Tag: depression

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories with Yuli

Interview with Yuli

1) Introduce Yourself.

I’m Yuli, born in the Soviet Union, raised in Israel, lived in Germany for 8 years and now living in the UK. The carnivore diet helped me reverse and put into permanent remission; Crohn’s disease, Hashimoto thyroiditis, PCOS, IBS, inflammatory arthritis, depression, brain fog, migraines, and a binge eating disorder. I’ve been exclusively carnivore for about 3 years and recently started adding some non-sweet fruit and veg into my diet with no issues, yet animal products are always the main part of every single meal I eat.  

My personal journey may have started with me only trying to change my diet, yet the more I’ve learned about our ancestry the more it seeped into my overall lifestyle. I now have improved my sleep, my focus, my productivity, my creativity, my relationships, and my mindset. All thanks to what started as “a few weeks long” meat only elimination diet. 

This way of eating and getting back to more ancestral values has also inspired me to create art as a carnivore, focusing on the beauty of food animals and the nourishing, health promoting products they provide us. 

I think art changes how people see the world. I think art informs what is valued as beautiful and admirable. Art has been a part of every revolution, evolution, and social movement throughout history. 

There are trends in art just like in any other fashion and while you can walk into any museum and see stunning images of still life featuring meat as a sign of wealth and prosperity in old master paintings – nowadays we have lost it. 

Over time, with the rise of processed foods and the vegan/vegetarian agenda we seemed to have lost the beauty of meat and animal products as a society. A person can walk into any design shop and buy pizza pillows, cupcake shaped serving dishes and anything imaginable with a donut printed on it – yet you’ll never see a steak. 

I think this shift in visual culture to be more plant based is a part of the propaganda against meat, and I’m trying to do whatever I can to change it, by making it beautiful again. 


2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

My diet growing up was full of rice, pasta, and grains. I’ve had bread with pretty much every meal. processed foods were everywhere with treats and sweets. To try and be healthy I spent a few years mostly vegan/vegetarian, though I’d also ‘cheat’ a lot on the diet by going to supermarkets and buying processed carbs.

I could eat two pints of ice cream with some gummy bears instead of a real meal. I didn’t cook for myself or knew how to make a tasty meal until my mid 20’s. I also worked in the food industry in my teens and early twenties and would just eat at work and take leftovers home.

I got more and more unwell as time passed yet didn’t connect it to diet for the longest time.


3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

I’d get extremely ill at least twice a year with a bacterial or viral infection. I’ve always had hormonal issues had quite bad PCOS. I had IBS and was later diagnosed with Crohn’s, after a flair of gastritis. I’ve always had joint pains and swelling in my joints. I suffered from migraines and was depressed and lazy, lacking all motivation.

About 5 years ago I got into a very toxic relationship that caused me a great deal of stress, and the majority of my issues got worse during that time. I was on an extremely restrictive diet and lost a lot of weight quite rapidly which led to me developing a binge eating disorder. I was very unhappy and had brain fog – I felt I wasn’t able to think at the same speed as before, processing words or remembering things became rather difficult.

I was desperate to find some way to stop the binge cravings and through reading online found the keto diet and decided to try it.

I was on keto for about a year and a half and many of the issues I was struggling with got much better, but weren’t gone. The migraines decreased in frequency, my joints weren’t hurting as much, my digestions was a bit more stable yet the binge eating persisted and I felt completely out of control, and each episode brought all the symptoms back.

I started going to doctors who kept sending me to other doctors and each test made them order more tests. My bloodwork came back a mess: I’ve had rheumatoid factor come back positive, inflammatory markers were very high, my thyroid antibodies were extremely elevated, and the thyroid hormones were low, and my calprotectin was over 700 when it should be below 40.

I was put on thyroid meds and steroids, PPI’s and a few other pills with no helps – my wellbeing and quality of life decreased to such a level I got desperate. This is when I started to dive into the literature and research how to ‘fix’ myself. After listening to podcasts with Dr. Shawn baker and Mikhaila Peterson and put myself on a carnivore diet for “3-4 weeks max” only it lasted over 3 years and I’m never going back.


4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

I started the diet around July 2017. It took a lot of personal experimentation and data collection until I found what works best for me. I think this is probably the case with most people who start trying to resolve multiple issues. I started by cutting out of plant foods yet still including pork, dairy, eggs and chicken. Over time I realised pork and chicken aren’t good for me, and milk products have to be raw and fermented. I only eat pastured eggs.

Nowadays I eat beef, lamb, venison, goat, organ meats and sea food. I live in a small town in the UK and have an amazing family farm that raises all the previously mentioned animals and at least 6-7 kinds of poultry so variety is never a problem, yet still find myself sticking to the same meals over and over.

Since now I’m trying to lose some fat, I eat two meals a day, about 300-450g of meat per meal depending on how lean it is, and use beef tallow, goats’ butter or ghee to cook with. In the last two months I’ve also been adding some non-sweet fruit, vegetables, eggs and some fermented dairy with no adverse reactions. About 85-95% of my calories are coming from meat and animal products.

My favourites are all the various cuts from the rib area, beef tongue, lamb chops and salmon.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.


Within the first few weeks my digestion got much better and became regular. IBS and Crohn’s were gone within about two months at most, my sleep improved, my PCOS normalised and I started getting my period again, my joints became less inflamed, walking and then going back to exercising became easier. I was off all steroids and PPI’s within less than 8 weeks.

After a year on the diet my thyroid antibodies were back to normal, yet my thyroid levels themselves were low, so I was still medicated for it. Two years after starting the carnivore diet I was able to get off all thyroid meds as well.

My body composition improved and I was able to gain and maintain muscle, increase my bone density and get rid of my brain fog and all mental health issues. No migraines, no weird aches and pains.

On the carnivore diet I feel calm, happy, content, a lot less agitated, I’m never anxious and can handle stress very well. It’s as if this way of eating was a facilitator of internal zen.


