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Hi there!

So, Kirk and I first heard about Keto through my dad’s girlfriend, BB, who has been on the Keto diet for over a year now. She has lost 63 pounds and has gone from a size 12 to a size 2!!! Truly amazing! She is extremely dedicated to her diet and has not strayed from her plan.

Kirk has tried so many diets in the past that seemed to work briefly, but were only a temporary fix. He would lose a few pounds and then gain it back. These diets were fads.. quick weight loss, but not a permanent solution. Keto was different. It’s truly a lifestyle change, but without such harsh sacrifices. Meats, butter, cheeses, healthy fats… these are things you are encouraged to incorporate in the Keto diet. It’s a high fat, moderate protein, and low carb diet. You trade things like regular flour for almond or coconut flour, vegetable oil for avocado oil, and sugar for Ideal sweetner. All it takes are some alternatives to what you’re already consuming in your daily diet.

I still don’t know everything about Keto, but I’ve learned SO much. I highly recommend following a book from someone who has been doing Keto for quite some time. A few of my absolute favorite Keto cook books are, Southern Keto, Keto Comfort Foods, and Ketogenic Diet. Southern Keto is probably my favorite because Natasha Newton explains Keto living so well and gives you all the Keto alternatives you’ll need to swap out, and how to count net carbs. She even explains her reason for going Keto and how it completely changed her life. I love hearing stories like hers. So inspiring!

Grabbing a few cook books can really help you plan your meals for the week and get a grocery list together. Try a few meals each week. Pretty soon, you’ll be flying though and you’ll never want to go back to your regular diet again. You literally FEEL so amazing and so much healthier. After 2 weeks of Keto dieting I felt more clear headed, more energized, and less bloated. Kirk started losing weight and inches each week!

Another helpful tip has been to join a monthly fish and meat subscription! I can’t tell you what a difference it makes when you have your main food items delivered to your door. Not only are they better quality options of meats and fish, but they truly do taste better. I tired Butcher Box which offers 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef; free-range organic chicken; heritage-breed pork; and wild-caught seafood. They even offer bacon ( everyone’s favorite). Butcher Box also gives you specific meat subscription plans based on your favorite meats. You can choose all beef, beef and chicken, beef and pork, fish, etc! Sign up today for 2lbs of FREE ground beef FOR LIFE!

HONESTY MOMENT: The holidays really set us back, so we just got back on the Keto train. That is also another point. If you drop off Keto you lose Ketosis. Achieving Ketosis is the whole goal behind living Keto. Ketosis is the metabolic state in which your body essentially feeds on and burns fat. You want to be in Ketosis to achieve your weight loss goals. You can test yourself to see if your body is in Ketosis by using these strips. You can also test using actual blood test strips if you want to be even more precise. There are even products that can help get Ketosis initiated in your body if you feel you need a little boost. Kirk used this brand, NAT, to help him and it really worked!

When you’re first starting Keto.. do your research. Find out if it’s a good fit for you. I feel better than ever and I have no problem trading my carbs for healthier, more modified options. I am naturally thin, so my goals were simply to modify my carb intake and feel better by eating cleaner and less processed foods. Everyone’s goals are different and Keto dieting doesn’t work for everyone- although it has tremendously helped diabetes and epilepsy patients!

Keto Shrimp & Cauli-grits

I’ve had so many friends reach out for some of my favorite Keto recipes I whipped up myself, so here is my Keto Shrimp and Cauli-grits Recipe. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower rice

• Shrimp (15-16 shrimp depending on how many servings you need)

• Chicken Bouillon

• Sour Cream

• Almond Flour

• Sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)

• Cream Cheese

• Butter (2 TBS)

• Blender

• Creole Seasoning (see recipe for keto creole seasoning)

• Garlic Salt

• Garlic (minced)

  1. Take a cup of boiling water with 1 tsp chicken bouillon and put in the blender. Add the cauliflower rice and blend until smooth.

  2. Saute minced garlic with 2TBS olive oil or 2 TBS butter. Place the shrimp in pan and season with garlic salt and creole seasoning. Cook for 2 mins each side.

  3. Remove shrimp from heat and leave drippings. Add 1 TBS butter, 1 TBS almond flour, and a sprinkle of chicken bouillon. Add cauliflower rice and saute to cook the rice.

  4. Add in sour cream (2 TBS) and 1/2 block of cream cheese (depending on the amount of cauliflower rice). For a 2 person portion I find using about 1/4 block cream cheese works great. Add 1 cup shredded cheese and let melt. You may also need to add a little water depending on how thick you like your grits.

  5. Add shrimp and let simmer for a few minutes all together. Sprinkle more creole seasoning to top and serve with green beans!

  Keto Creole Seasoning- This is from the Southern Keto Cookbook

• 2 TBS Paprika

• 2 TBS salt

• 2TBS ground black pepper

• 1 TBS onion powder

• 1 TSP dried basil

• 1 TSP dried ground oregano

• 1 TSP cayenne pepper

  Mix all together until well combined. Store in a jar with a lid!

I hope you enjoy this delicious and healthy meal! It’s SO good! Please let me know what you think in the comments below!

-Britny