Making the switch...

[willowgrove]

I began Whole30 Monday, April 1st.

I'm about 50 lbs. overweight.

Today is Day 6 for me.

I'm just figuring out the whole "Forum" thing and just realized I should be logging my daily updates within this "Whole30 Log"

Day 1 and Day 2 were my best days.

I felt energy and a positive mood shift.

Day 3 I was a little more tired.

Day 4 was my worst day as far as hunger, frustration, temptations, crankiness and lethargy. (dinner fail when attempting to make no-fuss Salmon Cakes).

Day 5 I was still tired and recovering from the dinner fail from the night before. (which contributed a lot to my crankiness mentioned in Day 4).

I'm feeling a bit bloated this morning and a little discouraged.

My spouse, who has been doing this with me, has been like the poster boy for the Whole30 program as far as "this is how you'll probably be feeling" each day. He's been to the "t" based on the information I'm receiving in the daily emails I signed up for. I feel like I'm two or three days behind him so I'm panicking. He's not typically a fan of doing stuff like this but because I've been packing his lunches, making his breakfasts and dinners the process for him has been relatively easy. He had a couple of harder (cranky) days but the last two he's come home mentioning how he knows he's already lost weight, he can tell a difference in his clothes, he's got more energy now, he's not bloated at all and so many of pre-whole30 problems are already being alleviated. (heart burn, etc)

The only difference in the eating choices I can see is that he's not eating almonds like I've been doing when I'm feeling hungry. I'm going to eliminate those completely and see if it makes a difference. I also feel that my portions are just about the same as his. Sometimes I go for 2nds. Not sure if I should worry about that at this point. When beginning this program, I actually weigh more than him for the first time in my life - by like 20 lbs. - very discouraging)

I won't quit. I'm going to stay strong. I'm looking forward to the support here in the forums and to the results I experience.

[kb0426]

First, breath.

Second, if you are eating almonds because you are hungry, it is quite possible you are not eating enough at meals. It is so easy to fall into the old "diet" mindset of calorie and portion restriction. The whole30 is about breaking that cycle. Make sure you are eating to the meal template and getting enough protein, fat and veggies at every meal. For me, the lighter my meal is on fat the more likely I find myself hungry within 4 hours or so as opposed to being able to make it my normal 6.

You ARE going to feel better. You will get there. Don't compare your progress or your weight to your husband's. While it is awesome that you are doing this together, this is YOUR journey!

[beachchic85]

Men are hardwired differently then us ladies, the have more muscle mass so therefore burn fat faster. They don't have the hormone issues and men generally crave meat and potatoes. Hang in there and I agree with kb0426 this is your journey, embrace it, learn about YOU, what your body likes and doesn't like, how you feel. Things will change. For example yesterday I was feeling great less bloat and then I had cauliflower and instantly was bloat and yucky feeling. You can do this we all are in this together. Good luck!!

[LoisH99]

Maybe it would lighten the load a bit if he took over some of the food preparation duties? My spouse has been doing whole30 with me. I am a stay at home parent, so food planning, procurement and preparation falls to me most of the time, but the spouse takes care of his own breakfasts in the mornings and makes his own lunch to take to work (or at least has a plan for finding food at lunchtime). If he knows I am not going to home for dinner, he does not expect that I'll have something waiting for him.

[willowgrove]

Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement.

It's day 8 for me and I'm still feeling bloated and moments of low energy.

It's interesting to me about the cauliflower comment from beachchic85 - I had cauliflower rice last night and was very bloated afterwards. Why is that? So frustrating because it's so yummy and I actually really enjoy eating it.

I totally wanted to throw in the towel on Day 7 when there were leftover homemade chocolate chip cookies my two teen girls made and leftover pizza they ordered - both things were for some friends they had over Saturday night. I was totally strong on Saturday when the cookies were baking and the pizza arrived. I wasn't struggling at all with temptation or cravings. Sunday, Day 7, was a whole different story. I was so ready to finish off those cookies and pizza. I am SO glad I made it through that!!

