Fat, sick & nearly dead

[EscapeArtist]

Has anybody seen the movie "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead"?
I just came upon it on Video on Demand on my television, and I'm wondering whether or not to pay 4 dollars to watch it.

The trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9SGWcZwk7c

"100 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 long-term, 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 rare 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, FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD 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"

[DebB]

I haven't seen it yet, but it's been in my queue on Netflix for a month or so... *Ü*

[LaniB]

I bought the DVD and am planning to go to my local Whole Foods to watch a screening and meet Joe Cross next week.

So my answer would be, yes, it's worth the $4. :-)

[EscapeArtist]

So I rented it and it was really good!!! I think one of my favorites. I just LOVE how they illustrated the change you will make in other people's lives as well! So worth 4 dollars! I think I'm going to go out and buy it now.... lol!

Lani, you are going to meet Joe? Nice! I bet he's even more inspiring in person.

[rpage]

I watched it and it was good! Rent it!

[Galaxy]

This looks so inspiring! I'll try to buy the dvd as soon as I can! :heart:

[rftallent]

I am new to raw foods and this movie helped to move me in the right direction. I am currently in the process of equipping my kitchen with the basics and collecting recipes to move me past salads. Although this was my first exposure fresh/raw juices it was impressive enough to convince me, so I would to recommend it to others.

[rpage]

If you have not seen this one, it is also worth the time to get and watch...

www.rawfor30days.com (http://www.rawfor30days.com/index4.html)

simply raw documentary (http://simplyrawdocumentary.wordpress.com/)

[January Noir]

I did. He came to my local Whole Foods to show the movie. There was a discussion after and a chance to win a Champion Juicer. Pretty cool dude.
I follow him on Twitter.

[rpage]

double post. sorry.

[karenisraw]

I watched the movie. Great motivator. It started me juicing. Well worth it.
k

[bananaberrie]

I just watched it. It is now on instant watch on Netflix. Great Movie! Really enjoyed it.

[GreginND]

Great movie. I've never done a fast before but I am thinking of trying it one of these days. Looks like he was taking juice four times a day? I need to read the fasting threads.

[sidrah]

I watched it on netflix. definitely worth renting/watching. I'd probably buy it, as well, if I didn't have access to it on Netflix all the time I wanted to see it.

Like how he spread the word. Of course, I am trying to do something on "not a millionaire's" budget, but I'll do my best.

[LaniB]

Like how he spread the word. Of course, I am trying to do something on "not a millionaire's" budget, but I'll do my best.

I got to see Joe speak when he was at my Whole Foods. I didn't "meet" him as there were tons of people there, many with serious health and or weight problems. There was nothing particular I wanted to ask him so I didn't want to take his time away from helping others

That said, I fanned the Facebook page for the movie (and posted how much I enjoyed his presentation at Whole Foods!). Joe Cross often comments onm the Fat Sick & Nearly Dead page and they are in the process doing a give-away - juicers, movies, etc. Given he does have the budget it is nice to see that he is using some of it to help people get and stay healthy. He's very inspiring.

[CathyA.]

Just got done watching. Loved it. I think it may have even inspired my husband. Crossing my fingers.

[EscapeArtist]

Cathy, haha that's great! I love that the movie is so well directed and made appealing to even people who don't value health so much :P It's such a great stepping stone

[adobegirl]

I watched this tonight finally on Netflix. It was great... and not just because of the Australian accent, lol. :p

Wish I was in a place where I could do a long term juice fast. Hoping for that day soon!

[GreginND]

I just ordered an Omega VRT 350. I've been wanting a juicer for a long time but was so confused on which one to buy. This one is powerful and seems to be the most general for different juices (greens, grasses and hard fruits/veggies). Can't wait until it arrives! I'm going nuts trying to get juice out of my 20 year old cheap Krups juicer.

[belleadonna]

Food Matters is another good movie (documentary). David Wolfe is in it.

[melia]

Yeah, I just got done watching it and was just about to post and tell everyone on here about it! hahaha
It's on Netflix instant now.
The second guy in the film was very inspirational. ANd the fun thing is that you get to see them gradually losing the weight as the film goes on! Too bad they don't do a picture of them at the end of the before/after cause by the end I forget what they used to look like. I was just amazed watching it, and then I was thinking -- I did that same thing! Is that what people think as they have watched us change in that same way??
It was very good, it focused primarily on the juice fasting and learning to change to a healthy lifestyle of food & exercising.

