Me from ME

Actually it could be lipedema or lymphedema. They appear similar but different etiologies. Some people on M600PL have both. http://www.lymphedema.com/lipedema.htm

So, AZC are you going to take one for the team and go on that Carnival Cruise and report back? (I haven't bothered to check but I am assuming it is Carnival because it was last time and they cater to reality show folks.) Off topic for a minute, but one of the most memorable cruises I have been on was populated by a group of goths it was several years ago and around Halloween. I found out about it in advance and convinced my friend to dress in steampunk along with me. The goths were very friendly and it was totally worth it to take the extra costuming. A few of the women wore Victorian swimming costumes during the day one guy had a top hat, spats and a pocket watch the whole experience was a hoot.

I'm sure of it too. It looks like it took a LOT of fabric to construct it.

You mean she originally posted the duplicate photos of herself? Maybe she thought it was creative. (I know she did it before with a photo of her in the bed.) As if two twits were better than one. I am most fixated on her knees. When we were discussing the x-ray of her knee someone said that knees aren't supposed to be fat. But seeing them in the flesh I see that the fact that they probably don't bend very well explains her wide stanced waddle.

Here's the weird thing. For the longest time I thought our esteemed local poster was of the opposite sex. So, I am wondering if that statement would have caused comment if he had been a she. As a female I know I feel more attractive (and sexual) when I feel lean and muscular.

Funny, I was just thinking of this just a few minutes ago. Some children refuse to eat food that is touching a different food on the plate. That couldn't possibly have occurred in those times.

I think one family in the 1940's house left early. (That is the only other full series that I have seen.) My mother couldn't bear to watch it because she remembered the hardships of the depression and war all to well. And I couldn't bear to watch Frontier House because it reminded me too much of the life of the rural poor which I had experienced. BTW, during the war the meat drippings and fat were collected from the roast and left to congeal. They were spread on toast with a little salt for breakfast. Although I am mostly vegan today I can still remember that it tasted GOOOOD!

My favorite was Regency House Party. It was from Britain but it might not have been a BBC production. I enjoyed the activities in which they participated which reflected the emerging science of the time. And of course, there was the resident hermit who lived on the property and dispensed advice. It was English Country House porn at its best.

Just as being heavy was once a sign of affluence so was skin tone. The wealthy could stay inside or on the front porch and remain alabaster while those doing physical work became tan. My father-in-law once told my husband derisively that he had a "farmer's tan" since he had been outside wearing a T-shirt. Now, the wealthy can sun themselves on vacation while those who do indoor work but can't afford vacations to the South in winter are pale. (This, of course is changing as the better educated are becoming aware of the skin cancer.)

And of course, I have to add that processed foods are engineered to be addictive. That, in addition to the fact that they are relatively inexpensive, readily available, and aggressively advertised... Well, you do the math. I know I am sensitive to sugar and carbs and after eating them I am hungry soon after and craving my next meal. When I want to drop a few I go completely clean. This incudes making my own soy milk and mayonnaise. For me it is just easier to not eat the junk and skip the cravings. I have been watching a documentary from the UK about breakfast cereals and how they are engineered. Cereals, bottled water, and yogurt are evidently the perfect profit-making foods. The base ingredients are cheap and with some tweaking and advertising they make a lot of money for the corporations (some of which had ties to the tobacco industry.)

I wish I could find the link but there are side by side pictures of a present day doctor next to either a sideshow fat man or, America's fattest man from the 20s or 30s and they were about the same size. Also, people who once were considered to be fat such as Totie Fields (sp?) aren't as obese as the people I see in Walmart on a regular basis. And, while I am venting I would like to add that I am not happy when I take my elderly mother shopping and all the electric scooters are being occupied by much younger, but obese individuals.

Yeah, maybe for now. They'll have a lot more screen time if she is alive and actually losing weight and becoming healthy.

