Kind Lifer Kristin Thayer recently sent me her success story and shared the great attitude she has toward her kind diet. Check it out:

“I just weighed myself and am now 17.5 pounds down.  Tomorrow will be 7 weeks since going vegan and I am just so proud of myself.  I would have in the past been discouraged already because the weight has been coming off at a ‘snail-pace’ (at least that's how I would have viewed it in the past) but I now know that the slower weight-loss is the healthy weight-loss. I remember losing 30 pounds in 2 months before doing a low-carb diet but after I lost the 30 pounds, I gained back about 58 pounds over the next 5 years or so. That doesn't sound so healthy to me now! I just keep reminding myself that I didn't decide to turn vegan in order to lose weight. I decided to make the switch because what I was eating before was unhealthy. The weight-loss has been a super, awesome bonus!!!”
 
Kristin, your attitude is a great example for all of us! I’m so happy for you!

Kind Lifer Rebecca Midkiff shared this great story of her success as a flirt, and the unexpected bonus of being able to sing better than ever before! Check out Rebecca’s story:
 
“I haven't eaten meat in 18 days, and I don't miss it at all! I really thought I would. (A year ago, I was eating meat almost daily. Six months ago, I started cutting back to save money. Now I am flirting with The Kind Diet because what I've learned about factory farming and industrial food processing grosses me out.)

Last night, a friend called me up last minute and invited me out for steak. I caught my breath. Ooh, steak sounds good, I thought. But then... no, actually it doesn't because I now know what happened to it before it got on my plate! (Just finished reading Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals.) I went to dinner and ordered mushroom fajitas, ate them without the tortilla, and it was delicious!

I've lost 4 lbs in 2 & 1/2 weeks - at 116 lbs, I didn't need to lose weight, but okay! Still, I was a little alarmed at how fast those 4 lbs came off just by cutting back on sugar and starches, and cutting out meat. I was still eating a few pieces of cheese every day, and chocolate after dinner. But I was dizzy, and worried that I wasn't getting enough protein or iron. So I went to Whole Foods after breakfast on Saturday and stood in the produce section until inspiration struck. It was probably the first time in my whole life that my body instinctively told me what I needed to eat: dark green salad with fresh watercress, bean and broccoli sprouts, quinoa, adzuki beans, and raw cashews. It was delicious.

In fact, in the last 18 days, everything I've eaten has been delicious! I feel my body thanking me. Thanks Alicia, for putting all these concepts about healthy eating into one place! This is way easier than I thought it would be!”
 
Rebecca updated us about her progress after five and a half weeks and was doing better than ever. This is when she noticed the change in her voice!

“It's been 5 & 1/2 weeks now, and I feel great. No more dizziness. I am eating lots of protein and no sweets except fruit. My weight has evened out at 113 lbs. (I am 5'4" tall.) My waistline looks amazing! Before, I was thin but always had a puffy tummy. Now I can actually see an indent at the sides. My skin is clearer and smoother. And I feel lighter, calmer, and just plain happier!

For any singers or actresses out there: The best part is, my voice sounds amazing!!! I quit music school in 2001 because singing was just too hard. I was always a little bit phlegmy and congested, and I struggled to breathe and relax my voice muscles. I guess there was inflammation in my throat before and I just didn't realize it then. Now it's easy, my throat is always relaxed and the music just comes out, clear and easy. My voice comes out, and I can't help but think, "I sound GOOD!" It's such a delight to sing that I'm even thinking of getting back into performing!”
 
This is so great Rebecca!  I’m so happy that you are having such great success. If any of you have a great story like this, please share!  You can post it anywhere on the site and click “like”, and I will check it out!

Hey everyone – Kind Lifer Dolly Nuhfer posted her success story in the forum, titled  “Gastrointestinal Cure”, and it really is a must read!  Check it out:

“I just wanted to share my joy and newfound understanding of the ills dairy can have on one's body even after years of consuming it! After two long years of weekly doctors appointments, gastric pain, bloating and pacing the floors, my daughter (wise girl) suggested I try going off dairy as it had helped her. I did so, convinced that after 57 years of consuming it there could surely be no problem.

Within a week the bloating was gone and the pain gradually disappeared! My entire gastro- intestinal system began functioning normally without LOADS of laxatives and stool softeners (sorry if that's too much info). Shortly after getting off dairy I didn't need any gastro- intestinal medications. I was so amazed  and encouraged by my progress that  I decided there might be something to this vegan stuff and have been making meals from "The Kind Diet" for the last four weeks now with great success.

