The Great Big Public Keto Before And After Thread!


(Carol O'Carroll) #10

After a lifetime of struggling with my weight (and repeatedly giving in) I found LCHF. I have been low carb for over 2 years and am never going back to the dark side. I have not regained this weight.

Over about 9 months in the first year of LCHF, I lost 30kg.
I fixed an extensive list of ills, including fatty liver, asthma, snoring… :roll_eyes:, hypertension, constant hunger, improved dental health, etc, etc.
I now exercise happily, have better cognition and improved mood, no anxiety (didn’t see that coming) am generally calmer and happier.

I am never hangry and eat when I’m hungry.
I still have a few more kilos to go, to achieve a good height/waist ratio, but am getting there. I am fitter than I was 10 years ago.

Low carb for life!


(Karl) #11


Anything sweet is probably bad
(Jennifer) #12

Hey everyone! Saw the link to this post on Twitter and thought I’d join in.

Here’s my before, during, and after photos:

I started keto in March 2017 solely to control my epilepsy. I’ve been epileptic since I was 12 years old, and despite decades of anti seizure meds which did nothing to control my seizures but came with a whole host of lovely side effects (paresthesia, aphagia, facial paralysis, skin blisters, and mental fog, among others) and my neurologist insisting I needed brain surgery, I decided to be my own health advocate and take matters into my own hands. I’ve had three different neurologists over the last 20 years and none of them endorsed nor even encouraged keto as a therapy for me, since for adults they’d found a “low adherence rate”. Because of this, they prefer to not mention it which doesn’t even give us a chance to try it out for ourselves, which I found to be frustrating as hell. So I did some research via Johns Hopkins University and The Charlie Foundation, bought a food scale, started with a two-day water fast then dove in. It was challenging at first, but after a couple of weeks it became routine and I didn’t have any carbohydrate cravings whatsoever.

For me, one of the side effects of keto is more energy and stamina for exercise. I’ve always loved hiking and being outside, so in tandem with weightlifting (deadlifts, squats and bench), I found I loved getting stronger and healthier. I also noticed the weight loss made exercise much more enjoyable. My office is a mile from my home, so I leave early to get a nice long walk in before work (I live in downtown Seattle so the waterfront and the Elliott Bay Trail make a lovely gym) as well as longer trail hikes on the weekends with friends.

I found I loved with the hiking and long distance walking so much, it became somewhat of an addiction. I started thinking again about the Pacific Crest Trail, which I used to hike sections of a couple times per month before I moved downtown and fantasized about hiking when I was in my 30’s (I’m 42 now). It’s a 2,600-mile hike from Mexico to Canada, and much of it goes through Washington State. Most thru-hikers average 20 miles per day, so I began adding several 20-mile long treks during my week. My current record is 42. I’m amazed at my endurance now as compared to when I was younger and not on keto. It’s truly become a game changer.

Because this controls my seizures 100%, I consider this a lifestyle change for me. I have no desire to go back on medication, and having been keto for 13 months now it’s become my new normal. My neurologist is even on board, and sent me to a ketogenic nutritionist to help me with my meal plans (medical keto has a higher fat and lower protein percentage than the keto strategy used for non-medical purposes) and run regular blood panels. Because of my epilepsy I have metabolic panels regularly, and my blood glucose, which was 6.3 before keto, now holds steady around 3.8 - 3.9.

I’m happy to say that I have now been seizure free for a year and down 127lbs. I’m currently in maintenance (which was a challenge due to my activity levels - heavy whipping cream lattes help with the calories and fat) and have been medication-free since August. Keto is, literally, my medicine.

Thanks for reading!


(Raj Seth) #13

Wow!


(Oliver Magoo) #14

You reversed anxiety and depresson! That’s no small feat! Some people never resolve these issues. They’re just given drugs that might mitigate it somewhat. By the way, you look taller on TV. :smile:


(Liz ) #15

I’ve actually lost about 100 pounds on low carb since 2003 but until I found Dr Fung & the Dudes in March of 2017 and finally understood the science, I could not get under 200 pounds on the scale & stay there.

I always thought I was broken because after my initial success with Atkins in 2003 stalled out, nothing I did helped me lose weight & keep it off. Now I know yes, my metabolism was broken from years of carb creep, but I can fix it with Keto and I am!

More than even the weight loss, I’m thrilled with the disappearance of inflammation I didn’t even realize I was suffering from, and with it, ALL my body aches! And of course as a lifelong carb addict I value the total relief from terrible cravings. Did I mention the bacon?? Keto for life!


