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 February (& March) Whole30 Results!

So I sort of forgot I never posted this!  My February (& March) Whole30 ended 10 days ago and it was a great success!

Start Weight = 156.4 lbs

End Weight  = 145.0 lbs

Weight Loss = 11.4 lbs

These before and after pictures never fail to amaze me.  I can't believe how puffy I was and how much thinner my face looks.  It's crazy!

Holiday indulgence was a slippery slope into I guess I'll just wear big flowy shirts for the rest of the winter.  My true low point was the day I wore unbuttoned dress pants to work.  Sad but true.  The clip kept popping open so I just said screw it and left it that way.  Talk about depressing.  And thus it was time for another Whole30.

Food is a powerful drug.  Having a tough day?  Eat some ice cream, it will make you feel better.  Just completed a tough workout?  Enjoy a few slices of pizza, you earned it.  Feeling sorry for yourself about your clothes not fitting well?  Have a drink, you'll care less (although I do suppose alcohol is a whole other conversation...)  Food is fuel for our bodies, but it's also so much more.  It's a source of pleasure, a crutch to lean on, a reward, an addiction... And that's why I love the Whole30.  It brings me back to a place where I can step away from food emotionally and truly see and feel the impact of what I'm putting in my body.  It breaks my sugar addiction and helps me realize that most of the cravings I have are just the result of overstimulating processed food.

This Whole30 was great!  I avoided any crazy slips and I think my only cheat at all was some lunchmeat that most likely wasn't compliant.  By the end, I was basically on autopilot.  It was easy to stay on track when I always had large helpings of delicious compliant food in my fridge.  Not only did I follow the Whole30 eating standards for 30 days, I also took the stairs at work every day, flossed every night (except for Day 24 when I was dying), and quit coffee on Day 21.  I've only had it once in the past 3 weeks and don't really miss it.  I also focused on getting tons of sleep and I got 7.5 to 8 hours most nights.  I wanted to get to the gym more often, but I really only averaged twice a week.

I've always thought my skin looks better during a Whole30, but I had never taken before and after pics.  I think you can definitely see a difference.

Other than getting a cold right at the end, I truly felt amazing!  And I've been enjoying wearing a bunch of clothing I was avoiding for months :)

Now as always, I'm trying to find that balance, trying to determine which foods are worth it and which just aren't.  I've definitely enjoyed a bunch of non compliant choices but now looking at these pictures makes me regret some of the not so special choices.  I've already lost that super lean "are those my abs?!" look I had achieved at the end of the 30 days... and it's just leaving me thinking was that hamburger bun really worth it?

I'll admit it, I know I'm pretty vain.  I like dropping a few pounds and looking slim, but all these Whole30s are about something much more important: my health!  I will never do a Whole365... but as I approach my 30th birthday later this year, I know I want to ring in the next decade feeling fabulous, looking fit, and doing everything I can to prep my body for our future family plans!  I want to have super healthy pregnancies, feed my family the best diet possible, and be around long after my children are grown to hopefully run around with my grandkids!

My nutrition will always be an ongoing battle, but it's definitely something worth fighting for!

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!
 

My July Whole25 Results!

Let's get right down to business!

But seriously, how does my body change this much in 25 days?!  I also feel like my posture improved quite a bit lol.

Day 1   Weight = 154.2

Day 25 Weight = 145.2

Weight Loss     = 9 lbs

Other thoughts about what a Whole30 does for me:

• My skin definitely looks better when I'm doing a Whole30.  I noticed the few times I cheated, I would wake up with a small blemish the next day.
• I love not feeling sleepy (food coma) or crazy full/bloated (food baby) after meals.
• I honestly didn't mind giving up booze.  I loved waking up down the shore, knowing I wouldn't be hungover.
• The Whole30 helped motivate me to get to the gym!  Since I was making my health a priority, it was easier to commit to CrossFit.  I'm guessing the extra energy my diet was giving me helped too.  I got to the gym 3x per week for the entire month, which was definitely a first for me since I started last March!

Well another Whole30 (Whole25) has wrapped up for me and I think the pictures speak for themselves.  You can really see how much my diet affects my stomach.  A carb and sugar indulgent Fourth of July weekend left me completely bloated for those before pictures.  I mean I wasn't eating very healthy before then, but knowing I was going to start my diet, I totally pigged out and ate stuff that I wouldn't have normally (like sandwiches made with white bread, 3 days in a row).  Perhaps that's the downside of the Whole30 for me, transitioning in and out of it brings out a bit of disordered eating.  If I told you I really made an effort over the past week with only a few slips, it would be a big lie.  

Perhaps part of my problem is that I did not fully follow the rules.  I cheated and justified it in my head.  I didn't feel bad eating cheese because the salad I was eating was a better choice than a cheesesteak.  I ate a freaking cupcake, epic fail.  Obviously that didn't help anything, but the large amounts of fruit I consumed probably didn't help me break my sugar habit either.

