One of the things that helped me to be honest with myself about my weight and obesity was watching My 600 Pound Life on TLC.

The new season started last night and I just finished watching the new episode that I recorded last night.

It was preceded by a compilation episode that I did see last night. Since that one included a segment on Penny I needed to take a break before seeing the new episode.

Some random thoughts:

I thought it was sobering and heart wrenching as usual.

I HATE the obligatory shower scenes. We get the idea. They could spend a lot less time on them or eliminate them entirely and spend time on other aspects of obesity, the surgery process, or the post-surgery segment.

Nikki (I think that was her name) is a beautiful girl with a lot of style. I noticed the drawings on her walls before they revealed she is a costume designer. It was great to see her get her MOJO back.

With a disabled brother and two older sisters, it was obvious to me she was starved for affection and attention.

Dr. Now mentioned when doing the sleeve instead of the bypass something that the sleeve can be just as effective even though the bypass is more aggressive.

Watching this post-sleeve, watching her eat the volumes and types of foods (donuts) she was eating pre-op looked really gross and unappealing. (Thank, God!)

I started at a lower weight than she did and I would never dream of trying to sit on one of those balance balls or on the ground. What a difference being 20 years younger than me makes!

It is heartbreaking how young so many of these patients are who are on this show. Nikki isn't the youngest by far, but she was still really young to have reached over 650 pounds. That is an awful lot of donuts.

It was interesting to see the rate of her weight loss pick up again after she started seeing a therapist and addressing her emotional issues.

I liked the analogy that the therapist used of not being able to look at and address issues until you physically put them down/let them go.

I wanted to slap her sister until they had their talk. I know we only get one side of the story, but to not allow NIKKI to be around her nieces and nephews is outright cruel.

I think her mom has a lot of food issues and is also probably dealing with a lot of stress due to both her son and daughter.

Her dad was sweet if clueless.

I am looking forward to seeing a follow-up on her in a year. I really liked her.

I know it's January and every other advertisement and commercial on TV is about diet or exercise, but still find it jarring to see those commercials on during this show. It just seems so transparent.

Did anyone else watch it? What did you think?

Did anyone watch skin tight last week?

I'm really not impressed with any of these procedures. They just remove skin they make no efforts or bad efforts at body sculpting.

Seeing the complications afterward is educational.

I watched. They must be getting the surgery for free...the Hispanic woman was from NYC and had Dr. Now do her surgery down in Houston. Makes no sense to go out of town..or to go to him. He's not a plastic surgeon and it showed. Though with all that loose skin the first woman had, I'd just want it gone as well. All that skin must have been horrible to carry around.

I love that show! It motivates me and makes me remember all the emotions I've gone through so I don't forget where I started 3 years out VSG

Instagram: smallbird_vsg

I watched and found the results depressing or I need to lower my expectations of what plastic surgery can do.

I watched and found the results depressing or I need to lower my expectations of what plastic surgery can do.

Go into @ JamieLogical 's profile and see her plastic surgery results. Impressive. And she had it done in Mexico.

You are right @Babbs. She does look great! That gives me hope! Can't wait until dr gives ok to start researching it! I am obsessed with getting my arms done this year if nothing else!

You are right @Babbs. She does look great! That gives me hope! Can't wait until dr gives ok to start researching it! I am obsessed with getting my arms done this year if nothing else!

I beleive she had a tummy tuck and boobs done. But her tummy tuck is one of the best I've seen! I know that Cowgirl Jane has had her arms done, too. So yeah, there is definitely hope for good plastics. I just think much research on the surgeon ahead of time is the key.

I watched and found the results depressing or I need to lower my expectations of what plastic surgery can do.

Dr Now is not a plastic surgeon and he is old. The other 2 doctors are just not very skilled. Every outcome on this show so far has been sub par.

There are lots of good doctors, many of the skilled affordable ones are out of the US. Start researching on Real Self. The good doctors are already booked until 2017.

Edited January 19, 201610 yr by OutsideMatchInside

i have watched this show from day 1 ... and find it a somewhat honest showing of what it is like inside the mind and life of an obese person ... especially the parts we like to hide from everyone ...

In Nikki's episode ... I wanted to SLAP her sister silly ... when they were having their talk on the bed ... I could tell right away the sister wanted no part of her STILL .... and didn't even really want to hug her ... did anyone else notice the sister's arm slumped down at her side rather than AROUND Nikki ?!

And her lame excuse for why she didn't want to get close to Nikki or remain in contact? "I was afraid I'd lose you" ... OK AND ?!?!?! IF we all used that excuse for keeping away from someone ... the world would end.

Geesh woman ... quit being so freaking selfish and realize that Nikki may NEED you ... had you been there for her all those years ... MAYBE she wouldn't have ended up so self indulgent and MAYBE she wouldn't have needed surgery to fix it ...

Ugh.

i have watched this show from day 1 ... and find it a somewhat honest showing of what it is like inside the mind and life of an obese person ... especially the parts we like to hide from everyone ...

In Nikki's episode ... I wanted to SLAP her sister silly ... when they were having their talk on the bed ... I could tell right away the sister wanted no part of her STILL .... and didn't even really want to hug her ... did anyone else notice the sister's arm slumped down at her side rather than AROUND Nikki ?!

And her lame excuse for why she didn't want to get close to Nikki or remain in contact? "I was afraid I'd lose you" ... OK AND ?!?!?! IF we all used that excuse for keeping away from someone ... the world would end.

Geesh woman ... quit being so freaking selfish and realize that Nikki may NEED you ... had you been there for her all those years ... MAYBE she wouldn't have ended up so self indulgent and MAYBE she wouldn't have needed surgery to fix it ...

Ugh.

This is likely the family dynamic...and a big reason why she got so heavy in the first place. Some of us just like to eat but most of us have issues that just manifest themselves in overeating. Our addiction is just more noticeable and unfortunately less acceptable than others.

Okay tonight's episode with Chad:

Did anyone else get annoyed with Dr Now for getting mad at Chad for not wanting to take TWO HUNDRED DOLLAR A MONTH MEDICATION??

I mean, really? I wouldn't take it, either! I'm sorry!

can't watch it until I get home from work tonight, what was the medication for? @@Babbs

I missed that part. Just turned it on during Skin Tight to learn that both patients did it "the hard way - good old fashioned diet and exercise on their own..." Really? This is a show about WLS?! Ok, I know I said I wasn't going to watch anymore but what can I say - I am a liar.

And PS - when I finally get this surgery, PLEASE FOR Goodness sake, Do NOT bring me the big tub of removed skin for me to look at while I am holding a vomit bag in my hand! Blech!

@@Daveo

That's what was odd to me. He had a bypass, and it seems it was to keep the swelling down in the opening in his pouch? So because he wasn't taking it, he couldn't keep anything down and Dr Now had to go in and widen the opening. My husband had a bypass, and I don't remember him taking any medication for that? Of course, his was almost 10 years ago, so maybe I don't remember?

@@Daveo

That's what was odd to me. He had a bypass, and it seems it was to keep the swelling down in the opening in his pouch? So because he wasn't taking it, he couldn't keep anything down and Dr Now had to go in and widen the opening. My husband had a bypass, and I don't remember him taking any medication for that? Of course, his was almost 10 years ago, so maybe I don't remember?

Oh interesting, maybe he had some weird issue then.