Where do we shop?

If you read my profile, then you know that I live in New Jersey.  I can only tell you about stores that are in my area.  If you have access to the internet, that opens up a whole other source for obtaining items your local store doesn't carry.  I have an Amazon Prime membership which offers me free shipping.  There are certain items I order from Amazon.  You just have to do your homework and compare prices to see where you get the best deals.

Every Friday here where I live, we get the local grocery store ads for the coming week.  Even though I already have my menu written down for the month, If I see something that's a great price, I will swap out the sale item for what I had planned.  I don't shop at the big box stores like Costco or BJ's, only because I find better prices at the discount grocery stores, like Aldi, Lidl and Save-a-lot.  My local Save-a-lot closed here in Manchester Township but there are still others in N. J.  Aldi and Lidl don't mail out their ads but you can sign up online to receive them via email.  I usually go to Aldi with my big list and buy as much as I can there.  I almost always buy most of my meats there.  Their produce is low in price as are there own brands of canned goods.  The only thing I don't buy there are deli items, because they don't have a by order deli.  I haven't mentioned Walmart yet but that is another store where I can get a lot of things not available at Aldi.  In my area we are fortunate to have a Super Walmart.  Super Walmart has more groceries then regular Walmart.  I also shop at Stop n Shop (because it's the closest store to my home) and Shop Rite often has some great deals. 

I haven't mentioned coupons yet but I'm not a big coupon user.  I do get coupons for Pet food and Kitty litter that I often use.  To be honest, I can buy items cheaper by using store brands instead of a coupon item.  You just have be aware of the bottom line.   In my next blog I'll talk about some of the products we use and I'll share a few meal plans with you. 😍

Getting a late start today

Good Morning everyone, it is still morning right?  I had to run out early (for me it was early) to have my three month blood work done.  Because I am still considered Diabetic, my Doctor insists on seeing me every three months.  The Lab had a hard time finding a vein.  Always such a pleasure getting poked and stabbed.  I'm hoping that when I get the results on Friday the good Doctor tells me I don't need all of my medications.  The cost of my prescriptions went up 25% on Jan. 1st, Ugh!  

As I said in my last blog, I would share with you how I stay on a budget and still eat low Carb.  This may seem like a lot of extra work but isn't anything worth having worth a little effort?  I start by planning a month's worth of menus.  I know I get my S.S. on the third Wednesday of each month, so I start with that date and count how many days it will be until the next check.  Sometimes it's 4 weeks but sometimes its 5.  Over the past year my Son and I have tried a lot of recipes we found on the internet.  If we like one, I print it and add it to a notebook I keep.  For example, we tried lasagna made with zucchini noodles instead of pasta.  I liked it, but he didn't, so that one didn't make it into the notebook.  We tend to eat the same things like chicken, beef, pork, fish and breakfast meats.  A dinner consists of a garden salad, a protein and a vegetable.  Sometimes we have breakfast for dinner.  I'm one of those people that almost never eats breakfast, so having it for dinner is great for me.  Lunch is usually leftovers from the day before's dinner or a salad with some protein added.  Okay, so now I have my menus planned, what's next?  The all important grocery shopping list.  I go through each menu and plan what I need to purchase to make it.  The way i do it is to start with the protein.  How many chicken breasts do I need, how many whole chickens, how many pounds of ground beef, how many pork chops etc. etc.  Then I go back and write down all the other ingredients, like how many cans of vegetables or bags of frozen ones.  You get the idea.  I break my list down into sections by the week.  I like to shop for two weeks worth of food at a time.  The first trip is my biggest order, then I go back with smaller lists the rest of the month.  Next blog I will talk about where I get the best deals.  See you then! 👋

It's a brand new week

Happy Monday everyone!  😍  My weekend was pretty boring.  Saturday was a cold and rainy day here in NJ.  But late in the afternoon the Sun came back so that cheered me up a little.  I baked a batch of low carb cookies that didn't turn out exactly the way I had hoped for, but they do have a nice flavor.  I was looking for a crispy cookie that I could have with a cup of tea.  Have you ever heard of "Social Teas"?  It's a plain, flat, rectangle shaped cookie made by Nabisco.  I love them but the carb count is way too high for me.  Anyway, I found this recipe that sounded like it would be good.  The end result was tasty but way too soft.  I asked Siri for some help and she told me a few tips to try next time.  For a crispier cookie never use brown sugar, leave out the egg and bake at a lower temp. and longer.  All tips that actually make sense.  I will try again folks and let you know how it works out.

