tallteenbigheart Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Hi everyone! I just recently started the Whole30, and I read through a lot of stuff to avoid the common mistakes, but I still think I might be doing something wrong. I add enough fat and food into my diet, I think, because I can easily not feel hungry for 4-5 hours (cooking fat + avocado or olives). For some reason, I still feel really lightheaded. I'm tired (which I expected), but when I get up I feel a little bit dizzy for a few seconds. I don't have any headaches, so maybe this is my version of it? Other than what I just mentioned, I'm not feeling any of the "hangover" symptoms. It just feels like my stomach doesn't want food, but my body is asking for it. When I workout, I can't bring myself to eat pre- or post-workout meals because I'm just so not hungry. I started Whole30 to help recover from Binge Eating Disorder, and had hoped to change my relationship with food and feel hungry again for the first time in years. I'm really not sure what to do. I've read through some forums that say not being hungry in the beginning is actually not normal. Do I stuff myself anyways with 3 meals + 2 mini meals a day if my stomach doesn't want it? It's what I've been doing since my freshman year of high school with carbs and sugar anyways. Is the lightheadedness normal? I'm really lost at what I should do! I'm 17 years old, by the way, if that is important. Thank you in advance for your response!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ShannonM816 Posted January 4, 2018 Moderators Share Posted January 4, 2018 Dizziness and lightheadedness aren't normal. Be sure you're salting your food and drinking plenty of water. If you continue to feel dizzy and lightheaded, you might want to talk to a doctor, just to be sure there's not anything else going on that needs to be addressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallteenbigheart Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 @ShannonM816 Thank you for your response! I just ate and my lightheadedness went away (at least for now). So do I just eat 3 meals and pre/post-workout meals even if I'm not hungry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalla Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Quote So do I just eat 3 meals and pre/post-workout meals even if I'm not hungry? Are you not hungry or do you feel full? I'm guessing your hunger/full signals are a little messed up right now if you're recovering from an eating disorder. When you eat do you get to the point of fullness or does it feel like nothing changes? Do you get hungry if you start eating? Sometimes putting some food in your stomach give it a little kick to go "oh yeah, I want this." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanlady07 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Yeah I agree with the mod, make sure you are having enough electrolytes. Many people go from high sodium to low sodium intake because of lack of processed foods. As for the pre wo and post wo and being unable to eat it, you don't HAVE to have pre and post wo meals. It depends on how high of intensity your workout is. If you skip the workout mini meals, I would just make sure that your next meal has a starchy veggie to replenish your glycogen storage in your muscles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berry straw Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Did you give up coffee? I have very low blood pressure, and when I gave up coffee it was horrible. I also experienced this when I started my first Whole 30. I think it was a combo of low blood pressure and not enough to eat. Really try and eat more. My doctor advised tons of water and liberal salt for my blood pressure and everything has regulated well now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandiW Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Everything everyone else said and go consult a dr if it persists, but also the way I feel hungry has changed significantly since W30. I don't feel hunger as a food craving, I more feel tired, headachy, off. It took awhile for me to realize that this was my body telling me I needed to eat! Also, making sure you're getting enough electrolytes is key. Pick up a bottle of smart water (which is actually just water and electrolytes) and see if that helps. Make sure you're eating varied fruits and veg. If you've been avoiding potatoes, stop. They have potassium (more than bananas) and other key things your body needs. Hope your feeling better soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallteenbigheart Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 @Shalla I honestly don't know. I just feel full all the time and, as I was before, get hungry for *specific foods*. I roasted a chicken last night, and even though my stomach felt satisfied it gurgled because my house just smelled SO good! @amandakristine Thank you! I wasn't sure if they were required or not. My workouts are not intense enough to require 2 mini meals. @berry straw I only drank coffee in dire >4 hours of sleep on the day of an exam situation, so maybe 1-3 times a month. I haven't had any since I started W30, but I haven't ever really been addicted or anything. I'll add more salt! @RandiW Thank you for sharing! So is it normal if your stomach doesn't feel "empty"? And I made some sweet potato shepherd's pie so I am eating them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalla Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Interesting, I'm not entirely sure what to tell you about feeling full and not hungry most of the time. If eating doesn't actually make you feel worse (overfull, nauseous, etc), I'd say go ahead and make sure you're eating three meals to the template 4-5 hours apart and skip the pre/post workout meals. If you're able I'd also really recommend seeing if you can find a therapist or nutritional coach or dietitian with experience with Binge Eating Disorder and see if they can help. Some of your experience may be specific to that disorder and talking about it with someone who knows what they're doing could be super helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandiW Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 @tallteenbigheart - my experience is that I no longer get that "empty" stomach feeling the same way. I feel ready to eat. It's hard to explain and I expect many people's experiences with hunger are different. But my body doesn't feel overly full when I stick to W30, but I can feel the difference between a full (but never stuffed anymore) stomach and ready to eat. Like everyone said, your hormones are probably going to need a little bit to recover. Even if it's over a longer period of time or slightly smaller meals to start - do eat, even if you're not hungry. Maybe start with something small and then wait 20 minutes. Eating the teaser might kick in your readiness to eat more. Your comment about being full but want to eat the chicken makes me think that your satiety hormones are going to take time and you probably just need to eat more at meals, even if those meals take longer to eat than the average person. And again, I would agree with Shalla that you might seek guidance from an ED specialist who can support and give advice. <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ultrarunnergirl Posted January 5, 2018 Moderators Share Posted January 5, 2018 21 hours ago, Shalla said: Are you not hungry or do you feel full? I'm guessing your hunger/full signals are a little messed up right now if you're recovering from an eating disorder. When you eat do you get to the point of fullness or does it feel like nothing changes? Do you get hungry if you start eating? Sometimes putting some food in your stomach give it a little kick to go "oh yeah, I want this." Yes, you should eat a minimum of three meals that fit the Meal Template. It's common not to feel hungry when your body has been relying on sugar. Make sure you are eating Meal 1 within one hour of waking, that will help and is important. Even if you can only get a few bites down, wrap up the rest and eat it as soon as you feel even a little hungry mid-morning. Hang in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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