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Dirty Carnivore Testimonial

Martin, USA

always an adventurer

My name is Martin, I am 42. I am originally from the Czech Republic. One spontaneous decision has brought me to the USA in 1996. I did not speak any English and I had almost no money and I definitely had no friends then so it was pretty challenging for me to make it in this new strange place. I still remember those first couple of days and nights in New Jersey in July 1996. It was then when I first ate cat-food. Not because I wanted to but because I couldn't read and those cans were pretty cheap and I was on a tight budget. I figured that I would last pretty long if it costs me only $.15 a can. I was wondering though why Americans don't flavor their food a bit better. So there I was wondering the streets with a dictionary in my pocket. Soon after I came to California, found a job and bought my first car. I worked 7 nights a week cleaning supermarkets. Surprisingly, I was even able to rent an apartment in a very bad neighborhood. So there I was, holding tight on my first stepping stone. I worked for 4 months when I had my first day-off. I would come from work in the morning, take a shower and go to school to learn English. One day when I was cleaning the pet-isle, I saw on the shelf the very same cans I ate a couple of months earlier in NJ. I fell out laughing, what a trip!

I grew up in an industrial age family along with my 3 brothers. My parents were and are very hardworking people and I had to obey very strict rules during my childhood. We were growing rabbits and chickens for meat and eggs. When I was 6 years old, my father had thought me how to kill and butcher these 2 species and it became my duty and obligation.

Every day I had a to-do list prepared by my parents and basically at the age of 12 I had to get up at 6am to take care of the animals, fix breakfast for my younger brothers, and take them to school. After school there were other duties. We were thought to appreciate the food and we couldn't leave a dinner table until the plate was empty, no matter what was on the plate. It was a torture. I didn't have problem eating cheap fat meat cuts. It was the vegetable I did have a problem with. I hated all of them and over time I've learned to tolerate many, liking some and still hating some. On Sundays my mom would bake all kinds of delicious sweet pies. And my grandma! Oh I loved those little gingerbread cabins she baked, or pear pies!

At age of 14 I left our house to study veterinary science. I was always very close to nature and animals. You'd find me chasing butterflies on forest meadows while other boys were in town chasing girls. During my 4 years study I have learned a good amount of anatomy and physiology, farming, butchery, etc.

I served the mandatory 2 years in the Czechoslovakia Army after I finished my school. Not many good memories from those 730 days. But there was this say that Army makes real men. Whatever. A great deal of physical and psychological abuse and brutal training exercises in inhumane conditions certainly caused my skin to get thicker. "Can't" had to disappear from my vocabulary. Some guys got messed up in their heads, some got messed up physically, some were killed and some killed themselves. I walked out and never turned back. I'd learned to accept suffering and turn it into a search for my own new limits.

So up until then I was always slim. I was 21 and my life as a consumer begun. I worked as a veterinary technician, traveling from farm to farm. Then I started farming a little myself. My appetite didn't change but my body started to change. I have reached some 220lb in a couple of years. So here I was about 23-24 years old getting fatter and fatter. My first diet plan was to limit the food intake. I went from 5 meals a day to 1 meal a day. That one meal/day was always a huge one! 15 dumplings+1lb of cabbage+1lb of pork or a half of duck was normal. I had a hard work and hunger was very big with just 1 meal/day. Regardless, I lost 3-4 lb a week until I dropped to my normal weight (180lb +/-). It didn't take long and my weight started climbing up again. Back and forth, here I was cycling. I started paying attention to what kind of food I eat and gradually I started pushing those lovely fat meats away and replacing them with those ugly vegetables. This was a tough one because I grew my own pigs and I love pork! I learned to butcher them myself, make all kinds of products, utilize everything including skin, all organs, intestines, blood, brain, ears, etc. Oh boy, it was always a celebration day when it was time to butcher a hog. I started early morning and worked all day while sipping on homemade "slivovice" (plum brandy) and beer. I had a cow too that I milked 2x/day, learned to make butter, cottage cheese, and even ice cream.

One day a swarm of honeybees landed in my yard and I decided to do bee farming. In 1 year I had over 200 bee hives and I was in honey business! These colony insects still amaze me. I am still fascinated by them, how organized they live, how they make different types of honey from different flowers and trees. My favorite honey was the type they make from forest. It's very dark honey they make from poop of other insects that eat leaves and needles.

I learned to make a homemade wine from various fruits like huckleberries, cherries, apples while using honey and yeast for fermenting. Those wines I made were the most delicious wines I have ever tasted.

So I was really enjoying eating and drinking and my weight was becoming bigger and bigger problem for me. The only way I knew that work for slimming was food restriction.

