S08.E10: Ashley B.'s Story

[crazycatlady58]

Can someone please tell me what she said? I have read it twice and still am not sure what the point is.

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I think that it means she's going to keep sitting on her fanny, doing her make up, making wigs, and nothing useful, until the non-disclosure she signed for (apparently) 2 years runs out.    So much for having all day free to do nothing, and doing college, or a trade school, so you can have a better life.   

Edited March 9, 2020 by CrazyInAlabama

[Giuseppe]

Good lord, what does she have against periods? I hate when people type like that.

[CanuckFan]

21 hours ago, ShortyMac said:

How did Dr. Now not force her to go to therapy? She desperately needs it.

So sad that her kids are her excuses to eat herself to death.

I'm surprised he doesn't suggest therapy sooner most of the time. This one should have been referred for it at the first appt. w/ the doctor.

[fonfereksglen]

Just reread the Live Chat and laughed even more.

However, this episode was so empty.  No supersized again on the cable guide.  

[DC Gal in VA]

4 hours ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

 

 

Okay @Tabbygirl521 this made my head hurt, eyes water and, teeth itch All at ONCE!

Obviously the woman is allergic to punctuation but I am really trying to unscramble what she is attempting to say. Reminds me of that famous line from the movie Cool Hand Luke: "What we've got here is failure to communicate!" 

Love how she mentions spending time with her "kid's"; bitch puleeeeeze stop lying. If you were really being a mom to those two beautiful girls you wouldn't have time for makeup or wig making classes. Hands-on moms can often barely set aside enough time to take care of their own basic needs, you know silly stuff, like getting enough sleep or taking a well needed long soak in the tub. And what/why is she "done" with prayer warriors? If anybody could use a good laying on of hands, it's her, maybe even drive out those ol' devils of selfishness, narcissism, and just plain laziness.

Edited March 6, 2020 by DC Gal in VA
Had to get that movie quote right!

[Carboncat]

9 hours ago, AZChristian said:

Maybe the long nails were the last step before needing one of those long-handled reaching aids that holds toilet paper. 

 I used one of those after my spine surgery last year!  They're really cool and amusing for picking up stuff!

[ams1001]

2 minutes ago, Carboncat said:

 I used one of those after my spine surgery last year!  They're really cool and amusing for picking up stuff!

My grandmother had one of those grabber things...she died in 2001 and my parents still have it. My dad got a new hip last week and it's come in handy.

[Carboncat]

1 hour ago, DC Gal in VA said:

Okay @Tabbygirl521 this made my head hurt, eyes water and, teeth itch All at ONCE!

Obviously the woman is allergic to punctuation but I am really trying to unscramble what she is attempting to say. Reminds me of that famous line from the movie Cool Hand Luke: "What we've got here is failure to communicate!" 

Love how she mentions spending time with her "kid's"; bitch puleeeeeze stop lying. If you were really being a mom to those two beautiful girls you wouldn't have time for makeup or wig making classes. Hands-on moms can often barely set aside enough time to take care of their own basic needs, you know silly stuff, like getting enough sleep or taking a well needed long soak in the tub. And what/why is she "done" with prayer warriors? If anybody could use a good laying on of hands, it's her, maybe even drive out those ol' devils of selfishness, narcissism, and just plain laziness.

Bravo, well put!  But I'll bet she can eat 50 "aigs" (eggs)!

[ethalfrida]

3 hours ago, Giuseppe said:

Good lord, what does she have against periods? I hate when people type like that.

If she is using voice command she would have actually say “period” whenever she wanted one. Same with other punctuation. At least, on my phone I do. 

[Carboncat]

10 hours ago, ethalfrida said:

We have family in Lafayette from generations back and weight is a crown. The principal notion that obesity was connected with being healthy has barely seen any enlightenment. Thinness caused a great deal of concern amongst the sellers of slaves and, later, the freed. Thin slaves were not seen as being sturdy workers. Unfortunately, amongst  the freed thinness recalled the days of hunger so obesity came to mean prosperity.

So, the fact that Ashley’s family unapologetically supported her, did not change their traditional cooking, and obviously loved her did not surprise me. Ashley was obviously well loved. But she is also selfish. Very selfish and entitled.

The food in Louisiana is amazing even though they have gone to using prepacked seasonings and not giving a hoot about additives, etc. But that Shrimp Creole plate Ashley was served beared witness to why her struggle a lot more difficult. Even fast food down south tastes different than Other areas. Flavor is a serious business.

 I can see giving into a big slug of pie but how can you be surprised you gained instead of losing? But still, she is in an environment that adds to her challenges. 

I agree it's too bad that these holdover attitudes persist.  While anorexic thinness is superficially celebrated from a fashion standpoint in our culture, to the mental distress of all our girls, within many families it is privately clucked over with almost concern...."you're skin and bones,  you have no butt, you need some meat on your bones, etc.... and being "thick" is winkingly celebrated.  Probably goes back to food insecurity, and looking healthy enough to work.

Don't pretend to know what I don't.  I am Armenian (a  culture where thinness is NOT valued), but my husband and by extension my huge in-law family is African-American, from New Jersey but with southern roots.  So I am familiar with some of the talk.

 

[sainte-chapelle]

I am only 30 min in, and I am sorry she was assaulted but I can't stand her. You can't do anything to help but you can do your nails, date and get pregnant just fine.   Her trip to Houston caused her a trauma yet the poor 11 year old is sitting there like she s facing a goddamned firing squad.  The poor baby laying in the crib all day waiting for the 11 year old to get home and change her. Babies need to be picked up a lot at that age, it helps with emotional development and socialization. Well at least she dresses nicely.

[Dittohead]

I thought the colorful floral designs on some of her dresses were very pretty, but I couldn't understand the oversized tops of those dresses that kept falling off of her shoulders. I would find that very annoying.

[Sthrngypsy]

Man, I don’t get this chick at all.  I CAN understand a *very young* child thinking if they get bigger they can fight off an attacker.  After that why not get said kid The rest of it.. ok she moves to Houston, loses a pretty substantial amount of weight, and then gets IBD and is all freaked out because she can’t have the surgery and the weight loss will be “for nothing?”  Um, no it won’t.  I have Chrons (had been on WW) and before they figured out what was wrong with me I was losing 10 lbs a week.  My eating habit was a portion of a protein shake, or two tablespoons of sugar free apple sauce, or a single bite of a roast beef sandwich (big mistake) per day because I was too sick to eat more.  It also comes with its own malabsorption issues, no surgery required.  If it took 6 months to get her IBD under control and she just kept losing like she had been she might not even have needed surgery.  I just don’t get it.  I have already told all my friends if somehow I got to 600 lbs to only bring me protein and vegetables and water.   Maybe she had some sort of extremely mild IBD?  I’m flummoxed.  

[dreadfulLeigh]

Omg she said she had an emergency c section with her latest baby. At likely over 600lbs. That poor OB! They need some kind of award! 

[Carboncat]

1 hour ago, Dittohead said:

I thought the colorful floral designs on some of her dresses were very pretty, but I couldn't understand the oversized tops of those dresses that kept falling off of her shoulders. I would find that very annoying.

Very.  Less is more.  I don't need everyone to see my bra straps, or to keep constantly keep tugging up my shirt!

[crazycatlady58]

7 hours ago, Sthrngypsy said:

Man, I don’t get this chick at all.  I CAN understand a *very young* child thinking if they get bigger they can fight off an attacker.  After that why not get said kid The rest of it.. ok she moves to Houston, loses a pretty substantial amount of weight, and then gets IBD and is all freaked out because she can’t have the surgery and the weight loss will be “for nothing?”  Um, no it won’t.  I have Chrons (had been on WW) and before they figured out what was wrong with me I was losing 10 lbs a week.  My eating habit was a portion of a protein shake, or two tablespoons of sugar free apple sauce, or a single bite of a roast beef sandwich (big mistake) per day because I was too sick to eat more.  It also comes with its own malabsorption issues, no surgery required.  If it took 6 months to get her IBD under control and she just kept losing like she had been she might not even have needed surgery.  I just don’t get it.  I have already told all my friends if somehow I got to 600 lbs to only bring me protein and vegetables and water.   Maybe she had some sort of extremely mild IBD?  I’m flummoxed.  

I have IBS-D and it has never caused me to lose weight. You would think as fast as the food went through me it would..but no.

[Johnny Dollar]

If Ashley’s friend Yesterday got together with Lola and Dr Paradise they could form the world’s first Beatles/Kinks/Meatloaf tribute band. 

[zengirl1215]

21 hours ago, calpurnia99 said:

Once again, someone who just saw the surgery as a magic solution. She only dieted to get that.  Her understanding was that once she had the surgery, she would have no desire to eat anything at all, ever again, and it would become suddenly really easy.

What annoyed me is that losing weight was the reason she was in Houston, the reason she left her kids, and she claimed she wanted to be a mom to her kids but she couldn't at 650 pounds. But once the surgery was postponed she said "It was a total waste losing this weight! I did it for nothing!" WHAT?????? losing 169 pounds was for nothing? The fact that she doesnt't have the logic or the brains to see that losing this weight was the whole point, and it wasnt "for nothing",  then I fucking have no sympathy.

I was thinking the same thing!!! She lost almost 200 pounds without the surgery. Proving it is possible to accomplish that. She had adapted a "healthier" lifestyle and mindset. Working out, eating better...if nothing else for the sake of her children. Rome wasn't built in a day and it took her decades to get that obese, it wasn't going to miraculously drop off without hard work and determination. Like many have said, the surgery isn't a cure-all. 

And I get the disappointment of being told the surgery was off the table (no pun intended) for a few months or so, but for her to completely just give up and not care was ridiculous. I agree with the other posters who questioned why we she wasn't in therapy. That's a head scratcher for sure. 

 

Edited March 6, 2020 by zengirl1215

[AZChristian]

10 hours ago, ethalfrida said:

If she is using voice command she would have actually say “period” whenever she wanted one. Same with other punctuation. At least, on my phone I do. 

Some other punctuation.  On my phone, saying "colon" will get you "colon," not ":" . . . so you could potentially say - and get - "I did NOT want to see that colon"

LOL.

[ethalfrida]

3 hours ago, AZChristian said:

Some other punctuation.  On my phone, saying "colon" will get you "colon," not ":" . . . so you could potentially say - and get - "I did NOT want to see that colon"

LOL.

I am so lame, I don’t get it.

[lilysmom]

This just occurred to me. When Ashley lost the most weight was when she was suffering from IBS. Could it be that the IBS, and not following the diet correctly, was the reason for the bigger weight loss? As the IBS came more under control, the weight came right back.  Just a thought!

[Sthrngypsy]

6 hours ago, crazycatlady58 said:

I have IBS-D and it has never caused me to lose weight. You would think as fast as the food went through me it would..but no.

Well, I was losing weight because I was too sick to eat.  Anyone would lose weight if their eating habit was 1/4 protein shake OR 2 tablespoons sugar free applesauce OR a bite of sandwich per day.  Dr Now would not even approve.  Plus there’s malabsorption.  There really aren’t any overweight people in my Chrons support group and certainly no grossly obese people. Anyway sorry for the tangent. 
 

She lost several hundred pounds.  That is not “for nothing!”  If she had lost say, another 200 while her IBS was being addressed she might not even have needed surgery- I can’t remember her exact weight.  I understand that when you’re 1,000 or 800 or 600 pounds it is urgent and emergent.  Someone who is 350 I don’t understand so much.  I love Weight Watchers and I’m never hungry.  But I also don’t weigh 800 pounds. 

[auntjess]

On 3/5/2020 at 9:06 AM, FormeryHeavyJ said:

On 3/4/2020 at 10:35 PM, ams1001 said:

There were no little dogs in this one, were there?

There may have been but they could have been stuck in the folds.  Or just dumped off with the kids by Mrs. Responsibility.  

On 3/5/2020 at 6:49 AM, libgirl2 said:

At least she dressed nice and looked clean.

Our standards have most definitely hit rock-bottom after all these episodes.....

For the bingo card maker, maybe we could have one for our standards.  You get a square for being clean, wiping yourself, etc.

 

[AZChristian]

1 hour ago, ethalfrida said:

I am so lame, I don’t get it.

Didn't mean to confuse anyone.

My phone allows me to talk instead of putting in letters.  It is programmed so that SOME punctuation (period, comma) will actually put in a period or comma when I say those words.

So if I say, "I will be there soon period" it shows up in a text as "I will be there soon."

However, it does not work for other punctuation.  So if I SAY "I do not want to see that colon" . . . I WANT it to write, "I do not want to see that:"  But what it writes is "I do not want to see that colon" 

And since a colon is something that no one but a proctologist WANTS to see, I sure didn't mean to put that in a text.

[Pepper Mostly]

23 hours ago, AZChristian said:

It can't be feeder porn . . . she'd lose her customers if she got thin.  Maybe just basic phone sex without a camera?

She wants to lose enough so that she can gain it all back again.

[Tabbygirl521]

3 hours ago, Sthrngypsy said:

Well, I was losing weight because I was too sick to eat.  Anyone would lose weight if their eating habit was 1/4 protein shake OR 2 tablespoons sugar free applesauce OR a bite of sandwich per day.  Dr Now would not even approve.  Plus there’s malabsorption.  There really aren’t any overweight people in my Chrons support group and certainly no grossly obese people. Anyway sorry for the tangent. 
 

She lost several hundred pounds.  That is not “for nothing!”  If she had lost say, another 200 while her IBS was being addressed she might not even have needed surgery- I can’t remember her exact weight.  I understand that when you’re 1,000 or 800 or 600 pounds it is urgent and emergent.  Someone who is 350 I don’t understand so much.  I love Weight Watchers and I’m never hungry.  But I also don’t weigh 800 pounds. 

At one point she said something like “I need the surgery to keep the weight off.” So she just wasn’t getting it, all the way around. So frustrating. 

[peaceknit]

16 hours ago, Carboncat said:

Very.  Less is more.  I don't need everyone to see my bra straps, or to keep constantly keep tugging up my shirt!

She was very focused on her breasts and how they looked.

[pdlinda]

4 hours ago, lilysmom said:

This just occurred to me. When Ashley lost the most weight was when she was suffering from IBS. Could it be that the IBS, and not following the diet correctly, was the reason for the bigger weight loss? As the IBS came more under control, the weight came right back.  Just a thought!

I suffer from IBS-Mixed Type and manage it with a very carefully controlled eating regimen that never varies day after day, week after week, (you get what I'm saying).  I do not eat processed food, mostly plant-based food (some sardines and wild salmon), fruits, grains, veggies.  IBS is caused by a great sensitivity between your brain and your gut.  When you get stressed or anxious, the signal goes right to your gut and the bathroom issues arise.  

Meditation and deep breathing are my coping strategies as is exercise (stretching) and some cardio and strength training (nothing too excessive)

As a coincidence, I lost 100 lbs 15 yrs ago and have kept it off sticking to this type of lifestyle.  

Also, counselling (therapy) is certainly a big help in trying to cope with difficult life circumstances (that we all encounter).

The IBS never had anything to do with my weight loss or gain.

A person like Ashley who has sustained such unimaginable childhood trauma needs the persistence, awareness, dedication, motivation and determination to make massive changes in her life to get to a healthy place.  I saw NONE of those characteristics in how she handled the opportunity given to her.  However, desperation may bring more sustained change.  

[Carboncat]

11 hours ago, Johnny Dollar said:

If Ashley’s friend Yesterday got together with Lola and Dr Paradise they could form the world’s first Beatles/Kinks/Meatloaf tribute band. 

You really got me, woooooooo…   food for thought..

[thebigboot]

18 years ago I was diagnosed with stress induced irritable bowel syndrome, she’s just getting a new excuse to justify her bad behavior. I’ve had struggles with my weight loss but it was by my own hand not IBS.

[stacyasp]

Stressed about the financials while wearing expensive Torrid clothes, expensive manicure , stressed about her kids while watching everyone else take care of them. I CALL BULLSHIT!

[Otter]

So ... I'm like 5 minutes in Ashley's "journey" and she has NO TATTOOS!  

Oh wait, she has one on her wrist.  And her boob.  Oh well.  Never mind.  

 

Edited March 7, 2020 by Otter
Didn't watch long enough.

[PrincessPurrsALot]

Pounders,

Posts not related to Ashley, her sparkly nails and less sparkling personality have been moved to the all episodes thread.  

[WowathesePeople]

On 3/5/2020 at 12:45 PM, TVbitch said:

Y'all, I think my beloved Dr. Now was a bit off in this one. He did not really seem very invested in Ashley for whatever reason. He seemed to almost be reading from a script at every appointment. Even after she lost over 100 pounds, moved to Houston, and joined a gym, he barely smiled at her. I've seen him give way more positive encouragement to patients who achieved FAR less. 

When he dashed her surgery hopes as being up to 6 months out because of IBS, she was exceeding her goal at that time. He didn't seem to appreciate how crushing that might be and set up some kind of support to help her deal with that setback and stay motivated. 

Also, he knows she is a victim of sexual abuse, yet he never brought up dealing with the reasons behind her emotional eating, as he does with most patients. She was clearly depressed. When she said at one appointment that not turning to food for comfort was hard, he said "not eating is hard?!" The way he said it was quite patronizing. Like saying to an alcoholic "not drinking is hard?!" He knows it is more complicated than that. I kept waiting for him to suggest therapy. 

Anyway, I am also growing weary of this show. It is too rote at this point to get anything from it. 

Omg, i thought i was the only one.

i looked online for a forum to see if i was bugging out...

the way he treated her pissed me off!!

Seanna or Shanna the ep before Ashley should of got this treatment...

she didnt speak up, mumbled everything n gave no shit 

lost her papers numerous of times

very uninterested and he kept givng her options and chances Even therapy for the F what? Cuz her dad almost put a lit cigarette in the gas tank??!

heres this poor girl trying her best being a rape victim doin her best n he cut her no slack!!!

even asked why her kids isnt with her??

i mean is it important to do this with a peace of mind to be in your childrens life forever or what???

what does her kids being with her or not have to do with any of this.

didnt even offer her therapy

 Dr Now pissed me off!!

 

 

[CrazyInAlabama]

I just watched the last few minutes, and after she gained so much, you could tell she was done faking it, she was carrying that walker, not leaning on it.    She only used the walker in the last scene for the film crew.  

[Anduril]

On 3/5/2020 at 10:20 AM, Pondlass1 said:

This show is becoming too formulaic. Everyone Involved  says the same thing as the week before, just the 600 pounder changes. Same show different actor type of thing. It needs a major shake up.  
 

 

What are you expecting? Someone who has had a normal childhood, great parents, and never been molested or neglected balloon up to 600+ pounds? That rarely happens.

[Tabbygirl521]

On 3/7/2020 at 12:08 PM, stacyasp said:

Stressed about the financials while wearing expensive Torrid clothes, expensive manicure , stressed about her kids while watching everyone else take care of them. I CALL BULLSHIT!

Spending a small fortune on food, too!

[Ben.w]

Ashley is definitely of a "surgery is a magic pill" mentality. It gets pushed back and she goes off the deep end. If she were really committed, she would've realized that it's not about the surgery, it's a whole lifestyle change that involves breaking long entrenched bad habits. After surgery, she probably would've gone back to eating whatever she wanted.

Definitely in the wrong mindset for Dr. Now's program. I agree that she should've been prescribed therapy a bit earlier than normal.

Not to be disrespectful, but who else was shocked when she said she had been raped a third time? It's a horrible thought to think that she went through it three times on three different occasions. Absolutely awful.

[JunkFoodTV]

Did anyone watch the supersize last night? I'm just starting it now. Mostly fast forwarding to the bonus scenes. She was another mumbler. Ugh....😩

[lightninggirl]

On 3/5/2020 at 6:49 AM, libgirl2 said:

At least she dressed nice and looked clean.

She was pretty. Her 11yo daughter is a budding beauty herself, and I hope that she can escape the madness without turning into her mother.

[Claire Voyant]

On 3/5/2020 at 3:40 PM, Carolina Girl said:

What is that now?  FOUR weeks in a row with nothing but self-pitying failures? Man, I'm out if we don't get a success story soon. 

I'm going to tape them from now on and FF to the end.  Then, if they're still fat, I won't watch.   It's getting too depressing to listen to the same, lame excuses and down-right stupidity over and over. 

I have to say that watching this woman stuff herself with a breakfast for 12 was morbidly fascinating  However, when she stuffed an entire slice of french toast into her gaping maw with room to spare, it became more than a little repulsive.  I've never seen anyone shovel in food like that.  

I felt then and there she was probably going to be another failure, because she's an obsessive, eating machine and hunger has nothing to do with whatever her issues are.   

Where's Lola when we need her??? 

 

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Claire Voyant

[fonfereksglen]

6 hours ago, Claire Voyant said:

I'm going to tape them from now on and FF to the end.  Then, if they're still fat, I won't watch.   It's getting too depressing to listen to the same, lame excuses and down-right stupidity over and over. 

I have to say that watching this woman stuff herself with a breakfast for 12 was morbidly fascinating  However, when she stuffed an entire slice of french toast into her gaping maw with room to spare, it became more than a little repulsive.  I've never seen anyone shovel in food like that.  

I felt then and there she was probably going to be another failure, because she's an obsessive, eating machine and hunger has nothing to do with whatever her issues are.   

Where's Lola when we need her??? 

 

 

Live chat is the only 2 hours of my life that is keeping me centered.  I really don't care beyond those two hours.

Perhaps Lola can start doing video therapy for nut cases like me!

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by fonfereksglen

[DropTheSoap]

Watched the rerun tonight. It was painful. 

“I lost a bunch of weight for nothing because I’m not getting surgery.” Um....some would consider that the goal. 

I felt bad for older daughter who has to care for younger daughter, and then mom does a peace-out to Houston so her mother — who she claims has health problems that cause her significant stress — can watch her two kids. Yeah...nice try Tiffanie, but you ain’t gonna change someone who doesn’t want to change. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

My suspicion is that both daughters live with the grandmother full time, and Ashley just drops in occasionally.   When she called home to talk to the little one, the baby didn't even recognize her.   I call bull on her using the walker too.    She wasn't using it, she was just using it for a TV prop, and pushing it very fast.    

[CrazyInAlabama]

I'm watching the rerun this afternoon, and Ashley is such a drama queen.    She doesn't need the walker at all, in fact she's never leaning on it for a second, and can stand up and sit down just fine without any kind of assistance.  

Also, her 'little cheat day' was enough food to feed a family, and was all from Cheesecake Factory.    

Edited January 31, 2021 by CrazyInAlabama

[snarkish]

Digging up an old episode here. But, just to let everyone know her FB is public and it's one of my favorite forms of entertainment when I am truly bored. 

Ashley B. is pregnant once again! By a 3rd Baby Daddy who is evidently not involved like her last two . She's over 35 weeks and complaining away about her pregnancy and asking for all sorts of baby item donations. She doesn't appear to live at home anymore but in an apartment riddled with mold that she seems unaware of how bad that could be for herself, children, and a newborn. She's having another c-section and asking for someone to help with post surgery wound care. If you pull up her FB account, it's the one with the green hair. Yep, she's still all about her hair/makeup and taking short sexy videos where she pouts her giant lips at the camera. Her sister Tiffanie from the episode looks like an amazing Cajun cook, and they both regularly sell plate lunches that have me drooling (and don't appear to be Dr. Now approved). Ashley's still whinging away about men in most of her posts. 

I think what drew me into this episode was the reminder of how beautiful the Cajun/Creole people are. Ashley and her sister could be quite the stunners and probably make good money off their looks if they wanted to. But Ashley is too busy with her appearance to bring useless men between her legs than get herself healthy and care for the children she has and is about to have once again.

At any rate, it's a great train wreck to watch when you're bored...just FYI...

As the Cajun Chef, Justin Wilson, would say, "Ooooh EEEEE!"