90 Day Carnivore Challenge- Week 2 Update

Labs:

Some new things happened during week 2 of the Carnivore Challenge to improve my health. I had my labs done and as much as I hate them; I bought a scale. Most of my lab results were good, but some were not so good. I can’t believe I am sharing my weight. I don’t even get on the scale at the doctor’s office. But here I am, fixing to let it all hang out.

Artificial Sweeteners:

The first notable thing was eliminating all artificial sweeteners. Including my favorite, Sweet Leaf (Organic Stevia) and Allulose. Not that I used much of either, a 1/8 tsp of Sweet Leaf in my coffee. Liquid IV is my go-to electrolyte, but Allulose is the first ingredient. Although I saw some positive blood glucose numbers after drinking Liquid IV, it’s not worth it. Luckily, I had already kicked my Diet Dr. Pepper habit. Again, not a big-time habit, maybe one a week, but still another form of poison. After all, my goal is to get healthy and eliminate joint pain.

Joint Pain:

During the last two weeks, my research kept coming back to artificial sweeteners. Not only do artificial sweeteners lead to joint pain but also cause cravings for sweets and, more importantly, raise your insulin. The moment the sweet flavor touches your tongue, a message is sent to your brain. Then your brain tells your body that you need to produce more insulin to counter the sweetness.

With all that being said, my blood sugar didn’t increase with Sweet Leaf. And with Liquid IV with Allulose in it, my blood sugar went down. My joints feel much better from Carnivore, but I still have some pain. The mere fact that artificial sweeteners are chemicals should be enough for me to stop using them.

New Scale:

The next change is having a scale “Aboard Sea Boss”. I have been thrilled with my measurements and I was just plain curious. Unfortunately, it’s a grey area of what my weight was when I started the Carnivore Challenge. I haven’t weighed myself since January 2024. This last year, I don’t feel like I have lost weight and kept it off. Meaning that while we were working nonstop on the boat over the summer, I definitely lost weight. But since we completed the big projects, I continued to eat crap and drink like a fish. I gained what I lost back.

Let it ALL Hang Out:

So here we go. It’s time to let it all hang out!

Beginning of Week One:

Blood Glucose- 130 (fasting)
Blood Pressure- 134/88
Waist- 35 inches I measured at high hips, 1.5 inches below the belly button. (D in the image below) Largest circumference.

Weight- 160 lbs (documented Jan 2024)

Week Two:

Blood Glucose- 77

Blood Pressure- 124/73

Waist- 32 inches, I measured at high hips, 1.5 inches below the belly button. (D in the image below) Largest circumference.

Weight- 152.7

Where I was:

I can honestly say I believe I was at least 160 lbs ( Thank god I’m tall, wink, wink) before starting Carnivore.

In two weeks, I’m down a minimum of 7.3 lbs. My waist is down three inches. And my blood sugar is down 53 units. I’ll take it! WOO HOO.

While I’m hanging it all out there, here are my labs;

Cholesterol:

Before everyone freaks out about the cholesterol numbers, look at the most important number that determines if you are at risk of a heart attack. Triglycerides are more important to gauge your risk. And your A1C is even more important to measure your risk. Both my Triglycerides and A1C are higher than I would like but it is still in the normal range. After the three-and-a-half-year retirement party with eating crap and drinking like a fish, it is not as bad as I was expecting.

Leading Expurts:

Check out Dr Boz, on heart attack risks. https://youtu.be/A6M7Qx5tqEE?si=OLI7tfT-YuzTKm0V

Having a plan, the Carnivore Challenge Plan, has helped me not to freak out. Knowing I am taking control of my health, and in six months my labs will have a much different look.

Yes, I know the 90-day challenge is not six months. For me, I am certain this is more of a lifestyle.

What’s new for Week 3:

At the end of Week 2, I added Lugol’s iodine supplement to my routine. During my research by reading, watching many YouTube videos, and listening to podcasts, I found out the importance of iodine.

For instance, every single cell in your body requires iodine. I also found out that 4 out of 10 people are iodine deficient. It helps with weight loss, and your immune system to name a couple.

Here is Dr. Ken Berry, he explains in a short about iodine. https://youtube.com/shorts/9CmdRDsBbOE?si=ZjKSEYSWRx1u3OKw

Also, Dr Ken Berry and Dr. David Brownstein discuss the importance of iodine. https://www.youtube.com/live/Oix26uuBfZg?si=tW3tUn3Kskl1r9xK

My favorite carnivore:

(Kelly Hogan with MyZeroCarbLife) interviews Dr. Ken Berry with the benefits of iodine and the symptoms of iodine deficiency. https://youtu.be/G5npD9JRLhc?si=rLiz07TnpcI1A3xz

Imagery:

I re-learned the importance of positive visualization. To set goals with a positive attitude and reinforcement. Not long ago, while living a keto lifestyle, I used similar techniques. I felt amazing. I was at my happy weight and looked and felt healthy.

Move My Ars:

I also started moving my body more with walking, squats, leg lifts, crunches and stretching. With plans of adding light resistance.

Every day there is progress with blood glucose, blood pressure, measurements, weight, and overall wellbeing.

Week 3 Plans:

Everything seems to falling into place with the Carnivore Challenge, except for sleep. In this area, I am failing, plain and simple. As I had mentioned before, I am postmenopausal, and sleep often eludes me. If I’m not kicking the blankets off from being too hot, I’m chilled. Or, my mind won’t turn off.

We all know the importance of sleep, and we know it’s when your body heals itself. When you are sleep-deprived, cortisol levels increase. Cortisol is your body’s main stress (steroid) hormone. Nearly every cell in your body contains receptors for the cortisol. And depending on the demand, the cortisol can have different actions. Including controlling blood sugar, immune system, metabolism (weight gain), and brain fog. Since I started carnivore, I have seen improvements in the area of hot flashes and night sweats. My sleep is still so interrupted, I feel like I’m not at my optimum. So in week three, I will be trying new strategies for improving my sleep and documenting them. It’s a process and I will share it all in the “90-Day Carnivore Challenge Week 3 Update”.

See ya at the 90-day Carnivore Challenge Week 3 update.

Bell

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