6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

It did require a lot of patience, consistency, tracking, and trial and error to finally find true health. I had to do a lot of experimentation with my food to figure out pork and chicken weren’t good for me, to figure out that if I overeat I have issues even if I’m only eating foods I normally do very well with. I had some issues with histamines which took experimenting and tracking to figure out, I had to experiment with my fat to protein ratio to find what I do best with. The Crohn’s and the steroids depleted a lot of my vitamins and minerals some of which I had to supplement. My progress wasn’t always linear and was made much slower by the fact that I also battelled the binge eating craving despite being fully carnivore. It helped make the binge eating more manageable, yet I wasn’t truly recovered and it was extremely discouraging hearing experts on podcasts time after time state “you can’t overeat on steak and eggs” because I was living proof you very much can and that no matter how much eliminate – even the excess of good foods can lead to problems or prevent healing.

It wasn’t until I added stearic acid to my cooking fats (a la Brad Marshall) that I saw the cravings diminish until they were completely gone.

It was also harder on my social life with regard to eating out and eating with people, but I made it work and my real friends/family don’t mind it and are used to it by now.


7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.


I love exercise. I do resistance training. I used to work out 3-4 times a week and do long gym sessions, yet this year I transitioned more into home workouts and invested in resistance bands, kettlebells and a cast iron dumbbell set. I now do shorter, more intense functional training.

I recover very well from my workouts; I am very strong and find building muscle relatively easy.


8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

This is an extremely powerful intervention that can change your life and health for the better, however it’s not magic. You may still have issues that other people in the community say cleared for them within 3 days, and it can be very discouraging and lead to a feeling of being broken, but it just takes dedication.

Every change has a transitional period where things feel unfamiliar or strange and you miss your old ways but remembering why you’re doing it helps so much. You can get used to anything and anything can seem normal, no matter how foreign the idea was when you heard it first. If your current normal is inflamed, in pain, struggling to think clearly or get motivated – carnivore will 100% help. It’s an extremely simple diet which isn’t easy to implement but you overcome the initial hurdles it’s worth it.


9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I think that in the future more and more doctors will use it as a healing tool for their patients, which will help legitimize it in the eyes of the public.

This way of eating is essentially fighting the way in which big parts of our society and economy are founded on, so there will be resistance and pushback throughout the way. I do believe that evidence speak for themselves and the voices of people in the community are reaching larger audiences now. There are doctors educating other doctors on low carb and carnivore as treatment modalities which means it’s growing. The obesity and chronic disease epidemic took decades to develop and I think that we now have the power of the internet to speed up the timeline in which carnivore will grow. I hope that by then the cost of entry and price of meat won’t be a limiting factor for population in poor areas which arguably need this diet more than others.


10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.


For me the carnivore diet opened up so many things. I did a butchery class, went to live and volunteer on a farm for 6 weeks, started making meat based art, did a nutrition certification and am a much better and more resilient person for having been through all of this.
 
I am on instagram as @healthy.craft and am about to launch a new store for my meat-based art on nosetotail.org, in collaboration with the maker of the ‘Food Lies’ film, Brian Sanders.

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – eBook and Paperback

Clothing – Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company

Low Content Books – Journals, Notebooks, Diaries and Planners.

Media

Categories
Carnivore Diet Greatest Hits Contemporary Carnivore Diet

World Carnivore Month 2021 – Depression – Day 10

Depression

The numbers

Depression is awful, is debilitating in numerous ways, and it has a huge impact on other types of mental problems and actually increases the risk of physical diseases. Never mind the senseless loss of life it is linked too through suicide.

264 million people are said to sufferer from Depression each year. That is a terrible stat.

And I wonder how many of those 264 million are needlessly suffering from it because of their poor diet, that is loaded with sugar and vegetable seed oils.

I would not be surprised if over 90% of that 264 million could improve it with diet.

Nearly all my carnivore diet success stories report some form of mental boost when they go carnivore, whether it is some form of mental clarity improvement or they report they are more relaxed and chilled.

Carnivore Diet vs Depression

Without sounding like a twat… I am not a fan of the current climate of where some people say “oh I suffer from mental health problems”… but never say what.

“Mental Health Problems” isn’t a disease it is a blanket/umbrella term which I don’t think helps people for the most part, and may lessen the seriousness with how people think of people with actual acute and diagnosed mental health problems.

If they just don’t want to talk about their specific problems that’s fine and they should not have too, however, some of the time especially on Facebook etc it seems a bit more like a victim mentality rather than actual mental health issues.

I prefer people who are specific, and will say I have Depression or Bi-Polar. I find these types of people are more likely to do things to help their issues.

People who suffer from depression may also, have anxiety, insomnia, and OCD etc… and these people do truly have mental health problemS.

I am obviously talking in generalities here, it is just my opinion from what I see in mainstream and social media. So don’t get triggered.

I have already done a Carnivore Diet vs Anxiety post – https://ketogenicendurance.com/2021/01/02/world-carnivore-month-2021-anxiety-day-2/

And I also have a load of Carnivore Diet success stories from people you have faced their depression head on and took steps to resolve it, rather than facing a life on anti-depressants.

There is no one reason everyone has depression, and it is a truly awful thing to have to deal with. If the carnivore diet does help with depression then it is likely to be because the carnivore diet helps with a range of general health that would make you more robust mentally and physically. For example: it will help you lose weight, sleep better, improves digestive health, improves lean muscle mass, balances your hormones, is nutrient dense, no antinutrients, is highly bioavailable, and provides all your essential amino acids, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

So you are just giving your body the best chance possible to be strong and healthy. This might be all that is needed to improve your depression. People know food affects the body aka you can manipulate it to lose or put on weight.

People now need to know that food has a huge impact on mental health too.

Here are some examples: https://ketogenicendurance.com/tag/depression/

Brett “The benefits of living carnivorously have been many! 10 or so days in I woke up without ANY joint pain. I never thought I ‘suffered’ from joint pain but that I had “aches & pains” just as a matter of living to be 57. I felt incredibly healthier right then, to be honest, & that was but the 1st 10 days!  On day 23 into day 24 as a carnivore, I felt ALL my depression symptoms VANISH.”

Saara “The biggest benefit for me is definitely a reversal of depression, basically, I recovered already last year due to therapies and quitting medication, but I still felt a lot of anxiety, insecurity, fatigue, overthinking, procrastination, weirdness. Life seemed so easy for everyone else and I never reached that feeling before I went carnivore. Now I am shining in my true colors.”

Scarlett “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.”

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – eBook and Paperback

Clothing – Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company

Low Content Books – Journals, Notebooks, Diaries and Planners.

Media

Photo by nikko macaspac on Unsplash

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories – with Aline

Interview with Aline

1) Introduce Yourself.

