General Updates & Keto
Sorry it's been so long since my last post update--I've been extremely busy writing books and short stories (of which I currently have one short story and three books out, but by the end of this month, I'll have another two short stories, and at the end of April, another book! Huzzah! More on those releases below) and starting my own cartography business. I also work part-time each day for another company, so my days usually go from early morning to late night without much of a pause to catch my breath.
I want to add updating my blog twice a week to my daily schedule, so keep an eye out. I'll be updating on Tuesdays and Thursdays from here onward! Since this blog is mainly for my multi-series story arc, The Amuli Chronicles, most of the updates will be in regards to that, however, I've just started (as in a little under two days ago) the ketogenic diet to lose some weight for my wedding, for my health, and for myself, and I'd like to use this blog as a platform to discuss my experience with the diet. In the short time I've done it, I've learned a lot. Namely, that I only had about 5 hours of keto flu, which is rather inspiring. It also makes me worry that I might have taken in more carbs yesterday than I thought I had, which means another round of feeling nasty may yet be in store for me. I'll update more about my experience with keto flu on Tuesday if it happens again...
Today I've taken in maybe 15g of carbs, which is my max per day. I accidentally used orange bell peppers in a recipe, thinking they would be okay as far as carbs go. Well, they sort of are; they have a net of 4g carbs and 3g sugar per medium pepper; diced in a meal, I've had probably close to 2g carbs and 1.5g sugar (we used a large pepper). I doubt I'll use orange peppers often, though I do love their flavor.
I actually introduced my husband, Micahl, to raw orange bell peppers last night as I taught him to cook! He was quite surprised how wonderful they taste raw. I suspect people think all peppers are spicy. Not so! And, actually, as I do research, it looks like all bell peppers are about the same amount of carbs (sans yellow, which are 12g for a medium pepper--WOW! That's a lot!), so orange peppers may still be part of the daily intake. I am surprised at how many grams of carbs broccoli has in it... and a little disappointed, but that's okay. We'll just add a little to one meal a day!
Most people on keto start craving bread and sweets. For me, bread has always been "meh," something I was never into, but always ate because it was part of my diet as I grew up. I don't miss bread. Potatoes? Sure, a little, but even then, we didn't eat them often once I moved out of my parents' house, so... yeah, I sort of got used to not eating them too often. The carb I miss most is the adult fermented one, if you catch my draft--er, drift. Still, I would average maybe 3 drinks in 2 weeks, so, again, not too bad; I can just have one or so on my "cheat" days.
What I DO miss is my sweets. Mainly, sweet coffee. I'm a sucker for a solid peppermint mocha or caramel frap. Seriously. That's the fastest way to my heart. One of the first things I did yesterday was look up a keto-friendly sweet coffee. And, lo and behold, I found a good, solid recipe for a caramel latte (that I can TURN into a frap at home). Starbucks sells sugar-free (and carb-free) caramel sauce, and with a dash of heavy whipping cream (about 0.4g carb per 1 tbsp--I add about 4 tbsp per cup), the coffee cures two of my ailments--sweets and coffee! Even better, with my supplies (which cost me about $30), I can make close to 100 cups, which will save me a LOT of cash. Yay! Double win!
One of the things that worried me about going on keto was the amount of oils and grease and fat you're supposed to take in. My family has a history of heart disease and heart attack, so I've sort of rearranged how much of those I devour--at least for the first week. Just enough time for my body to adjust. I need more veggies (mostly green, leafy veggies; no carrots or corn or peas) and lean meats, such as fish, shrimp, and lean chicken breasts. I'm also aware that I need a lot of fuel, so I cook my veggies in bacon grease to help add that dash of fatty oils my body needs. Again, I'll figure it out as time goes on and as I make small adjustments.
For anyone seeking to do the ketogenic diet, I implore you to do a lot of research. Also, think about your family history and whether or not your family has any heart issues. Take care of yourself first. I also recommend searching hard for good recipes that utilize a lot of greens and lean meats. Everyone's body is different, so take your time and learn about what YOU need most of all. If you do decide to try going keto--or if you have in the past--I'd love to hear about your experiences!
Book Updates
I have some exciting new releases slated for this year, and boy oh boy, will there be a lot of them!
Most of my projects for The Amuli Chronicles are published through Evolved Publishing, but I have a few that will be self-published. And yes, they will be edited thoroughly and by the same editor as the rest of the series. These stories are more for my own benefit, to have more control over my project and focus on where I see parts of certain series are headed while remaining true to what readers will enjoy.
This year, I'm slated to publish (with Evolved Publishing):
March 28, 2016
Frendyl Krune Origins: The Sandstone Script Soulbound Origins: The Crow Prince
April 25, 2016
Frendyl Krune and the Stone Princess
June 27, 2016
The Soulless King: Part One; Sequel to The Soulbound Curse
July 25, 2016
Frendyl Krune Origins: Their Pretty Bones
August 29, 2016
The Soulless King: Part Two; Sequel to The Soulbound Curse
September 26, 2016
Frendyl Krune and the Nightmare in the North
October 24, 2016
The Soulless King: Part Three; Sequel to The Soulbound Curse
November 28, 2016
Frendyl Krune Origins: His Obsidian Mortality The Soulless King print omnibus
Like I said, a lot coming out. I'll be self-publishing these titles as well, though the dates are not yet set:
Paper Sun: An Ekra Clan Short Story
Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book I: The Glass Heart Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book II: Heir of the Knotted Soul Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book III: The Hanged Company Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book IV: Their Bone Dungeons Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book V: Herald of the Blue Sands Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book VI: Vultures of the Broken Banner
If you're interested in seeing the cover for Princess Yorsyl's Rise: Book I: The Glass Heart, subscribe to my newsletter. I'll be sending out a special edition at the end of next week with the cover revealed early for those curious.
As of now, that's all I have pending in the world of books. Now you know why I kept forgetting to update my blog! ;) Well, this time, I won't forget.
Have a fantastic day, everyone! Oh, and before I forget--here's a quick peek at the gorgeous cover for Paper Sun! Enjoy!!
Hey Kira, I know bacon grease tastes great but if you want some healthier fats, avocados are great. At Costco, I have also found Avocado oil for cooking!
ReplyDeleteAnyways, keep up the good work. My friend who is diabetic started a Keto diet a couple of years ago. I know you are not diabetic but seeing her be successful with it, I know that it can work and you can still have plenty of energy.
Thanks, Bao! Unfortunately, I'm allergic to avocado, but I am finding other ways around it like coconut oil. I'll look into the avacado oil for Micahl though! And yeah, as I researched, I learned the positives ketosis has on diabetic patients. Very cool how everything works. :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOuch! Avocados are too awesome to be allergic too. Coconut oil is great though too. Consider refined coconut oil. It is cheaper and it has a higher cooking temperature. I really don't believe you need "raw" oil. Supposedly it has more health benefits but I have not seen hard science on it.
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