Thanks.

*glug glug glug GACK GACKKKKGGGKCCKHG!*

I'm Choking! Call 911! ....and my Lawyer!!!

By the way, I fear that this is going to go on and on ad nauseam. Although I appreciate the smorgasbord/pot-luck that has been served here, I think my comments have been fed way too much of a good thing.

Since it is my site, I'm hereby nailing this comment coffin shut. Do not try to exhume the corpse.

Pepto Bismol, anyone?

Mary, if you do that MEDLINE search and it yields results, would you please post those results on your site? I think my site is getting somewhat heavy through the middle, what with all these comments.

Nope, no, not at all. I am still not okay with this case. I don't for one second think that the fast fod companies CUNNINGLY sell their food to people. I believe that they market it and price it so that people buy it frequently, and even though it is high and fat and cholesterol and all the bead things, it does taste good to many people. It is called advertising. Products are advertized every single day that are bad for your health if not used correctly: diet pills, laxatives, etc.

Let's take a step back for a minute. What we are essentially talking about here is food. It is just food. FOOD. Something that we need to put into our bodies. Many people use food incorrectly. They overeat and gain weight. Some become obese and put their health at risk. While fast food may be a part of it, what about all the other food that this guy had to eat when he wasn't at a fast food restaurant?

We all know that fast food is bad for your, or do we? Common sense should have told this guy that eating Big Macs, super-sized fries and a drink is bad for his health. If common sense didn't prevail, then I am sure his doctor gave him this fact after he had his first heart attack.

There has been plenty of press and information in the past five years about the nutritional value of fast-food. PLENTY! If you don't believe me, I can do a MEDLINE search right now and post the results. This is not new information. Now if this guy lived in a cave, maybe he would not know this.

The KFC down the block from me has its nutritional information prominently posted on the wall when you walk in. It has been the reason I have walked out right after walking inmany times. And if that didn't clue this guy in, the fact that most of the food is fried, should have.

I think that this man is lazy, and blaming his problem on someone else. He could have brought his lunch with him everyday. And I don't for one second beleive his argument about how there is nothing but fast food restaurants. When I worked in lower Manhatten, I remember there being a deli, or salad bar on every corner.

This many is looking for a hand-out and it is disgusting. I am not tryint to defent the fast food chains here, but if you are gonna sue them for something, sue them for unfair labor practices, or unionbusting, not because you ate too much of their food and are fat.

I am hoping that the court laughs this one right out the door.

(-

P(-

Now granted, that's a mighty small hammer. But still, Extremely well done, Shawn.

And Thomas - I don't drink either. But I do know that bars actually ARE held responsible if they keep serving someone who is clearly too intoxicated to have another drink. At least in my area, anyway. That's why they have the right to refuse people. Am I saying that Billy Zits-A-Lot working the counter at the Bob's Big Boy should refuse to serve this fat guy? Of course not. What I'm saying, and what I've been trying to say this whole freaking time, is EXACTLY what Shawn just said. This case is so much bigger than just one fat guy, and we need to all back off from our stances on personal accountability just enough to see that maybe someone ELSE is somewhat accountable here too. Just for fun though, Let's take that stupid coffee lawsuit.

Now clearly, Hot Coffee is not intended to be spilled on your lap. Therefore, that lawsuit was, indeed, stupid.

HOWEVER!!! - had McDonalds served the coffee in a dribble glass?...or a funnel?....and had they intended for the coffee to spill in your lap, then yes, OF COURSE it would be partially their fault when your privates got burned! Why shouldn't we hold them just as accountable as the person too stupid to see what they're doing?

Earlier, you wanted to know where I would draw the line. I draw the line when a company markets a product that is EXTREMELY HARMFUL WHEN USED EXACTLY AS THE COMPANY WANTS YOU TO USE IT. Is it any wonder the federal government has an entire department devoted to the monitoring and regulating of "Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms" - the three industries that fit my description perfectly?

Listen, I'm not saying that the guy is right in blaming these companies for his own inability to control himself. All I'm saying is that this industry has knowingly, willingly, and CUNNINGLY given many Americans serious health risks (or at the very least, provided and encouraged ample opportunities for them to do it to themselves)and if this one stupid case forces us to finally realize that - then I'm okay with it.

First, I'll say this is the most I've ever been made to think about a weblog topic based soley upon the comments. Kudos to all for a very healthy, mostly respectful, debate.

That said, I had initially intended to simply quote Shakespeare when saying "First thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers," with apologies to Jodi for reasons she will understand. But after reading Aaron's initial comment, I realized it is more complex. Like Aaron, I was delighted when Big Tobacco got its collective ass sued off, though my glee was fleeting as the awards and appeals have become a complete and total cluster-fuck (see previous reference to Shakespeare). Like Thomas, however, I rarely ever deviate from a hard stance on personal accountability, something we Americans have rightfully earned a laughable reputation world-wide. But as this thread demonstrates, it is far more complex. Get out a big metaphorical bowl and throw in all of the ingredients that have been named: lack of personal accountability, ignorance, greed, sloth, trickery, litigious society, big business, and maybe, just maybe, dependency (won't go as far as "addiction"). Bottom line: it's a complex problem.

In my (not yours, mine) final analysis, this is a case of a lazy, half-illiterate slob who's been used as vehicle for profit by an opportunistic scumbag of an attorney. But it's also a wake-up call to examine a problem that increasingly plagues the US, no matter where the blame falls and what the solution is.

Nice comment in response to my post Thomas! You made me laugh, which on a day as hot as this (90 in Denver) is a good thing.

I'm in total agreement with both Mary Carmen and Amanda. I'd not even heard of Fat Acceptance before today. What a scary thought!

People as overweight as Amanda descibes should be just 'accepting' their weight and the problems it causes them. That's just acting like victims. They have to get up and do something, before it kills them.

I have nothing against people being overweight. What I do have a problem with is people expecting special treatment because of a condition they've brought upon themselves.

On a flight from the UK to the US a few years ago, I was seated next to an obese man. How he ever squeezed into the economy seat, I'll never know. However, his arms and sides spilled out, and into my (already cramped) seating space.

Eventually, he asked a stewardess if there was another spare seat somewhere. There was, and I volunteered to move. I was just too tired to argue about who should move.

What galls me, is that this lazy fuck ended up with two seats for the price of one. Special treatment because of his self-inflicted condition.

As for people blaming an eating disorder - those sorts of problems can be remedied. I have a friend who used to have such a problem, and they got help and got over it.

I know it's been said before, but it really is time for people to stop looking for someone else to blame, and to get on with fixing their problems.

Dd this man not learn anything from Jared of Subway fame? Heh. No seriously, I got so mad when i read this article and it was funny because I was recently thinking about how this was bound to happen eventually given the fact that obesity is about to surpass diseases brought on from smoking as the number #1 preventable reason for death in this nation. It is so sad. Granted these places might not have the nutrion value pasted right on the food wrappers, how could anyone with common sense think that two "all-beef" patties smothered in oil with cheese or some creamy sauce on top is really halth to eat every day? Oh wait, this guy had two heart attacks and still didn't stop, my bad, he has no common sense.

I know all about the addictive nature of food but that is someone's own personal problem. I could probably sit and eat a bucket of fries if i let myself but I won't anymore. It make take self-control but so do a lot of things in life. It's not impossible. Maybe instead of buying all of those extra-value meals this guy should have hired a nutrionist or therapist. I hate fast food chains as much as the next person, but when it comes down to it people need to realize how unhealthy they are living and make that change.

Then again, I will agree with those who mentioned the fact that fast food and pre-packaged meals are an economic alternative to those who really have no money (I'm guessing this isn't the the case for this man since he seems to have the cash to hire a lawyer for this frivolity). I live in Philadelphia and when I go into the parts that have less money you can find one of every fast food chain anywhere you go. Those dollar menus make it seem like it's an easy way to get more food for you money.

I'll also agree with the whole "super-sizing" thing. Ugh. Does anyone these days realize that 32oz. is about 6 servings of soda and not one? Then again all of this information is readily available these days for those that WANT it.

