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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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I quit birth control. Obviously.

Remember when we said I'd take this writing thing slow? LOL. I need to ride the wave while I'm on it. Going through my list of blog topics made me want to write a little.

Recently I spent my first week with Nugget by myself. My husband goes out of town once every couple months and he can usually plan those weeks for when Nugget isn't at our house (we have his every other week). But this most recent time (and next time actually) was/will be a during a Nugget week. I've been around kids my entire life and have taken care of children since I was about 6 or 7 years old. This was nothing new and nothing I was nervous about. We have our routines, designated bath-nights, daycare days, school days, he goes to his Grandma's once a week and also to his Great Grandma's once a week. The only reason I was a bit apprehensive about having him on my own that week was that it was also my first week on first shift. So not only is that one hell of an adjustment, but then I also had to solo-s'mom it for the week. It was a breeze, honestly. I'm so well-organized and I plan ahead so much that it was fine. As I expected. Being the only one to pick him up and drop him off is more time-consuming, that is for sure. If you forget something or are running behind, there's no one to have your back quick. I do, however, have some amazing in-laws in my corner to help me in every way they can. My mother in-law, grandmother in-law, aunt in-law, grandfather in-law, all of them are so incredibly kind and generous all the time. If I need something (whether it has to do with my step-son or not), they are on it immediately. The in-law situation can be tricky, awkward, or just difficult. But I was blessed with an amazing family I married into. I thank the heavens for it every day! Anyway, this next business trip of my husband's will obviously be during the summer and Nugget won't be in school this time. Luckily we also have a great childcare provider in town and she'll be taking him on a few more days a week while we are at work. I plan to take him to a movie in the park they are holding here in town that week! It'll be nice to get some one-on-one time with him. He also gets $5-$10 a week when he is with us for cleaning his room up every night, making his bed in the mornings, etc. so we go to the store and get a small treat or toy as a reward with his allowance. I'm sure we will do that too that week. It's not as stressful as one might think. Eventually I could be alone with a baby AND with Nugget while my husband out of town. OH BOY. I'm honestly looking forward to it.

Speaking of babies, that reminds me: I've been off birth control since around the end of February. I've wanted to quit my birth control since I was about 20 for many reasons but I wasn't sure I was at the best point in my life to potentially get pregnant yet. I was still in college, I wasn't married, I hadn't bought a home yet. Not that you need to finish all of that first, but I personally preferred it that way. So I waited until I graduated, then we had a plan to get married and buy a house within 6/7 months so I wanted to wait until then. Once that time came, we also realized we didn't want me pregnant while on third shift. And finally early this year, I got onto first shift and we finally pulled the trigger. Turns out I should have stopped taking it sometime last year because I'm still not pregnant. My step-mom had actually said I should go off earlier than I wanted to. I should have listened! I just didn't expect it to be long before it happened, but here we are. I want to wait a year before worrying because of how likely/often it takes healthy couples to get pregnant. It's just wild to me that I was so worried and careful for so long when maybe I didn't need to be. I'm glad I was, but still. Who knows?

Wow I got a little off-topic here. I wanted to talk about the differences I've seen now that I'm off birth control. I was really scared to see what my weight and skin would do. My skin has changed, but I wouldn't say it's bad. I do have to take care of it a little more carefully/often. My weight, something might be going on there. I've gained 8 pounds or so but I don't know if that was the shift change or coming of birth control. I did just start Keto again 4 or 5 days ago and there hasn't been a change in my weight. I'm wondering if that has something to do with it. Usually when I detox and quite carbs, I lose about 3 pounds in the first week. I haven't lost an ounce yet in 4 days though, so that is unusual. I'm not entirely sure yet though. I'm not expecting my anxiety to ever completely go away but it did get better after I quit my BC. My migraines have decreased, too! I've had migraines since I was in 4th grade and I found the cause has changed over the years. First it was because of my blood sugar and being hypoglycemic, then it was usually from caffeine withdrawal, then it may have been a birth control side affect, and now I think its purely hormonal. After switching to Keto, I only get them the week before my period. It could be every day that week before, or just one day, etc. I've read the dip in your estrogen levels before you get your period can cause headaches. Either way, since quitting BC its been very minimal. I didn't get a migraine at all before my most recent period. Crazy! I can't remember the last time that happened, but I won't argue lol. Maybe if you suffer from migraines and have tried everything (like me) and take BC, it might be time to stop taking it! I've had fewer migraines in the past 6 months or so than ever before. Could be worth trying for you too. I’m just glad crazy shit didn’t happen to me once I quit taking BC. I’ve heard wild stories about what the body does after that. I’m pretty lucky in this case.

Thanks for listening to me babble. It's all in the hopes of benefiting you, too!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Catch Up

I guess we could catch up on life? Its been a long time since having written much of anything.

First thing: I'm now finally on first shift! I think that has a little to do with the fact that I haven't gotten back to writing very much yet. I know I haven't written in a long time even before then, but still. First shift has consumed more of my time than I expected. That is the one big downfall. Everyone is asking me how its going and how the transition has been. It's great! Mostly. I sleep better, I sleep longer, I am with my husband every night, I am awake with my family every morning, my mental health is more stable, I feel better all around. But. I have a lot less time than I did on third shift. If I needed to get my hair done, run to the store, pick up my step-son from school, model, etc. I would just plan my sleep around it and get it done when Baby (hubs) was working. Even cleaning the house I could bang out before he was home from work! All our time together was really focused on each other and I got everything else done while he was away. That is truly no longer an option. I have had to get used to doing laundry while we watch a movie, doing the dishes while he cooks, running errands after work when stores are so busy. I will say I did not expect to dislike these things so much, but I knew there'd be a trade-off somewhere. I haven't modeled very much since having gone to first shift. I don't want every weekend to be consumed by it and honestly, I let myself get a little out of shape compared to normal. I gained a little bit of my weight back over the last few months unfortunately and that hasn't made me feel inclined to model lingerie. But I'm getting it under control with my diet again.

That's another change I'm making, going back to Keto. I've gained about 7-8 pounds back of the 40 I lost in 2017-2018. I managed to somehow maintain my weight since my wedding last Labor Day for about 6 months or so, then the past 3 months my poor eating choices have been catching up to me. 7-8 pounds may not mean much to some, but when you worked as hard as I did to get rid of that weight, it is scary to see it return. So Baby and I went to 920 Nutrition (formerly Complete Nutrition) to get weighed in for our "June 30 Challenge." No chips, potatoes, ice cream, fast food, fried food, chocolate, white bread, soda, juice, cakes, donuts, cookies, or candy. And we are also not drinking any alcohol for the month either. I'm supplementing all of this with a 28-day "teatox" that I get from Amazon. I have a blog written about it. It's called Zero Tea. I love it. I lose my stupid water-weight and flush out all the bullshit with it every time! I think this is the 4th time I'm using it in the past 2 years. It's only the 5th day of the detox and it's doing its job already! I was so puffy and bloated for a long time now. I already look more toned but that's just the puffiness going down. I'm back at Western Racquet, the best gym ever. I'm wearing my FitBit again. I've been Keto since Saturday. I'm really serious this time!

I read while I bike at the gym now so I get to set aside time to work out AND to read. I love reading so much, so this makes me really happy. I have a recent obsession with Sex and the City so I bought the book by Candace Bushnell and a few of her other books. I read 4 Blondes by her and loved it. I'm always fascinated by books because I get to live in another world temporarily. It's fun! I'm about to read "Girl Wash Your Face" because its all the hype right now. I have quite the stack of books to get through and I am super excited. I'll tell you all about them as I read them.

You may already know Baby and I are trying to get pregnant! Once we realized I would be going to first shift, Baby literally ransacked our room to find my birth control pills and popped them all out into the sink. That was quite possibly the strangest I've ever felt, when he was getting rid of my birth control. I've spent the whole time I've been sexually active doing everything I can NOT to get pregnant with 100% success and now I am going try to do the opposite? ON PURPOSE? WEIRD. But also not weird at all! That's how I knew I was ready. I am a strong believer that there is no perfect time to have a baby, but there are better times and times that you're as ready as you can be. And that was it for me. As you may also know: It hasn't happened yet, which does surprise me. That means I didn't really believe my birth control to be as effective as it truly is. I have heard such a wide range of stories, "I got pregnant because I missed one pill." And, "It took us a year to get pregnant after I stopped taking birth control." Or, "I got pregnant a month after I got my IUD taken out." Even, "It took us 10 months to get pregnant with our first and now we have 5 kids." I am very aware being on birth control for 8 years definitely affected me/my reproduction and that it may take a little while for everything to be back to "normal" enough to get pregnant. I'm also aware there could be something wrong with my reproduction. I've never tested my fertility, nor have I ever been pregnant before. We've been doing everything we can to get pregnant for over 3 months and nothing has happened. It's just scary and discouraging, but I understand that doesn't have to mean anything is wrong. One day at a time! Pray for my ovaries (lol). I'm just very ready to grow our little family.

As for everything else, life is great. Baby is a wonderful husband as always, Nugget is an incredible step-son, and I am so happy. Baby is doing will in his most recent promotion and Nugget just graduated from 4K. We are going to have an awesome summer with camping trips, outdoor yoga, farmer's markets, grilling out, weekends at the cabin, etc. I can't wait for it all!

So my physical health is improving with diet and exercise, my mental health is much more stable with being on first shift, I want a baby, and I'm quite possibly the happiest I've ever been. That sums up my life right now! stay tuned for some new content soon.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Long Time No Blog

I haven't written in... What.. like 8 months or something? Well it must've been long enough for me to sit quietly because I feel like I have a lot to say again! I always started with my entertainment blogs so here's the first one in a long time!

Okay if you haven't seen the end of Game of Thrones (or I guess if you've never seen any amount of it and you plan to) then stop right here. SPOILERS! I'm going to talk about how I didn't hate the end of it. What? Yes. You read that correctly. I didn't hate the ending. Let me say something though before I dive into it. It's my opinion that people weren't able to come to terms with the fact that it did have to end in general. I'm not sure there was an ending that would have pleased everyone. Maybe there was one that would have pleased MORE people than the one they chose but I'm truly not dissatisfied. Okay. Now. I completely saw the signs of Deanerys going nuts. I mean, look how hard she worked for the entire series for what she thought was hers. Then she's told it's not actually hers after everything she's done. I mean, I'm not sure how I would even react to that myself. I'd like to think I wouldn't burn down an entire city but hey I wouldn't really know (lol). Nonetheless, the show had to end and I honestly think everyone fell into the place that they belonged in. Arya is a citizen of the world so of course she will travel (spin-off show maybe?!?!). Jon wants nothing to do with ruling and he has truly belonged at the Wall since the beginning. He loves it there and what he does there. It's his home. Sansa has changed so much from the beginning but I think we can all agree she also ended up where she should have as well. She loves the North like her father did and she has proven she is capable of overseeing. And then the big controversy: Bran. I wasn't sure how I felt about him becoming the King of the 6 Kingdoms (the North being independent) but the more I thought about it, I thought this made perfect sense, too. He is the memory and the history of the world. He is impartial because of who he is. There is no bias, no ulterior motive, no power trip. I think that's what their world needs at this time. I honestly think this was a very sensible ending. I know a lot of other people have different opinions and it was really hard to see it all taken away from Deanerys, and it was just as hard to see Jon pass on his birthright. I agree, those things were difficult to grasp. People also had a hard time with how Cersei died. I wasn't surprised that she got off that easy. I also had thought she'd gotten off so easy in many ways until I realized something. The only thing she ever loved was her children and every single one of them were taken from her. I think that trumps all the other things she got off easy on, because she didn't really give a shit about anything or anyone else. And she died with her true love, the only other person/thing that came even close to her children. I know, there are plenty of opinions and oppositions regarding the end of this show. I still appreciate what the show did and gave us for 8 years.

