Extreme Aggitation // Aggression

[chelsealdavidson]

I am on my second Whole"30" (I completed a Whole21 a year and a half ago, and am now on a whole40+ and going strong) with the exception of half and half in my coffee (dairy doesn't bother me, and if I don't have it in my diet it affects my vocal cords.  I may be the only singer onthe planet who NEEDS dairy to sing well...).

 

Either way, I've been working out consistently for the last 2-3 months and eating extremely clean for the last 6 weeks.  In the last week or so I have grown increasingly aggitated.  I did have a stressor added in my personal life, but nothing too extreme, and I have been to the gym to "work it off." 

 

Anyone else find themselves dealing with extreme frustrations as they continue in their whole30? 

 

Any supplemental nutrients I may need that I am unaware of?

 

I had started a thread previously re: this odd feeling to cry I had about 4 weeks ago, but I figured by the 6-7 week mark (wherever I am, I have no idea), my emotions should be levelled out.  I don't have really any cravings anymore, and I'm eating minimal sugar (fruit sugars, I mean), so no spikes and crashes. 

 

I have also found that I am still not re-set in my hunger.  If I am not intentional in watching the clock I can go for HOURS without eating and not even notice a single pang in my stomach (though, I will exhibit symptoms of hunger in other ways, i.e. sleepiness).  My original Whole30 ("Whole21") I actually ended up starving myself (I hadn't read the book yet) because I was eating so little, and then it backfired.  I don't THINK I am eating too little right now, I've been pretty intentional. 

 

Just wanting some input /  perhaps hear from whoever has struggled with such an extreme emotional pull.

 

Thanks, Chelsea

 

 

[GFChris]

Have you been eating at least a fist-sized serving of carb-dense vegetables daily?

Also, are you sure your half and half consumption isn't causing your emotional issues?

[chelsealdavidson]

Yeah, the half and half shouldn't be an issue.  It's such a small amount.  I did the coconut cream thing last time, and made my own almond milk, but I found my vocal cords dried out and my ability to sing was significantly affected.  And... I am a singer. I sing (performance setting) at least 4 hours a week. I NEED To be able to sing.

 

Perhaps veggies are the culprit?  I try to stick to greens, lots of brussel sprouts, lots of broccoli, bell pepper here and there. I've been allowing myself a banana here or there. 

 

Admittedly, eggs started making me gagg so I started eating different types of breakfasts, so my veggie intake changed a bit.  Eh, who knows.

 

Mostly wanted to know if anyone else dealt with this.

[GFChris]

 

 

Mostly wanted to know if anyone else dealt with this.

 

Generally we find if people go too low carb on a Whole30, it can cause emotional issues from crying to agitation.

I would, therefore, suggest you start adding at least a fist-sized serving of carb-dense vegetables daily. That includes foods like potatoes, sweet potatoes, winter squash, carrots, beets, jicama, plantains, rutabaga and parsnips.

 

[Carlaccini]

Actually it is quite possible for the dairy to be affecting you emotionally.  Dairy affects me in many, many, MANY different ways.   One of them is on an emotional level - I get angry and pretty aggressive. And it honestly does not take much. Cream in coffee would do it.  Not right away - but over the course of a couple of days of consuming it regularly would definitely set me off in this direction.

 

Soy definitely will affect my emotions too - so make sure that you are not accidentally consuming any "sneaky soy" - Soy makes me sad, emotional and depressed.

 

If I consume both of them together along with a hit of sugar - it's downright utterly nasty - I'm miserable, depressed, angry, at times borderline suicidal. 

[chelsealdavidson]

I do think its the starchy veggies.  I made a sweet potato hash brown and ate it at lunch and perked right up.  I also was a little slim on groceries today (poor oversight, I tell ya) and so I was kinda roughing it at work. Just got SO aggitated and went to whole foods and am eating some food. Made sure to include potatoes. 

 

Feeling better.

 

I don't think I had fully comprehended the impact a lack of starch could have on me! I also don't know that I was aware I was lacking in the first place.  Thank you!!!

[chelsealdavidson]

Actually it is quite possible for the dairy to be affecting you emotionally.  Dairy affects me in many, many, MANY different ways.   One of them is on an emotional level - I get angry and pretty aggressive. And it honestly does not take much. Cream in coffee would do it.  Not right away - but over the course of a couple of days of consuming it regularly would definitely set me off in this direction.

 

Soy definitely will affect my emotions too - so make sure that you are not accidentally consuming any "sneaky soy" - Soy makes me sad, emotional and depressed.

 

If I consume both of them together along with a hit of sugar - it's downright utterly nasty - I'm miserable, depressed, angry, at times borderline suicidal. 

 

After doing an entire round of whole30, then bringing dairy back in and NOT feeling any negative affects, I feel 100% okay with having it in my diet.  Again, for me, the benefits of it in my diet FAR outweigh any negatives... which so far there aren't any negatives.  In reading "It Starts With Food" I gained a lot of understanding of why dairy actually isn't THAT bad, just often creates a poor food relationship.  I don't have a poor relationship with it, and I watch myself to make sure I don't chase after cheese when I'm emotional (which I don't).

 

Thanks though!

[missmary]

I'm sorry but the whole30+dairy is NOT the whole30. It's just not. It's fine to move on and figure stuff out that works for you, but calling it a whole30 is not accurate. FWIW, when I started riding my own bike after multiple whole30s, I had a few false starts before I figured out exactly what would work for me (ok, let's be honest, I still have false starts now and then). It's ok to re-evaluate and re-test. 

 

I don't think you understood what Carlaccini was trying to tell you: she was saying that for her, eating dairy results in the emotions you were describing. Not because she has a poor relationship with dairy or was using it as an emotional crutch. Because dairy impacts her hormones in such a way that the result is anger and volatile emotions. The only way to figure out if it is effecting you in this way would be to remove it for a while and see if your symptoms go away (then add it back in and see if they return).