Discussion Board

Hello all;

I got slighty choked up while looking at the calendar today. Tomorrow marks my 2 year anniversary of eating a low fat, plant-based diet. I lost 60 pounds and am a different person. I am much more fit, work out alot more and over time had to get a new wardrobe! As for eating once I got into the zone of eating this way I just had to find ways to make food that I may have missed. I pretty much get recipes here, lowfatvegan.com, have all the great vegan books and make sure to replace any oil with something healthier. Lately I've gotten into more gourmet type recipes in the Millenium cookbook. All in all this works. I am so different. I am also running a marathon in March. I would have never have been able to do that two years ago..Here are final before and after pics. The 'after' was taken last week, size 0 - whew whew..

What a striking difference. It must feel great to look in the mirror. I'm sure that the men in your life see and appreciate the difference too. I think that you should write up your story and send the photos to Dr. McDougall. Being a Star McDougaller should not be thought of anything that out of the ordinary. It is what you should expect, although I don't think I would promise anybody the sort of transformation in appearance that you have undergone. Congrats.

Congratulations! I second all that SactoBob said. Good luck with the marathon. Keep us posted from time to time. We'll be rooting for you during the marathon. Let us know how it went.

You look like a totally different person, a happier person. Congratulations

You look AMAZING! Congratulations!

Size 0, OMG, way to go! I didn't even know there was a size 0. I have to look this up in physical human dimensions. I mean no kidding you sure LOOK like a full scale height human being, hehehe, I am stunned. Pretty happy to see this my first week too. I think it's cool too that you're getting even deeper into the cooking angle and going all the way to gourmet, nice! Congrats and maybe share a favorite gourmet recipe, if your back visiting here:)

Wonderful! You look great...better yet, I bet you feel like a million bucks!

Thanks for posting your story. I just completed 3 months on plan. It's great motivation to read about your success.

CONGRATS!! You look great!

Thank you much for your comments, I feel a bit awkward gloating and rarely do but I figured I would like to really show others that this works, especially if you're starting out. If I can impart anything to you it's to just let yourself sort of dissolve into this way of eating. You may be strict right now but it won't be like that indefinitely. I have had periods of time where I jsut sort of binged but I binge on low fat plant-based foods, like almost no fat chocolate cake. Working out started S L O W, almost like a train. I very gradually increased and over time, and only when my body told me "yeah go ahead, push ahead another 20 minutes" or whatever is when I did. Allowing yourself to love what you're doing helps, and the love of eating right and exercise slowly develops until it just isnt any big deal. Lifestyle changes become permanent and the next thing you know you have to go shopping - again - because the clothes dont fit. Lastly (and sorry to preach here), stalls are common and the loss will kick back in, and what is your first goal can be up-ed again and again. There is no time limit, if you stick with it and make it a part of yourself and get creative with tasty, healthy food you can be any size, shape or weight you want.

traci
P.S. yes there is a size 0 as i found out, there's actually a 00.

Yes--this is b/c of vanity sizing. As they made the size 2, 4s, 6s, etc. bigger, the smaller people had no clothes to wear! So they had to create 0 and then 00 for the women who 30 years ago would have worn 4 or 2. Sad, no?

I mostly wear 4 but have some 2s and one dress that is 0. 30 years ago when I was at this weight I wore size 8. I still have a few from then and they fit!

First of all - Tabitha, you look amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your pictures and story. You are beautiful.

Yep, that vanity sizing is something else. While I have lost weight, the idea that I am a 6 at 139 pounds/5'9" tall is funny. Yet, I am wearing in many clothes. This vanity sizing has been helpful however - I really just laugh at my size now, knowing their number doesn't mean a thing.

Congratulations Tabatha! You look so happy and healthy and beautiful. I like what you wrote too, about letting yourself just melt into this lifestyle. The longer you do it, the more natural it becomes. It sounds like you didn't force yourself to diet, just at this way and let your hunger and body adjust as they did. That's wonderful and is a good reminder for me. Thanks for sharing and inspiring us!

CONGRATS!!! You look fantastic!

You look wonderful. Great job!