My 600 Pound Life?
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Betty Jos boyfriend was a complete lunatic. They probably emotionally abuse each other because I heard her say a few times that he's her caretaker and she wonders if they have anything beyond him just taking care of her. Meaning she says it to him. So no wonder he's scared she'd leave if she lost weight! That'd make anyone crazy who's really in love.
I don't want to sound mean, but Betty Jo seemed a little "slow" if you know what I mean?
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Betty Jos boyfriend was a complete lunatic. They probably emotionally abuse each other because I heard her say a few times that he's her caretaker and she wonders if they have anything beyond him just taking care of her. Meaning she says it to him. So no wonder he's scared she'd leave if she lost weight! That'd make anyone crazy who's really in love.
I don't want to sound mean, but Betty Jo seemed a little "slow" if you know what I mean?
Yeah... Maybe just very mild. But I think she knew what she was doing in manipulating her boyfriend. He seemed slow too honestly.0 -
I'm obsessed with this show. It fascinates me. I'm sure there is some staging for the sake of TV but realistically they didn't get to be 600lbs in the time it took for TLC to shoot the show. Watching their struggles to fight for their lives is inspiring especially when you see them finally "get it" and figure out how to make their weight loss journeys work for themselves.0
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I like watching this show as well as the show "My weight is going to kill me"(something like that), because I feel if they can do it so can I. They are all very heavy and do get surgery to help them but they have to continue to eat and move in order to see results and it motivates me to stay on this journey. I love to watch the follow ups to see how much they have lost and how their lives have changed or if they have returned to their old habits and how that has affected their results.0
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Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.-1 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
I have noticed it, but I do think it can be a component. You have to be through it to know how desperate you are to have some control over your body. Desperate. And angry. ANGRY. So angry you're afraid of what you might do to someone, or yourself - so you JERK yourself into some other state, whether with chemicals, food or whatever. It's frightening. Terrifying. I just can not describe the feeling. There is nothing else like it in the world - thank God.
I was anorexic for years; later I binged. Overeating like that gets you to a "numb" state. Sexual abuse is a very common reason for self-destructive behaviors, specifically ones that directly affect the body, the physical - that thing that was never actually yours. You're going to MAKE it yours - one way or another. Some escape this, sure. But many turn to drugs, alcohol, or food. Even knowing, fully, logically knowing this was the reason didn't stop me (until I really took control). It's like telling someone, "Okay, you're going to stick your hand in a fire, and it's going to hurt a lot, but don't take it out right away." You may even take classes on how to keep your hand in a fire. You may psych yourself up for it. But when that feeling hits, slams into you, bam.
No, I'm not trying to make excuses. Yes, as adults, sexual abuse survivors need to take matters into their own hands. No, I don't condone saying "I know this is the reason but I'm not going to do anything about it" and/or "I know this is the reason, therefore I CAN'T do anything about it."
Nor am I angry or even annoyed when people who can't understand this, well, show that they can't understand this. I rejoice because it means that the person was abused but somehow bypassed this or, better, much, much better, that the person never went through it. And every person who wasn't abused - I feel such joy. More, more, more of these people! I don't care if people don't get it because it means that they didn't have to experience it. All I feel is pure happiness and relief. Because it's proof positive that there are still children in the world who aren't harmed. There are still parents who care. That is huge for me, and puts things in perspective.
And no. I never got to 660 pounds.
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Oh, and no, most sexual abuse survivors don't weigh 660 pounds. Most people, period, don't weigh 660 pounds. As prevalent as overweight and obesity are becoming, that degree of overweight is still, by comparison, rare.0
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
I find this rather offensive. Our basic psychology is so different from one person to another. As a person who was sexually abused, I have met many others, both men and women, whom, without really knowing it, started some form of distrustive behavior. I drank and cut myself because that was the only way I could deal with it. Others ate, not all became obese, mostly due to good genes. Some became violent, some turned to hard drugs. And some can't handle being touched. To day that they use that as an excuse to be fat isn't fair.
Do we all have a personal responsibility to control what goes into our bodies, you bet we do. Unfortuanitly for some of us it's a whole lot harder then others. To have that totally and completely overwhelming feeling that if you don't eat you become angry, you shake, you will literally do anything to get that food, sucks beyond all control. We get to hear things like, well just eat less and move more, or join weight watchers. It's like sending an drug adict to after school councilng then sent back out to the ally where you buy drugs and are expected to just say no. It's a nice idea, and may work for some people, but not for everyone. I have a bleeding heart for these people because I am one of them.0 -
Betti jo was huge before she was assulted, she's been huge her whole life and there didn't appear to me that there was ever a time when she wasn't piling on the pounds. Her rationaliation is a story. Just like when she told dr n that she's been overeating cuz she's been depressed. Another story she tells to get left alone and not badgered for her behavior.
