Super Size Me

[migirl]

We saw this last night and both really enjoyed it. It's a documentary about the growing obesity epidemic in America and the filmmaker's 'experiment' to eat 3 meals a day at McDonald's for 30 days straight. He also includes a lot of interesting information, interviews with experts, and side vignettes (a trip to some public schools to see their lunch menus and the kids' eating habits was really interesting!). The effects of his experiment on his body were amazing; he gained 25 pounds and almost went into liver failure after just one month! We hardly ever eat fast food so it was really interesting to see it from a different perspective. I'd definitely recommend this one.

[Auspicious]

We saw this a few weeks ago and we both agreed it was excellent. And surprisingly entertaining for a documentary. The funniest part is watching his doctors go from amused (ha ha, an all-McDonalds diet! I bet your triglycerides go up) to genuinely concerned (Holy crap these test numbers are like someone who's been on a drinking binge--have you ever seen Leaving Las Vegas . . .). I definitely thought of this type of fast food as junk before, but now I really see it as poisonous in large quantities, like alcohol or cigarettes.

I'll personally attest to the fact that a person can definitely achieve fatness without consuming a single fast-food burger--I've been in McDs exactly once since I moved to NY five years ago, and that visit stands out because I remember being surprised by how put off I was by the food. Especially since I used to love it as a kid.

But America does have a lot of weird and interesting stuff going on right now with its food culture, and I thought this movie did a great job of exploring all that plus this guy's individual experience with his experiment, and mixing the two into a very watchable movie.

[DCJenn]

This is next on the Netflix list! I'm very interested!

Jenn

[mommax3]

We saw this a few weeks ago and really liked it. Neither of us ever want to eat a fast food burger again. That scene where he puts all the different stuff under glass to see how long it takes to rot......any mom who ever let her kids eat french fries in the car knew the answer to that one!

Sally

I loved this movie! I think it should be required viewing for all junior high kids AND school administrators. My junior high had a snack bar where all they sold was corndogs, pizza, soda, and milkshakes. Talk about getting kids off to a healthy start....

My brother's girlfriend worked at a fast food restaurant during high school and she said she would often times see the same customers come in every single night to pick up dinner.
::

I really want to see this one. My brother IL saw it and said he can't stomach the thought of ever eating fast food again.

A few weeks ago I went to a friend's wedding, and she had gained so much weight I honestly didn't recognize her. It had only been a bit over a year since the last time I saw her. Then she told me she eats at McDonalds at least once a day. I always think of her when I hear about this movie. Its sad.

[DCJenn]

Seriously, this has to be one of the BEST documentaries that I have ever seen. I think it needs to be required in health and nutrition classes from junior high on up!

Great movie!

Jenn

[Cumberland]

I thought this was a good doc, but it was twice as long as necessary to get the point across IMO. I got bored with it. And I thought he was acting a bit when he had to eat the whole supersized meal the first time. I havent eaten at McDonalds in years but if I ate a big ole combo meal, I dont think I would throw up. But I like fries

[DCJenn]

Does anyone know if his TV show is still on? We caught the first episode and really thought it was thought provoking and interesting. (he and his girlfriend tried to live for a month on minimum wage jobs) But of course, if it makes you think or makes you uncomfortable, then it's probably all ready been taken off the air.

Jenn

Here Jenn -

http://www.realitytvworld.com/index/art ... ?s=1004256

It was renewed for a 2nd season on FX. I did a little quick online research b/c the topic you mentioned sounded interesting. In the process I found a site called http://www.spurlockwatch.com where they talked about 30 Days and about other stuff he's done. There's a really awful, MTV style thing called "I Bet You Will" where he sees how much he has to pay people do eat vile things (ummm, dog feces was one of the things, an ice cream cone of shortening was another).

Haven't seen the movie but the 30 Days show is pretty good.

[PrincessFiona]

I haven't seen the movie yet...but I'm definitely putting it in our Netflix cue.

I worked at McDonalds while I was pg with Andrew and Thomas was starting residency. (Long story, but in germany the first degree that you earn at college is a master's degree and my bachelor's degree was useless to me. I couldn't get a retail job because I didn't have 2 year retail training certifcate from a german technical school...so..McDs it was...) I ended up eating lunch there and sometimes bring home dinner for Thomas and I.....I tried to eat healthfully (sort of an oxymoron)...I didn't eat the may0 and tried to really...really cut down on eating things like french fries (though I confess I ate way too many at hte beginning of my pregnancy). I even ate the burgers bunless by the end. The result? I gained nearly 70 pounds during my pregnancy and at the end was gaining 15 pounds a MONTH. It was devastating. I wasn't eating 'more' than usual and I was exercising daily. It didn't occur to me at that time that although the quantity of food I was eating wasn't more, the content had higher fat and calories. I struggle with my weight to this day and I think that my McDonalds pregnancy is why :yum:

Just watched this and thought it was a great movie. DH and I made some early New Year's resolutions regarding diet and exercise -- and none of those involve fast food. As Julie mentioned, McDonalds isn't the only thing that causes weight gain.

As the lab tests were shown, DH was as surprised as the drs on the movie and had the "Now that I see it, it does make sense" reaction.

I must have missed the rotting food under the glass part? Helllllooooo Nellie.....

I found the school lunches part of the movie quite interesting, especially the part about the alternative high school kids in Wisc? Ill? and how the healthier lunch menus seemed to change their behavior.