Lise's story: from 184 to 133 pounds after 57 on a plant based diet
Lise, the mother of Mavy Wellness founder Maxime Sigouin, joined the Mavy Wellness program at 57 and went from 184 to 133 pounds in about nine months, eating whole food plant based and strength training four days a week. Afterward she learned to eat more again, and four and a half years later she was still keeping the weight off, eating far more food than she ever ate while dieting.
Before Mavy: Lise had tried the quick fix diets. They worked for a while, then the weight came back. After a foot injury stopped her training, it crept up even more.
What she did differently:
Whole food plant based eating with clear protein and calorie targets.
Strength training four days a week.
A steady plan she could live with, losing slowly instead of crashing.
Reverse dieting after the weight loss, adding food back gradually so the results would last.
Why she did it: "I want to grow older and healthy."
Her advice to anyone thinking about starting: "Start, even if it's not perfect. Do it for yourself. You deserve it."
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]
Watch on the Forever Fit Podcast: 4.5 Year Follow Up With My Mom on Her 50+ lbs Fat Loss (Ep. 361)
"As a physician, I deeply appreciate the strategic, nuanced approach of his 5-Phase Blueprint. The emphasis on reverse dieting is brilliant."
Angie Sadeghi, MD, Gastroenterologist and Plant-Based Health Expert, on Forever Fit
To start your own story, 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/
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 19, 2026. This page is for general education and is not medical advice. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise or nutrition program.