I recently read 6 of the 9 books in the Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. I originally started reading them because I knew the movie they made out of the first book. I had no idea that the movie was even based on a book before last year! I loved the movie as a young girl so I was intrigued by the book as soon as I learned it existed. I'm always quite interested in the differences between print and screen. The movie is about a New York girl but the book is actually about an English woman! I was curious as to why they didn't make more of the books into movies but I can see the first movie kind of did it's own thing a little bit here and there. It might not have made sense to keep going, at least not with the exact book plots. But I love the main character of the books, Becky. She is very naive but it keeps her spirited and fun. Her shopping addiction is something so far from how I've lived my life, its fun to read about. I'm very quite frugal, myself. The books titles give away the course of her life a little bit but I like "watching" Becky grow in her careers and life roles (wife, mother, etc) and to see her spending habits morph as well. If you're up for a cute and fun read, I love the series. It's light but has twists and turns worth reading for.

Baby (my husband) and I just watched the M. Night Shyamalan trio of movies: Unbreakable, Split, and Glass. We had actually seen Split together back in 2017 but that was before we realized there was a "prequel" or just another movie that intertwines in a way. So if you plan on watching these movies and don't want to see any SPOILERS, stop here! Okay. Starting off, I will say Unbreakable was shorter than I thought it would be, but it aged really well in my opinion. I had no idea Unbreakable was about Mr. Glass believing David was a superhero. I thought maybe the fact that I watched Split first would have given something away or at least would have given me something to expect from Unbreakable, but I can't say it did. Watching Split first didn't explain anything or make me more confused at all. But you definitely have to watch Glass last.I don't want to give too much about the 2 newer movies so I will just say: Split is a great movie. Glass was pretty great, too. They way all the movies intertwine and work together as one story is pretty cool. In the span of 16 years between Unbreakable (2000) and Split (2016), and then Glass coming out in 2019, I am impressed with the flow of one to the other. Considering the long amount of time, it could have been a bust. But when does M. Night Shyamalan ever fail? The same actors were kept through the movies and someone like me appreciates that consistency. The storyline was done well and I didn't predict the outcome at all, which is always fun. We watched them all consecutively in the span of 2 days, which was also cool to see the growth (physically and emotionally) of the characters.

Ahhh that felt great, to write again. I have a lot of topics I plan to blog about. I might space my writing out a bit so that I don't end up getting overwhelmed or anything. More to come soon, though. Enjoy your Tuesday, everyone!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Preview of the first Sabrina x Colleen collaboration in her new studio! Stunning. I cannot wait to show you more. 🖤 FOLLOW @boudoirbycolleen!

📸: Boudoir by Colleen

Lingerie sold at: Boudoir in Depere

Designer: Bluebella Lingerie

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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I'm gonna be blunt here...

10/11/18

This is not talked about enough. So I’m going to talk about it.

You could be completely satisfied at the moment, but that doesn’t mean your spouse is. All of your needs could be met, but maybe not your spouse’s. It doesn’t have to be something huge or catastrophic. But it could turn into a bigger problem if needs are ignored or unfulfilled for long enough.

If your spouse is comfortable enough to tell you what they feel, need, and want, AND they do it effectively; you should consider yourself lucky. If your spouse is comfortable receiving your thoughts and concerns when positive and negative, AND is actually receptive to all these things, you should consider yourself lucky. Communication is one of the biggest barriers in marriage and relationships. It’s not always easy to communicate what you are feeling inside to someone else, especially if it’s something negative to someone you don’t want to hurt.

I’ve touched on the Five Love Languages and the fact that you need to love your person the way they need to be loved, not the way you think they need to be loved. You can give someone a thousand roses but it doesn’t make a difference if all they need is one tulip.

This goes the same way with personal needs.

You might not need the same things your spouse does, so it is very important to remember to fulfill your spouse’s needs. You might be the only one that can provide them with what they need. Whether that be affection, help around the house, intimacy, a hand with the kids/pets, sex, or just a listening ear; you could seriously be the only one to give them that. The things I just mentioned are pretty much things you can only help each other with. When you need a little extra help with housework, you can’t call up your best friend and expect them to come over to vacuum. If you are stressed as heck and need a break from the toddlers, you can’t expect the kids to feed and bathe themselves. If you are in need of some serious sexual attention, there is only one person in the world you can go to for that.

Can you not tell what your spouse needs? Pay attention. They might not come right out and say what it is; they might let you know in other ways and hope that you can see it. Like I said, if you are told exactly what is needed in an effective manner, that is awesome. Not everyone is like that, though. Maybe they think you already know what they need. If not, ask them what they need. How will we ever know if we don’t ask? How will they ever know if we aren’t honest and speaking our needs? It’s necessary to have these conversations. Whether they tell you outright what they need or you have to ask, once you know what it is you need to deliver. There is nothing worse than asking for something and it being blatantly disregarded. Try to do what is being asked of you and make effort to eradicate an issue.

Flipping all of this the other way, you can't bite your tongue if you're not getting what you need. There is nothing wrong with needing something; help, affection, someone to talk to, sex. It's important you speak up in order to get what you need. You may think it's obvious, but it very well might not be. No one can read your mind. How can you expect your spouse to help if they aren't even aware you need it? If your spouse loves you and wants to make you happy, they will step it up and deliver. Be honest and patient.

Listen, watch, inquire, and deliver. Speak up, be honest, and be patient. Too many relationships fail because of lack of communication. The sad truth is that people begin to stray when their needs aren’t being met. Paying attention to each other and fulfilling one other’s needs is a huge part in any relationship. Paying attention is respecting each other. It keeps people together and happy. Once attention isn’t being given somewhere, one will search for it elsewhere. It’s in our nature, unfortunately. Take care of each other, fulfill each other’s needs, and communicate. For the sake of your relationship and lives together. Be what the other needs when they need it. You’ll go so far. Just some advice I find useful in a time where cheating is so incredibly common and communication is so incredibly not. It's ugly, but it's the truth.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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What’s new?

10/01/18

Holy buckets, it's been awhile hasn't it? I'm glad I don't have to explain myself to anyone when I go off the grid a bit, but I will let you in on the fact that there's been a ton of stuff going on and I just needed to get settled into life after marriage. Life didn't all of a sudden change because I got married, but a bunch of new or stressful things coincidentally occurred as soon as we got back from our elopement.

Nugget (my stepson) started 4K! That isn't stressful, but it's new and changes my days around when we have him here during our weeks. School ends at 2:45pm, earlier than most are done with work. Seeing that I work third shift, its also earlier than I am awake. Now, I wake up an hour and a half early on the days he is at school so I can run there and pick him up. Baby (my husband) doesn't get done with work until 4pm so it works out that I am able to be up earlier than normal. I am concerned for the day that I eventually switch to first shift, whenever that may be. I'll no longer be available to get him at 2:45. But I guess we will cross that bridge when we get there. He is doing incredibly well in school! He's so smart and creative; I'm glad he started now and will be acclimated to the environment a little early.

The (carpeted) lower level in our home flooded while we were in Grenada getting married. It then flooded again about a week and a half later. Green Bay was under an immense amount of rain; nothing we see on a regular basis. There were flash floods, cars were almost completely underwater in some parts of the city. Luckily we have a split-level home and we just moved all our furniture to our upper living room and will buy more when the lower one is refinished. Dealing with insurance, worrying about mold, ripping up carpet and tacking, making sure we have an adequate drainage system outside and in, having to see the disaster every time I walk by the stairs all stresses me out considerably. But you can only take it one day at a time.

Most recently, we had our small wedding reception this last weekend. It was held at Baby's grandparent's cabin an hour north of Green Bay. It was put together entirely by his grandparents, his aunt Jen, and her boyfriend. The floral arrangements were breathtaking, the table settings were out of this world, and the food was great. Baby's family from Indiana came up just for the reception and it was truly amazing. My mom got to help me put my dress on beforehand, which I obviously didn't have when I was in Grenada. The gifts were incredibly kind and we appreciated them all. We plan on using some of the money to purchase my first wedding band (we will get two eventually). It was about 45 degrees the whole time and I wore my dress for 3 of the 4 hours, but it was so worth it. My aunt Nikki took pictures for the entire reception due to my photographer canceling. I'm so glad I have her, pictures are so important to me. It's the only thing that really preserves the memories of anything. My mom preformed and beautiful reading. My sister and I cried together. I will say, it was a successful day due to those involved in planning and to those who showed up. It was beautiful and will always be remembered. There were a lot of twists and turns before the day of, things fell through, things changed constantly, all of which stressed me out as well. But. It was perfect.

With all of this going on, I had to put modeling on the back burner. There is no way I can model during the weeks we have Nugget now that I am responsible for pick up. I would actually never sleep if I tried to do it all. I could model on our weeks alone, but I prefer to catch up on housework, sleep, and quality alone time with my husband those days. I love modeling so much and it's the only thing I really do for myself, but my family is number one to me and it's going to stay that way. I will make time for photoshoots if I really REALLY want, but I am more focused on my husband and stepson right now.

There's been a ton of other little stuff that I've been dealing with; Baby was just on another week-long business trip, legally changing my name, figuring out insurance changes, cleaning the house after the flood, etc. September has seemed to last forever and it also seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye.

So. Coming back to a ruined living room, having a 4 year old start school, and anticipating a wedding reception, and not being able to model was a lot to take in upon coming back from paradise. It's only been 3 weeks since we got back and life has not slowed down just for us to catch up, not one bit. But you learn to adjust your pace to keep up with it all. You learn what is worth worry, what you need to let roll off your back, and what is truly important. I hope this was a nice little catch up for you all; you can expect you hear more from me in the near future. Love you all!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Wielanded in Love

9/11/18

We’re back as the Wielands!

We want to start by saying we love you all so much and are incredibly grateful for your support this last year. Let’s back up about 9 months. We were going over our finances back in December. We quickly realized there was no way we were going to have both a home and a wedding within the first few years of our relationship. It wasn’t possible. We would have had to pick one, save up for that one over a few years, and then wait even longer for the second option. All of this also meant adding onto our family would be pushed back longer than we were willing to wait. We knew we should buy a home first, which would have set a wedding back massively. Regardless of what was right, we both knew we wanted to be married first. We were bummed that our budget was so tight, so we started looking for ways to keep a wedding cheap. Traditionally, parents of the bride and groom help pay for a wedding. We knew our families are in no position to pay for a wedding, nor did we want to ask for help.

