How I Lost 40 Pounds in 4 Months

This is a video how about I lost 40 pounds (3 stone or 18 kilos) in 4 months. In short, I DRAMATICALLY changed my diet to focus on minimally processed, plant-based whole food while greatly increasing my vegetable intake and reducing my grain, meat, and saturated fat intake. I’m feeling way healthier as well.
0:00 Gaining weight over time
3:12 The turning point
4:45 My eating problems
6:43 Getting serious about weight loss
9:00 My new diet
12:34 The problem with our "modern" diet
LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE WITH MY METHOD!
✉️ Join my newsletter and discover how I pick up new languages quickly
(and learn how you can do the same):
👉🏼 www.streetsmartlanguages.com/...
📚 Check out my Street-Smart Language courses:
👉🏼 www.streetsmartlanguages.com
Subscribe to my channel: / @xiaomanyc
Follow me on Instagram: / xiaomanyc
Follow me on Facebook: / xiaomanyc
If you guys like the music in my videos, you can check out all the AMAZING music Epidemic Sound has at my affiliate link here: share.epidemicsound.com/xiaomanyc

[@ckingfitness1003]

I don’t know what I’m more shocked about the fact that Ari lost 40 lbs or the fact that he’s 5 foot 5!

[@GhastlyCretin]

Right. He doesn't look 5'5". Something about the way he's proportioned makes him look at least 5'9". And the people in his videos never seem to tower over him 🤷

[@Henry_Red]

He's always looked 5'5" to me

[@ekit218]

This happens quite often and its usually to do with angles. For people that are doing content for looks like bodybuilding /fitness, there is also optimized lighting to make everything show better than real life.

[@07Lightless]

Nah he looks like a shorter sized individual idk what y’all on about

[@TeamPerry5]

I thought the SAME THING!

[@spaghettimkay5795]

Xiaoma having a nearly 150kg squat is not something I expected. Good stuff.

[@LangstonDev]

DA roachdoggjr?!

[@cosmictraveler1146]

@markingtime2.0Says *who* ?!?

[@spaghettimkay5795]

@markingtime2.0 speak for yourself sir, I'm exclusively training glutes tomorrow because of this comment

[@DankMemes-xq2xm]

@markingtime2.0 people like big butts

[@savannah7375]

​@markingtime2.0 I'm a woman and I like guys with big butts 😊

[@olivialam9044]

Thank you. This is the spark I needed. I'm a single mom with 3 young kids, going through a really bad divorce and some days, I can’t bring myself to look in the mirror or wear things other than yoga pants and sweats. I need to be healthy for my kids. They need me.

[@A-oy9yf]

Good luck Mama, you got this. ❤❤❤

[@american236]

They do need you. You can do this. Go on a calorie deficit diet, and exercise. It’ll kind of suck for a few weeks to a month. As you lose weight, and your stomach shrinks you will need less food naturally. Try fasting for 24 hours once or twice a week. This will definitely shrink your stomach and decrease inflammation.

[@oliviaspencer9514]

You got this! You'll be setting a great example for your kids and your mind will be clearer to handle all the headaches of divorce. Time to put yourself first for a change!

[@breazfreind402]

good spirit!! you are good mom

[@user-ps1ft1hy4j]

The good things compound on themselves even when you don't think anything good is happening. Keep up that discipline, for real discipline and not just nonsense stories you're telling yourself, and you'll likely be surprised by good news many times even when you thought things were not going your way. Slow and steady wins the race is REAL.

[@allison7066]

I'm glad this worked for you! Be careful with some of this especially "if it tastes good, spit it out." Some extreme dieting stuff can become disordered eating and is not sustainable long-term.

[@ExistWithMeASMR]

Yeah, this felt a little like an inside look at the development of an eating disorder. Really made me think about how seemingly good things can be a double edged sword.

[@alexxenaosas2416]

He cut the fats, but all those cans with veggies are full of preservative and nasty chemicals ! - I would not eat those for sure ! , Actually everything that you find in supermarkets this day's is not healthy , nothing !

[@debusen81]

Exactly this. Everyone congratulating him when this doesn’t sound like a long term solution. It’s easy to lose weight over a few months. Keeping it off for years is the actual challenge.

[@TopoGigio555]

Yeah, I can’t buy into the “if it tastes good, spit it out”. There are many ways to prepare high protein, fiber rich, plant-based and non-processed foods that also taste great. I think it’s great he was able to cut bread from his diet completely, considering how much he loved it. I just can’t, or more likely won’t, especially since discovering sprouted grain bread.

[@aaroncecil7509]

@@debusen81 Yeah, most of the "people that lose lots of weight gain it right back" studies are because people go nuts with these overzealous diets that they can't sustain over a lifetime (no one is going to go the rest of their life eating food that doesn't taste good), and when they reach their goal weight and relax a little they go right back to their original habits. If your weight loss plan doesn't involve lifestyle changes you are happy with and enjoy, it is set up to fail.

[@anthonyvega1959]

Proud of you bro. I was 702lbs and I'm now 336lbs so I know the struggle

[@L_M_C]

Respect!

[@anthonyvega1959]

@L_M_C thank you, it wasn't easy but we'll worth the extra life I gained back. I'm now trying to get approved for full body excessive sking removal

[@jenngranados825]

Respect 🫡 It takes a huge amount of discipline to accomplish something like that!

[@anthonyvega1959]

@@jenngranados825 it does

[@user-tm8jt2py3d]

@@anthonyvega1959 damn that's amazing. but, just being honest, don't you still have some more distance to go before that surgery? or no?

[@VV-xy8dj]

I am a dietitian and you nailed it. Vegetables take up space. I always advise people to eat them first and put no limit on the amount of vegetables. Good for you. Keep up the great work!!!

[@jenniferforest5400]

The greener the better

[@Plxusible]

Carotenoids too. Red, yellow, purple, orange, not plain potato or corn.

[@annakissed3226]

There are multiple studies have been done on the Hypotheses that vegetables fill you up. Studies where groups were allowed to eat as many leafy green vegetables as they wanted but nothing else. What they found was that whilst people could fill themselves till they vomited green vegetables but the hunger was never saitiated They never felt full The fastest way to feel satiated is to eat fully saturated fat. People eating such a diet lost weight quickly as they could not gain calories fast enough before they were to full to eat. However if they were given sugar this stimulated consumption of food. If given enough sugar they could never feel satiated and started to get hunger pangs when ever the sugar went away - this is known as withdrawal symptoms. But in time you can learn to live with out sugar and use fat instead.

