Harvey's story: 20 pounds lost and faster race times at 66 on a plant based diet
Harvey, a Mavy Wellness client and former Ironman triathlete, lost about 20 pounds and two inches from his waist at 66, and is running faster than he did before. He had gained 15 to 20 pounds during lockdown while eating more bread and pastries and running less, then overtrained when he tried to get back in shape.
Where he started: Harvey was "skinny fat," disliked strength training, ran too often to recover, and slept on an inconsistent schedule.
What changed:
Three 45 minute strength workouts a week. Varied routines that changed every four weeks.
Less running. Fewer, better quality runs instead of overtraining.
More vegetables, less bread. Cravings faded as his meals changed.
A consistent sleep routine. Same bedtime and no screens before bed.
Workout first. No computer until his workout is done.
Life now: Harvey's race times are improving and he's chasing a Boston Marathon qualifier. "Trust the process." He shared his story on the Forever Fit Podcast.
What the research says. A 2011 meta-analysis of 49 studies of adults over 50 found that resistance training increased lean body mass, with bigger gains from higher training volume. [1] In a 2017 New England Journal of Medicine trial of 160 adults over 65 who were losing weight, those who did resistance training kept more of their lean muscle than those who only did aerobic exercise. [2]
"What's best about Maxime's approach is that he emphasizes the fundamentals first. This book lays a solid foundation, guiding readers through core principles of sustainable weight loss on a plant-based diet."
Dr. Matthew Nagra, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, on Forever Fit
If you're an endurance athlete who wants to get leaner and faster, book a call with our team at mavywellness.com.
Sources
Peterson MD, Sen A, Gordon PM (2011). Influence of resistance exercise on lean body mass in aging adults: a meta-analysis. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 43(2):249-258. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20543750/
Villareal DT et al. (2017). Aerobic or resistance exercise, or both, in dieting obese older adults. New England Journal of Medicine 376:1943-1955. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28514618/
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.
