Kristelle's neverending carnivorous struggle

Kristelle · Kristelle's neverending carnivorous struggle

Hey guys,

Well, I think it's time to start my journal.

Instead of starting from scratch, I'll just continue with my updates. You can always check out my previous posts.

In a nuthshell, let's just say my goal is to eat carnivorously, rely on foods solely from the animal kingdom to optimize my health, increase the quality of my life and look good (I'm a girl after all)!

Main problems encountered at the moment:
- excess mucus + blocked ears
- sometimes sleepy and drugged out immediately after a meal or a few hours later
- teary, irritated eyes, VERY bothersome
- occasional hives
- occasional abdominal cramps
- extremely rare visits to the bathroom, perhaps constipation
- ketones still spilling in urine, ketoadaptation not reached yet (?)

So, my last experiment didn't work out as planned. I thought I might be sensitive to amines so I stuck to fresh lamb and lamb fat. No luck. My eyes almost immediately started bothering me and I felt somewhat "out of it". Knocked out a few hours later and fell asleep. Not a good sign. I'm starting to get the hang of this...I know when a food is bothering me, the pattern is almost always the same. Live and learn!

So, forget about the amines, or grains or whatever. I'm gonna go with what seemed to work in the past. Fish with the exception of scombroid fish seems to have no negative side-effects. Shellfish also appears to be ok, like scallops (which I love). Also, bone marrow, when only the inside is eaten and when eaten alone (not with red meat) also appears to be ok.

So...I'll try the seafood+bone marrow combo. Anything that appears a little spoiled, I won't eat.

Let's see where this one goes...

Red

Amine detox takes a very long time. And symptoms can pop up from chemicals up to 72 hours after you are exposed. So I wouldn't write off amines just yet, Kristi. You need to go Failsafe for at least a couple of weeks before you're clear of symptoms, usually.

Dean

to Journaland, Kristelle! Sunny

I'm so glad you decided to start a journal. I am fascinated to learn from your experiences. After all, I'm evolving, slowly but surely, toward eating the same way. I'm very curious to figure out just how to wade into that water, step by step.

Look forward to reading about your journey. Cool

Sounds like you are very determined to figure this thing out.

Kristelle

Instinct tells me to stick with fish and bone marrow, for now. I can tell when I'm having a reaction from a certain food and in the end, I believe I know my body best. So, we'll see.

Red, I highly value your opinion but I just want to go with my instinct, for once. I definetly know that I never EVER get tired (or drowsy) after eating fish, either immediately or a few hours later whereas it sometimes happens with red meat and organ meats, especially when I eat substantial amounts. I don't know why...it just is. I even ate mackerel, red tuna (bluefin) and sardines in the past with no apparent effects but just to be safe, I'll stay away from those types of fish (i.e.scombroid). Besides, I don't like most of those except the tuna. When I ate the tuna, it was actually very light in color and extremely fresh. Salmon appears to be ok as does halibut, another fatty fish which I ate tonight AND no reaction...yet! But, both of these don't belong to the family of scombroids.

Dean,

Thanks for welcoming me. Happy

I'm definetly gonna figure this out. I NEVER give up when I believe in something. RESILIENCE.

Dean

Hey, Kristelle,

Was meaning to ask you. Bacteria is really not that big a deal, but do you ever worry about parasites? Game meat, like deer, is frozen at really low temps for a specific amount of time primarily to kill possible parasites. I've never been worried about bacteria, but it's those parasites which have always freaked me out. What's your take on that issue?

Kristelle

Not worried about that either. I've eaten wild game raw a few times, no problems. I know others who've done the same, for much longer without any problems.

Kristelle

Today, up until a few hours ago, I felt lethargic, hungry and was craving for carbs like crazy. It may be due to the inclusion of some carbs when I experimented with avocado a few days ago and hence, withdrawal effects, going back into zero-carb mode. It could be that even a little amount of carbs for 2 or more consecutive days is detrimental to me, given the amount of carbs I'm usually used to (i.e. 0)

So, anyways, I really wanted liver tonight for some reason (maybe because of the carbs or energy-iron) so I ate a little and within a hour, felt revigorated. Vacuum-packed and beef liver. RAW. Yum. Ate a little, probably around 50 grams. Very rich and has a strong taste, unlike veal liver.

I'm already getting really fed up of fish. Imagine! That feeling combined with my new hypothesis that I might be eating too much has led me to try something new. AGAIN!

