"Fat Sick and Nearly Dead"

[slobake]

Has anyone else seen "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead?" Downloaded it on Netflix last night. Really good movie, I thinking of doing the re-boot ( a 10 day vegetable and fruit juice fast) he talks about. I'm not morbidly obese like the guys in the movie but it wouldn't hurt me to lose a few pounds. Maybe I should have posted this in the weight loss thread. I think his idea about our diet is good. The film maker thinks we should be eating mostly fruits and vegetables and explains it in a way I had never heard before. He also is the example that this way works.

http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/

[jfenderp]

I watched it a year or so ago. After that my wife and I decided to do the "re-boot". We went 5 days if I remember correctly and I hated it. It's a total hassle and mess making the fresh juice, expensive, I was hungry as hell the whole time and we didn't enjoy any fresh vegetable juices even with a fruit like apple added. We did use it as a gateway into a new diet and did lose quite a bit of weight.

My mother who has Crohns disease does a juice fast when she gets very sick to help her digestive system rest.

I do believe it is very beneficial to your health and I have seen it for myself with my mother. It just wasn't for me.

[Jared Lash]

My wife and I enjoy documentaries on food (primarily ones dealing with sustainable agriculture, GMOs etc) so when this one was recommended to us we checked it out.

Maybe I'm too cynical/distrusting but this whole film played like an infomercial to me.

People definitely should be eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. And the medical impact of poor nutrition and fitness can't be overstated.

But I also firmly believe that the right approach is to make changes that you can sustain for life rather than looking for quick fixes. And regardless of how the "reboot" is presented - as a "first step" or a "jump start" it's still a quick fix and that's where it's appeal lies.

To get (and more importantly STAY) slimmer and healthier you have to fundamentally change your eating and exercise habits in ways that you can sustain for the long haul.

[brothernewt]

Do some research and consult your doctor. There are some benefits but there are hazards too. I’ve personally witnessed people “crash” on this diet and land in a hospital. A healthy eating plan that removes processed high fat foods and replaces them with veggies and whole natural foods will be just as beneficial. IMO… I’m not a dietician or any kind of health care professional.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

Maybe I'm too cynical/distrusting but this whole film played like an infomercial to me.

.

I hear what you are saying about quick fixes. Yes it was also somewhat infomercialish (is that a word?) I think he is like an evangalist promoting his beliefs. I noticeced there is his recipe book for $20, other than that I didn't seem like a money making scheme for the film maker.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by brothernewt

Do some research and consult your doctor. There are some benefits but there are hazards too. I’ve personally witnessed people “crash” on this diet and land in a hospital. A healthy eating plan that removes processed high fat foods and replaces them with veggies and whole natural foods will be just as beneficial. IMO… I’m not a dietician or any kind of health care professional.

Good point there. Not a bad idea to consult a doctor before doing this, something he recommends in the film.

[DerHoggz]

What if I need 3-4000Cal/day? I will stick with pasta.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

But I also firmly believe that the right approach is to make changes that you can sustain for life rather than looking for quick fixes. And regardless of how the "reboot" is presented - as a "first step" or a "jump start" it's still a quick fix and that's where it's appeal lies.

To get (and more importantly STAY) slimmer and healthier you have to fundamentally change your eating and exercise habits in ways that you can sustain for the long haul.

+1

A friend of mine regularly (3 or 4 times a year) goes on juice fasts in order to lose some pounds. She ends up miserable the whole time, and the outcome is certainly not physically notable.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

+1

A friend of mine regularly (3 or 4 times a year) goes on juice fasts in order to lose some pounds. She ends up miserable the whole time, and the outcome is certainly not physically notable.

You are both correct. Fasting alone is not a good way to lose weight. I have gone on 3 to 5 day fasts where I only drink water. I do it for spritual reasons. I usually gain weight after those fasts because my metabolism has slowed down.
The filmaker is talking about a complete change of lifestlye. The jump start is just a beginning to help people change the type of foods they eat. Not only did the filmaker and another person in the film lose weight they were also able to change the way they eat and the way they live. In addition to that they were both able to reduce and/or eliminate a lot of prescription drugs they were taking, under the supervision of an MD of course.
There is also a good explantions in the film of the role vegetables play in in things like cell structure and why a diet rich in fruits and vegetable helps us combat disease. He says many people don't feel well for the first few days of nothing but concentrated vegies and fruit in the form of juice. He says the reason they don't feel well is because their body is de-toxing. The filmaker is not a vegetarian he recommends eating meat two or three times per week.
I don't think the film is not about some quick fix fad diet, if you are interested watch the film and see what you think.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by slobake

The filmaker is talking about a complete change of lifestlye. The jump start is just a beginning to help people change the type of foods they eat. Not only did the filmaker and another person in the film lose weight they were also able to change the way they eat and the way they live. In addition to that they were both able to reduce and/or eliminate a lot of prescription drugs they were taking, under the supervision of an MD of course.

I suppose my biggest question is exactly WHY people need to use the juicing as a "jump start". Why not just start making changes to the way you eat and live without the radical juicing/fasting? I know the answer the filmmaker gives is that it's about "detoxing" and "resetting your body" and such notions but the reality is that whether they go through this process or not people will still have to eat healthy, exercise etc.

Personally I'm all for people getting healthy, eating better etc in any way that works for them so I don't want to sound overly negative, but at the end of the day this is still an extreme/crash diet and not a cure.

Originally Posted by slobake

There is also a good explantions in the film of the role vegetables play in in things like cell structure and why a diet rich in fruits and vegetable helps us combat disease. He says many people don't feel well for the first few days of nothing but concentrated vegies and fruit in the form of juice. He says the reason they don't feel well is because their body is de-toxing. The filmaker is not a vegetarian he recommends eating meat two or three times per week.
I don't think the film is not about some quick fix fad diet, if you are interested watch the film and see what you think.

