Ham Fried Rice

BBC America’s You Are What You Eat intrigues me. The abrasive hostess Gillian McKeith is a holistic nutritionist who works with severely obese people, attempting to change their lifestyle and eating habits in eight short weeks. She actually accosts strangers at the grocery store, telling them they could lose a few “stone.” (I don’t always understand the British English terms. What exactly is a “stone,” in terms of weight? What’s the American English equivalent? If you know, please comment or email me. Otherwise I’ll have to wikipedia this.) The narration is quite funny. Here are a few sound bites:

• Lardie Laddie
• Whale of a Woman
• Dumpy Duo
• Sofa Loafers

And all this is just in one episode. I have to say that as harsh as it sounds, it’s really quite funny when spoken in a proper British accent.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the show is when Gillian forces her patients to examine their fecal matter. I know, it’s disgusting, and yet it’s quite fascinating. No, they don’t show the “poos,” but they hold them in a clear case and discuss the shape, size, make up or consistency and smell. BTW, I’m laughing my head off as I type this. (Told you I was a tomboy.) I can’t quite see an American show discussing the same material.

I enjoy Gillian’s no nonsense approach and telling it like it is. I also appreciate the fact that she’s trying to create a lifestyle change, changing long term behavior, as opposed to offering a short term fix. However, it’s no The Biggest Loser. Who these obese people really need is Jillian Michaels, with her hardcore workout regime and killer mantra: “Beatings, beatings, beatings.”