Be honest here- do you really believe he would have been received so well if he didn't have all those cameras with him? People are so apathetic it's disgusting. Those CEOs at the hospital would have laughed in his face if they weren't so worried about looking like @$$holes on national TV. Hell, he wouldn't have gotten past the lunch ladies without those cameras. Like Jamie, I don't care how they dress it up, as long as people watch it and get the message. If making it over-acted and commercialized will allow his message to get out there and make change, so be it. At least he's doing something. Stop worrying so much about the package and understand the gift that's inside.   See 2 other replies

Lois, I am in a similar boat to you. I am also obese and watching Jamie's show has been a shocker. I feel like my system has been shocked. Especially after seeing the mother burst into tears because her son might have been diabetic, and the high school girl who's father died after the bypass. I think that this is a learning process. I know you are working with a limited budget, but fresh ingredients don't have to break the bank. For instance, you can get broccoli and baby carrots for about five to eight bucks a bag if you buy in bulk. Some Walmarts have produce sections. Explore with economical ingredients, and check out Youtube.com. I have started looking at demonstrations on there, for instance to make my own steamed veggies and tastier mashed potatoes from scratch. It is cheaper in the end for us to make better choices than pay for diabetes medications and the other costs of being obese. And for us as mothers, it would be emotionally pricey to see our sons grow up not knowing how to eat healthier. I think that there is a lot of information on the internet at your fingertips. If you want to stay in touch let me know. (Weight Watchers and all those diet things are BS if you ask me, from one heavy woman to another. I can tell you if they worked, I wouldn't have wasted thousands of dollars for nothing and still be big.)   See 14 other replies

When Jamie asks if the high school students will get in his line for lunch at around 11:26, the cheer is so incredibly fake...I completely agree that I love the message and the goal, but I hate the way the show is produced.   See 2 other replies

I would like to recommend VegetarianTimes.com
I realize you probably aren't looking to jump into a vegetarian diet right away, but even replacing a few meals a week - have a meatless day or two can have a huge impact on your health. The website has a huge recipe database which includes nutrition information, user ratings and is jam-packed with healthier makeovers of some of our favorite foods.
I would also like to suggest that if you can get off of third shift, do it. There has been some research which suggests that unnatural sleep cycles - either sleeping during the day or just not getting enough sleep (usually both for the third-shifters I know) can adversely affect your body's ability to regulate your appetite, among other health downers.   See 14 other replies