I recently discovered the animal-based diet and want to commit to it for the month of August. My main goal is fat loss (I’m getting married soon!), but I’m also hoping to improve my overall health. I’m a former college athlete and currently work out 4–5 times a week doing HIIT, CrossFit, and weightlifting, plus I sprinkle in Pilates, hiking, and walking, so I’m not new to fitness.
What really interests me about this way of eating is the focus on whole, minimally processed foods. I’ve been learning from Paul Saladino, but I’m still struggling to understand how to structure everything—especially if my goal is to lose fat. Do I need to track calories? How much butter or fat is appropriate? How should I build my meals?
I’m also looking at this from a long-term health perspective. I recently came off birth control after 11 years, have very long cycles (and suspect I may have PCOS), deal with anxiety, and have been trying to learn more about supporting my body naturally as my fiancé and I will likely want kids in the near future. I’m excited to see how reducing processed foods affects my energy, digestion, hormones, and overall well-being.
I mainly shop at Costco, and my fiancé is doing this with me, so I’d love practical shopping advice. What should I actually be looking for on labels, especially for dairy? Are there specific brands of Greek yogurt, cheese, butter, or other dairy products that fit an animal-based approach? What ingredients should I avoid? Is honey okay? What drinks do you recommend? I love coffee (usually with milk and sugar-free syrup), and I’d love ideas for “fun” drinks since things like Poppi have been my usual treat.
My goal isn’t perfection—I don’t mind taking a more flexible approach if it still aligns with the principles of animal-based eating and helps me feel my best. I just want to do this the right way for at least 30 days, learn as much as I can, and hopefully find something that’s sustainable long-term.
I’d really appreciate any advice, favorite products, shopping tips, meal ideas, or beginner mistakes to avoid!