You can find a TON of information and interviews at zerocarbzen.com to see how it's done and what happens in the long run.

I have been at different levels of carnivore for several months! I have a vegetable about two times a week. I can't maintain ketosis when I eat too many! Ketosis is keeping me healthy, why mess it up? My six month lab work (routine, post op stuff that was almost six months ketogenic) was awesome! Cholesterol....improved. I'm having my yearly labs drawn this week and am excited to see how they look compared to last year, and before! I don't feel vegetables are vital! If you feel good, keep it up!

My doctor was pretty funny about it. The conversation went something along these lines.

Doctor: Do you eat healthy?
Goat: Some people would say that my diet is not healthy. (lol, it's not a lie but I don't believe it's unhealthy)
Doctor: Oh? Do you eat a lot of carbs?
Goat: (pleasantly surprised) No, I don't eat any foods with carbs at all.

Turns out my doctor knows that excess carbs aren't good for you. It was just when she clarified exactly what I meant by "no carbs" that she started getting a little antsy about it. She was all for low-carb, just with plants included. As to my "evasive" answer to the first question, I really wanted to avoid the whole topic of diet. I didn't want her "finding" an issue only after learning about how I ate. But, I did promise my wife that I would not lie about my diet if the doctor asked.

The doctor's biggest concern about my diet? Coffee intake. Coffee is approximately 80-90% of the liquid I consume, often the only liquid I consume. She was shocked that my blood pressure was normal and nothing was wrong with me.

I don't think any doctor will support a "no vegetable" diet, but I also am responsible for my own health and live in this body 24/7/365. I know how much better eating this way is for me.

Christine_72 wrote: »

For those on this diet, how do you keep your protein to a moderate level? When I eat steak or chicken it shoots my protein way up.

Usually I'm not concerned with the level of my proteins. When it comes to macros, carbs are the only restriction number, while fats and proteins are goals. So it's ok to surpass your daily protein allowance.

If you find it a problem consistently, add more fats to your cooking. Use more butter or olive oil, or just eat a spoonful of coconut oil. That boosts the fat way up!

I'm the same, most days I will have lower protein grams. I believe the transition to regular consumption of more fat leads to eating less food overall, making the other macros easy to manage too!

Nage3000 wrote: »

Even though I eat strict Ketogenics, I still have to have my veggies. Granted, all of the veggies I do eat are low-carb, but I still think to have a greater appreciation for health and flavors of life, eating veggies is an important staple. And fiber is really good for your digestive system.

If you don't eat veggies, why not introduce it back in and see how it goes with some Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese, or even better Caveman Keto Cheesy Spinach!

I don't avoid veggies because of a distaste for them. I actually love most of them. You're talking to an ex-vegetarian. I know how to make really great tasting veggies. So, why don't I add them back in? Because every attempt to include veggies in my diet results in negative health changes. Over time, my opinion on them has shifted dramatically. I believed, for a long time, that veggies were the best thing you could eat for health. Then I started to believe that some veggies (high-carb ones) weren't great, but most of the others were good for you. This shifted further to some vegetables being "mostly-harmless" while others were definitely not good for me. Now? I rank very few vegetables as "neutral" and most of them in the detrimental category. How detrimental? It varies from plant to plant.

Fiber and its benefits is a contentious issue. It is hardly settled. The only thing we know is that replacing low-fiber processed foods, with higher fiber natural foods shows health benefits. This isn't really support for adding fiber to a diet devoid of processed foods. It's like saying that people who smoke low-tar cigarettes have lower cancer rates than those smoking unfiltered cigarettes, so smoking low-tar cigarettes can help you prevent cancer. We have no studies that show benefits of adding fiber to a meat only diet.

Personally, fiber gives me massive cramps, gas, and causes me to be constipated. At first, I thought I needed "more" fiber, but things got worse. So, I went the other way. The less fiber I consumed, the better I felt. That continued all the way down to 0g. I am not the only person. In fact, there's a study that shows removing all fiber can help resolve idiopathic (unknown cause) constipation.

Fortunately, meat alone contains all the nutrients needed for health. And, those nutrients are in highly bioavailable form. So, I don't need to resort to discomfort, pain, or the return of my allergies to eat right.

If you handle veggies well, and you enjoy them, then you should eat them. I am very far out there, in the low carb world. I know very few people here who will flat-out claim that spinach is bad for you. I don't think everyone wants, needs, or should go to the lengths I have gone. I know most people can't. Some people have tried it, mostly because we had a meativore challenge one month, and a few found it best for them. It's up to each person to find what works best for them.

sirrah1717 wrote: »

FIT_Goat wrote: »

I eat only animal products. Well, the past couple months have been a mess but that's besides the point. Even ignoring those months, I was strict carnivore for well over a year. And, I am back to it with no intention of returning to eating plants. The only health effects I ever had were positive. Actually, being off for a couple months brought back several negative issues that I prefer to live without.

My doctor isn't thrilled with the meat-only plan. I got a big, hurriedly, printed booklet at my last appointment about making healthier eating choices. But, when the blood work and everything came back great, she had nothing to stand on. The total cholesterol was higher than she liked, but within the range I prefer. And, since then, even that has gone down to the "normal" range of below or around 200.

There are others who have done it much longer than I have. Whole cultures are this way for generations. You are welcome to add me as a friend and observe my food log over the next month. My IRL friend and I have committed to logging every single bite that goes into our mouths for at least a month.

You mean to tell me I don't have to eat veggies???

Yep. Veggies aren't necessary for health. Eat fresh fatty meat, drink water, and you don't need vegetables or supplements.