My friend Chris was doing one meal a day in a calorie deficit for years and still carried over 100 pounds of extra fat. I tripled his calories, stopped his fasting, and he lost 70 pounds in a few months. In this episode, Dr. David Jockers and I explain why your metabolism responds to signals, not math, and how to use keto and fasting without letting them backfire.
Keto works. Fasting works. That's exactly why so many people end up overdoing them.
There are two kinds of metabolic inflexibility. The first is the one 93% of Americans are stuck in: they can only burn sugar. But there's a second kind that hides inside the keto and fasting world. It's the person who's been in ketosis so long their body forgot how to handle carbs, and their hormones start paying the price.
In this conversation, Dr. David Jockers and I break down how to get the benefits of ketosis without the drawbacks: why higher ketones aren't better, why the timing of your meals may matter more than you think, and why the most important fat-loss window happens while you're asleep.
What if you've been doing keto "right," and that's exactly the problem?
In this episode, Dr. David Jockers and I dig into ketosis as a metabolic process, not just a diet, and why most people never learned how to use it properly. We cover how to test ketones the right way, why chasing the highest number can be a mistake, and the blood ketone range I consider the sweet spot for fat loss and longevity.
I explain the core idea behind Keto Flex: getting fat adapted first, then intentionally flexing in and out of ketosis. We get into what long-term strict keto may do to thyroid markers, testosterone, and cortisol, and what a proper flex day looks like (hint: it's not high carb and high fat at the same time).
Then we get into fasting and meal timing. I share a study that changed my mind about breakfast, the one rule I'd make everyone follow if they took only one thing from this episode, and why the hours right after you fall asleep may matter more for fat loss than your time in the gym.
Plus: the two biggest keto mistakes I see, why your liver might be the real reason fat "doesn't agree with you," a client who lost about 70 pounds after pausing his 5 AM workouts, and why tripling someone's calories helped him lose weight.
If you've tried keto or fasting and hit a wall, this one will change how you approach them.
FOLLOW DR. DAVID JOCKERSWebsite: Dr. Jockers | Functional Nutrition & Natural HealthHomeAbout Dr. Jockers: About Dr. David JockersAbout Dr. JockersInstagram: Dr. David Jockers (@drjockers)Dr David Jockers DC, DNM, MS (@drjockers) • Instagram profileYouTube: Dr. David JockersDr David Jockers
Health Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, fasting routine, exercise, or health routine, especially if you have diabetes or take medication.
FOLLOW BEN AZADIInstagram: Ben Azadi (@thebenazadi) • Instagram profileFacebook: Ben Azadi, FDN-PTikTok: Ben Azadi - Metabolic Freedom on TikTokLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benazadiYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenAzadiWebsite: Ben Azadi
📚 GET BEN'S BOOKS:Metabolic Freedom: Metabolic FreedomKeto Flex: Get KetoFlex + Bonuses