In the past, I often ate when not hungry, maybe out of habit or what not. I could have easily not eaten for 24 or even 48 hours. But, I did and sometimes, more than I really needed. Perhaps, this was overload for my body, in terms of amines, vitamins, minerals, who knows? And the resulting sinus problems and other related stuff. I wasn't listening to my body and wasn't eating according to my appetite.

Right now, I plan to eat ONLY when hungry, like rrrrrrreally hungry and buy whatever my appetite dictates. If I crave liver, I'll eat liver. If I crave seafood or meat then that's what I'll eat. Same with fat. Etc. I will however limit those items that contain carbs. Like certain shellfish, eggs or organs meats. And I'll stick to the highest quality food possible, as in wild seafood, organic and pasture-fed animals. And always fresh. Eaten raw, of course. Wink

That's all folks!

jeff

Interesting Kristelle. You may be on to something.

It may be true about the carbs from avacado. Bear said that anything above 5 would do him in, and that included the minimal amounts in eggs, cheese, cream. Once the body is used to zero carb, even a small amount can cause big problems.

If you only eat when really hungry, you may go for days at a time without eating. Which is very likely what our early ancestors did. Who knows? Maybe that is the healthiest way to go and what our bodies are designed for. I know that I eat more than I need to, and often just out of habit. "oh, it's time to eat."

Since there is virtually no waste on an all meat diet, I suppose it makes sense that our bodies may need much less fuel going into it on such a diet.

Bobi

I agree with Jeff. I go a few days without eating due to lack of time and interest. I have so much energy, I drive people nuts!!! LOL

jeff

Maybe we should take our cue from lions?

Dean

Kristelle

So...I've decided to eat one big meal every 2 DAYS!!! And once a month or every 2 months, do a 3 day fast.

I wonder how much I'll have to eat on those days to feel full...2lbs of meat/fish? 3lbs? I'll let you know. Exciting times indeed...!

I think this sort of intermittent eating is what was missing from my diet and the reason why I wasn't getting the full health benefits.

So, even though I ate earlier today, I won't eat until tomorrow night, then the next day nothing, and so on...I'll eat my meal in the evening.

Ciao for now.

Dean

Sounds like a plan, Kristelle. What exactly did you finally decide was good to eat? I know you are just gonna go with what your body tells you it wants, but what animals are included? Please keep us posted. It's very fascinating.

Sunny

jeff

Kristelle

First and foremost, my food will be fresh, never prefrozen as this slightly denatures protein, changes the texture and taste.

I will eat all my food RAW. No IFs or BUTs.

I will include wild fish and shellfish. The shellfish will complement the fish like a few scallops or oysters with the fish.
I will include New Zealand lamb, about 6 months of the year and the other 6 months, Canadian bison which is only grain-finished.
I will occasionally include egg yolk with my meal.
I will eat 100 grams of liver monthly.
And finally, bone marrow+beef tallow.

I'm very excited about this new plan!!!

Dean

Kristelle

HEAR ME ROAR!

jeff

Bobi

I'm a-roaring too!!! I need an emoticon typifying a lioness/lion roaring! LOL

jem51

kris, i know you don't want to hear this but if your health does not improve, you can easily test for parasites. i only mention this because one of my nephew's good friends, living in hawaii always ate raw meat which he hunted. he contracted trichinosis and was actually quite ill, since he was sure he could heal himself, (he did get treatment, eventually). not that i think you have this disease but it never hurts to be vigilant. i am in no way insinuating that you should cook your meat, so don't misunderstand me....

Kristelle

Thanks for your concern, Jem. Wink

Kristelle

Well...

After about a 27 hour fast, I ate. Lots of fat including beef bone marrow and lamb fat FIRST. And then, when completely filled with fat, I ate some liver, about 100 grams and lamb, about 300-350 grams. Couldn't eat more than that. Was thirsty after my meal too so drank some water.

I have to admit that I was SUPER hungry but that made for a very enjoyable meal. The reason I was probably so hungry was because the day before, I had eaten very little protein, less than 200 grams and some fat. I think my meal tonight will be able to keep me more or less satiated until Tuesday night. I really ate as much as I could, knowing I wouldn't eat for the next 48 hours, more or less. Ready or not, here I go!!!

I can only say that I feel amazing. So energized, happy and just a sense of extreme well-being unlike when I eat more frequently, when I either feel no better than before OR feel worse. CLARITY of mind.

