Does anyone watch this show on the TLC channel? It's on Tuesdays and it shows people who are close or even over 600lbs who undergo wls to save their lives. This last one on the 21st was the story of a 45 year old named Penny who weighed 530lbs. I was so frustrated watching the episode! She was in the hospital for a month and lost 40lbs so the dr agreed to do wls on her and chose the sleeve. He wanted to do the switch eventually. She never lost any weight!! They followed her for a year and she GAINED weight! She had an excuse for everything they asked her to do. She was bed ridden and refused to try to get up and walk!! She never walked the whole year, it ended her weighing 495lbs and still not walking. I just don't understand why you would uproot your life, undergo surgery and then not follow drs orders. I honestly didn't know it was even possible that you could even have that surgery and NOT lose weight! The dr suspected her husband was sneaking her food! She was griping at the nurse that no one told her she was going to be on a diet and expected to lose weight while she was in the hospital! Are you kidding me?? She was in the hospital 4 months after and never lost a pound so the dr gave up. I just don't get it. I guess some people really think wls is a quick fix and you don't have to do anything but wait for the weight to fall off. It was just very frustrating to watch. Anyway, that's the first one I've seen that had a bad outcome. Most of them have been really neat to see how they get the weight off and go on to living life again.

I saw the episode. I could not understand how she was eating all that food. I'm 4 months out and I can't even look at carb. It KILLS my stomach. I had no sympathy for her. Normally I do, but I couldn't muster it up.

I love the show (My 600 Pound Life) -- it's one of the reasons I'm having surgery now -- I never want to let it get HALF that bad!

The Penny episode really p*#sed me off. That woman was living in a magical land far, far away from reality. I'm sure the doctor does the complete psych evals, etc., before the surgery, but from what I understand, this doctor is one of the few who will operate on someone of that size because of the risks. A couple of things that really chapped my hide:

1) When the paramedics came to get her to take her for a follow-up visit (because she couldn't get in a car) she told one of them she thought she had lost about 230 pounds. How far out of this world are you if you think you lost over 200 when in reality you haven't lost a pound. How out of touch with reality are you???

2) When she made the comment about being there more for her son than working mothers, I almost threw the remote through the TV. I've been a working mom to 3 kids for 23 years now and I've been there for my kids all that time. Attending school events and conferences, standing through hundreds of hours of sports events, attending band concerts and football games. How can she think she's being a great mom to her son when she can't get up and fix him a meal or attend his kindergarten graduation???

3) Towards the end of the show, she made a comment that she is sure her son will be proud of how hard she's worked. Get real -- kids are basically self-centered and worry about how everything affects them personally. He'll get to the point that he will be completely embarrassed by his mother's size and how bedridden she is.

Anyway -- it's OBVIOUS I put too much emotional energy into this particular episode and need to focus on some real, important things in life. But, at least ranting about it burned a few calories with my fingers typing so fast and furious!!!

VPAPNYC- I was thinking the SAME thing....HOW IS SHE EATING ALL OF THAT FOOD! I could BARELY take a couple of spoon fulls of anything and she's eating WONTONS>>>WTF?? This surgery is not for the faint of heart! And like Birthsjourney said YOU have to be willing to put the work in for success. Her husband enabled her by cooking tht mess for her!! My husand ask me CAN YOU HAVE THAT?? (thanks babe for caring enough to ask)!!

Totally agree. How could she eat all that? And why would he enable it. He probably liked having her depend on him. My kids are awesome like ur husband. My daughter is my workout monitor to make sure i go everyday amd my son is my food monitor. When i say i want something his reply is "u can have it but is it a good choice?!" Love my kids. She just needed some support staff and for someone to call her out!! Thats just sad.

To keep her dependent on him.a sick relationship

Penny is actually from my hometown. Never met her personally, but I follow her on FB and as of January 2014 (her 10months out from sleeve) she had lost 217lbs so she says.. I also seen this episode and felt the same way as all of you, but after reading her FB posts about the episode I almost wonder if a lot was left out and stung together to make her look bad and unsuccessful. Let's be honest it wouldn't be the first time a reality tv show lied to shake things up.

I had a friend who was an alcoholic - would drink as he was throwing up and crapping himself through all the alcohol.

She had absolutely no place having that surgery without extensive counseling. it is hard to say, but honestly. At that size something is far more wrong than a basal addiction to food, or being a bit lazy or your metabolism is sluggish.

Did not see the episode, I watch very little TV, but is sounds so sad

Well let me start by saying congratulations to those that have succeeded! Let me also take you down a road from Sept 2010 till now. My mother in law who is no longer with us as of Sept 2010 at the age of 59 yrs. She died at around 450lbs. Her average weight was 530lbs or so with a height of 5 foot. One leg was huge and the other not. She didn't leave her house other then by ambulance for over 3 years. She barely could walk to the bathroom. My husband and I would beg her to exercise and walk with our assistance and the depression and anger kept her from trying. It was very very hard watching this whole process since we meet in high school and his mother I felt like was near the same as my mother in some ways. We had already started the lap band and nutritionist process for ourselves before she passed. My husband started at 409lbs and now is at 215lbs banded April 2011. I started at 289lbs and now at 229lbs banded May 2011 after being at 195lbs last Aug 2013 following a band slip gaining fast. It is totally a mind game when a slip happens it's very hard to get back on track. But with all this said it makes me think of how hard it is for those who don't have the fight in them to get past the struggle. RIP Bonnie we love you!

Edited July 12, 201412 yr by Crystalapril11

I love the inspiration from watching my. 600 lb life also. Another series is " Ruby " if you haven't watched check it out on netflix.

Marathon on TLC now! : )

Is it just me or does the Dr's office look like it used to be a car dealership from the outside?

I just watched the one with the woman who keeps changing her hair color. Very hard to watch her going through the drive through, saying she can't find any food to eat that the Dr would approve of and then gaining weight.

But so great to see her turn it around!

There are crazy people in this world who are also selfish, mean, manipulative, greedy, narcissists.

You really cannot fix those folks. They won't let you.

P.S. Knowing what I know about how reality shows are crafted, written, directed, there has to be at least one patient like her on that show for it to be as successful as it is. Audiences want to be outraged and feel self righteous. On that show, her role was to provide that outrage. She was well cast.

Edited July 13, 201412 yr by VSGAnn2014

Is it just me or does the Dr's office look like it used to be a car dealership from the outside? I just watched the one with the woman who keeps changing her hair color. Very hard to watch her going through the drive through, saying she can't find any food to eat that the Dr would approve of and then gaining weight. But so great to see her turn it around!

Paula is a member of one of the Facebook Bariatric forums where I am a member. She looks like she's doing great now. I was worried about her on the show also. She posted yesterday that the marathon was on TLC. That's how I knew it was on lol.

I also seen Christina on one of the Facebook forums. She looks like she's doing great also. If I remember right, she was filming the follow up show. I haven't noticed any posts from her lately. I can't wait for the follow up shows! : )

Is it just me or does the Dr's office look like it used to be a car dealership from the outside? !

Yes it does! LOL

When it shows patients in the lobby, I wonder if any of them will be on the show.

Yes it does! LOL

When it shows patients in the lobby, I wonder if any of them will be on the show.

I keep thinking "oh they are getting a car. Wait, no."