Acidic

[misslindy]

Hi

I am on Day 28 and have noticed I am acidic. I am not having reflux or upset stomach but almost vinegary perspiration. I am not constipated but have fewer BMs than usual. My face was very red and even my eyelids were scalded/dry and scaley a couple weeks ago, with mild cleansing and emu oil it finally came right but I still am having some acne breakouts.

 

I was at the doctor this week and got weighed and according to their scale I have gained 6kg. However, I am wearing clothes that I could not begin to put on a couple months ago so can not believe the scale is correct. Haven't checked measurements- and do feel my body is readjusting as clothes fit differently.

 

Am wondering if I have been eating too much fat or too much meat.

 

Typical meals: M1: 3-4 eggs with mixed vegetable, kumara  OR meat with mixed veg and kumara, ghee

                        M2: salade (primarily coleslaw with celery, parsley, kale etc)olives, pear, olive oil and meat or tinned fish

                        M3: meat and mixed veg or green/yellow beans, ghee

 

I usually have one or two coffees with coconut oil. I generally drink 2plus litres of water per day. I have increased my exercise, not working flat out, just walking more, stretching and stationary bike at home.

 

I am at a bit of a loss here to know what is best to do. I want to carry on as I am sleeping so much better, more and sustained energy, happier but I do not want to gain weight, need to lose a lot more. I know if my clothes fit better something is working right but surely there must be a point where the weight comes off as well as the fat????

 

Thanks for any help.

[ShannonM816]

Your meals look okay, although it's hard to tell portion sizes. If they're keeping you satisfied for 4-5 hours at a time, they're great.

 

The scale really doesn't tell you anything very useful. If you have weight to lose and you keep eating this way, you will probably lose weight -- but the best way to know if you're getting healthier is things like how you feel (more energy, better sleep, less aches and pains), how you look (clothes fit better, skin clearer, hair and nails stronger), and things like blood tests your doctor may run for cholesterol or blood sugar.

 

The scale truly is misleading. Read this post and really think about if you care how much you weigh if you feel better and look better.

[Tom Denham]

I don't see anything about your food that should make you perspire sweat that smells like vinegar. I actually cook with a lot of vinegar and it doesn't make my sweat anything like vinegar.  

 

I would be more concerned that the doctor recorded a wrong weight in the past than that the scale at the doctor's office was wrong. Eating Whole30-style is good for losing weight. I never lost more than 2 pounds per month, but I lost 30 pounds overall. 

[jmcbn]

I'm with Shannon & Tom here - if you're feeling better, your clothes are fitting better, you're sleeping better & are more energised then you're doing something right. As someone who was scale obsessed in the past (thinking weighing three times a day - every day) I am no longer a slave to that number. It took me a long time to get there, but life is so much better without it.

I think you need to just keep on keeping on.

As for the acidic smell - I've noticed that my perspiration smells differently throughout my cycle - could it be something to do with that rather than with your food?

Are you taking any new meds/supplements?

[missmary]

I would not worry about the number at the doctors office. My doctor believes I grew 2-1/2" from one appointment to the next as an adult and has been reporting this height to me each visit (despite my explanation that the nurse measured my height wearing shoes!). There are a million reasons why your doctor might have a different weight recorded for you.

 

Some people go too low carb when doing the whole30, and enter ketosis. Ketosis results in bad breath/weird tastes in the mouth (although I would describe it as metallic rather than vinegary). Consider adding some more starchy carbs to your meals and see if that changes things.

[misslindy]

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. While I am surprised I apparently 'gained' so much in a few weeks, I wasn't desperate over it. I am really working on having faith this is the way to go and the scale is an evil lying piece of machinery (so to speak).

 

ShannonM816: I read both articles you suggested and was absolutely amazed at the pictures of Deb--and the scale! That puts things in perspective in a hurry.

 

Tom: I think the vinegary issue is metabolic so was wondering if I should be eating or not eating/drinking something to change it.

 

jmcbn: Yes, I am feeling better, wearing clothes that without my determination to wear them again, would have been discarded years ago, sleeping better and have more energy - I really don't want to stop this way of living. I was primarily concerned about the acidic element and wondering if I am eating too much of something or not enough. I don't take any supplements and the cyclical changes are not an issue. I will just keep on.

 

missmary: Can you believe how disengaged some health professionals are? We take my MIL to the eye specialist and as it is easier for her I take the papers etc to the desk when we arrive, the latest receptionist called me by her name, I explained the patient is my MIL and she said, "I thought you looked great for 92" I should hope so! Considering I have more than 40 years to go to get there. That was several months ago, we go every 6 weeks and that receptionist is still amazed at my health and vigor.

                 I probably wasn't eating enough starchy carbs and have added kumara or beet root more regularly to my breakfast and am not as hungry before the next meal.

                 This is definitely not ketosis, as I have checked with ketone sticks. (Not doing that on a regular basis, had some because we need to test a family member occasionally).

 

I suspect I have been cleaning out old stuff and will keep on keeping on. Will add lemon juice (fresh) to water and see if that helps. With time it may just right itself.

 

Many thanks to all of you for your help and suggestions.

[Saree_maree]

I know there is a lot of concern in the naturopathic community about the acidity vs alkalinity of the body, and I'm not saying those concerns or claims are totally invalid, but you should know that blood pH is in fact one the most tightly regulated parameters of the human body, that the lungs and kidneys work together to keep you within a very narrow range (7.35-7.45 to be exact), and that if you were in fact entering a state of metabolic acidosis then your respiratory system would be working to compensate for it, increasing your respiratory rate, and you would feel short of breath.

 

If you feel short of breath, please please call your doctor!

[ladyshanny]

 I explained the patient is my MIL and she said, "I thought you looked great for 92" I should hope so! Considering I have more than 40 years to go to get there. That was several months ago, we go every 6 weeks and that receptionist is still amazed at my health and vigor.

     

OMG, I hope this receptionist isn't in charge of actual patient care, holy smokes!!!!!!

[misslindy]

I know there is a lot of concern in the naturopathic community about the acidity vs alkalinity of the body, and I'm not saying those concerns or claims are totally invalid, but you should know that blood pH is in fact one the most tightly regulated parameters of the human body, that the lungs and kidneys work together to keep you within a very narrow range (7.35-7.45 to be exact), and that if you were in fact entering a state of metabolic acidosis then your respiratory system would be working to compensate for it, increasing your respiratory rate, and you would feel short of breath.

 

If you feel short of breath, please please call your doctor!

Thank you for your concern, no am not short of breath and do feel quite good in fact. But this has been an ongoing concern for the past several years and have mentioned it to a few doctors who really don't know what it is about. Just thought it might be explained here and perhaps it will calm down and move along. Thanks again.