Welcome to KeithAhrens.com


Keith is a lifestyle change expert specializing in preventing and overcoming heart disease and obesity issues. His message focuses on healthier living that inspires others to take action to live a longer, happier and ultimately healthier life.

Recipient of the American Heart Association – Start! Lifestyle Change Award

When Keith walked into his doctor’s office and complained of lightheadedness, he never imagined the drama awaiting him. Weighing more than 400 pounds and following a no-exercise, eat-whatever lifestyle, Ahrens discovered that he had suffered a heart attack and desperately needed open-heart surgery to save his life.

The results of these traumatic events were numerous: dramatic 200 pound weight loss without surgery, an entirely new way of eating, a commitment to exercise, an increased respect for his body…and a highly enlightening book, Outrunning My Shadow: Surviving Open-Heart Surgery and Battling Obesity/The Decision to Change My Life.

Page after page, readers are reminded of the importance of regular checkups, as well as healthy eating and sensible exercise. Many books about obesity and new-found health are written as admonitions, warnings that either you follow the text or suffer the consequences. In this book, Ahrens has focused on only the positive, the guilt-free you-can-do-it attitude that so many of us need when faced with drastic change. The essence of the author’s message is simple: get a checkup, move more today than you did yesterday, make a difference in your own well-being, and take control.

Keith is uniquely qualified to speak to others and share his story. He is an accomplished public speaker and delivers a highly motivating and inspirational message to his audience. Keith has inspired so many people to take action to improve their own health and make positive changes in their own lives. He continues to make helping others his life goal.

To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

– Anatole France