Background:
I left the entertainment industry as a marketing director, joined one of the world's leading healthcare organizations. For purposes known to me won't say which one as I don't want my flamboyant expressions here linked to my career.
Towards the end of my time in my previous job I was experiencing some very alarming symptoms:
-rapid heart rate and palpitations
-Lots of floaters in my eyesight
-increased urination, sometimes 30x a day
-fatigue
-mental fog
-stuttering
-lethargy
-apathy
-loss of drive
I went to my current employer for a diagnosis. Turns out I had what is known as adrenal fatigue and very high levels of cortisol. My resting heart rate was 123!!!
My blood pressure 149/97
My glucose blood levels 120+
Major deficiency in essential trace minerals and vitamin D.
They referred me to their general health institute. 3 days later I was talking to a very nice Dr who told me whatever it was that I felt was killing me, most likely was. So I quit my job.
I got a phone call from the same Dr and she asked me if she could give my number to a specialist who visiting town. I said sure.
He called me on the same day and asked me if I wanted to try something he had been championing for a long time; Ketogenic recovery.
He said adrenal fatigue was something very common in the population today but it was still going undiagnosed.
I met with him in the same clinic. there were 4 other people within my age range (mid 30's to early 40's).
He gave a presentation. At the end of it 2 people joined him and talked about their stories, their history and their roads to recovery.
This was in Aug. On Augest 11th I started the ketogenic diet. I went through the movements (extreme withdrawl from carbs and sugar, keto-flu). I noted how I was feeling and at night after work, once a day we would skype together and talk about how we were feeling physically.
Looking at the notes, up until Aug 16th I was feeling terrible. By then on aug 17th something changed. I remember waking up that day, and looking at my night time notes it says "I have spare energy after a tough day at work. I'm going for a walk"
By Aug 22nd my notes said "life feels great. I feel I'm able to control my stress levels consciously"
Aug 29th "I weighed myself today and I am down 9 pounds"
Sep 4th "Juggled several hard moments at work and didn't feel overwhelmed"
Sept 11th, my vitals
-90/120 blood pressure
-92 resting heart rate
-Blood glucose levels 80
Sept 14th - bought myself a glucometer that also reads blood ketone levels. First reading 0.5 ketones mm/ol (nutritional ketosis range) blood glucose levels 80
Sept 17th - weighed myself, down 25 pounds! waist size down 2 inches from 44 to 42
Sept 19th - diary note "I am able to summon energy at will"
Sept 22nd - "bought a bike. did 20 minutes outside. kinda hot. didn't wanna get heatstroke"
sept 30th - weighed myself, down 30 pounds and 2.5 inches
October 3rd - Colleagues are asking me what I'm doing. Eyes are pearl white, teeth glowing and sparkling, fingernails no longer have wierd texture.
October 4th - i noticed my knees and ankles don't hurt anymore
October 9th - Started going to the beech, life is good
October 12th - Need a new belt and jeans. Benching 180 pounds. starting weight was 80 pounds. 100 pound increase in less than 3 months!
October 20th - "forgot to wiegh myself. its been a while. I'm down 50 pounds.. i don't know how. I'm wearing Jeans from the first years of my marriage"
October 21st today - decided I wanted to share with as many people as possible.
Ketogenics works. Get past the initial phase of blah.
Look for the following people on youtube:
Dr Erik Berg
StephanieKeto