By VALERIE BAUMAN, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 11,11:11 PM ET



RALEIGH, N.C. - Inspired by the documentary "Super Size Me," Merab Morgan decided to give a fast-food-only diet a try. The construction worker and mother of two ate only at McDonald's for 90 days — and dropped 37 pounds in the process.


It was a vastly different outcome than what happened in the documentary to filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who put on 30 pounds and saw his health deteriorate after 5,000 calories a day of nothing but McDonald's food.

Morgan, from Raleigh, thought the documentary had unfairly targeted the world's largest restaurant company, implying that the obese were victims of a careless corporate giant. People are responsible for what they eat, she said, not restaurants. The problem with a McDonald's-only diet isn't what's on the menu, but the choices made from it, she said.

"I thought it's two birds with one stone — to lose weight and to prove a point for the little fat people," Morgan said. "Just because they accidentally put an apple pie in my bag instead of my apple dippers doesn't mean I'm going to say, 'Oh, I can eat the apple pie.'"

Spurlock, who turned his surprise-hit movie into a TV show on the FX network, isn't talking about Morgan or the many other McDieters who have criticized his film and found success losing weight by eating healthy foods off the McDonald's menu, said his publicist, David Magdael.

One person went so far as to make her own independent film about dieting at McDonald's. "Me and Mickey D" follows Soso Whaley, of Kensington, N.H., as she spends three 30-day periods on the diet. She dropped from 175 to 139 pounds, eating 2,000 calories-a-day at McDonald's.

"I had to think about what I was eating," Whaley said. "I couldn't just walk in there and say 'I'll take a cinnamon bun and a Diet Coke.' ... I know a lot of people are really turned off by the whole thought of monitoring what they are eating, but that's part of the problem."

As might be expected, McDonald's also objected to the impressions left by Spurlock's film. Walt Riker, the company's vice president of corporate communications, said Oak Brook, Ill.-based company is pleased — but not surprised — that some customers have lost weight eating only at the fast-food giant.

Spurlock's film "really spurred a backlash based on common sense," Riker said.

Morgan used nutritional information downloaded from McDonald's Web site to create meal plans of no more than 1,400 calories a day. She only ate french fries twice, usually choosing burgers and salads. Those choices are a stark contrast with those made by Spurlock, who ate every menu item at least once.

At the end of the 90 days, she had dropped from 227 to 190 pounds.

"It feels great," she said. "Because, the truth of the matter is that beauty is power, and if you're fat, or your overweight, then people don't really take you seriously."

Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, agreed that a low-calorie, McDonald's-only diet can help people lose weight but said it may not offer enough long-term variety. Whatever an individual does to lose weight, they need to do for the rest of their life, she said.

Morgan said she hasn't decided if she will stick with the McDonald's-only plan to reach her goal of 150 pounds. But she does have one complaint about McDonald's.

"If I could suggest anything to McDonald's, I would suggest the McMargarita," Morgan said. "Dine-in only, of course."

This woman claims to have lost over 37 pounds eating nothing but McDonald's food for 90 days. She wants to refute Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Supersize Me" by showing that you can eat a healthy diet at McDonald's. She ate mostly salads and only had fries twice. Just like the average McDonald's patron, huh? Going to McDonald's for healthy food is like going to a Tijuana whorehouse for the conversation. No one does it.

Going to McDonald's for healthy food is like going to a Tijuana whorehouse for the conversation.

I think its so sad that we try to blame Mcdonald's for why ppl are fat.

People have made Mcdonald's a part of their eating habits instead of it being a once in awhile meal.


and yes....i love them damn parfaits....lol.

I think its so sad that we try to blame Mcdonald's for why ppl are fat.

People have made Mcdonald's a part of their eating habits instead of it being a once in awhile meal.


and yes....i love them damn parfaits....lol.

I think its so sad that we try to blame Mcdonald's for why ppl are fat.

People have made Mcdonald's a part of their eating habits instead of it being a once in awhile meal.


and yes....i love them damn parfaits....lol.

Rhondab said:

the criticism aimed at McDonald's is based more on their marketing programs, targeting small children specifically. having fast food outlets in schools while we're facing a rising child obesity problem is a disgrace.

Rhondab said:

the criticism aimed at McDonald's is based more on their marketing programs, targeting small children specifically. having fast food outlets in schools while we're facing a rising child obesity problem is a disgrace.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

I agree with this to a degree. I believe there's tons of guilt on both sides. You've got McDonald's marketing some their most unhealthy food at children, while parents and children alike are jumping right in with mouths wide open.
Ultimately, I agree with many others in this thread that have stated the obvious; that it's our own dang responsiblity to take care of our bodies. Either people are completely undeducated about nutrition, or they know better and just don't care.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

I agree with this to a degree. I believe there's tons of guilt on both sides. You've got McDonald's marketing some their most unhealthy food at children, while parents and children alike are jumping right in with mouths wide open.
Ultimately, I agree with many others in this thread that have stated the obvious; that it's our own dang responsiblity to take care of our bodies. Either people are completely uneducated about nutrition, or they know better and just don't care.

*"unedumacated" spelling edit*
[Edited 8/12/05 7:48am]

Dreamfactory should enjoy this.

Yea well even their salads have a load of calories in them, its ridiculous

The new Bill Maher book says that when you look at the nutrition information card at KFC, it says, "You're kidding me, right?"

This woman claims to have lost over 37 pounds eating nothing but McDonald's food for 90 days. She wants to refute Morgan Spurlock's documentary "Supersize Me" by showing that you can eat a healthy diet at McDonald's. She ate mostly salads and only had fries twice. Just like the average McDonald's patron, huh? Going to McDonald's for healthy food is like going to a Tijuana whorehouse for the conversation. No one does it.

I thumbed through Bill Maher's new book yesterday and he is right on as usual. I love the way he thinks. We need more like him IMO.

Rhondab said:

the criticism aimed at McDonald's is based more on their marketing programs, targeting small children specifically. having fast food outlets in schools while we're facing a rising child obesity problem is a disgrace.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

like Miles said...its our responsibility to drive past McDonalds. They've always had marketing directed at children....if not even moreso. My daughter doesn't even know who grimace is.....

Obesity is the fault of the parents. Quick meals instead of homecooked meals are the choice of today. Mcdonald's was a treat when I was a child but even I find myself wanting to just stop somewhere instead of cooking.

I also like the walnut and apple salad thingy...lol

Rhondab said:

marketing by fast food giants (just like cereal manufacturers, etc.) has now reached several generations, so i think many people don't even think twice about feeding their children this stuff. hats off to you for shielding your daughter from all this - i wished more people did the same.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

Well, the bigger issue you raised (to me anyway) is these fast food joints being in our schools. Something is severely wrong with that!

Those Fruit n Yogurt Parfaits are the TRUTH!!!

Dude I can eat those everyday....But talk about all that sugar!

KatSkrizzle said:

True, they are good. Also, the chicken salads aren't too bad neither believe it or not.

JediMaster said:

... and there, parents have little or no influence on their kids' choices.

Hotlegs said:

The fruit and walnut is the jump off and I order the california cobb(WITH LIGHT DRESSING) at least twice a week

SweetKreme said:

I used to order the the chicken salads at Mickey D's often until they started stiffing me on the chicken breast and you know sista don't play that mess. So, I had to go to Boston Market which I found out later is owned by Mickey D's .