I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 11 years old. Ten years later, I can’t imagine any other way of living. I’ve always had clear skin and I’m in excellent health. I became a vegetarian at an age where I refused to eat vegetables or anything else that looked healthy, I ended up gaining a good deal of weight through my Middle and early High school years. In two years I lost 50 lbs and have maintained a healthy weight for three years simply by cutting out processed foods, increasing my vegetable/fruit intake, and exercising three times a week.

Yes, while someone can lose a great deal of weight on a vegetarian diet, it does still require some awareness of portion size and caloric intake. Now maintaining my weight is effortless, I eat as much as I want and I’m never hungry. If you can be happy and fulfilled on a vegetarian diet, I highly recommend it. A few days ago, one of my heavier friends was complaining about his body and, despite my encouragement, he said that someone who was naturally beautiful like myself could never understand what it was like to be overweight. Well, I showed him a few old pictures that I shudder to look at and I think he has found some new motivation.

Good luck!

- Rach