Scott F.

I'm all in on this one as well. I have started to lift with more intent as of late. I'm hitting muscle groups specifically and then finishing the workout with more of a full body approach. I leave the gym, come home and walk a hair over 3 miles. I had read a lot about rucking. I use a 40lb weight vest on the walks. A little different than the ruck sack approach but it is quite the work out. I try to get in between 50-75 push-ups along the way. 10-15 at a time. This will be my approach to getting out there and moving in March. This should be a great thread. Scott

Sometimes the LDL numbers will inch up with carnivore. Your body is using that body fat for energy at times and there will be more in the blood. Mine made a couple weird jumps over a three-month period. About six or 7 months on carnivore I had a 35 point drop in LDL. I have blood tests coming up this month and again in May. I'm interested to see how they are tracking. Scott

I guess "March Madness" has already been taken. I'm on the "Muscles in March" kick right now. It is a slow go. Scott

Nice. We did pork belly this weekend. It is something about that gut meat. Funny some of the things we learned and have since re-learned. When we cook pigs (now the current term is 'whole hog' (which sounds so commercial to me) the belly meat has always been referred to as the 'heart-a-stroke' section of the pig. My favorite part is the fattiness and now since carnivore that is a 'thing'. I balance it out with my second favorite part, the tongue. And since I was a kid (still am at times) my favorite thing to do with a pig is built a sandwich stacked with jaw meat, the tongue and belly meat. I didn't use bread, it just got in the way. Straight meat/fat pile. And now it is good for me to eat like that. Whooda thunk it? Scott

The same. We don't eat out often but when we do the chickens end up with the bonus plan the following morning. Scott

We don't eat out that often but there is a Brazilian steakhouse close to where I work and we will check it out in the near future. The last time we ate out I sort of fibbed a bit and told the waiter I was allergic to seed oils and needed the grill scraped and use butter. The steak was really good. I ordered sides that my son and daughter-in-law liked so it didn't really go to waste. It is not like the advertised price of the steak drops if you ditch the sides, might as well let someone eat them. Scott

I never used a skillet like that one. Looks interesting. I ate 4 eggs scrambled with a leg quarter for breakfast. 4 scrambled eggs for lunch. 2 medium sized chuck steaks for supper. Pushing the protein content. Scott

I was thinking the same. Coming out of a crock pot I guess I never considered it a 'soup'. I use the crock pot quite a bit when on a long work stretch. It is just super convenient. Dump it all in and when I come back hours late the 'magic' has already happened. Scott

Milk and dairy are excellent weight gainers. It does an exceptional job at growing babies and can sort of help us adults grow too. I have a few more pounds to lose but my carnivore WHY? has shifted from totally being a weight loss tool ten months ago to being a health tool now. If the weight moves here and there I already know which lever to pull to make the needle move in the desired direction. Nice thread. I like the topics that land close to home. LOL Scott

I seen some of the same with glucose numbers shifting up 12-16 hours into the fast. The first thing I thought was the 'dawn phenomenon' but a couple of the fasts I started in the morning so 12-16 hours was later in the night. I don't know but I will throw out a thought and it can be chopped up from any number of ways. I think it is the changing of energy states. For me, I was more than likely fat adaptive and was using fat for energy with ketone levels moderate to moderately high. The body is looking for the first available. If I had eaten fat, it would have used that and metabolic numbers stay on that even keel, and if in need of more, it naturally goes from the fat I have eaten to the fats I have in reserve. (weight loss/body composition change) Most who advocate fasting recommend intermittent fasting. 16-20 hours of fasting puts us in a really good metabolic window (hint, so much success stories teeter around OMAD). At this point the body is starting to look for its next energy source and since I have not eaten fat to bridge to the use of fat and there are no carbs/sugars available, protein becomes the next source of fuel. I think that shift is a form of gluconeogenesis. It is the conversion of proteins to sugars. I think this is the spike or shift upward around the 16 hour mark, give or take. On my next fast I built a chart to track glucose and ketones along the way. I'm sort of interested in the first 24 hours, maybe every couple to four hours during that first 24 hour span. I'm also going to track/wondering about energy levels during that first 24 hours. I have not thought of it before but I wondering if I will feel a lull around 10-12-14 hours and then a boost around 16 when the glucose levels tend to jump, and the how long does that last? or how long does it take to fade? Or maybe I am just way out in left field and my ignorance is bliss? Scott

