Why your body never changes and what to do instead

Listen, I belonged to the “I’m working my azz off (literally) club why am I not seeing results?” for decades.⁣ 

Weekends were always excuses, social time was always an excuse, i’ve been good all week so I deserve this…it’s easy to make excuses. 

Happy swiping. Do any of these sound familiar to you?⁣

Triggered much?⁣

Good. Our triggers tell us where we need to heal & change.⁣

The majority of the questions asked this week were centered around not seeing body change or fat loss despite cutting food.

Most of the time they come down to these things that you don’t want to hear. 

If you keep doing what you’ve always done you will always get the same result. Remember that. ⁣

I tell you guys these things with love.⁣

You’re worth the change.⁣

Oxox Coach K⁣

How much protein should you eat and how to get in 30+ grams

Wonder how much meat you need to consume to hit 30+ grams of protein? Don’t want to track your food?

Here’s a cheat sheet of a variety of meats & animal based foods to make this as easy & basic af as possible! Protein requirements will vary for different individuals, your goals, food & training preferences, health history, digestibility, etc…

I would still recommend weighing out your meat raw, which is the information available on the label. Meat shrinks down 20-30% in weight after cooking. I find most people are either weighing & logging meat incorrectly &/or are inefficient at eyeballing. I was too! I also made the mistake of not adding the fat back on my meat after cooking which accounted for hundreds of calories less than I thought I was consuming. This can make or break your progress.

Hitting protein goals is a non-negotiable just like getting quality sleep. Protein helps us build muscle, recover, & keeps us more satiated in contrast to eating carbs. Most find you’re hungry an hour or so eating a carb based meal or snack.

Our need for protein becomes even more important if we’re avid exercisers, in a muscle-gaining phase, a fat loss phase, &/or as we age.

To quote Examine.com + current research: “if you’re of healthy weight, active, & wish to build muscle, to aim for 1.6–2.4 g/kg (0.73–1.10 g/lb) in grams of protein.”

My typical range is .8-1.2g/lb of bodyweight for most active individuals. The leaner the individual, the higher protein most can tolerate or require. I’ve had some even prefer up to 1.5g/lb of bw especially if they’re carnivore & in a fat loss phase. Those with more body fat, I’d likely have aim closer towards that ~0.8 recommendation.

Some examples I’ve used with clients:
21-40 y/o, 105 lb, 5’0-5’2 lean individual = ~105-158g protein (~1.0-1.5)
30 y/o, 120 lb, 5’2-5’3 lean individual = ~120-135 grams protein (~1.0–1.1)
30 y/o, 160 lb, 5’3-5’5 individual = ~130 grams protein (~0.8)
45 y/o+, 130 lb, 5’3 individual = ~130-145 grams protein (~1.0-1.1)

Now go smash some meat!

oxox

Coach K

Body recomposition & losing body fat on higher protein carnivore

Body recomposition goes hand-in-hand with making sure your body feels safe enough to lose body fat which means you’re eating adequate calories for optimal body function, aka: you’re in good hormonal & metabolic health.

When I started my fitness journey my goal was to lose as much weight as possible on the scale. I had no idea what body recomposition meant. 

I got down to 105 lbs, by basically starving myself & doing cardio all the time. My current body looks completely different now, same weight. 

Know that the body you desire may take years to build & develop, mine has taken nearly a decade.

I was shocked at a check up for insurance at work 10+ years ago when they told me my body fat was 25% at 105lbs. Huge wake up call! I was #skinnyfat

I went carnivore 2 years ago, took a higher fat approach at first, gained weight (15lbs) my body fat was higher at almost ~26%. I switched to a higher protein/moderate fat approach & that is truly when my body changed to the lean physique you see today.

I’m not saying this is right for everyone but I just wanna explain you don’t have to fear food &/or higher protein even when you go low carb. 

You can make your diet cyclical too. You don’t have to follow a higher protein approach forever just make sure however you’re eating it aligns with whatever your body goal is.

People freak out & they think just because they’re not in high levels of ketosis they’re not gonna be able to lose body fat. 

