S02.E09: First Day on the Job/S02.E10: Fighting the Scale

[OnceSane]

9.

Whitney starts her new job with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the minor-league baseball team, but finds the work more physically challenging than she imagined. Later, her unauthorized break could have dire consequences.

10.

Whitney's confidence wanes after she gets bad news at her weigh-in, and an argument with Buddy doesn't help her mood.

[bref]

Yikes. That first episode did not reflect well on Whitney.

[MrHufflepuff]

I know.  Why couldn't she just wear the shorts over the spandex?  Or hem a pair of khaki pants so that they came in well below her knees?  Who shows up at a job wearing only spandex?

 

On the other hand, the employers really needed to work out an accommodation for her if they wanted to hire her for this job.  So, they came off like jerks too.

 

Even Buddy came off like a jerk in these episodes.  

Edited October 8, 2015 by MrHufflepuff

[Katydid]

Oy. The whole job thing and resulting shenanigans just reeked of being set up for the sake of a storyline to me. I think I saw several others who looked like they were wearing the employee shirts with black pants. I agree that it seems like she could have gotten some regular (non-spandex!) khakis and hemmed them to an appropriate, comfortable length. Or even long length khakis wouldn't have been that much of a departure from what they wanted. I know every business has their own dress code, but I've seen a lot of places that obviously have something general like a "company shirt, khaki pants" code that has variations (short or long khakis, polo or button down shirt with logo, etc.) I also thought the supervisor was playing up the role of bitchy boss.

I guess I wasn't listening carefully enough, but are we to believe that Whitney has been hiding and binging on junk food the way she was when Buddy caught her in the parking lot? Is that something she is doing secretly all the time and the reason she's not losing weight despite all her exercising and supposedly eating healthier?

[princessbroccoli]

Whitney is such a drama queen! Incredibly cringeworthy. And she's horrible to the people around her.

If you really watch what you eat and actually exercise, you WILL lose weight or at least maintain your current weight, not gain friggin 10 pounds! She's making all kinds of excuses. I'm over her.

[DixonVixen2359]

Why in the hell did Whitney think it was necessary to mention her "chub-rub" over the phone to Scott?

Her personal trainer was a cutie....

[bichonblitz]

I guess I wasn't listening carefully enough, but are we to believe that Whitney has been hiding and binging on junk food the way she was when Buddy caught her in the parking lot? Is that something she is doing secretly all the time and the reason she's not losing weight despite all her exercising and supposedly eating healthier?

Really. She must be privately binging. If you eat less and move more you are going to lose weight. Some people much slower than others, but you definitely don't gain 10 lbs.! Whitney does seem to move her body alot for a person her size. Dancing, going to the gym, that job, so good for her for that. 

[ClareWalks]

Whitney wearing the khaki spandex to work...holy shit. How she ever thought that would be appropriate is beyond me. Why didn't she just buy long khaki PANTS, and wear those? At least that's CLOSE to khaki shorts. I liked that she was at least trying to hustle around, though. Her boss was a bit of a hard ass but it wasn't undeserved, with the nude leggings and all. Yeeeeesh.

 

I like Whitney's trainer, he is similar to how I would be with a client like that. He made an excellent point that it doesn't matter if you have a "bad workout," any workout is a good workout. Agree with everyone above that she is obviously eating more than she should. Nobody gains 10 lb and has no idea why. Finding her in the parking lot with that spoon that vat of ice cream, and the conversation that ensued, was extremely telling. She is demonstrating all the classic behavior of a binge eater. The fear of failure, saying she has to be "perfect," and "nobody will believe" her, and she can "do everything right and still be unhealthy." It is obvious that she is in a cycle of bingeing and feeling guilty. What is most annoying is that for all her talk about being real and owning who she is, she is not owning her eating habits. At all.

 

I am a believer that one can be fit and fat. She is pretty fit for someone her size. But it's gotten to the point where she cannot get much more fit and remain that size. It's a "shit or get off the pot" situation. She either has to buckle down and get the eating under control, or she has to accept that she will have more limitations (like with her job) than others. It's like she wants to have her cake and eat it, too. (insert obvious joke here)

[Dirtybubble]

ITA with everyone on the kahki shorts situation.  The first paired she tried on looked fine.  If she was worried about chub rub then buy a pair of spanex shorts to wear underneath it. 

 

As a dieter myself I can sympathize with falling off the wagon and binging.  BUT yeah gaining 10lbs and not understanding why is suspicious.  I think she does know why and doesn't want to admit it out loud (been there as well).  I sympathize really but yeah it's time to decide what is more important in your life.  Accept the fact that everyone has weak moments and you will stumble but stay on the path and don't beat yourself up over it. 

[JocelynCavanaugh]

Khaki capris would probably be easy for Whitney to find and wear, and I doubt anyone at the Grasshoppers office would have batted an eye. They're the right material, and a close-enough attempt at the right length, that it wouldn't have been a problem. But then Whitney wouldn't get to make a big deal out of it and get attention for being different.

 

I was so embarrassed for her in the roommate argument. Buddy seems like a nice guy who is capable of acting at an appropriate maturity level for his age. Whitney drastically overreacted to the situation, and used words and tone that probably caused some damage, all because she was mad at herself. She doesn't get to whine and throw fits about her weight, and then turn around and yell at Buddy for noticing the evidence of binge eating in her room. If it's not his business, then she needs to stop complaining to him and force-feeding him microwaved quinoa.

[goldensglitter]

I'm embarrassed for her.  Seriously, hiding away in your car eating a huge tub of ice cream?  I'm no skinny mini but omg, who does this?  Spandex, gross.  I hope the money is well worth you selling your soul and any pride you may have on television.  She is the ultimate train wreck.

