When I first started my healing journey in February 2025, I thought the carnivore diet was simply about changing what was on my plate. I had hit rock bottom with severe autoimmune diagnoses—ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) with dangerous platelet drops and Lupus with debilitating joint inflammation.
I initially approached recovery with rigid rules: cut out every carbohydrate, fast as long as possible, exercise hard, and take whatever medications and supplements were recommended.
What I didn’t anticipate was that changing my food would trigger a domino effect across every single aspect of my life. It made me question everything: what I put on my skin, how I spend time outdoors, the personal care items in my bathroom, how I move, how I sleep, and how I perceive stress and health.
Over the past 19+ months, I documented these experiments month by month in my health updates. Some experiments were breakthroughs; others were humbling mistakes. But every single one taught me how to listen to my body rather than dogmatic rules.
Here is the complete chronological record of every major lifestyle and habit change I made over the years, documented by month and year, and referenced back to the original post.
Contents
- February 2025 (Month 1): The Radical Reset
- April 2025 (Month 2): Simplifying & Eliminating Supplements
- May 2025 (Month 3): The Ancestral Lifestyle Expansion
- 7. Stopped Using Commercial Toothpaste
- 8. Stopped Using Hand Sanitizers
- 9. Ditched Morning Sunglasses
- 10. Stopped Using Chemical Sunscreens
- 11. Zero Skincare Products (Water-Only Face Washing)
- 12. Daily Grounding (Earthing)
- 13. Daily Cold Showers
- 14. Morning & Evening Outdoor Walks
- 15. Cautious Approach to Antibiotics
- 16. Actively Increased Dietary Fat
- 17. Strategic Fruit for Glycogen Replenishment
- 18. Dental Deep Cleaning
- June 2025 (Month 4): Movement, Travel & Discontinuing HCQ
- July 2025 (Month 5): Recognizing Metabolic Stress & Fasting Limits
- August 2025: Formulating the Workout Foundation
- September 2025 (Month 6): Learning the Limits of Fasting & Heat
- October 2025 (Month 7): Embracing Cycle-Synced Fasting
- November 2025 (Month 8): Whole-Food Carbohydrates & Vagal Tone
- December 2025 (Month 9): Strict Gluten-Free & Calisthenics
- January 2026 (Month 10): Workout Recovery & Intuitive Healing
- February 2026 (Month 11): Mindful Eating & Non-Toxic Period Care
- March 2026 (Month 12): 15,000 Daily Steps & Satiety Optimization
- April 2026 (Month 13): Tiered Fasting & Oral Microbiome Care
- May 2026 (Month 14): Plastic Elimination & Birdsong Therapy
- June 2026 (Month 15): Ovulation Fasting Rules & Brain-Body Reset
- September – October 2026 (Months 16–19): "Stimulation, Not Torture" & Lean Muscle
- Summary of the Journey: How My Philosophy Evolved
February 2025 (Month 1): The Radical Reset
- Original Post Reference: Referenced retrospectively in Carnivore Diet Month 2 Health Update, Carnivore Diet Beginners: What I Wish I Knew, and Healing ITP: My Path to Understanding and Recovery
1. Switched to a Strict Carnivore Elimination Diet
I transitioned cold-turkey from a Standard American Diet (SAD) to a strict animal-based diet composed solely of beef, pork, eggs, and butter. I eliminated all grains, seed oils, processed foods, and refined sugars. The primary goal was gut barrier repair and eliminating potential inflammatory triggers fueling my ITP and lupus.
2. Transitioned Immediately to OMAD (One Meal a Day)
In my eagerness to trigger autophagy and heal, I compressed my daily food intake into a single large meal each day. While this initially simplified eating, it quickly proved unsustainable.
April 2025 (Month 2): Simplifying & Eliminating Supplements
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 2 Health Update
3. Switched from OMAD to 2MAD (Two Meals a Day)
OMAD caused extreme hunger right before eating, leading me to stuff myself uncomfortably. More importantly, I noticed that the anticipation of food triggered stress in my body and actually worsened my knee pain before meals. Switching to a relaxed 18/6 intermittent fasting routine with two meals a day (typically between 12 PM and 6 PM) immediately brought balance and lowered physical stress.
4. Stopped Taking All Dietary Supplements
Prior to this, I was taking a handful of pills every day—high-dose Vitamin D3, magnesium, multivitamins, and more. Taking Vitamin D was causing magnesium depletion, which then required magnesium pills, which then created new imbalances. Realizing that real animal foods like beef, eggs, and butter provide bioavailable nutrients in the exact ratios our bodies recognize, I stopped all supplements.
