“I no longer feel like I’m old enough to be a grandmother”
Before and after
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!
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Do you have a success story you want to share? Send your information, plus before and after photos, to success@dietdoctor.com. It would also be greatly appreciated if you shared what you eat in a typical day, whether you fast etc. More information:
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I have slowly been strarting this diet, I started to eliminate some carbs and most surger foods. I have not yet jumped in completely as I am still gathering all the information of LCHF weightloss program before I truley diven in. Got my husband on the same page and my 16 year old son will also will be following this plan. So when I hear stories of those that remind me of myslef it gives me hope for a healthy life..........thank for sharing.
I suggest you to buy the book "Wheat Belly" of Dr William Davis and the book "The Big Fat Surprise" of Nina Teicholz.
Here the blog of Dr William Davis : http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/
I read that some chess players will actually eat a ketogenic diet before a big tournament because they have better mental clarity. There is no "essential" carb. The amount necessary for life is zero, as long as people have a source of protein and fat, thanks to gluconeogenesis and to the ability of the body to burn ketone bodies.
Petro Dobromylskyj at Hyperlipid has an interesting current post on fueling neurons.
http://high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.ca/2014/07/in-comments-following-p...
The neurons use lactate and ketones, not glucose, for fuel, in order to avoid apoptosis and loss of memory (as in Alzheimer's Disease). The astrocytes and oligodendrocytes can burn glucose to make lactate for the neurons. However, if there is hyperglycemia (such as the spiking blood sugar after eating a lot of mashed potatoes) the flood of glucose pervades into neurons, leading over time to neuron cell death and loss of memory. A Mayo clinic study found that those seniors in the study who had eaten the most carbohydrates had 3.6 times more signs of cognitive decline as the average and those that ate the most fat had 0.48 times the signs of cognitive decline as the average.
Kindest Regards,
Lisa
I am starting out on the lowcarb high fat program - last week was about stopping eating sugar and highly processed foods. This week I've reduced eating grains and starchy foods. Today I did the strangest supermarket shop EVER only going down a few isles. No biscuits, no bread, no pastries, sweets or pasta. Just meat and fish, green leafy vegetables and salad, cream (!) and cheese and yoghurt.
What happened to all the excess skin on your stomach, or did you not develope any.
I decided since I've been already some what on a low carb eating plan, I'd start this journey and go feet first.
I'm tired of being in pain daily, tired all the time etc. I'm only 46 and have two amazing sons I want to see grow into awesome adults.
My 14 yr old is also eating as I do and loves it, so this will be a breeze.
Thank you for writing in and getting all of us motivated to be happy again.