James's story: from 50 years of diets to his first triathlon at 61
James, a Mavy Wellness client, finished his first triathlon at 61 after more than 50 years of on and off dieting. With Mavy Wellness he lost about 20 more pounds, has stayed in the 140s for the first time in his adult life, and now swims, runs and strength trains three times a week at 62.
Where he started: James went to Weight Watchers at eight and tried nearly every diet after that. He had been plant based for years, but his weight was creeping back up and he felt stuck.
What changed:
A new identity. On a coaching call, Maxime told him, "You're an athlete." James says those three words changed everything.
Training for goals, not weight. 5Ks, a half marathon, then two sprint triathlons.
Strength training and protein. Three strength sessions a week alongside his swimming and running.
Win the next meal. A holiday no longer turns into a holiday week.
Coming back from setbacks. After a bike crash injury, he healed and had his best race season the next summer.
Life now: James is a schoolteacher in New York City who runs up four flights of stairs with his students, belongs to a running club and a swim club, and was elected to his running club's board. "I was the kid that was last one picked in gym. Now I'm part of the team." He shared his story on the Forever Fit Podcast, episode 459.
What the research says. A 2016 study in the journal Obesity found that contestants who lost weight very fast on a TV weight loss show still burned fewer calories than expected six years later, and most regained much of the weight. [1] 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. [2]
"What sets Maxime apart is his deep understanding that real transformation isn't just about nutrition or workouts, it's about mindset, systems, and sustainability. Forever Fit is the book I wish many of my patients had on day one."
Laurie Marbas, MD, MBA, Double Board-Certified Physician, Founder of Habit Healers, on Forever Fit
If you've tried every diet and nothing stuck, book a call with our team at mavywellness.com.
Sources
Fothergill E et al. (2016). Persistent metabolic adaptation 6 years after "The Biggest Loser" competition. Obesity 24(8):1612-1619. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4989512/
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/
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.
