Throughout my week-long comparison of the carnivore diet versus the Standard American Diet (SAD), I experienced remarkable differences in my daily performance. The carnivore diet, consisting solely of animal products, provided more stable energy levels and improved mental clarity compared to SAD's frequent energy crashes.
While I gained strength on the carnivore diet, my body fat slightly decreased. Sleep quality improved considerably, and digestive issues resolved within days on the carnivore diet. My detailed tracking revealed surprising revelations about how each diet affected my body and mind.
Understanding Both Diets: What I Actually Ate
Before I compare these two drastically different approaches to eating, I'll explain exactly what I consumed on both the carnivore diet and the Standard American Diet (SAD).
On the carnivore diet, I ate only animal products: I focused on ruminent beef I get from ButcherBox, eggs, and bacon, while I only added cheese in one meal. I didn't consume any plants, grains, fruits, or other vegetables.
My meals consisted primarily of 80/20 ground beef, ribeye, chuckeye, and other steaks, bacon, and scrambled eggs.
Conversely, my normal life on the SAD included a typical mix of processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and convenience items. I typically had kolaches or microwavable breakfast burrito or two for breakfast, sandwiches or chipotle for lunch, and pasta or fast food for dinner. I also snacked regularly on chips, bars, and sugary drinks as needed inbetween meals ot manage hunger.
Daily Energy Levels and Mental Clarity
These two distinct eating patterns led to noticeably different effects on my daily energy and mental performance.
On the Standard American Diet, I experienced frequent energy crashes, especially after lunch, when I'd feel sluggish and struggle to focus. My mental clarity would fluctuate across the day, often leaving me foggy-headed by mid-afternoon.
The Carnivore Diet, on the other hand, provided more consistent energy levels due to consistent blood sugar levels. I didn't experience the usual post-meal drowsiness, and my focus remained sharp from wake up until sleep came.
I will say that its poor to transisiton hard like overnight and its suggested to take a month or so to weenn down. This led to me feeling initially tired in the first few days of adaptation, once my body adjusted, I noticed improved concentration and fewer energy dips.
Overall, my thinking became clearer, and I didn't need the usual afternoon snacks and pick me ups to stay alert and productive.
Contraindicated - An Amazing Book To Learn About Real Human Health
Physical Performance and Exercise Results
While tracking my exercise performance across both diets, I noticed significant differences in strength, endurance, and recovery times. On the carnivore diet, I experienced improved power output in weightlifting sessions and faster recovery between sets.
Key differences I observed in my training sessions:
- Weightlifting sessions on the carnivore diet resulted in a 12% increase in my maximum lifts
- Recovery time between workout days decreased from 48 to 36 hours on the carnivore diet
- High-intensity interval training felt more challenging on the carnivore diet at first but improved daily, also I believe I maintained better form
My overall athletic performance showed mixed results, with strength gains being the most notable improvement in the carnivore diet phase, while endurance activities require some longer adaptation.
Sleep Quality and Mood Changes
Throughout my dietary experiment, tracking sleep patterns and emotional states revealed notable differences between the two diets. On the carnivore diet, I found myself falling asleep faster and experiencing deeper, more consistent sleep during the night.
I woke up feeling more refreshed compared to my time on the Standard American Diet, where I often tossed and turned.
My mood also showed distinct variations between the diets. While following the carnivore diet, I noticed increased mental clarity and more stable energy levels during the day. In comparison, the Standard American Diet led to the common and dreaded afternoon energy crashes paired with mood changes, especially after carb-heavy meals.
I tracked these changes using a daily mood journal and sleep monitoring app, which helped me identify these consistent patterns in both sleep quality and emotional stability.
Digestive Health and Body Adaptations
After switching between these differing diets, I've observed significant differences in my digestive health and how my body adapted to each eating pattern.
On the carnivore diet, I experienced an initial adjustment period with some digestive discomfort, but this resolved within the first week. The Standard American Diet, on the other hand, led to more frequent bloating and irregular digestion patterns.
My key observations include:
- Less bloating and basically nil to gas on the carnivore diet compared to the Standard American Diet
- More predictable bowel movements with the carnivore diet, though much less frequent
- Faster digestion and lighter feeling after meals when eating only meat
My body's adaptation to the carnivore diet was limited to seven days for this but I have continued and maintained ever since with results getting better and better, while the Standard American Diet's varied food combinations required constant digestive adjustments all week.
Key Takeaways and Future Dietary Choices
Based on my experiences with both eating patterns, I've reached several definitive conclusions about the carnivore vs Standard American diets. While each approach has distinct characteristics, I've documented clear differences in how my body responds to both eating styles.
Here's a detailed comparison of my key findings:
| Aspect | Carnivore Diet | Standard American Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Levels | Consistent during the day | Afternoon energy crashes |
| Hunger | Less frequent cravings | Regular snacking needed |
| Digestive Comfort | Minimal bloating | Occasional discomfort |
| Body Composition | Leaner muscle mass | More fluctuation in weight |
Moving forward, I chose the carnivore diet as there is no loss in anything by this swap. The tremendous issues most appear to have with carbohydrate and plant foods leads me to understand its not ever been my ideal diet.
I will admit that should you be in the less than 10% of Western eaters who isnt metabolically falling apart you may be able to eat all the carbs you want but for 80%+ of the population this just isn't the truth.
There is no such thing as a "balanced diet" there is what you are born to eat, as every species has a species specific diet (indicated), or it is not suited to human consumption (contraindicated).
