THE CARNIVORE DIET BENEFITS
Whether you’re trying to pack on the pounds for the upcoming football season or just want to gain lean muscle mass fast, bulking on carnivore diet is a great idea.
We’re asked all the time, can you bulk on carnivore diet? Definitely! You can technically bulk on any diet. It’s just a matter of ramping up the calories. But what makes carnivore diet bulking so great is you’re getting pure protein and fat, which makes it easier to gain weight.
You can learn more about how to bulk on carnivore diet below, including tips on finding your caloric needs and raising them to beef up quickly. We’ll also introduce you to our meat chips, a true must-have for bulking on carnivore diet.
These are a great snack because they contain just two ingredients: meat and salt. They taste amazing so you’ll have no problem eating them by the handful to meet your caloric goals for the day. Set yourself up for a smooth bulk with Carnivore Snax today!
Benefits of the Carnivore Diet
This unique exclusionary diet involves cutting out all plant-based foods and anything processed, returning to a way of eating our ancestors thrived on. You’ll consume just meat, fish, eggs, and sometimes dairy. In this sense, it’s pretty much pure protein and fat. No carbs.
It sounds crazy, but the philosophy is sound. You are eliminating all potential irritants, anti-nutrients, and excess carbohydrates so the body can reset. This supports a healthier inflammatory response, which can lead to benefits such as:
- Weight loss without calorie tracking: satiety is high due to protein and fat intake.
- Reduced inflammation: cutting plants can relieve bloating, joint pain, and skin issues.
- Improved mental clarity and mood: some report fewer mood swings and more focus.
- Stable blood sugar and energy: zero carb intake means no more crashes or spikes.
- Relief from autoimmune symptoms: anecdotal reports show reduced flares and joint issues.
- Better digestion: fewer variables can calm gut irritation and promote regularity.
The vast majority of people who take a chance on this diet are drawn to the idea of effortless carnivore diet weight loss. But what if you have the opposite goal? You want to try the carnivore diet to gain weight. So, can you bulk on carnivore diet?
Can You Bulk on Carnivore Diet?
The short answer is yes - and bulking on carnivore diet is actually more straightforward than many expect. But let’s break it down clearly so you understand why it works, how it works, and what to watch for.
What Does “Bulking” Mean?
Bulking is about gaining lean muscle mass. Some people look at it purely as gaining weight, but that’s not our definition of it. We think bulking involves two things:
- A calorie surplus (eating more than you burn)
- Resistance training (to signal your body to store that energy as muscle, not fat)
Most people associate bulking with rice, oats, peanut butter, and protein shakes. But, you can get the same results with nothing but animal-based foods. In fact, you can technically bulk on any diet! Even a vegan diet. It’s just a matter of how well bulking works.
So, what makes the carnivore diet so great for bulking up?
Why Bulking on Carnivore Diet Works So Well
Bulking isn’t about carbs. It’s about nutrients and total intake. The carnivore diet checks both boxes:
- Complete proteins with all essential amino acids. This will help maximize your efforts in the gym since you’re giving your muscles what they need to grow back bigger and stronger.
- Naturally high-fat content to support testosterone, recovery, and calorie density.
- Micronutrient-rich foods like liver, heart, and eggs for iron, zinc, B12, creatine, and more
Even better? No gut issues, no bloating, and no blood sugar crashes. That means better gym performance, stronger recovery, and fewer barriers to eating more food consistently.
But, dirty bulking - where you just pack on fat - isn’t the goal here. Remember, it’s lean muscle mass we’re after. You can expect a little bit of fat tacked on with it, but we want to show you how to bulk on carnivore diet so you don’t overdo it.
How to Bulk on Carnivore Diet
Unlike a traditional bulk where you might shovel down oats, shakes, and pasta, a carnivore bulk relies on quality, caloric density, and strategic eating. You need to eat more, train heavy, and recover properly - all while sticking to meat, organs, eggs, and animal-based fats.
But before you can get started bulking on carnivore diet, we need to take a step back and figure out exactly how many calories you need just to maintain your current weight.
Figure Out Your Baseline Caloric Needs
You need to know what your body burns at rest and with activity so you know how many calories to add to your daily intake. This is known as your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE).
You can use a calculator for a rough estimate, but tracking weight and energy levels over 1-2 weeks will tell you more. Count calories over a while and weigh yourself daily. If the scale doesn’t move, you’re at maintenance.
From there it’s just a matter of figuring out how aggressive you want to be in ramping up calories. We’ll help you find the sweet spot where you get progress without breaching into a dirty bulk.
Increase Your Caloric Intake Accordingly
We think an increase of 10-15% above maintenance is a good aimpoint. So if you need 2,000 calories daily for maintenance, you could try eating 2,200 to 2,300 calories.
Learning how to bulk on carnivore diet is as simple as just eating more. The problem is, your 30-day carnivore diet meal plan is filled with satiating foods. That can be a double-edged sword. Feeling full quickly makes it easy to under-eat, even when you think you’re eating enough.
