What happens when your body gets stuck burning fat and can't switch back to glucose?

In Part 2, Zane breaks down metabolic inflexibility and explains why being locked into fat-dominant metabolism is not the same as being metabolically healthy.

You'll learn how this pattern affects the muscle, heart, and liver — and how elevated fatty acids can impair glucose oxidation, disrupt insulin signaling, and contribute to insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, and heart failure.

Start with Part 1 first for the ATP and glucose-efficiency breakdown.

• 01:00 The metabolic signature of insulin resistance
• 03:30 Why your body should switch between fat and glucose
• 06:00 The 3 tissues that reveal metabolic inflexibility
• 08:30 Why Zane changed his mind about low carb
• 13:30 The real definition of metabolic inflexibility
• 15:00 Why elevated blood sugar can happen on keto or carnivore
• 20:00 Heart failure and metabolic disease
• 22:00 Why failing hearts become more dependent on fat
• 25:00 Why glucose is not the problem
• 29:00 The liver and fatty liver disease
• 33:00 Fatty liver is a metabolic inflexibility problem
• 34:00 Why the liver starts producing more glucose
• 40:00 How liver disease progresses
• 41:00 The muscle, heart, and liver connection
• 46:00 How to restore glucose oxidation
• 47:00 Why high-fat, low-carb can mimic metabolic disease

Kelley, D.E. (2005) "Skeletal muscle fat oxidation: timing and flexibility are everything" Journal of Clinical Investigation — JCI25758 / PMC1159159 Used for: Definition of metabolic inflexibility; experimental elevation of plasma FFAs recreating T2D metabolic signature in skeletal muscle; blunted insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation; impaired suppression of lipid oxidation

Ukropcova, B. et al. (2005) "Dynamic changes in fat oxidation in human primary myocytes mirror metabolic characteristics of the donor" Journal of Clinical Investigation — JCI24332 Used for: Formal definition of metabolic inflexibility — insulin-resistant muscle characterized by lower fasting lipid utilization and failure to switch to carbohydrate oxidation in response to insulin

Sun, Q., Lopaschuk, G.D. et al. (2024) "Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation is the major source of cardiac ATP production in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction" Cardiovascular Research, Volume 120 — PMID 38193548 Used for: Direct radiolabeled substrate measurements in HFpEF; suppressed insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation; increased FAO; decreased PDH phosphorylation confirmed in human heart samples; disrupted glucose/fat ATP balance

Sun, Q., Karwi, Q.G., Wong, N., Lopaschuk, G.D. (2024) "Advances in myocardial energy metabolism: metabolic remodelling in heart failure and beyond" Cardiovascular Research — PMC11646102 Used for: Comprehensive synthesis — decreased glucose oxidation as universal defect across HFpEF, HFrEF, and diabetic cardiomyopathy; uncoupling of glycolysis from glucose oxidation; FAO increases in HFpEF and diabetic cardiomyopathies

Lopaschuk, G.D., Ussher, J.R., Folmes, C.D.L., Jaswal, J.S., Stanley, W.C. (2010) "Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism in Health and Disease" Physiological Reviews — PMC3976623 Used for: Fat oxidation dominance in HF, ischemia, and diabetes; uncoupling of glycolysis from glucose oxidation; therapeutic case for reducing FAO and increasing glucose oxidation (quotes carried over from Video 1 for context)

Fillmore, N., Jaswal, J.S., Lopaschuk, G.D. (2011) "Uncoupling of glycolysis from glucose oxidation accompanies the development of heart failure" Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology — ScienceDirect Used for: Pharmacological shifting from fat to glucose oxidation improving ATP efficiency; cardiac ischemia and heart failure therapeutic mechanism (context reference from Video 1)

Satapati, S. et al. (2011) "Excessive hepatic mitochondrial TCA cycle and gluconeogenesis in humans with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease" Cell Metabolism — PMC3658280 Used for: 50% higher lipolysis in NAFLD; 30% higher gluconeogenesis; 2-fold increase in TCA cycle flux correlated with intrahepatic triglyceride content; increased FFA delivery and oxidation driving gluconeogenesis and oxidative stress

