Originally Posted By WorldDisney The movie never came out from where I lived. You could either download it on a computer or get the DVD from another country, but that's it. Well, I did the latter in Thailand a week ago (for about $2.50 ) and watched it back in America a few days ago. All I can say is "WOW", not so much about how good the documentary was (it was good though), but showed just how much we as a nation rely on fast food and all the reprecussions from it. It doesn't take a nutrionist from U.C. Berkely to tell you that eating at McDonalds is bad for you, I think what is shocking though is that you KNOW it can create all these problems, biggest problem obesity of course.....and don't change your diet anyway. I think if you only lived in America, it doesn't hit you how fat the average American seem to be on a daily basis, but anyone outside of it or at least living somewhere else where the obesity issue is quite low, it IS shocking to you. Watching this movie makes you understand why obesity is such a problem here. Its always shocking whenever I come to America (primarily living in Asia) and see how big people have gotten in this country. Its really shocking as an 'outsider'. Yes, I'm American and eaten fast food my entire life, but obviously I don't do it in excess or just learn to balance it a little more, not to mention just regular exercise which this movie points out. Fast food wouldn't be soo bad if people ate it a little less OR balanced it out by eating a little healthier sometimes and just doing simple exercise like walking more, short exercises, playing a sport and etc. I'm in L.A. and the last 3 days alone, I discover nobody WALKS in this city. Its unheard of for most people here. My own brother who eats lots of fast food and while still an okay size, is obviously gaining more and more weight everytime I see him, but he REFUSES to not walk anywhere when he got his big pimpin SUV to take him places . I DON'T fault McDonalds and all the other food companies though. Sure, they certainly have ingrained the products in our heads from early on and have so many stores that its nearly impossible to avoid them (I lol when a first grader didn't know who Jesus Christ was, but knew exactly who Ronald McDonald was), but yes, I do believe that personal responsibility goes a looong way in this issue and that ultimately control and behavior is going to win out instead of just telling these places to sell healthier food. Anyway, I know this movie and issue is 'old hat', but its now 2005 and the movie came out in 2003 and as far as *I* can tell, it hasn't had any big effect considering people still eat at these places like never before (although they all seem to be trying to add a lot of 'healthy' menus and McDonalds got rid of the supersize option altogether), obesity levels haven't changed one bit in this country and it seems to be just as big of a problem as before (no pun intended ). I guess this really belongs in a different section, but I wanted to know who else saw this movie before and do you agree with the message as much as I thought it had?
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I've seen parts of Super-Size Me, but not the entire film. I would say the book Fast Food Nation is a much more compelling piece of work, that goes well beyond the health implications of the fast food industry. I think a lot of our problem is just the mind-set that we have developed, and that bigger is usually better. When it comes to food, it's translated itself into portion sizes that have gotten out of hand. When I was younger, a 12 ounce soda was the norm. That became 16 ounces, and now it's 20 ounces... and of course you can keep going and going, larger and larger. Now that we've grown accustomed to these larger sizes, the old 12 ounce seems like a drop.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney Yeah, I agree food portions is REALLY out of hand here. I remember when I was in America in July and I went to a Denny's the first time in years and ordered a double cheeseburger. I honestly could NOT believe the thing they brought out to me. It looked like half the cow was on that plate. In Japan, where I use to live, they actually recommend when people travel to America to always order the smallest sizes of anything in terms of food and drinks because they will not be able to finish it. Considering that most large large size portions in Japan is usually the small size portions in America, I'm not sure which country is more screwed up . Let's not EVEN talk about soda sizes lol. The movie talked a lot about that too. One guy on the documentary weighed about 350 pounds and was drinking 3 or 4 2 gallon sodas a DAY!! That's nuts. They also mentioned when McDonalds first came around, the 12 oz was the 'regualar' size, but now that we have 32 oz and all that now, that has now fallen in the kids category.
Originally Posted By TALL Disney Guy <Considering that most large large size portions in Japan is usually the small size portions in America, I'm not sure which country is more screwed up .> Yeek, Japan! I LOVE food, I'm constantly eatin' (but high metabolism, don't gain much), and indulge in snacks a lot, I can't imagine a "small" being a "large"!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss If you ever go to Japan, TDG, I can assure you that you wouldn't go hungry, or broke. God... suddenly, I really want a big pipping hot bowl of char sui ramen. ~~
Originally Posted By debtee We said this last time we were in the USA...we can't believe how BIG the portion sizes are! In fact I think people from America must starve when they come to Aus as we have tiny portions in comparision. Also you guys seem to have a much wider selection of food choices especially in the beverage area. It took me forever to read the boards to order a coffee for my hubbie. I mean you order coffee here and that's what you get, a cup of black coffee! Not all these other choices! (Unless you go to a starbucks etc.) LOL
Originally Posted By iceknyght In the past few years, I have changed my eating habits... I used to be able to get a Supersized whatever and eat it all! But now, I order the burger alone (no fries, no going bigger, etc..) and I am usually full from that... I have never been able to drink a lot (soda or otherwise), so even when ordering the jumbo sodas, I would only finish *maybe* half... I think we have also been trained to eat everything that comes on our plate... No matter the size, if you don't finish everything, you're wasting... And nobody wants to waste food... As a kid, I remember that being instilled in my head, and still try to follow that rule even today. Which now, I just get a smaller plate, which was probably about the *normal* size plate back 20 years ago...
