S07.E18: Mercedes' Story

[PrincessPurrsALot]

Quote

With severe lymphedema, Mercedes can barely stand and only cares for her two children with the help of her extended family.  Dr. Now can give her the tools to lose weight, but to succeed she must face the trauma inflicted by her late abusive father. 

This is the regular episode thread.  It will open after the US East Coast showing. 

I sense she's writing a letter to daddy.  I hope it tells him that he should rot in hell.  Just me? 

Original air date 2019.05.01

[toodles]

18 hours ago, PrincessPurrsALot said:

This is the regular episode thread.  It will open after the US East Coast showing. 

I sense she's writing a letter to daddy.  I hope it tells him that he should rot in hell.  Just me? 

Original air date 2019.05.01

I would like to suggest gasoline soaked drawers as the official drawers of 600 Ponders.  We Ponders earn our drawers with every pee bed, face stuffing, bleach washing and owww my legs that TLC throws at us. 😁😁

Edited April 29, 2019 by toodles

[kittyinthecity]

I posted this as the other thread was winding down, so I'll put it here, too: 

Her Facebook is really easy to find and she's another GoFund Me person. Looks like after failing to get surgery from the show, she's trying to crowd fund it...don't know if people are going to be making much of an investment if they watch her "efforts."

Poor kiddos

[Armchair Critic]

I just got home in time to catch the last 10 minutes. What is with this season and people not losing the weight? You would think with the popularity of this show they could find people eager to get the surgery. Is it because this show has become popular so people know how to say the right things to get on it (even though they don't intend to follow the plan)?

[Concerned]

Felt bad for her kids: sharing a bed with 700 pound mom, being her servant, pulled out of school, nobody cares about their safety enough to buckle their seatbelts or restrict them from roaming unescorted avoid an unfamiliar city, hearing the doctor tell mom she’s dying.

Mercedes also had an unusually tragic story being raped by her father. I don’t see good things for her or her children.

[mmecorday]

I knew she wasn't going to have the surgery when so much time was spent on the Fiery Tire of Convenience during the trip from Cincinnati to Houston.

[CrazyInAlabama]

I hope her POS father is on a rotisserie in Hell.     

If she had tried to do Dr. Now's program, she could have done so well.    She had more support from family than just about anyone on this show ever has.    I feel so sorry for her kids.     Were they even in school in Houston?   

I bet the second Dr. Now gave her the three days to go to the hospital, that she was back on the long, slow journey to Cincinnati.  I'm wondering if Dr. Now giving her the news to report to the hospital was about the time Kelly died?    He seemed to be a little emotional telling her what she needed to do to live.    

I hope the fund raising doesn't mean she's still in Houston, and going to Mexico for surgery.   I understand there if you have the cash, you have the surgery, and that would be a death sentence for her.   

 Or if she actually moved back to Cincinnati, and thinks she can just walk into a surgeon's office, say here's the money, and she'll get the gastric sleeve?   I think she's past the point of no return, in thinking that denying how ill she is will make her OK.    I just hope those children have a decent place to live, because I can't see her lasting past the end of the year.   

Edited May 2, 2019 by CrazyInAlabama

[crazycatlady58]

When Dr. Now said she would have to go to the hospital and stay for months she had the same look on her face that my mother  had ( who was an alcoholic) when she was told she needed to go to in house therapy and stay for two weeks to dry out and get help...nope not going to happen.. because of course she can handle it alone.

[Miss Chevious]

Sorry I missed the live chat this week, but I’ve just about had it with these people who sit there splayed out on their beds like they’re the Queen of Sheba and have everybody else waiting on them hand and foot.

We’ve had several of them lately and Mercedes is one of the worst offenders. It’s appalling how she’s using her children as her personal handmaidens. She can sit there with those big ol’ tears running down her face feeling sorry for herself, but in reality, she is depriving her children of a normal childhood. They are exposed to seeing parts of their Mother’s anatomy they really don’t need to see (pass the brain bleach, please!) not to mention all the fetching and carrying they have to do for her. 

And her poor cousin with his short little forearms. It’s apparent how maneuvering that overloaded wheelchair is a struggle for him. It was all he could do to get that thing turned into the doorway of Dr. Now’s patient consulting room. Not to mention his chauffeur duties. Does he ever get a day off? Does he wipe her butt too or is that a job for the daughter? 

