I Lost 20 Kilos In 90 Days On A Raw Vegan Diet: Meenal Jaisswal's Story

Meet Meenal Jaisswal – a Mumbai-based photographer, traveller and foodie who also happens to follow a raw vegan diet. Today, she’s sharing her weight loss story with us and talks about the transformative power of raw foods.

What prompted you to go vegan? How long has it been? 

In December 2017, I attended back to back family weddings in North India. You know how those can be – lavish weddings, festivities and lots of indulgent food with butter and cheese. By the end of it, I was feeling out of sorts.

I also realised that I was at my heaviest. That’s when I decided it’s time to do this – to keep the weight off for good.

I had tried all kinds of fad diets and went through phases of yo-yo dieting – but that was just the problem – all the weight came back as quickly as it had come off. I knew I had to make a lifestyle change.

Did you ease yourself into it or go cold-turkey?

December 10th 2017 is when I got back from my cousin’s wedding and decided to start eating healthy. I started eating boiled veggies. But I knew I had to do something more significant to see real change.

I recalled an interview – Personal development coach Bob Proctor speaking to leadership guru John C. Maxwell – where Proctor asked Maxwell if he was happy about his health and weight. Maxwell replied he wasn’t.

That’s when Proctor told Maxwell to go raw for 90 days. But there was a rider - if Maxwell slipped up and ate cooked food even once during that period, he would have to give Proctor a million dollars.

This struck a chord with me – and I thought I should test my will. I made this game in my head and told myself I am not going to flout the rules.

On 16th December 2017, I went raw vegan and never looked back.

Spiralizer salad

It made a real impact – I was visibly slimmer in just two weeks, and people were noticing and complimenting me by the time New Year’s Eve came around. What started as a 90-day challenge has now become the lifestyle I follow. I've stuck to it.

How did your family react? 

My family thought I was crazy!

Lots of people in my family from my parents’ generation have all kinds of health problems, from diabetes to BP issues. Plus, there are many doctors in my family as well, and everyone is obsessed with numbers and statistics and reports and tests.

When I decided to go raw vegan I got regular tests done and shared those medical reports with my family members to show them that I was fine and all my levels were in check.

I went from 78.5 kilos to 57 kilos in just 120 days. And I didn’t have any stretch marks – going to the gym, exercise routines and all those fad diets had given me stretch marks, but not going raw, because I did it in the most natural way possible.

Was it difficult to stay raw? Any tips you can give people who may be transitioning? 

I can tell you straight up that socialising and travelling will not be easy, but it is part of the journey. But there are a few things you can do to make it easier on you and the people around you.

• Socializing: Feed yourself well before you step out! You must be prepared to find nothing raw where you’re going. Eat properly beforehand and carry some food with you.
• When flying: Airlines are even worse. A fruit platter is the only thing you can get if you follow a raw diet – other than that, you are pretty much restricted to cucumber!   

Meenal before she went on a raw vegan diet

You’d be surprised, but in 5-star hotels, people stared at me when I told them that I follow a raw diet – from a raw vegan perspective, they are quite blank. I feel like it’s more comfortable being a vegan and knowing your options as opposed to raw vegan, because some cuisines are inherently safer for vegans, like Thai and vegetarian Chinese options.

I’ll be honest; there aren’t a whole lot of exciting options for raw vegans while dining out. It’s easier to find raw options when you’re eating street food because 5-star chefs are trained to tantalise your taste buds.

Any words of wisdom for our readers?

There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there, as well as health trends. Health consciousness is a pseudo-solution. Cutting out rice and roti isn’t the solution. And green tea isn’t going to help if you are pairing it with butter cookies.

My advice is to experiment and be happy when it comes to food. Don’t put so much pressure on seeking out the perfect meal.

Think about it – how long does a taste, good or bad, last in your mouth? Your body is with you for life.

Restaurant food is neither your friend nor foe – those meals are momentary, but the food you fuel yourself with every day is much deeper than that. Your body is the only thing that will sustain you, so respect it.     

What has this journey given you?

When people see me, the first thing they notice now is how much weight I’ve lost and the physical transformation. But to me, it’s much more than that. I feel better. This kind of change affects you on a spiritual and emotional level and gives you real mental clarity.

I had done an NLP Master’s course with Richard Bandler and that knowledge was put to good use during my raw vegan challenge. It helped me control my mind.

I was addicted to food and one fine day decided to deprive myself of it. It wasn’t easy, but I can tell you it has been worth it!  

Your advice to anyone who is looking to go raw, vegan, lose weight or just eat healthier?

My advice in one line is – increase your raw intake.

Start with fresh sugarcane juice

It doesn’t have to be an overnight change. You can start with one raw snack a day. Opt for fruit instead of toast, biscuits or chips. You don’t need a fancy cold pressed juicer or Vitamix, either. Start with roadside sugarcane juice that costs just 10 rupees! Remember, it’s about making small lifestyle changes that are doable.

To get in with Meenal, send her an email - mysaukhya@gmail.com  

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