THE CARNIVORE DIET BENEFITS
So many people are drawn towards the carnivore diet for weight loss, and it’s easy to see why. In the absence of processed foods and carb-heavy meals, the body turns to fat stores as fuel. Even the 1 month carnivore diet results can be astounding.
But, can you gain weight on carnivore diet as well? Absolutely - you just need to make sure you’re consuming enough food on a daily basis. You can technically get into a caloric surplus on any diet, so gaining weight on carnivore diet is easy.
What makes it a great diet for packing on pounds, though, is you’ll find most of the carnivore diet weight gain is muscle given all the protein you’re consuming. We’ll show you how to gain weight on carnivore diet below to help set you up for success.
Having the right snacks for carnivore diet is essential no matter what your goals are, though. So, before you leave today take a moment to learn about why our meat chips are a match made in heaven for anyone following this dietary regimen and support your weight gain goals!
How the Carnivore Diet Works
Before we talk about gaining weight on carnivore diet let’s start with the basics. What is the carnivore diet, and how does the carnivore diet work?
The principles are simple, you eat just animal-based foods and eliminate everything else. Other than that, there really aren’t any hard and fast rules of carnivore diet - you can eat as much or as little as you’d like to support your goals.
So, what is allowed on the carnivore diet? Just meat, fish, eggs, and animal fats like butter, ghee, and lard. On the other hand, you’ll steer clear of vegetables, fruits, grains, and any other processed foods.
Why bother, though? What are the benefits of carnivore diet - why is carnivore diet healthy? You’re completely eradicating inflammatory food groups that ultimately cause more harm than good in some digestive systems.
In turn, you’re streamlining digestion, supporting a healthy inflammatory response, and optimizing nutrient absorption. This leads to effortless weight loss, enhanced mental clarity, management of many autoimmune disorders, and many other carnivore diet results.
You’ll get most of your energy from fat, while protein supports muscle maintenance and repair. With no carbs the body shifts to burning fat for fuel, often entering a state of ketosis.
This is why one of the primary reasons to consider starting the carnivore diet is for weight management. But, can you gain weight on carnivore diet as well if that’s what your goal is?
Can You Gain Weight on Carnivore Diet?
Carnivore is incredibly flexible in that you can tailor the regimen to align with just about any goals. Maybe you’re interested in carnivore diet for bodybuilding as a way to bulk up and pack on lean mass.
Or, perhaps you’re interested in trying the female carnivore diet to help recover from an eating disorder and regain a healthy weight quickly. Either way, yes - you can gain weight on the carnivore diet.
The diet’s high-fat content and nutrient-dense foods can make it easier to create a caloric surplus for those aiming to gain weight. Ultimately, that caloric surplus is what will move the needle for carnivore diet weight gain.
This just means you’re consuming more calories than your body burns on a daily basis - that surplus is stored in the body in the form of fat.
While you can get in a caloric surplus on any diet - from keto vs carnivore to paleo vs carnivore or mediterranean diet vs carnivore diet - it’s especially easy on carnivore. This is because you will eat mostly fat, which contributes a whopping 9 calories per gram. For context, protein and carbs offer just 4 calories per gram.
Of course, not everyone will find that carnivore supports their weight gain goals. In fact, many report losing weight when making the transition. Some of this will be a reduction in water weight as carnivore supports better digestion and you won’t be as bloated.
However, the diet also stabilizes blood sugar levels and eliminates cravings so you don’t find yourself overeating as frequently. Plus, eating so much protein encourages satiety where you feel more full while eating less.
That doesn’t mean gaining weight on carnivore diet is impossible, though. You just need to be a bit more meticulous in how you structure your meals. So, let us share some tips on how to gain weight on carnivore diet below.
How to Gain Weight on Carnivore Diet
Gaining weight on carnivore diet is as simple as eating more. The more calories you consume (especially calories from fat), the greater your caloric surplus will be, and thus, the more weight you’ll gain. Here are some ways to move the needle for carnivore diet weight gain.
Prioritizing Fatty Cuts of Meat
The specific carnivore diet meal plan for beginners you follow influences how many calories you consume on a daily basis. We believe the best meat for carnivore diet weight gain to be ribeye, pork belly, brisket, and lamb shoulder.
These cuts deliver more calories per ounce than other cuts while still offering some of the most essential nutrients. They are delicious and leave you feeling full while still empowering you to hit your target calorie intake.
Incorporating Organ Meats and Fats
Meat is the biggest piece of the puzzle, but it’s just one aspect of carnivore diet recipes. You should round out your regimen with organ meats like liver, heart, and kidney.
These are calorie-dense and packed with vitamins and minerals that muscle meats (the meat you’re likely most familiar with) don’t offer. This can help you avoid one of the most common side effects of carnivore diet - nutrient deficiencies.
