Body After Baby & Whole30 Results

Let's start at the beginning, shall we?

I started out 2017 at the top of my normal weight range in the high 150s.  I had enjoyed ALL the Christmas cookies and I was trying to get pregnant, so when my gym announced a nutrition challenge and there was some chatter in our Whole30 facebook support group, a January Whole30 was an obvious choice.  Things were going really well... until morning sickness took over and we ordered a pizza on Day 26!  Then, as you all know, I ate everything my pregnant little heart desired and gained approximately 60 lbs!

8 Weeks Pregnant (2/16/17): 158 lbs

39 Weeks Pregnant (9/19/17): 216 lbs

I lost about 30 lbs in the week after birth.  The human body is incredible!

39 Weeks Pregnant vs 10 Days Postpartum

I easily lost another 10 in the first month and wasn't feeling too bad about my body.  I mean don't get me wrong, there would be moments where I'd look in the mirror and question if I was ever going to like my stomach again, but then I'd literally say some affirmations out loud like "you created a human, you are strong, you are beautiful" and I'd feel better.  Overall I was happy enough with how things looked and I felt great physically.

1 Month Postpartum - RIP my beautiful long hair!

I think breastfeeding really did me a lot of favors.  For the first few months I was eating whatever I wanted and a lot of it and I was still losing a pound here and there.  I was doing some walking for exercise, but nothing super consistent.  I finally returned to the gym in January but only made it there once or twice per week at best.  It was some time in March that I finally decided I need to clean up my diet a little bit and I started trying to make some more Paleoish/low carb meals but we were still mixing in bread for BLTs, taco shells, etc. and not being strict at all.  The pounds were consistently coming off, slowly but surely.  I always had the 9 months on, 9 months off mentality and never wanted to risk jeopardizing my milk supply.

February // March // May // June

When summer came along, I plateaued.  I think it was a combination of my body trying to preserve the last 10 lbs to make sure my baby would always be fed, all the food centered fun that summer brings, and also knowing that my 1.5 year eating free-for-all was soon coming to an end.  I knew this Whole30 was coming and I had a lot of "last" indulgences that peaked during our 4th of July vacation down the shore.  I had been weighing in around 164-166 since May, but after pigging out and drinking all week, my Whole30 starting weight ended up at 170.

And then it was finally time!

Start Weight (7/9/18): 170.6 lbs

End Weight (8/8/18): 156.8 lbs

Weight Loss: 13.8 lbs

 

Other results:

• It's a lot easier to get my rings on and off
• I fit into some of my pre-pregnancy pants
• So much energy!  I never felt tired during the day at all!
• I somehow avoided the cold that Dave suffered with for over a week
• I went to the gym twice per week consistently and PRed my overhead press

I though this Whole30 would be so hard, I mean Whole30 is hard enough but doing it with a baby would have to make it my hardest one yet.  But it honestly wasn't.  I think a few key things really contributed:

• Keeping it simple: I stuck to easy meals that were quick to get on the table to avoid my usual mid Whole30 cooking burnout.
• Setting myself up for success: If I wanted to do something more elaborate or I had plans to go to the gym after work, I would prep some things for the next day after the baby went to bed.
• Having support: Dave was an awesome partner and always helped get dinner ready or keep the baby entertained while I was cooking.  He is also the master of dishes!
• Waiting for the right time:  Things are really smooth with the baby in general right now, she's sleeping through the night and we were already in the swing of getting dinner on the table before she goes to bed.  I'm really glad I waited until the right time and didn't push myself into it too early postpartum.

A side note on weaning:  I dropped my pumps week by week and then got down to just nursing first thing in the morning and right before bed, but Sunday morning was my last session.  My boobs are super full and I'm still hoping that once my body figures out that I'm done, my giant milk jugs will calm down and I'll lose another pound or two.

