Update on my Low Carb High Fat Diet (aka Ketogenic Diet)

There are some things I have noticed getting better. The first is sleep. I haven’t gotten to a point where I fall asleep and remain asleep the whole time I’m in bed, but, my sleep pattern has somewhat solidified itself for night time. Sometimes its not until about 2:30 in the morning but I do go to sleep. And when I wake up I am feeling somewhat, if not totally refreshed.

Second is hunger. Once I started to get used to eating this way, my hunger throughout the day reduced tremendously. Once I eat it is usually 4 to 5 hours until I’m hungry again. This is largely because I’m not spiking my blood sugar with carbs and sugar. The high fat content of the diet helps to keep me satiated for long periods of time.

I have also noticed that when I forget to take my nexium in the morning, which is a medicine for acid reflux, I don’t soon after start to get heartburn. I am keeping an eye on this because I have been taking medications like this, for this problem, for over 20 years. Its supposed to be a temporary treatment. But my heartburn never ever stopped. Now it seems there may be some hope.

Inflammation is much less since I began the diet. The swelling, which I had not really noticed around my ankles until I didn’t feel it anymore, has pretty much disappeared. I feel like my hands have also had a reduction of swelling. The last time I went to the doctor my blood pressure was normal. However, at home it has been constantly high. I don’t know if it has been accurate, but it has been alarming to me. When I went to the doctor I had been on this diet for about 3 weeks. So I’m not sure why it would be high now.

Fourth, the weight loss. It has not been tremendous or fast, but I have lost 21 pounds in about 7 weeks. That’s about 3 pounds average per week. Not very accurate I know, because some weeks I don’t lose weight at all. It was easy though. As I’ve said, not a lot of hunger. The only exercise I did was walking for about 40 minutes twice to three times a week. And that was just normal walking; Not a brisk walk or power walking.

My energy levels during the day have been really good. I don’t feel like I need a nap, even when I have a crappy night’s sleep the night before. Now if I didn’t sleep at all that a different story. I was restless last night but it was the first time in a couple of weeks.

Some time this summer I am planning to get back into the gym. Not in hurry because I hurt myself last time. And its a 40 minute drive.

Overall I’d say the diet has been good for me. I will continue with it as long as I can. Hopefully for life. And I’m looking forward to losing more weight and improving my health.