Before: 2011 After: 2013, 30 lbs lighter. Went from a pant size range of 9-11 to 4-5!
I was bought up on a rather balanced diet where a veggie serving was always on the plate. My brothers and I were string beans, often the slimmest in our classes and healthy. By 8-9th grade my mom worked more hours and home-cooked dinners were replaced with frozen dinners. Like many Americans I ate a diet of almost entirely processed food without even realizing it. I caught colds incredibly easily, my immune system being compromised by a lack of nutrients. Verrrrry slowly as to make detection trickier, weight crept on each year. Digestion was pain! Gas! Cramps! Every. Day.
Photo from a couple years back, at a Dr. Sketchy's event with my gummy bear & beer dinner.
After a break-up with my then-boyfriend and a proverbial break-up with my copywriting job I channeled new time and energy into completely changing my diet. I found a book on break-outs at the thrift store that boasted an anti-inflammatory diet for immediate break-out healing. (Shared here.) I know it works because my break-out was significantly better in just three days! After years of trying and failing to improve the condition of my skin, it was proof I needed that diet is the solution to 99% or more of our health problems. I slowly continued to improve, going from pescetarian with loads of vegetables to vegetarian, to raw vegan over a few months. For the first time in my life I was losing weight and keeping it off.
Now I adore being mostly raw vegan (there are cooked meals and treats here and there) for the ease (mostly just blending up meals in my vital vitamix). The food is delicious, the health benefits fast and visible. It used to be hard for me to even go one week without eating meat or junk food, I never thought I'd be where I am, but it's easier than you'd think when the changes are gradual. I believe the before photo was taken near my peak at 164ish, now I've plataued at 134, within the healthy weight range for my height (126-140). I'd like to lose another 10 lbs but I'm not rushing it. I have so much energy it's hard to sleep, am rarely sick, and never have digestive problems unless I sneak in processed food.
Do you need to be an insane raw vegan extremist to feel a difference from eating fruits and veggies? Hell no! But I do recommend stuffing in as many raw unprocessed fruits as veggies as possible, even changing out your lunch for a huge salad and your breakfast with a fruit smoothie can make a big difference. Fruits and vegetables are investment for your health, saving you on medical bills in the long run. As the wise father of western medicine Hippocrates said, "Let Food be Thy Medicine". And now you know why I won't shut the hell up about my vegetables! I hope you'll continue to try raw vegan recipes I'll share in the future! I do believe I'll share some easy vegan recipe ideas for Thanksgiving tomorrow.
Got any weight-loss stories to share? Questions? Tips? I'll answer any questions in the comments :) I'm sharing all this to encourage others who were in my shoes, I honestly thought I'd never lose weight, it can be a slow and discouraging process, but it's totally possible. Making it about getting healthy and stuffing yourself with delicious fruits and vegetables and not the number on the scale makes it easy!
I have been a vegetarian for 33 years, Married 20 years ago to a man that became vegetarian the day we met (hah, that's how I roll) and we are raising 2 kids vegetarian (ages 6 and 10). Whatever they choose to eat or not eat when they are adults is okay with us. They can make their own decisions as grown ups, we love them no matter what. But as of now, they think the idea of eating meat is disgusting! We are not vegan or raw, but we don't eat red meat, chicken or seafood. I have been a vegetarian most my life, so I don't know any different. My husband feels much better since giving up meat. He used to have all sorts of horrible digestive problems when he ate meat. I appreciate you posts about raw/vegan diet. I think some people don't understand that what we eat affects us and our health as much as it does. Even small changes help. Give up red meat...or go veggie 2 days a week, or eat raw once a week, Reduce processed food by half. Even small changes make a difference. Congratulations on going full force with your diet!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story, I often wonder about raising kids vegetarian/vegan or even raw and how difficult that has to be with outside factors pressuring them into eating processed food and overall cost. For the record I think people can be perfectly healthy eating meat but should stuff in as many fruits and veggies as possible even if they do eat eggs/meat/dairy, that stuff be life-changing, I tells ya! As you know.
DeleteI was never a big meat eater, never cooked it at home. Hated buying it, freezing it, the smell of the blood in raw meat, nope, more of a pain than making plant food to me. So switching wasn't too difficult, it was more unnatural for me to cook meat.
Oh and that's awesome your guy went to vegetarianism the day you met! My boyfriend is still an omnivore and always feels much better when he's been staying here and eating like I do for a while. He loves what I make but his junk food cravings are still too strong for him to make the full leap to the hippie side. He's confessed later that me cooking him little vegetarian/vegan treats during his initial visits was one of the big reasons he "fell" for me. D'aw...
DeleteYou look equally beautiful at both weights. I've been vegetarian since I was 18 months old and refused to eat meat when I learnt it was from animals, that's over 45 years. Back in the 1960s and early 1970s it was a total nightmare in the UK, especially with having school meals and eating out. The raw thing doesn't appeal in the slightest - no curry, spicy soups, stir-fries or pasta bakes? I think I'd die of boredom. Kudos to you for doing it. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Vix! We're lucky there are often vegetarian/vegan options these days where there were not even 20 years ago. Raw is awesome because I can exercise creativity to make foods that taste just like curry, spicy soups and stir fries with spices and using a dehydrator or my vitamix to warm up the food. I work a day a week in a gourmet raw vegan kitchen and have learned a lot about making raw food so good no one would question if it's "cooked" or not :) I took a raw vegan chili to a housewarming this weekend and it was devoooured and praised.
DeleteNo sub for pasta bakes though, cheese on bread is the most comforting thing to put in your mouth in the world ;) haha
I always liked mocking you when you went "raw vegan" but it's great to see you looking much happier. I'm trying to add more vegetarian/vegan foods to my diet out west (I'm trying to find nutritional yeast, and possibly the things to make your amazing dressing. Congrats buddy!!!
ReplyDeleteYou were not alone in mocking me ;) Your ribbing was tamer than some who loudly exclaimed, "EW GROSS!" to everything I ate, at least you chomped the stuff I'd make. Add those veggies to yo diet, boy! Or I'll go out west and shove down yo trap!
DeleteThis cracked me up! Many of my in life friends would totally write this. But they'd just say they like mocking me period......What are good friends for but that!! :)
DeleteYes indeed! I may deserve some ribbing from going to burger-a-day voracious junk-eater to fully re-embracing (was my way in elementary to middle school) my organic hippie side. Most people have been very supportive and curios which is awesome :D
DeleteYou looked beautiful then, you look beautiful today. I totally get what you mean though. I feel much healthier after giving up 90% of bread - I only eat homemade pizza cruse and the odd piece when on vacation. My digestive system is much happier and I took off 10lbs in 3mos.You are very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weight loss! I've learned the small changes can really make a huge difference, I know some people who thrive on a diet of mostly carbs, like you I'm one of those people that really has to watch 'em or gaaain ;p As I sip a delicious fruit smoothie I'm not feeling the loss, sugar carbs are just as satisfying in the belly but don't give me bloat and weight gain so easily!
DeleteYou have inspired me greatly! You look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSitting on my ass for 2 and a half years doing the online thing has led to a 30 pound weight gain. I have gotten in the habit of just grabbing something and shoving it in my face with little to no thought. I officially feel crappy and have almost zero energy. Sad!
I have done the counting points thing and it worked well for me, but what I HATE about those programs is you are ALWAYS thinking about food! I don't have time for that!
This time, I am making smaller changes. I live with 2 teenage boys and am married to a man with a killer sweet tooth. We talked about it, and we are going to change our diet one meal at a time. Not vegan, but to unprocessed foods. We are starting with breakfast and will work from there. I made a list of healthy, unprocessed breakfasts and everyone was happy with it (a MAJOR accomplishment!) Then we will move to lunch and so on! I am excited to put these changes into place as I know that the only way I am going to feel any worse is to get a major illness and that scares the crap out of me!
Other than that, I am going to make more of an effort to get off my butt and get moving again. I used to love exercise and I need to rekindle that love.
Thanks for all you write about!
Same thing happened to me as a copywriter, I was sitting on my ass on the computer and gained about the same amount. Even switching to unprocessed foods make a big difference. I've learned you have to take it slow and really make it about replacing what you like to eat with healthy alternatives you love so you stick to it. I saw slow changes even when my first switches included oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast and whole yogurt and oranges for lunch. Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions, over the years I've learned a lot about eating healthy as cheap as possible, vegan or not.
DeleteGot any weight loss stories??! Girl I went from 220 to a triathlon. Anyway.... you look amazing!! And since the weight came off so slow and so naturally I guarantee it will stay off! Those long legs of yours, work it girl!!:)
ReplyDeleteI kind of stumbled on something with acne. Ginger shots. It seems to help the inflammation go down super fast. Which makes sense it being a anti- inflammatory. Since I do shots to help with healing after long runs I just happened to notice that one time I got a gnarly zit seem to heal in half the time. Anyway something to keep in mind if you have another break out.
The thought of eating meat kind of makes me want to hurl now. Its the consistency of it (and taste AND the thought of eating all that sad). I have decided eating meat and even things like cheese are an acquired taste. I think most humans seem to think we are born to eat meat. I don't know if thats true. It seems to me it would be more innate if that was true. But its not, really REALLY not.
Oh, that's awesome! Will have to look into those ginger shots. I try to stick to eating lots of anti-inflamatories like berries and spinach if skin gets out-of-whack, whenever more processed vegan "junk food" sneaks in that my body wants it WILL punish me with a break-out every time.
DeleteI also think the same thing about cheese, meat, bread...a lot of it wouldn't even be appealing to our taste buds in the slightest if not for human intervention- most people wouldn't eat raw meat and wheat with salt, yeast, and lots manipulation is crap. Can't even eat it. Whereas you can eat fruit just as it is and it's perfect, "food" for thought.
And on 220 to triathlon, that is just incredible, I'm always in awe when people can do that. It was hard enough to get down 30lbs but like you said, it was slow so it won't be back! My next hurtle is incorporating exercise which I rarely do anymore, I was biking but got sucked into work and stopped. Bad me.
