A Simple Guide to Fasting And Why It Isn’t Working For You Especially With A Disordered Eating History

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This guide has now passed thousands of views! Big thank you to everyone who continues to share (my posts & your story too) & be a big part of my life as my digital family!

You guys make my days so much brighter & I hope you know how much you mean to me!

I’ve lost 60 lbs thanks to carnivore & intermittent fasting! Follow me on Instagram (@lil_bit_of_fit) to see my day-to-day journey with living a meat-based life as a rockin travel xray tech & almost 42 year old athlete of life with Crohn’s Disease. (Birthday July 2nd 🎉)

I tried every diet in the book to lose weight & heal my gut issues. While I did see occasional results, I eventually couldn’t sustain it and then yo-yo’d. IF & carnivore have been the simplest and most manageable way I have found to improve my health & fitness (and stick with it).

This post is intended for my friends (and friends of friends) who have been following my health journey on Instagram, Facebook, or have asked how to get started. Because the interest has been in the thousands (so amazing!), I’ve wanted to share this information more publicly.

In the interest of time, I’ve created this super quick educational start guide with a couple troubleshooting videos!

Let’s dive into fasting & why you may not be seeing results.

I see this oftentimes with all y’all chronically under eating, trying to do protein sparing modified fasting (PSMF) or OMAD (one meal a day) with a disordered eating history.

Tap for a short video on why fasting may not be working for you!

Yes, I prefer to utilize intermittent fasting. It works best for my digestion. I eat when I’m hungry & fast when I’m not. Typical fasting window is around 14-20hrs, biggest meal I consume after my workout in the am. I also love to incorporate fat & carb cycling.
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It is not necessary for you to fast to achieve your health and body goals no matter what diet you prefer.

Remember: health & happy hormones first.
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Here’s a previous video answering a client question talking about why fasting wasn’t working for her

Coaching FAQs Here if you’re needing help

What is intermittent fasting?⁣⁣

Intermittent fasting, also known as intermittent energy restriction, is simply an umbrella term for various meal timing schedules that cycle between voluntary fasting or reduced calorie intake and eating over a given period of time.

It is just a tool to help you to manage meal times & calorie intake, it is not a dirty word nor is it a quick fix or magic pill. There are 100 different ways to “fast” & everyone has their own “definition” of what they consider fasting. Some drink coffee & water, some don’t. Some use no calorie sweeteners, some don’t. There are more optimal times, situations, & schedules that are more effective & efficient. Make sure it fits easily into your lifestyle & schedule. Pick whatever suits your needs. Remember adherence & consistency are always keys!

Most utilize the 16/8 or 14/10 or 12/10 windows. (Fast 16 hrs/eat 8) You can also periodically fast 24 hrs or longer. I personally do NOT do extended fasts.

16/8, 14/10, 12/12 Protocols – Ex: Fast 16hrs/8hr eating window
OMAD – One meal a day, fast the rest
TMAD – Two meals a day, fast the rest
PSMF – Protein Sparing Modified Fasts: highly restrictive diet that involves severely limiting the intake of calories, carbs, & fat & consuming only lean (zero-low fat) protein
5:2 – Eat normal 5 days, restrict calories to 500-600 for 2 days
Eat Stop Eat – Eat normal for 5 days then fast for 24hrs for 2 days
4:3 or Alternate Day Fasting – Fast every other day, eat normal on non-fasting days
Skip Meals Spontaneously – skip meals when you’re not hungry

Will fasting help me lose body fat?

Why your story & background matter when it comes to fasting efficacy

Before we dive into fasting deets I want to reiterate & touch on WHY your story & food/dieting/health history matter when it comes to the experiences & results you get (or lack of).

Lets be honest, the main reason most people choose the Carnivore Diet & utilizing fasting is because they want fat loss. That’s fine, we all wanna look good nekkid, HOWEVER, the difference lies in our starting point: calorically, metabolically, hormonally, physiologically, mentally, emotionally – the whole picture.

I feel we really should approach any nutrition protocol from a health/healing perspective, first, aesthetic perspective, second.

Some of us come from the SAD (Standard American Diet), some have been dieting basically our entire lives & still think 1200 calories is the magic number for weight loss, some fear fat, some fear carbs, some are binge eating &/or suffering from disordered eating & still in denial, some come from Keto, some have been struggling with gut issues/autoimmune stuff for decades & really have no idea what they can eat.

All of these different stories & starting points impact the transition & adaptation to any diet. You do not have to fast at all if you don’t want to.

Usually I see two different stories, & thus experiences, when working with clients. We’ll call them Peter & Patty.

Are you Peter or Patty?

PETER

Peter is male, used to over consuming the typical SAD, dad bod (aka looks like he might lick something deemed “healthy” & work out occasionally but really loves tacos & would much rather smash a 6 pack vs have a 6 pack). Simply eating meat & cutting out all the other crap significantly reduces his caloric intake & the fat just falls off.

PATTY

Patty is female, lets say 30-40yrs old, habitual yo-yo dieter, excessive exerciser, wants to lose fat & build muscle but doesn’t wanna be “bulky” (sigh smdh), scared to eat more than 1200-1500 calories & gaining weight is one of her biggest fears.

She’s tried every diet in the book. Had some success with “Keto” (doesn’t really know what keto means but she’s eating less carbs right?!) but always falls off the wagon, stressful home life/ job, struggled with bloating & gut issues for years.

Her neighbor, Peter, looks great since carnivore, so she decides it’s gonna be the magic quick fix to all her issues. Sooo Patty stops tracking food (because she was told it didn’t matter on the carnivore diet) & starts smashin all the bacon, ribeyes, cheese, ribs, & chicken wings.

Her gut issues get better, the first week she dropped 3lbs, but now she’s about 6 weeks in & hungry, tired, & the scale is going up! So she decided to start fasting more, & ups her steps to 20k/d. (Further stressing her body out more btw).

She gives it another month with more weight gain. She wants to quit after a couple months despite her gut issues resolving. It doesn’t work she says, “I didn’t lose weight.”

Things that matter when choosing any diet, macros, calories, &/or fasting protocols

Things I need as a coach to help you figure out appropriate macros/diet/fitness/fasting approaches:

Age, Current Weight, Height⁣⁣
Training modalities⁣⁣ (how you prefer to workout. CrossFit vs running vs yoga vs Orange Theory vs walking vs Barre vs Bodybuilding vs power lifting etc)⁣⁣
Daily Activity ⁣⁣(steps, job, kids, schedules etc)⁣⁣
Training Frequency, Volume, Intensity ⁣⁣
Previous Dieting History⁣⁣ (disordered eating, low carb, high carb, low fat, have you been chronically dieting, eating surplus, etc)⁣⁣
Medical History⁣⁣ (allergies, IBD, IBS, gut issues, hormonal issues, cancer, thyroid, etc)⁣⁣
Your goals, preferences, special needs)⁣⁣
Mindset & mental health⁣⁣
Lifestyle⁣⁣ & Stress (kids, stressful job, shitty sleep, relationship problems, etc)

That’s a LOT of stuff, right? It’s not as simple as just picking a set of macro numbers, or calories, or a magic diet camp or fasting protocol. You are not a template or calculator, you’re a human. This is why we set up coaching consultations to help you!

indiana lilbitoffit maintenance calories chart carnivore reverse diet katie kelly — A BIG reminder, we should not be dieting any more than 1-2 times per year, no longer than 12-16 weeks. You should be chillin, eating at your maintenance calories, enjoying life and getting strong AF the majority of the year! Like this chart? Allllll the free content available on Instagram!

Why should I try fasting?⁣⁣

It’s simple, eating fewer times works better for your schedule, less thinking/measuring. Your lifestyle aligns w/your eating schedule. Helpful when in a calorie deficit to allot larger meals.⁣
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Metabolic flexibility. It will utilize the fuel from previous meals/glycogen first, then it will use your fat stores to fuel your day.⁣⁣

Hunger response. Are you bored or really hungry? You learn/feel the difference. A big reason I would utilize IF with clients. It helps connect with your body’s true hunger signals.⁣⁣

Benefits of fasting: hormone balance, reduced insulin resistance, risk of diabetes, inflammation, improved focus, gut health & digestion, fat loss in a calorie deficit.

