She Lost 94 Pounds by ‘Fibermaxxing’—and It Even Reversed Her Prediabetes
The best part? She never felt hungry and has kept the weight off for two years
For decades, doctors have tried (and mostly failed) to find a way for people to care about fiber. Yet most of us remain deficient in this crucial nutrient. But thanks to social media, many people are now benefitting from “fibermaxxing,” the practice of trying to maximize our daily intake of the important stuff. Even more encouraging are fibermaxxing success stories from women like Lolita Carrico, who lost 94 pounds by purposefully eating more fiber. Check out her amazing story below, and get her favorite fiber-rich recipe at the end.
How Lolita started fibermaxxing to lose weight
In her 40s, Lolita Carrico found “nothing I did worked for my weight.” She was borderline prediabetic, with high cholesterol. And after struggling to walk and keep up with her sons on vacation, she set a goal: Get fit by 50!
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When Lolita hit a plateau on a keto diet, she switched her emphasis away from eating high-fat foods and toward more high-protein and high-fiber offerings. She aimed for a whopping 30 to 35 grams of fiber from food daily, compared to her prior 10-gram routine (well below the recommended amount of 25 grams of fiber a day for women under 50).
Her go-to fiber shopping list: raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, artichokes, beans, lentils, Brazil nuts and edamame. She also bought high-fiber tortillas and bread (like Hero or Carb Balance). And her favorite snacks became avocados (“I eat one a day”) and chia seeds or flaxseeds (“I add them to everything!”)
She quickly noticed the health benefits
“Once I implemented this approach, I felt better almost immediately,” recalls Lolita. Everything changed. “I felt fuller longer, had better blood-sugar balance and my cravings completely changed.” As for digestion, over time, she adds, “I became more ‘regular.’”
Bonus: “I noticed more energy and even improved skin and mood as I increased the amount of fiber I ate.” Indeed, research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that consuming gut-healing fiber helps boost mood. It turns out, 90 percent of our feel-happy hormone serotonin is made in our GI tract, not in our brain.
Lolita went from a size 16 to a 2 with fibermaxxing
Lolita consistently lost three to four pounds per week. She shares, “I determined fiber was the missing link.” She found pairing fiber-rich foods like avocados, seeds or berries with protein to be a secret weight-loss weapon as she aged. “It was a way to fuel my body that was delicious and filling, but wouldn’t derail me.”
She melted off weight, but also inches from bloat, which only made her look even leaner. “I wish I’d known earlier how powerful fiber is, especially when dealing with hormonal changes and menopause.” At midlife, “it’s not just about calories in vs. calories out anymore. It’s about working with your body instead of against it.”
Today, Lolita is down 94 pounds
In all, the marketing exec, now age 52, lost 94 pounds and has kept the weight off for two years. “Not only have I reversed all my risk factors, but my joints feel better, I don’t wake up with stiffness in my fingers and I get better sleep. Everything is better.”
She says, “I spent much of my life chasing fast fixes. What actually helped was taking things slow and making small changes. Over the long-term, it resulted in big success!”
How much fiber do women really need?
Fiber comes from plant-based foods like fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes. Most women only get around 10 grams of dietary fiber daily, but research shows we may need more than double that amount to thrive. And while 25 grams is the current recommendation, Dawn Harris Sherling, MD, author of Eat Everything, finds women often need more as they age. “Aim for 25 to 30 grams a day as a floor, not a ceiling,” she says. “Feel free to keep going as long as your fiber comes from whole foods.”
How to increase your fiber intake safely
That said, ease in slowly to avoid shocking the system and triggering digestive woes. Simply increasing your current daily intake by 5 grams can go a long way to helping you feel better and lose weight. “Many of us have microbiomes not accustomed to fiber-rich meals. They need to be nourished and grow so they can digest the fibers we are feeding them.”
To help, reach for high-fiber fruits that start with ‘P’—plums, pears, papaya. “Remember the letter ‘P’ for ‘perfect poops,’” quips Dr. Sherling. Strive for diversity, getting fiber from different whole foods (not processed fiber supplements). And stay hydrated with water to keep fiber safely moving through your system.
Fiber-rich recipe for weight loss: Egg roll in a bowl
Lolita loves this easy one-pot meal, ready in under 30 minutes. Find more recipes on Instagram @WatchLolita.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. ground meat
- 1 sweet onion, diced
- 2 tsp. fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1 bag coleslaw mix (16 oz.)
- 1 Tbs. sesame oil
- 1⁄4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
Directions: In a hot skillet, brown the meat. Add onion and spices and cook until translucent. Mix in coleslaw, sesame oil and soy sauce and cook until tender. Plate and enjoy hot. Serves 4 to 6.
3 more ways to build fiber-rich meals
- A graze plate: Assemble a dish of eggs (scrambled with at least two veggies or black beans), half an avocado and a slice of multi-grain toast.
- Roll with it: On a high-fiber tortilla, spread hummus, sliced bell peppers and diced chicken. Roll up. Add a side salad with seeds and dressing.
- Dinner duet: For a powerful combo, combine protein (like a fish fillet) with a fiber-rich grain (like rice or whole-grain pasta), plus veggies.
Additional reporting by Beth Weissman
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