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Alrighty, after reading about 100 comments about Alton Brown's weight loss over the last month and a half or so, I'm getting a little annoyed.
People are talking about him the way we talk about too-skinny female celebrities. Everyone's acting like they're just SOOOO concerned (is he sick? does he have an eating disorder??) about him, when it's clear they just want to judge him. It's the exact same thing you see when people would talk about Kiera Knightly or Angelina Jolie, acting like because these people make a living being on screen, their bodies are suddenly only for public display.
Alton Brown was overweight and had a diet laden with lots of sweets and alcohol. He decided to stop eating crap and start taking care of himself. As someone in the process of losing 50 pounds, I can guess what some of the reasons were. Maybe he couldn't move around as quickly and easily as he wanted, realizing that going up stairs left him winded? Maybe his clothes started to fit tighter, and he didn't want to have to go up a size again? Maybe his doctor measured his body fat percentage and it was too high, even if he didn't "look" fat. Or maybe, just maybe, he wanted to be a strong, healthy role model for his daughter, and be healthy enough to watch her grow into adulthood?
Why is everyone saying things like, "he's too thin!" "he looks old now!" or "he shouldn't have lost that much????" That's SO judgmental, rude, and NOT OUR BUSINESS. It's between him, his doctor, and his family. And my guess is that they prefer healthy, long-living, skinny AB to unhealthy AB.
I suggest that everyone else just get over it. His body isn't there for display. It's there FOR HIM.
October 18 2009, 23:29:47 UTC 2 years ago
October 18 2009, 23:32:25 UTC 2 years ago
October 18 2009, 23:33:52 UTC 2 years ago
October 18 2009, 23:34:38 UTC 2 years ago
As someone who's had health concerns and has lost over 120 pounds, I *am* concerned for his health. Youre entitled to your opinion, but please do NOT presume to think all of us who are concerned for his health are, in fact, just being judgemental. Youve no right to tell me whats in my mind.
Thank you.
October 18 2009, 23:57:52 UTC 2 years ago
Do your research before you decide what's going on.
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October 18 2009, 23:42:10 UTC 2 years ago
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October 18 2009, 23:43:45 UTC 2 years ago
People will always have something to say whether it's out of negativity or just innocent concern. Why involve yourself in a public forum if you don't want to hear people ask questions or speculate when they see or notice something that's a little out of the ordinary?
Certainly I agree with you that it's really not our business to know how celebrities live their personal lives but at the same time, it goes completely against human nature not to wonder/care/discuss the people we look up to, like our good man AB.
I'm sure 95% of the people who responded meant nothing offensive at all by their queries and concerns. If it bothers you that much, just don't sit and read 100 comments. I'm sure you can find much less annoying ways to spend your time.
October 18 2009, 23:59:29 UTC 2 years ago
And it's not discussion that bugs me; I've blogged about his weight loss myself. But when the discussion is idiotic or reactionary rather than intelligent, then it gets old.
October 19 2009, 00:37:22 UTC 2 years ago
October 19 2009, 00:41:32 UTC 2 years ago
THAT BEING SAID:
I feel though, some people are used to him being the awesome culinarian that has a little extra weight who is fun loving so maybe they feel a bit weirded out by his sudden turn to drop some weight himself. But honestly? I'm quite glad that he's practicing what he's preached. There has been a number of occasions where he's said something about obesity in America and I felt at the time like maybe he shouldn't have been saying that. But really? See that? That whole "maybe he shouldn't have said that" thing? That's him giving his opinion at the time... People are now giving their opinion about him. Don't get me wrong if they are being out-and-out dicks about him they shouldn't be in communities dedicated TO him and his show... but if they are expressing concern and simply giving their opinions? They should feel free to. If it becomes a wankfest, I'm sure it should be stopped but I've not seen that yet. Everyone has an opinion, just like you posting this. Plus it IS the internet some people are expressly ruder on the internet than they would be in real life (which is something we can be a bit happy about)... but it's something we can't really change. Unless there is a new community rule about NOT talking about his weight... I think everyone has the right to comment on it one way or another.
AND although I feel like the lives of celebrities are intruded on a bit too much, a sudden change in their appearance is at least gossip for fans of them. Plus, sorry but, being someone in Culinary Arts... it's normal to look at someone who is teaching you about food and judge their appearance--- ESPECIALLY their weight. You've got to be really naive not to see that.
Lastly, I've got to point out the terminology here, healthy and skinny are not synonymous so that's a bit skewed.
October 19 2009, 19:42:03 UTC 2 years ago
I also think some of the comments I've seen have just been ignorant. Many of them are actual concern, but if you research for about 5 minutes, you know he's not sick. And the responses to those questions have overwhelmingly been about his appearance, NOT his health.
October 19 2009, 01:15:56 UTC 2 years ago
Heaven forbid I should worry about the health of a man for whom I have great respect....
October 19 2009, 01:45:18 UTC 2 years ago
October 19 2009, 13:46:03 UTC 2 years ago Edited: October 19 2009, 13:46:16 UTC
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Anonymous
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October 19 2009, 01:58:02 UTC 2 years ago
and you know if you are sick of it...you can just turn it off or not read. noone is forcing you to read 100 posts.
October 19 2009, 02:02:50 UTC 2 years ago
Which is neither HEALTHY or ATTRACTIVE. And as fans we are allowed to voice our opinions on it.
Don't like it? Don't read it. But until you are a mod of this group, you are NOT allowed to issue a C&D order in the group.
So get off the SKINNY!=HEALTHY! crap.
October 19 2009, 19:35:18 UTC 2 years ago
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October 19 2009, 02:20:52 UTC 2 years ago
October 19 2009, 04:14:05 UTC 2 years ago
http://www.avclub.com/articles/alton-br
Here's a few relevant quotes: "So I’m very, very, very highly restricted to what I allow myself. There’s a lot of things I don’t allow myself, and probably never will. I may never have a spoonful of ice cream for the rest of my life, for instance."
"Fruit smoothies, canned sardines, and almonds make up about 90 percent of my intake."
So he didn't just "stop eating crap and start taking care of himself." He kind of went to an extreme with it. Yeah, he lost 50 pounds, but he's also pretty much restricted himself from eating most of the foods he loves.
October 19 2009, 05:31:16 UTC 2 years ago
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October 19 2009, 13:47:10 UTC 2 years ago
October 19 2009, 15:04:47 UTC 2 years ago
October 19 2009, 17:24:32 UTC 2 years ago
The weight loss did throw me at first, but after speaking to him he seems to be feeling fantastic.
And, he has to be one of the nicest people I've met. I have pics if anyone wants to see.
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