Donnelly, K.L., Smith, C.I., Schwarzenberg, S.J., Jessurun, J., Boldt, M.D., Parks, E.J. (2005) "Sources of fatty acids stored in liver and secreted via lipoproteins in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease" Journal of Clinical Investigation — JCI23621 Used for: Fat source breakdown in NAFLD — ~60% from plasma NEFA/adipose lipolysis, ~26% from de novo lipogenesis, ~15% dietary fat; stable isotope methodology confirming adipose lipolysis as primary driver

Kolwicz, S.C. Jr. (2021) "Ketone Body Metabolism in the Ischemic Heart" Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine — DOI 10.3389/fcvm.2021.789458 Used for: Supporting context on cardiac metabolic flexibility; KD association with worse ischemic outcomes in some models; ketone-glucose suppression dynamic in the ischemic heart

What if the most efficient fuel for the human body isn't fat… but glucose?

In this episode, Zane Griggs breaks down the actual biochemistry behind ATP production, mitochondrial efficiency, and why cardiologists actively try to shift failing hearts away from fat oxidation and back toward glucose oxidation.

This conversation dives deep into the P/O ratio, oxygen efficiency, insulin resistance, heart failure, ketones, metabolic flexibility, and the misunderstood role of glucose in human metabolism.

If you've been told that fat is always the superior fuel source, this episode may completely change how you think about metabolism, performance, and energy production.

In this episode:

• Why glucose produces more ATP per oxygen molecule
• The truth about fat oxidation vs glucose oxidation
• Why the heart becomes "stuck" burning fat in heart failure
• The real meaning of metabolic flexibility
• Why insulin is not the villain it's been made out to be
• The difference between glycolysis and glucose oxidation
• Why ketones are not the "super fuel" many claim
• How mitochondrial inefficiency impacts metabolic disease
• The connection between diabetes, heart disease, and fuel selection

This is Part 1 of a deeper metabolic series exploring insulin resistance, ATP production, glucose metabolism, and how the body actually creates energy.

Feeling "off" despite doing everything right?

Download Zane's free Metabolic Stress Marker Guide to learn: ✔ what your labs may actually be telling you ✔ why "normal" doesn't always mean optimal ✔ the hidden hormone, thyroid, and metabolic markers most people overlook

👉 Get the free guide: https://zanegriggs.com/freeguide

Ready to learn more? Get Zane's Free Over 40 Performance Plan: https://free40plan.com

00:00 Why fuel efficiency matters 01:00 What is ATP and the P/O ratio? 02:00 Why oxygen efficiency changes everything 03:00 Calories vs mitochondrial efficiency 05:00 The engine analogy explained 06:00 The studies comparing glucose, fat, and ketones 08:00 Why glucose creates more ATP than fat 09:00 What happens in heart failure 11:00 Are ketones really a "super fuel"? 13:00 Ketones and mitochondrial uncoupling 14:00 How cardiologists use glucose therapeutically 16:00 Fat oxidation and heart dysfunction 18:00 Diabetes, heart disease, and blocked glucose oxidation 20:00 Why doctors shift patients toward glucose oxidation 22:00 The metabolic flexibility explanation 24:00 Fat oxidation blocking glucose oxidation 25:00 Why insulin is NOT the enemy 27:00 The real driver of insulin resistance 28:00 Key takeaways on glucose vs fat burning 30:00 Preview of Part 2

1. Mookerjee et al. (2017) "Quantifying intracellular rates of glycolytic and oxidative ATP production and consumption using extracellular flux measurements" Journal of Biological Chemistry — PMC5409486 Used for: Glucose P/O ratio of 2.79; updated theoretical maximum ATP yields

2. Agilent Technologies / Seahorse Bioscience (white paper) "Quantifying ATP Production Rate Using the Seahorse XF Real-Time ATP Rate Assay" Agilent application note 5991-9303EN Used for: P/O ratio range — palmitate 2.45, glucose 2.79–2.86; average cellular P/O of 2.75

3. Lopaschuk, Ussher, Folmes, Jaswal, Stanley (2010) "Myocardial Fatty Acid Metabolism in Health and Disease" Physiological Reviews — PMC3976623 Used for: All four extended quotes on fat oxidation dominance in heart failure, ischemia, and diabetes; therapeutic strategy of reducing fat oxidation and increasing glucose oxidation