5. Fasting Lessons & Yogurt Testing
I tested a 48-hour fast to reduce joint inflammation. While the first 24 hours were easy, breaking the fast triggered severe diarrhea for nearly a week. I also tried eliminating high-fat homemade yogurt for two weeks; my joint pain didn't improve, so I gladly brought yogurt back.
6. Calibrating Strength Training
After noticing excess arm bulk in my progress photos, I paused heavy arm lifting and shifted toward sculpting and functional tone.
May 2025 (Month 3): The Ancestral Lifestyle Expansion
- Original Post References: My Other Lifestyle Changes Beyond the Carnivore Diet & Carnivore Diet Month 3 Health Update
This was the month where my dietary shifts expanded into a full ancestral lifestyle overhaul.
7. Stopped Using Commercial Toothpaste
Most conventional toothpastes contain fluoride, SLS, and artificial sweeteners that irritate oral tissue and disrupt the oral microbiome. After going carnivore, my plaque buildup dropped significantly. I switched to brushing with plain baking soda and water.
8. Stopped Using Hand Sanitizers
I eliminated harsh chemical sanitizers and synthetic antibacterial gels in favor of simple soap and water, preserving my skin's protective microbiome and immune defenses.
9. Ditched Morning Sunglasses
I used to wear sunglasses everywhere. I stopped wearing them in the morning to allow natural sunlight to strike my eyes directly, setting my master circadian clock, balancing morning cortisol, and priming evening melatonin production.
10. Stopped Using Chemical Sunscreens
Instead of slathering on chemical filters like oxybenzone, I began building a gradual natural tan, avoiding peak midday burning hours, and using protective clothing when necessary.
11. Zero Skincare Products (Water-Only Face Washing)
I threw away the multi-step cleansers, toners, serums, and moisturizers. I stopped putting soap on my face and switched to washing with plain water. My skin improved dramatically—becoming less reactive, calmer, and more balanced. I nourished my skin barrier from the inside out by increasing nutrient-dense dietary animal fats.
12. Daily Grounding (Earthing)
I began walking barefoot on grass, soil, or sand every day. Connecting directly with the earth calmed my nervous system, eased my joint discomfort, and improved my sleep quality.
13. Daily Cold Showers
I incorporated cold showers into my morning routine to stimulate brown adipose tissue, boost circulation, and trigger norepinephrine for alertness and mood stability.
14. Morning & Evening Outdoor Walks
I made it a daily habit to walk outdoors twice a day: once in the morning to catch dawn light and awaken the body, and once in the evening to signal to my nervous system that it was time to wind down.
15. Cautious Approach to Antibiotics
Having taken heavy antibiotics for H. pylori, I realized how severely they impact gut bacteria and platelets. I resolved to treat antibiotics with extreme caution, prioritizing immune basics (sleep, sunlight, ancestral food) first.
16. Actively Increased Dietary Fat
After struggling with fatigue, low mood, and constipation, I discovered I wasn't eating enough fat. I started generously adding butter and lamb fat to every meal, which eliminated fatigue and restored smooth digestion.
17. Strategic Fruit for Glycogen Replenishment
I tested reintroducing berries strategically on high-intensity gym sprint days. The experiment showed faster acceleration and higher workout energy, making fruit a useful targeted tool.
18. Dental Deep Cleaning
I underwent a full periodontal deep cleaning to eliminate tartar and subgingival bacteria, knowing that oral pathogens are intimately tied to systemic autoimmune flares.
June 2025 (Month 4): Movement, Travel & Discontinuing HCQ
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 4 Health Update
19. Discontinued Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ / Plaquenil)
On June 11, 2025, I made the decision to stop taking Hydroxychloroquine. I felt it was contributing to my summer photosensitivity, my joint pain had already cleared, and I wanted to see my body's true healing capacity without pharmaceuticals masking the results.
20. Flexible 2MAD Timing & Evening Energy
While traveling in Japan, I tested an earlier eating window (breakfast + lunch) vs. lunch + dinner. I discovered that going to sleep on an empty stomach made it harder to fall asleep; having adequate fuel in the evening was necessary for restful sleep.
21. High-Volume Daily Walking (17,000–23,000 Steps)
Navigating Tokyo on foot, I logged 17,000 to 23,000 steps daily. I noticed my calves toning up rapidly, proving that consistent walking builds real functional stamina without the strain of heavy weights.
