The All You Can Eat Buffet: My 600 Pound Life All Episode Discussion

[mamadani]

Just jumped into the show and I am seriously addicted. Big thanks to my mom for turning me on to it lol.

I've been lurking this board for a bit reading. Penny's episode comes on tonight and Pauline's is soon, I'm so excited because I've read a lot about those two on here.

[cpcathy]

Whoa, those are doozies! Enjoy!

[auntjess]

On 1/17/2018 at 5:11 PM, xwordfanatik said:

This is a serious question.  How in the world do these people with gigantic legs, lay with their legs that look like they're doing the splits sideways?

I wondered that when I watched Family By the Ton, where one housebound woman sit like that on her bed all day.

[QuinnInND]

On 1/17/2018 at 3:11 PM, xwordfanatik said:

This is a serious question.  How in the world do these people with gigantic legs, lay with their legs that look like they're doing the splits sideways?  For example, Marla (whose episode is re-running now on my cable) either has super flexible joints, or do their fat legs just do that because there's no room to do otherwise?

It just looks so impossible.

I think it's because they can't do anything different. No room, as you said. So much fat they can't get their legs any closer together. 

[xwordfanatik]

I'm guessing if they ever do manage to lose weight and keep it off, and start walking, hip replacements are definitely in their future.  

[SunnyBeBe]

Does anyone recall the name of the patient who was successful and then started work for Dr. Now as a patient rep or something like that. 

[dahling]

24 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Does anyone recall the name of the patient who was successful and then started work for Dr. Now as a patient rep or something like that. 

 

It was Melissa. https://www.facebook.com/melissadawnmorris?fref=search

[SunnyBeBe]

3 minutes ago, dahling said:

 

It was Melissa. https://www.facebook.com/melissadawnmorris?fref=search

I wonder why we don't see her or someone like her, working with the patients.  I would think that the patient needs a lot of information and communication in order to knock the crazy ideas out and replace them with sound, vital, truthful info. 

Edited January 19, 2018 by SunnyBeBe

[auntjess]

Melissa's life took some bad turns, because she was married to a  jerk.  Don't know the latest on her.

[PamelaMaeSnap]

On March 9, 2017 at 0:31 PM, Giant Misfit said:

I was reading the FB discussion page for 600 Pound Life and someone mentioned that Billy Robbins, aka Half-ton Teen, is going to be featured this season on the show. This is AWESOME NEWS (if true). Apparently he can be seen in the season preview with Dr Now yelling at his mother. "You're killing him!" 

ETA: Yup, that's him (I believe) in the first few seconds of this preview (and yes, he's the one who falls out of the golf cart):

 

Isn't this the asshole half of the Assanti brothers? (Sorry, I realize this is probably addressed later in this thread but I may be wrong ... if not, there was an identical scene). 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

Isn't this the asshole half of the Assanti brothers?

It is! But I posted that long before I knew who Assanti was and it (sort of) appeared it was Half Ton Teen. 

Oh, lord, how I *WISH* it had been Half Ton Teen instead.

[PamelaMaeSnap]

I confess I always feel sort of weird just blithely coming into threads like this and commenting on what I just saw as if it had aired for the first time this week ... but I somehow stumbled onto this show not too long ago and, being unemployed and with too much time on my hands and fascinated by this kind of shit-show, I've been watching a LOT of the episodes on TLC ... but they do not seem to be in any particular order!

I just recognized this because ... I AM A VERY BAD PERSON. When he fell off the golf cart I laughed my ass off! Seeing the show is in Season 5 (or 6?) I know there have probably been some other awful unbearable people featured (for me, most of them are just kinda boring) but he was SO AWFUL. I liked his dad. I liked his brother (who reminds me SO much of a longtime friend of ours, not based on weight but just looks). 

But then last night I watched the episode with Chad and I absolutely adored him and his family ... the first time I've had that positive a reaction to a "patient." Plus he lives quite close to me (unless he and Ayesha and the kids moved permanently to Houston ... haven't seen the "follow up" on him yet). 

