My Ketosis Journey: From Curiosity to Commitment

Hi, I’m Dr. Kim. I’m a concierge physician and a Functional Nomad MD. I run a virtual telemedicine practice that lets me live a life of learning, traveling, and helping others while maintaining flexibility.

Today, I want to talk about ketosis—not just as a trend, but as a journey I've personally taken. It’s been full of experiments, setbacks, and revelations, and I hope sharing it helps you reflect on your own health path.

When Ketosis First Entered My Life

I was first introduced to ketosis at the University of Kansas by a fellow physician who had written several books on the subject. I tried it on myself, and the results were phenomenal. I lost a lot of weight, and my patients with diabetes saw dramatic improvements.

But for some reason—life, distraction, overconfidence—I got off of it.

Interestingly, my first real exposure to ketosis came without me realizing it. It was through the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, where the filmmaker traveled across the U.S. on a 30-day green juice cleanse. He lost a ton of weight, and I did too when I tried it. But like many others, I couldn’t sustain it.

What Happens After Weight Loss?

This is the real question that doesn’t get asked enough: what happens after you lose the weight? Today, people are obsessed with GLP-1 medications. But what happens when you stop the injections? Most people gain the weight back.

For me, ketosis has never been about proving anything. It's always been about function. And the first function was weight loss. I lost 50 pounds—but it still didn’t get me where I wanted to be. Eventually, the results leveled off.

Hitting a Plateau (and What I Did About It)

When I plateaued on standard Internet-style keto, I started searching for better guidance. That’s when I found Dr. Eric Westman from Duke University, who developed a more structured approach to ketosis. His plan helped me drop another five pounds, but again—I hit a wall.

Next, I tried carnivore, heavily advocated by Dr. Ken Berry. I stayed on it for 120 days. And while I stuck with it, it didn’t wow me. I still had 30 pounds I wanted to lose, and I didn’t feel like this was the breakthrough I’d been looking for.

It’s Not About Belief—It’s About Function

At that point, I had to remind myself: this isn’t about belief. It’s about function—what actually works for me.

So I circled back and consulted with my own physician (yes, even doctors need doctors). He pointed out that the Duke keto plan might be too protein-heavy for someone like me. Some bodies—mine included—are very efficient at converting protein into sugar, and then storing that sugar as fat.

He suggested two possible tweaks:

1. Eat significantly more greens alongside the protein to lower caloric density.

2. Study the work of Dr. Jason Fung, author of The Obesity Code and The Diabetes Code.

   
   

The Simplicity of Dr. Fung’s Message

Dr. Fung’s message is so simple, it’s almost hard to accept: I have excess calories stored in my body, and unless I balance that out, nothing changes. His solution? Don’t eat. Maybe one meal a day.

I’ve met people who followed this and reversed serious illnesses. But here’s the key: one meal a day doesn’t mean stuffing in three meals’ worth of food. It means one actual meal.

It’s the most logical, stripped-down version of balance I’ve encountered—and it aligns with my physician’s recommendation to eat more greens. They both do the same thing, just from different angles. Dr. Fung’s approach is more radical. And I think that fits me. I like seeing results sooner, not later.

Enter: Level Two

So now I’ve launched what I call Level Two.

I’m eating green-vegetable-plus-protein keto, and I’ve stopped eating breakfast and lunch. That’s it. I just live that way. And the results? Immediate and impressive. I lost another three pounds right off the bat.

Now, I know that early weight loss is mostly water—not fat. So I’m not jumping the gun. But I’m committed to this process. And I’m grateful. Grateful to God. Grateful for my body and its ability to change. Grateful for the process.

Teachers Everywhere

I’m also thankful for all the teachers who keep showing up in my life. I’ve learned from physicians, authors, documentaries—even my own body. It’s a blessing when your physician becomes one of your teachers. I hope you find that kind of partnership—someone who teaches you, supports you, and helps you get real, lasting results.

Thanks for reading.

I’m Dr. Kim—a concierge physician and a Functional Nomad MD, here to live the journey and share what works. Stay curious, stay committed, and take good care of yourself.