How To Get Back In Ketosis

Keto Week 3 – Jamie's Journey Continues!

Hey all, Jamie here!  If you read Jamie Goes Keto last week, you may be wondering how it's going now that we're on to week 3….

Well guys, I'll tell you.

Not super awesome.

In fact – let's just start with the bad and get it out of the way!

The BAD parts about this week on Keto:

1 . Where'd the Weight Loss Go?

This week my weight loss seems to have stalled (although I did probably still lose a pound or so).  Compared to losing about 10 pounds in the first 2 weeks (CRAZY!), that really took some of the excitement out of the whole thing.

2 . Hunger

That exhilarating feeling of not being hungry from the first couple weeks? It's not here this week. 🙁  I have to resist snacking too much on my almonds and cheese and little keto treats or I'll have so many calories by the end of the day that it won't matter how good I was about carbs.  In fact – there was a Planters Deal today on Amazon that I had to stop myself from buying….

3 . Goodbye Regularity…

My good-ole regularity stopped being so….regular.  Which – I guess I should've realized since I've started eating SO MUCH DELICIOUS CHEESE in my diet.  But still – an unwelcome side effect.

4 . I realized I'm a big dummy and I need to STOP STEPPING ON THE SCALE EVERY DAY. 

Because one day I went up 7 pounds and I totally freaked out.  Then I drank a lot of water, walked a little more, finally used the ladies room (praise Jesus!) and the next day those 7 pounds were gone.  Then the next day I went down a pound.  And…the next day I went up a pound.

Friends I'm telling you, if you can make someone hide your scale and just bring it out once a week – you will save yourself a major emotional rollercoaster.

The GOOD part about this week on Keto:

1 . I still can tell my stomach is shrinking….

Which is SO EXCITING TO ME!  I'm scared to go out and try on a smaller jean size but I also REALLY REALLY want to go try out a smaller jean size (just for fun).  But also I don't want to jinx it.  Are you with me?

2 . YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!

The other night when I was on FB Live talking about this free coffee – some of you super-nice people said you could tell I looked skinnier just from my shoulders and face.  Which I didn't even know!  So that was awesome 🙂  (And made me distrust my scale even more.)  My mom even called me to tell me she could see a difference – yaaaaayyy!

3 . Variety

I found some awesome new recipes this week and my friend and I both made a couple.  Then we shared with each other so we had LOTS of variety.  How great are diet buddies???  SO GREAT!  I made Keto Blueberry Bread & Sausage Balls, and she made Taco Egg Cups and Fat Bombs.  Everything was yummy- but ESPECIALLY that amazing blueberry bread.  🙂

Speaking of variety – I ALSO got some new products on Amazon to help me stay on track, see me unboxing them here and find the list at the end of this post!

4 . This is big one friends….

I found out the Week 3 Stall is COMPLETELY NORMAL.  First of all – my long-time Keto friends told me so. (And they are smart and have done Keto for 2 years).  But also – if you google Keto Week 3, look what comes up?!?

Amazon Keto Favorites (Updated List!)

Coffee Sweeteners/Flavors:

Jordan's Skinny Syrup – I was lucky enough to find this at a Tuesday Morning near me, but you can also purchase on Amazon!  I love the Hazelnut but also they have a million yummy sounding flavors.  The bigger bottle is a great deal!

SweetLeaf Sweet Drops – My mom just loves her Sweet Drops in Chocolate, so I finally ordered some.  They're good!  I need about 8 drops to get my coffee how I like it.  But then I added a little splash of the Hazelnut Jordan's Skinny Syrup, and now I have chocolate hazelnut coffee that is my new favorite 🙂

Pyure Vanilla Stevia Drops – These are still good – but I needed a break from the vanilla.  I like have a few varieties to keep my mornings exciting 😉  Also the pyure drops have more of a “diet sugar” aftertaste to me that I don't love.

Sugar Substitutes:

The two most popular sugar substitutes for Keto folks are Monkfruit (which lots of people swear tastes the best for baking)

…and Swerve (which the other lots of people swear tastes the best for baking)

I bought both of them so that I could find which one I like best – and so far I've used the Swerve Granulated to make this Blueberry Bread and the Swerve Confectioner's to make the glaze.  It was REALLY REALLY AMAZING – so I give Swerve two thumbs up!  I'll try the Monkfruit next and let you know 🙂

Snacks:

Whisps – I bought Parmesan Whisps last week at Walmart because the other flavors were out.  They tasted too powdery, so I gave them away. On Mexican restaurant day I was so sad I didn't have my Whisps to eat salsa with!  So I ordered some more from Amazon, and this time I got a 2-pack that includes Cheddar and Asiago & Pepper Jack.  Excited to try these!  They're about $1 more on Amazon, but worth it if you need them to help stay on track.

