Weight lost this week - 1.8kg
Total weight lost in two weeks - 5.3kg

About: The Lion Diet consists of nothing but meat, salt and water. People around the world have been using it  to 'cure' their autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, crohn's disease, psoriasis, chronic fatigue, depression and more. Founded by Mikhaila Peterson (daughter of Jordan Peterson, who is also on the diet) it is said to be the ultimate elimination diet that improves health by reducing inflammation. There is little research on the diet so almost all evidence is anecdotal. I am not recommending this diet at all but just documenting my experience on it for others who are searching for it on the internet as I was.

Why am I on it: In 2021 I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue which my doctors think is caused by an unknown autoimmune disease. For over a year I wasn't able  to work, travel or exercise and spent a lot of time bed-ridden. I am hoping to improve my energy levels and consequently understand if my health struggles are food/allergy related. I'm also curious to see if it will improve my insomnia, eczema, bloating, headaches and symptoms of depression. 

Journal:
Day 8 - 
-Mild food poisoning during the night (supermarket meat).
-Chronic fatigue symptoms
-Today I did my research and realised I can eat Hungry Jack's beef pattys (alone by themselves as they are not cooked with oil or seasoned. This lifted my spirits a lot to know I can include this in my diet and to know there’s always something fast and convenient I can grab. I’m realising I hate meat unless it’s really high quality and really well cooked. I had a steak at a good restaurant and enjoyed that. My world view of foods I can eat is opening up. 

Day 9 -
-Chronic fatigue. 
-Calf cramps in the night. This is expected during week two and has to do with electrolytes. You can buy potassium, magnesium and sodium and make my own electrolytes. 
-Breast pain. Not the usual tenderness but sharp pain. I googled ‘lion diet and breast pain’ but what came up was keto diet and breast pain. My body would be in ketosis right now (the state when your body has no carbohydrates to use as fuel so it uses fat as an energy source) and according to online breast pain is a common side effect. 
-Diarrhoea.

Day 10 -
-Today felt pretty normal except I was quite tired.

Day 11 -
-Chronic fatigue symptoms. 
-Nausea at bedtime 

Day 12 -
-Chronic fatigue. Most of my workplace is sick so it could be my body is fighting illness and adding  stress to my body.

Day 13 -
-Worried I’m not getting enough calories so I bought beef tallow from Torquay Wholefoods to increase my fat and calorie content. I am only eating about two meals a day. It is common for people on this diet to have less appetite while  eating as much as they want. I don’t feel hungry and I don’t feel like snacking. In a way this diet is easy because I can eat as much as I want and I don't have to waste time negotiating with myself if I can eat naughty food - I know the answer is a hard no.
I am conscious given my history of eating disorders there is a part of me that enjoys under-eating and so I’m actively ensuring I am eating at least 1,200 calories a day, but sometimes I fall short of this  right now. I know low calorie intake is likely contributing to my weight loss, along with ketosis, but I do feel intuitively the weight is falling off because something in my health is aligning.

Day 14 -
-Chronic fatigue.
-Buying myself presents at the end of every week as a reward. Last week it was clothing, this week it is a PlayStation controller.