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Dorinda lost 106 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Dorinda lost 106 pounds with exercise and a plant-based diet. After her husband was killed, she went into a depression and reached her highest weight. She was also dealing with high blood pressure and pre-diabetes. On her 34th birthday in 2018, she decided that enough was enough. 

Domenese before and after

I was a chubby kid, and I’ve been overweight my entire life. I found out that I was pre-diabetic, and my blood pressure was elevated during a doctor’s office visit! After my husband was killed, I went into a depression and reached my heaviest weight at 300 pounds! 

One day, right before my 34 birthday, I was walking up the stairs in my house, and I said to myself, “I have to make a change!” I haven’t looked back since that day!

How did you change your eating habits? 
In the beginning, I just did portion control and worked out. Four months into my journey, after studying and researching the foods we eat and their correlation to diseases, I transitioned to Veganism.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I started by just walking around my neighborhood five days a week after work! Eventually, I began jogging, and that led to increased endurance. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight is 296 pounds, and now I’m about 190 pounds (maybe less). I don’t get on the scale often.

Domenese lost 106 pounds

What is your height?
5’6″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
It was July 16, 2018, on my 34 birthday, that I decided enough was enough.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey? 
No, I never had surgery, and I never used any diet trend supplements 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
My biggest lesson was learning never to doubt myself. I can do anything.

What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight?
Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Stay consistent. A little progress is still progress. Also, it’s a journey, so it will never end! Be patient.

Instagram: @domen_ese

Mekie lost 75 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Mekie lost 75 pounds. She was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and wanted to heal herself without surgery. Her Vegan husband suggested that she see a natruropatic doctor, which led to her switching to Veganism as well. Check out plant-based eating and exercise changed her life.

Mekie before and after

I would like to share my story in hopes of inspiring someone else. As of today, I’ve lost a total of 75 pounds. It took me a little over a year to do this and I’m still going strong. I’ve managed to keep the weight off going on 3 years now.

In 2013, I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. At the time, I was severely overweight. My husband, who is vegan, recommended that I consult a naturopathic doctor for help, which I did. My life changed at that moment. I started a vegan diet and joined the gym. The weight came off gradually and my joints began to get stronger. I continued to work and didn’t give up on myself, even though I would get depressed from time to time.

Going vegan was a necessary and gradual process for me. My goal was to heal myself and avoid having surgery for ovarian cysts. My journey to veganism was a bit easier because my husband was already vegan prior to our marriage. He was a great help. I gave up dairy products, pork, and beef immediately. Next, I kicked chicken, which took about 6 months, until I was pretty much over it. I kept seafood for a bit longer afterwards. So, it took me about a year to transition with minimal cravings. I knew that if I took my time, I would be more likely to stick with the lifestyle. If I had gone cold turkey, I would have given in and ultimately would’ve cheated myself of my goal.

Giving up fast food was one of my biggest hurdles. My version of cooking always involved a microwave and canned foods. I knew nothing about how to pick out organic, whole foods or what to do with them. My husband shared some knowledge in this department. I also put in a ton of research. I spent hours reading about GMOs, caloric intake, metabolism, eating times, exercise… I could go on and on! YouTube was a lifesaver! I basically learned how to cook by watching YouTube videos, LOL. Cooking is now one of my favorite hobbies.

I basically eat the same staple foods every day. I cut out processed foods, refined sugar, and bad carbs. I start my day with 2 large glasses of water followed by 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. After about 30 minutes or so, I’ll have a cup of tea (green tea or yerbe mate).  For breakfast, I have either a green juice (kale, apple, lemon, ginger, celery), fruit smoothie (Vega Protein Mix, frozen fruit, and almond milk), oatmeal, or tofu scramble with fresh fruit. I like to eat carbs with protein for lunch. I’ll have baked tofu, brown rice with steamed veggies. I also like sweet potatoes and vegetable spaghetti. Dinner is always pretty light. Sometimes, I’ll have another smoothie. Mainly, dinner is soup and a large salad. I eat a lot of quinoa with raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon. If I get bored, I play with spices. For instance, I add curry and coconut milk to my tofu sometimes to have tofu curry with rice or add Liquid Aminos and sriracha sauce to my veggies for a stir fry. I also drink a ton of water.

I worked out about 5 days per week in the beginning. Now, I workout 3-4 days per week. I started out on the elliptical machine, because that’s all that I could do. Then, I started walking and jogging. Eventually, I picked up spinning and yoga.

After about 3 months, my cysts went away on their own completely! I avoided surgery by healing myself. I started my journey in April 2011 at 250 pounds. I currently weigh 175 pounds. I’m 5’7″. My goal is to kick the last 25 pounds and achieve my goal of losing 100 pounds. I still have some more toning to do as well. However, I am so very proud of my accomplishments thus far.

