Giving up entire food groups is a drastic way to change your health. Yet some people swear that cutting out foods most of us eat every day has made them feel better and changed the way they think about food.
One of them is 41-year-old mom Rachel Ashby, who is embracing the carnivore diet. On her Instagram, she shares her approach to food, fitness, and weight loss, giving followers a glimpse into a lifestyle that looks very different from the usual advice to eat a balanced diet.
There is no single approach to weight loss, and what works for one person may not work for another
Rachel said that the carnivore diet helped her regain her confidence and get her life back
Before Rachel started the carnivore diet, she explained that her weight struggles affected more than her appearance. Her mental health was suffering too. She would cancel plans, stay home, and avoid showing up for things because she did not feel like herself.
Things changed when she decided to try eating only animal-based foods. Rachel revealed that she started noticing differences in how she felt, and the confidence she gained made her want to get out and do more. In her own words, being a carnivore did not make her world smaller. It opened it up.
Rachel has now followed the diet for four years and turned it into much more than a personal experiment. She shares her experience on Instagram, where she talks about weight loss, fitness, and the health benefits she believes come from the diet.
The mom of 4 lost 56 pounds after ditching traditional dieting rules
Her children have experimented with the diet too, although the mother of 4 explained they go on and off it depending on what they feel like doing. She, meanwhile, has stuck with it and said the results have been worth it.
One of the biggest changes she pointed to is her weight. Rachel revealed that she has lost around 56 pounds (25.4 kilograms), since making the switch, while also building muscle. And despite the diet's strict rules, she said she no longer feels like she has to fight hunger or live on tiny portions constantly.
Studies found potential benefits of the carnivorous diet, but also raised some nutritional concerns
A 2025 scoping review of nine human studies reported weight loss, greater fullness, and possible improvements in some metabolic and inflammatory markers among people following the diet.
The catch is that the same review found potential nutritional gaps. Cutting out plant foods means cutting out major sources of fiber. The researchers also flagged possible shortfalls in vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, magnesium, and iodine. The authors stressed that the long-term effects of this eating pattern are still unclear.
Rachel’s diet also raises questions about heart health, particularly because butter and some cuts of meat are high in saturated fat. The American Heart Association states that too much saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol and recommends choosing unsaturated fats instead. That doesn't mean Rachel’s diet is harming her, but it does make her long-term heart health worth watching.
Experts are still trying to understand the long-term health effects of following the diet
Also, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, red meat is classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. The strongest evidence links red meat to colorectal cancer, which is why experts recommend keeping eating it in moderation.
Rachel may have found something that works well for her, but her experience does not tell us everything about what a diet this restrictive might mean in the long run. For now, the science is still catching up, so anyone considering this path should speak with a qualified health professional before making such a major change to their diet.
So, what do you think? Would you ever give the carnivore diet a shot, or is it a hard pass for you?
The internet was split over the benefits of the carnivore diet, with many questioning its risks
