In 2017, I had an extremely rough time health wise. Shortly after the birth of my second son, which came with far too many health complications, I went to the doctor because I had this bulge in my abdomen on the left side that seemed bizarre to me. I know my insides take a little bit to settle back to where they belong, however, this was on the left side of my abdomen and seemed to be getting larger, not settling. My doctor at the time did an ultrasound and declared “Nothing out of the ordinary.” I went on about my life being a very active mother, traveler, and friend. There wasn’t a dull moment. This bulge was getting bigger and bigger and causing ridiculous amounts of pain. I went for a second opinion from a Dr. who sent me for imaging, which allowed her to diagnose my condition as having a hernia. It wasn’t hiatal and it wasn’t incisional, I just cannot for the life of me think of the name at the moment. The second opinion Dr. then referred me to a surgeon to consult for repair. I hadn’t lost much, almost any, of the weight I had gained being pregnant and I was at an uncomfortable to say number. He insisted that I was not a candidate unless I lose fifty pounds. He was rude and made me uncomfortable and I cried the whole way home because I just wanted this to be fixed and I wanted the pain to go away.
A couple of months later, hernia larger now, my husband sent me a text telling me to call a friend of his because he had been on this new diet and he thought it may work for me. I called. Most of the information that my husband’s friend gave me was misguided I learned from doing my own research. I still liked what I was reading and seeing, so I decided to give it a try. It was the Keto Die. I managed to glide smoothly through the transition into ketosis and in the first two weeks of being in a ketogenic state had lost twelve pounds. I then went on a cruise and drank all twelve back but none the less, I knew it was going to work at least a little bit.
After the cruise, beginning October 16th, 2017, I was all about it. I bought a food scale. I was very strict about shopping the outsides of the store and balancing my macros. By December 16th, 2017 I had lost thirty pounds. I called the surgeon’s office and told the scheduler the good news and asked if that was enough to go ahead with the surgery. They said sure and scheduled me for February 2nd 2018. I didn’t give up on the diet right then though. The Surgeon did say fifty pounds after all. By the time I was meant to have the surgery, I had lost the entire fifty pounds and felt so much better. My pain levels were still extremely high and it still looked as though I was pregnant with twins only on the left side of my body, but I had accomplished the needful and was going to be on the path to recovery.
Of course I know I have my own will and drive to thank but I thank the Keto Diet as well.
After surgery, I learned that the hernia had grown to life threatening size and it took more than four hours to place the twenty-seven inches of mesh that now lay in my abdomen, but the pain is so much different now. It is bearable. I am thankful for the pain of rebuilding abdominal muscles because I am alive to do so. In the first three months I was not supposed to be on the keto diet. I was still concious of what I put into my body but it wasn’t keto friendly for sure. I spent a month this past summer in ketosis for the loss of a whopping twenty pounds, which I gained back during an extremely stressful, impromptu, month long visit to Florida. But Now it is October again. A year after my introduction to the keto diet and I am back at it. I am going for the second fifty pound loss, but this time just for myself. I believe because it works.
I do have to say that I have learned that the keto diet is not for everyone and can be a very dangerous endeavor if not done correctly. The keto diet should not be made permanent. If you have questions about whether or not the keto diet is right for you, please do all the research you can before attempting. Also, please remember that eating carbs is important. The keto diet is not about ridding yourself of all carbs! That could result in terrible illness.
**The featured image: Keto-friendly cupcake with an extra rich chocolate frosting. 2g net carbs, 2g fiber, 16g fat, 5g protein, and 172 calories.
