The Beginning: An Unexpected Invitation

The Carnivore Diet is an animal-based lifestyle that involves consuming only meat and animal products, eliminating carbohydrates entirely. It can be divided into two main approaches: strict carnivore (meat, salt, and water only) and moderate carnivore (allowing some dairy and eggs). The core philosophy of this diet is to maximize protein and fat intake while completely eliminating plant foods and carbohydrates.

My first encounter with the carnivore diet began in 2021 during my junior year of college. At the time, I was sharing an apartment with an old friend who served as my roommate. He was the type of person who was always exploring unconventional ideas and challenging mainstream thinking. One day, completely out of the blue, he proposed that we try the carnivore diet together for a month.

I had always been a meat lover—steaks, chicken, and most kinds of meat were already staples in my diet. However, the idea of eating only meat without any vegetables or carbohydrates seemed not just extreme, but downright unhealthy. My preconceived notions were deeply ingrained: meat was associated with obesity, while healthy people ate salads and balanced meals. The concept of surviving solely on animal products went against everything I had been taught about nutrition.

The Challenge: Breaking Old Beliefs

My roommate wasn’t deterred by my skepticism. He patiently explained the science behind his reasoning: carbohydrates, not dietary fat, are the primary drivers of insulin spikes and subsequent fat storage. In contrast, he argued, meat consumption helps stabilize insulin levels and trains the body to efficiently burn stored fat for fuel—a metabolic state known as ketosis.

Beyond the physical benefits, he described a range of unexpected mental improvements that caught my attention: enhanced mental clarity, laser-sharp focus, reduced anxiety, increased confidence, and accelerated muscle development. These claims seemed almost too good to be true, but they addressed many of the struggles I was facing at the time.

Despite our friendship and my trust in him, part of me remained resistant. The nutritional beliefs I had grown up with were deeply rooted and difficult to shake. However, I was also going through one of the darkest periods of my life—battling depression, anger, and a profound sense of disconnection from the world around me. I desperately needed something to help me, not in the form of medication or therapy, but through a fundamental lifestyle transformation.

At that time, my friend and I shared many activities together, particularly our passion for indoor bouldering (rock climbing). I was a regular at the gym, and while climbing was incredibly challenging, I had fallen in love with it even more than traditional weightlifting. Recognizing that I needed to improve both my mental and physical health, I made a commitment to try the carnivore diet for exactly one month, after which I would decide whether to continue or return to my previous eating habits.

The Journey: Challenges and Discoveries

The first week was surprisingly manageable. I happened to be taking a break from school and was unemployed at the time, which gave me complete control over my schedule and routine. My daily rhythm became beautifully simple: wake up at 9:00 AM, enjoy a steak breakfast, head to the gym for climbing sessions, and finish the day with a second substantial steak dinner.

Financially, this diet presented some challenges. High-quality cuts like Ribeye or New York strip were beyond my student budget, so I had to get creative. I frequented Fiesta Mart and purchased affordable $3-4 beef chuck roasts, which I would slice and prepare myself. The key principle was to eat until completely satisfied—no measuring, no calorie counting, just eating to fullness. This approach meant I experienced zero hunger between my two substantial daily meals.

After two weeks, I began noticing significant changes in both my body and mind. The most striking transformation was in my emotional state: I felt genuinely happy, calm, and energetic in a way I hadn’t experienced in years. My self-awareness and self-control improved dramatically, I maintained consistent energy levels throughout the day, and I simply felt incredible.

However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. I developed severe constipation, which became a significant source of concern and discomfort. Initially, I attributed this to the dramatic dietary change my body had never experienced before. Through research and experimentation, I discovered that the solution was remarkably simple: dramatically increasing my water intake. Once I began drinking plenty of water throughout the day, this issue resolved completely.

The Decision: A Path Forward

As my one-month experiment reached its conclusion, I faced a crucial decision: return to my previous eating habits (which included junk food, processed foods, and occasional steaks) or commit to continuing this daily regimen of steak, salt, and butter.

The answer became crystal clear when I honestly evaluated the profound improvements I had experienced. My focus and concentration levels had increased so dramatically that I found myself reading books more effectively, exercising with greater intensity, and maintaining a sense of calm that had been absent from my life for years. The mental clarity alone was transformative—I felt like I had unlocked a version of myself that I never knew existed.

The physical benefits were equally impressive, but it was the mental and emotional transformation that sealed my decision. For the first time in years, I felt genuinely optimistic about my future and confident in my ability to tackle challenges.

I decided to continue my carnivore journey.

This one-month experiment had evolved from a skeptical trial into a life-changing discovery. What began as an unconventional challenge from a friend became the foundation for a completely new approach to health, nutrition, and overall well-being. The carnivore diet had given me something that no other intervention had managed to provide: a clear mind, stable emotions, and genuine hope for the future.

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A Personal Note: The Reality of My Journey

Looking back now, I must be honest with you: while this first month was incredibly transformative and filled me with optimism, my strict carnivore journey lasted only about 6 months. Despite the remarkable benefits I experienced and my genuine commitment to continue, various challenges and life circumstances eventually led me to modify my approach.

The reality is that maintaining such a restrictive diet long-term proved more difficult than I initially anticipated. There were social pressures, practical challenges, moments of doubt, and personal struggles that I didn’t foresee during that euphoric first month.

What comes next in this blog series:

• My honest account of the 6-month strict carnivore experience – the highs, the lows, and everything in between
• The specific challenges and obstacles that made long-term adherence difficult
• Why I eventually transitioned away from strict carnivore
• My current dietary approach and how my relationship with food has evolved
• Lessons learned and whether I would recommend this journey to others

This will be a completely personal and unfiltered sharing of my experience – not just the success stories, but also the struggles, setbacks, and the realistic challenges of maintaining such a lifestyle. I believe in being transparent about both the incredible benefits and the practical limitations I encountered.

Stay tuned as I take you through the complete journey, sharing the insights that can only come from lived experience rather than theory.

Next post: “Month 2-6: The Reality Check – When Carnivore Gets Complicated”

Picture source: ‘My Doctor’, ‘Just Cook Butcher box’