Will Ziener shares his personal health journey and experience with the carnivore diet. After retiring from 20 years in the military, Ziener’s health declined; he gained weight, reaching 235 lbs, and developed severe hip arthrosis, which led to reduced exercise and increased alcohol consumption for pain management. His health issues culminated in multiple surgeries, including a hip replacement, left and right toe surgery, and right shoulder surgery.
Ziener’s health transformation began after he cold-quit drinking alcohol and was unexpectedly losing weight post-surgeries. Influenced by Paul Saladino’s book “The Carnivore Code,” he dramatically reduced his carbohydrate intake, entering ketosis, which he observed through changes in his urine and a significant reduction in hunger. This dietary shift led to improved mental clarity, described as his “aperture opening up,” and a transition from eating three meals a day to eventually just one meal a day.
Over approximately four years, Ziener lost 70 lbs, dropping from 235 lbs to 165 lbs, a weight he has maintained for three years. His daily meal typically consists of a pound of ground beef, one egg, half a can of sardines, cottage cheese, full-fat yogurt with whey protein powder, unsweetened coconut strips, and walnuts. He eliminated almonds and turmeric from his diet due to concerns about oxalates and inflammation, respectively, based on information from Chaffee’s podcast. Despite experiencing sciatica and undergoing a vertebrae injection, he maintains an active lifestyle.
In 2023, Ziener faced a new challenge: a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive biliary tree cancer, after presenting with jaundice and brown urine. A CAT scan revealed a tumor, leading to stent placement, surgery to remove the tumor, and mandatory chemotherapy and radiation due to a positive lymph node. Remarkably, he experienced zero nausea or slowdown in activity during chemo, managing daily headaches with over-the-counter pain relievers. A year post-treatment, his scans show no evidence of metastasis or additional growth, with some non-cancerous lung nodules having shrunk. He acknowledges the high recurrence rate (70%) and grim 5-year survival statistics for this cancer but remains confident in his zero excess carbohydrate diet as a form of metabolic therapy.
Ziener manages constipation, a side effect of his surgeries and painkillers, by including sauerkraut and one dried prune daily. He also successfully lowered his high cholesterol and calcium artery calcification (CAC) score by stopping statins (which he believes blocked the K2 pathway) and eliminating seed oils, opting for fish oil and K2 vitamin supplementation instead. He criticises the mainstream medical approach for offering “band-aids” rather than addressing root causes, highlighting the influence of pharmaceutical and food industries. Ziener advocates for a diet-centric approach to health, emphasizing that 95% of his health is attributed to his diet and movement. He also stresses the importance of eliminating alcohol, noting its negative impact on energy and social interactions, and takes pride in influencing others, like Hal Cranmer, who applies ketogenic diets in elderly care.