Benedict Garrett Official Blog

Thursday, 7 July 2011

Conversations with an Over-Eater: Part 2

‎'Over-eating': a 'sport' or just an excuse for fat chaps to get fatter?

- Jimmy Miller if its there, eat it, thats what keeps me in shape lol
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Competitive eating is a sanctioned sport!
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Frederick Rothe III Both.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas And us 'fat chaps' have a hell of a lot of fun competing.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais
  
  Well, here's my tuppence-worth: No sport should be about over-consumption without use of those calories for physical benefit.
  While bodybuilders and strngth trainers may consume the same or more calories than you, the reason they do it is to feed their bodies so that it converts into muscle and is used by the body.
  The calories you consume are used for nothing (unless you pursue another activity). But if over-eating IS your activity and do not pursue anything else, it is purely over-eating for the sake of over-eating
  It does not contain any physical benefit.
  And arguably involves little or any skill.
  
  16 hours ago · · 1 person
- Neil Thomas It involves will power and a huge amount of determination to eat until it hurts, then push on and consume even more. Walking the fine line between keeping down twelve Big Macs or reguritating them on the retaurant floor is no easy feat. The skill is, mind over matter.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Yeh, not what I call a sport.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Wrong again! Don't you ever get tired of being wrongJohnny?! If a sport is defined as something that pushes your body to it's limits and takes a lot of training and discipline, then it is.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais
  
  As I said, not what I call a 'sport', not MY interpretation. A sport should indeed be about pushing the body to its limit, but a limit that demonstrates the human body functioning at its most effective, its best and that demonstrates a degree of skill. Using your argument you could say that self-harming could be a sport if they made people compete at it. Over-eating is a form of self-harm that indeed pushes your body to a limit, a DANGEROUS one, and, in my opinion, requires very little 'skill'. The ability to shove large amounts of food in a short time period is not what I would class as a skill. It is an ability, I cannot deny that, but it is not a skillfull ability. Skill is about using calculation, about strategy, about using both the physical and the mental to accomplish something in the most effective way or in the way that the 'sport' requires. That, combined with my previous comment about a sport being about using the body in a positive way, and not, intentionally harming (although injuries are often the result of some sports, sometimes even directly i.e. boxing) oneself in the process, negates, in my opinion, 'over-eating' as a competitive activity that deserves to be called a 'sport'.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas I think you're purposely over complicating it. But like you said, boxing is a popular sport. It's known to 'cause adverse physical conditions. Sure, I've gained some pound's since I began competitive eating and eating challenges but eating four days worth of saturated fats in 20 minutes will do that (bet that'd give you nightmares). Still, I strongly recommend you try it, don't knock it 'till then.
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Sure, the point of boxing is to harm the other person. However, in the process of becoming a boxer, you prime your body to be the fittest, strongest and most effective physical machine it can be. I'm not overcomplicating anhything. 'Over-eating' is not a sport. It is self-harm. Simple. I cannot encourage self-harm on any level.
  
  15 hours ago · · 2 people
- Peter Collins I eat like a horse and im still a skinny C**t..... LOL
  
  15 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Self-harm?! Drama queen! So, I'm gettin' kinda heavy but like any sport, there comes a time to retire. Fat is just unused power after all.
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais
  
  With the greatest of respect... bullshit! Excess fat can be life-threatening. You can call it a 'sport' and use it as your excuse for being unhealthy, clogging your arteries with excess fat and thereby increasing your risk to heart failures, increasing the pressure on your heart and on your joints, but I call it self harm and physical abuse. I believe parents of fat children are responsible for child abuse. If you wish to inflict that abuse on your own body, then that's your choice. But don't try and hide it behind the glory of a pathetic activity you are calling a 'sport'. 'Over-eating' is over-eating. Is not a sport, its not clever, it is detrimental to anyone's health unless they are doing another activity that warrants them consuming huge amounts of calories. You are not. That is all.
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Lay off the fat lads, we've enough on our plates, ha, ha!
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Andy Mann lmao @ Neil!
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais I have no problem with fat people. I just don't think that it is an activity that should be encouraged.
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas The aim isn't to gain weight. Any food can be used, doesn't have to be of the junk variety (although it tastes the best, admit it). My eater's nick name is Glutton#1. My aim is to consume mass quantities of ANY food.
  
  13 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Overeating of any food type is excessive.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Fun to, you forget that part!
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Lots of things that can be done to excess can be fun. Does not mean we encourage it.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Who's this 'we'? I do it in training and in the context of the sport.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Blah, blah, 'training', blah, blah 'sport'. You're saying all the right words, but using them to hide behind the fact that it is self-inflicted abuse. Why don't you just see how many compasses you can poke in your eye?
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas I can admit that there's a certain, basic, physical thrill to gorging on McDonalds and junk. But the competitive eating is a good way of organising that kind of gluttony into a fun event.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais
  
