Question:
Did anyone see Dr. Phil yesterday on TV
I always liked watching Dr. Phil and had alot of respect for him until yesterday. He was speaking about Gastric Bypass patients and how we took the easy way out! He was praising a woman who read his book and then lost 90 lbs. so far. I only tuned in the last 3 minutes of it, but I was so angry at what I heard, he had a gastric bypass patient sitting next to him, who seemed as angry as I did, and told him what she thought about his comment.....Just wanted to let off some steam......I can't get his comment out of my mind.I too have lost 90 lbs. and if I thought that I could have done it another way I would have...we certainly did not take the easy way out...for some of us it was the only way out. — jane O. (posted on November 15, 2003)
November 15, 2003
stopped watching dr. phil when he came out with his own system for weight
loss.
— mary P.
November 15, 2003
Ok folks, I tried awfully hard not to post an answer to this question.
Being the delicate flower of a southern belle that I am (HA!) I just hate
to show my temper but.........it's just got to be said. Dr. Phil is the
biggest idiot in the history of the world!!! Now that I've said that, let
me clarify. He's actually not an idiot. He's quite intelligent though
grossly uninformed. I used to enjoy watching him until many months ago I
heard him say "You don't need some program to lose weight. You don't
need surgery, you don't need to go to Weight Watchers, you don't need any
of that. You just need to look inside yourself and see what's wrong and
fix it. Then you can love yourself and you will lose weight." Mmm
hmm. *long pause followed by a sigh* If that were true - AND IT ISN'T -
then why has good ole Dr. Phil jumped on the money making bandwagon and
developed a "program" to help people lose weight? I thought all
we had to do was love ourselves. Well, rather than get so upset that I
have to take blood pressure medication I've decided to look at it like
this. Dr. Phil has never been obese. He has never walked one day of his
life in our shoes. His advice is rooted in information he received from
books - not from real people. Part of his popularity is the fact that he's
controversial. He's laughing all the way to the bank. Seriously folks, my
advice would be to stop watching him completely. Ask your friends and
family to stop watching him. If you need to blow off some steam and write
a letter - write it to your local station that carries his show and ask
your friends to do the same. Sooner or later he'll get the message when
stations stop carrying his show. My primary concern from all of this is
that some person who deserpately needs surgical intervention, as we all
did, will not seek it because Dr. Phil, in his infinite widsom advised
against it. That person may die. In fact, many may die. I have made
light of this and joked about it to a degree but the reality is (as
histrionic and dramatic as it sounds) I believe people are dying soley
because of this man. They are desperate, hopeless individuals in the grip
of obesity and they will not seek valid treatment because some televsion
psychologist who evidently can't get a real job told them they were taking
the easy way out. It's heartbreaking really. You know there are over
100,000 of us on this site. We could make a difference if we wrote letters
and spoke out against him. I'm going to do it......I challenge you to do
it too. Best wishes to all!
— ronascott
November 15, 2003
I'm with you Diane! I respected and thought highly of Dr Phil till he has
undermined all obese persons! We all know gastric bypass is not for
everyone and had I been scared as the one on his show that loss 90 pounds
without surgery...I wouldn't have had it either. But, I was positive and so
was my Dr's that I needed this procedure....9 months later and 105 pounds
loss with 10 pounds to go to goal and no meds as I was taking (5) pre
op....Dr Phil can kiss my not so fat "Butt"!
Maybe all the obese and overweight should try his products he has his
name/pic on. He's just like all the rest...He's out for the almighty
dollar! By the way...He should practice what he preaches and loose a few
pounds too! He thinks he knows it all.....Good thing he didn't have someone
like me one there yesterday! lol This surgery is great for those willing
and positive to make the lifestyle change for life. It's not a given it
will work without work and effort on our part and eating healthy to which
I'm 100% into for life. Hope he has that woman back in another year to see
how much she has gained back plus.
— Hazel S.
