Stephanie had been obese most of her life. After suffering from a DVT (Deep vein thrombosis) in her right calf, she knew something drastic had to be done. It didn’t take long until she found a keto diet. This is what happened:
Hello Diet Doctor!
I have had great success with health by following a ketogenic diet, coupled with both intermittent and extended fasting over the past year. In addition to eating healthy keto and fasting, I’ve also incorporated fitness into my life since day one, whether it was simply swimming, yoga, or lifting weights, it has been part of my story.
I began at the tail end of September 2017, weighing 327.4 (149 kg) pounds, almost 40 years old, in pain, sick, and on a number of prescription medications. My health was in poor condition, both physically and mentally. About six months prior to starting, I had nearly died after suffering a DVT (Deep vein thrombosis) in my right calf and subsequently having severe bilateral pulmonary embolisms. The severity of my health was far beyond the scope of simply being morbidly obese.
I essentially woke up one day and somehow everything clicked, and I was ready. My children were ages 1 and 3, and I wasn’t going to be here for them. I was in pain, could barely walk or breathe, had such severe mobility issues, I couldn’t even get my own socks or shoes on my right leg without assistance (and those socks are knee-high compression socks at that)! No doctor, specialist or diagnostic test was able to determine why I had the lost mobility, but on account of being on a blood thinner, I was medically unable to take over the counter or prescription strength anti-inflammatory pills, so SOMETHING had to change.
I knew in my heart it had to be the food. Having been diagnosed as celiac disease in 2012, I was well versed at the positive impact of ruling out even some, if not all grains, on inflammation, so I decided to return to the celiac diagnosis stage of eating. Within a week, I landed in the world of keto – totally by accident – and have never (nor will ever) looked back.
Fasting is not a new concept for me as I used to fast on occasion, even as a teenager, in a religious context, so adding both intermittent and extended fasting to my life seemed almost seamless. I came by it so naturally, and comfortably, you’d think I was meant to live this lifestyle all along!
I have worked very hard over the year at determining what my food preferences are, how to cook, how to understand macro and micronutrients, and their roles in my health, and how to eliminate foods that I’ve identified to be triggers for me. I keep it rather simple and cyclical with my meals – a lot of things like veggie bakes and meat, salads with a protein, chili, and good old faithful bacon, eggs & avocado.
As stated, I began at the end of September 2017 at 327.4 lbs (149 kg), and celebrated a one-year milestone by having lost 150 lbs (68 kg), landing me at 178.2 lbs (80 kg) on September 29, 2018! I have celebrated numerous non-scale victories as well, including major things like regaining ALL mobility, and then some, eliminating six of seven prescription drugs (all that remains, for now, is a blood thinner), lowering my blood pressure back to normal, and have healed my lifetime of stomach/bowel disease.
I am happier, healthier, and feeling younger at age 40 than when I was an obese teenager. I am now training to become a certified Aqua Fit instructor at my gym, and will never go back to eating the way I used to. Keto + Fasting + Fitness is my life now!
Stephanie McGarrigle
Comment
Wow, what a journey! Thank you for sharing your story with us, Stephanie. And a big congratulations on your success!
Check out Stephanie’s Facebook, where she shares her life.
Do you have a success story you want to share? Send your information, plus before and after photos, to success@dietdoctor.com. It would also be greatly appreciated if you shared what you eat in a typical day, whether you fast etc. More information:
It´s amazing the change in facial appearance. No one really knew what you looked like before! Thank you for changing around your life and sharing that with us. Your kids will be every so grateful for a different life-style. They may never have to face being obese because their Mom conquered her weakness first!
I started with 125 to lose. I have lost 35 since mid June of this year. Sometimes I feel like I will never get to my final goal. Your story has helped inspire me. Thank you for sharing. You look wonderful and so much younger. Great job!!
Thank you for sharing your success! Not only the change in your weight but also the change in your health! Every now and then it is so helpful to be reminded that my goals are achievable! And your children have a brand new mom!!
This is a great story, but as I'm not obese or have never been obese and British, find it quite hard to relate to such a situation and perhaps so American, and wonder if there is anything for some of us who only want to loose 11lbs and be well?
