Season 12 Episode 11 - Despacito

[Gramto6]

Whitney kicks off her 40th birthday trip to Spain, but bad weather and Todd's gloomy attitude immediately derail the plans; Whitney takes a bold step to land a date with a Spanish hunk.

Edited September 18 by Gramto6

[BAForever]

This show is boring. Todd is over everything. Whit is as desperate for a man in Spain as in North Carolina.

And the "American Franks" to Spanish sausage joke was nasty. So Whit, you saying that Le Blur was fake all this time?

Nobody is having fun, what a sad vacation.  

[JeanJean]

I felt sad for Whitney when she was stood up. It's a very demeaning thing.

I feel like she's been more maturely honest and likeable  this season, whereas in earlier seasons she annoyed me. 

[Gramto6]

And next week is the finale! Sheesh, has anything really happened at all this season?? Yeah she decorated a room and cleaned(?) the garage. And went to Spain for the most boring trip ever.   I think it is time to pull the plug on this show.

[Mollywolly555]

How hum.

Whitbey talks about wanting a man. 

The Group talks about how Whitney can get a man.  

Whit texts a man. 

Whit talks to 'Juan' as the friends stuff their faces. 

Yawn. 

Todd's recalcitrance to participate and Tal's 'will he or won't he' come on the trip are welcome respites from talking about Whitney craving a man.

Why is the no speculation about Todd being depressed? Or can that only be Tal's story line? Whitney strong- arming Todd into dancing on "their" birthday trip as "their" idea doesn't help. Todd has not been his snarky sweet self for the last several episodes. I am concerned fur him. 

Whitney still looks matronly. 

No fair that 1000 lb sisters get to go to London before I do. 

[surfgirl]

So,I don't watch this show but tonight I switched on TLC the last few minutes of this episode and I wanted to ask you all, dies anyone ever talk to Whitney about losing weight? Does she go to therapy? She's so messed up on so many levels that I can't see a healthy person wanting to be in a relationship with her but it sounds like her family and friends never mention weight loss or therapy. Or do they?

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, surfgirl said:

So,I don't watch this show but tonight I switched on TLC the last few minutes of this episode and I wanted to ask you all, dies anyone ever talk to Whitney about losing weight? Does she go to therapy? She's so messed up on so many levels that I can't see a healthy person wanting to be in a relationship with her but it sounds like her family and friends never mention weight loss or therapy. Or do they?

No one has brought it up to her on the show except her friend Tal I believe, and only a few episodes ago as she complains about pushing 40 and not being able to meet a man. He told her that maybe she would have to lose more weight to attract more and better men. We don't know if anyone ever discussed it with her off camera before this. I can't imagine no one ever did, especially her mother.

For a long time she was pushing this "healthy at any weight" concept with videos and online fitness classes entitled "No body shame" and "No BS Active". She seemed unwilling to lose weight for a long time and had a "take me as I am" attitude. She also stopped being open about her general health related to her obesity and we all suspected that she might have become a diabetic because her weight continued to go up to about 385 lbs. at one point. She kept trying to push this healthy at any weight idea but most of us here never bought that she was that healthy.

Then over the years she gradually lost about 50 lbs., and when her mother died almost 2 years ago she lost another 50. That last 50 lbs. came off so fast and out of nowhere that many of us theorized that she might have been taking Ozempic or another similar weight loss drug, which she has publicly denied. She says it came off mostly because of grief over her mother's death. We are skeptical.

We don't know if she goes to therapy. I doubt it based on her lack of self awareness over several seasons, but this season she is showing signs of increased self awareness but we don't know if that means she is now in therapy. As far as I know I've never heard her admit to it.

[BAForever]

I feel for her, I truly do. Some of her problems are of her own making-the curse of the reality show star. She's 40, single and child free, and lurking into her next life stage confused and sad. She claims she wants a spouse, but I think the baby train has left the station. She's been on wonderful trips and adventures, but I see her as a lonely person. Really boring all over the place season.

