I could be responsible for the shut down of our entire town, Rachel! BE WELL!

It’s super intense.

Because of this intensity, I tend to charge myself with the job of “getting serious.” I get laser focused on “the problem,” and pour all my energy into fighting it.

What’s the problem this week? Sickness!

What can I do to fight it? Clean the house from top to bottom, Helicopter Mom over the preventative care of my husband and children, be intensely proactive about getting ahead of my work load and laundry load. I’m keeping my eyes on the groceries, the gas tank, and how much hand sanitizer my family is lathered in at any given moment. My normal operating hours are 5 am to 9:30 pm. But this week, I’ve been staying open until midnight in response to community intensity.

It’s great to take things seriously and follow the recommendations of medical professionals. But, I forgot to put “celebration” and “enjoyment” on my things to do list.

If you’re anything like me, the thought of taking time to celebrate and experience enjoyment seems almost irresponsible.

Celebration and enjoyment can resume after all this is over.

Actually, they can’t. Believe it or not, celebration and enjoyment are critical staff. We cannot be healthy spiritually, mentally, emotionally, or physically without them. Celebration and enjoyment produce joy. And, joy is the fuel we need to reach the finish line of an endeavor with a good attitude.

Joy powers us. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Without joy, you will experience weakness.

When there’s no joy in the tank, we look for alternate fuel to mimic joy. That’s exactly what I did when I reached for the Costco-sized jar of mixed nuts sitting on the counter at work. I ate a lot of nuts, but I didn’t satiate my joy tank. Rather, I filled up on guilt.

That’s not good. We’re not built to run on guilt. Our natural response to guilt is to punish ourselves. We seal off our access to celebration and enjoyment. And, in doing so, we actually propel ourselves into a deeper state of imbalance.

Thankfully, I caught the symptoms of imbalance early. I plan on treating them with a healthy dose of fun today. If I don’t, I know what the outcome will be…I’ll make myself sick. And, I DEFINITELY don’t want that.

More than ever, staying healthy is our gift to the world. So, let’s all do our part: stick to our eating plan, stay home as much as we can, wash our hands, and schedule heaping doses of celebration and enjoyment!

In this climate of uncertainty, our thoughts and conversations are permeated with words like frugal, economize, restrict, and ration.

We should be tightening our belts, the news admonishes us on an hourly loop. So, even as we’re setting up our home office and our kids’ homeschool nooks, we’ve got one eye on our storehouse of essentials. We are constantly assessing and dividing: need vs. want. And, we’re practicing restraint like the Karate Kid preparing for his match with Cobra Kai.

So, if we’re doing this lockdown thing so right, why does sticking to our eating plan feel like it’s going so wrong?

It’s because we have eliminated extravagance. And, believe it or not, extravagance at this time can actually provide some balance.

Now, before you give your accountant a migraine, hear me out. Extravagance does not require your wallet. Of course, the word, extravagance, conjures images of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” with Robin Leach sipping champagne on a yacht. But, extravagance just means a nonessential frill which provides a measure of comfort and self-indulgence. It’s a treat. It’s a bit of luxury. And, it will provide some much-needed balance.

Because, the truth is, enjoyment has intrinsic value. It keeps our emotions strong and healthy. And, emotions are not a bad thing. God gave us emotions. While we must not allow them to rule us, denying their existence is equally dangerous.

Life may look a lot different right now. But, one thing remains the same: you cannot labor through the day without any expectation of enjoying the fruit of that labor. Treating yourself is not wasteful, it’s an investment in your mental health.

Of course, treats are different for every person. Maybe taking a nap or watching a movie in the middle of the afternoon would feel extravagant. For other people, eating meals on the dishes normally reserved for special occasions would feel luxurious.

Taking time for living room dance parties is an extravagance for me. I also enjoy foot baths, card games, wearing my best jewelry to fold laundry, and watching the birds from the comfort of my recliner.

This week, I pray you’re enjoying conversations with loved ones, fresh air, and hearty laughs, as often as you’re washing your hands. Balancing concern with joy can’t wait for the world to settle down. It’s essential.

