School... Day 2, can't think

[Djsparks]

Hey guys I'm trying the whole30 as recommended by my doctor. I'm on day two and am finding it extremely difficult to study (chemical engineering). I'm also an officer in a society that requires me to handle many tasks that require mental strength. I'm wondering if I should do this during the break instead of in the middle of the semester?

I am very skinny (5' 10" 140lbs; doing it for mental & physical health) and was eating sandwiches, cereal, pasta on the daily (most of it was very good quality. I don't eat corn syrup and keep the additives to a minimum.) But I think going straight into a low-carb diet is hitting me harder than I thought it would.

I as because I had to skip class today to go lay down in my car. I was useless in front of a book trying to solve problems.

I am eating a palm and a half of protein. About a fist or two of starch. An avocado, a fruit with each meal, and usually a mixture of roasted cauliflower and kale (filling my plate). But I think I may need to do this when I'm not as busy. Even if I'm like this for only a week it makes it extremely difficult to function.

Sorry for the long email. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Luke

[GFChris]

It sounds like you're suffering from an extreme case of carb flu.  Hang in there, drink lots of water.

 

Are you eating three meals daily? Are your meals keeping you satiated for 4-5 hours?

 

What are you having for a starchy vegetable? What is your protein?

Fruit is optional on a Whole30. If you're going to have it, we recommend 1-2 fist sized servings daily.

 

Have you seen this article for keeping weight on during a Whole30?

[Djsparks]

Yea I'm pretty satiated for the span between meals. My starch is sweet potato and red potates. My protein consists of free ranged chicken and tuna so far. I have some free ranged sirloin as well. Each is about the size of my fist.

I was wondering if my metabolism is just burning through this stuff or just completely shocked that it has to make the carbs itself from the minimal amount of body it has.

[GFChris]

Yea I'm pretty satiated for the span between meals. My starch is sweet potato and red potates. My protein consists of free ranged chicken and tuna so far. I have some free ranged sirloin as well. Each is about the size of my fist.

I was wondering if my metabolism is just burning through this stuff or just completely shocked that it has to make the carbs itself from the minimal amount of body it has.

The recommended protein portion is 1-2 palm sized amounts: that's the length width and thickness of the palm of your hand.

Rotating in fattier proteins may help.

Keep going with the starchy veggies.  I'm thinking your body is shocked from the lack of refined carbs.  

 

It takes a longer than a couple of days to become fat-adapted. It gets better.

[loobylifts]

I felt really weak at first and what worked for me was more starchy veg, less fruit. I eat sweet potatoes and lots of squash. Easy to roast in advance and bring along with you. I reduced my fruit to once a day and never in the morning and that worked for me also upping my oily fish helped too - I was wolfing down sardines like there's no tomorrow

[dlocs1021]

I may have misread something but I just wanted to highlight that this should not be a low carb diet. If you are feeling carb deprived and sluggish definitely up the carb veggie ante.............think potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, etc etc. I feel I need to have 1-2 cups of a carby veg daily to feel more energetic