My Protocol for Peak Mental Performance and Clarity

TL;DR

Nutritional ketosis, intermittent fasting, and targeted caffeine timing deliver elite mental clarity without pharmaceutical stimulants.

Key Points

• 1.Morning routine: Wake at 7:30, drink cacao with cacao butter (<3g net carbs), meditate 10 min (Way app), hot tub, cold pool + cold shower, then deep work — no interruptions
• 2.Ketosis specifics: Under 10g net carbs daily, 16–18 hour intermittent fasting window, 6–8 hour eating window; currently at ~1.2 mmol/L blood BHB (beta-hydroxybutyrate) on day 3
• 3.Exogenous ketones used sparingly: 15ml of BHB bonded to 1,3-butanediol only during the 4-day transition into ketosis; warns against chronic use due to potential liver toxicity
• 4.Exercise timing matters: Fasted Zone 2 cardio in the morning to deplete liver glycogen faster; weight training saved for late afternoon to avoid cortisol + caffeine glucose spikes that slow ketosis entry
• 5.Mood impact is the biggest benefit: Ketosis consistently removes the lowest 50% of negative affect and raises positive baseline by ~20% — described as superior to SSRIs for mood stabilization with no peak-and-trough effect
• 6.Affect profiles explain why this works differently per person: Four profiles (Mad Scientist, Cheerleader, Judge, Poet) determine your mood management needs; ketosis may be especially powerful for "Poets" — high negative intensity, low positive — who are prone to ruminative depression