I want to talk a little bit about the cost of eating Keto.  I've heard it said that the Keto diet is expensive to maintain.  While it is true, some of the products that are recommended do cost more then like items that are not Keto.  For instance, The sweeteners cost more then sugar.  The flours (almond flour and coconut flour) cost more then all purpose wheat flour.  Keep in mind though, you aren't buying any processed foods.  I have found that eliminating the foods I used to buy balances out the cost of the higher items I buy now.  The plus effect is, I'm buying healthier foods without all the added chemicals we don't need.  One of my friends calls it "eating clean" (thank you Patty).  The bottom line is, I'm retired and rely on Social Security and a small Military Annuity (thank You to my late husband).  I'm currently supporting my Son as well (he's between jobs).  We eat very well on a tight budget, so it is possible to be Keto and not spend a fortune.  In my next few blogs I will go into more detail about how we accomplish this.  Let me just say, It does take a little extra time for planning and staying organized.  Have a great week and I'll see you soon.  💘

Sweet Tooth and what you can do about it

All my life I have loved sugary treats and indulged everyday.  As a child there were always things in the house to satisfy my craving.  My Grand Mother lived with us and she was a fantastic baker.  My Father also had a sweet tooth and he insisted on dessert with every dinner.  Growing up in the 50's there wasn't much emphasis on healthy eating.  There certainly wasn't the vast variety of "diet" food that we have now.  In that regard we are fortunate that now we know better and can still enjoy sweetness without sugar.

Let's get to the subject at hand, what can we do about a sweet tooth?  I started hearing about Fat Bombs on the Face Book Group I joined.  The other members were sharing recipes for treats that they were making to get them over their cravings for sugar.  Fat bombs also were supplying the fat needed to burn fat.  If you've done your homework you know how a state of Ketosis works.  Instead of burning sugar for energy, Ketosis uses fat as fuel.  The first Fat Bomb that I made was a chocolate, peanut butter and cream cheese one that made about 16 bombs the size of a quarter.  I kept them in the Refrigerator and popped one in my mouth occasionally.  If you are familiar with Pinterest, you can do a search for Fat Bombs and zillions of recipes will show up.  I have tried a few fruit flavored ones but my favorite is still the chocolate and peanut butter one.

I'm still trying to master a Keto version of cookies.  Sorry to say, I haven't had much success yet.  I just don't like any baked goods made with almond flour or coconut flour.  The texture is gritty and not my favorite thing.  I will keep trying and I'll let you know if I find a solution.  

Are you overwhelmed yet?

If you've done some research as I suggested, you are probably feeling overwhelmed.  It's okay, just take a breath and relax.  You have to give yourself time to get use to anything new.  You didn't put on your excess weight overnight so get use to the idea of losing it slowly.  It's actually must better to sustain this life style if you take it slow.  As I said in my first post, my son and I started our journey a full year  ago.  I have never stayed with a diet this long, ever.  I attribute my success to doing this with my son.  I could never have been able to stick with it when I was younger and raising my five children alone after my husband passed away.  I'm in a much better place now with just my youngest son at home.  It's definitely a plus that he is on Keto too.  Shopping is easier and meal planning is easier since we eat the same things.  I'm not saying it's impossible if you are raising a family, it's just easier for me.  I'm sure there are many people on Keto that would not agree with me.  This blog is to relate my own personnel experiences.  I would welcome comments from anyone to share their thoughts on the subject of Keto and children.