You’d think that the knowledge that she’s causing others to have virtually no lives of their own would make her think twice before she stuffs her face with another piece of fried chicken.

But I guess not. Blur the crotch area and pass her another piece of cake...after 3:00 in the afternoon of course. 

[missnoa]

1 hour ago, Miss Chevious said:

Sorry I missed the live chat this week, but I’ve just about had it with these people who sit there splayed out on their beds like they’re the Queen of Sheba and have everybody else waiting on them hand and foot.

I do not understand the ones who sit there with their genitals all hanging out right where their children can see with absolutely no shame. I get that maybe there's no underwear that fits, but pull a blanket over yourself for goodness sake. Your children do not need to see that all hanging out. It's bad enough half the time the kids are forced to help them clean it.

[Lemons]

1 hour ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

I hope her POS father is on a rotisserie in Hell.     

If she had tried to do Dr. Now's program, she could have done so well.    She had more support from family than just about anyone on this show ever has.    

I feel so sorry for her kids.     Were they even in school in Houston?   

I bet the second Dr. Now gave her the three days to go to the hospital, that she was back on the long, slow journey to Cincinnati.  

Her family was bringing her bagfuls of food everyday.  Who needs that kind of support.   The people who puts food in front of an 800 lb bedridden person every day are despicable.  

[Honey]

So...Lemme get this straight...When she has her period, she is too large to use tampons or pads, so she just bleeds all over the place?  Isn't that speshul.

There's always someone who will drive these people to Houston....and they always seem to have a van.  Wouldn't it be cheaper and more comfortable to rent a motor home for the drive?  Rather than pay for all those nights in a hotel. 

[Lemons]

23 hours ago, Lemons said:

Repeat by accident  

Edited May 3, 2019 by Lemons

[CrazyInAlabama]

She was also sending her 11 year old daughter out, with the little son to pick up food alone, in Houston.     That scares me to death.     

I bet the show she put on with her family if they didn't supply her with what she wanted was horrible.      Notice how the boyfriend, or whatever he was at the beginning disappeared?   And how people kept avoiding her?    I bet she's a very spiteful, nasty person when she doesn't get her way.   

The family support I'm talking about is the way her cousin, her friend, and so many moved her to Houston, and the cousin kept going back and forth to help her to appointments, and the friend came to appointments with her also.    I felt sorry for her history, but I really didn't like the way she treated her children, disrespected Dr. Now, and refused to help herself.     I don't think Lola helped her at all, because Mercedes simply didn't want to work to change her life, physically, or mentally.  

I don't think Mercedes could fit into a motor home bathroom, or hoist herself in and out of in on the stairs they have.   

Edited May 2, 2019 by CrazyInAlabama

[newyawk]

18 minutes in and I am already bored and care about nobody in this episode. I'd better look through the thread to see if this is worth watching. Fore me, probably not.

[Schnickelfritz]

As one might imagine, her GoFundMe is a joke from start (Help Mercedes get to Texas for weight loss surgery) to finish (That why I'm taking these steps to better my life for me and my children any donations will greatly appreciated I know its not goin to be easy I have a long road ahead of me but this is my start to a healthy life and journey for me and my children.) Perhaps she could use some of those funds to buy some punctuation... or a clue.

The comments are pretty brutal so I expect them to be turned off in 3...2...1.

https://www.gofundme.com/help-mercedes-get-to-texas-for-weight-loss-surgery

[newyawk]

Well, glad the comments were up. I gather from them that the episode was another complete waste of time and I do not need to watch it. 

[Armchair Critic]

Did she fart when Lola came over? I heard a noise and then Mercedes smirked...eeewwww

[Armchair Critic]

52 minutes ago, Schnickelfritz said:

The comments are pretty brutal so I expect them to be turned off in 3...2...1

I want to read them but it's asking me to sign in, I don't think I ever had to sign in before.

[newyawk]

The campaign was closed and is no longer active. It topped out at $175. That oughtta keep her in Ho Hos for a couple of weeks.

[Delete]

Mercedes was looking for Dr Now to perform the magical surgery that would result in her inability to shove an entire slab of bacon “but it’s turkey bacon!” with  corn and fried chicken down her gullet. Nothing short of sewing her mouth shut is going to stop her from eating.   But she’s working hard y’all!

