't drastically different than before, I'd already cut out gluten, alcohol and most dairy two years ago. The biggest change is no sugar and no grains. I'm not looking for some kind of bulletproof solution as all of these things are probably factors, just any insight or personal experience as I'm sure I'm not alone in this. I'd love to start a conversation about it we could all benefit from!

Hello! I am happy to have made it to day 14, however my clothes are getting tighter and tighter, which is making me feel quite anxious and disappointed. I have a long history of disordered eating and eat a very clean diet in general and being on Whole 30 seems to have triggered a lot of anxiety around food. I know I am eating too much on Whole 30, and way too many fruits and nuts, and tons of snacking. Which I know is not technically doing it "correctly". The only additional things I eat normally are some dairy and some stevia products and gum. I feel like taking those away has made me really slip back into overeating and I am feeling quite depressed. The idea of being overly restricted is tough for me given my history. And I was especially depressed when I couldn't zip a dress that normally fits and that I was planning on wearing to a formal event in 2 days! I am wondering if anyone has experienced this and has any thoughts? My instinct would be to discontinue as it seems like a lot to handle. I am also doing the program with my husband, who has zero issues with food, so that has also been difficult for me. I am also under quite a bit of stress. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or ideas on this.

Hi everyone, Today is day 14 for me and so far things are going really well. I've been surprised that I'm not hungry all the time like I thought I would be. I'm generally satisfied most of the time. If I find I'm not making it to my next meal I adjust my previous meals. I have had a lot of emotional stress lately so that has been my 1st big test - not running to sweets for comfort. Thankfully my hubby is doing this with me so I have support to stick with this. My hubby has already noticed an amazing benefit. He has 2 bad knees in need of replacements. Went skiing 6 days in a row last week and normally that would cause excruciating pain for him that would last days after stopping. He was so surprised how relatively good they felt. Still had pain but he said nothing in comparison to how it used to be. I haven't really noticed any changes yet. My goals are more energy and to see if there are any foods making my anxiety disorder with panic attacks, bi-polar and major depression worse. Before starting whole30 those 3 all reared their ugly heads again, all together. I have also suffered from acne as long as I can remember even now into my 40's. So very interested if I'll see any skin changes. Some of these are complex issues and so I'm thinking of extending this out to a whole60 to give my body more time to adjust, detox and reset so to speak. I think things like mental illnesses are so complex it just may take more time. Plus I went on new meds right before starting this and want to know what improvement is that and what is food related. Anyone else out there start and do longer than 30 days? I don't think there's any harm in it - such a healthy way of eating. Thank you everyone

Hi all, I am on Day 3 of my first Whole30. Things have been going surprisingly well in regards to compliance and physical symptoms, however, I am finding that my anxiety is driving me CRAZY! Background: I have always been an anxious person, and although it's never been so severe that I have needed medication, when things are bad it certainly interferes with my enjoyment of life and make me irritable with people I care about, etc. Generally, when I feel anxious about my new job, or have stress about my busy schedule, or am in any way feeling emotionally sub-optimal, I have a snack. Usually junk food. Now, on Whole30, that "escape route" is unavailable to me and I am REALLY feeling it. My chest is always fluttery, my hands occasionally get the tingles, and my irritability level is slowly climbing. (And I know that these are symptoms of my anxiety and not an underlying medical condition, in case anyone would wonder). I'm hoping I am not the only person who has experienced this. Thankfully, the actual cravings have been minimal, plus I am so horrified at how blatantly I have been treating my anxiety with snacks that my resolve to stick to the plan and BREAK this cycle is getting stronger by the day, so right now I'm not too worried about falling off the wagon. However, if anyone has a similar story and has found ways to redirect their anxiety or invented some healthier ways to cope, I would love to hear them. Thanks!

