Setting people up for failure

Yesterday, after my staff sent me home sick...  I was watching a show on BBC called "You are what you eat". They suprise (what not to wear style) the victim and tell her that she must put down the burgers NOW or die. THEN - they do an 8 week detox diet.  Fruits and Veg - no red meat, not dairy, no poultry, no wheat or gluten and no alcohol (really quite curel to most brits) ...  just a little fish and tofu with fruits and veg and brown rice.

They poor ashamed victim eats as she is told and they often lose quite alot of weight in the 8 weeks.  The show the 'victim' making faces about how horrid the food is... Of course then the cameras disappear - I am guessing a good number of them head straight up to the fish and chip shop. Anyway, I was thinking that it is highly irresponsible to take people who clearly need help amending their eating and not showing them ways to eat better on a consistent basis...  Basically they get them to drop a few stone and then leave them to gain it back plus some.

I find reality shows are getting out of hand!  Don't get me wrong, I watch some of them, but they'll put ANYTHING on now. I agree with you about irresponsible eating on this show.  Can't you just see those poor "victims" after the 8 weeks.  They probably LIVE in fast food places and are binging like crazy!!!  They'll probably gain even more than they've lost.   Well, how are you feeling, Elizabeth?  Do you think it's a virus or what?  Pregnancy?   It could happen! Hope you're on the mend cuz you've got to get out there and sell houses!!!!! Take care of yourself and keep us posted on your condition. Bren

Reminds me of the time I had a keening headache and told my class-- and one little girl says-- completely straight faced-- "You know, a headache is an early warning sign of syphillis."

Shari, I have to hijack this post and ask how tall you are?

I'm 5'5". And NOT syphillitic, mmmkay?

Pregnancy rarely causes sinus headaches and coughing ones lungs up.... And it better NOT happen!

Am feeling better today - was actually able to sleep through most of the night.  Still have the headache and some cough but the fever is gone and I am improving (thank goodness for anti-biotics)

Shari, Reminds me of a joke I received yesterday:

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said to them, 'I must tell you all something. We have a case of gonorrhea in the convent.'   "Thank God," said an elderly nun at the back.  "I'm so tired of chardonay!"

 

Yes, I suppose the "point" is to detox and begin to change tastes and preferences. Obviously, it did not catch on for that lady. So, the show went on to make her look bad for it, too! I, most of the week, eat stuff I cannot say I PREFER. I eat them because I know the nutrient value is exactly what I need.  I am lucky enough to be part of a research study for children at an alternative education facility (last stop before Juvenile Hall kind of school).  I personally baked some health bars made of oats, almonds, flax seed, little brown sugar, dried fruit, whole wheat flour. The reactions of the adults on the campus was predictably horrid, for the most part - except for the few who were in tune with WHY anyone would ever choose to eat someting typically horses and cows eat. Can't wait for those twinkie-eating, slurpie sluggin junior criminals to try some!  HAR!

Just another reality show, shock television.  I avoid reality shows at all costs and actually ban ones like "Honey we're killing the kids" and "Fat March" from my television.   Most of these shows have a short run and are replaced with other just as shocking shows.  Luckily we can choose what to watch.  This is one I wouldn't want at all.  Add to that that most of the stuff is highly scriped and edited for better viewer "pleasure" and it makes for a waste of 30-60 minutes of my precious time!!

I agree with you that this is highly irresponsible to take people clearly in need of professional nutrition direction and basically put them on a crash diet.  We all know (or do we) that a healthy lifestyle includes all foods in moderation, not stripping out major nutrient groups such as dairy, lean meats, fish or poultry and whole grains.  The problem is that people watch this garbage and TV reality shows try to "one up" each other to increase their viewers for ratings.  In other words, the more shocking the show, the higher the audience will likely be.  If people didn'****ch this stuff in droves there would be no demand which means they wouldn't make money from advertisers and they wouldn't bother making the show.  There are several shows in the US that do the same thing, such as The Biggest Loser, etc.   Just my two cents!