From Raw Vegan to Carnivore: My Unlikely Journey

From Raw Vegan to Carnivore: My Unlikely Journey

Today, I want to dive a little deeper into my journey from raw vegan to carnivore. I know, it’s like going from one extreme to another—from plants and green juices to steak and bacon. But let me tell you, this road hasn’t been a straight line. It’s been long, winding, and full of surprising twists. Buckle up, because this story’s got it all—tropical beaches, raw foods, beach bars, CrossFit, and a few wake-up calls.

Discovering Nutrition… Finally

Up until 2009, the idea of “nutrition” barely existed in my world. I didn’t give it much thought. That all changed when I lived in Thailand and got into Muay Thai. At first, it was fun. I loved the training, the sweat, the grind, but then I started noticing something strange: I wasn’t recovering like I should. I was in my mid-30s, but my body felt like it was aging faster than it should. The harder I trained, the worse my recovery became.

Then, fate (or rather, my girlfriend’s mother) stepped in and handed me a book: Nutrition for Dummies. I had never even considered things like macronutrients, recovery foods, or how what I was eating was affecting my training. Let’s just say it was a revelation. My diet, which consisted mostly of restaurant food (it’s Thailand, eating out is cheaper than cooking!), wasn’t doing me any favors. Add to that my career managing multiple beach bars—aka drinking copious amounts of alcohol most days—and my poor recovery started to make a lot more sense.

A New Path: From Snickers and Coffee to Raw Food

Fast forward a year (it’s 2010 now), and I met the mother of my son, who was into holistic health. Through her friends, I was introduced to the world of raw food. Around the same time, I’d also read The China Study, which essentially paints meat as public enemy number one. Suddenly, I was convinced that cutting out meat was the key to better health. And living in a tropical country like Thailand made the switch pretty easy—after all, it’s 30°C year-round, and there’s a never-ending supply of amazing tropical fruits.

I ditched the Snickers bars and the nightly coffee (yes, I had a Snickers bar every night with a big mug of black coffee, sugar and all), cut way back on alcohol, started drinking slow juiced green juices and jumped headfirst into raw foods. I stopped training Muay Thai and found CrossFit, which gave me a new challenge. And I felt pretty good. My diet had gone from processed junk and alcohol to raw fruits and vegetables. No wonder I was feeling healthier!

But looking back now, I see I was really skinny. Sure, I had muscle, but at about 60kg, I was a shadow of what I am now. These days, I’m a solid 75kg, and trust me, I’m far from scrawny.

Becoming a Health Coach and Juicing My Way to “Health”

At this point, my interest in nutrition was skyrocketing. I wanted to know everything I could, so I enrolled in a year-long program at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. I graduated as a Certified Holistic Health Coach, and not long after, my partner and I opened a healthy juice café in Thailand. Life was good—I was coaching clients, helping them shift to whole foods-based, plant-focused diets, and promoting healthy living.

But here’s the thing: as time went on, I started craving animal protein. Sometimes I’d just feel the need for it, and eventually, I transitioned to a more flexitarian diet, adding in eggs, cheese and dairy and the occasional meat. This was my way of making peace with my body’s signals, but I still held onto the idea (and preached) that meat was, if not bad, at least something to minimise.

Falling Off the Wagon and Back Into Meat

Then came 2015, a pivotal year. I am now back in Europe. After my son’s mother and I separated, my diet started to slip. I slowly reintroduced more processed foods—and meat. Though I’d never really had much of a sweet tooth, I even started indulging in desserts at night. It was a strange time of transition, but nothing too drastic changed.

Right before the pandemic, on 1 January 2020, I made another life-changing decision: I quit drinking. Cold turkey. For two decades, I’d been drinking alcohol almost every day, and most times quite a lot. But with a family history of heart disease—my father had a heart attack at 42 (he’s 75 now and going relatively strong), and my grandfather died of one—I knew I had to do something. The risk was too high.

Quitting drinking was surprisingly easy. What wasn’t easy was feeling the supposed health benefits everyone talks about. I didn’t feel dramatically better, but over time, I adjusted, and when I finally tried a beer again, I didn’t even like it. So that was that—no more booze.

The Final Shift: Going Carnivore

From 2020 to 2023, my diet was decent. Definitely better than most people’s, but far from optimal. I was doing okay, but something was still missing. That all changed in the spring of 2023 when I took my son on a trip back to Thailand…

Want to know what happened next and how this journey transformed my life? Click here the button below. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this part—it’s where the magic happens.

Related Carnivore Chronicles

You’ve made it this far—why stop now? Dive into these juicy Caveman Diaries that’ll keep your carnivore game strong. Whether you’re here for tips, tricks, or a good laugh at those “plant-based” myths, we’ve got you covered. Grab your steak, sit back, and enjoy the ride!

Oh, and while you’re at it, why not share this chronicle with your mates?

Hit Me Up – Let’s Get You Back in the Game!

Tired of feeling blah and ready to feel fit, healthy, and confident again? Shoot me a message, and let’s talk about how my carnivore and fitness coaching can help you crush your goals. This is your chance to start a real transformation – let’s make it happen together.