Bella Ma, better known as Steak and Butter Gal, is a Juilliard-trained musician, carnivore diet advocate, and founder of The Steak & Butter Gang.

::: spoiler Summary

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I. Pre-Carnivore Health Background

• Age 17, pianist, classical performer
• Concerned about weight gain, concert dresses fitting tighter
• Discovered Freelee the Banana Girl online
• Adopted Raw Till 4 vegan diet (raw fruits/veggies until 4 PM, then cooked starches)
• Initial weight loss from eliminating seed oils, takeout, fast food
• Stayed vegan for 6 years due to community influence

II. Health Decline on Vegan Diet

• Lost period
• Skin damage (cystic acne, eczema, psoriasis)
• Brain fog
• Accepted to Juilliard for master's degree despite diet
• Performance suffered: anxiety attacks, memory slips on stage
• Blood test revealed deficiencies in B12, vitamin D
• Doctor advised supplementing or eating meat

III. Transition to Carnivore

• Inspired by Azra Conlu, KasumiKriss, Kelly Hogan
• First bite: scrambled eggs in Kerrygold butter
• Immediate sensation of "coming back to life"
• Progression: eggs → ground beef → fatty steaks (ribeye, NY strip)
• Full year of eggs, butter, ground beef, steaks

IV. Appetite Evolution

• Initial ravenous phase: up to 5 lbs beef/day, 48 eggs/day, 1 stick butter/day
• Lasted ~1.5 years, began settling after 6 months
• Natural progression: 5 meals/day → 4 → 3 → 2 meals/day → OMAD
• OMAD phase lasted ~1 year
• Eventually reached point of losing too much weight

V. Weight Gain and Loss Timeline

• Immediate weight gain on carnivore (3,000-5,000 calories/day)
• Period returned within 3 months
• Brain fog cleared within weeks
• Weight gain continued for 6 months, then stabilized
• Weight began dropping at 1 year
• Lean physique emerged at 2 years
• Year 3: experiments (raw organs, beef-only, ribeye-only, OMAD)
• Year 4: began weightlifting, significant weight loss
• Years 5-6: established workout routine
• Year 7 (current): raw dairy emphasis

VI. Raw Dairy Integration

• Previously lactose intolerant (common in Asians)
• Difference between raw and pasteurized dairy
• Current consumption: cottage cheese, kefir, raw cheese, raw butter, raw cream
• Tolerates raw dairy without flare-ups
• Pasteurized dairy causes skin issues
• Raw dairy helps build muscle, maintain healthy weight

VII. High-Fat Carnivore Approach

• Inspired by Dr. Elizabeth Bright
• Initial protocol: 1 stick of butter/day
• Fat-to-protein ratio: 1.5:1 to 2:1
• Symptom of insufficient fat: irritability
• Benefits: period return, fertility, feminine curves, reduced bloat
• No tracking of macros; listens to body signals

VIII. Ketosis and Blood Glucose

• Assumes ketosis most of the time
• Tested blood glucose during sardine fast: ~60
• Tested ketones: ~1.5
• Long-term carnivores become fat-adapted without need for tracking

IX. Sardine Fast Experiment

• Inspired by Dr. Boz
• Mistake: ate 4 cans first meal → nausea for remaining 72 hours
• Learned sardine satiation hits ~1 hour after eating
• Future approach: start with 1 can
• Did not experience intense mental clarity due to poor start

X. Beef-Only Experiment

• Inspired by Raymond Nazon, Mikhaila Peterson, Charlene and Joe Anderson
• Included all beef cuts: ground beef, flanken short ribs, ribeye, NY strip, chuck roasts
• Results: weight loss, intense mental clarity, glowing skin
• Exited experiment due to no debilitating diseases

XI. Raw Carnivore Experiment

• Inspired by Emily Penton (healing MS)
• One day of raw ribeye: 1 lb provided full satiation
• Raw meat requires much smaller portions
• Current trend among young people (looksmaxxing/facemaxxing)
• Bella prefers seared meat for enjoyment

XII. Raw Organs Experiment

• Goal: heal cystic acne
• Raw liver for 30 days straight
• Disliked taste; froze and swallowed with coffee
• Skin improved but not worth the suffering
• Current solution: braunschweiger from US Wellness Meats

XIII. Workout and Athletic Performance

• Year 4: began weightlifting
• Current: dumbbells, 1-hour sessions
• Recovery challenges on strict carnivore
• Husband thrives on carbs with intense athletic activity
• Open to experimenting with carbs during potential pregnancy

XIV. Common Newcomer Issues and Solutions

• Muscle cramps (charley horses): electrolytes, salt, magnesium spray
• Energy dips: adaptation period, don't undereat
• Sugar cravings/voice: part of withdrawal
• Irregular periods: adaptation phase
• Sleep issues: increase fat intake, bedside butter trick
• Raymond's priming protocol: 3 meals/day → 2 meals → OMAD → alternate-day fasting over 90 days

XV. Fat Alternatives to Butter

• Ghee (clarified butter, no lactose)
• Tallow (beef fat, highest smoke point)
• Suet (raw tallow, per Rebekah Heishman)
• Lard (less inflammatory for some)
• Duck fat
• Fat from fatty meats

XVI. Men vs. Women on Carnivore

• Men lose weight faster and more immediately
• Men tolerate advanced fasting better (Raymond's Level 3)
• Women need to prioritize eating enough
• Men withstand more physical stress while fasting

