S05.E09: Nicole's Story

[IOU Payne]

Quote

It was blatantly obvious he is using drugs of some sort. 

Or "pas trop bright", as we say in French.  Or both.....  But basically goodhearted.

Edited March 23, 2017 by IOU Payne

[Ocean Chick]

Good hearted, but thick headed is how I saw it.

[NeitherSparky]

4 hours ago, Danishpickles said:

Did any body notice how high Charlie was the whole time??? He's sitting there with his mouth open and his eyes crossed, falling asleep the majority of the time. It was blatantly obvious he is using drugs of some sort. 

While it could have been drugs, it could also have been due to his untreated sleep apnea (as revealed in the supersized popups). My brother refuses to have his apnea treated and he will get dozy like that too. That's why whenever we go anywhere together I insist that I drive, I have seen him literally nod off at the wheel.

[NeitherSparky]

Somebody posted this on Twitter and I thought of you guys and Nicole, hopefully this link works:

https://mobile.twitter.com/moby_dickhead/status/845039055415005185

Edited March 24, 2017 by NeitherSparky

[bubbly]

On 3/1/2017 at 8:15 PM, kittyinthecity said:

-684 lbs

-Age 23

-Can't fit in the bathroom door --- where on earth does she go to the bathroom??

 

I feel bad for this girl as obviously she isn't even living a full life but wow. I have a feeling about this one.

I didn't even think about where she answered the call of nature.  Y'all.  I am shook. 

[AZChristian]

She had a toilet chair in her bedroom.  About 2 feet from where she would sit on the edge of the bed to eat.

[bubbly]

22 hours ago, AZChristian said:

She had a toilet chair in her bedroom.  About 2 feet from where she would sit on the edge of the bed to eat.

Good heavens, there was a time the bedside potty  would have horrified me, but years of watching this show has me so jaded that I almost see it as a somewhat  less disgusting option.  I'm not comfortable with what that may say about me.

[Tabbygirl521]

15 hours ago, bubbly said:

Good heavens, there was a time the bedside potty  would have horrified me, but years of watching this show has me so jaded that I almost see it as a somewhat  less disgusting option.  I'm not comfortable with what that may say about me.

It beats corn on a Chux (from James K's thread).

[AdorkableWitch]

Not at Jugglos are into feces flinging and abusing folks. I knew a few when managed a call center. They tend to have a very us vs them mentality. If you are seen as part of the family then you are treated like gold. If you are seen as an outsider some can be abusive. 

[Trees]

2 hours ago, AdorkableWitch said:

Not at Jugglos are into feces flinging and abusing folks. I knew a few when managed a call center. They tend to have a very us vs them mentality. If you are seen as part of the family then you are treated like gold. If you are seen as an outsider some can be abusive. 

Chips on their shoulders, defensive. 

[Pentwater]

Quote

Which got me to wondering about what everyone else's "last meal" would be before going on a diet? It changes all the time for me, but since I've been low carbing it for the last few months, right now I'd like a hot, buttery loaf of garlic bread, a giant, very upscale bowl of cioppino washed down with a bottle of Prosecco and couple of cannolis and chocolate gelato for dessert.

How about the rest of you?

Croissants with jam, duck confit, asparagus with mayonnaise, and chocolate mousse for dessert. 

[Cowgirl]

So, I used to prosecute cases of juvenile abuse and neglect in my small rural town in a Western state.  Our social workers all must have gone to some sort of rabid training, because they had the mindset that Juggalos were a gang. Now maybe in more largely populated areas there's something to that, but  I had a hell of a time convincing them that merely being a fan of a certain band's terrible music is NOT enough evidence to take someone's child into protective custody. And yes, our state is one of those where resources are stretched thin and all our social workers look for is food in the cupboards, kids aren't left alone,a no bumps or bruises.  Nicole and Charlie, however, should probably be the exception! 

Atl least crackmom and cocaine dad showed affection to the cat when Nicole called her family meeting. I'm glad at least someone in that family is getting proper love and attention. 

