This day 2 years ago my wife and son had to carry me and load me into the car. I was too weak to stand on my own. I couldn’t walk.
I was on my way to the ER in diabetic ketoacidosis. Glucose 693. A1C was 12.6.
It was a scary experience. I saw fear in the eyes of my wife. She
Post Christmas 2021 v post Christmas 2023
145+lbs down
T2D reversed
I’m just a morbidly obese 49 year old guy showing up every day.
Lifted this evening with my son. Got a 6 mile run in this morning.
Show up. Push when you don’t want to. Don’t let your mind get the best of
At 47 years old I had been morbidly obese for more than a decade.
Obese since college.
Was always the “husky” kid growing up.
I had given up. Felt hopeless.
Was closer to 400lbs than 200.
I was metabolically bankrupt.
If you are like I was, I encourage you to take
I choose the steak and eggs so I don’t have to inject the insulin.
Haven’t injected since May 27, 2022. Don’t plan to ever again.
Steak and eggs help make that a reality.
#carnivorediet
#diabetes
I turned 49 this past Friday.
2 years ago if someone told me that I would celebrate turning 49 by running a
#HalfMarathon
, I would’ve said you’re crazy.
320+lbs
High BP
Didn’t know it at the time but T2D
CPAP to sleep
But that’s exactly what I did yesterday.
I’m not
Entering 2024 morbidly obese? T2D? Consuming a daily buffet of pharmaceuticals?
You know you need to make some changes but don’t know how?
Well. I don’t have a product to sell you here on X but I do have a gift to give…
HOPE
I am you. I was you. I have walked your walk.
I know this biometric scan isn’t 100% accurate but if you had told the “old me” that the “today me” would see a bf% number like I saw today, wouldn’t seem even remotely possible.
No way. Not me. Not ever. Give me some more pizza and ice cream.
But I’m here today. Two years
During my prime obese days, ice cream was my Achilles Meal.
Usually had it nightly.
When I found out I was T2D, I accepted ice cream wouldn’t be a part of my life moving forward.
Have had one ice cream since then. Ran 4 miles to the ice cream shop to earn it.
Got a Ninja
To reverse T2 post DKA, I had to become disciplined in what I ate.
It was tough. Won’t lie.
But here is what I find interesting…
The more I became disciplined in what I ate, the more my body wanted to move.
So I started to walk.
And the more disciplined I became in my
@AJA_Cortes
I’ve lost about 150lbs and I’m still losing bodyfat.
Learned many lessons along the way but the most surprising would likely be the lessons learned in positive habit building for long term success. The mindset needed to change my entire lifestyle.
Dec 2, 2021 vs Dec 2, 2023.
I was smiling in the pic on the left but I wasn’t happy.
I was chronically tired. On meds for BP. CPAP. Cholesterol north of 300. Triglycerides pushing 500. Didn’t know it but was T2D with an a1c of 12.6.
Cycles of anxiety and depression.
I was
Added a new member to the family today.
Say hello to Wrigley!
We haven’t had a family pet in many years. Looking for quality food recommendations for what’s going to be an active part of our family.
If you happen to have a quality recommendation, please share!
Thank you!
I have not used exogenous insulin since May 27, 2022. I stuck a needle in my stomach for exactly 4 months post DKA. 40 units a day.
I keep this in my refrigerator as a reminder of where I was and where I will NEVER return.
There is no food good enough to make we want to put a
I’m taking a step of faith in sharing these pics.
I don’t consider them flattering by any stretch of the imagination. But I feel compelled to share because I believe they can help others like me.
If you are morbidly obese and feel like there is no way you’ll ever NOT be this
I’m often asked
“How do you eat?”
It’s really pretty simple, I eat low carb. Main meal is ribeye and eggs. I add protein supplements and low carb bars. It’s pretty basic.
But I wish I was more often asked “why do you eat this way?”
The “why” is the special sauce for me.
👇🏼
Saturday morning breakfast was always a big event for me pre DKA.
