UPDATE: I just want to say that I am humbled by your overwhelming support in the comments (with a few notable exceptions 😅) and I promise I will respond to them soon! Thank you so much for sticking with me on this new path! 💕
There are going to be some changes around here on I Breathe I’m Hungry, and since many of you have been here for years and years, I feel I owe you an explanation as to what and why.
When I started IBIH back in 2011, it was just a hobby and a place to connect with friends and give a home to the recipes I’d created over the years. By 2012 I had gained some followers and discovered that people were searching for low carb recipes that tasted good and helped them reach their goals – and there weren’t a lot of websites focusing on that at the time.
So I leaned into that niche and I Breathe I’m Hungry became a destination for people looking for delicious low carb, gluten free, and keto recipes. Eventually I created the free 3 Day Keto Kickstart and 12 weeks of keto menu plans – and then came the egg fast plan, the keto soup diet, and more recently the Squeaky Clean Keto plan and 30 day challenge.
I was so committed to keto recipes that I published two books on the subject – Keto for Life, and Squeaky Clean Keto, which were both well received.
Things were going great. So great that thousands of people and companies started creating keto recipes – some good, some not so much. Traffic to my website started to decline, but we were doing ok and there were plenty of people who were still coming to IBIH for keto recipes.
And then the pandemic hit.
Suddenly nobody wanted keto recipes anymore, and everyone was baking banana bread and crafting their own sourdough starters. Even my family went down the rabbit hole of baking and cooking elaborate non keto meals because what else were we going to do stuck at home for months at a time?
And so after publishing new keto recipes to the sound of crickets, I eventually put the website on autopilot and started pursuing other interests.
Since then we moved back to NY from Honduras, and bought an old 1870’s colonial estate that needed a lot of work. So we’ve been restoring that for the last 3 years, while renovating and launching 2 new short term rental properties, and more recently I’ve been building a micro flower farm on the property to sell specialty cut flowers locally here in the Hudson Valley.
It’s been very busy, but also very rewarding – and we are exhausted. Which hasn’t left a lot of time for making new recipe content here on the website.
Is I Breathe I’m Hungry Finished?
No. But…
While I want to get back to creating recipes, I honestly haven’t done keto in several years (though my closet is telling me I probably should be) and there has been a sharp decline in searches for keto recipes, so it feels like a waste of time to create more.
Also, ironically my house is huge with rooms I don’t need upstairs (and no closet space, WHY? ðŸ˜), but my kitchen is tiny, which is a constant source of frustration and has stifled my creativity and desire to work on cooking and photographing new recipes. So I need to be really inspired if I’m going to push through, and I haven’t felt inspired by keto in a long time.
In spite of those challenges, I have been feeling itchy to cook and get back to work doing what I love, and I need a direction to go in.
If you’ve been around the last few months you know that I have talked a lot about higher protein recipes, and I even started a new meal plan called Prioritizing Protein.
I also posted on social media that I was under contract with my publisher for a new high protein cookbook that was going to release in December. I am still publishing the cookbook, but I have delayed it to put my energy into rebuilding I Breathe I’m Hungry.
But what does that even look like?
Finally, She Gets to the Point
I’ve toyed with the idea of posting non keto recipes here on I Breathe I’m Hungry for years, but I’ve watched others go down that path in the past and get raked over the coals by their followers so I never did it, even when I lost my passion for keto.
Now that so many people have moved on from keto, and I have stepped away from the blog for an extended time, I’ve decided if I’m going to return and do my best work creating new recipes, then I have to do what inspires and excites me.
I also need to be posting recipes that resonate with people’s needs today, so that blog traffic will recover and I can continue to afford to put time into creating new content. Because without that income, I can’t justify the time it takes to keep working on it.
So while all of the existing keto content will stay on the website, and I will occasionally be posting new keto recipes as inspiration strikes, moving forward I Breathe I’m Hungry will no longer be primarily a keto recipe destination.
That may be tough for some of you loyal followers from the early days to accept, and please know that I don’t make this decision lightly. I have appreciated you being here and commenting and making this website and the Facebook pages into a thriving community. I hope you will stick around and see what’s next, but if IBIH is no longer for you then I totally understand.
Based on my polls and research though, many of you came for keto and kept following even though you don’t do keto anymore. You will hopefully love the new content. If you liked and trusted my keto recipes, then you will be as excited as I am that unrestricted by a need for non traditional keto ingredients, I will be able to bring delicious new recipes that are more accessible and seasonal.
That doesn’t mean I will be posting overly indulgent and unhealthy recipes here either though.
I’m currently inspired by higher protein recipes, that are moderate in carbs and fat – which is a healthy trend that I can get behind, and that many are finding a lot more sustainable than keto for the long term.
I will also be getting back to the Prioritizing Protein Meal Plans in the coming weeks, with the goal of having at least 6 weeks of meal plans available by the end of the year.
In a Nutshell aka. TLDR (too long didn’t read)
I Breathe I’m Hungry will maintain the keto and gluten free recipes and meal plans that are currently on the site, but moving forward I will be posting a variety of recipes that may or may not be keto. I am currently focused on healthy higher protein recipes that may include natural sugars, fruits, starches like potatoes and rice, and even sometimes *gasp* gluten.