I totally agree with you but I think it might be more similar to a Stockholm Syndrome. She has them hostage through guilt and they can't get an outside perspective about what she really needs. My fantasy prescription would be for them to take a long cruise so they can gain some perspective without the day to day pressure of being in contact with her, as well as to arrange for some therapy for Whit in their absence. Then, upon their return enter into family therapy. But not with Tal with a trained therapist who is familiar with systems therapy.

If by some miracle Craig does pass the bar exam I think he will run for some minor office. He'll play on his appearance and demeanor while doing nothing and drawing a comfortable salary.

Amy B, I know that the previous episode is sometimes discussed on MRL. Did they mention it today? (I am away from home and have limited internet so I can't afford to listen to the entire program.)

I think her parents do what they can to try to keep her happy. We've seen how she is with her friends when they don't bend to her will. Her parent's know that they will be wheedled, harangued, and guilted if they had the audacity to step away from this circus.

While we are on the subject of higher education. What bugs me is the celebrities who are given an honorary doctorate and use the title as if they had a legitimate degree. In a similar vein, I seem to recall that Bill Cosby did minimal classwork to "earn" his Ed.D. I think he was able to use a lot of life experience in lieu of formal coursework. For years he presented himself as an expert.

Impressed by Jiya and that she is working on her Ph.D. The comment about Whitney wasting her time seems even more justified now. Sorry for Roy. He seems like a nice guy. He mentioned that he is a stress eater as well as the fact that he is not currently dating anyone. Perhaps those two things are related. Somewhere I saw a link to a picture of his girlfriend. I thought she resembled Whitney at her lowest weight. Worried about Babs not having recuperated more. Both Glenn and Babs didn't seem to be enjoying themselves.

I really appreciated your reply. It seemed to me that Pro-Am seemed more difficult and required a lot more coaching and practice to present well. Now it just seems they need to smile, show their dimples, and look "cute" for the routine. I can't help wondering what would happen if one of the contestants busted a few moves while competing.

Did she say why? I'm with you there. I don't think I've ever had one. If I want all the fat and calories I go all the way with a Pineapple Blizzard. I am making a conscious decision and know what I am getting since I usually follow a vegan diet. My boyfriend also hates the taste of coffee - even coffee ice cream. But he is more or less dependent upon 5 Hour Energy to ameliorate his migraine headaches as well as fatigue from working the night shift. I think it is a far less healthy alternative and I can't stand the smell of the stuff. And then, there is the research that indicates that coffee is a powerful anti-oxidant and can play a role in preventing alzheimers. So black coffee is a magical elixir in my estimation.

I guess I missed that part. Thanks for clarifying. I barely watch this show, in fact, I don't know why I watch it. I can't even consider it a guilty pleasure. But some of the things she does tend to stick in my mind. And I am so glad to be able to come here to commiserate. For example, stuck her tongue out after she whined to Glenn, " but Daaaaaad, think of the cats (or was it kitties?)." Yep, that's a great reason to lower the value of your house, put a cat door into your dahnse studio.

Has anyone noticed how, urm, pared down her troupe has become lately? When she was wearing the boot and asked them if they wanted to battle without her I saw Todd, Tal, Mattie, and maybe two other women. Counting Whit there seemed to be 6 people present.

Not only that, but I think when she was younger she embarrassed her mother by both her behavior and her appearance. She didn't feel truly cherished by either parent so distinguished herself by being "a badass". (Her words not mine.) I think that their apparent unconditional positive regard for her is because the cameras are rolling, They do occasionally slip and let their feelings about her show. They know she isn't a fully functioning adult. Any TLC money is more than she would earn otherwise and less for them to provide.

Oh, she is so needy, so hungry. She misinterprets a smile as a flirtation. An invitation to ride a horse asa date. A coworker being nice is an infatuation on his part. She expressed her love for Todd and followed it up with a question if he loved her back. Why has she not been in counselling to clarify her feelings?