The most challenging part of this journey, for me, was learning the purpose of food! Food is meant for nourishment and nutrition. I grew up in Alabama where health was never a part of any conversation. I used food for everything except it’s intended purpose. I only knew that if it tastes good, eat it! So, the hardest part for me was definitely lack of education. Once I gained knowledge, my journey was smooth sailing.

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned about myself is that I am worth the fight! I am worth every pound lost and every ounce of confidence that I’ve gained. I’ve cried. I’ve injured myself (fell while jogging). I’ve lost friends. I moved away from my family. I’ve been lonely. But guess what? I am worth it all and I would do it again in a split second.

My advice to others is to find your own path. No one knows your body like you! Every path isn’t for everyone. Be completely honest with yourself about where you are in life and the events or circumstances that got you to where you are now. Evaluate your entire life and eliminate anything or anyone who is holding you back. Listen to motivational speakers, read new books, go to meet up groups, and surround yourself with positivity in any way. If you don’t have a cheerleader, be your own! Self love is the best love.

I am so happy that we’re all starting to take the steps towards loving ourselves more. I hope that my story can influence someone to make the decision to make self love a priority.

Instagram: @Oh.Mekie.Youre.So.Fine

Mekie before and after

Keita lost 96 pounds

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Keita.  She lost 96 pounds by committing to working out and adopting a Raw Food Vegan lifestyle.  Here is what she shared with us about her transformation:

Keita weight loss raw food

“Photos: Me at 286 pounds and now at 190 pounds. I began my journey at nearly 300 pounds. I was sick all the time and decided that enough was enough. My doctor suggested that I have weight loss surgery and I agreed, but my insurance said they needed documented proof that diet and exercise didn’t work before they would approve it.  I searched and got a gym.  I was ok with any gym because I knew it wouldn’t work.  However, I stumbled across Jungle Gym and it changed my life. They helped me find the right diet.  For me that was the Raw Food [Vegan] Diet.  They also helped me with figuring out what exercise worked for me. I have gained confidence, not only to meet my weight loss goals or to compete, but most importantly to face any challenge in life. I look forward to finally losing another 25 pounds and sharing those pictures with you too.”

Check out her video for more info on her transformation (from June 2013):

Vegetarian Protein Myths: Does a Plant Based Diet Contain Enough Protein?

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veggiesFor years, dieticians, medical professionals, and the health conscious have insinuated that vegetarian and vegan diets are deficient in some way, mainly when it comes to protein intake. However, most of the hype surrounding vegetarianism and protein deficiencies can be attributed to our culture and not to any real medical research. You see, before the turn of the 20th century, most people did not eat a lot of meat and dairy products; they just couldn’t afford it and food was scarce. In the early and mid 1900s, though, nutrition experts started telling people that they needed well over 100 grams of protein a day for optimal health. The idea stuck, resulting in a population that eats too much protein.

Protein: How Our Body Uses It

There’s no doubt about it, protein plays a huge role in our metabolic processes. Your body uses the protein you consume to make specialized molecules – the building blocks of your body. Your body requires protein to make blood, build muscle, make new cells, and to maintain bones and organs.

When you consume protein, your digestive juices break it down into amino acids. There are approximately 22 amino acids that your body requires for optimal health. Your body can create around 13 of the required amino acids; you must consume the rest.

Your Body’s Protein Requirements

It’s estimated that the average American consumes twice the amount of protein that their body requires. According to the World Health Organization, protein requirements for individuals fall between 5- to 11-percent, depending on various factors (for example weight lifters and athletes may need more for their activities). If you eat too much protein, you can face serious health risks including kidney disease and kidney stones, cancer, and osteoporosis.

Can You Get Enough Protein from Vegetables?

Fruits, grains, and vegetables contain all the protein your body needs in order to function properly. Vegetables contain around 22-percent protein, whereas beans contain a whopping 28-percent. Even grains contain 13-percent protein. As you can see, most foods contain more protein than your body requires. In fact, every single plant food found on this planet contains more than 2.5-percent protein. So, no matter what you eat, you will consume enough protein.

In addition to the myth of protein deficiency among vegetarians and vegans, it has been said that those who do not eat meat must eat a wide variety of foods in order to consume the right types of proteins as plant proteins were thought to be less complete than meat proteins. To the contrary, research shows that vegetable proteins are complete proteins. There is no need to pick and choose certain vegetables in order to meet all your protein requirements.

The myths surrounding vegetarianism and veganism are entrenched in our social consciousness due to the fact that they have been passed from person to person for decades. If you take the time to do some research, though, you will see that most of plant foods you already eat contain more than enough protein to meet your body’s needs.

vegan protein sources

8 Tips for Going Vegan or Vegetarian

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I know that some of you may be considering going Vegan or Vegetarian, so I want to give some tips on transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle.

8 tips vegan vegetarianHow many excuses have you come up with for not going vegan or vegetarian? If you’re like many people, you have talked yourself out of it time and time again. Maybe you feel that eating a solely plant-based diet is just too difficult or that you won’t be able to eat out, socialize with friends, or enjoy the foods you love. For these reasons and more, people have either avoided veganism/vegetarianism altogether or given up after a short stint.

The truth is, though, that most people fail to plan, making their lifestyle switch more difficult than it needs to be. Follow these 8 tips to make your transition into the world of plant-based eating easier:

  1. Research –There’s no way you can go vegan or vegetarian without doing some research and planning. Browse online for recipes or buy a cookbook to learn a wide variety of vegan recipes. Research vitamins and nutrients as well.  What you find out will help you understand how this lifestyle change will benefit your overall health longterm.
  2. Plan – When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Create menus and grocery lists to take the guesswork out of shopping and preparing meals. Purchase plenty of snacks to keep handy in case of cravings or unexpected hunger. Take some time to research restaurant menus too. When you know what you can order before you sit down, you will be less likely to stray.
  3. Take Small Steps – Instead of switching to a 100-percent vegan or vegetarian lifestyle instantly, make gradual changes. Start by preparing one vegan meal daily and add more vegetarian choices to your diet as you progress until you reach your goal.  You can also start by eliminating one type of meat or animal product each week.
  4. Eat Healthy Food – Even as a vegan or vegetarian, you can make unhealthy food choices. For example, many sugary junk foods are, for all intents and purposes, vegan. However, if you eat too much junk, you will be sluggish and tired. You may even gain weight and become less healthy than the former carnivorous you. Always choose healthy meal options and snacks.  Be conscious of what carbs and starches you are eating as well as processed foods and junk foods.

What is a Vegan and Why Should I Consider Being One?

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why go veganA vegan is a person who consumes no animal products whatsoever. This includes not only meat, but eggs and all dairy products.  Many (but not all) vegans even avoid fur, leather, down, silk or anything that was once part of, or produced by an animal (i.e. honey).  It is also common for vegans to avoid using products that include animal testing of any kind in their production. Many people become vegan to promote animal welfare and rights. They hold a strong belief that animals should not be manipulated or exploited, in any way, by man. Others come to the vegan way of life because of environmental concerns. That being said, a large group of people have found that the health benefits are numerous and are the prime motivation to embrace veganism.  Weight loss is definitely one of those reasons.

Obviously eating meat harms animals. However, many items that come from animals can be attained without this harm.  Many animals that are used to produce goods are kept in cramped quarters, pumped full of hormones and antibiotics and are slaughtered when his or her productivity diminishes. By boycotting such products, vegans believe the demand will lessen and that there would not be a need for animals to have to endure such a life.

A plant-based diet is easier on the planet over all as well as animals. It takes a lot of energy and land to fulfill the needs of animal farming. Vast quantities of food must be grown and the waste from these mega farms sends large amounts of methane into the atmosphere every year.  Water ways affected by waste runs can contain remnants of the large amounts of hormones and antibiotics that are fed to farmed animals. All of this has a detrimental impact on the environment. It is widely believed that the world could be fed on the available land if everyone ate a plant based diet, as the return on raising animals for meat is very inefficient compared to that of raising crops for man.

Most vegans adopt this lifestyle because of their moral belief about the ethical treatment of animals. However, the health benefits are numerous. Since plants have virtually no cholesterol and very low in fat, it is an extremely healthy way of eating. Naturally lower in calories, most vegans are very lean. The risk of some cancers associated with meat eating, those of the stomach and bowel notably, decrease dramatically. Many people have found that digestive problems are eliminated and report feeling lighter and stronger with an abundance of energy. Most will say that even conditions such as asthma and migraine headaches were either vastly improved or disappeared entirely.

Among the other significant benefits of living vegan is the considerable savings to the wallet. Meat can be expensive and most vegans buy fresh fruits, veggies, etc. and prepare their food at home. Going vegan takes commitment, but for some, the rewards definitely outweigh the disadvantages for them personally and the planet.

Sanini lost 36 pounds

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Today’s featured weight loss success story:  Sanini lost 36 pounds by working out each day and changing her eating habits.  She is switching to veganism as well.

“I was tired of not being able to find clothes that fit me. I decided to make a change. I started last year in November. I used to go the gym 4 times a week . Starting January, I decided to join The Game ‘s 60 days of fitness. I went to the gym every single day, lol. I lost 36 pounds (started at 186). Now I go to the gym for 2 hours ( 1 hour of cardio and 1 hour of weight lifting ). I cut dairy, pasta, rice, meat, and recently seafood. I can say that I’m slowly becoming vegan.”

Sanini weight loss