I was never in a high level of ketosis & I still managed to lose 20lbs. Finally took an inbody scan & my body fat is now around 14-16% which I realize is pretty low for a female. I’m being transparent about my journey & experiences. This is the lowest my body fat has ever been & the best I’ve felt.

No matter what diet camp you belong to, if you’re gonna crush 2 habits a day please make them be SLEEP & eating enough protein 😴 🥩 🦾⁣! 

Swipe for tips that helped me!

Simply sharing my personal experiences & years working with clients as a nutrition coach. I hope these help you however you need!

I also have a 354 page guide I brained dumped everything learned throughout my years as a nutrition coach & on a carnivore diet.

Tap for Link!

Link in IG bio to get yours! I created a special discount price for you guys today! 😉 

Tips that helped me

You don’t have to cram all your protein down your pie hole in 1 meal/d or fast. Split up up your meals for optimal digestion, satiety, energy, & adherence.

It’s not only hard on your digestive system to break down protein but large meals make it even that harder. ⁣

If you’re experiencing that crash post meal, take a look at your meal size. You may do better with more frequent/smaller sizes. ⁣

Protein helps us build muscle, aka we look better naked. It also keeps us satiated & full. Trust me, if you’re eating enough protein in your meal you’re not gonna want all that other bullshxt.⁣⁣

I’ve 2 ends of the spectrum, those eating barely enough to keep a bird alive, & the opposite with my meat based peeps, smashing 200-300g of protein because they fear fat. We gotta balance them out y’all. ⁣

Protein is even more important when we are in fat loss deficits & as we age. We want to maintain as much lean muscle mass as possible so often we need to increase our protein needs.⁣

My general recommendation is 1g/lb of body weight if you’re in a normal healthy range, or goal weight if you have more weight to lose. ⁣

Super lean, active individuals typically require higher protein levels. Some up to 1.2-1.7g/lb. (I fit that profile, active + lift, 5’1, 105lbs, ~16%bf. I consume ~160-180ish g/d. Doesn’t mean you need to eat like this but an illustration that everyone’s needs are different.)⁣

General Client Examples:⁣

🤍 105-110lbs, 5’0-5’2 females ~110-130g⁣

🤍 115-130lbs, 5’1-5’3 females ~120-140g⁣

🤍 135-150lbs, 5’4-5’6 females ~140-160g⁣

🤍 155-175lbs, 5’5-5’8 females ~155-180g⁣

🤍 175-200lbs, 5’8-6’0 females ~175-200g⁣

Save, tag, share w/yo frans🎉 

Signs you’re eating at your maintenance calories & what you need to do if you are not

Y’all wanna know what most people get wrong when it comes to dieting in general?

Not dieting. 

We weren’t meant to live in a constant state of restriction. Feeling like sh*t, no energy no matter how many coffee or Bangs I shoved down my pie hole, chronic constipation, no body comp changes, cold all the freakin time – THAT was my normal back in the day.

I committed every sin I’ve talked about here on the interwebs. I used to CrossFit my a$$ off hours a day 7 d/wk on 1500 calories, eating all the carbs & plants, wrecking me mentally & physically. I wondered why I could never recover & I never looked “jacked” like other female athletes that weren’t working “half as hard” & eating twice as much as me.

Like a fine wine bitches. 😉

Fast forward today, my 39 year old self finally fit the puzzle pieces together & learned not to fear food, not to see it as something I had to earn or burn off. I’m 5’1, 105lbs. I workout 5 d/wk, I lift & CrossFit, I walk a lot, and I eat ALOT. I avg 1850-2000 calories a day most days, primarily ground beef, eggs, lamb, & Perdue ground chicken.

Reminder, maintenance calories are how many calories we can eat in a day & maintain optimal body function without seeing any changes to muscle & fat composition. In other words, chillin like a villain. 

If you’re eating below where you need to be calorically & basically feeling the exact opposite of the signs we’re talkin about in the slides of this post, you most likely need to do what’s called a reverse diet. Don’t know how? I have a whole 354 page EGuide with a section dedicated to this very subject.

Included are some things you may not want to hear:

A healthy body loses body fat & any weight you gain in the process of gaining health is weight you needed to gain.