I had amazing Whole30 results, but I'd be lying if I said I was 100% satisfied with my body right now.  I'm down to my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm right at the top of my range where my pants barely fit and I'd be thinking about doing a Whole30.  I am really proud of all the hard work I've put in and losing 60 lbs is no small feat!  And maybe I just need to accept that my body may never look the way it did before I grew a human inside of it.  But I'm going to keep pushing to eat the way I know I should and rebuild my strength so I can be the best momma I can possibly be!

Someone go back in time and tell me to look at the camera...

My (Delayed) April Whole24 Results!

I wrote this post over a week ago.  I was ready to hit publish and then our dog Puddin' passed away.  It was completely unexpected and rocked us to the core.  I intend on writing an entire post dedicated to what an amazing dog she was and to explain what happened, but I can't bring myself to sit down and find the words.  Her death still seems unreal and I keep hoping that somehow it's not true.  Every day gets a little easier, but it's still so hard.

At this point posting my results just feels stupid, but it's already all put together and it seems silly not to post it.

You know the drill...

Start   Weight  = 152.6
Finish Weight = 142.8

Weight Loss     =  9.8 lbs

Thoughts:

• Although the photos are not very dramatic, this may have been my most successful Whole30 yet!  I did not have any big cheats or midway dessert meltdowns like I have previously!  I feel very proud of myself and the discipline I was able to maintain.
• Like I've concluded before, cleaning up my diet helps inspire me to get to the gym and get more sleep!  When I focus on improving one aspect of my health, everything else seems to follow.  Hitting a bunch of PRs at the gym was really the icing on the cake guac on my fajitas.
• Tracking my weight added an interesting aspect to this Whole30.  I thought it would consistently drop over the 24 days and for the most part it did, but it fluctuated more than I anticipated.  I think watching my weight so closely helped me avoid eating when I wasn't hungry.  In previous Whole30s, I've consumed larabars, raisins, and dates while I was at work and I think it was more out of boredom or just wanting something sweet or snacky in the afternoon than really needing to eat something.  Although those foods are all technically compliant, they are essentially just sugar and don't offer a whole lot of nutritional value vs. eating meat and veggies.  I pretty much stayed away from them this round.

• I know some people are thinking... why do you keep doing this?  What's the point?  For me, healthy living is something that I have to recommit to over and over again.  I will fall off the wagon.  I will gain a few pounds back.  I will eat things that don't make me feel my best.  I am only human.  But when I feel out of control, when my pants don't fit, when it just seems like I can't get back on track... I know I can always come back to the Whole30!

Looking for more Whole30 Results?

• My Whole21 - Results! 
• My April Whole30 Results!
• Guest Post: Sarah's Whole30 Results! 
• Guest Post: Heather's Whole30 Results! 
• Even More Whole30 Results 
• Guest Post: Julia's Whole30 Recap!
• My July Whole25 Results!
• My January Whole30 Results! 
• Guest Post: Stephanie's Whole30 Results! 
• Guest Post: Leah's Whole30 Results!

Don't forget to like Busy, Bold, Blessed on Facebook! 

My January Whole30 Results!

Without further ado...

Day 1   Weight = 155 lbs

Day 30 Weight = 145 lbs

Weight Loss     = 10 lbs!

This Whole30 was so necessary.  Beforehand, I remember just feeling so bloated.  I was avoiding half of my wardrobe because everything seemed to showcase my inflated tummy.  I started thinking about all the clothing that I gave away because it was too big, wondering if I should've kept it just in case.  I can never understand how I let myself get to that point.  I suppose it happens over time, but I really gave up trying to eat healthy at all.

Sometimes I think about growing up and how it impacts my eating habits now.  When I was young, I ate whatever I wanted with no remorse or real consequence.  My mom cooked delicious meals and there was always some kind of treat in the house.  I loved to eat and I was super active and I certainly never thought about portion control.  On one hand, it's awesome that I never had to think about any of it.  I took pleasure in food and didn't have any disordered thoughts as a young adolescent.  On the other hand, I never learned to practice self control of any kind... which takes us to college.

