Tag: ketogenic

I feel a lot better than I did my previous post. I’m almost embarrassed that I puked my heart and soul into that post and almost deleted it, but as they say: better out than in!

Anyway. I’ve focused a lot of my energy since then into things that I do have control over now, at the moment: the kids, of course, and Jorge take priority, but I’ve also started really watching what I’m eating and SOMEWHAT started exercising again. I even used some of the birthday/Mother’s Day money mom gave me to buy some cute work-out tees! (In typical Mom fashion, the rest was put towards bills 🙄 !)

These were on clearance at Walmart, for $3.00 and $3.15! Too bad I couldn’t get any good deals on work out pants! THAT’S what I really need! 😕 I have lots of size 0-2, but it’s been a while since those fit comfortably! 😆

So I started on the Keto diet again on April 30, 2017. The last time I did this “diet” was in 2013 and I lost about 12-13 lbs. and looked much better than I had in a while at the time. It was before I had my breast reduction, of course, but being on Keto was the only time I EVER in my life went down a bra size. Even when I was religiously doing P90X daily and Taekwondo 3x a week in 2010, I didn’t loose boobage. In 2013, on Keto, I went from DD to D. I was shocked! 😆

The girls started selling Girl Scout cookies early 2014…and I DID NOT ease back into eating carbs–I literally shoveled a box of cookies a day 😳 . So naturally, I gained weight AND when I went for my routine check-up on February 7, 2014, I stupidly got my labs done at 3pm…right after consuming 4 Thin Mints. Of course my cholesterol came back off the charts (394, something like that??) and I was put on a Statin STAT because of my family’s medical history. They sat me down and I got a stern talking-to about what to eat and what not to eat. I was pretty bummed.

So I’m going into this venture once again, but wary and aware of the risks. I’m still trying to figure out how much a lipid panel (to check my cholesterol levels) would be, since I already got my routine check-up done and my levels were slightly elevated then. I don’t want to end up having a stroke or heart attack for the sake of vanity!

Speaking of, other reasons I’m getting back on the Keto train–besides obviously losing weight–is 1) Jorge got back on it a few weeks ago and it’s much easier for me to come up with dinners when I’m cooking for both of us (because, let’s face it: sometimes I have to make an extra meal for my picky girls 🙄 ). A third meal would be ridiculous!

2) Since getting off birth control in February-ish of this year (had gotten on it again around August 2016 to help regulate my monthly visitor), my acne has been out of control, mainly on the chin area, which reflects hormones out of whack and/or stress (and I have a bad habit of touching my face, so I’m sure that doesn’t help!). So I’m hoping steering clear of sugar and carbs will help. I’ve been reading articles on Dietdoctor.com, and a piece on acne states:

…modern studies show a probable connection between high-glycemic (high-carb) diets and acne.This may be caused by the effect on growth hormones like insulin and IGF.

To improve acne, your best bet is a fairly strict low-carb diet – ideally one that is also low in dairy products.

I’m willing to try anything to clear this embarrassing problem. The only thing that makes me nervous about Keto is the amount of cheese you could possibly eat–and I’m lactose intolerant (and also, the cholesterol!)! I think being lactose intolerant is another sign my body’s giving me to lay off the sugar and give my face a break, so I’m going to try to use as little as possible, as much as I love it 🙁 .

I’m actually much more excited about cooking than I had been in a long time. Here are a few meals I’ve made:

You can find the recipe for those awesome Keto Krepes here.

We’ve cut our eating out a LOT, but when we have it’s been easy to make substitutions:

I’ve also lost 3 lbs.! Just weighed in this morning and it’s the little boost of motivation I needed to keep going. Now, if I could just find the time to do P90X again! Or at least the 40 minutes I need to get to the park to run! Emily has her GT Project due and we need to finish it TODAY.
[edited to add:] Emily finished her project at school and all I had to help her with was flash cards for questions and finding her prizes to give her classmates as she quizzes them, so we got to go walking/running![/edit]

Changing gears: my poor Gramma hasn’t been doing too well 🙁 . She was in the hospital on Sunday due to possible signs of suffering a mini-stroke. Ugh. Long story. Let’s just say I had to BITCH and threaten a lawsuit in order to get those idiots at the nursing home to move their asses and get her to the hospital! She may have Bells Palsy, which they will correct with medication but only to a certain extent 🙁 . Mom and I waited in the lobby while Aunt Nora stayed with Gramma and we got hungry, so we went to the gift shop. There was a beautiful, almost heavenly glow coming from the snack area. There were muffins, and cookies, and chips, oh my!! It took all my willpower to only purchase these:

I shared the almonds and pickle with Mom and I was proud of myself for sticking with it. Mom, on the other hand, got Fritos -_-.

