Help me troubleshoot please? · Carnivore Coach International

Help me troubleshoot please?

Hi everyone.

Please help me solve the “mystery of me” so I can figure out how to achieve a breakthrough in healing, fat loss & body composition. Once I figure myself out I feel like I will be able to help others so much better! I want to be the best Carnivore coach I can be! 🙏

“TLDNR” - I’ve been Carnivore 2 years (Jan 2024); have lost gained & lost the same 20lbs; my chest waist & hip measurements are exactly the same as they’ve been since before Carnivore (2021) when I lost 80 lbs on 4.5 years Keto. I’m post menopausal, have had high stress for most of my adult life, but I’m in a good place now - enjoying the Carnivore Calm, good sleep, digestion, no sugar cravings, “food freedom” no chronic pain - but plagued with chronic skin irritations and common colds too often.

I am sharing my health journey with you here in hopes that you will help me troubleshoot my progress on Carnivore. Feel free to ask questions, give any ideas you may have to help me figure out what I am missing.

Thanks!! :)

Charmaine

(More detailed story)

For some background:

- I was a restrictive eater in my teen years. I began eating an indulgent SAD and gaining weight in my 3 pregnancies and early adult years.

- 30 years ago (March 1996) I got the Flesh Eating Disease (Necrotizing Fasciitis)in my abdomen post C-section for my second baby. I had a large abdominal mesh implanted over my entire lower abdominal wall.

- 3 years after a vertical C-sectio through the mesh screen for my 3rd baby I was put on bed rest 2 out of 3 years (2003-2006) while waiting for 2 separate repair/replacement surgeries when the mesh tore off its anchors and later herniated. I gained a large amount of weight from bed rest, and my muscles deteriorated.

- I had gastric lap band surgery on Dr’s recommendation since physical exercise was proving challenging with compromised core strength.

- I lost 80lbs in 2 years but I developed a stomach ulcer and had to have it loosened. I gradually gained the weight back plus 10lbs by mid 2019 which was my highest weight.

- A friend introduced me to her Dr / friend; he introduced me to Keto and I lost 70 lbs in 18 months.

- 2021 was an extremely stressful year but I stayed in Keto.

- In March 2021, my beautiful 29 year old married daughter tragically passed away. Later that year, I escaped my abusive marriage, one month shy of 30 years. I’ve been rebuilding and living my life in a truly free and healthy way since then.

- I fluctuated up and down 10-15lbs from March 2021-Feb 2023 but managed to lose a bit more to be 80lbs down from my highest by my 50th birthday.(Feb ‘23). I went to Mexico for a week to celebrate and intentionally ate off Keto (gained 10lbs) then went back to Keto when I got back but I’m thinking the week of glucose to my system after 3.5 years of no sugar was a big shock to my metabolism?

- In 2023 I went into menopause, there was an additional stressful loss in the family & I gained 30+lbs while still eating keto. I was so discouraged.

- In 2023 I also started up a successful small business creating Keto entrees and desserts to sell through a local Keto store for their clients.

But once I’d gained 30+ lbs that year, I was unable to stand as long as needed to cook all the foods I was selling so I had to close my business.

- I felt like I needed to figure out how to get deeper healing. January 2024 I found Carnivore! I joined a 60 day PSMF challenge with Dr Karl Goldberg (Keto Naturopath) and lost 15lbs.

- My dad was diagnosed with cancer in Feb 2024 and in my research I found Dr Chaffee & Thomas Seifreid. I saw they did Q&A’s with SBG so I joined.

- I did Coach Raymond’s 2 week Priming protocol (but was not ready for fasting). I finally felt great with increased strength and energy for 3-4 months.

- *Since then it seems like there has been an ongoing cascade of minor maladies (skin irritations & illness). I’m not sure if there is an underlying reason I’m missing?

- My dad was diagnosed as terminal at the end of May, The stress of that brought on shingles blisters and shooting nerve pain on my head. I didn’t even realize what it was until a couple months later.

- Sept 2024: I got Covid, which postponed my surgery until mid Oct.

- I had my gastric band removed (after 19 years) so I could experience normal digestion, and eat solid meat without choking on it anymore.