[momofsquid]

To me this whole job situation feels like a set-up to show us average folk how difficult life is for overweight people. Look, she can't wear the same shorts as everyone else! Look, she "accidentally" took a job that involves a lot of running around! Watch as poor Whitney gets crap for taking a much-needed break! Look at the mean boss who just doesn't understand Whit's physical limitations! How fortunate for the show that Whitney accepted a position that was so completely wrong for her current abilities.

[Shibori]

Khaki capris would probably be easy for Whitney to find and wear, and I doubt anyone at the Grasshoppers office would have batted an eye. They're the right material, and a close-enough attempt at the right length, that it wouldn't have been a problem. But then Whitney wouldn't get to make a big deal out of it and get attention for being different.

Exactly what I thought, and in about two minutes online I was able to find a few reasonably priced options in her size.  Before I go full rant, I will give this caveat- this whole thing had to at least be partially staged.  You don't show up at your new job and immediately start working (not in a place with more than one employee, at least, and they seemed to be a big enough organization).  You do an orientation, tax paperwork, HR forms, insurance, etc.  If none of that happened, then I put a lot more blame on the organization.

 

That said, Whitney's positive image campaign may have really done some damage for big people everywhere with this show.  I run a nonprofit with a few dozen employees and I'm a big girl myself.  But I watched this and thought that any employer who might have been willing to take a chance on hiring a very large woman is going to watch this and think, hell no!  And the shame is that it's really more about Whitney being an immature spoiled brat than it is about her weight, but that's a fine distinction that would be beyond her comprehension.  I see a lot of this with employees her age-just no sense whatsoever of what's appropriate behavior in a professional environment.  What she doesn't realize is that her behavior creates real problems and liability in terms of ADA compliance, and many employers are just going to find a reason (legitimate or not) to not hire her rather end up saddled with an employee who can't do the job, has a nasty sense of entitlement, and worse yet, is in a protected category that would risk a lawsuit to fire her.

 

When clothing can be an issue like it is for Whitney, you need to be proactive in addressing uniform issues.  You don't wait until your first day of work and show up wearing something that any sane human being would never wear in public.  You'd ask at the interview if there was a uniform, and bring up the issue there if necessary.  But more importantly, it's up to you to conform to the uniform, not their responsibility to tailor it to you.  They provided her with a uniform shirt, which I guarantee they had to special order at some expense, so clearly there was enough time between when she was hired and her first day to get the uniform issues straightened out.  No one keeps 5x-6x shirt sizes in stock.  When I did a stint at Target and had to wear khakis, I drove around to three different chain stores to buy the one pair of plus size khakis they each had in my size (this was before online ordering was widely available).  Same with professional jobs where I've had to wear suits- it's up to me to search high and low to find some, I wouldn't dream of showing up not appropriately dressed and expecting that to fly.  At a minimum, she should have contacted her boss to say she was having a hard time finding something, would need a few more days to order some things in, and offer an alternative solution that wouldn't embarrass herself and her new workplace.  If she had called a day or two ahead and said, "Hey, I'm having some trouble finding appropriate khahi shorts in my size- I have some things on order but they won't be here in time for my first day.  Would it be ok if I wore full-length khakis the first day until the delivery comes?"  Or, "I know that you require shorts- would it be ok if I did khaki capris so that they don't ride up in the middle?"  But you don't just show up in those nightmarish leggings with a size sticker on your leg and just be like, oh well!

 

No matter what your size- leggings aren't pants!

 

And if your boss tells you that sitting on the job is not acceptable, you don't spend your first day sitting on a trainer's table.

 

I didn't see the episode where she interviewed- were they clear about the significant physical requirements of the job?  If so, why on earth would she think this was a good fit?

[Dirtybubble]

I didn't see the episode where she interviewed- were they clear about the significant physical requirements of the job?  If so, why on earth would she think this was a good fit?

 

 

No they didn't show on t.v. an explanation of the physical requirements of the job but I can't imagine her simply not knowing.  As previous posters have pointed out that was probably set up for shenanigans for this episode.  Nothing fun about watching a confident, plus size woman perform her job efficiently I guess =)

 

Or maybe she did know and just didn't realize the stress it would have on her body. 

[shoovenbooty]

In both episodes Whitney talked about how she's "eating healthier", but is she eating less? Depending on the recipe, a serving of quinoa salad can be upwards of 350 calories. I believe that's what she was eating when she was trying to force-feed Buddy, and when her boyfriend brought her dinner after her first day on the job. Quinoa is a healthier choice, but If she's eating two, three, four servings at a time...that can spell disaster for a diet. Just because she's eating healthier foods doesn't necessarily mean she can eat more of them. That may be a trap she's falling into. A girl her size doesn't gain 10 lbs by eating less and exercising.

 

Those flesh-colored spandex pants were NASTY. I didn't see why she didn't just put some spandex shorts on underneath the khaki shorts she tried on.

[ShaNaeNae]

As much as I like Babs and Glen, I think they coddled (and still coddle) Whitney way too much that she thinks everyone should always cater to her. She's so damn dramatic about the littlest things and entitled. She expected the new job to cater to her for being fat. You don't tell the guy on the phone about "chub rub", there's nicer ways to say that. And she kept adding, "this job will bring me x experience...so I can use that on my No Body Shame campaign!" #1, we get it. Quit plugging your program. #2, they aren't there to teach you everything so you can apply it to your personal project. They are teaching you these skills so you can apply it to their company. That's why they are paying you. I couldn't believe after being caught sitting (I would have been so embarrassed and promptly got up), she somewhat asked her boss twice, "should I not be sitting?" "I guess I should be getting up, huh?"

