How did you hear of Keto/ How did you come to Keto?

#61

I actually just happened to see a documentary on Netflix, called ‘The Magic Pill’ … Though I do watch a lot of documentaries, I actually put this one on for my wife, who deals with a lot of medical issues, and I thought she might like to watch it. (After I read the caption, which mentioned something about how this WOE was helping folks deal with and at times eliminate medical problems they had)

We watched it together, and I really found it well made. … I started the very next day, and haven’t looked back.:slight_smile:

(Donna) #62

Background - I’ve been overweight since puberty (yes, read the connection here), diagnosed with PCOS, hypothyroidism, “syndrome X” and had migraines. 30 years ago when I was diagnosed, the advice was eat less, move more, ultimately you’ll have diabetes. Two years ago due to an extremely stressful family situation, my thyroid bottomed out leading me on a 1.5 year journey into “health” to try to fix it. Food tolerance testing, eating only real, whole foods, almost vegetarian in nature. And my A1C went from the 5.2-5.4 that it has been for 30 year to 6.3 - one point from an official T2D diagnosis.

My frustration led me to a naturopath who recommended the Complete Guide to Fasting - but I wasn’t going to invest in a book until I was sure I wanted to really get into it, and IF was scarey. Rabbit hole: researching the book led me to Dr Fung on you tube which lead me to diet doctor.com which led me to more youtube (the low-carb conference lecturers specifically) which led me to invest in the Complete Guide and the Obesity Code which lead me back to the internet… And on it goes.

I dabbled in LCHF starting in February, found keto in March and have been experimenting with what works best in my body. But I won’t quit - while the weight loss has been slow, inflammation is down, migraines have diminished, my Insulin Resistance levels are quickly improving and my A1C is back down to 5.2. And all while eating bacon (who doesn’t love bacon?)

(Eileen ) #63

I guess I’m a veteran (victim?) of diets, fad and otherwise, over the years. I did Weight Watchers, and even worked for them as a group leader for a brief time in my late twenties, but the dieting yo-yo coaster started long before that for me. I remember doing really well on Atkins with my dad as my diet buddy in the late seventies, in my teens. But the relative freedom to eat whatever and count it as “points” in WW was no longer working for me post-menopause the way it had in my twenties.

I followed all of the plant-based gurus for years and was even vegan for a few, but the carb creep was making me feel lousy and likely fueling my migraines. Last year, I read Dr. Josh Turknett’s book, “The Migraine Miracle,” where he advocates dumping all sugar and grains. I’d just come from a frustrating appointment with my neurologist, who’d made me stop taking drugs (to separate rebound headaches from migraines) only to tell me to start taking them again once I’d stopped (painfully, I might add-constant headache for about two months that I powered through). Josh and his wife are both migraine sufferers, and advocate for a paleo approach with a few forays during the year into a “keto-blast.” I’d also heard of Keto when my now 26 year old son started this WOE right before heading to graduate school, but really thought he was nuts.

So in February I ditched sugar and grains and started following Mark Sisson, and the Turknetts, and eating Paleo. That turned into more interest in Keto, so I found myself a new PCP who advocates Keto as a lifestyle and even employs a lifestyle coach as part of her practice. I started about six weeks ago. Finding it amazing that I no longer crave carbs OR sugar, and I’ve lost some weight, and inches around my waist which is really fantastic.

And my son just shakes his head and tells me that I should have listened to him a few years ago!

(Jennifer ) #64

Went to dinner with a friend who said she was on a keto diet. She also had some kind of link that came up on her Facebook page I kept seeing. She looked so incredibly healthy at a time I felt the sickest I ever have in my life. So, I googled it and found it helps all the things I have (had) issues with: T2D, PCOS, anxiety, sleep problems, painful joints, brain fog. Thought, “well. I’ll do it for a couple months.” Didn’t realize it would be a forever thing at the time. 7 months later I can’t imagine going back…

(mags) #65

I was an overweight child and I have spent the last 50 years dieting or feasting. Guess which I did the most of! I have tried every diet known to woman. My weight has never been stable. In 2016 I was diagnosed with T2D. I asked my doc if I could go on Atkins or Moseley’s 5:2 diet. They were the diets that I had found less painful. Certainly not he said and sent me on a course.
So I ignored my diagnosis for 12 months but cld feel my body buzzing every time I had a load of carbs…which was frequently.
I decided to cut out sugar and refined flour last November. Potched around with that and obv fell off the wagon over Christmas and finally got back to it seriously in February. I know I started my journey proper by listening to the 2 dudes. I love podcasts because I drive a lot for work. Unfortunately I cannot remember how that started. I binged on their podcasts from the beginning. My daughter was really worried…she could hear their accents and thought I’d joined a cult :joy:. In a way she is right and I have. I love this way of eating and the podcasts and this forum. Thank you everyone!!
I have lost over 40lbs and my blood sugars are around 5.6. Not cheated once…alcohol occasionally but that’s it. Keto for life…so determined that as I grow out of clothes they go. No longer keeping them for when the weight piles back on!