[GreginND]

Enjoying a refreshing cucumber, celery, carrot and ginger juice right now. Perfect on a hot and humid day.

[sidrah]

Given he does have the budget it is nice to see that he is using some of it to help people get and stay healthy. He's very inspiring.

Exactly! I do think it is great he is using his resource and time to help so many people. Some days I just wish I had more money to buy more varied fruits and vegetables.

[GreenLeaves]

I watched part of the film and noticed he had a juicer in the back of his car that was connected to a battery. I was just wondering how you suppose he cleaned his juicer since he obviously didn't have running water. He had everything to run it but I'm interested in knowing how he did the cleaning part because I'd love to juice or blend on-the-go too.

[MysticTree]

I haven't watched the film but knowing how filming goes, there's never a problem getting things you need!

[Aleesha Sattva]

He may have simply ran water through it after using it each time. It's amazing how clean my juicer is whenever I do that after making a juice.

I'm looking forward to watching this movie... hoping to review it for my magazine.

It would have been cool if I could have done something like that for my 209 day juice fast... to show people what it was like. But blogging about it (and writing a book) will have to be enough. And yes... the book will be completed at some time... I promise. :throwhearts:

[November Blue]

I watched it last night on Netflix and found it very interesting...and inspiring. Definitely worth watching.

[MysticTree]

I've seen the trailer but netflix isn't available over here.

[sidrah]

Food Matters is another good movie (documentary). David Wolfe is in it.

I tried to watch this one and I fell asleep. Granted, I was already tired and yes, David Wolfe is a good speaker (I thnk he is a bit of a phony, but not on topic), but it was like watching a homily. The other one was more fun to watch. He went back and forth between other people, did little experiments/questioning, filmed real life settings. Maybe because it followed a real life story and had little cartoons and spoke like people new to the field could understand, I like it much better.

[chaos here]

I really liked the movie too. I just looked on his reboot site, and he has Bok Choy down as an item not to juice. Does anyone know why?

[GreginND]

I wondered about the Bok Choy too. If I recall in some of his interviews he specifically mentioned bok choy in a list of "wonderful vegetables". I don't recall if it was for juicing or eating.

[greenrunner]

Food Matters is another good movie (documentary). David Wolfe is in it.

I second that - my two favs; Food Matters and Fat, Sick, and Almost Dead

[GreenLeaves]

Another 2 food documentaries I found worthwhile are The Future of Food and The World According to Monsanto. These films focus more on the very real possibility of losing our organic food supply due to Monsanto. The Future of Food is available instantly on Netflix. The other one used to be on Netflix but it appears to be gone. You can still watch it free online. If you just type the title, it's easy to find.

[Aleesha Sattva]

I really liked the movie too. I just looked on his reboot site, and he has Bok Choy down as an item not to juice. Does anyone know why?

i have no idea... i love them in a nice tom juice myself. :juicy:

[canna]

My wife and I watched it with the kids after reading this. Great movie, love how they show to pass IT ON.

Worth seeing for sure.

[Sweat.Equity]

I just found out about this film and cant wait to get in in my hands....I smell a raw movie night coming my way soon!!
Cheers!
S.E.

[dmb2002man]

thanks for this post as I'm going to rent it tonight and watch it online. I cant wait to see it as I so enjoy my greens.

[Raw Angel Mom]

That look great thank you.

[Rawvioli]

Wow! What a coincidence. I was browsing Netflix and saw this movie and decided to watch it. I am still watching it as I type this. It just so happened that the film made me want to browse this forum again! I love watching the transformations, can't wait to see the end.

[MysticTree]

I would like to see this film but not sure if it's available over here - netflix isn't in the UK at the present time.

[Revvell]

It's also on Amazon.

[MysticTree]

It's also on Amazon.

but not on Amazon UK and nothing as available from Amazon US. I already looked at the official website and they don't ship over here so I guess it isn't on release here.

[Revvell]

but not on Amazon UK and nothing as available from Amazon US. I already looked at the official website and they don't ship over here so I guess it isn't on release here.

Hmph. It's on Amazon U.S. here for $4. It's not available for shipping until October. Think I might just watch it for the $4 and decide if I need to see it again. Doubt it though.

[climbing]

Saw this the other night after someone mentioned it in the fasting thread. What a wonderful film, especially since I'm currently on a fast. Cried my eyes out at the end. So inspiring and beautiful. The first guy was funny and nice and the second guy just broke my heart, what a sweetie. So happy for them both. :)

[GlimR]

I just had to tell you guys this!!!! I watched this last week and this afternoon watched it again with my very SAD husband......after it was over he said to me...

So....what kind of juice are we having for supper!!!!

AAAAgggggghhhhhh!!!:throwhearts:

So...WE are having tall glasses of pineapple/cucumber juice...I tell ya wonders never cease!! It IS a very inspirational movie.

Oh...and I went out and order an Omega Vert 350HD today....am seeing some juice fasting in my immediate future!!

[climbing]

Awesome! I've been recommending it to everyone.

The hardest thing to watch in that movie was the ignorance of some of the people he interviewed on the street. It was sad to see.

[dmb2002man]

I watched the movie over the weekend and it turned out to be a great movie. Nothing i didn't know though already. To bad more people don't understand how cooking foods at high temps just kills everything. Also just about everything in the grocery store that is not in the fresh department is probably bad for you.

[Namaste Mama]

I almost died when he was talking to a guy who recomended eating 9 hotdogs a day for a diet!

[luv2eatinva]

My husband and I watched it together too. I was hoping that maybe he might join me in the mornings and have green juice. But NO --- he said let's do it -- let's go on a juice fast for 10 days. I was AMAZED. Not my high carb vegetarian husband. WOW! Great movie!

[Arky]

I really liked the movie too. I just looked on his reboot site, and he has Bok Choy down as an item not to juice. Does anyone know why?

I'm really just skimming this thread so please forgive me if I've overlooked someone else's response, but regarding someone suggesting not juicing Bok Choy, this plant is Brassica Chinensis. Brassicas can contain goitrogens - substances which can inhibit thyroid function.

Some contend that cooking brassicas reduces the inhibitory ability of these goitrogenic substances.

If you're juicing a brassica, then obviously you're going to be consuming a relatively large quantity of raw goitrogenic susbtances; much more than if you were simply eating a few leaves.

I suspect this is the probable reason for any suggestion not to juice Bok Choy.


Please note that I still juice and blend brassicas (in moderation), so don't think that I'm telling anyone not to juice them.

[chaos here]

Wow Arky, where did you find that out? I would like to buy a book that will tell me what is and what isn't safe. Like, I heard not to consume too much beet juice (but is that at one time, or over a period of time), and not to eat the tops (greens) of carrots - but that the beet tops are o.k. Thanks.

[Basenjimamma]

Ok, this thread has me hooked..I have the movie in my (not so loved anymore) netflix account, will watch it his afternoon for sure..question though, what juicer do y'all recommend for a gal with not so much counterspace available. Would love some ideas..will scout on the forum too, but thought I might get some ideas here to.

Thanks y'all!

[LaniB]

The Omega VRT is a vertical masticating juicer - doesn't take much space at all (part of why I chose it for my juicer). The Omega VRT 330 HD is white, and the 350 HD is stainless steel - color is the difference in the two models.

What Joe uses is a centrifugal juicer. Masticating juicers are supposed to be better but if you watch the film, Joe using the Breville Juice Fountain and has great success with it (so much nutrition he heals himself and gets off all meds)

[Arky]

...I heard not to consume too much beet juice (but is that at one time, or over a period of time), and not to eat the tops (greens) of carrots - but that the beet tops are o.k. Thanks.


I don't know of a single book that discusses all of this; I've just picked up various bits of information over the years and filed them in my memory!


The goitrogen thing is reasonably widely-known.


Beet juice is rather high in sugar (which some claim can 'feed' cancer in patients with this condition), however other evidence apparently points to beet juice containing certain substances which are actually tumour-inhibiting.

The sugars in beet juice, if consumed to excess may theoretically be stressful for the pancreas, particularly in diabetic patients.

Beet juice is also a very powerful detoxifier and thus too much of the stuff may potentially lead to excessive detox symptoms, I suppose.

