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

Since October 29, 2018

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

Mostly because of having so many cavities, and having to have teeth extracted. 

I was also having issues with digestion, and leaky gut. 

Weight was an issue in the back of my mind as well. But, I wasn’t willing to lose anymore teeth. That was the number one motivation for me. 

I put a question out to the Universe asking why that was happening to me. I received answers. I started coming across other vegans who were having the same issues, and resolving those issues with the Carnivore WOE. 

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

To some degree, I adapted in a few weeks both physically and psychologically. To another degree I am still adapting both physically and psychologically. 

My body is still healing physically. 

I learned that the psychological hurdle is the strongest. I noticed it was my emotions tied into my memories that causes me to think I want a particular carb food. 

I recently experimented with one bite of a piece of freshly made pita bread with freshly made hummus. It did not taste good to me at all, and the texture felt completely bizarre to me. 

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

I haven’t read the entire book yet, but what I have read of the book, The Vegetarian Myth, was very interesting. 

Daphne Rimmel’s YouTube channel, Daphne Reloaded, was the first YouTube channel I came across. That’s where my new journey began. 

From there I found other YouTube channels. Then I found carnivore groups on Facebook. Then I started subscribing to different carnivore email lists.

All of those things helped me in some way. I have felt very supported by the people in the Facebook groups. 

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

I eat beef, pork (no bacon), eggs, chicken (thighs), seafood (ahi tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, lobster), goat milk, and goat cheese. 

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

Currently, about 50%. In the beginning it was 100%. 

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

Rare to medium rare. 

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

If it is lean, yes. If it is fatty, no. 

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

I eat until satisfied. 

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

I tried and tried to eat liver and other organs. I just couldn’t get comfortable with the taste. So, I have organs in pill form. 

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

Yes. Occasionally. Maybe a few times every other month or so. 

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

I started off with two meals a day when I was only eating meats and eggs. When I started drinking milk, I now only eat one meal a day. Milk fills me up…and I drink it alone, not with a meal. 

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

In the beginning I ate about 1.5 pounds a day. Now I eat about half that, 3 quarters of 1 pound a day because I’m only eating 1 meal. 

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

Both 

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

In the beginning it was only water that I drank. Currently, I am also drinking white tea. 

I gave up coffee long ago…it gave me heart palpitations, and I felt angry if I went too far past 24 hours without it. 

16. Do you use salt? 

Yes, and lots of it. I started with pink Himalayan salt. Now I use light grey Celtic salt. 

17. Do you use spices?

No. Spices bother me. I used freshly ground rainbow peppercorns when I first started eating eggs again. Then my grinder broke, and I realized I felt better without the pepper. 

18. Do you take any supplements?

I make my own electrolyte water with the minerals: Grey Celtic salt, baking soda, potassium, and magnesium. I drink that every morning. It keeps the muscles from cramping. 

I take Betatine HCI with Pepsin when I eat a meal. I’m about to switch to a brand that also has ox bile. 

I take grass fed organ pills. 

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

About $250. It was more like $175 until I added the dairy. 

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

Buy on sale and freeze. Don’t buy dairy. Buy ground beef. Buy less expensive cuts of beef like a roast. Chicken and pork are inexpensive, but I wouldn’t recommend eating it so much that you aren’t eating red meats like beef, lamb, and bison. I feel red meats are the most nutritious. Just use the chicken and pork in between the red meats. 

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

When I first began this way of eating I did not exercise for the first few months except for the occasional walk. There was a short period of time (about 2-3 months) that I was weight training (lifting) 3 times a week. But, I stopped when I started full time with 12 units at the junior college. I just didn’t have the time. I plan to get back into the weight training. I feel and look better when I am weight training. 

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.)

I have received so many health benefits! 

•Increased energy 

•Longer stamina 

•Better moods 

•Clearer/sharper mind

•Better sleep

•More muscle mass

•Stronger teeth

•Clear skin

•Shiny, strong hair 

•Clear airway

•No more “getting sick”

•Less body fat

•Better digestion

•Leaky gut healing 

•No more carb crashing 

•Balanced hormones

•Lighter menses

•No more aches and pains

•I think I may be healed from asthma…if not healed 100% yet, definitely 90%!

I have never felt better!

The following are the changes in measurements in 1 year:

•Weight -39 pounds

•Neck -1”

•Bust -4.75”

•Waist -6.65”

•Stomach at naval -6.5”

•Stomach at low level -4.5”

•Hips -6.25”

•L Thigh -4”

•R Thigh -4.25”

•L Calf -1.5”

•R Calf -1.75”

•L Ankle -1.15”

•R Ankle -.75”

•L Bicep -1.85”

•R Bicep -1.75”

•L Forearm -.85”

•R Forearm -1”

•Body Fat 21.8% -7.5%

•BMI 21.1% -4.1%

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

Feeling and looking great, as well as not really having to think about what I’m going to eat. Also, how easy it is to cook a meal. It’s so much faster than having to cook a bunch of different foods to have a meal. 

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

I highly recommend logging everything you eat and drink, and how you feel, as well as the changes that happen. I have been keeping track of everything this entire journey. I have also weighed myself on a scale, daily. I take body fat measurements once a month. 

Studies show that people who log/track what they are doing stick with it. Plus, it helps to figure out where there may need to be adjustments in what you are eating and/or doing. 

Also, in my opinion, it is important to feel supported. It is possible that people in your life won’t support you, and may feel scared about what you are doing. That was my experience. What helped me is the support of the people in the Facebook groups. It wouldn’t have been the same experience without their support. 

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

They are now. They were not in the beginning. They were scared and concerned. What helped me with this were a couple of things. 

1) I live alone, and most days eat alone.

2) I had mental and emotional support in the Facebook groups.

3) I gained knowledge that I was able to share to help ease their minds. 

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

I  had to learn the new ways in which my body let me know it was ready for food. For example, I may start to feel a tiny headache, or feel tired. Those are signals it is time to eat. You will not get that ravenous hungry feeling like you do when you are eating carbs. As soon as I start eating, the headache or tired feeling goes away.