Midway doubts this is for me

[ragbaby]

I'm on day 14.

 

I'm wondering if this Whole 30 thing is for me. I've no allergies to food, I can eat everything without a bad reaction as long as I don't overindulge. I want to lose some weight, sort my sleep out and stop feeling so tired all the time. Am I really going to do that in the 16 days that are left?

 

Whole 30 isn't going to hurt me but I sure as hell am not going to give up anything forever because of it. I want to be able to cook pizza with my son, have a pint with friends and enjoy pudding now and again.

 

So, is it worth me bothering to do it at all? Before W30 I was pretty much primal, very little cheese but butter daily. I had grains once a month or so and sweet stuff once a week, and I drank. I was eating pretty clean already.

 

I've probably lost around an inch from my waist in 2 weeks but I'm attributing that to not drinking beer. My sleep is a bit better but I'm still really tired, dragging myself around and I wake up tired.

 

Moral boosting thoughts needed please - is the W30 just for people who want to fix things or is it worth the hassle for slightly overweight lazy women like me?

[missmary]

I've no allergies to food, I can eat everything without a bad reaction as long as I don't overindulge. 

 

If you had asked me two years ago, I would have told you I had no allergies to food either, just persistent "seasonal" allergies all the time that I thought were a reaction to dust or pollen; stomach aches and congestion I thought were "normal"; difficulty losing weight, low mood...the list goes on. I have learned that most of those issues can be controlled by the way I eat. The whole30, together with the reintroduction phase will give you information about how food impacts you--information you could not know without eliminating these things fully for 30 days or more then bringing them back into your diet. Once you have that info, you can decide how much you want to incorporate this way of eating moving forward.

[GFChris]

You're almost half-way there: I encourage you to stick it out, to both give the Whole30 a fair shot, and see what your experience is. It's 16 more days out of your life, and who knows what, if any, additional positive aspects you could gain?  

 

Here's a couple articles for you to digest (no pun intended):
- It's not the Whole10: Some Whole30 Tough Love

- Do You Really Want to Quit the Whole30

 

Also, have you tried posting 2-3 days worth of your food log, along with daily water intake, exercise and nightly hours of sleep?  Folks may be able to give you feedback on possible tweaks that may improve your journey.

[CaGirl]

Its a whole 30 not a whole 14.. And yes some people need even more time..  Stick it out for the 30 days.. 

You'll feel so much better, honest..

[ragbaby]

 

Also, have you tried posting 2-3 days worth of your food log, along with daily water intake, exercise and nightly hours of sleep?  Folks may be able to give you feedback on possible tweaks that may improve your journey.

Good idea, I'll start with today because I can't remember what I had yesterday. I can measure the water because I'm taking a bottle out with me today and I can get a pint in before I go out.

 

Beef stew with squash, sweet potato, swede, tomatos and chard

tea

500ml water

Chicken salad with beetroot, green leaves, tomatos, grated carrot and mayo. Possibly some brazil nuts and dates and an orange juice (Picnic)

coffee

300ml water

Smoked mackerel with spinach, kale, potatos, grated carrot, raspberries.

bedtime drink hot water with soya milk (I'm perimenopausal so I'm including half a cup of soya milk a day, I've tried without and it makes a huge difference to hot flushes etc. with.)

[missmary]

 hot water with soya milk (I'm perimenopausal so I'm including half a cup of soya milk a day.

 

I'm sorry, but soy milk really is not an option during the whole30. Soy disrupts hormones and will interfere with the typical "hormone balancing" effect people experience doing the whole30. Many many people report that the whole30 helps with perimenopausal symptoms, but yes, it can take an adjustment period.

 

I can't say from here whether it would be "worth it" to deal with that adjustment period for possible relief in the future, but choosing soy means you are making your own plan at the moment. It's probably a better plan than the way you were eating before, but it is compromised by the soy.

 

orange juice is not recommended. Here is the official word on that: Tip: While drinking a glass of fruit juice may be technically compliant, we really wouldn’t recommend it, even if you juice it yourself. Juicing strips many of the nutrients out of the fruit, but still leaves all of the sugar. We’d much rather you just eat the fruit. - See more at: http://whole30.com/2013/06/the-official-can-i-have-guide-to-the-whole30/#sthash.HgJkwYD6.dpuf

[ragbaby]

I'm sorry, but soy milk really is not an option during the whole30. Soy disrupts hormones and will interfere with the typical "hormone balancing" effect people experience doing the whole30. Many many people report that the whole30 helps with perimenopausal symptoms, but yes, it can take an adjustment period.

 

I can't say from here whether it would be "worth it" to deal with that adjustment period for possible relief in the future, but choosing soy means you are making your own plan at the moment. It's probably a better plan than the way you were eating before, but it is compromised by the soy.