When I was at Penn State, I tried to watch what I ate and include veggies in my diet during meal time.  But if I was drunk (or hungover) all bets were completely off!  Drunk munchies consisted of 2-3 giant slices of pizza, an order of pokey sticks aka melt in your mouth greasy cheesy bread, or my favorite "fat sandwich" from R U Hungry? piled high with gyro meat, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, bacon, and french fries.  All drenched in ranch, of course.  I can remember watching the Victoria Secret runway show with my roommates while stuffing our faces with booze, pizza, and cookies and thinking it was hilarious.  I gained some weight, lost it during the summer, gained it back... it was only 10 lbs and it never stopped me from eating exactly what I wanted at 3 in the morning.

Fast forward a few years... I find healthy living blogs, I realize that food is fuel (not just something tasty to put in your mouth), I run a half marathon, I discover Paleo and CrossFit... I am a changed woman!  So why do I still find myself chowing down on five slices of pizza and feeling smugly entertained by it?

It's really frustrating to look back over the past few years on the blog.  My January 2015 starting weight was the same as my January 2013 and July 2014 starting weights.  I feel like I'm losing the same 10 lbs over and over again.  I know weight is just a number, the scale does not tell the whole story.  I know that I am getting stronger in the gym.  I know that my body is beautiful!  However, the way my stomach blows up like a balloon when I stop caring about my diet makes it's easy to see that that is not working for me.  Since this is my 4th Whole30 (plus a 2 month Paleo challenge), I guess it's pretty obvious that 30 days is not long enough for me to make the healthy habits stick.  For me, following strict rules for 30 days is the easy part... it's riding my own bike afterwards that is so damn hard.

Right now I feel great.  My skin is clear.  I don't need coffee every day.  I don't feel like I'm going to pass out at my desk after lunch.  My clothes fit again!  I don't finish meals feeling like I've got a food baby in my belly.  My stomach feels good, no weird pains.  Come to think of it... I didn't get ANY cramps when shark week came along this month!!!!

So what now?  After every other Whole30 I've done, as soon it was over I stuffed my face with a bunch of crap and then felt awful.  I am desperately trying to avoid that scenario this time around.  I am trying to reintroduce individual things (dairy, gluten, etc) to see exactly how they affect me.  After I test each thing, I am planning on staying mostly compliant at home (compliant + cheese) and being more relaxed when I'm out to eat or at a party.

So far I've tried a few forms of dairy without much of a reaction.  I think my tummy might not be a huge fan of crappy oils that french fries are fried in and that exist in some salad dressings.  We ate out a few times this weekend, but I made good choices and didn't make myself ill.  I do regret the roll I ate with my Saladworks for lunch today.  It was crusty, yet soft and delicious covered in grass-fed butter, but then it made my tummy feel yucky and bloated afterwards.  Tonight will be a true test at a Midgley family dinner.  There is always quite a spread of tasty appetizers, some wine, and I'm already thinking about the birthday cake.

My number one goal for 2015 is to commit to clean eating and don't let indulgences here and there take me completely off track, so now it's time to put my money where my mouth is!

Would you ever do a Whole30?!  Or do you think I'm crazy?



Looking for more Whole30 Results?

• My Whole21 - Results! 
• My April Whole30 Results!
• Guest Post: Sarah's Whole30 Results! 
• Guest Post: Heather's Whole30 Results! 
• Even More Whole30 Results 
• Guest Post: Julia's Whole30 Recap!
• My July Whole25 Results!

Don't forget to like Busy, Bold, Blessed on Facebook!
 

Lurong Living Paleo Challenge - Body Results (Before & After Pics!)

I already wrote about how excited I was about my workout results and now for the part that always seems to draw a lot of extra readers... half naked pictures of me on the internet!

