Carnivore Diet: Is Counting Calories Necessary?
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“Calories in, calories out” is a motto that got publicized for so long. It almost became an unquestionable fact for some people.
If it was that simple, why are many people still stuck in that loop and blaming themselves for poor results after putting in so much effort?
Most people put in a conscious effort to reach their goals, but one week the calorie trick works, and the next week it doesn’t. This sets them on a long journey of yo-yo dieting and potentially self-harm physically and mentally.
So, why should you throw the calorie journal or uninstall your calorie-counting app and just enjoy what you eat while on a carnivore diet? Let’s dive in.
What Is A Calorie?
A calorie is a unit of energy. In the nutrition world, calories come from what you eat and drink, and they are used up when your body performs basic functions and when you exercise.
Nutritionists believe that roughly every 3500 calories you burn, whether you eat less or exercise more than your requirements, equals one pound lost. (1)
You can think of it as a budget; you have a certain allowance to spend every day. If you spend more than you bring in, you lose weight.
According to your weight and height, a rough estimate of your basal metabolic needs and energy required to survive can be calculated. Then, you can eat more than that number to gain weight or less to lose weight.
You can calculate the calories you have either through the nutritional fact label on food products or by weighing every item and multiply it by the energy that micronutrient it is made up of produces.
For example, each gram of fat produces 9 calories, so 20 grams of fat equals 180 calories.
You can use calorie-counting apps to log in what you consume, and it will do all that for you. However, you will need to log in everything you eat or drink…not fun!
Why Is It Ridiculous?
While the calorie equation seems pretty neat and straightforward, it is too narrow-minded, in my opinion.
Your body is not a machine, and it’s way more complex than what this simple equation paints. This equation fails to consider that every day, your body changes; a simple change like the flu will disturb how your body deals with food and how it feels.
Moreover, it is very demanding to keep track of everything all the time. With time, you will start reprimanding yourself and fall back into your old habits of unhealthy eating.
Also, the body is designed to resist change, and it may try its best to maintain weight. Therefore, a short-term reduction in caloric intake will be met with a reduced metabolic rate and a potential increase in appetite.
Perhaps, a successful attempt to change your weight needs to take a wider and long-term approach? (2)(3)
That’s where a lifestyle change comes into play rather than a quick fix.
Even if you succeed at starving yourself, you still need to make sure that you truly know what you are consuming. Food labels might not always be right. The FDA allows for a 20% margin of error on food labels. (4)
Not only numbers can be tricky, but also quality. To reach your target, you might be tempted to sacrifice quality for quantity, which will eventually damage your relationship with food. I mean, calories tell you nothing about the quality of the food you are having.
The paradigm shift
On the other end of the spectrum, the carnivore diet promotes a more holistic and ancestral approach toward your health, even more so than the Atkins diet.
It’s no secret what you eat is not merely a source of energy; it can make you healthier or more diseased. For instance, we went deep into the disease factor in this article:
It’s a quality-over-quantity approach. In his book, “The Carnivore Diet,” Dr. Shawn Baker explains how calories and energy expenditure balance are indisputable. Still, we tend to overlook that there are no effective mechanisms for an ordinary person to calculate everything accurately.
In other words, the calorie technique is real but far-fetched and unrealistic in the long term, given how our bodies change and react to internal and external changes.
The carnivore diet can be maintained over longer periods as you can forget about the tug-of-war you played with food before.
Rather, you can start developing a healthier relationship with food. Your focus shifts from quantity to quality.
Meat, salt, and water. No fancy tools or a ton of apps to track every breath you take. This sense of freedom makes the days go by, and food is just food again.
If you are ready for a carnivore diet, you may want to check out this article that is filled with mistakes and pitfalls:
Also, eating quality protein and fat is more satiating than standard diets. Low-carb diets tame your appetite as it betters your insulin sensitivity. If your appetite normalizes, you may lose weight eventually, but from a more natural ancestral style process.