Am I a bad person that I've set the DTV to record Half Ton Family? 

[Mu Shu]

5 hours ago, Giant Misfit said:

It is! But I posted that long before I knew who Assanti was and it (sort of) appeared it was Half Ton Teen. 

Oh, lord, how I *WISH* it had been Half Ton Teen instead.

Good god, I just learned about Half Ton Killer, and now there’s a Half Ton Teen?  I feel old and out of it.

[auntjess]

OK, I looked at his stories.
Was he Dr. Now, or Drs.Davis?
He wasn't the one whose mother eventually died is he?
 

[AntAnn]

1 hour ago, Mu Shu said:

Good god, I just learned about Half Ton Killer, and now there’s a Half Ton Teen?  I feel old and out of it.

Well hell, I’m 61 and officially old and out of it, lol ?

[SunnyBeBe]

15 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

I confess I always feel sort of weird just blithely coming into threads like this and commenting on what I just saw as if it had aired for the first time this week ... but I somehow stumbled onto this show not too long ago and, being unemployed and with too much time on my hands and fascinated by this kind of shit-show, I've been watching a LOT of the episodes on TLC ... but they do not seem to be in any particular order!

I just recognized this because ... I AM A VERY BAD PERSON. When he fell off the golf cart I laughed my ass off! Seeing the show is in Season 5 (or 6?) I know there have probably been some other awful unbearable people featured (for me, most of them are just kinda boring) but he was SO AWFUL. I liked his dad. I liked his brother (who reminds me SO much of a longtime friend of ours, not based on weight but just looks). 

But then last night I watched the episode with Chad and I absolutely adored him and his family ... the first time I've had that positive a reaction to a "patient." Plus he lives quite close to me (unless he and Ayesha and the kids moved permanently to Houston ... haven't seen the "follow up" on him yet). 

Am I a bad person that I've set the DTV to record Half Ton Family? 

I'm not sure if you're serious about being a bad person for watching reality shows about morbid obesity.  I think the shows like that are popular for a litany of reasons. I suspect one is the pure spectacle of it all.  I mean, HOW do people survive in that condition.  It is amazing.  And then, it has the carnival attraction, like come see this odd creature. And then, there are the personal stories that play on heart strings and make us care what happens to this vulnerable people who seem to be on the road to destruction.  Oh, and there is some humor in there too.  I think plenty of good people view these shows. 

I do think that some people may view it more as sport and a way to ridicule those they find grotesque and disgusting.  I do find some things humorous and laugh, but, for the most part, I don't get any pleasure in belittling or making jokes about the patients.  It's just not my thing.  I'm not sure that's a morality issue though. 

Family By The Ton is pretty amusing.  Come on over to that thread, if you decide to watch it. 

[SunnyBeBe]

22 hours ago, auntjess said:

Melissa's life took some bad turns, because she was married to a  jerk.  Don't know the latest on her.

Is this the same Melissa?  

http://www.intouchweekly.com/posts/my-600-lb-life-melissa-update-143103

She had some ups and downs and even gained back 100 pounds, then lost it again.  This article is from Sept 2017.  She says that part of her problem was having all the food for the kids in the house that she was not able to resist.......so.....WHY would she be feeding her kids unhealthy foods?  Why set them up for the problems she developed?  I don't get it.  Why can't they all eat healthy?  Odd, imo. Occasional treats and special meals are one thing, but, the core of your daily food intake should be good, wholesome and nutritious food.  Why junk for the kids and you eat healthy?  I don't get that way of thinking, after all she's been though. 

[PamelaMaeSnap]

2 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

I'm not sure if you're serious about being a bad person for watching reality shows about morbid obesity

No, just that I think I am a very bad person for laughing my ass off when Steven Assanti fell off the golf cart because I think he's such a douchebag.

2 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Family By The Ton is pretty amusing.  Come on over to that thread, if you decide to watch i

That is already set to record this week ... 

