Search the Community

Im about halfway through my first whole 30 right now. I’m eating plenty of all the right foods suggested to be fueling my workouts as I’m training for a half marathon that is just a few days after I complete my Whole30. I strength train a few days a week and run a few. I ate fairly healthy and exercised regularly prior to beginning the whole 30. My issue is that I rarely have enough energy and motivation for a good workout. The instant I begin a run I feel drained and struggle to complete the run. I’m wondering if this could be a result of the whole 30 or something I’m doing wrong? I’m on day 16 and had hoped this would pass by now. I’m getting worried because now I haven’t gotten the proper training runs in that I should have by now. Any advice or suggestions as to why my energy levels have dipped so dramatically as I thought they would have picked up by now? Or any similar experiences? Thank you!

I’m on Day 22 of my first Whole30. The plan has not been a drastic change of diet for me and I’ve been taking barre about 5 days a week for the past several years. I felt fine during week 1 (the withdrawals were not bad for me). During week 2, I felt great: good consistent energy, but not necessarily what I would think of as “tigerblood”. During week 3, I was very irritable but I still had consistent energy, for the most part, for the first few days. However, my workouts were not the best. Then, things just started to decline. Now starting week 4, I feel like I have less energy than before and barely have energy to workout (I’m dreading something that I love to do). Also, my mood is still all over the place. There are some positives: less brain fog, cravings are manageable, and I’m seeing physical results (waistline). I just want to feel tigerblood/consistent energy. That and taming my sugar dragon was my motivation to start the program. I’m too stubborn to quit, but I’m struggling to keep it together. My husband keeps asking me if I’m ok or upset about something. I’m eating more than I ever did before the program and I try to eat the recommended portions at each meal, but making it 4 hours between meals with no snack is a struggle on most days. I know that not eating enough seems to be the best explanation. However, at the end of each meal, I feel full. And I think if I kept eating, I’d be overly full. Example meals: Breakfast: Bulletproof Brain Octane Oil (1 tsp) and 1 scoop of Collagen in my coffee. PLUS 2 eggs with at least a handful of spinach or other veggie and a piece of fruit (sometimes I don’t eat a fruit) Lunch: Salad (2 handfuls of leaves) with shredded chicken (maybe a cup) or other protein, 1/2 an avocado, and other random veggies (tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, bell pepper) OR Soup/chili (maybe a cup and a half) with 1/2 an avocado and I always add a handful of spinach to my soups PLUS Fruit (if I didn’t eat it at breakfast) Dinner: It’s always a protein serving + a veggie + a starchy veggie. Sometimes I’ll eat 1/2 an avocado with dinner. If I don’t, I try to increase the oil or ghee I’m using, and/or use a fattier piece of meat. Snacks: I am T R Y I N G so hard not to snack, except for after a workout. It’s typically a meat stick or a boiled egg and a purée veggie pouch (the ones typically for kids/babies). If possible, I eat sweet potatoes after my workout. I’m desperate to find out if I’m doing something wrong. Today was one of my worst energy days: it felt strenuous to walk up one flight of stairs and complete minimal household chores. That can’t be normal, right?

It’s Day 31 and I am absolutely floored by my results! Day 1 measurements: 191.4 lbs Waist: 35” Hips: 44” Day 31 measurements: 179.0 lbs Waist: 31” Hips: 41” Honestly I knew I lost weight but I would have never imagine 12.4 lbs in 30 days!! (For reference I am 5’ 7”) I definitely had some advantages helping me - I am allergic to tree nuts so snacking on nuts and any emergency type bars were out of the question for me. I almost never snacked and kept up with my healthy fats which I think helped a lot. I worked out about 7 times throughout the 30 days - after the first week hump I worked out for the next two weeks (3 & 4 times a week for about 45 min). The last week was super busy and I was getting sick so I was slacking. I can only imagine how much more I would have lost! I am absolutely amazed by my results, not just weight loss but my energy, mood and the sleep is awesome. I will definitely be continuing my journey!

