Big Medicine - I know I am going to open a can of worms...but.....

Ok I watched big medicine and lets see how can i put this nicely....cause i keep hearing yvonnes voice in my head but i am sorry i have a few things to say.....and yes i will get blasted but you know at this point....i think i have proven myself in the last 5 years that i have been here... and have helped newbies for the last 5 years.....so i think i have earned the right to speak honestly....and if you want to bash me  believe me its not the first time.... and it wont be the last time.... i know that i have been talked about but believe me i know in my heart that i have done my part in helping in the wls community.....so here it goes....

the show is a great show both dr. davis' and mary jo and dr. lomonaco are great at what they do for the weight loss community....they are all outstanding.....

i can not believe the people that were chosen for this special show to get the ratings up..... yes we all have addictions and if we don't deal with the addictions BEFORE and AFTER we will always have problems.... there are several posts on my facebook and i have had several conversations with some of the old timers.... yeah there are people that have addictions to the scale, to Alcohol, to sex, to shopping, to name it....and there is an addiction..... but dont use the weight loss as an excuse.... OMG.... look at Marcus on the show....he has done great.... and is getting married.... he is one person I wish was on OH one that was here to be a great leader....one who could talk about the struggles he has gone through.... and look at him now...he is going to marry Denise (I believe was her name)....I am so happy for him....

I really dont think people should disappear from here yeah we get a new life and have great things going on but who is going to help those that are just starting.... to tell them yeah there are addictions that you have to deal with.... there are mental things you will have to deal with.... the body changing...etc.....

Sorry to the newbies on here you really need to hear the positives also....there are so many people who had the surgery and are so successful....they just move on....

If you want to flame me or bash me go ahead I just had to get out what was on my mind while I was watching.....and yes I did watch it....plus its recorded so I can watch it again....

I have not seen the show yet, I DVR'd it.  But there is nothing I see in your post that would warrant a bashing of you.  We all know the problems you have been through, and you have been honest enough to lay it out here. 

I enjoyed the show because I had not seen the individuals on prior episodes of Big Medicine (assuming they had all been featured before).

I have mixed emotions about tonight's episode.  Yes, we all want to see the "good", but we also all have to realize there is the "bad" and the "ugly" that goes right along with the good.  Based on what I saw tonight, I can say one person has done tremendous, one person found themself in trouble got it straightened out and is now living the dream, one has gone from one end of the spectrum to the other and can only wonder about the fourth because he chose not to participate in the program.

WLS is not all sunshine, rainbows and puppy kisses.  I guess to be fair, the show tonight did show that aspect.  There are the lucky ones that don't have cross addictions, follow all the rules, lose their weight and keep it off successfully.  There are those that do struggle with the "program" and there are those that we will never know.

There is a person who posted on this board right up until the morning of her surgery last fall.  Not a single post since.  Who knows how she's doing?  THAT concerns me.   I think every person who has WLS, regardless of the type, should be posting here regularly.  I know that posting on a regular basis certainly helped me. 

I'm below goal, haven't identified any cross addictions and was eating cookies while watching the show and not feeling guilty about it.   I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

I loved Marc's update.  What an inspiration.  And I was brought to tears when he spoke of his dad's death.  His dad was his whole world the years he was bedridden and now he has lost him.  That could have sent him back to his old habits but hasn't appeared to do so.  I'm so happy for him and his fiance and wish them many years of happiness.

And poor Allen.  Does anyone know how he is doing?  I assume not well since he chose not to participate, but hopefully I am wrong.

Does anyone know the ratings?  I'm pretty sure I heard that they should already know something today.  I think the show definitely needs some improvements, but I think it is an important show and hope that we get to see a third season.

Laura

Laura, I believe that Dr Garth told us at the conference that Alan has cut off all ties with everyone from the show.  He won't talk to him, Mary Jo or the trainer.  I wonder if his mother, who enabled him in the first place has anything to do with it.

That is so sad to me!!  When people get to the point that they are so obese that they are bed-ridden, I think so much more effort/counseling needs to be spent on the caregivers/enablers who are giving them too much and/or the wrong food to eat.  If you can't get out of bed, obviously you are not getting the food yourself!!