November 15, 2003
Warning- I'm stepping up on a soap box lol..ONe thing to keep in mind
about Dr. Phil and his ignorance is that he is a Dr. to heal our minds- not
our bodies, therefore he is one clueless FOOL when it comes to medical
advice to the obese or anyone else for that matter. Think of all of those
posties that no longer have to take meds for high blood pressure and other
life threatening ailments, and those folks that couldn't hardly get out of
bed, if they did at all. Where would these people be now if they listened
to Dr. Phil and decided not to have the surgery- how many of us would have
been more ill- or even dead if we didn't have this surgery! I beleive the
old doc should stick to his area of expertise and leave the rest of our
body to the Real Professionals! On another note- he claims to have lost 90
lbs, himself- obviously Dr. phil would not possibly understand the
necessity for wls- since he WAS able to lose weight the conventional way-
Little does he know how many diets obese people are constantly trying with
little success and that sometimes weight gain isn't Always due to an
emotional issue and a choice to be overweight- it can be due to a persons
physical make up and genetics- My entire family is proof of the "fat
gene" The emotional issues are an effect of obesity- not the cause!
Did any of us WANT to be obese and risk having serious health problems?
Well that's what the doc believes- He thinks obese people are obese because
they choose to live that way!!! How ridiculous is that? I wonder if Dr.
Phil is bald and ugly because he made a choice to live that way???? Ok- I
think I'm done venting now. Smile!!!!
— lyndaleigh
November 15, 2003
Dr. Phil is out to make money, he cant make money off of surgery, so he has
to have a book and all that from his line of work, Emotional obesity, And
this surgery is NOT and I REPEAT IS NOT THE EASY WAY OUT!!! This journey
has not been FUN! Yes I'm losing wieght, my blood pressure is down, But I
miss my mammas home cooked meals, or grabbing whatever I want whenever I
want, EASY, I DON"T THINK SO! Dr. Phil is out for MONEY< what an
easy way to make it! I spent lots and lots of money on evry kind of wieght
loss gimmicks, FAT is a billion dollars plus business! Shame on those who
profit from others pain! Shame on you Dr. Phil for putting down those of us
who chose this way to try and make our lives better! No way of losing
wieght should be put down if the person is trying to better themselves!
Hats Off and Praises to those on this journey, God Bless ya'll!!
— blank first name B.
November 15, 2003
Yea, it ticked me off last night. It also made my family mad. They know how
hard I have worked, going to the gym at 5AM and turning down the food that
I fix for them. They also know that I did research and pondered on my
decission for over a year. And I hate to be cynical, but the guest who lost
weight on her own will, in all probability, gain it back and then some.
— Tawnda C.
November 15, 2003
I heard one of my favorite radio talk show hosts say recently that Dr. Phil
was arrogant and mean spirited in person (they were on his show, and he
cussed them out off the set). Now... that being said, I think Dr. Phil
would be a nobody without Oprah as his crutch. I am with the other
posters, he opens his mouth and ignorance comes out. When I saw his line
of products in the stores I remembered his comments about throwing out the
twinkies and pushing back from the table, and I could not possibly take him
seriously. The fact that I think he's an arrogant boob makes no
difference. Time will speak for itself with his comments about surgery.
There are those that are successful with losing and keeping weight off the
conventional way, but it's less than 5% of the obese population. Get a
reality check Dr. Phil!
— Happy I.
November 15, 2003
I have never entertained Dr. Phil because he is a foolish man trying to be
the next Phil Donahue. I think he is advocating denial. I will admit, the
first time I was approached by a woman who had WLS, I thought she was a
lunatic for having it done & #2 for suggesting I should do the same. I
had to "dig deep within myself" and confess to God that I had a
problem and needed help & WLS is the tool to a happier, healthier way
of life.
The funny thing about Dr. Phil is that he will soon fizzle out.
