BEFORE
AT 272 POUNDS,
Kassoum had
been overweight
since childhood—
until big family
news inspired a
change.
K
a
s
s
o
u
m
D
o
u
m
b
i
a
A
s a kid, I played many
sports with my father and
siblings: soccer, tennis,
swimming, basketball, you
name it. But I always struggled with my
weight, and I was teased by classmates.
After I moved to America, I doubled
my weight, eating nothing but junk
foods. I would start off the day with
six doughnuts. For lunch, it was always
pizzas or burgers. And Chinese takeout
was my usual dinner.
In 2014, I applied to
work for the Chicago
Police Department
and had to complete a
physical exam. That’s
when I found out I
was 272 pounds. I wondered how I’d let
that happen.
Around the same time, my wife told
me that we were expecting a child. I
thought, This is a sign. I remembered
“I see myself
eating this way
for the rest of
my life.”
being a kid and all the fun I had playing
sports with my dad. I wanted to create
those memories for my child.
I knew that giving up animal products
was a way to lose weight and improve my
health overall. I cleaned out the fridge
and pantry and committed to going
vegan. After a few months, the weight
hadn’t really started to come off. Then
my wife suggested that I cook meals from
scratch, so I slowly transitioned to that
and began making more whole-food,
plant-based meals, and eventually went
100 percent WFPB.
The hardest part was not eating the
same foods as other family members.
But that became easier as we adjusted
to our new routine and as I felt the
positive effects on my health. Within a
year and a half, I dropped 119 pounds,
and I’ve continued to maintain a healthy
weight. I’ve run several
marathons. What has
surprised me the most is
that a WFPB diet is not at
all boring, as many people
think. There are lots of
vegetables, fruits, and
legumes that the majority of people are
afraid to try or don’t even know exist. I
see myself eating this way for the rest of
my life. I am more energetic, happy, and
grateful than ever.
—Kassoum Doumbia
photography by Dave Suarez
13
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