Today is the first day of January and is also the first day of World Carnivore Month. To that end, let's challenge ourselves to eat a carnivore diet for the entire month of January. The type of carnivore diet and the level of strictness you choose to do is entirely up to you. Examples of carnivore diets include the following...

1) The Lion Diet. A person eating the Lion Diet only consumes the flesh of ruminant animals, water, and salt.

2) The BBBE Diet. BBBE is an acronym for Beef, Butter, Bacon, and Eggs. 

3) The Carnivore Diet. This allows for the consumption of any and all animals and animal by-products, including dairy. 

In any of the above examples, the object of course is to not consume any plants as part of your diet. Of course, we're not going to micromanage hoe you prepare your food, so your use of seasonings is entirely your own personal choice.

IF your circumstances don't allow you to go full on carnivore in January, then you can participate in this topic by challenge yourself to do better, above and beyond what you have been doing. For example, if you have still been eating grains, seed oils, refined sugar, or drinking alcohol, challenge yourself to avoid these items and just eat a clean, single ingredient whole foods diet such as clean keto, ketovore, or animal based. 

We encourage you to check in daily, and share what you have eaten, perhaps a weigh-in if you're willing, and enjoy in some small talk.  Participants in this topic will be entered into a drawing for a prize at the end of the month.

Happy Monday everyone! Remember there is a Zoom meeting tonight, in about 45 minutes.

Please deactivate my account. 

Thanks 

On 1/26/2025 at 2:24 PM, Nemo said:

In general European prices are higher for a matter of quality and cost production related to it. But swedish prices are not related to quality. Swedish meat is not any better than meat for example from Italy even tho the prices are about double; the main differance is that here workers have much more rights, and those rights come to a cost. Here i personally know people that got 3 weeks off for an 'inflamation to the big toe'. 😂

In Italy i had a piece of iron going through my arm while working, cutting through the muscle, and the company was mad cause the Doc gave me a full week at home. took me about two months to be able to use again the arm and i was working on a manual job using a single arm 😅

In The Netherlands it works like that as well. Lots of vacation, sick days, everything taken care of, but high taxes, etc. That indeed is separate from quality. But within the EU you have regulations that make food safer and better, and there is a cost involved. 

 

fellas, i gotta share my sorrow. i just got back from 4 different grocery stores. Not an inch of ground beef nor stake and i managed to grab the last piece of Chuck. 🥹 apparently there is not enough supply and i will have to wait a couple of weeks to get some. I was just starting to get better by dropping pork. i'm considering turning to cannibalism 😅.

On 1/25/2025 at 3:04 PM, Carburetor said:

 

To Nemo, I did not understand why minced meat by itself would be bad either. But the vet who told me about it was from Eastern Europe with horrible minced meat experiences there, she said "there can be anything" and that means chemicals,too. Who knows. Maybe the bad practises,whatever they are,are universal now?

It would be interesting to know if the vet was from a EU eastern european country, of from outside the EU. cause as we were saying with Orweller, the difference lies in the regulations which are common between non-EU european countries and the US. I'm wondering if what affected you dog could have been not the ground beef itself, but maybe all the products added to raise the animal, or the preservatives added to the meat.

1 hour ago, Nemo said:

fellas, i gotta share my sorrow. i just got back from 4 different grocery stores. Not an inch of ground beef nor stake and i managed to grab the last piece of Chuck. 🥹 apparently there is not enough supply and i will have to wait a couple of weeks to get some. I was just starting to get better by dropping pork. i'm considering turning to cannibalism 😅.

Do you live in a small town? or is this the norm in Sweden? Surely you gotta have plenty of fish, right? 

1 hour ago, Nemo said:

It would be interesting to know if the vet was from a EU eastern european country, of from outside the EU. cause as we were saying with Orweller, the difference lies in the regulations which are common between non-EU european countries and the US. I'm wondering if what affected you dog could have been not the ground beef itself, but maybe all the products added to raise the animal, or the preservatives added to the meat.

It could be simply coloring (chemicals). 

Not a small town. Unfortunately one of the harderst things for me moving to sweden was that they have very very little choice when it comes to meat and fish as well (surprising). very little variety of animals, and also very little variety of cuts of meat. finding liver is hard, i gotta drive 1 hour for it, but things like brain, heart, etc, is something unseen here. meat is bought almost exclusively in groerystores cause butchery shops are not a thing (no idea why). A lot of animals that i am able to find in my home country are unavaible here, even common ones like horses, donkeys, rabbits, goose  (i miss horsy meat and donkey sausages). For some reason they tend to prefer extra lean cuts of meat so most of the minced meat and steaks you'll find are 90/10-95/5, dry as sin. from what i've seen in the years, cow is the least avaible animal among the few avaible ones. When you get down to the deep south of the country, things are less like I described them and more similar to a common european standard, but in the arctic circle choices are narrowed down to very few options. after christmas i haven't seen cow meat in the grocerystores for a whole 3weeks cause they were out of it.

