My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Kristie Sullivan

Posted on March 31, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Kristie today on her Zero Carb path to Well-being.

In June 2013, I was absolutely desperate to lose weight. I decided that it was the one thing I had battled and never conquered my entire life and that I would do it or die trying. A friend in whom I had confided – after the calories in/calories out (CICO) method had failed me – suggested I read Gary Taubes book, Why We Get Fat. Within two days, I devoured that book and began a journey to health that would lead me on remarkable paths, healing physical and psychological hurts that I didn’t yet fully understand and am still discovering.

The first six or seven months of LCHF involved my following a plan of fewer than 20 grams of total carbohydrates. In addition to Taubes, I read anything and everything I could. I ordered supplements, experimented with LC flours and sweeteners and completely changed my eating and cooking habits. The first 50 lbs melted away, and I was smitten with low carb. Shortly thereafter, my weight began to stall, which is about the time I discovered a number of low carb support groups on Facebook.

Kristie before and after losing a substantial amount of weight through a low carb high fat diet.

I spent most of the next year reading everything I could and following every hack of nearly everyone I met. My time was dedicated to tracking macros, increasing fat, increasing protein, eliminating dairy, avoiding sweeteners, executing egg fasts, following fat fasts, restricting calories, increasing calories, fasting intermittently, and ordering more supplements all while testing blood glucose, blood ketones, urine ketones, and breath ketones.

When my scales didn’t register a loss, I ordered a new scale that measured percent body fat, convinced the old one was just hopelessly broken—probably because I was weighing three or four times a day! In addition to weighing, I was taking measurements and photos to monitor progress. It took a full fourteen months to lose an additional 30 pounds, and I was still 20 or so pounds from my goal.

Another before and after of Kristie as she slimmed down even more through a low carb high fat diet.

In short, I was obsessed. If I read a compelling argument that wearing purple underwear and holding your nose while eating underwater would guarantee weight loss, I’d try it. Between the LCHF library I collected, the journal articles, and blog posts, I spent nearly every waking moment trying to figure out how to make my body smaller. Incidentally, my husband David decided to joined me on my low carb journey, and lost 60 lbs, though he was a lot more relaxed about it all than me (and lost it more quickly and easil than me, of course!)

Kristie’s husband David before and after losing 60 lbs. by joining her a low carb high fat diet.

In late February, I stumbled across a blog post by Kelly Williams Hogan in one of the numerous low carb Facebook forums that I frequent. She sounded like a long lost sister as she described her weight loss struggles! Kelly’s journey ultimately led her to eliminate all plant foods from her diet. Still, the idea of no veggies sounded extreme to me. Yes, a meat-based diet still seemed extreme to the woman who had continued to try everything to no avail. But, I was intrigued, and so I decided to try it.

Within three days my energy level was up and my scales were down. Both scales! And something odd happened. Me, the queen of low carb food blogging recipes, the woman who faithfully tried two new LCHF recipes per week, who even “invented” a few baked goods, found that food was no longer fascinating. Eating ground beef at each meal—the two big meals I began to eat each day—was satiating and simple.

Kristie with her Daughter and Son.

By week two, I loved breezing into the grocery store meat department and breezing right out. I saved time shopping, and I certainly saved time cooking. Among the changes I noticed were that I was happiest eating a big meal early in the day whenever I was hungry. Some days that means eating at a traditional breakfast hour and other days it means eating at lunch time for my first meal.

Instead of eating a small meal for my first meal, I began eating like a lumberjack—two burgers, two eggs, four or five pieces of bacon and maybe a sprinkle of cheese. A meal like that leaves me satisfied for up to eight hours. For dinner, I eat a similar meal and then I don’t eat again until breakfast. At the end of week two, I also had my menstrual cycle, which didn’t bring irrational cravings or wild mood swings like it normally did. It was quite uneventful, which was remarkable.

By week three my fridge had more room in it, especially when I cleaned out the veggies that were going bad because I had neglected them. When I went to Pinterest to find a recipe for a friend, I realized I had nearly 1500 followers and thousands of LCHF recipes. I began to understand that I had made this journey incredibly complex when what seemed to work for my body was meat and water. By week four, my husband decided to join me which is the ultimate high praise.

Kristie’s husband David taking a nap with the family dog.

Along the way, I noticed that cravings – which had plagued me over the past three months – were minimized on zero carb. I already ate very clean, but minimizing carbohydrates to what is present in animal foods like eggs and dairy – and limiting my intake even of those – simply made me feel more satisfied, more energized, and more clear headed.

After thirty days, I’m in love with my scale again. In my first 30 days of eating a meat-based diet, I’ve lost ten pounds and my goal weight finally seems attainable. Once again, I have the unspeakable thrill of stepping on the scales and seeing a new “personal best” that I’ve never in my adult life seen before looking back at me on the scales.

More than that, I’ve let go of the complicated recipes, of focusing on food for entertainment, and of treating myself like a human test subject in a never ending weight loss trial. Meat, water, an occasional egg, and a little dairy are enough, more than enough to help me finish the journey to my goal weight and to complete the healing of the hurts I still seek to understand.

Kristie and her husband David enjoying their new Zero Carb journey together.

Please visit my Testimonials page to read the stories of others following a Zero Carb diet.

If you are interested in meeting others who practice an All-Meat diet, please feel free to join Charles Washington in his Facebook group Zeroing in on Health or Michael Frieze in his Facebook group Principia Carnivora for guidance and support. These two groups use different approaches, so if you find that one does not suit you, please check out the other one.

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Sarah Knight

Posted on March 29, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Sarah today on her path to well-being.

My story is no different than anyone else’s. I have been overweight most of my life. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started to actually care. As a teenager and into my early twenties my thought was that I could lose it later, when I needed to. I didn’t think about losing it back then because it took time away from what I wanted to do, which was have fun. I wanted to go out drinking and eat at awesome restaurants. Buy things to make me happy. Food was something that was needed, so I told myself it was ok to eat huge meals, eat beyond feeling full. Then I’d usually go sit and watch tv or go drinking.

Now I’m 31 and my priorities have changed. It’s is more fun to focus on being my healthiest, to learn about nutrition, work hard, be responsible for myself and my own actions. One of the steps I took in my late twenties was to admit I did need anti-depressants to function like a normal successful adult. I admitted it was a problem beyond my control, so I got help and started taking a medication called Wellbutrin. And it has helped beyond my expectations.

It was after that that I started to lose a little weight without trying. Once I experienced some natural weight-loss without even trying, I decided to make an effort and help it out. I started eating less. Something in my brain clicked and said, “I don’t need to eat as much as I do,” and “I should stop eating so much sugar,” and “it’s ok to be hungry sometimes.”

One of the big realizations I had during this time that really helped me was that if I saw a piece of food, or a dessert I liked, I would just think to myself, “I’ve had that before, I’ve tasted it many times in my life. I’ll have it again, I just don’t need it right now.” I started working out at the gym at work and even went jogging. I lost about 45 lbs, going from a starting weight of 230 down to about 185. (I am 5′ 8″ and 31 years old.)

Sarah before and after she lost 45 lbs. on a ketogenic diet.

Then I got comfortable, stopped working out, lost my health insurance because of a job change, and I went off my medication for almost a year. I gained about 15 pounds back and felt so gross. My boyfriend at the time introduced me to the ketogenic diet. I wasn’t sold at first, but becuase my carb cravings were out of control I decided to try it. I lost the 15lbs. I found a great new job and got back on my medication. I felt great.

However, I then stalled out, and I didn’t lose anymore weight. I was constantly worried about kicking myself out of ketosis, and was making too many “keto” desserts with the artificial sweetener Splenda.

Eventually my boyfriend and I broke up, and I returned to living by myself. I was still mostly sticking with the ketogenic diet, but I was allowing too many cheat meals because of my cravings. I was putting weight back on. My diet went out the window completely when I traveled to Philadelphia to work for two weeks. I came home and couldn’t fit into any pants. What was I going to do?

I was feeling more motivated than ever to find a solution to my weight problems because I have a vacation to Mexico in June coming up. I was tired of the constant struggle, but I felt that if I did not get a handle on the situation now, I never would. I am vain and I wanted a bikini body for my trip, but I also wanted to be healthy. And I was going to figure out how to do it.

Sarah before and after she lost 45 lbs. on a ketogenic diet.

I was perusing the Keto subreddit on the Internet one day, and I saw a post asking if anyone does “Zero Carbs” and my curiosity immediately perked. Someone had linked the Zero Carb subreddit and it blew my mind. It blew my mind in the same way that first learning about keto blew my mind. Wait a second, I don’t have to eat the way I’ve been told to my whole life? So I read everything I could in about two days and then deciding to just ‘try it out’ for a while. I gave myself about two weeks. That was 36 days ago. And it has flown by.

