Original subtitles

>> THE LAST TIME I WEIGHED

MYSELF, I WEIGHED 337 POUNDS,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "THAT'S

NOT BIG.

THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL."

AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE SCALE

AND IT SAID 645, I STARTED

CRYING RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FACED

WITH THAT NOW.

[ SNIFFLES ]

A DOCTOR TOLD MY MOM THAT I

WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND DIE.

YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE

SURGERY, THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE.

>> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

THIS IS NOT EASY.

>> COME OVER AND LIFT!

>> HE'S BECOMING INDEPENDENT,

AND I THINK HE'S FRIGHTENED

ABOUT THAT.

>> OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WAS

BASED ON ME BEING FAT.

AND NOW HE SEES ME GETTING MY

LIFE BACK, AND HE'S AFRAID I'M

GONNA LEAVE HIM.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

I COULD TELL YOU THIS WHOLE

JOURNEY WAS EASY, BUT THAT WOULD

BE A LIE, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A

LIE TO TELL YOU IT WAS WORTH IT.

NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S

LIKE TO GO FROM WHERE I WAS TO

WHERE I AM TODAY.

IT'S NOT LIKE I SET OUT TO SAY,

"OOH, I WANT TO GROW UP TO BE

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST LADY.

I WANT TO BE 700 POUNDS."

IT JUST HAPPENED.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I REALLY

TALKED MYSELF INTO I DIDN'T HAVE

A WEIGHT PROBLEM.

I WAS STILL WALKING.

IF I HAD A WEIGHT PROBLEM, I

COULD NOT WALK.

>> HER WHOLE LIFE, MELISSA'S

BEEN KIND OF HEAVY.

IT JUST SEEMED LIKE IT ESCALATED

AND KEPT GETTING BIGGER AND MORE

AND MORE, AND THEN SHE REALLY

GAINED SOME MORE.

SHE SAID, "I KNOW. I'M FAT.

I'M FAT."

AND I SAID, "MELISSA, IT'S NOT

THAT."

I SAID, "IT'S HARD FOR US TO

LOOK AT YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU

CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS.

YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT."

>> THE LAST TIME I WEIGHED

MYSELF, I WEIGHED 337 POUNDS,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "THAT'S

NOT BIG.

THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL."

AND THEN I WENT TO A DOCTOR,

AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE SCALES

AND IT SAID 645, I STARTED

CRYING RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FACED

WITH THAT NOW.

[ SNIFFLES ]

IT'S NOT A NUMBER YOU

ASSOCIATE WITH A PERSON.

NO PERSON SHOULD EVER BE THAT

NUMBER.

>> IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

I WORRY ABOUT HER GETTING SICK.

I WORRY ABOUT COMING HOME AND

FINDING HER DEAD BECAUSE HER

BODY KILLED HER.

SHE'S GOT HER WHOLE LIFE AHEAD

OF HER, AND I'M TO THE POINT

WHERE I'M READY TO START A

FAMILY AND SETTLE DOWN, AND WITH

HER BEING THE SIZE THAT SHE IS,

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

>> HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING TODAY?

>> JUST FINE. HOW YOU DOING?

>> GREAT.

>> WE MET IN 1997.

THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

FIRST QUESTION SHE ASKED ME WAS,

"WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HAT, AND

WHAT COLOR IS YOUR TRUCK?"

AND, OF COURSE, THE HAT WAS

WHITE, AND THE TRUCK WAS BLACK.

>> IT'S FUNNY, 'CAUSE I KNEW

RIGHT THEN THAT I WAS GONNA

MARRY HIM.

>> TRUTHFULLY, I HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT SHE WEIGHED WHEN I FIRST

MET HER.

SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME.

IF I HAD TO GUESS, I'D PROBABLY

SAY CLOSE TO 400 POUNDS.

BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER TO ME.

IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME.

I JUST KNEW SHE WAS THE ONE.

[ APPLAUSE ]

WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED TO HAVE A

CHILD TOGETHER AND HAVE A

FAMILY.

>> I HOPE TO HAVE KIDS.

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL, BECAUSE

I LOVE KIDS.

>> HERE YOU GO.

[ HUMS, LAUGHS ]

>> OH, WAIT.

[ CART BEEPING ]

WHAT EVERYBODY TAKES FOR GRANTED

EVERY DAY, I CAN'T DO.

THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING IN

PUBLIC AT MY WEIGHT IS, YOU GET

LOTS OF LOOKS, AND SOME ARE

SYMPATHETIC, SOME ARE, "OH, YOU

DIRTY WASTE."

>> YEAH.

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> THINK WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR

HEAD.

WHISPER WHAT YOU WANT WITH

SOMEBODY WHO'S WITH YOU.

BUT TO SAY IT OUT LOUD IS THE

WORST.

THE ONLY THING I WANT TO DO IS

JUST TO FALL INTO A DEEP HOLE

AND JUST NEVER COME OUT.

AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH."

HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, IF YOU GET

ANY BIGGER, THEN YOU CAN JUST

BUY A BIGGER CART."

>> HMM. HMM.

>> [ SOBS ]

>> IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

>> [ Voice breaking ] IT'S AWFUL

TO REALIZE WHAT I HAD DONE TO

MYSELF.

[ SNIFFLES ]

BUT IT WASN'T JUST ME THAT IT

AFFECTED.

I HAVE TO RELY ON CHRIS FOR

EVERYTHING.

[ SNIFFLES ]

AND IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN

TO CHRIS, I WOULD HAVE TO GO

HOME TO MY PARENTS, AND THAT'S

NOT HOW IT SHOULD BE.

WHERE YOU WANT TO GO EAT?

I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS.

I WAS ADDICTED.

ONCE YOU GET ADDICTED, YOU CAN'T

STOP.

>> ME BEING THE HUSBAND AND

WANTING TO GIVE HER WHAT SHE

WANTS, IT WOULD BE NOTHING FOR

ME TO BRING HOME TWO BIG MACS,

20-PIECE McNUGGETS, CHOCOLATE

BARS, SODA POP.

>> CAN I HAVE SOME OF YOUR

FRIES?

>> WE WOULD GO INTO TOWN, STOP

AT WHEREVER, AND GET SOMETHING

TO EAT AND THEN COME HOME AND

COOK.

LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW, IT KIND

OF MAKES ME SICK TO THINK THAT I

DID THAT.

IT WAS A CONSTANT STREAM OF FOOD

EVERY DAY.

>> I HAVE BREAKFAST AT 7:00,

8:00, 9:00, 10:00.

11:00, I STARTED LUNCH, AND I

JUST ATE ALL DAY LONG.

>> AT THAT POINT, I BECAME HER

ENABLER AND HER CARETAKER ALL IN

THE SAME TURN.

>> THESE MAY BE MY LAST FRENCH

FRIES EVER, BUT IT'S GONNA BE

WELL WORTH IT.

THE FIRST DOCTOR I WENT TO, HE

COME IN.

HE PUSHED ON MY STOMACH.

HE'S LIKE, "OKAY.

WE NEED YOU TO LOSE 100 POUNDS.

I'M NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING UNTIL

YOU DO THAT."

AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS

DEVASTATED.

I GAVE UP.

BUT IT TOOK ME A YEAR TO FINALLY

FIND A DOCTOR WHO WOULD HELP ME.

>> I WAS HER BIGGEST CHAMPION OF

HAVING THE SURGERY.

I SAID, "YOU GOT ONE FOOT IN THE

GRAVE NOW, AS IT IS.

I THINK YOU'RE DESTINED FOR

GREAT THINGS.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP."

>> THEY TELL YOU THERE'S A

CHANCE OF DYING ON THE OPERATING

TABLE.

I FIGURE I GOT TWO CHOICES.

I CAN EITHER DIE ON THE

OPERATING TABLE, TRYING TO GET

HEALTHY, OR I CAN DIE BECAUSE

I'M 645 POUNDS.

I MEAN, AT LEAST I'M TRYING.

>> I'M NERVOUS AS HECK.

I'VE BEEN PACING THE FLOOR AND

ALL THAT GOOD STUFF, BUT THAT'S

JUST TO BE EXPECTED.

YEAH. COULD YOU HEAR ME?

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK EVERYBODY COULD HEAR

ME.

>> DID YOU WANT ME TO GET OVER?

WHY YOU GOT A TEAR FOR?

[ Voice breaking ] DON'T CRY.

[ MOUTHING WORDS ]

I DIDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT.

I'M SCARED. I'M EXCITED.

I'M SCARED.

[ CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY ]

I THOUGHT THIS IS GOING TO BE

ONE MORE THING THAT I'M GOING TO

MESS UP.