The first idea was to keep the wedding small. Considering how many people I know from my small hometown, how much family I have between my mom’s side and dad’s side, I also have two step-families, you can see how this presented a problem right away in keeping a wedding small. Between the two of us, the guest list was growing exponentially. Keeping it small was out of the question. It was too hard drawing the line between who was important enough to attend and who was not.

The next idea was to have a destination wedding with just family and a couple friends. The first thing Baby asked was, “Don’t we have to pay for whoever comes with us?” That is the traditional and decent thing to do. We couldn’t afford that either, and we didn't feel comfortable asking family members to save thousands of dollars to spend on a couple days for us. We were stuck. Money was tighter than ever, and there didn’t seem to be any way to do this where everyone wins. Having the wedding here and spending more money would have potentially meant giving up the honeymoon we wanted and deserved, too. I was in the bedroom staring at the excel spreadsheet of what we could afford, and Baby was in the other room bummed out about the situation. It wasn’t looking good.

The last idea arose. Half joking, I yelled, “We could just elope!” yelled back, “What’s that?” I laugh, “Run away and get married, just the two of us.” Baby dropped his things and walked to the bedroom quickly. He stood in the doorway, “Really? We can do that?” I laugh again, “Yeah, we could.” He asks, “I mean, would you do that?” “Yes.” “Well then, get to researchin’, baby!” And I did. We booked the trip to Grenada and the wedding back on January 1st. We had a payment plan set up on a credit card that was interest-free until August, when the trip had to be paid for in-full anyway. The trip was to be paid for on time while still saving what we could for a down payment on a house.

Ring and dress shopping was done over the next couple of weeks. Back on February 24th Baby’s grandfather, Tom, called to discuss some serious life things. He offered to help pay for a wedding if it was small enough. We decided we had to tell him what was going on. We explained what was already in the works and he was very supportive. He wanted us to do this how we wanted. He’s been in on this plan since late February. We obviously didn’t expect anyone to pay for our wedding, but we were blessed with a lot of help from Tom.

With doing things this way and receiving so much of Tom's help, we were able to have a wedding and buy a house within 1 year, rather than the projected 5 years or more. We will now be able to travel, work on our home, live comfortably, and continue building our family when we want to.

We are very happy with how we did things and we thank you all again!

Love, The WIELANDS!!!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Fit and Fresh Entertainment

8/15/18

Baby and I listened to some PRIME 90's R&B the other night. It was actually super fun and made me really happy. Why, specifically? Let me give you some back-story. My dad is from the south and was in the navy back in the day. It's hard to explain how he is; it's almost like he wasn't meant to be a white man LOL. He is just really cool and chill. Anywho, he was only 19 when I was born. I was his little buddy and we always rode around listening to music. I grew up on Tupac, NWA, Biggie, then G-Unit and 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, all that stuff. So when Baby and I were listening to Jagged Edge, Next, K-Ci & JoJo it was definitely giving me childhood feels. My dad would blast that stuff when I was little and sing it to me at the top of his lungs. I loved it. My standards for who I marry are so high because of that man. Good thing Baby treats me like a queen. But yeah, we both did our own thing together. We listened to music while he played his new Madden 19 I got him and I wrote some blog stuff. Sometimes it’s just nice to do that. You can do the things you want to do while you’re together. It’s healthy! We also tried something new this week.

Baby told me there was an opportunity to go do some yoga on the City Deck downtown here in Green Bay for free! I thought that would be super fun and I just so happen to have two yoga mats for us. He came home from work and we had a light dinner before yoga started. It was pretty damn hot out so we were kind of worries how that would go, with the class being outdoor, but being right on the water helped. We packed iced water in bottles and I put my hair up to make sure we stayed cool. I really wasn't sure to expect, neither was baby. We both have only done yoga once before. The class I attended was Beer Yoga (free pint of beer after the class) and it was indoor with the floor-to-ceiling windows opened up. Though I liked both experiences, they are completely different. This class was better for me and I think it was because it was with Baby, to be honest. Here's why. First of all, this was Baby's idea. The fact that this was something he thought of and that he wanted to do with me (on his own) is so cool. I know a lot of men wouldn't be interested in doing yoga whatsoever. It feels really heartwarming to know he is willing to go on any adventure with me. Secondly, I love doing new things with my fiance. It opens doors for new hobbies and creates new memories. We ended up loving it and we want to make it a weekly thing next summer. Third, it was a calm and relaxing way to get moving and exercise a bit. I don't stretch enough, and neither does Baby. Yoga was helped us get idea on how flexible we are (or aren't LOL). Fourth and finally, yoga was a huge stress-reliever. I felt completely stress-free, calm, and happy. From now on, I fully plan on doing yoga in my backyard on my deck when I get home from work in the mornings. Maybe not every day, but a few times a week would be awesome for my stress. I remember the poses from the class and I will roll with that for a little while until I feel more confident. Then I will look up videos to follow online. I recommend giving yoga a shot! It's been something I've really wanted to learn and I am so glad we tried it!

I feel like every couple has their shows. They have the shows they watch together and are NOT allowed to watch without each other. Ours right now is Masterchef. I am obsessed. I never watched anything cooking related from week to week. I always though Gordon Ramsay was awesome and I thought his shows were probably pretty good, I just never really watched any. But I am super glad that he had me start watching this. I really like it! It's really fun to see and discuss with him because we both love food so much. He is a great cook so it’s cool to hear what he thinks of what the contestants do. It’s fascinating to me because I’m no chef, and it makes me want to try cooking more. Maybe not to the extent that the contestants do (because um HELLO) but it’d be nice to learn more than just the basics in the kitchen. I have a hard time with not being able to cook like a lot of women do. It shouldn’t make me feel like less of a woman for not cooking much or not cooking well, but it does. It’s a pretty big insecurity for me. Baby reminds me that I’m not less of anything, which I need sometimes. I just want to provide for my family in all ways. Jeez, that took a rather serious turn. Anyway, Masterchef is great. I enjoy it. If you have Hulu, get on that! What do you and your S/O watch?

He must have been on a roll this week because Baby also suggested we do something else a little outside of the norm this week: Go to the Farmer’s Market and (leisurely) pick up a bunch of food for a super fresh dinner! We’ve done this before during the weekend farmer’s markets, but those are held in the morning so we get food for breakfast usually. It was nice and fun to switch gears and do it for dinner instead. Vegetables can be so incredibly cheap at the market and locally grown is obviously so much better for you than other options. We just feel so good eating the food from around the area. You should do the same! The farmer's market makes for a cute little date because you get to walk around outside together, maybe grab a drink or a snack and check out all the different stands (there's way more than just food there). And you can keep the date going by cooking together when you get home. It’s so easy to throw a salad together with all fresh veggies; maybe add some chicken and a good dressing. Being at the market is different from a store you might grab a certain veggie you normally wouldn’t buy at a store, or maybe there is something at the market that the store never sells! It’s fun to try new things.

I love spending quality time with my future husband. I mean, who doesn't want to have one-on-one time with their partner? It just feels good to touch and talk and laugh and be near one another. Even if you're not doing anything significant or something necessary together. That's why just sitting on the couch together while each of us does our own thing still feels great. I get to feel the warmth of his body against mine while I read and he sets up his Fantasy Football league online. He will give my leg a little squeeze, wink at me like he does, and carry on about his business. I don't know how I got so lucky, but I'll never take it for granted. A year later, the "honeymoon phase" continues.

I'll be back with more posts this week! Share this one on Facebook for me and I'll love you forever.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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I Have Returned With Recipes

FOOOOOD BLOGGGGGG.

Okay so. Diving right in. Being Keto will never stop me from drinking my Starbucks. It will, however, change what I get there. I have done extensive research on how to order keto-friendly drinks at Starbucks. Everything I have found obviously fits the diet, but its all... really small beverages. Because you have to watch the carb intake, these suggested drink orders are the smallest drink size you can get. What I discovered is way better and bigger. I am a fan of iced coffee, even when its cold out. (I'll add right away that you can do this with hot coffee, too). I order a grande iced Americano (water and espresso, no carbs) with 4 pumps of sugar-free vanilla or caramel syrup (again, no carbs), and a little heavy whipping cream (less than 1 carb per serving). Its GENIUS and its way better than some tiny and confusing coffee drink. This drink has been my savior. Sometimes I get it just to bring it home. I ask for it without ice (to avoid it getting watered down), toss it in the fridge, and save it for when I go to work. I get my caffeine and I avoid the carbs. When I was sassy and cheated on my diet recently, I had a free drink reward on my Starbucks card the same say a new drink was released. The Iced Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk Latte. For those who count calories, its only 140 calories in a grande size. That is UNHEARD OF. It's because there is no sugary syrups in it. But anyway HOLY COW IT IS DELICIOUS. I love it so much. I can only get it on designated cheat days because its 23 carbs. I can only have 19 in one day, so even getting the tall size (14 carbs) is too much for the rest of what i would eat for the day. I do recommend it, though! Here is a picture of it, and I of course had to include my newest tattoo; a coffee plant.

I've mentioned multiple times that I don't cook a bunch, which is funny because I have a whole category dedicated to food for my blog. But I do cook sometimes, and that is usually what I write about in here. My latest is Low Carb Buffalo Chicken Casserole.

This is how it turned out:

It was delicious and yielded way more than 4 servings! I also really liked it with the cauliflower florets. Chives are also one of my favs. Baby and I will definitely be putting this on the list of recipes in rotation!

So I told you all about the Keto cookies we make at home. They are KILLER. We love them and they satisfy cravings for sweets. I came across a recipe for No Bake Keto Lemon Coconut Balls and I really wanted to try them.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup(60g) cream cheese

1 tsp 14% sour cream

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

zest from 1/2 a large lemon

1/2 cup+2 tbsp(77g) Almond Flour

2 tsp Truvia

1 tbsp Splenda (or to taste)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/16 tsp salt

Coating:

1/4 cup(15g) Flaked or Shredded Unsweetened Coconut

1 tsp truvia (or 1 tbsp of another sweetener)

Directions:

Combine all base ingredients until a thick dough forms.

Freeze the dough for 5-7min.

Mix your coconut and sweetener on a small plate or bowl.

Remove the dough from the freezer and roll it into 10 small balls.

Coat each ball gently in coconut until fully covered.

Place back on a plate and freeze for 30min-1 hour.

Enjoy immediately or store in the fridge or freezer (depending on the texture you prefer) in an air-tight container!

How they look:

I definitely like them better in the fridge than in the freezer. I think next time for a more authentic sweet flavor, we will use Monk Fruit Sweetener rather than Stevia or Truvia anything like that. They are decent, but I think making that change to the sweetener will make them much better. Baby likes them a lot, actually. Maybe you will, too!

I hope the start to your week is going well. I'm sure you read in my last post that my Sunday's are hard for me for various reasons. It wasn't as hard when Baby and I started dating. I wasn't on third shift yet and I never used to be involved with pick-ups and drop-offs with Nugget in the very beginning. Very shortly into the relationship, I was with Baby every time he picked Nugget up or dropped him off. I wanted it to be well-known that I was and am very involved in Nugget’s life. I even started picking him up from his grandmother’s house by myself. Baby sometimes has stuff to do on a Sunday and I got comfortable being the one to transport him. It was such a cool feeling to progress to that point. There's just something about being welcomed into a little family that is so close and tight-knit by themselves. It's truly amazing that it's the three of us now. I am so blessed and that is what I have to remember on hard days.