And, no one even mentioned the double negative in the man's statement-'Caesar Barber, on ABC News just moments ago, claimed, "There wasn't no other alternative" to eating fast food.'

WHAT'S THIS WORLD COMING TO?

Basically, this round of commentary have led me to the conclusion that I must marry Thomas. If he's unwilling....then I will be chasing Aaron. I can live no more without these men. Hey, maybe Thomas won't mind if Aaron lives with us!

Jodi, those boobs....they're cute and all.....but mine are prettier.....even if my nipples aren't horizontally level

Whatever happened to packing your own lunches and bringing them to work? Most workplaces have fridges and microwaves...why not use them?

This guy should have gotten himself a copy of one of the many low-fat cookbooks out there, and learned to use it. If he doesn't have time to cook every day, why not spend part of a day off cooking a bunch of different things, freeze them into meal-sized portions, and whip one out when it's time to eat. This would work well for meals at home, as well as at work.

He could just cook as little as once a month...load up the freezer, and voila! Lots of HEALTHY fast food! Not only would he be healthier, but he'd save a lot of money as well.

The last time I ever ate at a fast-food place was a McDonald's on the Massachusetts Turnpike...this was last December, on the way to Cooperstown, NY. I ended up getting such nasty diarrhea that it almost ruined our trip. I eat at these places so infrequently that the crap in the food probably caused a problem in my system. Anyway, I have not set foot in a fast-food joint since...and I never will again. And, no...I haven't starved to death!

I agree with those who say that the fast-food joints are NOT liable for this guy's weight problem. No one forced him to eat there. His own laziness is to blame here. I don't feel sorry for him at all.

One more thing. If you want to know how many fat grams, calories, and every other gram of anything is in a burger at a fast food restaurant...all you have to do is ask! They are LEGALY required to have them sitting there at the registered for you to see. Shoot, Carls Jr. Posts it right up on the wall as you walk in. Taco Bell has fliers sitting at the registers. PLUS..you can go on any of the fast food websites and get the nutritional info there. I'm sorry, but even if you didn't know anything about nutrition, surely a red flag would go off when you see a whopper has 53 grams of fat! It's not like they try and fool you, the information is right there. You just have to care to take note of it.

This is just a sad story. Someone is trying to blame someone else for their own obestiy, when in reality it was their fault. It's a sad sad thing.

Why didn't this guy try going to the grocery store, getting some food, cooking it at home and eating it? You know why, he was too lazy, and it was easier for him just to jump in the car go to the drive through and eat. He would actually have to work (a teeny tiny bit) if he was cooking his own meals.

I have long been a believer that fast food is the devil (haha). I eat it once a month at the most, and thats usually because I'm so tired I can't bare the thought of having to cook. I'm not trying to preach, I'm just saying, this guy was just plain lazy. The along with his fast food habit made him lazy.

Here is a tip...
Lay off the fast food for a while, and start walking (he lives in NY..walking is just THE way there) and I betcha anything, the weight would pour off this guy!

I also have a problem with that fat acceptance thing. I visited their fat acceptance board one day. I was reading through the posts, and I saw thing's I couldn't even believe. They were talking about how hard it is for them to wipe after going to the bathroom, and how they need extra special attachments for the shower. I'm sorry, but when you get THAT big, you cant be happy. How can you accept a life like that? Eeek..it's sad. Then, they want special treatment because it's so hard for them to get around. It's not like someone who was born handicapped, they deserve the special treatment, but when someone just can't give up the fatty foods, they don't deserve the special treatment.

Just like that Karyn chick, they got themselves into the mess, they need to deal with it. It just makes me mad that people can't take responsiblity for themselves.

Even though this is a whole other can of words, since it was brought up, I will say that I am all for the legalization and regulation of drugs. Because like food, I believe that you have a choice to either take drugs or not take them. No one forces you to do so. I would almost be willing to say that if drugs were legal and were affordable and regulated, less people would be taking them. But that is neither here nor there.

