Advocates of the Carnivore Diet report a wide range of results from following the all-meat diet that include weight loss, fewer digestive symptoms, better heart health, increased testosterone, and more energy.
While these are commonly-reported results from the Carnivore Diet, we wanted to learn more about the stories behind the Carnivore Diet and actual results from those that have followed this diet.
We interviewed powerlifter and Carnivore Diet advocate Hadi Doumit to learn more about his personal Carnivore Diet Results.
Q: Where did your Carnivore Diet journey start?
My journey began on Monday, May 4, 2015.
At the time, I was feeling extremely ill. I had no energy, felt thirsty all the time, and had to use the restroom 4 to 5 times each hour of the day and night. I struggled to get out of bed each morning as my feet and ankles would swell up and go numb. It would take me about 30 minutes to get my feet moving, just so I could stand up to start my day.
I finally scheduled a doctor's appointment to check my health.
That Monday on May 4, 2015, was the beginning of me gaining my life back. While sitting in the chair waiting to hear the results of my blood test, a doctor's assistant came in to check my blood sugar level, and it was 530. I have never been diabetic, and the numbers did not register to me as I was new to this and did not know how serious my health was failing at the time.
The doctor explained that if someone has blood sugar levels in the 500 range, it's possible to go into a diabetic coma. Unfortunately, it didn't stop there.
He went on to explain to me that the results for my blood test and my check-up showed an inflamed liver, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and more health issues. At that moment, I felt utterly lost.
I left the doctor's office with a handful of prescription medications that the doctor prescribed. He had stated that I needed to take these medications seriously if I wanted to stay alive. At the time, my daughter was just entering kindergarten.
As the doctor explaining to me that my body was failing me, all I could think was that I wouldn't be able to see my daughter go into the first grade.
So, I drove to a nearby supplement shop, walked in, and noticed a bodybuilder working the counter. I looked at him and said, "I know there's no magic pill. I'm not looking for supplements. I can't eat salads for the rest of my life. I just want to know what you eat so I can get healthier."
He basically put me on a bodybuilding diet, and then I began weighing my meals out.
This was all so new to me. I had reached my all-time heaviest weight of 405, and now I have to weigh all my food and take all these medications, to just be healthy?
Q: What was your "a-ha" moment?
I was sitting on my couch, overthinking everything, and came across a "Bigger Stronger Faster" documentary on Netflix. That's when I first learned about Chris and Mark Bell.
After watching the documentary, I looked Chris and Mark Bell up on YouTube and Instagram, and I noticed these guys mainly ate red meat, and they ditched the carbs. At the time, they were promoting low-carb diets by running a campaign called "War on Carbs," and it caught my attention.
At the time, I'd try anything. So, I switched all my meals to red meat, eggs, and water and began living a zero-carb life. This was my first taste of a proper carnivore diet meal plan.
Q: What was it like in the beginning of the Carnivore Diet?
In the beginning, everyone thought I was crazy for ditching plant foods entirely to begin eating primarily red meat and animal products. We all grew up learning that eating too much red meat isn't healthy for us and that we're best to follow a standard American diet. But in my case, I needed to try anything to see if I can get my health back on track.
When I started, I didn't know if I needed to eat a particular portion of meat, and I didn't know how to plan out my day of eating. So I started listening to my body. I would only eat if I were hungry.
Q: What did you eat on the Carnivore Diet?
That was about two pretty good size meals a day.
My meals would consist of eating primarily meat. I'd put a chuck roast in the crockpot with some bone broth and let it cook overnight. I would put some in a container, add a couple of scrambled eggs, and take that for my work lunch.
For dinner, I would have the same thing–or add more meat if I was out of eggs.
Q: When did you start noticing a difference?
Eventually, I started to feel more energy. I didn't have the sluggish feeling I used to, I didn't have to use the restroom every hour, my legs weren't swelling up, and I was able to get out of bed with no problems.
I started to notice the difference within the second week. Many of the health issues that I was having before the Carnivore Diet were slowly going away. All with just the modification of my diet. The most notable health benefit has been weight loss. In one year, I lost 191 pounds.
That whole year I did not go to the gym once. All I did was focus on my nutrition and watched my body weight fall off as I began to feel more and more health benefits.
Q: What were your results on the Carnivore Diet after a year?
I returned to the same doctor a year later for a yearly check-up. This doctor would prescribe me medication monthly in between the year timeframe, but I did not fill one prescription. I wanted to see if I could get my health back in control without being dependent on any medication.
The doctor did not recognize me. He was blown away by my test results and surprised that everything was normal. The doctor asked me to retake my blood test to make sure the results were accurate.
I returned two weeks after and again; he was blown away that I went from possibly losing my life to being healthier than I have ever been. I handed him back all the prescriptions he prescribed me and told him that I did not need them. I also let him know that I did not take one pill the entire time. I worked on my nutrition and began understanding what works well for my body.
Q: What's the biggest result from the Carnivore Diet?
This journey of finding the correct lifestyle in dieting has saved my life, and now I have two kids. My son would not have been around if I did not take control of my health. I have now discovered the world of powerlifting and training at "SuperTraining gym" with the two guys I followed this whole time on my weight loss journey Chris Bell & Mark Bell.
Don't rule anything out without giving it a try. What works for me might not work for everybody else.
I was taught my whole life red meat was rotten for my health when it was really the food that helped me get my life back on track.
If you're looking to begin a healthier lifestyle journey, it's not that difficult. The easiest thing you can do is just eat red meat. That's the easiest way to begin the carnivore lifestyle.
Q: Where can people find more about your Carnivore Diet journey?
If you want to continue to follow my journey, you can check me out on Instagram.
Bottom Line
We're truly inspired by Hadi's success story. It's incredible to see someone take control of their life for the better.
Looking for Carnivore Diet-friendly snacks? Our Old Fashioned Original Beef Jerky is made with minimal seasoning and no sugar for an excellent, all-meat snack.
