My Keto Transformation

[particlewave]

I know what you're thinking: "for the love of...another fad dieter!"

Last summer, I was really disgusted with myself. At 40 years old, I stepped on the scale for the first time in years and was shocked to see it read nearly 220 lbs (6'1").
For years, I only ate one meal per day (dinner) and a cup of coffee for breakfast, yet could not lose weight (slowly gaining, if anything).

July, 2019:






I saw a post from another 40 year old dad in a similar situation and was very impressed by his results with the ketogenic diet, so I figured I'd give it a go.
I limited my carb intake to less than 10 grams per day (yes, 10 grams...total, not net). This meant cutting out all grains (no noodles, rice, bread, etc), potatoes, sugar, etc.

I started the day with black coffee. Lunch was pepperoni slices and cheese sticks (or similar meat and cheese combo). Dinner was a large helping of meat and a huge salad. In between, I made broccoli, cauliflower, green pepper, kale smoothies that I had to choke down
That is a bit over simplified, but basically, you just have to count all carbs and keep it low. Most shoot for under 50 grams, but I went ballistic with it.
All the greasy meat n' cheese you want!
BTW, I don't drink alcohol and you couldn't on this diet.

Aside from the smoothies, the diet was fairly easy to adapt to (though I was very weak for the first 2-3 weeks as my body switched to burning fat for energy).

8 weeks:






Anywho...I did the diet for 3 full months and lost...wait for it...65 friggin' pounds!
That’s more than 5 pounds per week.

About 6 weeks ago, I bought a Gold's home gym and started working out. I want to be ripped by summer so I can pop my top off at the beach!

Moral of the story? You can do it!

Today:




I now eat whatever I want (though still avoid too much sugar or carbs, just because I don't enjoy them like I used to) and am still losing fat...just a bit left around the middle.
If you're overweight, don't hesitate to try it.

I hope that my experience can inspire at least one person in the same way that his story inspired me.
.

[piper6909]

Congrats, PW! That's very inspiring! I need to shed a few myself.

[steved0x]

That rocks, great work!

[WillH]

Great diet. Congrats on your results.

Doing it now. 50 years old in a few weeks. Six feet tall, was 225 February 1st now 200. Need to keep the calories up for work. Will go as low as 190-195 but any lower and I start looking too thin for my build.

New favourite way of doing low carb vegetables is baking them for 15 to 20 minutes at 425F in the oven smothered in avocado oil, seasoning, and parmesan. Try the low Carb microwave bread recipe using almond flour. Pizza night using low Carb pizza dough made out of cheese, butter, almond flour, and coconut flour. Try a bulletproof coffee for breakfast, it really cuts your hunger and fuels your morning. These things make it easy for me.

Instead of alcohol I use CBD to relax, a bit of thc takes the edge off when needed and helps sleep.

[JayG]

Well done Charles!!

I started a combination of Paleo diet and CrossFit 3-5 times a week a few years ago at age 60. I lost 55 lbs and am in the best shape I have been since my 20's. I went from a XXL to L shirt and dropped 4 in from my waist. I had to buy all new clothes.\

On top of that my cholesterol and triglycerides dropped in half and I eat 2 eggs and 4 slices of bacon every day for breakfast

We all eat tons of bad stuff. A high protein low carb diet with exercise is the way to go. Basically don't eat processed food and keep sugar to a minimum

It's a lifestyle change for the better

Keep up the good work, its worth it

[paulofto]

Good work and congratulations! Now you have to address that spider attacking your nipple.

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by paulofto

Good work and congratulations! Now you have to address that spider attacking your nipple.

We all do stupid things when we’re young...youth + beer + a friend with a tattoo gun who thinks he’s an artist = I’m stuck with it

[maytag]

DOOD! PW! That's AWESOME!!! Well done.

I once won Gold's Gym's "Body-Transformation" contest. I won;t hijack your thread with my own photos, but I bring it up to say that I know how much work this represents. You probably heard from all sorts of people (my wife was the worst! haha) who say "I wish I could lose weight like you". That misses the point entirely of how much effort this required. Self-mastery is the number one thing this represents.

Well-Done. (whoops... no beer..... )

[particlewave]

Thanks Jay, Will, Steve, Paul, Dan and piper.

Please post away if you’d like, Dan.
I still need inspiration from time to time!
My wife still says that. It was definitely not easy, but she is right: it is easier for me. She did the diet with me for the 3 months and lost about 15 lbs, though she did have quite a bit more carbs per day than I.
I also told her that I really didn’t want her to loose too much (not into the rail thin look ).


That’s great, Jay! I’m definitely thinking more about my health. We think we’re immortal when young, but it catches up to you fast.

Will, one of my favorite takeaways from this diet has been pizza
I do a strict cheese crust, though (fry it up in a non-stick skillet until thin and crispy). I tried a few things with almond flour, but never mastered cooking with it and gave up.
I did the CBD thing last summer in Missouri to ease the suffering, then switched to the occasional THC when I moved to WA last October, but gave all that up a couple months ago. I still have some tincture, but have found that I really don’t need anything anymore. This muscle ache may change my mind down the road, though

[tommy583]

Looking great man I got a promotion to a management position at work. More money, but less physical labor. I'm turning into a fat ass. I may have to try this.

