my 600 pound life-pennys story

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

I think this is the most important episode for anyone looking into having WLS or for anyone who has already had it. WLS is NOT a magic solution. I've noticed many of the showcases on this show start out thinking that, then they get smacked upside the head with reality. Some face the demons and straighten it out - while others, like last night's Penny contain their pacifiers.

Living with a co-dependent person such as herself and her husband is a detriment to truly beating any addiction. Whether it be drugs, alcohol or in this case food. IMHO, anyone who has become obese has some element of food addiction. How can they not? Until everyone in that position embraces this fact, they will always fall off the wagon (including myself).

She was playing his love for her against him, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker. He likes the life they're living, based on some of his commentary on the show. He expressed that he hoped she didn't expect all of them to eat on a diet. He is complete denial too. I was in awe at how much! I couldn't believe the excuses coming out of both of their mouths. They truly do live in a "fantasy world". Someone on my FB mentioned that she revised to RnY. If that's true then she's getting a second chance and I pray she gets it right this time. However, it's not likely because she thinks all of her troubles will be over by fixing her stomach. It's really our brains we need to work on simultaneously.

[Tikvah 70]

All I could do after watching that show (and to keep from throwing a brick at my TV) was to thank Hashem for blessing me with parents that love me and would never enable me like her husband. If I tried lying to my doctor like that, they'd call my butt out!

This is why psych exams are so important. The husband should stop bringing food to her (other than her 1200 calories a day) and make her get her butt up.

[Jencovi 261]

I just wrote a comment on Penny's FB...

What did you say? I went to the page but there are so many comments and topics!

[pinksjo1 137]

I asked her why she got the surgery and did she think it was going to be easy...I am hoping that coming from someone who has had the surgery may hit home rather than any comments from people that haven't...who knows? This lady needs more help than I can give her.

[Jencovi 261]

I asked her why she got the surgery and did she think it was going to be easy...I am hoping that coming from someone who has had the surgery may hit home rather than any comments from people that haven't...who knows? This lady needs more help than I can give her.

I agree. She needs MAJOR help and hearing it from someone who has had surgery is very different. A lot of people who haven't struggled with obesity and food addiction just assume she's lazy. While that may be partially true, as a fellow sufferer we understand she needs some intense therapy. I saw some comments saying she's a waste of a person. That's terrible because she is dealing with true addiction. If she reaches out for the help she needs she could turn it all around. But having people call her names and harass her isn't going to help much. Especially if she's unwilling to face her demons.

[Amberg7hi 2]

She really needed the whole bypass....although I don't think she would have gotten different results. ... and her husband! Wow. How does she go to the bathroom and wash herself? Her poor son.

[Noor1969 150]

She now has a FB page...she blames the crew, the editing, nutritionist,the doctor....everyone but herself..and she is getting slammed.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-Saeger-My-Life/547231915372526?ref=ts&fref=ts

I didn't see the show (don't watch much TV) but I did go to her Facebook page and I'm glad to see that people are calling her out on why she hasn't succeeded with the surgery.

[Chele H 427]

She really needed the whole bypass....although I don't think she would have gotten different results. ... and her husband! Wow. How does she go to the bathroom and wash herself? Her poor son.

She goes on a bed pan and her husband cleans her!

[BigGirlPanties 957]

It's on again next week...I think Tuesday or Wednesday on TLC... I am going to tape it and watch it whenever I need motivation...that is NOT going to be me!!!

[lsereno 2,525]

I am saddened by the tone this thread has taken. How many of us have heard "Why didn't you just eat less?" I don't think there is one person here who has ever weighed 600 lbs. It takes a very severe food addiction to reach that point.

IMO, Penny needed support she did not receive. Perhaps a longer hospital stay so her food choices could have been more restricted. For sure, more counseling. I understand people who contributed financially are disappointed, but there are no guarantees in life.

Of course, we've all seen that ability to make choices and the lack of intervention to stop them due to legal and financial restraints. I have friends and family members who abuse food, alcohol, and other drugs and I can't stop them. It hurts, but I have learned that heaping guilt and scorn on them does not help them or me.

I haven't seen the show, but I do know that most reality shows are scripted and any story can be twisted a bit based on the bias in which it is shot and edited. Not that there is any denying that she made bad food choices, was enabled by those around her, and didn't want to face the face that she has responsibility too.

This is just my opinion, but before you comment, please remember the hurtful things others have said to you. How many people are secretly wondering why you didn't get thin sooner for your childen's sake? How many are wondering why you just didn't get it under control with diet and exercise?

