From Beer Tents to Breakthroughs: Brody’s Iowa State Fair Transformation

For many Iowans, the State Fair is a highlight of the summer—a place where traditions meet indulgence. Food on a stick. Beer tents and long afternoons with friends. Fried everything.

For years, that was Brody’s experience too. The Fair was fun, but it also came with choices that didn’t serve his health, his wallet, or the life he wanted to live.

This year was different.

When Brody walked the Fairgrounds in 2025, he didn’t recognize himself—not just physically, but in his actions and his mindset. Gone were the bar tabs that stretched over $1,000 in a single day. Gone were the beers from sunrise to sunset, the cycle of eating until stuffed, and the fog that followed. In their place? Clarity, discipline, and the quiet satisfaction of being fully present.

He carried water bottles—24 to 30 of them throughout the day. He took small, mindful bites of fair food but no longer let himself spiral into “all or nothing.” And when he watched others eat and drink the way he once did, he had a moment of deep recognition:

“That used to be me. This year, it wasn’t.”

The Iowa State Fair, which once symbolized excess for him, became the proof of his transformation.

The Turning Point

When Brody started coaching, he came in with a familiar story: discipline in some areas, but big gaps in others. He had never tracked carbs or fats—only protein. He’d eat until the pan was empty so nothing went to waste, rather than because he needed the food. He had a history of getting frustrated when progress slowed. The last time he tried dieting on his own, he quit when photos didn’t show change, believing he was “messing it up.”

This time, the outcome is different—not because his body is suddenly more cooperative, but because his mindset and tools are.

When he brought in his bloodwork, testosterone was in valid range, but libido had dipped after his vasectomy. We talked about the behavioral levers that influence hormones: food intake, bodyweight stability, and recovery. Instead of chasing extremes, we focused on fueling properly. That included eating more—not less—during maintenance phases, even when it felt uncomfortable to hit 300 grams of carbs in a day.

At first, it was a struggle. On low-carb weeks, he had to be more mindful of choices. On high-carb weeks, he found himself snacking during the day and needing to spread dinner into snack–meal–snack just to get it all in. But he learned to accept flexibility instead of demanding perfect daily balance.

“I’m much better at allowing irregular macro levels instead of demanding straight balance every single day.”

That shift in thinking alone—choosing sustainability over perfection—kept him from falling into the same trap that ended past efforts.

The Family Effect

One of the most powerful parts of Brody’s journey has been how it’s touched his family. He and his wife began using the Yuka app to scan foods and evaluate their quality. Soon, his 13-year-old daughter joined in.

She’d scan her favorite snacks, see poor scores pop up, and feel shocked. That experience—seeing the data herself, not just being told “don’t eat this”—gave her a new perspective. Together, they started cleaning processed foods out of the house, replacing them with better options.

“Using the Yuka app with my daughter has helped reinforce the decisions we’ve made to clean up our home. She was shocked to see her favorite treats score so poorly.”

This wasn’t just Brody changing for himself. It was Brody changing with his family. It’s one thing to lose weight and eat better on your own. It’s another to model those choices for your child and give her the tools to carry them forward. That ripple effect is generational.

Life Without Alcohol

Of all the shifts Brody has made, letting go of alcohol has been the most liberating.

At the Fair, instead of drinking all day, he walked, ate a few bites, hydrated, and saved $1,000. But that wasn’t just one day—it was a reflection of the broader transformation.

“I spent $1,000 less this year on one day alone by not opening a bar tab for friends and drinking all day.”

He describes life without alcohol as easier. Easier on his body. Easier on his mind. Easier financially. His sleep is better. His mornings clearer. His mood more stable. He’s more present with his wife and daughter.

“It’s so much easier to enjoy life without alcohol than with it.”

That old belief—that alcohol added to the experience—has been replaced with the truth: it was holding him back.

The Visible and Invisible Changes

Friends sometimes don’t recognize him at first glance. That’s how striking the physical changes are. But Brody will be the first to tell you, the visible change is only part of the story.

What’s harder to articulate—but more meaningful—is how different life feels.

“I feel 1000x better today than I did a year ago. I felt so shitty for so long that I didn’t realize how bad it was. I didn’t know how much better I could feel across mental and physical domains.”

That is the essence of transformation: not just what you see in the mirror, but what you feel in your bones when the fog lifts.

The Bigger Picture

Brody’s story isn’t about a diet. It’s about reclaiming control. It’s about recognizing that the fog of poor sleep, inconsistent habits, and alcohol wasn’t “just life”—it was optional. And it’s about discovering what happens when you build momentum and keep going, even when progress feels slow.

He’s eating with intention, not out of habit. He’s fueling his body for recovery and hormonal health. He’s modeling better choices for his daughter. He’s learned to navigate events like the Fair without falling into old patterns. And he’s showing up in his own life in ways he didn’t think possible a year ago.

Looking Ahead

The State Fair will always be part of Brody’s summer. But what it represents has completely changed. It’s no longer a place where he loses control. It’s the place where he proved to himself just how far he’s come.

From the outside, the before-and-after photos show a leaner man with sharper features. But the real transformation is internal: freedom from old habits, clarity in daily life, and the confidence of knowing, “I can do this.”

dy’s journey is proof that transformation isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence, learning, and building a life you want to live—not just for yourself, but for your family.

The Fair once left him drained, broke, and stuck. Now it leaves him proud, energized, and ready for more.

This is what change looks like—and it’s just the beginning.