Free Trial
Free Trial

Injuries

Real People, Real Results​

Michelle ran her first half-marathon at 61 on a low-carb diet

December 20, 2022 1 Comment

Michelle – 61 year old female, soon to be 62 in January

12/2021 Started carnivore – At that time, I was using a type of macro tracker which, based upon my metrics and goals, had me at adequate protein, low fat, and low carb. Since the end of 2018, I had been dealing with chronic forearm tendonitis and both lateral and medial elbow pain in my left arm. Also, I have always dealt with constipation, bloating, and lower energy. Since my early 40s, I’ve had a small eczema patch, which I affectionately began to call my barometer. Since I had a sense of how much protein to eat and my carbs were quite low, I decided to give carnivore a try to see if I could mitigate my arm pain, and address constipation, bloating, and eczema.

What I learned during my first year as a carnivore:

  • I call meat, with its requisite fat, my gate keeper. As long as I have adequate protein, with the fat it contains, my energy is stable and I have no cravings.
  • I hydrate throughout the day (water), and use electrolytes during endurance activities.
  • Constipation and bloating resolved immediately, as if I never had them. Eczema resolved, but it does present a bit when I eat eggs.
  • Arm pain is much better, but not completely resolved. Most of the time I am not in pain (prior to carnivore, I was always in pain). While I do love to lift (compound movements), they don’t always love me back (sometimes my arm hurts and sometimes not). The pain doesn’t necessarily present in real time, so I am never sure of what’s going to hurt and what won’t until after I’m done with a workout. There’s something about stepping up to a bar (regardless of the grip) or dumbbells that doesn’t always agree with my arm, regardless of the weight. However, during this year, I discovered that lifting really heavy things (sand bags, tire flips, hay bales, grain bags), close to my body, generates great blood flow, without any pain in my arm. This type of activity makes me so happy. I can work hard and I never experience pain.
  • I realized that I had forgotten to take my supplements for thyroid and adrenals, which I dutifully had taken for years, after starting carnivore. Once I realized this, I no longer felt that I needed them.
  • Initially, I didn’t take off weight, but I could tell that my body was changing because my clothes fit differently. I ditched the scales. Eventually, I took off about 8 lbs, but my clothes fit the same.
  • I no longer feel compelled to chase errant bio-markers (mostly thyroid). If I feel fine, I’m going to assume I’m fine, and as long as I stay carnivore.
  • My sleep is solid.
  • I eat when I’m hungry.
  • Favorite steak cut: chuck-eye
  • Favorite braise cut: cross-cut shank
  • When I go on longer runs (5-6 miles), my body is fine. Before carnivore, I felt like I had done work after a long run day, and I would give my body a break the next day. Now I don’t even notice the longer distance and feel that I could do it again the next day.
  • Highlight during my first year as a carnivore:
    In June, I ran a half-marathon at altitude (about 4800 feet elevation, near Glacier National Park). I neither train that distance, nor run at altitude. My energy and expenditure was fine throughout the run. Afterward, I felt like I had worked, but my recovery was rather seamless. I took the next day off, except for some light walking. The following day I was fine. No carbohydrates required!

Further background about me
I have always been very active, but struggled with weight (either over or under eating). I was constantly on the go, yet fatigued. I always assumed that I was low thyroid, based upon my symptoms. The doctor would check one thyroid marker, which would be in normal range, and tell me I was fine. I love to cook and love to eat. I’ve always been bloated and constipated. I like to do deep dives into information and many N=1 experiments.

In the early 2000s, we embraced Weston Price and Nourishing Traditions. We sourced local grass-fed meat, always tried to source organic produce, and adopted food and lifestyle as our medicine.

Between 2008 and 2018 we farmed in Oregon, raising/selling pastured/grass-fed meat. I started paleo in 2012 and Crossfit in 2013 (5 days per week). I was also active in physically-demanding equine sport and ran 3-4 days per week. I was perimenopausal/menopausal. By 2014, I was in post-menopause and in the pre-diabetic range (A1C of 5.7).

