I have been watching the Seven Day Rescue Challenge Face Book group since Dec 2017 and have seen some amazing progress there. This challenge is nothing more, and less than Caldwell Esselstyn's
How to Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease diet. It is a whole foods plant based, no added salt, no added sugar, no added oil way of eating.
Most of you out there in cyberspace cannot imagine such a diet.
"Whatever will I eat?"
"Life will not be living without cheese, without meat, without eggs!"
"I would rather die."
That last statement is troubling and the final stop on this ride we call life. Whatever that is. Do you hate your life so much only food will make you feel better? Sure, you could walk out the door tomorrow and get hit bu a bus. Sure, you might get hit by a meteor. Sure, you might drown in your bathtub. These folks, however, look at this differently. They say "Yeah, I may die before my time but IT AIN'T GONNA BE MY FAULT." That's the difference between you and them. They have taken their health into their own hands and you know what? They are getting better. They are no longer who they were. The stories all all the same. "I have so much energy now." "I never thought I could exercise again." "I'm never going back."
Sure they fall off track. Especially in the beginning. Before they see results. But it is a journey not a destination. Those who stick it out long enough to get past that initial shock, get past the food addiction that has been perpetrated upon us by industry backed by a business sympathetic government, reap rewards far beyond the fleeting pleasure of fat, salt and sugar that are, unfortunately, hardwired into us.
This is John Elliot when he started his journey back to health.
This is John Elliot last week. He is halfway to his weight loss goal. Down 53 pounds. Blood pressure is now normal. Six months in.
I guarantee that one week, one week out out your life, on this meal plan will change your head around. You will begin to taste real food again. Believe it or not (and I know you don't) real food does not need heavy sauces, butter or cream to sate good. This is what has been lost to us. To bad. To bad for us all.
So what are YOU going to do about it? Die young, fat and sick? There is another option and it's only regaining what has been taken away from you. Despite what you may believe we are not omnivores. What we are is opportunistic eaters. Human beings began eating meat in the recent past because we could. The search for calories is over. It is not the problem it was so just because we can eat whatever we want to doesn't mean we should.
Meet Anthony Sera:
"Just wanted to thank a bunch of you Engine2ers here a year ago who gave me the shove, support, and Tough Love I needed. 80 lbs down and pushing to 100 - stay tuned! And of course Dr. E. and Rip who gave me the awesome guidance! If a goof like me can do this YOU can do this! WFPB Rocks! (After pic taken this morning at 2,900 feet after mountain biking up Monte Alto in the Italian Alps)."
At the start of the 7DRC and a year later, after mountain biking up Monte Alto
Following are a few other comments. A few because they are to numerous to mention all of them:
"3 months ago I talked myself into trying the 7 Day Rescue for JUST 7 DAYS. Because I didn't think I could faithfully follow the program, I kept my 7 day trial a secret from friends and family. But, I felt so good after 7 days, that just kept on going. Thanks to this program, I'm off heavy duty Rheumatoid medications, insomnia's gone, lipids are normal, pre-diabetes's gone, rosacea's gone, I've lost 20 pounds, and CHRONIC SPINAL PAIN's GONE. I have tons of energy and walking is no longer painful. Everyone that knows me can tell from looking at me that I now feel great. This Facebook group has been a vital source of motivation. I often prepare healthy food or exercise simply because one of you posted about doing so. Thank you for this group!!!"
"My shorts are falling off of me, I have to roll the waist down or wear a belt. I am not even trying to lose weight."
"My underwear fell down the other day in my scrubs at work.. Lol! Had to go fix with a paper clip on the side."
"Woohoo! Day 1 in the books!! 🎉🎉 It's pretty much what I've been doing for the last almost 6 weeks, living a WFPBNO lifestyle but I definitely needed to incorporate greens at every meal (including breakfast), daily exercise and limiting my avocado/nuts/seeds....and I did it all today and I'm so proud of myself lol! To think I only started this new lifestyle a little under 6 weeks ago after eating the SAD way all my life, and now I'm thriving, is just amazing! I went to my doctor after 4 weeks in this WOE and I was down 11 lbs, my A1C went from 6.1 to 5.7, I was down 2% body fat and my high blood pressure came down and was measured at 94/60!! And during the last almost 6 weeks time, I was on vacation, celebrated my birthday and had surgery 3 weeks ago!! Thanks for your support and encouragement!! I'm super excited and just wanted to share! "
"I used to have such bad psoriasis I wouldn’t wear anything where my legs would show. After eliminating animal products, it disappeared and never returned."
"So I went to the dentist today for a check up and they took my blood pressure....111/69! I was surprised- it was borderline high a few months ago...Thank you whole food plant based woe!!"
All of this can be yours by eating as much food as you want. No hunger, no deprivation, no feeding the businesses that made your health and weight what it is today. It's all for you baby. It is a gift.