Why Keto and Fasting Left You Exhausted (and What to Do Instead)

If you’ve ever tried keto or intermittent fasting hoping to lose weight, gain energy, or finally feel like yourself again—but ended up foggy, burnt out, and craving everything in sight… this post is for you.

As a holistic health coach for high-achieving moms, I see this ALL the time:

Moms doing “everything right” but still not getting results.

They’re:

Eating low-carb or doing keto
Skipping breakfast with intermittent fasting
Working out consistently
Taking supplements

And still they feel:

Tired all day
Bloated by evening
Mood swinging like crazy
Trapped in a cycle of “try harder or give up”

The worst part? They blame themselves.

But here’s the truth: You didn’t fail. You just didn’t cycle it—or fuel it—right.

Why Traditional Keto + Fasting Often Backfire for Moms

Most versions of keto and intermittent fasting were tested on men or post-menopausal women. Not women with cycling hormones. Not women navigating sleepless nights, back-to-back meetings, sensory overload, and managing a home.

Here’s what they miss:

Your hormones shift every week.
Your nervous system is chronically taxed.
You’re likely under-eating real nourishment.
You need more flexibility, not more rules.

What Happens When You Don’t Cycle Your Strategy

Let’s say you start fasting at 16:8 (16 hours fast, 8 hours eat), and cut your carbs significantly.

In follicular phase (after your period), you might feel great at first. Energy often spikes naturally.
But in luteal phase (before your period)? You’re more insulin resistant, more stressed, and need more carbs and rest.

If you force keto and fasting then?

Increased cortisol
Disrupted sleep
Poor recovery
Wild cravings

Translation? Your body thinks you’re in a famine. It slows down. And your goals feel harder than ever.

What to Do Instead: Cycle-Synced Metabolic Strategy

One of my private clients came to me after trying every trendy wellness plan on the internet. She was:

A high-achieving mom of 3
Waking up tired and going to bed wired
Skipping meals to “save calories,” but bingeing snacks at 4pm
Overexercising and under-fueling
Trying keto and fasting, and still stuck, bloated, and exhausted

She said, “I don’t even recognize myself anymore. I’m trying so hard, but nothing is working—and I just want to feel like me again.”

She wasn’t broken. She was burnt out from systems that weren’t designed for her reality.

Together, over 6 months, we did something radically different:

1. Cycle Synced Fasting Windows

We shortened fasting windows based on where she was in her cycle:

14:10 in follicular
12:12 in luteal
None in menstrual if she felt depleted

2. Whole Foods First

No processed keto junk. Just real, hormone-nourishing meals with:

Root veggies
Clean proteins
Healthy fats
Fermented foods
Grounding carbs like rice, squash, berries

3. Stress & Sleep First Strategy

We prioritized:

Walking instead of HIIT
Morning sunlight
Deep sleep routines

4. Permission to Rest

She stopped pushing through exhaustion and learned how to listen to her body again.

5. Education + Support

Each week, we used voice note check-ins, private podcast trainings, and custom coaching. The result?

“I finally feel like I’m in flow with my body instead of fighting it.”

Results After 12 Weeks

The scale finally moved (without a restrictive meal plan)
Cravings went way down
Her mental fog lifted
Her confidence returned

This Is What We Do Inside Private Coaching

If you’ve been trying to discipline your way to energy and balance, I invite you to shift the question.

From: “What am I doing wrong?”

To: “What rhythm would actually support my body and my life?”

I help busy, highly sensitive moms:

Rebuild their metabolism
Simplify nutrition
Sync their strategies to their cycle
And finally feel GOOD again

Ready to work with your body—not against it?

📩 DM me “RHYTHM” on Instagram @mekellebrosnanwellness to apply for private coaching.