  So, here we are. We are now dealing with the reality. Its is a 'fun' event. AGREED. It is about 'gluttony'. AGREED. Can I see how some warped individuals have so little respect for their bodies that they happily and regularly consume such vast amounts of calories, particularly bad calories (i.e. junk/processed foods)? Sure, I can just about get my head around it. Should we be encouraging this behaviour? Not in my opinion. When Britain (even thought I know you are in Ireland) now has the highest rate of obesity in the EU, I think activities like over-eating should definitely be discouraged, particularly not allowed to be labelled as a 'sport'. It should classified with other such stupid and pointless activities as burping and farting contests. Yes, we can all shove stupid amounts of food in our mouth, but its not clever, its not skillful, doesn't require much (if any) physical prowess and is damaging to the body if pursued as a regular activity.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Oh, and if you're not discouraged just yet, here's proof that it can kill you:
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas I haven't found it damaging to my body and I'm pretty much still alive to.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Anyway, made my point. You want to do, its your choice. I just don't think it should be encouraged or should be allowed to be called a 'sport'. If you're having fun and you enjoy, well, thats all that matters, isn't it?
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Ok, enjoy your salad.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Haha. You have no idea! If all I ate was salad, I would be extremely thin.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Yes, ok. Chicken salad? Cous cous?
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Now we're getting there. And actually, if you must know, I like a McDonalds too. And when I go, I have 3 burgers - a big mac, a quarter pounder and a chicken burger (no fries). But I'm doing enough exercise to warrant consuming those amount of calories and I try not to do it too often.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Well I eat that and more, but not every day. I don't just eat to stomach stretch, mostly just eat to eat! But I'd allow myself a take-away or fast food once a day. And I always have the fries, best bit!
  
  12 hours ago ·

Conversations with an Over-Eater: Part 1

So, someone who is a self-confessed 'competitive eater' thinks the 'V' lines above my pelvis (as he saw in the below picture) are a bit weird: "And what's that weird ridge on your body above your legs? Are they bones?! Freaky!"

- Neil Thomas HA! Odd.
  
  17 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais
  
  Here's the rest of the convo. For anonymity's sake, we shall call the other person Peter:
  JA: They're very common on people who are in good shape
  Its know as the 'v' line
  
  PETER: Weird, 'v' line! Ok, that the look you were aiming for or was it an accident?
  
  JA: Its called anatomy
  If you lost a few (ok, a lot) of pounds, you will discover you own a pair too
  
  PETER: I enjoy my body, no need to look like an armor plated armadillo here. you must be pretty vain. But that's ok, go for it man! I do.
  
  JA: Well, you only live once. I am vain. Sure thing. Its not the only thing I am, but its one of them. I also consider that I'm a fairly intelligent person, I can be kind, polite and generous. I also like to have sex and to feel sexy. Looking good makes me feel sexy and, whether its shallow or not, helps me get more attention from those whose attention I seek. I may not agree with the system, but I'm a playing it for what I can before I die.
  You choose over-eating and abusing your body and looking the way you, all power to you. But don't criticise me for the choices I make.
  
  PETER: I take a lot of pleasure in what I do but don't consider it abuse, just playing a sport and indulging my 'gluttony' (an old fashioned term). I believe your gym bunny lifestyle to be somewhat outmoded at this stage. You muscle boys are on the decline. There are other ways to be healthy, like me, and eat, get fat!
  
  JA: Fine. Good luck with that.
  
  16 hours ago · · 2 people
- Jay Kainth LOOOL you destroyed him, what a pillark that guy was
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Mark Johnson Funny as hell. Good on ya bud
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas I'm 'PETER', stand by it all. No shame!
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais I just liked 'PETER' coz it reminded me of Peter Griffin. Not too sure why he came to mind. Hmmmm....
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas HA, a comedian. As well as, that other stuff ya do.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Louise Marshall that guy must obviously be an alien.strange.x
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Well, you can ask him yourself. He is one line above you.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas It's true, men are from Mars.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Louise Marshall as well as the other stuff he does?? me thinks you are a bit of a judgemental tool mr thomas
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Frederick Rothe III I wish I could look like you! But the work! I do like walking, however, that I don't mind.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas Not me, with being heavier. Bad on the knees.
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Jon Perfect I wish i could get that V line!!
  
  16 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas That v line looks Skeletor-ific!
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Welcome to our bodies, Neil. Beneath the skin there is a skeleton.
  
  12 hours ago · · 1 person
- Neil Thomas Wow, skeletons, that's... sexy?
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Johnny Anglais Didn't think you cared about being 'sexy'. Over-eating is the goal. Anything else, including your health, just comes secondary to that.
  
  12 hours ago ·
- Neil Thomas What can I say, I'm pretty handsome. That mug get's me by ok!
  
  12 hours ago ·

Monday, 4 July 2011

Johnny is ‘Mr.Greater London’ in the 2011 Mister Supernational contest.

The contest, which takes place on Saturday 6th August at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff, is not a body-building contest. It aims to look for the UK's most charismatic, charming, intelligent and, of course, good looking guys that take pride in their appearance and would make a great role model for young men everywhere.

Tickets for the Grand Final of Mister Supernational 2011 are now on sale!! To purchase, please visit; www.mistersupernational.com . Tickets are already selling fast, tables may be reserved for 8/10 guests. xx

Saturday, 2 July 2011

TONIGHT: Performing at Brighton Dreamboys and Worthing Ladies Night

Tonight I will be performing for the third time with the famous Dreamboys at their Brighton venue, Tru Nightclub.

I will then be popping along the road to do it all again at the Durrington Working Mens Club in Worthing.

So see you there! xxx

Friday, 1 July 2011

Happy 144th Birthday, Canada!

A very happy CANADA DAY to one and to all.

The world celebrates today the 144th birthday of perhaps the best country in the world.

If you're Canadian and proud, or wish you were, stand up and shout it out loud!

For those who are in London during this Canada Day, why not join in the festivities in Trafalgar Square?: http://www.canadadaylondon.com/

Link to spreaker

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