I found it amusing that she thought adding green beans to hamburger helper would accomplish anything meaningful. And that she thinks her supet skinny husband should change how he eats as if he also has a quarter ton of weight to shed.
I Felt like his coming right out and saying he's afraid she'll leave if she loses weight was scripted. It seems like the show has been wanting that angle and this kid is the first person to agree to be fed that line and promote that narrative outright.
He said at dr n's that he just stopped fighting with her about the food (why would there be a fight if he wants her fed as bad as wants to eat?) and then when the dr left the room i heard the husband say to betti joe that she better not bite his head off [if he doesn't buy junk, etc].0 -
I think it's offensive when people excuse contemptable behavior because of some violation, as if that violation predisposes people to behave in contemptable ways. There was a homicide case where the killers sentence was reduced and he was released because he was sexually abused as a child. Apparently the logic is that sexual abuse predisposes victims to have homicidal tendencies.
How do victims of sexual abuse like those implications? I think it's revolting.0 -
Lourdesong wrote: »Betti jo was huge before she was assulted, she's been huge her whole life and there didn't appear to me that there was ever a time when she wasn't piling on the pounds. Her rationaliation is a story. Just like when she told dr n that she's been overeating cuz she's been depressed. Another story she tells to get left alone and not badgered for her behavior.
I found it amusing that she thought adding green beans to hamburger helper would accomplish anything meaningful. And that she thinks her supet skinny husband should change how he eats as if he also has a quarter ton of weight to shed.
I Felt like his coming right out and saying he's afraid she'll leave if she loses weight was scripted. It seems like the show has been wanting that angle and this kid is the first person to agree to be fed that line and promote that narrative outright.
He said at dr n's that he just stopped fighting with her about the food (why would there be a fight if he wants her fed as bad as wants to eat?) and then when the dr left the room i heard the husband say to betti joe that she better not bite his head off [if he doesn't buy junk, etc].
Which shows, what? That she had already learned a general coping mechanism (overeating) and when sexual abuse happened, that's where she turned. This is a surprise?
And yes, many of the people on this show - whether having been abused in the past or not - seem to almost be stuck in an "infantile" state. They are dependent upon others for various reasons, and they reason (and argue) in a childlike way. Some also tend toward being very manipulative (you pointed out the implied threat in the husband not buying the "bad" food) which, again, is a learned behavior. This can mean a lot of things, but generally, a person who's stuck at a certain developmental level emotionally often got stuck there for a reason.
Once again: this is a reason, not an excuse. Yes, these people - all of them, pretty much, no matter what their pasts - need emotional help as well as physical. I have seen a couple of episodes where the person went into therapy. I think that it would be a great idea for the majority of the people on this show to look into that sort of arrangement, because for most of them, just as, I suspect, a good few of us here, physical hunger was never really the problem.
But none of what you pointed out is any sort of proof that sexual abuse and overeating (or another self-destructive and compulsive behavior) don't have a link, sorry. Indeed, although I don't know whether this was the case in the particular person you're referencing (don't remember the episode), where there's sexual abuse, often (not always) there has already been a very, very, very dysfunctional situation. The overwhelming majority of sexual abuse is perpetrated by either a family member or a close family friend, the larger chunk of that segment being the former. Children don't usually (I won't say always, that would be silly) lead 100% happy lives with loving, sensible parents and then have one of those parents suddenly decide one day, "Hey! You know what I think I'll do? Rape my daughter."
Sorry to be blunt.
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I never said it was ok. I said that everyone deals with it differently. You obviously know wayyyy more about the psychology behind the morbidly obese then I do so I'm going to bow out of this conversation.0
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Lourdesong wrote: »Betti jo was huge before she was assulted, she's been huge her whole life and there didn't appear to me that there was ever a time when she wasn't piling on the pounds. Her rationaliation is a story. Just like when she told dr n that she's been overeating cuz she's been depressed. Another story she tells to get left alone and not badgered for her behavior.
I found it amusing that she thought adding green beans to hamburger helper would accomplish anything meaningful. And that she thinks her supet skinny husband should change how he eats as if he also has a quarter ton of weight to shed.
I Felt like his coming right out and saying he's afraid she'll leave if she loses weight was scripted. It seems like the show has been wanting that angle and this kid is the first person to agree to be fed that line and promote that narrative outright.
