Audra Podcast Transcript
Summary
Audra shares about her health journey, including her coronary artery calcium scores and how a previous sugar addiction led her to try various diets and ultimately undergo weight loss surgery. She discovered the carnivore diet and decided to stick with it after seeing the amazing results, including weight loss and improved mental clarity. She also reflects on the importance of community and the negative effects of sugar addiction. Audra also shares details about her experience with sugar addiction and how she has overcome it through the carnivore diet. She talks about her struggles with yo-yo dieting and constantly craving sugary foods, and how transitioning to a meat-based diet has eliminated those cravings. She also mentions other health benefits she has experienced, such as joint pain relief. Audra now coaches others in the community and shares her knowledge and experiences through her website, YouTube channel, and TikTok
Transcription
U1
0:01
Hi there and welcome to another interview. Today I've got the fabulous Audra with me, and I'm really super excited because as people have seen me before, might know my coronary artery calcium scan was 639 and I haven't had a retest yet. But Audra has got a fabulous story about that. And we're also going to talk about her carnivore journey as well. So anyway. Hi, Audra.
U2
0:21
Hi, Stephen. How are you today? I'm
U1
0:24
very well, thank you. And I genuinely am very excited to get straight to the nitty gritty about the coronary artery calcium scan, which for those that don't know, is a really good indicator of what your coronary arteries, your arteries around your heart, whether they're clogged up with calcium or whether they're clean as a whistle. So, Audra, could you just tell us a little bit about your story?
U2
0:45
Um, so back in 2014, a family member of mine was diagnosed with a blocked artery and had to have a stent at a young age. And my father had actually had open heart surgery in his life at a young age. And so it kind of concerned me. So I went to my doctor and said, hey, you know, can I get the CAC score? Because as a preventative, you know, I kind of want to know what's going on. They said, sure, no problem. So they sent me had the score. At the time it was 260 5.8. Um, they said, you know, hey, we'll keep an eye on this. We might need to go down the road of a statin. Um, at the time, between 200 and 400 was considered moderate calcification. So, like I said, that was in 2014. Um, I think it's the numbers have changed a little bit now. But anyway, so I had that done ten years ago and here recently, since the CAC score seems to be a big to do in the carnivore world. And it was brought up and I thought, how do you know what I might how to get that checked again just to see what's going on. You know, I had a baseline ten years ago and here we are. So I said something to my provider recently at an annual checkup and they said, sure. So they ordered one. And, um, in the United States, insurance does not pay for it. Um, mine was like $99 and I had it done and my score is now a 16.
U1
2:10
Wow 16. You know, one of the things that happens there is there are there's a lot of people out there don't believe that you can reverse it. Certainly they don't believe that that is, um, going to be proven with data. But you've got that. So that's that's brilliant. Um, I can't believe that there's so many people who deny this happens when you can just click and you will find stories, but you're possibly the most credible one that I've come across. Obviously, I'm going to do it for myself, but I just want people to realize that if you have a CAC score, they expect the normal ranges for you to grow by about, you know, to have a score that goes up by 20% per annum. So even just slowing the progression down can be really good. So if you had a score of 105 years later, it would be 247 if you compound by 20%. So going from 260 down to 16 is incredible. Uh, but I'm glad that you did that. And we can share that with people because it gives gives so many people hope that this way of eating is is the best way to go. But, um, we've got that out of the way. We might come back to it, but I'm really interested in your whole story, to be honest, because I know you've been two and a half years carnivore, but there's a lot more to talk about. So how would you say your journey to good nutrition started?
