He Tried Carnivore for 30 Days... And It Changed His Life

Summary

Kerry Mann tells podcast host Robert Sikes that years of weight gain, digestive problems, pain, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, and heart issues left him feeling hopeless. He says antidepressants and other medications did not resolve his problems, and that clinicians had not discussed nutrition with him. After seeing other people’s experiences with low-carbohydrate diets, he decided to try a strict 30-day elimination diet, which he describes as carnivore: mainly beef, butter, bacon, and eggs.

Mann reports that his snoring stopped quickly, his stomach pain eased after about 10 days, and his back pain improved within weeks. He says dizziness later subsided, he began exercising, and—after a year—heart tests showed his ejection fraction had improved from 44 to about 65. He also reports losing around 100 pounds, feeling much better mentally, and discontinuing medications with doctors’ help. These are his personal accounts, not proof that the diet will have the same effects for others.

His experience inspired him to share his story online and create Healing Humanity, a documentary featuring people describing changes they attribute to improving their diet and metabolic health. He and Sikes also discuss how having a sense of purpose and helping others became an important part of Mann’s life.

Strategies and takeaways discussed

• Try a defined, time-limited food experiment: Mann framed his first month as a strict elimination diet, cutting out carbohydrates, sugar, food coloring, seed oils, and other processed foods. He says this left beef, butter, bacon, and eggs as his main foods.
• Track changes over time: He describes noticing changes in sleep, digestion, pain, energy, mood, and heart health at different points—from days and weeks to a year.
• Prioritize sleep and symptoms: Mann says stopping snoring and sleeping better was an early, motivating change for him.
• Build activity gradually: After his energy improved, he began exercising, including farmer’s walks and pull-ups.
• Seek medical follow-up: He returned for heart testing and says he stopped medications with doctors’ help. The conversation does not establish that others should change prescribed treatment or follow the same diet; medical decisions should be made with qualified clinicians.
• Use a meaningful reason to start: Mann says his family motivated him to make a change. Later, sharing his experience and helping others gave him a sense of purpose.
• Turn personal experience into a project: He began with a YouTube video, listened to viewers’ responses, and developed the idea into a documentary and planned series. He describes persistence, community support, and learning production skills as the process grew.
• Take a cautious view of broad claims: The speakers discuss diet as a possible influence on health, but most of the specific benefits described are Mann’s self-reported experience.

Presenters and sources mentioned

• Presenters: Robert Sikes (host); Kerry Mann (guest).
• Films and media: Healing Humanity; Fat Head, directed by Tom Naughton; Joe Rogan’s podcast (mentioned in relation to Jordan Peterson’s account).
• People and experts referenced: Dante Ferrigno; Michaela Peterson; Dr. Jordan Peterson; Dr. Philip Ovadia; Dr. Berry; Dr. Anthony Chaffee; Dr. Baker.