[maytag]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Thanks Jay, Will, Steve, Paul, Dan and piper.

Please post away if you’d like, Dan.
I still need inspiration from time to time!

See how you had to ask me twice? haha

My wife actually took 2nd in her division in this same contest. She killed it too. But she's a hotey anyway.... so the transformation was less dramatic. :dance:

[steved0x]

Righteous! I entered some of those body for life etc... challenges some time back but never got past the "before" picture stage I know that it's hard work, but i don't know how much since I haven't successfully done it. Yet! This will be the time!

Originally Posted by maytag

[JayG]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Thanks Jay, Will, Steve, Paul, Dan and piper.

Please post away if you’d like, Dan.
I still need inspiration from time to time!
My wife still says that. It was definitely not easy, but she is right: it is easier for me. She did the diet with me for the 3 months and lost about 15 lbs, though she did have quite a bit more carbs per day than I.
I also told her that I really didn’t want her to loose too much (not into the rail thin look ).


That’s great, Jay! I’m definitely thinking more about my health. We think we’re immortal when young, but it catches up to you fast.

Will, one of my favorite takeaways from this diet has been pizza
I do a strict cheese crust, though (fry it up in a non-stick skillet until thin and crispy). I tried a few things with almond flour, but never mastered cooking with it and gave up.
I did the CBD thing last summer in Missouri to ease the suffering, then switched to the occasional THC when I moved to WA last October, but gave all that up a couple months ago. I still have some tincture, but have found that I really don’t need anything anymore. This muscle ache may change my mind down the road, though

Cauliflower crust pizza is great. If you didn't know what it was made of you would not know the difference. Lots of places have it now, Pieology, Pizza Studio and even Calif pizza Kitchen. Also the frozen Miltons ones at Costco are good. Nothing wrong with having a "cheat" meal every now and then.

Another benefit from losing weight is a second or two (maybe) at the track

[Starter986]

Dukan diet...

Tried it for S&G about 5 years ago. Lost 16 pounds the first week. Lost another ~25 over the next 3 weeks.

I was a chick magnet.

[jsceash]

My Oncologist strongly recommended I try a Paleo diet. and recommended the "Plant Paradox" and 2 volume book by Dr Grundy of California, ay one of the Med centers.

I lost 72 pound while on Hormone depletion therapies and Prednizone. Over 4 months. This is directed to people with compromised immune system. It is not easy. and requires a complete change in the diet. No grain! No vegetable from the night shade family! Lectins are forbidden! Hormone and antibiotic free meets, grass fed and humanely raised only. Wide caught seafood only no farm raised. No sugar, or synthetic sweeteners.

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by jsceash

My Oncologist strongly recommended I try a Paleo diet. and recommended the "Plant Paradox" and 2 volume book by Dr Grundy of California, ay one of the Med centers.

these are completely contradictory recommendations coming from an oncologist.

Dr. Gundry now recommends eating as little animal based protein as possible. He's embraced the view that most of your protein should be coming from plants as he now says that the hormonal overload of animal products is not significantly diminished if you rely on grass fed or grass finished meat vs supermarket type meats.

A long term study of vegetarians found that "liquid meats" (eggs and dairy) basically nullify the advantages of a vegetarian diet as cancer, stroke, heart disease and dementia/ Alzheimers risks are not any lower in vegetarians who consume dairy as opposed to full on meat eaters. For this reason Dr. Gundry recommends NEITHER. He's basically saying try to be as vegan as your palate will tolerate by reducing the frequency and portion size of all anmimal products. He feels the hormonal risk of animal meats and dairy outweigh the protein benefits. In his view antioxidant deficiency is a far bigger concern than protein deficiency and puts you at greater risk of metastatic cancers. bottom line you have to stick with fruits, vegetables, and the grains that are on his low lectins list. It's a pretty limiting universe granted but if you understand the basic fuel source of cancer cells you realize that the higher the level of IGF-1 in your diet the more cancer cells will take advantage of this to fuel their own growth at all four stages.

50 years ago there was a study that found Europe's shortage of meat immediately after World War II resulted in a significant decline in cancer diagnosis. As meat came back into the food supply the cancer rates began to tick up. These studies were not followed up aggressively because the end game of recommending people eat more fruits and vegetables is not nearly the profit opportunity of developing a cancer drug. it is virtually impossible to link any meat product to a specific cancer because of the variation in people's genetics and activity levels. But the one thing all blue zones (where people live well into their 90s and 100s WITHOUT cancer, stroke, heart disease, dementia and Alzheimers) is that most of their diets are plant based and they avoid a great deal of processed carbohydrates (breads and cereals) and cut out sugar as much as possible (a well known fuel for cancer). Another big factor is the strength of their 'micro circulation'. This is the ability of your small vessels to transport blood to every vital part of your heart and brain. Eating a certain acid found in rosemary plant and a few others apparently clears out these blockages in these tiny vessels that get worse over time and lead to inflammation which is basically the entry point of dementia, hypertension and stroke. This micro circulation can be measured and in certain populations like the Aciorolla Italians the micro circulation of the population over 80 years old is on par with a 20 year old. Allegedly these Italians are sexually active well into their 80s and few wear eye glasses... pretty amazing.

