The 5-pocket styling is what did it for me with the skinny pant. They feel like a legging (so comfortable) but look like a real pair of leather pants. The hidden shaping panel flattens and tones your tummy I mean scroll up and look at the first photo. I am one confident curvy lady in these pants.
I hate to play favorites…but these are my FAVORITE of the new styles. They really look and feel like leather (like the skinny), but are flattering in a relaxed/effortless way. These WILL be a staple in my wardrobe.
This style does run big, but not big enough to make me want to size down to a size small. I like that they are bigger and sit a bit higher on my waist. I have been styling them with my SKIMS bodysuits and could not feel more confident in them!
Have you ever seen the episode of Friends when Ross is struggling to put on his leather pants in the bathroom?
That was me the first time I put them on. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It took me a solid 20 minutes to get these leggings on the first time I wore them. It was a FULL workout and I walked out of the house a sweaty mess!
I was also hesitant to like these leggings because I owned the Commando version of these leggings and they quickly got a hole in them after one wear however, my Forever 21 version of these leggings lasted forever!
So after a couple of wears, here is my final review ->
You NEED to break them in. They are tight plastic pants, but once you get them on they are 100% worth it. I originally questioned if I needed to size up to a large with this style, but once you break them in you are good to go in your usual Spanx size. These pants are NOT easy to wear, but the hidden contoured waistband makes them another flattering legging option in my closet.
No center-seam = more camel toe
Hot Tip: Like all patent leather, you may experience some squeakiness during wear. If this occurs, apply lotion or oil to the outside of the legging at the inner thighs <- I didn’t need to do this. I found that once I worked them in the squeaking went away and I was moving and shaking.
I will wear these leggings because I’m Kat and Spanx sent them to me for free. If you are going to invest in any of the new styles head straight to the leather-like joggers and don’t look back.
#KetoKat is back and sharing everything I know from my experiences on the keto diet.
AND before you come for me, let’s just be upfront and honest here. I am NOT a nutritionist, dietician, or doctor. I am simply someone who has had great success with the keto diet sharing my favorite keto tips, tricks, and shopping lists!
I started the diet 9/9/20 and will be updating this post throughout my journey. Find my weight and results and the very end of this post.
Keto Tips
Stock your fridge and give yourself plenty of time to prepare. I usually give myself about two weeks to clean out the fridge and pantry and mentally prepare for the lifestyle change. This is the most important thing to keep in mind from my keto tips because you really have to prep for this diet.
Drink lots of water! Dehydration is one of the most common side effects of the ketogenic diet. Many people overlook how much more water you should be drinking when you are on a low carb diet. I keep my BKR bottle full and next to me at all times.
Feel like you are coming down with the keto flu? Have an awful headache? Take a shot of pickle juice #trustme Just make sure that you stick to the correct pickle juice! The simpler the ingredient list, the better.
Are you starting to smell? It happens and it happened to me -> brush your teeth multiple times a day, chew sugar-free gum, and drink that chlorophyll water <- a natural deodorant <- one of my favorite keto tips.
and remember this ->
CARBS ARE A LIMIT, PROTEIN IS A GOAL & FAT IS A LEVER
CARBS ARE A LIMIT.
This means you set the maximum that you can consume per day – typically up to 20 to 30 grams per day for most people. If you go under this number, that’s okay! It’s not a hard goal, just a limit. I highly recommend using the KetoDiet app to create your goals.
PROTEIN IS A GOAL.
This means you want to reach this number each day, so try not to go below the goal. Going over a little bit is also okay, but a large excess in protein might convert to glucose and kick you out of ketosis; how easily this happens varies from person to person.
FAT IS A LEVER.
After your carb limit and protein goal, the remaining calories you need for the day come from fat. This is what keeps you satisfied and provides the majority of your energy source.
You can use fat as a lever, increasing it up or down, based on your goals. Increase it if you’re hungry, decrease it to lose weight, but remember you can’t go too low (don’t get caught in the outdated “fat is bad” trap) since it’s your main energy source.
Apps
KetoDiet | upgrade to the pro version for $2.99 a month <- it is 100% worth it
Books
Keto Comfort Foods | the best cookbook! the recipes are so good and easy to make
The only premium meat delivery service – 100% Grass-fed and Grass-finished Beef, Heritage Breed Pork, and Free-range Organic Chicken. If you follow any of my keto tips make it this one! Even if you aren’t on keto, the benefits of grass-fed and grass-finished meats will rock your world.
Keto Space Shake | ready-to-drink keto shake and an easy meal replacement
Palmini | low carb heart of palm pasta | linguine + angel hair | 4 g of carbs | my favorite low carb pasta -> the key to making them is to soak them in milk or water before you cook them for at least 15 minutes -> The BEST Palmini Pasta Recipes
ChocZero | dark chocolate chips | 1 g of carbs | I keep them in the freezer and eat a couple at night if I have a major sugar craving
Birch Benders Keto Pancakes | holy shit this pancake mix is good! | I just made a play on the Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits today and HOLY SHIT they were good! Details below under recipes.
Hint Water | one of the biggest challenges for me when I am doing keto is what to drink when I am hungover
KNOW Foods – KNOW Better Pancake Mix, Keto Pancake | These pancakes are SERIOUSLY good. All you need is a little Kerrygold butter and you are good to go! I just checked and the KNOW brand looks to be sold out. Giving this brand a shot.
Organic Spinach – I buy 3 to 4 bags. Lots of leafy greens are key to keto success!
