PLANTSTRONG Podcast Ep. 343: Charles Gassenheimer - From Multiple Meds to Marathons: How a Plant-Based Diet Changed His Life
Mar 5, 2026
Charles Gassenheimer, a former Division I runner and Wall Street pro who reversed severe health decline with a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. He talks about losing 70+ pounds, stopping medications, returning to running and completing 15+ marathons, fueling and training strategies, supporting cardiac wellness programs, and raising plant-based children.
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Transition Gradually Then Commit Cold Turkey
- Do a staged transition: Charles moved from flexitarian in 2016 to fully cold-turkey whole-food plant-based in April 2017.
- Early weight loss (10–15 lb) came from cleaner choices before committing fully.
Cut Added Oils To Accelerate Results
- Try an oil-free approach when starting plant-strong; Charles spent three weeks in Fiji with no added oil and lost 10 pounds.
- Structured planning with chefs made the honeymoon sustainable and effective.
Faster In His 40s Than His 20s
- Charles returned to competitive running and ran the 2019 New York City Marathon five minutes and 46 seconds faster than at age 25.
- He has completed 15 marathons since restarting in 2018 and finds running central to stress management.