John Lewis weighed 315 lbs. as a freshman in high school.  By senior year of college, this 6’5” man got down to 225 lbs and 7% body fat.

During graduate school, digestive problems led him to a doctor who urged giving up meat for 30 days.  After two weeks of avoiding meat, Lewis had become completely regular and his stomach felt much better. He was torn between his love of meat and that he had healed himself by avoiding meat all together. Lewis chose vegetarianism, and four years later dropped dairy and eggs.

“I was so impressed at how well I felt, I wanted to share with the world  how being a vegan is not a bad thing and that we can be cool, healthy and dispel the myth that we just sit around all day and hug trees,” said Lewis.

Lewis says through his countless hours of research on what animal protein does to our “human” system, he has seen the effects of how changing to a plant -based diet has reversed various ailments and diseases. Now a raw vegan for over six months, he has no intentions of going back. He started NOBESITY, a non-profit organization assisting individuals with weight issues. The basis of the organization is holistic fitness through plant-based nutrition.

“I love seeing people develop the confidence to listen to their bodies and understand that nutrition is the key to optimum health. Since becoming raw I am able to train harder than ever and recover in half the time. I have a clear train of thought and my memory is great considering the million things that I am involved in on a daily basis. I am currently still educating myself about the human body and how nutrition is the key to a healthy life (not pills or magic potions),” he said.

Keep your eye out for this ambitious man who is working on a Master’s of Science in Health Education. He wants to develop educational programs to help people learn the skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A finalist in PETA’s “Sexiest Vegetarian Next Door” contest, Lewis is being sponsored by PETA for his “Tour De Fit,” in which he’ll perform at marathons and various events around the country.

In her new book The Perfect Formula Diet, Janice Stanger, Ph. D. says vegan cuisine is the way to go, as long as care is taken to eat unprocessed whole foods. She shares her past personal struggles with weight issues, depression, and health problems.

In 1995 when her daughters decided to become vegans, Stanger, a San Diego resident, began researching nutrition, analyzing over 1,000 studies. Today she claims perfect health and weight through a whole foods diet consisting of six groups of whole, unprocessed “perfect foods”  including vegetables; fruits; beans and potatoes; whole grains; nuts and seeds; and herbs and spices.

“Perfect foods are rich in nature’s goodness with an irresistible variety of tastes, aromas and colors,” Stanger writes.

She recommends a diet that is by volume 1/4 vegetables, 1/4 fruits, 1/4 legumes (beans and peas) and/or potatoes, and 1/4 whole grains. To this should be added nuts and flax seeds. She says eating only whole foods can be difficult so people can set aside 5 percent of their calories for “vegan junk food.” One example would be consuming 2-3 ounces of dark chocolate per week, which is actually known for having health benefits. Stanger is concerned, however, about the many vegans who overdo processed and unhealthy foods, leading to many health problems and overweight. PETA outlines some of these vegan yet not necessarily nutritious items here.

Putting her years of research to the task, Stanger explains the protein misconceptions that often arise for those interested in the vegan and vegetarian diets and also delves into how diet relates to chronic illnesses and how the body “interprets inflammation as an emergency.”

I like the helpful tips for those transitioning to the Perfect Formula Diet: plan for eating at home and out, be patient with yourself and others, try different recipes, and other insights. For those interested in surrounding themselves with delicious vegan cuisine that nourishes the body and soul, this book is definitely worth reading.

Lovely Mimi

Mimi Kirk of the San Diego area is the beautiful woman known for recently winning PETA’s “Sexiest Vegetarians Over 50″ contest. Now 71, she was the oldest contestant. Kirk told Fox 5 she feels like she is in her 20s because of the raw foods diet she started two years ago when age-related diseases, high cholesterol/blood pressure, and arthritis were making appearances.

“Even though I was very healthy and a vegetarian for the better part of 40 years, I did not want to take drugs. So I researched and found the raw food diet,” said Kirk.

She lost weight, took care of the aging-related diseases, and now feels full of energy.

“My skin looks great, not like someone in their 70’s. I couldn’t be any happier about the way I feel,” she added.

She suggests people interested in changing their diet start by adding some raw foods, not taking things away, and says a green juice or smoothie is paramount for starting the day. For lunch she recommends a very large salad, which is chewed very well.  At night, though Kirk eats 100% raw herself, she suggests others transitioning their diet may want to have very lightly steamed veggies and a grain like quinoa. The key is to not let yourself get hungry; fruits and veggies make great snacks. She believes in a 5-7 day detox to help make the transition. Kirk said once someone is raw for awhile, they will feel great and not have cravings for unhealthy food.

A couple favorite meals are parsley salad and kale salad. When traveling, Kirk orders an entrée-sized salad with all raw vegetables:  broccoli, asparagus, etc., with olive oil and lemon on the side or another dressing. If there is a set menu, she asks to replace the chicken on a salad with avocado, and leave off the cheese or anything not raw.

“When my meal arrives, everyone at my table wished they had order the same thing.  I actually don’t like eating food that is not organic, but I try not to be particular when we are traveling,” said Kirk.

Besides traveling, this lovely vegetarian is very busy keeping up with her growing Facebook page, often answering questions about the raw foods diet. She’s also writing a raw “uncookbook.”