Expert Q&A

Can I just skip the broth for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) for people with insulin resistance?

Why Bone Broth Matters in the 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset

In my book The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset, bone broth serves as a foundational tool during the initial 70-day cycles and into maintenance for those managing insulin resistance. It delivers collagen, glycine, glutamine, and minerals that support gut lining repair, reduce systemic inflammation, and stabilize blood sugar. For patients with insulin resistance, these nutrients help lower fasting insulin levels by improving intestinal permeability that often drives metabolic dysfunction. Skipping it entirely in the early phases can slow progress, as we see in clinic data where consistent users drop A1C 0.8–1.2 points faster than those who omit it.

Long-Term Maintenance: Can You Skip It Permanently?

For long-term maintenance after completing the full 30 weeks, the answer depends on your individual response. If your insulin resistance has resolved—confirmed by fasting insulin under 8 μU/mL, stable energy, and no cravings—you can strategically reduce or skip daily bone broth. The protocol emphasizes metabolic freedom, not lifelong dependency on any single food. However, I recommend cycling it 3–4 days per week rather than complete elimination. This preserves the glycine load that supports liver detoxification and mitochondrial function without overwhelming a busy middle-income schedule.

Practical Alternatives for Insulin Resistance in Maintenance

Replace or supplement bone broth with targeted options from our lectin-free low-carb framework. Collagen peptides (10–15g daily) mixed in coffee provide similar amino acids without cooking time. Fermented foods like sauerkraut or kimchi boost glutamine naturally. Our Brown Detox Drops continue to support toxin clearance that exacerbates insulin resistance. Japanese-style walking intervals after meals remain non-negotiable—they improve insulin sensitivity by 25–30% in our tracked patients. Focus on the 221 real-food recipes that keep carbs under 40g daily while delivering micronutrients. Track body composition weekly; if visceral fat creeps back, reintroduce broth immediately.

Real-World Results and Mindset Shift

Patients like John, who reversed Type 2 diabetes, maintained his 40-pound loss for over 18 months by cycling broth during high-stress periods rather than daily use. The core lesson from The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset is rebuilding your metabolism so your body self-regulates. Low-dose tirzepatide cycling gets you there, but real foods, detox support, and movement create the lasting change. Avoid the mistake of medication-only approaches that lead to rebound weight. Listen to your labs, energy, and joint comfort—your body will signal if skipping broth long-term works for your insulin resistance. Most of our middle-income clients with busy lives successfully transition to 2–3 servings weekly while keeping blood pressure and glucose in range.

