July Detox - Reset & Surprising Myself - Therapeutic Eating with Katie Zarko

Becoming omnivore after years of being vegan was fun for a minute and that minute really didn’t last. There’s something about closing the window on food options that helps me focus. Call it restriction, or reducing decision fatigue – narrowing the lens expands the scope. If there’s one loud noise I’m working to quiet, it’s not mine and it tells me – Katie, that’s just an eating disorder. Here’s my counter argument.

I opted for animal foods for many reasons I’ll list here (this list is non – exhaustive)

My energy began to plummet. I was relying on caffeine and high starch plant foods and plant protein to fuel my days since the fruits and veggies just weren’t cutting it.
Supporting my bones and my gut into the 2nd half of my life felt more important than ever (statistics were looking grim trying to sustain a lifestyle fueled from beans and fruit)
My dad at 82 managed to find himself a balance of mostly animal foods and reported feeling his best (and looking quite excellent for his age!). He’s made quite the impression on his entire family with the number of diets he experimented with all our lives and to see him settled and happy with one he thinks is sustainable is such a relief!
I realized the solution to animal cruelty was not in boycotting meat but supporting animal husbandry – ironically I had this aha moment after reading the book Eating Animals which was so beautifully written and compelling (very anti factory farming)
My body quite literally asked, “Katie, can we please try again?” and I answered, “Yes doll face. Let’s dive in.”

This was such a major shake up to my belief system since the thoughts I was thinking on repeat praised the plant kingdom and I assumed the answer to all my body’s questions rested in: clarity, purity, honesty, kindness which also had to come from plants. “Keeping the channels clear” I’d say. To me it made sense that clarity meant clean and clean meant plants like kale, spinach, apples and lemon. Like, animals meant dirty… But unless you’ve tried this before you’re quick to learn – no honest human can subsist off of leafy greens and fruit and still be in their right mind. We clearly can’t do it off of processed refined and commercial foods either. Being a well rounded vegan is literally the only way to survive so you have to be smart about it – so I made sure that I was but it came with a sense of superiority I really really hate to admit. This is my blog and I’ll cry if I want to.

I am NO BETTER for being vegan or carnivore. I’m a student in my body and I humbly receive the highest message possible. God – I prayed – please show me the way.

Day 1 Carnivore:

: 4 jammy eggs

: pork belly before

: pork belly after

: whole milk kefir

: easy dinner – bone broth & sardines fried in butter

: finished product

Why the detox?

On June 30th it dawned on me that the following day was July 1. The first thought that crossed my mind was: get off of Instagram because the distraction is so so real and it hurts me more than it helps. My already existing lack of focus was being amplified by the incessant checking – am I doing alright? As if IG is a gauge for anything. The second impulse was – let’s plunge into Carnivore and give ourselves 30 sincere days to really check it out and see how I feel.

In this elimination I am omitting:

Sugar
Flour
Fruits
Vegetables
Grains
Beans
Most seasonings other than salt and possibly some other simple spices
Tea
Basically – all sugar and all plants

What I’m eating plenty of:

Butter
Fatty Fish
Beef
Pork & pork belly
Poultry
Bone Broth
Dairy – unless it hurts my skin, I’ll experiment with raw unpasteurized dairy before I give it up entirely. Dairy products will include cream, whole milk yogurt, unpasteurized cheeses
salt & electrolytes
coffee (1 in the am) thank GOD people consume coffee on carnivore – however the more I progress and see how much energy I have I’m so grateful not to be chasing the caffeine rush. One double espresso is more than enough to get me through the whole day energized!

How I’m feeling:

mind blown
mentally clear
motivated
energetic
inspired
grateful
driven to get work done
focused
I literally have nothing bad to report.

How’s my body receiving this:

my digestion has some adapting to do. I don’t expect to have any substantial bowel movement any time soon as I fat-adapt. I don’t even expect to poop daily after listening to Bella from Steak and Butter Gal say she only poops 1x a week. It comes with the territory. The body is absorbing all of these delicious nutrients and because the we literally feast off of the meat there’s not much to eliminate. Kinda makes sense. It’s also kinda wild how poop obsessed we are as a society!
my bloat is GONE. GONE GONE. Like – where’d you go? Don’t come back….
my skin is adjusting – it’ll take a minute. I can’t foresee giving up due to a pimple or two but I’ll tweak if I need to especially with eliminating the dairy
I am taking huge breaths throughout the day! Almost involuntarily but they’re big and beautiful and full of gratitude
THERMOGENESIS is real. My body is working, my metabolism is revved and my inner heater is on – ie. I’m burning calories. The first 3 days I dropped 5lb.
My caffeine consumption has been cut in 1/2

How are my emotions:

I feel less shame
I feel less fear
I feel less shut down
I feel less insecure!
I feel and think more positive
I am confident

Day 2: I went for a morning walk and my iPhone died toward the end. For the first time in years I ran without music or listening to anything and I was at complete peace in my head and in my body without the distraction. That’s not nothing…

: day 2 breakfast: 4 jammy eggs and coffee with unsalted butter

: went for a long walk and jog – consumed some electrolytes

: lunch: pork belly and salmon with skin (air fried) I air fried the pork belly for 13 minutes at 400 and the salmon for 5 minutes

Lastly – why am I doing this and what do I expect?

I’m doing this to reduce or eliminate “food noise”

I’m doing this so I can show up better for my kids and my work

I’m doing this because plant based stopped working

I’m doing this because I prefer a simplified approach to living

I’m doing this because I love myself

I’m doing this because I deserve to feel my best

I have an expectation that:

I’ll be able to reform my work and support my clients more deeply on their recovery journeys. I can only advocate for something that works therefore I’ve kept quiet on suggesting people go plant based because it would be inauthentic of me. I wasn’t feeling good. I do believe we’re all striving to find “the key” for our bodies knowing well that our bodies dictate how we navigate our one life – whether people want to admit that or not – or whether people are conscious of that or not.