EXERCISE! It makes all the difference in the world. I had gone a week without exercising and I was a freakin wreck. Picked a fight with my brother sat around crying (yes crying). A few minutes on my bike and twenty doing a circuit and I swear to you I smiled the rest of the day. I truly do not know how people function without exercise (ESPECIALLY people who work at home!). I am a very big proponent of eating right. But I'm a FREAK about exercise. Find what you love and start. Pronto! :)
DeleteYep, been putting it off forever, baaad me. I want to start cycling as much as possible. Right now my only "exercise" is cleaning the house/moving boxes of vintage stuff around, haha ;p
DeleteOw, ow! You go girl. You were fab then, and you're fab now. I could never go all out vegan, but I say, good for you. You go, Glen CoCo! (sorry, love that movie, lol)
ReplyDeleteHaha, thank you :D It's not for everyone but I do have to shout the benefits of adding more veggies to the plate for everyone whether you eat sea or land beast or not.
DeleteI've noticed the same thing, very true. I'm actually not even anti-meat consumption, just wish it was easier for consumers to buy farm-fresh grass-fed all natural chicken and beef, not grain fattened antibiotic and steroid filled meat.
ReplyDeleteGood for YOU! For almost 2 years now, I've adopted a lifestyle called Fast-5. I eat in a 5 hour "window" each day and "fast" for the other 19. Food choices are up to the individual - but obviously healthy choices are the desirable ones. I've lost 40 pounds and kept them off. The theory is that your body has time to repair itself in the "fasting" time rather than constantly focusing on digestion of multiple meals.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Rebecca, awesome that it's worked for you! Never heard of it, will have to read about it :)
DeleteYou were gorgeous before, but that second picture has a load more confidence behind those eyes. Well done on finding the right path for you...and sticking to it.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to note that, at 20lbs over "healthy weight" I loathed having my picture taken. It made me feel (even more) unphotogenic. Now I'm fine with it. The camera adds weight so even a little weight loss makes you feel better on camera!
DeleteWowzers!
ReplyDeleteYerp.
DeleteWow! Congratulations on your change and journey! It gives me some inspiration to clean up my act too. I too stopped drinking alcohol about a month ago - not that I did a lot of partying but had the odd glass of wine here and there. I started on meds to control my SAD and that means I can mix it with alcohol. I don't know if that's what made a difference but I dropped about 2 kilos in the last month...
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the change. The alcohol, my god it can fatten you up if you're not careful, congrats on making a positive change. I think I'll be sharing more tips on this throughout the year for others who want to clean up their act :)
DeleteYou look great! Congratulations on sticking to your changes!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
Deleteget it girl! my husband and i radically changed our diets about a year ago and i lost almost 50 lbs with no effort other then the food changes. it is amazing and my mental health was better too! lately i've been letting myself stress eat more processed junk and it is making me feel like crap! thanks for the inspiration to get my kale on again!
ReplyDeleteIf I let too much junk food creep in I will feel an immediate difference, usually a tummy pain, and definitely even SEE it later on my skin/body if it gets to be too much ;\ Always has me reached for the greens, too! Congrats on making the changes for yourself, awesome how important DIET alone can be. I want to incorporate some hardcore exercise next.
DeleteYou've got me so inspired! Ok, so I haven't read through all your posts yet - and I'm going to this week. I'm going to soak it all in and try some of your recipes. I'm wondering if you've mentioned some of your diet staples. Do you start your morning with coffee? Do you drink other things besides water? Maybe sparkling water? I know I need to make a LOT of changes and I'm wondering if I should commit to one meal a day or start with switching out what I drink (i.e. coffee or occasional pop). You don't have to answer all these things, I guess I'm just thinking out loud. I'm looking forward to reading through all your posts.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week! :)
Sorry for the delayed response Kristen. Feel free to e-mail any questions to info@thriftcore.com.
DeleteDiet staples coming soon. I enjoy: berry/fruit smoothies adding in your greens is good here because they will taste like just the fruit and you can fit in tons of it this way while also getting fruit vitamins. Smoothies are King! I work one day a week at a gourmet raw vegan kitchen, this type of high fat "comfort" food (kale chips, cashew cheese, chocolate!) is good when you're transitioning.
Coffee: I AM THROWING THAT SHIT OUT. I am up at 4:24 AM right now reading old posts and replying now because being raw makes you very chemically sensitive. Caffeine is only abided in small dosages. You system, especially if exercising, will be clean and energetic from lack of having to break down heavier food. A little bit of matcha green tea in a morning smoothie would help as a beginner. (Full of antioxidants, it's ground fresh tea leaf.)
Drinking other things beside water: Rarely. Mostly lots of water. A morning water infused in lemon/orange slices overnight when I remember to. (Really tasty and healthy). My berry smoothies. Rarely a delicious natural Blue Q soda ( 4x a year) or occasional fruit juice. I don't frown on sparkling water, baby steps, whatever it takes. I was a SODA ADDICT as a teen I know it's hard to break the cycle.
Switching out one meal a deal is a GREAT start. It's all about slow change. I think switching breakfast with a berry smoothie and lunch or dinner with a big salad will make a HUGE change. Thanks for reading. Much mote to come!