Nice to meet you. We’re Dylan and Andrea, also known as The BBQ Diet. We’re a married couple who met in law school and are both practicing lawyers. Our diet is primarily BBQ meats that we smoke ourselves in our backyard. Andrea grew up in North Carolina and Dylan has roots in Texas, so BBQ sauce runs in our veins.
2) How did you eat before Carnivore.
Andrea was a vegetarian for 9 years during her teenage and college years. Before that, she ate a typical Standard American Diet (SAD). Dylan ate a mostly SAD diet throughout his life, with some brief forays into vegetarianism and veganism.
Dylan was the first of us to experiment with a ketogenic diet. He learned about keto from a bodybuilding perspective as an easy way to cut weight. Andrea was originally very skeptical (and not a fan of the keto breath). Around that time, we started learning about zero-carb and the Carnivore Diet. We listened to Dr. Shawn Baker’s first interview with Joe Rogan. We were intrigued and began doing some research of our own. At the end of 2016, we decided we would try the keto diet, this time together, as a New Year’s resolution. We originally planned to eat keto for 2-3 months until we cut some weight. At that point, we were going to ramp up our weightlifting routine and go back to carbs to bulk.
After a couple of months, we were in love with keto. Andrea cured lifetime issues with hypoglycemia and mild epilepsy. We both felt amazing, with tons of energy and a no more brain fog at work. We were able to begin incorporating fasting into our routine, which we loved. We continued doing research and learning more and more about the low-carb way of eating. We became more and more convinced that keto was an optimal way to eat.
After 2.5 months of eating a keto diet, we went to a family reunion. We had lost a bit of weight and decided it was time to execute our plan: quit keto and begin bulking and lifting heavy with carbs. We thought it would be too hard and awkward to keep up the keto diet around family and while traveling. We spent the reunion eating the carbs we thought we missed during our 2.5 months of keto. We felt awful. We got major sugar hangovers. We lost our ability to fast. Hunger came back. We hadn’t been hungry for months. We suddenly remembered what it was like to be hangry, to have food cravings, and to be a slave to constant eating.
So we decided to go back to a ketogenic diet indefinitely. We looked into keto bodybuilding and bulking and decided to try it. In our research, we kept running across the Carnivore diet and how it was superior to keto in some ways. We started following some Carnivores on Instagram and becoming interested in Carnivore for gaining muscle and getting some additional marginal health benefits.
3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
After researching it obsessively, we tried Carnivore for a couple months completely strict. We enjoyed the strict diet and didn’t mind the restriction. However, we did miss some things. Since then, we have oscillated between periods of strict Carnivore and periods where we eat about 95% animal products and 5% keto additions like vegetables, sauces, keto desserts, etc.
4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
We are lucky to not have any serious health issues. Therefore, we do not need to be very strict with our diet. We do not notice any adverse health effects from occasionally eating things like dairy, some vegetables, fruits, nuts, or artificial sweeteners. Some vegetables do give us some issues like bloating or gas and we avoid those. We avoid processed foods and processed sugar at all costs. These things make us feel awful when we try to incorporate them again.
On workdays, we eat one-meal-a-day (OMAD). This saves us a ton of time. We don’t need to wake up earlier to make breakfast and eat breakfast. We don’t have to worry about complicated meal prep or packing lunches. We can work through lunch breaks and leave work early. Then we get to come home and feast all night on delicious smoked meats. We absolutely love how simple and time-saving it is. On the weekends, we usually eat more meals because we have more time.
5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
Andrea always suffered from hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and low blood pressure. If she didn’t eat every few hours, she would get dizzy, nauseous, and eventually pass out. She always carried snacks with her, just in case. She would get way hangrier than your average person because when she got hungry and her blood sugar dropped, she began feeling extremely sick. Since going keto/Carnivore, she has been completely cured of these issues. She can now easily fast until dinner. Longer fasts are not an issue, either. We have both done multiple 24-hour and 48-hour fasts. We have done a handful of 72-hour fasts and one 96-hour fast. Andrea can do these extended fasts without experiencing any of the symptoms she used to experience when she would go without eating for a mere 4-5 hours.
We have both experienced body composition improvements on the Carnivore diet. We have both gained weight but it seems to be almost all muscle. Some say that you gain body mass in the form of bone density, etc. This could be. All we know is that we gained, but it does not seem to be fat.
The Carnivore Diet helps us to feel our best while being so simple and satisfying. Because we are both lawyers, we are very busy. We have very little free time. The Carnivore Diet simplifies our entire life. We grocery shop about once a month. When we do, we do not have complicated grocery lists. We go straight to the meat department and buy up what is on sale to freeze. Every week, we pull out what we want to eat from the freezer. Cooking becomes extremely simple. We usually smoke 15-20 pounds of meat on the weekend and then eat that throughout the week. We come home, heat up leftover barbecue, and eat. We supplement with things that are easy to prepare quickly, like eggs, ground beef, cheese, and heavy cream.
We love everything we eat. Smoked meat, steaks, eggs, cheese. It’s all delicious. We never get tired of eating these things. We never get bored. We’re excited to eat every time we sit down to a plate of meat.
6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
We experience some judgment from our families. They worry that we are being unhealthy.
Occasionally, we want to attend a social engagement or have foods we used to love. This isn’t a huge negative for us, though. We are lucky to not have any serious health conditions that would be affected by a cheat. For Thanksgiving at Mom’s house, or when friends are going out, if we want, we just “cheat” and enjoy the meal.
7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
We both try to exercise frequently. Dylan does Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. We have been in the process of moving, starting new jobs, and buying a house for the past 6 months. We have been transient. It has made it hard to commit to any gym or serious lifting program. We prefer to lift heavy but have been settling for an inconsistent kettlebell routine while we’re moving around. Next month, we are investing in a home squat rack and some other home gym amenities. We are very excited to get back into a consistent lifting schedule.
8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Do it! You can do anything for 30 days. If it doesn’t work out for you, you only spent a month trying it out. You have the chance that Carnivore will cure you of some issues or conditions that you thought were chronic or incurable. You will likely see many benefits like clearer skin, more energy, and better brain function. You have a lot to gain and not really anything to lose.
If it would help you, try going keto first. Keto is much more manageable at first. You don’t have to give up everything you love right away. We think going keto first has some advantages. Keto is generally higher fat and can help you adapt to burning fat quicker.
Whether you go straight to Carnivore, or try a low-carb or keto protocol first, be sure to give your body plenty of time to adjust. You will likely experience some negative symptoms at first, like digestive issues or tiredness, while your body is adjusting. This is normal. Just push through and try to experience what it is like to become fully adapted to this way of eating. Drink plenty of water in the first couple of weeks and consider supplementing with electrolytes. Research the “Keto Flu.” Most of your negative symptoms (cramps, aches, headaches, lethargy, etc) are likely caused by a water or electrolyte imbalance.
The reason that everyone recommends a very strict first month is because cheating in that first month can affect your adaptation to burning fat and make your adjustment symptoms a lot worse. If you cheat, you will not be breaking your addiction to carbs and sugar. You will be continuing to feed the addiction. Instead of experiencing a release from constant cravings, they will likely persist.