Hey all, I’m on day 21 of Whole 30 and struggling with a few issues. Background: I’ve had horrible constipation issues since my 20 month old was 1 month old. My midwives had me taking 4-5 calcium/magnesium supplements per day that were giving me very soft/loose stools all through pregnancy. I stopped them when my daughter was 1 month old because I feared calcium supplementation would throw off other vitamins/minerals in my body. (Lots of info online about it, but I don’t have specific links.) When I stopped taking them, I started experiencing horrible constipation. I just had zero urge to go whatsoever. When I would finally go, the stools were huge and hard. They tore me open and brought me to tears. 3 months later I cut out dairy with no change. About 7 months after that I went paleo with very minimal improvement. In December I completely let loose and was eating anything and everything with no significant reaction to anything. I’ve been Paleo for about 9 months now (aside from the December mayhem) and this is my first whole30. I wasn’t getting any relief about 2 weeks in, so I started taking alcohol free Swedish bitters, adding sauerkraut to my diet (about 1/4c throughout the day) and a probiotic supplement at night. I drink kombucha but I worry about the sugar dragon so only once in a while right now. I also take magnesium malate during the day and magnesium glycinate at night along with triphala powder. I’m still not going regularly but when I do go, the stools are difficult to pass and “sandy,” like lots of small particles floating around that do not look like undigested food. I also have unbearably foul gas in the afternoon but mostly in the evening. It seriously could clear a neighborhood. I wasn’t having this gas before whole30. Im also ridiculously exhausted. I stay home with my child and do childcare and there are times when all I can do is lay on the couch. Walking up the stairs is impossible. Not always though, sometimes I get bursts of energy that I can’t explain or connect to any certain food or meal. I am 5’5 and 117 lbs. I have pretty small hands (1”x3”x4”) and I do my best to follow the meal template but I’m wondering if I need to add or subtract something. I’m also still nursing my 20 month old about 3-4 times per day and all through the night. I do maybe 20 minutes of cardio exercise 4 days a week and although I said above sometimes I can’t get off the couch, I am far from sedentary due to having to look after the children. I’ve lowered my fodmap intake but not completely eliminated. Here is a typical day: breakfast (7am): 3 eggs, 3/4c hash browns, 1c kale all cooked in ghee lunch (11am): 1 can of salmon mixed with mayo and herbs, mixed greens (~4c), fried plantain lunch (2pm): 1 chicken breast, 1c potatoes, 1c kale (potatoes and kale cooked in ghee or coconut oil) Dinner (6pm): 2 slices of meatloaf, 1.5c chard, 1.5c roasted beets (again all cooked in ghee or coconut oil) i go to bed at 10 and wake up at 6:30 or 7 every day (though sleep is interrupted due to nursing) I use at least 2T of cooking oil at every meal but I don’t add any additional fat. My meals often seem pretty heavy and oily. I usually have a healthy appetite before each meal, but I’m not starving between or anything. I’ve read about enzymes and hcl but hesitant to use them because I know your body can stop making them and that concerns me. If anyone has any other insight I would be so appreciative!!

So I am coming up on the end of my 3rd week of my first round of Whole30. I know that there is a patch where you will have an energy drain in the beginning, but I'm wondering how long that lasts? I've had an issue with being overwhelmingly tired where I could sleep 12 - 14 hours at a time, longer if I let myself. After a battery of tests which all came back negative, the cause of the extreme sleep is unknown. This was one of the reasons I turned to Whole30, wondering if what I was eating at that time was the cause. I will say, that since the first week, even though I am so tired I could sleep for 12 hours, when I'm awake, I am awake. I don't have the fog, or disconnected feeling I would frequently get which I think is a huge improvement. I'm just curious if the lack of energy could continue for the whole 30 (no pun intended) days? Typically, my breakfast is 2 hard boiled eggs, a mix of carrots/mushrooms/onions and fruit (an apple, orange, pear, mango or banana). Lunch could be chicken breast/lean beef/lean turkey cooked with onions green peppers and mushrooms, and fruit. With dinner typically the other half of what I made for lunch, or could be an omelette with fruit. Protein portions are the size of my palm, with double the amount in vegetables. I'm not a snacker, but on the rare occasion I have that urge, I'll usually snack on a cup of vegetables or fruit. I'm planning on doing a second round after this one finishes, only because I'm actually enjoying it a lot and really want to make sure that I'm clean before I start to slowly reintroduce things. Just want to make sure that at some point, the need for 12hrs of sleep or more will go away lol