Today, I felt a little tired, irritated but it was ok. Not too bad.

More updates to come...

Dean

Thanks so much for sharing your amazing journey, Kristelle. Cool

You are trailblazing for me, that's for sure! Yup

Kristelle

So I finally gave in today about 20-21 hours later. But, again, no negative effects following my meal. I actually had more energy. Before that, I have to admit I was pretty lethargic. Don't know why. I think eating once every 2 days is just too damn hard at this point. The hunger is just too much! But, once every day is good.

So, I plan to eat about once every 20-30 hours. And because I'm fed up with bone marrow, I REALLY am, I've changed my fat to macadamia butter, I think a pretty decent fat with some omega-3, lots of good fats, a little fiber which could help with stools and very low in carbs. What is best about it is its taste...YUM! And very filling. I had a couple of teaspoons tonight.

I think to eat this way for the rest of my life, it has to be enjoyable and adding this to my diet will certainly make it enjoyable!

Update for today. Happy

Kristelle · I'm baaaaaaack!

I'm not gonna go into details but let's just say I'm back to just eating meat, realllly fatty meat. Kosher Beef. That's all and...water...and liver from time to time (with some marrow to compensate for the leanness of liver).

I'm a carnivore. It's in my nature. Everytime I stray away from nature with "rubbish", it just doesn't work out for me. ZERO carb, it is!

jeff

I'm happy for you Kristelle. It sounds like you have it figured out.

Dean · Re: I'm baaaaaaack!

MetalMama

Kristelle,

I'm just curious - have you ever limited yourself this much before in terms of what you eat. I believe I read that you have been a raw carnivore in the past, but did you include fish and other meats besides beef?

In any case - good luck - you're the truest carnivore I've ever run across!

Kristelle

I think this is the most I limited myself to but you know what? It's a breeze and I kid you not. This diet is so simple, soooo good, Kosher definetly tastes different, I didn't believe it at first.

Fatty meat and water. Works like a charm.

Dean

Kristelle, have you added in your days for eating carnivorously in the Feb Contest?

Kristelle

Ahhh...forget about it! February is old news. March is where I'm at! Happy

jeff

Kristelle

I'm feeling so great tonight. Tons of energy, very positive and my favorite hockey team is winning. YAY! We, Canadian girls, are into hockey! Blame our dads, uncles, brothers and so on...They just scored again...Go Habs Go...I love Kovalev...a hottie too!

So, anyways, everything is going really well. Carb cravings are at the lowest they've ever been. Appetite is zero, like REALLY zero. I even tried eating a little tonight and just couldn't get past the third piece of meat. Too much! Last time I ate was 8 hours before that.

I tested my ketones just to see and well, what do you know?! Ever since going VLC and/or ZC (3-4 months), my ketones are at the lowest they've ever been. Somewhere between purple and pink. Whereas before it was always deep purple. I'm in the process of ketoadaptation. I'm on the right track. I feel it and ketostix is confirming it.

Sinuses aren't acting up...yet. Crossing my fingers!

jeff

That's awesome, Kristelle. Isn't it a great feeling when you discover what works for you?

Kristelle

Around 10am, got a little hungry and ate. And ate...till I was really full. About 0.6-0.7kgs. Funny thing though is that my eyes were somewhat itching me, watery-like (like when you have an allergy) before eating and after eating, that completely disappeared. Total relief. That is so weird because usually the opposite happens. Also, no fatigue. Energy levels still good.

I think the key ingredient missing was fat, SATURATED fat especially, not mono, mainly found in bone marrow and some vegetable and vegetable oils.

Sinuses are acting up a little this morning though. Let's hope this completely disappears also.

jeff

As Dean would say, "animal fat is where it's at!"

Kristelle

Ate early this morning, about half of what I ate yesterday.

Sinuses slowly improving. Sleeping better, less waking up during the night. Stools more active. Skin is somewhat smoother and more lubricated. Ketones still at same level as yesterday. A little bloating after each meal, probably due to the remaining salt that cannot be drained from the meat, I'm sure my body will adapt. A little extra sodium certainly won't hurt me.

I'm thinking of eating short ribs after I finish this batch of meat. Just curious about the taste and will see if it's really fatty enough to provide the same benefits this meat is providing.

