I have been living with ulcerative colitis since I was 15 years old. I am now 38.
Over the past 23 years, my life has been marked by periods of remission followed by severe flare-ups. In 2025, I entered one of the worst inflammatory phases I had experienced in years. The bleeding increased, the inflammation worsened, my energy declined, and my quality of life was deteriorating.
I had already eliminated gluten, lactose, and sugar from my diet, which helped to some extent, but it wasn't enough. Despite my efforts, my symptoms continued to worsen, and the possibility of losing my colon was becoming a real concern.
In January, I discovered the carnivore diet through Dr. Anthony Chaffee's work. I started gradually and, by March, I had joined his online community and adopted a strict Lion Diet, eating primarily beef.
The changes that followed surprised me.
Within weeks, the bleeding stopped. My energy began returning, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was moving in the right direction. The constant feeling that my body was fighting against itself started to ease.
The improvements showed up in my blood work as well.
My CRP dropped to a low level, indicating a significant reduction in systemic inflammation. My vitamin D improved significantly, while my vitamin B12, folate, hemoglobin, and iron markers all started moving in the right direction after months of inflammation and poor absorption.
What surprised me most was how quickly some of these changes occurred. In less than a month, between April 16th and May 11th:
- B12 increased from 617 to 726 pg/mL
- Folate increased from 6.09 to 14.23 ng/mL
- Hemoglobin increased from 132 to 140 g/L
Seeing these markers improve so rapidly gave me confidence that my body was finally getting the nutrients it needed to heal and rebuild. I believe that occasionally including organ meats as part of my Lion Diet may have contributed to these improvements.
Physically, the transformation has been remarkable.
In just three months, I gained 4 kg, rebuilt muscle, and regained strength I thought I had lost. The difference between my before-and-after photos is not just weight - it is health, vitality, and resilience. For the first time in a long time, I see strength when I look in the mirror instead of illness.
Today, I am back to strength training, Pilates, and running. Recently, after a 24-hour fast, I completed a leg workout, a Pilates session, and sprint intervals. What amazes me most is that I often feel more energized after training than before I started. A few months ago, that would have seemed impossible.
My journey is not over. I still experience digestive symptoms, including diarrhea and occasional urgency, and my calprotectin levels remain elevated. Healing is not linear, and I know recovery takes time. But my symptoms have improved dramatically, my blood markers are moving in the right direction, and for the first time in years, I feel genuinely hopeful.
My goals now are simple: continue healing my gut, rebuild my iron stores and nutritional reserves, gain more muscle and strength, improve my endurance, and hopefully return to intensive Muay Thai training later this year.
For so long, I lived in survival mode because of inflammation, bleeding, fatigue, and the fear of the next flare-up.
Today, I feel like my body has shifted into a rebuilding phase.
I am deeply grateful to Dr. Anthony Chaffee and the carnivore community for the information, support, and inspiration that helped me start this journey.
Three months ago, I was fighting just to stay afloat.
Today, I feel strong again.
And I feel like I'm only getting started.
— Melissa B. ❤️