A few days ago, we published a long interview with Sean "Sako" Sakinofsky who shared with us his experience of almost 10 years on a ketogenic diet coupled with his intensive practice of road cycling. Sean then introduced us to Melanie who lives in Switzerland and who, more recently, switched to a keto diet in order to practice her passion for cycling. Melanie's story is different from Sean's, but is interesting as well. Let's go to Switzerland without delay !
Ulrich Genisson for EatFat2BeFit : Thank you Melanie for agreeing to answer our questions (I think you prefer your nickname “Meli”). Sean quickly explained us that he met you a few years ago, which was the opportunity for you to discover and try the ketogenic diet. Can you start by introducing yourself : who are you Meli ? And tell us what your life and your cycling practice were like before you started following a Keto diet ?
Meli : I think I have had somewhat of a challenging life. I developed bone cancer at a young age in my leg and after an operation I was on crutches and I couldn’t walk properly for a while. After I was rid of the crutches and also with the pessimistic overview from the doctors who assured me I wouldn’t be able to walk properly again, I took up running. I started with a few kilometers soon it was 10 km, half marathons, full marathons and at age about 20 I was running 100 miles plus.
I have done many outdoor activities and sports in my life. Everything from hiking, mountain climbing, paragliding, skiing, snowboarding, climbing and later I became a technical diver specializing in cave diving. I reluctantly took up cycling, because my doctor suggested it as I was trying to overcome impact injuries from running. However, my reluctance did a 180 degree turn after I rode my first kilometers and I was hooked. During my short cycling career (which began in 2017), I was practicing a standard high carbohydrate diet and was a vegetarian for 20 years. I ate plenty of carbs and I was known for always having extra ride food with me, in the form of energy gels, bars and other items. I recall not being able to ride more than 30 km before I felt the onset of low blood sugar and had to eat. In addition, I was constantly hungry and I was always eating.
EatFat2BeFit : Sean told us that your addiction to carbs and sugar was absolutely mind-blowing. Were you really able to eat 2 pounds of chocolate at night, or is that just a legend ?
Meli : I’m afraid so, yes. I could easily eat a kilogram of chocolate a night. But hey it was Swiss chocolate so I think I can be given a little leeway 😉
At the end of 2020, you switched to a ketogenic diet by following Sean’s advices, but before that you had already tried the ketogenic diet, and it failed ? Can you tell us about that first experience and why you had to stop it ?
Meli : Yes, this is true. I tried the diet about 4 years ago. I was essentially tired of eating all the sweet sugary foods. In the beginning it seemed to work. But I didn’t have the patience because I lacked the energy for my activities.
EatFat2BeFit : I’d like to look back at the 20 years before you transitioned to a Keto diet, 20 years of being a vegetarian. It couldn’t have been easy to reconcile a heavy training load and a vegetarian diet ? When did you start to have health problems, maybe they were related to a high consumption of carbohydrates, sugar, fruits too ? Was your hip surgery a first warning sign ?
Meli : I think there are a few things that are not entirely factual
I had no problems practicing my sport as a vegetarian. I just needed to eat an insane amount of food and was always hungry. I also had no health problems due to my vegetarian diet, except for a chronic iron deficiency.
And also my hip surgery was not due to my diet or lifestyle.
I had a major cycling accident and resulting hip surgery as well as two shoulder surgeries.
EatFat2BeFit : Do you remember exactly what motivated you to try the ketogenic diet a second time with Sean’s help ? What was the trigger ? What help did Sean give you ?
Meli : My second attempt at a low carb diet I had planned in the time immediately after my hip surgery, which I had due to a cycling accident. I just didn’t want to be so dependent on all the food I needed for my activities. It was already stressful for me to plan my meals.
Because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to have full mobility for 6 weeks and can only do light sessions on the rollers indoors.
So I could give my body more time to get used to the change in diet.
I was also lucky enough to get some valuable tips from Sean. One of them was that I should eat a lot more fat and that really made it a lot easier for me during the second attempt.
EatFat2BeFit : So at the end of 2020, you are on a ketogenic diet and you are rediscovering nutritional ketosis for a second time. What were your feelings at this moment because it was a real big gap with your previous very high carb life to switch to very low carb Keto diet ? Weren’t the first few weeks too difficult ? How long did it take to feel good on your bike in Keto mode ?
Meli : As I said before, it was certainly easier due to my surgery and the fact that I could only do easy sessions on the indoor trainer.
I was able to give my body the time it needed to adapt and this afforded me the opportunity not to put my body under additional stress with hard sessions.
The first time I really realized that it was working better was when I was able to ride 300 kilometers after around five weeks on the indoor trainer with only black coffee and MCT oil.
EatFat2BeFit : Were you fat-phobic before going on Keto and how did it go when Sean advised you to eat meat again ? How did you feel about this radical diet-change ?
Meli : No, I wasn’t fat-phobic. But it was a process and this was not my first attempt either.
I had a time before racing bikes when I did CrossFit and already then I wanted to try eating meat again; But the attempt failed quickly because I wasn’t used to preparing meat and I lacked patience again.
