Trey's Success on Keto

Last week I posted an incredible Keto Lasagna recipe.

First question for you is: Have you tried it?

AND

Second: What are your thoughts?

Good huh! And so easy. If you missed it, you can click here and check it out.

Today I want to talk about the Keto diet, because this recipe is keto friendly and some of you have asked, “What is the point in making lasagna if you do not have the noodles?” Old Amy would 1000 percent agree. It sounds kind of like coffee without the caffeine and I am in the camp of what’s the point if there is no caffeine? So, I totally understand if that is what you are thinking. If indeed that is what you are thinking, I would like to encourage you to, “Don’t knock it till you try it…” .Because….it is that good!

Why keto? And What is Keto?

Let’s discuss the What Keto is first.

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate mainstream dietary therapy that in medicine is used mainly to treat hard-to-control epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.

Or for our purposes:

“Ketogenic” is a term for a low-carb diet (like the Atkins diet). The idea is for you to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread.

In a nutshell and pretty much how I understand it: VERY LOW to zero carbs (impossible unless you don’t eat). More than usual protein, high healthy fats, and tons of vegetables, but not just any veggies, only those lower in carbs. Yep…you heard me. Vegetables have a carb count! Wild I know and again this is why it is impossible not to incur carbs in a day…And fruit. You might as well hang fruit up because on this diet your body converts the natural sugar to a carb and fruits have a carb count. Blackberries in small amounts are safe we are finding, but again small amounts.

Let me repeat: this is my understanding of the keto diet.

So why would one do this diet? Simply put, to lose weight. Trey started this diet back in May and I am happy to report he is almost 30lbs if not more. Now, like any diet out there, it all depends on the individual. How strict you are, do you workout with it, sleep, DNA, where your starting point is versus someone else’s, and so many other factors. But, from what I have seen with Trey and my friend Cathy, it works if you do the plan. So in other words this is a good diet for male or female because from where I am sitting most diets work really quick and easy for males and honestly I don’t know the reason other than women’s bodies were made to hold fat for child bearing years and I guess that just never leaves us, but this diet works on females because I have seen it first hand in Cathy.

How it works:

When you eat less than 50 grams of carbs a day, your body eventually runs out of fuel (blood sugar) it can use quickly. This typically takes 3 to 4 days. Then you’ll start to break down protein and fat for energy, which can make you lose weight. This is called ketosis. In the beginning Trey literally peed on these sticks to ensure he was in ketosis. Any time he cheated he knew he would be thrown out of the fat burning stage of ketosis and it would take him 3 to 4 days to get back. These sticks were a huge incentive and really made him think twice before he cheated. If considering this diet, you might want to invest in these sticks to help you as well.

There is a wide range of food you can eat on Keto:

Fish and seafood, Low-carb veggies, cheese, avocados, chicken, eggs, nuts, seeds and healthy oils, plain greek yogurt and cottage cheese, and we have found all kinds of little snacks to help Trey get through times when he was starving.

Some of Trey’s snacks include: nuts, but not just any nuts. Almonds, pecans, macadamia nuts, and walnuts are all lower in carbs than cashews. He loves Italian meats wrapped in mozzarella, and Mid-Day Squares are really helpful when he has an urge for sugar. He has also discovered Keto friendly cereal on amazon that helps with those urges.

Another little tip: This cookbook has been a lifesaver, 5 ingredient keto. Easy quick recipes that pretty much the whole family will enjoy.

So as you can see, Keto is doable and there are some rescue remedies when you are really fighting to stay on track, but one of his biggest secrets is: drink water and go for a walk and see if that urge passes. It usually does!

So if you are wanting to lose weight or thinking keto might be a solution for you, try it. You might want to talk to your doctor, but I can tell you I have learned that this particular diet can help with: Alzheimer’s (feeding the brain healthy fat), PTSD (same concept as Alzheimer’s), diabetes, may improve acne, may reduce risk of certain cancers, may improve heart health, can help if you suffer from PCOS. Again, this is just stuff I have found while researching the diet, but it never hurts to ask your doctor if you suffer from any of this. I wish I had fed my father more healthy fats, but you don’t know what you don’t know. So do some research, see if keto is for you and remember…

YOU ARE WORTHY!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

XO,

Amy

aka~Worthy

48 Years Ago Today....

Dear Trey,

48 Years ago today the world was forever changed and believe it or not mine was too. I firmly believe that 48 years ago today, God started to pave the path for you and I to one day be together in marriage. You know why I believe this? Because my mom was a woman of prayer. My mother prayed daily for all of her kiddos and I have been blessed to have witnessed this and I in turn do this now for our kids.

