Scott F.

I am the biggest fan of those who take their health into their own hands.
Mr. Pauls I think your approach and your story could be an inspiration to others. It is not like you jumped off a cliff with your plan as it seems well thought out with a methodical approach. Very sensible. Very effective.
Great work. Enjoy these steps as successes. Keep stacking them up.
Scott

Experiment in a forward moving path. Figure out what works for you.
I quit drinking 20+ years ago. Either I was really getting good at it or I was totally regressing.
I got blistered drunk. A deer ran out in front my wife's new car and I couldn't get out to check on the things. Basically, I said, "Let it roll" and I didn't hear anything, so we drove home. When we got home her door would not open and she had to crawl over me to get out. Later that night my son got really sick and had to go to the hospital with a fever. I was still drunk in the car.
I have never felt lower. I stopped cold turkey that next morning. Never wanted another drop.
When I switched to carnivore, I went cold turkey and didn't have any of the sugar cravings others have experienced (just lucky, I guess). Since I have not drank in a lot of years I have had none of those cravings. I can't really speak to those with experience.
My only advice would be try to plug something healthier into those cravings. If you can skip one, and then in time skip two, they should get further and further apart, until you no longer have that load to carry.
Best of luck. Not much help.
Scott

There is a guy at our gym who is what he calls part-time carnivore-part-time keto and sometimes whatever he wants.
He uses carnivore like a tool much the same as a hammer or a wrench. He will go three or four months on a strict carnivore diet and reap those benefits and from there he eases into a keto-type diet by reintroducing certain things to his diet. From there he morphs into some bad eating habits.
When the bad eating habits come back around and he adds a few pounds he switches back to a strict carnivore diet. He has done this for the last few years.
I can see where it would work for a lot of people.
We laughed because we both agreed that we can dig a hole with a hammer but there are better tools out there.
He is the first person I met that purposely starts and stops carnivore with a reason in mind.
Scott

I think a lot of people go the 16:8 route.
I have never had insulin nor blood glucose issues (never got over a 100 til carnivore, go figure?) If the circadian rhythm is factored and the normal dawn effect with blood sugar, an early breakfast sets the tone for insulin resistance the rest of the day. For me, if I am eating breakfast I make it much later in the morning, more like lunch time.
I have read 16:8 is more effective if the 16 is from later at night til midafternoon.
Personally, I have used OMAD form of fasting, and my longest was 7 days.
I'm back on nights this week. I ate last night and will eat again this weekend, maybe Friday or Saturday.
I'm a big fan of the fast. At this point it is all about the healing and the life longevity it provides. Weight loss is just a "lil' bonus".
Scott

Experiment in a forward moving path. Figure out what works for you.
I quit drinking 20+ years ago. Either I was really getting good at it or I was totally regressing.
I got blistered drunk. A deer ran out in front my wife's new car and I couldn't get out to check on the things. Basically, I said, "Let it roll" and I didn't hear anything, so we drove home. When we got home her door would not open and she had to crawl over me to get out. Later that night my son got really sick and had to go to the hospital with a fever. I was still drunk in the car.
I have never felt lower. I stopped cold turkey that next morning. Never wanted another drop.
When I switched to carnivore, I went cold turkey and didn't have any of the sugar cravings others have experienced (just lucky, I guess). Since I have not drank in a lot of years I have had none of those cravings. I can't really speak to those with experience.
My only advice would be try to plug something healthier into those cravings. If you can skip one, and then in time skip two, they should get further and further apart, until you no longer have that load to carry.
Best of luck. Not much help.
Scott

Yes. I use Bulk Supplement brand whey protein. On occasion I buy the Fairlife 30Gram Chocolate protein drink (I think it is 7g of sugar per bottle).
I didn't realize the sugar would have the impact it did. I went to the protein drinks/shakes because I could not eat anywhere near 200 grams of protein in a day.
When others would talk about eating 2lbs, and even more, in a meal I was blown away. There was a stretch when 2lbs could last me three days. I am sort of jealous. LOL
The sugar has spiked my appetite but not to the point I can consistently hit the protein target for muscle growth. Since I can't get there with food I choke down a protein shake here and there to boos my daily protein.
Thus far the appetite is still what would be considered carnivore and the drinks have not gave me any cravings for more sugar.
Scott

There is a guy at our gym who is what he calls part-time carnivore-part-time keto and sometimes whatever he wants.
He uses carnivore like a tool much the same as a hammer or a wrench. He will go three or four months on a strict carnivore diet and reap those benefits and from there he eases into a keto-type diet by reintroducing certain things to his diet. From there he morphs into some bad eating habits.
When the bad eating habits come back around and he adds a few pounds he switches back to a strict carnivore diet. He has done this for the last few years.
I can see where it would work for a lot of people.
We laughed because we both agreed that we can dig a hole with a hammer but there are better tools out there.
He is the first person I met that purposely starts and stops carnivore with a reason in mind.
Scott

I sort of think they all diets work and then all diets fail.
Success is in the lifestyle change.