Very happy with the ways things are going. Happy

Kristelle

Just bought myself some short ribs, plenty of them at the store, no one seems to want them, probably because of their fatty content....good for me! plenty for me! hehe!

so anyways, I ate a couple of ribs and OMG! They were outstanding. Very fatty and tasty. Just what I was looking for...better than the beef cubes. Heavily marbled, tender. Yum! Double the price but definetly worth it.

So, beef short ribs, it is and...water!

So long friends.

Dean

Kristelle

Went to different stores looking for the fattiest meat available and found two places, one really close to my home, that sell the fattiest shortribs I've ever laid my eyes on. Fattier than those I bought yesterday. I'm in business now! They also have other fatty cuts like shortribs cut from the chuck area, chuck meat, etc. Again, from the Kosher section.

This morning, I ate some of my remaining batch of shortribs from yesterday + fat cut from those beef cubes bought earlier last week. Not more than 400-500 grams of meat + fat. I'm feeling great and have tons of energy. Mental outlook is also very positive. I'm feeling upbeat. And it's raining and slushy outside...so imagine. But, weather is also milder.

In any case, it is clearer by the day that what was missing was fat. I was grossly overestimating the amount of fat I was eating. Or/and the fat that I really needed wasn't monounsaturated but mostly saturared fat.

At this point, there is nothing, NOTHING I say, that can convince me to give up my diet and ever go back to what I was eating before. Stefansson was right, the Bear was right and the Eskimos had it right all along.

Now, I just need to find myself a guy who will not think I'm weird for doing this but I have a few tricks up my sleeve... Devil

Ciao ...

p.s.: sinuses continuing to improve ...very hopeful.

Dean

This all sounds wonderful, Kristelle. I think you are absolutely correct about the animal fat. There is no question as to why it was prized so much. If game was plenty, the lean would often be discarded. I am so excited to be moving in this same direction with my diet. You are such an inspiration! Cool

And, you know, you can always practice those tricks at the back of the Bus! Devil

Kristelle

I'll save them for later...

Kristelle

So, here's my story for the last 15 hours or so.

Went to bed late and slept like a baby. Woke up around 8 am, ate an hour and a half later. Trying to finish my last batch of shortribs bought from the first store, where shortribs are fatty but not to the extent as those bought later at another store, NOW those are fatty!!! Because that batch didn't quite look fatty enough, I supplemented with extra animal fat (ribs and chuck area) bought yesterday. So I ate and ate until I was full. OK...so everything's going pretty well until about 2 hours later, when my eyes start bothering me (irritating), I start feeling fatigued, feel almost zombie-like, I kid you not! I also feel sad, a downer. Something is definetly wrong...I ask myself "did I not eat enough fat?"..."Nah...that's impossible, I ate plenty...or did I?". Maybe, I didn't sleep enough. At this point, I'm at school so can't do much.

I get back home and eat again, this time plenty of fat with some of the shortribs from the old batch...I hate to waste food so I have to finish it. I'm downing huge chunks of fat with some meat and before i know it, I'm feeling normal again, plenty of energy, feeling upbeat and positive. I can't believe it...it WAS the fat. The power of animal fat and its importance.

So, anyways, I'm happy to be back in ketoland, where the sun always shines Sunny

My next batch of shortribs won't require extra fat but who knows? I was wrong many times in the past. I just hope not, as eating just meat is so much simpler and more convenient.

These shortribs kind of look like this
http://www.chefscatalog.com/img/products/285x285/21655_285.jpg
Some even a little fattier.

Whereas the first ones I ate looked like this
http://tinyurl.com/2ggfeo

As you can see, there is a difference in fat content.

Ciao...

Kristelle

I've been thinking and thinking some more...especially about what Red said re:amines.

Although things are improving, I'm still experiencing certain problems like the ones mentioned today. I suspect that they have more to do with amines than how much fat I ate although the fat helped so there may be a bit of both.

I've done some reading and the symptoms of amine intolerance closely match mine. Among them, defiance, aggression, migraines, fatigue, digestive problems, anxiety, sadness, hives and many more.

I think Kosher meat is great because their meat is not aged, especially given the fact that it is salted which prevents any aging. Regardless, I think it is a mistake to eat meat that has been packaged more than a couple of days ago or eat leftovers stored in the fridge, as they are desalted (I soak my meat in water before eating it to remove salt) and begin aging.