Being on Zero Carb has been quite enjoyable. My transition was not very difficult because I had been doing a very low carb ketogenic diet for over a year before I started Zero Carb. I didn’t start doing it perfectly right away. The Zero Carb veterans recommended eliminating all artificial sweeteners, but I kept using Splenda and Half and Half in my espresso. It took me almost the whole month to listen to my body and stop using it.

After a few weeks of eating an all-meat diet, I just felt like something wasn’t quite right with my body. It has been easier to notice when I feel off and I am able to better hear what my body is telling me since I started Zero Carb. I could tell that the Splenda was not agreeing with me, so I gave it up. I am still drinking espresso, but am not using any artificial sweetener and have stopped using the Half and Half. Now I’m using Heavy Cream and that feels better for me.

Looking at my naked body daily in the mirror has been fascinating. I saw myself in the first two weeks just kind of deflating. I wasn’t necessarily losing fat, I am sure is was mostly just water, but I could see myself becoming leaner.

Other benefits I have noticed so far: My skin has cleared up. I’ve always had problems with slight acne on my back and face. It’s gone now. My nails are growing at double the speed that they have my whole life. I’ve gotten my period twice now since starting Zero Carb and I did not experi nice any menstrual cramps or lower back pain which is like a miracle. I have also had problems going to the bathroom my whole life, and now my bowels are functioning easy and regular. When I was doing a ketogenic diet, I had to take magnesium in order to prevent rapid heart rate, chest pain, achy joints, and muscle spasms. Since transitioning to Zero Carb, I have not needed to supplement with magnesium. I have also lost 8 lbs. since I started and now weigh 175 lbs. and I have a lot more energy.

Also, I don’t need as much sleep anymore which really threw me for a loop. I usually get up at five am for work, and I’m pretty physically active during it, so I had set up a 8:30 bedtime for myself these last few years. I’ve always been a big fan of sleep. Since starting Zero Carb, I just lay in bed until almost midnight sometimes with my mind running. At first, I thought maybe I was having caffeine too late in the day or something. But after a month of this I’m pretty sure its the Zero Carb way of eating and it’s taken some getting used to. I do still have trouble getting up in the morning, though not as much, and I hope to get to the point where I’m not hitting the snooze button at all.

I joined an online health community at the same time as starting Zero Carb. I workout in the privacy of my own home four nights a week and I can see a difference in my body. I am gaining muscle for the first time ever and its awesome. My legs are starting to look like solid tree trunks. I have upper arm strength I didn’t have before. I can do actual push ups now. Not knee push-ups – real, full body push-ups. I can feel my hip bones through my skin, I couldn’t before this. And I can see what my body is supposed to look like under the fat I still have.

I’ve spent less of my life planning meals, or going on shopping trips, since starting Zero Carb. I also go out socially way less, but I don’t miss it. I don’t want to be tempted and give in, or feel unsatisfied. Plus, I save money by not eating out as well.

Sarah shortly after starting her Zero Carb journey.

There are times that I want other foods besides meat. I’ve gave in once during this first month. I went on a date, I chose to drink alcohol, and later – because we had been drinking and it’s easier to make bad decisions at that point – I chose to eat carbs. I didn’t want to explain to my date my food lifestyle. And I didn’t plan ahead. It tasted great while eating it. Those sweet sweet carbs… However, it didn’t taste great when my body threw it all up later that night! Ah well, live and learn. They say experience is the best teacher. So, not wanting to go through that again, I’ve been good ever since.

I’m still over weight, and am still making up for 30 years of bad choices, but I look and feel so much better now after only 30+ days of eating only meat. I already know there is no going back. This is such a fun journey. Anything else before this wasn’t fun. I am fascinated and excited. What a wonderful way to feel all the time. So like I said, my story isn’t any different than most, but maybe – precisely because it IS similar to most – it can be of help to others who read it.

My Typical a Daily Menu

BREAKFAST
1 cup of Espresso with 3 oz Heavy Whipping Cream
3 eggs with butter

LUNCH
Chicken

DINNER
Beef or Pork

My hunger has been all over the place, so I can’t really provide an average amount of meat for lunch or dinner. It varies quite a bit at this point depending on my appetite. I try to eat until I feel satisfied though. I do add salt to my food for flavor.

Please visit my Testimonials page to read the stories of others following a Zero Carb diet.

Zero Carb Interview: Ultra-Marathoner Ana Teixeira

Posted on March 27, 2015 by esmeelafleur

A Happy Healthy Ana Teixeira!

1. How long have you been eating a Zero Carb (No Plant Foods) diet?

I have been eating a Zero Carb – No Plant Foods – diet for 5 years now.

2. What motivated you to try this way of eating? Weight? Health?

My motivation was for both health and endurance. I am an Ultra-marathoner, and I wanted to improve my performance, and a Zero Carb diet is the best way I have found to achieve this. I run 4 ultras a year. Two of them are 100 km and the other two are 215 km each. My personal best time for the 100 km is 9 hours and 30 minutes.

3. How long did it take you to adapt to a Zero Carb diet, both physically and psychologically?

I took several months for me to transition to a fully adapted state. I started eating a low carbohydrate diet 3 years earlier (which included fruits, vegetables, eggs, and dairy products), but it did not give me the results I was seeking. I wanted more independence and freedom from food. I wanted to be able to go for hours without eating. I was still hungry too often on just a Low Carb diet. It takes mental strength to make the transition to Zero Carb, but with determination and discipline everyone can do it. And the benefits are awesome.

Ana Warming Up For a Long Training Run.

4. What books or people were most influential in guiding you to this way of eating?

The person who influenced me the most was Charles Washington from the Zeroing in on Health internet forum. He – and other group members – shared many references, articles, links, etc. that I read which convinced me that this way of eating was definitely worth trying. Also, I’ve a biochemistry degree and read a lot papers on this subject, especially those of Dr. Robert Lustig. (He is the author of the book Fat Chance and a lecture he gave titled Sugar: The Bitter Truth – about the dangers of fructose – went viral on YouTube a few years ago.)

5. Do you eat only meat, or do you include eggs, cheese, and cream in your diet?

I eat only meat. I consume mostly beef and pork, choosing the fattiest cuts, but I also like chicken wings. The meat and fat from pork head is one of my favorites, but I do not eating brain. I do not eat turkey or duck or rabbit meat because I find it to be too lean. I need lots of fat to fuel my body and provide the energy necessary for my long runs. I enjoy bacon, too, but it is difficult to find it without sugar.

A Newspaper Article Written About Ana in the Portuguese Publication “Imediato”

(Please note: An English translation of this article is provided at the end of this interview.)

6. What percentage of your diet is beef verses other types of meats?

About 50% of my diet is fresh beef, and the others 50% is pork and chicken wings.

7. When you eat beef, do you cook it rare, medium, or well done?

I prefer my meat cooked medium.

8. Do you add extra fat to your meat? (i.e. butter, lard, tallow)

If I feel I need extra fat, I will add ghee (lactose-free butter) which is easy to find where I live.

9. Do you limit your meat consumption or do you eat until satisfied?

I do not limit the quantity of meat I eat. I eat until I feel my needs have been fulfilled. I eat two meals a day. I have my first meal about mid-day after my morning run, and my second meal in the evening. That’s enough for me.

Ana During One of Her Long Runs.

10. Do you eat liver or other organ meats? If so, how often?

No, no organ meats at all.

11. Do you consume bone broth? If so, how often?

I do not drink bone broth on a daily basis, but I do use it during a competition. During the ultra-marathons, we must carry our own food, so that’s when the bone broth is good for me. Sometimes during ultras that last for several days, my support car will give it to me to drink. This is really helpful because then I don’t have to carry it, and I can continue to run while drinking it.

12. How many meals do you eat per day on average?

I generally eat 2 meals per day, but I listen to my body and sometimes I don’t need that much and will only eat one. I let my hunger dictate.

13. How much meat do you eat per day on average?

I eat 750 – 1000 gms. of chicken wings and then 500 gms. of other meat on average per day. (or between 2 – 3 lbs.)

14. Do you eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meat, or regular commercially-produced meat?

I live in a big city and buy most of my meat from the large supermarkets. However, I recently found a smaller shop that sells nice pieces of grass-fed beef and I will buy from them on occasion.

Ana Competing in an Ultra-Marathon Race.

15. Do you drink any beverages besides water? (i.e. coffee, tea)

I drink mostly water, but I will sometimes have a cup of coffee with ghee (lactose-free butter) in it.

16. Do you use salt?

Yes, because of the long distance running, I find that my body requires more sodium than the meat alone provides. If I do not use it, I will experience electrolyte imbalances. I add extra salt to both my water and my food. I have about 5 gms. (1 tsp.) on average per day.

17. Do you use spices?

I do not use any spices.

18. Do you take any supplements?

I do not take any supplements besides the salt.

19. How much money do you spend on food each month?

I spend about 250 Euros (equivalent to $275 USD).

20. Do you have any tips for making this diet more affordable?

I recommend trying to find a place where you can become a regular customer. In my place, they know me and offer me special discounts for shopping there on a regular basis. I cook all of my own food and I never eat out. If I have to be away from home for a meal, I prepare it ahead of time and take it with me. Always.

