‘Keto is the key to finally keeping the weight off for good!’

After years and years of weight and health struggles, Jason finally found success with keto and Diet Doctor.

He lost 100 pounds (45 kg), reversed type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, and now feels better than ever. “Keto is the key to finally keeping the weight off for good!” Jason wrote in an email to Diet Doctor.

Below, Jason takes us through his inspiring story, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Jason’s story

By the time I first heard about the keto diet, back in 2017, I was already convinced that I would probably never be able to lose weight again. I have battled weight since my early teens, alternating between being overweight or obese for many years. There were times when I could get my weight under control, but that wouldn’t last for long — and I would just return to my old habits and put the weight back on.

I had tried various diets and meal plans over the years; some worked and some didn’t. Food was always there: when I celebrated, when I was feeling emotional, when I was on vacation or out for a night on the town. High-carb junk food was a big thorn in my side, along with meals that were high in starchy carbohydrates (and don’t forget washing it all down with pints of beer). Whenever I tried to get my eating under control, I would follow commonly recommended routines for weight loss: high carb, low fat, plus eat less and move more. I was encouraged to “graze” all day, not realizing how eating was actually capable of keeping me hungry.

Working for several months at a new job and just starting to get to know the people around me, I tried to engage in some small talk as I walked past a coworker whom I saw eating a cheeseburger with a knife and fork, no bun. I asked him if he was on a low-carb diet and he said it was called the keto diet. At this point, I was suspicious of any “diet” because everyone had a diet they swore by and we all know there are new diets all the time.

I politely listened to him explain the basics to me and I told him to enjoy his lunch; before I could walk away, though, he said to me, “Oh, if you are interested in learning more you should talk to that guy,” and pointed to another coworker named John. I was shocked to learn that John had been as big as I was, which was well over 340 pounds (154 kg). Not only had he lost a lot of weight, but he had kept it off for nearly five years. Now THAT interested me!

I’ve lost weight quite a few times, but how does someone keep it off? I introduced myself to John and we began talking. Being an engineer, John was enthralled by all the science behind eating a ketogenic low-carb diet and he immediately recommended that I go to the Diet Doctor website to learn all that I could. He gave me several book and YouTube suggestions. I took it all in. I was morbidly obese, a new type 2 diabetic, had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, my inflammation was dangerously high, I ached all over, was always exhausted from carrying all this weight, and just wasn’t happy with my health.

Thanks to all that I’ve learned from Diet Doctor and my coworker’s guidance, I have been able to get down to 226 pounds (103 kg); my doctor no longer treats me for diabetes because my fasting glucose and HbA1c levels have been in the normal range since 2017 (all without needing to use my medication); my fatty liver disease is gone, my inflammation has dropped like a stone, I have more energy, and I feel so much better now.

Thanks to the keto community I’ve discovered other things that help me feel better and lose weight, such as time-restricted eating and intermittent fasting. I’m probably eating the most balanced, nutritionally-dense meals I have in a long time.

What I learned from Diet Doctor, and the advice of other low-carb dieters, is that this has to be a lifestyle change, not just a “diet.” And admittedly, that’s something I’ve always known. But, in the past, I always struggled with the idea of permanently eating low carb, high fat — mainly because I felt like I had to give up so much. However, the vast amount of low-carb and keto meals and recipes ideas that are now available online, combined with the fact that this food is absolutely satisfying and fills you up, have made it so much more feasible for me to make this a lifestyle.

I still have a ways to go and there are always challenges in trying not to use food for comfort or as a reward. But, when I see those blood test results come back with my biomarkers getting better each time, or when clothes a size smaller finally fit, or when I find myself walking more than I ever thought I could… these are the things that motivate me to stay on this journey. Thanks to the information and recipes from Diet Doctor, as well as the great support from the keto and low-carb community, this is a lifestyle change that I am excited to make and to always keep with me.

Comment

Congratulations on your success, Jason. We are thrilled that we played a role in your amazing health transformation. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your story as an inspiration to others.
Best,
/ Dr. Bret Scher

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