After losing 60 pounds on keto, one Bradford West Gwillimbury woman is now organizing a Canada-wide keto conference to help more people learn about the diet.
“This is the first conference of this type for Canada with this calibre of speakers,” said Mitch Holden.
The Great Canadian Keto Conference on Aug. 17 in Toronto will feature eight speakers, including Jimmy Moore, who lost 180 pounds and is known for his popular Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb blog and podcast; Dr. Will Cole, a leading functional-medicine expert; and keto Instagram influencer Joanna Wilcox, from southwestern Ontario.
Holden, a corporate planner, said she started researching the diet in late 2016 after her husband, Don, had a heart attack.
A friend had recommended keto, but Holden said, “I couldn’t wrap my head around her method that fat and protein were going to help me lose weight.”
“Like most women, I’ve been trying to lose weight. I’ve tried just about every diet,” she said. “You have the initial two-week period where you’re dedicated to it … you lose five pounds (and then) you go stagnant or you put on weight.”
But in January 2017, Holden said she cleaned out her cupboards, donated what she was going to get rid of to the food bank, created meal plans, and she and Don started a keto diet.
Losing weight and feeling better overall was “a triumph,” she said, noting she had more “brain clarity” and energy.
Don, she added, has lost 65 pounds and reversed his non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
“I want to help educate Canadians (about keto),” said Holden.
The Great Canadian Keto Conference will include 30 to 36 exhibitors catering to the “keto/low carb community,” she said.
There will also be speaker sessions throughout the day.
For more information about the event, visit greatcanadianketo.com.
