Real life weight loss: How this 36-year-old woman lost an incredible 170lbs with keto

36-year-old Chelsey Bishop from Tucson, Arizona lost an incredible 170lbs through a ketogenic diet plan. Weighing in at 340lbs at her heaviest, Chelsey was consuming between 4,000 to 5,000 calories a day. The excess weight was increasingly affecting Chelsey’s health, suffering from a high blood pressure and on the cusp of becoming diabetic. 

She told her story to YouTube channel Truly, who published it as part of their Brand New Me series. Chelsey said: “Before my weight loss I was in denial about how much my weight affected my life, eating was my comfort and made me feel happier.” 

And her wake up call happened on a day out at a theme park, Chelsey explained: “I got on a rollercoaster, sat on the seat and the lap bar wouldn’t latch over my body. That was one of the most mortifying moments of my life.” 

Watch Chelsey's inspiring weight loss story here:

Chelsey started researching dieting and came across a friend who had lost 100lbs through a ketogenic way of eating. Chelsey continued: “I thought if she can do it, I can do it, I started the keto diet and that changed everything." 

Losing half of her body weight and going from a clothing size 28 to a size 10, Chelsey is the ultimate example of a successful keto dieter. However, she approaches the diet very differently to most: “A lot of keto followers preach against eating out, but I hate cooking, my type of food prep is looking at the menu before I go to a restaurant.” 

With a big following on Instagram and YouTube as the “Ketohalfasser”, Chelsey is the ultimate proof that you can eat out and still lose weight. She added: “I feel so much more confident in my body now because I can breathe easier and walk easier, my feet don’t hurt and it’s such a good feeling.”

Does the keto diet really work?

As you can see, it worked for Chelsey. Carbohydrates create glucose in the body, which is designed to be used for energy. However, as a result of our sedentary lifestyles, glucose is often instead converted into fat instead. The ketogenic diet induces a state of "ketosis", which is when the body runs out of glucose and converts fat to fuel instead. 

The ketogenic diet is safe to stick to long-term, according to a study from the journal Clinical Cardiology. However, as with any diet that restricts entire food groups, make sure you are eating healthily and sustainably, consulting an expert to ensure you're not missing out on any essential micronutrients in your efforts to lose weight. 

One of the key methods of the ketogenic diet is reducing your high-GI carbohydrate intake while increasing the amount of fat and protein you eat. If you're supplementing your meals with protein shakes, always read the label: many of these shakes contain a lot of sugar and carbohydrates to ensure they taste good. Our best protein powder for weight loss guide is a great place to start your "clean protein" search.