First Week, WOW!
I am amazed at the results of just one week of the Carnivore Challenge.
Living aboard a boat doesn’t mean you can’t live a healthy carnivore lifestyle. Whether Bahamas-bound, at anchor, or between marinas, options always exist.
Monitoring:
During WEEK ONE of the Carnivore Challenge, I documented my blood glucose, blood pressure, and waist measurements. I also have been documenting the effects of what I am putting into my pie hole with a blood glucose meter. I took my blood sugar before and after each meal and/or my drinks (approximately 20 to 30 minutes after consumption)
WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE ON CARNIVORE: Meat (not lean) Seafood, Bacon, Eggs, Butter.
WHAT I ATE- WEEK ONE
Steak, Brisket, Dark Meat Chicken, Bacon, Eggs, Butter, Coffee, Heavy Cream, MTC Oil, Electrolytes, Salt, Apple Cider Vinegar, and Water
STATS- BEFORE 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- Unknown (I don’t have a scale on the boat)
STATS- AFTER WEEK ONE:
Blood Glucose- 90 (fasting)
Blood Pressure- 107/68
Waist- 32 3/4 inches I measured at high hips (D in the image) 1.5 inches below the belly button. Largest circumference.
Weight- Unknown
WHY DID I CHOOSE CARNIVORE?
I have been thin for most of my life, despite my favorite foods being pizza, cheeseburgers, and Togo’s sandwiches. I have attributed this to good genes and “WORKERCISE“. I was a General Engineer Contractor (heavy equipment operator) and later a long haul truck driver with 100% hands-on inventory. When I changed careers to long haul, I was concerned about gaining weight due to the long hours in the driver’s seat. To curb this, I lived a Keto lifestyle.
Retirement:
Fast forward, I retired in 2021 and Keto went out the door and it was Party on Garth. I ate all kinds of crap food, all my favorites, and I drank way too much. At least two or three beers daily. Simultaneously, I was suffering from menopause symptoms. At least that is what I thought, but now I know it was more of what I was consuming. Yes, menopause sucks, but had I been consuming a carnivore diet, I would have been producing the proper hormones and I wouldn’t have gained weight. Additionally, due to the weight gain, I had elevated blood pressure and blood glucose, and all my joints hurt. I had crazy bad heartburn and regular headaches. My hips and knees were especially painful. To the point of needing to hold on to something when I first stood up. I’m 57 years old but felt like I was in my 80s. Because of my prior keto lifestyle, I knew it was inflammation. And the reason I chose Carnivore over going back to Keto is I felt I needed something more drastic to take my health back.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED:
The importance of electrolytes and salt. On a carnivore diet or a keto diet (low carbs), your kidneys excrete more sodium. Which could leave you feeling weak and lethargic, experiencing headaches and brain fog. I have used a couple of brands of electrolytes. Dr Berg’s is one of my favorites. The ingredients are well-balanced and sweetened with stevia. When I purchased mine, there was only the large tub version available.
It was a great value, but on the boat, with moisture in the air, it turned into a big block of sodium. I switched to Liquid IV, and I love the flavor, but it is sweetened with Allulose. While improving my health with the carnivore challenge, I am also striving to remove artificial flavors and sweeteners, except Organic Stevia. So I was reluctant to continue using Liquid IV because of the Allulose ingredient. I was afraid it would affect my results. In short, I conducted a test on myself.
Guinea Pig:
After eating a meal, my blood sugar was 128. In a bottle of water and one packet of Liquid IV, after approximately 30 minutes, my blood sugar was 98. Could this be right? The electrolytes lowered my blood sugar that much? I was skeptical, to say the least. Once again, I experimented on myself. After a meal, my blood sugar was 130. I had a bottle of water with a packet of Liquid IV and approximately 30 minutes later; my blood sugar was 101. I was shocked and thrilled. I know this isn’t conclusive data, but I was still excited with the results.
In addition to electrolytes, salt plays an important part as well. I’m not talking about the run-of-the-mill table salt. I’m talking about a quality sea salt. To each glass of water I drink, I add a pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt. Occasionally, I add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. It seems to help my gut, but the jury is still out on this one.
BIG FOOD COMPANIES SUCK!
Relearning to eat healthy again has required me to read labels on all food products, even meat products. I was preparing to purchase a package of Italian sausage. Reading the ingredients, I couldn’t believe the third ingredient was corn syrup. They also use words like dextrose. Dextrose is a type of sugar that comes from corn or wheat. I guess they think it sounds better than calling it what it is, sugar. They also use the term “Natural and Artificial Flavors” This is where they sneak in all kinds of bad juju.
I’m looking forward to the next 83 days to see where the Carnivore Challenge takes me on my quest to be healthy and lose weight.
If you are interested in following along on this journey, you can follow my Facebook page “Bell’s Rides Aboard Sea Boss” at https://www.facebook.com/AboardSeaBoss/ and/or you can sign up for my blogs at https://bellsrides.com/
I would love to hear your Carnivore or Keto story.