S02.E06: James B.'s Story

[PrincessPurrsALot]

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James "LB" Bonner spent his early life trying to prove himself to his adoptive family, but after losing a leg and battling obesity, LB must take a new path to save his health and his family relationships. 

This is the regular episode thread.  It will open after the shows finishes airing on the US East Coast.

James B. is your Valentine's Day gift from TLC.  You may find yourself uncomfortable eating chocolates (or anything) during this show. 

[PrincessPurrsALot]

A reminder from the master Mod note for this forum: 

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**MOD NOTE PLEASE READ**

Let's avoid discussing how money is being snatched from the public's wallet for the participants unless it’s specifically revealed on the show. Anything else is pure speculation not to mention also a slippery slope toward talking politics.  

There is so much snark available without going down this path.  Let's hop down the right track.  

[junemeatcleaver]

Why did these people even agree to be on this show?  They were obviously a lot more financially comfortable than the majority of the participants on this show, so what did they get out of it?  They probably thought they go on, get LB free/low cost bariatric surgery and advertise Dad's business(es) in the process.  Too bad they came off as unbearable assholes through most of the episode.

[AllisonWonderland]

 So, Dr. Lola was deeeeeefinitely flirting with ol' LB, right? 

[Emkat]

Shout out to how delicious the tomatoes on the burgers at the cookout looked!

[fonfereksglen]

As I suggested in the live chat, this was a study in co dependency with a mother who will not let GO!  Much like many of the early Intervention episodes.  

I' m glad so far this year is far more a slice of life of troubled souls rather than the morbid extremes of the azzhats bros.

[Gbb]

Damned if that wasn’t truly inspiring. I rooted for James through the whole thing and cheered on every victory. I *may* have even teared up at the end when he took off running. 

[auntjess]

I wondered why they chose Galveston, which is 50 miles away.  (I looked it up.)
 

[shouldbedancing]

I liked this one. There was enough drama so it wasn't boring. But he was a good guy and ultimately successful. He had so much pressure put on him from the stop. Dad desperately wanted a little boy to basically be his mini-me. Add the fact that he's adopted... you can see where this is going. LB is highly intelligent and he has suffered a lot of adversity. If he continues on this path and stays independent, I really think he will make it.

[Tenarife60]

2 hours ago, junemeatcleaver said:

Why did these people even agree to be on this show?  They were obviously a lot more financially comfortable than the majority of the participants on this show, so what did they get out of it?  They probably thought they go on, get LB free/low cost bariatric surgery and advertise Dad's business(es) in the process.  Too bad they came off as unbearable assholes through most of the episode.

I was thinking that too.  They seemed to be much better off than most of the patients featured.  I also couldn't follow L.B.'s story when he dropped out of high school and then became a full-time overeater, boozer and partier.  They made it seem like he never got a job after quitting school, but I assume he did and I just missed it if it was said.  Also, they didn't say why he moved to Galveston instead of staying in the Houston area like most of them do.  I'm sure there was more to that story that wasn't explained.

[Tenarife60]

1 hour ago, auntjess said:

I wondered why they chose Galveston, which is 50 miles away.  (I looked it up.)
 

I also wondered about that and thought maybe he knew someone there that he could get a job, but I'm not sure if that was the case.  I've seen on his Facebook page he is a bouncer at a bar, so it seems unlikely he moved to Galveston for a great job offer.

[junemeatcleaver]

25 minutes ago, Tenarife60 said:

I also wondered about that and thought maybe he knew someone there that he could get a job, but I'm not sure if that was the case.  I've seen on his Facebook page he is a bouncer at a bar, so it seems unlikely he moved to Galveston for a great job offer.

Cost?  Cheaper to rent a nice 2-3 bedroom home in Galveston than in the Houston burbs or a nicer neighborhood in the city?  That place LB and mom were staying at was a million times nicer than the dumps TLC sets up most participants.

I agree that a lot more was glossed over in LB's episode than most.  They touched on LB's bio father contacting him for about three seconds.  Was it an open adoption that became less open over time?  Did LB find his bio parents and it wasn't an ideal reunion?  I would have also liked to hear more about not living up to his dad's expectations.  It had to have bugged him that he was adopted to be his dad's "Lil Buddy" and to carry on daddy's legacy.  Also I may have missed it, but did LB have to go through the shower of shame?  I guess the show felt showing his stump was shame enough.

