Maybe I should move to New Zealand. Fat Head will be airing again this weekend. The listing is here.
Set those DVRs …
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Mini-Post: Kiwi Time Again
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Bought another copy of Fat Head last week and watched it on Friday. I’ll pass this one along to a new friend of ours who is struggling with his weight.
I was hoping you would comment on last week’s news about the need for women to exercise 7 hours a week–not to lose weight–but to gain weight more slowly. Here’s the link to the release from the Journal of American Medical Association, which was picked up by NBC Nightly News, LA Times and Chicago Tribune, etc.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/303/12/1173?home=
“Conclusions Among women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. Women successful in maintaining normal weight and gaining fewer than 2.3 kg over 13 years averaged approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity throughout the study.”
My take is that the study wasted 13 years of the researchers lives and contributed nothing unless you read between the lines. Women who eat “a usual diet” will gain weight despite exercise. That’s what the researchers don’t get.
The real headline should have been “Normal diet will cause women to gain weight despite exercising 7 hours per week. Stop eating ‘normal’ diet and get off the treadmill.”
Like Barbara, I saw some things on the second viewing that I had forgotten. On second review, the film makes Taubes’ work accessible to the non-scientists among us. The interviews with the Drs. Eades are invaluable and the extras extended interviews are well worth the time to watch and rewatch.
Watching it 9 months later and having read GCBC four times, I tend to disagree that there is a genetic disposition to getting fat and think that poverty and culture (Sweet tea and grits anyone?) are what predispose people to gain weight.
I also thought that you were blaming lack of exercise as the cause of obesity instead of seeing obesity as a disease of fat production, not one of overeating and lack of activity. Walking an hour a day may clear your head and reduce stress, but it will not cause weight loss.
Is there anything you would do differently if you re-made the movie.
Absolutely, I would change it around if I had the chance. And if I did, a year or two later I’d want to change it again. There’s a saying that works of art are never finished, merely abandoned.
I do think lack of exercise has had an effect on kids, but not the walking type of exercise I highlighted in the film. The evidence I’ve seen in the past couple of years suggests that it’s the quick-burst and weight-bearing exercises that influence weight by influencing insulin sensitivity: sprints, lifting weights, etc. When I was a kid, our “exercises” involved a lot of such activity: sprinting around the bases, sprinting after a fly ball, sprinting downfield to catch a pass or tackle a runner, trudging uphill dragging a sled, climbing trees.
The genetic disposition isn’t necessarily to be fatter, but to be thicker: thicker bones, thicker muscles. There’s a reason African-Americans dominate professional sports despite being 12% of the population. So even at the same level of body fat, they are more likely overall to reach a BMI of 30 or higher. But I also agree that poverty plays a role, since cheap food is usually carb-laden.
I’ll check the link; haven’t seen that one.
My husband and I bought a copy after we couldn’t get it on Netflix. We’re now lending our copy out and are going to buy 3 more copies for relatives. We’ve been eating paleo/primal for about 6 months and are doing great. Just trying to spread the word!
I guess Netflix is doing me a favor, whether they realize it nor not. I really wish they’d get more in stock, however.
I just watched the 90 minute fructose lecture on youtube, Sugar the bitter truth? It was fascinating.
Yeah, I posted it here too some months ago. Very informative.
I just watched the 90 minute fructose lecture on youtube, Sugar the bitter truth? It was fascinating.
Yeah, I posted it here too some months ago. Very informative.
Hello once again Tom, I converted to low carb when your movie first aired here in NZ last year almost a year ago to the day. Start weight 105kg ish, I am now at 81-82kg and have been holding steady for months. Still working towards sub 80kg though.
Whilst I dont personally agree with the BMI index, I am now considered to be at a normal weight with a BMI of 24!!
Mates used to call me fat boy!! I am now referred to as Kate Moss or skinny bitch, lol. Those that havent seen me in awhile are dumbstruck with the loss.
It would also seem I have retained all my previous mostly unseen muscle mass as well, without any structured exercise other than my physically demanding job, I have however started resistance training every 3 days to increase my fitness level and tone.
Now that I am at a good weight I can indulge in the odd treat without any negative effects, notice I said the odd treat, important. However these days I actually prefer my own low carb treats instead usually, they are usually homemade icecream, with whipped cream and chocolate ganache made from 70% Lindt and cream, yum, yes I am a chocoholic!!! Or my low carb fudge, man that stuff is so good, simple things like that definately helped me keep going easily without “cheating”!!!