July 2025 (Month 5): Recognizing Metabolic Stress & Fasting Limits
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 5 Health Update
22. Recognizing Metabolic & Hormone Stress Signals
In Month 5, I encountered unexpected hurdles: weight gain, afternoon fatigue, and sudden hair shedding. Instead of ignoring these symptoms or imposing harsher restrictions, I realized they were warning signs that strict zero-carb eating combined with rigid fasting was over-stressing my endocrine system. This pivotal experience forced me to rethink rigid dogma and paved the way for cycle-synced fasting and hormone-supporting carbohydrates.
August 2025: Formulating the Workout Foundation
- Original Post Reference: My Weekly Workout Plan (Gym Version)
23. Established a Structured Gym Split & Dedicated Mobility
I formulated a structured gym plan focused on compound movements (hip thrusts, lat pulldowns, Romanian deadlifts, assisted pull-ups) combined with dedicated 5-minute pre- and post-workout mobility and stretch routines to protect my joints.
September 2025 (Month 6): Learning the Limits of Fasting & Heat
- Original Post References: Carnivore Diet Month 6 Health Update & September 2025 Fasting Journey
24. Stopped Fasting at the End of Menstrual Cycles
I observed that pushing through aggressive fasts during the luteal phase (right before my period) led to mid-cycle spotting, hair loss, and cortisol surges. I realized women cannot fast like men.
25. Shifting Away from Scorching Midday Sun
While morning sun was rejuvenating, midday Texas heat and intense UV caused joint stiffness, lower VO2 max readings, and an elevated resting heart rate. I shifted outdoor walks away from the midday heat.
26. Paused Routine Rheumatologist Visits
With joint symptoms gone and energy high, I stepped away from recurring rheumatology checkups, focusing my medical visits primarily on platelet draws with my hematologist.
27. Began Tapering Doptelet
With platelet counts holding steady, I began my first intentional down-dosing of my ITP medication (tapering from 20mg 3x/week to 20mg every 8 days).
October 2025 (Month 7): Embracing Cycle-Synced Fasting
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 7 Health Update
28. Abandoned Extended 24-Hour Reset Fasts
After reading about fasting resets, I attempted a 24-hour fast. It turned into a disaster: I grew dizzy, dropped and broke a cutting board, lost an entire night of sleep, and retained rebound water weight. It proved that rigid multi-hour fasts were harmful to my hormones.
29. Fully Implemented Cycle-Based Fasting (Fast Like a Girl)
I adopted the rule to never fast during the pre-menstrual luteal phase. Immediately, my hair loss slowed and pre-period spotting stopped entirely.
30. Further Doptelet Down-Dosing
Tapered my Doptelet medication down to 20mg every 3 days as platelet counts stayed stable around 101k–105k.
November 2025 (Month 8): Whole-Food Carbohydrates & Vagal Tone
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 8 Health Update
31. Reintroduced Whole Complex Carbs & Vegetables
I officially broadened from strict carnivore to an animal-based diet with whole-food complex carbs: sweet potatoes, kabocha squash, potatoes, and broccoli. This provided sustained glycogen, lowered my circulating triglycerides, and improved my energy.
32. Paired Fruit Exclusively with Meals
Instead of eating fruit as an isolated snack (which can cause glycemic spikes), I made it a rule to eat fruit only alongside savory meals containing protein and fat.
33. Moderated Animal Fat & Butter Intake
I scaled back excessive butter and pure fat consumption to moderate levels to balance lipid metabolism.
34. Eliminated Pork
I stopped eating pork and focused exclusively on clean animal proteins: beef, wild-caught fish, lamb, and pasture-raised eggs.
35. Strict "No-Snacking" Eating Windows
I consolidated all food intake into 2–3 structured meals within a single daytime window, completely eliminating snacking.
36. 5-Minute Daily Deep Breathing / Vagal Reset
I instituted a daily 5-minute deep breathing exercise to activate my parasympathetic nervous system and benchmark my resting heart rate (aiming for ~60 bpm).
December 2025 (Month 9): Strict Gluten-Free & Calisthenics
- Original Post Reference: Carnivore Diet Month 9 Health Update
37. Permanent Gluten Elimination
I experimented with organic sourdough bread once and observed a subsequent dip in my platelet count (down to 57k). That was enough proof: I cut out gluten 100%, never looking back.
38. Shifted from Heavy Weights to Bodyweight Calisthenics
To protect my joints from excessive mechanical strain and lower workout-induced cortisol, I transitioned away from heavy gym machines toward calisthenics and bodyweight exercises.
