Interview with Steve

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Stephen Machina, a born and raised Texan. Before COVID-19, I ran a corporate dining cafe and catering program so being surrounded by delicious food day in and day out was the norm for me. Even though I was heavily involved in sports all the way through high school, I somehow was still always the fat kid growing up. That’s certainly not easy when you’re as competitive as I am. A lot of people don’t believe in epiphanies, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to make a positive, 180-degree change in my life.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore?

For the majority of my life, I had a very poor diet – especially once I graduated from high school. I wasn’t playing sports anymore and eating and drinking became my outlet. Countless cheeseburgers, fried foods, pizza and A LOT of beer. In fact, craft beer became a hobby of mine! Not too long before I started Carnivore, I experimented with some intermittent fasting and switched from beer to Vodka/water, noticing some weight loss results before the diet even began.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

Corporate dining and catering can be a physically demanding job. On big catering days, I could walk 15 or more miles in a day. I was always exhausted and my head felt cloudy on a regular basis. I am a big fan of Joe Rogan’s podcast and I had just happened to see Chris Bell’s name in a video title. Chris Bell is a talented documentary filmmaker that I had followed a few years ago. On this particular podcast, he and his brother talked to Joe about the Carnivore diet. Shortly after watching the podcast, I had my last hoorah at a family friend’s wedding and decided February 11, 2020 was my official start date.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

It started out as a simple goal of trying to reverse some of the damage I had put on my body throughout the years. After a month, my way of thinking developed for the better. I became way more focused on other activities that could help me increase my results. I think in order to see the type of results most people are looking for on this diet, you really have to maintain the “tough mindset”.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

One of the main benefits I’ve seen after starting this diet includes increased energy for sure! I find myself on the move constantly now, around the house and on my single-speed bike. I’ve stopped snoring, my inflammation is now manageable, my recovery time has reduced and I have continued to gain strength while losing over 75 pounds. I now live an active lifestyle and am  depression free.

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

The first couple of weeks, my stomach felt uneasy. Once I got really strict on myself after the 90-day mark, I had trouble maintaining my appetite. Other than that, nothing has been unbearable.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I now exercise on a regular basis. However, it took baby steps to finally get where I am now. I started off walking on the treadmill and doing a little bit of weights. Eventually, it went to inclined walks and kettlebell circuits. Once the lockdown happened, I went out and bought a single-speed bike. It has been a great way to continue to challenge myself. Now that the gyms are open, I am getting back to the weights. My goal is to work on endurance and flexibility at the moment. High reps with lower weight to continue to burn more calories build stamina.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Do your research! There are a ton of resources out there!

Make a conscious decision in your head that this is something you are GOING to follow through with. If you don’t have a purpose behind this decision, it will be hard to pull off. It will also be easy to make excuses when times get tough.

Remember: On this diet, your food is your FUEL. Take your emotions out of it, and eat what you need and not what you want.

When you hit a wall and things get harder than they have ever been, dig in and keep getting after it. Sometimes it only takes one more swing to knock down that wall.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I hope so. I think it could save countless lives! Unfortunately, most of the food industry values profit over health. After spending years in the food business, I realized that most of this industry is far more interested in turning a profit than the health of its consumers. My mission now is to inspire people to try Carnivore as an elimination diet in order to experience the health benefits.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

Feel free to reach out if you ever need help on your carnivore journey. You can follow me on Instagram @the_carnivore_machina. Watch my continued progress while getting healthier yourself!

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

• The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
• Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
• Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
• I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore