Actually, I find lean meat digests for me much better that fatty meat. And I really have no problem getting full, I hardly ever eat more that 8 oz meat or fish, the problem is with heavy food (fatty meats, lots of nuts) I get sick after I eat. I am pretty sure I have low HCl levels and when I supplement that I can eat heavier stuff. I guess I would like to have a diet where I don't need supplements and my food digests easily. I don't like eating stuff that my body is obviously not good at digesting. Maybe if I dont eat junk for a while my system will become stronger and I will be able to digest things better.

I have low HCl too and for awhile I was supplementing with pills in order to continue eating lots of meat ("lots of" in my case meaning 8oz per meal, or thereabouts). I briefly tried carnivore on 2 different occasions and felt very very poorly each time.

I recently started eating less meat, maybe 2-4oz per meal, and my body is so much happier. My digestion is a million times better and I just feel better overall. I'm even eating more carbs and I've not gained any weight at all from them, whereas from past experience I think I would have gained weight had I eaten this many carbs while continuing to eat so much meat. I can even eat some non-paleo things now without the negative consequences that I used to experience. To say I'm shocked that going with less meat has made me healthier is an understatement! But my body is really loving the less meat, more veg that I have been giving it recently.

Sometimes I wonder if it is seasonal? It seems to be for me at least. In the summer I find it very hard to eat much meat and tend towards fish. Lately though I've been braising game and other large animals a lot and finding fish and salads pretty unappetizing. Reindeer heart sounds good right about now...but maybe I just get sick of things I eat too much and it has nothing to do with the seasons.

I've been doing a lot of braised meat + green leafy veg + mashed root vegetable. Hearty, delicious and filling. It might be seasonal to some extent, definitely. Salads definitely aren't as appealing as they were when the weather was warmer.

I've been mostly carnivore for a couple-three months now. I had really bad D problems at first but they have resolved for the most part. I also lost weight -5 to 8 pounds during this time which was nice because weight loss has eluded me completely for a year or so. Lately, I've been growing tired of being so "strange." I have little support for this woe in my life. I'm wondering if I shouldn't at least add back green veg? I like the idea of having veg as a garnish. I agree with keeping nightshades out - I've got lots of inflamation issues - but I'd like to be able to enjoy a bite of veg or two here and there.

I have one final thing to say. I know some of you are involved with another forum that discusses zero carb. I have been involved with that forum for the past few months. I also read here how capmike was banned for what I consider to be legitimate questions. It seems there are continuous wars going on over there and people are constantly being shut out because they have doubts about that woe. For a while, I basically ignored all that stuff and just tried to find information. But as time goes on..... it has begun to seem so restrictive, so narrow minded, so preachy, so catty. Some stuff I read there today finally put me over the edge. I won't be back. I may well be banned over there for having made this post here, but I could care less.

I will probably continue to be 95% carnivore. I love the lack of cravings! I also love the simplicity. I'm so glad there is this site where eating this way is acceptable and not a reason for ridicule because I am not perfect meat and water!

I'm sort of the same way - I think my HCl levels are low too, but I'm paranoid and stubborn about supplements. On the other hand, truly lean meat like skinless chicken breast, eye roast or london broil turns to lead in my stomach. It's a balance - If I eat soft pork cracklings or rare hamburger plus the fat from the pan, I might feel sick. But a medium hamburger or an untrimmed pork chop is fine.

My latest discovery is that I can tolerate a lot more fat if it's emulsified - a nice rich stock-based sauce or homemade mayonnaise goes down no problem.

I agree - certain vegetables don't seem to do any real harm in moderation. It's certainly possible (and in my opinon, reasonable) to live without them, but I don't think it's absolutely necessary. I avoid nightshades, nuts, legumes, grains, tubers, alliums, tough dark greens and fruit (except for lemon juice, and cucumber in season). I've even cut out unfermented crucifers. But a little parsley or salad doesn't seem to do any harm, and it can brighten up a meal. I really prefer my hamburger topped with mayonnaise (lemon juice, egg yolk, chicken fat) and salad (mixed greens, parsley) or sauerkraut. And I keep wondering whether non-tuberous root vegetables like carrots, turnips and radishes are really all that bad.

On the other hand, I've stopped eating bacon. I don't know if it's the sugar or the smoking, but sometimes it makes me hungry. I don't really know why bacon is acceptable to zero-carbers. Smoked sausage gives me a headache.

