Week 11: Ketogenic Diet Experiment/moderate carb

My husband lost another pound and a half!

Seriously he is doing so well. Crushing it.

I’m not doing so well at keto. I’m still maintaining the habit of three keto meals a day as a family which I love and I’m sure is still drastically decreasing my simple carbs over all. However, other than that not so much.

I am finding success in excercise. I’m really enjoying my walks. I get them in at least twice a week and try for more.

I practiced restorative yoga this Tuesday and was amazed to find that the beginning of my fitloop bodyweight fitness routine has a lot in common with restorative yoga.

I need to commit myself to that routine. I know it would be so good for me and strength gains. I’m just all over the place right now trying to keep things together. As everyone is from time to time.

I know school will help calm things down some. Also time will help. Some things just need time.

I’m living the dream though. Loving life. In a few months I’m excited to work on more remodels and I will have some good before and afters hopefully. This time from my side of the house.

I plan to mud the walls and paint so it should be exciting. I will start with just the dining room and living room. I want to do them together because they are really just one big room. I’m excited to see how it looks with the beautiful blue from the apartment. Hopefully it isn’t too dark.

Until next week. I may be late again as we have a family reunion to attend.

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Movie Review: The Magic Pill

I watched The Magic Pill last night on Netflix. It was very interesting. I was most curious in comparing it to the vegan movie What the Health.

The tone was so different.

I loved that they didn’t just have people practicing and anecdotal evidence. Although they did have that they also had research teams who are looking into keto for autism and cancer etc.

So cool!!! Also it wasn’t fear mongering or attacking it was calm and legit.

Without further ado, I will list the pros and cons and let you decide for yourself. If you go watch come back and let me know what you thought in the comments.

Pros:

• Research authorities rather than practicing people who have a paid interest
• Fairly open and simply saying need more research
• Not shoving it down your throat
• Laid back and relaxed feel
• Not fear based tactics

Cons:

• Said to avoid dairy. In my opinion that isn’t necessary for most people
• Not a lot of concrete studies mostly anecdotal evidence

Week 10: Ketogenic Diet Experiment

Progress!!!

The Hubby lost 4 lbs and is finally sleeping better! He is also working out more. He is now down to 222.6.

I maintained at 120 which isn’t bad at all. I’m still eating three meals a day very low carb and not restricting when I have cravings. I figure it’s way less sugar than I would have otherwise and we are all eating healthier.

Strangely fruit is the thing I want to eat more of the most. I’m not going to complain about that.

I have had bugs killing plants in my garden lately. Saturday they tore through and destroyed many plants. So I replanted yet again. I also sprayed for bugs.

I really want some greens and squash from our garden this year. I’m determined. The garden is coming along beautifully other than that.

 

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Week 9: Ketogenic Diet Experiment for Mental Health

This week has been crap! But seriously, I have had 4 cheat meals, and none of them were really planned. Most of them were related to my church calling. I volunteer with young women ages 16-18. They are so much fun and I love the calling. However, our church culture is centered around food. So many times we have treats. It is a bonding thing that extends to our entire American culture.

I, however, have gained a couple pounds this week. I broke 120! I know that is many people’s goal to get down to or goal to lose, but I’m still going to go at least to 125 maybe even 135. It is a healthy weight for me. Also, I can tell that my tummy is more toned. This tells me that hopefully I have lost fat and gained muscle.

My hubby didn’t lose this week but basically maintained. He isn’t sleeping well. He is in a lot of pain as he has kidney stones. Hopefully, they can pass and he can start getting better sleep again. He loses a lot more when he sleeps the full amount and regular hours.

Keto is going well, but we could both do better. Him with sleep, and me with staying on plan a little better.

On another note, I have been writing up a storm. I finished my first romance novel, and I started on my second one. I am editing the first and working with my incredible cover designer. She is also helping me with a couple other projects including getting my cover done for my first book for print.

I’m going to include a few reviews on the back cover as well as a short synopsis. Then it will be available for print. I know some people want that option as it is easier to share and give as a gift as well as reference and take notes in for the future.

I’m also considering creating a companion workbook but it’s not exciting me right now. I’m trying to ride my energy and put it in the most productive places.

Unfortunately, that is something you learn to do with the hypomania as a bipolar person.

I’m working hard though to work during the depression as well. I watched a YouTube video on just that. A family member shared it with me. I love that she was kind enough to read my book and knows what to recommend to me. I loved it.

Until next week, remember to follow me on Instagram @balancingmybipolar for recipes and to follow my keto journey daily.

Week 8: Ketogenic Diet Experiment

We both forgot to do an official weigh in today so I will update tomorrow. I did one midday though and I think I’m seeing progress.

I finished my second book last night. I have decided to write fiction for now. Mainly clean contemporary Christian romance novels.

It is so much more fun to write to be honest. My memoir book Balancing Your Bipolar was somehow heart wrenching and raw and difficult and it’s still hard for me to market and share. This book though is the type of book that I love to read myself. I’m hoping that will make it easier to market and share.

My garden is coming along beautifully and I’m so pleased. Back to Eden gardening makes the garden look so pretty. I love it and I’m excited for summer to harvest.

I have been busy with many things some of which I will share more of once they are ready. I so enjoy writing and learning all about everything that goes with it.

Week 7: Ketogenic Diet Experiment for Bipolar

Success!!!

This week I gained 1.6 lbs so .6 over what I lost last week. And hubby lost 1.8 lbs!!!!

So nice when it clicks and you’re getting things right.