It takes about 4-6 weeks to fully adapt to burning fat for fuel. Do not try fasting before you are fully adapted. Do not judge how you’re feeling on the diet until you experience full adaptation.
Once you are adapted to being in ketosis, you can try adding in some foods you miss, if you like.
9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
We don’t think that Carnivore will ever be mainstream but we do hope it will become more normalized and accepted. Unfortunately, there are so many bogus fad diets out there that most people are skeptical of anything labeled as a “diet.” Therefore, we think many people will continue to view Keto and Carnivore with skepticism until they try it out for themselves.
Keto and Carnivore are truly different from other “diets” because your entire body metabolism changes. You switch from burning carbs for energy to burning fat for fuel in ketosis. This shift is accompanied by myriad hormonal and neurological changes that do not occur on any other fad “diet.” Perhaps if enough people experience ketosis for themselves, the word will get out that these ways of eating are not “just another diet.” We hope so!
10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
Follow us at @thebbqdiet on Instagram!!
If you’d like to get in touch or ask us any questions, Instagram is the best place. Send us a DM there or leave a comment!
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
I am an almost 40 (in June) year old yoga teacher and mom to a severely autistic little girl living in Atlanta. I practice yoga and meditation daily to manage my chronic stress, but parenting a special needs child can be unrelenting on your adrenals and overall wellness.
2) How did you eat before Carnivore.
When I began teaching yoga seven years ago I followed a strict vegan diet. I felt pretty good initially as a vegan, but I began to notice that I was always injured, exhausted and got chronic sinus infections and colds. After 2 years of a strict vegan diet I added in chicken & eggs and immediately felt better. Over the last 5 years I have experimented (mostly unsuccessfully!) with everything from the bone broth diet to vegan cleanses to manage my weight and hormonal issues.
3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
During the holidays of 2018 I got an ultrasound due to pain, and we discovered ovarian cysts. My blood work was also sub-optimal with low testosterone and progesterone, and a saliva test confirmed that I had low cortisol (major adrenal fatigue!). My stress level was at an all time high, and I had some very stubborn weight that I was carrying due to stress.
A good friend of mine is also a doctor, and she had been following the Carnivore diet for 5 months and recommended it to me!
4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
I eat lots of grass-fed red meat, eggs & very small amounts of chicken.
5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
My bloodwork has improved to reflect normal levels of testosterone, progesterone and my insulin resistance (PCOS) is no longer! An ultrasound confirmed that my ovarian cysts are gone, my cortisol has also returned to normal levels – and I have lost weight. My deep sleep (the stage of sleep where the body performs deep healing and restoration) has also increased from less than an hour per night – to as much as 2.5 hours per night!
6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
Honestly – I love the simplicity of the carnivore diet, and the only negative is that when I eat out – I have to order 2 meals to get enough meat!
7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
Due to my severe adrenal fatigue, I have not done any exercise other than walking and yoga. Now that my levels are all in a good place, I am easing back into the gym and using an Oura ring to track my HRV.
8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Don’t wait any longer to get your health back! I have struggled with my health for years, and I am so grateful every day to wake up and feel good!
9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
I think this will take a long time, and many doctors who are doing the diet themselves (such as Shawn Baker & Paul Berry) will continue to be vocal and advocate for the movement in the public eye.
10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
Stress management and getting your cortisol under control will greatly improve your ability to follow this diet! I am on Instagram as @Carnivore.Yogi
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
My name is Scarlett, I’m 27 years old. I’m currently at 10 months keto, 8 of that on the carnivore diet.
2) How did you eat before Carnivore.
I grew up with the S.A.D but was always very interested in health in my teen years so I lived gluten and dairy free for a few years to try and manage my inflammation and weight, very much ended up in a frustrating yo yo dieting cycle. At about 23, I came across and fell for the plant based /vegan hype and decided to try that to heal my body, I did 4 years of mainly raw fruitarian before finally having enough and turning to keto, then carnivore, for help.
3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
A vegan diet left me off worse than I started, I ended up weighing more, losing muscle, constantly bloated, fighting major candida issues and very high levels of inflammation in my body. My mental health declined severely, anxiety, panic attacks and depression ruled my life. My tongue was thick white coated. My skin looked absolutely awful and embarrassing, I was definitely not getting the collagen I needed! I was left more malnourished than when I started!
I finally turned to keto for help, however shortly in I realized I was still having major inflammatory reactions to many keto approved foods, it was then I found carnivore!
4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
Simplicity! I consume mainly beef and pork, mostly ground beef and pork belly. I do supplement organ meat capsules by Ancestral Supplements as I have never been fond of the taste and yes it works! I have seen huge mental benefits since including them!
5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
Everything! I’ve found a deeper level of nourishment and health than I could have ever hoped for. My anxiety is gone, depression lifted, I’ve built muscle and dropped a lot of body fat. The biggest benefit has been the inflammation in my body vanishing. My skin looks amazing; I never even thought it could look so good! Every day I feel fulfilled, positive, and completely nourished, I’ve never felt this way before or knew it was possible.
6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
I will have to answer none, I think for some people it might be too socially restrictive, but I do not feel that way, especially after years of a vegan diet!
7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
I will be starting an exercise regime soon, I’ve been focused more on nourishing my body, correcting years of undernourishment at this point. I am pretty active at work however and find I have steady consistent energy.
8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Just go for it! I think keto was a nice transition step for me so for those really on the fence I think it’s a good start, but you’ll really only truly find the deep healing benefits on carnivore. If your beginning I recommend following all the #meatheals #carnivorediet #yestomeat #zerocarb posts you can on Instagram it’s very inspiring!
9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
Hmm, I’ve seen carnivore grow so much just in the last two months I would hope so!
10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
I post quite often about my success and progress with carnivore on Instagram @zc.love.faith.horses.huskies
I highly recommend following @shawnbaker1967 , @healthy_with_nicole and @carnivorebrit
Authors note – can’t believe she didn’t recommend me @ketogenicendurance haha.
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
My name is Landon; I’m 30 years old. I live in Northern Utah and work in Salt Lake City. I love hunting, fishing, and camping. I was born with a heart condition that has been a thorn in my side. I was diagnosed at 18 years old with Bipolar 1 and generalized anxiety.
2) How did you eat before Carnivore.
I ate the Standard American Diet for the most part. I tried to eat a normal healthy diet off and on and always failed. I have tried Low Fat, Vegetarian, Vegan, Herbalife, Freelife, Slim Fast and nothing worked. When I was in the hospital for surgery or psych ward stays, they always told me to limit my meat intake and to eat more fruits, veggies and whole grains. I was 380 pounds and in July of 2017 I tried Keto for a few months and it was better than anything I had tried. I lost 60 pounds and was doing great until I went to my old primary care and he freaked out on me about my diet and freaked me out. I went back to eating a “normal” healthy diet. I would stick to keto or carnivore for a week or two and then go back to eating regular food. I couldn’t stay consistent because I didn’t have the will power anymore. It was a terrible decision. I was depressed and had a lot of anxiety. December 31st I was back up to 360 pounds and disgusted with myself. I had always been a big kid, but this was ridiculous.
