Author: low-carb-keto-lifestyle

I've been interested in healthy living for a couple of years and have been trying to find ways to do this myself and to share information to the public.

How to Stay Motivated Week 6

Visualize and Reward Yourself

So in recapping Take It One Day At a Time, Surround Yourself with Positivity, Ask for Advice, Know Your “WHY”, and Keep it Fun have been the topics over the last 5 weeks.

Today we are going to talk about two topics: Visualizing and Rewarding Yourself

Visualizing is a very important part of the process. Most of us see ourselves in the mirror and if you’re a woman you generally see yourself a lot bigger than you are or you can’t see the changes that your body is making because all you see is the woman in the mirror of the past. So you have to dig deep and as you change your body you have to change your mind and the picture that you had of yourself.

On my weight loss journey – I couldn’t always see the new me because my shape didn’t really change, I just got smaller and bought smaller clothes. Everyone else sees you at the new size, but you have to change your minds view of you. I lost 27 lbs in 3 months. Now I have maintained for 2 years at that same size and I love it.

My daughter, on the other hand, has lost over 95 lbs in a year and a half and she has had many milestones to deal with. Just being able to go to a regular store and not have to buy at a big girl store was mind boggling to her. She is dealing quite nicely with it, but she still has her moments – till you change the picture in your head of who you are – where she has issues really knowing that she has done it. She is in the best shape of her life and it all started because she wanted to be able to walk around Disney World with her 5 year old daughter.

Rewarding yourself then becomes something that isn’t FOOD related. When I’ve been on diets before in the past I used to reward myself with one of my favorite dishes or eating Mexican and having as many chips and salsa as I wanted.

My recommendation is to use NON-FOOD rewards. Go spend $ on a new outfit in the size that fits you now. Go to a concert. Go for an adventure to a new destination that you never thought you’d be able to do. Go hiking. Find something that is NON-FOOD related as a reward. Rewards are very important because it makes us feel like we’ve accomplished something and feeling accomplished helps our mind to know we are accomplishing something.

This is where that plan that you wrote at the beginning comes in. You need to set your goals – When I’ve lost the first 10 lbs I will ______. When I’ve lost the first 25 lbs I will _______. Those things aren’t written in stone, but they can help you have a clearer picture of where you are now and where you want to get to and if the reward is already written down then you can wrap your mind around it and fulfill it and reward yourself. Writing down rewards is also part of the visualizing process. Knowing where you want to get to.

None of this is easy, but all of it can be easier. And we are always here to help. Also don’t forget that exogenous ketones can always help as well and keep that journey moving forward faster and make it so that it isn’t impossible to accomplish. Have an awesome week.

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Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Popsicles

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Popsicles

  • Servings: 12 popsicles
  • Difficulty: easy
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Decadent Chocolate and Peanut Butter - ultimate warm-weather indulgence.


Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese softened
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup powdered Swerve Sweetener
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 ounce cocoa butter chopped

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, peanut butter, sweetener, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until well combined and smooth.
  2. Spoon into 12 to 15 popsicle molds (depending on size) and tap molds firmly on counter to release as many air bubbles as you can. Place popsicle sticks in the center of each (wooden sticks are preferable as they stay in the popsicles better).
  3. Freeze 4 hours until firm. Remove from molds by running under hot water or placing in a bowl of hot water for 30 seconds, then gently twisting the sticks until they release. Keep in freezer until ready to dip in chocolate.
  4. Line a baking sheet with parchment or waxed paper and place in freezer. Set a metal or ceramic bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Add chopped chocolate and cocoa butter and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
  5. Dip a popsicle into chocolate about half way, then let excess drip off back into bowl (you can hold upright and twist to get some interesting chocolate drips down the sides of the popsicle).
  6. When chocolate is firm, place finished popsicle on cookie sheet in freezer and repeat with remaining popsicles.

Recipe Courtesy of alldayidreamaboutfood.com

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How to Stay Motivated Week 5

Keep It Fun!

So in recapping Take It One Day At a Time, Surround Yourself with Positivity, Ask for Advice and Know Your “WHY” have been the topics so far.

This weeks topic is “Keep It Fun”. How do you keep a lifestyle like this FUN?

So keeping it fun may consist of playing at the beach with the kids or taking long walks in the mountains or just eating right. On our blog we have posted some really good recipes of FOOD which is what most of us want when we think of being on a “DIET” but remember, we are not on a diet we have moved to a lifestyle. When you change the mindset from “DIET” to “LIFESTYLE” you will be amazed at how food takes a back seat.

Maybe you think you will have to give up certain foods – like PIZZA. If pizza is one of your staples every week, then hit the highlighted pizza button above and go see how easy it is to make pizza and stay keto, low carb.

Are you a sweets eater like myself and think you have to have sweets or you’ll die then maybe you like brownies or maybe you love zesty lemon bars. Maybe you are looking for some dishes made with shrimp that are super easy to make or one of my all time favorites Keto Tex-Mex Casserole. Food doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be fun and you can pretty much make any dish keto or low carb friendly.

