Scott F.

Agreed. I have narrowed it down to the sugar (I think). I use another protein powder that is zero carb/zero sugar 'no flavorings' type. I didn't get the reaction from the extra protein via the 'mix it myself protein powder shake'. I didn't gain weight, nor did it spur any hunger issues until I went to the pre-mix with the sugar. The protein drink has 12 grams of sugar and I split it half in the morning and half at night. I'm taking advantage of the 'extra hunger/increased appetite' by eating more fat/protein. I can now get in two steaks in a day vs. one. The last month or so the increase in protein (via the shake and the extra meal) I have seen improvements in the gym. As some of the meatheads in there say, "The plates don't lie". I have gained 12-13lbs in a month and a half or so. Not that I am competing or getting big muscles is a goal but I have used the boost in hunger to do a bulk of sorts. I have a 1/2 bottle left and I will use it tonight which will be the last meal before I fast for the next five or so days. The fast pretty much has zero to do with weight loss (for me). I have bloodwork coming up and I am really close to coming off my six-month infusions. I am hoping I have had my last one. Time will tell. I sort of answered my own question. Sugar will overpower (trick) the satiety of fat/protein. Sugar will make one think they are hungry whether they are or not. Scott

Congrats. Party on. I’m in pretty much the same boat at 15 months. Scott

Agreed. One of the easiest things to explain and yet, the hardest thing to grasp is that carnivore is all about what we are not eating. All the health benefits come from not eating the things that prevent the body from healing itself. It is a tough sale. Thinking back, I would have been in that group as well. How can mashed potatoes hurt? Are green beans and butter beans all that bad? (In season, a few weeks out of the year, nope. Not at all. Chemically preserved and commercially canned for longevity, not good at all.) When we say carnivore think 'all I can eat is meat, and salt and water', How is that going to help? I'm already eating meat, salt and water. It is the foods other than meat, salt and water that are causing the problems. Tough sale. Worth it on the other end, but if carnivore were a product sold door to door, we would be losing weight from starvation. LOL Scott

Yep. Terry turned me onto the article. I have since read it twice. From the outside looking in, and I am on the inside as well, it makes a lot of sense. When I cleaned up my diet my gut got healthier. From there the symptoms-issues of NMO/SD pretty much went away. I had blood markers that indicated my immune system was dormant when it should be active and attacking healthy protein like a sociopath when it should be only active when needed. The blood work indicated I had issues, and I indeed had issues. Again, the carnivore diet didn't help those issues because all I was eating was fats and proteins. The carnivore diet helped me because of all the things I stopped eating, which in turn allowed the fats and proteins to their thing while my body healed itself. My day to day says these are facts. The bloodwork suggests the same. As they dig deeper going carnivore will make more sense, but the MS/NMO medical community is still steering clear of it being a viable option for their patients. My Neurologist said in so many words that he was not ready to prescribe the carnivore diet as treatment but based on what he sees in me he does wish some of his patients would follow my path. I feel like he is getting there and maybe in time he will become an advocate. Hopefully, I can keep showing him. LOL great post terry. Scott

You will find that reaction in a lot of people. Sometimes it is hard to go against the grain and some choose to stick to what they have been told. Sometimes an open mind is not a part of the equation. I have not drunk the 'carnivore kool-aid' by any means and I don't believe it will cure everything for everybody, but I do think it will help the overwhelming majority of people out there. Most just look at what we eat, and the biggest benefit of carnivore comes from what we are no longer eating. A rib eye can only do so much but coupled with a bunch of carbs, sugars and processed food it is basically just a rib eye. Allow that rib eye to go solo and the health benefits start to stack up. Unfortunately, most can't see that. Sometimes the best advice is 'you do you and I'll do me'. Let it go at that. And carnivore has its own extremist as well. I recently added some sugar back with some protein shakes. 12 grams of sugar two times per week. I have to explain that I don't know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried, I did not help D.B. Cooper parachute from a hijacked plane, I didn't help orchestrate anything with 9/11 or the trade centers, I don't have the cure from the common cold and keeping it for myself. But since I ate sugar I am evial and several of these must be true. I guess it takes all the spokes in the rim to make the world go 'round. LOL Scott

Looks good. My so likes the variety and has actually one a couple contests with his grilling. They say i taught him well but in reality, he took that torch and ran. I'm not in his league anymore. My favorite thing to do on the grill is cooking a pig. (Since all the cooking shows and incredible popularity of BBQ as of late, most now refer to it as 'whole hog'. I'm more of a 'meat and heat' kind of guy. My wife and son are doing your pickle wings tonight. They are both excited about trying something new. Scott

