My 600 Pound Life?

Options
1246737

Replies

  • palwithme
    palwithme Posts: 860 Member
    Options
    What pisses me off about shows like that is the enablers.

    THIS. @jennifershoo. Me too.
  • Indigoblu1
    Indigoblu1 Posts: 127 Member
    Options
    Deanna886 wrote: »
    It scares the hell out of me.....seriously.

    Me too!!!
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,732 Member
    Options
    Nope. To me, shows like this smack of schadenfreude porn. I can't get entertainment out of the misfortunes of others. Plus, reality TV is the worst thing that has ever happened in the history of television.
  • daynes23
    daynes23 Posts: 94 Member
    Options
    I watch every week. Can't get enough. Just like Hoarders and just like Intervention. I don't know why I'm so fascinated with this kind of stuff but it just hits me somewhere that keeps me watching.

    My mother used to think it was terrible that I let my younger brother watch intervention with me. But I bet after countless episodes he knows the dangers of drugs.

    Hoping watching this one will get my dad off his butt and get him losing some poundage. He's not quite a 600 pounder but he's a really big dude. Would hate to see him end up like that.
  • Jolinia
    Jolinia Posts: 846 Member
    Options
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    I saw a show the other night, it might have been a repeat but it's called "My Weight is Killing Me", basically the same as My 600 lb life. Anyway there was a young woman named Tiffany who was totally alone and so so obese and they had to turn her down because she wouldn't have had anyone to help her after surgery. It was one of the saddest things I've seen and I'm still thinking about her.

    I watched this too and feel the same way. I hope they find her a surgeon in her home city, they said they would try.
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Options
    Yeah, I watch, because I find it motivating in a "Scared Straight" kind of way.

    The surgery/bypass stuff is the least interesting aspect of the show, I watch because of the head games and manipulation these people are capable of, the denial, how they keep clean (or don't), how they get their food and how they react to not getting it or having to eat small quantities, their overcoming hurdles and their backsliding and immediately slipping back into lying and justifying themselves, and so on.
    The patients who do overcome (which is most of them) are pretty inspiring, how much their personality changes along with their bodies is really fascinating to me.

    Penny is like my ultimate nightmare of a woman. After I saw her episode, I almost felt like I owed my husband an apology for my own weight problem. I can picture her looking right at me and being like "This could be you, heheheheh" *shudder*

    The new episode that aired with Amber last night was kind of depressing, mainly the part showing her having to travel by plane to Houston. Extra-wide wheelchair breaking beneath her and having to be wheeled across the airport on a luggage cart as if she was cargo. :(

    I don't know if this show is staged or not, but it doesn't feel like it, unlike My Big Fat Fabulous Life. I'm still trying to figure out what that show is supposed to be about (I know, she made a viral dance video and has PCOS, and...???), it seems like they don't have much content or story, and are struggling to make it interesting.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,834 Member
    Options
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Yeah, I watch, because I find it motivating in a "Scared Straight" kind of way.

    The surgery/bypass stuff is the least interesting aspect of the show, I watch because of the head games and manipulation these people are capable of, the denial, how they keep clean (or don't), how they get their food and how they react to not getting it or having to eat small quantities, their overcoming hurdles and their backsliding and immediately slipping back into lying and justifying themselves, and so on.
    The patients who do overcome (which is most of them) are pretty inspiring, how much their personality changes along with their bodies is really fascinating to me.

    Penny is like my ultimate nightmare of a woman. After I saw her episode, I almost felt like I owed my husband an apology for my own weight problem. I can picture her looking right at me and being like "This could be you, heheheheh" *shudder*

    The new episode that aired with Amber last night was kind of depressing, mainly the part showing her having to travel by plane to Houston. Extra-wide wheelchair breaking beneath her and having to be wheeled across the airport on a luggage cart as if she was cargo. :(

    I don't know if this show is staged or not, but it doesn't feel like it, unlike My Big Fat Fabulous Life. I'm still trying to figure out what that show is supposed to be about (I know, she made a viral dance video and has PCOS, and...???), it seems like they don't have much content or story, and are struggling to make it interesting.

    I'm trying to figure that out myself...I know she had to move back home with her parents at 30 years old...so there's that storyline of a grown woman living like a teenager (her mom yelling at her to clean her room). But I had no clue what Honey Boo Boo was about and that was on air for a while!

  • snowflake930
    snowflake930 Posts: 2,188 Member
    Options
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    It makes me sad :'(

    ^This is what I thought when I first saw this thread.

    It makes me wonder about a world that sees this as entertainment. Very sad commentary on what society sees as entertainment, another person being humiliated in front of a television audience.