39. Tracking Cycle-Linked Weight Fluctuations
Using tracking apps, I recognized that my weight naturally fluctuates across my cycle—shedding water weight between days 15 and 20. This removed anxiety about day-to-day scale changes.
January 2026 (Month 10): Workout Recovery & Intuitive Healing
- Original Post Reference: Health Update - Month 10
40. Fueling Pre- and Post-Workout
Recognizing that intense workouts left me exhausted in the evening, I began eating before and after training sessions while scaling back workout intensity.
41. Acoustic Sleep Hygiene & Natural Soundscapes
A trip to Colombia showed me that deep sleep comes effortlessly in natural environments without artificial noise. I began prioritizing tranquil, dark sleep spaces and natural ambient sounds.
42. Natural Fever Protocol
Instead of suppressing minor fevers with medications, I adopted natural temperature support (warm baths, gentle sunshine) to let immune cytokines work naturally.
43. Stepped Back from Frequent Testing
Having drawn blood dozens of times in 2025, I stepped back from obsessively chasing lab numbers, choosing to trust my body's lived experience and stability over lab anxiety.
February 2026 (Month 11): Mindful Eating & Non-Toxic Period Care
- Original Post Reference: Health Update - Month 11
44. Cold-Turkey Screen-Free Eating
I quit looking at phones, screens, or watching videos while eating. By paying complete attention to chewing, texture, and flavor, I reconnected with true satiety cues and ended mindless overeating.
45. Switched to Organic Cloth Menstrual Pads
Learning about the synthetic plastics, chlorine bleaching, and endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in conventional menstrual pads and tampons, I switched completely to reusable organic cloth pads.
46. Post-Meal Walking for Glucose Disposal
Inspired by research on non-insulin GLUT4 glucose transport, I incorporated light movement immediately after meals to sink blood sugar directly into muscle cells.
47. Tapered Doptelet to 20mg Every 4 Days
Continued my conservative medication taper as menstrual cycles remained completely manageable.
March 2026 (Month 12): 15,000 Daily Steps & Satiety Optimization
- Original Post Reference: Health Update - Month 12
48. Increased Daily Walking Goal to 15,000 Steps
To offload my knees while keeping cardiovascular activity and calorie expenditure high, I raised my daily walking baseline from 10,000 to 15,000 steps.
49. Performance-Driven Breakfast on Gym Days
I instituted a rule to always eat a hearty breakfast before morning gym sessions to optimize strength output, saving longer fasts strictly for non-gym days.
50. Increased Whole-Food Fiber
Increased dietary vegetables and fiber at meals to enhance fullness and eliminate afternoon hunger.
April 2026 (Month 13): Tiered Fasting & Oral Microbiome Care
- Original Post Reference: Health Update - Month 13
51. Tiered Fasting Protocol
I formalized my fasting into distinct tiers depending on cycle phase and energy needs: 13-hour (3 meals), 15-hour (light breakfast + 2 meals), 17-hour (lunch and dinner), and dedicated No-Fast days.
52. 3-Hour Buffer Between Dinner and Bedtime
Enforced eating dinner until fully satisfied, but leaving a mandatory 2- to 3-hour digestion window before sleep to protect resting heart rate and deep sleep stages.
53. Upgraded Non-Toxic Dental Hygiene
Meticulous oral hygiene routine: electric toothbrush morning and night, evening water flossing followed by string flossing beneath the gum line, strictly zero mouthwash (to protect nitric-oxide-producing oral bacteria), and zero fluoride.
54. Reduced Gym Lifting to 2x/Week
Following a bleeding episode, I dropped weightlifting frequency to twice a week, prioritizing nervous system recovery and platelet preservation.
May 2026 (Month 14): Plastic Elimination & Birdsong Therapy
- Original Post References: Health Update - Month 14 & Sleep Hygiene
55. Eliminated Plastic Water Bottles
Replaced all plastic water bottles and cups with a plastic-free pure Keith Titanium Ti3032 sport bottle to eliminate ongoing exposure to microplastics, BPA, and phthalates.
56. Birdsong & Ambient Safety Immersion
Learned about the evolutionary neurology of birdsong (ambient birdsong signals environmental safety, lowering amygdala activity and cortisol). I began immersing myself in birdsong during outdoor walks and started building a bird identification app.
57. Formalized Sleep Hygiene Protocol
Documented my complete sleep routine: no caffeine or chocolate after 3 PM, phone kept across the room, bedroom dark and cool, and mental acceptance if waking during the night without checking the clock.
