Pastor Gary Evensen is the longtime leader of North Jersey United Pentecostal Church and an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. Since his conversion in 1980, he has spent more than four decades in ministry, serving in roles from deacon to pastor and helping lead churches across the country. Alongside his wife Milly—a gifted gospel singer and pianist—he has been deeply involved in missions and church planting, including pioneering their current congregation in Secaucus. Pastor Evensen brings a lifetime of experience in faith, leadership, and personal transformation to every conversation.

In this episode, Dr. Tro, Dr. Brian, and Pastor Gary talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (02:41) Gary's spiritual and metabolic health journey

• (12:45) Fasting and the Christian life

• (16:01) Fasting and physical health/wellbeing

• (23:08) Dealing with guilt and shame without turning to unhealthy coping habits

• (31:58) Cortisol, B1 deficiency, and obesity

• (47:57) The health issues faced by pastors and people in ministry

• (57:19) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Pastor Gary Evensen:

• North Jersey United Pentecostal Church: https://njupc.org

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Peter Cummings is a preventive health practitioner and endurance sports coach with more than 30 years of experience helping people improve metabolic health through exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle change. A Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP) and Nutrition Network Practitioner (NNP), he specializes in therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, cardiorespiratory fitness, and personalized exercise prescription. Cummings has authored peer-reviewed research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine – FOCUS and has helped train health professionals to integrate fitness and lifestyle interventions into clinical care. In addition to his work in preventive medicine, he has coached athletes to multiple national and state championship titles, bringing a data-driven approach to both human performance and chronic disease prevention.

In this episode, Dr. Tro, Dr. Brian and Peter talk about…

• (00:00) Intro
• (01:56) VOT Max
• (04:19) Health Ballistics (Peter's new book!)
• (10:00) Bridging the gap between medicine and exercise
• (16:59) Berberine and Metformin
• (19:45) Helping people turn their health around and reverse diabetes
• (29:12) Cardiac rehab
• (34:43) Interval training
• (39:21) Carbs and exercise
• (42:56) Conflicts of interest in exercise science
• (45:45) The biggest barriers to systemic change in the fields of exercise science and nutrition
• (48:07) Tim Noakes' Central Governor Theory
• (55:09) Exercise physiology and fat burning
• (01:04:51) Peter's new book, Health Ballistics
• (01:09:35) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Peter Cummings:

• Plan 2 Peak: https://www.plan2peak.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachcumm/
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/plan2peak?

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Dr. Alan Schaffer is a board-certified physician specializing in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. With decades of clinical experience, he focuses on the intersection of respiratory health, sleep disorders, and metabolic health, including the role of nutrition and carbohydrate restriction in improving chronic disease. Dr. Schaffer practices with St. Peter's Health Partners in New York and is a frequent educator and media guest discussing conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and the broader drivers of cardiometabolic health.

In this episode, Drs. Tro and Alan talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (09:59) Sleep Medicine and metabolic health

• (13:37) Pulmonary Medicine and environmental factors

• (18:57) How Dr. Alan helps his patients improve their sleep quality and metabolic health

• (26:43) Helping late bloomer patients

• (32:30) How to help patients trust you as a doctor

• (37:07) Sleep apnea and CPAP

• (42:52) Sleep apnea tools and tips

• (46:08) Sleep tape

• (52:05) Didjeridoo

• (55:16) Weight loss and sleep apnea

• (01:01:52) The Cholesterol Code documentary (See links below)

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• The Cholesterol Code Screening (Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM CDT): https://gathr.com/events/0ed2437d/the-cholesterol-code-at-amc-crystal-run-16

• Cholesterol Code Movie: https://cholesterolcodemovie.com

Dr. Alan Schaffer:

• https://www.sphp.com/provider/alan-edward-schaffer-md-sleep-medicine-0

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Dr. Marion Mass is a pediatrician, educator, and fierce advocate for restoring integrity to American medicine. A co-founder of the nonprofit Practicing Physicians of America, she has been a leading voice calling out the corporate forces reshaping health care and their impact on doctors and patients alike.