[Mu Shu]

37 minutes ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

No, just that I think I am a very bad person for laughing my ass off when Steven Assanti fell off the golf cart because I think he's such a douchebag.

That is already set to record this week ... 

Nah, you’re not bad.  I laughed when that idiot “fell” off the golf cart.  Apparently, he slid off to fake an injury to get drugs.  And Steven is the devil’s son, so it’s all good.

most of the people I laugh with, like Nicole and Kirsten, and am rooting for them.

every last person who giggles at “Aw!  Mah lahgs!” Is absolved, As is anyone completely disgusted by the abusive slug Lee.  

Edited January 20, 2018 by Mu Shu

[PamelaMaeSnap]

Okay, then ... I was almost ashamed to ask this ... but you've given me a little courage ... was I the only one who was shocked, five or 10 minutes into the first Chay episode, to discover Chay was a he, not a she? And does THAT make me a bad person?

[Mu Shu]

3 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

Okay, then ... I was almost ashamed to ask this ... but you've given me a little courage ... was I the only one who was shocked, five or 10 minutes into the first Chay episode, to discover Chay was a he, not a she? And does THAT make me a bad person?

NO!  Almost everyone here, myself included, thought Lee and Rena were a same sex couple.  How progressive of TLC I thought.

Turns out Lees is a dude, and is as awful and sociopathic as Steven.  So I didn’t feel bad about thinking he looked like Jabba the Hutts giant ugly baby lying face down eating like a hog in a trough.  

[AZChristian]

3 hours ago, PamelaMaeSnap said:

Okay, then ... I was almost ashamed to ask this ... but you've given me a little courage ... was I the only one who was shocked, five or 10 minutes into the first Chay episode, to discover Chay was a he, not a she? And does THAT make me a bad person?

I'm not being sarcastic . . . Did you know that Chay IS now a female?

[PrincessPurrsALot]

During Chay's follow up episode, she came out as a transgender woman.  Therefore, in terms of how we now speak about her, Chay is, was and will be a she.  You can find further information in the Mod note at the start of her episode.   Feel free to reach out to your Mods @PrincessPurrsALot and @frenchtoast if you have questions.

[PamelaMaeSnap]

17 hours ago, PrincessPurrsALot said:

During Chay's follow up episode, she came out as a transgender woman.  Therefore, in terms of how we now speak about her, Chay is, was and will be a she.  You can find further information in the Mod note at the start of her episode.   Feel free to reach out to your Mods @PrincessPurrsALot and @frenchtoast if you have questions.

Thank you guys SO MUCH ... I have been watching these piecemeal and had not seen the follow-ups ... this makes so much sense now. I'll have to do some more homework but wonder if indeed Chay had already been to some degree making the transition, either in lifestyle or hormones even when it started. She just had very soft, delicate features. I apologize for having missed this in earlier posts ... was it actually mentioned in the ORIGINAL Chay episode (the only one I saw because I'm just hitting record on whatever TLC is showing now and I don't think they're doing a full rewind) and I missed it? Or was it never addressed until the follow-up?

I hope being able to embrace her true self brings her peace and happiness and helps give her strength through the rest of her journey.  

[aliya]

On 1/10/2018 at 0:54 PM, QuinnInND said:

Death is going to have to have its door widened considerably for him to get through. That's what the holdup is. I'll see myself out. 

Jebus. I was just about to swig a soda when I read this. Thank goodness there wasn't any in my mouth - I would have choked to death. 

[mamadani]

I finally got to see Pauline's original episode. Goodness gracious, if I was her son I would have ran for the hills as soon as I came of age. I haven't seen her follow up, did she ever make any progress?

My next goal is to catch Steven's episode some time.

[the-grey-lady]

3 hours ago, mamadani said:

My next goal is to catch Steven's episode some time.

It's good to have goals, but Steven's episode is a unique brand of loathsome. Just had to warn you.

