Catch-Up
In August through October 2012, I finally achieved some of my goals - muscle definition (I have abs, and they looked pretty cool), oodles of energy, and not many skin issues. A few issues remained, however - I was eating very little, retaining water, and losing hair. All these are symptoms of low T3, which had shown up in the labwork I'd had done twice that year. In September 2012, I got a prescription for Armour dessicated thyroid and began an 8-month-long journey to regulate my thyroid levels. Once those were regulated, I thought that perhaps my sex hormones ought to be in balance (they tested as unmeasurably low in March 2013), so I began hormone replacement therapy - normal doses at first, then low doses, then just progesterone, then half of the low dose of progesterone...then I realized I was only making things worse, had entirely lost muscle definition not only in my abs but also in my legs and arms. I no longer had arms that Equinox instructors were jealous of! (That winter, two head instructors at Equinox gym in Chicago asked me how I got the muscle definition in my arms. Pretty proud of that...) My cystic acne had returned at near-full-force. I also no longer had boundless energy and a "bright" personality. On the positive side, I wasn't retaining much water or losing hair, and I was more or less relaxed! Of course it didn't help that I'd let my diet go to some extent, adding in near-daily sugar and cashews, and increasing my carb intake more than I have since I started my paleo journey.
To be honest, I've been at a loss as to how to get back what I had last fall. I put a lot of thought into it, but didn't remember the exact combination of diet and exercise and other elements leading up to those lovely abs. Then, a few weeks ago, I learned of a paleo nutritionist in Chicago. I figured I was only sliding further downhill despite my middling attempts (my physical appearance and physical strength mattered, but less than before), so I scheduled an appointment.
The RD
The first words out of her mouth when we sat down were, "You can go in two directions: either increase your carb intake to 50 g/d and eat 25 g protein at each meal, or try a ketogenic diet. The former is easier to maintain with social situations and travel, so I suggest that." We spent the next hour talking about how to implement the higher-carb plan (which is obviously still darned low carb), briefly discussed the ketogenic option, and she sent me on my way. She asked me to try one of the diets for a full month, recording my food, sleep, mood, and symptoms.
Indeed, the "higher-carb" option is more maintainable - particularly since the RD didn't include grams fo fiber in the total carb count; this might mean a total carb intake (including fiber) would be around 75 g/d, which is pretty close to what I'd been doing most of 2013. Obviously, though, that approach hadn't worked for me, and though I didn't have carb cravings on that plan, it was still easy to go overboard and binge on paleo-approved treats (vegan cheezy kale chips, spring rolls with sweet peanut sauce, sushi, fruit, etc.). Also, my energy level had been neither through-the-roof nor consistent with that approach.
I was hesitant to try the more-restrictive keto diet (75-80% fat, 0-8% carb, 17-25% protein), but I remembered that the Amazingness of 2012 began with a backpacking trip, during which I ate mostly pemmican for 4 days and was undoubtedly in ketosis. I knew it worked, but didn't want to commit.
The deciding event occurred last night, when I ate some lovely pho broth with beef and was full - then proceeded to eat a double serving of spring rolls with peanut sauce, veggie roll with peanut sauce, cheezy kale chips, and a pint of figs - and when all that was gone, I searched my fridge and cupboards for more. During the night, I awoke at 3:30 am and couldn't fall back asleep (too bloated, too hot, too awake). During the day, I was more bloated and uncomfortable than I'd been in a while, had a difficult time walking to the office, couldn't concentrate on work, and went home early with a migraine. All of that was food related.
And So Here We Are
Today was my first day in what will be a month-long adventure in the ketogenic diet. Many people have tried this diet and failed, due to low energy, crankiness, nausea, logistical problems, etc. I suppose at least for most of those factors, I've already proven to myself that my body performs a thousand times better on this diet - in terms of mood and energy, as well as body composition. When I'm in ketosis, I'm at my healthiest (thanks, metabolically broken family!).
I expect to have the occasional carb-reloading day, when I cut back on fat and eat ~100 g carbs, but overall I hope to have energy once again to exercise, concentration at work, a positive mood, and better sleep. If the past is any indicator, I'll feel like my best self again very soon.
CURRENT INFO
Supplements (for my own records; these haven't changed much over the past few months, so not likely to affect end result; will discontinue RLA, I3C, detox tea, licorice/peony, and possibly 5-HTP when current bottles run out):
Vit. D 6,000 IU
B complex
Adaptocrine
Potassium
Magnesium
5-HTP
Allegra (allergies...yet another reason for ketosis)
Licorice/peony
Spearmint tea
Detox tea
Indole-3-carbinol
R-lipoic acid
Goal Weight:
Last year's weight was 108; with my current muscle mass, I'm looking at an ideal weight of 105 lb; that may go higher if I put on some muscle over the next few months.
Today's Food/Exercise:
Breakfast:
5-oz can tuna in olive oil, not drained
0.5 oz nori
Lunch:
1 avocado
0.5 oz nori
Dinner:
1 c homemade pho broth
10 cerignola olives
8 oz ground beef with 1/2 onion and 2.5 Tbsp coconut oil
Movement:
Walk 9 miles
Biometrics:
Weight: 118.2 lb