[@annakissed3226]

If you don't eat Fat you will die. If you don't eat Protein you will die If you don't eat Carbohydrate and you menstruate that can be very bad for you If your water is just H2O without minerals etc. Menstruation seems to need minerals that are generally only found in some vegetables. But all men & most women can survive without carbohydrates.

[@CaimAstraea]

yea definitely you can stuff your fat face with cabbage and lettuce. Not the most apetizing but you can force through one kilogram of it and it's barely 300 calories if that. That mfer will fill your stomach for half a day or untill you poop it out. So even if you are hungry after that it will be extremely hard physically to stuff a pizza down your face hole since there's no more room left. Your stomach and esophagus is clogged up with cabbage.

[@KevinMcClanahan]

Thanks for sharing! The weight loss journey is one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences I have ever went through. Great job!

[@tinanotaro8763]

Way to go Ari! It takes a lot of will power to stick with lifestyle changes, but you definitely have found your “why” and your commitment is very admirable!

[@AphoticGloom]

I just got done losing 40lbs as of this week after a few months as well! I was saving $40 a week because of it. Eating healthy, feeling better now, and looking better than ever. The pre-diabetic symptoms scared me to make life changes. Congrats on this weight loss journey!

[@Dfjs427]

What were the simptoms?

[@appleget]

Can you tell me a little about the changes you made or give an example of what a day of eating looked like after you made your changes? I was diagnosed pre-diabetic as well and am ready to make changes.

[@AphoticGloom]

@Dfjs427 I'm totally not educated enough with it all. However, SD, excess urination at night, and a possible diabetic symptom with feel swelling and pain in my legs. All of that is gone now. My grandfather lost both of his legs before he passed away a few years ago, and I didn't want to repeat what he went through

[@AphoticGloom]

@appleget I personally did Keto and intermittent fasting. That's what worked for me, but looking over at what Ari was doing to lose weight, I would have done it that way. I eat more veggies than I ever had, only ate fresh food and grass fed beef, free-range eggs, chicken, turkey, greens, kimchi (probiotic), berries (mainly strawberries since berries are lower in GI). I'm skeptical about Keto since it consists of fatty and high cholesterol food. The main idea was to keep your carbs low and refined sugars out the window. I plan on doing a mix of what Ari is doing and what I am doing to maintain my weight and taking myself off daily intermittent fasting 18:6 and maybe do it when I feel like I need to lose weight. Everyone is different, and this is what worked for me. A Mediterranean diet is another option I might look into to maintain my weight, but I don't think it's focused on weight loss.

[@krayxeez]

so happy for you man, I'm currently fighting my own battle - I excercise a lot for like 5 years and for about 2 years, I look almost the same because I couldn't eat enough and I consumed more sugar than I should. Now I've been trying to do better so wish me luck

[@L3xinat0r]

Your language content is always awesome, but i'm so glad you felt comfortable enough to share this with us. So many need to hear this journey/message especially since (myself included) a lot of people lost track of their lives/fitness over pandemic. Having a healthy balance is so important to a happy life. Thank you so much for sharing :) !

[@kaschelander]

For me it`s life happened, after three kids and all that stuff, content with missus, kids and work, you just let it go. Then one day i woke up and looked in the mirror and damn you`ve gotten fat. Working on that now... ;)

[@A-oy9yf]

@@kaschelanderGood luck ❤❤❤ On the same journey as a teenager

[@Lostachilles]

This is so very true. The pandemic is still ongoing, though, and more and more people have mysterious ill health problems as a result of infections, like heavy fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, and a bunch of other things that make gaining weight easier and losing weight more difficult. I'm really glad that he felt comfortable to share this very personal part of his journey with us, as it's something that a LOT of people are experiencing. The best part is that it's not some typical diet-fad shtick trying to sell you something questionable and dubious.. it's just straightforward good advice that works.

[@DiffuseMoose]

I like the message that you're basically telling here which is eat more veggies and don't stuff yourself (which is pretty much portion control). What I don't really like here is that you're telling yourself to put up with being hungry and also eating food that you down right don't like, if not hate. I definitely feel there's a happy medium there. I have a massive weight loss journey ahead of me, and I'm convinced that I can cut way back on portion size and still eat tasty, yet still healthy, foods and lose weight at the same time. I'm not talking about processed foods, but I feel there's still room for delicious, natural fruits among many other things that you can eat as well. Regardless, I'm incredibly proud of you for looking inward and taking steps to lose the weight. You look wonderful and sound like you're a lot happier! I definitely hope to be there in the future as well one day.

[@ShadowTheFosterCat]

This is great advice. It's really nice to hear from a person who recently went through weight gain, then weight loss, and is still putting in the work. This all just clicked for me. Your focus on health, injury, and longevity really resonated. Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing. I've been counting my calories for the last week, and I have already lost two pounds! I feel much more at ease and at peace about the process than I was before I watched this video. I didn't realize I'd fallen into the trap of thinking, "weight loss is so hard that it's not even worth pursuing." Why try something that is impossible? I appreciate your mentioning of hunger. That blew my mind. I didn't realize how much I was treating every moment of hunger as an emergency. Now that I'm counting my calories, I KNOW I am eating a healthy/reasonable amount of food, so it's now obvious why snacking every time I feel hungry adds up! These days, I actually put effort into filling my meals with healthy foods that will keep me full, and I actually enjoy eating more than I did before. I'm not restricting myself as much as you did, so I am still eating all foods, I'm just mindful of portions. Damn if my one slice of sourdough with dinner doesn't taste even better than the four I'd eat before! Thanks again, man! Truly changing lives out here.

[@TheBlooRayChannel]

The timing of this is incredible. As others have mentioned in the comments, I needed to see this on my feed. Exact same story. Put on about 60lbs since COVID began. Incredibly frustrating to not be able to wear clothes that once used to fit. And since I work from home, I'm always in joggers and t shirts. Every time I get hungry..I blast down some cookies and milk or just junk food etc. I do train very well thinking, it's all a dirty bulk. Enough is enough. At 36, it all changes TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS.

