Second wave of success (after failure)

In 2018-2019, I had lost over 40 pounds on keto of Dr. Berg's videos. I tossed out bad forms supplements, started regular monthly IV's of magnesium for depression and leg crampings.

In the morning I added ACV with lemon, ginger, and cayenne to my morning water, and then added another huge weather with pre and probiotics and wheatgrass. No more pure water! In the afternoon I drank half-black/half-green tea and in the evening more water with ACV. I completely overhauled my kitchen! Everything organic (except avocados because the skin is thick enough to keep out the icky). Everything is pasture-raised, grass-fed, and grass-finished. I have virtually nothing in my pantry that has more than one ingredient. I only cook with MCT oil, butter, and/or bacon fat and I only finish with the best olive oil. Finally, I cut out all soda, carbs from any walk of life and banished caffeine except for a "half-calf" concoction with mushroom extract. I abandoned alcohol only having a few glasses of red wine during the holidays in six months. I was successful on 20/4 intermitted fasting rotation. My success was creating a rotation of huge salads and one snack, breakfast salad (eggs, bacon avocado, Pepitas Seeds on top of greens), hamburger salad (hamburger, avocado, red onion); tuna fish salad (tuna, homemade mayo, capers, pickle relish (w/o sugar), etc.), and egg salad (hardboiled eggs, homemade mayo, dill, etc., bacon). My snacks were pecans/almonds/walnuts & sugar-free dark chocolate) or pickle, grass-fed cheese, and nuts. After ransacking my makeup, lotions, soaps, and other crap I transformed my personal care products. I only use first press olive oil and rose oil for moisturizers. To cleanse I use rose water and witch hazel and a few times per week I use vitamin C and rose facial cleanser. All organic and with no animal testing.

My health completely turned around. My blood sugars normalized, my cholesterol was perfect and I was down 40 pounds. I felt amazing and I was not hungry and I was naturally reducing the amount of food because eventually, I could not consume it all! Then, in July of 2019, I went to France. It was amazing, it was beautiful and when I returned my very stressful job completely took over my life. I was finishing menopause and my cortisol levels went through the roof. I was working 80 hours a week, and in my stress and anxiety vortex of hell, I abandoned keto. Between people telling me keto was unhealthy, complaining that "I was too picky", "I was difficult to eat with", "never went out to eat", blah, blah, blah...I caved.

Within two (2) years it was all back. Now, I am back. New job (thanks COVID), not working as much (work is no longer toxic), sleeping more, relaxing more, and taking long walks, I am now keto-adapted! My inflammation is way down, bloating down, migraines gone, stamina increasing (although I am still having some keto fatigue). I am back! I have lost inches but not weight knowing that health comes first and then the weight comes off! Stick to it. Don't cave to peer pressure. Don't convince yourself that what works for you is wrong because others refuse to review the evidence or passive-aggressive naysayers. This is the last time I start over. This time I know in my head and heart that my fighting weight is not a pipe dream. I know how to lose weight and be healthy. I will never settle for overweight, stressed out, unhappy and unhealthy again.