The lowest energy I’ve ever been was the it took me an hour to put on a sock. I had showered and managed to get dressed like a normal person, but sock #2 was too much. (I had pneumonia.)

Even without pneumonia, my energy levels have never been great. Between a tendency to stay up late and an autoimmune disease, I was always running on empty.

I have a whole script set up to talk myself through really hard days, when I have to verbally encourage myself to do things like walk and stand up from a chair.

Last year, I started my one-year Batfort challenge about two weeks after going carnivore. This is not a coincidence. Even way back before any of the real healing started, I could feel it in my bones that I had the energy to start and sustain a long project like this.

Lately, what with moving and getting settled in a new place, I’ve been exhausted. Yet in my exhaustion I can do more than I used to be able to do on a good day.

This year I’ve gone on three significant trips, plus a couple spontaneous one-day road trips. I’ve written a novella. I’ve posted on this blog every day without fail. I’ve moved house. I’ve had a minor medical procedure done. And I’ve been on more dates than ever in my life.

I’ve never had more energy, and it just feels normal. I don’t feel any more special or energized, but I can do more with the time that I have.

None of this would have happened if I hadn’t taken a chance on the carnivore diet. All the traces of plant foods I eat now are just another reminder that I shouldn’t be eating any plant foods at all.

I think one of the other reasons I’ve been exhausted this week is that I’ve been eating really badly—things like coffee and cheese snax and spices (especially paprika and black pepper) that don’t play well with my insides. And yet, 32-year-old me could still outpace 16-year-old-me. No contest.

It’s inspiration to get back on track.

Let the healing continue!