“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!

More

LCHF for Beginners

How to Lose Weight

More health and weight stories

More on the metabolic syndrome

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.