A Mindset Shift at 57
I’ve been chubby almost all my life. I’ve lost weight but unable to keep it off. In October of 2016, at the age of 57 I had a mindset change and became motivated to be healthy enough to enjoy my future grandkids. Family history was not good; my father died in his sleep at 61 (clogged arteries) and mother died of heart attack at 78.
My oldest brother had double bypass at 60 and is now on dialysis. My other three brothers were on medicines to control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar. One of them has since died of multiple Myeloma. Another brother has adopted a low carbohydrate diet and is off most meds.
Weight Watchers and a Low-Fat Diet
My cholesterol was at 230 with A1c of 5.7. I joined Weight Watchers at 159.5 lbs. I am 4’11”. The points system was based on a low-fat diet and nothing was off limits in proper portions. It took me 18 months to reach my goal of 124 lbs.
This gave me a BMI of 25. I was pleased with the loss but my cholesterol and A1c did not go down. Over the next three years I struggled to maintain 124. My husband was on the same journey as I with cholesterol of 240 and A1c of 5.8.
Discovering the Low-Carb and Keto Diets
In September 2020 we retired and relocated to Fort Worth, Texas to be close to our daughter and son-in-law who were expecting our first grandson.
We started watching several YouTube videos in which doctors, nutritionist, and others spoke about the benefits of low carb, keto, and carnivore diets as well as intermittent fasting. We became persuaded that the food pyramid was junk and could be the cause of metabolic syndrome.
Resistance to Statins and Alternatives for Heart Health
Our annual labs showed no change in our cholesterol or A1c. Statins were recommended but we both rejected this option. In November 2021 we started a low carb diet and intermittent fasting; breakfast of eggs and meat at 11am and either a large salad (with meat) or steak & steamed vegetables at 4pm.
It was easy and I was amazed at how satisfied I felt. We had labs done after 3 months. My weight dropped 6 lbs., my A1c dropped to 5.5 but my cholesterol was 270. My doctor strongly encouraged me to take a statin. I refused and asked about other options to gauge heart health. Her answer was to take a CT heart calcium score test.
My husband and I both had the test done. My score was 6 and my husband’s score was 0. These results confirmed two things for me; 1) cholesterol level is a poor indicator of heart health 2) a low carb, keto or carnivore diet is much better for me than low fat, whole grains, and seed oils.
Benefits Beyond Weight
LossOther benefits we experienced over the last year is better dental health, my childhood skin fungus has vanished, my husband has no more skin tags, his athletes foot issue is gone, his acid reflux cured, and his eye floaters are reduced.
