Doug today after one full year on an All-Meat Zero Carb diet at age 25.
1. How long have you been eating a Zero Carb (No Plant Foods) diet?
One year to date.
2. What motivated you to try this way of eating? Weight? Health?
Curiosity & health. At age 20, I started a ketogenic diet of white lean meat and greens. I followed keto for 4 years before embarking on the carnivore path. While keto was very effective at helping me to lose a lot of unwanted body fat – I weighed 380 lbs. when I started keto and I was down to 223 lbs. at the 4-year mark – I was always tired and hungry! Consequently, I knew it wasn’t sustainable long term for me because I continually felt deprived. So, I was looking for a way of eating that would help me to maintain and continue my body fat loss, while also improving my energy level and providing greater satiety.
Doug prior to beginning a Ketogenic diet of lean white meats and greens at age 20.
3. How long did it take you to adapt to a Zero Carb diet, both physically and psychologically?
One month.
4. What books or people were most influential in guiding you to this way of eating?
The Big Fat Surprise
Good Calories, Bad Calories
5. Do you eat only meat, or do you include eggs, cheese, and cream in your diet?
Predominantly eat red meat, very little else. Once in a while I will have raw egg yolks or raw salmon.
6. What percentage of your diet is beef verses other types of meats?
95%
7. When you eat beef, do you cook it rare, medium, or well done?
I prefer raw, but I will eat it blue-rare in social situations. I initially started this way of eating by cooking all my meat. But as time went on, I gradually desired it more and more rare until I was eating it totally raw most of the time, LOL! I have discovered, surprisingly enough, that I feel much more satisfied when I eat the meat completely raw than if I cook it even slightly.
One of Doug’s typical “fast food” meals of raw ground beef and raw salmon.
8. Do you add extra fat to your meat? (i.e. butter, lard, tallow)
No.
9. Do you limit your meat consumption or do you eat until satisfied?
Eat until satisfied.
10. Do you eat liver or other organ meats? If so, how often?
Rarely, but plan to eat liver more often.
11. Do you consume bone broth? If so, how often?
No.
12. How many meals do you eat per day on average?
1 or 2, but usually 2.
13. How much meat do you eat per day on average?
2-3 lbs.
14. Do you eat grass-fed/pasture-raised meat, or regular commercially produced meat?
Mostly conventional beef.
A rare steak while eating out with friends.
15. Do you drink any beverages besides water? (i.e. coffee, tea)
No.
16. Do you use salt?
Rarely.
17. Do you use spices?
No.
18. Do you take any supplements?
Not in the form of man-made tablets, capsules, powders, etc., but I do fresh liver – which I consider to be nature’s most nutritious food – whenever I feel the need for something extra.
19. How much money do you spend on food each month?
Approximately $360.
20. Do you have any tips for making this diet more affordable?
Shop weekly specials at your discount grocery & get to know your butcher and find out when markdown meats are put out on the shelf.
21. Do you exercise regularly? If so, how often and how vigorously?
2-3 days a week of heavy lifting, and I stay on my feet as much as possible.
22. What benefits have you experienced since beginning a Zero Carb diet? (i.e. recovery from illness, overall health, body composition, exercise performance, hormonal, mental or psychological, etc.)
Little to no inflammation (I always used to be achy, stiff, and sick); very steady energy; enhanced mood; clear skin; calm and relaxed state of mind; increased sun tolerance; continued body fat loss; increased muscle and lean body mass gains – I now weigh 5-10 lbs. more at 240 lbs. – since adopting an all-meat diet as compared to when I was following a Ketogenic diet of lean white meat and greens; greater mental clarity. In other words, I feel WAY better since removing all plant foods from my diet. I’m just so happy all the time now!
23. What do you enjoy most about eating a Zero Carb diet?
The simplicity of it all and how good I feel.
It doesn’t get much easier than this!
24. Do you have any advice for someone who is just beginning a Zero Carb diet?
Eat only meat, preferably beef, for a minimum 30 days. Drown your cravings/hunger/boredom in it. Eat as much fatty beef as you need to feel satisfied. No plants whatsoever, as they will just keep your cravings active. Once you adapt to an all-meat diet, you won’t want to go back.
25. Are your friends and family supportive of your Zero Carb lifestyle? If not, how do you handle this?
My family and close friends are very supportive, as they have seen the drastic health benefits first hand through me. However, I’m a bit of a social outcast among my peers in general who drink, smoke, and eat junk food. Thus, finding like-minded friends through the many Facebook groups dedicated to an All-Meat Carnivore or Zero Carb way of eating has been a real godsend for me and has prevented me from feeling isolated and lonely on this unusual dietary path.
26. Is there anything you would like share about this way of eating that I have not already asked you?
Keep it simple. The more non-optimal foods you remove from your diet, the better you’ll feel.
You can follow Doug on Twitter @Wright_Doug
Life cannot get much better than a plate full of grilled hamburgers enjoyed in a beautiful, relaxing environment!
If you are interested in meeting other Zero Carb Carnivores, please join us in the Facebook group Principia Carnivora.
Eat Meat. Drink Water. 