Scope and baseline expectations

• Carnivore diet definition: meat-based intake; vegetable removal alone does not meet the definition.
• Diet compliance failures: non-meat inputs and “hidden sabotage” from drinks and add-ons.

Common hidden inputs that disrupt outcomes

• Alcohol intake is common alongside meat intake.
• Alcohol is energy-dense and interferes with fat breakdown.
• “Low carb” and “low alcohol” beers still interfere with fat loss.
• Artificial sweeteners increase hunger and cravings.
• Diet soda intake can coexist with “only meat” food intake; insulin and blood sugar abnormalities persist with high diet soda intake.
• Dairy intake is a frequent high-calorie add-on; cheese and cream are calorie-dense.
• Dairy lactose and casein can trigger an insulin response and cravings.
• Coffee intake is often high; coffee add-ins: cream or milk.

Energy intake, fat intake, and satiety mechanics

• High-fat foods are calorie-dense; “fat is healthy” does not remove energy-balance constraints.
• Excess fat intake can exceed need before satiety cues terminate intake.
• Insufficient fat intake increases hunger.
• Dietary fat avoidance can coexist with reliance on leaner cuts and reduced calories.

Meal timing and under- or over-eating patterns

• Eating once per day can reduce total intake below requirement in some cases.
• Chronic under-eating produces perceived starvation physiology.
• Yo-yo restriction and refeeding patterns increase diet stress and reduce ketosis persistence.

Stress, sleep, and sex-specific factors

• High stress and elevated cortisol conditions reduce weight-loss feasibility.
• Late-day exercise and disrupted sleep reduce weight-loss feasibility.
• Women have diet sensitivity tied to hormonal cycles.
• Hormone-related phases can reduce weight-loss feasibility even with nutrient-dense intake.

Tracking, expectations, and symptom monitoring

• Daily weighing can dominate perceived success and defeat.
• Body recomposition and healing require time; weight alone is not a success metric.
• Symptom tracking: energy, hunger, mood, bowel patterns.

Gastrointestinal and electrolyte-related troubleshooting

• Constipation and diarrhea occur during carnivore transitions.
• Some individuals require a slower transition for gut adaptation.
• Cramping occurs and co-occurs with inadequate fat and salt intake in some cases.
• Magnesium supplementation occurs for cramps in some cases.
• Carbohydrate intake occurs in some cases to reduce cramps.

Practical constraints and optional foods

• Meat prioritization is a core operating rule.
• Optional items: dairy, nuts, fruits, sweeteners; optional status does not prevent adverse effects when intake is high.