It may take years to get the body you want going through numerous periodization cycles.

There is a cost to being a certain level of lean. 

That athletic body you covet just may weigh more than you think.

Unless you’re a newbie & never worked out before or dieted, fat loss takes a calorie deficit, muscle gain takes at least maintenance & more likely surplus. Pick one. You cannot do both at the same time.

Also, our bodies are all different. What weight & body fat % one person is might work great for them as far as hormonal & metabolic health, others it may not be optimal & you may need to eat more to remedy any issues.

And if you refuse to eat more when you need to restore your health, you have far pressing more important issues than looking good in a bikini.

Keepin it real,

Coach K

Meeting your Carnivore Macros with Lilbitoffit’s Crispy Airfryer #MeatBars & cheat sheets for different body goals

Q: If I eat 2 lbs of meat what would my macros be? Also don’t know what my macros should be for different goals?

Basic AF “Meat Your Macros” with Crispy Airfryer #MeatBars + Carnivore Macros Examples 

Please read the visuals & captions. I answer many redundant questions if you guys would read the posts in it’s entirety. I say this with love❤️

Tap photo for all the Cheat Sheets on IG

⁣⁣

There are 100 different ways to “Meat” your macros. All of our bodies/goals/histories/needs are different, which means all of our macro nutrient ratios are going to be different.⁣

I’m not saying you guys have to eat this way but I’m breaking it down so y’all have a visual!Using 2 meals/d as a generic simple “meal plan” AGAIN, go your own way most of us carnivores eat 1-3 meals/day, avg 2. 

⁣ QUICK REMINDER ON HOW TO WEIGH, LOG, & TRACK MEAT CORRECTLY! ⬇️ and check out this article if you are not consuming all of the fat that’s in the bottom of your air fryer, or you blot or drain your meat: https://www.bestfoodfacts.org/lean-to-fat-ratio/

Please check out this article!

In a Fat Loss Cut? Most of you will choose 1-2 meals/day. Maybe you’re fat cycling too

In a Muscle Building Phase? I suggest 3 meals/day to get your calories in 

Many of you are choosing super lean meats like chicken breasts because you’re still stuck in that bro diet mindset.⁣ Talked about this in a YouTube video yesterday – YouTube link in IG bio!

Our fuel sources are carbs & fats. When you take away carbs, the fuel source you have left are fats. 

If you’re struggling with hormonal imbalances & low energy, check your fat to protein ratios. Your protein may be too high.  You have to eat ample fat for healthy hormone balance & to get your calories up to function like a normal human being.⁣

Swipe for all the meal prep & macros examples to help you!

Oxox

Coach K

Common Link Notes:

Purchase 354 page Ultimate Meat & Macros Guide PDF Link 🤗

Complete Supplement & Product PDF Guide link

#MeatBars Recipe Guide

Instagram

Coaching FAQ’s

All links: https://linktr.ee/lil_bit_of_fit

The 5 top habits that helped me lose & keep off 55lbs + Carnivore Tips for Body Transformation!

The 5 top habits that helped me lose & keep off 55lbs + Carnivore Tips for Body Transformation!

Tap for YouTube

We cover your questions:

  • Top 5 Foundational Habits to body transformation
  • What can I eat on Carnivore?
  • Caution Foods
  • How do I curb cravings?
  • Diarrhea and constipation?
  • Meal timing, how much do I eat?
  • Macros, building muscle, losing fat?
  • Slow digestion tips?
  • Easiest way is to prep food?
  • Easiest food to track & digest?
  • How do I save money on Carnivore?
  • Ordering out? What do I tell others?
  • Do I have to track glucose & ketones to lose body fat?
  • Do I need to eat plants in fiber?
  • I’ve had bariatric surgery/a gastric sleeve can I still do Carnivore? Tips?
  • Is carnivore good for IBS & IBD?
  • Do I count carbs or net carbs? Can I eat honey & sweet potatoes?