Laura

I don't think they should have used Alan if they didn't have an update on him. To me, that was a waste of time. They should have used someone else so we could see what's happened to them.  As far as addictions, I don't think I've replaced my food addiction with anything else LOL - I'm still a carb addict. I don't drink or smoke or take drugs, and I certainly don't have sex (I wish).

But I was happy to see Garth and Dr L on the show, and I hope they are able to do more.

Hey! They changed the opening! My big teal butt wasn't there!!!!

I haven'****ched it yet Debra, but really don't see anything in your post that should get you blasted...

As for me - I'm over 2 years out, lurk and post on various boards and plan to do that from now on.  Personally, it's keeps me connected to both the good and bad of WLS and every once in a while, provides an opportunity to be a blessing to someone who is struggling.  Not to mention that sometimes I need the helping hand too

For me, life is about balance these days.  I'm 1 lb. from goal today and still dropping, even after 2 years.  I (normally) work out and if I have a cross addiction it must be exercise because I feel like a slug when I avoid cardio!

Keep up the posts and opinions - I, for one always read your messages!

Debra, I posted to you on FB and I do understand where you are coming from.  I, however, don't put Big Medicine and OH on the same level.  Just because they are on Big Medicine doesn't necessarily mean they were ever on OH, right?

So many that were here before I was are gone.  I could name several that were my inspiration before and right after surgery.  People leave OH everyday.....for one reason or another.  Some go on and deal with life, others struggle and are ashamed to be here because the sticnkin thinkin never goes way.  Would it be nice to see those that trail the way ABSOLUTELY.

As for Big Medicine last night, I watched but was not totally in agreement on what they were portraying.  I do believe the cross-addictions need to be shared and it is real.  There is a new group here on OH about cross-addictions.....SO MANY WLS patients have crossed over to something else once they lose weight and some of them may never acknowledge they did it.

I after lots of deep thinking KNOW that I have another addiction or two actually since WLS.  One is coffee, I drink it often and use it to replace eating in more instances than necessary.  My step-father brought it to my attention just recently again that he's  noticed I'm trying to not eat by drinking coffee. 

My second cross-addiction is the Internet.  Have any of you considered that the time you spend on OH or other WLS sites and Facebook or My Space?  How many hours a day do you get on an Internet site?  How many of you get updates on your cell phones to keep up?  This to is an addiction for many of us.

My take on what Big Medicine was trying to say is that post-ops deal with addictions, some that could actually kill you IF you don't realize them and learn to deal with it. 

I have stepped away from OH some, I don't have the time or energy some days to be here.  It gets to a point that negativity or whining from the same people day in and day out just bring me down so to avoid me having a negative attitude I step away, and I've even blocked some people.  Not to be mean to them but for my own sanity. 

We all deal with life in our own way, and YES it it tough and challenging BUT we have to deal with it, it isn't going to be happy and fun everyday.  We will have to deal with challenges.....the challenges we face help us grow.  So many are suffering in the current economy, when I consider how grateful many of us are (jobs, homes, families, food, vehicles) it puts the whining in perspective.......for me.  I hope others look at the good they are fortunate to have in their lives.

Very well said Dana!! I've been around a long time too and so many that were here in the beginning of my journey are here no more. I totally understand that though! I had to step away some for my sanity, for my marriage. Let's face it, I was living, eating and breathing OH to the point that Bill didn't want to hear it anymore. I understand now that OH and OH folks and threads were ALL I talked about. I do still feel the need for the friendships and support and sheer inspiration I get from here though and I miss my peeps!! I do get tired of the same old whiners...especially when I have vowed to be more positive in my life! I get sucked in and brought down real easy by others negativity!

I didn'****ch the show, only saw it  afew times when Ramon or Lynne or Tanya were on it anyway. I struggle everyday with a cross addiction that most of you know about. I'm not ashamed of it, it's my burden and I appreciate the support I get from it.

You have always been and will continue to be an inspiration to me and so many others!! i love ya Girl!

Hugz,
Gina L