Hi Whole 30ers, I completed a Whole 45 (wasn't ready at Day 30 to let it go) and I've been diligently reintroducing foods on schedule. Yesterday was dairy. And, yesterday, I didn't feel that much of a difference: slightly bloated, unfocused, gassy - but nothing crazy. But this morning, when I woke up, my watch didn't fit on its normal rung, my ring was tight on my finger, and I was slightly constipated (which hasn't happened in a long time). THEN...I went for a run with my husband and I couldn't quite keep pace with him, and I flipped out! I mean, my mood did a complete 180 -- it was like this ugly monster came out expressing my worst fears about inferiority etc...etc... and I started crying and couldn't stop for a while. The rest of the day, I was in a fog, felt like a Mack truck had hit me. Now, I have not suffered from depression, clinical anxiety or any other psychological disorder, but an occasional freak-out is not entirely out of character for me. But this did not feel like me - and it came out of nowhere - and I was so so sad and down. I have tried finding research about reactions of dairy with mood and I can't find anything that directly correlates, and how quickly mood can be affected. Questions for this forum: 1. Do you think this behavior could have been caused by simply eating some DAIRY products this day before? I've eaten dairy my whole life and seemingly never had any issues. 2. Has anyone else had this reaction? If so, did you eliminate dairy from your diet from then forward? How quickly (or far after) did you experience these side effects? I really appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks, EJ

Just need to vent a little. I have "dieted" for over half of my life, starting with Weight Watchers at age 12, and I am finally in a much better place in my life. I think my body dysmorphia has mostly faded away and I overall live a really active and healthy lifestyle. I no longer think of my eating choices as a "diet" but a way of life. I try to live by the mantra eat to live but I do enjoy sweets, cocktails and wine (hence my journey into my current Whole30!) I am enduring my fourth Whole30 (on Day 4 now!) and feel really excited and optimistic about it. The only thing is, I get really anxious about being in situations when I need to explain to others what/why I'm doing what I'm doing. I work in hospitality marketing and last night I was at a client event where everyone was eating fried chicken and french fries. I was going to hold off on eating and eat a dinner when I got home, but there was a kale salad with grilled chicken on the menu and I saw a few others who were ordering sandwiches, so I went for it. Mid-first bite, my boss calls out, while standing next to the client, "Why are you eating a salad?!" I blushed and just thought of the first and easiest response: "I can't eat bread." and she replied "OhHHHHH I didn't know that." Not only was it embarrassing but it pissed me off! Working in food has been hard on me. I gain weight easily and with many meals out and cocktails, I have put on a few pounds. This Whole30 was my attempt to get back on track. My family, boyfriend and a selection of my friends are supportive but I am nervous as I am going to my boyfriend's roommate's girlfriends (PHEW, mouthful) birthday party on Saturday night and I know people will be drinking and indulging in tacos. I know how to navigate the menu-- that really isnt the problem for me. I more worry about people remarking over why I am abstaining from X Y and Z. It doesn't make me want to stop but it pisses me off really badly! Any tips on how to not get anxious/angry when people give you unwanted attention over your dietary choices?

