Health Coach | Speaker | Writer | Welcome to my digital diary! I'm here to help you blend life & fitness to find your health & happy! Thank you for being part of my family & allowing me to add value to your journey!
I saw a woman running yesterday. She was red faced, sweating, & workin it! #transformationtuesday
I talk about avoiding labels for a reason. When most people think of a runner, or weightlifter, or whatever “athlete” you choose, you automatically think of a specific body type right?
Someone long, lean, & muscular.
This woman didn’t fit that description at all.
I loathe the word “fat”, because in my opinion,
Rude.
It’s a label & stereotypes someone as being unfit or unhealthy when that may not be the case at all. You don’t know their story.
I find all bodies beautiful, especially voluptuous ones. I smile whenever I see someone working out, especially young kids, the elderly, and someone who doesn’t fit the stereo typical profile of an “avid exerciser” & it motivates me.
I’ve shared my journey with y’all many times. I’ve told you that in high school I was told I was too big to be a cheerleader or an athlete. Truly I couldn’t even run around a track once without seeing stars & wanting to pass out. Before CrossFit I had never touched a barbell nor could I do one pull up to save my life.
Fitness, running, health, weight lifting, & fat loss were not things I was genetically gifted or came easily or naturally to me.
It’s something I still have to continue to work at. The difference is I have made it a part of who I am, I choose consistency over excuses, & I’ve learned to love my journey & all the seasons, shapes, sizes, & puzzle pieces that come with.
So a reminder & message to you, that it abso-f*ckin-lutely doesn’t matter how much you weigh, how small or big you are, what diet you choose, whether you eat meat or not, what your story is/has been — fitness & health don’t have a size or requirement.
It all starts with a choice to be your best self.
I’m motivated by anyone who gets up & moves. It doesn’t matter their skill & it sure as sh*t doesn’t matter their size.
I’m most inspired by those who are just starting out in their fitness journey because I know exactly what it’s like to start from scratch & have no fuggin idea what you’re doin or worried about what people think of you.
I’m not the fastest runner, I’m not the fittest or strongest person, I have cellulite & stretch marks on my thighs, BUT I am strong, I am dedicated, & I love this body that keeps me alive.
So to the woman I saw running, thank you. You’ve inspired me & millions of other humans in the world in more ways than one.
Because you are the human that chooses to be better & proves beauty & fitness comes in all shapes & sizes.
A woman who knows herself & what she brings to the table is not afraid to eat alone. – me
— Literally & figuratively.
“Wellness Truths” & Reminders for Life I’ve learned thru my healing & fitness journey. Basically everything detailed in this blog, you’ll wanna take notes!
Tons of new followers on IG, WELCOME, I hope these answer all of your questions!
I’m speaking from my experience here, remember, we are all beautifully unique & different human beings. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to anything in life. You have to find your special blend.
For example, many people give advice that aren’t always applicable to everyone like:
👉🏻Everything in Moderation
Not everyone can moderate. I am an abstainer. Food is like a drug to me, carbs specifically. They are not the devil I just have a poor relationship with them. I do better with food rules. Moderation leads to self sabotage for someone like me. We can’t have one cookie, it leads to the whole package & emotional distress — just like an alcoholic can’t have one drink.
👉🏻Just Eat Until You’re Full
Some people don’t know what it feels like to be comfortably full. They can’t assess or distinguish satiety signals. Those do better with portion control measures, macros, food rules & eating schedules.
👉🏻Just Eat When You’re Hungry
Just like satiety cues, some people don’t know when they’re really hungry and when they’re emotionally eating. These are skills you have to learn and they start with self-awareness. Hunger can be stimulated even when you’re not hungry simply by smelling food, seeing food, thirst, learned habits like eating in front of the TV, boredom, & stress eating.
I hope these raindrops of enlightenment can fill your cup with the nourishment you need to create your own blend & thrive. ☕️ 💧 🌱 🪴 🌻
I talk about food, macros, training, all your questions & everything in between, keep reading!
REMINDERS FOR LIFE
🌻Grant yourself permission.
You are allowed to:
Feel how you feel. Want what you want. Know what you know. Sense what you sense. Crave what you crave. Be where you are & do things your way. Learn to trust yourself.
🌻Stop accepting your story if you wish for another.
You’re not going to master the rest of your life in one day. Relax. Make a decision & master the day. Then just keep doing that every day. Decide who you are & how you react. Live a life & timeline authentic to YOU.
🌻You are the creator & the cause.
Thoughts become things. You are the creator of your world. You can create new realities inside & outside any experience. You can create ways out of or into any experience. You attract what you put out.
🌻If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.
Read that again.
🌻It gets better.
Love finds you when you love yourself & your life first. It’s the space in between the life & love we’ve lost & the life & love we hope for that we find ourselves.
🌻Leaders are readers & surround themselves with successful people.
Success leaves clues. Fuel your body & your BRAIN. Listen to podcasts, read, ask questions, get a coach or mentor. Cut out toxic people & energy vampires.
🌻Minimize toxins the best you can for healthy hormones.
This means parabans, plastics, pesticides, processed food, artificial ingredients. Ditch the Tupperware, check your beauty products, cleaning supplies, & READ INGREDIENT & NUTRITION LABELS.
