I started Keto and fasting the end of June 2017. The first picture is me on vacation after about 2 or 3 weeks after I started and I had already lost 15-20 lbs. Mostly water weight I know but it still felt nice seeing the scale move in the proper direction for once. The picture of me in the brown shirt was taken around the end of November. I started at a weight of about 275 lbs (125 kg) pants were 42 and I am down to 173 lbs (79 kg) pants 32. I didn’t take many pictures of myself. I didn’t think I was going to have the success I did, I thought it was just going to be yet another diet I would try and not lose any weight or be able to keep it off for long.
I tried eating one meal a day as much as I could, usually it was a big salad. Once I got into ketosis it was much easier to fast, I just had to listen to my body, half the time I would drink some water and the hunger would go away. I have tried longer fasts but the longest I have gone is just 3 days. I wasn’t successful fasting for the full 20-24 hours probably half the time I would have a keto friendly meal or snack until dinner time. Since I have a family I found it easier to not skip dinner with them. I didn’t go to the gym or do any exercise other than walking or hiking once in a while until a few weeks ago when I joined a gym. All the weight loss was from keto/fasting. Since joining the gym I have been much more hungry but I am still losing weight.
I had not seen the doctor in years until December of 2017. I had lost 80 lbs (36 kg) by that time and I wanted to know how my labs were doing. I felt great but I won’t lie I was concerned about how the keto diet might be affecting me inside other than the great weight loss. All my labs came back good except my cholesterol was a bit high. When I told my doctor about my diet he told me he had another patient who was able to reverse his diabetes with the keto diet.
When I see someone fat I have to resist the urge to tell them about keto/fasting. I really feel keto has saved my life and has been the easiest diet I have ever done. I want other people struggling with their weight just like I was to at least have the chance to try keto. I know it is not for everyone but it sure works good for some of us. I don’t feel I followed the diet that well but I was still able to have incredible results. I was feeling very sick before I lost the weight. I would feel especially bad after eating a lot of carbs / sugar. I suspect I was pre-diabetic or something. I had a lot of sweets one night (October/November) and that sickness feeling came back but recently I had yet another moment of weakness and had some treats and that feeling didn’t affect me. I don’t plan on testing the carbs but I think whatever was making me feel sick when I ate sugary stuff is gone or at least better now.
My original goal weight was 175, 100 lbs was a nice even number. I never thought I would reach that goal and now I am past it. I have not been this weight since high school. I still don’t like what I see in the mirror but I am close. I see no reason to go back to carbs. I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything other than a treat once a month or so. I am trying out keto recipes so I can make this more of a life style than a diet.
Keto on people!
