Inside Brookhaven Obesity Clinic
My wife recorded a whole series of the "Inside Brookhaven Obesity Clinic" show from TLC for me. I watched 3 episodes straight. Good thing that I can skip all the commercials :)
"Inside Brookhaven Obesity Clinic" is a TV show about people struggling to solve their morbidly obese problems at the clinic. Most of them are inches away from death, and yet many of them still don't understand the situation.
Many of them cheat the dieting program designed by the clinic by sneaking in fast foods and not following the exercise programs. I just couldn't understand why they aren't even trying to lose weight knowing that their weight will kill them in any time.
While filming the show, a lady who also cheat the program passed away from heart failure. The incident shocked many of the cheaters and changed their behaviors. But I have feeling that the impact will last for a few weeks. And they will go back to their regular habits.
Well, the lesson I learned from the show is that no matter how ready you are outside to lose weight, it's not going to happen unless your mind is ready. At the Brookhaven Clinic, they provide the best support anyone can get and the best tools to help them lose weight. And yet, not everyone's taking an advantage of that. Given the equal resources, the ones with strong will finishes the program and get their life back.
It is same for me. I have a membership to one of the best gyms and have access the best organic market in the U.S. I have all the resources I need to start dieting. But if I don't have the right mindset, I will fail no matter what. And that's where I lack the most.
That's the area where I need to improve the most if I want to stay fit even after I lose my weight. Just a thought for the day.
hey can you give me an address of brookhaven clinic–my husband is almost 400lbs and im at my whits end with it and he needs a facility to jump start
can you help
thanks
Commented on August 17th, 2007Cheryl,
Please read
http://www.thinnereveryday.com/recipes/how-to-contact-the-brookhaven-obesity-clinic/
I just posted the contact information.
Commented on November 3rd, 2007Don’t worry Bo, you can do it. It’s a struggle for a lot of us but I have faith that you have the smarts to do the best you can to lose some weight and stay healthy. I don’t know you but you have my best wishes.
Commented on November 25th, 2007My name is Eva -I am starting a recovery house for food addict. It is based on a twelve step program, all meals are planned and cooked together, we share chores, it is not a diet club, it is for people that are willing to go any lengh to get freedom from compulsive eating.12 steps meeting are mandatory. For more info send an email to evaderoma@juno.com
Commented on January 7th, 2008i have seen several shows and i would like to know what type of ins u take and do you have to have a referal from primary dr or what i obeas and i had a brother pass away from same so if u can let me know ,, thanks
Commented on May 1st, 2008Someone please respond to me….I have been obese for too long and am working on getting the lap-band but no insurance will do it and help me toward my goal please I just want to be a good mother to my kids, enjoy being a wife to my husband, and be a good person….I want to loose the weight it just doesn’t happen…help please
Commented on June 26th, 2008I think I qualify for Brookhaven Obesity clinic. But I live on a fixed income. How much does it costs?
Commented on July 15th, 2008i just found the address to brookhaven tonight,i,m going to look into trying to get some help from them, yes, i,m overweight, i,ve been struggling with my weight for a good few years now, i also have some medical problems, which make it hard for me to lose weight.so koodos to the one who found this address, i,m sure it will help people out treadmentously who need it. thanks laura
Commented on July 19th, 2008Well first thing I would like to say is people fail to realize its not as easy as it seems to lose weight I’m quite sure that anyone who has ever battled with a weight problem can say its not that easy do they really honestly think that someone likes to be made fun of or stared at constantly everyday be for real so when I hear or see comments being made by people who has probably never been in that predicament makes my blood boil you see someone made a comment and I totally agree about that place being just in it for the money and I know personally because I was there and it destroyed my life they manipulated me into thinking that this show would help hell no because do you know where about 90% or probably more of the people that was on that show is right now well I’m going to tell you well first most of them they kicked out because they claimed that the cheaters embarrassed them and made them look bad ok some of them are dead or half way there or in other facilities so that was a waste of time and you would think after they used these people and exploited them that they would help them after all they gave them publicity they used these peoples lives and excuse my french gave them their ass to kiss so yes I got a problem with people who make ignorant freakin comments and don’t know nothing because these people told their life stories serious and traumatic things that happened and still happening to them and stress that they’re going through that some what led to the weight gain and I’m not making excuses just asking for a little freakin sympathy and consideration the next time you decide to post a comment because people like me get to read it thanks for taking time to read
Yours truly,
Anonymous
P.S. This is a real person who was on that show
Commented on July 21st, 2008im Khalil,from Morocco and I want to obesity in America, visit the hospital to treat obesity.
Commented on October 4th, 2008The problem is how I can enter the United States
Bo I watched the shows and was not to
Commented on December 27th, 2008impressed with the support they were
given. They all need counciling and that wasn’t mentioned hardly at all. When you are a drug or alcohol addict
your in intense therapy.The adminstrator lacked compassion and true understanding to have a love of food. I only eat to live and those people live to eat.Why were they allowed to order take in. It seems to defeat the purpose of getting help. It looked more like a glorified hotel with the exception of the workers who had to bath them and clean up after them. I give my hat off to the employees who had to take abuse from them and still do. I can’t imagine being accepted again and again. When will it end. If they wont’ help themselves no one can. It’s like the alcoholic admitting he has a problem and until he does no one can do anything to help. Some of them were ashamed of going out in public…..did they ever stop to think that all of America was watching them roll around. If I truly didn’t want to be seen then there shouldn’t of been a camera in front of them. Compassion and understanding can only go so far.Cheating with food leaves one to think that they do not want to get healthy.
Half of America has had an issue with weight, but I find this show repulsive. Not because of the weight of the patients, but because it almost condones their selfish behavior. One thing I’ve noticed about many of them is their continuos exscuse making. Do they ever think about their actions affecting others, other than their family? The guy that only wanted “dignity” while the MEs were hauling him down icy stairs? I can’t help but think that he needs to accept reality, there is no dignified way to get him out of his house, and he new that when he went off his diet. What if there was an accident and one of the MEs died? Did he think about that while he was gorging himself? Or the guy that drove from VA to NYC with sleep apnea? OK, so if you want to crash, fine, what about the mom driving with her kids that you crash into? I understand some people have biological issues, or mental disorders, but at the same time, there is a breaking point that the hospital would have if they didn’t just want cash. It doesn’t seem very theraputic, but rather as a nursing home to go before they die. How many people have left there and kept the weight off? It just really ticked me off that the guy on last nights show sat their and whined about how embarassing it was. Didn’t he do that in 1996 too? Why didn’t he think about that when he decided to go off his diet? He was capable of saying no, he did it long enough to hit his goal weight. Anyone else who breaks the rules of society doesn’t get sympathy,no matter what their condition is, why should these people be given every opportunity just to throw it away again?
Commented on January 4th, 2009And yes, I have had weight problems before, but realized WHY I gained it back. I was sick of being embarrased, and stopped making exscuses for myself, and I didn’t have surgery. This is about the only place in the world you’ll find people morbidly obese. Send them to a 3rd world country, no gorging there.
Commented on January 4th, 2009Sara,
We are so happy you found your way to losing weight. Now why don’t you find your way to having an ounce of compassion. You have never been in their shoes, don’t assume you could change if you were them. Spare us your self-righteous bull and grow up, you are no better then some kid making fun of the fat kid who got tripped in the hall at school. DID you know there has been studies that prove there is a disorder in the brain that will and has caused people to become morbidly obese, not because they can control themselves but the mind cuts off the signals to alert the stomach to stop eating and it has been proven to be hereditary to receive this brain disorder. SO, yes people do get obese from eating more then they should or what they shouldn’t eat but not all of them can just stop like you who obviously doesn’t have that disease. Before you judge others remember the only one who can judge is god and you are no where near him. May god have mercy on your soul.
Also Dear User Named “anonymous
July 21st, 2008″
I would really like to speak with you please email me at karenlynnejohns@yahoo.com.
Commented on February 16th, 2009Hi everyone :-)
I tried to contact Brookhaven using the form on their website but apparently it doesn’t work. Here is my opinion on the place and I would really like to be able to get in touch with them and talk with them and hear their explanation to why their patients almost never succeed.
Hi Brookhaven
I live in Denmark and I’ve just watched a documentary about your clinic and I can not believe what i just saw! As far as i’m concerned Brookhaven is a complete and utter failure.
You care so much about nutrition and spend loads of money and time on it but still you allow the clients/patients to have junk food delivered…. why?? The same people have been with you for years and still nothing happens. In some cases it even gets worse!
Have you given any thought to why that is?
You have surveillance so you can freeze pictures and print them out to show the patient what he’s doing as some sort of threat.. Apparently it has had an effect on some of your patients but what is the percentage of a positive outcome from doing that?
Is there a reason why you are not using diets like The South Beach Diet or other types?
I’m on the South Beach Diet on phase 1 and i’m on day 12 out of 14 today and I PROMISE you I don’t even have a craving for anything that I had 12 days ago. I’m allowed to eat dark chocolate but I don’t really like it that much anymore. I used to love winegums and ice cream, potato chips, hotdogs, well you name you got it, but I somehow just don’t have the appetite for it anymore.
I’m 165 cm tall and I weigh 68 kilograms. I have lost 3 kilograms in these 12 days and I pretty much have to eat all the time.. well that’s what it feels like anyway ;-) 6 times a day.
I eat bacon and eggs for breakfast EVERY morning!! I think your patients would enjoy that VERY much!! :-)
It’s just an advice but I think you should try to get more information on The South Beach Diet. After all it is a cardio specialist who invented/developed it for his diabetes patients and some of them even stopped taking their medicine, they simply just don’t need it anymore.
I probably sound like I’m making money on writing this but trust me I’m NOT! If only! But I have been obese too, not as much as the patients you treat but I used to weigh 93 kilograms when I was younger. I started doing the whole calorie counting etc and I’m telling you, it was a pain in the b*tt to have to do that everytime I had to eat! With South Beach I don’t even have to care about that and I even HAVE to fry – not deep fry!! – all hot food in olive oil. I would never have thought that a diet so easy would exist.
