Since I was about 10ish years old, I’ve had issues with food-related illnesses. At first, it was random sickness after eating or little desire to eat. By the time I was 15, I full on could not eat a solid meal.
Two bites in, and I was SICK! It was awful because I was hungry and knew I had to eat something, but no matter what I ate, it would make me feel like crap.
Needless to say, my weight and body composition was changing constantly and rapidly. There were many times when I could not handle eating for days at a time. Often times there were weeks in a row where each day I would consume less than 200 calories. At 15, I dropped 20 pounds in less than two weeks.
The Frustration Of Seeking Medical Help
Obviously, my parents and I were scared. We sought medical help, which led to me going for scans, MRIs, ultrasounds (internal & external), and so much blood work it looked like I had track marks. And what did they find? NOTHING!
So here I am, 15 years old and hardly able to eat, lethargic, sleeping close to 18 hours most days, and with no explanation for why.
Discovering Celiac Disease: A False Hope
Fast forward to age 18. I find out I have celiac disease. Hooray! I have an answer. Or so I thought.
I went on a super strict, absolutely no gluten diet. There was absolutely no change in my stomach problems. I was still sick and in pain, no matter what I ate.
Trying Different Diets And Struggling With Chronic Pain And Depression
Now over the next couple of years, I kept it strict but also ate very “clean.” I’ve never had a sweet tooth, so it wasn’t hard. But I ate mostly lean meats and carbs. I even tried vegan (and felt 1000x worse immediately, so I stopped after a short time). I had nearly given up on finding anything to help.
My chronic pain, daily migraines, sickness, inability to work, and depression were all piling up on me, putting a strain on my marriage and causing me to be dangerously suicidal. I even found out that I nearly never ovulated, meaning if I ever wanted to have a baby, there was nearly no chance.
The Life-Changing Impact Of Keto And Carnivore Diet
Then I heard about Keto.
As someone who often thought against the norm, the idea of having high fat rather than high carb didn’t seem outlandish to me. So I researched as much as I could for about three months and then jumped into Keto immediately after having breast reduction surgery at age 20.
In 3 days, I had no more bloating. In 5 days, I felt like eating. In just over a week, I noticed I wasn’t sick when I ate. In 2 weeks, I noticed I no longer had migraines. In 1 month, I had energy! I used to NEVER have any energy.
Today, I am 21 years old. I am practicing a hybrid of Keto & Carnivore. I’m never sick after eating, meaning I can finally enjoy food! My migraines are gone, as well as most of my joint pain. I ran my first race ever. My cycle is perfect, and I ovulate every month. My skin is clear. My relationship with my husband is better and stronger than ever. I’m working part-time as a safety manager.
But best of all, I am finally happy.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
