Weird side effects? spotting?

[demmers789]

Hey everyone, 

 

I just completed day 8 and the last three days I have been feeling exhausted, dizzy, and even a little nauseous. I have also been spotting over the last three days, which I have never done before, and i'm not on birth control. Has this been a problem for anyone else? I have been exercising 3 days a week for 30 minutes, which I wasn't doing before whole 30. Additionally, my diet was a lot of fast food and soda prior to whole 30. I haven't had any cravings or problems keeping up with the program, just these physical side effects. Google hasn't been too much help! 

 

If anyone has experienced the same thing, what was it like for you and how long did it last??

[demmers789]

TMI I know. I have never spotted before and now I have started spotting. It's been about two weeks since the start of my last period, and i'm not on birth control. I have had mild spotting, dizzyness, nausea, and fatigue the last three days. This is day 8 of the whole 30 for me. my first round of whole 30 too. 

 

Anyone else have the same problems??

 

Any ideas or suggestions?

[ShannonM816]

I can't really speak to the spotting -- many people experience changes in their cycle over the course of a Whole30, this could be that, or might be related to the exhaustion, dizziness, and nausea, which are not really normal. 

 

Could you post what you've been eating the last couple of days, including approximate portion sizes, water intake, exercise, and sleep? Often, people underestimate how much they should be eating, and that could definitely cause the exhaustion and dizziness.

 

In general, you want all your meals to follow the meal template. This means at each meal, have:

• 1-2 palm-sized portions of protein (length, width, and depth of your palm), or if eggs are your only protein, have as many whole eggs as you can hold in your hand
• 1-2 thumb-sized portions of fat, or a heaping handful of olives or coconut flakes, or 1/2 to a whole avocado, or occasionally a small handful of nuts. Generally, this is in addition to cooking fat, as that can often stay in the pan and not be consumed.
• fill your plate with vegetables -- this means 1-3 cups. If you've having raw leafy greens, have even more, as they tend to break down to nothing as you eat and don't really keep you satisfied for long
• occasionally, if you want, have a fist-sized serving of fruit. Try not to have more than two servings a day, and you never have to have any if you don't want it.

Most people feel best if they have a fist-sized serving of starchy vegetable each day. Some people need more, especially if they're very active, prone to depression or anxiety, or women who are nursing, pregnant, or in the week or so leading up to their period.

 

Additionally, drink lots of water -- aim for 1/2 oz per pound of body weight, so if you weigh 120 lbs, aim for at least 60 oz of water. 

 

And don't forget to salt your food -- now that you've removed processed food from your diet, you're probably not getting much salt, and we do actually need some salt in our diets.

[demmers789]

i've been having 3 hard boiled eggs the last three days for breakfast. for lunch I have had a palm sized portion of chicken, with about 2 cups of zuchinni/ summer squash. then i've had a handful of strawberries. I have had the same for dinner. I have been salting food, sleeping well, and getting plenty of water, too. 

[ShannonM816]

Try adding some vegetables to breakfast and fat to all your meals, and maybe have a serving of starchy vegetable like sweet potato, potato, root vegetable, winter squash, or plantains at one of your meals.

 

You don't say what your exercise is, but if it's strenuous, you should add at least a post-workout of a little bit of lean protein and some starchy vegetable, in addition to your three other meals -- a few bites of chicken breast or tuna with a little bit of sweet potato is a common post-workout choice. If you're exercising first thing in the morning or long enough since your last meal that you would be hungry during your workout, you can also add a pre-workout of protein & fat, again in addition to your other meals -- something like a hard boiled egg or some leftover meat with a little mayo or avocado or olives would work well here.

[demmers789]

Great advice, thank you! 

[jmcbn]

In addition to Shannon's great advice I'd just add that some spotting is quite common when switching from a SAD diet to a more paleo style way of eating. The starchy carbs as per Shannon's suggestion should help with this.

Of course if you are of reproductive age & are actively TTC spotting mid cycle can be what's known as an implantation bleed.

[Karen_Suep]

Of course if you are of reproductive age & are actively TTC spotting mid cycle can be what's known as an implantation bleed.

I came here to say this. Both times I've been pregnant, I spotted for a couple of days and realized I was pregnant.

If you aren't sexually active, this shouldn't be an issue though. It could be hormones trying to level out after so long on the SAD.

