Quick stats
Name:
Kristin K.
Age:
49
Starting Weight:
200 lbs.
Current Weight:
120 lbs.
Weight Loss:
80 lbs. (36 kg)
Approach:
Keto + Intermittent Fasting
Did you have any problems with your weight or health before going on keto?
My name is Kristin. I am a 49-year-old teacher in north central Wyoming. Four years ago, in January 2019, I was fed up with constant bloating and stomachaches. I also have had severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) all my life and was severely overweight. I was pushing 200 lbs. in a 5’7” frame.
In the fall of 2017, my RA became so severe that I could barely walk, and then I had to have serious surgery for an unrelated condition. By January 2019, I was overweight, struggling to get the RA under control, and tired of feeling miserable.
How did you discover keto?
I knew grains were part of the problem, so I cut them out. I had heard about keto and thought people were crazy, but I gave it a shot. I was desperate for relief.
Through many online websites and videos, including Dr. Berg’s, I began keto.
How has your health improved since you started keto?
In five months, I had only lost 15 lbs. but had dropped from a size 16 to a size 10, and my stomach issues were mostly resolved. The more my husband and I researched the healthiest versions of keto and cut out things like industrial seed oils and began intermittent fasting (IF), my health really began to improve.
Now, four years later, the 60-65 lbs. I lost have stayed off, and my labs for my RA are incredible. My rheumatologist has been so impressed that he encourages me to keep up with the diet and IF. I am doing SO WELL that I have even backed off some medications. I am now able to lift weights and am leaning down even more and adding muscle!
How does an average day of eating/fasting look for you on keto?
Typically, I start eating after school and will eat until 7 or 8 pm. I do not adhere to a strict feeding window, but it is typically about four hours. I eat keto-carnivore. I have found what foods and spices work for me. I do not usually consume fruits as the fructose sets off stomach and joint pains.
The biggest change for me was eliminating industrial seed oils and tracking my macros. I learned early on that I was consuming too much fat and was shocked to learn where hidden carbs were in my foods.
If you could offer advice to someone starting keto, what would you say?
I tell people that keto is the easiest thing I have ever done to get healthy and lose weight. If people would simply eliminate processed foods and eat real, whole foods, their health would greatly improve. When people worry that meat costs too much, I point out that if they don’t buy cereal, granola bars, chips, etc., then they have a lot more money to spend on meat. Eating a healthy keto diet is actually very affordable.
I also recommend not using a scale to monitor weight, but rather to see how their clothes fit.
Any other details you want to share?
I also spout Dr. Berg’s wisdom that one must get healthy inside before the weight comes off. People must be patient. With patience and determination, anyone can improve their health and appearance as I have. I have even been accused of having had a gastric bypass—no one believes that losing weight and keeping it off is this easy.
Lastly, people argue with me about my age. They swear I am aging in reverse. This is a great problem to have!
Additional photos:
