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

[PityFree]

I haven't noticed dainty eating. I've actually been shocked at the giant amounts of food most put into their mouths all at once. I see mostly huge bites and very little chewing.

[lulu69]

IMHO the 'dainty' eating is Penny & Pauline's way of trying convince the world (& themselves) that they really don't eat that much.

 

I had a friend who was extremely obese & she ate this way, dainty tiny bites with the pinky out. I could never understand how she could possibly be so heavy when she ate the least out of all in our group. That was until we went on an overnight trip & I found her garbage stash; piles & piles of empty wrappers, bags & cartons. She was binge eating in private but eating dainty in public thinking she was fooling everyone. Shame was, she was only kidding herself.

 

Sound like anyone else we know? lol

[okerry]

If anybody remembers another of Dr. Now's patients - Billy Robbins, the Half-Ton Teen - he does have a FB page. Not a lot there, but he seems to be doing okay:

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Robbins/200064823479838

 

His mother needs to be a case study in enabling. In a lot of ways, she's sicker than he is. Most of the enablers are.

[DangerousMinds]

I never could believe CPS did not intervene in Billy's case. Child abuse IMO.

[cheatincheetos]

IMHO the 'dainty' eating is Penny & Pauline's way of trying convince the world (& themselves) that they really don't eat that much.

They don't actually. They were abducted by aliens looking to test new ultraconcentrated rations for long space voyages, who beamed them up and shoved feeding tubes into them, along with a special homing beacon that enables the aliens to teleport additional food inside them from thousands of miles away. So there they are, completely faithful to the diet and with no weight loss or any way to explain it to a very annoyed Dr. Nowza. So misunderstood. Nothing but classy, courtly, dainty eaters at Chez PeePad amirite?

Edited March 15, 2015 by cheatincheetos

[wirebitersm]

I think they are just afraid they might knock some food off the fork on tv.

[Guest dutronc]

Tonight's subject (Lydia?) seems to be getting the Penny edit treatment. 

[gunderda]

I am now more subconscious about how I eat food lol  I have noticed I also take very large bites!

[Guest dutronc]

I caught part of Ashley's episode today during a marathon, and it was kind of interesting to see the contrast between the old multi-year format and the current one-year model--it seemed so much less scripted, and it had an honesty in its low-key, low-drama presentation. I also liked the more descriptive narration of what was going on, more like Radio Diaries rather than the bland "life is a journey and sometimes a struggle" stuff on this go-round.

[Such A Flirt]

I watched the marathon today as well - and Penny was even more horrible than I remembered!

[Hero]

I caught part of Ashley's episode today during a marathon, and it was kind of interesting to see the contrast between the old multi-year format and the current one-year model--it seemed so much less scripted, and it had an honesty in its low-key, low-drama presentation. I also liked the more descriptive narration of what was going on, more like Radio Diaries rather than the bland "life is a journey and sometimes a struggle" stuff on this go-round.

I agree. I really liked the old format better. Everything is way too scripted and it is painfully obvious. Also, the one- year episodes skip over so much information and makes the viewers watch the "extended" version just to fill in the few blanks that they should have done in the first place. 

[cheatincheetos]

I think Penny can spout enough psychiatric catch phrases and self help group jargon that she could get past one visit with a psychologist.

There isn't a pee pad or diaper big enough to catch all the BS that Peggy spouts.

[Oldernowiser]

Well I watched another episode yesterday on the treadmill and I think I'm going to have to be a little less judgmental about them, even the most aggravating.

Here's why...having watched most of these, it's become obvious that their voiceovers are both scripted AND they're cut into the show at points that make the most drama. So we hear them saying the "right" things about their "journey changing for their kids prisoner in their own bodies wish they were dead," and then we see them shoveling crap food down their faces or shopping for more crap food or sitting down to enormous plates of crap food. It's designed to create exasperation in the viewer because that's compelling television.

So we are being manipulated into caring more about the results, whether it's to root for them or wanting to slap them.

[goodbyeglittergirl]

Has anyone noticed how these patients eat when they're on camera? They eat daintily, as if they're trying to portray that they're not really tasting or enjoying their food. Their lips curl back from the food, and they stick their tongues out delicately when they put a fork in their mouths. I'm probably reading too much into it, but it seems to portray a helplessness like, "listen, I'm not enjoying this--I actually don't love food that much, this is disgusting, there's just something wrong with my body, see?" 

