Photo story
Quick stats
Name:
Paul R.
Weight Loss:
55 lbs. (25 kg)
Approach:
Keto + Intermittent Fasting
Duration:
7 months
Improved:
Increased energy
Life before keto:
Before embarking on his keto journey, Paul was addicted to beer and had blood pressure issues. He had made countless failed attempts to quit drinking and lose weight, but no diet or plan seemed to be fully effective.
At a routine check-up, Paul refused his doctor’s prescription for blood pressure medication, expressing his desire to do some of his own research before resorting to drugs. As a sort of compromise, an appointment was set for a few weeks later, when he would be fitted for a blood pressure monitor. In the meantime, Paul was on a mission.
“A quick Google basically told me to reduce my alcohol consumption, lose some weight, and do a little exercise,” Paul said. “I decided to give up alcohol for a month, look again at the paleo diet, as I had had success with this in the past, and start cycling again, a passion of mine.”
As scheduled, he reported to the doctor’s office to get his blood pressure monitor–only to return the very next day to have it removed. Why? His blood pressure was normal. “I was astounded, the doctor was astounded,” Paul said. “I was onto something.”
Discovering keto:
In his paleo research, Paul discovered low-carb diets and eventually Dr. Berg’s videos; he really enjoyed Dr. Berg’s presentation. “Every other person with a YouTube channel covering this subject was either very intense in-your-face bodybuilders or very serious, but Dr. Berg’s videos were different,” he said. “He was calm, and funny, and it felt like he was just having a conversation with you and only you.”
From Dr. Berg, Paul learned two major lessons. The first was how much sugar was in beer. Even though he gave up drinking for that first month, it proved to be incredibly difficult for him to kick the habit long-term. That is, until he realized it was the sugar, not the alcohol, that would ultimately kill him. “This one piece of information was enough for me to break a habit of a lifetime right there and then,” he said.
The other piece of information? It was intermittent fasting, which has been the key to Paul’s success with keto; he went straight to one meal a day at the beginning. He feels it helps when gauging his fat intake. “If I were getting hungry, then I needed to add more fat to my next meal,” he explained. “If, on the other hand, I was getting to my meal and not really feeling hungry, I knew I could dial back on the fat a little.”
He recalls that the most difficult part of his journey was dealing with the negativity of others. He found Dr. Berg’s Facebook group to be one of his best sources of support. Even Paul’s wife was initially unsure, but after seeing how much weight he’s dropped, she has taken an interest.
Health improvements:
Paul didn’t enjoy the benefits of mental clarity and massive amounts of energy, as many others on keto report, until much later in the process. But he has met his initial goal, losing 55 pounds (25 kg) in about seven months. And for him, the process has been smooth and easy to follow. “I have energy, and I don’t have the guilt of daily drinking or the feeling of being a useless fat blob,” he said.
Loving the food that he’s able to eat on keto, he’s building a library of tasty, easy-to-cook meals that keep him motivated from week to week. “I also set an arbitrary target weight, which gives you a goal to work towards.”
Advice for someone starting keto:
“Surrender to the process,” advises Paul. “Don’t keep trying to make your new life look like your old life. And set achievable goals.”
Favorite ways to exercise:
“Cycling will always be my main sport,” he says. “But swimming is becoming a passion as well.”
Favorite keto recipes:
Belly pork with creamy sauce and eight varieties of veggies, followed by strawberries and cream.