Between 2014 and 2019, I began keto paleo and intermittent fasting, often interchanging days of each. I tried low-fodmap for bloating. Sleep was not great. Adrenals were tapped. I had some low thyroid markers (mostly T3). No autoimmunity. I probably had a cortisol response from much underfeeding, intermittent fasting, and much activity. I tracked blood glucose throughout the day for several years. My A1C didn’t really lower significantly but glucose ranges were so narrow that it was assumed that I wasn’t headed for diabetes, given my food choices and activity level.

By the end of 2018, I had developed chronic forearm tendonitis and both lateral and medial elbow pain from overuse. In 2019, I began using the RP app, which gave me a breakdown of macros that were right for me. I stopped intermittent fasting and started fueling, especially on protein! Had more carbs than I previously had. Great results! Lowered weight and body fat.

In 2020 I got out of the pre-diabetic range (A1C 5.4). I assumed it was because I added back in some carbs. I now know that it was more so that I wasn’t underfueling and stressing my body out.

At the end of 2021, I started carnivore. I love vegetables but don’t miss them, as long as I eat enough protein and fat. In 2022, a few months into my carnivore journey (March), I tried the fruit/honey (small amounts) route for a few weeks. My energy wasn’t great during this time and especially with the honey, it was a slippery slope having it in the house. My lower energy resolved when I ended the short fruit/honey stint. I didn’t miss either. After the brief fruit/honey experiment, I added in some electrolytes, which my body seemed to crave. Was it the electrolytes or was it the hydration that my body was craving? Now, I use electrolytes during endurance activities or if I feel tired, but I endeavor to stay well-hydrated. Recently, I tried adding in more butter. I like the idea of it, but if I add it on top of adequate daily protein, it is just too much fuel for me. Even with increasing activity, my clothes were just getting tighter. I’d need to decrease protein, if I am going to add more fat. Right now my activities include: Functional Range Conditioning, strength training (not always with a bar), rowing, running, rucking, hiking. While I am interested in getting stronger, I no longer want to work against a clock in HIIT activities on a daily basis. It’s great fun and comradery, but too much wear and tear for me.

 

For 2023, I have plans for two more half-marathons: one near Grand Tetons and one near Yellowstone. Hope to get to more runs in other beautiful locations, as I am able.

#Carnivoreforthewin!

Christina Manages Hypoglycemia And Is Headed To The World Masters Athletics Championships

November 7, 2022 No Comments

An avid athlete, Christina grew up on red meat and casseroles. When she got to college, however, she swapped out the red meat for a “healthier” diet of grilled chicken, salad, protein shakes and Special K cereal—the low-fat / high-carb diet recommended to athletes the world over.

Initially a soccer player, she got recruited to run track her sophomore year of college, when the track coach attended a game and noticed her speed. Happy to avoid future injury on the soccer field, Christina agreed to try out—the coach suggesting she run the 400 meter dash. “The first time I ran it collegiately—I didn’t even know how to come out of blocks—I ran 58 seconds. So, he was like, ‘Oh, we’re keeping you in track!’”

Christina would go on to become a two-time All-American, but behind the scenes of her athletic success, she was struggling to manage severe hypoglycemia. Even though she would make sure to load up on carbs before every race, it still wasn’t enough to help her avoid a crash—sometimes leading to her passing out. As she neared graduation, she started to experience painful gut issues as well, and although she had Olympic dreams—with her health problems persisting—she decided to hang up her cleats.

After college, Christina became a teacher and track coach in rural Nebraska. She also went on to get married and start a family, and was blessed with two beautiful daughters. On her 30th birthday, she came down with a terrible case of the flu. While miserable and sick in bed, she discovered Dr. Ken Berry’s book, Lies My Doctor Told Me. After reading it, she decided to incorporate red meat back into her diet, and within a month—she felt drastically different.

Christina’s bloating and stomach distress completely disappeared. Her hypoglycemia went away, and since going on the carnivore diet, she hasn’t had a single hypoglycemic episode in four and a half years! Her passion for running was also reignited, and she began training with a coach again, who encouraged her to compete at the Masters level. She also has a six-pack and more muscle now in her mid-thirties than she had in her twenties.

Christina’s athletic goals took a slight detour after she became pregnant with her son. She continued to eat a carnivore diet throughout all 9 months of her pregnancy, joking, “I built this child on steak and eggs!” She observed that she experienced much less fatigued with her third pregnancy than her previous two—and her body bounced back so quickly—she was able to return to training only seven weeks giving the birth!