Show notes⬇️

Purchase 354 page Ultimate Meat & Macros Guide PDF Link 🤗 https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=A7ME5JLKMGHSS

Complete Supplement & Product PDF Guide link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QZ7JTSHtuN_t_PcWyrEyJJyaDhTlTY7B/view?usp=drivesdk

#MeatBars Recipe Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a2AXYDWgvd_HWQf-hv_5S4I-hzQPNIFr/view?usp=drivesdk

Emr-Tek Red Light Device: https://emr-tek.com/products/firewave

Code: lilbitoffit30 for 30% off

Amazon Portable Infrared Sauna: https://amzn.to/3EUzM9x

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lil_bit_of_fit

Coaching FAQ’s: https://lilbitoffit.com/coaching-faqs/

All links: https://linktr.ee/lil_bit_of_fit

Q&A: What should my macros be for a high protein carnivore diet, maintenance calories, and fat loss tips?

First, disclaimers:⁣

There are 50 shades of a meat based diet. Some people include small amounts of carbs, some do fat or carb re-feeds, some do not. Don’t be that Ahole that shames other people for including other things & different approaches into their diets because you don’t. We all have different needs/preferences. I see it too much. No need for dogma of any kind, we are here to learn & support one another. Choose what work best for you.⁣

Seems most “higher” protein carnivores are around 40P/60F, 50P/50F, 60P/40F as far a protein/fat macro ratios. Always go your own way, again, we’re all different!

⁣I’m showing you what I’d do for myself as far as macros, not saying you have to follow these, but a visual & calculation breakdown were requested. If you need coaching, fill out an inquiry here & I’ll send details via email.

Your 1st steps in choosing any kind of diet need to be:

1. KNOW YOUR WHY & BE SELF AWARE

2. UNDERSTAND YOUR STORY & FOUNDATIONAL STARTING POINT

3. DEFINE YOUR REALISTIC GOAL

4. SET A PLAN & ORGANIZE YOUR SUCCESS ROUTINE

As far as Carnivore, get adapted & heal FIRST. I wrote a blog from an interview on my experiences the 1st year of my carnivore journey. Please read that interview here (link also in IG bio to blog post) — it will answer the majority of your questions as far as my story, living with Crohn’s as an athlete, adapting, transitions I went through, & my special digestive needs & trigger foods.⁣

⁣I don’t recommend any kind of manipulations with the carnivore diet for fat loss until you are adapted, eating at maintenance, & thriving confidently with this lifestyle.

Fat Loss Tips:⁣

  • Create a calorie deficit from pulling from your fat macros. Protein should stay consistent (around 1g/lb of body weight or goal weight for most) Tracking will help. It creates awareness & more educated decision making when making adjustments. Protein for most/meal should be around 30g minimum, most do fine around 40-60g/meal if you’re eating 2-3 meals/d.
  • Choose meats that are easier to track & control like ground meats & eggs.⁣ Leaner meat will naturally be lower in calories.
  • When in a calorie deficit, & this will depend on your degree of calorie deficit, it can be helpful to increase your protein macros to maintain as much lean muscle mass as possible especially if you’re strength training. (YOU SHOULD BE)
  • If you’re fat cycling for fat loss, try 4-5 lean days/wk, 2-3 higher fat days/wk. Its helpful to have higher calorie (high fat days) on days of higher activity or harder workouts. You can also reserve these for days of social events for easier adherence.
  • Diet breaks & structured refeeds can be wonderful tools to create adherence, consistency, & decreased hormonal & metabolic stress. ⁣I included a graphic on different kinds of periodization.
  • Intermittent fasting can also be a wonderful tool to allow larger meals for satiety while staying within your allotted calories. Choose eating windows that work for you & your schedule.⁣ Do not abuse fasting. Extended fasting is not necessary, most do fine fasting 14-16 hrs overnight. It will bite you in the a$$ by increasing stress on the body if you abuse them. Same for overdoing protein sparing modified fasting (PSMF). PSMF are more applicable to people with significant weight to lose, of higher body fat, & kept only 2-3 days/week. If you cannot control yourself with portions after fasting because you’re SO ravenous, decreases your fasting windows.
  • If in doubt, WALK. Simply increasing steps & choosing lower intensity activities will be easier on your body yet still help create a calorie deficit by increased activity.⁣
  • If you’re including carbs in your training & fat loss diet, keep them around workouts. Your largest meal I prefer post workout for recovery & optimization & earlier in the day. Taper meal sizes as the day goes on.
  • If you’re waking up starving, having sh*tty sleep, peeing all the time, low energy – these are signs you may need higher fat, higher calories, &/or a period of a diet break or refeed. YES, hunger will be part of a fat loss diet, but you also want to optimize hormone & metabolic efficiency as much as you can. That’s what diet breaks & refeeds are for. If you’re body & mind are stressed to the titties as I say, it will not drop body fat easily or optimally.
  • Sleep is a nonnegotiable, 7-8 hrs/night. If you eat carbs, a little before bed can help decrease your cortisol level. Do not eat late, heavy meals. You won’t sleep well & your digestion will be a dumpster fire. If having loose stool after meals &/or wonky digestion, include some digestive enzymes before or mid meal to help, decrease meal sizes & decrease fat. You will adjust. I use Nuethix Formulations Utilyze, Discount Code: lilbitoffit