So, just to be on the safe side, I plan to buy meat (beef shortribs, as they are the fattiest) every day (I don't care for the inconvenience, I care more about my well-being). The meat should be packaged either that day or the day before, in other words, be fresh. The butcher may find strange that I come every day to buy the same meat but you know what? I don't give a damn. Happy

Also, any leftover meat will be thrown away or offered to my family. What can I say?!

I plan to eat liver occasionally and I realize that offals are higher in amines. But, I'll be eating a small amount, about 100 grams and only once a month. So, that's fine. And I'll be eating at night, just in case, it puts me to sleep as amines do that...

With the avoidance of amines and inclusion of non-aged, salted, kosher, higher quality fatty beef shortribs, I should be A-OK! I think I need to fix that last piece of the puzzle and should have listened to Red. My bad!

I have a few shortribs sitting in my fridge that were packaged on March 2nd. They still look fresh and I really don't wanna throw them all in the garbage. They're not cheap. But, I'm also not gonna eat them if they end up smelling rotten or have a darker color inside the meat or under. So, we'll see...The salt should help and perhaps, considering this, I could buy meat every few days in the future but like I said, I prefer to play it safe...just in case. I am just so tired of dealing with these symptoms. I think the intolerance to amines runs in my family, more so in women than in men, it seems. Oh well...

Wish me luck people...I really want to make this work.

Dean

Good luck, Kristelle.

BTW, I love reading your journal. It's so wonderful to read about someone who actually eats REAL food. Cool

So, please keep posting all these details. And, thanks for doing so.

Sunny

Kristelle

I ate about half a kilo of shortribs this morning, mostly fresh and reddish, a few parts discarded. It was very tasty with all that fat and some parts, quite tender. I didn't have to put the meat in the water as the salt was barely detectable, only around the bones where most of the fat is. This Kosher meat is not only tastier and fatter but doesn't require desalting. Great stuff! Happy

I am full, satisfied and don't feel tired, restless, drowsy. Things are looking up. Usually, if I ate that much of supermarket beef, I would feel totally out of it after. And less satisfied. There is no fattier meat than beef shortribs. In my book, this ranks at the top, even better than prime rib.

But, just after finishing my meal, I felt a hive coming on, on my face. Probably due to amine effects from yesterday. Delayed reaction. The next few hours will be even more telling but I have a good feeling.

That's that for now. Ciao.

Kristelle

I weighed myself this morning and NOT surprisingly, I gained weight. I felt it and could clearly see it too. 3 pounds from last time I weighed myself, about 3-4 weeks ago. Before that, my weight was very stable, always hovering around 135lbs. The extra weight mostly went to my hips.

BUT, this may be a good sign because at 135lbs, I looked a little too thin, especially my face. In my opinion and that of others.

I've also been feeling better lately and in the last few days, especially last 24 hours, my sex drive has gone up whereas before, it was inexistent, like ZERO, nada, ZILCH. Sleeping better, sinuses improving, more energy. All good signs. Smile

So, I attribute this weight gain to a healthier physiology and probably to hormones. Things are working as they should. Sure, the weight gain bothers me a little BUT I will let nature do its work and trust it. It knows better than me. Women aren't meant to be thin, we are supposed to have curves, have some fat, etc...more so in certain circumstances than others, of course. But still...curvy women are beautiful, in my opinion.

I ate ALOT yesterday (more than my appetite dictated) but I think I'm just trying to finish my batch which is expiring soon and I don't want to throw anything away. I ate about 1 kilo of shortribs but a little was discarded (what was beginning to rot), plus some of it is bones and there is only 14g of protein in 100g of shortribs. So, considering all these factors, I didn't eat THAT much. What was encouraging was that I had no ill effects from so much meat whereas in the past, I would ...due to amines. As long as fresh (non-aged) meat parts are eaten, I'm alright! Happy

Today, I should finish my batch which they say is BETTER before March 6th. But the meat looks fine, red and fresh. Perhaps, not all of it. And tomorrow, I'll start eating fresh meat on a regular basis to avoid any problems with amines.

That's all folks.
Ciao. Bye. Au revoir. Hasta proxima.

jeff

Kristelle

Wow...my energy is WAY up, rarely have I felt so energetic in my life...and my breasts are aching...ouch! Is there a connection? Who knows??

Heather

jeff

Kristelle

I switched to veal today...I have a feeling this beef I'm eating still has too much amines. Things should be improving a little bit quicker.