A little over a decade after she kissed her athletic aspirations goodbye, Christina is now an 800 meter specialist running world class times. Over the last two years, she has won 4 National Titles in the 800m and the 1500m, and is currently training for her first World Team event in Toruń, Poland in March of 2023. She beams with joy as she says, “I’m super excited—it’ll be my first Team USA uniform.”

Alex gets relief from PTSD, weight, joint pain, heart burn, and ADHD on the carnivore diet

November 3, 2022 No Comments

Alex, 57, is a carpenter and lives in Colorado. He grew up in Boulder and likes to ski and race mountain bikes.

Alex longed to be a natural athlete but always had to “struggle” for his performance.

Anytime he got fit, Alex restricted his calories and exercised “like a maniac.” “I was miserable, irritable, and people didn’t like being around me.”

Alex says he didn’t do well with the Standard American Diet and “it really spilled over into my mental health.” He had ADHD. Getting a four-year degree took him six years—” I just couldn’t focus.”

In 2018, Alex did a 50-mile mountain bike race. He ate a lot of beans and lean protein at the time—no fat. Two weeks later, in July, he had an accident and was run over by an 1800-pound ATV. He landed in the hospital for four days.

His physical injuries weren’t life-threatening, but they were debilitating. He suffered from broken ribs, a brachial plexus injury—which left him with a dead right hand—a crushed left ankle, and his knees sustained a lot of damage. He thinks this is because he had extreme joint inflammation.

Although his physical injuries were significant, he says he was really affected by PTSD. “I had trauma and didn’t feel safe on this planet,” Alex recounts. Also, he had suicidal ideations. If you or someone you know has thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by texting 988 or calling 1-800-273-8255.

Before carnivore, Alex says he was eating a lot of fast food. “I was taking antacid tablets like Skittles. If I didn’t know it was heartburn, I’d think I was having a heart attack.”

Basically, he was “just tired of being sick and tired.”

Alex found Dr. Baker online and came to carnivore over three months ago. “I don’t think I’ll ever look back.”

Many of Alex’s physical injuries and health issues have completely resolved or improved since he started carnivore.

“I have incredible focus now. I go to work and I have to do my share of computer work and I sit down and bang out emails and spreadsheets.”

Alex feels his trauma has resolved because he couldn’t focus with PTSD, and he’s no longer suicidal.

Although he’s not restricting or exercising like crazy, he’s dropped 20 lbs.

Before carnivore, he could do three push-ups. Today he can do fifty. ‘My muscle mass is increasing and I’m doing way more and it’s way easier.”

His ankle has a better range of motion, without any physical therapy. This is happening “organically.” And his right hand is ninety percent better.

“I’m a nicer guy” today and recalls when his mom told him that he’s so much more patient and much nicer.

Alex says, “I’ve never been hungry in the last three months.” He enjoys ribeyes with salt, dipped in Kerrygold butter.

Alex is optimistic. “I have hope since going carnivore. I’m gonna buy a ski pass this year and I’m gonna do that 50-mile mountain bike race five years after the accident. I’m gonna do [it] better, faster, stronger than I ever had before.”

Ray’s Scale No Longer Dies Beneath Him

June 21, 2022 No Comments

Age: 65

Very Low Carb , meat heavy “Ketovore” for 2 1/2 years.

Was formerly athletic, became morbidly obese, peaking at least 365 pounds I actually don’t know HOW HIGH my final weight went because my scale DIED beneath me one morning. Within half a year of this dietary change (heavy meat ketovore) , I was down to 332 pounds and feeling great.

My food before Ketovore was primarily ‘rice and something’. Lots of veggies, peppers, onions ginger/garlic and often a few slices of meat, but always half a plate or more of Indian Basmati rice or Japanese ‘sticky’ rice. If I ate a pound of meat per WEEK it was unusal. Using Indian spices, the food smelled and tasted terrific. However, my sweet tooth was strong. SWEET coffee, a “healthy” muffin or other snack with more sweet coffee at intervals less than 2 hours. My endurnce was very poor: having to refuel at two hour intervals during the work day or my energy and concentration would decay badly. Being an engineer, concentration and endurance are critically important. My eyes were rapidly decaying (posterior uvitis/”bird shot” Rx = predinisone 60mG/Day) to delay my eventual DIAGNOSED impending blindness!!! Rapidly increasing obesity and blood pressure.

