Starting The Carnivore Diet

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Paul1977

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#324906 11-Jun-2026 12:07

I lost a bunch of weight a few years ago doing keto and intermittent fasting. Once I got down to my target weight, the idea was to reintroduce things gradually and maintain my new weight.

Well, that quickly devolved into going back to how I'd previously been eating and all the weight has returned. So onto the next fad - The Carnivore Diet.

I've only been doing it since Monday, so far too early to gauge any results. But so far it's been easy to stick to, and I like the nice simple rules and lack of any calories counting.

I'm doing semi strict where I'm cutting out dairy (except butter) as well. So it's just unprocessed meat, fish, eggs, butter, salt, and water. I am allowing Hendersons bacon even though it does have very small amounts of sugar from the curing process (0.7g per 100g), but it's the "cleanest" bacon I can easily source.

Obviously, there are potential negative health implications with a diet like this and my cholestoral has always been on the high side (not high enough that medication has been suggested). I think will be prudent to get a referral for a Cardiac Calcium CT if I feel like I can maintain this diet long term.

Has anyone else tried Carnivore? If so, how is it going?

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Awrrr
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#3502068 11-Jun-2026 13:23

I have older friends (70+) who have been on this for a long time. They are extremely healthy and fit but they also get a LOT of exercise through Pickleball competitions and other activities. I sometimes worry about their cholesterol but they are still going strong and will probably outlive me (I am a vegetarian).

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gzt

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#3502070 11-Jun-2026 13:32

Get a baseline checkup at the GP blood tests etc before you start. If anything goes horribly sideways you'll be in a good position to understand the before and after.

You may or may not want to tell your GP about the real reason for the checkup.

They may try to talk you out of the diet ; ) (for perfectly good reasons..)

MikeAqua

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#3502071 11-Jun-2026 13:41

Rikkitic:

I have older friends (70+) who have been on this for a long time. They are extremely healthy and fit but they also get a LOT of exercise through Pickleball competitions and other activities. I sometimes worry about their cholesterol but they are still going strong and will probably outlive me (I am a vegetarian).

Diet doesn't have as much of an effect on cholesterol as you'd think. Unless you're going to lengths to eliminate all saturated fats (difficult). Even then ... your body still need some cholesterol for certain physiological processes. My quack just told me to make sure the animal protein I'm eating is lean and take statins.

Mike

Paul1977

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#3502074 11-Jun-2026 13:57

gzt: Get a baseline checkup at the GP blood tests etc before you start. If anything goes horribly sideways you'll be in a good position to understand the before and after.

You may or may not want to tell your GP about the real reason for the checkup.

They may try to talk you out of the diet ; ) (for perfectly good reasons..)

I've booked an appointment for late next week but have already started diet so not going to stop and wait. I had a bunch of standard blood tests (including lipids) late last year - so relatively recent.

I don't think he'll try to talk me out of it. When I saw him back when I was doing Keto (and had lost several kg already) his attitude was basically that it was probably trading one set of risks for another (decreased visceral fat = good, increased red meat and saturated fat consumption = bad). I figure it's probably best he knows what I'm doing.

timmmay

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#3502075 11-Jun-2026 13:59

gzt: Get a baseline checkup at the GP blood tests etc before you start. If anything goes horribly sideways you'll be in a good position to understand the before and after.

You may or may not want to tell your GP about the real reason for the checkup.

They may try to talk you out of the diet ; ) (for perfectly good reasons..)

If you get blood tests, get the Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) test. I'd also consider taking a multivitamin, though you're still missing out on a bunch of things in plants like polyphenols and fiber that are food for our gut bacteria.

Paul1977

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#3502076 11-Jun-2026 14:02

MikeAqua:

Diet doesn't have as much of an effect on cholesterol as you'd think. Unless you're going to lengths to eliminate all saturated fats (difficult). Even then ... your body still need some cholesterol for certain physiological processes. My quack just told me to make sure the animal protein I'm eating is lean and take statins.

I've heard that as well about not being as big a contributor as previously thought. For Carnivore lean cuts are the opposite of what the diet suggests, because you rely on fat instead of carbs for energy. And since most animal fat is saturated, my saturated fat consumption will definitely increase.

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Paul1977

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#3502077 11-Jun-2026 14:07

timmmay:

gzt: Get a baseline checkup at the GP blood tests etc before you start. If anything goes horribly sideways you'll be in a good position to understand the before and after.

You may or may not want to tell your GP about the real reason for the checkup.

They may try to talk you out of the diet ; ) (for perfectly good reasons..)

If you get blood tests, get the Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) test. I'd also consider taking a multivitamin, though you're still missing out on a bunch of things in plants like polyphenols and fiber that are food for our gut bacteria.

Thanks. ChatGPT said to ask for ApoB and Lp(a) as well.

I've read conflicting things about vitamins and fibre when on carnivore. I'll probably see how I feel after a couple of months and get tested for any deficiencies.

I should be adding organ meat into it for extra nutrients, but I might need to build up to that!

coffeebaron

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#3502080 11-Jun-2026 14:14

timmmay:

gzt: Get a baseline checkup at the GP blood tests etc before you start. If anything goes horribly sideways you'll be in a good position to understand the before and after.

You may or may not want to tell your GP about the real reason for the checkup.

They may try to talk you out of the diet ; ) (for perfectly good reasons..)

If you get blood tests, get the Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) test. I'd also consider taking a multivitamin, though you're still missing out on a bunch of things in plants like polyphenols and fiber that are food for our gut bacteria.

