S05.E01: Robert And Raymond

[Tara Ariano]

Season 5 opens with twin brothers, former high-school basketball players who each weigh almost 400 pounds. They're also L.A. Lakers fans, and get to meet Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash; and play two-on-two against Byron Scott and James Worthy at their six-month milestone.

[zxy556575]

Yes, Chris. By all means, give us the sadly disappointed face because Raymond only lost 97 pounds in 3 months.

 

I want to know how two 13-year olds managed to support a family of four without anyone knowing/caring they had no parents. What a couple of amazing people.

[Chip]

Yes, Chris. By all means, give us the sadly disappointed face because Raymond only lost 97 pounds in 3 months.

 

That is the exact thing I said to my wife last night while we were watching. That's a lot of weight. I've spent the last 3 months trying to lose 1/10th of that.

[DietCokeJunkie]

Their father's response seemed very staged.  I wonder if he was coached beforehand. But wow, once the brothers got that off their chests, they took off!  Good for them.  

[Whimsy]

I was just wondering how two 13 years old took care of household expenses?  Obviously, they weren't living in a super fancy house, but even electricity and food costs are something that I don't think, at 13, they could've handled.  I feel like there is definitely parts of that story left out.  It would've been different if they were 15 or 16 and were working.  I also wonder how long their mother was in jail.  If it was only like a year or something short, then I could see how they pulled that off.  The show may have mentioned it and I missed it.  This is a show I multi-task during.

 

Besides that, I liked it overall.  I also get sick of Chris' sad "you didn't make the goal face", but I really believe that is for the show only (except when the contestant does really, really badly).  When it's that close to goal, I really believe everyone is happy overall.  Chris gives a goal for show purposes and they have to either celebrate or discuss the "fail" in regards to the show.  I think either before or after the cameras roll there is celebrations going on.

[CaughtOnTape]

I was just wondering how two 13 years old took care of household expenses?  Obviously, they weren't living in a super fancy house, but even electricity and food costs are something that I don't think, at 13, they could've handled.  I feel like there is definitely parts of that story left out.

 

It was explained.  They took odd jobs.  Washing cars, babysitting, etc etc.  Things that people get paid under the table for is what I assumed.  Whatever it was, obviously they handled it at 13....considering they seem to be fine now and no one came forward to say they were the adult helping them through the situation.

 

This whole episode was one big "stop bitching about your life, it's not that bad" lesson.  And while I think their dad is an asshole for what he did, he sure did take responsibility for it.  He sat there and let them say what they needed to say and he never told them they were wrong or tried to defend himself except to say that being a father was impossible, which he immediately seemed to regret saying once they responded to it.  I hope they all heal and forgive because this seemed to be a family who genuinely loved, supported and cared about one another.

[Ketzel]

Two thirteen-year-olds made enough money to support a family of four for  . . . how long, exactly? The show implied it was for many years. But I don't think we ever heard how long their mother was imprisoned. And even if she was still in prison when her ex abandoned the kids, didn't the kids tell her that he had left? Was she OK with them living alone? What odd jobs for teenagers pay enough to buy clothing, food, shelter, transportation, medical care, utilities, for four growing children? Not babysitting - even assuming a family would hire a thirteen-year-old to babysit without asking to talk to his parents first. Oh, I think there's a real story here, and it may well be that the twins contributed significantly to keeping their family together and out of foster care after their shit of a father abandoned them. But I think, in typical Extreme Weight Loss fashion, the story has been exaggerated well past the point of believablitiy.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Ketzel

[BoogieBurns]

They were so handsome, even before they started dropping weight. I want to be a twin, They are amazing together.

[Whimsy]

Two thirteen-year-olds made enough money to support a family of four for  . . . how long, exactly? The show implied it was for many years. But I don't think we ever heard how long their mother was imprisoned. And even if she was still in prison when her ex abandoned the kids, didn't the kids tell her that he had left? Was she OK with them living alone? What odd jobs for teenagers pay enough to buy clothing, food, shelter, transportation, medical care, utilities, for four growing children? Not babysitting - even assuming a family would hire a thirteen-year-old to babysit without asking to talk to his parents first. Oh, I think there's a real story here, and it may well be that the twins contributed significantly to keeping their family together and out of foster care after their shit of a father abandoned them. But I think, in typical Extreme Weight Loss fashion, the story has been exaggerated well past the point of believablitiy.

