Rate my Carivore

[tstowater]

Needed to shed as much weight as possible between the first of May and 20th of August when I go to Colorado for a sheep hunt. My fault and work and life had gotten me where I was. No excuses. Did some research and liked the concept of Carnivore the best. With the proper incentive, which I now have, transition was easy as I had already eliminated all booze and most processed food. Started Carnivore on about the 20th of May.

I haven't been weighing myself but I do have a starting point. I have a checkup next Friday so I will have an idea if working. I know that it is based on how my clothes fit. Down one size already and second likely next week. I work out 5 to 7 days a week, depending on what else is going on. I'm 62 and this will be my 4th sheep hunt so I know what it takes other than the elevation will be quite a bit higher.

Before I started Carnivore, resting heart rate was 57. After I started, it climbed to 64 and now is at 60 and will likely drop a some more. BP is good. Early May was 112/74 and that was overweight and just started working out.

Generally eating two meals a day, could easily go to one if made sense. Minimal snacking. Breakfast if varied, but I'm guessing 70 grams fat and 40 grams protein as an average comprised of sausage, bacon, eggs, steak and burger with added butter. Skip lunch. Dinner will vary with NY strips, hamburgers, skinless brats, etc. Dinner fat is 60 to 80 grams and protein is going to be 70ish. Extent of cheating was 3 pickle slices one night.

I do a Wilderness Athlete Energy and Focus and Hydrate and Recover and a goat whey immune booster product early in the morning. They are about my only carbs, probably about 20 grams.

I would say I am averaging 120 grams of fat, 100 grams of protein and 20ish carbs. Not hungry, plenty of water but could use a little more water. Best estimate is 110-120 oz. Good supplement program and good amount of salt. Got LMNT coming. Plenty of red meat in the freezer. Could probably eat NY strips every day and not run out before the hunt. Down to a half cup of coffee and could stop that at any time.

I want weight loss first and maintain muscle mass second at this point. I know that I am way under suggested fat and protein levels based on current weight but I don't feel like eating more and workouts aren't suffering. Suggestions and constructive comments appreciated. Thanks

 

[BadDogPSD]

Sounds like you're doing good! I also find it hard to eat the recommended amounts. I try to stay away from any sweeteners as they do trigger an insulin response. LMNT uses maltodextrin and other 'natural' flavorings.

 

[tstowater]

Scale says that am down 25 lbs since May 2nd. Started Carnivore on about May 20th. Was just eating healthier than before then. Was right where I was hoping to be. Planning on another 25 or more by the 20th of August. Will see how it goes. Trying to figure how to stay reasonably carnivore on the hunt.

 

[The Fat Coyote]

Keep it goin man! I am down 43 pounds on Carnivore, transitioning to animal based, but might go back to carnivore depending on my skin conditions. I started carnivore and all of my dry skin issues cleared up. Slowly healed my body, not looking to introduce certain fruits but still zero junk. Hopefully you continue to see awesome progress and all your goal numbers

 

[tstowater]

Been three weeks since last weigh in. Curiosity is going to get me better anything else. My measurement is clothes fitting. Wearing stuff that wouldn't have come close to wearing when I started. Dropped coffee. Don't miss it. Considering dropping some of the supplements. Really don't miss other food. Resting heart rate is at 56 according to the Fitbit. Sleeping better. Can't figure anything negative about carnivore.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

Been doing carnivore for over two years. I didn’t from the start pay any attention to calories or micro/macro nutirents. I eat when I am hungry and stop when it doesn’t taste good anymore. Your body will go through some serious changes over the first 90 days. Fat is where your body gets fuel, protein help rebuild so make sure you get plenty of fat first. If you’re tired and dragging you are not getting enough. I almost 50 and eat way less than I did when I started. As for staying carnivore on a hunt, I have a long post on how I do that. Its really easy, but one thing I have found is I don’t get hungry on backcountry hunts. I have to make sure I eat each day or it catches up to me on the 3rd or fourth day. But I never eat a whole lot and can maintain high energy levels through 10-14 day hunts. I will try to link my prior post.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

Couldn’t figure out how to link earlier posts so I will cut and paste.

I am almost 50 and been on the carnivore diet for about two years. I spend over 30 days in the backcountry every year hunting, hiking and scouting. In the off season I run 40-60 miles a week, do strength training and hit trails with my bike on 50+ mile rides. Never felt better in my life, but it did take some figuring out.

For backcountry trips I plan out each days food to include protein and fat but I pay no attention to calories or macro numbers. For context I am 5’10” and 210lbs. I have found that I eat very little when I am on these trips. Last September my son and I spent 16 days out on a grueling back country mule deer hunt. We packed enough food for the whole trip along with our gear in EXO 5000 packs.

What we bring is as follows.

For fluids - LMNT electrolyte packs, MTN Ops collagen packs, Lono Life bone broth, Paleovalley unflavored bone broth and Black Rifle instant coffee packs.

For fat - butter powder, freeze dried cheese

For protein - Freeze dried sausage, burger, beef chunks and eggs.

For snacks - Chomps beef sticks, homemade salted jerky (our Costco sells thin sliced New York steak we salt and dehydrate) and the freeze dried cheese.

For the hike in we make sure we hydrate well and eat a good meal before heading in. Depending on exertion we snack every hour even if we aren’t hungry. You have to stay ahead of the curve when your body is only processing fat. Every couple hours we dump a collagen pack and or unflavored beef broth in a water bottle along with an electrolyte pack. The collagen and broth adds protein and is tasteless. Once we are in we make our dinners and breakfast out of the freeze dried meats and eggs. We will dump a packet of bone broth and a packet of collagen in each meal along with a butter packet. This regimen has worked amazing for us, we feel great and have tons of energy. I drink coffee and when I make my morning cup I also add the collagen and broth to that.

For the freeze dried cheese, meats, unflavored bone broth and butter we order bulk cans and then vacuum seal single serving size portions. Doesn’t take a lot to keep you full and it weighs very little. Also takes very little space in your pack. I will add some pics of the stuff we use.

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[Jtb.kfd]

For meals, I seal 2oz (my son does 3oz) of protein and then account for one pack of broth, one pack of collagen and a butter packet for each meal.

Each breakfast/dinner (I pack two per day) weighs in at 4oz each plus additional snacks and drink mixes for a total daily food weight of 12oz. For a 5-7 day trip I would pack approximately 5lbs of food/nutrition.

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[wh0cansay]

Feeling good? Then you're good.

Don't overthink this stuff so much, carnivore diet is meant to be simple.

Fatty meat, salt, water.

 

[tstowater]

Curiosity won. Down 40 as of this morning. 5 more weeks until hunt. Should be able to drop another 15-20 lbs. Thanks for the input Jtb.kfd.

 

[dirtshooter]

Brian Call has a YouTube video talking about his backcountry carnivore meals that he makes with his harvest right.