After a cancer diagnosis, the Greeners went plant-based and lost a mind blowing 335 pounds collectively… From the standard American diet, multiple health concerns including a husband facing thyroid cancer, to a diet comprised predominantly of plants, Erin Greener discovered the power of eating fruits and vegetables. After switching to a plant-based diet Erin and her husband, Justin, lost over 300 pounds combined, and are now enjoying life more vibrantly.
“We also noticed changes in the health of our two kids, Hannah and Hayden. Not only did our kids’ concentration and grades improve, their moods became more level, Hannah’ s acne cleared up, Hayden’s eczema healed, and Hannah lost around 15 pounds, while Hayden lost 20 pounds. Ever since we switched to plant-based, every year has been more rewarding than the last with more physical activity, family adventures, and improved quality of foods in our diet.”
Justin’s Cancer Diagnosis
My inspiration was my husband. He was super obese with many health problems and got diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was also very obese with many aches and pains and we suffered from sleep apnea, chronic pain, eczema, and migraines. We watched the documentary, Forks Over Knives, and it changed our lives forever. The way we view food and eating now is so different from what it use to be and I love it.
Transitioning As a Family
Having our whole family (our children made the transition with us) make the transition to a whole-food, plant-based diet was the best thing we did. We were all in it together and held each other accountable. We experimented with our favourite dishes and learned how to turn them plant-based. The changes came quickly. I began to notice my energy increasing almost straight away. I started losing weight quickly, and all of my aches and pains were gradually disappearing. We also noticed changes in the health of our two kids, Hannah and Hayden. Not only did our kids’ concentration and grades improve, their moods became more level, Hannah’s acne cleared up, and Hayden’s eczema healed. Hannah lost around 15 pounds, and Hayden lost 20 pounds. They were clearly thriving on this new plant-based lifestyle. We all were!
Whole Food Diet Weight Loss
I transitioned into this diet over a few months and became fully plant-based after three months. I lost 100 pounds in about a year and my husband Justin lost over 200 pounds! This March will be our eight-year anniversary of going plant-strong, and we will never look back. It is so easy once you find new dishes and habits to replace your old ones with.
So Many Health Benefits
No more headaches, (endometriosis) cysts shrunk, more vibrant skin, higher levels of energy, and improved quality of life all around. Having lost the weight, we have really begun to cultivate a love of travel and being outdoors. We are currently living in the UK and are loving exploring areas around us as well as traveling to other countries. We have become plant-based travelers, making our lifestyle work while we explore and travel. We spend so much more time together as a family. This lifestyle change did bring us all closer. We’ve become more active and do more activities together. Ever since we switched to plant-based eating, every year has been more rewarding than the last with more physical activity, family adventures, and improved quality of foods in our diet. We truly are a happier and healthier family for making the switch.
How to Eat: Like The Greener Family…
Most women try to burn fat by focusing on working out more and eating less. More time in the gym, more cardio, spin class, yoga class, HIIT, cross-fit – they’ll try it all and yet nothing seems to make a blind bit of difference. It’s so frustrating.
If this sounds like you it’s likely that you’re putting your focus on the wrong thing. When you consider that one hour of running will only burn 700 calories (just 1 large fries from McDonalds contains 500) it’s easy to see why it’s not a smart strategy to think that you can control calories via exercise. It can help but it should not be the focus. You’ve heard it before – but you can’t outrun your fork.
NUTRITION is and always will be the KEY. When you want to burn some fat you need to make sure you’re eating enough calories and at least 60% of your energy should be coming via complex carbs if you’re following a whole food plant based diet.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you need help with exactly what to eat click THIS LINK and fill out the free questionnaire – our algorithm will direct you to the exact plan you need for your goals based on your answers. It will tell you how many calories you need to eat and what your macro split should be – VITAL info if you want to make some progress towards your body goals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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EAT and exercise smarter, not harder. To your Best HEALTH. Love Bec x⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
