Author: The Candid Carnivore

Sharing my mission for better health with carnivore. Healing autoimmune and eating disorders, recovering sugar and carb addict, and chronic dieter hoping to inspire others.
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Amazing Results of a Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet is a high-fat, low-carb/zero-carb diet that involves consuming only animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, and some dairy if you tolerate it well. While it may seem extreme to some, the carnivore diet has exploded in popularity recently due to its potential health benefits. I’ve also learned that there are many people like me who transitioned from low-carb or keto to carnivore for simplicity, and affordability, but mostly to eliminate the addiction to sweet keto ‘treats’ to which they are finding themselves still addicted.

1. Weight Loss

One of the most significant benefits of a carnivore diet is weight loss. Since the diet eliminates all plant-based foods and carbohydrates, it forces the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose. This metabolic shift can lead to rapid weight loss, especially in the first few weeks of the diet. The caveat being that the rate of loss and success depends on several factors. The metabolic health of individuals, their consistency, the damage they need to repair, and for many people, like it or not – energy intake and expenditure.

2. Improved Gut Health

Another benefit of a carnivore diet is improved gut health. By eliminating fiber and other plant-based foods that can irritate the gut, the carnivore diet can reduce inflammation and improve gut health. This can lead to a reduction in digestive issues such as bloating, gas, and constipation. I personally know people who were able to reverse chron’s disease, IBS, and many other conditions that you may not realize are directly related to gut health. Skin issues and autoimmune diseases, for example!

3. Increased Energy Levels

Following a carnivore diet can also lead to increased energy levels. Since the diet is high in healthy fats and protein, it provides sustained energy throughout the day. This can help improve focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Additionally, eliminating carbs keeps glucose levels steady, so there are no dips and crashes that are associated with carb intake, insulin spikes, and the inevitable drops in glucose.

4. Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a contributing factor to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The carnivore diet’s high-fat and low-carb nature can help reduce inflammation in the body, which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

5. Improved Mental Health

Following a carnivore diet may also improve mental health. Studies have shown that a high-fat, low-carb diet can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, the increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in animal products can improve brain function and mood. This is also related to inflammation caused by cabs and plant matter. An inflamed brain that is flooded with glucose and chemicals from processed foods can’t function optimally.

6. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases

The carnivore diet’s high-fat and low-carb nature may reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Studies have shown that a low-carb, high-fat diet can improve blood sugar control, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, and type 2 diabetes.

7. Eliminating Food Addiction

The carnivore diet is nutrient-dense and eliminates the processed foods in the body. Processed foods are scientifically designed to be highly addictive. We know that large food companies employ food scientists to accomplish exactly that, regardless of the safety and potential health risks of the compounds used to achieve the highly-palatable and addictive foods on our shelves all over the world. These companies use the same business models and are in some cases a subsidiary of, tobacco companies. We’ve seen first-hand how little care and concern these companies have for the consumers of their products. Food addiction easily lends itself to binge eating, compounding the health risks of eating processed foods.

As with any diet, it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting a carnivore diet. Though most physicians will rail against this way of eating, they are often open to a low-carb diet. Try it for yourself! What health improvements might you see in a week, a month, or in 90 days?

Get Support!

One-on-one coaching and accountability groups are available here: https://thecandidcarnivore.com/links/

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Do Affirmations Work for YOU?

Do affirmations work for you? I feel like they don’t work for me. Or they just don’t work the way they seem to for others. I started modifying the way I was using them and it’s made a BIG difference. Obviously, this isn’t my usual carnivore health content, but it is still very much related. I have experienced some crazy things since beginning my mission for better health and healing with a meat-based diet. Some traumatic memories have surfaced and I’m dealing with them now – or at least not burying them.

I’m about to get pretty vulnerable here, so please be kind. 

Self-Doubt

Lately, I have a constant flow of doubt and feelings that I’m not making a difference, that what I do doesn’t really help anyone, and that my ‘gifts’ aren’t contributing anything of worth to the world. I have feelings of failure, letting others down, and feelings of selfishness for pursuing a dream instead of a paycheck. I’m not looking for sympathy here. We all go through this from time to time, I think. But for me, all of the inspirational quotes in the world only remind me of someone in my life who needs to hear those words. I’m not able to apply the sentiment to my own life and believe it. This is what I’m working through now. 

I excel at building others up, encouraging them, and coaxing them along to help them see their value and achieve their goals. But I can’t look myself in the mirror, give myself a pep talk and feel better. The words of affirmation don’t carry any weight – they are just words to me. They don’t land anywhere when I speak them to myself.

I don’t know if I can explain this clearly, but I’ll try. In order to actually feel the effects of positive self-talk or affirmations, I have to pretend that the thoughts and feelings I’m trying to overcome belong to a client, friend, family member, or even a stranger. I think about what’s bothering me and then pretend it’s someone else with that particular problem or challenge. What would I say to them? It’s a natural tendency for me to be encouraging and uplifting to others. Being encouraging to myself feels weird, self-indulgent and self-important to me. 

