After 30 Years of Gout and Obesity, This Man Beat Chronic Pain Without Meds—Shocking Doctors. Here’s How.

For decades, Charles Renfroe lived a life overshadowed by debilitating pain and health challenges. The 55-year-old IT professional and certified nutritionist and health coach overcame a relentless battle with chronic illness, including severe gout, high blood pressure, and prediabetes. Once an IT professional with a sedentary lifestyle, Charles weighed 275 pounds at his heaviest and struggled to find answers from conventional medicine. Today, he has transformed his life and is devoted to helping others on their own health journeys. His story is one of perseverance, hope, and the power of change.

A Life Defined by Chronic Illness

For Charles Renfroe, gout wasn’t just a periodic inconvenience; it was a relentless, life-altering condition. His battle began in his mid-20s with minor discomfort in his feet, but as time went on, the attacks grew in both frequency and severity. By his mid-40s, gout flare-ups would strike every three to four weeks, sometimes lasting as long as three weeks. These weren’t just painful episodes—they were incapacitating.

“My worst gout attack lasted for probably three weeks. I was really bedridden during most of that time,” Charles explained. “If I got up at all, I had to be on crutches. I just could not function.”

As the disease progressed, the pain spread beyond his feet to other joints, including his knees, hands, elbows, and even fingers. This made everyday activities nearly impossible. “I do IT work for a living, and I couldn’t type. I couldn’t move a mouse,” he shared. With every new flare-up, Charles’s physical capabilities diminished, leaving him in a state of despair.

At his breaking point, Charles reluctantly turned to Allopurinol, a common medication for gout. “I finally relented and started taking Allopurinol. I took that medication for probably about 12 or 13 years,” he said. While the drug provided some relief, it was far from a cure. “My gout attacks became less severe, but they never stopped. Sometimes, I would still have a severe gout attack and be on crutches or not be able to walk without a limp,” Charles admitted.

The medication helped him manage the symptoms, but it didn’t address the root cause of his illness. What weighed heavily on him was the thought of being dependent on medication indefinitely. “The prospect that I never enjoyed the thought of was that I was gonna have to take that for the rest of my life,” he reflected.

In addition to the gout, Charles’s overall health was deteriorating. At 275 pounds, he was severely overweight and battling high blood pressure, prediabetes, and chronic sinus infections that compounded his daily struggles. His health had spiraled to a point where he felt trapped. “That’s kind of where I was in life… my health was tipping over the ledge,” he said.

For years, he felt defeated by a medical system that provided only temporary fixes for his worsening condition. But deep down, Charles knew that something had to change. “That’s where I was until about four years ago,” he said, reflecting on the critical turning point that would redefine his life.

This unrelenting chapter of pain, medication, and frustration became the foundation for Charles’s eventual transformation—a transformation fueled by the courage to question conventional wisdom and take control of his own health.

A Turning Point: Finding Keto and Carnivore

For years, Charles sought guidance from doctors, hoping to find a solution to his worsening gout and overall health decline. The advice, however, was always the same: lose weight, stop drinking alcohol, and cut back on meat. While losing weight might have helped, Charles noted, “When I started having my gout attacks, I wasn’t overweight, so it wasn’t tied together in my mind at the time.” He pressed for answers, asking repeatedly if there was anything else he could do, but the responses offered little hope. “I always got the feeling that there was nothing I could do. It was just a genetic thing—luck of the draw. ‘There’s nothing you can do about it, but we can give you a prescription,’” he recalled. The lack of solutions left Charles disheartened and dissatisfied, knowing deep down that there had to be more to managing his health than relying on medication for life.

This frustration fueled his determination to search for alternatives. Charles began experimenting with intermittent fasting, inspired by the work of Dr. Jason Fung. Later, he discovered the ketogenic diet, which initially brought some relief. However, it wasn’t until his wife introduced him to whole-food, animal-based keto that the real transformation began.

“We moved into predominantly animal-based products, and that was it. When I started doing that, it really changed my life in ways that I could have never imagined,” he shared. Gone were the feelings of hunger and deprivation that had plagued previous diets. “I could eat as much as I wanted and not feel hungry or deprived,” he said.