Ana Visiting with a Nun at the Convento do Clarissas Do Desagravo Louriçal.

21. Do you exercise regularly? If so, how often and how vigorously?

I am a high school biology teacher. I have loved to run since my youth, and I decided to start participating in ultra-marathons for several years ago. I’m 49 years old now and I have done several ultra-marathons around Europe. I began running marathons in 2009, and ultra-marathons in 2012. I run 150 km (93 miles) a week when I am training for a competition.

22. What benefits have you experienced since beginning a Zero Carb diet? (i.e. recovery from illness, overall health, body composition, exercise performance, hormonal, mental or psychological, etc.)

The biggest benefits for me are related to my running performance and recover. I have excellent endurance and I have never experienced and injury. Carbohydrates are the primary cause inflammation, and – since I do not eat them – my muscles recover quickly and are never sore. This diet also gives me a very stable heart rate while running. Once you are fully adapted to a Zero Carb diet and burning fat for energy instead of glucose, you do not need to eat much during a long run because your body has access to an abundance of fat for fuel. (Dr. Stephen Phinney, author of The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance, has stated that even most thin people have at least 20,000 calories of fat stored in their cells to tap into once they have become keto-adapted.)

Ana with Her Running Gear, Ready to Role.

23. Have you conceived, given birth, or breastfed while on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what was your experience?

No, I was not aware of Zero Carb when I conceived and gave birth to my two sons. I was a carbohydrate addict back then, unfortunately.

24. Have you raised children on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what has been their experience? How difficult is it to keep carbs out of their diet in today’s world?

I do all of the cooking for my family daily. I have three men to feed, my husband and two sons. I also have 5 cats and a dog. I am the only one eating a Zero Carb diet, but I keep their meals fairly low in carbohydrates. I continue to encourage them to eat Zero Carb, but so far they have not joined me. I allow them to choose for themselves, it is an individual choice and one must want to do it. They observe me and can see how happy I am with this way of eating. I am hopeful that – with my own consistency – I can inspire them to choose this path. Cats and dog are already eating a Zero Carb diet like me.

25. What do you enjoy most about eating a Zero Carb diet?

The taste of the food. The feeling of freedom. The calmness of my mind. The knowledge of what my body needs. The deeper understanding of who I am as a member of the Homo sapiens species.

Ana After Finishing a Long Training Run.

26. Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning a Zero Carb diet?

Consistency and determination are needed to succeed. It takes time for the body to adapt. Do not give up. Be patient. Once you are adapted, you will experiences lots of energy and you will feel great both physically and mentally. Your memory will improve, your skin will improve, your physique will improve. You will grow younger. I am 49, but all of my students tell me I look like I am in my mid-30s.

27. Are your friends and family supportive of your Zero Carb lifestyle? If not, how do you handle this?

I receive totally respect and support from my family. Not so much support from colleagues and students at the school where I work. But with my example, they are beginning to think and contemplate this way of eating more seriously. I have far too many obese students in my classes. And some of my solidarity competitions is for the purpose of raising money for poor students. That also makes them reflect more on what I am doing. To follow this path, it is important to have a knowledge and understanding of it, but it is also important to see others who are living it successfully. I try to be the best example I can be for others.

28. Is there anything you would like share about this way of eating that I have not already asked you?

It is truly an honor for me to be able to share my experience in this way with all of you. Any additional questions are most welcome.

Ana Relaxed and in the Zone During a Long Run.

Here is an English translation of the Portuguese language newspaper article about her. It was translated by Bing, and I had to do some guess work editing to make it flow. I am sure it is not totally accurate, but hopefully it is close enough to the original meaning…

Original Article Written by Monica Feirrera

Ana Cristina Teixeira is a biology teacher in Penafiel. And a runner. And a woman of faith. She kicks off a race this Saturday morning at the port, running to get to Fatima before the Sundayfinish. But the expectation is not the performance, time, challenge, or accomplishment. The expectation of Ana – a woman of faith – is to bring awareness about the reality behind the rosy faces of students who attend the school Joaquim de Araújo.

Many live in conditions of “extreme poverty,” she told us earlier. Ana wants to be able to help them with scholarships that prevent them from having to quit school and will allow them to continue with their educational studies. So, this race will run 215 km and will help to raise money for this cause through donations. It is the second time this particular race has been organized and run for this purpose.

In May 2012, another race to Fatima managed to raise EUR 1700 delivered to students in need of scholarships for school, but it also provided funds to help with vision and dental care. Now, with the support of the Rotary Club of Penafiel and the city of Penafiel (in Portugal), another 1500 EUR has already been raised this year. This money will go to the students with the most need.

Ana Cristina Teixeira is a 48 year old life-long athlete. The race starts at 5 AM and will follow the coast. She will be accompanied by her husband Arthur who will drive near her in in a car and provide support such as hydration and changes of clothes. She will stop only 9 times throughout the entire race, and will likely eat during only 1 or two of these stops. Last year, Ana completed the race in 48 hours, with only one 3-hour stop to rest.

Please note: You can find Ana under the Facebook page Corrida Peregrina, the name of her Ultra Running organization dedicated to raising money for students in need.

Please visit my Interviews page to read the stories of other long time Zero Carb veterans.

If you are interested in meeting others who practice an All-Meat diet, please feel free to join us in the Facebook group Principia Carnivora for support.

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Karen Kelbell

Posted on March 24, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Karen Kelbell on her Path to Well-Being

I came to Zero Carb from a low carb background. I’m 57 years old and I’ve been low carbing for the last 30 years, gaining and losing the same weight over and over. I’ve found that the older I get the harder it’s been to lose. I’m 5’2 and was at an all time high weight of 273 pounds when I started keto. It took 6 weeks before I became keto-adapted and the next month was great. I had lots of energy and lost 18 pounds. Then, I hit a brick wall. For the next 18 months my weight would go up and down a couple of pounds, but I was never able to get under 255.

I know that my biggest problem was embracing what I call the “new keto.” My goal every day was to fit in as many substitute “junk” foods (many with Zero Carb sweeteners) as I could without exceeding 20 grams of carbs. Net carbs were the rule for all of my high fiber substitute foods which meant I subtracted the fiber grams from the total carbohydrate grams.

In addition to not being able to lose weight, I began to suffer from chronic fatigue. I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue by a naturopath, due to my low cortisol levels and other symptoms. I can’t really describe the tiredness of chronic fatigue. Every movement was a challenge and some days even speaking was too difficult. I was suffering from depression and had an extremely negative attitude. I really believe I was causing everyone around me to suffer right along with me. It’s hard to deal with an illness that some in the medical field won’t even acknowledge.

Getting dressed and going anywhere took every ounce of my energy and usually left me wiped out for the rest of the day. I would wake up after a sleepless night and wish the day were already over. Some days I despaired of life and wished it would end. There are no words for how terrible I was feeling, both physically and mentally.

It was at this time that a friend suggested I try doing a high protein moderate fat keto diet. Supposedly this was the way to health and weight loss. I ended up gaining 8 pounds in 3 days! I was having trouble maneuvering the stairs in my home and would find myself out of breath once I reached the top. I was feeling scared at how out of shape I was, but didn’t know what to do. I started doing a beginner body building workout, but could barely get past the basics.

I was full of despair and – to add to my already stressed out life – my daughter had announced she would be getting married in 5 months. I was so tired and so overweight and so overwhelmed, I couldn’t even feel joy for her happiness. I didn’t know what to do. The 8 pounds I’d gained, putting me at 265, weren’t budging. I went back to my LCHF keto diet.

A couple of days later an interesting story came across my news feed in a keto group I was in. It was the story of Kelly Williams Hogan and her Zero Carb journey. I was intrigued, but I thought it was too much of an extreme. Meat and water? Who could live on that?! I honestly don’t know if I would have tried Zero Carb if I hadn’t been absolutely desperate. I HAD to lose some weight. So, I decided to give it a try.

I found the Facebook group Zeroing In On Health and started reading everything I could, both there and elsewhere on the internet about this unique diet. At first, I desperately hung on to my coffee replacement drink with heavy cream and a tiny scoop of stevia. It was so small; it couldn’t be that bad! Things went well and I lost 5 pounds in 5 days. So far, so good.

Then something astounding happened. I woke up on Day 6 and my life had changed. I felt rested, peaceful, and happy. Getting up didn’t seem to be a chore. As the day went on, I realized my new found energy was staying with me. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. I was doing Zero Carb to lose weight, never dreaming it would make me well. The next day was the same.

I realized the hip and knee pain that had been waking me up at night (when – by some miracle – I was able to get some sleep) was now gone. My mood continued to improve, even when I didn’t think it could get any better. I’ve seen this described by some people on Zero Carb as “euphoria.” I would say that’s a good description. Then I had a setback.

