Thursday, March 29, 2018

Pushing the Reset Button


The fall of 2017 involved a pause in typical daily activity while I focused my time and energy on recovery from surgery.  I encountered several speed bumps along the way and am still dealing with some side effects as a result.  By the beginning of March, I had reached a point that I was willing to try anything, see anyone, or do anything that might press the reset button and put me back on the path of health and wellness that I enjoy. 

Over the past several years, I have worked through a nutrition transformation going from heavily carb dependent, to a balance utilizing the theories of metabolic efficiency, pressed further to Low Carb, High Fact (LCHF) bordering on Keto.  Through the transformation, I saw changes to my body composition and my athletic performance as well as a substantial increase in energy and overall wellness. 

In the process of feeling bad, I had lost my motivation to train and to embrace my nutrition.  I weighed more than I had in a while and overall felt sluggish and had a tremendous lack of energy.  In addition, I was experiencing bloating and inflammation in areas throughout my body. 

So, when March arrived I decided that in addition to all of the outside efforts to figure out my ailments that I would attempt to press the reset on my metabolic and body systems.  Through my exposure to Pruvit and Exogenous Ketones, I had been watching posts about the Keto Reboot and decided to jump into the group.  I ordered my Reboot Kit and waited for March 11th to arrive.  You mind plays lots of tricks going into a Reboot such as this.  Your last meal, will I make it, what will I feel like along the way?

Mike decided to join me on this journey.  It was nice to have someone close experiencing it at the same time.  We were able to compare and contrast and support each other when we felt ready to give in. 

The journey began at 8 p.m. on Sunday night.  After eating a normal dinner and dessert we drank our first Keto Tea.  Upon waking Monday morning, we took our ketone blood readings and other basic metrics.  I registered at 0.2.  Mid morning was a bottle of ketones and 2 capsules.  I felt fine throughout the morning.  I don’t typically eat until later in the morning so was not uncomfortable.Around 11:30, I had the first bought of hunger pains.  I was definitely hungry.  This is the time that I normally eat and my body knew that it was time.  I drank some water and pushed forward to 1:00 when I had the Keto Broth and 2 additional capsules.  The broth and capsules curbed the hunger.  I saved my second bottle of ketones for my drive to the cycling studio.  I typically eat a snack on the way so figured the ketones would help to cure the snack craving.  Made it through with no snacks and minimal hunger and returned home for Keto Broth for dinner.  The Keto Tea followed close behind and then was off to bed.  I was actually full when it came time for tea and in hindsight probably didn’t need to drink it. 

Entering the second full day, I came off of a decent night’s sleep.  We did our blood readings and today I registered at 1.3.  I went through the day as yesterday.  I did not feel my peak hunger today and in fact had a lack of appetite when it came time for ketones so I ended up skipping a few.  I was a bit nauseous and kind of felt junky although my energy was very good.  Day 2 was definitely easier than day 1 and little overall discomfort. 


I did not sleep well overnight.  Kind of restless and the nausea continued.  The blood reading on Wednesday morning was 3.6.  A big jump from Day 2 and a really big jump from Day 1.  I was feeling pretty good.  Stomach was still a bit unsettled but overall energy was good.  I was down approximately 7 lbs – some of which was water – a lot of which was inflammation.  My neck and body felt the best that they had in months and other than my stomach settling a bit overall I felt great. 


I took the two capsules on Wednesday morning and then had eggs and avocado about 9:30.  I had a lunch appointment at a Mexican restaurant that would typically mean a pile of chips but I did not eat any.  In fact had ½ of a salad with avocado, tomato and chicken.  I had a bottle of ketones in the afternoon and then I ate the other half of my salad for dinner.  I did a decent ride workout, had good energy for the ride and felt good heading to bed. 

In coming off of the Reboot – my goal was to see how long I could keep things feeling good and pain controlled.  I opted to stay away from dairy and gluten as much as possible as perhaps they are the triggers. 

After two weeks, I am still paying attention to what I am eating although not quite as strictly.  My inflammation still seems pretty controlled and overall my energy and pain levels are staying pretty good.  I am finding some food triggers and doing my best to make conscious decisions.

Overall, I see the Reboot as a success.  I don’t think at this point that I will repeat it monthly but will definitely continue to monitor and follow my LCHF way of eating to the best of my ability.  I will keep the Reboot and use it as a reset periodically to continue to stay on the journey.  #OneDayOneStep