Question:
That guy in the subway commercial

Okay...silly question here. I keep seeing that Subway commercial with that Jared guy that supposedly lost 245 pounds eating his "Subway" diet. Does anyone else beleive this guy had WLS, or is he one that can lose that much on his own. It just seems kind of fishy to me.    — [Anonymous] (posted on June 10, 2001)

June 10, 2001
Jared was just in the Detroit area with the American Heart Association promoting a walk-a-thon, I believe. I heard this at 6:00 a.m. when my alarm went off, so I may have the affiliation screwed up. <p> Anyhow, his story is this: He was going to college and lived literally steps away from a Subway shop. He got so debilitated by his weight, that he would take an hour bus ride rather than walk 5 minutes. One day, he got fed up and started eating 1/2 a heartsmart sub for lunch and a whole veggie sub for dinner (no cheese, mayo or oil). He also began walking, gradually getting up to about a mile a day. <p> His friend wrote for the school paper and featured an article on Jared's amazing weight loss. Subway got wind of it and the rest is history. Jared is currently engaged, and each state has their own "Jared"...In Michigan, we have a guy named Art that lost 90 lbs. through Jared's Subway diet. <p> My best to both of them to be amongst the elite two percent who succeed at keeping the weight off permanently.
   — Allie B.

June 11, 2001
I don't want to sound bitter here, but this whole subway campaign annoys the heck out of me. I have had two doctors tell me to eat at SubWay instead of having WLS. SubWay is promoting their food like it's diet food. Well, it's just food, and not even that good for you. They have no whole wheat option, and if you're vegetarian, they have no option that gives you good protein. Essentially, Jared and all these other folks went on a typical low fat, low cal diet and lost weight. Ok, goody gumdrops for them, but where will they be next year? Or in 5 years? I doubt Jared will be doing commercials, except maybe for WLS. I don't think he had WLS, but I also don't think he'll maintain this loss. You'll never hear that part from SubWay though, they'll just find another person on the down end to promote. This is the same crap that Madison Ave. has fed us from Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, SlimFast and every other fad diet. My only problem is that the marketing is working well enough that doctors are prescribing the SubWay diet along with Xenical to morbidly obese patients. That is not good doctoring.
   — kcanges

June 11, 2001
As the others mentioned, Jared didn't have WLS surgery. We both worked for the same company until recently when he left to persue his own company, but while he worked here, we would see him actually eating lunch at Subway!
   — [Anonymous]

June 11, 2001
Anyoone who can lose more than 100lbs. the old-fashioned way gets my respect, especially if they can keep it off. Every time I see the Jenny Craig commerical I think that. Some lady has lost 100 some odd pounds. Way to go lady, I pray for you every day that that effort has not been in vain. Some singer on Rosie the other day said he has lost in excess of 100 lbs. 13 times in his life. ""13"" Wow what determination. I have trouble staying focused on 100lbs. ONCE. They all get my respect. Lisa Polk
   — Lisa P.

June 11, 2001
I think Jared may have been one of those morbidly obese people who simply ate a great deal of food each day. As we know, many of us don't. If he did, then possibly eating submarine sandwiches, for him, was a severe reduction in calories. I do notice that the tv commercials, in tiny print at the bottom of the screen, mentioned that he walked every day as well. He looks to be a young guy--guys have faster burning metabolisms than women, and young people more so than those over 30 and especially 40. Personally, I think as much as anything his weight loss had to do with all the walking he did. And since he was young, he probably didn't yet have the health problems that many of us do such as arthritis of the knees, severe lower back pain, heel spurs in the feet, etc. that makes moving difficult, let alone attempting long walks each day. Just my opinion! = >
   — CaseyinLA

June 12, 2001
Ok, well, I saw an answer from someone he worked with, but I can give an even more detailed answer--I dated him on and off for 3 years, heavy as well as when he was losing weight. When Jared was heavy, he did eat alot, and wasn't very active. I know he has bad knees, but that wasn't due to his weight. He never liked being heavy, but never had much motivation to try new diets because he had failed in the past. And its true, he tried Subway because his college apartment was right next door to Subway--it was convenient for him. And he did start walking more around campus than he used to. And I was with him the entire time he was losing the weight, and I'd have to best describe his method as militant. We would go on vacation together, and we couldnt eat anywhere unless the place had fat free salad dressing, or we were always stuck at a sub shop. He literally would not waste calories--he wouldnt even have a tictac because of the calories--only calorie free mints! He did accomplish a great deal, and I was proud of him. Until he appeared on Oprah and apparently decided that I was worth mentioning when he told Oprah that he never dated when he was fat, and didnt have much of a life (even though we went on trips to different cities together at least every 3 months!). Needless to say I harbor some bitterness towards him because he hurt me so much. For example, I was with him the weekend he made his goal weight, and the first thing he said to me was --"Vick, this is so great, I can finally date the kind of girls I've always wanted to!" (Meaning not a fat girl like me--even though we had dated for so long, and meant so much to eachother)... Personally I am sick of seeing his commercials, but whatever, Subway and Jared are both making a fortune off this campaign, so I see no end in sight... And for those who think Jared won't maintain his loss very long, even though I'm not his biggest fan, I know he would never let himself get back to the way he used to be--he is too happy with his new life to ever go back to his bad habits. I know most dieters say that, but I know first hand how he's handled the change, and he'll never go back to fat again, trust me!
   — Vicki A.