Childhood  horrors aside. (May her Dad rot in hell). She has kids. Sweet children who are not being looked after. Lola can have Mercedes write a thousand notes on tp, but it’s not gonna change the fact that Mercedes’ heart is failing, and that isn’t enough for her to change her diet. The children are sleeping with a mother who pees and bleeds on a pee pad on a bed that is completely filthy. The box spring appeared to be covered in feces. Yet writing a note to her daughter somehow erases it all? Wish life was that simple. Sorry, Lola is a shitty therapist, and I’m at a point where I’m enraged that she is still being used on the show. 

ok. A few ‘light” moments.  Lola asked where she could sit, and I was expecting Mercedes to gesture to the commode beside her bed. 

Dr now laying down the law, and not ready for any  bs. “You live in a no salad zone? Houston, we have a problem!” 😂

Seeing a older pic of Mercedes mom, and thinking it was Tyler Perry as Madea. 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Barbara Please

[alegtostandon]

I kind of dozed off,  I  know Dr. Now insisted she admit herself into the hospital within 3 days in order to stay in the program,  Did she do this?

Let's see. The poor cousin who had to shove her around in that wheelchair had to leave Houston for 1 week out of the 2 months between her visits and that caused her to gain 10 pounds? 

I recall her saying that the "dad" sexually molested all of the sisters,  did they show any of them?  Were they all over 700 lbs also? 

What "dad" did was horrible, but IMO, she is mentally hurting her kids just as badly.   Having them sleep in her dirty,  smelly,  unsanitary bed with her,  constantly flashing her gentiles at them,  having the older daughter clean her... you know that job is going to go to the little boy soon. 

Did I hear right... at one of the hotel stops,  as cousin was trying to tow her out of the van,  she she say she had to pee and he tells her to go ahead & let it go.. right there on the van seat?!  She then said she needed to get inside to get cleaned up. 

Wonder what happened to the man at the beginning,  did she say he was one of the kids dads? 

ETA:  what is it with these 600 plus pound people and their body piercings and tats?   So they have tattoo artists that make house calls? 

The noise she would make when trying to stand up made me think she was going to the bathroom

Edited May 2, 2019 by alegtostandon

[Jeeves]

5 hours ago, newyawk said:

The campaign was closed and is no longer active. It topped out at $175. That oughtta keep her in Ho Hos for a couple of weeks.

I visited last night before they shut down the campaign, and read the comments. There weren't many but the ones from people who weren't obviously her family, weren't nice. The donors identified were as far as I could tell, all family members. The original goal was, IIRC, ten thousand dollars. Like, yeah, this woman hadn't ALREADY gone to Houston to be treated by Dr. Now and blew off the whole opportunity, so everyone should pitch in so she can have a re-do. SMH.

Screenshot from this morning:

ETA: If she is indeed suffering from congestive heart failure, this situation is headed in a bad direction. I feel so bad for her kids. I hope they have someone in their lives to care for them while they tend to their beast of a mother. 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Jeeves
spelling is nice

[calpurnia99]

I had to laugh in the live chat thread when one poster guessed her weight as 711 for the convenience store and then someone else said "I"ll go 747 for the plane" !! ha ha ha ha

She was bigger than the jet plane! 

Again I know they give them nutrition info and sample days of eating, but it seems like they really don't understand that any kind of bacon is no good. Fried fatty foods are no good. It's like they really have no clue how to eat 1200 calories. But I knew she would fail when she said that she was happy to have the food as it was the only thing that helped her get to Houston and she needed it to get home. The kids don't need bacon every day either. 

She can't get a tampon in I guess. But why cant she put a pad on? I guess she cant wear underwear of any sort so she cant stick a pad on one? 

why are the kids sleeping with her where she prepares food, bleeds and pees? Why why why?????

[calpurnia99]

But talk about someone who thought just getting to Houston she would magically be thin. And who felt like the surgery would do the work. She said she hopes she would qualify for surgery at the first appt. Ha, no he can't operate on a 787 pound person with a failing heart! Then thinking that having the surgery she can still eat bacon and fried chicken, not change anything she does. 

[ShoePrincess]

8 hours ago, Honey said:

There's always someone who will drive these people to Houston....and they always seem to have a van.  Wouldn't it be cheaper and more comfortable to rent a motor home for the drive?  Rather than pay for all those nights in a hotel. 