 

I'm just over her and her dramatic ways.

[CarolMK]

I think Babs was the funniest character on both shows this week. In the first episode, she embarrasses Whitney by telling her that her husband gets exercise by chasing her around and going to bed with her. I laughed out loud when Whitney cringed. Also, when Babs was admiring her husband (his name escapes me, sorry) in the karate outfit, and she said that there was something about a man in uniform, I also cracked up. Go Babs, you're entertaining me more than Whitney lately.

[Tinfoil Hat]

I am still aghast about those leggings!  

 

To me it seemed almost like a passive-aggressive move on Whitney's part.  "I'm going to wear these things that are totally inappropriate and they'll have to make an exception for me!"  It seemed like she was testing the boundaries and rules--not what you want to do at a new job.

 

I didn't understand why she couldn't wear the shorts.  Yes, chub rub is a problem, and you don't even have to be that big to experience it.  Whitney has been very large for a while; I'd expect that she would have figured out clothing alternatives by now.  She wears dresses, do her thighs not rub together then?  What is she wearing under her dresses, and why could she not wear that under a pair of shorts?  Wouldn't wearing Skimmies or the 6X equivalent prevent shorts from riding up in the crotch? 

 

It was also off-putting how she kept talking about her agenda for No Body Shame.  It seemed that doing the job she was hired for was secondary to what she might be able to learn and apply to her pet project.  

 

What they showed of her day at work--this is exactly why fat people face discrimination in the workplace.  Not only was she unable to keep up with the physical requirements, she also (maybe especially) had an attitude.  To be fair, I've seen the same attitude among a lot of others of her generation (apologies to Millennial-aged folks who have a work ethic!) that the workplace is there for their convenience and not the other way around.  But in Whitney's case, the entitlement really came out around her fat-related problems...and that's what people will remember. 

[princelina]

To be fair, I've seen the same attitude among a lot of others of her generation (apologies to Millennial-aged folks who have a work ethic!) that the workplace is there for their convenience and not the other way around.

 

This!  This is the problem!  I'm a former teacher - and lived in a world where many people felt that public schools only exist to give them a job!  I volunteer at church, where we apparently only have services and Sunday school offered every week on the off chance that people will have nothing better to do and decide to show up. It's an aggravation . . . (  :)

[leighroda]

Ugh... I don't know what planet she thought those legging would be a good solution on...I'm not trying to be dramatic, but they were borderline obscene. I don't know if she thought this episode would make us sympathetic to the struggles of big girls, but at least for me it had the opposite effect, I feel like she came off as entitled and lazy.

In theory the no body shame campaign is a good thing, I think, but I feel like she uses it as an excuse, like in this case had she not been hired it would have been because of discrimination of her size, and not that she literally cannot perform the job duties. Or if she is let go (which I think this was just a one day thing for the show I don't think she was actually hired... Katie seemed pretty serious about the job and it's description, I can't imagine that she would have chosen Whitney knowing she may not be able to complete the job at hand) now it will be because they are body shaming her.

I want to be careful how I say this so I will preface it with I myself am not small... So I'm not trying to "shame" Whitney, but The uniform is a minor issue, I think had she gone to Katie first she would have accommodated her needs in that case, but in theory, it would be like me going to get a job at hooters, and then requesting a different uniform because I don't look good in booty shorts.

I also agree it's tacky for her to keep emphasizing that this job is going to help her run her campaign, while it's true it probably will, that doesn't mean she needs to keep saying it, it comes off like she is just using this job to obtain business contacts or something.

I get that she is in a tv show, and that she is doing it for awareness, but she is the one who constantly brings up her size restrictions... Like when they performed at that game, and they were talking about the field being unsafe to dance on... She immediately had to make it about her saying how much worse it is for a big girl to fall down. I don't doubt that it is worse, but for someone who wants to show the world she can do anything regardless of her weight, she is the one who brings up her limitations.

I wish there could be a crossover episode where she meets dr now from my 600 lb life... He puts people in their place when they come to him with "I don't know how I'm gaining weight" cue sad eyes.

[RCharter]

I wish there could be a crossover episode where she meets dr now from my 600 lb life... He puts people in their place when they come to him with "I don't know how I'm gaining weight" cue sad eyes.

That dude gives exactly zero fucks

[deedee2]

In both episodes Whitney talked about how she's "eating healthier", but is she eating less? Depending on the recipe, a serving of quinoa salad can be upwards of 350 calories. I believe that's what she was eating when she was trying to force-feed Buddy, and when her boyfriend brought her dinner after her first day on the job. Quinoa is a healthier choice, but If she's eating two, three, four servings at a time...that can spell disaster for a diet. Just because she's eating healthier foods doesn't necessarily mean she can eat more of them. That may be a trap she's falling into. A girl her size doesn't gain 10 lbs by eating less and exercising.

 

 

When she told Buddy, "hey, I cooked!", he answered something like, "you just opened the package and microwaved it", and she responded, "well, it's a start!". So, I don't think she's using any recipes.  She also said, "I'm eating healthy 80% of the time". So, the other 20% of the time she allows herself huge caloric binges for "reward"? No wonder she gained 10 lbs on her "diet".

