Anyone else watch The Biggest Loser?

Great show and very inspiring. I even got in a little trouble with my wife while we were watching it. Somehow we got to talking about eating healthy and I had to point out that while our dinners are complete nutritionally. They are far from the "healthy" meals the contestants have to eat. Cheese and Thousand Island dressing on salads are no-nos, canned fruit in syrup, etc. Don't fall into the same trap I did.

It's still unthinkable that people inhale cigarettes year after year without the slightest concern. (Right now though...it's easier for a kid to buy a pack of smokes than purchase a bottle of Robitusin!) At the end of the day...if some of the herd is dying off...and they're too unaware to stop themselves...shouldn't someone step in and send them off onto the right path? Tough question to answer. Maybe Darwin was right. Valhallan: Do you really think people who smoke don't have "the slightest concern?" I think they do. They just ignore or suppress the concern because they are either: (1) addicted; (2) hoping miraculously to avoid cancer or some other insidious illness and thinking that perhaps it will strike some other poor soul; (3) intentionally living "in the moment" forgetting the potential impact while knowing it exists; or (4) chosing to do it because they like to smoke despite all the risks. And there are folks "stepping in." There is labeling and warning a plenty. Speaking just for my neck of the woods, my kids are bombarded in school with anti-smoking, anti-drug, anti-obesity, pro-nutrition messages. And activity, as Geek suggested, is practically legislated in my house. But that is in my house, which is not a democracy or even a republic ... So everyone's apprised unless they're living under a rock. People simply do not always make rational choices. Sometimes people just throw caution to the wind. That's why Darwin was right.

Do you really think people who smoke don't have "the slightest concern?" I think they do. They just ignore or suppress the concern because they are either: (1) addicted; (2) hoping miraculously to avoid cancer or some other insidious illness and thinking that perhaps it will strike some other poor soul; (3) intentionally living "in the moment" forgetting the potential impact while knowing it exists; or (4) chosing to do it because they like to smoke despite all the risks. And (5) know it's bad and want to quit, but lack the willpower to do so. It's a very addicting habit and quitting was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

Ironically New York is the first state in the country to ban the use of trans fats. He has a NY T-shirt in the before shot. This show focuses on the importance of nutritional education and regular exercise (something lacking in our nation of abundance and creature comforts). Trans fats are not the reason that anybody is fat. An unbalanced intake/burning of calories is what causes obesity. Trans fats are great for helping one to develop heart disease so I do try to avoid them. Having said that, it is a little troubling that a state is banning these fats to protect it's population. I would imagine that cigarettes cause just as much, if not more, damage to cardiovascular systems but somehow they are still legal. It bothers me when the state begins to limit what people are eating...this is not a mood altering drug we are talking about, it's a food.

Partially hydrogenated oils are commonly found in processed foods like commercial baked products such as cookies, cakes and crackers, and even in bread. They are also used as cooking oils (called "liquid shortening") for frying in restaurants. Top nutritionists at Harvard have stated as follows: "By our most conservative estimate, replacement of partially hydrogenated fat in the U.S. diet with natural unhydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiologic evidence suggests this number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually." 30,000 to 100,000 premature deaths each year means between 82 and 274 each day!

Is it? I would call partially hydrogenated oils more of a chemical process than a food. I think it's great that NY is banning artificial trans fats and I hope others follow suit. Call it what you will. The fact of the matter is that it is much closer to a food product than a mood altering drug.

Partially hydrogenated oils are commonly found in processed foods like commercial baked products such as cookies, cakes and crackers, and even in bread. They are also used as cooking oils (called "liquid shortening") for frying in restaurants. Top nutritionists at Harvard have stated as follows: "By our most conservative estimate, replacement of partially hydrogenated fat in the U.S. diet with natural unhydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent approximately 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year, and epidemiologic evidence suggests this number is closer to 100,000 premature deaths annually." 30,000 to 100,000 premature deaths each year means between 82 and 274 each day! So why not cigarettes then? How about alcohol? These things kill, kill, and kill you know.

Trans fat is an easy target. There's too much money behind tobacco and alcohol to attack those industries. I read today (and I've heard this before) that marijuana is this nation's largest cash crop. I concur. Trans fats are just the flavor of the week and an opportunity for some elected officials to pound their chests that they have done something for the community; or state in this case. I am all for labeling the product and educating the public about an ingredient's health implications but to ban something like this is really just...well, really just stupid. Nobody is forced to eat this stuff just as nobody is forced to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. Educate them and allow them to make their own decisions.

Matt, I hear were you're coming from. The government should have it's limits. However...this stuff isn't food. Remember that wonderful sweetener called sacharin? Maybe 40 years ago there were many who felt the same way as you do now. It's still unthinkable that people inhale cigarettes year after year without the slightest concern. (Right now though...it's easier for a kid to buy a pack of smokes than purchase a bottle of Robitusin!) At the end of the day...if some of the herd is dying off...and they're too unaware to stop themselves...shouldn't someone step in and send them off onto the right path? Tough question to answer. Maybe Darwin was right.

Generally the types of governments that ban personal liberties, including what we can't eat, aren't known for their willingness to accept the vote. Yeah, all those Danish coups and strongmen.