By the way – you get to eat 23 of these and it's only 1 carb!

ChocZero Keto Bark: Last week everyone left comments on my Lily's Chocolate recommendation and told me to try ChocZero.  It was a little pricey (isn't everything on Keto??) but I ordered some anyway.  It hasn't arrived yet but I'll surely let you know when I do!

Lilly's Chocolate Chips

These are really pricey – but really good.  I'm still munching on my first bag three weeks in, just a little something to help me get through the day without feeling too deprived. 🙂 (These are just 2 net carbs per 60 chips!)

SlimFast Keto Peanut Butter Cups – These are still my ABSOLUTE FAVES but they are sold out all the darn time!  Amazon wants $20 for them – but you can order them for Walmart pickup for just $9.97.  They're SO GOOD and they help me get my fat in if I'm running low for the day.

Flour:

Almond Flour  (or Coconut Flour if you have a nut allergy)

OH MY GOSH I can't even tell you how much almond flour is saving me.  For a hot minute I thought I might not be able to eat bread anymore – but you can actually make coffee mug bread in the microwave with almond flour!  WHAT???  I will show you!!  Check out my Almond Flour Coffee Mug Bread Recipe here!

I use my bread circles for mini pizzas, little sandwiches, I toast it and cut it up like “croutons” to sprinkle in soups, or to add texture to other dishes, etc…  My next goal is to figure out almond flour tortilla chips 

Supplements/Strips:

MCT Oil Powder –  In my quest for regularity, I was told my multiple folks to add MCT oil to my coffee.  Other side effects include boosting your energy and clearing your brain fog.   Honestly, I DO actually have more energy after having this in my coffee for two days in a row.  The brain fog might take more than 2 days to clear 🙂  This one was an investment – but since I'm also testing things for the rest of us I thought it was worth it.

Magnesium – I'm still taking the Magnesium supplements I mentioned last time.  I've read a few things about how important it is – so I'll go with it.  I picked ones that are really hard to swallow though (Target brand), so I'm looking for a different kind.  The ones in the link get great reviews!  (Make sure to get Magnesium Citrate and not Magnesium Oxide.  They're more expensive but the body absorbs them much better!)

Ketone Testing Strips

As a newbie I had no idea if eating this new way was putting me in ketosis or not.  These strips told me I WAS in ketosis and it was such a morale booster!  Plus it will let me know when I go out of ketosis, so I can figure out what food caused it.

I've also read about people adding collagen to their coffee – do any of you do this?  Do you notice a difference in your hair/skin/nails?  I'm game to try some!

Need a Helping Hand?

• Our friend Jen offers this great Get Started Keto course! It's super inexpensive and she holds your hand through the whole process.
• Laurie actually is uses a diet plan that incorporates keto a couple days a week –  you can check that out here!

Now I really want to know – do you have any favorite keto foods or products that help you stick with it?  What about recipes?  I truly want to hear what they are  – please leave me a comment so I can try it out!

New Keto Post Updates: Check in on my progress at Keto Week 3 , find out How to Get Back in Ketosis after a Cheat Day and check out my fave Keto Shopping List finds at Aldi!

Jamie here!

I have been a junk food junkie for ever and ever – but something changed in me last Tuesday morning and I decided to just jump on the Keto bandwagon.  Like right after I put down my third cup of sugary creamery coffee it was go time.

Actually – I'll back up just a couple steps and say that I have MANY friends and acquaintances who have done keto successfully for the last couple years. (Our friend Jennifer even offers this great Get Started course! It is super inexpensive and she holds your hand through the whole process!)

Anyway my friends are always offering to help me get started and I'm always like – LOOK FRIEND.  STEP AWAY FROM MY BREAD.

But the thought's been rolling around in my head for awhile and seeing as I was my heaviest EVER this winter – I decided it was time for a change.  Keto here I come!