U2
3:27
Well, of course, like a lot of people, I was very, very sugar addicted. Been on every diet known to man, you know, you name it, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, whatever the diet was, what whatever the whatever the latest greatest was for the moment, I tried it, um, and basically every time, you know, I lost weight, I did good. I was able to lose weight. But the problem was I couldn't keep the weight off because every time I would lose the weight, I would think, oh, yes, weight loss. You know, it's great. I feel better, smaller clothes, less weight. And then I would go back to my old habits, which was sugar. Um, I was very, very highly addicted to sugar. I've had sugar my whole life. As a child. We were we were rewarded with sugar, you know, um, cupcakes, candy, ice cream, potato chips. You know, growing up, we didn't realize how addicting sugar is. And it's even more addicting now. So, um, and it's in everything. So basically I, like I said I would lose weight and then I would go back to my old habits, which would be eating sugar, eating sweets. The more sugar you eat, the more sugar you crave, the more addicted you become. And, um, I started watching YouTube. I started looking at some people's websites and YouTube channels on carnivore and I thought, wow, these people have no sugar cravings. Is this even possible? Um, so I played with it from January to September of 2021, and honestly, I fell off the wagon a lot of times because I would do really good during the week, and I've been really bad on the weekends. And then you had to start that cycle over again, um, you know, getting the sugar out of your body. And then finally in September of 2021, I just decided, hey, you know, I have got to stay on board with this. I've got to stop this vicious cycle. I've got to stop the sugar cravings. So, um, you know, like I said, it was tough. It was really tough. It's hard. It's a mental thing. Um, you don't realize the grip that sugar has on you until you try to give it up, when you try to give it up, and that's when you realize how addictive you are.
U1
5:47
Now there'll be a few people that listen to your list there and go. She says sugar, but she mentioned potato crisps. They sugar?
U2
5:55
Yes. Yeah I see. Definitely. You know, bread, chips, anything that's got carbs in it turns to sugar basically. Um, and like I said, I haven't had weight loss surgery. I did really well from the weight loss surgery. However, there again, I found my way back to my drug of choice, which was sugar. Um, never done drugs. I don't drink, I've never smoked. So I have no other addiction other than sugar addiction. And, you know, for the longest time, I didn't realize that was an addiction. I thought an addiction meant drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, things of that nature. Never sugar. But, yeah, sugar is the huge culprit of addiction. And people don't. Even people who think, well, I don't care for dessert that much or I don't eat cookies. Well, but do you eat a lot of carbs? You know, do you eat a lot of bread? Do you eat a lot of chips? Do you eat pasta? You know, all those things turn to sugar in your body so you don't even realize. You may not be addicted to straight up sugar, but those are sugar items.
U1
7:05
Absolutely. I mean, in the UK, I'm not sure about the states sugar addiction is not recognised. In fact, food addiction is not recognised as a medical condition in any way, shape or form. All the other ones are like say alcohol and drugs and smoking, but not sugar addiction. And it's crazy because it is abundant. There are so many people out there that don't even know that they actually have an addiction, and yet they can't keep away from the sugar. And I think that's the power of the sugar industry. But I'm not going to get all political because I don't want to do that. Um, you had weight loss surgery. What was that? Was that liposuction?
U2
7:40
Um, no, actually, I had the sleeve, so I do not have any kind of bypass. So basically I just had a sleeve gastrectomy, and, um, so if I, if I actually eat a thousand calories a day, then I absorb a thousand calories where someone who had weight loss surgery with a, who basically had part of their intestines removed and has a bypass if they eat a thousand calories a day, they only absorb about 700. Um, but like I said, I found even after that, when I had let me put this in when I had the CAC score in 2014, I was actually a year and nine months into my weight loss surgery. Then I had lost weight, but I had not changed my eating habits. I was still eating sugar, and I was still eating carbs and all the processed food and all the bad foods. There's no telling what my CAC score was prior to the weight loss surgery.
U1
8:44
Yeah, because that is one of the things people say with weight loss. Um, you might see a reduction in CAC, but isn't it ridiculous that you're having the surgery and they're not telling you about how to eat properly, or identifying the sugar is a culprit and letting you continue on that way that got you overweight in the first place and and needing the surgery. But my heart goes out to you because obviously, um, I'm not going to say you were desperate, but, you know, when you get into surgery, that's a major decision. So you must have felt that you couldn't control it any other way at that point. So what was the turning point when you realized, I can do something about this and it is changing my relationship with food?
