Over the past couple years, there has been some pretty amazing vegan body transformations. Even I, myself, underwent a major transformation after I switched to a high-raw plant-based lifestyle.
There’s no doubt that going vegan can turn your life around, and these people prove it. Not only does it help change the way your body looks, but it can help get rid of disease and illness. Many of those who have adopted a plant-based diet have been cured of acne, diabetes, obesity, and even cancer!
When I went high-raw vegan, not only did I lose weight, but my skin got better, my moods improved, and even my eyes changed colour. I also experienced a new energy to life I never knew existed.
Veganism and Weight Loss
Why does adopting a plant-based diet help you lose weight? Studies have shown that those who adhere to a vegan diet have a lower body mass index than that of their meat-eating counterparts. In addition, meat-eaters consume more calories and fewer vegetables, on average, than vegans do (1).
Randomized controlled trials have even shown that when all other factors are controlled for, vegan diets can help participants lose significant amounts of weight (2, 3).
Plant-based diets, when properly followed, can help anyone lose weight. They are high in fibre, which helps reduce hunger and increases feelings of fullness, and also lower in saturated animal fats. They also keep us from eating things that would otherwise make us stack on the pounds (like sweet treats and other gourmet foods that typically aren’t found in the vegan version).
One study conducted in New Zealand, called The BROAD study, found that a whole food vegan diet was one of the most effective methods for weight loss in obese people at 6 and 12 months without added exercise or calorie restriction (4).
While weight loss is only part of the equation when re-vamping your life, it certainly helps to adopt a plant-based diet while doing so. You’ll achieve your goals faster than you could ever imagine – and the people below prove it.
Vegan Body Transformations
Here are some of the most breathtakingly life-changing vegan body transformations you absolutely have to see to believe! Just so you know, the photos on the left are before, and those on the right are after eating a plant-based diet.
1. Victoria Rose
A stunning transformation by Victoria Rose, a professional photographer and co-owner of Candid Chef. She battled health and weight issues since she was 18 years old, and eventually decided to adopt a vegetarian diet after she realized that consuming animal products were contributing to her years of struggling health. “Soon all the ailments and excess weight started to disappear! My longstanding acne went away within a few months of dropping dairy (5).” Not only did she lose weight, but if you compare photos, it doesn’t even look like the same person!
2. Osha Key
After switching to raw foods, Osha Key lost a whopping 40 pounds. After learning about how animal products affect our health (plus the horrible practices of our meat and dairy industries), Osha could no longer justify eating these foods. She started drinking green vegetable juice and green smoothies every morning, ditched processed junk food, and reduced her refined sugar and oil consumption. Her transformation is truly remarkable!
3. Lissa
Lissa, founder of Raw Food Romance, went on a raw food diet and lost around 70 pounds. Her before and after photos are pure proof that you can get rid of cellulite on a plant-based diet. The low levels of inflammation as a result of consuming a plant-based diet also ensure the skin stays tight and less “poofy” as can be seen in Lissa’s before and after photos.
4. Keyrah Lee
This vegan body transformation is truly remarkable. After many years of unhealthy eating, Keyrah found herself at 288 pounds. After many failed attempts at multiple weight loss tricks, programs, and diets, she was still stuck. However, on March 1, 2015, Keyrah decided to become vegan, and her life was forever changed. She started with a plant-based instructional detox, which was a vegan meal and exercise plan. She lost 100 pounds in 10 months, and has inspired thousands on social media.
5. Miranda Martinez
Miranda Martinez started experimenting with raw, living foods, superfoods and live supplements, when she first started her Master Cleanse in July 2007. She lost over 60 pounds and experienced a multitude of health benefits such as increased energy, reduced hereditary LDL cholesterol and spider veins. She also no longer has cysts (cased by a low-carb diet), knee pain, constipation issues, or food addictions.
6. Nina
Nina tried going vegan a few times, but always went back to her meat eating ways, because she didn’t know how to build muscle without consuming animals. Eventually, Nina took the vegan plunge for good, and decided to take-up body building while doing it. Not only does she look amazing, but she also won a $80,000 grand prize for her vegan body transformation. For information on how Nina achieved this amazing transformation, check out what she did here. Good work Nina!
7. Megan Elizabeth
YouTube sensation and author of four raw food books since 2010, Megan Elizabeth, made a dramatic transformation on a raw food diet. Since switching, she has recovered from severe adrenal fatigue, leaky gut syndrome, candida overgrowth and chemical sensitivity. Her before and after photos are proof that a raw vegan diet can seriously transform someone not only on the outside, but the inside too.
8. Ashley Chong
Ashely Chong of Raw and Radiant has a truly inspirational story. Instead of following doctors’ orders who were telling her to restrict calories, eat meat, and to take a popular weight-loss drug called phentermine, she did the exact opposite. She went on a 100% raw vegan diet overnight and never looked back. She lost over 125 pounds in a little less than a year, and then her husband followed suit about five months after (he lost over 85 pounds!). Ashley and her partner Andrew’s weight-loss story was also featured on the front cover of PEOPLE Magazine for “Half Their Size” issue where her raw food journey was featured nationwide.
9. Essena O’Neill
While this isn’t so much a vegan body transformation, switching to a plant-based diet has been confirmed by numerous individuals to help with acne – and Essena is one of those girls. Essena suffered from a wide range of ailments, including depression, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, recurring Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), and chronic acne. Switching to a plant-based diet helped her skin, and also had a positive impact on her other conditions. Essena used to be a huge online star, but in 2016, she quit all social media as it became too overwhelming for her.
10. Rich Roll
A former mega carnivore, Rich Roll was pushing sedentary at 198 pounds when he turned 40. He was sick and tired of being out of shape, so in January 2007, he decided to do a 5-day cleanse. He bought a juicer and basically fed himself on organic fruit and vegetable juices as well as herbal broths. He eventually switched to vegan after being vegetarian, and noticed a huge energy shirt. He felt lighter, and his energy levels escalated. Six months into the vegan diet, Rich dropped 30 pounds. He now loves doing triathlons and is as active as he’s ever been.
Thanks for this great article. So many wonderful transformation stories from people on Plant Based diets. Veganism is a lifestyle and I`m sure if these people are Vegan, this too will have helped them stay on track and feel so much better mentally as well as physically, knowing they harm no Animals. More and more people are saying they are Vegan and it`s crucial we use the right wording. I`m not being picky, it`s just that if people change their diet to a Plant Based one and think that`s all they need to do to be Vegan, then all the other Animals they might use will continue to be abused. Whether it`s using products tested on Animals, betting on Horses, buying Dogs from a breeder and many more, people must know the difference in the diet and the lifestyle. Thanks x
Yeah totally, I agree. Being vegan vs. being plant-based are different in the respect that veganism often comes with the ethical side of things and preventing use and abuse of animals in all regards.
It’s amazing how every single one of them looks so much younger too! I find that sometimes major weight loss ages people, this is just proof that veganism is the right way to be!
Totally!