Full Post on IG with Cheat Sheets Here

oxox Coach K

Tips to help you with sugar cravings & fat loss! Especially on the carnivore diet!

Q: I can’t seem to control my weight, portions, & sugar cravings no matter what diet, currently Carnivore.⁣ Some days I’m not hungry.

So I asked her, “What’s your 1st thought in the morning when you wake up? Is it how much you’re scared you weigh?”⁣

She said yes. I said that’s your problem.⁣

Also asked her, “Do you intentionally make sure you are simply moving & hitting your steps every day?”

She said no. I also said there’s your problem.

One thing you can easily control which will also boost your mood, metabolism, digestion, & appetite👉🏻Build a success routine which includes movement. I suggest 1st thing in the morning. That leaves less time for excuses for you not to get your workouts in. I got mine this mornin before work.

When you’re constantly stuck in a negative mindset around dictating your entire day on a number or what you look like in the mirror, that’s the weight actually weighing you down.⁣

You dictate your reaction. Your thoughts & emotions (your REACTION to things) – dictates your behaviors. Your behaviors become your habits. Your habits become you.⁣

Tips we talked about to help navigate sweets cravings, addiction, & mindset around body image:⁣

– Stop body checking in the mirror. Take away the scale. Wear comfy clothes that complement your body. You wear your clothes, your clothes don’t wear you.⁣

– Sweets cravings are addiction: determine if you’re an abstainer or moderator. If you’re an abstainer you need to avoid carbs & sugar, period. Get the food out of your house. Watch artificial sweeteners, keto treats, cheat days, gum, drinks with sweetener, make sure you’re eating enough food especially enough fat.⁣ Track if you don’t know!

– Cheese, dairy, nuts, & nut butters can be addictions/triggers, they’re hard to portion control.⁣

– Choose meats easier to portion control like ground meat vs ribeyes, ribs, pork belly, bacon. They are highly palatable (& high fat) which means you’re more likely to eat past satiety.⁣

– You may need a multivitamin to fill in gaps for your specific needs. Always consult with your physician before making any changes. Most common imbalances/deficiencies I see with Carnivore if not eating a well rounded variety: vitamin D, electrolytes, magnesium & sodium, B vitamins, zinc, vit A, calcium & vitamin C⁣

– Check yo stress: Relationship & life stress? Sh*tty sleep? Over training? Under eating? Too much protein? Not enough Fat? Still eating trigger foods?⁣ Over caffeinating? ALL STRESS which increases your blood sugar, & increases inflammation even if you’re eating low-carb.

Your reflection in the mirror does not dictate your worth. Neither does what diet you choose to follow. Choose the things that make you a better human!

oxox Coach K

Amenorrhea with exercise and athletics. Mistakes I made and why we want metabolic flexibility.

I had no idea when I lost my normal period in my early 20’s something was wrong. 

Admission: chronic exerciser & habitual dieter.

At 25 I was diagnosed with cervical cancer & had part of my cervix removed. Went through divorce number 1 at 27, had a high stress job & lifestyle.

Discovered Crossfit in my early 30’s, which was like chasing a bad shot of cheap tequila with another bad shot of cheap tequila. Exacerbated my tendency for extremes.

