“I saw what diabetes did to my grandmother,” said Smith, 40. “It was bad. She was on dialysis, and she actually lost her foot before she passed away. I was really scared.”
But there was good news, too. Prediabetes means that blood sugar levels are higher than normal — but not enough to be type 2 diabetes yet.
That meant Smith had a second chance to make lifestyle changes.
Smith went to work right away. Her doctor offered her diet pills, but she wanted to find something natural and more long term.
“We’ve all tried diets,” she said. “Diets don’t work. I needed to figure out what would work — and what would stick.”
Then, Smith discovered the ketogenic diet, which focuses on a low-carb, high-fat lifestyle. A friend was finding success with the plan and passed on a handful of tips.
“It was something that would allow me to still eat and enjoy food,” Smith said. Still, it wasn’t easy. “It was a crash course.”
One challenge was actually eating. In the past, dieting meant being hungry. With the keto diet, Smith was allowed to eat, as long as she selected the right foods.
Once she knew what to avoid and what to enjoy, her weight plummeted. After three weeks, she lost 10 pounds.
“I kept at it,” she said. “And I kept perfecting things, trying different recipes.”
Smith had a few co-workers who were going keto, too. “I had accountability partners,” she said.
Soon, she’d dropped 50 pounds. “That’s when it hit me, ‘Wait, this is real. I can get where I want to be,’” she recalled.
Smith’s aunt Ava Monroe witnessed the entire health journey.
“Courtney decided she was going to make a change,” Monroe said. “And whatever she puts her mind to, she always accomplishes. I knew it was going to be tough, but she persevered.”
Smith has always been confident and upbeat, Monroe added.
“She’s definitely an example, even for me,” Monroe said. “I look at her, and I just feel inspired to be healthy and to make more choices. She feels good — and it shows.”
Now two years have passed, and Smith has lost 105 pounds.
Monroe isn’t the only one inspired by Smith, who chronicles her experience on Instagram. Her handle is @coco.goes.lowcarb.
“I post tips for newbies,” she said. “And it’s an accountability thing for me. I’ve connected with so many people. I get direct messages from women who say, ‘You inspire me.’”
And that positive feedback helps Smith keep forging ahead. She also feels healthier and has more energy.
Smith has advice for others who want to start a journey to better health. “You have to make your mind up,” she said. “You have to be ready.”
But you also have to give yourself grace. “If you do fall off the wagon, or if you have a cheat day, don’t park there,” she said. “Just start over. Don’t beat yourself up.”
Smith also recommends being careful about the number on the scale. “The scale is just a tool,” she said. “Don’t let the number deter you or give you anxiety.”
With keto, Smith said, she can still go out and enjoy a meal with friends. She can have a drink or bake a dessert. She does not feel like the diet alienates or isolates her.
“It’s all about balance,” she said. “Don’t focus on what you can’t have. Focus on what you can. It shouldn’t feel like a punishment, and it shouldn’t be too much work. It’s about making choices. Once you figure out what you want, go after it.”
Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