Hi I’m Aline aka Karnivorgirl. I’m a Swiss girl living in Nevada, USA. 

2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

When I was 10 years old I decided to become a vegetarian (luckily not vegan!!!). At 21 it didn’t feel right anymore and my body started to crave meat. 

In 2014 I started getting into bodybuilding and of course started with a typical bodybuilding diet. Turkey, white rice, asparagus. Once a week I usually had a cheat day where I stuffed myself full of carbs. I just ate as much as I wanted when I wanted and whatever I wanted. Every time I got sick, overate and felt bad for at least two days. 

I got really sick in 2015. Chronic Mono, Hashimoto, CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome), IBS, Panic Attacks, Depression… ended up in the ER twice. In 2016 I got forced to a restrictive diet by my neurologist. I switched to keto fairly soon. 

I was all about numbers while being Keto. Dirty Keto! As long as I was in my numbers and it didn’t contain gluten and tomatoes, I was happy. I had cheat days where I just stuffed my belly with tons of “healthy” keto sweets and bacon. 

I have an eating disorder that probably started when I was 16 and my obsession with food got crazier and crazier. I had (still do, didn’t delete them) lists on my phone with all different kinds of “healthy” keto sweets with all the different flavors there are. Because I needed to try every single one of them. There are also lists where I wrote down how I ate every single one. Microwaved, frozen, with heavy whipping cream, with whipped heavy whipping cream, wrapped in bacon, with butter,…. I call it food OCD. 

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

Keto worked pretty good for a while for me. But I fell off every time a depression attack hit me. It started happening more often and the attacks last up to 2 weeks instead of just 1-3 days. Also the depressions came out of nowhere and vanished just as suddenly. 

November 2019 again I had such a bad attack. Like always I said I can’t anymore. I need to change something. This time I knew I need to completely change something. My friend told me about the carnivore diet about 2 years prior and for some reason out of nowhere I remembered it and knew that’s it! Even before I started I knew that’s what I have to do!

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

First I used it as an elimination diet and figured out very quickly I don’t do well with dairy especially cheese. After 30 days just ribeye salt and water I started reintroducing different things again but I kept having issues. I went back to just beef: steak, ground and very bloody roast. 

I realized I need to give my body more time to heal! Also the more different foods I’m able to eat the more my eating disorder reappears. I’ll start making lists again with all the different meats and egg variations I could combine and I’m getting overwhelmed and obsessed again. 

Also I figured out I’m always addicted to something. From Fruits, cereals, carbs, protein bars, keto sweets, bacon, heavy whipping cream, cheese to now fat. 

What works for me the best at the moment is: eating very lean. I can eat a lot more while still not being too high in calories. I tend to overeat if I eat delicious fatty meats cuz it’s just so good. But I also do allow myself days where I eat more fattier cuts because sometimes my body demands it. 

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

So many. But I soon figured out unfortunately I’m not one of those lucky ones where carnivore just cured everything. I still had lots of problems while being carnivore. BUT everything was sooooo much worse when I wasn’t carnivore! At least when I was binge eating it was just on meat and my ibs and anxiety attacks were much less severe. 

Now I’m doing amazing! Even tho I’m still having some issues. Most times I’m actually able to listen to my body. This wasn’t possible on any other lifestyle. But I have to say I’m also taking a looooot of supplements. I guess my brain is just a bit wired differently. For me it’s a combination of the right supplements and being a currently very strict carnivore. And very slowly I keep adding more variety to my meals. 

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

My fridge is basically empty but I never have enough freezer space. 

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I’d say I’m a carnivore athlete. Lol. I do weight lifting, pole fitness, MMA, Dancing, weapons training, hiking, cardio on the elliptical and basically whatever I can get my hands on. 

Beef Liver!!! Best preworkout ever!!! I get my best workouts with just 15-20g of beef liver rolled up in a very thin tiny slice of fatty meat. Gives me so much energy! I also like working out fasted but the beef liver before a hard training is the absolute best!

If you don’t like liver don’t look at it as food. Look at it as a supplement / medicine!

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Everybody’s body and brain are different and you need to find out what works best for you! 

But, you should definitely give carnivore a try. I’m convinced some form of carnivore is best for everyone. You just gotta figure out what form. And don’t forget there’s an adaption phase. Your body needs time to get rid of all the toxins and gets accustomed to a different lifestyle. Also your body keeps changing. Something that might have worked for you for a while suddenly won’t work anymore. Even on carnivore. 

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I hope not. I don’t think carnivore should be used as a diet. Carnivore should be used as a lifestyle. And I hope it won’t become just the mainstream lifestyle. I hope it’ll just be the normal lifestyle that everyone is living in their own way that works best for them. 

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

Everything happens for a reason! Never give up! NEVER!

Instagram: @karnivorgirl

YouTube: Karnivor Girl https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCoMMVEiYgPjhHUjvN-l7Q

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Media

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories – with Ruibo

Interview with Ruibo

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Ruibo and I am New York City based actor and artist. I’m deeply passionate about nutrition, biohacking, and mental and spiritual wellness. 

2) How did you eat before Carnivore

I have celiac and had been gluten free for about a decade. Apart from that, I’d tried about every way of eating and supplementation out there in an attempt to hack my way to relief from lifelong depression, anxiety, and ADHD. From paleo to primal to plant-based and raw vegan, even a brief stupid stint as a fruitarian, I seriously tried it all. Right before I went full carnivore, I had been experimenting again with vegan/plant based, to my detriment.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

I’ve always believed in the power of nutrition, biohacking, and energy healing for optimal health. In 2010 I successfully weaned myself off a cocktail of pharmaceutical antidepressants and anxiolytics and transitioned to a Paleo/Primal diet which sustained me for a number of years. Around 2016/17 I started to experience a whole slew of troubling new health issues. In the end it was a cocktail of gut permeability, autoimmune issues, hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, and a growing list of food intolerances that sent me down a major decline that impacted not only my body but also my mental health in a really severe way. I was exhausted, suicidal, battling agoraphobia, and experiencing recurrent debilitating panic attacks all of which is nightmare fuel for anyone, but as a performer it felt insurmountable and potentially career-killing.

