You’ve heard the saying before that “you are what you eat”, right? Well a couple days ago I came upon a show on BBC America, which is titled just that – You Are What You Eat.
It’s really a must-watch in my opinion, have you seen it yet? According to BBC America’s site, it premiered in September ’07, but this is the first time I’ve happened upon it.
You Are What You Eat is a show that highlights a different obese individual (or family) from Britain during each 30 minute episode. The show documents how they got there, which from what I’ve seen so far was by eating lots of sugar, bread, butters, (unhealthy) fats, and take out (over there it’s called takeaway), along with a lack of exercise. Basically, whatever that person’s path was to obesity, they cover it. In one of the episodes I saw they put all of the food on a table that one obese woman ate during a week. It was quite interesting, and she quite was grossed out by it! That’s something that really brings to light what you’re putting in your body, when you keep a food journal and document every little thing you eat in a week and then lay it out on the table all at once!
To help these Brits change their ways the show has on staff Gillian McKeith, a holistic nutritionist who makes house calls. Gillian visits the individuals and helps them get on the healthy path of eating clean, whole foods. She gives them recipes, shows them how to easily cook for themselves and their family, how to shop, and whatever else they need help with. If they don’t like the taste of the food they’re eating she will come back and give them some healthy tips on how to make a healthy dressing or use different spices, whatever the case may be.
They also talk about all sorts of different health related issues that the participant(s) on the show might be having, such as gastrointestinal difficulties caused from eating an unhealthy diet, and how to correct that through their healthy eating plan. Gillian covers a little bit about exercise but she mainly focuses on how to eat healthy and clean.
To me, You Are What You Eat is very motivating in so many ways, one being that they document the participant’s weight loss by coming back 6 weeks after they started their new healthy lifestyle. They share all about how much better they feel from eating whole, fresh foods, how they’ve changed unhealthy habits, how they can move easier, and how they overall just feel a whole heck of a lot better! Of course they’re very happy about losing weight, too, and they share how they are committed to continuing on with their healthy lifestyle.
I really recommend taking a look at You Are What You Eat. You can learn some new recipes and I just love seeing how other people changing to a lifestyle of eating whole foods instead of processed. If you’re like me then this show is right up your alley, too. I’m looking forward to seeing future episodes!
If you’ve already watched You Are What You Eat I’d love to hear what you think about it and if you found it motivating. If you haven’t seen it yet you can check out the schedule for You Are What You Eat and gain some motivation for dumping the processed and fast foods today!
Hi JoLynn – I don’t know if this is the same one I watched here in the UK a good while ago. But the one I saw was really scary.
It was about a family from a deprived area. They showed an artistic impression of what they children would look like when they were older, if they continued their old eating habits. It was absolutely terrifying.
Does that sounds like the same one?
An effective weight loss program will start off by calculating the number of calories that you consume everyday.
Hi Catherine!
That sounds like a different show that I remember hearing about but I haven’t watched it. You Are What You Eat doesn’t show what any of the people will look like if they don’t change, at least not the episodes that I’ve seen. It’s really good, though. 🙂
of the type of food they eat to get back on track? When is this show on? Thanks for the helpful post, it seems like an inspiring show. I think too many people (Americans in particular), rely on surgery to drop weight instead of actually losing it through exercise and diet. I’m not surprised this is a British show.
Hi,
They’re eating whole, fresh foods — leans meats, fresh fruits & veggies, whole grains. The kind of food that isn’t boxed, bagged, and processed. They learn easy, tasty recipes from the nutritionist so that they can eat healthy on their own (don’t have to buy some kind of “diet” food that isn’t fresh anyway 😉 ).
It’s best that you use the link in my article to check show times because it depends on where you’re at. It’s in the last paragraph of my article above.
The show is really motivating, hope this helps and you get to watch it! 🙂
Do you answer questions or should I look somewhere else.
Hi Lin,
Sure, ask away! If it’s about this post you can leave another comment with your question, or you can use my contact form.
Hi there! I just found your site from Back In Skinny Jeans. I LOVE that show! I am totally addicted to it. I discovered it back in October while i was feeling yucky from chemo and have been hooked ever since. I found it very inspiring to turn my health around after my chemo treatment. As I’m sure you already found, Gillian McKeith also has books out and a whole web-based lifestyle plan. Good stuff.
I find this show very motivating. I’m in the process of ordering some of her books to help me along. I really am excited to get her recipe book. I think all obese people should check out the show!
@Keri, hi! This is a great show, isn’t it?! I just checked my tv schedule to see when it will be on again and there are 4 different episodes on here tomorrow. I’ll be recording those, I really like this show.
I haven’t checked out Gillian’s books or online program yet, thanks for letting me know about them!
@April, hi, thank you also for letting me know about Gillian’s books. I can imagine that her recipe book would be very helpful since she teaches people to eat whole, real food, which is the same way that I eat. I’ll be checking them out after getting these reviews from you and Keri! 🙂
I take blood thiner Warfrin. My INR has to be between 2.5 & 3. Since I had my last open heart surgery I have gained about 25lbs. I try to watch what I eat but, I don’t always eat properly. I do control my intake of vitamin K foods as it can greatly affect my INR. Do you have any sugestions as to what type of diet I would need to be on to loose the extra pounds, and one that I can make a regular diet that I could grow accustom to eating all of the time.
I am a 6’1″ 58year old white male
My current weight is 224lb.
I do not drink and I have stoped smoking
Respectfully,
J. Wyrick
Hi J,
First I want to congratulate you on quitting smoking, that’s wonderful! 🙂
I don’t have any experience with blood thinners however my #1 recommendation for fat loss and body sculpting is the Six Week Body Makeover plan. It teaches you how to eat real food that you buy at the grocery store instead of buying packaged diet foods. It’s a lifestyle of good eating (whole, clean foods) and regular exercise.
There are some veggies in the plan that according to this page are high in Vitamin K, however out of this whole list I only eat 4 of the veggies because the others I don’t like. I eat many other veggies that aren’t on this list and are a part of the 6WBMO (i.e.: carrots, tomatoes, green beans).
You’d want to check with your doctor to get the OK on the 6WBMO if you wanted to follow it. I’m not a doctor so I’m just passing on what has worked for me. 😉 I do know many people though, who used to have major medical issues that cleared up once they lost the weight by eating the whole foods on the Six Week Body Makeover, but I haven’t known anyone who was on blood thinners.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. 🙂
I love this show. It has really inspired us to eat healthier. My husband has really wanted to eat healthier meals after watching the show. thanks so much.