Get Shifted.

A lot of my FitFluential friends are doing a 7 things to help you get started, post! In fact, if you’ve done one, please, link me up in the comments.

If you have read my About Me page, you know I was once 310-315 lbs. (I didn’t want to know at last weigh-in) As I am sure MANY people that have experienced a massive weight loss, they have been asked the basic ways to get going. I am totally stealing borrowing the MizFit’s idea of making it an anagram. When I was in college, I used anagrams for EVERYTHING (having a hard time remembering a lot of them right now-cramming works!) The one I remember learning and HATING the most was the Kübler Ross 5 stages of grief-or DABDA-denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. This one is AWFUL, but I do have fun ones. Like BED for making the bed.

• Bedsheet-put it on first and tight
• edges-HOSPITAL CORNERS
• duvet- never shake it. place it.

Or my favorite, for a Sidecar. CLIC

• Cognac 1.5 oz
• Lemon .5 oz
• Ice
• Cointreau .5 oz

Priorities, people. (I also have one for something else that I was taught to me by a gay man, but I won’t share that here.)

For me, when I *really began to change my life, it wasn’t so much a gradual change as it was a cataclysmic shift in my thinking. I was forced to stare down MANY realities.

“do you want to have kids? your PCOS will be relieved by weight loss”

“do you want to go to the amusement park again? You are going to need to fit in the seats-you can’t now”

“oh yeah, flying? buy two tickets. FOR YOURSELF.”

It came down to me telling myself “Cat, this isn’t about fat acceptance, you aren’t a healthy heavy person. You are just.plain.fat. Fat in your thinking, fat in your actions, stuck like a glob of butter in a stagnant place in your life.”

Well, I didn’t want to weigh more than a linebacker and I didn’t want to stay still ANY LONGER. So I SHIFTED.

S I STARTED every day w/breakfast. A good one. One that had whole grains and protein.
H I asked for HELP. From trainers, from my husband, from healthy loving cooks
I I INITIATED healthy friendships and formed a community. Community is everything.
F I FOUND a gym I LOVED with classes I LOVED. This can be tricky, but worth it.
T I TRIED everything until I found activities and menus that I loved and could repeat.
E I EQUIPPED my home and car with opportunities for exercise and healthy diet aids
D I DID NOT DENY myself treats and decadences, if I did, I’d have surely failed.

Moderation is everything. I don’t eat crap all the time, but I do follow the 90/10 rule 90% body feeders, full of good stuff (which IS delicious, contrary to popular belief) 10% Mommy needers-brownies and wine, mostly. Except when I was pregnant, then it was burgers and burgers. (with a side of a slider)

I also like to involve my kids when I can, the baby is a great counterweight (mostly because she REALLY likes doing squats-apparently Mommy huffing and hurting is HILARS!) and Elijah LOVES “Working Out” with Mama. His favorite? Toe Touches.

Flexibility-start em young.

The Peanut is working on her fitness in the background. Binky lifts.