I have fibromyalgia and other health issues but have noted several improvements since starting the diet. My joints feel so much better and I no longer have swelling in my hands and feet!! My husband of 38 years is a meat lover but has enjoyed everything I have made so far! He still eats meat but I'm working on that! I love the desserts as I have always been hooked on that monster sugar. It is great to eat something so satisfyingly sweet and rich but not have that unrelenting drive for more and more. I just love it all! 

Moral:1. Listen to what your body is trying to tell you. 2. It's never too late to make healthy choices! I'm so thankful for "The Kind Diet", it really is!”

This makes me so happy!  I love your story, and I’m so happy for your success.

If any of you have stories like this one – post them on the site and “like” them.  I’ll take a look, and might feature it here on the blog!

Kind Lifer Jessa Elizabeth wrote about journey on her profile page and her results are very exciting!  Take a look:

“Being vegan hasn't been a new idea to me for the past four years. Four years ago, my cousin and I were walking through a bookstore and I happened to see the book Skinny Bitch on the shelf in the health section. I thought it was the funniest thing, that a book was titled that! So I pointed it out to Josh and he picked it up, skimmed the back cover, bought it, read it, and turned vegan as a direct result! So of course everyone in my family now blames me for that, and for the longest time I thought it was the neatest thing - being vegan. I just never thought that I'd ever actually be vegan myself!

Here it is, four years later, and for Christmas my aunt got Josh The Kind Diet. I thought it was neat, but again I never thought that being vegan was anything for me. After a visit to the Ear-Nose-Throat doctor I learned that I have what is called LPR Acid Reflux, and there is a buildup of acid sitting being my vocal chords. As a vocal performance/music education major with a dream to be standing onstage at the Met someday as an opera singer, acid sitting behind my vocal chords that will slowly deteriorate them is not something I'm okay with. So I left the office that day scared to death with a pamphlet about how to treat this acid buildup. Going down the list of suggestions on what to do I'm reading it and I went "Huh.. I should have turned vegan with Josh!"

For the next week or so I was frustrated and irritated that this had happened to me, and I started looking up online more ways to treat this acid problem. I stumbled across The Kind Diet on Barnes & Noble's website, and saw that there was an online preview. I thought well, it can't hurt to read what I can! It looked like an awesome book anyway, and so I started reading. The part that really got to me was the section where Alicia talks about how cutting dairy can help cut allergies.

I have serious sinus issues - last semester alone there wasn't a month where I didn't have a sinus infection or ear infection. Not to mention my ears are always achy and my nose always stuffy. I got to thinking that this being vegan thing might actually be the best thing I could do not only for myself but for my vocal health and future. So I promptly made plans to go to Barnes & Noble and buy The Kind Diet.
 
Reading this book has immensely changed my life. I never understood completely the reasons why someone would want to be vegan, but with The Kind Diet it all made more sense to me. I read the entire book in one sitting I was so enthralled by it! I started to flirt more than I already had, and it wasn't that difficult to do. Especially since Josh had been vegan already for almost four years - I had some idea of what it meant! :-) And the more I read, and the more I thought about what this could really do for me, and not just for me but for the planet, I finally decided that my New Year's Resolution, and I had never made one prior to this year, would be to live a kinder life. Josh was the first person I told about it, and I couldn't be more thankful for the wonderful support and guidance he provided. I was afraid though what the rest of my family or friends would think of me and this new lifestyle change. Turns out though that my family is beyond supportive of my decision, I should've known since they were of Josh too! Just the occasional teasing ensues.. lol.
 
I've been vegan now since January 2nd, and I cannot begin to explain how GOOD I feel! My ears have stopped aching, I have more energy, and I just really, really feel extraordinary! I've struggled with my weight for the entirety of my adult life, and have never really been happy with my body. Since I've started eating vegan I've lost 18 pounds and counting! I'm excited about the weight loss, but more so I'm just so thrilled at how wonderful I feel.”

So happy for you Jessa!! This is just so great, and makes me so happy!! You are so pretty! Let us know how your journey is going! 

And if you have a story like Jessa’s, please post it on the site so I can read it! You can post it on your profile page, in the forum, or in the comments below... Then “like” it. Can’t wait to read more stories like this one!

I found a success story on the site and I thought it was a really important one to share. This is for all of you ladies who have suffered from bladder infections and UTIs, and are seeking relief! Take a look at Kind Lifer Heather Hix’s story:

“Ok, so that may be a strange thing to post. But if you have gone through what I have gone through over the past few years (especially the last two) you would be shouting this from every available rooftop you could.  

I have wanted to post this but have waited until now because I was afraid I would jinx it. But, I realized today - its just different - finally!!!

