Mekie lost 75 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Mekie lost 75 pounds. She was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and wanted to heal herself without surgery. Her Vegan husband suggested that she see a natruropatic doctor, which led to her switching to Veganism as well. Check out plant-based eating and exercise changed her life.

I would like to share my story in hopes of inspiring someone else. As of today, I’ve lost a total of 75 pounds. It took me a little over a year to do this and I’m still going strong. I’ve managed to keep the weight off going on 3 years now.

In 2013, I was diagnosed with ovarian cysts. At the time, I was severely overweight. My husband, who is vegan, recommended that I consult a naturopathic doctor for help, which I did. My life changed at that moment. I started a vegan diet and joined the gym. The weight came off gradually and my joints began to get stronger. I continued to work and didn’t give up on myself, even though I would get depressed from time to time.

Going vegan was a necessary and gradual process for me. My goal was to heal myself and avoid having surgery for ovarian cysts. My journey to veganism was a bit easier because my husband was already vegan prior to our marriage. He was a great help. I gave up dairy products, pork, and beef immediately. Next, I kicked chicken, which took about 6 months, until I was pretty much over it. I kept seafood for a bit longer afterwards. So, it took me about a year to transition with minimal cravings. I knew that if I took my time, I would be more likely to stick with the lifestyle. If I had gone cold turkey, I would have given in and ultimately would’ve cheated myself of my goal.

Giving up fast food was one of my biggest hurdles. My version of cooking always involved a microwave and canned foods. I knew nothing about how to pick out organic, whole foods or what to do with them. My husband shared some knowledge in this department. I also put in a ton of research. I spent hours reading about GMOs, caloric intake, metabolism, eating times, exercise… I could go on and on! YouTube was a lifesaver! I basically learned how to cook by watching YouTube videos, LOL. Cooking is now one of my favorite hobbies.

I basically eat the same staple foods every day. I cut out processed foods, refined sugar, and bad carbs. I start my day with 2 large glasses of water followed by 2 tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. After about 30 minutes or so, I’ll have a cup of tea (green tea or yerbe mate).  For breakfast, I have either a green juice (kale, apple, lemon, ginger, celery), fruit smoothie (Vega Protein Mix, frozen fruit, and almond milk), oatmeal, or tofu scramble with fresh fruit. I like to eat carbs with protein for lunch. I’ll have baked tofu, brown rice with steamed veggies. I also like sweet potatoes and vegetable spaghetti. Dinner is always pretty light. Sometimes, I’ll have another smoothie. Mainly, dinner is soup and a large salad. I eat a lot of quinoa with raisins, walnuts, and cinnamon. If I get bored, I play with spices. For instance, I add curry and coconut milk to my tofu sometimes to have tofu curry with rice or add Liquid Aminos and sriracha sauce to my veggies for a stir fry. I also drink a ton of water.

I worked out about 5 days per week in the beginning. Now, I workout 3-4 days per week. I started out on the elliptical machine, because that’s all that I could do. Then, I started walking and jogging. Eventually, I picked up spinning and yoga.

After about 3 months, my cysts went away on their own completely! I avoided surgery by healing myself. I started my journey in April 2011 at 250 pounds. I currently weigh 175 pounds. I’m 5’7″. My goal is to kick the last 25 pounds and achieve my goal of losing 100 pounds. I still have some more toning to do as well. However, I am so very proud of my accomplishments thus far.

The most challenging part of this journey, for me, was learning the purpose of food! Food is meant for nourishment and nutrition. I grew up in Alabama where health was never a part of any conversation. I used food for everything except it’s intended purpose. I only knew that if it tastes good, eat it! So, the hardest part for me was definitely lack of education. Once I gained knowledge, my journey was smooth sailing.

The biggest lesson that I’ve learned about myself is that I am worth the fight! I am worth every pound lost and every ounce of confidence that I’ve gained. I’ve cried. I’ve injured myself (fell while jogging). I’ve lost friends. I moved away from my family. I’ve been lonely. But guess what? I am worth it all and I would do it again in a split second.

My advice to others is to find your own path. No one knows your body like you! Every path isn’t for everyone. Be completely honest with yourself about where you are in life and the events or circumstances that got you to where you are now. Evaluate your entire life and eliminate anything or anyone who is holding you back. Listen to motivational speakers, read new books, go to meet up groups, and surround yourself with positivity in any way. If you don’t have a cheerleader, be your own! Self love is the best love.

I am so happy that we’re all starting to take the steps towards loving ourselves more. I hope that my story can influence someone to make the decision to make self love a priority.

Instagram: @Oh.Mekie.Youre.So.Fine