Luther Vandross, the Grammy-winning R&B icon, was not only celebrated for his musical achievements but also for his public battle with weight and his eventual commitment to health improvement. Vandross, who once stated, "I am more proud of my weight loss," recognized the importance of health, declaring, "I'm most proud of my health improvement." His journey, marked by significant fluctuations, ultimately led him to discover a path toward a healthier life. This article explores Vandross's weight loss journey, its impact, and the legacy it inspired in others.
The Cruel Cycle of Weight Fluctuations
Vandross's struggle with weight was a lifelong challenge. He openly discussed the difficulties of managing his weight in the public eye. "It makes it very hard," he admitted. "You wear it externally, so the minute you walk through the door, everybody knows 'Luther's not winning his battle with his demon.'"
Throughout his career, Vandross experienced the "most awful, dark feeling in the world" when he regained weight. "It feels like you're wearing an 80-pound hat and a coat that weighs 300 pounds… You feel like it's always dark and gloomy." This yo-yo relationship with food was a constant battle, with Vandross losing more than 100 pounds 13 times.
In 1998, Vandross reached 340 pounds and faced health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes, a condition prevalent in his family. He described his relationship with food as an addiction: "The food had its clutches on me strong enough that it sort of demanded that I ignore reason."
Discovering the Secret to Weight Loss
Despite previous setbacks, Vandross eventually found a sustainable approach to weight loss. Through a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, he successfully shed 120 pounds. "I've never been more healthy than I am now," he proclaimed, "I wish I was this healthy when I was 25." This achievement highlighted his determination and commitment to overcoming his health challenges.
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A Stroke and a Call to Action
Luther Vandross's stroke at the age of 52, related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes, served as a stark reminder of the importance of health. This event motivated many to prioritize their well-being and adopt healthier lifestyles. The stroke, a leading cause of death in America, underscored the severity of diabetes and the need for proactive management.
The Divabetic Movement: Honoring Luther's Legacy
After Luther Vandross suffered a stroke, one individual felt driven to become a diabetes advocate. Inspired by Luther's journey, she joined his mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross, on the promotional tour for Luther's album, Dance With My Father, sharing health updates with the media.
This path led to the creation of Divabetic.Org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reaching out to those at risk, impacted by, and living with diabetes. The term "Divabetic" combines "diabetic" with a "V" for Vandross, celebrating the divas that Luther loved. The organization aims to empower individuals to manage their lives in healthier ways, promoting fitness, nutrition, style, and positive energy.
Patti LaBelle's Inspiration and Support
Patti LaBelle, who lives well with type 2 diabetes, inspired the founder of Divabetic one night during a Luther Tribute concert in New York City. LaBelle declared, "I have diabetes. Diabetes doesn’t have me," which resonated deeply and motivated the creation of the Divabetic movement.
A few months later, when traveling to Philadelphia with Luther to visit his mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross, the founder of Divabetic had the opportunity to present Patti LaBelle with the first Divabetic t-shirt, sharing how much she had motivated her.
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Divabetic's Initiatives and Impact
Divabetic has launched various initiatives to support individuals living with diabetes. These include:
- Selling Divabetic t-shirts with the slogan "Sugar’s The Bitch Not Me" to raise funds for diabetes organizations.
- Participating in health fairs across NYC, including the Apollo Theater.
- Hosting monthly diabetes education meetings with a certified educator.
- Launching the Divabetic - Makeover Your Diabetes program with support from Novo Nordisk.
- Creating the carbohydrate counting game, Carb Kitty.
- Publishing the ebook, Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide to Love And Intimacy With Diabetes.
- Presenting the art installation and outreach event, Plate Poetry, focused on emotional eating.
Divabetic’s Diabetes Plate Poetry "What’ s on Your Plate?" video describes the emotional experience of living with diabetes, addressing the often unaddressed topic of emotional well-being in diabetes self-management. Divabetic wants to encourage these individuals to stay positive and healthy in their self-management.
Divabetic’s Luther Vandross Tribute podcasts aim to celebrate Luther’s musical legacy, share information on the emotions associated with managing diabetes and the underlying reasons attributed to those emotions, and encourage people to ‘keep their house a home’ by learning to prevent diabetes health-related complications from occurring.
The organization has also created ten Divabetic mystery podcasts with Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, encouraging listeners to think like detectives when it comes to self-care issues.
Questlove's Weight-Loss Journey: A Parallel Inspiration
Questlove's weight loss journey offers another example of how health concerns can inspire significant lifestyle changes. He admitted it was easy for him to fall into bad habits by drinking and partying all night on regular occasions. Questlove’s own weight and the death of his friends were a warning to him. So he made up his mind to change his lifestyle. He began by completely changing his diet. Next, he started consuming a healthy and balanced diet, primarily vegan foods. ‘That’s another thing I’ve learned relaxin’, sleep, yoga,’ Questlove says.
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Personal Reflections on Health and Identity
Beyond health advocacy, personal experiences can also drive individuals to support others. After facing challenges, including being unwelcome at a prominent church for being gay, one individual found support in their volleyball league, Gotham Volleyball, and launched the Coming Out Project to help others embrace their identities.
Musical Tributes and Continued Legacy
Luther Vandross's influence extends beyond health and wellness. In 2017, after Alfa Anderson’s album release (featuring her When Luther Sings tribute song, reunion concerts were organized at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar in NYC to celebrate Luther’s musical family, resulting in the creation of FANDROSS. Several Luther Tribute podcasts featuring Luther’s friends, peers, collaborators, and health educators were also produced.
Working with Luther Vandross also inspired some musically, which led to co-writing UK Soul Chart hit, Mama’s Kitchen Table and the holiday breakup ballad, Pink Champagne with musician, songwriter, producer Ivan Hampden Jr. and singer, songwriter Paulette McWilliams.