Healing Through Food: A Transformative Diet

Charles’s recovery didn’t come from medication or extreme fitness regimens—it came from his plate. His journey to healing was rooted in a radical dietary shift that prioritized simplicity, whole foods, and consistency. By focusing on an almost exclusively animal-based diet, Charles was able to transform his health, eliminate chronic conditions, and regain control of his life.

“I still eat almost exclusively animal-based stuff,” Charles shared. His meals center on nutrient-dense foods like beef, eggs, cheese, and full-fat dairy. Living in the countryside, Charles and his wife raise their own chickens, ensuring a steady supply of fresh eggs. “We eat a lot of beef, a lot of eggs, and real cheese. I use full-fat dairy—like heavy whipping cream in my coffee—and bacon, which I really like,” he explained.

Their meals are simple but satisfying. Breakfast might include an omelet with bacon, while lunch or dinner often features ground beef or steak. While steak every day might be a luxury, Charles emphasizes affordability and adaptability. “If we can’t afford steak every day, we’ll have ground beef instead. But it’s always whole, real food,” he said. His wife occasionally includes low-carb vegetables, such as broccoli or salads, but they avoid starchy foods like potatoes.

The key to Charles’s success wasn’t just what he ate but how he ate. Intermittent fasting became a natural part of his routine. “I eat when I’m hungry,” he said. His eating window typically begins around noon or early afternoon, followed by a second meal in the evening. What started as a purposeful effort to delay meals became second nature. “In the beginning, I had to purposely do that—stop eating before noon—but now, I rarely ever feel hungry before then,” Charles said.

Charles also learned the importance of moderation and how to manage occasional indulgences. Early in his journey, he was strict, avoiding anything outside his dietary plan except on holidays or special occasions. Over time, he allowed some flexibility but remained vigilant. “If I eat something like a cinnamon roll, it makes me crave more. I’ll want another one, and then three more later,” he admitted. To prevent the cycle of cravings and hunger triggered by processed carbs, Charles quickly resets. “If I stray, I just get back on track, and as long as I do that, I don’t have any issues.”

This disciplined yet realistic approach has allowed Charles to maintain his health improvements long-term. He no longer struggles with constant hunger or the deprivation he experienced on previous diets. “As long as I’m eating meat, cheese, and those types of foods, I just eat when I get hungry,” he said. This approach keeps him satisfied, prevents overeating, and eliminates the cravings that once controlled his life.

Through his diet, Charles found a way to heal his body from the inside out. By focusing on real, unprocessed foods and listening to his hunger cues, he was able to break free from the vicious cycle of pain, medication, and chronic illness. His dietary choices aren’t just a routine—they’re the foundation of his transformed life. “It’s simple, but it works. I’m proof of that,” Charles said.

Family Support and Inspiring Others

Charles credits much of his success to the unwavering support of his wife. “She did it with me, which was a great thing because it would have been extremely hard if she didn’t,” he said. Together, they embraced a lifestyle centered on whole, nutrient-dense foods, reinforcing one another’s commitment to their health.

The ripple effect of Charles’s transformation extended beyond his household. His daughters, inspired by his remarkable journey, began adopting healthier habits of their own. Even their spouses have followed suit, embracing elements of the animal-based diet that Charles introduced.

But Charles’s reach didn’t stop at his family. Through social media and YouTube, he’s shared his story with thousands of others, spreading a message of hope and encouragement. “I’ve had more people watch my videos than I could have ever spoken to in person. It allows us to give people hope and encouragement,” he said.

A Message of Hope for Others

For those feeling trapped by chronic illness, Charles offers a simple but powerful piece of advice: “Doing real, whole-food keto or carnivore for 90 days is not going to kill you, but it might save your life.”

He acknowledges how daunting it can be to start again, especially after past failures. “It’s so hard to find the motivation to start again after you’ve failed so many times,” he said.

“I’m no one special,” Charles said humbly. “I was overweight and obese for five decades. If I can do that, other people can as well.”