How the Ketogenic Diet Helped Me Regain Focus and Energy

Overcoming mental fog and "monkey mind" through a transformative approach to mental and metabolic health

As I was struggling with my mental health, one of the most frustrating things for me was my inability to focus at work. I was familiar with the concept of "monkey mind" through my meditation practice and tried everything I could to improve my focus—especially on my software engineering tasks.

I practiced meditation, took walks to clear my mind, used a note-taking app to plan my tasks in excruciating detail—but no matter what I did, I could never match my teammates' ability to sit down and completely focus on their work.

Over time, I learned to deliver results mostly through sheer grit and determination. By the end of each week, I was utterly exhausted, and no matter how much time I took off, I never seemed to fully replenish my energy.

I assumed this was my normal state until I read about Dr. Palmer's use of the ketogenic diet to treat metabolic and mental illness (you can learn more at Brain Energy). I followed him on YouTube and X, and decided to try the diet myself. After all, I had nothing to lose and could always return to my previous, though less-than-optimal, lifestyle.

A few weeks in, I started experiencing something new—consistent energy throughout the day. I lost 22kg, and most importantly, the "monkey mind" that had always plagued me began to quiet down. I was able to focus for long hours without much effort, and my energy felt fully restored after a good night's sleep.

I never expected such a dramatic change at this point in my life, but it feels like I've been given a second chance to contribute to the community, free from the mental fog that always held me back from reaching my full potential.

I hope that by sharing my story, others might find hope and consider trying this approach for themselves. You can find more information at metabolicmind.org, where many doctors and researchers are working hard to bring new therapies for people struggling with metabolic and mental health issues.

I hope this post was helpful, and I wish you the best of luck in your own journey!