 

This is kind of what I was trying to say.  I think they probably lived in a trailer then (no judgment, they are living in one now so I'm guessing) so those household bills were probably very low.  They also probably didn't go to the doctor, so there would be no medical expenses but other than that- yeah I have a hard time believing two 13 year olds took care of their 3 sisters (I think there were three, or maybe two) for a long stretch.  I think the boys did a fantastic job keeping their family together, I do not doubt that, but I think it was for a very short time frame.  A year or less.  That's my prediction.  This show does play fast and loose with facts....

[jonesingjay]

I was more interested in their backstory than their weight loss. A couple of thirteen year olds managing to take care of not only themselves, but their younger siblings and no one the wiser. I've got more questions than answers after watching this episode. How long was the mom away for? How did four kids living on their own go unnoticed? Did they pay all of the bills in cash? They didn't have any relatives who checked in on them?

 

Good on them for losing the weight. Two fine upstanding young men. I wish them nothing but the best. It's nice to view an episode where the participants aren't relying on excuses and being generally annoying.

Edited May 27, 2015 by jonesingjay

[ari333]

If these dudes wrote a book about what really happened and how they coped, I'd be interested. Amazing. Or per what's her name - Chris' Barbie wife, "ah-maze--ZEEN."

[gardendiva]

Six minutes into this show and I am already in tears.

What parent would be so cruel as to abandon their defenseless and underage children and flip them off as they drove away? The looks on those kids faces would have haunted anyone with any kind of a soul.

[Ketzel]

If these dudes wrote a book about what really happened and how they coped, I'd be interested. Amazing. Or per what's her name - Chris' Barbie wife, "ah-maze--ZEEN."

Ha! One of the best things about the episode was the almost total absence of Heidi. Slightly diminished by the return of Chris The Wise Yet Bogus Pseudo-Psychologist. Too bad his experimental treatment of separating the twins turned out to undermine their efforts at training and weight loss!. Good thing his forcing them to confront their shitty father, despite their mother and sisters' concerns and objections, didn't result in major emotional trauma and more family conflict!  I must say, if I had been faced with that miserable excuse for a grown-up and had to listen to him explain to his abandoned children that "it's impossible to be a father," I  might have taken physical steps to be sure the SOB could never procreate again.

Edited May 27, 2015 by Ketzel

[gardendiva]

Right. "It's impossible to be a father". That is why two 13 year olds were able to do the job. Douche!

[M.F. Luder]

Good thing his forcing them to confront their shitty father, despite their mother and sisters' concerns and objections, didn't result in major emotional trauma and more family conflict!  I must say, if I had been faced with that miserable excuse for a grown-up and had to listen to him explain to his abandoned children that "it's impossible to be a father," I  might have taken physical steps to be sure the SOB could never procreate again.

I hate the fact that psychology in the media perpetuates this notion that confronting bad parents will lead to something productive. IMO, it's much healthier and more productive to promote acceptance that you don't have a good parent and you never will, but you can still have a good life regardless. A parent who will abandon their minor children is not going to be redeemed by 'apologizing' to their grown child. Any attempt for redemption is based on a selfish need by the parent to have forgiveness in their old age rather than the selfless love that comes from a parent being there when their children are young and needy. The situation is setup for failure and disappointment and I wish reality TV didn't make it seem like wanting to avoid it is tantamount to living in denial and not moving on from the past.

Edited May 28, 2015 by M.F. Luder

[Christina]

I hate the fact that psychology in the media perpetuates this notion that confronting bad parents will lead to something productive. IMO, it's much healthier and more productive to promote acceptance that you don't have a good parent and you never will, but you can still have a good life regardless. A parent who will abandon their minor children is not going to be redeemed by 'apologizing' to their grown child. Any attempt for redemption is based on a selfish need by the parent to have forgiveness in their old age rather than the selfless love that comes from a parent being there when their children are young and needy. The situation is setup for failure and disappointment and I wish reality TV didn't make it seem like wanting to avoid it is tantamount to living in denial and not moving on from the past.

I hated this part of the show last year, and hated it here. It has never been effective on his show. Chris and Heidi spout off crap from self-help books and pat themselves on the back for their little pearls of wisdom.

