Steak. Mmm...I am lovin' it! I continue to explore how to detect actual hunger vs. baseless whispers. So far, I know when I'm HUNGRY. Like, "Get outta my way, I gotta FEAST!" But, in those moments where there is just a slight perception of a suggestion, it's hard for me to determine where that proposal is coming from. It's getting a whiff of a Cinnabon or walking by a pizzeria: before that, you're not in the mood, but now, it's like, "Dude, get on that now!"

I don't trust those feelings. And again, it's why I like my carnivore approach, ESPECIALLY with the daily ground beef. With a well-established daily ritual, it's easier to hear the needs of my body over the flighty passions of that guy whom hops into the cockpit and locks the door when my back is turned.

It's compounded by my workouts. If I work out, I gotta throw in an extra meal apparently. Otherwise, I've seemed to have fallen into a two-a-day eating construct...though, again, I'm not following a schedule. Otherwise we eat because, "Look what time it is again!"

Now, when I do eat, it's about no-holds-barred throwing back all the meat! Gotta be satiated. It's all about giving the body what it wants.

The other day, I posted a picture of a mug avertising a Handy Map Street Atlas of Memphis. Today, I share a picture of another favorite mug.

And again: "I love candles and the fire within."

(image removed)

I'm now into my 2nd week of being a carnivore with this zero carb (ZC) approach. Leading up to it was a little over 22 weeks of keto.

While they are always optional, I'm taking coffee and eggs out of my daily diet. I skipped coffee yesterday—just wasn't in the mood; I'm curious as how I'll feel after a week with this break from eggs.

So to sum up, it's just beef and water. No salt, seasonings or dairy, either! As it has been sung, "You may be right: I may be crazy. But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for!"

Of course, it sounds crazy, this devil may care approach to eating, disregarding authoritative instructions as to the "right" way of eating and choosing instead to thunder into the night down my own road like others in my tribe. I renounce the spans in 2004-2005 and recent years when I was a vegan. While I had hopeful and meaningful intent with veganism, THAT was DUMB. Ultimately, it pushed me further from my dreams. Today, I eat REAL food; it brings me joy!

OK, so I should say I'm coming off a steak high. Last night, for the first time in my life, I cooked a ribeye. Clearly, I'm a bit of a novice, but I broiled 5 minutes on one side and 5 on the other. While satisfied with the result ESPECIALLY in the context of hunger, I look forward to attempting a reverse sear.

Last night's dinner was a 12 oz ribeye, which runs $6 at the grocery, a price that makes me balk a little compared to the $1.58/lb sale of ground beef that's in my freezer. I could justify it as an occasional treat and when compared to fast food...well, let's just say the qualitative comparison weighs far greater on the steak side.

I ate my steak, was content, and had nothing else for the night. Earlier that day, I had 1 lb of ground beef around 11:30 AM with 3 eggs.

It's that simple.

Today, I've been trying out a new workout: sawing without power tools. By extension, I'm considering a power-free return to woodworking! Though, I have no idea how to replace a router; but, I shouldn't get ahead of myself.

Right now, I'm just in the process of deconstructing my old deck. Hopefully, I'll be reclaiming quite the cache of deck boards; the rot and warped will make another fire to gaze across the expanse...

A handsaw does provide more satisfaction to me than does its far faster, powered equivalent, which honestly, comes off to me like I'm just hanging on for the ride, as I fear a sudden kickback; I get covered by sawdust; and I narrowly evade taking a finger off. My miter saw is a smooth run, but most of the others are a bit like a bucking bronco—at least, that was my immediate reaction to my reciprocating saw today just before I punted the idea.

I realized, "Hey, I'm under no deadline. These are the days to search for ways to be active and this deconstruction project is just the thing!" I work out until fatigue kicks in that might result in misstep onto a nail. I've approached too much of my life as checked off mileposts instead of breathing in the moment.

Today, I pulled off the railings and scouted out a burn site: this shortcut where the deer like to move through my yard, near where the barn once was, a place where I don't mind the errant nail to be as that whole area has all sorts of tiny bits about and hence why it's overgrown in the first place. The area is too much work for my electric push mower and too risky to drive my John Deere.

Overall, this is about shaping the things to come. It's about raising the levels on things I want, and dialing down that that which does not contribute effectively. It's building up into a New Year's Resolution list that is achievable and thrilling.