Keto Heals: {Metabolic Syndrome}

This is the seventh installment of my eight-part blog series on my top health markers improved, reversed, managed, or completely HEALED through my Keto and Intermittent Fasting journey.

When I started out on my journey, I absolutely loved reading success stories.  The stories, like mine, I read on Diet Doctor kept me going throughout my entire journey.  I hope to pass a little spark to get you going on healing your metabolic dysfunction. 

Keto, Low-Carb Healthy Fat, with or without Intermittent Fasting, can change your life.  Take the first step into your own joyful journey to health!

(Disclaimer: I am not a health care professional.  I am writing about my personal experiences to encourage others in choosing a low-carb lifestyle.  I recommend you work closely with a health care professional to manage your metabolic health.  I work with three MDs to manage my health – functional medicine, cardiology, and a sleep specialist.  A team of health care professionals should assist in your journey.  Where appropriate, I will post links from respected health care providers from the low-carb community.)

Keto Heals: {Metabolic Syndrome}

If you’ve read my story, you know I participated in the “Weight Loss Clinic” at my local hospital about a decade ago.  My main diagnosis when I entered this program – Metabolic Syndrome.  Pardon me? What in the world is Metabolic Syndrome?

They showed me a graphic of a very obese man and said “yeah, this is you!”  They told me I would be dealing with Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease if I didn’t lose weight stat!

Metabolic Syndrome is defined on the NIH.gov website as:  A grouping of health conditions associated with an increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Conditions include hypertension, a large waist, high triglyceride levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, and above-normal blood glucose levels.  Check, check, check, and CHECK!  I checked off 4 of the 5 risk factors!

Back to the clinic weight loss program.  Channeling my best “Type A” Super Powers, I diligently followed their protocol and ate (drank) nothing but their chocolate and vanilla protein shakes for nine months.  800 calories a day for nine months and I didn’t cheat once!

I lost a fair amount of weight, to be sure.  I reached a scale low of 145 pounds and then transitioned back to a diet of real food.  I went to their cooking classes.  I went to their support classes weekly.  Eventually I released myself from the program because “I’ve got this”.

I had successfully tackled my Metabolic Syndrome and confident I had stopped the progression to Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease in their tracks.  Metabolic Syndrome reversed!  Woot!

I recently visited this clinic for a Dexa Scan. While sitting in the lobby, I had some very overwhelming emotions about my time spent in this clinic (check out my face in this picture!).  In hindsight, a complete and utter failure.  Just another check mark on my list of failed diet experiments.

I met some wonderful, caring doctors and clinicians in the clinic.  I had to check in there twice a week – so you get to know people rather well.  They were invested in their patient’s success.

Regretfully, not a single one of them taught me about the root cause of my obesity.  Not one of them ever mentioned the function of my insulin hormone.  They focused on calorie restriction and exercise.  Did I adhere and not cheat?  YES!  I lost weight right on schedule because I never cheated.  They cheered on my progress.  But they never mentioned the ROOT cause of my obesity.

I don’t think they even knew the cause of obesity to discuss with me.  I wish I could get those nine months back, the money back, and the decade plus has passed since I participated in that program.

My weight rapidly returned.  I rode the success of my accomplishment for a very short time. I sabotaged my success when I reintroduced carbohydrates to my diet.

Hello, Metabolic Syndrome.  Nice to meet you again.

I spent another decade in obesity, completely humiliated as I continued “counting calories” and “moving” more, and quickly packed the weight back on.  No one ever told me eating potatoes, whole wheat bread, and whole wheat pasta would make me fat again.  Sigh.

Here’s the happy ending to this story!  Thanks to Keto and Intermittent Fasting, I have reversed Metabolic Syndrome.  The possibility of developing chronic diseases like Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease is not part of my future!

It didn’t take long for me to realize Keto WORKS!  Regarding carbohydrates (grains, starches, sugars, etc.) – as soon as I eliminated them completely from my diet, the fat started burning off!  Keto is a perfect lifestyle to remove a diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome from your hospital chart.

Now I have learned my lesson, I am on a mission to share with others there may be a different option to treat obesity.  If you’ve tried the “counting calories” and the “moving more” approach with very little success, maybe there is a different option available! Maybe carbohydrate restriction, intermittent fasting, low-carb healthy fats, or Keto might be the answer to your prayers!  What have you got to lose?

Check out my Keto 101 page if you need some help getting started.  Stay tuned to the blog, also.  I will dedicate the whole month of October to “getting started” posts with my best tips and tricks!

If you enjoyed this blog, I would be so honored if you would share it with your friends and family.  You can also find my blog posted on my Facebook page “Joyful Keto Life”.  Please like my page and share.  Also, please subscribe to my newsletter list below to be kept in the loop!  Don’t forget to “Choose Joy”!

Installment 1 Keto Heals: {Exhaustion}

Installment 2 Keto Heals: {Obesity}

Installment 3 Keto Heals: {NAFLD | Fatty Liver}

Installment 4 Keto Heals: {OSA | Obstructive Sleep Apnea}

Installment 5 Keto Heals: {Migraines and Headaches}

Installment 6 Keto Heals: {Inflammation and Joint Pain}

Installment 7 Keto Heals: {Metabolic Syndrome}

Installment 8 Keto Heals: {Insulin Resistance}

I’ve created a free resource for you with my favorite five tips for your weight loss success. Grab it here:
5 Tips to Jumpstart Your Health and Wellness Journey