katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 So, I did it!! I completed my first Whole 30! I had a TON of NSV's (which I will post in the Success Stories board to encourage others!) but I still have a lot of issues I was hoping to resolve that haven't. I'm actually now sort of wondering about reintroducing - I don't know if I want to try it or if I want to just keep going and see if some of these other issues may resolve themselves in the future. My skin is worse than it's been in years, I still have no period or sex drive, I'm still really, really tired, I'm still not hungry at all later in the day, and I actually wound up gaining a few pounds over the past 30 days. I think all of these things may just require a little more love and care.. I know I'm a big girl, and I can make this decision for myself, but does anyone have any personal experience or suggestions that might help me decide what to do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlaccini Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Hi Katie, I am going to completely honest here - I have done 6 (or maybe 7? - not sure anymore) whole 30's and I have slow rolled every single one of them. Mainly because I feel so generally fantastic after a whole 30 that I don't really like reintroducing anything at the time. I basically just reintro the food when it approaches or when I feel like it. I just make sure it is the one an only food item and nothing else. So I am pretty certain on the results. As for your outstanding issues - I have taken a look at your log - you are still not eating enough in your morning meals. It should be the number of whole eggs you can hold in one hand - for most ladies that is 3 to 4. It is possible that eggs might be your culprit for skin issues. I have also noted that you eat a fair bit of tomatoes and tomato type products. These can also cause skin issues. The eating more at breakfast should help alleviate the tiredness. However maybe you will want to play around with your starchy veggies and eat them at night rather than in the morning. Many people report this working better for sleep and energy. My personal context I have found that I need 1.5 or 2 portions of starchy veg a day. This is to help keep my mood and energy levels in check. (I really struggled with depression prior to my first whole 30) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 The breakfast sausage and two eggs is actually too big for my palm, so I was thinking I might be eating too much! I can certainly try to add another egg to it and see if it helps with the energy! I can certainly also try cycling out eggs for a week or two and see if my skin will clear up - same with tomatoes. (*sad tear*) I had no idea that either of these could create skin issues. I have played around with having starches at different times of day, and have actually found that having them with my third meal can give me too much energy. For example, I had some baked sweet potato fries last night with dinner around 7:30, and I could not get tired for the life of me until about 11:00, even though I had been exhausted all day. (There's also the reality that I am often still too anxious to sleep well - I fall right to sleep but wake up in the middle of the night, mind racing for hours if I can get back to sleep at all - which could be a completely separate issue from food.) I guess the answer I'm looking for is probably just to keep at it, and keep experimenting. I honestly don't miss any foods anymore (even cheese!) so it will be totally simple to do. Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my log and offer advice! I really appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 The breakfast sausage and two eggs is actually too big for my palm, so I was thinking I might be eating too much! I can certainly try to add another egg to it and see if it helps with the energy! I can certainly also try cycling out eggs for a week or two and see if my skin will clear up - same with tomatoes. (*sad tear*) I had no idea that either of these could create skin issues. I have played around with having starches at different times of day, and have actually found that having them with my third meal can give me too much energy. For example, I had some baked sweet potato fries last night with dinner around 7:30, and I could not get tired for the life of me until about 11:00, even though I had been exhausted all day. (There's also the reality that I am often still too anxious to sleep well - I fall right to sleep but wake up in the middle of the night, mind racing for hours if I can get back to sleep at all - which could be a completely separate issue from food.) I guess the answer I'm looking for is probably just to keep at it, and keep experimenting. I honestly don't miss any foods anymore (even cheese!) so it will be totally simple to do. Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my log and offer advice! I really appreciate it. It's unlikely the sweet potatoes are keeping you from sleeping as the sugar content in the starch will peak in your blood within 30mins or so & then dip again shortly after so that it will be out of your system by the time you go to sleep (it's pretty much done & dusted within an hour) Did you ever add in a magnesium supplement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlaccini Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I recently had to give up tomatoes or at least cut back them too - so I feel your pain. Okay I have another suggestion for you. Eat your starchy veggies at your midday meal and make sure to do a lowish carb meal with good healthy portion of fat at night. Also - I have found that if I eat a spoonful of coconut butter or have a handful of olives 1/2 hour before bed - I sleep like a dream. But I use this only when I am craving fat or I am hungry - usually because I did not have enough fat throughout the day. Snacking like this on a whole 30 is generally discouraged but I have found that it does help me - and it's not an everyday type of thing. You need to find what works for you. Yes eggs, nuts and nightshades are fairly common inflammation contributors. Skin issues are a form of inflammation. I realized fairly recently that I needed to cut back / eliminate them too - so I do feel your pain. I recommend cutting them out for a week - see what happens. Generally skin issues can take up to 3 weeks to improve but I personally noticed a huge skin improvement within 3 days - so be patient it may of may not take some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LadyM Posted March 23, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 23, 2016 I haven't looked at your log, so my knowledge of your context is minimal; however, all the symptoms you describe sound like hormones very likely are the culprit. So, yes, taking up the Whole30 is a terrific thing you've done to help address that. And, it may be possible that the dietary changes alone won't resolve them. I work closely with a functional medicine doctor who prescribes supplements and other treatments that do wonders to keep me and my fussy hormones as balanced as possible. If I were you I'd certainly continue Whole30 until I really wanted to try something out (in other words, exactly what Carla said). And I wouldn't despair if Whole30 didn't completely resolve every one of my symptoms. Best of luck to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 I haven't added a magnesium supplement - somehow I must have missed this. I'll look into it! And I was totally thinking starchy veggies were the culprit that keeps me awake some nights - now I'll have to pay closer attention to what's going on during the nights I can't seem to get unwound. Hormones are definitely an issue for me, even though bloodwork says otherwise, and my GP and OBYGN have both proved to be pretty useless... So I do have an appointment with an endocrinologist coming up, as advised by my therapist, so we will see if we can get some further resolution on many of these issues. But I feel like eating healthfully certainly won't hurt! So for now, I will up fat content at night, and cut back on the nightshades, and keep eating Whole 30 style until I really feel pulled otherwise. And keep being patient! You ladies rock. Thank you again so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LadyM Posted March 23, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 23, 2016 I hope the endo can help you! And I'll share that in my experience, I had to leave the mainstream system to get the help I needed after pursuing every possible avenue within the system. I hope that's not the case for you, but if it is, know that there is help for you! Don't give up. You CAN feel better than you imagined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DivaCarla Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Katie, nightshades can be trouble and for me they show up on my skin within hours of eating. May I suggest eliminating? including the chili spices that comes from nightshades. I wish it were not so. I did most of Whole 30 without them, and then added a bit of tomato sauce and potato in week three, since they were technically compliant. Immediate reaction. Nightshades are on the better be worth it list now. A pile of mashed potatoes is a thing of the past. If you were an undereater and or over exerciser before Whole 30, your hormones, especially your steroids (cholesterol based) may be out of whack from that. More time on whole 30 plus expert help from a functional medicine endocrine specialist could be a good next step. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jent103 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 And I'll share that in my experience, I had to leave the mainstream system to get the help I needed after pursuing every possible avenue within the system. Me too. I have PCOS (and accompanying insulin resistance), and though I had some wonderful humans as my care providers, they were all totally fine with addressing the symptoms (no periods, weight gain) with medications vs. addressing the underlying hormone imbalances. I'm now working with a naturopath to try to resolve them, and so far so good, though it is a frustratingly slow process. I've been eating mostly Whole30-style for nearly three years now. About six months after I started, I stopped the birth control pills I'd been taking and, eventually, my periods started back on their own (this was a major victory for me). Eating Whole30 has not solved all my issues (much as I wish it would!), but I do believe it has helped and is the healthiest way forward for me. Best of luck to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Okay - so definitely cut back on the nightshades for now and see if it helps with the skin! I was absolutely an under-eater for several years before this. It took me a long time to do the damage, so it makes sense that it may take time to undo it, too. But the Whole 30 put me in an emotional place where I want to help myself rather than sabotage myself - and that alone makes it all worth it. And thank you, everyone, for all the support and input. You are amazing!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny B Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Katie, what type of skin issues are you having? I have noticed some changes in my skin so just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 I've had acne since I was a teenager but it has been like 98% under control with topical prescription medications for the past 2-3 years (just the occasional one or two, nothing bad). I also have rosacea and I know both conditions get worse with dairy or with too much coffee. However, both the rosacea and acne have flared up a lot with no dairy in my system and only 1 small cup of coffee 3-4 times per week, on mornings before I go to the gym. The medication doesn't seem to be helping much currently! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Also I have always had dark circles under my eyes, and at first in the program they were actually lightening to a weird yellow/purple like a fading bruise. But this week they are really dark blackish purple. I know this is sometimes caused by allergies, lack of sleep, etc. But it's just another thing I noticed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny B Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Ok, I went to the dermatologist a few weeks ago. I do have very light rosacea. Nothing real bad, but he said I am fair skinned and blonde and at my age it is what it is. LOL! I am about to be 45. Never really had any other issues. I do notice if I drink wine (that is about the only thing I drink and only when I go with the girls to dinner once or twice a month) that I defnitely get flushed and I think I have more uneven skin tone (red splotches but not acne). It usually clears up in a day or two. So annoying. My Mom has the same problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Yeah, there are definitely certain foods that I've found that irritate the rosacea more - usually things that are really acidic like tomato sauce, oranges, things like that. Generally I've found for that, it's never uncomfortable or anything, so it's usually a "worth it" decision! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlaccini Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Yes I have rosacea as well - so then definitely consider dropping the nightshades and eggs. I've had a lot of luck reducing my rosacea flares to nearly NIL. Except if I eat out - canola / vegetable oil - will give me a flare up every single time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Interesting! I hadn't noticed if that specifically affected mine. But one of the best things about this program has been learning SO much about what we put in our bodies and how it shows through after. I will certainly pay better attention to this now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Mathias Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Coffee will trigger hormonal responses that cause acne to flare up. My husband has been on a cleanse because he has been having the same issues - rosacea and acne. He is avoiding coffee, sugar, gluten, peanuts, alcohol and dairy. I realize most of those foods have been avoided on the W30, but try cutting out the coffee. He is following the guide from Clear Skin Forever. Sleep and stress are also factors. I hope you can eliminate the pesky skin problems! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieblue Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share Posted March 24, 2016 Thanks for the input! I have definitely noticed that on coffee days my skin looks different, but I've always just accepted it as a side effect because I like being able to wake up early enough to work out! Lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgolem Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I just completed my 4th Whole30 about a week ago. In addition to this most recent round, I have been eating mainly Whole30 with a few exceptions since December 1, 2015. Unfortunately I have still been having a lot of stomach aches and bloated feelings even after eating compliant foods. This most recent round I more closely followed the meal template, eliminated the use of fruit/nut bars, and minimized the amount of fruit I was having. I was wondering though if having these continual stomach issues even while eating strictly Whole30 means I should consider either an AIP or no nightshade version of Whole30. Also, is it best to wait until the majority of my stomach distress has subsided before considering reintroducing non-compliant foods? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators LadyM Posted March 25, 2016 Moderators Share Posted March 25, 2016 I just completed my 4th Whole30 about a week ago. In addition to this most recent round, I have been eating mainly Whole30 with a few exceptions since December 1, 2015. Unfortunately I have still been having a lot of stomach aches and bloated feelings even after eating compliant foods. This most recent round I more closely followed the meal template, eliminated the use of fruit/nut bars, and minimized the amount of fruit I was having. I was wondering though if having these continual stomach issues even while eating strictly Whole30 means I should consider either an AIP or no nightshade version of Whole30. Also, is it best to wait until the majority of my stomach distress has subsided before considering reintroducing non-compliant foods? I'd take a look at FODMAPs if I were you. And yes, I'd work on the stomach issues before reintroductions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgolem Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Thank you for the feedback! I will give that a try and see if it helps since I know a lot of the foods in the no group for low FODMAP did cause problems for me. Do you have any recommendations for places to find low FODMAP Whole30 recipes? I've tried searching the forum & looking on Pinterest and there doesn't seem to be very many that fit both classifications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcbn Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 Most recipes can be easily adapted to be low FODMAP.Just sub onions for the green parts of spring onions, sub garlic for garlic infused oil, sub sweet pottaoes for regular potatoes or parsnips, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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