🌻Move in the morning.
Workout, walk, yoga, mobility. Shoot for 10k steps/day. Increasing your NEAT (non-exercise movement) has the biggest impact on total calorie burn throughout the day. Walk after eating meals & after lunch. Set break times every 20-30 minutes. Simply get up & walk.
🌻Your body likes routine.
Set eating times & pick foods that suit your lifestyle, schedule, & wellness goals. This is different for everyone.
MY WELLNESS SECRETS & TRUTHS
🌻For me, I prefer 2 meals a day. The largest after my workout for recovery, the second late afternoon around 1-2pm. My digestion is slow & not as efficient in the evening, therefore I keep my largest meals early in the day & fast anywhere from 16-20 hours overnight depending on my work & workout schedule. I do not do extended fasting. Fasting is not a dirty word. It is simply a tool & strategy to optimize fueling your body. Just like macros.
🌻Set realistic expectations as far as fat loss and aesthetic goals. Realize a certain level of leanness is going to require sacrifices. You will be hungry. It will suck. If you want shredded abs & all the striations, stop your bitching and put in the fxcking work. That work requires MINDSET work as well. If you’re not willing to do what those people are willing to do to look that way, set another goal. As a coach myself, our job is to tell you what you need to hear not what you want to hear. Sometimes that means setting a new goal, eating more food, committing to a healing process, resting, and learning to love yourself first.
🌻Balancing blood sugar is the key to fat loss, feeling satisfied, & minimizing cravings. Keep meals protein & fat focused. You should not be snacking in between meals. If you feel the need to snack, your meal either didn’t contain enough protein and or fat or was not large enough. I love my NutriSense continuous glucose monitor, you can snag one here for yourself! CODE: KATIECGM25 for some $$. It has helped me manage my blood sugar levels by giving me data to make more educated decisions about fasting, meal sizes, meal options, exercise intensity – ALL THE THINGS!
✅Protein is the most satiating. General range: 1g of protein per body weight or goal weight for most. Avid exercisers, athletes, people lifting weights, and older people require more. Most do well spreading out around 30-50 g per meal without digestive distress.
✅For carbs, most people do well controlling blood sugar regulation with meals under 40 g of carbohydrates. The less active you are the less carbohydrates you typically require. The body optimizes carbohydrates most efficiently post workout and in the evening before bed because it reduces your cortisol (stress) level and can help you sleep better.
✅Nail your protein first and then determine what fuel source is most appropriate for your health needs, digestion, training and fitness goals. Your fuel sources are carbohydrates and fats.
🌻I work out fasted at 5 AM most mornings. Fasting blood glucose I like around 75-90 You can test with a simple glucometer from Amazon or any drug store or get yourself a NutriSense CGM like I talked about in above bullets. I feel best working out 4-5 days/week. Mix of cardio & strength training. Do shit you LOVE that keep you active and in the gym & take rest days. I prefer 1 active recovery day & 1 full rest day.
🌻 Manage stress. Schedule self care & rest days. Sleep 7-8 hrs a night. If you’re sleeping less than 6 you did not earn your workout. My secret weapons:
✅Favorite self care is coloring, writing, walking, live music, time with friends, a spa day, pedicure, working out, & a new mani via my @impressmanicure press on nails. I get them at CVS, Kroger, Target, & Meijer.
🌻I don’t ‘treat myself’ or ‘cheat.’ Food is not a reward/something to earn. I also dislike saying cheat because it implies it’s going to benefit you in some way. Cheaters cheat to win. Do you really think you’re winning by cheating yourself?
🌻I eat 2 meals/d on avg as I said before. My days off or if I can sleep in, I now eat 1 meal. You must experiment. Your experience/needs will be different than mine. It takes TIME. It took me an entire year to fully adapt to an animal based lifestyle, & yes, I gained 15lbs initially. I’ve now lost around 20.
🌻Majority of meals are my Airfryer Crispy meat bars. 85% ground beef, ground chicken. Avg 2lbs of meat/d. Ground meat is easier to digest & track. I removed most pork & dairy, I don’t digest’em well. I don’t add extra fat often. Choose meats that are higher in fat. No I don’t like organ meat, I prefer the taste of grain fed over grass fed beef.
Airfryer Crispy Meat Bars
The secret is leaving it loosely packed for the crispy exterior. Do not pack them into tight patties. Break them up into 4 to 5 sections. Chicken and turkey are harder to break up, it’s super loosey-goosey. Times will vary depending on your air fryer. I have an Instant 6qt. On Amazon favorites list, link in bio on IG.
Set Airfry, 380, 12 minutes, no preheat.
🌻I stick to beef because it’s satisfying & delicious but not SO delicious I want to binge. Food addicts tend to have issues controlling carbs, sugar, sugar free substitutes, keto treats, dairy, butter, cheese, bacon, pork rinds, hyper palatable & processed meats)
🌻There are 50 freaking shades of the carnivore diet. Don’t hate on other people because they include other things into their diets. We all have different toleration‘s & needs. I have a million sensitivities so I typically only season with pink Himalayan sea salt. The majority of my food is meat & eggs. Epic Brand baked Himalayan sea salt pork rinds if I need something crunchy and low carb.