4. Fillmore, Jaswal, Lopaschuk (2011) "Uncoupling of glycolysis from glucose oxidation accompanies the development of heart failure" ScienceDirect / Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology Used for: Quote on pharmacological shifting from fat to glucose oxidation improving ATP efficiency; cardiac ischemia and heart failure

5. Sun, Lopaschuk et al. (2024) "Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation is the major source of cardiac ATP production in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction" Cardiovascular Research, Volume 120 — PMID 38193548 Used for: HFpEF data — suppressed insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation, increased FAO, decreased PDH phosphorylation in mouse and human samples

6. Kolwicz (2021) "Ketone Body Metabolism in the Ischemic Heart" Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine — DOI 10.3389/fcvm.2021.789458 Used for: Ketone P/O ratio ~2.50 vs glucose ~2.58 vs fat ~2.33; ischemic heart disease ketone data; KD associated with worse outcomes post-MI in some models

7. MDPI / Koutnik et al. (2020) "Ketones Elicit Distinct Alterations in Adipose Mitochondrial Bioenergetics" International Journal of Molecular Sciences — DOI 10.3390/ijms21176255 Used for: β-hydroxybutyrate increases respiration without commensurate ATP production; elevated O2:ATP ratio confirming uncoupling; UCP1 and PGC1α upregulation

8. Sullivan et al. / ResearchGate (2004) "The Ketogenic Diet Increases Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein Levels and Activity" Used for: Ketogenic diet increases hippocampal uncoupling proteins; decreased ROS but at cost of coupling efficiency

In this episode, Zane sits down with registered dietitian and Type 1 diabetic Isaac Pohlman to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions in modern health: that carbs are the problem.

Isaac shares his powerful personal journey—from a high-level athlete dealing with chronic fatigue, hormonal issues, and gut dysfunction to being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in grad school. What followed wasn't just managing symptoms, but completely rethinking metabolism, energy production, and how the body actually uses fuel.

Together, Zane and Isaac break down why the fear around carbohydrates is not only misguided—but often making blood sugar issues worse. They unpack the real drivers of insulin resistance, including stress, circadian rhythm disruption, ultra-processed foods, and loss of muscle mass.

This conversation goes far beyond "carbs vs. no carbs." It reframes metabolic health as a system—one that includes lifestyle, light exposure, recovery, food quality, and nervous system regulation.

If you've been told to cut carbs to fix your blood sugar… this episode will challenge everything you thought you kne

👇 Download Zane's Free Plan https://free40plan.com/ Follow Zane IG: https://www.instagram.com/zanegriggsfitness

Guest:

https://www.thepohlmaninstitute.com

https://www.facebook.com/isaacpohlmannutrition https://www.instagram.com/isaacpohlman

https://www.youtube.com/@isaacpohlman Where to learn more about the Pohlman Institute's work and protocols Carb Sweet Spot Masterclass [FREE] https://programs.isaacpohlman.com/offers/FoFv4San

Have Your Carbs and Eat 'Em Too Book https://book.isaacpohlman.com/book-sales-page The Pohlman Method - 1:1 Coaching: https://www.thepohlmaninstitute.com/the-pohlman-method 00:00 – Intro: Why cardio & diet aren't working anymore 01:00 – Isaac's background & metabolic health approach 03:00 – Athlete to chronic fatigue: early warning signs 05:00 – Stress, trauma & the link to autoimmune conditions 07:00 – The moment metabolism changed everything 10:00 – Type 1 diabetes diagnosis & symptoms 13:00 – Why carbs are misunderstood 15:00 – Fear of carbs & blood sugar spikes explained 17:00 – Why blood sugar SHOULD rise after meals 19:00 – Insulin, thyroid & energy production connection 21:00 – The real cause of insulin resistance 23:00 – Why low-carb can backfire 26:00 – Stress hormones, muscle loss & metabolism 29:00 – How to actually reverse pre-diabetes 31:00 – Lifestyle before diet (what most people miss) 34:00 – Food density & why your meals aren't satisfying 37:00 – What's REALLY causing the diabetes epidemic 40:00 – Light exposure, circadian rhythm & blood sugar 42:00 – Ultra-processed foods & fat storage 44:00 – Personal fat threshold explained 47:00 – Getting off medication naturally 50:00 – Reintroducing carbs safely 54:00 – Best carbs for blood sugar control

Most people believe your metabolism automatically slows down after 40.

But the science says something very different. In this episode of Healthy AF, Zane Griggs breaks down the truth about metabolism, aging, and why fat loss gets harder for many people after 40.

You'll learn why muscle loss, lifestyle habits, and hormone changes play a much bigger role than age itself — and what you can do to keep your metabolism strong for decades.

If you want better energy, improved body composition, and long-term metabolic health, this episode is a must watch.

Download Zane's Free Fit Over 40 Plan: https://free40plan.com

00:00 Why metabolism doesn't actually slow after 40 02:10 The metabolism myth most people believe 04:45 What really causes weight gain after 40 08:10 Muscle loss and its impact on metabolism 12:00 Why strength training becomes critical 16:15 Hormones and metabolic health 21:40 Lifestyle habits that slow metabolism 27:20 The role of sleep and stress 32:45 Nutrition strategies for metabolic health 38:30 How to support metabolism as you age 43:15 Practical habits to improve fat loss 47:30 Key takeaways for staying metabolically healthy

Most people think fatigue is a sleep problem.

But the truth is… sleep is often just a symptom.

In this episode, Zane breaks down why so many people—especially after 40—feel exhausted even when they're getting 7–8 hours of sleep.

The real issue often comes from under-fueling, chronic fasting, low carb diets, and excessive training, which drive up stress hormones like cortisol and disrupt recovery.

Zane shares the mistakes he made for years with fasted workouts, low-carb dieting, and overtraining, and explains how these habits can impact:

• Thyroid function • Testosterone levels • Sleep quality • HRV and recovery • Energy and mood

You'll also learn how to properly fuel your body for better energy, deeper sleep, and sustainable performance.

If you're tired all the time, this episode could completely change how you think about recovery.

Download Zane's Free Fit Over 40 Plan: 👉 https://free40plan.com

00:00 Why You're Still Tired 00:45 Sleep Is a Result of Your Day 02:10 The Hidden Cause of Poor Sleep 04:00 My Personal Low Carb & Fasting Mistake 05:40 Underfueling and Stress Hormones 07:10 Cortisol, Adrenaline, and Glucose Production 09:30 How Fasting Disrupts Sleep 11:30 Why You Wake Up at 2–3 AM 13:00 Fasted Workouts and Hormone Stress 15:10 Why Recovery Changes After 40 17:00 HRV, Heart Rate, and Recovery 18:40 The Mood and Energy Connection 20:10 Why Metabolic Stress Isn't Strength 22:00 Eat Less, Move More Is Wrong 23:40 How Much Protein You Actually Need 25:20 The Right Way to Eat Carbohydrates 27:30 Foods That Support Recovery 29:00 Training Smarter After 40 30:20 Managing Stress and Recovery 31:50 Why Sleep Starts When You Wake Up 33:10 Strategy Beats Extreme Discipline 35:20 Why Fatigue Is a Fuel Problem 36:00 Free Fit Over 40 Plan

Many people struggling with fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, or low libido may actually be dealing with thyroid dysfunction — and not even know it.

In this episode of Healthy AF, Zane explains how common lifestyle habits like low-carb dieting, intermittent fasting, overtraining, chronic stress, and sleep deprivation can quietly disrupt thyroid function and slow your metabolism.

You'll learn why markers like T3, reverse T3, and TSH matter more than most standard lab panels suggest, how the body adapts to low energy availability, and why many people with thyroid symptoms are often told their labs look "normal."

Zane also breaks down the role of insulin, leptin, liver glycogen, and carbohydrate intake in thyroid hormone conversion — and why reintroducing the right foods can often restore metabolic function.

If you've ever struggled with low energy, stubborn weight gain, cold intolerance, or declining performance despite dieting and training harder, this episode will help you understand what may really be happening inside your metabolism.