I had a fantastic rhythm going on as I slid the coat hangers down the middle of the rack. It was like, “Slide, slide, stop. Slide, slide, stop. Slide (not for me), slide (that’s got a stain), stop (this has possibilities). Slide (what were they thinking when they made this), slide (that’s gonna wrinkle too easily), stop (Welcome to Rachel’s shopping cart!).

But, my shopping rhythm was interrupted by a style of shorts I have always wanted to wear, but can never make work.

Knowing me so well, my mother began heading my way as she saw me frozen in the middle of the aisle. It must be another pair of those shorts, she rightly guessed. They’re my white whale, for sure. I’ve tried on this style of shorts a million times. But, they’re always a Moby Dick to me. I can NEVER get them over my butt!

Mom grabbed a high-waisted pair of pants on her way to me. Holding them up and shaking them a bit for effect, she began to compliment, “Hey, did you see these? You have such a tiny waist! These would look great on you!!”

It didn’t matter that they were from the junior boys section. She just needed a distraction because I was stuck staring at these shorts I knew I couldn’t wear.

When she finally reached my side, reality set in and she reminded me, “We can’t try anything on, (because COVID). I don’t think you want to risk it.”

There were plenty of clothes in the store I could wiggle my way into in a pinch. Even if I needed a running start to get in them and had to lay on the bed to zip them up, I could make it work. But not these shorts. My butt just does not fit in these pants! If I am ever going to get into these style shorts, I’m going to have to work on my butt.

It’s the same with my health goals. I have some plans for my future, but I also have some “buts” that just don’t fit in those plans.

For example, I have plans to exercise every day. BUT, I don’t want to exercise if it’s hot outside. BUT, I don’t want to exercise if I’m sore. BUT, I don’t want to exercise if there’s something more fun to do in that time slot. My plans are amazing. However, I can’t squeeze my “BUT” in them.

As you can imagine, a lot of people ask us about our ketogenic lifestyle. They have plans for getting healthy, kicking their sugar and carb addictions, losing weight, and being around for their friends and family…the plans go on and on. And, they’re really amazing plans for a bright future! We get super excited hearing about the plans they have for themselves. So, we share about what they can do to get started. Sometimes we sit down with them for a couple hours. And then, they show us their “BUTS.”

“BUT, I just can’t give up this, this and the other.”

“BUT, this isn’t a good time for me right now.”

“BUT, I’m not sure this would work for me.”

“BUT, I’m not sure this is sustainable.”

When we part ways, our hearts are usually hurting badly for these people. Because we know their “BUTS” don’t fit in their plans.

Even within the keto community, we’ve got a lot of “BUTS” hanging out.

Folks have plans to kick their sweet tooth, cut out wonky ingredients and get rid of inflammatory oils.

BUT they just need to, have to, want to, sometimes, always, can’t help, continuing to do this one, itty bitty, counterproductive thing.

Can’t we just squeeze this BUT in the plan?

I wish we could squeeze it in. Truly, I do. I wish we could squeeze the BUTS in our plans even more than I wish I could squeeze my butt in those pants.

But, we can’t.

This week, the challenge is to work on our “BUTS.” What’s the ingredient or behavior you know you need to work out of your life so that you can successfully fit into the plans you have for yourself?

I know we can do it. No buts about it.

…and strong – both emotionally AND PHYSICALLY.

As you know, I do a lot of shipping. And, when I have a giant carload to drop off at the post office, my mom will often come along to help me. Watching her walk out the front door when I came to pick her up today, she had a smile across her face like the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. She pointed to the shirt she was wearing which read, “I hate being sexy but someone has to do it.”

The words, “Oh my Lord,” were still coming out of my mouth when she opened the passenger side door to get in.

“I just picked this up from the thrift store!” She giggled, adding. “Hey, I’ve eaten right this week, got a bunch of exercise in: I’m doing awesome. Somebody’s gotta say it.”

And, she’s absolutely right.

I am fantastic at drawing my attention to all the ways I need to work on myself: A roll here, a wrinkle there. I can spot a blemish from a mile away. Still, it’s hard for me to look in the mirror and admit I look good, so much better than I did for many years.

