To celebrate 100 days carnivore, today I wanted to share many of the benefits I’m grateful for since starting carnivore. Keep in mind this is not an exhaustive list and is sure to grow with time. I am so fortunate and grateful for the results I have recognized thus far. (We have now hit our
Disclaimer:
The following is intended as a discussion and exploration of our personal health and our experience with a carnivorous way of eating and is not meant to be taken as medical advice or to suggest a cure or treatment for any disease or illness. The positive benefits listed are not guaranteed and should not be expected. This is an n=1 experiment. All bodyweight exercises discussion is for informational purposes only. If interested in this practice, please educate yourself thoroughly. Also, seek advice from a qualified holistic or medical professional. We do not accept liability for damage or injury that may allegedly arise from any information or suggestions herein. As with anything, taking yourself to extremes can be very dangerous unless you are well trained and know what you’re doing.
Cognitive/Mental Benefits
The initial claim that triggered me to research and, ultimately, pursue carnivore related to mental and cognitive health. For as long as I can remember, I struggled with sleep issues. Running on limited sleep for decades led to unstable moods and unhappiness. Both of which lead to emotional eating.
Sleep – I sleep more comfortably, more deeply, and for longer durations with more interesting dreams. I wake up more refreshed. Even on nights when I sleep less I feel just as amazing in the morning. While still improving, several nights recently I stayed asleep for the entire night.
Calmness within my mind – I feel clarity in my mind and a more profound ability to philosophize and articulate ideas. There are no lingering feelings of anxiety or depression. My self-esteem and confidence manifest greater than ever.
Joyful/happy- Throughout the day, I experience more positive thoughts which opens my eyes to more perspectives than before. I am feeling brighter and more eager to be social. I find it hard to stop smiling most of the time.
Relief and self-control from food addictions and cravings – Eliminating carbohydrates, whether sugar, vegetable, or anything in between, is not easy for anyone. Food is a huge part of our 24/7 life, and they have made much of it addictive. For me, keeping some vegetables in my diet not only made me feel like crap, but it made me keep craving sugary treats. I wonder if my carb-addicted gut bacteria are gone or if those cravings come from deficiencies caused by food my body couldn’t process.
To be fair, these are things I had been working on for some time now, but I have recognized greater improvements since going carnivore.
Physical Benefits
Obesity makes every task more difficult. At points, I carried well over 100 extra pounds. No wonder I lacked the energy to workout after a long day. When I did a workout, I would be sore for days which limited any progress I could make. Carbohydrates tired me out and kept me feeling hungry.
Increased energy, strength, power, ability and consistent progress – I know for a fact that I could not hold myself up on parallel bars ever before in my life. Being able to hold myself up the first time at the calisthenics park I instantly felt more powerful.
Less soreness – Granted my workouts changed, but I see that they are more challenging than the past. I imagine this has to do with lactic acid differences since my body uses ketones rather than glycogen or glucose for energy.
Clothes – My clothes sit better on my body. I have shrunk out several outfits and now fit in clothes I haven’t worn in over ten years.
Feeling nourished – Uncontrollable feelings of hunger are a thing of the past. When I ate foods my body couldn’t assimilate to, I always felt hungry. Now, most of what I consume is used by the body leaving me feeling nourished all of the time.
Digestive comfort – Lately, I suffer from minimal and ever lessening stomach/gastrointestinal discomfort. I have consistent bowel movements and very little gas or bloating ever. So, I feel calmness within my body.
Better bladder control – Finally I can sleep through the night and less frequent urge, despite previously having issues with an overactive bladder.
Personal Benefits
Each day, I strive to be better than I was the day before. I understand that the smallest accomplishments we barely give attention to result in our biggest successes in life.
Able to think and work longer- When working on my creative pursuits especially, I always found myself needing breaks. Now I reach a higher level of focus and end up completing work faster than expected. The only downside is that sometimes I can overthink and end up with too many ideas.
Growing creativity – Lately, I find myself trying new types of art and doing so more frequently. Also, I have outlined and brainstormed for many writing side projects. It feels amazing.
Less procrastination – I have noticed that especially with day to day type activities as soon as I think about doing a task I do the action without hesitation. No excuses, no time wasted, my tasks get done early.
I trust myself – Unlike before, I now trust myself to make good decisions with food and my body in general. I know that my body will tell me what I need. Therefore, I feel calmness with myself.
Feeling closer and more connected with my husband – We pay more attention to each other’s bodies and compliment each other’s progress. We see each other in a way we can’t see ourselves. It has been very refreshing. Not to mention, when it comes to meals choosing between a couple of meat choices minimizes the never-ending “what do you want to eat” battle.
Share some of your benefits with us!
Each week, I provide an update on my carnivore journey and information relevant to those curious. Subscribe to our email list for notifications on the latest articles.
We’d love to hear some of our reader’s stories and the benefits they’ve recognized on their weight loss journey. Share with us in the comments below or email us at emails@dirtywindshield.com.
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