3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
In April of 2018 I developed an issue that Doctors still can’t pinpoint. I was having severe chest pain and my arms and legs would go numb. I would get brain fog, fatigue, dizzy spells, chronic headaches, couldn’t sleep, and my concentration was all over the place. I was very sensitive to light which affected my work life and would get dull pain in my jaw. I was in and out of the Doctors office and emergency rooms. They had no clue what was happening and said to just come back if it gets worse. I would get sent home feeling just as terrible as when I went in. I was spending thousands for no answers. My blood pressure was high, and my blood sugar was creeping back up. I was in and out of psych wards and mental health facilities. I had lots of medications for my head and my heart. I had really bad sleep apnea and snored so loud my siblings growing up would throw things at me to get me to stop. I was just sick of getting pills that didn’t work and just getting sicker. I decided to just try things my way.
4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
I didn’t want to get bored and have any temptation with junk. So on January 1st of this year, I switched. I would eat brisket, ribs, bacon, burgers, wings, cheese, raw milk, crab, lobster, salmon, deer, elk, etc. If it came from an animal in any way, I was eating it. I don’t count any calories or macros. I usually eat one meal a day, but sometimes I ate sooner if I was hungry. I don’t restrict myself. I eat like a king and love it. I drink a lot of raw A2 milk, and have done two raw milk fasts. I used to take Omeprazole daily, and I finally was able to completely stop it. I now use HCL and Raw milk to fix my stomach issues.
5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
I restarted my Carnivore journey on January 1st. My blood pressure on January 2nd was 163/98 with a BPM of 84. Today it was 121/73 with a BPM of 68. I’ve lost 59 pounds so far this year and a total of 79. I have lost 7 inches from my stomach and 5 from my chest. My blood sugar ranges from 65 – 85. I no longer sleep with my cpap and am as quiet as a mouse. I’m off all my Bipolar and heart medication. The only pill I take is HCL. I’m happy for once and feel pretty great. I haven’t had any episodes for a few months and have been able to stay out of the hospital. I still don’t know what has caused all those issues, but I know that eating 99.99% meat keeps my symptoms away. My cardiologist is happy with my weight loss, and my heart is as healthy as it’s ever been. She knows about my diet and is completely fine with it.
6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
None really. I go out to eat, and people give me weird looks for not wanting sides. So I usually get the sides and give them to the people I am with. I rarely eat out though, so it doesn’t affect me much. I just prefer to make my food.
7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
I do not. I am going to start soon. I am now 1 pound away from being under 300 pounds and feel that I can exercise without feeling like I am dying now.
8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Give it a solid 3 months. I didn’t stick to it, and it was horrible. It won’t work if you only do it half the time. I lost 0 pounds my first two weeks. It was beyond frustrating. I knew I had messed up my body, and it needed to heal. I stuck with it and then I lost 29 pounds the next two weeks. I don’t consider it a diet. I don’t starve myself like I did on my other diets. I eat until full and eat amazing food! If you give it a few weeks, it becomes very easy. Read and research for yourself. There is lots of information available online. It will help you tremendously.
9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
Sadly no, people have been told that meat is terrible and it’s going to take a lot to change that view. I ate like my old cardiologist wanted me to because it was heart healthy. Now I know that couldn’t be further from the truth. I still have brief moments of doubt. It’s hard to go against everything you have ever known, especially when your heart is involved. Luckily I have very supportive friends and family. They don’t eat like me, but they respect my lifestyle.
10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
You can find me on Instagram @dino_the_carnivore and I am always available to talk or help with any questions you might have.
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
They are launching in the UK on the 19th April 2019
Check them out: Website, Instagram or Email them at cheddarbox@cheesies.co.uk
It winds me up a bit about how few options people in the UK have for Keto or Carnivore. I follow a lot of people in America and they always seem to have more options especially in the Keto & Carnivore snack department.
So it is good to see Cheesies popping up in the UK. So I wish them the best of luck.
This snack on paper looks very appealing to anyone on a Low Carb High Fat diet.
They are all under 0.1g of Carbs per 100, and just normal cheese and salt. No added crap or preservatives. I often get approached by companies to review their food or supplements. Most of the time I have to turn them down, because even though they have been promoted as health foods. They will often have vegetable oils in them or far to many artificial sweeteners. So it was a pleasant surprise when they set me the below specifications.
So on my Contemporary Carnivore Diet, I can definitely eat these and I love cheese. All positive so far, however if they taste rubbish there isn’t much point to them is there.
…………. and
…………. they taste pretty good haha.
They remind me of the taste of those little circle disc cheese biscuits things that you always get at a kids party. That’s a good thing because I used to love those, in the good old days before I knew biscuits were terrible for you on multiple levels.
The 3 flavours are distinct and you can tell they are different cheeses. I have had and enjoy all the cheeses that the Cheesies are made from, so I liked all of them. If a blue cheese version came out, I might give that a miss! So if you fancy trying the Cheesies out I would recommend simply buying the one that you would buy if it were a block of cheese. Easy. The texture and feel of them is a bit like popcorn, which is clearly something they intended. I don’t know how they do it, but it works.
The packets I got were 60g in weight. This is more than enough. I tried to smash a whole pack in, like a packet of crisps. I failed. So I am guessing this is why they come in resealable packs, so you don’t give yourself the cheese sweats. You can come back to them later.
Overall this product has good potential. It also fits my lifestyle as I am often away camping or out walking all day. So a tasty high fat snack could be useful to me.
Hi! I’m Alma-Jade, originally Swiss/British, and currently living in the Netherlands doing a masters in Communication, Health and Life Science.
2) How did you eat before Carnivore.