— Shayla527
November 15, 2003
I agree with Jane....by the way he's a QUACK!! Just my 2 cents...Ruschell
Dawson
— Ruschell
November 15, 2003
Dr. Phil Dr. Phil, not until today have I gotten to really say what I think
about that arrogant, all about tough love, crazy man, who by the way, must
think his wife has nothing better to do than walk him off stage!! I'm a
psychology major, and of course either you love him or you hate him, I by
the way hate him. He thinks that you always use tough love no matter
what(children, adults, elderly, animals, etc.)That is soooooooo the wrong
answer, granted this is a form of therapy that works very well under
certain circumstanced...but not all the time, he has went overboard! He is
never wrong, and nothing can ever be said to him differently than his own
opinion! Before he ever even started this big weight loss, look within
yourself hoopla I didn't like him, and I definetly don't like him now. My
friend Amy loves him...and was telling me how he is was all against
surgery, and was telling this lady a year ago she was doing it for the
wrong reasons. This was even before I was considering it. Well I agree
that when you talk with someone for a period of time the
psychiatrist/psychologist knows whether they are doing this for the right
reasons, that is the point of the psyc evaluation but Dr. Phil just had met
this lady, and doesn't have all the facts or her medical history! All
these people he has on this show, no offense to them, I hope they do great,
but will most likely gain their weight back, just like every other diet,
b/c unless Dr Phil is eleviating their problems of emotional eating, which
by the way, not everyone has, he is telling them to eat healthy and
exercise..and look in themselves and find out what is wrong...which are all
the things we have to do with this surgery to succeed, this is just a sure
way to do it, if we do it the correct way. Haven't we tried those skills
in every diet without a therapist? Dr. Phil and his tough love is bologna!
I say...we all get together go on the show after our weight loss, and see
what he has to say to us, he can't battle us all..I'll tell you that right
now!!!!
— Mandy K.
November 15, 2003
He's clueless! I got so mad when he and Katie Couric did their weight loss
show a couple of months ago. Katie of all people should understand about
WLS after working with Al Roeker for so many years. Now I noticed in my
grocery store here in Oregon a whole line of Dr. Phil foods for weight
loss. I won't buy his book, watch his show, or use his products. The man
is out for one thing only and that is $$$.
— kathy W.
November 15, 2003
Does he have a website? We should all go there and send him emails letting
him know that he is horrible for saying it's the easy way out. What does he
know! Please send him emails!
— Kara J.
November 15, 2003
Oh did I ever just write him an e-mail....it was too long to send in the
e-mail so I just went to the success stories of his weight loss people of
wanting to be on the show...and wrote it in reference to that, and it said
they always get read, so I'm not sure if they will make a difference....but
everyone should go e-mail him it's drphil.com....go get him girls..and what
about Katie ripping on WLS....does Al know about this???
— Mandy K.
November 15, 2003
I wouldn't put anymore weight (no pun intended) to Dr Phil's opinion than I
did Richard Simmons, and all that came before them. I know that what I did
was neither an easy decision or an easy way out. We all have done the same
type of deal that Dr Phil is advocating (and making money from), he is no
worse than any of the others. His opinion is just that. People will try his
products, have initial sucess, and sadly, most will not be able to maintain
any weight loss. He will most likely blame those individuals for their
"failure" and they will eventually make up their own minds about
what they need to do. It is unfortunate that he has a public forum, but
let's face it, GBS is controverial and should (IMHO) really be used as the
last resort.
— Jean K.
November 15, 2003
I just went to his website DrPhil.com and sent him a long email stating why
this surgery is not the easy way out. I also told him he has ticked off a
lot of members of ObesityHelp.com.
— Kara J.
November 15, 2003
Dr. Phil's sole means is making money with his new book and his new weight
loss products. I honestly believe he doesn't give a rip about individual
people, but how much he can sell.
— Cathy S.
November 15, 2003
I'm starting to wonder if I watched the same show as everybody else here.
This was a debate show where viewers who wrote in to complain about things
Dr. Phil has done in the past shows could come and debate him in person.
The WLS patient that was on the show was demanding an apology from Dr. Phil
for calling WLS the easy way out. Dr. Phil explained to her that he knows
WLS is not the easy way out, but it is often thought of as the easy way out
to those who have not exhausted all of their weight loss resources before
turning to surgery.
I'm not trying to be a Dr. Phil advocate or anything. I don't agree with
everything he says- I just got something different out of the show, I
guess. :)
-Debbie
— Debbie P.
November 15, 2003
I stopped watching Oprah because she promoted that snake oil salesman.
— Leslie F.
November 15, 2003
EASY!!!!!you must be kidding. I have had 4 strictures, throw up nearly
every day, I am weak and feeling blue. Anyone who thinks this is easy can
walk in my shoes!
— heyjude51
November 15, 2003
The way to get to Dr. Phil...is not to bitch him out..write to his sponsors
and tell them you will not buy their product because they advertise on his
show..Oh wait.....That is the easy way out LOL..hugs and love to all..
— Kathy S.
November 15, 2003
Well like everyone else this just burned by BUTT!!!! I never watch him
because I have heard alot of things about him and how he is anyway. He has
a terrible practice and for some reason Oprah got on his bandwagon and he
has done well since then. His father I heard was a molester and I think
there was some accusation about him as well but I can't remember. I just
happened to be channel surfing when I heard the words gastric bypass and
stopped. I listened to the whole thing and I wanted to say.. ok this lady
did well with this weight loss thing and look at her 6 months or one year
later.. I think the odds are she will be right back to where she was plus
10 or 15 pounds. I have also lost great amounts on 'diets' and 'suggestive
diets'. The problem with people like us is that we can not maintain a
lower weight without going back to the old way of eating. I know that is
the case for me. Well long story short... He is an idiot!!!
— aishabilal
November 15, 2003
Like we should take the HARD way? I mean, is there some sort of honor in
doing it the way that does not work? And not in doing the only way that
DOES work? And what will happen to his rep when his victim, er, protege
regains all her lost wt? And we KNOW that's going to happen? Write it off
as HER personal failure & bury her out back? And bury the gatric bypass
for being successful? GRRRRRRR.
— vitalady
November 15, 2003
it's hard to be objective on a subject when you are making money on it.
— franbvan
November 15, 2003
You know... yesterday's show really outraged me!! Not only did Dr. Phil
use up the gastric bypass woman's time by focusing on a woman who lost
weight " his way ", but he also talked the whole time!! He
wouldn't let her get a word in edge wise! If it were me i'd look him dead
in his face and tell him to shut his big mouth for once in his life! I
would looooove to go one on one with Dr. Phil in a debate on WLS. He does
not scare me and I would not back down to him. I think he better do a bit
more research before he goes around making his snyde remarks about things
he OBVIOUSLY knows nothing about. This is just my 2 cents! lol! I normally
do not post but I just had to let out some steam about Dr. Phil!
— Adrienne G.
November 15, 2003
Oh I don't doubt for one minute that Dr. Phil is a smart man, and has
helped many people, but his ways of therapy aren't for everyone. Of course
his techniques are good ways in beginning to deal with EMOTIONAL ways of
eating and figuring out why we eat the way we do, we all have to realize
what we need to fix inside before we can take care of ourselves on the
outside, but we are going to suffer through WLS just the same and all the
psyc evaluations, working with the nutritionist, learning how to live the
correct way is teaching us just this, and we have no choice but to do this
the rest of our lives if we want this to work....I just wanted him to
realize this isn't easy. Granted people do it for the wrong reason's, but
this is needed for the ones who are serious...I have exaclty what I wrote
to him if anyone wants to read it, since it will probably never get read by
him.
— Mandy K.
November 15, 2003
Say Gastric bypass where the easy way out (and I'm NOT saying that it
is...2.5 yrs post, I white knuckle it a LOT just to maintain) SO WHY WOULD
THAT BE WRONG??? Would we tell a cancer patient chemo is the EASY WAY OUT??
