Could use some encouragement regarding eating

[AmyS]

Howdy folks, I'm on day twenty-something of my second Whole30 (scheduled to hit Day 30 on Dec. 22, but I can never keep track of which actual day I'm on).

I'm going through some stress, and all I feel that I want to eat is noncompliant. I did consider wether I should convert my Whole30 to a WholeTwentySomething, but I decided against that. Frankly, the foods that I want to eat do not, any longer, feel as if they'll make me feel better.

The problem now is that I'm just not eating much. If I were ill I'd think this was probably OK, and I suspect that for a day or two it's really all right. I'm not doing any heavy activity, the kids are home from school, I'm finally in a space where I can rest from this stress (and that feels wonderful).

I just need some encouragement to go ahead and eat the foods I have in my fridge and freezer. I think if someone set some food down in front of me I'd eat it, but mustering the energy to fix it is a challenge. I got convenience foods for the children (not Hamburger Helper level of convenience, but not compliant for what I'm doing here with Whole30). I just need to eat.

Someone remind me that my stress will lessen if I'll eat regularly even if I don't feel like it.

For now I'm off to eat an avocado (or maybe two, I haven't had much fat in the last few days). I had three eggs scrambled in olive oil for breakfast.

Gimme the speech about eating and feeling better. I'm listening.

[MJam]

First off *BIG HUGS* you are doing awesome!!! You have come so far AND you are on your second W30...YOU RULE! Don't sell yourself short.

Now after the support, the pep talk. I totally get the wanting easy convenience stuff, cooking does get kinda tiring after awhile...why do people have to eat all the time? sheesh! but this too is a phase and it will pass then you will be showing up Julia Child. My guess is your are somewhere between day 21 and 25 based on the crappy feelings (soooo dreading these days, mine are coming up soon!)

Go eat whatever compliant sounds good you, listen to your body, trust your body (super hard to do, I know!!) You are doing something great for your health, you got this!!

This is where we would fist bump in real life so we'll do it virtually... *fist bump*

[AmyS]

First off *BIG HUGS* you are doing awesome!!! You have come so far AND you are on your second W30...YOU RULE! Don't sell yourself short.

Now after the support, the pep talk. I totally get the wanting easy convenience stuff, cooking does get kinda tiring after awhile...why do people have to eat all the time? sheesh! but this too is a phase and it will pass then you will be showing up Julia Child. My guess is your are somewhere between day 21 and 25 based on the crappy feelings (soooo dreading these days, mine are coming up soon!)

Go eat whatever compliant sounds good you, listen to your body, trust your body (super hard to do, I know!!) You are doing something great for your health, you got this!!

This is where we would fist bump in real life so we'll do it virtually... *fist bump*

Thanks for the encouragement and *fist bump* right back! I think you're right, whether or not I am eating the rather astonishingly large meals I've been enjoying, everything I eat has been compliant, and has truly sustained me. I am reasonably certain that without Whole30 this particular stress would have laid me flat. As it is, I am going to be all right.

Thank you so much for that encouragement - you said things I didn't even realize I needed to hear. Now I'm feeling actually kinda great about myself. Happysniffle... thanks again!

[kb0426]

You know Amy, you are always so supportive of others here. What would you tell someone else that came here with the same concerns?

I love what MJam said - trust your body. It is leading you to eggs and avocados afterall!

Hugs to you!

[AmyS]

You know Amy, you are always so supportive of others here. What would you tell someone else that came here with the same concerns?

I love what MJam said - trust your body. It is leading you to eggs and avocados afterall!

Hugs to you!

Oh wow, that is so sweet of you to say. I suppose that I would say, essentially, what you folks are saying - sticking with Whole30 foods is great, and following my body's lead to eggs and avocados means my body is really, truly, responding to clean eating. It's good to go for good choices when under stress, and it will level out soon enough.

I had a great nap this afternoon. And I look forward to a long night of sleep tonight. Phew.

[Rebecca30]

Naps right the world, don't they?

Anyway, my suggestion is to make a big pot of soup. It isn't too labor intensive and it is soothing to slurp and it makes a lot so it is something to nuke in a mug when you don't have the energy to cook. Now while I was typing this I remembered that you are in Hawaii. So maybe gazpacho! LOL

[AmyS]

LOL

I discovered I had about a serving of spaghetti squash in my fridge, so I tossed that with an avocado, a tomato, and a handful of macadamia nuts. Sprinkled cumin and salt, drizzled with olive oil and golden balsamic vinegar. Delish.

Tomorrow if I rest well tonight I'll re-up my protein intake and add back in the spinach that I usually eat at least twice a day.