As far as beet greens go, these are apparently high in oxalic acid, which can pose problems for people with kidney stones (and perhaps, in certain circumstances, those with gallstones).

Having said that, beet greens are very bitter and are quite prized by natural healers for their beneficial properties for the liver and gallbladder; you'll find them in many combination herbal formulas for that purpose.

Also note that beets are generally sprayed quite heavily with pesticides, so it is wise to find organic if at all possible.


As far as carrot greens are concerned, I've heard good and bad about these. Some claim they contain toxins. I personally don't eat or juice them simply because I dislike them - they seem to me to consist mostly of fibre ;). I vaguely recall Victoria Boutenko discussing carrot tops, but I can't remember if she was positive or negative about their consumption.


I'm sure others will have more to say on these topics.

[Arky]

Re' the beet juice, you may enjoy the following (rather frenetic!) free podcast:

http://www.oneradionetwork.com/?s=sarbacher&x=0&y=0


.

[Basenjimamma]

LaniB,

thanks for your juicer recommendation. I just finished watching the movie...so amazing. I will check the Omega out ;):D

[chaos here]

Thanks Arky for the info.

[13WaysToFeed]

The Omega VRT is a vertical masticating juicer - doesn't take much space at all (part of why I chose it for my juicer). The Omega VRT 330 HD is white, and the 350 HD is stainless steel - color is the difference in the two models.

What Joe uses is a centrifugal juicer. Masticating juicers are supposed to be better but if you watch the film, Joe using the Breville Juice Fountain and has great success with it (so much nutrition he heals himself and gets off all meds)

Do you fast / feast with the VRT?

I have two juicers, one is the Breville Juice Fountain and the other is the Omega 350 HD.
The Breville is absolutely horrible at juicing greens. I would be shocked if they really did their full juice feast with that juicer. It's a movie and like someone said earlier, there's probably a lot that goes on that they don't let us know. My guess is that Breville paid to have their juicer featured in the movie while the juices were actually made with better quality juicers.
Now for my opinion on the Omega. It's much better than the Breville, but still not ideal for greens IMO. It does juice greens but takes a little getting used to as greens clog it up quite a bit. I also think that the yield from juiced greens isn't the greatest. I would definitely recommend this juicer for someone who is a casual juicer. But for someone who wants to do a long juice feast, I recommend finding a juicer that excels at juicing greens. It's not fun putting in all the extra effort to juice loads of greens day after day.
I'm actually on day 6 of a juice feast and have stopped using the Omega and have been using my Vitamix with a strainer instead. The Omega is still returnable and I'm thinking about taking it back and getting a Green Star or Omega 8004, or maybe just sticking with the Vitamix.

[dmb2002man]

Do you fast / feast with the VRT?

I have two juicers, one is the Breville Juice Fountain and the other is the Omega 350 HD.
The Breville is absolutely horrible at juicing greens. I would be shocked if they really did their full juice feast with that juicer. It's a movie and like someone said earlier, there's probably a lot that goes on that they don't let us know. My guess is that Breville paid to have their juicer featured in the movie while the juices were actually made with better quality juicers.
Now for my opinion on the Omega. It's much better than the Breville, but still not ideal for greens IMO. It does juice greens but takes a little getting used to as greens clog it up quite a bit. I also think that the yield from juiced greens isn't the greatest. I would definitely recommend this juicer for someone who is a casual juicer. But for someone who wants to do a long juice feast, I recommend finding a juicer that excels at juicing greens. It's not fun putting in all the extra effort to juice loads of greens day after day.
I'm actually on day 6 of a juice feast and have stopped using the Omega and have been using my Vitamix with a strainer instead. The Omega is still returnable and I'm thinking about taking it back and getting a Green Star or Omega 8004, or maybe just sticking with the Vitamix.

I have the breville bje510xl and i stopped using it as it wasted so much in the overflow tank. It would not do greens at all either. That machine is not made for it. Ever since i got my vitamix, i haven't and probably won't use my breville every again. The vitamix does it all.

[Amii]

There seems to be no "proper" way to watch it in the UK since iTunes movie store UK doesn't sell it, the sites that stream it have specific country blocks and it doesn't ship to the UK. However, after a couple minutes googling, I did find a link for it online and watched it. Great film.

[MysticTree]

please can you post the link ... or is it illegal?