Anyone have problems doing strict carnivore?

[Dos Perros]

If you have an open mind, check out Dan Buettner's book The Blue Zones.

The dude, through statistics, identifies a handful of geographical zones of people who live the longest, and then tries to isolate commonalities between them, suspecting that those correlate to longer life. I would expect the diet trends to be met with criticism here, but whatever you do you.

 

[bdan68]

Almost two years for me, on a carnivore diet. No issues at all. I lost 60 pounds in the first 3 to 4 months and have had no problems maintaining that weight. I'm 55 and never tried to lose weight or eat any kind of special diet my whole life, until 2 years ago when I started on keto and then transitioned into carnivore after a couple months. I take no vitamins or supplements of any kind. I do eat beef liver a couple times a month.

 

[Marbles]

If you have an open mind, check out Dan Buettner's book The Blue Zones.

The dude, through statistics, identifies a handful of geographical zones of people who live the longest, and then tries to isolate commonalities between them, suspecting that those correlate to longer life. I would expect the diet trends to be met with criticism here, but whatever you do you.

I may look into that book. Genetics and epigenetics complications things. Icelandic people have genetics that differ from those of their European ancestors who settled in Iceland about 1000 years ago. The genetics of their ancestors look like typical European genetics, the genetics of Icelandic people today does not. It is thought this is one reason they are so long lived today.

 

[Mojave]

If you haven't figured it out already, "diets" are an American phenomenon to prey on the ignorant. Just live your life. Moderation goes a long way.

No, it doesn’t. It’s not how it works. No diet based on moderation has ever been successful.

 

[Chad Fenton]

This post is pretty a good read. Kinda comical everyone that tells you it's not feasible to got strict Carnivore. Lack of vitamin c , scurvy.... I eat strict Carnivore, currently eating NY stip steaks, that's what was on sale at the butcher at $5.48/ lb for the whole rack, bought 2 they cut them into 1"steaks and that will last me a few weeks, dinner and super. I can not put into words how much better I feel with this way of eating. Look up what Jordan Peterson and his daughter Makayla Peterson have to say about it....... Pretty convincing. Along with several Dr.'s out there that have plenty of data to back it up. My daughter is a travel softballer and it can be difficult while traveling and counting on eating out this way. I have just about decided I'm better of cooking a few steaks for the weekend., cut them up and eat when I'm hungry.

 

[rifletuner]

I have been eating a low carb diet since early in 2003. I started with Atkins and back then everyone told me it would kill me for sure. I lost close to 60 pounds in the first 18 months of Atkins and I have stayed on some form of low carb approach to eating since then. My weight has been pretty constant over that time.

I live in Melbourne Australia, so had the "distinction" of living in the most locked down city in the world through 2020 to 2022. In 2020 we were not allowed out of our house for any reason other than food/grocery shopping, getting tested for the virus or other medical care, or to exercise for up to one hour. I was not allowed to work for a continuous period of 8 weeks in 2020. At work, I walk an average of 5 kilometres, and after weeks of mostly sitting at home surfing the web, I noticed I was putting on weight even though my diet hadn't changed.

I had been hearing a lot about carnivore around that time, so made the decision to go on the carnivore in September 2020. I also picked up my exercise, at the same time to get me back to what I would normally do on a work day. I have maintained the diet since that time with no issues. My son started eating the same way when I went on carnivore, and he has maintained it as well. The only things that are non carnivore that I consume are: 2 cups of coffee each day (no sweetener), some red wine, and a Keto cheese cake that my wife makes with an almond meal crust.

I already ate a pretty restrictive diet pre-carnivore, but I have not had any issues maintaining the carnivore diet since I have been on it. I definitely haven't had scurvy, my blood work has been good. My cholesterol is on the high end of whats considered to be the normal range.

 

[Team4LongGun]

You are asking the wrong question, and to the wrong people. Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, go to some kind of Nutritionist and ask them what diet is best for what you are trying to do. That's the only real answer you can get.

This is thread derailment.

 

[Team4LongGun]

But the original question is either too broad or too misleading. There's really no such thing as a 100%-strict "carnivore diet" for humans - without at least SOME fiber and the vitamins we get from plants, we'd die of simple stuff like scurvy just like 1600's sailors did. What do you really want to know?

The original question seems very straight forward. You, and a few others, are derailing.

This is a good topic, and if you feel you have a good topic, you are free to create your own thread, and share your opinion, ask a question etc.

I think @*zap* was very clear on what he wanted to know.

 

[Mojave]

Tell me what issues you have had. Thanks.

None and 100 percent of my gout and arthritis is gone.

 

[JBrew]

None and 100 percent of my gout and arthritis is gone.

I eat an extra few pieces of bacon and I can't move tomorrow!

 

[*zap*]

I eat an extra few pieces of bacon and I can't move tomorrow!

bacon makes your joints hurt?

 

[5MilesBack]

No diet based on moderation has ever been successful.

