I’ve actually been happy on a keto diet the last 5 years. I’m on keto to help slow my lipedema, but I found it overall feels good with my body. I wonder if I have something similar to you? My blood sugar is consistently low, my chart said “optimal” for a long time. When I was pregnant I had to eat carbs and that brought me back to “normal” range instead of “optimal”. Hopefully one day I’ll go back. Low carb is very hard at first, I have a whole process I use to ease into it.
Step 1) cut out all sugar except fruit. Sugar is in almost everything (even most tomatoe sauces, so I make my own or pay a little extra) when I crave sugar, I eat fruit, ideally strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or other low carb fruits. Of if needed at this stage a moderate low carb fruit like peaches. Be kind to yourself this is a tough phase and it take time.
Step 2) cut out breads, pasta, and rice. Eat low carb tortillas, use lettuce to wrap things, order burgers without the bun, etc. use zucchini noodles for pasta, use minced cauliflower for rice (season that stuff up cuz the taste, ugh) this is a good phase because you learn to replace a lot of grains with lower carb veggies. I usually get my 10 veggies a day here.
Step 3) start reducing higher carb veggies. When ordering you bun-less burger, ask to replace the fries with a side salad. Don’t eat potatoes, or higher carb vegetables. Tiny amounts of carrots are okay. I guy a place of diced veggies like celery, onion, and snap peas and keep them at my desk for snacking, they feel very light. Instead of roasted potatoes or something high carb as a dinner side, saute a pack of mushrooms in olive oil and garlic. Or roast some radishes (they are low carb). Yes, add in those green leafys everywhere as well. But there actually lots you can do. Get lean precooked chicken breasts to air fry up, extra firm tofu is actually low carb, bake some eggplant (it’s low carb) and even slice eggplant or zucchini can layer lasagna instead of pasta. I have a bag of chia seeds I had to sauces to thicken them instead of flour-it adds protein and is low carb. Again when you crave sugar have some low carbs fruits. Be kind, eat as many of those as you want. It takes a while to get used to it and all those fruits help transition.
I’m no longer sleepy in the afternoon, I have more energy, and my “good cholesterol” got to a healthier place.