U2
9:24
Well, when I had the weight loss surgery, like I said, um, actually I'm getting £25 to make my BMI high enough to have the weight loss surgery. Then I had this surgery, then I lost the weight and, um, and I was still delving in sugar here and there. I was still dabbling in here and there. You know, dipping in it from time to time. Um, you know, and the fact that I had had the weight loss surgery, you know, I didn't put the weight back on as quickly because I wasn't able to eat the volume of sugar that I was eating. Um, so at that point, um, I had an eye condition happen, and I had to have a lot of steroids. Well, if anybody's ever had steroids, they know. You know, what steroids do makes you very hungry. It makes you crave everything that you're not supposed to have. So that's when I gained more weight back. Well, then I was like, what am I going to do? You know, this is this is crazy. I've had the weight loss surgery. I lost weight now gained weight back. What am I going to do? Here I am again. So like I said, I started looking on YouTube, started looking on, you know, websites. Um, at the time, I saw Doctor Ken Berry and I saw Kelly Hogan. So I started watching their YouTubes and I'm like, wow, she's in North Carolina. She eats meat for 12 years at the time, 14 now, but 12 at the time. And I'm like, what is this about? While I started watching it, listen to it. And I'm like, could I do this? You know, is this something that, you know, I started just watching and just kind of watching, you know, binge watching the videos. Is this something I can do? Um, and so then, like I said, from January until September, I kind of played with it back and forth and tried doing it. And, you know, I'm like, wow. The more I watch, the more intrigued I was, the more the, the more motivated I was to get on board and stay on board and leave the sugar alone. And I joined several of the communities. Um. 1s As far as the coaching and the community classes that seemed to help me. There were other people going through the same scenarios I was going through. The sugar addiction, the weight gain, the weight loss, you know, back and forth, the yo yo dieting. And basically that was kind of a turning point for me. There was communities where it's at these other people who are having major great successes, and this is something I need to do because I was and still would be if I probably went back to sugar addicted. Um, but that that was kind of the turning point for me, was getting on board with carnivore.
U1
11:54
Yeah. And they're two great people, by the way, Kim Berry and Kelly Hogan really shining lights within the community. I mean, one of the things I wanted to talk to you about was just how sick and how bad you were at one point because you were even on a pick line, which is a peak line. Um, and it's called TPA, which is total, uh, parental parenteral nutrition. So you were actually on that, weren't you, at some point having nutrition correct in here?
U2
12:23
So basically I went into the hospital, I had the weight loss surgery. I was supposed to be there for two days. I ended up being in the hospital for eight weeks. Um, I had two leaks, which is very common. Well, not it's not very common, but can happen. It is a side effect of weight loss surgery. Um, so I was in Po for 21 weeks, which means nothing by now. Um, I had a pick one with, with TB and total nutrition, so they were literally pumping in 1600 calories a day into my arm through I.V. for eight weeks. That is how I got nutrition and that is how I lived for eight weeks. Um, I did lose some weight, but it was a complete nightmare. I was on all kinds of antibiotics. Um, as a matter of fact, I had to go back and redo the surgery two days later because of the lake. Um, it was quite the nightmare. And, you know, I'm in the hospital thinking, what was I thinking? Why did I do this? Why? Why did I do this? Why didn't I try to find another way? And at the time, like I said, that was in 2013. I did not know about carnivore. Um, you know, had I known about carnivore, I would have gone down that road instead. But, you know, that's that's where I was. So yes, it was it was a very horrific time with the weight loss surgery.
U1
13:46
Yeah. And I wanted to sort of dive in and out and get you forward and back to just sort of reflect, because I think some people think that the weight loss surgery, um, is a is is the easy way out, and it isn't if you don't cure the relationship with food. I mean, that that's the thing I think that comes back time and time again. Yes, it's great to lose the weight. And, um, the surgery can be successful, as in, there's no complications. I know you had complications, but even if it goes great and you have no complications, in the end, you haven't fixed the issue, which is those addictions or the things that you eat, which maybe you've been misinformed. You think they're actually okay. So I feel that the the education is really good. Now, you, um, you join the Steak and Butter gang as well is where we met originally. So what do you feel about the community and, and and what's happened to you since you've been carnivore? And how much weight have you lost? And what do you feel about the sugar addiction as well?