I took my sleeping pill one night and didn’t go immediately to bed. I was then able to convince myself that eating a couple of mini low carb chocolate bars made perfect sense. After all, I was still using the stevia in my coffee replacement drink without any visible problems, but now I realize this “carb-free” sweetener was perpetuating my desire for sweet things. They say experience is the best teacher. I’d have to agree.

The next morning I woke up and the tiredness was back. I felt nervous and edgy all day and had gained 3 pounds. So, I decided I was going to give Zero Carb my all. I wanted that good feeling back! That day I gave up my stevia for good. I also gave up the coffee replacement drink. I did start having a cup of coffee in the morning with heavy cream. I just felt like I needed it.

After 3 days I was back to feeling great again, although my weight at that point was bouncing around. I read that dairy could stall weight loss, so I decided to give it up. (I probably should have given up the scale, as well.) I wasn’t eating much cheese, maybe an ounce or less every few days, so that wasn’t hard. I tried drinking a cup of coffee black, but found it tasted so bad without cream there was no point in drinking it.

I’ve now fallen into an easy basic Zero Carb routine. Eat meat (and eggs). Drink water. Live (and enjoy!) my life. I love the simplicity of it. No more counting carbs or worrying about whether I’ve eaten the proper ratios. It’s like everything is built into Zero Carb eating. I get hungry, I eat. I eat until I’m full. When I’m full, I stop. At first I felt hungry a lot and worried about eating too much. But I was trusting what I’d read on Zeroing in on Health and ate if I was hungry.

After about a week or so, I found I was only able to eat 2 meals a day. That was so amazing to me. I wanted to try eating only one meal a day, but I knew that I would be playing head games if I tried to manipulate my hunger. So, I just let my body lead me.

At first I thought eating meat would be the most boring thing ever and wasn’t sure I would be able to stick to it. It hasn’t been that way at all. I wait until I am truly hungry and then every piece of fatty meat I eat tastes wonderful. I feel like I’m eating a King’s diet. After only 30 days, it is clear to me that this way of eating is not only the way out of my obesity nightmare, but it is also the path to restoring my health. I am sold on it for life.

To date, I have lost a total of 9 pounds. My clothes are also fitting much better and I’m sure if I had measured inches in the beginning I’d be amazed at the results. Zero Carb is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me. I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to live life to its fullest. I am actually looking forward to each day now, and I am even feeling excited about my daughters upcoming wedding!

Please visit my Testimonials page to read the stories of others following a Zero Carb diet.

If you are interested in meeting others who practice an All-Meat diet, please feel free to join us in the Facebook group Principia Carnivora for support.

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Nkem Alozie

Posted on March 24, 2015 by esmeelafleur

A Happy Nkem Alozie

What was my diet like before Zero Carb?

A whole food Very Low Carb, Ketogenic (20g of carbs per day) diet. I consumed no frankenfoods with the exception of a packet or two of splenda in my coffee and coke zero.

What I am eating on Zero Carb?

Eggs, Bacon, Butter, Coffee, Heavy Whipping Cream, Beef, Organ Meats, Goat, Chicken, and African Giant Snails.

What I am I drinking on Zero Carb?

Water

How much did I workout on Zero Carb?

Not a single second.

Day 1 – 10:

I experienced common symptoms of adaptation and transition such as lethargy, headaches, etc. I went from working out 5-6 times a week to zero workouts. My mood was up and down, but cravings were minimal. The adaptation and transition symptoms were identical to when I went from a SAD (Standard American Diet) to a Ketogenic diet.Because I was only consuming 20 gms or less of carbohydrates per day on Keto, I thought the transition would not be a big deal. I was wrong. There is a big difference between ANY grams of Carbs and ZERO Carbs.

Day 11 – 21:

I began ti experience a Zen Like Mood and my energy returned. I had no more cravings and began to experience a natural high 24/7.

Day 22 – 30:

I decided to give up coffee and heavy whipping cream and went through adaptation and transition symptoms a second time. The symptoms were almost identical to my first week of Zero Carb. The reason I quit coffee was because I was using it to suppress my appetite in order to eat only one meal a day. It was a holdover from my Keto (Bullet Proof Coffee) days and I wasn’t truly giving Zero Carb an honest effort because of it. Once I stopped drinking coffee, my appetite returned and I started eating like a piglet. I ate myself into a stupor for a couple of days before my body had enough and my appetite started regulating itself. I began eating less and less, and now I’m at the point where I just eat when I’m hungry. It’s coming down to about twice a day a present, but I can easily see it going back to once a day with time…or maybe not. I don’t really care.

What I learnt?

If YOU want change, YOU have to change. I strongly encourage newbies to listen to the Zero Carb veterans who have been eating this way for years in order to prevent needless suffering for yourself. Based on my 30 day experience, what they say is true and is the only relevant thing that people need to listen to.

I had to go through the 5 stages of grief (anger, denial, bargaining, depression and then, finally, acceptance) with some of the things these veterans (like Charles, Caitlin, and Dana) were saying, but it was for my own good. For newbies like me, getting to the acceptance stage of true Zero Carb as quickly as your acculturation will allow is critical for success. Suffer now (temporarily) and live the rest of your life in complete freedom and great health.

How much Weight & Inches did I lose?

Though I initially gained a few pounds, I ended up losing a total of 11.2 pounds over these first 30 days. I didn’t take measurements when I started, but I’ve gone down one or two notches on my belt. I also look much smaller than what 11 pounds could ever really depict, so I have probably gained some lean body mass as well.

In summary

It’s so much easier to just eat meat, drink water, and live my life. No worrying about macros, no counting calories, no trickery to suppress appetite. Just meat and water.

Cheers Everyone!

Please visit my Testimonials page to read the stories of others following a Zero Carb diet.

My First 8 Months on Zero Carb by Kevin Fenderson

Posted on March 19, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Kevin today after 10 months on Low Carb and 8 months on Zero Carb and weighing 155 lbs.

Kevin is an acquaintance of mine that I met through the Facebook forum Zeroing in on Health. He started his weight loss journey on a general low carb, ketogenic diet around October of 2013. His top weight was approximate 230 lbs., but he preferred not to know the exact number. Prior to beginning a ketogenic diet, Kevin ran and biked daily, but he continued to gain weight anyway. After 10 months on a low carb, ketogenic diet, Kevin was down to 165 lbs. which he considered to be quite an achievement.

Kevin’s next goal was to figure out how to maintain this weight loss and that is how he happened upon Zero Carb. On a low carb, ketogenic diet, Kevin was eating vegetables 3-4 times a week as well as diet soda and some other low carb Keto junk foods, and he still suffered from cravings. Now, the only thing he consumes besides meat, eggs, and cheese, is coffee. Although it was not Kevin’s goal to lose more weight, he has none the less shed an extra 10 lbs during his first 8 months on a Zero Carb diet.

Kevin prior to adopting a Low Carb, Ketogenic diet and weighing 230 lbs.

Kevin posted his reflections in Zeroing in on Health today after 8 months of eating Zero Carb and he has kindly given me permission to share them with the readers of my blog. Kevin’s sense of freedom – from the bondage to food – is the most powerful message his words convey…

“When it comes to cholesterol, the numbers that matter are excellent. My triglycerides are down in the 70s. My HDL (the good stuff) is up into the 60s. Those are the only two numbers I pay much attention to. My total cholesterol is higher than my doctor would like. It means only one thing to me, a free test sooner than I would normally get one. LOL. The rest of the changes are harder to describe. I am leaner than I was 8 months ago. But, I am not massively so. I was pretty close to my goal weight when I started. I am slowly trending downwards. My fitness is better.”

“The biggest change is probably mental. I just have no real stress when it comes to health, food, or anything like that. I don’t count carbs. I don’t count calories. I don’t worry about macros. I have lost all the cravings for sweets. I have stopped drinking diet soda. That’s a mental thing, not a physical thing. I can see, now, how deeply I was addicted to the sweetness of it. I have learned to trust my body. I don’t know if many here will understand how deep that really is. My whole adult-life, I had been constantly betrayed by my body when I didn’t strictly monitor what I ate and my activity level. When I ate because I was hungry, I got fatter. I would know I was eating too much, but I couldn’t stop myself. I knew my body was wrong.”

“Now, I can trust my body is right. If I am hungry, I eat. I don’t worry if it’s 5,000 calories in a day (and sometimes it is). I know my body is asking because it needs it. If I am not hungry, I don’t worry about it. I know I don’t need it. If I am feeling like going out for a walk or a run, I do. If I am feeling like sitting in the yard and enjoying the sun without moving except to reach for my iced coffee, I do that instead. No guilt about being lazy. No concern about getting fat and losing my muscle. I am no longer a slave to my appetite. I would be ravenous sometimes. I couldn’t stop myself from eating. I would just eat everything I could get my hands on, trying to stop the hunger. Now, I can be hungry and wait until there’s food I want to eat (if I am out). It’s no longer an “emergency” when I get hungry.”

Kevin buys beef chuck in bulk and cuts his own steaks.