Why it works for fat loss

While I will reiterate fasting is not a diet, it can help with fat loss goals by creating a calorie deficit in various ways:

Reduces the number of meals in a day

Helps create food rules to prevent over eating & snacking, especially for people who are abstainers

Helps reduce your weekly calorie average

Helps you feel & get back in tune with true hunger cues which helps prevent eating when you’re not truly hungry. Many of us eat out of learned habit like eating in front of the tv at night, eating desert just because it is available, or seeing/smelling/hearing food cook

When should I not fast?

You’re on the gain train. If you’re ok cramming 3-4000 calories down your pie hole in a short amount of time go for it. For most, IF protocols are utilized for eating less calories simply by decreasing feeding time.⁣⁣
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It screws with your mind & feels restrictive. Can’t sustain it easily & comfortably w/your lifestyle. If it increases cortisol/blood sugar/affecting your sleep/mood/energy negatively.

If you can’t feel fullness cues & eat past satiety & all you do is think about eating during your fasting — STOP! Try eating more frequent meals during the day.

Who should NOT fast &/or fasting is not ideal

Pregnant Women
Women who are nursing
People who are reverse dieting
People training for high performance
People who have abused or overly fasted
People who have chronically under eaten for an extended period of time (aka you’ve made chasing a smaller body your hobby)
People who are trying to gain muscle
Women a week before their cycle
People healing &/or struggling with adrenal insufficiency & fatigue
People with eating disorders &/or disordered eating habits, poor relationships with food, exercise, &/or body image where restriction is a huge trigger

Getting Started

Chances are that you’ve already done many intermittent fasts in your life.

If you’ve ever eaten dinner, then slept late and not eaten until lunch the next day, then you’ve probably already fasted for 16+ hours.

Some people instinctively eat this way. They simply don’t feel hungry in the morning.

Many people consider the 16/8 method the simplest and most sustainable way of intermittent fasting — you might want to try this practice first.

If you find it easy and feel good during the fast, then have fun, experiment and maybe try moving on to more advanced fasts like 24-hour fasts 1–2 times per week (Eat-Stop-Eat) or only eating 500–600 calories 1–2 days per week (5:2 diet).

Another approach is to simply fast whenever it’s convenient — simply skip meals from time to time when you’re not hungry or don’t have time to cook.

There is no need to follow a structured intermittent fasting plan to derive at least some of the benefits.

Experiment with the different approaches and find something that you enjoy and fits your schedule.

At the end of the day, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to nutrition. The best diet for you is the one you can stick to in the long run.

I find for those who have a poor relationship with carbs & sugar, chronic gut or health issues, autoimmune needs, etc for example, a lower carb, animal or meat-based approach is extremely effective for health, healing, & fat loss.

👇older posts to reference for ideas & help👇

body transformation woman carnivore diet

Here’s my routine & what has help me drop lbs & put my Crohn’s disease & bulimia in med-free remission.

https://lilbitoffit.com/the-stupidly-simple-system-i-use-to-stay-in-shape-and-love-my-body-as-an-empath-at-age-40/

Intermittent fasting is great for some people, not others. The only way to find out which group you belong to is to try it out.

If you feel good when fasting and find it to be a sustainable way of eating, it can be a very powerful tool to lose weight and improve your health.

oxox Coach K

All links, coaching, services, discount codes, & free content Here!

March 1, 2023March 1, 2023

Coach K’s Hopeful Gut Healing and Body Transformation Guide: From Disordered Eating, Fat Loss, Recipes, Crohn’s Disease, Food Addiction, Biohacking, Habits, Mindset & More

IBS vs IBD lilbitoffit hopeful gut healing guide

5 years ago, I wrote a journal entry about my ongoing struggle with Crohn’s disease, binge eating, unhealthy addiction to exercise, & poor body image.

I detailed longstanding struggle with my seemingly endless appetite & f*cked up addiction to stuffing huge amounts of food in my face, struggling with gut flares & drowning in a black cloud of self loathing & frustration.

I had no “cures” as of yet, but I was now out of the closet getting REAL with living in a “haunted house.”

Since writing that entry, I chose to turn that pain into something constructive. I created a community here simply sharing my life in hopes of helping others living a similar nightmare.

I wrote a super informative blog on my healing & carnivore story here that will answer the majority of your questions what I went through transitioning & how I healed via a meat based, “carnivore” lifestyle.

weight loss before and after carnivore lilbitoffit katie kelly

carnivore before and after photo katie kelly lilbitoffit life lessons fishers indiana indianapolis

I’ve received hundreds of messages asking about the journey of recovery from disordered eating, poor body image, food addiction, orthorexia, & Crohn’s disease.

