'I Had A Binge Eating Disorder—Then I Went Keto, Started Bodybuilding, And Lost 103 Pounds'

Photo credit: Courtesy
Photo credit: Courtesy

From Women's Health

My name is Lauren Berryhill (@keto_coach_lauren), and I'm a 27-year-old certified personal trainer and nutrition coach in North Carolina, specializing in the ketogenic diet. After reaching 232 pounds and facing health issues, I decided to change my lifestyle, starting with trying keto. I've now lost 103 pounds and feel healthier and stronger than ever.


Since my early teenage years, I wanted to be as thin as possible and always saw myself as larger than I actually was. Eventually, I developed binge eating disorder. I yo-yo dieted with calorie counting, Weight Watchers, and other restrictive eating plans for years. I would severely limit my calories, exercise excessively, and then eventually binge.

I found myself turning to food (specifically sugar) for comfort when life got stressful or emotional. I repeated this cycle for years and steadily gained weight. I would lose weight, then gain it right back after losing control and constantly binge eating. My binge eating was so severe that I would stop at gas stations on the way home from work and load up on donuts, gummy worms, and other candy. Then I’d eat it all in secret and take the trash out.

By the age of 23, I was nearly 50 pounds overweight. I got pregnant, and I gained an additional 50 pounds because I continued to binge eat throughout each trimester. I gave myself every excuse ("I'm eating for two!") and was not active at all. I was 232 pounds when I had my son. I was pre-diabetic and I had high cholesterol. I also suffered from depression and anxiety, and my body-image issues were the most intense they had ever been.

When I became fully aware of not only the health risks I was facing but the state of my mental health, I realized I needed to make a change.

I was 23 at the time and decided that, once I was cleared by my doctor, I would start dieting again. Initially, I went back to old habits of yo-yo dieting and still found myself suffering with binge eating. I lost 60 pounds, but in an unhealthy way.

It wasn't until December of 2016 when I fully accepted the fact that I needed a true lifestyle change. I started researching the ketogenic diet, a high-fat, low-carb, moderate-protein way of eating—because I realized that my true problem was an addiction to sugar and processed foods. Keto seemed to help many other people break their sugar addiction, as well as improve their overall health, so I decided to give it a try.

I started keto in January 2017, and within four weeks I lost around 25 pounds.

My energy was through the roof, my mental clarity was amazing, and my sugar cravings were gone.

The fat kept me full, as well as energized. I never felt the urge to binge because, by cutting out sugar and processed carbs, my blood sugar stayed stable and I didn't feel those strong urges for unhealthy food anymore. Now, I tend to eat 70 to 75 percent of my calories from fat, 20 to 25 percent from protein, and 5 to 10 percent from carbs daily.

Here’s what I typically eat in a day:

  • Breakfast: Fatty coffee (KetoLogic MCT oil, butter, and heavy cream) with pasture-raised eggs and sugar-free bacon.

  • Lunch: Mixed green salads with chicken breast, cheese, avocado and a full-fat avocado oil dressing.

  • Snacks: KetoLogic Keto Crisps, FBomb pork sticks/nut butters/pickles, or Keto Brick.

  • Dinner: Ribeye and air-fried Brussels sprouts with olive oil.

  • Dessert: I tend to skip dessert, but if I have it, I like Keto Brick or FBomb nut butters.

About six months into my keto journey, I started lifting weights at Planet Fitness, and I quickly found a passion for bodybuilding.

I became certified in personal training to really gain the knowledge I needed to achieve my goals. I have been working out at an amazing local gym called SuperFitness Gym, where my exercise regimen resembles a bodybuilding/powerlifting style and I lift as heavy as possible. Lifting heavy allows me to push myself beyond my preconceived limits—and I love it. I can currently deadlift 280 pounds, bench press 150 pounds, and squat 260 pounds!

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A few moves from my workout this past Monday for this #workoutwednesday post 🤗 • • Powerlifting/Powerbuilding is what I’ve restructured my training more around lately and I’m LOVING it. I focus on one heavy compound lift (deadlift, squat or bench) each day and do 3 sets of 5 the first week then lower the reps each following weeks. Then I add in accessory movements/other full body activation like hang cleans and push press. Those usually are sets of 2-3 for 10-12 reps with minimal rest. Talk about getting your heart rate up 🤪 I don’t have to do normal cardio, those moves are my cardio 🤣 • • I’m hanging on to most of my strength as I lose weight but I know that it will go down and I’m okay with that because it will only be temporary. For now, I choose to focus on working my body smarter not harder (well, not too hard 😉) And also doing things I enjoy. I restructured my training because I was getting burnt out on the normal bodybuilding style sessions I’ve done for forever. I still have one day a week where I focus on accessory movements only but the other days are more powerlifting/building style and I feel excited and challenged again! Soon I’ll be adding in some calisthenics as well which I also love (hate really but love how I feel after) 😂 I’ll get some of that on video soon. • • Just remember that it’s normal to get burnt out or feel bored with training. Everyone goes through it. Be proactive and CHANGE IT UP! You’ll thank yourself for it! 🥰 • • #workouts #workout #fullbodyworkout #powerbuilding #powerlifting #thickfitchick #fitness #fitchicks #fitmoms #girlswholift #lifting #weightlifting #bodybuilding #bodybuilder #bodybuildingwomen #bodybuildingmotivation #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #keto #ketodiet #ketoathlete #ketobodybuilding

A post shared by Lauren Berryhill | CPT & CFNS (@keto_coach_lauren) on Dec 18, 2019 at 2:58am PST

An example of my weekly workouts:

  • Monday: Deadlift/back movements

  • Tuesday: Bench/chest and triceps movements

  • Wednesday: Squat/quad movements

  • Thursday: Hamstrings and biceps

  • Friday: Rest day

  • Sat/Sun: Cardio or walking (I just make sure to get moving!)

