Get ready to throw sh*t at me. I'm used to it.

But here's my reaction to Carnie's Unstapled reality show that was on GSN last night.  

I gasped.  I laughed.  I commiserated.  I shook my head.  I did not want to staple her face.  I did wonder, however, who would watch this kind of program aside from someone like me -- a peer.  Apparently the TV critic from the Globe, but I can understand why he wouldn't "get it."

If you don't know or don't care, here's a little history:

TV Guide -

Since the show closely follows the birth, it will also include Wilson's struggle with her weight, alluded to in the show's title. She shed 150 pounds after her gastric bypass surgery in 1999, and kept the weight off until she gained 70 pounds while pregnant with Lola. She then appeared on Celebrity Fit Club and lost 22 pounds.

And Carnie had another babe in June 2009, and is currently up 50-60 pounds from her low, again.

Oh crap, did someone unstaple her mouth?

...was asked on a message board, too.

Honestly, I gasped when I saw her get on the scale and weight in well over 200 pounds.

But, I laughed with her as she dealt with it, and with clothing issues later in the show.  Mr. looked over at me and said, "That's you."  

I commiserated with much of what she had to say, because I have been there, am there, will be there.  I am not sure if you can GET IT unless you HAVE BEEN THERE.

You might be quick to say, "Get a grip."  Yeah, but.  Saying it is HARD is an understatement.

Have you ever been pregnant?  Have you been pregnant with a gastric bypass?  

The CONSTANT pull between eating for ONE ADULT WITH MALNUTRITION VS. EATING FOR TWO? Guess which one wins?  Right.  

Pregnancy in a RNY'er can trigger some iffy eating behaviors, and cause gain.  And, some stick. Morning sickness?  "Eat crackers."  Gastric bypass'ers aren't supposed to eat _________.  "But, I'm pregnant?" So forth and so on.  Out comes the baby and you're supposed to slim down like it never happened.  Typical women gain weight during pregnancy, and women who were formerly morbidly obese gain super easily.  (We know how.  That's right.  WIN!)

A typical gastric bypass'ed woman who gets knocked up and gets fat again can slink away into the mist and nobody gives a poop if she was formerly fat, now she just looks like a Mom.  Right?  

But, not if your WLS was webcast and we watched you go from 300+ pounds to a Photoshopped Twinkie with nipples for PLAYBOY.  There's a different standard for you.  You get your ass handed to you by the internets if you were fat/notfat/fatagain.  You, Failed At Life.

But, she's not slinking into the mist, as she's taken on Very Public employment, like hosting a Game Show.  Regain is reality -- a huge number of RNY patients regain by five years, and she's at TEN YEARS POST OP.

And as she eluded to in the reality series --- there are bigger fish to fry than the weight regain.  She's struggled with food, alcohol and excessive spending.  She briefly mentioned, "almost losing my house."  

Does this sound like YOU?  Addictive behaviors, much?

Other post ops are getting their panties in a twist because she's baking.  Not just baking, but trying to make a business of out the production of simple carbohydrates.  She explains that if she were not BAKING, she would be DRINKING.  

Would it be different if she were baking AND a 145 pound Playboy model?  

Honestly, probably.   That **** would get published as Hot.  Carnie's Cupcakes! ( * ) ( * )

She wouldn't be wearing her issues outside of her body, and we wouldn't judge her for that.  We would probably look at her and say, "WOW, what amazing restraint!  What self-control!  You are AMAZING!"

You can see this phenomenon on message boards with WLS'ers.  If someone Who Is At Goal posts their indiscretions -- it's "okay."  "You deserve it.  You're amazing.  How do you DO IT?"  

But, if someone with a regain does it, it's cause for a virtual ass-kicking -- or public reaming. (Remember MM, the Dorito Eating WLS Failure?)

I say, Carnie... kick ass.  I don't mind a BIT if you are showing the world your difficulties, weight-related or not, because there are thousands of women just like you, not living publicly and wondering what in the hell they did wrong.  It's not WRONG, it's REALITY.  

 http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2010/01/carnie-wilsons-unstapled.html