S05.E09: John and Panda

[Chip]

Discuss away!

[sasha206]

I love Panda.  His brother, quite a dick.  I can't even imagine.

[MakeMeLaugh]

Easily the dumbest episode ever.

I wanted to see those little campers again at the end! And why didn't the panda get to pay it forward with a coupon to Chris's camp?

And no confrontation with the lying trainer who said he and John had worked out that morning? And his ulcerated feet--did they get better? Is he diabetic? That would have been good to know.

Edited August 12, 2015 by MakeMeLaugh

[Suzysite]

 

And why didn't the panda get to pay it forward with a coupon to Chris's camp?

He did.  He gave it to a guy who was one of his counselors/mentors.   I thought Panda was a crybaby.   His brother was a jerk, yes, but Panda seemed like a perpetual child who needed to grow up.

 

I'm surprised John made the turnaround that he did.  I still pretty much expect the weight to come back, though.

[ClareWalks]

Personal Training Pedantry time!

 

First of all, can I get an amen for almost no Heidi this episode? Thank GOD.

 

When Chris said John was restricted with no pressure on the toe, then they showed him using the rowing machine, the bike, and doing weight-lifting and tire flipping? WHAT? All of those things involve putting pressure on your feet and toes. I'm yelling at the screen "ropes! Shadow-boxing! The friggin' POOL, for god's sake!" How come they never, ever seem to recommend swimming for their clients?! The whole thing about John's RBR being 2800 calories was confusing, too. Chris was acting like that was an amazing RBR, but it's...not. Not for a guy THAT BIG. Especially since he should have more muscle, having been an athlete. Then at the lie detector test when Chris and Heidi were "baffled" that John ate a lot. No shit, Sherlock. He's a former athlete who has a food addiction. Athletes tend to be the worst with diet because they operate as they did when they burned a ton of calories. I also didn't see the point of hooking him up to a lie detector, since he seemed very forthcoming about it. Didn't they try just ASKING him? Then he lost 125 lb and Chris acts like John murdered his entire family. The personal trainer lying to Chris is extremely fishy, I gotta say. Is the PT a "real" PT? Is it a friend of John's, or someone chosen by the show? Agree with Chris that meeting his son was his only motivation, and once that happened John was done. I just wish there had been more of a conversation there...part of a PT's job is to help a client set goals and find motivations. It's funny how much better he did once he got out from under Chris' thumb. Clearly he found someone who worked better for him.

 

Chris having Panda deadlift a billion pounds was a bit annoying, since Panda was doing it wrong. Using waaaay too much upper back and not enough legs. No wonder Chris' clients get injured so much. Also, I was sure that when the DEXA scan revealed such a huge amount of muscle that Chris would revise Panda's 3-month weight goal, but nope. What a moron. It should have been lowered to 70 lb. When you only have 120 lb of fat on your body, asking them to lose that much that fast isn't reasonable and could result in a loss of muscle. Then when he actually lost 109 lb, my mind was blown. He should not have gotten skin surgery so soon, though, even though he qualified for it. If he'd taken another 3 months he would have been ripped. I'm not as annoyed by Panda's crying and brother-confrontation as others here - he clearly had a lot of issues and I'm glad he was able to get it out of his system a bit. He really did look great at the end. 

[MakeMeLaugh]

He did.  He gave it to a guy who was one of his counselors/mentors.   I thought Panda was a crybaby.   His brother was a jerk, yes, but Panda seemed like a perpetual child who needed to grow up.

 

I'm surprised John made the turnaround that he did.  I still pretty much expect the weight to come back, though.

D'oh--how did I miss that?

 

I always think elite athletes like John was are pretty good at losing weight when they want to, so not surprising that he was successful on his own (after getting a good head start from the show). Yeah, he will probably gain it back since he probably thinks he can re-lose it whenever he wants.

 

Agree that the lie detector was just stupid filler since John was pretty honest about everything.

 

Best part of the episode was Chris demonstrating John's different faces for happy, sad, mad, frustrated all being the same. Plus Heidi wasn't allowed to talk much if it all.

Edited August 12, 2015 by MakeMeLaugh

[scenicbyway]

I didn't see what the big deal was with John.  He lost 120 pounds in 90 days, Chris was all over him because it wasn't 140, give me a break.  Clearly Chris' methods didn't work with him but it he end up losing an amazing amount overall.

[ChicagoCita]

First, minimal Heidi!  Yes!  Chris must be a great husband and loves her very much, because he's so incredibly supportive of her, but she really doesn't have the charisma necessary to be a star. It's like whatever Will Smith's kids' names are -- they can get pushed into the spotlight, but they just don't have what it takes.  Ditto for Heidi.  (I have a friend who is doing an online DietBet sponsored by Chris and Heidi, and I'm really eager to see what she says about Heidi's level of support and encouragement in a non-televised setting.)

 

I felt for Panda.  (And what is it with men being nicknamed Panda now? Just read a book where the freaking romantic hero was named Panda. No. Just no.)  It must be rough having an incredibly abusive childhood, and on top of that feeling like your parents don't support you because you're adopted and a bad family fit.  I was glad they showed the mother taking responsibility and assuring him she loved him.  He needed that.

 

I saw him at the beginning with the kids, right on their level, because that's how he felt inside, like a kid who needed support and encouragement.  I hope now that he's feeling different about himself, he goes back to those kids and doesn't become exclusively Training Muscle Guy.

 

I kind of feel like calling BS on John doing that all on his own, but I could be wrong. He really did look amazing with those arms.  I was impressed.  Made for good TV, whether or not the facts were fudged.

 

Private detectives, lie detectors?  I'm waiting for next season with the tasers for not losing enough weight.  I bet Heidi would be good at that. ;-)

Edited August 12, 2015 by ChicagoCita

[gryphon]

I liked Panda.  I hope he continues his life positively.  Good for him :)  

[DietCokeJunkie]

 

When Chris said John was restricted with no pressure on the toe, then they showed him using the rowing machine, the bike, and doing weight-lifting and tire flipping? WHAT? All of those things involve putting pressure on your feet and toes. I'm yelling at the screen "ropes! Shadow-boxing! The friggin' POOL, for god's sake!"

I'm no doctor, but wouldn't an open wound make the pool off limits, both for the sake of John and the other people who would use it? 

 

Also, I didn't catch what was actually said.  Was the order for no pressure or no weight-bearing activity?  

 

I hope that John keeps up with his weight loss and continues to get healthy.  Diabetes is nothing to mess around with.  

[Jadzia]

And what is it with men being nicknamed Panda now? ...

...It must be rough having an incredibly abusive childhood, and on top of that feeling like your parents don't support you because you're adopted and a bad family fit. 

I missed where they explained his name, but I was really hoping he wasn't called Panda because of some racial thing. I couldn't help thinking that during the episode and it made me cringe.

[SmithW6079]

Panda should not have had the skin surgery after only a three-month weight loss. The kid was definitely solid -- one of the few participants who've had a good degree of muscle (Bruce was another, and I think the chef) -- with some of the biggest calves I've ever seen. His loose skin didn't look that bad and might have continued to improve in time.

[pelicanlover]

Here's a link to a nice article about what Panda is doing now. Sounds like he landed on his feet and has a good perspective on weight loss. I enjoyed this episode, but also like Heidi and would have liked to have seen more of her.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2015/08/former_camp_counselor_reflects.html

[ClareWalks]

I'm no doctor, but wouldn't an open wound make the pool off limits, both for the sake of John and the other people who would use it? 

 

Also, I didn't catch what was actually said.  Was the order for no pressure or no weight-bearing activity?  

 

I hope that John keeps up with his weight loss and continues to get healthy.  Diabetes is nothing to mess around with.  

I could have sworn they said no pressure on the toe, which really limits the options. I didn't think about the open wound aspect as I wasn't sure how open the wound actually was...they didn't show the full grossness of the toe, thank god ;) 

[editorgrrl]

Here's a link to a nice article about what Panda is doing now. Sounds like he landed on his feet and has a good perspective on weight loss: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2015/08/former_camp_counselor_reflects.html

He has some good advice, like making one small, sustainable lifestyle change every week. And instead of dinner & drinks, do something fun & active with your friends, like a walk in the park, bowling, mini-golf…

Dan "Panda" Smith has launched a series of fitness videos on YouTube called "Wild, Fierce Fitness" that build on the things he is learning in his own personal transformation.

Here's the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChlm8jYiiwiCqkgc9txx46w

It's not just Panda, though. It's his boyfriend Fox, too!

[ari333]

I think Panda had every right to be traumatized. His brother put him in an ice chest and put heavy things on top. He could have died. He chased him with a gun. And the not so dangerous, but just plain mean, was disassembling his bike. I don't care who he is, that is horrible.

 

Chris is starting to make me as sick as Heidi or Holly or whatever her name is. Glad she was kept to a reaction shot and mouth closed. Chris has become so annoying for reasons mentioned up thread.

[Scorpiosunshine]

I haven't read the thread yet; I just came to post this:

 

I'm 8 minutes in and tearing up already! Panda just had his first weigh-in and is leaving the kids at his camp. The level of emotion from them shows not only how much they must care for him, but more importantly, how much he cares for them. He must be so good to them, because it is obvious they sure love him. That kid crying and hugging Panda, then Panda gives him his hat -- it's killing me! **leaky eyes**