From fat to fruit juice, with a new lease on life

Joe Cross decided to take matters into his own hands and started a fresh fruit and vegetable juice diet for 60 days in order to get healthy.

“I’ve been very lucky to be successful and I wanted to give something back,” Cross said during a recent phone interview. “People aren’t eating right, and I wanted to show them how to do it right.”

Cross’ two-month adventure is chronicled in his film “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead,” which will show at the Guild Cinema on Saturday, April 16.

Thirty days into the program, Cross decides to leave New York City and take a cross-country trip. With his juicer in tow, he starts speaking to Americans about their attitudes toward food and health.

“I had let myself go, and every day there are others who don’t take care of themselves,” he said. “Turning the camera on myself put a lot of pressure for me to keep going.”

Along the way, Cross runs into Phil. Phil is a truck driver and suffers from the same autoimmune disease as Cross.

“Phil was in a worse place than me because he was a truck driver,” he said. “He didn’t have access to healthy food because he was on the road.”

Cross said finding Phil was a gift because it gave him another angle for the story.

“I think Phil’s story made the film better,” he said. “A lot of people can relate to him and when they see how he changed his lifestyle, it will inspire them.”

Cross said the ultimate goal for his film is to provide a story that can inspire, educate and entertain people.

“I want them to come out and ask themselves if they are living as healthy as they can,” he said. “It’s about striking a balance and sustaining that lifestyle.”

Cross said if each person would increase his or her fruit and vegetable intake by 5 percent, it would make a difference. He said the fresh juice is the best choice because the fruits and vegetables remain close to their original state.

“A lot of people are wary of greens,” he said. “But they have a purpose and help the body.”

While shooting the film, Cross dropped nearly 100 pounds and has been taken off of his medication for his autoimmune disease. He said throughout the film, he would get blood tests and consult his doctor about every two weeks.

“The weight loss is great,” he said. “But the greatest thing is that I haven’t taken medication and I’ve been sustaining my exercise routine.”

Cross will be attending the show in the Duke City and is looking forward to educating the audience with a Q&A after the film.

“I want to spread what I’ve learned,” he said. “When it comes down to it, people need to realize that they can live a healthier lifestyle.”

“Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”

WHEN: 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16   WHERE: Guild Cinema, 3405 E. Central   HOW MUCH: $7 general admission, $5 for seniors and students at 255-1848