From Keto to Carnivore: How Focusing on Protein Changed My Relationship With Food

For years, I danced between diets, watching the number on the scale climb and fall like a roller coaster. Keto worked for me, but it wasn’t until I leaned into a protein-first, carnivore-style way of eating that I finally made peace with food and my body.

🚦 My Keto Beginnings

Back in 2019, I weighed 265 pounds. By sticking to keto, I dropped down to 150. Living alone made it easy — no temptations in the pantry, no one else’s food around to derail me.

But life changed when I moved in with my boyfriend. Suddenly, things I would never buy — snacks, bread, sweets — were in my kitchen every day. Within months, I had gained 20 pounds, and for the first time in years, I felt deeply uncomfortable in my own skin.

🔄 The Frustration of Starting Over

I tried to return to keto, but this time I leaned on "transition foods": protein shakes, keto bread, low-carb chips. Instead of helping me, they kept me hungry. I began binging again — something I thought I’d left behind.

I was angry and discouraged. I had worked so hard to get to a point where food no longer controlled me, and now it felt like I was back at square one.

🥩 The Shift: Focusing on Protein

That’s when I stumbled across a piece of advice that stuck: eat your goal weight in grams of protein every day.

If my healthy weight was 130 pounds, then I needed about 130 grams of protein daily. It sounded simple, but actually hitting that number was hard while juggling carbs and extras.

So I made it easy: I built my meals entirely around meat, eggs, and animal fats.

One of my favorite go-tos?

• 4–5 scrambled eggs
• Steak cooked in beef or bacon fat
• A sprinkle of cheese on top

That meal alone kept me full for hours. For the first time in forever, I didn’t think about food all day. Some days I even forgot about dinner or the "treat" I had planned.

Without realizing it, I had slipped into a carnivore lifestyle — and I loved it.

📉 Inches Lost, But Not Pounds

Here’s the funny part: the scale barely moved. My weight didn’t budge much, but my body did.

• Pants that once cut into my waist now slid on easily.
• Shirts that were tight in the arms and chest suddenly fit.
• Cellulite on my thighs began to fade.
• My lower stomach, once the part of my body I hated most, flattened noticeably.

Everyone around me kept reminding me: ignore the scale. The mirror and the fit of my clothes told the real story.

💡 What Changed Beyond My Body

The physical transformation was great, but the deeper changes mattered more:

• No more headaches.
• No more constant cravings.
• No more anxiety about cooking or eating.

Since February 2nd, I haven’t had a single binge episode — something I never thought I’d say. Food no longer rules my life; it fuels it.

🧬 The Science Behind Carnivore (What I Learned From Dr. Berg’s Video)

What struck me as I researched more — and from watching Dr. Berg’s breakdown — was why carnivore worked so well for me:

• Less Bloating: Cutting nuts and processed low-carb foods eliminated a major source of gut irritation.
• Vitamin C Concerns: On carnivore, the body’s need for vitamin C actually decreases, because carbs (which compete with vitamin C for absorption) are gone.
• Gut Reset: The first few days brought slower digestion, but my system adapted quickly.
• Hormonal & Mental Balance: By fueling with protein and fat, my energy stayed steady, no crashes, no "hangry" mood swings.

And even if carnivore wasn’t forever for me, it became a reset — a way to simplify eating, heal my relationship with food, and feel in control again.

🌱 Will I Stay Carnivore Forever?

Not necessarily. Long-term, I’ll probably bring back salads made with quality greens, fermented veggies like kimchi and sauerkraut, and the occasional handful of berries.

But one thing is certain: my foundation will remain the same — protein first, everything else second.

🌼 Final Thoughts

I used to believe weight loss was about complicated rules, endless calorie counting, and fighting cravings. Now I see it differently.

• Protein is the anchor.
• Simplicity works.
• The scale is not the only measure of progress.

At the end of the day, I may or may not reach the "ideal" 130 pounds Google tells me I should weigh. But if I feel confident in my clothes, free from cravings, and at peace with food — then I’ve already won.

And if you’re stuck in that frustrating place where nothing seems to work, maybe it’s worth asking: what would happen if you stripped things down to the basics, put protein first, and let your body show you the results?

Sometimes, the simplest shifts make the biggest difference.