Wondering why you’re gaining weight on carnivore diet? In this post, I will discuss six common reasons for weight gain on the carnivore diet. Since October of 2018, I have been following the carnivore diet and have experienced amazing results with my digestion and thyroid numbers. This summer, I was even able to put my Hashimoto’s into remission. Moreover, my energy levels and mood have significantly improved, and I am very passionate about the carnivore diet. As many people have asked me about why they are gaining weight on this diet, I have identified six common reasons why you might be gaining weight on a carnivore diet in this post.
6 Reasons You Are Gaining Weight On Carnivore Diet
1- You Are Building Muscles
The first reason why you might be gaining weight on carnivore diet is that you are building muscles. When you consume a carnivore diet, your body is repairing and building its tissues and structures, such as muscles and bones. This repair process is necessary because many people who start the carnivore diet have depleted their bodies of essential nutrients due to years of restrictive diets, caffeine consumption, overeating and other damaging habits. Therefore, when you begin to eat a nutrient-dense diet like the carnivore diet, your body’s first priority is to repair and rebuild itself before starting to lose weight. Therefore, it is essential to stay away from the scale and focus on other measures, such as how your clothes fit, your skin appearance, and your energy levels. People will start noticing you. These are the things to notice, not how much you weigh on the scale because it can be very deceiving, especially in the beginning of a carnivore diet.
2- You Are Cheating
The second reason why you might be gaining weight on carnivore diet is that you are cheating. If you are kind of a keto-ish carnivore, you’re having keto treats, so you’re eating meat all day but then you’re having fat bombs all night. If you are cheating, don’t be surprised if you are gaining weight on a carnivore diet.
The carnivore diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, and consuming carbs can lead to spikes in insulin, which can make your body store fat. Moreover, if you are consuming a lot of fat and then pairing it with high-carb treats such as desserts, you are asking for weight gain. Therefore, it is essential to stick to the carnivore diet strictly to achieve the desired results, pretty much I would say 95% -99% to really heal your body.
3- You Are Eating Too Much Dairy
The third reason why you might be gaining weight on carnivore diet is that you are consuming too much dairy. If you’re eating a lot of dairy, you want to rethink that it is kind of a convenience food as you don’t have to cook it. Dairy is a growth food that is insulinogenic for many people, which can make them store fat. Dairy is also addictive due to the release of dopamine in the brain, similar to sugar. Moreover, dairy is one of the top allergens, and some people are sensitive to it, leading to inflammation and you definitely could be putting on some weight. You can try some goat dairy if you want, some people are less reactive to that. Or just eliminate them altogether, I have had the most success when I have done no dairy at all on this program.
4- You Are Eating Convenience Foods
The fourth reason why you might be gaining weight on carnivore diet is that you are consuming too many convenience foods. Many convenience foods such as processed meats, sausages, and pork rinds contain added sugars, vegetable oils, corn, soy, or starch, which can cause inflammation in the body and lead to overeating. Moreover, preserved meats can be challenging to stop eating due to their salty taste and convenience. They’re kind of overly exciting when you eat those types of foods, so definitely watch out for that if you feel like you’re gaining weight.
Therefore, the best thing to do if you feel like you’re gaining weight is to strip back to the plain, hamburger, meat, at home steaks and just the simple seafood that you have to actually make, that you can’t just open a container and eat it. So always keep that in mind if you feel like you’re bloating up or gaining weight. I definitely had some times where I was eating processed meats and I felt super bloated and I felt like I couldn’t stop eating them in moderation.
5- You Are Not Managing Stress
I think it’s very very under-talked about and under-appreciated how much stress can really wreak havoc on our bodies and on our gut lining especially. It can have a significant impact on our health, including our gut health. When we are stressed, our body releases cortisol, which can break down our lean muscle and weaken the lining of our immune system, including our gut lining. This can lead to various health issues, including weight gain and sickness. Yes, you’ll either get sick or if you lose lean muscle guess what you’re gonna be kind of, like skin fat, so that is a bad thing that we don’t want.
So we want to reduce our stress as much as possible. You want to get a good night’s sleep every night, you want to try to get outside, take baths with some nice epsom salts and essential oils to minimize stress. You can get my favorite essential oils here. You can practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation. I love meditation apps. Things like that for guided meditation are amazing. There’s one I love called meditation oasis and her voice is very soothing and it’s free on iTunes so you can check that one out. And try to rest and reduce stress in your daily lives by managing your workload and other stressors. You can just minimize your stress greatly by following carnivore diet really closely and keeping your blood sugar stable, that is a big yes sir.
Bonus: 6- You Are Not Taking Enough Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essential for our body as they help maintain the balance of fluids in our cells, regulate our blood pressure, and support muscle and nerve function. On a carnivore diet, it’s crucial to keep our electrolytes in balance to avoid cravings and hunger pangs. Taking salt and other electrolyte supplements can help maintain the balance of electrolytes in our body. My sister has a great recipe for how to make that electrolyte drink that is a wonderful aid to your carnivore diet, it is a great addition to your carnivore day. You can find it here on my blog for free. LMNT is another excellent way to integrate electrolytes into your carnivore diet. This electrolyte drink mix offers a delicious and effortless way to restore your body’s electrolyte balance.
I like to just put salt on my tongue or in capsules and take it for my electrolyte balance. I make drinks less often but you can do whatever suits your personality and your lifestyle. Redmond real salt is my favorite as it tastes great and has all the right balance of electrolytes we need. You can get it here. Bone broth is also a great way to maintain balanced electrolytes. Find my nourishing bone broth recipe on my blog here or watch my instant pot video here for a carnivore diet-friendly version.
Are you new to the carnivore diet?
If you’re interested in trying the carnivore diet or want to learn more about it? I highly recommend checking out my 30 Day Carnivore Diet Challenge ebook here. It’s a comprehensive guide that covers everything from the basics of the diet to meal plans, recipes, and tips for success.
This ebook is written by me and my sister, Ellen weeks. We have been doing carnivore since 2019 and we wrote this book to share all the things that we did and we don’t want you to make the same mistake. So it’s really beautifully done and we’re just super proud of it and it has all the reasoning behind the carnivore diet. Our 30 Day Carnivore Diet Challenge has rules and a lot of structure so that you can get the most out of it. It has a lot of useful infographics.
It provides a wealth of information that can help you navigate the challenges of this unique way of eating. Whether you’re looking to improve your health, lose weight, or simply try something new, my carnivore diet ebook is a valuable resource. So if you’re new to carnivore diet and you want to get started, this book can help you achieve your goals. I am sure you will find it helpful on your carnivore journey! Get it here. Watch this video below for why you are gaining weight on carnivore diet.