Stick around for my next blog post this week on entertainment and share this one on your Facebook for me!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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I'M BACK, (maybe insert something here a little less aggressive than BITCHES) ... Nah

8/13/18

Ahhhh... It’s been a while, huh?

I had an Engagement/Housewarming party to prep for and host a couple weekends ago AND my best friend ever (ABBIE) visited from (the middle of no where) North Carolina! She was only here for a week so I took off a couple days of work to see her as much as possible. I figured it was the least I could do because she flew here just for my party. That sweet thing. (Honestly she’s kind of harsh and not sweet at all but she is sweet to me LOL).

You know what I love about my blog? I write it because I like it. I write it when I want to. It’s not something I have to get done, that I have a deadline for, etc. Dishes? Need to be done at some point every single day in my house. Laundry? Weekly chore that NEEDS to be done. My blog? Definitely something I do to relax and soothe me. Something that makes me feel good. Its not something I am obligated to do. Much like my modeling! But when I need a break, I need a break.

I took a little break because I was wearing myself thin a little bit. Not with writing, but with everything. I took a break from modeling when we bought our house because, well, I had to. I wasn’t getting enough sleep during the day because of the buying process; going to the bank when it was open, meeting with my lender when he was available, house hunting during the day, being awake for inspections, etc. Modeling was something that needed to be put on the back burner for about 5 or 6 weeks. Baby (my fiancé) is the one who pushed me to get back into it in July. Things started to slow down and I had time again! I have an issue though. I do this thing where I get very ambitious and excited to get back at something or start something new to the point that I overdo it. I booked about 8 shoots in the matter of 2 weeks and a lot of them were out of the area. I overdid it for sure and burnt myself out all over again. That wasn’t all that did it though; Abbie was about to visit, the house needed to be in order, having Nugget (my soon to be step-son) every other week, weddings and birthday parties to attend, we had our engagement photos done, etc. Honestly, adulthood was getting in the way. I am glad I booked so many shoots though because I am putting out my best content right now.

The engagement pictures are GORGEOUS. I am in LOVE. If you've read my two posts about how I began modeling, how I continue to do so now, and my advice for how to get into it, (A Model Was Discovered and Modeling a Year Later) you will recall my first real photoshoot. I posed as the bride in a wedding styled shoot for a photographer named Linsey Goodson here in Green Bay. She started it all for me and I've always been a huge fan of her work. It was such a treat for her to capture the love Baby and I have for one another in pictures. If you'd like to see more of her amazing work, go to https://linseygoodsonphoto.com/ to check it out! The wedding styled shoot we collaborated on is on her website, too. You can find her on social media platforms. I know I put a bunch in this post but if you want to see more, follow me on Instagram! @sabrinadwieland

Any who, I have a lot of requested blog-topics to cover right now. I picked 3 just to start off with this week. I’m just gonna let you in on what they are, right up front: Religion in my personal life, my love for the show FRIENDS, and being friends with the opposite sex.

Starting off pretty heavy with the religion thing, aren’t we? A follower of mine on Instagram asked me to touch on this and I found it to be an interesting inquiry. I feel like the new age of religion is that there isn’t much of it. Or am I just not paying attention? Or are people just private about it? I’d be surprised if you told me people are just private about ANYthing in this day in age. I just had a different follower of mine tell me that she feels like she knows me just because of what I post and how often I post. I thought that was pretty cool to hear actually; that people pay attention and find my content enjoyable. Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I’m not religious at all. It’s most-likely from the fact that I wasn’t raised religiously. Now, some of my family members are genuinely bothered with me “not believing.” It’s irionic because these family member who are bothered are some of the ones who raised me on a daily basis. It’s as if they forgot they never took me to church or taught me anything about the Bible. My mother and I would recite the “I lay me down to sleep…” prayer before bed but that was about it. And that didn’t last very long anyway. I wouldn’t say it’s that I “don’t believe.” I just don’t see much proof of the actual … THING I am supposed to believe in. An all-powerful man somewhere in the sky that controls everything. It’s hard for me to grasp, but it’s not for me to say it doesn’t exist. I’ve always been a bit more scientific in my beliefs. I do, however, think that we all need something to believe for our own sanity. Whether that something is real or not. It’s nice to think that Baby, Nugget, and I can go to an afterlife of some sort and be together forever. It’s nice to think that everything happens for a reason and someone or something is taking care of us, and has plans for our souls. I wish I could know if this all was real. I just don’t know if it is and I can’t count on it. I can’t say I haven’t prayed to something in times of need or hoped that there was someone/something greater than all of us taking care of me. Like I said, I have a hard time believing that it’s a real thing. Crazy things have happened in my life, miracles have taken place; horrible things have also happened, too. I’m kind of stuck in the middle with religion. I don’t know what I believe, and I’m okay with that uncertainty. I live my life with reason and logic while also trying to hold faith in SOMEthing. Even if I don’t really know what that thing is.

FRIENDS. Holy cow if you even know what my name is, you also already know I’m the biggest FRIENDS fan in the universe. I know every word of the script, I swear. It’s almost sickening and I am super okay with it. LOL. People think it’s a little odd that someone as young as me (22) is so obsessed with a show that aired from 1994 to 2004. It’s actually been in my life since I was born because my mother watched it from the beginning. I obviously didn’t understand any of it until I was older, but I’ve been watching since as long as I can remember. My mother and I have had quite the history and we struggled with our relationship when I lived with her (and that is putting it mildly). But Friends was one thing that brought us together, rather than caused issues. I’ve noticed watching/listening to the show soothes me. This sounds really weird, but because of the positive connotation it has, it seriously de-stresses me and calms me down. I have this show playing on some electronic of mine at a point during almost every day of my life. It’s on when I’m cleaning, when I’m getting ready for the day or a photoshoot, when I used to do homework in college, when I cook, when I need something to fall asleep to, when I actually just want to watch it, etc. I know the show so well that I don’t even need to physically watch it, I just want to listen to it so I listen to it at work and even when I shower. I kick some serious ass at Friends trivia because I’ve watched the series (10 seasons. 236 episodes) over 50 times. I’ve done estimates and if I watch a certain amount of episodes every day on average (which I do), I have easily seen it all way more than that, even. I’ve owned season on VHS and DVD. I literally only have Netflix for the ease of FRIENDS watching. The day it leaves Netflix, I will be heartbroken and a huge mess. It’s like a security blanket for me. I laugh at it harder the more I watch it. I feel like I know the characters personally. I own a bunch of FRIENDS merchandise. I know an unhealthy amount about the show. I just have a really deep and strong connection to the show and it may be weird to some people but I love it. I recommend the shit out of it. I’m not even sorry for swearing, that was just passion.

Being friends with the opposite sex. From my perspective. I just talked to Baby about this so it’s coinditental that I write about it today. The wedding he and I attended on Saturday was actually for a long-time female friend of his. He was talking about how he was thinking of all the times they had and memories they shared. I found myself feeling… I don’t know the word exactly… I couldn’t relate. I have had two very close male friends and it was a constant struggle because they both wanted to be more than that when I was friends with them. Other standard male friends of mine that I never got very close to always eventually hit on me, asked me out, or flirted with me in some way. That isn’t me being conceited or anything, it’s just how it always went. I have one male friend that has never tried anything with me and I’ve never even met him. We lives a little bit out of my area and we met through friends on Facebook. He’s a great guy and I trust him a lot. I still can’t relate to Baby with the friendship because I haven’t even met my closest guy-friend. We don’t talk much anymore, either unfortunately. My best friend from work is a man, but he is also gay. We tell each other everything and we have a lot of fun together. Obviously there is no room for any possibility of something happening. I know straight men and straight women can be just friends, I just have yet to experience it myself successfully. I have no problem with Baby having close female friends; I trust him completely. I think I might not be close to any straight men because of my previous experience with those relationships. I’ve only seen the dangerous side of being friends because of who my friends were, and not the innocent side. I do believe you can be just friends, but I know there is possibility for something more to occur and I just try to steer clear of that in my own life.

How was your weekend? I had s’mom things going on. Baby is 27 and has a 3 year old brother (yep, that’s right!) and Nugget (who is 4) looooves playing with him. They get along really well. He came over and I watched those two boys for a few hours on Friday. Baby made us all dinner and then retreated to our den to play his new Madden 19 I got for him as our one year anniversary present. He loves it and I’m glad he does. The little ones and I played outside for the evening. Saturday was booked tight, as well. Baby helped his parents demo their new home while Nugget and I went to my sister’s 6th birthday party. Yep, I have a really young sibling, too. She and Nugget also are very close so they had a blast bowling. The future husband and I had a wedding to attend Saturday evening so Nugget spent the night at his soon-to-be grandparents’ house! He and my sister (we’ll call her Kin) had a blast. Then, the dreaded Sunday hit. Pick-ups and drop-offs with Nugget are not consistent each week (which I struggle with because I’m very much a fan of schedules and planning far ahead of time), getting back into the third shift groove isn’t easy, and it’s usually the day that Baby and I need to do our weekly grocery shopping. It’s my toughest day because I need to find a 4-hour block that I can sleep during to prep for my first third-shift of the week. That means that it needs to be later in the day, but not directly before I go to work (because I also need to sleep as soon as I get home Monday morning). It also needs to be quiet in the house, of course. I think my body knows it’s Sunday when it rolls around because Sundays are also the days I get migraines the most. I was having a pretty hard time today, but Baby is very attentive and spoils the heck out of me in the ways I need on Sundays. He often times makes me breakfast when we get up, does the dishes, makes sure I get that long nap in, he tucks me in beforehand, makes sure it’s quiet the whole time I am sleeping, gets me up on time, has dinner ready for when I wake up, gets me meds when I need them for my head, gets me water, etc. Sundays are my least favorite but he really makes them entirely tolerable for me. I can’t thank him enough. He pays such close attention to me and I am incredibly grateful.

That felt GREAT to write. Wow. I missed this. I don’t know what I’m writing next, but stay tuned for more posts SOON! (P.S. I would super appreciate if you shared this to your Facebook page and on Tumblr or both!)

#blog #blogger #new #newblog #newblogger #write #life #live #living #loving #lifestyle #lifestyblogger #love #fun #summer #wife #model #smom #stepmom #married #marriage #writing

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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AMA Answers

7/24/18

Hey hey! So, I held an “Ask Me Anything” on my Instagram and picked the most common questions to dive into for today’s blog! I was mostly questioned on what I do to prep for photoshoots, what I do at the gym, and how shooting nude went.