[@poochiew.9302]

I wish you luck in your weight loss journey! I've lost 25+lbs so far by changing diet too. No more pop, little to no sugar, less carbs, drink water.

[@brandkim.]

hey dude good luck and stay motivated. you got this ✊

[@bruce8703]

Dang this is me too. Weight gain since covid has been killer for me. Hopefully this was my wake up call too.

[@Murasame13]

You should document your journey somewhere!

[@dianamorales3480]

you got this!

[@wilsonjoshwilson]

He’s right! you can never outwork a bad diet naturally.

[@sagardi]

Unless you are Michael Phelps 😂

[@krayxeez]

Almost always yes, but I know a person or two who eat like sh*t and look huge, hard muscles, almost no fat. lmao

[@wilsonjoshwilson]

@@krayxeezyeah sometimes people are just gifted ahah

[@isaac6705]

@@sagardiHe didn't have a bad diet per say, he just had an insane work ethic. His diet was structured, just tons of calories.

[@Boots2Bike]

@@sagardiMichael Phelps eats like that like once or a few times a year that diet is not his real diet ...

[@nufmedia9035]

Congrats man, you are an inspiration to me. Thank you for being honest and vulnerable!

[@FernSidman]

Way to go Ari! Your weight loss journey was exceptionally inspiring. A huge congrats to you for having such incredible self-discipline and for keeping totally motivated along the way. I too gained an excessive amount of weight during Covid and as a result I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Began seeing a nutritionist on a regular basis, stuck to the no carb diet and lost 60 lbs but it took me a year to do it. But I am way older than you. I started the diet when I was 62. What resonated for me was when you said that one can train themselves to get used to being a bit hungry. Eventually it passes and you feel much better. Anyway, thanks for doing this video. Very educational, informative and motivating.

[@justluna1656]

Holy cow man. I feel like I needed to watch this right at this exact moment. I’m 5’7 and currently weighing 193. I’ve been fooling myself that I’m that fluffy but fit type but man watching your transformation just gave a whole new perspective. Thank you so much being vulnerable, it’s already helped me see what I can improve with my diet!

[@RexPerfection]

you got this shit homie. a lil consistency can go a long way!

[@Alegriev]

You decide whether it;s "One day" or "Day one". 1% better every day. You got this. 💪

[@justluna1656]

@@RexPerfection thank you man! 100% feeling motivated and going to start picking up the camera to document the process!

[@justluna1656]

@@Alegriev you’re so right. Today is always the best day to start!

[@RenSayLess]

Fat is just the ultimate pump cover. Just need to take it off to see what you've built.

[@Moondragon1821]

I'm a woman, but I'm at about where you were at. 5'4, 178lbs. Losing 40lbs is basically GOALS for me. Definitely needed to see this. I'm an alcoholic and drink a can of Dr. Pepper Mon-Fri, sometimes on weekends...so obviously those two things are the biggest things that need to go. But damn, I also need to do some type of diet like this. Damn near everything I eat is processed. Just got out of a bad relationship...about to revamp my life. I needed to see this video!! Thank you!

[@jrs4ex]

I was hooked on the Dr P too. I don’t drink coffee or have any other caffeine. Quitting the Dr wasn’t easy I was definitely hooked on the sugar and caffeine. You can do this, you’ll feel so much better just dropping the soda alone.

[@nf325]

I highly suggest AA, an honest doctor appointment about alcohol for in network referral and a nutritionist. Best wishes.

[@lstruggy]

You got this sis! 🙌🏽

[@WestieWestie]

I hope you can find your way into recovery. Perhaps think about AA or SMART Recovery. Good luck.

[@JHuatuco]

You can do it!

[@marytladi9657]

I had the complete opposite experience, i lost weight by making my meals incredibly tasty but yet healthy, in fact i have such an intense sweet tooth that i eat homemade desserts daily using whole foods and that has made my diet sustainable. I look forwarded to breaking my 16 hour fast daily since my meals are such a treat, i don't even need a cheat day! I tried the "if it tastes good spit it out" method by making my food less palatable and that led to binge eating and a life of misery. Each to their own hey, do what works for you since it's different strokes for different folks

[@ScottMaday]

I completely agree. I feel like food not tasting amazing is a quick way to breaking your diet (which ultimately matters most is consistency). I feel like the phrase should be "if it tastes good and it's calorie dense, spit it out. If not, add your meal list"

[@jay6817]

Whatever works best for you. Can't be bad.

[@gizmogimp4419]

Big respect! Thank you for voicing your opinions on this stuff! Good job losing weight and remaining consistent with you diet. You're looking better than ever!

[@mattsoreng3066]

I struggled to get over 170 at 30years old, since the pandemic I’ve gained so much and I hate it. I’m currently I’m 217lbs blows my fucking Mind, I have a twin brother and he’s the gym fanatic. I’ve got to start working on my health and confidence. Two years ago I was eating crab legs and cut the roof of my mouth with the shell and it almost killed me it became extremely infected with staph, it got so bad my teeth began to literally fall out. For me that was absolutely devastating my smile was the one thing I’ve always been confident about and now I’m 36 with 0 teeth just saying that makes me want to ball up and die. Don’t mean to be so negative, I don’t have any one to open up to about how much it’s affecting me. It honestly does help by watching your videos and the positivity you exude so thank you again

[@DerAngeloMerte]

dont let yourself down. greetings from germany with love. dont be so harsh on yourself. find self love my guy. you are worth it to keep trying. thats the same as we were kids. fall on the face and try again. i have real dramatic anxiety since september 2023. it almost ended me, but i will not give up for my family

[@srozaardnet5630]

My 19 year old nephew ate crab legs for the first time about 2 years ago. He immediately went into anaphylactic shock & was rushed to Emergency Room by ambulance. Came close to dying. Be grateful that you lived. You can bounce back from being overweight. You can bounce back from dental issues. You cannot bounce back from death. Ay only 30 years old, you have lots of time to make progress. Don't get discouraged. Good luck!

[@zjshafe]

As someone who is relatively fit, it brings me a lot of joy to see people working out or taking their health seriously. If you are self-conscious about how you look or your weight, know that the people at the gym or the vitamin shop or the smoothie bar are excited to see you there! It means you are prioritizing your health! I get so encouraged to see others who are bigger than me working hard to get in shape. We want you to be healthy and happy. Know that we are supporting you! If someone makes fun of you, they're the minority. Thanks for sharing your story and again, know that others will support you and not think less of you if you are trying to get healthier!