But, someone has to do it.

Seriously, you need to hear you look good. You will not be successful in the long term if you are ignoring your self-esteem all together or fueling it on negative nagging.

Like so many folks, I’ve adopted a wrong belief that it’s other peoples’ job to tell me I look nice. My husband, my kids, my friends, my extended family – that’s who should be praising my outward appearance. After all, if I am the one saying I look good, I’m just being conceited. And, that’s not a good look for anybody.

As I said, that’s a wrong belief.

It’s nice when my husband and kids brag on my appearance, but that’s not their job. In fact, putting the burden on them to notice positive changes in me is really unfair. Either they will exhaust themselves constantly scanning for areas to praise me or they will fall short of my needs and expectations, which can do damage to our relationship.

As I look in the mirror at the new shirt I bought, I can also take a minute to look at the new girl wearing it. She’s giving her health goals all she’s got and she’s come so much further than she ever thought possible. If I only have enough time to glance at myself before I run out the door, wouldn’t it be more beneficial to look for the good instead of always scanning for what’s wrong with me?

That’s what my mom did this morning. And one thing’s for sure: Mother knows best.

I tried to pinpoint who coined the term, “Weekend Warrior.” Apparently, though, the author was too busy to take credit.

It makes sense. After all, a “weekend warrior,” refers to someone who participates in an activity, “only in their spare time.” 

But what in the world do they mean by “spare” time? I’m a wife, mom, sister, daughter, children’s minister, shipping manager, writer, YouTuber and friend. At first I assumed by “spare time,” they meant time that’s additional or left over after one has fulfilled all their commitments. However, in my life, the promise of spare time can be like dangling a ball in front of Cinderella: 1. You can go after you get your chores done. 2. You’ll never get all these chores done. 

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Better-Find-Me-A-Fairy-Godmother.

For years, I moped, (not mopped), around with a broom in one hand and a breadstick in the other. Sadly, a horse drawn carriage was never sent to give me a night off. So, I consoled myself – evening after evening – with junk food pity parties. After hearing plenty of midnight bells, I successfully turned myself into a pumpkin.

The keto lifestyle has certainly liberated me from a pantry seemingly stocked by an evil stepmother. But, an outward transformation is only the first half of Happily Every After. What we don’t see in the Disney cartoon is how Cinderella transformed her schedule.

While measuring trailer cabinets on an rv sales lot, I decided the king’s aide must have helped Cinderella make the transition from cinder sweeper to lady of leisure. But, I don’t even know anybody with a monocle. 

Joe was looking at a backup camera when we noticed the spare tire on the unit had exploded in the Florida heat. 

That’s the second spare tire we’ve lost today, the salesperson lamented. The mechanics check on the trailer tires regularly, but not the spares. They just inflate them a bunch and leave them. They don’t realize they haven’t properly allowed for pressure. And, when the heat turns up, the spares swell and burst.

It was then I remembered another definition of “spare.” A spare is an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out. And my “spare time,” (the time I had allotted for a burnt out schedule), looked a lot like that exploded tire. 

Self-care is suppose to be something I carry with me. But, if I don’t put rest on the checklist with responsibilities, it won’t be something I can count on. And, I know what happens when I feel tired, overdone, and stressed out…I kick off both glass slippers and head straight for the banquet table.

Suddenly, the “weekend warrior,” term made more sense. If I want some “spare time,” I’m going to have to fight for it. But, just like budgeting for better quality meats and non-inflammatory oils are worth the investment, budgeting for “spare time” is worth the investment as well.

This week, check your spare time. Is it in good shape? If not, change out your schedule. Because, life is no fairy tale. It’s the dream that you warrior, (not wish), that comes true.

I love this quote by Abraham Lincoln. But, I’d also like to edit it. I’d love to delete the words, “the very best I know how.” It would just make things way more comfortable for me.

The things I know how to do are pretty solid. I know how to ride a bike, do a push up, cook a pound of hamburger, drive a car and tie my shoes. I’ve learned how to do all those things and I can’t “unlearn” them. I may be rusty when it comes to doing some of those things, (especially push ups), because I don’t practice doing them every day. But, the knowledge is there, without much grey area.