She'd never fit in the water closet or shower. She'd get stuck, and not even a dozen hunky firemen would be able to pry her out. I'm a normal size person, and the facilities in ours are a snug fit for me. Honestly, I don't think she could even get into a motor home. When the slides are in, the path through the living space is not designed for a Mack truck to walk through.

[zengirl1215]

I felt very sorry for her having to deal with her childhood of abuse at the hands of her POS father.  But sometimes people are beyond help.  And if they don't want to help themselves, it is what it is. Sadly. 

That said, thought her kids were wonderful and really hope for them she can get healthy.  Cousin Brandon...he's all kinds of awesome.  

[KateHearts]

I get very annoyed with the attitude of all of these participants when they say, "Oh, well... I can't [pee/poop/bleed; stay clean; wipe my ass; take care of my kids; etc] so I just HAVE TO get others to do all of that," as if it's just fate.  Then they have what for anyone else is a blip in the radar- someone can't come over, their car breaks down, they have to move, etc- and it's just "welp, gotta throw in the towel!" and the inevitable comment along the lines of "I just can't win; seems for every step forward I take there's two steps back," and on and on. And of course then there's the "I have been SO BUSY with the STRESS of [looking for a place to live in Houston, taking care of my kids, etc] that I haven't had TIME to stick to the diet" dialogue.

These people have learned to become self-pitying, acquired-helpless, resigned human beings who have convinced themselves that they have no solutions to their problems, can't possibly get out of their predicament, and expect everyone else to manage their lives.  Ultimately, it's Dr. Now- as if breathing the air in his office full of half-ton humans will magically transform them into functioning human beings.  They all very earnestly nod and agree to whatever he says and go about their business of self-destruction.  And weep on cue. 

The family members are no better.  Every single one of them sits mute as the mega-human somberly says, "I don't eat breakfast.  I snack on grapes.  I don't eat before 3pm.  I don't overeat; I just eat the wrong things."

This one was exceptionally upsetting when it came to her children.  Sleeping in the same bed? Bleeding in same bed because, hey- us big girls can't get supplies so it is what it is?  Serving ice cream within centimeters of her exposed (sometimes bleeding, always dirty) vagina?  nope, nope, nope... but she loves her kids. She's giving them ice cream.! They are together! And sadly, those kids are destined to a physical fate like hers. The daughter is already a big girl for an 11-year old. One thing Dr. Now should be reinforcing is that the entire family will benefit from eating healthy foods. Eating junk food is bad for them, whether they are fat or not.  It's called junk food for a reason. And maybe avoiding giving them the fast food so that you are continually watching it and missing it and craving it will help all of you.  

[WonTon]

Another waste of an episode.

1. I did feel bad for her, especially her childhood, but that only goes so far. There's no reason she needs to sit around all day eating food and complaining about how hard her life is.

2. Why do these family members bring them food? You wouldn't bring your drug addicted relative heroin when they demand it - I hope!

3. Her kids are so cute and sweet, I feel so bad for them. And Brandon should be sainted. What a wonderful man.

4. Yay, Lola! She looked great - as usual. Also, I loved her friend Kristina's (?) purple dress. So cute.

5. I used to think the one hour episodes were too short, but these two hour ones are too long.

6. "No salad zone!" Hahahaha....good one Dr. Now!

Edited May 2, 2019 by WonTon

[dreadfulLeigh]

The letter to her daughter is all well and good but doesn’t mean shit if she doesn’t change. Rather, now her daughter will have a fully installed guilt button because her mom loves her so much and wants to change and be the parent but still won’t get off her fucking ass and get with the (quite generous) program. 

[SunnyBeBe]

If TLC is really wanting to produce shows that the viewers WANT to see, why don't they advertise to get some contestants or whatever they call them, to sign up for a show where the patient and their family members ALL SIGN contracts and the enablers, I mean, family members ONLY provide the patient the food that the diet entails.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  It's not up for debate and no matter what the patient says, they get what the diet entails. 24/7 cameras confirm they are complying.   They have this setup for AT LEAST 30 days. 