Just drink some good (black no sugar) coffee and you'll get some of those :) I think coffee drinking is acceptable and common on carnivore.

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Paul1977

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#3502084 11-Jun-2026 14:28

coffeebaron:

Just drink some good (black no sugar) coffee and you'll get some of those :) I think coffee drinking is acceptable and common on carnivore.

I don't do hot drinks; it's the temperature of the Devil.

Tinkerisk

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#3502087 11-Jun-2026 14:41

I’m not following a specific diet; I simply cut out highly processed foods, reduced-calorie "light" stuff, store-bought baked goods, and sugar (yeah, those things really pack a punch), while eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and limiting my meat consumption—which is omnipresent nowadays—to a reasonable level. When I want a snack, I have a few (without overdoing it!) good, unroasted, and unseasoned nuts. In my opinion, the most important thing is to take responsibility for your own food and not simply leave it to others.

You couldn't call it a diet or calorie counting—it's more of a balanced way of eating without tracking calories... oh, and regular exercise.

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GarryP

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#3502090 11-Jun-2026 15:04

I suggest going into carnivore gradually over 4 weeks or so. Reduce carbs to near zero over that time ie 25% reduction per week.

Any sudden change in diet will upset your system, but I guess since you have done keto in the past you know about "keto flu".

Take electrolytes ( sodium, potassium, magnesium) since you will be probably losing water which takes them with it.

You Tube has some great info from practicing and registered doctors Eg Ken Berry, Anthony Chaffee, Paul Mason, and Prof Bart Kay from NZ. Beware of influencers using clickbait.

Research the debunking of lipid- heart disease hypothesis, your liver is not trying to kill your heart by overproducing LDL. Plaques occur where there has been damage to the endothelial layer from things like high blood pressure or oxidative stress. A Korean study showed that people with higher LDL had lower all cause mortality. Remember that cholesterol is not the same as LDL or HDL.

Beef, butter, bacon, eggs. Dairy if you can tolerate it.

There is so much good info out there regarding things like oxalate dumping which may occur if you were eating oxalate plants and have now stopped. You will probably have to tweak the macros a bit to what suits eg loose stools then reduce fat intake, constipation then increase fat.

Over several weeks, food cravings will stop or reduce a lot.

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cshwone

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#3502091 11-Jun-2026 15:05

Tinkerisk:

I’m not following a specific diet; I simply cut out highly processed foods, reduced-calorie "light" stuff, store-bought baked goods, and sugar (yeah, those things really pack a punch), while eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and limiting my meat consumption—which is omnipresent nowadays—to a reasonable level. When I want a snack, I have a few (without overdoing it!) good, unroasted, and unseasoned nuts. In my opinion, the most important thing is to take responsibility for your own food and not simply leave it to others.

You couldn't call it a diet or calorie counting—it's more of a balanced way of eating without tracking calories... oh, and regular exercise.

In other words - being sensible. However, the odd bit of Whittakers is an essential part of my food intake :)

I eat a lot of homemade Indian, Chinese and Thai food and find that the balance of ingrediants makes for a healthy life. There is a lot to be said for non-European cuisine.

SpartanVXL

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#3502103 11-Jun-2026 15:31

Paul1977:

coffeebaron:

Just drink some good (black no sugar) coffee and you'll get some of those :) I think coffee drinking is acceptable and common on carnivore.

I don't do hot drinks; it's the temperature of the Devil.

Eva888

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#3502106 11-Jun-2026 16:11

Relative did the carnivore and lost some weight. He spent most of his life on some new diet all of which worked for a short time until he cheated. He ate constantly including getting up at nights for a sandwhich, However he also developed a serious heart issue that needed major surgery. Not saying there is a connection to the diet, but definitely the weight contributed to his health issues.

My suggestion is to eat a full variety of food but drastically cut down the amounts. The amount you eat is what puts on the weight. You don’t see starving people overweight. Eat what you enjoy but serve all food on a bread and butter plate. Don’t cheat, enjoy treats now and then but only small amounts, one chocolate not the pack. Half a scone, third of a steak, one potatoe, one slice of toast, one egg etc.

Every meal just covering the small plate. Stomach gets used to smaller amounts and you won’t crave forbidden foods this way. Clear soups or bouillon and a cracker in between so it feels like food, or a piece of fruit. Lots of liquids, coffee, tea, water. No alcohol or sugar drinks.

MikeAqua

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#3502115 11-Jun-2026 16:40

Paul1977:

MikeAqua:

Diet doesn't have as much of an effect on cholesterol as you'd think. Unless you're going to lengths to eliminate all saturated fats (difficult). Even then ... your body still need some cholesterol for certain physiological processes. My quack just told me to make sure the animal protein I'm eating is lean and take statins.

I've heard that as well about not being as big a contributor as previously thought. For Carnivore lean cuts are the opposite of what the diet suggests, because you rely on fat instead of carbs for energy. And since most animal fat is saturated, my saturated fat consumption will definitely increase.

There is plenty of intra-muscular fat in meat (that you can't see). You don't need the inter-muscular (the stuff you can see).

As an example, farmed venison fillet, which is very, very, very lean for red meat is about 5% fat. Your body can extract energy from protein too. It doesn't like too and it will burn carbs/fat first. But it can. If your body is malnourished enough, it will eventually extract from your muscles and then your central nervous system. The latter can cause permanent cognitive damage.

Mike

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