My 600-lb. life (Henry)

You know, as I see the series progressing, I see different issues coming up in each episode. Melissa's was about a lot of the emotional aspects of weight gain and loss. Last week's guy (what was his name???) was about complications and family enabling. Henry's was about how environment can affect weight loss.

I felt bad for him. Temptation was EVERYWHERE. I can't imagine how I'd do if it were always up in my face like that. And I couldn't even get mad at his family. That's how they eat. They don't really know better and one could argue his mom was a bit too old and set in her ways to really change.

But I ilke how he persevered. I was smiling ear to ear at the end of the episode. He got his lady love back, he was maintaining a HUGE loss and he seemed content with himself.

I'm sort of saad the series is ending next week. What did you all think?

Oh...and the plot thickens with that bariatric surgeon. In this episode he did the bypass, scrubbed in on the skin removal, did aftercare for plastics and even marked Henry for his abdominal skin removal surgery. Is he a jack of all trades surgeon or what?

I was thinking the same thing! That's one impressive surgeon!

I was super impressed by his ability to handle the temptation. I know that my family still occasionally does fast food or take out - and it smells sooooooooooooooo good - but I keep eating my chicken or whatever. It was nice to see someone who was definitely surrounded by temptation more and yet made it. I mean, picking up fast food for the family on the way home from the hospital? Wow.

The thing I like best about this series is that it's pretty real. It's learning how much of this requires change in the head, as well as dealing with the emotions and temptations and family and all the expectations that everyone else has for you.

I don't have a TV, so I haven't gotten to see it, although I've heard about it.  Sounds like a very inspiring series.  What channel is it on?  Maybe I can stream the episodes?

I feel blessed that very little temptation is brought into the house and most of what my husband brings I have an aversion to post surgery.  Ground beef and any simple carbs that would be greater than 15 g make me dump, so I've lost any interest in them.  I've also eaten a very healthy diet prior to surgery so it's second nature.

I have a friend who was raised on a German-American diet and she has huge struggles combatting the diet she was raised on.  She's going it with diet alone, so we swap recipes and encouragement often.

I also don't have TV and would love to watch them.  Any idea if this is available somehow on line??

Andrea.

I am glad that the program shows that even with the surgery people struggle.  If they don't work the tool they gain weight. 

This one really did a great job with himself. He is an inspiration, and I hope others will be inspired too. His surgeon was exceptionally dedicated. He really helped keep things moving along with his patient.
Do you remember the show on TLC called "Big Medicine"? I liked the fact they had a psychologist follow the patients all the way, pre-op, hospital, and then follow up. Karen

Enhhh...the show was ok. They didn't tend to feature people who struggled and you got an either/or view. You either saw a newbie OR someone further out getting plastics. Show me people in between points A and B!

I will say, though, I've met Dr. Garth a few times and he is SO cute in person!

Nik, Well the best one so far for me has been Melissa's story. As far as hot lookin docs, Dr. Gupta is my fave. he's the real deal! I met him at University of Michigans graduation of MD's a few years ago. Karen

Hey Nik I love this show, and I really felt Henry pain, because alot of us are around these food temptations everyday! Some of Our families eat like this as a everyday event! I mean there is no holiday, parties, or any special event without some greasy fattening foods around you! I was so scared when his heart had stopped, but his surgeon was outstanding, especially doing his plastics and all! I missed last weeks, but I did see the episode with Melissa, and all of her emotional problems around her, but she also turned out looking good and in good health! I love this show very informal! I am wondering do they have the episode I missed on Demand?

And you know I'm just going to come out and expose the white elephant too.

It's hard for all sorts of people to lose weight around family members who eat unhealthfully but it is ESPECIALLY hard for black folks. Soul food is intrinsically linked to our history, it's tied to slavery and disempowerment at the same time as solidarity and truth. To reject soul food, to many black elders is akin to racial self-hatred. So when food is that tied up in cultural identity it's REALLY hard when you choose not to eat it.

I know I've been called "bougie" more times in the last four years for refusing food than I've been called that my entire life.

That's also what Henry's story amplified to me. The particular challenges of post-op African-Americans.