If you told my younger self that the key to stopping my binge eating, balancing my blood sugar, getting rid of cravings, losing weight, and no longer being controlled by food was to switch to a diet consisting entirely of animal foods, I would not have believed you. Yet here I am: the Carnivore Diet has given me food freedom.
What is Food Freedom?
Food freedom is being free from the shackles of food addiction, binge eating, compulsive overeating, and obsessive thoughts about food. It means enjoying your food, eating until satisfied, and then focusing on other areas of life instead of being preoccupied with food cravings or guilt. For many, it represents breaking free from an unhealthy relationship with food that feels like a never-ending battle.
My Relationship with Food Before the Carnivore Diet
I can trace my battle with food back to my childhood. At around six or seven years old, I recall sneaking fried chicken from a KFC bucket, even though I had already finished dinner. Family anecdotes even reveal that as a baby, I had an insatiable appetite that kept my mother and grandmother constantly trying to keep me fed.
By the time I was 10, my weight became a concern. My first attempt at dieting further fuelled the cycle of restriction and bingeing, leaving me trapped in a vicious loop well into my teens and early twenties.
The cycle persisted despite my efforts with countless diets. Emotional triggers and significant blood sugar fluctuations exacerbated the issue. Regular episodes of shakiness led me to overeat in an effort to stabilise myself, which only made matters worse.
At age 23, I found the ketogenic diet, which helped curb some of my cravings but introduced new problems. I still found myself overeating keto-approved snacks like treats made from almond flour or sugar substitutes. The real breakthrough came when my husband introduced me to the Carnivore Diet.
My Relationship with Food After the Carnivore Diet
When I gave the Carnivore Diet a try at age 24, I committed to one month of eating only animal-based foods: primarily meat, eggs, and fish. The results were transformative. My blood sugar fluctuations disappeared, and, for the first time in years, the urge to binge eat was gone. The satiety provided by nutrient-dense, animal-based foods helped stabilise my appetite and mood, unlike any diet I had tried before.
However, I initially reintroduced foods like fruit back into my diet, which led to occasional setbacks. While the bingeing reduced drastically, I still experienced triggers from time to time. It wasn’t until I committed fully to the Carnivore Diet at 28, excluding nearly all non-animal foods, that I achieved complete food freedom.
For the past year, I have not experienced a single episode of binge eating or uncontrollable cravings. My blood sugar levels remain stable, my energy is consistent throughout the day, and I have reached my goal weight—an accomplishment that had felt impossible before. Moreover, I’ve rediscovered joy and purpose in aspects of life outside of food: my family, hobbies, and personal growth.
Milk remains the only food that occasionally tempts me to overconsume, so I limit it. Recognising this trigger and staying mindful about my diet ensures I maintain the freedom I’ve achieved.
Why the Carnivore Diet Worked for Me
The Carnivore Diet helped me achieve food freedom by eliminating processed foods, sugar, and other common dietary triggers that perpetuate cravings and compulsive eating. By focusing on highly satiating, nutrient-dense animal products, I no longer felt the constant rollercoaster of hunger and fullness. Research supports the role of high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets in stabilising blood sugar levels and improving satiety (Hunnes et al., 2020).
Furthermore, this way of eating removed the mental burden of calculating calories, obsessing over portion sizes, or struggling with which foods are “allowed.” The simplicity of the diet made adherence easy, and the health benefits solidified my commitment.
Is the Carnivore Diet Right for You?
If you’re struggling with food addiction, binge eating, or an unhealthy relationship with food, the Carnivore Diet may be worth considering. As with any major dietary change, it’s essential to research thoroughly and consult a healthcare professional to ensure it’s a safe option for your unique needs.
Whether or not the Carnivore Diet is right for you, finding a sustainable approach to nourishment is key to achieving food freedom. For me, this way of eating was nothing short of life-changing, and I’m grateful for the peace it has brought to my life.
References
- Hunnes, D. E., et al. (2020). “Animal-Based Diets and Blood Sugar Stability.” Clinical Nutrition Insight. Full text
2. Freeman, J. M., et al. (2019). “The Psychological Impact of Simplified Diets in Binge Eating Recovery.” European Journal of Eating Disorders. DOI link