My dietary path before carnivore has been very colourful and diverse! I’ll start from the beginning and present my life in chronological diet format. At 13 I turned vegan and then followed a low-fat, fruit-based raw vegan diet (80/10/10 style, which refers to the macros: 80% carbohydrates, 10% protein and 10% fat, a framework put forth by Doug Graham) until around the age of 20 years old, at which point I was diagnosed with Grave’s Disease (autoimmune thyroid condition) and PCOS. The raw vegan movement and vegan movement in general is like an echo chamber where you only encounter similar beliefs that perpetuate the reinforcement of existing views in a way that excludes alternative or more complete truths. It has grown even more since I was involved in it, with leaders advocating a “fully raw” vegan diet to millions of people, especially appealing to young women at an impressionable age like myself, without disclosing the potential detriment that so many experience. The lure of a “Garden of Eden” diet can be very attractive, making it seem like cultivated, hybridised and modern fruit and vegetables are the most nutrient-dense foods, and that all animal foods and all of animal agriculture are eco-terrorism and the cause of our chronic disease epidemic. Complexity gets thrown away for black-and-white thinking, and there is no room for nuance. It is very hard to see the label when you are in the jar. Grave’s disease was the tipping point and last straw that forced me to snap out of my brain-washed vegan dogmatic state and start the path of re-introducing high-quality animal foods in order to restore my health. I had already had many, many red flags along the way, including blood tests showing severe deficiencies and metabolic disorders, my teeth chipping as I ate, which led to the need for a root canal for a dead tooth and multiple fillings. After a few years, I had developed deep ridges in my nails, skin issues (random rashes when eating fruit), a yellow tint to my skin (high levels of beta carotene circulating in my bloodstream not being absorbed – nor converted to the retinol vitamin A due to lack of dietary fat that my immune system and thyroid sorely needed!), chronic fatigue (HPA axis disorder), depression, anxiety, chronically low mood and apathy, lack of motivation for life, high body fat percentage despite a high level of training, and then all of the symptoms leading up to the autoimmune: hair thinning, insomnia, food reactions and random intolerance’s to foods that would come and go, systemic inflammation, joint pain, gut distention and IBS symptoms as well as an indication of an inability to absorb nutrients from food, as well as arrhythmia (heartbeat irregularities). One of the most alarming symptoms to experience was tachycardia, where my resting heart rate was above 100 bpm. This came as quite a shock, as I had been training for long distance endurance triathlon, with a resting heart rate under 50. I had to stop training because anything above walking felt like my heart was ripping out of my chest (it’s a very peculiar feeling, not like being out of breath).
At one point I was in such gut distress that I turned up at the local emergency hospital asking for an X-Ray. It showed severe intestinal impaction – my intestines in a state of complete distress. Vegans will tell you that meat rots in the colon, yet here I was fully raw vegan with a completely backed up colon! I believe this was due to the nutrient deficiencies that stopped peristalsis as well as compromised detoxification pathways. Within the first year of veganism, I also lost my menstrual cycle, which is critical for bone density and is an indicator of general health. I didn’t get it back until reintroducing animal products and finding balance again years later, with a firm foundation of proper deep nutrition. Yet, in the raw vegan community, these were all just “detox symptoms” or not diet-related – or worse yet, as in the case of amenorrhea, seen as a good thing. In my mind, I was following the ultimate diet for human health.
How I wish I knew about this way of eating way back then!! From the point of “divorcing” veganism, I struggled with psychologically with my vegan biases, and then physically with impulsive binge eating (whole foods like almond butter, avocado, coconut, fruit) and confusion over what to eat as it seemed that my body was in such a poor functional state that it didn’t react well to or know how to handle any food, yet it was deprived of essential nutrition. In the beginning, the moment I started eating animal fats, my depleted body would CRAVE them in huge amounts in order to restore some sort of nutritional status, and to nourish the nervous system that requires adequate dietary cholesterol, DHA and EPA from animal fats. I ate sticks of raw butter, bone marrow, sardines, liver – all in huge quantities, but it never felt like enough. However, as our ability to break down fat declines if we are not eating fat over time by down regulation of digestive lipases (enzymes that break down fat), my body, liver and gallbladder were not used to handling dietary fat in any appreciable quantity. My metabolic and hormonal health was also imbalanced, which caused me to crave these nutrient-dense foods but not be in a position to optimally digest and absorb the nutrients I needed. In the beginning, I was also still eating high fruit as well as a high amount of plant fats like nuts and seeds. The combination of high sugar, high omega 6 fat intake and being insulin resistant prolonged a systematically inflamed state, impeded further healing and as well as presenting its own issues. It felt like I was swinging out of balance and out of control in the other direction. I would also swing back and forth between plant-based (but with cooked whole foods and supplements like spirulina) and a wholefoods “paleo-esque” omnivorous diet, as all my prior conditioning and information sources were heavily vegan-biased, and I wanted so badly to make a plant-based diet work for me as in my head it was still the “ideal”. Cooked plant protein sources like organic quinoa, legumes and beans made me so acutely unwell that I eventually learned that as much as I wanted to eat a “normal, balanced” diet, it wasn’t going to be an option. By that time, I think the combination of intestinal permeability and inflammation induced a high immunogenic response to any plant food.
As I continued my learning, expanded my research, and got more in touch with my body’s biofeedback signals, I became more specific in my approach to address root causes. I slowly came to realize the other half of the story. With a more complete understanding and continual questioning, I was able to let go of old beliefs and start making real progress in my health and healing. I adapted my own version of an AIP (Autoimmune Paleo Protocol) with influences from Weston A. Price. It was quite a journey to get my autoimmune condition in remission, not only from a dietary perspective as that worked really well when I got dialed in, but from a medical perspective as the doctors I worked with would not accept that I did not take medication. The autoimmune diagnosis coincided with an emotional family trauma that I am positive catalysed the expression of disease, with the pathological physiological foundation providing the perfect recipe. From a dietary perspective, I used two approaches: the first time, a meat and leafy greens diet (whole animal approach, plenty of organ meat and traditional fats like bone marrow, but cutting out any nuts, seeds and limiting starchy vegetables and fruit – but I struggled with cravings and would end up eating fruit or starch and having mini flare-ups of symptoms) managed to get my condition into remission, and the second time after a relapse, 1 month on raw, grass-fed milk worked “faster than any medical treatment protocol” (words from my endocrinologist!). It took 1.5 years of dedicated, focused work to get my head above water enough to feel remotely functional. Within this time, I documented my 8-month “Primal Prep” series where I strategically leaned down to around 13% body fat while reaching the highest level of health I had experienced up to that point (natural bodybuilding and weight lifting is a personal passion :). My nutrition was extremely dialed in and consisted of mostly nose to tail animal products (plenty of liver, beef, eggs, bone marrow and the like), but I was still plant-heavy in terms of food volume and consuming large amounts of fibre in the form of leafy green vegetables, seasonal non-starchy vegetables, fermented vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables as the base of my diet, with the occasional sweet potato refeed day (which never ended well!). Despite getting in remission and very lean, things were still not fully stable, and I would experience symptom relapses, anxiety and still had persistent digestive distress.
Around 3 months before hearing of the carnivore, zero carb approach, I had one last go at a plant-based keto protocol (I know, I know, I was a die-hard vegan at heart – or more like, in my head. Except according to some, you were never a vegan once you leave the cult!). I swapped out animal fats for avocados and coconut (which I have since identified as no-go foods that trigger joint pain and inflammation, but stayed nut- and seed-free) and upped my cruciferous vegetable intake to Rhonda Patrick levels. Depressive fog, irritability, pain, severe gut distress, amenorrhea and anxiety came back in full force, as well as gaining 10kg (fat, not muscle!). I felt like an inflamed mess again!
Finally, after hearing Shawn Baker on Joe Rogan podcast, something just clicked and made sense. I loved my veggies and avocados, but as I realized, they really didn’t love me back – and I didn’t need them to survive! It made me curious to research more, and I came across PaleoMedicina, a research group out of Hungary using an exclusively animal fat, meat and offal diet to cure autoimmune and internal conditions. In March of 2018, I did a 30-day “carnivore” experiment, doing the strict version of just beef and water. After the initial protocol, I expanded to a ‘whole animal’ nose to tail approach, and still cycle in intermittent “resets” of a simpler beef/red meat only periods with no eggs or coffee. This kind of rotation works well for me, and allows me to work in caffeine cycling naturally. Fasting 12-16h daily has become quite natural the longer I have been eating carnivore, but I take a relaxed approach to it.
