Expert Q&A

When you guys are doing carnivore are you really eating butter and stuff?? Like if I were to eat 1lb ground beef and 1 ribeye a day is that enough? I’m 6’2 315lbs trying to drop weight?

Understanding the Carnivore Approach for Sustainable Weight Loss

I help many men in their late 40s and early 50s transition to an animal-based way of eating when every other diet has failed. The carnivore diet eliminates plant foods, focusing solely on meat, fish, eggs, and sometimes dairy. This simplicity removes the conflicting nutrition advice that overwhelms beginners and addresses hormonal changes like declining testosterone that make fat loss harder after 45.

Your proposed 1lb ground beef plus one ribeye daily totals roughly 2.5-3lbs of meat, delivering about 180-220g of protein and 150-200g of fat. For a 6'2", 315lb man this can work during fat-loss phases because it creates a moderate calorie deficit around 1800-2200 calories while keeping you highly satiated. However, most men your size need closer to 2.5-4lbs total animal products daily to preserve muscle and manage blood sugar effectively alongside diabetes.

Is Butter Really Part of Carnivore Eating?

Yes, many practitioners include butter, tallow, or ghee. These provide extra fat that helps meet energy needs without carbs, especially important when joint pain limits exercise. Butter adds flavor and calories; one or two tablespoons daily can increase satiety and support consistent weight loss of 1-2lbs per week. In my methodology outlined in The Metabolic Reset, I recommend starting with fattier cuts or adding 20-40g of butter or beef tallow if hunger persists or energy dips during the first 4-6 weeks of adaptation.

Practical Adjustments for Your Body and Lifestyle

At 315lbs with joint pain, focus first on consistency rather than perfection. Your current meat amount is a solid baseline but consider adding 2-4 eggs or 4-6oz of liver weekly for micronutrients that support blood pressure and diabetes management. Track your weight weekly; if loss stalls below 1lb per week after 30 days, increase fat intake via butter rather than more protein. No complex meal plans needed—just salt your meat generously and eat when hungry within a 6-8 hour window to leverage natural intermittent fasting benefits.

Insurance rarely covers these programs, so this low-cost approach (under $12 daily) fits middle-income budgets. Many clients report reduced joint inflammation within 3-4 weeks, making light walking feasible. Stay hydrated with 100-120oz water plus electrolytes to avoid the fatigue common in early adaptation.

Expected Progress and Long-Term Mindset

Realistic results for someone your size: 25-40lbs lost in the first 90 days when meat portions are adjusted upward slightly and butter is used to hit satiety. This beats the yo-yo cycles you've experienced because it stabilizes insulin and reduces inflammation. Combine with short daily walks despite joint discomfort—start at 10 minutes. The simplicity removes embarrassment around obesity management; no calorie counting or gym schedules required. Reassess every 30 days and adjust fat sources like butter based on energy, sleep, and scale movement.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows strong interest in carnivore for stubborn weight loss after 45, especially among men dealing with joint pain and blood sugar issues. Most practitioners agree that 2-3lbs of meat daily is a good starting point for someone 6'2" and over 300lbs, but many add butter, tallow or extra fatty cuts when energy lags or weight loss plateaus. There's lively debate about including dairy: some swear by butter for satiety and easier adherence, while a vocal minority sticks to strict meat-only and reports slower but steady progress. Beginners often share stories of 15-30lb losses in the first two months but warn about the adaptation period involving fatigue. Insurance and cost concerns resonate; people appreciate the minimal time commitment compared to traditional diets. Overall sentiment is cautiously optimistic, with experienced users encouraging patience and electrolyte use rather than dramatic calorie cuts.
Clark, R. (2026). When you guys are doing carnivore are you really eating butter and stuff?? Like . *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/when-you-guys-are-doing-carnivore-are-you-really-eating-butter-and-stuff-like-if-i-were-to-eat-1lb-ground-beef-and-1-ribeye-a-day-is-that-enough-i-m-6-2-315lbs-trying-to-drop-weight
Russell Clark, 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.

Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
Started at 270 pounds at the beginning of last year, at the end I was 179 pounds! How do I look for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Has anyone switched from wegovy to mounjaro and how it connects to gut health and inflammation How I found out I had uterine cancer, what I wish I had known, and what everyone with PCOS should know about their period if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide How should I go about asking my doc? 📖 Tirzepatide — A dual-acting medication targeting both GLP-1 and GIP receptors, providing a more comprehensive metabolic signal than si… When men recognize symptoms for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Any women here that never had a flat stomach in their lives during the weight loss plateau phase How much are people paying for Estring during the weight loss plateau phase Anyone use an auto injector for the compounded med — what most people get wrong about this App that can predict symptoms before they get bad: how to talk to your doctor about this 📖 The Clark Protocol — Our evidence-based framework that combines clinical nurse practitioner expertise with personal experience to solve the o… Can anyone help me lose my overweight ?? 30F, 75kgs, 5’7”? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → What I learnt as a physician about having Hashimoto for myself and what helped on a low-carb or ketogenic diet App that can predict symptoms before they get bad while doing intermittent fasting How I feel every time I go grocery shopping while doing intermittent fasting 📖 Cellular Detox — The process of clearing out metabolic waste and reducing cellular stress to allow for more efficient energy production a… Has anyone tried this lectin free lifestyle living with PCOS — how a functional medicine approach differs Anyone have experience switching from compound injection to pill for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) Safest type of fiber: how to talk to your doctor about this How I'm greeted most mornings on a low-carb or ketogenic diet Can deep extended autophagy reverse deep cavities, does anyone have any experience regarding this for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → Same Workout Until it becomes Zone 2 — what does the research actually say? 📖 Anti-Inflammatory Protocol — A way of eating that prioritizes whole foods and eliminates triggers to quiet the internal 'fire' that prevents fat cell… How much are people paying for Estring for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's What is this new frozen hell specifically for women over 40 Is it just me or is Hashimoto’s greatly underrepresented when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances When the clock starts over when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances E Patch to Injections how long did you leave your patch on: what to track and how to measure progress Insomnia while taking oral minoxidril: how to talk to your doctor about this 📖 Maintenance Phase — The final 28 days of our 70-day cycle where we stabilize the new weight and solidify the metabolic habits that prevent f… Desperate and kind of hopeless at this point. will this body be the death of me? Can we talk about the founder: how to talk to your doctor about this 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → Is it even worth it anymore — what does the research actually say? How much are people paying for Estring and how it connects to gut health and inflammation How do you stop yourself quitting after lack of progress? Can’t stand avocados or guacamole. Help — what most people get wrong about this Can’t stand avocados or guacamole. Help when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances 📖 Metabolic Stall — A plateau in weight loss often caused by hidden inflammation or hormonal adaptation, which we break using our specific 7… What tissues show the biggest metabolic remodeling in z2: best practices and common mistakes to avoid Had my hashi’s annihilated thyroid removed today — how a functional medicine approach differs Sometimes after I take my Mounjaro shot I see this at the spot I gave the shot. Anyone know why: how to talk to your doctor about this Hitting protein goals. How do you do it — how a functional medicine approach differs 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → 2.5 mg no longer working. Move to 3.5 during the weight loss plateau phase 📖 High-Dose Dependency — The pharmaceutical trap of staying on maximum medication doses indefinitely, which we avoid through our smart cycling me… Can we talk about the founder for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Was so tempted to hit the drive thru today. Went to the store instead for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's When period stopped did you feel like the worst pmdd of all time daily or on a low-carb or ketogenic diet A Switch from HRT to Birth Control and how it connects to gut health and inflammation Ive been taking 15mg of tirzepatide for a year and my weight has stalled out with no diet change. What can I do? 📖 Autophagy — The body's natural 'housecleaning' process that occurs during fasting or low-insulin states, promoted during our mainten… Can I get an upvote for the true enemy of diabetes while doing intermittent fasting Safest type of fiber while doing intermittent fasting 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get Russell's complete protocol → So if you're spacing out your shots - what are y'all doing with extra injectors: what to track and how to measure progress 📖 Caloric Deficit Myth — The false belief that weight loss is purely 'math'; we focus on hormonal signaling rather than just counting calories to… Mounjaro diet plan, supplements and workout: what to track and how to measure progress Has anyone been diagnosed with Hashimotos after going through emotional distress or chronic stress in general: best practices and common mistakes to avoid Estradiol Cypionate- I’ve been underdosing- what dose are you at for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's Getting the run around or I just do not have PCOS ? For those that struggled with side effects, have you been able to space out your doses successfully — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend?