An educator for over 20 years, school principal Claire needed more energy to keep up with her busy schedule. After being diagnosed with osteoporosis nine years ago, she started on a fitness journey that led her to crossfit classes coupled with weight training, but after experiencing less-than-stellar results, her coach encouraged her to take a closer look at her nutrition. Up until that point, she ate the Standard American Diet, regularly enjoying pasta and bread. When she heard about the carnivore diet, she decided she’d give it a try for a few weeks. Fast forward four years later, and she’s still on the carnivore bandwagon—experiencing the myriad health benefits that go along with it.
“The reason I stayed with it after a couple of weeks was, number one: I was enjoying what I was eating—and I was eating as much as I wanted—which was wonderful…but over the course of just four weeks, I gained more muscle than I had gained in months prior to that. I saw fairly quick results in my body composition and my performance—and that was exciting.”
Now 68 ½ years old, her yearly checkups and bloodwork all confirm she’s thriving. “Continuing to do all the weightlifting…and eating meat—I have actually reversed my osteoporosis in my spine to normal, so that’s been awesome! I also have hypothyroid and that has improved as best thyroids can improve. I’m still taking Synthroid but instead of this being a progressive illness, it has actually gone the other way and they had to reduce my meds because it was too much.” Another perk? After six months of eating carnivore, the kidney stones she had been told were waiting in the wings completely disappeared.
When asked what her doctors had to say about her strident health breakthroughs, Claire says they are generally mute on the subject, but had plenty to say when she was initially diagnosed—especially in regards to medication. “I told the doctors, ‘I’m not going to take those medicines. I’m going to exercise and address things from a different perspective.’ They don’t say anything when THAT works!”
Claire’s diet now mainly consists of big old steaks, ground beef, pork, fish and dairy. “I do eat dairy—I know some carnivore people don’t…I found that when I experimented and stopped all dairy, I did see an increase in muscle mass, but I like dairy so I decided I was going to keep doing cheese because I like it.”
Sometimes Claire’s work schedule is so busy that she has to work through lunch, but she finds she is generally able to achieve her goal of eating at least 100 grams of protein per day. Once the pandemic hit, she started working out from home, and without a coach spurring her on, she has been able to maintain an impressive 150lb deadlift. “A few years ago I was eating carbs and working out—I feel like I’m stronger, healthier—feel better—now.”
Article by Jennifer McDowell
