Can eating fat make you thin? Proponents of the ketogenic diet (the keto diet) say, “Yes!” And they’re right. When you starve the body of carbohydrates — either by fasting for several days or by following a high-fat, extremely low-carb diet — your body’s metabolism shifts from glycolysis (burning sugar/carbs) to ketosis (burning fat). Stay in ketosis long enough, and your body literally burns away stored fat, assuming, of course, you don’t significantly increase your total caloric consumption. Rationing Your Macros To shift from glycolysis to ketosis, you must consume the proper ratio of macronutrients (fat, protein, and carbohydrates): About 70% to 75% fat About 20% to 25% of protein Less than 5% carbohydrates For example, a woman weighing about 200 lbs. needs to eat about 2,000 calories per day to maintain her weight. The amount of fat, protein, and carbs she would need to eat to achieve ketosis would be as follows:
Cameron Ackerson
Cameron Ackerson, CSCS, is Director of Nutrition here at BioDesign Wellness Center, where he runs our nutrition/weight loss division. Cameron joined us in October of 2017 as a Nutrition Coach specializing in weight loss. Our doctors were so impressed with his knowledge, professionalism, and his kind candor with our patients that he was promoted to his current position in July of 2018 — less than a year after his arrival at our Tampa functional medicine practice. Cameron educates our patients on how to find a meal plan that is not only sustainable for them but also enjoyable to prepare and consume. His job involves taking complex dieting concepts and breaking them down into smaller, more practical courses of action. He meets with many of our patients on a weekly basis and holds them accountable to a mutually agreed-upon diet so they can attain the best results possible when it comes