Keto.

I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s EVERYWHERE! And Keto is one of, if not the most popular “diet” out there right now. Mostly because of the reputation it has for extremely fast weight loss. 

That’s just one benefit though… there is so much more to it. I won’t get into it now because I’m not here to talk about all the wonderful things KETO is… not yet anyways. 

Here’s the thing…Nothing is one size fits all. 

I have PCOS. For those of you who don’t know what that is, I will give you a very quick and easy summary of the type I have because there are several: 

Basically, my body stores fat. It won’t let it go! More medical term: I have insulin resistance PCOS. This means that my body produces too much insulin which then causes me to gain weight. A lot of weight. And fast. And… it is extremely difficult to lose.  

In addition, my menstrual cycles are irregular, and my hormones are out of whack. ITS. SO. MUCH. FUN! Especially for someone with serious body image and mental health problems. (Sigh!) 

What does this have to do with KETO? 

Well… The less carbs I eat, the less insulin my body can produce. If my body isn’t producing extra insulin, then I stop gaining weight, and potentially, can lose some. 

It’s a harsh reality, but it’s true. I have watched several friends and colleagues lose weight; A LOT OF WEIGHT; anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds on Keto within 4-8 months. 

I’ve been a Ketocian (one who is keto) since August of 2020. My goal was to lose 40 pounds. It is now February of 2021. Guess how much weight I’ve lost… mmmm… 10 pounds. Sometimes the scale will fluctuate and it shows 15 pounds lost, but still… 

SIX months, and only TEN POUNDS!?????? One could become extremely discouraged comparing the lack of her weightloss to someone else’s victory. And one did for a little while… But then I remembered that I have this very annoying issue that hinders my ability to lose weight as easily as say… someone who doesn’t have PCOS. 

And I know some of you are wondering if I work out or what my level of physical activity is… I’ll talk about that some other day. 

So… as I like to say… attitude is everything! 

Get it together Hazel! 

So first, I have to look at and focus on the positives: 

1. I lost ten pounds! I’ve tried many other things to lose weight and nothing has worked, so that’s still a win. And some days, it’s fifteen!
2. There is no reason why I can’t still reach my goal, but  I’ll never know if I stop. So I have to keep going. I don’t know where I’ll be in a year, or two…But I want to hold on to the possibility. 
3. I truly LOVE living a KETO life. I love the food and I don’t feel deprived. 
4. My body HAS changed and I feel so much better!

I may not have lost as much weight as other people have at this point, but there are so many improvements that I cannot put a price on.  These are some of the things: 

1. No bloat 
2. Improved Mood
3. More Energy 
4. Better Sleep
5. Regulated Menstrual Cycles 
6. Delicious Food 
7. Desserts for Days 
8. No cravings 
9. I still drink wine! (Most red wines are low in carbs!) 

So yeah… if the above list isn’t enough for me to continue to live the KETO life, then I don’t know what is.  

My story with Keto goes something like this: 

Six months ago, I began my KETO journey. I was looking to lose forty pounds, fit back into my “skinny” clothes and feel beautiful. I tracked my macros, ate all the right amounts of fats, protein and stayed at 20 grams of net carbs a day. And I planned out my meals. And I got through the KETO flu within the first couple of weeks. 

Then I started feeling great! I had more energy, I was sleeping better, my cravings and bloating were gone. I was making amazing recipes. My skin was glowing. And I was losing weight. 

But when I hit the 14-15 pound mark, the weight loss stopped. Everything else continued. And my body is still changing. The scale isn’t moving much, but I can feel it, and I can see it. I haven’t met my goal, but who’s to say I won’t?! 

Why I’m doing it

When I started keto, the main reason I was doing it was the mirror. I wanted to see a reflection of a “skinny Hazel” and I was hoping to have a story much like many others’ who have lost a significant amount of weight. I wanted to tell people how I have PCOS and KETO changed my life. How happy and light on my feet I am. But that’s not the case. 

And I’m okay with that. I’m no longer in it for the scale or the mirror. 

Okay… that’s a lie! Actually… I would still love for those things to go more my way… BUT I’m also and more importantly doing it because I FEEL GOOD.

I’m doing it for my kids. I’m a better mom. I play more. I have more energy. 

I’m a better wife. More attentive and less agitated. 

So yeah…KETO did still change my life. Just not in the exact way I was envisioning. And isn’t it true that that’s how life goes?! 

How’s your KETO journey going? Have you started? What’s holding you back? I’d love to hear from you!