The Importance of Persistence

This email is again inspired by one of the people on this list that was willing to talk to me and help me out. Sara suggested she would like more success stories. Thanks Sara!

About 15 years ago I discovered the Primal Blueprint and Mark Sisson. Mark is a former competitive marathon runner who used to ‘carb-load’ before training and competitions. He noticed he had a lot of health issues despite being in ‘excellent’ cardiovascular shape.

So he found he became a lot healthier on more of a low-carb, protein and fat diet than a carb diet.  He publicized his findings and called it the Primal Blueprint or what cavemen would eat.

I tried it and was very happy with the results. One time a close relative was visiting me. I told him about it. He had some health issues as well including obesity.

My relative was game to try it and did for a little while. He lost a little weight but rapidly succumbed to the temptation of the standard American diet he was used to eating.

Fast forward to about 2020. My Mom called me and told me my relative had prostate cancer, which was treated by a Radical Prostatectomy (total removal of prostate) then followed by Radiation/Hormone treatments.

He wasn’t doing so well. Still very overweight. And now fighting cancer.  He described it as every night when he went to sleep, he thought it could be his last.

He felt fat, unhealthy and unable to deal much longer. 

While trying to figure out a path forward, he started watching youtube videos from influencers like Mikhaila Peterson.

Mikhaila found by eating only beef, salt and water, she could keep all the autoimmune issues she was experiencing at bay.  

He then found my podcast with Anthony Chaffee, a pro-level athlete and nuerosurgeon, and was blown away. 

He made a decision that day that he would change his life. He started at 5'8" and 245 lbs. And he began the carnivore diet.

Since that day, he hasn't looked back. This is his new lifestyle, and the way forward for him.

He realized how awesome a healthy life is. And has no plans to change anything.

Fast forward to one year later.

• Blood Pressure was 140/85 is now 117/70

• A healthy A1C of 5.4

• Total cholesterol of 163

• And he weighs 185lbs

• His recent colonoscopy was completely clear and healthy

He still has an occasional sweet. But he knows that eating Beef, Butter, Bacon and Eggs primarily is the life for him.

Recently, my Mom called me again. My relative was acting confused and was going to the hospital. He felt light headed, couldn't process anything, and had some trouble talking. 

I knew it wasn’t too bad when my mother told me he drove himself to the emergency room. The hospital checked him out for having a stroke, or TIA (ministroke).  No evidence could be found to support a stroke type event, and images were clear. 

Although concerned with what happened, he found the test results encouraging.  He is still being cautious and is seeing a specialist this week.

One finding on the MRI was Mild Chronic Small Vessel Ischemia, which is usually associated with people with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Bad Diets.  He also thinks he may have consumed too many electrolytes. He admits he does drink a lot of LMNT.

He is pretty sure if there was a real problem, it was a residual from the unhealthy 57 years prior. He still does not plan to change a thing.