It is sort of ironic to speak on carnivore carb intake, which I guess moves the needle to some degree of keto, but I found this interesting. Several months ago I posted about a guy at the gym who went strict carnivore for several years. I am guessing he is late 50's/early 60's but he is jacked. He is strict carnivore six days a week but on Thursdays he eats a couple three sweet potatoes because Friday is higher weight/higher sets/higher weight/higher volume day in the gym. He uses the carbs for glycogen and fuel for the next days work. He said after going carnivore he felt some drop in performance/energy when doing burst type work. The all-day steady energy was present but if he went higher in intensity he felt some drain early on in the work and dialed salt and water and timed his meals and nothing seem to get him where he wanted to be/how he wanted to feel. He added the carbs one day a week before his big workout and it bridged that gap.

I thought it was an interesting concept and have thought about it myself but just not ready to rock the boat with my immune system health after going carnivore. With my luck the very carb I choose will be the one that triggered my auto-immune response way back when. LOL.

This is the first really pro-carnivore advocate to speak to the addition of carbs for sporting/workout energy expenditures. (others may be out there but most are not exactly pro-carnivore)

Good video.

Is This the End of Carnivore?

all aboard the carb train- destination unknown

I will wait for the drawing at the end to see who wins what.

I'm sort of staying pat and choosing to not rock my boat. LOL

Scott

To each their own but for me it ain't broke so need to fix it.

On 10/16/2025 at 9:19 AM, Scott F. said:

He said after going carnivore he felt some drop in performance/energy when doing burst type work. The all-day steady energy was present but if he went higher in intensity he felt some drain early on... He added the carbs one day a week before his big workout and it bridged that gap.

As expected. Carbs provide a lot of instantly available energy. Fat/ketones provide a steady stream of sustained energy. Consuming carbs is like throwing crumpled up newpaper into a fire. It instantly burns releasing energy. Eating fat is like throwing a log on that fire. The fire is going to keep burning for hours and is guaranteed not to go out.

What I have heard is that yes, you will see a performance hit in the gym. But over time, as you become more and more fat adapted, you will eventually get back to those performance markers you were hitting previously. But it won't happen overnight, and it might even take a year.

I have read it both ways, but I think that lands on the intensity and duration of the exercise more so than the different fuel sources.

A person pushing themselves to their maximum effort every session could answer that question better than me as my exercising, lifting and walking is effective but let's just say 'I don't leave it all on the field every time out'.

The paper and log analogy is spot on. The paper will always burn faster and possibly hotter for a brief moment and once the log is burning the steady burn and the hot coals remain constant unless a piece breaks off and there may be a spurt of burn/flame but nothing like the spike of the paper.

If I were a super-duper athlete doing super-duper work, I can see the need for that spurt of energy to get thru the workout. What I see as being the true advantage of the scenario is that when the paper flames up and is gone the steadiness of the fire from the log remains constant. it is not like the fire dims or goes out without the continual adding of the paper. If that makes any sense at all.

If at any point my workouts ramp to the point I am at an energy deficit I could see this as an option. The workouts and the loads are ever increasing but the "log" is holding me just fine right now. LOL

Still a very interesting topic.

Scott

doesn't our liver replace glucose in our cells without eating carbs?? that's my understanding. As for myself and the few I've talked to we feel as strong if not stronger just eating fat

If I were a world class athlete I think i could debate this a tad bit better.

I am getting to the above average mark for the average 56 year old. Meat and fat will serve me just fine and provide all the energy I need, both for the day to day as well as my lifting/walking/working out. I have not, nor do I anticipate taking things to that level.

However, since I have not gotten crazy-go-get'em energy from meats and fats I have developed a steady energy that lasts all day for me now.

I don't see crazy bounce off the wall energy just showing up anytime soon.

I am not saying fat can't be the answer but I am saying I see the theory and based on me, I can see where it could work. But also based on me I am not physically challenging the limitations of fat.

I know one person who uses a couple sweet potatoes on Thursdays before he does what I consider a long a pretty much grueling workout on Fridays and the rest of the week strict carnivore. As soon as this topic popped a few weeks ago I have looked for him in the gym for some insight.

Still a very interesting topic for me.

Scott

On 10/22/2025 at 11:32 AM, ketomonster said:

doesn't our liver replace glucose in our cells without eating carbs?

Yes, through gluconeogenesis, the body synthesizes glucose from proteins to maintain blood sugar levels and prevent hypoglycemia, as certain cells in your body are dependent on glucose. While it's demand-driven, it's not a fast process. It can be triggered by fasting, but it doesn't really contribute meaningfully until after about 6 hours of fasting. Maybe a little sooner with intense exercise.

So that intense exercise for most people (carb eaters) is fueled by glucagon that's already in your cells. Glucose in your blood can be quickly ushered into the cells with insulin. But if there is no glucose freely flowing in your veins and you are not fully fat adapted you will likely feel fatigued and weaker because your running low on energy. If you are fat adapted and the body is expecting these regular intense exercise sessions then it will have plenty of fat/ketones on hand.

On 10/22/2025 at 10:32 AM, ketomonster said:

doesn't our liver replace glucose in our cells without eating carbs?? that's my understanding. As for myself and the few I've talked to we feel as strong if not stronger just eating fat

As Bob said, yes but the body only produces what it needs to function under normal circumstances. Certain parts of the body needs glucose for proper function such as the brain but when it comes to something like needing a quick burst it may fall short.