I Lost 70 Pounds on a Plant-Based Diet | Melissa Ann Matthews

Melissa Ann Matthews changed her life with a plant-based diet! Hear her inspirational story on a new episode of The Exam Room podcast with the "Weight Loss Champion" Chuck Carroll.
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[@laura6981]

I am a 67 yr old woman and lost 40 lbs in 5 months. I also tried every diet but during COVID I put on additional weight that placed me in the obese category. I even tried keto and hated it. When I stumbled into a WFPB type of way of eating, I was surprised. I had always said I never met a carb I didn’t like. It’s all the other foods that we combine with the carbs. It is important to incorporate just as many veggies with the carbs. It was not difficult to give up fats/oils. I water sauté mushrooms in the morning and add fresh spinach with a little lower sodium soy sauce. I use balsamic on my salads. Instead of making one sweet potato, make 4 or 5. Making larger quantities gives you food for the following day. When I started, I watched KZbin movies and videos, read books, arm yourself with info.. Good luck to all on their journey to health!

[@mariaespiritu9512]

Awesome! Good for you. I’m 44 yrs old and I have lost 30 Lbs to date since October 2022. I’m 5’8” and went from 209 lbs to 179 lbs. I also batch cook, like you, for like 3 days at a time, so that I have food available and don’t get tempted with the food apps or junk food.

[@geno5169]

Thank you 🙏 for your beautiful story! I did keto years ago! I had 2. A/fib and now I have 29.6 clogged arteries! I’am recently started my journey on plant based! I just gave up pizza’ salmon’ eggs! I was eating eggs ! ‘ salmon for years! At age of 46 I lost my optic nerve! All I have is my prefer! All o want is be healthy and get lean

[@MsPants1632]

It’s so strange, but when you eat healthy plant based foods, you don’t want to keep eating. The food tastes good but once you are full, you tend to just stop. But the hardest part is getting the crap foods out of your life and start the plant based eating. It’s a process, that took me years to finally get to this point. I applaud people that can just flip a switch and transition to this way of life overnight!! Congrats on your success!!

[@sis_yd_jesuschrist]

True I get satisfied quickly end up not even finishing my food because I feel satisfied. Slowly transitioning into this journey.

[@cendril2]

Well I overeat on sweet potatoes... and I'm still 35 pounds overweight....

[@sis_yd_jesuschrist]

@@cendril2 try doing the 50/50 plate. Half non starchy veggies then half starch. Eat the non starch first then the starch and if you feel for more do the same again 50/50 rule

[@MsPants1632]

@@cendril2 yes. I definitely agree with the 50/50 plate. You can bulk up on non starchy veggies to fill your belly but add the starchy (sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rice ect) to get your more delicious foods to satisfy you. It’s a balance. And trust me when I say, I’m no expert. It’s taken me years to get this figured out, but the 50/50 plate does really make that scale move. Best wishes on your journey:))

[@MsPants1632]

@@jenn.7227 ooops. I corrected. Thanks!

[@marilynboykins3577]

I will not stop trying this food addiction is a terrible thing I'm going to be a winner I keep trusting in God to give me strength I got this looking forward to losing 100 pounds and never finding it amen

[@phillatella6470]

Read Food Junkies by Vera Tarman. I bought the audio book

[@judyhoomalamalama]

theres a book" Made to Crave devotional 60 dys 2 craving God not food" by Lysa Terkevrst. I have read some excerpts from her book & it is very helpful to me. But have not read the whole book. I m no sure I have the author name correct but hope this will help.

[@sharit7970]

Have you heard of Dr. Doug Lisle? He was on 'Forks over Knives'. He gave a great presentation 'How to lose weight without losing your mind', if you haven't seen it, it's on YT on the 'Forks' channel. I think you'd find it super encouraging : ) the video is about 1 hour 13 min.

[@RiDankulous]

A little tip that might help that worked for me and is recommended by most of these doctors: set up the environment so there's minimal temptation, and the biggest thing is to keep all the unhealthy foods out of the house, but also I take it a step further and avoid food commercials and commercials in general. I slip up sometimes, but rarely. Best wishes.

[@dogwyllie793]

As Shari T says Doug Lisle is a great read/listen for realising why your brain succumbs to unhealthy food. It’s inbuilt in your brain to crave the stuff. The book is the The Pleasure Trap. Good luck!!

