ViniVici

I really appreciate all of the input here. Lots of good info and advice. I believe that I have probably been underrating the importance of eating an equal ratio of fat. Come to think of it, the first time I was on carnivore, my stools were very loose compared to this time. I think I was eating a good amount more of butter as an easy to eat source of fat. I just haven’t done it this time looking back. I also believe night shift is causing higher cortisol levels like has been mentioned. I notice most of my weight loss happens when I’ve been off work for a couple of days at least. I’m going to try and cut back on the snacking to keep my meals to a tighter window and keep my appetite up for my actual meals.

Thank you for the response, Bob. I definitely try to not eat just before sleeping. The only time I have breakfast is around 10 am if I’m not going to sleep due to night shift. For the most part I’m intermittent fasting. I haven’t yet included a 36 hour or longer fast but plan to do so soon. Aside from that, do you recommend I try pushing through my lack of appetite to eat more than I feel I can? I’m not feeling stuffed in the stomach necessarily. I just lose all desire from the brain side and the food loses its appeal for me.

I really appreciate all of the input here. Lots of good info and advice. I believe that I have probably been underrating the importance of eating an equal ratio of fat. Come to think of it, the first time I was on carnivore, my stools were very loose compared to this time. I think I was eating a good amount more of butter as an easy to eat source of fat. I just haven’t done it this time looking back. I also believe night shift is causing higher cortisol levels like has been mentioned. I notice most of my weight loss happens when I’ve been off work for a couple of days at least. I’m going to try and cut back on the snacking to keep my meals to a tighter window and keep my appetite up for my actual meals.

Welcome to Carnivore Talk Mathew.
I’ve seen this a lot in people who get off carnivore and then try to get back on track. I don’t know why this happens but it does seem like the body is saying “Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you”.
There’s a common understanding in the carnivore community that you must eat enough to lose weight. If you don’t your body will go into starvation mode and retain fat as a hedge against leaner times. That may be why you aren’t seeing the weight loss you expect. You also may not be getting enough fat either. If your main food is hamburger and you are not pouring the rendered fat back over the burger as a sauce then I guarantee you aren’t getting enough fat. I don’t care how much fat is in the burger most of it renders out in the cooking.
Try to eat an equal amount of fat and protein. Shoot for 1 gm of fat to 1 gm of protein per your ideal body weight.
Another though also, with working shift work like you are do you get good sleep? I know I didn’t when I had to work nights. Poor sleep can raise cortisol levels and that can definitely have an effect on weight loss.
Hang in there and give it time. Focus on the benefits you are receiving and try to remember that nothing tastes as good as how you feel.

Possibly. As a general rule of thumb, don't eat unless you are hungry. Then when you do eat, eat until you are comfortably stuffed (NOT overly stuffed). Basically, comfortably full and satisfied. Don't snack in-between meals. You could technically do 3 meals a day to start, but most people find themselves happy with just the two meals because the fat and protein on the carnivore diet are so satiating. Intermittent fasting starts to come naturally.
3 eggs (210 cals) in the morning would not do it for me. I need like 7-10, lol (490-700 cals) + butter.

This is true as well. For example, if I eat a lot of lean fish and lean chicken, I will get hungry more often and maybe even gain weight. Without sufficient fat, the body will convert that protein into glucose and I won't be using ketones.

This is why I said to try and maybe consume a little more - so the body doesn't go into "conservation mode" because it's under the impression there is a famine or lack of resources. Intermittent fasting will allow time to metabolize what you consume. The occasional extended fast is good when you metabolism is running "high". But then eating low calorie or having a prolonged extended fast will put you back into "conservation mode". So a good routine is 2 meals a day within an 8 (max) eating window, and an occasional extended fast here and there. Some people actually eat one meal a day, but make it count by basically eating 3 meals in one setting (which isn't my thing, lol).

And just when I thought I was in a position to provide some applicable information, 'ol' carnivore thru me a curve.
I ate an awful lot since Wednesday. I didn't eat an actual meal since Wednesday morning. I packed all the meats I cooked into quart bags for the trail. Every couple hours I would eat whatever bag I had pulled that morning. I ate off and on, more akin to snacking, all thru the day. Between eating multiple times per day and even late at night as we did night rides I thought my weight would go up. It did not.
I dropped 2 pounds since last Wednesday. Completely unexpected.
Carnivore threw me an 0-2 curve and I whiffed.
Scott

It is not always about how much you eat and sometimes what you eat plays second fiddle to when you eat. If you can skip the traditional breakfast and eat later in the morning it will give your glucose time to spike up and then drop back some. By then you are active in your day. I too work a lot of nights and it is really easy to get off work, eat and go to sleep. That is a bad combination for weight loss. Then couple that with eating the wrong foods. Double whammy. I lose faster when the fat content is up for a higher fat/moderate protein approach. I left home on Wednesday morning at 215. I am sure I will see a weight gain tomorrow when back at home. I have eaten the right things but have not had a meal since we left. I have been snacking on the meats throughout the day while we ride. I ate a lot of food but never let my body adjust/empty/make room before I was snacking again. Timing will be more my issue when I weigh tomorrow.

Thank you for the response, Bob. I definitely try to not eat just before sleeping. The only time I have breakfast is around 10 am if I’m not going to sleep due to night shift. For the most part I’m intermittent fasting. I haven’t yet included a 36 hour or longer fast but plan to do so soon. Aside from that, do you recommend I try pushing through my lack of appetite to eat more than I feel I can? I’m not feeling stuffed in the stomach necessarily. I just lose all desire from the brain side and the food loses its appeal for me.