How I'm getting Fit as a Dietitian

Writing this post feels a little funny because for years of my life, “getting fit” was basically my entire personality. Then I healed my relationship with food and my body, and ironically, being in shape became pretty uneventful.

Eventually, I stopped feeling like I was always trying to “get somewhere” with my body. I had habits I liked, I did them pretty consistently, and otherwise I just lived my life.

Taking care of myself felt pretty boring (and I mean that as the highest compliment).

Then, I had a baby. 😅

It wasn't really pregnancy that threw me, if I'm being honest. It was everything after.

☠️ Waking up twice a night for SIXTEEN MONTHS. (Camila, respectfully.)

☠️ Discovering that the hour I used to casually spend working out now had 43 competing uses, all of which somehow felt more urgent.

☠️ Realizing that “just make time for yourself!” doesn't feel as important as making time to spend with your favorite little human 🥹

You know. Motherhood. 😂

All very normal, but woof, I was not prepared for how much it would change the way I took care of myself.

My habits went out the window and I could definitely tell in my body. Not just in how it looked, although yes, that too. I mean how it felt.

And I know a lot of y'all have found yourselves in a similar boat, motherhood or not.

The good news is that healing meant a season like this didn’t completely wreck me the way it would have at my unhealthiest, and the same goes for you!

HOWEVER (!!) I see a lot of you get stuck here.

Just because we aren’t willing to do the unhinged things we used to do in the name of thinness doesn’t mean we can’t put any intentionality behind getting in shape.

I’m happy to report that I’m 4 weeks into a 6 week challenge and I’m seeing my clothes fit better, muscle tone pop back out, and overall I just feel better.

I have also gone out of town, had dessert most nights, and enjoyed dinners out with wine. It literally feels like having my cake and eating it too.

In fact, I’d like to speak to whoever it was that convinced us all getting in shape had to become our entire personality because what??? It can be so much more chill than that.

Which is where I need to pause and confess: the purpose of this post isn’t just to list out the things I’m doing.

I mean, I am going to tell you the exact habits/routines/things I’m using to get back in shape, but you probably already know most of them.

You’ve known them.

You’ve tried for years to be the woman who can work out consistently, eat well, still have a social life, not be too uptight about any of it but also be… dialed in?

You know the woman I’m talking about.

She obviously cares about her health and takes care of herself, but is also somehow completely carefree and laid-back about the whole thing.

The elusive ✨ balance ✨.

Gross, I feel like I’m writing a blurb for Seventeen magazine. But also, that’s kind of how we think about it right?! Subconsciously, at least.

We did sit on the couch reading Seventeen while watching The O.C., absorbing a million tiny ideas about what a woman who “takes care of herself” is supposed to look like.

And sure, we’ve grown up since then (thank GOD) but some of those ideas are still rattling around up there.

So no, me reminding you to eat well, move your body, sleep, drink water, blah blah blah isn’t really groundbreaking.

You already know the WHAT.

What is actually helpful is figuring out how to make the doing easier, how to make it fit into the life you have now, AND how to keep going long enough to see your work pay off. 

Because most women I talk to don’t need to work harder, they need to work longer. 

Ready?

The Exact Things I'm Doing to Get in Shape

The boring part, but in case you are actually curious. Here's my routine:

Nutrition + Food

This is the part that would shock people the most because for me, nutrition is the easy part. No counting calories, no cutting out desserts or avoiding major food groups. I'm just focused on Full Plates, high fiber meals, and listening to my hunger and fullness cues.

I won't camp here too long because you have an entire Recipe Library with the exact recipes and meal plans I'm eating to get in shape. The entire Kitchen Table exists to make this part of the equation easier for you!

Movement

Currently, I'm doing Evlo three times a week (you can get a free month here!) for strength training. Before this, I did Moves for years. Our girl Ryann loves her early morning pilates classes. All this to say, there are a lot of right answers here, so choose the program that works for you. I do recommend a combo of some type of strength (3x per week) and low intensity steady steady cardio. A hill I will die on is random workouts → random results. Choose one thing and stick with it.

On non strength days, I walk. Thats it. I don't count steps, I don't set a timer, I just aim to move my body. Some days I walk more, some days I walk less. The flexibility has helped me be consistent (more on this later).

Supplements

After 27 months of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and 8 prenatal capsules a day I’ve needed a break from supplements, and I'm not stressed about that. Supplements won’t help you lose weight. Consistency will.

The only one I’ve kept in place is my Daily Bev because I know it gives me the energy I need to make food and movement happen.

If you're finding yourself rolling your eyes or disappointed to learn that yes, you did already know these things, keep reading.

I'm not special. I'm not one of those lucky women who weight just falls off for. I've had thyroid issues, eating issues. I'm a full time working mom with a busy schedule. I like food and I love a social life. You and I are a lot alike. The only difference is these 9 shifts I've made to make sure my habits actually pay off.