My food before Ketovore was primarily ‘rice and something’. Lots of veggies, peppers, onions ginger/garlic and often a few slices of meat, but always half a plate or more of Indian Basmati rice or Japanese ‘sticky’ rice. If I ate a pound of meat per WEEK it was unusal. Using Indian spices, the food smelled and tasted terrific. However, my sweet tooth was strong. SWEET coffee, a “healthy” muffin or other snack with more sweet coffee at intervals less than 2 hours. My endurnce was very poor: having to refuel at two hour intervals during the work day or my energy and concentration would decay badly. Being an engineer, concentration and endurance are critically important. My eyes were rapidly decaying (posterior uvitis/”bird shot” Rx = predinisone 60mG/Day) to delay my eventual DIAGNOSED impending blindness!!! Rapidly increasing obesity and blood pressure.

My good friend Al suggested that I might consider “Keto” helpful (I was morbidly obese) for him, he took off 20-25 pounds his first month and felt GREAT. I am a “why guy” I need to know WHY something works, before I will even consider it valid to test. I studied all I could find online about the theory of why Low Carb WORKs. Internet and books by Drs. Jason Fung, Ken Berry, I began to understand the HORMONAL response to my high carb, refined sugar and “vegetable oils” diet. Nina Teichulz was a wealth of information on fake oils and real meat. Your channel was in there BUT I can tell you that – at that time- I thought that I would never go full carnivore because I was so conditioned to believe that it was unhealthy. Now, here I am.


Initially my dietary rules were simple: zero surgars, absolutely 20gm of carbohydrates or less per day, no fake oils. I measured my morning/fasting blood sugars, blood pressure and more, my Wife (a very good nurse) assumned that if this worked, I would eventurally need to reduce or eliminate some medications: that was indeed a correct assumption. We were both VERY concerned about my eventual ‘need’ for insulin injections looming in my future as a T2 diabetic; we both knew that we could not afford it with my greatly reduced retirement income.

I noticed the loss of fat and was amazed, to be satisfied. If I became ‘snacky’ I’d make bacon and eggs or a burger patty and the problem was solved. I began eating more meat and above ground veggies in rich butter/heavy cream sauces with caramelized red wine for flavor (Remember the “French paradox”? They eat full fat everything and are generally slim. 🙂 I was still doing breakfast, so 3 – 4 egg, butter omelets with some chives and garlic, with cheese started the day with coffee. Red meats at meals were rapidly introduced in increasingly larger amounts. 1 – 2 pounds becoming normal.

 

  1. Ribeyes = I finally understood what being ‘sated’ at mealtime meant!
  2. My energy between meals was excellent – no slumps as when I was carb fueled. It was like having a huge fuel tank once I was ‘fat adapted’. My Wife noticed that my energy level was ‘through the roof’: house projects and more were getting done.
  3. My morning fasting blood sugars dropped from the 200’s to below 100 for the first time since I began monitoring them a year earlier.
  4. Due to light-headedness, I went off Metformin – which required a few tries before I stabilized.
  5. BP was far too low 117/70’ish and I worked with my Doc to get a ‘baby dose’ of Losartan, which I still seem to require. (I’ve been hypertensive since my thirties – high stress jobs…)

 


Before diet change – my diagnosed ‘conditions’ and symptoms were:

  • Severe Sleep Apnea
  • Dangerously high blood pressure
  • Posterior uvitis (“birdshot”) retinal flashes, and bleeding inside my eyes!
  • Retina Doc mentions: “Where is ALL this inflammation coming from?”
  • CPAP required for sleep
  • GERD
  • Constant tooth decay and very red and swollen gums. My dentist hated what he saw.
  • Constant and increasing 2+ pitting edema on shins
  • Fatty liver. Doctor: “Sooo, tell me about your drinking?” and I wondered did where THIS came from?
  • Slow or no healing – example: a hole on my shin remained unhealed for many months. Even routine scratches remained for many weeks or more.
  • Peripheral neuropathy on outside three toes on both feet.
  • Infections in odd places, wound edges, skin folds. (Glycated body was probably TASTY for pathogens?)
  • 6x daily meds – before diet change:
  • Losartan 125 mG w
  • HCTZ 25 ?
  • T2D
  • Metformin 500 mG to increase if needed later – never needed 🙂
  • Anti-inflammatory Rx: Tramadol and more as their effectiveness diminished.
  • Pain meds PRN for knee injury.
  • Couldn’t slide into some restaurant booths, would have to squeeeze behind the car’s driving wheel.
  • Very sore joints and chronic body aches (was told that this is “normal” aging)