58. Food Sequencing (The Hunger Code)
Applied Dr. Jason Fung’s satiety ordering: eating fiber and protein first, complex carbs last, while strictly avoiding hyperpalatable combinations of high-fat plus high-refined-carb industrial foods.
June 2026 (Month 15): Ovulation Fasting Rules & Brain-Body Reset
- Original Post Reference: Health Update - Month 15
59. Softened Fasting Around Ovulation
Discovered that fasting too aggressively around the ovulatory window caused insomnia and fluid retention. Made it a rule to fast lightly and eat generously around ovulation.
60. Menstrual Deload Week
Made it a non-negotiable habit to pause all resistance training during menstruation, replacing workouts with gentle walks.
61. Hotel Room Calisthenics During Travel
Maintained muscle stimulation while traveling abroad in Barcelona with simple, consistent bodyweight push-ups and squats.
62. Brain-Body Connection During Bleeding Flares
During a heavy bleeding scare, I practiced positive self-talk, prayer, and worship music. Activating parasympathetic pathways noticeably calmed physical vascular spasms and stopped the bleeding.
63. Stabilized Doptelet at 20mg Every 3 Days
After tapering down to 60mg every 14 days and seeing platelets drop to 30k, I discovered that the platelet system functions as a threshold-buffer system. I accepted that a modest maintenance dose of 20mg every 3 days keeps the system safe and stable.
September – October 2026 (Months 16–19): "Stimulation, Not Torture" & Lean Muscle
- Original Post References: I Weighed Myself Every Day for a Year. Here’s What I Learned & Health Update - Months 16–19 Catch-Up
64. Seasonal Lifestyle Strategy ("Fork Down" Travel vs. Home Muscle Accretion)
Divided the year into two natural seasonal modes:
- Traveling Months: Mindful eating ("fork down," stopping at 80% full, zero snacking, high walking) to naturally shed excess fat.
- At Home: Consistent weight training to build and preserve lean muscle mass.
65. Overhauled Training: "Stimulation, Not Torture"
Completely abandoned the exhausting "train to failure" philosophy. Adopted 2–3 sets of 5–8 reps with comfortable weights, stopping 2–3 reps before technical failure. This stimulates muscle growth without exhausting the central nervous system or inflaming joints.
66. Tracked Clean Lean Gain with HerWeigh
Tracked month-to-month weight velocity using the HerWeigh app, maintaining lean gains within the healthy +0.31%/month threshold to ensure muscle accretion rather than fat accumulation.
67. Full Sun Resilience with Zero Sunscreen
Achieved complete sun resilience: traveled through the intense heat and sun of the Sahara Desert with zero sunscreen, zero sunburn, and zero lupus photosensitivity or butterfly rash, coinciding with my ESR dropping to a healthy 12.
68. Embraced Sustainable Medication Maintenance
Let go of the rigid urge to force my medication to zero. Holding Doptelet at 20mg every 3 days keeps my platelets consistently above 100k, providing safety and peace of mind.
Summary of the Journey: How My Philosophy Evolved
Looking back over these 19 months, the progression can be summarized into five key shifts:
| Domain | Where I Started (Feb 2025) | Where I Am Today (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | Strict zero-carb carnivore; rigid OMAD | Animal-protein centered with whole complex carbs, fruit with meals, zero gluten, screen-free eating |
| Fasting | Aggressive, uncalibrated fasts (24h–48h) | Tiered, cycle-synced fasting (gentle during ovulation and luteal phases) |
| Exercise | Heavy weights, pushing to exhaustion | "Stimulation, not torture" lifting (2x/week), daily 15k steps, cycle deloads |
| Personal Care | Commercial products, supplements, chemical sunscreens | Baking soda, water-only face care, organic cloth pads, titanium bottle, natural sun exposure |
| Mindset | Anxious lab tracking, chasing zero medication | Trusting bodily equilibrium, autonomic safety through nature and birdsong, honoring the body's autonomous design |
Healing wasn't a straight line. It was an iterative process of trying, observing, letting go of what didn't work, and embracing habits that align with how our bodies were designed to thrive.
Mira (美良)
🥩 Carnivore & Gut HealthHi, I’m Mira! I healed debilitating autoimmune conditions and severe gut issues through a meat-based carnivore diet. I write about practical zero-carb meal prep, real-world healing milestones, and delicious animal-based recipes to help you regain your vitality.