Whatever.  This episode rubbed me the wrong way.

[Snarkasm]

2 hours ago, auntjess said:

I wondered why they chose Galveston, which is 50 miles away.  (I looked it up.)
 

Because it was much nicer than the usual shithole apartments the  poor folk stay at in Houston. 

[Hellohappylife]

Never posted here,

It’s always interesting to me,to see how all these people carry their weight physically. 

L.B. Is the first person who Didn’t look so huge to me, Like the others.  His Arms and leg looked normal. 

He was still very independent He wasn’t bedridden,he drove,he walked around the grocerystore instead of the scooter,he wore real clothes instead of a sheet,and he actually wore shoes.  

 I liked L.B. And respect that he Was seeking help Before he became immobile. 

I hope we get an update,I want him to do well so badly. 

Edited February 15, 2018 by Hellohappylife

[IOU Payne]

If Chris Powell were the advisor on this show instead of Dr. Now, LB would have been competing in a triathlon.  When I saw him cycling, it was one of the most motivating things I'd ever seen on My 600-Pound Life.  When the typical "feel-good ending" is someone being able to fit into the front seat of a car, you know your expectations are low.  I hope LB continues to do well.

[Momof2boyz]

5 hours ago, junemeatcleaver said:

.Also I may have missed it, but did LB have to go through the shower of shame?  I guess the show felt showing his stump was shame enough.

Yes, there was a shower scene.  I liked this episode a lot and was rooting for him.  He was doing great by the end!

[gardendiva]

5 minutes ago, IOU Payne said:

If Chris Powell were the advisor on this show instead of Dr. Now, LB would have been competing in a triathlon.  When I saw him cycling, it was one of the most motivating things I'd ever seen on My 600-Pound Life.  When the typical "feel-good ending" is someone being able to fit into the front seat of a car, you know your expectations are low.  I hope LB continues to do well.

I know, right? Lately we have had people who go through a whole year and can’t even get out of bed and stand up. I am sure part of it was his youth and part of it was his football playing as a youngster, but he was so much more mobile and dare I say agile than other patients lately that we have been shown. When he went in to Dr. now’s office at the end he practically skipped through the door...I am used to seeing people barely able to exit the cargo hold of the vehicle they arrive in and unable to even stand on the scale. Good for him for understanding that he needed to become independent. It was the best thing for him.

[Kellyee]

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L.B. Is the first person who Didn’t look so huge to me, Ike the others.  His Arms and leg looked normal. 

When they first showed him, he didn't look fat enough to be on this show. Fat enough for gastric bypass certainly, but not the usual body horror that TLC recruits for this. Maybe they liked the amputation angle. They have been showing the same thing week after week, so maybe they were trying to switch it up.

[keetmommy]

I too liked LB and was rooting for him, I was pissed at his mom for continuing to drink in front of him and not really support him, I hope he can continue to loose and regain his independence.

[Scarlett45]

1 hour ago, Kellyee said:

When they first showed him, he didn't look fat enough to be on this show. Fat enough for gastric bypass certainly, but not the usual body horror that TLC recruits for this. Maybe they liked the amputation angle. They have been showing the same thing week after week, so maybe they were trying to switch it up.

He was also 6’5- that’s very tall!!

 

there was another man of similar height a few seasons ago with a step son and baby twins, he was still mobile, but he said “I know I’m tall, but 600lbs is 600lbs!”

 

I think LB was self aware enough to know he was going no where fast- the binge eating, the drinking, the feelings he had about being adopted; if he didn’t deal he would be dead at 40 not just bed bound. I wish him luck. 

[Tenarife60]

2 hours ago, Kellyee said:

When they first showed him, he didn't look fat enough to be on this show. Fat enough for gastric bypass certainly, but not the usual body horror that TLC recruits for this. Maybe they liked the amputation angle. They have been showing the same thing week after week, so maybe they were trying to switch it up.