I was too afraid and embarrassed to reach out to anyone for help, terrified it would affect my work or that I’d be shunned, perceived as weak, or make myself a burden, so I essentially isolated and did my best to push through and maintain a facade of put-togetherness. Of course that approach never pans out well. From the outside I think it just seemed like I was volatile or erratic, standoffish, rude, insensitive. It was a spiral for me, the desire to be healthy, to connect with others, the fear of being misunderstood or perceived a certain way, my own perfectionism in my work and the ensuing anxiety, all made me feel powerless to stop any of it. Self loathing was at an all time high. 

Long story short, eventually the stress caused my entire body to give out and I spent all of my (few) waking hours in bed researching how to “fix” myself. I had come across Carnivore years prior and at the time it felt too extreme, but at the end of my rope I did my research and finally decided I really had nothing to lose. 

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

Nose to tail. Organs and ruminant meat are the backbone of my diet, 50/50 raw to cooked. Pork and seafood a few times a week, poultry only on occasion; though I enjoy it, I don’t find it as satiating. Suet, tallow, lard, and butter liberally. Coffee, mostly decaf these days. I’m (tragically) allergic to both egg whites and yolks and intolerant to dairy, but working on a gut healing protocol and hope to reintroduce in the future. Limited supplementation to assist with methylation issues for now. 

Most days I naturally fast 20:4 unless I’m on my cycle, in which case it’s pretty no holds barred. Filtered electrolyte water all day. And plenty of sea salt. 

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

Countless, the most prominent being mental clarity and the lifting of depression and anxiety. It cannot be overstated, it truly saved my life. Most miraculously, the immediate effects were apparent within 10 days. 

Other benefits include improved hormonal balance and cycle regulation, massively improved gut function  (I’d always half-believed bloating and stomach pain were normal after eating), improved blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, and improvement in body composition, strength, skin tone and texture. Chronic fatigue is gone, fibroid symptoms are gone, back pain is gone. I’m remembering what real joy feels like for the first time in many many years; this is probably the closest to “normal” I’ve ever felt in my adult life, like I finally understand how humans are meant to feel. 

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

Really the negatives are so minor for everything I’ve gained. If I had to name my two, they’d be 1) I’m a foodie and I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen, so I’ve had to shift my way of thinking about food and cooking. 2) Explaining or defending the how and why to others can sometimes be uncomfortable.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

Yeah, I don’t have a set routine. I rotate between yoga, kettlebells, and bodyweight workouts depending on what my body feels like doing. 

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Give yourself one month, and assess how you feel. There’s really nothing to lose. Beyond that, read and watch as much as you can from veterans and resources like Judy Cho, Paul Saladino, Shawn Baker, Ken Berry, etc. Join the forums, ask lots of questions, reach out for support, soak up the success stories! That’s what finally got me on board, diving into the research and science and overcoming any negatively planted beliefs about “fad diets” and trends.

When I first came across this concept years back, there weren’t as many prominent resources available which made the whole undertaking seem extreme and unwise. But the more I read and understood about human physiology and the more I learned about how my own individual genetic makeup and polymorphisms affect my nutrient absorption, gut microbiome, and overall health, the more this approach quickly became the only viable approach for me.

That said, if you’re not as skeptical as I am, it can really all just be as simple as eat meat, drink water.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I do think it’s possible. As more people lean toward an ancestral and holistic approach to health and share their experiences of dramatic improvement (in all the myriad ways this diet offers), I think it will be inevitable that others follow suit. But right now it really is a lead-by-example undertaking. It’s going to take people individually doing their own research and releasing themselves from dietary dogma, but I think (hope) we’re heading there.  

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

In the end I think we have to remember that we’re all bio individual, and even within Carnivore there are a lot of different approaches. It’s all about figuring out what works best for you, and being aware that your trajectory and specific diet will not (and should not) look like anyone else’s. So while I do encourage soaking in as much as you can, remember that progress is all going to depend on what needs healing within you, and as you learn to listen to your body, you’ll figure out how to tailor your diet to your individual goals.

My Instagram is @carnivaura. I hope this encourages others to share their experience, and to reach out to me or someone else if they need support. Mental health concerns can be incredibly isolating, particularly if you’re someone who others expect or demand to be in a state of “on”. I never want anyone to go through what I went through, and I want to spread the message that we are not alone, and there can really and truly be relief. 

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Media

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories – with Michaela

Interview with Michaela

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Michaela Bileci. I am Scottish but managed to escape the rain and now live in Tuscany with my husband and daughter Ava. I home-school my daughter Ava who has Autism and Epilepsy and am in the process of building a website, which will serve as a support to other families who have children with Autism. I am also currently studying for a degree in Psychology, with the aim to specialise in neurological disorders such as Autism and ADD/ADHD.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

When my daughter was diagnosed with Autism, I completely changed both of our diets as we both tested positive for coeliac disease and had various food intolerances. I have eaten a gluten free/ dairy free diet for over ten years and in the past two years, focused on the Ketogenic Diet as a way to support my own health and also support my daughter who was on this diet for seizure control.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

I have suffered with many health problems in my life such as asthma, depression, anxiety, coeliac disease, arthritis, psoriasis, chronic fatigue and hypothyroidism. Despite my best attempts at other dietary therapies (GFCF, BED, GAPS etc) and biomedical interventions, I was still on a pile of medications.  If there was a treatment available, then I was first in line to try it. There’s nothing I haven’t “bio-hacked”!

This led me to keep searching for answers. I heard about the Carnivore Diet after listening to the Joe Rogan Podcast with Mikhaila Peterson. At that point in my life, I was in constant joint pain and was on high levels of corticosteroids every day trying to reduce painful inflammation and breathing difficulties related to my Asthma and past episodes of pneumonia. I would also have severe immunological reactions to random foods and some have resulted in hospitalisation for treatment. I really didn’t have anything to lose, yet had everything to gain.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

I’m currently following the Level 1 Autoimmune Protocol from Craig and Maria Emmerich’s book “The Carnivore Cookbook”.  I will be moving to Level 2 soon to see if that works for me.  I obviously have to be a little stricter with the Carnivore diet than some people due to the severity of my Autoimmune problems.  Most days, my meals are steak, salt and water based. I use beef tallow/suet if I want to add a little fat to my meals. I find steak agrees with my body more than ground beef. I only eat one meal or two meals daily, as I’m incorporating intermittent fasting into the Carnivore Diet too. IF happened quite naturally as I find myself more satiated after eating on the Carnivore Diet. As time goes on, I would like to introduce other things, but for now, this is my happy place health wise.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

I’m off all of my medication and have lost 25 kilograms!

