Stress issues

(Sarah) #1

Not sure where to start this thread or even what to ask but need some encouragement, advice, etc…

I started going keto June 1 with eliminating all grains, legumes, sugar, etc. and then started keeping carbs under 20 net just 12 weeks ago towards then end of June. I’m happy to say my bloating reduce and most dietary issues calmed down. Haven’t had great bursts of energy other than the first week I counted carbs. I am working with a doctor to figure out chronic fatigue and other issues and I realize that could affect my keto journey/results.

I returned to school mid August and planning for a unique school year was stressful but I was managing well. About two weeks ago I kind of felt like I had become fat adapted but who is to say for sure. Then this last week the long hours and stress of virtual teaching seems to have caught up with me as we’re on our 4th week and I’m drowning in assignments, emails, troubleshooting and preparing the next day’s lessons. It’s my second year teaching middle school math and I put long hours in last year but loved it. This unique situation is a challenge for many in my building even tho they are veteran teachers…so all that to say that it feels like the intense stress is ruining my progress and possibly kicked me out of fat burning tho I probably wasn’t fully adapted. I just hate to stall, crash, whatever.
I’m just discouraged and looking for some ways to counter the stress because I have no idea when school will go back to normal. I booked a massage but it fell through today and will try again tomorrow. Relationship with hubby is rough because I’m working so many hours and stressed when I am around.
I really felt better compared to a year, two years ago, but now it feels like that is all out the window as my body caves to stress and anxiety.
Any thoughts from others how you’ve managed stress loads without losing keto gains?

#2

A flickering monitor with PWM will induce oxidative stress in the eyes and increase cravings for carbs. Most monitors flicker but we don’t notice it.

A lot of toxic modern technology.

Why not exchange massages and go for walks with your husband?

(Sarah) #3

This is new info to me! Do you have a good link?

(Sarah) #4

Apparently this math ranger can’t count. :woman_facepalming: It’s been 12 weeks keto not 9. Time to get some rest!

#5

-https://www.eizo.com/library/basics/eyestrain

-https://www.techieflux.com/best-monitor-for-eyes/

Asus and BenQ are the two top brands in regards to flicker free monitors but it’s best to buy a monitor from a place where you can return it if it gives you issues.

(Robin) #6

The best thing to do for yourself when under crazy stress like these times, is to go easy on yourself. Don’t expect to excel at keto or counting carbs or losing weight, just take care of yourself. These are not normal circumstances. You don’t need to add keto or the scales to list of issues. You’ve got this.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

Trying to set up your life so that your stress-relief is ketogenic and not carb-laden will help. In other words, you’re going to feel better about bingeing on pork rinds than on sugar candy, when the stress overwhelms you. Talk to your husband when you can, and don’t forget the physical affection. A hug here and there will do wonders for both of you. A wise woman once told me that a marriage can survive anything except the loss of respect.

At twelve weeks of true low-carb eating, you are likely to be fat-adapted, but the stress may be soaking up any extra energy you would otherwise be feeling. So try not to worry. Your ketogenic diet is actually a support in these trying times, as long as the newness of this way of eating isn’t stressing you out, lol! A lot of the best advice is going to boil down to Keep Calm, and Keto On. Be kind to yourself.

#8

No advice here just some encouragement. Former science teacher (middle and high school) so I can understand the stress that comes your job. It is ultimately the reason I left. The hours taken from my family were too much and that was before distance learning. So, keep up the good work. You are enough and you are doing more than enough!

(Sarah) #9

Thank you for the reminder and encouragement! Glad I started keto this summer because it has made some things easier and I don’t feel too stressed about weight numbers, what to eat and even amount of carbs as it feels pretty routine by now. But, I need to not worry so much in general!

(Sarah) #10

Thank you for the wise ideas! Pork rinds have come in handy and some 90% chocolate some days! I was able to ask hubby for some grace (and hugs) without it being a big mess and we’re both trying. I love your shared advice on respect.
And thank you for the input on the keto part.That was helpful for me to put things in perspective.

(Sarah) #11

Thank you, Pbash! I went BACK to teaching last fall after stepping away but into a much better school and position for me. But, it is a lot of work virtual or normal. Not having kids I do tend to spend more time when I could probably walk away and take better care of myself! I’ve had to this week!
My fairly decent diet and weight derailed last year as we went out for dinner more and more with the hours I was putting in. Keto has been helping tremendously this year because I find it much simpler to choose what to eat when we go out or for prepping lunches.

(Sarah) #12

Thank you!

#13

Hi Sarah. I’m a teacher. If university lecturer counts. I’ve been enjoying it and loathing it in a seesawing manner for about 12 years. But reflecting on it now, I love teaching.

Shining a tunnel light here. We went from a fully planned semester at the start of the year to being told we were to teach 100% online and were given 4 days to adapt and bring our students across with us.

Teaching online is a much increased workload. I teach quite a technology heavy course that is full of Autism Spectrum Disorder teenagers. The pastoral care, emails, requests for one-on-one special tutorials went upward like a COVID graph. I was eating ‘dirty’ keto, trialling carnivore challenges (for the community aspect - I sucked at doing the challenges) and not tracking, but sticking with the core principles as best I could, ‘staying on plan’ as one of my keto forum teachers tells me, and didn’t beat myself up too often at any hurdles that hit my shins.