I wonder if it isn't partly because L.B. is an attention seeker saying "Look at me!  Look what I accomplished!" Because he was on the H.S. football team where people would come out to watch him make touchdowns.  That may be why he applied to appear on the show when he didn't really have to because he did say on Facebook he has never been on disability benefits despite not having a job, so obviously his family has money and could have paid for the surgery without going through the show.

Something else I didn't think of was what the other poster said: It could be his father was looking for free publicity for his business because they did mention it several times and showed L.B. helping out at one point.

[jpc1]

"If I knew that a trip to the grocery store was gonna make you feel this way, I woulda went my damn ass self."

"Just stop at the mailbox and let me get the damn ass mail."

Keep it classy, Mom!

[Pondlass1]

Being 600 pounds at 5'2" is very different to 600 pounds at 6'4". 

I think if the 'leg' had broken under his weight and he became confined to bed, he would have grown some of those disgusting lymphomas and gone up to 800 pounds within a couple of months.  

He seemed particularly needy emotionally.  He didn't want to be a disappointment, but then did things that would disappoint. 

[jpc1]

11 hours ago, Emkat said:

Shout out to how delicious the tomatoes on the burgers at the cookout looked!

As L.B.'s mom would say, those were some nice looking damn ass tomatoes!

[poeticlicensed]

I got the distinct feeling that LB wasn't the only one with an alcohol problem. There was something definitely "off" about mom.  

[crazycatlady58]

9 minutes ago, poeticlicensed said:

I got the distinct feeling that LB wasn't the only one with an alcohol problem. There was something definitely "off" about mom.  

Having grown  up with a parent  who was an alcoholic , I would  say yes mom has her  own addiction  problems. 

[Pepper Mostly]

Oh, yes indeedy, momma is a drunk. She got so defensive when he asked what she was drinking, shrugged it off as "watered down beer", and lost her shit when he continued to question.

I started out pretty solidly anti-LB, pro-Momma, but by about halfway in the tables were turning. I bet Momma gives with one hand and takes with the other. "I LOVE YEW! Never forget the I love yew soooo much! I dew everything for YEW!" But the only ways she seems to know how to love him is to do everything for him, clean his house, wash his clothes, buy all the food he wants. She said "I love you" like punctuation. But she's seething with resentment the whole time. Its like she's trying to convince herself that she's selflessly serving her son out of love, but she hates every second of it! Her whole identity seems to be wrapped up in being the perfect wife and mother. Seriously, her meltdown over leaving her husband on his own while she went to Texas was over the top. He is a grown man and their three daughters live nearby if he needs anything. I'm sure he coped just fine away from her smothering for awhile. LB isn't stupid. She's been sending the message that he's a disappointment for years. Not in so many words. But he knows. I felt bad for him after awhile. She never lets up. She doesn't say "you're a fat fat fatty" but she tells him he's wrong, all the time.

I ended up like LB a lot by the end. He smiled one time and I just went "Awwww!" There's a happy, big old teddy bear in there, trying to get out. He stuck with it and lost weight and is empowered by his success. He runs and rides his bike instead of stuffing down a dozen cupcakes. By the end, even with over a hundred pounds to go till he got to his goal weight, he looked pretty good, just a big guy but not freakish.

[calpurnia99]

With just the few minutes shown of their arguments it was hard to figure out who was right and who was wrong, or who was the problem. I think they were both the problem. I think when she drinks her personality changes. I think she drinks every night and gets annoying. I loved her whole "I don't have a drinking problem because I don't drink liquor, just beer" Yeah right many alcoholics only drink beer.  She would talk a good talk "I love him to pieces" but then belittle him.  He was no prize either. 

It was crazy that a 5 foot 5 140 pound man adopts a baby who turns out to be 6 feet 5 and 650 pounds. I loved Dr. Now: You are not so little! HA HA HA HA HA!

 

I also had to rewind and put on closed captioning when he said I couldn't not learn the forn business. 

Edited February 15, 2018 by calpurnia99

[calpurnia99]

Turns out he was saying FLORN business, one syllable

[jpc1]

6 minutes ago, calpurnia99 said:

Turns out he was saying FLORN business, one syllable

Sorry to show my ignorance, but what's the FLORN business?  That's a new one on me.

[SDVegas]

Flooring?

[jpc1]

23 minutes ago, SDVegas said:

Flooring?

That must be it.  I'm southern enough that I should have gotten that myself.  Maybe I should get myself a damn ass watered down beer.

[Kb60]

Is Lola transgender? Just curious. Her wig sucks.

Edited February 15, 2018 by Kb60
Edit

[Cherrio]

I kept asking myself, did he say porn business?  I never did figure it out until I read here this morning.

Great post Pepper Mostly !

I just wanted to add something regarding adoption.  Its complicated and each "case" is 100% unique.

I was adopted as an infant too.  I know that I am both a product of my adoption and my birth parents.

While my story is nothing like this one, there is one thing I got a strong vibe about.

Both parents wanted a son, had all daughters so they decide to adopt a son to carry on the name and "Florn" business.  Doesn't seem like the wrong reason to adopt, but imo it is. We all saw the outcome. As soon as he was able to comprehend his adoptive parents plan and reasons it affected him in a very negative way.

You should want to adopt a baby to want a baby. 

In this case we saw a lot of classic ignorance that damaged an innocent child.

           I realized in hindsight that my adoptive mother had big plans for me too. My fathers only fault is that he let her carry on, although I am sure he tried to stop it.  He was 100% the best father and genuinely loved me as his own.

         I realized that my mother loved me as a thing, a product. She never understood I was human, not something she had big plans for.   Even as a very little kid I sensed something and I did not like her.  I rebelled and fought her every step of the way. She ruined the natural talents I possessed, never encouraged interests she did not also like and in hindsight never seemed at all interested in whether or not I was happy.  She had those iron clad plans.

In later years she finally gave up on her plans for my life and started the manipulation, the lies and never ending games. Even as a frail dying woman she never stopped. I didn't fulfill her dreams so she tried and pretty much succeeded in making my life a living hell until the day she died.

So I hope LB stays in Houston and makes a real life for himself. He can grow up and learn there are loving families like I did and take bit and pieces to create a good life for himself.

[gingerormaryann]

Overall an interesting episode and definitely a different feel from the others.  It was obvious LB would be a success because of his size and mobility.  Agreed, his height minimized his weight and he was in far better physical condition at the beginning than almost anyone we'd seen so far.  The show's logical conclusion, LB begins to run again, was a surprising upper, even though it was expected. 

Best part of the episode by far was when they pulled into Dr. Now's office.  I only saw it briefly but was there a giant sign with his name AND picture on it.  If that was the case, my love of Dr. Now has reached ridiculous proportions.

[atiyah9369]

2 hours ago, jpc1 said:

"If I knew that a trip to the grocery store was gonna make you feel this way, I woulda went my damn ass self."

"Just stop at the mailbox and let me get the damn ass mail."

Keep it classy, Mom!

I was screaming tuck and roll Mom tuck and roll. LOL

2 hours ago, poeticlicensed said:

I got the distinct feeling that LB wasn't the only one with an alcohol problem. There was something definitely "off" about mom.  

I agree with the comment when she said she was drinking watered down beer.

[Normades]

His mother drinking and eating junk in front of him was just nasty.  She is a passive aggressive piece of work!  I have a beloved family member in recovery and when they come over believe me, they do not see items that would trigger them, even if I have them.  It's not so hard to keep those things out of sight or under lock and key.  She kept saying she do ANYTHING for him, but apparently not respect his struggle to stay clean.

Also, within two minutes of her being on screen my husband said she was high, damned if he wasn't right.  Not sure if booze is her only issue.  

[auntjess]

 Part of the appeal of the show, may be that TLC and/or Dr. Now, know where to find taxis, and ambulances, and sundry other services.
Also, the TLC person may share the driving.  I'd think that they would in a pinch.

 I see Galveston is a bit cheaper than Houston, which surprised me, because I think of Galveston as a beach area.
https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/houston-tx/galveston-tx/50000
 

[Hellohappylife]

Like others something about the mother was definatly “off” to me. Especially the scene where LB went to ask her what was wrong at the goodbye Party,his mother said something to the effect “I’m leaving my daughters for a year,for you!” 

