Most other reviewers have already noted the shallow nature of this documentary - how Anthony has the privilege of being able to hire expert trainers and nutritionists to come live with him, of buying the most expensive foods, of nearly unlimited time to neglect his loved ones in pursuit of vanity. They've noted how at no point in the movie does the viewer learn anything about the specific variables involved in transforming from obese to ripped in 9 months - probably because any medical, nutrition, or fitness professional knowledgeable about such a transformation would ethically have to speak to how dangerous and unsustainable it is to do this. Anthony doesn't attempt to hide the fact that this is a shameless self-promotion vehicle, or rather he does so under the guise of "inspiration"; which he may well actually believe this documentary to be. Given that much of the footage was no more than six months old when it aired, it would be far more telling to check in in five years because the science of dramatic weight loss is in, and in nearly all cases people's bodies literally fight to bounce back to their previous state of obesity once it has been established. It seems to be a matter of biological reality. So, the real litmus test is what happens from now on with Anthony.
Other notable takeaways include the values on display within the family and marriage. Early, we hear his wife explain how she has a "list" of qualifications for prospective boyfriends or husbands, and how Anthony met many of the items on her list in spades - presumably his having money offset the fact that he was obese if we read between the lines here. Take the fact that his inspiration came when his toddler reached for some french fries and this wife said "don't eat those, you're going to get fat!" before exposing her to a fear inducing video about how obesity leads to death. I'm sure this kid will have a healthy body image growing up...not. Questionable parenting decisions aside, Anthony clearly lived in a situation where his weight was tolerated but not accepted, further evidenced by her comments about how he neglected her and the kids to follow his insane weight loss schedule and dangerous flouting of doctor's orders to rest while healing from his blubberectomy, saying "well he was never there, but now I have THIS" pointing to his now chiseled physique and infinite buttcrack. Alas, people like this deserve one another, but spare the children, please!