So, I bought some fresh veal shortribs and flank ribs today, pretty fatty. The surplus of lean, I leave for my family. Very affordable.

What's weird is that my ear suddenly cleared up after I finished eating the veal. Coincidence? Maybe...but at least I know that with veal, I'm safe. Happy

Ciao...

Dean

Kristelle

To make a long story short, had my veal, then had terrible stomach cramps relieved by putting some pressure on stomach (probably gases) then had lamb rib chops at the....RESTAURANT! Cooked really rare...first time since July that I've eaten anything cooked. No spices, except some olive oil. Was actually delicious! Later that night, woke up feeling nauseous, went to LA TOILETTE (bathroom in french) and felt much better after...

I suspect my stomach cramps were due to not enough fat and then attribute nausea to either the fact that I ate cooked meat or too much fat. I think the latter is more likely. So, from eating not enough fat to eating too much in the same day...wow! What a rollercoaster.

Anyways, it's new day. I'm going to check out a new place to see if they sell lamb rib chops.

Ciao...

jem51

kris, i saw a post for clearing up bacterial infection (cause of excess mucouse, itching). something about using a mix of sodium bicarb (regular baking soda) and water, placing a ball of tissue or cotton in the nostrils and dripping in the solution. as it soaks the cotton and passes to the rear of the passage it may cause a little sting but that's normal. anyway, i'll try to find it and get the amts. maybe you're not having that problem anymore but you might want to keep it in your mental file in case sx return.

Kristelle

Thanks again Jem, Smile

Let me know what you find out...

BTW, I finally found some lamb rib chops, quite fatty and should do the trick, eaten alone, without any extra fat. The store is close to my house too so that's a bonus. I also bought some Ghee, to avoid lactose and casein, in case, I find myself lacking fat in my diet. For those times, when the right cuts aren't available, etc. I tasted a litte bit of it and WOW...very good!

Forget about veal shortribs, they aren't nearly as fatty or tasty. Lamb, it is.

Kristelle

Finally found out that lamb IS aged, New Zealand lamb as well. So, I switched to ground veal and I will supplement with extra ghee, as needed. I mix the ghee in...pretty good and I quickly get filled up. With the amount of vitamin A in ghee, I won't need to eat liver.

I'm in a really very good mood today, especially considering it's milder outside, sunny and it FINALLY stopped snowing!

Kristelle

Too much ghee and doesn't seem to be agreeing with me PLUS ground veal is bland.

So, right now, I'm sticking with fatty veal shortribs and egg (organic) yolks. So far, so good. I dip the veal in egg yolk...it tastes delicious.

Went to a shop that sells only veal and their veal is actually aged 2 weeks. Can you believe that?? Also, kosher meat (beef, lamb) is actually aged as well. Spoke with a a few butchers.

Neverending struggle is what it seems to be...

Dean

Hang in there, Kristelle. You'll figure it out. We all have to struggle to find what will work for us.

Kristelle

Thanks Dean. Smile

So, it seems eggs don't agree with me either and besides, eating any extra fat on top of what veal provides gives me nausea.

I'll be sticking with veal shortribs ONLY.

Heather

Hang in there, I'm sure you will find the right foods.

Dean

Yah, with your diet, even the wrong foods are still the right ones. Wink

Kristelle

Veal shortribs are not very tasteful and enjoyable...so, I'm switching to foods that I've eaten in the past and enjoyed AND that haven't bothered me that much physically.

Local lamb chops are really tasty and quite fatty
Macadamia nut butter is fatty, provides good fats and is very yummy
Some fish, on occasion, like Greenland halibut, wild salmon, swordfish and shellfish like scallops
And once in a while, organic chicken liver for Vitamin A. I'd rather stick to organic organ meats, especially given the fact that I eat them raw.

On the menu today, lamb and macadamia butter. I truly enjoyed it.

