After watching Forks Over Knives with his wife Laura, Portland, ME news anchor Jeff Peterson decided to use his life for a story: go vegan for 60 days. Peterson, who described himself to the Portland Press Herald as a “former meat-aholic,” reveals his motivation was to improve his health—and provide a good story. The family of seven found success in making vegan versions of familiar dishes such as lasagna and tacos, and came to love meat-free meals including sweet potato burritos, black bean burgers, and stir-fry. At the end of the 60 days, the local talent lost 31 pounds, his overall cholesterol dropped from 128 to 87, his LDL cholesterol went from 70 to 47, and his triglycerides plummeted from 151 to 69. “My doctor said he’d never seen anything like it,” Peterson reports. “There’s no way I’m turning back.”

Photos via pressherald.com