[crazycatlady58]

3 hours ago, mamadani said:

I finally got to see Pauline's original episode. Goodness gracious, if I was her son I would have ran for the hills as soon as I came of age. I haven't seen her follow up, did she ever make any progress?

My next goal is to catch Steven's episode some time.

Make sure  you have a stiff drink before you watch , however  I would not keep  alcohol  near me while watching  you need to be able to work  the next say.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, mamadani said:

if I was her son I would have ran for the hills as soon as I came of age.

Well, in his case, I think it would more of a slow shuffle, then a nap break, then another slow shuffle towards a door he'd have to get someone else to open for him. 

[Calicocats]

4 hours ago, Giant Misfit said:

Well, in his case, I think it would more of a slow shuffle, then a nap break, then another slow shuffle towards a door he'd have to get someone else to open for him. 

Maybe he could steal Janine's scooter (or "The Monster" TM Dr. Now) and just haul ass out of there?

Edited January 22, 2018 by Calicocats

[Calicocats]

On 1/21/2018 at 10:55 PM, Giant Misfit said:

x

I think I'm burned out on this show.  When Alicia said Tim was a drug addict, my first thought was, "too bad he didn't get her hooked on coke or crystal meth...then I wouldn't have to sit through another hour of this."

[aliya]

On 1/9/2018 at 6:23 PM, Otter said:

I remember seeing a VERY old Geraldo daytime show in an airport and it was about the first super-morbid obese person I'd ever seen.  I still really remember it because it was shocking!  I think his nickname was Porkchop and lived in Miami with a relative and at least a dozen kid cousins (he was maybe 30).  All those kids did was feed him.  He was worse then James K.  He could only lay on his stomach so as not to stop his heart.  Honestly, he looked like a beached whale.   Anyway read a few years later that he died because all his organs shut down.   
 

I couldn't rest until I looked up 'Porkchop.'  After a few searches, I came upon a guy named 'Hambone.' Time frame seems right if he was on Geraldo. Is this the dude?

eta - Yes, I think I've found him. The entry on this page specifically mentions Geraldo. 

Edited January 31, 2018 by aliya
found more info

[Otter]

4 minutes ago, aliya said:

I couldn't rest until I looked up 'Porkchop.'  After a few searches, I came upon a guy named 'Hambone.' Time frame seems right if he was on Geraldo. Is this the dude?

That's him.  I like "Porkchop" more than "Hambone", but close enough. He really was the first morbidly, bed-bound person I'd ever seen and I can still see him in my head laying on his belly 24/7.  I also remember all the kids that took care of him were normal size.  Weird.  I was absolutely dumbfounded that the human body wouldn't give out before it could get to that weight.  Now I know better.  

The AP article referenced in your link does mention Geraldo.  

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1995/-Hambone-Smith-Who-Weighed-1-000-Pounds-Dead-at-54/id-694da869242e1bcca997a7f3643704b3

[aliya]

3 minutes ago, Otter said:

That's him.  I like "Porkchop" more than "Hambone", but close enough. He really was the first morbidly, bed-bound person I'd ever seen and I can still see him in my head laying on his belly 24/7.  I also remember all the kids that took care of him were normal size.  Weird.  I was absolutely dumbfounded that the human body wouldn't give out before it could get to that weight.  Now I know better.  

The AP article referenced in your link does mention Geraldo.  

http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1995/-Hambone-Smith-Who-Weighed-1-000-Pounds-Dead-at-54/id-694da869242e1bcca997a7f3643704b3

I'm home sick. I can barely see straight, but I'm on the internet, messing around with news stories about the morbidly obese.

[Calicocats]

How did he appear on Geraldo?  Lying down?

[Otter]

44 minutes ago, Calicocats said:

How did he appear on Geraldo?  Lying down?

Geraldo went to him.  He laid on his belly on his giant mattress the entire time.  We got to watch all these kids cater to his every need, including feeding him.  Since the bed wasn't on a frame (that would break) his massive meals were put on the floor so he could shovel it in.  

Seriously, I had no idea there were people in that condition at the time which is why I remember it so well.  I hunted for a video, but no luck.  Anyway, I also remember Geraldo, who I've never cared for, was very compassionate and tried to get him help.  There was really no help to get him 30 some years ago.  No Dr. Nows existed then apparently.

[CoachWristletJen]

On 1/18/2018 at 12:02 AM, mamadani said:

Just jumped into the show and I am seriously addicted. Big thanks to my mom for turning me on to it lol.

I've been lurking this board for a bit reading. Penny's episode comes on tonight and Pauline's is soon, I'm so excited because I've read a lot about those two on here.

PENNY! OMG, that was an absolute train wreck! I felt so sorry for her son. And to think her church raised money to send her there! I always wondered how they felt watching her episode. 

Edgar would bring her food, and Penny would wiggle her feet and just get so excited...

On 1/21/2018 at 3:39 PM, mamadani said:

I finally got to see Pauline's original episode. Goodness gracious, if I was her son I would have ran for the hills as soon as I came of age. I haven't seen her follow up, did she ever make any progress?

My next goal is to catch Steven's episode some time.

To her credit, Pauline did make a great deal of progress! She's walking now. They did a follow-up on her and she was volunteering at an animal shelter, which I thought was nice.

It's pretty bad when someone just does not even want to move. Like, why not? But again, to her credit, she did start moving, in water, and it worked!

[CoachWristletJen]

On 1/19/2018 at 7:11 PM, PamelaMaeSnap said:

I just recognized this because ... I AM A VERY BAD PERSON. When he fell off the golf cart I laughed my ass off! Seeing the show is in Season 5 (or 6?) I know there have probably been some other awful unbearable people featured (for me, most of them are just kinda boring) but he was SO AWFUL. I liked his dad. I liked his brother (who reminds me SO much of a longtime friend of ours, not based on weight but just looks). 
 

I think he sort of slid off the golf cart on purpose because he was drug seeking. And he really is an awful human being. 

I couldn't get past his deliberately tossing urine around for the nurse to clean up. And, he could walk the whole time, and even dance. Ugh.

Edited February 5, 2018 by CoachWristletJen

[xwordfanatik]

Hey guys!  Just an alert, a fan "favorite" episode, all about Penny, is on my Spectrum cable at 2 pm PST today.

If you watch this show, you must see this episode, if you already haven't.  

You will be floored.  At least, I was, the first time I saw it.

[CoachWristletJen]

Okay, I have a question. A woman I know from school is well over 300 pounds and seems to be manifesting a lot of mental problems that a lot of us who went to school with her have noticed. She is diabetic and takes large doses of insulin. However, she also consumes huge quantities of sugar and carbs. Can this affect a person's behavior? Could this also explain the behavior of some of the people of the show? I think about Penny giving herself insulin shots into her favorite roll and then eating cake mix, candy, cereal, wontons, etc.  Penny seemed to make decisions that were batsh%t crazy. That's what this woman from school is doing, too. It's sad and worrisome if you ask me. 

This woman from school, she was well over 400, had the surgery, got down to 250, and is now steadily gaining again. It's very sad because she seems very unhappy, and she will absolutely fly into a rage.

[Otter]

2 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

Hey guys!  Just an alert, a fan "favorite" episode, all about Penny, is on my Spectrum cable at 2 pm PST today.

If you watch this show, you must see this episode, if you already haven't.  

You will be floored.  At least, I was, the first time I saw it.

LOL!  Yep, watched it again for the gazzillionth time.  I never cease to be stunned by her and hopefully her update will re-aired soon.  Cleopatra's true colors really come out in the update, and not one family or church member involved (could be editing).  Just Penny, Edgar and that poor child who continues to trust his lying mother.  She can lie all she wants, but to lie and make promises to that sweet little kid (who isn't so little anymore) is unconscionable.  

  

And now watching Chuck.  My late mother actually devised ways of putting him out his misery if she was married to him.  Good Lord, she hated that man!  :D  I'd be interested to seeing a current follow up on him.  He was very successful in his weight loss last we saw years ago.  Still married to the new wife?  Fat again?  Honestly, just want to slap him.  "She left me!  How can I get my skin surgery?"  "I'll be the man Nissa deserves."  So man up dude.

[cork dork]

2 hours ago, xwordfanatik said:

Hey guys!  Just an alert, a fan "favorite" episode, all about Penny, is on my Spectrum cable at 2 pm PST today.

If you watch this show, you must see this episode, if you already haven't.  

You will be floored.  At least, I was, the first time I saw it.

There’s nothing that could’ve prepared me for Penny. I’m pretty sure the neighbors heard me shouting at the TV a few times. It’s a must-see for newbs (such as myself) to the show. 

I doubt there’s anything I could say about her that’s not already been said. I do hope she stumbled across this forum during her search for people sympathetic to her plight of dealing with broken hospital scales and mean Dr. Now and realized announcing she could clean her own vag isn’t the badge of accomplishment she tried to make it into. 

I do wonder how her sisters felt about that whole situation after seeing the ep when it first aired or if it took seeing it a few times for the reality of her happiness with the status quo to really sink in. 

[Otter]

43 minutes ago, CoachWristletJen said:

Okay, I have a question. A woman I know from school is well over 300 pounds and seems to be manifesting a lot of mental problems that a lot of us who went to school with her have noticed. She is diabetic and takes large doses of insulin. However, she also consumes huge quantities of sugar and carbs. Can this affect a person's behavior? Could this also explain the behavior of some of the people of the show? I think about Penny giving herself insulin shots into her favorite roll and then eating cake mix, candy, cereal, wontons, etc.  Penny seemed to make decisions that were batsh%t crazy. That's what this woman from school is doing, too. It's sad and worrisome if you ask me. 

This woman from school, she was well over 400, had the surgery, got down to 250, and is now steadily gaining again. It's very sad because she seems very unhappy, and she will absolutely fly into a rage.

I'm sorry for your friend, but if Dr, Now can't "fix" the psyche, or the therapists, can't imagine what advise anyone here could give.  If your friend wants to get down and solve the "why" that would probably require a psychiatrist's  (not psychologist's) help to diagnose depression and prescribe an appropriate medication.  But you can't force such a direction.    

[CoachWristletJen]

1 hour ago, Otter said:

I'm sorry for your friend, but if Dr, Now can't "fix" the psyche, or the therapists, can't imagine what advise anyone here could give.  If your friend wants to get down and solve the "why" that would probably require a psychiatrist's  (not psychologist's) help to diagnose depression and prescribe an appropriate medication.  But you can't force such a direction.    

You're right. I don't know why I kicked that out there. Just whining a bit I guess. Well, also because it seems that I notice that same kind of toxic soup going on with the people on the show, and you're right. It's like there's depression, chemical imbalance, mental illness driving her to overeat, and I don't mean just to be overweight, but to eat herself sick all the time, ignoring what the doctors say about diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Just like the people on the show, she wants a pill or a surgery to fix her. The last time I talked to her she was also spending compulsively and looking for the right combination of antidepressants to help her. Meanwhile, she flies into these rages. When I see these people on the show making poor decisions, and doing weird things, I think of her. She's alienated everyone from her life, and it has absolutely zero to do with her weight. It's her behaviors. I'm sure carrying around the extra weight contributes to depression, and biochemically, it causes hormonal imbalances... we saw that in the dude who was beating up on his wife; he looked like a girl. All of that was hormonal depletion. It's just one big self-destructive cycle. Like drugs or anything else I guess. That's why Dr. Now gets them into therapy. I think they ALL need therapy to figure out what drove them to eat that much in the first place. Any kind of destructive behavior requires self-examination. Okay, I'm rambling...