Did I mention I was excited to discover that Lex Rooker had a recipe for corned heart? My excitement quickly turned to disappointment, though, when I found that the recipe contains honey. I can't eat that!

Since monday I have been 100% paleo and have been eating anything I want including homemade grain-free granola with honey and any kind of fruit and veg and meat when i feel like it. I feel really good! Last night I was even craving meat and made a fatty roast, I was a little sick from it but by this morning i feel just fine. I also made paleo mayo with avocado oil and made a chicken salad and I didn't get sick at all. I think my main problem is dairy, I haven't even had a drop of butter and I think it's making a big difference. It really is an addiction for me, if I have one little taste that's all I can think about. Sorry for rambling, i am just excited that this is working so well without counting carbs

capmikee - just wanted to say thanks for discussing the emulsifiers (emulsification? ) in this and other posts. I've added egg yolk to my daily diet and it's helping my digestion considerably. Great thoughts and discussion, always!

I've been carnivore for around 3 months now and loving it. I did it to clear up digestive issues mainly and I'm fixed! No vegetables or fruit = no gas and normal bowels. Also, I no longer have cravings for sweets or carbs like I did on paleo or even VLC. I'm going to try to do this for as long as possible, hopefully forever, we'll see...

I don't think that vegetables are harmless, I've learned this firsthand. Fruit is literally the worst though.

I kind of feel now that the conventional "paleo diet" is a complete joke.

What were you eating before you went carnivore? Specifically, did it include:

Nightshades
Young greens
Dark, bitter greens
Stalks (e.g. celery)
Brassicas/crucifers
Citrus
Cucurbits
Tubers
Roots (not tubers)
Berries
Nuts or seeds
herbs
spices
bacon
eggs

...and what's your take on salt?

I know this is going to come off as grilling you, but I'm honestly curious. I'd love to fix my bowel issues, but my last carnivore attempt just made them worse.

I was about to say the same about carnivorous!

When I was paleo, the main culprit was fruits. Roughage like nuts, seeds, and vegetables also gave me many problems.

Things like nightshades aren't a problem I don't believe because I occasionally make taco meat using chili powder w/ a paprika base. I'm still using all the old spices but only very rarely. I can eat eggs and bacon no problem. I don't really have a take on salt. I went salt free for a bit only because after a while, beef itself tasty salty enough. That went away after I started eating bacon again, so I might just go back to eating plain beef and water. I don't feel like salt hurts though in small quantity like a sprinkling over a steak. Too much bacon however, I wake up in the middle of the night with my mouth completely desert dry and it's a horrible experience.

Mike, honestly I had a problem with my gut too when I first started. The only problem I ran into was loose stools. I supplemented diligently with HCl every meal, starting with 5 and now I'm down to 0. I haven't had loose stools since. I can eat much less meat and feel full and my sh!t is a #4 on the bristol chart EVERYTIME. I think a lot of people's guts, if not all, are messed up to start so it's a good idea to atleast try it. I'm shocked this treatment actually worked so well.


The Caveman, the reason I say that is because there's no way in hell paleoman would have wanted to eat some crappy dandelions if there was so much game present. Fruits? Give me a break, they would have been seasonal and nearly unrecognizable compared to today's monsters. Same goes with vegetables. Nothing feeds the human body like flesh. That's why fasting can have such beneficial effects: your body is eating only fat and protein. Your body can't tell the difference between outside and inside food sources, so it's best to just feed it what it's made to eat: meat.

I didn't mean to offend anyone of the paleo diet, I just find some of the fantasies silly.

Where did you get the HCl? I might consider that if there were no starches or phthalates or grain or dairy ingredients in the capsules.

Do you get no-sugar bacon?


Well, that's disappointing. I'm already off roughage, and the only fruit I use is lemon juice. I actually feel better on days when I have some kimchi, though I've been skipping it 3 or 4 days a week out of suspicion.

I've started getting nasty effects from hamburgers lately - ears ringing, metallic taste in my mouth, feeling like I'm missing some nutrient. I've started buying myself grass-fed hamburger and giving the corn-fed to the rest of the family because it makes a difference. But I finally gave in this week, realizing that a bit of salad greens, homemade mayonnaise and kimchi actually eliminates the problems that the hamburger causes.

I was about to say the same about carnivorous!