[AdorkableWitch]

7 minutes ago, Cowgirl said:

So, I used to prosecute cases of juvenile abuse and neglect in my small rural town in a Western state.  Our social workers all must have gone to some sort of rabid training, because they had the mindset that Juggalos were a gang. Now maybe in more largely populated areas there's something to that, but  I had a hell of a time convincing them that merely being a fan of a certain band's terrible music is NOT enough evidence to take someone's child into protective custody.

The FBI did investigate them for being a gang.

[Cowgirl]

Huh.  Whoda thunk it?  Thanks for linking that Adorkable Witch.

Not that I'm a gang expert, but these two paragraphs did crack me up.  They describe crimes that would most likely occur in a group of 6000 people at a gathering. (Not that I'm making light of criminal activity -- just a bit of this article! (Which I found interesting on the whole.))

For example, in describing The Gathering of the Juggalos, an annual summer festival held in Illinois, the organization cites an FBI memo from 2008 that notes that out of about 6,000 people, “22 people were arrested on drug related charges, 350-400 traffic violations [were] issued, and one death was linked to heat exhaustion.”

The FBI file also notes that in Sheboygan, Wis., Juggalos “are considered a structured gang” consisting of “at least eight members and six associates, ages ranging from fourteen to twenty-one.” In addition, the document states Sheboygan Juggalos have been “linked to crimes such as graffiti, possession of narcotics and theft ... and have been equated with the ‘dead heads’ of the Grateful Dead.”

[Elizabeth9]

Nicole, take note:  Tracey Made it from Ohio to Texas twice without calling everyone bastards!

[Tabbygirl521]

My new band name is totally Sheboygan Juggalos. I suppose we will have feces thrown in our general direction. 

[Pretty5Vacant]

That hotel scene was something else.."lolly gagging" and then Charlie repeating it made me chuckle. The whole drive there! Wow. Her crying with what looked like a box of chicken on her belly when they were driving was too much. The tossing og the Subway, poor babies could of been eating it instead of her throwing a tantrum. Bet she picked it up from the floor

 

I thought Lupe's road trip was outrageous until Nicole's

[MillieSparklepants]

20 hours ago, Pentwater said:

Croissants with jam, duck confit, asparagus with mayonnaise, and chocolate mousse for dessert. 

King crab legs with drawn butter, asparagus, crunchy bread, chocolate cake.

[Hibiscus]

I am just going to leave this right here....https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCOQDu5WBqDPH_oJK558sg5w

[RamonaSenomar]

On ‎3‎/‎1‎/‎2017 at 7:26 PM, ShortyMac said:

Her 'love' of grocery shopping and it's 'romantic'...this is disturbing. 

 

I heard that, too.  It's as romantic as her father snorting coke with her mother.

[Angie7823]

So I'm pretty sure I met Charlie at a boondox concert at the alrosa like 5 years ago when I was doing street team for hospin. He told me his name was Big Nip, apparently he had a big nipple or nipples. I didn't ask to see. He managed to piss the guy off I was with within about 5 minutes by hitting on me and then proceeded to look my dude straight in the eye and say "Sorry and Shit" and shrugged. I could never forget that weirdo. Now I think have seen Nicole there as well must have been before they were a thing lol. She wasn't 700 lb then but she had to have been a good 400. Why do i remember her?  Well because she was 400 pounds and would wear short skirts and big fuzzy boots to every show. It's something that was kind of burned into your memory because it was so well I think you get it.

[RamonaSenomar]

On ‎3‎/‎8‎/‎2017 at 6:12 PM, AdorkableWitch said:

I am a food addict and compulsive overeater, and while my weight never got to 600 pounds, it has gotten over 400. Watching Nicole, it is humbling and a very "there but the grace of my Gods go I" experience. Her behavior reminds me so much of myself before I decided I needed help.

Being a control freak is incredibly common among those who have any kind of eating disorder. Nicole's discussion about having to cook because no one does it right rang incredibly true for me. I also grew up in an abusive environment similar to Nicole's minus the drugs (our drug of choice was food all around.)