- It took 4-6 months to reset my leptin and ghrelin signals post-op since my stomach was now ten times larger; I gained 20lbs. I recovered from the surgery by the end of Dec. But I was still very fatigued.

- In Jan 2025 the fatigue increased,to the point where I could barely stay awake during the day. I napped in the morning and afternoon. My SBG coaches was positive I had hypothyroidism and referred me to Dr Elizabeth Bright.

- In May she confirmed the diagnosis and I started NDT and increased iodine to 10 drops of 5%.

- Oct 2024: she started me on Adrenal Cortex. (She felt my numbers were off based on a Diurnal Salivary Cortisol test.) When I reached the therapeutic dose my Basal body temp which had been low and erratic, levelled out like she said it would and I don’t feel as fatigued as I used to, but I am still exhausted by early evening and mildly through the day.

- Feb 2025: I got a Shingles rash and blisters on my back that didn’t clear up for 10 months!

- My dad passed away in March 2025. He even trusted me to help him do Ketovore and Thomas Seifreid’s Ivermectin Fenben protocol. We were very hopeful. His tumour was small and it was not his cancer that killed him, but the high doses of hydromorphone apparently.

- I’m sure the stress and loss didn’t help, but I did feel the Carnivore Calm, and had stable emotions throughout the year despite the major loss.

- I rarely if ever got sick on Keto for 4.5 years but last March I got a cold. I also got colds in Nov, Jan, & Feb. It’s unusual and I am curious why I would be getting sick so much on Carnivore, the most healing, nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory diet?

- Last summer I also had a major skin swelling / flare up on my legs / flanks that looked and felt like cellulitis after getting a bunch of bug bites on vacation. I’ve never reacted to bug bites before.

- My shingles (blisters and rash) finally cleared up in Nov thanks to a corticosteroid liquid but also after 3 unsuccessful rounds of antiviral drugs in April, July & August.

- I also dealt with an intense pelvic skin irritation for 6 months (July 2025-Jan 2026) for which I didn’t find any relief until Chat GPT suggested I may be experiencing estrogen deficiency and topical Estradiol may help.

- Since Dec the skin on my torso has been plagued by patches of painful itchy welts. It corresponds with me adding dairy back in briefly - after 6 months without - but I’m at almost 2 weeks no dairy and it’s still acting up.

- I’ve been eating 70/30-80/20 fat to protein for most of the 2 years of Carnivore. Mostly BBBE with several months just beef and butter & 1 cup Decaf. Dr Bright has had me on an 80/20 ratio of 300g (12oz) of protein, and 150g (10Tbsp) of butter divided into 5 feeding times since June 2025. I must say I prefer the more intuitive eating I learned at SBG.

- I have walked regularly, exercised in the pool several times per week, and strength trained as much as my body could tolerate (1-2 times per week) for most of the time but for the last 6 months Dr Bright told me only to walk, no resistance training - to avoid stressors to heal cortisol levels?

- Today I had a good day. It feels like it’s been forever but I felt like I was finally ready to add weights again and 6x30 second “sprints” on my rebounder plus a 5km walk! I’m on my second day of a fat fast, & feeling fine. But most days I’ve been too tired after watching my 1 year old grandson. I watch him 4 days per week.

Bottom line:

- I’ve lost, gained and lost again the same 20lbs in 2 years of Carnivore.

- My waist, hip, chest measurements are exactly the same as they have been since 2022! They went up an inch or two in 2023 when I hit menopause, but stayed exactly the same two years before and after that year.

- I can’t seem to break past the set point for body comp or the 195lb mark.

- Fat loss is a necessary part of what I need to relieve pressure to

my abdomen.

My large mesh screen has bowed out in the last 20 years and my organs are bulging in the lower abdomen. (I’m currently waiting on a surgical consult but so far it has been deemed inoperable due to there being too much scar tissue /adhesions making it high risk.)

- How much of my struggle could be attributed to menopause? Is Carnivore enough or can BHRT be helpful as well as Carnivore?

- I’m rather frustrated with my seeming lack of progress!

- It’s tough to convince others that Carnivore works when my body looks the same after my initial weight loss in the first 18 months of Keto.…

- Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks! & Apologies for the lengthy post!

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