KateHearts

I didn't mean that we are supposed to think her life is fabulous. I think she- and her friends and TLC- want to think they are CONVINCING us she is fabulous. As for Todd, I don't get all the love for him. I thought his acting in the chub rub cream scene was totally over the top and fake. To me he's just an attention-whore who can't wait to say his lines and is riding on the coattails of this crappy show as long as he possibly can.

yes, but she wasn't, as she tried to portray, interested in completing the race because that was her goal. It was never her goal; she admitted she didn't want to run the stupid thing. Her goal, always and eternally, is to be the center of attention, AND to divert people's attention from the fact that she is fat, unhealthy, and heading towards an early grave by presenting a false picture of someone who, despite being "overweight," runs races, surfs, dances and is an overall warrior who can do anything.

I can't stand where this show has gone. They take her increasingly endangered health, immobility and hysteria over literally everything and somehow twist it into how great she is and how admirable her life is. This episode in a nutshell: Whitney thinks of every excuse she can to avoid "running in a race." (that needed quotes. It was a jog/stroll around a giant park with a bunch of people on a beautiful day in Hawaii). She has chub rub. She has PCOS. She has sore feet (NOT because she's fat.) She has panic attacks and her damned DAD is forcing her to do something that is peaking her anxiety and making her upset, pissed, and "bamboozled." She starts the "race" off badly. She whines, she complains, and her behavior devolves into downright blubbering, wailing, screaming and staggering around. BUT... She won't stop! She's that determined! She is so athletic! She's a warrior! She WILL NOT QUIT!! And as Dad and others (including strangers who probably just want to get on TV) drag her (literally) across the finish line, her family and friends CHEER and clap for the courageous Whitney! Isn't she great? What a trouper!

So yeah, I'm watching again in preparation for the whinefest that will be the "8k". This was by far the best line (of hers) of this episode: "I know my dad thinks I'm superwoman? And that I can do anything I set my mind to? But I'm thinking I might not even do the 8k." Umm, no- your dad thinks you're a fat, entitled overgrown toddler who needs to be wheedled and bribed in order to do something halfway good for you. When Glen said "Whitney is afraid of waves," I swear he had a hard time saying it because, well, it's a lie.

Lola's assessment was totally off-base. "She puts up a happy-go-lucky attitude." Really, Lola? Did you look at her face when she was talking to you? Especially telling was the end of the session when Lola said she was looking forward to working with her and Lisa responded, dripping with sarcasm and rolling her eyes, "meee tooooo....."- she practically was saying "yeah, that ain't gon' happen no tahm soon."

hmm, but in hospitals I've worked in, the patients in the rehab unit routinely ordered 2 or 3 extra desserts and put 5-6 sugar packets in their coffee. So I'm not sure that's the connection.

AZChristian- your story is inspiring. I admire you greatly.

When that oil is used by the gallon to fry chicken? Yes, it can contribute to the 700-pound total. The whole family was fried-food addicted. Yes, take the oil away.

I usually have a little bit, if not more, empathy for these patients- most of them were neglected, abused, or traumatized early in life. While Lisa didn't have the best early life, I can't seem to pull the tiniest shred of sympathy for her. She lies, she manipulates, she play-acts her way through every interaction without meaning a single word or attempting to act in a decent manner. She is absolutely horrible. I just can't understand how someone like her attracts two husbands and a boyfriend acting so despicably. Disgusting. The final scene where she and her daughter "pinky swore" that they were going to "do this"? Nah. I believe that about as much as I believe in the tooth fairy. Blech.

Herbert gave HER food for sex. The frozen treats weren't "his" for when he "does things for her." Liar, liar.

"Get offa me, SON!!!" I hope he's headed for the hills.

She switched from sobbing mess to eye-rolling, head-swiveling, finger-pointing passive-aggressive bitch right fast now, didn't she?

I've got nothin'. She elicits no sympathy, only contempt and irritation. Shut the hell up. Nothing like sucking up resources like a doctor's care, months-long hospital stays, and ambulance transport requiring no less than a dozen people and a free reinforcement of your handicapped ramp and then shrieking at the people who tried to help you. Get lost.

The screaming, yelping, whooping and hollering are making me irritable.

Happy -go-lucky? Is Lola seeing this woman as she really is... a miserable human being?

She's nothing but a disgusting, manipulative liar. I can't feel a shred of sympathy for her childhood issues. I predict he'll send her home and she'll land back at 704 in no time- if she's not there already. I don't even want to think of how *exactly* she "gets Herburt to do whatever ah won't."

Whitney is so insightful and teaches me so much. This week it was, "I'm thinking of having a baby. [implied: there is no man in the world who would want to impregnate me the old-fashioned way.] So I think I would either have to hire a surrogate or have a sperm donor." OH MY GOSH. Who knew???!!! What ingenious thinking on your part! (unsolicited advice: don't get a surrogate because you'll drive her crazy smelling her and touching her stomach. And you'd still be responsible for a tiny, helpless human being afterward. And come to think of it, don't go the sperm donor route either, because there's no way your frame could handle another 40+ pounds of pregnancy; nor could your family and watchers handle you over-dramatizing the entire thing as if you were the only person to ever carry a child. oh... and you'd still be responsible for a tiny, helpless human being afterward.)

I got the vibe that adopted Mom was resentful of his relationship with Mom2, based on how he obviously adored her (M2) and was devastated by her death. Then again, adopted Mom didn't seem to need much of an excuse to be resentful of L.B. in general. You don't say, during a very sensitive conversation, "after ALL YOU PUT US THROUGH, I STILL LOVE YOU like I gave birth to you." I don't really even think he PUT THEM THROUGH so much anyway. Heck, the worst I recall is that he dropped out of high school and partied too much. It's not like he became a mass-murderer or burned their house to the ground.

Right off the bat I was puzzled at the descriptions of how Mama "did everything for L.B." The guy was surprisingly nimble, kept his garage apartment neat, could easily swing himself up into a truck cab and ambulate around the grocery store collecting his snack cakes and sodas. I think his primary problem was that he was depressed living with her and her nagging, bitching attitude and the constant narrative that he was a disappointment to his family. And although Mama clearly wanted to maintain her role as the martyr of the family and insisted on putting a huge damper on his going-away party by continuing to hammer on her sacrifices and worries about Daddy, there was really no warm interaction between her and Daddy- or *any* other family member that I could see. Mama continued to play her role in Galveston, drinking and eating junk ("I've been through a lot lately,") and even when L.B. opened conversations with her, she somehow made it negative ("this is the first time you've ever opened up to me,"- stated in an accusatory tone). Her expressions were devoid of any emotion other than bitchy and pissed off. I was really impressed with his ability to get around despite the extra weight and the prosthesis. He really didn't mope or whine about his physical condition; he didn't grunt, groan and cry over every move he made; he never said "I can't." I think his success was due in huge part to his realizing he needed to cut the apron strings and let Momma drink her watered-down beer back home without inflicting her misery on him any longer. Good for you, L.B.!

Her manipulative ways and ability to twist things to paint herself in a good way are really starting to come out. "We have to re-home the pig because it's what's BEST for him and I have finally convinced Mom that this is the right thing to do!!!" (uhh, didn't YOU drag Babs to the pig breeder and insist she bring the poor thing home?) "**I** have played a part in my friend's delivery of a beautiful baby girl!" "I am encouraging Buddy to do what he needs to do despite the fact that I planned a WELCOME HOME party for his return because I know that he needs to do what it takes to get sober!" The manipulation of Glen/Babs is disgusting. "Dad, I don't want to stress about this free paid trip to Hawaii with all of my friends!" after which she lets on that she had an epic panic attack and had to see a doctor. Glen's eyes were practically rolling at that point. And her sweet daughterly gesture of taking Mommy shopping for tank tops with spaghetti straps (at age 70?!) and telling her how sexy she is... only to give her giant, open-mouthed gawp when Babs mentions a thong. I don't need to hear about her nether regions, either. How sad that she can't walk a couple of miles without weeks of preparation, insisting that her "previous ankle sprain" REALLY acts up when she does strenuous stuff like walking, and how "hills" are soooo difficult for her. Meanwhile her so-called supportive friends are continuing with the narrative that she is strong, capable, and even likeable.

Did anyone notice Hunter's obvious discomfort at being at the "photo shoot" for the Pennysaver/Nextdoor rag? He was at least a foot away from Glenn and Babs, looking like he'd rather be getting a root canal than standing on the front stoop being photographed.

It isn't unkempt; it has curly hair. It's a Selkirk Rex, a particular breed of curly cat. I think it's adorable, personally.

The only reason Whit did this was to showcase her "healthy, fit" body. She can do a hike! See?! Then she took it upon herself to be Nada's personal coach, adding at the end that she hoped Nada felt "capable" and strong for hiking. She made it 1/8 of a mile! She is NOT strong, and she is, in fact, INCAPABLE. But go you, Whitney, for continuing your powerful message that fat girls can do anything.

A lot of it is sheer physics. A person with hundreds of extra pounds to breathe against is not going to be able to expand their lungs as fully as someone thinner. Imagine trying to lift your chest against a 100-lb weight sitting on it. Also, obesity often goes hand in hand with sleep apnea- again, the effort of breathing against resistance can impede oxygenation.

Don't you mean they were all conversating at once?