When I was in the food, I can't even begin to describe the insanity regarding food. I can exhibit tremendous willpower, except for food. Sugar and simple starches turn me into a junkie. It's not unlike being a drug addict. I even went through physical withdrawls when I "got off the sugar." I would restrict and restrict and lose weight, but it all came back once something bad happened. I know many of you see it as a character flaw, but having experienced this, I feel it's a disease.

I wish we treated morbid obesity like we treated eating disorders. Nicole could have benefited from an inpatient stay at a facility that deals with eating disorders. Hell, every single patient I have seen on this show would benefit from this. I just lost my outpatient eating disorder clinic (rural area, ran out of money) and I am still trying to figure out what is next in my treatment. I hope Nicole is able to continue therapy and maybe seek out other support like Overeaters Anonymous or a group for those who had bariatric surgery.

This, this, this.

Disclaimer:  I'm no psychologist, but I am overweight.  Not even close to the 600 lb. level, but height/weight charts say I am obese.  My thoughts are based strictly on years of my own weight loss struggles.  And thanks to a mother who would constantly belittle me about damn near everything (my weight, my hair, my friends, my looks, my make-up, my clothing choices ...), I got my hands on just about every psychology / self-help book out there to understand "WHY?!"

I was recently doing a major clean up in my house to prepare for some home improvement projects, and was positively saddened to see just how many weight-loss related books I had accumulated in my adult life.

Onto my thoughts.  Every time I watch any episode of My 600 lb. Life, I think back to the book "Locked Up for Eating Too Much: The Diary of a Food Addict in Rehab" by Debbie Danowski, Ph.D.  If you have never read it, may I recommend that you do to get inside the mind of a food addict.  It was a very interesting read; one that I revisit from time to time.  It reads very much like a diary, and is so very raw and honest at times.  My opinion of morbidly obese people changed drastically from "can't you just eat healthy meals and exercise?" to "this -- much like alcoholism and drug addiction -- is a disease and should be treated like one."  And like ADORKABLEWITCH said, I also think that every patient on My 600lb Life could benefit from being treated like an addict inside of an inpatient rehab stay instead of someone who just needs have their stomach stapled to eat less.

I'm not making excuses for Nicole (or anyone featured on this show), but it's only because I don't know her entire story.  I don't think Nicole has yet hit her rock bottom.  The showering on the front porch, the sliding off the bed on wheels, even the alleged drug raid ... none of those seemed like her light bulb moment quite yet.

Through my own experimenting of food choices and lots of reading, I have discovered I fare best if I follow a clean eating plan.  I can substitute almond milk for 2% cow's milk and feel pretty good.  Even making a switch from a whole grain bread to sprouted grain Ezekiel bread made me realize that this simple switch had a huge impact on my cravings.  But sprouted grain bread doesn't provide the same level of emotional comfort that a steaming bowl of mac 'n cheese does.  It doesn't entice me like a scoop or two of Ben & Jerry's after I've had a rough day at work.  No, I don't whip out a box of chicken nuggets from the glove box after a stressful week at the office.  But I also haven't grown up in surroundings like many of the patients on this show.

Yes, I am responsible for my own health and well-being.  Every person is.  I feel that growing up, it became my responsibility to become my own person and find ways to cope with everything called LIFE.  Moving 1700 miles away from my family was a step in the right direction.  Staying 1700 miles away from my family after my husband and I had children was yet another step in the right direction.  I took responsibility for my life.  Yet I'm not sure that's so easy for Nicole to do this while being surrounded by the people she calls "family".

I don't really have a point to make with my post, just sharing observations.

And speaking of observations ... does anyone know the answer to this:  why does Dr. Now keep some patients in the hospital (Lupe, Penny, Paula are a few that come to mind) for the first month to control their food intake to ensure they lose weight vs. someone like Nicole, who he sends back home for her to lose 30 lbs. on her own?  Is it an insurance thing, I wonder?

