'The Keto Diet And Intermittent Fasting Helped Me Lose 40kgs In A Year'

The earliest memory I have of being overweight dates back to the third grade, when we were required to step on a scale for a weigh-in (though I don’t remember why this was even a thing at the time). I nervously stood in the far back of the line so that I could go last. I remember standing behind a boy who was sweating bullets just like I was. He weighed in at 45kg, and then I weighed in at 46.

He gave me this look as if he felt my pain of being one of the heaviest kids in the class. Another student started laughing and making fun of the fact that I weighed more than the heaviest boy in the class.


My parents divorced when I was in the fourth grade and I never had a stable home, as I was tossed back and forth between them. I didn’t know what healthy eating was. We ate a lot of junk food and fast food because that’s what we could afford. Sodas, chips, and pastries were staples in my diet.

Going into middle school, I was around 86, but I didn’t think of myself as having a weight issue. That being said, I knew I had an emotional-eating problem that wouldn’t seem to go away. Every time there was an argument in the house, I would bury myself in my bedroom and stuff my face with whatever unhealthy things I could find in the house, like giant Costco muffins or chips. Or, I’d walk to the corner store and load up on brownies, chips, and a large raspberry iced tea.

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3 years and a 90lb difference ?? How I looked at the Emmy’s vs what I wanted to look like! ? That day was so rough for me—I was nominated for 4 Emmys—had lost my dad 2 months before that and when my category was being announced—I purposely went to the bathroom to hide so I wouldn’t have to go on stage all huge like that and give a speech. I was in the bathroom stall when I heard my name called on the speaker and just silently cried. I swept house that night and went home with 4 Emmys making the count 11. It was the last time I attended. #throwbackthursday#throwback#tbt#thursday#weightloss#ketoweightloss#weightlossmotivation#ketotransformation#transformation#weightlosstransformation#weightlossjourney#keto#ketodiet#ketogenicdiet#lowcarb#lchf#lowcarbdiet#healthy#lifestyle#truestory#love#smile#happy#beforeandafter#fit#fitness#gym#motivation

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3 years and a 90lb difference ?? How I looked at the Emmy’s vs what I wanted to look like! ? That day was so rough for me—I was nominated for 4 Emmys—had lost my dad 2 months before that and when my category was being announced—I purposely went to the bathroom to hide so I wouldn’t have to go on stage all huge like that and give a speech. I was in the bathroom stall when I heard my name called on the speaker and just silently cried. I swept house that night and went home with 4 Emmys making the count 11. It was the last time I attended. #throwbackthursday#throwback#tbt#thursday#weightloss#ketoweightloss#weightlossmotivation#ketotransformation#transformation#weightlosstransformation#weightlossjourney#keto#ketodiet#ketogenicdiet#lowcarb#lchf#lowcarbdiet#healthy#lifestyle#truestory#love#smile#happy#beforeandafter#fit#fitness#gym#motivation

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In high school, I took a job at the local Wendy’s. Even though I joined the athletics team and lost some weight, my diet consisted of whatever was on the cafeteria menu for breakfast and lunch—chicken nuggets, tacos, or turkey and gravy—because I was part of the low-income family program and ate those meals for free. Plus, I also ate for free working at the fast-food chain.

After graduating from high school in 2008, I started working in a career in television, bounced around jobs, and eventually went to college to get my two-year associate’s degree. I tried losing weight throughout this time period, but I was super busy, stressed, and saw my weight fluctuate over the years.

Then, in 2017, I got a phone call that changed my life.

My dad was in the hospital, brain dead, and he wasn’t going to wake up. After my dad passed, all I wanted to do was eat the fattening foods that I used to eat with him as a kid. I wanted to cook and eat everything he ever taught me to make. I ballooned from 108kg to almost 136kg in less than six months—and seeing that number on the scale was my turning point.

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Today I free myself from never being photographed in a tank top. The last time I took a tank top photo comfortably was about 15 years ago! I actually never wear tank tops because I hate my arms. That’s where I carry huge flaps of bat wings and they’re shrinking the slowest—BUT AT LEAST I CAN SAY THEY’RE SHRINKING. ???‍♀️ I’ve worn more tank tops in the last month than I have in my entire life. Two nights ago I did so many push ups in a desperate attempt to get better at them that I strained my clavicle. I’m waiting for the pain to subside so I can continue hitting my arms the hardest at the gym. It’s truly the weakest part of my body but I won’t quit no matter how bad it hurts. Exercise hurts when you’re just starting out. Nobody said it was easy. There are days that I cry because I wish my arms could last longer during certain exercises but we have to learn how to push through that pain. Would you rather push through the physical pain of a little exercise or push through the strenuous pain of being obese? Pick your pain… #ketodiet#keto#love#weightloss#weightlossjourney#ketoweightloss#dairyfree#lifestyle#transformation#gym#fitness#motivation#gymmotivation#thick#fit#ketogenicdiet#ketogenic#ketowoe#ketotransformation#beforeandafter#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketojourney#ketoaf#ketosis#ketolife#motivationmonday#monday#motivation

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Today I free myself from never being photographed in a tank top. The last time I took a tank top photo comfortably was about 15 years ago! I actually never wear tank tops because I hate my arms. That’s where I carry huge flaps of bat wings and they’re shrinking the slowest—BUT AT LEAST I CAN SAY THEY’RE SHRINKING. ???‍♀️ I’ve worn more tank tops in the last month than I have in my entire life. Two nights ago I did so many push ups in a desperate attempt to get better at them that I strained my clavicle. I’m waiting for the pain to subside so I can continue hitting my arms the hardest at the gym. It’s truly the weakest part of my body but I won’t quit no matter how bad it hurts. Exercise hurts when you’re just starting out. Nobody said it was easy. There are days that I cry because I wish my arms could last longer during certain exercises but we have to learn how to push through that pain. Would you rather push through the physical pain of a little exercise or push through the strenuous pain of being obese? Pick your pain… #ketodiet#keto#love#weightloss#weightlossjourney#ketoweightloss#dairyfree#lifestyle#transformation#gym#fitness#motivation#gymmotivation#thick#fit#ketogenicdiet#ketogenic#ketowoe#ketotransformation#beforeandafter#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketojourney#ketoaf#ketosis#ketolife#motivationmonday#monday#motivation

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That fall, I made a pact with my cousins to start losing weight. Ultimately, I wanted to get the weight off once and for all because I didn’t want to end up sick like my dad. He started out with high blood pressure and diabetes that evolved into coronary heart disease. Then, it was a stroke that took his life. He was only 55.

I decided to go vegan and stay off the scale. I felt great, had tons of energy, and my skin was glowing. But my craving for meat never truly disappeared.

On June 28th, 2018, I started the keto diet after I stumbled across information about it online.

Like others struggling with their weight, I was always online researching different weight-loss programs, and one eating plan that kept popping up was the keto diet. I was so desperate that I decided to try the diet right then and there.

I paired the keto diet with intermittent fasting at the beginning. Over time, I kept decreasing my feeding window (meaning I was eating less often and fasting for longer periods of time), and the weight kept shedding off even faster. Although it might not be right for everyone, intermittent fasting and keto helped me develop a healthier relationship with food because the habits forced me to really get in tune with my body’s hunger cues. I constantly asked myself if I was seriously hungry or just bored and wanted to snack.

Right now, I follow a 16:8 intermittent-fasting plan. I’m happy where I’m at in my journey and have decided to just enjoy the keto lifestyle that I’ve chosen to adapt and continue to shape up my body over time. The macros I follow for the ketogenic diet are: 70 percent fat, 25 percent protein, and 5 percent carbs.

Another tip: The one tool that I’ve found to be absolutely essential in my weight-loss journey is my food diary.

Here’s what I eat in a day now:

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I lost my monstrous booty but it’s okay because I have a perky little healthy one now. When I get down to 165, I will then focus on gains. I’m just anxious to get this weight off first because I want to be at a healthy weight before muscle building. Doctor chart healthy is what I’m aiming for but the last 20 lbs I’ll take very slowly as I’ll be lifting heavier again by that time. Best believe when I do eat carbs tho they go straight to the booty! ? I’m so satisfied with my progress at this moment in my journey and I’m so excited to see how I’ll progress this year! ????? #ketodiet#keto#love#weightloss#weightlossjourney#ketoweightloss#dairyfree#healthy#lifestyle#transformation#tuesday#fitness#motivation#gymmotivation#thick#fit#curvy#ketogenicdiet#ketogenic#ketowoe#ketotransformation#beforeandafter#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketojourney#ketoaf#ketosis#ketolife#transformationtuesday