 

When you are overweight, you quickly realize how other people see you. In college, girls on my hall developed a list of tips to help themselves to eat less and stay skinny and posted them as a sign in the hallway. One tip: "sit near a fat girl and watch her eat - it's so gross, right?"

 

I am overweight. I am working on it. I am FAR from these folks on My 600 Pound Life - but know that when I am eating a restaurant or in a group of people or whatever, I am ABSOLUTELY paying attention to every bite I eat, how it looks from an outsider's point of view, etc. So I can imagine being filmed eating would feel very similar.

[Cherrio]

Well I watched another episode yesterday on the treadmill and I think I'm going to have to be a little less judgmental about them, even the most aggravating.

Here's why...having watched most of these, it's become obvious that their voiceovers are both scripted AND they're cut into the show at points that make the most drama. So we hear them saying the "right" things about their "journey changing for their kids prisoner in their own bodies wish they were dead," and then we see them shoveling crap food down their faces or shopping for more crap food or sitting down to enormous plates of crap food. It's designed to create exasperation in the viewer because that's compelling television.

So we are being manipulated into caring more about the results, whether it's to root for them or wanting to slap them.

ITA         TLC and one other network in particular are experts at this.    Yes, there is always the argument that these people made the choice to be on television, but these networks make the decision WHO gets the show.     They know exactly who to look for, people who they know will annoy the shit out of the audience. Whether it is their looks, personality or both.   They can identify the folks who claim their only reason for doing a show is for educational purposes, but the real reasons is they want the fame and money.    Yes, endless parties, vacations and vow renewals are highly educational.

         TLC, Andy Cohen and others are nothing but finely tuned pimps.

[Guest dutronc]

I don't think there's a strong comparison between a show like My 600 Lb Life and the Real Housewives franchise. I do think that although elements of the show is scripted, there's still a documentary quality that attempts to capture how people see the world that is not present in RH. 

[Enjay]

I am overweight. I am working on it. I am FAR from these folks on My 600 Pound Life - but know that when I am eating a restaurant or in a group of people or whatever, I am ABSOLUTELY paying attention to every bite I eat, how it looks from an outsider's point of view, etc. So I can imagine being filmed eating would feel very similar.

 

This.  Right now I weigh 210 pounds. 150 would be about right for me.  I'm fat but not "OMG, look at her" fat.  I fully admit to being a closet eater because when I am in public or with anyone outside of my immediate family I am too self conscious to eat much.  I'm the girl at the buffet who goes up once and gets fish.  Then I tell my husband when he goes up again to pick me up some of whatever I really wanted.

Edited March 24, 2015 by Enjay

[brandyelf]

Enjay, we could be food twins. I am horribly self-conscious eating in front of people! In fact it was years before I could eat if my (now) husband was looking at me, even though I knew at some level he was looking at *me*, not at a fat woman eating. I get it, I do. I could never, ever put myself on a show that centered around what I put into my mouth, so I have to give even the nastiest of these people props for putting themselves out there like that.

[KarmaG]

Enjay, we could be food twins. I am horribly self-conscious eating in front of people! In fact it was years before I could eat if my (now) husband was looking at me, even though I knew at some level he was looking at *me*, not at a fat woman eating. I get it, I do. I could never, ever put myself on a show that centered around what I put into my mouth, so I have to give even the nastiest of these people props for putting themselves out there like that.

 

But who/how you are is totally different from someone like Penny. Those cast members crave the attention. They don't do feeder porn for no reason ;) So don't give them props. No reason to. They're feeding their own need, much like the food need, and getting "off" on it.

Edited March 25, 2015 by KarmaG

[Oldernowiser]

You know, I saw a picture of myself as a young teen the other day. I remember feeling so terrible about myself...I thought I was fat at 5'6" and 135 (my doctor had told me I was ten pounds too heavy) and hideous.

I was gorgeous.

The point is, please try to enjoy being young and know that you are lovely. I have few regrets at age 57, but I do regret that I wasted so much time hating myself.

Enjoy your food, eat to nourish yourself, and hold your head high.

Edited March 25, 2015 by Oldernowiser

[Cherrio]

I don't think there's a strong comparison between a show like My 600 Lb Life and the Real Housewives franchise. I do think that although elements of the show is scripted, there's still a documentary quality that attempts to capture how people see the world that is not present in RH. 

The point of my post is not the shows, but how these networks know exactly who is going to make a good participant.

[Brooklynista]

You know, I saw a picture of myself as a young teen the other day. I remember feeling so terrible about myself...I thought I was fat at 5'6" and 135 (my doctor had told me I was ten pounds too heavy) and hideous.

I was gorgeous.

The point is, please try to enjoy being young and know that you are lovely. I have few regrets at age 57, but I do regret that I wasted so much time hating myself.

Enjoy your food, eat to nourish yourself, and hold your head high.

Amen to that!

 

Right now I would kill to be as fat as I thought I was at 122 pounds.  So young and stupid.

[CousinOliver]

I wish they would set up a camera and film the person for one day to document how much and how often they eat.  I know they show scenes of them eating junk food, but just how much of it and how often are they eating it in a 24 hour period?  Then ask them to tell you what they ate that day and if they lie, show them the hidden camera footage of them eating every bite.  Of course, it probably won't have any effect on them if watching themselves on this show doesn't.  I swear, if I was that size, I would be mortified to have the whole world seeing my naked morbidly obese body on nationwide tv.

 

 

I'm quoting this, but you're certainly not the only one who has made this point (about filming everything they eat.)  I'm not picking on you, but I don't understand why this is such a big request. 

 

One of two things will happen: either the participants will eat exactly the way you assume they eat, gluttonous amounts of non-diet, fattening foods or they'll eat more normally, in which case people will get on PTV and FB and wherever else a My 600 lb life discussion is happening and call them liars. 

 

IMO, showing fat people eating is far more exploitative and degrading than showing them showering (which is rough, too, but at least is informative regarding the reality of a ~600 lb body.)  What little food we see them eating is already fodder for, "look at them, look what they eat, well no WONDER, I would never let the horror that is McDonald's pass my lips."  It's an exercise in moral superiority from the comfort of our homes.  

 

Do I think they eat a lot?  Oh, yeah.  In fact, I think they perceive themselves as being "good" while on camera -- that's why there's all this chicken coming from the fast food places.  But I also think their bodies are not functioning correctly and it's possible that some of these folks are eating less than we think they are (still overeating by nutritional guidelines, but not the 8-10K/day that Dr Now likes to quote.)

 

No matter what they eat in a 24 hr period, putting in on camera is like leading these patients to the metaphorical stake; they are going to get burned.

[Oldernowiser]

I'm starting to wonder if some of the problem might not be caused by other medications these patients might be on?

I watched the Joe episode today and he was talking about how he was in constant joint pain. He also at one point was depressed to the point of thinking about suicide. You know that he was no doubt given prescriptions for anti-depressants and probably for painkillers or arthritis medications. Enough of that over time could really mess up your metabolism...I was on antu-depressants for three whole days and I was really ill...it felt like every cell in my body was rejecting the meds...so my doctor wanted me to double the dose. Eyeroll.

I just ask myself what feedback loop has to be so messed up that someone can literally eat themselves sick, which makes me wonder if there isn't something chemical going on.

[feetcuzzyfeefee]

Here's what scares me about this show.  We are seeing enormous people who come to Dr. Now for surgery.  Several other televisions shows have shown extremely overweight people and their struggles to lose weight.  For every one we see on these shows, how many are still at home, house-bound or bed-bound and being fed by "kind" family members?   And, when we wonder how much the bed-bound person could do to the person taking care of them if they didn't get the food they wanted -- well, they could throw stuff at you.  Even if the caretaker tries to feed them healthy food, the bed-bound person has to be bathed, diapered, etc.  The caretaker could get hit, have objects thrown at them, have the overweight person deliberately pee or worse on them when being cleaned -- just all kinds of things -- and it's against the law to just walk away from a bed-bound person, so just walking out the door is oftentimes not an option because when the person is found a week later, the authorities are going to come after the last person to see them.   As has been pointed out, these people, even though bed-bound or house-bound, can be extremely manipulative and abusive to those taking care of them if they don't get the food they want.  It's frightening for all concerned.

[MsVixen]

Here's what scares me about this show.  We are seeing enormous people who come to Dr. Now for surgery.  Several other televisions shows have shown extremely overweight people and their struggles to lose weight.  For every one we see on these shows, how many are still at home, house-bound or bed-bound and being fed by "kind" family members?   And, when we wonder how much the bed-bound person could do to the person taking care of them if they didn't get the food they wanted -- well, they could throw stuff at you.  Even if the caretaker tries to feed them healthy food, the bed-bound person has to be bathed, diapered, etc.  The caretaker could get hit, have objects thrown at them, have the overweight person deliberately pee or worse on them when being cleaned -- just all kinds of things -- and it's against the law to just walk away from a bed-bound person, so just walking out the door is oftentimes not an option because when the person is found a week later, the authorities are going to come after the last person to see them.   As has been pointed out, these people, even though bed-bound or house-bound, can be extremely manipulative and abusive to those taking care of them if they don't get the food they want.  It's frightening for all concerned.

 

If a patient is throwing things at the caretaker, then that is abuse, also.  I don't think that a caretaker has to just allow that to happen.  If it happened to me, I would report it and explain that my days of caretaking were over.  Also, where is it against the law to walk away from a bed-bound person?  Especially if one isn't being paid to be there?

[ethalfrida]

On the other Dr. Now clinic obesity show,  they showed a patient how much he ate in a week. The table was full of fried pork steaks, Chinese takeout, drinks, etc. It was enough for three people. When they brought him into the room, he sat down, pulled the table up to him and picked up a steak with his hands and began eating it. He was supposed to be discussing it with the clinician but did not pay her no mind. He was also the patient who had a basket in his room so when he sneaked and called for takeout, he'd lower it with the money and then pull up the food. His family actually stopped feeding him and the basket was his solution. I think they took the phone away.

[MsVixen]

On the other Dr. Now clinic obesity show,  they showed a patient how much he ate in a week. The table was full of fried pork steaks, Chinese takeout, drinks, etc. It was enough for three people. When they brought him into the room, he sat down, pulled the table up to him and picked up a steak with his hands and began eating it. He was supposed to be discussing it with the clinician but did not pay her no mind. He was also the patient who had a basket in his room so when he sneaked and called for takeout, he'd lower it with the money and then pull up the food. His family actually stopped feeding him and the basket was his solution. I think they took the phone away.

 

I saw something like that but it was in a tv series about a clinic in New York (Brookhaven, I think).  The guy was ordering all this before he went into the clinic but I think he found a way to get food delivered to him there, too.

After they took away his phone, did he start eating properly?

[ethalfrida]

I saw something like that but it was in a tv series about a clinic in New York (Brookhaven, I think).  The guy was ordering all this before he went into the clinic but I think he found a way to get food delivered to him there, too.

After they took away his phone, did he start eating properly?

Yes, it was Brookhaven. Iirc, they put him in the clinic and monitored him. 

 

Unlike on Jillian Keith's show where her patients all seem to be astonished at the amount thay ate this guy was unmoved, remember? 

[MsVixen]

Yes, it was Brookhaven. Iirc, they put him in the clinic and monitored him. 

 

Unlike on Jillian Keith's show where her patients all seem to be astonished at the amount thay ate this guy was unmoved, remember? 

 

Sure do!  I was stunned because he was eating more than I had in my refrigerator at that time.

Did you ever wonder how they were paying for that clinic?  Most of the patients seemed to have been low income.  Would Medicare/Medicaid have paid for their time there?

Also, there was one episode about Michael Hebrenko (?), the guy who had yoyoed losing and gaining 800+ pounds.  He was around 500 pounds then and I was wondering if he'd lost any more.

[Christina]

If a patient is throwing things at the caretaker, then that is abuse, also.  I don't think that a caretaker has to just allow that to happen.  If it happened to me, I would report it and explain that my days of caretaking were over.  Also, where is it against the law to walk away from a bed-bound person?  Especially if one isn't being paid to be there?

 

My mom was telling me about a case on one of these shows. The woman was in the Dominican Republic, she thinks, and at one time, got so angry at her kids for not bringing her what she asked for that she called the police. The police told them they could not withhold food from her, and because she was an adult, she could decide what she wanted to eat. Continuing to withhold food, or leaving a bed-bound person for a certain length of time (specifics not remembered) was considered abuse of a disabled or elder person. Mom also said that the kids left as soon as they turned 18. She still had a few left at home though.

 

I can actually see where that would be abuse; if I was in that position, and hadn't been brainwashed like some of the spouses and kids on this show, I would call elder care as I packed my bags. They could make the decision if she could live on her own or have help stop by or be hospitalized. I think there had to be a legal relationship there to impose a duty of care to the caretaker, such as a spouse, or parent and child in other instances. Obviously a 9 year old wouldn't be responsible for an adult. A neighbor who stopped by to help probably wouldn't have any legal duty to assist the bed-bound person.

 

For many of these caretakers though, they appear worn out from the badgering, disconnected emotionally from the person and don't see a reason to fight about it, or don't know any better nutrition wise, and think the changes they are making are good ones. Or think if the can eat a double cheeseburger, than a single cheeseburger is a good option for the obese person.

 

I suffer from nutrition problems caused by a gastrointestinal disorder. I read all the new research when I'm in the doc waiting room. There have been several studies published over the last 5 or so years where the summary findings are that the body does not shed weight like we are told it does. It is very late and my memory is shot, but I think the term being used is an "anchor point." Your body adjust to a certain weight, and wants to stay there. And it does it primarily with help from the pancreas. So when Dr. Now is say that someone has to eat 10000 cal just to stay at that weight, well, that's not what the research on anchor points are showing. Dropping from 10k to 2k will eventually activate one of the anchor points, the weight will shed, and then the plateau hits, and to get your body back to losing, you have to drop more calories. The latest research was suggesting much smaller drops in calories over a longer amount of time, so as to not halt the weight loss. But I digress...

[Christina]

My quote box isn't working well tonight.

 

Ms Vixen posted:

 

Did you ever wonder how they were paying for that clinic?  Most of the patients seemed to have been low income.  Would Medicare/Medicaid have paid for their time there?
 

 

In the link articles, there were at least two patients where it was mentioned that the patient had to become a member of Texas' Medicaid program to get the surgery.  The show probably picks up some of the stuff, or just pays them to appear. I'm sure TLC is involved financially somehow, but it probably goes to Medicaid first.

[MsVixen]

 

 

 

 

My mom was telling me about a case on one of these shows. The woman was in the Dominican Republic, she thinks, and at one time, got so angry at her kids for not bringing her what she asked for that she called the police. The police told them they could not withhold food from her, and because she was an adult, she could decide what she wanted to eat. Continuing to withhold food, or leaving a bed-bound person for a certain length of time (specifics not remembered) was considered abuse of a disabled or elder person. Mom also said that the kids left as soon as they turned 18. She still had a few left at home though.

 

For many of these caretakers though, they appear worn out from the badgering, disconnected emotionally from the person and don't see a reason to fight about it, or don't know any better nutrition wise, and think the changes they are making are good ones. Or think if the can eat a double cheeseburger, than a single cheeseburger is a good option for the obese person.

 

 

The Dominican mother was something else.  She called the police because the children weren't cleaning the house the way she wanted.  She also called the ambulance service to take her home from the hospital two weeks after she'd finally gotten her weight-loss surgery.  The hospital said she needed to be there longer but she was bound and determined that she was going home.  I'm sure that was because she didn't want to do what the doctors and nurses told her to do.  She died within a month of leaving the hospital.

[Brooklynista]

The Dominican mother was something else.  She called the police because the children weren't cleaning the house the way she wanted.  She also called the ambulance service to take her home from the hospital two weeks after she'd finally gotten her weight-loss surgery.  The hospital said she needed to be there longer but she was bound and determined that she was going home.  I'm sure that was because she didn't want to do what the doctors and nurses told her to do.  She died within a month of leaving the hospital.

Ah yes, Dominique. The original Penny. I felt like her dying was actually the release her daughters needed from her reign of terror.

Dominque was the one who felt she could eat tons of greasy fried food and still lose weight if she just sprinted her magical Sensa on it. She was another window delivery patient. I can barely get the delivery guy to come an extra block but these folks get window treatment??

[notyrmomma]

Ah yes, Dominique. The original Penny. I felt like her dying was actually the release her daughters needed from her reign of terror.

Dominque was the one who felt she could eat tons of greasy fried food and still lose weight if she just sprinted her magical Sensa on it. She was another window delivery patient. I can barely get the delivery guy to come an extra block but these folks get window treatment??

I don't know if Christina was referring to Dominique. Dominique was Haitian and lived in Miami.  Her's was the saddest story because she died shortly after her surgery. 

[Oldernowiser]

I've seen the Dominique episode a couple of times and I'm very skeptical that she would ever have been a success story. She didn't seem capable of self-awareness or any understanding that her actions contributed to her condition. She just wanted what she wanted and right now.

She was domineering and demanding with her daughters even on camera. They seemed really sweet and I'm not usually this harsh, but I hope Dominique's death liberated them.

[ethalfrida]

Yes, it was Dominique.and she did live in Miami.

 

A lot of the Brookhaven patients had some type of insurance they kept referring to. A couple of them were sent home without the surgery because they hadn't been approved. Sadly, one or two of them passed away .

 

I remember Michael and how he had fluctuated with his weight. A classic case of someone needing tons of re-education. Some of them, like the hoarders, had bad attitudes and Michael was one of them. But I am not sure what his status is or if he survived. I know poor Donald didn't.

[CousinOliver]

On the other Dr. Now clinic obesity show,  they showed a patient how much he ate in a week. The table was full of fried pork steaks, Chinese takeout, drinks, etc. It was enough for three people. When they brought him into the room, he sat down, pulled the table up to him and picked up a steak with his hands and began eating it. He was supposed to be discussing it with the clinician but did not pay her no mind. He was also the patient who had a basket in his room so when he sneaked and called for takeout, he'd lower it with the money and then pull up the food. His family actually stopped feeding him and the basket was his solution. I think they took the phone away.

I believe you might be merging two different shows. 

 

I *think* the scene that you are talking about is part of a show called "I eat 33,000 calories per day."  This show featured four different people who admittedly ate very large amounts of food.  If I am correct, the gentleman that you speak of is Larry.  He lived with his family and they cooked for him.  He also has the bucket that he lowers to get money to delivery folks and get the food to his bedroom.  There was no clinician and he wasn't in treatment. 

 

At everyone's house, the show producers put out a spread of what each person ate in the course of a day.  Larry was thought to be bedridden, but when the buffet was spread, he walked from his room and did, in fact, pull the table to him and tuck into the meal.  It was a sight to behold.  He poor niece was shocked at him getting out of bed. 

 

They also did a segment on a woman named Lisa (her clips are available on YouTube), Paul Mason (the British dude that has been the subject of many of these kinds of shows; he later got WLS and has sued the NHS.  Quite the guy), and Jackie, a still active and mobile ~360 woman who is obsessed with food. 

 

With the exception of Paul, who had caretakers to care for him and prep healthy foods, none of the participants were trying to lose weight.  This show had nothing to do with Brookhaven or Dr. Now (two of the people lived in England, Jackie and Paul.)  

 

This show was very interesting and I have been trying to find it for years; totally worth a re-watch.   

Yes, it was Dominique.and she did live in Miami.

 

A lot of the Brookhaven patients had some type of insurance they kept referring to. A couple of them were sent home without the surgery because they hadn't been approved. Sadly, one or two of them passed away .

 

I remember Michael and how he had fluctuated with his weight. A classic case of someone needing tons of re-education. Some of them, like the hoarders, had bad attitudes and Michael was one of them. But I am not sure what his status is or if he survived. I know poor Donald didn't.

Mr. Hebranko died in July, 2013. 

[Cherrio]

I remember Hebrenko from that show.   I think he lost the weight more than once, during multiple stays.    I also remember him  for having a temper tantrum when Richard Simmons did not pay enough attention to him. I think he regarded himself as special and was not treated like the celebrity he thought himself to be.

             I also remember people splitting into groups of not sneaking or sneaking food in at night.

[feetcuzzyfeefee]

Mr. Hebranko had tons (pardon the expression) of help during the years.  I think he originally came to the public's knowledge when Richard Simmons helped him lose several hundred pounds and he was in one or two of Simmons' "Sweating to the Oldies" videos.   After that Michael gained back a lot of weight and went on some talk show and basically blamed Simmons for "abandoning him".   He lost weight again, somehow ended up on several other t.v. shows, griping and moaning all the time.  He just wasn't a very nice person IMHO unless everyone gave him the "bad edit".  

