It's okay if Keto doesn't work for you. Here's why:

Friends... I have been on the ketogenic diet for 18 months now. In those months I have struggled, I have cheated on my diet, I have almost given up but here's the thing... when I stick to the ketogenic diet my body feels better. Yes loosing one hundred and twenty five pounds has made me feel better but the symptoms of a health condition I have are dramatically reduced when I am starving my body of glucose.



My endocrinologist recommended the keto diet for a condition I have called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Because of the way my body processes sugar the keto diet helps provide fuel in the form of ketones instead of glucose. Starving my body of unneeded glucose reduces my anxiety, regulates my menstrual cycle, and allows my body to release weight it was holding on to before.

Prior to the keto diet I was always tired, anxious, and hungry. Since I cut back to 20 carbs per day and went all in on the diet (about six months ago) I rarely crave sugar*, I have 80% less anxiety, my cycles are regular and less painful/traumatic to my body.

Daily snack at around 10 AM.

Sure, heightened levels of focus and all the weight lost are amazing perks but... I did not start this diet to think more clearly. To be honest my main concern was not even the weight loss at first it was regulating my body/hormones/emotions.

Keto is recommended for a few conditions such as PCOS, Epilepsy, Diabetes, Autism, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. If you are suffering from one of these conditions I absolutely would suggest getting your shit together and starting the keto diet. What could it hurt, right?

If you do not have one of these conditions or more than 100 pounds to loose I would not suggest the keto diet. I mean sure I make it look easy but you need to understand a few things:

1. It can be hard on your body. If you are not meticulously diligent about consuming the correct ratio's of fats, proteins, and carbs... you may as well not do it. You are going to starve your body of fuel and could end up in the hospital.
2. It is boring. If you are a foodie who needs variety don't do keto. I seriously dislike 95% of the keto replacement recipes. I don't make keto bread or keto pancakes because they are not the real thing and they are gross. I eat the same food, literally the exact same food seven days a week because it doesn't taste like sawdust cookies (almond flour cookies) or like soggy bread (cloud bread recipe). If you are okay with having a mostly boring diet you will be alright. When you go out to eat there are options... but your friends plates will look better than yours.
3. Its a fad for a reason... okay in the last eighteen months I would say that 80% of the people I have met have either tried keto or are thinking about trying keto. That's great and I salute people who are seeing real results on keto. I think it is utterly unhealthy though to do keto for two or three days and then binge on carbs. The entire point of the keto diet is to transition your body from burning glucose (sugar) to burning ketones (a type of fat in your body). This extreme yo-yo'ing I have seen others go through when attempting to try keto is not good. I personally do not judge anyone who has a hard time sticking to a diet. I have dieted for years prior to my diagnosis with no results if anyone understands I do... but on the other hand if you have been on a diet for four weeks and you are seeing no results take yourself to your doctor and figure out why. I feel like I need to clarify here... if you have been doing a diet by.the.book. for four weeks and have lost no weight there is likely something off with your hormones/thyroid/etc. 

Guys there are so many diets out there that do not change the type of fuel your body runs on... if you have 20 - 80 pounds to shed try the low-carb or whole thirty diets. Go vegan if that's your thing. But please for the love of coconut oil do not start the keto diet because it is popular. Start it because you are committed to changing your life. I use it as a tool to keep my PCOS in check... if you have PCOS or one of the many conditions it helps you should definitely try it. Listen to your body... if you are trying it by the book and you think something is wrong with you or that your body cannot tolerate the high levels of fat go to the doctor. 

*I'm not going to lie and say I never crave sugar... the week before my cycle is the only time I crave sweets but I resist and make it through using peanut butter and zero carb protein shakes as a crutch.