Oh and the best thing, it has actually forced me to learn how cook properly and try lots of new things, homemade is the best!
Thanks again Tom, I firmly believe your movie has changed my life for the better along with countless others.
Independent Living Proof!
Rob H
PS: My website has all of my favourite recipes and has no commercial motive, just want to share what I have in the hope that others will help themselves.
It makes my day to hear stories like yours, Rob. I’ve actually pulled some recipes from your site in the past. It’s been listed in the Helpful Links section for some time.
After watching Fat Head again (3rd time, first time to see it all, at last), I was just wanting to quote your comment about “Areas with high crime get more phone calls to the police, therefore to lower crime, stop calling the police.”
It was along those lines, but what was it? It’s a great example of logic gone wrong.
Thanks
From my V.O. script:
In high-crime areas, there are more calls to the police. Therefore, we can assume that calling the police produces an increase in crime. To get rid of crime, the answer is simple — stop calling the police.
Hey there. I watched your documentary on monday morning whilst off sick from work and found it very interesting indeed. After seeing the film and being educated on carbohydrates effects I got curious , so I went down to the local shop to see what i could buy that wasnt full of carbs. Needless to say I was Pissed off when I found almost EVERY item I looked at had more carbs than fat in them. Even full fat milk has less than 3 grams of fat per serving but 10 grams of carbohydrates. It seems to me you cant buy decent food these days it is all just full of sugar. You cant even find coconut oil or butter! Its like we’re been forced to eat no fat. I wish there was more of a choice for people who wanna try your idea but the market is just full of sugar and I cant escape it! lol
It takes effort sometimes. When traveling with our girls, we find it’s nearly impossible to buy snacks that aren’t all sugar, except for nuts.
Hello once again Tom, I converted to low carb when your movie first aired here in NZ last year almost a year ago to the day. Start weight 105kg ish, I am now at 81-82kg and have been holding steady for months. Still working towards sub 80kg though.
Whilst I dont personally agree with the BMI index, I am now considered to be at a normal weight with a BMI of 24!!
Mates used to call me fat boy!! I am now referred to as Kate Moss or skinny bitch, lol. Those that havent seen me in awhile are dumbstruck with the loss.
It would also seem I have retained all my previous mostly unseen muscle mass as well, without any structured exercise other than my physically demanding job, I have however started resistance training every 3 days to increase my fitness level and tone.
Now that I am at a good weight I can indulge in the odd treat without any negative effects, notice I said the odd treat, important. However these days I actually prefer my own low carb treats instead usually, they are usually homemade icecream, with whipped cream and chocolate ganache made from 70% Lindt and cream, yum, yes I am a chocoholic!!! Or my low carb fudge, man that stuff is so good, simple things like that definately helped me keep going easily without “cheating”!!!
Oh and the best thing, it has actually forced me to learn how cook properly and try lots of new things, homemade is the best!
Thanks again Tom, I firmly believe your movie has changed my life for the better along with countless others.
Independent Living Proof!
Rob H
PS: My website has all of my favourite recipes and has no commercial motive, just want to share what I have in the hope that others will help themselves.
It makes my day to hear stories like yours, Rob. I’ve actually pulled some recipes from your site in the past. It’s been listed in the Helpful Links section for some time.
After watching Fat Head again (3rd time, first time to see it all, at last), I was just wanting to quote your comment about “Areas with high crime get more phone calls to the police, therefore to lower crime, stop calling the police.”
It was along those lines, but what was it? It’s a great example of logic gone wrong.
Thanks
From my V.O. script:
In high-crime areas, there are more calls to the police. Therefore, we can assume that calling the police produces an increase in crime. To get rid of crime, the answer is simple — stop calling the police.
Hey there. I watched your documentary on monday morning whilst off sick from work and found it very interesting indeed. After seeing the film and being educated on carbohydrates effects I got curious , so I went down to the local shop to see what i could buy that wasnt full of carbs. Needless to say I was Pissed off when I found almost EVERY item I looked at had more carbs than fat in them. Even full fat milk has less than 3 grams of fat per serving but 10 grams of carbohydrates. It seems to me you cant buy decent food these days it is all just full of sugar. You cant even find coconut oil or butter! Its like we’re been forced to eat no fat. I wish there was more of a choice for people who wanna try your idea but the market is just full of sugar and I cant escape it! lol
It takes effort sometimes. When traveling with our girls, we find it’s nearly impossible to buy snacks that aren’t all sugar, except for nuts.
Great movie; I saw it over christmas (in NZ)and started cutting my carbs a few weeks later after further research. I have lost 3 kgs without any real effort. I wasn’t really fat, but have just been progressively getting bigger every year while eating what I thought was a ‘healthy’ diet. I feel more energetic as well, and its nice to be in a size 10 again.
My partner couldn’t be happier with the new diet as I now cook a mean crackling pork belly once a week, with a dessert of strawberries and cream! As a food lover, I find life much happier:)
I came accross the following study on rats and obesity. A bit infuriating that they categorise all junk food as ‘fatty’ food. At least someone made a helpful comment on it. Read on:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18706-junkfed-rats-have-drug-addict-brains.html
Yup, I’ve got that one bookmarked. Cheesecake and frosting apparently don’t have any sugar in them, according to this crew.
Hey Tom,
A link to an article that appeared in the Dominion Post here in Wellington today…your face was on the front page of our paper!! I got a bit excited! 😀
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/entertainment/reviews/3531587/Mischief-in-a-burger
She’s quite nice about it too…
She seemed to like it overall. I’ll take the P.R.
No doubt someone has alerted you already but one of our national newspapers here in NZ gave Fat Head a big spread, three column favourable review.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/entertainment/reviews/3531587/Mischief-in-a-burger
It all helps to spread the word!
Nice. We haven’t gotten many newspaper reviews.
Great movie; I saw it over christmas (in NZ)and started cutting my carbs a few weeks later after further research. I have lost 3 kgs without any real effort. I wasn’t really fat, but have just been progressively getting bigger every year while eating what I thought was a ‘healthy’ diet. I feel more energetic as well, and its nice to be in a size 10 again.
My partner couldn’t be happier with the new diet as I now cook a mean crackling pork belly once a week, with a dessert of strawberries and cream! As a food lover, I find life much happier:)
I came accross the following study on rats and obesity. A bit infuriating that they categorise all junk food as ‘fatty’ food. At least someone made a helpful comment on it. Read on:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18706-junkfed-rats-have-drug-addict-brains.html
Yup, I’ve got that one bookmarked. Cheesecake and frosting apparently don’t have any sugar in them, according to this crew.
I live in NZ and walked in on your doco half way through. Your arguments seem very compelling. I have susequently bought your movie as a DVD on amazon and will explore it further. Good on you for raising the issue.
That must’ve been some expensive shipping. Thanks.
Rock on Tom.Great movie easily understood.New Zealand would love to have you,plenty of grass fed meat,great butter,raw milk.
Not everyone here eats as Gilly describes-pasta,pies and cakes.
Have Mercy
I’ll have to put New Zealand at the top of my to-visit list.
Hey Tom,
A link to an article that appeared in the Dominion Post here in Wellington today…your face was on the front page of our paper!! I got a bit excited! 😀
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/entertainment/reviews/3531587/Mischief-in-a-burger
She’s quite nice about it too…
She seemed to like it overall. I’ll take the P.R.
No doubt someone has alerted you already but one of our national newspapers here in NZ gave Fat Head a big spread, three column favourable review.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/entertainment/reviews/3531587/Mischief-in-a-burger
It all helps to spread the word!
Nice. We haven’t gotten many newspaper reviews.
I live in NZ and walked in on your doco half way through. Your arguments seem very compelling. I have susequently bought your movie as a DVD on amazon and will explore it further. Good on you for raising the issue.
That must’ve been some expensive shipping. Thanks.
Rock on Tom.Great movie easily understood.New Zealand would love to have you,plenty of grass fed meat,great butter,raw milk.
Not everyone here eats as Gilly describes-pasta,pies and cakes.
Have Mercy
I’ll have to put New Zealand at the top of my to-visit list.
Hi Tom.
Good review – it’s by one of NZ’s leading political journos. So well done!
The response to this thread is really promising for some healthier people living down under!
That’s good to know.
Hi Tom.
Good review – it’s by one of NZ’s leading political journos. So well done!