As for walking away from a bed-bound person -- you can't do it.   It might be nice to imagine calling elder care and say "I'm out -- come take care of this person", but quite another thing to do it -- especially if you are a relative.  And talk about a "bad edit" if the news media picks up the story -- who do you think comes out smelling like a rose if Penny's husband just up and left?   "He promised in sickness and in health, but when Penny became too difficult to take care of because of her health issues, Edgar disregarded his vows and left alone in her in bed unable to care for herself.   Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with Penny."

Oops -- Cherrio, posting at the same time.

[ethalfrida]

I believe you might be merging two different shows. 

 

I *think* the scene that you are talking about is part of a show called "I eat 33,000 calories per day."  This show featured four different people who admittedly ate very large amounts of food.  If I am correct, the gentleman that you speak of is Larry.  He lived with his family and they cooked for him.  He also has the bucket that he lowers to get money to delivery folks and get the food to his bedroom.  There was no clinician and he wasn't in treatment. 

 

At everyone's house, the show producers put out a spread of what each person ate in the course of a day.  Larry was thought to be bedridden, but when the buffet was spread, he walked from his room and did, in fact, pull the table to him and tuck into the meal.  It was a sight to behold.  He poor niece was shocked at him getting out of bed. 

 

They also did a segment on a woman named Lisa (her clips are available on YouTube), Paul Mason (the British dude that has been the subject of many of these kinds of shows; he later got WLS and has sued the NHS.  Quite the guy), and Jackie, a still active and mobile ~360 woman who is obsessed with food. 

 

With the exception of Paul, who had caretakers to care for him and prep healthy foods, none of the participants were trying to lose weight.  This show had nothing to do with Brookhaven or Dr. Now (two of the people lived in England, Jackie and Paul.)  

 

This show was very interesting and I have been trying to find it for years; totally worth a re-watch.   

Mr. Hebranko died in July, 2013. 

Hi cousinoliver. Thanks for unsorting and you are right about the two shows. But I could swear Larry went to a clinic. Didn't they buy him a special wheelchair that he was insulted about because it was so large? 

[MsVixen]

Mr. Hebranko had tons (pardon the expression) of help during the years.  I think he originally came to the public's knowledge when Richard Simmons helped him lose several hundred pounds and he was in one or two of Simmons' "Sweating to the Oldies" videos.   After that Michael gained back a lot of weight and went on some talk show and basically blamed Simmons for "abandoning him".   He lost weight again, somehow ended up on several other t.v. shows, griping and moaning all the time.  He just wasn't a very nice person IMHO unless everyone gave him the "bad edit".  

As for walking away from a bed-bound person -- you can't do it.   It might be nice to imagine calling elder care and say "I'm out -- come take care of this person", but quite another thing to do it -- especially if you are a relative.  And talk about a "bad edit" if the news media picks up the story -- who do you think comes out smelling like a rose if Penny's husband just up and left?   "He promised in sickness and in health, but when Penny became too difficult to take care of because of her health issues, Edgar disregarded his vows and left alone in her in bed unable to care for herself.   Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with Penny."

Oops -- Cherrio, posting at the same time.

 

I probably wouldn't be in this situation because I feel people like this need more help than one non-professional caretaker can give.  I would not volunteer to take on the job.  However, if I was the caretaker, I would walk away in a heartbeat if the patient was throwing stuff at me, cursing me, complaining about every little thing, and especially, if the patient was NOT doing what the doctors were advising them to do.  My relatives would treat each other with respect so we will want to help each other.  In this case, we are talking about sickly manipulative people who think that they are owed something because they can't do for themselves.  I don't care one bit if I got a "bad edit" because if I feel that I'd done my best, then that's what matters.

 

One question:  Did the woman who was shown in the trailers saying that she needed someone to help her say no ever have an episode?  I don't remember seeing her.

Edited April 7, 2015 by MsVixen

[notyrmomma]

One question:  Did the woman who was shown in the trailers saying that she needed someone to help her say no ever have an episode?  I don't remember seeing her.

Yes - and I believe that was Bettie Jo

[ethalfrida]

You know, I saw a picture of myself as a young teen the other day. I remember feeling so terrible about myself...I thought I was fat at 5'6" and 135 (my doctor had told me I was ten pounds too heavy) and hideous.

I was gorgeous.

The point is, please try to enjoy being young and know that you are lovely. I have few regrets at age 57, but I do regret that I wasted so much time hating myself.

