More than a year ago, I gave Paula Deen a pretty rough review for the way she announced a very serious diagnosis, and what she planned — at least publicly — to do about it (see “What Paula Deen Should Have Said“).
I lamented the fact that she didn’t use the spotlight to shed light on some staggering statistics about diabetes and obesity in our country. I wept over her flippant note to people about how she was just going to lighten up some recipes and take a few pills. And I even wrote the letter I thought she should have shared.
I stand by that post. I think she had an opportunity to really stand up and tell America that the type of eating she and so many of us do or have done is not only unhealthy, it’s unsustainable and it’s frankly ignorant. And I think she wasted that initial opportunity.
But even in the post, I acknowledged that this was a longterm platform for her, and I kept the door open for her to impress me.
She’s walked through it. This week, I had the opportunity to attend a special Paula Deen event (put on by a Growing Bolder client, Florida Hospital’s Healthy 100 program) and I really hoped I’d hear a stronger message.
(note: this was a free event, open to everyone, and I was not required to post about it)
And I did. Hallelujah. As a health activist, I’m thrilled. As a Paula Deen fan, I’m ecstatic. As a producer, I’m glad that she’s found a way to keep her Paula personality while inspiring millions of people to make some changes.
At the event, where Healthy 100 announced a new “Approved” menu at more than a dozen Orlando-area restaurants, Paula was perfection. She shared some very personal notes about her diabetes diagnosis, including the fact that she’d known about it for more than a year before the Novo Nordisk team approached her (they didn’t know she had diabetes — they just wanted her to create some new recipes for them!) and that she has really had to commit to portion control and exercise in addition to the medication.
For example: Paula told the crowd that during a shopping trip with a girlfriend, she overindulged on food — she ate a cheeseburger and fries followed by frozen yogurt and marshmallow cream. When she got home and tested, her blood sugar had skyrocketed. Remember, this all happened despite the medication she takes. So she put on her sneakers and took a fast-paced walk. By the time she finished, her levels had dropped significantly.
Healthy food choices + exercise + medicine = a healthy, happy Paula Deen.
She told us how scared she was to hear the bad news from doctors, especially since her parents had died in their 40s. She talked about wanting to live not only a long life, but a healthy one (especially
for her grandchildren). And she urged people to take a hard look at their own lifestyles and make some changes.
And she made some suggestions that I think may help people who are intimidated by the idea of a major overhaul (use wheat tortillas instead of flour and spices instead of heavy sauces on chicken fajitas).
Gone were the excuses, and in were the healthy tips with a Paula Deen twist. I was really impressed. She made me laugh. She made me think. And she made me thankful that she’s taken the mantle on a very important issue.
About Katy
I love Paula Dean! She’s a southern lady like me.
I also love how you did the photos on this post. Looks cool and a great way to do a ton of photos. Glad she impressed you.
Hey! I love your post…and not just because we think a bit alike! I think Paula Deen as a personality is unstoppable! She not just commands a crowd, but she takes over. I’m glad she’s bringing that energy to the “good fight” to stop diabetes with diet modifications and exercise. I also like how she addressed the drug partnership. I still wish she hadn’t kept quiet for so long, but it looks like she’s turning into a much better advocate now.
Hope to bump into you again soon. Are you running the Winter Park 10k?
I sure am! A few other bloggers are, too, so we should try to hang out. It’s my first post-baby run so I’m skerrrrrred but not running for time.
Yaaaaay! This warms my heart. I had the same reaction as you did a year ago. I was disappointed and more than a little horrified at the way Paula Dean announced having diabetes. Recently, though, I’ve started seeing pictures of her and saw, immediately, that she was making huge lifestyle changes. I’m thrilled to learn that she’s speaking publicly about that part of her journey and that this is the path she’s chosen. I’m proud that she can say, despite the drugs, she still sees changes based on what she eats and what she does, so she needs to watch those, too. It’s not as simple as taking a pill. Love. Thanks for sharing!
She looked like she’s dropped quite a bit of weight — and she really did emphasize the importance her changes in diet and exercise have made. Go Paula!
While I respect her for trying to make healthy changes, and I’m sure her presentation was more solid than the one anecdote–but I think that her story about using walking to fix a junk food marathon is kind of dangerous. I think there’s a common is understanding among Americans that you can just exercise off junk food and still be healthy, when diet is first and foremost of importance, and a bad diet cant be out-exercised. Just my two cents that I wish everyone would be aware of.
I agree completely — and I appreciate you weighing in. In the story Paula told, her takeaway was as much about learning from her overindulgence (I think it really scared her to see the high numbers after her junk food marathon, and she realized how serious a situation she was facing) as the fact that a short walk could “fix” the damage.
She also talked about having to make good choices even amid peer pressure — in this case, she knew she shouldn’t have had the yogurt and cream after the cheeseburger, but says her crazy schedule coupled with her friend egging her on had her slipping. I think it was nice that she admitted that she doesn’t and never will have it completely under control, but has learned from her mistakes.
But again, I agree 100% with you — whether it’s Paula and her diabates or one of the millions of people struggling with other weight-related diseases, it starts and ends with diet.
YEAH! I love Paula and it is so good to hear and see that she is healthy, being active, and still being herself. She’s got such a great story and personality and also love that her sons have made some lifestyle changes as well too. Thanks for sharing!
I’m glad that she is being “healthier,” but I wish that she had owned up to it sooner and was actually changing the way she eats entirely and not trying to cash in on her disease.
So glad to hear she’s spreading a more productive, positive message. Thanks for sharing; sounds like a great event!