The Epiphany

On June 19, 2017, I woke up feeling terrible, after having two marinated steaks for dinner the night before. I weighed 420 pounds. It was a month before my 50th birthday, and I remember lying in bed thinking, “There aren’t too many 80-year-olds who weigh 400 pounds. I need to do something about my health.” It occurred to me that a vegan diet was the only thing I hadn’t tried. I suddenly turned to my wife and said, “I’m never eating another animal product again.” She asked me what I meant, and I repeated the statement. It surprised us both, but I felt so confident about it. It was like an epiphany. In that instant, I went fully vegan.

Trial and Error

The first week, I ate mostly salads and steamed vegetables and did some juicing. I realized I’d need more sustenance, so I started doing research online and came across videos from Michael Greger, MD, explaining whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) nutrition. From there, things opened up for me, as I discovered WFPB recipes and began experimenting in the kitchen.

After years of eating salty, fatty foods, it took my taste buds a few weeks to adjust, but I was determined. And I felt great. I was sleeping better, and I didn’t feel the need to nap during the day. Within a month, I shed 20 pounds. After two months, I’d lost 40 pounds. I took to walking 1 mile a day with my dogs, and as the weight dropped, I walked farther and farther. I hit a plateau at around 350 pounds, so in 2019, I bought a hybrid bike and added that to my exercise routine. From there, I continued losing weight.

Living Vibrantly

In the five years since I made the switch to WFPB, I have lost 210 pounds and seen huge improvements in my health overall. I was able to discontinue a blood pressure medication that I’d been taking. My skin is more vibrant. I no longer suffer from brain fog. I have more energy now than I did in my 20s.

Now, a typical day starts with lemon water and a smoothie, a bowl of oatmeal or overnight oats with fresh berries. Lunch is soup or a salad. (Chickpea “tuna” salad is a favorite.) I enjoy making my own peanut butter and chia seed jam, which I like to spread on a brown rice cake for a snack. Dinner might be panko-crusted cauliflower steaks with a side of sweet potato wedges, or lentil sloppy Joes with brown rice.

After seeing my health transformation, a few of my family members and friends have asked me to help them go WFPB, too. One of my friends was able to dramatically lower his cholesterol after making the switch. My buddies joke that they can’t believe the Hot Dog King is telling them how to go vegan.

Last summer, I completed my first century bike ride, riding 100 miles in nine hours without stopping. Before going WFPB, I never imagined that I could do something like that. But I did it without any hesitation.

My only regret is not eating this way my whole life.

My 7 Tips For Healthy Weight Loss

After seeing me shed more than 200 pounds over the past few years, friends, family, and doctors have asked me for advice on losing weight naturally. Here are my best tips.

1. Drink 20 ounces of water first thing in the morning, and drink a glass of water before and with every meal. We are usually thirsty more often than hungry.

2. Make your house a temptation-free zone. Purge your kitchen of all unhealthy foods.

3. Always have healthy meals and snacks ready to go. On Sundays, I steam vegetables and batch-cook lentils, brown rice, and other staples that I use throughout the week. I also make sure to always have cut-up fruit and overnight oats in the fridge.

4. When eating meals, put your fork down between bites and take a pause.

5. Make ample use of fresh herbs and dried spices, which add flavor without adding salt or fat.

6. Do some form of exercise every day. I recommend going for at least a 20-minute walk after a meal, especially dinner.

7. Don’t weigh yourself every day, as it can be discouraging. Healthy weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.

-Joel Christiana

The Solution Forks Over Knives Can Bring You

Switching to a whole-food, plant-based diet can help alleviate many of the problems mentioned in this article. Whole-food, plant-based foods are naturally high in fibre and low in bad fats, making them easier to digest, great for skin, and ideal for blood sugar management. The Forks Over Knives Cooking School teaches you how to make these foods taste amazing—no boring salads here.

Drumroll, please... 🥁🥁🥁 Here it is!

What if you woke up feeling refreshed, with glowing skin and my digestion that has never been better? And what if you could do all of this and still get to enjoy delicious meals that make you excited to cook.

The Forks Over Knives cooking school breaks everything down step-by-step, teaching you how to make flavorful, satisfying meals without meat or dairy. They even have modules on meal prepping and snacks to fit into any schedule.

If you’re sceptical, we totally get it. But sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith. For many of people (just like Karen), it was life-changing. Many people tell all their friends about it because they genuinely believe it’s the easiest, most delicious way to get healthy.

Ready for a Healthier, Happier You?