Day 31! I think it kind of sums it up that, at the beginning, I pictured Day 31 as an orgy with a pile of almond croissants and coffee cream; but instead I’m sitting here, eating scrambled eggs with dill, sautéed zucchini and mushrooms, and a mini fruit salad of banana, nectarine, and cantaloupe. I like coconut in my coffee so much, that it has become a permanent swap-out. Results…… where do I even start. How can I quantify getting my sense of self-worth and efficacy back? Only a few months ago, I was a total disaster. I wondered if I’d ever be able to work in a high-functioning job again. I was on medication for postpartum anxiety and depression (first time ever taking a prescription medication of any kind), lay awake all night having anxiety attacks, was 30lbs over my “happy” weight, crying all the time, racked with all kinds of inflammatory problems, including tenosynovitis so bad I’d yell in pain every time I picked up my baby. It was the low of all lows for me! Pregnancy threw me for a loop – prior to getting pregnant with my daughter (now 10 months), I was super active and healthy. But my pregnancy was a nightmare of nausea, puking, blinding migraines, terrible carb-driven diet, inactivity, swelling, exhaustion, and general anxiety. Now, to be fair, 30 days ago I wasn’t in this rough a state – I had gradually pulled myself out of the mire over the preceeding few months, but wanted to try this because I’m moving back to my hometown next week and starting a challenging new job, and wanted to feel on top of my game. Restricting calories and running weren’t giving me the results I wanted, and I was still trapped in the craving/guilt cycle. So, I remembered seeing a friend last summer who had just completed a Whole 30, and she looked incredible. Far more than just losing weight though, she was radiating happiness and confidence. Aha, I’m going to check that out. Admittedly, I went into this with the primary goal of losing some inches and looking smoking hot in my new business attire. And certainly, I’m going to weigh myself later today, and add that little figure as an addendum, but first I wanted to be sure to get my NSVs quantified. I’m going to divide them into physiological and psychological categories, because I did not in any way anticipate the extent of the psychological changes that have happened over the past month. Psychological: I no longer obsess about food. I plan meals and stick to them, and don’t waste every intervening minute having these dramatic, drawn-out, debates in my head about the relative pros and cons of eating ____ (fill in the blank) and whether I had “earned” it or “deserved” it. Strangely, by following something incredibly restrictive, I’ve cut loose from half a lifetime of obsessive eating. This is just the premium gasoline that I insist on putting in my vehicle – and why wouldn’t I fuel myself the same way? My anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and intrusive thoughts are GONE. And I mean gone. I feel like a million bucks. I’m level, optimistic, and I haven’t randomly cried in weeks. I feel strong, capable, and like I have my “old self” back, the one who could and did do anything. I’m friendlier. I don’t randomly send eye daggers to people in the grocery store, etc, when they cut me off. I’m like, “Oh, well, I guess they’re in a rush. Whatevs!” I’ve got my strut back. I walk down the street feeling proud of myself, confident, and like I own my place in the world. I’m not the least bit panicked about taking on my new job, even though it’s going to be the biggest challenge of my life! Physiological: Sleep: before, I was taking Melotonin on a nightly basis to get to sleep and to stay sleeping. Almost every night, I would get up with the baby and not be able to fall back asleep, sometimes meaning I’d start the day having been awake since 2 am. I was losing my mind. Now I fall asleep and have no trouble going back to sleep. Clear, soft, divine skin – my face looks younger and smoother. My hair is a silky delight. My rosacea on cheeks and backs of arms is completely vanished. The chicken skin on my elbows and knees is gone. My nails are long and strong. My eye whites (and I swear, my teeth) are whiter. I can go six hours between meals without a hitch. Normally I’d be sweating and falling apart if I didn’t eat every three hours or so, and it would be sudden onset and dramatic, like I get hungry and fall off a cliff and become a useless, whining toddler – now it’s so much better! I get hungry before a meal, but it’s a low-grade hunger, not a panic. ENERGY! I go for runs because it seems like a fun idea. I look for projects to do. I dive into everything! Bonus: I rediscovered my love of creative cooking. I’ve been whipping up some crazy awesome stuff! And I’ve lost my fear of cooking meat. Normally I’d stick to chicken breasts and fish in a pretty monotonous cycle – but since starting this, I’ve tried cooking tenderloin, roast beef, whole chickens, wings, pork shoulders, you name it! And finally…… drumroll please…… I lost exactly 7lbs. Bringing me RIGHT back to my pre-pregnancy weight. My top pregnancy weight, around this time last year, was well over 200lbs. I was a blimp! In November, a few weeks after giving birth, I was devastated to see I was still 187lbs. Today I was 151, right back into my “comfortable” range. (I’m 5’7”) That means I’ve lost over 35lbs in 10 months. I am insanely proud of myself! Looking forward – I can’t see any compelling reason to stop this lifestyle. Despite the current insanity levels – baby, new job, big move, etc, I plan on continuing to at least a Whole 60. To anyone considering trying this – DO IT. You’ll thank yourself later.

