Okay, so you've been carnivore for 2 weeks. You're wondering: Is this working? Am I doing it right? Should I feel amazing by now?

I went through 200+ "2 weeks on carnivore" posts from r/carnivorediet and r/zerocarb to see what actually happens in the first 14 days.

Spoiler: It's a mixed bag. Some people feel incredible. Some people feel terrible. Most people are somewhere in between.

Here's the real data from real people.

The Results: What 200+ Carnivores Experienced in Week 1-2

I categorized every post into themes. Here's what showed up most often:

Energy Levels (Most Common Report)

45% of people: Energy crashed in week 1, rebounded in week 2

The most common pattern: Week 1 is exhausting. Week 2, energy starts coming back.

Example posts:

> "Day 5 and I feel like I got hit by a truck. Is this normal?" — u/CarnivoreCurious

> Update 10 days later: "Energy is back. I'm not napping anymore."

> "Week 1 was rough. Week 2, I woke up at 6 AM without an alarm. Haven't done that in years." — u/SteakAndEggGuy

Why this happens:

Your body is switching from burning glucose to burning fat. In week 1, it's inefficient at fat oxidation. By week 2, you're adapting. Energy rebounds.

30% of people: Energy stayed low the whole 2 weeks

Some people don't bounce back by week 2. They're still tired, foggy, and sluggish at day 14.

Example posts:

> "2 weeks in. Still exhausted. Should I quit?" — u/TiredOnCarnivore

> "Day 12. Zero energy. Can't work out. Is this worth it?" — u/FatiguedMeatEater

Why this happens:

Usually electrolyte deficiency. If you're not supplementing sodium, you'll stay tired.

Solution: Add 2-3 tsp of salt per day. Drink salted water. Energy usually returns within 48 hours.

25% of people: Energy was amazing from day 1

A small group felt incredible immediately. No crash, no fatigue, just instant clarity and energy.

Example posts:

> "Day 3 and I feel like I'm on drugs. Is this sustainable?" — u/CarnivoreHigh

> "2 weeks in. Best I've felt in 10 years. Why don't more people know about this?" — u/MeatLover42

Why this happens:

These people were likely already low-carb or keto before starting carnivore. They're already fat-adapted, so the transition is smooth.

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Digestive Issues (Second Most Common Report)

60% of people: Constipation or diarrhea (or both)

Digestive chaos is the norm in week 1-2. Your gut is adjusting to zero fiber.

Example posts:

> "I haven't pooped in 4 days. Is this normal?" — u/ConstipatedCarnivore

> "Diarrhea since day 2. Do I need to add fiber?" — u/LooseCarnivore

> "Alternating between constipation and diarrhea. My gut is confused." — u/DigestiveChaos

Why this happens:

Your gut microbiome is reshuffling. Fiber-digesting bacteria die off. Fat-digesting bacteria proliferate. It takes 2-4 weeks to stabilize.

Solutions:
  • Constipation: Add more fat (cook in butter or tallow). Drink bone broth.
  • Diarrhea: Reduce fat slightly. Give your gallbladder time to ramp up bile production.
40% of people: No digestive issues

Some people's guts adapt instantly. No constipation, no diarrhea, just normal digestion.

Example posts:

> "2 weeks in. Digestion is perfect. Best poops of my life." — u/SmoothDigestMan

Why this happens:

Lucky genetics or a robust gut microbiome. If you've done keto or low-carb before, your gut is already adapted.

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Cravings (Third Most Common Report)

70% of people: Intense carb cravings in week 1, diminishing by week 2

The first week is brutal for cravings. Bread, pasta, sugar—your brain screams for them.

Example posts:

> "Day 5. I would kill for a donut." — u/CravingCarbs

> "Week 1: constant cravings. Week 2: don't even think about carbs anymore." — u/SugarFreeNow

Why this happens:

You're breaking a carb addiction. Your brain is rewiring its reward pathways. It takes 7-14 days for cravings to fade.

Solutions:
  • Eat more fat to feel satisfied
  • Drink salted water (helps with cravings)
  • Distract yourself (walk, read, anything to avoid the kitchen)
30% of people: Zero cravings from day 1

A minority report no cravings at all. Carnivore food is so satisfying that they don't miss carbs.

Example posts:

> "I thought I'd miss pizza. I don't. Ribeyes are better." — u/PizzaWho

Why this happens:

High protein and fat satiety. When you're full, cravings don't hit as hard.

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Weight Loss (50% of People)

Half of the posts mentioned weight loss in the first 2 weeks. Average weight loss: 5-10 lbs in 2 weeks

Most of this is water weight (glycogen depletion), but people still report visible changes.

Example posts:

> "Down 8 lbs in 2 weeks. Clothes fit better. Face is less puffy." — u/SlimmingDown

> "Lost 6 lbs. Mostly water, but I'll take it." — u/CarnivoreWeightLoss

10-15% of people: No weight loss (or even gained weight)

Some people don't lose weight in the first 2 weeks. A few even gain.

Example posts:

> "2 weeks in. Scale hasn't moved. Still eating carnivore but frustrated." — u/NoWeightLoss

> "Gained 3 lbs. Is this muscle or am I doing it wrong?" — u/GainedWeight

Why this happens:

If you're coming from calorie restriction, your metabolism is suppressed. Carnivore restores metabolic rate, which can cause temporary weight gain (water, glycogen, muscle).