In this episode, Dr. Brian, Dr. Tro, and Dr. Marion talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (02:29) Systemic problems in medicine over the last few decades and how we can solve them

• (05:27) Perverse incentives in health insurance and how health care can be made cheaper

• (14:40) Conflicts of interest in health insurance

• (19:52) What brought Dr. Marion to medicine and inspired her to work to reform the healthcare system

• (25:37) Conflicts of interest in the AMA and other medical organizations

• (35:23) The path forward to a more transparent medical care system

• (41:19) Remdesivir and Covid

• (46:53) Perverse incentives in gender change procedures and drugs

• (51:48) Governmental and political interference in the practice of medicine

• (01:02:35) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Dr. Marion Mass:

• Free 2 Care: https://t.co/cdcldrTMEM

• X: https://x.com/mass_marion?lang=en

• Practicing Physicians of America: https://practicingphysician.org

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner, bestselling author, and leading voice in women's metabolic health. With over two decades of clinical experience, she's known for translating complex science into practical strategies—helping women navigate perimenopause, optimize fasting, and reclaim energy, resilience, and long-term wellness.

In this episode, Dr. Brian, Dr. Tro, and Cynthia talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (02:28) Hormonal shifts, the microbiome, and metabolic health

• (07:50) How modern developments in food production and the advent of mass-produced plastics have impacted our health

• (17:40) Fiber

• (25:43) Intermittent fasting and menopause

• (28:07) Inulin

• (31:27) Antibiotics and food sensitivities

• (33:45) The complexity of the gut microbiome

• (44:55) The insufficiency of modern testing

• (50:00) Gut health and mental health

• (53:42) Fermented foods

• (01:00:47) Good, better, best

• (01:03:16) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Cynthia Thurlow:

• Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/

• X: https://x.com/_CynthiaThurlow

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thurlow_/

• Books: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2345217/cynthia-thurlow-np/

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Dr. Frank Dumont is Executive Medical Director at Virta Health, where he leads medical strategy to advance safe, scalable metabolic care. A longtime internal medicine physician at Estes Park Medical Center, he previously directed its Wellness Service Line. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Dumont has also served in leadership roles with the Colorado Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

In this episode, Drs. Brian and Frank talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (04:03) How Dr. Frank's personal health issues and professional experiences as a doctor led him to adopt a metabolic health approach to healing himself and his patients

• (10:41) Exercise, nutrition, and de-prescribing

• (14:22) Fat adaptation and fasting

• (24:09) Virta's peer-reviewed publications and long-term data

• (30:09) The positive cascading effect on holistic health of metabolic lifestyle interventions

• (36:25) Social support and mental health

• (44:41) Dr. Frank's experience leaving a standard medical practice and becoming a metabolic health practitioner

• (52:22) Moral injury and physician burnout in the standard medical care system

• (54:05) Employe wellness and metabolic health care

• (01:01:01) Outro/plugs

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Dr. Frank Dumont:

• Virta Health: https://www.virtahealth.com/

• X: https://x.com/FrankDumont

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-d-dumont-46aa00b7/

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Michael Prager is a journalist and writer focused on food addiction and the science of ultra-processed foods. Drawing on personal experience and deep reporting, he explores how modern food environments hijack appetite—and what it takes to reclaim health, agency, and freedom around food. He is also the chairman of the Food Addiction Institute and the author of two books: Fat Boy Thin Man and Sustainable You.

In this episode, Dr. Tro, Dr. Brian, and Michael talk about…

• (00:00) Intro

• (03:15) Michael's personal health journey dealing with food addiction and how he first became interested in researching food addiction

• (13:38) How spiritual and emotional health relate to physical health

• (28:12) Food addiction research and new developments in the mission to get food addiction officially recognized

• (39:10) Practical tips for dealing with food addiction

• (44:41) How Michael went from being a food addict to being the chairman of the Food Addiction Institute and writing books on food addiction

• (53:08) Michael's spiritual journey from being a hardcore agnostic to believing in and praying to God

• (01:00:52) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!

Links:

Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/

Michael Prager:

• Books: https://michaelprager.com/books

• Website: https://michaelprager.com/

• X: https://x.com/fatboythinman

• Food Addiction Institute: https://foodaddictioninstitute.org

Dr. Brian Lenzkes:

• Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian:

• Website: https://toward.health

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App

Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together.

Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more.

Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888

Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US

Learn more: https://toward.health/community/