The keto diet: “I have come back from the dead”

May 31 by in Autoimmunity, Diabetes stories, Success stories

Kellie has lost 187 pounds (85 kg) and reversed type 2 diabetes with a keto diet and intermittent fasting. And as if that wasn’t fantastic enough, a test for lupus, an autoimmune disease which previously made her bedridden, came back negative after the diet switch!

Her whole family is now eating keto, and her husband and son have also transformed their health. This is their story:

Dr. Andreas,

I stumbled upon Diet Doctor early on in my journey in 2016. I was 340 lbs (154 kg) and bedridden from lupus. I was a 12-year vegan following the 80/10/10 principal and fruitarian for six months. My weight sky rocketed and I was then diagnosed as pre-diabetic. I decided that I had to change something or I was going to die.

I researched paleo and ate my first fish since 2005. I cried… I felt guilty BUT I also felt something I hadn’t felt in over a decade… satiety. Unfortunately with paleo I still had immense cravings and was making paleo brownies daily. Someone in my over eaters anonymous group suggested keto and the rest is history.

I went from bedridden to doing muay thai kick boxing and boxing. Keto and intermittent fasting reversed my pre diabetes and my ANA is now NEGATIVE. I used to have positive SSI and now it’s negative. I have come back from the dead.

My entire family is keto now. It has reversed my young son’s type 2 diabetes, and my husband lost 140 lbs (64 kg) and was able to get back into the military.
Thank you for your low carb mission. You have changed lives and given life back to many of us. My entire family is keto now. It has reversed my young son’s type 2 diabetes, and my husband lost 140 lbs (64 kg) and was able to get back into the military.

Kellie

Kellie’s husband

Comment

Thank you for sharing your fantastic story, Kellie! It’s very inspiring to hear about whole families doing keto together.

Get started

Do you want to try what Kellie has done? Sign up for our free 2-week keto low-carb challenge!

Alternatively, use our free keto low-carb guide, or for maximum simplicity try out our keto meal planner service with weekly delicious keto menus and shopping lists – it’s free to use for a month.

All success stories

Keto for beginners

How to lose weight

How to reverse type 2 diabetes

Keto

Keto for beginners: Introduction
08:02
Learn how to do a keto diet right, in part 1 of our video course.
Keto for beginners: weight loss
06:24
Dr. Eenfeldt explains everything you need to know about weight loss on a keto diet.
Keto for beginners: How it works
08:37
How does a keto diet work? Learn all you need to know, in part 2 of the keto course.
Keto for beginners: What to eat?
11:22
What do you eat on a keto diet? Get the answer in part 3 of the keto course.
Keto for beginners: In ketosis?
07:53
There are two ways to know you're in ketosis. You can feel it or you can measure it. Here's how.
Keto for beginners: 7 steps to ketosis
05:57
How to get into ketosis exactly.
Keto for beginners: Side effects
06:58
What are some common side effects of a keto diet – and how can you avoid them?
"My pain has gone way down, doctor"
11:12
Can a keto diet help with chronic pain like fibromyalgia, migraines or arthritis?
"I'll do this or I'm going to die trying"
19:23
Kristie Sullivan struggled with her weight for her whole life in spite of trying every diet imaginable, but then she finally lost a 120 pounds and improved her health on a keto diet.
Fat Chance
1:05:43
Is it possible to ride a pushbike across the Australian continent (2,100 miles) without eating carbs?
Keto and fast food
10:28
Can you get low-carb food at fast-food restaurants? Ivor Cummins and Bjarte Bakke went to a number of fast-food restaurants to find out.
The latest science behind a keto diet
13:17
What is the current science in support of a low-carb and keto diet?
How to formulate a low-carb keto diet
48:32
Low-carb pioneer Dr. Eric Westman talks about how to formulate an LCHF diet, low carb for different medical conditions and common pitfalls among others.
All things keto with Keto Connect
16:44
What is it like running the very popular YouTube channel Keto Connect?
How to make keto sustainable
15:00
How can you make the transition to a low-carb or keto diet as smooth as possible?
How to become a fat-burning machine
11:30
Dr. Eric Westman explains the concepts fat-burning mode and carb-burning mode. Dr. Westman's LCHF course part 2.
Eating keto to survive cancer
28:51
Audra Wilford on the experience of using a ketogenic diet as part of treating her son Max’s brain tumor.
Exploiting cancer metabolism with ketosis
44:42
Can a ketogenic diet be used in cancer treatment? Dr. Angela Poff at the Low Carb USA 2016.
Is fear of protein the new fear of fat?
35:03
Could protein restriction on a low-carb or keto diet cause problems?
Challenging The Dogma
16:47
Dr. Priyanka Wali tried a ketogenic diet and felt great. After reviewing the science she started recommending it to patients.
Is ketosis just another word for starving?
22:48
Amber O'Hearn is a computer scientist who has researched the state of ketosis through an evolutionary perspective.
Treating cancer with a keto diet
17:07
Can a strict keto diet help prevent or even treat some cancers, like brain cancer?
Losing Weight with Less Protein
09:24
Jimmy Moore talks about the greatest insight that made it possible for him to get rid of 80 stubborn pounds (36 kg) without hunger.
Low-carb living
1:00:21
How do you successfully eat low carb for life? And what’s the role of ketosis? Dr. Stephen Phinney answers these questions.