“My digestion (the whole process from eating to elimination) is massively better. I burp less, I fart less, I have no more of those stinky tonsil stones, I don’t “gurgle” as I digest, I don’t get cramps, I don’t get plugged up. Hell, I don’t even think about it. I didn’t realize how messed up my gut was until it wasn’t messed up any more. I remember an ex-girlfriend who could tell, over the phone, if I had eaten pizza because she could hear my gut complaining. The one time my wife begged me to cheat (and I foolishly agreed), she was soon urging me to get back on the diet. She had forgotten how much she appreciated the fact that I almost never fart.”

“My wallet is fatter. It would seem odd, considering what I eat. But, I usually spend less than $50 a week feeding myself. That’s less than $215 a month (often under $200/month). Back when I was addicted to carbs, I once spent $300 one month just on pizza. Just pizza. I lived alone. That month I probably spent a total of $600-$700 on food. Even eating just “low-carb” was harder on my wallet because of the vegetables which provided little in the way of calories and nutrition compared to their cost. I also was spending money on faux-foods like quest bars, artificial sweeteners, nuts, nut flours, low-carb breads, etc.”

“I spend very little mental energy on food and diet. I cook my meat to my liking when I am hungry and usually pre-cook some burgers to have for when I am hungry and don’t want to cook. I don’t worry about recipes. I don’t think of ingredients or food shopping. I don’t worry that things will go bad. I know how much I normally eat, and I buy only what I eat in amounts that are gone long before it would go bad. I just have a lot of peace. I am calm, relaxed, and things are easy. The only stressful things I have left are unrelated to my diet or fitness. There’s probably more. But, this is what I’ve thought of off the top of my head.”

A chuck steak, seared on the outside and raw on the inside.

I asked Kevin to describe his daily menu…

“Average day: Usually some eggs (4-6) with bacon (1/5 – 1/4 pound). Lunch is usually pre-cooked burgers (1/2 – 3/4 lbs. of 75/25) or leftover steak from the night before. Dinner is usually a chuck steak cut from a chuck roll and the size varies heavily depending upon how hungry I am. Dinner could be half a pound or might be 3-4 times that. It’s probably closer to a pound most of the time. Dairy is very rare for me, but it’s not something I won’t eat. I put it in the same class as other “variety” foods, like liver, seafood, chicken, etc. They’re not bad foods. They just don’t make it onto my regular menu because I rarely think to buy them. Oh, and coffee. According to my doctor, far too much coffee. Of all the things, that’s what she wants me to cut back on. I tend to drink a pot a day, sometimes more. Usually, it’s poured over ice and watered down a bit. I just like the taste. No cream, no butter, no sweetener, just black coffee.”

Please visit my Testimonials page to read the stories of others following a Zero Carb diet.

Zero Carb Interview: Debra Caldwell

Posted on March 16, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Debra today.

1. How long have you been eating a Zero Carb (No Plant Foods) diet?

I first began Zero Carb around 5-6 years ago. I had good weight loss success on Very Low Carb following the original Atkins Induction phase of his diet, only I stayed on the Induction. I mostly ate meat and an occasional salad, no fruit. I did get hooked on some Low Carb Franken Foods. LOTS of cravings once I started the Franken Foods.

While visiting a Low Carb forum, I came across a Low Carb member that was saying her goodbyes, as she was leaving the Low Carb forum to join a Zero Carb forum called Zeroing in on Health (ZIOH), as she felt that was the way for her to go. She was not losing weight, had cravings, had a hard time keeping weight off, didn’t feel energized, etc.…EXACTLY what I was experiencing! I immediately emailed her and asked for the Zero Carb web address and joined that very day.

I was committed for almost a year, then for whatever dumb reasons, I started eating carbs again and began gaining weight. I was so mad at myself! I lost that good Zen feeling of Zero Carb and all the excellent support and friendship of my Zero Carb family, because I was too ashamed of myself to go back to ZIOH and tell them that I had slipped big time.

Thank goodness I came to my senses! I have been back for almost 2.5 years. BEST DECISION I EVER MADE!!

2. What motivated you to try this way of eating? Weight? Health?

I guess I kinda covered some of that above, but my main motivation at first was for weight loss. Now the older I get and I see the devastating effects of a lifetime of SAD on the elderly – my mom has horrible RA and my husband’s dad just died recently from Alzhemier’s – my health is as important to me as my weight, yes I am VAIN!

The Low Carb member that inspired me to make the jump was named Sharon I think; she was a chef for a restaurant in England at the time. Many of the Zero Carb forum members may remember her. She worked with food all day and I was and still am a cake decorator. We both had to face tempting foods/baked goods, all day while being Zero Carb.

During the couple of years before I went back to Zero Carb, I gained and lost many times, always craving carbs. I KNEW in my heart the way to go was Zero Carb, so I finally went back home to ZIOH, where I was welcomed back with open arms. Charles, Caitlin, Kelly, Dana, Lise, and MANY more have been so inspirational and motivating.

3. How long did it take you to adapt to a Zero Carb diet, both physically and psychologically?

My first time around I was coming from Very Low Carb, so not too much adjustment. I did have several weeks of queasiness from the fatty ground beef, but it did go away. I do remember my primary focus at that time was for weight loss. I got a firm, but gentle reminder from ZIOH Veterans (Iron Fists in Velvet Gloves) that it is about HEALTH first; the loss of weight is a bonus. Boy, did I need that reminder! I was Zero Carb for about 6-8 months, maybe a year. Can’t remember for sure.

Then I was “gone” for about 2 years riding the “carb on, carb off” roller coaster, gaining and gaining, sometimes losing, but always overwhelmed with the cravings. I knew Zero Carb was the answer and would go Zero Carb for a couple of weeks, then back to my bad carby crap. I think now if I had rejoined ZIOH during that time I might have stayed Zero Carb.

Finally I got off the rollercoaster and got serious. My weight was high for me, pushing 155-160 for my 5’3” medium frame. My blood pressure had gone up and I had never had high blood pressure before. That scared me. I went very low carb, practically zero carb and lost about 20 pounds. By the time I hit 135 or so I was eating zero carb. I rejoined ZIOH and continued my Zero Carb journey. There have been a few blips along the way, but very few. I am now 117-120 and feel fantastic. My blood pressure is normal. At 62, I run circles around folks half my age. My hormones must be good now or I would not have been able to lose the weight and keep it off.

Menopause was mostly hot flashes for me. I did not take any hormone supplements or medications for menopause. I might have been extra moody, as I was eating carbs during part of my menopause, but I never felt like killing anyone or have crying fits.

4. What books or people were most influential in guiding you to this way of eating?

Atkins original book was my bible for years. I lost lots of weight on his induction phase and loved all the fatty meat, butter and cream.

Good Calorie Bad Calorie – though more scientific than I can digest – is great!

The Bear, which I have read several times, is just amazing!

Charles, Caitlin, Kelly, Margo, Dana, Lise, Dave, Margo and MANY other Zero Carb Veterans from the ZIOH forum have been/are the BEST! The enthusiastic new folks now joining our Facebook Zero Carb (also called Zeroing in on Health) group also continually motivate me.

5. Do you eat only meat, or do you include eggs, cheese, and cream in your diet?

I eat mostly 73/27 ground beef. I eat eggs every now and then. My husband eats about 6 -8 eggs every day along with his ground beef. I also eat rib eye and T-bone on occasion. If I am lucky enough to spot Chuck Eye steaks, I will grab several packages. I do not eat cheese, too salty, bloats me and causes weight gain. I love cream, but it loves me too much! I go from a couple of teaspoons to ½ cup, so I ditched it. Post nasal drip and constant clearing of my throat went away after I ditched it.

I do not eat pork, not because I dislike it, but for some reason it always tastes salty and my weight will shoot up 2 or 3 pounds. On occasion I will eat bacon, but again, really too salty, and I am talking about the low sodium version!

I also eat beef spareribs, love them, and CHICKEN WINGS, LOVE THEM THE MOST!! I bake them to almost chicken jerky and will devour them all, hot or cold. SO, I only eat chicken wings once a month or so. I do not eat fish.

Debra before adopting a Zero Carb diet.

6. What percentage of your diet is beef verses other types of meats?

Easily 95%.

7. When you eat beef, do you cook it rare, medium, or well done?

Medium, sometimes medium rare. I used to eat it well done. Now I like it with just a little bit of pink.

8. Do you add extra fat to your meat? (i.e. butter, lard, tallow)

In the beginning, I added fat – usually butter or beef fat. Now I just eat whatever is in/on my meat. 73/27 produces a lot of yummy fat drippings and I pour a small amount over my burger patty to dip my bites of burger into. Sometimes I will fry eggs in bacon grease, but usually I fry them in beef fat. Delicious!

9. Do you limit your meat consumption or do you eat until satisfied?

I eat until satisfied. Some days I may eat 2-3 pounds, but most days around 2 pounds.

10. Do you eat liver or other organ meats? If so, how often?

NO and NEVER.

11. Do you consume bone broth? If so, how often?

I made bone broth once. It was ok. I probably won’t make it again.