I'm sure after that, Dr. Now would want to see if the patient can do it for themselves at some point.   But, during the first 30 days, family members guard the door and any house deliveries with pizza, burgers, etc.  is confiscated and tossed in the garbage.  Grocery shopping is done within strict guidelines on and there is no opportunity for cheating.  Apparently, some patients really do need that for a little while, because, if not, I really don't think they have the ability to do on their own.  Of course, maybe, they've tried it and no one wants to sign up.  I do recall one lady who had a niece who moved with her and she managed all of her food.  The patient did great.  

Have they ever had a family member put their foot down and say NOOOO! I'm not getting you that and you're not ordering it either.  Just how upset can they get?  Oh, yeah, it seems that one young man got pretty upset with his daddy before, but, his dad caved in and ordered the pizza for him.  lol 

Edited May 2, 2019 by SunnyBeBe

[calpurnia99]

She said twice to her daughter that it was all going to be over soon,  as if losing 500 pounds was going to take a month or so. It will be over soon though,  when she dies. 

[toodles]

55 minutes ago, KateHearts said:

I get very annoyed with the attitude of all of these participants when they say, "Oh, well... I can't [pee/poop/bleed; stay clean; wipe my ass; take care of my kids; etc] so I just HAVE TO get others to do all of that," as if it's just fate.  Then they have what for anyone else is a blip in the radar- someone can't come over, their car breaks down, they have to move, etc- and it's just "welp, gotta throw in the towel!" and the inevitable comment along the lines of "I just can't win; seems for every step forward I take there's two steps back," and on and on. And of course then there's the "I have been SO BUSY with the STRESS of [looking for a place to live in Houston, taking care of my kids, etc] that I haven't had TIME to stick to the diet" dialogue.

These people have learned to become self-pitying, acquired-helpless, resigned human beings who have convinced themselves that they have no solutions to their problems, can't possibly get out of their predicament, and expect everyone else to manage their lives.  Ultimately, it's Dr. Now- as if breathing the air in his office full of half-ton humans will magically transform them into functioning human beings.  They all very earnestly nod and agree to whatever he says and go about their business of self-destruction.  And weep on cue. 

The family members are no better.  Every single one of them sits mute as the mega-human somberly says, "I don't eat breakfast.  I snack on grapes.  I don't eat before 3pm.  I don't overeat; I just eat the wrong things."

This one was exceptionally upsetting when it came to her children.  Sleeping in the same bed? Bleeding in same bed because, hey- us big girls can't get supplies so it is what it is?  Serving ice cream within centimeters of her exposed (sometimes bleeding, always dirty) vagina?  nope, nope, nope... but she loves her kids. She's giving them ice cream.! They are together! And sadly, those kids are destined to a physical fate like hers. The daughter is already a big girl for an 11-year old. One thing Dr. Now should be reinforcing is that the entire family will benefit from eating healthy foods. Eating junk food is bad for them, whether they are fat or not.  It's called junk food for a reason. And maybe avoiding giving them the fast food so that you are continually watching it and missing it and craving it will help all of you.  

Well said.  I was going to post something similar, but you said just what I was thinking.

[libgirl2]

She will never lose weight, she will never have surgery. Her kids will be wiping her butt and sharing that gross bed with her until one morning she doesn't wake up. She might be a lovely person, but she is doomed. 

[Jeeves]

27 minutes ago, calpurnia99 said:

She said twice to her daughter that it was all going to be over soon,  as if losing 500 pounds was going to take a month or so. It will be over soon though,  when she dies. 

Sad but true.

I visited her FB page this morning. It was still viewable. Not sure if that's still true a few hours later. She had posted a link to the GoFundMe campaign, and the comments section is a down and dirty war of words between supporters and detractors. Someone with Mercedes' last name is really bringing the nasty talk in defense of Mercedes.

I didn't read everything - just too much there and too little time - but some commenters called Mercedes out for not following Dr. Now's directions to check herself into the hospital in Houston. The comments in defense of her said, but who would look after her kids? The replies to that were, well, who's going to take care of her kids after she dies?

Also there was criticism about the GoFundMe she started. The start date was listed as March 2019 (can't remember the exact date), which means she was already in Houston when she started it. She claimed she'd started it before she went to Houston but the date speaks for itself. 

I didn't read carefully enough to figure out if she went back home or is still in Houston. But apparently she didn't go into the hospital, and given Dr. Now's level of concern about her heart, that's bad. Really bad. 

Dis not a good sitchation at all.