Weight loss

Keto for beginners: weight loss
06:24
Dr. Eenfeldt explains everything you need to know about weight loss on a keto diet.
How to Maximize Fat Burning
03:52
Dr. Fung's fasting course part 2: How do you maximize fat burning? What should you eat – or not eat?
Isn't weight loss all about counting calories?
03:14
To lose weight, you just eat fewer calories than you burn. Is it really that simple? Top low-carb doctors answer.
Too much protein is better than too little
40:13
Is increasing protein intake on low carb a good or bad idea idea in terms of weight and health – and why? Dr. Naiman explains.
The 5 common mistakes on LCHF
09:25
Is it hard to reach your goal weight, are you hungry or do you feel bad? Make sure you're avoiding these mistakes.
"I'll do this or I'm going to die trying"
19:23
Kristie Sullivan struggled with her weight for her whole life in spite of trying every diet imaginable, but then she finally lost a 120 pounds and improved her health on a keto diet.
The Big Fat Fix
1:19:34
Donal O'Neill and Dr. Aseem Malhotra star in this excellent documentary about the failed low-fat ideas of the past and how to really get healthy.
What To Do Instead of Counting Calories
16:02
Why is counting calories useless? And what should you do instead to lose weight?
Carb-Loaded
1:14:40
This may be the best (and funniest) low-carb movie ever. At least it's a strong contender.
A global food revolution
34:30
The mistakes behind the obesity epidemic and how we can fix them together, empowering people everywhere to revolutionize their health.
Do You Have to Count Calories to Lose Weight?
10:22
Do you have to count calories to lose weight? Dr. Jason Fung explains why you don't.
The perfect treatment for diabetes and weight loss
45:20
Do doctors treat type 2 diabetes completely wrong today – in a way that actually makes the disease worse?
Is obesity caused by too much insulin?
25:27
Is obesity mainly caused by the fat storing hormone insulin? Dr. Ted Naiman answers this question.
My Big Fat Diet
42:31
What would happen if an entire town of First Nation people went back to eating the way they used to? A high-fat low-carb diet based on real food?
How to formulate a low-carb keto diet
48:32
Low-carb pioneer Dr. Eric Westman talks about how to formulate an LCHF diet, low carb for different medical conditions and common pitfalls among others.
Therapeutic Fasting
46:09
What if there was a more effective treatment alternative for obesity and type 2 diabetes, that is both simple and free?
How to make keto sustainable
15:00
How can you make the transition to a low-carb or keto diet as smooth as possible?
How to lose 240 pounds without hunger
31:06
How to lose 240 pounds without hunger – Lynne Ivey and her incredible story.
The problem with sugar
50:01
Is it fat or sugar that has triggered the unprecedented epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease? Taubes at Low Carb USA 2017.
The top 5 tips for weight loss
15:58
Dr. Eenfeldt's get-started course part 4: Struggling on low carb? Then this is for you: Dr. Eenfeldt's top weight loss tips.
The Pathways of Insulin Resistance
30:41
Are we chasing the wrong guy when it comes to heart disease? And if so, what is the real culprit in the disease?
Weight Control – Calories or Insulin
36:26
Is weight loss controlled by calories in and calories out? Or is our body weight carefully regulated by hormones?
The Cause of Obesity
38:45
What is the real cause of obesity? What causes weight gain? Dr. Jason Fung at Low Carb Vail 2016.
Hyperinsulinemia - What insulin does in your body
45:29
Controlling the insulin in your body can help you control both your weight and important aspects of your health. Dr. Naiman explains how.