💬 What the Community Says

Forum users managing insulin resistance alongside the 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset show mixed experiences with long-term broth use. Many report easier maintenance when keeping 2–3 weekly servings, noting steadier energy and fewer cravings compared to complete elimination. A vocal group of beginners with joint pain and hormonal shifts says skipping broth entirely led to stalled progress or minor regain after 6 months, prompting them to reintroduce it. Others with packed schedules praise collagen powder substitutes as a practical swap that fits their lifestyle without daily simmering. Debates often center on cost—insurance rarely covers programs, so middle-income members debate whether broth is essential or optional once labs normalize. Lived experiences highlight that those tracking fasting insulin closely tend to cycle rather than quit, while complete beginners feel overwhelmed by one more food rule. Overall sentiment leans toward personalization over strict rules, with most agreeing non-scale victories like better mobility matter more than perfect adherence.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Can I just skip the broth for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) for pe. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/can-i-just-skip-the-broth-for-long-term-maintenance-not-just-short-term-for-people-with-insulin-resistance
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ How to love myself while in the process of losing the weight for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Can I use Bears Head (Hericium americanum) in place of Lions Mane and how it connects to gut health and inflammation while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Does your doc order regular blood tests and how it connects to gut health and inflammation for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Does anyone else feel like they are living life at 50% and the role of cortisol and stress hormones during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Thyroiditis pain - how long and treatment — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Bio-Individuality — The understanding that every patient’s metabolic journey is unique, requiring a personalized approach to dosing and diet… ▸ Oura data shows high physiological stress, skipped period after Keto break and sickness. Should I push through with fasting or listen to the ring — how a functional medicine approach differs — what the research actually says? ▸ How do i not compare myself to others when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ I’m looking into possibly going grain free and I was wondering if it was just as healthy as doing keto or paleo when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Opinions/Knowledge welcomed! Sub clinical hypothyroidism & perimenopause- what’s what — how a functional medicine approach differs and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Homemade bacon - are curing salts required — what most people get wrong about this — what the research actually says? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… ▸ Dizzy feeling plus high blood pressure and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Can i Fast for autophagy for loose skin without losing anymore weight — what most people get wrong about this while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Why does giving advice to others about mental health feel so much easier than following the same advice for yourself when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Switching from Levothyroxine to ERFA (NDT) – Advice on sourcing in Europe/UK — how a functional medicine approach differs for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Which needle length and gauge: what to track and how to measure progress for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ So if you're spacing out your shots - what are y'all doing with extra injectors: best practices and common mistakes to avoid while doing intermittent fasting? 📖 The Clark Protocol — Our evidence-based framework that combines clinical nurse practitioner expertise with personal experience to solve the o… ▸ Going for my first 36 hours. Any tips and how it connects to gut health and inflammation if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Which birds havn't you seen yet if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Should i really be aiming for 45 zone 2 minutes per day for fat loss when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Rebound Weight Gain — The common 'yo-yo' effect caused by high-dose, continuous GLP-1 use; we prevent this through strategic cycling and metab… ▸ Anyone had improvement in symptoms after already eating a clean plant based diet and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ How to love myself while in the process of losing the weight for long-term maintenance (not just short-term): what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ What do you do when you’re having a difficult time functioning- especially at work — evidence-based answer for CFP patients while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Used old Mounjaro pen by mistake - should I be worried specifically for women over 40 — what the research actually says? ▸ Fixing a skinny fat physique with just diet and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Metabolic Stall — A plateau in weight loss often caused by hidden inflammation or hormonal adaptation, which we break using our specific 7… ▸ How to gain weight on an anti inflammatory diet-macros while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Building muscle with the Paleo diet when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ OMAD hunger is not getting easier after four weeks, is this just not for me and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Tirzepatide — A dual-acting medication targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, providing a more comprehensive metabolic signal than si… ▸ How do you Had someone tell me I was “thin” for the first time in my LIFE specifically for women over 40? ▸ Traveling with IBS-D to a 5-day conference in San Diego: how do you manage food during the weight loss plateau phase for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Instead of focusing on how being overweight can be healthy, why isn’t society focusing on the fact that most of the food we consume is literally designed to be over consumed for people with insulin resistance and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Vomited at new dose, will it happen again next week and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ So if you're spacing out your shots - what are y'all doing with extra injectors: best practices and common mistakes to avoid if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ What do you do when you’re having a difficult time functioning- especially at work and the role of cortisol and stress hormones: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Satiety Signal — The biological 'off switch' for hunger that our protocol restores by healing the gut and balancing blood sugar levels. ▸ What do you do when you’re having a difficult time functioning- especially at work — evidence-based answer for CFP patients for people with insulin resistance? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Eyelid myokymia/twitching caused by oral progesterone — what does the research actually say and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? ▸ Has anyone lost weight on this diet on a low-carb or ketogenic diet: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carnivore is still feasible while doing intermittent fasting while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Research on Peptides for Nerve Regeneration and Ligament Repair if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) — A hormone that, when combined with GLP-1, enhances the body’s ability to break down fat and manage blood sugar levels mo… ▸ Chosen foods avocado oil, should I be sauteeing my veggies in it for people with insulin resistance for people with insulin resistance? ▸ How does messes with autophagy after a weight loss plateau on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ What a year it has been if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Does anyone else’s health anxiety get MUCH worse at night — what most people get wrong about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📖 Insulin Resistance — A condition where your cells stop responding to insulin, locking fat in storage; our protocol is designed to unlock thes… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Why does giving advice to others about mental health feel so much easier than following the same advice for yourself when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ What is everyone eating to break their fast and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ How long did it take to find success and how it connects to gut health and inflammation for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Oura data shows high physiological stress, skipped period after Keto break and sickness. Should I push through with fasting or listen to the ring — how a functional medicine approach differs on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Lost weight then gained it back on keto: best practices and common mistakes to avoid for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ What do you do when you’re having a difficult time functioning- especially at work — evidence-based answer for CFP patients and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Why does I lost 45 pounds in 6 months without any exercise during the weight loss plateau phase? 📖 Nutrient Density — Prioritizing foods that provide maximum vitamins and minerals per calorie to satisfy the brain and end the cycle of hidd… ▸ Why does Guyz need some advice , should I go on a cut to improve insulin resistance? Reducing body fat is the key and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels?