Joe Cross was Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead when he decided to travel to America and only eat juiced fruits, vegetables and nuts for 60 days while interviewing everyday people about health, diet and their future. The results—and pay-it-forward effects—were astounding. 

Cross loves American food. He decided to travel halfway across the world, armed with his juicer and camera, to tackle his demons head-on. 

“I couldn’t think of a better place than the home of the hamburger…you do the crime, you do the time,” said Cross a few days into his cleanse. 

He spent 30 days of interviewing Americans in New York and then, mid-cleanse, drove across the country for the remaining 30 to talk to people from different areas of the country. When pressed about their health, a couple of obese people pushed back. 

“I’m a happy fat guy. If I’m gonna go, I’m gonna be happy,” said a stout man from middle America while he was enjoying a large, meaty meal.

“I hope God has ribs in heaven,” said another.

Other than the occasional defensive person, most Americans responded predictably to Cross’ questions about their health, their life expectancy and diet.

Eventually Cross dropped weight, went off all medication and further succeeded as a business investor. The most inspiring part of the documentary was how Cross affected others. 

He persuaded Iowan Siong Norte to try a 10-day detox to see if it would help her chronic migraines, which made her temporarily nauseated and obscured her vision and hearing. Throughout her portion, Norte complained about the social aspect of eating, hunger, and missing coffee. However, after just 10 days her chronic migraines were gone, she lost weight and had “the energy of a 21-year-old,” she said. 

Cross also helped Phil Staples, a 42-year-old, 429-pound truck driver from Iowa, heal his body and his life. Cross met Staples unintentionally at an Iowa truck stop, gave him his phone number and offered to help him get his life back on track; a few weeks later Cross received a call for help from Staples. 

Ten months, 202 pounds and a lot of vegetables later Staples had transformed; he quit his truck driving job to work at the YMCA, only eats micronutrient food (unprocessed vegetables, fruits and nuts), is happier, involved with his community and close with his family again. 

Staples is proof of the transformative power of dedication and healthy living. He changed from being “a hamburger away from a heart attack” to shedding almost 13 bowling balls worth of weight. 

“I’m a simple 42-year-old truck driver from Iowa—and I did it,” he said. 

 

FitGirl is a weekly health and fitness column. If you have any questions you want to see answered feel free to email me.