Skip & Fuel's Take

Look, I get it—you're tired of diet advice that leaves you more confused than when you started. The carnivore diet is the most extreme version of what I used to drop 17kg: cutting out the BS and focusing on real food. While I used keto + 36-hour weekend fasts, some people take it even further with carnivore. Let me break down what actually works and what's just hype.

Skip & Fuel Hack: During my 17kg transformation, I learned that the simpler the approach, the better the results. Carnivore takes this to the extreme—just meat, fish, and eggs. No counting, no confusion, no BS.

Table of Contents

1. What is the Carnivore Diet?
2. How It Compares to Keto and Low-Carb
3. The Science Behind Carnivore
4. Potential Benefits
5. Risks and Concerns
6. Getting Started
7. My Take on Carnivore vs. Keto
8. Bottom Line

What is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet is exactly what it sounds like: you only eat animal products. No vegetables, no fruits, no grains—just meat, fish, eggs, and some dairy if you tolerate it.

Think of it as keto taken to the extreme. While I used keto + 36-hour weekend fasts to drop 17kg, carnivore eliminates even the low-carb vegetables and focuses purely on animal foods.

The Basic Rules

What you CAN eat:

• All types of meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey)
• Fish and seafood
• Eggs
• Some dairy (butter, cheese, heavy cream)
• Organ meats (liver, heart, kidney)
• Bone broth
• Animal fats (tallow, lard)

What you CAN'T eat:

• All vegetables
• All fruits
• All grains
• All nuts and seeds
• All plant-based foods
• Processed foods

Why People Try It

Most people who go carnivore are looking for:

• Simplified eating - No more counting macros or complex meal planning
• Digestive relief - Eliminating foods that might be causing inflammation
• Weight loss - The high protein and fat content keeps you full
• Autoimmune support - Some claim it helps with conditions like arthritis
• Mental clarity - Many report improved focus and energy

How It Compares to Keto and Low-Carb

Let me break down how carnivore stacks up against the approaches I actually used to lose 17kg.

Carnivore vs. Keto vs. Low-Carb

Aspect	Carnivore	Keto	Low-Carb
Carbs per day	0-5g	20-50g	50-150g
Food variety	Very limited	Moderate	High
Difficulty	Hard	Medium	Easy
Sustainability	Low	Medium	High
Weight loss	Fast	Fast	Moderate

The Key Differences

Carnivore Diet:

• Only animal products
• Zero carbs from any source
• No counting needed
• Most restrictive

Keto Diet (what I used):

• Very low carb (20-50g)
• Includes low-carb vegetables
• Requires macro tracking
• More flexible

Low-Carb Diet:

• Moderate carb restriction
• Includes most vegetables and some fruits
• Easiest to follow
• Most sustainable

Why I Chose Keto Over Carnivore

During my 17kg transformation, I went with keto + 36-hour weekend fasts instead of carnivore for a few reasons:

1. Sustainability - I knew I could stick to keto long-term
2. Nutrients - I wanted the vitamins and minerals from vegetables
3. Social life - Keto was easier to maintain socially
4. Variety - I needed some food variety to stay sane

But I get why some people go carnivore—it's the ultimate elimination diet.

The Science Behind Carnivore

Here's what actually happens in your body when you go carnivore, and why it works for weight loss.

How Carnivore Works

1. Zero Carbs = Forced Fat Burning

• No glucose from food means your body has to burn stored fat
• This is the same principle I used with keto, just taken further
• Your insulin levels drop to near-fasting levels

2. High Protein Keeps You Full

• Protein is the most satisfying macronutrient
• You naturally eat less because you're not hungry
• Your metabolism actually increases (the thermic effect of food)

3. Stable Blood Sugar

• No carb spikes means no energy crashes
• Many people report better mental clarity
• No more afternoon slumps

4. Eliminates Food Triggers

• Removes potential inflammatory foods
• No more bloating or digestive issues
• Some people find relief from autoimmune symptoms

The Insulin Connection

This is the key to why carnivore works for weight loss:

• Low insulin = fat burning mode
• High insulin = fat storage mode
• Carnivore keeps insulin low = your body burns fat

During my 17kg transformation, I learned that insulin is the master hormone for weight loss. Carnivore takes this to the extreme by eliminating almost all foods that spike insulin.

Potential Benefits

Here's what people report when they go carnivore, and why it might work for you.

Weight Loss

Why it works:

• High protein keeps you full
• No carb cravings or blood sugar crashes
• Your body burns fat for fuel
• You naturally eat less

What to expect:

• Most people lose 1-2 pounds per week initially
• The weight loss is usually sustainable
• You'll likely lose belly fat first

Blood Sugar Control

Why it works:

• Zero carbs means no blood sugar spikes
• Your insulin levels stay low
• Your body becomes more sensitive to insulin

What to expect:

• Stable energy all day
• No more afternoon crashes
• Better mental clarity
• May help with diabetes management

Digestive Relief

Why it works:

• Eliminates common food triggers
• No more bloating from vegetables
• Simplified digestion
• No FODMAPs or other irritants

What to expect:

• Less bloating and gas
• More regular digestion
• Relief from food sensitivities
• Better gut health

Mental Clarity

Why it works:

• Stable blood sugar
• No brain fog from carb crashes
• High-quality protein for neurotransmitters
• Reduced inflammation

What to expect:

• Better focus and concentration
• Improved mood stability
• Less anxiety
• Better sleep quality

Risks and Concerns

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Carnivore is extreme, and there are real risks you need to know about.