Type 2 diabetes

How to Reverse Diabetes Type 2
10:23
Dr. Fung's diabetes course part 1: How do you reverse your type 2 diabetes?
"We are not designed to be chronically ill"
25:54
Carb-Loaded
1:14:40
This may be the best (and funniest) low-carb movie ever. At least it's a strong contender.
The perfect treatment for diabetes and weight loss
45:20
Do doctors treat type 2 diabetes completely wrong today – in a way that actually makes the disease worse?
Living low carb with Chris Hannaway
08:19
What does living low carb look like? Chris Hannaway shares his success story, takes us for a spin in the gym and orders food at the local pub.
The essential problem with type 2 diabetes
05:13
Dr. Fung's diabetes course part 2: What exactly is the essential problem of type 2 diabetes?
My Big Fat Diet
42:31
What would happen if an entire town of First Nation people went back to eating the way they used to? A high-fat low-carb diet based on real food?
How to formulate a low-carb keto diet
48:32
Low-carb pioneer Dr. Eric Westman talks about how to formulate an LCHF diet, low carb for different medical conditions and common pitfalls among others.
Therapeutic Fasting
46:09
What if there was a more effective treatment alternative for obesity and type 2 diabetes, that is both simple and free?
Diet & diabetes – how to normalize your blood sugar
16:26
Dr. Eenfeldt's get-started course part 3: How to improve type 2 diabetes dramatically using a simple lifestyle change.
The problem with sugar
50:01
Is it fat or sugar that has triggered the unprecedented epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease? Taubes at Low Carb USA 2017.
A Disease of Insulin Resistance
09:32
Part 3 of Dr. Fung's diabetes course: The core of the disease, insulin resistance, and the molecule that causes it.
Hyperinsulinemia - What insulin does in your body
45:29
Controlling the insulin in your body can help you control both your weight and important aspects of your health. Dr. Naiman explains how.
How can low carb help type 2 diabetics?
25:41
Christopher Webster on low carb and the effect on type 2 diabetes.
The 2 Big Lies of Type 2 Diabetes
42:54
Why is the conventional treatment of Type 2 Diabetes an utter failure? Dr. Jason Fung at the LCHF Convention 2015.
"I knew nothing"
28:51
How come Professor Tim Noakes completely changed his view on what constitutes a healthy diet?
How to help patients reverse type 2 diabetes
27:43
How exactly do you as a doctor help patients reverse their type 2 diabetes?
Reverse diabetes by ignoring the guidelines
12:10
Can you reverse diabetes by ignoring the guidelines? Dr. Sarah Hallberg answers this question.
How to Cure Type 2 Diabetes
24:25
In this interview Dr. Jay Wortman tells us how he cured his own type 2 diabetes and then did the same for many, many others.
Treating the Symptoms or the Cause?
04:15
Dr. Fung's diabetes course part 4: Why most drugs uselessly move sugar around the body. It's better to get rid of it.
"I Have Been Following the Wrong Advice!"
16:39
How Antonio Martinez finally managed to reverse his type 2 diabetes.
LCHF and diabetes: science and clinical experience
45:59
What is the root of the problem in type 2 diabetes? And how can we treat it? Dr. Eric Westman at the Low Carb USA 2016.
80 Pounds Lighter and No Medications
09:12
Is it possible to reverse your diabetes with the help of a strict low-carb diet? Definitely, and Stephen Thompson did it.
"Type 2 Diabetes Management Can Be Pretty Simple"
18:52
Dr. Sadhra advises aspiring doctors that managing type 2 diabetes can be pretty simple as long as you eat low carb. Medications are not the first line of treatment.

