Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

Last week at the screening of Forks Over Knives I had the opportunity to meet Rip Esselstyn, former Austin firefighter and author of the Engine 2 Diet (read Sandy and I made a human road block to tell him about Exploits) . Rip is the son of esteemed researcher and committed plant based diet advocate, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr.  Through his research, Dr Esselstyn was able to show that adopting a plant based diet could not only stop heart disease from progressing, but reverse it as well. His research group was made up of 18 of the Cleveland Clinics sickest Cardiology patients that together had suffered forty nine coronary events over an eight year window.  They were patients whose bypass surgeries or medical interventions were simply not enough…or they were already too sick for them to help. Dr. Esselstyn put all of them on a 100%  plant based diet (similar to that of the Engine 2 that would later be created by his son Rip) After 12 years, all but one of the participants (the one that did not follow the diet)  had completely stopped their heart disease, reversed their damage and were living happy healthy lives.

As I watched this story unfold in the movie Forks Over Knives I sat there thinking…imagine what this could do for someone without heart disease, for those interested in preventing disease and experiencing abundant health. So after the movie there was a panel discussion with Rip, a representative from Whole Foods and several firefighters that had used the Engine 2 Diet toreverse disease. In learning about this book, I was absolutely astounded by the fact that a Texas firefighter has convinced hundreds if not thousands of men and women to go vegan without ever saying the word vegan or mentioning the plight of farmed animals at all. He wasn’t showing horrific images of suffering animals or graphs about the environmental crisis and factory farm fecal matter. He was simply presenting the facts and people are listening because the evidence is irrefutable…a plant strong diet (Rips cool term) cures, halts and reverses disease.

He conducted his first trial on his compadres at the firehouse. After adopting the Engine 2 Diet for 28 days they had lost weight, cut their cholesterol in half and were able to ditch the preventative meds that some of them were on.   Because of the success of the plan in his fire department in Austin,Texas, Rip began his mission to share the most ground breaking (and seemingly obvious) news in public health history….plant based diets can cure, reverse and prevent disease. I know the vegans in the crowd are banging their heads on their computer screen right now saying, “Are you kidding me….we have been saying this all along.” But  now someone has found a way to package, share or say the same information in a way that is now palatable enough to get thousands of men and women to go vegan for themselves without the strained use of the word. I say right on and thank you.  The animals win, the environment wins and thousands of people that would have never otherwise considered going vegan are storming the perimeters of their grocery stores hunting down kale and quinoa. Sounds fantastic to me.

So, Sandy and I have decided to take on the challenge of the Engine 2 for ourselves. I am ready to incorporate more and more whole foods that are as close to the source as I can find to enjoy. When we first went vegan I was more than willing to allow myself lots of time to transition. I have relied on processed vegan foods and openly advocate for that. I believe that whatever gets you there and helps you enjoy it and feel comfortable doing it  as you make lifestyle changes is the exact right thing to do. When your body and mind are ready to take it a step further, you will know. I was vegetarian for 14 years before I realized I was ready to become a vegan wannabe.

Our target date to begin is March 1. We will both get blood work done to have a starting point and something tangible (besides rock-star health and boundless energy) to compare after 28 days.  I am ready to incorporate new-to-me whole foods, recipes and ways to feed my body and soul. I recently heard this saying and have adopted it as my new mantra, I want to eat foods that love me back.  I am excited and ready for the shift and I hope you are inspired to join us. I really look forward to sharing new recipes that are in the truest sense plant based and plant strong.

Check out the Engine 2 Diet website and find the book at your library or treat yourself to a copy. As always, if you decide to join us, visit your Dr. first and allow them to congratulate you on making quite possibly the most profound decision of the rest of your life. I want to do great things, exciting things and adventurous things until my last day. That kind of fun requires good health. I am ready to find it, allow it and believe that I deserve it. So do you.

Have a delicious and health-full day.

Tags: compassionate eating, dairy free, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr., Engine 2 Diet, Forks over Knives, going veg, plant based diet, plant strong diet, Rip Esselstyn, trying vegan, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan wannabe