Weight loss and health in 3 easy steps. Really? Yes, absolutely! And, I’m going to share this information with you at no charge.
I know, I know. Everyone has the “secret ingredient” to something. There’s no shortage of magical cures and people are willing to empty their wallets for them. Sadly, most people see their bank accounts slim down instead of their bodies. What I have to offer is completely free, but it does come with a cost. And, when applied it’s almost always successful! Are you ready to find out more?
The Weight Of The Problem
First things first. We must talk about the problem before we talk about the solution. Obesity! Yes, I know there are other health issues and problems outside of obesity. But, lots of those illnesses and problems can be traced back to obesity. Heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, and high blood pressure just to name a few. It’s true not everyone who is obese has all these problems. But, the risk is much greater if one of these conditions is part of your family history. As Dr. Michael Greger says, “Genes load the gun, but it's a lifestyle that pulls the trigger.”
Obesity is officially an epidemic in the United States. Research done by the National Center for Health Statistics for 2015-2016 revealed almost 40% of adults and 19% of youth are obese. What’s even more shocking is the 30% increase in adults and 33% increase in youth compared to data from 1999-2000. In order to address the problem, the government decided to launch what it calls the Healthy People 2020 initiative in 2010. The goal was/is to improve the health of Americans by reducing obesity by 14.5% among youth and 30.5% among adults by 2020.
How’s it working so far? Sadly, the problem continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. What? A government program wasting money and yielding no results? Shocking!
After hearing all this I’ve probably left you feeling pretty depressed and hopeless. But, take heart because there is a solution! And, the great thing about this solution? It’s available to everyone. No, it’s not rocket science, but it could be like dropping an atomic bomb on the problem. It’s not another useless government initiative wasting money and yielding no results. The pharmaceutical companies have not invented some magic pill. And, it’s not some obscure root extract found centuries ago by some goat herder in the Himalayans. The answer is so simple you may not even believe it. Are you ready for it? The answer is…YOU!
That’s right! YOU! Probably not the answer you were expecting or wanted, right? Of course not. But, like it or not, YOU are the solution. You’re also the problem. This is why you have to decide right now you are going to do something. It’s time for you to step up and forever alter the course of your life and your family’s history. Yes, you have that ability. BUT, you must decide ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! And, most importantly, YOU have to believe you’re actually worth it. So, if you’re ready to move forward and change your life – LET’S DO THIS!
1. Own It!
The first step to conquering any of our demons is to admit we actually have a problem. We have to acknowledge what is reality and stop living in denial. This one hits close to home for me.
Several years ago, before losing almost 100 pounds on a plant-based diet, I weighed close to 300 pounds. I suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure and was classified as obese. However, I didn’t consider myself fat or sick. Denial was my middle name. But, all of that changed one day when I tried to buy a pair of pants at the local mall.
I explained to the clerk, who was very large himself, I would like the pants I saw on one of the mannequins. He simply replied, “Bro, they don’t make cool clothes for fat people.” What? Me? Fat? No one had ever said that to me that directly. It hurt and it stung, but it was the truth and exactly what I needed to hear. I left the store hurt and mad. And, although I didn’t realize it at the time, I had just taken my first step to change the rest of my life. I finally saw what everyone else was seeing – the truth.
Starting today, look in the mirror and OWN IT!
2. Make A List
Zig Ziglar, America’s most influential motivation speaker said, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” Put your goal in front of you and think about what you need to do in order to achieve it. No matter how simple or foolish something sounds, write it down! I’m one of the most disorganized people you will ever meet. And, if I don’t write something down it doesn’t get done. But, if I take the time to actually put it on paper and keep it front of me, I’m usually much more efficient.
Next, make a list of everything that needs to change in order to help you achieve your goal. Take some time to do a personal inventory and see what might be holding you back. This can be extremely hard because it could potentially require you to make some tough decisions. You might need to change friends; clean out the fridge; or, find a different route home from work so you don’t have to pass that McDonald’s everyday. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Guaranteed!
3. MOVE!
The final step is the most important and the one very few will ever execute. It’s simple: Stop talking about it and MOVE YOUR ASS! That’s it. That’s the big secret – just do it! Stop hitting the snooze button and get your ass out of bed. Stop saying, “I’ll do it tomorrow” because you won’t. You’ve done the research, you know the answers, and now it’s time to conquer. There’ll be good days and bad days. Days of triumph and days of failure. But, you can and will persevere if you want it bad enough.
This was my life for years. I could talk a good game, but rarely did I follow through on anything. I finally just got sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Go Forth And Conquer
I’m sorry if you were expecting some earth-shattering secret to success. The truth is – there’s not and never has been. We’ve been lulled into thinking there’s a shortcut for everything, but we all know that’s not how life works. The problem is we just don’t want to admit it. Getting our act together requires resolve, determination, and being humble enough to ask for help. It’s hard, I get it. But, playtime is over. It’s time to put on our big people’s underwear and start slaying some dragons.
The truth is, there’s no such thing as weight loss and health in three easy steps…or anything else for that matter.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. PERIOD! Life changes require blood, sweat, and tears. But, the payoff is so much greater than we could ever imagine.
When I made the choice to try a plant-based diet as a last resort, not just to lose weight, but to save my life, I was convinced I would fail. And, honestly, there were times, in the beginning, I thought, “To hell with this shit! I’m done!” But, I had gotten to a place in my life where I knew it was all or nothing. I couldn’t quit. I would have been quitting on my wife, my kids, my friends, and most of all, I would have given up on myself.
