How this woman used the keto diet to achieve a 250lbs weight loss

Amy from Pennsylvania once weighted 472lbs, before a weight loss diet switch changed her life

Amy from Pennsylvania's stunning 250lbs weight loss
(Image credit: Future)

When she saw the scales read 472lbs, Amy wanted to rewrite her life. The 27-year-old from Harleysville, Pennsylvania, had tried to lose weight before but it did not stick. In 2019, Amy started keto, she told Truly: “I think I had to go through pain and misery and ridicule to get to the point of frustration and anger to change something in my life.” 

However, in December 2019, Amy suffered a back injury which left her immobile for months. Amy said: “The reason I lost weight is only because of my mental game, I didn't go to the gym. I didn't exercise - I couldn't, my back injury stopped me from even bending over.” 

Despite her back injury, Amy has managed to lose 250lbs. Losing the weight has improved Amy’s health; reversing her diabetes and enabling her to move in ways she never could before. As a result of her weight loss, Amy has a lot of loose skin – something she feels quite self-conscious about but also proud as it shows how far she’s come.

Today she’s going to be revealing it to her friend Caitlin. Amy has transformed her life and said: “Through losing this weight and through finding keto I feel like I can do anything now. I feel like Superwoman.”

Ketogenic diet

(Image credit: Getty Images)

What is the keto diet?

The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet which is great for weight loss, but isn't always very sustainable. The idea behind the diet is simple: when we burn calories, we first use the energy we get by eating carbohydrates, and then start burning our body fat reserves. By limiting the amount of carbohydrates we eat, the keto diet encourages the body to burn our stores of fat much faster, in a process called "ketosis".

The low-carbohydrate diet has seen some proven, very dramatic weight loss shifts, but studies often find participants bouncing back and putting weight back on after the diet is complete, as it's very restrictive. Fortunately, Amy has been able to keep the weight off by sticking diligently to her plan. 

You can aid your keto diet journey using the best protein powder for weight loss, which provides a muscle-building kick with very few carbs. Instead of carbohydrate-heavy rice, you can "rice" cauliflower using some of the best blender and food processor models, which will whizz dry cauliflower florets into fine grains to use instead. 

Matt Evans

Matt Evans is an experienced health and fitness journalist and is currently Fitness and Wellbeing Editor at TechRadar, covering all things exercise and nutrition on Fit&Well's tech-focused sister site. Matt originally discovered exercise through martial arts: he holds a black belt in Karate and remains a keen runner, gym-goer, and infrequent yogi. His top fitness tip? Stretch.