Day 28 and Brain Fog and Disorientation are at all-time high

[Huzbuzz]

I was a pretty clean eater by most standards prior to the whole30 and am in pretty good shape (body fat usually around 16% and sometimes lower). I started the whole30 to figure out what was causing severe bloating and abdominal discomfort. That has gone away for the most part, but I am noticing it this week (PMS week).

Here is the issue....the brain fog and disorientation has been getting worse. I meditate, try to focus and try to manage my moods, but I don't feel well. It's actually harder for me to get out of bed now than it was before. I haven't managed even one morning workout on the whole30 (all have to be in the afternoon).

General day...

M1 - 2 eggs and 2 egg white omelet, salsa with avocado and a side of fruit. Coffee...French press...black.

M2 - Protein salad with lots of spinach and some fruit, like cherries if for some reason I'm still feeling hungry

M3 - Cod with beets salad and cauliflower rice or something like the meat sauce with spaghetti squash.

I will have a kombucha or some mineral water at nigh or in the afternoon. And if I am very hungry between lunch and dinner, I will have some nuts or an epic bar.

I get plenty of water a day...more than 1/2 my body weight in ounces.

Plenty of sleep (why am I needing so much).

Not missing the sugar at all. Just missing the wine surprisingly. B12 and vitamin D should be good based on the foods I'm eating.

What is wrong? I gave up my Shakeology to do the plan, but I'm wondering if I'm missing some type of vitamin that maybe my body isn't getting now.

I"m in NYC this weekend. Going to favorite pizza place and wanting to throw this plan out the window because I feel cranky and like poo. I had tiger blood on a competition plan before but I had to eat too much and too much protein.

Almost there and feeling conflicted and frustrated. Help.

[jmcbn]

What is wrong? I gave up my Shakeology to do the plan, but I'm wondering if I'm missing some type of vitamin that maybe my body isn't getting now.

 

Fat.

You're missing fat.

You only mention fat at meal one and you should be having a genrous serving of fat at each meal, and preWO if necessary.

The human brain is made up of 60% fat so we need to eat fat for brain health (hello brain fog/disorientation), for energy (hello sleep), and for the transportation of fat soluble vitamins throughout the body. It will also help quash any cravings as it will provide those same feelings of pleasure you get from sugar, but without any of the pain.

You're also completely missing veg at meal one - fruit should NOT push the veg off of your plate and should be eaten with or as part of a meal - and given the lack of fat & veg you're probably a little high on fruit which could also contribute to the brain fog as it will impact mood/energy/appetite etc.

Try increasing your fat intake - fairly drastically I'd say over the next few days to catch up & get yourself in a better place menatlly & physically - and then see how you go.

[Huzbuzz]

I cook with fat with all my meals...either coconut oil, olive oil or ghee. So by veggies do mean more green veggies? My example meals above include salsa (like 1/4 - 1/2 cup) and cauliflower and beets. I was using the meal plan template as a base and the meals in the whole30 book (recommendations for sides, etc), so I'm confused as to what I've been messing up for 30 days.

I appreciate the response. If it's leafy greens or fat, that is easy. I can bring on the avocado and even have a tsp of coconut oil for fun.

For the fruit, I'm getting leg cramps, which I only got while pregnant. So is there a specific fruit you would recommend?

Thanks again.

[Karen_Suep]

Cooking fat is negligible so adding more fat will help. Be generous with it too. I eat a lot of mayo with my veggies... At least two tablespoons.

There's nothing in fruit nutritionally that isn't available in vegetables

Leg cramps can be due to lack of potassium, salt, or magnesium.

[Huzbuzz]

Ok. Got it. Thanks. I'll take a break from the fruit.

[ladyshanny]

I cook with fat with all my meals...either coconut oil, olive oil or ghee. So by veggies do mean more green veggies? My example meals above include salsa (like 1/4 - 1/2 cup) and cauliflower and beets. I was using the meal plan template as a base and the meals in the whole30 book (recommendations for sides, etc), so I'm confused as to what I've been messing up for 30 days.

I appreciate the response. If it's leafy greens or fat, that is easy. I can bring on the avocado and even have a tsp of coconut oil for fun.

For the fruit, I'm getting leg cramps, which I only got while pregnant. So is there a specific fruit you would recommend?

Thanks again.

You haven't been doing anything wrong for 30 days.  I think jmcbn might've missed the fact that there is mayo in the protein salad, right? That's a fat.  Your dinner doesn't note any though.

 

You don't have to ditch fruit unless you want to.  For cramping you could make sure that you are salting your food liberally, remembering that once we remove processed/packaged foods from our diets, our sodium intake can drop as much as 75%.  You could also try a magnesium supplement and if you want, eat a banana from time to time. I've been cycle-commuting lately and the days I cramp up the most, I make a point to salt the heck out of my post-workout starchy veggie.  Usually a healthy pinch of diamond salt onto the sweet potato. Helps a lot.