Support

Do you want to support Diet Doctor and get access to bonus material? Check out our membership.

Start your free trial here

PS

Do you have a success story you want to share on this blog? Send it (photos appreciated) to andreas@dietdoctor.com, and please let me know if it’s OK to publish your photo and name or if you’d rather remain anonymous.

It would also be greatly appreciated if you shared what you eat in a typical day, whether you fast etc.

27 Comments

Top Comment

Eileen
May 31 4
Kellie you are an inspiration. Keto for life!

Read more →

All Comments

1 comment removed
2
Diana
May 31 3
Hi Anastacia, How much are you overweight? I found that dairy stalls my weight loss. If I eat too much cheese and cream. You could try cutting out the dairy. They have a lot of recipes that are dairy free here.
3
Vicky
May 31 3
Great looking couple! Nice Job
1 comment removed
5
Leno
May 31 2
The photos of the husband look photo shopped .......all his moles disappeared in the after photo..In any diet balance and exercise are always gonna be your keys to success.

Reply: #27
6
WarblingLisa
May 31 2
Congratulations, Kellie, to you and your husband. It's wonderful keto has improved the health of your entire family. Thanks for sharing your story with us!!
7
Kathleen
May 31 3
Congratulations, Kellie. Super news!
8
Kellie
May 31 2
Hi Lizzy not a bunch of crap a bunch of truth. I have been documented every step of my journey with my various doctors, pcp, rheumatologisrs, endocrinologist and gyno through regular lab work. If u have ANY questions feel free to ask ?
9
Kellie
May 31 1
@leno my husband actually does several videos and live videos.. Feel free to watch them on his
IG @theketorock . I can ASSURE u he is every bit as gorgeous in person. If u have any questions i am on
IG @QueenTasiLeao
10
Kellie
May 31
@leno oh and one more thing.. His 1 mole in the before pic is covered by his sunglasses.. Haha ?
11
Kellie
May 31 2
Thank u Lisa and Kathleen! I wish they had posted a pic of our youngest son (who is now 10) too. He was pre-diabetic. We got him on keto and he lost 20lbs and his A1c is completely normal
12
Terrie
May 31 1
Been doing keto for 6 wks nothing i think its bs to cant be good for your heart and arteries eating all that fat
13
Kellie
May 31 1
@terri keto is a tool to help supress hunger, regulate hormones, insulin levels and burn off glycogen stores. U still need to be in a caloric deficit. There is A lot of actual research and data out there that has proven unequivically that animal fats do not cause heart disease. Any credible cardiologist will tell u to reduce carbohydrates and sugars. In fact there are many articles promoting LcHf written by cardiologists and talks given that are on youtube.
Best wishes! And keep doing ur research.
14
Ryan Mesler
May 31 2
while you can reverse diabetes by switching from processed junk to whole foods as seen in the magic pill, what you don't realize is the damage your arteries are undergoing because they're being pumped full of fat.

olive oil is pure fat too, refined and bottled for your convenience. the health "benefits" of olive oil are grossly exaggerated and are nullified by the damage they cause your arteries. short term AND long term.

fact is, ketosis is an emergency mechanism your body uses when you're starving. it is not meant as a lifestyle or a diet solution.

there are plenty of studies by real doctors that can back all of this up.

Reply: #31
15
Eileen
May 31 4
Kellie you are an inspiration. Keto for life!
16
Kellie
May 31 2
@ryan actually ketosis is a NATURAL mechanism ur body goes through when depleted of glycogen stores. Pregnant women go into a natural state of ketosis and babies are born in a state of ketosis. Pretty neat huh? And considering my BuN, CrP and all antibodies have dropped to normal levels, and also my critically low vit d levels(when i was vegan) of (an 8!) rose to a normal level of 64... After 2 years keto and without mega high dose of prescription Vit d.. 50,000iu a day. (that is what i was prescribed by my endo when i was first diagnosed and as a vegan at that... And those levels didnt budge putting me in the Critically low catagory). If u want to talk stats i would LOVE to talk stats. Because i was so sick i became a professional patient on a positive note i let ALL of the kab results do the talking rather than resort to conjecture and random FB posts by Random people.

