“I no longer feel like I’m old enough to be a grandmother”

Do you have to suffer from aches and pains as you’re getting older?  Although this has become the norm, it’s not part of a natural aging process.

Here’s an email from Beth, who wanted to share her experiences with an LCHF diet:

The Email

Hello Dr. Eenfeldt,

I am not done with my LCHF journey, but wanted to share what I have experienced so far.

I am a 48 year old mother of two and also a grandmother. Several years ago I felt age taking it’s toll on me and I changed the way that I ate in pursuit of better health. I became a vegetarian. Still no better health. I became a low fat vegetarian. Still no better health. I became vegan. Again, still no better health. I even managed to do several months a raw vegan. I could no longer keep it up and gave up and just ate whatever I wanted. Several months later I got the not feeling right, which progressed to feeling sick. And I kept getting worse. So bad, in fact, that I had to leave work.

I felt exhausted, every bit of me ached, couldn’t think clearly, would get episodes where I felt like I had been steam-burned over my entire body, weak, difficulty walking or making co-ordinated movements, disoriented. I lost my cognitive abilities – I even had difficulty making complete sentences. A year of several doctors, many test and much money I had no answers for my issues, until I found someone who specialized in hormones. We didn’t know the cause, but we now know that my thyroid was barely working, my adrenals were over-working, I was iodine deficient, and had six neurotransmitters out of whack. We worked on getting those back in line with natural means. She had also recommended an LCHF diet because I had many symptoms of syndrome X (large waist circumference, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, high LDL, low HDL, and high fasting blood sugar) – but at the time I was too weak of body and mind to try, the other symptoms were more pressing.

It was a long road, but I recovered. I decided to return to school. One day I remembered her LCHF recommendation and decided to give it a try. I did well for about two months, then for reasons I can’t even remember now, I gave up. But I tried again, and boy, am I ever glad that I did.

I started at an embarrassing weight of 252 lbs, and a waist circumference of 42”. Eleven months on, and I now weigh 187 lbs, and my waist is 33.5”. My blood pressure is once again stellar, fasting blood sugar great, normal triglycerides, and enviable cholesterol levels. Also not a small thing, was the effect on my cognitive abilities. To those who say that your brain needs carbohydrates and you can’t think without them – I have maintained a 4.0 since returning to school and have recently been accepted to pharmacy school.

I look forward to the remainder of my life living this way. I’m never hungry. I get to enjoy the best food and eat at wonderful restaurants (mmm – steak w/ butter). I have energy. I have a sharp mind once again. I no longer feel like I’m old enough to be a grandmother.

Thank you for your blog and all it’s helpful, encouraging information.

Beth

Please feel free to share my information.

Comment

Congratulations on your fantastic health and weight journey, Beth!

More

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How to Lose Weight

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PS

Do you have a success story you want to share on this blog? Send it (photos appreciated) to andreas@dietdoctor.com, and please let me know if it’s OK to publish your photo and name or if you’d rather remain anonymous.