Shift and Shred Q + A
As I prepare to launch my next round of Shift and Shred (my four-week online and interactive nutrition course), I continue to receive a lot of inquiries around what exactly my program offers YOU!
$199 is not a small investment and people want to be sure it’s worthwhile. I argue that there is no better investment than in your health. But for this post, I asked a former Shift and Shred member a few questions so you could hear directly from HER! Here is a review of her experience.
I am so glad you could sit down with me today and answer some questions about the Shift and Shred Program. Considering you have been through the program twice, I know you will be able to offer my followers (and particularly people considering participating in Shift and Shred) some real life feedback. OK! Here we go!
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What made you want to sign up with the Shift and Shred program initially?
Honestly, I was tired of the way I looked and even more tired of the way I felt. I had a hard time making it through my day, often crashing about 2-3 pm, right about the time my kids would come home from school. I also had been hanging onto my last “baby fat,” except my baby is 8. And each year, despite every intention to lose my last 10lbs, it was creeping up to 12, 13, 14lbs. So as the New Year approached, I knew I was going to do something, but that’s when this program was starting and I thought what perfect timing! In week 1, what was the hardest thing (habit) to change? Drink lots of water. And to drink lemon water BEFORE my coffee. I typically don’t drink much water during the day. But the funny thing I learned was that the more I drank, the thirstier I was during the day. It made me wonder if I had been lacking water all along and my body just adapted to maintain homeostasis.
Did you ever feel deprived during the program?
Never. In fact, a girlfriend of mine from Chicago came to visit and she has been struggling with shedding weight for as long as I have. I shared with her what changes we had made at home as a result of this program, and she was interested. So I made one of the Shift and Shred recipes for dinner and she couldn’t finish her plate. I asked her if she felt like she ate “diet food” and she laughed as she gave an adamant no. One night I had also made quinoa and lentil pasta, and no one could tell it wasn’t the real thing. Learning how to substitute for all your favorites (with really good tasting food) prevents you from feeling deprived.
What were some of the most beneficial pieces/takeaways of the program?
First, it completely changed what I understood about food. I had a list of don’ts. Don’t eat egg yolks, mayonnaise, cheese, red meats, foods high in fat. Don’t skip breakfast. I also had a list of what I should do: eat (all) fruits, low-fat foods, frequent small meals, and the list went on. What I didn’t know was that I was sabotaging myself with the wrong information or half-truths. I learned it’s not just important to watch for high-fructose corn syrup, but other forms of sugar that I hadn’t realized was sugar. I learned about the tricks of the food industry. I learned it’s not just about carbs, but macros and carb-cycling. Calories are not all the same, nor are carbs & fat. I didn’t know fruits can be sugar bombs! I didn’t know fat can fuel my body as energy instead of carbs. It truly shifted what I understood about what I ate. Secondly, my first 5lbs came off. I wasn’t even trying. I hate to exercise so it is a habit for me NOT to. So I remember the shock when I went to the doctor and the weight not only didn’t go up, but it was the lowest it had been in 4 years. I was learning what it means to lose weight in the kitchen and tone/build muscle in the gym.
Thirdly, and my biggest takeaway, is that my mind shifted from what I can’t have to all that I can have. For instance, I now stay away from wheat flour, but I can have rice, quinoa, farro, buckwheat, and all kinds of things with coconut or almond flour…all carbs that I love that equally satisfy me. Instead of having a handful of potato chips, I’ll have cheese crisps, which truly are like the same thing. Desserts, using the correct ingredients, can include cookie dough bites and chocolate mousse. This makes this program maintainable, well beyond my 4 weeks in the program. It sounds trite to say it’s a lifestyle change, but it really is. This has truly armed me with food knowledge to make choices that produce results, instead of repeating my cycle of good intentions that only lead to frustration and regret.
Lastly, it’s changed the way I look at my failures. Beth always stresses we’re not aiming for perfection, we just want to do better. She says if you blow your Sat lunch and dinner, that’s only 2 meals out of 21, better than 90%. This mindset has made it so much easier to restart the next day, because it allows for real-life to happen. It truly takes the frustration out of working any “dieting” program.
What made you want to sign up a second time?
It was working. I was down 5lbs in a short few weeks by just changing what I was eating. I was also out of town for a week during the middle of the 3rd into mid 4th week, so I didn’t get to fully read the material nor have access to grocery shop and work the program like I wanted towards the end. I felt I was shortchanging myself by being unable to finish so I decided to join again.
What differences have you seen in yourself and your diet since completing Shift and Shred?
I’ve finally seen the last 10 lbs move and I no longer struggle to stay awake midday. I’ve become more in tune to my body’s signals. For instance, I eat when I’m hungry, not when it’s time.
What differences have you seen in your spouse and/or family members?
My husband has been a benefactor of this program since I buy and cook the food. He is at the lowest weight he’s been since I’ve met him. For the first time, there’s some definition to his midsection since some of the fat has shed.
If you could change anything about the Shift and Shred program what would it be?
I don’t know if this is anything to change, but I did notice a difference between my two groups. One group I was a part of was very engaged, the other more silent. I thought the more interactive group promoted more learning. It gave us the opportunity to get dinner ideas, see what foods others were trying, and discuss some of the more scientific information that we were given. The interaction also made me feel more accountable, whereas it’s easy to be less committed when there’s minimal interaction.