Gramma is doing as well as possible. I feel so bad that she’s in any discomfort.

I’ve been posting less on my regular social media and focusing a lot of attention on my food and health Instagram account. If you’d like to see meal ideas or just what I’m up to, the link is: @yaya_goes_keto (formerly, @yayastartsover). I’ve documented most of my ups/downs/tries/fails . When I started up again in June 2016 after all the complications I had with the breast reduction from February 2016-June 2016, I was tracking on MyFitnessPal and working out (P90X). I went from 123 lbs. to 119 lbs., but that was quickly short-lived thanks to the last complication I had, and then I’m pretty sure I had some weird trauma/mental block that was keeping me from working out since it seemed like every time I got into a routine, I ended up at the doctor’s office again. But I hope I’m successful this time and can keep up with my “diet” (or Way of Eating) and workouts, even though I know I won’t be able to workout every day. I have to admit, eating this way has been pretty easy so far!

Original Blog Post from May 7, 2013.

I was on a roll since last night; first I made my love some steak and veggies for dinner (I only had a bit; not a huge fan of red meat), and then I searched Pinterest until I found a Keto-friendly pancake recipe because I was really craving some =\. I followed one that I’d but changed a few things around. I’m still trying to perfect the recipe, but the batch I made was as follows:
 
2 oz. cream cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp cinnamon (this is optional; cinnamon adds about 5g of carbs)
1/2 tsp. of Swerve (or your favorite sweetener. You may want to add more if you like sweet pancakes)
1/2 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tablespoon almond flour (this is also optional; it adds about 1 carb, but it makes the pancakes easier to flip!)

Warm the cream cheese up about 10 seconds so it’s mixable, then combine all ingredients together in a blender (it’s super fast in my Magic Bullet!) and puree. Careful not to over-beat. Heat your pan up (medium-high worked for me) and cook each side of the pancake till it’s bubbly and brown. Careful when you’re flipping them; they’re much thinner than regular pancakes. The texture is more like a crepe, but they’re so satisfying! This recipe makes about 4 small crepes. Top with blackberries (pretty low-carb) and sugar free syrup (I like Walden Farms) if you’re trying to keep these low-cal, low-carb, no-sugar ;).

I woke up early, got ready for work, got Alaethia’s things ready, made some eggs to go along with Jorge’s leftover steak from last night, packed my lunch (salad!) and dropped Aly off at school. While I was there, I signed up to volunteer my help at her Field Day on the 17th. I hope I get to see her participating though =\.

I couldn’t wait to get to work and devour my crepes :). They were SO. DAMN. GOOD!!

I did some research because I get these bouts of fatigue, but it’s probably due to my electrolytes being low so I need to take care of that. My stomach was feeling weird after lunch, and that was probably due to my eating too much protein and not enough “fat”. I’m learning as I go.

The day went by quickly what with helping my boss with a photo shoot, talking with Jessica through lunch and going to HEB with Michelle to buy flowers (I’m doing some centerpieces for a reception tomorrow) and beverages for work. Followed by a meeting which ran 45 minutes after 5, followed by picking up Mom’s prescriptions and doing a bit of grocery shopping (again!). Got home, made dinner (a low-carb broccoli & cauliflower cheese gumbo! Recipe soon! It contains both the fat and sodium I need for the symptoms I’m having.), ate while I tested Aly on her spelling words, bathed the girls, brushed their tangled hair, supervised while Aly read her book, put them to bed, swept and mopped while I chatted with my boys and I’m finally sitting!! My love already passed out; he had a long day. I should really pack my soup, iron my dress and get in the shower, but bed sounds so much more appealing!!