Part One: Successful Weight Loss Cases of GEICO Employees

Welcome to the challenge! In just 21 days, you'll become slimmer, healthier, and more energetic. As you'll soon see, this activity is incredibly easy and highly effective. You may not yet realize how important the food you eat is, and how much a small change can transform your life.

There are many different approaches to nutrition, weight loss, and health. You need to know that the dietary changes recommended in this book have been carefully tested, and the results have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These dietary changes are not only more interesting than other dietary methods, but they may also be more effective than any other existing approach.

Before you begin the challenge, you might also like to hear how the simple changes in this activity have had an effect on others, and how those simple changes could also work for you.

Everyone knows Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO). The well-known car insurance company's mascot and logo is a small green gecko with a British accent. GEICO's headquarters happen to be near my office. A few years ago, the company became interested in whether a plant-based diet could help its employees. Because the company provides health insurance for its employees, each employee who starts taking cholesterol-lowering medication or needs heart bypass surgery is consuming company funds.

Therefore, our team conducted a study with GEICO, which involved just two simple steps: First, the company cafeteria added vegan options, while still offering the usual food. By the way, if you're hearing the word "vegan" for the first time, don't assume they're from a planet called Vegus. "Vegan" simply refers to diets that exclude animal products. Therefore, in addition to the usual bacon and eggs, GEICO also offered oat bars and fruit for breakfast. For lunch, the cafeteria offered burgers and all the usual food, but added vegan burgers, portobello mushroom sandwiches, red bean hot sauce stew, and vegetable lasagna.

Second, employees who wanted to try a healthier diet participated in weekly one-hour group meetings. The aim was to provide them with cooking guidance, health lectures, and opportunities to discuss their progress on dietary changes. At the GEICO branch in Washington, D.C., 68 people volunteered for a five-month trial. They saw the program as an opportunity to lose weight, gain more energy, and break some bad habits. Another GEICO branch in Fredericksburg, Virginia, agreed to serve as a control group and did not make any dietary changes.

Hillary and Bruce, who work at a branch of the Government Employees Insurance Company in Washington, D.C., decided to join the study. They are an optimistic and humorous couple. Bruce says he has a long-standing and serious weight problem, and he's not making excuses. "We're both definitely the kind of people who love to eat," he says. They eat fast food, donuts, and almost everything else unhealthy every day. "The way we eat is really awful."

However, solving this problem is another matter. They enthusiastically tried various dieting methods, yet none seemed to last, and each failed diet was a frustrating experience.

Exercise becomes a different kind of challenge. "You'll feel embarrassed to go to the gym," Bruce says. "Embarrassed to go running. You really don't want people to see you running around like a chubby guy in public."

Hillary said, "It's really hard to find clothes that fit and are suitable for work. I know it's my own fault, and I should do something to change it, but I can't, which is quite frustrating."

When the study by the Government Employees Insurance Company (GEICO) began, Bruce weighed 283 pounds and Hillary weighed 239 pounds. During the dietary transition, they supported each other, ensuring that healthy foods worked 100%.

Her weight started dropping almost immediately. "In the eight to ten weeks of participating in this study, I had already lost 30 pounds and was able to buy new clothes," Hillary said. "It was so exciting. I was also very excited when I went to conferences and saw the reactions of people I hadn't seen for months. People really noticed. They could see the huge change in my attitude and my physique. It was very encouraging."

"My weight has dropped miraculously," Bruce said. "My cholesterol has plummeted. It's amazing! This method is more effective than anything we've tried before. I think we're on the right track."

Five months later, the volunteers stepped on the scales. Unsurprisingly, in Fredericksburg, no changes were observed. They made no dietary changes, and therefore, their weight did not decrease at all. However, at the Washington branch, participants lost weight much more easily. The largest weight loss was 46 pounds in five months, with more typical weight loss ranging from 10 to 20 pounds. Waist circumference decreased by an average of 2 inches, and hip circumference decreased by almost 2 inches. We published these findings in three academic papers.

But for Hillary and Bruce, something more profound changed. The short-term experience had already led them to break their old habits. The study pointed them to a better path, breaking away from those less healthy habits. Therefore, when the study ended, they continued with this diet.

Within a year, Hillary lost 85 pounds, and Bruce lost over 100 pounds. They sent me a photo to illustrate the dramatic transformation. Not only were they well-proportioned and healthy, but I also noticed they were wearing well-fitting workout clothes, and their T-shirts even had their numbers pinned to them. Because their energy levels had returned to normal, they did something they'd never done before-they signed up for a half marathon! The change in their diet led to their weight loss, and the resulting surge of energy motivated them to exercise.

Now, they look and feel great. Eating has become a new exploration. Initially, to participate in our event, they began trying new foods-just as you will be doing over the next 21 days. Then, as they discovered new flavors, new recipes, and new products, they gained a completely new way of thinking about food. They cherish this new and healthy relationship with food and their healthy new bodies. This is also within your reach.

By the way, they didn't exercise at first, yet they still achieved tremendous weight loss. They started by changing their diet, and then, once their energy returned, they found themselves wanting to exercise. This means that, like Hillary and Bruce, you can begin a simple yet profound transformation-not just in terms of weight, but also in your energy levels and how you feel.

Hillary and Bruce's story can be anyone's story. If you're looking to lose a little weight-or a lot of weight-or conquer a serious health condition, dietary changes can be very effective. Dietary changes can help you achieve a level of health you never imagined you'd reach.