I was overly stressed, under fed, experiencing Crohn’s flares, over training — I completely lost my period. Basically I just ignored it. I didn’t care I was just trying to chase PR’s. 

At some point in your life, you’ve probably declared that your period is a major pain in the tush. But while it may be a nuisance it’s a good insight into your overall health & one we use as a biofeedback marker to help you achieve your health & fitness goals. 

A recent article by Outside Magazine explained how common these issues are with female athletes & avid exercisers:

“Researchers estimate that as many as 60 percent of exercising women may experience one component of the female athlete triad, which includes disordered eating, loss of a menstrual cycle, and loss of bone density.

When an athlete’s nutritional intake doesn’t meet the body’s needs, whether due to reduced dietary intake—intentional or not—or increased exercise, the body shuttles resources to systems that are essential to survival, suppresses energy-intensive processes like menstruation and growth, and alters hormone levels.”

Cred: @theglowingfridge

Quick tips on what your period tells you:

Bright Red Blood

Means you are simply at the beginning of your cycle. The ‘fresher’ the blood the more red it’ll be. 

Darker Brown Blood

Brownish blood is basically just older blood that’s been in your uterus for a lot longer than fresh blood. It’s had a chance to oxidize. Can also be prevalent if you have an IUD, especially the progesterone kind. This is because you’re shedding a smaller amount of the uterus lining every month, which means the blood stays in there longer.

Clotting

Totally normal, but if you have large clots on a regular basis, they could be indicative of a larger problem like hypothyroidism, uterine fibroids, symptomatic anemia, or heavy bleeding (menorrhagia).

Irregular or Absence (Amenorrhea)

Occasional irregular periods may be totally normal, but it could also be a red flag. For starters, stress is a huge culprit.  

When you’re stressed, your body produces more cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can block signals that lead to the release of an egg that then leads to your period.

Other Common symptoms related to overdoing it, warranting an overhaul:

Irritability, mood swings

Cold extremities, hair loss, gut issues, bad digestion, bloating

No sex drive, Irregular or no menstrual cycle

Increase in belly fat⁣⁣, unexplained weight gain, plateaus

Chronic fatigue & soreness⁣, terrible recovery, poor sleep

Common Stressors:

Chronically eating in a calorie deficit⁣, not enough fat in the diet

Candida, Bacterial Overgrowth, Food Intolerances⁣

Malabsorption, gut inflammation⁣

Over training, hormonal imbalances ⁣

Too much caffeine, lack of quality sleep

Overly fasting or using fasting to extremes

Low quality food, autoimmune disorders, nutritional deficiencies ⁣

A prevalent problem in the fitness scene as discussed above: UNDER EATING & OVER TRAINING resulting in amenorrhea

Experiencing this myself first hand, here is some advice to help you destress & rebalance — not only to help you get your period back, but to also move the needle forward towards achieving your fitness goals. 

Tap for link to all info

Tips to Help

EAT. Eat enough food to support body systems & your activity

The number one reason athletes & avid exercisers lose their cycle & go down a rabbit hole of metabolic adaptation & basically life sucking.

We’re preconditioned to think 1200 calories is the magic number to eat to lose weight. We spend endless time punching numbers in calculators that have no idea our medical history, lifestyle, stress level, or the fact we think sugar free jello & rice cakes dipped in Walden Farms Syrup are meals. Invest in a coach y’all, life isn’t a template or calculator. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.

We underestimate the calories and nutrient dense foods needed to support muscle growth to get the ‘tone’ that every woman talks about but refuses to eat & lift weights accordingly to gain. We also tend to over exercise & do too much HIIT & cardio on top of under fueling. Focus on strength training & reduce high intensity activity.

When we don’t eat enough, and/or our body fat is very low, we don’t have enough energy stores to efficiently support body functions like reproduction. As a result, hormones and body systems down regulate (like your period & thyroid function) to survive.

Many women can have trouble losing weight and may even gain weight when eating a chronic deficit over a period of time. This is typically due to the down regulation of thyroid hormones that slow down metabolic rate. This has become commonplace in women who are training hard, competing, repeatedly doing HIIT style workouts like CrossFit and the Orange Theories without adequate food and recovery.

