More than 1,000 teachers and school administrators in upstate New York have accepted a 10-day challenge to eat a plant-based diet, inspired by a colleague who transformed himself after a heart attack. Perhaps he will inspire you to ditch meat too, at a minimum challenge you to trial Meatless Mondays.

Doug Schmidt, an elementary school teacher in Rochester, suffered a near fatal heart attack at age 49. “I weighed 225 pounds and thought I was just an average American, middle-age guy,” he told ABC News. Following a second heart scare a year later, he decided to make some lifestyle changes, beginning with a gradual transition off red meat and towards a plant-based, whole foods diet.

Within three years, his diet had become completely plant-based and does not include processed foods, sugar, or oil. Schmidt lost 60 pounds in thr process, and was able to stop taking his medications. He also saved a bundle of money, and radically reduce his carbon footprint. (See his amazing before and after images below.)

“The medicine was in the food,” said Schmidt, “I eat more now than I did on my standard American diet, but it’s all good stuff and your body just craves it and thrives on it.”

It’s been ten years since his first heart attack. Schmidt, who was formerly a professional baker, is also a wellness coordinator in his school district. His transformation drew the attention of his fellow teachers. Two years ago, he led the 10-day plant-based diet challenge attracting 30 curious colleagues. The next year the same challenge drew about 65 participants.

This year, the “10-Day Jumpstart Your Health Challenge” has been adopted in 35 school districts and a community college and counts 1,300 participants. It is challenge is based on The Engine 2 Diet book, a plant-based food plan by Rip Esselstyn. A website and a Facebook page provide support to the participants, and serve as platforms for sharing recipes and meal planning.

Schmidt hopes to coordinate with author Esselstyn to help people incorporate their new dietary habits into a sustainable lifelong plan.

“When I look at my fridge, it looks totally different than it did 10 years ago,” he said. “Yes I’ve given up some of my favorite foods, but what I’ve gained in my life is so much richer.”

“I literally feel like I’m 20 or 30 again,” he said. “My only regret is I wish I would have done this 10 years earlier.”

Are you a reducetarian?

A turn away from meat is not as common in the USA as it in countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, and Israel – which boast some of the lowest meat consumption in the world. In Israel, plant-based diets are so popular that the military has incorporated vegan options into the soldiers’ meal plan. Israelis are the world’s biggest fruit and vegetable eaters in the world per capita. 

A plant-based diet provided by companies like Geltor, Good Catch, Desserto, Ripple, Impossible Foods, Miyoko’s Creamery., Nuggs consists of minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices and excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.