From Bodybuilding Diet to Carnivore Lifestyle: Brian’s Journey
Before switching to a carnivore diet, Brian spent many years following what he calls a “traditional bodybuilding diet”, which included chicken, rice, and broccoli. He followed the guidance of a high-carb, high-protein, and low-fat diet, and regularly tracked his macros. He ate 5-6 times per day, and suffered from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and extreme lethargy.
Overcoming Digestive Issues and Lethargy with Carnivore Diet
“I was basically megadosing on caffeine,” Brian shares. “I was consuming about 800 mg per day when I was in college, and just had a general sense of lethargy.” He also had bad acne that he attributed to stress. “The biggest thing I noticed was that I’d always have small muscle tears in my hamstrings and other muscles, and sprains from playing college sports,” he recalls. After hearing Mark Bell and Dr. Paul Saladino on a podcast interview, Brian made the decision to switch from a whole foods diet to a carnivore diet to see if it could help his symptoms.
Simplifying Nutrition: Why Brian Switched to a Meat-Based Diet
“Nutrition just made more sense to me,” Brian recalls. “It was less magic, less smoke and mirrors, and was just simpler.” He still enjoys tracking his food intake which helps him stay on plan and avoid consuming too many calories. He found he’s more satiated on a carnivore diet as well. “I could never feel satisfied eating a high carbohydrate diet. I could sit down and eat about three extra large pizzas and still be hungry,” he recalls. “But with meat, it’s nearly impossible to eat 3 pounds of meat in one sitting.”
Benefits of a Carnivore Diet: Increased Satiety and Steady Energy
Work keeps Brian very busy, so he enjoys starting his day with a large meal of eggs and sausage, which sustains him until the afternoon with steady energy. “I no longer have that 2 pm slump. I don’t feel like I need a nap anymore. My energy is much steadier on a carnivore diet.” He found he was able to lose the extra weight and eliminate bloating after switching to a meat-based diet.
A Holistic Approach to Health: Brian’s Discoveries on a Carnivore Diet
Brian has a relatively easy time switching from a keto diet to a carnivore diet, but did experience some changes to his bowel movements in the first couple of weeks. He went from one extreme on a high-fiber diet to the other, but has found it has stabilized over time. “I had IBS and my leaky gut was horrible, but now all of that has gone away,” he says.
Now, a little over a year into his carnivore journey, Brian enjoys understanding more about his health. “My health is less of a mystery to me. I learned things like adding collagen helped me with hair growth and healed my numerous muscle tears. Overall, carnivore has led me to discover a more holistic approach to my health, and it’s had a waterfall effect with a cascade of benefits.” Mark is now a certified Carnivore.Diet coach and is looking forward to helping others find a gateway to better health through a carnivore lifestyle.