Biscuits
Gravy
Hashbrowns
Oh it was so goood!
But after reversing T2, losing 140+lbs, AND as a food addict, I can NOT do what some will advocate...
"Cheat Meals"
I call them SABOTAGE MEALS!
There is no
This is an unused long-acting insulin pen. I used these pens for 4mo after learning I was T2D, post DKA, in Jan 2022.
I have a bit of a "phobia" of needles. Always have.
My amazing wife graciously injected me with insulin for the first few weeks I was home from the hospital.
Morbidly obese?
Metabolically bankrupt?
What are you doing today to turn it around?
I’ve been where you are. I’ve walked in your shame. Wore the fake smile.
What changed for me?
I started making action and stopped making excuses.
I had complete control over what I put
@SBakerMD
Undergraduates in microbiology and chemistry. 25+ years in environmental stream and wetland restoration.
Tried and failed my entire adult life on dozens of “diets”until going keto —-> carnivore for a lifestyle.
Results speak for themselves.
@ZubyMusic
Agree 100%!!
I’ll also add that with healthy habits, strength training, and a nutritious diet it’s possible to regain your health as well!
I’ve been able to reverse T2D and lose 140lbs since Jan 2022.
Still going!
No one else is responsible for what I did to myself in my health
Morbid Obesity
T2
Metabolic Bankruptcy
But I haven’t gotten here today alone and can’t take all the responsibility for my progress.
Today I’m grateful for the people who helped me when I couldn’t help myself.
I was one of those people.
It didn’t work.
Ended up morbidly obese and T2.
Metabolically bankrupt.
Lots of prescriptions.
What did work was showing up every day and putting in the consistent effort.
Now I take no prescriptions.
I’m not unique. You can do it also.
One year and 140lbs ago vs Today. Decided to recreate my Thanksgiving picture from 2022, however the shirt is more like a dress on me now.
It really reinforces just how far I’ve came in 2023. Thankful for all of your support these last ten months.
#thankful
@FitFounder
Agree but you CAN turn your health around. I’ve been working since Jan 2022 to reverse T2D and reclaim my health.
Lost 140+lbs so far along the way.
I turn 49 in a few weeks.
I spent my entire adult life making dietary choices that led to metabolic bankruptcy.
Now, my choices are meant to create metabolic wealth/health.
I ate my way into metabolic bankrupcy, I’m eating my way back out.
Do it with me. It starts with your next bite.
#Carnivore
Since losing 145lbs and correcting my metabolic bankruptcy, my energy levels are thru the roof.
It’s like my body has become an inferno.
For me, being fat adapted is a cheat code to vitality.
It’s not an easy road at first but I can assure you it’s worth it.
#carnivore
The pic on the left was when I joined the gym. It’s the pic they took for my membership. I was 320+lbs.
Pic on right was yesterday. Caught a glimpse of myself in a window while working outside our shop. 182lbs.
#NSV
#Carnivore
#ketogenic
#Diabetes
#RunLiftRun
Today’s
#GratitudeRun
is in the books.
A year ago I couldn’t run for 1 min without stopping.
But every day I would show up and eat with purpose and walk.
Then I started to run in Feb 2023.
Then I started to lift in July 2023.
Now I generally
#RunLiftRun
4 days a week
@ZubyMusic
100% agree!
This time last year I was 320+lbs and an undiagnosed T2 who was one week away from a Diabetic Ketoacidosis event.
Today I’ve lost 103 pounds and have an a1c of 5.3.
No longer morbidly obese or T2.
Life is certainly much better now!
@SBakerMD
I experienced a DKA event Jan 2022.
Came off injectable insulin May 2022.
Down 135lbs.
All bloodwork is great.
I no longer require any medications.
Carnivore helped me achieve this.
Cole doesn’t post often.
That’s because Cole is too busy being an ABSOLUTE BEAST in his journey.
Cole doesn’t know it (maybe now he will) but his progress helped me more than I can describe.
All I needed was to see that someone else had done it.
And he has done it!
