Why Vinny Guadagnino From 'Jersey Shore' Went Keto to Drop 50 Pounds

Paul Schrodt
Photo credit: Vinny Guadagnino/Instagram
Photo credit: Vinny Guadagnino/Instagram

From Men's Health

It's obvious even to the occasional Jersey Shore viewer from a quick glance at star Vinny Guadagnino that he's made some serious health changes over the years. If you're thinking he's never looked better, well, you're right. And he's feeling a whole lot better, too, thanks to the ketogenic (or keto) diet he took up.

Guadagnino, who's back on MTV's new and crazily popular Jersey Shore: Family Vacation airing Thursdays, has been transparent about his commitment to keto on Instagram and elsewhere, even dubbing himself the "keto guido." (Because when you're a Jersey Shore cast member, you need a good tagline.) The diet is essentially a high-fat, low-carb eating plan that puts the body in the fat-burning ketosis state.

"When I ate sugars and grains I was 50lbs heavier and looked 10 years older," Guadagnino shared in one Instagram post that showed off his impressively cut torso. "I’ve discovered the fountain of youth . You ready for it?....Stop eating sugars and grains and instead 98% of the time eat real food like whole eggs, bacon, butter, fatty steaks, fatty fish and plants and exercise a few times a week."

While Guadagnino is obviously not a doctor, nutritionist, or scientist, he has motivated others by praising the effects of going keto. He's also shed light on why he went that route to become a leaner, better version of himself. Again, Jersey Shore viewers will note that when he started the reality series at the fresh-faced age of 21, he was the roundest of the male cast members. Not fat, but a little bigger.

"I yo-yo dieted since I was a teenager . I hated going on 'diets' and eating bland food . Now I eat bacon, butter,meat, chicken skin, and cheese and i never have to yo-yo again. Not in the best shape or an Instagram model but i feel great," Guadagnino captioned an Instagram post with his torso front and center.

Guadagnino is apparently one of many Americans who have had an ongoing struggle with their weight, and other diets didn't stick for him. Going the high-fat route allows him to eat foods that he says are "delicious ,will make you feel full, satiated and provide stable energy," without a crash or hunger pangs soon after consumption.

The side-by-side transformation is hard to deny. Yes, Vinny still cheats here and there, and certainly hits the gym, but his dedication to keto is real and visible. "Left: March/2015. Around 197 lbs. Around 25% body fat. Eating a high carbohydrate/sugary diet," he captioned another post. "Right: June/2016. Around 160 lbs. Around 12-13% body fat. On a high healthy fat / keto/ plant diet and I haven’t turned back. All natural through food and exercise.These are MY results.Everyones body is different."

He got even more real in another post saying, "I never posted a photo from when I was overweight because it always embarrassed me putting it out there to millions , but I know that it will help and inspire people, because I looked for the same body transformations when I was trying to lose weight and be healthy so fuck it."

I never posted a photo from when I was overweight because it always embarrassed me putting it out there to millions , but I know that it will help and inspire people, because I looked for the same body transformations when I was trying to lose weight and be healthy so fuck it . _ On the left you have chunky Vinny . Chunky Vinny eats a lot of bread, pasta , pizza , fried food, and sugary desserts and is always hungry . He goes on diets and eats “whole wheat” pasta , quinoa and “whole wheat pizza crust to try to be healthy. He does juice cleanses, tries to eat in small amounts.. etc .. goes to the gym occasionally but is always tired and lacking energy and ..somehow he always gets back to the pic on the left. _ On the right you have the #ketoguido. He doesn’t eat any bread , pasta , or grains (whole wheat or not) and no sugary foods. He reads the labels of everything he eats to make sure there aren’t hidden sugars in them. He doesn’t count calories, he eats fatty delicious food , grease , vegetables never feels deprived , is rarely hungry ,has a cheat meal once in a while, is full of energy and mental clarity and exercises several times a week . Keto Guido never has to go on a quick fix diet again because his “diet” already is a diet for life. PS : people who think I’m too skinny . ( I don’t care what u think) and the “skinny” guy on the right FEELS BETTER than the guy on the left . I’m also not a body builder . I work out to stay healthy and happy. Sorry chunky Vinny Lovers , #ketoguido is here to stay. _ PSS: the pic on the left was in 2015. The right is 2017. It didn’t take me two years to make that transformation . (Took me about 3-4 months) to get in good shape . But just chose an old photo for the chunky example

A post shared by Vinny (@ketoguido) on May 20, 2018 at 2:40pm PDT

The difference between "chunky Vinny" and "#ketoguido," as he puts it, all starts in the kitchen with no breads or pasta. But he does indulge in some surprisingly delicious-looking snacks.

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