I Did Keto for 3 Months: Here's What Happened

Look, you and I both have stepped on the scale at some point during this endless pandemic, and have had a blood-curdling scream about the number that ticked up, and up, and up…No. No, that’s not mine. That’s not ME. Bring it in girl, it’s okay. I spent the first two months of the Q (uarentine) drinking a bottle of wine a night just to tolerate the change. Not only was I wine wasted, I was carb-loading on my favorite pantry pasta, aglio e oilo. Ugh, I hate it’s convenience, cost-effectiveness, and downright deliciousness. It’s practically pandemic proof! But look, even before this SPIRALING DEATH TRAP OF STRESS CONSUMING, I have dealt with Insulin Resistance for over 10 years. In short, I have yet again, had to re-familiarize myself with the existence carbs and sugar in EVERYTHING…Oh, you thought peas were a green? CARBS.

HOWMEVER, yes, you read that correctly, there seemed to be a solution that could minimize my weight gain, and manage my insulin resistance without my symptomatic medication. And that, was the Ketogenic diet. For the folks who don’t have the patience or empathy to listen to someone else’s story, I’ll give you the spark notes. I lost 20 lbs over 3 months, but I lost my hair and suffered sever psoriasis flare ups on my eyelids, elbows, toes, and scalp. Sexy. Thanks for stopping by!

Anyway, now that they are gone, I read the top rated books and bought the gadgets ready to commit to Keto. I cooked the recipes, followed the Instagram accounts, ate the fat, did the damn thing, and you know what? I lost weight exactly how they promised, and LOVED the food. I never felt like I was missing out on my favorites, there was always a Keto rendition on Pinterest. It felt good to shed the Quarantine 15… or 20, or…you know. I felt more clear minded, focused, and had more sustained energy running on a 70% fat diet. I loved it so much, and fully believed in it to sustain the diet for 3 months without break. I learned how to order Keto at resturants, and stay on track even when eating with others.

That was until I noticed my once isolated psoriasis spread like wildfire. It started on my elbows and began ravage other areas of my body. Rashy, burning spots creasing my eyelids, elbows, toes and scalp. Then the clusters of hair that would wash down the drain at every shower. Assuming that these events were unrelated to Keto, I went to my dermatologist for yet another prescription ointment. Thankfully, she asked me the right questions. One of which being if I was eating a lot of dairy. If you know Keto, you know how dairy is a pillar of getting the fat you need to keep your body in ketosis. Turns out, my doctor has seen this before. People getting on Keto, unsupervised by medical professionals, loosing weight at the cost of severe symptoms.

This news devastated me. I liked how I felt on Keto, and I spent a week or so grieving the fact that the thing that was finally working for me was actually hurting me. Yet again, I had to adapt. Today, I eat the diet that I and others with Insulin Resistance must eat. Protein, veggies, no carbs, no sugar. Also known as a low-carb diet.

I write this blog post knowing how beloved and worshiped Keto is. Part of the reason I was so allured by it was because I hadn’t heard of anyone who had negative, nevertheless dangerous experience with it. But I realized that I had a responsibility to attempt to temper the cult-like following by sharing my differing experience. I don’t want to suggest that Keto is bad, but I do think that anyone who is considering going on Keto should seek a clinical nutritionist. The Keto diet is an extreme diet, and manipulating your metabolic system is a serious and possibly dangerous change that requires medical supervision.

Sorry to end on a low note, but I hope you found my story helpful. Stay offline, call your doctor, and tell your dog I said hi. I’ll see you back here soon!