[Otter]

@CoachWristletJen, maybe all you can do is love your friend and guide her to better choices in all sorts of areas  How to do the guiding I do not know,  I had a morbidly obese friend but she loved beer.  So an alcoholic and married a morbidly obese alcoholic.  I finally cut off ties with her.  I had to do it.    

No one gets to these weights without some underlying problem and I'm no expert in anything.  

[CoachWristletJen]

1 hour ago, Otter said:

@CoachWristletJen, maybe all you can do is love your friend and guide her to better choices in all sorts of areas  How to do the guiding I do not know,  I had a morbidly obese friend but she loved beer.  So an alcoholic and married a morbidly obese alcoholic.  I finally cut off ties with her.  I had to do it.    

No one gets to these weights without some underlying problem and I'm no expert in anything.  

That's basically what I've had to do is cut ties with her; it happened recently. She left me with no choice. She refuses to change. She's always been kind of entitled, but never as crazy and angry as she is now. She's driven everyone away including her own husband who weighs about 450 pounds. She is repulsed by his size. The whole thing is sad, but I just can't have anything to do with her anymore. The anger she had inside was scary!

[aliya]

5 hours ago, CoachWristletJen said:

Okay, I have a question. A woman I know from school is well over 300 pounds and seems to be manifesting a lot of mental problems that a lot of us who went to school with her have noticed. She is diabetic and takes large doses of insulin. However, she also consumes huge quantities of sugar and carbs. Can this affect a person's behavior? Could this also explain the behavior of some of the people of the show? I think about Penny giving herself insulin shots into her favorite roll and then eating cake mix, candy, cereal, wontons, etc.  Penny seemed to make decisions that were batsh%t crazy. That's what this woman from school is doing, too. It's sad and worrisome if you ask me. 

This woman from school, she was well over 400, had the surgery, got down to 250, and is now steadily gaining again. It's very sad because she seems very unhappy, and she will absolutely fly into a rage.

I've been taking insulin for maybe 12-13 years, mostly because I could not deal with metformin, which made me so sick all the time, I decided I'd rather shoot up. At first, I tried several different types of insulin (different types last different amounts of time) and I took a lot. As I began to understand more about eating and how to reduce my insulin, I now take a long lasting one at night that 'covers' me during the day and short lasting insulin at meal time - if I need it. Many days I don't have to take any insulin at all, other than the one at night.  

As far as I know, from personal experience and from knowing a bunch of diabetics, including Type 1s, insulin doesn't affect your behavior. Lack of, or too much, can affect you medically, but that's an event that needs immediate attention, not something long term where you could point and say, "She takes a lot of insulin, no wonder she's nuts." 

All of that said, and especially for women, hormones can do all kinds of things to people and their behavior. I'd look at hormones before I looked at insulin. Also, for some reason, we often find it hard to believe that some people are just contrary bastards who are difficult to deal with or who make bad choices. I'm all for laying behaviors at the feet of the behaving person. It's usually their choice. Penny makes wontons and won't get out of bed because that's what she wants, not because she's on insulin.

[DangerousMinds]

Isn't insulin a hormone?

[CoachWristletJen]

7 hours ago, aliya said:

Also, for some reason, we often find it hard to believe that some people are just contrary bastards who are difficult to deal with or who make bad choices. I'm all for laying behaviors at the feet of the behaving person. It's usually their choice. Penny makes wontons and won't get out of bed because that's what she wants, not because she's on insulin.

Sadly, I think this may be what is most likely in this person's case. She's just a contrary, harsh person.

[Gigglepuff]

I don't know if this has been pointed out here or not so far, but I've noticed that many of  the patients go through the drive thru and begin their order with, "I need ......".  Who says that? Don't most people start their order with, "I'll have" or "I'll take"? Like, no, you don't "need" three burgers, an extra large order of cheese fries, jalapeno poppers, an extra larger diet coke, etc... Does it seem odd to any of you, or is it just me? I've wondered if that phrasing is a regional thing, but it seem like many of the show's participants say it when ordering food.