Due to a medical condition I have a very high metabolism. I'm on day 7 of Whole30 and have had very low energy since about day 4. The obvious conclusion would be that I'm not eating enough, but I have a big breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday with some snacks (not very big) thrown in throughout the day. I'm getting plenty of sleep and while I haven't been exercising, I walk frequently throughout the day. Any suggestions? I'm wanting to stick to the Whole30 diet but I also don't want to spend a fortune on more groceries because the only solution offered is, "sounds like you're not eating enough."

Hi! The program says the pre and post workout meal cannot replace the breakfast, but what about if the workout is the first thing in the morning? In my case I wake up at 6 am and I have a 30 minute session of exercising at home [A non-equipment routine of jumping jacks + running in place + blurpees + lunges + abdominals + squads + push-ups + body extension] before having breakfast, take a shower and leaving to work. What is an ideal snack that I could have in order to get some energy for the workout and then be able to have a full breakfast in the morning? So far I've been having a small meal like: Orange juice + chicken/egg (protein) + avocado + few nuts (sometimes a banana) therefore, my post-workout meal is my breakfast, what can I have then? I appreciate any advice THANKS!

One of my goals for my first Whole30, today is Day 10, is to increase my energy level and possibly performance during morning swim workouts with my local masters/adult club (roughly 3000 meters, 3 or 4 timers per week). I am 49 (5-0 in July) and while never competitive on an accomplished level like high school or college, love swimming enough that it's my primary form of exercise. Since I started the Whole30, and realizing I am only 10 days in, swim workouts have been a struggle, or more of a struggle than usual. Can I expect to experience an uptick in energy over the next few weeks? I have been following the recommendation to eat a little protein before workouts (tex-mex chicken frittata "muffin", e.g.) followed by a full breakfast (more of the same with fruit, handful of almonds usually). As of Monday I added potato/starches to 2 or 3 meals. Anyhow, just looking for general nutritional advice and or insights. I'm swimming through the doldrums in the meantime, hoping the water starts to feel a little lighter over the next few weeks. Thanks!

Feeling great on day#21. On the road I've had meat, poultry, or fish, with vegetables, maybe baked potato, using little if any salt, but with instructions to cook or grill them plain. Left most of canned Brussels sprouts on the plate last night. Carrying hard boiled eggs, apples, bottled water in cooler in the car. Appetite well controlled, energy high (I stopped caffeine at same time started whole30 & got brief headache,) mood is good. I'm gonna stay on this for foreseeable future. Goals more vegetables & more recipes.

This is day #6. Most dramatic effect is no constant craving for junk, no cravings at all. Using George Forman grill for burgers, sausage patties, chicken breasts. Hard boiled eggs per Whole30 book. Stopped all caffeine cause drank it 24hrs/day in past. Headache day 2 gone. Feel really good energy which I failed to get from coffee. Sleep deep. Salads with balsamic vinaigrette out of the book. Water always with me. No more Diet Coke. Stopped daily weighing. Walking 2 miles, plus moderate weight lifting most days. Still cautiously optimistic.

Hi all, I'm looking for guidance. I'm on day 13 of the Whole 30 and have been really good about cooking almost everything at home to be fully compliant. I already felt like I had a good relationship with food - I live in California, shop for all my fruit/veggies exclusively to what's in season and local, buy quality meats, and generally enjoy eating. I decided to try it because I have a digestive disorder, so I figured it would help "reset" my gut bacteria. I have not had a hard time being compliant and haven't even had any cravings, which surprised me, but I'm also not seeing any changes. I sleep the same, have the same amount of energy, and find myself actually missing the relationship I had with food, which was more about the enjoyment of the food. For example, I love the warm texture of oatmeal and miss that as my breakfast; I love the cheesy goodness of quesadillas and miss that as a side to my asparagus (or other seasonal veggie); I subsisted on legumes and miss those terribly. My digestive disorder is still the same and I'm not seeing any benefits there either, so I'm really losing steam. I think I may be losing weight, but that absolutely was not one of my goals and I'd prefer not to keep my weight, though I haven't weighed myself. What should I do? At what point should I notice SOME change or just decide to try adding back in a few of the removed items to see if they affect me? For reference, this is the first time I've ever tried a diet. The only other time was when I kept a food journal to diagnose my lactose intolerance.