🌻Rice cakes on occasion post workout or in the evening if I need them, rarely above 50g/day. I do fine on white rice, rice cakes, rice Chex cereal, & honey as far as carbs. I don’t crave carbs anymore, so I rarely need a refeed day anymore.
🌻Preworkout & morning drink I enjoy @strongcoffeecompany Latte. It’s kind of like a creamer for me. It does have caffeine. I blend about 4oz coffee, 5-6oz hot water, & 1/2 scoop of the strong coffee company latte. Use a packet of stevia if you want yours sweeter. Link in bio on Instagram. Discount code: KatieKelly
🌻 I don’t take many supplements anymore but I do recommend the NuEthix Formulations Brand. I have use these all throughout my healing, health, fat loss, performance — you name it journeys! Link in bio also on this website & IG. Discount Code: lilbitoffit
Feel free to message me on the gram, we can go over a supplement regimen that’s appropriate for you.
🌻I track macros loosely. It keeps me accountable & I know where to adjust.
**Again these numbers are for ME**
I hesitate to give any specific numbers but I want to show you guys how much food you can actually eat & enjoy when you commit to healing & eating foods that work for you!
I’m 5’1, now around 105-107, crossFit & lift 5 days a week, average 13-15,000 steps/d, active job.
Macros VARY but these are my AVG ratios: 0-5% Carb, around 30% Protein, & 60% Fat
Around 1900-2100 cal/d. Protein I’m around 130g-170g (Yes, I realize that’s a 💩 ton but I thrive on higher protein & moderate fat. I don’t have a gallbladder so my threshold is lower than most keto, low carb, and carnivore connoisseur‘s)
I don’t over complicate things or give a shit that people say, “Oh my gosh if you eat too much protein you’re going to get fat because it all turns to glucose, yada yada.” It’s better (for me & most people out there anyways) than eating boxes of pop tarts and Twinkies. Yes, too high a protein can cause issues if your fat isn’t high enough on a low carb approach. Eat what you want people as long as it keeps you you’re healthiest self and you feel great. The most common mistake I see when people are trying to adopt a low-carb lifestyle is not eating enough food in general and their protein being too high and fat not high enough.
🌻YES, you can CrossFit & carnivore, CAREFULLY. Comes down to allowing yourself to fully adapt to being fat-fueled, meal timing, eating ample calories, & RECOVERY. I did a full interview on my first year on carnivore here. Please check it out it will answer most of your questions about transitioning to carnivore.
🌻 Sleep=nonnegotiable. 7 hrs min. Zzyquil helps. I take it most nights because I can’t shut my mind off. It is what it is I’m transparent here. Don’t you dare tell me to cut out coffee, that is a nonnegotiable for me. I am well aware of a healthy caffeine intake. I keep mine under 300 mg a day and only in the mornings.
🌻Questions about steps. Yes, I still hit 13-15k steps/day, even on rest days, drinkin a ton of water + electrolytes, fasting when I’m not hungry (~18hrs avg), eating when I am. No extended fasts, no snacking. I like Ultima Replenisher in grape and raspberry flavor. Link in bio on Instagram as well.
🌻I do drink coffee daily. Have cocktails socially. I don’t typically eat & have cocktails I choose 1 or the other. Set a 2-3 drink max limit. I don’t drink half as much as I used to. Some months I won’t drink it all, others, I’ll pick one day & go out on the weekend. I’m an adult it’s my choice. I don’t deny or beat myself up if I choose to be a human & drink & make memories with friends & family. Go your own way! I do feel better not drinking, duh, as most of us will. Lack of sleep, stress, & consuming food triggers cause more issues with any gut or Crohn’s flare‘s for me. Alcohol on occasion, I’m OK with. Be your own mixologist. I typically order a diet coke and ask for a shot of vodka that I mix myself. That way you have control over how much alcohol is in it.
You determine your non-negotiables. Some days it’s electrolytes & my crispy airfryer meat bars, other days it’s vodka & bourbon. 🤷♀️Whatevs. Just be aware of the repercussions of your choices.
🌻Go get your health markers, hormones, gut stuff, bloodwork, etc tested if you feel like things are off. I can’t stress that enough stop guessing.
Please feel free to reach out if you need a consultation by myself or need recommendations for other coaches more applicable to you and your needs! Fill out a basic inquiry here so I can learn about you!
Whew y’all. That’s a lot of brain dumping & word vomit! I hope these tidbits can serve you in a way that you need to help you be your happiest and healthiest!!
Again never hesitate to reach out to me, I live on the gram most of the time and do my best to answer each and everyone of you back!
If you’ve been following a low carb diet (low carb, keto, carnivore) for a while and have been experiencing weight loss plateaus, hormone imbalances, low energy, or a decline in athletic performance, you might want to consider implementing strategic refeeds.
A refeed is an intentional, strategic increase in calories consumption This can be via carbs, fats, or both carbs and fats. Often done on a periodic weekly basis. These refeeds are an effective strategy for minimizing potential negative hormonal &/or metabolic effects from longer term dieting or low carb intake.
