Ray Hicks chows down on steak, ground beef, eggs, butter, and seafood, and says the restrictive diet has offered many health benefits, including helping him to lose 87lbs and even keeps his teeth clean.
Having seen celebs Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson try it out, and having struggled to stick to more traditionally healthy diets, he decided to give it a shot eight months ago – and hasn’t looked back since.
Ray now spends between £190-350 ($240-440) a month on his meat supply – dependent on if he splashes out on steak – and insists that he’ll never go back to a normal diet again.
“I feel phenomenal,” Ray, a loan officer from Nashville, US, told What’s The Jam.
Ray now, after his weight loss/ carnivore diet journey. (Picture: Jam Press)
“I don’t see a reason to stop, I love every meal more than the last.
“I don’t miss any old foods.
“I truly crave meat and eggs, and that’s saying something.
“I used to have a huge sweet tooth. I would eat two pints of Ben and Jerry’s in one sitting quite frequently.”
Ray’s daily diet could be considered rather extreme – with an average day consisting of just eggs and meat.
Ray’s carnivore diet meals. (Picture: Jam Press)
He said: “A typical day for me is six-eight eggs and a pound of ground beef for breakfast.
“Sometimes I’ll repeat that meal for dinner or I’ll have a ribeye steak or two, and another six- eight eggs.
“It’s freaking awesome.”
But the diet has proved controversial amongst his friends and family – particularly when he first started eating this way eight months ago.
Ray said: “Those that were adamantly against it from the beginning either don’t say anything anymore, or they have since asked me questions to learn how to start themselves.
“My biggest shock in all of it was that nobody gave a rip when I was fat and overweight.
“I didn’t get my ‘healthy fruits or veggies’ in before starting [this diet] and they didn’t mind.
“But now that I’m eating strictly whole foods meat, eggs, and seafood with those same fruits and veggies missing [they say] ‘oh my goodness how bad’.
“There were times I’d attempt to be “healthy” and opt for Chipotle most days, or I’d meal prep ground beef or ground turkey with rice and broccoli.
Ray before starting his Carnivore diet. (Picture: Jam Press)
“[I] absolutely hated it.
“I definitely eat much more food now than I did before.
“But the quality and nutrients are there instead of a bunch of empty calories.”
Ray says he started noticing benefits almost immediately.
He said: “I have had a very fortunate experience from the beginning.
“I felt normal days one and two, but [on] day three, I felt like a true, genuine superhuman.
“I was thrilled to be eating foods I genuinely loved and to be able to eat until I was full, and not feeling hungry 24/7.”
If Ray were to ever quit the strict diet, he says he would only be slightly less restrictive and would still follow an “animal-based” diet.
In a video shared to TikTok, he received over 12,000 likes and over 600,000 views, where he detailed his transformation and the health benefits it has given him, including better mental health and oral hygiene.
Ray before and after his weight loss/ carnivore diet. (Picture: Jam Press)
Ray said: “Being someone who has struggled with depression from a very early age, to feel so good by day three, I was blown away that eating just meat, eggs and seafood could have such a significant impact on my mental state.
“Many had genuine concern I was harming my body and many told me I’d gain the weight back.
“My starting weight on August 1 2023 was 295lbs.
“I currently weigh 208lbs – an 87lb difference.
“I just want to feel good while staying lean and muscular.
“[My] mood was elevated, knee pain was gone by the third day.
“My teeth felt extremely clean – no plaque – and my energy levels were high and remained high throughout the day.
“I don’t nap.
“I don’t get tired after a meal.”
With Ray sharing his extreme diet online, users have praised his transformation.
One user said: “Wow you have become amazing. Well done their young fella. I’m 57yrs old and I’m gunna get of those Australian beers and pies start the carnivore diet.”
Social media comment on Ray’s carnivore diet. (Picture: Jam Press)
Another person said: “I’m on full carnivore diet. I will never eat the supermarket poisons again. I’m with you my bro.”
“About right, I eat clean but could never do carnivore, but if it works for you and clearly it has, congrats my man,” Myles commented.
“I’ve been doing the carnivore diet for a month now, lost 13lbs feel like a million bucks! It’s a tough diet but worth it!” another user added.
Isaac commented: “Bro don’t give a rip!! Lookin good man!”
Social media comment on Ray’s carnivore diet. (Picture: Jam Press)
Weighing in on the process so far, Ray added: “All in all, I have found the carnivore diet to be an incredibly healing way of eating.
“I have had some truly incredible results.”