From the time of writing (March 2019), it has been a year on this way of eating, and the longer I go, the more simple ways are what I seem to come back to.
In short, I have been eating an all natural, ”clean” whole foods diet since I was 13. However, being exclusively plant based wasn’t sufficient nutrition, and my body became depleted. When omnivore in transition, I hadn’t eliminated the triggers of inflammation and problematic foods that were perpetuating my immune over stimulation and systemic inflammation. It has to be a double edged approach: 1) remove kryptonite and what is toxic to my body and mind, the stuff that was taking away from detoxification and regenerative processes, and 2) add in what is nourishing and that upregulates detoxification processes, nourishes a healthy metabolism, and has the least anti-nutrients with the highest nutrient density. The (nose to tail) carnivore diet naturally does this. What I found was as much as I loved my veggies, they made me sick. Luckily I love my steak, too – and it loves me back!
3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
Desperation! When nothing was working, yet everything I was doing was revolving around getting healthy, I started to question everything. I reached a point where I just wanted to restore my health and feel well. The residual symptoms from Grave’s disease were persistent despite clinical remission, and I still felt unstable with my health. I felt like I had tried everything in the other (plant-based) direction. So what did I have to lose? Nothing, yet I had everything to gain.
I was also attracted to the simplicity of the approach – I had spent enough money, time and energy on elaborate strategies and therapies.
4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
My approach is holistic, intuitive and not rigidly dogmatic (I’ve had enough dogma with veganism!) – I like to frame it as an open-ended adventure, and I am constantly learning and adjusting even within this framework. I am very specific with what I eat, and 99-100% of my nutrition comes from animal foods but it is not out of a sense of obligation to stick to the parameters of an arbitrary label. I like to frame it as I’m specific, not strict. I don’t need discipline to eat this way – quite the opposite in fact, it feels like a luxurious treat every time I sit down to eat! My philosophy is pragmatic in nature, to do what works in the dynamic context I am in. This means I am always open to shift and adjust as needed – but what has happened is that I feel better and better the longer I am eating only animal foods.
That 1% is stuff like unrefined salt, and organic coffee, spices, herbal teas and cacao powder (that I use as a drink with hot water in winter) that I have identified work for me. I consider animal foods to be used as nourishment, and plants to be used as medicine as needed – in small, specific doses for a purpose. I distinguish between cultivated plant foods (like the fruits, vegetables and grains we find in the supermarket) and wild plant foods that could provide hermetic benefit or have their use in a protocol based on rebalancing a person’s bio-individual terrain (like herbs, extracts and bitters). An example of this is raw apple cider vinegar. I used ACV in the beginning before meals to help my digestion and help my liver after all that it has been through! But I do not consider plants where I get the essential nutrients that nourish my body.
As previously mentioned, I started carnivore as a 30-day elimination protocol because I didn’t have anything to lose and my health and food reactions still were not stable. I had just come off a 3 month period of yet another attempt to be more plant-based where I switched my fats over to coconut and avocado and increased my vegetable intake à la Rhonda Patrick, and ended up feeling like I was starting from 0 again – my menstruation stopped, I gained fat, my hunger and cravings increased, my skin broke out in rashes, and my joint and gut pain returned. But I still didn’t blame the veggies! I thought I would do the 30 days and then find which beloved vegetables I tolerated via reintroduction. I was one of those crazy people who loved plain, steamed broccoli! Well, here I am 1 year later and I haven’t looked back 🙂
For me, well-raised red meat is at the centre – I think it suits female biological needs perfectly with the high heme iron and bioavailable micro-nutrients (that are missing in white meat and something like chicken breast, the epitome of a healthy diet!). Lamb and beef are my staples, but I love game, wild fish and seafood like oysters when in season. I think in terms of nutrient-density. I don’t just eat ribeye or steak, I use a variety of cuts, especially meat on the bone for the extra collagen and gelatine, and cooking meat on the bone preserves nutrients, too. I eat organ meat very regularly, my favourites being chicken liver, cow tongue, and sweetbreads (thymus gland); I’ll also poach lamb brain when I can get it, and scramble it with eggs!
At the beginning, I did not eat eggs, and I would advise that for most to start with the strict protocol of meat (including offal) only, especially if recovering from autoimmune issues, so that you can reintroduce and find your own tolerance. However, now I eat them regularly, and I’m lucky enough to have a source for pastured duck and goose eggs! Goose eggs are only available for 3 months out of the year though, so I take full advantage when I can! The yolk of pastured eggs contain phosphatidylcholine, a highly bio-available form of choline, which is a major methyl donor. I had symptoms of extremely poor methylation as a result of long term malnutrition and high homocysteine. Improving methylation requires adequate supply of nutrients like folate, B12, B6, methionine and betaine (a derivative of the amino acid glycine). This may explain why I do better with relatively high amounts of organ meat. I also suspect that (ex) long term vegans coming to this way of eating may also require higher doses of these nutrient-dense foods to make up for methylation impairment and nutrient depletion.
I am also very passionate and mindful about sourcing pastured, locally raised animal foods, and eating the whole animal to provide full-spectrum nutrition that is coherent from a evolutionary perspective of human nutritional needs, as well as alignment with principles of sustainability. The traditional diets of our ancestors paired muscle meat along side organ meat and gelatinous bones and other connective tissue. They ate the whole animal, and this is what I consider “deep nutrition”. I know there are people out there doing mostly muscle meat, and I’m not judging any individuals choices, but personally I have benefited from a nose to tail approach – especially in regard to healing my gut; skin, hair and nail health; and overall energy. Long term, the balance of amino acids from muscle meat, offal, bone and gelatinous cuts, and the unique nutrient profiles of each organ provide an incredibly “balanced” (yes, I said the feared word balance!) approach that takes full advantage of what an animal-based diet has to offer.
5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
Where do I start?!
As you can tell from the evolution of my diet, nothing quite “worked” to feel well and get fully out of pain, inflammation and fatigue. Within the past year my body has regulated, and for the first time I feel in control of my body and well-being. This has been crucial for restoring a sense of self-trust that I had lost when I didn’t feel in control of my health.
The depressive episodes related to poor health that resulted simultaneously from the inflammatory state I was in (cytokine model of depression) but also due to the anxiety that came from managing a chronic condition was honestly the hardest symptom to deal with. The significant improvement in mood, emotional regulation, and overall positive frame and state of mind is the biggest benefit. I feel the most balanced and in control of my health that I have ever felt, from the inside out. I still feel my body has more recovery and healing to do, but I can now trust my body to be able to do what it needs to because it is finally getting what it needs.
My digestion has improved immensely, no more extreme stomach distention, gas or discomfort, and no more undigested food particles in my BMs! My skin, hair and nails have gotten stronger and healthier. Random food reactions have gone away since eliminating triggers (oxalates, salicylates, etc). The only day I was in pain in the past year was due to food poisoning from fish that wasn’t fresh – and I used to have on average 1 day a week where I would have to be in bed due to some flare-up!
