Brena: '17 kilograms in six months', protein and exercise
Lepa Brena, who lost 17 kilograms in six months in her early career, still follows a protein-led regimen of grilled meat, vegetables and salads, Nova reports.
17 kilograms. Six months. One menu that Lepa Brena, born Fahreta Zivojinovic in 1960, has used for decades as the foundation of her everyday eating.
A piece by Nova on May 25, 2026, analyzed her regimen. The menu was reviewed by nutritionist and dietitian Jovana Srejic Ferluga.
What she eats in a day
Breakfast is grilled, not quick. Lunch is the day’s main meal, not a light salad. Dinner is light, not a heavy course:
- breakfast: grilled eggs with peppers and mushrooms, or an omelet with broccoli and cheese
- lunch: vegetable soup, 150 to 200 grams of grilled meat or fish, and a salad of fresh vegetables
- dinner: Mediterranean salads with tuna, egg, and lettuce leaves
Yogurt serves as the base for dressing sauces. Olive oil is used only in small amounts.
A strictly protein-led regimen
The nutritionist is direct. Srejic Ferluga in the Nova piece warns the diet should not run long:
The menu is strictly protein-led, with intentional exclusion of fast carbohydrates and dietary sugar. Such regimens should only be run short-term, no more than six months, due to possible impact on the kidneys and mineral balance.
Brena pairs the diet with about an hour of daily walking. She is often described in the media as an athlete because of her long-standing exercise routine.
How the singer describes her eating
Married to former tennis player Slobodan Bobo Zivojinovic since 1991, the singer described her method in a 2024 Story interview:
I eat little, but I eat constantly.
Five small meals a day. Exercise, she has repeated many times, “has always mattered as much as eating”.
What 2026 holds
A request for an additional statement from her camp did not arrive before publication. Her management calendar lists several shows planned for northern and central Europe, with a focus on the diaspora.
A major regional spectacle is being held for 2027. That year marks 40 years since the release of her landmark album Hajde da se volimo.
Will protein diets stand the test of time after 40 years of a career
Her next public appearance, according to tickets.rs, is a vocal evening at the Vienna Congress Center in late June 2026.
The singer alternates between her Belgrade apartment, a villa in Slovenia, and the family yacht. Blic on May 23, 2026 valued the yacht at around six million euros.
Srejic Ferluga warns that such regimens are not advisable for people with kidney or cardiovascular conditions, nor for young people in growth phases. Brena’s success, in her view, comes from discipline, exercise, and family support, given that the singer has kept the routine “for almost four decades”.
Would you follow Lepa Brena’s diet, or is it too strict for everyday use?