12. How many meals do you eat per day on average?

I eat an hour after I get up and an hour after I get home from work, so twice a day. Yesterday I ate 3 times. Most days it is 2 times a day.

13. How much meat do you eat per day on average?

I eat around 2 pounds, sometimes 2.5 pounds. Now steak, I will eat until it is gone, be it 1 pound or 2! I will also eat an entire family size package of chicken wings in one sitting!

14. Do you eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meat, or regular commercially produced meat?

I eat regular commercially produced meat.

15. Do you drink any beverages besides water? (i.e. coffee, tea)

I now drink just water. I have been off coffee for over a month and do not miss it. Believe me, I was a coffee addict! I LOVED my coffee, drank it all day. I feel coffee was not good for me, it disguised my hunger, over stimulated my bladder, I kept clearing my throat all the time and honestly did not feel any more energized drinking it. For me, it was a good thing to eliminate it from my diet.

I found both caffinated and decaf coffee suppresses my appetite. I did not know that the coffee was suppressing my appetite until I quit drinking it. I initially ate more meat for several weeks, gained a couple pounds, then found myself not very hungry anymore and now I easily eating one meal a day. I have also dropped the 2 pounds I gained.

16. Do you use salt?

No. I prefer the natural taste of meat.

17. Do you use spices?

No. I prefer the natural taste of meat.

18. Do you take any supplements?

No.

19. How much money do you spend on food each month?

My husband does the meat shopping and a 10 pound chub of 73/27 ground beef has been running around $32.00. We go through about 2 – 2.5 chubs a week. I easily eat over 10 pounds myself and my husband uses a 1 roll for his meals. I don’t know what eggs are running, but we get about three to four 18 count cartons a week. Then there are the occasional chicken wings, beef spareribs, and steak. My Hubs is still drinking coffee, he wants to finish the can. So after the can is gone, no more buying coffee. I don’t think he knows that yet!

Debra’s Zero Carb husband.

20. Do you have any tips for making this diet more affordable?

My husband and I eat ground beef almost exclusively. My husband does eat lots of eggs as well. I eat eggs maybe a couple times a month. I find ground beef the cheapest and most satisfying. If I find markdown meat on sale, I will sometimes splurge and get some sale packages.

21. Do you exercise regularly? If so, how often and how vigorously?

Many years ago I was a competitive body builder. I was an exercise maniac! In preparation for body building competitions I would do 3 hours a day of aerobics plus my lifting, all while on a low fat diet. Talk about HUNGRY and the CRAVINGS!! UGH! So glad I am off that hamster wheel!

Now a days, my job requires me to be on my feet and moving about to accomplish my work. In the Summer, Spring and Fall I ride my horses. I do not do any formal exercise.

My doctor told me several years ago that I had low thyroid. I knew NOTHING about thyroid at the time. He described some of the physical symptoms of low thyroid, none of which I had, but nonetheless, he prescribed meds for me to take. I took them. I did have a brief spurt of energy at the beginning, but then I couldn’t tell any difference. I detest taking meds and after being on ZC for a while, I dropped them all together. That has been over 2 years ago and I feel great.

I am Post Menopausal and frequently read that women say they cannot lose weight after menopause. With Very Low Carb and then Zero Carb, I had no problem losing weight and keeping it off.

I hardly ever get sick. Several weeks ago I got a touch of the flu. It was gone in less than 2 days. Before that, I cannot remember when I was last sick.

I feel more mentally sharp and don’t fly off the handle like I used to. I still have a temper, but it takes more to set me off and my degree of anger isn’t as deep as it once was.

My nails are actually hard now, in fact, too hard! I can’t bite them any more!

This may sound weird, but the other day I thought my vision was actually better, more sharp.

I speak my mind, sometimes in a very blunt manner. Not rude, just blunt. Before I would beat around the bush, try to phrase things just so, but now I just say it. With a smile!

Debra after adopting a Zero Carb diet.

23. Have you conceived, given birth, or breastfed while on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what was your experience?

No. I wish I had known about ZC way back then. Hopefully someday my daughter will give it a try. The health benefits are so great!

24. Have you raised children on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what has been their experience? How difficult is it to keep carbs out of their diet in today’s world?

No. My daughter is now an adult. Hopefully she will give this a try one day.

25. What do you enjoy most about eating a Zero Carb diet?

The simplicity of it all! I feel that I am ahead of the aging game by eating ZC and look forward to being vital and active in my senior years, which is still a LONG way off.

26. Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning a Zero Carb diet?

KEEP IT SIMPLE. GIVE IT TIME. If I can do it, ANYONE can. Read and learn from the ZC veterans, they have much to offer. Find meat that your enjoy, guzzle down your water and live your life free from food hang-ups.

27. Are your friends and family supportive of your Zero Carb lifestyle? If not, how do you handle this?

My family and friends are used to me eating “weird”! They know I eat only meat and “its just how Debbie eats”. It is no big deal to go to family functions and not eat or to show up with my own food. I have one very dear friend that knows I eat totally Zero Carb and she doesn’t say yay or nay about it. People at work, those than know from many years ago, think I am still Very Low Carb and always comment on how “Debbie never eats anything, she is so good”! Good has nothing to do with it! I do not hide how I eat, nor to do I preach about how I eat. If anyone is interested, I will share information with them.

I had one coworker/friend that announced that she was going to go “ZERO CARB like Debbie”. At lunch time (for her, I do not eat lunch), she said she was going to have some roast beef from the deli, a carton of yogurt (sweetened) and I believe a fruit or veggie, can’t remember. I told her the beef might be ok, but did she know that yogurt was full of carbs, same with her veggie/fruit? I said Zero Carb meant Zero Carb. I suggested she go around the store and read some labels on a variety of foods that she felt would fall under her definition of Zero Carb. She came back a better carb-educated woman! “Everything has carbs!” she said. Sorry to say, she only lasted maybe a week…. Oh well, maybe someday she will try again.

Men are amused that I eat only meat, never any problems eating just meat in public with men around. They actually find it cool. As stated above, I have no problem carrying my own food with me to a function or dinner. I have sneeked food into restaurants and if it is not condoned by the establishment, I excuse myself and eat in the restroom. Doesn’t bother me in the least. When someone comments on me eating JUST meat, I respond with a big smile and say: “A Vegetarian eats veggies, a Carnivore eats meat! Got it?”. They seem to get it then.

28. Is there anything you would like share about this way of eating that I have not already asked you?

When I mentioned above that anyone can do this if I can, here is why: I work in a bakery, yes a CARB FACTORY! I am a 5 star Cake Decorator. I am CONSTANTLY inhaling, touching, making cakes, cookies, etc. I have been in bakery work for 30+ years. With ZC I view what I do as art, which it is, and artists don’t eat their mediums! HAHA! I honestly do not want to eat any of the items made in the bakery. I do like the smells and aromas and that is about it. Sometimes I do get tempted, but it goes away quickly. And I really love my job!

Debra with her beloved horse and grandson.

Please visit my Interviews page to read the stories of other long time Zero Carb veterans.

Protected: Zero Carb Interview: The Andersen Family

Posted on March 9, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Zero Carb Interview: Michael Frieze

Posted on March 7, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Michael cooking up some crab legs.

1. How long have you been eating a Zero Carb (No Plant Foods) diet?

I started eating a low carbohydrate diet in 2010. I was aware of the all-meat diet, but I didn’t think I wanted to go that far with it at first. I tried the all-meat diet a few times in 2010, but I failed to stick with it. However, I was still not feeling well on a low carbohydrate diet, so in 2011 I tried the all-meat diet again and have been following it successfully ever since.

2. What motivated you to try this way of eating? Weight? Health?

I did not have much of a weight issue. At one point in my life, I did weigh 180 pounds and that was big for me. I was always able to lose the weight pretty easy. I worked a lot and that kept the weight off of me pretty well I think. What motivated me was my health. I have had to deal with asthma every since I could remember. I would last about 2 days before I had to use an inhaler or take a breathing treatment. Pneumonia was always a big fear for me, because the last time it almost killed me when I was about 14 years old. Allergies was another issue that I always had to deal with. Everyday my eyes would swell up and my nose would run. My head would always hurt and my body just felt bad. I noticed vitamin C helped my asthma, but it was temporary. A low carbohydrate diet made me feel better than I ever felt, but I felt drained on it and still had these issues to some degree. Finally, after some time on an all-meat diet, all of that was no longer a part of my life. It made it real easy to stick to this diet after I made it a few months and noticed how much better my life was. It is like living a completely new life with a new set of lungs. I can run for miles and still breathe properly. My nose rarely runs and I only get a cold a couple of times per year. I never get that sick, and – when I do get sick – it only lasts for a short period of time. I used to always be sick! I noticed that if I eat even 1 cup of vegetables, I will have symptoms of asthma within 1 to 2 days afterwards, so I don’t eat them and don’t ever plan on eating them again.