Edited September 18 by BAForever

[lightninggirl]

8 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Then over the years she gradually lost about 50 lbs., and when her mother died almost 2 years ago she lost another 50. That last 50 lbs. came off so fast and out of nowhere that many of us theorized that she might have been taking Ozempic or another similar weight loss drug, which she has publicly denied. She says it came off mostly because of grief over her mother's death. We are skeptical.

Same. Whitney seems like the "eat your feelings" type - well, more like "eat like there's going to be a food shortage so THIS IS IT, PASS THE PIZZA." As someone who has lost her daughter 9 months ago, I get that everyone grieves differently. Grief is not linear; it whacks you out of absolutely nowhere. Just when you think you're starting to feel better, you're pushed into a tailspin. I really don't see Whitney foregoing enough food, even in grief, to lose 50lbs.

I do think it was Ozempic, and she didn't keep up with it. I've lost 60lbs on GLP-1 agonists (similar to Zepbound & Wegovy) as well as amylin peptides, and they take work! Your body will absolutely normalize if you're shoving crap into your mouth - you have to keep up enough protein and hydration to lose the weight. She could seriously lose 200lbs with NO problem on semaglutide/tirzepatide/amylin peptides, but she'd need to keep up with the doctor's appointments, lab draws, etc., and I do not see her sticking with that long-term.

[Pi237]

11 hours ago, Mollywolly555 said:

 

Why is the no speculation about Todd being depressed? Or can that only be Tal's story line? Whitney strong- arming Todd into dancing on "their" birthday trip as "their" idea doesn't help. Todd has not been his snarky sweet self for the last several episodes. I am concerned fur him. 

Something is definitely off with Todd. Why is he always late and always hard to reach? I’d swear he was on drugs or in the midst of a health issue because his responses are off, his facial expressions don’t match what’s happening, and he looks, not bad, but ‘off’ or ill. Hopefully he’s fine and he’s just annoyed with the whole crew & phoning it in for the check. 

I felt bad for Whitney. It’s so hard to keep putting yourself out there, especially as a fat woman. Why make a date and back out? Maybe he was sitting inside, saw her, and didn’t like how she looked in person? But they talked on FaceTime so it wasn’t a blind date.  
 

Shame the weather was such a downer. 
 

I like Jess’s new haircut and her makeup has been less harsh, but the two tone hair color doesn’t suit her. Not that I’m a looker, trust! Lol I just think she does herself a disservice having the super dark roots with very blonde length. Just pick a color or go in between that, like a lighter, softer brown. 
 

“Karen’s first binder!”, that was cute. Their Dad is annoying Me with the proposal stuff. Can’t imagine how I’d lose it on him in person. They barely know each other, let it breathe. 
 

 

[Elizzikra]

10 hours ago, surfgirl said:

So,I don't watch this show but tonight I switched on TLC the last few minutes of this episode and I wanted to ask you all, dies anyone ever talk to Whitney about losing weight? Does she go to therapy? She's so messed up on so many levels that I can't see a healthy person wanting to be in a relationship with her but it sounds like her family and friends never mention weight loss or therapy. Or do they?

In one of the early seasons, Glenn mentioned losing weight to her and he brought her food storage containers that she could use to measure portions. She openly scoffed at the idea that 1/2 cup could be a regular portion of anything. I don’t really remember other conversations about her losing weight as it relates to her being able to find a romantic partner but I haven’t watched the last couple of seasons. It’s more like two storylines exist in parallel: Whitney’s desire for a relationship and Whitney’s weight (should she lose weight or not; can she be healthy at any weight or not, etc. etc.)

[princelina]

I thought maybe Juan had googles a few episodes of her show and seen how the fake boyfriends are treated when they don't pull through!  😄. Seriously though, if he really made a date and knew tv cameras and all her friends would be there he's a dick.

I think that Karen and Hunter had a relationship long enough that he knew it was going somewhere and invited her to be on the show, and the "first meeting" was all storyline.  I also think Glen's squawking about a proposal means we're going to get one in the finale so that Whitney will have something to do for another season (she hopes).  Not a spoiler, just a prediction 😃

This season after Tal gently told her that her weight was holding her back from meeting a guy she had a tearful TH wondering if she was right to have "accepted herself" and stayed fat or not (answer: no) but she seemed pretty sincere when she said it.

[Tipsymcstagger]

Omg you guys! What are the chances that Whitney found a flamenco dress in her size? In a random boutique in Spain? And that the dress also needed to be taken in because it was shockingly too big? And the shop owner was able to do that ASAP? Just in time for her showcase with Todd? Crazy I know!

My eyes continually to Liz Lemon in my head about everything. And everyone involved. This whole show jumped the shark about the time Whitney toddled her way through her “race” in Hawaii. 

[Elizzikra]

Quote

if he really made a date and knew tv cameras and all her friends would be there he's a dick.

If he really made a date and stood her up, he's a dick, no matter who else was there.

[Calibabydolly]

I had a feeling Juan wasn't going to show up in person since he was blurred on the phone call!

[Yeah No]

Oh yeah I have so much to say now that I saw the episode!

No way that dress in that size just happened to be there, LOL. My husband and both shouted it at the screen at the same time! And the fact that it was too big - who is she fooling? She just wants us to marvel at her weight loss. 🙄

Also this guy "Juan", he's a plant too, I don't buy her crocodile tears. And he didn't even have a Spanish accent. I'm sure she doesn't have it easy with the dating but I thought that was a total set-up for the show. She is trying to get us to feel sorry for her. I probably would feel sorrier for her if she didn't do stuff like this.

I also don't buy it that Glenn would be that pushy with Hunter about getting engaged. I fully believe that was another faux plot for the show. I'll bet anything he is already engaged. As soon as his girlfriend appeared earlier this season I said in the thread for that episode that I was sure that they had already met and had been dating for a while. These people do everything for the show now.

14 hours ago, lightninggirl said:

I do think it was Ozempic, and she didn't keep up with it. I've lost 60lbs on GLP-1 agonists (similar to Zepbound & Wegovy) as well as amylin peptides, and they take work! Your body will absolutely normalize if you're shoving crap into your mouth - you have to keep up enough protein and hydration to lose the weight. She could seriously lose 200lbs with NO problem on semaglutide/tirzepatide/amylin peptides, but she'd need to keep up with the doctor's appointments, lab draws, etc., and I do not see her sticking with that long-term.

I agree with you about grief and that Whitney would more likely eat more while grieving, but as far as semaglutides go, I think the average weight loss on them is only from about 15-20% because most people don't stay on them that long. And the reasons they go off them vary but are mostly because of cost or side effects, stomach upset in particular. I've read estimates that something like 25-35% of people have side effects from semaglutides bad enough to go off of them after they can't tolerate them anymore. And that's a significant percentage. So I'm thinking that's why she only lost 50 lbs. and not more.

I'm also getting a very unsubstantiated feeling that something shocked her into reality about her health which accounts for her new less obnoxious attitude. I feel like she has more trouble with her feet now even with the weight loss and may have other reasons for not being up to doing anything very strenuous anymore. Something may have caused that but she's not being open about it. And even at her lower weight she may have difficulty doing that kind of hard exercise anymore. That may be another big reason she is feeling old now and 40 is hitting her like a ton of bricks. I think her weight is finally catching up to her health and that may be one reason she went on Ozempic or something similar. Also losing her mother was a big wakeup call because her mother didn't even have a weight issue but she was prone to strokes. And turning 40 will make you realize your mortality.

I know in early seasons she did mention being concerned about diabetes but never followed up on it on the show and has been quiet about her blood sugar which has made us here on the board skeptical, but I wonder if thanks to getting older her blood sugar finally rose over the line into diabetic status and that's another reason she may have gone on Ozempic.

As far as this episode goes, I tend to like the group of friends with her on this trip even if they are not really friends. I think they would be fun to hang out with. I like Jessica and her husband and Hunter and his girlfriend. I was never a big Buddy or Lennie fan. I do wonder what's up with Todd but I've been wondering that for a couple of years now as he has been acting a little off for a while now. I have wondered if it's drugs. That photo of him with Whitney in high school reminded me of the way he used to look and act, which is NOTHING like he looks or acts now. I still can't get over that. He would have to get a new passport photo because no one would believe he's the same person. He used to be a happy go lucky kind of guy and now he's just dour and strange. I hope he's OK.

Speaking of appearance Whitney's hairline is bugging me. I remember she was starting to look like her hair was thinning and receding at the hairline but now it looks kind of fake and filled in so I'm wondering if she's using Toppik or something like that.

Also, the binder thing - before I retired I was an executive assistant and always put together travel binders for my bosses with itineraries and travel documents, etc. I thought it was a neat idea and so I did it it for myself too. So I also have a book shelf full of them. They aren't as elaborate as Whitney's with cutesy artwork on the covers but they are looseleaf binders and quite comprehensive. I related to the fact that Glenn no longer does them because since I've retired I've also stopped doing them and leave the trip organizing to my husband, LOL.

2 hours ago, Calibabydolly said:

I had a feeling Juan wasn't going to show up in person since he was blurred on the phone call!

Oh yes, I thought that too! Another le-blur. Or in this case an "el-blurro", LOL. 😉

Edited September 19 by Yeah No

[Mollywolly555]

Could that polkadot flamenco dress have been any clownier? Sad.

Also I agree with Yeah No above about Whit having more health issues like diabetes, knee/hip/feet pain, maybe arthritis or stiffer joints, etc., all those age related- mostly-issues, and if course,  her obesity doesn't help. 

Whit did hurt /sprain (?) her foot so that doesn't help in continuing some exercise. After the demo at the Afro-dance studio, Whit immediately falls to the floor and rolls around ????? 

But even before hurting her foot, ever notice how she often sits down more and more? Has more trouble getting in and out of cars? Or walks around much?  Or leans her upper body on counter when talking to someone in the kitchen? She isn't shown standing on her feet for very long much at all. Yep, her hips and knees and feet are feeling the weight more as she ages. 

[Yeah No]

2 hours ago, Mollywolly555 said:

Could that polkadot flamenco dress have been any clownier? Sad.

Also I agree with Yeah No above about Whit having more health issues like diabetes, knee/hip/feet pain, maybe arthritis or stiffer joints, etc., all those age related- mostly-issues, and if course,  her obesity doesn't help. 

Whit did hurt /sprain (?) her foot so that doesn't help in continuing some exercise. After the demo at the Afro-dance studio, Whit immediately falls to the floor and rolls around ????? 

But even before hurting her foot, ever notice how she often sits down more and more? Has more trouble getting in and out of cars? Or walks around much?  Or leans her upper body on counter when talking to someone in the kitchen? She isn't shown standing on her feet for very long much at all. Yep, her hips and knees and feet are feeling the weight more as she ages. 

Yes, as an older person (I'm 66) I am noticing some of the same things that happen with age - how she carries herself with more care and is slower than she used to be, needs to sit down and seems to baby her feet a bit. Here's a wild speculation - If she is a diabetic, feet can be an issue for diabetics especially as they age and the extra weight and previous hard exercise might have taken a big toll on her feet. I'm a lot thinner than she is (currently 198 at almost 5'2"), although still considered obese and not a diabetic but all the walking I do has taken a toll on my feet despite wearing comfort shoes. So far my hips and knees are OK, though. I recently tripped on a step and bruised my shin below the knee but thanks to my sturdy legs I have no pain and it wasn't worse. I can't imagine what a fall like that would have done to me if I were Whitney's weight!

[applewood]

6 hours ago, Yeah No said:

Yes, as an older person (I'm 66) I am noticing some of the same things that happen with age - how she carries herself with more care and is slower than she used to be, needs to sit down and seems to baby her feet a bit. Here's a wild speculation - If she is a diabetic, feet can be an issue for diabetics especially as they age and the extra weight and previous hard exercise might have taken a big toll on her feet. I'm a lot thinner than she is (currently 198 at almost 5'2"), although still considered obese and not a diabetic but all the walking I do has taken a toll on my feet despite wearing comfort shoes. So far my hips and knees are OK, though. I recently tripped on a step and bruised my shin below the knee but thanks to my sturdy legs I have no pain and it wasn't worse. I can't imagine what a fall like that would have done to me if I were Whitney's weight!

I've said it before. Whit needs to lose a lot of weight. People who are obese have a lot more health problems as they get older. Her BMI is way past the acceptable range. And honestly, like it or not, a lot of guys are not going to be interested in someone that heavy.

[politichick]

20 hours ago, applewood said:

I've said it before. Whit needs to lose a lot of weight. People who are obese have a lot more health problems as they get older. Her BMI is way past the acceptable range. And honestly, like it or not, a lot of guys are not going to be interested in someone that heavy.

When Tal had the chat with her, she expressed concern about flapping skin, or whatever it's called. Every time I look at her I wonder what could possibly be that delicious that she allowed this to happen to herself. It's not like she was a chubby child and being heavier was something she couldn't control. She actively did this to herself and I'm sure Babs had a LOT to say about it along the way.

[Yeah No]

8 hours ago, politichick said:

When Tal had the chat with her, she expressed concern about flapping skin, or whatever it's called. Every time I look at her I wonder what could possibly be that delicious that she allowed this to happen to herself. It's not like she was a chubby child and being heavier was something she couldn't control. She actively did this to herself and I'm sure Babs had a LOT to say about it along the way.

I think there are a lot of reasons she didn't put up enough of a fight on the weight gain. According to her it came on suddenly out of nowhere so I personally don't believe she did it to herself, at least not that part. The way she describes it reminds me of what happened to me at menopause. I was actually dieting and exercising the way I always did and the weight came on anyway. Diet counselors told me to my face that either I was lying or mistaken about how much I was eating. I knew better. Everybody's body and metabolic issues are different and I believe her that her original weight gain was not a result of her suddenly eating that much more to justify gaining THAT much.

But no matter the cause of the original weight gain, once it happens it makes a person hungrier because the body wants to stay that new weight. It interprets it as the new normal and pretty much makes you want to eat enough to maintain it. And that's very hard to overcome. Even if you find ways to do it eventually any lost weight will result in even worse hunger that's even harder to overcome and leads to more weight gain. So there's that to deal with, and it is very difficult or millions of people wouldn't have the same issue.

At some point, though, way before she got to 380 lbs. at her heaviest, she should have looked in the mirror and done everything she could to put an end to it before it got that bad. I think she probably had psychological hang ups that stood in the way and made her pretty much ignore the full horror of what she was doing to herself. I think she is one of those people that doesn't like to do anything unless she darn well wants to, and doesn't like feeling as though anyone is telling her she has to do anything. Knowing that the world was judging her she dug her heels in and figuratively said, "F-U world, take me as I am, I'll be as fat as I want to be and I don't have to do what you want me to do". So she didn't lose weight and in effect she cut off her nose to spite her face. It's sad because it's always about her ego with her. But something must have gotten through to her because she has lost about 100 lbs. since her highest weight. I've theorized that her medical issues were reaching a peak when her mother died and she started to worry about her health. Her mother was prone to strokes and being that obese only raises one's chances of having one significantly.

[applewood]

On 9/19/2024 at 1:48 AM, Yeah No said:

I also don't buy it that Glenn would be that pushy with Hunter about getting engaged. I fully believe that was another faux plot for the show. I'll bet anything he is already engaged. As soon as his girlfriend appeared earlier this season I said in the thread for that episode that I was sure that they had already met and had been dating for a while. These people do everything for the show now.

 

 

The whole Glenn pushing Hunter to get engaged has to be fake. Otherwise it is really weird. A father stalks his 43 year old son on a date ice skating and wants to take pictures??!! WTF!

As others have said, I think Hunter and Karen have been dating longer than they are saying on the show. I hope Hunter and Karen do get married. Maybe that will be next season's story line. Then Glenn will meet some nice older lady at his church and start dating.:) Cuz I have a feeling he will get married again before Whitney.

[swankie]

 

On 9/20/2024 at 10:20 PM, Yeah No said:

I think there are a lot of reasons she didn't put up enough of a fight on the weight gain. According to her it came on suddenly out of nowhere so I personally don't believe she did it to herself, at least not that part. The way she describes it reminds me of what happened to me at menopause. I was actually dieting and exercising the way I always did and the weight came on anyway. Diet counselors told me to my face that either I was lying or mistaken about how much I was eating. I knew better. Everybody's body and metabolic issues are different and I believe her that her original weight gain was not a result of her suddenly eating that much more to justify gaining THAT much.

According to Whitney she suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome.  It caused her to gain 200 lbs.  

 

[Dibs]

On 9/24/2024 at 9:01 PM, swankie said:

 

According to Whitney she suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome.  It caused her to gain 200 lbs.  

 

Yeah, we've heard that one.  Lots of women have PCOS and don't gain 200 pounds.  I vote "Freshman Fifteen" combined with infantilism and gluttony, then sheer stubborness, and finally secondary gain from TLC giving her money and fame to remain fat.

Edited September 29 by Dibs

[Yeah No]

On 9/24/2024 at 9:01 PM, swankie said:

 

According to Whitney she suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome.  It caused her to gain 200 lbs.  

Yes I know she claims that, I've been watching the show since season 1. I also know she didn't gain 200 lbs. because of PCOS alone. I'd believe it might have been more like 50 lbs. from PCOS and the rest for other reasons. But once a person's body gains weight it also increases hunger and then it becomes a vicious circle of hunger/eating/weight gain/hunger/eating weight gain that goes round and round. For some reason she chose not to stop the insanity and do something about it and just let it continue. Maybe it was the stress of school or other personal issues. Same for the additional weight she gained since the show started. Stress and avoidance (I've theorized about that already).

One thing I don't remember her talking about are any boyfriends she may have had before the weight gain or after the weight gain but before the TV show. If she mentioned it it was a while ago and I didn't catch it or just don't remember it. I think that's a little suspicious and I'm guessing she has some reason to feel ambivalent about relationships with men and the weight was a way to sabotage herself from finding one. It's not an uncommon unconscious reason. And the stubbornness towards losing it was just an excuse. Her trying to pass herself off as being fat to "empower" fat women to feel better about themselves was her rationalization and cover for her commitment issues.

[Dibs]

Well, she's in love with her father, so there's that!  I don't believe there's any deep, dark psychological reason she became obese.  It's true that the heavier you are, the hungrier you are, and the harder it is to be active, so it's a vicious cycle that takes some deliberate action to break.  She just chose not to do so and is now paying the piper.  I firmly believe she's terrified of ending up alone (maybe because she literally can't survive alone without a caregiver or enabler), but is just realizing that she may have missed the boat on that.  Virtually everyone on "My 600-Pound Life" has the same story - they sat there doing nothing while 600 pounds piled on - yet the majority of them are married or in stable relationships, so I don't buy that Whitney's weight is about commitment phobia.

Edited September 30 by Dibs

[Yeah No]

43 minutes ago, Dibs said:

Well, she's in love with her father, so there's that!  I don't believe there's any deep, dark psychological reason she became obese.  It's true that the heavier you are, the hungrier you are, and the harder it is to be active, so it's a vicious cycle that takes some deliberate action to break.  She just chose not to do so and is now paying the piper.  I firmly believe she's terrified of ending up alone (maybe because she literally can't survive alone without a caregiver or enabler), but is just realizing that she may have missed the boat on that.  Virtually everyone on "My 600-Pound Life" has the same story - they sat there doing nothing while 600 pounds piled on - yet the majority of them are married or in stable relationships, so I don't buy that Whitney's weight is about commitment phobia.

Well I don't know if this is a "deep dark psychological reason" or if she's really "in love" with her father, but I always had the impression that after her weight gain she felt a certain judgment and disapproval/rejection from her father for it, and so she's been stuck in this vicious circle of not feeling attractive to men and trying to "right the wrong" by getting men to accept her just as she is. Her body acceptance shtick was part of that. She wanted to feel OK as she was despite Daddy's disapproval of her that way (or in effect get other men to make up for her daddy's disapproval). And of course that was doomed to fail because not feeling worth it, she did it in a self-sabotaging way that never really succeeds. She's been avoiding the real reasons for this behavior forever and now as you say is paying the price for it.