Lynda

[Tikvah 70]

If she has a severe food addiction, then she shouldn't have qualified for the surgery. She should have needed intensive psychotherapy prior to even being a candidate.

Needed more support? She had all the support of her doctor and the hospital staff. She refused to change and had her husband smuggle her food. She was not serious about doing this process correctly.

Most people were extremely agitated because not only is she 600lbs and squandering a great opportunity to get some semblance of a life back, but she's also on disability and government assistance. So we're the ones paying for those fried freaking wontons and cupcakes she gorges on.

I've got all the sympathy in the world for the members of this forum, but that woman should be named and shamed.

[Chele H 427]

I am saddened by the tone this thread has taken. How many of us have heard "Why didn't you just eat less?" I don't think there is one person here who has ever weighed 600 lbs. It takes a very severe food addiction to reach that point.

IMO, Penny needed support she did not receive. Perhaps a longer hospital stay so her food choices could have been more restricted. For sure, more counseling. I understand people who contributed financially are disappointed, but there are no guarantees in life.

Of course, we've all seen that ability to make choices and the lack of intervention to stop them due to legal and financial restraints. I have friends and family members who abuse food, alcohol, and other drugs and I can't stop them. It hurts, but I have learned that heaping guilt and scorn on them does not help them or me.

I haven't seen the show, but I do know that most reality shows are scripted and any story can be twisted a bit based on the bias in which it is shot and edited. Not that there is any denying that she made bad food choices, was enabled by those around her, and didn't want to face the face that she has responsibility too.

This is just my opinion, but before you comment, please remember the hurtful things others have said to you. How many people are secretly wondering why you didn't get thin sooner for your childen's sake? How many are wondering why you just didn't get it under control with diet and exercise?

Lynda

She was in the hospital for three months on bariatric diet and did not lose one pound! Her husband obviously brought her food. Not only was she on government assistance her family and friends donated money to them to help them move to Texas for the surgery!

[katt1584 46]

"Fried feaking wontons"! Hahaha

The reason I posted about this episode was because I found her excuses highly motivating. Although my weight has never been near her level..ive made excuses for my addiction before. Seeing how awful it looks on someone else helps me realize that I was only cheating myself. Getting this surgery is something ive wrestled with, forcing myself to accept that its not a magic fix and it will be hard work. Penny is the example of a woman who saw the surgery as the easy way out, someone else on the thread said "that is NOT going to be me" and thats exactly how I feel and am glad I saw pennys story.

On top of all that though. .shes pretty insufferable. While being carted away to the hospital to be weighed shes telling the paramedic "ive probably lost about 350 pounds so far" when she had really just gained 5 pounds....its all those fried freaking wontons!!!!!

[*Misty*Raine* 192]

"Fried feaking wontons"! Hahaha The reason I posted about this episode was because I found her excuses highly motivating. Although my weight has never been near her level..ive made excuses for my addiction before. Seeing how awful it looks on someone else helps me realize that I was only cheating myself. Getting this surgery is something ive wrestled with, forcing myself to accept that its not a magic fix and it will be hard work. Penny is the example of a woman who saw the surgery as the easy way out, someone else on the thread said "that is NOT going to be me" and thats exactly how I feel and am glad I saw pennys story. On top of all that though. .shes pretty insufferable. While being carted away to the hospital to be weighed shes telling the paramedic "ive probably lost about 350 pounds so far" when she had really just gained 5 pounds....its all those fried freaking wontons!!!!!

I finally caught her story last night on Tlc! I was shocked at her excuses. Like u... I've never been to her weight, but have used excuses and now see how awful they looked and really are! Ugh can't believe I did that to myself! My Hw is 220 and can't imagine allowing myself to get to 600. But I guess if u don't get a handle on addiction, this is very possible.

Like u said, She has proven this is not a miracle fix, it's a lifestyle change. Fried freakin wantons will certainly not help! Lmao... We all have to want it and be in the right frame of mind for sure!

[*Misty*Raine* 192]

She was in the hospital for three months on bariatric diet and did not lose one pound! Her husband obviously brought her food. Not only was she on government assistance her family and friends donated money to them to help them move to Texas for the surgery!

The husband is part of the problem! He was the one contributing to her obesity. If he was the supportive "man" he should been he would not have helped her cheat. He would have supported the drs orders. The reason this frustrates me so, is if this is life and jeopardy as it is for so many of us, and clearly hers, you would think a supportive mate would have tried to save her life! Not keep assisting her in her own death! Ugh frustrating!