Cindy shares her powerful journey that led her away from veganism to the healing benefits of a meat-based diet.
“I started having stomach issues four years ago,” she shares with Revero coach Amber. “I transitioned to a high-carb vegan diet because I was convinced it was the healthiest way to eat.” Cindy remained on a vegan diet for two years, despite suffering from what would later be diagnosed as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome.) “It completely ruined my gut, and I suffered daily from brain fog, low energy, anxiety and depression.”
Eating a diet high in carbohydrates and very low in fat left Cindy constantly bloated and always hungry. She was riddled with mental fog and extreme fatigue. “I didn’t know what was causing my symptoms,” she recalls. “Some days it would get so bad that I wouldn’t eat for the entire day, and that’s actually when I noticed my mental fog went away and I wasn’t anxious or depressed.” This was a clue to Cindy that the plant foods she was eating might be the cause behind her symptoms.
After consuming as much information as she could about the carnivore diet, including the success stories of well-known psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson and his daughter, Mikhaila, Cindy felt ready to take it a step further from the keto diet. “I didn’t know what I was doing at first,” she admits. “But within three days, my bloating was gone, and within a week, I had my mental clarity back.”
As a former vegan, Cindy struggled at first to incorporate red meat back into her diet. “I started learning about the benefits of eating red meat and how nutrient-dense it is,” she explains. “It took me a long time, because it had been embedded into my brain how red meat isn’t good for you. It was very hard to transition over, I had to experience the benefits for myself in order to fully believe it.”
Through an initial transition phase, Cindy continued to learn what works best for her, including upping her fat intake and avoiding certain spices. “I was definitely undereating at first,” notes. “I was eating way too much lean protein and was always hungry.” She switched over to just steak and salt for a month. “I felt pretty amazing with just ribeye and salt. I learned how to start reintroducing back foods little by little to see how my body reacted to them and to heal my gut.”
Five months after starting a carnivore diet, Cindy is amazed by the results. “My health is near completely restored!” she says. She enjoys a bit more variety these days, including plenty of eggs, fish and organ meats. Today, Cindy approaches her diet with curiosity, and pays attention to how her body reacts to non-carnivore foods. She continues to enjoy more energy, better digestion, and mental clarity she had been missing out on. “I’m still learning every day, so I’m definitely excited to see where I’ll be in the future!”