Where there’s space for negotiation is in the “can” department. As I look for ways to apply Mr. Lincoln’s quote to today’s leg of my journey, the thought of doing “the very best I can,” gives me way more “but” room. And, I love to wiggle my “but.”  

For instance, my plan for today may include shopping only around the outer aisle of the grocery store, not opening my eating window until 2 pm and going to bed without dessert. As soon as I make my plans, the “buts” begin to wiggle their way in…

(While grocery shopping): “I know I didn’t intend to shop down this aisle…

but I may want to grab this for the future.”

but everybody in the keto community is eating this stuff and seems to get away with it.”

but everybody outside the keto community is eating stuff that’s way worse.”  

but _________________________________________.” (I’m going to go ahead and leave a  blank space here for any future “buts” I need to come up with to legitimize not realizing  my goals.)

(At noon): “I know I didn’t intend to eat until 2 pm… 

but my morning has been crazy.”

but I am starving.”

but I just need a little something.”

(At bedtime): “I know I didn’t intend to have dessert tonight…

but I had a hard day. I deserve this.”

but I had a great day. I want to celebrate.”

but I don’t want to feel deprived. If I feel deprived, I won’t stick to this way of eating.”

As you can see, those are some big “buts.” And, they’re not even all the “buts” I face in a 24-hour period. My feelings and emotions are constantly trying to squeeze all kinds of “buts” into my day to excuse me from the commitments I have made to myself, (without the pesky guilt of abandoning my plans).

It may seem benevolent and self-preserving to give myself “a way out” when I feel trapped into doing what I said I would do. But, it’s like spending 24 hours a day with the worst coach in the world: a coach who doesn’t expect you to get any better, doesn’t make you practice, and doesn’t even bring up your name in the locker room at halftime when you’ve been scoring points for the opposing team. 

Can you imagine Vince Lombardi – the guy who said “Winners never quit and quitters never win” – coaching that way? 

No way. Because like Lincoln, Lombardi knew the distance between “know” and “can” is compromise.

The size of my compromise determines the distance between what I know and what I will achieve. If I don’t compromise, what I know to do and what I can accomplish suddenly become close neighbors. As I give more space to compromise, I distance myself from achievement. I may still realize my goals. But, now I’m also going to face the draining obstacle of wanting to give up altogether, discouraged by grinding out success at a snail’s pace.  

This would be a great place to end this Fearless Friday post. There’s a challenge in it that’s challenging enough. I can work on working out compromise from my life. I’ll be really good today, finish this week out like a champ. 

But, that’s not the end of Mr. Lincoln’s quote: 

“I do the very best I know how; the very best I can…

… and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

Oh man, what “end” are we talking about here? 

Are we talking about the end of fall, (so I can become lax during the holidays?) Are we talking about the end of my current weight plateau? Or, does the “end” Lincoln refer to mean knowing better and doing better is now my way of life…every day?…for the rest of my life?

The answer is what makes Mr. Lincoln quotable. People don’t often make history for giving 100% ten percent of the time. A great leader honors their commitments with endurance. That’s what wins your team the Super Bowl.

Of course, two big “buts” just waltzed in to my thoughts: But, I’m no Abraham Lincoln. But, I’m no Vince Lombardi.”

I am the coach I spend the most time with, though. I hold the playbook. And, while I am not the President of the United States, I do preside over my health goals. So, how I lead my life every day matters. 

How you lead your life matters to your health goals, too.

This week, you have the opportunity to permanently change the distance between your “know” and your “can.”

So, what do you say? 

Truth be told, I’ve spent the majority of my life as an optimistic pessimist. Most folks would describe me as upbeat. But, when it came to expectations for the long-term success of my health goals, more often than not I bet against myself.

“Consistently inconsistent,” is how I usually described myself to others when they commented on my weight loss. The keto lifestyle had become my “home.” But, I built verbal storage sheds all around me. They were places where I planned to run and hide after this new way of eating inevitably became like all my old ways of eating: a failure.

