Expert Q&A

Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carnivore is still feasible during the weight loss plateau phase during the weight loss plateau phase?

Understanding Your Ultrasound Results in Context

Your ultrasound comments likely reference findings such as fatty liver, gallstones, or mild inflammation—common in those carrying extra weight with insulin resistance and hormonal shifts in the 45-54 age range. These don't automatically rule out a carnivore approach, but they do require tailoring. In my 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset protocol, we prioritize reducing lectin-driven inflammation and toxin load before experimenting with restrictive diets like carnivore. If your results show liver stress, a pure carnivore phase can help by eliminating plant anti-nutrients, but we cycle it carefully to avoid nutrient gaps or stalled metabolism.

Is Carnivore Feasible During a Tirzepatide Plateau?

Yes, a modified carnivore diet is often feasible and effective during a weight loss plateau, especially when joint pain limits exercise and previous diets have failed. Our lectin-free low-carb framework already overlaps heavily with carnivore principles—no grains, no nightshades, minimal carbs. During weeks 11-20 of the protocol, when many hit plateaus due to adaptive thermogenesis or rising cortisol, we introduce a 14-21 day carnivore reset using grass-fed beef, pastured eggs, wild salmon, and bone broth. This lowers insulin, reduces water retention, and restarts fat burning while low-dose tirzepatide continues its appetite and blood-sugar control. Avoid if your ultrasound flags severe gallbladder issues, as high fat intake needs bile support—we add our Brown Detox Drops in those cases.

Integrating Carnivore with the 30-Week Protocol

Follow the book's 69 Transformation Steps: keep tirzepatide at the lowest effective dose (often 2.5-5mg weekly), walk 20-30 minutes Japanese-style daily despite joint discomfort, and use red light therapy 3-4 times weekly to support mitochondrial function. Track body composition, not just scale weight—many lose 4-8 pounds of visceral fat in the first carnivore cycle without losing muscle. Combine with chaotic intermittent fasting in maintenance to prevent rebound. For hormonal changes common in perimenopause, this approach improves energy and blood pressure markers within 10-14 days. Real-food focus means no shakes or bars; simple meals like ribeye and eggs keep it sustainable for busy middle-income schedules.

Potential Pitfalls and Long-Term Success

The biggest mistake is staying carnivore indefinitely without reintroducing tested vegetables, which can lead to electrolyte imbalance or microbiome shifts. In our clinic, patients like John reversed type 2 diabetes markers by cycling carnivore phases within the full protocol—dropping A1C from 7.8 to 6.2 while losing 40 pounds. Focus on non-scale victories: less joint pain, better sleep, normalized blood pressure. The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset shows you don't need medication forever; this strategic use rebuilds metabolic freedom so your body maintains results naturally. If your ultrasound raises specific concerns, consult your provider, but most plateaus break within 2-3 weeks using this integrated method.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows mixed but mostly positive experiences with short carnivore phases during tirzepatide plateaus. Many in the 45-54 group report 5-12 pound losses after 10-14 days of beef and eggs, noting reduced joint pain and fewer cravings, especially those managing diabetes or blood pressure. A vocal minority worries about ultrasound findings like fatty liver and prefers adding limited greens, citing fatigue after three weeks. Insurance barriers and past diet failures make people cautious, but most appreciate the simplicity—no complex recipes needed. Debates center on long-term sustainability versus cycling with the 30-week approach; several share maintaining losses by returning to lectin-free vegetables post-plateau. Overall sentiment leans toward 'worth trying under guidance' for stubborn stalls when exercise feels impossible.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carn. *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/did-an-ultrasound-and-i-saw-two-comments-from-the-result-not-sure-if-going-carnivore-is-still-feasible-during-the-weight-loss-plateau-phase-during-the-weight-loss-plateau-phase
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ Has anyone here had surgery while having thyroiditis when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Switching from Levothyroxine to ERFA (NDT) – Advice on sourcing in Europe/UK — how a functional medicine approach differs specifically for women over 40? ▸ How the prices looking in your neck of the woods and how it connects to gut health and inflammation — what the research actually says? ▸ Dizzy feeling plus high blood pressure and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? 📖 Metabolic Reset — The process of retraining your body to utilize stored fat for fuel and regulating hunger hormones so you can maintain yo… ▸ Is compounded semaglutide with B12 worth choosing over B6 or plain and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels specifically for women over 40? ▸ How to gain weight on an anti inflammatory diet-macros while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carnivore is still feasible while doing intermittent fasting when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Did an ultrasound and i saw two comments from the result. not sure if going carnivore is still feasible while doing intermittent fasting while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Has having thyroid issues affected your social life and/or life in general while doing intermittent fasting for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Homemade bacon - are curing salts required — what most people get wrong about this — what the research actually says? 📖 Non-Scale Victories (NSV) — Improvements in energy, sleep, and disease reversal that matter just as much as the numbers on the scale during your tra… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Which needle length and gauge: what to track and how to measure progress for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ What finally worked for my PCOS — what most people get wrong about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Thyroiditis pain - how long and treatment — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Weight Set Point — The internal 'thermostat' for body weight that we aim to lower permanently through our 30-week metabolic reset. ▸ How do you deal with self hatred for being fat your whole life for long-term maintenance (not just short-term): best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ - [Workout Wednesday] – What’s your fitness look like when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Actually wanting to wake early for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Can I use Bears Head (Hericium americanum) in place of Lions Mane and how it connects to gut health and inflammation if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📖 Caloric Deficit Myth — The false belief that weight loss is purely 'math'; we focus on hormonal signaling rather than just counting calories to… ▸ When people ask how I can tell my sugar's low — what most people get wrong about this when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Compression socks. Worth it? Any recs when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ How long did it take to find success and how it connects to gut health and inflammation for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Have to stop for 3 weeks for surgery on a low-carb or ketogenic diet for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Has anyone done genetic age testing, hopefully before and after carnivore diet and how it connects to gut health and inflammation for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Gut-Brain Axis — The complex communication network between your digestive system and your brain that controls satiety, mood, and metaboli… ▸ Can I use Bears Head (Hericium americanum) in place of Lions Mane and how it connects to gut health and inflammation while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ How it goes trying to dose insulin every day for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ Used old Mounjaro pen by mistake - should I be worried specifically for women over 40 — what the research actually says? ▸ How many of you were abused as children and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ How many of you were abused as children and how it connects to gut health and inflammation while doing intermittent fasting? 📖 Gut Microbiome Repair — The restoration of healthy intestinal bacteria through the removal of lectins and grains, essential for long-term weight… ▸ Anyone have high cholesterol or know more about the link between high cholesterol and hypothyroidism on a low-carb or ketogenic diet on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Opinions/Knowledge welcomed! Sub clinical hypothyroidism & perimenopause- what’s what — how a functional medicine approach differs on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Doesn't Barbra Streisand belong to us too: best practices and common mistakes to avoid for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 Hashimoto’s Success — Achieving weight loss and reduced inflammation in thyroid patients by removing dietary triggers like lectins and modern … ▸ Does the food you cook and prepare affect your gut microbiome, even if you don't eat it specifically for women over 40 for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Anyone had improvement in symptoms after already eating a clean plant based diet and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Fruit Salsa - First Week/Phase One Approved: what to track and how to measure progress on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? 📖 CICO (Calories In, Calories Out) — An outdated model of weight loss that ignores the role of hormones; we challenge this by focusing on food quality and ho… ▸ Oura data shows high physiological stress, skipped period after Keto break and sickness. Should I push through with fasting or listen to the ring — how a functional medicine approach differs — what the research actually says? ▸ How do you Had someone tell me I was “thin” for the first time in my LIFE specifically for women over 40? ▸ Lost weight then gained it back on keto: best practices and common mistakes to avoid for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📖 One Box Protocol — A revolutionary approach where we stretch one 60 mg box of tirzepatide across three metabolic phases, prioritizing long-… ▸ Actually wanting to wake early for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ How does reversing it doesn’t reslly solve it, does it for long-term results — what the research actually says? ▸ What a difference 2 weeks makes on a low-carb or ketogenic diet and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Fixing a skinny fat physique with just diet and its effect on metabolism and insulin levels: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Before being diagnosed, did we all assume everyone was this tired all the time — how a functional medicine approach differs on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Building muscle with the Paleo diet when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Better to take seperate Pre, Pro Biotoics and Enzymes Or All-in-One supplement for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? 📖 GIP (Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide) — A hormone that, when combined with GLP-1, enhances the body’s ability to break down fat and manage blood sugar levels mo… ▸ Does anyone else’s health anxiety get MUCH worse at night — what most people get wrong about this: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Which birds havn't you seen yet if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? ▸ Chosen foods avocado oil, should I be sauteeing my veggies in it for people with insulin resistance during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Does anyone else feel like they are living life at 50% and the role of cortisol and stress hormones during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Why does I lost 45 pounds in 6 months without any exercise during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Chosen foods avocado oil, should I be sauteeing my veggies in it for people with insulin resistance for people with insulin resistance? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Blue Honey v Tincture — how a functional medicine approach differs for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)?