Weight Loss for Health, Longevity, Body Composition, and Athletic Performance
Crystal: Welcome to the MetPro Method Podcast! I’m your host, Crystal, and today I’m joined by MetPro client Valarie Swanson. We’ll be hearing all about Valarie’s journey. Valarie, thank you so much for joining us today!
Valarie: Thanks for having me! I’m excited to be here.
Crystal: We’re so excited to have you! I’m curious—what initially attracted you to MetPro and made you feel like it was the right solution for you?
Valarie: What attracted me most was that it wasn’t just a weight loss program. I’m in my late forties now, and I first heard about MetPro on another running podcast. I wanted a program that could help with body composition because, in my forties, my body wasn’t responding to diets the way it used to. I didn’t want to do the whole 1200-calorie thing, which I’ve learned is dangerous. MetPro approached it from a health, longevity, body composition, and athletic performance perspective—all things that really spoke to me.
Running as a Vegan
Crystal: That makes a lot of sense. I know you’re a runner, but you’re also vegan—which came first?
Valarie: I’ve always wanted to be a runner, and I was active but hated gyms. I joined a gym for a while just to use the treadmill. I wasn’t vegan then, but I went vegan in 2017 when I was 42. I noticed I had more energy, so I decided to do more outdoor running. Everything I was listening to talked about running, and that’s when I really got the bug. I started signing up for races and became more consistent. So, I’d say vegan came first before I fully committed to running.
Crystal: What moment allowed you to call yourself a runner? It’s such a personal thing, and I’m curious.
Valarie: It is, and I actually look at it differently now. At the time, I considered myself a runner when I became consistent. I had a strategy instead of just running until I was exhausted. It became intentional, not just exercise.
Crystal: That makes sense. For those listening who may not know the difference between vegan and vegetarian, veganism often means no animal byproducts at all. For you, does that mean no eggs, cheese, or anything from animals unless it’s completely vegan?
Running as a Plant-Based Vegan
Valarie: That’s correct. I usually use “plant-based” for myself because veganism is more of a lifestyle. For me, plant-based means no animal products—no eggs, dairy, meat, or fish. But veganism often extends beyond diet, and while I incorporate that more now, I wouldn’t call myself an ethical vegan. I’m more plant-based for health.
Crystal: Got it. When you started running while being plant-based, did you face any challenges?
Valarie: Nutritionally, no. But when I first went plant-based, I didn’t know how to structure my meals. I ate too many carbs—healthy carbs, but still too many. I gained weight because I was listening to messaging that said you can eat as much as you want on a plant-based diet and not gain weight, which isn’t true. I wasn’t balancing it with nuts, seeds, or other necessary nutrients.
Crystal: That’s easy to do, especially when you hear that kind of advice. There’s nothing wrong with sweet potatoes or avocados, but your body can only handle so many carbs before it stores the excess as fat.
Training and Education for Marathons
Valarie: Exactly. I wasn’t well-educated on that at the time.
Crystal: It’s trial and error. There’s a lot of information out there, but everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another. At what point did MetPro enter your journey?
Valarie: I don’t remember the exact year, but it was a couple of years ago before my marathon. I’d been running intentionally but hadn’t done marathons yet. I knew I needed to understand how to balance my macros. I had a healthy diet but wasn’t putting the pieces together for my body, and that’s why I turned to MetPro.
Crystal: Was that your first time working with a nutrition coach?
Valarie: Yes, it was, and I was a little nervous.
Crystal: What made you nervous about it?
Valarie: Anytime you ask for help with something personal, like your diet, it can be nerve-wracking. You wonder if they’ll be judgmental or if you’re doing things right. It’s the unknown.
Crystal: There’s a vulnerability in that. Was your experience what you expected?
Valarie: I expected support, and I got that. Everyone I worked with was so friendly. They were always helpful, no matter how big or small my question was.
Crystal: You’ve been with MetPro for a while. What challenges have you faced, and how have they evolved over time?
Weight Loss With Coaching Support and Education
Valarie: I started with a coach and lost 16 pounds. Then I switched to the app-only version for a while and maintained within a few pounds. Eventually, I went off on my own, but I had an injury that took me off running for nine months. I maintained my weight during that time, but when I started running again, I started gaining weight. That’s when I decided to come back to MetPro and get back on track with my macros.
Crystal: What do you do for your day job?
Valarie: I’m the designated broker for a large luxury real estate firm in Southern California, overseeing about 550 agents. It’s a high-stress position, but I balance that by being a dual-certified running coach and personal trainer. I’m also a podcaster.
Crystal: Wow! How do you balance all of that? Do you sleep?
Valarie: I credit a lot of it to my diet. I only put positive things into my body, starting with breakfast—steamed kale with vinegar. I fuel my body from the moment I wake up until I go to bed. And I get up really early!
Crystal: I have to ask—kale and vinegar doesn’t sound tasty. Do you actually enjoy it, or do you make yourself eat it?
Valarie: I’ve come to enjoy it. I started with spinach but switched to kale because of the oxalates in spinach. I mix different types of kale for variety, and the vinegar is the key. I use a high-quality Sicilian lemon balsamic, not the basic grocery store kind!
Crystal: That sounds better than what I was picturing! How do you prepare it?
Valarie: I steam the kale for about eight minutes, then drizzle two teaspoons of vinegar over it like a dressing.
Crystal: Fascinating! Thank you for sharing. Tell me about your podcast.
Women in 40’s Running with Plant-Based Eating
Valarie: It’s called *Running on Carbs* because I run, and carbs are life! It’s geared towards women in their forties who are runners and plant-based, or curious about plant-based eating. I keep it simple and focus on things like running, plant-based eating, and how to travel on a plant-based diet—especially for races.
Crystal: Traveling must be tricky with a plant-based diet, depending on where you are.
Valarie: Absolutely. My motto is “bring your own toaster!” I’ve found some of my favorite restaurants in places with no vegan options, and it’s usually fantastic. It’s like a personal challenge.
Crystal: You could start a travel blog with all that experience! Back to MetPro—has anything surprised you about using it?
Valarie: I didn’t expect to need the accountability. I’m disciplined, I plan my races, and I know how to manage my schedule. But when it comes to diet, we all have weaknesses. Having someone to be accountable to, and knowing I’m in a program I paid for, helps me stay on track. Without that accountability, it’s easy to justify straying from my goals.
Crystal: That makes sense. Are your family and friends supportive of what you’re doing?
Valarie: It depends on who I’m talking to, but my family is used to me experimenting with my body. They just go, “What’s Val doing this time?” They’re supportive.
Crystal: What advice would you give to other vegan runners or those curious about plant-based eating?
Plant-Based Snacks when Running
Valarie: Always bring your own snacks! You can’t rely on race courses or finding plant-based options when traveling. I love when someone offers me something vegan, but I never expect it. I always have my own snacks with me.
Crystal: That’s great advice! I’m not plant-based, but I bring my own food to races because I know what works for me, and I don’t want to rely on what’s left at the finish line.
Valarie: Exactly. It’s good planning for any runner.
Crystal: Thank you so much for your time today, Valarie. Before we go, where can people find you and your podcast?
Valarie: I’m on Instagram at *running.on.carbs*, and the *Running on Carbs* podcast is on all major platforms, including YouTube.
Crystal: Perfect! Thank you so much, Valarie. Listeners, that’s all for this week. You can find all episodes of the MetPro Method Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or at metpro.co/podcast. Please follow the show and rate or review us to let others know what to expect. You can learn more about MetPro at metpro.co. I’m Crystal, and I’ll be back next time. Until then, remember—consistency is key!