Do you know what one of those prayers is? I would love to share it with and you, but I must confess this prayer has evolved over the years due to lessons I have learned from people who love me and love us. It goes something like this.

Dear God,

Thy will be done with our boys and if I may I would like to be open about what I would love to see, but I will trust your will. (YES! I do say this!) Thy will be done with all the boys. I pray they all three do great in school, they are self motivators, do their work, stay out of trouble, and are leaders. I pray they all know you Lord and have a servants heart and a heart for you. I pray they all get into a college of their liking, one that you see fit for them and one they would love. I pray they get to do their passions, whatever they are, from the arts, to athletics, to work. I ask that you guide them and when they are through with college, I pray the perfect journey will start for them. One that includes their hearts desire as well as a partner and helpmate for life. A partner that you have been preparing for them now with a heart for you and one that will build them up and love them always right where they are. I pray if it is your will they will have children and Trey and I can grow old together watching all of this unfold and getting to be a part of their lives….with our health, happiness, love, and finances in tact so we can participate in life with them. What a beautiful thing that would be God. That would be my dream. Thank you God and I know you have us all but please keep my boys safe from the evils in this world. Protect them and fill them with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name, Amy

Yep….everyday this is what I pray….sometimes I add in and sometimes if I am being lazy I just cut to the quick and say something like, “I am tired….please God allow us to grow old watching all three boys grow up to be and do wonderful things.”

I believe in my heart of hearts my mom did this for us. I believe she prayed for us starting October 22, 1970 and December 30, 2000 I believe my mom’s prayer came to life. Maybe not exactly how she would have had it because Lord knows I gave her a run for the money growing up, but when all was said and done I know she thought, “Yes Lord, this was my prayer. This man who loves and adores my Amy.”

December 30, 2000……The day we became one…..

So February 18, 1971 the world changed because of a beautiful addition, one that would change my world. I am so grateful for you Trey Berry! Thank you for always loving me right where I am, for believing in me when I don’t believe in myself, for building me up, and for giving me loads of grace! Grace that I don’t deserve.

I am so grateful my mom prayed over me like that and I am so grateful you were in God’s plan for me. You complete me and our family is so blessed because of you. I admire you. You are the most courageous man I know and the way you fight for your family leaves me in awe daily. Thank you for believing in us and for setting such an incredible example for our boys. Because of you someday they will make someone feel as safe, protected, and secure as you have made me. My prayer is they will find someone to love them back right where they are… always believing in them like I believe in you!

Our beautiful family….

I believe in you Trey Berry! Don’t you ever forget this! Happy Birthday my love and here is to many, many, more!

IWALY/LYMSIL,

Amy Girl

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Amy, Amy, quite the lady, how does your garden grow?  Bluebells, and seashells, and pretty pink tulips all in a row!

This child hood nursery rhyme is nothing short of truth to my marriage. Now I know comparing a garden to my relationship may seem weird but if you follow me there's no doubt you'll relate in the same way.

I just spent the most magnificent,relaxing, week away with my husband. On the plane ride back I started my third book of the trip and the whole basis was flowers and love.  Through this book, I realized our marriage, and all meaningful relationships, are the same in that relationships are like a garden.  If you don't tend to them, water them, and clean them out at times, what happens? They die.

Well, after the week we just spent in Mexico, my  garden (me and Trey) is lush and full of beautiful blooms, like we were first married.  However, I am smart enough to know that weeds will creep in, soil will go bad, bugs may or may not infest it, squirrels and rats may invade it, and children might stomp through it. What am I or you to do and protect our blooms.

TIME!

This is a tricky one as Trey is gone a lot, but it is also very important as I can honestly say we have had to fight to bring our garden back to life at times. What happens when you don't spend time in your garden?  I named a few above and they are all bad, so Trey and I decided we needed to really communicate in meaningful conversation a minimum of 15-30 minutes a day in order to keep our garden in the shape it is in now. Hate to break it to you, but what doesn’t seem hard, with three active boys, chores, groceries, schedules, a high energy dog that must be walked, might throw you for a whirlwind! It is much harder than you would expect.  I would like to think of the conversations we will have as water. Life. These conversations will help us to sustain the marriage just like water will help sustain the garden.

Date night does not have to be fancy like this either!  It could look like a run to home depot or the movies!

We also need to really focus on establishing a date night at least twice a month, preferably every week.  This part of the time equation is what will help keep the weeds out and when they start creeping in we can pull them immediately while we are out on our date.  Not a couples date either! A date with just Trey and I.