Photoshoots. When I know I have a photoshoot coming up, I have things I do the week of and things I do the day of. For the week of the shoot, I tan at least once a couple days beforehand. I don’t tan the day before or the day of because I don’t want to risk burning and looking red. I pay very close attention to my skin during this week to avoid blemishes. This can be helped by what I eat and drink. When I know I will be shooting, I avoid carbs, sugar, and alcohol at all costs. Even more than usual. Looking puffy is not what I want. I also try to work out and use the steam room twice up to a week beforehand. I want to work out once about a week before, take a day or two off, and then work out again 2 days before. I break it up this way to give myself enough time to recover from being sore. I used to work out 5 times a week and would never really be sore, so it didn’t matter when I worked out. But I haven’t been at the gym very much since going to third shift and house hunting and moving. The week of my shoots, I coconut oil my hair once at some point. A day or two before my shoots I always pluck and shape my eyebrows. I only do this in advance to save time during the day-of-prep because It can be lengthy. The night before, I use a hydrating mask on my face. Now for the day-of. I always GPS where I’m going to be shooting so I know exactly how long it takes to get there and thus, to figure out when I need to leave the house by. If I have to shoot within 3 or 4 hours, I wait to eat until after my shoot. I’m not really sure if this makes any difference in how I look when I shoot, but I usually am too distracted to eat while getting ready anyway. First, I shower. This includes exfoliating, shaving, conditioning, etc. Once I’m out, I lotion up everywhere. Letting my hair air dry a bit to avoid having to use the blow dryer so long on my hair, I do my makeup first. My makeup is pretty minimal and natural about 90% of the time. It’s not intricate or lengthy at all. Letting my hair air-dry further, I pick out what I will be wearing for the shoot. I lay my outfits out, as well as what I’ll be wearing to the shoot. I always wear something comfy to my shoots. At this point, I will blow dry the rest of the moisture out of my hair. Then, I will either curl or straighten it. It’s rare I leave my hair natural for a shoot. I’ve done it three times now, but I only liked the way it turned out once. After my hair and makeup, I make sure my nails are presentable. I double-check my jewelry, too. I have gauges but there are certain shoots that I should wear plugs that don’t look like gauges. This is when I get dressed and pack my bag. I put my outfits in there, along with the makeup I used for this shoot (for touchups), body oil (for glowing skin), and extra dry shampoo and deodorant. I grab water and a very light snack (like some cheese) and head out.

Posing nude. This was definitely the most freeing and confidence-building thing I have ever done. I was shooting Boudoir with two photographers, one of them (Laura) I have been working with since I started modeling over a year ago. She knew I was interested in posing nude, which it true. It’s been something I have wanted to do for years, I just didn’t like the way I looked enough to do it until now. The other photographer, Michael, told me that Laura mentioned that to him and he asked me if we were going to do it during that shoot. I said sure. I figured I like my body now and I would be with a photographer I trust. If I’m being completely honest here, I am naked A LOT of the time when I am at home. I was so used to being naked in my old apartment that I accidentally walked out onto my porch to get a candle COMPLETELY NAKED. I didn’t realize what I was doing until I was already out there LOL. I was very comfortable during the shoot. I wasn’t shy or ashamed of anything. It was freeing as heck. Michael was incredibly professional, too. Speaking of having a male photographer photograph me nude, I was also asked how Baby feels about me doing this. He is incredibly supportive of everything I do, even if he has a hard time understanding it. Me posing nude is not his favorite thing in the world, but he knows this is my passion and he wants me to do what makes me happy. That is all I could ever ask for. All of that being said, I don’t want to do anything that legitimately bothers him because I want to respect his wants and needs. I am going to be his wife, after all. I don’t want him to end up resenting me in any way. Even if he wants me to do what makes me happy, I don’t want to do anything to make him Unhappy. It’s all about respect. Nonetheless, the photos are absolutely gorgeous. I cannot wait to see more of them. Laura is such a Boudoir Queen. She runs both The Brass Lens Photography and The Brass Lens Boudoir Photography. Michael is also amazing at his craft. He runs Michael Gehrman Filmworks. I actually had my first video shoot during all of this too and I am very anxious to see how that turned out. He is great so hopefully we produced some amazing content together. I will be sharing more work from that shoot for SURE! I do think I am very good at what I do and offering nude modeling might pay well. Something to consider for sure.

The gym. Ahhh the gym and I have an odd relationship. I like working out and I like being at the gym but I know I don’t absolutely need to work out. I lost 37 pounds entirely through portion control and changing my diet. I also haven’t had the time to work out much since going to third shift and house hunting and moving (as I said before). Now that I am a boudoir model and I like the way my body looks, there isn’t much I need to do other than maintaining and toning up. But I do know there is room for improvement in certain areas on my body and that my energy levels are up when I am working out regularly. I just wish there was more time in the day. I didn’t put enough emphasis on sleep in June so I have been trying really hard to prioritize my sleep more, and it’s working. I’m sleeping better and later, which is what I needed. But with that, there is less time to clean and work out and run errands. When I do work out, I start with some type of cardio to break a sweat and get my heartrate up. I usually work out on the Arc Trainer or the bike for 20 minutes. Immediately after cardio, you should follow with abs. I’ve read and I’ve been told that cardio engages your core and sets it up for a nice ab workout, burning more! What I need to focus most on is my butt. It’s always been smaller, like the rest of me LOL. If there’s any positive to this, it’s that I’m proportioned pretty perfectly. Little all over the place. I do think it could use a lot of work, though. I have certain video clips saved on Instagram that I follow for my booty workouts. Variations of fire hydrants, bridges, up and overs, leg lifts, lunges, etc. I don’t do anything too specific or too fancy. I bet this was a bit anticlimactic, lol. When they say, “It’s 80% diet and only 20% working out,” they are CORRECT. I used to think it was such crap when people tried to tell me that abs are made in the kitchen. Well. I believe it now.

I will most likely hold another Ask Me Anything soon because I thought it was really fun. Did you think of a question while you were reading this? Ask me in the comments! Until next time, xoxo.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Mom jeans all day. 🙌🏼👖

#blog #life #lifestyle #blogger #model #newblogger #smom #wife #love #stepmom #jeans #momjeans #cute #fashion

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Keto - Pt. 3

Okay so we learned all about Keto! Are you ready to start? Go to PerfectKeto.com for detailed diagrams and pictures.

Use this post to learn the simple skills to be more motivated on a daily basis, prepare better, correct mistakes, and boost your ketone levels for peak performance.

Most people will tell you a low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet is a journey in its own right, filled with triumphs and challenges. Climbing the Ketogenic Diet Hierarchy of Needs is simple, but not always easy. If you are brand new to the ketogenic diet, you may want to know where exactly to start and what to do next. If you have tried keto for a little bit, you may want to know where you’re at on the hierarchy and decide to retrace a step or make your next leap forward in ketogenic performance. If you are a Keto veteran, you already know that this journey is marked by learning and pivoting at every juncture. You may want to experiment with small refinements to maximize even more!? Regardless if you are a beginner or have been eating a strict ketogenic diet for years, take a step back and ask yourself where you stand on The Ketogenic Diet Hierarchy of Needs and then take the next action! Let’s get it!

Motivation Stage: First things first. What is your “why.” This is what will keep pushing you and driving you when your head is telling you to slack. It doesn’t have to be a magnificent “pie-in-the-sky” vision. Simply, Identify your goal. Example: lose 5 pounds in the next 2 months, or, run a half marathon under 2 hours. Identify the purpose behind your goal (why you want this goal). Example: So that I can have more energy with my family, or, to gain a sense of accomplishment.|Lastly, decide if you think a ketogenic diet can help you. Do you know: How to Use Keto for Weight Loss How to Use Keto for Better Exercise and Physical Performance How to Use Keto for Better Productivity and Mental Focus What is the Ketogenic Diet?

Knowledge Stage: Here’s the Knowledge Stage analogy: Say we are hungry and want to go out to eat. It wouldn’t make much sense to sprint to the nearest restaurant, right? Wouldn’t we be better served to take the few minutes to learn about what’s available, and then make a plan? Yes, we would take the time to Yelp or ask a friend for some knowledge and use that information to decide where we want to go. Do you understand: What is Ketosis? What are Ketones? What is Acetoacetate? What is Beta-Hydroxybutyrate? What is Acetone? Ketosis vs. Ketoacidosis Keto vs. Atkins Keto vs. Paleo What are Net Carbs? How do I Test my Ketone Levels?

Prep Stage: Back to the restaurant analogy, this is the stage where you make a plan how you are going to get from your house to the restaurant. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Pull up a spreadsheet, notepad, napkin, anything… and make a plan. The most important questions to ask yourself are, How are you going to test your ketone levels? What are you going to do for meal prep, if any? What snacks do you want to have on deck? What supplements are you going to take? What groceries do you need? Remember to refer back to (all can be found on the website at PerfectKeto.com) Ketogenic Diet Foods List Ketogenic Diet Foods to Avoid List Healthy Ketogenic Snack Food List Guide to Doing Keto on a Budget Guide to How to Eat Nuts on a Ketogenic Diet Guide to How to Drink Alcohol on a Ketogenic Diet Guide to Good Fats and Bad Fats Guide to How Many Carbs You Should Eat on a Ketogenic Diet Guide to the Best Ways to Test Your Ketone Levels Guide to MCT Supplement - How and When to Use (I did not cover in blog) Guide to Exogenous Ketone - How and When to Use (I did not cover in blog) Ultimate Guide to Ketone Supplements (I did not cover in blog)

Execution Stage: Like Nike says, it’s time to Just Do It! This stage is all about dealing with the common issues of transition to ketosis. Of course, there will be some minor pains and challenges, but this does not mean you should quit. Having the motivation, knowledge, and preparation in place is all going to pay off now. A great place to start is the Perfect Keto Macronutrient Calculator. In order to execute, you need to understand: Ketosis Side Effects Why Ketones and Ketosis Can Cause Stomach Pain Why Exogenous Ketones Taste Bad How to Maintain Your Ketosis How to Exercise in Ketosis When and How to Use Exogenous Ketones Should You Have Cheat Meals How Too Much Protein is Bad for Ketosis RECIPES!

Testing Stage: The first question to ask yourself is: am I testing my ketone levels? Many other Ketonians make this mistake for a long time before realizing that it’s the best way to reach new heights and performance. There’s an underlying reason we don’t want to test ourselves. We might not get the answer we want. Pride and shame conspire to tell us we don’t need to check our results. The key is to not take yourself so seriously and just go for it. The two possible outcomes are

We are in ketosis. Great!

We aren’t in ketosis. It’s great to know that! Now we can make adjustments.

Think about, say, basketball practice. You wouldn’t shoot the ball towards the hoop but then walk away immediately, failing to wait and see if it actually goes in. Or… you wouldn’t get in your car and drive somewhere new without checking the GPS to make sure you’re headed in the right direction. Right? Same deal here.

#TestDon’tGuess

Understand: Guide to Testing Your Ketone Levels Testing Your Ketone Levels After Taking Exogenous Ketones (didn’t cover in blog) How to Maintain Ketosis When and How to Use Exogenous Ketones to Boost Your Ketone Levels (didn’t cover in blog)

Mistakes and Corrections Stage: Mistakes, refinements, pivots, corrections, whatever your want to call them… These changes are the vehicle that takes us from stage to stage of the Ketogenic Hierarchy of Needs. The good news is they are also the vehicle to break through plateaus and reach new performance levels. Changing habits is tough, no doubt about it, but have fun and go for it! Great questions to ask yourself include: How do I feel? Am I sure I’m in ketosis? Should I lower my carb intake? Do I need to lower my protein intake? Should I start testing my ketone levels? Are cheat meals hurting my progress? Am I on track to reach my goal?