Just the way she said it was down right mean. As if in that moment he wasn’t her kid, And I can see why LB would feel like an outsider of the family,her comment made me feel like she picks and choose when he’s her child. 

[cpcathy]

Ouch, that was harsh indeed.

He looked really good at the end of the episode, that's the best anyone has walked out of Dr Now's office, and with a prosthetic leg! I hope he goes on to great weight loss and more happiness than he's been allowed to have.

[Hellohappylife]

Like others something about the mother was definatly “off” to me. Especially the scene where LB went to ask her what was wrong at the goodbye Party,his mother said something to the effect “I’m leaving my daughters for a year,for you!” 

Just the way she said it was down right mean. As if in that moment he wasn’t her kid, And I can see why LB would feel like an outsider of the family,her comment made me feel like she picks and choose when he’s her child. 

[Normades]

30 minutes ago, Hellohappylife said:

Like others something about the mother was definatly “off” to me. Especially the scene where LB went to ask her what was wrong at the goodbye Party,his mother said something to the effect “I’m leaving my daughters for a year,for you!” 

Just the way she said it was down right mean. As if in that moment he wasn’t her kid, And I can see why LB would feel like an outsider of the family,her comment made me feel like she picks and choose when he’s her child. 

Yes that was horrible, too.  The dad is a mystery to me.  He kept saying he was supposed to be his heir apparent, but I never heard the man utter two words.  

[QuinnInND]

7 minutes ago, Normades said:

Yes that was horrible, too.  The dad is a mystery to me.  He kept saying he was supposed to be his heir apparent, but I never heard the man utter two words.  

He did talk at the end of the episode though. 

[calpurnia99]

Yeah you don't have to talk much to make money in florn I guess

[AnnaBaptist]

17 minutes ago, calpurnia99 said:

Yeah you don't have to talk much to make money in florn I guess

lol I interpreted this to be an abbreviated way of saying "flower porn". For what are flowers, anyway, but the plant's sex organs?

L.B. grew on me over the course of the episode. He seemed whiny and stuck in adolescence emotionally at first, but once he got with the program, it was a pleasure to watch. I wish him much success.

[AuntiePam]

7 hours ago, keetmommy said:

I too liked LB and was rooting for him, I was pissed at his mom for continuing to drink in front of him and not really support him, I hope he can continue to loose and regain his independence.

What's the "general wisdom" on this?  If there's an alcoholic or an over-eater in the family, does that mean that there can be no booze in the house and no chips in the pantry?  Nobody can order a drink at a restaurant?  Is it "If I can't have it, then nobody can"?

I can see making accommodations for children -- it's hard for them to understand why everyone else can eat/drink something and they can't.  But an adult should be able to watch another adult take a drink or eat dessert without feeling like they're being undermined. 

On the other hand, how hard would it be for mom to drink her beer somewhere else?  What was dad drinking in that red solo cup?  I didn't hear LB ask him. 

I like LB and hope he continues to do well. 

[EtheltoTillie]

11 minutes ago, AuntiePam said:

 

I can see making accommodations for children -- it's hard for them to understand why everyone else can eat/drink something and they can't.  But an adult should be able to watch another adult take a drink or eat dessert without feeling like they're being undermined. 

On the other hand, how hard would it be for mom to drink her beer somewhere else?  What was dad drinking in that red solo cup?  I didn't hear LB ask him.

Certainly when the addict is in the initial phases of sobriety it's fair to ask people to refrain.

[skippy]

5 hours ago, calpurnia99 said:

Turns out he was saying FLORN business, one syllable

Thank you!!  I could not figure it out!!

[EtheltoTillie]

15 hours ago, Tenarife60 said:

  They seemed to be much better off than most of the patients featured. 

I think LB was driving an Escalade!  The logo was pixelated. 

[skippy]

As a previous poster said, they glossed over a lot on this one.

L.B. was eating for comfort when he was just a child.  His "Mom 2"  (isn't that creepy?) died when he was 9, but he used to go stay with her for days and, apparently, do nothing but eat.  His mother complained that when he came home he would cry until he got what he wanted (food).  Apparently she couldn't say "No".

It doesn't seem that he felt unwanted, since everyone was always telling him how much they wanted him.

I don't get any of this week's dysfunction.