[B in Lee]

52 minutes ago, SunnyBeBe said:

If TLC is really wanting to produce shows that the viewers WANT to see, why don't they advertise to get some contestants or whatever they call them, to sign up for a show where the patient and their family members ALL SIGN contracts and the enablers, I mean, family members ONLY provide the patient the food that the diet entails.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  It's not up for debate and no matter what the patient says, they get what the diet entails. 24/7 cameras confirm they are complying.   They have this setup for AT LEAST 30 days. 

I'm sure after that, Dr. Now would want to see if the patient can do it for themselves at some point.   But, during the first 30 days, family members guard the door and any house deliveries with pizza, burgers, etc.  is confiscated and tossed in the garbage.  Grocery shopping is done within strict guidelines on and there is no opportunity for cheating.  Apparently, some patients really do need that for a little while, because, if not, I really don't think they have the ability to do on their own.  Of course, maybe, they've tried it and no one wants to sign up.  I do recall one lady who had a niece who moved with her and she managed all of her food.  The patient did great.  

Have they ever had a family member put their foot down and say NOOOO! I'm not getting you that and you're not ordering it either.  Just how upset can they get?  Oh, yeah, it seems that one young man got pretty upset with his daddy before, but, his dad caved in and ordered the pizza for him.  lol 

In all fairness, Erica's sister and her family stood up to her. Erica was called a bitch. It was pretty obvious that Erica had been manipulating and guilt-tripping her family members for quite a while, yet they were called uncaring and unfair to her. After a while, people are going to shrug and say 'hey, it's your life; whatever.' or 'oh? Now you want help? Again? Prove it!'. Or both

[Elizzikra]

Quote

I feel so sorry for her kids.     Were they even in school in Houston? 

I wondered that too and thought maybe they were there in the summer?

Quote

I  know Dr. Now insisted she admit herself into the hospital within 3 days in order to stay in the program,  Did she do this?

They didn't tell us and that irritated the shit out of me. No reason they couldn't have. I'm guessing she didn't go and honestly I don't know how she is still alive. I really expected a note at the end saying she had died and the kids had gone to live with Brandon or were in foster care.

Quote

why are the kids sleeping with her where she prepares food, bleeds and pees?

I think she said at the beginning that they only have a one bedroom apartment and one bed. I'd put some sleeping bags on the floor for the kids myself,  but I think that was her explanation.

Quote

If TLC is really wanting to produce shows that the viewers WANT to see, why don't they advertise to get some contestants or whatever they call them, to sign up for a show where the patient and their family members ALL SIGN contracts and the enablers, I mean, family members ONLY provide the patient the food that the diet entails.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  It's not up for debate and no matter what the patient says, they get what the diet entails. 24/7 cameras confirm they are complying.   They have this setup for AT LEAST 30 days. 

They don't do it (I imagine) because it doesn't really tell you anything you don't already know. People lose weight when their calories are restricted. Dr. Now makes them go home to do it because he needs to learn whether or not they can develop self control around their eating habit.

He did essentially offer this type of controlled setting to Mercedes as he has done with other, near-death patients - by admitting them to the hospital and putting them on a controlled diet (though some of the sneak food anyway). They do lose weight - but as we have seen, they often gain it back when they go home. They don't really learn self control in that setting; it just buys them more time alive to learn.

Edited May 2, 2019 by Elizzikra

[Mothra]

Once again, the live chat thread is the best part.  I haven't watched this episode yet, but in general, I wonder if the obesees truly don't understand the relation between what and how much they eat and their weight?  I'd love a Special Episode where the psychologists explain what it is that keeps these folks from at least trying to follow Dr. Now's directions.  Some of them talk about "knowing my body" better than anyone else, or "finding a balance" between the diet and what they want to eat.  I'd like to know if any of the people we've seen have really tried to diet before they get to Dr. Now.  I understand that there is addiction involved, but what I want to know is if they get it that what they're doing is sabotaging themselves.  I think most other kinds of addicts know that using, whether it's drugs or alcohol or gambling or sex, is what is keeping them addicted--do these guys understand that?  It seems like they want to be free of the addiction without stopping their addictive behavior.