U2
14:44
So the as far as yes, I did, I did join Steak and Butter Gang to like I said, I joined several communities. It was like I just couldn't get enough of the carnivore word. I just, I wanted more and more and more. Um, and as far as what do I think about it? Community is amazing. Um, you just think you're out here in the middle of the ocean, flopping around all by yourself, and, you know, you end up finding out there other people who are having the same problems that you are. And it's nice to get other people's views on things and to know that other people have been where you are. Um, so for me, community was very helpful. It was very. It was just it was very helpful. It helped me get through what I needed to get through. Which was the sugar addiction. And like I said, people don't think they're addicted to sugar until you try to give it up. Just give it up for a week or two and see what happens. You're cranky. You're you're ill. You're aggravated. You know, it's you don't realize without that drug there that you you need it. You need that you need that fix. Um, and for me, you know, like I said, once I got on board, I mean, so many things have changed. Um, I've lost about £85. Um, and the mental clarity is worth the weight in gold. Literally. The mental clarity is amazing. Um, lots of other things have changed. No arthritis, no inflammation. Um, I have energy all day. I mean, sometimes I just have to find things to entertain myself because, I mean, I just have energy. I just don't sit well doing nothing. Well, I mean, I didn't really have a lot of health issues. I've never been diabetic. I've never really had high blood pressure or high cholesterol or anything like that. Um, for me, I just felt better. And for me, it was nice to get off of the yo yo dieting, you know? I mean, I really dreaded certain times of the year, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, you know? Oh my gosh, here comes all the wonderful dessert. But also here comes the ten, 20, £30, you know, January, here you are up from all the sugar, the carbs, the addiction. And now it takes you the whole year to lose that again. And then it's the holiday season again. Um, so much of what we do revolves around food, you know? Hey, let's meet for lunch. Hey, you know, let's have a birthday party. Hey, let's have a baby shower. All those things revolve around desserts and, you know, addicting foods. Um, so for me, it was nice to get off of the yo yo dieting, the roller coaster ride, and to have actual freedom and not be controlled by sugar cravings.
U1
17:29
Yeah, I mean, that's the overarching, um, thing theme that's coming through the interview, but there was some other things as well, like arthritis and, um, joint pain wasn't there.
U2
17:41
Mhm. Yes. Yes. Yeah. I think I was starting to get neuropathy in my foot and at night my foot would hurt, it would have this tingling sensation. And um, now that I've been carnivore completely gone, no longer an issue.
U1
17:57
Well, that's really good to know. And I think one of the things that, um, you mentioned before was skin tags as well. Have they all gone?
U2
18:06
Yes, I did have skin tags, um, had around my neck. And one of my friends told me she's like, oh, it's because you wear a necklace all the time, and the necklace rubs and makes you have skin tags. No, that's not true. I stopped wearing necklaces for a while, thinking if this is how I get rid of the skin tags, but our necklace every day now and skin tags are gone. Um. And they were never gone before. Only since I've been carnivore. Have they been gone?
U1
18:32
So that seems pretty categorically this way of eating has got rid of skin tags, and I've heard that time and time again. Um, and many people are dismissive of that. Um, the other thing I would like to ask you about is your own coaching, because you've obviously got to the point now where you want to spread the word out. So just go into a little bit about what you're doing to help people in the community.
U2
18:54
So when I started doing carnivore, everybody was like, oh my gosh, you have such a positive attitude and you've done so well with carnivore, and you should coach other people and get the word out. Um, I am a full time business owner currently now of 31 years. So I started thinking, well, you know what? If I can just help 1 or 2 people, I can just help somebody else who's diabetic, who had low pressure, you know, let them know there's another way or who's sugar addicted the way I was. So I started a coaching group. My coaching group is all things. Adora. Com is my website. Um, I do a class on Tuesdays nights from 8 to 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Zoom. Um, I do have a YouTube channel as well on dehydrating meat. Um, I am really big on dehydrating meat. And that's also all things on, on YouTube and as well as a TikTok channel, all things are great as well. Um, but as far as the coaching goes, I do group coaching and I do private coaching. Um, and you know, when people get on board like this, I didn't really when I'm very first started it, I wasn't really sure where to go or what to do. Then I found the community. And for me, between Hanbury, Kelly Hogan's group, the Steak and butter game. That's that's where I found the help I needed. So to continue to promote community to people who are struggling with the addiction, I just think it's very important. So I started a coaching group and, um, it's going great. I have a lot of new people and a lot of people that are that have been carnivore for a while as well. And, um, I've met some of the most amazing people through the carnivore journey, including you seeing them. Um, and it's just been amazing to I mean, I feel like there's people in my life through the carnivore community that I feel like they've been in my life forever. Like, I can't even imagine not being in my life now. Um, and I've just found such wonderful friendship, community, people willing to help. Um, and that's what I want to give back to the community.