Susan healed severe gut issues and damaged Achilles tendon on a carnivore lifestyle

December 29, 2021 No Comments

Susan always considered herself to be a person who prioritized her health. Susan always ate whole foods and had been gluten-free for many years. Susan says she loves vegetables, especially sweet potatoes, spinach, beets, and broccoli, and spent most of her life eating a “mostly vegetarian” diet.

Fourteen years ago, Susan developed rheumatoid arthritis. Susan says she never thought her arthritis had anything to do with her diet other than her doctor telling her, “don’t eat red meat.” Besides her rheumatoid arthritis, Susan struggled with her Achilles tendon to the point where she struggled to walk. She also had many issues with her gastrointestinal system, and she thought she might even have stomach cancer.

Susan joined a community online for people with rheumatoid arthritis. She says a woman in the community shared she was going to experiment with the carnivore diet. Susan and other community members advised the woman not to eat only meat. They all thought eating meat-based would make the woman’s rheumatoid arthritis worse. To Susan and the rest of the community’s surprise, after five weeks, the woman’s pain from arthritis was gone, and within three months, Susan says, “she was glowing and thriving.”

Susan privately messaged the woman, and she responded by giving Susan several names and resources to look up, including Dr. Shawn Baker. Susan decided to transition to an all-meat diet starting on November 23rd, 2018. Initially, she was going to give herself one week to transition slowly. However, Susan began to realize she felt better after eating meat and worse after eating vegetables. And so, four days into her transition, she became fully meat-based.

Susan says within just a few days, the inflammation from her Achilles tendon was gone. She also noticed she no longer felt bloated or struggled with her gut. And just like the woman who introduced her to the carnivore diet, her rheumatoid arthritis was soon gone. Susan says she had a bit of a “honeymoon” phase with the carnivore diet; then she experienced severe oxalate dumping symptoms from all the years of eating high oxalate vegetables. Susan struggled with intense cramping in her feet and legs. However, she was able to power through the dumping phase with supplements like magnesium.

Today, Susan says she eats mostly beef because it makes her feel the best. She states before finding the carnivore way of eating, she had never had a ribeye. Now Susan eats ribeye for dinner almost every day. She also eats some fish and dairy. Susan describes she struggled to tolerate dairy while following a vegetable-based diet but has found her body can now tolerate it since she is meat-based. Susan says she doesn’t eat pork or shellfish because of her faith, though she wishes she could eat shrimp some days.

After seeing her results, Susan says she has convinced her husband to eat a 90% carnivore diet. Susan’s advice for anyone looking to try the carnivore way of eating is to “give it thirty days.” She is thankful to the woman in her rheumatoid arthritis group who introduced her to this lifestyle. She says she plans to message her soon to thank her for helping her regain her health– she may even send her this interview!

 

David reduced damage to knees and gained muscle on a carnivore lifestyle

March 3, 2021 No Comments

For many years, David struggled with pain in his knees. He even had knee surgery at just 15 years old. After suffering so much pain, David stopped exercising when he was 23. He describes his diet for most of his life as “standard,” and he even developed a bit of a limp in his walk. He knew his health was suffering.

Initially, he began working with a personal trainer. He worked out a lot, first with walking, then adding weight lifting and running. He did lose some weight which helped with his knee pain, but his food habits didn’t change. David says once he gave up training, the weight came back on.

The state of David’s health weighed very heavily on him. His father had a heart attack at the age of 50 and also suffers from Parkinson’s disease. When David was approaching age 50, he decided his life would be different than his father’s. He wanted to take better control of his health. David signed up to run a half marathon to celebrate living half a century. However, while training, he tore the cartilage in his knee. David still managed to do an 800-kilometer bike ride for his birthday, but the experience was not pleasant.