Btw i wad also prescribed statins as a low fat high carb vegan because my LDL was so high. Go figure
17
Yvette
May 31 2
You did it,) cheers to everyday being a better you.
18
Tanner
June 1 1
A 380 lb fruitarian ? Lmao, lard isn't a fruit.
19
Kem
June 1 2
Tanner most fruits turn into sugar. Do your research. Why you have to be so rude.
20
Kem
June 1 1
I have lost 40 pounds since March 2, 2018 by just cutting out carbs. I do not do all the high fat as my doctor told me it is not good for me and it raises your cholesterol levels, I use the keto strip and my body stays in ketosis without the high fat intake. I now weigh 150 pounds and have 10 more to go and I am sure I will be at my goal by June 1st. Carbs are not good for our body and if you want to lose weight lose the carbs it works.
21
Alex jones
June 1 1
lol if you're starving yourself of course you're going to loose weight. Like what is this keto nonsense. You can eat literal crap and loose weight if you're eating 1000 calories a day. Why not eat whole plant based diet and be satiated and satisfied and not worry about anything. The weight just comes off, like Greyhound lean and mean. Plants plants plants love your body and what you put in it.

Reply: #22
22
Reply to comment #21 by Alex jones
Jennifer
June 1 2
"I was a 12-year vegan following the 80/10/10 principal and fruitarian for six months" Right there she said she was vegan if you read it.

Reply: #26
1 comment removed
24
Kris
June 1
Thruth about ketogenic diets. You can accomplish just about all that is claimed in this article on a McDonald's diet. Losing weight reverses type 2. Doesn't make it healthy in the long term.
1 comment removed
26
Reply to comment #22 by Jennifer
Kris
June 1
You can be a junk food vegan. I think Alex is talking about eating a whole foods plant based diet. Sounds like she failed Miserably for 6 months on a fruititarian diet. But we don't know what she ate and this is an anecdote. Check out my video link below for long term side effects of a ketogenic diet
27
Reply to comment #5 by Leno
Mark
June 1 3
Great job, Kellie and fam! Ignore the haters.
28
Kellie
June 1 1
@kris, i was vegan for 12 years sweetie and a raw foods chef. I was fruitarian as a last ditch effort to help with my lupus which rendered me bedridden. A fruitarian and 80/10/10
Caused a diagnosis of type 2, occular migraines (because of the fructose). So that high fructose diet failed Me... And the thousands of people that have tried it. The vegan, raw, fruitarian community is based out of pseudo science and fear tactics. Aside from losing 200lbs now, the horrific experience of being disabled from an equally horrific diet changed my career and field of study from unsubstantiated vegan propaganda to dietetics.

U should gather information before forming outlandish assumptions. Its reflective of small mindedness.
29
Kellie
June 1 1
@alex in terms of "starving yourself", u must be in a caloric deficit of ur tdee in order to lose fat.. This is true. But, i eat to substain and enhance my activity level and athleticism. Which is Muay thai and boxing, training at arguably one of the best MMA gyms in the world.
30
Kellie
June 1 2
@kris the people here are way too educated to fall for ur vegan propaganda. And people who are on my Social media know exactly what i've eaten for the past 2 years as i have posted daily and in several dozen live videos.
So, good try.
31
Reply to comment #14 by Ryan Mesler
Ken
June 6
While opinions are enjoyable to hold and invite others to share, I challenge you to provide references for your claims, which sound a lot like old diet-heart hypothesis junk, which has been repeatedly debunked at vast expense by the very people trying to prove it. For extensive exploration of this subject I refer you to the work of ; Nina Teicholz, Zoe Harcombe, Gary Taubes and many others.