[fonfereksglen]

32 minutes ago, B in Lee said:

In all fairness, Erica's sister and her family stood up to her. Erica was called a bitch. It was pretty obvious that Erica had been manipulating and guilt-tripping her family members for quite a while, yet they were called uncaring and unfair to her. After a while, people are going to shrug and say 'hey, it's your life; whatever.' or 'oh? Now you want help? Again? Prove it!'. Or both

We have seen so many people at the beginning of episodes that simply disappear.  It is often the easiest way to say no.  Unfortunately, the young children have no choice.

The people who mystify me are those who are completely alone, immobile, and still manage to acquire and eat copious amounts of food.  

[sempervivum]

22 minutes ago, Mothra said:

It seems like they want to be free of the addiction without stopping their addictive behavior.

Yep. That magical 'weight loss surgery' (they REALLY need to stop calling it that) will do it all. 

I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Type 1 diabetes, and I was given several hours of instruction, in the hospital as well as in an out-patient setting, by 2 nutritionists who made sure I understood portion size, the difference between protein, fat, carbs, etc., as well as websites and magazines to look up general info and recipe ideas. I'm sure Mercedes got this kind of help, too (I suspect the show doesn't let us see this stuff because it's pretty boring). Also, she had a smart phone, it would have taken her 15 seconds to find out if those enormous pancakes were 'protein' (as she said) and how many calories were in them. Ditto with that oh-so-healthy turkey bacon.

The simple fact is despite her looming, now inevitable, fate, she wants to eat more than she wants to live. I hope her mother is ready to raise those 2 kids.

[Elizzikra]

37 minutes ago, Mothra said:

It seems like they want to be free of the addiction without stopping their addictive behavior.

Well yeah. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be able to eat whatever they wanted and not have negative consequences. What alcoholic doesn’t want to be able to drink in a “normal” way.

Plus people get addicted to things because they work as a coping strategy (until they don’t). The problem is that so many of these addicts go in the diet, which takes away their only coping mechanism, but they don’t replace it with a healthy tool. Mercedes knee she was using food to cope but she seemed to have no idea what to use instead.

[zillabreeze]

11 hours ago, Honey said:

Wouldn't it be cheaper and more comfortable to rent a motor home for the drive?

Rental, gas and then the nightly hookup fees would be more than a bare bones motel, but mostly is what Crazy says below:

11 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

don't think Mercedes could fit into a motor home bathroom, or hoist herself in and out of in on the stairs they have.   

Even the big expensive "Rock Star" versions would not accommodate her.

10 hours ago, newyawk said:

18 minutes in and I am already bored and care about nobody in this episode. I'd better look through the thread to see if this is worth watching. Fore me, probably not.

I have a Flawless System!   I record the later showing, then I read the Live Chat while laughing my ass off!!! 

When I watch the show, I know exactly where to fast forward to, usually Dr Now!  Boom! 2 hours down to about 10 minutes!

Thanks a million to the Live Peeps, you're doing god's work!

[CatherineM]

2 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

Have they ever had a family member put their foot down and say NOOOO! I'm not getting you that and you're not ordering it either.  Just how upset can they get?  Oh, yeah, it seems that one young man got pretty upset with his daddy before, but, his dad caved in and ordered the pizza for him.  lol 

Lisa’s daughter stood up to her. After they talked to Dr. Now on skype, she said the diet started right then and wouldn’t give her back her coke. Lisa gave her a look that could have killed an elephant. I wonder what she would have done if the cameras hadn’t been there. 

[pdlinda]

12 hours ago, Lemons said:

Her family was bringing her bagfuls of food everyday.  Who needs that kind of support.   The people who puts food in front of an 800 lb bedridden person every day are despicable.  

She comes from a "family system" that enables her and created the dire circumstances she couldn't possibly understand fully without YEARS AND YEARS of intensive therapy (that, of course, she would never engage in due to the "family system" that encouraged her "delusion and denial" and that she relies on for "support.)"  

That "family system" allowed her to believe she could bring 2 innocent children into the world (with whichever sperm donors were available) thinking this was her prerogative to "express herself" with a partner or WHATEVER.  That's the true tragedy here:  That this broken, dysfunctional family system seemingly will persist into the next generation.

How do we get community agencies (like CPS and the schools) to become more involved with protecting children in the context of Mercedes' parental "rights."