It isn’t about eating the same meal every day it is about having fun with food and eating a variety of meals and deserts. Portion control is still a big thing so just use a small plate and fill it – makes you think you’ve eaten a whole lot more than you probably have. I’ve just highlight above a few of the ones that are posted here on our blog. Feel free to browse and print them all off. Each week we post another recipe and I’ve got some great ones coming up.

All recipes are tried and verified by my taste buds that they are awesome, healthy and keto, low carb friendly. Enjoy your week and have fun with your new lifestyle.

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Keto Bang Bang Shrimp

Keto Bang Bang Shirmp

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Absolutely to die for Bang Bang Shrimp


Ingredients

    For the Shrimp
  • 1 pound of shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour
  • 2 tablespoons Caribeque Calypso Kick (optional)
  • A frying oil with 0 carbs
    • For the Sauce
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup chili garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha (more or less depending on your taste)
  • 1 tablespoon Swerve confectioners

Directions

  1. In a bowl, add mayonnaise, sriracha, chili garlic paste, and swerve. Mix to combine and set aside.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix the heavy cream and vinegar together then pour over the shrimp, tossing to coat well.
  3. Heat a skillet or deep fryer to medium-high heat and add your favorite 0 carb oil.
  4. Toss the coconut flour and Caribeque Calypso Kick to mix evenly, then toss the shrimp in the flour to coat well.
  5. Add the shrimp to the oil in batches if need be and fry for 3-4 minutes until nicely golden.
  6. Remove from oil and add the sauce to the shrimp.

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How to Stay Motivated Week 4

Raise the necessity for performance standards. Always know your why!

Just a little recap from the past 3 weeks – Take One Day At a Time, Surround Yourself with Positivity and Ask for Advice all have talked about how to stay motivated and succeed on a low carb keto lifestyle.

Week 4 we are talking about raising the necessity for performance standards. What this means is What is your Why? When you know your “Why” you will have something that is strong enough in front of you to help you stay motivated.

Things such as getting healthy so I can play with my kids, Taking care of myself so I can watch my grand kids grow up to be adults, Getting rid of this Type II Diabetes diagnosis that means I have to be on medicine, An upcoming class reunion or maybe something as simple as wanting to be able to walk around Disney World with your family. Everyone has a different “WHY”.

When you can define the “why you are doing this” then you have won half the battle. Because everytime you have a short fall or feel tempted to cheat or can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel – you can remember your “WHY” and that will help you get through this journey.

We talked about having a plan at the beginning that makes it easier to start on this journey and not being afraid to ask for advice and making sure that you are surrounding your self with positive people. But one of the biggest things that can help make you successful is knowing your “WHY”.

So if you haven’t already written your plan – do it now. And figure out the “WHY”! One of my “WHYS” is my grand daugther and living a healthy and fit life so that I can watch her grow up and PARTICPATE with her in activities.

If you are struggling with any of these, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and we can help by asking questions and helping you formulate a plan and come up with your “WHY”.

Have an awesome week and enjoy the journey.

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Hearts of Romaine with Blue Cheese and Bacon

Hearts of Romaine with Blue Cheese and Bacon

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Combining the Enhanced flavor of romaine with bacon and blue cheese dressing so that old-fashioned wedge of lettuce becomes a slice of heaven.


Ingredients

    Salad
  • 8 strips good quality bacon
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 hearts romaine lettuce
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Blue Cheese Dressing, recipe follows
    • Blue Cheese Dressing
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup crumbled blue cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

    Salad
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
  2. Lay the bacon strips on a roasting rack and bake in the oven until crisp, about 29 minutes. (To make bacon curls: Wrap each slice of raw bacon around a metal skewer in a barber-pole fashion and lay the skewers on the roasting rack.) Pat dry with a paper towel. When cool enough to handle, break into pieces or in half, if using curls.
  3. Put the egg in a small saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, cover, and remove from the heat. Set aside for 10 minutes. Drain the egg and roll it between your palm and the counter to crack the shell, then peel under cool running water. Rub the egg through a fine-mesh strainer and set aside.
  4. Remove the large out leaves from the romaine hearts and rinse. Chop these leaves into bite-sized pieces and spin dry. (Use an extremely sharp knife to minimize brushing the edges.) Halve the hearts through the cores to make 4 wedges. Rinse under cold running water and shake to air dry.
  5. Divide the wedges among 4 plates. Mound some of the chopped romaine on top and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon about 1/4 cup of Blue Cheese Dressing over each salad and top with some of the sieved egg and bacon.
    6. Blue Cheese Dressing
  6. Pulse the mayonnaise, blue cheese, buttermilk, shallot, lemon zest, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and celery seeds in a food processor to make a chunky but pourable sauce. Stir in the parsley and season with plenty of pepper. Use immediately or refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.

Recipe Courtesy of Food Network

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