Thank you, Paula Deen! Your recent acknowledgement that you are afflicted with not only Type-2 Diabetes but also the arrogance to use it to profit from your vast brand made me get real with myself. I HAD (note PAST TENSE) admired Paula’s ability to share delightfully unhealthy food in a fun and joyful manner. It gave me permission to enjoy said food while knowing that it was doing me no favors. Paula’s determination to freely share the wealth of artery clogging, heart attack inducing recipes from her television shows, her restaurants, her multitude of cookbooks and personal appearances gave the illusion that she was sharing her passion for taste and tradition.

How wrong we all were! Paula has not only lost my respect as a chef, a mother and a business person, but as a woman. She has purposefully and profitably used the past three years to manage her brand to willfully deceive her audience. While she was adjusting her diet, learning to live with her condition, she continued to promote a lifestyle and eating habits that she knew were harming the people who loved her. There were clues to this shift, as Paula appeared recently on Dr. Oz’s show, taking her traditional recipes and making them more healthy as a show segment. With her announcement this week promoting a diabetes drug, and even a questionable diabetes drug, INSTEAD of a clear and strong apology and reformatting of her recipes for better health, she has lost all credibility in my mind.

Paula’s lack of integrity was long noted by Anthony Bourdain of No Reservations. Earlier this week the ongoing feud between the two was ignited when after Paula’s announcement, Bourdain tweeted what’s pictured below.

While Anthony Bourdain and his No Reservations travel show have not been particular about showing his preference for meat and especially his passionate love of pork, he is the first to admit his high cholesterol levels are an ongoing concern and challenge for him.

So, as of today, I have unfollowed, unliked, and totally disconnected with Paula Deen, her brand, her sponsors and any associated connections. I will not be linking to her recipes, visiting her websites or watching her on TV, EVER!!! I am waging my own battle with health and weight loss and making better choices without the inclusion of drugs into the mix. Using drugs to overcome health conditions that are brought on by poor choices only delay the inevitable. If Paula has done me one favor, it is that today, I am free from continuing on a self destructive path. I’m choosing to live a long and healthy life, without Paula Deen and without diabetes as long as I can.