Going vegan, vegetarian or just quitting eating red meat has become so common and popular nowadays it almost seems like a fad and for many it ends up being a short-lived season in their lives.
That's why we are so happy to celebrate Keyrah, who had all of the issues, doubts and just plain old fears about going vegan, but decided to take the plunge and do it anyway. Because of her decision, it literally saved her life.
You can find Keyrah on her social media (@HeyKeyrah on Instagram) giving out thoughtful inspiration for those who want to not only transform their bodies, but their minds as well.
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In an interview with The Weigh We Were, Keyrah shares her testimony:
"I have been overweight for as long as I can remember. my earliest memories are of me being bigger and taller than my peers. I have always been self-conscious about my weight but it wasn’t until I was in high school wearing a 16/18 that I realized it was a big issue. Still, I remained overweight because I did not know how to lose weight or if I ever could."
Like so many, Keyrah's weight was in the way of who she was as a person and what she was trying to accomplish.
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"My weight has held me back from so many opportunities because I didn’t want to meet people. Even being active at my children’s school was put on the back burner because I was scared of embarrassing my girls."
"My turning point was when I became depressed, suffered from anxiety, migraines, and I felt like I was losing myself. I knew that I didn’t want to miss out on being a mom and I know my girls deserved a healthy mommy. Because my girls were the reason for me needing to be healthy I knew failure was not an option because I could not, would not, and did not let them down.
"I weight myself the night before I started and I was 288 lbs I did not weigh in again until after my detox. So by day 11 I was already 19 lbs down!! I knew there was no turning back.
"Since I was a new vegan my biggest challenge was what to eat. I had no clue what I was doing but I researched and learned while I was in it. I knew the basics but that’s it. It was always a challenge when eating out because believe it or not everyone does not offer a vegan option which is sad.
"I know that for those people on the fence and not really sure if they’re ready to be Vegan any Little post has the potential to push them closer to this lifestyle or make them dive completely in. With that said I’m here to plant a little seed and I pray it reaches who it is intended for."
"I was in your shoes. I wanted to be vegan but didn’t know how or if I would be able to. But I had no choice," Keyrah posts on her Instagram. "As a mom or 2 princesses I had to live what I wanted them to learn. I was scared at 288 lbs and suffering daily from migraines which was a symptom of my PTSD, anxiety and depression. I honestly thought I was “stuck” feeling like that. I would have to choose between being scared and sad or being medicated. Both sounded sucky to me. So I decided after lots of sleepless nights googling, stalking vegan accounts, scrolling through IG and FB to put my big girl panties on and just do it! So 🤷🏾♀️I did it! On March 1, 2015 I started my plant-based lifestyle by detoxing and incorporating daily exercise and meditation. 10 months later I was 100 lbs lighter💪🏽🌱 and I have not taken ANY medication since I started. Because I was able to completely change my thoughts, I was able to change my life and...
... how PTSD, anxiety and depression affects me. I’m not living a sad miserable life or on any medication. I now honestly know what if feels like to feel great even when things aren’t “perfect”. But My biggest most noticeable change has been my 127 pound weight loss that I’ve been able to also maintain for 2 years. This has been by far the best decision I’ve ever made for myself and my children. I went from never wanting to go up to my kids school and embarrass them to being the “cool mom” And most requested chaperone🤦🏾♀️ I’ve learned to just get through each moment and I’ll never fail. Whether it’s for health or mental conditioning and clarity I encourage you to try a plant based diet."
I wanted to give up but it was not an option for me. My little girls needed a healthy mommy and I was determined to give them just that.