[Karen]

FYI, if pregnancy and implantation bleeding doesn't fit... Bleeding is caused by a drop in progesterone. Progesterone is higher after you ovulate and before your period. It's what helps you stay pregnant. Once your body figures out you're not pregnant every month, progesterone drops and bleeding starts soon after. That's a normal month.

Any changes that affect your hormones can also cause progesterone to drop temporarily. That drop again signals your body to bleed, even if it's not time for your normal period.

As you continue eating well, your body will settle into a new normal and there won't be those drastic drops in hormones until your normal period.

[backpackerchik]

Every time I change my diet or exercise in significant ways I always get my period, or spotting.  It sounds like the Whole30 is a big change for you and exercise as well. 

 

I'm on day 5 and yesterday I started spotting as well.  And yes, I've had some dizziness, too.  But this is not uncommon for me when I change my diet.  It is definitely not common for me to spot, though, and I take birth control pills.

 

I'm no health or medical expert, but there are impacts on your hormones, then it makes sense.

 

My old "regular" diet included soy products as well as milk, and I think removing those two things have impact on your hormones.

 

I just thought I'd share since my body reacts in a similar way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Freya1965]

Hi There,

I am on day 4 and after feeling very moody I started to wonder if the diet is affecting my hormones.  Today I am spotting.  Mind you I am almost 51 years old and have not had my period for 1 year and 4 months (hallelujah!) so spotting for me is a big surprise.  And I'm certainly not happy about my mood but figured my body is adjusting.  I spoke to a friend today who is also 50 and her period had ceased for 4 months but began again after only 9 days on the diet.  Why is this? 

Thanks!

[jmcbn]

Hi There,

I am on day 4 and after feeling very moody I started to wonder if the diet is affecting my hormones.  Today I am spotting.  Mind you I am almost 51 years old and have not had my period for 1 year and 4 months (hallelujah!) so spotting for me is a big surprise.  And I'm certainly not happy about my mood but figured my body is adjusting.  I spoke to a friend today who is also 50 and her period had ceased for 4 months but began again after only 9 days on the diet.  Why is this? 

Thanks!

As mentioned above it's most likely due to the change in hormones.

Spotting isn't entirely uncommon in women switching to a paleo based diet due to the lower carb aspect - Whole30is not a low carb diet per se, but if you're coming from SAD then the quantity of carbs you are consuming may have dropped substantially.

[ShannonM816]

Hi There,

I am on day 4 and after feeling very moody I started to wonder if the diet is affecting my hormones.  Today I am spotting.  Mind you I am almost 51 years old and have not had my period for 1 year and 4 months (hallelujah!) so spotting for me is a big surprise.  And I'm certainly not happy about my mood but figured my body is adjusting.  I spoke to a friend today who is also 50 and her period had ceased for 4 months but began again after only 9 days on the diet.  Why is this? 

Thanks!

 

I do feel compelled to throw this out there -- spotting is generally not a big deal, but definitely if it's anything more than that, or if it continues for very long, since you are post-menopausal, definitely talk to your doctor about it. 

 

The moodiness in the first few days is pretty normal, though -- days 4-5 are referred to on the timeline as the "Kill All The Things" days. 

[fancybird]

I'm getting my period two weeks early and I'm on birth control!  Whole30 causing hormones to adjust seems like a sufficient explanation to me.  Just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

[Stegner]

Hi There,

I am on day 4 and after feeling very moody I started to wonder if the diet is affecting my hormones.  Today I am spotting.  Mind you I am almost 51 years old and have not had my period for 1 year and 4 months (hallelujah!) so spotting for me is a big surprise.  And I'm certainly not happy about my mood but figured my body is adjusting.  I spoke to a friend today who is also 50 and her period had ceased for 4 months but began again after only 9 days on the diet.  Why is this? 

Thanks!

Post-menopausal spotting should always be checked by a doctor.

[Raineyrk]

I agree that it's a good idea to ask your doctor, especially if it doesn't go away. I had mid-cycle spotting for about 8 months that I thought were due to hormonal changes that I was unable to balance out and turns out my uterus was full of polyps. I had surgery to remove them and this is my first month with no spotting! 

[Tbone927]

Day 18 and I got the first period I have had in about four months (I'm 50). What different is I am having strong cramps and am wiped out like I have not been in many years...if someone says this diet does not effect your hormones, I'd beg to differ! Now, if I can just get those 30 year old curves back, we'd be all set! :-)