Balance of Food

Merab Morgan isn't the first person to lose weight on a McDonald's-only diet, but she is the latest. In the ever-growing effort to make a statement against Morgan Spurlock. Merab Morgan, from Raleigh, N.C., says she ate only at McDonald's for 90 days — and dropped 37 pounds in the process. Spurlock gained 26½ pounds in 30 days for his movie "Super Size Me." Let's also welcome Soso Whaley, of Kensington, N.H., who made her own independent film about dieting at McDonald's, "Me and Mickey D." Whaley spent three 30-day periods on the diet, and dropped from 175 to 139 pounds, eating 2,000 calories-a-day. Morgan ate no more than 1,400 calories a day. She only ate French fries twice, usually choosing burgers and salads. Morgan and Whaley missed Spurlock's point. Though Spurlock went overboard to make his own statement, his point is that most people who go to McDonald's don't hold back. What he eats is a lot closer to what regular McDonald's customers eat. And there are consequences from that kind of diet. The stories didn't mention exercise, but I'm sure these ladies had their share of exercise. Spurlock deliberately didn't exercise during his stint. Yes, you can do McDonald's and do okay weight-wise. But it means salads, water, very few French fries, and not much apple pie.