I WAS SO SCARED, BUT I WAS

READY.

THERE'S MY HERO.

GOOD MORNING. HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M DOING OKAY.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I'M FINE. THIS IS MY MOM.

>> HI.

>> YOU'LL BE HAPPY A YEAR FROM

NOW.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S GONNA BE REALLY, REALLY

HARD BECAUSE THIS IS HER FIRST

SURGERY EVER IN HER WHOLE LIFE

OF ANYTHING.

>> THE WAITING'S THE WORST PART.

>> NO, THE WAITING AIN'T THE

WORST PART.

>> OH, I'M GETTING SICK.

>> WAKING UP'S THE WORST PART?

>> WAKING UP'S THE WORST PART.

>> IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE.

THESE TABLES ARE NOT MADE FOR

PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPER OBESE, SO

WE HAVE TO PUT ATTACHMENT TO THE

TABLE TO MAKE IT COMFORTABLE FOR

HER TO LAY DOWN FOR NEXT COUPLE

HOURS THAT WE'RE DOING THE

SURGERY.

ARE WE READY TO MOVE?

>> I'M READY. YES.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> MELISSA IS FINALLY GETTING

WHAT SHE'S WANTED FOR THE LAST

YEAR.

>> WE'RE GONNA HIT THE DOOR.

>> I'M GLAD THIS IS HAPPENING.

LOOKING AT ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN

AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, "HOW CAN I

HELP?

WHAT CAN I DO?"

THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

>> GOOD LUCK, MELISSA.

>> THANK YOU.

>> PARENTS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO

WATCH THEIR CHILDREN DIE.

PARENTS ARE NOT TO WATCH THEIR

CHILDREN DIE.

>> NOW, WHO PUT THE CAFETERIA

NEXT TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY'RE

TAKING THE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T EAT?

>> I'M PROUD OF HER.

SHE'S DOING WELL.

>> I'M VERY EXCITED.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HER LIFE

CHANGING AND OUR LIFE CHANGING.

>> THEY EXPLAINED THAT THIS

SURGERY WAS HIGH-RISK.

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT I DIE.

>> LIFT OVER.

>> BUT I'M HOPEFUL BECAUSE IT'S

GONNA BE BETTER...

IT HAS TO BE BETTER.

I'M READY FOR A WHOLE NEW ME.

...BECAUSE I'M NOT DONE.

I'M SUPPOSED TO DO SOMETHING

ELSE.

I'M NOT DONE HERE YET.

WORK, WORK, YEAH.

BACK THEN, THESE WEIGHT-LOSS

SURGERIES WEREN'T REALLY BEING

DONE.

THE RISK FACTORS ARE HIGH.

IT WOULD BE A RISKY PROCEDURE

ON SOMEONE MY SIZE.

BUT I KNEW THAT, 100%, WITHOUT

IT, I WAS GONNA DIE.

>> PATIENTS THAT ARE EXTREMELY

OVERWEIGHT -- THEY HAVE HIGH

RISK DURING ANESTHESIA.

ANY MOMENT, THEY CAN HAVE A

CARDIAC OR RESPIRATORY EVENT

THAT WILL TERMINATE THEIR LIFE.

>> I'M UPSET, NERVOUS, EXCITED.

WE'VE JUMPED OFF THE EDGE OF THE

GRAND CANYON AND INTO

UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

SHE'S THE PERSON I WANT TO BE

WITH, AND I HAD NO CLUE WHERE WE

WERE GOING.

I WAS SCARED.

>> ESSENTIALLY, GASTRIC BYPASS

IS AN OPERATION TO HELP PATIENT

LOSE WEIGHT.

IT CREATES A SMALL STOMACH.

IN ESSENCE, PATIENT WILL BE ABLE

TO EAT VERY SMALL AMOUNT TWO OR

THREE TIMES A DAY AND LOSE

WEIGHT AND MAINTAIN THE WEIGHT

LOSS.

>> I'M BETTER, NOW THAT SHE'S

BEEN BACK THERE AWHILE, AND...

I'M DOING BETTER.

I'M DOING A LOT BETTER.

>> MELISSA DID WELL DURING THE

GASTRIC BYPASS.

HER SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

>> OKAY.

>> HEY. EVERYBODY IS HERE.

SHE DID VERY GOOD.

IT TOOK HER A LITTLE LONGER TO

GET STARTED, BUT SHE DID VERY

GOOD.

