Kourtney Kardashian, Halle Berry and 10 Other Celebs Who Follow Keto-Style Diets
Celebrities are flocking to keto. Find out what makes them start and stay on this trendy "eat fat to burn fat" diet.
Overview
Celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Halle Berry have tried keto, a low-carb, high-fat diet, which has long been a treatment for epilepsy. It works by depriving your body of carbs and forcing it to burn fat for energy instead. And once you're in a state of ketosis, you lose fat fast. According to experts, people on the keto diet can lose more than 12 pounds in one month, which probably explains why several celebs are now swearing by keto (or keto-style, in some cases). Read on to find out which of your favorite stars are slashing carbs and embracing fat in their diets.
1. Khloe Kardashian
Khloe Kardashian lost 33 pounds just three months after giving birth to daughter True, thanks to her diet. "I'm currently on a low-carb diet that my nutritionist, Dr. Goglia, gave me," she wrote in an app post last month. "It has lots of protein, so I'm able to go all out at the gym, but the best part is that I'm never hungry because I'm always eating!"
"We try to avoid carbs for the most part," Khloe's trainer Joel Bouraima — AKA Coach Joe — tells LIVESTRONG. "Otherwise, she really has her diet down. When we work out early, she usually has a protein shake right when we've finished. She'll eat turkey with sweet potatoes or a salad for lunch. Sometimes we work out twice, so those are the days when I like for her to eat more carbs."
2. Jenna Jameson
Ten months after welcoming her third child in April 2017, former adult film star Jenna Jameson was struggling with the appearance of her postpartum body. So in March 2018, she decided to try the keto diet, and lost a whopping 57 pounds in four months. Jameson recently posted a pair of before-and-after photos on Instagram to gush about her success. "On the right I weigh 187. On the left I'm a strong 130," she wrote. "I was lethargic and struggled with the easiest of tasks like walking in the beach sand with Batelli [her daughter]. I felt slow mentally and physically. I took the pic on the right for a body positive post I was going to do and decided against it because I felt anything but f–ing positive. I'm now a little under 4 months on the #ketodiet and it's not only given me physical results, I feel happier, smarter, and much more confident."
3. Megan Fox
Can you imagine ever loathing bread? As outrageous as it sounds, going on a keto-like diet did turn Megan Fox completely against it. "I cut out all bread and those sort of carbohydrates. No crackers, no pretzels, no chips. Nothing unhealthy," she tells E! Online. But surely she must indulge once in a while? Nope. "I don't have any cheat days," she says. "It's like giving up smoking. I gave up smoking cold turkey. I'm one of those people when I'm committed, there's no stopping me. So I did it and after about a week it repulses me. Like, there's bread over there and never again would I put that in my body." That's quite an extreme stance to take on what is the most widely consumed food on the planet, but we applaud Fox for her dedication.
Read more: 10 Myths About Bread Busted by Science
4. Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian thrives on a totally Spartan meal plan free of gluten and dairy year-round, so when she revealed via app post that she had been doing keto on and off for a few months, we doubt anyone was surprised. While on the fat-rich regimen, Kardashian ate "minimal carbs and no grains, beans or legumes," and focused instead on lean proteins and fresh veggies. "I would make broccoli rice or cauliflower rice to at least feel like I was eating some carbs," she explains. "Then I would add protein, so I often ate grilled chicken and fish over broccoli rice, cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash. I mixed in roasted vegetables, fresh salads with homemade dressing and smoothies made with avocados and bananas." She also combined the diet with intermittent fasting, which is easier to accomplish when you're already doing keto.
5. LeBron James
Just before becoming the first player since the 1960s to appear in five straight NBA finals back in 2015, LeBron James went on a strict off-season diet that sounds a lot like keto. Following a presentation to unveil his LeBron 12 Nike sneakers, the 14-time NBA All-Star told reporters that the new meal plan was responsible for him significantly slimming down. "I had no sugars, no dairy, I had no carbs," James said. "All I ate was meat, fish, veggies and fruit. That's it. For 67 straight days." And though he described it as a "mental challenge," he noted that he actually stayed on the diet longer than planned because his body felt so good.
Read more: 10 Big-Ass Salads That Are Packed With Protein
6. Tim McGraw
Three-time Grammy-winning country artist Tim McGraw, now 50, looks younger than he did 10 years ago, courtesy of a total life overhaul. Before he went sober back in 2008, McGraw used to drink heavily before every show. Then he decided to turn his life around for his wife of 22 years, country legend Faith Hill, and their three children. Thanks to his mostly sugar- and carb-free diet as well as a ton of time spent at the gym, McGraw now has a face and body that you have to see to believe. But don't assume that just because he has an eight-pack that he never lets loose. "I am going to eat a cheeseburger today... I like to eat, I like food. That is one of the reasons that I throw that extra hour [of exercise] in," McGraw once told People. "Sometimes you watch it, sometimes you don't."
