Day 8 - not feeling so great. Eating enough?

[Jennifer Bowman]

This is my second Whole30. I did one last summer and it was relatively easy and went really well. This time around has been much different because I just started Crossfit and last time I did NO exercise. For the record, I am 5'1" and 190 pounds. So I have a lot of weight to lose. Last night I came home from Crossfit, took a shower, ate dinner, and then got a raging headache and nausea. It was awful. Any advice?

Here's my food log from that day:

Breakfast: pulled pork, ham with homemade mayo, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 sweet potato

Lunch: egg drop soup (basically chicken broth with 2 eggs), salad with strawberries

Dinner: deconstructed BLT with homemade mayo, small cup of egg drop soup

After the headache, I ate a 1/4 of a giant sweet potato and some meat.

Today I have been feeling weak and have a headache which is making work hard. Here's what I ate today:

Breakfast/lunch: pork, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 of a giant sweet potato, salad with strawberries

snack: almonds

dinner: pork with salsa and other veggies, salad with strawberries, olives, 1/2 avocado, little bit of sweet potato

I work a weird shift so I'll probably eat a little bit more when I get home at about 9:30 pm.

So, not enough food? Not enough carbs? Not enough of the right food? I feel weak when I workout so any advice on combatting that would be much appreciated!

[Tom Denham]

CrossFit is pretty intense, so you probably need to have a pre-workout protein snack like a boiled egg or some nuts AND a post-workout meal immediately after you finish while you are still at the gym. The post-workout meal should be lean protein and some carbs... maybe chicken breast and some sweet potato.

Are you seasoning your food? Don't be afraid of using salt. You need some. Are you drinking a lot of water? You need a lot, like 10 glasses per day.

[Jennifer Bowman]

Thanks for the suggestions, Tom. I upped my carb intake a bit today and felt a lot better after my WOD. I will definitely do the pre- and post-workout snacks you suggested and see how they make me feel. I am guzzling water like crazy - will make sure my food is salted too (never thought that I actually need it but makes sense)!

[playwithcolor]

I tagged into this topic because of the title. Not the exact same question but here goes: This is my first Whole 30. I have been dancing around the Paleo diet for over a year but never sticking to it. I am 5'7" and low 190's. I have felt pretty good all the first week, eating three meals a day with protein, veggies and fat. No cheats. Yesterday, I think I may have not eaten enough, had a headache a lot of the day. Today (my day 8), I have been trying to not short change myself on anything and I have REALLY been hungry today. My day's food:

3 eggs scrambled in a small amount of coconut oil, kale, onion, mushroom and red bell pepper sauteed in some coconut oil. Lunch: fresh spinach sauteed in a small amount of coconut oil with left over chicken curry (chicken, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion and garlic) with some broccoli and cauliflower rice mixed in. One large raw carrot, one small stalk of celery. Dinner: 4 ounces of left-over salmon in coconut oil, yellow squash and onions, yes, again, cooked in coconut oil.steamed broccoli and a fresh green salad (romaine and spinach combined)with a few extras like onion, red bell pepper, carrot celery with EVOO and Balsamic vinegar. I also had a snack of coconut "chips"-plain shaved coconut pieces out of the bag before supper because I was so hungry. I really feel like I "overdid" the fat today but it was a conscious effort to try to feel "not hungry!" It didn't work. I am only walking for exercise right now, no Crossfit for me...Why am I so hungry all of a sudden? Am I not eating enough protein?! Tried to really eat a lot of veggies today, too. Any help would be appreciated!

[playwithcolor]

I forgot to say, in an effort to really kick my sweet tooth full in the mouth, I have not been eating any fruit since i started the Whole 30.

[Rachael2288]

I would say you are definitely not eating enough protein. I am 5'5" and around 125-130 and eat 3 eggs with some other protein most mornings for protein. Then at least 6oz of meat/fish for lunch and dinner. You NEED more protein, and it sounds like you are doing fine with fat. I eat a LOT of coconut in all forms everyday and don't do Crossfit or anything strenous like that.

If you are hungry, just EAT MORE REAL FOOD and don't worry if it may feel like a lot because after 30 days of doing this it will all settle and work itself out!

[Susan W]

I tagged into this topic because of the title. Not the exact same question but here goes: This is my first Whole 30. I have been dancing around the Paleo diet for over a year but never sticking to it. I am 5'7" and low 190's. I have felt pretty good all the first week, eating three meals a day with protein, veggies and fat. No cheats. Yesterday, I think I may have not eaten enough, had a headache a lot of the day. Today (my day 8), I have been trying to not short change myself on anything and I have REALLY been hungry today. My day's food:

3 eggs scrambled in a small amount of coconut oil, kale, onion, mushroom and red bell pepper sauteed in some coconut oil. Lunch: fresh spinach sauteed in a small amount of coconut oil with left over chicken curry (chicken, coconut milk, tomatoes, onion and garlic) with some broccoli and cauliflower rice mixed in. One large raw carrot, one small stalk of celery. Dinner: 4 ounces of left-over salmon in coconut oil, yellow squash and onions, yes, again, cooked in coconut oil.steamed broccoli and a fresh green salad (romaine and spinach combined)with a few extras like onion, red bell pepper, carrot celery with EVOO and Balsamic vinegar. I also had a snack of coconut "chips"-plain shaved coconut pieces out of the bag before supper because I was so hungry. I really feel like I "overdid" the fat today but it was a conscious effort to try to feel "not hungry!" It didn't work. I am only walking for exercise right now, no Crossfit for me...Why am I so hungry all of a sudden? Am I not eating enough protein?! Tried to really eat a lot of veggies today, too. Any help would be appreciated!

As I read your food list, I have a feeling you aren't eating enough. The eggs are good, why "a small amount of coconut oil". I can't tell what your veggie portions are. I eat 2-3 cups per meal. I am guessing on the amount because I don't measure or weigh anything. 4 oz of salmon is a very small amount. You also need more fat. You should be having a thumb sized amount of fat or even 2 besides what you are cooking with. I often have 1/4 to 1/2 an avocado with my meals. Sometimes I slather homemade mayo on my spaghetti squash or whatever veggie I am having. You may need a starchy vegetable like a sweet potato. Have you read the meal templates? It will help you judge the portion sizes without measuring. Now..for the love of Whole 9, why do you think you overdid the fat today? You need more fat! :0)