[libgirl2]

9 minutes ago, CatherineM said:

Lisa’s daughter stood up to her. After they talked to Dr. Now on skype, she said the diet started right then and wouldn’t give her back her coke. Lisa gave her a look that could have killed an elephant. I wonder what she would have done if the cameras hadn’t been there. 

Maybe rolled towards her? 

[calpurnia99]

 A motor home is a lot of work if it is not your thing. Just to rent it and use it for travel is not easy. Someone has to drive it, you have to know how to hook it all up, you have to tow a car, you have to lock down everything before you leave, you have to dump the contents of the bathroom. Just to possibly save a few bucks, it makes no sense to me at all. A cheap motel is right off the highway. And she got a downstairs room with a wide bathroom door for handicapped. Never mind these people could not fit in one.

Anyway dis is not good sitiashun I agree, she wanted the "weight loss surgery" the magic fix without having to give up food.  The way they carry on about their efforts, I think sometimes they starve themselves for 3 days before the weigh in, thus the small pound loss they may show. If she was taking in 1200 calories  a day, she would have lost more than the 80 pounds in a munt, we have seen a 769 pound person lose 100 pounds  plus on the controlled diet as well as the very few who have truly stuck to it. She should have lost 200 pounds if she were doing this diet, she would have noticed a difference at 560 pounds but...

[ElderPrice]

“You had two months to come up with an excuse, and the best you can come up with is that you live in some no-salad zone in Houston that I never heard of??” 

Dr Now is getting crankier and snarkier. I love it. 

[zillabreeze]

I just finished the Dr.Now/8# gain scene. We all got wrapped up in the "no salad zone" jewel, but missed something.

After the weigh-in,  but before Dr. Now, she says "that number can't be right, because it doesn't reflect all the hard work I did and the progress I can feel in my body."...

Yes, Mercedes, you are absolutely correct!  That scale number is misleading and Dr. Now is an idiot .  Doesn't he know that MUSCLE weighs more than fat?  You simply put on some good, lean muscle with all that resistance training we saw you do.

[Caoimhe]

10 minutes ago, calpurnia99 said:

Anyway dis is not good sitiashun I agree, she wanted the "weight loss surgery" the magic fix without having to give up food.  The way they carry on about their efforts, I think sometimes they starve themselves for 3 days before the weigh in, thus the small pound loss they may show. If she was taking in 1200 calories  a day, she would have lost more than the 80 pounds in a munt, we have seen a 769 pound person lose 100 pounds  plus on the controlled diet as well as the very few who have truly stuck to it. She should have lost 200 pounds if she were doing this diet, she would have noticed a difference at 560 pounds but...

Well she did have over 700 pounds of food in her already!  Even at 1200 calories per MEAL (unless she eats 5 or more meals a day) she would still have lost a substantial amount of weight.  She was NOT following the diet and I wonder at the mental dysfunction that allowed her to think she had reached her goal.

[ninjakid]

3 hours ago, SunnyBeBe said:

If TLC is really wanting to produce shows that the viewers WANT to see, why don't they advertise to get some contestants or whatever they call them, to sign up for a show where the patient and their family members ALL SIGN contracts and the enablers, I mean, family members ONLY provide the patient the food that the diet entails.  NO EXCEPTIONS.  It's not up for debate and no matter what the patient says, they get what the diet entails. 24/7 cameras confirm they are complying.   They have this setup for AT LEAST 30 days. 

I'm sure after that, Dr. Now would want to see if the patient can do it for themselves at some point.   But, during the first 30 days, family members guard the door and any house deliveries with pizza, burgers, etc.  is confiscated and tossed in the garbage.  Grocery shopping is done within strict guidelines on and there is no opportunity for cheating.  Apparently, some patients really do need that for a little while, because, if not, I really don't think they have the ability to do on their own.  Of course, maybe, they've tried it and no one wants to sign up.  I do recall one lady who had a niece who moved with her and she managed all of her food.  The patient did great.  

Have they ever had a family member put their foot down and say NOOOO! I'm not getting you that and you're not ordering it either.  Just how upset can they get?  Oh, yeah, it seems that one young man got pretty upset with his daddy before, but, his dad caved in and ordered the pizza for him.  lol 

That was Diana and her family who did that. Essentially, they made a food rehab facility for her. I've been thinking about them a lot these past episodes - Diana's niece made lovely, healthy meals. I wonder if a rehab place like that is feasible. PT staff, tasty food that fits the diets.