I lost 80lbs with the carnivore diet and it transformed my health (2024)

I lost 65 pounds in the first four months alone. I've lost a total of 80 pounds in a little over a year, all without counting calories and by eating as much as I wanted.

How did I do it? I followed the meat-based carnivore diet.

Everything changed for me in the spring of 2022 when I sat on the couch, tired and depressed, and feeling joint and back pain throughout my body. It was so bad that I would get flare-ups in my knees or ankles that would last one to two weeks. The pain was so intense that I couldn't walk.

I also had a condition called atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) which affects your heart's normal sinus rhythm. I knew I needed to lose weight and get healthy—and I had to do it soon. I wanted to make sure I could watch my three children grow up to have kids of their own. I wanted to be able to provide for my family.

But with the path I was going down, I wasn't sure that would happen. And this became my Why.

I lost 80lbs with the carnivore diet and it transformed my health (1)

I had heard from some friends who were doing the keto diet and losing weight, so I decided to give that a try. With the keto diet you limit your carb intake to about 20 grams per day and increase your fat intake.

Over the next couple of months, I continued to research low-carb diets and watch YouTube videos from doctors and those sharing their experiences.

I had not lost much weight at all and did not feel a whole lot differently, but I kept finding more and more information about the ultimate elimination diet where you completely cut carbs from your eating plan. This was the carnivore diet, and in July of 2022 I went full in.

I do not eat vegetables or fruits, or any other carbs. I predominantly eat beef, with some eggs and bacon. Occasionally I will eat chicken wings or chicken thighs, as well as pork. I do not use any type of seed oils and cook my food with either bacon fat or butter.

A typical day of eating for me consists of a steak around Noon and then a couple of beef burger patties—no bun—and either eggs or bacon. I usually eat approximately two pounds of meat per day.

By early November, I had lost 65 pounds, had more energy to do things, and noticed that my arthritis and joint pain was gone. I also noticed that I hadn't experienced a single A-Fib episode in a few months. Before starting the carnivore diet, I was having a couple of episodes per week.

Over the next several months my weight loss slowed down as I got to a healthier weight. But the health benefits continued.

I've been on blood pressure medication for over 20 years. Whilst I still take medication, the dosage has decreased to the lowest prescription strength and my blood pressure is under control. I also have not had an A-Fib episode in over 14 months and was just recently taken off the medication for it.

My doctor is happy with my progress too. Before going on the carnivore diet my triglycerides—a type of fat in your blood—were 273 milligrams per deciliter, which is very high. Now, they are 107, in the healthy range. My HDL cholesterol has also improved. My liver and kidney function are excellent with the best levels I've seen in my blood work.

Some of the keys to my success were having short-term goals and having an accountability partner. The short-term goals that I set were somewhat challenging, but measurable and attainable. This allowed me to feel a sense of accomplishment along the way.

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For an accountability partner, I had a friend on Facebook who was also trying to lose weight. We kept each other accountable by posting a daily log of our food intake, water intake, etc. We also checked in with each other often. I feel this was huge for keeping me motivated and helping me get past struggles.

Altogether I feel like the carnivore diet has saved my life. No more back pain. No more arthritis or joint pain. No more A-Fib episodes. Lower blood pressure. More energy and a happier mood. The list goes on and on.

I have not experienced any negatives from eating this way. If there is a special occasion and I want to eat a small piece of cake or something I normally would not eat, I go ahead and treat myself. But I make sure that it does not snowball, and I move forward and back to my normal eating plan.

Eating this way has truly been life-changing for me and I have no plans to stop the carnivore diet lifestyle. I see myself eating this way for the rest of my life. Exactly what I eat may adjust as I go, but the main principles of a meat-based diet with little to no carbs will not change for me.

With this life-changing health transformation, I decided that I wanted to share my experiences and help others, so I created a YouTube channel.

On my channel, Wick Goes Carnivore, I share the good and bad experiences. What I've done right and mistakes I've made. I share the successes between losing weight and all the health benefits I have experienced.

Brian Nowicki is a content creator and proponent of the Carnivore Diet lifestyle. You can follow him on YouTube.

All views expressed are the author's own.

Do you have a unique experience or personal story to share? Email the My Turn team at myturn@newsweek.com.

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I lost 80lbs with the carnivore diet and it transformed my health (2024)

FAQs

I lost 80lbs with the carnivore diet and it transformed my health? ›

I Lost 80lbs With the Carnivore Diet and it Transformed My Health. I lost 65 pounds in the first four months alone. I've lost a total of 80 pounds in a little over a year, all without counting calories and by eating as much as I wanted.