Kristelle

Going back to just eating veal ribs, kosher type is actually tastier and more satisfying. Macadamia butter, although delicious, makes me bloated. No thank you! Hate fiber. Mad

Kristelle

I'm happy to say that there are important positive changes occurring, a most likely manifestation of a reduction in allergenic symptoms due to amines:

- softer facial and neck skin with few dry patches slowly disappearing. The dryness usually occurs around my neck and forecheeks.
- increased sexual drive
- breast cup size increasing, with MAJOR breast ache
- slight weight increase
- dark circles under eyes slowly getting better as is blocked ear and sinuses
- no new hives and pimply, blotchy area around the sides of my waist area on my skin is fading away
- body hair growth, which wasn't much before, is even slower now, especially around inner thighs where it is usually most prominent...YAY!
- scalp hair very healthy and stays clean for a long time
- barely any body odor
- less hunger
- more energy & endurance
- improved sleep pattern
- less ketones in my urine
- overall more positive mood

Overall, my body seems to be functioning more properly. My problem was amines...now I'm 99.9999% sure. Since switching to veal especially (with some experimenting with lamb), symptoms have gotten better by the day. Aged meats, eggs, bone marrow, vegetable fats (even ghee) are NO-NO'S.

I thought that maybe going zero-carb would be unfeasible but my problem had nothing to do with not enough carbs but with too heavy of an AMINE load for my body. Ever since taking medication containing tartrazine for many months in a row in early 2006, my immune system has especially gotten sensitive to amines. Same kind of positive pattern occurred after dropping the medication but obviously not to the same extent as now.

I'm confident I'm on the right track this time. I know what to look for now. It is very clear.

Kristelle

Gained some more weight...up to 142-143 lbs. Jeans are getting tight. My figure is actually changing for the better. Happy

and I'm feeling healthier. Something is going on and I'm definetly not complaining!

jem51

okay, breast tenderness and weight gain sounds hormonal....or pregnant!! any chance?

Kristelle

No chance...had a hysterectomy a little more than 2 years ago. Haven't changed hormones...they're just working now instead of NOT working at all or very little. There is clearly a connection with allergies to amines but I can't explain it! who cares?! as long as things are going well...right?

Happy

Kristelle

By the way...sexual drive is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY up! I don't know what's going on but OMG!!! I'm in heat...that's maybe why guys are looking at me more these days...hmmm....interesting evolutionary theory.

Also, definitive improvement in sinuses and stools more regular. Life is great, at least for now. Maybe my struggle is actually finally ending. Smile

SandyDown

Well done Kristi, sounds like you are in a very good place...

btw what's amines Grin

Kristelle

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/factsheets/Factamines.htm
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~ataraxy/Amines_list.html

Today, ate some veal that seemed a little spoiled...big mistake...but the reaction is mild...still hate myself for going against my instinct...I knew I shouldn't have eaten it. Oh well...I'm also gonna stick with one butcher in particular where their meat is really fresh and remains fresh for a longer time due to the use of salting (kosher meat, to remove blood) which helps to preserve the meat. Most of the salt remains on the meat so that helps alot. I dip the meat in water to remove most of the salt. I've never experienced problems with this butcher's meat, even beef. But, I'm still sticking to veal. I may try beef later on, just to see.

The high sexual drive thing was actually a negative symptom...histamine response. I WAS a little too hyper this morning. Anyways, live and learn. I'm doing much better though so things are looking up. Happy

Kristelle

Good day with veal. I'm still suffering side-effects from yesterday but very mild. Mostly sinuses.

I'm only eating really fresh veal packaged the same day or day before. 3rd day and it starts to cause some problems for me.

SandyDown

Kristi, hope you are not eating white anaemic veal?

Kristelle

What??? Can you elaborate?

The veal is light pink in color with always a little light gray color in certain places. As soon as the color turns light brownish-pink, i know it's starting to spoil so it's a no-no.

SandyDown

Kristelle

Thanks. Interesting. In any case, the veal I eat is certainly not white.

Kristelle

I think I'm going through some sort of detox. Just as there major improvements going on and I feel better, I am also experiencing certain allergic symptoms but to a much a greater degree. Like today, I got this huge hive under my right eye, like really huge!!! Shock

And the day before, had a bout of anxiety. Sad

My body is finally healing and getting rid of toxins. It was about time.

Also, my face is fuller and overall, I look healthier. The hormones are clearly affecting my body now and some weight gain was inevitable. Breasts and hips fuller too...perhaps thighs as well. Booty...I don't know...no one's made a comment yet. Some of my pants are getting tighter. This just goes to show you that insulin is but one hormone that affects weight gain. Sex hormones also play a crucial role.

Dean

SandyDown

Kristi are you on the pill/HRT? women who are on the pill always complain that they put on weight and its too stubborn to lose.