Here’s where it gets weird…

Here’s the part that may not make sense to anyone else. Once I know what encouraging words I would offer someone else, I have to sort of step outside of myself and turn inward as if I’m speaking to that other person. Does this make any sense at all? Can anyone relate or at least understand?

So, rather than meditating to try to convince myself that these negative thoughts are lies or self-sabotaging, rather than giving myself a pep-talk in the mirror or repeating positive affirmations to myself, I need to imagine someone else has come to me with these negative thoughts and feelings. What would I say to that person?

“You ARE important.” “You DO help others.” “You have a beautiful gift of a caring heart and the ability to express that through writing.” “Those who love you believe in you and want happiness and fulfillment for you. They will support you.” “Don’t let fear keep your light hidden. No one benefits from that.”

Why can’t I just tell myself these things? Why can’t I look myself in the mirror and smile and get all the good feels? Why do I have to imagine stepping outside of myself as if I’m talking to someone completely separate from myself?

Origin Story

Does it come from being told that it’s not polite to put yourself first? Does it come from being taught that you should always allow others to go before you? That you’re not a nice person if you think good things about yourself? That everyone else is better, more deserving? That it is my duty to lift up everyone else? I still wrestle with that. I still believe all of that. Humility and sacrifice is what I was raised on. I was always told not to be selfish. I was a very shy child, afraid to speak up and give the wrong answer or be ridiculed for my thoughts and actions. Is this what caused me to allow others to abuse me and do awful things to me? Probably. I think a lot of bad things happened to me because of that and I learned to detach from myself.

In a way, I have lived most of my life being detached from myself. From a young age I can remember acting on impulse, being reckless, and believing that nothing I want or feel matters. So I detached and went along with what others wanted from me. I had a habit of ignoring my instincts and doing what I perceived would please others who cared nothing for me. I’m just coming back into myself after being detached due to about 35 years of traumatic events.

Here’s where the healing comes in…

Still, I long to be of service to others – but I’ve come to realize I was meant to be of service by leading and teaching. Not by floating along and being an object to be used for others’ various purposes. Through conditioning or through my nature of compassion, I learned to support and encourage others. I will do battle for those who cannot or will not do it for themselves. 

So out of my damage and trauma, I’m turning that detachment into a tool to remind myself of my purpose. I’m spending more time making sure I am intentional and present. When it comes time for a little pep talk with myself, I use my detachment trick and then get right back to the here and now with a lighter feeling and joy in my heart. I use prayer and gratitude daily. That works for me. I will never be someone who will feel entitled to pamper myself, but I am learning to take better care of myself. 

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My 2023 (Resolutions) To-Do List

My 2023 Resolutions To-Do List

Many people say that New Year’s resolutions have a negative connotation for them. But I don’t think the word choice really matters. If you make a resolution, a goal, a commitment, or a plan….it’s all the same thing. No matter what word you use, the idea is the same and if it isn’t always at the forefront of your mind, it can become a passive attempt at a loose concept. Not to mention, if you just set the goal without the steps to get there…it’s probably not going to go great for you. I don’t remember the last time I even made a New Year’s resolution. But I make the hell out of to-do lists. Like daily. So that’s what I’m doing for this year. The items on my 2023 To-Do list are things that I will need to take action on daily, weekly, or monthly in order to be able to check them off my list this time next year. 

  1. THE WHAT: Get strong AF – at the young, tender age of 50, my family is already beginning to treat me like I’m fragile. Let me tell you, that pisses me right off! Just because I had to have a rotator cuff repair and a week before the surgery I tore the other side, does not make me fragile. It makes me independent, and maybe a little impatient and dumb. But not fragile!
    • THE HOW: Weight lifting at least 3 days per week at an incrementally challenging load and duration. 
  1. THE WHAT: Prioritize sleep – I love my sleep. Always have. But I have struggled with it a lot lately due to dopamine antagonist withdrawal. That’s a story for another time but if I could go back to 2016 and not take some recommended medications, believe me, I would. This is a misery you don’t want to mess with.
    • THE HOW: End phone and computer time by 6 pm daily unless I have a coaching session, group, class, or meeting. 
    • Also, no phone or computer time at all on Sundays. This will be great for my sleep and my mental health!
  1. THE WHAT: Get ready for the day, every day.
    • THE WHY: Because of my poor sleep, I have a tendency only to make myself presentable when absolutely necessary. I feel like this has made me so freaking lazy over the last 6 months since I left my government job. To clarify, I think a lot of work-from-homers get trapped in this. Getting a quick shower and switching from PJs to other equally comfy clothes doesn’t really motivate me. I comb my hair but do not style it. I put on clothes, but nothing I would leave the house in. I want to eliminate any excuse for not putting myself out there more.
  1. THE WHAT: Drink more water. I forget to drink water. Can anyone else relate? I know this is a big issue for those with ADHD, which I have learned I probably have but have not been formally diagnosed.
    • THE HOW: I downloaded an app on my phone already. It’s helpful, but I may need something a little more extreme – like an alarm on my phone every few hours. The app makes a noise, but when I’m hyper-focused on something (which is almost every minute of every day) I ignore it. Not on purpose, I hear it but it doesn’t really register in my brain and the reminder only sounds once at each designated interval. I almost need something that will ensure I can’t ignore it. 
  2. THE WHAT: Continue my education – to better serve my clients, the plan is to watch, read, and/or listen to educational content every week.
    • THE HOW: I will schedule time for this every week. I may join a group hosted by a trusted mentor, watch a webinar, read or listen to an audiobook, or enroll in free and paid courses. All of which will be related to zero-carb, low-carb, keto, carnivore, food addiction, etc. 

