weight loss
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Success StoriesSee articleI Dropped 100 Pounds in One Year by Ditching Animal Products, Processed Foods
Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2021. Scroll to the end for an inspiring 2025 update from Dave on how his health and life have continued to improve. I’ve been big for most of my life. I wasn’t an obese child, but I was tall and overweight, and I knew I stood out. […] -
Success StoriesSee articleFrom Unmotivated to Unstoppable: My Transformation on a Plant-Based Diet
Prior to transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle, I had little desire to do anything healthy. I had unfairly lost a court battle that I’d spent almost a decade fighting, and I tried to numb myself from the pain. I became a heavy smoker and heavy drinker, and I ate whatever I wanted. I would mindlessly […] -
HealthSee articleUnderstanding the Risks and Causes of Obesity
What Is Obesity? Obesity is defined by a body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30. BMI is a simple metric that calculates your weight-to-height ratio (kg/m2). Though BMI has its limitations (it doesn’t measure body fat or consider weight distribution), it offers a frame of reference for estimating whether you are underweight, normal weight, […] -
Success StoriesSee articleHow a Plant-Based Diet Helped Me Be Migraine-Free
My father has type 2 diabetes. In the summer of 2013, he switched to a whole-food, plant-based diet to manage his disease and attempt to get off his medications. He experienced rapid weight loss and was able to discontinue many of the medications he’d been on. My dad’s experience made me curious to look into how […] -
Success StoriesSee articleWe’ve Lost 195 Pounds Combined Since Going Plant-Based
I grew up in an unhealthy vegetarian household. My mom, dad, and I were all overweight. We ate a lot of highly processed foods, such as soy burgers and dogs. I decided to start eating meat in my teens. As a young adult, I tried a no-carb diet, lost a few pounds, and thought I’d […] -
Success StoriesSee articleA Plant-Based Diet Cut My LDL Cholesterol in Half
Like many people, I struggled with my weight from a very early age. I tried nearly every diet you can think of. They all worked for a short time, but as soon as I got bored and went back to the way I normally ate, I always gained the weight back, with interest. My road […] -
Success StoriesSee articleAt 56, I’m Fitter, Healthier, and Happier Than Ever, Thanks to a Plant-Based Diet
I struggled with being overweight my entire adult life. It took chest pains in my mid-40s, spending time in cardiac rehab, being put on high blood pressure medication, and being labeled as prediabetic to finally get my attention. I started watching my caloric intake and walking a lot. I lost some weight, but I plateaued […] -
Success StoriesSee articleHypertension, Ear Infections, Excess Weight—All Gone on a Plant-Based Diet
I always struggled with my weight growing up. I was never the heaviest in my class, but I was always heavy enough to know I was different, and to hate it. A typical day of eating consisted of cheesy grits or buttery, sugary oatmeal for breakfast; school cafeteria food for lunch; and chips, candy, cheese […] -
Success StoriesSee articleI Cut My Weight in Half on a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
I started struggling with obesity during childhood. Despite many attempts to manage my weight, it continually crept up. I was eventually diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I moved to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet in 2001 in an effort to control my weight and thyroid symptoms, but it didn’t help. By the time I had my youngest child, […] -
Success StoriesSee articleFaced with Gastric Bypass Surgery, I Tried a Plant-Based Diet Instead
I’m from Kansas City and grew up on barbecue. I ate a lot of ribs, chicken, brisket, and pulled pork. I began to struggle with excess weight when I was 8 years old, and as an adult, I became morbidly obese. At 44, I was diagnosed with six serious health conditions all at the same […] -
Success StoriesSee articleFrom Sedentary Asthma Sufferer to Long-Distance Runner on a Plant-Based Diet
Growing up, asthma made me self-conscious, and I limited my physical activity because of it. I didn’t want to be the girl who was out of breath after running a block or the girl who had to have her rescue inhaler with her at all times. Not long after high school, I lost both my […] -
Success StoriesSee articleLiving Well, 122 Pounds Lighter on a Plant-Based Diet
At the end of my annual physical in 2016, my doctor tried, once again, to talk to me about my weight. For years, I’d been yo-yo dieting, and weight loss never lasted. “Your cholesterol is climbing and your blood pressure is borderline high,” he said. All I heard was “borderline.” “I’m still in the safe […]