I have had frequent, and I mean FREQUENT UTI and Bladder infections for awhile. But in the past two years they have become practically monthly occurrences. And, when I am not dealing with one, I am dealing with trying to keep them away. Almost on a weekly basis I would get that 'feeling' that one was starting so I would take drastic measures to counter it. Sometimes I was successfull, but not always.
 
I have seen my Dr., they have run tests, after tests, I have done everything (and I mean everything) they have told me to try, do, not do, not wear, etc. But those stinkin' things kept coming back. 
 
Well, not only have I not had one since I removed meat/dairy from my diet....I have not even had a twinge that one is *trying* to happen. I mean it is like night and day for me. I feel so free!”

I recently contacted Heather for an update on her success, and here is what she wrote me:

“To date I have not had ONE bladder infection. It is incredible. 

The thought of introducing meat back into my diet is unfathomable to me.

Now, trying to get my family totally off meat is another story. At home I do not make it, and they eat dinner and they enjoy it. However, when we eat out - they all order the meat dishes....sigh. But, every little step counts.”

That is such exciting news Heather! I am so happy for you!

The picture at the top of this post is of Heather's daughter.  How cute is she?!

If you have an inspiring story like Heather’s please post it somewhere on the website. All you have to do is click "like" next to your story, and I will check it out.

Hi there – I found this exciting success story on the website, and wanted everyone to see. Take a look at what Kind Lifer Judy Lucas has to say about how The Kind Diet has cured her chronic headaches!

“I am 47 years old and have been suffering from headaches for 30 years. Some days it's not too bad, and other days it is a migraine. I have been to many doctors and not one could find a reason. Then I read The Kind Diet and quit dairy right away. Within one week I no longer have headaches. I thought I was losing my mind, but all it took was someone to tell me about dairy. Thank you Alicia”

Judy, I am so happy for you!  

Does anyone else have a great story like this?

Kind Lifer Trista posted her cute little success story on the website about how she has lost weight without even trying since starting The Kind Diet!  

“I was a Vegetarian before starting the Kind Diet, but since I've been Vegan??? I lost 10 unexpected pounds!!!! I couldn't believe it when I weighed myself yesterday. I mean, I felt like my clothes were much looser, but 10 pounds? I also have much more energy and just feel better as a whole after going Superhero :-) Milk really does make you fat, huh??? LOL”

And I contacted Trista to see how her journey was going, and to see if her weight loss has continued... Here is what she wrote me!

“Well, so far I've lost 22lbs since becoming a "superhero" :) I will admit that I may splurge a bit more than I should (i.e.: Rice Dream mud pies and Daiya), but I've noticed that I can eat more as a superhero and not worry about gaining weight or getting bloated. PMS is also non-existent now! I used to get extremely tender breasts one week before my period and about 3 months into going superhero, I don't even know my period's coming! Its wild! :)”

Yay Trista! So happy you made the transition from veggie to full on vegan. Your results sound amazing! Keep it up!

Hi everyone – Kind Lifer Jessika McKee sent her success story to me, and I wanted to share it with all of you!  Since starting The Kind Diet, Jessika has improved her health, and has been able to get off of her medication – yay!

“Hi Alicia, So I don't really have huge news but I thought I would share my story with you anyway. I thought I was a healthy 27 year old girl. I thought I ate pretty well (minus my obsession with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups), I worked out at least 5 days a week and just took care of myself. However, for about 2 years I was having problems with my stomach. I would hurt and get bloated all the time (I mean really painful stomach aches every time I ate and bloated to the point I looked pregnant).

I went to numerous doctors and had so many tests done I can't even remember what they were for. Their first thought was that I had Celiac's, so I went on a gluten free diet and while that made me feel a little better that wasn't it. Then they decided it was my thyroid. So I was put on medicine that I would have to take for the rest of my life. Again while that helped a little that still wasn't it.

One morning I was watching The View and you were the guest. You made them your Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and like I mentioned before that I was crazy over peanut butter cups, you had my attention right there. I had considered being a vegetarian for awhile but I went out that day, bought your book, read it and made my decision to change my life forever.

At this point I have been 100% vegetarian for a little over 2 months now and almost 100% vegan. I was amazed to find that my stomach problems have just vanished. That wasn't even the reason I chose to do this and now I have gone off my thyroid medicine and feel simply amazing. I have a whole new outlook on life, I feel and look so much better than I could have ever imagined. So basically I just wanted to thank you for turning my world around, you truly are a great person and I'm so thankful that I saw you on that show that particular morning! Thanks Alicia!”

I’m so happy for you Jessika!  It’s so great that your stomach problems are gone, and that you are feeling great.  I’m so excited for you!

And have you made the Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups yet?