Nutritional Deficiencies

The big concerns:

• Vitamin C - No dietary sources (though some claim you adapt)
• Fiber - Complete absence (may cause constipation)
• Folate - Limited sources in animal foods
• Vitamin K2 - May be insufficient without fermented foods
• Magnesium - Limited sources

What this means:

• You might need supplements
• Regular blood work is essential
• Some people develop deficiencies over time
• Not everyone adapts to low vitamin C

Health Risks

Kidney function:

• High protein can stress your kidneys
• If you have kidney issues, this diet isn't for you
• Stay hydrated and monitor your kidney function

Bone health:

• Limited calcium sources
• May need bone broth or supplements
• Get regular bone density scans

Heart health:

• High saturated fat intake
• Monitor your cholesterol levels
• Some people see improvements, others don't

Long-term safety:

• We don't have long-term research
• This is still experimental
• Proceed with caution

Practical Challenges

Social isolation:

• Hard to eat out with friends
• Family gatherings become difficult
• You'll be the "weird" one at parties

Food variety:

• Very limited options
• Can get boring quickly
• May lead to food aversions

Cost:

• High-quality meat is expensive
• Budget carefully
• Consider organ meats for nutrients

Sustainability:

• Hard to maintain long-term
• Most people quit within a year
• Consider if it's worth it

Getting Started

If you're still interested in trying carnivore after reading about the risks, here's how to do it safely.

Week 1-2: Preparation

Before you start:

• Get blood work done (baseline)
• Stock up on high-quality meat
• Plan your meals
• Find a support community
• Set realistic expectations

What to buy:

• Grass-fed beef (if budget allows)
• Wild-caught fish
• Pasture-raised eggs
• Organ meats (liver, heart)
• Bone broth
• High-quality salt

Week 3-4: Implementation

Start simple:

• Steak and eggs for breakfast
• Ground beef for lunch
• Fish for dinner
• Bone broth between meals

What to expect:

• You might feel tired initially
• Your digestion will change
• You'll need more salt
• Stay hydrated

Monitor yourself:

• Track how you feel
• Watch for signs of deficiencies
• Don't ignore warning signs
• Consider supplements if needed

Month 2+: Optimization

Add variety:

• Different cuts of meat
• Organ meats for nutrients
• Different cooking methods
• Bone broth daily

Health monitoring:

• Regular blood work
• Track energy levels
• Monitor digestion
• Watch for deficiencies

Be flexible:

• If it's not working, stop
• Consider less extreme approaches
• Listen to your body
• Don't force it

My Take on Carnivore vs. Keto

After losing 17kg with keto + 36-hour weekend fasts, here's my honest take on carnivore.

Why I Chose Keto Over Carnivore

1. Sustainability

• I knew I could stick to keto long-term
• Carnivore felt too extreme for me
• I needed some food variety to stay sane

2. Nutrients

• I wanted the vitamins and minerals from vegetables
• Keto gave me the best of both worlds
• I wasn't comfortable with potential deficiencies

3. Social Life

• Keto was easier to maintain socially
• I could still eat out with friends
• Family gatherings weren't a nightmare

4. Research

• Keto has decades of research behind it
• Carnivore is still experimental
• I wanted evidence-based approaches

When Carnivore Might Make Sense

If you have:

• Severe food sensitivities
• Autoimmune conditions
• Digestive issues that won't resolve
• A history of eating disorders (carnivore can be simpler)

If you're:

• Willing to take risks
• Comfortable with supplements
• Able to monitor your health closely
• Prepared for social challenges

When to Stick with Keto

If you:

• Want a sustainable approach
• Need more food variety
• Have a social life to maintain
• Prefer evidence-based approaches
• Want to avoid potential deficiencies

The Bottom Line

Carnivore works for some people, but it's not for everyone. The risks are real, and the long-term safety is unknown.

My recommendation: Start with keto + intermittent fasting (like I did). It's safer, more sustainable, and has better research behind it. If you still want to try carnivore after mastering keto, at least you'll have a solid foundation.

The key is finding what works for YOU and what you can stick to long-term. For me, that was keto + 36-hour weekend fasts. For you, it might be different.

Bottom Line

Here's what you need to know about the carnivore diet:

The Good

• Simple - No counting, no confusion
• Effective - Works for weight loss and blood sugar control
• Elimination - Removes potential food triggers
• Satiety - High protein keeps you full

The Bad

• Risky - Potential nutrient deficiencies
• Extreme - Very difficult to maintain
• Expensive - High-quality meat costs money
• Isolating - Hard to maintain socially

The Ugly

• Unknown long-term effects - We don't know what happens after years
• Limited research - Mostly anecdotal evidence
• High dropout rate - Most people quit within a year
• Potential health risks - Kidney, bone, and heart concerns

My Final Recommendation

Start with keto + intermittent fasting (like I did). It's safer, more sustainable, and has better research behind it. You'll get most of the benefits of carnivore without the extreme risks.

If you still want to try carnivore after mastering keto, at least you'll have a solid foundation and know what works for your body.

Remember: The best diet is the one you can stick to long-term. For me, that was keto + 36-hour weekend fasts. For you, it might be different.

The key is finding what works for YOU and what you can maintain without making yourself miserable. Life's too short to be miserable about food.

Ready to Try It Yourself?

This is exactly the approach I used to drop 17kg—36-hour weekend fasts (Friday 8pm to Sunday 8am), keto refueling on Sundays, and zero misery. The Skip & Fuel app will help you track it all, with electrolyte reminders and real support.

Join the waitlist to be first in line when we launch.

---

About the Author: Skip & Fuel was created by someone who lost 17kg in 6 months using the 36-hour weekend fasting approach. Real results, real strategies—no BS.