MAN SHARES HUGE IMPACT EXPERIENCED IN HIS BODY AFTER BEING ON THE CARNIVORE DIET FOR A YEAR

Patrick's life before the diet

Last year, when Patrick Ensley weighed about 300 pounds, he and his wife, Caitlynn, decided to become extreme carnivores. When he changed the things he was using to fuel himself, the father-of-one, who works as an HVAC technician in Milford, Nebraska, was able to overcome his depression and have more energy to play with his young son after work every day.

Regarding that time frame, Patrick told the Mail Online: "I woke up multiple times during the night. Even after ten hours of sleep, I would wake up in the morning and simply not want to get out of bed. I would be stiff and in pain. I've just been miserable, and my knees, back, and ankles hurt."

Just climbing a flight of stairs left Patrick gasping for air, and he talked about feeling like a "prisoner" in his own body because he was "so big, heavy, and unhealthy."

How Patrick changed his diet

The father decided to change his diet, which included consuming a half-dozen eggs, a 16-ounce steak, and one pound of ground beef daily. Patrick created a meal plan to prevent himself from over snacking and eliminated all non-carnivorous items from his home to avoid temptation.

When he did snack, he would eat items like salami, pepperoni, string cheese, beef jerky, homemade meatballs, and pork rinds. In addition, Patrick noted that he was altering his diet to be able to watch his son grow up. "Post it somewhere. I set my son as my phone's wallpaper so I could see it every day. Put it somewhere where you're going to see it.” 

Patrick added that he had taken "before" pictures to record his progress. "You'll see how much weight you've lost and can track progress, like losing 20 inches off your belly," he said. When the scale stalls, those measurements and photos will remind you that you're still moving forward, which will keep you motivated. 

What impacts did the carnivore diet have?

After a year, Patrick's life has undergone a radical transformation. He no longer has pain, sleeps better, and wakes up feeling "refreshed, energized." He has also lost 140 pounds and 19 inches from his waist. "I observed a significant shift in my attitude, drive, and optimism even after the first month or two. Almost immediately, I felt better mentally," Patrick told the Mail. "My life has completely changed as a result of this experience, and I've rediscovered my purpose." Patrick has a lot more energy every day and can now climb four or five flights of stairs before getting exhausted.

He remarked, "Now that I'm home, I can play trucks, trains, and all the other fun things my two-year-old likes to do while still having energy left over while throwing him around on the couch and swinging him upside down." After losing 140 pounds, Patrick said in a diet-related YouTube video that he intended to reintroduce certain plants, like organic strawberries, to see how his body responded and get used to living without "constant restriction."

What are experts saying about the carnivore diet?

The carnivore diet has generated conflicting opinions among experts. Harvard Health points out that there are risks associated with it, including a higher consumption of saturated fat from meat and a higher chance of kidney stones, gout, and osteoporosis. Impaired kidney function can also result from a diet high in protein. "There are a lot of 'downsides' to the diet, including a lack of nutrients," Liz Weinandy, a dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, told Everyday Health. "There's a reason we have different food groups; they each give us different nutrients," she explained.

According to the dietician, if you only eat meat, you may not be getting enough of certain nutrients found in plants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E. "I tell my patients, 'I don't care how much red meat you eat,' the evidence is only there for processed meat, not red meat," British cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra told the Mail, highlighting the distinction between red and processed meat.

Before considering a change in diet, it's advised that you speak to a doctor to ensure the healthiest approach.