Kristelle

I am on HRT prepared by a compounding pharmacy, with no coloring, additives. I take bio-identicals, exactly the same hormones our body normally produces and rectally so that much of it goes directly into blood as opposed to the pill. The pill also often contains hormones that are not similar to those found in our body and thus, has very different, unwanted effects.

Literature seems to indicate that estrogen helps to keep weight down while progesterone does the opposite. I take moderate to high amounts of both.

Kristelle

Good news...mom's tumor was removed, it was small and very localized. Nothing found in the lymph nodes. Happy

My mom is also trying to stop smoking...excellent news! Happy

I also ate some duck legs today, seems like it's ok for people like me who are intolerant to phenols (i.e. amines). It tasted pretty good, is fatty (77% fat calories) and remains fresh for a long time. Very cheap too. I was full on just 300 grams of meat. Duck fat is very filling. The place where they sell it is also closer to my house so that's great. I'm still in the testing phase though...no negative symptoms thus far. Duck is tastier than veal.

Dean

Kristelle, that's great news about your mom! Sunny

That duck sounds wonderful. Yup

Kristelle

Well, the duck didn't agree with me...the symptoms were pretty clear. I think the reason why is because it was vacuum-packed and in such an anaerobic environment, certain bacteria thrive and break down amino acids.

So, today, I'm changing things a bit. Yes, I was doing well on veal but not 100%. If this experiment fails, then I most probably will go back to veal ribs and just settle there...

I've done well in the past with white-flesh fresh fish like haddock, cod or halibut. So, I will be including fish and combine it with 100% duck fat. Today, had some halibut. Let's see...

Kristelle

Switched back to veal. I definetly can't make up my mind.
Grin

Kristelle

And back to beef shortribs.... Bonkers

Dean

It's the random raw diet in here! LOL

Billi-Jean

Kristelle

Thanks.

I think i've figured out the problem...and if things do substantially improve, I will start a new journal...I've already got a title for it...but until then...neverending struggles, it is!

.........

Billi-Jean

oh rats, now you've got me all curious like...dammit, the suspense is gonna kill me...hurry up and spill durnit! LOL

Kristelle

Suspense is my middle name. Wink

Kristelle

Thus far, here are the results of my "experiment"...

No afternoon fatigue or soon after a meal;
More energy;
Better sleep, continuous;
No episodes of anxiety (shortness of breath), feel calmer;
Skin MUCH more hydrated, smoother;
No new hives or redness (rash);

Still having problems with my sinuses;
Still have some acid reflux

Included in my diet...

Some beef bone marrow, added today
Beef shortribs or brisket or whatever fattiest meat is available, at least 70% fat in calories.

Too soon for a new chapter.

Kristelle

Things are looking up... Happy

More to come...

Billi-Jean

tease!

Kristelle

This will be my last post in this journal...because I am now convinced that the reason I was having problems since going raw and zero-carb was a lack of fat.

When carbs are very low or completely eliminated, you need another source of energy, FAT. To properly digest protein, you need fat and lots of it, at least 70% in calories, as I found out. Maybe, even a little more in some like me and also depending on how much fat you have in store. I believe that 75-85% represents an ideal range.

If you don't eat enough fat, protein is not well-digested. Protein requires more energy than what it provides to the body. Undigested protein then feeds pathogens (toxins released) in the gut and colon, irritates the gut (i.e. leaky gut) and provokes an antibody reaction (allergy-like), releasing histamine in the process. That is part of the problem. And the reason why I was experiencing all the symptoms mentioned in my journal and other posts. Somewhat of a "rabbit starvation" but much less since I did include some fat, probably around 55-70% although I thought it was much higher.

The other part of the problem is that the body probably starts withdrawing glucose from its glycogen reserves and later, fat to provide the necessary energy for protein digestion. This extra glucose stimulates insulin, may actually prevent keto-adaptation and prevent further weight loss. In my case, adaptation was never reached even though I had been zero-carbing for several months.

Now that I eat VERY fatty, fatty meats with bone marrow, certain symptoms are quickly improving and I'm feeling the best ever since starting zero-carbing and this, for several days in a row. The fact that this is going on for more than a couple of days and that this makes so much sense convinces me that I am on the right path. No more NEVERENDING STRUGGLE!!!

So, I'm starting a new journal where I will be posting improvements, how I feel compared to before. I will only note improvements when they persist for at least a few days.

Thanks to all for their support. Happy

Kristelle's neverending carnivorous struggle

I'm baaaaaaack!

Re: I'm baaaaaaack!