Recent Keto Coach Grad from Yakima, Washington

Hello. My name is Shellie Hegel and I am a recent graduate of Dr. Eric Berg's Keto Coach Certification Course. I am passionate about helping people with their weight-loss goals, and bringing awareness of the national epidemic of insulin resistance in my community. As a keto coach, I intend to start by teaching the fundamentals of Dr. Berg’s healthy approach to keto and intermittent fasting, and the dynamics of insulin resistance. I am very attentive (and intuitive) when connecting with people, helping them employ solid problem-solving strategies and a self-empowering mindset. I offer 5 years’ experience as a lifestyle coach, and look forward to assisting my future clients navigate their way into a healthy keto lifestyle.

My Story: I am on my own keto journey, which started after five years of facilitating for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) for Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital in Yakima, Washington. I was a Type 2 diabetic, and while I adhered rigidly to the framework of the DPP curriculum, I struggled with my own weight and, at times, regulating my blood sugar. This curriculum was structured around the traditional food pyramid, and the idea that “Eating Too Much Fat Is What Makes Us Fat”. It focuses on reducing fat and calories, and increasing regular weekly physical activity. It wasn’t until a friend of mine had informed me that she was doing keto and bragged about all the weight she had lost, that I was inclined to look into keto. But not because I wanted some too. You see, she had some health problems which had resulted from a previous illness. I was concerned that she was eating all that fat! So, I wanted to look into the effects of a keto diet on cholesterol, in an effort to warn my friend that keto might be dangerous to her health. BINGO! I found a medical review titled The Connection Between Keto and Cholesterol, by Dr. Pamela Lyon, MD, FACEP, and author Craig Clarke. What I learned shocked me, blew my mind and spun me around on my heals! It discussed studies that indicated that not only can a ketogenic diet (replacing carbohydrates with stearic acid, lauric acid, saturated fats, mono- and polyunsaturated fats) lower your LDL (low-density lipoproteins, commonly known as “bad cholesterol”), but paired with carb restriction, simultaneously raises your HDL (high-density lipoproteins, commonly known as “good cholesterol”), and therefore, reducing the risk of heart disease! But wait! There’s more! The article inferred the positive effects on blood glucose levels as well! Now I wanted some too! This medical review changed the trajectory of my life. I began sponging anything I could learn on the ketogenic diet. If they looked like they knew what they were talking about, I gave them air time. I learned that there are differing opinions as to how keto should be done and there is a lot of information to sort through. But I learned one very important fact! In spite of its honorable intentions, I no longer indorsed the ideas of ‘how we should be eating’, prescribed by the Diabetes Prevention Program. I needed a new job! So, I decided to take a chance and google “keto coach” to see if anything would come up. To my delight a familiar and trusted name came up. I enrolled into Dr. Berg’s Keto Coach program that night! Do I have the body of a personal fitness trainer? No…. not yet. But I weigh my personal successes in the fact that I am no longer diabetic, I’ve lost over 44 pounds, and my body is healing. Furthermore, I now possess the knowledge and a renewed passion to assist my future clients with their goals and future successes. Dr. Berg, thank you so much for everything! Shellie J. Hegel Yakima, Washington