I like the soup idea - I'm saving making bone broths for my January Whole30. I used to make bone broth regularly, but I used the carcasses of storebought rotisserie chickens - that wouldn't be compliant, so I'm going to make the real deal in January. I presume I'll find all sorts of ways to use the stuff. I keep a tetra pack of non-compliant chicken broth in the fridge for heating thins up for my kids (I don't have a microwave).

Thanks again, all. Looking forward to more sleep tonight. Going ahead and refilling that clonazepam prescription helped. I don't need it always, but my doc says I'm one of those people who just need it in my cabinet at all times. Phew!

[jeepifer]

Late to the party here, and MJam and others already said things so much more eloquently than I could. But I wanted to add my heartfelt hugs and encouragement. Take care of yourself, and the rest will follow! Hugs!!!

[AmyS]

Thank you all! I rested very much better last night, and I'm looking forward to a visit from a friend today, so that good energy is feelin' positive. And I'm gonna cook up some hard boiled eggs to have on hand for situations like this when cooking up some protein just ain't gonna happen.

I can't believe I didn't even think about getting a Starbucks mocha this whole time. Haha - didn't even occur to me. I was thinking of a sandwich, but then the thought of the bread gave me indigestion, so I went with spaghetti squash for the carbs. Added plenty of fat, and it worked. Today I'll balance out with more protein.

Good stuff, this Whole30. Good stuff.

[SDzombieGirl]

AmyS you are so close to your 30 days! Woo hoo : ) This makes me super happy for you! I hope the trials you faced earlier this week are in the past and you are feeling better and are ready to end your W30 on a high note. We will all be excited to hear how you did this weekend and we will be here to root you on as you continue your journey to be healthy and happy post W30. Unless of course you decide to make it a W45...or a W60. Ha ha.

[luvbnhealthy]

Amy, I wish I would have done what you did and maybe now I wouldn't be hanging out with the Sugar Dragon again. I got to Day23 and just let a little of this and a little of that slide in during a roadtrip. Then it just partially fell apart. A little dairy (Starbucks lattes), a little pasta and rosemary/olive oil bread, and TOO many dessert items - things I really didn't miss until I let them back into my life. So, I am slowly swinging back towards Whole30 - actually Whole100 - starting January. As a fitness enthusiast, I know my body will benefit more by cutting the junk. I know I slept better and that was the biggest bonus! Keep it up!!!

[Candice@allthingsyogi]

It's amazing how a nap and a little bit 'o' healthy fat from an avocado, olive oil, or coconut oil can make a difference.

I can completely relate with stress and its relation to low energy and decreased stamina for whole 30'in on.

Stress is a nasty beast.

The more we can eliminate and deal with it in a healthier way-the better! meditation and good self-care!

[Fenderbender]

If you can possibly do it..... Get in a sweaty workout to get some endorphins flowing....even if its just 20 min fast walk.... I know it's like pulling teeth to start, but five min in you will be glad you did...... Be good to yourself, take care of yourself first and foremost, so you can do your family justice and give them the attn they deserve

That's my two cents.....

[AmyS]

AmyS you are so close to your 30 days! Woo hoo : ) This makes me super happy for you! I hope the trials you faced earlier this week are in the past and you are feeling better and are ready to end your W30 on a high note. We will all be excited to hear how you did this weekend and we will be here to root you on as you continue your journey to be healthy and happy post W30. Unless of course you decide to make it a W45...or a W60. Ha ha.

Thank you! I am realizing that this particular source of stress will be with me for a while. Probably for about as long as I let it, honestly. But it feels like something that's going to hang around, and then go away, and then pop up unexpectedly. I'm trying to keep good fats and proteins around... I'll be finishing the current Whole30 and then taking a break until Jan. 2 when I'll start up again.

Amy, I wish I would have done what you did and maybe now I wouldn't be hanging out with the Sugar Dragon again. I got to Day23 and just let a little of this and a little of that slide in during a roadtrip. Then it just partially fell apart. A little dairy (Starbucks lattes), a little pasta and rosemary/olive oil bread, and TOO many dessert items - things I really didn't miss until I let them back into my life. So, I am slowly swinging back towards Whole30 - actually Whole100 - starting January. As a fitness enthusiast, I know my body will benefit more by cutting the junk. I know I slept better and that was the biggest bonus! Keep it up!!!

Honestly, I came THIS close to declaring it a WholeTwentySomething and getting a sandwich. It was just that I was feeling so stressed that NOTHING felt good on my stomach, so the sandwich idea got nixed, and then I thought, well, if I'm not going to want to eat a sandwich, there's no point in going off the Whole30 - nothing is going to feel great on the ole' tum right now anyway, so might as well keep on with compliant foods that I can manage to shove in. It wasn't heroism so much as stress-induced nausea. heh.