I will track some of these habits each day, week, or month so that I can check them off my list at the end of the year! None of these items will be automatic – meaning I’m obviously not going to be strong AF tomorrow, but I will be making progress toward each to-do item every day, week, or month. 

I feel that saying, ‘ok, starting today I am doing X’, can be a recipe for failure. I know I need transitions. 

Another thing that helps me is the reminder to act like who I want to be. By that, I mean I will start ‘identifying’ as the kind of person who is productive and ready for every day. I will ‘identify’ as the kind of person who stops working and puts the phone away at 6 pm each day. I won’t beat myself up if I can’t do that due to something that is scheduled, like a meeting, a client session, or something going toward my continued education. But on the days I do not have something planned, I will be sure to have screens off by 6 pm. This is a small measure that will go toward my to-do item of prioritizing sleep. So small steps toward a larger, overall goal is my strategy for success. Knowing I love to cross items off a list means making this a to-do list rather than a lofty goal or resolution is less daunting, and will (hopefully) lead me to success. 

See, it always, ALWAYS goes back to individuality. Knowing yourself and what you need to do to succeed is the key. You can’t copy someone else’s goals or systems and expect to get the same results. It might work, but you really need to consider the process of achieving the goal and not just the goal itself. 

If that seems overwhelming, reach out! I can help you pick an attainable goal in a realistic time frame, and help you break that goal down into a process toward progress. 

There are two options available!

Group sessions offer a community led by two mentors, meetings at least once per week, and group support with the ability for the mentors to give individualized advice due to the small group size. Join us here for just $30 with no ongoing commitment. 

Individual coaching offers a one-on-one, private approach. This allows me to focus solely on you, your goals, and the steps to achieve them. Book a session with me here for just $17.99 with no ongoing commitment.

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Is a HEALTHY, happy new year on your wishlist?

new year resolution

Is a HEALTHY, happy new year on your wishlist?

NO PRODUCTS TO BUY, NO MEMBERSHIP OR SUBSCRIPTION!

Hi there! I’m Stephanie, a certified health coach and I have 2 options available for January to help you finally ditch the standard diet to gain health and lose weight. 

What I DO vs What I Do Not DO

As stated, I PROMISE, I do not sell any products – no pills, powders, or meal replacements, nothing like that. This is not an MLM. 

I teach people all over the world how to optimize their health with a low-carb, zero-carb, meat-based way of eating. I provide a service to help you heal chronic disease and lose weight permanently. I provide knowledge, support, accountability, and an individualized plan of action to help you heal, with fine-tuning along the way to help you reach your goal. 

If you…

Can’t control yourself around certain foods – it’s not your fault! Food addiction is REAL and I can help you put it in remission!

Have tried low-calorie diets – I’ll show you how to eat more nutrient-dense food and get results!

Have aches and pains due to inflammation – there are specific foods that cause this!

Take meds for type 2 diabetes, skin conditions, blood pressure, or any chronic disease – you can reverse these by adjusting your diet!

Think you need to lose weight to be healthy – that’s backward! You need to heal to lose weight!

Two Options Available

Option 1: Individual one-on-one coaching in a private, virtual space so I can help you no matter where you are. You choose the frequency of our sessions, days, and times, as needed. You can schedule 1 session and use that as a launching pad, or schedule a session as often as you like for fine-tuning, support, and accountability. Individual sessions are just $17.99, typically last 30 minutes, and there is no obligation. Book a session with me here: https://thecandidcarnivore.com/healing-with-carnivore/one-on-one-health-coaching/

Option 2: Group Sessions with TWO coaches! Groups are limited to 20 members, you get two coaches – myself and Amy Labbe who has 20 years of experience in the medical field and is part of the Food Addiction Recovery program, built-in support with like-minded peers, a Facebook group limited to only those members in your selected group where you can interact in addition to scheduled meetings and view meeting replays, at least one live virtual meeting per week with various topics, downloadable tools for success (habit tracker, food lists, recipes, and more!). Group sessions are $30/month, with no obligation, membership or subscription required. Available now – January sessions on Thursday evenings at 6pm EST, or Saturday mornings at 10am EST. Register for January Group Sessions here: https://thecandidcarnivore.com/products/

What Is There to Lose?

Aside from losing 100lbs along the way from low-carb to zero-carb, I’ve also lost:

Sugar addiction

Carb addiction

Processed food addiction

Binge eating disorder, anorexia, and bulimia

PCOS symptoms

Bleeding gums

Constipation

Metformin

Spironolactone

High-dose thyroid meds (reduced dose twice this year!)

