I will warn you that this post is a shallow rant probably because I have a lot of time on my hands today. I've decided to stay home and rest since I've been so busy since getting out of the hospital from my surgery Friday and I'm seriously thinking of staying away from television for a while because all I keep seeing is these Carl's Jr. and Checkers commercials. Anyone that knows me knows that burgers are my favorite food and aside from soda probably is the main reason why I am obese. But what pisses me off is they keep showing these supermodels in these fast food commercials eating burgers the size of their pretty little heads (the burgers are not even that big in real life) and I'm not sure why but I find it ridiculous and absurd. Why can't they be truthful and show the real people who really love their burgers? People who love their burgers so much they gained over 100 pounds and have heart disease from eating them? I feel like people are being sold lies. Anyways end of rant.

Stop watching TV. I just read that you should read instead ... No tempting commercials! :-)

I agree! They don't show the part when the models spit out the burgers take after take while filming. Burgers are my vice too and I have the most difficultly with those commercials as well.

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Prior to surgery I never noticed how much food porn there is on tv. It is absolutely ridiculous.

I record everything and buzz right on by.

You go ahead and rant all you want! You deserve it.

Let you in on a little secret...

Those burgers are held together with pins and other bits and bobs so the "perfect" pickle and cheese slice and all that stuff doesn't shift when the model bites into it. There is a TINY section of that burger where it is safe to bite into. If they miss, they get the #$@! jabbed out of their mouth. Sometimes there's blood.

And the burgers are usually cold since it is safer than trying to hold them at a warm temp (and keeps the lettuce and other veggies looking fresher).

And they have to do that take dozens times to get it right, so the model has to spit out the bite or else she'd get sick eating cold gross burger. So after each bite, there's a "cut" and then she spits chewed up food all over the place.

Still sound appetizing?

Where they just show the beautiful ice cream or something on a plate is even grosser. Check this link out: http://mentalfloss.com/article/30195/11-ways-advertisers-make-food-look-delicious

THERE IS GLUE, MOTOR OIL AND HAIRSPRAY ON THAT FOOD. :D

If you understand how they make that stuff look amazing...

OK...you do know that if they showed what 'real' people who eat all that crap look like, they wouldn't sell any of it, right? These kind of rants will dissipate once you see how good you look and feel. Then you won't care that these commercials don't show the reality of what eating that type of food actually does to you.

I understand your rant and I feel your pain, but to play devil's advocate...

I am on the other side. Three years out almost and maintaining comfortably. I'm not model thin but I'm a comfy size 8 and thrilled. I get a burger whenever I want, I just rarely want.

You know that saying that nothing tastes as good as being thin feels? It's boo-sh!+. food tastes great. I still want yummy stuff and I crave delicious, flavorful meals. Difference is, my restriction is so tight (1/2 cup or so, about 3-4 ounces), I'd rather have quality food than junk. A bite or two of that delicious mess they try to pass off as food occasionally, but it's no longer satisfying because my body needs quality in each bite. Bread makes me ill, so if I indulge, I remove it. I can only finish 1/3 of a small burger max and I usually regret it because it's not as good as it used to be. In fact, it's kind of gross.

Meh. I ate a lot of fast food to get where I was but it's not the fault of the fast food industry, it was mine. I could get back to fat ( and I "tried' -- gained 20 pounds over the winter and have lost 14 of it since March just making good choices) but I don't want to.

My good choice diet is decadent. Good quality meats, cheeses, high Protein,high fat, low carb. Seafood, olive oil, nuts, real sour cream. No more light or tasteless fat free junk. Sausage, steak, salmon. Brie, Gouda, omelettes, bacon, olives...and yes, burgers. Sliders usually, with all the fixings, no bread, delish. Cheaper at home, too.

So much better than that crud they're peddling, and I'm healthy!

I hear ya on the rant.

Was on a cruise last week and it became evident........grossly evident....at how poorly folks eat.

I hit my six month mark during the cruise.

I've made the transition to the ne way of doing things and feel that it's a lifelong change for me. The food commercials don't bother me any more. Especially after last week and people watching on the ship.

Virtually all the staff onboard were height-weight chart compliant. Almost all. The cruisers we mostly overweight.....and a high percentage were obese. No mystery as to why when you observe them in restaurants. I'm an early riser and tended to take my book and sit and sip coffee in the buffet restaurant each morning. Unreal what I observed people chowng down on. Massive quantities. I often saw the same people in line again when I'd go back a couple hours later to eat Breakfast with my wife.

I saw my old self in those people. My old habits. I'm glad I saw this.

Burger commercials, and the pizza commercials....how can people eat that?

I know I did once upon a time. but now when I see them it turns my stomach that anyone can eat that crap.

The different pizza companies seem to be in competition as to who can make the most worthless pizza, putting cheese in the thick crust? For what?

Where is the nutritional value? It's marketing at it's worst

And yes, every new burger has to be more colossal than the previous.

When I go to restaurants, I marvel at watching how much people eat...buffets are the worst.

Fortunately, for surgery, I CAN'T do that anymore even if I wanted to...which I don't.

I'm 64 years old, and at this age I do compare myself to other people my age, and notice how many are in such bad shape...they look like their 80! ( the ones still alive that is)

You mean those hot models have hamburgers in their hands? I didn't get that far.

Oh yes! This.

I went to an all inclusive resort in Cancun for a week with my family last month and was completely fascinated by the amounts of food (and the number of plates) people made. (I wasn't innocent, I made some plates that were FAR bigger than I could consume but quickly learned my lesson when I left 3/4 of it there. What a waste!)

After finally truly realizing that I could/would go back to the lines as often as I wanted over the course of the day, I made the decision to stick to my plan while eating what I wanted when I wanted. I ate so much grilled salmon, steak every night, sashimi, cheese, olives, pickled cactus, Beans, Mexican omelettes, carnitas... I am Mexican so I was in heaven. I rarely touched dessert and when I did, it was a teeny bite.

I was thrilled. I was satisfied and I realized that I ate better quality food than 99.9% of the people there who were stuffing themselves with fries, nachos, tortillas, empanadas, Pasta trying to get their money's worth. I would say I actually consumed 1/4 of what most people ate at best, but I out ate them as far as high ticket items by 300%. Seriously. Think about it.

I did drink to excess, I'll admit, but it was a one week thing, so...

I came home 3 pounds lighter and I miss the decadency of the great foods I ate. Bonus? I don't regret passing on one bite of the junk.

Was on a cruise last week and it became evident........grossly evident....at how poorly folks eat.

... The cruisers we mostly overweight.....and a high percentage were obese. No mystery as to why when you observe them in restaurants. I'm an early riser and tended to take my book and sit and sip coffee in the buffet restaurant each morning. Unreal what I observed people chowng down on. Massive quantities. I often saw the same people in line again when I'd go back a couple hours later to eat Breakfast with my wife.

Oh yes! This.

I went to an all inclusive resort in Cancun for a week with my family last month and was completely fascinated by the amounts of food (and the number of plates) people made. (I wasn't innocent, I made some plates that were FAR bigger than I could consume but quickly learned my lesson when I left 3/4 of it there. What a waste!)

After finally truly realizing that I could/would go back to the lines as often as I wanted over the course of the day, I made the decision to stick to my plan while eating what I wanted when I wanted. I ate so much grilled salmon, steak every night, sashimi, cheese, olives, pickled cactus, Beans, Mexican omelettes, carnitas... I am Mexican so I was in heaven. I rarely touched dessert and when I did, it was a teeny bite.

I was thrilled. I was satisfied and I realized that I ate better quality food than 99.9% of the people there who were stuffing themselves with fries, nachos, tortillas, empanadas, Pasta trying to get their money's worth. I would say I actually consumed 1/4 of what most people ate at best, but I out ate them as far as high ticket items by 300%. Seriously. Think about it.

I did drink to excess, I'll admit, but it was a one week thing, so...

I came home 3 pounds lighter and I miss the decadency of the great foods I ate. Bonus? I don't regret passing on one bite of the junk.

Was on a cruise last week and it became evident........grossly evident....at how poorly folks eat.

... The cruisers we mostly overweight.....and a high percentage were obese. No mystery as to why when you observe them in restaurants. I'm an early riser and tended to take my book and sit and sip coffee in the buffet restaurant each morning. Unreal what I observed people chowng down on. Massive quantities. I often saw the same people in line again when I'd go back a couple hours later to eat breakfast with my wife.

Amen !!!!!

When in Rome.......eat & dine better than the Romans !!!

Steak, fish, eggs, lobster and cheeses were my mainstay.......that and too much liquor. I had a blast with the cadre of international bartenders and my peeps at the poolside bars. Fun stuff. Slept very little and partied like a beast. Hot tubs and salt Water pools were my peaceful spots. Found a couple bars in Cozumel that adopted me for a day, too.

It's marketing at it's worst

And yes, every new burger has to be more colossal than the previous.

Actually, as a marketer, it's marketing at it's best! It shows a low quality food, that costs pennies to produce in it's best (though unrealistic) light. People are paying $7-$10 for a "meal" that looks and tastes like crap (in reality) and costs a buck or so to make. It's pure genius and I can't blame the food companies at all.

I have never gotten a Bic Mac or a Whopper that looks like what you see on TV, yet I stopped often in the Quest to satisfy that itch they promised to scratch. It tasted awesome at the time because I didn't truly appreciate the joy of real food with good quality ingredients. It was all about instant gratification and that's about all I got.

Now I don't hesitate to spend that $7-$10 on a small container of excellently prepared cerviche' or seafood salad. I don't blink at the prices of sushi grade salmon or a good filet. I'm worth it and I am healthier for it. I am not spending more money because my quantity is less but my quality has sky-rocketed.

I'm the winner here, but I do appreciate their efforts.

I watched Chopped in the hospital the night following my surgery. My favorite shows are Man vs food and Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives.

To ME, the VSG has been about re-entry to the world of normal dining. For 50 years I've been on some marginally effective (ineffective) diet, attempting to control my weight, working for a while, but ultimately failing.

Now I feel like I'm in complete control. At home, I'm the cook and I'm 100% diet compliant. When I dine out, I almost always order French fries, eat 5-10 along with my Protein and then share the rest with the table.

I never dreamt I'd ever get to this place and it's great!

Have been on a couple of cruises since being banded and always come home having lost a pound or two. I'm sooo aware of eating smart because all around me, are folks eating poorly...and to excess. It's a constant reminder to me and I have no problem walking away. None.

Going on a family cruise in June and will be chasing my one year old grandson all over the ship. Was a time that I couldn't even get off the damn boat when we got to port because I had such trouble simply walking. That is what will make this vacation so wonderful. Not the food. Absolutely not the food.

The food network kinda bother me right now only about 1 month out. So I just switch the channel!