The science and nutritional/diet info in the movie is hit or miss. Some of his conversations with doctors were good and his recommendation of making lifelong changes is absolutely correct. However, there is zero focus on what those changes would be once the juicing ends. He also frustrated me by completely misconstruing and misusing the terms Macronutrients and Micronutrients.

One of the biggest sins of the movie is one of omission. While overplayed a bit, the advantages of a diet rich with fruits and vegetables are very real. But that doesn't in any way mean they should be exclusively what we eat but rather a major part of a balanced diet.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

The science and nutritional/diet info in the movie is hit or miss. Some of his conversations with doctors were good and his recommendation of making lifelong changes is absolutely correct. However, there is zero focus on what those changes would be once the juicing ends. He also frustrated me by completely misconstruing and misusing the terms Macronutrients and Micronutrients.

One of the biggest sins of the movie is one of omission. While overplayed a bit, the advantages of a diet rich with fruits and vegetables are very real. But that doesn't in any way mean they should be exclusively what we eat but rather a major part of a balanced diet.

I don't know much about biology (say wasn't that a song?) but I found the explanation about macrobiotics and microbiotic interesting. I will assume you know more about this than me and are correct. That encourages me to do more research on this subject. I did a quick search on micriobiotics and only found things that are not diet related so far.
He does not say we should only eat fruits and veggies he does recommend some animal products in our diet just not as much as the average person eats now. In the end of the movie he does talk about long term lifestyle changes like diet and excersise.
I think we agree that there is no instant one size fits all fix for our health problems. But I think the film does a good job on encouraging us to eat less processed food, and junk food. Yes, the jump start is a big part of the film but I think the overall message is much more than.
I think we are in the same place just focusing on different things from the film. I appreceate this discussion. both the film and your comments encourage me to eat better, live better and look into this more.

[darius8]

When I had my jaws wired shut a few years ago, I had no choice but to go on juice/liquid diet for 3+ weeks. I lost 20 lbs but stayed very healthy in the healing process. I was on a 2500-3500 cal diet.
The things I drank was protien shakes, Slim-Fast shakes, ice cream shakes, banana shakes, all types of fruits pureed and mixed wine and sugar (very tastey).
For soups , I made pureed refried bean soup, potato soup, tomato soup, squash soup, pumkin soup, split pea soup, all the soups were pureed and served with sour cream.

I was trying to keep weight on because being on a liquid diet you will lose weight fast.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by slobake

But I think the film does a good job on encouraging us to eat less processed food, and junk food. Yes, the jump start is a big part of the film but I think the overall message is much more than.
I think we are in the same place just focusing on different things from the film. I appreceate this discussion. both the film and your comments encourage me to eat better, live better and look into this more.

Absolutely. People need to learn to shop the outer edges of the supermarket (fresh produce, fresh dairy, fresh made whole wheat bread, fresh meat and fish) and avoid the inner aisles dominated by processed foods. And that's where I absolutely agree with the film.

An interesting TED talk from Jamie Oliver when you have 20 minutes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go_QOzc79Uc

My wife and I have made the switch to grass fed beef, wild caught US fish, organic produce etc. It's not cheap, but when you start eating the amounts of meat that you SHOULD (3 or 4 ounces) rather than double or triple that amount then it really isn't.

I'm 35 and the last time I was in such good shape was when I was playing high school basketball. The key is just making changes that you can actually live with. People at work have been complimenting me a lot lately and asking what I've done to get in shape. And while I mention that I exercise I often forget to say how much our shopping/eating habits have changed because they've done so in a very gradual manner.

And I think that's the key. Don't look at anything as being for the short term but as a lifestyle change. That and having the right motivation is all I needed. And my motivation was to raise healthy children and be a good/healthy role model for them. So far so good.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

Absolutely. People need to learn to shop the outer edges of the supermarket (fresh produce, fresh dairy, fresh made whole wheat bread, fresh meat and fish) and avoid the inner aisles dominated by processed foods. And that's where I absolutely agree with the film.

This is pretty much my regular shopping practice. I might go down an aisle for some crackers to eat my hummus with, and skip the meat section.

[Ziltoid]

Cool, I'll watch it tonight or tomorrow. I'm curious.

[Ziltoid]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

This is pretty much my regular shopping practice. I might go down an aisle for some crackers to eat my hummus with, and skip the meat section.

Beans, lentils, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, spices, mustard, sriracha are in in aisles. I'm not skipping those

[duff beer]

Crash or fad diets never work because sooner or later the diet ends...but you still have to eat. It's what you eat AFTER the diet that really counts.

As others have stated...eat healthy, wholesome foods in moderation, exercise regularily, and the pounds will melt off. My general "rule of thumb" is to divide my plate into 4 sections...1 quarter protein, 1 quarter carbs, and 2 quarters veggies.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Beans, lentils, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, spices, mustard, sriracha are in in aisles. I'm not skipping those

There are certainly exceptions to "ring around the outside of the store" practice.
Just make sure the things youre picking up on the aisles are the essentials.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by Ziltoid

Beans, lentils, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, spices, mustard, sriracha are in in aisles. I'm not skipping those

Of course. It's more a generalization about not buying pre packaged, frozen and/or processed foods as the staples of your diet.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

And I think that's the key. Don't look at anything as being for the short term but as a lifestyle change. That and having the right motivation is all I needed. And my motivation was to raise healthy children and be a good/healthy role model for them. So far so good.

Good looking kids there. I'm sure another motivation for you is to be around when they get older. 35? Talk to me when your 60 and a grandfather youngster.