Hi....started on the 1st and overall I feel great....but I'm still tired and want to sleep quite a bit.... any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.

Hello everyone, I'm posting here to see what, if any, advice/ encouragement, I can get from other women who have completed a W30 during pregnancy. I started the W30 on April 24th and found out I was pregnant on April 25th. At this point, I should be right around 8 weeks. I have read many threads addressing morning sickness and food aversions, which were helpful, but I'm curious to know about how others felt over this time in regards to energy and mood. Fortunately, I feel I've gotten better at managing my blood sugar levels - eat first thing in the a.m./ before I leave the house, and eat small meals/ snacks throughout the day. Being as I'm now on Day 19, I was hoping I'd have some rush of energy or some hint of awesomeness. Sorry to say, but there is not a drop of tiger blood running through my body these days. Overall, my energy is average from waking until I get home from work. At that point, I just want to get in bed for a nap or lounge on the couch. I have no interest in cooking most nights, and doing so can put me in a bad mood. I just feel too drained to deal with it. As for my mood the past few days, I really feel more flat than anything. I'm not sad, not happy, just bleh. (All that I'm describing here is not my "normal". I generally had decent energy and mood was content-happy.) I really want to stick this through Day 30 and 10-day reintroduction, but I sometimes feel so defeated I just want to stop and start reintroducing. Or at least eat something besides protein, veggies, and fruit - even though I enjoy those foods (most of the time) and I know they're good for me. I did not have nausea/ food aversions with my first pregnancy, so this is completely new and different for me. I honestly don't know if my symptoms, i.e. mood and energy are W30-related or pregnancy-related, but I'm guessing the latter. I do have a supportive husband who is also doing the W30, and we have a 2.5 year old son. I just didn't think it would be this difficult this far in the game

I'm on day 18 of my first Whole30 and need some advice! The first week was actually pretty great and the only thing I really missed was creamer in my coffee. I even felt myself losing inches and clothes became a little looser. The second week, I felt myself gaining weight and definitely went through the "KILL ALL THE THINGS" phase for a day or two with people. This third week, I feel like I've had huge swings in appetite, energy and mood. Earlier this week, I had my normal breakfast (paleo bacon + 3 eggs) and could barely eat half my lunch (spring greens with chicken, tomatoes and cucumbers) and wasn't hungry again the rest of the day! Yesterday, I wanted to eat ALL the things despite having my normal breakfast + an avocado. I ended up snacking on some almonds while I waited for others who would be meeting us for a lunch meeting (eating out on Whole30 is the worst) and had a sad salad with some chicken. I ended up having a good dinner of again mostly greens with protein, but It was hard to stay full yesterday. Today, I'm feeling great and very energetic, but yesterday I was absolutely exhausted for no reason. I had my normal 7-8 hours of sleep and ate even a little more than my normally do so I'm not sure what the reason was. Normal parts of my diet: lots of broccoli and other veggies, eggs, avocados, curry sauces (especially Yai's), bananas, almond butter, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, ground turkey, ground beef, steak, ghee, avocado oil, paleo bacon and a lot of seasonings. With the exception of the ghee and paleo bacon, I regularly ate all of these things before starting Whole30 and generally preferred a more veggie based dish over grains. I love sugar, but have obviously eliminated it for this month and as a result I don't drink as much coffee as I normally do. I work out 2-3 times a week and sleep about 8 hours a night regularly. My job isn't generally stressful. I also get the occasional migraine (I believe mostly due to barometric pressure), but lately they've been having after breakfast when I'm driving to work instead of just waking up with one. I'm about 5'2" with about 40 pounds to lose (I know this isn't the point of Whole30), and wanted to do it to "reset" my body so I can steer back to 80% clean eating. Any insight as to why I seem to be all over the place this week?