Living decades with these devils on my shoulders since the age of 8, I’ve learned a lot.

After going “carnivore” with diet & changing my perspective on health & fitness, I never binge & am healthier than ever at 40 years old & med free in remission.
I want the same for you.

How did I crack the code? Brain dumped as many resources as I could in this blog for you.

First, I stopped looking outside myself for solutions, online & advice from friends, doctors, & latest fads. Instead, I decided to compassionately look inward & get curious on what life & fitness meant to me.

I started observing myself to understand my thoughts & actions.

I found without exception, I binged in response to 3 different situations that left me hungry physically & mentally:

When “restricting” & trying to eat like everyone else instead of ME

When avoiding an emotion or lacking purpose

When neglecting my own pleasure & needs

My priorities now are: Great food in the form of animal based nutrition — quality sleep & exercise — simple joy & inner peace.

I’ve learned to consider fitness a lifestyle I love, not a chore.

A CHAMPION means to be someone that loves the work of becoming one more than the idea of becoming one.

Hope these tips help you! Feel free to swipe, tag, save, & share any post of mine on IG freely! That’s all that I ask of you is to share anything that has helped you or will help someone else! What’s mine is yours!

***Disclaimer: This is in no way, shape, or form medical advice, I am simply sharing what has helped me***

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CLICK FOR BIOHACKING BLOG HERE

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COOK WITH COACH K CARNIVORE RECIPE BOOK

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You could have picked a bunch of other people to follow & allow influence into your lives, but you chose me. Thank you for giving me a platform & portals to share with you my thoughts, experiences, & life through my lens. Thank you for being my most incredible supporters & being part of my digital family. Cheers to many more years of health, happiness, abundance, community, & choosing to live life on our own terms!

OXOX Coach K

Contact: katieokelly2@gmail.com

January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

The Simple Guide I Used To Heal My Gut And Find The Right Diet

In the 40 years of my life, I’ve attempted to get into “better shape” & heal my gut more times than I wanna admit. I’ve been a plethora of different shapes & sizes depending on what season of life I was in.

But FINALLY something stuck. My motivation & drive were at an all-time high. Things started working & I stuck to my plan more than 2 weeks 😆 Most importantly, the carnivore WOE (way of eating) turned into my new lifestyle.

I’ve had tons of questions on how I want about figuring out what worked. So I mapped out my thought processes & phases just for you!

I share symptoms & trigger foods I encountered. I hope this helps you figure out what’s best for you!

Swipe, share & save on IG here!

***I also have a complete Meat & Macros Guide where I documented everything I have learned throughout this journey. Click the link in my Instagram bio to snag yours! Link: https://linktr.ee/lil_bit_of_fit

****I understand this is a LOT of info. My story & journey is also posted on my blog for easier reading here, in IG bio, & in highlights: https://lilbitoffit.com/1-year-on-the-carnivore-diet-my-story-journey-transitioning-to-a-meat-based-carnivore-diet/

*****Biohacking Guide to all my favorite recovery and anti-aging products here with links: https://lilbitoffit.com/biohacking-that-helped-me-instantly-feel-better-reverse-aging/

Was this journey easy? No.
Did I feel great all the time? No.
But what did happen within a couple weeks, my carb cravings were gone, I was satiated after meals, I was no longer binging & purging, my inflammation & gut issues had all but disappeared & I embraced stepping into my new chapter of life!

oxox Coach K

bio carnivore lilbitoffit katie kelly indiana fishers — Hailing from Fishers, Indiana, Katie is an aficionado of health, mindset, human connection, & entrepreneurship. Motivational writer, speaker, doer of many things, she grew up on her family’s beef cattle & crop farm where agriculture was her first love. She is a Purdue University graduate well known for her storytelling of life lessons & personal transformation through her own relationships, financial struggles, Crohn’s Disease, disordered eating, CrossFit, & adapting a carnivore diet lifestyle.

Katie also has over 17 years experience as a Registered Radiologic Technologist, Nutritionist, & Sales Consultant. She works with people of all walks of life as a nutritionist & personal life coach to help them authentically optimize their lives to find health, wealth, & happy!

