Lianne Bigornia's Story

Lianne Karla A. Bigornia remembers being fat most of her life, ever since she was a kid. She would eat anything and everything, particularly chips, candies, and chocolate. “I didn’t exercise and I didn’t see the need to do that. I’m a nurse and I worked night shifts so because I had [a flexible work schedule] I had more time to hang out and eat anytime. Basically, I didn’t take care of myself.”

On November 22, 2016 Bigornia endured a terrible stroke that left her unable to see out of her right eye and unable to use her right hand. She also suffered from aphasia caused by the brain damage—which means she lost the ability to express or understand speech. All of this occured when she was 30 years old and weighed 210 pounds (95 kg) at 5’1.” After the stroke, Bigornia knew she needed to change her life for the better.

She started exercising every day and followed the diet plan given to her by the hospital. She lost 20 pounds (9 kg) this way but hit a plateau after a few months. That’s when she searched weight loss tips online and stumbled upon Dr. Berg’s video about apple cider vinegar. “After watching his videos and understanding them, I finally decided to change my lifestyle,” said Bigornia.

Although she had the encouragement of family and friends as well as her own determination to commit to her health, it wasn’t always a smooth transition. “The hardest part about losing weight is doubting myself,” she said. “Because I was used to being fat, I would self-sabotage because I thought I didn’t deserve the success.” Yet Bigornia was able to push through with all of Dr. Berg’s tips on hand.

Her major takeaways from Dr. Berg were that sleep is the most important thing in weight loss; apple cider vinegar helps you lose weight; coconut oil is great for weight loss but also hair, skin, and nails; autophagy is the best thing about keto and intermittent fasting; and you have to get healthy first for the weight loss to follow.

Since starting keto, Bigornia no longer feels tired in the middle of the day or self-conscious about her weight, and she doesn’t crave junk food. “I feel like a new person!” she exclaimed. “Everything was new for me — food, colors, smells, etc. — while I was in the hospital. Even until now, every day is a new experience especially because of the stroke.”

Since her stroke, Bigornia has lost 82 pounds (37 kg) and 62 of those pounds are thanks to keto and intermittent fasting. “I no longer have aphasia after eight months of speech therapy, I have restored the function of my right fingers, and I can now see colors in my right field of vision,” she said. “Now, I exercise – I box and do CrossFit and I’m enjoying it! I am a miracle and I am so excited for what the future holds.”

Favorite Way to Exercise: CrossFit

Favorite Keto Recipe: Eggnog