>> CAN I GO SEE HER?

>> IN ABOUT AN HOUR.

>> ABOUT AN HOUR.

>> YEP.

>> MELISSA, YOU ARE IN THE

RECOVERY ROOM.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

>> I'M GLAD SHE'S ALL RIGHT, AND

I'M JUST READY TO SEE HER.

I'M VERY ANXIOUS TO SEE HER.

>> HOW YOU DOING?

>> MY BACK IS HURTING SO BAD.

>> BACK'S HURTING SO BAD?

>> YOUR BUTT?

>> WELL, HECK.

WE ALL DONE THAT, COMING DOWN.

>> AS A VERY LARGE PERSON, BEING

ON YOUR BACK FOR 5 TO 10 HOURS,

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT ON YOUR

BACK FOR SO LONG.

>> I'M SO HAPPY.

I'M ABSOLUTELY HAPPY FOR HER.

>> [ GROANS ]

>> THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME

COMING, AND I'M JUST -- I'M

HAPPY.

IT'S GREAT.

>> MELISSA IS 650 POUNDS,

AND HER BMI IS 113.

THAT'S ONE OF THE HIGHEST BMI

WE HAVE DONE.

MELISSA.

>> YES.

>> HOW YOU DOING?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU FEELING OKAY?

>> YES.

>> HOW DOES YOUR STOMACH FEEL?

>> IT'S ALL RIGHT.

THAT RECOVERY WAS TOUGH.

IT WAS A LOT TOUGHER THAN I

THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.

OH, I'M AFRAID TO GO TOO FAR.

>> I'VE GOT A WHEELCHAIR, BABY.

>> I DON'T THINK I CAN MAKE IT.

OH, I GOT TO SIT DOWN NOW.

I HAVE TO.

I'VE QUESTIONED MYSELF.

HAD I KNOWN THE PAIN, WOULD I

HAVE MADE THE SAME DECISION?

[ GROANS ]

HELP. THE SIDES.

I CAN'T. [ GROANS ]

I GUESS I JUST MAGICALLY

THOUGHT, "OH, I'LL BE ALL

RIGHT."

I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS GONNA BE

THIS PAINFUL.

>> YOU'RE DOING ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE HANGING IN THERE, AND

THAT'S ALL THAT CAN BE EXPECTED.

>> HEY, MELISSA. HOW ARE YOU?

>> I COULDN'T EAT.

WHAT I WANTED DIDN'T AGREE WITH

MY POUCH, SO A LOT OF STUFF CAME

BACK UP.

>> PATIENT WITH A GASTRIC

BYPASS, THEY CAN EAT ABOUT TWO

OR FOUR OUNCES, AND THEY FEEL

FULL.

THEY ALSO HAVE SATISFACTION FROM

THE EATING.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS

DEFINITELY NOT A MEAL.

AFTER A FEW BITES, LIKE, I'VE

JUST ABOUT HAD ENOUGH.

IT ALMOST MAKES ME SICK TO EAT

IT.

>> MELISSA IS DOING VERY GOOD.

SHE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOW

START ABOUT EATING, BUT SHE'S

TOLERATING THAT VERY WELL AND

SHE'S MOVING AROUND VERY GOOD.

YOU READY TO GO HOME TODAY?

>> YES.

I WAS JUST TELLING HIM HOW MUCH

I AM READY TO GO HOME.

>> AND YOUR INCISIONS LOOK GOOD.

>> I AM TIRED AND I AM STRESSED

OUT, AND I AM GLAD SHE'S GOING

HOME.

IT'S JUST HARD.

>> SO, YOU'RE SAYING I'M NOT

WORTH IT?

>> NO, YOU'RE WORTH IT.

YOU'RE MORE THAN WORTH IT.

YOU'RE WAY MORE THAN WORTH IT.

IT'S BEEN HARD ON ME.

IT'S BEEN HARD ON YOU.

>> I'M SO EXCITED.

>> TARGET WEIGHT FOR MELISSA

WILL BE UNDER 200 POUNDS.

OF COURSE, SHE'S GONNA NEED MORE

SKIN SURGERY TO TAKE CARE OF

EXCESS SKIN.

I EXPECT THAT SHE'S GONNA LOSE

30 TO 40 POUNDS EVERY MONTH FOR

THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

>> VERY GOOD.

633.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY AT 200, 250.

