Have you been trying for years to lose weight? What have you tried? Most people would answer everything. From diet drops, meal replacement shakes, gastric bypass surgery, weight watchers, eaters anonymous, and more. When it comes to eating real food for results, that may seem more challenging. Why? It is more challenging to eliminate problematic foods such as sugar and grains, due to their addictive combination of fats, and sugars. The best way to lose weight is to eliminate high inflammatory foods, stick to a real food approach and get your body moving. In this week's blog/podcast we will introduce you to a retired school teacher that changed his lifestyle by following the keto diet and walking. When you hear how much weight Lance Cantell has lost without running, you as a runner will be inspired!

Listen To Episode #116 - Running, Keto & Weight Loss w/ Lance Cantell

The keto diet is an eating plan that focuses on eating lots of healthful fat, some protein, and minimal carbohydrates.

The body typically uses carbohydrates as fuel for energy. When a person does not get enough carbs, the body will start using up fat and some protein stores. In true ketosis, the liver will take stored fat and turn it into ketones, which the body then uses for energy. Reaching this state of ketosis is the goal of the keto diet.

Some believe ketosis is an efficient way to lose excess fat and to reduce the risk of problems, such as heart disease and diabetes.

In general, a person on a keto diet should consume:

70–80% fat

20–25% protein

5–10% carbohydrates

The keto diet encourages and excludes specific foods. A person on keto cannot get their carbohydrates from grains or legumes. Their carbs must come from a keto-friendly vegetable, such as leafy greens, or a small group of fruits, primarily berries.

Meet Lance Cantell

Coach Tadris of the Keep Calm And Run To The Best You met Lance walking his dog in the park. When Coach found out how much weight Lance lost without running, he had to get his story onto our blog/podcast.

Coach: Lance, thank you for meeting me to discuss this important topic. Meeting you at the park while walking your dog, I found out that you are a retired teacher. 

How long have you been a teacher before retiring?

Lance: I’ve been a certified educator for 30 years predominantly in special ed and also with the certifications of a highly qualified teacher in math and science

Coach: What moved you to get into that field?

Lance: I’ve been working in the casino industry since 1977 and I got married in 1988. I decided I would like to have a normal family and raise my daughter so I used my college degree in applied and entered into the field in 1989 as a substitute teacher and then got all my credits completed for special ed and started teaching in 1991. 

Coach: When you told me how much weight you lost through walking and most importantly how you changed your nutrition. Take us back to the start of your journey, when you were at your heaviest, how were you feeling?

Lance: My heaviest weight was 343 pounds while I was still working as a teacher! At the time, (2018) I didn’t know I possibly was depressed but I was trying to work as hard as an educator and even harder as a father, husband, and brother!

Coach: What was your wake-up call? 

Like what made you get up one day and say I need to change my habits? 

Lance: My wife Helen was the one that made the change in both of our lifestyles and it was when they closed the Wellness Center from AtlanticCare. We no longer could continue to work out and follow our progress. We were stuck at home. There’s a pandemic and we started watching YouTube and discovered Dr. Stan Ekberg an extraordinary intelligent Chiropractor: holistic doctor and former Olympic decathlon for his country of Sweden. By watching his programs and by Helen cleaning out all the preservatives and foods that were full of heavy-duty carbs, sugars, and processed foods. We decided to do this together and the adventure hasn’t let us down.

Coach: That is awesome that you had this wake-up call. Let us tell everyone what your new healthy habits are. 

Exercise Routine?

Lance: My exercise routine is pretty easy. I walk the dog twice a day, 45 minute periods and then I try to get into the pool for at least an hour and a half and do aqua therapy and stretches in the water! Then with the help of Hellen, I use her light weights for the yoga mat and do stretches and deep breathing to lower any stress. 

Without my wife Helen I would never be able to feel as good as I do now. I have such bright-eyed optimism for our future and the rest of our lives together. It’s also great to have somebody with compassionate, instructive criticism and also a quick backhand slap against the head or hand to make sure I don’t eat anything that’s not truly healthy or nutritious.

Coach: Do you practice Intermittent Fasting? 

If so, what does that look like for you? 

Lance: Yes we do intermediate fasting together about three times a week like the 20 hour fast with a four-hour eating window to eat sensibly and not like; “hyenas out on the pride!” [Lion King, reference]

Coach: You've been following Keto for 13 months now and are feeling great. Do you have a day or two per month or week that you allow yourself non-keto foods? 

Lance: We don’t allow ourselves non-keto foods. It's just that we will fast for 24 hours and then make it a point to go out to a restaurant that cooks things that we won’t do at home. We might have some fried food and maybe some rice but that’s it! Of course, we might share one slice of cheesecake. Bread especially RANDO’s Bakery bread.

Coach: What was the hardest food for you to give up? What was your favorite food that ballooned you up to 300 plus? Was it fast food? Beer? Sweets? All of the above? LOL 

Lance: I sometimes felt the need for carbs and that would be either bread, pretzels, salty and sweet snacks. I didn’t feel comfortable when more than one doctor told me that I was morbidly obese, and my blood pressure is up. I started to take stock in learning how to make sacrifices. When you have a wife like Helen, it’s worth all the sacrifices.

Coach: How do you feel now since adopting this healthier lifestyle? 

Lance: Abundantly blessed, extremely positive and have the energy, enthusiasm, and emotion to continue to live this lifestyle that my wife and I share in solidarity! And when the Lord decides it’s time to let the bell ring for me to go to the promised land abundantly. 🛐🎆🙏

Coach: Wow, how much have you lost?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Lance: In the past 13 months, I’ve lost a total of 88 pounds and have about 12 more to reach “5 Stone”….100 lbs!

Coach: How do your family and friends enjoy this version of you?  

Lance: My small blessed family is extremely proud and constantly encourages me. People that haven’t seen me since the pandemic and since I limit my public outgoing are shocked and can’t believe that I’ve accomplished this transformation in only 13 months.

Coach: Oh is there anything that you are doing now that You could not do before losing the weight?  

Lance: Ride my bike for more than an hour and walk further than 1 mile!

Coach: What are you excited about today, any special goals that you are working on at that moment?

Lance: I’m excited every day to get up and deal with the daily challenges of what the world throws at me & taking the time to breathe. There is no one special GOAL; There are only two special girls in my life, my wonderful wife Helen and my spectacular daughter Katie, who are making me feel blessed 😇 & grateful to share every day alive & healthy in all ways!

Mentally, physically, and spiritually!

Coach:

Everyone thanks for reading this blog. For a treat listen to the podcast to hear Lance for yourself. Lance is down over 85 pounds and is excited to participate in his first 5k in October. Lance, we are all routing for you.

Thank you for being on the show. Before we let you go........

WHAT can you say to our listeners who may be ready to start their journey tomorrow? 

Lance:

To your growing listeners and followers on your podcast and also on your afternoon training. I can just share with them one thing;

“There’s no sense running if you’re on the wrong road.” If you’re on the road for better health and well-being just keep one foot moving in front of the other”!

Please Do Us A Favor….

If you enjoyed this article/podcast please leave a comment below. If you listen to our podcast on Apple Podcast please rate and leave a review. Feel free to share this article on your favorite social media feeds, you never know who may be inspired by it. Finally, if you would like to make a contribution to our mission of helping families get healthier one step at a time, you can do so in the link below. With your contributions it will help us reach more families and bring in teenagers into our program through our scholarship program. Thank you again for your loving support. - Love Coach Tadris