 

orange juice is not recommended. Here is the official word on that: Tip: While drinking a glass of fruit juice may be technically compliant, we really wouldn’t recommend it, even if you juice it yourself. Juicing strips many of the nutrients out of the fruit, but still leaves all of the sugar. We’d much rather you just eat the fruit. - See more at: http://whole30.com/2013/06/the-official-can-i-have-guide-to-the-whole30/#sthash.HgJkwYD6.dpuf

The orange juice was only because it was a packed lunch, it's not something I've been having every day.

Going without soya is not an option. I really have tried but night after night of hot flushes are just not worth it for the sake of one glass of soya milk. I started a Whole 30 before and got to day 9 without soya but it was really quite terrible and from the research I have done, and what is written in ISWF soya is a reasonable thing to have if you need the plant oestragens. Right now my hormones are really well balanced and I'm not messing with that. You wouldn't suggest that someone came off HRT to do a whole 30 would you? This is my HRT.

[missmary]

 You wouldn't suggest that someone came off HRT to do a whole 30 would you? This is my HRT.

 

If you read my post again, you will see that I didn't tell you to do anything. I just explained that by choosing to add soy milk, you are making your own plan. You get to decide if that is the right plan for you. I would encourage you to work closely with your doctor throughout this process, though, because while supplementing with soy may be right for you right now, that could change over time, especially if you continue to eat whole30 otherwise.

[ragbaby]

If you read my post again, you will see that I didn't tell you to do anything. I just explained that by choosing to add soy milk, you are making your own plan. You get to decide if that is the right plan for you. I would encourage you to work closely with your doctor throughout this process, though, because while supplementing with soy may be right for you right now, that could change over time, especially if you continue to each whole30 otherwise.

You are right, thanks. But over here working closely with a Dr isn't an option - you get 6 minutes of their time at a go, after waiting for an hour at least to see them and all they really have time to do is prescribe drugs. Currently, and I appreciate that you know it can change, soya works better for me, and is I believe better for me than HRT.

 

All I meant was that if I'd said I was on HRT I don't think you would have said I was making my own plan?

[Tanya K]

I am only on day 2, but have been paleo for 10 weeks. I have ME. The first few weeks for me were horrendous from a detox point of view but all my pain went. I also by week 2/3 was wondering whether it was worth all the hassle. I would if I were you keep on keeping on!! Just keep plodding your way through the next couple of days! Something happens about week 3 it's like you get hit with a healthy stick or something!! Lol you just start to feel a wee bit perkier! I have decided to do the whole 30 so as to break the cycle for the need for treats etc. So I am not even allowing whipped coconut cream and strawberries as a treat during the whole 30. It to me is much more than a detox, it's about how to feel healthier, more alive every day rather than just existing!. I think right now your brain is trying to trick you into not completing the full 30'days! Don't listen, be strong and I believe that you absolutely should start feeling that special something by this day next week! :-)

[ragbaby]

Thanks Tanya, that is fantastic news that your pain went!
I think you are totally right that my brain is trying to trick me off the Whole 30. I can just do a day at a time and try to make it shut up :-)

[Tanya K]

That's all you can do!! The body and brain or even the ego should I say don't like change! The body will follow in time. :-) The difference in my life is amazing! I have been ill for over 7 years and had some sort of something wrong with me everyday even on the supposed good days. I can now do ashtanga yoga for an hour a day 4 days a week and roller skate 8miles a week!! :-) so chuffed and delighted with how a simple diet change has literally given me my life back!

[ragbaby]

Todays food:

boiled eggs, half an avocado, proscuttio or whatever that thin bacony stuff is (yes it's compliant), mayo and salad

water.

tea with soya milk

 

grilled chicken and salad with olive oil (ate out) pint of water

 

beef stew and cauliflower rice, possibly some raspberries

 

soya milk in hot water at bedtime.

[Brewer5]

I've no allergies to food, I can eat everything without a bad reaction as long as I don't overindulge. I want to lose some weight, sort my sleep out and stop feeling so tired all the time.

Something attracted you to Whole 30 in the first place.  If you truly believe you have no allergies to food, and you can eat "everything" without a reaction, then why did the program appeal to you?

 

Well, because you want to lose some weight, sort out your sleep and stop feeling so tired all the time.  Why are you feeling so tired all the time?  What is going on with your sleep?  It absolutely could have to do with your food, and as Mary has said -- you don't actually know until you have removed the big offenders for a full 30 days and then slowly re-introduce them, one at a time.  People reveal things they NEVER would have made the connection to otherwise.  There are plenty of examples of this here, daily.

 

I once heard the analogy:  Say you have this beautiful flowering tree outside your bedroom window, and you love it.  You also happen to have a runny nose and itchy eyes when you lay down at night and when you wake up in the morning, but this has happened for so long, you just consider it your normal.  It isn't until you go on a long vacation and you realize that you are no longer having these symptoms -- that the lightbulb comes on and you realize it may be the beautiful flowering tree that you love so much!

 

In that situation, would you keep the tree -- and therefore, keep the symptoms forever?  You said above "I sure as hell am not going to give up anything forever".  So, is that the answer --  you would keep the tree?  Only you know yourself well enough to answer that question.

