By Katerina
I turn 50 this year. And while that number feels big, the truth is—I feel better than I ever have. Not because of a magic pill or a new product, but because I’ve returned to something ancient, something biologically appropriate: metabolic flexibility.
Many of us, through no fault of our own, have been separated from ancestral ways of eating. Our modern society—with its highly processed food, fast pace, and endless distractions—has distanced us from how we were actually designed to eat and live. Add to that 20 years of media pressure pushing plant-based trends as one-size-fits-all solutions, and it’s no wonder people are confused, inflamed, and exhausted.
I come from an Eastern and Central European background, where our diet followed the seasons. We grew up knowing how to eat in rhythm with the land. But in my 30s, I moved to Taiwan—where the growing season spanned most of the year, and food, especially fruit, was abundant and vibrant. I thrived. Then, in my 40s, I moved back to Canada. Back to four seasons, but with food that felt foreign—flown in, flavorless, and stripped of its vitality.
It became clear that I had to shift again.
Wonderful, Katerina. Here’s the continuation of your blog post, refined and structured with natural flow, clarity, and warmth—retaining your authentic voice and story while making it accessible to readers who might be on a similar journey.
The Long Journey Home to My Metabolism
Even though I’ve eaten mostly unprocessed food throughout my life, I’ve still struggled. Like most moms, I’ve definitely had my drive-thru moments—yes, I’ve taken my kids through McDonald’s. I’ve tried it all: walking, regular exercise, intermittent fasting for years, and even periods of being vegetarian and vegan. And still, the scale kept creeping up and I kept feeling like I was doing something wrong.
The truth? I didn’t understand how to reset my metabolism.
I’ve been fasting naturally since my 20s—it just felt right to skip breakfast and fuel myself later in the day. Bulletproof-style coffee (fat in my coffee—like MCT oil, cream, or butter) came easily to me. Over the years, I added in things like chai, lions mane, reishi, and mudwater blends to nourish and soften my fasting window.
And yet… I kept expanding. Not drastically. But little by little. Quiet inflammation, stubborn weight, irritability, fog.
The Turning Point: A 50-Day Reset
Everything changed recently.
After years of research, self-experimentation, and seasonal cooking, I finally said: Enough. I needed to take it deeper.
I embarked on a 50-day carnivore reset, paired with bulletproof coffee, daily intermittent fasting, and regular electrolytes. No sugar. No processed food. No carbs. No cheat days.
And the results were undeniable.
- I lost weight—but more importantly, I lost inflammation.
- I was calm. No ups and downs. No anxiety.
- I had no bloating, no digestive pain, no fog.
- And shockingly—no gas. (Yes, we’re going there. Keep reading.)
I felt like I finally had control again. Not just over my body, but over my choices. I wasn’t reacting to food anymore—I was choosing what to put into my body. That’s what metabolic flexibility is really about: freedom.
Why Coffee Still Matters
Coffee is a big part of my ritual. And it’s not just about caffeine—it’s about stability.
Starting my day with a bulletproof-style coffee gives me:
- Long-lasting energy
- Mental clarity
- Blood sugar balance
- A gentle entrance into my day
You can use butter, MCT oil, full-fat cream—or a blend of all three. The point is: fat fuels your brain and keeps insulin low. Especially if you’re detoxing from sugar, this is a gentle and empowering way to feel nourished and energized.
A Word on Sugar (and Disease)
We need to talk about sugar. Not because it’s evil—but because it’s everywhere.
It’s sneaky, addictive, and highly inflammatory. And most of us are consuming it all day long—without realizing we’re slowly walking toward metabolic dysfunction. I truly believe that most people are pre-diabetic, if not fully diabetic. And unless you were born with Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 is completely reversible and controllable through diet.
I recently recommended a powerful book—Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind, written by a dietary psychiatrist who uses nutrition to treat cognitive decline. Please go back and read it if you’re curious about how deeply food affects our brain and emotional health.
The Real-Life Wins
Here’s what else shifted for me:
- My skin improved (and I already had great skin!).
- Body odour decreased.
- Urinary incontinence vanished.
- Inflammation disappeared.
- And yes—I stopped farting.
After seven weeks of carnivore eating, I made a “hamburger casserole”—a layered dish with ground beef, goat and cottage cheese, a tomato/garlic/onion middle, and some egg and cheddar on top. It was the first time I’d had any vegetables in almost two months.
The next morning, I sat down, and… I farted.
I laughed out loud. It reminded me just how normalized digestive discomfort has become. What if it’s not actually normal? What if it’s a sign from the body that something isn’t quite right?
Choose Flexibility, Not Rigidity
I’m not here to tell you to go carnivore forever. I’m not here to push a diet.
What I am here to say is: we need to take ownership of our metabolic health.
Metabolic flexibility means I can choose to eat carbs when it makes sense—when I’m celebrating, when it’s the season, when it’s ancestral. Not because I’m addicted, inflamed, or trying to soothe myself with food.
I want to celebrate my life on my terms. I want to feel strong, clear, and calm most of the time. And when I choose to celebrate with food—I want that to be a conscious, joyful, sovereign experience.
Healing in Community
My deepest heartbreak is watching people suffer when there are options. I know how hard it is. I’ve lived it. I still live it, every day. But what we need is not more shame or more perfectionism—we need each other.
If you’re struggling, message me. I will listen, without judgment. Let’s talk about what’s not working, and find ways forward that are real and gentle and effective.
And please—don’t dismiss what I’ve shared just because you don’t want to eat meat. The book I mentioned isn’t even meat-centric. This journey isn’t about dogma. It’s about deeper learning, reflection, and finding the rhythm that works for you.
I’m simply sharing my wins and my truths as a woman entering her 50s—so that maybe, if you’re standing at a similar crossroads, you know you’re not alone.
Let this be your invitation to pause, reset, and remember who you are.
