Carnivore Diet Month 3: Fat, Water, Fruits, and a Skin Tag
Posted by Mira on May 24, 2025 in stories
I started the carnivore diet on February 24, 2025, and it's now been three months. Below, I’ll share some noticeable improvements, experiments I’ve tried, and updates on my autoimmune conditions.
You can also read my Month 2 recap.
Contents
Visible Changes
4-pack!
The 2-pack has gradually turned into a 4-pack. It’s been going strong, especially with the Captain’s Chair for vertical knee and leg raises.
At the very beginning, I could only do 4–5 leg raises. Now I can do 20 knee raises or 10 leg raises in one session.
[Insert photo here]
Skin Tag Fell off
I had a skin tag under my armpit for a long time. Recently, it started to turn dark and dry—and on May 21st, it officially fell off.
From what I’ve learned, skin tags are often linked to insulin resistance. As my body relies less on carbs and seed oils, this feels like a sign that my insulin resistance is improving.
Left: skin tag turned black. Right: skin tag fell off, and left a red spot to heal.
Things I've Tried
Dry Fasting
Dry fasting means going without both food and water. I did it for 12 hours—and hated it.
I tried it because someone on X mentioned dry fasting could help the body release fat. I guess it doesn’t work for me—it actually brought me discomfort around my kidneys for the next two weeks (more on water below). My body seemed to forget the sensation of thirst and didn’t know when to signal me to drink.
No regrets trying it, but I won’t be doing it again any time soon.
Weaning Off Electrolytes
I attempted to stop taking electrolytes—but felt terrible.
I had been taking them since the beginning of the diet. Eventually, I tried to stop, thinking that if the carnivore diet is truly a proper human diet, my body should get all the electrolytes it needs from food.
I didn’t notice much at first, but gradually I lost the energy I had when I started. The more water I drank, the more tired I felt. I also began waking up more often during the night.
Eventually, I realized it was the lack of electrolytes. As soon as I added them back in, I felt noticeably better.
So why do I still need electrolytes? One explanation, according to Dr. Ken Berry, is that in ancient times, people drank from rivers—water rich in natural electrolytes. Now we drink tap water, which is stripped of natural electrolytes.
Going forward, I’ll either reintroduce high-potassium foods or continue taking electrolytes as needed.
Things I've Changed
Increasing Fat
Although many carnivores—especially women—recommend eating more fat, I hadn’t been paying much attention to my protein-to-fat ratio. I focused mostly on steaks and beef ribs. But then I began noticing symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Feeling depressed
- Constipation
After research (especially from the r/carnivorediet post),I found that these symptoms could all result from not eating enough fat. So I started adding more—freely including butter and lamb fat in my meals. Now, fat often makes up the majority of my plate. The symptoms began to disappear.
"In order to get energy from protein, your liver needs to remove nitrogen from protein, make urea, then kidneys excrete it. This is why it is CRUCIAL you get enough fat for your calories. Maybe try coconut oil? Also make sure you're staying hydrated as dehydration is also hard on kidneys. Plenty of fat, water, and electrolytes should help." - Admirable-Hair3757
Yes, fat is very, very important. I can’t emphasize it enough. Now I add butter to every bite of steak and it actually makes it taste better.
Drinking More Water
I experienced some lower back discomfort or pain—possibly from eating too much protein without enough water, which can put extra strain on the kidneys. I started drinking more water consistently, regardless of whether I felt thirsty, and the issue went away.
So you see, the more protein I eat, the more water I need to drink—and the more electrolytes my body loses, the more I need to replenish them.
Reintroducing Fruits
I’ve added berries back into my diet on some days, strategically, to help boost my performance at the gym.
The theory is that they help replenish glycogen stores in the muscles—important for exercises that require quick, explosive energy, like sprinting.
I did a small experiment over two days—one with fruit and yogurt in the morning, and one without. On the day without them, my sprint acceleration felt sluggish. On the day with them, sprinting felt smoother and faster. Even during leg raises, my frequency was much higher when I had fruit.
So now, I plan to include fruit on days when I expect high-intensity workouts. On other days, I skip them. In the future, I also want to experiment to see I can get enough electrolytes from fruits to replace electrolytes supplements.
Autoimmune Updates
Lupus
Dental Deep Cleaning
After more than a year of waiting, I finally got a dental deep cleaning to remove tartar and plaque. The mouth microbiome is linked to autoimmune conditions, so I’m hopeful this will gradually improve my lupus.
Photosensitivity
As summer approaches, I’ve noticed a new lupus symptom: photosensitivity. On days when the UV index is over 5, if I go outside and come back in, my energy crashes, my heart rate spikes, and I feel nauseous. I haven’t developed the classic lupus facial rash (yet), but this is all new to me.
I had hoped the carnivore diet would help manage my autoimmune conditions. So when this new symptom showed up, it made me feel discouraged. Sometimes it sent me into a dark spiral: “How did I get lupus? Why me?” I’ve had to consciously reset my mindset and focus on moving forward.
Improved Joint Pain
I’m not sure whether it’s the carnivore diet or the HCQ I’ve been taking for the past three months—but my joint pain has significantly improved. Some days, I barely notice it. (Praise the Lord! Knock on wood.)
ITP
(To be updated)
