87.
Fat, Sick And Nearly Dead
150 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn’t end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn’t far behind. Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe’s personal mission to regain his health.
With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help him, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it’s at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well.
What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, this movie defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves.
This is a 2010 production and Joe Cross follows the juice fast under the care of Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Nutrition Research Foundation’s Director of Research. Cross and Robert Mac, co-creators of the film, both serve on the Nutrition Research Foundation’s Advisory Board.
Following his fast and the adoption of a plant-based diet, Cross lost 100 pounds and discontinued all medications.
The film has been credited with doubling the sales of Breville juicers since the documentary launched on Netflix in the US in July 2011.
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead won the Turning Point Award and shared the Audience Choice Award – Documentary Film, at the 2010 Sonoma International Film Festival.
Full movie can be watched here: http://vimeo.com/45359005
With doctors and conventional medicines unable to help him, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
While talking to more than 500 Americans about food, health and longevity, it’s at a truck stop in Arizona where Joe meets a truck driver who suffers from the same condition. Phil Staples is morbidly obese weighing in at 429 lbs; a cheeseburger away from a heart-attack. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well.
What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Part road trip, part self-help manifesto, this movie defies the traditional documentary format to present an unconventional and uplifting story of two men from different worlds who each realize that the only person who can save them is themselves.
This is a 2010 production and Joe Cross follows the juice fast under the care of Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Nutrition Research Foundation’s Director of Research. Cross and Robert Mac, co-creators of the film, both serve on the Nutrition Research Foundation’s Advisory Board.
Following his fast and the adoption of a plant-based diet, Cross lost 100 pounds and discontinued all medications.
The film has been credited with doubling the sales of Breville juicers since the documentary launched on Netflix in the US in July 2011.
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead won the Turning Point Award and shared the Audience Choice Award – Documentary Film, at the 2010 Sonoma International Film Festival.
Full movie can be watched here: http://vimeo.com/45359005
I remember growing up in Arlington, VA in the early '50s, and the word "farmer" was like the worst put-down that a person could call another person, at least among the young.
~ Michael Baker, May 25 2011