 

Whitney eats junk. Quinoa is, indeed, healthy, but if it's the pre-packaged flavoured stuff, there could be tons of fat and salt in there. I have yet to see her eat a fresh green salad or a bowl of steamed vegetables - things that would help fill her up, take time to chew, and be truly healthy and low calorie. If she's buying processed, packaged "healthy" foods and calling it effort - she will continue to gain weight or stagnate. The woman tells herself what she wants to hear, takes her own delusional advice, and then whines and sobs over a gallon of ice cream when things don't go the way she wants them to go. Which makes for a pointless, irritating, cringe-worthy show, imo.

Edited October 9, 2015 by deedee2

[Alapaki]

I usually watch this show as DVR mini-marathons, and there are some real continuity problems with this show that jump out when you watch that way.  And I realize that the talking-heads are done after-the-fact.  But it's Whitney's life and she ought to be able to keep it straight.

 

Last week Whitney was bragging about she "lost 20 pounds without much effort."  (I guess we're not supposed to county the 5k she led us to believe almost killed her).

 

Then this week she said she gained 10 pounds.  Is that 10 of the 20 she lost?  Or is she up 30?  Because it sounds like she went cold-turkey on carbs and dropped a bunch of water weight, then had a bagel and gained half of it back.  Which . . . would be an issue for the nutritionist she seems to ignore.

 

And whatever happened the to personal trainer who was teaching her the burpees?

 

I didn't see the episode where she interviewed- were they clear about the significant physical requirements of the job?  If so, why on earth would she think this was a good fit?

 

 

What was clear from that interview is that Whitney was utterly unqualified for the position in the first place.  "It involves entertainment?  Well, I like to entertain people, so I'd be perfect!"  "I don't know if baseball games have 'innings', even though last week I had my dance troupe perform during the seventh INNING stretch.

 

And, when that hipster doofus boyfriend picked her up and said he'd just "gotten off", I said to my wife "got off what?  His ass? (because I heart Glenn)

[Snarklepuss]

I didn't understand why she couldn't wear the shorts.  Yes, chub rub is a problem, and you don't even have to be that big to experience it.  Whitney has been very large for a while; I'd expect that she would have figured out clothing alternatives by now.  She wears dresses, do her thighs not rub together then?  What is she wearing under her dresses, and why could she not wear that under a pair of shorts?  Wouldn't wearing Skimmies or the 6X equivalent prevent shorts from riding up in the crotch?

 

I'm nowhere near Whitney's size but I have inner thighs that rub and it's not really that that's the problem but the fact that the shorts will ride up her legs to her crotch all day long and she'd constantly have to be pulling them out and down, not to mention how hideous it would look.  Not to be graphic or anything but I'm sure that's why she prefers leggings - because they don't produce that issue.  I agree that she could have made an effort to find SOMETHING that would work instead of being spiteful and wearing those hideous nude colored leggings.

 

That said, I think the whole job thing is a plot device.  She claimed she had no idea that she was going to be required to run around all day - That's because it's a bogus job, just for the show.  The team gets publicity and she gets to show the world how hard it is for her to be doing something that "normal" people do and how people just don't understand her special situation, but oh, she manages to survive and conquer it anyway, what a great empowering message, blah, blah, blah.

 

About the 10 pound gain - when someone is that large they can go up and down 10 pounds the way slimmer people go up and down a couple of pounds.  A little extra water retention and that would be all it takes, even with the diet.  I know I have a tendency for edema and in the summer I go up about 5 pounds - This season shows her in the warm weather so she could be fighting that too.  And it's really not that easy for someone to lose weight who is that close to being a diabetic - The insulin resistance fights them tooth and nail.  I think the ice cream in the car was done for dramatic effect.  I don't believe she's cheating on her diet like that all the time.  She seems to be a very determined person when she wants to be and certainly gets enough exercise.

[RCharter]

 

 

I'm nowhere near Whitney's size but I have inner thighs that rub and it's not really that that's the problem but the fact that the shorts will ride up her legs to her crotch all day long and she'd constantly have to be pulling them out and down, not to mention how hideous it would look.  Not to be graphic or anything but I'm sure that's why she prefers leggings - because they don't produce that issue.  I agree that she could have made an effort to find SOMETHING that would work instead of being spiteful and wearing those hideous nude colored leggings.

 

That said, I think the whole job thing is a plot device.  She claimed she had no idea that she was going to be required to run around all day - That's because it's a bogus job, just for the show.  The team gets publicity and she gets to show the world how hard it is for her to be doing something that "normal" people do and how people just don't understand her special situation, but oh, she manages to survive and conquer it anyway, what a great empowering message, blah, blah, blah.

 

About the 10 pound gain - when someone is that large they can go up and down 10 pounds the way slimmer people go up and down a couple of pounds.  A little extra water retention and that would be all it takes, even with the diet.  I know I have a tendency for edema and in the summer I go up about 5 pounds - This season shows her in the warm weather so she could be fighting that too.  And it's really not that easy for someone to lose weight who is that close to being a diabetic - The insulin resistance fights them tooth and nail.  I think the ice cream in the car was done for dramatic effect.  I don't believe she's cheating on her diet like that all the time.  She seems to be a very determined person when she wants to be and certainly gets enough exercise.

 

I'm not sure I understand how insulin resistance would mean a person would have a harder time losing weight than anyone else.  Can you clarify?

 

I absolutely believe that any ice cream Whitney was caught eating was done for dramatic effect.  I think she has been secret eating for years and knows how to do so out of the view of everyone, including camera men.  I'm almost positive she is eating everything she shouldn't be eating when the cameras are off.  There are people her size and far larger than her, who have prediabetes and even type 2 diabetes and if they are on a strict diet they lose weight, even with relatively minimal exercise.  She is moving a lot and according to her she is on a diet....she should be losing quite a bit of weight.  Even accounting for 10 pounds of water weight.

 

I'm sure she is determined when she wants to be -- I just don't think she has hit any rock bottom so she isn't really all that determined to lose weight at this point.   

[Snarklepuss]

I'm not sure I understand how insulin resistance would mean a person would have a harder time losing weight than anyone else.  Can you clarify?

 

There is a wealth of information online about this - I'll just post a few links:

 

http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/prediabetes-and-insulin-resistance

 

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/weight+loss/lose+weight/insulin+resistance+may+be+making+you+fat,7603

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-j-cederquist-md/metabolism-dysfunction-th_b_6430370.html

 

Insulin resistance is like the 800 pound gorilla in the room where Whitney is concerned (ha, no pun intended) and where millions of Americans are concerned, including myself.  It's estimated that millions of diabetics and pre-diabetics suffer from it plus millions more people that aren't even in those categories that don't even know it, and that it can help to account for unexplained weight gain and trouble losing weight.  I've read on PCOS sites that insulin resistance is a potential symptom of the condition, and that it accounts for a lot of the weight maintenance issues associated with it.  Note that not all women with PCOS develop insulin resistance which is why there are women with PCOS who say they don't have such difficulty managing their weight.  Insulin resistance seems to especially become an issue for peri and post-menopausal women, which is when it kicked in with me, my mother, all the women on my mother's side of the family and is caused by genetic and hormonal changes.  I only just realized this myself a couple of years ago - I knew my mother had it and was considered pre-diabetic after menopause to her death but it only became apparent to me that I was suffering from it as well relatively recently and that it had a genetic basis as well.

 

So anyway, I sympathize with Whitney because I go through the same difficulties myself with my weight.  I can diet and exercise like a maniac and still have a great deal of difficulty losing weight, plus I only have to look at food now and gain weight, which was not an issue for me prior to peri-menopause.  I know what it's like to have a body that responds to diet and exercise versus the one I have now that fights me all the way and I saw my mother go through it too - And I KNOW how much effort she put into diet and exercise.  So I feel like I tend to understand what's going on with Whitney.  I know it's puzzling to most people because it's not normal and it makes no sense.  It puzzles me too and I have the condition!  Knowing what it's like I tend to believe that Whitney is doing more than enough to lose weight.  In fact, I was waiting to see what would happen when she finally went on a diet and exercise regimen.  I knew it wasn't going to be all THAT easy.  I think her youth should help make up for it somewhat but her condition will still slow her progress down somewhat too.

Edited October 10, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[ClareWalks]

I find it very interesting that Whitney said she lost 20 lb without much effort. That kind of flies in the face of what she said, about how PCOS makes it so difficult for her to lose weight. I know PCOS does increase the difficulty of weight loss but Whitney specifically was probably using that as an excuse, because otherwise how would losing 20 lb use "not much effort?" My guess is she lost the weight really easily (or easier than she thought), figured she could relax on her diet, and rebounded the other way. 

[Snarklepuss]

Oh, I forgot to add that the first 10-20 pounds comes off without much trouble (water weight?) but then suddenly it's like the body puts the brakes on and can even gain some of it back even while sticking to the diet religiously - Kind of like what happens to most people on low carb diets after a while, only it happens right away.  My mother and I both went through this ourselves and it's another perplexing part of the problem, I think.  I have read about this phenomenon somewhere but I forget where now or I'd post a reference.  It's not that it's impossible for someone with insulin resistance to lose after this but it is more difficult and more difficult to keep the weight off too.  I am also reading in recent articles that edema (water retention) can be caused by insulin resistance not to mention obesity iteslf, which causes more weight gain, which causes more edema, and that the edema itself also thwarts weight loss efforts - And that exercise itself can cause more edema!  I know this issue myself as I feel swollen after working out and the scale won't budge.  You'd think with all that exercise it would counteract the effects of the edema but it seems to work in reverse! 

 

I can understand how frustrating it must be for Whitney - although I have to say that she doesn't do herself any favors in the believability department.  She shouldn't just make her message about body acceptance but about making herself believable that she is doing the best she can under the circumstances - Showing her in a car with a tub of ice cream isn't going to help people understand that she is working very hard and still having trouble.  In fact it will make people think she's not investing herself 100% in the weight loss program.  Plus she should be talking about the insulin resistance and educating people about that - Only I don't think she's even aware of it enough to talk about it, unfortunately.

Edited October 10, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[John M]

God, I just finished the first episode and I am absolutely horrified at Whitney's behavior showing up at the job. I get that she has a "big personality" but she is in a professional environment and her behavior, mannerism, language everything was just beyond inappropriate. I know it's a TV show but if this is the way she acts on the first day on the job I would have sat her down before the end of the first day and just told her that it just wasn't going to work.

 

Yeah, your boss doesn't like you, your boss is a professional and you are over 30 acting like you just got your first job at a roller skating rink at 16.

Edited October 10, 2015 by John M

[greekmom]

My PVR goofed and I have not seen episodes from the last two weeks but reading your comments.  I liked the one above about Whitney needing to meet Dr. Now from 600 pds. Really he wouldn't take her crap.

That said, I'm not surprised about her secret eating. Anyone who has been overweight has secretly binged. I know I had when I was overweight. She got caught on purpose. Makes for great television and dramatic footage. It's TLC.

I don't think it is in Whitney's career interest to go thinner. She could if she really wanted to and TLC has the tools to help her but she is cashing in the fact that she is overweight (in her words FAT). It's funding her zumba classes (I am not calling them dance. sorry Whit), her tv career, her no shame body image campaign which feeds into her clothing line.  Nah, she is in NO HURRY to get thinner. Which is sad because the weight is going to take a toll on her poor body.