How do you define a "successful" diet? I would expect that being healthy and not overweight would be a successful diet. Plenty of people around the world that have that eating in moderation.

I guess the question would be "why do people change their diets". I would assume to change their current health or weight. Zap, why did you change?

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I know two people that have done it. One had a rough two week adjustment period but then felt great. The other it didn’t work for their body, got really sick and they never really adjusted. I think everyone’s body is different, do what works for you!

 

[Mojave]

Grains and sugar cause inflammation not meat. If your eating bacon cured with sugar it is a problem.

Check out the Carb Addiction Docs Rob Cewws and Dr Ken Berry.

 

[Mojave]

Go see a bio-feedback specialist. Find out if you can handle an all meat diet.

 

[stoopiddumbman]

I did strict carnivore for 9 months (strict meaning meat/animal fat, pure salt, and water only - so no bacon (preservatives))

Benefits I noticed:
- I immediately lost weight, about 25 pounds per month for 2 months. I went from obese 198 (I'm 5'8") to probably a little too skinny 143. I added some muscle weight from there but putting on fat would be hard.
- inflammation problems I had seemed to go away or lessen, it didn't completely resolve joint problems or do anything miraculous like the people online will tell you but it was noticeable
- I did feel more alert, didn't feel a need for coffee, again nothing miraculous
- After awhile I felt no addiction or desire for sugar, coffee, or alcohol
- Less brain fog for sure
- Probably the biggest benefit I noticed is I used to have to eat constantly or I would get sugar shakes, I am not diabetic or anything but I am high strung and ate normal high carb diet. My doctor recommended eating more donuts (slams head into wall). This completely went away and I could go 2 days easy without eating and not feel any weird blood sugar issues.

The bad:
- At first I tried to follow what other people were doing, many recommended like 2 to 1 fat to meat. This was too much and just pure diarrhea the whole time I tried (for months). Once I gave up on that I just ate above average fat meat or added a little tallow and poops were fine and I felt much better.
- People thought I was weird
- Eating at restaurants was basically not an option, which didn't really bother me. But family dinners and stuff like that were awkward especially for someone who hates being a burden. Many times I would bring a bowl of meat and go eat it in the car shamefully when no one noticed.

After:
- Hard to explain but when I was eating like this everything just felt grey and kind of blah. Not depression or anything in fact I think I had less lows. But also less highs. After 9 months I ate a potato and everything became more colorful again it was weird.
- after 9 months I tried a little piece of candy and it tasted like I took a drink out of an oil drum, pretty much everything with sugar just tasted like chemicals at first. Quickly my body went back to craving it.
- I don't think my body is more affected by bad food now but I think I notice it a lot more. Certain preservatives and any kind of vegetable oil especially make me feel terrible.
- I started getting a belly again as soon as I added carbs back in

Some notes:
- scurvy argument: doesn't seem to happen, I believe it is thought the lack of sugar in the diet makes the requirement significantly lower (natural high sugar food is usually high in vitamin C)
- low vitamin D/other vitamins and minerals: it is argued that most of the vitamins from vegetables are not well absorbed. Vitamins from vegetables are usually in different forms and less absorb-able. Vitamin D from vegetables is D2 where as Vitamin D from animal fat is D3. So even if you are getting less the ones you are getting your body can actually use. If you dive into how they determine daily minimum values and all that stuff it will make you question whether anyone, scientist or otherwise really knows much of anything about this stuff. It really seems to me like none of them have any idea.
- people are doing raw carnivore with ground meat from the grocery store and they are insane
- a lot of the people who do carnivore are ex-vegans, I don't know if it is an attention thing or what for them
- I think a lot of the people who are saying they are doing it are full of crap, even some of the bigger names. But they will sell you a book about it.
- I don't think I will ever do it strictly again but I do feel much better with meat as the primary staple in my diet with other food that I feel is healthy and doesn't make me feel junky.
- my research showed that a very low carb diet like this is hard on the liver

 

[*zap*]

^
Thanks so much for you write up.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Grains and sugar cause inflammation not meat. If your eating bacon cured with sugar it is a problem.

Check out the Carb Addiction Docs Rob Cewws and Dr Ken Berry.

Not saying some inflammation isn’t happening but thats some people’s opinion,why would most CrossFit,football,track etc eat carbs if they were to cause inflammation bad enough to be a problem.
I think the problem is toads that sit around and eat sugar/carbs mixed with fat.

 

[Billogna]

Great thread! I've been toying with carnivore for a few weeks now, off and on. So far the days where I ate only meat I've felt better overall. And once I went back to carbs the bloating returned overnight along with indigestion. I've been staying away from seed oils and gone back to butter and lard for cooking. That seems to have helped a lot too! Gonna give it another go soon but I feel like adding fresh fruits from time to time and a sweet potato here and there might be good for morale. Thoughts?

 

[*zap*]

Maybe try apples and hard cheese.