I used to never want to do anything.
I would be out of breath walking a flight of stairs
I avoided public places and family events
360+ lbs later I'm a brand new man. Building myself daily.
Nobody is coming to save you
November 2021 I came to Cades Cove with the family.
We drove the scenic route.
Came back today.
Got it done on foot this time.
Plan was to run it. Body said otherwise 7 miles in. Still got the 10 miles.
38 miles on the week.
I’m not special. I’m just a morbidly obese
Every day is a new day.
Every day I eat for insulin neutrality, I win.
Every day I exercise, I win.
Every day I live in gratitude, I win.
You can start winning in your journey with your next bite, with your next step, with your next action.
Win with me.
#Carnivore
@NewDawn7411
I see a lot about sustainability and the restrictive nature of eating carnivore and even low carb/keto but I will contend life is much less sustainable and more restrictive being morbidly obese (like me) and sedentary. There is no food from my previous lifestyle that tastes as
@DaveEDanna
More than 3 words but I always failed in years past because I tried to do too much all at once. Eat right. Exercise right. Sleep right. All starting day one. Major changes in lifestyle all at once. I always failed. Got up over 320lbs and became T2D among other health
I see myself now and I’m not seeing the guy carrying around an extra 140+lbs like I did not too long ago.
I’m seeing me as I am. Not who I was.
That’s important.
If we only see us as our failures I don’t believe we will ever achieve our personal best. I’m certainly not
Give
@PatrickJamesGNG
another 8 months and he will likely look like half the man he once was.
Hard work and consistency win the battle. And Patrick is winning big!
Keep it going!
Taken eight months apart. Eight hard put my health first months. Five with prioritizing protein. I only lost twenty pounds for all that work. However, I lost six pant sizes and one shirt size. Don’t focus solely on those scale numbers. Progress is it’s own motivation.
@DaveEDanna
After 140lbs of weight loss I had the same concern. Luckily, it’s tightening up really well. Upper arms are close to “normal” now in regard to skin elasticity. Last place is my abdomen. But it’s getting there. Give it time.
I don’t post meals often because I eat the same rotation pretty much every day.
Steak. Protein supplements. Not much variation. I don’t do sabotage meals or days. That’s a no go.
But today I’m adding shrimp. I’ve always loved shrimp. Hands down one of my favorite seafoods.
Had the opportunity to run in the Chattanooga Half marathon today. Was a good day. Brazilian Steakhouse for recovery meal this evening. 🏃♂️ 🥩💪🏼
#running
Exactly my experience. Until I had a complete change in mindset, I was doomed to fail.
I’ll add this, the change in mindset required to loose massive amounts of weight absolutely bleeds over into other aspects of life.
Way to go
@DaveEDanna
!!!
Logged some trail miles today.
Grateful to be able to do this.
2 years ago it wasn’t even a possibility.
Now, nothing feels impossible.
One day at a time gets us here.
#weightlossjourney
#running
@NewDawn7411
100% pure inspiration!
So often people see the before and after/during photos and are impressed/motivated. Which is great.
But what can’t be seen is the struggle and determination it takes to get where you have. The mindset. The temptations and old habits to overcome.
It’s
Are you morbidly obese?
A food addict?
Working hard to lose weight?
Concerned about the upcoming holidays and social pressure to eat the feasts and sweets?
I was last year. It was my first holiday season in my current journey.
I’m not this year.
Why?
I have boundaries.
@BamaBass
Killer views!
And no doubt, with your new mindset and lifestyle, you’ll find the perfect person for you. Just like in your weight loss, it takes time and patience. 💪🙏
@DrEenfeldt
I failed in the past because I was not honest with myself and what I was consuming. Once I started logging every gram consumed, the game changed for me in terms of weight loss.
Low carb has helped me go from a DKA event last Jan to 96 pounds lost today. Also A1C of 12.6 to 5.3.
Every day is a new opportunity. A clean slate.
You can not change yesterday but you can begin writing your new story today.
