Peter came across the keto diet while he was working out on his cross-trainer in an attempt to lose weight.
Soon after, he decided to throw out the carbs. And after just three months on the diet, he'd lost 35 pounds (or 16 kilos).
Since then, Peter's lost a total of 73 pounds (or 33 kilos). To his great surprise, a medical checkup also revealed that he'd completely reversed his fatty liver disease.
He says that "It was - and still is - very easy," - an experience which stands in stark contrast to many people's preconceived notions about the keto diet.
Here, Peter shares his full story, which has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Peter's story
I'm a Swede who's lived and worked in Asia since 1985. Two years in Taiwan, eight in Hong Kong, and 25 in Bangkok, Thailand (where I still live and work).
Just after Christmas in 2018, my two sons (then 22 and 26 years old) teased me about my weight and referred to pictures from when I lived in Hong Kong. Back then, I was playing rugby on the weekends and was physically very active. They said I should try to get back to that weight.
Since I never had any health issues with my weight, I never saw a real problem with it. But when I compared those pictures with what I saw in the mirror, I noticed a huge difference.
At the time in Hong Kong, I weighed 194 pounds (or 88 kilos), and in December 2018 I weighed 260 pounds (or 118 kilos). Without thinking things through I bet my children that I would lose 22 pounds (or 10 kilos) in three months. I didn't know how to do it but thought exercise would be the way to go.
So on January 1, I went to buy a cross-trainer (yes - stores in Thailand are always open - except, as it turns out, during the COVID lockdown). I decided to exercise for 30 minutes every day.
There was an iPad holder on the cross-trainer, and so I started to look for videos on YouTube on how to lose weight while working out. Within a couple of days, I came across presentations about the ketogenic diet and thought that I would give it a try. The diet included things I really like such as salads, cheese, nuts, meat, and fish.
I stopped all sugar, rice, pasta, bread, and potatoes overnight, and have never looked back. I never measured anything, just left things out. It was - and still is - very easy.
In the first three months I lost 35 pounds (or 16 kilos), and thought to myself, "why not just continue?" as I loved the lifestyle.
Pre-COVID, I used to travel a lot, but that's not a problem as long as you just tell people what you eat and don't eat.
After 8 months, I had lost 66 pounds (or 30 kilos) and gone back to the same weight as when I got married in 1991. Since then, I've dropped another 7 pounds (or 3 kilos). These days, my weight fluctuates between 187-191 pounds (or 85-87 kilos).
I feel great and when I went for a medical checkup in August 2019, all values were fantastic. My fatty liver disease was gone. Since then I've also taken up some intermittent fasting. I don't fast every day, as I eat when I want to.
During the COVID lockdown, I started to cook recipes from Diet Doctor and really enjoying the variety of dishes. I honestly have to say that I feel a ketogenic lifestyle isn't difficult, it's just a mindset above all.
In my job I attend a lot of network functions, and out of the food being offered I eat maybe 10% of it, as all other dishes are carb-loaded. Sometimes, there's no food that isn't loaded with carbs in the airport business lounges, but that's OK. I made my choice and am very very happy with feeling energetic again.
I still go on the cross trainer for 30 minutes at least five days per week.
Please keep on creating all the great recipes of low-carb dishes. They are great weekend treats. When people ask me how I managed to lose weight and keep it off, I always refer them to Diet Doctor. I say just look at all the information available on the website and go from there.
Life is now, so let's enjoy it and make the most out of it in a healthy way. Ah, I almost forgot. The single most expensive part of the ketogenic diet is that all my clothes are new (except for my shoes). Now I can't afford to put on weight again, but then again I won't with the ketogenic lifestyle!
Keep up the good work,
Peter
Comment
Congrats on all your success Peter. I guess you better thank your kids for making the challenge to you! We are thrilled that DietDoctor helped play a role in your success. Keep up the great work.
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