The Struggles, the Switch, and What Comes After a Keto Diet

For some time, I have been on a personal mission to reclaim my body and health.

After having my baby, the postnatal weight gain came quickly and sat heavily, not just on my body but on my self-esteem and energy.

It started to feel like more than just “baby weight.” I knew something had to change.

Some of my close friends, equally concerned, gifted me a Keto diet plan. It felt like a timely push in the right direction.

At first, Keto sounded like just another trendy diet, but I quickly learned it is more than just food choices; it is a complete shift in how you eat and think about food.

The premise is simple yet intense: cut out carbohydrates almost entirely, increase your protein intake, load up on vegetables, and eliminate sugars.

For someone like me, raised on the Ugandan style of eating, where meals are built around a carbohydrate base like matooke, rice, or posho, with sauce (protein) and just a touch of vegetables, this was a complete reversal of my norm.

The beginning was brutal. Not only was I adjusting to new foods, but I was also fighting the very real hunger that came with eliminating carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates, for many of us, are not just about energy; they offer a feeling of fullness and comfort.

With Keto, I had to let go of that familiar satisfaction. The nights were especially hard.

I would lie awake, stomach rumbling, not because I had not eaten, but because my body was screaming for the kind of fullness it was used to.

That deep, nagging hunger was my companion for the first few weeks.

It felt like I was in a constant battle between discipline and desire.

Yet, despite the discomfort, my body responded. The first month brought the most dramatic change.

My energy began to feel more stable; I was not crashing like I used to, and the numbers on the scale began to shift.

It was motivating, but still, the food felt monotonous. Meat, eggs, more meat, day in and day out.

I missed fruit. I missed the freedom of just having a banana or a slice of bread without worry.

I took breaks in between months just to breathe and enjoy some variety.

But every time I returned to Keto, the adjustment was hard all over again.

Eventually, I sat down with a dietician to talk through it all; the progress, the pain, the confusion about what came next.

She helped me understand why Keto, while effective, was not built for the long haul for most people.

Yes, it pushes the body to burn fat by depriving it of sugars and carbohydrates, but in doing so, it also cuts out entire food groups that are essential for long-term health.

Vitamins from fruits, trace minerals from certain carbohydrates, are things we often take for granted but are sidelined in Keto.

This can lead to serious deficiencies if not managed carefully.

Supplements exist, but they are often expensive and inaccessible to many.

The truth is, the very nutrients we go searching for in pills and powders are already in the foods around us.

We should focus on the right preparation and portions.

Looking back, I do not regret doing Keto. It taught me discipline and showed me what my body is capable of.

But it also showed me that the real work is in building a life I can sustain.

The kind that allows me to enjoy my food, nourish my body, and stay healthy without feeling trapped or hungry all the time.

Weight loss is not just about cutting carbohydrates or skipping sugar.

It is about consistency, balanced eating, hydration, movement, and the mental work of changing habits.

Dieting, especially something as strict as Keto, might work for a season.

But unless it comes with a plan for what comes after, it is easy to slide right back.

I have learned that losing weight is not about punishing the body. It is about understanding it.

About being kind to it, feeding it well, and most importantly, learning to live in a way that feels good, strong, and sustainable.

That is the real win.