I finally saw Super Size Me. Good film, very interesting documentary. I guess the single most shocking thing about it is that Americans are more stupid than I thought.

Yes, McDonald's probably deserves to be vilified to a certain degree, and the corporate machines that lobby to keep their crap in front of kids should be exposed, but still I find the most striking thing to be that people don't take responsibility or exercise common sense in the decisions they make.

Being married to a vegetarian and future registered dietitian obviously has a certain influence on me. I won't pretend that's not true. However, with all of the stupid fad diets (yeah, I'm talking to you Atkins and South Beach people) and all of the people that want a magic pill, the same basic principles of a balanced diet and exercise have been known truths now for decades. Shit, even sensible portion control is a step in the right direction.

In late 2003, I virtually stopped eating fast food. With few other changes in diet, that alone allowed me to drop 16 pounds in about 12 weeks. I didn't even have to work for it. Prior to that time, I was eating that shit at least three times a week. Since that time it's still rare that I eat the stuff (it gives me cramps), and I haven't gained any of that weight back. Again, no other diet changes or significant exercise change.

I'd still like to lose a little more. I don't feel unhealthy, but I'm not getting any younger and I don't want to be one of those inactive senior citizens. I guess to do that I need to make some drastic lifestyle changes in terms of diet and exercise, and try to make some plan to do it in manageable stages. I suck at that because the ROI from change is rarely immediately apparent.