I DON'T HOPE TO BE SKINNY.

I HOPE TO BE HEALTHY.

I HOPE TO BE NORMAL.

THAT SOUNDS STUPID, DOESN'T IT?

BYE! THANKS, EVERYBODY!

>> TAKE CARE.

>> UP, UP.

SORRY.

[ GROANS ]

>> THE FIRST NIGHT AT HOME, I

DREAMED THAT I ATE A WHOLE

PIZZA.

I COULD TASTE THE PIZZA IN MY

MOUTH.

IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WAS HUNGRY

IN MY STOMACH.

IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS HUNGRY IN

MY HEAD.

PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT

IT'S ALL GONNA BE, "THE WHOLE

SURGERY'S A MAGIC PILL."

BUT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WAS

THERE BEFORE SURGERY IS THERE

AFTER SURGERY.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

IT'S FUNNY HOW YOUR WHOLE LIFE

CHANGES.

WHEN YOU'RE THAT SIZE, ALL YOUR

HOPES AND DREAMS ARE, "IF I

COULD JUST LOSE THIS WEIGHT."

BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HOW

DIFFERENT IT IS, THE REALIZATION

THAT YOU NO LONGER NEED A

CARETAKER.

LOOK, I CAN GO UP AND DOWN THE

STEPS WITH NO HANDS!

IT'S LIKE BEING FREE.

SEE? WATCH.

LIKE YOU'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN

JAIL AND FINALLY, FOR ONCE,

YOU'RE FREE.

AND I CLEAN THE HOUSE, PUT AWAY

GROCERIES.

AND THIS IS MY PROTEIN DRAWER.

EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE'S ABOUT

PROTEIN.

IT'S MOZZARELLA CHEESE.

14 GRAMS OF PROTEIN.

THIS IS MY BEST FRIEND.

THIS I LOVE.

I PUT THIS ON MY CHICKEN.

FATTY FOODS MAKE ME SICK.

HAMBURGER -- WORST THING TO

THROW UP.

I HAD A BITE OF A SNICKERS.

I WON'T DO IT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT

WASN'T WORTH GETTING SICK OVER.

CHRIS -- HE'S DONE WAY MORE THAN

A HUSBAND SHOULD HAVE TO DO.

YOU HAVE TO WASH YOUR WIFE

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T WASH HERSELF,

OR YOU HAVE TO WIPE HER BECAUSE

SHE CAN'T CLEAN UP AFTER

HERSELF.

AND "LET THERE BE LIGHT."

BUT NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DO

THAT ANYMORE.

OH!

SEE MY CHAIR?

IT'S STRANGE TO BE ABLE TO FIT

MY WHOLE BODY INTO THE CHAIR.

I DO THINGS I HAVEN'T DONE IN

YEARS.

BEFORE, I HAD TO WAIT TILL CHRIS

GOT HOME.

NOW HE COMPLAINS SOMETIMES, "YOU

ALWAYS GET THE MAIL."

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOMETHING TO

LIVE FOR, JUST GETTING

REACQUAINTED WITH THE PERSON

THAT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

>> COME ON IN, MELISSA.

>> I'M AFRAID BECAUSE I KEEP

HEARING YOU LOSE MOST OF YOUR

WEIGHT WITHIN, LIKE, THE FIRST

SIX MONTHS, AND THAT NUMBER IS

CREEPING REALLY FAST.

AHA! I TOLD YOU.

[ LAUGHS ] I TOLD YOU.

YOU FIGURE THAT LOSING WEIGHT

WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPY.

I WISH IT WAS MORE.

I WISH IT WAS MORE.

I GUESS I WANT TOO MUCH TOO

FAST.

>> IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING

3 1/2 MONTHS.

EVEN MYSELF, I'VE LOST WEIGHT

JUST FROM JUST HAVING TO CHANGE

THE WAY I EAT.

>> HEY, MELISSA. HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M DOING GREAT.

>> PUT THAT DOWN.

SEE HOW MUCH...

>> IT IS REALLY BOTHERSOME.

IT GETS IN THE WAY A LOT, AND

IT'S VERY HEAVY.

>> WELL, THE GOAL WILL BE TO

TAKE IT OFF IF IT INTERFERES

WITH YOUR WALKING ACTIVITY.

>> THANK YOU.