So lets talk Carbohydrates and Insulin
We know carbs have a larger impact on the hormone insulin. Most of us that follow a low carb diet have chosen to go this route for more efficient blood sugar balance as well as improved mental, emotional, and physical improvements. When our bodies don’t respond properly to insulin, we increase our risk for disease like metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Alzheimer’s, and more.
Insulin is responsible for telling our cells (mostly muscle, liver, and fat cells) to soak up sugar from the bloodstream. If your cells don’t respond, the level of sugar in your blood remains high and can begin to have toxic effects. This is called “insulin resistance”.
One way we can become resistant to insulin is from eating carbohydrate-rich foods in excess, especially from refined, heavily processed sources like sugary cereals, donuts, cakes, candy, brownies, poptarts – you get the picture. These foods result in excess glucose in the blood, leading to chronically elevated blood sugar and cells that eventually become resistance to insulin signalling. Chronically elevated blood sugar is a serious problem in and of itself, but so is becoming resistant to insulin, as it serves many important functions in the body.
When You Might Need to Implement Refeeds
Carbs can help athletic performance.
They’re not the devil, you’ll hear me say it over and over again what it really comes down to is our relationship with foods and they’re application.
Carbs are helpful for optimal high-intensity performance. They provide fuel for your muscles in the form of glycogen. Long term low carb dieting can lead to depleted glycogen in muscles/liver and a hindered ability to perform high intensity, glycogen-demanding exercise, especially in the beginning stages of adapting to a low carb lifestyle. HAVE PATIENCE. Performance will improve and even out over time.
One diet strategy that has been shown to actually increase performance is a carb cycling method, where athletes & avid exercisers switch between periods of low and high carb intake. The aim is to maintain the ability to efficiently use both carbs and fats for energy, referred to as “metabolic flexibility.” Not only does this ability reduce risk of disease, it also improves performance and can aid in fat loss.
In other words, properly timed carbohydrate refeeds can be an effective strategy for optimizing athletic performance and maintaining metabolic flexibility when following a low carb diet.
You can also incorporate caloric refeeds by increasing your fats macros (vs carbs) and therefore increasing your over calories to maintenance or a slight surplus in time of dieting. This is a great mental & metabolic break for many and will also help restore your “tank.”
Weight Loss Plateaus
The dreaded plateau! Trying to lose the last 5-10lbs can seem like a never ending cycle. It’s not uncommon to see significant weight loss in the first couple weeks of a low carb diet, but then stall. Coincidentally, it’s shown that 1 week is all it takes to see a drop in leptin levels.
If you’re close to your fat loss goal and have reached a plateau, a refeed can give you the hormonal & metabolic boost needed to shed the last few pounds.
How to Do a Carb Refeed
There are many ways to do a carb refeed, and depending on your situation one may be better than another. Each method involves a larger quantity of carbohydrate intake at a scheduled time, but the size and frequency will vary based on individual activity levels, genetics, bioindividuality, goals, training modalities, digestive needs, etc.
A few common methods you can experiment with to see what works for you:
Weekly
Best For: Individuals who engage in lower intensity physical activity, are currently dieting and need a mental break like on the weekends, or are seeking the health benefits of a low carbohydrate diet but want to avoid any possible negative long-term effects.
How to Do It: Pick one day or one meal per week to eat a larger amount of carbohydrates. For example, your refeed could be on a weekend or on your most physically-active day.
Recommended Amount of Carbs: 50-150g carbs, depending on the individual.
Post-Training
Best For: Individuals that perform a intense training sessions (heavy resistance training, CrossFit, HIIT, Orange Theory, Spin, etc) each week and want to optimize performance and recovery, while maintaining ideal body composition.
How to Do It: On big training days, increase your normal amount of carbohydrates in your first meal post-workout.
Recommended Amount of Carbs: 50-150g carbs for most, depending on the individual’s needs
Daily
Best For: Serious athletes who train nearly every day or multiple times per day who need to enhance recovery between sessions and have no negative physical or mental issues with carbs.
How to Do It: Pick a meal to consume a larger amount of carbs. Most often this is post-workout &/or at dinner.
Recommended Amount of Carbs: 50-200g carbs, depending on the individual.
Less Optimal Sources of Carbohydrates
When choosing where to get carbs for your refeed, some sources are more optimal than others. Refined carbohydrates, stripped of their fiber and micronutrients, tend to cause a greater spike in blood sugar compared to their whole food, fiber-rich counterparts. They are better used around training pre/post when you want this spike for fuel and recovery like white rice & all natural/low sugar cereals, rice cakes. Additionally, refined carbs have been shown to promote overeating and weight gain, alter your gut biome, and damage your intestinal barrier.
Here are some carb sources that you’d be better off avoiding during refeeds:
White, processed, non nutrient dense bread
Pastries, cake, brownies
Pasta
Candy, chocolates
Sugar-sweetened beverages
Most packaged foods — check the ingredients!
More Optimal Sources of Carbohydrates
A more optimal carb choice is going to be one that replenishes glycogen, balances insulin sensitivity, and also provides valuable nutrients. Unrefined, complex carbohydrates from whole-food sources are going to be a more optimal choice for most for getting the most out of your carb refeed unless you have issues with fiber, high fodmap fruits & veggies, etc.
Here are some of the more optimal carb sources for a refeed:
Starchy vegetables like potatoes, squash, yams, etc.
