Yep. I’m trying this again.
Some of you are all, huh? Again? What are you talking about? And the rest of you who have seen me attempt this weight loss journey multiple times are either rooting for me, or wondering if I’m a glutton for punishment/embarrassment. See, I’ve tried sharing about efforts to become less of myself a few different times on this here blog, but all before it was called Pass the Plants, so you may have never known. Plus I hid all those old posts so no one can even find them.
So, here’s a video that I made to tell you all about where this is coming from.
The Too Long Don’t Watch Summary
Here’s the situation. I share exclusively plant-based recipes yet I’m 100 pounds overweight. Can you say oxymoron? No comment about the moron part. I’m uncomfortable in my own body and I don’t want to be uncomfortable anymore. I can do something about it, so I will do something about it. And I’m going to tell you about it here every week. Cool?
So. Here’s where things stand right now. Gotta have a baseline, right?
Week 1 – By the Numbers
Current weight: 250.6 lbs
Goal weight by 40th birthday on March 18, 2019: 199.6 lbs (basically, just want to get under 200 pounds by that day)
Final goal weight: 150 lbs (aiming to hit this one year from now, October 1, 2019)
Whenever I’ve written about this in the past, besides the amazing support and encouragement (thank you in advance!), I inevitably get comments from people saying I’m just fine the way I am, etc. The truth is, I’m not. I’m not fine at all. Yes, my weight is just a number, but I know that there is much more than just extra pounds holding me back from fully experiencing my life and living as joyfully as possible. That is my motivation for taking on this challenge, yet again, and doing it publicly. I need to know I’m not alone in this, and sharing about it is the best way I know to build community around a very difficult and sensitive topic.
Here’s to less. And more. If you get what I mean.
I completely understand, Beth. My life has been a constant weight war. But, I continue to plug on. You’ve given me the inspiration to lose 1-2 pounds this week…and then, do the same or, not gain any weight. I figure that even if I can maintain my weight and not gain any pounds from one week to the next…that’s a good thing, too. I just need to be reasonable. Take care and I’m in your corner!
Hugs to you, Yolanda, <3 What’s most important is continuing to try. We can get victory over this! <3
Iām in the same boat. Feel uncomfortable in my own skin right now. Look forward to reading how youāre going to tackle this.
I’m with you, Laura! <3
I think you are incredible! I wish that I knew you in “real life” because I think that we would most certainly be friends. Please consider checking out Anthony William’s health advice. Here is a podcast on the subject. Good luck to you!
https://soundcloud.com/medicalmedium/why-you-are-not-losing-weight
Thank you Allison! <3 Consider me a real life friend, even if we never get to meet in person. š I’ll take a look at the podcast you sent, thank you!
I really like Dr. Fuhrman’s 10-in-20 plan and thought the recipes were good.
https://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/products/168/10-in-20-dr-fuhrmans-detox-program-digital
Here is a blog that details her experience with it.
https://thewateringmouth.com/re-run-dr-fuhrmans-10-in-20-detox-challenge-day-1-vlog-160-nutritarian-vegan-youtube/
Good luck!
Thanks Laura! I’m familiar with Dr. Fuhrman, but haven’t checked out this plan. Will do! <3
I think you’re awesome. I love it when people don’t give up. You can do it!!
I think YOU’RE awesome! I love when you comment, it makes my day and makes me wish we could have a playdate with our kids and chat over lunch. One day! <3
Hey Beth. Firstly, what a great blog. Secondly, and from someone who has been on a diet for most of his (yes, HIS) life and who is almost ten years older than you, the best of luck in what you are trying to do. There’s nothing more hurtful than being uncomfortable in your own body.
But…
Can I ask you how fit and healthy you are? Over the years, I have gradually come to the conclusion that some of us were born with the genetic predisposition to carry stores of excess energy around with us. Gary Taubes et al helped me understand the basics behind this sort of thing. On some level, I have begun to understand that there’s nothing wrong with “being fat”, as long as I can do exercise, eat healthily and exercise moderation wherever I can. Other people can burn energy off by just raising their hands to their mouths as they wolf down more M&M’s or whatever. I just have to watch them eating to put on a pound or two. Other people have beautiful blue eyes; mine are brown. Other men grow thick, luxurious beards; mine is patchy and red! We get the cards we’re dealt, it seems to me. Of course, some people “are fat” because they eat too much crap; these people can shed the weight by eating less and eating more healthily. But people like me are always going to “be fat”. And always going to have brown eyes. And always going to have patchy red beards.