U1
21:01
Yes. And I think that's one of the things I find really surprising about this community, is everyone wants to share their knowledge and and be involved in the all very positive. Um, if you ever fancy having someone talking about a blood test, for instance, in your group, you want a guest, I'll come along because I'm qualified for lobotomies and I'm quite happy to do that. Um, and that that's the thing. I feel there's no haters. There's no. Everyone is very supportive. I was watching a video this morning because, um, even though we present and give content out, we still consume it. And the person was talking about the carnivore diet in a very derogatory way and said, I know I'm going to get loads of hate comments. And when I went to look at the comments, they were all carnivores, saying that you've got this wrong about the kind of diet, and they were all polite and they pretty much all said you just need to get your facts right. If you want to come talk to me. And I don't think that's any other community. You know, even when I was doing ketone quite big in the keto world, um, I never found it as a, as helpful and as an embracing community, as carnivore. Yeah. There's a few people that want you to just to beef salt and water, and they don't tolerate you having fish or eggs or whatever. But I think for the majority of people, cutting out the fruit, cutting out the veg, cutting out the start and understanding sugar addiction. I like the rule for kingpins that make people healthy and things like your skin tags, which to other people might not seem much if you've got them all your life and they suddenly go, that's like a miracle. You know, it's it's a it's like a magic wand. I mean, one of the things I really talk about is my athlete's foot. I was plagued with athlete's foot. But yeah, I had worse things. I had lower left quadrant pain. I thought I had colon cancer because my mum had it. And, you know, I was eating this perfect diet with the food guidelines, you know, a high carb skim milk and freshly squeezed orange juice and blueberries and all that. And there I was, in my 40s, getting all these scans and like the coronary artery calcium scan and everything was telling me my health was really bad, really bad. So I focus on those. But the little things like your skin tags or, you know, my athlete's foot also goes and it just shows the power of this way of eating and I think. When you're talking about the sugar addiction, I don't think people realize when they're addicted. So coffee is one that comes up. People really find it hard to give up coffee, and I put my hand up full transparency. I had to get into decaf, and then I always start sneaking up to more cups per day. So you have to be honest with yourself and say, look, this stuff's got me hooked. And I think maybe abstinent, you know, abstaining from it is the is the thing to do and just yeah, basically say I'm not having it because you have to break that cycle. Would you just go into why what you did to break that cycle, what practical things you could do?
U2
23:59
Well, let me add this. You said that about keto and I kind of forgot, but I did keto for a couple of years and I did pretty good on keto. But honestly and truly, I was so on keto treats, no fat bombs. I could make them things with a blindfold on, literally. I mean, I would make the chocolate peanut butter keto bombs and, you know, oh, it's key to just have another one have another one, not another one. And, you know, I mean, I did lose some weight on it and I did okay on it, but I never got rid of the cravings. I still had cravings. Um. So for me, you know, like I said, I didn't fall off the wagon the lot. I mean, I'll be honest with you, I fell off the wagon a lot. And each time I try to go a little farther, a little farther, push it out a little farther each time, until finally I said, that's it, that's it. No more sugar, no more keto bonds, no more keto treats, nothing else of that nature. I've got to do this. Um, I've got to get on board. You know, my skin has changed so much. Um, and, you know, like I said, the skin may not seem like a big deal to some people, but it is when you have them. Same thing, like you're saying with athlete's foot, you know, it's it's it's it's a big to do when you're dealing with it. But um, but yeah, for me, I just finally had to say, look, you know, do do I want to continue to eat all this crap food full of sugar? Or do I want to have better health? And do I want to stop yo yo dieting? And that's what I had to do. Um, I've often said even in the steak and butter game, when you have that addiction, it's like a loud pounding at the door, somebody just pounding on the door, and you literally have to go and get something to to calm that addiction. Whether it's sugar, chips, bread, pasta, whatever your whatever your drug of choice is. But now I don't have that pounding on the door anymore. Occasionally I'll have a little tap at the door, but I can honestly say, oh, that's over there. You know, I'm not listening to that tap and I can move on from it. Um, and honestly, I don't I don't even delve in it at all. I don't have a bite on this or I'm buying them that when it comes to sugar, um, you know, and honestly, I don't miss fruits and vegetables at all. I was not a big vegetable person. Anyway. Um, you know, on keto and other diets, I made myself learn to like vegetables. And I'm glad I don't have to eat them now. I don't miss them. No, but yeah, yeah, for me, I just had to say, hey, it's time. It's time to buckle down, get serious and be done with these sugar cravings, the yo yo dieting, and the roller coaster ride of going back. Every time I would lose the weight, I would go back to sugar addiction.