 

Their was an episode last year with a man who was sexually abused by his father. Chris encouraged him to go to the parole hearing and read a victim impact statement. In that episode, they showed a clip of him actually speaking with a psychologist, so I think it may have been on his advice. Other than that, it is always something that a little Google research shows is not very helpful.

 

I was really angry when Heidi had the woman whose husband jumped off a building into a trash compactor to commit suicide (he had been suffering from PTSD) jump off a building with a bungee cord. Was there any thought put into that reward for her? Did anyone think, "this is similar to how her husband committed suicide. Maybe it is not a good idea." Or was there no thought at all. Bring on actual mental health experts for these things or quit doing them. It was just uncomfortable to watch, and those men didn't learn anything from it.

 

They are not counselors. They need to stop trying to be. Chris does seem to build a trusting friend rapport with the people he trains, and I'm sure he really wants what is best. But

[Eeksquire]

 

Heidi had the woman whose husband jumped off a building into a trash compactor to commit suicide (he had been suffering from PTSD) jump off a building with a bungee cord.

WHAT?! I must have missed that episode.  

 

I was glad Heidi's role was minimized this episode, but I have to admit that I thought it was ADORABLE when Chris and Heidi's son had a "flex-off" with … the twin that was in Arizona with them.  Even by the end of the episode, I couldn't tell them apart!

[ari333]

Chris and Heidi should stick to training - if they are trained to do that. The psych stuff should be left to someone with a license for it. Sheesh.

[SmithW6079]

While I wouldn't say I hate-watch this show -- I don't believe in expending the energy on something I don't enjoy -- this show continually frustrates me, whether it's Chris's half-assed transformation "plans" or the emotional manipulation of the audience (and, oh, all the crying). I watch because I'm interested in seeing people transform themselves and for inspiration, but this show makes it hard to do that.  

 

Not to take anything away from the twins' accomplishments -- both in holding their family together and their weight loss -- but I don't understand why after 9 months of intense working out and weight loss, they did not have more muscle or muscle tone. It was obvious during the visit to the plastic surgeon. (I'm fat, and I don't work out consistently, but I do have some muscle that shows underneath the fat.) There were at least two "contestants" from last year -- the chef and the guy who'd been molested by his father -- who did appear to put on an appreciable amount of muscle during their year-long transformation. 

 

Why couldn't the twin with the plantar fasciitis work out? I've had that too, and while walking is painful, it doesn't preclude physical activity. He certainly could have been exercising in water or on a stationary bike or doing upper body resistance training, plus stretching and PT for the foot. I really don't understand Chris's methods or his reasoning. A good trainer would have created a plan to work around his client's injury.

 

The diet experiment was interesting, and I did like that he discovered the twins worked better together than apart. It was kind of funny that the twin "staying" at Chris's house was bored by the end of the day. Was he really at their house or their spa, or was he in a hotel? When the cameras were off, it seemed that Chris and Heidi left him to his own devices. Was he not able to go into town or have a social life?

 

Was disappointed to see that Heidi is now an equal partner in the show's opening. Chris at least is charming with his fatboy crushes and, I believe, his genuine desire to help people. Heidi just looks like someone stuck a stick up her ass and that she feels superior to the fatties on the show.

 

This was a new plastic surgeon, wasn't it? He looked uncomfortable on camera, and a little creepy to boot. Also, the twins still had a lot of weight to lose; they should have held off on the skin surgery. There's a young man with a YouTube channel called "Obese to Beast." He lost 100+ pounds and  did a video several months ago explaining why he wasn't getting skin surgery at the moment. He works hard and it shows -- he's built muscle, and his loose skin is truly excess skin, not fat+skin.

 

What was with the eyebrows on all the women in the family? The mother's were definitely drawn on, but the other girls had something similar too.

 

Someone upthread mentioned them living in a trailer, which is usually symbolic of economically disadvantaged people, but it looked like their trailer was a double-wide. Those are really nice and bigger than some houses (certainly bigger than any "Tiny House" house). 

 

At two hours, this show is too long. Are all the episodes going to be two people now? Focus on one person for one hour at a time. It would tighten things up (no pun intended).

Edited May 28, 2015 by SmithW6079

[Eeksquire]

 

This was a new plastic surgeon, wasn't it? He looked uncomfortable on camera, and a little creepy to boot.

It was a new plastic surgeon and, IMO, he was WAY LESS creepy than the one they used in the past, who always did something weird with his eyes and was inappropriately smiley.

[Morgalisa]

They left too many loose ends in this episode.  One of the twins said they had two sisters and he said how old they were; then they showed a picture of the boys with two sisters.  A later picture showed three girls (one of them was blonde and they didn't blur her face.  Later on Chris says they have three sisters.  They never mentioned help from grandparents or aunts.  Never said how long the mother was in prison.  They did say the parents were estranged and she called and asked the father to return to take care of the kids.  The boys said they were homeless several times and lived in their cars.  How old were they and how did they have cars?  Was this after the mother was released from prison and it was her car?  They were very close to her so I don't think she was in prison very long.  The father sure had a lot of Lakers merch in his tricked out garage/Lakers den.  He did not impress me with his apology.  It didn't reach his eyes.  He was saying what he thought he should say for the cameras IMO.  For what he did to those kids, he should have been way more remorseful.  This show needs a good producer to pull it together.

[ethalfrida]

Thank you saying they had loose ends. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get into the show this time. Never connected with it.

[zxy556575]

It's disappointing that we never see the results of the skin removal surgery -- how big of an improvement was there?

 

With two interminable hours of air time, we certainly could have been given a more cohesive explanation of what happened to the twins, and the timeline. I'm ready to believe they took over the parental care role for their younger sisters, but there had to have been some outside help and money coming in. Living in their car must have been several years later.

 

Were we ever told what they do for a living now?

 

It was interesting that identical twins gained and lost weight at pretty much the same pace. It's not like they ate the exact same meals for 10 years, but their metabolisms managed to even everything out.

Edited May 29, 2015 by lordonia

[Eeksquire]

I always wonder how much weight is removed in the skin surgery - we only find out how much they lose in Phase 4 overall, but for those who have the surgery, I have to think that's a big factor (especially once you factor in the recovery time - I can't imagine what that's like).

[backformore]

I thought photos early in the episode showed three younger kids - I wondered if it was another sibling - .   I think there might have been 2 sisters that the twins raised, and maybe another kid who had a different dad, maybe?     It just seemed like there was something not being said there.  

 

my best guess is a half-brother, born after mom and dad separated, who then went to HIS dad's house when Mom went to prison.  And either was not contacted by the show, or didn't want to be part of it.

[SmithW6079]

This show needs a good producer to pull it together.

 

 

I think they have exactly the kind of show they want. They're not really trying to sell the audience a cohesive narrative, just snippets to elicit an emotional response:

 

• Obese (but not super obese; that's TLC's bailiwick) participants -- check.
• Hard life sob story -- check.
• Empathetic and concerned coach/trainer in Chris -- check. (Although to be fair, I believe he is genuinely concerned about these people.)
• Life lessons "learned" during crash dieting/intensive exercising -- check.
• Slight setback (diet, exercise, family life) -- check.
• Emotional "breakthroughs"/past demons confronted -- check.
• Triumphant weigh-in -- check.
• Pay it forward (gift certificate to Chris's spa) -- check.

Edited May 29, 2015 by SmithW6079

[ari333]

I change the channel when Heidi is on.

[backformore]

the ONLY way to watch this show is on DVR,  so you can fast-forward through Chris's long speeches in the last half hour. 

[Eeksquire]

Did anyone else see this article? It says that Raymond and Robert are 42 - is that right? I thought they looked MUCH younger than that (particularly at the end of the year post weight-loss).  If that's the case, then they were 13 in 1986 and maybe it was easier to go unnoticed then?

[Morgalisa]

 

It says that Raymond and Robert are 42 - is that right?

On the show, it said they were late 20s.  Maybe 27.

[editorgrrl]

On the show, it said they were late 20s.  Maybe 27.

 

Apparently Us Weekly doesn't factcheck its captions. An article in their local paper says Raymond and Robert Delgado are 27.  It also says they work together, and:

Robert recently moved into his own place, and Raymond learned Thursday that he and his girlfriend are expecting a baby girl.

[Eeksquire]

Thank you - I didn't think that could possibly be their correct age!