[@noah3485]

That is a wild story. Really sorrt that happened to you.

[@wednesday1899]

I had injuries that resulted in no teeth in my 30s, zero. It really is so traumatizing and I know exactly how you feel. It’s so disheartening and there’s so much shame and embarrassment. Just leaving the house you can’t do without the falsies, you constantly want to cover your mouth (at least Covid was good for that), you feel embarrassment laughing or eating without them in even around family and close friends. It’s so so traumatizing and I’m so sorry you’re in this club too. 💜

[@therealauspol]

Did exactly the same my man! Over the course of 12 months in 2022, lost 20lbs the first month, 10lbs the next month, then it slowed down significantly after that but ended up dropping 60lbs over the year, got in the shape of my life and climbed a mountain in South America. Largely did it all by eating stacks of legumes, green veg, basic food stuffs. nothing complex, no processed foods, no vitamins or replacements etc. just lots of basic foods as they are and sticking to it. Keep going my dude, you're smashing it

[@bryant475]

Great job! As a health coach and future physician, I help people lose weight and reverse diseases with Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) Nutrition! With this way of eating, you can eat until full and still lose weight, while being super healthy! This is because it's super high in fiber, nutrients, healthy fats/protein/carbs, but low in cals (as long as you keep oils low and go easy on the nuts). Just stick to Veggies, Fruits, Legumes/Beans/Lentils, Whole Grains (Like Brown Rice, Quinoa, Oats, etc.), as well as Nuts/Seeds, Herbs/Spices! Just stay away from Animal products, processed foods, oils, or at least minimize them drastically! Exercise is important too, but you can't out exercise a bad diet! Edit- there are some healthy breads- like Ezekiel bread/Dave's Killer! Also, it doesn't have to taste bad, there are many WFPB sauces/dressings you can make! Look up Jill Dalton, Plantiful Kiki, Well Your World on here, they have tons of amazing vids! You can reach out to me anytime as well :)

[@kimjong-un5074]

So coke for 2 weeks and you will have the same Effekt!

[@Murasame13]

@@bryant475 Staying away from animal products is ridiculous advice. You need to look into the carnivore diet. If animal products are the problem, then the carnivore diet would've failed miserably, but it's one of the most successful (mainly due to how easy it is) diets out there right now. It's essentially a more strict version of the Keto diet. I don't think red meat or saturated fats are the problem, but I'm honestly not sure what IS the problem. A recurring theme is unhealthy carbs, though.

[@bryant475]

@@Murasame13 WFPB works even better than carnivore, without the side effects of a high animal product diet, like heart disease and cancer. So there's no reason to eat animal products other than just desire. WFPB has hundreds of studies and thousands of testimonies to back it up.

[@Mallchad]

​@@Murasame13 It's plant toxins and sugar. Primarily. Turns out spinach has enough oxalate to give you kidney stones and arthritis in a very short amount of time. Navy beans and kidney beans have enough toxins to hospitalize you, hence why you can't eat them raw. Gluten among and soy and nuts, are one of the most prevelant allergies in the world. Fibre is directly implicated is disrupting gut function and causing constipation and colon damage, and is completely indegestible. It it quite obvious, when you look it to it, that humans are not meant to be eating anything but the muscle meat and fat of ruminant animals. Same red meat as human flesh and completely non-toxic.

[@nq8218]

I’m so proud of you, and I appreciate how honest and open you are with this video. I feel many people are in the same relationship with food as you were, and I think that this video has the ability to give people hope that it is possible to lose weight in a sustainable, healthy and manageable way. Thank you

[@sonjagatto9981]

👍 I agree❣

[@phuzzyphil]

Great to hear about your journey! You can even adjust content of your future videos to how to eat and enjoy healthy ethnic foods. It’s not about depriving yourself of foods you love….its about understanding how to eat in moderation and learning how to savor things you eat . Thanks for sharing 😊❤

[@PatstarDeluxe]

Obvioulsy I'm here for language videos but this is your best video ever. As someone in the best shape of their life at 42, diet is so so important.

[@staysea71]

I agree about this video.

[@TheMasonK]

For me hunger has been the worst enemy. I’ve lost 111 lbs as of this morning (currently 214 lbs). I’ve used coping mechanisms to actually help my hunger. Telling myself hunger is a state of mind and rationalizing it and taking my emotion out of it. Distracting yourself with lots of activities helps too. Keep yourself busy. The more sitting around you do, the more you’re worried about your next meal. I would also say vegetables are awesome at filling your belly up and feeling fuller with less fats, carbs, and proteins in your diet. Anybody can lose weight. You just gotta be willing to adjust your lifestyle.

[@benisrood]

Well done!

[@unknown-vo3di]

you could also restrict carb consumption to get your appetite under control.

[@TheMasonK]

@@unknown-vo3di or replace some carbs with proteins. Not too many proteins though as protein unused turns into fat in the body.

[@supertrexandroidx]

Congrats! Keep it up and you'll likely live longer. How many obese people do you see over 70? Not many!

[@zzizahacallar]

So true!

[@kevinhickman6837]

Thanks for sharing this, Ari! I've become concerned with the same issue and it's good to know there's light at the end of the tunnel.

[@antisora]

I came back to this video because you inspired me to add more of these foods into my diet after this video. I've been actively trying to lose weight the last several years but have had zero positive progress. After watching this, I decided to add some of this into my current diet and am super excited to say that I have lost over 20 pounds in the last three months. Thank you Ari.

[@b4804514]

You are such a smart guy fixing the problem. You look so much better. Probably saved your life. High inflammatory processed diet is bad all the way around.

[@snotrohmitabc123]

Big W. You look great!! Your kids are blessed to have a dad who cares about longevity and health because of them. Stay healthy, fit, and strong!

[@amyalt]

I hope you are proud of yourself. This video is life changing my dude. I’m done with my past relationship with food as of now. I have two young kids and want to be a good example to them and to live a long life. Thank you for the inspiration to get serious 💪

[@sonjagatto9981]

👍

[@xoanwahn]

Really needed to see this right now! Thanks so much for the information and for just being so open and honest about it.

[@KevinP2]

Other than diet, what I found that works well for me is getting enough quality sleep(7+ hours) and drinking plenty of water

[@happydaylike4342]

Yes, you have to drink quality water too.

[@KevinOnEarth_]

@@happydaylike4342- This is a super underrated attitude. I cringe so hard every time I hear someone say "water is water." We are nearly 70% water so the quality of water we ingest during our approx. 75 years of life is VITAL. Some countries (like France) have natural spring water infrastructure throughout urban areas for public use and I really wish I had that were I live. The amount of chemicals in any and all "city" water in the States and through your home faucet (unless you have a natural well obvi) compounds like crazy throughout a lifetime. So, I urge people to focus on the quality of water they drink and to source out the most affordable, natural source of water they can access for their daily consumption. Even the hard water you shower with, over time, greatly affects the health of your skin and hair.

[@redryan20000]

Sleep is under-rated. When you don't sleep enough, the weight you lose from dieting is decreased by up to 50% apparently.

[@polk-e-dot8177]

water has been such a big help for me in controlling my hunger.

[@morgan2045]

Sparkling water is good for hunger too, idk why but the gas from sparkling water will help hunger

[@ree_boksock]

Actually perfect because I just told myself I was going to lose 50 pounds yesterday

[@Bald_Matt]

Same bro, told myself I would lose 50 lbs this year and haven't lost anything yet, need to get at it!

[@Brannon1009]

Did you lose it yesterday?

[@muqiwara2626]

Did yesterday take it away?

[@ree_boksock]

@@muqiwara2626 nope! Unfortunately I did not wake up this morning fifty pounds lighter haha

[@WarrenF48]

You owe it to your children to stay healthy and live a long time.

[@surkh]

I really really appreciate the overlay text in all of your b-roll that was showing the meal examples! 🙏

[@ThanhNguyen-io6st]

Keep up the great work!! Thanks for sharing your diet journey with all of us

[@_cosmicbutterfly]

this is such a gem of a video, I totally feel you with vegetables taking up much more volume on the plate. It’s at the point where I feel really weird and unsatisfied if I’m not consuming a substantial amount of veggies with every meal. At some point a healthy habit becomes a lifestyle 🌱

[@kingcookie885]

Couldn’t agree more. I remember the times, when I didn’t eat any vegetables, when I didn’t absolutely have to. I then forced myself to eat vegetables to the point where I was full at basically any meal and only then allowed myself to eat anything else, basically only as a topping. A few years later and I‘ve grown to love these veggies so much that like you I’m unsatisfied, if they aren’t there. Same with sports! I’ve become an avid runner, cyclist and gym-dude, having hated all of it at the beginning, to the point where I’m unhappy if a day without any sports goes by. I therefore would go even further - at some point a healthy habit becomes part of your identity. One can form their identity! Goals shouldn’t be “I want to lose x pounds/kg” or “I should do more exercise”, but rather “I want to become that kind of person that loves these kinds of things”. And the great thing is: You can!

[@beekay114]

thanks for breaking down every single step of your journey. a lot of people who go through weight loss dont go into detail of how they lost weight. a critical point you made was some the example recipes and actually showed them on camera. ive struggled to lose weight since i started looking into it and i think this is a fantastic video to get me going in the right path. im going to commit to rewatching your video everyday, so that i can engrain it in my head and start to build healthy diet habits. im excited to look forwards to sweating less, moving better, and sleeping better. i hope i can report back with some great results, thank you Ari for all your content and insight

[@adamneumann9774]

Good luck!

[@LoantakaBrook]

Congratulations! I watched another video and I thought you looked different, but I didn’t know why. Good for you for loosing weight for a healthy lifestyle. Great for yourself and your family!

[@dtorr1840]

Good for you Xiaoma! You look healthier and younger as well. Keep it up - your wife and children will appreciate you for it.

[@catsrus2890]

This is one of the best, most practical videos I have ever seen on weight loss. You are spot-on and I'm sending it to so many people. Thank you and congratulations on your weight loss!!!

[@kirkjohnson5524]

Ari i have been watching you since the Pandemic and over the past year I lost touch for some reason and then this morning the Turkish Bath video popped up on my youtube and I watched it and loved it and was shocked at how GREAT you looked.... then of course my next video to watch was this one about your weight loss... I found it so helpful, so insightful and so REAL... better that most of the professional fitness and diet videos... GREAT JOB ARI... you are inspiring us more than you know... keep up the healthy living and the positive energy you put out into the world.....

[@BeingReal1]

Goodness! So proud of you for sharing and your honesty. This, no doubt, will help so many people.

[@Hatzuii]

Love this video, no extra stuff, no promoting, raw footages. It really just shows your journey, and its amazing! Thank you for sharing! :D

[@masterchief9005]

As my main man Tony Horton taught me, it's 80% diet, 20% workout for results. You can workout non stop but if you eat junk, you will get stronger but your physique won't change. Eating empty calories while binge eating. When I noticed your weight loss I thought you maybe were taking shots of Ozempic. Thanks for sharing what you did to reach your goal.

[@rmocdldeyod]

"Like a pterodactyl backing out of trouble"

[@dimaspivak7528]

German potato soup.

[@MagnusMercury]

Tip of the day: Don't smash your face.

[@blackbeltjones2903]

My canadian ass read that as Tim Hortons 😂.

[@kev2020]

Don't touch my hand... DON'T. TOUCH. MY. HAND!

[@gauchonm]

So much that you said resonated with me and was so genuine. Followed you since Covid. You inspired me like no one ever before to eat healthier and lose my 40lbs.

[@roysacrier188]

So’ proud of you! I was concerned after watching your videos and seeing you gaining weight. Wish you the best for you and your family. Keep it up man!

[@bexail3089]

i did notice that you were losing weight gradually over the past handful of videos, it was great seeing you are still capable of learning different languages and doing your normal videos while also taking care of your self. congrats man, love the videos

[@Ongo771]

I really related a lot with this video and I’ll gladly take the advice. I gained 25lbs over covid and would like to lose that. I actually changed up my workout recently to focus more on cardio and HIIT instead of weight lifting but I did not even think about eating more vegetables which I’ll admit does not even take up 10% of most of my meals. Your progress has inspired me to start as soon as possible. Thanks!

[@mangravy2000]

Good on you, keep us posted every once in awhile on how your doing. Once a quarter.

[@09stir]

"if it tastes good, spit it out" is an incredibly unhealthy way to look at food. You can make healthy, filling food taste good. Being healthy shouldn't be a punishment: learning to limit yourself is the way to go

[@ravedragon]

Probably mentally unhealthy but I mean....40 lbs in 4 months? That's crazy fast progress that I don't think has room for a "low fat protein brownie" lol

[@Drew-po6ju]

If someone has the habit/addiction to eat junk/unhealthy it will taste good. Switching your diet towards healthy whole food tricks your mind to not taste good. It takes weeks to adjust in your mind and body. Soon after healthy food taste good and becomes the habit, it does take creativity dishes to make healthy taste good down the road for staying in a healthy diet. Yes I do agree thoughts. Also a side note it’s easy to get fat and not full of unhealthy food, the calories is insane. In the other hand healthy whole food is nearly impossible to get fat.

[@fontajo]

He said a lot of things in this video that definitely don't work for a lot of people. But it's clear that he's adjusting and learning how to get through the feelings he has towards food and wellness. None of us have it totally figured out, some stuff works and some doesn't.

[@WhatsIQ]

@@ravedragon It has more than enough room for a protein brownie though that's not what the comment was talking about. You can make salads taste good, you can make burgers taste good while being leaner, you can make low calorie chili, salmon, low cal sandwiches, etc.

[@blingman78]

@@WhatsIQ Ari's problem is if the food tastes good, he overeats. So making the food taste meh allows him to control his portions.

[@aaron-bieber]

Michael Pollan would be so proud 🙏 "The Omnivore's Dilemma" is still a go-to book recommendation for anyone curious about why we eat the way we do and what we should do about it. Shop around the perimeter of the grocery store. "Eat food, mostly plants, not too much." Here, "food" means "recognizable whole foods."

[@willdegraw]

SO HAPPY FOR YOU GETTING HEALTHY!! YOU'RE A GREAT DAD, AND THIS MAKES YOU EVEN BETTER!

[@stianaslaksen5799]

Awesome that you shared this with us. It was kind of inspiring. I need to loose some weight as well. The hardest part is getting started!

[@Mask1038]

Such determination is truly admirable! Congratulations!! 🎉🎉

[@stephenhauck5251]

100% with you on dropping processed foods. You are absolutely correct about them. Good for you and your health! Keep up the journey!

[@stephenh6479]

Thank you for posting. This is actually inspiring as some one wanting to go through a very similar journey.

[@sage9779]

It's crazy that you've posted this, it's exactly what I've been needing to hear. I really enjoy hearing your perspective and I can relate a lot! I think you provide a lot of points that could be very helpful for me, but difficult! I admire your discipline.

[@OrganicGreens]

Great job bro. Keep going man. Don't diet. Permanently change the way you eat. For the rest of your life. You will stay around 140 easily this way.

[@Deimos866]

He is on a diet. A diet is not a bad word. It's just a way of eating.

[@nonchablunt]

Look up the word 'diet' and then be amazed what it actually means.

[@maddym6592]

​@@Deimos866 I think he just means don't starve yourself, keep going with healthy changes

[@Submersed24]

Diets are punishment. Healthy eating feels great in the long run and gives you more energy

[@Deimos866]

@@Submersed24 yes, and over eating can make you fat. No matter how healthy it is.

[@JordanMarshall246]

Hearing you talk about this is making me reflect on my own life. Having a similar body type to you at the start, this is making me think about changing my diet at the very least thanks for this video!

[@miunya]

You got this. Dont bother with fads. More veg. Less oil. Less carbs. Lean protiens. Legumes. And plenty greens and water! Low cal snacks. Skip soda stick to black coffe and herbal teas. Reduce sugar and highly processed foods.Track calories and stay in a deficit. Plenty calculators online for tdee. Gl m8

[@michaelsedayao8328]

very instructive and inspirational - thanks, Xiaoman!

[@smz257]

I like that you didn't glamorize the journey here. This is the first video I've watched of yours so to be frank I'm not invested in anything else but what you've presented and as someone who's been needing to lose weight for a long time and haven't connected with any motivation, just seeing you put it plainly with only quick highlights of the realities and what worked really makes it connect for me. I'm currently eating tacos and drank some soda while watching but I've generally had a better diet of late. The synchronicity did help with the connection though, so hey I guess things happen for reason. I cook most of my food and do use a lot of veggies but the raw/whole foods strategy may be something I have to emulate for myself. Thanks for a good simple vid brother, keep it going.

[@awesomecrazyspaz]

You are GLOWING BABES! I’m so proud of you! Being healthy and taking care of yourself is the greatest gift you can give the world bc it means you will be around longer to shine your amazing light. Your smile is so contagious and my heart is so full of love for you and this personal journey you’ve taken. Keep shining friend ⭐️

[@TheOGJeff]

This is probably the best video on weight loss I have ever seen

[@bxla1]

i’m very proud of you man. you are very smart for thinking ahead in your life.

[@robinwestrick2270]

congrats bro, it takes a strong resolve to find the balance between satisfying our taste and listening to our bodies' needs. well done

[@THintz-jc4sl]

Brilliant; take aways from this post was comfortable with being hungry, eating vegetables, no or minimal processed foods. Thank you for sharing this!! I practice the intermediate fasting, eating 10am to 6pm. Was three meals a day and now normally two meals a day, loss over 30 lbs for me. Happy to hear that through your discovery you will allow yourself a pasta meal ever so often, that's a great balance!! Very glad to know your life is better and living longer is a reality for you!

[@murfeusa1]

Great inspirational video for someone who is 40 lbs overweight! Love the Jack comment ‘if it tastes too good, spit it out’! Keep it up ‘yung fella’!

[@veliborvasovicofajax5358]

Xiaman...Good job My man....Lookin good but better yet bein healthy for you and your loved ones...Keep up the good work!!!!!!

[@savannah7375]

I went through this myself, same height and weight. I didn't exercise. I didn't have a job, so I really just played video games and ate well. I ate a lot of leafy greens, fiber, seeds, tofu, veggies, and lots of herbal tea. I didn't eat sugar, wheat or dairy. No alcohol. I was already vegan. I lost 50 lbs in a few months just eating and sitting on my butt all day lol Great video. Thanks for sharing! Happy to see you doing well 😊

[@annakissed3226]

I hope your muscles and bones survive in 20 0r 30 years time

[@bigglyguy8429]

@@annakissed3226 Sweet of you to hope, but they won't.