Depression

Aches & pains

Inflammation

Chronic fatigue

Unstable moods

Brain fog

What Is There to Gain?

What have I gained? 

A deep appreciation and passion for LIVING

Energy

Muscle

Deep sleep

Confidence

Freedom from all the things I have lost!

Still have questions? Message me!

Let’s GO! We’ve got HEALING to do!

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A Carnivore Christmas Wish List

As of the posting date, we are coming down to critical timing for placing orders for Christmas! If you’re looking for gift ideas for a carnivore on your list, or if you’re the carnivore that no one knows what to buy, you’re in the right place! I’m sharing a carnivore Christmas wish list to delight and inspire! I’ll break it down into categories for easy reference because I like you – I really do!

Personal Care

Buffalo Gal Grassfed Beauty: Tallow products made in the US from grass-fed water buffalo on a regenerative grass farm – yes, please! I love these products and use them daily! Founder, Shalley Carrell, thrives on an animal-based diet and is passionate about regenerative farming. Check out her line of handmade skincare, haircare, and other beauty products here, then enter code candidcarni10 at checkout to save 10%!

Personal Sauna: Check out this highly rated and affordable portable personal sauna! I don’t have one…yet! I’m asking Santa for it, though!

Grounding Mat: This is the one I have! The cord is super long and it helps with anxiety, sleep, and reducing inflammation. It also comes with a wristband for a very portable grounding option when you can’t get outside to put your feet in the dirt.

Light Therapy Lamp: I purchased this light therapy lamp for my mom, who has circadian rhythm issues. It has over 4,000 reviews with an overall 4+ star rating, it’s very affordable, and she loves it!

Kitchen & Food

Ninja Indoor Smart Grill: This indoor smart grill has been on my wish list for a while! But since I just got a whole new oven with a variety of functions, it may have to wait. But check it out, it would make a great gift!

Equip Beef Protein Powder: If you, or your giftee, tolerate stevia try this beef protein powder. They even have a peanut butter flavor now! Which I dare not try because I would not be able to control myself! 😉 Clean, delicious, carnivore friendly – what more could you ask for?

LMNT Electrolyte Packets: LMNT has been my favorite electrolyte for a while now! Day to day, I use the raw unflavored. But I love the chocolate for a treat in the evenings. I mix it with hot water, heavy cream, and some vanilla-flavored ghee.

Books

I always recommend books and podcasts to my clients to help keep them in the fight, so to speak. What we ingest through our ears is just as important as what we ingest through our mouths. Carnivore podcasts and books, whether in physical or audio form, can play an important role in helping a carnivore stay on track! Below are a few of my favorites.

Click each title to view the link

Why We Get Sick: Benjamin Bikman, PhD

The Carnivore Cure: Judy Cho, NTP

Lies My Doctor Told Me: Ken Berry, MD, FAAFP

Dopamine Nation: Anna Lembke, MD

Anyway You Can: Annette Bosworth, MD

Coaching

One-on-One Coaching:

As you may know, I am a certified health coach, specializing in the carnivore way of eating. I do not sell meal plans, workouts, supplements, or any product many of us have been convinced we need to succeed at improving our health. So what do I provide?

I walk with you, from wherever you are on your health mission, to provide individualized support, recommendations, and make adjustments along the way to help you optimize your health and eliminate chronic disease, and maybe even lose weight along the way. I focus on healing and the steps necessary to achieve your goals. I will always help you see the positive. Every step toward your goal deserves to be celebrated! And any setback is a lesson to be appreciated.

Book your individual coaching session HERE! It’s just $17.99, and trust me…YOU’RE WORTH IT!

Small Group Sessions:

I also have small groups available if you love the sense of community and support along with some lifestyle coaching! Amy Labbe is my partner there and she has years of experience in the medical field, with keto and carnivore, and in the food addiction arena. Together, we make an unbeatable team! Topics will include meat-based nutrition, adaptation, education on the science behind this way of eating, chronic illnesses, eating disorders, food addiction (sugar, carbs, and processed foods), healing and weight loss, mental health, and much more!

In our groups, you get two coaches for the price of one! We keep our groups very small so that we can address individual needs and questions.

  • Two coaches in each group
  • Groups are limited to 20 members each
  • We have at least one live meeting per week each month
  • Each group has its own separate Facebook group
  • You have access to coaches at any time for the month you are registered
  • We will share real-life tips, a positive mindset, and unparalleled encouragement to each and every member
  • You will not be lost in a sea of faces – ever!
  • Challenge yourself, and receive community support and individualized advice all in one place!

Sign up by clicking HERE for just $30 for one month, with no ongoing commitment or subscription required.

Check out some pretty cool gear while you’re at that link above, too!

It’s go time!

Wishing you all the love and light this holiday season.

XOXO

The Candid Carnivore

The above recommendations may contain affiliate links. Affiliate links earn me a small commission with no additional cost to the buyer.