Looks really good. Scott

Congrats on your progress. Weight loss is great and feeling better is even more, but when you come off medicines, that is a incredible feeling. Congrats on the progress you have made. I think a lot of doctors are pre-programmed/pre-dispositioned on a lot of things. At a HAZMAT physical the doctor came in and never looked at my chart. His first sentences were, "we will need to get you on some blood sugar and blood pressure medicine sometime soon". My blood sugar was in the low 90's and my blood pressure was 110/65. My response was, "I am overweight but I'm not in any need of being on medicine. I'm healthy, just fat". He came back with the "you will need them in time", but he was fully prepared to write the prescription then. My family doctor was pleasantly surprised with the weight loss and almost onboard with the way I am eating. He wanted me to use some cholesterol medicine and eat similarly but drop the fat content down. I left with the medicine he gave me but it is sitting on the shelf in the bathroom. My LDL dropped by 35 points and he sent me a note, "Continue on your current path". I take that is he is OK with a higher fat/moderate protein-nocarb/sugar and nor cholesterol medicine. LOL Again congrats on your progress. Scott

Great thread. I have been reading some on the very subject. I will look back and tag the video I watched the other night about protein, protein synthesis and there was a conversation about glucose sparing. Just like anything when you bring in an autoimmune disease it really brings out the individual in individual concerns. I have Type I and Type II throughout my mom's side of the family. I have never had an issue but have always kept tabs on my glucose. Even had doctors tell me, "It's coming". I fasted a couple weeks ago and found my blood sugar was super responsive to the meals just after the fast. I have always had relatively low blood sugar and never seen a 100 til Carnivore. I have done two longer fasts, one 71 hours and one a full 72. Both took my blood sugar from the very low 80's to 113-115 (first and second meal breaking the fast). Both were fatty red meats on the first meal and the next meal was pork/chicken. Then after a couple three meals after the fast my blood sugar dropped into the 80's and after eating I would see the upper 90's and maybe once a 100. The week after the second fast I had energy out the ying yang. Like, worked 40 some hours in three days and on the fourth day was up and in the gym at 4AM. I completed a hard workout followed by a 12-13 hour shift, a very hectic shift at that. I came home where I usually plop, but still had gas in the tank. I am a strict eater myself and other and a bi-weekly glass of milk, very strict. The milk does not seem to affect my blood sugar although it is sugar packed. I believe I am fat adaptive, and I think the fast drove my sugar down and my ketones up. And by the energy levels I experienced, I think they were way up, maybe really deep into ketosis. My next fast I will have a meter to measure ketones vs. the strips. They only showed I had some excess in my urine but nothing definite about what I had in my blood stream. I think our numbers would more than likely track the same based on what we eat just maybe with Type I your swings would be further up and further down than mine as a non-diabetic. One of the things I have seen is my sugar makes a slightly larger push up if my fat content is down. In my journal I track my stools/stool situation. On the days I have been constipated I feel like my fat content has been lower than I need it to be for that period in time. During the constipation my sugar will be a couple point higher. Like pushing 100 or slightly over. I think this is gluconeogenesis as I am higher in protein and lesser in fat that I need to be during a period of time. I think our bodies yearn for sugar/glucose and if we let the fat content drop it will revert to what is easy for energy, sugar, and when that happens the need le moves. For you, bigger moves than for me as you have more to deal with and factor than I do as far as diabetes/sugar count is concerned. Great thread. I will look back and try to find that video. I think it was by the personal trainer LaFleur?? I will look. Thanks for the insight. I'm learning too. Scott

Agree with all. When my weight was falling pretty fast, I could create my own stall with milk. It really didn't take a lot. If I did a glass three, maybe four times in a week the stall would be just about automatic. I would go off the milk and within three or four days I would ease back into another fall. It took me a couple three cycles of that to nail down milk as the trigger for the stall. I moved away from it for several months. When I shifted my eating to hit a protein target, I sort of picked it back up, just not as much. I may do one glass a week and sometimes one glass every two weeks. This morning I'm down 89lbs from the 306lbs I weighed ten months ago and have been as low as 92lbs a couple weeks ago. I'm happy with the weight loss thus far and probably could lose a few more. I'm eating like a garbage disposal to hit close to my protein intake and lifting weights, a bit heavy at times and a bit intense at others. I feel like I have worked myself to a spot where the weight is truly just a number (took almost the entire ten months on carnivore, LOL). If my belt moves in or out a tad, so be it. If a glass of milk here and there or not having a glass of milk here nor there, pushes the needle slightly in either direction, I'm good with that too. But I do agree with the posts that it really serves no purpose. It was built to grow babies. And to people just starting out on carnivore it can definitely play a huge roll in a weight loss stall, as well as people who have eaten this way for a while. (I almost guarantee it) Scott

Not sure. I will check. If that is so it may be better to go whole milk for both reasons. My wife does the 2% so I will more than likely stick tot hat but will check the sugar content out. Never thought about it before. Scott

I'm a big milk fan. I tried the lactose free milk and did not like it. I tried almond milk as well. I went several months into the carnivore diet and then semi-reintroduced milk. I drink maybe a glass per week, sometimes a glass every other week. I still use the 2%. If I am going to get the sugar I probably should switch to whole milk and get a few extra grams of fat since I'm drinking it anyway. But 2% is what my wife uses, so 2% it is. Scott