Let's talk about one of my very first concerns when I started this new way of life.  COFFEE    I love my first cup every morning, but I soon learned that giving up sugar and flavored coffee creamers was a huge problem for me.  I am happy to report that not all is lost.  Let me say right away, I don't receive any money by recommending products.  I am only sharing what I have found and like.   There are many different types of artificial sweeteners on the market.  Some are good and some are bad.  I think it's a matter of personnel preference which one you like.  For me, I only use Monk Fruit, Swerve and Stevia.  But I don't use any of those in my coffee.  I found a product called Jordan's Skinny Syrups.  I purchase them on Amazon but there is also a website you can go to directly.  The many different flavors is what makes the syrups so enjoyable.  My favorites are Chocolate Coconut Macaron, Caramel Creme Cheesecake and Iced Cinnamon Bun.  I order what's called the Dessert collection, which contains all three of my favorites for under twenty dollars.  If you have Amazon Prime the shipping is free.  The bottles are 750ml and last me several months.  I only use two teaspoons in each cup of coffee.  Along with a tablespoon of heavy whipping cream.  My carb manager calculates one cup of coffee with my syrup and cream at zero carbs.  Whoo Hoo, I'm back to loving my coffee.  I drink several cups per day whenever I get the urge for something sweet and delicious.  Tomorrow I'll talk about my sweet tooth and Fat Bombs.  What the Heck are Fat Bombs, tune in tomorrow and I'll tell you.

How to get started

Are you ready to change your life?  Do you want to be healthier, have more energy and lose weight?  First let me say that I do not have any medical background or claim to be an expert in Keto.  I recommend consulting your Doctor before starting any diet.  Once you get the okay to begin you need to do some research.  If you have access to a computer you're way ahead of the game.  There is so much information just waiting for you to ask.  You can also find a ton of books at the library on the Keto plan.  If you like being a part of a group on Face Book there are many groups dedicated to people like you who are looking for support and information.  Just be cautioned, some of these groups can be super critical if you aren't strict Keto.  They are referred to as "The Keto Police" but I call them Bullies.  My advice is to begin your journey slowly and ease into the level of Keto you are most comfortable with.  What do I mean by level of Keto?  There are Strict Keto, Lazy Keto and Dirty Keto.  Or you might be more comfortable with "low Carb." which is even less restrictive.  You can do your own research into what each level means, all the information is accessible on google.  The next thing I found very helpful was having an app on my smart phone.  I can look up how many carbs are in the food I eat.  The app I use is called Carb Manager this is the link to join ...... 

 https://app.carbmanager.com/account/join?redirect=%2Flog%2Foverview 

I joined the free version and use it all the time.  There is also a paid version that gives you recipes and more.  You might want to stay with the free version until you see if it's a good fit for you.  I especially like that if a food isn't listed you can scan the bar code to have it added to the app.  Once you join the app, you will be asked some questions about your current weight and goals so you will know how many carbs, calories, fats, protein etc. your body needs each day.  You will also be able to track your "macros" daily.  I think this is enough information to get you started.  If you have any questions so far, just send me a comment and I will try to give you my best advice.

The beginning of our new life

Good morning.  What are you doing this morning?  If you're reading this blog, you must be bored and suffering from cabin fever.  A year ago this week, the 16th to be exact;  I was probably sitting right here reading posts on my Face Book page.  My daily routine was, check my emails, check my bank account and then spend some time on face book.  The day before I had gone grocery shopping to stock up for the coming month.  My youngest son and I share a home and have been room mates for eight years.  Getting back to one year ago, he announced quite unexpectedly that he was going on a diet.  Of course, I was surprised to say the least.  My second thought was, I just spent hundreds of dollars on groceries and now you are going on a diet?  After some discussion I was informed that carbohydrates were now taboo.  No more bread, pasta, potatoes and sugar.  What, are you crazy?  What kind of diet is this?  I was so naive, but like anything else I knew nothing about, I resorted to research on the internet.  That's where I first heard about something called Keto.  To say I've come a long way in a year is an under-statement.  So, getting to the reason for this blog, to share what I've learned and perhaps help someone else lose the weight but even more important, to be a healthier person.  Since last January 16, 2019 I've lost 47 pounds and my son has lost 99 pounds.  Just to let you relate to us, I'm 73 and he is 50.  Men always seem to lose weight easier but my age could have something to do with my number.  I'm happy with my progress so far and will continue on this way of life.  I should also tell you that prior to losing the weight,  I suffered from terrible knee pain and my blood sugar levels were a lot higher.  My knees don't hurt much anymore and my A1C has dropped to below 5 point 6.  I  only take one medication now for my diabetes instead of 3.  I consider that a win win.  Stay tuned for what I've learned and tips on what to eat.  The picture below is a year ago.