Enjoy your food, eat to nourish yourself, and hold your head high.

Absolutely and so well put.

[Darknight]

On the other Dr. Now clinic obesity show, they showed a patient how much he ate in a week. The table was full of fried pork steaks, Chinese takeout, drinks, etc. It was enough for three people. When they brought him into the room, he sat down, pulled the table up to him and picked up a steak with his hands and began eating it. He was supposed to be discussing it with the clinician but did not pay her no mind. He was also the patient who had a basket in his room so when he sneaked and called for takeout, he'd lower it with the money and then pull up the food. His family actually stopped feeding him and the basket was his solution. I think they took the phone away.

Do these people get full. I can't eat all that shit. I can hardly eat two slices of pizza depending on the size

[Micks Picks]

On the show where the guy pulled take-out up to his room with a string, I think they had very little success.  I don't remember anybody improving, and they could stay for years.  Mr. Hebrenko was there for a very long time and Richard Simmons came to visit and I think Hebrenko was mad.  But then he was angry about everything and everybody, pretty much.  I'd show him what anger means if he copped that attitude with me.   The guy with the string for food deliveries was a gang member.  Home boys eventually abandoned him. 

[Darknight]

Here's what scares me about this show. We are seeing enormous people who come to Dr. Now for surgery. Several other televisions shows have shown extremely overweight people and their struggles to lose weight. For every one we see on these shows, how many are still at home, house-bound or bed-bound and being fed by "kind" family members? And, when we wonder how much the bed-bound person could do to the person taking care of them if they didn't get the food they wanted -- well, they could throw stuff at you. Even if the caretaker tries to feed them healthy food, the bed-bound person has to be bathed, diapered, etc. The caretaker could get hit, have objects thrown at them, have the overweight person deliberately pee or worse on them when being cleaned -- just all kinds of things -- and it's against the law to just walk away from a bed-bound person, so just walking out the door is oftentimes not an option because when the person is found a week later, the authorities are going to come after the last person to see them. As has been pointed out, these people, even though bed-bound or house-bound, can be extremely manipulative and abusive to those taking care of them if they don't get the food they want. It's frightening for all concerned.

But isn't it also abuse that you're throwing things at people. Also how is it abuse if you want a 600lbs person to lose weight and ear healthy.

[DangerousMinds]

In many cases, a caretaker who wanted to leave wouldn't have anywhere to go or resources to help them get there.

Edited April 8, 2015 by DangerousMinds

[Cherrio]

It can go two ways.  A caretaker can also be an enabler or a caretaker can be a victim of abuse.   (yes, it isnt that cut and dried, just giving two usual examples)

          We have all seen the enablers and the variety of reasons they do it.    I think what we don't see often though is the actual and real abuse of a caretaker. They dont seem to show the tantrums, meltdowns and threats when the caretaker doesn't do what they want.

   Maybe Edgar is abused and an enabler. I think Penny goes ballistic when he doesn't do exactly what she wants.  He could very well just be a very weak and not very intelligent man who isn't capable of saying no and more important protecting his child.   Meaning taking Liam and leaving for good.

             We have all seen what Pauline has done to her son.  He is a zombie who thinks his only purpose in life is doing what Pauline wants.  

                    I wish these shows would show what actually happens when someone does say no.   I have no idea why they don't.

 

Edited April 7, 2015 by Cherrio

[turbogirlnyc]

When watching this show I can't help but wonder what type of insurance these people have. I just spent $548.00 for a medication I've taken since the age of 15 for thyroid disease. It's a generic, not name brand. It hasn't ever been this expensive but prescription prices are ridiculous these days. I have private insurance through United Healthcare (Obamacare) and pay $420.00 a month for gold plan coverage. Gold is the second highest of the plans. I can't afford platinum. I don't make enough money for a subsidy. Go figure.

Getting insured counseling is near impossible with Anthem BCBS and United Healthcare. Many of these patients don't work. How the heck are they able to stay in a hospital for extended periods of time and have multiple surgeries? Not to mention the cost of an ambulance ride.

I have my own food issues and I'm glad they are receiving the help they need. But when it comes to money, it seriously blows my mind.

Does anyone know how much gastric bypass surgery costs? Not just the surgery but also the facility fees and pain meds?