i saw the show last night and i couldn't believe that school principal had those children feeling her arms and talking about herself. i can't express how outraged i am that she would exploit those innocent children to make herself look good.
i have never seen such abuse of young children on tv, she interrupted class and lunch plus scenes in the hallways when those children should have been learning and relaxing as school children.
she's the principal, what else could they say but that she looked great? that was an all time low for tlc and she should be ashamed of herself.

Lilypad, you are appalled at everything you see on this show, so I fail to understand why you continue to watch it.

You clearly do not spend much time with kids, because if you did you would know that they don't edit themselves just because someone has a title. It is one of the amazing and wonderful things about children...they are honest about what they think and feel. When they tell you something, you can bet it is exactly what they think.

I will agree that I did interrupt that one class for a few minutes one morning, but the conversation I was able to have with those children was valuable to them. It gave them a chance to process where I had been and what had been happening while I was gone. I am a very involved principal, and my absence was felt by the kids. I had many conversations with lots of groups of kids to help them understand that I am ok and that there was no need to worry or be concerned.

As for the time I was with the kids at lunch and in the hallways, that did not interrupt anything. I am in the cafeteria with the kids nearly every day, talking to them and checking in to see how things are going. It is one of the ways that the kids know that I care about them and am interested in what is going on with them. So the day that those scenes in the lunch room were filmed was just like any other day...the principal in the cafeteria checking in with the kids.

I have absolutely no reason to be ashamed of anything that was on the show last night. My kids were amazing, and I was very proud of how well they carried themselves, particularly with a camera watching. I am proud of them, and I am proud of myself. These kids have watched me go through the very difficult transformation...from my highest weight of more than 475 pounds to where I am today...and they were thrilled to have a chance to be "in the spotlight" with me.

So, lilypad, might I suggest another show on Wednesday nights that won't be so offensive to you? It is clear that Big Medicine isn't a show that meets with your sense of good programming.

Kim, I thought you were wonderful. I do believe those kids love you dearly for your candor. You have a marvelous personality and it shines thru. I think you look terrific and I think you are an inspiriation to young people and adults alike. I'm so glad everything went well for you, best wishes in your "new life."

Thanks for the support! My kids are darling, and they couldn't be happier for me. I adore them, just as I always have, and I spend my time working to make sure we give them the best we can. It's a wonderful thing to be able to make a difference for others, especially little ones. It's a blessing to be able to touch the future, one child at a time!

Thanks again to all of you who have been so supportive and who have reached out to me in so many ways!

I was very impressed with Kim's presentation and interaction with the kids. As adults we are able to teach children not only on a academic level but through our experiences and actions. I too am a gastric patient and have lost 198 pounds. The amount of skin and the weight of that skin on your body is enough to each children to change their eating habits now. You look wonderful.

A person who finds fault in everything he or she views, reads or hears needs to take a deep look into their own past and future. That is where the issues start.

Kim's reply to lilypad was right on the money. What I saw was a magnificent friend, mentor, mother, teacher, and principal to those studnets. I have had the same kind of aspect at my job in a slightly different aspect. I have had Banding not bypass and people are always curious about th eport. Some have asked to touch it and are awed or that is cool feeling at the time of the touch experience. I must admit that is how the children/students must have felt. All I have to say Kim is BRAVO to you! KEEP up the good work all around and you made a fabulous career choice!

Keep up the good work Kim!! It is easy to see how much the children love & admire you. They are very fortunate to have you as their principal.

Hi everyone! I am such a fan of this show (I'm a pre-op) and just want to say how thrilled I was to see Kim so involved with her students! When I went to school, we rarely ever saw our principal interacting with the students and to watch Kim, not only interact, but educate them on accepting other people who look different from them was amazing. I wish more principals took the time for their students to know more about them as opposed to seeing their principal as just the lady in charge.

Lilypad, you are so off in left field, it amazes me.

I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken time to share their support and encouragement with me! The whole trip is mind-boggling, and when you throw putting it all on TV in to the mix, it adds a whole new dimension to the experience. I have been blessed to have so many of you reach out to let me know of your support, and I'm grateful!

Kim,
You are a very brave woman and I admire you for being on Big Medicine. I had RNY five months ago and someday will need plastic surgery but I don't know if I can afford it or even want to go thru all the pain. I've heard it's more painful than the RNY. Right now I don't even want to think about more surgery.
Pam

I think that each one of us who makes the decision to have this life-saving surgery done is brave and worthy of admiration. It is a tough decision to make, but one that can bring a healthier body to us.

For what it's worth, I do have some advice about the plastic surgery. Insurance will cover some of the things that need to be done, you just have to find out what their requirements are for payment and see if you meet them. It takes a lot of documentation and persistence on your part, but is worth it. It took me a while to get the tummy tuck covered, but I'm very happy that I didn't give up.

