Okay so I'm not REALLY a doctor, I just play one on the internet. If I were to be a doctor I would likely have my PhD in Orchestral conducting, with some variation, as those things get picky.
I started my nutrition journey after reading The Four Hour Body by Tim Ferris. I had been working out for the past 4 months daily, took my knowledge, gained from friends who were always in shape in school, (work hard, lift hard, eat carbs and LOTS of protein after a workout, etc. basically the stuff that doesn't work) and ran daily, lifted every other day, managed my meals, and only ever got as far as barely being able to see the inside definition of my pecs. Shortly after, I injured my knee and had to rest for a few months, found it difficult to find the motivation to start again, seeing as i barely got any results. Shortly after that, I picked up a book I saw was popular online, and read it cover to cover twice, how Tim supposedly barely slept, ate as much as he wanted, had massive energy, strength, lost 20 lbs. in a month without exercise, and gained 10 lbs of pure muscle in one month without anabolics. The rebel in me listened. I had to defy the odds. I talked with my awesome roommate who had been saying for the past few weeks he wanted to work out with me that I was going to switch to this diet, what he could expect and if he wanted to join and we could split groceries. He was in. We BOTH lost nearly 20 lbs (me 16, him 18) in one month, he continued being more restrictive than me, and went on to lose 25 lbs over the following two months, totaling a little over 40lbs in three months, never exercising, never starving himself. To hell with calorie counting.
I don't mind going against the grain. In fact, I've always enjoyed it a little. Controversy makes things interesting. When I told my immediate family about raw meat and how people are healing diseases left and right, they weren't too surprised (they know me well).
The rest of my family can't even get over that I feed my dogs raw meat, I think I'll hold off on telling them I do the same.
I've been on raw for about 6 weeks. I currently have been off coffee for 5 days. Since starting raw, I haven't "needed" more than 7 mg of Adderall on my worst of days, this is having 4 beers the night before with a nice sugary meal.. somewhat of a cheat/break. Before, I ate any of these following things: fruits(30%), veggies (40%), beans meat eggs (30%), "healthy" grains were somewhat a part of my diet, but not very frequently (other than beans). Breakfast was usually quickly seared veggies with 3-4 eggs. Lunch was usually a salad with fruit, maybe a bit of meat to be easy to digest or possibly beans like chili or a fried bean dish. Dinner contained meat and grains like quinoa or farroh or rice. I didn't stray from bread for any other reason than it made me fat. No clue it zapped my energy. I would have approx 1 piece of "whole grain" bread per day.
That diet went on since I graduated college. My days since arriving back home were filled with a strong desire to sleep. I literally couldn't keep my eyes open for most of the day. When I could, I was somewhere else, mind racing all directions, tough to focus, impossible to listen to directions. I could simply state it as "hard." Dustin, listen. Sorry, it's hard. Wake up! Okay okay. 2 hours later, still asleep. Seeing as my dad and brother both have ADHD and its genetic, they figured I did too. Adderall sure as hell helped wake me up. I felt... normal. I didn't feel zooted or stimulated. Just normal. I could think. Stay awake. Be clear (kinda) in my head. I don't think its as much I changed, or that the drug changed, but rather that I grew. I realized that the drug induced a sort of euphoric state, where things are slightly better than they are. Music, work, conversation, driving, all most interesting and engaging. Suddenly, even the most bland of idea becomes cool and enticing. But that's not pushing my potential. That's not driving me forward. It causes me to be happy in the status quo. I need to find a way to stop.
For a year and a half I continued my "healthy" diet, seeking the pinnacle of health, always needing more supplements, finding something different to try. Until it hit me when my dad talked about my brother doing the same (finding more supplements, more healthy foods) for his drug recovery, I was seeking in the same way. Aren't we all though? Aren't we just trying to FEEL BETTER?? It really drilled home when I came to this forum and saw the mindset of elimination, rather than addition to diets. Dusty likey. Plant foods are inherently lacking, even though I based my diet around them, and was convinced that's the way our ancestors ate, I always wondered how the eskimos and other cold region people lived. Myself being of swedish/slavic descent has the cold region genes bred into me. I have a deep love of seafood, yet it never clicked, and I kept downing my spinach and beans and green drinks and herbs; "this is the way to be healthy," I thought. "This is what God intended: 'eat from any fruit in the garden,' and 'the lion will lay with the lamb'" But that was pre-flood.
(quick side note: whether or not you believe in the literalness of the bible, it still is a deep and wonderful account of humanity, filtered a little bit through Hebrew culture, and often you will see me make reference to it. I may or may not believe in the literalness of its historical account, but whether it really happened or not, I find no flaw in its philosophy, when filtered correctly with an understanding of Hebrew culture.)
So pre-flood, the world was intended to be a different place. The bible alludes to it being almost tropical-like conditions world wide. There have been scientific claims that long ago there was high oxygen content and more plant life. Well, humans could live on plants then. But post-flood? When the land to the Israelites is literally a desert. What must one do? Write a book (Leviticus) outlining all the new foods one can consume and use for sacrifice and how to do so. Damn its boring to read. But I digress.
God wants us to eat the animals. It's outlined in Leviticus. Also he says all fruits bearing seed and the seed. He said nothing about eating leaves. Bye bye spinach.
So here I am, 6 weeks in. I've had my med free days, and I didn't want to sleep all day. Quite awesome really. I'm also quitting coffee so that has to be taken into account. I am still unsure about going VLC, though I kinda naturally am, seeing as my appetite for meat has always been high. I'm guessing no more than 40-80g carbs per day, moving slightly less daily.
I have difficulty stopping delicious sugar foods that are in the house. Mom got these great seattle chocolates, 70% dark chocolate with coconut bits mixed in... YUM! Plus, grandma makes this AMAZING raspberry jam, I can take it by the spoonful. Those are about the only two I'm working off of. It's tough when they are nearby. I got my own fridge for my meat so I don't have to see it in their fridge as much and think about it, but the plant foods are in that one, which I have some daily.
If I have some time to live on the toilet I'll try GS's VCO detox. Sounds tough though.
I've been attempting Intermittent fasting and failing: our water supply cuts in and out, we are getting a new pump. I get dehydrated and tired and decide in my drunken stupor that sugar would be perfect for me, seeing as eating fats and proteins make me more thirsty. I want to try 48 hours without food. I have at least been able to get to 24 since starting RAW, fat keep me satiated for a long time. Quite different than the 4-6 hours I could go on plant foods before wanting a nap.
Not sure I feel stronger yet. I feel... extremely relaxed. Not tired. Not weaker. Just like I don't need to or want to use energy. I think it's due to eating too frequently. Tyler says it's good to give your body a rest from digestion and I feel that way, since I become more relaxed after I eat. My sense of well-being has improved slightly. Paradoxically enough, I'm slightly disappointed that it hasn't improved more. But I also look at my eating habits and I haven't yet had more than about 2-3 days straight without a refined sugar. So maybe there is a lot to be thankful for.
However, for the first time in my life, my 6-pack is starting to show. Enough that I cast a shadow on myself finally. It's there. I think I may be in a healing cycle, hence the tiredness. When it passes and I feel better (as I'm sure I will) I may be a little arrogant and show-off.
Frequent foods: beef suet, pork back fat, lamb, I just got a deer roadkill, salmon 3-4 times a week.
My water source is from a natural aqueduct that has about 7.8 ph and high mineral content according to state drinking water standards, though I don't know the actual numbers or minerals.
Feel free to ask about anything. It's the internet, I have no shame here.
