Maureen's story

Meet Maureen

As a former Californian now living on wide-open land in Montana, Maureen has built a life centered on patience, self-discovery, and personal accountability. 

Her journey to health has been far from linear. For decades, Maureen struggled with unexplained weight gain that began in her early thirties during perimenopause. Despite an active job and healthy habits, the pounds crept on, diets failed after about a year, and she resigned herself to being a size 16, believing that was simply how life would unfold.

But a glimmer of hope appeared at 60 when a friend in her seventies successfully lost weight. Seeing it was possible sparked a new resolve. That’s when Maureen discovered Lumen, a metabolic tracking tool, and decided to reclaim her health.

Maureen's weight loss journey with Lumen

Learning to eat more, not less

Maureen grew up in an era that worshiped dieting by deprivation. “You starve yourself to lose weight,” she recalls. Shifting to using Lumen, which encouraged more food, aka real food, was a radical, often uncomfortable change. At first, she was shocked by how full she felt trying to meet her macros. “I didn’t realize how little I was actually eating all those years or how it was hurting my metabolism.”

It took real courage to trust the process. She gave herself six months, just like every diet before. But this time, something was different. Not having stepped on the scale out of fear, Maureen found she’d lost seven pounds by the two-month mark. Six months in, she was down 15 pounds, well beyond water weight, and feeling encouraged for the first time in years.

A boost in metabolic flexibility

A lifestyle of small, sustainable choices

Maureen laughs about not being a “food prepper.” Instead, she enjoys listening to her body and makes flexible choices each day. Her mornings start with waiting 30 minutes to measure her metabolism, often lounging in bed with emails or simple games to pass the time. She then tailors her meals to her metabolic reading, usually starting with eggs, salsa, cheese, and a bit of ham or treating herself to pancakes on special days.

She’s learned her body does best when carbs come early in the day. Dark chocolate chips are her small daily indulgence, and she loves making homemade protein Aebleskiver, a type of Danish pancake, on her Boost Days. She walks around her mile-long loop, her personal outdoor gym, which keeps her moving three to four days a week. Unlike her athletic days, she’s discovered gentler exercise brings better results. “I don’t need to stress my body anymore. Yoga, walking, light weights — that’s enough.”

From a size 16 to size 12

Finding a real accountability partner

Maureen tells us that while she didn’t really pay attention before, she can now see what she’s doing and eating, and review it throughout the day, which helps her make decisions later.

“With Lumen, I can immediately see the results of how my body is reacting to whatever foods or exercises I’m doing,” she says.

“The biggest perk with Lumen is you don’t have to depend on something other than yourself.” 

As she sees it, Lumen is just a lifestyle change you make. You know what’s working and what’s not.

Maureen's ah-ha moments

Freedom from fear and panic

Perhaps the biggest emotional shift came with time. “With other diets, within six months to a year, I’d start gaining weight back. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong, and I would panic,” Maureen shares. With Lumen, she could see how her body responded daily to food, exercise, and disrupted sleep. This immediate feedback gave her peace.

Now, she doesn’t dread celebrations. Visiting family, enjoying graduation cake, going out to restaurants — these moments no longer fill her with guilt or fear of undoing progress. “If I gain two or three pounds, it’s gone within a week with Lumen. I don’t restrict myself anymore. I just live.” It’s a freedom she cherishes deeply.

Maureen's before and after

Maureen's before image
Maureen's after image

Being kinder to herself 

One of the most profound lessons Maureen has learned from her Lumen journey is self-compassion. “Be supportive of yourself. We’re our worst critics,” she says. The process has taught her to let go of harsh judgments, embrace patience through plateaus, and celebrate small victories.

She also delights in inspiring others. Her daughter, currently serving in the military, started her own Lumen journey, and friends often reach out for recipes or to understand how Maureen’s subtle changes brought such visible transformation. Even her friend’s son was startled to see her after losing 30 pounds, exclaiming, “Where’s the rest of you?”

As for the future, Maureen would like to lose another 30 pounds, but she’s at peace. “If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, I’m still happy. I’m down from a size 16 to a 12 and enjoying my life.”

A message to anyone struggling with weight loss

Maureen knows firsthand the skepticism many have, especially those from her generation raised on restrictive diets. “It seems too simple. A little device? More food? It’s scary.” But she urges anyone feeling stuck to consider it. “This is the simplest thing I’ve ever done to lose weight. I’m not deprived. I still eat the foods I love and don’t feel like I’m on a diet. It’s just how I eat now.”

Trust the process

Her story is a gentle, powerful reminder that true change comes from listening to your body, being patient, and showing yourself grace. If you’re struggling to find what works, Maureen proves it’s never too late. You can start anew at 60, find joy in the process, and embrace a healthier, happier life on your terms.