7. Halle Berry
Halle Berry recently gushed about the keto diet to her followers on Instagram, which she started years ago as a way to manage her Type 2 diabetes, saying that it can do everything from controlling your appetite to boosting mental performance. "If you're like me, you can possibly reverse Type 2 diabetes, you'll experience better physical endurance, better skin and also less acne if that's an issue. And it even helps control migraines!" she writes. She also credits the diet for slowing down her aging process. If you're curious to know the secret to Berry's ageless beauty for yourself, check out this article detailing exactly what she eats in a day.
Read more: 14 Protein-Packed Breakfasts to Power You Through the Morning
8. Vinny Guadagnino
A lot has changed for the members of the "Jersey Shore" cast since the reality show premiered back in 2009, but one particularly healthy glow up that'll make anyone smile comes from mama's boy Vinny Guadagnino, who's gone keto and isn't coming back. The "Jersey Shore Family Vacation" favorite loves the diet so much that he's branded himself the Keto Guido on Instagram and dedicates his time to sharing keto tips and recipes with his more than 138,000 followers. "I was fat and out of shape from eating too much sugar," he captions one 2017 post. "Then I followed a keto diet (with one or two cheat meals a week) and the fat went away. It's that simple. No drugs, pills or shortcuts." Guadagnino posts homemade dishes like ribeye with creamed spinach and kale salad with avocado, chicken and almonds.
9. Vanessa Hudgens
After gaining 20 pounds for her role in "Gimme Shelter," Coachella queen Vanessa Hudgens turned to a high-fat, low-carb diet (sounds a lot like keto) to get back into shape. "I think that we've been brainwashed to think that fat is bad, but really, it's what going to make you feel fuller longer. And your body can burn it and use it as fuel," she says during an appearance on "The Rachael Ray Show." A typical morning for Hudgens might start with two scrambled eggs, three slices of bacon, half an avocado and coffee, followed by a lunch of chicken, greens and more avocado. Then for dinner she'll have grilled salmon or steak with grilled veggies or a salad.
Read more: 10 Keto-Friendly Mexican Recipes You Can't Resist
10. Alicia Vikander
Alicia Vikander gained a whopping 12 pounds of muscle to play the role of Laura Croft in the "Tomb Raider" reboot, thanks in no small part to the keto diet. According to her trainer, Magnus Ligdback, the 29-year-old actress started the diet two months before filming began. Her meals often included fish and seafood for protein as well as MCT oil, avocado and coconut oil for fat. And although sticking to keto wasn't exactly effortless for Vikander, Ligdback notes that she handled the challenge with Croft-like stoicism. "It's always tricky the first couple of days, but [Vikander's] willpower is just unbelievable, and she didn't complain, even though I could see she was struggling a little bit," Ligdback tells Popsugar. "She kept on bringing it every day."
11. The Los Angeles Lakers
Since she began working with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2012-2013 season, nutrition consultant Dr. Cate Shanahan managed to overhaul Dwight Howard's sugar addiction and make Kobe Bryant obsessive about bone broth. So how did she do it? By introducing the team to a keto-like diet, reducing their sugar, seed oil and protein powder intake ("All three of those things promote inflammation," she tells Sports Illustrated) and upping their intake of fresh, fermented and sprouted foods, meat on the bone and organ meat. Shanahan explains that although it is useful to build powerful muscles, the key to maintaining your game is to focus on connective tissues. "It's great to get big muscles, but if you don't also build stronger tendons, then you're going to get injuries," Shanahan says. "You need complete protein, which is a protein that contains the parts of the animal that do not just build muscle, but also the connective tissues. That's where the bone stock craze is coming from."
Read more: How to Make Bone Broth at Home
12. Adriana Lima
Victoria's Secret supermodel Adriana Lima is known for going hard at the gym and the boxing ring, so it makes sense that she has a take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to her low-carb, keto-esque diet. "Definitely zero carbs for sure," she tells The Cut. That means cutting everything from bread to pasta to chocolate (gasp!). But despite what you might think, the 36-year-old isn't suffering. "I feel healthier, I feel much healthier," she says. Before you start getting ideas about going completely carb-free on your own, note that Lima takes regular trips to see her nutritionist. "I go there, and he checks my blood, my breathing, everything to make sure what's going to work for your body," notes Lima.
What Do YOU Think?
Be sure you talk to your doctor about starting a keto or keto-style diet (or any diet). The Harvard Health Blog points out that there are some potential deal-breakers when it comes to keto — including it being difficult to follow and often heavy on red meat — and it can be dangerous for some people, particularly those with any underlying kidney or liver issues.
Have you considered going on the keto diet? Why do you think that the keto diet is picking up speed in Hollywood? Share in the comments section!