How Gary Discovered Keto After Thyroid and Weight Struggles 

Did you have any problems with your weight or health before going on keto? 

Years before all of this, I had my gallbladder removed. I would fall asleep as soon as I sat down, and this includes sitting to drive a car. I considered my weight gain to be aging since I ate a basically “healthy” diet. After some close calls with driving and recognizing my upcoming mortality (also recognizing that other men I knew of similar age and size were dying), I decided to see a doctor. 

 I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition and was prescribed medication. As the dosage increased, so did my weight. At 5’8″, I peaked at 300 lbs. The doctor had mentioned some things about diet change, but I still thought I was “healthy.”  

How did you discover keto? 

I discovered the keto diet via Dr. Berg’s videos. I was having years of declining health and weight gain.

After about 2 years of being on medication, I finally hit a breaking point and looked up hypothyroid diets and came across a cookbook for a hypothyroid elimination diet. I went all in with it. I searched for other diet advice on YouTube, and Dr. Berg’s videos on it came up. I took his advice and either didn’t pay attention to the word “keto,” or I just don’t recall; all I do remember is the things to eat, when to eat, and learning a great deal about my medical issues.  

How does an average day of eating/fasting look for you on keto? 

I didn’t realize I was intermittent fasting until a few months in and noticed I didn’t eat breakfast and wasn’t hungry for it either. Slowly, I wouldn’t get hungry till about 1 or 2 pm.  

My average day on keto looked like: no breakfast other than apple cider vinegar, coffee, or an energy drink. Baked eggs and a salad for lunch at about 1 pm. Sometimes a protein shake. Dinner at about 6 pm, some type of protein, salad, and vegetables. There were times when if I wasn’t hungry for lunch, I would only have dinner. 

I’m coming up on year 4 since I began the process. Some of the mistakes I made were more recent when I switched from keto and IF (intermittent fasting) to a more body-building diet, higher protein, and eating three meals a day. I’m not seeing the same results. I’ve not gained any weight, but I am seeing my energy and mental mood change. My diet before weight loss was high in refined carbs and dairy. I was never a sweets person. I can pass on any dessert, but if you put nachos in front of me, I’m diving in. I drank a lot of high-sugar energy drinks, sandwiches, chips, pasta, etc. 

How has your health improved since you started keto?   

At the same time, I found Dr. Berg on YouTube, I decided to join a gym and get in shape. From the time I joined the gym and followed Dr. Berg’s advice, it took me about a year to lose 120 lbs. I didn’t weigh myself every week, but there was a time I did, and I was losing double digits for a few months straight.  

Does exercise play a role in your success on keto? If so, how? 

Exercise has played a big role in my weight loss as well. I lifted weights, got stronger, which I think played the long game in that while it doesn’t burn the calories directly, it does build a bigger engine for metabolism to burn the excess calories. I did very little cardio at the time.  

If you could offer advice to someone starting keto, what would you say? 

My three tips for starting keto are number one, find your motivation in something greater than yourself, such as loved ones. Mine was to live to help my children raise their children. My second tip would be to follow Dr. Berg’s version of keto AND IF. Even if you make mistakes, keep at it. Eventually, the keto and IF system kicks in, you lose those carb cravings, and you see results. My third tip is to go back and remember tip number one.  

This is your life and your loved ones’ only chance to share life and love as a family; you need to be there for them as long as possible.