What happens if you eat nothing but bacon for 30 days straight?

March 9 2016 by in Meat, Saturated fat, Weight loss

Here’s a crazy idea: What would happen if you only ate bacon for 30 days?

Or, perhaps, it’s not that crazy. Dan Quibell tried it and enjoyed it… and even lost 20 pounds:

Ketogasm: What Happens When You Eat Nothing But Bacon for 30 Days Straight?

Now there’s an active Facebook group with 3,000 members dedicated to discussing the Bacon experiment and trying it themselves.

Facebook: The Bacon Experiment

Obviously eating nothing but bacon results in an extremely low carb, ketogenic diet. It should result in significant loss of excess weight, without weighing or counting. And if you’re crazy enough it should be fine to try it for a month.

Note: If you are on diabetes medication, especially insulin, you’ll have to adapt (lower) the doses so discuss it with your doctor first.

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76 comments

Top comment

Apicius
March 11 2016 4
Hmmm. I'm tempted to try it. Would rotate a variety of bacon though, to break the monotony. Like apple wood smoked, hickory smoked, italian panchetta, etc.

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51
Reply to comment #50 by Richard
Jose Rodriguez
February 15 2018
Nope. Look at the package. Once you fry it the calories per slice drops dramatically. More like 600-700 calories per 1lb package.
52
Mike
March 1 2018
I did The Bacon Experiment for 21 days and lost 17 pounds. If you roast the bacon in the oven at 350 for 35 minutes it comes out perfect. Two pounds of cooked bacon is between 1200-1400 calories. I never felt better!
1 comment removed
54
Vivian
May 8 2018
I’m doing bacon, eggs and steak for lunch and dinner plus 2tbs of butter per day. No limits. But it is self limiting! You really can’t eat that much! However I’m loosing! 1 week in and the rest of the month to go!
55
John
June 15 2018
Funny thing.
This website and its doctors do a lot of research regarding keto and lchf all with perfectly verifiable results.
And still people come here claiming that it does not work.
56
Reply to comment #8 by Vigilantesniper
barry fletcher
June 18 2018
bacon/cheese woukld work for me explain please
1 comment removed
58
Reply to comment #47 by Vanessa
Dan Quibell
August 6 2018
Not BPC, would avoid extra fats when doing the bacon experiment so you remain in a calorie deficit.
59
Reply to comment #50 by Richard
Dan Quibell
August 6 2018

I did the math Josh, 2 lbs of bacon a day is over 5,000 calories! Even more than you 3000-4000 calories that YOU said would be magical.

Actually after its cooked the calories are more like 1200-1500 so we are in a caloric deficit and this is why we burn bodyfat during the bacon experiment. Its not magical its just a very powerful dietary intervention. Hunger control and caloric deficit and intermittent fasting.
60
Wanda
August 15 2018
Going to give this a try but I have to be home for 30 days straight to do it. Maybe in November.
61
BONNIE J MCCULLOUGH
August 19 2018
Dr. Atkins slipped, fell, and hit his head while walking on an icy sidewalk causing a brain injury. He died in surgery for that. He had a heart attack years before that he said was due to infection. There is no way to know at this point. Ketogenic diet was used in the early 1900s before his books were written as a way to treat epilepsy and seizure disorders.

Reply: #73
62
Marion Askildt
February 25 2019
How do you handle the smell? Whole house stinks. Tried everything, even clothing smells so bad after cooking. If summer, I cook it outside, but winter is horrible,cannot open windows to air everything out.
63
Jb
April 12 2019
Smells fine when you bake in the oven
64
ROXY
May 15 2019
today is my 29 th day feeling GREAT,did not feel deprived of anything,who doesn't like Bacon,how ever did not lose 20 lbs but lost 15lbs but along with TBE Diet i walked 1 mile aday and did a few exercises and my clothes fit looser,
65
Shannon Clyde
June 28 2019
Aren't you worried about the nitrates? You might loose weight, but aren't you increasing your risk factor for cancer?

Reply: #66
66
Reply to comment #65 by Shannon Clyde
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
June 28 2019

Aren't you worried about the nitrates? You might loose weight, but aren't you increasing your risk factor for cancer?

