In October of 2011 when I began this journey I wasn’t traveling alone. My (incredible, amazing, loving, smoking hot, crazy, considerate, passionate) husband joined me. After my first conversation with Eileen (my plant-based coach) he told me he would be supportive but he wasn’t going to change everything I was changing. One day I had a few minutes before going to an appointment so I turned on “Forks Over Knives” then paused it to go. When I returned home my husband was watching it, completely enthralled. He looked at me and said, “We are doing this!”
You can read more about my story and why I decided to begin a plant-based diet here. Today I really want you to hear his story, so without further ado meet JIM!
In the last few years my health had taken somewhat of a downward turn. I was sick a lot, I was heavier than I’d ever been, I felt run down, etc. At one point, I was at two hundred and tooooo many pounds and at the doctor’s office… again. I was tired of it. I decided to try some things that I’d heard of…
In the following months, I started exercising and “eating healthy” or so I thought and although I lost a good amount of weight and was more fit and theoretically healthier, my stomach also hurt a great deal of the time. It seemed like the normal doctors remedies weren’t working so I went to my Chiropractic Doctor friend Steve and asked him. The problem was what I was eating to make me healthy… was making me sicker. AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH! I stopped eating that way, I slowed the exercise and the weight came back with a vengeance.
I would try a few more times at excercising and “eating healthy” only to end up in the same crummy place again. THEN I finally saw “Forks Over Knives” which my Doctor friend Steve had recommended to me before but I just “hadn’t gotten around to it”. I guess I’m kind of a typical guy from the perspective that you’ll need to show me before I believe something… As many of you know, the movie is an extremely well done film that provides data that is way too good to be rationalized away. An old Pastor of ours, Pastor Gary had a message on “rational lies” (pronounced the same way), his premise was very clear on the potential for us as humans to lie to ourselves and call it something else. The data presented in this movie is just too clear for that…
So my best friend and I started on this rocky and crazy journey together, six weeks after we started I had a checkup scheduled with my doctor… Not only was I down about 25 pounds from my peak, I felt great and my bloodwork was through the roof! My cholesterol went from high to 171 and my blood pressure was in the “AthleteChild” range… Yeah baby, now we’re talkin’
Well here we are many months after that doctor visit and from my peak I’m now down over 40 pounds… without excercise… I’m even below my high school weight. Praise the Lord that now I can kiss the yo-yo weight loss weight gain cycle goodbye for good.
Next step excercise!
Forks Over Knives changed our lives as well. My husband has lost over 80 pounds, went from morbidly obese to ‘healthy,’ and has seen his blood pressure & cholesterol drop–he now feels well enough to exercise! The plant-based lifestyle really is a team effort.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks Keri! I’m so encouraged by your husbands story. It is amazing that one movie can have such a huge impact on people, but I’m so thankful that it is. Congratulations on all your progress!
What a gorgeous couple you are! Yay for spouses who are supportive of each other and become each other’s best cheerleaders! Thanks for sharing. : )
Aww thanks Lauren! I cannot imagine being as successful at this without his help.
What an inspiration! You two are adorable! Now to get MY hubby on board…we just watched fat, sick, and nearly dead on Netflix! Check it out!
We watched that one too. My husband enjoyed it but Forks Over Knives made a bigger impact on me.
I hope your husband decides to try it. Even just starting with a few plant-based meals a week may help him warm up to the idea.
Holly and Jim,
What a beautiful pic and amazing story. I love it and love y’all very much. I read your stuff all the time and I want to do it. I guess I just don’t know where to start. One day maybe I will get it. Lord willing. I’m very proud for y’all.
I’m really glad u get to go see your dad and visit with him, that makes my heart sing. Hope you have a wonderful visit.
Anyways goodnight love y’all and maybe pray god will point me in the direction I need to go with this plant based diet 🙂
Thanks Aunt Stephanie! I know you can make the change to a plant-based diet.
I always recommend cutting out dairy first. Dairy is addicting, eating it creates an opiate like response in your brain. Cutting out processed food is important too. Many if them have the perfect combination of sugar, salt, and oil that make them almost impossible to stop eating, not to mention the additives and MSG. Then cutting back on meat.
I do not miss meat at all, I miss the convenience of picking up something from the nearest restaurant or store.
There are a bunch of good books too! The Engine 2 Diet has a 28 day plan.
Miss you Aunt Stephaine!
Wow, that’s a GREAT story! Diet has a HUGE role in addition to exercise. This is very inspirational story. Thanks for sharing once again!
Thanks Ronnie! We both plan to focus on exercise soon! We don’t want to miss out on the opportunity for optimal health.
I love it! Very inspiring. That movie Forks over Knives must be pretty amazing as it has really influenced so many people. For me, it was Earthlings that made me rethink my lifestyle, but I should watch FoverK one day b/c I could probably learn a thing or too about cutting out the vegan junk food 🙂
Nice! Thank you for sharing. I love the before and after pics.