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.

Keto Belgian Waffles

Keto Belgian Waffles

  • Servings: 3
  • Difficulty: easy
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Wonderful and Easy Breakfast


Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon maple flavor
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 4 teaspoons Swerve or Monkfruit Sweetener
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

Directions

  1. Pour the 1/3 cup coconut flour into a large mixing bowl or a food processor
  2. Place the softened cream cheese in next.
  3. Pour the maple flavor on top.
  4. Crack the 6 large eggs and add to the mixture
  5. Add the Monkfruit or Swerve Sweetener, baking powder and xanthan gum and blend thoroughly.
  6. Pre-heat your waffle iron and spray with either avocado cooking spray or your preferred non-stick spray.
  7. You will probably need to cook this waffle on the iron’s darker settings, about 3/4 of the way dark is about right on my waffle iron.
  8. Cook for about 4 minutes or until the waffle iron tells you it is ready.
  9. Plate them and smother with butter or toppings of your choice.
Recipe Courtesy of keto-daily.com

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Focusing on the Future

Last week we talked about fear and doubt and how it sometimes sabotages what we want and what we know is best for us. This week we are going to talk about focusing on the future and how that can help us succeed as well.

If you are constantly thinking about how you’ve never been successful with losing weight then you probably aren’t ever going to be successful. Negative attracts negative. So instead of thinking “What can go wrong, will go wrong”, think “What can go right, will go right”. Change your mindset and you will change your life.

Set yourself some short term goals that are realistic and then set yourself a long term goal. So short term goals can be “I want to lose 2 lbs a week” – even though if you do low carb and keto you could possibly lose up to 5 lbs a week. 2 lbs sets a reasonable expectation so when you hit that first plateau you don’t give up. You keep moving forward. And all of those weeks of 2-5 lbs lost will start to add up very quickly. I suggest even that you don’t worry about pounds so much and you take your measurements. Low carb and Keto actually help you lose inches faster than pounds.

Your long term goal may be to lose 50 lbs or 100 lbs or fit in a pair of jeans you haven’t worn since before your first child was born. Figure out what it is and then celebrate each milestone as you move toward that long term goal. It took you longer than a month to gain all that weight so be patient, think positive and realize you need to celebrate the little things in life.

Being grateful for where you are each day and writing a gratitude journal each day can help. Even if the only thing you are grateful for that day is that you ate the right foods for breakfast!!! LOL. I’ve been there. But being grateful even for the smallest things keeps that positive attitude moving forward.

You need to have faith in your ability to keep things going in the right direction and you will find yourself flourishing. So tell yourself that failure is not an option, never give up and success will happen. This doesn’t mean you won’t have some hurdles to leap over and holes to climb out of, but that is all part of the journey to success.

If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. We can help you along the way. Have a wonderful week and see you next week.

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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Brussels sprouts and Bacon will become your NEW favorite way to eat Brussels Sprouts! Pan fried Brussel Sprouts and bacon baked in a cheesy creamy garlic sauce, and topped with bubbling mozzarella and parmesan cheese! This recipe is guaranteed to convert ANY sprouts hating fan to fall in love with these little suckers!


Ingredients

  • 10 ounces bacon, cut into strips
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 pounds sprouts, washed (trim bottoms and cut sprouts in half)
  • Salt and pepper to season
  • 5 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups light cream, (or for a richer sauce, you can use heavy or thickened cream)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water cornstarch slurry
  • 1/3 cup fresh shredded or grated mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup fresh shredded or grated parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Fry the bacon in a large oven0safe skillet over medium heat until crispy. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a paper towel lined plate to soak up some of the oil. Set aside.
  3. Drain most of the bacon fat from the pan, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons for added flavor (adjust this amount to your liking). In the same pan, melt the butter, then add the Brussels sprouts and season with salt and pepper. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and cook while stirring occasionally, for about 6 minutes. The edges should start crisping and slightly charring.
  4. Add in the garlic and stir it through the sprouts for a minute, until fragrant. Pour in the cream, reduce heat down to low and allow them to simmer until tender (another 3-4 minutes).
  5. If the cream is too thin for your liking, add in the cornstarch slurry, stirring it through immediately until combined.
  6. Add the bacon in and give everything a good mix to combine all of the flavors together. Top the sprouts with the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Bake until cheese is bubbly and sprouts are done to your liking (about 15 minutes). If you like your cheese browned, change oven settings to broil for 2-3 minutes, until golden.

Recipe Courtesy of cafedelites.com

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Fear and Doubt

Do you fear the unknown when it comes to doing something that you’ve never done before? Or are you one of those that has to reach the bottom (Dr told you you have Type II Diabetes) before you decide you have to make some changes?