I HAD A WHOLE LIST OF THINGS

THAT I WAS SO SURE I WANTED WHEN

I STARTED THE SURGERY, AND HOW

THOSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

IT'S GONE FROM WANTING TO PUT A

SEAT BELT ON IN A CAR TO OWNING

MY OWN CAR.

[ CHUCKLES ]

>> SHE'S DOING MORE FOR HERSELF

NOW.

SHE'S GETTING HER LIFE BACK.

>> STILL HARD FOR YOU TO DEAL

WITH, THOUGH.

>> SOMETIMES.

IT WAS AN ADJUSTMENT FOR ME,

HAVING TO LET GO OF THAT

CARETAKER ROLE, BECAUSE I'VE

BEEN DOING IT FOR THE BETTER

PART OF SIX YEARS.

>> IT'S VERY HARD ON A

RELATIONSHIP.

EVERY DAY I GET TO HEAR, "DID

YOU USE MY RAZOR?

WHEN DID YOU START SHAVING YOUR

OWN LEGS?

WHO PAINTED YOUR TOENAILS?"

>> I'LL START TRYING TO DO

SOMETHING FOR HER.

SHE WANTS TO DO IT, AND THEN WE

JUST KIND OF GET A LITTLE ANGRY

AT EACH OTHER.

IT'S HARD TO BREAK THE PATTERN.

>> WHEN WE GET IN AN ARGUMENT,

I'M NOW ABLE TO GET UP AND LEAVE

THE ARGUMENT.

IT KIND OF SCARES HIM.

>> TRUE. IT'S TRUE.

I'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT.

>> FOR SO LONG, YOU NEVER HAD TO

WORRY ABOUT WHAT I WAS DOING,

BECAUSE HE KNEW I WAS THERE.

AND NOW HE SEES ME GETTING MY

LIFE BACK, AND HE'S AFRAID I'M

GONNA LEAVE HIM.

>> NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES

WITHOUT A STRUGGLE.

AFTER MY SURGERY, FOOD MADE ME

NAUSEOUS.

BUT AFTER THE FIRST TWO MONTHS,

I WANTED TO EAT.

FIRST INSTINCT WHEN SOMETHING

GOES WRONG IS TO GO TO THE

REFRIGERATOR.

"OOH, I NEED SOMETHING SWEET."

AND THEN I CATCH MYSELF, AND

I'LL BE LIKE, "OKAY, SHUT THE

REFRIGERATOR.

IT'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING

DEEPER."

THAT'S THE WORST THING IS, THE

STILL HAVING TO FIGHT, TO HAVE

TO OPEN THE REFRIGERATOR AND

FIGHT WITH MYSELF TO REACH FOR

SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR ME.

THAT'S MINE, BUT THAT'S A

SECRET.

CHRIS'. DON'T USE.

CHRIS'. CHRIS'. DON'T USE.

BUT I HAVE LIED NOT ONLY TO

MYSELF BUT LIED TO EVERYBODY

ELSE.

AND I'M A VERY GOOD LIAR.

BECAUSE EVERYBODY YOU ASK SAY,

"WELL, I NEVER SEEN HER EAT THAT

MUCH.

SHE NEVER REALLY ATE THAT MUCH."

YOU WANT TO KNOW A SECRET?

IT'S NOT THE YARN BASKET.

IT'S THE TREAT BASKET.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SHOWING YOU

THIS.

I PACK CHRIS' LUNCH IN THE

MORNING.

HE TAKES SNACKS AND TREATS.

SEE? THE GOOD STUFF.

THIS IS THE DEVIL'S FOOD.

THIS IS ILLEGAL CONTRABAND.

IF I SEE THEM, THEN I WANT THEM.

SO I THROW MY YARN DOWN ON TOP

TO KEEP THEM HIDDEN.

LET ME SHOW YOU MY PURSES.

MY PROTECTION PURSE.

I SEE SOMEBODY LOOKING AT ME,

STARING PRETTY HARD...

MY BAG GOES IN FRONT.

AND THIS HAS EVERYTHING IN IT

BUT THE KITCHEN SINK.

DEODORANT.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AS

A FAT WOMAN -- PERFUME SPRAY,

BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES

YOU TAKE A BATH, HOW MUCH YOU

WASH, HOW MUCH YOU TRY...

YOU END UP SMELLING.

WHAT DO I ATTRIBUTE MY WEIGHT

TO?

THE FIRST THING IS EMOTIONS,

BECAUSE I ALWAYS KEPT EVERYTHING

IN.

SURGERY STUFF WAS THE EASY PART.

THE HARD PART IS REALIZING WHERE

YOU WENT WRONG.

THINGS ARE TUCKED AWAY IN THE

BACK OF YOUR MIND FOR A REASON.

THERE'S A PART OF YOU THAT

DISLIKES YOU.

MY WEIGHT WAS MY SHIELD, JUST

LIKE MY PILLOWS AND MY PURSES

ARE MY SHIELD.

TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND BE HAPPY,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH

MEMORIES THAT I HAVE PUT IN THE

BACK OF MY MIND, SO I HAVE TO

DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.

I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE OVERWEIGHT

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

SIX MONTHS AFTER MY SURGERY, I

DECIDED TO FLY TO MY HOMETOWN

FOR A FAMILY REUNION, AND I WAS

TERRIFIED.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, I WAS TOO

ASHAMED TO GO TO ANY KIND OF

FAMILY FUNCTIONS.

MOST PEOPLE MY WEIGHT SHUT

THEIRSELF OFF FOR YEARS.

I'M NERVOUS TO SEE MY FAMILY.

I'M NERVOUS OF FLYING.

>> WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

>> AT THAT POINT, I HAD LOST

200 POUNDS, SO I WAS STILL

400-PLUS POUNDS.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD BEEN

ON AN AIRPLANE IN I DON'T KNOW

HOW LONG.

>> YOU KNOW HOW THAT WORKS?

>> I HAVE TWO SEATS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT'S EMBARRASSING.

[ SNIFFLES ]

I'M JUST MAD.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING.

PEOPLE LOOK AT ME WITH SUCH

DISGUST IN THEIR FACE AND EYES.

IT'S JUST HARD.

I DON'T LIKE TO BE IN PUBLIC.

I'VE BEEN HIDING FOR 12 YEARS OF

MY LIFE.

[ SNIFFLES ]

AND SO COMING OUT IS HARD.

BE NICE JUST TO BE OVER WITH.

[ Sighing ] OH.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE

FLIGHT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS WEIGHT

LOSS, JUST TO HAVE A LIFE AGAIN

WITHOUT HAVING TO BE LOOKED AT

LIKE I'M SOME FREAK.

[ SNIFFLES ]

MY FAMILY IS SO CLOSE-KNIT THAT

THEY ALL LIVE IN ONE CENTRAL

AREA.

AND IN '97, I MOVED AWAY, SO A

LOT OF PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN ME.

IT'S BEEN A LONG WHILE.

I STOPPED GOING TO ALL FAMILY

FUNCTIONS.

I STAYED IN ONE ROOM, BASICALLY.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO FACE MY FEARS,

AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS IS

LETTING MY FAMILY DOWN.

I'M AFRAID THEY'RE GONNA SEE ME

AND NOT APPRECIATE WHERE I'VE

CAME FROM.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO LET THEM

DOWN.

>> [ CRYING ]

MY MOM COULDN'T BELIEVE I WAS

WALKING, 'CAUSE IT HAD BEEN

YEARS SINCE SHE'D SEEN ME WALK.

WHY ARE YOU CRYING?

>> NEVER SEEN YOU WALK THAT FAR.

>> YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW FAR.

>> YES, I DO.

I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE HER WALKING.

OH, MY GOD. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

IT'S SO UNREAL.

>> MAKE IT?

>> CAN YOU HOLD THIS DOOR, MOM?

>> I GOT IT, I GOT IT.

>> I'M GONNA FIT! [ LAUGHS ]

>> [ CHUCKLES ]

SHE'S LIKE, "AH, I FIT!"

[ LAUGHS ]

>> [ SNIFFLES ]

>> YOU OKAY?

YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES YOU'D

COME HOME, AND WHEN YOU'D LEAVE,

YOUR DAD WOULD CRY AND SAY,

"I'LL NEVER SEE HER ALIVE

AGAIN"?

>> I WAS AFRAID THAT YOU WOULD

BE DISAPPOINTED.

>> AFRAID I'D BE DISAPPOINTED?

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, SCALES AT THE

DOCTOR'S DOESN'T LIE, DO THEY?

>> NO, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL

LIKE IT'S THAT MUCH WHEN YOU'VE

GOT SO MUCH MORE TO GO.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO FINALLY SEE

MY FAMILY AGAIN.