Properly prepared grains like white rice, quinoa, oats, etc.
Natural fruits
Nutritive sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or blackstrap molasses
Summary
Carb refeeds & fat refeeds in general can be a valuable tool if used appropriately. There are several options, from once a day to once a week, but some experimentation will be necessary for determining the exact method that works best for you.
Some of the benefits you may start to see after strategically including more carbs &/or fats in your diet include:
Balanced hormones
Better body composition
Enhanced athletic performance and faster recovery
Increased energy
Reduced cravings
More restful sleep
Hope this helps team! You’re always welcome to message me on Instagram!
Trying to figure out your carnivore diet macros can seem like Tetris!
Y’all have to experiment to find your puzzle pieces as far as foods, macro ratios, & what shade of the carnivore diet is your preference. Enjoy this list of my favorite foods + Macros!
Getting it “right” can mean the difference between feeling great or feeling more like a dumpster fire 🔥
Know this will take tweaking but I want to make this simple for you when you’re first starting out. All of your goals, histories, training modalities, metabolic abilities, etc will be different from your neighbor. This is just a general base.
➡️The most important thing you’ll need to know is how many calories your body currently needs to function its best & maintain your weight. This is typically referred to as your maintenance Calories. I will create a future post & expand on this.
You’ll need to consider sex, age, height, weight, & activity level. MORE goes into this but I do not have enough room to write a novel! 😂
➡️Set protein 1g/lb of lean body mass or desired weight.
➡️Set fat the same, 1g/lb of lean body mass or desired weight.
➡️Carbs will vary. Like I said, there are 50 shades of the carnivore diet. Some people include non-starchy veggies, some include non-benign carbs like white rice on occasion. Go your own way.
➡️If you like or need your fat higher, or you need higher calories, by all means increase your fats. Some prefer higher protein, you can do the same here, but beware, you can get your protein too high & it can cause issues.
Not everyone needs to track macros but it will be extremely helpful to make more educated decisions on where to make adjustments.
Happy calculating guys!
Leave a tip for your fellow carnivores below, don’t hesitate to send a DM if you need direction!
Link here for coaching, we’ll calculate your macros for you! 🦾
♦️How To Setup Your Macros & Calorie Periodization for a Fat Loss Cut♦️
Save & share this one!
How do we diet smart without totally turning our metabolism and hormones into dumpster fires🔥? #nutritionperiodization
3 things I believe are under-rated, yet make a BIG difference in progress:
☝️Sleep
✌️Caloric Periodization
🤟Carb & Meal Timing
Sleep: dudes I don’t care what diet you’re following you’re not going to get anywhere if you do not get your sleep under control.
Caloric Periodization: This is the way we structure our macros (& calories) across time periods. (A week or multiple weeks) The BIG reason 👉🏻 it’s how we create sustainability & adherence. Let’s be real, diets aren’t fun. You’re gonna be hungry. It’s a big stress on our bodies. By incorporating structured refeed and diet breaks we give our bodies and minds the reset we need to stay committed to our goals.
Carb & Meal Timing: Tips I’ve learned overtime throughout my journey… keep your largest meals earlier in the day, preferably post workout. This is when our bodies are most insulin sensitive & metabolize food & carbs more efficiently. Fast 12 hours overnight — this will prevent evening snacking. This is why setting meal times & intermittent fasting are effective tools when dieting & when it comes to adherence. Don’t demonize carbs, use them with respect & with intention. If you have a bad relationship with carbohydrates, check yourself. Self sabotaging habits & emotional weight can be the exact things weighing you down. Avoid trigger foods, mental & physical, keep them out of the house.
Love y’all!
What’s your preferred method of dieting? I prefer a one day re-feed a week when dieting! 🤗 👇🏻
The old school way of thinking in order to achieve our fat loss & health goals: “I have to ‘want it enough’ to achieve it.”
On one hand, they do have a point, it does take intention PLUS action.
On the other hand, it’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of perfection & a totalitarian approach & restriction.
Beliefs like eating nachos or excess calories on a Saturday night equates to failure.
Beliefs like eating a strict meal plan of chicken & broccoli with a kitchen overflowing of Tupperware.
What you need to ask yourself, “Is this sustainable & how do I want to eat the rest of my life that makes me feel AMAZING?!
For me & many of my clients in the past, this restriction & perfection mindset meant come the weekend, we’d binge & purge aisle 5 of all the foods we’d denied ourselves & wash it down with 4-5 cocktails & wake up to self loathing & a week of over exercising later.
Sound familiar?
The longer we go trying to control things, deny flexibility & living LIFE, the less controlled & unfulfilling your life will become.
Here are lessons I’ve learned about balance along my fat loss & healing journey.
How to calorie cycle for fat loss! TAG & SHARE 🎉
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✅Personally, I like to eat (roughly) the same 200-300 range of calories each day.
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✅I have clients who prefer cycling their calories based on when they work out.
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✅I have clients who cycle their calories to accommodate their weekend partying, too. 😉🍻
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👉🏻The Bottom Line ✅: success comes down to finding something you can follow consistently. While there’s nothing magical about calorie cycling, it can be an excellent tool for creating a more enjoyable plan 👍
Questions about macros & flexibility? Drop’em on Instagram!
