Why did all my health problems get worse....

[angshaner]

I didn't feel great before my Whole30, I've always known something is wrong. Sometimes fatique, insulin issues, etc. but they were never as bad as they are now. And I felt great working out all the time and felt pretty healthy otherwise and had a lot more energy than I do now.  I started feeling pretty good during my Whole30 but never got any energy at all. Since Whole30, I have realized what foods I have intolerances too, and figured out my hypoglycemia and that I do Infact have hypoglycemia//nsulin resistance, etc.  But, I also have had more problems like flipped hormone ratios, low thyroid, low progesterone, low vit, D. possible Celiac, Candida.....bad fatigue, headaches, blurry vision, asthma like symptoms, and more. I really feel like my body cannot function and it's sooooo frustrating!! 

 

My family is kinda mad like "you never had any of these problems before you went on your strict diet." and stuff like, "why would I want to eat healthy like that to make my body so much more sensitive to things." 

 

How do you explain this? Other friends have had same kinds of issues, everything got worse after Whole30.  So, is my body just so sensitive now that I have to eat this way forever? 

[missmary]

angshanger. First, I hear your frustration, and I'm really sorry you are feeling this way. Whole30 doesn't really cause health problems, though, so there are a few things that might be at play here: 

 

One is that you might have had underlying issues but less awareness prior to your whole30, for example, I'm not suprised that your vitamin D is low (like most people in the western hemisphere!) but I would guess it was low before hand, but went un-noticed or unchecked.

 

Another possibility is that your interpretation of the whole30 wasn't the best balance for your body. Although whole30 is not a low carb diet, many people (intentionally or not) eat very low carbs while on the plan. Including more starchy carbs MIGHT help some of your hormonal and fatigue issues. Some people simply don't eat enough food while following the whole30, and that alone could cause some serious issues for you (again, fatigue, headaches, etc.). Finally, some people don't eat enough fat during the whole30 (due to conventional wisdom we have been hearing for so long about fat being "bad"). Increasing that alone might really help with hormones, energy levels, hypoglycemic reactions, etc.

 

It might SEEM like you are more sensitive to certain foods now, but that is likely due to a reduction in the mucus lining in your stomach. Your body has been protecting you from certain foods by building up inflammation and mucus. Once that is gone, post-whole30, and you reintroduce these foods, the reaction will be greater. This is actually a good thing, IMO, because long-term it really is best to avoid those foods where you have sensitivity. In that sense, yeah, you might find the best health outcomes if you eat this way forever, or at least avoid those foods that cause issues for you. For me this has been a real blessing! I know that my asthma-like symptoms were *mostly* due to gluten (sometimes dust or stress still cause them) and I am SO HAPPY to know how to eat to make myself feel good.

 

I guess my conclusion is this: you aren't required to follow the whole30 forever or even just for now if you don't want to. If you believe that you feel better eating a different way, more power to you! BUT, if you think the whole30 makes sense but it is just not working for you at the moment, take a look at how you are eating and consider making some tweaks to see how you do. If you want to post a day or two of meals, we might assist more, or you might want to consider a private consult with the Whole9 team for in-depth review/suggestions/etc.

 

I know how frustrating it is to have health issues and to struggle to find answers. I hope you feel better soon!

[angshaner]

Thank you for the great explanation! I really do love eating the Whole 30 or Paleo way.  It really is how my body feels best.  It is a little depressing that I probably have to eat this way forever But, why wouldn't I if I feel so good right? I guess I had a lot of underlying issues. I am thankful that Whole30 helped me figure them out.  My body must have really just been desensitized before that I guess. 

[MrsStick]

The way I look at it is:

 

If you were on hard drugs for years, and then tried to get off, you'd have some horrendous awful horrible side effects. Terrible. Nausea, fever, just awful.

 

If you eat crap (relatively speaking) that your body treats LIKE drugs for years, you can have some side effects as you get off of the gunk you've been eating.

 

Give it time - you'll get there! And they'll (hopefully) eventually get used to your new ways of eating (once you find out your permanent non-W30 needs). For me it was gluten free, and, after a bit of a panic period where she declared that she has no way to know how to feed me, and I eat nothing...now my mother sends me every Pinterest pin she finds (I'm not even ON pinterest!) that's gluten free. *sigh* Baby steps.

[alissafoo]

I'm not sure what day you're on, or if you've heard about "carb flu" but it sounds like it might also be that. 

[Pudding-Girl]

i can totally relate to that. Although I was eating lots of fat and loads of natural carbs like sweet potatoes for energy and big portions it still didn't do anything for me. Still felt tired and drained and had stomach upsets. Still trying to figure it all out myself.

[Laketon79]

I am starting to see sensitivities popping up that I do not like. I felt fine before my whole30's and now I am experiencing things that I do not like! I am almost wishing I had not done these because I don't want these reactions.