He said at dr n's that he just stopped fighting with her about the food (why would there be a fight if he wants her fed as bad as wants to eat?) and then when the dr left the room i heard the husband say to betti joe that she better not bite his head off [if he doesn't buy junk, etc].
Which shows, what? That she had already learned a general coping mechanism (overeating) and when sexual abuse happened, that's where she turned. This is a surprise?
And yes, many of the people on this show - whether having been abused in the past or not - seem to almost be stuck in an "infantile" state. They are dependent upon others for various reasons, and they reason (and argue) in a childlike way. Some also tend toward being very manipulative (you pointed out the implied threat in the husband not buying the "bad" food) which, again, is a learned behavior. This can mean a lot of things, but generally, a person who's stuck at a certain developmental level emotionally often got stuck there for a reason.
Once again: this is a reason, not an excuse. Yes, these people - all of them, pretty much, no matter what their pasts - need emotional help as well as physical. I have seen a couple of episodes where the person went into therapy. I think that would be a great idea for the majority of the people on this show to look into that sort of arrangement, because for most of them, just as, I suspect, a good few of us here, physical hunger was never really the problem.
But none of what you pointed out is any sort of proof that sexual abuse and overeating don't have a link, sorry. Indeed, although I don't know whether this was the case in the particular person you're referencing (don't remember the episode), where there's sexual abuse, there has already been a very, very, very dysfunctional situation. The overwhelming majority of sexual abuse is perpetrated by either a family member or a close family friend, the larger chunk of that segment being the former. Children don't usually (I won't say always, that would be silly) lead 100% happy lives with loving, sensible parents and then have one of those parents suddenly decide one day, "Hey! You know what I think I'll do? Rape my daughter."
Sorry to be blunt.
I see this in just about every episode, with the exception of maybe Amber.
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Not to butt into this fun rape derail (sarcasm), but I watched Angel's episode today and was happy to see a woman with drive to succeed as well as a supportive boyfriend. Most of these women are married to/living with men who seem to fetishize and prefer an immobile woman. example: Bettie Jo's husband, as well as Melissa's (first season) and I think Zsalynn had one as well.0
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i watch it and it makes me to keep trying because i don't want to end up that big.. i have contemplated weight loss surgery and have given myself a time frame. alot of enabling going on in the show. family and friends have to be on board. my biggest issues are the ones who want this and say this is my last chance and then won't do what the dr says and whine about how hard it is.. yes it's hard.. i struggle every single day...0
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MYhealthyjourney70 wrote: »i watch it and it makes me to keep trying because i don't want to end up that big.. i have contemplated weight loss surgery and have given myself a time frame. alot of enabling going on in the show. family and friends have to be on board. my biggest issues are the ones who want this and say this is my last chance and then won't do what the dr says and whine about how hard it is.. yes it's hard.. i struggle every single day...
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It's not my job to prove there is not a link. The claim which isn't my claim is there is causal connection between 2 events that appear unrelated.Lourdesong wrote: »Betti jo was huge before she was assulted, she's been huge her whole life and there didn't appear to me that there was ever a time when she wasn't piling on the pounds. Her rationaliation is a story. Just like when she told dr n that she's been overeating cuz she's been depressed. Another story she tells to get left alone and not badgered for her behavior.
I found it amusing that she thought adding green beans to hamburger helper would accomplish anything meaningful. And that she thinks her supet skinny husband should change how he eats as if he also has a quarter ton of weight to shed.
I Felt like his coming right out and saying he's afraid she'll leave if she loses weight was scripted. It seems like the show has been wanting that angle and this kid is the first person to agree to be fed that line and promote that narrative outright.
He said at dr n's that he just stopped fighting with her about the food (why would there be a fight if he wants her fed as bad as wants to eat?) and then when the dr left the room i heard the husband say to betti joe that she better not bite his head off [if he doesn't buy junk, etc].
Which shows, what? That she had already learned a general coping mechanism (overeating) and when sexual abuse happened, that's where she turned. This is a surprise?
And yes, many of the people on this show - whether having been abused in the past or not - seem to almost be stuck in an "infantile" state. They are dependent upon others for various reasons, and they reason (and argue) in a childlike way. Some also tend toward being very manipulative (you pointed out the implied threat in the husband not buying the "bad" food) which, again, is a learned behavior. This can mean a lot of things, but generally, a person who's stuck at a certain developmental level emotionally often got stuck there for a reason.
