Thursday, June 19, 2008

OLD NFAT goes to MCFIT

ETA: This is the online version, not the video (I couldn't figure out how to link to the video or embed it).

I was checking Yahoo News headlines this morning, and one of the ABC News headlines was Virginia man loses 86 pounds eating only McDonald's. Diane Sawyer did the reporting, and interviewed him (and his wife). So what did this genius do to lose weight eating only at McDonald's? He limited himself to 1400 calories a day, had just the salads, wraps, and apple dippers, with an occasional cheeseburger/grilled chicken (no bun, he put the meat on the salad, no caramel sauce for the apple dippers).
Diane Sawyer made the comment that 1400 calories a day was a starvation diet, according to the American Dietary Association. Chris said that he figured it was calories in/calories out, that if he burned more calories than he was taking in, he would lose weight. This from a stress eater, who would come home stressed from work and sit in front of the refrigerator and eat (approximately 5,000 calories a day). Can we say he's another Jared? Way to go, Chris, promoting the stereotype of fat people as out-of-control binge eaters (yes, some are, but not every fat person sits in front of the fridge stuffing their face every time they have stress in their lives).

7 comments:

  1. I have to say, although I agree about the stereotype comments, it's really nice that Diane Sawyer mentioned that 1400 calories is a starvation diet...

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  2. Well said. Heck, I'm the opposite of an emotional eater -- when I'm really upset I can't eat. But of course, the same people who'd be quick to point out YMMV if it were a thin person, would automatically assume that fat people are bingers too. *rolls eyes*

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  3. mercy - yeah, I thought that was nice too.

    lady jaye - yeah, there are times when I'm upset and no way could I eat, but of course, that just couldn't apply to a fat person (/snark).

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  4. Mercy, vesta, I am stunned and thrilled that Sawyer said that. A coworker is on Jenny Craig, and they only allow her 1200 calories per day - then she wonders why she isn't losing weight. Maybe because you're in starvation mode and your body refuses to let anything go?

    As to stuffing yourself - whenever I've bothered calculating calories I'm roughly in the 2000 per day range or less. I really don't think I COULD eat 3000 more, stressed or not. Every time I do eat too much, I regret it a lot; nothing nastier than feeling stuffed for hours.

    My daughter and I (I know I've said this somewhere before, but who knows where) once decided to have a little party together, watch a movie and indulge in some "junk" food, as much as we wanted and then some. Er - after a bowl of Tostitos dipped in queso, and a sundae each, there came a point where we looked at each other and started turning green, thinking "Oh shit, what have we done?" Apparently you can't just keep eating the way you can often just keep drinking booze. Boy were we sorry - we were both so miserably sick for hours lol.

    Anyway, no, no way are all fat people just stuffing themselves silly - if this guy was, then it was obviously not good and it's good that he stopped. He probably would have lost weight if he'd just begun to eat NORMALLY. But no, he has to pull a Jared. How annoying.

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  5. Yeah, Annie, my calories are usually in that same range, when I bother to check. And I know what you mean about the "indulge in some junk food" and then feel miserable for hours after. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or what, but when DH wants dessert after supper, I have to wait at least an hour before I can eat any, just to have room for it (and this is after having 1 boneless pork chop, 1 sm baked spud, and 1/2 cup of veggies). There just isn't any room for anything else for a while after eating that. It doesn't bother me, I would go without the dessert, but when DH wants it, he won't eat it unless I have some too (so I usually have about half of what he does, just so I can say I'm having dessert with him....lol).

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  6. Oh, and that's an awesome phrase there - "pull a Jared". Gonna have to remember that one *G*

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  7. Yup. I agree, it was smart of Diane to mention that it was a starvation diet.

    I'm not sure, if it's a guy thing. Cause my dad used to go on extreme diets like the one, the man on ABC did. This was until he ate nothing but vegetables, and his blood sugar went so low he had a brain problem, like he had no short term memory.

    He's fine now, but one of the main reasons I'm involved with FA, is cause I know that if it wasn't for fat hating people, my dad would've never gone on that diet.

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