The ketogenic diet was great for meuntil it wasnt.
Learn why I eventually decided to quit keto.
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Ive always had a hard time finding balance.
Photo:Eating Well/Getty Images
As someone who thrives with boundaries in place, keto felt like a great match at the time.
It was about 11 years ago when I first became curious about healthy eating.
As a forever student, I first got to work researching the science behind keto before going all-in.
My Keto Journey
Food has always played a huge role in my life.
I was already well-versed in gluten-free recipe hacks, but keto took the cooking rules to a new level.
For the first couple of years, I felt like I was reaping the advertised benefits of keto.
I was still occasionally drinking alcohol and counting net carbs.
For me, keto wasnt just a diet or a lifestyle.
It became a full-time job.
Before long, I was developing keto-friendly recipes and project-managing keto cookbooks.
In a word, I felt crappy.
I decided to talk to my primary care physician.
We did blood work that revealed mybad (LDL) cholesterolwas very high and my thyroid hormones were down.
My thyroid meds helped lower my cholesterol but werent having the necessary impact on my endocrine system.
Some of the supplements took care of deficiencies, but I was stillbattling chronic stressand sleeplessness.
I hatched a plan to slowly start integrating healthy complex carbs (and fruit!)
back into my life.
I left or muted the keto Facebook groups Id spent years fostering.
As I launched into the new year of 2023, I was ready to embrace the new me.
I felt empowered again for the first time in a while.
Its now been two years since ending my keto chapter.
Ive been able to forgive myself for what I endured.
Ive practiced plenty of mindfulness and gratitude and continue to work through food-related guilt.
National Institutes of Health.Erythritol and cardiovascular events.
