According to the National Institutes of Health, increased weight in men has been associated with a lower testosterone level, poorer sperm quality, and reduced fertility as compared to men of normal weight. So it came as no surprise when 28-year-old Isaiah Caldwell of St. Louis, Missouri, was warned that his weight of 434 pounds could lead to fertility issues. As a newly married man with hopes of one day starting a family in mind, Isaiah wasted no time on starting the journey toward better health.
Over the next two years, he adopted a carnivore diet, which consisted only of meat and other animal products, like eggs and dairy. He was dedicated to seeing a change, and stuck to his new eating habits.
By the end of the two years, Isaiah had lost a total a 210 pounds, which was over half his bodyweight. Now, he shares that he's happy, healthy, and very eager to continue trying for a baby with his wife, 29-year-old Amanda.
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“Having a baby became an obsession of ours — we were really excited about it,” he said in an interview. “We started trying for a year before we began to suspect that there might be some issues fertility wise. I knew if there was anything I could do to give us a chance, I would do it."
His secret to losing that amount of weight so fast? Giving up many of his favorite foods. “People think there’s some magic to it. But the reality is you’re just eliminating overeating as it’s really hard to binge-eat meat — it’s very restrictive and probably not for everyone,” he explained.
After one month of eating steak and smoked brisket, Isaiah expressed that he was “blown away” by the discovery that he’d already lost over 20 pounds. After trying for another month and losing around the same amount of weight, he decided to stick with the diet.
“I felt unbelievable even a week in — psychologically I felt so much better, my brain fog was totally gone. I felt a million times better,” he said. “But I knew I wasn’t going to be able to keep it up forever just eating meat.”
After 10 months of eating strictly meat and losing over 100 pounds, Isaiah added fruits and dairy into his diet. He also started weight training. Continuing on this road, he eventually lost a total of 210 pounds.
“If anyone is thinking maybe they can’t do it, they should know that I felt exactly like that too,” he said. “It felt impossible and hopeless, but everyone is capable of it.”
Of continuing to try to have a baby with his wife he stated, “We’re really optimistic — I’m going to get testing done, but I’ve increased odds from zero to at least something. I’m in best shape of my life and we are excited to find a way to be parents no matter what.”
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
