Hi all, new to this site.

I'm currently on day 41 of 90 day carnivore challenge and wondering why i'm not feeling this great "lifting of mood, extra energy, clearing of brain fog" etc others report?

I've been pretty good adhering to it, weekend before last i fell off the wagon 2 nights in a row, had the munchies so ate a few crappy fully carb snacks both nights. Other than that I've been on and off dairy but not had that much over all, and trying to eat as much meat and fat as i can each day. I am feeling pretty fatigued all the time, is this normal?

Any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Kind regards

Lee

Welcome to Carnivore Talk Lee. We are glad you could join us.

To start with, try to remember that we are all individuals and can have different experiences with our diet. With having different physiology's what one experiences another may not in the same manner.

You are still very new into this WOE (Way Of Eating) and you may not be fully adapted yet. Some people adapt very quickly while others take some time. Most of us go through a period of lethargy while our body uses up all of the stored glycogen and transitions over to using ketones or fat for fuel. There can often be a lag in that process.

In my case I never really notice a big difference right away in mood. It was a gradual thing that I noticed I just wasn’t getting as angry or worked up over little things anymore. I can’t say for sure when I noticed it as it was so gradual. My energy did pick up in about 30 days or so but nothing dramatic. I noticed that I woke up earlier and easier. I didn’t have this overwhelming desire to be constantly moving or anything but I did notice that I had a sustained energy. I could work longer with no fatigue. I can’t say that I’ve noticed any difference in mental clarity. Maybe I was never lacking to begin with.

So, give it time. It may just take you longer and it may come on so gradually that you hardly notice. Just be patient.

Also, don’t cheat. Cheating causes setbacks and makes your body go in reverse and have to recover. That certainly doesn’t help. Stay pure at least 90 days.

BTW, I don’t know if age has anything to do with it but I suspect it may. I’m in my late 60’s so if you are younger then your experience might be totally different.

Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to not only ask questions but share your experiences.

The carnivore way of eating is very individualistic. You and I could eat the exact same thing and at best our results would be similar, but never the same. Everything matters and everything factors.

I'm 55. I am always intrigued when people much younger than me try this way of eating. Most people tend to be a bit older. Off the top of my head is that I have been pummeling my body longer so therefore the healing may take longer. I would think the younger the better, but just a thought, no real science to that way of thinking.

Day 41 is more than likely still in the adjustment phase. I always preface the following with 'I hate to use these words' but I am pretty sure you are still detoxing and having withdrawals from sugars and carbs. The snacking won't help but the most important thing is that you got back on track. Now try to push thru the cravings and maybe the need to snack will get further and further apart.

As far as the energy, and fatigue and even mood go, there can be several factors.

1. Are you getting enough fat? You have eliminated your fuel source by not eating the carbs and sugars. There is the adjustment time with your body switching fuel sources and during that time you must supply the fat. Most people say, 'meats and fats' and that is not the priority. Higher fat/moderate proteins is the best approach. You can count macros thru a number of different apps or if you question a ratio just eat some more butter. You completed the most important step of carnivore and that is the elimination of carbs and sugars, and the next step is to replace them with a new fuel. You could simply not be eating enough during your adjustment period.

2. When we eliminate the carbs and sugars our water content changes, and we will need more water until we dial in our proper hydration.

3. Most people get more than enough salt form the garbage diet prior to carnivore. When completing the elimination phase the sodium level can go down and the electrolytes are no longer in balance. In the early stages of carnivore coming up short on electrolytes can be very easy to do, so much so, most everyone misses that early.

I'm 13 months is and have not really found the mental clarity or changes in mood. The closest thing I have found is that when I wake up, I'm wide awake in that split second. My eyes open and my feet hit the floor ready to go. If that counts, I may have experienced some of that type of benefit. If not, then maybe it will come later.

Good luck, and welcome. Push thru these early stages and maybe 90 days will not be your ceiling as the benefits (as for me) seem to be continual.

Scott

What WOE are you coming from?

What types of meat are you eating? I believe the consensus is that ruminant meat is best, so lately I have been trying to eat mostly beef, last week I ate generic grocery store Italian sausage, plus salami and pepperoni, the next day I could feel a difference in energy and mental clarity. I notice I don't feel as well on just poultry or pork. If you are looking for the zen try BBBE for a spell.

On 6/2/2025 at 5:12 AM, Lee said:

I'm currently on day 41 of 90 day carnivore challenge and wondering why i'm not feeling this great "lifting of mood, extra energy, clearing of brain fog" etc others report?

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your 'Why' for trying a carnivore challenge? Is it to lose weight, reverse disease, optimize health? What is your weight and health like now?

Healing takes time. Some people boast about "all this energy" they have after just a few days or a week. Sometimes this is because they are very overweight and have a lot of energy stored on their body that they are now tapping into. Others is because they see some weight come off rapidly and they get super excited and filled with motivation. They say that they suddenly have "energy" but it's their motivation and zeal that is driving them.

In time, as one becomes fat adapted, they do experience better moods and "more energy" in the sense of a steady stream of energy that allows them to keep going and going. It's not energy like Mario eating a mushroom and becoming Super Mario.

Hi Lee! When we started we experienced some pretty harsh flu-like symptoms, but we were eating a lot of processed foods and sugar for years, so I guess like others say it depends on where you are starting from. We are feeling much better now especially sticking to our eating plan (we dont cheat or drink or do drugs in order to expect the best results for ourselves). I figure it took years to get here so I must be realistic about my expectations. All the best to you.

Welcome aboard @Lee

Thank you @Bob for stepping in for me WHAT'S YOUR WHY for starting the carnivore lifestyle?

When you say "pretty good adhering to it" means what?

Hi I'm carnivore I basically eat meats, <<< what type (are they processed)

I get my electrolytes from Gatorade or other sports drinks. <<<< MISTAKE as these are filled with sugar regardless

On the weekends I do have a beer or 2 <<<<<<< failure as you're messing your metabolism up still

It's like letting a heroin addict OD, give them narcan and say ok smaller dose next time.

Same goes for sugar- rid your system of this poison and properly follow the lifestyle you should see

improvements.