👇 Download Zane's Free Plan https://free40plan.com/

Follow Zane IG: https://www.instagram.com/zanegriggsfitness

Supportive research

Low carb diet increases incidence of REDs and low T3⁠ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40639795/%E2%81%A0 ⁠ Low carb diet reduces T3 in athletes⁠ https://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2023/08/14/a-bad-situation-made-worse-low-carbohydrate-intake-amplifies-low-energy-availability-hormonal-disturbances/⁠ ⁠ Low carb diet induces low thyroid function⁠ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11558958/⁠ ⁠ Keto diet reduces thyroid function⁠ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0269440⁠

www.free40plan.com

00:00 – Introduction: Thyroid Health and Metabolism 00:40 – Remembering Charlie 02:00 – Common Symptoms of Low Thyroid 03:30 – How Thyroid Affects Metabolism and Energy 04:30 – Hormonal and Cardiovascular Effects of Thyroid Dysfunction 05:30 – Why Thyroid Issues Often Go Undiagnosed 06:30 – Stress, Overtraining, and Aggressive Dieting 08:00 – How Thyroid Hormones Work (T4, T3, Reverse T3) 09:40 – What Low-Carb Diets Do to Thyroid Function 11:00 – Low Energy Availability in Athletes 12:30 – Why Your Body Interprets Low Carb as Scarcity 14:00 – The Impact of Fasting on Thyroid Hormones 15:30 – Liver Glycogen and Overnight Stress Hormones 17:00 – Why High Performers Are Vulnerable 18:30 – Insulin, Leptin, and Thyroid Signaling 20:00 – Optimal Thyroid Lab Ranges Explained 22:30 – Why Symptoms Matter More Than "Normal" Lab Ranges 24:30 – How Thyroid Issues Affect Testosterone in Men 26:00 – Insulin Signaling and Thyroid Conversion 28:00 – Low Carb vs Insulin Resistance: Different Labs, Same Symptoms 31:00 – Why Leptin Is the Missing Link 33:00 – Reintroducing Carbs to Restore Thyroid Function 35:00 – LDL Changes After Increasing Carbohydrates 36:30 – Body Temperature and Metabolic Rate 37:30 – Training, Recovery, and Sleep 38:30 – Best Carbohydrate Sources for Thyroid Health 41:00 – How Much Carbohydrate You Actually Need 43:00 – Macro Ratios for Fat Loss vs Performance 45:00 – What Indigenous Diets Teach Us About Metabolic Health 47:00 – How Ultra-Processed Foods Disrupt Energy Production 49:00 – The Real Cause of Fat Gain and Metabolic Dysfunction 51:00 – Why "Calories In Calories Out" Misses the Real Problem 53:00 – Fixing Metabolism Through Food Quality and Energy Availability

Most men focus on body weight, workouts, or body fat… but those numbers don't tell the full story.

In this episode of Healthy AF, Zane breaks down the five blood markers every man over 40 should be tracking if they want to stay strong, energized, and metabolically healthy for decades to come.

These biomarkers can reveal problems years before symptoms appear and help you catch issues related to metabolic dysfunction, heart disease, inflammation, testosterone decline, and prostate health early.

You'll learn why markers like fasting insulin and fasting glucose often reveal metabolic issues long before diabetes develops, how free testosterone reflects metabolic stress, and why inflammation markers like hs-CRP matter for long-term health.

Zane also explains how lifestyle factors such as poor sleep, chronic stress, excessive fasting, overtraining, and ultra-processed foods can quietly push these numbers in the wrong direction.

If you're over 40 and serious about longevity, performance, and metabolic health, these are the numbers you need to know.

👇 Download Zane's Free Plan https://free40plan.com/

Follow Zane IG: https://www.instagram.com/zanegriggsfitness/

00:00 – 5 Blood Markers Every Man Over 40 Should Know 00:55 – Why Body Weight and Workouts Aren't Enough 01:40 – Marker #1: Fasting Insulin (Earliest Warning Sign) 02:50 – Ideal Fasting Insulin Range 04:00 – What Causes Insulin Resistance 05:05 – Marker #2: Fasting Glucose 06:00 – Why Chronically High Glucose Damages Blood Vessels 07:20 – Low-Carb, Fasting, and Elevated Blood Sugar 08:25 – Ideal Blood Sugar Range 09:15 – Stress Hormones and the "Dawn Effect" 11:00 – Marker #3: Free Testosterone 12:00 – Stress, Fasting, and Testosterone Suppression 13:20 – Ideal Free Testosterone Range 14:10 – Marker #4: hs-CRP (Inflammation Marker) 15:00 – What Drives Chronic Inflammation 15:40 – Visceral Fat, Diet, and Alcohol Effects 16:00 – Marker #5: PSA (Prostate Health) 17:00 – Testosterone and Prostate Cancer Myths 18:20 – Why You Should Start Tracking These Markers Early 19:10 – Why "Normal" Lab Ranges Aren't Optimal

I recommended low-carb and intermittent fasting for nearly 20 years.

