I had achieved something I never thought I would – superhuman status! I held this status for 5 years easily with a strict carnivore diet to start then a majority carnivore diet to sustain my results. I was 80-90% Carnivore with some dairy, a few veggies maybe twice a month. The same with fruit.

I would deviate quite a lot on monthly outing and celebrations where I was expected to partake. I did, and it didn’t bother me other than a day or so of bloat.

I was in the best shape of my life with clean energy, amazing joint flexibility and mobility, good strength, exercise felt great with minimal recovery symptoms from heavy sessions. I literally felt better than I did when I was in my 30’s! I exercised because I felt good. It was no longer something I had to make myself do.

I had no skin lesions, no more seborrheic dermatitis, was no longer getting colds or other illnesses, no addictions (sugar/sweet,) no hunger pangs, no adult acne breakouts, no joint pain or stiffness, no heart burn, no indigestion, my Heberden’s Nodes disappeared (reabsorbed,) no paresthesias from previous lumbar and neck injuries (years of full contact, jiu jitsu, and karate sparring.)

Why Stop What Was Working?

As a man of science and a healthcare professional, I had been asking the question, what would happen if I went back to the way I was eating before? How much have I healed? Was I cured of seborrheic dermatitis or was it simply not being triggered (remission,) would my arthritic lesions (Heberden’s nodes) return? Would I get heartburn with spicy foods and grains? Would I get acne breakouts? And how much bad weight would I regain? What about cravings and the signs of carbohydrate addiction? Would I get my obligatory 2 colds a year again?

The Experiment Design:

I decided to simply eat with my wife, friends and other family. This included all the Holiday and celebration foods.

This way of eating basically put back in vegetable oils, grains (bread and pasta mostly,) vegetables including nightshades, sugar, fruit, a little high fructose corn syrup, refined carbs, and diet drinks. Coffee would be put back in, also.

My wife’s way of eating is decent of the protein side, low on the fat, and moderate on the carbs. She is highly carb tolerant where I’m not. She is your classic pear shape whereas I’m an apple.

I would return to eating 2 times a day (lunch and dinner) consistently whereas before I was eating 1-2 times a day.

In a way, it’s really not a terrible diet by today’s standards as it’s a step above the Standard American Diet. I basically continued to eat steak and other meats, but not near as much as before. I ate red meat about 2-3 times a week compared to daily when I was in supreme health.

Life was great and I felt great. In fact, I didn’t know how good I felt until I didn’t …

What Happened?

In the first 3 months, I gained 10 lbs and didn’t really feel bad other than the bloat you forget about after eating meals with carbs. My small shirts no longer fit comfortably and I was back in the Mediums. Between the 7-8 month period, Large was comfortable and medium was very fitted.

My Weight:

I’m 5′ 7″ with a muscular build. As a 80-90% carnivore, my weight stayed between 155-165. Prior to going Keto then carnivore, I was 191!

On this experiment, I settled into a 178-188 range and I lost my abs about 6 months in. On average, I’ve gained 20 lbs of bad weight.

Body Fat % increased from 15% to 24.3% as measured on the Tanita TBF-410 Analyzer.

I started snoring again! This happened at 4-5 months in. I noticed I do this when over 165 in weight.

My Shape & Appearance:

My belly (at the umbilicus) circumference increased from 31 to 40 inches!

My waist increased from 29″ to 32″. My pants got super tight – thank God for stretch jeans and dress pants.

Chest measurement increased from 41″ to 44″

My neck only increased 1/2″ although I did develop a little double chin effect and lost the ability to see my platysma muscle upon contraction.

I have a patient who has no filter and follows all that I do. Her Quote, “I noticed that you’re not glowing any more.” That was 6 months in when I informed her about the experiment.

My Autoimmunity:

I have not experienced the return of the facial and sternal seborrheic redness and itching although I did have extra head itching, and intermittent mild to moderate dandruff, and these mild hyperkeratotic type skin lesions. I did have the classic redness/itching/flaking in my eyebrows a few times a month. My Heberden’s nodes did not return, but my hands were constantly stiff.

I would get significant soreness and occasional swelling in various joints after performing manipulative therapy on others whereas before I had no such symptoms.

Musculoskeletal:

I was amazed at how stiff I got within 3 months! I lost the ability to kick at head level and it almost hurt to try. I’ve been able to easily do this since being carnivore (I’m a former world champ in martial arts.) I popped my hamstring 5 months in – grade 2 tear – goofing around doing what I could do as a carnivore, but obviously couldn’t in my current state (a competition level spin hook kick.) My hands started to ache and have occasional pain after doing manual therapy techniques, especially certain spinal manipulations. My DIP and PIP joints would take several days to recover. I did slip in some collagen supplementation.

I lost shoulder ROM via the scratch test. I’m 5″ away whereas before I could clasp my fingers.

I lost the ability to sit in a full squat or sit with my knees fully flexed – I had to lean to the side.

Any attempt at exercise felt bad. I can see why most people quit! Dietary related joint stiffness and pain don’t feel good when adding more pressure!

My 2017 ACL reconstruction from skiing injury started to feel tight on a weekly basis. I had all but forgotten about this!

