What 30 Days of Carnivore Taught Me (After a Year of Keto)

I wanted to share my high fat carnivore journey here to document it and reflect on what I learned. I didn’t do carnivore because keto wasn’t working. Keto had already been one of the most impactful changes I’d made for my health.

I began my low-carb journey in February 2025, easing in at first without tracking blood sugar or ketones. By the end of March, I was fully tracking, and the results were hard to ignore. My energy was incredible. Inflammation dropped. My mood stabilized. I slept better than I had in years. I could run for miles without stopping to refuel.

By October, I completed an Army 10-Miler, using carb cycling to support longer runs. I felt strong, capable, and proud of what my body could do.

So when people asked why I would try carnivore, the answer is simple: I was curious to see if I could level up a bit more.

Why I Even Considered Carnivore

I tend to go down research rabbit holes, and I kept hearing people talk about carnivore. They were sharing stories about healing gut issues, calming histamine reactions, improving autoimmune conditions, and leaning out without tracking.

That caught my attention.

I’ve dealt with histamine and digestion issues in the past, and while keto helped a lot, I wondered if carnivore could take things a step further.  I thought I could lean out more, see muscle definition and maybe reset my gut. 

I didn’t jump in blindly, and I didn’t do it alone.

How I Did Carnivore

On January 1st, 2026, I joined a carnivore group coaching program. As a coach myself, I believe in support especially when experimenting with something this structured.

The program began with a reverse-diet “priming” phase, which I loved. It’s something many people are afraid of, but it can be incredibly helpful, especially if you’ve spent years restricting calories.

During this phase I ate three full meals a day and wasn't hungry. 

Food-wise, I ate meat, eggs, and fish, with butter and pork belly for fat. Coffee was the only plant food I kept, usually with heavy cream or butter.

Ribeye steaks became my go-to staple, and I got very good at cooking them.

The Reality Check

In the first couple of weeks, I felt noticeably low in energy despite all the food I was eating. I didn’t want to train. I didn’t even feel motivated to walk in the mornings with the sunrise like I usually do.

I thought maybe its the fact that it got super cold here in Alabama and I was just feeling lazy. But this felt different. Even with higher fat intake, my body felt heavy and slow.

By week four, I realized I still didn’t feel my usual energetic self. I expected more energy and more drive to move and it just wasn’t there.

That realization forced me to step back and look at the bigger picture.

For me, carnivore became less about leaning out and more about information. By eliminating nearly everything, I learned which foods truly triggered my digestion including some I enjoyed regularly. That insight alone made the experiment worthwhile despite not experiencing the energy I thought that would come with this.

Sometimes the value of an extreme approach isn’t staying there forever, but using it as a diagnostic tool so you can reintroduce foods with intention instead of guesswork.

Perspective I Didn’t Expect

One of the most meaningful lessons from this experience had nothing to do with food. It came from listening to other people’s stories.

Many in the program live with multiple autoimmune conditions, severe histamine intolerance, or chronic pain. Many had lost trust in the medical system after years of medications and little relief.

That put things into perspective for me. For those people, I completely understand why carnivore feels necessary. When you’re not chasing optimization but relief, extremes can be life-giving.

But I also realized something important about myself. I’m not broken. I’m not desperate for healing. I’m healthy aside from a few minor things I wanted to refine.

And that matters.

Even when you’re mostly healthy, it’s easy to slip into chasing perfect health: more energy, more muscle, less fat, perfect digestion, always tweaking, always optimizing. That’s where I had to pause.

Because when health becomes something we try to control perfectly, it can quietly shift from stewardship into obsession. Not because health is bad, but because peace gets postponed until everything feels “just right.”

For those who need extreme intervention, I respect it deeply. But I don’t need to live there.

What Carnivore Ultimately Taught Me

Carnivore wasn’t a failure for me. It just wasn’t the right long-term fit. I set out to do this for 30 days and I completed the 30 days.

I didn’t lose weight during these 30 days, but I didn’t gain any either. This experiment didn’t show me what to restrict more. It showed me where I can let go of chasing perfection.

Where I’m Landing Now

I’ve begun transitioning back to keto, slowly and intentionally. I started by reintroducing fruit with Greek yogurt, likely keeping fruit around workouts only. Reintroducing foods slowly to see how I respond.

Keto still feels like the right foundation for me just not zero-carb forever.

The Bigger Lesson

Our bodies want to heal. They want to function well. God designed us that way.

Food can be medicine but not every medicine is meant for every season. Chasing perfect health can steal joy if we let it. Sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is take the next right step, eat REAL food, and stop living like our body is always one tweak away from being “good enough.”

If you’re curious about carnivore, keto, or finding what truly fits you:

• Don’t do it alone

• Get support

• Listen to your body

And if you want to know more about the program I followed or you simply want support on your own journey and to feel seen I’m always happy to help.