Why am I losing so much weight on carnivore diet? ›

Carnivore is more effective in quick weight loss than keto, as it completely cuts out carbs entirely whereas the ketogenic diet limits carb consumption. Because of this, your body is more likely to burn fat in less time with as a carnivore.

How much weight can you lose on the carnivore diet? ›

metabolic rate, activity level, caloric intake, response to dietary changes, adherence to the diet, hormonal performance, and water retention are different. But personal reports show that Carnivores could lose 7kg (15.4 pounds) in 30 days, 121 lbs in 12 months, and so on.

How long does it take to see results from the carnivore diet? ›

How Long Does It Take to See the Results? Although it depends on various personal factors, including the starting weight, metabolism, underlying health conditions, and activity level, you can see the Carnivore Diet results even after one month.

What are the long term results of carnivore diet? ›

Long-term risks may include increased heart disease and cholesterol levels, as per research published in “The Lancet.” Moreover, the World Health Organization has classified processed meats as carcinogenic, and red meat as probably carcinogenic, raising concerns about cancer risks associated with a meat-only diet.

Does carnivore cause rapid weight loss? ›

Weight loss is one of the huge benefits that people who follow the carnivore diet claim they've experienced since adding more animal-based products to their diet. This is likely because the eating pattern also cuts down on carbs, says Dr.

How fast did you lose weight on the carnivore diet? ›

this obviously varies from person to person - your starting body fat percentage, your metabolism, your activity level, and your diet all influence how quickly you see results. For some, you'll see noticeable changes in the mirror and on the scale after 2-4 weeks. For others, it can take beyond a month.

How do you maximize fat loss on a carnivore diet? ›

Eat Only When Hungry (Avoid Unnecessary Snacking)

Snacking can be triggered by habits, stress, or other factors. Eating when you're not hungry can slow down your weight loss. One of your goals on a carnivore diet should be to learn how to trust your hunger and satiety cues.

Do you lose weight faster on keto or carnivore? ›

The Keto diet is better for gut health, brain health, and overall mood. The Carnivore diet, on the other hand, is not good for gut health, brain health, and mood. The one area where the Carnivore diet outperforms the Keto diet is weight loss. The Carnivore diet is very effective in terms of weight loss.

How did the carnivore diet change my life? ›

I usually eat approximately two pounds of meat per day. By early November, I had lost 65 pounds, had more energy to do things, and noticed that my arthritis and joint pain was gone. I also noticed that I hadn't experienced a single A-Fib episode in a few months.

How many days does it take to get into ketosis on the carnivore diet? ›

The bottom line

In general, it should take you 2–4 days to enter ketosis. However, some people may find they need a week or longer. The time it takes depends on various factors, such as your age, metabolism, exercise level, and current carb, protein, and fat intake.

What are the negative symptoms of the carnivore diet? ›

Expect to experience nausea and other side effects that come with limiting your diet to only animal products. You may experience constipation as well, due to the decreased fiber intake since fruits, vegetables and whole grains are restricted.

Can you drink coffee on a carnivore diet? ›

Yes, you can drink coffee on a carnivore diet. Despite its plant origin, many followers of the carnivore diet still consume coffee, considering caffeine's stimulating properties. However, caution must be taken as excessive intake of caffeine may add stress to the body's metabolism and disrupt sleep patterns.

What are 3 disadvantages of the carnivore diet? ›

The carnivore diet is high in fat and may contain excessive amounts of sodium. It contains no fiber or beneficial plant compounds and may provide inadequate amounts of certain nutrients.

What happens if you eat carbs on a carnivore diet? ›

Do the carnivore diet and carbohydrates mix well? Digestion problems can arise if you eat carbohydrates on the carnivore diet. This can result from a spike in blood sugar, which can cause heartburn, bloating, or nausea, affecting how food is digested.

How much weight can you lose on a carnivore diet in 30 days? ›

I lost 7 kg (15.4 pounds) over 30 days. My weight on 21st October, the first morning, of the diet was 82.6 kg and my weight on the morning after finishing (the 20th November) was 75.6 kg. Weight loss was most significant in my first and last weeks on the diet.

How to get more calories on a carnivore diet? ›

Animal Fats: Cooking with animal fats such as tallow, lard, or butter can significantly increase the calorie content of meals. Dairy Products: For those who include dairy in their carnivore diet, products like cream, full-fat cheeses, and butter are excellent sources of additional calories.

How many calories should you eat on the carnivore diet? ›

With the right amount of fat and protein, you can reach your body composition goals while enjoying delicious meals. If you are looking to lose weight, an ideal caloric intake is around 1,500-1,750 calories per day, deviating from the normal 2,000.

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