Begin increasing portion sizes. That might mean an extra egg at breakfast, or swapping chicken thighs for beef short ribs. You don’t have to make massive changes right away, small tweaks add up.
Prioritize Fatty Meats Over Lean Cuts
Bulking on lean cuts like chicken breast or sirloin will leave you full before you hit your calorie goal. Fat is your best friend here. It’s energy-dense and supports hormone production (especially testosterone). So, what meats can you eat on the carnivore diet to help?
- Ribeye
- Pork belly
- Lamb shoulder
- Ground beef (at least 80/20)
- Duck
Fatty meats help you hit your macros without needing to eat absurd quantities of food. They’ll also support more consistent energy levels throughout the day.
Increase Caloric Density With Add-Ons
If you’re already eating a lot of meat, but still falling short on calories, lean on add-ons that pack more punch per bite. Here are some of our favorites for bulking on carnivore diet:
- Raw dairy (if tolerated): Heavy cream, butter, full-fat cheese
- Egg yolks: More calories and nutrients than egg whites
- Beef tallow or lard: Cook your meats in extra fat
- Bone marrow: High-calorie, nutrient-dense, and delicious
Think of these as carnivore-friendly condiments. They don’t take up stomach space but add up quickly in terms of calories in!
Eat More Frequently, Even If You’re Not Hungry
One or two big meals a day might be fine for maintenance, but bulking on carnivore diet is a different game. You need consistent calorie intake, even if that means eating when you’re not ravenous.
Try 3-4 smaller meals instead of giant feasts. Space them out every 3-4 hours to avoid bloating and make it easier to digest. A small snack between these meals can help as well. Speaking of snacks…
Keep the Right Snacks on Hand
Having calorie-dense snacks nearby is a bulking hack, especially when hunger doesn’t show up on schedule. If you have to cook a whole steak every time you want to eat, odds are you’ll skip more meals than you should.
That’s where our carnivore chips come in.
They’re specifically for people chasing gains without compromise. You get a big serving of protein and fat in a delicious bite that’s easy to keep reaching for. They’re like meat pastries - light, airy, and tantalizing. They melt in your mouth and will have you coming back for more.
We think they’re the best protein bar alternatives and the best protein powder substitute, since those aren’t really valid options on the carnivore diet. Our chips contain just meat and salt. Regeneratively raised meat from the most elite, ethical farms in the nation, at that. See below:
With more than 100,000 happy customers and counting, you can place your order with confidence knowing you’re in for a real treat. See what other carnivores had to say:
“WOW IN A BAG. Delicious brisket blows all meat snacks out the water.” - Andy
“I’ve tried every product that’s available through Carnivore Snax. I could eat them for the rest of my life and be more than content. 10/10 all day, every day.” - Richard
“Like many people I though this was just a beef jerky, but you are so wrong. The crunch and flavor of the dry meat with the fat and only have 2 ingredients is an amazing experience.” - Pawlo
Lift Heavy and Recover Well
Food is only half of learning how to bulk on carnivore diet. If your training is light, your gains will be too. While we specialize more in the nutritional aspect of bulking on carnivore diet, we do know the role the gym plays in progress as well.
Focus on compound lifts. That’s squats, deadlifts, bench press, rows, and overhead press. Isolation exercises have their place, but these movements will help you progress far more efficiently. Lower rep ranges are ideal for these types of exercises, think 4-8 reps. You can do secondary exercises in a higher rep range.
Make sure you’re progressively overloading your movements too - whether that’s adding more weight, reps, sets, or reducing recovery time. You have to make the workouts harder and harder, or you’re not pushing your body to get stronger. Progress will stall quickly.
Just remember, recovery is where carnivore shines. Reduced inflammation, better sleep (thanks to stable blood sugar), and high-protein meals all contribute to faster repair and growth. Make sure you’re scheduling rest days and getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night.
Address Micronutrient Needs
One of the main concerns people have with bulking on carnivore diet is missing out on key micronutrients. You might be able to get some of these through a carnivore protein shake, but here are some whole-food options to consider:
- Liver: Vitamin A, B12, iron, folate
- Heart: CoQ10, zinc, taurine
- Egg yolks: Choline, biotin, selenium
- Bone broth: Collagen, glycine, electrolytes
Even with a meat-only diet, you can overlook some nutrients if you’re eating the same cuts over and over. Rotate your meats and make organ meats a weekly habit. They’re nature’s multivitamin!
Parting Thoughts on Bulking on Carnivore Diet
That does it for our guide on how to bulk on carnivore diet. Bulking on carnivore diet isn’t just possible, it’s more efficient than traditional methods. You’re fueling with complete proteins, bioavailable fats, and nutrient-dense cuts to support recovery, muscle growth, and hormones.
With the right foods and habits, you’ll build size and strength without gut issues or energy crashes. We can help with our meat chips at Carnivore Snax. Take the next step in your carnivore bodybuilder journey, empowered by the best meat snacks in the world!
