From Sweet Tooth to Sugar-Free: My Keto Journey from India

Dear Dr. Berg,

I recently saw in one of your videos that we could submit our keto success stories, so I thought to send mine to you in detail.

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

I am a 28-year-old male from India, recently happily married, and I love food, traveling, and health. I’ve always had a sweet tooth and felt it was just a part of me. I’ve been chubby (we call it being on the “healthier side” in India) since puberty.

However, five years ago, when I was 23, my weight increased to 97 kg (213 lbs.). Despite numerous gym memberships over the years, I only got down to 91 kg (200 lbs.). Not understanding the core concept of fixing our bodies always meant my weight would go back to where it was. My lowest point was in September last year, when I hit 103 kg (227 lbs.).

Having a pharmacy major helped me, as I was always inclined to learn more — and then I discovered your videos.

How did you discover keto?  

I learned about the ketogenic diet from a friend at the gym, who told me to eat only 20g of vegetables a day because veggies are carbohydrates. “Ketogenic diet” was the only thing I picked up from him.

Then, after watching your videos, I realized the full bandwidth of carbs I’m actually allowed to eat daily on a ketogenic diet — and the true definition of keto.

From you, I learned:

• The importance of fixing Fat Storing Hormone first, not just focusing on calories
• The value of potassium
• The role of apple cider vinegar in restoring health
• The need for healthy fats to prevent starvation
• The benefits of intermittent fasting and HIIT
• How long, slow walks, ashwagandha, and your massage tool practices helped my adrenals

Yes — I remember all of this because your videos are that engaging.

How has your health improved since you started keto?  

Dr. Berg, your videos have CHANGED my life.

For the first time since puberty, I’m sleeping happily like a child, breathing better, seeing things clearly, and thinking more clearly. Sometimes, you don’t realize you have a problem until you start living healthy — and when you see the results, you realize that maybe you weren’t living healthily before.

Now I weigh 87 kg, which is still about 10 kg more than where I want to be — but I feel so much better, I can’t describe it in words. For the first time, I know I won’t gain the weight back, because what I’m eating and how I’m living makes sense.

I also purchased your 3-pack wheatgrass juice powder, which I now take as a “pre-workout” meal. (I know you believe the term “pre-workout” is mostly marketing — but this wheatgrass truly feels like the real deal, before or after training.)

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

However, I’ve been sticking to 300g a day of greens (kale, arugula, broccoli, 4 lemons), and I have not gained any fat back. I do notice some glycogen gain, but whenever I fast or exert myself, my body shrinks back.

This has never happened in my life — that I’ve eaten carbs for a month and didn’t gain fat.

Also — fun fact: I no longer feel the need for sugar, even when not strictly in a ketogenic state. I now realize I was never really a “sweet tooth” person — I just needed to fix my health.

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

Right now, it’s about 40°C (104°F) in India, and I haven’t been able to go to the gym for a month due to the extreme heat. I’ve also been eating some carbs.

Any other details you want to share?   

I ordered your wheatgrass juice powder directly and had to pay custom duties as well. Why not collaborate with Amazon India? It would make it easier and more affordable for people here to buy your products.

(Fun fact — organic options are rare in India, and your products would do great here.)

For me, the 3-bottle pack cost about INR 15,000 (~USD 200), which is quite expensive.

Also, please consider doing a video on bitter gourd — a native Indian vegetable widely used for diabetes. I haven’t seen many Western videos on it, and I’d love your input. Vegetables like kale and arugula aren’t native here and are hard to find.

It would also be wonderful to meet you in person if you ever visit India (we have tons of vitamin D!).

For now, I just want to thank you — from me and my whole family — for helping make us healthy. I hope to keep watching your videos forever.

Kudos to you!
– Udit Gupta