We got through it and we are back to teaching on-campus now. But the course is adapted and resources adapted to be able to go online again at the drop of a hat.

My health suffered over the months from March to August. I ate low carb but coffee consumption tripled. I ate low carb but I ate a lot more food, so I gained weight and lost fitness. It will take time to recover. It’s sort of getting health problems but not the virus.

This semester I approached the manager and said I need reduced workload to maintain quality and allow a bit of recovery time. The hangover lingers. But we spread the workload across more teachers (created some employment) and maintained our enrolment numbers. We extended marking time duration and allowed less formative comments on assignments, focussing more on direct student interaction. What we assessed was streamlined and the process, the marking guides, trimmed of years of built up unnecessary duplication. Our tech skills are amazing now, but nothing beats the body language and communication of a classroom.

The world has changed and we now have to educate our students on how to cope by first making the adjustments and learning to cope for ourselves.

The answer to sustaining the ability (sustainability) is to work less but with higher nutrition. The nutrition being a discovery of passion in key elements of the curriculum and focussing on those. Our students don’t need wave after wave of knowledge, they need to be inspired to learn. Finding the core components and igniting a fire around them is worthy of time spent.

Do less work and more teaching as best you can. Set your limits and stay within them. Let the managers get help, they like doing that.

Once we realistically sorted out the adaptation to the new world of teaching that happened after the first wave of emergency measures and massive increase in workload, I found I was still eating low carb and the ketones came back.

#14

No help with the teaching career world and what horrible situations are happening on workload and online and with students and more but I give you tons of HUGS cause you are so helping so many others!!

PaulL had great advice along with others.

While you also have to bear burdens in your career, you must put you first at some point! Not one doubt about that. If you go down, so many others go down and if you truly put your needs first, you can truly stay in and give help/support/teach and more.

I would check in with managers, like FB said, there must be more support for your position. Call someone and ask! There might be alot of you who needs things changed and controlled better in any way your institution can support you.

And you got a great hubby :slight_smile: You guys are chatting and realizing this ain’t you, this is stress you thru tough times!!

Wishing you nothing but the best for things to even out on a good plane for ya!!

(Sarah) #15

Thanks, FrankoBear! Our experiences are similar in many ways. Way too much coffee here as well along with the workload, time, emails, etc…
It’s great you were able to hire more teachers!! We’re such a small school I’m the only math 6 and math 7 teacher. Certainly challenging, but I work with a supportive admin and colleagues. I’ve been able to pick their brains for ways to make work simpler and streamlined.
The reality is, it just takes a lot of time to make everything digital and you get that.
But, keto truly has made meals easier for me than I expected. They aren’t always clean but it’s survival right now! Weight has gone up and down some but that’s pretty normal and seems to be a downward trend which is encouraging despite all the crazy. Thank you for the advice on teaching and learning! So helpful to hear!

(Sarah) #16

Thank you, Fangs!
I love teaching and have been in some capacity public and private for 12 years now. This year is unlike any other and we’re all in the same boat-adapting and readjusting to the world today. I remind myself that many others have stopped up to the plate and kept going!

That said, it’s been an encouragement just to share here and get some great advice. I’m not super stressed about keto, just don’t want to lose the great progress.

I’m terrible at taking care of myself but I’m trying! I had a good chat with my admin tonight about balance and then hubby and I had a date night. I just need it pounded in my head that it’s ok to take care of myself!!!

Thank you for the hugs and words of encouragement!!!

(Rebecca ) #17

I’m not an educator but I understand your pain and stress just the same. We are living in unprecedented times right now. My husband and I made a cross country (USA) move in March. We closed on our home the 20th and the Lock Downs started the 21st. We left behind 2 kids and 8 grandkids. I noticed past habits creeping back in. We still ate a Low Carb way for the most part, but were adding in specialty coffee drinks and chocolate more and more. We didn’t get to meet neighbors (other than a wave) or find a church, so we were pretty much alone…thankfully we have each other!! I am naturally a social, people person so it was especially lonely for me. It helped me to realize that EVERYONE has been affected in some way by all that is going on. I also had to accept that eating/drinking high carb things wasn’t helping us at all. We live by a river so we take nice, beautiful walks. We also make sure EVERYTHING in the kitchen in low carb friendly now. In fact, we make such good meals here that even though restaurants are open (Indiana) we prefer to eat at home!! Probably the most helpful thing has been focusing on the many blessings in our life and not the difficult things.
My advice to you is be kind to yourself and your husband. Eat well, get some motion/activity and sunlight exposure. Something else I have learned through life is: Don’t let a job steal your life and joy because if something were to happen to you, they can replace you tomorrow. However, your loved ones can’t!! Blessing to you!

#18

ohhh yea you seen the light :slight_smile: :slight_smile: self care is super important and yet we hardly ever think of it and put ourselves first when we truly need it! Great steps to finding some balance that works for you and not against you…you go!! Cool, happy you are sounding so much better!!

#19

Your post is beautiful. I feel inspired by it. Thank you.

(Rebecca ) #20

Thank you for your kind reaponse!