Another bonus is that I HAVE to eat desert every night.. it’s crazy but believe me, it WORKS! :-) I don’t go to the gym or get any other kind of exercise except when I go on my bike to the grocery store etc. and that is pretty close to where i live so that’s only 5 minutes on the bike each way. Still I have lost the 3 kilos in 12 days.
My parents actually started on the diet first and I could see that they lost a lot of weight – and fast – and they haven’t gained one kilo back. They even eat cake a couple of times a month now :-)
When I see obese people I really wish I could help them in some way and then when I watch the documentary from Brookhaven I’m just… To tell you the truth, I’m disappointed.
I look forward to your reply.
Best regards,
Commented on March 25th, 2009Louise Elsted
Denmark, Scandinavia
I must admit I agree 100% with Sara.
Commented on March 25th, 2009Hi. Ive seened this program a couple of times and to b honest iam moved by the compassion and interest in helping people in need. Well my brother is 29 years old weighting 500 pounds and he has vascular problems,one of his vains busted because of his weight on his leg. he currently unemployed and recieving unemployment but his health benefit was denied because he makes a little more than what the requirement is ive been searching for help he needs help he has a daughter the age of 2 and the last time that he was seened by his Dr. it was said to him that if he doesnt loose anywieght he can loose his leg do to that vain, we dont know what else to do or were we can find help before its too late please email us anything that could be of great use for him please!
Commented on May 22nd, 2009I was wondering if there is a way to contact patients at brookhaven obseity clinic? Its there an address to write to or phone number? Or maybe I should be askin do any of the patients there want to be contacted regarding there journey at the clinic?
Commented on June 7th, 2009Hi Brookheaven my name is Anits and I’ve been obease all my life just about I just got morbit obease about 7yrs. ago but now its really affecting my health and I’m scared. I have a 16yr old son who is also over weight, but he has lost 176lbs. in the last year but I see him starting to gain it back. I also have a ten year old neice whom I’m raising I’ve had her since she was three weeks old, she calls me mommy. but she also is picking up weight very quickly. She has a twin brother who is at a normal weight right now, but my whole family is gaining weight. I have diabetes,hypotention(high blood presser,an under actice thyroid, and I take 7 differant medication, including 2 pain meds. for my cronic arthuritist which is crippling me very fast I’m in a moterized power chair or scooter, I need help, I want to be around to see these kids grow up. And I know that if we don’t change the way we eat they too will be at risk of all these dangerous illnesses. I saw your show and would love to be able to come to brookheaven for help I have health partners insurance and hope to be able to come for help at brookheaven. I really want this so can you please help? I’ve tryed everything when I say everything, I mean all. I pray you can help me. Anita in Philadelphia.
Commented on November 17th, 2009February 22, 2010
Hello,
I am also Morbidly Obease I am 39 years old and weigh 460lbs @ 6ft tall. I have been large since jr high I broke my leg (spiral break), and was in a cast for a year so since about 1984. I have several medical conditions which prevent me from regular exercise. Too include oxygen @ 10L per min 24 hrs a day! I have type II diabetes and have to be on insulin lantus and novolog 70/30. I take steroids for my COPD which make you gain weight. I have sleep apnea with O2 bleedin of 10L, I have severe neuropathy in both legs, I also have Congestive Heart Failure, thats just to name a few… I take like 18 perscriptions daily along with multivitamins and potassium ( I’ve had 2 strokes). I have glaucoma in both eyes and am blind in the left, and deaf in both ears. I too ride in a motorized wheelchair when I get out to the Doctor’s or shopping.
Commented on February 23rd, 2010I’ve been made fun of most of my life due to my weight. Some of you may not understand what the feelings are of us whom are overweight are, we are human just like you, and have feelings like you. Please keep that in mind when you post negative comments. If we could just stop overeating and so on… don’t you think (I) or we would? Think about medical conditions that make one large and medicine that make’s it nearly impossible to loose weight! I’ve tried to loose weight and have lost a considerable amount I was at my largest 740lbs..I have a way to go, but its like a time bomb with other medical conditions for me. I used to have a 87inch waist, but now I have a 58″ waist : ) I am following Ruby on the Style network I am doing her diet, some of you should try it also, it works look at what I’ve lost!! I have a question for you large folks? I know its going to make you blush etc. but I have to know? ****How do you wipe yourself after a bowel movement?**** I have an attendant that helps me, but for only 8 hrs a day, the other time I just have to use a disposable diaper, and then have to try and get in my handicapped shower and wash off. I can’t even do alot for myself without my attendant, he washes me, shaves me dresses me etc. I have to have him drive me to the doctor’s and shopping etc. So those of you whom want to pass judgement on (us) think about what it does to our feelings please!
I too want to get in touch with the Clinic, and will try to see what I can do with them. I qualify for the lap-band and the gastric bypass, but with my other medical conditions they won’t do it! sucks big time…