My Healthy Lifestyle Transformation Story

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” background_color=”” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”2%” admin_label=”” margin_bottom=”” padding_bottom=”0px” padding_right=”0px” padding_left=”0px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”all” box_shadow=”no” box_shadow_blur=”0″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”” box_shadow_style=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.8″ animation_offset=”” first=”true” last=”true” element_content=”” margin_top=”0px” border_radius_top_left=”” border_radius_top_right=”” border_radius_bottom_left=”” border_radius_bottom_right=”” margin_bottom=”10px”][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1914|large” max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”8px” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://arienbsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AdobeStock_146030916-1024×595.jpeg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_global id=”1540″][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”no” hundred_percent_height=”no” hundred_percent_height_scroll=”no” hundred_percent_height_center_content=”yes” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” status=”published” background_position=”center center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” fade=”no” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_loop=”yes” video_mute=”yes” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” background_color=”” admin_label=”Content” padding_right=”0px” padding_left=”0px”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ type=”1_1″ layout=”1_1″ spacing=”” center_content=”no” link=”” target=”_self” min_height=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_image_id=”” background_position=”left top” background_repeat=”no-repeat” hover_type=”none” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”solid” border_position=”bottom” box_shadow=”yes” box_shadow_blur=”34″ box_shadow_spread=”0″ box_shadow_color=”rgba(68,64,90,0.07)” box_shadow_style=”” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.8″ animation_offset=”” first=”true” last=”true” element_content=”” padding_top=”5%” padding_right=”6%” padding_bottom=”3%” padding_left=”6%” border_radius_top_left=”8px” border_radius_top_right=”8px” border_radius_bottom_left=”8px” border_radius_bottom_right=”8px” box_shadow_vertical=”4px” box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” margin_top=”10px”][fusion_text column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_color=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””][fusion_dropcap color=”#ec6″ boxed=”no” boxed_radius=”” class=”” id=””]293[/fusion_dropcap] lbs was the most I have ever weighed. Growing up in North Carolina food was always a big part of My life. By the time I was in middle school I could eat a whole rack of ribs by myself. My mom could barely keep up with feeding a “growing” boy. Especially a boy who plays football, a sport where size matters.

[/fusion_text][fusion_imageframe image_id=”1882|large” max_width=”50%” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” filter_hue=”0″ filter_saturation=”100″ filter_brightness=”100″ filter_contrast=”100″ filter_invert=”0″ filter_sepia=”0″ filter_opacity=”100″ filter_blur=”0″ filter_hue_hover=”0″ filter_saturation_hover=”100″ filter_brightness_hover=”100″ filter_contrast_hover=”100″ filter_invert_hover=”0″ filter_sepia_hover=”0″ filter_opacity_hover=”100″ filter_blur_hover=”0″]https://arienbsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/IMG_1501-768×1024.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][fusion_separator style_type=”none” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_size=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” alignment=”center” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” top_margin=”5%” /][fusion_text columns=”” column_min_width=”” column_spacing=”” rule_style=”default” rule_size=”” rule_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=””]

As an offensive lineman I needed to keep on weight to perform at my position. At one point in college after a knee surgery I actually lost weight and dropped down to around 245 lbs. But dropping this weight made it impossible for me to compete at my position. So I set an alarm for 4:30 am every morning. I would get up and cook about 8 eggs with cheese and either half a pack of sausage or bacon. I had to get up that early to have enough time to digest before the 6 am lift. After the workout I had a protein shake and would grab snacks for class. Then I’d eat breakfast #2 and head to class. I’d snack during class, then eat a big lunch and dinner, before a 1,000 calorie shake before bed.

All to gain weight.

I would eat fast in order to get more food down. I succeeded in gaining the weight back. What I didn’t realize at the time which I do now, is that the reason I dropped weight after my 2nd knee surgery is because my body had enough. It wasn’t able to carry such a heavy load. And my knees were suffering under the pressure.

When I played my last game I knew I needed to lose weight and I wasn’t going to be the overweight former athlete. So I first made some dietary changes. I completely stopped eating beef and tried to eat more vegetables. I also tracked my calories for a few weeks, this helped me understand what I was putting into my body and the areas I needed to improve. By the time I graduated, 5 months after my last game I was already down to 255 lbs. At that time I was working out just 3 times a week doing weights and 2-3 miles of cardio. Plus some walking on campus.

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Fast forward to after I moved to LA about 8 months later and I was about 240 lbs. I stayed around this weight and I was pretty sure this was my goal weight and I felt great. My diet had only improved and as I got settled into LA life I was able to reestablish my workout regimen. But there was still something missing. At this time I was working as a trainer and I would notice my energy level drop at times during the day. So I decided to make a change.

I decided to go vegan.

The first time I tried to go vegan I failed miserably. I felt so hungry after every meal. I was convinced that meat was the only thing that could make me feel full. When I tried a 2nd time I had a more open mind about it. I decided that I was going to try to make meals that I would like. Even when they turned out bad, it still would give me hope and eventually I found ways to improve them. This led me to finding several simple meals that I loved: stir frys, burrito bowls, and more. These meals helped me satisfy my hunger and get all my nutrients.

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After my first full month vegan I lost 10 lbs of body fat and kept all my muscle. Once I saw those results and also had a new level of energy I was sold. A plant based diet was definitely for me and I’ve now been 100% plant based for almost 3 years now. I’ve lost more weight and now am about 225 lbs. In these 3 years I’ve felt the healthiest of my life. I’d encourage anyone interested to definitely consider trying a more plant based diet. Your body will thank you.

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filter_blur_hover=”0″ type=”1_3″ first=”true” last=”false”][fusion_title title_type=”text” rotation_effect=”bounceIn” display_time=”1200″ highlight_effect=”circle” loop_animation=”off” highlight_width=”9″ highlight_top_margin=”0″ before_text=”” rotation_text=”” highlight_text=”” after_text=”” content_align=”center” size=”2″ font_size=”32px” animated_font_size=”” line_height=”” letter_spacing=”” text_color=”” animated_text_color=”” highlight_color=”” style_type=”none” sep_color=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” fusion_font_variant_title_font=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”5px”]Arien Smith[/fusion_title][fusion_imageframe image_id=”467|fusion-200″ max_width=”” style_type=”” blur=”” stylecolor=”” hover_type=”none” bordersize=”” bordercolor=”” borderradius=”” align=”center” lightbox=”no” gallery_id=”” lightbox_image=”” lightbox_image_id=”” alt=”” 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Arien is a web developer and personal trainer in Los Angeles, CA. He played college football at the UNC Chapel Hill, where he was a 290 lb offensive lineman. After graduating and moving to LA, Arien adopted a 100% plant based diet which he has followed for 3+ yrs. Arien’s interest include sports, tech, sci-fi, fitness, design and more.

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