Let's talk keto for a bit, shall we? I have been on a keto diet since late November of 2025. In the two-plus months I have been eating keto, I have lost 25 pounds. And there are significant changes in how I feel.
If you are not familiar with eating keto, the simplest answer is to eat very low carbohydrates and increase your good fat intake. The standard keto breakdown of macronutrients is:
- Fats 70%-90%
- Protein 15%-20%
- Carbs 5%-10%, often capped at between 20g and 50g per day
I am on a bit of a stricter regimen. I follow the recommendations of Dr. Annette Bosworth, better known as Dr. Boz, online. She suggests more fat and fewer carbs than the standard keto breakdown:
- Fats 80%-95%
- Protein 5%-20%
- Carbs <5%, which is generally 20g or less per day
I don't want to bore you with the technical stuff, but it's safe to say that this type of eating lifestyle switches your metabolism from a glucose-burning one to a fat-burning one. The longer you are on this eating regimen, the more your body will burn fat instead of sugar.
Studies have shown that following a strict keto diet can confer a range of health benefits, including improved brain function, reduced inflammation, and significant fat loss. Now I'm not a doctor, so don't jump on the keto train without doing your own research and consulting with your physician.
I can only tell you what it's done for me. As I mentioned earlier, I have dropped 25 lbs. What else has it done? Well, as a sufferer of osteoarthritis in my left hip, I have been able to stop taking my arthritis medication. Beyond that, I have noticed that my hip does not hurt as badly or as often as it did just 6 months ago.
Then there are my migraines. I notice fewer of them, even though I stopped my daily medication for those, too. The only ones that still seem to get me are the ones triggered by barometric pressure changes. Typically, I get them when bad weather comes rolling in.
Finally, I feel like I am sleeping better. While the total amount of sleep I get each night hasn't changed much, the quality of my sleep seems to be improving. I don't sleep longer, but I sleep better.
I'd like to say keto is for everyone, but that is just not true. You have to do the research and determine, for yourself, if it's something you want to take on. It is a paradigm shift in how you eat and what you eat.
In the end, it's about sugar addiction via carbs. There are plenty of studies showing that carbs are not good for you and are not even necessary for life. However, when you have been eating lots of carbs for years, your body uses them for fuel, but they are not very efficient.
It's not all sunshine and daisies. I made the switch without experiencing the "carb cravings" that many people report. This is the biggest struggle people report. Giving up the carbs they love. For me, it was rather easy. My biggest struggle is avoiding hidden carbs in the foods I eat. You'd be surprised how they can sneak up on you.
Keto is not for everyone, but it's worth looking into. For most people, going keto is more about mindset than anything else. You have to want to do it. It will be hard at first, but once you're in a rhythm, as with everything hard, it gets easier the more you practice.
I started because I wanted to be healthier. That starts with proper nutrition. 1 Corinthians 6 says,
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own. (1Co 6:19 ESV)
I also wanted to see what it did for my arthritis and sleep. So far, it has worked in spades now, if I could only be consistent with my exercising!
What do you think? Is keto something you'd be willing to look into, or is it a no-go? Either way, I'd love to hear what you think.
—Daniel