Problems with the fat part/health issue

[BVOLF]

Im having a hard time finding coconut anything that is proper for the Whole 30, and Im also wondering how important all these different fats are to the program.  I ask for two reasons.  A) Can't find ones that aren't in preserved liquid (eg. Olives) and Coconut milk does not exist.  I found some fancy NON GMO Organic but it has Tricalcium phosphate, carregeenan, gellan gum and its enriched with vitamins.  It was the best I could do.  It has naturally derived sugar, less than one gram.  

 

On another note...im so light headed.  Im full, i eat avacados and almonds, eggs, chicken, grassfed beef, frozen veggies.  I know my calorie count is probably lower than1600.

 

Im on medications for anxiety.  But I've done this before and my doctors never said a word about it not being ok.  Ive been kind of crashing lately for a few hours.  

 

Any suggestions?  Help!  HA.

[GFChris]

Unfortunately the coconut milk with carrageenan is out for a Whole30. No carrageenan allowed.

It sounds like you're not eating enough and/or drinking enough water. Can you post 2-3 days worth of your food log, including portion sizes and daily water consumption? From there, we can give you feedback on possible tweaks.

[BVOLF]

PS, I have not used that Coconut Milk.  Its called Coconut Dream.  Its not a can, its shelf box style.

[BVOLF]

Nearly every day I eat one or the other meals.  1/2 pound very lean grass fed beef from my ranch/two cups of veggies (frozen) half an avacado.  Then I usually add chicken to that.  I usually eggs and a veggie for breakfast, but I have been skipping breakfast because I am not hungry.  The chicken piece is probably 8 ounces or more.  Im 215 6 foot 4.  I know that Im not drinking enough water.  I probably eat less than 1/4 almonds a day.  My face and head feel like they are burning/light headed.  I eat zuccini and green beans, use olive oil for cooking.  Its simple, poor person Whole 30...Im searching online for food.  I was taking a supplement a Bayer One a Day but I stopped before I started this.

[BVOLF]

I alternate chicken..not add chicken.  

[MeadowLily]

PS, I have not used that Coconut Milk.  Its called Coconut Dream.  Its not a can, its shelf box style.

You don't have to be fancy, BVOLF.  I don't drink coconut milk, almond, cashew...any of those. Coconut Dream - nuh huh.  I've used alot of EV Coconut Oil in the beginning but after a time, my gut didn't handle it so well.  So, I use EV olive oil, macadamia nut oil (so mild), clarified butter that I make from KerryGold (delish), bacon fat, avocado, all kinds of olives and coconut oil rarely now.  Nuts are not to be used as the primary source of fat.

 

I only use nuts for decorations, just a tad thrown over a dish.  I don't use nut butters at all.  I kick it old school with little extras.  I'm working on a bunch of sugar avoidance so I'm down to the bare bones version.  No dried fruits, fruit and nutty bars as in 'Larabars'      .  Not alot of pampering or whimpering either.  No bawling and crying or throwing baby fits.  Compliant without complaint.   

 

You can do it.  I embrace simplicity.  Some of the fancier dishes I've tried have turned into giant lame-o's.   My husband is the chef deluxe.  I'd probably live on cans of tuna, kippers, salmon without him.  I am your basic cook.   I throw every vege I can chop onto a baking sheet, add a compliant fat, kick the oven door shut and voila.  

 

You can make individual baggie servings and eat while you're traveling.  Shoot me down the road and fly me down the highway.  I get the long, long distances. This is doable.  When you go to the city, load up on staples you'll need for a rainy day.   I like having stashes of compliant foods.   They're all mine.

[MeadowLily]

Nearly every day I eat one or the other meals.  1/2 pound very lean grass fed beef from my ranch/two cups of veggies (frozen) half an avacado.  Then I usually add chicken to that.  I usually eggs and a veggie for breakfast, but I have been skipping breakfast because I am not hungry.  The chicken piece is probably 8 ounces or more.  Im 215 6 foot 4.  I know that Im not drinking enough water.  I probably eat less than 1/4 almonds a day.  My face and head feel like they are burning/light headed.  I eat zuccini and green beans, use olive oil for cooking.  Its simple, poor person Whole 30...Im searching online for food.  I was taking a supplement a Bayer One a Day but I stopped before I started this.

You're a big man like my Bear.  I don't think you're eating enough.   You absolutely cannot skip breakfast. This would definitely make you light headed.  I need to send my chef to your house.  You've got to start eating a big honking breakfast every single morning.   This sets the tone for your entire day.  

 

Work on this starting tomorrow.   Check back in for more positive ankle biting and bossy tidbits.  Me.     

[MeadowLily]

I try not to be Mrs. Peevy Preachy Pants but I don't think you're drinking enough water.  The burning face...make ticks on a pad and get your water in.  You have to.

[jmcbn]

Am I reading right that you're ony eating one meal a day with some additional almonds? Sheesh, no wonder you don't feel good!!

Take a look at the meal template for reference.

You need to be eating three meals a day, the first & most important within an hour of wakening, and they need to keep you full for 4-5hrs. They don't need to be all fancy - just focus on having proteins, fats & veggies at every meal - roast a whole chicken, make pate from chicken livers which cost very little & yield plenty, use tinned mackerel, sardines, tuna, kippers.... eggs are fine as a protein source & affordable... make home-made mayo for fat, compliant bacon, lard (which they practically give away these days). White potatoes are filling, don't break the bank & the starch will help with your anxiety... frozen veg are fine & handy - plenty of variety available, just make sure there are no non compliant ingredients in them.