As far as the pain level of the surgery, I know that is a pretty individual thing. I did find the tummy tuck to be more painful than the RNY, but I'm certain that part of that pain was related to the extra work they did in me to clean up all of the problems with the old mesh they had to remove. Regardless of why it was, I would do it again, even knowing what I know now. Once we got the pain medication regulated better, the pain was not nearly as bad as you would think.

I can relate to the idea of not even thinking about more surgery! I had two operations in under four months...I just barely got "back to normal" from the first one when I jumped in to the second...and my body just wants to rest. I know that I need to do my thighs and my breasts, but I'm going to give my body a break.

Sorry I've rambled. If I can be of support, don't hesitate to ask. I'm pretty open about this, so don't worry about asking!

:-)

I watched the show that had Kim Valera’s segment. I could not believe that a person in her position as a school principal would be showing off her naked body for her “beloved” children to see. That should help her get their respect. When she had the children touch her, I was hoping that her district superintendent was watching and would FIRE her the next day. How unprofessional and inappropriate is it for any adult or even another child to ask others to feel their body. Haven’t we been teaching our children to start screaming for help from the police if someone approached them like that? We have been teaching that everyone has “their own space” and it should not be entered. For a principal to ask children to feel her body, she is telling the kids that it is all right for someone they know to ask them to things that they know are not right. Aren’t our teachers supposed to be teaching children how to be safe in this imperfect world? It is nice that the principal of a school is involved with the students but she stepped way over the line. I would have fired her on the spot if I were the superintendent!

Frank, "showing off" my body is hardly what happened in the show. In case you didn't notice, my body is still not to a point in which "showing off" would even be a thought, let alone something I would do. I am a very modest person. I allowed Big Medicine to film my body before and after surgery so that people who are considering either gastric bypass surgery or plastic surgery can see a real example of what their body could look like. It is educational, not "showing off".

What you do not understand is that there is a big difference in appropriate vs. inappropriate touching, and we teach that to our students all the time. They learn that it is not ok for someone to touch them without their permission, and that they should not touch anyone without that person's permission or if it makes them uncomfortable. They are also taught to go to a trusted adult if someone does touch them inappropriately, even if that person has told them not to tell anyone. Allowing the kids to understand that a "fat arm" feels just like any other arm does not fall in to that category of touching.

What the viewers did not get to see was the whole situation that led up to allowing the children to touch the excess skin. The kids had lots of questions about how the skin got the way it was, if it hurt, and what did it feel like. The kids were not forced to touch the skin, but had the opportunity if they wanted to do so.

I believe that allowing the kids to see that the skin on an obese person feels just like their skin, they begin to understand that everyone is basically the same, hopefully stopping some of the prejudice against not only obese people, but anyone who is different than you.

Did I like seeing my naked body so many times on the show? Not at all. But I do understand that there are people out there who saw the show who now have the courage to take the next step in getting healthy, and that makes it all worthwhile.

I doubt it, but I hope that you have learned something from this post.

Kim, I said it before and I'll say it again. I think you are terrific. A couple of people have mentioned your naked body, good grief, it was all a blur and it was done for medical reasons. The children will hardly be mentally scarred, sheesh! The soap operas show more skin than any programs on TV. They have turned into acceptable porn! I can guarantee kids watch the soaps with their parents. That's what people should think about.

Frank and LilyPad: OK.... as a mom this show is NOT something my kids LOVE TO WATCH! LOL... as a matter of fact as soon as the surgery segments start up .... I get the OHHHHHH GROSS (which is why I watch this show by myself) plus it is on at 9p.m. and my kids go to bed by 8 p.m............. so really if your apalled, change the channel.... I for one will be watching!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by kvalera:

I will agree that I did interrupt that one class for a few minutes one morning, but the conversation I was able to have with those children was valuable to them.

I saw the show and loved it. Do you know why Discovery suddenly pulled "Big Medicine" with no warning? And also why re-runs were substituted for 2 of the new shows?

Y'all should check out this link...http://www.sunny99.com/pages/sunnymornings.html. Chris and I are both on the Sunny 99 blog, and if you look at the podcasts, you can hear my interview with Dana Tyson. Very cool!

Yeah, any idea what happened to "Big Medicine"?

Not yet, anteup. Still trying to find out. I know there has been some unsettling speculation, but I think it is more a production issue than anything else. I'm working on finding out.

I admire ANYONE who works in the school system and makes a difference for kids. I couldn't do it!

Kim,

You are a truly amazing person. It is so refreshing to see a person who can tell it like it is and yet continue to be so upbeat. I wish my grandchildren were in your school. We need more educators like you who actually care about the kids in their care. Like you, I had wls and my grandkids had not seen me for four months. When they saw me, the first thing they all said was..."Meemaw, you are sooo skinny". I have only lost about 60 pounds so far but to them, it was a big change! They had questions, lots of them. I am sure the kids in your school had tons of questions, being the little inquisitive creatures they are. Bless your heart Kim, keep up the good work of educating those who are ignorant to the process and prejudiced by their own feelings of inadequacy. They are to be pitied, and if you can win them over by educating them, then more power to you!