Monday, May 11, 2009

The Wrath of Butter

OMG I think I still have Star Trek on the brain because I totally took this from the Wrath of Khan. Sad. I'm one step away from my own Starfleet uniform. 

Anyhow, I'm writing today because the next epidemic that is bound to sweep our country is: the wrath of butter.

Yes, it's no longer a cooking ingredient or topping on popcorn, it is grabbing hold of innocent people that love it and sticking to their stomach and thighs like tar, causing them to unknowingly gain weight.

Its latest victim: former Cheers star Kirstie Alley.

The cover my latest People magazine said it all. The former Jenny Craig spokesperson lost an amazing 75 pounds with the program, and then once she left, she has since gained 83 pounds in the last two years.

And what does she credit as the culprit? Butter (among other food demons, such as Chinese food and sugar). But butter gets the brunt of the blame. Butter on popcorn, tablespoons of it on pasta and on toast. Just a fountain of butter landing on any and all of her food.

So while butter is public enemy number one, vegetarianism is the beta. Poor Kirstie didn't get the proper vegetarianism welcome packet because instead of vegetables, it was carbs and all other foods, just sans meat that made up her diet.

Now, I'm not a vegetarian, so I can't really speak to that, but in reading the interview with Kirstie, I personally felt like it was all excuses and no accountability.

Eating healthy and maintaining a diet is very difficult. It's a daily battle and trust me, I know some are better than others. But when I overeat or have too much sweets, etc., I don't blame them for making me eat them and thus gain the weight. I keep the accountability all on me.

I mean, it's not like that food jumped into my mouth on its own. At least not in this galaxy ;)

And she claims that she just can't work out without a trainer. Actually, it's entirely possible. I do it four times a week and so do many of my friends. 

But the thing that worries me the most? She wants to go from 223 pounds to 128 pounds. Now, that is doable but is that really healthy at her age? She said she has to go that low because she won't be happy at 140. Honey if I could get to 140 I would kiss the ground...which is dirty!

So after reading her article several times, I have these two pieces of advice: take accountability for the weight gain and be happy with a weight that may be more than 128. A lot of us who can't be that skinny already are.

Question for tonight! What foods do you have a hard time saying no to? Or am I wrong in these words to our dear, poor celebrity friend?

36 comments:

EP said...

Wow. I saw the magazine cover where she blamed butter on a lot of her weight gain, but really? I agree with you -- it sounds like a bunch of excuses to me.

I have a hard time with carbs. (Mmm, bread.) And sweets. It probably doesn't help that I like to bake things in my apartment at least once a week and that I really enjoy fresh baked bread. Even though those things aren't necessarily good for anyone, I'm a believer of everything in moderation.

Anonymous said...

French fries. Hands. Down. Also, I have trouble stopping at just one glass of wine.

Living Dees Life said...

there are alot of food i can't resist.

and she does need to take accountability for her actions.

PomJob said...

It's not the butter, it's the amount you shove in your mouth that makes you fat. Pretty much any food, in the right portion, can fit in a healthy lifestyle. (Now I just need to stop eating so much and start exercising more so I don't gain more weight.)

My weakness is dessert. And the ice cream stand on the corner just opened for the season.

Lindsey said...

Um, anything. I love food in general!

Erin said...

I'm with theaterista. French fries are killer and I DEFINITELY drink more than one glass of wine in a sitting. Usually two. Or three.

Joey said...

Cheese is a big weakness for me. I know a bit is not bad, but I tend to think of melted cheese as a comfort food and, when you want comfort, a little bit just won't do. I'm also a sucker for carbs, sweets, and Miss Vickie's salt and vinegar chips.

Summer said...

If I could eat bread and pasta for the rest of my life, I would be a very happy lady. Or deep dish pizza. Mr. Giordano is my bff.

jenn said...

she's full of excuses. sure...butter will make anyone gain weight if that's ALL you eat!!

for me - i'm a total carbivore. anything carbs, and i'm helpless. especially deep dish pizza from lou malnati's. i could eat an entire pizza myself!! :)

Andhari said...

there are some times i feel hungrier than usual and i get in, lol these times i cant say no to pasta and froyo

Mandy said...

I agree, she needs to take accountability. I am overweight, and its my own fault. I know this and I take full responsibility for it. I'm also taking the steps to correct it. Carbs are my downfall.

Hal said...

Dark chocolate! And bread....specificaly bagels. mmmm

Little Miss Obsessive said...

In a way I feel like when dieting you shouldn't put an exact weight that you want to be. I don't think I could get down to 128 without starving myself. It's just not how I'm built. I think the goal should be to feel good, to be healthy, and feel confident, at whatever weight that might be!

Maki said...

Oh I saw the same mag!!! She did let herself go again - it's kind of sad after all the efforts she had made and losing that much weight.. Oprah gained back some weight too....

My body has craved so much sweets ever since I got pregnant with my first daughter. Until then, I wasn't much of a sweet tooth, but now.. I can't live without coffee ice cream before going to bed. I go to gym and workout, so I guess it's kind of evens out??? But you're so right about poor celebrity friend!!!

Moonjava said...

I could NEVER go on a diet. Now hear me out, I can make myself be healthier, but I could never cut out my favorite foods.

I know this would never work for me! I can exercise, and I can maybe attempt to eat more veggies/fruits, but give up DESSERTS *gasp*...Not going to happen, and I have no one to blame but myself...:)

Pam said...

I agree, it sounds like she's full of excuses. If butter was to blame, wouldn't you stop eating it when you start gaining the first 50 pounds or so? Hmm...

Chocolate. Candy. Ice cream. Cupcakes. My sweet tooth rears its cute little head on a daily basis and I can't help myself. Oh yeeah, and alcohol. I looooove margaritas.

Caz said...

I agree with you that it's all excuses. Accountability people.

As for me, I have a hard time saying no to carbs. Pasta especially but potatoes in all forms are up there. mmmmm CARBS

Maris said...

Okay I just did what I think is some awesome math.

To gain one pound of fat you need to eat approximately 3,500 calories more than you burn.

1 stick of butter is about 900 calories.

So if she ate four sticks of butter a week, that would be 1 pound of fat.

To gain 83 pounds, our dear friend Kirstie would have had to eat 332 sticks of butter.

Roughly?

270,000 calories and 30,500 grams of fat.

Add that to all of her other food (and I'm sure she wasn't eating all of this butter on top of salads) and it suddenly seems quite plausible that she gained the weight in butter.


I'm off to get a life now!

Kyla Roma said...

Oh wow, I wasn't aware of this at all.... I think this falls squarely between the categories of "really?" and "you're joking." - no one will lose weight eating only carbs, and as someone who's been vegetarian since I was 6 years old, being vegetarian doesn't mean you're healthy.

Weight is so personal, I can't imagine what it would be like to be judged to the degree that she's judged - looking at her people automatically think "failure" because of her work with Jenny Craig. At the same time, at least her experience of weight gain/loss is realistic. It's not easy, it is a battle. It's ongoing.

My downfall for the past few months has been ice cream sandwiches. Mister bought them as a treat and I was eating one a day until I forbid him from re-stocking the freezer lol

StartingOver@28 said...

I agree that personal accountability is key and her inability to take any responsibility is why she can't "work out without a trainer." For years she has had someone tell her what to say, where to stand, had cars sent for her to go from point A to B...thus equaling an inability to be the master of her own domain.

As for me; Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Ruffles, Alfredo Sauce and breadsticks...MUST proceed with caution!

Lily said...

To be honest, I could totally do without sweets, but I could NOT go without pasta and cheeses. Just not possible...

Anonymous said...

CARBS! And if I had to give them up, I would rather not eat. Moderation is key.
You are right that she is full of excuses but who hasn't been? I am not saying it is okay to give excuses but I am saying I can relate.

thatShortchick said...

remember when oprah had nate re-do kirstie's kitchen? he made it a pretty apple-green and she was like, this is so "going to help me with my weight loss" I was kinda waiting for her to blame oprah and nate.

but I NEVER turn down a plate of pasta, bread, chinese food, tacos or margaritas.

which is why it's surprising to me that I, myself, am not 583 pounds.

Unknown said...

In the words of my dietitian friends, "Calories in, Calories out."

Really good mac & cheese is my kryptonite. And beer. Mmmmm...beeeer.

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

I have always said and will continue to stick to (pun intended), "everything in moderation." It's not butter that kills. It's excessive butter use that kills.

Jaime @ Fast Times said...

Whatever you do, don't go for the red uniform. They always die.

And on the topic of weight gain: Kirstie Alley could have kept her diet and gone off Jenny Craig.

Butter is good for you, but like all things, it's good in moderation.

Kirstie Alley's interview makes me angry. If you're blaming your weight gain on butter and Chinese food and sugar then you really have no one to blame but yourself. Those foods aren't walking into your mouth. You're putting them there.

Someone gotta tell her that you don't need a trainer to work out. Get an effing gym membership or in home equipment.

I have a hard time saying no to anything I'm craving. I can't say no to food, even when I know it's a food that makes me sick (like eggs). But at the same time, I'm happy with my weight. I'm content with my body, and if I needed to shape up I'd get to working out rather than changing my diet.

I know. I'm weird. lolz

Great blog today!

Angela Noelle said...

Kirstie Alley pretty much lost my respect when she went on Oprah and pretty blatantly lied about her weight. I think she looked great, but I don't think she was within 15 pounds of 145 or whatever number she gave as her new weight. I agree, take accountability and work for it, lady! Celebrities are just on a whole other plane...

Maxie said...

I like kirstie...she was hilarious in look who's talking! come on!

I haven't read the interview, but I think the girl is smart for talking about it because it gets her PR. Even if she is giving BS reasons, weightloss (and keeping it off) is hard. I think people are allowed to make excuses as long as they're willing to try it a different way the next time.

Julia said...

Shes blaming butter like it mysteriously appeared on her food..hmm maybe blame the person who put it there? Also..who cares about Kristie Alley?

teawithjulia.blogspot.com

JTS said...

So it's not technically a food but I can't live without coffee. Particularly Starbucks caramel machiatto. But not the sugar free stuff.

chicago office space said...

I'm addicted to Kuma's corner!

Chef Liz said...

I cannot say no to cheese... or bready things. These things must be minimized. I have a wedding dress that is mocking me!!

Katelin said...

i totally agree with you that it can't all be butter. i mean i know butter isn't the best for you, but come on kristie.

Anonymous said...

Pasta. I would fall into the Kirstie Alley definition of vegetarianism -- just cut out the meat and insert the pasta!

Also, chocolate and dessert in general.

It's a good thing DNA is on my side because if it wasn't, I'd be 400 pounds.

I think you're right about Ms. Alley, though. I know my weaknesses and while I'm a skinny girl, I still wish areas of my body were better -- less flabby and all that good stuff. But it's my own fault that I eat what I do and don't work out the way I should. Whether you're 128 lbs. or 428 lbs., you're not going to be happy with your body, especially when you're that unrealistic about your expectations.

The Modern Gal said...

Ok, see I think Jenny Craig is the problem here. Seriously. My mom did JC when I was younger and the staple of their program is the special meals they give you -- which are designed to be just like real food that you want to eat. They help you lose weight because they're portion controlled and healthier than what you would get otherwise. But when you leave JC, then what? You go back to eating exactly what you've been eating all along and gain all that weight back.

If she wants to be successful, she's going to have to learn and embrace her own healthy eating habits -- learning to control her own portions, learning to pick out the right foods and not put butter on everything. You're right. It's an excuse. We all slip but we can all make good decisions too.

Sigh.

orange sugar said...

You must have to eat a lot of butter to account for all that weight gain! My biggest weakness is cake. But I'm good with moderation and portion control.