Lion Diet for 30 Days: My DEXA Scan Was Disappointing
In a Nutshell
An 82-year-old lost 5.7 lbs on a 30-day Lion Diet (beef, salt, water), with DEXA scans showing a 1.1 lb fat loss and modest visceral fat reduction from 1.37 to 1.32. Despite a 14 lb home scale reading, muscle mass dropped 4.5 lbs due to no weight training, while body fat percentage stayed nearly unchanged at ~27%. The speaker reports major improvements in sleep, mood, and energy, plans to repeat the diet with exercise and butter added.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
The speaker had been on a meat-free diet for about 4 years, which resolved multiple health problems. During this period, they incorporated periods of the Lion Diet, described as a stricter version of the meat diet consisting of beef, salt, and water. The Lion Diet is typically limited to ruminant animals only.
At the end of the 30-day Lion Diet period, a DEXA scan was scheduled. The first scan was performed on day one, with a second planned for day thirty to compare results.
Over 29 days on the Lion Diet, the speaker lost approximately 14 pounds. The diet was inspired by Dante Ferreño. Initial meals included a rib-eye steak cooked in an air fryer, following a one meal per day approach.
The speaker's sister traveled for hours to get a DEXA scan and suggested they do one together. The speaker expressed excitement about the scan due to feeling "a bit flabby" from recent bacon consumption and uncertainty about visceral fat levels.
The speaker identified multiple health issues that may need addressing: visceral fat, fatty liver disease, mitochondrial damage, and systemic infections.
The first DEXA scan coincided with the start of the Lion Diet. The speaker prepared picanha for the first time, describing it as the best meat in the world of meat-eaters, noting the delicious fat content.
On day six, the speaker felt great while maintaining a strict Lion Diet of ruminant meat (beef only). Due to a busy day, they consumed eight burgers at Culver's for $24.47 instead of eating at home.
The 30-day period was described as the hardest 30 days of the speaker's life, with the exception of when they were blessed with triplets.
The speaker is 82 years old, emphasizing that age is "just a number" and that proper nutrition eliminates the need for doctors and medicine.
On day thirteen, the speaker consumed a "Hunger steak" cooked by Chris Cook in Nashville. They reported feeling amazing and noticed vivid dreams starting two days after beginning the diet, along with waking up energetic and remembering dream details.
The Lion Diet positively affected sleep quality. On day 13, the speaker consumed two and a half pounds of minced meat, noting that their body craved it despite initial perceptions of the diet being boring.
The speaker reported hiding from their wife due to smiling upon waking, indicating improved mood. They lost 10 pounds and found the diet easier than a standard meat-eater's diet, despite mostly eating minced meat for six out of seven days.
On day 24, the speaker consumed Independence Arch minced beef, which they consider one of the best types available, shipping to the 48 contiguous states.
After exactly 30 days on beef, salt, and water:
- Total weight decreased from 176.2 to 170.5 pounds (5.7 pound loss)
- Fat mass decreased from 47.5 to 46.4 pounds (1.1 pound fat loss)
- Visceral fat decreased from 1.37 to 1.32
- Abdominal fat decreased from 4.9 to 4.6 pounds
- AG ratio improved from 1.29 to 1.24
- Muscle mass decreased from 122.2 to 117.7 (due to lack of weightlifting and fluid/glycogen changes)
- Body fat percentage barely changed from 27.0 to 27.2
- Bone density decreased by 3.7% (likely due to examination differences)
- T-score remained at 0.4, within healthy range
Dr. Grok (not a real doctor) noted the speaker had a busy month with no gym access, but results moved in the right direction. The speaker felt frustrated comparing DEXA results to their home scale's 14-pound loss, highlighting household scale inaccuracy.
After reflection, the speaker became excited about the results, noting improvements in visceral fat and body fat despite a demanding schedule of podcasts, travel, and 24-hour live broadcasts with no exercise. They predicted better results with a normal month including exercise.
The speaker reported improved sleep leading to better mood, no longer using food for entertainment but as fuel. They noticed significant mood improvement in their partner Carrie and felt convinced of the diet's benefits.
The speaker plans to continue the Lion Diet for another 30 days while reducing stress, improving sleep, exercising, and getting fresh air to see if improvements accelerate. They noted the potential for greater results starting from higher weight with metabolic issues.
The speaker is close to ideal weight but slightly heavier than desired, describing current progress as challenging but promising. They invited comments using #lion for special offers.
The speaker mentioned planning to continue the Lion Diet with the addition of butter.
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