Is till can't accept that the fast food chains need to tkae some responsibility for this. I just can't. There is only one thing that I am willing to blame on the fast food chains and that is the super-sizing of America. They have completely blown the concept of food peortion size out of control.

Other than that, the only other positive thing that may come out of a law suit like this may be that some more light is shed on the social inadequacies in America. If you are lower class, and living on minimum wage there is no way you can afford healthy, nutritious food. And it has been proven that nutritious fruits and vegetables and other healthy food options are not generally available in lower income communities. The sad truth is that if you are poor, fast food is very affordable.

This man had a heart attack. Aside fromhis weight, the heart attack should have been a MAJOR wake-up call for him. Apparently it was not. I am sure that when he was in the hospital being treated for his heart attack the doctors addressed the issue of his weight and how it contributed to his health problems. I don't understand how this man could not know that a triple quarter pounder, super-sized fries, and 64 ounces of soda was not healthy. It is absilutely inconceivable to me.

I have no sympathy and I think this guy is blaming other people for his own problems. And if he should win the case and get money, how much do you want to bet he goes out and gets weight loss surgery or liposuction or something like that?

I don't know. I am mortified by this, absolutely mortified. This is a great message that we are sending the youth of America, "If you are unhappy about something in your life and don't want to take responsibility for it, blame someone else."

Yeah! Let's SUE people for making something that while dangerous if abused, they openly give you all the nutritional data about! Yeah!

I notice even the most self-righteous strain of the vegans here have avoided mentioning alcohol. It seems that they only want us to attack the things THEY don't like. I don't drink alcohol, so why shouldn't I push to see your precious fermented addictive substance makers sued for everything they own? You make my burgers $10 bucks a pop, and God help me, you won't be able to get a single can of beer for less than $100.

I don't recall anyone eating 6 burgers then losing the ability to recite the alphabet. I don't recall any frat boys dying from burger related hazing rituals. I also don't recall anyone abusing burgers and then plowing into a full schoolbus. Alcohol is more addictive than organicly grown tobacco, cases more deaths than french fries and it's primary purpose is to intoxicate.

I lay down the gauntlet; If you have balls the size of Texas enough to take down all the alcohol manufacturers in the U.S., then after you're done, I'll join you to take down fast food. If you don't want to because you "like a drink every now and then", then fuck you and your anti fast food stance, you hypocrites!

There are two issues here, the issue of this guy not taking responsibility for his own actions, and the issue of the fast food companies actively marketing something they know is unhealthy. I don't think anyone here disagrees that this guy is responsible for his own girth. I walk by 2 fast food places every day and they've yet to make me fat.

That said, I agree in principle, if not in action, with Aaron. Though I don't think that law suits are the best way to enact change, I do think that the fast food companies should be required to live up to certain standards. We all know that fast food is fatty and unhealthy, but do consumers really realize that a Big Mac with large fries adds up to 93% of the RDA for the day? Wanna super size that (make that 98%)? Oh, and let's not forget the occasional MSG thrown in. I haven't eaten anything but a baked potato from a fast food chain in over 10 years (which has not been easy given the relative absense of alternatives along the highways, but I'm a health conscious vegetarian...i'll pass on the McShaker salad, thanks), so maybe people are more aware than I think, but somehow I doubt it.

Great; A topic so controversial, the British are coming! The British are coming!

And wasn't America kinda founded on a tea addiction so expensive, we had to blame someone?

Boy were those comments a long read! But they were all good.

Wearing my 'Token European Reader' hat (I live in the US, but I "aint from round these here parts") ... this story will be laughed at in Europe.

One of the clichéd views of Americans, by Europeans, is that they always want someone to blame for bad things that have happened for them.

They don't seem to accept that sometimes in life, bad things happen.

This story, together with that woman who sued McDonalds for her coffee scalding her when she drove with it between her thighs, are perfect examples of this.

Having lived in the US, I know that most Americans are not like this, just like most of us Britons don't have Austin Powers' teeth! However, the litigation trigger-happy cliché is something for which Americans are becoming renowned.