 

[55Unicorns]

On 3/19/2017 at 10:36 AM, Trees said:

I wish I did not know about the Insane Clown Posse ("ISP"), but being from Metro Detroit, I do.

I could tell instantly that Charlie and Nicole were "juggalos".  The signs were everywhere.  Notice the thing hanging from the rear-view mirror?  That is "Axe Man". 

It is a culture of outcasts.  They embrace being anti-social and gross.  They encourage it in each other.  I have no doubt that Charlie and Nicole meeting "online" meant in an ISP forum.  The grosser you look, the more of an outcast, the better. 

The new network, "Viceland" did a documentary about the annual ISP gathering and the "talent show" they have for women.  They used to have porn-star Ron Jeremy host it, if that gives you any idea.  These women disgrace themselves in front of hollering crowds cheering them on and telling them that they're empowering themselves.  To a decent person, it's truly upsetting.

As soon as I saw those precious, beautiful children stuck with 2 drug addicts and 2 juggalos, I knew that all bets were off.  The 4 adults can lead filthy and disfunctional lives for all I care.  But how could the camera crews stand by and witness those babies and those pets living with the abuse and neglect?!?

That the children were so silent is an ENORMOUS red flag for abuse/neglect.  They learn fast that crying brings on pain.  They learn that the only way to stay safe is to not be seen.  They try hard to become invisible. 

Is there any chance that someone will swoop in and get those children and pets to safety?

I had no idea what a juggalo WAS...I even asked my 19 year old daughter, and she wasn't sure.  I appreciate the information.

[TaylorTalk]

"Oh my lord." That is all I could say.

 

I just started watching this show.  This has got to be the WORST episode to start watching.

 

From the whole drugs/jugaloo/parent.... I can't even list it.  Geez, there are 13 pages of mouth agape.

 

Charlie.  OMG.

 

This episode is.just.crazy.
 

[Thriftykins]

1 hour ago, qqererer said:

"Oh my lord." That is all I could say.

 

I just started watching this show.  This has got to be the WORST episode to start watching.

 

From the whole drugs/jugaloo/parent.... I can't even list it.  Geez, there are 13 pages of mouth agape.

 

Charlie.  OMG.

 

This episode is.just.crazy.
 

If you had said that 5 weeks ago, you might be correct.  But saying that today you're way off base, now that we have the Assanti brothers and James King.

[fliptopbox]

I will admit it. I went to an ICP concert when I was 16, because I saw their Shockumentary one night on MTV and was fascinated. Though I am not and never was a juggalo. I just think their music is funny, pretty much like GWAR. They do have good stage presence and I had a fun time laughing at all the morons in *menacing* clown makeup.

[Tabbygirl521]

I cannot believe you invoked GWAR. LOL. I miss their crazy videos

[fliptopbox]

1 hour ago, Tabbygirl521 said:

I cannot believe you invoked GWAR. LOL. I miss their crazy videos

I love GWAR shows. I've probably seen them 7 or 8 times now. They were my first concert ever, so I will always have fond memories.

[OSM Mom]

22 minutes ago, fliptopbox said:

I love GWAR shows. I've probably seen them 7 or 8 times now. They were my first concert ever, so I will always have fond memories.

I've never heard of them. But until this episode, I never heard of a juggalo either. 

[essexjan]

We had this episode on TLC in the UK tonight, thankfully edited down to an hour. Aside from the porch hosing, my curiosity was around how she managed to get pregnant. Twice. By which I mean what are the logistics of how a man would manage to impregnate her when she's that size? Mind-boggling, truly mind-boggling.

Also, I found myself watching this episode whilst eating cold, leftover mashed potato out of a Tupperware. The irony did not escape me.

[bethster2000]

On 4/6/2017 at 3:46 PM, essexjan said:

Also, I found myself watching this episode whilst eating cold, leftover mashed potato out of a Tupperware. The irony did not escape me.

Don't feel bad.  Mashed taters are absolutely delicious.  

I have a very screwed-up family, but the families on this show tell me that things could be much, much worse.