[@nataliepastor1497]

Chuck, looking so much better.

[@RiDankulous]

Gratz to the channel on breaking 100k subscriptions. There is clearly a great team, and a strategic plan of getting out strong, interesting content on a regular basis.

[@sharonferguson888]

It would be nice if you linked her website , and social media pages .. in the interview description.

[@mikigiusti1239]

Nice hair Chuck! And thanks for the episode!

[@catp.6182]

love, love, love this show!...I watch and listen to all of the podcasts I can!...I love the topics, questions. Your experience has really inspired me to stay clean in so many ways...Thank you Chuck...you saved my life!...x

[@Equinox1.5]

Such an inspiring story 🙂 Thank you, Melissa and Chuck.

[@scotty7954]

Thank you for sharing your journey Melissa and Chuck. I can resonate with your challenges. Good on you both for turning your lives around.

[@melissamatthews4422]

Thank you!

[@maltamaryfree]

After a 5 day water fast I learned a lot about the difference between food addiction and hunger.

[@SomewhereInIndiana1816]

inspiring story, thank you so much!! 😀

[@joannejensen4369]

Great interview. Very motivating and insightful.👍🇨🇦

[@breakthroughdumpster2268]

Awesome video. I'm tuned into all your videos. I'm new to the lifestyle. No meat in two months 💪

[@RiDankulous]

Great video, thanks. I think where Melissa mentions the issue is habitual is an important point in overcoming temptation. I think a lot of what we do will change eventually as long as we correct the habit. This is especially useful when going plant based, just knowing during the switchover that at some point the foods will become fully satiating. It can take time during which some become demotivated but just keep plugging away after slip ups and they will end eventually.

[@SunRayBabyJ]

So true!

[@terryo9105]

Thanks for your excellent videos. You look amazing.

[@davidbarrett8348]

Go girl!

[@kimc7892]

I'm starting a plant-based way of eating starting tomorrow. Hope I can stick with it because the last year has not been the healthiest.

[@RiDankulous]

Good luck; I have faith you can do it.

[@debrajessen7975]

Hi Kim, how is it going on your plant-based journey? I’ve recently started this life style myself. Have you got any tips?

[@kimc7892]

@@debrajessen7975 Congrats! The best tips I have are to be consistent, research and plan your meals, and only shop for what you need so you don't end up with cart full of plant-based snacks. Also, it's totally okay to ease into it. All the best...

[@Maryisthegoldengirl]

Yep!! Hair is on point!!

[@renev8223]

Thank you Melissa. Is there a email or some way to contact you? I’m at a point I need the motivation and you indeed are. I’m at at a unhealthy time in my life and it would nice to see how you started and what to eat. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story.👍🏼💙

[@Ganpignanus]

congrats you got your life back. i'm already vegan healthy and athletic.

[@harryt622]

I’ve been strictly plant based for four weeks now and I lost four pounds in the first week and nothing since. I don’t get it. I eat oatmeal with a cup of blueberries in the morning. A cup of beans and a salad or raw broccoli for lunch and the same for dinner with some boiled potatoes or other vegetables. Why doesn’t it work?

[@suesylvia8420]

Maybe you cut your calories too drastically? I've read that if your body thinks it's starving, it'll hold onto fat. Maybe add back some calories? You might not need to lose as much weight as you thought. I'm not a medical professional so I may be wrong. Just a thought, tho.

[@RiDankulous]

I don't think the doctor recommends calorie counting but I do that myself when losing weight, and to track my nutrients especially. It might be worth measuring your food out very carefully with a scale each day, just for a little while to get a general idea of the calorie breakdown. I used cronometer website. It's free and many vegans use it if they want to track special nutrients.

[@SheriAnne0711]

Focus on your health and not the scale. The scale rarely moves for me either but I just keep telling myself my health is getting better and better. The scale will move in time. I also stopped weighing every day because it really messed with my mind. I weigh once a week. Last week I lost a pound after a very long plateau and I was thrilled!! Best of luck to you!

[@angellacothrell8306]

Well look at it this way you put in a lot of unhealthy food i may guess her so it will take time to restart your gut health throw in a 24 hours water fasting or 72 water fasting or 36 then come back an tell me if its not working it was for me .

