The Bert Show

Episode: Vault: Is Her Dad Wrong For Offering Her Money To Lose Weight?

Date: February 2, 2026
Host: Bert and The Bert Show Cast
Guest: Katrina (Q100 staff)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a deeply personal and controversial topic: Katrina, a Q100 staff member, recounts her father offering her $1,000 to lose weight, a gesture that is both emotionally charged and problematic given his lifelong fixation on her weight. The hosts discuss the impact of persistent parental commentary on body image, dissect motivations behind “tough love” and vanity, and engage listeners and callers in a larger conversation about family dynamics, self-worth, and societal pressures on women’s appearances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Katrina's Story: The Father's Offer

• Katrina shares that during a recent family vacation, her father bluntly told her she was “fat,” then offered her $1,000 to lose weight.
• She describes a history of weight-focused comments from her father toward both herself and her late mother, indicating a pattern of behavior rather than a health-motivated concern.

  “He came to me, very somber, very sad, and he just said, ‘I’m worried about you.’... He’s like, ‘You’re fat.’” — Katrina [00:39]

• The bribe isn’t new: her father made similar offers when she was younger (04:01).

2. Family Dynamics and Double Standards

• The hosts discuss the inconsistency and hypocrisy in her father’s standards, especially since he’s now dating a woman who is not slim herself.

  “What made me so angry about it this time is the fact that he now has a girlfriend… and she is not the slimmest woman to walk the earth.” — Katrina [02:01]

• Her father’s fixation is not just with Katrina: it spilled over onto her mother, with a quoted love letter referencing a desired target weight (01:40).

3. Psychological and Emotional Impact

• Katrina reflects on how this lifelong scrutiny has shaped her self-image. Despite sustained criticism, she’s mostly maintained confidence, but acknowledges the lasting sting and emotional pain.

  “I realized a few years ago that he’s just crazy… Thin does not automatically constitute happiness… Because back when I lost all that weight in high school… he would say, ‘Oh yeah, but you could lose some in your arms…’” — Katrina [04:51]

• Hosts probe how these comments live rent-free in her mind, with Katrina responding that jokes between her and her brother are an attempt at reclaiming power, but the pain persists.

  “It’s a constant thing… when he said that to me, I teared up and it takes a lot for me to get emotional.” — Katrina [05:55]

4. Listeners’ Stories & Societal Pressures

• Caller Johnny shares his experience, expressing gratitude for having someone eventually confront his weight, which ultimately improved his health [06:38].
• The female hosts reflect on cultural double standards—how weight and appearance are perennial topics and sources of judgment for women, much more so than men.

  “We’re judged on it at work, we’re judged on it at home, we’re judged by strangers. As if our worth… is only good if our body looks like what we see on TV.” — Host [09:56]

• Another caller, Crystal, recounts being shamed by her grandfather at a young age, underscoring the emotional scars of such comments [10:13].

5. Goals: Katrina’s Choice or Her Dad’s?

• The conversation shifts to whether losing weight is Katrina’s genuine goal or just something she feels pressured into.

  “Is it your goal, or is it your dad’s goal?” — Host [13:09] “It’s my goal. Before he even said anything, which is what aggravated me even more, was I had already decided and made the plan to start working out…” — Katrina [13:09]

• She clarifies that she wants to set her own target (30–35 lbs), not just meet her dad’s arbitrary standard.

6. Motivation, Consequences, and Next Steps

• The hosts discuss the problematic nature of “motivation by humiliation,” suggesting any wager should include consequences for her father, given his history of verbal abuse.

  “I don’t feel comfortable enabling your father and his abusive language. I mean, it’s abusive what he said to you over this long period of time.” — Host [12:12]

• The possibility of increasing the financial incentive is raised (e.g., $50 a pound), along with a proposed personal growth journey for Katrina independent of her dad’s opinions [14:50].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Katrina on her father’s comments:

  “He’s always said it’s always been a weight issue... When I played volleyball freshman year in college… he just said, ‘No, you look so good then, you know that you are almost in a two piece.’” [02:55]

• Katrina on her self-worth:

  “I look in the mirror and I see myself. It has nothing to do with, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m getting fat.’ I love myself no matter how big. When I was a 20, I thought I was the sexiest thing alive.” [13:09]

• On family cycles and fears:

  “That’s the example of a man that you’ve had in your life, your whole life. I’m afraid you’ll seek out someone that is like him, even subconsciously.” — Host [10:29]

• On the double standard for women:

  “Weight, body image… This always comes into place… If it was a bunch of guys… we wouldn’t be worried about how much we were eating… You guys, this is inevitable with every woman.” — Host [09:00]

Essential Timestamps

• 00:39 — Katrina recounts her father’s “fat” comment and the $1,000 offer
• 01:40 — Lifelong pattern: weight comments toward Katrina and her late mother
• 04:01 — Past bribes to lose weight during her teen years
• 05:41 — Katrina discusses how her father’s words affect her self-image
• 06:38 — Listener Johnny calls in with his own weight intervention experience
• 09:56 — Discussion of how women are judged and policed by appearance
• 10:13 — Caller Crystal’s story of emotional scars from family comments
• 13:09 — Katrina asserts that losing weight is her own goal
• 14:40 — Hosts debate proper compensation and consequences for Katrina’s dad

Tone & Conclusion

The episode is real, candid, and blends empathy with humor. It confronts the pain caused by lifelong body criticism, the gendered nature of weight policing, and the dilemma of making positive changes for oneself versus appeasing toxic family expectations. Katrina’s resilience and clarity stand out, with the hosts supporting her autonomy while challenging the problematic behaviors in her family dynamic.