New Year’s Day in our family is typically a quiet day: we take down the Christmas tree and other decorations, we put away all the new toys in the playroom, we have a light dinner, we read books and watch TV.
This year’s January 1st TV offerings really caught my attention:
TLC: The Resolutionaries
CBC: Super Size Me
W Network: You Are What You Eat Christmas Detox
And it’s weight loss month all January on Discovery Health! (Yes, we signed up for it yesterday).
And yes, I watched them all, because, really, how could I not? I am OBSESSED with weight loss. My own and other people’s. I love to watch as other people go through what I’ve gone through, to deconstruct their success or failure, scoff at the crazy schemes and take ideas for myself from the not-so-crazy ones.
But this January 1st, two features really caught my attention:
This was my third (at least) time watching this movie, and I love it more each time I see it. I’ve now become a huge Morgan Spurlock fan (the filmmaker) and regularly watch his TV show 30 Days. In fact, Super Size Me can claim single-handed responsibility for making me give up what had been a weekly McDonald’s drive-thru habit. You know, once a week, as a treat, I’d take the kids out for a Happy Meal. Well, not after seeing this movie! That’s not to say I haven’t had McDonald’s at all since (actually the Hubster can claim being Micky-Dee free for 3 years now as a result), but the habit has been severely curtailed. Instead of 52 trips a year, I probably make about 3 or 4. And I really, really don’t miss it. It’s a point that Spurlock makes in the film: once you start eating the stuff, that’s when you crave it. If you just leave well enough alone, it begins to lose its allure.
In much the same vein (although much, much more extreme and explicit), I just couldn’t miss the You Are What You Eat Christmas Detox:
If you haven’t already experienced the joy that is Dr. Gillian, you’ve got to program your PVR for this BBC gem (seen in Canada on W Network). Dr. Gillian McKeith brings new meaning to the term "straight-talking" as she explicitly details all the nasty side-effects of poor eating habits with wondefully funny words like farts and poo that have the kids rolling on the family-room floor. Her basic premise: cut out all the processed junk in your diet and eat natural foods, concentrating on vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts & seeds. If for no other reason than hearing those great Brit turns of phrase like fizzy drinks, crisps, takeaways and ready meals, you will have fun watching this show. Her Christmas Detox episode outlined the dirty dozen: the worst 12 things you can put in your body. Number one? Fizzy drinks (pop)…even the diet variety. Ahem…guilty.
While it’s no accident that these shows are all the rage first thing in the new year, I’m happy that they’re on. I really needed the kick in the bum to get back on track with Weight Watchers after a somewhat less than disciplined holiday. So tonight I’m going to settle down in front of the TV and watch other people lose weight while I snack on an apple.
hi kath i love dr gillian.her show is great(except the poop samples)i might try her 8 week detox diet.that supersize me was scary stuff.glad thats not something we have more than 3,4 times a year.i’d sooner eat falafels if i’m eating out…
I bet it’s dairy…. I bet she said dairy…. Thanks for the list. I’m in trou-ble! 😉
I bet it’s dairy…. I bet she said dairy…. Thanks for the list. I’m in trou-ble! 😉
Okay guys, pop — I mean FIZZY DRINKS — was the #1 offender mostly because of the high sugar content, but even the diet versions are full of nasty chemicals and Dr. Gillian is all about NATURAL foods (her detox diet starts with the juice of 3 cucumbers for brekkie – yuk!).
I don’t remember all 12 of the dirty dozen, but here’s what I can remember:
– smoking
– excessive alcohol
– caffeine
– processed meats
– pub snacks (e.g. chips, etc.)
– white bread
– bad fats
– takeaways & ready meals (microwave meals & takeout)
– added sugar
– added salt
ACK! I’m only missing one…sorry 🙁
What else did Dr. Gillian say was bad. Pop (I know) and what else? Tell us, tell us!
Did you see Diet Confidential last night? It was interesting. A little boring, though, because there was nothing really new. I liked the way they talk about how what’s “good” for us is determined by the food industry, and the diet industry is the only industry that thrives on the failure of it’s consumers….There, you don’t need to see it now. 🙂
What else did Dr. Gillian say was bad. Pop (I know) and what else? Tell us, tell us!
Did you see Diet Confidential last night? It was interesting. A little boring, though, because there was nothing really new. I liked the way they talk about how what’s “good” for us is determined by the food industry, and the diet industry is the only industry that thrives on the failure of it’s consumers….There, you don’t need to see it now. 🙂
Mmmm….aaaaaaaapppppllle.
I can’t TAKE it when Dr. Gillian does the poop test! I took a look at her book, too. I find her approach way to extreme. I like her premise: she wants you so start “caring about what you put in your mouth” (this has stuck with me). But, if it’s collard greens and mung beans — forget it. 😉
Mmmm….aaaaaaaapppppllle.
I can’t TAKE it when Dr. Gillian does the poop test! I took a look at her book, too. I find her approach way to extreme. I like her premise: she wants you so start “caring about what you put in your mouth” (this has stuck with me). But, if it’s collard greens and mung beans — forget it. 😉
I find the holidays so hard! I think watching these shows would be good for me. I need a good kick in the pants to get back to eating like a normal human being. I’m going to rent a few and see if it helps.
I too loved Super Size Me. I was amazed at how quickly and completely he became addicted to the food! It was obviously an extreme case going from fit vegan to lazy McDs junky but it certainly made me think. I hardly ever eat it anymore and actually think it smells kinda yucky now. But, I am sure that some of the other alternatives which I occassionally indulge in (subs, pizza, etc.) are not much better!
As for diet pop I am guilty too…just curious though, what did she say was so bad about it?