Like many who follow the carnivore diet, David began his health journey on the ketogenic diet. He says, with his experience working in mental health, he knew first hand living a low-carb lifestyle could have significant effects on mental health. He was first introduced to the carnivore way of life in June 2019 after listening to Dr. Shawn Baker’s podcast. At the time, he was already eating just 1-10 carbs per day. He decided to try “zero-carb” for one month.

David describes the carnivore diet as a “game changer” and much easier than the keto diet. He chronicles the first month as “very easy.” However, he had issues with his bowels toward the beginning of the second month. Once he got past that small bump in the road, he hasn’t looked back. He currently practices fasting and eats mostly beef, a little dairy, and spices. He also does some resistance training and still rides his bike.

He describes doing an 800-kilometer bike race as a carnivore as being very different and a lot easier than when he tried to do the same race following a standard diet. He says while other bike riders supplemented with high-carb food items such as fruit, he only added a bit of salt to his water to adjust for the long bike ride. He says his body “just feels better,” his joints don’t ache, and he’s lost the limp he used to have while walking.

David has a friend who also follows the carnivore diet, and the two often support one another. He also says his four children are very supportive of his eating, but his mom and other family members are still skeptical. He says he hopes to encourage others to explore this way of eating and would love to find ways to support others looking to improve their health.

Holly healed her Plantar Fasciitis on a carnivore diet

November 5, 2020 No Comments

Holly grew up in a loving family of “gourmet chefs”, and from a young age, formed emotional attachments to food. While otherwise a healthy child she developed a dairy intolerance in her teens that led her down a path of different ways of eating, but nothing helped her food addiction and weight gain until she tried the carnivore diet seven months ago.

Holly is a 41-year-old military wife, and became a mom at 25. She had four babies in just over two years, which took quite a toll on her body, especially her hormones. “I had postpartum depression, which was even more difficult while my husband was deployed and I had four babies at home,” Holly shares. “I was in survival mode emotionally and physically, and for all those years, things were breaking down.”

 

Holly gained over 90 pounds, starting at 175 and edging towards 260 pounds. She tried several diets such as Weight Watchers, vegetarian, and Whole30, but she found the weight would always come back as she had a troubled relationship with food and sugar. “For me, food was the yummiest medicine in the whole world, and it was always there for me,” she recalls thinking. “I ate my stress and I ate my anxiety, frustration and sadness.” Holly noticed that her mood would change quickly, and she would easily become angry. As she aged, her joints were often sore from arthritis and bursitis, and she was frequently tired. She developed painful symptoms of plantar fasciitis from excessive running, and suffered from severe itching on her legs that often led to bleeding and disrupted her sleep.

After being turned on to the benefits of eating whole foods with the Whole30 diet, Holly tried a ketogenic diet and was able to lose about 30 pounds. She recalls still having emergent and often painful bowel movements, but they did improve slightly on keto from the standard American diet she had been following previously. She began working with a functional medicine doctor, and discovered she had over 40 food intolerances, ulcers, and adrenal fatigue. She immediately began an elimination diet to help heal her symptoms.

In January of 2020, Holly decided to try a weight loss challenge at her local gym, and committed to a carnivore diet for the next 8 weeks, since she had seen some improvement from another type of elimination diet. “I lost 13 pounds in 8 weeks, and my sleep finally started to improve!” she recalls. “I noticed my hair starting to grow in thicker, and my stomach just went back into place as my body composition improved. I also noticed I haven’t angrily exploded at anyone in several weeks!” Holly continued on her carnivore path, and after five months the terrible itching symptoms she had disappeared, as well as her plantar fasciitis, joint pain, and most of her bowel issues.

Holly keeps her food choices simple and eats mostly beef, chuck roast, or hamburger patties, and prioritizes fat over protein. She keeps a journal, and reminds others on their journey to be patient and realistic, especially in the beginning. Holly’s relationship with food has now completely changed for the better. “I feel like someone let me out of a prison!”

Brian no longer suffers from tears and strains on a carnivore diet

October 23, 2020 No Comments

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.

“I was basically megadosing on caffeine,” Brian shares with Revero coach Yecca. “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. He started with a keto diet, and found he felt better with the more plant foods that he could eliminate. While following keto, he realized he was probably consuming too much fiber which was likely contributing to his digestive issues. “I started gradually incorporating meat from my local butcher into my diet, and began moderating my fat intake,” Brian says. “I was stuck at 235, but once I started switching to a meat-based diet, I was able to lose the extra weight and eliminate bloating.”

