Today I saw a documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" it is about an Australian man, Joe Cross, that for various health reasons needed to loose weight. He had an autoimmune disease that affected his skin and he was dealing with increasing high blood pressure. He was about 300 lbs. He had tried admittedly with little personal commitment to change he'd loose a little weight and quickly gain it back. He was to the point were with the extra weight he was carrying made any attempts to exercise difficult and painful. He spoke about how his taste buds were seemingly brainwashed to like only fast foods and such.
He decided he needed to make a radical change. He decided to go on a 60 day juice fast, not store bought juice but by juicing fresh fruits and veggies. That is all he'd consume for 60 days. To avoid some of the trappings and temptations of being at home and among family and friends he came to the states.
He did a road trip across the country, while doing so met several people. He'd explain what he was doing and introduce them to the juices he'd drink. He met one man, Phil a morbidly obese trucker, the shared the same skin autoimmune disease and he told Phil that he has been able to stop taking the steroids, Phil thought it was cool, and even though Joe tried to encourage Phil to jump on the bandwagon he gave a list of excuses as to why it wouldn't work for him.
A month or so later Joe got a call from Phil. "You said you'd help me if I changed my mind, if the offer still stands I'd like to take you up on it." Joe back in Australia, decided to come back. He set Phil up taught him how to make all the juices and got him going. When we first met Phil in the movie he did not look good, 420 lbs he could barely walk and looked very unwell.
It was amazing to see Phil's progress, he committed to 10 days of the Juice fast, it wasn't easy for him but he did it and the difference was astounding. His change in energy levels and look on his face was remarkable, inspiring.
I was struck by people in the movie that had many excuses why they couldn't make changes in their lives. Phil's brother was one of them, and during the making of the film he had a heart attack. For me it was a wake up call. I am not as bad off as Phil but I am surely bad enough. I need to make a change.
I am changing this blog at least for now into a journal of my progress.
