Glad to have found this thread. I have been keto (15-35 carbs) for 10 months now.
I am 52, an 11-year breast cancer survivor, have Hashimotos (well managed on thyroid med for 30+ years), post-hysterectomy, and I have two teens.
I found keto when I was searching for new cancer prevention and anti-inflammatory strategies last year when it was time for me to come off my “safety net”, Tamoxifen.
Since then I have lowered my Thyroid anti-bodies, improved my thyroid levels and lowered my medication dose, went from 28% body fat to 21% (lost 10 lbs overall), improved my overall energy (what? no need for afternoon power nap anymore???!!!), improved my cognitive function and mood, and love the feeling of being in my body (for the first time)! (THE BEST PART!). I am stronger, for sure. And my labs are fantastic!
I do two or three times a week HIIT, 5 days a week of yoga, and 4 days of hour-long, hikes in the hills with my pups, at around a 2.5-3 mile per hour pace (mostly strolling and enjoying the view.) I eat very simple keto, whole foods only. I also meditate for a minimum of 20 minutes, most days.
I am not into processed meats, although a slice or two here and there of hubby’s bacon sometimes beacons. Typical meals for me are: Steamed spinach (about a cup cooked) or raw salad with arugula, broccoli sprouts (home grown), pepitas, sesame seeds, seaweed sprinkle, with two poached eggs (or canned sardines/salmon), ghee, or pesto (both homemade), flax crackers (also homemade) and AVOCADO. I eat about an avocado a day. Dinners are typically fish or grass fed beef or tofu (no issues here with soy), with cauliflower rice or kelp noodles, more green non-starchy veggies, and maybe a tablespoons serving of a fat bomb with my evening tea (which has coconut/almond milk in it). About once a week I’ll have a low-carb type dessert that I will make, like ice cream. I never feel deprived. I use very little stevia, if at all, but after experimenting with it and finding it has no negative effect on blood sugar/fasting insulin level/hunger/cravings, I decided that occasional use was ok for me.
I am naturally IF most days, average 16 hours, although sometimes more, sometimes less. OVERALL, I listen to my body. Some days I naturally eat very little, and then a few days later I eat a LOT! I have also done fasts of 36, 48, 68, and 96 hours long. Fasting lately hasn’t been easy and so I don’t push it longer than 36-48 hours.
I have never felt better in my life, although every day on keto has not been like this. The first month was a lot of up and down. I never had the full-on keto flu, but in the first two weeks I would crash at different times of the day. After that, those days would be few and far between, but still present at times. I have those maybe once a month and can now tell if it is because I am not eating enough, or not getting enough fat/protein. I now have days where I crave broccoli! I love it with ghee and nutritional yeast and some salt. Salt and I are best buds! I use Real Salt only. I make sure I get all my electrolytes too and I have Sole water every morning, first thing when I wake up. Except for ghee, I do not eat dairy, due to intolerance. My first meal is usually between 11-2, due to appetite, not forcing any time restriction. Sometimes I have MCT oil powder in my coffee or tea, but I am generally not a fatty hot drink person.
My blood glucose is at a steady baseline of mid-70’s to mid 80’s, as are ketones (in nutritional range). When I first went keto my ketones were in the mid 2’s to mid 3’s. Now they range between 0.4-1.3. I hear this is a normal fluctuation after some time on keto.
Tracking my food with Cronometer has been a great tool and extremely useful in the beginning to teach me about amounts and portions. Now I mostly eyeball it and eat intuitively. After 5 months of tracking, I have a much better idea of what my body needs and can simply be mindful of how I feel.
I feel better than I ever remember feeling, whatever age. I am so glad I found this way of eating!