I ‘met’ Joe several weeks ago on FaceBK… introduced by Fatmanrants.com (Tim Kaufman).
From the first time I saw his picture with Tim, I knew Joe was not just a ‘regular ol’ Joe’.
If I correctly remember how the story read, Joe had entered his first 5K Event and it was getting ‘real’ and maybe one of ‘those voices’ on his shoulder had caught his ear and was convincing him entering a 5K Event was for … someone besides just a regular ol’ Joe. Then, a not so ‘regular ol’ Tim’ showed up, and told Joe he would finish the Event with him…. and they did.
Joe was Happy Joe…. none of the old stuff…
That is how I remember ‘meeting’ Joe.
Since that day I feel like there has been a special bond form between Joe and myself. Mostly I watch what goes on with his updates on the social media.
In April, I went on a camping trip in Georgia with my sons, and I was ‘off’ Social Media for most of a week. Joe came looking for me via Instant Messages. Seems he had noticed I wasn’t showing pictures of my weird bowls of food, and the such.
When we made that initial reuniting of ‘contact’ he said he became concerned at my absence …. I was touched…
Then one day I saw a picture of Joe smiling, and holding a 2nd Place Medal for a 5K Event, and there was a story with it….
Joe’s wife had written a story along side this picture of a 2nd Place Finisher, who had not that long ago, been all but FINISHED…
Katie wrote the following…
“…
I’m here to tell you today- regardless how you feel today- you can change. We adopted a wfpb lifestyle in November 2017. On Monday my husband was finally told he can STOP
🛑 his insulin. He reversed his diabetes. This is huge for us. We were always told once you take insulin you never can go off it. Guess what? They were wrong. Now you can give me all the reasons in the world why this lifestyle can’t work for you. Those are excuses. I’m not trying to be mean but they are. I’ve seen first hand in only 8 months someones health turn around completely. An added bonus? Between us we have both lost over 130 lbs.Joe won a medal at our second 5k for his age group. See that smile? Every time I see it I can’t help but smile back because for so long that Joe was gone. We now have an even better version of a husband and father back.
One of my favorite sayings is we are our own worst enemies. Guys- get out of your own way.
❤Joe’s full story can be found on his blog fattobeast.com
— feeling grateful …
I was so moved by this story as ‘pinned’ by Joe’s wife Katie I tried reading it to my wife…
It took forever to finally read it to Betty because I was sobbing and wiping tears and blowing snot to the point, I didn’t know if I could complete the reading of the story.
I contacted Katie and told her I wanted to blog their story and she said yes!
Joe is not some ‘ol’ Joe…. and Katie is not some ol’ Katie. They are two beacons of light in a world of such sadness, darkness, and surrender.
They said NO to the status quo, and yes to Health and Happiness. They took charge and took a new life as individuals and as a couple.
You want something to BE HAPPY about?
Look at Joe.
Thank you Joe and Katie…
Thank you for sharing your lives… the good parts as well as the tough parts.
Thank you for the HOPE of something better, something FUN, and something HEALTHY!.
oldmanskinandbones.com
P.S.
Joe and Katie’s story is not uncommon. Untold numbers of people have turned to a Whole Food Plant Based Life Style and reversed the Chronic Diseases which have become acceptable as the ‘NORMAL’ pattern of ‘life’ in our times.
We can PREVENT them from ever occurring.
It IS the FOOD.
Not some Fad Diet where we have to “SUFFER”, Count Calories, Measure Proteins, FEAR CARBS.
Folks, the shirt Joe is wearing says it all ….
“… EAT PLANTS and MOVE YOUR BODY. ALL YA GOTTA DO IS A LITTLE MORE THAN YA DID YESTERDAY…” (FATMANRANTS.COM)