I'm using that Coconut Aminos quite a bit but find that I have to use a lot to get the flavor right. I went through a whole bottle last week and the new one I bought today is about 1/2 empty after making a chicken stir fry for my family of 5. I also used an entire jar of Ghee last week for all of my meals. Is this normal consumption or over-consumption.

Thanks again for your help, support and recommendations as I journey along.

[Erika Rj]

Hello!! I started the very same day than you!!! Oh!! You made me feel great!! We both are experiencing the same!! My worst day was the 6th, my period came and also I was so tired!!!!

Fortunately we are on 8th day now!! We are more relaxed and more adapted right? I'm happy to able able to share here!!

Keep on track, keep it clean!!

[Erika Rj]

Hey have you been dreaming about eating some sweet carbs like chocolate or donuts??

[willowgrove]

Hey have you been dreaming about eating some sweet carbs like chocolate or donuts??

I've actually had several dreams where I've accidentally eaten something I wasn't supposed to and was so upset knowing I had to start the Whole30 all over. I'm almost paranoid about making a wrong choice without realizing it. Ha!!

Thanks so much for your support and comment!!

[Jinkse21]

Maybe if you posted what you eat throughout the day, it would help in seeing what could be affecting how you feel. I started on 4/2 and have been logging since then. i have looked back to see what I have eaten, especially on the days, I didn't feel so great and realized changes I need to make such as eating a little less fat/protein or eat a little more, the need to eat more veggies, etc.

Definitely don't compare your progress to your husband's; in fact, don't compare it to any on here! I find myself doing that but then realize we are all on our own journeys to becoming healthier and very rarely does one way to do things work for everyone, if ever.

Good luck on this adventure and know that you have lots of support here!

[willowgrove]

jinkse21

"Maybe if you posted what you eat throughout the day, it would help in seeing what could be affecting how you feel. I started on 4/2 and have been logging since then. i have looked back to see what I have eaten, especially on the days, I didn't feel so great and realized changes I need to make such as eating a little less fat/protein or eat a little more, the need to eat more veggies, etc."

That's a great idea!! I'll do that right now.

DAY 10:

Breakfast: 3 egg omelette with broccoli (not my typical veggies but it made the process more simple by using my leftover steamed broccoli). Sugar Snap Peas on the side to complete my veggie serving. I normally make a green smoothie for some additional veggies but completely forgot to make it this morning. It usually consists of water, spinach, 1 banana, 1/2 cup of frozen mixed berries

Lunch: 6 Tuna Cakelets drizzled with some hot sauce on a bed of spinach with 3 cherry tomatoes and more broccoli. Ingredients in the cakelets included 1 can of whole30-approved tuna, shredded carrots, black olives, 1 egg, 1 TBSP. coconut flour. They were cooked in a hot skillet using grapeseed oil.

Right now I'm having a serious chocolate craving. ugh!

Maybe I should make that green smoothie instead?

Yesterday I didn't even eat lunch because I was so exhausted and no appetite. I know I shouldn't skip a meal but I'm usually really hungry and since I really wasn't feeling like anything, I didn't.

Today I'm really tired again. I think I'm still recovering from a late night on Tuesday (11:30 p.m. - that's really late for me) and an early morning on Wednesday (up at 3:15 to fix my spouse's lunch and breakfast before he left for his early Tuesday meetings).

I'm signed up for the daily emails and I just read about the importance of sleep so I know I've got to be more mindful of that.

Thanks again for your support everyone!!

[willowgrove]

Day 10 Dinner: 1 Salmon Cake on a bed of romaine, lettuce and shredded carrots. Drizzled a little balsamic on it. Steamed cauliflower and red peppers. Salmon was cooked with grape seed oil. Treated myself with a frozen banana after dinner. It's my first whole fruit since starting the Whole30 - aside from the frozen berries and banana in my Green Smoothie I eat with breakfast. I'm trying to make it a point to not reach for fruit when I'm having a sugar craving.

Dinner was satisfying but boring.

I'm not hungry.

I didn't give in to the chocolate cravings I was having earlier this afternoon!!

I hope to see some sort of results soon.