Shredded Cabbage
Riced Cauliflower
Green Onions
Cut Onions (because I hate chopping them -> but be careful lots of carbs in onions)
Teeny Tiny Avocados
Bok Choy – I am obsessed with bok choy right now! Cook it in coconut amino acids, garlic and butter.
Meat/Fish
Cubed Pancetta
Pork Belly – The boxed fully cooked product is so good.
Chicken Breakfast Sausage
Smoked Ahi Tuna/Salmon
Organic bone broth
Dairy/Deli/Prepared Foods
Kerry Gold – I like to have 3 to 4 on hand at all times.
Heavy Cream – I usually snag two. I use it in my coffee and in almost everything I cook.
Mozzarella Rolloni
Cheddar Snack Pack
Shredded Unexpected Cheddar
Folio Parmesan Cheese Wraps
Cauliflower Thins – These are a new product and a HARD yes. Buy as many as you can get your hands on. I’ve been making keto-friendly Papa John’s breadsticks out of them. Slice them into strips and pop them in the oven to toast. Make a butter/herb mixture. Coat the cauliflower thins in them and reverse plenty for a dipping sauce.
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Dip
Tzatziki
Avocado’s Number Guacamole To Go
Columbus Hard Salami
Frozen
Riced Cauliflower Stirfry
Green Vegetable Foursome
Mashed Cauliflower
Langostino Tails
Shrimp Burgers
Pantry
Kale Chips
Oven-Baked Cheese Bites – Always get the truffle if it is in season!
Chomps Grass-Fed Beef Sticks
Truffle Marcona Almonds – I can clear the entire bag in one sitting! <- Don’t do that! Snag a couple for an afternoon snack
Giardiniera
Pitted Salted Manzanilla Olives – Keep this in your bag at all times! The perfect keto snack.
(more to come -> I will be updating this every day)
Breakfast
Best-Ever Cabbage Hash Browns – Be sure to really coat the egg mixture all over the cabbage, add in a little cheese and fry them up in butter vs the oil the recipe suggests. These hash browns are seriously good!
Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Soup – I seriously crave a cheeseburger when I’m on the keto diet (especially when I’m hungover) and this soup fulfills everything I need and more. This is my favorite keto recipe and one of my favorite keto tips.
Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup – This soup is a little thin compared to your traditional Brocolli Cheddar Soup, but extra creamy and delicious.
Slow Cooker “Better Than Botox” Bone Broth – I used this recipe as a guide but I made some major modifications. I roasted the beef neck, marrow, and knuckle bones in the oven on a baking sheet before I put them in the slow cooker <- I feel like this is a very important step. Every other recipe that I found included roasting the bones! I also added in a jalapeno with all the vegetable scraps and let it cook for 36 hours. The second time I made this recipe I added in peppercorns, extra salt, and an extra splash of apple cider vinegar. THIS was by far my best go at it!
Keto Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits – I started with this recipe and made some major modifications. I used the Birch Bender Keto Pancake Mix instead of flour and heavy cream instead of milk. I think this may be my new favorite keto recipe. My cousin just called them crack!
Salmon Pinwheels – god I love these. Salmon, capers, and cream cheese are the key to my heart.
Entrees
Keto Pork Chops – Make these pork chops ASAP! This is seriously by far one of my favorite recipes. So easy and so delicious. You MUST use the Butcher Box pork chops. They make such a huge difference. Love this version of the recipe too.
The fringe trend has been all over the catwalks since last year. Nearly every designer added fringe to their collections, whether on jackets, dresses, or handbags. Fringe and cowboy boots were a big trend and are still popular this fall. We’ve seen the Wild West theme not only during Fashion Week and on Instagram but also in the streets <- insert me swaying around Jackson Hole all week in my vintage suede jacket.
The most obvious way to wear fringe is on a suede jacket, paired with jeans and cowboy boots ->
Watch Toy Story 3 if you need some inspiration for your western look.
But you can find fringe jackets in the most varied styles and materials; leather, denim, wool, embellished with studs or logos, you name it <- and I’ve linked them all below.
Second-hand shops are excellent places to get vintage and previously-owned designer jackets.
I snagged my jacket at Womenfolk Jackson Hole -> a collection of timeless, quality vintage and designer consignment clothing sourced and curated in Jackon Hole, Wyoming. If you come to Jackson Hole, this shop is a MUST!
The last time I wore a fringe denim jacket was for Outside Lands 2016, and THANK GOD it is still hanging in my closet! This jacket was impossible to find the summer of 2016 and by some act of God, my mom got her hands on an xs the week before my birthday and Outside Lands… I wonder if it still fits?!
And now look at us, here we are. It’s time to shop for outerwear, I’m was already fringe obsessed, but my trip to Wyoming made me want to scream it from the Tetons. I guess that’s mostly because it is a huge part of the street style here and everyone is making it look so cool and appealing.
If you invest in any of the current options — I’m particularly fond of this Stella McCartney splurge, Topshop’s ecru faux fringe dream, and the Danielle Bernstein x Macy’s, Faux-Suede Fringe Jacket, — you’ll be really making a statement. So much so that the rest of your outfit accouterments will barely require any attention at all. I see no better reason to hop on the bandwagon.
Gucci Black GG Tights – run slightly big | I own them in a medium and large and prefer the medium
CHLOÉ Betty Rubber Boots – fits true to size, take your normal size | Only available in full sizes, go up to the nearest whole size if you take a half size