I never ate much lamb til carnivore. Turns out, I was missing out. I have only eaten it one way and that was on the grill. Several times on the Traegar pellet grill and once or twice on charcoal. The Traegar worked well because it was the 'slow and low' approach but the charcoal was really good too. It is on the list to be cooked on wood on the big grill. For me it is just salt, pepper and heat. Scott

Beef tri-tip. 250 on the Traegar til about 130-135 internal. A couple minutes on each side on the hot charcoal. Three or four pats of butter as a side. Scott

it is quite the change. Your attempts to off-set some of the 'limitations' with recipes and some variety will not only help you, but will help others as well. My son turned me onto Carnivore, but he and his wife eat out a lot and eats tons of different things. This is the reason he has had several Carnivore rides that last two months or so, and then he chooses variety. Tonight, we had tri-tip. Basic tri-tip. On the Traegar at 250 until around 130-135 then tossed it on the really hot charcoal for a few minutes on each side. I'm more once past salt and pepper I'm living above my raisings. LOL And as of late, just salt. A really boring eater. Scott

Looks good. Nice work. Scott

Looks good. This is a great idea. I have been lucky with carnivore as I was a boring eater prior to eating this way. So much so, I could eat a bologna sandwich 6 days a week and never have a complaint. If that 7th day was Peanut Butter and Jelly I thought I was eating up in the big house with the rich folk. Variety has never been a need for me when eating. The 'lack of variety', as some call it, with carnivore can be the reason a lot of people do not do so well. (My son and my wife). This is the type of recipe that could keep someone in the game. Nice. Scott

Another single serving...... Looks amazing. I guess I cheat a bit as I use the air fryer for basically the same plan. I cut the fat into app. 1-inch cubes and air fry them for 20 minutes. It renders a lot of oil and leaves them in smaller chunks, I add salt and bag them up as a snack bag. I will try to get pics the next time. The tastes is amazing. Scott

Congrats on the 2nd week. There are a lot of positives with ketosis but you don't have to be deep into ketosis to see positive results. You have made the choice for your body and it will respond accordingly. If we eat sugar and fat with energy in mind the body will choose sugar first and push the fat off to the side for later (in so many words). By removing the sugar the body will use that fat and then your fat/my fat for energy. Good things continue to happen from there. There will be some weight loss and although I have not seen crazy energy from carnivore like some describe being fat adapted has given me steady and sustained energy. Like, I'm not bouncing off the walls or going 100MPH with overwhelming energy but if I start something I can continue until I finish it without giving out/giving up. Being slightly into ketosis coupled with walking makes both walking and ketosis even more effective. Since getting the sugar out and the steps in my health has done a 180 from my previous path. Again, congrats on the 2nd week and the 8lbs. Scott

Sort of a funny but very real at the same time. I posted earlier about using the protein drinks for the extra protein and found that they also boosted my hunger quite a bit. I have used that extra appetite to get in some more fat and protein a couple times per week. Maybe turning what could be a negative into a positive. At first, I called it my affirmation that sugar can drive/signal hunger. I only used a little sugar but I think my body used it to signal for more which leads me to tonight's funny (very real but funny) I have not had cravings since I started (got lucky) and I stepped away from carbs and sugars with relative ease (and I ate them by the buckets to get to well over 300lbs). Never had a craving as I walked thru the aisles at the grocery stores, even at the end caps that are designed to grab your attention. Zero cravings. This afternoon it was over 100F when I got in the truck and night shift in the plant will not get below 100F til the early morning hours. I bought ice cream for my shift as a small gesture as they are performing well in this heat. I walked by the freezer earlier and I now totally confused, as: A: I have a sugar addiction I didn't see or realize, and the recent re-introduction has created this craving for that ice cream in the freezer, or... B: I am so cheap it is killing me to know I paid $60 for ice cream and not eating any of it. Things I ponder on night shift. Scott

The medical degree from the Youtube College of Medicine comes in handy. You can also get a doctorate from Google. In you spare time youtube can help put a starter on your car and change the heating element in your dryer. Youtube educational opportunities are endless. LOL Somedays I think back and wonder how we ever survived without the internet. Scott

