Book Review: Lies My Doctor Told Me – Breaking Free from Mainstream Health Myths

If you’ve ever felt like the advice from your doctor just wasn’t working—like you were doing everything “right” but still struggling with your health—you’re not alone.

I lived that struggle. For years, I followed the mainstream health myths: eat less, move more, cut fat, and load up on whole grains. And where did that get me? Tired, hungry, and over 100 pounds overweight. I was stuck in a cycle of guilt, failure, and hopelessness.

That’s why Lies My Doctor Told Me by Ken Berry, MD hit so close to home. 

This book is a wake-up call, exposing the outdated, misleading, and sometimes flat-out harmful health advice we’ve been told for decades. Through research, personal experience, and a bit of much-needed tough love, Berry challenges the myths we’ve accepted as truth—and offers a path to real health.

Let’s break down the five most important points in Lies My Doctor Told Me and why they matter, not just in theory, but in real life—because I’ve lived them.

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Ken is straightforward and easy to understand—no fluff, no BS. He breaks things down simply, making the information easy to digest. I appreciate that. His book is the same way—clear, direct, and accessible.

I also like his story. 

As a doctor, he realized he was overweight and unhealthy while advising patients to do what he wasn’t doing himself. That self-awareness makes him relatable. A lot of books I read share this theme—people following mainstream medical advice only to realize it’s wrong. But it’s not that doctors intentionally give bad advice; they’re overwhelmed and don’t always have the time or resources to find better information. That’s what I appreciate about him—he’s relatable, and he makes the information relatable too.

1. “Eat less, move more” is a recipe for failure.

Oh, how I tried this. I counted calories. I ran myself into the ground on the treadmill. And I was still exhausted, overweight, and miserable. The idea that losing weight is just about willpower is one of the most damaging lies my doctor told me.

Cutting calories without focusing on nutrient-dense foods often leads to muscle loss, metabolic slowdowns, and insatiable hunger. The truth is, food quality matters more than calorie counting. When I finally embraced a diet rich in meat and healthy fats, the weight started coming off—and I wasn’t starving myself to do it.

2. Fear of dietary fat is keeping you sick.

For years, I avoided fat like it was poison. Low-fat yogurt, fat-free crackers, margarine instead of butter. And yet, I was gaining weight and always hungry. Sound familiar?

The fear of dietary fat has led people to overconsume processed carbs, which spike insulin and fuel obesity. Once I embraced real fats—like the ones found in steak, eggs, and butter—I felt fuller, had more energy, and finally started shedding pounds sustainably.

3. Whole grains myth: they’re not health food.

This one stings because I remember thinking I was making the “right” choices when I switched to whole wheat everything. But my body told a different story: bloating, sluggishness, and stubborn weight gain.

The idea that whole grains are essential for health has been pushed hard, but many people are better off without them. Grains contain antinutrients that can interfere with absorption of important minerals. When I finally cut grains from my diet, my energy skyrocketed, my digestion improved, and my cravings disappeared.

I remember a moment in my journey that really solidified this for me. I had just started focusing on eating real, whole foods—mainly meat, eggs, and healthy fats. One day, my husband and I decided to take a short walk. Before, I’d struggle to make it even a quarter of a mile. But this time, I didn’t feel that crushing exhaustion. I felt strong. That’s when I knew: what I’d been told about food all those years was dead wrong.

4. Strength over cardio: exercise is about building, not burning.

For the longest time, I thought exercise was just punishment for eating. I’d force myself through endless cardio sessions, convinced that if I just burned enough calories, I’d finally be thin. But I was weak, exhausted, and stuck in a cycle of overeating to compensate.

Exercise should be about building a strong, functional body, not simply torching calories. When I shifted my focus to strength training, everything changed. I started with 1-pound dumbbells—so weak that even that was a challenge. But I stuck with it. Now? I can lift 45 pounds in each arm, and I’m strong enough to piggyback my kids and help build our new house. This is the kind of strength that matters.

5. Your doctor might not have all the answers.

This one is tough to hear, but it’s true. I followed my doctors’ advice for years, and it kept me stuck. Not because they weren’t trying to help, but because they were working with outdated information.

Doctor nutrition misinformation is real. Many physicians still rely on old studies and government guidelines that don’t reflect the latest science. That’s exactly what Lies My Doctor Told Me encourages: questioning the mainstream, doing your own research, and taking control of your health.

I’ll never forget how it felt to sit on the sidelines of my own life, too exhausted to play with my kids, too weak to even enjoy the simple things. If I had kept listening to the standard advice, I might still be there. But I took a different path. I stopped fearing fat. I embraced strength. I focused on real, nourishing foods. And now? I’ve managed to lose 100 pounds, become stronger than ever, and truly start living my life.

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Health

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” but still failing, Lies My Doctor Told Me will open your eyes. The mainstream health myths are broken. And if you want real results, you have to be willing to break free from the lies.

I know what it’s like to feel hopeless. But I also know what it’s like to come out the other side. If you’re ready to challenge what you’ve been told and take control of your health, start here. Read this book. Question everything. And most importantly — take action.

You are worth it.