Dagen McDowell, a prominent financial analyst, television personality, and anchor for Fox Business, has always been known for her unfiltered thoughts and opinions. But beyond her professional life, Dagen has also undergone a personal transformation, marked by a significant weight loss journey. This article explores Dagen McDowell's weight loss journey, highlighting the key elements that contributed to her success and offering insights into the importance of a holistic approach to health and well-being.
The Turning Point: Recognizing the Need for Change
Dagen McDowell's weight loss journey wasn't about shedding pounds; it was about understanding herself, her relationship with food, and making the mental adjustments necessary to embrace a healthier lifestyle. Dagen recalls, “I had always been comfortable in my own skin, but at the same time, I knew that I wasn’t living my healthiest life.” Like so many of us, Dagen’s struggles with weight were intertwined with her emotional and mental state. She wasn’t just dealing with physical changes; she was addressing deep-rooted emotional ties with food and the pressures of living up to societal expectations.
There was a moment in Dagen’s life where everything shifted-a moment that changed the way she saw her body and health forever. It wasn’t an epiphany she expected, but it came when she found herself feeling fatigued, both mentally and physically. That was the point when she realized she had to make a change. “Sometimes, it’s not the physical changes that push you; it’s realizing you’re not living to your fullest potential. I wanted to be better for myself and for those I care about,” Dagen shares. Weight loss isn’t just about looking good; it’s about feeling good, too.
Embracing a Sustainable Approach: Exercise, Nutrition, and Mental Well-being
For Dagen McDowell, the road to losing weight was far from a crash diet or a temporary fix. Instead, she embraced a sustainable approach that focused on exercise, nutrition, and mental well-being.
Finding the Right Exercise Regimen
One of the first steps Dagen took on her journey was to find an exercise regimen that felt right for her. As someone with a demanding schedule, Dagen didn’t have time for grueling hours at the gym. “I’m not the type to run on a treadmill for an hour. I needed something more engaging. I started doing activities like swimming and Pilates. Incorporating low-impact exercises helped Dagen build strength and flexibility without straining her body. This approach not only helped her lose weight but also improved her posture and mental clarity. Her body was slowly transforming, but what was more impactful was how she felt.
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Prioritizing Whole Foods and Portion Control
When it came to nutrition, Dagen’s approach was simple but effective. “I didn’t follow a trendy diet. I focused on whole foods, balanced meals, and portion control. Dagen also prioritized self-care, incorporating mindful eating into her daily routine. “I made sure I wasn’t overeating out of stress or boredom. Her meals were full of protein, healthy fats, and fiber, which kept her energized throughout the day. A crucial element of her success was making sure she wasn’t feeling deprived. She cut out processed junk and focused on preparing her meals ahead of time by using meal prep containers. “If it wasn’t ready to eat, I was too tired to cook. Then I’d order junk."
Addressing Emotional Connections to Food
One of the more challenging aspects of Dagen’s weight loss journey was dealing with the mental and emotional connections to food. For years, she had used food as a comfort, especially during stressful times. “I worked on my relationship with food. It wasn’t just about losing weight; it was about changing how I viewed food in the first place,” Dagen reveals. She started seeing food as fuel rather than an emotional crutch, and the results were immediate.
The Results: A Transformation Inside and Out
Over the course of several months, Dagen McDowell lost an impressive amount of weight. However, the physical transformation was just one part of her success. The real victory for Dagen was in the lasting changes she made in her life. She emphasizes the importance of mental health in her transformation, stating, "I kept getting depressed. I couldn't even run around and play soccer with my kids. I wanted not to get tired walking up a flight of stairs."
Overcoming Challenges and Maintaining Consistency
Despite her success, Dagen’s weight loss journey wasn’t without its hurdles. One of the biggest challenges was staying consistent. “There were times I’d fall off track, but I didn’t let it discourage me. I got back on it the next day,” she admits. She also found a simple mantra to keep her going: “One more day."
Dagen McDowell's Weight Loss: Lessons Learned
Dagen McDowell’s weight loss journey is a testament to the power of resilience, self-love, and mental clarity. It wasn’t about chasing perfection; it was about embracing change, finding balance, and committing to long-term health. “Weight loss isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And I’m still on that journey,” she reflects.
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Dagen isn’t coy about the emotional backdrop that framed her journey. “I grieved by eating,” she said. There’s a brutal honesty in her words that’s impossible to fake. People often ask, how did Dagen McDowell lose so much weight and keep it off? “It’s not sexy,” Dagen said, grinning. “It’s repetition. It’s boring."
Bariatric Surgery: Another Path to Weight Loss
Another person named McDowell (Maysa) had a different path. At more than 300 pounds, Maysa McDowell decided bariatric surgery would help her feel healthier and have more energy. "I knew there had to be something better. This could not be what my life was supposed to look like."