My weight loss-journey would not have been successful without changing my mindset about health, dieting, and fitness.

I viewed my diet change as a lifestyle change. I ditched the sugar and eliminated processed foods. I now eat a whole food-based diet that is high in healthy fats, which fuels me properly. I don't restrict my food intake based on calories anymore.

I also stopped turning to food for comfort. By eliminating my trigger food (sugar) I have been able to find alternatives to handle stressful situations like exercise, meditation, and yoga. And I started focusing on feeling strong instead of just trying to be skinny. This has helped me get rid of my body-image issues in *huge* ways.

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Transformation Tuesday’s can sometimes fool you.... so SWIPE ➡️➡️ For some real life ish 🥰 • • To the mom watching this whose had children and bears stretch marks .... To the man whose lost 100 lbs and has loose skin ... To the person suffering day in and day out with how you see yourself because you may have either of these things. THIS IS FOR YOU ♥️ • • Weight loss, babies and more will leave their mark. It’s bound to happen. 🤷🏻♀️ Our bodies expand and stretch and when we lose weight, we shrink and though some are left without any trace, MOST of us will see remnants of where we once were. It’s common for you to feel shame or disgust when you look in the mirror. You see imperfections and may even call yourself names. The journey to self love and loving our bodies how they are is a tough one. I am no different than you. Some days are harder than others but if I could share one piece of advice, it’s to be KIND to yourself. I’ve lost over 100 pounds and if I could go back, I’d start speaking kinder too myself sooner. I’d start earlier on embracing my body for what it does and not only on how it looks. NOT ONCE has someone shamed themselves into loving their body... It takes true work, effort and grace. You don’t have to “love” everything about your body but you also don’t have to change a damn thing. My body tells a story of where I’ve been, what it’s endured and how freaking strong I am to have overcome so much 🙌🏻 My hope is that by sharing this, it inspires you to feel the same. It’s going to take time. It’s going to take hard work. Turning your negative thoughts into positive ones isn’t easy. But if you can simply see yourself for all you’ve overcome and how hard you’ve fought to get to where you are, you win. Every. Single. Time 🥰 SAVE for later and SHARE with those who need to hear this! #normalizenormalbodies #stretchmarks #looseskin #weightlossjourney #weightloss #weightlossmotivation #weightlosstransformation #ketotransformation #embraceyourself #embraceyourbody #bodypositive #bodypositivity #bodyneutrality #strong #bodyimage #bodydysmorphia #selflove #perfectlyimperfect #transformation #transformationtuesday

A post shared by Lauren Berryhill | CPT & CFNS (@keto_coach_lauren) on Jan 28, 2020 at 12:11pm PST

I've lost 103 pounds in two years.

I have been fully keto for three years, and I feel amazing. I do have loose skin and stretch marks from my journey, which I am *so* proud of. My Instagram shows 100 percent transparency, and I promote normalizing real bodies with a huge passion, as most who lose a significant amount of weight will have things like loose skin and stretch marks as well. Often times they feel the need to have surgery to correct it. But I want women and men to know they can also embrace the results of their hard work exactly as they are. They are symbols of what we've overcome.

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All to often we feel that we can’t change. Not because we don’t have the power or won’t make the effort to make change happen, but because society pressures us to stay the same. Something as simple as this: I’ve always had brown hair. Dark brown, light brown, medium brown. I’ve always stuck to what I was born with simply because society pressures us to be “all natural”. That if we want to change something about our appearance, we are vain. We are fake. We aren’t authentic.....When I began my weight loss journey and continued to see progress, change came fast. My body changed. My mindset changed. The way I viewed myself changed. And I wanted the way other people saw me to change too. I was tired of living hidden under my extremely long and dark hair. Long, straight hair was what was popular when I was a teen and if you had short hair, you were weird... Into my adult life I still held on to that. Sad but true. I wanted change but was terrified of judgement.... I did it anyways. I built up enough courage to cut my hair (first) and embrace the new me that was breaking through these stigmas. I cut close to 13 inches off my hair back in 2016 and haven’t looked back. ✌🏻 • • Last year I decided to finally branch out of my normal dark brown color. And I can’t thank @brittney_greeson for being there transforming me every step of the way. She’s patient, talented and listens. She’s amazing and will never know just how large of a part she’s held in my #transformationjourney ♥️ • • I’m here to remind you of this: NO ONE defines your beauty. NO ONES standard matters but yours. Be enough for yourself. Love yourself enough to break any standards you feel you have to uphold to “fit in”. This world is made up of so many different, beautiful and unique individuals. Why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out? ✌🏻 • • #facetofacefriday #facetoface #facetransformation #transformation #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #ketotransformation #weightlossjourney #ketojourney #hairtransformation #unique #effyourbeautystandards #embraceyourself #loveyourself #selflove

A post shared by Lauren Berryhill | CPT & CFNS (@keto_coach_lauren) on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:58am PST

I am a mom of a four-year-old boy, wife, and business owner who simply decided I was tired of hating who I was and how I looked. I was a normal girl who decided to just go for it. It took time, and it wasn't easy. I made mistakes along the way, but one thing I never did was give up.

I realized I had so much more to live for (my son, husband, my future) and I wasn't going to settle for a life that didn't make me happy. Once I started taking care of myself, everyone else around me was able to benefit from it. I was a better mom, wife, and overall happier person.

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