Now, back to where I started this testimony. I didn't eat cat food for long and my food choices since that July 1996 were based on prices. Cheap frozen pizzas, burritos, whopper or a junior star for $.99. My weight problem became a never-ending issue. I started my own business then another, then another and my physical activity went downhill. In USA I had to drive everywhere, just sitting behind the wheels or behind my desk. I literally eliminated fat meats and ate more rice, dark bread, fruits and vegetables. I used Pam instead of butter. I replaced a steak in an eat-out situations for that awful Caesar salad and similar pathetic rabbit foods. No matter what "healthy" food I ate, I couldn't stop getting fatter and fatter. I started bicycling and running and oops! In 2 weeks I would see some results when pants fit better and I didn't safricate myself while tying my shoes. So I realized that "healthy" eating on its own is not enough. I must add the exercise.

After living in California for 10 years I decided that enough is enough and I must leave. I terribly missed mountains, forest, river, nature and wild animals. I have found a fantastic fishing lodge in Idaho and got into fishing which I loved very much. Moving to Idaho was such a relief for my soul. I begun to forget the money chase and replaced it with following and doing what I love or dreamed about. I realized that I cannot postpone it any longer and if I would it may never come. The time was NOW. Since 2005 I was finally living my life! I was exploring wilderness, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting… What an awesome life! I never hunted before but always wanted. I was in Idaho for just 2 weeks and I saw a bear! The first bear ever and right by my house! It was exciting and at the same time paralyzing experience. For many years before I was having nightmares about being chased and killed by a bear. But after I saw that bear I became curious, fearful but curious. I started to learn about bear hunting and I decided to go through my fear and to kill a bear. Another thing I always wanted to learn was archery. So I got my first bow and learned to use it. So here I am, totally inexperienced hunter, inexperienced archer and totally scared of bears going to kill a bear with a bow and arrow. It was a fantastic emotional mixture. The element of camping and hiking in the woods I have always been passionate about combined with seeking a way through my fears and getting close to an animal that gives me nightmares. It took me about 2 months of basically living in the woods to accomplish my mission and I will never forget that day. It was a day when I became a hunter, when my desire and commitment won over the fear.

It wasn't just hunting though. It was the perfect blend of being where I wanted to be and doing what I wanted to do. I was much happier in the woods and without people than I was when living in overpopulated desert of Southern California fulfilled with rules and restrictions, no space, no freedom.. Now, I had around me a total wilderness untouched by humans regulated only by the laws of nature. How beautiful, how real, how simple! My addiction for wild living became bigger and bigger. I realized that this is what life should be about. Loving what you're doing and doing what you're loving. For me it was improving survival skills and depending on only myself while forgetting what the rest of the world does. I turned off my TV for good.

My next dream was to have horses. How funny, I was fascinated by horses and regardless of my previous farming experience I was scared of horses and didn't know much about them. So instead of getting an older and broke horse I got me 2 young and wild horses. I learned to understand them and train them. Wow, that just feels fantastic to learn and bond with this creature. I've had several horses since and there is nothing like being in the mountains on a horse that I trained to become my partner, miles and miles away from any civilization, with a bow over the shoulder. It creates such a sensation within that makes me wanna step back in time. Time, when this world was less civilized, when only basics needs had to be met, such as food and shelter.

So what happened to my weight and my diet? When I was running around woods, hiking miles and miles, carrying bear bait and supplies, my weight was ok. When the off season settled in and days got shorter, I would gain rapidly. In early 2008 I decided to get in the best shape of my life and committed to P90X. I finished the program 3 months later without losing any weight! I was around 200lb then. I probably built some muscle and changed my fat/lean ratio but I just couldn't see it. Anyway, in no time after I stopped exercising while still enjoying all the foods and homemade apple wine I made I got to 220lb. I felt old, fat and miserable.