3. How long did it take you to adapt to a Zero Carb diet, both physically and psychologically?

It took me a long time to adapt mentally and physical to this diet. I have always eaten a really bad diet and I think that played a big part in it. I tried to go all-meat a few times before I actually was able to accomplish it. The so called “keto-flu” was hard for me to get through and lasted a couple of weeks. A low carbohydrate diet was much easier for me to get through, but even then it was hard to go from that to all-meat. Every time I tried all-meat, I would feel so run down. I had no energy, I was very nauseated, and my head was pounding. I could barely get out of bed after the 2nd or 3rd day of all-meat. I gave up many times after the 3rd or 4th day and I just kept trying until it worked I suppose. The mental part of it was a little easier for me to deal with than the physical part. The mental struggle just lasted much longer. I remember having dreams where I would “accidentally” eat pizza or ice cream and feel this horrible shame that would wake me out of my sleep. After years of eating this way, its easy now. I could not imagine eating any other way and its delicious.

Michael prior to adopting a Zero Carb diet.

4. What books or people were most influential in guiding you to this way of eating?

What got me interested at first was a couple of my friends were doing the Atkins diet. I thought it was a little ridiculous, so I started reading about it and came across Owsley “The Bear” Stanley post on a low carb message board. I was already aware of The Bear because I enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead. That sparked my interest a lot more and I read every post he made at least twice. I could not argue with it and I tried. It sounded crazy to me at first and I still did not plan on trying it. However, I was starting to get interested in this way of eating and the culture of the Inuit Eskimo as well. That lead me to reading books written by Vilhjalmur Stefansson, such as “The Fat of the Land.” I think this book convinced a lot of people. One of the things that really made sense to me was the fact that 200 Eskimo skulls were found and they did not show any signs of tooth decay. Also, another 600 (or more) skulls were found from the Icelandic middle-ages that showed no sign of tooth decay and they ate a diet of mostly meat as well. I could go on and on about all the contents of that book, but I will leave that up to the reader to read it for themselves. Another great book is Gary Taubes “Good Calories, Bad Calories.” All of these books are already mentioned by other people interviewed here and that shows how relevant they are.

5. Do you eat only meat, or do you include eggs, cheese, and cream in your diet?

I mostly eat meat, but I do eat eggs a lot too. I eat 7 or 8 eggs in the morning to get me going with a cup of coffee. I add about 1 Tablespoon of heavy cream to my coffee. I don’t eat cheese for the most part. As much as I love cheese, it does not agree with me.

6. What percentage of your diet is beef verses other types of meats?

My diet is mostly beef. I am not sure of the percentage. I don’t really pay much attention to that. I count enough in my calculus class. I eat fish, chicken, eggs, and even pork sometimes. Mostly, I eat steak. I like ground beef, but my girlfriend Samantha Taylor – who also eats an all-meat diet – has IBS issues with ground beef, so we don’t eat it as much. We buy bulk steak and cut our own steaks off of it. That is mostly what we eat and makes up the majority of our diet. I love boiled fish of all kinds and I use The Bear’s chicken recipe when I make chicken. I use bone-in chicken thighs with the skin still on them for the recipe, instead of an entire chicken. I just like the thighs and the legs a lot. It is probably the best thing I have ever tasted.

7. When you eat beef, do you cook it rare, medium, or well done?

When I cook beef, I cook it rare. When I first started this diet, I cooked all meat well-done. I could not get myself to eat rare meat. Now, I have to eat it rare. The longer I do this, the more rare I like it. When I cook my steaks, I let them sit out for a couple of hours and get the frying pan really hot. I cook them for a small amount of time on each side and then let them sit in the pan for about 5 minutes or so. It is warm all the way through, but it is still very rare and incredibly delicious. I swear the more I eat it, the better it tastes.

8. Do you add extra fat to your meat? (i.e. butter, lard, tallow)

I do not add extra fat to anything really. I add a little butter to my eggs and a little cream to my coffee. I find that if I eat too much fat I get nauseated. That tells me I don’t need anymore fat. If I do a lot of physical activity, I will want more fat than usual.

9. Do you limit your meat consumption or do you eat until satisfied?

I do not limit myself at all. I eat until I am full in the morning, and I eat until I am full at dinner. I am not afraid to throw out a little extra if I cant eat it. I don’t like to eat and not feel satisfied after.

Michael & Samantha

10. Do you eat liver or other organ meats? If so, how often?

I have eaten liver a couple of times. I do not eat it often at all. It does not taste all that good to me, but its not horrible.

11. Do you consume bone broth? If so, how often?

I do not consume bone broth.

12. How many meals do you eat per day on average?

I eat 2 meals per day. In the morning and dinner in the evening. Sometimes, I only eat in the evening if I am really busy. I don’t really get that hungry throughout the day. I eat a lot at dinner.

13. How much meat do you eat per day on average?

I eat about 2 to 3 pounds of meat per day. Maybe, more.

14. Do you eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meat, or regular commercially produced meat?

I do not eat grass fed or anything like that. I am a college student and can barely afford to eat as well as I do. I eat regular commercially-produced meat from the grocery store or butcher.

15. Do you drink any beverages besides water? (i.e. coffee, tea)

I drink coffee in the morning. About one cup per day and I really enjoy it. I buy freshly roasted beans and grind them myself. I use water that has a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit and use an Aero Press. With a little heavy cream, it is a highlight of my day. I drink a lot of water too. I don’t drink tea or anything else.

Michael pan-frying burgers at an outdoor event — taking his lifestyle with him.

16. Do you use salt?

I do not add salt to anything most of the time. I do eat salt when I eat bacon, however. When we buy bacon, it is low sodium bacon and I usually only eat about 3 or 4 pieces of it. I find that regular bacon is too salty. I don’t like the taste. Sometimes, I will add a little salt to meat, but it is rare. If I eat chicken with cream cheese, it has salt in it.

17. Do you use spices?

I use a spice called “Chimmi-Churri” sometimes. It is mostly used for chicken, but it taste good on lots of things.

18. Do you take any supplements?

I take vitamin D sometimes. I live in Michigan, and I am mostly indoors during the school semester. I feel that I should consider the fact that I am not getting enough vitamin D from the sun. I do not know this to be true or not. Honestly, I am not very good at taking it. I mostly forget. I probably remember once or twice a week and take about 2000 to 4000 IU. I do not take any other supplements or medications.

19. How much money do you spend on food each month?

Together, my girlfriend and I spend about $400 on food per month. Probably a little more if you include the cost of coffee.

20. Do you have any tips for making this diet more affordable?

My tips for being more affordable would be to eat cheaper meats. Eating steak everyday can add up if your eating until you are full. However, it just makes us feel the best, so we do it. Eating ground beef, pork, chicken, and eggs is a bit cheaper. We used to spend more on a carb-based diet, because of all the extra’s like eating out, pizza, ice cream, and other snacks.

21. Do you exercise regularly? If so, how often and how vigorously?

I do not exercise regularly. I exercise more often in the summer, but during the winter and fall I am always wrapped up in school work. I feel really good when I exercise and I try to make that a part of my life. I will accomplish that goal next. I just wish I wouldn’t have to run on a treadmill. When I look outside, all I see is ice and its not very motivating.

In addition to what I mentioned earlier in this interview, I will add that no matter how much steak I eat, I cannot get my weight over 140 lbs. (unless I am actively building muscle). I used to weigh 180 lbs. at one point in my life, and I was always trying to eat less. Now, I eat as much as possible and I stay at a decent weight. It is easy for me to gain weight on a carbohydrate diet. Mental health is another benefit. I do not get a lot of mood swings and it has helped some anxiety issues that I have had to deal with. It just feels good to feel good. I never really had much of a problem with feeling tired, so that did not change much. I can last longer when doing physical activities. Also, once again, breathing is pretty great. I like not being sick all the time.

23. Have you raised children on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what has been their experience? How difficult is it to keep carbs out of their diet in today’s world?

I do not have children, yet. It will be interesting to see how that works out! I see a lot of other Zero Carb-ers raising children and doing very well I must say.

24. What do you enjoy most about eating a Zero Carb diet?

What I enjoy most about eating all-meat is not being sick all the time and not having asthma. That is enough for me. All of the other benefits are just extra’s. It also makes life easier. My stops at the grocery store are quick. Cooking and clean-up is always easy and the food is always delicious. I enjoy every part of this diet.

Michael’s refrigerator stocked with his staples.

25. Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning a Zero Carb diet?

I know that a lot of people say to just jump right into this diet and get started, but my advice is to take it slow. If you ease into it, it is easier to deal with the changes. Some people can get right into this way of eating and have no problems. For others, it is hard. The point of this diet is really to feel better and spend more time in your life doing other things instead of worrying about what you should be eating. However, you are never going to stop worrying until you do the research yourself. Don’t just take someone’s word for it. I was very skeptical when I first started and that made it hard to continue. But the more I learned, the more I was sure of it. Mostly, it is the experience you have over time that confirms it. Only then, will you stop worrying about whether its something you should or should not do. You have been taught to eat a certain way all of your life, and it is incredibly hard to convince yourself that you have always been wrong. Some are willing to do this and some are not. It wasn’t easy for me. Some people will never even consider this way of eating and its perfectly understandable.

