My name is Adam, and this is my carnivore story. MEAT HEALS!
May 12, 2018
Background
I am a 46-year-old male who slowly became 30 pounds overweight from eating and drinking too much and not exercising.
I decided I wanted to get back in shape, but despite increasingly strenuous workouts (from 30 to 45 to 60 to 90 to even 120 minutes over six months, mostly weight training), I only lost 5 pounds and did put on some muscle but couldn’t see it well thru the middle-aged tire/fat. I was constantly sore and injured myself three times in 6 months pushing too hard to improve my physique.
I avoided sugar and processed carbs but still drank too much beer and had too many binge attacks where I would polish off insane amounts of bad food because of intense cravings.
My Carnivore Story
I started reading bodybuilding articles trying to figure out where I was going wrong, and stumbled onto Vince Gironda’s “steak and eggs” diet for bodybuilders to cut fat and get ripped. He was a trainer decades ago (reportedly once worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger).
He just ate steak and eggs at every meal and had a cheat day once a week to replenish body carbohydrate stores. I was frustrated (and sore) and decided to give it a go.
I felt absolutely terrible the whole first week. I never looked forward to a day more than my first cheat day at the end of that week. I had low energy, brain fog, diarrhea, aches and pains (more than usual), cold sore on my lip (only got when physical and/or mental stress) – basically felt like I had a bad flu.
But I read a lot that week and learned that this was a temporary thing according to the crazy carnivores before me. On the morning my cheat day was to start, I had lost 5 pounds. I also didn’t really feel that hungry.
I ate like a maniac on my cheat day but vowed to try one more week, as many said, after two weeks is when things start getting easier.
The second week sucked. I felt terrible and told myself if I didn’t feel better by the end of the week, screw it. It wasn’t worth it to feel sick all the time! I still wasn’t very hungry and ate only twice a day (lunch and dinner) and drank black coffee for breakfast and water the rest of the day.
By day nine, I noticed I didn’t really feel like having beers after work anymore (a 20-year habit suddenly gone?!).
When I woke up around day 11, the “keto flu” (as some call it, e.g., carbohydrate withdrawal) was gone.
I had higher energy levels than I had felt in months. I felt fantastic! By this time, I stumbled onto this crazy (like a fox) Carnivore doctor named Shawn Baker, Amber O’Hearn, the Inuit, and others within the internet rabbit hole of forbidden dietary knowledge.
I still had a cheat meal at the end of the 2nd week, but I didn’t really need it like I did the first week, and I thought of it more as a reward than as a necessity.
It has now been 60 days since the end of that 2nd week. It is my lifestyle now, not a “lose fat” diet. I have already lost all the fat I need to and am now at what I feel is a healthy weight for me. I feel and look great and don’t ever plan on going back. This way of eating has changed my life!
Positive Impacts On My Life Of This Diet
- Lost 30 pounds in 45 days and now at desired body weight. All while eating until full and snacking when needed.
- No attempt to restrict calories at all. Most effortless weight loss ever (and I have tried many fad diets over the years).
- No longer sore for more than a few hours after working out. Ready to go the next day. Seems easier to get stronger and bigger, too.
- Working out less and seeing better muscle gains.
- Feel and look 20 years younger. Mentally and physically improved in so many ways.
- No more heartburn. Ever. Used to pop Pepcid pills like candy.
- Don’t feel like drinking alcohol anymore after drinking too much for about 25 years or so. It wasn’t part of the plan, but I’ll take it!
- Don’t get intense cravings for food and no longer miss the foods I don’t eat. Doesn’t feel like I’m “on a diet.”
- Don’t usually get hungry between meals anymore, but happy to have some bacon if I do.
- Energy levels are more steady, and I still have energy left to spare after a hard day at work. Don’t get sleepy after eating anymore.
Negatives
- The first ten days totally sucked for me. I almost quit twice. Glad I stuck with it. I feel like I now understand what a heroin addict goes thru during withdrawal!
- Going to eat outside the home is trickier. Let’s just say Brazilian steakhouses are my new favorite.
- Getting weird muscle cramps sometimes, especially when running. Been trying to up my salt intake.
