The Carnivore Diet: What It’s Really Like After 6 Months

Here's what happened after 6 months on the carnivore diet.

Photo by Sergey Kotenev on Unsplash

Six months ago, I embarked on what felt like an extreme experiment: the carnivore diet. I had heard whispers about its transformative potential—from rapid weight loss to mental clarity and even relief from chronic conditions. But I also heard the skepticism, the warnings that it’s unsustainable, unhealthy, or just plain bizarre. Despite the noise, I decided to give it an honest shot.

Now, half a year later, I’m here to share the reality of living on a diet composed entirely of animal products. This isn’t a glossy success story with cherry-picked results. It’s a raw, unfiltered account of the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

The First Few Weeks: Adapting to a New Reality

When I started the carnivore diet, I thought I was prepared. I’d stocked my fridge with steaks, eggs, and bacon, committed to cutting out carbs, sugar, and even vegetables. What I wasn’t ready for was how drastically my body and mind would react in those first few weeks.

The first challenge was carb withdrawal, often referred to as the “keto flu.” My energy levels plummeted, I felt irritable, and I experienced headaches that made me question if this was worth it. My body was adapting to running on fat for fuel instead of glucose, and the process was anything but comfortable.

Digestion was another hurdle. Switching to a diet of exclusively animal products shocked my system. For the first couple of weeks, I experienced bloating and irregular bowel movements, which was unsettling but not entirely unexpected. Thankfully, as my gut adjusted, these issues subsided.

Despite these struggles, something unexpected kept me going: a growing sense of mental clarity. By the third week, I noticed my focus sharpening and my mood stabilizing. It felt like a fog I hadn’t even realized was there had lifted. That glimpse of progress was enough to keep me pushing forward.

The Everyday Reality of Eating Carnivore