Photo story
Quick stats
Name:
Scott B.
Age:
62
Starting Weight:
285 lbs.
Current Weight:
180 lbs.
Weight Loss:
105 lbs. (48 kg)
Approach:
Keto
Improved:
Reduced inflammation and increased energy
Life before keto:
When Scott says that keto and Dr. Berg saved his life, he means it. “Before the weight loss, I had no neck,” he said. “Back in February, 2019, I noticed two lumps on my neck that were not visible at my previous size.
Long story short, he would not have been able to have the lifesaving surgery he did, if not for the weight loss. “I am now 3 months post-total thyroidectomy surgery and just underwent radioactive iodine treatment to eradicate any stray cancer not removed during surgery.”
Let’s back up and explore the reasons why Scott decided to lose weight in the first place. He’d tried various “fad diets” with no lasting results. His weight was up and down, peaking at 285 pounds (129 kg).
“A flight from San Diego back to Canada sparked my desire to get my weight and my life under control for good,” he said. “I, like most obese folks, was uncomfortable most of the trip and I had to ask for an extended seatbelt. And could not use the folding tray (which was the most embarrassing moment of my life).”
After this trip, he also discovered an issue with his A1C. A random YouTube search on keto led Scott to what he called the “treasure trove” of Dr. Berg’s “insightful videos.”
Discovering keto:
From Dr. Berg, he learned that he wasn’t lazy, gluttonous, or unmotivated. He was just eating the wrong foods for his body. He learned all about how sugar and hidden carbs were sabotaging his efforts to become healthy.
“His info on how to reverse fat-storing hormone resistance was like a road map for me and it has worked like a charm,” said Scott.
For Scott, the hardest part about keto was getting past the plateaus. Still, he explained that Dr. Berg’s videos helped him navigate these periods with patience, recognizing that the scale doesn’t tell the whole story.
“My wife and mother-in-law, who lives with us, were skeptical at first, based on my history with ‘diets,’” he said. “Once they saw the 18 pounds (8 kg) I lost in the first month and how easy it was for me to stick to and even enjoy, they were sold and started keto themselves.”
Although Scott wishes he had started keto 20 years ago, the best part of the diet is that he has the freedom to live his life the way he wants to. And he can confidently say that if his cancer had been spotted pre-keto, he wouldn’t have been able to have the surgery he needed as early as he did.
Health improvements:
“I showed the surgeon my ‘before’ picture, and he said it would not have been possible,” said Scott. “Also, my recovery has been, in his words, ‘remarkable’ —thanks in no small part to the reduced stress on my body, the anti-inflammatory benefits of keto, and the energy I get from this new way of life!”
To date, he has lost 105 pounds (48 kg) and his household has lost more than 250 pounds (113 kg) combined. He’s helped to encourage family members and friends to adopt a keto lifestyle, and many of them have found similar success. The way he feels now encourages Scott to continue.
Advice for someone starting keto:
“Don’t wait,” he advises. “Seize the opportunity today and make the change I did. It just may save your life!”
Favorite way to exercise:
Scott enjoys walking his two French bulldogs.
Favorite keto recipe:
“A perfectly cooked rib eye steak (medium rare) seared in bacon fat with parmesan-crusted asparagus and spinach salad is my go-to.”