My last meal: lobster rolls, lamb chops cooked perfectly, elote (that incredible Mexican corn salad), chips and salsa, fried pickles, ice cream sundae.  Washed down with gallons of Coke Zero.

[auntjess]

On ‎3‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 1:07 PM, Pentwater said:

Which got me to wondering about what everyone else's "last meal" would be before going on a diet? It changes all the time for me, but since I've been low carbing it for the last few months, right now I'd like a hot, buttery loaf of garlic bread, a giant, very upscale bowl of cioppino washed down with a bottle of Prosecco and couple of cannolis and chocolate gelato for dessert.

How about the rest of you?

Mine would change too, but tonight, it would be a big burrito from Moe's, a Diet Coke, and frozen key lime sherbet from Publix.

[KGIZZLE]

I HATE HER

She she is so f$cking rude and nasty. Who cares if her family is dysfunctional. She is a pathetic nasty excuse for a person. She's blaming everyone for her problems. Every time he says something to her she has an excuse. Her family was uprooted from Ohio to Texas. They kept her from rolling over on the floor and not being able to get up in that hotel room. She's one of the most disgusting people that I've seen on this show. All she talks about is her parents doing drugs b!tch get a grip. People are always arguing and yelling??? In that hotel room your freaking true nasty nature came out. "You're all a bunch of bastards" but she's a female fat bastard. "It's about me and me kids you're either coming or getting left? Ummmm see if you can drive to Texas by yourself without dying with your 4 cats. I really hate people with such nasty dispositions

[88Keys]

On 3/27/2017 at 3:28 PM, Cowgirl said:

For example, in describing The Gathering of the Juggalos, an annual summer festival held in Illinois, the organization cites an FBI memo from 2008 that notes that out of about 6,000 people, “22 people were arrested on drug related charges, 350-400 traffic violations [were] issued, and one death was linked to heat exhaustion.”

 

I live in Southern Illinois.  The Gathering is held in the Shawnee National Forest, at the very bottom of the state. (Farther south than where I live, thankfully).  Or at least, it was.  I think they moved it somewhere else a few years ago.  There's not much down there besides the forest and a few small sad towns, but I've heard the locals head out during the Gathering because they don't want to deal with all those people.  

I do live in a town that's on the interstate, though.  If Nicole was coming from Ohio, she would have gone right past me!  :)

 

On 3/31/2017 at 8:45 PM, 55Unicorns said:

I had no idea what a juggalo WAS...I even asked my 19 year old daughter, and she wasn't sure.  I appreciate the information.

I'm pretty sure their heydey was in the 90's or early 2000's. 

 

On 4/4/2017 at 5:15 AM, qqererer said:

"Oh my lord." That is all I could say.

 

I just started watching this show.  This has got to be the WORST episode to start watching.

 

From the whole drugs/jugaloo/parent.... I can't even list it.  Geez, there are 13 pages of mouth agape.

 

 

 

This episode was my husband's introduction to the show, too.  Granted, I had really only seen a few of the older eps that they rerun during the day, but at least the people in them made progress.  I was kind of embarrassed after we watched Nicole's episode together.  "It's not usually this bad...."  Then he saw parts of James and Steven's eps.  :( 

It's almost like TLC found the most unappealing people they could, and aired their episode in order from bad to worst....

[auntjess]

2 hours ago, 88Keys said:

"It's not usually this bad...." 

Well you know NEVER to say that again, about this show.
My sister hadn't seen much of these, and turned it on as the hotel bed was collapsing...
She's not ready to see even James yet, let alone the brothers.

[Cowgirl]

This was my first episode too.  Then I watched part of the James or brothers epi recently  and I was out. 

[auntjess]

2 hours ago, Cowgirl said:

This was my first episode too.  Then I watched part of the James or brothers epi recently  and I was out. 

You have to work your way up on these, build your resistance.
Watch the update one that's new.
We've had people you loved to hate before, people like Penny, who had no intention of cutting out food, and a few others.
But we didn't have them as consistently bad, it seems to me, as this season. 
We did have the twin sisters early on, and that was a good episode, for which I want to see a follow-up.
But no one should do the brothers cold turkey.