Some may say it’s being realistic to mentally prepare yourself for potential setbacks. After all, I had tried to “get healthy” and/or “lose weight” so many times before. Wasn’t it prudent to potentially cushion the fall? I didn’t want to get too “cocky,” enjoy my fleeting success and then choke on my words when I gained the weight back…and probably even more weight. I better not draw any attention to myself, I reasoned. I needed to downplay my success and keep my future failure easily digestible. Sure, in the big picture view, it was a negative expectation. But, if I’m eating the Proper Human Diet in the right eating window, do those little, self-deprecating jabs even matter? 

Well, for me it did. 

In fact, my initial negative expectation for future Rachel really became an obstacle to Joe and I even starting 2KrazyKetos.

I had a pessimistic belief that weight loss was not sustainable for me. Why would I want to jeopardize the future health of others with a YouTube channel when I was a weight-loss jinx? 

I began to entertain thoughts like, “I’ll be lucky if I keep this weight off for another year,” “I’m so set in my ways now, I can’t teach this old dog new tricks,” “If I’m going to die soon anyway, might as well eat what I want and enjoy the time I’ve got left.”

The longer those thoughts languished in my mind’s lobby, the more time I spent looking for justification, proof and demonstration of future failure. I was expending so much energy on seeing that nothing good would happen, I actually predisposed myself to failure both personally and with the people I wanted to reach with the message of keto. 

Fortunately, a truly preposterous negative thought crossed my mind: “There isn’t anything new these keto conferences and YouTube speakers can teach me. I’ve heard it all already.”

I say, “fortunately,” I had that thought, because it was such a blatant lie it caused me to question all my other negative thoughts. And, they began to crumble. I had confused arrogance with confidence. Arrogance is fueled by a sense of self-superiority. Confidence is motivated by a belief that you can rely on someone or something. My negative expectations weren’t a threat to my arrogance, because I have never believed I am superior to anyone else. There was no danger there. My negative expectations did chip away at my confidence, though. And, that was dangerous to my future, because it held my hope hostage. 

Hope, or a confident expectation of good, is the oxygen to our “purpose cells.” Once I began to cultivate positive expectations for my keto journey, I could see my plane start to right itself. I had put on my own oxygen mask and now had the confidence Joe and I could help others put on their oxygen masks as well.

It’s such an understatement to say I’m glad we’re not going to crash, I have to write it again in all caps: “I’M GLAD WE’RE NOT GOING TO CRASH.”

Getting off the negative expectations plane and boarding the positive expectations 747 has made all the difference in my keto journey. An optimistic belief that whatever I do will result in success keeps me constantly alert and aware of opportunities to aide in the realization of my health goals. The odds are greater that what I want to happen will happen because I am expending energy to see that this will be so. Just by changing the temperature of my expectations, I am predisposing myself to realize success both personally and with the people I want to see healthy like my family and friends like you.

Maybe you have yet to take the positive expectations layover. Perhaps you feel stuck at the luggage carousel, as the baggage of past weight loss failures continuously circle. 

Please don’t let this way of thinking delay you another second from arriving at your health goal destination. Allow me to help you make the connection this week between your expectations and your success, because they matter: You are going to get this weight off permanently. You can change your relationship with food. You are a capable learner. You are so worth this investment in your health.

Now, tilt your seat back and enjoy the flight, you’re headed to new heights.

Honestly, before we were notified of the sale, I wasn’t even aware there was a Deep Blue Sea 2 or 3. But, we had both enjoyed the original movie. So, Joe figured why not buy it.

When I saw them in our “recently purchased” movie folder, I sort of rolled my eyes. The plots of these movies were so predictable: group of scientists, dangerous sharks, some folks make it/ some don’t, sharks are defeated in some explosive way.

These movies were going to be too…what’s the word…simple. They were going to be simple movies with simple plots. Leisure time can be so hard to come by with our busy schedules. Shouldn’t we be trying to elevate our down time?