The reason I've read about Dr. Gundry, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Michael Gregger, Dr. Neal Barnard is that my father has late stage prostate cancer. He also has advanced dementia and hypertension. These have all been dropped balls by his physicians so I research literally every course of treatment and dietary recommendation. I'm frankly dismayed half the time by what I'm told. Nutrition shockingly is not an intensive part of their curriculum. Shocking because nutrition plays a huge role in all your health risks. the last straw for me was after his primary physician and several other well known specialists failed to detect a DVT bloodclot in his right leg that had been mainfesting symptoms for a lengthy period. which led to a stroke a year and half ago and he slowly lost the ability to walk and is now incontinent. He's been on Lurpon hormone deprivation (continuous not intermittent) since his very well known urologist mistook a benign enlargement for a malignant one and didnt realize until AFTER his BPH prostate surgery where the part of the prostate not removed was the part with aggressive cancer cells (Gleason 7-10). Two years later the PSA started shooting through the roof.

But his physical strength is impressive. He's never been iron deficient. His bloodpressure is like a swiss timepiece in its regularlity. His physical strength is the first thing healthcare workers comment on. He was taken out of hospice despite being on a full time urinary catheter bag with multiple comorbidities. His PSA test has been bullseye on the money after now five years of the hormonal treatments. For those who arent familiar with prostate cancer, the more testosterone you make the more the cancer cells have to feed them essentially. So for the last many years we have avoided animal products, or kept them to bite sized portions and satisfied his protein with brocolli, beans, lentils, sweet potatoes, (any vegetable with an edible skin is cooked in Instant Pot to remove the lectins) and and never leave out the raw vegetables antioxidant powerhouses like red cabbage, red onion spinach and pressed garlic. Just to repeat, Lupron as a cancer medication is basically like chemical castration. You are not making any testosterone in the traditional way your body produces it. Yet my father, who has been stuck in a bed for a year and half, has maintained his baseline of physical strength, particularly in his core and upper body on a largely plant based diet.

At any rate keto diets can be done and are with plant sources for protein. which makes it a win win for weight loss and disease prevention. There is no debating that animal proteins offer far quicker effect in the body and you'll have to do a lot less plant chewing by piling on the meat. but understand that these quick results have a doubled edged sword quality. First your sodium intake will ramp up and that is the real danger not really the fat. In fact carbohydrates are deadlier in the long run than dietary fats and a far better predictor of heart disease and stroke. But sodium is still the leading killer, a country mile ahead of high cholesterol. Excessive sodium's destruction to the heart's mechanics are much harder to repair with medications than the damage of cholesterol which is easily remedied with diet and exercise and statin medications as a last resort. Another big risk not often discussed are all the pesticides fed to livestock vs what you find in fruits and vegetables. A single serving of beef can have 12 times the pesticides of fruits and vegetables. That's because you're consuming a lifetime's worth of pesticides fed to the animal on that one portion vs. the pesticide found in a single crop cycle for the broccoli right next to it. Consuming a significantly higher amount of pesticides will not show up on your standard blood tests ordered by your primary physician. Nor will increasing your hormonal levels beyond your specific genetic breaking point (where dormant cancer cells start to use the excess hormone as a fuel source) become visible as an early stage cancer in these blood tests. Separate specific tests are required. My view is that meat based keto diet can be useful to get you to a certain point if you've been struggling to shed weight. But once the weight is off move towards eliminating the meat drastically and move towards intermittent fasting to burn through your glycogen stores during the day so you are fat burning while you sleep and all the way up towards lunch. Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard University who is a well known researcher on ageing seems to believe that (assuming you are otherwise healthy) you should not eat until you feel a hunger pain as this in his view seems to rev up your body's immune system.

[particlewave]

Nice work, Dan!
Very impressive...even more so now that I know what it takes

[Paul]

Congrats to everyone!

Here's my story.

A pound of fat is 3500 calories.

Take your weight x 12 if you are kinda active, x 13 if very active, this gives you the calories needed to maintain your current weight.

To lose 1 pound a week: 3500/7 = -500 calories per day.

So if you weigh 200 pounds and you're kinda active:

200x12= 2400 - 500 = 1900 calories per day.

You can wreck your health by eating unhealthy foods, but you could eat nothing but 1900 calories of Twinkies a day and still lose 1 pound a week.

I reduced my calorie intake by 1000 calories per day and in 10 months lost 70 pounds by last October. I'm still at my target weight today.

I use the free version of My Fitness Pal to track my calories and nutrition.

[Junkley]

Hi Particlewave,

Congratulations on a successful diet. I’m the opposite, I have to eat constantly to maintain weight. You’d think it would be great but I’m always hungry. Always spending on food out. A hassle.

I sent you a PM. I have often miss them so I wanted to see if you’d seen it?

Thanks,
-J