Me too.
My PCP still suggests a statin or a non-statin for my cholesterol. He is a big fan of the weight loss but not the biggest fan of the route. He wants me to use lean cuts of meat. I almost attempted to explain lean meat would sort of defeat the purpose but I didn't see any chance of changing his mind, so I left it at that.
My Neurologist on the other hand, is super supportive and not prescribing it as a treatment but is recommending people in his clinic look into the carnivore approach. He is amazed by my story and admits he didn't my results coming when I first let him in on my plan.
And now he is moving and I have a new Neurologist come April/May.
I am sort of intrigued about his response.
Scott

Mathematics are amazing.
I was at 31% at the beginning of December and now just shy of 26% after eating more than when I was hungry.
Scott

I sort of think they all diets work and then all diets fail.
Success is in the lifestyle change.

Sometimes I think the fact we are not all the same gets lost when looking what carnivore has done for others and hoping about what it will do.
As Geezy suggested, try a different approach. Maybe two smaller meals will work better for you.
If the fruit is serving the purpose of a snack or something in between meals you can replace it with some sort of meat snack. In my first few months I would have a couple burgers or some bacon in the refrigerator. Thise will work in a pinch and will do no harm.
And if it has to be something in the family of fruits and vegetables then maybe something like an avocado or something similar.
It is much better to find what works for you than modeling your approach after another. I have changed a number of times since May '24, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. It is like I have been dialing in since the start.
Good luck. Keep plugging away. The goal is to figure out your path.
Scott

I sort of think they all diets work and then all diets fail.
Success is in the lifestyle change.

Me too.
My PCP still suggests a statin or a non-statin for my cholesterol. He is a big fan of the weight loss but not the biggest fan of the route. He wants me to use lean cuts of meat. I almost attempted to explain lean meat would sort of defeat the purpose but I didn't see any chance of changing his mind, so I left it at that.
My Neurologist on the other hand, is super supportive and not prescribing it as a treatment but is recommending people in his clinic look into the carnivore approach. He is amazed by my story and admits he didn't my results coming when I first let him in on my plan.
And now he is moving and I have a new Neurologist come April/May.
I am sort of intrigued about his response.
Scott

It all depends on the person.
I have been strict carnivore since May of '24 and I have yet to feel the 'clarity' others talk about. Maybe the closest thing for me is that when I wake up in the morning (or even in the middle of the night) I am awake. I am ready to go, no dragging out of bed, sluggish nor slow. Eyes open and feet hit the floor. That is about as close as I have gotten to a mental change.
I am not sure about the keto bliss. I do feel better than I ever did between being off medications for an auto-immune disease, the weight loss and the shift in daily energy. I don't have like crazy made energy from carnivore, but it is more steady and feels readily available throughout the day.
I do longer fasts myself, anywhere between 72 and 96 hours once per month. I did do a 7 day stretch a couple of months ago. I do find a lot more energy while fasting than when eating.
Hope you can find the path that helps and allows you to sustain.
Scott

I work with a guy who had one of the gastric surgeries and lost 200+ pounds and kept it off for a couple years and then........
He ballooned to well over 400lbs over the next few years. A couple years ago he had a second surgery but before hand he had to attend all these classes and lose X amount of weight via the plan. He did so, has had the surgery and this time appears to be doing as he should.
We have another person who uses one of the GLP drugs and initially lost a lot of weight, then stalled and gained some back, but in turn asked the doctor (and received) an increased dosage.
It's like, "the first pill is so I can lower my blood sugar but I eat the second pill so I can eat the cake too".
Again, no personal experience but that is what it looks like from this side of the fence looking over. I could be wrong.
Scott