[@Neophema]

I hope you've started exercising since then. Muscle is very important for metabolic and bone health.

[@JoeKunsch]

I started my weight loss Jan 1st this year and am down 30 pounds. I was also super skinny as a kid and in my early 20's. I resonate with this video so much! Congrats on the lifestyle change Ari!

[@dianamorales3480]

wow, I find your determination to lose weight so strong. I’ve been trying to lose weight since the pandemic too, but I feel like I just say that and haven’t ever applied myself like you. I hope I can use your video to further motivate myself. Thank you for posting.

[@JayeSmacks]

thank you for making this video, this helped me alot mentally

[@ubwing1]

Thanks for the helpful vid, friend. I switched to a plant-based, whole foods a little over a year ago, simply for the same reasons you changed your diet. My breathing is better, my joint inflammation is gone, I sleep better, my digestion, blood pressure, attention span...everything is just immeasurably better. I feel great! I miss the foods I used to eat, but the trade-off just simply is not worth it! Keep up the good work, Ari!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@michaelreaves6212]

The video I needed to see today, congrats, and thanks for your honesty!

[@benly32]

I love that you posted this video because it makes me think that I'd like to motivate others just as you helped me stay on track. ❤

[@cheryltotty804]

I became a whole-food, plant-based vegan just over two years ago at 61 years old. Dropped 40lbs, my arthritis went away, and my sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure all returned to optimal range. Good for you for doing this so young and giving yourself the best chance for a healthy life! Keep up the good work!

[@elijahizere]

Strangely the same thing, but replace vegan with Keto. My Mum's arthritis went away, and her blood test results all got in shape. BOTH of you went away from SAD (standard american diet).

[@WestieWestie]

Another WFPB (vegan) here too! Best move of my life. Whole foods are where it's at!

[@robporterart]

I’ve been vegan for almost 11 years and it’s been the best thing that I’ve done for my health.

[@Prolificx]

Great grandmother lived vegan lifestyle before it was a popularized diet for over 80 years and recently passed away at 98. She would eat a lot of protein based non-meat foods and foods with B vitamins. This was all with no research, she just happened to eat the right things that would supply her with everything her body needed by coincidence lol.

[@Bloxeh]

Whole food vegan here too. As a plus, it fixed my ulcerative colitis. Win for the animals, the planet, and me.

[@jaysoto1182]

Respect my dude. I am in a similar boat, hovered around 135-140 all through my early 20's and since lockdowns I've ballooned up to 180. I feel awful and just haven't exercised enough will to stop myself yet. This is a little piece of inspiration.

[@amandaadams1759]

You totally got this, recognizing it is the first step. Just think how awesome you're gonna feel after prioritizing your health.

[@jaysoto1182]

@@amandaadams1759 Thank you!

[@Mallchad]

I'm around the same weight and age and attempted "healthty" eating and after getting an illness that makes it hard for me to exercise I started getting sicker and sicker and more tired. Although I didn't gain weight it felt like my chest was being crushed by a layer of fat I couldn't see. I ended up changing my diet to ketogenic, then carnivore by accident. And everything is slowly resolving and I'm feeling much happier for it... and aparently and getting much stronger without exercise. Anyway, good luck dude.

[@cjhmarine0621]

As a powerlifter, I feel everyone even those in competitions forget that you cannot outlift a poor diet. You don't have to go as extreme however, but with todays smart phones in the palm of your hand, you can easily find healthier eating options for you and the whole family. I myself probably need to cut 10lbs or so and yes i have muscle, but like you said sometimes we fool ourselves when we look in the mirror and say " well i am getting stronger so its ok" . In the end we need to find a happy medium between healthy eating and fitness. We have to be able to enjoy life but not like you said to much where we over indulge and forget the main goal of overall healthy living. Congrats on your hard work and keep it up, 325 squat for someone whos not really into powerlifting is great ! .

[@Limitless200]

I went through a transformation recently and you hit the nail on the head around food. Our relationship with what food is and it's main purpose is the key to losing weight and keeping it off. Exercising is extremely important as it has multiple benefits for your mental health and wellbeing. You also need to be careful that being in a caloric deficit(I assume you were?) means you are going to lose lean muscle. No matter what someone tells you, you need a healthy amount of lean muscle to have a strong and stable body. No need to body build but a good resistance training programme is a must or you will possibly end up skinny fat. Overall an amazing achievement my friend and much love to you for changing your life for a better future for you and your family! Oh, amazing content my man. You are an amazingly talented individual. Keep up the good work💪🏾 For those reading this,you got this.Be consistent in your nutrition and exercise , don't give up and you will see results 💪🏾

[@NunontheRun]

Well done Ari! Also, you look amazing! I dropped 55lbs last year in about 6 1/2 months. I hit my low in October and have maintained since . High protein, high fibre, (broccoli! tofu! beans!) for the win! At 55 years old, menopause wasn't doing me any favours either, and, as you mentioned, exercise alone doesn't cut it. At my age/weight, it was just hurting my joints. It doesn't take a genius to say... "hey.. I could go for a 2 hour brisk walk and burn 450calories and anger my plantar fasciitis and sore knee ... or I could just *NOT* eat that Muffin".. .. so I dropped the weight through diet first, THEN i kicked up the exercise to maintain it, and be fitter and healthier. As I'm going for long-term sustainable, I have one really nice/fun meal a week and just budget the calories for it. but no ultra-processed - too addictive, and now I find I'm losing my taste for it! I'm now no longer obese or overweight, and am up to 7 or 8km running twice a week, when before I couldn't run for the bus. So... maybe i'll hit 60 now without getting diabetes or having a heart attack? also.. i've taken some Repeat After Me Cree lessons thanks to you!