One by one, the need for each medication disappeared. The psoriasis plaques that were all over my body have cleared up and all the inflammation around my joints has disappeared. I don’t take inhalers, antihistamines or corticosteroids anymore and I naturally weaned off of escitalopram and clonazepam for depression and severe anxiety.

I recently ran another thyroid panel and all my levels are in the optimal range, which is a stark contrast to how it was before. I had gained 50 kilograms and have now lost half of that in 7 months of eating Carnivore.

However, I think the starkest contrast is in my energy levels. Before the Carnivore Diet, I could barely lift my head off of the pillow and now I’m able to walk, run and hike pain-free, which is just phenomenal. That’s the real blessing. Having the energy to play with my daughter and go on outings with my family- that’s priceless.

image4

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

I haven’t really found there to be any negatives with the Carnivore Diet or eating this way because I have had such improvements in my state of health.

The only thing I would warn people with severe autoimmune conditions about, is that this is a very potent and therapeutic diet. I made the gargantuan mistake of thinking I was fine and all my health issues had disappeared and ate some gluten free, dairy free pizza. The next morning, I was taken by ambulance to the hospital and spent the week there because the immunological reaction was so severe. My father had to bring me out of hospital in a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. It took a month of strict Carnivore to correct that mistake.  I would caution people with Autoimmune Conditions that this is not something you can play around with. Commit and remain consistent if you have similar issues to me.  That would be the only negative I would say that I have experienced.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

Yes, I love to exercise and now spend a lot of time outdoors. Most days, I go for a jog and do a kettlebell workout. I also enjoy wild swimming, hiking and ballet. I wasn’t able to exercise for years due to pain and fatigue and now it’s a breath of fresh air. It’s such a joy to be able to go hiking or jogging pain-free.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

I would suggest they read a bit first to help them understand what the diet is about and why removing plant toxins is useful. There are several ways to go about implementing the Carnivore Diet and I personally think it’s important to have that information at your disposal. I would recommend reading anything by Craig and Maria Emmerich, Dr. Shawn Baker or Dr. Paul Saladino. They all put out excellent material and you will find out which approach resonates with you and works for your body. Understand your reasons for wanting to do this diet and don’t become dogmatic. Listen to your body!

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I hope so. My desire would be to see the Carnivore Diet accepted as a healing protocol, if nothing else. However, I do see that the tide is now turning, and many people are returning to ancestral dietary wisdom, turning their backs on the low-fat, sugar and grain propaganda of the past fifty years. Animal products are an extremely beneficial, not to mention crucial component of a healthy human diet.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

I would encourage people who feel like this diet resonates with them to give it a try. Try it for at least a month, ideally three months and see how you feel. My guess is that you won’t look back.

I am in remission from asthma, anxiety, depression, psoriasis, arthritis, chronic fatigue and hypothyroidism. I gained 50 kilograms in a year when my thyroid function was underactive and within 7 months of the Carnivore Diet, I have optimal thyroid function and have lost a little over 25 kilograms so far. This Diet is a powerful, healing protocol that has given me my life back.

People can follow me and my carnivore journey on Instagram

@michaelabileci

…and if they’re interested in following our Autism/ Epilepsy/ Keto journey with my daughter Ava then they can follow us on Instagram @reimaginingautism_

AC5D1D94-D743-4FFD-BF07-F807D2F441B3

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

 

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet Success Stories – with Susan

Interview with Susan

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Susan, and I am 27 years old from Ontario, Canada. I am passionate about psychology, self-improvement, and health.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

I was keto for two months before I started carnivore, and prior to keto, I followed a vegan/vegetarian/plant-based diet for nearly ten years. My diet at the time was primarily low fat (or no fat), high carb (LFHC). Despite drinking green juices, and eating oatmeal, fruit, and tofu, LFHC was not sustainable for me because I was always hungry. It kept me in a vicious cycle of destructive eating/diet behaviour. I also found myself opting for junk food on weekends and during periods of high stress, so weight management became very difficult.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

After following Mikhaila Peterson’s journey for a year, I was curious about the diet and was attracted to the reported benefits. I was suffering from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), mood instability, depression, emotional eating, anxiety, and a broken metabolism, and thought why the hell not! If it doesn’t work, then I’ll find something else. At that point, I was willing to try anything because I felt awful—and I was sick and tired of feeling awful.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

I follow a carnivore diet most days and leave a bit of room for keto options. Given my history with yo-yo dieting and restriction, it’s the best approach for me because it gives me the freedom to eat what I want.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

Carnivore helped regulate my hunger. When I was plant-based, it was almost impossible to feel satiated. I was always hungry. Always. I wish I was exaggerating, but I’m not. No matter how many smoothies I drank or quinoa bowls I ate, I was hungry an hour later. I’m glad that insatiable hunger is no longer a problem on this diet—it’s exhausting to constantly think about your next meal!

My mental health has improved drastically. It wasn’t an immediate improvement, but I remember thinking one night, “wow, I don’t think I’m depressed anymore!” Needless to say, it was a sobering realization because I’ve struggled with depression all my life.

My PMDD symptoms are nearly gone. I do experience low moods from time-to-time, but for the most part, they’re manageable and life doesn’t feel like a rollercoaster anymore. My emotions are stable, and I don’t feel out of control at certain times of the month.

SI_20200511_024629

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

The two that stick out to me are (1) loss of libido and (2) slow fat/weight loss. Since starting keto/carnivore, my libido has been at an all-time low. It’s been interesting to say the least because it used to be very high. As for fat/weight loss, it’s been slow. I guess that’s what happens when you put your body under stress and ridiculous dietary restrictions for almost ten years—it doesn’t trust you!