The response to this thread is really promising for some healthier people living down under!
That’s good to know.
Hi Tom – Just to let the kiwis know that Gary Taubes Good Calories Bad Calories and The Diet Delusion are the same book but titled differently. Don’t buy both books like I did. I’ll put my spare (unread book) on Trade Me for anyone who wants to buy it. I’ve been loaning my Fat Head Movie DVD out to friends – but people are soooo brainwashed that they won’t even watch the movie. A work colleague told me that she would never believe that a pork chop with 2 centimetres of fat on it would ever be healthy (she’s about 140kg and is constantly on a diet of low fat high carb – yeah – doesn’t work). I’ve given up trying to convert people so I’ll lead by example. My weight loss has stalled at 13kgs. Can you tell – is there still an element of total calories that need to play a part in weight loss??? And is the coconut cream/milk with eggs smoothie I have on alternative days to bacon and eggs the right breakfast to have?
Keep up the great work Tom.
You still need to create a calorie deficit and give your body a reason to burn stored fuel. The good news is, when insulin is sufficiently low, that can happen and you’re less likely to feel starved in the process.
One more thing – Rob H – what’s your website mate?
Hi Tom – Just to let the kiwis know that Gary Taubes Good Calories Bad Calories and The Diet Delusion are the same book but titled differently. Don’t buy both books like I did. I’ll put my spare (unread book) on Trade Me for anyone who wants to buy it. I’ve been loaning my Fat Head Movie DVD out to friends – but people are soooo brainwashed that they won’t even watch the movie. A work colleague told me that she would never believe that a pork chop with 2 centimetres of fat on it would ever be healthy (she’s about 140kg and is constantly on a diet of low fat high carb – yeah – doesn’t work). I’ve given up trying to convert people so I’ll lead by example. My weight loss has stalled at 13kgs. Can you tell – is there still an element of total calories that need to play a part in weight loss??? And is the coconut cream/milk with eggs smoothie I have on alternative days to bacon and eggs the right breakfast to have?
Keep up the great work Tom.
You still need to create a calorie deficit and give your body a reason to burn stored fuel. The good news is, when insulin is sufficiently low, that can happen and you’re less likely to feel starved in the process.
One more thing – Rob H – what’s your website mate?
Hi Sonya, the link is in the Helpful Links section above.
NZ Low Carb Info and Recipes
Hi Sonya, the link is in the Helpful Links section above.
NZ Low Carb Info and Recipes
Hi Tom, Watched your movie sometime ago and life is very different now. Have gone from 190kg to 180kg without any type silly restrictive diet. I now exercise willingly and happily and all my bloods and cholesterol are perfect.
I am a very healthy happy fat man (yes it is possible). So here in New Zealand we do have grass fed beef and lamb, but we also have food police the same as the USA. Have a look at this article in the New Zealand Herald and note that the New Zealand Heart Association is opposing the mandatory labeling of trans fats.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10635131
woops wrong link
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10636188
The other one is about the sugar addicted rats.
Here’s the most interesting quote from the Heart Foundation:
“The real risk is from saturated fats found in animal products and other rich, fatty meats, milk and milk products.”
I guess the ignorance is nearly world-wide.
Hi Tom, Watched your movie sometime ago and life is very different now. Have gone from 190kg to 180kg without any type silly restrictive diet. I now exercise willingly and happily and all my bloods and cholesterol are perfect.
I am a very healthy happy fat man (yes it is possible). So here in New Zealand we do have grass fed beef and lamb, but we also have food police the same as the USA. Have a look at this article in the New Zealand Herald and note that the New Zealand Heart Association is opposing the mandatory labeling of trans fats.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10635131
woops wrong link
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10636188
The other one is about the sugar addicted rats.
Here’s the most interesting quote from the Heart Foundation:
“The real risk is from saturated fats found in animal products and other rich, fatty meats, milk and milk products.”
I guess the ignorance is nearly world-wide.
Hi Tom. Our NZ low carb website is now up and running. It includes a forum called The Cafe.
Everyone’s welcome. Lots of mention of Fat Head too of course!
Very nice. I’ll add a link.
Hi Tom. Our NZ low carb website is now up and running. It includes a forum called The Cafe.
Everyone’s welcome. Lots of mention of Fat Head too of course!
Very nice. I’ll add a link.