I lost 100 pounds over COVID. AMA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you and Jessica Simpson related besides shedding 100 pounds in 6 months?

Well, more accurately I lost 80 pounds since March (20 between October and March). So not as fast. But there is no way to say what I did other than say I have had a complete life change. Now I work out about 80 minutes a day and walk about 2 hours a day. And I am eating about 7-8 cups of cruciferous vegetables a day (as a base to all meals).

I'm happy with the progress and the change. I feel like I have my life back.

So you work out for three hours a day. Do you have a full time job? Kids?

[Anonymous]

Are you concerned about the phytoestrogens in all the soy you're eating? What other protein sources do you use (nuts, beans, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting, OP and congrats! Very inspiring. I have 13 lbs to get to my ideal BMI and it seemed hard but your discipline and drive are giving me a boost.

[Anonymous]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/weighing-facts-tough-truth-about-weight-loss%3Famp

[Anonymous]

Just watched a few videos on the Blue Zones diets. Seems that they are mostly vegan or vegetarian. There was a short study someone did where people ate the Blue Zone diet fo 100 years. Almost all participants that stuck with it lose a ton of weight.
But, more than that, all their labs are much, much better. I think your way of losing weight, op, confirm that! The guy that did the Blue Zone study said that eating a cup of beans per day adds two years of healthy life to our life spans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you and Jessica Simpson related besides shedding 100 pounds in 6 months?

Well, more accurately I lost 80 pounds since March (20 between October and March). So not as fast. But there is no way to say what I did other than say I have had a complete life change. Now I work out about 80 minutes a day and walk about 2 hours a day. And I am eating about 7-8 cups of cruciferous vegetables a day (as a base to all meals).

I'm happy with the progress and the change. I feel like I have my life back.

So you work out for three hours a day. Do you have a full time job? Kids?

I don't "work out" for 3 hours a day. But I am active for about 3 hours a day. As I said, I try to use walking time to think about things on which I am working, so it's not completely unproductive.

I work from home with COVID and that eliminated my 2 hour commute, so in reality, I don't think I am spending any more time on my activity than I used to on commuting and going out for lunch.

But to your questions: Yes, I work full time, yes I have kids (but not at home).

As I said, it's a lifestyle change. I have absolutely changed what I do with my body and use it as much as I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you concerned about the phytoestrogens in all the soy you're eating? What other protein sources do you use (nuts, beans, etc.)?

Tofu, tempeh, beans, ... not so many nuts. Also I'll just grab protein powders occasionally (like Ghost vegan protein powders).

I probably only get about 100 grams of protein a day (but as I said, I am still in weight loss phase, not maintenance). I seem to do ok with that. Not sure how much I supposedly need.

[Anonymous]

How long did it take you to recover from the illness?
Do you like your current weight?
Were you considered overweight before?
Do you say that is one positive thing that came out of the pandemic. Weight loss from an illness. Did the drastic loss in weight mess cause any heart issues? Some people who drastically lose weight in a short period of time encounter problems. Are you going to change the way you eat to keep the weight it is?

Is this what it takes for people to eat healthy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long did it take you to recover from the illness?
Do you like your current weight?
Were you considered overweight before?
Do you say that is one positive thing that came out of the pandemic. Weight loss from an illness. Did the drastic loss in weight mess cause any heart issues? Some people who drastically lose weight in a short period of time encounter problems. Are you going to change the way you eat to keep the weight it is?

Is this what it takes for people to eat healthy?

What illness? I didn't have any illness. When COVID started, I just decided to concentrate more on my health, and I started working out every day and eating less. I had extra time and decided to use it well is all. I definitely will keep up the vegan diet (for life) and definitely WANT to keep a very active lifestyle. Fingers crossed this is my last diet.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Just a check in. Somehow, I have managed to keep off 100% of my lost weight.
Now only working out 45 minutes a day. And walking probably 45 minutes a day. Manageable.

Just happy to report I seem to have reached my happy weight.

[Anonymous]

So incredibly proud of you!!!! Such an amazing achievement!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you and Jessica Simpson related besides shedding 100 pounds in 6 months?

Well, more accurately I lost 80 pounds since March (20 between October and March). So not as fast. But there is no way to say what I did other than say I have had a complete life change. Now I work out about 80 minutes a day and walk about 2 hours a day. And I am eating about 7-8 cups of cruciferous vegetables a day (as a base to all meals).

I'm happy with the progress and the change. I feel like I have my life back.

3 hours and 20 mins of exercise a day sounds like an eating disorder. I was inpatient for bulimia and many people had exercise bulimia. Be careful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell me more about the cruciferous vegetables— what exactly and how do you eat them? I’m vegetarian but interested in dropping eggs and dairy. But I get bad gas, so wondering if you have any problem with that?

It was definitely a huge change, and of course the first months I was gassy. But it settled down, and now I actually can't process milk products well. I eat large amounts of kale, broccoli, spinach every day. I usually just throw a few cups into a saucepan every meal. It cooks down to much less. But I definitely use large amounts of veggies as a way to create volume without calories.

A typical day for me now (I am still in weight loss mode so it is low calorie)

Breakfast: oatmeal (about 60 grams, with 30 calorie almond milk)
Lunch: Huge saucepan of kale, onions, mushrooms, peppers, carrots, etc; about half a package of tofu (usually I air fry it with spices to give it texture and flavor); and sometimes some "pretend" cheese for more flavor
Dinner: Basically the same
And then some snacks. Usually fruit. Every so often I'll have something more substantial like non-dairy yogurt with frozen fruit.

Where is your protein? One yogurt a day? This sounds so unhealthy

[Anonymous]

Sorry I missed the tofu but still feel like you are not healthy. Nog enough protein for that much exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just a check in. Somehow, I have managed to keep off 100% of my lost weight.
Now only working out 45 minutes a day. And walking probably 45 minutes a day. Manageable.

Just happy to report I seem to have reached my happy weight.

Congratulations!!! That's inspiring