*Starch-Free Success Stories* Guest Blog: Luke Magda
Luke Magda was one of my earliest inspirations when embarking on this starch-free journey. Luke is a moderator for The Low/No Starch Lifestyle for Ankylosing Spondylitis Facebook group, where I first learned about this way of life. He’s been cheering me on from the sidelines for about 3.5 years now – as I sometimes seemed to take 2 steps forward and 1 step back. My doctors gave me no hope beyond the recommendation of biologics. Inspiring anecdotal stories like Luke’s encouraged me to ‘take the plunge’ into a starch-free lifestyle. It’s been 100% worth it. While Luke and my stories (and diets) differ, I think the beauty of starch-free feasting is that there is no ‘one right way’ to do it. Thank you, Luke, for generously sharing so much of your knowledge and experience with the world!
Luke Magda’s post is part of the “Starch-Free Success Stories” series.
What health issues are you dealing with, when did they begin, and how long did it take to get a diagnosis?
My main symptom was pain in the sacral area radiating down my legs. It started in 2016 and it took 8 months to get diagnosed.
When were you diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)?
2017
What has been your approach to healing?
Strict no-starch diet initially, then keto, and now mostly carnivore plus a lot of exercising.
What led you to first try a healing diet approach?
I didn’t want to take dangerous drugs.
What was the lowest point on your health journey?
The lowest point was when I lost the ability to walk and felt like my body has given up on me, even though I took good care of it.
What challenges led you to seek a diagnosis, and inspired you to try a healing diet? Basically, what was the tipping point?
I wanted to continue to play soccer and I didn’t want to be in constant pain. I always ate healthy so the diet approach was the only way to go for me.
Which healing diet protocols have you used?
No-Starch Diet (NSD), Keto, and carnivore – all work great. I got rid of the pain on NSD, then I switched to keto because I wanted the sports benefits from it, and then to carnivore because I love steak LOL. I felt the best on keto and that’s where I will go back to.
When you found a protocol to help you heal, what was it and what was your first indication that it was working?
I started NSD immediately after I found it but I did not get any improvements for 4 months. It was hard following something without getting results but I believed in it so strongly that I didn’t give up. Eventually, the pain just went away overnight.
What foods are you most sensitive to? Which foods do you avoid?
I avoid the obvious things – anything starchy, most things with sugar that many people eat on NSD (Honey, maple syrup, most fruit), and also nuts which I found to give me kidney-related pains (almonds especially). I also avoid all greens because I don’t like the way they taste and I also don’t think they are beneficial to me – most veggies contain toxins like oxalates, lectins, etc, and also the vitamins in them are not really absorbable by our bodies so I avoid them. I get my vitamins from beef liver.
Did your doctors suggest any treatments that you rejected? If so, why did you choose to try other methods?
My doctor told me I HAD to take Humira and that it was the only thing that would work. I refused because I wanted to try a no-starch diet and I was also scared of the terrible side effects biologics can cause.
Share any personal victories your real food journey has helped you achieve!
I did almost 70 spartan races – I did 40 races in 2019 alone – all with AS. One race that makes me the most proud is the race in Sweden – it was 17 hours long in freezing weather conditions but I loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat.
Where do you source ingredients for your recipes and daily life?
I like Trader Joe’s a lot and also Sprouts. I do use local butcher for my meats a lot.
What you eat when you are HUNGRY (or HANGRY!) and need something quick?
Pork rinds, eggs, and sometimes berries but I usually don’t snack much.
What are favorite ways to pamper yourself?
Massage and some good BBQ! Once in a while, I will make goat cheese cheesecake and some almond flour baked goods too but not very often.
What is your go-to easy breakfast? How do you start each day?
I don’t eat breakfast. I usually wait until around 11 AM to eat and I will have eggs and some meat (steak, ground beef, chicken tights), and bacon. On weekends I make egg, ham, and goat cheese omelettes for my first meal of the day. I only eat twice a day.
What alternative therapies you have used?
Massage and Cryo therapy – I love both and I think both are very beneficial.
It can seem like our lives are consumed by a chronic illness, but there is so much beyond those struggles. What brings you joy?
I try not to think about AS and for the most part, I do a good job at it. Of course, there are times of pains and aches that remind me of it but it also motivates me to keep strict on my diet. What brings me joy is exercising so I go to the gym daily – I put my headphones on and forget about everything else for couple of hours. Also, I love photography – it is something that I really enjoy and something that brings me a lot of joy. Traveling and photography are my two great hobbies.
What is something unique most people don’t know about you?
Not sure if it’s unique but I am very strong mentally, very disciplined and I always put 100% into everything I love to do. There is no gray area with me, it’s only black or white. LOL. You can tell from my posts in NSD Facebook group that I am very direct and sometimes I come across as rude but I am not rude, I just don’t like to tell people what they want to hear, I like to tell people what they need to hear. Some people like that and some don’t LOL.
What are words of wisdom you’ve learned on your journey?
Health is the most important thing in life and we need to do all we can to stay healthy. There will be tough times in life (going through AS pain being one of those times) but we can’t give up, we need to keep going and always look for ways to get better. It is OK to be sad or angry or even cry – AS is a really painful disease – but I think we also need to be strong and not let AS win.
What advice do you have for people who are just starting out?
My main advice would be to start a no-starch diet and do it strictly – the best results come from being strict. Also, be patient, sometimes our bodies take a while to heal. Another piece of advice would be to exercise – I know it can be hard when in pain but anything is better than nothing. I believe diet and exercise are two of the biggest reasons why I got better.
Disclaimer: Starch-Free Feasting may discuss topics related to diet and nutrition. The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Consult a physician or medical professional before making changes to your diet and medication. You assume the risk of any potential injury that may result.
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