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I lost my monstrous booty but it’s okay because I have a perky little healthy one now. When I get down to 165, I will then focus on gains. I’m just anxious to get this weight off first because I want to be at a healthy weight before muscle building. Doctor chart healthy is what I’m aiming for but the last 20 lbs I’ll take very slowly as I’ll be lifting heavier again by that time. Best believe when I do eat carbs tho they go straight to the booty! ? I’m so satisfied with my progress at this moment in my journey and I’m so excited to see how I’ll progress this year! ????? #ketodiet#keto#love#weightloss#weightlossjourney#ketoweightloss#dairyfree#healthy#lifestyle#transformation#tuesday#fitness#motivation#gymmotivation#thick#fit#curvy#ketogenicdiet#ketogenic#ketowoe#ketotransformation#beforeandafter#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketojourney#ketoaf#ketosis#ketolife#transformationtuesday

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I kept my exercise light when I started keto.

I stuck to 30 minutes on the elliptical and 30 minutes lifting light weights with high repetitions. On days I had more energy, I took advantage of that and lifted heavier. As the months went by I started doing harder cardio machines, like the treadmill, and eventually the StairMaster. I usually do the StairMaster every day now because my goal is to develop a strong booty. I work out five to six times a week these days.

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first of all WTF is on my head in the left photo! ?? NOW THIS IS A THROWBACK THURSDAY! ? The year was 2011 and I was 22 years old—blessed to be working at Univision at the time. I’ve worked in the news industry since I was 18 so having a crazy schedule has definitely been an issue for me. I used to eat at midnight when I got off work and sleep in until 2pm in the afternoon the next day. That was my life—that was my routine. I used to try and avoid taking photos with my news team—well because look at the way I looked! ?? This is what we call a transformation ladies and gentlemen. This is my glow up for @leslita_does_keto & @magicmikeketo Tagging a few friends ??? #tbt#throwback#thursday#throwbackthursday#beforeandafter#transformation#workout#ketodiet#keto#ketolifestyle#ketogenic#ketogenicdiet#lchf#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketoweightloss#ketotransformation#weightloss#weightlossjourney#progress#results#selflove#fitness#love#fresno#life

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first of all WTF is on my head in the left photo! ?? NOW THIS IS A THROWBACK THURSDAY! ? The year was 2011 and I was 22 years old—blessed to be working at Univision at the time. I’ve worked in the news industry since I was 18 so having a crazy schedule has definitely been an issue for me. I used to eat at midnight when I got off work and sleep in until 2pm in the afternoon the next day. That was my life—that was my routine. I used to try and avoid taking photos with my news team—well because look at the way I looked! ?? This is what we call a transformation ladies and gentlemen. This is my glow up for @leslita_does_keto & @magicmikeketo Tagging a few friends ??? #tbt#throwback#thursday#throwbackthursday#beforeandafter#transformation#workout#ketodiet#keto#ketolifestyle#ketogenic#ketogenicdiet#lchf#lowcarb#lowcarbdiet#ketoweightloss#ketotransformation#weightloss#weightlossjourney#progress#results#selflove#fitness#love#fresno#life

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Exercise has become my biggest form of stress relief. My career has been amazing and rewarding (I am now an 11-time Emmy award winner!), but also one of the main sources of stress in my life, as it’s an intense industry. For many years, I used to give into the stress by eating, but now I let it all out via my workouts instead. 

I want other women who may be on a similar weight-loss journey to not sweat the little things like working out in a gym among super fit girls. That feeling of embarrassment held me back for a long time.

I’ve lost 40kg to date on keto.

When I started I only expected to lose 14-20kg. 25kg was unimaginable for me. So to be down 40? It feels unreal.

I lost my twenties to obesity and depression and I promised myself that I wasn’t going to lose my thirties too. The seriousness of this weight-loss journey hit me at the age of 29 after everything else I had tried didn’t work. It sparked a fire in me to push as hard as possible to come into my thirties feeling my absolute best.

Michelle Garcia as told to Emily Shiffer. This article originally appeared on Women’s Health US. 

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