We should be buying critically-acclaimed, thought-provoking, art house movies! We should be stretching ourselves as movie buffs by watching cinematic masterpieces that leave you feeling emotionally overwhelmed, (and maybe even a little confused).

Deep Blue Sea 2? Too Simple.

But, Joe had already clicked the buy it button, so I grabbed my plate of Buffalo Wild Wings and started watching the underwater adventure.

Just as I suspected, there were sharks, there were people trying to outsmart the sharks, and there were explosions. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d enjoy all that.

It was simple, but it worked. I wanted relaxation and entertainment. And, that’s exactly what I got! It was great!

We’ve been living this keto life for a while now. And, sometimes we put pressure on ourselves to elevate our meals to some new stratosphere. We think we should be reaching for all the ingredients for whatever new keto-approved dish is trending. We feel lazy if we aren’t mastering new cooking techniques, trying out some new appliance, or attempting a complicated recipe.

But there’s something to be said for keeping it simple: a plain old hamburger topped with a fried egg, chicken salad using chicken right out of the can, or a great hot dog topped with leftover chili.

They’re simple meals that are simply great. Reasonably priced and easy to make, they fuel the day in a flavorful way. They’re not complicated, but they don’t have to be.

What are some easy, go-to meals you’ve been leaving out of the rotation because they’re so simple they have no chance of making the Instagram feed?

Toss those tried and true ingredients in your shopping cart this week and keep it simple. I know exactly how your meals will turn out: delicious.

But, I do know it would be close to a Lowe’s.

As we’ve worked on the pop up camper these last couple weeks, Joe’s been to Lowe’s so many times, the employees shout “Norm!” (like on the tv show, Cheers), whenever he walks through the double doors.

It makes sense he’s there a lot, though. It’s an improvement store, after all. And, the camper has needed a lot of improvement. Joe’s spent night after night fixing, renovating, overhauling and … modifying.

Modifications. I think I’ve heard that word a handful of times in the last 40 years and 3 billion times in the last 2 weeks. But, that’s how you search for potential camper/trailer upgrade opportunities on YouTube. You search for modifications. And, the opportunities are seemingly endless.

You can modify the roof, the lights, the beds, the floors, the kitchen, the bathroom or the storage cabinets. You can modify water tanks and electrical wiring and where you put the dining room. The what’s, the how’s and the why’s are all there in 100s of playlists. Just print out the YouTuber’s shopping list for any one of them and you’re off to Lowe’s!

But, then you get to Lowe’s and you realize there are products on the shelves advocating modifications no YouTuber has even thought of yet! You want to eliminate all mosquitos in a 100-mile radius while taking a soak in your indoor hot tub, (which doubles as a massage chair, fits in just one camper drawer and runs off propane)? 

You can do it, I think. Just a few modifications. Check out the plumbing, electrical, flooring, carpentry and outdoor aisles. 

At one point, Joe had us sit down and decide what 5, not 500, modifications we wanted to make. We had good bones and limitless possibilities. It sounds like the perfect scenario. But, it’s not. Too many directions could easily drain our bank account and leave us with a whole bunch of half-completed projects. Because, at some point, we have to actually pack up and camp in this thing. Our timetable isn’t open-ended.

So, the question became: what 5 modifications could we complete by Sunday, August 23? We decided to repair the roof, fix the canvas, change the interior fabrics, paint the cabinets, and replace the floor. And, really, all the modifications had one common goal: to fortify the camper against future water damage.

Water is AMAZING and BEAUTIFUL. One big reason we want to camp is so we can experience more of it. We want to watch the rain, swim in the springs, fish in creeks, and feel the sea breeze as the sun sets on the ocean. As breathtaking as water can be, it can also be a jerk. The same water that will can make our vacation magical could also make our camper moldy. 

So, as much as I would love to add speakers and solar panels and an indoor shower to our camper, we can’t make all those modifications right now. And, that’s ok. We just need to make the changes that will insure our pop-up camper is able to stay on the road now, (and for years to come).