Need something more in depth? Fill out the inquiry & we’ll chat🤗
Every transformation story has a common denominator — a decision.
Someone decided to make a choice. Often times we don’t know what we don’t know.
We focus solely on aesthetic indicators of progress instead of things like energy level, happiness, health, healing from within first & that means more than just your gut, it means your shxtty relationship with yourself too.
I chose to find the root cause of my health & life challenges. I chose to research ME & make decisions to embody the person I desired.
I chose to be self-aware, even when it was painful & downright dirty.
A big thing learned since going meat based with my diet & spending time alone is I’ve lived a huge chunk of my life addicted to addictions.
One biggie — food addiction. I never viewed it as a true “addiction” like drugs & alcohol before — It is.
It was an enormous driver to my demise in every facet of life over my 38 years. It affected my mood, my performance, my relationships, my professional success — ERY thing.
Serious talk – because many of us don’t realize we have a problem or understanding of our mind & body’s needs…
We don’t realize we’re not moderators, we can’t have just 1 chip or cupcake because it leads to self sabotaging. Our habits cause our gut problems, hormone issues, mental & physical state. Which all affect your life goals and ability to lose body fat & gain health.
I used to live to eat. Food controlled every thought — it controlled ME. I used to live for the highs like over exercising & people pleasing. What happens is you lose yourself.
To all of you who message me with heartbreaking emotions of desperation, hopelessness, frustration & confusion — I hear you, I see you.
And here’s what I’ll repeat — every transformation starts with making a decision to choose YOU & not an EXCUSE.
Choose to THRIVE.
WELL FED WOMEN CHANGE THE WORLD.
❤️🌻👑🥩🏋🏼♀️🦾
Things I Discovered
My Typical Gut “Safe” Foods
📝(I only eat eggs & meat primarily now)
🤍Meats: ground beef & chicken, beef steak, pork chops or loin, chicken without skins, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, any seafood 🥩
🤍Eggs & Egg Whites 🍳
🤍White Rice 🍚
🤍Baked White potatoes without skin (in moderation) 🥔
Had a client tell me yesterday she loved running but everyone said cardio was “bad” & she should only lift weights. 🤦🏼♀️ (but she hates it & is the reason she avoids the gym)
This is the problem with the inter-webs & having so much information at our fingertips. We get lost in the things we love, we ignore our intuition, & think we have to do what everyone else is doing.
I’ll ask you this, if you choose a form of exercise you hate, do you think you’ll stick with it? Don’t you think getting to the gym, period, is most important?
I personally love me some cardio. 🙋🏼♀️ Type A, give me that hit & high all day long. No shame as long as you are using it for the right reasons & from a place of self love, not self hate.
Too many people use it to punish themselves for overeating, or they use it incorrectly as a singular form of exercise thinking it will build them a booty 🍑
You absolutely can use cardio to reach your fat loss goals. It’s just another tool for your toolbelt! Strength training can be abused as well, it all comes down to your application & relationship with food & exercise.
Cardio conditioning is a tool that improves your health, performance, & even allow you to build some muscle (yes, cardio can!).
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For example, why do many CrossFitters look so “jacked?” We combine cardio AND resistance training in our workouts. Is it for everyone? NO, not if you hate it. Will it work for you if you stick with it? YES.
Cardio should be intelligently applied, just like lifting weights.
We should be working all our energy systems & using different modalities, switch it up, your body does adapt.
You see there are different seasons of life I’ve in catagories:
The Mundane – the everyday “boring” stuff. Routine, chores, work, etc.
The Mess – the chaos, the road blocks, the f*ck ups, the contrast, the things & shadows we don’t like about ourselves.
The Magic – the sweet spots, the little things, the peace, the moments that make your heart sing with joy & make everything else melt away.
We must learn to nurture & love every season with grace. They make us – US.
My body has been all shapes and sizes through the years.
When I first started struggling with body image I was around 8 years old.
I was labeled as the “fat” girl and that label stuck with me for years. It paralyzed me from reaching my potential. Total mindf*ck. When you’re attached with a powerful label, it’s hard to simply pull that label off like a tag on a new pair of leggins. It takes the dirty work to remove.
I’m almost 60lbs lighter now today, after going meat-based with my diet over a year ago to manage my crohn’s. I’m a lot less f*cks lighter too than I was decades ago. Most of all I’m proud to love ALL my seasons, and I know my worth is not based on a number on the scale or my barbell.
My biggest pain point of criticism – I loathed my legs. I hated the way they looked. I hated the way they rubbed together. I hated the cellulite, the stretch marks. I hated the way they jiggled.
I spent years trying to attain slender legs with fasted cardio, strict low fat & low calorie dieting, binging, purging, running and walking often 30,000 steps a day – that’s not a typo.
What did I lose? Not the legs I was trying to get rid of. I lost friends, and memories, my health, and MYSELF along the way.
Here are some life truths I discovered along my journey that I hope can help reframe your life wherever it may be…
1.) You will never become the person you want to be if you don’t take care of your body. Do you perform, feel your best, & serve your family at your highest when you’re tired, overweight, your gut is a mess, and/or you’re obsessed with food, exercise, & basically hating life? Didn’t think so. Invest in yourself, it’s not being selfish.