Nutrition is but one tiny piece of the health equation, but when it works, everything else seems to click and fall into place. It’s given me hope that I can live a stronger, more resilient, pain-free, functional life and actually feel good in my body and mind. It’s still a process, but I feel like this is the natural set point and birthright of a human being and eating a high-quality, nutrient-dense animal-based diet is a natural part of that.
This creates the space to use my energy for larger pursuits, developments and experiences that before were closed doors because all of my energy was being used merely to be able to get out of bed! I feel deeply grateful on a daily basis.
6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
The negatives that I’ve found are largely negotiable and practical – it can take a while to adjust, get into a good rhythm, find your way of navigating and managing things like food sourcing for optimal quality and affordability, for example. Cost can be an upfront issue, but as I’ve navigated through the months of this WOE, I have found a way to make it work well. I source the majority of my food from local farms and buy in bulk once a week, and pick up things like fresh chicken liver and heart from a local organic butcher. This saves time and money.
There’s the social aspect and resistance from friends and family who are more along the lines of conventional thinking that comes up, of course. I have found the best way to manage this is to allow everyone to have their opinion, and just embody the principles I believe in, and let that speak for itself. If it does come up, I don’t try to convince but engage people in conversations to reach understanding. I find challenging belief systems through offensive attacks futile as it puts people in a defensive state of mind and closes down openness to alternative information. I would rather just be an example of health and kindness that people come to me to ask questions 🙂
7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
I don’t exercise – but I move and I train! I fell in love with weight lifting when I discovered it due to having to stop endurance training after I was diagnosed with Grave’s. Training is like meditation to me, where I can tune into my body and in to the potential we have with bioplasticity, to shape and create our body, our biology and our minds. I can get so enamored with heavy compound lifting at low reps that it is all I do – and doing to same stimulus over and over isn’t the best thing for progression! It is also very taxing on the nervous system. So I have really made it a priority to programme my training mindfully with a flexible structure that still allows for intuitive flow while getting stronger in a variety of rep ranges. My lifting is set up mainly to prioritize both strength and physique development, and I separate my 4 intense lifting sessions a week into 2 focused on strength (low reps, heavy weight, lower volume) and 2 focused on hypertrophy (higher rep ranges, lighter weight, high volume). I focus on basic compound moves like sumo deadlifts, barbell hip thrust, barbell glute bridges, squats, lunges, weighted chin ups and pullups, presses, pulls and carries. Now that I am training for a mountain Spartan Race in the summer, I add in sprints once a week, and max incline walks of 5-30 minutes 4x a week. I have found it no problem building muscle without carbs. The higher protein than keto has been incredibly beneficial, and I find I recover faster from lifting. Having a history of thyroid and autoimmune issues has made me very cautious about HIIT or overdoing cardio, but I am excited to see where I can take my training and fitness.
8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Keep it simple! Many come from a background of health issues, and managing a chronic condition is stressful enough. If it is fear of the unknown holding you back, break it down by making it manageable. Instead of looking at it as a lifelong commitment you can’t go back on once you’ve started, just take 1 step in experimenting with it in whatever way resonates for you, and what is most appropriate for your situation. This may be in the form of a 10 to 30 day experiment, or 90 days if you have chronic conditions to heal that may require more time to resolve. Look at it as an experiment and as an opportunity to learn about your body – the right mindset can be crucial.
I would also mention that depending on where you are coming from, the transition can suck! Especially if not fat-adapted or haven’t yet build metabolic flexibility through things like a ketogenic diet or fasting, the body will go through an adaptation phase that doesn’t really feel all that pleasant. Instead of being discouraged, trust that this will pass and ultimately you will come out the other side feeling operating than before. Factors like sufficient electrolytes and eating enough can help – salted bone broth is great to have on hand. Respect your body and trust in the process its ability to heal.
Also, on the topic of transition, just like with physiological transition as the body adapts, I feel there is also a psychological transition. In the beginning, I think many seek to mimic patterns of food behavior from before, like creating recipes to not get “bored”, or living off poor quality bacon, cured meat and cheese just because it fits the label “carnivore”. I see a similar parallel in the paleo movement with the “paleo approved” sweeteners and almond flour everything recipes, and basically eating an omega 6 and starch heavy diet and wondering why they are still inflamed. I don’t think there is any replacement for fresh meat and offal as the bulk of the diet. Food quality equally becomes important, as conventional bacon and cured meats are often filled with nitrates, glucose syrup, additives and conservators. So my extra tip is to always read the ingredients label, even on meat products!
9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
More and more people are getting sick, with chronic disease the number one cause of mortality worldwide. I see more people let down by the conventional allopathic medical system and looking for alternatives to heal themselves. This is where I think the carnivore approach will thrive.
Our culture has taken such a deep dive off the cliff of disconnect from what is real, whole and natural that fundamental truths like the importance of animal fats and protein for human health, and the importance of well-managed ruminant animals for soil health has been vilified instead of celebrated. The culmination of decades of mindless consumption and industrial development going in a direction that works against nature has led us to ecological and human health degradation. We have reached this tipping point where we need massive, radical change in order to restore balance. I see things going in 2 ways evolving from the standard, destructive conventional status quo regime: there is the plant-based narrative that is being pushed as a way to save the planet, animals and human health, but is based on partial truths that actually lead us down this very synthetic road – think lab grown meat, supplements, and a world where plastic is chosen over leather and to have a “balanced” vegan diet means dependence of a fossil-fueled globalized food system of imported foods – or this Utopian “Garden of Eden” ideals of living off the land but eating mostly fruit and greens (health tends to degrade much quicker in this case). Both take us further away from our ancestral heritage and what is truly natural and needed. Long term, I would foresee this resulting in more nutritional deficiencies and metabolic dysregulation.
Then we have the other narrative of the real food movement, based on traditional nutrient dense foods, Weston A. Price and ancestral health principles, and informed by disciplines like medical anthropology and evolutionary biology. Along with this, regenerative agriculture, holistic grazing and agroecology come alongside to support the production of a nutrient-dense and sustainable food system. I am rooting for this path!
In my opinion, sustainability is not enough, we need regeneration – of the land and our bodies. An animal-food based diet provides the body with the most bio-available complete nutrition without the potential harmful substances in plants in a way that can replenish, nourish and create the conditions for healing. While I don’t think everybody should or has to go 100% carnivore to benefit from the life-enhancing nourishment of healthy animal foods, I do hope it will become widespread and mainstream as a tool for those who need it.
10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Albert Einstein.
I know there are many in a similar position to where I was when coming from long term veganism, and trying different iterations of a plant-based diet but still struggling with their health. It really required me to unhook from everything I thought I knew and believed in to be able to start doing the right things for my health and well-being. I hope sharing my story helps others (& hopefully helps avoid the pitfalls I made!). The ability of the body to heal and get stronger given the right conditions is truly astounding.