Taking a quick inventory by honestly asking an answering these questions is a great way to identify easy ways to bust through periods of stagnation. Know: Foods to Avoid on a Ketogenic Diet Should You Have Cheat Meals How Too Much Protein is Bad for Ketosis How I Fixed the Biggest Ketosis Mistakes When and How to Use Exogenous Ketones How Many Carbs You Should Eat How to Test Your Ketone Levels The Ultimate Keto FAQ (and Answers)

**** To Wrap Up ****

You are the director of your own movie. Are you thriving on a daily basis and rocking it from a nutritional standpoint? It’s because of you! Are you unhappy with a few things (or maybe several) and feel like you are just surviving? It’s also because of your daily routine. This is the great news though because it means while we may be the problem, we are also the solution. A business that doesn’t take a regular inventory usually goes broke – and it’s no different with us and the way we eat. Starting up on the ketogenic diet basically means we have to check in on what we need to start, what we need to stop and what we need to continue to make progress! It may be in the, Motivation Stage – What do I want and why do I want it? Knowledge Stage – Do I understand the main ideas of what I’m trying to do? Preparation Stage – Am I set up for success here? Execution Stage – Am I doing my best? Testing Stage – Am I testing my results? Correction Stage – Based on my ketone levels and results – what can I improve?

Check where you stand on the ketogenic hierarchy of needs image at the top of the post, then trust your instincts on what’s best for you to do next. Go for it and have fun!

You can also the Perfect Keto Community Group on Facebook – share your thoughts and let’s help each other out too!

If this seems like too much, I promise it is all worth it. And trust me. I don't know all of this myself. It comes with reading, experimenting, trying things, etc. I am still learning myself. Like I've said before, I'm no expert. ;) That's why I needed Perfect Keto to help me out here.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Keto - Pt. 2

Back at it! This one is all about the diet portion.

“The ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carb and adequate protein diet. Many individuals have experienced success on keto in regards to weight and fat loss, as well as improvements in memory, focus and symptoms for a wide variety of ailments and diseases. While it’s grown in popularity in recent years, there are still many misconceptions on the diet, its health benefits and how it works. Below, you’ll learn what the ketogenic diet is, what you can and cannot eat, its various health benefits and objectives and which supplements can make your transition to keto easier. The first question you might be wondering is, “How can a high-fat diet be healthy?” Keto certainly goes against the low-fat diets of the 1970s to 1990s. However, new research has debunked the fat-makes-you-fat myth. Below, you’ll find out why.”

“The ketogenic diet, better known as keto, is a diet where you eat high amounts of fat and small amounts of carbs to enter ketosis. In ketosis, your body burns ketones (instead of glucose) for fuel, which provides numerous physiological benefits for your body. Why would you want to eat fat instead of carbs? When you eat high amounts of carbohydrates, these convert into glucose in the liver[*]. This causes your body to produce insulin (commonly referred to as an insulin spike, leading to insulin resistance), to help transport glucose through your bloodstream. Glucose will always be your body’s preferred energy source. When glucose is present, your body will resist burning fat. By removing carbohydrates and replacing them with fat, you are forcing your body to burn that fat for fuel.”

“Just how much fat should you eat? On keto, use the following percentages as a guideline for fat, protein and carbohydrates (or macros). This is known as your macronutrient breakdown. 70-80% of calories from fats 20-25% of calories from protein 5-10% of calories from carbohydrates

Remember, these should be used as a guideline only. Each individual’s macronutrient goals will vary depending on your particular lifestyle. To calculate your specific macronutrients into grams, use the Perfect Keto Macro Calculator on the website.”

“Fat Intake - Fat is the cornerstone of the keto diet, making up the bulk of calories. An individual consuming 2,000 calories per day would need to consume 144 to 177 grams of fat. Fats make up 70-80% of your calories. Since fat is the main source of nutrition on a ketogenic diet, it’s important to source high-quality, healthy fats, which you’ll read about below. Protein Intake - Protein is extremely important on keto as well. Ideally, you should consume 0.8 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass. This will prevent muscle loss. Carbohydrate Intake - An individual who wants to stay within 5-10% carbs from total calories would consume between 100 and 200 calories from carbs, which is 25 to 50 grams of carbs per day. Most people consume roughly 30 grams of carbohydrates on the keto diet. Depending upon your activity level, you might be able to consume 80 grams of carbs and remain in ketosis.”

**** Macros and Diet Variations ****

“When calculating your macros, know that your specific intake of fat, protein and carbohydrates will vary depending upon the approach you take with keto. Remember there are 4 different varieties of Keto? They differ to support various lifestyles and physiological goals. They are: The Standard Ketogenic Diet (SDK): The most common approach to keto, here 75% of your diet comes from fats, 20% from protein and 5% from carbohydrate. The Targeted Ketogenic Diet (TKD): Used by athletes seeking a performance boost who are not as interested in fat loss. This is where you eat 20 to 50 grams of net carbs per day. Carb intake usually happens prior to exercise. The Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD): This diet is preferred by those who find it mentally challenging to completely forgo carbs for extended periods of time. Here, you follow SKD for a certain time period, followed by a period of eating more carbohydrates. The High-Protein Ketogenic Diet: Designed for anyone lifting heavy and seeking to gain lean mass, the macros here follow 60% fats, 35% protein and 5% carbs."

"If you are just starting keto, you might consider starting with the Standard Ketogenic Diet approach.”

**** What to Eat on Keto **** (there are very detailed lists on the website with nutritional info at PerfectKeto.com)

“When starting keto, you may need to replenish the foods in your fridge or pantry. Below, you’ll learn about which foods are suitable to stay in ketosis.

The following foods make up the majority of the ketogenic diet:

"Meats Fatty cuts of grass-fed beef, chicken and other poultry, pork, lamb, goat, turkey, veal, and fish sources like salmon, sardines, catfish, tuna, trout, etc. Oils: oils like olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, ghee, grass-fed butter, and nuts and seeds (whole or as butters) Whole eggs: preferably organic, free-range; yolks preferred as they contain all of the fat content Dairy: full-fat cheeses, sour cream, full-fat (unsweetened) yogurt and heavy creams Low-carb vegetables and fruits: spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and other leafy greens; small quantities of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and avocados"

"Fats "For years and years, fat was seen as harmful for heart health and we were told to reduce them as much as possible. However, recent studies have debunked this, showing no significant link between saturated fats, which humans have been eating for thousands of years, and the risk of heart disease. There are four categories of fat allowed on the keto diet: saturated fats, monounsaturated fats (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) and naturally-occurring trans fats. Fats include cooking fats and oils, dairy products and nuts and seeds. Below, you will see tables identifying specific foods for each. Focus on those with the lowest net carb content."

"Ketogenic Foods to Eat: Proteins On keto, always purchase the highest quality protein that you can reasonably afford. Choose grass-fed, organic proteins whenever possible. The best protein for keto has a reasonable fat content. (Remember, it’s not necessary to limit your protein on keto). The following protein sources are keto-friendly: Beef, preferably fattier cuts like steak, veal, roast, ground beef and stews Poultry, including chicken, quail, duck, turkey and wild game — try to focus on the darker, fattier meats Pork, including pork loin, tenderloin, chops, ham, bacon and ground Fish, including mackerel, tuna, salmon, trout, halibut, cod, catfish and mahi-mahi Shellfish, including oysters, clams, crab, mussels and lobster Organ meats, including heart, liver, tongue, kidney and offal Eggs, including deviled, fried, scrambled and boiled — use the whole egg Lamb meat Goat meat"

"Ketogenic Foods to Eat: Carbohydrates The majority of your carbohydrates should come from vegetables such as leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower and most other vegetables that grow above ground. The rest of your carbohydrate intake should come from the carbs in nuts and seeds, the small amount in dairy and on occasion, from fruits like berries."

**** Foods to Avoid ****

"In any healthy diet, there are the obvious things to avoid: processed carbs, sugars and fried food. On keto, you also avoid any high-carb foods that could inhibit ketosis."

"Foods to Avoid: Carbohydrates Grains, legumes, sugar, starchy vegetables and fruit should be avoided on the ketogenic diet. These foods contain high traces of carbohydrates and very little fat and protein. Keep in mind, other foods such as processed foods, processed and factory meat products, candy, alcohol and sugary diets should not be included on any healthy diet — not just keto. Grains Beans and legumes Most fruit Starchy veggies"

"Foods to Avoid: Protein Even though abundant protein is essential on keto, there are good and bad sources to choose from. When selecting protein sources, avoid low-fat dairy products and factory-farmed animals. Factory Farmed Animal Products: Grain-fed meats and dairy, as they are lower in nutrients. Try to stay away from factory-farmed fish and pork products, which are high in omega–6 fatty acids (that are inflammatory in too-large amounts). Processed meats like hot dogs and deli meat as they contain preservatives, large quantities of salt, and filler carbs"

"Foods to Avoid: Fats Processed oils and low-fat dairy products should be avoided on keto."

"Unhealthy Fats Unprocessed and nutritious oils, such as coconut oil, virgin olive oil, and macadamia nut oils are great sources of saturated and unsaturated fat. Avoid harmful processed vegetable oils like cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, soybean and canola oils."

"Dairy Products Most low-fat milk and dairy products are counterproductive if you are trying to eat more natural fats."

**** Consuming Alcohol on Keto ****

"Drinking alcohol slows ketone production. There are some legitimate concerns when it comes to consuming alcohol on a ketogenic diet. Alcohol slows fat burning and ketone production. Drinks to avoid include: Wine (especially sweet wines) Beer Cocktails Sugary mixers that contain soda, syrups or juices Flavored alcohols"

"Hard liquors are basically just alcohol and water, so they don’t affect sugar and insulin levels like the drinks mentioned above. The best options include: Tequila Whiskey, scotch or bourbon Vodka, gin, brandy"

I don’t take supplements on Keto right now but there are options that might be right for you. Check the website! PerfectKeto.com

There is also a lot of info on following the Keto diet as a vegan or vegetarian on the website if you need to learn about it. PerfectKeto.com

Ready to start your diet? We will see. The third and final Keto Blog is coming up in another 30 minutes!

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Keto - Pt. 1

I have people asking me about Keto all the time. There is a lot to research and learn, I’m not going to lie. Because this is so research-heavy and something that is such a large life choice, I don't feel that I can paraphrase or play any of this down. So. In order to make sure I’m giving you 100% correct info, I will be telling you exactly what is on PerfectKeto.com. I would HIGHLY recommend this website to you if you are looking to go Keto but need to know more about it. I’m going to credit this entire blog post to Perfect Keto, honestly. I will give my personal experiences and opinion, though. This is going to be really in-depth, so get ready for some straight-up Keto knowledge. It’s a lot to take in, so skim if you like. There will be different parts to this blog for organization purposes. (All of the quoted material can be found at PerfectKeto.com but I am putting into three condensed blogs for you guys since I am asked about it so often).

