The cameras had just stopped rolling after another emotional day of filming “Sister Wives,” and Meri Brown sat alone in her living room, scrolling through social media comments about the latest episode. The TLC reality star, who has spent over a decade sharing her polygamous lifestyle with millions of viewers, was used to public scrutiny. But something felt different this time. The comments about her appearance stung more than usual, and even more troubling was the realization that she didn’t recognize the woman she saw in those TV screenshots anymore.
“I remember just putting my phone down and walking to the mirror,” Meri recalls, her voice soft but determined. “I stood there for what felt like forever, really looking at myself – not just a quick glance while doing my makeup, but really seeing what years of putting myself last had done.”
At that moment, something shifted for the reality TV personality. After years of emotional turmoil – a divorce from Kody Brown, her legal husband of 24 years, so he could marry another wife; the catfishing scandal that left her humiliated in the public eye; and the gradual deterioration of her relationship with the Brown family – Meri realized she had neglected her physical health while navigating these emotional hurricanes.
“Nobody tells you how stress shows up in your body,” she says, shaking her head at the memory. “It’s not just feeling anxious or sad. It’s the weight that creeps on because you’re stress eating. It’s the exhaustion that makes exercise feel impossible. It’s choosing comfort over health because you’re just trying to get through each day.”
At her heaviest, Meri estimates she had gained approximately 50 pounds from what had once been her comfortable weight. More concerning than the number on the scale were the physical symptoms she couldn’t ignore – constant fatigue, aches in her joints, and a general feeling of sluggishness that affected everything from her work running her bed and breakfast, Lizzie’s Heritage Inn, to her ability to enjoy outdoor activities in her beloved Utah.
“There was this hike I used to love doing near my B&B,” she remembers with a wistful smile. “One day I tried it and couldn’t even make it halfway without feeling like my heart was going to explode. That was scary. Really scary.”
That hike became a powerful metaphor for where Meri found herself in life – unable to reach heights that had once been easily within her grasp. Something needed to change, and for once, she decided that something would be her priority.
Finding Her “Why”: Beyond the Numbers on the Scale
Unlike previous attempts at weight loss that had come and gone throughout her life, this time felt fundamentally different for Meri. As she approached her 50th birthday in January 2021, she found herself reflecting on what she wanted the next chapter of her life to look like.
“I think the big difference was that this time, it wasn’t about looking good for TV or fitting into a certain dress size,” she explains, leaning forward as if sharing a hard-won secret. “It was about reclaiming my health, my energy, and honestly, my joy. When you feel physically terrible all the time, it’s almost impossible to feel emotionally good.”
This realization became Meri’s powerful “why” – a motivation much stronger than aesthetic goals. She wanted the energy to run her business effectively. She wanted to play with her grandchildren without getting winded. She wanted to explore the mountains and canyons of Utah without physical limitations. Most importantly, she wanted to feel like herself again.
“There’s this idea that once you reach a certain age, especially as a woman, you’re supposed to just accept decline as inevitable,” she says with a characteristic flash of defiance in her eyes. “But why? Why should I accept feeling worse when I could feel better?”
With this mindset shift firmly in place, Meri began researching sustainable approaches to weight loss. Rather than turning to quick fixes or fad diets that had failed her in the past, she sought out methods that would support long-term health. This search eventually led her to a nutritional program that would become the foundation of her transformation.
“I knew I needed structure, but also flexibility,” she explains. “My life involves travel for filming, running my B&B, creating content for my followers – I needed something that could work within my real life, not something that would require me to put everything on hold.”
The Method Behind the Transformation: Plexus and Beyond
In spring 2021, Meri began incorporating Plexus products into her daily routine – a decision that would eventually lead her to become a brand ambassador for the company. While she’s transparent about her affiliation with the wellness brand, she’s quick to emphasize that products were just one component of her overall approach.
“People sometimes want the magic solution, the one thing they can do to lose weight,” she says with a knowing smile. “But it’s never just one thing. For me, it was about creating this ecosystem of better choices that all work together.”
Meri’s comprehensive approach included several key components that worked synergistically. The Plexus supplements helped support her gut health and regulate her blood sugar – issues she believes had previously made weight management particularly challenging for her. Alongside these products, she made significant changes to her nutrition, focusing on whole foods and proper portion sizes.
“I had to get honest with myself about my relationship with food,” she admits. “Food had become my comfort during some really tough years. When you’re going through painful relationship changes in the public eye, a pint of ice cream doesn’t judge you, you know?”
Meri worked on developing new emotional coping mechanisms that didn’t involve food, including journaling, connecting with friends, and spending time in nature. She also began drinking significantly more water, aiming for half her body weight in ounces daily.
