Thermodynamic Reality: Even on a zero-carbohydrate carnivore diet, you CANNOT bypass the laws of thermodynamics. Ribeye steaks and butter are extremely calorically dense (9 kcal/g fat)—exceeding your TDEE will result in fat gain regardless of carbohydrate restriction.

Why Carnivore Works for Initial Fat Loss

Individuals starting an all-meat diet often lose 8–15 lbs in the first month due to two mechanisms:

Glycogen & Water Depletion: Eliminating carbs flushes stored liver and muscle glycogen (each gram of glycogen holds ~3g of water).
High Protein Satiety: Protein stimulates strong satiety hormones (peptide YY and GLP-1), leading to an unintentional caloric deficit.

The Carnivore Calorie Trap

A single 16-oz ribeye steak contains over 1,200 calories. Adding butter or bacon can push a single meal past 2,000 calories. If weight loss stalls on carnivore, tracking your daily calories and opting for leaner cuts (sirloin, flank steak, 93/7 ground beef) restores fat loss immediately.