It's amazing how a nap and a little bit 'o' healthy fat from an avocado, olive oil, or coconut oil can make a difference.

I can completely relate with stress and its relation to low energy and decreased stamina for whole 30'in on.

Stress is a nasty beast.

The more we can eliminate and deal with it in a healthier way-the better! meditation and good self-care!

Yes, I'm finding that I need to, on the one hand, slow way down, not try to accomplish so much in a day. I just can't handle it with all the stuff running through my brain these days. And on the other hand, do things I REALLY enjoy each and every day. So it's a matter of putting aside some things that can wait to be done a bit later, resting more, and taking up some things that are really fun, where possible.

[AmyS]

If you can possibly do it..... Get in a sweaty workout to get some endorphins flowing....even if its just 20 min fast walk.... I know it's like pulling teeth to start, but five min in you will be glad you did...... Be good to yourself, take care of yourself first and foremost, so you can do your family justice and give them the attn they deserve

That's my two cents.....

This does make sense. I think I'll be able to do that this weekend. Those endorphins do help to shift the mindset, yes.

[Kirsteen]

Massive high 5s for not giving up! I'm the type that when I'm stressed I can't think about food without suferring nausea. However, on W30, I found that eating actually helped. I always keep some meat that I've cooked and sliced in the freezer so that I can pull it out and heat up without any effort. For real emergencies I keep tinned green beans, tinned tuna and tinned pumkin so I can always throw something together. I also find soup, as someone suggested quite soothing and, not easy I know, but if I can do absolutely nothing for about 15 mins after eating, I find that really helps.

[AmyS]

Massive high 5s for not giving up! I'm the type that when I'm stressed I can't think about food without suferring nausea. However, on W30, I found that eating actually helped. I always keep some meat that I've cooked and sliced in the freezer so that I can pull it out and heat up without any effort. For real emergencies I keep tinned green beans, tinned tuna and tinned pumkin so I can always throw something together. I also find soup, as someone suggested quite soothing and, not easy I know, but if I can do absolutely nothing for about 15 mins after eating, I find that really helps.

Yeah that's how it's been, too nauseated to find eating appealing. I like the idea of cooking up some things in advance (something I haven't managed yet - planning to implement that as a normal strategy in the new year). Hadn't thought about doing nothing for 15 minutes after eating. I am going to try that today.

[melbournegirl]

Amy I well remember hitting this slump too not so long ago. And I usually LOVE cooking. I made a few salads in advance and cooked some steak and chicken to keep in the fridge. So when I woke up blah I just had a small piece of steak or a boiled egg and a glass of compliant tomato juice, lunch I picked at some chicken and premade salad etc. then I browsed through some recipe sites for inspiration....

[AmyS]

Amy I well remember hitting this slump too not so long ago. And I usually LOVE cooking. I made a few salads in advance and cooked some steak and chicken to keep in the fridge. So when I woke up blah I just had a small piece of steak or a boiled egg and a glass of compliant tomato juice, lunch I picked at some chicken and premade salad etc. then I browsed through some recipe sites for inspiration....

Thanks Juzbo. I'm really proud to report that I'm at the end of my second Whole30 (tonight I just had my last dinner), and I made it! The last couple of days I was able to eat two full meals each day - the stress of the previous days had kept me from eating that much, but everything I did manage to eat was compliant. I've never gone through something like this and even tried to eat healthy, so I'm really really proud of myself.

I appreciate the encouragement to plan ahead for times when I might not want to take time to fix anything. I think I'll build that in starting in January when I get my next Whole30 (Whole100?) going.

[AmyS]

Oh - Kirsteen - your idea about not doing anything for fifteen minutes after eating? Solid gold. With the stress I've been feeling, just moving after eating has been difficult. Giving myself permission to let everything settle was great. And the best news was that today, for the first time since this stressful stuff started, I actually felt hungry! Awesome progress.

[Kirsteen]

So glad you're feeling better. I think we sometimes forget that when food hits our stomach, our body has to use energy to start digesting it. I know, for me, letting it start that process without making it use energy on aything else definitely works best. Either that or I'm just naturally lazy .

[AmyS]

So glad you're feeling better. I think we sometimes forget that when food hits our stomach, our body has to use energy to start digesting it. I know, for me, letting it start that process without making it use energy on aything else definitely works best. Either that or I'm just naturally lazy .

I think it makes sense. We're so used to eating and then dashing off to the next thing. Why not sit for just fifteen minutes?