Choosing Life at 80 with Keto/Carnivore

By Jim Williams

“I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live”. Deuteronomy 30:19 AMPC

I am Jim Williams and I just celebrated my 80th birthday in March. This newsletter is meant to document my journey from being very ill to enjoying life. I call it “Choosing Life at 80 with Keto/Carnivore”.

The reason I started this diet—this way of living—is because in mid-January 2026 I had so many things wrong with me that I told my wife to plan on life without me. I was tired of the struggle and felt my body was failing me. I just didn’t think I could go on. She called our pastor. He came over and prayed with us, and hope was restored. I had an appointment with my nephrologist later that week and he had me admitted into the hospital with kidney failure. But by then I had HOPE with a more positive view of the future away from sickness and hospitals. I began thinking and looking at carnivore diet videos.

The internal and physical ailments I was daily dealing with was:

Diabetes
Congestive heart failure
AFib
Gout
Lymphedema in right leg
Been under wound care for 7 years
Eyes
Kidney function. Gfr
Rosacea
Sleep apnea
Heel spur
Inflammation in my feet
Blood pressure

Here are the reasons I ended up in the hospital.

I had been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 25 years and diabetic for about 35 years total. I had lymphedema in my right leg—what they call “woody edema.” My leg felt like a tree trunk due to injury from a motorcycle accident in 1979. I had thyroid issues, glaucoma ( had laser surgery to relieve eye pressure), and my eyes were constantly matted.

I weighed 300 pounds.

I had spinal stenosis and between the lack of energy and the back pain I couldn’t walk more than 100–150 feet without stopping to rest even using my walker. I had gout. My kidney function was 19 when I went into the hospital. When I got out it was 35. About a week and a half later, at my nephrologist appointment I was told it was around 60.

I also had arthritis, two heart stents, both knees replaced, both shoulders replaced, and congestive heart failure (CHF). I struggled with brain fog. I had a heel spur and severe inflammation in my feet. After having COVID in 2020, I was left with persistent, severe foot pain that never went away.

When I left the hospital I made a solid decision. No one talked me into it. I decided. I would do anything to relieve all my ailments. I had studied about keto/carnivore a few years ago and was amazed at all the ailments that improved with strict adherence to this lifestyle. I had already decided that I would not do dialysis because of seeing a friend go through that for several years. To me that did not represent life. So I committed myself to do a very strict carnivore program. Not as a diet but as a realistic and sustainable lifestyle.

I’ll say this that the inflammation in my feet started disappearing within four days after I left the hospital.

I wear a CGM which helps me keep a close eye on my blood sugars. I stopped the insulin and that stopped the nightly lows. I was determined not to eat anything that would raise my insulin. It has been over 100 days since I stopped taking insulin.

My eyes are better. My weight has come down, I’ve lost 50 pounds in 100 days. My back and spinal stenosis are less painful. Today I was able to walk for about 30 minutes. I had to take some breaks to rest, and I used my walker but I walked for 30 minutes.

I have an appointment in about three weeks to see my kidney doctor again, as well as my endocrinologist for my diabetes. I used to run out of breath after walking just 100–150 feet because of congestive heart failure. I don’t have that problem anymore.

I’ve been following Dr Boz, Ken Berry, Anthony Chaffee and several others on YouTube videos trying to learn how to navigate this lifestyle.

This is not a diet to me but it is a different way of eating. I have a choice of which fuel I choose to burn. Researchers say your brain works better on ketones but our society is overwhelmed with the opportunity to consume carbohydrates which becomes the fuel we run our bodies and brains with. Convenience foods are our downfall. I am learning to eat 1 ingredient foods such as meat, butter, eggs. For 80 years food and fellowship with family, friends and through my church has been my life but this new lifestyle has not been a difficult challenge. I still go to breakfast with the guys, have family gatherings, cookouts with friends. I made a decision in January, I choose to live and live long and healthy! I hope that my journey and story will help encourage others to choose LIFE.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming WOW!! What a Ride!”
Hunter S. Thompson

BOOKS THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

The Bible
Possessors of Life
Anyway you can
Keto Continuum
Morning devotional “Spiritual Coffee” by Ed Elliott

SUPPLEMENTS I TAKE

Creatine Monohydrate
Magnesium Glycinate
Iodine (Lugol’s)
MCT oil

TOOLS I USE

Chronometer App
Ketemojo meter
Continuous glucose meter

FOODS I EAT

Beef (hamburger, steaks, oxtail, organ meat, etc.)
Pork (usually uncured except for bacon, pork belly, steaks, sausage)
Eggs (usually fried in butter, 4 whole eggs plus 2 yokes, egg salad, deviled eggs)
Chicken (primarily dark meat with skin)