Starting a new diet can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to counting calories. If you’re thinking about trying the carnivore diet, you might wonder how much you should eat. Understanding carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet is key to doing it right. In this guide, we’ll answer common questions like How many calories do I need on a carnivore diet? and What is the 80 20 rule for carnivore diet? Let’s make it easy for you to get started!
Understanding the Carnivore Diet
Before we dive into carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet, let’s first answer: What is the carnivore diet for beginners? The carnivore diet is simple — you eat only animal-based foods like beef, chicken, fish, and eggs. No fruits, no vegetables, and no grains. The idea is to fuel your body with pure protein and fats, cutting out carbs entirely.
Many beginners love how easy it is to follow. No complicated meal plans or counting carbs. Just focus on high-quality meats and animal products. But to succeed, knowing how much to eat daily is important. That’s where learning about carnivore calories becomes crucial.
Carnivore Calories Per Day for Beginners
When starting out, figuring out carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet is essential. Unlike other diets, the carnivore diet focuses more on satiety — eating until you’re full — rather than strict calorie counting. However, having a starting point helps.
A general guideline for carnivore beginners is to eat around 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight and enough fat to feel satisfied. This typically means eating between 1,800 and 2,500 calories a day, depending on your size, age, and activity level. If you’re very active, you might need even more!
Listening to your body’s hunger cues is important, but it’s smart to track your intake for the first few weeks. This ensures you’re eating enough to fuel your body properly without undereating, a common mistake among newbies.
How Many Calories Do I Need on a Carnivore Diet?
So, how many calories do I need on a carnivore diet? The answer varies for everyone. Factors like age, weight, height, gender, and activity level all matter. A sedentary beginner may only need about 1,800 calories a day, while an active person might require 2,500–3,000 calories.
Remember, carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet should never be too low. Eating too little can lead to fatigue, muscle loss, and mood swings. A simple formula many use is multiplying your goal body weight by 12–15 to find your daily calorie needs.
If you want an easy tool to estimate your daily needs, check out this helpful Carnivore Calorie Calculator.
If your goal is fat loss, aim for the lower end of the calorie range. If you’re looking to build muscle or maintain energy levels, stick to the higher end. Keep it flexible and adjust as your body gives you feedback. Trust your hunger and fullness signals!
What is the 80 20 Rule for Carnivore Diet?
You might hear people talk about what is the 80 20 rule for carnivore diet? It’s a flexible approach many beginners find helpful. In this rule, about 80% of your calories should come from fat and 20% from protein. Fat is your main energy source on carnivore!
Applying this rule helps your body enter ketosis, a fat-burning mode. For example, if you eat 2,000 calories a day, about 1,600 should come from fat and 400 from protein. This balance supports steady energy, better digestion, and fewer cravings.
Following the 80 20 rule also makes carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet much easier to manage. You don’t have to weigh every bite; just focus on fatty cuts of meat like ribeye, pork belly, and chicken thighs. Add butter or tallow for extra fat if needed.
Final Thoughts
Getting started on the carnivore diet doesn’t have to be complicated. Understanding carnivore calories per day for beginners starting the diet is a simple but powerful step toward success. Focus on eating enough nutrient-dense animal foods, balancing your fat and protein intake, and listening to your body.
Remember the important questions: How many calories do I need on a carnivore diet?, What is the carnivore diet for beginners?, How much should you eat a day on the carnivore diet?, and What is the 80 20 rule for carnivore diet? Knowing these basics gives you confidence as you begin.
Stay consistent, be patient with your body, and enjoy the benefits of this powerful way of eating. Your journey to better health starts with the right calories and the right mindset!