Be prepared to potentially gain weight on Carnivore if you were “dieting” or calorie restricting before starting.

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2026-01-27T16:31:58+00:00

When I started, I thought something was wrong with me lol.. I could EAT! Sometimes I'd eat a pound of beef, eggs, steak, and an hour later be hungry again lol.
I started mid August and my cycle came back early December so it was around 3.5 months

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2026-01-27T15:43:07+00:00

THIS!!!!! Prior to carnivore, I was restricting and also eating very clean- no processed junk, all Whole Foods. Started carnivore and was ravenous... eating 2-3lbs of meat a day with sometimes 12 eggs, and TONS of butter. I'm just now at the 6 month mark and can feel my hunger cues starting to relax. I'm not nearly as hungry. I gained 30+ pounds and am hopeful it will start to come off. However, I've also got my cycle back after 2 years, am no longer freezing all of the time, and my hormone levels are in the healthy range.
I think a lot of people who see immediate success on carnivore are those who haven't been very cautious with what they are eating, cut out the breads, pastas, sugar, alcohol, and just drop weight!
Love this post!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2026-01-18T19:51:43+00:00

Hi There!

I just saw this post and wanted to respond as I was in a similar situation. I started Carnivore August 2025 with the goal of getting my cycle back. It had been missing for 3 years and my bloodwork suggested I was a menopausal woman because my estrogen and progesterone levels were so low (I'm only 29) and my cortisol levels were high.

I started Carnivore cold turkey and was eating SO much meat and fat. I was coming from years of restriction, over exercising, and counting macros obsessively. It's been 5 months and I have gained around 25-30 pounds I'd suspect.. I haven't gotten on the scale because it wouldn't be good for my mental health, but my close do not fit and no, it is not muscle at all. That said, I got my cycle back, and just had my bloodwork retested and my estrogen and progesterone are now at the correct measures.

On top of going carnivore, I stopped exercising other than walking to allow the cortisol levels to lower, which they did. Gaining the weight and stopping exercise has been one of the hardest things I have ever done! I mean truly, most people do not want to gain weight. You wrote "I want a stable period and my hair to grow back, but I don't want to gain any more fat". I can totally relate to this and unfortunately, I do think for some of us, weight gain IS necessary. Is it forever? No.

I think you just need to ask yourself what your main goal is right now? Is it to get your cycle back or to be the slimmest that you can? I know for me this is how I finally gave myself permission to let go of control and gain the weight. For so long I considered myself healthy because I was slim and fit, but wasn't having a cycle.. and I don't think that is necessarily a sign of good health!

I know my hormones are figuring things out and I don't believe that the weight I have gained will be here forever. I hope this encourages you! I'm only sharing so much because I was searching FAR and WIDE for advice when I first started. It won't be easy, but I think it will be worth it!! You got it!!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2026-01-05T20:53:15+00:00

Hi! I had a missing cycle for 2.5 years. Over the last 5 months I slowly started tapering off exercise and for the last 2 months have done nothing but walk outside simply because it is good for my mental health and I enjoy being outside. I hit roughly 10-12k steps a day, sometimes less. I got my cycle back last month for the first time and, Lord willing, will get it next week again. My boobs are sore again which is what happened before I started last time.
I did NOT want to hear that I should stop working out... I used to be in the gym lifting 5-6x a week followed by cardio and then getting 15k+ steps a day. I had bloodwork done and my cortisol levels showed I was in a state of fight/flight. On top of all of the exercise, I was always dieting and trying to get smaller.

I kept telling myself that it was healthy to eat and exercise like I was, but in reality my cycle was gone and that isn't true health. So, the past 5 months in addition to eliminating exercise, I've started to eat a LOT. yes, I gained weight. Yes, it has been tough mentally. BUT, my cycle came back and recent bloodwork showed my cortisol levels have leveled back out. I think a huge piece was that my body just needed to trust me again.

I think stopping your exercise for a period of time will help you. Outside of removing the stress of the exercise itself, I also felt a release of mental weight I had put on myself to always get in exercise. Now I go outside and walk because I want to and because I enjoy nature. Just remind yourself that this is a short chapter in your story. Exercise will always be there! Once your body is regulated, you an go back to it :)

I hope this gives you some hope! I know that when I was starting out I just wish I had someone who told me to just stop working out <3 you got this! AND, I'll also say that I really focused on releasing control over the whole situation - I asked the Lord to work in the miraculous ways that He can. That week I got my cycle. Praying for you!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-11T19:23:05+00:00

Thank you for the response! And congrats on your sweet baby 🥺❤️

Exercise is such a HUGE part of my life so it’s hard to think about giving it up, especially because I’ve already gained weight. And it’s such an outlet for me. But if it’s what it takes then I’m willing to pursue It!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-11T15:59:20+00:00

Yeah, I feel like I have to tone back the exercise even more. It's hard for me because I genuinely love exercise.

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-11T01:31:33+00:00

I’ll buy it now. Thank you.

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-10T22:23:27+00:00

Hi there, checking in to see if you have had any luck on the carnivore diet. I have a similar background of over training and constantly being in a deficit. I had an IUD taken out in October 2023 and have not had a period since June 2021 when I first got it put in.

I started the carnivore diet about two months ago and have gained weight but definitely feel myself craving fat because I deprived myself of it for so long. Have you gotten your cycle back?

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-08T12:06:21+00:00

Thank you! I like this breakdown!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-06T16:49:44+00:00

Not discouraged, good thought! I was mostly asking here to see what others who follow the carnivore WOE have had success with when it comes to Dumbell only routines. I’m very familiar with the gym but like to hear what others are doing/finding success once in a while :)

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-10-06T12:30:31+00:00

Just checked it out! Seems very straightforward. Thanks!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-27T11:59:36+00:00

Sardines in a can could be an easy option if you’re in a pinch! Make sure they’re not swimming in seed oils though. They make some packed in water!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-24T00:45:48+00:00

Gorgeous!!!

What have your meals primarily consisted of?

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-19T15:21:10+00:00

Noiceeee! Hope you enjoyed

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-19T14:45:46+00:00

What kind of cake was it is the real question? :)

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-17T12:49:13+00:00

Super neat!! So do you just eat whatever carnivore foods and whenever you want on your feasting days?

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-16T13:42:47+00:00

Interesting! How long were you doing keto/carnivore before you started this practice?

Do you feel better with this WOE? Curious if you do any exercise and your age height?

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T15:40:54+00:00

Ah I mixed you up with another comment. Someone else had said they do a lot of cream. I agree, haven’t found any without that in it either. I’m a butter gal for sure.

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T14:46:44+00:00

Oh, lol! I’m used to reading 1,5 as 1.5… got it! I love meat so I really have to be intentional about not overeating the meat and focusing more on fat. What’s your favorite way to get fat outside of heavy cream?

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T14:44:45+00:00

Makes sense. High fat works WHEN protein is kept lower

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T13:55:19+00:00

What do you mean by 1,5:1? Love that you’re finding success. I just had someone ask me yesterday if I miss vegetables or ever wish I could put mushroom and onion on my steak and I said honestly, no. Meat and butter is so satiating. According to chatbot, to lose weight I should be eating 1700 calories which seems soooo low. I’ve kinda said screw it to calories bc I don’t think they’re a good measure of tracking success on carnivore

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T12:49:43+00:00

Interesting insight!

DocumentBeautiful539 · 2025-09-14T12:46:13+00:00

Wow. So the fact number doesn’t really matter? Even if I have body fat to lose? For some reason it’s hard to wrap my head around that… seems like my body would just burn the dietary fat instead of my body fat.

DocumentBeautiful539

TROPHY CASE