“The water thing sounds so simple, but wow, what a difference,” she marvels. “My skin improved, my energy levels evened out, and I wasn’t mistaking thirst for hunger anymore.”
Perhaps the most significant change was incorporating regular movement into her routine. Rather than diving into an intense exercise regimen that wouldn’t be sustainable, Meri started simply – with walking.
“I made a commitment to walk every single day, even if it was just for 15 minutes,” she says. “Some days that turned into an hour-long hike in the beautiful Utah landscape. Other days, when filming schedules were crazy, it might just be circles around a parking lot. But consistency was key.”
As her stamina improved, she gradually added strength training exercises, using both bodyweight movements and light dumbbells to build muscle. This approach helped accelerate her metabolism and improve her overall body composition.
“The strength training was a game-changer for me,” she notes. “Not just for how my body looked but for how I felt. There’s something really empowering about feeling physically strong when you’ve felt emotionally fragile for so long.”
The Results: 40 Pounds Down and a New Outlook on Life
By early 2022, approximately 9-10 months after beginning her wellness journey, Meri had lost around 40 pounds. The physical transformation was evident to her “Sister Wives” viewers, who quickly noticed her more defined features and increased energy on the show. Social media comments that had once been critical now often expressed admiration and curiosity about her methods.
“The weight loss is what people notice first, obviously,” she acknowledges. “But for me, the non-scale victories have been so much more meaningful.”
These victories include significant improvements in her energy levels, allowing her to work longer hours at her bed and breakfast without feeling depleted. Her sleep quality has improved dramatically – she now sleeps soundly through the night instead of tossing and turning. The joint pain that had begun to worry her has subsided, and her mood has stabilized, with fewer emotional highs and lows.
“I actually completed that hike that had defeated me before,” she says with unmistakable pride in her voice. “And I wasn’t even out of breath at the top. I just stood there looking out at the view, crying happy tears. That moment felt like such a powerful metaphor for where I am in my life now.”
Beyond the physical benefits, Meri has experienced profound psychological shifts. After years of public scrutiny about both her relationships and her appearance, taking control of her health has rebuilt her confidence.
“When you spend years in a relationship where you feel increasingly invisible, you start to become invisible to yourself too,” she reflects. “Taking charge of my health was a way of saying, ‘I see you, Meri. You matter.'”
This renewed sense of self-worth has influenced every aspect of her life, from her business decisions to her personal relationships. Friends close to Meri note that she seems more willing to set boundaries, speak her mind, and prioritize her own needs – skills that were often challenging in the complex dynamics of a polygamous family.
“I’m just more comfortable in my own skin now,” she says simply. “And that has nothing to do with size and everything to do with self-respect.”
Navigating Public Scrutiny: The Reality TV Factor
Being in the public eye throughout her transformation added a unique dimension to Meri’s weight loss journey. While support from fans has been overwhelmingly positive, she has also faced speculation about her methods and motivation.
“It’s strange having thousands of people commenting on your body,” she admits. “Some days you post a picture and there are hundreds of comments analyzing whether you’ve lost more weight or if you’ve gained some back. That can really mess with your head if you let it.”
Rather than allowing this scrutiny to derail her progress, Meri has developed strategies for maintaining her focus on health rather than appearance. She limits time reading comments, celebrates non-scale victories publicly to shift the conversation, and is transparent about the sustainability of her approach.
“I’m really careful about how I talk about this journey on social media,” she explains. “I never want to contribute to diet culture or make other women feel bad about their bodies. This is about health, energy, and reclaiming your life – not about fitting some arbitrary standard of how women should look.”
This perspective has resonated with her followers, many of whom are women in midlife facing their own health crossroads. They appreciate Meri’s emphasis on feeling good rather than just looking different, and her acknowledgment that the journey isn’t always linear or perfect.
“I’ve had weeks where the scale doesn’t move or even goes up a bit,” she says with characteristic honesty. “Early in my journey, that would have sent me into a tailspin and probably to the ice cream aisle. Now I just look at other markers – how my clothes fit, my energy levels, how strong I feel during workouts. The scale is just one tool, not the whole story.”
This balanced approach has helped Meri maintain her progress even during stressful periods of filming or personal challenges. By focusing on consistency rather than perfection, she’s created a sustainable lifestyle rather than following a temporary diet.
“This isn’t a before and after story,” she insists. “There is no ‘after’ where you’re done and can go back to old habits. It’s about creating a new normal that supports the life you want to live.”