It's day 26 for me and I feel I'm still struggling with low energy, depression and mood swings. I suffer from bipolar type 2 with mainly depression. This is my second round and I did it to feel better and have energy! Weight loss is an added plus! I've done a lot of reading and feel like I should continue doing whole 60 and see if mood levels out! I was just hoping to feel better by now! Anyone else experiencing this too??

Warning! Go grab some protein, veg and a thumb of fat, and then prepare to hunker down. This could take a while. This is Day 31 for me, so I it's time to tally up, and — wow! — I've gained a lot. And it's all good. Here are my non-scale victories, or at least the ones I've noticed along the way... Asthma: I only used my inhaler a couple of times during the first week, and I haven't used my nebulizer at all during my W30. I'm literally breathing easier. Bumps: I used to have small bumps on my inner arms. I had for many years. They were sort of like pre-hives; they only needed a scratch to instantly turn red, angry and itchy. But they're gone now. Inflammation: This one is big. Usually (due to Lupus, arthritis, benign tumors in my spine and other issues), a day of extreme activity would require days of rest and recovery. I just did a 13-hour visit to Disney last weekend, complete with 7.5 miles of walking. My feet and shins were sore, as almost anyone's would be, but I was able to get out a do the shopping and all of the prepping and cooking in the kitchen the next day just fine. I know! Headaches: Other than a few days of headaches in the first week, which included one migraine, I've been headache-free. Lupus: I experienced one intense flare during my W30 (brought on by a very stressful external event). It was awful, but ... OK? I didn't expect any miraculous elimination of flares, but it was days shorter than I expected. I'll take it. Mental outlook: I’m in a much better mood most of the time and somewhat less anxious. I was dealing with increased depression and ongoing anxiety issues when I started. I credit the improvement to W30 and to the addition of a cup of Natural Calm + chamomile tea every day (which I call my hot cup of Calm the F*** Down). I started the Natural Calm about a week into the program to keep my magnesium and calcium up, after reading recommendations for it here. Energy: While I still struggle in this area in general, I've had moments of Tiger Blood, a bit of kitten juice and fewer cat naps. I feel like I'm ready to start incorporating more regular exercise in my routine, and that's a biggie. Kitchen: Hey, NSVs extend beyond the body, so this counts! Despite the fact that I'm prepping and cooking constantly, my kitchen has never been cleaner or looked better. I found that reorganizing it and keeping it really tidy as I go was the only way to maintain sanity during this W30. Appliances: I'm actually using all of those appliances that just gathered dust on a shelf. My Vitamix and Instant Pot, for instance, both get near-daily workouts now and are finally justifying the money spent on them. Cooking: I love to cook. Sure, I'd love not to cook quite as much as I have over the past 30 days, but I still. Having new restrictions sparked a new wave of creativity in the kitchen for me. No matter where my eating habits go from here, I've created some meals that will definitely stay in the permanent rotation. Inspiring my husband: He isn't doing W30, and he still loads up on junk food at work. But he's happy to eat any W30 food I make at home and really enjoys it. At least I know half his fuel is good fuel. He's even considering going paleo soon. And he's helping out a lot more around the house, since he sees how busy I've been in the kitchen these last few weeks (and plan to continue to be). He's actually doing more than his share. A sense of pride: I'm proud that I did this. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done. I doubted the process at times, but I never doubted that I would see it through. I mean, I made it through a family tragedy, a painful flare, a brunch with girlfriends, a visit to my favorite greasy-spoon diner, a trip to the state fair and freakin' Disney World without caving in to cravings! Now, about that scale... I had a victory there, too. I lost 18 pounds. (And for those of you currently doubting your own mid-W30 progress, I'd like to point out that around the middle of Week 2, I was convinced I was gaining weight.) I have no idea about inches, since I didn't measure beforehand, but I look leaner and feel leaner. And this isn't over! Both the W30 book and the site mention that those living with chronic illness and autoimmune diseases are likely to benefit by going beyond 30 days, since it may take longer to get the full effect of this reboot. I'm not going to walk away from the opportunity to gain more benefits from this. I've got so much room for improvement still. So, for now, I'm not calling it a W45 or W60 or W-hatever. I'm just going to keep going until it feels right to start my slow-roll reintroductions, and then that will eventually evolve into my new normal. Now, here's my completely unsolicited advice to anyone who might read this while considering starting their own Whole30 adventure: Don’t try to do a Whole30. Don't attempt a Whole30. Don't give it shot or see what happens and definitely don't hope you can do it. Commit! Make an absolute vow to yourself. You *will* do a Whole30. Acknowledge that it will be tough at times, rewarding at others. Take comfort in all of those pesky rules, because they take away the guesswork. And do it! Bring it on! Honestly, I think that's 90% of the key to succeeding at this — making that real commitment. Then when you face the inevitable difficult moments and temptations, it won't be made harder by struggling with that decision. You've already made the decision. Good luck everyone! And good luck to me as I keep going!