[DanaMB]

I was also going to point out that she really has no huge incentive to lose weight (besides her health of course), because financially, being fat is giving her a nice lifestyle materialistically.

 

I don't think they're going to change the show to My Fit Fabulous Life.

[greekmom]

I was also going to point out that she really has no huge incentive to lose weight (besides her health of course), because financially, being fat is giving her a nice lifestyle materialistically.

 

I don't think they're going to change the show to My Fit Fabulous Life.

But is she fit? Because her being tired and huffing and puffing doesn't seem that she is.

[RCharter]

There is a wealth of information online about this - I'll just post a few links:

 

http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/diabetes-education/prediabetes-and-insulin-resistance

 

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/weight+loss/lose+weight/insulin+resistance+may+be+making+you+fat,7603

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caroline-j-cederquist-md/metabolism-dysfunction-th_b_6430370.html

 

Insulin resistance is like the 800 pound gorilla in the room where Whitney is concerned (ha, no pun intended) and where millions of Americans are concerned, including myself.  It's estimated that millions of diabetics and pre-diabetics suffer from it plus millions more people that aren't even in those categories that don't even know it, and that it can help to account for unexplained weight gain and trouble losing weight.  I've read on PCOS sites that insulin resistance is a potential symptom of the condition, and that it accounts for a lot of the weight maintenance issues associated with it.  Note that not all women with PCOS develop insulin resistance which is why there are women with PCOS who say they don't have such difficulty managing their weight.  Insulin resistance seems to especially become an issue for peri and post-menopausal women, which is when it kicked in with me, my mother, all the women on my mother's side of the family and is caused by genetic and hormonal changes.  I only just realized this myself a couple of years ago - I knew my mother had it and was considered pre-diabetic after menopause to her death but it only became apparent to me that I was suffering from it as well relatively recently and that it had a genetic basis as well.

 

So anyway, I sympathize with Whitney because I go through the same difficulties myself with my weight.  I can diet and exercise like a maniac and still have a great deal of difficulty losing weight, plus I only have to look at food now and gain weight, which was not an issue for me prior to peri-menopause.  I know what it's like to have a body that responds to diet and exercise versus the one I have now that fights me all the way and I saw my mother go through it too - And I KNOW how much effort she put into diet and exercise.  So I feel like I tend to understand what's going on with Whitney.  I know it's puzzling to most people because it's not normal and it makes no sense.  It puzzles me too and I have the condition!  Knowing what it's like I tend to believe that Whitney is doing more than enough to lose weight.  In fact, I was waiting to see what would happen when she finally went on a diet and exercise regimen.  I knew it wasn't going to be all THAT easy.  I think her youth should help make up for it somewhat but her condition will still slow her progress down somewhat too.

Here is the thing though.  If insulin spikes cause the fat gain, and the need and creation of additional insulin is caused by carbohydrates and sugars in the diet it seems like the most reasonable thing to do would be to cut down on carbohydrates thereby eliminating the need for additional insulin to be created by the body.   And then to supplement that with exercise in order to encourage the body to better use the insulin it has on hand instead of encouraging it to produce more.  The less carbs, the less insulin is needed the less fat is created/stored. The less fat is stored/created, the more weight you lose.

 

And I don't think you need to totally cut out carbs, just eat fewer and you should be able to lose weight.  

 

There are shows that feature people with pre-diabetes who are able to lose weight when adhering to a diet.  And these are people around Whitney's size or larger.  They aren't moving as much as she is.  So, she should be able to do the same.

 

I'm sure your difficulties are real.  I don't think you and Whitney are in the same boat though.  I do think that the pre-diabetes will be a convenient excuse for her though.

[DanaMB]

But is she fit? Because her being tired and huffing and puffing doesn't seem that she is.

 

 

I meant if she ever did lose weight. She has a show based on her being fat and if she does lose the weight, she may lose the show so there goes some incentive.

[Snarklepuss]

And I don't think you need to totally cut out carbs, just eat fewer and you should be able to lose weight.  

 

There are shows that feature people with pre-diabetes who are able to lose weight when adhering to a diet.  And these are people around Whitney's size or larger.  They aren't moving as much as she is.  So, she should be able to do the same.

 

I'm sure your difficulties are real.  I don't think you and Whitney are in the same boat though.  I do think that the pre-diabetes will be a convenient excuse for her though.

 

Oh, I agree she should probably have an easier time than me especially given how much younger she is, PCOS and pre-diabetes included.  Thanks for acknowledging my difficulties - I'm more used to being told I'm lying or secretly binging.  And you bring up something I noticed about Whitney - She keeps acting like she can never eat another carb. again for the rest of her life - That's a recipe for disaster in any diet plus you're right that she shouldn't have to eliminate them completely, just cut down on them in a conscious, measured way. 

[deedee2]

I meant if she ever did lose weight. She has a show based on her being fat and if she does lose the weight, she may lose the show so there goes some incentive.

On the other hand, how long can this show last - two years? Three? There's just so much she can do as a big fat fabulous dancersize instructor (who whines all day about her weight loss issues) that can keep an audience's interest. So, why not spend those 2 or 3 years getting fit & healthy and taking us along on her journey? She could have an amazing post-TLC career as a weight-loss motivator for people who watched her publicly go through the struggle step by step. But if she stays fat just to capitalize on her TLC gig, she'll be cancelled in 2 years and have nothing to show for it in the end.

