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Name:
John G.
Starting Weight:
264 lbs.
Current Weight:
194 lbs.
Weight Loss:
70 lbs. (32 kg)
Approach:
Keto
Improvements:
Increased energy
Life before keto:
In 2014, John was diagnosed with a chronic health condition, prescribed medication, and told to lose weight. He tried a few different tactics before eventually finding keto.
At first, John limited his food intake to 600 calories per day. It turned out to be a terrible idea, in combination with his medication. “I lost my vision!” he said. “I freaked out and started eating more. My vision came back in about four days.”
Once he understood that not eating enough was a poor choice, John tried again: he cut back on his caloric intake but in a healthier way. That and 15 minutes of daily intense cardio made him 30 pounds (14 kg) lighter.
So, he stuck to the same routine until he was down to 254 pounds (115 kg) –a solid improvement from his initial 312-pound (142 kg) size. But eventually, he reverted to his “old ways” and found himself at 264 pounds (120 kg) in August of 2018.
By that time, however, the problem wasn’t just the weight. His yearly physical showed some health concerns. He had an elevated A1C. “My doctor advised me that something had to be done,”said John. “I asked her to give me three months to get it fixed because she wanted to put me on a fat-storing hormone and I did not want that.”
After starting keto:
It was then that he decided to cut out carbs. He had heard of keto but didn’t know much about it. He initially just cut out the carbs and processed junk foods while prepping for his upcoming elk hunting trip by walking three miles a day with a weighted backpack. He lost 20 pounds (9 kg) during his trip. When a friend noticed he’d been taking apple cider vinegar, he showed John Dr. Berg’s videos. “I’ve been addicted to his videos ever since,” said John.
Health improvements:
Today, he reports feeling like his teenage self–with almost unlimited energy. “I hated taking all the medication and feeling tired all the time,” he said. “Everything I learned from Dr. Berg happened. It’s crazy how well this works and how great you feel.”
With the support of his family, friends, and coworkers, John has lost 70 pounds (32 kg) since starting keto.
Advice for someone starting keto:
“The only hard part was getting through the initial stages,” he says. “Follow Dr. Berg’s advice, find a support group, and for yourself and your family, do not give up. It works!”
Favorite ways to exercise:
John enjoys speed walking, jogging, and boxing for exercise.
Favorite keto recipe:
“I make a great stir fry,” John says. “I use 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, 1 cup broccoli, 6 spears of asparagus, 3 to 4 green baby onions, and 1 cup green bell pepper. Pour that over a large bed of fresh spinach, then top with fresh-caught mackerel in olive oil.”
Additional photo:
