Question:
Did anyone watch that 'Half Ton Man' special on Discovery Health?
Did anyone watch this last night? I am so aggrivated by it, I just might write to them. I'm kindof wondering what other's think of the show? I really thought that it gave WLS a really bad name. I mean they show him eating whatever he wants incl. fried chicken and potato chips. Then they have the doctor saying that he is concerned that the guy will gain all of his weight back. I also found it disturbing that they focused on the genetics aspect of obesity and disregarded the enironment factor. They didn't show him going to a nutritionist at all, which I'm sure is part of his weight management plan. I just thought they portrayed it in a really negative way....aargh! Thanks for letting me vent.... — amysocko (posted on June 14, 2007)
June 13, 2007
WOW, I did not see that, but I will watch out for it, I'm sure they will
have it on again. A friend of mine was telling me about a show that
followed a woman who had the surgery who started at maybe 500+ pounds &
from what she explained, it also gave WLS a bad wrap. She said the woman
had some problems getting plastic surgery to fix her body after loosing so
much weight.
I will look out for this show you are talking about & watch it. if
that man was eating fried chicken & potato chips, chances ARE that he
will gain weight back. Doesn't seem he is using the tool of WLS very well.
He opted to have it, he & all of us must follow diet restrictions
forever!
— [Deactivated Member]
June 13, 2007
Yes I agree! He just kinda ate what he wanted and him and his wife
definately weren't educated about proper eating. Did you see his wife
making him several eggs and not even knowing how many calories it had after
surgery.
I just thought he was a jerk! And I'm sorry that blaming genetics isn't
helping him it's hurting him. Then the people interviewing him was asking
his wife how much he actually ate and he piped in started blaming it again
on genetics.
Yes, genetics do play a factor but not 100%. Evirnonmental factors and not
exercising will make you weigh a ton.
— Julie H.
June 13, 2007
just an fyi, every monday at 9pm on TLC (the learning channel), there's a
show called "big medicine". it follows a father/son praxtice that
specializes in bariatrics. It very informational and follows the patients
post surgery, even show the plastics side of it. check it out.
— crys76
June 14, 2007
The "half ton" man's name is Patrick Deuel, and there's plenty of
information about him on the Internet, as he's not shy about publicity
(I've read that he even hopes to become a "motivational
speaker"). The show has been run often and is sure to be on again.
According to newspaper updates, Deuel reached about 400 pounds at his
lowest point (after his panniculectomy), and has put on some weight since
then, as he continues, as he has said openly, to eat what he likes. He's
also continued to smoke. On the one hand, I'm glad that weight-loss
surgery is getting so much attention from Discovery, Discovery Health, and
the Learning Channel, because the word gets out to those obese people who
need to hear it; on the other hand, the sensationalistic approach these
shows take feeds the scorn of the many people out there who see this as a
giveaway surgery for lazy fat folk looking for a quick fix. I'm
disappointed, for instance, to see "Big Medicine" focus on
plastic surgery in every episode. Casual viewers would be justified in
concluding that weight-loss surgery is just the first half of a very
expensive cosmetic makeover designed to make pretty but too-plump young
women into "eye candy." If the focus were more on the struggle
of young Mr. Mata and his painstakingly slow journey to mobility and
independence, the show would be far more valuable. But it would also be
less marketable in this era of "reality" TV.
— Virginia N.
June 14, 2007
Bad rap or not for WLS. As those who have gone on the journey it is a
CHOICE that we each have to make. No matter the amount of programs out
there that are for or against the WLS when you have been overweight your
entire life and tried to lose weight to get and stay health and failed you
know that the things that you need to do to be successful on WLS are not
serious issues. I researched WLS and tried and failed again and lost and
gained plus as usual before I knew that it was going to save my life in the
end. I then had to fight the insurance company for 4 years which was an
issue all its own. The day of surgery I weighed 292/155 and working on
losing another 15 lbs. at 2 years out. It hasn't been a piece of cake but
now all the changes I have made don't seem hard at all. It was the choice
that was right for me and that is basically it. No one forced anyone to
put food in our mouths. A person has to take responsibility for that and
do what needs to be done or not done. I CHOSE WLS IT DIDN'T CHOOSE ME.
— 1968 Loser
June 14, 2007
Well just want to throw my 2 cents in. I had WLS, and yes I have eaten
fried chicken--and potato chips. I don't eat them all the time but I do
eat it occassionally. On a normal day I try to eat healthy but it would
not be fair to cut out bad foods entirely. Why are we so quick to bash
people for eating the wrong foods? Shouldn't we feel sorry for them? Do
we not remember the struggles we personally went through and how HARD it
was?
— GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS
June 15, 2007
I had lapband, and still pretty much eat what I want. It's just that what
I WANT to eat has changed so dramatically since a year ago! I now
habitually go for the healthy stuff knowing there's only so much room in
there and don't want to waste the space on empty calories! My tool has
changed my life so dramatically! i wish they'd do a reality show on how
great this new lifestyle can be! I'm enjoying being able to run (yes RUN)
up and down steps again! Sometimes I do it just because I CAN! How great
is that?! Forget the TV! Just keep working at it and make it a part of
your life. All of us who are living the lifestyle are the BEST
advertisement for this procedure. And, yes, I've had a piece of fried
chicken and some chips too now and then, only now, the skin comes off the
chicken (because it just won't go down anyway) and the chips amount to
about 3 or 4! What a difference! And yet, I never feel deprived! I
still can't get over it!
— Debra R.
June 15, 2007
I like the show. It reminded me of the trials and tribulations I faced as I
started this journey. It also reinforced the fact that this is not a quick
fix. It's still a tool. in this case the tool is in the hands of someone
ill equiped to use it. Don't blame the reality of the situation with how we
know it can be,
— Harry King
June 15, 2007
I saw "Half Ton Man" too and even posted about it in my blog,
www.pickletoe.com . One thing that discouraged the heck out of me about the
program was that they seemed to keep showing people who gained weight back,
or who stopped losing weight, or who the doctor thought WOULD do either of
these. It was a negative bias, I thought. Plus, the whole program wasn't
about the half ton man, but about many people. The preceding program,
"Jackie's Story, The 627 Pound Woman" was EXCELLENT! Has anybody
seen it?
— [Deactivated Member]
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