spaight Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Hi, I could use a little help please. I'm hoping that just writing this and articulating why I started and what I really want will talk me back to a more reasonable mindset but any tips on working through this would also be very much appreciated. I threw my neck/rib out in the middle of the night last night and have been in a lot of pain. I pretty much covered my chiropractor's table in tears this morning during an emergency Sunday appointment. So, I can't do much right now to distract myself from my pain - and my food boredom - and my cravings. Normally if I could throw myself into grocery shopping and making a new spin on a healthy meal I think I'd be OK. But it's a mental game right now and the very simple meals I've had to eat today out of physical inability to do more have not felt at ALL satisfying, under the circumstances. I'm on day 22 and have really not struggled at all until today. But I am struggling mightily right now against the urge to just eat some comfort food (my current food porn fantasy: vanilla ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate chips). I am so close to saying "screw it" - but really do NOT want to do that, I know. I'm a big believer in keeping your commitments. And really need to keep this commitment to MYSELF. I started Whole30 because I spent nearly a year in chronic and often severe joint pain. Previously a triathlete, I could no longer do many of the things I love to do, especially running. After many doctors and a (thankfully) cancelled surgery, it became less invisible that the root cause is likely gut issues and inflammation from food sensitivities (and big-time stress). I have MUCH LESS JOINT PAIN than I did three weeks ago. Today my husband told me where he hid the scale and I cheated and weighed myself and am not losing weight. It "shouldn't" matter because I am in MUCH LESS JOINT PAIN. I'm trying to learn that lesson, here. I also know that if I eat the ice cream or whatever, I am going to wake up tomorrow in not only more physical pain, but with a sense of shame and failure. And who needs that? Maybe the thing is to focus on why I started and what I WANT. Do I want to get back to better health and running MORE than I want ice cream? YES. Thanks for listening. Writing this helped me. If you have any other tips please let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GFChris Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Start by throwing out the scale. :-) Celebrate the decrease in joint pain! Use this time to play with non-food ways to comfort you. Music, reading, painting your nails, doing a puzzle, calling a friend, watching a comedy film or chick flick, whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaight Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Thanks, Chris. Even the phrase "non-food ways to comfort you" makes me nervous, so I guess that's a pretty good indication that it is what I need to do. I appreciate your reply. I also suspect from some of the other troubleshooting threads around cravings that I may not be eating enough today, since I've had to sort of cobble together what I could. Not surprisingly I feel a lot more reasonable after the salmon dinner I just ate! I still want ice cream but not as much and I'm off to take a hot bath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY2LA2MONTREAL Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Hi, I could use a little help please. I'm hoping that just writing this and articulating why I started and what I really want will talk me back to a more reasonable mindset but any tips on working through this would also be very much appreciated. I threw my neck/rib out in the middle of the night last night and have been in a lot of pain. I pretty much covered my chiropractor's table in tears this morning during an emergency Sunday appointment. So, I can't do much right now to distract myself from my pain - and my food boredom - and my cravings. Normally if I could throw myself into grocery shopping and making a new spin on a healthy meal I think I'd be OK. But it's a mental game right now and the very simple meals I've had to eat today out of physical inability to do more have not felt at ALL satisfying, under the circumstances. I'm on day 22 and have really not struggled at all until today. But I am struggling mightily right now against the urge to just eat some comfort food (my current food porn fantasy: vanilla ice cream with peanut butter and chocolate chips). I am so close to saying "screw it" - but really do NOT want to do that, I know. I'm a big believer in keeping your commitments. And really need to keep this commitment to MYSELF. I started Whole30 because I spent nearly a year in chronic and often severe joint pain. Previously a triathlete, I could no longer do many of the things I love to do, especially running. After many doctors and a (thankfully) cancelled surgery, it became less invisible that the root cause is likely gut issues and inflammation from food sensitivities (and big-time stress). I have MUCH LESS JOINT PAIN than I did three weeks ago. Today my husband told me where he hid the scale and I cheated and weighed myself and am not losing weight. It "shouldn't" matter because I am in MUCH LESS JOINT PAIN. I'm trying to learn that lesson, here. I also know that if I eat the ice cream or whatever, I am going to wake up tomorrow in not only more physical pain, but with a sense of shame and failure. And who needs that? Maybe the thing is to focus on why I started and what I WANT. Do I want to get back to better health and running MORE than I want ice cream? YES. Thanks for listening. Writing this helped me. If you have any other tips please let me know. Hi Spaight. I am sorry you are in pain...no one wants that kind of pain...but knowing where you are coming from... you just want it to go away. I am glad you saw your chiropractor (I totally believe in them -- saved my mom from 2 operations). And I hope he helps you. Having said that. Focus on the fact that you are at day 22, dare I say it again: DAY 22!!!!!!! Congratulations. You have less joint pain than you had 22 days ago!!!!! Congratulations. Someone told me a long time ago...".just when you are ready to give up...success is right around the corner". So heed your own words: FOCUS and keep asking yourself: Do I want to get back to better health and running MORE than I want ice cream? YES. Don't give up on your incredible 22 DAY INVESTMENT. And most of all...feel better. Sending good vibes your way and a BIG HUG!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaight Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 That is both very kind and extremely helpful. Thank you VERY much. It would be a shame to stop now. I've been waiting for my energy to improve and who knows, if I keep going, it may be tomorrow, or the next day. I want to see what the next 8 days (and beyond...I'm probably in for at least a Whole45) bring. I think my cravings have been compounded by the fact that I just finished a week's summer vacation that involved watching people eat S'mores around the campfire and taking them out for ice cream and sitting eating a bowl of soup surrounded by pizzas, so if I can make it through all of that, I can make it through this, for sure. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NY2LA2MONTREAL Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 That is both very kind and extremely helpful. Thank you VERY much. It would be a shame to stop now. I've been waiting for my energy to improve and who knows, if I keep going, it may be tomorrow, or the next day. I want to see what the next 8 days (and beyond...I'm probably in for at least a Whole45) bring. I think my cravings have been compounded by the fact that I just finished a week's summer vacation that involved watching people eat S'mores around the campfire and taking them out for ice cream and sitting eating a bowl of soup surrounded by pizzas, so if I can make it through all of that, I can make it through this, for sure. Thanks again! And make it you will. And all of us in the forum are here for support "And the little engine chugged and chugged "I think I can, I think I can..." keep me posted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seafarer Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Hi Spaight! I am sooooooooooo with you on the joint pain.... chiropractors are great!!!! I agree with GFChris... ditch the scale! If you are not currently losing numbers, who cares? You have 22 freakin' awesome days of accomplishment under your belt! Your body is healing & adjusting & learning new habits & changing to fat burning & sleeping better.... it's been busy! It can't do everything, but it's looking after all the good stuff. Meantime, if you're hurting & needing distraction, make sure you stay full so fleeting thoughts of food stay just that... fleeting. My daughter asked me today how I could sit there watching everyone eating chocolate chunk cookies & not want one. I told her it was b/c I was still so full from lunch that the thought of eating anything was a little repulsive. Plan to lose bad habits, not numbers. Your healthy body will find its own groove in time. I wish you great good luck on feeling better really soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaight Posted August 31, 2015 Author Share Posted August 31, 2015 Hi, Seafarer, and thank you for the encouragement. I think you're right about needing to stay fuller. And, if I'm brutally honest with myself I know I am eating too much fruit/fructose. Hopefully staying fuller will help me ditch more of that habit, this coming week. Patience. I didn't get here in 22 days, I can't expect to reverse it in 22 days. Good luck to you too - I hope this has helped your joint pain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.