Day 31 today and time from some reflection. Before I started Whole30 on Dec 26th, I tipped the scales at 285. I'm a 6'2", 50+ male with a fairly athletic build. I'd say I've been 250-270 most of my adult life but the last 3 years saw some significant changes in body composition, and not at all positive. My diet was really bad, sugary cereal for breakfast, lots of bread, mayo, processed meats and cheese and chips for lunch, maybe a salad with lots of sugary dressing. Dinners were not too bad, mostly protein and veggies, but lots of butter and sour cream on my potatoes. I would snack all day long, crackers, chips, candy, nuts, etc. Most nights I'd have a couple of Screwdrivers in the evening or most of a bottle of wine. I know the focus of W30 is not on weight loss, but just adding up the number of non-meal calories, I was probably consuming 1,500 extra calories a day right there. Add that up and just cutting that out would result in more than 10 pounds in 30 days. Ugh! So now on Day 31, my diet has transformed completely. No more snacking, maybe a few nuts or olives as I'm making dinner or lunch, but that's it. Healthy proteins and veggies for most meals. Making my dressings and sauces and actually rarely using mayo at all now, I started the day with my usual breakfast and really didn't want to reintroduce anything today. So I'll just continue to eat this way and decide whether to deviate when there is a reason. I'm walking 20-30 miles a week and am starting back with rowing and some body weight strength training. I'm sleeping better, am more active (and productive), have more energy, fit in my clothes better and feel positive and optimistic during the day. I actually cleaned out my closet last night and got rid of a lot of the fat clothes, and pared down a lot of other things I just never wear anymore. Do I really need that sweater I have owned for 20+ years and have worn may 2-3 times? Feels like mental weight loss, ha! As for the scale. I did step on it today, mostly out of curiosity. Down 25 pounds. My reaction was, "that's nice." No jumping up and down and getting excited since I experienced the real victories off the scale already. I will limit future visits with the scale to every few weeks, maybe monthly and just to have another indicator to help keep me on track. So my future goals are: 1) to continue with this relationship with food moving forward, 2) introduce more variety in my meals, 3) follow the eating template more closely, 4) establish regular exercise habits. I would guess that I will feel like I have "done it" when I'm back into size 34 jeans and weigh in around 220 pounds (give or take--this is not the goal, just an indicator I'm in the right area), combined with strong habits for exercise and continued healthy eating. As Melissa says, "This in not hard". Yes, it takes commitment and self discipline and preparation and you have to be in the right frame of mind, but it pays off in so many ways. Over the last 30 days, I went to a New Years Eve party, out to brew pubs with friends (sipping iced tea while they ate nachos and drank beer, lol), spent a week in Las Vegas and ate out 3-4 times. I never deviated from the plan and after the first week or so haven't even been tempted. I would like to encourage those just starting or maybe struggling to keep at it. If it's not working for you then take a good hard look at what you are doing vs. the plan and really shift your mentality to one of commitment and discipline. It will pay off.

