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The couple had enjoyed eating “the standard American diet” and their favorite place to go on a date was Wild Wings Cafe, where Andrew usually ordered “Drew’s Devilishly Delicious Fried Chicken Sandwich” that comes with a side of “big, fat fries.”

Andrew recalls his resistance. “When she first started doing her little things, nobody was listening to her, particularly me. I said to her, ‘You do your thing. I’m going to eat my meat. I wanted my Southern fried cooking,” recalls Andrew.

But Ashley kept at it, fixing rice and beans, and his resistance wore down.

“One day, something happened and it just clicked on. Once I made up my mind that going vegan was what I was going to do, I just dove in,” says Andrew, who started in October 2012, six months after Ashley did.

They both note their weight loss came without exercising, but that both have signed up to work out at a CrossFit box.

In December 2012, they took the diet up another notch, going to a raw vegan diet and have been on it ever since.

They have been undaunted even as their families and friends cracked jokes, some even giving Andrew the nickname of “Nature Boy.” But as Renee and Andrew endured, they started noticing that fresh vegetables and other healthy habits started creeping into family gatherings.

None of their families have joined them as vegans, but they are eating healthier.

Ashley hopes to launch a business, Raw and Radiant, to teach people about adopting a raw vegan diet.

And while African-Americans have higher rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, the couple hope their message is universal.

“It’s not a focus on any particular group. I just want to inspire all individuals to take care of their bodies,” says Ashley. “I’m trying to reach everyone.”

Story originally seen here.

Couple Goes Vegan And Sees Amazing Transformation  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

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