Alrighty folks,
Week 1 I felt went really well, minus one huge problem: a huge decrease in my breastmilk. First I want to talk about the good things I noticed.
During week 1 I noticed I am sleeping better (minus midnight feedings), my mind feels clearer, my body feels good, I have energy (despite midnight feedings), and I have been making some really delicious food!
During the beginning of week 1 however, I noticed Emerson getting frustrated during his evening meals and I wondered what in the heck was going on - whether it was just him being grumpy or if I wasn't producing enough milk (which wasn't possible because I was basically a dairy cow -being able to feed him a full meal and then pump 8+ ounces after that!!). One night after feeding him I pumped for 10-15 minutes and got less than one ounce. Of course I started freaking out and researching the effects of Whole30 on breastfeeding mothers. I found a ton of people saying that their milk decreased for the first week, but then went back up after a couple days. Well I tried for 5 days to eat more than I already was...which was actually a lot, and now after doing this for a week my milk supply hasn't gone back up and last night I had to pull out some stored breast milk in order to fill Emerson. I spoke with Jordan and my fellow Whole30-er and SIL Kylie and I decided that I can't do Whole30 the way the program was designed. Having enough breast milk to feed my baby is 1000 times more important to me than this diet. Now, I do believe that for people who do the program they will see results and for some breastfeeding moms it may not be a problem, but for me and Emerson this is not the case. I have to reincorporate some other foods besides meat, vegetables, and fruits. If I dried up because of this I'm not sure I could forgive myself.
After one week I do feel like I've gotten back on track and am eating in a way that supports all my health goals. I'm back to "just" eating clean... and for me that is okay. :)
Showing posts with label whole30. Show all posts
Showing posts with label whole30. Show all posts
Friday, May 9, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Balsamic, Onion, and Garlic Glazed Pork Chops
Oh my yummy yummy yummy!
Pretty much what I do around noon everyday is go to the deep freezer and see what kind of meat we have and base my dinner meal around that. I need to be better at meal planning, but with a 2 month old, this is the best I can do for now.
I was a little hesitant at first to use this recipe because I thought the balsamic would be way to strong, but it really mellowed out while cooking and was SO delicious. I even ventured out and used the cast iron skillet to pre-cook AND bake the chops. My first experience using a cast iron skillet all on my own was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to use it again!
I got the recipe from The Meanest Mamma, but I made a couple changes/substitutions which are italicized below.
Ingredients:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Pat pork dry and season both sides with sea salt and pepper. In a large oven-proof skillet (or have a second, oven-proof dish ready to transfer to, if necessary), heat oil/fat over medium heat. Add the chops and brown them on both sides, ~2-3 minutes per side.
While the chops are cooking, add a little oil to a small sauce pan, over medium-to-low heat, and saute the shallots/onions and garlic for a couple of minutes. Once the shallots/onions and garlic have softened up and turned golden brown, add the balsamic vinegar and a little more salt and pepper (to taste). Cook sauce until the ingredients combine and start to thicken up, ~2-3 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the pork chops and transfer the skillet to the oven. Cover skillet and bake the pork chops, in the sauce for ~30 minutes, or until temperature reaches 160 degrees.
Serve with favorite veggies and be sure to pour sauce over the chops for maximum flavor.
Pretty much what I do around noon everyday is go to the deep freezer and see what kind of meat we have and base my dinner meal around that. I need to be better at meal planning, but with a 2 month old, this is the best I can do for now.
I was a little hesitant at first to use this recipe because I thought the balsamic would be way to strong, but it really mellowed out while cooking and was SO delicious. I even ventured out and used the cast iron skillet to pre-cook AND bake the chops. My first experience using a cast iron skillet all on my own was absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to use it again!
I got the recipe from The Meanest Mamma, but I made a couple changes/substitutions which are italicized below.
Ingredients:
- 4 (3/4-inch-thick) pork chops, ~2lbs
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons F.O.C. (fat of choice, I used coconut oil) — for cooking the pork chops
- 1 tablespoon F.O.C. for sauteing shallots (I used EVOO)
- ~3 oz shallots or onion, peeled and diced (more would be even better, but that’s all I had)
- 3-4 large cloves of garlic
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Pat pork dry and season both sides with sea salt and pepper. In a large oven-proof skillet (or have a second, oven-proof dish ready to transfer to, if necessary), heat oil/fat over medium heat. Add the chops and brown them on both sides, ~2-3 minutes per side.
While the chops are cooking, add a little oil to a small sauce pan, over medium-to-low heat, and saute the shallots/onions and garlic for a couple of minutes. Once the shallots/onions and garlic have softened up and turned golden brown, add the balsamic vinegar and a little more salt and pepper (to taste). Cook sauce until the ingredients combine and start to thicken up, ~2-3 minutes.
Pour the sauce over the pork chops and transfer the skillet to the oven. Cover skillet and bake the pork chops, in the sauce for ~30 minutes, or until temperature reaches 160 degrees.
Serve with favorite veggies and be sure to pour sauce over the chops for maximum flavor.
Whole30 Challenge
About a week and a half ago my SIL, Kylie, was over and was talking about this Whole30 eating program. My ears perked up quite a bit and after hearing what the program was and how it had worked for so many people, we decided to do it together and to be the motivation *cough* kick in the rear *cough* for each other.
In a nutshell, Whole30 is a paleo diet/lifestyle that resets your body and gets you back into good and healthy eating habits. (I highly recommend reading the book for all the "science-y" stuff, it is phenomenal the research and thought given to the program. For me, it all just makes sense!)
I will be documenting my journey on my blog and also on Instagram (@thehealthylexi). My blog will consist of my favorite new recipes I try (as always) and my Instagram will be where I'm "held accountable" (as Kylie and I say) for each and every meal through our Whole30 journey. (If you would like to follow Kylie as well she is @mywhole30kitchen on Instagram!)
Why do I want to do something as extreme as a paleo diet, you ask. Well, I'm terrible at and don't enjoy exercising anymore. I loathe counting calories. And I enjoy a good food challenge, aka finding yummy diet compliant recipes. In the Whole30 program, I don't have to count calories, I can eat a ton (of meats, fruits, and veggies) and I know I will see results even if I don't do a traditional at-the-gym-workout everyday. But I really do want to do the Whole30 program for more than just losing weight and looking better and more than just doing the program for me. I want to do this program for my sweet son. I want Emerson to know what healthy eating is and I want him to make healthy food choices when he is able to. I want to be that example for him...because I'm certain no one else will teach him what healthy eating is!
I also want to do this for my husband. To be quite frank, I want to LOOK GOOD NAKED! For some that is probably TMI, and if he reads this I know his face will turn red and he will say some words to me later, but it is the truth. I want him to look at me and just drool. I love him and he deserves a better me as much as I deserve a better me!
I'm excited to start my Whole30 program tomorrow, May 1st. Up, up, and away. Here we go!
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 fertility issues) that medication hasn’t helped? These
symptoms may be 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. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
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 fertility issues) that medication hasn’t helped? These
symptoms may be 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. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
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 fertility issues) that medication hasn’t helped? These
symptoms may be 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. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
Strip them from your diet completely. Cut out all the psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting, 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 metabolism, systemic inflammation, and the downstream effects of the food choices you’ve been making. Learn once and for all how the foods you’ve been eating are actually affecting your day to day life, and your long term health.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/#sthash.GHlEyqzA.dpuf
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