One day last week I ate a small slice of ice cream cake and went over my carbs by a lot. I was crazy thirsty after and probably doubled my water for the day. I didn’t feel like I went out of ketosis. I wonder if the water flushed excess carbs so when I switched to carb burning it wasn’t for long or at all. I’m not a scientist so if anyone knows more please enlighten me in the comments.

My husband bought me a new Chromebook for my birthday!!! I’m so excited to use it to write each day and for blogging. Mine the keyboard was broken so I had to plug one in and it felt more like a desktop. It was frustrating to bring places.

I am so curious about this experiment. Either way it’s good I’m off sugar since that isn’t good for anyone but especially bipolar people. But how will I know if it is working or not? Any suggestions are much appreciated.

Our renter is fully moved in and our deck is painted.

I love how it turned out. Our backyard is becoming my own Oasis little by little. .

Also I have been walking more. I was walking once a week but I was sore every time. I decided I will walk 6 days a week if I can to build up endurance. I have a couple of friends who will join me which is way more fun. My girls come home tired and my baby is right ready for bed.

Hubby has been working out every night and is up to 4 pull ups. He is so strong for his weight. I’m always impressed. He also does push-ups and dips and l sits.

Until next week!

I post daily on Instagram you can find me at @balancingmybipolar

Renters, Brothers, Police, Oh My!

I love these cuties. They are so fun.

Funny story from cutie #2 today.

Me: I asked her if she wanted a little brother or sister.
Cutie #2: She said yes, a brother.
Cutie #2: do brothers pull hair?
Me: yes, and bite and push and wrestle on the floor sometimes.
Cutie #2: then I just want a baby sister.

Hahahah so funny. Poor girl has had to endure biting and hair pulling of late.

Today I went to Chick-fil-A and had a Cobb salad with their avocado lime dressing and grilled chicken instead of breaded. Oh my wow! It was delicious. I ate every bite. Yum!

It was a great option for eating out keto. Much better than other fast food salads. It was very low carb friendly.

It was a lovely way to end the day.

Earlier, I woke up from a nap to a police officer at my door. He had tried to call my cell I saw later.

He was checking on my renters story to see if it was true. He saw them moving things and stopped as they looked suspicious and he has helped me with my dogs before and didn’t recognize them.

The story checked out and he left. But what a kind thing to do. I love living in a small town. Thanks Santaquin police for watching out for us.

It was quite the exciting day. Very fun and we made many memories.

Week 6: Ketogenic diet for Mental Health

Our progress was crap this week. Hubby maintained. I lost a pound :(.

It makes sense though. We have been sleeping horribly and working our butts off. Food has come third and needs to be moved up on the list again.

On the plus side all that hard work produced what I think are amazing results in our rental apartment. It looks so good. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are the before and after videos ;).

Before: Before Remodel Rental

After: After Remodel Rental

I am so impressed with the apartment. We got it rented today! New tenant signed the rental agreement and paid part of the money. She will have more tomorrow and be moving in then. So exciting to be landlords. It’s something we always wanted to do.

Ideally we would like to have multiple rental properties. Mostly duplexes so that we can get the best rates and live in one side and then rent the other. One day hopefully that will be a reality. It’s also a way to try out living in other areas and be able to rent and move elsewhere if we don’t like it.

We procrastinated the last minute steps pretty badly. We ended up painting and cleaning and installing about 20 last minute things this whole weekend. Plus carpet cleaning twice because my toddler spilled paint when we were basically done. Oh the horror!

I have a few photos of cleaning before and afters. I used a Norwex Envirocloth and marble cleaning powder to do all my cleaning. It was A-mazing. So many things that would have taken forever or never come off at all.

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Isn’t it pretty! It isn’t perfect, but oh so much better and that tub is literally gleaming. So many things I swear have never been so clean haha. The walls were gross. I now need to go back to my side of the house and clean it top to bottom. Slowly but surely. We also want to use the extra paint to do our living room and dining room in the same blue gray. It’s so pretty. I want it!

Well it’s been a crazy busy week but we will keep trucking on. If you have some fun keto wins I would love to hear about it. Especially if they have to do with mental illness. I would love to hear your experiences and/or questions.

For more recipes visit my Instagram account @balancingmybipolar

 

Week 5: Ketogenic diet experiment

Progress!!!!

Hubby lost 3.2 lbs this week. Woohoo! He cut down a bit on portions and snacks but it just worked this week. He also worked out a bit because he couldn’t sleep 😂😂.

I gained almost 2 lbs! Yes we are both moving in the right direction. Hooray.

We did a few less recipes this week. I enjoyed clearing out the fridge and the break.

I have now reached 25,000 words written on my second book. I think another 10-15k and I may be ready to start editing and writing book 2. I’m trying to get to where I’m publishing a book a month. I know it can be done because I know an author who does it and does it well.

Keto has been so amazing. I love that I can have dessert and it’s good for me. Good fats. I love how many vegetables I’m eating. And since switching to me cooking for my husband he has had way fewer cravings and issues like that. What a miracle!

I feel full and I love making progress with weight gain. Plus I don’t have to eat as much because it’s all full of fat. So nice for those of us who struggle to gain weight.

We made pizza with fathead dough yesterday. It was very good. I rolled out the dough between two parchment paper sheets and precooked the crust. You could pick it up and eat it like regular pizza. And my husband said it was the best I had made. Haha he almost always says that. I’m sure I get better at cooking but he is also an amazing husband.

My goal for this summer is to figure out keto freezer meals and Crock-Pot meals. I know I will need them when I get depressed.

Here’s to another week and continuing to try to be more active.