Would we tell blood pressure patients to stop taking their meds...it's the
easy way out??? Just because a disease has a technique different from
mother nature's way to control it, and it happens to WORK, and
"easier" than not using that technique...does that make it
WRONG??? Does that define us as bad people....crap, I'm looking for
"an easy way out!!!!!!!!!!" I'm TIRED of counting
fat/calories/carbs...I'm TIRED Of constantly being obessesed with food,
what kind?, how much?, is it too much?, do I exercise enough?,...I'm tired
of it!!! PULEASEEE give me the easy way out!!! Easy way out my A$$. -Kim
open RNY 7/17/01 282/140/125 @ 5'2.5".
— KimBo36
November 15, 2003
I agree with Debbie P. I thought Dr. Phil surgery was a last resort and we
had to be in the mindset for it. The girl on the original show, that he
said was looking for a fast and easy way out, was scared to death of having
the surgery and did not understand it. Carolyn
— Carolyn B.
November 15, 2003
I never cared much for Dr. Phil's style, and I heard about him saying wls
was the 'easy way out' earlier this fall when he started his diet program.
This just reaffirmed my dislike for him. <br><br>
I also have heard Dr. Drew (radio show loveline) often talk about that
some of the advice Dr. Phil gives is beyond bad, Dr. Drew says some of it
is downright dangerous. <br><br>
Either way, I don't watch or listen to Dr. Phil, so he can spout what ever
he wants, I couldn't care less.
— Patricia T.
November 15, 2003
Great response Rona~so true! He is making money on weight loss with his
"line" of powders, books and it drives me crazy! And if the
particular show was for people to debate him, how come the WLS guest didn't
get more than 2 minutes of air time!
— SJWendy
November 15, 2003
I didn't see the Dr. Phil show because I haven't watched his show since the
first time I caught part of it months ago. I just find him to be a
self-impressed blow hard. He'll fade away like all of the other diet gurus
who have come before him and 98% of his followers will gain their weight
back. I really don't care if he thinks this is the easy way out because
long after he fades from public radar, I'll still be slim and healthy as a
result of taking "the easy way out."
— lemarie22
November 15, 2003
I was never a Dr. Phil fan ... even before the "WLS is the easy way
out" controversy. I always thought he treated people who came to him
with problems in a humiliating and arrogant manner. In my opinion, there
are many good, qualified counselors, phsychologists, and phsychiatrists
available to help people with weight problems work through the emotional
issues associated with obesity. However, none of them are on TV and most
don't have bestselling books and a line of diet products with their name
and picture plastered all over them. From my perspective it appears that
Dr. Phil is first and foremost an ENTERTAINER!! Jerry Springer with a PhD.
He is going to say and feature whatever gets good ratings, generates
controversy and helps to sell his products and those of his sponsors.
Personally, I take TV phsychologists the same way I take TV preachers ...
not too seriously and with a grain of salt. Just my two cents worth on the
issue.
— Lynn T.
November 16, 2003
This is a dude who now sells vitamins to people based on whether they're
"apple-shaped" or "pear-shaped," which is like trying
to identify the town "witch" by tossing all the women in the
river to see who floats ("Witch!") and who drowns ("dang!
lost another one."). Hey, I used to like him too, but what makes me
ashamed is that I didn't realize *why* until this issue came along: He
just lays his pithy little judgments on people who screw up in life, to the
amusement of his audience, without the slightest intention of helping those
he exploits. He's that way with everybody, not just the morbidly obese.
"Ph.D" ("piled-high'-n'-deep"), indeed. ;-)
— Suzy C.