**** First. What is KETO? ****

It’s short for Ketosis. What is KETOSIS? “Ketosis is the metabolic process of using fat as the primary source of energy instead of carbohydrates. This means your body is directly breaking down its fat stores as energy instead of slowly converting fat and muscle cells into glucose for energy. You enter ketosis when your body doesn’t have enough glucose (carbohydrates) available. The prime function of the ketogenic diet is to put the body in ketosis. Ketones are byproducts of the body breaking down fat for energy that occurs when carbohydrate intake is low.”

**** So, how does Ketosis even work? ****

“Step 1) Cutting Off Carbs When there isn’t a sufficient level of available glucose and glycogen levels are depleted, blood sugar and insulin levels decrease, and the body looks for an alternative source of fuel (fat). Step 2) Breaking Down Fats The body breaks down fats for energy. This process is known as beta-oxidation, where there is an increase in acetyl-CoA, which turns into acetoacetate. Acetoacetate then shifts to beta-hydroxybutyrate, the ketone body that floats around in your blood to then provide energy to the body and brain. Step 3) Using Ketosis Many people use ketosis for benefits like: - Weightloss: When your body is using fat directly as a source of energy, you lose weight more readily because your body taps into your own fat stores for energy instead of the sugar you eat. - Improved energy levels: Without surges of glucose, your body has more consistent energy levels because you can use your own body fat for energy (no sugar crashes or food comas). - Increased mental focus: Fat is a more consistent source of energy, and preferred by the brain, meaning you don’t have ups and downs in energy and focus. - Longevity and disease prevention: Ketosis has been shown to decrease inflammation, Alzheimers, and benefit cancer patients and diabetics. - Increased physical performance: Ketosis uses oxygen more efficiently and avoids physical crashes of low blood sugar.”

Back up. Ketones? What? There are three types of ketones. “Acetoacetate (AcAc) – the first ketone created from breaking down fat. This then leads to the formation of Beta-hydroxybutyrate. Acetone is created spontaneously as a side product of acetoacetate via decarboxylation. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) – Formed from the acetoacetate. Acetone – Created simultaneously as a side product of the acetoacetate.”

Why do our bodies use ketones? “Humans have always relied on ketones for energy when glucose sources were scarce (i.e. no fruits available during winter). It is a normal state of metabolism. In fact, most babies are born in a state of ketosis. However, with abundant sources of carbohydrate, people rarely access ketosis and it becomes a dormant metabolic pathway. Our ancestors likely had frequent periods of time when high carbohydrate food wasn’t immediately available. For this reason, our bodies are amazing at adapting to burning of ketones for fuel.”

**** Ketosis Benefits! ****

“Optimal nutrition is different for everyone, there is no “one-size-fits-all solution.” That being said, a whole-food based ketogenic diet provides most people benefits including: Decreased body fat Improved insulin sensitivity Improved memory and mental focus Physical Performance”

Breaking that down even further;

Weight Loss Benefits of Ketosis are… “Increased Fat Oxidation: In ketosis, your body burns dietary fat and your own body fat as its primary source of fuel. Hormone Regulation: Ketosis can help sustain weight loss by regulating hormones that affect weight. That means eating a ketogenic diet can help you avoid cravings for unhealthy foods, reducing the chance of gaining the weight back. Appetite Suppression: Feeling full, even on a weight loss diet means you can better listen to your body’s true hunger signals. Blood Sugar Regulation: Weight loss diets that include high carbohydrates can create blood sugar spikes that leave you feeling hungry again soon after eating—as well as tired and unfocused.”

Exercise Benefits of Ketosis are… “Preventing crashing when doing prolonged exercise Maintaining blood glucose Adapting the body to burning more fat, which helps the body preserve glycogen in the muscles Improving the function of mitochondria, enzymes, and fat usage to improve overall health and physical performance long-term. Using oxygen more efficiently, leading to better performance for endurance athletes.”

Mental Focus Benefits of Ketosis are… “An unbalanced diet can lead to lack of mental clarity, showing up as foggy brain, having a hard time remembering important facts, or struggling to stay focused on tasks. Ketones improve the efficiency and energy levels of the mitochondria, which produce energy for cells of the body and brain. Eating healthy fats is essential. Every single cell in our body needs fat to function, especially our brain cells. The brain is the fattiest organ, comprised of over 60% fat and prefers fat for fuel.”

Now that you have a little bit more of an idea about this so far, let’s dive into what the Keto diet is.

**** The Keto Diet ****

“The ketogenic diet is an approach to eating that is high fat (70-80%), moderate protein (20-25%) and low carb (5-10%). This is designed to induce the body into ketosis. The quality and types of foods are vitally important for crafting a nourishing ketogenic diet.”

“Carbohydrate Intake For most people, a range of 20-50 grams of carbohydrate intake per day is ideal for the keto diet. To get a visual understanding, see our post, What Does 30g of Carbs Look Like? Protein Intake Protein should be kept to adequate proportions. Eating too much protein is undesirable because our bodies have a metabolic process named gluconeogenesis. The way to figure out adequate protein levels is by using the Perfect Keto Macro Calculator. Fat Intake The remaining 70-75% of your calories come from fats. Since fat is the main source of nutrition on a ketogenic diet, it’s important to source high-quality, healthy fats."

"Optimal nutrition is intensely individual, it is not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Therefore, each persons macronutrient distribution will vary.”

There are different variations to Keto: "The Standard Ketogenic Diet(SDK) – Keto with the classic macronutrient splits. The Targeted Ketogenic Diet(TKD) – Add carbs around exercise The Cyclical Ketogenic Diet(CKD) – Go in and out of ketosis in planned intervals The High-Protein Ketogenic Diet – Eat more protein than on the standard keto diet."

How do you know what amounts to eat of each thing? Use the calculator to see exact amount of carbs, fat, and protein you need to reach your goal weight through the ketogenic diet, whether you want to lose, gain, or maintain your weight.”

Now if you’re doing this, you have to test your ketones. “Testing your ketone levels is imperative in order to know if keto is working for you. Eating “keto” foods doesn’t automatically mean you are in ketosis. Ketosis is that it’s not just an idea, it is a measurable state of metabolism. Luckily this means we can test if our diet is adequately “ketogenic” to allow our bodies to enter ketosis. Excess carbs or protein can prevent ketosis. It’s a high fat diet, not just low carb.” There are 3 methods for measuring ketone levels, but I recommend urine testing. Especially if you’re just beginning. “Urine Testing – When ketone levels in your body increase past a useful point, they get excreted through urine. You can easily measure excess amounts of ketones with a urine strip. It’s easy to test at home, but not completely reliable. Blood Testing – You prick a finger and squeeze a drop of blood onto a test stick to test the amount of the ketone called Beta-Hydroxybutyrate in your blood. This is the most accurate method for testing your body’s ketone levels, but the most expensive. Breath Testing – You can measure the amount of acetone in your breath using a breath meter. This is the least reliable method of testing for ketosis.”

**** Safety is something to be aware of on this diet. ****

"Ketosis is a perfectly safe and natural metabolic state, but it is often confused with another, and highly dangerous, metabolic state called Ketoacidosis."

Ketosis vs Ketoacidosis "Ketosis: The metabolic state when fat is the primary energy source instead of carbohydrates. Ketosis is a perfectly normal state of human metabolism. Without ketosis, all humans would have died many thousands of years ago in times of carbohydrate shortages, such as winter and drought. Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): A dangerous metabolic state that is most commonly seen in people with type 1 diabetes and sometimes type 2 diabetics if they aren’t properly managing their insulin and diet. The condition can be deadly if untreated."

Other Side Effects of Ketosis "Dehydration: Transitioning to ketosis is frequently a dehydrating process. This is because: -Glycogen and carbs are stored in the body with water. It takes 4 grams of water to store a gram of glycogen. As you deplete glycogen, you will lose water. -High insulin levels cause water retention by inhibiting sodium excretion. The ketogenic diet lowers insulin levels, allowing excess fluid to be released."

"Other temporary symptoms are byproducts of dehydration and low carbohydrate levels while your body is still trying to use carbohydrates as its primary energy source, including: Headaches Lethargy Nausea Brain fog Stomach pain Low motivation"

These symptoms often pass once the body has switched into ketosis. I had Keto-Flu for a few days the first time I went into Ketosis. It definitely passed, though.

**** Remedies to Ketosis Side Effects ****

Drinking lots of water to counteract dehydration Adding salt and electrolytes Time. Often your body just needs to get used to low carbohydrate levels and switch into ketosis. Eating more fat. Higher proportions of fat in your diet will help getting into ketosis. Taking exogenous ketones (you can find them and what they are on the website). Taking supplements containing ketones helps boost your body into ketosis much faster.

Man. That was a bunch of stuff, wasn't it? Every part of this is important though, or I wouldn't include it. Part 2 will consist of a lot more specifics on the diet.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Recipes AF

7/20/19

Welcome to the Food Blog! Again, I apologize for how long it’s been. I’m back on Keto now as of the 15th. If you don’t know much about it, I talk about it in my blog post, "Frigid Food for You." I don’t know if I mentioned this at all before but I was losing weight pretty rapidly and it was pretty concerning so I stopped limiting my carbs altogether for about a month. I am going back to Keto because of the endless health benefits and due to the fact that it’s the only thing that had put a stop to my migraines. I started getting them again recently and thought, “HECK NOPE, going back to Keto immediately.” Now, just because I do Keto doesn’t mean I want my food blogs to revolve around just Keto stuff, but there will be Keto recipes sprinkled in because, well, it’s my entire diet. Hopefully you can bear with me through those topics if you’re not Keto, or maybe I can sway you into trying it, WINK. Lol just kidding, you can do and eat whatever you like. But if you want to try any of the Keto things I discuss, go for it!

My step-mom (who we call Mamy) used to work at Applebee’s back when I was a tiny child. She started making a copycat Fiesta Lime Chicken and it quickly became my favorite meal. Now, she marinades her chicken herself but I am much too lazy for that. If you want to marinate it and be fancy like that, mix together 1 cup water, 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce, 1/2 cup of lime juice, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp tequila, ½ tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp ground ginger. Marinate chicken breasts in there for at least 2 hours. I would do it overnight if I was an overachiever. But for this dish, I actually prefer the chili-lime chicken breasts from the local grocer, Festival. It goes so well with the sauce that the chicken is smothered with. Bake or grill your chicken breasts (duh). The sauce is kind of up to you, depending on preference. Mix equal parts ranch and chunky salsa. If you want it more ranchy, (you guessed it) add more ranch, or more salsa for more salsa flavor. Put in a dash of hot sauce if you want to kick it up a notch. Crush some tortilla chips on your plate and place the cooked chicken on the chips. Spoon the sauce mixture over the chicken and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top. Broil it all until the cheese has melted. BOOM, you have my favorite meal. Now that I am Keto, I just skip the chips (sad because I love the crunch). I used to serve this with any type of rice on the side (mostly a Mexican rice or white rice), but now I used riced cauliflower and it’s just as good. I just ate it the other day at my parents and then Baby made his own spin-off of it last night with jalapeño juice and chipotle added into the sauce. I was a big fan of these additives and I will probably add them to my own recipe for this!