Then my labs started telling a different story.

In this episode, I break down why I stopped fasting, increased carbohydrates, lowered fat intake, and how that shift improved my fasting glucose, thyroid markers, LDL, sleep, and recovery.

This isn't anti-keto/carnivore. It's anti-dogma.

If you care about metabolic health, ATP production, thyroid function, or insulin sensitivity, this conversation will challenge what you think you know.

Chapters below 👇

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Why I Needed to Address This Publicly
• 01:30 — The Hard Realization I Was Wrong
• 03:00 — 20 Years of Low-Carb & Fasting
• 05:00 — Carnivore Experiment & What It Felt Like
• 08:30 — My Blood Markers That Didn't Make Sense
• 11:30 — Thyroid, SHBG & Sleep Disruptions
• 13:30 — Over-Leveraging Metabolic Stress
• 14:00 — Ending Intermittent Fasting
• 15:00 — Increasing Carbs to 300g
• 17:00 — Improved Bloodwork Results
• 19:00 — Lower LDL Without Medication
• 20:00 — Phase Two: High-Carb, Low-Fat Experiment
• 23:00 — Adjusting Protein & Fat Down
• 27:00 — Blood Sugar Dropped to 80
• 28:00 — Visceral Fat & DEXA Results
• 29:00 — Doctor's Reaction
• 30:00 — Thyroid & Cholesterol Mechanisms Explained
• 32:00 — Gluconeogenesis & Starvation Signaling
• 35:00 — My Wife's Results
• 36:00 — Cellular Energy & ATP Explained
• 38:00 — What I Eat in a Day
• 44:00 — Night Waking & Liver Glycogen
• 45:00 — How I Lean Out Now
• 48:00 — Who Should Increase Fat vs Lower Fat
• 50:00 — Free Fit Over 40 Plan
• 52:00 — Why ATP Production Is the Real Focus

• 🧠 Free Plan: free40plan.com

• 📲 Instagram: @zanegriggsfitness

• 🌐 Website: zanegriggs.com

Low-carb, ketogenic, and carnivore diets have helped a lot of people — myself included — at different stages of their health journey. But what happens when a strategy meant to heal is followed too long without reassessment?

In this episode of Healthy AF, I sit down with Dr. Rachel Brown, a psychiatrist and functional medicine practitioner who shares her deeply personal experience after 10 years of ketogenic eating — six of those strictly carnivore.

Dr. Brown opens up about the symptoms she believes were connected to long-term carbohydrate restriction, with gut dysbiosis and thyroid dysfunction becoming the most prominent issues. Coming from both a psychiatric and functional medicine background, she brings a rare perspective — one that bridges mental health, metabolism, and digestive health.

We explore how restrictive diets can alter the gut microbiome over time, why a lack of fermentable carbohydrates may compromise microbial diversity, and how chronic stress physiology can quietly impact thyroid signaling. Dr. Brown also explains how symptoms can be missed or rationalized in high-discipline health communities, where feeling unwell is often reframed as "adaptation."

This is not an anti-keto or anti-carnivore conversation. It's an anti-dogma conversation.

We talk about the importance of metabolic flexibility, ongoing self-assessment, and the willingness to evolve as your body's needs change. Dr. Brown emphasizes that healing isn't about ideology — it's about listening to physiology, respecting individual variability, and understanding that no approach should be considered permanent by default.

If you've ever wondered whether a diet that once helped you might now be holding you back, this episode offers clarity, nuance, and reassurance that changing course isn't failure — it's growth.