Find the “Right” Diet for YOU 

Look, I tried to do paleo for years trying to run and CrossFit despite not being able to properly break down fruits, vegetables, nut & seeds. Add it to my list of dumb shxt Katie learned the hard way.

Not only did my physique not change, my performance suffered, my recovery suffered, I was sore all the time, pissed off, bloated, and hangry. 

I was officially finally diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2018. Guess what my body cannot digest and absorb? Nuts and seeds, fibers, raw fruits & vegetables. 

Guess what makes up the majority of the Paleo diet? All of the above. 

We need adequate food and the right kinds of foods for our unique needs for lean muscle gain, recovery, reproduction, healthy hormone balance, and cortisol control. More food is not automatically going to cause you to gain weight and go into the dreaded ‘fat storage mode.’

Carbs are by far the most insulin-stimulating macro & antagonist to your cortisol level (stress hormone). So if you’re eating a low carb diet and performing highly glycolytic activities like CrossFit, all the boot camps and Orange Theory‘s, your insulin levels will be low. If you have a good relationship with carbs & can digest them with ease, they’re not the devil. You may need to incorporate more into your diet if you feel things are “off.”

Your body senses that resources are limited and down regulates accordingly.

Now, with that said, carbohydrate requirements will vary. We all have different fitness goals, train in different modalities and metabolize carbohydrates to varying degrees. 

If you are one with PCOS, for example, you may do better on a lower carb approach but lifestyle and training needs to be tailored appropriately. Work with a qualified practitioner. 

If you don’t know how many calories to eat for your activity I wrote a phenomenal post and resource on that here. Below are helpful infographics to guide you to more optimal choices.

Meat based macro ratios more applicable for healing & muscle gain phases
Meat based macro ratios more applicable for maintenance phases

Remember, standing on the podium or holding that medal in your hands doesn’t require you to have abs. Athletes don’t eat less & train more, they eat more & train intentionally.

Make Sleep a Non-negotiable

We should be sleeping well for at least 7-9 hrs per night. Make sure your environment is:

Cool & dark

Shut off electronics an hour or so before bed

Read & wind down with things that are relaxing

Keep caffeine <200 mg per day ideally and only in the mornings

Don’t eat large meals too close to bedtime

Taking a natural supplement like Nuethix Formulations Relax Liposomal (Discount Code: lilbitoffit ) or Natural Vitality Calmful Sleep with Magnesium can also help

Two wonderful resources: 

Dr. Jolene Brighten’s Beyond the Pill

Lara Briden’s The Period Repair Manual

This transitions into what it means to be metabolically flexible…

What we want is Metabolic Flexibility

I used to be a huge sugar burner. I didn’t understand why I had energy crashes, craved carbs & was hungry all the time despite eating plenty of food.⁣

Even when I was eating in a surplus, training for performance & muscle gain. I was eating plenty of meat paired with more rice, rice Chex, & rice cakes – no matter how large my meals were I was always hungry like 2 hours later. ⁣

It was super frustrating & not convenient at all as I work in healthcare & don’t have time to have meals every 2 hours.⁣

I fluctuated from a sugar burner, to metabolically flexible, & everywhere somewhere in between during my health & fitness journey. ⁣

Since going meat-based with my diet I no longer have these issues of being a “sugar burner.” I now can incorporate smaller portions of white rice based carb around training occasionally with minimal negative issues. I really don’t crave them anymore.⁣
⁣⁣
Becoming metabolically flexible, which just means you’re able to burn both glucose & fat as fuel, was the biggest life changer. It took a lot of experimentation & patience but there is light at the end of the tunnel for y’all!⁣
⁣⁣
I can easily fast overnight & in between meals for hours, without having to force it or feel like I want to rip someone’s head off because I’m hangry lol!⁣
⁣⁣
I don’t have to worry about multiple snacks available at all times because I have to eat every 2 hours. That’s food freedom for me.⁣

Here are a couple cheat sheets simply to help educate & help you along your health journey! ⁣

PR’d this 5k fat fueled & fasted, metabolic flexibility is where it’s at y’all!