Carnivore New Challenge starting for new year....and
(8 year Ketogenic Veteran) #16

Hai.
Creating a post here will be easy for me since my story was already published by Dr. Jason Fung at IDM and The Diet Doctor site.
I hope it inspires you :heart:
Well hell, I suppose I should give an update since the story was written a year ago.
My hbA1c is down to 5, and I now work for IDM.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/life-is-good


(Jennifer) #17

Congrats - you look fantastic! I also noticed the reduction in pain in my joints - a lot of it was due to my weight but also because I had inflammation issues which seem to have resolved thanks to keto. It really is a lifestyle change. :slight_smile:


(Liz ) #18

Thank you! So glad you got these benefits too!


(Brian) #19

You all look amazing! Thank you for your encouragement!


(G. Andrew Duthie) #20

Above left, around 2013 - not at my heaviest, but still pretty heavy. Right is around 2016 or so.

This one, left, is from Spring 2008, at close to my heaviest (around 245 lbs). Right is summer of 2016.

Like Carl and many others, I’ve done low-carb over the years, but until going keto, never managed to stick with it over the long term. I did Atkins in my late 20s, early 30s and lost a good 30 lbs, but got married, bought a house, and in the transition couldn’t keep up with Atkins, went off, and gained the weight back and then some (I think Carl’s point about Atkins’ mistake being adding back in the carbs is a good one, since for me at least more carbs == wanting more carbs).

I also fast occasionally, sometimes spontaneously, for example when I’m traveling. That’s a nice side effect of ketosis, being able to slide naturally into a fast when it’s more convenient than trying to find something keto to eat.

Having got up to a peak of around 245lbs, I have since lost 50+ lbs, and kept that off. I’ve gotten as low as in the 170s, but of late seem to be cycling in the low 190s, probably in part due to resistance training and added muscle. Also probably a bit because of lazy keto, too, if I’m honest, but having kept off more than 50lbs is something I’m very happy with.

Keep Calm and Keto On!


(Christina) #21


This was me when I found keto in January 2016. I spent the first month of the year researching as much as I could about it. I had started to gain weight at about 8 or 9 years old. I was always the fat one and every year I gained more and more weight. My heaviest I was at 118kg/261lbs and I was miserable.

I had PCOS, hypothyroid, chronic anxiety (15 years on anti-anxiety meds) and my knees were starting to give out on me. I had tried every single diet that was going out there. Weight watchers would work for the first week and then I would regain the weight. Despite begging the leaders for answers I was told that I was doing something wrong. I was at my lowest point.

Whilst I was researching bariatric surgery I happened upon the term nutritional ketosis. I’m so grateful that I googled the term because it’s transformed my life in more ways than one. I’ve lost 105lbs so far, still got around 15/20 to go to be happy. I’ve been the same weight for over a year now but I know that’s a sign that I’m insulin sensitive again so I’m keeping calm and ketoing on. I’m off ALL medication - no thyroid meds, no anxiety meds, PCOS is completely gone and the crippling anxiety attacks are a thing of the past.

Not only has my weight and health changed but my direction in life has too. I’ve become a keto warrior and will bore anyone who asks as I talk and talk about the benefits, not only to overweight people but to everyone at every age. My own 72 year old mother has now gone keto and is recovering movement in her hands caused by arthritis.

I’ve made keto my life’s mission. I quit my, frankly horrendous thanks to the boss from hell - YES YOU JESS - corporate drone job and went back to school. I’m 1 year into my 3.5 year Nutritional Therapy Sciences study. I’ve just qualified as a Nutrition and Health Coach which I will do whilst studying. I’ve also been accepted onto the Professional Training in LCHF/Keto Nutrition and Treatment course being run by the Noake’s Foundation’s Nutrition Network and will be starting that on the 1st of May. I spend my days reading and listening to podcasts and watching videos learning as much as I possibly can so that I can share it.

Keto saves lives and we need to get that message out there in spite of all the obstacles. What I learned about keto I learned from Richard and Carl. I cannot express my gratitude in writing so I’ll save it for Ketofest. Prepare for bear hugs, I’m really good at them.


#22

Wow! Congratulations Christina on both your weight loss and your new life! :smile: You look like a completely different person. Wishing you lots of success with your training ; exciting times ahead :clap:


(Raj Seth) #23

Why do you post pictures of your daughter as ‘after’ pictures - we are not dumb, you know :joy:


(Christina) #24

Oh you charmer :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:


(8 year Ketogenic Veteran) #25

Holy SHIT


(8 year Ketogenic Veteran) #26

Cool.


(Tammy Kidd) #27

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/keto-for-life/38644?u=tammy_steve1219


(Doug) #28

Christina, congratulations, and WOW. :slightly_smiling_face: That is the way to do it.


(Jay AM) #29

I feel myself running out of likes already. I love this thread.