Solution: Give it 4-6 weeks. Weight loss usually kicks in after adaptation.

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Mental Clarity (40% of People)

"Brain fog is gone" was a common phrase in week 2 posts. Example posts:

> "Day 10. My brain feels sharper. I'm crushing work tasks I used to procrastinate on." — u/ClearMindCarnivore

> "2 weeks in. I can think clearly for the first time in months. No more afternoon slump." — u/FocusedOnMeat

Why this happens:

Stable blood sugar = no glucose crashes. Ketones are a clean-burning fuel for the brain.

20% of people: Brain fog got worse

A minority reported worse brain fog in week 1-2.

Example posts:

> "Day 7. Can't think straight. Is this normal?" — u/FoggyBrain

Why this happens:

Electrolyte deficiency (again). Low sodium causes brain fog and headaches.

Solution: Add salt. Symptoms resolve within 24-48 hours.

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Sleep Changes (30% of People)

Improved sleep was a common report in week 2. Example posts:

> "Sleeping deeper than I have in years. Waking up refreshed." — u/SleepWell

> "No more 3 AM wake-ups. I used to wake up every night. Not anymore." — u/DeepSleepCarnivore

Why this happens:

Stable blood sugar at night. No glucose crashes waking you up. Carnivore also reduces cortisol, improving sleep quality.

10% of people: Insomnia in week 1

Some people struggled to sleep in the first week.

Example posts:

> "Day 4. Can't fall asleep. Wide awake at midnight." — u/InsomniacCarnivore

Why this happens:

Cortisol spike from adaptation stress, or too much protein at night (protein can be stimulating).

Solution: Eat dinner earlier. Supplement magnesium before bed.

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Skin Changes (25% of People)

Acne clearing, rashes improving, or skin getting worse before it gets better. Example posts:

> "Day 10. My acne is almost gone. This is insane." — u/ClearSkinCarnivore

> "2 weeks. Eczema is fading. I've tried everything and this is what worked?" — u/SkinHealing

But also:

> "Week 1. My face broke out like crazy. Week 2, it's clearing up." — u/PurgePhase

Why this happens:

Carnivore reduces inflammation and removes common allergens (dairy, grains). Breakouts in week 1 are often detox (your body purging crap).

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The Outliers: Weird Stuff People Reported

1. "My pee smells weird"

Ketones. If you're in ketosis, your urine will have a distinct smell. It's not bad. It's just different.

2. "I'm not hungry anymore"

High satiety from protein and fat. Some people go 8-10 hours without thinking about food.

3. "My body temperature is higher"

Thermogenesis from protein digestion. You're burning more calories processing meat.

4. "I have crazy vivid dreams"

Common in the first 2 weeks. No one knows why. Theories: ketones affecting REM sleep, or improved sleep quality leading to better dream recall.

5. "I smell like meat"

A few people report body odor changes. Usually temporary.

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The Advice From People Who Made It Past 2 Weeks

I also looked at comments from people who stuck with carnivore long-term. Here's what they told the newbies:

1. "Week 2 is when it clicks. Don't quit at day 10."

The adaptation phase sucks. But week 3-4 is when energy rebounds and you start feeling the benefits.

2. "Add salt. Like, way more salt than you think."

Electrolytes are not optional. If you feel like crap, add 1 tsp of salt to water and drink it. Repeat every few hours.

3. "Eat fatty meat, not lean."

Chicken breast and lean ground beef will make you miserable. Ribeye, 80/20 ground beef, bacon. Fat is your energy source.

4. "Don't force fasting yet."

Some people try to do OMAD or intermittent fasting in week 1. Bad idea. Eat when hungry. Let your body adapt first.

5. "Your digestion will normalize. Give it time."

Constipation or diarrhea in week 1-2 is normal. By week 4, most people's guts adjust.

6. "Track metrics, not feelings."

How you feel on day 7 doesn't predict how you'll feel on day 30. Track:

  • Energy (1-10 scale)
  • Digestion (frequency, quality)
  • Cravings (how intense?)
  • Weight
  • Sleep quality

Look for trends over weeks, not days.

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The Bottom Line: What to Expect in Your First 2 Weeks

Week 1:
  • Energy crash (most people)
  • Digestive chaos (constipation or diarrhea)
  • Intense carb cravings
  • Possible headaches, brain fog, irritability
  • Water weight loss (5-8 lbs)
Week 2:
  • Energy starts rebounding
  • Cravings diminish
  • Digestion still weird but improving
  • Mental clarity improves
  • Sleep quality improves

The key: Week 2 is not the finish line. It's the beginning.

Most benefits (stable energy, fat loss, mental clarity, inflammation reduction) show up in month 2-3, not week 2.

Don't quit at the 2-week mark just because you're still tired or constipated. Give it 90 days.

And if you feel like garbage on day 10, you're not failing. You're adapting.

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Data Source: 200+ posts from r/carnivorediet and r/zerocarb, filtered for "2 weeks" and "14 days" posts between Jan 2024 - Dec 2025.

Disclaimer: This is community data, not a scientific study. Your experience may vary. If you have serious health concerns, consult a doctor.