Edited January 29Jan 29 by Nemo

1 hour ago, Orweller said:

It could be simply coloring (chemicals). 

totally an option.

3 hours ago, Nemo said:

Not a small town. Unfortunately one of the harderst things for me moving to sweden was that they have very very little choice when it comes to meat and fish as well (surprising). very little variety of animals, and also very little variety of cuts of meat. finding liver is hard, i gotta drive 1 hour for it, but things like brain, heart, etc, is something unseen here. meat is bought almost exclusively in groerystores cause butchery shops are not a thing (no idea why). A lot of animals that i am able to find in my home country are unavaible here, even common ones like horses, donkeys, rabbits, goose  (i miss horsy meat and donkey sausages). For some reason they tend to prefer extra lean cuts of meat so most of the minced meat and steaks you'll find are 90/10-95/5, dry as sin. from what i've seen in the years, cow is the least avaible animal among the few avaible ones. When you get down to the deep south of the country, things are less like I described them and more similar to a common european standard, but in the arctic circle choices are narrowed down to very few options. after christmas i haven't seen cow meat in the grocerystores for a whole 3weeks cause they were out of it.

Start hunting seals bro. 😂

2 hours ago, Orweller said:

Start hunting seals bro. 😂

you kidding mate? those things took down Bin Laden; I stand no chance.

1 month almost done! Hope you are all doing well with Carnivore.

Someone (way back in thread) mentioned having a little dark chocolate for bowel movement - it was a slippery slope and I have been having to many sneaky treats... Careful with that!

Continuing in February with no chocolate...

Nearly finished with my first month. Can honestly say I have not cheated once!  I’m down 14 pounds.  Today was my second OMAD and I have to say, I get pretty hungry before the 24 hours is up.  I’ve been hitting the gym daily.

 

Edited January 30Jan 30 by Outdoorstom

11 hours ago, Outdoorstom said:

Nearly finished with my first month. Can honestly say I have not cheated once!  I’m down 14 pounds.  Today was my second OMAD and I have to say, I get pretty hungry before the 24 hours is up.  I’ve been hitting the gym daily.

 

Congrats on the carnivore change and congrats on the 14 pounds.

Things will swing back and forth as you progress. 

I'm at just about 9 months and within that first month I was OMAD not be any design, but I simply was not hungry. I just ate when I was hungry at that just happens to have a name, OMAD. Funny how that works. Fast forward and I have lost a bunch of weight, increased the volume in the gym and now eating twice per day to ensure I hit a protein target.

I have always believed eating is as much a habit as it is anything else. I have re-affirmed that as of late by forcing myself to eat two times per day. I got in the habit of eating a big breakfast off eggs and meat and then again at night. This week I rolled back on days shifts and it is just not enough time in the morning to eat like on my days off. I skipped breakfast on both Monday and Tuesday, so back to OMAD. On Wednesday morning I felt like I was starving. I didn't feel hungry but just felt like 'it was time to eat'. No energy levels or true signals of hunger, just it was breakfast time and since I ate yesterday at this time it must be time to eat again today. Purely habit.

I started in May and didn't have any cravings or hunger from very early on. Maybe the only time since May I was actually hungry, truly hungry was the 71st hour of a 72 hour water fast. The first 71 hours were hunger free. (I never would have believed it til I tried it). At the 71st hour it was like the hunger spiked up and the energy level crashed. 

Welcome and congrats on your first month. I try not to speak as a whole, but just my experience, it has only gotten better ever since. 

Scott

1 hour ago, Scott F. said:

Congrats on the carnivore change and congrats on the 14 pounds.

Things will swing back and forth as you progress. 

I'm at just about 9 months and within that first month I was OMAD not be any design, but I simply was not hungry. I just ate when I was hungry at that just happens to have a name, OMAD. Funny how that works. Fast forward and I have lost a bunch of weight, increased the volume in the gym and now eating twice per day to ensure I hit a protein target.

I have always believed eating is as much a habit as it is anything else. I have re-affirmed that as of late by forcing myself to eat two times per day. I got in the habit of eating a big breakfast off eggs and meat and then again at night. This week I rolled back on days shifts and it is just not enough time in the morning to eat like on my days off. I skipped breakfast on both Monday and Tuesday, so back to OMAD. On Wednesday morning I felt like I was starving. I didn't feel hungry but just felt like 'it was time to eat'. No energy levels or true signals of hunger, just it was breakfast time and since I ate yesterday at this time it must be time to eat again today. Purely habit.

I started in May and didn't have any cravings or hunger from very early on. Maybe the only time since May I was actually hungry, truly hungry was the 71st hour of a 72 hour water fast. The first 71 hours were hunger free. (I never would have believed it til I tried it). At the 71st hour it was like the hunger spiked up and the energy level crashed. 

Welcome and congrats on your first month. I try not to speak as a whole, but just my experience, it has only gotten better ever since. 

Scott

Thanks for taking the time share your journey and encourage me on mine. I read all the time people saying they don’t feel hungry.  I’m feeling hunger pains 5 or 6 hours after eating and I don’t know why. It may be habit as you mentioned.  I drink extra water when they hit and that helps for a while. My energy level isn’t where I think it should be yet though. 

I try not to speak in generalities because I have found when it comes to people on carnivore, there is nothing cookie cutter at all. I try to speak from my experiences as even after 8+ months I feel like I am in the infancy of learning.

For me, I have found my energy levels are dictated by fat content and salt (electrolytes). My wife is not on the diet so sometimes I don't eat a high enough fat content if our meal is more toward the lean side. When that happens, I can feel a dip in energy, especially around the hour mark when lifting or doing a log walk (on my days off I try to walk 3 miles and most days I wear a 40lb weight vest). If my meals lack in fat I drag toward the ends of working out. If I don't/forget to salt sometimes I feel a lull. 

I have read where others come almost off salt altogether and some only use minimal amounts and their energy levels are seldom alike. 

Everything is more individual than anything and that is why I enjoy everyone's personal experiences. I think I learn more comparing experiences with others but not expecting similarities. As crazy as that sounds.

Scott

 

33 minutes ago, Scott F. said:

I try not to speak in generalities because I have found when it comes to people on carnivore, there is nothing cookie cutter at all. I try to speak from my experiences as even after 8+ months I feel like I am in the infancy of learning.

For me, I have found my energy levels are dictated by fat content and salt (electrolytes). My wife is not on the diet so sometimes I don't eat a high enough fat content if our meal is more toward the lean side. When that happens, I can feel a dip in energy, especially around the hour mark when lifting or doing a log walk (on my days off I try to walk 3 miles and most days I wear a 40lb weight vest). If my meals lack in fat I drag toward the ends of working out. If I don't/forget to salt sometimes I feel a lull. 

I have read where others come almost off salt altogether and some only use minimal amounts and their energy levels are seldom alike. 

Everything is more individual than anything and that is why I enjoy everyone's personal experiences. I think I learn more comparing experiences with others but not expecting similarities. As crazy as that sounds.

Scott

 

I’m very generous in the use of my Himalayan salt, and I add electrolytes to my water, which I’m drinking lots of.  I cut back a little on the fat after eating too much and dealing with diarrhea a few days ago. I still believe I’m getting plenty of it though.

On 1/29/2025 at 1:25 AM, Orweller said:

Here i personally know people that got 3 weeks off for an 'inflamation to the big toe'. 😂

If you ever get gout,which I hope you won´t,you will stop laughing at that.

It completely invalidizes you, being not able to walk or even stand up. Or sleep for that matter.

7 hours ago, Carburetor said:

If you ever get gout,which I hope you won´t,you will stop laughing at that.

It completely invalidizes you, being not able to walk or even stand up. Or sleep for that matter.

I am sure this quote is from Nemo. 

I responded to that post. 

I also think it's all in jest, as I know very well what it is like to not walk. Fortunately never had gout, sounds painful. 

On 1/29/2025 at 8:18 PM, Outdoorstom said:

Nearly finished with my first month. Can honestly say I have not cheated once!  I’m down 14 pounds.  Today was my second OMAD and I have to say, I get pretty hungry before the 24 hours is up.  I’ve been hitting the gym daily.

 

Congratulations on your one month anniversary. It only gets better from here. 

10 hours ago, Outdoorstom said:

Thanks for taking the time share your journey and encourage me on mine. I read all the time people saying they don’t feel hungry.  I’m feeling hunger pains 5 or 6 hours after eating and I don’t know why. It may be habit as you mentioned.  I drink extra water when they hit and that helps for a while. My energy level isn’t where I think it should be yet though. 

I have to concur with Scott. OMAD is one of those things that just come naturally. If it doesn’t with you then don’t force it. No reason to. 
Generally if we get hungry it’s our body telling us we need fuel. In that case eat. But is it really hunger or just an empty belly? I’ve discovered there is a difference. 
The conventional wisdom among the carnivore community is if you are getting hungry that soon then you aren’t eating enough. Now that could be fat, protein or both. You may need to experiment to find out. 
Who knows, you may be one of those that just needs a lot of fuel. A high metabolism can do that. 

It sounds like you are doing great so far so you might just keep doing what you’re doing as long as you’re getting good results.