MovieChat Forums > You Are What You Eat (2004) Discussion > This whole show is flawed.

This whole show is flawed.

posted 16 years ago by Donny_Stay
6 replies | jump to latest

I don't think anyone questions that the people on this show need to make serious lifestyle and diet changes. In that sense, there is nothing wrong with Gillian's approach.

The problem is that she forces them all to eat the most disgusting, horrendous foods. And I used to be vegan, so it's not like I'm a paunchy epicure bemoaning the absence of foie gras or something. I mean there are perfectly tasty vegan meals she could be offering these people. Instead they get horrible wheat germ smoothies, unmolested tofu, etc. Well if that's what you're insisting that healthy people eat, then no wonder all these people are fat! Plus, these are people who are accustomed to eat extremely bad food. You think people accustomed to daily fry-ups are going to tolerate wheat germ dinners?

The detox program argument is weak too: how exactly is her regimen supposed to help these people? What's going to happen to these people when Gillian's cameras go away?

A better idea would be to get a cook of some sort to cook the meals with Gillian's guidance. Gillian's meals are disgusting; she obviously doesn't care about flavor. Get someone like Jamie Oliver to help with the food, then show the people that eating right does not need to mean eliminating flavor. Don't tell them they're fat, then force them to eat soy all the time. That's completely worthless.

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My power is discombobulatingly devastating.

[–] LizardHead61 16 years ago

I 100% agree with you. Her diet is too extreme on the other end and bound to fail!

[–] lisaboothe 16 years ago

Absolutly spot on! I love veggies and "healthy" food but not cucumber bloody carrot smoothies! I'd hav to just stay fat if I were forced with a choice between the two!

[–] abbysomething 15 years ago

I completely agree. Her food looks so gross but WORSE when someone doesn't like it, she makes them eat it anyway! With all the food choices out there WHY would you force someone to eat fish if they hate it? Someone should smack her for the halibut.

[–] Mellb 15 years ago

Actually, sorry, I disagree. Like you said, it's a detox, they're only supposed to keep it up for those eight weeks and then just eat normal healthy foods. Eating unmolested germs (that made me laugh by the way!) just flushes out toxins and makes them lose loads of weight really quickly to give them confidence that eating healthily does work. They're not supposed to eat like that forever, I don't think you could :/
And personally, I could eat that stuff, I love that kind of thing!

[–] Chococat0518 15 years ago

I don't think anyone questions that the people on this show need to make serious lifestyle and diet changes. In that sense, there is nothing wrong with Gillian's approach.

The problem is that she forces them all to eat the most disgusting, horrendous foods. And I used to be vegan, so it's not like I'm a paunchy epicure bemoaning the absence of foie gras or something. I mean there are perfectly tasty vegan meals she could be offering these people. Instead they get horrible wheat germ smoothies, unmolested tofu, etc. Well if that's what you're insisting that healthy people eat, then no wonder all these people are fat! Plus, these are people who are accustomed to eat extremely bad food. You think people accustomed to daily fry-ups are going to tolerate wheat germ dinners?

The detox program argument is weak too: how exactly is her regimen supposed to help these people? What's going to happen to these people when Gillian's cameras go away?

A better idea would be to get a cook of some sort to cook the meals with Gillian's guidance. Gillian's meals are disgusting; she obviously doesn't care about flavor. Get someone like Jamie Oliver to help with the food, then show the people that eating right does not need to mean eliminating flavor. Don't tell them they're fat, then force them to eat soy all the time. That's completely worthless.

I completely agree!

[–] Gwasgray 15 years ago

Obviously it's good to eat plenty of fruit of veg but every time I see the new diet Gillian lays out on the table it always looks very unrealistic, like the diet of a hardcore vegan or health-freak. And it must be difficult for people who aren't used to that kind of food to switch to that. The subjects talk about how long it actually takes to make these broths that Gillian wants them to have, some have to get up at least an hour earlier each morning to make the stuff. And it probably does taste vile, and not just to people dependant on sugary and fatty foods.

I've seen experts saying that it's not good the way she put these obese people on crash diets and her advice could be dangerous if followed to the limit. I've read that Guardian article by that doctor, and it's quite clear she's a bit misguided and deluded. I don't think she's that mean all the time to her subjects, she clearly has good intentions but the bad thing is that she probably doesn't know what she's really talking about, she's could well be giving people false advice. What gets me as well is that while some of the people on the program are far too big, she's a tiny woman so everyone probably seems big and ungainly to her! Here's her next to a man who, according to the text on the page, is only 5'6"!! http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/Y/yawye/series3.ht ml

And that Supersize Vs. Superskinny program is ridiculous, both the fat and thin person's diets are very unhealthy so why should they swap?