[@LadiesofPurposeTV]

Check out whole 30/plant paradox. I started a month ago, down 6 pounds & losing inches on my waist finally!!!!! The inflammation in my stomach has gone down and my anxiety/panic attacks GONE!!! I feel amazing!!! So much energy ;). I’ve been getting up at 4:50am and going to work earlier (I’m not a morning person well I wasn’t on the SAD diet). I want to lose 100 pounds...but most importantly I want to feel and be healthy. I had a mindset shift the last couple months about What I want to feel like and how to get there...I do eat lean meats, wild caught fish & seafood often. But I eat tons of vegetables too & some fruits...I don’t eat the following: no dairy, no sugar, no beans, no gluten, no grains, no soy & no artificial sweeteners and I feel Ahmazing!!!!! I’m working to limit potatoes to just 1-2 times a week so that my weight loss can continue. I never feel hungry...it’s the best! I don’t have cravings. Keep researching and find what works for your body:). You will get there! God Bless!

[@Chris-kr7gg]

I've gone through the same issue, at the moment, 12 years of destruction after a chronic disease HSV1 destroyed me I PRAY I can come back to health after 12 years of destruction.

[@ludicrousone8706]

I really find it problematic to suggest that depression will vanish with the weight. In many cases an untreated depression or an undiagnosed PTSD led to the obesity in the first place. Mind, body and soul do influence each other and need attention and heeling in equal measure.

[@terryo9105]

She did say however that she started with the mental aspect to her credit though.

[@ludicrousone8706]

@@terryo9105 Good for her, I'm glad and I shouldn't have missed it. My critique was not so much directed at her, but at the interviews in this series when it comes to weight loss.

[@sherryfalsetti6636]

As a holistic clinical psychologist, I agree. Eating healthier can help, but therapy may also be needed. A mind, body, spirit approach can lead to optimal health!

[@biancapinero5832]

How long did she loss the 70 lbs?

[@fishmut]

Food in a bag or a box was made deliberately tasty to get you back buying more, we all have done it and then it becomes a habit that ruins our lives with out even know what we are doing till we get sick and over weight depressed and physically unhealthy, sadly till we get to a point , only then we realise we screwed up.

[@JoeBurner1720]

I have a question. If i ate 2000 calories with a vegan diet and 2000 calories with a normal diet, would i still lose weight? I personally don’t think so but correct me if i’m wrong

[@Chris-kr7gg]

Interesting I think so, as it will depend on what food you eat how that food is metabolised.

[@Justno-hm3vk]

Chuck - like your new hair style

[@ch1cksng3r]

Hilariously, I “quit smoking” three days prior to running my first marathon and resumed immediately after. I thought it was funny at the time.

[@lionsfan76]

What is the name of the book your sister sent you?

[@sharit7970]

I think it was 'The Cheese Trap' by Dr. Neil Barnard

[@melissamatthews4422]

The Cheese Trap

[@judyhoomalamalama]

emptiness needs to b filled and that stomach is more than willing to offer suggestions...FOOD. It is like a faucet that cannot b turned off. It is a pattern esp when the reaction to life's problems u use toxic foods & chemicals . Hard. Congratulations Melissa. Try 20 yrs of turmoil. Grr. I never smoked , havent eaten meat for 30 yrs & excerised but I drink too much wine & then I get the munchies. I am plant based but getting off the wine & living w a partner that loves wine & chips who is very healthy. It is very difficult w NO support.

[@lorraine.m1659]

I am also plant based but struggle with wine and crisps. My partner isn’t plant based and eats a very unhealthy diet, so the support isn’t there which is very difficult. Getting support is very important.

[@melissamatthews4422]

Thank you

[@Chris-kr7gg]

Damn Judy how much wine do you drink ? To get the munches ?

[@judyhoomalamalama]

@@Chris-kr7gg too much but have cut down to only drinking twice a week rather than 4 x s . Getting better . Only munching non air popped popcorn w no oil or salt .Hopefully to stop drinking by March which is my goal .

[@Chris-kr7gg]

@@judyhoomalamalama you can do it, these behaviours aren't you they are what you were manipulated into doing, remember that.

[@clararomero1004]

Hi 🙋🏻‍♀️ what her Instagram???

[@melissamatthews4422]

melissaannmatthews33

[@mexico53ify]

Please ask the question then let the guest answer!!!!