"Willpower is just a part of it. Change really happens when you change your environment." Dave Wegener is a high school visual arts teacher, husband and father. He grew up overweight, loved McDonald's and called himself a volume eater. In 2016 he hit 335 pounds and his triglycerides were at 424. His doctor wanted to put him on medication. Dave said no. He made a deal with his doctor instead. He would eat fewer calories, draw every meal in a sketchbook food journal and walk 30 minutes a day. Those small steps led him to Forks Over Knives and a whole food, plant-based diet. He went on to lose over 100 pounds. Dave is open about his slip-ups, including gaining weight back during the pandemic. That's what makes his story so relatable. In this episode he shares how he handles cravings, how he eats well at work and the one breakfast swap that started it all. What we discuss: Dave's journey from 335 pounds to over 100 pounds lost, without meds The simple plan he made with his doctor, and the breakfast swap that started it How he handles cravings, eats well at work and got back on track after COVID How cutting dairy helped his skin, plus Chef AJ's 7 habits of successful losers Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act (S. 222) https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/ Share the website and get your resources here https://kidsandmilk.org/ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ SUBSTACK ★☆★ https://dotsiebausch.substack.com/ ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good
What happens when you take one of America's most culturally diverse food cities and put plants at the center of the plate? Ellen Kanner takes us deep into the flavors, traditions, and food memories that shaped her as a fifth-generation Miamian, chef, and author, sharing how she reimagines beloved dishes without losing the flavors, textures, and cultural meaning that make them special. Along the way, she shares her "Rule of One," challenges some of the biggest myths about plant-based cooking, and makes a compelling case for approaching food as a full-body experience. It's a delicious conversation about culture, identity, creativity, and opening the door to endless culinary possibilities. What we discuss: How Ellen learned to cook. Mindful eating. Ellen's process for honoring the people and cultures behind the food she creates. The most challenging recipe Ellen has ever reimagined. Ellen's favorite way to cook. What Ellen loves most about Miami. How Ellen has seen Miami's food culture change since she was a child. Resources: https://soulfulvegan.com/ Miami Vegan: Plant-Based Recipes from the Tropics To Your Table by Ellen Kanner 80+ Sun-Drenched Recipes (Hardcover) Cookbook Broccoli Rising, the Newsletter from Ellen Kanner Ellen Kanner (@ellenkanner) • Instagram photos and videos Ellen Kanner (@soulfulvegan) • Facebook 1 Million Tables Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act (S. 222) https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/ Share the website and get your resources here https://kidsandmilk.org/ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ SUBSTACK ★☆★ https://dotsiebausch.substack.com/ ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good
Physiotherapist, nutritionist, and The Proof is in the Plants author Simon Hill joins Dotsie and Alexandra to trace how a single terrifying moment reshaped his entire career, and what the evidence really says about eating for a long, healthy life. When Simon was 15, he watched his father, just 41 years old with no prior health issues, suffer a heart attack right in front of him on a remote Sunday afternoon. That day, combined with a growing frustration over the "bro science" he was fed while working with elite AFL and VFL athletes, sent him back to school for a master's in nutrition science and set him on a lifelong, evidence-based mission. In this conversation, Simon explains why our genes load the gun but our lifestyle pulls the trigger when it comes to chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. He unpacks the gut microbiome and why anyone coming off a low-fiber Western diet should ramp up plants gradually, treating fiber like a gym program rather than going gung-ho overnight. Dotsie and Simon trade practical, failure-proof tips for making beans and legumes easier to digest, and Simon delivers a masterclass in "lectinology," dismantling the fear-based claims of The Plant Paradox with a clear look at what the science actually shows. What we discuss: Why heart disease runs in families, and how much of it is actually within your control How your daily choices determine whether disease-linked genes get expressed Why a disrupted microbiome makes healthy foods feel uncomfortable at first The step-by-step way to add fiber without the bloat and gas Simple tricks for prepping beans and legumes so they're easier on your gut Why the lectin scare is a case study in cherry-picked science What the world's longest-living people eat every single day Resources: https://theproof.com/ https://www.instagram.com/simonhill/ https://www.youtube.com/c/TheProofWithSimonHill Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act (S. 222) https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/ Share the website and get your resources here https://kidsandmilk.org/ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ SUBSTACK ★☆★ https://dotsiebausch.substack.com/ ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good
What drives someone to pursue not just one extraordinary path, but two? Olympic gold medalist and physician Imogen Grant has devoted herself to two radically different disciplines, medicine and rowing, and somehow managed to reach the pinnacle of both. But listening to her speak about the human body, "the perfect stroke," and what draws her so deeply into each, and the divide between them starts to disappear. She brings a rare depth and poetry to the things she does, with an endlessly curious, deeply disciplined nature and a genuine fascination with discovery. She also gets candid about nutrition, injury, and what it takes to prepare for LA28, offering a glimpse of the life behind the medals and the making of someone who has turned living into an art form. What we discuss: How she brings both a creative and scientific mind to medicine and rowing and manages the demands of doing both. Her experience with the IOC and Olympic facilities working to accommodate her dietary needs. Her thoughts on the LA 2028 Olympics, where she is in her preparations, and the mindset that is guiding her. Her thoughts on peptides and what actually matters most when it comes to supporting your health. How she handles injury, including a rib stress fracture caused by rowing and how she knew when her body was ready to return to the sport. The books she's currently enjoying and how reading fits into her life alongside training. Her personal mantra. Resources: https://www.instagram.com/imogendaisyg/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@imogendaisyg 1 Million Tables Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act (S. 222) https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/ Share the website and get your resources here https://kidsandmilk.org/ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ SUBSTACK ★☆★ https://dotsiebausch.substack.com/ ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good
Can the way we eat and live actually lower our risk of cancer? That question sits close to my heart, and in this episode I sit down with Dr. Shireen Kassam, consultant hematologist, lifestyle medicine physician, and founder of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK to dig into what the science really says. Dr. Kassam has spent years at the intersection of clinical oncology and nutrition, and what she shares here is both hopeful and practical. We talk through how diet, exercise, body weight, alcohol, smoking, sleep, and the gut microbiome each shape cancer risk, and why our daily choices matter both before a diagnosis and long after one. I found myself nodding along and rethinking a few things I thought I understood, and I think you will too. In this episode, you'll learn: Why as many as 4 out of 10 cancers may be preventable through lifestyle change The biggest modifiable risk factors that have nothing to do with your genes How excess body fat drives cancer risk through inflammation and hormones The way physical activity actively protects the body against cancer What the evidence really says about red meat, processed meat, and dairy The truth about soy and breast cancer and why the fear is misplaced Whether sugar directly causes cancer Where olive oil, fats, and the Mediterranean diet fit in What the research does (and doesn't) support about fasting Connect with Dr. Shireen Kassam: Website - https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedhealthprofessionals/ Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/wholefoodplantbasednutrition Click the link below to learn about the FISCAL Act (S. 222) https://switch4good.org/fiscal-act/ Share the website and get your resources here https://kidsandmilk.org/ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ SUBSTACK ★☆★ https://dotsiebausch.substack.com/ ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good