Eating Keto is for everyone - fat, thin, and in between. Just start, stick with it, and your body will adjust itself to its ideal weight. I was fat when starting, my wife was thin, but heavy for her frame - she is 5'11 and weighed 165. I have lost 30 lbs, and she has lost 20 lbs and we have been Keto for 5 months. Her weight has stabilized but I still continue to lose. Our bodies have dropped (and for me continues to drop) the weight it needed to.
We practice "Intuitive Keto" - we don't count or track, but we try to keep it at/under 20 carbs a day - no fasting, no cheating.
Give it a try! You have nothing to lose, but the weight. :)
Amazing story! Thank you for sharing your encouraging words. I am 5 months in and already am stunned by the changes! I am lower than I thought reasonable to expect to be able to get to and now don't think it is unreasonable to get to where I was in my 20s ..the hope is there, one day at a time! I am 55 and have lost 44 lbs and 5" of my waist. Reversed type two diabetes as well as lots of other pluses :)
Awesome journey, congratulations! I am just beginning. My main question is about what happens to all the sagging skin, etc? Does everyone have to have surgery done to remove it? If you can help me with that, I’d appreciate it. It has me skeptical about continuing. I could not afford to have the surgery. Thank you.
1. I am Canadian with British grandparents, but fail to see why this point is relevant. 2. As someone else also mentioned, keto is keto, whether it's for overall health, lowering insulin issues, for gaining weight, losing, maintaining, the approach is the same and appropriate for any person, regardless of starting health circumstances. :) Good luck on your journey.
No, not everyone needs to have skin removal surgery. A lot comes into play... how long were you obese or overweight in that skin, genetics, fasting, etc. Fasting induces autophagy and, over time, that can absolutely help reduce redundant skin. I have some loose skin, mainly abdomen and breasts, but also breastfed two babies, and had two babies, one of which was a c-section... Don't fear it. Healthy and saggy is far better than unhealthy and filled out.
Bravo, Stephanie !
I love your answer : "Healthy and saggy is far better than unhealthy and filled out"
I am always deeply annoyed to read negative comments about sagging skin. I want to scream : "so what??? Would you rather be 150 pounds overweight ????"
Stephanie, what an inspiration you are. I have been doing keto for 16 months now and am down 89 pounds. I cannot say I have done as well as you have, but I can say that many good things have come my way. I was able to have one knee replacement in Nov. 2018 and the second one in Jan. 2019. All I can say is that I have been barely able to maintain since November. I am going to do the Diet Dr. 2 week keto challenge and get back on track. It is people like you that inspire me to continue losing and get this last 60 pounds off. Thank you so much for your story.
Thank you for being brave to post your before and after photos - they are helpful for others to appreciate your journey and how it compares on a personal level with the reader.
Your idea of using a calendar showing your weight loss month by month confirms that weight isn't linear but takes a natural meandering route.
Thanks for being inspirational and sharing your journey - I have your story saved and read it regularly to keep me on track.
Eating Keto is for everyone - fat, thin, and in between. Just start, stick with it, and your body will adjust itself to its ideal weight. I was fat when starting, my wife was thin, but heavy for her frame - she is 5'11 and weighed 165. I have lost 30 lbs, and she has lost 20 lbs and we have been Keto for 5 months. Her weight has stabilized but I still continue to lose. Our bodies have dropped (and for me continues to drop) the weight it needed to.
We practice "Intuitive Keto" - we don't count or track, but we try to keep it at/under 20 carbs a day - no fasting, no cheating.
Give it a try! You have nothing to lose, but the weight. :)
I love your answer : "Healthy and saggy is far better than unhealthy and filled out"
I am always deeply annoyed to read negative comments about sagging skin. I want to scream : "so what??? Would you rather be 150 pounds overweight ????"
Your idea of using a calendar showing your weight loss month by month confirms that weight isn't linear but takes a natural meandering route.
Thanks for being inspirational and sharing your journey - I have your story saved and read it regularly to keep me on track.