Hi all! A little background...I'm a 40 year old mother, wife, and business owner. I'm in good shape, healthy weight, with a history of anxiety disorder (been symptom free for years, med free since 2005). I also have an eating disorder history (EDNOS) and have been symptom free from that since 2006. Lastly, I got sober in 2011 Sort of sound like a hot mess, but really I've been in strong recovery for a long time and been mentally and emotionally well. Enter the Whole 30. I'd been wanting to clean up some eating for some time, and my husband I decided to give it a shot. I've gained about 8 pounds since last summer and knew we needed a change. We're currently on Day 19. The first week was fine, the only symptoms I felt was a headache and fatigue on day 1 and that was it! At the end of the first week I'd clearly lost weight (no scale, no measurements, but my pants fit better, yay!). Week 2 was the same. Around day 14 I woke up with an overwhelming feeling of sadness that I could. Not. Shake. It's still with me on day 19. I've never had a history of depression, but this sure feels like it. A couple days later I was getting dressed and noticed in the mirror that I had not only gained the weight back I had lost, but look like I'm gaining more. Which sent me into a tailspin. I don't know what's causing the weight gain and strong feelings of sadness. I'm wondering if I should quit the Whole 30. I've got what I wanted-- better insight with food, and I don't even want ice cream, I just want the stress and sadness to go away. Or, should I stick it out? I know the weight gain shouldn't matter (even though my husband has lost about 14 pounds- yes, he weighed himself) but for a girl whose struggled with an eating disorder, this isn't good. All my old thought patterns have come back and are making things worse. So, please be gentle with your feedback and advice. The weight gain could be too little calories, I don't know. I feel like I'm getting enough carbs, but maybe not. And to be honest, at this point I don't want anything MORE strict, like, "Eat this, not that" or "cut out this and see what happens". No, I'm over the rules. I think what I'm looking for is- has this happened to anyone else? I read an article from a doctor who spent her life studying alcoholism and sugar addiction and she said they are the same and that quitting sugar so abruptly makes us WORSE, not better. I don't know how much of that is clinically proven or true, but it sure as hell made me feel broken. All in all, at this point I'm still doing the Whole 30 just to do it. Not because I want to. I don't want to quit. But, I just don't know what to do... Thanks for listening.

Hi! I found out 4 months ago that I have an MTHFR gene mutation. I have had nearly 2 decades of progressing symptoms of this and it was after another miscarriage that I was tested. After an initial period of "oh well, just another thing wrong with me," I started my research and supplementing. I am feeling like I am ready to make food changes because with this gene mutation it really won't matter how much supplementing I do, I need to change my food intake. My 4 months of research have convinced me that the Whole 30 is the best system for beginning to deal with my gene mutation. I feel ready. But, I have been ready to do other diets before and have failed. Actually, I have failed at every diet and exercise program I have ever tried. I feel so defeated already and I am not even starting until May 1st. Unsure if I should do this and if I do what can I do to go into this with a better attitude and less fear of failing yet again. TIA

I'm concerned I'm damaging my health by continuing the program. I'd like to know if I'm on the verge of turning the corner...or getting much worse. I'm on this program to heal my gut (SIBO and gastroparesis). At 5'6", I (now) weigh 114 lbs, and I'm nursing. I do not want to lose any weight. I broke the rule and weighed myself because the weight loss during the first week concerned me. On Day 5 I felt like I had fully recovered from the Day 2-3 "Hangover." I had more energy and strength than I'd had since before I was pregnant. However, by mid-day on Day 7, I felt a strange overly-excited sensation. It was similar to having a panic attack except that I didn't have any mental triggers. As such, I couldn't use any mental "tricks" to make it go away. I measured my BP, fully expecting it to be too high (normal of a panic attack) and it was 84/44. Several measurements have been taken since then to confirm by BP is sitting well below 90/60. On Day 2, I had suffered low BP and near fainting spells all day, but expected to feel bad and never measured my BP. I felt awful and only recovered after eating seaweed salad, thinking that the minerals/nutrients might counteract how I felt. Although the ingredients do not list sugar, it's possible that there was some in the salad because it was so tasty. If so, this has been my only slip. I was concerned about hidden sugars, so when I ran out of the salad on Day 6 I did not buy any more. However, as I mentioned above, by Day 7 my BP had dropped significantly and I keep waiting for it to normalize but it did not until today (somewhat)--I bought a different seaweed salad last night. In the last 24 hours however, I have had several panic attacks and now a crying spell. Again, neither of these seemed to spurred by actual thoughts/emotions...it almost seems physical. I have no cravings for sugar and barely have an appetite for dinners (though I do eat my whole meal, as recommended). However, I feel like I should drink Pedialyte or Gatorade. I know this would take me off the program, but it's not craving-driven. I've been ignoring my body's signals since the start of the program since we're taught that we can't trust them while they're making the metabolic switch, but at what point can I trust that it's telling me what I actually need? This is definitely having both physical and mental ramifications, and I'm concerned that I'm getting much worse. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hello all, I tried searching for this and apologize if it's out there and I just couldn't find it. I did a whole30 Feb/March of last year and have eaten pretty much compliant since then (except for a hiatus this summer when I got married and had family in town and wanted to share foods with them/ate out and on our honeymoon in Brazil - too much delicious food, not to try everything, even if it's not Whole30 approved ). I eat all regular meals based on the whole30 approach, however do have a glass of wine here or there, and maybe "dessert" - which always consists of 3-4 thin slices of sweet potato, 1/4 apple, cinnamon and maple syrup heated up in the oven (and a small bowl full). Otherwise I stick pretty much to the program, even though I wouldn't say I am on a strict whole30 if I were asked. Here is where it would be great to get your opinions. How much/how strict is too much?? I am starting to feel that I have gone overboard and am doing more harm than good. I have somehow managed to make controlling my food my one and only number one priority, to the point where it gives me panic attacks if my husband makes anything (we have thrown out all non-compliant foods, spices, etc. so it's unreasonable to panic because he couldn't have done anything wrong. I no longer want to meet with friends or visit at people houses out of fear of things that could be contaminated or even eating "regular" meat that I didn't buy - and we don't even do perfect meat (grassfed) but at least organic/ as natural as possible. The list goes on, but I think the anxiety of eating anything I didn't prepare myself or watched being made is no longer "rational". Even if I eat out and stick to seafood or burgers, I wonder what possibly could have have into it (when more often than not the answer probably is nothing - eat it, it's fine!!). I've been thinking about this for a while and then last week I saw Melissa's post about why Men lose weight quicker than women and the whole idea of women stressing more than they should and having the stress do more harm than good. Which was great to read, because at least I felt I wasn't alone in this, however I am wondering how others are dealing with this? I know the rational/easy answer is "just eat compliant as often as you can and enjoy non-compliant food if in a social situation as long as it's in moderation and still the best choice". But is anyone else out there whole feels this is becoming debilitating and that controlling food has become to much and it's actually not you controlling the food, but the food controlling you? What have you done/are you doing to deal with this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm on day 16 of my first whole30. I use Aczone and Dapsone gel to treat my cystic acne, and it works really well minus some random pimples that turn up now and then. My acne has flared up in the last two days, though. I have new pimples forming all over my face. I've also noticed my mood has worsened significantly while on whole30. I'm not sure if it's external factors not related to the food or if anyone has experienced this. I'm hoping to hear that my mood and acne will improve!

