Why Keto Made Sarah Gain 14 lbs (And How Carbs Fixed It)
Spent a year on strict Keto but kept gaining weight and losing hair despite perfect macro tracking.
Lost 22 lbs total, energy restored, and thyroid markers normalised — by eating more carbohydrates.
The Challenge
Sarah (47) was doing everything 'right' — tracking macros religiously, staying under 20g carbs per day, fasting 16:8. Yet she was exhausted, losing hair in clumps, and gaining stubborn belly fat that would not shift regardless of how strict she was.
Her doctor told her she must be 'cheating.' She wasn't. She was starving her thyroid. The high-fat, zero-carb protocol that worked brilliantly for her husband was slowly shutting down her metabolism. She had tried adding MCT oil, exogenous ketones, and carnivore — each made things worse.
The Genetic Discovery
Farmer Variant (TCF7L2 Gene)
Genetic analysis of her TCF7L2 gene revealed she was a 'Farmer' Archetype. This meant her body required complex carbohydrates to maintain insulin sensitivity and thyroid conversion. The high-fat ketogenic diet was causing metabolic inflammation, suppressing T4-to-T3 conversion, and triggering the Hibernation Response. She was not broken — she was simply eating against her genetic blueprint.
The Protocol
- 1
Reintroduced 50% of calories from complex carbohydrates (sweet potato, seasonal fruit, quinoa, lentils) aligned with her Farmer genotype.
- 2
Added Chromium (200mcg) and Alpha-Lipoic Acid (600mg) to support glucose disposal and insulin signalling.
- 3
Stopped intermittent fasting entirely; added a protein-rich breakfast within 60 minutes of waking to signal metabolic safety.
The Result
Lost the 14 lbs gained on Keto within 3 months, plus an additional 8 lbs. Free T3 increased from 2.8 to 4.1 pmol/L. Reverse T3 normalised. Hair loss stopped by week 6.
Sarah described the shift as 'permission to eat again.' Within 4 weeks her energy returned, afternoon crashes disappeared, and she no longer needed a nap at 2PM. She said: 'I finally understand why nothing worked — I was fighting my own DNA.'
"I spent a year punishing myself on Keto. Turns out my genes needed the exact opposite. I wish I'd tested sooner."