Going Vegan Changed My Life! // My Story On How I Lost 140lbs, Overcame Depression and MORE!

in #vegan7 years ago

Hey everyone, today I thought I'd share with you my story on how I became vegan, which at the time was mainly for my poor health, but it all became so much more!

It all started when I was 25, I was around 310lbs, I would sit on my reclining chair most of the day playing video games and browsing the Internet. Looking back on it, I was massively depressed, but I didn't realize it at the time. I would use video games as a form of escape from my depressing life sat in the chair, living with my parents, not amounting to anything, meanwhile the clock was ticking on my life! Most people by time their 25 have moved out, got a degree or a good job and at least made some progress.

The tipping point

I remember going with my friend to a local motor racetrack to watch some racing. Now I didn't think about the fact that the racetrack was huge and we'd be walking many many Kms all day and there would also be nowhere to sit! Just walking from.his car to the grandstand, I was tired, I started to slow down and my legs and feet were burning. I started whining to my friend eventually about my legs and feet aching, he didn't really care, why would he, I was 24 at this time and could barely stand for over an hour? This was definitely a turning point for me, I wanted to get healthy and not struggled doing such small amounts of walking.

What happened next?

After that episode, it wasn't long before I decided to research what to do. I'd tried the typical calorie restriction diets in the past and failed miserably! When I was hungry I had to eat, I couldn't ever starve myself! I saw a few documentaries like Forks over knives and Veducated, these really sparked something in me and I realized I need to do something drastic. First of all I discovered Juice fasting and it seemed good for weight loss and health. I saw a documentary called Fat, sick and nearly dead and read a few books on it, and it inspired me. So I gave it a go for all of 2 days, couldn't drink some of the juice es because they were disgusting and gave in. I broke the fast with potatoes waffles and sausages.

Luckily I didn't stop here

And I carried on researching the plant based diet, watched a lot of YouTube videos and realized that the vegan options weren't so limited after all! I decided after Easter 2014 I would go Vegan on the 28th April. My dad also did it with me to support me and the two of us never looked back. At the time my mum thought it would be another fad and it would never stick, how wrong was she! At this point I re watched earthlings, the first time it didn't bother me, but the second time, I almost felt like crying, at this point I realized I'd also made the ethical connection. I felt kinder and more compassionate towards every living creature, big and small. I knew at this point, no matter what I'd remain vegan for the rest of my life. I also started riding my bike at this point and it felt good, I actually had the energy for this now!

What I did next

After being vegan for over 6 months and not seeing many good results with weight loss, I could of given up, but I knew this was the way and I just needed to tweak a few things. Someone suggested the raw diet to me and it made sense at the time. So I gave it a shot for 28 days, I felt tired and weak a lot and found it hard get get in over 3000 calories. I had no strength when it came to riding my bike and decided to go back to cooked and some raw.

My life drastically changed

I made a big decision at the beginning of 2015 to go to Thailand and seriously increase my cycling, meet other vegans for the first time and live a life of TRUE independence, for the first time in my 25 years of life.

Over a period of months the fat kept chipping off, along the way people helped me and I helped other people. I went back to the UK exactly 1 year after I'd left and my parents barely recognized me. Not only was I literally half the man I was when I'd left but I had grown so much as a person. They were proud to call me their son, neighbors even took notice of my achievements and I set them on plant based diets too! I really started to clear my diet up further at this point too and adopt a predominantly wholefoods approach, just as Dr's Mcdougall and Gregor recommend.

Coaching others to health

At this point I started to coach others to lose weight. It all started when someone suggested it, they said you should personally coach others, and I was like what? Anyway I offered my services through YouTube and Instagram and clients came my way. One of my longest clients I coached was a young girl named Marte from Norway. She came to me around 260lbs and although she was vegan, she had no idea of proper nutrition and exercise. I set her on the way and she went on to lose over 100lbs.

Where am I now?

I'm currently 29, and I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life, doing what I love daily, whether it's helping people through coaching, making videos or posts on Steemit or just spending time with the people closest to me.
I do my best to have as little impact on the world as possible, whether it means riding my bike everywhere where possible, being careful with water usage, not wasting food etc. I really do get the big picture, we're in this all together and the more united we are vs divided the better the world will be!

I hope you have enjoyed my story, maybe you have found it inspiring, feel free to share it with your friends and "resteem" it!
If you got value from this, please upvote and feel free to leave me a comment 😄

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Stunning work
You have a strong will
In 3 years you have completely changed your life
Extra weight is always a big problem and a real danger to human life

Thank you so much! Yes it is and not only that but a danger to society with all the extra resources that overweight people use!

Good for you. It is unbelievable that u able to lose 140lbs weight. This can be an inspiring real life example for obese people. Keep coaching others
and let's lead a healthy life

Thank you so much! I hope so. I will do for sure... 😊

Dudee I am so glad that you have made it. To the top ;)

I have problem with smoking and I want to quit so bad but I am not strong enough. Any tips how to break a habit?

Thanks so much! Well personally I took the cold turkey approach and just quit, the first few days were hard but it got easier. If you need to, spend time away from people who smoke while you quit, even take time off work if needed. Think about your health and wallet and why you want to quit, think about that in your mind and get it done. For me it was my asthma and money, it's very expensive!

Will try man. Thank you for the advice and keep on rising ;)

Wow! Such an inspirational transformation.

I really, really want to go Vegan sometime soon, but it's often portrayed as being quite an expensive lifestyle-choice (and being a student I can't really afford to spend heavy). I have, however, started cutting down on eating meats, especially animals that aren't very ethically farmed.

Keep producing content like this and you'll go far on Steemit, I'm sure :)

Hey man, the vegan diet comprises of the cheapest foods you can buy on the planet!
Rice, potatoes, corn, soy, beans, wheat. All these things are plants man. Don't worry about all these fake meats etc, they crazy expensive, just eat beans for your protein! I have oatmeal for breakfast everyday and either potatoes or rice with veggies and beans for dinner pretty much, so many options! You need help just let me know!

Yup I can't agree more. I had this perception from being in certain places. And the whole protein thing is a complete myth if you are someone who wants to maintain muscle, or size.

Plant based diet is definitely the way to go if you want to get in shape, from being overweight, as Craig has written so well above. But for those of you, (and I find there are many), who fear vegan means skinny. I play rugby, and most of the lads perception is I'll drop weight because I have now moved towards vegan rather than being vegetarian, and not long before that I ate meat. BTW I now bench more than I ever did.

I am not spamming for follows or votes here, but I am intending on writing a blog on some of the best things I have picked up from others. Just haven't had the time to compile it all. But for starters, I would suggest thug kitchen for some kick ass recipes, and no nonsense/bullshit approach. I got tired of recipes calling for ingredients I couldn't get hold of. Follow their dry fry tofu for starters, and get a tofu press.

But balance it out with grains etc, is very cheap. And if you cook these with Braggs or liquid smoke and add yeast flake at the end, I've worked out it will give you around 8-15g of protein per 100g, depending on what grains, beans you use. Tesco in the UK do some pre-cooked ones that take like 10mins to boil, so its fast too, great for after workouts.

This stuff fyi...
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Also Robert Cheeke's Vegan bodybuilding & fitness is a great for advice, even if you aren't looking to body build. He's def learnt from trial and error, and I would much rather support someone like him than so many of these vapid trend spotters who have jumped on the band wagon just to be "unique", when most of them forget the real reasons behind it.

That reminds me if you do go Vegan, make sure to either get alot of B12 sources in your diet, as above. Or take a supplement. Its the only one you will need as a Vegan. Ignore anyone who says different. But do try and get flak seed etc into your diet, as you need the omega oils as well. Again there are vegan based supplements for this out there. But natural sources are best.

The B12 is critical though as long term deficiency can have some nasty effects.

Were I live the only vegetables you can get locally are roots an beans. It's an expensive livestyle it completely depends on were you live.

wow.... @craigtransforms Craig is the best! 👍👍👍 👏👏👏

Thank you! 😊

Congratulations @craigtransforms, very good job!! I'm so happy for you :)) Vegan lifestyle is truly amazing. I became vegan last April after I was diagnosed with type1 diabetes. I love this lifestyle, I'm healthier than ever and my diabetes improved enormously.

Great post, keep up my Dear, I'm looking forward to seeing your future posts :)

This makes me really proud. I'm so happy to read about your journey and it makes me really inspired. The fact that you made the Connection and seems like a completely different person today makes me believe that even the most stubborn "carnivores" can change. All we need to do is keep on spreading love and information about the vegan way of life. Looking forward to follow your journey :)

Thanks, yes we will just keep spreading the message, people will relate to it in their own way for their own reasons, whether it be health, environment or simply ethics.

Exactly :) can't wait to see how the world changes in the coming years :)

Incredibly story bud, amazing work! I am going vegan only struggle when out with dairy but vegan at home. Like you my mindset had changed. I am much happier too. Love what your doing 💯🐒

Thanks, yes keep at it. Just remember to specifically order non dairy items off the menu and don't be afraid to!

Its mainly at work they don't have that option and in fact in most restaurants in England either. It is increasing but still difficult! 💯🐒

Then bring with you, better options. I for one always took a "packed lunch" to work. it's the healthiest, usually work place restaurants just offer junk food from my experience. Also England is really on the up with veganism, don;t be afraid to order off the menu either, no restaurant will turn you down for a side order of steamed potatoes and broccoli!

Your right! Just at work its free food. But I am working on getting bigger salads and jacket potato! Food is quite good really it proper cooked food just not vegan.Convenience and saving money but yer need to work on it 💯🐒

Truly inspirational. Obviously, i'm not human so do not have any of the issues you had, but my master (@markangeltrueman, a curie curator) recognised your achievement here and how much value you could give to the steemit community and suggested that some recognition would be deserved. I have re-steemed this on the @steemsearch blog and I give it The Curator's seal of approval.

Well done and keep up the good work!

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Thanks you so much!

Good content and quite an interesting read. Thanks a lot and congratulations.

I'm glad you liked it, thank you!