On My 60th Birthday 2021
12 months & 40Kg later
Living with chronic illness is a constant battle, which is what I have experienced for over the 35 years. I have struggled with obesity, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, sleep apnoea, acid reflux, diverticulitis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more.
For as long as I can remember I followed mainstream medical advice and treating the symptoms with medication which made me sicker over time.
But things changed when, a week before my 60th birthday I was diagnosed with diabetes. This disease was the straw that set me on a path where I discovered the keto diet. The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, is a low-carb, high-fat diet that has gained popularity in recent years. The goal of the diet is to get your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates/sugar. I first heard about the keto diet from YouTube doctors/influences. After much research I decided to give it a try.
Implementing the keto diet was easy, and so worth it. At first, I had to completely overhaul my diet and remove all sugar, carbs, seed oil and processed foods. I started eating more healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and olive oil, and more protein-rich foods like meats, cheese, and eggs.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was becoming fat adapted rather than carb Adapted. For example, I couldn’t eat anything with sugar, starchy vegetables, grains and highly processed foods which meant giving up many of my favourite snacks and drinks. I stuck with it, and after a few weeks, I notice some incredible changes.
The first thing I noticed was that I had more energy throughout the day. I wasn’t constantly feeling sluggish and tired like I used to. My sleep apnoea also improved, and I started getting better-quality sleep. I even started to lose weight, which was a bonus! I lost 40Kg in 12 months and have kept it off .
But the most significant change was the progressive reversal and remission of my chronic illnesses.
The first leave was diabetes, which was healed within weeks of starting this lifestyle. My psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis improved greatly and I plan to whine myself off of the immune suppressant medication that I have been on for years. I had been dealing with psoriasis for all my adult life. My acid reflux, diverticulitis, high blood pressure, and gum disease were all improved and progressively healed.
I was amazed at how quickly the keto diet worked, and I couldn’t believe the results I was seeing. It was as if my body was healing itself from the inside out.
After 12 month on the keto diet I decided to go hard core keto/carnivore. I know eating only animal products.
I can honestly say that it has changed my life. Dropping all carbohydrates help eliminate my addiction to sugar and binge eating.
If you struggle with chronic illness as I did, I would highly recommend giving the keto diet a try. Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to your diet or exercise routine.
In conclusion, the keto/carnivore diet has been a game-changer for me. It’s given me my life back, and I’m so grateful for that. I hope my story can inspire and encourage others who may be struggling with any illness to give it a try and see what a difference it can make to your life.