I made pineapple fried rice with 5 cups of long grain white rice, onion, celery, 2 eggs, peas, and pineapple this week. Both times I ate it with stir fried chicken and cashews. And after each meal I fell asleep for about 2 hours. Has anyone else experienc d this? I started Whole30 in November and have learned so much! I eat much better now: no gluten, no dairy, very little added sugar, have continued not eating desserts since I completed a strict Whole30. I follow the meal template most of the time. Oh, yes, and my food cravings are gone. I really love this feeling of freedom. I'm very gluten sensitive and flat line lactose intolerant so I'm used to being disciplined with food choices. I eat very little rice, but if this sleep thing is caused by rice, I will give it up. Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide

Folks - I started my official Whole30 3 days ago - I'm a bit worried that I'm not experiencing any of the side-effects everyone's been talking about - negative or positive! No grogginess or cravings (however, I do have some wicked dreams of cheating!!), nor more energy or fresh feeling,etc... Maybe I need to get a few more days into it seeing as "everyone's different". I'd love to hear if anyone has feedback or similar experiences/worries! Additionally - I'm a little concerned that eating less-than-kosher-grade meat might be affecting the detox process - could this really make all the difference if I prepare my meat leanly?

Hi, I recently completed my first Whole30 and it's been an amazing experience. I'm doing a slow roll reintroduction now. I loved the days I experienced 'Tiger Blood.' In fact, one of my reasons for trying Whole30 was to get more energy. But, unfortunately, I'm no longer energetic. Is this common? So far I've reintroduced legumes. I wonder if I need to eat more. I'm not hungry between meals and my cravings are gone and that's great. But I don't like feeling lethargic. Thank you. Pat

Just wanted to say hello! I picked up "It starts with Food" earlier this week and finished it the same day. I loved how it related the issues people have with food, cravings, and weight gain with what is actually occurring within the body. There are times that I feel like I have no control over what I am eating and how much and now I'm starting to understand why. So, after the week of meal planning and preparing, today marks my start date. I know it won't be easy (because I already want dessert...) but I want to do this for myself. To feel better, to get healthier, and find that "Food Freedom" that everyone refers to. There is SO much to gain in these next 30 days!

I started Whole30 because I've been battling severe fatigue for many months now and my doctor ruled out most physiological causes. We were at the point where my doctor informed me that my diagnosis was likely going to be chronic fatigue syndrome and since (due to other medical issues) I can't take the medications for CFS I would have to see a psychiatrist. My fatigue was extreme. I woke up, pulled on clothes, went to work (no breakfast or a meal shake because I didn't have the energy to cook), worked (because I'm the sole source of income and have no choice), got home and climbed into bed. Lunch was either a meal shake or a sandwich from a deli by my office (again, no energy to cook or pack a lunch) and I would eat dinner in bed (whatever my husband cooked or ordered). On the weekends, I wouldn't get out of bed. Without my two day rests on the weekend I don't think I could have gone to work during the week. I had tried eating healthfully and starting exercise programs, but the fatigue was too extreme. I'm still fighting fatigue and am nowhere near my energy levels before the fatigue started, but today, day 20, (where three weeks ago I would have spent the whole day in bed), I went to the gym and swam laps for 45 minutes. I am sore and tired, but this is a huge NSV for me. This is my first exercise other than walking when required in months.

I'm on Day 26. I am very happy with my results to this point. The only problem I have is that I crash at 2 or 3 in the afternoon. At that point in the day I have no energy. My mind is tired and I am just running out the clock at work. I feel like I am eating enough food. I feel like I get some energy after lunch, but have this problem none the less. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

I like to cook lunch for my husband and I on Sunday for the whole work week. We've been eating red potato as our carb and 1/4 - 1/2 avocado with some protein every day (except weekends). I was just wondering if eating about 2-3oz of potato 5x a week is too much starch? Can anyone suggest any substitutions for red potato (besides sweet potato). Potatoes are really easy to cook and they last kind of fresh until Friday so I'm looking for a carb that will stay/taste the same the whole week. We need a carb dense side for our portein because we are both very active and we need lots of energy throughout the day. Thanks

Fellow whole30ers please help! I'm on day 9 of my first whole30 and am hungry all. the. time. I'm trying not to snack because I want to become fat adapted, but can't make it between meals. I drink a lot of water and include lots of fat and protein with each meal. I've tried eating larger meals, but then I feel like I overate (sick and tired with a tummy ache), and usually am still hungry for a snack. I'm also afraid of gaining weight. I always *need* a snack at 10:30am, 3:30pm and when I get home from work. I always *crave* a snack before going to bed. Any ideas of what might be going on? and how important the "limit snacking" piece of the program is? Thanks a bunch!