It won't be easy. Challenges will arise but every challenge is an opportunity for success.
All you have to do is start. Now. With your next bite of
At 47 years old I had been morbidly obese for more than a decade.
Obese since college.
Was always the “husky” kid growing up.
I had given up. Felt hopeless.
Was closer to 400lbs than 200.
I was metabolically bankrupt.
If you are like I was, I encourage you to take
Got Wrigley a harness so he can carry his own water and nutrition once we start trail running together.
He has to grow into it but that’s ok…looking forward to lots of miles with him!
#running
#trailrunning
#labrador
@BowTiedBroke
3 ingredients
350 ml Fairlife whole milk
Scoop vanilla protein isolate powder
10g sugar free vanilla pudding mix
That’s the base.
Spin it. Re-spin with a few ml’s of milk added.
Done.
Can add mix-ins post re-spin to customize.
Legit.
@ScottAdamsSays
In past weight loss attempts, I would log my food intake as a tool to tell me when to stop eating. Hated that “limitation”. This time around, I use it as a tool for data collection to inform my decisions moving forward. Down 91 pounds so far in 2022.
The grocery store is like a carnival to me.
The aromas.
All the choices.
A food addicts playground.
The ice cream aisle was my Achilles Meal. 🤣
So how did I overcome the cornucopia of temptation when I first got started on my 145lb
#weightlossjourney
?
A simple hack, I
@SimmonsBart
You look better at 69 than I did at 39 because I was THAT guy. A buffet of prescriptions plus a cpap to sleep. I was a product of convenience foods and poor choices.
How you live has played a huge influence on my lifestyle changes. No doubt. Every time you share a picture of
@ElieJarrougeMD
Learned I was T2 last Jan by having a DKA event. Huge wake up call! 12.6 a1c and 693 glucose that day.
The day I can home from the hospital I changed it all.
Last insulin injection on 5/27/22.
Today a1c is 5.3 and I’m down 106 pounds.
Lifestyle changes for the win!
@ZubyMusic
How to modify my mindset in order to completely change my health.
This day last year I was 320+lbs and about to experience a DKA event, learning I was T2.
Today I’m down 105lbs and no longer T2.
Laying in bed and hitting the snooze is easy.
Watching tv is easy.
Grabbing fast food is easy.
Eating without purpose is easy.
Want to know what’s hard?
Watching your family ride the rides at Universal Studios while you watch because you’re too obese to fit on the rides.
Got another
#RunLiftRun
in the books.
Not too long ago, I was closer to 400lbs than 200lbs. This morning I was 185.
I have felt the shame and embarrassment of living morbidly obese.
Here’s what eats at me the most now tho…
After all these years (my entire adult life) of
@Rob_NBF
Stay consistent in your actions. Everyday. There are no cheat meals or cheat days. Approach it one day at a time, one meal at a time, one bite at a time.
I’m coming from this as a food addict who experienced a DKA event 1/24/22.
Today I’m down 105 pounds and no longer T2.
@ElieJarrougeMD
The solution for me was to eat as insulin inert as possible. If it could cause an adverse insulin reaction, I did not eat eat.
Dropped a1c from 12.6 to 6.4 in under 4 months with this approach.
@FrankaMedic
It is your responsibility.
Like you, until I took ownership of who created the issue, I couldn’t resolve it.
I started one bite at a time and that got me to one meal at a time and that got me to one day at a time. I won the day. Then I started stacking days and once I got a
@ScottAdamsSays
I also found out in Jan 22 I was a T2 diabetic after an ER visit with diabetic ketoacidosis. Reframing my relationship with food has helped me reverse the T2 and come off insulin back in May. A1C from 12.6 in Jan 22 to 5.4 in Aug and 5.3 last week. Reframing my thoughts saved me.
Here is what I do know.
In my old ways under the Standard American Diet, I ended up…
T2D and in the hospital for a few days due to DKA.
Morbidly obese.
Medications for BP
CPAP to sleep
Now I eat steak and eggs daily.