Once again: this is a reason, not an excuse. Yes, these people - all of them, pretty much, no matter what their pasts - need emotional help as well as physical. I have seen a couple of episodes where the person went into therapy. I think that it would be a great idea for the majority of the people on this show to look into that sort of arrangement, because for most of them, just as, I suspect, a good few of us here, physical hunger was never really the problem.
But none of what you pointed out is any sort of proof that sexual abuse and overeating (or another self-destructive and compulsive behavior) don't have a link, sorry. Indeed, although I don't know whether this was the case in the particular person you're referencing (don't remember the episode), where there's sexual abuse, often (not always) there has already been a very, very, very dysfunctional situation. The overwhelming majority of sexual abuse is perpetrated by either a family member or a close family friend, the larger chunk of that segment being the former. Children don't usually (I won't say always, that would be silly) lead 100% happy lives with loving, sensible parents and then have one of those parents suddenly decide one day, "Hey! You know what I think I'll do? Rape my daughter."
Sorry to be blunt.
She was fat and getting bigger when she was aasaulted but she thinks fat is protective? Apparently it's not. Sounds like a rationalization linking 2 things that have no causal relation.
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I watch the show every week and it truly is a motivator for me. (Besides, it makes me cry, laugh, yell and watch the win for those who do. I would feel awful if one died and they easily could do so.)
E. 0 -
My best friend was on a TLC reality health show. She said sooooo many things were staged. So the question about My 600 Pound Life is, "What here is real and what is made up by the producers to make a 'better' show?"
I'm sure some of the drama is induced but you can't fake 600 pounds and how the person got there. I doubt the enabling part of the show is faked (maybe dramatized) but again you can't fake 600 pounds and the person got there and maintained it with some help.
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
So none of your friends who have been abused have any emotional or behavioral issues as a consequence? That's pretty amazing to me.
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
So none of your friends who have been abused have any emotional or behavioral issues as a consequence? That's pretty amazing to me.
I know, right? What were the odds.
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happyfeetrebel1 wrote: »Now I'm curious, is there somewhere I can watch this without having cable? Having been morbidly obese, seeing others' reactions to it is interesting to me...not in a freak show way, but in a 'this was my life' way...
shoot, my gym has tlc on 24/7 and it seems thats the only show TLC plays LOLOL
that and the wedding dress one
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SnuggleSmacks wrote: »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.
I agree. (Bonus points for use of "schadenfreude.")
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tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
So none of your friends who have been abused have any emotional or behavioral issues as a consequence? That's pretty amazing to me.
I know, right? What were the odds.
I was just noticing that there are plenty of Intervention reruns on as well...0 -
I don't think it's healthy to play armchair therapist generally, and certainly not for people you've never met or interacted with. You've been given a small peek into the lives of some very sick, troubled people. Maybe judge them a little less and have a little compassion for their plight regardless of how they got there.tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.0 -
tracyannk28 wrote: »Have ya'll noticed that a lot of these women are blaming their weight on prior sexual assult/sexual abuse/child molestation?
I get a little irratated when I hear that because (sadly) I know victims of these awful things and none of them weigh 650 pounds...I feel like they're using it as an excuse and I find it offensive.
So none of your friends who have been abused have any emotional or behavioral issues as a consequence? That's pretty amazing to me.
I know, right? What were the odds.
I was just noticing that there are plenty of Intervention reruns on as well...
Oh my God, now that one I can't even watch. At all. It's 99.9% pain, suffering, screaming, messed family dynamics, children sobbing and begging their parents to come back to them and not to die and graphic visuals of shooting up...and .1% of "Okay. I'll do it. For you," 13 seconds of "I've been clean now since I've been in the center and feel GREAT!" and then a four-second written blurb of "Mark stayed sober for six months. He has since relapsed."
That show makes ME want to shoot up.
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Intervention and 600 lb life are mirrors of each other. Nobody would ever say those on inhervention are using their sexual abuse as an excuse yet 80% of those folks have abuse history. That type of obesity is not the result of just shear laziness alone. It is not.0
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I just discovered this show last week.0
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I like it so far.0
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Intervention and 600 lb life are mirrors of each other. Nobody would ever say those on inhervention are using their sexual abuse as an excuse yet 80% of those folks have abuse history. That type of obesity is not the result of just shear laziness alone. It is not.
I noticed that Comcast has a bunch of seasons of Intervention on demand now, and I've been watching them while I'm off work sick. One I watched yesterday had 2 sisters who were molested as children. One grew up to be a heroin addict, and the other grew up to be morbidly obese. Both still had serious psychological issues due to the molestation. I doubt it's a coincidence.0
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