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I don’t exercise enough… but I want to (and should) exercise more.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Commit to prioritizing your health because you are worth it. Obesity and mental health issues continue to skyrocket in Western society. The fact that a diet can help with both should intrigue people. The fact that a particular diet may alleviate if not eradicate your psychological suffering is more reason to try it. If nothing improves or the improvements don’t last, you always have the freedom to try something else. Thankfully, the Carnivore communities on reddit, YouTube, and Instagram, are (for the most part) open-minded and informative, so you don’t have to go into this diet alone or blindly.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

Will carnivore replace the standard American diet? Probably not, but anything is possible. I’m at least hopeful that it will gain popularity like some of the other diets out there. Look at what happened with veganism; a vegan/plant-based diet is now the diet to follow, but that wasn’t the case ten years ago. If not carnivore, then I think people—at the very least—will adopt an animal-based diet. But I don’t think that will happen until we reduce the stigma surrounding (daily) meat and fat consumption.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where people can follow you.

If you’re thriving on carnivore, keto, or low carb, then great. If not, find something else. At the end of the day, your health and well-being should override dogma. Your body is intelligent, so pay attention to what it’s telling you. It’s your responsibility to listen and take action to find what works for you!

You can find me on Instagram at @ketomelange.

SI_20200506_111839

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories – with Steve

Interview with Steve

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Stephen Machina, a born and raised Texan. Before COVID-19, I ran a corporate dining cafe and catering program so being surrounded by delicious food day in and day out was the norm for me. Even though I was heavily involved in sports all the way through high school, I somehow was still always the fat kid growing up. That’s certainly not easy when you’re as competitive as I am. A lot of people don’t believe in epiphanies, but it wasn’t until recently that I decided to make a positive, 180-degree change in my life.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore?

For the majority of my life, I had a very poor diet – especially once I graduated from high school. I wasn’t playing sports anymore and eating and drinking became my outlet. Countless cheeseburgers, fried foods, pizza and A LOT of beer. In fact, craft beer became a hobby of mine! Not too long before I started Carnivore, I experimented with some intermittent fasting and switched from beer to Vodka/water, noticing some weight loss results before the diet even began.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

Corporate dining and catering can be a physically demanding job. On big catering days, I could walk 15 or more miles in a day. I was always exhausted and my head felt cloudy on a regular basis. I am a big fan of Joe Rogan’s podcast and I had just happened to see Chris Bell’s name in a video title. Chris Bell is a talented documentary filmmaker that I had followed a few years ago. On this particular podcast, he and his brother talked to Joe about the Carnivore diet. Shortly after watching the podcast, I had my last hoorah at a family friend’s wedding and decided February 11, 2020 was my official start date.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

It started out as a simple goal of trying to reverse some of the damage I had put on my body throughout the years. After a month, my way of thinking developed for the better. I became way more focused on other activities that could help me increase my results. I think in order to see the type of results most people are looking for on this diet, you really have to maintain the “tough mindset”.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

One of the main benefits I’ve seen after starting this diet includes increased energy for sure! I find myself on the move constantly now, around the house and on my single-speed bike. I’ve stopped snoring, my inflammation is now manageable, my recovery time has reduced and I have continued to gain strength while losing over 75 pounds. I now live an active lifestyle and am  depression free.

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

The first couple of weeks, my stomach felt uneasy. Once I got really strict on myself after the 90-day mark, I had trouble maintaining my appetite. Other than that, nothing has been unbearable.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I now exercise on a regular basis. However, it took baby steps to finally get where I am now. I started off walking on the treadmill and doing a little bit of weights. Eventually, it went to inclined walks and kettlebell circuits. Once the lockdown happened, I went out and bought a single-speed bike. It has been a great way to continue to challenge myself. Now that the gyms are open, I am getting back to the weights. My goal is to work on endurance and flexibility at the moment. High reps with lower weight to continue to burn more calories build stamina.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Do your research! There are a ton of resources out there!

Make a conscious decision in your head that this is something you are GOING to follow through with. If you don’t have a purpose behind this decision, it will be hard to pull off. It will also be easy to make excuses when times get tough.

Remember: On this diet, your food is your FUEL. Take your emotions out of it, and eat what you need and not what you want.

When you hit a wall and things get harder than they have ever been, dig in and keep getting after it. Sometimes it only takes one more swing to knock down that wall.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I hope so. I think it could save countless lives! Unfortunately, most of the food industry values profit over health. After spending years in the food business, I realized that most of this industry is far more interested in turning a profit than the health of its consumers. My mission now is to inspire people to try Carnivore as an elimination diet in order to experience the health benefits.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

Feel free to reach out if you ever need help on your carnivore journey. You can follow me on Instagram @the_carnivore_machina. Watch my continued progress while getting healthier yourself!

IMG_9222

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success stories – with Matthew

Interview with Matthew

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Matthew, I live in the UK, I’m 22, I work full time and I have a big interest in nutrition.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

Before carnivore i was vegan/plantbased for 6 years, the last 6 months I ate a whole foods plant based diet, before that I experimented with basically every vegan diet there is (vegan keto/high carb low fat/fruit only/intermittent fasting/ raw til 4 etc)

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

I started carnivore because I started to learn about the health benefits, my main goal was to help my anxiety and depression, also my previous plant based diet wasn’t working for me.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

Depending on the time of the year depends what I eat, in winter I eat pretty much a 100% animal based diet, whereas in the summer I’ll incorporate some in season fruit (if my body accepts it) but I mainly eat steak, beef, eggs, bacon, some organ meats, and rarely some dairy.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

My mental health massively improved after just 2 weeks on this diet, i no longer felt depressed or anxious, it was like something just lifted me, it was a massive weight off my shoulders, I was so happy and relieved, I had been battling mental health for many years. I also got rid of anemia, inflammation and IBS and I lost some weight. Them issues were never why I started, they were just added bonuses. I had a huge gut for the last 2/3 years that wouldn’t go away no matter what, I had skinny arms and legs but my belly was so inflamed and bloated nothing helped until I went carnivore. Another benefit was it helped my sugar cravings, it was so much easier to get off sugar while carnivore.

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

The only negative I can think of is the transition, from whatever diet to carnivore can be some what difficult, all my life I’ve consumed many carbs just like most people, and to try and go to low/zero carb can be hard but once your body is fat adapted it’s amazing and so worth it.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I do light exercise a couple times a week (walk/jog/bicycle) and lift weights maybe once a week. One big benefits I’ve noticed is my strength, I can lift much more weight now.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

You’ve just got to go for it, once your body gets fat adapted it will be easy, not like other diets you need “cheat meals” you’re always satisfied with no cravings, your life will improve in every single way, my advice is make sure you consume enough fat. Every single person I know who went carnivore, never went back, for the simple fact it WORKS.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

Probably not, plant foods are being pushed everywhere. Plant based diets are getting more popular.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

My instagram is meatandhealth if you want to follow me, I answer all DM’s if you have any questions. And I would like to add, if anybody is thinking about starting this diet, try to get good quality meats, it’s okay if not but the better the quality the better you’ll feel.