• Keto and carnivore can be powerful tools, but may not be lifelong solutions
• Gut dysbiosis can develop when microbial diversity is chronically reduced
• Thyroid function is highly sensitive to long-term energy and carb availability
• Mental health, digestion, and metabolism are deeply interconnected
• Symptoms are often rationalized in high-discipline diet cultures
• Metabolic flexibility and reassessment are key to long-term health
• Health strategies should evolve as physiology changes

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Introduction: Dr. Rachel Brown's background
• 03:00 — Why keto initially worked
• 06:30 — Transitioning into long-term carnivore
• 10:30 — Early warning signs that were easy to dismiss
• 14:00 — Gut dysbiosis explained
• 18:00 — Thyroid dysfunction and restrictive diets
• 22:30 — Mental health implications of chronic restriction
• 27:00 — When discipline becomes self-harm
• 31:30 — Reintroducing carbs and gut-supportive foods
• 36:00 — Metabolic flexibility vs diet identity
• 41:00 — Lessons learned after 10 years
• 45:00 — Final thoughts: evolving without shame

• 🧠 Free Plan: free40plan.com
• 📲 Instagram: @zanegriggsfitness
• 🌐 Website: zanegriggs.com

Guest Links:

• IG: @‌drrachelsarahbrown
• https://drrachelsbrown.com

For years, the health and fitness space has rewarded extremes — more restriction, more protocols, more supplements, more "hacks." But what happens when chasing optimization starts to quietly dismantle your health instead of improving it?

In this episode of Healthy AF, Zane sits down with Dylan Gemelli for one of the most honest, wide-ranging conversations the show has had. Dylan's journey doesn't begin with illness — it begins with pushing the limits of health itself. From elite athletics to bodybuilding, from underground supplementation to biohacking and cellular health, Dylan has lived on both sides of the extreme.

Dylan opens up about his early life, disordered eating patterns, overtraining, and the mentality that "more is always better." He shares how chasing leanness, control, and aesthetics eventually led to mental exhaustion, physical pain, and metabolic stress — even while appearing outwardly "healthy." This episode pulls back the curtain on how easily discipline can turn into self-abuse when intention is lost.

The conversation then shifts into Dylan's transformation. After years of ultra-low fat, ultra-low calorie dieting, relentless cardio, and rigid food rules, he finally reached a breaking point. Adding fats back in. Eating whole eggs instead of only egg whites. Introducing real carbohydrates. Cooking with butter. Allowing flexibility. What surprised him most wasn't weight gain — it was improved energy, recovery, mood, body composition, and freedom.

Zane and Dylan also dig into the biohacking world — what's helpful, what's misunderstood, and what's being misused. They discuss why piling on peptides, supplements, and therapies without addressing nutrition, stress, sleep, and foundations often leads to worse outcomes, not better ones. Dylan explains why many "biohackers" actually show poorer mitochondrial health when measured — not because the tools are bad, but because balance is missing.

At its core, this episode is about accountability, intentionality, and purpose. Dylan shares how prison, adversity, and personal responsibility reshaped his outlook — and why he now sees health as a long game, not a shortcut. This is a conversation for anyone who's burned out from extremes, confused by conflicting health advice, or ready to rebuild their body and life with clarity instead of chaos.

If you've ever felt trapped by rigid protocols, afraid to eat, or overwhelmed by "doing everything right," this episode will hit home.

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Intro: Why extremes dominate the health space
• 02:10 — Dylan's early years: athletics, body image, and control
• 05:30 — Disordered eating, overtraining, and chasing leanness
• 09:00 — Consequences of "discipline without intention"
• 12:30 — Prison, accountability, and rebuilding identity
• 16:00 — Bodybuilding, supplements, and extreme protocols
• 19:40 — When optimization turns into self-destruction
• 23:00 — Enter biohacking: curiosity vs obsession
• 26:30 — The breaking point: hunger, fatigue, and burnout
• 30:00 — Adding fats and carbs back in (and what changed fast)
• 33:40 — Energy, recovery, mood, and metabolic freedom
• 36:40 — Why foundations beat advanced protocols every time
• 39:40 — Biohacking done wrong: too many tools, no alignment
• 43:00 — Purpose, responsibility, and long-term health
• 46:00 — Final reflections: balance, curiosity, and growth

• 🧠 Free Plan: free40plan.com
• 📲 Instagram: @zanegriggsfitness
• 🌐 Website: zanegriggs.com

Guest Links:

• https://dylangemelli.com
• https://www.instagram.com/dylangemelli/
• http://www.youtube.com/@DylanGemelliBiohacking