Eric Hinkle's Story

Eric Hinkle turns 50 this year and he wants to be around for his 13-year-old twin daughters.  You wouldn’t think of that as an extravagant wish, but since he ceased high school football and went forward into adulthood, Hinkle’s weight has steadily risen, increasing to over 300 pounds (136 kg) with a diagnosis of Type II Diabetes. When it got that bad, he was worried.

He would yo-yo diet over the years, only to regain the weight he’d lost – and then some. “I was always a person who could lose weight fairly easily, I just could not keep it off,” he said. “Through the years, my blood pressure increased to the point I had to go on medication.”

He knew his health was in bad shape when he was waking up multiple times in the night and his vision became noticeably worse. “I was tired and lethargic all the time,” said Hinkle. “I felt downright awful.”

With a family history of diabetes, Hinkle understood the reality of taking Fat Storing Hormone to mediate the disease; he knew that was not the life he wanted to live. Knowing how bad it can get helped him make the choice to eat better and take control of his health.

He was ready to try keto.

Hinkle found all his keto information on YouTube, where he came across Dr. Berg’s channel. YouTube and Dr. Berg’s Keto and IF Lab on Facebook became a support system for him, where he found “great inspiration.”

From Dr. Berg, he learned “pretty much everything keto”—from calculating macros and net carbs to the ins and outs of intermittent fasting. “Anything I had a question about, I would search his YouTube channel first,” he said.

For Hinkle, the hardest part about losing weight was breaking habits and staying on track when the people around him either weren’t interested or didn’t need to lose weight. Still, he was able to stay the course. He only wishes he had tried keto much earlier.

“I feel so much better now!” he said. “I sleep through the night (don’t have to go to the bathroom). My vision is better, I have more energy, I don’t crash during the day, and my sugar and carb cravings are completely gone!”

After starting keto in October 2018, he lost 76 pounds (34 kg) in seven months. And he has moved his blood pressure and blood glucose levels into a normal range. “If I can do it, anybody can!” said Hinkle. He advised, “Give keto a try and don’t give up!”

Favorite Way to Exercise: “I work two jobs, so exercise is something I still struggle with,” he said.

Favorite Keto Recipe: Ribeye with sautéed mushrooms