C.D. improved plantar fasciitis and nose bleeds on a carnivore diet

I hope my story might help someone else, who might be in a similar situation, or give some insight into what a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet can do to one’s body over 30 years.

My Struggle With High Carbohydrate Diet And Health Issues

I’m 6’4″, and five years ago, I weighed about 112kg (247 lbs), with a measurement around the stomach of about 112cm – I was getting big, but I honestly thought I wasn’t eating so bad. I’ve never been a vegan or vegetarian, but I used to eat a low-fat, high-carb diet – I was generally anti-fat on meat (if I could see it) and simply didn’t know it.

I ate bread with reckless abandon and loved potatoes – generally cooked in vegetable fats. I would say I was indoctrinated to despise animal fat (as that’s what makes you fat, right?!).

I did a blood test in July 2014, but it was all terrible – my lipids were way off, and I was told to cut back on fats; otherwise, I’d have to go on statins. I read a book by David Gillespie and a book by Yudkin, and I resolved to get better, and I cut back on fats more, and I gave up all refined or added sugars about four years ago – as a consequence, I

• Stopped getting hayfever (I had it since I was ten years old, 200 tablets per year, now zero)
• Stopped getting nosebleeds (hadn’t ever had one up until three years prior
• Stopped getting colds and sick
• Stopped having inflamed glands on my neck and back of my head
• Stopped feeling awful when I woke up. Not sleeping very well at this point still though
• Stopped getting plantar fasciitis, it cleared up
• Lost about 20kg
• Lost 15cm off the waist (awesome!)

I was eating ethically, buying local produce, ethically raised animals, and organic or self-grown vegetables. I truly thought I was doing really good and had found the key to cutting out all added fructose and sugars – surely, it would help my blood.

In August last year, I did another blood test. Again, the blood is still all messed up – “But I’m eating bloody good, right?! This is completely messed up, what the!”.. I should be getting better in these lipid tests; wtf! But I was still eating bread, potato, minimal fish, etc.

My Journey To A Low Carb, High Fat Diet

Then I started reading more and fell across Tim Noakes, Nina Teicholz, and Zoe Harcombe, and I was starting to feel my mind going foggy and cloudy. Then about ten weeks ago, I gave up all refined carbohydrates – no bread, no potatoes, and cut my net carb intake back to about 30-35g per day. I jumped in.

Cutting Out Refined Carbohydrates And The Benefits I Experienced

I did another blood test and got my results back on Friday, and while the doc was a bit concerned with my overall cholesterol level and my LDL, knowing what I know now, I’m really not concerned at all with these .. these are my key stats past to now:

17/5/2014

Total Chol: 6.8

Triglicerides: 2.9

HDL-C: 1.0

LDL-C: 4.5

VLDL (trig/2.2): 1.32

16/8/2017

Total Chol: 6.4

Triglicerides: 3.1

HDL-C: 1.3

LDL-C: 3.7

VLDL (trig/2.2): 1.41

31/7/2018

Total Chol: 6.7

Triglicerides: 1.2

HDL-C: 1.8

LDL-C: 4.3

VLDL (trig/2.2): 0.54

in mmol/L

So, although I was eating as they wanted me to and trying my hardest, my VLDL and triglycerides were heading in the completely wrong direction that I wanted them to, in the worst possible way!

Apart from the improved blood results

• My mind has cleared, and while I never thought I was heading that way, I reckon my memory and my clarity has improved massively. I feel smarter, not because I think I know any better, but because my mind is faster.
• I stopped having bad nights’ sleep, insomnia
• I stopped getting itchy skin on my trunk and neck
• I have 20/20 vision, but I think my vision has improved massively
• The awake/asleep switch (as in being awake or asleep is faster and clearer – if that makes sense)
• Lost another 10kg (22 lbs), down to 79-80kg (175 lbs)
• lost another 6cm on the waist, down to 86cm

I did struggle through the keto flu for about 4-5 weeks, with some lethargy, sleep issues, and a headache here or there. I now think I’m beyond that and feel 100%.

I’ve not been this size or weight since I was 19 years old. I’m eating better food, feeling full, really only eating twice per day but never hungry.

I truly believe my body was saying, “You’ve had enough carbs, mate. Back off them, or we’re going to mess you up permanently.”

Anyway, lchf, saved my life.