XVII. Menopausal and Perimenopausal Women

• Must prioritize high-fat carnivore
• Cannot do OMAD (causes hot flashes)
• Gentle priming recommended: grazing throughout day
• Also beneficial for gastric bypass/Roux-en-Y patients

XVIII. Bowel Movement Changes

• Less frequent bowel movements (normal)
• Constipation: electrolytes, more salt, magnesium, less cheese
• Loose stools/diarrhea: cut fat temporarily, taper up slowly
• Ox bile supplement for severe cases
• Adaptation period: 30-90 days

XIX. Supplements

• Currently takes none (year 7)
• Previously tried: vitamin D/K2 (Seattle), colostrum (1% improvement)
• Iodine: tried once with Dr. Bright, planning for pregnancy
• Ox bile: recommended for severe diarrhea cases

XX. Electrolytes and Salt Journey

• No-salt carnivore for 4 years (learned from Zeroing in on Health Facebook group)
• Felt great without salt initially
• Every salt experiment caused bloating, lethargy, puffiness
• Began salting to taste after starting intense workouts (year 5-6)
• Husband requires daily electrolytes
• Bella considers her no-salt success an anomaly

XXI. Typical Day (Current)

• Wake 6-7 AM
• Breakfast: 1 lb ground beef + 8 scrambled eggs in butter + 2-4 tbsp cold raw butter
• Black coffee after breakfast only
• Workout 1-2 PM
• Dinner 4-6 PM: flash-seared steak (NY strip/ribeye/flanken short ribs), 1-2 lbs
• Raw cottage cheese, raw kefir as dessert
• No eating past 6 PM
• Bed by 10 PM

XXII. Dietary Variety

• Seafood: raw oysters, sashimi, wild-caught salmon/tuna/yellowtail
• Rare lamb from BillyDoe Meats (no gaminess)
• Carnivore cake/pancakes for celebrations
• No cheat meals with sugar/carbs/fruit in 7 years

XXIII. Unexpected Benefits

• No body odor (no deodorant, no perfume, no body wash)
• Boundless energy
• Mental health transformation: confidence, motivation, genuine happiness
• Clear skin, high self-esteem
• Creativity and mental clarity restored

XXIV. Performance and Human Potential

• Juilliard acceptance was willpower, not diet
• Burned out on vegan diet
• Carnivore enables effortless performance
• Most people operate below potential due to brain fog from carbs/seed oils/processed foods

XXV. Non-Dietary Healing Factors

• Daily physical activity (adapted to ability level)
• Journaling symptoms and progress
• Mental health care
• Community support

XXVI. Cooking Fats by Application

• Butter: medium heat, scrambles
• Ghee: high smoke point, flash searing
• Tallow: deep frying, no flavor
• Raw butter: eaten cold to preserve enzymes/probiotics

XXVII. Beverages

• Black coffee (after breakfast only)
• Sparkling water, water (all temperatures)
• Raw kefir (dessert)
• Bone broth (winter); "jiggly jello" from oxtail/chicken drumsticks in Instant Pot

XXVIII. Food Sourcing Philosophy

• Avoids grocery chains and conventional brands (Tyson)
• Direct farm purchases: US Wellness Farms, Miller's Bio Farm, BillyDoe Meats, McCafferty Ranch
• Interviews local farmers and butchers for insider knowledge
• Supports American ranchers through content

XXIX. Pregnancy Preparation

• Plans higher-fat carnivore for fertility
• Husband adjusting diet (currently eats takeout daily)
• Iodine supplementation planned
• Working with Dr. Bright
• Timeline: ~1.5 years out

XXX. Navigating Relationships

• Husband: initially resistant, convinced through male carnivore figures (Dr. Baker, Dr. Chaffee)
• Attending carnivore events helpful
• Now husband is proactive about diet for baby's health
• Family: passive approach works best
• Mother: supportive of results
• Father: pancreatic cancer survivor on keto for 8 years
• Sisters: not interested, no health issues
• Little brother (18): increasingly influenced

XXXI. Transition Recommendations

• Bella went vegan-to-carnivore overnight (personality-driven)
• Recommends gradual transition for most: low carb → keto → carnivore
• Avoids adaptation suffering (leg cramps, oxalate dumping, low energy)

XXXII. Eating Out Strategies

• Chinese hot pot: request water broth, order all meats
• Brazilian steakhouses: all-you-can-eat picanha
• Korean BBQ: avoid pre-marinated meats
• Japanese: sashimi
• Fast food: burger patties alone (In-N-Out, McDonald's, Five Guys)
• Buffalo Wild Wings: chicken wings fried in beef tallow

XXXIII. Lab Work and Health Markers

• No recent labs (plans to do before pregnancy)
• Plans CAC scan to demonstrate clean arteries

XXXIV. Moving to Las Vegas

• Routine adjusted for extreme heat
• Morning/evening walks only
• Prefers blue/rare flash-seared meats in summer
• More chilled raw dairy
• Earlier sleep/wake schedule

XXXV. Getting Started Advice

• Join a community (Steak and Butter Gang, HomeSteadHow, Kelly Hogan, Dr. Berry, Dr. Chaffee)
• Hire a coach if preferred
• YouTube search: [disease] + carnivore diet
• Start a content channel to document journey and combat misinformation
• Social media as positive force for health advocacy :::