Extra Easy Keto: 7 Days to Ketogenic Weight Loss on a Low-Carb Diet

by Stephanie Laska

From USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Stephanie Laska comes a seven-day keto kick-start that is extra easy to follow!

As seen on NBC’s Today show and the cover of Woman’s World magazine, Stephanie Laska shares her secrets to losing 140 pounds. If you want to lose weight on a keto-ish diet while having a life, this is the book for you. There are no complex math equations or “ridonculous” ketogenic rules to follow―think simple and stress-free! Whether you want to start a keto diet fresh or need help getting over a weight-loss hump, Stephanie Laska is here to help you begin in an Extra Easy Keto way.

Over seven days, Stephanie will lay out a workable plan in bite-sized pieces. With carb-counting cheat sheets and proven meal-planning tricks, Extra Easy Keto is doable for everyone! You can have your (sugar-free) cake and eat it too. From cheesy casseroles to low-carb cheesecakes, fat-fueled, keto-friendly foods satisfy hunger, facilitate weight loss, and taste great.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

USA Today Bestselling Author! As seen on NBC’s TODAY Show - Stephanie Laska lost 140 pounds, roughly half of her body weight, by following her own outlaw version of a ketogenic diet. She figured out that the secret to losing weight without the crazy restrictions of a traditional keto diet was to break the rules and create her own “dirty” and “lazy” outlaw version of keto.

With over 20,000 positive reviews on Goodreads, readers agree. DIRTY, LAZY, KETO is a refreshing alternative to strict dieting. Losing weight shouldn’t be so complicated.

Stephanie spent most of her adult life in the Morbidly Obese Class III BMI category. Hovering close to 300 pounds, she avoided booths at restaurants and feared not fitting into amusement park rides. “I once put my jacket over my lap so the flight attendant wouldn’t see that my seatbelt wouldn’t close,” she admits.

Desperation and embarrassment motivated Stephanie to stop living in denial about her obesity. The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO books explain the unique keto diet Stephanie followed to achieve her amazing weight loss success. Using humor and simple explanations, Stephanie walks the reader through her personal manifesto for effective weight loss and maintenance. Her way is doable. Nothing fancy is required! (Especially not complicated math.)

Stephanie has kept off a 140 pounds weight loss for almost a decade and believes DIRTY, LAZY, KETO is a practical solution for everyone. We all know losing weight isn’t as simple as “cutting carbs”. It takes so much more, and Stephanie is here to help you get started with cookbooks and starter guides for all things DIRTY, LAZY, KETO.

NEW! Extra Easy Keto: 7 Days to Ketogenic Weight Loss on a Low Carb Diet (St. Martin's Essentials, 2023) (Macmillan Audio, 2023)

DIRTY, LAZY, KETO (Revised and Expanded) Get Started Losing Weight While Breaking the Rules (St. Martin's Essentials, 2020) (Macmillan Audio, 2020)

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO 5-Ingredient Cookbook: 100 Easy-Peasy Recipes Low in Carbs, Big on Flavor by Stephanie and William Laska (Simon & Schuster, 2021)

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO No Time to Cook Cookbook: 100 Easy Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes by Stephanie and William Laska (Simon & Schuster, 2021)

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO Dirt Cheap Cookbook: 100 Easy Recipes to Save Money & Time by Stephanie and William Laska (Simon & Schuster, 2020)

The DIRTY, LAZY, KETO Cookbook: Bend the Rules to Lose the Weight! by Stephanie and William Laska (Simon & Schuster, 2020)

DIRTY, LAZY, KETO Fast Food Guide: 10 Carbs or Less by William and Stephanie Laska (2018) -- Free with Kindle Unlimited Subscription!

Keto Diet Restaurant Guide: Eat Healthy & Stay in Ketosis, Dining Out on a Low Carb Diet by William and Stephanie Laska (2022)

As seen on NBC’s Today Show, the cover of Woman's World Magazine (twice!), FOX News, US News & World Report, PARADE, New York Post, Reader’s Digest, Yahoo News, First for Women Magazine, Men's Journal, Muscle and Fitness: Hers, Keto for You, RunDisney, and Costco Connection Magazine. Stephanie has run a dozen marathons, most notably the New York City Marathon as a sponsored athlete from PowerBar.

Let Stephanie help you lose the weight and keep it off for good… the "extra easy keto" way!

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before this book, I could not tell you what keto was vs. low-carb. I figured they were the same thing. Although I wanted to learn more about what the differences were, I found all the snippets of information I’d researched rather confusing.

If you’re looking for a one-and-done guide to all you need to know about the keto diet, then THIS IS YOUR BOOK! The content is organized in perfectly sized digestible nuggets of information you will understand. Additionally, there are fantastic visual references/cheat sheets to help you easily understand how to read nutrition labels, and quick lists of foods and their net carb number.