The second time I took a little more time and started with meat that was lean and easy to prepare. I remember that my meat had to be well done. I totally fell in love with biltong, which is a type of dried meat.
EatFat2BeFit : How’s it going in the kitchen ? Do you like cooking ? What dishes do you like to prepare on the ketogenic diet ? What are your favorite foods, the ones you eat regularly ? Is eating for you a pleasure or just a necessity ?
Meli : Cooking is definitely not one of my passions. It has to be simple and taste good, that’s what’s important to me.
But besides meat I eat a lot of cheese, eggs, vegetables and salads. So it also happens that today I still have a few days on which I do not eat meat.
EatFat2BeFit : Do you use food supplements and if so, which ones and why ?
Meli : I take a few supplements, which I have discussed with Sean. He has assisted me from what to take and when to take. I think it’s very individual and should be adapted to one’s personal needs. You shouldn’t just take them like someone else takes them.
I am not a person who tells someone what is right or what is wrong in anyway.
EatFat2BeFit : I suggest we get back to the bike side… So 2021 is an important year for you, because it’s the one you really became a fat burning machine thanks to the ketogenic diet. How was your evolution ? I imagine that at the beginning, the first days weren’t pleasant. Can you tell us about your evolution with the implementation of the ketogenic diet and then little by little this feeling that allows you to be free of food on your bike ?
Meli : Strangely enough because I was so addicted to carbs and sugar I thought that the effects on the bike would be more drastic. I think because I was recovering slowly but surely from the hip surgery this put me in a position whereby I couldn’t push hard therefore I was most probably always in my fat burning zone. Then as I got stronger in my hip, I must have adapted. I recall doing a 300 km indoor ride in my first or second month and I had coffee some MCT oil, that was it.
I later was on the road and I rode over 100 km without food and I was fine.
EatFat2BeFit : At the end of 2021, as a confirmation of your “Fat-Adaptation” you attended to a 198 km race in Jordan with Sean and the Look Team. You won your category and even finished in front of several elite men. Can you tell us how it happened, how did you prepare this event as a Keto cyclist with supplies that I’ve heard you didn’t use. Can you share with us this exciting experience ?
Meli : Well to be honest I had no idea what was installed. I was pretty much reliant on Sean and a little pensive too because when Sean see’s red it gets a little ugly. This race is quite an experience and in the first hour it’s pretty much riding in the dark. The roads have giant cracks in them and the other cyclists aren’t too skilled to put it mildly. Sean knew how it would go so he made us all wait about 5 min before we took off. So we weren’t in the chaos in the opening kilometers. Then Sean got on the front and wound it up. He said we will just keep it chilled, haha. I broke my PB* in the first 30 min. After 10 km Sean got stung by a bee we didn’t know but the pace just got higher Sean started to see red. Then he snapped his bars and I watched him disappear with off the front peloton. He was really angry about the bars so he needed to burn off some steam. By this time we had caught the front guys already. I thought that was it I’m left alone in the middle of the Jordanian desert to fend for myself, but soon Sean came back to pick me up and we kept a strong tempo. Every time we caught the front guys we would drop back. Because of Sean’s broken handle bars, It was not safe at all as the break was right on the front brake le lever. And he couldn’t use his front brake or could only hold on the top bars. It was tough, damn tough. Sean said no we will just do an average of 30 maybe 31 km/h for the 198 km with first 100 km that gradually climbs over 1 000m. We came back with an average of almost 36 km/h it was quite an experience.
*PB: Personal best
EatFat2BeFit : In 2021, which is really your first full keto year, you rode 15 000 km and in the first 6 months of 2022 you already rode 10 000 km ? With weeks over 500 km and rides that can exceed 200 km, can you tell us how you feel on your bike in a keto mode ? What has the ketogenic diet done for you in your practice ?
Meli : Being ketogenic has truly simplified my life. I don’t have to prepare massive meals before or eat a whole lot food the night before. I simply get on my bike and ride. So it really does suit to my lifestyle. Also I feel way more productive during everyday life as I’m not checking the time to see is time can go eat now.
EatFat2BeFit : How do you perceive the ketogenic diet today in your life ? Is it a tool for your sport practice exclusively, or is it a real and sustainable lifestyle change, with an important health aspect for you ?
Meli : I think by far the lifestyle aspect of it, health is very much a part of that.
EatFat2BeFit : What is your assessment of your almost 2 keto years and the come back of meat in your plate after 20 years as a vegetarian ? What has the ketogenic diet offered you ?
Meli : I think it has been definitely a positive change, I don’t regret my past.
I am not too dogmatic about the diet and I really believe in live and let live. I don’t preach or speak about my dietary choices unless someone asks. My choices are exactly that mine. I also do things only when they fit and are right for me and not because of someone else’s opinion.
EatFat2BeFit : Would you like to add a final word, to encourage those who will read you and who are still hesitating to switch to a ketogenic diet ?
Meli : I think to encourage must come from within. The best motivation is self-motivation. The best way to make a decision is to shut out the noise and ask yourself what do you want. Make the decision and stick to it.
EatFat2BeFit : Thank you sincerely Meli for accepting to answer our questions !
To follow Meli :
website : https://highoncranks.com/