Keith Katsikas's Story

Keith Katsikas started keto for his wife, Becky. Although both struggled with weight and health issues, it’s true that when she took the couple down the road to keto, he had no hope that the idea would improve his own condition. But when he lost 15 pounds (7 kg) within the first ten days, he was encouraged to make keto his own choice, too.

At the time Katsikas started this keto lifestyle, he had pretty thoroughly accepted the “fact” that he was overweight and probably would be forever. “I think more than anything, my emotional state was at its lowest,” he said. “I had all but given up.”

He had out-of-control diabetes, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and a degenerative bone disease. Katsikas took painkillers every single day, which caused a constant upset stomach and GI issues. He was even hospitalized for a mini-stroke. “None of that really mattered to me that much,” he said, reaffirming that he had started keto because of his wife. “This was for her.”

Katsikas found Dr. Berg’s videos after a strange rash appeared all over his body during a family trip to Washington, DC. Scouring the internet for possible solutions, he came across Dr. Berg’s information on keto rash and keto flu. “Needless to say, there are a few things I’d do differently if I could go back and start over,” Katsikas said. “Namely, I would have liked to have known about keto rash and flu and how to prevent them before I started.”

Katsikas has been following Dr. Berg on YouTube ever since. Along with the support from his wife, he acknowledges the videos as part of his support system: he knows the journey would have been a lot harder without Dr. Berg, who played a vital role in their overall success. “Dr. Berg really opened my eyes to the effects of Fat Storing Hormone on the body and the effects of Fat Storing Hormone resistance––which I’ve had for many years––on, well, almost everything,” he said.

About keto rash and keto flu, the videos taught him “how these symptoms are almost always caused by the liver’s inability to process fats in the early stages of adaption to a ketogenic lifestyle.”

Before keto, Katsikas found losing weight to be impossible. However, as soon as he started taking keto seriously there was nothing hard about it. The more he learns about the keto lifestyle, the more he is sure that he could never go back to eating the way he once did. Keto helped him prove himself wrong—that he isn’t destined to be “fat and sick” for his entire life.

Since May 2018, Katsikas has lost 55 pounds (25 kg) and feels 20 years younger. “Strong as an ox––or maybe a really big gerbil,” he said, laughing. “I’m healthier than I have ever been in my entire life and my doctor agrees.”

Katsikas reports having endless amounts of energy. He sleeps soundly for eight hours a night and he’s off all medications. But nothing has been as encouraging as how good he feels, both inside and out. “I dared to strap wheels to my feet for the first time in over 20 years and roller-skate with my children,” Katsikas says. “I do a lot of roller-skating these days.”

Favorite Way to Exercise: While he’s not a fan of exercise in the traditional sense, Katsikas loves to ski and also enjoys roller-skating, hiking, biking, and walks with his family.

Favorite Keto Recipe: Swiss Roll Cake made by Becky: https://www.ruled.me/keto-chocolate-roll-cake