“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.”

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.

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.”

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 Revero coach and is looking forward to helping others find a gateway to better health through a carnivore lifestyle.

John gained mental clarity, energy and focus on a carnivore diet

August 19, 2020 No Comments
First picture was in May – I was a “SAD” diet eater and heavy drinker.  After two 6 week periods of attempts to control and count calories, and then counting calories and periodic fasting (and losing zero weight), I decided to go all-in on Carnivore.  These are pictures I took monthly, from May 17th (day 0) to August 17th 2020.
 
I’m currently 37 years old, but In my mid 20’s I was extremely fit and did crossfit 5 or 6 days a week, ate a strict paleo diet, and was overall really “heathy”, but my lifestyle and health declined as I got older (injuries and other hobbies came into play, and I started to work out less).   My relatively healthy lifestyle took a nosedive in the summer of 2019 when my wife and I had our baby boy – Fitness took a back seat, and as laziness set in, and my diet turned into eating pizza, chicken tenders, and any other “junk” i could make while dealing with all the things new parents deal with, I also started to get into the craft beer scene, and started drinking IPA’s like they were going out of style – and the mimosa-marathon Sundays just got longer and longer…The excuses are plentiful, but the reality is, it was all my fault, I’d let myself go.  I ate poorly and drank too much, and I knew I had to make a change.  In a period of around 6 months I had gone from a 34″ waist to my recently purchased 38″ jeans barely fitting.  My belts were almost out of holes…not good!
 
Rewinding a bit:  January 2020, I had this lofty goal of losing weight, stopping drinking, etc.  The normal new years resolution stuff.  I watched the vegan doc “Game Changer”, and thought that a lot of what they showed the viewers was pretty compelling.  It definitely made me consider the extreme vegan route – not for any moral reasons, but just because I wanted to lose weight and turn things around as far as how I felt.  BUT, I compared the food on a vegan diet to how successful I had been losing weight eating a paleo diet, and decided I just really couldn’t see myself giving up food that I knew worked for me in the past.  The one thing that always bothered me with paleo, however, was that I was constantly crapping my brains out.  Salads gave me major stomach issues, and lean meat never made me feel really full.  So even on strict paleo, I was “healthy” looking, I wasn’t fat,  but I never felt that good.  I remember having ridiculous weekly cheat meals where I’d crush two pizzas by myself.  Again, it’s like the diet should work, but it never left me feeling as good as I looked.  So Feb 2020, I started to move in the direction of eating paleo, but I was still drinking beers, having “cheat meals” all weekend, and sometimes during the week.  I couldn’t – at that point – really control my drinking…it had become a habit.  I’d drink because that’s what I did when I got home from work.  I knew I was in trouble.
 
In March of 2020, I was fortunate enough to stumble on the Joe Rogan / Dr. Shawn Baker interview on youtube…that was the beginning of my “game changer”.
 
The truth is, over the next several weeks,  I did a deep dive into the topic.  I found the Carnivore.Diet website, found Ken Berry, found Saladino, started reading studies, started looking into my family history of medical problems, learned what an autoimmune disease really is, and started to learn all the science behind diet, and why it mattered.  Then,  May 17th 2020.  I was drunk off champagne sitting on my deck, taking pictures with my son, and saw how fat I had become.  I was embarrassed, I was depressed, I’d let myself go, it was time to change.  I went strict carnivore on May 18th, 2020.
 
This carnivore diet, from about the second week forward, has made me feel better, mentally sharper, more focused, and more energetic.  I don’t have cravings for any junk food, I don’t drink anymore – and don’t have any cravings for alcohol.   I work out almost every day – and remain injury free.  It’s hard to put into words exactly how good I feel, all I can say is that I feel bad for people who don’t eat carnivore – they have no idea what they’re missing!  This website, Dr. Baker’s podcasts, and the other info available from this community has opened up the door to learning so much more about health and wellness, that I’m confident now that I can say this diet is without a doubt the 3rd best thing to happen to me in the last 20 years (my beautiful bride and baby boy are  #1 and 2). 
 