[willowgrove]

Day 11 Breakfast: 2 egg omelette with cherry tomatoes cooked in Ghee, 1/2 cup sugar snap peas, 1/2 c. steamed broccoli, handful of almonds.

Slept like a rock last night. (I was also completely exhausted).

Feeling okay today. Not feeling a noticeable "difference" yet.

Hoping to get there soon!

[Jinkse21]

Willowgrove, we are on the same day and I didn't realize it until today! I was expecting noticeable differences by day 7 or 8 so I had to re-evaluate how I am feeling now compared to how I felt before I started Whole30 and I found that I happier, not bloated, had more energy, was sleeping better, and was developing better habits. Yes, I would like to say I went down a pants size or lost all my belly fat, but in 10 days??? LOL! Even though there may be small changes, they are changes none-the-less!

[willowgrove]

Willowgrove, we are on the same day and I didn't realize it until today! I was expecting noticeable differences by day 7 or 8 so I had to re-evaluate how I am feeling now compared to how I felt before I started Whole30 and I found that I happier, not bloated, had more energy, was sleeping better, and was developing better habits. Yes, I would like to say I went down a pants size or lost all my belly fat, but in 10 days??? LOL! Even though there may be small changes, they are changes none-the-less!

Oh I'm thrilled to know we are on the same day!! That's even more fun.

I'd love to say I've noticed some changes but I haven't.

I slept really good two nights ago - but I'm back to tossing and turning again.

I'm still bloated, my energy level hasn't increased and I'm not all that happier.

I definitely feel irritated - but maybe it's because I'm discouraged?

I'm REALLY trying to stay positive - posting daily inspirationals on my Instagram feed...

What's wrong?! I keep thinking, "Today is the day"...and then nothing.

I'm very discouraged today because I feel like I'm just about 1/2 way through and "nothing".

Here's the rest of my food log from yesterday...

Day 11 Lunch: Tuna Cakes on a bed of romaine and shredded carrots drizzled with hot sauce.

Day 11 Dinner: Hamburger Skillet Meal with yellow peppers, onions, green beans and mushrooms - served on a bed of romaine.

I felt extremely bloated after dinner? What could be making me bloat? I've eliminated cauliflower rice - which I thought was the cause.

And here's today's food log so far:

Day 12 Breakfast: 3 Eggs Scrambled - cooked in Ghee. Green Smoothie with Spinach, Banana and Strawberries.

I'm about to eat this...

Day 12 Lunch: Leftover Hamburger Skillet Meal from Day 11 - on a bed of spinach with sugar snap peas on the side.

Help!!

[pjena]

What's wrong?! I keep thinking, "Today is the day"...and then nothing.

I'm very discouraged today because I feel like I'm just about 1/2 way through and "nothing".

I'm in the same boat. Day 12 and no changes. And discouraged.

I was told once that ground meat is really bad for a sick gut. I thought of that yesterday when I felt very bloated after a dinner of chili. It might be worth trying to avoid it for a bit to see.

Let's hope tomorrow's "the day!"

[willowgrove]

I'm in the same boat. Day 12 and no changes. And discouraged.

I was told once that ground meat is really bad for a sick gut. I thought of that yesterday when I felt very bloated after a dinner of chili. It might be worth trying to avoid it for a bit to see.

Let's hope tomorrow's "the day!"

That's a great idea to avoid the ground meat. I'm going to try that and see how I do!!

I can't quit. If I don't give it the full 30 days I will never really know.

Thanks for the encouraging words!!

[willowgrove]

Dinner DAY 12: Grilled pork chop. Sauerkraut, green beans and sautéed spinach. Bloated.

[Jinkse21]

Sauerkraut can make me feel bloated so I don't eat it too often.

[Susan W]

That's a great idea to avoid the ground meat. I'm going to try that and see how I do!!

I can't quit. If I don't give it the full 30 days I will never really know.

Thanks for the encouraging words!!

Is that a known thing that ground beef is problematic? I have not heard that. This is a fairly restrictive eating plan so I would hate to see you restrict more than you need to.

I suggest stopping the smoothies with the raw fruit and raw greens and give it a few days to see hoe that goes.