November 16, 2003
Hello friends - it's me Rona again - that delicate flower of a southern
belle (said through clenched teeth). If you are thinking of writing to
good old Phil at his website let me just tell you that you will only get a
rubber stamp response. But we expected that right? Well, I had to chuckle
when the rubber stamp response urged me to buy his latest book and look for
new and exciting information on his new weight loss program. (ARGH!) So,
if you ask me we need to give up on writing him. Even though I never
expected for a moment that my letter would actually reach him - I thought
it might reach a human being who would possibly sit up and take notice if
they were barraged with letters from others like me. No such luck. I am
doing two things. 1. I am writing to my local affiliate. 2. I am doing
like a previous poster suggested and making a list of sponsers who air
commercials during his program and sending a letter to each of them
advising them I am going to boycott them and ask my friends and family to
do so as well. I realize this will take some time but if I don't do it -
who will? Maybe I'm making a bigger deal of this than I should. I just
can't abide the man. I've read all the responses to the original post and
tried to be objective but I can't. I believe the man is a menace. I'm
going to write the letter tomorrow. If anyone wants to jump on the
bandwagon with me and send letters just email me and I'll send you a copy
of the letter. We can make a difference - to the world we may be just
somebody but to somebody.....we could be the world. Thanks for the
opportunity to vent.
— ronascott
November 16, 2003
thought some of you may be interested in a local tv station's view of the
show. hope this link works...
http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=1526167&nav=2FH5J8XN
— pupandbon
November 16, 2003
We all know that gastric bypass is not the"easy way out". But, if
it was easy, so what. You can't loose weight in Dr. Phil's eyes unless it's
hard? I don't get it.
— Debbie W.
November 16, 2003
he's just ANOTHER one of those who profits from other people's pain. I
don't respect him, and haven't trusted him from day one. Phil who?
— Karyn B
November 17, 2003
Well, instead of using a can opener I could use a hacksaw to open the
canned beans, I could walk to work & back every day(14 miles)instead of
driving my car, I could be writing this note out longhand and mailing it to
all of yuo too, instead of sending it by email. My point is, we all,
choose the easy way, every day!! It is the SMART thing to do. We learn
from others experiences and choices, and it is not logical to choose a more
difficult method than is necessary to accomplish a goal. In fact, it is a
road towards extinction, the creature that can adapt, change and Learn
survives. And I for one, PLAN on surviving!! If this is the EASY WAY OUT,
serve it to ME on a platter!!!!
Sue
P.S. I know it's not the easy way, but for many of us, it is the BEST WAY.
— Sue C.
November 17, 2003
well, i never really have liked dr. phil, but i think I am going to write
him a letter. I know it has been easy for me... and I dont mind that... but
I know some people who have gone through a heck of a lot going through this
procedure. He's just (thinks he) knows it all.
— Katrina K.
November 19, 2003
I do watch Dr. Phil on occasion and think he offers good advice on some
issues. Yes, he's making money, but so would a lot of us if we were
presented with that opportunity to cash in on our success. People aren't
stupid who buy his products because dieting according to shape isn't new
and how much money did we waste before WLS holding on to some glimmer of
hope that a product would make us thin once and for all. On his comment
about WLS -- well, that's his opinion and he's entitled to it. In his own
words, "you either get it or you don't" -- and he doesn't. But
then neither do a lot of people BUT it didn't stop us post-ops from forging
ahead and getting our surgeries. I'm proud of me and thank God I had the
courage to have WLS. Bottomline - don't let other peoples opinions piss
you off -- just remember "YOU DID IT YOUR WAY."
— Starrlina
November 20, 2003
Yes I did see that program. I was so mad that my poor family heard me
complain for about an hour over it. He has no clue what we go through and
his stupidity is his own problem. I also have been told that I took the
easy way out by some friends, I feel they are jealous because I have always
been the biggest in the bunch and they wont know how to handle the new me.
Well thats their problem not mine. Sorry I also needed to vent.
JoAnn
— JoAnn D.
November 21, 2003
Easy, HA! I've had 7 strictures in less than 5 months, and a melon size
hernia removed just last week. I live in constant fear that I will continue
to have strictures every 2 weeks for the rest of my life. EASY? NO!
DEPRESSING AND DOWN RIGHT SCARY, YES!!! SHOVE IT DR. PHIL. YOU ARROGANT
SOB. YOU OWE US ALL AN APOLOGY. THIS IS NOT EASY. On the bright side, I've
been so sick, I've lost 85 pounds in less than 5 months. Take care and
ignore that arrogant SOB. His clients will gain ALL their weight back
anyway. Kathy Riffle
— Kathy R.
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