  • Kekekylene
    Kekekylene Posts: 112 Member
    Options
    I find it can be motivating to watch, until I watched the one last night where the girl was only 23. That pissed me off. To be 650lbs at 23 means her parents allowed her to essentially do and eat what she wanted. That puts the blame on them.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Options
    Jolinia wrote: »
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    I saw a show the other night, it might have been a repeat but it's called "My Weight is Killing Me", basically the same as My 600 lb life. Anyway there was a young woman named Tiffany who was totally alone and so so obese and they had to turn her down because she wouldn't have had anyone to help her after surgery. It was one of the saddest things I've seen and I'm still thinking about her.

    I watched this too and feel the same way. I hope they find her a surgeon in her home city, they said they would try.

    Yeah I wonder as well. Although it didn't sound like that was a good option because her family is one of those with extra calorific food being cooked and served all day long...they showed a bit of footage and *everything* was deep-fried and they literally had an all-day every-day buffet in the house. If my family were like that I would either be her size or dead of anorexia (because I'm contrary like that). I swear I would not have survived even to 18 living there.

  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Options
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Yeah, I watch, because I find it motivating in a "Scared Straight" kind of way.

    The surgery/bypass stuff is the least interesting aspect of the show, I watch because of the head games and manipulation these people are capable of, the denial, how they keep clean (or don't), how they get their food and how they react to not getting it or having to eat small quantities, their overcoming hurdles and their backsliding and immediately slipping back into lying and justifying themselves, and so on.
    The patients who do overcome (which is most of them) are pretty inspiring, how much their personality changes along with their bodies is really fascinating to me.

    Penny is like my ultimate nightmare of a woman. After I saw her episode, I almost felt like I owed my husband an apology for my own weight problem. I can picture her looking right at me and being like "This could be you, heheheheh" *shudder*

    The new episode that aired with Amber last night was kind of depressing, mainly the part showing her having to travel by plane to Houston. Extra-wide wheelchair breaking beneath her and having to be wheeled across the airport on a luggage cart as if she was cargo. :(

    I don't know if this show is staged or not, but it doesn't feel like it, unlike My Big Fat Fabulous Life. I'm still trying to figure out what that show is supposed to be about (I know, she made a viral dance video and has PCOS, and...???), it seems like they don't have much content or story, and are struggling to make it interesting.

    I'm trying to figure that out myself...I know she had to move back home with her parents at 30 years old...so there's that storyline of a grown woman living like a teenager (her mom yelling at her to clean her room). But I had no clue what Honey Boo Boo was about and that was on air for a while!

    I noticed that Whitney claims to the camera in her best social justice warrior tone that she hates that people think that fat people are lazy, and then a good part of her reality show is her parents scolding her about moldy (!) dishes piling up in her room, and her dirty laundry piling up and her filthy car and her uncompleted tasks and so on. This while she doesn't have a job or responsibilities, really. I get it's supposed to be like funny-ha-ha parents on her case like she's a teenager, kind-of-thing, but jeez.

  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,834 Member
    Options
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Yeah, I watch, because I find it motivating in a "Scared Straight" kind of way.

    The surgery/bypass stuff is the least interesting aspect of the show, I watch because of the head games and manipulation these people are capable of, the denial, how they keep clean (or don't), how they get their food and how they react to not getting it or having to eat small quantities, their overcoming hurdles and their backsliding and immediately slipping back into lying and justifying themselves, and so on.
    The patients who do overcome (which is most of them) are pretty inspiring, how much their personality changes along with their bodies is really fascinating to me.

    Penny is like my ultimate nightmare of a woman. After I saw her episode, I almost felt like I owed my husband an apology for my own weight problem. I can picture her looking right at me and being like "This could be you, heheheheh" *shudder*

    The new episode that aired with Amber last night was kind of depressing, mainly the part showing her having to travel by plane to Houston. Extra-wide wheelchair breaking beneath her and having to be wheeled across the airport on a luggage cart as if she was cargo. :(

    I don't know if this show is staged or not, but it doesn't feel like it, unlike My Big Fat Fabulous Life. I'm still trying to figure out what that show is supposed to be about (I know, she made a viral dance video and has PCOS, and...???), it seems like they don't have much content or story, and are struggling to make it interesting.

    I'm trying to figure that out myself...I know she had to move back home with her parents at 30 years old...so there's that storyline of a grown woman living like a teenager (her mom yelling at her to clean her room). But I had no clue what Honey Boo Boo was about and that was on air for a while!