Getting Ready for Long-Lasting Change
The work doesn't start with surgery - it starts long before, with an intensive program. "You can't fix the outside without fixing the inside," says McDowell. The Nebraska Medicine preoperative program includes consulting with dieticians, psychologists, nurse coordinators, physician assistants and doctors. Participants give up coffee and soda and find an exercise plan that works for them. They also take classes on healthy eating and portion identification. It takes weeks or months to adjust those habits so that once the surgery is over, the weight stays off.
McDowell says, "Nothing exciting happened - I just did the work. I went to my appointments, exercised and ate right. Which is hard because I have young kids!" Now she makes a lot of Pinterest dinners, like ginger chicken and sesame broccoli. "Not a lot of kids eat broccoli or Brussels sprouts. My kids actually love them and eat all kinds of things now."
McDowell is a talented pastry chef and had to get inventive about removing temptation. "Sometimes I'd accidentally, yet on purpose, bake a cake for my kids. If they didn't finish it, I'd put the cake in the sink and run water over it." She also stayed on track by not buying ice cream or junk foods. "I tell myself and others, ‘If you don't buy it, you can't eat it. If it's not in your house, you're good.'"
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The Role of Bariatric Surgery
McDowell's bariatric surgeon, Corrigan McBride, MD, credits McDowell for sticking with it. "Weight loss is a team sport. The patients do a monster share of the work. They change how they shop for groceries, which restaurants they eat at and how often they work out," Dr. McBride says. "Maysa's done extremely well. She lost almost 5% of her body weight even before the surgery. She embraced this from the beginning." "The surgery is a chance at a new life, but it's not magic. You have to go to the gym," says McDowell. She started going to the gym regularly and still works out by lifting weights and running.
By helping patients drop the pounds, a whole host of problems can be taken care of. Dr. McBride says, "One mentor always said to me, ‘You get to perform the only operation in the world that can cure five diseases.' Diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, heart disease and gout can all be mitigated or eliminated with weight loss surgery."
A Surgeon Who's Been in Patients' Shoes
Dr. McBride has been performing bariatric surgeries for almost 20 years. Unlike most bariatric surgeons, Dr. McBride has undergone weight loss surgery herself - twice. This experience makes her uniquely qualified to understand exactly what patients are going through. "Having been through the process has made me a better advocate for patients," says Dr. McBride. "My job is to help patients pick the right bariatric surgery for them. When I had my first procedure - gastric band surgery - I was single. I really wanted to get married and have a baby. In 2004, the lap band was thought to be the safest operation for future pregnancies, so that is why I chose it. I help patients determine the best surgery for their own priorities and lives."
The morning of the surgery, McDowell was nervous and scared, but also excited. She knew the surgery held so much potential for her life. She says, "To me, strength is someone taking the chance of making themselves better. That's powerful. I've seen so many people get scared of surgery's small potential for complications, and I wonder, ‘Is it worth being fat for the rest of your life?'"
The Success of Hard Work
"One of the reasons I love my job is seeing the difference in people's lives," says Dr. McBride. "Before the surgery, people often want to do it for their health or to decrease the number of pills they have to take. About six months after the surgery, that's all ancient history, and they've completely forgotten they're not on insulin anymore. It's the day-to-day, minuteto-minute, quality-of-life things."
"Everyone has their epiphany moment," says McDowell. "Mine was after I got back to my high school weight of 220 pounds. We went to Worlds of Fun, and I fit in the seat exactly. I thought, ‘I made it! I fit in the chair!' I was so happy I cried." Since the beginning of her journey, McDowell has lost 185 pounds and is so happy she's come so far. "I can run without getting tired now," she says. "That's amazeballs to me."
The Simplicity of Sustainable Habits
On a Thursday morning, Dagen McDowell threw away the last pair of size 26 jeans. “I kept them for a while,” she said, smiling as if confessing a long-held secret. “Like some kind of battle trophy. But honestly? If you’re wondering How Dagen McDowell Lost 185 Pounds, you might expect some quick fix or secret surgery whispered over late-night phone calls. That’s not what happened. “I was hosting segments about fiscal discipline,” she said, laughing dryly, “and meanwhile I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I might pass out. It wasn’t a dramatic health scare. It wasn’t a particularly cruel comment from a stranger. “I thought - enough,” she said. “Enough feeling invisible. Let’s be clear. How Dagen McDowell Lost 185 Pounds was not fueled by gimmicks or dangerous fads. “I started drinking chia seed water every morning,” Dagen said, shrugging. “It’s not glamorous. Chia seed water. 10,000 steps daily. Strength training twice a week. “No more processed junk,” she said, waving her hand as if swatting a fly.