Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog
Weight Gain Is Never A Worry
Throughout the pandemic, we’ve all heard talk about how people gained weight while eating processed foods and not exercising. I was one of the few to stay consistent throughout the entire pandemic. At a recent physical, my doctor was surprised to say I didn’t gain any weight during the last year. Nearly every one of his patients had gained weight.
I recently checked my weight at the local gym. I hardly ever step on the scale but thought, let’s see what it reads. 198 pounds... this is consistent to the weight I lost while doing all that running and marathons. Even with an injured knee and not going at cardio the way I was 6 months ago, my weight stayed the same.
I found that by eating whole food plant based, I never have to count calories. Do you know how awesome it feels to not worry about overeating? I come from a past of yo-yo dieting. I used to count calories. Initially, when I first lost the weight 8.5 years ago, I was using MyFitnessPal, an online food journal. I ditched that tool as well as I didn’t need it. Online food journals are more like training wheels. Once you know how to eat properly, you will no longer need to keep track.
I don’t just eat lower calorie foods either. I consume avocado, nuts and seeds daily. I feel I thrive on these foods. For those that are worried about type 2 diabetes, check with your doctor. Some people find higher unsaturated fats in their diets can increase their blood sugar. But I think my metabolism is so fast, exercising 5 days a week, I think I need the extra fat, and it is the healthy fat!
I never thought I would be at a point where I don’t need to worry about gaining weight. I eat a lot too, especially with strength training. The food is always healthy though. I will never opt for quick protein foods to gain muscle. I’m doing nicely, gaining at my own pace with plant based foods.
If you are looking for a “diet” that will allow you to eat a lot of food and keep your energy up, look no further than a whole food plant based diet. It really is the best route to take for sustaining weight loss in the healthiest way possible.
About the author
Richard Hubbard was once over 350 pounds. After a doctor's physical and finding out he was pre-hypertensive, he decided to make changes and avoid medication. Over the course of a year, Rich lost the first 120 pounds of his incredible 150 pound weight loss. He ate healthy foods based on Dr. Joel Fuhrman's book "Eat To Live". He was mostly plant based, but switched to completely plant based in September of 2016. He also became a vegan in the process as his compassion for animals increased. He credits bodybuilder Robert Cheeke for influencing his decision of going vegan. Rich aspires to be a vegan bodybuilder and is planning his first half marathon this year.