I agree with everyone posted so far, that both the guy, and the fast food corporations are at fault, but at the end of the day, as Mary Carmen says, no one was forcing the food down his throat, he could have gone to a deli.

When I first moved to the US, I was shocked at how expensive (at least in Colorado) fresh fruit and vegetables are. They're twice the price they are in Britain. TV dinners, meanwhile, are super-cheap. Is it any wonder that people, especially those busy with children, opt for the cheaper, quicker, unhealthier option?

The other factor, as Aaron says, is to give people more than 30 minutes for lunch. Frankly it's not long enough.

This is typical of the terrible way US employees are treated. It certainly doesn't make people any more productive, and it most likely forces people to get the quickest possible lunch, which favours the fast food places.

European working days are typically 7 or 7.5 hours long, with an hour for lunch. You need an hour to do lunch healthily.

Mind you, European workers also get between 4 and 6 weeks leave a year, and yet are as productive as US workers (and probably a lot happier for it!)

Aaron,

There isn't anyone with an addiction to put forks in people's ears? Not even a sociopathic/psycopathic person? That is a disease. Should we absolve Ted Bundy for his crimes and instead sue Chicago Cutlery for making the knives he used to cut the girls open. After all, Knives are meant to cut things.

Many knives are even (gasp) MEAT knives. Meat kills people when eaten every day, every hour, every minute. So why stop suing at the knife manufacturer? Sue the slaughterhouse; They intentionally make meat products, which by your logic, are harmful to people when used in the purpose for which they are intended.

Why stop at the slaughterhouse? Sue the cows. They make meat on themselves. I'd even suggest you go to a pasture and argue your case before the Supreme Bovine herself.

At what point do YOU finally draw the line?

Oh, I'm totally with you about the Fat Acceptance people. Don't get me wrong. And I know I'm not going to change anyone's mind with this, but I'm going to ask one question.

Why do we prosecute heroin dealers? They're not forcing it into anyone's systems, are they? They're not going door to door selling this stuff, are they? Hell, they don't even have advertising! What if heroin dealers took out multi-billion dollar advertising campaigns trying to convince you how much you should use herion? We'd stop them, that's what. Because Heroin is a product that is extremely harmful to people when used EXACTLY the way it is intended to be used.

The bottom line is, It feels great , and it will cause you some serious health problems if you overdo it.

What was I talking about there? Fast Food? Or Heroin?

Now don't jump all over me saying that I can't compare Greasy Food to an Illegal Drug. You're right, I can't. (Partly because there isn't a multi-million dollar "Herion Lobby" like there is for the US Beef Industry, but that's not the point. )

I'm not trying to say that obesity and/or overweightness isn't the fault of the individual. I am 100% in favor of personal accountability. But I am also 100% in favor of making sure that accountability applies to EVERYONE.

My point is, people who peddle a product that causes harm if used in the EXACT MANNER they want you to, are usually stopped. Why is this an exception?

Aaron, I am sorry but I have to disagree with you on this one. The fast food companies should not be held responsible for this guy being overweight. Yes the food is fattening and high in calories, but no one, not even the marketing people are shoving the food down his throat. Ultimately, it was this man's decision, and mine and yours (when we were both really heavy) to go to the fast food restaurant and drown our problems and emotions in food. So what did you and I and countless others do? WE learned how to modify our behabiour and our eating habits so that when we are emotional we don't overeat.

I am sure that this man was advised by his doctors that he needed to lose weight and that he should bypass the fast food, but he did not listen and it is no one's fault but his own.

And yes, I do beleive that over eating is a valid form of an eating disorder and can be very addictive, but just as with every other addiciton, first you have to accept that you have a problem and that YOU need to modify your behavior in order to get over it. I don't see any shred of that in this article.

There are millions of Americans who eat fast food every day who are not overweight. The key is not to eat fast food EVERY single day. In his lawsuit he is naming four fast food chains. This makes me wonder how many times a week he frequented each of these chains?

I am appalled that this is ahppening and I am actually ashamed to be overweight when things like this happen. This man needs to do so long, hard, soul searching and try to figure out: A. what causes him to overeat and B. what makes him think his being obese is not his fault.

And if the Fat Acceptance communicty is behind this, then I have a question for them: If you are behind this lawsuit which claims that fast food establishments help contribute to your obesity and eventually lead to declined health, why are you all always screaming about how healthy y'all are?

I am sorry, I don't mean to be a bitch, but this pisses me off...a lot.

....and Thomas, I completely agree with you there too.

BRING BACK THE BREASTS!!

Thomas (and everyone) I completely agree with you.

The ideal solution is for the general public to be smart enough to be able to ignore the marketing strategies, taste, and utter convienence of these foods...

Or to give everyone a job where they have more than half an hour to both obtain and eat their lunch - and go to the bank, or the post office, or whatever else you have to do during "business hours"...

Or maybe we could raise a race of people with genetically superior metabolisms...people who can succumb to the temptation of fast, easy, cheap comfort foods without the dangers of it...

Yes, the key is to have a society where everyone is intelligent, caring, free-thinking and genetically-gifted. But that's not going to happen.

The general public is stupid. The marketing people behind these harmful products are not. You can talk about bringing lawsuits against flatware manufacturers all you want - but their product is NOT harmful, if it is used the way it is intended to be used.

Fast Food Is intended to be eaten frequently. Fast Food Is harmful if eaten frequently.
Fast Food is therefore harmful if used the exactl way the manufacturers intend.

And if you really think that food isn't addictive....I was 290 lbs in High School. (granted, at 6'1") I knew all about comfort foods, and the emotional high you can get from eating things like fast food when you're feeling stressed or upset. I am a very healthy 185-190 now (and a vegetarian), so I also know how hard it was to overcome my reliance on the comfort that those foods provided. Almost like...an addiction?

Sorry about this, everyone. I just feel very strongly that companies should not be allowed to willingly, knowingly, and INTENTIONALY put the general public's health at great risk so that they can make a buck.

Jodi,

Many apologies, the topic isn't the problem. Also, this isn't a blog; this is an insight into the Jodiverse.

Can we go back to breast related posts?

and i'm also wondering if after his first heart attack did his doctor advise him that he should lay off the fast food, and if he didn't can he sue his doctor for negligence?

this type of thing just infuriates me, when will people start taking responsibility for their own actions?

so were the employees of these establishments supposed to refuse serving this man their food because he appeared to be overweight and they didn't want to be blamed for his declining health?

Being "stupid" or naive, or unaware doesn't give anyone a right to not take responsibility for themselves. Being ignorant of the law doesn't get you off the hook.
There is no acceptable excuse for being ignorant about your health. If you can read, you can pick up a book and educate yourself.

I saw this on the news last night, and it's no more palatable this morning. No alternative to fast food? The guy lives in the Bronx! We have these things here called delis. You can get all kinds of good for you lunches in a deli. A cold cut sandwhich might not be the healthiest fare, but it's a lot better than a sodium- and fat-laden, taste made in a chemical company on the Jersey Turnpike, burger from McDonald's. We have these other things here called grocery stores. They come in pretty handy.

Thomas, don't blame the topic!

(And this is a site, not a blog! "Blog" is a four-letter word I will not allow!)

The collective intelligence on this blog is reduced by this topic.

The solution isn't to sue everyone, the solution is to not abuse the product.

MickeyD's differs from Tobacco in that they don't put addicting chemicals into the food; Fast food is a choice. Tobacco is reviled for it's destructiveness, but it had to pay up for it's addictive nature.

(Begin rant.)

The truth is wheatgrass can be deadly when abused. Shall we sue them too? Shall we sue silverware makers because the forks are so pointy? Shall we sue power companies because those high-voltage cables kill people when they chomp down on them? Shall we sue God because people can drown in water? When the fuck do people stop being victims? Grow the fuck up and take responsibility for yourselves.

(End Rant)

FFN is a fantastic book! I highly recommend it. Not only does it cover the fast food industry and the crap that they do, it also takes a great look at the suburbanization of America and how every single place in this country is gonna look the same because it has the same strip mall. Great book!

Aaron -- check out FAST FOOD NATION for a truly horrifying look at that industry.

Quick Question....

Whose fault is it that this man is overweight? His own.

Am I upset that Fast Food companies are being held accountable? Not at all.

Just like I was thrilled to death when the tobacco companies got hit with that massive class-action suit a few years ago. Yes, it's the fault of the smokers for not being smart enough to quit when they KNOW that this crap will kill them - but it's the Tobacco companies that are willingly producing the product, and trying to sell it to people, with the knowledge that it will kill them.

Yes, people know that Fast Food is bad for you, and should know better than to eat it. But the Fast Food companies know it too, and still relentlessly market their product at a public that they KNOW is getting more and more obese and unhealthy.

Listen, I agree that people should be held accountable for their own actions. But when I say "people" I also mean the companies responsible for producing the lard-infested, 30% mealworm (its true!) "meat," and then aggressively selling it to a public that they KNOW shouldn't be eating it.

Everyone needs to be held accountable. If you're not smart enough to not eat that crap? Yes. You're responsible. Your punishment? Diabetes and/or Obesity.

But if you're the one making and peddling the death food? I personally think you should be responsible too.

i don't even kow where to begin on this one. as you may or may not know, depending on how long you have been visiting my site, i am on extremely bad terms with the "fat acceptance" people because, as an overweight woman, i do not accept that you can be both morbidly obese and healthy at the same time. i truly believe that the two are mutually exclusive.

i have written about my anger and frustration with groups like NAAFA and fat acceptance blogs, because i really feel like these people are kidding themselves and rationalizing their behavior. i have been there. my heaviest weight was somewhere in the neighborhood of 370 three years ago. i have since lost 140 pounds through changing myeating habits and exercising. apparently, the fat acceptance people think i am a traitor to my "fatness" because i am not happy being fat.

apparently dieting is not on their agenda. no matter how many times i hear or read the phrase "i eat right and workout three to four times a week and am healthy" i won't buy it. i don't understand how if you eat right and work out you can still weigh 450 pounds. but their answer of course is that it is all genetic and they have no real control over it. while i may agree that their is agenetic predisposition for fatness, i don't think that a person is helpless. to me, this is all rationilization. fat acceptance people use thing slike blood pressure, and choleste4rol readings as their indicators of health, when in reality just because these two things are okay does not mean that you are healthy. i mean carrying around 370 pounds did not make me feel healthy ever, and i have always had low cholesterol and blood pressure. yet i was always out of breathe, my knees and back hurt, and i was emotionally depressed all the time. i don't define healthy that way.

so now because the media has really focused in on the growing obesity epidemic in america, the FA people are getting all defensive. no matter how many books they write, how many speeches they give. i still don't buy it.

sorry that was so long, but this is a hot button issue with me lately, since i have been getting hate email from FA people.

OK, here goes.

I'm five foot eleven inches tall, and I'm 240 pounds.

Yikes.

Granted, I've got the shoulders like a football player, can easily lift my own body weight and I still can find my waist size at any clothing store (not just Big&Tall sections). But I readily admit I don't have a six pack. Hell, I have a couple of two liters and some 20 oz bottles in there. I also admit my non-fitness is MY FAULT. (The crowd gasps as personal responsibility is taken.)

Yes, I've switched to Diet Code Red Mt. Dew, and yes I've switched to boneless-skinless chicken, but I'm still a big guy. My Doctor has told me that with my mesomorphic body structure, I'll never get into a size 32 pant. Who am I to blame? Who should I sue? My parents?

This numb-nut who says there's no alternative to fast food should visit a grocery store.

Guess the next thing are warning labels on the wrapping to your hamburgers: Warning: "Consuming this sodium filled, fatty, sugary piece of meat may cause heart attack"......

This is the guy who says he was never told that fast food is fat? Give me a break. This country may be lawsuit happy, but this takes the fat-free cake.

Suddenly I have the desire to shove a Twinkie down his fucking throat.

Sorry, but this one really pisses me off. He has no one to blame but himself.