Why I started keto

Why I Went Keto (and Got Addicted to Testing Ketones)

Have you ever stood in front of the mirror and thought, “Who is this person with the growing belly staring back at me?” That was me, a 49-year-old sourdough enthusiast who loved making wood-fired pizzas, freshly baked bread, and just about anything carb-loaded. I wasn’t a huge fan of meat—especially chicken with its bones and skin (shudder!)—but carbs? Oh, carbs were my best friends.

Then came COVID, and like many of us, I packed on a few extra pounds. Not a lot, but enough to bring along a companion I wasn’t thrilled about: a growing belly. My doctor, suspicious of what was brewing beneath the surface, sent me for a liver scan. The verdict? Fatty liver.

As if that wasn’t enough, my blood sugar crossed the 100 mg/dL threshold. My doctor’s advice? “Cut back on fats.” But honestly, that sounded far too simplistic. Plus, the arrival of my shiny new pizza oven only made things worse. More bread, more pizza, more everything carb-y.

Fast forward two years and my glucose levels and HbA1c numbers were out of control. I knew it was time for a serious change. Enter: my coworker.

The Guy on the Roof (or How I Got Inspired)

At work, I have this coworker who’s a bit of a meat magician. Every day, he’s up on the office roof, grilling all sorts of cuts on a heavy-duty toaster. High-fat burgers? Check. Wholesale steaks? Check. Lamb ribs? You bet. Sure, no pork (we keep kosher), but this guy was living the high-protein, high-fat dream.

I used to think, “This can’t possibly be healthy,” but when my own health went south, I thought, “Why not?”

The Keto Journey: From Carbs to Carnivore-ish

Switching to a ketogenic diet wasn’t easy for a carb lover like me. Saying goodbye to bread, pasta, and pizza felt like saying goodbye to old friends. But I replaced them with juicy steaks, avocado, and leafy greens. And the results?

Within four months, my blood sugar plummeted, my HbA1c improved, and even my fatty liver showed signs of recovery. The only downside? My cholesterol went up a bit, but my doctor assured me that this was normal for keto, as long as I kept everything in balance.

A New Obsession: Testing Ketones

Here’s where things get interesting (and a little obsessive). As I dived deeper into keto, I discovered the world of ketone testing. You know, the thing where you check how deep into ketosis you are. It started with urine test strips—the cheapest and easiest option for beginners. And let me tell you, at first, those strips are like magic. They light up in beautiful shades of pink and purple, telling you, “Yes, you’re in ketosis!”

But there’s a catch: over time, your body becomes more efficient at using ketones for energy. That means it produces fewer excess ketones, and urine strips become less reliable. (Yes, science!) Instead of measuring your actual state of ketosis, the strips just tell you how much of the leftover ketones your body is excreting.

So, what’s a keto enthusiast to do?

Upgrading to the Big Guns

Eventually, I invested in a fancy gadget—a meter that measures everything: blood sugar, ketones, hemoglobin, and even uric acid. It wasn’t cheap, but hey, if you’re going to obsess over your health, you might as well go all in, right?

Here’s where I hit a snag: the device revealed that my uric acid levels were higher than normal, meaning my urine was overly acidic. (Yeah, that’s a thing.) So now, I’m on a mission: to stay in ketosis while balancing my uric acid levels. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely.

The Birth of an Idea

This whole experience got me thinking: there has to be a better way to help people on their keto journey. Between obsessively testing my ketones, tweaking my diet, and discovering new recipes, I decided to build a website to share my tips, tricks, and personal stories.

Because let’s face it: keto isn’t just a diet; it’s a lifestyle, a science experiment, and sometimes a comedy of errors. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been keto for years, I want to make sure no one feels lost in the carb-less wilderness.