Now, you have to make a choice. You can either stay complacent or you can move forward. It’s time to stop letting the world, and everyone else around you, define you. It’s time to say, “NO MORE!” Forget the past, that shit is gone and done. Nothing you can do about it. Bury it and say, “Good riddance!” Look in the mirror, love the person you see, and believe you’re worth the change.
You got this. Now – GO FORTH AND CONQUER!
Peace + Feast,
shane
I just found you. I am glad I did. I need to change. I have no direction & I want to lose weight. I just don’t know what to do. You have given hope.
Bless you, Paula. Keep your head up and remember it’s about progress, not perfection. If you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out.
This is lovely. I never knew this about you. Very inspiring. Very real.
Thank you!
Thanks Shane! I needed to be told! I’ve brought my HDL down 100 pts and lost 32 lbs but the last couple of months I’ve been a bit lazy. Thanks for the encouragement! I love your site!
Thank you, Rebekah!
Thanks for the inspiration.
My pleasure:)
Great advice! Sometimes we need a kick in the pants to get moving in the right direction. I had been eating 1 or 2 plant based meals a day but eating at least one SAD meal too and only exercising sporadically but since May I’ve made a serious commitment to eat better and exercise everyday and I’ve lost 14 lbs and feel much better. Mu blood pressure has lowered and I can’t wait to show my doctor how I’m doing. I appreciate your recipes so much. None are hard to make and every one turns out good. I’m a huge fan of your Instant Pot potato soup and in fact I had it for breakfast lol.
Thanks, Deb! Congrats on all your progress and keep up the good work. Thanks for the kind words. Blessings.
Thank you. I lost 60 lbs from 2018; gained about 10 lbs back so I need to ‘move my ass’. I love your recipes and the fact that you post the nutritional facts. Can’t remember though… do you have a cookbook with all the recipes?
Hi, Mari! Way to go. Remember, it’s all about progress and not perfection. And, no cookbook…YET:)
Fab recipes, dear soul, sharing and caring……love ya Shane. Keep doing what you are doing. And oh yeah, your cookbook!
Love your website! Unfortunately this is the hard truth, but move your ass is the best advice to everyone. Exercise provides us with so many benefits. I tried many fad diets and exercised sporadically and nothing stuck. Everyone can find an activity and find a buddy to do it with. My husband runs and I rollerskate and bike. We love plant based eating and your recipes. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Jenny! Love your words. Blessings.
“Move your ass”! Yes, I get up and out the door to ride my bike every morning before I have a chance to talk myself out of it. If I only get a mile in, it’s ok, at least I did something!! Makes a huge difference.
You’re exactly right, Colleen! It’s not always about “how much” or “how far.” It’s about just doing something. Thanks!
Thank you, Shane. I do not need to lose weight, but this inspires me to stop procrastinating when it comes to my daily chores. Tomorrow will do is my motto. I love all your recipes. Tried a few and was never disappointed.
Good words, Linda! And, thank you!
Scott, thanks for letting me know. It should be working now, but please let me know if it doesn’t. Peace.
Scott, thanks so much for responding and reading my story. And, thankful you are enjoying Shane & Simple. The short answer to your question would be YES…and no. Things like the Queso and Peanut Butter Hummus are healthier alternatives to provide a little sanity. Yes, they are completely plant-based and have healthy benefits, but they are still treats and should be enjoyed as such. Very much like avocados, nuts and seeds. Numerous healthy benefits, but you wouldn’t eat 2 pounds of each in one sitting:)
Personally, I don’t find a plant-based diet boring, in fact quite the opposite. But, I do understand what it’s like when starting out. You feel all you can have are salads, tofu and oatmeal. I was the same way. And yes, I lost weight eating that stuff:) I would gorge on fruits and vegetables; homemade veggie burgers; my homemade “meat”loaf; mashed potatoes, etc. and enjoyed myself. And yes, from time to time, would have some Queso, etc.
Look at websites like https://www.forksoverknives.com/ and http://engine2diet.com/ . They were my main source of inspiration. And, please dive into Shane & Simple and never hesitate to reach via my contact page. I respond to all requests. So, if you ever have a question, never hesitate to ask.
Good luck and blessings on your journey,
shane
Wow! Thanks for such a quick response. I will be looking into the websites you suggest. I sincerely appreciate the invitation to reach out via your Contact page. When I went there I got:
“NOT FOUND, ERROR 404
The page you are looking for no longer exists. Perhaps you can return back to the site’s homepage and see if you can find what you are looking for. Or, you can try finding it by using the search form below.”
I only tell you that in case you didn’t know. Thanks again for your help and inspiration.
Your story is remarkable. I want to have a similar story. I have been a lurker in the Plant Based lifestyle, in then out, for a while now. I see the recipes you have on here. They look amazing! Are these the recipes you used to lose the weight you lost? The Cashew Cheese Queso and the Chocolate Peanut butter hummus? I’m not doubting the plant based way as much as wondering, can I seriously lose weight eating THAT stuff? Or, do I have to stick to the oatmeal, salads and plain tofu for the first 3 months? I know there is more than oatmeal, salads and plain tofu, but figuratively speaking, am I going to be eating boring foods to lose the weight and THEN be able to eat the stuff on here? I really appreciate your website, your success and your willingness to help.
Great advice. Thanks for your honesty!