Carnivore Diet Update Day 201: Fat Loss and Much More...

The information in this post is not medical advice. The information presented in this post will not help you diagnose, treat, or cure any illness. If you feel you have a medical problem, see your doctor first. If you intend to change your diet, seek professional guidance.

It has been over two hundred days since my experiment with the carnivore diet began, and I continue to see improvements in my health. More importantly, I have had no adverse side effects, including scurvy. Most medical professionals would be shocked that I have not developed scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), but I am not. I have written much more about the subject here. I want to talk about some more of my health improvements today. 

First, I have improved my sleep. I can remember how well I used to sleep when I was a child. I could not resist the lure of the bed, no matter how hard I tried and would fall asleep immediately and remain asleep, perhaps waking up a few times to readjust my sleeping position and fall right back. Since I became a teen, I lost the ability to achieve such blissful sleep until I recently changed my diet. I can't give a perfect explanation, but I gave up alcohol, a known disruptor of sleep. It is probably more than just giving up alcohol, as I have done it in the past and did not experience the kind of sleep I now experience. Other explanations are less inflammation from plant-based defenses, more nutrients, being more primed for bed at the end of the day from being more active, and being in a better place mentally. 

Second, I have much more energy than before. I was on the ketogenic diet for a long time before switching to the carnivore diet. I am basically on a zero carb diet now, and I eat more protein, but the change in my macronutrient ratio was not very big, so I don't believe the small difference in macronutrients is the reason. Better sleep would make more sense. Other explanations are steadier energy utilization (Fat reserve usage when calories are needed between meals), and better healing of injured and damaged tissues through the improved nutrient intake. 

Third, my mood and concentration are improved. I have much better focus, am more enthusiastic about life, and just generally happier. Since we have been going through the Covid-19 lockdown and the civil unrest, I would have expected the opposite. I have no concrete explanation, but improved sleep would seem to be the most logical explanation. I perhaps have improved neurotransmitter production through improved availability of nutrients.

Fourth, I am more resilient. I have been working out without the desire or need for many days off. In the past, going back to my 20's, I have required days off for rest and recuperation. If I tried to push on for too long, I would usually sustain an injury. As you may recall, my elbow was painful for several years, but the pain went away after three weeks on the new diet. My chronic tenosynovitis in my thumb is now 95% gone as well. I have been pushing my workouts, and have had no new injuries or pain other than the expected post-workout muscle soreness. 

I was very pleasantly surprised by the next new development. My body composition has improved. It is hard to estimate body fat percentages, but I may be as low as 10 percent from what I can tell. I have always been lean, but I have more muscular definition and vascularity then I have ever had. I am not boasting; my wife and family are poking fun at my appearance. I did not expect much of a change since I did not drastically alter my macronutrients. The explanation is probably due to my increased energy level, which has resulted in me being more active, both with my exercise and non-exercise activities. Also, improved fat burning from the lack of carbohydrate consumption is helping. It seems as if my body fat setpoint has reverted back to when I was younger.

 My hunger appears to be functioning accurately, similar to the way our thirst mechanism works. Most of us get thirsty when we need water, drink until our thirst goes away, and stop. Many people's hunger is dysfunctional. They can't stop eating, even though they already ate half the bag of chips. Also, they feel hungry at random times, sometimes after shortly after eating a high-calorie meal. 

The body needs calories and nutrients. If we are deficient in nutrients but don't need the calories, we may still feel hungry. When we eat a nutrient-dense low-carb high-fat diet, we get the nutrients we desire and burn fat more easily if we are in a calorie deficit. 

Since I always track my intake of calories and nutrients, and I notice variations in my daily hunger. Some days I eat much less than others. It can range from 1700 calories up to 2600 calories. I eat when I am hungry, which is usually three meals a day.

Other people in the carnivore community have experienced health improvements, so my experience is not unique. The improvements I have spoken about today add up to feeling like I have turned back the hands of time. More strength, injury resistance, better sleep, and less body fat are all associated with youth. I am definitely going to stay the course for now.