Now I am no Keto expert (I've only been on it for 12 days – UPDATE: 18 days!) – but as a newbie I wanted to share a few things that are saving me in this transition stage.  As with any diet – do your homework to see if the Keto diet is right for you! I'm no expert, these products just helped me keep with it 🙂

Amazon Keto Products I Love

**Keep in mind as you're reading these that Keto folks only get to have around 20 grams of carbs a day (varies based on weight and goals).  You get it.  It's HARD!  Anything super low carb is glorious miracle food!

SlimFast Peanut Butter Cups

They. Are. So. Good.  The box comes with 14 peanut butter cups and I treat myself to one after dinner when the kids are all eating cookies RIGHT IN MY FACE.  They're only 1 net carb!!  The chocolate is a little darker and harder than a Reese's Cup – and the peanut butter is drier – but delicious.

(Looks like they're sold out on Amazon – you can also try and order them from Walmart,but there's only 1 box left at a store near me!)

Pyure French Vanilla Stevia Sweetener 

Keto people are supposed to have natural sugars (like Stevia) and this one has an added flavor.  I do a couple of squeezes of this into my coffee and add some heavy whipping cream for a super low carb coffee.

Plus there was an eCoupon for it last time I checked!

Ketone Testing Strips

As a newbie I had no idea if eating this new way was putting me in ketosis or not.  These strips told me I WAS in ketosis and it was such a morale booster!  Plus it will let me know when I go out of ketosis, so I can figure out what food caused it.

Almond Flour 

(or try Coconut Flour if you have a nut allergy)

OH MY GOSH I can't even tell you how much almond flour is saving me.  For a hot minute I thought I might not be able to eat bread anymore – but you can actually make coffee mug bread in the microwave with almond flour!  WHAT???  I will show you!!  Check out my Almond Flour Coffee Mug Bread Recipe here!

I use my bread circles for mini pizzas, little sandwiches, I toast it and cut it up like “croutons” to sprinkle in soups, or to add texture to other dishes, etc…  My next goal is to figure out almond flour tortilla chips 😉

Whisps

Seriously – if you are a cracker or chip addict, do yourself a favor and grab a couple bags.  These are JUST cheese that's been baked into little crackery chips.  I took a ziploc baggy of them with me when we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant on Sunday.  I dipped them in salsa and munched away so I wouldn't be too tempted.  It worked so well! (I was so proud of myself for not giving in to the chips)

By the way – you get to eat 23 of these and it's only 1 carb!

Lilly's Chocolate Chips

So let's address the elephant in the room.  These are $9 A BAG chocolate chips.  Also – I DO NOT CARE.

Guys – when you're really excited about losing weight and you know what normally trips you up (sweet tooth here) – you can talk yourself into anything.  I found these before I found the SlimFast Peanut Butter Cups – and I was just grateful that I was able to have chocolate period.  (These are just 2 net carbs per 60 chips!)

There are a gazillion recipes out there where you can make yourself some keto candy with these – like Keto Almond Bark. (YUM)

Nature Made Magnesium Citrate

About a week and a half after I started Keto I started getting some achey legs at night.  I asked MANY people who had been on Keto for a long time, and I found out that I was likely low on electrolytes and magnesium.  I ordered this Nature Made Magnesium Citrate – and it even had a nice 25% OFF coupon!

Giant Queen Olives

These are my 11pm go-to (along with the last item on the list).  Almost no carbs.  Like I can eat 2 or 3 and it's still less than a carb.  They're that salty, briney and kinda crunchy thing I'm craving around 11pm.  If you're a pickle person – it's sort of the same thing with those!

Those Olives to Go or Olive Snack Bags would be super handy too!

Coke Zero

Please don't judge me friends.  I'm just being honest here – if I weren't able to have a sip of Coke Zero now and then (which has no carbs) then I might be a meaner mom.  It makes me “lazy keto” because it's not a natural sugar – but that's a-ok with me!

Also if you're a Prime Pantry member you can get these for only $2.66 per 12-pack!!

Want to know the perfect I-have-all-the-cravings late night snack?  Put 3 giant olives on a plate, a handful of Wisps, and a Slim-Fast PB cup.  Snuggle up with a good book or some social-media stalking, and make your way slowly around the plate 3 times.   You're welcome 😉  (Only like 2 net carbs!)

(Laurie actually is uses a diet plan that incorporates keto a couple days a week –  you can check that out here!  She sincerely loves it guys – no kidding.)

Now I really want to know – do you have any favorite keto foods or products that help you stick with it?  What about recipes?  I truly want to hear what they are  – please leave me a comment so I can try it out!