So in light of that it's no wonder she never stopped the vicious circle/insanity. All of that exercise and weight lifting she did was only going to work if she went on a diet. She couldn't out-exercise her eating habits. But that's part of the self-sabotage.

People manifest their fear of a relationship/commitment phobia in different ways. She is stuck in needing to FEEL attractive to allow herself to actually BE attractive to men, and I don't just mean physically attractive. She will avoid relationships and sabotage them because she doesn't feel worth it. And that's a form of commitment phobia. By not getting control of her weight it was part of her way of sabotaging herself. This is not just my theory but I've read about this phenomenon. For example, victims of child sexual abuse often gain a lot of weight and don't get a handle on it because they can use that as their shield to prevent people from finding them attractive and from them finding themselves attractive which is probably the most effective sabotage.

Those people in relationships on 600 Pound Life are in a very different category. Many of them got that heavy while already IN those relationships, many of which were unhealthy and co-dependent from the start. Others met someone during some kind of recovery and therapy for their life problems that was going through a similar journey. And most of those people are nowhere near as highly functioning an individual as she is. They didn't wake up at 400-600 lbs. and go on a dating site and meet another highly functioning individual. I've watched enough of that show and I've never seen it. I think what she's going through on those sites is probably not uncommon for someone in her category. Of course that only makes it easier for her to tell herself she's doing everything she can but it's not working.

[Dibs]

I mean, you can psychoanalyze her all you want.  I just personally don't believe it's that complicated.  It's pretty easy to eat too much of what tastes good, especially if you're essentially immature and spoiled.  I think that happened in her freshman year, and then it was self-perpetuating.  To each her own opinion.

Edited September 30 by Dibs

[Yeah No]

OK, I respect your opinion but I know that there is often a psychological reason why people end up that obese. It is rarely just because they are immature and spoiled. She may be those things too and that only gets in the way of her getting a handle on her daddy issues.

I understand what it's like to gain weight without changing my eating habits. It happened for me after menopause. I was going through an unusual amount of stress at work at the time which only made it harder for me to stem the tide. Stress itself can inhibit weight maintenance. But I finally did get a handle on it after I gained 55 lbs., not a couple of hundred! Then again I always had good body self-esteem and didn't suffer from her kind of daddy issues. Weight gain after menopause was a trend on my mother's side of the family so I knew I was in good company and I had a lot of sympathy because of that. I didn't get disapproval from the people close to me, especially my husband who has struggled with a weight problem for his whole life. And I was in a stable relationship with him for decades by that time.

And even now as I continue to find out how my problem is really caused by a medical issue and not because of my diet I refuse to give up and say, "I'm fat because of medical issues" and just let myself get heavier and heavier. It's all hell for me to lose weight and when I do it's only as much as my body will let me and then I reach a plateau which would only be possible to get off if I engaged in enough physical activity to injure myself given my medical issues and age (I'm 66). And forget about drugs, I am sensitive to everything especially drugs known to cause stomach upset. I couldn't even take Metformin. 

So now I am at a plateau where I'm still considered obese but still 30 lbs. below my highest weight ever (which was 228). And it's all hell to stay here even with diet and moderate exercise. 

Anyway the point is she should have gotten a handle on her weight far before she ended up so obese. That's all on her no matter what you believe about why.

 

 

[princelina]

4 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I think what she's going through on those sites is probably not uncommon for someone in her category. Of course that only makes it easier for her to tell herself she's doing everything she can but it's not working.

Absolutely!  People who go on dating sites imagine meeting regular people - anyone outside "the norm" would have more trouble meeting someone.  IMO her best bet right now is to become a regular at the dog park and get to know people outside of her circle.

[Madding crowd]

People that are overweight are regular people though. Not everyone is skinny. People may have a preference for a thin woman or a tall man but it doesn’t mean that people who don’t fit into those characters are not normal people.

[princelina]

There's regular person overweight and there's morbidly obese.  Whitney is outside the norm.

Edited October 12 by princelina