[Guest]

Ragbaby, soy milk and juice aside, I see a lot of good fats in a lot of your meals, but I am wondering about your beef stew meal.  Are you sure you are getting enough fat?

[ragbaby]

 

In that situation, would you keep the tree -- and therefore, keep the symptoms forever?  You said above "I sure as hell am not going to give up anything forever".  So, is that the answer --  you would keep the tree?  Only you know yourself well enough to answer that question.

yes I'd keep the tree, but cut down the time I spent near it.

Soya is doing for me what HRT did without the side effects. It's a no brainer as far as I am concerned. It took my mother 12 years to get through the menopause and I remember her crying through a lot of it. I can't do that. I've a son to look after and he needs a sane adult he can trust to be level headed, not a crying menopausal sleep deprived lunatic.

I've tried various herbal things but the one thing that works best for me at the moment - and this will change I know - is soya. It will be interesting to see if the W30 guidelines change any when Melissa hits this age because before you go through it there is no way you can empathise with how totally vile it is.

So, I'm not intending to Whole 30 forever. I'll stick out the 30 days. I'm not enjoying it much. I've no tiger blood. I had about 5 hours sleep last night and the same the night before. I'd like a glass of wine but I want to see if I feel much better without for a month. The rest of the things that are off plan don't bother me, it will be nice to have cream again but it's not a big deal. I did a chocolate making course a couple of days ago and didn't even want to try the results. If I can sort my sleep out and attribute better sleep to avoiding something in my diet I will but there is no way I can say I will cut it out forever.

Do you think it's not worth me doing it at all because I'm relying on the hormones in the soya?

[ragbaby]

Ragbaby, soy milk and juice aside, I see a lot of good fats in a lot of your meals, but I am wondering about your beef stew meal.  Are you sure you are getting enough fat?

Thanks Nico, the beef stew I haven't eaten yet and I need to add some green veg to it because it's only beef and squash. I can make some mayo or stir fry some spinach, thanks for noticing. I hadn't!

[Guest]

Thanks Nico, the beef stew I haven't eaten yet and I need to add some green veg to it because it's only beef and squash. I can make some mayo or stir fry some spinach, thanks for noticing. I hadn't!

 

No worries.  I noticied it on the first day you had posted.  Making sure you meet the meal template at each meal is important.  And, a little fat can make a huge difference in quality of life.

 

As for sleep, I wonder if you have tried magnesium.  Many people use Natural Calm.  Some use an epsom salt bath at bedtime.  (I like that idea as part of a good ritual to get ready for sleep...good sleep hygiene)  I use a capsule form of chelated magnesium.

[ragbaby]

 

 

As for sleep, I wonder if you have tried magnesium.  Many people use Natural Calm.  Some use an epsom salt bath at bedtime.  (I like that idea as part of a good ritual to get ready for sleep...good sleep hygiene)  I use a capsule form of chelated magnesium.

 

I was looking at magnesium in the health food shop the other day - I couldn't find any that didn't have a long list of nasty ingredients in though. I'll do some googling.

[Guest]

This is an interesting thread in which Melissa describes a few things that cause sleep issues: cortisol and blood sugar.

 

http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/1026-waking-up-at-4am-every-night/

 

She explains to eat within an hour of waking and quit a few hours before bed.

 

Also, we didn't ask you about life outside of food and sleep.  What kind of stressors do you have in your life?

[Guest]

I was looking at magnesium in the health food shop the other day - I couldn't find any that didn't have a long list of nasty ingredients in though. I'll do some googling.

I'd imagine epsom salts might be easier to find.

[mamakitty]

For what it's worth, my Tiger Blood didn't kick in until day 28 or so.  Best of luck to you, ragbaby!

[ragbaby]

This is an interesting thread in which Melissa describes a few things that cause sleep issues: cortisol and blood sugar.

 

http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/1026-waking-up-at-4am-every-night/

 

She explains to eat within an hour of waking and quit a few hours before bed.

 

Also, we didn't ask you about life outside of food and sleep.  What kind of stressors do you have in your life?

Many stressors, most of which are outside of my control - violent and noisy neighbourhood, special needs son, single parent, low income...... you get the idea :-) I meditate, I stretch and walk daily, I've gone part time because even with less money I'm less stressed with fewer deadlines (I'm self employed so don't get sick pay). I had pneumonia at the start of the year and really had to slow things down for a couple of months. I'm still not back up to speed.

[ragbaby]

For what it's worth, my Tiger Blood didn't kick in until day 28 or so.  Best of luck to you, ragbaby!

ah but it kicked in :-) that is the important thing!

[Guest]

It sounds like you have good reasons to be a little low on energy and struggling with sleep!  All of those things can increase cortisol, for sure.  Stress can also be a barrier to losing weight and feeling good in general.

 

Food can help, especially the timing. Yoga is awesome.  I have been trying to add a bedtime routine (including yoga) to help me sleep.  The magnesium might help and some people also recommend melatonin.  A little sunshine in the morning and softer lights in the evening are also good ideas.