A1C from 12.6 —-> 5.2
I’ll stick with my version
If Red Meat causes Diabetes then we should see diabetes rates spiking in those on a Carnivore Diet, and yet what we really see is A1c's returning to normal...
@B_Holmer
When framed like this, it does.
However, I’m going to give a different perspective on being aware of net carbs.
In Jan 2022 I found myself in the ICU in diabetic ketoacidosis. Long story short, I was undiagnosed T2D. I was also in terrible metabolic health. You name it, I had
Morbidly obese?
Know you NEED to make dramatic changes?
Well. What did you do today to make it happen?
Did you make action in your success story or did you make excuses?
You have complete control over what you put in your mouth.
If you failed today, like I did for years,
@anoverweightman
If you had told me when that first pic was taken the challenges and changes that were ahead of me, I would have said no way. So grateful for the past two years.
I haven’t looked at any pics of myself side by side until I tried on some new clothes last night and could
LEGIT WEAR A BELT PROPERLY!!
This is 320+lbs vs 208lbs.
And I’m not done.
There is no food worth life in my before. I promise it can be better.
@rp76net
Thank you!
It's hard for me to believe most of the time as well.
I often still feel like I'm in the larger body when it comes to my mental limitations. Working to learn and experience things I could never do before. Like run. LOL
Today is a milestone day. The day I put in my sight on 1/28/23. 100 lbs lost and 199 by 12/31/23. Smashed both. 306 to 162 in 337 days. Commitment, Consistency and Community. We’re made to do hard things friends! Our limits are self imposed. Make 2024 your best yet
#Carnivore
What did you do today?
Did you make action or excuse’s?
If you made excuses, stop. Put the fork down and get busy.
Get on board and let’s make the rest of the day a win!
Let’s go! 💪🏼
Morbidly obese?
Metabolically bankrupt?
What are you doing today to turn it around?
I’ve been where you are. I’ve walked in your shame. Wore the fake smile.
What changed for me?
I started making action and stopped making excuses.
I had complete control over what I put
@DrEenfeldt
For me it was the addictive nature of the food.
There is a mental & physical addiction to contend with that is often overlooked…ESPECIALLY if one has never been morbidly obese before.
I was there. 320+lbs. DKA event last Jan.
Down 105lbs today and no longer T2.
@DoctorTro
This has helped me reverse T2 post DKA, lose 115+ lbs to date, defeat sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, high blood pressure, and so much more. It’s not a diet food, it’s a life food!
@Tony21323
My primary focus since day one was protection of my pancreatic beta cells.
So I avoided any foods that would cause an insulin spike.
I still do this. Every bite. Every meal. Every day.
The foods have evolved from low carb alternatives to my past carb rich foods to more of
Got home from a run last night and snapped the pic on the right
It’s still astonishing to me
Not because I don’t believe it
But because I don’t see me in the 1st picture anymore…let me explain
These pics were taken 1 1/2 years apart
The man on the left had attributes of
I have a torn medial meniscus in my left knee so no running until that’s fixed.
That doesn’t mean I can’t lift, cycle, and eat like I should.
So that’s what I’m doing.
I intend to learn how to swim during this time of no running also. Never been one to swim. Didn’t enjoy it
I haven’t eaten any fruit since January 23, 2022.
626 days.
Initially it was because I was working to avoid insulin spikes. I wanted to put T2D into remission.
Now I think about it differently.
At the cellular level, my body doesn’t segregate fructose based on source. It
The pic on the left was when I joined the gym. It’s the pic they took for my membership. I was 320+lbs.
Pic on right was yesterday. Caught a glimpse of myself in a window while working outside our shop. 182lbs.
#NSV
#Carnivore
#ketogenic
#Diabetes
#RunLiftRun
Being morbidly obese is tough. I walked that walk for 40+ years.
The shame. The embarrassment.
Food and alcohol helped mask the sadness, or so I thought.
It just made it all worse.
It’s hard to be healthy. Takes effort. But it’s less hard than the life I lived when I was