The 8 week challenge involved following a strict Paleo Diet, similar to the Whole30, consisting of lots of veggies, meat, healthy fats (avocado, coconut, olive oil, etc), fruit, nuts, and seeds.  To be honest, we did a lot of cheating.  If I cooked it, it was compliant but we also went to parties, restaurants, and even a beer festival during the 8 weeks.  We were pretty strict during the week, but we let loose a little on the weekend.  Like I said before, I think this is pretty much how I want to eat on a regular basis.

I've got to be honest, the week before the challenge I was completely out of control.  I was stuffing my face with stuff that I don't even eat normally and I think I gained about 5 lbs that week.  All the processed carbs, sweets, and booze left me completely bloated and swollen.  It's crazy how much I can tell how each food affects me now.

 Yeah, that happened.

Body Results:

Weight:

Measurements:

Before & After Pictures:

 

That first comparison before picture make me cringe.  The Paleo Diet obviously works for me and I don't think there's any way I can go back to eating the Standard American Diet (SAD).  I feel like I've taken the red pill and there's no going back.  Sometimes I wonder if the people in my life are sick and tired of hearing me ramble on and on about Paleo, but I just can't help it.  I feel like my eyes have been opened and I want to share that with the world.  What you eat directly affects your skin, your body composition, your energy, your ability to focus, and so much more, and I don't think many people actually consider that on a daily basis.  Fuel your body with real food and you will find out just how amazing you could feel.  My skin looks better, my nails are stronger, I never feel like I need to take a nap after I eat, my stomach isn't bloated, my workouts improve, and damn I'm going to look great in a bikini in Nicaragua on our honeymoon!

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Even More Whole30 Results

Thank you for all the thoughtful comments on my last post <3

In other news, I received this message over a week ago, but it kind of got lost in the shuffle.  Mary did the The Whole30 with us in April and let me tell you, she has 8 kids, ages ranging from teenagers to toddlers.  If she can do the Whole30, anybody can!  Here's what she had to say about her experience:

What a great experience the Whole30 was!  I must not consume a ton of sugar and carbs, because I had no issue cutting them out.  I lost 18 lbs, and inches as well, but the best thing is the increase in energy!  I had always gone to the gym 3-4 times a week prior to starting.  Now I do an hour of cardio every other day and on non-cardio days, I do an hour of strength training and weights.  I feel healthy and strong!  My skin is glowing, I sleep like a rock at night... it's just been amazing!

Congrats Mary!

Interested in more results?

My January Whole21 Results

My April Whole30 Results

Sarah's Whole30 Results

Heather's Whole30 Results

It's so weird to think that this time last year I was in the thick of my half marathon training!  When I signed up for my half, it was the beginning of January.  I had New Years resolutions swirling around my head, I wanted to take my fitness to the next level, and I thought "man, I will look amazing this summer!"  Well, running the half was an amazing experience and I was in top cardiovascular shape, but as for slimming down for summer... well, that just didn't happen.

In July, I even wrote this post about my body.

I know that we've been conditioned to think that if we can just hit the treadmill hard enough, we can melt away our stored fat, but unfortunately it just doesn't work like that.  When you flood your body with sugar and carbs (that later get converted to sugar), you're providing it with an abundance of sugar to use as fuel.  When your body is adapted to burning sugar and it keeps receiving a steady supply, it will not use your fat!

When I was cleaning my room the other day, I found a receipt from a year ago for a bridesmaid dress that had my body measurements on it and I immediately thought, ooh I want to take some new measurement to compare!  Shall we?!

5 inches from my hips people... FIVE!  Long story short, training for a half marathon did nothing to eliminate any fat from my body but cutting carbs, added sugar, and processed foods from my diet made all the difference!  Regarding weight loss, you can't out exercise a bad diet!

We were supposed to go skydiving today but it was too cloudy.  I am so bummed!  I hope you're having better luck this weekend than me.  Happy Saturday.

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