It is only natural to fear what you don’t know. We set ourselves up for failure right from the beginning by telling ourselves “it’s too hard”, “Everyone says I can’t do it”, “I’ve never been able to keep the weight off no matter how hard I try”? All of these things are negatives and are setting us up for failure.

So let’s think about some alternative ways to think when we make that switch tomorrow to a healthier lifestyle and we set ourselves up for success. If your thought process says “it’s too hard” – switch your thinking to “I’m going to have a small success each day thus making it easy to succeed”.

If you’re being told “you can’t do it or you’ll never be successful at losing weight” – switch your ears off and let those naysayers talk – just don’t listen. “Or tell yourself that it doesn’t matter what they say – this is my life and I know I can do this!” You know within you is the courage and the determination to make yourself healthy it doesn’t matter what anyone else says.

And if you’re thinking about the fact that “you’ve never been able to keep the weight off no matter how hard you try” – let’s switch it to “I’m changing my lifestyle one piece at a time and I will be successful”. It is all about the positives and teaching us to think positive thoughts instead of negative thoughts.

Sometimes as the negatives descend on us we just have to stop, look at it for what it is and make a conscious effort to change that negative thought to a positive thought. Maybe to do that you just have to get up and move for a minute. That works for me and I do that a lot.

We really can do whatever we set our minds to do. Anything negative just means that you are allowing fear and doubt to sabotage your good health and your new lifestyle. It may mean you have to just start one day at a time and move slowly forward. Some people say to tell everyone you are on a diet and let everyone help hold you accountable – but I say sometimes we need to do this for ourselves and the heck with everyone holding us accountable. I can tell you I am not always successful every day at what I eat, but I can tell you I don’t punish myself anymore and I’ve been able to maintain for the last year and a half. This new lifestyle (NOT A DIET) is forever. It’s not a DIET because it isn’t temporary. Change how you think and you will change your life.

Sometimes we also just need to have a bit of faith in ourselves and stop beating ourselves up. Let’s not allow it to take a scare from the DR to tell us we are unhealthy. Stop with the excuses and do something for yourself. Even if it takes you 5 days instead of 3 to get into ketosis – JUST DO IT!. I know I stole that from Nike, but it is very appropriate in this instance.

If you need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are always here to help answer any questions, but please don’t let fear and doubt take over and keep you from this journey of life that is awesome!

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Keto Tex-Mex Casserole

Keto TexMex Casserole

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Hearty and spicy like you daydream about


Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 lbs ground beef
  • 7 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 2 oz pickled jalapenos
  • 7 oz shredded cheese, for example Monterey Jack or shredded Mexican blend
  • 1 cup crème fraiche (sour cream)
  • 1 scallion, finely chopped
  • 2 oz butter
  • 1 cup guacamole, for serving (optional)
    • Make Your Own Taco seasoning
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1-2 teaspoons onion powder or garlic powder
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400F.
  2. Fry the ground beef in butter, until cooked through and no longer pink. Add taco seasoning and tomatoes.
  3. Place the ground beef mixture in a baking dish. Top with jalapenos and cheese. Bake on upper rack in oven for 15-20 minutes.
  4. Chop the chives finely and mix in with the sour cream.
  5. Serve with sour cream, guacamole and a green salad.

Recipe Courtesy of the dietdoctor.com

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Keto Cranberry Pecan Biscotti

Keto Cranberry Pecan Biscotti

  • Servings: 15 biscotti
  • Difficulty: Medium
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Low Carb almond flour biscotti studded with cranberries and pecans. A perfect sugar free and gluten free treat!


Ingredients

    Biscotti
  • 2 cups almond flour
  • 1/2 cup granular Swerve Sweetener
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp xanthan gum (can also sub 1 tbsp. coconut flour)
  • 1 tbsp. orange zest
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup sugar-free dried cranberries
    • Chocolate Dip
  • 3 ounces sugar-free dark chocolate chopped
  • 1/2 ounce cocoa butter (or 1 tbsp. coconut oil)

Directions

    Biscotti
  1. Preheat oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, Swerve, baking powder and xanthan gum. Stir in orange zest.
  3. Stir together melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract until dough comes together. Add pecans and dried cranberries and stir until mixed throughout.
  4. Turn dough out onto baking sheet and form into low, flat log, 10×4 inches. Bake 25 minutes, or until lightly browned and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 250F.
  5. With a sharp knife, gently cut into 15 even slices. Place slices back onto baking sheet cut-side down and bake for 15 minutes, then flip each slice and continue to bake for another 15 minutes. Turn off oven and let sit inside until cool.
    6. Chocolate Dip
  6. In microwave or double boiler, melt chocolate until smooth. Dip ends of biscotti in and lay on a waxed paper lined baking sheet until set (you can chill them to set the chocolate faster).
Recipe courtesy of “alldayidreamaboutfood.com”

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