I enjoy sharing my journey and any insights I have along the way on my Instagram @consciouscarnivore. My current website/blog is juicyliving.weebly.com and there you can find detailed entries of my journey as it unfolded, including the 30 day raw milk fast and my Primal Prep series. I have a new website underway that will be specifically focused on carnivore resources and regenerative practices for healing, health and rewilding our internal terrain and external environment. I’ll post about it on IG when it is ready 🙂
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this interview post.
My wife is experiencing similar benefits to me, that is N=2.
This series of Carnivore Diet Success Stories, shows it could be N=Many.
If you have a Carnivore Diet success story you would like to share. Please get in touch with me or join the Facebook group Carnivore Diet Success Stories for inspiration, support and a meat loving community.
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Now for the marketing bit haha.
You can read my newest book Carnivore Fit which is available on Amazon.
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Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
Irish Carnivore Addict who is 34 and works in a college. I have a huge passion for nutrition, fitness, and yoga
My goal is to gather as much information as possible on diet/fitness and be able to pass on my research to my family, and whoever might need help.
How did you eat before carnivore
I used to be very high carb 500 grams a day, trying to build muscle only to get fat and extremely tired all day. Then moved over to keto for 6 months, before finding a diet that had it all … the carnivore diet.
Why did you try the carnivore to begin with
I began to see more and more information coming out. And from questioning doctors every time I was looking for answers to what was an optimal diet why was I having heart burn on the old diet, why does peoples stomach acid reduce as we get older, why are people bloated from a lot of foods, so I jumped right into carnivore after a lot of reading up on it. I was nervous at first to consume such a high volume of red meat but what can I say? my digestion is on point with no heart burn ever and getting optimal vitamins + plenty of zinc daily through food. I feel my stomach acid is optimal now not like before causing heart burn.
How do you personally approach the carnivore diet
My diet daily is 2.3 to 2.5lbs consisting of ground beef and ribeyes. I will also have some raw cheese daily. I also have lambs liver every 3rd day and sardines. I eat 2 ribeyes at 7.15am than some raw cheese at 1, and finish off with ground beef at 5.30. My job involves lots of walking so 3 meals suits me best. What has being a game changer for me is not consuming water after meals for at least 2hrs this has given me a lot more energy as I feel I am absorbing more of my food and keeping my electrolytes in check. My water intake for the day going off drinking to thirst is around 1.5 to 2 litres, considering I used to drink a gallon this is working very well.
What benefits have you seen since starting the carnivore diet
Gaining muscle and loosing fat which I thought wasn’t possible, as I have being seeing my weight going up, more muscle, and body fat coming down. I regularly check on a body composition analyser in gym. This is a dream as I can now just eat carnivore and never worry about bulking and cutting . I will just continue this way getting stronger and leaner. Also the mental clarity and energy no longer needing caffeine to get through the day and my skin conditioning has improved.
What negatives have you found with the carnivore diet
I guess some of negatives have being not going out for family meals unless its a fancy steakhouse. Avoiding going for drinks as I am trying to consume optimal foods and avoid alcohol but feeling the way you do on a daily basis makes you not miss those things.
Do you exercise on carnivore diet if so how do you find it and what do you do
Bodybuilding 2 full body workouts a week and 2 yoga sessions, with hit sessions before yoga. Skipping rope 1 min fast 2 min rest. Letting my heart rate come back down to a complete rest has been improving my resting heart rate which now ranges 45 to 50 beats per minute. Two days a week lifting weights works perfect, I tried 3 but would not be recovered. In my case less is more, recovery is key, and with only hitting the muscles twice a week I am refreshed every session and lifts are going up every time. As for yoga this works wonders along side lifting weights, its better for recovery, more flexibility, less stress, better posture, and reducing risk of injury for lifting weight. My job also has me walking on average 15000 steps a day.
What pieces of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet
Depends on how hard willed you are, you could start on keto which would give you more of a variety.
Then transition to carnivore after a few months after becoming more fat adapted, or if you are ready to just dive in, go for it, just be sure to consume plenty of salt and keep your electrolytes in check, and don’t worry about eating so much, your body has to heal and requires nutrients so be sure to consume 2 to 2.5lbs of meat a day, and more depending on your activity level, and don’t forget to add in some liver and fish a couple of times a week.
Do you think carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream
Doubtful, too much conflicting information and this huge push lately for plant based diets, that’s why we need more information to get out there, how this way of eating can help people feel better about themselves.
Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey
Yes try not get caught up in what people say about this diet and that diet try it out and see how you feel and make you decision than and I will look forward to reading your blog in 6 months because when you start your hooked 😊
Follow me @irish_carnivore_addict on Instagram.
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
My name is Arla! I am 44 and the mom of two teenagers. I love essential oils, hiking, yoga, traveling, and hanging around positive people. I have my own business in health and wellness and love it!
How did you eat before carnivore?
I grew up not liking anything “green”. I didn’t like the taste or the way it made me feel. At the age of 18 I ate my first salad after gaining weight in college. I was told this was what I had to eat to lose weight. When I was in my late 20’s I ate the standard American diet. When my children were young, overnight I went vegetarian at the age of 32. It wasn’t because I didn’t like meat it was for the animals. It was a long seven years. I started off as a terrible vegetarian. I learned later to make salads the way I liked them. I began to add back in meat after I continued to break out in miserable itchy rashes. I went on an elimination diet my doctor put me on. In the end, I was down to apples and all my body wanted was meat. I listened to my body and incorporated it back in my diet over the next few years. I became a Holistic Health Coach and began to eat what I considered “healthy and clean”.
Why did you try carnivore to begin with?
I heard about this way of eating from one of my best friends who was having great success with her colitis. We had been friends for many years and I have seen her struggle first hand. I decided to “try” this insane diet for 30 days.. because I love a good 30-day challenge! I had also decided this would be great for research. The first few weeks were a disaster. My body went into freak out mode going from eating carbs/sugars to no carbs/sugars. I was determined to do this challenge like a BOSS! By the third week, I had feelings of clarity and euphoria. By day thirty I was beside myself with how much better I felt. This way of eating was against everything I had ever learned. I decided to continue.
How do you personally approach the carnivore diet?
I began this way of eating last year. It turned into a lifestyle. I begin my day with coffee in the morning and heavy whipping cream. My favorite foods are grass fed beef, eggs and ribeye with salt (these were also my favorites as a child). I usually eat a few times a day and do a natural daily intermittent fast. I have to say I love the way I feel! It is important to me to have so much gratitude for the animals that provide us with these nutrients!
What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
Some of the benefits I felt were:
My cravings for carbs and sugars went away
My anxiety levels were dramatically reduced
The bloating had disappeared (this was incredible to me)
No rashes
My body became leaner
My poop was normal
A sense of clarity
Minimalism
Feelings of peace and calmness
More energy
I used to have daily stomach aches and it was “normal” to me. I realized this was NOT NORMAL. Since going carnivore, stomach aches are a thing of my past.
What negatives have you found with the carnivore diet?