2.) You are the sum of your surroundings. This includes your friends, your work, your hobbies, your food, and what you mentally consume. Are they nourishing you or depleting you on your path to who you want to be?
3.) A wish is not a goal. Make a plan and ACT. THAT is when your dream becomes a goal. You know my MO, you either DO or you DON’T. You wanna be a DOer or a DON’Ter?
4.) The most important relationship you have is with yourself. Noone can make you happy but yourself. If you can’t love the reflection in the mirror with tummy rolls, you can’t love the reflection with a six-pack. Appreciate your seasons. Losing lbs is not the answer to gaining your happiness. It’s a band-aid.
5.) The beauty is in the mess. It’s ok to try and chase the best version of your life, but if you’re constantly dreaming & searching for the perfect life you’re never truly living in the now. You’ll be forever unsatisfied.
6.) Rich is in the eye of the beholder. Rich doesn’t always mean money or material things. In fact, the most important things aren’t seen or felt. They’re experienced-freedom, peace, pride, laughter, love.
As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that a $300 or a $30 watch both tell the same time. You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first class or economy, if the plane goes down-you go down with it. -Steve Jobs
7.) The most important food in the world is soul food. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
“Find what makes your soul sing with joy & try, as much as you can, to let that happen as often as possible. Listen to the inner-workings of your mind and be honest with yourself when things don’t feel right. Leave what doesn’t sit well and walk into new relationships, connections, & places with open arms. Forgive yourself for the shortcomings you’ve had (or think you’ve had) & celebrate where you will go next.And most of all, know that what you have to offer this world is valuable. And noone else can do it.” -Marisa Donnelly
Real Steps to consider for Successful “Dieting”
Everyday I have beautiful women come to me wanting to lose body fat. Absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to see what your body can do. Change is good. Change is energy. We are entitled to see what our bodies can do no matter what season we choose.
The question: have you earned the right to lose body fat and are you mentally ready?
Avoid Common Mistakes:
Not being clear about what your goal really is? Do you want to gain muscle or lose fat? Two different things. Two different requirements, one a calorie surplus, one a calorie deficit.
Not setting a realistic goal and not being honest about how flexible or strict you want to be. Eating for general health and wellness is more flexible. You can go out with friends and have those occasional cocktails. Cutting for a photo shoot or competition? That means strict diet, training, and minimal “cheats.”
These require different levels of commitment:
Not periodizing your nutrition. You should not be “cutting” or “dieting” forever. Keep cuts 8-16 weeks MAX, limit to 1-2 times per year. Follow up with 4-6 months of maintenance or surplus calories to upregulate body systems.
Automatically assume you need to cut carbs to lose weight. Carnivore, low carb, & keto absolutely have their place. They work wonderful for people who need an insulin reset, an elimination diet, have autoimmune disorders, poor relationships with carbs, etc, but they’re also not “right” for everyone if they don’t suit your needs or preferences. What kind of training are you doing? Are you doing CrossFit, HIIT training, Orange Theory, Bootcamps, marathon training? You may do better utilizing some quantity of carbs in your diet. All of our bodies are different. YOU have to eat for YOU!
You think punching numbers in myfitnesspal, an online calculator, or following a template will spit out magic macros to solve all your problems. Do you think a calculator or template cares you’ve been surviving on poverty macros, struggle with work stress, travel, kids back talking and getting in trouble at school, gut issues, and can’t sleep at night? All affect your mindset, digestion, recovery, relationships with food, relationships with other people, and most importantly yourself. INVEST in a qualified coach! I offer consults every single day, even weekends and holidays for YOU. Inquiry HERE.
These were from a fat loss cut for photo shoot prep. I reversed for 3 months prior and then ate at surplus (2300 calories daily) for 2 months prior to going into my cut. I didn’t have to drop below 1500 calories during my 12 week cut BECAUSE I did my due diligence to heal and recover FIRST.
Truths about Fat Loss:
Healthy, nourished bodies lose body fat. Eating 1000 calories a day, surviving on sugar-free jello & lettuce is not a balanced diet, nor a protocol to set you up for a successful fat loss phase. You need to work on yourself for months to get your calories up & your body functioning like a normal human being.
All your systems should be in check BEFORE considering diving into a cut: your metabolism, your hormones, your period, your mindset, your stress level.
Ladies, your period is like your internal gauge your body is functioning properly. If you’re not having a period that is the biggest red flag. Did you know your body can conserve 30,000 cal/year by not having a period. Why? If your body takes away a natural process to conserve energy, that’s called survival because reproducing is not a priority. This also goes for down regulating your metabolism, your thyroid, & your sex hormones.
Your metabolism is not one singular thing like your brain or your arm or your liver. Your metabolism encompasses everything it’s everywhere. Your brain, your digestive system, your reproductive system – they all contribute. It will adjust to low calories and this is when you plateau. We can’t cut you any lower as a coach when you come to us eating 1200 calories a day.
Your body will not respond to a cut if you have not properly taken care of it before hand. This could take months or even years. Your body does AMAZING things on the daily. Appreciate it. It’s main priority is keeping you alive & guess what?