Edited April 12, 2017 by auntjess

[Cowgirl]

LOL! Thanks @auntjess.  Maybe I'll try to build up my resistance as you suggested.  I also tried watching the Penny story, but after reading about it on here, deleted it off my DVR after only 5 minutes. 

[auntjess]

That's what I did on Steven#2.  Watched a few minutes, then read the posts here, and was much more entertained.

I do watch some eisodes, and I'm sure no one wants to be the designated-watcher all the time for all these and My Big Fat etc shows, but the fun is in the snark.

[Armchair Critic]

Not sure if it's true but somebody on another board said Nicole is now pregnant. Last thing she needs between the toll it will take on her body and that she can barely care for the two she has now.

[auntjess]

A story on the Juggalos.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2017/08/31/the-fbi-labeled-insane-clown-posse-fans-a-gang-now-theyre-marching-on-washington/?utm_term=.8bcb58c7b678

[Cineaste]

I've seen a lot of poor food in my day, but meatloaf with Cheezits takes the cake. They weren't even completely ground up, there were big pieces left in there. Can you imagine biting into a piece of meatloaf and getting a whole, soggy cracker in your mouth? Yuck. 

[kokapetl]

On 04/04/2017 at 7:17 PM, Thriftykins said:

If you had said that 5 weeks ago, you might be correct.  But saying that today you're way off base, now that we have the Assanti brothers and James King.

At least they didn’t have kids. 

I couldn't believe the nerve of this woman. So self absorbed and full of excuses, and nobody was doing their “fair” share of emotional support for the needy, non working, non parenting individual, for who everyone moved to Houston. Dad ate 4 pieces of pizza out of her presence earlier in the day, how dare he!

Plus I’m always a bit suspicious when an average-ish intelligence person shacks up long term with an obviously special needs person. Seems to happen a lot on this show. 

[Tosia]

On 3/2/2017 at 8:14 AM, operalover said:

She didn't really survive her upbringing too well considering she weighed 684 pounds and had 2 kids while unmarried at 23 and had no job and couldn't walk. 

 

She also claimed she gained weight eating at soup kitchens because it was their fault they were serving pasta and casseroles..lol

Homeless shelters also get beaucoup donations of bread/rolls/bagels from groceries and bakeries.

I taught GED  for the public schools at one about 25 years ago.  They got so much that they couldn't it give away. They were always pushing those carbs on me and even then I knew it wasn't good for you, so I took some and just threw it away at home.  They meant well and were kind. The clients were ok, but GED was not a priority at this point in their lives, and attendance was minimal. .  Program closed after a year. 

[auntjess]

This is one I'd like to see an update on.

[auntjess]

Her first show is on tomorrow 1/25 at 2PM.
This article is 2 years old, https://www.inquisitr.com/4088089/my-600-lb-life-nicole-update-200-lbs-lighter-hitting-the-gym-and-recovering/ , but I love the update,

Quote

Her weight loss has also enabled her to take care of herself more, as she can now clean herself most of the time.

Something to aspire to.

[Dianaofthehunt]

Not just eating potato chips ... but eating them while looking at her mobile toilet. 

That's just bad feng shui, right there.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Nicole's follow up with her moving back to Ohio was not good, moving back where her habits formed, and with less access to Dr. Now was not a good move.     I think a better move would be to move into a cheaper area then Houston, instead of moving back to Ohio.     I hoping she continued losing weight, and got her life back together, independent of her mother, but who knows.      

[suev3333]

On 3/2/2017 at 8:12 PM, KateHearts said:

Charlie's quote of the day:  "The first time I saw Nicole, my jaw dropped."  I guess it got stuck that way.

Roflmfao!

[suev3333]

I knew we were in the midst of downtown white trash city when Nicole and her hubby called each other "dude".    🙄🙄🙄

What's with the Kokopeli BS?