A Veteran’s Journey to Health
What started with a fire ant attack during military training led to a decade of declining physical and mental health for Chad, a veteran who now helps others reclaim their lives through diet and martial arts. After nearly dying from the ant attack, Chad developed severe anxiety, irrational fears about his throat closing, and debilitating panic attacks that left him unable to drive or be alone.
The Descent into Chronic Illness
For ten years, Chad struggled with severe brain fog, acute flu-like symptoms 4-5 times weekly, and digestive issues that often led to hospitalization. His symptoms would manifest after meals, causing either projectile vomiting or severe digestive distress that lasted 6-8 hours. The chronic illness affected every aspect of his life, straining his marriage and relationship with his children.
Finding Hope Through Fasting
Chad’s first breakthrough came during a three-day fast. By day two, he experienced his first moment of mental clarity in years. “I started crying because I had no brain fog,” he recalls. “To just have a moment of mental clarity meant so much to me, like there was a possibility and there was a way out.”
The Transition to Carnivore
After discovering information about the carnivore diet, Chad made several attempts to transition. His initial tries were challenging, experiencing shakes, cold spells, and digestive adjustments. By his third attempt, he pushed through the two-week mark and began experiencing increased energy and diminished cravings.
Physical and Mental Transformation
Today, Chad maintains his health eating about two pounds of meat daily, along with bone marrow and properly salted water. As a competitive black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he reports feeling “superhuman” with seemingly endless energy for training and competition. His anxiety has resolved, and he no longer requires medication.
Family Revival
The dietary changes have transformed Chad’s family life. His wife, who previously struggled with mental health issues and multiple medications, has also adopted the carnivore diet and discontinued her medications. Their relationship has strengthened significantly, and they now homeschool their children together.
Supporting Other Veterans
Chad now dedicates his time to helping other veterans through what he calls “steaks, strangles, and stoicism.” He operates a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy and works with veterans who struggle with similar challenges. His approach combines proper nutrition, martial arts training, and philosophical principles to help veterans regain control of their lives.
Meeting Resistance with Results
While his family initially resisted his dietary changes – with his mother and sister even planning an intervention – his results have spoken for themselves. When he shared his approach with medical professionals, they often dismissed the dietary connection to his improvements. However, his lab results and physical transformation tell a different story.
The Present Day
Chad now eats primarily grass-fed beef, including various cuts from burger to bone marrow, maintaining his health and athletic performance without the need for medications. He continues to compete in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a high level and helps others, particularly veterans, find their path to recovery.
“Humans are designed to deal with traumas and get over it,” Chad says, pointing to the current crisis of veteran mental health. He believes many of these issues have environmental causes that can be addressed through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes.
Chad offers free consultations to veterans who are struggling, sharing his experience and knowledge with those who want to explore alternatives to conventional treatments. His mission focuses on showing others, especially veterans, that they’re not broken and that there are paths to recovery they may not have considered.