Edited October 11, 2015 by deedee2

[Snarklepuss]

I think it would be more interesting if she did lose weight instead of staying fat.  I think the ratings would depend on her losing weight too as people would be more inclined to check out if she whines and moans and makes a big issue about the importance to her health of losing weight and then fails at it.  I don't know if Whitney herself realizes this, though, because she seems to put so much importance on "body acceptance" at any weight.  That's great and everything but people are going to want to see results.

Edited October 11, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[ClareWalks]

Yeah, I also think she needs to lose some weight (or at least get far away from diabetic) if she wants people to remain sympathetic. Her claim to the dietician that she can be "healthy at any size" is totally ridiculous if her blood sugar levels keep getting worse and worse. 

[leighroda]

Those who have experience with diabetes will know this, but just a tidbit of information for those unfamiliar, the levels that they are checking in Whitney is her hemoglobin a1c, the reason doctors test this and don't just go by the finger stick (which is the glucose level), and the tricky thing with hemoglobin a1c is that it will show whether you have been compliant on the diet. Even if she didn't have a drop of sugar/carbs etc the week of the doctors appt, the number would still indicate whether she's been following her diet for the last 3 months or so. But that also means when Whitney went back to the dr the second time to recheck, she may not have been on the altered diet long enough for the a1c number to have been changed (if she ever truly changed her diet) I don't remember the time period between spots. But I'm also surprised the doctor didn't mention that, or she didn't on air at least. I don't remember exactly how far back the a1c can go, but I do know that you can't really do anything to alter that number or beat the system per se. itll be interesting to see how hers is trending though.

[RCharter]

Those who have experience with diabetes will know this, but just a tidbit of information for those unfamiliar, the levels that they are checking in Whitney is her hemoglobin a1c, the reason doctors test this and don't just go by the finger stick (which is the glucose level), and the tricky thing with hemoglobin a1c is that it will show whether you have been compliant on the diet. Even if she didn't have a drop of sugar/carbs etc the week of the doctors appt, the number would still indicate whether she's been following her diet for the last 3 months or so. But that also means when Whitney went back to the dr the second time to recheck, she may not have been on the altered diet long enough for the a1c number to have been changed (if she ever truly changed her diet) I don't remember the time period between spots. But I'm also surprised the doctor didn't mention that, or she didn't on air at least. I don't remember exactly how far back the a1c can go, but I do know that you can't really do anything to alter that number or beat the system per se. itll be interesting to see how hers is trending though.

The A1C is an average blood glucose level over a three month period.

 

I would imagine it could only tell a doctor if her body is responding to treatment, diet and exercise.  However, a lot of that is self reported, if she tells the doctor that she is dieting but the A1C level is elevated, it may only tell the doctor that her condition is getting worse, or that her body isn't responding to treatment.  Theoretically I suppose, the doctor would infer that if the A1C level is raised that shows that Whitney has been eating poorly because her body is unable to produce enough insulin to regulate her blood sugar naturally.  Or it could just be that her beta cells are giving out quicker than they had thought.

[John M]

 There's just so much she can do as a big fat fabulous dancersize instructor (who whines all day about her weight loss issues) that can keep an audience's interest.

 

No, eating a tub of ice cream in her car crying that she was "hungry" was the capstone to the fact that this girl has major issues. She can talk body positivity, health at any size, dancing, etc all she wants but at the end of the day the woman needs a gastric bypass and intense therapy with a shrink to save her from herself. But she will probably lose her "outsized personality" which she has been overcompensating with.

 

She has lost what, 10 pounds over months and months following her and she has to be eating tons of food daily to maintain 390 pounds. This whole thing is starting to make me a little sad, she needs to be saved from herself.

[ClareWalks]

No, eating a tub of ice cream in her car crying that she was "hungry" was the capstone to the fact that this girl has major issues. She can talk body positivity, health at any size, dancing, etc all she wants but at the end of the day the woman needs a gastric bypass and intense therapy with a shrink to save her from herself. But she will probably lose her "outsized personality" which she has been overcompensating with.

 

She has lost what, 10 pounds over months and months following her and she has to be eating tons of food daily to maintain 390 pounds. This whole thing is starting to make me a little sad, she needs to be saved from herself.

 

YES. Nobody eats a tub of ice cream because they're "hungry," just like nobody drinks 12 beers in one night because they're "thirsty."

[deedee2]

She has lost what, 10 pounds over months and months following her and she has to be eating tons of food daily to maintain 390 pounds. This whole thing is starting to make me a little sad, she needs to be saved from herself.

Yes, which is why a little further upthread, I wrote: "The woman tells herself what she wants to hear, takes her own delusional advice, and then whines and sobs over a gallon of ice cream when things don't go the way she wants them to go."

 

She needs lots and lots of help. But here's the thing - she has more access to help as a TLC "star" than most regular schmoes with a 9-5 job. TLC has made "big girl dance class" happen, as well as "moving in with Buddy",  "inappropriate job with khaki leggings", and the "'No Body Shame!' campaign". None of these things would have happened without TLC willing it to be. So, they can also make "Whitney learns how to grocery shop with a nutritionist" happen, as well as, "Whitney commits to walking briskly every morning", "Whitney takes a healthy cooking class", "Whitney discusses dieting difficulties with therapist", "Whitney starts an online support group", and so on.

 

I know. I'm a broken record about this stuff. It just drives me crazy that 1} Whitney is not doing her health any favours by being in denial (and constructing a whole show around it!) , and 2} TLC is missing an opportunity to make a better, more watchable show -- and as a side bonus, help Whitney and perhaps inspire other obese people to get healthy.

