It is not an exaggeration to say that the 21-day challenge with Dr. Amy Casey changed my life and health for the better.

In July of 2020, when I started the program, I thought I was pretty healthy. I was 50 years old, 150-155 lbs, and I walked at least 3 miles a day. My cholesterol was a little high and my blood pressure was always borderline, but I felt strong and energetic, for the most part.

My problem was that I couldn’t lose the 15-20 lbs I really wanted to. I couldn’t even lose one. The closer I get to the inevitability of menopause, the more my weight kept creeping up. I had already become a pescatarian, I drank little to no alcohol, I don’t smoke, and I don’t have any of the standard bad habits. I did pushups all the time, and had recently started doing 100 a day, every day. But I was medicated for Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, and the medication tends to slow down your metabolism. So I felt like I was constantly treading water just to keep from gaining.

The program at first seemed drastic. No salt, oil, sugar, or dairy? No fish at all? Nothing but whole, minimally or unprocessed foods I make myself? A green smoothie every morning without fail? Where was the fun in life?

I won’t lie; the first few days were tough. Making that green smoothie NOT taste like a cup o’ salad is a learning experience. Pro-tip: get a really good blender. And yes, I got bored with the endless parade of nuts, seeds, vegetables, and tofu that made up my life. I wasn’t hungry, but I wasn’t terribly joyful, either. I did notice weight coming off right away, a little bit at a time, which was exciting.

By the end of Week One, I had really started to notice the difference. Other than a massive headache the second day from giving up my morning coffee, I experienced no ill effects. In fact, I felt good. I started really looking forward to the smoothie. I experimented with plant-based recipes and learned the joys of chia pudding, lentil soup, tamari, and nutritional yeast. My menu grew and my measurements shrank. By the end of two weeks, I had lost 10 pounds. This was a near-miracle, as far as I was concerned. Being under 145 lbs had seemed like a distant fantasy; now it was a reality and I was shooting for 140.

When the 21-day challenge ended, it was a no-brainer to keep up the program. I had gotten used to it incredibly quickly, and my taste buds changed drastically. Three months later, I can no longer tolerate much added sugar. Diet Coke, my old vice, tastes like battery acid to me. I have lost close to 20 pounds and have not looked or felt better since I was in my 30s.

I do not consider the program I learned from Amy to be a diet. It is a lifestyle. I went to my endocrinologist for a regular checkup on my Graves’ disease in September and learned that I am officially in remission. I am now a 50-year-old woman with enviable vitals who takes no medications at all. I am at a healthy weight and my BMI has dropped by 5 points. My blood pressure is now perfect. I’m looking forward to my next bloodwork, because I suspect my cholesterol will have dropped, too.

I have no desire to go back to my old way of eating. Although it was still “better” than that of most Americans, I had bought into the self-soothing lies: fat is fine if you don’t eat too many refined carbs, a fish sandwich is better than a burger, salad smothered in oily dressing is a health food. I’m better educated now, and my body has made the adjustment. I truly feel this has added years to my life, and on the lighter side (literally), it’s fun fitting easily into all the clothes that had been collecting dust on my “never again” shelf.

My new goal is to be consistently between 130–135 lbs. I have upped my walking mileage to an average of 4-5 miles per day and I have kept up the 100 pushups a day; I plan to be the healthiest old lady in the retirement home. I can’t recommend this lifestyle enough; if you have the discipline and dedication to get through the first couple of weeks, you will never look back.

– Diane, College History Professor