Meet Kelley and John, who lost 15 and 22 pounds (respectively) with CleanFoodCrush

Hello — we’re John and Kelley. John is 65 and I am 64. We’ve known each other for many years and have been married five years. We dated in high school and reconnected about eight years ago. John is a retired Navy Seabee and currently works for the Veterans Administration, planning to fully retire next June. I retired after 34 years at Verizon Communications. As a military family, we’ve lived in many places. Now we enjoy life on Florida’s Gulf Coast, loving the beaches, travel, our children, stepchildren, and grandchildren.

Like many in our age group, our health started changing. John’s blood pressure began to get out of control, and I struggled with persistent inflammation, bloating, GERD, joint pain, and IBS.

I had tried low-FODMAP and other elimination diets and had some control over symptoms, but nothing felt completely sustainable. Over the past two years we tried several programs that helped a bit and produced some weight loss, but they weren’t realistic long-term.

I enjoy cooking and had tried a few of Rachel Maser’s Clean Food Crush recipes. We began researching the program because we wanted a reliable approach to eating that would support our immune systems and help us live without constant aches, pains, and medications.

We wanted simplicity, so we started the CleanFoodCrush program on March 8, 2020. John weighed 211 lbs and I was 151 lbs at the start.

About a week later COVID-19 reached the US and we realized how important it was to strengthen our immune systems. Shopping was challenging as many items flew off shelves, but fresh produce remained available. Living in Florida with abundant seafood and fruit made it easier to find what we needed. We focused on doing our best and staying consistent.

Joining the challenge was the best decision we ever made

The first week was the hardest, but we learned quickly. The plan is straightforward, and the weight began to come off without extreme effort. We followed the program and trusted the science behind it.

After 10 weeks of clean eating, John’s weight dropped to 189 lbs and I reached 136 lbs. We weigh in every Sunday and enjoy watching our progress.

• John’s blood pressure is now normal to low.
• My inflammation, GERD, bloating, joint pain, and IBS symptoms have significantly improved or resolved.
• We crave healthy, fresh food and feel satisfied with whole-food meals.
• We ride our bikes and walk regularly to stay active.
• We either maintain or lose weight each week by sticking with simple, sustainable choices.

If you want to feel better, have more energy, and improve your overall health, CleanFoodCrush can be a great option. The program’s structure, recipes, and group support make it achievable for people with busy lives or changing health needs.

The encouragement from Rachel and the CleanFoodCrush community was invaluable. Reading other members’ success stories helped us stay motivated. The approach is practical and doable, and the results have made us feel like a new version of ourselves.

— Kelley