I’m not a doctor by any means, but I am the only expert of my body. This poor body of mine has been on nutritional rollercoasters  since I was a little girl. My parents wouldn’t let me eat anything with hydrogenated oils ( a belated thank  you, folks)  which in kid language meant NOTHING GOOD.  So, I snacked on Barbara’s organic “Cheetos”  which I’m pretty sure were made with aged white cheddar and sneaky vegetables, I was only allowed fruit for desert, and sometimes I’d have granola or Grape nuts- I know, right? come on…Yuck, parents!! –   for breakfast – no sugar cereal for this kid. I’d sneak over to my friends houses and gorge on Oreos and  Cinnamon  Toast Crunch- GOD BLESS the inventors of these delicacies.  I  went to Summer Theater camp – NERRRRD– with a bag of raw almonds and spinach for a snack… everyone else got Gogurt. I guess I was…um,  healthy? 

In high school, I started dancing professionally, I was chosen to be apart of the Adult Team, as a 16 year old,  on the NBA Nuggets Mod Squad hip hop dance team, and the AFC  Indoor Football Crush Dancers.  They made us  wear crop tops, tiny, cheeky shorts, and we had a very specific color to spray tan ourselves to, and  a few of my role models on the team were asked to leave due to their “weight” – in my eyes, these women were (and still are) perfect, so seeing them being asked to leave due to some normal, healthy looking muffin tops,  made a very strong and unhealthy impact on my 16 year old brain. Body dysmorphia is and was real. I struggled a lot with my own reflection. I was never good enough.

Moving to LA made things even worse. I became borderline obsessive with the food I ate. I wasn’t a skeleton, I still had muscle, but it was not a healthy place to be. At 5’10, I was barely 120lbs, and I was never going to be skinny enough. A modeling agency told me I could maybe walk, and pull off  being a plus size model- and  we all can imagine  how well that one went. YES, HONEY,  I WALKED, no, I wasn’t hungry…. For months.  I went vegan for the wrong reasons- I thought if I only ate plants, I’d keep the pounds off. 

Oh, young Christa.. you silly, silly girl. 

Fast Forward to today. I feel brighter, healthier and happier than ever. I took a sharp turn from the way I used to eat. After my brain surgery, I got picky. Things tasted strange- I hated eggs. I didn’t like meat. certain texture made me feel uneasy.   It was clear I wasn’t getting the nutrition I needed. Food was not my priority anymore- I lost interest in it. everything was, Meh.

Three weeks ago, I had a seizure in a cafe and fell off of a chair in front of a bunch of skiiers- quite embarrassing, and, OUCH, and, terrifying. I was lead to some research about  how the Keto Diet was created for children with Epilepsy in the 1920’s and  there was great success. There are plenty of scientists raving about this diet and it’s benefits on the brain. The brain is, 50% fat, anyway. So I guess we might as well  give her what she wants! 

 I talked to my neurologist and asked him if he thought this might be a good route for me, in tandem with the meds I take. He agreed, said I’d be a great candidate as long as I’m open to a full-on life style change… I mean, I’ve changed so much already in the last three years, so bring it on. He put in the referral for a nutritionist that I could talk to to get started with,  and  I started eating more eggs, avocado and, brace yourself, beef and bacon, (and nuts!) than I ever have in my entire life. 

As my body and brain enters optimal Ketosis, I feel a feeling of “coming up” – almost  a high, like a glow around my brain. I am energized, alert, and sharper than I have felt in months.  My husband ha even noticed an improvement in cognition. And guess what, I don’t want to speak too soon, but we’re coming up on being one month seizure free, ALREADY!! 

As I sip on my breve latte, I feel great in my own skin, finally. For the first time in years, or even decades, I can look in the mirror and say, hey, you look pretty healthy. Thumbs up, self. More importantly, for the first time in my recovery, my husband has expressed confidence in my cognition, and that feels better than anything I can express. So, I guess you can say, I’m a believer. I’m a keto girl now. Someone please pass the BUTTER!!

One thing to note: Keto isn’t for everyone. You need to stay hydrated- I drink nearly a gallon of water each day. And it’s important to stay active! I ride my peloton  multiple times per week, swim  at least twice a week and walk a mile a day. My experience is my own and is not promised to everyone who tries the diet. It’s also extremely important to dedicate time to prep and cook meals for yourself to maintain ketosis- otherwise, you’ll be hungry and reaching for quick and easy sugary carb- filled snacks that will kick you out of ketosis quickly! I am not a doctor or dietitian. If you have a brain injury or epilepsy, it’s in your best interest to talk to your neurologist before giving this lifestyle diet a try!