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Addicted to Food vs Addicted to Living

Addicted to Food vs Addicted to Living Life

I don’t like to focus on weight or size as a goal anymore. I used to think those numbers would mean I’m healthy. I now know that isn’t the case.

Once you begin to heal, those numbers change. But it’s always the comparison, the before and after, that gets our attention, right? We all want to look better, and that’s ok.

What I want people to understand is that there is so much freedom and life available to us when we break free of sugar, carbs, processed foods, and the strain it puts on our bodies and minds.

And when you begin that healing, THEN the physical changes happen!

The impulse to eat garbage, the feeling that I was POSSESSED by sugar and carbs, is gone.

Autoimmune symptoms are decreasing all the time and meds have been reduced 3 times this year.

Hair stopped falling out and is growing back – with less gray!

Nails are strong, not bendy. Skin is smooth and clear.
No more constipation!
No random aches and pains.
Steady energy throughout the day.
Mental clarity and mood are greatly improved.
Depression is gone. Anxiety is greatly improved.
Hirsutism is diminished.
So many things….

The best part – I have more LIFE in me. I’m lively, creative, goofy and fun-loving.
The worst part – I wish I had known all of this when my kids were young…

No matter what stage of life you are in right now, the information is out there and easily accessible. But if it seems too overwhelming, it’s ok – there are so many wonderful support groups and coaches out there!
Amy Labbe, aka @amysketolife73, and I have openings in our small zero-carb focused groups called Beyond the Scale: Zero Carb Healing, or you can work with me one-on-one – register for either at www.thecandidcarnivore.com or go to the link in my bio!

And to illustrate just how goofy I am sometimes, I’ll admit that while I’m writing this, the quote from the Terminator keeps rolling around in my head – “Come with me if you want to live”…no, like REALLY LIVE 😂

xoxo

The Candid Carnivore

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A Letter to My Former Self

letter to my former self

If only. If only I could travel back in time and show myself how life could be. If only I had learned then what I know now about health, nutrition, and mindset. If only I could take her by the hand, encourage and love her. If only I could send a letter to my former self, I wouldn’t have wasted so much time punishing myself with nothing to show for it but a feeling of defeat and failure.

Dear Me (or You)

I get it. I really do.
You want to feel better NOW.
You want the weight off NOW.
You’re sick. You’re tired.
And you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Your confidence is down. Or maybe it’s gone completely.

You’re ready to try anything and everything to get to the person you are inside.

Baby, just take a breath.

You’re frustrated. I know.

Change is hard.
But please do me a favor.

Do it out of LOVE.

Do it because you’re making your health a priority – not because you hate your thighs or your pant size.

Do it because you want to truly live and love every minute of this short life.

Fuel your body for the life you want to live.
Move your body for the life you want to live – not to punish yourself.
Do it out of love – love for yourself, love for your family, love for life.

Your expectations are high, and that’s a great motivator. But let’s be realistic about it, hm?

You would never decide you’re going to be a runner one day and try to finish a marathon the next.
You would never decide you’re going to start strength training today and walk onto a bodybuilding competition the next.

Can you expect to heal years of health issues in a week? A month? Six months? Probably not.

But if you start today, you’re one day closer to revealing your true self. The version of you that has been hidden from the world for years – hell, your whole life – is suffocating in there.

This is not how God intended you to live. You were not created to merely exist, survive, or take up space. Life is a gift to be experienced every minute of every day, free of suffering.

It’s time to stop hiding under the soul-crushing weight of chronic disease and food addiction. You have the choice to change all of it. It’s not your fault. You didn’t choose to be this way. Don’t worry, I’m on your side. You’re not alone. And I love you.

xoxo

Love,

the version you were meant to be

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Click here for 1-on-1 Coaching

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Tuning In to My Body, Tuning Out the Noise & Impulses

Tuning In to My Body, Tuning Out Noise & Impulses

I’m taking a break from all the extra things this month. I’m tuning in to my body, tuning out the noise & impulses – discerning between impulses and actual needs. What I am doing and what I am not doing in November 2022…

Let me preface all of this by saying – I don’t see what I’ve experimented with over the last 2 years as jumping from trend to trend. I typically give new things several months and keep a close eye on every detail. If there is something I may have only tried for a few weeks – that’s because the negative effects were insurmountable in relation to the expected outcome. i.e., it just wasn’t worth it.  Like the 6 weeks of straight liquid bowel movements that I experienced in one of these experiments. I may try that experiment again in the future with more measured steps. But for now…

Here’s what I’m doing and what I’m not doing – the things I’m saying yes to and the things I’m saying no to for the month. I am in no way saying you should do these things or not do these things. Please, for the love of God, do the work to find what your body needs – either on your own, armed with books, podcasts, and videos; or in groups or with a coach. But it MUST be individually tailored to YOU. You can find so much support and guidance out there! Here is the link to my groups and one-on-one coaching, but you find the person, people, or groups that best suit you. No hard feelings! I just want people to heal and feel good!

