Whole30 After Baby

Happy New Year mamas!

Much like every year, I started 2018 with hopes, dreams, resolutions and a “ready to kick some toosh” type of attitude. And since most of my resolutions involve being healthier, I decided to kick start the year with a January Whole30.

My ‘Why’

These are my babies and the reason I’m doing a #januarywhole30. My little guy on the left (Connor) is 6 months old (born 7.17.17) and my first born on the right (Jaden) will be turning 7 in August. We always tell him if he wants to be able to run a lot and be strong, he has to eat healthy and be healthy 💪🏼🏃🏻‍♂️. Before the New Year he came to me and asked me if I could eat healthy and be healthy so I can run a lot with him and have the energy to play with him more 😭. So I’m doing this for him (and myself). I’m determined to get my energy back and live a healthier lifestyle so I can chase these boys around for years to come.

So What is the Whole30?

Via whole30.com: “Certain food groups (like sugar, grains, dairy and legumes) could be having a negative impact on your health and fitness without you even realizing it. Are your energy levels inconsistent or non-existent? Do you have aches and pains that can’t be explained by over-use or injury? Are you having a hard time losing weight no matter how hard you try? Do you have some sort of condition, like skin issues, digestive ailments, seasonal allergies, or chronic pain, that medication hasn’t helped? These symptoms are often directly related to the foods you eat—even the “healthy” stuff. So how do you know if (and how) these foods are affecting you?

Strip them from your diet completely. Eliminate the most common craving-inducing, blood sugar disrupting, gut-damaging, inflammatory food groups for a full 30 days. Let your body heal and recover from whatever effects those foods may be causing. Push the reset button with your health, habits, and relationship with food, and the downstream physical and psychological effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day-to-day life, long term health, body composition, and feelings around food.”

 

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I decided to do Whole30 again (you can read about my first one here.) because the first time I did it I felt amazing afterwards. Since pregnancy I have been experiencing extreme brain fog and forgetfulness. I’ll be mid conversation and completely forget where I was going with my story and what I was saying. It’s affecting my job and my personal life, so something had to change!

 

Not only that, but I have been experiencing chronic and daily pain in my knees for two years now. Doctor’s say it’s patellar tendinitis and I have tried pain relievers, physical therapy, everything! I was hoping that doing Whole30 and eating an anti-inflammatory diet may just be the answer I’ve been looking for. I say this because, the first round of Whole30 that I completed completely took away a chronic hip pain that I had since being pregnant with my first son.

 

[instagram url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqWjYchnxQ/?taken-by=herwholejourney hidecaption=true]With that said, I have officially completed my January 2018 Whole30. I went another 30 days without sugar, grains, dairy, legumes and alcohol, and I’m extremely excited to share my results!

 

This Whole30 was surprisingly easy. Much easier than the first time around and I’m not sure why that is. Maybe because I took advantage of all the great products that weren’t available the first time.  I switched up my food and tried new things. OR maybe it’s because I wasn’t afraid of fat this time around. I had ghee every morning with my coffee and even cooked with it. I believe it gave me the energy and brain fuel that I needed this time around.

So here are some non-scale victories that happened during my whole30:

• I was reminded again of how easy (and convenient it can be) to make healthy meals.
• I’m more patient with myself and my kids.
• My mind is more clear than it’s been in the last year.
• About half way through, my cravings stopped. I didn’t crave bread or a piece of dark chocolate after lunch or before bed.
• My patellar tendinitis got better (not completely gone but much much better). My knees do not ache in the middle of the night or throb while sitting with them bent at my desk.
• I have pretty good skin in general, I don’t typically breakout unless it’s that time of the month. Well it’s that time and I don’t have any breakouts!
• My energy is back! I’m not ready for bed right after dinner anymore. I have energy after dinner to actually do all the dishes so I can wake up to a clean kitchen (the best!).
• I fall asleep so fast and easy.
• And most importantly, I feel like I have the energy to play with my kids.