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success story – with Isabella

Interview with Isabella

1) Introduce Yourself.

I am a 24 year old pianist and violinist (currently pursuing a masters degree at The Juilliard School) born in Shenzhen, China and raised in LA.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore.

I was vegan for 6 years and before that, ate a standard chinese/American diet.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with.

I wanted to heal the damage and weight gain veganism caused.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet.

I eat OMAD and focus on fatty beef cuts like ribeyes. I always substitute with more fat such as butter and suet because I feel best on higher fat moderate protein. Occasionally I will have eggs, fish, and pork.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet.

I got my period back, healed cystic acne, lost 25 lb, and cured my depression and chronic fatigue.

I no longer bloat, suffer from mental fog, and mood swings.

IMG_8872

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet.

In the first 2-3 months I could not digest fat because of the six years of high carb low fat lifestyle. There was a lot of running to the bathroom, and stomach rumbling, but my body adapted and now thrives off fat.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do.

I like taking long walks for my own enjoyment and do not do any strenuous exercises.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

If you are thinking of trying carnivore, you are already well on your way to good health!

Consistency and persistence is everything. At first it may be difficult to stick to the diet, but pe patient. Overtime you will feel and see the benefits.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet.

I am not sure. But I see my friends, classmates, and family start eating more meat. If I can influence people around me, that is a start!

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

You can follow me on IG @steakandbuttergal

and @opusbella to see me as a musician.

YouTube: Steak And Butter Gal

IMG_8873

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore

Categories
Carnivore Diet Success Stories

Carnivore Diet success story – with Rosie

Interview with Rosie

1. Introduce yourself

My name is Rosie Lombard and I am 25 years old. I live in Cape Town, South Africa with my boyfriend who is a professional body boarder and surfs on the world tour. We live right near the beach and love to spend our days in the ocean and outdoors. I am an english teacher and work in a private school about 20 minutes from my house as well as teach English online from my house. I have always had a passion for working with children, especially children with special needs. I graduated in 2018 and obtained my BEd degree. When I left high school I became very obsessed with my health and did anything to loose weight. Looking back now, I realise I was always so unhappy with myself and my body. My thoughts about myself were always negative and I defiantly always punished myself with food restriction and exercise.

In the last 6 years my relationship with food suffered terribly and I went to extremes to loose weight and to change what I saw in the mirror. When I hit puberty , loosing weight seemed impossible for me and everything I tried in the past , didn’t work. I just kept gaining weight until I hit my heaviest weight ever. I was so unhappy and so desperate that eventually it lead to developing some very bad habits. In January 2015 I finally started loosing weight by cutting out major food groups like most carbs, protein and fat which by no means is healthy at all. But because this allowed me to loose weight I didn’t care about the damage it would do to my body. I started training excessively and eventually only ate low carb veg and drank tons of tea to keep my body warm and this helped me feel ‘full’.  In October 2015 i was diagnosed with anorexia. My whole life changed and I was lucky enough to recover from this horrible illness. The after effects of anorexia have been terrible, even though I am back to a healthy weight and have managed to maintain it. In the last few years I have developed hypothyroidism, anxiety and struggle with brittle teeth and excessive hair loss.

It may sound exaggerated but Carnivore has defiantly SAVED my life and I am so pleased I am able to share my journey with you today.

2. How did you eat before Carnivore?

During my teen years I became very aware of things like sugar, carbs, gluten and dairy. These things seemed to affect my weight and body very negatively. For the most part I tried cutting them out but never was very serious about it. When I left school, this is when I started forming my Anorexia habits and I basically cut everything out expect low carb veggies and continued to eat this way for about a year and a half. After recovery , when I gained quite a bit of weight back eating whatever I could because I needed huge amounts of calories, I slowly started to restrict again. For some obscure reasons I had an intense fear of fats and protein ( which is ironic because thats basically my whole diet right now) so I opted for mostly veggies and very lean protein in small amounts but absolutely no fat. You could most defiantly call how I ate after becoming weight restored – disordered. Due to the restrictions and my body being so hungry for nutrition, this would lead me to binge on carbie, sugary foods all the time. In 2017 I ate mostly a pescatarian diet but limiting fats and protein and still eating majority veggies. Something I have realised in these few years and right now is my body just doesn’t feel great when eating carbs and this is part of the reason I love carnivore because it makes me feel so great. A year before carnivore, I ate mostly a low carb diet but defiantly did not eat high fat. My relationship with food before carnivore was so messed up and I suffered from severe IBS every time I ate any kind of food whether it was salad, veg, fish etc. I would immediately bloat and become so constipated. I think it is safe to say that my diet before carnivore was all over the place and very inconsistent.

3. Why did you try Carnivore to begin with?

In November 2018 my boyfriend and I took a trip to the US to visit my Aunt in Florida. I had just finished my final year at University and it was defiantly a very stressful time, so when I went over to Florida, I was able to relax and finally focus on fixing all the damage I had done over the years. My whole mindset was defiantly still to be lean and skinny and I remember being wide awake at about 2am due to jet lag and scrolling the internet. Somehow I came across Kevin Stock’s website and started reading his blogs about carnivore. Let me tell you I grew up eating a lot of meat and ever since cutting it out, my body craved it but due to my disordered eating I never let myself have it. So I thought to myself that I would give it a try and I did but I still ate greens and opted for very lean protein. Again my silly fear of fat got the better of me.  In this time I slowly started introducing more beef and I could tell that it was helping my body and just how much my body was craving it. I started becoming ok with eating more and more meat and I gradually increased my calories. It honestly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I was breaking free from my old habits. So I would say initially I tried carnivore for weight-loss and I am so glad I did try it because looking back now it has given me so many more benefits and has helped me heal many things within my body. Just to clarify, I have not lost weight on the carnivore diet, I have actually gained weight since starting it properly, eating only animals and animal products, but this was necessary for my body to heal and I have made peace with that. I have been full carnivore for about 10 months now as prior to that after my US trip I was more meat based and still consuming a few plants in my diet.