I’m Saying NO…

No to Weighing Myself

Hopping on the scale has been an automatic daily habit for years. It doesn’t trigger me or make me feel bad anymore. I may feel temporarily disappointed or validated depending on the number it shows me, but I don’t think I obsess over it. It doesn’t ruin my day. I have just been using it as a piece of data that helps me measure what is happening with my body. I have a goal weight in mind but I’m not focusing on that as I have in the past. I weigh what I weigh. It’s just whatever. 

I’ve always had a higher muscle mass, just naturally, so the only thing I really want to measure when I do use the scale is my body fat percentage. BMI is honestly the stupidest thing, so I ignore that completely. BMI doesn’t take into account my high bone density, my muscle mass, or my excess skin from losing and gaining 60 – 100 lbs over and over again. 

No to Tracking

Tracking has been a helpful tool in different experiments I have tried. Tracking definitely has its time and place in a carnivore diet on occasion. But it is so easy to get into the habit of using it for the wrong reasons. That can quickly lead to obsessive, restrictive behavior. As someone susceptible to addictions, it’s time for me to let this go for a bit. 

When I was using a tracker during my low carb/keto phase, I was using it as a means to restrict calories. I was so hungry and miserable all the time. Sure, I lost weight, but I still felt like shit physically and mentally. It was an exhausting battle to deny my needs just to fit into a calorie limit. Seriously, I’d like to go back in time and smack myself for restricting to 1200 calories a day, while working out 3 times a week for 1 – 2 hours each time. I never got in enough fat because my calories were set so low and I was so addicted to sweet tastes during that time that I would prioritize getting to eat a fake sweet keto treat over eating fat. I thought that if my carbs were low enough and I ate foods labeled ‘keto’, that I was keto. Rookie mistake!

I stopped tracking for a long time when I went carnivore and that was so freeing. I recommend tracking for a very short time to my clients to make sure they are not under-eating. I want them to hit a minimum number of calories for their specific needs, especially if they have a history of dieting and restricting. Never ever do I want them to use that as a tool to limit their calories when their bodies are demanding nutrition. 

I began tracking again this year for a different purpose. When I tried the higher fat and moderate protein version of carnivore to see if it spurred any fat loss for me, tracking was serving a different purpose than it did before, yet it still felt a little obsessive. Rather than tracking to stay below a certain number of calories, I was tracking to make sure I had the exact right number of grams of fat and protein based on a general calculation. I would find myself eating when I’m not hungry, or using the excuse that if I still have ‘x’ number of grams of one macro or the other I can eat more even if I was not hungry. 

Conversely, I sometimes would not allow myself to eat when I really was still hungry because I had already hit those limits. So for this month, I’m not tracking. It’s kind of making me panic a little, to be extremely honest. My brain and my body have been at war for so long, there is no trust between the two. I’ll spend this month working on repairing that relationship!

Next month, I may track intermittently. Just to see what the data is. Not to hit a specific number or stay below a certain number. But just to observe…’I wasn’t all that hungry and this is what that looked like and what resulted at a later date’. Or, ‘I was super hungry and I ate until satisfied the thing that I craved and this is what that looked like and here is the result’.

I’m also not tracking blood glucose or ketones this month for the same reasons. I have to give my body back the control over what it needs and stop trying to hack it into what I want it to do.  In short, I’ll listen to my body, do what it wants, observe that as data and wait for results.  

No to Eating on a Schedule

I’m trying to really tune in to what my body needs. When I set an eating schedule for myself, much like tracking, I find I will eat even if I’m not hungry because it’s time to eat. Or I will not allow myself to eat because it’s outside of that schedule. 

How many times a day will I eat? Not a clue. Eating one meal a day was nice for a while, as it gave me that feeling of fullness I love so much. But it wasn’t great for my digestion or for my binge eating behavior. Eating 3 – 4 times a day was a pain in the ass. I don’t have time for that. I naturally tend to lean toward 2 meals a day. Then a little snack if I am truly hungry. 

Eating on a schedule makes living life and being spontaneous very difficult. I have been so stressed about random things that come up when eating on a schedule. I freaked out if I wasn’t going to be able to eat due to a meeting or some appointment or obligation, so I would eat early when I wasn’t hungry. But then freaked out because the schedule was messed up and I didn’t want to throw my tracking off – over- or under-eating any of my macros. 

This is going to be the hardest part for me. Because it means being present and truly allowing my body to guide me rather than allowing my brain to control things. At this moment, 11:15 am, I’m not all that hungry. I don’t want to stop what I’m doing to go eat. Normally, I’d be getting ready to eat my second meal of the day. I’m not intentionally fasting or intermittent fasting. I’m just actively listening. 

No to Following or Trying New Things to Force Weight Loss

Eating all the meat didn’t work for the weight loss result I wanted – but I healed a bunch and let go of the guilt and nourished myself! Eating high fat also didn’t give me that weight loss result. Though I know my body responded better to higher fat and moderate protein with lower glucose and measurable (not high) ketones. But I found anything under 90 grams of protein made me feel horrible. This version also gave me severe and prolonged gastric distress making me feel depleted and defeated. 

