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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