Generally speaking the nitrates in bacon are not an issue.
https://chriskresser.com/the-nitrate-and-nitrite-myth-another-reason-...
1 comment removed
68
Anna
October 16 2019
I buy bacon without nitrates apple flavored 2. Eat fat to lose fat, sounds a little strange but from what I've read and heard it just might work. It has to be good fat though and I know about that.
69
Cass
October 23 2019
Is there a certain brand, or ingredient list you should opt for when in the grocery store buying bacon! I know not all bacon is created equal :)

Replies: #70, #71
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Reply to comment #69 by Cass
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
October 23 2019

Is there a certain brand, or ingredient list you should opt for when in the grocery store buying bacon! I know not all bacon is created equal :)

Most bacon will have sugar listed in the ingredients as it is used in the curing process. Look at the nutrition label and most bacon with 0g carbs per serving will be OK.

Reply: #78
71
Reply to comment #69 by Cass
Gentiann
October 24 2019
When I am in the US, I look for "lower sodium" bacon, most have no sugar added. My favorite is Kroger store brand.
72
Brit
January 23 2020
Don't knock it till you try it! Been on bacon Experiment with other keto dinners and I've dropped 10lbs. I dont have that much weight to begin with. It's a game changer. If you aren't scared... try it!

Reply: #77
73
Reply to comment #61 by BONNIE J MCCULLOUGH
Jan
February 8 2020
I read that Dr. Atkin's had a history of cardiomyopathy as a result of a viral infection. Not a history of heart attack. Cardiomyopathy is a condition affecting the heart muscle. It's very different from atherosclerosis (blocked arteries, Coronary Artery Dissease) which is the cause of heart attacks. And it's ahterosclerosis that many think (wrongly) is caused by saturated fats (bacon, and other animal fats, dairy, and other natural fats.
74
Everett Winkler
February 23 2020
If you are worried about additives, use fresh pork belly instead of bacon.

No salt, no sugar, no preservatives, and it tastes amazing!!!
75
Melissa
March 20 2020
I was going to do it, and then saw the egg diet. So i did the egg diet, and it got boring..so now as all i have is bacon in the frezzer, i am doing bacon experiment. :-)
1 comment removed
77
Reply to comment #72 by Brit
Kuahine
September 24 2020
Brit, what brand of bacon did you get?
78
Reply to comment #70 by Kristin Parker
Kuahine
September 24 2020
Oh thank goodness! I didn’t see this until after I had posted my comment/question. So these brands with sugar cured in it are okay cause most them have it. Would this same concept apply with breakfast sausages or any meats that have sugar labeled in the ingredients, but shows 0 carbs and sugar in the nutrition label?

Reply: #79
79
Reply to comment #78 by Kuahine
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
September 25 2020

Oh thank goodness! I didn’t see this until after I had posted my comment/question. So these brands with sugar cured in it are okay cause most them have it. Would this same concept apply with breakfast sausages or any meats that have sugar labeled in the ingredients, but shows 0 carbs and sugar in the nutrition label?

Generally speaking yes!

Reply: #80
80
Reply to comment #79 by Kristin Parker
Kuahine
September 25 2020
Thank you Kristin for your time and response!
81
Marguerite
October 4 2020
Ca you do Bacon and egg as a Fast

Reply: #82
82
Reply to comment #81 by Marguerite
Crystal Pullen Team Diet Doctor
October 5 2020

Ca you do Bacon and egg as a Fast

Eating bacon and eggs would not be considered fasting, but could be part of a keto diet.
1 comment removed
84
Reply to comment #50 by Richard
The Bacon Experiment
October 18 2020
Nothing magical about the bacon experiment, its 1200 calories after its cooked and puts people into ketosis and a calorie deficit to ensure fat loss. (Yes its Dan)
1 comment removed
86
Trace
November 4 2020
I lost 5kg over 30 days on bacon. Snacked on very small amounts of cheese. Occasional egg. Drank a lot of water and also tea. Lots of tea with full cream milk. Only issue I had was a bout of constipation and had to take a laxitive for a day. No waining energy, felt great, did not get sick. Had more trouble leaving the bacon and morphing into KETO, but in subsequent three months have lost another 5 kg and continue. More than pleased as I have just started menopause, and thought losing weight would never happen. I'm now encouraging my brother to do the same.

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