[@MontagZoso]

Wow, well done! I am in my 50s too and I know how hard it can be to drop weight. You’re rocking this! 👍🎉

[@bryant475]

Great job! As a health coach and future physician, I help people lose weight and reverse diseases with Whole Food Plant Based (WFPB) Nutrition! With this way of eating, you can eat until full and still lose weight, while being super healthy! This is because it's super high in fiber, nutrients, healthy fats/protein/carbs, but low in cals (as long as you keep oils low and go easy on the nuts). Just stick to Veggies, Fruits, Legumes/Beans/Lentils, Whole Grains (Like Brown Rice, Quinoa, Oats, etc.), as well as Nuts/Seeds, Herbs/Spices! Just stay away from Animal products, processed foods, oils, or at least minimize them drastically! Exercise is important too, but you can't out exercise a bad diet! Edit- there are some healthy breads- like Ezekiel bread/Dave's Killer! Also, it doesn't have to taste bad, there are many WFPB sauces/dressings you can make! Look up Jill Dalton, Plantiful Kiki, Well Your World on here, they have tons of amazing vids! You can reach out to me anytime as well :)

[@kat200214]

Good for you!! I totally agree that it's so important to eat minimally processed whole foods! I'm not a professional, and I'm not trying to insult or sit on a high horse. I'm just commenting as someone who is on their own weight loss journey (who has also lost about 40 pounds) and has met with some professionals and done research on the latest science and recommendations. I'm super happy for you Ari that you're happy and feeling great with your new food lifestyle and body, but the methods you used to do so may be too extreme for some people. Here's a few things that come to mind: 1) Eating "well" is generally about achieving balance, and eating many nutritious and minimally processed foods while limiting highly processed/high sugar/high fat foods. That said, many professionals even recommend that we "indulge" in "junk" food occasionally because it's fun, because doing so often vastly reduces the risk of you going back to bingeing, and because it's about balance and not necessarily about absolutes/extremes. It's often easier/more doable and more fun for people to include such foods in their food consumption rather than eliminate them completely. 2) Be careful with fast weight loss!! Too much weight loss too fast can be unhealthy/unsafe for the body. It's generally recommended to lose 4-8 pounds per month, or 1-2 pounds a week. Losing more than that in a short amount of time puts you at risk for health problems and at a higher risk of "relapsing" and quitting your new "diet". You're at risk for nutritional deficiencies, losing muscle mass, sending your metabolism into "starvation mode" where it will slow down temporarily but then kick back up when you go back to eating a less extreme diet, gallstone development, electrolyte imbalance, fatigue, and dizziness. 3) Plant based protein like that from legumes is great, but be aware that they can cause some serious digestive upset if we suddenly eat a lot of them and aren't used to doing so. Many can be hard to digest.

[@carmenpagnotta7813]

Well said, I made a comment but it definitely wasn’t as eloquent as this!

[@kat200214]

@@carmenpagnotta7813 Thank you! You made my day! Glad that I managed to put my thoughts into something understandable haha!

[@sunniecam]

Ari, the fact that you made the effort to lose weight and stay healthy is the important thing and I commend you for that. I know how hard it can be. Been there too.

[@13c11a]

I think you've achieved some great insights. Being able to enforce them with yourself is very admirable and the ultimate key to fitness--and long life. Best of luck.

[@jmmsait]

Well done. As we age we realize our purpose and align our priorities. Health and longevity should be at the forefront.

[@shellylinnn]

You're a good man! Not only excelling in learning so many languages to communicate with the world, but now you show you care about your health FOR YOUR KIDS/FAMILY! That's being the man for them! I'm proud of you! 💖

[@meredithheath5272]

Exactly 💯 💯 💯! A great person! (Cute kids, too, handsome Dad!)

[@judemartin2878]

Thank for your openesss and honesty. Taking care of your future self is so important, your body will thank you later.!! My mom is 86 and she runs around the city and is in very good health. Doesnt need medication and eats well. I attribute this to her diet.

[@fredricgrethel1717]

Fantastic video. Thank you. Good luck on your continued successful journey.

[@euodiaclitterhouse4726]

A huge part of your job/calling is connecting to people of other cultures. Connecting with people and their cultures through food has been and always will be a huge part of that. Happy for you, proud of you, but go easy on yourself!

[@Izaakwalton_]

Good on you man! Thank you so much for your advice as I could really use it. I'm probably 45 lb overweight right now and I'm 56 years old. My entire life before my early '40s I never had even a wisp of overweight and I was able to eat completely unrestricted and now it is all changed. I need to come to grips that I need to have a personal revolution and face up to some hard facts before this gets any worse than it already is. Thank you for being so open and honest! That is a brave thing that many people are incapable of doing and I admire you for it!!

[@roadwarrior280]

I am down 21 pounds. Cut out dairy, sugar, gluten, cut carbs way down. Steam , boil your foods .

[@Izaakwalton_]

@@roadwarrior280 Sounds like good advice road warrior! Thank you for the encouragement. I need to psych myself up and stop being such a pussy and and get it done.

[@roadwarrior280]

@@Izaakwalton_ you got to get off jones. You can still eat some beef, fish etc. Just don’t fry it. Carbs , sugar , dairy . I eat about 1/3 the rice I use to.

[@Nathan_Duffield]

I love the videos so much, and I commend you for being honest with yourself and making a change that you felt was necessary.

[@alitabaker99]

Really loved this video. Congrats on the weight loss and journey!

[@wileko4459]

Good to see that what I discovered about losing weight is the same things that has given you results. I am on my journey to becoming healthier and fitter. Thank you for the video! I’ll remain encouraged!

[@naa7210]

I really like this narrative! Really informative and I like how you show your whole experience and thoughts on it. Glad you could go on good path so easily.

[@23Sinbio]

This is so interesting. Thanks for taking us along your journey.

[@alexandrehuot3326]

I was expecting a noom ad so much! Glad this isn't! Really inspiring and motivating!

[@Dr_4_dr]

Just the motivation I needed. Thanks for this video, and congrats on your health journey ❤

[@alanfa3idan]

Love the transparency here. Thanks Xiaoma for sharing your full thoughts and opinions 😊

[@TheEthNick]

I’m glad you did this. I see so many KZbinrs gain weight & it’s real concerning. Your diet was front & centre the reason for it, & I held back from commenting on it…Happy you focused on it before it became a real problem.

[@PinchiExivion]

Thanks for your perspective man. I've always been on the heavy side, but I actually went through a major weight loss some 5 years ago, doing pretty much what you've described, and I looked and felt great. It lasted for a couple years but during the pandemic I undid all those gains. I'm staring down the road again and need to get started. Thanks for sharing your experience, I feel motivated to start again. I'll see you on the other side!