Learn why meat is a crucial component of a healthy diet and how it supports your fitness and wellness goals. Jackie explains!
I survived my first 30 days! After my last post about why I finally decided to take the plunge into the carnivore lifestyle, I wanted to check in and share the raw, honest results of Month One.
If I had only looked at the scale, I might have been frustrated by the end of the month. But as I’ve learned over these last four weeks, the numbers are the least interesting thing happening to my body right now.
The Weigh-In: A Fast Start and a Sudden Stop
The first three weeks felt like a landslide. Watching the numbers drop so quickly was the validation I think I needed to keep going. Here is how the weeks broke down:
Week 1: -6 lbs
Week 2: -5 lbs (11 lbs total)
Week 3: -4 lbs (15 lbs total)
Week 4: 0 lbs—The Plateau.
In the past, hitting a zero-pound week would have sent me spiraling. I would have felt like a failure or assumed the “diet” stopped working. But this time was different. Even though the scale didn’t move in Week 4, my body was changing in ways I never expected.
The “Cloud” Lifted: Mental and Physical Wins
While the weight loss was great, the real magic happened in my head and my joints. About halfway through the month, it felt like a literal cloud lifted from above me.
Mental Clarity: I can see more clearly—not just figuratively, but literally. Colors seem brighter, and everything feels more beautiful. The brain fog is gone, replaced by a sharp, steady focus.
Energy and Sleep: I’m waking up refreshed for the first time in years. I have enough energy for morning workouts—more energy, honestly, than I’ve had in my entire adult life.
Heart and Lungs: My breathing has leveled out, and those scary heart palpitations I was dealing with last month? I haven’t had a single one.
The Pain is Fading: This was the biggest shock. I expected the weight to drop, but I didn’t expect the chronic pain in my body to subside so quickly. Moving feels easier. Being alive feels easier.
Lessons Learned (The Hard Way)
I have to be honest with you: I did make one “rookie” mistake. I started taking MCT oil to help with energy. The bottle says to start slow, but on day one, I went full-throttle with two teaspoons.
Pro-tip: Do not do this. Unless you want to spend your entire day within three feet of a bathroom, start with a quarter teaspoon! I’ve since learned my lesson and am now comfortably at two teaspoons a day. That first day was a “major” learning experience. Read directions.
I know the purists might say I’m “cheating,” but I decided to keep my one cup of coffee a day. I take it with butter and a bit of Splenda. I also use a specific blend infused with cinnamon, acai, and ginseng.
Is it 100% strict carnivore? No. But for me, this journey is about saving my life. I was feeling weak and sick, and I felt like I was on a path toward death. This coffee gives me the strength to push through my morning workouts and gain the muscle I so desperately need. I didn’t cheat once on the food—meat, eggs, butter, and zero-carb cheese only—and I’m proud of that.
I’m entering Month Two feeling like a different person. I’m not just losing weight; I’m gaining a life I thought was gone forever. If you’re hitting a plateau, don’t look at the scale—look at the world around you. Are the colors brighter for you, too?