Stanford and St. Mary's are doing some of those studies around carnivore now. My neurologist talked about them when I 'surprised' her with being on the carnivore diet. I was about five months deep at the time. She is a fan but still has some questions. I'm her 'Guinee pig' for questions. She likes the approach as far as MS and NMO/SD are concerned. The diabetes research community is gradually buying in just not totally sold. It might even be considered a movement in time. LOL Scott

That is a huge improvement. Not often can we celebrate a 'downward spiral'. Nice work. I'm in the process of learning my glucose levels based on my day to day. I have always had relatively low blood sugar so it is not a huge health concern for me, but a large percentage of my family on my mom's side is Type I and II diabetics. For that reason alone I have always kept tabs on it somewhat regularly. Babbling on. Congrats on the progress and good luck as you spiral downward. LOL Scott

Be there in a few minutes. LOL Scott

I also believe in Big Brother and the sharing of algorithms..... I read the thread, commented and had a slight laugh. I changed screens to check my email and a meme/short video popped up about bacon. Go figure. "Bacon is a lot like women. They both smell good. They both taste good. And they both kill men slowly". We are all being watched and monitored. LOL Scott

No doubts. Smart move. Interested to see how your energy levels are after the break. My work week didn't change from times past. The four days on dayshift is affectionately referred to as 'hell week' for us rotators. The only part that really changed was fasting from the previous Tuesday night to Friday night. I broke it Friday night, had some stool issues Saturday morning and by Saturday night felt recharged, maybe even rejuvenated. I don't remember it being to this extent when I made it 71 hours and crashed. This one was especially energetic for me. So much so, I woke up at 3AM'ish on Thursday morning (went to be at 9PM) and felt fully charged and ready to go and went to the gym from a little before three til 5AM, then pulled the 12 hour shift which was especially hectic. I came home, fed animals, and still had what felt like gas in the tank. If I feel there is a direct link between the two, one leads to the other, then that has to be my plan going forward. Thanks for the reply. Scott

First it is bacon, and bacon does not even fall into a food group, like pork or beef or chicken, or even white meat or dark meat. It is bacon and holds a place far and above all other meats. I would try your dehydrated bacon, and I am sure it would spectacular. But at the same time, I like greasy done/almost done but not crispy bacon just as much. I don't own a dehydrator, but I do own a number of cast iron skillets, a couple three of them were making bacon before I was born, and I am 55. So, that form of cooking has most definitely stood the test of time. As far as ignorance, I believe ignorance is bliss. And like said, when it comes to bacon, odds are most any form is bliss. I think I am in a good spot. My Pops would always say he could make sandwiches with a piece of paste board/cardboard box between two slices of bread and if he added two or three strips of bacon most would ask for another. Again, in a class all by itself. If you are that passionate about your dehydrator to call names and make assumptions, I am impressed enough to buy one and bring back some actual data to the conversation. Til then, it is 'bacon by skillet' for me. Scott

I want to get the meter next time vs. the strips for ketones. I think it will give bit more information. This week is normally rough (dayshift is a constant go all the time). It's Friday night and I have had 'high energy' all week. I'm not sure if it is directly linked to the fast and the re-set I have read about. I'm reading now on the benefit differences between 48 and 72 hours or possibly going past 72 hours. If I have the same energy level next time and I feel the energy is a direct result from the fast it will become a more regular thing for me. Not prying, just curious, @Geezy "interested in whether you see an difference in energy levels after the 48 hour fast you mentioned". Sort of like another data point. Scott

First response is spot on. For most, they fade in time. Not as frequent and not as intense. Becoming fat adaptive is one of the best decisions I have ever made. And most pork doesn't carry enough fat ( I pick the cheaper/fattier cuts for the fat content alone, plus, I'm cheap) It takes some time to adjust and every person does so at different rates. I am not a fan of the word but it has ended up the best way to describe but you are in the first of detox from sugars and carbs. It will get better with time. Scott

Toward the end of the month but I am going to fast again next week when I am off work. I want to see how it affects me when I am up and about, working out, working in the shop, etc. etc. The other fasts I did at night. It is easy to stay busy and not eat at work then come home a sleep the day away. Looking back over the last one, it did go really easily. I just finished my 4-day work week (12-13 and one 14-hour shift). Normally this week beats me down quite a bit. My Saturday last week was OK but on Sunday I felt like I was more energetic all day. These four days I felt like I had energy throughout the shift and tonight after 50+ hours I still feel like I have gas in the tank. This morning I was in the gym at 4AM and lifted an hour or so before going to work. My best guess is ketosis and ketones factored in but I am not sure why I had energy all week. Even at other times on carnivore this week has been more than a handful. I might start doing the fasts a little more frequently but maybe not 72 hours. Scott