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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86 comments

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.

Reply: #97
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
70
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)

Reply: #88
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.
87
Deborah
February 3
Ok so after reading the comments..I have decided to try the bacon diet.. with that being said I'll ne back in 30 days and let everyone know how it worked out for me wish me luck
88
Reply to comment #84 by The Bacon Experiment
Gwenn
February 4
Actually it was 2500 calories daily, according to the story, not 1200

Reply: #93
1 comment removed
90
David
February 27
One trick I've learned is to simmer the bacon in water for like 30 seconds and move it around. Desalinates the bacon but leaves it salty enough for me. Much lower sodium. I can't even stand normal bacon now because it's a salt brick to me.
91
Chris Lewis-Taggart
March 17
Question... will this be messed up if I eat a tomato or two per day along with the bacon? I’ve read that tomatos are keto friendly, and that you’d have to eat 5 or 6 to get knocked out of ketosis, but I’m wondering if they’ll nullify the extreme effect of the ONLY EAT BACON commandment.

Plus, I have a hard time chowing down on a pile of bacon if I can’t at least pretend it’s in a bacon & tomato sandwich. Let me know if all hope is lost.

Replies: #92, #94
92
Reply to comment #91 by Chris Lewis-Taggart
Kristin Parker Team Diet Doctor
March 19

Question... will this be messed up if I eat a tomato or two per day along with the bacon? I’ve read that tomatos are keto friendly, and that you’d have to eat 5 or 6 to get knocked out of ketosis, but I’m wondering if they’ll nullify the extreme effect of the ONLY EAT BACON commandment.
Plus, I have a hard time chowing down on a pile of bacon if I can’t at least pretend it’s in a bacon & tomato sandwich. Let me know if all hope is lost.

This article is more covering an experiment that someone else did, not a recommendation to literally eat nothing but bacon for 30 days. The science behind keto is about keeping carbs low. You can utilize any of our recipes or meal plans to see success.
93
Reply to comment #88 by Gwenn
Dan Quibell (The baccon experiment)
April 9
Thats wrong, its 1200 calories after the bacon was cooked. 2500 calories if eaten raw because of the extra fat so showed 2500 calories on the label here in Canada but that was wrong. I have been correcting that mistake for years after this article came out. Definitly need to be in a deficit for burning our own bodyfat.
94
Reply to comment #91 by Chris Lewis-Taggart
Dan
April 9
You can but Better to have a mix of bacon and eggs. For more help and info join the bacon experiment group on Facebook. Just about 30 thousand strong right now.
- Dan The baconman
95
Irma
May 4
Air Fryer works great for bacon, cook it outside.
96
Clinton
September 25
as goofy as it sounds, microwaving bacon works beautifully! spread a paper towel on a plate. lay out your bacon strips on top of the towel in a single layer. place another paper towel on top. I normally place another plate on top just to keep the bacon from possibly curling. microwave at roughly 1 minute per slice and it comes out beautifully with all the fat neatly absorbed into the paper towels. obviously the cooking time needs to be adjusted according to your microwave and how well done you like the bacon, but this method is so fast and completely foolproof.
97
Reply to comment #62 by Marion Askildt
John
October 1
Omg, bacon smellssss delicious. Rofl

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