Researchers studied the connection between hunger, insulin resistance, and weight gain. They found out that it’s a vicious circle, and low-carb diets (like a carnivore diet), break it by creating a unique metabolic state. (5)
When You Might Benefit from Calorie Counting?
Calories can be a reminder for those who need them. For example, if you are underweight or at your perfect weight, you wouldn’t want to afford to lose weight.
You can count a daily minimum value to target. Individuals with a history of eating disorders might struggle until they embrace the carnivore mindset.
If you ever purge, feel ashamed about eating or your body, or suffer from extreme weight fluctuations, do remind yourself of the positive relationship you are developing with food and have a target calorie range to anchor you.
If it’s too much to handle, do visit a psychiatrist or seek some sort of therapy to help you get on track.
Moreover, certain conditions like diabetes, PCOS, or thyroid imbalance can tamper with your hunger thermostat.
Do You Count Calories on a Carnivore Diet?
I personally no longer count calories.
I only need to be aware of calories and increase them when needed, as I have at times, lost too much weight. With a busy workout schedule and intense work life in general, I find myself needing to eat high-calorie meat and dairy. Calorie awareness goes both ways, loss of weight and weight gain.
So, if I have a fair amount of dairy in my meals and mix in fattier cuts of meat and ground beef, I usually hit my personal healthy calorie mark.
Until the carnivore diet brings its benefits into your life, you might benefit from keeping tabs on your intake and understanding what cuts of meat are high in calories as well as dairy.
Most carnivores eventually get to the point of not needing any conscious or tangible counting whats so ever.
And talking about extras on a carnivore diet. do you need to add creatine? I discuss the pros and cons of using creatine while on a carnivore diet here.
How Do You Get Enough Calories on a Carnivore Diet?
This goes back to knowing the approximate amount of calories in what you are eating. There are plenty of guides and estimates on calories in animal-based foods.
Everybody has a different journey regarding their diet, so I would only suggest you figure out the appropriate calorie threshold from working with a carnivore diet doctor or animal-based nutritionist. Of course, if you are already working with a doctor, I wouldn’t sway from their advice. In fact, don’t misconstrue this article as medical advice in general!
What seems to be most important is eating a meal to complete satiety. This means you stop eating when full, but you need to get to the feeling full part. At least that’s what’s recommended in the Carnivore Diet space.
One of my favorite books is “The Carnivore Diet Cookbook” (use this link for $5 off) by Jessica Haggard at Primal Edge Health. This cookbook is a game-changer and lists the calorie count for each recipe. It’s beneficial in making the carnivore diet way more interesting and tasty.
How to Stop Counting Calories?
Well, you are here! By now, you should have known that calorie counting is a culture and sometimes a form of propaganda or marketing to get involved with a certain dietary product.
The more you learn about how potentially faulty it is, the less you will use it. As soon as you make up your mind, get rid of the apps and trackers.
If you are adamant about it, you can track your feelings not your calories.
Another trick is to plan. If you meal prep, you trust that you already did the math. The less you count, the better. Finally, don’t be too harsh on yourself and take your time to fall into place. If you need professional help, get it.
Or if you need some motivation you can book me as your private Carnivore Diet Coach through MeatRX. MeatRx has a roster of amazing carnivore diet coaches!
Take Home Message
Food is not the enemy; it never was and never will be. It would help if you changed how you look at food. Eventually, you can break out of the calorie prison.
I look at food as energizing, delicious, and healing. It’s less about calories and more about eating healthy meats until full to maximize nutritional intake.
Where to Go From Here?
Read up on the carnivore diet and see if it’s the right fit for you. I have a thorough article here:
Also, check out our YouTube channel Wild Lumens! Here you will see some amazing videos on all things health and wellness with a carnivore ancestral diet twist.
Recommended Books on The Carnivore Diet:
- The Carnivore Diet Cookbook by Primal Edge Health
- The Carnivore Diet by Dr. Shawn Baker (Bookshop.org Link) or (Amazon Link)
- The Carnivore Code by Dr. Paul Saladino (Amazon Link)
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. Consult with and ask your doctor about any diet or medical-related questions. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.
