"Fat Head" -- You HAVE To Watch This!

Tom Naughton is a comedian and former nutrition writer who has created a documentary that is not only eye opening, but also very funny.

Going after Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Supersize Me," where Spurlock went after the fast food industry by living on fast food for 30 days to prove that the industry was purposely making people fat, Naughton sought out to prove that people could lose weight eating fast food for 28 days.  At the same time, Naughton also advocates for a high saturated fat, low carb diet citing numerous studies that show that saturated fats do not cause heart disease as we've been told, but that those things we were told that are supposed to be healthier, such as processed oils like corn and soybean, are worse.

Along with parodying certain aspects of Morgan Spurlock's documentary, Naughton also takes information that could possibly be very dry and makes it entertaining.  With a lot of research on his side, Naughton doesn't simply present the facts -- he presents them in a way that anyone can understand.

If you have a Netflix account, it is now available for streaming. Otherwise you can either watch the film on Hulu or get the DVD from fathead-movie.com. 

Debbie Schlussel: Shows Catering to Overweight People Promote Obesity

There are times where I agree with Debbie Schlussel. This is not one of them.

She has a column criticizing the new dating game "More To Love" (she calls it "The Fat-chelor") because she thinks the fact that it's a show about a fat bachelor choosing the love of his life from plus-size women promotes obesity.

I don't know if I agree with her point on that or not (I don't watch dating shows), but she tries to make her point in a way that is just downright insulting to us who have been struggling with weight loss and doesn't bring anything to the debate at all.

Some choice examples:

Yes, we’re supposed to feel sympathetic that these women ate and ate and ate, and sat and sat and sat. We’re supposed to have compassion and saw, “Aww . . . isn’t that cute and nice. Finally a show for them.” Uh, no. Sorry, but in a society–ours–in which 34% of adults are obese (as of 2006, the latest year for which such numbers are available) and growing (according to the National Center for Health Statistics/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), we need LESS shows promoting that it’s okay to be sickly and in a poor health condition of your own doing.

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The problem is not an endless parade of Americans who are too thin. It’s an endless parade of Americans who are way, way, waaaaaay too fat. But the opening and success of stores like “Torrid,” selling uber-zaftig teen girls lace cross-your-heart hammocks (breas) and thongs that resemble the Brooklyn Bridge in size, has made it in vogue to be overweight. We encourage it, even though–truth be told–we wouldn’t be caught dead dating these people.

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And don’t give me that “I have a gland problem” excuse. Unless you are physically disabled, you have no excuse. Why is it that so many fewer Americans had “gland” problems in 1980, when only 15% of Americans were obese? I doubt there’s something in the water or that an abormal gene suddenly took hold of Americans’ bodies like a horror flick script.

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And it’s not shallow to feel this way. Yes, our society is far too pre-occupied with looks. But it is what it is. And it’s hardly the same thing as not wanting to be with someone who will crush you in one move: by sitting on you. Shows like this send young girls the wrong message: that people will love them no matter how much they weigh. Well, yeah, but it’ll be a lot tougher. Reality check: fat people are often discriminated against (though perhaps not enough anymore), they are looked down upon, they are made fun of (though, again, not enough anymore because of our PC culture), and to give your kids any message otherwise, you’re setting them up for disappointment and sadness amidst the tub of ice cream.

Now, to get in to my situation: yes, I am fat. I admit it. But I'm also working on losing the weight using the Richard Simmons Food Mover (since I've been on it the past month, I've lost 8 pounds). But I also have some underlying health issues that I knew might make this harder for me, in particular hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Some of the issues I have with eating are emotional -- I get bored, I eat. I get stressed, I eat. And lately, there's been a lot of stress beyond taking care of an 11 month old. And I've never been the best eater, although I got better at it temporarily when I was pregnant and diagnosed with gestational diabetes. But some of my bad habits I developed from that time, as well, such as eating a snack before bedtime (I had to when I was pregnant because if I didn't the insulin would make me sick).

But now I'm eating better. I take the baby out for walks just about every day. And so far, so good. And I'm also realistic -- even when I lose the weight, I'll never get into a size 2. I will most likely never get below a size 12 because, let's face it, I'm tall. If I don't make it past that threshhold, am I still "fat?"

Schlussel, let's see you struggle with a weight problem. Then let's see what your perspective is.

(Note: Yes, this does touch a nerve with me. But if I didn't write about it, it would have eaten me alive otherwise.)

MeMe Roth -- America's Annoying Mother

I don't know if you've seen this woman on television, but there's a woman in NY named MeMe Roth who is the president (and apparently only member) of the advocacy group National Action Against Obesity. In the past, this woman has just gone over the top with her "activism."

A sampling of her craziness:

-- Has derided celebrities in the past over their own healthy habits. The more notable example being her comments about American Idol winner Jordin Sparks (who isn't extremely heavy bot isn't a stick figure, either) : "When I look at Jordin, I see diabetes, heart disease, I see high cholesterol ... She’s the vision of unhealth."

-- Her war against cupcakes in school.

-- Destroying a snack table at a YMCA in Pennsylvania because she was offended by the fact that they were having an ice cream party.

-- Her war on Girl Scout cookies.

-- And the list goes on and on...

Well, she's been in the news again the past couple of months. I'm surprised that I missed this article on her last month from The Guardian. They interviewed her about her advocacy, and then managed to get an uncomfortable truth about her own eating habits that she wasn't willing to admit right away -- the woman won't eat until after she's done her workout, which means there have been occasions where she's skipped breakfast AND lunch. In fact, at the time of the interview she had done just that -- while the interviewer was talking to her, he noted the time as 3:30 p.m., and she admitted that she hadn't eaten at that point.

NY Times also had an article on her this past Monday on her "advocacy" at her children's school, which has gotten to the point where the administration has asked her to move from the district so they didn't have to deal with her. It started over a juice pop that her child was given by a teacher on a hot day, and it kind of went downhill from there.

Look, I admire anyone who tries to bring attention to the issue, but this woman is just annoying, and doesn't even follow her own advice. She's not interested in health, she just doesn't like people who are fat.

Think that's overboard? Here is a statement from the "Wedding Dress Challenge" that she ran at one point:

Most women I know commit fraud on their wedding days--they weigh-in for the walk down the aisle with no expectation of maintaining that weight year after year ... Somewhere between the wedding reception and delivery room, many women abandon their brains, body and libido. It's wrong to be fat. It's easy, but it's wrong ... Dump your friends who plan to grow fatter with every year. Surround yourself with those who aspire to greater things.

Roth is not interested in you. She's interested in making everyone look like her.

Well, if being skinny means having her mentality, I'll gladly stay fat.

(h/t Center for Consumer Freedom for a lot of the articles linked here)

Fashion Industry Finally Catching Up

Stores like Target and Forever 21 are finally offering more stylish clothes for plus-size teens.

Forever 21's line, Faith 21, will have sizes ranging from XL-2X, while Target's Pure Energy line will go up to a size 30.

It's about time, said several shoppers scouring the crowded racks of a Forever 21 branch in downtown Manhattan, New York, one recent afternoon.

"I would love to be able to shop in one store with my friends that are all different sizes," said one young petite college student, who was eyeing the $2.50 tank tops. "I think it's great that they're expanding."

Another shopper, a full-figured teen in a stylish baby doll dress, was also excited. "I tried on something earlier that was totally cute and it did not fit my breast size, which is really frustrating, because I liked it."

I find one of my favorite stores to shop (when I have the money) is Lane Bryant, primarily because they have some great clothes in my size. I'm quite realistic in that I know that even if I were to lose the weight, I would never get below a size 12 because I'm a tall girl.

However, some feel that offering plus-size clothing encourages obesity.

"Yeah, as capitalists they have the right to address a growing marketplace and it's a smart business decision," said MeMe Roth, president of the organization National Action Against Obesity.

"However, when you look at the human cost, what we're doing is we're on the Titanic and rather than forcing our children into the lifeboat, we're telling them to join the band. Worrying about fashion rather than worrying about the food is a horrible message that we're sending these kids," Roth said.

Roth is a well-known anti-obesity advocate. She has...issues.

Here are a few reasons why Roth is a nut.

-- "When I look at Jordin, I see diabetes, heart disease, I see high cholesterol ... She’s the vision of unhealth." -- Roth on American Idol contestant Jordin Sparks

-- An appearance by Roth on "The Daily Show" from October 2007

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-- Roth wants Santa to be thin.

-- Arrested in her hometown after attacking a table of ice cream toppings at her local YMCA.

-- Criticized Redbook for running an issue featuring a story on body acceptance.

-- Has called for boycotts in the past of Girl Scout Cookies.

This is just a small sampling of the looniness of those who try to tell us what to eat. Don't we have the right to be fat in this country, anymore?