My Journey to Vegan: Vegan Weight Loss and More

I have always considered myself to be healthy and fit. I was an athlete growing up and throughout college. I consistently worked out, and I was in the gym regularly. My diet consisted of mostly fruits and vegetables, and I ate turkey, fish, chicken, and dairy as well. I rarely ate fried food or junk food. I had pretty much maintained my weight....until I became pregnant with my daughter. I gained 70 lbs during my pregnancy! 

By the grace of God, I had no complications during my pregnancy. I didn't develop pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes. I walked daily on the treadmill up until a week before I gave birth, and I delivered a healthy, beautiful daughter the day after my birthday! Following the pregnancy, I had a huge health scare. My husband and I were out running errands, and I blacked out and woke up in an ambulance. I was suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and sleep deprivation. That wake up call fueled my mission to get back in shape.

It took me 11 months, and I lost all of the weight I had gained during the pregnancy. I did home workouts and restricted my calories and saw results. I thought I was doing great with my diet and nutrition other than occasional digestive problems that I would have. And then things changed. Around January of 2016 the digestive problems got worse, and I started developing aggravating patches of bumps on my hands and face. They would appear and disappear constantly.

This photo was taken February 17, 2016

This photo was taken May 26, 2016, approx three months later.​

I was browsing through Netflix, and I found the documentary, Vegucated, and watching that documentary is one of thereasons why I am vegan today. I have been vegan since February 2016, and I quickly noticed remarkable differences. Does being vegan clear your skin? The answer for me is a definite yes. As you can see from the photo above, the mysterious rash disappeared, and I have not had any more of these outbreaks. I have not had any digestive problems since I stopped eating meat and dairy.  After becoming vegan I lost twelve pounds in the first three months. My quick tips for vegan weight loss are educate yourself, keep it simple, and stick to your plan.

From easy, plant based meal plans to vegan workouts, there is so much great vegan nutrition and weight loss information out there. My skin definitely improved, and I will do a post soon about my favorite vegan makeup and vegan skin care products as well.

I feel great, and from time to time people tell me that my skin glows! I agree! I am enjoying educating myself on all things vegan, I love creating and trying new recipes for myself and my family, and I have created and joined some amazing, informative, and educational vegan forums and groups. ​

Before and After

After becoming vegan and starting The Sensible Vegan, I was contacted by Health Magazine. I was honored to have my vegan story featured. I was really getting into a great fitness routine and felt healthy and strong. I had a photo shoot with the magazine, and three weeks later tragedy struck. I was rear ended in a car accident and ended up having to have shoulder surgery. Three weeks after my surgery I was rear ended again!

The recovery from the surgery was grueling. I went through extensive physical therapy, and eventually made a full recovery. I relied on my faith, and I truly believe that my vegan lifestyle attributed to my turn around. Even after this setback, I was contacted by Woman's World Magazine and was featured in a story where Dr. Oz highlighted some of my nutrition tips.

I continue to learn more and more each day about veganism and animal advocacy, and I enjoy experimenting with ingredients and creating new vegan recipes. Stay tuned for more updates in the future!

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