And lastly, we need to go away as a couple at least once a year, preferably, if one can afford the time and money, more than once a year. This will keep the insects and tiny animals like rats and squirrels at bay. If the children are stomping on the garden while playing ball ruining it we can  fix it because we will be away, alone, spending time together. Feeding, nourishing, and loving on our garden and our marriage, watching it come back to life.  If you are lucky enough to do this more than once a year think how beautiful your garden will be!

This is us on a date to Home depot then off to the movies!  Time well spent!

I don't know much and by no means am I a counselor, but I do listen to my friends who have been in tough situations and I have looked back on my own marriage during tough times and it all pretty much came back to we were not spending good quality time together. One on one time that does not revolve around the kids, work, friends, fundraisers, or simple management of day to day life.  Time, time, time. When Trey and I are in a rut and believe you me it has happened and I am sure it will again, it comes back to-WE HAVE STOPPED SPENDING MEANINGFUL TIME TOGETHER. Sure we were physically present, but not emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.

We were so young here!  How fun to remember these times!

Think about your relationship when you first met and compare it to a brand new garden.  That relationship took time to grow just like your garden. You were so excited to water it and see what would come up from the ground and you could not wait to get to know it more.  Just like your spouse, you could not wait to get to know him/her more and your relationship grew into a beautiful marriage, just a like a new garden that you spent time in. In order to keep the garden beautiful you must be intentional with your efforts to keep it alive and the same goes for our marriages. We have to be intentional on our effort to spend meaningful time together.

Life has too many twist, turns, ups and downs, and curves that if we are not intentional about this time, we too can find our garden bored,  dried up, and lifeless and in such bad shape we just want to quit and start over. A little secret my friend, quitting and starting over will still require you to invest intentional time in your new garden.  So why don't you just do the work in your current garden. I know Trey and I have worked hard at ours and we will continue to, won't you join us?

xo,

Amy

Hello, World!

Take advantage of Target's sale on bath!  Sale Ends Thursday!

A Love Letter to Trey

When I started my blog and my writing I made a pact with my husband I would not air any of our dirty laundry.  I am very open as most of you know by now and Trey's one request is that I would respect our "stuff."  I agreed with him, but with the knowledge of knowing at some time I would have to make it very clear that our marriage is not a story book marriage. 

No marriage that I know of is and we are no different.  We have our ups and downs.  Our good times and our bad times.  We have our scary moments and our moments of sheer joy.  What I think sets us apart from some marriages is that A. we never forget who is at the center of our marriage,  God, and B.  We never quit on each other.  I mean seriously people, if we did not have God at the center of our marriage, our marriage would of been over so long ago.  Promise.  It is just too hard in this broken world and without God we would be so lost and it would be so easy to just quit.  But we don't.  So today I want to thank my husband for not quitting ever.

Dear Trey, 

It's Valentines Day!  A day for love and romance.  After 17 years of marriage and really almost 26 years together since we met, I realize how lucky I am and that it is not just about the love and romance.  The romance comes and goes in a fleeting moment, but what you and I have....well, that has stood some test that would shake any relationship to it's core and we have managed to somehow come out of it stronger.  Why?  I firmly believe it starts with our faith in God and I know I have you to thank for that.  Sure my parents did a great job while I was growing up to get me to church and Sunday school.  They prayed over meals with me and at bedtime and I do think that set my foundation, but being married to you has been what has really challenged me in my faith and I mean this in a good way.  I will never forget when I got really sick in college and you wrote me a get well card that said, "I will be praying for you."  I thought that was weird!  A junior in college is going to pray for me?  Little did I know that was a glimpse into your passion for Christ.  As we got to know each other more and I got to witness first hand your love for God and I too began to grow in my faith.  Watching you made me want to be better.  Watching you made me want to know God more.  Watching you made me want to really have a faith and really trust in God.  You pushed me in my faith in times when I was frozen or had my back to it.  You never gave up on me in my walk and if I fall short again I still don't think you will give up on me.  Through you I have learned so much about grace, about forgiveness, about true love, and about faith.  For this I will forever be grateful. I grow to love you more everyday and I did not think this was possible, but it is true.  Naturally we have difficult moments where I wonder, "how are we going to make it through this time?" And I know unfortunately there will be more of those moments in the future, but I would not trade any of it for the world because I do think it is part of our love story and part of our journey.  There is no one else in the world who I would want to travel this path with but you, because Trey Berry, I love you and I am proud of the husband you are and so very proud of the father you are.  I love you more today than I did yesterday and less than I will tomorrow!  I love you big!  

LYMSIL,

Amy   

Hello, World!

Hello, World!