4. How do you personally approach  the carnivore diet?

For me I have recently made the change to Grass-fed beef and free range meat only. I am lucky enough to get some great produce from farms around my area. I eat any kind of meat from beef, seafood, chicken, pork, lamb and I love eggs. I eat grass-fed butter, ghee and consume bone broth regularly. Recently I have started incorporating some organ meat in the form of beef heart. I have tried liver but I just can’t stomach the taste so I have found some grass-fed liver capsules which I include into my diet. I keep my diet pretty simple and eat 2 meals a day, lunch and dinner. I like to include eggs in my lunch often and then just eat what ever meat we have available at that time. I love to nibble on bones from the meat ( my weird fetish haha). Recently I noticed I was becoming quite fatigued and lethargic so I have made a conscious effort to up my fat intake which has helped so much.

As for coffee, I know there is some controversy around it but honestly I feel to each their own. Coffee doesn’t seem to affect me negatively and every morning I have a half decaf, half regular brew with some grass-fed collagen mixed into it. Since starting carnivore my need for caffeine has down scaled quite radically and I only honestly drink it for the tase. I don’t drink any alcohol and have not for the last 5 years so that has never really been a factor for me.  I make sure to drink about 2 L of  water daily mostly during my fasting period. I tend to stick to a 16-17 hour fast from my last meal and this works well for me. I have experimented with longer fasting windows but this has been quite triggering for me and I find myself slipping into a ‘binge’ tendency. So for me its pretty simple, eat meat, make sure I’m getting good fats, stay hydrated , eat when hungry and eat to satiety.

I have zero craving with this way of eating so I am never really tempted as I always feel satisfied after my meals.

5. Benefits you have seen on Carnivore?

For me the biggest benefit has been my relationship with food. I am able to eat freely without guilt and the foods I am eating make me feel great. I have noticed that all the food ‘rules’ I created for myself have disappeared and my outlook on food is more for a healing purpose rather than a punishment. My anxiety and depression has lifted and so has my insomnia. I used to wake up every morning at 2am and would not be able to sleep for the rest of the night. Now I very regularly wake up during the night and am getting a good 7 hours. My mood has massively improved. I used to be a very negative person and I think my boyfriend will agree with this on haha. My mental state is so great these days and very regularly to I have bad days where as before it would be the opposite. I am able to be more social with my eating and can enjoy family gatherings and dinners without feeling anxious or out of control. I struggled with so much inflammation from my hypothyroidism and anorexia after becoming weigh restored and since going 100%  carnivore I have lost that ‘puffy’ swollen look on my body and face. I generally  just feel so much more healthier and like a normal functioning human again. This is probably the best I have ever felt in my entire life.

99EBF8EA-8932-4E52-B53D-6CC592F7528C

6. What negatives have you found with Carnivore?

Absolutely none. Carnivore has changed my life so much and has added so much good back into it. One factor that I could mention is that eating this way can become expensive but honestly it is so worth it for me because of all the benefits I have seen. I hear many people talk about how you can’t eat this way and maintain the diet for a long period of time but honestly it can’t be further from the truth. I can totally see myself eating this way for the rest of my life. I don’t miss eating anything I used to eat. My family has accepted my diet and my boyfriend has actually converted to a meat-based way of eating for his own health reasons, so socially I have not experienced any negative.  I have come across some negative comments about the way I eat but this works for me and I don’t have to justify my diet to anybody. Again, to each their own I guess 🙂

7. Do you exercise on the Carnivore diet?

Yes even before I started this I was really into weights and lifting. I still continue to do this and I think it extremely beneficial.  I have always loved being active and now that I finally have gotten my nutrition in a good place my workouts have been great. I feel strong and notice that my endurance has increased so much. My schedule right now is , I like to train full body 4 times a week and on the other days I like to stay active by walking, skipping or doing some sort of cardio. Working out is a great stress reliever for me and I noticed that it has been a huge mood booster as well. My body composition has changed so much since I initially started changing but with Carnivore added into the mix , it has really changed and become leaner and more muscular.  Another thing I have noticed is that my motivation to train has increased since carnivore, I guess because I am able to see change within my body which helps me stay eager.

8. What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet.

Honestly, just do it. I would defiantly recommend to try it for a good few weeks before judging it.  There is so much good information out there now that all your questions or doubts you have about the diet can be answered. For me when I started, I was very hesitant and it slowed the whole process down for me. I wish I just jumped in and started it without all the other bits in-between. So if you are curious or looking to do carnivore for healing, just start.

Something I have learned along my carnivore journey is patience and to not compare your journey to others. We are all different and there is no one-size fits all with this. I think everybody that has started carnivore has different reasons for it so it doesn’t make sense to compare where you are in your journey to someone else. Be patient, let your body heal and don’t focus too much on what others are doing.

9. Do you think carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet?

It is defiantly becoming more popular, no doubt about it but I think it will take some time before it is accepted as a mainstream diet. To most who have not tried it, it seems quite restrictive and excessive but I believe it is becoming more and more popular and people are defiantly way more curious about it.  It is still quite foreign in South Africa and I think there are only a hand-full of carnivore out here but day by day peoples curiosity about the diet is increasing and I hope by sharing my success with it, it will help other gain a new outlook on it. My opinion is that a ‘meat-based’ diet will be more accepted in a society rather than a carnivore way of eating.

10. Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you.

Carnivore has defiantly saved me in so many ways  and it sound crazy but a simple diet change has added so much back into my life. Th amount of support the carnivore community gives each other is so great and  I have recently started becoming more vocal about my lifestyle on instagram. The amount of support I have received from sharing my journey with carnivore and my eating disorder has been great.

I am very active on my instagram @rosie_lombard where I post about my lifestyle and carnivore related things and I also have a second account where I love to post my meals @rosie_eatsmeat. I have recently started a Youtube channel where i will be posting carnivore related content as well as talking about my eating disorder past so if you are keen to follow my journey my Page is called Rose Lombard.

27CF3752-7C8D-4488-8CE7-D8D34CC37579

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Clothing – wide range of Carnivore & Keto inspired apparel under the brand Ketogenic Endurance Carnivore Success Company.

Media

  • The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
  • Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
  • 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”

Stores

Etsy – Unique Carnivore