Darcy's story: what happened a year after losing 40 pounds on a plant based diet
Darcy, a Mavy Wellness client, lost 40 pounds during his program, going from about 190 to 150 pounds. After finishing, he regained about 25 pounds when snacking crept back in, then used the habits he had learned to rebuild. A year later he weighs about 175 pounds with more muscle, visible abs and the most strength he has ever had.
Where he started: At 40, Darcy was "skinny fat," ate lots of processed food and snacks, and believed aches and low energy were just part of getting older.
What changed:
Self accountability. Getting back on track without weekly check-ins.
Protein first. Keeping protein high and loosely tracking his food.
No more all or nothing. One off plan meal followed by a normal next meal.
A new goal. Training to build muscle instead of only losing weight.
A training partner. Morning gym sessions with a friend.
Life now: Darcy moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver, started a new career, and skis, runs and lifts regularly. "Be kinder to yourself. You have the tools." He shared his update on the Forever Fit Podcast.
What the research says. A 2019 NIH study found that people ate about 500 more calories a day on an ultra-processed diet than on an unprocessed one, without trying to. [1] A 2018 review of 49 studies in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that protein helps resistance training build muscle, with the benefit leveling off around 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight a day. [2]
"Maxime has created a body composition program that has worked for thousands of people, and it can work for you too."
Kiki Nelson, National Bestselling Author of Plantifully Lean, on Forever Fit
If you're worried about keeping the results once you get them, book a call with our team at mavywellness.com.
Sources
Hall KD et al. (2019). Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: an inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake. Cell Metabolism 30(1):67-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008
Morton RW et al. (2018). A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of the effect of protein supplementation on resistance training-induced gains in muscle mass and strength in healthy adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine 52(6):376-384. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28698222/
About the author. Maxime Sigouin is the founder of Mavy Wellness (formerly FitVegan Coaching) and the author of Forever Fit, a book endorsed by physicians including Neal D. Barnard, MD, Laurie Marbas, MD, and James F. Loomis, MD. He has coached for more than six and a half years and, with his team, has coached nearly 1,300 adults over 50 on a whole food plant based diet. He hosts the Forever Fit Podcast, with more than 450 episodes.
Last updated: October 26, 2026. Results vary from person to person. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise or nutrition program.