I'm normally a happy person, so this dragging sadness is tough to take. Ok, so to begin with, I've been experiencing fatigue, low energy and depression and anxiety for the last year. Not all the time, but about one -four days a month. I have a busy job, a busy life and I teach yoga on the side. I did Virgin diet 21 days, (a lot like whole 30 but beans and rice added) and then 10 days of "Easter" eating candy, chocolate, wine along with the virgin diet I'm doing Whole30 and while I do feel thinner, pants are looser muscles more prominent sleep better skin may be better less bloating brain fog gone but I recognize anxiety for what it is, instead of getting caught up in it. (in fact just figured out what it was) But.. Where is my energy? I could go home right now and sleep all night. I am working hard to make sure I'm in bed by 9 lights out 10ish. and get 8 hours of sleep no matter what, (if my job keeps me out til 12, I stay in bed 8 hours) and I hate people, (well they deserve it. I'm wondering if thyroid. And if so, isn't whole30 supposed to help with that?

I've searched the forum for "anxiety/depression" discussions but am hoping there are some additional ,compelling stories out there that credit Whole30 directly as a key source of healing. I have a young nephew with diagnosed and severe sleep apnea combined with anxiety disorder. He turned to alcohol (and food) to stabilize his anxiety until drinking became THE issue and he stopped 4 months ago, which immediately made his anxiety worse. In lieu of alcohol, food's now his go-to mechanism for calming himself down, (no prescribed meds have worked). Quite the full plate for 26 year-old. I'd like to point him to some food-related success stories to bolster the case that maybe Whole30 would be a good way to identify any sensitivities that are compounding his anxiety issues, and maybe other conditions as well. It's been a tough sell so far—food, sugar mainly, seems like the last bastian of comfort for him, so he's reluctant to consider doing without it. I get it, I'm a fellow sugar/carb addict, on Day 10 of my own first Whole30, but a long time "foodie" and Paleo cheerleader. This is a brilliant, gentle, funny, talented kid whose life is being stolen by daily struggles with what could be his own biochemistry. If that is the case, I'm sure Whole30 could have a dramatic impact. I've evangelized all I can, hoping some of you have some personal and/or relevant anecdotal experience I can share with him.