You can catch her via Instagram @lil_bit_of_fit & blog, Lilbitoffit.com

http://www.instagram.com/lil_bit_of_fit

June 10, 2022August 31, 2022

5 Ways To Successfully Navigate Dating And Social Functions With IBS, IBD, and Special Diet Needs

crohn's gut triggers carnivore diet eating out

I knew something was wrong in my early 20s.

It was hard enough worrying about fitting in with the popular sorority girls in college. Special dietary needs and digestive issues piled on added physical, emotional, and mental weight. My body image and food issues started at the age of eight, and exacerbated as I got older — food fear, disordered eating, orthorexia, gastrointestinal bleeding, chronic constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, weight gain, and bloating… just to name a few.

Decades later, I finally received a diagnosis.

Crohn’s Disease can occur in people of any age. By simple definition, Crohn’s is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

In the years that I have been managing this disease, I have been able to find health, happiness and wellness, even living with Crohn’s. What I’ve discovered is that it’s all about boundaries and vocalizing specific needs that would have solved a lot of suffering over the years had I shared them sooner.

Have you ever stopped to think about how 90% of your relationships are arguing over picking out a place to eat then ending up smashing pizza or Mexican & sayin the word “babe?”

Don’t lie. Y’all know it’s true. 😂🤚

Now embracing my Crohn’s & Carnivore lifestyle, I realize sticking to my boundaries, non negotiables, & OWNING my special needs would’ve solved much suffering in my lifetime.

Dating & relationships are challenging enough, let alone the added stress if you struggle with any kind of special health & digestive needs.

It’s like the Bumble Prompt: “We’ll get along if…”

— literally have put “You aren’t vegan. 🥩“ there before.

(No diet dogma here, but let’s be real 😆)

I hardly think we’re gonna have a great relationship as you sit there with your kale salad glaring at me like I’m a degenerate as I’m devouring burger patties. 🥗🍔

Ok, ok, joking aside, here are my top pieces of advice for successfully navigating dating and being social while living with Crohn’s. These tips are also helpful to those living with other special digestive needs and diets.

1.) Be honest and upfront about your needs.

Not only do you deserve the freedom to be yourself, others deserve to know who you truly are. Everyone deserves to know the real you and you deserve a real relationship. You do not want to jeopardize your health and eat or drink something that will trigger issues just because you are embarrassed to be yourself. Use it as an opportunity to educate. Embrace your uniqueness, most people don’t know what they don’t know. Education drives compliance and acceptance.

2.) Eat beforehand, bring your own food, and check the menu prior to your event.

This eliminates food issues completely. Social functions and dates do not need to be centered around food or cocktails. They should be centered around connection. By preparing ahead of time, you alleviate the stress of the unknown. Determine your nonnegotiables. They can be things like choosing to have a cocktail over a meal or choosing to savor a special meal from your favorite restaurant over your typical meal prep. I have literally brought @Zevia as a mixer or eaten an hour or two before dates/social functions.

Luckily with Carnivore, most places have a meat option. Custom order your food with specifics like grilled over fried, no oil, seasoning, sauces, or creams. Request an earlier time if later meals trigger gut symptoms and works better for your schedule.

My go to‘s when ordering out:

Burger patties
Grilled chicken
Chicken wings (naked, no seasoning)
Grilled salmon, fish, scallops, shrimp
Chopped steak, steaks
Fajita meat only when eating Mexican (ask for them to be cooked in no oil, seasonings, and no veggies)

COMMON FOOD TRIGGERS YOU MAY RELATE TO

common gut trigger food list — Tap here, tons of resources and posts on my Instagram

3.) Request to have your cocktails crafted to your specific needs.

Most restaurants will cater to your food needs, don’t forget about cocktails, too. Read the ingredients in cocktails. Set drink limits. I have a two-three drink rule and personally avoid any calorically dense beverages with an abundance of sugar, carbs, or gluten. Remember that no one wants to be the girl or guy sitting on the corner trying to find your dignity down the street the next day. That look is not cute on anyone.

alcohol tips low carb cocktails — Tap for video and tips here

My Favorite Cocktails:

Diet & vodka or Hiatus Tequila with lemon &/or lime
Prosecco
Old fashioned (hold the simple syrup if concerned about carbs & sugar)
Bourbon on the rocks

cocktail macro guide — Tap for all the cheat sheets & tips here!

