It’s easy to pile up on the food when you head to a fast food restaurant. Sometimes your eyes can take on more than your stomach can handle, coupled with the cheap prices keeping your wallet or purse from going empty. Toss in a few drinks beforehand and who knows what might happen. It’s very easy to end up with a pile of food that an animal could have trouble eating.
Enter Chuck Carroll over at The Weight Loss Champion and his tale about his normal haul at Taco Bell. He’s obviously battled his eating habits over the years and lost a ton of weight — 265 pounds according to his column — but his old days used to feature a much different view. It was one visit in particular that forced Carroll to look at his diet and how it was affecting his life:
“You eat too much,” a garbled woman’s voice coming from the speaker said.
I could feel my heart both sink and leap into my throat at the same time.
Thinking that I may have misunderstood the often distorted audio from the speaker box I replied, “what?” My fingers were crossed as I hoped for a difference response.
“You eat too much,” she again said; this time more clearly.
I had been fat shamed by a Taco Bell employee.
He then goes on to talk a bit about his feelings, the excuses that followed, the looks from the staff at the drive thru window, and the weight of the contents in the bag. After setting the scene, Carroll finally goes down the list of his order:
My Standard Taco Bell Order
2 7-Layer Burritos
860 calories
32 grams of fat
2,030mg of sodium2 Beef Grilled Stuffed Burritos
1,440 calories
64 grams of fat
4,280mg of sodiumNachos Bell Grande
760 calories
38 grams of fat
1,300mg of sodiumChicken Quesadilla
510 calories
27 grams of fat
1,200mg of sodiumCheesy Potato Burrito
490 calories
22 grams of fat
1,300mg of sodiumCarmel Apple Empanada
310 calories
15 grams of fat
310mg of sodiumTotal
4,370 calories
196 grams of fat
10,420mg of sodium
After reading that, I would say that the claims of “fat shaming” are questionable just based on the order alone. Five burritos is likely the definition of eating too much, big or small. But either way, the situation ended up being a wake up call — even if it was sadly a bit cruel and shameful for Carroll.
He notes that had he been any other age at the time, he likely would’ve died while keeping up with that diet. Moments like this and a sobering reality shared by his father helped Carroll decide to get gastric bypass surgery and change his lifestyle. Now he’s a few years over 30 and living like a new man.
If this reminds you of your lowest point, Carroll should prove that it is possible to turn it around.
(Via The Weight Loss Champion / Bro Bible)
