Woman loses 11 kg via no-meat diet

Vo Thi Day after successfully losing her excessive weight. Photo courtesy of Day

At 1.61 meters tall and currently employed in the business sector, Day once boasted a balanced, slender figure in her youth. However, stress-induced overeating in 2014 led her weight to escalate to 60 kg, accompanied by excessive fat and a loss of body tone.

Rapid weight gain brought several health challenges for Day, such as constant fatigue, lethargy, stomach ulcers, calcium deficiency, and low blood pressure. These issues spurred her determination to overhaul her lifestyle and shed the extra weight.

After thorough research, Day decided to embrace an approach that involved a scientifically backed healthy lifestyle, focusing on a balanced diet to simultaneously reduce fat, build muscle, and ensure overall health.

Day’s diet was not rigid but rather centered around meals with 90% plant-based ingredients and 10% protein sources and carbohydrates. She emphasized fresh vegetables, grains for carbs, and proteins like fish and eggs, while avoiding snacks, processed foods, and sugary drinks. She initially faced hunger and sugar cravings but soon noticed improvements in her body’s lightness and digestion, reinforcing her commitment to the diet.

Experts highlight that a plant-based diet can reduce excess cholesterol and lower the risks of obesity and heart disease, benefiting the liver. These foods are easier to digest, enhancing the metabolic system, and vegetarians often burn more calories, aiding weight loss.

Vo Thi Day with her ideal figure from a diet comprising 90% plant-based foods and 10% protein, carbohydrates. Photo courtesy of Day

Additionally, Day’s routine included consistent exercise: resistance training, martial arts, and running. Sebastien Lagree, a former trainer for celebrities like the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and American actress Jennifer Aniston, emphasizes the importance of resistance training for healthy aging. He says the exercise brings various health benefits, including strengthening muscles and extending life expectancy, as well as contributing to overall well-being. He also believes that building resistance, especially through exercises, is the key to healthy aging.

The Sun reports that martial arts improve blood circulation, reduce illness and pain, and increase body resilience and flexibility. It is effective in burning calories, with those that practice taekwondo, karate, or kickboxing being able to burn 600 to 700 calories per hour, and even more at higher intensities.

Running also efficiently burns calories, with the U.S. National Weight Control Registry data showing that those who successfully lose weight and maintain their healthy weight burn 2,800 calories per week through planned exercise on average. This is equivalent to an adult running approximately 45 kilometers per week.

Day’s weight dropped to 49 kg after two years, while her waistline went from 79 cm to 59 cm. She has also achieved a firm, slender, and well-defined figure.

She now practices yoga and resistance training to maintain her flexibility and firmness, while continuing her no-meat diet.

Day practicing yoga post weight loss. Photo courtesy of Day

Yoga offers physical and mental benefits, including enhanced flexibility, heart health, and improved overall fat reduction. Specific yoga poses like Kapaalbhati (Breath of Fire), Matsyasana (Fish Pose), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) support liver function and overall health, particularly benefiting women in reducing stress and improving sleep quality.

"My weight loss process has taught me about patience and not to be afraid of challenges," Day reflected on her weight loss journey.

She also acknowledged that weight loss and maintenance are ongoing processes and stated her commitment to her diet and exercise regimen for better health and beauty.