The keto space has become like Lowe’s. There are so many aisles to shop. Looking to modify your condiments? Aisle 4. Trying to build muscle while losing fat? Aisle 6. Strict keto, lazy keto or dirty keto? Aisles 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Venturing into carnivore or thinking about cyclical keto? Check out aisles 14 and 27.Modifying your fat sources? Changing out your sweeteners? We’ve got what you need, sure. But they’re all on different aisles.

At some point this week, sit yourself down and decide what are one or two, (not 10), modifications you want to make to your keto lifestyle. I recommend changes and add-ons you know will fortify your health goals against future damage. Because while there are a lot of beautiful products to behold, some can slow you down, (or worse, stall you).

Make a change this week to better secure your present keto lifestyle and insure a successful keto journey for years to come. 

Remember, you’ve got lots of happy trails yet to explore.

With all the pop outs “popped out” for the first time, Joe and I began reenacting a scene from the movie, “Stepbrothers,” (awkwardly dancing in our camper “living room” while proclaiming, “there’s so much more room for activities!”) 

I tied a rope around my waist and immediately headed for the Pinterest rabbit hole. (I highly recommend using the rope so someone can pull you out the hole at some point. I tend to get lost down there.) I wanted to see all the potential add-ons and fancy decorative touches I could use to fill every inch of the camper with cuteness. And let me tell ya, the Pinterest folks did not disappoint! There were layers upon layers of curtains and garland, tiny camper chandeliers, toss pillows a plenty and even bedazzled potted plants. There was lots of cool stuff for Joe to put on his list to Santa, as well. There were specialty, collapsible kitchen islands, miniature entertainment consoles and gadgets…GREAT DAY, THE GADGETS! … there are a lot camper gadgets out there!

We started to populate our Amazon wish list like soon-to-be parents about to throw themselves a baby shower. We needed EVERYTHING! All of it! 

Then, Joe and I began our camper renovation: fixing leaks, changing out floors and replacing cabinets. We swapped out existing curtains and refinished cushions. Then, our first real add-on arrived: a 17” tabletop Blackstone! We couldn’t wait to store it in our space-saving under sofa cabinet. Joe set it in place and we stood there for a second just staring at it.

“Wow, that fits perfect,” I believe is what I said. But, it wasn’t a super enthusiastic observation. That’s because what I was thinking was, “Whoa, you couldn’t fit that thing AND a piece of paper in that cabinet.” 

I knew Joe was having the same realization because his response was, “Well we NEED this Blackstone. That’s what we’re going to cook all our food on.” 

As he spoke, I could tell he was mentally unpacking some gadgets. Because while the cabinet is awesome and could hold anything we need to take with us. It suddenly became crystal clear that it couldn’t hold everything we wanted to take with us.

We faced another reality check when we had to move the camper to the side of our house. My toss pillows, lights, throws, serving trays, tea sets, and shabby chic wooden signs were Instagram adorable! But, if we were going to return this thing to it’s compact position and actually take it somewhere on vacation, all that crap had to go. We seriously had to strip that puppy down to the mattress pads in order to close it. I wanted our sleeping suite to look like it wandered out of Home Goods. But, all I needed was a mattress.

Honestly, I started to get a little frustrated. Look at all the fun stuff these other people get to take with them camping! I want votives and fluffy rugs and fine dinnerware! 

Then, I remembered why we bought the camper in the first place…we need to get away sometimes. We needsomething compact that we can store beside our house. We needsomething that is easy to take care of and inexpensive to maintain. We need something we can hook up in a moment’s notice, when there’s an opportunity to see a sunset together beside some calm waters. 

It got me thinking about all the products in the keto space. There are a LOT of products out there and many of them taste AMAZING!!! I want all of them. But, do I need all of them? Can I truly pack all of them into my macros and then take this “keto kamper” on the road to better health? Or, am I setting myself up for a lovely camper pantry that’s stalled in my driveway going nowhere? I want all the keto snacks. But, what I need is pretty basic nutrition.

This week, take a look at your keto wants and needs, and see if there’s something you’ve been trying to fit in that’s preventing you from collapsing old eating habits properly and preparing you for the next leg of your keto journey.

There may be some hard choices to make. But trust me, when you do, you’ll be a much happier camper!