Adding these to your meals not only enhances nutritional value but also keeps your diet interesting with more variety. Explore some of our carnivore diet breakfast ideas, carnivore diet lunch ideas, and carnivore diet dinner ideas for inspiration.
You can even supplement your meals with animal fats like butter, ghee, or tallow to increase your calorie intake. A dollop of butter on your steak or a spoonful of tallow for cooking is perhaps the easiest way to add extra calories to your meals.
Increasing Meal Frequency or Portion Size
It sounds simple, but if you want to get bigger, you need to eat bigger! This can be accomplished in two ways: by increasing meal frequency, portion size, or both.
If you typically eat a 12 ounce steak for dinner, bump it up to a 14-16 ounce steak. If your typical breakfast calls for 2-3 eggs, make it 4-5 eggs. Cook with more generous servings of butter. There are many ways you can increase portion sizes without it feeling like you’re gorging yourself.
Still, some people find it easy to eat more meals throughout the day and keep them smaller, which still leads to more total calories consumed over the course of the day.
This is why having the best low carb snacks on hand is so important. You can get a few hundred calories in just a few bites between each meal to move the needle in the right direction. We said it from the start, and we’ll remind you again - our carnivore chips are a must.
They’re sourced from the most elite, ethical regenerative farms in the country so you can feel good about indulging in delicious, nutrient-dense snacks.
While they only have two ingredients (meat and salt), they taste amazing. Some of our customers even call them meat pastries because they are crisp and airy at first before melting in your mouth. There is something for everyone, too:
They’re truly the best snacks for anyone wondering how to gain weight on carnivore diet, but don’t just take our word for it. Order yours today and taste the difference firsthand.
Understanding the Link Between Exercise and Carnivore Diet Weight Gain
Everyone should be exercising on a regular basis, whether on carnivore diet or anything else for that matter. However, it gets tricky when trying to gain weight on carnivore diet. The more you move, the more calories you burn - and in turn, the more you need to consume.
That doesn’t mean you should neglect exercising just for the sake of carnivore diet weight gain, though. You just need to be strategic about the exercises you do and ensure you’re eating enough food to compensate for the extra calories burned.
We suggest sticking with resistance training, as it won’t burn as many calories. It will also make sure that as you gain weight on the diet, it’s coming in the form of muscle rather than fat - at least, as much as possible.
We believe that combining heavy lifting with a high-fat carnivore diet is a match made in heaven. You give your body the nutrients needed for repair and growth so you can build strength while still gaining the weight you want.
What If You Don’t Want Carnivore Diet Weight Gain?
It’s unlikely you came here to read this guide on how to gain weight on carnivore diet and don’t want to pack on the pounds. But if you do, then you’ll need to take the opposite approach to what we just suggested above - and instead get into a caloric deficit.
If you’re worried about gaining weight on carnivore diet, here are some ways you can stay lean while living a healthier, happier life reaping all the benefits this diet has to offer.
Opting for Leaner Meat Cuts
Rather than ribeyes and brisket, stick with sirloin, chicken breast, or venison. These leaner cuts still help you meet your protein needs while reducing your calorie intake. They’re lower in fat which is where most of the calories come from.
We also recommend including fish like cod, tuna, and salmon in your carnivore diet grocery list. These are also high in protein and low in fat, and they’re packed with essential nutrients you won’t get from land-based meats.
Focusing on Satiety Signals and Portion Control
Technically, carnivore diet doesn’t call for any sort of calorie counting or strict macros for carnivore diet. It just dictates what you can and cannot eat. However, those trying to avoid gaining weight on carnivore diet need to be a bit more structured in how much they eat.
You don’t necessarily need to count calories, but you do need to listen to your body to avoid overeating. Protein and fat are inherently satiating, so eat slowly and stop when you feel comfortably full.
If you tend to eat out of habit or boredom, portioning your meals in advance can help you stick to your goals. When you do need snacks, make sure you’re relying on healthy options like our carnivore diet treats here at Carnivore Snax.
Getting More Exercise
Of course, you’ll want to increase the exercise frequency and intensity to keep your weight in check as well. You should still get strength training on a regular basis, but now, your focus should shift to cardio as well.
Even moderate physical activity like walking, biking, or playing sports will burn calories without it feeling like you’re torturing yourself on a treadmill. Aim for 3-5 sessions a week.
Closing Thoughts on How to Gain Weight on Carnivore Diet
So, can you gain weight on carnivore diet? Absolutely - in fact, managing your weight on this radical dietary regimen is actually really easy. Just make sure you’re eating enough, and focus on fatty cuts of meat. If you get in a caloric surplus, you’ll gain weight - it’s that simple.
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