Your body gives two f*cks that you want to have abs & look good in a bikini. #REALtalk
I empathize with your frustrations. It took me years to work my calories up to true maintenance, 4 years to be exact. Took me even longer to heal my gut, manage triggers, and most importantly, step into my worth and cultivate a growth mindset.
My door is always open. Feel free to message, dm, or email. I would love to help you on your journey!
Fax Friday. I am really glad I keep LEGACY photos now of my fitness journey. For decades I would’ve cringed at the thought of taking a picture of myself.
Now I use them as a tool to adjust my nutrition protocols for my health & fitness goals. It all comes down with your relationship with things, fam. Change your perspectives!
I want to make the most evidence based progress related changes possible. Because my health fxcking deserves it.
I will continue to harp at all of you to educate yourselves, find mentors, find coaches, people to help you along your health & fitness journey.
None of us know everything but there are plenty of free resources & awesome people out there to help you make the right decisions when it comes to your goals.
These cookie cutter programs & templates don’t give you the tools to help you make informed choices when you’re finished.
That’s the point of trying new things & hiring people to help you. We don’t want you to need us forever. If you need us forever we’re not doing our jobs.
I don’t believe in any perfect way of eating — only the perfect way of eating for YOU.
You’ve asked about things I’ve learned through my fitness journey & why you may be gaining weight on low carb.
THINGS IVE LEARNED ALONG MY FITNESS JOURNEY:
💓 Carbs are not the enemy, your relationship & application of them is what determines their meaning. Higher carbs will give you more energy, help you recover from higher intensity activity, they make your muscles fuller, sometimes an insulin reset is needed for specific symptoms, dis-ease, & seasons.
Consult with a coach or practitioner beforehand if you don’t know what you’re doing.
💓Higher fat & protein diets keep you more satiated, they keep your energy levels & blood sugar more stable, they will help with insulin resistance, they are not necessary to follow forever. For some, like myself, they help with digestive symptoms & help you lean out around your stomach as long as your calories match your needs & energy balance.
💓 For me, gluten free, dairy free, low fodmap, low lectin, low oxalate, animal based, low fiber work best to control digestive symptoms & my Crohn’s. I have worked with a functional medicine doctor to rid myself of SIBO & CANDIDA years ago. Symptoms were much better after undergoing a 12 week protocol. GET TESTED, QUIT GUESSING. Through trial & error & decades of experience I figured out what works best for my body. Which will be different from your body.
💓Educate yourselves. I’ve had to adjust my nutrition & training numerous times with specific food choices & workout modalities — it’s OK to experiment. That’s the only way you’re going to learn what truly works for YOU. There are no magic sets of macros or diet camps or fasting protocols, etc — they’re all simply tools for your toolbelt & puzzle pieces that will either fit or they don’t. Go your own way. 5 things that ALWAYS MATTER no matter what diet you’re doing: Your mindset, sleep, simple movement, & the quality & quantity of food you consume.
REASONS YOU MAY BE GAINING WEIGHT ON CARNIVORE OR LOW CARB:
🥩You’re eating in a surplus. As with ANY diet you choose if you are eating in a surplus chances are you will put on body fat. It’s part of it. This is when you should be focusing on muscle gain & strength.
🥩You’ve been eating in a chronic deficit & your body is finally getting the nutrients it needs to function & grow muscle. You WANT muscle growth. More muscle=more food=more badass. You can’t have the athletic body without building the muscle underneath FIRST. This weight gain is actually weight restoration.
🥩You’re snacking too much on things like pork rinds, fat bombs, or fake keto junk like Atkins bars. They’re easy to overeat & nutrient deficient. Even no cal artificial sweeteners can trigger hunger, water retention, & over eating. Go back to the basics for a while & experiment. Simplify. Meat, water, coffee, no sweeteners.
🥩You’re choosing highly palatable meats & foods like ribeyes, bacon, cheese, butter, processed meats, etc. they are delicious, YES, but can trigger over eating when you’re not really hungry. It’s like when you’re not hungry but then they bring out dessert. Most of us will have that extra piece of cake. Choose foods that are satisfying & get the job done. My choice (FOR ME) is ground beef & ground chicken cooked in the air fryer. Fuggin delicious & satiating, but not so much I’m triggered to eat more for pleasure & not true hunger.
🥩You’re overly fasting, overly training, not sleeping, still eating foods you don’t digest well, &/or over caffeinating or consuming excess alcohol. All these things are stressors which increases our blood glucose & cortisol level. Chronically high cortisol & hormone imbalances affect your weight, recovery, energy, & fat loss. Reduce your workout intensity & volume, SLEEP, reduce caffeine/alcohol, cut out foods & habits that hinder your digestion, shorten your fasting window or STOP fasting. Get a @nutrisenseio continuous glucose monitor to track blood sugar levels. It’s a wealth of information & will help you more accurately make adjustments!
🥩You’re eating too much protein, throwing hormones & your biofeedback off. Try increasing your fats & start with protein around 1g per lb of LEAN BODY MASS or 20-30% of your daily calories. Our energy sources come from fats & carbs. Play around with it, you’ll find your thresholds. Play around with different kinds of meats & macros ratios. There’s no one-size-fits-all. If in doubt, invest in a coach or practitioner to help!
