Stardate 04.23.2026
I stumbled onto what I now consider a missing link during a routine eye exam in late 2023.
My optometrist reached into a drawer and pulled out a book: The Diabetes Code by Jason Fung. Because diabetes runs in my family, the title caught my attention. I snapped a photo of the cover and told him I’d look into it.
When I got home, I noticed the foreword was written by Nina Teicholz, author of The Big Fat Surprise. That sent me down a rabbit hole of interviews and lectures. The more I listened, the more I realized how little I had questioned what I’d always assumed about food.
That trail eventually led me to Tim Noakes, an endurance athlete and exercise scientist who had publicly reexamined decades of conventional nutrition advice.
Each voice added a piece to a puzzle I didn’t know I was trying to solve.
What I discovered wasn’t a diet. It was a rhythm.
Before I share it, I want to be honest about something: your brain will likely resist what I’m about to describe. Mine did. Changing how we eat isn’t just physical — it’s neurological. Years of habit, comfort, and routine are wired deeply. Sugar and refined carbohydrates have a powerful pull, and breaking that pull felt like trying to tame a wild stallion.
Slowly, patiently, I learned not to fight my brain, but to retrain it.
I began to understand something simple: when certain foods are constantly available, the body never needs to tap into the energy it already has stored. And most of us are walking around with plenty of stored energy.
So I experimented carefully, with awareness and medical guidance.
Here’s the rhythm I settled into:
- One meal a day, twice a week on days off
- Two meals a day on workdays
- Very few snacks
- Minimal sugar
- Very low carbohydrates
- Mostly whole foods like meat, eggs, and simple ingredients
What surprised me most was this: my energy increased even though I was eating less often. Hunger faded. Cravings quieted. My mind felt clearer. My body felt steadier.
I wasn’t depriving myself. I was teaching my body to access a different fuel source.
Over time, this rhythm became natural. My brain stopped arguing. Autopilot started working in my favor.
Some have asked why I still take supplements if this food rhythm works so well for me. For me, the answer has more to do with longevity and supporting my body as I age. I see the two as partners — food rhythm and nutrient support working together.
In honor of Health Week, I’m sharing a link from my blog sponsor, DoNotAge, who recently released a new daily sachet that combines several supplements into one simple mix. If you explore it, I encourage you to print the ingredient list and ask your doctor if it’s appropriate for you. Click here to learn about the sachet. As a partner, I receive a small stipend if you choose to purchase through this link.
“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31
That verse feels practical to me now. Food is no longer random. It’s rhythmic. Intentional. Supportive.
Join me here:
https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong
Captain’s Addendum
Spock: “Captain, the body adapts remarkably well when given consistent input.”
Bones: “Which is my way of sayin’, what you feed it every day matters more than what you do once in a while.”
They’re right. I didn’t change everything overnight. I changed the rhythm.
Grateful for another day to learn, adjust, and move one percent better.
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