[editorgrrl]

The Joplin Globe says that going on the show was Robert's idea:

Though the Monett twins, at 27, work the same job and do virtually everything together, tackling weight loss was one thing about which they disagreed. But the show helped change Raymond's mind.

 

"He introduced me to the show, then I had to go back and watch all the episodes, to see what the show was all about," Raymond said. "I take my hat off to my brother. I was in my own head at the beginning of this, and didn't feel like I needed to lose any weight. He convinced me that it was the smart thing to do for our health."

 

Raymond was 378 lbs., but didn't think he needed to lose any weight?

 

The article also says they "helped raise their younger sisters"—not that they raised them singlehandedly. 

Edited May 29, 2015 by editorgrrl

[goodbyeglittergirl]

I was so happy NOT to see Heidi. Hooray! What an improvement. I know that's too much to wish for for the whole season, though. 

 

I always wish we had more detail on the diets of these folks. I've been losing weight since January and since Jan, have only lost 40 pounds. I've spent the past 6 weeks up and down the same 3 pounds in spite of a strict calorie-controlled diet and exercise program. It's frustrating and makes me want to quit. How does that NOT happen to these people? I still have 50 pounds to lose so it's not like I'm tiny and don't have any more fat to go - trust me, I've got loads. How are they dropping close to 100 pounds in 3 months??!

[ethalfrida]

Congrats but I have to say you don't want to lose weight that fast. Your technique is safer and better and is lasting. 

[editorgrrl]

http://hiddenremote.com/2015/05/27/tuesday-ratings-agt-extreme-weight-loss-slip-in-premieres/

The season premiere of Extreme Weight Loss followed [500 Questions] with 2.9 million total viewers and a 0.9 demo rating, falling 27 and 31 percent from its previous season opener.

Edited May 30, 2015 by editorgrrl

[Morgalisa]

 

I always wish we had more detail on the diets of these folks. I've been losing weight since January and since Jan, have only lost 40 pounds.

What?  That sounds great to me, goodbyeglittergirl.  Congrats!

[backformore]

I was so happy NOT to see Heidi. Hooray! What an improvement. I know that's too much to wish for for the whole season, though. 

 

I always wish we had more detail on the diets of these folks. I've been losing weight since January and since Jan, have only lost 40 pounds. I've spent the past 6 weeks up and down the same 3 pounds in spite of a strict calorie-controlled diet and exercise program. It's frustrating and makes me want to quit. How does that NOT happen to these people? I still have 50 pounds to lose so it's not like I'm tiny and don't have any more fat to go - trust me, I've got loads. How are they dropping close to 100 pounds in 3 months??!

well, for the first three months, it's like losing weight is their full time job. They don't have other responsibilities, and they have the benefit of trainers and people who shop and prepare meals for them. they don't have to prepare food for families, they don't go to an office where there are tempting foods, they're not around friends who want to go out for pizza.

for people with a normal lifestyle, without trainers and chefs, who have to make meals for others, who have to contend with real llife - losing 5 pounds a week is a healthy goal to start with. And of course, you hit a plateau after a while. don't give up

Edited May 30, 2015 by backformore

[editorgrrl]

for people with a normal lifestyle, without trainers and chefs, who have to make meals for others, who have to contend with real llife - losing 5 pounds a week is a healthy goal to start with. And of course, you hit a plateau after a while. don't give up

A healthy, sustainable weight loss is .5 lb. per week for every 25-ish lbs. you're overweight.

[ChicagoCita]

Just watched this last night, and I have to say that these two young men really stepped up when they needed to in life, and I admire them so much.  Not only for playing parents to their family when they were abandoned, but for saying what they needed to say to their father when they had the chance. Really brave guys, with such character. It really makes the boo-hoo poor-me folks on these kind of shows look even worse. No self-pity, no immaturity (and who would blame them if they did feel that way?).  Just really good responsible kids who turned into really good responsible adults. I want everything wonderful for both of them.

 

Their weight was so weirdly distributed. Bodies are so amazingly diverse. Even 200 pounds overweight, their faces were thin.  They were almost triangular-shaped at their heaviest. And they looked great afterwards.

 

Most people go through life without a ridiculously strong attachment to another person. They had that not only with each other, but with their entire immediate family (minus dad, of course). Amazing.  I admire them so much.

 

On a much more shallow note:  Minimal Heidi - yay!