Maybe I picked a bad week to quit sugar?

[Canadian_Kate]

Today is the start of my Whole30 journey. I just ate a wonderful breakfast consisting of bbq chicken with pico de gallo and guacamole, my belly is feeling good. But I am worried will I make it to lunch without eating? Will I make it through the day without eating candy, cookies, chocolate, chips? These things have become a corner stone in my diet as of late.

 

Up until 1 week ago I was getting ready for figure competition – this would have been my 4^th event this year and sadly, my body was not responding. I was gaining fat, not muscle.  I felt it is was stress related (too many shows, new job, selling my home, moving to a new city and purchasing, kids out school for the summer) so I spoke with my coach and we've put the training on the back burner until next year. I hate disappointing people.

 

I took last week off any (gym) physical activity and the typical 6 meals a day of double boiled chicken and blanched green beans and just started to pack my house and eat…and eat…and eat. I am now 25lbs heavier one week later (weighed in yesterday). For one week solid I ate nothing but junk food every single day. Now I am afraid I won't be able to stop – the week ahead is chalk full of stress and nutritional boobie-traps! 1. I am moving to a new city this week. 2. I will not be able to fit in any gym workouts – not sure if I could workout my body is so stiff – my legs fell like they are full of lead (this has me stressed). 3. I've never binged like this ever in my life (why now??), can I control myself to stop? 4. Not feeling my best has me stressed 5. Not fitting into my clothes has me stressed.  6. Having to explain to my friends why I am not competing again this year…has me stressed. 7. My new job has me stressed…okay. Rant done. Deep breathe.

 

My first step in my Whole30 journey was yesterday - I cleaned out all the junk, processed, gain based, legumes, and other non-foods out of the house,  I either donated (made me feel good) or gave away to neighbors (also made me feel good). My birthday was Saturday – so I also made sure all the cake was out of the house.   

Today I woke up to a **clean**  sugar free food zone.  I also gave away all the **supplements** and **fat burners** my coach had me taking.  Today will be my first day in 6 months without taking any Ephedrine, aspirin and caffeine…eeek! Lets see if I can even stay awake on my own.

 

I can do this. I am stronger than sugar.

[Tom Denham]

You picked a great week to quit sugar. I think you desperately need a Whole30 to help you establish a healthy relationship with food and your body.

[CharleneExtreme]

You can definitely do this. Its going to be hard since you were so attached to it, and you're going to want to give up. Don't. And avoid the scale if you can. I know how you feel as i'm also a sugar addict!

[mydisciprin]

I also binged a bit just before starting my W30 (currently in the third week). I guess I just wanted to do it 'one last time' because I knew I'd be eating clean for a month after.

The bad news is your body might give you a hard time esp. in the first week- there are a lot of chemicals you dosed it up on last week that it's not going to get this week (or the next 4), so be ready with healthful alternatives. You've done well by giving away all the bad stuff, but be ready to follow through with the good stuff.

Don't stress yourself about not working out for a week or two, or even the whole month if it so happens. It sounds like a rest might not be the worst thing for your body.

[amberino21]

Hi from a fellow bodybuilder

Trust me - it sounds like you NEED to do this. You need to get healthy - in mind and body - and learn to love you, and have a good relationship with food.

Stick to the template - you won't get hungry. You don't need to eat so frequently, your muscles aren't going to disappear! I'd not stress about not being able to train - id take a break from all training for a little while if I were you, and then reintroduce weights only - I guess you will have had a pretty revolting cardio routine recently too? Stop!

You need time to heal, to recover, and reset your metabolism

[GFChris]

First off, take a deep breath.  

Do you have a way to manage stress in your life, besides your gym workouts? Is there a way you can press the pause button for yourself, and just be present, so you can process things one at a time?

[amberino21]

Oh, and you shouldn't need to worry about your friends. Competing is part of your life, not all of your life, and they were likely your friends for other reasons (like, you're an amazing person!) a they will support any decision you make and should understand your reasons. Your health is so much more important that flogging yourself silly to potentially win a $20 plastic trophy.

I think it's a lot harder to realise something is wrong, and step away from your plan - many people just keep pushing themselves for fear of what others may think if they "quit". You're a strong lady!

[Canadian_Kate]

Thank you everyone for your support and encouragement. I made it to lunch without feeling hungry, without supplements, without drinking 8L of water to fill the empty space. 

[AmyS]

Eat fat.  More than you think is morally right to eat.  About the time you feel you must confess your fat-seeking sins to whatever religion you grew up in, you are eating close to enough fat.  (I mean, of course, to eat it with meals, not grab a hunk of fat and chew on it throughout the day.    )  Especially when your previous "healthy" diet consisted of removing all fat from your food, you may have a hard time with this.  But do it and you won't feel so horrible as you go through your days.  Really.

 

Also eat meat.  And veggies.  And more fat.  Really, just eat.  Eat.  Eat for real, eat real food, prepared in ways that make human beings' mouths happy.  (Expect to have your mind blown - double boiled chicken see-sawing with msg-laden junk can't begin to compare with real food.)

 

Eat.  Did I mention eating?  Yeah.  Eat.