My Journey: From Mental Health Struggles to Hope Through the Power of Keto

How I transformed my body and mind with a ketogenic diet, losing over 20kg and gaining a new perspective on life and health

During my college years, I was also part of the engineering water polo team. I was fit, weighing 85kg, mostly muscle (I’m 1.78m tall, average height). It was probably this rigorous training regimen that allowed me to just barely complete my electrical and computer engineering degree. At the time, I was very ill, but the demanding physical activity somehow delayed the full onset of my mental illness.

After starting work, I soon visited a doctor, complaining about early symptoms that would later be confirmed as signs of mental illness. I was prescribed medication, and within a few weeks, my strength, stamina, and motivation to continue training vanished. Even though I kept training with my teammates in the pool, I began gaining weight.

Before long, I quit the water polo team, and within a couple of months, my weight skyrocketed to over 130kg.

I always attributed that significant weight gain to the medication I was taking — which, to a large extent, was true. However, being better informed about the metabolic causes of mental illness, I now realize my diet wasn’t ideal, even when I was in peak physical shape.

Looking back, I suspect I was already suffering from insulin resistance. I consumed so much junk food that my cells had become desensitized to the insulin my pancreas produced, which is necessary for letting glucose into cells to generate energy.

I’ve been overweight ever since — that was when I was 23 years old.

A few months ago, I came across Dr. Palmer’s book, Brain Energy, and started following his interviews on YouTube. He shared his experiences in treating patients with treatment-resistant mental illness using a ketogenic diet and observing remarkable results.

So, I decided to try it for myself. I began preparing my own keto meals, using ChatGPT for guidance, and within two months, I lost over 20kg. My motivation, energy, mental clarity, and focus have all significantly improved.

I used to believe I would have to carry this burden for the rest of my life, but now I have hope. It’s still early to say if this approach will continue to work, but for now, I couldn’t ask for more. I share my story so that anyone facing a similar situation might know there is hope.

Thank you for reading my story, and best of luck in your endeavors!