#66

October of 2017 I was ready to do whatever it took to feel better. I was bloated everyday, extremely fatigued, not sleeping, my irritability was affecting my relationships with everyone, and I could not shake a bladder infection. After lots of time
searching the net, I diagnosed myself with candida overgrowth. Immediately following Dr. Bakker’s protocol. I cut out all sugar, grains and added probiotics. I was still eating potatoes and other high carb vegetables which I now believe created the intense carbs cravings I experienced. In order to battle those cravings I was eating a can or two of coconut milk a day. I truly believed I would gain lots of weigh but was so desperate to feel better that I kept eating the fat and promised myself that I would deal with the weight gain after I felt better. Imagine my surprise when I had lost 10 pounds and was feeling better. So much better that I actually had the energy to decorate the house for Christmas (something I had not done for several years) and volunteered to cook Christmas dinner for the entire family. I cooked a traditional meal, sat down, ate that meal with dessert and was back to my new way of eating before the dishes were done.
In January I was watching Dr. Berg on YouTube and he kept mentioning keto, so I began researching. I went full Keto on January 21. I have not lost any more weight, but that was not the original goal. I do however, feel much better and the people around me are now commenting on how my mood is always good. This WOE has changed my life in so may positive ways that I will never go back.

(Terence Dean) #67

“The Magic Pill” documentary on Netflix was my first time I’d even come across the term Ketogenics. While the documentary seems to promote the “Paleo” diet, it still referenced Professor Noakes, Dr Stephen Phinney, and Dr Fung as I recall. Regardless it still got me interested in severely reducing my carb intake, I was on my way to finding a Paleo forum when I fell down this rabbit-hole. The rest is history.

For those interested, this graphic shows the difference between strict Keto (if there is such a thing) and Paleo.

https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-fc947daea12e145ba0390eb2f55e8390

#68

My husband comes from a DT2 family- and at 45 he was pre diabetic. He went keto and lost 22 kgs, and completely stabilised his blood sugars. His doctor was amazed!

Fast forward three years, and me ,with the inflammatory diseases (asthma, hayfever arthritis starting up), and PCOS, and hitting the scales at nearly 100 kgs finally woke up to myself and thought I should perhaps give it a try. I went to the dietdoctor.com, did the two week challenge, joined their site for about a month until I got the hang of it, and then found this forum. That’s it.

Four months in and I am 15 kgs lighter, feel a lot better and think this one will stick. I’ve also converted two sisters, and two friends. So I can be a bit evangelical! I still think the diet doctor is a great resource for beginners. Not looking back… :slight_smile:

#69

I am a librarian and had some patrons reserve books on keto. I thought why not start researching and after reading Voleks books decided to give it a thoughtful attempt. I was strict vegan for 9 months and while I felt great, I couldn’t seem to lose any fat at all

#70

Over 30 years ago, my brother told me about Atkins. I bought his 1972 book, because I strongly disagreed with it. 20 years ago, I lost 20 kg on Fit for Life, and vegan. I started eating meat again and 10 years ago started Atkins (due to weight gain); had some success, then moved to LCHF, found the Dudes and Jason Fung and have recently gone Zero Carb. I lost weight steadily on Atkins/keto, and quickly once I quit drinking wine. I am on Day 18 of a #30DayZC experiment to see if it resolves an annoying health problem that doctor can’t tell me how to fix. I will let you know on ZC section.

(Rita) #71

I could have written this myself. Thank you!

(Sheryl Fisher) #72

I watched The Magic Pill on Netflix, after I had been successfully losing weight on Keto for several months. (One of the teachers at my school told me about it). I have been sharing this documentary with those who are skeptical about losing weight this way. (Folks have a hard time hearing about how much FAT I consume every day… even though I tell them my blood panel numbers are amazing and my PCP has said, “I don’t know what you are doing, but keep it up!”)

#73

Yes ma’am, and results don’t lie. :wink: I also find that those who are interested, will just hammer you with questions, which I’m more than happy to speak with them about. But ‘The Magic Pill’ is always a documentary I recommend they watch to get a good understanding of Keto. - And then afterwards… they have even more questions! :smile: