[fgummett]

CTV.ca | Virginia man sheds 80 pounds eating at McDonald's

Updated Fri. Jun. 20 2008 7:37 AM ET

The Associated Press

QUINTON, Va. -- A Virginia man lost about 80 pounds in six months by eating nearly every meal at McDonald's.

Not Big Macs, french fries and chocolate shakes. Mostly salads, wraps and apple dippers without the caramel sauce.

Chris Coleson tipped the scales at 278 pounds in December. The 5-foot-8 Coleson now weighs 199 pounds and his waist size has dropped from 50 to 36.

The 42-year-old businessman from Quinton says he chose McDonald's because it's convenient.

His inspiration came from his two children and from the story of a blind war veteran who rode a tandem bicycle cross-country.

Coleson says his goal is to get back to the 185 pounds he weighed when he married Tricia Summer. Their 10th anniversary is Saturday.

[princesslinda]

I'd cry sitting there with my salad and apple slices watching the hoardes of people eating french fries......guess that's why I use the drive thru .

It does go to show you that even "fast food" places can have healthy choices......i'm thinking he'd have made out much cheaper brown bagging the salad, wrap and apple slices..though it wouldn't have been as convenient.

With those changes, he may be lucky enough to see that 50th anniversary!

[sprzepiora]

I really like the chicken bacon ranch salad with grilled chicken

[volleyball]

Maybe he is just trying to be mc d's version of Jared. Who would have thought your life's work would be showing how you fit into your old pants

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

I'd cry sitting there with my salad and apple slices watching the hordes of people eating french fries......guess that's why I use the drive thru

Once or twice since diagnosis I have ventured in for a "treat"... but you know what.. after your taste buds adjust to "real food"... burgers and fries don't taste much like a treat anymore As for serving apples slices as a "healthy alternative" for children... why do they have to include a sweet dipping sauce I never understood why fruit or juice products needed to be sweetened

[DeusXM]

I never understood why fruit or juice products needed to be sweetened

Right with you there Frank. Here in the UAE, every fruit juice is basically a syrup (they call it 'nectar') and it's an absolute nightmare trying to find nice fruit juices that aren't a carb blowout.

Seriously, mangos don't need extra sugar. Neither do strawberries. Arrgh! I would make my own with a juicer but fruit here is very expensive because it all has be air-freighted. Tetrapak juice is much cheaper.

[volleyball]

Sweetness can cover all kinds of sins. And it is cheaper than fruit. You can take a lot of flavorings, bad water and corn syrup for a lot less than processing tasty fruit.
As the world gets use to sweeter stuff, you need to up the sugar level to appear sweet.
Most people would not think of buying that $3000 Indian car due to the safety of their lives when in it but think of nothing about buying the cheapest of food.

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by volleyball

Most people would not think of buying that $3000 Indian car due to the safety of their lives when in it but think of nothing about buying the cheapest of food.

That is a great point
I also understand that High Fructose Corn Syrup has a very low satiety index... in other words, our bodies do not recognise it as sugar, so we don't feel full... reaches for yet another soft drink My local store now carries some soft drinks sweetened with cane sugar... I tried them on my 17 year old son... they taste so sweet he doesn't even need to finish the bottle. BTW he is learning good habits and only rarely has soft drinks... if he is thirsty he usually reaches for water