Man ‘obsessed’ with becoming a dad loses almost half of his 200kg body weight on a ‘carnivore diet’ of meat, eggs and dairy to ‘improve his fertility’

Entertainment

A man ‘obsessed with becoming a father’ has lost almost half his body weight by eating a ‘carnivore’ diet consisting only of meat and eggs in a bid to improve his fertility.

Isaiah Caldwell, 28, from St. Louis, Missouri, weighed 434 pounds at his heaviest weight, but has now lost a whopping 210 pounds.

He started changing his lifestyle after being told his weight could cause fertility problems – and now weighs 220 pounds and feels ‘a million times better’.

Tech salesman Isaiah lost weight by exercising and following the strict carnivore diet, in which followers abandon anything that doesn’t come from an animal, leaving them with meat, eggs and dairy products.

Isaiah, who stands 6ft tall, is now happier and healthier than ever and he and his wife Amanda, 29, are still trying to have a baby.

Isaiah Caldwell, from Missouri, has lost almost half his body weight after following a ‘carnivore’ diet. Pictured with his wife Amanda after his weight loss

Isaiah once tipped the scales at 434 pounds (pictured, before weight loss) – but was told his weight could affect his fertility

Isaiah is pictured with his wife Amanda after his weight loss; the couple is still trying to have a baby

Isaiah said: “Having a baby became an obsession of ours – we were very excited about it.

‘We started trying for a year before we started to suspect there might be some fertility issues.

“I knew if I could do anything to give us a chance, I would do it.”

Isaiah vowed to shed the pounds and immediately went on a diet, dropping all food groups except meat, eggs and dairy.

Isaiah said, “People think there’s magic in it.

‘But the reality is that you’re just eliminating overeating because it’s very difficult to eat meat – it’s very restrictive and probably not for everyone.’

Isiah lost 21 pounds after just a month by eating steak and smoked brisket – and said he was ‘blown away’.

He decided to stay on the carnivore diet for another month, losing another 18 pounds, and continued until he lost only 368 pounds.

Isaiah tried on his old clothes after losing weight and the difference was amazing

Isaiah, who is 6 feet tall, is now happier and healthier than ever. In the photo before, left and after, right

Does weight loss improve fertility in men?

According to the NHS, eating a healthy, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are essential to keeping sperm in good condition.

A healthy BMI and eating a healthy diet, of at least 5 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables per day, eating strachy foods and beans and legumes can help with a healthy diet.

He said: ‘I felt incredible, even a week later – psychologically I felt so much better, my brain fog was completely gone. I felt a million times better.

“But I knew I couldn’t last forever just eating meat.”

After ten months, he had lost a whopping 118 pounds after expanding his diet to include some fruits and dairy products.

Once the weight loss started to slow, Isaiah decided to look deeper into bodybuilders’ training regimens and began meticulously tracking his calorie intake.

He lost another 35 pounds, bringing his total weight loss to 140 pounds.

Isaiah then continued his calorie deficit to continue losing weight and is now around 210 pounds.

And he said, ‘If anyone thinks they might not be able to do it, they should know that I felt exactly the same way.

‘It felt impossible and hopeless, but everyone is capable of that.’

Once the weight loss started to slow, Isaiah decided to look deeper into the training regimens bodybuilders use. Pictured left, front; and right, next

WHAT IS THE CARNIVOR DIET? AND IS IT SAFE?

Followers of the carnivore diet typically eat only meat, without carbohydrates, vegetables, fruits, grains or nuts. Some also have dairy and fish.

Experts claim that followers of such a diet miss out on fiber, antioxidants and vitamins. A deficiency in these nutrients can affect a person’s immunity, digestion, circulation and cognitive function.

Eliminating most major food groups does help many carnivores lose weight, but it can also lead to constipation.

Because meat is rich in protein and fat, many followers claim they feel full longer, even though they’re missing out on essential nutrients.

Experts claim that followers of such a diet may initially feel better because they are cutting out sugar and processed foods. Yet such eating plans are often unsustainable, leaving dieters feeling frustrated and defeated.

Those who take it a step further and eat raw red meat run the risk of food poisoning if they become contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella.

Some experts have warned against a meat-only diet, with excessive amounts of red meat previously linked to bowel cancer.

The NHS states: ‘Red meat – such as beef, lamb and pork – is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals and can be part of a balanced diet. But eating a lot of red and processed meat likely increases your risk of colon (colorectal) cancer.

‘It is therefore recommended that people who eat more than 90 grams (cooked weight) of red and processed meat per day reduce this to 70 grams as this may help reduce the risk of bowel cancer.’

Isaiah and Amanda will have to return to the doctors in the coming months to see if his efforts have affected his fertility.

Isaiah said: ‘We are very optimistic – I will do tests, but I have increased the chances from zero to at least something

“I’m in the best shape of my life and we’re excited to find a way to be parents no matter what.”

The trend of simple food diets is becoming increasingly popular – thanks in part to social media sensations like bodybuilder Eddie Abbew, who posts videos of himself eating boiled eggs and liver.

It has also been popularized by internet personalities such as Jordan Peterson and podcast host Joe Rogan, who have touted its benefits to their army of followers.

But some experts have warned that diets that include high amounts of red meat could lead to an increased risk of a host of life-threatening diseases, including cancer, heart and kidney disease.

Meanwhile, the diet may cause participants not to get enough vitamin C, which can lead to scurvy.