U1
26:46
But that's a fabulous answer. Thanks for that. And I think that's exactly how I feel. Um, Quito keeps one foot in that sugary camp, you know? And like you say, the Quito treats or the sweeteners. Really big problems. So I'm going to wrap up with questions that I always get in the comments if I don't ask. They will ask me. You didn't ask this question. So here we go. This is an easy one. Do you do omad to my three meals a day or do you eat intuitively?
U2
27:13
Yeah. Wow. That's a hard question for me to answer because, um, people who know me and follow me know that I enjoy intermittent fasting. So there are times where I will intermittent fasting for 2448. Sometimes I'll do a 72. Um, sometimes I get real, real foggy about it and not there from Sunday till Friday. Um, here and there, once in a while. Um, I'm of the opinion that you should do you. Whatever suits you the best is what you should do. Everybody's got an opinion. Um, like I said, I do do intermittent fasting from time to time. Um, sometimes I do two mad, sometimes I do one, uh, do omad, sometimes I do three meals a day, and then sometimes I eat intuitively. If I'm not hungry, I just don't eat. So I try to change it up. Um, you know, I do not like tracking. I'll be honest about that. That is the one thing I do not miss from all the other eating plans, diets, Weight Watchers, all the other stuff I used to do. I hated the tracking. And for me, I like the fact I don't have to track carnivore. Now there's someone else out to track carnivore maybe, I don't know. I'm not a volume eater. So like I said, I do try to do intuitive eating. Um, and and if I'm not hungry, then I fast. Um, I feel like my body will tell me what I need, and it'll also tell me when I don't need anybody. So, you know, um, that's kind of not not a direct answer, but the best one I have. No, that's the
U1
28:49
answer I want, because I think most people are going down the road of being a bit more intuitive and less prescriptive. Um, mixing it up, I think, is a great thing. 72 hour fast for some people really do give them a kick start. And anyone out there that's never tried this way of eating, um, and he's thinking 72 hours is tough. There's no way you could do that. That's partly down to the things that you're addicted to. I've got to be honest, um, I would have thought the same in my 40s if someone said, you can go three days without eating and actually find it quite easy. Um, I would not have believed them. Obviously, the little disclaimer there, if you're underweight, those are not not a good thing to do. All right. You need to be a healthy weight. And if you've got a surplus of body fat then it's going to be a lot easier. Um, and I wouldn't start with a 72 hour fast. I'd work my way into fasting. Um, order. That was fantastic. It's like having a hurricane coming into the studio with such positivity. It's really, really good. Um, so thank you for that. I really appreciate your time. All of Audrey's, um, links will be in the description. You didn't have to write it all down because there'll be clickable links if you're interested in joining our group. So thank you for coming on.
U2
30:04
Thank you for having me, Stephen. It's always good to hear from you. Always hanging out. Always good to hang out with you for a little bit and catch up and know what's going on over there where you are.
U1
30:15
Thank you. That's very nice of you.
U2
30:17
Thank you for having me on the channel.
U1
30:21
Cool. All right, I'll stop it there. That's great.