Where possible, I will include modifications for those who are keeping to a low carbohydrate diet, or even gluten free or dairy free if applicable. I will also continue to provide nutrition information for the new recipes.
It will take some time to build up a catalog of the new high protein recipes, so meanwhile I will still be sharing existing keto recipes on social media and by email, so don’t be surprised if you see keto recipes still popping up.
As I release them, I will tag the new recipes and meal plans with “new” in the email title and social media description so keep an eye out for those coming soon.
If you are not already subscribed to my newsletter, now would be a great time to do so! You can find the subscribe box at the bottom of the post or on the front page of the website.
Barbara Frank says
I am with you 100% in deciding to change your methods. I am and shall remain a fan of yours and I’m looking forward to your new approach.
Thank you
Barbara Frank
Ellen Jost says
Dear Melissa!
As sad as I am at losing your trusted and wonderful guidance on all things Keto I am happy for you that you have found another new healthy direction. With the help of your recipes and blog I reversed Type 2 DM and lost a large amount of weight and maintained it for 5 years. Unfortunately I have been more „Cheato“ then keto lately resulting in 20lb weight gain though have maintained Diabetic free status with low carb high protein if not quite keto. i see that the blogosphere is very much advocating high protein and am doing the same for satiety and hopefully to lose those 20lbs. I look forward to your new recipe creations but also hope you will give us some keto versions. I wish you all the best. Take good care of yourself.
Carolyn Harlan says
I have long been one of your fans. My top two for what seems like years now has been you and Carolyn Ketchum. I actually tried going higher protein for a few months, unfortunately my kidney’s did not like that I did that at all. I have CKD3 due to systemic Lupus – my Lupus is now in remission and my kidney numbers stayed very stable on Keto diet, but when I toyed with an even higher protein diet my numbers went crazy and my doctor actually said I could be looking at dialysis in my future. That scared me and I went back to more keto than Ketovore/Carnivore and my last results are my kidney numbers have returned to their prior more stable level… so, what that means is I will continue on the low carb moderate protein way of eating. I have never been able to tolerate the higher fat version on Keto [I still have my gallbladder and prefer to keep it]. but I do great on low carb. I have particularly enjoyed being able to have sweets here and there on the low carb diet, thanks to all the innovations over the last 15 years… and now, with the addition of using bamboo fiber, oat fiber, egg white protein to make mixes that replicate 1:1 white flour with very low carbs baking has become even nicer for me as I am using a lot of gluten free recipes to make low carb recipes… if only I can figure our a nice flaky pie crust that is not almond or coconut flour. So far not much luck in that regard. BTW one of your recipes that is still my favorite is your cranberry coffee cake recipe – I LOVE that recipe and friends I’ve made this for could not tell it was low carb. Right now I am playing with making a sour dough starter, I plan on using a bamboo fiber mix with it to make some baguettes – which is something I have missed.
Your flowers are gorgeous – I am envious, living in the desert I’ve given up on growing flowers. I look forward to seeing your lovely new “old” home.
Dena says
I am excited to follow you on this journey. I too, set Keto aside and have focused on a variety of healthy eating. Thank you for inviting everyone to evolve with you.
Renee says
Have both your books front and center on my shelf of my keto arsenal. I stick with what works. I am wayward from time to time. Thanks for all you have created to help support us throughout our keto journey. Looking forward to your future posts. Best wishes to you.
Darlene says
Melissa, I have lived your recipes and sense of humor and dedication ever since I first discovered your blog and Instagram sure. I, like many others, was in a strict Keto diet for a while but it wasn’t sustainable for me after a while due to health concerns. Thus, I have gone back to a more normal diet but am trying to eat more proteins and veggies and less processed foods and carbs. I certainly understand that you need to do what interests and inspires
you and provides you with followers and income. I admire your ability and drive to go in a different direction and that seems to fit the needs of most of your filters including myself. Thank you for giving such a thorough explanation of what I’m changing about your blog and newsletter and why you have chosen this path. I look forward to continuing to follow you and to try it your recipes because I know they will be both healthy and delicious. Your Keto recipes were always some of the best ones I was able to find anywhere or there so I expect you will continue to offer the same quality ideas for high protein meals. Excited to see the upcoming changes and how they help keep me satiated and healthy. Thanks for continuing your blog- you’re one of the best out there!
Casey says
Although I’m not subscribed to your newsletter, your site is one I visit regularly for meal/recipes. I’ve never been disappointed by one of yours, can’t say the same for some others. I’ve never followed Keto, but I do follow a low carb and no sugar diet (by necessity). I hope you will give low carb alternatives in your new recipes when possible. I look forward to see them.
Much success on your new endeavors
Angela says
I’ve really been needing to get better about adding protein to my diet, so this sounds very interesting to me! I look forward to seeing what you add to your site! Good luck!
Sherri says
Congrats on your new endeavors! I have purchased your ebooks and followed your content for a long while and am excited to see where you will go next. Wishing you every success!!
Jaine says
Congratulations! What a great idea. We survived the pandemic and stuck with keto friendly meals until my husband had both shoulders replaced almost 2 years ago (September and December) and then entered the stressful world of politics by being elected to our HOA. I look forward to Prioritizing Protein AND keto to get rid of the 20# I have acquired!