Chris is 44 years old and shares his incredible journey to better health following the carnivore diet for the last 2 years.
Chris’s Journey to Better Health on the Carnivore Diet
At nearly 300 pounds, Chris struggled with Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, severe seasonal allergies, and aches and pains. He was on 7 different medications. He had never enjoyed eating vegetables, and had previously thought that because of this he would never be able to follow a healthy diet.
That all changed when he heard about the carnivore diet on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast interview with Dr. Shawn Baker. Over the year and a half, Chris was able to shed 115 pounds, and heal from all of his previous ailments following a meat-based diet, and never having to eat another vegetable.
Overcoming Health Challenges with a Meat-based Diet
“I had always been overweight since I was a child,” Chris shares. “I had to lose about 60 pounds to join the AirForce and got down to 185 pounds. When I left, I was back up to 215, and my weight got progressively worse over the years, until I was just under 300 pounds.” Chris was prescribed medication for Type 2 diabetes, and eventually developed necrotizing fasciitis on his arm, which is a flesh-eating disease. He nearly died, and spent 8 weeks recovering in the hospital.
“That was a pretty traumatic experience for me,” Chris recalls. “It was then I decided to start finding ways to get my health back. Atkins had worked for me years ago, so I decided I would start researching options.” Chris found more information on the carnivore diet, and the idea of eating all the meat he wanted was appealing to him. “I don’t have to eat grass any more? Okay, sign me up!”
Rapid Weight Loss and Improved Health on the Carnivore Diet
Chris experienced rapid weight loss for his first 8 months on the carnivore diet, and reached his lowest weight of 181 pounds from 294 pounds. “My a1c went from 11.6 down to 4.9, and I’ve never felt better than I have the last two years,” he says.
Mindful Eating and Intermittent Fasting for Sustained Results
When he began the carnivore diet, Chris had been eating a lot of bacon and cheese, and had issues with overeating and eventually saw his weight loss slow down. Chris notes, “I had to be mindful of how much fat I was eating because I had always had an issue with overeating, and my satiety signals have always been broken or dysregulated.” He eventually switched over to one meal a day, typically about 2 pounds of meat, and found this works best for him. Chris considers intermittent fasting to be a sort of “bumper rails” to keep him from overeating and gaining weight.
Accountability and Motivation with a Spouse on the Carnivore Diet
Chris has enjoyed accountability and motivation along with his wife, who also follows the carnivore diet. In addition to sleeping better and curing his sleep apnea, all his other health issues have been resolved as well, and he currently is on no medication. “I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been, and I’m gaining muscle mass and decreasing body fat month over month. I have more energy, and have never felt better!”
