Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, and I have no medical background, so before embarking on any diet, you should speak with your primary care physician to see if this diet will work for you.
A month ago yesterday I began my Keto WOE (way-of-eating) in earnest. I’ve dabbled with it before, but never stuck with it. And I don’t know why. Maybe it wasn’t the right time for me.
This time, though, is different.
My main reason for starting before was to lose weight, and while that is important for several reasons, my main goal now is to manage my PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and bipolar disorder, both of which can cause major problems in my life if I’m not careful.
Neither one of these conditions will ever go away. That’s my reality. I will be at war with my body for the rest of my life. At times, that knowledge is a bit daunting, but instead of letting either one ofthem dictate how my life will go, I’m facing both head on and finding ways to deal with both.
Currently, I’m on Metformin for my PCOS, and I’m hoping in time I can stop taking it. I was on birth control to help manage other side effects of my PCOS, but unfortunately, due to my meds for my bipolar disorder, I found my BD meds were less effective because of the BC. I had to make a tough decision. I chose to focus on my mental health and deal with the pain from my PCOS.
As far as my bipolar goes, I’m on minimal meds right now, and I’m trying to keep it that way. I hate taking medications, and I honestly try to avoid them when I can. Right now, I’m on Lamotrigine and an antihistamine that also is used to help treat anxiety, which unfortunately is part of what I’m struggling with too.
According to some research I’ve done on my own, a person’s diet can have an effect on bipolar disorder, as well as PCOS, so I changed my diet…drastically.
I’ve also started taking supplements religiously in hopes that my bipolar episodes aren’t as severe as they’ve been in the past, and to hopefully lessen the symptoms of PCOS that can be frustrating to deal with.
Since beginning the Keto diet, I’ve experienced several changes that are promising.
First, about a week in, I noticed my energy levels climbing. I’ve struggled with fatigue for quite some time now. It didn’t matter what I did, I couldn’t get rid of it. I know some of it had to do with my bipolar disorder and PCOS, but I think a lot of had to do with my diet. I was and am a carb hound. I love pasta and bread. I also love starches, like potatoes and rice. Those were hard for me to give up, but I think giving them up helped boost my energy levels, which is great. Now I just need to fight the urge to cave in and eat them. Some days are easier than others.
Also, my joints no longer ache as much as they did. I’ve struggled with joint issues for as long as I can remember. My knees have given me problems since I was a little girl. I’ve always had issues doing squats, running and walking up stairs. It often felt like my knee would pop. But since starting Keto, the pain has diminished a lot.
My skin has also cleared up. At first the acne I’ve been battling for years got worse, and then all of a sudden, everything changed. My skin looks better than it has in a long time, and honestly, I have less bags under my eyes now too.
In addition to weight loss, I’ve also lost several inches too. While my numbers aren’t as drastic as some stories you may read, they are still impressive. I’m at 8 to 10lbs. lost, depending on the day, and 8″ inches overall. (If you have PCOS like me, weight loss may be slower when on the Keto diet.)
Are you on the keto diet? What kinds of changes have you noticed in your body?
Wow….this is just awesome. I will just shift my diet into Keto. I just love this. Thanks a lot for sharing this.