Edited October 12, 2015 by deedee2

[Dirtybubble]

And, when that hipster doofus boyfriend picked her up and said he'd just "gotten off", I said to my wife "got off what?  His ass? (because I heart Glenn)

 

THIS. had me howling!  Boyfriend bugs me too.  IDK why but my gut instincts just aren't jiving with this dude. 

 

I heart her dad, Glenn (and mom) as well.  Whitney is sooo friggin lucky to have them in her life and I worry when they pass how it will affect her.  Bye bye healthy eating.  Yeah they coddle her a bit too much which, I think, explains her self entitled attitude but from a tv viewer's POV they are just the greatest.  All her friends are wonderful--I think her friend Ashley is super pretty.

 

YES. Nobody eats a tub of ice cream because they're "hungry," just like nobody drinks 12 beers in one night because they're "thirsty."

True, if you are simply hunger eating an entire tub of ice cream isn't the way to go BUT as a binger myself it's more about giving into denied desires of junk food and thinking F it I'm going to fail so why not go whole hog.  I can't say that was what was going thru Whitney's mind and yeah I agree that a lot of that was done for cameras but I felt for her in that moment because binging is a real thing that opens up deeper problems than the reason you're fat is because you eat too much.  Fix the heart & mind in weight loss as well.

 

 

[Snarklepuss]

Whitney is three times the size she should be for her age and height. Prior to the 20th century, people her size just didn't exist. I know, PCOS, pre-diabetes, she exercises, etc. She has plenty of excuses, but she's doing something wrong if she is this size.

 

I don't think anyone can speak for how difficult it is for Whitney to manage her weight given her medical issues.  It is very easy to "blame the victim" when one hasn't walked a mile in their shoes.  Far more people in this country eat a hideous diet, know nothing about healthy eating, and don't weigh anything CLOSE to what she weighs yet people assume they're doing something right just because they happen to be lucky enough to get away with it.  It's not fair, IMO.  About obese people prior to the 20th century, do a Google images search on "photos obese people 19th century" and there's plenty of evidence to the contrary that there were people close to her size if not at her size (plus I have more evidence in family photos).  I love the "snake oil salesman" type ad promising some kind of "cure" for obesity.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[ClareWalks]

I suspect that the PCOS is helping her keep a lot of the weight on, but I really hope they show her admitting her food issues in a future episode. Whitney is going nowhere fast, and that will not change until she gets help. But she keeps denying that she is eating anything wrong, which is absurd and it's making a lot of people tune out any effort she makes. She isn't addressing the real issue.

[Snarklepuss]

I think obese people are made to feel that if they are eating anything other than tiny portions of mostly lean meats, vegetables and fruits that they are "not eating right".  Well, what about the majority of the population that is able to "not eat right" but never gets called on it because they don't get fat?  I personally don't think Whitney eats that much more than the typical woman of her height/age, it's just that it shows more on her because of her medical issues.  Plus nobody can argue that she isn't active enough.  I'm just tired of Whitney being seen as the sole cause of the problem when she has a freaking metabolic issue that impacts everyone who has it differently.  It's starting to look like fat shaming to me, and I'm sorry but I have a hot button with that.  I know what it's like to eat like a freaking bird, exercise and still be a size 16.  So I know it's possible for Whitney to have her issues and NOT be a "binge eater" or whatever.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Snarklepuss

[RCharter]

Okay, I just did that and I found a site with obese men (some of whom who weighed less than Whitney) and were considered marvels and extreme outlines. I mean, I was speaking with hyperbole in my first post. There are people with pituitary tumors and prader-willi who've existed throughout history.

But crying in her car while eating ice cream seems to speak to some sort of emotional issue that isn't being address. Which sucks for her (she might not be getting the help and support she needs) and for the viewers (who expected a different show or who could have been inspired by her tackling those issues).

Fatty Arbuckle!

[Snarklepuss]

But crying in her car while eating ice cream seems to speak to some sort of emotional issue that isn't being addressed. Binge eating disorder is real and ravages the body in ways that aren't really apparent. This sucks for her (she might not be getting the help and support she needs) and for the viewers (who expected a different show or who could have been inspired by her tackling those issues).

 

As someone who has put EVERYTHING into losing weight, including going on doctor/nutritionist supervised diet and exercise programs, I can relate to this because if you put THAT much into something and get so little out of it, plus see the scale going in REVERSE, it tends to discourage someone to the point of thinking, "If I'm fat no matter how much I put into this I might as well eat something "bad" because I'm going to be fat anyway".  I think the best thing that could be done for Whitney is not putting so much emphasis on what the scale says from week to week.  The weight may take a lot longer to come of her than a person without her metabolic issues but at least not focusing on it go up and down every week won't discourage her from staying the course.

[Snarklepuss]

That said, people watching her also need to understand that she may be doing her absolute best but given her issues it may actually take her longer to lose than other people.  She is under immense pressure to produce being in the public eye, I can understand her having a "moment" of losing it.

She says it's PCOS and pre-diabetes but she's shown eating ice cream from the tub, drinking Starbucks drinks and being clueless about nutrition? Okay. Is that her fault or the editing?

I'm not going to argue with you because it's clear that we come at this from different backgrounds and perspectives, but if she wants to be immune from frank criticism, she can get off of reality tv. Frank criticism isn't fat shaming.

 

The ice cream could have been a "losing it" moment - She has made comments about being hungry and sticking to the diet so I don't think it was a trend.  Plus we haven't seen her with any Starbucks since she started the diet.  She has made mention of having given up a LOT of her favorite things.

 

Frank criticism is one thing but assuming that she is binging is another.  We have no evidence of that and I think she should be given the benefit of the doubt.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Snarklepuss