Mary's
Story
In 2016, Mary reached a pivotal moment in her health journey, although her struggles had begun long before. Diagnosed with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy, a rare neurological disorder often misdiagnosed due to its early symptoms of anxiety and depression, Mary faced many challenges.
From early childhood, Mary experienced anxiety, which worsened during puberty with severe depression and persistent daytime sleepiness. Despite these difficulties, she graduated high school and earned an Associate's degree in Medical Records Technology, followed by a Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences.
Entering the professional world, Mary found her anxiety, depression, and sleepiness increasingly problematic. Diagnosed with hormonal imbalances in the late 1980s, she found relief with a no-sugar diet and progesterone therapy. However, her first pregnancy disrupted this balance, leading to postpartum depression and additional issues, including secondary infertility and Hashimoto's disease. Eventually, Mary and her family adopted their second child.
In 2000, Mary was formally diagnosed with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy and prescribed stimulants, antidepressants, and antianxiety medications. Despite this, her health continued to decline, leading to multiple autoimmune and metabolic illnesses, along with cognitive decline, over the next 16 years.
By 2016, seeking better quality of life, Mary consulted a new sleep medicine physician who prescribed sodium oxybate, significantly improving her sleep and cognitive function. Searching for further improvements, she discovered the ketogenic diet and transitioned to it in June 2016. The diet brought immediate benefits: she no longer needed daytime stimulants, and many of her health issues resolved, including hypertension, fatty liver disease, and anxiety. Mary also lost 60 pounds, returning her BMI to a normal range.
Inspired by her health improvements, Mary pursued certifications in health coaching. In 2021, she earned her first Keto/Carnivore Health Coaching Certification, followed by certifications as a Primal Health and Fitness Coach, then a Master Primal Health Coach as well as a Human Intestinal Microbiome Specialist.
Now, Mary dedicates her life to educating and empowering others through her health coaching practice, using her skills and personal experience to help others find their own pathways to better health.
Mary’s Healing Journey Timeline
Turning around her health has been a long and rewarding journey for Mary. Many people experience quick improvements, but for some, it takes years of dedicated effort to undo decades of poor health habits and medication reliance. Mary is one of those individuals. Despite drastic improvements in the first year, cognitive issues and memory loss remained significant hurdles. Here's her story:
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June 2016:
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Started Keto.
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June 2017:
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Resolved obesity and hypertension.
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Normalized liver and kidney enzymes.
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No longer needed anxiety and depression medications.
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Narcolepsy with Cataplexy improved; reduced daytime stimulants but still on nighttime medication.
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Continued medication for Hashimoto’s.
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Improved short-term memory but no long-term recall.
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Refused statins despite high cholesterol after a negative cardiology workup.
June 2018:
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Maintained stable health and weight.
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Continued to refuse statins.
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Gradual improvement in memory and cognition.
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June 2018:
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Maintained stable health and weight.
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Continued to refuse statins.
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Gradual improvement in memory and cognition.
June 2019:
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Improved narcolepsy, anxiety, depression, and dementia symptoms negated the need for permanent disability.
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Switched healthcare providers over disagreements about statin therapy.
June 2020:
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Stable health with gradual memory improvements, starting to recall long-term memories.
June 2021:
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Transitioned to a more carnivore diet, experiencing mixed results but better memory recall.
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Began in-depth research into holistic nutrition.
June 2022:
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Realized the benefits of a high-fat carnivore diet, leading to significant improvements in brain fog, energy, mood, and memory.
June 2023:
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Marked improvement in cognition and memory.
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Continued to address Hashimoto's.
June 2024:
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Achieved baseline cognition and memory, surpassing most peers.
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Switched to an integrative practitioner to address Hashimoto's and root cause treatment.
Never Give Up
Mary’s journey took time because she never gave up. Even when health professionals doubted her, she persevered. Her high-fat diet approach has been crucial for her healing.
This story is not medical advice but a testament to her personal journey. After years of declining health and a grim prognosis, she had nothing to lose by seeking root cause healing. She is incredibly grateful she did.
She shares this to remind you that no matter how dire your situation seems, as long as you are breathing, there is hope. Set reasonable expectations, celebrate small victories, and know that bigger victories will come as your body heals from the inside out.
Mindful. Healthy. Balance.
Empowering Your Mindful, Healthy, Balance
My story isn’t unique. Thousands of people, like me have regained control of our health, mitigating symptoms and in many cases, actually healing simply by changing to a ketogenic/carnivore lifestyle. It's vital to understand that being chronically ill, in constant pain, and/or persistently sad and depressed is NOT normal. Relying on multiple medications, just to function day in and day out, is not normal either. Here's is a hard truth: Being overweight is also not normal. These are all signs that the body is in a state of dis-EASE.
How do you fix this? It starts with food—eating real, whole, one-ingredient food. Of course there are other strategies to incorporate as well. But it all begins with removing ingredients that are making you sick and inflamed.
Ready to transform your life? Click the link below to schedule a consultation. I am eager to hear your story, understand your goals, and guide you on your journey to achieving a Mindful, Healthy Balance.