AmyS Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 I'm not sure if this is exactly the right place to put this, but I think it fits better here than anywhere else. I did my first Whole30 Sept. 23-Oct.23; and am doing my second one between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As part of what I'm doing (which is not required for the program, but is definitely required for my personal Whole30), I've been going without caffeine. I'm realizing that much of what I have attributed to life stress, daily ups and downs, and emotional angst/anxiety has come from the highs and lows of the caffeine/sugar/dairy connection (hello Starbucks Mochas!). As I'm about halfway through my second Whole30 this is becoming much more apparent. It's almost like my body waits until certain times a day to do certain things. Like, today I was driving to pick up my kids from school and my body felt great, but at the same time I was aware of an inner bodily wariness - something below the emotional level. That is the time when the sugar/dairy would crash and the caffeine would turn into nothing but jitters. And my body is used to going on the defensive at that time of day. Later today, as I was feeding the animals, making sure the children were actually IN the bath, and doing dinner prep, I realized again that I felt good. I was, again, aware of my body being sort of wary, as if any minute the HUUUGE crash was going to come. It didn't come. It hasn't yet. I think that there is an emotional component to fighting with and judging myself. But I've either been feeding it (literally), triggering it, or instigating it entirely, by my eating and caffeine/dairy/sugar habits over the years. It's like my body is feeling good and doesn't believe it. I am not sure if that makes sense. It feels like a level of consciousness within my body, deeper than subconscious thought, even. This is a follow-up, I think, to what happened in my first Whole30, when I felt like years and years of stress were literally being dissolved at the cellular level. Anyway, I wish I could describe all of the good things this has done for me. I'm planning how I'm going to enjoy my Dec. 25-Jan.1 break from Whole30 before going back on Jan. 1 or 2 (not sure which day yet). But my feeling right now is that THIS is the time of enjoyment. It's really really amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dominique Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Thanks for sharing! Caffeine was/is a major trigger for anxiety for me. I used to have about 4 cups of coffee every morning, now I only drink green tea! "It's like my body is feeling good and doesn't believe it." - I totally get it! Take care and good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSB1960 Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 Thanks for sharing, I can relate to so many to what you're saying about your body not believing how good it feels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Yeah, that's what it is! My body doesn't believe how good it feels! It's like a separate consciousness that I was never aware of. Huge stuff, this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emily Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 This is really interesting. I've had similar reactions but haven't been able to verbalize them as well. "Body going on the defensive" and "body feeling wary" describes well what I've felt... and it really kind of is like my body has emotions. Cool thoughts! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Yeah, it's so strange to experience this. It has altered my perception of consciousness, really. Which has, in turn, altered my perception of my entire life. Like, whoah, maaaan! Hehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennrider Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 I'm thinking of cutting out coffee in January. For some reason this scares me more than cutting out anything else. It's not a social thing. I never meet people for coffee. Since doing a W30, I don't need the coffee to get going. I used to grab my cup while hitting the alarm (great hubby brought it up to me before leaving for work). My caffeine consumption is limited to coffee before noon. Before W30 it was coffee in the am, soda or tea in the afternoon and another cup of coffee after dinner. No wonder I couldn't sleep! I don't know why I'm holding on to this habit. Glad to hear even more positive effects of ditching the joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca30 Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 Yeah, it's so strange to experience this. It has altered my perception of consciousness, really. Which has, in turn, altered my perception of my entire life. Like, whoah, maaaan! Hehe You are blowing my mind, man! LOL Anyway, I get you totally on this. Yesterday I was thinking to myself, I need a nap. Like my body was obnoxiouly tugging at me. Then I said out loud, "I am not even tired, what is going on?" I centered myself and thought about it and realized that I was just really stressed over a final exam so I did some yoga instead. Before Whole30, I would have just eaten some cookies and then hidden under the covers and slept the afternoon away. It is weird that I "hear" my body saying 2 different things now and I can tell which is being truthful and which is the autopilot that I used to follow without question. It is a little like having multiple personalities but not in a frightening sort of way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted December 14, 2012 Author Share Posted December 14, 2012 Ha - love that!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Strathdee Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 I heart this post. I've loved watching you work through your body's confusing signals and sort out what feedback you need to listen to. Great work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournegirl Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Great stuff Amy... I'm with you all the way.. Yesterday I thought I was going to have a coffee, hadn't had one for a few days, know I can't drink it too regularly.... So I poured it, had a mouthful then poured it down the sink! My body said sure you will enjoy the taste for a few minutes, but then you won't feel as good for the rest of the day... So my mind said... yep you are right so I chucked it out with no regrets! That's a first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyS Posted December 23, 2012 Author Share Posted December 23, 2012 I heart this post. I've loved watching you work through your body's confusing signals and sort out what feedback you need to listen to. Great work. Thank you so very very much! Great stuff Amy... I'm with you all the way.. Yesterday I thought I was going to have a coffee, hadn't had one for a few days, know I can't drink it too regularly.... So I poured it, had a mouthful then poured it down the sink! My body said sure you will enjoy the taste for a few minutes, but then you won't feel as good for the rest of the day... So my mind said... yep you are right so I chucked it out with no regrets! That's a first! Yeah, I just finished my second Whole30 and had one of my formerly favorite Starbucks coffee drinks, and I realized this isn't even fun anymore. It just isn't fun! The fun? Baking and scooping out a huge spaghetti squash. Haha (Making chocolate chili for dinner tonight too. The kids are going insane wanting me to make it now, but I have too many chores to blast through first.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournegirl Posted December 28, 2012 Share Posted December 28, 2012 I'm still thinking about having coffee LOL but havent actually succumbed. Its just not fun anymore as you said I would love to try spaghetti squash, its not well known here at all. I felt like something different from my usual soup with meat or leftovers or eggs for brekkie today so made pizza... yeah for breakfast..... its not swypo for me as I wasnt eating pizza before... I have to chuckle sometimes when I think how different some of my meals are. And today I ate chicken skin for the first time in about 20 years...fat is no longer the enemy! Luckily we can get really good produce here.... Best wishes for your third attempt, you are way ahead of me, I am still focusing on the gut healing, emotional healing will come after that if I am lucky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.