At times it has been awkward to go out to eat but I usually have a big meal prior to heading out with friends. Other than that it’s very simplistic. I enjoy doing so much in life. I feel like this gives me more time freedom. I used to spend tons of time food prepping, chopping and stressing about what to make. Now it’s just simple. I have to admit I’m still scared to use a grill but it’s on my list to learn.
Do you exercise on the carnivore diet? If so how do you find it and what do you do?
Of course! I feel it’s so important to move the body! I love to hike and practice yoga. I am starting to incorporate weights. This is a very new venture for me and I’m excited to begin.
What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet?
I would say if they are ready for a change to give it a thirty-day trial! GO ALL IN! They can decide from there to continue with carnivore or add certain foods back in and see how they feel.
Do you think carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet?
I don’t know. I think more and more people are having massive positive changes in their health with this way of eating. The word is getting out and people are curious. I’m interested to see where it goes and how the research evolves. I will continue to honor my body and do what feels right for ME.
Anything you would like to add, and where can people find your journey?
Feel free to follow my journey on Instagram @carnivarla
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
The Wife, the dogs and I do a lot of walking. So I am always in need of a good backpack. The Rucken Camera Backpack has proved to be very good and suits my needs.
I need a backpack for carrying bottles of water and food. The wife is the photographer in the family, so she needs a bag to carry her range of cameras. We always take out a professional camera on our walks. She has an Instagram account showing off our dogs (@heather.and.the.hounds), and I have this blog as well as all the other usual Social Media accounts. So we like to get good quality photos when we are enjoying our walks. So this bag has enabled us to carry all our photography needs, as well as general things like water, food, dog treats, dog bowl, and obviously as we are responsible dog owners…. poopy bags haha.
SPECS: Weight: 1.1Kg
Material: 210D Water-Repellent & Rugged Polyester
External Dimension (L x H x W): (12.4 x 17.7 x 5.9)”
Note: Maybe a bit bigger for a small female and not fit under an airline seat.
PACKAGE INCLUDES: 1 x Camera Backpack
1 x Zip Case
1 x Rain Cover
Whilst this seems like quite a large bag, it is well designed and sits nicely on my back. The straps are also really easy to adjust but are also secure. It is larger than a normal rucksack but not a big as a hiking backpack. Whilst I have only had it a short amount of time, you can tell it is well made, and it should be able to put up with a lot of wear and tear. You can often tell if something is more style than substance, but this seems to be both.
So far I have been on numerous walks with this backpack, whilst carrying different cameras, equipment, and extras. Each time I have been able to adjust the inside of the backpack to suit my needs. In fact, the inside is really clever. Basically, there are a series of pads which velcro to the insides of the bag. This enables you to build different sized compartments within the bag to suit your needs.
In conclusion, it is an excellent camera bag and a really good normal bag.
Heya, I’m Maria, and reside in the cold arctic of northern Norway, where the sun barely shines. Here, I live with my puppy, while working as an artist and graphic designer at the studio and gallery Blåtimen.
I’m approaching 32, and most my life, I’ve been a fairly slender person, up until I got into a stressful place in life.
How did you eat before Carnivore.
I was generally considered fit and healthy, though seemingly “normal” problems were becoming more and more frequent in my life; constipation, depression, anxiety, fat gain, chronic candida infections, acne, sleep problems, rotting teeth, and so on and so forth. I thought all these problems were a part of becoming old, at the age of 18.
My diet was generally a typical Norwegian diet: fish frequently, potatoes with most dishes, starchy sauces, high carb vegetables, fruit when we had it, and candy every weekend and some weekdays (more frequent as I became more independent). Similar to the SAD diet, but less processed food.
Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.
As I moved on in life, and got more and more upset with how I looked, never feeling OK with myself (I always struggled with self esteem), I started dabbling with ways of eating. I found carnivore/zero carb in 2011, but I had no name for it. All I knew was that I felt good. But friends would scare me with the dangers of eating no carbs, and therefore I slid off. That was the road towards even worsening symptoms.
In 2015, I went back to LC/keto, after remembering how good I felt while doing ZC. I joined several forums and groups, and as time progressed, I started seeing NSV. Weight loss was not very big, but it was a motivation too, seeing something was happening. I started seeing comments regarding eating meat only. What!!! doing what I had been doing some years back, was allowed?!
I jumped right in!
How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.
In the beginning, due to economy (and thinking it would be cheaper), I did a lot of frozen chicken and pork. I did very well, and soon experienced what some call zero carb zen.
What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.
Sooner than expected, I was off all my medications for mental illness. I started noticing I felt better doing red meat, and realised that the cost for eating red meat would be equal, if not less, than buying the equal amount I needed to satisfy my hunger and nutrition needs, compared to chicken and pork. I used a lot of dairy in the beginning, but as time has passed, the amount has been reduced. I feel the best doing zc as clean as possible, but life sometimes does not allow that.
Either way, the “problems” I experience regarding consuming dairy and non optimal foods, are so small, it’s not a big issue for me.
What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.
My family was very negative regarding the way I started eating. They would often battle me during meals or in birthday parties where cake was served and such. As time progressed and they saw how I changed, the acceptance has become more improved. Especially after hearing and seeing my blood tests results.
I do not supplement whatsoever; no vitamins, no minerals, no oils (even though there’s little sun were I live).
Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.
I don’t exercise; I quit one month into ZC in March 2016, and did not feel like going back. Yet, I’m seeing more muscles than I have ever done in my entire life, even though I weigh the same as when I worked out like a nutcase some years back and had very little progress. I also feel stronger than before.
What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.
Generally, the benefits I’ve had is: no candida problems, haven’t been sick since I started ZC (I used to have the flu/influenza at least twice a year), stronger hair and nails, improved skin condition, no more rotting teeth, no constipation or painful bowel movements, improved sleep, more balanced mood, no need to constant drink alcohol (a part of my depressive state), less painful periods, generally all is very well.
The most negative part of this lifestyle, is when people who have no personal experience or real facts, come and try to convince you what you’re doing is dangerous. People who are sick, yet try to prey on you, who are healthy, that your choice is wrong and dangerous, unhealthy.
The biggest and best advice would be to ALWAYS make sure you eat enough! Eating inadequate is the biggest reason most people fall off. Don’t fast (same as neglecting your body nutrition). Most people I follow or followed online, who are doing ZC, then start doing fasting or other restrictions, generally fall off. No veterans restrict, so why should you, just because you’re not having as fast progress as you believe your mind thinks is right?
Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.
Some day, perhaps very soon, I think that if people do this WOE correctly, it will be accepted. People who fall off tend to blame the ZC, it doesn’t work etc, yet the fault and problems lie with themselves. Therefore other people are afraid of trying it, because they’re given false information, which is very sad. It took me a long time before I lost weight/fat, but when I did, I felt like a totally new person.
Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow your journey.
I post about my journey in the veteran group Zeroing In On Health on FB, and also have a profile on IG called @devious.meater. My puppy is also raw fed, and has the best fur and teeth, so I sometimes post about him too.
I’m also an admin of the Norwegian zero carb group, Zero Carb Norge.
Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.
I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”