I enjoyed this book so much that I even researched the author and she has a great podcast on the topic of keto as well!

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this book, as I won it via a Goodreads Giveaway!

Thanks for reading!

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been doing Keto but only lost 50 pounds then it just stalled out. After reading this book and learning and easy way to eat Keto and lose I am back taking the weight off and I feel so good. This has been a great tool for me. So of course, I highly recommend this book. The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s no better introduction to the keto life than Stephanie Laska’s Extra Easy Keto. She gives newbies everything they need to know — and more. I’ve loved just about every book I’ve read by Laska, and this one’s no exception. Don’t go into this book expecting many recipes; for that, pick up one of Laska’s many excellent cookbooks, but for those new to ketogenic diets (or those, like me, who appreciate a refresher), this is five stars.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and St. Martin’s Essentials.

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very helpful, informative, and inspiring introduction to the Keto Diet. Everything is laid out simply and easily. The author lost 140 pounds, and she makes me believe I can too! There are not a lot of recipes in this book, but the author's previous book, Dirty Lazy Keto, is loaded with them. Anyone who is starting their keto journey or needs a refresher should start here.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Scot Glasgow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the Mcmillan Audio for this audio advanced reader copy.

I am currently back on a keto diet, which I have seen significant weight loss success with in the past. My goal in listening to this book was to pick up some auick tips allomg the way.

Ultimately, I just don’t think audio is a great format for this type of book, as trying to listen to serving sizes, recipe ingredients, etc. doesn’t work well for me.

Overall, a 3-star, as clearly the author/narrator is well informed about the topic and excited to share it with others.

[Kris Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, approachable introduction to the keto diet with a humorous voice. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this over some of her other books or books like Mark Sisson’s Keto Reset. This seems like a distillation of her first book with a list of recipes at the end. She walks you through the first 7 days, but it isn’t like a normal “reset” plan. Each day is more like a seminar on what is and isn’t “dirty, lazy keto”, what foods fit, what you will hear from naysayers, popular Q&A’s that might arise, etc. This book would only be relevant for a true keto noob that doesn’t know where to start.

Thank you, NetGalley!

[Liz McCammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and am providing an honest review. 3 Stars I should start off by saying I read this book with newbie interest in Keto - I didn’t like the idea of an all meat/fat diet and generally thought Keto wasn’t for me. I learned quite a bit from this book - and it’s influenced me on how I look at what I eat, but I’m still no fan of Keto. I guess I was hoping that somewhere in this book I would be allowed to eat a potato here, a little rice there, and at least one glorious hot roll that they offer at the steak house, but sadly no, not allowed.

What this book does provide is a quick and easy way to get your foot in the door of Keto without the guilt and stress of getting it perfect. I literally read this book as directed, in 7 days. I felt there was a good bit of repetition in the food groupings - I’d have liked to seen different items not just those that work across groups. The writing reminds me of a cheerleader full of energy professing “You got this!” (not really my style but I’m sure it’s great for others). I did appreciate the way the author included everyone without criticism and encouraged the reader to continue reading even if you aren’t totally sold on every part of the book. For me, I wanted to bail when all the artificial sweeteners were discussed. I’m not a fan but I kept going and I’m glad I did. There is something about this book that really did speak to me - the author encourages readers to look at what works for them, what keeps them on track and what make them successful as we are all challenged in the eating/food dept. differently. It’s easy for me to be a t-totaler on sugar - all things with refined sugars but for others that would be impossible. And for me - I’m not a fan of meat/mayo/ranch and I hate bacon so my Keto friendly options are really small. BUT, I can see where this can work for others - the author lost 140lbs this way which says a lot. All in all, I would recommend this book to those who are ready to start trying keto but don’t know where to begin and if this works for you, you can go all in with the strict carb/fat/protein gram counting at a later date.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a casual, quick, easy introduction to the ketogenic diet. I like that it’s quite no nonsense, reminding people not to fall for people selling keto stuff on the internet. This is a good choice for people who have never done keto and want to get started. There aren’t a lot of recipes but gives lots of easy meal ideas to get you started. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love Stephanie’s books and I have called her one of my favorite keto authors but this book was a dud for me. It’s a beginner primer on keto that reads like a long blog post. I’ve already been keto for 2 1/2 years so this is not new to me, even though it promises new information for long term keto eaters.

She really sells the “dirty” in this book, making fun of people who cook from scratch and eat organic. That would be me, and despite loving her previous books I just felt attacked, mocked and belittled at times. She recommends diet soda, aspartame, pesticides and such as a trade off that might make you sick but is worth it in her eyes because you can stick to your diet with the convenience and fulfilling of your cravings. She references with footnotes but then the footnotes often go to unheard of books with questionable titles. She says you may be able to eat as many as 50 net carbs a day. There’s just so much here that I don’t agree with.

Each chapter teaches you something that’s supposed to recommend one day, like you learn about carbs one day and you learn what foods you can shop for one day. At the end there are a few recipes with no photos and no nutritional information.

I’d pass on this one but I do recommend other books by this author.

I read a digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As someone on the keto diet currently, I felt like I was in a good frame of mind to listen to this book. I do think audio is an odd choice for this topic, especially as numerous references were made to the "accompanied PDF" to drill down on certain topics, lists, recipes, etc., but I didn't see a PDF to access {shrug}.

Laska arranges her chapters according to days in a week, with each lesson being assigned to a different day. That keeps the message contained into bite size portions, thus less overwhelming. This book is definitely intended for keto noobs, but I found a lot of information helpful. Laska aims to make keto accessible for everyone, with special consideration for disordered and emotional eaters. While that's not me, I thought it was nice and a bit unusual for an author to make those considerations.

Most helpful for me was her description of necessary nutrients per meal requiring the "big 3" of fat, protein, and low-carb veggies. She makes keto feel, if not easy, not as hard as some hard liners do.

I enjoyed her narration overall (it can't have been easy to narrate what sounded like a LOT of call-outs and sidebars), but I could have done with less "eck cetra." If that makes me a snob, so be it.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of us are impulsive, while others like to plan out everything in detail. If you are the latter, Extra Easy Keto is the keto diet book for you!

“Starting too fast on a keto diet can backfire. I’ve seen this time and time again.”

The book gives a one-week plan on how to ease your way into a keto diet. For example, day one’s goal is to understand what a keto diet consists of and why it works. It isn’t until day four that the steps lead to a grocery store and day seven when a seven-day meal plan with a grocery list is made. Day seven also contains a suggested meal plan with ten recipes.

Again, Extra Easy Keto is great for planners. I believe it probably would work better for those types of people as a first step than the author’s more famous keto book, Dirty, Lazy, Keto. However, for us impulsive people, and we know who we are, there is nothing here for us that isn’t in the original book. So, for planners, this book would rate 5 stars. But for those wanting a quicker start, Dirty, Lazy, Keto is a better choice.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've been curious about the Keto life or just don't think you can stick to a "meat-only" diet, this is the book for you! Laska did an excellent job of making the reader feel comfortable as she shared her methods to success is her own 100+ pound weight loss journey using the Keto (Dirty, Lazy) method. With seven chapters (to be read over seven days), she helps debunk Keto myths, explain what foods work and why, and how to get over personal hurdles. I personally appreciated the questions at the end of each chapter that helped me think through what I just read and apply it to my situation.

I appreciated the detailed lists of foods and how to pair them! This book takes a lot of the stress out of macronutrient tracking, forcing oneself to eat unappealing foods, or eating fat just to meet a number. Extra Easy Keto is just that- easy to understand. It still takes hard work to personally stick to it, but Laska also gives ideas on how to stick-to-it and ultimately be successful and more healthy.

*I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway, but all of these opinions are my own.*

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Stephanie Laska says Extra Easy Keto, you know she means it! If you thought about losing weight and have heard about the keto diet, this thorough guide is where to start. Organized into seven days, your first week of keto, you’ll learn what to do and, just as important, what not to do. The first day warns you away from pills, social media ads, keto labelled products and all the simple “no work” ways to lose weight. The following chapters explain carbs and their place in daily meals, the importance of vegetables, keto friendly foods and, in Day 5, how to create a routine and stay on your keto plan.

Stephanie Laska always connects with her readers who may be new to dieting. She assures them that these are ok: a diet soda, prepackaged snack when you crave carbs, salad in a bag and more. You can’t all eat farm to table meals every day. Extra Easy Keto gives you the understanding and skills to lose weight on a keto diet. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Stephanie Laska for this ARC.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received a finished copy from the publisher as part of their influencer program***

I first tried Keto a few years ago and stressed myself out over all the rules I thought I had to follow. After a few months, although I had seen results, I gave up because I thought it wouldn't work long term. So I was excited to see a book that took the stress out of eating Keto.

When I originally tried Keto I thought I HAD to do intermittent fasting, which was difficult as a service worker since my shifts were constantly changing between opening, mids, and closing. Trying to stick to only eating between noon and 8pm was hard on the days I started work at 5am. 🥴

Finding out that there were a lot of different ways I could eat Keto, see results, but not stress myself out...had me open to trying it again. I can't wait to see how much better and easier my second try will go after annotating the crap out of this book. 🤣

[Sue Ouellet-Cofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far this is one of the best books that I've read on Keto. Is it the strict keto process? No it isn't. What I love about it is that it explains in your average conversational language why it works and how it works. It also keeps it relatively simple for the average Joe to follow. I have not tried Stephanie's process yet. I've been on a strict no carb diet before (with only animal protein and veggies) and lost a lot of weight. However, it is indeed not always easy to maintain that level of commitment once you start to add other items into your diet. I was looking for something that I could easy jump into without costly, specialty items but that was also very maintainable and this seems like it would fit in perfectly into my own life (beer included lol). I look forward to giving this program (Dirty Lazy Keto) a go in the very near future.

[Carey’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars! I learned a lot reading this book. The author explained everything pretty easily. That being said, I felt like the explanations were a bit drawn out. When I want to learn something, I prefer fast and concise information that I can understand within a half hour. I know, I’m not very patient, sue me! If you really want to know about keto, this is a good place to go, just take your time reading it instead of being impatient and trying to read all of it in one sitting. A few ideas of what to eat at the end and a handful of recipes included. Would’ve liked some pictures for that part. All in all, a helpful book for the keto beginner!
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd read Stephania Laska's previous book on Keto, and it was literally the only book on the subject that I understood. It was hefty, but I bought a copy for my daughter and myself. This book took that to another level, and it breaks it down to an easier level still. What I loved was the new information, the tips, and the ideas that I really could live with. That's key, in my opinion, in Keto...to be able to incorporate into real life and stick with it. This book will help you do that.
St. Martin's Press, the author and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Rhonda Brant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a newbie in the Keto world, have signed up for a couple of Keto sites that offer set meal plans for me to follow, which is easier for me when I don't quite understand or am getting to know the process. I wish I would have found this book before I jumped into those sites. I found this author to be very informative, easy to follow, and is a no nonsense view on the Keto lifestyle that sets you up for success. I'm still trying to get the ketosis thing down, but after reading this book it's easier that I first thought. Plan to get a couple of her cookbooks too.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.

[Donna Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I went for blood tests after being on Keto for over 6 months using this authors books. I received terrible results and they wanted to put me on a ton of medications. I was faithful and did not cheat. This was my third book of hers that I had started reading.
I am not back to eating everything, villifying nothing, and adding in good carbs. In the last 3 months my numbers have gone back down. I am having to prove to my doctor that I don't need medication and even had to make two trips to a dietician to help me get back to 'normal' eating.
This is NOT SCIENCE people, this is her point of view.

[Gloria Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received copy through Goodreads giveaway program. Easy read. Author lays out a roadmap to a relaxed approach to keto diet without getting into details. If that is what you are looking for, this is definite the book and process for you. It peaked my interest and I need to know more about the keto diet and nutrition behind it. I totally agree with author that you can get too serious in undertaking any diet. I appreciate all the ideas presented here. I just want to know some more about foods that contain carbs, so I can be better educated. And I need to see a keto cookbook. My next step - the library

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to get back on track and hoped this book would re-energize me. I believe it has. My biggest take away is putting me first and establishing routines. My husband needs me to be strong and I can’t be there for him if I am not there for myself first. I have 17 days so far and as long as I take it one day, one meal at a time. I will make it again. Thanks to you Stephanie. Loved this book and love your podcasts. A very motivated reader!

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an inspiring book for those who hope to lose weight and keep it off—the Author, Stephanie Laska, successfully lost over half of her body weight and has kept it off for over 10 years. Her plan involves laying out a strategy for a 7-day period with proven meal planning tricks that will make doing Keto doable for everyone. The book explores how ket-friendly foods satisfy hunger, facilitate weight loss, and also taste great.

[Suedoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

extra easy is what this plan delivers. I am 70 yrs old and have been on a low carb/keto diet for almost 2 years. A strict keto diet just was not working at my age. This has to be sustainable and this book has shown me I was on the right path for me. With her plan I expect even greater weight loss ( so far 70 lbs).

[Gail Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading any book I can find on the Keto diet. This book did answer some questions I had and provided new ideas and advice. I don't find the "rules" for the Keto diet to be very understandable, so I appreciate the help!

[Anne Comberrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very motivating book

I have been doing keto for a while and I felt like I was in a rut. But this book gave me some good ideas and advice. I’m losing weight again. Yippee! I’m not perfect but I’m motivated to do my best.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great outline and info for those who are new to Keto great information and easy to follow. Very informative.

[Sue]

The logic is a lot like the Adkins Diet from years back (which truly worked for my husband and myself). We still use some of the techniques to this day.

Worth a try .....

[Lovely Loveday]

Extra Easy Keto is a valuable resource to help you achieve your weight loss and health goals. With its engaging writing style and comprehensive coverage of all things keto.

[Karen Spignese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Stephanie Laska has such an amazing way of explaining the Keto lifestyle that anyone can understand.

[Gloria Paller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book… diet is easy to follow and well written. I found it an enjoyable,healthy way to eat!

Thanks so much!