Life before keto: 

I had been struggling with PCOS since my twenties. No matter how hard I tried, the weight continued to pile on. In 2012, my father passed away—and between the grief and my low-fat diet, I spiraled into serious depression. 

My marriage and home life were already on shaky ground, but everything truly turned for the worse in 2016 when I had my second child. 

I was suffering from terrible postpartum depression and had sleep apnea, chronic blood pressure issues, and skin issues leading to bleeding on my face and legs. I had back pain that kept me bedridden and mood swings that were so sudden I felt like a monster. 

Discovering keto: 

While researching low-carb diets for my PCOS, I stumbled upon Dr. Berg’s videos on YouTube—and everything changed. His videos were addictive; I couldn’t stop watching. The education style made logical sense. 

Dr. Berg helped me realize that health comes before weight loss. I stopped chasing the number on the scale and instead focused on feeling better. The weight loss just followed naturally. 

These were the wins that changed my world. 

Motivation along the way: 

Despite all the physical symptoms—the pain, the weight, the fatigue—what really drove me to make a change was my faith and my children. 

When your kids cry because you are too tired and overweight to play with them, it triggers something inside of you. I had always been overweight with health problems, but now it was affecting my family. 

Challenges: 

With the support of my husband and my mother, I started keto. But my biggest challenge? Other people. 

Everyone seems to have a take on what’s healthy. I was over 100 pounds overweight, and no one said a word. But once I started losing weight non-conventionally, suddenly everyone had an opinion. I kept myself motivated by watching other transformation videos on YouTube. 

Health improvements: 

Since starting the keto diet, I’ve lost 117 pounds (53 kg). My first 100 pounds (45 kg) melted away within just six months. 

If I could go back and do anything differently, it would be to add daily walking for 45 minutes. That’s it. 

I seriously feel like I can wake up every morning and do a million push-ups. I learned to play the bass guitar in under five months. I’m nearly 40 and now play in a band. My mind is clear, and I wake up with zero excuses. I’ll never again say I’m too old or too tired. No more excuses. 

Advice for someone starting keto: 

Do not give up. It is possible to lose weight, even if you feel like an unfulfilled PCOS victim headed toward 350+ pounds. You are not a lost cause. Find someone who understands, even me, and cling to them. 

Favorite Way to Exercise:  

My favorite ways to exercise are walking and weight training. 

Favorite Keto Meal: 

I keep it simple. I haven’t made many keto recipes for myself. But I do know how to season meat really well! My favorite? Pot roast made with butter, rosemary, salt, and garlic, slow-cooked in a Crock Pot for nine hours. Heaven! 

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