Originally Posted By Rsey103 I saw Super Size Me in a theatre in New York City May, 2004. I walked out of the theatre that day and have not set foot inside a McDonald's since. I used to drive thru 2 or 3 times a week (or more). Now I just drive by.
Originally Posted By basas Sorry, but I find the movie completely ridiculous. Do you really think it’s health to eat a super-sized Big Mac, fries, and Soda 3 times a day, for a month? Of course not. That’s about 90 meals. Now, I would say I maybe eat fast-food 2-3, maybe 4 times tops per month. There is a huge difference. The key is moderation, not cutting certain things completely out of your diet. Interestingly enough, other documentaries have been made since which folks who have done the same experience, but chosen healthier items on the menu (not ALWAYS the supersized fries, soda, and the most unhealthy burger…but rather a grilled chicken burger, or the new subs they have no)…they lost weight, and became overall healthier. Don’t believe everything you see. It’s a no brainer that Fries and Burgers aren’t heart-healthy food, but I think this movie takes things way out of proportion and portrays a false sense of realty.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs ^^^The filmmaker's rules of the movie were that 1.) He had to have everything on the McD's menu at least once. 2.) He had to Super-Size it if asked. 3.) If it wasn't on the menu, he couldn't have it. I liked the movie and was completely in shock about everything. I liked the guy in the film who would eat 2-3 Big Macs a day but never gained a pound, and how the McGriddles originated from Texas. Maybe he should have gone to Jollibee's. At least they have an actual variety of foods. (Jollibee's is a chain of Filipino-brand fast food restaurants that serve burgers, fried chicken, spaghetti and Filipino food; there are a few in California) (My eyes also caught Kim Possible Happy Meal toys in the film. I immediately went to eBay to track down Shego, Drakken and Monkey Fist.)
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>It looked like half the cow was on that plate.<<< LMAO! THAT was funny! I totally agree, travelling back to America these past few years it seems like the golden rule for restaurants is VOLUME...Heck, I think "regular" restaurants are just as (if not more) out of control than fast food places. Granted, Japan still has a long way to go...but they sure are trying to catch up to America as far as larger portions and obesity are concerned. McDonalds recently introduced its largest burger ever in Japan (and, of course, it's double cheese version), and Wendy's now offers triple cheeseburgers which is very new here. Not to mention the fact that Planet Hollywood, Outback Steakhouse, and TGIFridays have all invaded with their enormous portions (none of these existed when I first came to Japan in 1998). By the way, WD, I found THE place for gigantic food volume in Tokyo if you are interested...Bubba Gump Co., near Tokyo Dome (under the roller coaster). I think it was the first time EVER that I couldn't finish my plate here in Japan (which seems to happen almost always in America!). Mmm, good.
Originally Posted By Lake Nona >>Don’t believe everything you see. It’s a no brainer that Fries and Burgers aren’t heart-healthy food, but I think this movie takes things way out of proportion and portrays a false sense of realty.<< The doctor telling Morgan to stop around day 24 or 25 because of weight gain and a chance of super high blood pressure, etc,etc,etc. We go to Mcdonald's only during breakfast. But the film changed our view of fast food in a hurry.
Originally Posted By TomSawyer Wasn't there something in the film about McDonald's advertising their food as healthy? Isn't that what set this little experiment off? I don't remember for sure, but I recall something about that. The scariest thing to me was seeing the french fry experiment, where they didn't mold over or decay. They just dried out.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< The scariest thing to me was seeing the french fry experiment, where they didn't mold over or decay. They just dried out. >>> If you find this interesting, then you really should take trekkeruss' advice and read Fast Food Nation (there's also an audiobook version). FFN is a fascinating book, and I think it makes a great compliment to Super Size Me. The movie of course is very visual, and deals a lot with the excess that fast food revolves around today. FFN deals a lot about what's IN the food and how much society has been changed based on fast food. It will make you think twice about anything on the menu at a fast food restaurant.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney <<By the way, WD, I found THE place for gigantic food volume in Tokyo if you are interested...Bubba Gump Co., near Tokyo Dome (under the roller coaster). I think it was the first time EVER that I couldn't finish my plate here in Japan (which seems to happen almost always in America!). Mmm, good. >> Oh yeah, I certainly saw it (remember, I went on that roller coaster I begged you for a few months to come with me on, but dragged the ex instead ). Yeah, those portions DID look huge. I didn't eat there, but thought about it. Also, you're right, Outback, TGIF and all the rest in Japan are like regular portions back in America.....HUGE!!! I think that's why we always went together when we could . I was at Taco Bell yesterday and ordered a meal. Anyway, the *medium* size cup was so freakin big, I only put half soda in it one serving at a time. It reminded me of my Australian friend who came to America once and actually COMPLAINED about the soda sizes here because they were ridiculously big to her and she didn't want that much. I went to a Carl's Jr and realized the 'small' soda sizes are actually regular sizes I would normally drink in Korea and Japan. I think it's 'small' size the whole for me while I'm here . Oh yeah, going to Denny's tonight. Hope I can finish it. Wish me luck ;D.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Makes you want to run and get chicken nuggest now that you know how they are made... Hot mustard sauce with that please.
Originally Posted By lilprincess There is also a book by morgan spurlock to that expands upon the movie called don't eat this book, check it out.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <Makes you want to run and get chicken nuggest now that you know how they are made... Hot mustard sauce with that please.< growing up we had a neighbor who worked in a meat processing plant -- trust me you'd never want to eat any processed meat again when you see how things are made -- hot dogs / canned hams / luunchmeat --