26. Are your friends and family supportive of your Zero Carb lifestyle? If not, how do you handle this?

I think my friends and family are supportive enough. When I first started, I got a lot of warnings. After years of doing this, I don’t really get any feedback about it now. It is not a topic of conversation for the most part. Every now and then, I try to convince my mother to eat better or someone in my family. However, I have learned to keep it to myself mostly and I think most people are going to live their lives how they want to. If someone is interested in the human diet, they know they can talk to me about it.

27. Is there anything you would like share about this way of eating that I have not already asked you?

One thing I would like to share is what it is like to observe other people’s eating habits. When going to the grocery store, you see other people mindlessly pushing around a shopping cart and they have no idea what they want to eat. They seem to be stressed out and confused. It is comical, but at the same time it is disturbing. Also, people always have to snack about every four hours or so. In my college classrooms, people always have a can of pepsi or coke while eating a candy bar or a bag of chips. After eating this way, it is easy to see that the diet of a person is truly based on acculturation. This was mentioned by The Bear and he is definitely right about this fact. Culture is a persons operating system and its not going to be easy to change that. It is much easier to accept things that are packaged properly in a box for you and everyone knows that green leafy vegetables are good for you, right?!

Michael admiring his new guitar.

Please visit my Interviews page to read the stories of other long time Zero Carb veterans.

If you are interested in meeting others who practice an All-Meat diet, please feel free to join us in the Facebook group Principia Carnivora for support.

Zero Carb Interview: Samantha Taylor

Posted on March 6, 2015 by esmeelafleur

Samantha

1. How long have you been eating a Zero Carb (No Plant Foods) diet?

I started back in 2011, so it’s been about four years now. I had first learned of this diet through my boyfriend, Michael Frieze. When he first told me that he was going to eat nothing but meat I thought he was crazy. I naturally have a harder time gaining weight, and I loved my junk food, so I saw no reason to give up my Ben and Jerry’s or Reese’s Cups.

2. What motivated you to try this way of eating? Weight? Health?

It never was for weight issues. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t gain weight very easily. Right around the time that Michael started switching over his diet. I was constantly fatigued with a daily runny nose. I just never seemed quite right. My breaking point came when I developed a rash that stretched from the middle of my chest and wrapped all the way around by back. I still have no idea what that was about, but it was the push I needed.

3. How long did it take you to adapt to a Zero Carb diet, both physically and psychologically?

It took a few months to adapt physically and mentally. When Michael and I started the diet together (he failed the first time), we went cold turkey. “Keto Flu” hit us hard. There is one day in particular that I look back on and just have to laugh. We were both completely drained of energy and had serve hunger pains. At this point, even the sight of meat was enough to make me nauseous. We decided to break our diet for some Subway. I was too tired to even leave the house so I made Michael go out alone. When he got back we had to take a nap before we could scrap up enough energy to eat them. After that failed attempt we decided to do a low carb diet for a few months, and then we made the switch to zero carb.

4. What books or people were most influential in guiding you to this way of eating?

My boyfriend Michael was the most influential person. He usually does the research and all the reading, then relays everything he’s learned back to me. For both of us Owsley Stanley (a.k.a. The Bear) was the first person from whom we heard about this diet, and whenever we have a question we try to look through what he has written on his website for advice. We have also gotten a pretty amazing chicken recipe from him.

Michael & Samantha

5. Do you eat only meat, or do you include eggs, cheese, and cream in your diet?

A mix of all. I always start my day with a cup of coffee in which I add a tbsp. of cream. After that my daily breakfast usually consists of eight eggs and three pieces of bacon. I will only occasionally eat cheese however.

6. What percentage of your diet is beef verses other types of meats?

I would say the majority of my diet is beef. Steaks are just too delicious and easy to cook. However, I have noticed a correlation between eating ground beef and a flare up in IBS symptoms. If our budget allows we always try to stick with steak. We will mix in other meats for some variety.

7. When you eat beef, do you cook it rare, medium, or well done?

Rare. I’m finding the longer I’m on this diet the rarer I want my steaks to be.

8. Do you add extra fat to your meat? (i.e. butter, lard, tallow)

Generally, no, but I have noticed that right before I start my period, instead of craving chocolate, I now crave fat. I will find myself adding butter to my food, or eating a slice as I’m cooking.

9. Do you limit your meat consumption or do you eat until satisfied?

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure how much to eat or how large my meals should be. I obviously wasn’t eating enough as my weight dropped pretty quickly, and my menstrual cycle came to a halt. Since that experience, I have always eaten until I am satisfied. I listen to my body, and I can feel when it’s time to put the fork down.

10. Do you eat liver or other organ meats? If so, how often?

I’ve tried liver once and I was not a fan at all.

11. Do you consume bone broth? If so, how often?

I have yet to try it.

Samantha preparing to tackle a juice steak!

12. How many meals do you eat per day on average?

Just two meals. I will eat in the morning and that keeps me satisfied through work and my night classes. When I get home at night I will then eat dinner. On my days off I sometimes will snack on a couple of eggs.

13. How much meat do you eat per day on average?

Two to three pounds generally.

14. Do you eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meat, or regular commercially produced meat?

No, only commercially produced meat, as I’m living on a college student budget.

15. Do you drink any beverages besides water? (i.e. coffee, tea)

I do drink coffee. I try to restrain myself to one cup a day, but a second cup will sometimes sneak its way in.

16. Do you use salt?

No, I don’t add any extra.

17. Do you use spices?

When we cook chicken we use “chimichurri” seasoning. I will occasionally sprinkle it on other meats as well though.

18. Do you take any supplements?

Living in Michigan I try to take a Vitamin D on a daily basis, but more often than not I don’t remember to take it.

Samantha dressed in her “Lady Bug” costume for Halloween.

19. How much money do you spend on food each month?

Around $400

20. Do you have any tips for making this diet more affordable?

Our grocery bill has dropped since we started this diet. No more money wasted on junk food and snacks. There are plenty of cheap meal options available, eggs, bacon, ground beef, etc. I would just say pay attention to the meat sales and know what all your options are in your area.

21. Do you exercise regularly? If so, how often and how vigorously?

I work at a store where I’m solely responsible for stocking our weekly truck deliveries, so that’s quite physically demanding. Lifting cases of water and bags of dog food sure has added some muscle on my arms. Other than that, I just don’t have the time to go to the gym. Which is a shame because I do have access to one in my apartment complex.

I have never felt better. I hardly ever get sick. I have way more energy now and feel more productive. I didn’t realize what bad shape my body was in until I started this diet. It’s also improved other aspects of my life. Even though I’ve never had weight issues I still struggled a bit with body image. This diet has been a huge confidence booster. I would also say that it’s made me more adventurous in try new things and also questioning information that’s presented as “fact”.

23. Have you conceived, given birth, or breastfed while on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what was your experience?

No children yet.

24. Have you raised children on a Zero Carb diet? If so, what has been their experience? How difficult is it to keep carbs out of their diet in today’s world?

Not yet, but this is something I’m excited to do and also nervous about all at the same time.

25. What do you enjoy most about eating a Zero Carb diet?

Feeling healthy, not wasting time in grocery stores deciding what to eat, and getting to eat a lot of steak.

26. Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning a Zero Carb diet?

You can do it! I’m so tired of people saying and thinking that they can’t do this diet. Yes it will be hard in the beginning but once you stick with it, trust me it gets easier. At this point I could not imagine going back to a carb-based diet. I’m slightly ashamed that I ever did that to my body in the first place, but I did not know any better.

27. Are your friends and family supportive of your Zero Carb lifestyle? If not, how do you handle this?

My family is very skeptic and thinks I’m crazy. I have a brother-in-law who is a vegetarian, and they are more willing to listen to him than me. I gave up trying to explain or prove my diet to people who isn’t willing to listen and just wants to argue.

28. Is there anything you would like share about this way of eating that I have not already asked you?

Nope, I think I pretty much covered everything.

Samantha enjoying a bike ride.

Please visit my Interviews page to read the stories of other long time Zero Carb veterans.

If you are interested in meeting others who practice an All-Meat diet, please feel free to join us in the Facebook group Principia Carnivora for support.

Eat Meat. Drink Water.

Zen, and the Art of Zero-Carb Living

Monthly Archives: March 2015

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Kristie Sullivan

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Sarah Knight

Zero Carb Interview: Ultra-Marathoner Ana Teixeira

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Karen Kelbell

My First 30 Days on Zero Carb by Nkem Alozie

My First 8 Months on Zero Carb by Kevin Fenderson

Zero Carb Interview: Debra Caldwell

Protected: Zero Carb Interview: The Andersen Family

Zero Carb Interview: Michael Frieze

Zero Carb Interview: Samantha Taylor

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