Honestly, as Meadow Lily has said you can do this without the fancy ingredients - you don't need the coconut milks & aminos, the nuts & the nut butters.

Keep it simple, but please ensure you are eating enough, and drinking enough water.

[GFChris]

PS, I have not used that Coconut Milk.  Its called Coconut Dream.  Its not a can, its shelf box style.

 

is this the Coconut Dream you're using? http://www.tastethedream.com/products/product/5346/772.php

 

If so, it's non-compliant, as it contains evaporated cane juice (sugar) and carrageenan.

[missmary]

yeah, you aren't going to find coconut milk in a box that is compliant, but no worries. If you want coconut milk (not required by any stretch), look in the "imported" foods section for canned. most grocery stores in the United States will have one.

 

Olives are often found compliant. I have better luck with canned vs. the ones in oil, just read ingredients for off-plan stuff, but honestly, as the ladies above stated: you don't need this fancy stuff. Just focus on getting three template meals into you using the ordinary fresh produce, meats and fats that you have available. Think of it as cooking like grandma did. Use the fat from fatty meat or clarify some butter to enhance flavor and satiety, salt liberally with natural sea salt  and enjoy.

[BVOLF]

Chris, I am eating atleast twice a day, maybe three time, but not early in the day.  Im not hungry?  I will force myself.  I took on a bunch of water last night and felt much better.  I did a poor job of listing my meals on a really good day

 

Breakfast: Two eggs with some frozen veggies or lean meats

Lunch: 8oz of Beef or chicken with veggies, 1/2 avacado

Dinner: 8 Oz Beef or Chicken with Veggies 1/2 avacado (10 almonds but not anymore)

 

Probably 48 oz of water...not enough.  Not really thirst.  

 

My eating schedule is also very off.  I usually on a good day will eat at 7 a.m.  12:00 and then sometimes 9 or 10 p.m. because I work at a restaurant at night and there is NO time to eat, Period.  Its very busy and I do everything because its small town mt.  Plus, nothing we serve is really whole 30 compliant except maybe the hamburger patty.  Still I know...probably not enough calories or water.  Again, I use olive oil to cook with

[jmcbn]

Ok, that sounds a little better than I thought...

 

Still, not being hungry in the morning is a sign that your hormones are out of whack. Going outdoors into the sunlight for 10-15mins on wakening should help regulate this (or at least going outdoors for 15mins or so at the same time every day), as will spending as much of your free time outdoors as possible, practicing good sleep hygiene (no screen time for an hr or so before bed for starters, using black out blinds in your room etc) and persevering with eating breakfast within an hour of wakening.

When eggs are your only source of protein you should be eating as many whole eggs as you can hold in one hand - I'm a small female and I can do 4 on a good day so I'm guessing you could hold at least that many, but aim for 4 as a starting point.

Don't worry about using lean cuts of meat - you need the fat for energy & brain function plus, if you;re struggling to find other compliant sources then fatty cuts of meat will be ideal.

Try to make your meal 2 bigger so that you can last a little longer through to meal 3 which is a long way away... I have a long gap between meal 1 & 2 so I make meal 1 my biggest of the day and it generally keeps me going for close to 7hrs. If you are still feeling hungry maybe bring some hard boiled eggs to get you over the hunger hump until you finish work & can eat again.

Hope this helps.

[BVOLF]

Thanks everyone.  In 2013 I weighed almost 300 pounds and I got introduced to a strict Paleo by a Whole 30 girl.  This summer I over limited my fat intake to just olive oil and nuts, a regular portion of protien and lots of vegetables.  Because I had also Cholesterol of 495 and I think 30 I was put on Symvestatin--the lowest dose.  This caused, I think, weight loss.  Today I go back to teaching, and school lunch will have to be a thing of the past and carefully eaten.  I weigh 215, which was actually my goal weight that my trainer and I came up with because Im a big person.  That is considered over weight so Im shooting for a healthy 200.  In college i ate no fat and walked a lot back and forth to classes on a huge campus was 165 and looked like I had a terrible flesh eating disease.  So its been a whirlwind.  About three years of Lithium during a difficult time didn't help the weight.  I really appreciate EVERYONES help.  This is just an incredible forum, and makes for a really helpful experience since no one around here in Moore, MT is brave enough to give up their beer.--Just kidding.  I just have not found that person yet.

[MeadowLily]

You're 6'4" 215.  Bear is 6'5  and 245 and he's not overweight.  jmcbn knows this is so.    If you're trading UP with lean muscle mass, I would reevaluate as you go.   Forget the charts and graphs.  Bone structure and muscle mass...don't let the scales throw a mind warp at you. Wishing you a great year back at the school.

 

School lunches:  yes, you will have to be careful but it's still doable.  Talk to the kitchen and share what your needs are.  They work up special diets for children with allergies and so forth. You'll have to stay in your own lane and stick to the outside edges.  Most of the potatoes are instant and the vege is all canned. You'll have to ditch the pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread and chicken nuggets, chocolate milk cartons, breaded fish sticks.  Come to think of it, the fresh fruit is safe but you don't want to load up on more than 2 servings aday.

 

You will probably have to brown bag it.  Learn to make great meat/vege soup in your crockpot. Take thermos' of that to school.  That's Shannon's idea for another teacher.  It's an excellent one, best one yet.     

 

I am so glad you met the Whole 30 girl.   

[SugarcubeOD]

I'll mention more details on the water thing... you're drinking 48oz?  The recommendation is 1/2oz per pound of body weight daily... as you've said you weigh 215, you're looking at 108oz of water... per day... clean, clear water.  Please work on this as well as it will definitely help with some of your symptoms along with eating proper template meals 3 times a day!