There’s not much I dislike about the Keto diet, which is why it’s so easy to stick to. The only thing I’m struggling with right now is sugar cravings. And there’s one reason for it: shark week is approaching. (Which is funny because I am referring to my period BUT the real legitimate Shark Week is also approaching. LOL). I crave the worst foods for me the week before I get my period. The nice thing I’m looking forward to is the fact that once I’ve been in Ketosis for a week or 2, I lose my cravings. So the other reason that this is happening is only because I stopped Keto for a while. I had no cravings after I kicked my Keto-flu the first time. Speaking of Keto-flu, I haven’t had it yet! Which makes me think I won’t get it this time, because it’s the 4th day with 20 or less carbs in my diet each day and I haven’t had a migraine once. It’s either that OR my body is just delayed in it’s reaction LOL. I’m hoping it’s the prior. ANYWAY, as I said, I have been craving sugar like a mother. Baby developed quite the sweet-tooth when we started dating (whoops) and so now he struggles without sugar sometimes, too. He found a super easy, no-bake Keto cookie recipe for us that satisfies all the cravings and keeps us in Ketosis. It takes 5 minutes to make and they are delicious. Now, remember. I said these are Keto (low-carb) and no-bake (so not really like a doughy-cookie at all). You’ll need 2 tbsp. real butter, 2/3 cup all natural peanut butter, 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, 4 drops or so of vanilla stevia. This is all for the peanut butter version of the cookies. Add 1 tbsp. of cocoa powder to make the chocolate version! Melt your butter, add the peanut butter, mix it. Add the vanilla and coconut, mix again. Add cocoa if you want; Baby and I split the “batter” and make half with cocoa and we leave the other half as peanut butter. Scoop about 2” spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze for 10 minutes. After they have set, you can store them in a sealed baggy the fridge. This should make 18 small cookies or 9 larger ones, depending on the size of your scoops. Quick note, if you want to add a granulated sweetener like Baby and I do, add it into the melted butter when making these. Like I said, they are super taste and even better: guilt-free. There are a bunch of regular full-carb no-bake cookie recipes out there if you’d rather have that, but I don’t feel like I’m missing anything in these Keto ones.

Alright. I never really understood the whole “kale craze” that’s been going on. But since eating fewer carbs and more veggies, Baby has made some amazing meals and shakes with kale. We found some extra cheap kale at the farmer’s market and we decided to make kale chips to go with this homemade ranch he whipped up. I really didn’t know what to expect with kale chips. But I did find out that I love them. Set your oven to 275 degrees F. Wash that kale please, leaves can be dirty lol. Pat it dry. You’ll want to cut the “ribs” out of the kale and then cut the leaves into 2” pieces. I toss them in a bowl with a couple tablespoons of olive oil and some seasoning salt, rather than drizzling and sprinkling. I’m no expert but it seems to flavor it more evenly this way. Lay them flat (without overlapping) on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them for 20 minutes, turning them halfway through. They really don’t need anything on them at all; they are delicious just being lightly salted. I do recommend you eating them as they are made because I have noticed storing them as instructed (in a sealed container) sometimes makes them somewhat soggy if there is any excess oil. But again, this satisfies a craving for salt and it’s also guilt-free.

Have you tried any food/recipes I’ve posted? I’m all about ease when it comes to cooking. The longer it takes to make something or the more intricate the recipe, the less inclined I am to eat it once it’s done. I have no idea why this is, but I do know my mom is the same way. If I spend too long prepping it, I have to taste it a lot and smell it a bunch. By the time it’s finished, it’s as if I’m tired of it or something. That’s why I focus on easy and quick recipes when I’m the one cooking. Luckily, I am marrying someone who loves to feed me. If I had to cook for myself, I’d live off of eggs, pop-tarts, chips and salsa, grilled cheese, tacos, fiesta lime chicken, paninis, crescent rolls, macaroni & cheese, maybe some casseroles if I felt ambitious. Or I would eat out a lot more. And be poor. I call that list my “single-girl food.” Thankfully that isn’t my life anymore, lol. Have a fantastic weekend. Maybe I'll not-so-surprise surprise-post sometime on Sunday. No promises, though.

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imnoexpertblog · 5 years

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Eye Love Free Stuff and Sunkissed Skin

7/19/18

It has been awhile since I posted anything on Health & Beauty! Mental Health took over for a little bit there with all the blog topic requests I was getting, which is fine with me. Mental Health needs to be a priority in everyone’s lives anyway. Let’s dive right in; my fingers are ready to tell you all the things.

I’ve been working on a computer for 4 years now. I also went to school and looked at computers for 16 years. I have been a migraine sufferer since I was in 4th grade. There are a few reasons as to why I think I get them, but it changes. We used to think it was from hypoglycemia (a condition caused by a very low level of blood sugar), then it was a sign of caffeine withdrawal for a bit, then they would also happen after being at a computer too long, then we thought it was from dehydration, and now they are also hormonal. Being on the Keto diet helps but I still get migraines at work sometimes from the damn computer screens. I wish I would have known about blue-light filtering glasses a long time ago. What’s blue light? “Blue light is a harmful portion of light emitted by digital screens. According to the Paris Vision Institute, younger people exposed to an excess amount of blue light can start to experience age-related macular degeneration at an earlier stage. Other research states that excess exposure is also the leading cause of vision loss for people over 50.” The blue light filtering lenses from EyeBuyDirect offers: 1) Coatings to keep the glare out of your eyes and to protect your lenses from scratches. 2) Premium blue light filter to protect your eyes from harmful blue-violet light emitted by digital screens. Lenses with this technology appear clearer than standard blue light filter. 3) UV filter protects your eyes from damaging ultraviolet rays while outside. 4) SightRelax improves your screen time and increases your comfort by helping your eyes to relax while you read. The website goes on to explain, “A main source of HEV light in our lives is the harmful blue-violet light emitted by our digital screens. From TVs to tablets, and computers to phones, we’re constantly exposing ourselves to unnatural blue light. By wearing blue light blocking glasses, you can limit the amount of blue light that enters your eyes and make your screentime more pleasant.” Another helpful page from their website includes the symptoms of digital eyestrain. “Headaches, sore or tired eyes, and stiff necks are all symptoms of digital eyestrain. Spending the majority of our waking hours in front of device screens put our eyes (and body) through a lot of wear and tear. At the same time, HEV light from our computers, phones, and tablets causes our eyes to not only work harder, but puts them at risk of aging faster.” I didn’t hesitate getting my glasses from EyeBuyDirect because of the very evident passion and dedication in this technology of theirs. Not only are they super cute, but I see a huge difference in my headaches at work and they were less than $50! I don’t need a prescription so I literally only have them to block the blue light. Admit it, you look at some sort of screen for a long time throughout the day (and it’s probably your phone), so these are a must. I think everyone should be using these lenses with how technology-driven we are now. You can use my link to get $10 off your purchase. https://www.eyebuydirect.com/4339783 The website is crisp and easy to navigate. Head over and upload a picture of yourself to “try on” some specs! I have the clear "Hepburn" frames in medium and I love them.

Makeup. I know as much about it as I need to about makeup, considering my usual look. I’m sure you can tell I’m a fairly natural chick. My makeup usually only consists of mascara and highlight. Maybe some eyeliner on top if I want to be extra fancy. Since this is my life, I don’t shop at the ever-so-overwhelming Sephora. It’s just a lot of (expensive) stuff that I don’t need. I don’t do lip color or eye shadow or contouring. I know there is more to Sephora than that, though. And I only know it because I am part of the Sephora Beauty Insider rewards program. I get my birthday gift from them every year. So far I’ve always chosen the options that have anything to do with your skin; in 2016 the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser and Rose Face Mask (not pictured), in 2017 the Caudalie Vinosource moisturizer and Vinoperfect serum, and in 2018 the Hollywood California GlamGlow moisturizer and mask. I used all of my 2016 products a while ago, and still have a little bit of my 2017 left because I forgot about it for the longest time. I have loved all these products! It’s really nice to try such expensive things for free. I enjoy deals and steals quite a bit, and I know I’m not the only one! Take advantage of the Sephora Beauty Insider rewards program, even if you don’t shop there. If you’re a makeup junkie, I know I don’t have to tell you this. I just never got into the art that is makeup. I think it is absolutely astounding what people can do with makeup. I am not great at it, I am just stellar with an eyeliner wing. Other than that, what I do to my face requires little to no skill. I do get a little sad when I don’t look extra pretty on special occasions, though. I also wish I was a bit more done up for photoshoots sometimes. But makeup is never really going to be a priority for me. I’ve actually become to prefer my natural self more than my makeup face. It helps that Baby tells me I’m beautiful multiple times a day, and more so on the days that I go bare-faced. It also helps that I am tan again!

What a segue into my tanning tips. I have mentioned before that I don’t use tanning beds anymore. That was true for about 8 or 9 months, actually. But. Baby and I are going to the Caribbean in less than 2 months and I would prefer not to get absolutely annihilated by the island sun considering I am the shade of LOOSE-LEAF. So, I am working on a good base tan for now. I also won a free month of tanning at my tanning salon! How convenient! And free. But anywho. Tips for getting the best glow possible: 1) Exfoliate! The fresher and newer the skin, the better you’ll tan and longer it will last. 2) Take a daily 25g beta-caretone supplement to enhance your skin’s defense against UV rays by “improving its ability to tan.” 3) Use coconut oil when you tan! It’s natural, extra moisturizing, and smells amazing. 4) Be conscious of how long you tan your face, especially. That’s the first place you will start to see the damage; lines, wrinkles, dark spots. 5) Moisturize the heck out of your skin before and after. Tanning can be damaging and dehydrating. 6) The need to protect your skin and eyes should be common-sense, but I’m adding it anyway for a healthy reminder. Use the proper gear in a bed and wear sunglasses or a hat that offers shade for your eyes if you tan outside. Use some sort of SPF even if you’re tanning; you don’t want to harm your skin. Get that glow, but also be safe.

How was your week? What did I miss while I was taking my little break? Other than freaking out a whole bunch and self-reflecting the entire time, Baby and I got a lot done with the new house! We still need to get the garage in order and hang up décor around the house. We have a housewarming/engagement party that we are hosting in early August so we will need to make sure everything is in order by then. I will say we don’t have enough furniture to fill our home and it’s kind of annoying. Going from a 900 sq. ft. apartment to a 2,000+ sq. ft. split-level home means that we have so much extra space now and not enough stuff to fill it. With time we will acquire what we need, but until then we are using only half of one of our living spaces. Yes, you read that correctly. LOL. Seriously though, owning a home is such an incredible feeling. I love walking through the door every morning after I get home from work. Our neighborhood is cute and safe, our neighbors are kind and helpful, we all sleep better because we aren’t next to a highway, we have a huge yard, we have so much extra space to do whatever we want, we have an office, Baby gets to work out inside rather than in the garage, Nugget gets to play all over indoors and outside, we can change things if we want to, the perks are endless. This is our first big project together; buying a home and making it ours. This is where we will live when we get married, its where we will live while I am pregnant, where we raise our kids. I couldn’t be more excited for life. I’ll gush some more on my nest post, I’m sure. See you soon!

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