‘The Carnivore Diet Worked Better for Me Than Ozempic—My Food Noise Disappeared and I Shed 62 Pounds!’

A Florida mother tells her story, and a Duke physician explains why this approach may help many people

Could the carnivore diet, which focuses only on animal-based foods, really silence food noise? Duke University obesity specialist Eric Westman, MD, says yes—and Florida mother Angela Cruz, 45, agrees. In her case, she says the straightforward plan outperformed Ozempic, the GLP-1 medication she had tried. “I lost and regained 25 pounds before I quit the meds,” Angela says. “But once I went carnivore, my lifelong food noise was just gone and I was able to lose 62 pounds naturally!” Could this way of eating help quiet the constant mental chatter about food? Read on.

What is the carnivore diet?

The carnivore diet is a very low-carb eating pattern that removes plant foods and centers on animal foods such as fish, eggs, meat and dairy. Angela admits skipping vegetables sounded drastic at first. So why did she try it? “My friend went carnivore for health reasons and lost 11 pounds in a month. I thought maybe it could help me too.” Her trial paid off. After years of trying to eat less, she says, “weight was just falling off.”

Of course, leaving out plant foods also means giving up many nutrients, which is not ideal. Still, Angela says diets heavy in vegetables never really worked for her. “There isn’t just one way to get healthy,” says Dr. Westman, author of End Your Carb Confusion, who also offers online courses and programs at AdaptYourLifeAcademy.com. “Many people find nothing helps them until they go on a carnivore diet.”

What is your biggest struggle with food noise?

Common questions about the carnivore diet

Here are the basics:

Why does carnivore work?

When carbs drop sharply, blood sugar tends to fall too. According to Dr. Westman, people eating carnivore “don’t make enough blood sugar to fuel themselves. So the body starts turning fat into compounds called ketones, and ketones and fat become the primary fuel.” He points to a study in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome that found fat burning accelerated 900 percent. Ketones can also reduce appetite, which can make weight loss easier.

Can you really eat as much as you want and still lose weight?

For nearly everyone, the answer is yes, says Dr. Westman. Animal foods are low in carbs and very filling, so most people can eat until satisfied while still reducing intake enough to become leaner and healthier.

Why does a carnivore diet quiet food noise?

Blood sugar becomes steadier, which helps curb sugar-driven cravings. In addition, cutting out carbs and highly processed foods all at once can stop the relentless intrusive thoughts about food. “It’s like quitting smoking. One cigarette a day makes you want more, but give up cigarettes and the cravings go away,” Dr. Westman says.

Is carnivore better than keto?

Not necessarily, but it can offer some distinct advantages. It removes many foods, from processed junk to tomatoes and nuts, that may contribute to chronic inflammation, a condition that can interfere with fat burning. In a recent German study, inflammation markers dropped by 500 percent after adults adopted a carnivore diet. And if calorie counting or measuring leaves you feeling deprived and more likely to binge, Dr. Westman says carnivore may be a major help.

Is weight loss the only possible benefit?

When Harvard researchers surveyed thousands of carnivore dieters, 95 percent of those with a weight problem had become leaner, and 91 percent reported less hunger and fewer cravings. The benefits, however, went beyond the scale. In the same survey, 95 percent said their overall health improved, 93 percent lowered blood pressure and 84 percent of people with type 2 diabetes stopped all medications. Arthritis, gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune symptoms and sleep also improved.

Is the carnivore diet safe long term?

Some evidence suggests this way of eating may not be ideal for heart health over time. If you have heart concerns but carnivore is working well, Dr. Westman recommends using it as needed to reach and maintain your health goals, then periodically reintroducing vegetables and other low-carb plant foods such as whole grains and legumes.

He adds that if carnivore is the only way you can stop overeating junk food, which is clearly harmful to your heart, then it is the healthier choice. That was the case for Angela.

How Angela stopped food noise and lost weight

Angela says success did not come on her first attempt. “I’d do it for two weeks, fall off the wagon, start again,” she recalls. Being newly single, working a demanding PR job and trying to build exercise habits at the same time made it hard to stay on track.

Eventually she realized bunless drive-thru burgers and restaurant steaks could be staples. She also began preparing food for the week every Sunday. “I made burgers, cooked steak and salmon, boiled eggs.” That way, no matter how busy or tired she felt, there was always something easy and satisfying ready to go. “After that, it was smooth sailing. Meal prepping is my top secret,” she says.

As her body adjusted, the relief from food noise felt much like what she had experienced on Ozempic, but without side effects. “Unless you count extreme mental clarity and joy as side effects. I had those! Even while going through a divorce.” Her other lesson: do not avoid fat. “If I just happen to choose too many lean foods in a row—like turkey bacon, chicken, tuna—I start getting food noise again,” she says. “The minute I add fat back in, my brain calms down.”

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Angela lost 40 pounds in her first year and 22 pounds the next. She is still losing weight and says she feels better than ever. “My blood work is finally all normal,” she says. “And I’m not prediabetic anymore!” Would she keep doing it? “Yes,” she says. “I have literally never felt better!”

How to start the carnivore diet

The carnivore diet is straightforward: eat eggs, dairy, fish and meat. Eat when hungry, stop when full, salt to taste and drink plenty of water. While some purists avoid extras, many carnivore followers, including Angela, allow coffee and herbs or spices.

• Sample carnivore breakfast: Bacon, eggs and coffee are a classic start, and Angela adds MCT oil and collagen to her coffee.
• Sample carnivore lunch: Angela often packs steak or salmon. For sides or snacks, she brings Greek yogurt mixed with chocolate-flavored beef-based protein powder and Chomps brand meat sticks.
• Sample carnivore dinner: Burgers with or without cheese are an easy choice. Angela also says sashimi from her favorite sushi restaurant helps speed her results.

The takeaway on carnivore

If food noise has taken over your life and nothing else has helped, the carnivore diet may be the reset your body needs. Like Angela, you may find that a simpler, more satisfying way of eating is what finally brings relief. As with any new diet, make sure your doctor approves it first. Once you get the green light, trust the process—you may end up wondering why you did not try it sooner.