Juice fasts and keto diet help dad lose 100kg, and his shame at his size

“He wasn’t wrong. I was 105kg overweight and really unhealthy; all my life, I’d followed a ‘see food’ diet – that is, I would see food and eat it.”

Mahtani’s immune system was weak and he was seeing the doctor all too often for minor illnesses. He also experienced regular gout attacks and had trouble walking because of joint pain.

“After it hit me that I’d narrowly escaped death that day on the operating table, I vowed to lose weight and turn my health around,” Mahtani says.

The journey to a trimmer body was not easy. First, he went on a seven-day juice fast and lost 10kg. He knew that this was not sustainable, though, so he began eating normally again while juice fasting intermittently.

Over the next two years, this plan helped him lose about 60kg. During this time, his gout attacks stopped and his joint pain disappeared.

In 2019, though he was down to about 125kg, Mahtani was still considered overweight. The excess kilos put a strain on his joints and he was experiencing bone and joint problems, making it difficult for him to walk. Occasionally, he needed a wheelchair to get around.

In 2020, he received more bad news about his health: blood tests showed he had fatty liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver and high cholesterol. Elevated inflammatory markers were another warning signal.

Mahtani’s naturopath advised him to get his weight down to 95kg – this meant losing 25kg, which he found daunting. He felt especially depressed during this time – he was worried about being confined to a wheelchair the rest of his life, and, although he knew how to get his weight down, he struggled to stick to an eating plan.

To make matters worse, the Covid-19 pandemic had just been declared, and being locked down at home only made it harder for Mahtani to eat regular, balanced meals.

While researching weight-loss methods, Mahtani came across the low-carb or semi-ketogenic diet. He read about people of all ages who had drastically cut their intake of carbohydrate-rich foods and not only lost weight but resolved their illnesses as well.

After losing weight, they switched to a fully ketogenic or “keto” diet, omitting carbohydrate-rich foods such as sugar, rice, noodles, bread, grains, some fruits, starchy root vegetables, beans, legumes and some dairy products.

The keto diet, which is high in fat and low in sugars, causes the body to break down fat into molecules called ketones. The ketones, rather than glucose which is derived from carbs, become the body’s main source of energy.

Determined to reach his 95kg goal, Mahtani embarked on the semi-keto diet. He soon saw results, which motivated him to keep going. The more weight he lost, the easier it became to cut out carbohydrates.

“Instead, I ate all types of seafood, meat, eggs, dairy products and avocado. Berries were allowed, but no more than one cup a day. And I consumed all vegetables except the root varieties, which are high in carbohydrates.”

It took Mahtani less than a year and a half to shed the excess 25kg. Today, he weighs 79kg, which is still about 8kg short of his new goal weight. He eats one big, low-carbohydrate meal a day, and when he has cravings for snacks like cookies and cake, he makes his own low- or no-carbohydrate versions.

He has been married for 13 years to Anne, who has been supportive of him throughout. She herself went on a low-carb diet and lost 14kg in 18 months.

Mahtani no longer experiences gout attacks or joint pain. To keep fit, he walks two to three hours a day and lifts weights.

Dietitian Cyrus Luk, an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association, explains that the ketogenic diet was first introduced in the 1920s to help reduce epileptic seizures in patients – especially paediatric patients with cerebral palsy.

In recent years, it was discovered that the keto diet allows people to eat the types of high-fat food that they enjoy, such as red meat, fatty fish, nuts, cheese and butter, while still losing weight.

While limiting carbohydrates in your diet, or omitting them altogether, assists with weight loss, Luk says that this food group provides the body with glucose, which is converted to energy used to support bodily functions and physical activity.

“Complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, contain a variety of vital nutrients – like fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals – which help us maintain our health.”

Although Mahtani still has a short way to go until he achieves his goal weight, he says that he feels better and healthier now compared to just a few years ago. His message for people who may be struggling with weight loss is to stay in the fight.

“Carrying around 100kg less has made a huge difference to the way I feel. Now, I have so much energy and am way more confident. I’m no longer ashamed of my size and it feels great being able to shop for clothes that actually fit and look good.”

A devout Christian, he credits his strong religious faith with keeping him on his weight-loss journey.

“As a dad, I was also determined to set an example for my kids and show them that they can do anything they put their mind to,” he says.

“My advice to anyone dealing with the same struggle is to not lose hope and to be creative with your meals. Find support from like-minded people and people whom you know want you to succeed.”

Mahtani cautions there will be challenges along the way, “but you should never stray from your ultimate goal – to be a better version of yourself”.