I Did the Keto Diet for 5 Years Then Quit

I discovered the ketogenic diet in 2015 following the birth of my first child.

Despite gaining 50 pounds, traditional methods like calorie counting and exercise weren't working for me. I remember eating 1,200 calories a day and running five miles six times per week, but the weight would not budge.

Desperate for a solution, I turned to keto, which dramatically contradicted what I learned in college to become a dietitian. I have a bachelor's in nutrition and dietetics, and I have dedicated my life to helping professional women shed fat.

The keto diet tightly restricts carbohydrates, helping to put your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat stores for energy instead of glucose.

To my surprise, keto worked wonders initially, leading me to my pre-pregnancy weight in just a few months. I had finally found the golden ticket—or so I thought.

However, my approach to keto was to treat it more like a diet than a lifestyle. By the time I was pregnant with my second daughter, I had given up on keto and gained back 60 pounds.

I weighed 200 pounds when I gave birth and I was devastated.

This setback motivated me to return to keto, but this time with a focus on sustainability, forming what I now teach as the "holistic clean keto lifestyle".

I successfully lost the 60 pounds in eight months, but that was not the end of my struggles. Keto became the diet that worked for five years—until it didn't.

Towards the end of 2019, things started to unravel. Despite adhering to the diet, I experienced intense cortisol and adrenal issues related to chronic stress, which were exacerbated by keto. Unexpectedly, I gained 50 pounds.

Juggling a growing business and raising two small kids at home, I hadn't noticed this gradual weight increase until one day, I could barely recognize myself in the mirror.

Confused and frustrated, I began researching and realized the long-term implications of keto on hormones, especially under stress.

So I made the difficult decision to quit keto.

This was a significant step for me, considering I had built my business and identity around being the "clean keto expert." Even my daughter referred to me as "the keto girl."

I was also deathly afraid to eat anything but keto for fear of gaining weight. But I had already gained so much weight while being on keto. It was quite the paradox. In the end, quitting keto was the best decision for my health.

I switched over to carb cycling to help fix my adrenal and cortisol issues and I've never felt better. Carb cycling involves varying your carbohydrate intake between days, increasing or reducing it as necessary.

This not only stopped my weight gain but also allowed me to lose pounds healthily and sustainably, all while consuming more carbs than I had in my five years on strict keto.

I'm not discrediting keto; it's still a powerful tool, especially for clients with prediabetes or diabetes. I continue to recommend and teach it to other women.

The essence of my story is to highlight the importance of understanding when to use keto and when to switch to carbs. It's not about being dogmatic but recognizing the body's needs.

My current struggle with strict keto doesn't mean it will always be this way. If you're experiencing unexpected weight gain or hormonal issues, it's worth examining if long-term keto might be the cause. Carb cycling could be the solution you need.

This journey taught me the crucial lesson of listening to my body and making choices that suit my health best. It's not about following a trendy diet, but finding what works for you and supports your goals.

My experience with keto has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. It served me well initially but eventually led to unforeseen health issues.

The key takeaway is the flexibility to adapt your diet to your body's changing needs. Whether it's keto, carb cycling, or any other approach, the focus should always be on what feels right for you and your health goals.

Lesya Holzapfel is a nutritionist dedicated to helping career-driven working moms to lose weight. She has a carb cycling cheat sheet for those wanting to try it for themselves.

All views expressed are the author's own.

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