I would guess in 90 days I’m down at least 40 pounds, but honestly, weight loss is a great side effect that goes along with just how damn good it feels to be on this diet.  I eat mostly grocery store beef, less than 10% grass fed (I think grain fed just tastes better…!).   I add in organ meat on occasion, but find desiccated organ capsules from Amazon are more palatable for me.  I get the “carnivore crack” from a local grocery store, I make my own “carnivore” mayo, I eat some cheese, I drink coffee with heavy cream, and I eat the thunder out of some red meat – and the fattier the cuts the better.  I feel satiated all the time, I feel “good” all the time, I don’t get headaches, I don’t get sick, I don’t get tired.  I sleep like a baby, I wake up ready to kick-ass, and I honestly feel like I’m reverse aging.
 
I’m a  huge advocate of this diet, in my social circle.  I’ve started to educate my friends and family about the benefits of Carnivore / Keto, I’ve shared information with my mom and sister who both are suffering from autoimmune diseases (hoping they’ll see the light), and I’m happy to be a part of the “Carnivore” family here on Carnivore.Diet.  The stories on the site definitely played a part in me trying this, and I’m happy to now share my success story as well.
 
I highly recommend this diet to anyone who needs to make a big change in their life – It might be the 3rd best thing to happen to you too.  3 months has totally changed my outlook on the next 20 years of my life. If you stick with the program, I promise after 90 days you won’t be disappointed.
 
Thanks Dr. Baker – and team – for what you’re doing.  Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions or want more info.
 
My only regret is I didn’t get pre-carnivore blood tests, I’m sure you all could have used that (oops!) 
 
Regards,
 
J

Mark credits carnivore diet with quick recovery after biking accident

August 11, 2020 1 Comment
Mark
Mark

Mark’s carnivore story takes the phrase “meat heals” to a whole other level! You won’t want to miss his inspiring interview with Revero coach Brooke.

On Saturday June 6, 2020, Mark suffered a mountain bike crash that rendered him unconscious and resulted in a concussion. “I had no broken bones and the only other injury was a cut on my left cheek which required four stitches,” Mark explains. At the time of his accident, Mark had been following a meat-based diet, with 90% of his total calories coming from animal products, and completely void of seed oils and processed foods.

“As you can see from the attached photos eight days after the accident, my recovery was remarkable!” Mark and his wife, who also follows a carnivore diet, give full credit of his fast recovery to the meat-based way of eating and keeping a physically active lifestyle. “Family and friends have been astonished by my recovery, and so I’m spreading the word.” Mark notes that he recovered faster from this accident than he had from a similar injury at age 28.

At 49 years old, Mark feels fortunate to have been following a meat-based diet for most of his life. His interest in weight lifting began at just 12 years old. Mark continues to enjoy all kinds of athletic achievements, ranging from dirt bike racing, skiing, trail running, weight lifting, and more. Even thirty years ago during the low-fat craze, Mark regularly enjoyed half a dozen eggs and ground beef for breakfast, a meal that helped fuel his athletic pursuits. “Put down the power bars, and pick up a steak!” he jokes.

Mark believes another key to his success and continued health is due to avoiding restaurants that use seed oils. “I figured out the reason I felt sick after eating at restaurants is that many of them are using all these cheap ingredients and seeds oils. It made sense why I would feel bad later on.” If Mark does find himself needing to eat while traveling for work, he will occasionally have plain cheeseburgers and skip the bun.

Most of the time, though, he and his wife cook at home and enjoy ground beef with eggs, ribeye and NY Strip steaks, pork butt, and chuck roast for their main meals. Carnivore-friendly snacks include bacon-wrapped scallops, baked chicken wings, and carnivore-style coconut shrimp battered with crushed pork rinds.

Mark’s wife has also had success healing her chronic inflammation with a carnivore diet. “My wife is 48 and noticed her knees were creaky. Between weightlifting and carnivore, she’s been able to take care of all of her inflammatory issues.” Coincidentally, Mark and his wife both heard about the carnivore diet from different online sources, and decided to jump in together. “We decided to get back on track so that we can move the way we want to move.” Today, they are happy to share their story in hopes that it will give others a reason to stick with the carnivore way of eating.

Categories

Join us to Achieve Your Optimal Health!

Start your Free 30-Day Trial. Cancel Anytime.

Join Us