4.) Be an unapologetic question-asker and boundary-setter.

If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never know. Simple as that.

Boundaries are paramount. I struggled setting and standing by my boundaries when I was younger. I felt I was apologizing for everything whether I needed to apologize or not.

I had a professor tell me one time, “Never apologize for something you purposely set out to do with good intentions or a minor mistake simply because you’re human. If you go through life always apologizing, people will take you a lot less seriously, and so will you.”

Healthy boundaries are there to protect you. Don’t apologize for special needs, non-negotiables, and protecting your energy. Maybe you require more alone time or maybe you don’t feel like going out. Own your boundaries or people will continue to step over the line.

5.) Be a realistic relentless optimist.

Accept the facts but choose to always look for the silver linings.

Thoughts become things. Most would prefer to be around people who radiate joy and positivity.

I have a letter board in my kitchen that reads, “Stay close to the people who feel like sunshine.” I choose to be one of those people and bring the sunshine more than the rain.

Remember, just because you have special needs or a chronic illness does not mean you have to dull your sparkle!

Oxox Coach K

Helpful Links and Guides HERE

You can save and share this post with Infographics on IG HERE

June 6, 2022

The difference between IBS and IBD and how Carnivore can help with gut healing

I lived the majority of my life misdiagnosed with IBS when I in fact had IBD Crohn’s.

Know the difference!

Ulcerative colitis involves the inner lining of the colon, while Crohn’s disease involves all layers of the intestine & can occur in both the small intestine & colon. Mine is specifically is affected in the right lower quadrant (around where your appendix is located).

These disorders affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the area of the body where digestion takes place. Digestion affects every facet of your life including fat loss goals, performance goals, & just living every day life.

It can be paralyzing when you don’t know what to eat & are struggling with symptoms.

The diseases cause inflammation of the intestine & lead to ongoing symptoms/complications.

There is no known cause or cure for IBD, but fortunately there are many effective treatments to help control it, including diet & lifestyle. Carnivore saved my life.

If medications fail to control the symptoms of IBD, or if certain complications occur, surgery may be required.

There is no single diet or eating plan that will work for everyone with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Dietary recommendations with my clients are tailored for each individual, depending on what part of the intestines is affected, if they have IBS or IBD, specific body goals, lifestyle needs & preferences.

Swipe for all the cheat sheets on things that I learned, things that helped me improve symptoms, carnivore healing phases, symptoms, triggers, & supplements that were helpful! IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/CeeqJRiJLrv/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I assure you there is light at the end of the tunnel!!

Sending you all the love & hugs & know that I understand I’ve been there too!

Supplements you can find here with discount codes & coaching FAQS: https://linktr.ee/lil_bit_of_fit

#IBS #IBD #constipation #bloating #weightloss #weightlossjourney #lowfodmap #guthealing #lowcarbweightlos #workouttips #guthealth #loseweight #sugaraddiction #foodaddiction #autoimmunewarrior #lowfodmapdiet #fatlossplan #carnivorediet #carnivorewomen #ibsdiet #crohnsdiet #crohnsdisease #ulcerativecolitis #carnivorecoach #crohnswarrior #lchfdiet #crohnsandcolitis #crossfit #bodybuilding

January 22, 2022

If doctors had told me years ago they didn’t know what was wrong with me it would’ve saved me years of suffering

@mikhailapeterson made a post today about how much time & suffering would’ve been saved if doctors would’ve just told us they didn’t know what was wrong & we were gonna have to figure it out for ourselves.

I wasn’t diagnosed with Crohn’s until 2018. I was 35 years old. I had lived 35 years with doctors telling me to eat more fruits, vegetables, & fiber when those were the exact things basically killing me.

Eating nothing but meat was frowned upon & frankly considered f*cked up & a shade of disordered eating, which is not. It saved me.

If you told me 2 yrs ago I could eat this many calories (2,000/d) & be happy, & maintain this level of leanness & health, I would’ve told you you were full of sh*t.

I understand what y’all are goin thru trying to figure out what food & fitness will give you the feeling & body you’re seeking. I know what it feels like to not know what to eat. I included my symptoms & a list of trigger foods along with all the many shapes & sizes of my 55lb weight loss journey in this post to help you.