My main point is this: it’s great that you’re trying to lose weight. We all feel more comfortable when we feel that we can exercise control and direction over our lives. But let this be your goal, rather than having the change your body to feel comfortable. Prioritise health and wellbeing and enjoy the fine food that you make! The goal of learning to accept yourself as you are -however you are- will bring more peace of mind than any diet, weight loss, or anything else. But it’s hard, hard work. MUCH harder than losing weight. Even MUCH harder than losing weight and keeping it off. The reward, however, is huge: the rest of your life on this planet feeling great about who you are and what you do!
Hi Diarmuid! First of all, amazing name. I’ve never heard of it before! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I do know that I’m not in good health, and that my body size is not healthy for me. 9 years ago I lost 80 pounds with diet and exercise over 10 months, and I felt amazing then. So many of the physical problems that I deal with now disappeared then. So while I totally understand and agree that everyone’s body is different, for me I know that I am not at a healthy weight for my frame and that I can reach and maintain the goal weight I set. Doing so will improve my quality of life and prognosis for future health. Your point about accepting myself as I am is a good one, and there are lots of things that I love about myself right now. But this journey is an act of self-love in and of itself. I’m not projecting it onto anyone else, just sharing my own journey. I so appreciate your encouragement and input! š
I wish you every success and happiness and look forward to following your progress! Good luck – I’ll be rooting for you all the way.
Thank yo so much Diarmuid! That means the world to me.
I love that you shared your experience so honestly, I’ve been trying and failing for years to lose the 50lb I put on after an accident that left me unable to move for a very long time. I can walk now but the weight is still there. I keep falling off the healthy eating path due to not having/making the time to prep healthy meals or exercise. So today I’m committing to making that time and losing my extra weight with you for the first half of your journey. And I’ll be cheering you on for the rest. I totally get what you’re saying about self love, I don’t hate myself at all. Loving myself is making my body as happy as possible and right now it isn’t. I’m looking forward to your recipes and seeing your progress. Here’s to success!
Kate, that’s all I know how to do is just keep it real over here. š I’m so glad to hear that you are able to walk again following your accident, and I can so relate that feeling of being internally paralyzed. And even though I do this for my “job”, I struggle very much with making the time to prep healthy meals. I reach for vegan convenience products so often precisely because they’re convenient! But they’re not helping me at all. In what I share going forward I want to make sure that there’s a component related to how to be successful with the meal planning/prep, because it’s a crucial piece of the puzzle. Here’s to us – we’ve got this! š
Beth – Every time you post one of your delicious, healthy and life-affirming recipes, your enthusiasm for what you do and your desire to share it with your readers radiates out to all of us following your blog. Thank you for sharing your weight loss journey with us because now we have the opportunity to rebound that good will back to you and wish you all the best in your journey to good health!
Barbara, I can’t tell you how much this comment means to me. It’s always so hard to know if what I’m doing is resonating with others, and to hear that it “radiates”, well, it just spurs me on. I appreciate you so much. <3
I think you are just amazing to reach out for support, telling it all. You have helped a lot of people by doing that???? Know that you can do thisā¼ļøI just wanted to share a story with you. My Dad was 300 pounds, and at 71 decided to go on a diet. He lost 100 pounds in 10 months. He had been heavy for about 25 years. H,e ate 60 carbs a day, and was never hungry. His only “cheat” in 10 months was 1/4 inch slice of apple pie his dear cousin was famous for baking. He kept the weight off until he passed. He would allow himself to gain 10 pounds, then carb diet. He studied the carbs in food and learned a lot, therefore he was successful. Know that you will. be successfulā¼ļø Remember to drink those 8 glasses of water a day, flavored with veggies or lemon or lime helps. You are amazing, so full of fun and laughter. I just love watching you on AMNW. Know we are all supporting you and you can do this. I loved your wedding picture. Just think you’ll fit into your wedding dress on your 10 th anniversaryā¼ļø Hugs
Hi Beth! I am so excited for you! I will be cheering you on every step of the way! I canāt wait to receive updates! I totally understand not feeling comfortable in your own skin. I was obese my entire adult life, my highest weight at 320, but I averaged around 250s but then crept up to 278 in January 2015. I have Multiple Sclerosis so I knew I was adding insult to injury by carrying around the extra weight. My mobility suffered, my MS was impacted, i had MS symptoms a mile long. My weight was debilitating. So I got serious in January 2015 and by February 2017 Iād lost 145 pounds. My Multiple Sclerosis symptoms disappeared when I began a whole food plant based vegan diet in 2016! I lost weight and regained mobility.. and I can move and flex and I feel like a completely different person, I feel 20 years younger than I am. (I turned 42 in April.) So many people told me āI was fine the way I wasā but my weight was not healthy… yes my blood pressure and cholesterol and all of that was fine on paper but I wasnāt healthy. Iāve been able to keep the weight off ever since and my symptoms are still 100% gone. I am so grateful that I lost the weight. It was holding me back from so many things! I just know you are motivated and will achieve great success with your weight loss journey, Beth!! You have so many people cheering you on! Iām excited for you! Your family Iām sure is so proud of you!
Hi, Beth – I am right there with you! I used to be regularly 10-15lbs overweight, but these last couple of years I’ve had a lot of life and illness, and now I’m 30+lbs overweight! I finally caved earlier this summer and bought the next size up of shorts. I’ve been working on myself using Weight Watchers since June, and have lost several ounces. I needed the time to straighten my head out, and I’m ready to fully commit. Starting Tuesday when I return from my first cruise! Looking forward to seeing your updates! (And I second the Anthony William suggestion made above.)
You go girl for sharing your journey publicly and holding yourself accountable! I have more weight to lose than I thought I ever would (probably 50 pounds) and I got here because I kept telling myself “size doesn’t matter, it’s not that much different” with every 10 pounds.. But what really matters is if you are COMFORTABLE and healthy and if you show up for yourself. I look forward to seeing your updates! xxo
Wow, wow, wow! Beth this is incredibly brave and fabulous to get-back-up. Again. and again.
And I love the name of your project and the punch line of this post.
I’m also turning 40 next year and I hear ya, Girl!
I love your recipes and your blog (I share it with all my clients, who all need more veggies š
and I’m convinced that you’ll be able to do it! <3
Loads of Love your way!
Hi Beth!
I’ve never commented before, but I wanted to tell you that I’m amazed at your courage and I’m cheering for you! Your recipes are fabulous and I know you can reach your goal, since you’ve got half the battle down, learning to eat right! After 4 kids, my weight has crept up and up, and this year I got serious. I’m now 5 pounds away from the weight that I was when I was married, having lost 35 pounds in the last 6 months and a total of 50 in the last 14 months. The two main changes that I made were switching to a whole food plant based diet (basically vegan) and intermittant fasting 2 days a week. I would highly recommend two books that I read on the topic of IF, the Fast Diet, and The Obesity Code. They make a case for the fact that our bodies are resisting insulin – and if we can give our bodies regular rest from digestion, our cells can stop resisting and our bodies can use insulin again. If you want to talk about this, don’t hesitate to email me, I’d love to be a support for you!
Aubrey, thank you so much for your lovely comment! It means a lot to me that you would take the time to encourage me and share your story. CONGRATS on getting serious and getting to your goal! That’s a huge accomplishment, one that I aspire to. I’m doing the whole food plant based thing now, for the most part, but convenience foods do make their way on my plate more than I want them to, so I know that food plays a major role in this. I’ve definitely considered the intermittent fasting thing, and I’m glad to hear it worked so well for you. I’ll definitely shoot you an e-mail soon, I need all the encouragement I can get! Thanks again. <3