I never quite fit into any one way of doing anything. I’m learning to take bits and pieces from various ideologies within carnivore and using what works for me and throwing out what doesn’t work. In the end, this tells me that there is still healing to do and reminds me to not focus on weight. Goal weight does not equal goal health. 

This will be challenging for me, because my brain wants a certain outcome and has a certain goal in mind. I’m not a patient person and I’m extremely stubborn. Rather than trying every trend and every hack, I’m just going to sit back and let my body lead me. I’ll take any new information I see out there in the webiverse and examine it very carefully before deciding if I want or need to try it. 

This is what I want to stress to literally every single person trying any method of changing their health. Just because it worked for person A, does not mean it is right for person B. If I see person A is doing X and achieving a goal I seek – does that apply to me? Does that person A have a similar health history? Was their metabolism damaged in the same way and for the same length of time? Is that person in the same age range, or have the same muscle mass? The answer to most of these will probably be no. You’re the only you, and I’m the only me – go figure!

I’m Saying Yes to…

Yes to Movement

Listen, I require dopamine. If something doesn’t give me dopamine I want nothing to do with it. The idea of working out does not give me dopamine. I get so bored during a workout that I want to scream. But as in the rest of my commitments for this month, I’m taking my brain out of it. I can’t get to my goal of a healthier, more metabolically fit version of myself without going down that road. Working out is the path to that goal. 

Getting stronger and more flexible will make me less prone to health issues and injuries as I get older. Being in the habit of exercise and daily movement is going to go a long way to ensure that I can still do all the things I want to do well into my old age. I plan to live for a very long time, but I don’t want to spend my golden years just sitting around. I want to live –  truly live and love every minute until the very end. Which hopefully is at least 100 years old!

I am really going to try to love exercise again. I’d rather just do a lot of physically intense labor, honestly. But I don’t live on a farm (yet), and winter is fast approaching, so doing labor-intensive work outside will have to wait until summer home improvement projects roll back around. 

Yes to Habits That Make Me Feel Good

Going outside – The cold does not make me feel good, but maybe I just need to learn to love it. The sun, on the other hand, does make me feel good! I feel more energized, more focused, and feel more gratitude when I go outside and get sunlight into my eyeballs. It transforms me. Oh the things I wish I had known in my darker days of depression!

Praying and practicing gratitude helps calm my chaotic brain and ease my anxiety. This is an easy habit to stick to when I’m outside seeing all the beauty in nature and focusing on breathing. It puts me fully in touch with my intentions…

Yes to Focusing on My Intentions

I have been so very blessed to have many incredible opportunities this year. I left my government job of 12 years to follow my passions – writing and coaching people to better health. Now there’s a YouTube channel and interviews and my platform to reach others is growing! This makes my heart so happy! All of the ‘No’ items listed above, those things I am breaking up with for at least the month of November actually were taking up so much time and energy. 

If you pay attention to my blog at all, you’ll know it’s been several weeks since I posted last with the exception of reposting something I put on Instagram last week. It’s always been my intention to post to this blog once each week. Trying to do all the things and hacks and tracking took a big chunk of my time. 

I want more than anything in the world to help pull people up out of that place I was in for so many years. That despair inside me that I literally sugar-coated my entire life has been replaced with clarity and joy. I intend to use that new-found energy and outlook to show others the way. I want to be the Rafiki to your Simba! Does anyone else get that reference, or is it just in my head? Hard to say. The point is, I want to show cab addicts, food addicts, sugar addicts, binge eaters, and anyone struggling to just not feel like crap that it IS possible. I’ll be there to guide them, cheer them on, and celebrate with them. There are no small wins – only WINS. 

If you’re looking for your very own cheering section, you can find my groups here. 

If you’d prefer your own coach/cheerleader, you can sign up for individual one-on-one coaching here. 

You CAN do this. You can take back control of your health. You can heal. You can lose weight. You really can live a long, beautiful life. 

I’m here to help. 

Love you!

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The Long Road to Health

I have a few ‘then and now’ images to share. My story isn’t a glamorous one, but all stories are important ones, right? The long road to health may be winding, bumpy, steep, and seemingly never-ending. I haven’t found the end yet, myself. And I don’t know if that’s even the goal. Because…then what? My goal is to seek out new challenges and never stop improving.

How Did I Get Here?

I didn’t have shocking results with one specific plan, carnivore or otherwise.

The list on each side of the photos above, me at 40 and me at 50, is not the whole list. There’s so much more…depression, anxiety, brain fog, PCOS, hirsutism, insulin resistance, OTHER eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia, muscle and joint pain…the list goes on and on.

I tried all the diets, and all the advice, and felt like I must be broken beyond repair.

Slowly, when one daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I started looking into “food” as a cause of chronic health issues. We started with gluten-free, paleo, whole food. Then I discovered low carb. Then keto. But I was still addicted to sweet tastes. Still am, to be honest. I have to be very deliberate and strict with even carnivore-ish sweet foods.

