Maybe the difference is a person's end goal, maybe make a mission statement to kick the diet off to which ever path the person chooses. "I want to step on the scale and see a lesser number over the next 90-120 days". "My goal is to lose X amount of pounds" With these two statements probably 99% of all diets are effective. These statements will lead to the 'calories and calories out' conversation and before the definition of calories pops up, we can change it to 'total mass in and total mass out'. This approach makes all diets really close to 100% effective. Next mission statement would be, "I would like to lose X number of pounds and improve my metabolic health at the same time". This wipes out a really large chunk of most diets. They are effective but the metabolic health, which is probably not up to snuff in the first place, will take a further hit as the weight goal is approached or attained'. I can see this approach for someone really big who needs to drop X number of pounds to be able to go under a knee or hip replacement, or similar surgeries. Getting the weight down can be by any means necessary. The plan would be weight comes down, surgery takes place, mobility is returned and then a better meal plan can be coupled with mobility for a healthier life. I can see this being an option for a lot of people. Then maybe the last mission statement would be "I want to improve my metabolic health, and in time drop some weight, and at the same time develop a sustainable long-term way of eating". This narrows the field. And if I added "without the required need of daily supplementation" we get down to the animal-based versions of carnivore and a minimal number of the keto versions with a carb/sugar level fairly low. Over the past three to four months, I have both gained and lost weight on a strict carnivore diet purely based on the mass I am eating, the timing in which I eat even coupled with several 96-hour water fasts. Last week I laid off the eating to hit the protein target, pretty much ate when I was hungry (which turned into OMD, if that) and dropped from 219 to 212 in 7 days. As always, there is some daily fluctuation and four pretty good days in the gym. I also walked a couple days 3.5 miles with at least 100 pushups along the walk. The weeks before that with the same out-put, I crammed 200 grams of protein per day in via the same strict carnivore diet, and I gained 8-9 pounds. I am the only control subject in my study (LOL) but my approach 'will both lose and gain weight dependent on food intake', it has been proven to improve my metabolic health (numerous blood tests from BP, to glucose, to lipid panel, to kidney function, to immunoglobulin/autoimmune response) and I have shown it is completely sustainable for me over time. 100% of all diets will work and 100% of all diets will fail. Diet success is pounds in the short-term, but that success is all too often short-lived. Diets that evolve into sustainable lifestyles is where the true successes land. And with that said, I can see the need and the point of 'losing weight' by any means necessary. Scott
Today is 7 months since I started Carnivore. This morning, I tipped the scales at 223lbs which is 83lbs less than 7 months ago. I have not taken pain medicine nor inflammation medicine since late May/early June. I have Neuromyelitis Spectrum Disorder (basically Multiple Sclerosis but attacks the optic nerves). Other than a couple bouts with some bath room issues, I have only positives.
The last month I have bounced around 76-79lbs lost. During that same time I dropped pant size for 40 to 38. Lost inches with pounds basically remaining the same. My weight loss has been erratic yet consistent, if that makes sense. The first thirty pounds came off pretty much a pound a day but from there it has been drops, mini-stalls/stabilize, then drops. I was on 79 a couple different time last week and week before but never actually touching 80. 4lb drop from yesterday til today.
No change in diet, actually eating more as of late. At 55 I'm increasing the work in the gym and hoping to build some muscle/off set age related muscle loss as well as knowing it is the best defense against the muscle issues with NMO/SD.
7 months and I have pretty much nothing but positives. So much so, my wife is starting tomorrow. I am hoping this is the biggest positive yet.
Scott