Maintaining Momentum: Life Beyond the Weight Loss
As Meri approaches the two-year mark of her wellness journey, her focus has shifted from weight loss to overall health maintenance and continued strength building. Having lost approximately 40 pounds and reached a weight where she feels energetic and strong, she’s now working on fine-tuning her approach.
“Once you hit your initial goals, that’s when the real work begins in some ways,” she observes. “The motivation of seeing the scale move quickly isn’t there anymore, so you have to find deeper reasons to maintain these habits.”
For Meri, those deeper reasons include her growing business ambitions. Beyond her role on “Sister Wives,” she has expanded her entrepreneurial efforts with her successful bed and breakfast, Lizzie’s Heritage Inn, and her clothing business. These ventures require consistent energy and focus – resources she now has in abundance thanks to her improved health.
“When you feel good physically, you show up differently in every area of your life,” she notes. “I’m more creative, more patient with customers, more willing to take calculated risks in business. That all stems from taking care of my health foundation.”
Meri has also found joy in becoming a quiet inspiration to others facing similar midlife health challenges. While never positioning herself as a weight loss guru, she openly shares sustainable habits and encourages women, in particular, to prioritize their wellbeing.
“So many women my age have spent decades taking care of everyone else,” she says thoughtfully. “Kids, partners, aging parents – everyone comes before them. I was definitely in that pattern for years. Learning to put my health first wasn’t selfish – it was necessary.”
This message resonates powerfully with her audience, many of whom find themselves at similar crossroads. Through her social media presence, Meri offers living proof that it’s never too late to reclaim your health and energy.
“The most common comment I get isn’t actually about how I look,” she reveals. “It’s women saying, ‘You’ve inspired me to start taking care of myself again.’ That means more to me than any number on a scale ever could.”
As for what’s next, Meri remains committed to her maintenance routine while constantly educating herself about health and wellness. She’s particularly interested in women’s health during perimenopause and menopause – topics she feels aren’t discussed openly enough.
“There’s so much we’re not taught about our bodies, especially as we age,” she observes. “I’m passionate about learning and sharing what works, always with the understanding that everyone’s journey is different.”
Whatever the future holds for Meri – in relationships, business, or her ongoing role on one of reality TV’s most followed families – one thing is certain: she’ll face it with renewed energy, confidence, and a deep commitment to her own wellbeing.
“For years, my story was defined by my relationships,” she reflects. “Now I’m writing a new chapter that’s about me – my health, my happiness, my choices. And honestly? It’s the most exciting chapter yet.”
FAQ About Meri Brown’s Weight Loss
How much weight did Meri Brown lose?
Meri Brown has lost approximately 40 pounds since beginning her health journey in early 2021. Rather than pursuing rapid weight loss, she focused on sustainable lifestyle changes including improved nutrition, regular exercise, increased water intake, and supplements supporting her gut health and metabolism. The weight loss occurred over a period of about 9-10 months.
What diet plan did Meri Brown follow to lose weight?
While Meri Brown hasn’t followed a specific named diet plan, she’s emphasized whole foods nutrition with proper portion control. She incorporates Plexus products to support gut health and blood sugar regulation. Her approach focuses on sustainable eating habits rather than restrictive dieting, allowing flexibility while maintaining consistent healthy choices. She’s particularly focused on adequate protein intake and staying properly hydrated.
Does Meri Brown use Plexus for weight loss?
Yes, Meri Brown has incorporated Plexus products into her weight loss regimen and has become a brand ambassador for the company. However, she emphasizes that the supplements were just one component of her comprehensive approach, which also included significant changes to her nutrition, regular exercise, increased water intake, and improved sleep habits. She credits the products with supporting her gut health and metabolism.
How did Meri Brown lose weight so quickly?
Meri Brown’s weight loss wasn’t actually rapid – she lost approximately 40 pounds over a 9-10 month period, which health experts consider a healthy and sustainable rate of weight loss (about 1-1.5 pounds per week on average). She achieved these results through consistent daily habits rather than extreme measures, focusing on walking daily, strength training, whole foods nutrition, proper hydration, and supplements supporting her metabolism.
Has Meri Brown maintained her weight loss?
Yes, Meri Brown has maintained her weight loss since reaching her goal in early 2022. She’s shifted her focus from weight loss to overall health maintenance and continued strength building. By creating sustainable lifestyle changes rather than following a temporary diet, she’s been able to maintain her results even during stressful periods of filming or personal challenges. Her emphasis on consistency rather than perfection has been key to her long-term success.
Have you been inspired to make health changes in midlife? What challenges have you faced, and what’s working for you? Share your journey in the comments below – your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today!