Two Years.
It’ll be two years ago tomorrow. On the 90-minute drive to speak at a meetup, my wife finally got fed up with my big talk combined with lack of action.
“Just do it already.” she said, likely not even looking up from her laptop (for dramatic effect) in my passenger seat.
I had been researching making drastic diet changes primarily driven by my growing disdain for the “healthcare” industry and what felt like my annual bloodwork was just a reason for my doctor to prescribe more pills. My triglycerides were trending up (after a roller-coaster that never saw them even remotely within range for more than a decade) and he was really pushing me to go on blood pressure meds. I had even filled the prescription, but was stubbornly not yet taking the meds.
That day I had not eaten any carbs, and I got to the speaking engagement where my only options were pizza and a Pepsi. Given my need to be functional and not addict-in-recovery for the next 20 minutes of my talk, I downed a single slice of pepperoni and the brown sugar-water, gave my talk, and told myself internally that it is now officially go-time. I could go through withdrawals for the next few days.
My initial commitment was 30 days. I was going to eat nothing but meat, butter, salt, and sparkling water. “I can do anything for 30 days” I told myself. I’m not sure I believed it, but that’s what I went with.
I was hard-core for the first 30 days, and kept that initial commitment (to my surprise, it wasn’t very hard). I relaxed a little after the initial 30 days, allowing some zero- or very-low-carb veggies back into my life. I don’t remember making a new limited commitment at that time, but I didn’t have to. The amount of energy, mental clarity, and weight loss was more than enough motivation.
For the record, I lost about a pound per day for the first 30 days, and then about a pound every three days for the next 3 months. I leveled off at around 60-65 pounds lost, and have maintained that (fluctuating within a 10 pound window) ever since.
Weight loss was never the primary goal. While I certainly needed to lose a couple of pounds, the main motivator was selfish: I wanted to prove my internal monologue wrong.
Also the doctor. I wanted to prove him wrong, too.
See, my “diagnosis” officially changed in early 2024, in a subtle way: he added the word “chronic” to the existing “familial hypertriglyceridemia.” It was already a lie: to my knowledge no other family member of mine has ever had high triglycerides. Adding the word “familial” softens the blow: “It’s your genetics! You can’t help it!” Adding the word “chronic” subtly removes my agency to do anything about it.
“Just take these pills, literally forever.”
He called the pills “treatment.” I knew what they actually were: permission to stay the same.
The only “chronic” thing I have is a sin problem.
Other events in 2024 and 2025 solidified my disdain for the “healthcare” industry, but suffice it to say that I still feel just as strongly today that my priorities in life are
- Love Jesus with heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- Love, lead, and serve my family.
- Bleed out before I ever go inside a hospital as a patient.
It’s not always been easy, and I know me: just making it to 2 years is by no means a declaration of victory. I’ve failed after longer “streaks” more than once in my life.
But today I am celebrating a milestone, and I still have the same level of resolve as the day I started this journey.
As an addendum: this post is for me, about me, and by me. If you’re reading any judgement, or medical advice, or self-righteousness… that’s not my intent.
I’ve been pleasantly surprised that there have only been a few moments of judgement of anybody not named “Ben Meredith Senior” in my old pharisaical heart during this journey.