Stop ignoring the problem, seek help from a qualified doctor, health practitioner, & coach. ⁣

Your quality of life hinges on it❤️ I’d love to hear yall’s experiences & if you struggled with this like me!

Experiencing any of the problems above in this blog?

If you’re an athlete or woman struggling like I did, and need personalized help tailoring your nutrition, work with me one on one HERE. 

Don’t forget to share this with the women in your squad who deserve to be well-fed!

Thoughts on transformation, fat loss, health, & happiness on the carnivore diet

Confessions of another dirty bathroom photo…⁣
Dis me. I’m awkward af trying to get body photos. I dunno how to properly “pose.”😆 but I’m glad I do. They make me proud of how far I’ve come & what my body & mind are capable.⁣

Just a friendly reminder you can do whatever shade of the Carnivore Diet you want (or any other diet for that matter). I feel I’m speaking for the majority of us meat-based folk who love this lifestyle because it works for us. I’m 2 years in.⁣

We really don’t care what you eat or what your body looks like as long as you’re happy & healthy. It’s really none of our business what you eat every day, what workouts you do, what your body looks like, if you show your body & journey or not.⁣
We just love happy people.⁣
Be nice to each other.⁣

I feel I needed to reiterate that again.⁣

I know some people say we all have the same 24 hours in a day, & literally we do, yet realistically we don’t. ⁣

I preach being a DOer. Yes, you either DO or you DON’T. But be nice to those who have children or special circumstances which make going to the gym or a certain fitness goals challenging. ⁣
I’m not giving excuses for “lazy” people but just asking you to be nice. Perfection is never needed, but do remember EFFORT matters no matter what your circumstance & you can still be a person that keeps COMMITMENTS to yourself in whatever way YOU need.⁣

As for shades of “carnivore”…some of us eat a little bit of carbs. Some don’t. Some eat organs, some don’t. Some just eat beef, some don’t. Doesn’t matter.⁣

I for one can do a little bit of plain rice cakes/white rice as far as starchy carbs. I keep these around my workouts if I’m going to incorporate some. I do that because that’s when my body metabolizes & utilizes them the most efficiently for performance & recovery. I don’t eat them often or every day, I simply eat them when my body is telling me I need them.⁣

I also incorporate leaner, lower fat days with higher fat days. This too varies & I also listen to my body & eat accordingly. I’m happy in maintenance. I notice after 2-3 days of eating lower fat, I crave more fat. Because I most likely need more calories, especially after hard training days. My fat macros vary. Protein is around 160-200g most days. I also am very active, CrossFit, & lift weights. So what I do may not work for you. I posted a guide for optimizing eating for workouts yesterday, save tag & share that post. Great resource!⁣

This style of eating works very well for me, my needs, & my body is responding well. I’m leaner than I ever have been before, eating 1800-2000+ calories on avg & ~2-2.5lbs of meat/day. Lean days I prefer ground chicken, shrimp, & 90% ground sirloin. High fat days I enjoy 80-85% ground beef & lamb, eggs, & ribeyes.⁣

My crispy airfryer #meatbars are LIFE & I eat them every day because I love them. And I’m so happy y’all are loving them too! Tag away!⁣

I also haven’t had a Crohn’s flare or binge since I went meat based 2 years ago — the best part! ⁣

Yes, people look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them I really just eat meat AND I prefer “CrossFit.” People told me I couldn’t do it. My bloodwork, mental clarity, energy level, & physique say otherwise. 😉⁣

Listen to you body’s. I am happy to share my experiences & I fully admit I made a lot of mistakes on the way, I didn’t always feel well, I initially gained 15lbs & I wanted to stop numerous times along my journey.⁣

Any diet that serves you best mentally & physically & is high in bioavailable nutrients will always be better than one that lacks the essentials your body needs to function properly.⁣

Love y’all ⁣
Peace love & meat 🥩 ⁣

oxox Coach K @lil_bit_of_fit 🙂

2 years carnivore
39, 5’1, 105lbs, avg 2000 cal/day & proud! I’ve lost 60lbs in my lifetime.