    I noticed that Whitney claims to the camera in her best social justice warrior tone that she hates that people think that fat people are lazy, and then a good part of her reality show is her parents scolding her about moldy (!) dishes piling up in her room, and her dirty laundry piling up and her filthy car and her uncompleted tasks and so on. This while she doesn't have a job or responsibilities, really. I get it's supposed to be like funny-ha-ha parents on her case like she's a teenager, kind-of-thing, but jeez.

    Similar to the participants on "My 600 Pound Life" - where the majority of them almost revert to spoiled child-like behavior in order to manipulate their significant others or parents...and in some cases their children.

    I just realized that many of them are adults who still live with their parents. I wonder if there's a psychological reason for it?
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    Sometimes there does appear to be an overgrown baby-thing going on. Especially mothers of 600 lb adult children, running to feed their helpless 600 pound baby that's crying that it's hungry. It's disturbing.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,834 Member
    Options
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Sometimes there does appear to be an overgrown baby-thing going on. Especially mothers of 600 lb adult children, running to feed their helpless 600 pound baby that's crying that it's hungry. It's disturbing.

    There was one woman...I think her name was Tara...who's mom actually said on camera "when your child says she's hungry you want to feed her" (I'm paraphrasing). And I'm like "dude - your child is 35 years old and weighs over 600 pounds!!"

  • gramarye
    gramarye Posts: 586 Member
    Options
    amber7088 wrote: »
    It motivates me. Just like Hoarders makes me clean my house, 600 lb life makes me want to work out

    It's really insensitive (not to mention IMMENSELY OBLIVIOUS to your own privileges) to use the exploitation of mentally ill and/or unhappy people as motivation. People are not props to be used.
  • Jolinia
    Jolinia Posts: 846 Member
    Options
    gramarye wrote: »
    amber7088 wrote: »
    It motivates me. Just like Hoarders makes me clean my house, 600 lb life makes me want to work out

    It's really insensitive (not to mention IMMENSELY OBLIVIOUS to your own privileges) to use the exploitation of mentally ill and/or unhappy people as motivation. People are not props to be used.

    For some of the 600 pound life stories, I do see where you are coming from. Then there are people like Melissa, who went on to work for the hospital after her surgery and weight loss so she could help other people through it. I hope she wouldn't think that me being inspired and touched by her story is seeing her as a prop for my entertainment.
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Options
    gramarye wrote: »
    amber7088 wrote: »
    It motivates me. Just like Hoarders makes me clean my house, 600 lb life makes me want to work out

    It's really insensitive (not to mention IMMENSELY OBLIVIOUS to your own privileges) to use the exploitation of mentally ill and/or unhappy people as motivation. People are not props to be used.

    You inspire me to take up sanctimonious finger-wagging exercises.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Options
    gramarye wrote: »
    amber7088 wrote: »
    It motivates me. Just like Hoarders makes me clean my house, 600 lb life makes me want to work out

    It's really insensitive (not to mention IMMENSELY OBLIVIOUS to your own privileges) to use the exploitation of mentally ill and/or unhappy people as motivation. People are not props to be used.

    Right, we should never ever try to learn from other people's mistakes. That's just EVIL. I mean, just because I'm unhappy and overeat doesn't mean I have anything at all in common with someone who is more unhappy and overeats more. I guess I will just have to gain weight until I need surgery and then I will have earned the right to see how other people cope with the situation.
  • MindySaysWhaaat
    MindySaysWhaaat Posts: 401 Member
    edited February 2015
    Options
    gramarye wrote: »
    amber7088 wrote: »
    It motivates me. Just like Hoarders makes me clean my house, 600 lb life makes me want to work out

    It's really insensitive (not to mention IMMENSELY OBLIVIOUS to your own privileges) to use the exploitation of mentally ill and/or unhappy people as motivation. People are not props to be used.

    I would read up on the social comparison theory. It's really interesting, and it gives a lot of explanation on why humans tend to look at others and compare themselves. It's not necessarily about being insensitive. It's partially how our minds work.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_comparison_theory
  • softblondechick
    softblondechick Posts: 1,276 Member
    Options
    Lourdesong wrote: »
    Sometimes there does appear to be an overgrown baby-thing going on. Especially mothers of 600 lb adult children, running to feed their helpless 600 pound baby that's crying that it's hungry. It's disturbing.

    Wow! Good insight!

    On Whitney Thore, what disturbs me, I am all about body positive...rah rah...but she is at a danger level. She should consider surgery. And by listening to her parents, part of her problem is the food she eats. And come on, get real. She lives a "pseudo" life...living at home with wealthy parents. Nice car to drive...how about some tough love, show us how easy it is to get a job at 380 pounds...I loved Tara on "My 600 Pound Life", she has a job, supports her family. Impressive. Sure, she does phone dispatch from home for a moving company, but she is employed.