When You Want to Quit Carnivore—Read This First
Why It Feels So Hard—and Why That Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing
I’ve wanted to quit too.
Not just once. Not just during the detox headaches, the loose stools, or the heart palpitations. But on quiet nights when I wondered, “What if I’m wrong? What if this doesn’t work for me? What if I’m just making things worse?”
If you’ve had those thoughts, I need you to hear this:
That doesn’t make you weak. That makes you human.
The Real Reason People Quit
It’s not just the cravings.
It’s the loneliness. The overwhelm. The mental war between your old self and the version of you trying to claw out of the rubble. It’s being surrounded by people who don’t get it—and maybe never will.
It’s seeing no one clap for your small wins, no one understand your “weird” food choices, and still trying to show up for your life.
This Isn’t Just About Food
Carnivore isn’t some vanity diet. For most of us, it’s survival.
It’s trying something drastic because what we were doing before nearly destroyed us. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally.
And the truth is: healing doesn’t feel like healing in the beginning.
It feels like withdrawal. It feels like grief. It feels like giving up every comfort you once leaned on, without knowing yet what’s coming to replace it.
But that discomfort? That’s not failure. That’s evidence of change.
Before You Quit—Ask Yourself This
Instead of asking, “Why isn’t this working?” try asking:
What’s one thing I haven’t dialed in yet? (Salt? Fat? Timing?)
Have I actually given my body the calm and consistency it needs?
Am I mentally exhausted… or physically depleted?
Am I expecting results from a body that’s still learning how to trust me?
So often, people quit right before the breakthrough.
Because the emotional purge feels unbearable. Because the silence of giving up carbs and sugar can bring up everything you were using food to quiet down.
But if you can sit through the noise—something new begins.
Clarity. Calm. A deep inner “click” where your body finally says: Okay. We’re safe now.
How to Push Through Without Burning Out
Let’s get practical. Here are a few things that helped me when I was at my lowest on carnivore:
1. Go back to simple.
Salted ground beef. Eggs. Water. That’s it. The fewer choices you make, the easier it is to stick with it.
2. Sleep like it’s your job.
You’re not going to feel motivated on four hours of sleep. Prioritize it like your life depends on it—because it does.
3. Up your fat intake if you’re anxious.
Fat calms. If you’re feeling wired, agitated, or mentally on edge, try a bit more tallow or fatty ribeye.
4. Don’t isolate—even if no one around you eats this way.
Find one voice online that reminds you why you started. One newsletter. One YouTube video. One person who feels like home.
5. Stop chasing perfect.
You don’t need to meal prep, track macros, or eat nose-to-tail right now. You need to eat enough, rest enough, and stay consistent.
You’re Allowed to Feel Tired. You’re Just Not Meant to Stay There.
You might feel like a mess. Like everyone else is doing this better, cleaner, faster than you.
But that’s just noise. You don’t know what battles other people are fighting behind the screen.
The only comparison worth making is between the version of you before carnivore—and the one who's still here, still showing up.
Still trying.
That effort counts more than you think.
Final Thought
You don’t have to feel good to be getting better.
Sometimes the storm means the poison is leaving. Sometimes the tiredness is your body trying to heal decades of neglect.
And sometimes, the biggest win is just staying in the fight.
You’re not alone. You’re not broken. And you’re a lot closer than you think.
So want to take control of your health and mindset?
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