Look forward to the recipe. Scott

Since you have chef in your name I will babble on with a funny from 30+ years ago. I live in the south and 'southern food' is a staple and in our area Soul Food crosses a lot of boundaries. I worked in a pharmaceutical company with its own cafeteria, and it was an awesome cafeteria. It was subsidized and anyone would be hard pressed to eat $2.00 worth of eggs/bacon/sausage/omelets to order. Great food. Greater prices. Lunches were a variety of fried foods from fish to chicken to grilled steaks/burgers and it was an awesome place to eat. So much so, night shift stayed after work to eat breakfast before they left. Super nice. When our headquarters from up north (Boston, Mass and Hartford, Connecticut) merged it brought the north to the south and our cafeteria became a clashing zone. The cafeteria staff was reduced and replaced with a professional chef and a few cooks/workers he chose. The menu shifted tremendously. One day we were standing in line and the menu for the day was chicken fettuccini, chicken Cacciatore, and chicken parmesan. One of my co-workers was from the mountains of NC and as country bumpkin as anyone ever. If Appalachia has a stereotype my buddy fit it to a T. He had a deep mountain accent and was a super guy to work with and work for. When the chef came out with his double-breasted suit, the hat and the completely professional look, mingling with us like he would at a five-star restaurant. He came up to "Joe" and said, "How are things? What will you be eating today? Joe said in a deep drawl from Appalachia, "I don't know, bo, but I do know there is only three ways to "F*&% up a good chicken, and damned if you don't know all three!". Joe meant it in gest, but our new chef was deeply offended. Joe landed in HR over it and he would say, "his preference of having his chicken fried or grilled" was the reason. Babbling. At work waiting for the night shift to get up to speed. My apologies for getting off the topic. Scott

Yep on Geezy's post and yep on yours. Your body will tell you soon enough. The first few pounds lost is usually water and with that water goes some electrolytes and minerals. It differs for everyone. I tried LMNY but didn't like the taste. I tried salt in my water and that didn't do the trick either. I went to youtube and found a "LMNT" type electrolyte home recipe and made my own. From there it evolved into using that pre-made drink mix as my 'table salt'. It is pink Himalayan salt, Keltic sea salt, a different sea slat brand and No Salt for the potassium. I poured pretty much equal amounts into bowl, put on the lid and shook it up. That bowl is now my salt for cooking or for salting. When I am fasting, I put a pinch under my tongue a few times per day and chase it with water. It is an evolving process for everyone. Your body will start dropping hints and if we don't pick up the body usually knocks over the head to get our attention. Scott

Yep. The carnivore is a way of eating and my way may not be your way. The object would be to dial it to what works best for you. I can honestly say I have nothing but positives for the last fourteen months. I did make a joke about a negative as I lost 95lbs and for some reason some of that was in my feet. At 300+ I bought a rather expensive pair of work boots and in time they were flopping around like clown shoes. Who loses weight/size in their feet? Couple the fact that I am cheap and hurt some sort of bad to spend near $200 on a pair of boots. And now they don't fit without inserts or two pair of socks, which is brutal when it is over 100F today. Good luck. Scott

Yep. Polar opposites in our house. My wife eats every kind and flavor of pickle there is out there. Me? Not so much. She does a baked chicken dish with a pickle brine of sorts so when I mentioned it with wings she was all about it. Post away. Scott

I have used mustard to fight off cramps and lots of people swear pickle juice works even better. I'd choose the cramps. Just saying. Scott

I do the same but use an air fryer. The 'leftovers' taste amazing and the rendered fat I use for cooking. You sort of lost me with pickles and sardines but now you are speaking my lingo. LOL The only problem I found with eating this fat, regardless of the amount, it tends to be a single serving. It is that good. Scott

That is pretty much your call. Most doctors will push the statins or other cholesterol type medicines. Mine will re-explain his point when I see him. My numbers are similar. My first blood test after six months on carnivore (strict-no carbs-no sugars) my LDL dropped from 187 to 152 and then three months later a slight bump up to 164. My panel did not include non-HDL nor Lipoprotein. I eat a lot of fat. I am pretty sure my fat to protein ratio is a bit high compared to most and in turn I expect my numbers to elevate some. At the same time the bloodwork is a snap-shot of one particular time and the numbers could vary either way the next day/next week. Based on how much weight I was losing (fat adapted) plus the amount of fats i was eating it would only be natural to have more cholesterol in my system at any given time. Tough call. I'm adamant about statins but I can see where medications may work for others. Scott

Welcome. Congrats on the switch. This is a good place to read and learn and share your experiences. I'm about 14 months in myself and have had some amazing 'health turnarounds' myself. I will check out the video as the night goes on. I'm paid to watch youtube videos related to carnivore and fasting as they relate to autoimmune disease. (Technically true and not true, as I am at work and watching videos to pass the time). Welcome. Scott

My wife says this sounds amazing as she is a big fan of pickles. Me, not so much. If ever there was a way to ruin a piece of chicken, pickles would be the way. LOL But we will be having (she) these within a few days. Thanks. LOL Scott