Not Losing Weight On The Carnivore Diet? 6 Possible Reasons Why

​If you’re not losing weight on the carnivore diet, it’s understandable that you’re frustrated. Weight loss is supposed to be one of the top benefits of the carnivore diet, after all! But there are a few reasons why you might not be experiencing the weight loss you’d hoped for. 

Don’t worry though, because with the right guidance they can all be addressed. We’ve examined the primary causes of a failure to shed excess weight on the carnivore diet and offered simple solutions to help you better manage your weight.

​How Does The Carnivore Diet Lead To Weight Loss?

It’s rare for people on a well-managed carnivore diet to become overweight. Typically, they will lose weight thanks to the diet’s restrictive nature, and maintain their new weight easily because meat offers high satiety. Of course, this depends on an individual’s initial body weight before starting the diet.

Overweight people who previously ate unhealthily and then switched to the strictest form of carnivore will typically experience the most dramatic weight loss. There are three main reasons for this.

1. ​No Carbs

The carnivore diet excludes plant foods and sugars, which are the main carbohydrate foods. If you typically eat lots of carbs (many people do) and suddenly cut them out completely, you’ll probably lose a lot of weight, fast. 

2. ​High-Satiety Foods

The foods allowed on the carnivore diet, like the different meats, as well as other animal foods like eggs, organ meats, and animal fats, are high-satiety foods. This means they make you feel full faster, and for longer, than other types of foods. This curbs overeating and thus promotes weight loss.

3. ​No Processed Foods

The carnivore diet also excludes processed foods, which are a common source of carbs, specifically hidden sugars. If you habitually eat many processed foods, suddenly eliminating them from your diet can lead to significant weight loss.

​6 Possible Reasons You're Not Losing Weight On The Carnivore Diet

These are the most common reasons for unsatisfactory weight loss results. ​

1. ​Hidden Carbs

It’s natural to want to add flavor to an all-meat diet. But this is another common reason why you can’t lose weight on the carnivore diet. There might be hidden carbs lurking in your favorite condiments and seasonings. ​

REASON:
Sauces, relishes, gravies, and seasonings can contain hidden carbs and sugars. Often, you won’t even realize they are carbs because they are listed on ingredient labels under unfamiliar names. That’s why you need to limit your intake of seasonings and sauces.

SOLUTION:
Does this mean you can’t enjoy some flavor in your food? Of course not! But you have to keep seasonings simple and avoid those that contain sugars and starches. The way you prepare your meats can add flavor without using condiments.

2. ​Hormonal Imbalances And Stress

Despite your best efforts at eating healthily and exercising, it’s still possible to hold onto stubborn belly fat. This is often due to hormonal imbalances, especially prevalent in women. But even high stress levels can wreak havoc on your weight loss program. ​

REASON:
Hormones regulate fat breakdown and metabolism but also play a part in appetite and fat storage. The slightest hormonal imbalance can mean the difference between a well-functioning metabolism and a sluggish one. Changing life cycles like menopause can throw hormone levels out of balance. 

Stress affects hormones too. When you're stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol (the “stress hormone”) which in excess can make you crave sugary foods. This is the “comfort eating” many people under severe stress will be familiar with.

SOLUTION:
Although this is a harder fix than changes to your diet or adopting an exercise routine, it’s not impossible. However, you’ll need to consult your primary healthcare provider for the best treatment advice. You might need hormonal therapy or counseling. In time, with the right diet and treatments, your weight will stabilize. ​

3. ​Lack Of Variety And Nutrient Imbalance

In its strictest form, the carnivore diet, just like the ketogenic (keto) diet, will push your body into a state of ketosis. This is when the body uses fat as its primary energy source due to limited access to glucose caused by eliminating carbs from the diet. But if you remove one fuel source, you must increase the other.

REASON:
On the carnivore diet, your body relies on fat to fuel your organic functions, muscles, and brain. When there’s not enough fat in your diet for fat metabolism, you can’t expect a healthy metabolism that speeds up excess fat loss.  ​

SOLUTION:
You don’t have to consume excess fats day and night. Overindulging in saturated fats can cause health problems in susceptible individuals. But you do need a reasonable amount of healthy fats to provide your body with energy and assist metabolic function.

4. ​You're Not Drinking Enough Water

Your difficulty in losing weight might not be caused by your food intake at all. It might be due to your water intake, or rather, the lack of it. Yes, surprisingly, water plays a very important role in weight loss and weight management.

REASON:
Experts have found that water naturally suppresses appetite. We sometimes confuse signs of thirst with symptoms of hunger. It also makes you feel full without packing in calories, stimulates the metabolism, helps the body eliminate waste, and might even play a role in fat burning. ​

SOLUTION:
The solution is simple. Drink more water. Aim for eight glasses a day; if you’re exercising rigorously, increase the amount. The next time you feel like eating even though you’ve already eaten, try sipping some water instead. Best of all, water can be enjoyed freely on the carnivore diet, and any weight-loss diet.

5. ​You're In A Caloric Surplus

A caloric surplus will cause you to gain weight and hold on to excess body fat. You might not consider your caloric intake high, but it's all about proportion. The volume of food you eat versus your activity levels may shed light on why you’re not losing weight on the carnivore diet. ​

REASON:
Excess weight is not necessarily caused by the types of foods you eat. If you consume more calories than you use, you gain weight. This is why carnivore dieters who lead a sedentary life don’t lose weight. You need a caloric deficit to lose weight. That means using more calories than you consume. ​

SOLUTION:
If you want to lose weight, you need to start using (burning) more calories than you consume. Regular physical activity and exercise will do the trick. Metabolic rates increase relevant to increased lean muscle mass, so aim for a mix of cardio and resistance training. ​

​6. You're Being Impatient!

If you suddenly stop losing excess weight, one of the above reasons may be behind it. But quite often, impatience is the culprit. You didn’t pile on the excess pounds overnight. You won’t shed them overnight either. 

REASON:
You started the carnivore diet, and lost weight quickly, at first. Then it just stopped, leaving you confused. Most initial weight loss is water loss. Weight loss plateaus occur when your weight loss suddenly stops even while actively trying to lose weight. This is common and quite normal in most weight loss efforts. 

SOLUTION:
Take the steps you need to take. Are you drinking enough water, getting enough exercise, and avoiding foods that may contain hidden carbs and sugars? Have you stopped comfort eating, and consulted your health provider about possible medical causes for your excess weight? 

If you’ve already crossed all of these off your checklist, accept that maybe, just maybe, you are being a little too impatient. Give your body the time to adjust, and you’ll soon see the results you crave.

Final Thoughts

Are you not losing weight on the carnivore diet? Healthy weight loss takes time, and it takes dedication, even while on the carnivore diet. Often, a few simple lifestyle changes, a better understanding of nutrition, and a good dose of patience are all that’s needed.  ​