I lost weight doing a lot of these different things. But I didn’t start HEALING and optimizing my health until I found carnivore.

My 2-year carniversary is coming up on January 1, 2023. Even that wasn’t a linear journey! I had a few ‘cheats’ in the first year. I got hooked on keto ice cream for two weeks when I had surgery in September of 2021.

But, MAN! Look how far I’ve come!

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A Diet for EveryBODY: Reverse and Prevent Chronic Disease

a diet for everybody: reverse and prevent chronic disease

I know, I know – I’m always saying there is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss or healing. I still mean that. Your nutritional needs will always depend specifically on your past health, present health, and future goals. Your genetics, your relationship with food, your activity level need to be taken into account. The amount of damage your body has sustained from eating processed foods, chronic dieting, and many other factors go into what exactly you should be eating and how much. But there is a diet for everybody…and that diet can reverse and prevent chronic disease.

Why I’m a Carnivore and You Should Be Too

It’s easy for me to explain to friends and family that I eat only meat and eggs because of my autoimmune disorder, or because of my history with dieting and eating disorders, or due to my food addiction. Those are simple terms they can understand without feeling like I’m trying to induct them into some sort of cult. If they express interest, well then they are in for a full sermon on the gospel of meat – can I get an  Amen??

Allow me to explain why this carnivore way of eating, this carnivore diet, is beneficial for everyone. See the foods we have been eating since the inception of processed/manufactured foods were not meant for us. I could go on about the evils of the processed food industry creating hyper-palatable foods in order to create an addiction to their products using the same addiction model used by the tobacco industry. I could go on and on about how the pharmaceutical industry cheers for the food industry because they are the vultures who feast on the carcass of people addicted to processed foods that create disease as a by-product, ensuring the pharmaceutical industry has customers for life. 

But I digress.

Reverse or Prevent Chronic Disease

There is one, plain, simple truth: What you eat is either making you sick or is making you healthy, it’s either helping you or harming you, it’s either building you or tearing you down. If you have excess fat, if you are on medications for anything other than a congenital condition or accident, you are eating the wrong things. 

Species Appropriate Diet

We also need to take a look at the word diet. There are two different meanings – first we have the word as it has come to be defined in the last few decades. That definition of diet being a temporary means to achieve a specific goal. Then we have the conventional definition that describes a specific way of eating for any living creature. This is the definition to which I am referring. For example, a rabbit is an herbivore, meaning that animal eats a species-appropriate diet of plant material on a daily basis in order for it to function optimally. Wolves are carnivores, meaning they derive all of the nutrition their bodies require from meat. 

So are humans more like rabbits or wolves? Judy Cho, who is a certified nutritional therapy practitioner, creates a lot of really great infographics that show the nutrition profiles of various foods. (check out her book, the Carnivore Cure, here) So there are varied nutrient density values in different foods, but we must also consider the ability of our human bodies to extract those nutrients from the source. 

Sure, kale may have a high level of vitamin A, but the bioavailability of vitamin A from this source for our human digestion is just not there. We cannot physiologically extract that nutrition. Liver provides a higher level of bioavailability for our human cells. Add to that the fact that many plants have naturally occurring toxins that actually harm us, negating any nutritional value they may hold, and making them inappropriate for human consumption. See, the species matters. A rabbit’s digestion was created in a way that allows it to extract the nutrients it needs from the food it prefers. As does a wolf, as do humans. 

Aren’t Humans Omnivores?

The general consensus is yes. But I, along with many other carnivores including medical experts disagree. While humans are physically able to eat fruits and vegetables and not die immediately, the damage that is being done even by these whole, natural foods, along with processed foods proves we probably should not. People who have eaten only animal foods for 10, 15, 30+ years are thriving effortlessly. Not to mention there are people like the Inuit who historically did not have easy access to plants. 

Down to the Basics

I can’t stress enough that we should ALL be eating this way, at least for the purpose of finding out what may be causing issues in our health. This truly is a diet for everybody.

I can say with certainty that cutting out processed foods and all forms of sugar will greatly improve your health. Whether you chose paleo, low carb, keto, carnivore, or just eliminate the bad stuff, your health will improve. People have found it keeps insulin low, resolves chronic disease, eliminates sugar cravings and addiction, reduces inflammation, allows the body to heal and rids it of toxins. It works beautifully for EVERYONE as an elimination diet. Strip it down to the bare minimum – meat. See what resolves, then add back other items like eggs, cheese, etc. to see what happens. It is absolutely sustainable long term, but at the very least you’ll find out exactly what other foods you can and cannot tolerate. 

Get Support

So, in short, a meat-based diet is for all humans. However, the various ways to go about it all depend on the very unique parameters that make you, you. There is a ton of information out there. That is both something wonderful and something a bit overwhelming. Find the voices in the carnivore/keto/meat-based space that feel right for you. And if it’s still too noisy, get yourself a carnivore coach! I help people all over the world to narrow it all down to create a plan focused on that one unique human. Are you ready to reverse and prevent chronic disease? Book a session today to start your mission for better health!

Reverse or prevent chronic disease
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