It all depends on the person.
I have been strict carnivore since May of '24 and I have yet to feel the 'clarity' others talk about. Maybe the closest thing for me is that when I wake up in the morning (or even in the middle of the night) I am awake. I am ready to go, no dragging out of bed, sluggish nor slow. Eyes open and feet hit the floor. That is about as close as I have gotten to a mental change.
I am not sure about the keto bliss. I do feel better than I ever did between being off medications for an auto-immune disease, the weight loss and the shift in daily energy. I don't have like crazy made energy from carnivore, but it is more steady and feels readily available throughout the day.
I do longer fasts myself, anywhere between 72 and 96 hours once per month. I did do a 7 day stretch a couple of months ago. I do find a lot more energy while fasting than when eating.
Hope you can find the path that helps and allows you to sustain.
Scott

Agreed.
I watched a video with him doing pull-ups with the Secretary of Defense with some young military guys.
He looks to be in really good health, physically, and from what I read a straight carnivore guy.
He might be a politician we can believe. LOL
Scott

The big thing is that they seem to work for so many people. The drugs allow the weight loss with little to no effort. Most are looking for the easiest route forward on everything and if one has struggled with weight/obesity/health issues 'taking another pill/shot' is nothing.
Statins 'fixed' so many things for so many people. 'Asbestos' was a miracle product in all forms of construction. Seed oils were a better option than animal fats. Etc. Etc.
The only thing that really changed people's minds was time.
The GLP-1's are in their infancy and already there are some issues with bone and muscle loss. I am no medical professional but it feels like these will be the tip of the iceberg years from now.
I don't think they are for me. But with that said, if they work for someone and get them where they need to be, then so be it for them. And this is from the outside looking in, but the handful people I know using the drug are not coupling it with better eating or exercise or lifestyle type changes to make something after the drug being sustainable. In one way or another, it becomes a life-long need.
Scott

I truly enjoy the exchange of information.
I probably use the site more to wind down after shift work. I stop by, read some, post some and then crash.
If I weren't on the carnivore diet I would say "I am having my cake and eating it too".
I don't know of a meat-eater saying that says the same thing. LOL
Scott

Agreed.
I watched a video with him doing pull-ups with the Secretary of Defense with some young military guys.
He looks to be in really good health, physically, and from what I read a straight carnivore guy.
He might be a politician we can believe. LOL
Scott

Yep.
I'm right back at it just about immediately after. I am guessing everyone's plans have obstacles and bumps in the road.
Luckily mine are very minor and sort of funny and not all that impactful (except for the first ten minutes with the guy on the porch).
Last night at work we were talking about carnivore and fasting and I made mention that I have one employee that could single handedly stop my fasting. It is hard to fast when presented with a huge, very well prepared tomahawk steak, coupled with the appreciation I had for it being a 'show of appreciation by my shift'.
Sort of babbling.
Just a quick post this morning to wind down from nights.
Scott

Funny how things work out.
A month or so ago, maybe more I started my weekend fast while pulling night shifts. On Sunday night the shift decided to cook and have a 'work supper' together. I told them I was fasting and they all know about carnivore. Just as they were sitting down they called me to the breakroom. They threw in a got me a tomahawk steak that looked huge and very appealing. It was such a nice thing they did I broke my fast with a tomahawk.
This weekend I started my fast on Friday and on Sunday the shift cooked again for the Super Bowl. They made me some really nice burger patties.
Plotted my trips to the gym for this week. On Saturday morning I was planning on going to the gym after nightshift. I ended up having to work over.
Planned again for Sunday morning but it was 8F so I had to come home and get the animals straight after a night in the single digits. Moved it to Monday and had to work over again.
I told myself nothing would keep me from going this morning until I had an emergency phone call from home. This guy we paid to cut tress down ten+ years ago broke down near here and walked up on my daughter-in-laws porch at 6AM. He was drunk and banging on the door for some tools to change a tire. It scared her half to death as she was home with her three month old. Unfortunately, when I got the call it was 'some guy' and I dropped my tools in the floor and left a pump in mid-repair. I was on pace to make the 40 minute drive in 25 minutes and my wife sent me a pic from the security camera. He is harmless, and a super nice guy, but drunk he didn't realize how it came across.
Crisis averted at home and I missed out on the gym again today.
Maybe tomorrow. LOL
Scott

I truly enjoy the exchange of information.
I probably use the site more to wind down after shift work. I stop by, read some, post some and then crash.
If I weren't on the carnivore diet I would say "I am having my cake and eating it too".
I don't know of a meat-eater saying that says the same thing. LOL
Scott

My Pops use to say he bought my mom a clothes rack that came with a belt, a motor and a display screen.
Scott