My hands, arms and feet lost the usual vascularity and presented as mildly edematous with occasional +1 pitting in my ankles! My fingers, wrists and ankles all increased in their girths.

Digestion:

Heartburn and indigestion returned at the 4-5 month mark and has progressively worsened to daily. I recall having this for years and thinking it was normal! This immediately resolved on the carnivore diet, and I was shocked as to how good I felt.

If I just did a carnivore meal at night, I could sleep and there was no GERD. If I ate a burger (with the bread) with a few fries – it took me hours to digest and yep – break out the anti-acids and get ready for the reflux. This started between the 5th-6th month and persisted.

My bowel movements significantly increased to 2-3 times a day from 5-7 times a week.

Immunity

I got sick 3 times! I had 4 year run with no colds, and in late 2021, I might have had Covid. It lasted about 48 hours (1 day of fever, 1 day of fatigue) then no symptoms – I treated it with all the “banned” substances.

Prior to going carnivore, I would get 2 colds a year. Now I’ve literally had 3 colds in the last year!

I also experience 2 cold sores! Again, I hadn’t experienced this in years! I used to take L-lysine during my plant-based and supplementation days because I was so prone to them. For 5 years as a carnivore, I had none!

After having the cold sores then the second respiratory cold hit, I stated to my wife, “I’ve fully returned to mortal status. I am no longer superhuman.” She rolled her eyes.

Addiction!

This was one of my primary curiosities – how long would it take for carb addiction and all the associated symptoms return?

In short – In the first month, I noticed the post meal hunger that made you feel like you needed to eat more about 2 hours later. By 1-2 months, I started having the cravings again!

If you gave me the opportunity to eat any kind of chocolate, Ritz cracker, trail mix (with the fruits,) I took it without even thinking about it.

While at work, I would text my wife to see what we were having for dinner. I would forgo some essential work I really needed to complete, and rationalize that I needed to eat more than work, because I couldn’t focus well any way – I was hungry!

I started designing my day around food and didn’t even realize it. I would also rationalize eating more of a bad food saying things like, “I have a super busy day tomorrow, and I’ll be on my feet more, so I can eat this.” HA!

I was behaving and living like an addict! And this is how most people live – it’s considered normal. You start your day with “what are we going to eat for lunch,” then “where are we going for dinner?” We must plan around food! I was back in the system for sure.

Mental Health

I found myself trying to multi-task whereas before I was very regimented in doing one thing at a time. I would start tasks, not finish, move on to the next, not finish and repeat the cycle until noting was getting done! I was experiencing a lot more frustration that I chalked up to circumstances, but in reality it was my response to those circumstances.

I’d had much more stressful situations when I was carnivore and was able to focus, remain calm and take care of things in a regimented way.

Eating carbs or a standard western diet seems to keep me in a neuroexcitatory state that’s not conducive to being focused. Concentration takes a lot of effort, and it’s easy to be distracted.

My wife also tells me frequently that I’m “edgy,” and being an “asshole” more than usual.

I can see why people who have neurological disorders do so well on a keto or carnivore diet! I can also get a sense of why many plant-based people are angry a lot of the time! Being able to feel the difference has been a game-changer for me! You can feel an immediate difference when you shift back (away from carbs – natural or refined.) There is a calm that I’m glad to return to.

What Now?

As of this writing (March 3, 2024,) I’m BACK on the carnivore way of eating x 5 days and plan with a few weeks of using some fasting strategies to knock of this uncomfortable weight and belly circumference (that’s in metabolic syndrome territory for a man.)

I already feel better! You don’t realize how much bloat you carry and how often you have indigestion until you don’t!

Steaks are great! But a ground beef bowl runs right through me! My poor gallbladder has to adapt again!

I’m set to get another calcium score (CACs) to see if I’ve incurred any coronary artery deposits – I’ll report this on my instagram account (drwade_physio) and here!I’m also doing a DNA test to see what my biological age is.

I’m excited about my return to supreme health or super human status! Having been there, I know what it feels like, and that is a strong motivator to return. Moving away from pain, misery, agitation, stiffness, cloudy thinking, poor sleep, indigestion, bloat, etc. is also a HUGE motivatory.

But the biggest motivator of all is to be in excellent health for MY FAMILY! I have a beautiful wife, amazing kids (grown) and 2 grandkids with more on the way!

Next, I have an amazing work family that depend on me. My practices, GT Physical Therapy, Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers, and Red Hills Orthopedics are a culmination of my life’s work and we’re on a mission.

Lastly, I need to be an example of truth to the communities I serve. Talk only goes so far – showing people results is how you change lives.

Summary:

Adverse symptoms that returned being OFF the Carnivore Diet:

• Bloat
• GERD
• Daily indigestion
• 20 lb weight gain
• Belly girth expansion to metabolic syndrome levels
• frequent neck and face acne
• mild seborrheic dermatitis at eyebrows and scalp
• Reappearance of hyperkeratotic skin lesions
• Agitation
• Poor sleep
• Snoring
• Clouded thinking, difficulty focusing
• Joint stiffness and flexibility loss
• Loss of motivation
• 3 colds in 1 year!
• 2 cold sores
• lack of energy
• Frequent hunger
• Tore a hamstring