In January 2009 I decided to starve myself in order to lose some body fat. I starved for 4 days, I lost 10lb and gain it back in another 4 days. How pathetic, I just couldn't win this battle. At that time I had some 20 laying hens and I had hundreds of collected eggs. I was giving eggs to friends but I just still had soooo many eggs and I had to do something with them. I got this recipe for pickling hard boiled eggs. I pickled lots of them and when I first tasted them they were pretty damn good. They were so good that for several days I ate only those fantastic pickled eggs. And that's when the magic happened! After a few days of eating this way I started feeling that I was shrinking. I stepped on the scale and I was in disbelieve to see that I have lost a few pounds. I had no clue why and how that happened. I did not exercise, I did not starve and I lost a few pounds??? That is not possible, how could it? I ate all those eggs. Then it dawn on me that maybe it was those eggs bringing this pleasant surprise. So I buried my nose into internet search looking for egg diets. I never heard of it before neither I heard about carbohydrates. I couldn't even pronounce that word "carbohydrate". I spent about 2 weeks searching and searching, collecting as much data on low carb diets and reading forums. And as I did so, I kept eating those damn good pickled eggs and I kept losing weight. Fantastic! This must be something real. I started to learn about how to read labels, how to calculate carbs, fats and protein, and calories. The most appealing to me was that now after years of deprivation I could eat those fatty meats, use butter that I had not used in years or even lard that I hadn't used since I killed my last hog some 15 years ago! What a trip! So I got me some bacon and butter and lard and pulled some bear meat from the freezer and fiesta had started. During my research I came across a zero carb subject, and "The Bear". I was so fascinated by this man and I still am. He is my hero and always will be (rest in peace, Bear.). This legend has changed my life forever. I followed what he preached, ate animal fat and meat and I kept on losing weight. But not only that. I started feeling more energetic, strong and psychologically leveled. I started writing a journal about what I eat, I would weigh myself in the morning and write down when I ate, what I ate, how many calories, and percentages (fat vs. protein). I started to understand my own body and how it reacts to different foods. I stayed strictly on ZC for about 5 months and I've lost about 35lb. On July 4th 2009 while we were boating on the local lake, my friend challenged me to get a 6 pack abs by following July 4th 2010. I accepted the challenge and we bet for $300. That was probably the best bet I have made in my life. Not for the money but for the commitment I would be held accountable for in the front of all the witnesses. Then I slipped off the wagon and ate a bag of M&M's and then another and gingerbread cookies, and another bag, then some reeses, and then some pasta and potatoes. Oh, did I mention pizza and tuna casserole. Anyways, it seemed like I couldn't stop. I'd be good for a while and then slip again. And those slip ups caused me to gain 25 lb back in a few weeks. On November 23rd 2009 I stopped doing those cheat days and committed to not only already proven ZC regime but also the most brutal fitness program ever put on DVD's, Insanity. Oh boy, it was very hard indeed but I stuck to it and I discovered how greatly my ZC diet and intense work-out complement each other. I have achieved some fantastic results and for the first time in my life I felt confident with the way I looked. In just 60 days I had a noticeable 6 pack, something I never seen on me in my 42 year so far long life. I still had over 3 months left on the challenge and I continue exercising and eating ZC. I already knew how my body reacts to what I do and what I eat so I started different food and exercise experiments. Eating plenty-eating small, eating fatty-eating lean, eating cooked-eating raw, eating often-eating seldom, exercise-not exercise…many of my experiments and observations are shared on this great forum. I sent my before and after Insanity pics to the program creators to win a t-shirt. Instead of getting a t-shirt I received a call from the producers. They told me that my results are one of the best and they invited me to participate in their next informatial and a TV interview with Shawn T himself. I made a home video as they wanted me to. But when it came to signing their paperwork and making more videos just for them I backed out. As much as I love that Insanity program I didn't think they deserve all of the credit for my results. And I certainly didn't want to be associated with their diet recommendation or promoting their supplements and energy drinks. I did not eat any of that. I ate only my meats and fats.

There was a lots of controversy among "Insaners" with regards to my diet regime. I was told that it is impossible to eat that way and get through Insanity. I was told that I would not have the energy and that my body would eventually shot down. Ha, that was something for such a rebel like me. To prove them otherwise I did something extreme. My body was already fully keto-adapted. So I ate nothing for 2 days and then I tripled the exercise routine in 1 day. Take that! I don't know of any other person who has done it. My life experiences thought me that my body is capable to adapt to temporary super extreme conditions and being on ZC regime makes the enormous energy output while there is no dietary energy intake much more tolerable.

I had a privilege to witness a birth of this great forum. It is a place of wisdom for every one of us, no matter if a newbie or a forum hero. I learn here something new all the time and I give something to others by sharing my carnivorous life experience. I am not much into studies and expert opinions. Gosh, I don't even understand half of that stuff. I believe that it is only doing what creates the science. I am one of those who tests and observes and adjusts and tests again and so on.

So I won $300 last July, it was a great victory. Not a victory over my opponent but a victory over myself. It just feels absolutely fantastic to have a body that I like. I kept in shape, feeling fantastic, young again and strong and healthy. I left for a 6 month expedition trip to Western Africa in October 2010. It became very difficult for me to stay on ZC regime. Meat was very seldom, I ate some eggs and goat pemmican I brought with me. After I ran out of pemmican I ate some dry fish, crawfish and eggs. But there were days when I had no food at all, it was just difficult to get my type of food. This fact combined with several episodes of Malaria caused me to shrink to 158lb. After the last malaria episode in January 2011 I realized that I look and feel terrible. My muscles diminished and I kept adding holes in my belt.

So I adopted local diet and started eating predominantly rice. Besides rice I was eating plantings, cassava, mangos, and locally made sweet donuts. By the April I have gained over 30 lb, none of which was muscle. I returned back to Idaho early April 2011 and since then I have been back on a meat diet. My body has been changing to better again and of course I feel a lot better too. I am back to about 170lb but more importantly, I don't get sick, my skin is smooth, I am psychologically leveled and the life is just as good as it gets.

I am very thankful for discovering this diet. To me it is not a diet, it is a lifestyle. It's not just about the diet itself, to me it's about going back in time. Time, when one is primitive, able to fight and protect, able to adapt and survive, able to hunt and kill, able to be a real Homo sapiens.

Martin