Peterborough Examiner Referrer

Weight-loss journey now inspiring others

Peterborough’s Brendan Carpenter has gone viral talking about lifestyle changes, mental health

MARISSA LENTZ

After losing more than 160 lb., a Peterborough man is impacting people around the globe through his body-positive and mental health-focused social media accounts.

Growing up, Brendan Carpenter — a Fleming College graduate — said he was always heavier set.

“Even when I was eight, nine, 10, I always had kids picking on me just because of my weight,” Carpenter said.

By Grade 12, Carpenter weighed about 360 pounds, he said.

“Which honestly was also due to me eating to mask the pain because I never knew really what mental health was back then. So, I would just eat my feelings away. The thing I kept saying was, food doesn’t make fun of me, but other people will. I just found comfort in it,” he said.

However, Carpenter said he decided it was time for a lifestyle change during a class trip to Canada’s Wonderland after being kicked off the Drop Zone ride because he was unable to fit in the seat.

“That was the most embarrassing moment of my life. And so that’s when I kind of knew I had to make a change,” he said.

“When I first started working out, I didn’t enjoy it whatsoever, but eventually I came to learn that sometimes you’re not going to always enjoy the process. So, I just started showing up on days I didn’t want to, and over the course of that, I kind of learned that even on the days that you don’t want to do something, it will help you achieve your goals.”

Carpenter created his TikTok account during the pandemic to make videos of himself doing trending dances. However, after no success, he instead began sharing real and raw clips of him talking about his weight loss and mental-health journeys instead.

Now, with more than 240,000 followers on TikTok, Carpenter is inspiring individuals worldwide.

“It makes me feel amazing that I have this platform and that I can help people with my words and my own personal experiences,” he said.

“When I started my fitness weight loss journey type thing, I had no idea where to turn. There weren’t big platforms like we have now. So, to be able to be a little light for some people is amazing. It’s definitely a blessing and something that I don’t take for granted. I try to just show up authentically all day and allow people to feel what they’re going through and feel like they’re not alone.”

Through his success on social media, Carpenter ended up on air with Ryan Seacrest last January to talk about his mental-health walks and has also signed with a talent agency.

“It’s actually been such a cool experience for me because I’ve got to work with a couple of brands and major sponsors that I had always dreamed of working with. I’ve done stuff with the Raptors, the Leafs, the NFL, and I’m doing stuff with the Blue Jays right now. It’s just kind of been like a whirlwind.”

The stigma surrounding the struggle men face with both body image issues and mental health needs to come to an end, Carpenter said.

“There’s always been this expectation that men need to be a hard figure, like G.I. Joe, and they’re not allowed to share how they feel about themselves,” he said.

Carpenter said if he could give advice to anyone wanting to start their fitness journey or to someone who may be struggling with theirs, it would be to not compare yourself to others because “your chapter one and someone else’s chapter one look totally different.

“The hardest part is definitely starting. If you either don’t want to start or don’t want to work out one day, follow the 15-minute rule. Once you get out there and start doing whatever, you get warmed up and you start to feel good, and usually you keep going. But even if you don’t, 15 minutes is better than no minutes,” he said.

“Not every day is going to feel good. But if you are consistent and instead of thinking you have to complete the full journey within the first week, go after small and more attainable goals.”

Carpenter, who is now a social media manager promoting athletes at Fleming College, said you only get one body so it’s important to accept it for what it is.

“I have come to realize that it’s totally normal to feel insecure about how your body can look. If you work on the mental health side of things and kind of give yourself grace and accept it, you can start to see your body in a different light no matter what weight you are.”

Carpenter can be found on TikTok and Instagram via @brecarperuns.

LOCAL

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2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://thepeexaminerepaper.pressreader.com/article/281595244780475

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