I also understand what it feels like to not have the money to invest in someone to help you, which is why I created a 354 page Meat & Macros guide which you can find in the link in my IG bio at a reduced price because I want to help as many people out there as possible.

I simply want to remind you to listen to your gut, to your intuition & don’t be afraid to go against the grain, literally & figuratively if it feels right to you.

I love you guys & wish you the happiest of Fridays! ❤️

Oxox⁣

Coach K

January 19, 2022

How many calories should I be eating?

“How many calories do you eat?” “How many calories should I eat?”

Fabulous question & one that is unique for you. Just because your neighbor eats a certain amount of calories or follows a certain diet or just because I do doesn’t mean it’s correct for you.

Lemme explain…

The number of calories someone requires to maintain their bodyweight is unique & specific to them. Therefore, just because 2 people are the same height, weight, age & gender, doesn’t mean they should consume the same amount of energy (which is calories) per day.

Daily caloric requirements are influenced by many factors including these & swipe for cheat sheets!⬇️

▪️ Occupation (active vs sedentary)

▪️ Training frequency & intensity

▪️ Recent dieting history (metabolic adaptation, disordered eating, etc)

▪️ NEAT levels outside of work (walking for ex)

▪️ Diet quality, thermic effect of food (whole foods vs highly-processed)

▪️ Overall health & hormone status

▪️ Sleep Quality, Stress

▪️ How much muscle you have

It’s a matter of perspective. What you think is “alotta calories” is highly subjective, as different people will have different interpretations of what they consider to be “alotta food.”

Also, macro requirements will depend on the individual as well, everyone has a different threshold of energy & macro ratios of which they thrive.

Pay more attention to the below vs hyperfocusing on numbers:

▪️ Energy availability is in a great position to optimize health, performance & recovery

▪️ Your diet includes whole foods highly bioavailable & packed with essential nutrient requirements

▪️ Your relationship with food is healthy, hunger & satiation cues are on point

Enjoy the cheat sheets, experiment, & have fun! Don’t be afraid to eat!

You got this! How many calories are you crushing? 🦾🥩

January 15, 2022

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?⁣

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Triggered much?⁣

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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⁣

⁣

April 28, 2021

Gut Healing: Trigger foods, safe foods, and supplements that transformed my life

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) 🥔

🤍Rice Chex Cereal & Rice Cakes (in moderation) 🥣

🤍Lowfodmap veggies: zucchini (without skin, avoid raw), mushrooms, black olives 🥒

🤍 Real butter (in moderation) 🧈

Supplements that help me:

🚨ALL LINKS & DISCOUNT CODES HERE🚨

💊 @nuethix_formulations

Medipure DS (Protein, Vitamins/Minerals, Liver Detox, Gut Healing)
Utilyze (Digestive Enzymes)
Nu-Multi (Multivitamin)
Flora-Protect (Probiotic)
Cort-Eaze (Cortisol Control post workout)
Relax Liposomal (Sleep Aid)

☕️ @strongcoffeecompany

Morning Mix (Preworkout, Mental Clarity, Energy)

💦 @goultima Electrolytes

My Common Gut Triggers:⁣

▪️Gluten⁣ & Fiber 🥖

▪️Dairy⁣ 🧀

▪️Artificial sweeteners & preservatives⁣ 🍭

▪️Carbonated diet drinks with aspartame🥤

▪️Corn & high fiber grains ⁣🌽

▪️Nuts & seeds, popcorn ⁣🍿

▪️Caffeine (>400mg) & alcohol⁣ (>2 drinks)

▪️Beer, Wine, sugary cocktails 🍺

▪️High fiber raw veggies⁣, avocado 🥕🥑

▪️Cruciferous veggies 🥦

▪️Fruit with skins or seeds, lettuce 🥬 🍎

▪️Excessively large meals⁣ 🥘

▪️Eating fast, onion/garlic/spicy seasoning🧅

▪️Sugar free gum & sugar alcohols 🍬

▪️High fodmap, high lectin & oxalate food🥗

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021

Life Truths and Real Steps to Successful “Dieting”

You know what’s really, powerfully sexy?

A sense of humor
A taste for adventure
A healthy glow
Openness
Depth
Confidence
Intelligence
Humility
Appetite
Intuition
Ambition
Presence

I’d choose the above over abs any day.

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!

If you’re ready, start HERE! 🥰