I know I'm not going to eat a perfectly healthy diet all the time, I believe in the 80/20 principle.  However that is not a Whole30!

The only way this will work is if you give it the full thirty days: no cheats, slips, or “special occasions.” This isn’t us playing the tough guy. This is a fact, born of education and experience. You need such a small amount of any of these inflammatory foods to break the healing cycle—one bite of pizza, one splash of milk in your coffee, one lick of the spoon mixing the batter within the 30 day period and you’ve broken the “reset” button, requiring you to start over again on Day 1.

Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip.” Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of doughnuts, there is no “slip.” You make a choice to eat something unhealthy. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program 100% for the full 30 days. Don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.

So maybe I should stop calling what I'm doing a Whole30.  Maybe I should just say I'm doing however many days of strict Paleo.  I don't know.  But I do know that my Whole30 posts have reached a few of my friends and a ton of curious people across the internet.  I truly love helping other people learn how to fuel their bodies :)

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!

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!

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

My April Whole30 Results!

Well, April is over and thus my Whole30 journey has come to an end.  Hallelujah!

Day 1 - Weight 145.0 lbs

Day 30 - Weight 138.8 lbs

Weight Loss = 6.2 lbs!

And what you've all been waiting for...

 

So the before and after pictures are not nearly as dramatic as last time!  I'm not really even sure I see much of a difference except in the side view (was I just super slouching in the before picture?).  The angles are also off, so that's not really helping.

I believe there's a few reasons that I did not experience much of a transformation this time:

• I wasn't as strict.  I definitely wasn't as much of a stickler for the rules this time including some major cheats half way through and way too many helpings of dried fruit and Larabars.  There was lots of SWYPO and even some forbidden ingredients like honey and maple syrup.
• I didn't focus enough on vegetables.  I let large servings of meat command the spotlight in my meals instead of filling my plate with tons of veggies.  This is something I'll be working on.
• I didn't always listen to my stomach.  I found myself taking a second helping when I would've been fine walking away (but it all tasted so good!) and snacking when I was bored at work and just wanted a sugary treat.  Still working on this one as well.
• I didn't have as much to lose!  Quite honestly I don't know if I'll be losing much more period.  I think my body looks amazing and I am extremely satisfied :)

So how do I feel?  Well, I feel great!  My energy levels feel even throughout the day.  I feel like a master of meal planning and definitely want to continue and keep trying new recipes and utilizing my crockpot.

Otherwise I don't know, I don't have too much to say.  I think this Whole30 was less of a revelation because I had already been eating Paleo beforehand, I had already done the program before (not too long ago), and I wasn't as strict as I could've been.  When I started I really wanted to nail this one, avoid all cheats big or small, and see just how far I could take it, but then... well, life happened.  I don't have an autoimmune disease to cure, I'm not going to be running to the bathroom if I eat something noncompliant, I don't have daily chronic pain, and I am a healthy weight, so at this point in my life I will continue to strive to make better food choices, fill my plate with fresh produce, eat locally, and honor my body, but I won't stress the small stuff.  And if things start to spiral out of control or my new pants get a little snug, I know just how to get back on track.

Thank you for following my journey and supporting me with your thoughtful comments <3


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My Whole21 - Results!

Finally... the results!  Sorry I've kept you all waiting...

Day 1 - Weight 154.0 lbs
Day 21 - Weight 141.6 lbs
Weight Loss = 12.6 lbs!

And how about some before and after pictures?!

Awwwww yeah!  My gut disappeared!  I've always carried a little extra in my stomach and although it's never stopped me from rocking a bikini, I was never a fan of it.  I've been in great shape my whole life, but no matter what I did I couldn't seem to find my abs.  According to Mark's Daily Apple 80 percent of your body composition is determined by diet and let's just say I'm a believer!  The pounds fell off me and I was never hungry.  I ate burgers, steak, fajitas, buffalo chicken... avocados by the bag full.  What a wonderful "diet" :)

But this wasn't all about losing, what did I gain?
- My skin cleared up
- I slept like a baby
- I had tons of energy, no afternoon crash!
- Fruit tasted like candy
- I learned how to cook with spices (instead of just piling on some marinade/cheese/ketchup/etc)
- I tried new recipes
- I learned that I have willpower and I can live without cheese and chocolate!
- I realized that the majority of packaged foods have a ton of crap listed in the ingredients

So I finished 21 days of clean eating... and then I binged on a ton of crappy foods.  Over the past week I've had brownies, muffins, tons of cheese, french fries, Taco Bell, pink lemonade, pizza... ugh.  It makes me bloated just thinking about it!  I can seriously feel my stomach bloat up immediately after I eat processed crap.  It's awful.  I ate two and half slices of pizza one day and I had a deep pain in my stomach all night.

When I eat clean, I just feel so great!  And being forced to go shopping for new pants two sizes smaller than my old ones?  How could I eat any other way?

Have you ever considered giving up processed foods?