Bob

I get these 1 pound packages of grass fed ground beef and do this very thing. Smash it down to fit the skillet I am using. Add salt, heat, and enjoy!

What is the medication? I was told I could eat anything I wanted as long as I took the medication. I was prescribed Dipentum, a brand name for mesalamine. I started talking it around 2009-2010 and yes, it calmed my gut down and fixed my bowel issues. However, it also tanked my kidneys. I never got any bloodwork until 2019 and suddenly found out I have stage 4 CKD. So research the medication and possible side effects, and stay on top of your sons bloodlabs at least annually or more often. I made a video about how I got rid of UC. https://youtu.be/YSYDMzG1wM0?si=824gS3aWXY0736o- It started by giving up coffee, which was a trigger/irritant for me personally. I was able to get off meds but the biopsy done during my colonoscopy in 2021 or 2022 still tested positive for UC. But I started carnivore in May 2023 and when I had my last colonoscopy in the summer of 2024 the biopsy came back negative. Why coffee? It wasn't the caffeine as I still consume that. I was a pot a day drinker, so quantity could have been at play. Coffee is acidic and full of other compounds like polyphenols and other plant toxins that may have been irritating my already-senstive gut lining.

I still toggle back and forth between thick stools and loose stools. But I am not consistent with my fat intake either. Some days are leaner than others and some days are very fatty. The general rule of thumb is that of you have hard to pass stools, you need to increase your fat. The body will use the bile on hand to break down the fat in the stomach. But if you eat more fat than can be processed by your gut then the excess will pass right through. I have also noticed that for me, cheese is a thickener, natural constipater. I went dairy free one month and had chronic loose stools that disappeared when I added cheese back in. So if you are a cheese lover, try cutting it out for a bit. Just an idea.

I like Bart Kay. He is pretty much factually correct all of the time. In recent times, he seems to be making an effort to clean up his foul mouthed language on his videos where he breaks down another influencer who is wrong and in need of correction. I like that he's upfront when he's not being a strict carnivore, admitting that he too is only human, enjoys a beer and falls off the wagon once in a while.

OwnYourLabs.com works with Labcorp. You'll want to create a Labcorp account and Labcorp will post your results there. And then the Labcorp site will have some brief explanations. The information is easy to search online or ask AI. We can also help here on the forums.

Pickle juice does have some electrolytes in it. If you are drinking it on the regular then this is contributing to keeping your levels up. The immediate relief many people get with pickle juice or mustard mid-cramp actually doesn't have anything to do with it's electrolyte content (which takes 30+ minutes to absorb from the stomach). The strong taste of the vinegar (acetic acid) and salt stimulates receptors in the back of the throat and mouth which triggers a signal that inhibits overactive alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord/brain, quickly relaxing the cramping muscle. Electrolytes can be taken in pill form. So if you are like @Geezy and I and cannot take potassium, you can still take the other electrolytes as needed. You might want to occasionally test your serum electrolyte levels, especially of you have heart (Geoff) or kidney (me) issues.

We had a karaoke party on Saturday night. Wife made beef meatballs in the crock pot so everyone could make meatball subs. I had mine sans bun of course. Future daughter in law brought this chicken dip she makes that is mostly carnivore friendly - it has Frank's Red Hot sauce in it. Someone else did bring a fruit tray and I admittedly snuck a strawberry.

You can also get an electrolyte panel... https://ownyourlabs.com/test/77efb80e-2b60-4866-9823-886b3889fc87?back=%2Fshop It's also worth noting that nighttime cramps may have other causes that are unrelated to electrolytes. You can start with the blood test, and you might see where you can add or back off on certain electrolytes. But it's things look fine, we night have to keep digging.

You greatly reduce your risk of issues by avoiding the carbohydrates, especially if you have been keto-carnivore for some time and are already fat adapted. Protein and fat stimulated for less insulin and will also result in less overall electrolyte shifts. In cases of severe starvation it could still be an issue. The recommendation is to start reintroducing food slowly. Start with someone small and mild like bone broth, and egg, etc. Watch for symptoms. Then add more food gradually.

Welcome back @Meathead - You've been missed. As our resident Texan often says "Nothing tastes better than how I feel" - @Geezy

You have to know your audience. Some people can appreciate the reminder. "Oh yeah, you're right. I did feel so much better on carnivore". And then for others, pointing out their flaws offends them. In which case pointing our your successes and reasons might make them think deeper without turning attention to them directly.

Next year it moves to Nashville Tennessee. I think I might try to attend it myself.

Some friends invited us over for dinner yesterday. Their daughter is also carnivore (whom I regularly coach/converse with) so they knew how to accommodate me. They had nachos with taco fixin's, but for me had bought a bag of high quality pork rinds. I topped them off with the seasoned beef, chicken, sour cream, and cheese. It was delicous and I was able to "fit right in" and crunch along with everyone else, lol.