Is this a good thing?

[Alex Cruz]

I understand why he is doing it, but is it right to do it..

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/why-a-personal-trainer-is-making-himself-obese-on-purpose-2583990/     

[Doug Varrieur]

Publicity stunt

[mouseissue]

Like Doug said... This must be a publicity stunt.
I don't buy the "I just want to know what it's like ..." malarkey.
Why else would a personal trainer abuse himself like this?

Didn't this goofball consider that he could cause himself a heart attack or stroke with this stupid venture?
I guess he's willing to risk his life for some attention. This is a moron in my book!

[KFAITH]

In my opinion he is just totally mentally ill, unreal...

[Doug Varrieur]

I saw this guy on TV this morning.....Good Morning America is going to follow his journey back to his former self...like I said....publicity stunt

[marylepera]

My husband Tony was just telling me about this guy a few minutes ago. I hate to say it, he looks like my husband does!

I know it's a hype to get popular and what not, but I have to be honest, his story hit my husband like a glass of ice water!  He was so overwhelmed by this mans story and  how he can relate to this guy.  Tony said it was like listening to somebody tell his story how the man has no energy, eats all kinds of bad things.

Anyway maybe out of this mans stupid idea, my husband will wake up and smell the coffee!  I thought for sure that with all the health food in the house, that Tony and my older kids would start losing too, but I have found that when I go to bed they raid the fridge and cabinets. It doesn't matter how good for you it is,  if you eat it all at one time... it's bad!

Mary

[Alex Cruz]

It is indeed Mary.. I guess the only good thing is that it reenforces what Doug's book says, that sugar is poison and the effects... Heck, I wonder if he realizes that its really NOT that easy to go back to healthy at first.. He said that he gets a headache if he doesnt have his daily soda now... hello...

[jen1975]

I agree - publicity stunt.  I'll give him kudos if he truly wants to be able to help clients more by understanding what they have gone through.  BUT... He hasn't lived this way for years and years.  He hasn't lived with the shame, the self loathing, the frustration of dealing with obesity for so long. He has the knowledge and ability to reverse this quickly.  And it has been shown that someone who has a athletic background can generally lose weight/regain muscle faster than an average person.  So I think 6 months is just the tip of the iceberg; he will be able to regain his previous physique very quickly.

[BarbaraBuck]

I agree with the publicity stunt thought. Just another way to pump up his business as a fitness trainer. I also agree with jen1975...his doing this  wont be as effective for the simple fact that he hasn't lived his life -his FULL life- as an obese person who has had to deal with the cruelty of the world, the impatience and lack of understanding  offered by some  and the self doubt that can be all consuming.

[mouseissue]

Hi Barbara and Jen!

I agree, too!... You guys are so right about the psychological effects of obesity that started in childhood.

This guy may get a glimpse of what it's like being obese.
But most obese folks were FAT when they were young and were subjected to very cruel taunts from other kids for a LONG time.
And later on as adults, when adult "skinny" people become cruel too.

All this will lead to a deep seated damaged self-image with self-loathing.
This guy will have little knowledge of how painful this can be.

[izzet]

Definitely publicity stunt, however, it will definitely give him a view from the other side of skinny.  So many "fit" people have no idea what we've been through being overweight and addicted to sugar, fats, etc.  On one hand I think he's got to be out of his mind to trash his body like that and on purpose but on the other I give him a small kudos for tying to understand what it's like.  Some people have to actually experience it themselves in order to understand and have compassion.