BUT DEEP DOWN, I WAS EXTREMELY

ASHAMED OVER ALL THE WEIGHT THAT

I HAD LET MYSELF PUT ON.

AND MY NEPHEW, BLESS HIS HEART,

HE ALWAYS SAYS, "AUNT LISSA, ARE

YOU SKINNY YET?"

[ CHUCKLES ]

HE THINKS THAT THE SURGERY JUST

MADE ME SKINNY INSTANTLY.

I CANNOT WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT

UNTIL DAD SEES ME.

I THINK HE'LL BE SURPRISED.

YOU START TO REALIZE THINGS YOU

DIDN'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT

BEFORE, HOW MUCH LIFE HAS PASSED

YOU BY, HOW MUCH YOU MISSED.

>> SURPRISE!

>> SURPRISE!

I HAVE 12 NIECES AND NEPHEWS,

WHO I LOVE DEARLY, BUT I'VE

MISSED OUT ON THEM.

[ Voice breaking ] I DIDN'T GO

TO THEIR SPORTING EVENTS.

I DIDN'T GO TO HIGH-SCHOOL

GRADUATIONS, 'CAUSE I WAS

EMBARRASSED.

>> I CAN TELL SHE'S LOST A LOT

OF WEIGHT.

>> I CRIED.

THEY'RE LIKE, "MICHELLE, ARE YOU

ALL RIGHT?"

I'M LIKE, "LOOK AT MY SISTER!"

>> MELISSA, JUST COME HERE

TO ME.

>> IT'S GREAT HAVING HER HOME,

HAVING ALL THESE KIDS AROUND

HER.

ABSOLUTELY GREAT.

>> I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU LET THIS

BABY EAT PIZZA.

>> SHE LOVES HER NIECES AND

NEPHEWS SO, SO MUCH.

SHE CAN ACTUALLY PLAY WITH THEM

AND DO THINGS WITH THEM.

I HOPE THAT SHE CAN

EVENTUALLY HAVE A BABY OF HER

OWN, 'CAUSE SHE LOVES CHILDREN.

[ LAUGHTER ]

[ GUITAR PLAYS UP-TEMPO MUSIC ]

>> TIME.

>> TIME'S UP!

AW.

>> I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

OH, MY GOD.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO LET MY

AUNTS AND UNCLES AND COUSINS SEE

ME LOOK THE WAY I LOOK, EVEN

AFTER LOSING SOME OF THE WEIGHT

FROM THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

'CAUSE I'M STILL NOT A NORMAL

PERSON'S SIZE.

>> LAST TIME I SEEN HER, SHE

COULDN'T WALK.

I'M JUST TICKLED TO DEATH TO SEE

YOU WALK.

YOU'RE COMING INTO IT.

>> I'M TRYING REAL HARD.

>> THAT'S THE WAY.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

>> THANK YOU, PA PA.

>> SHE LOOKS GREAT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

IT TAKES A LOT OF WORRIES OFF MY

MIND.

>> EVERYBODY, GET OFF!

MELISSA'S GONNA SLIDE!

>> YOU WANT TO START MOVING ON

WITH YOUR LIFE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN

ON PAUSE FOR SO LONG.

BUT IT'S NOT AS EASY AS THAT.

AAH! [ LAUGHS ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

MY BUSINESS IS COMING OFF!

[ LAUGHTER ]

>> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

>> SHE'S OVER THERE.

LOOK, SHE'S RIGHT THERE.

LOOK.

[ LAUGHTER ]

>> LET'S GO.

>> OH, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

>> [ SNIFFLES ]

>> LET'S GO IN THE HOUSE.

>> [ Voice breaking ] I'M ALL

RIGHT.

>> DON'T CRY.

>> THEY EMBARRASSED HER AS MUCH

AS THEY DID ON THAT THING.

>> IT'S HARD.

IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE

ACCOMPLISHMENT, AND THEN

SOMETHING LIKE THIS JUST TAKES

IT AWAY.

I'M SO HAPPY THAT I WENT TO THE

CELEBRATION.

BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT, I NEED TO

STOP WANTING INSTANT

GRATIFICATION.

IT'LL COME IN TIME.

I'M GONNA KEEP WORKING, 'CAUSE

IT WILL COME IN TIME.

[ SNIFFLES ]

>> I FEAR FAILURE EVERY DAY.

BUT IF I LET THAT GET ME, THEN I

WOULD EASILY BE BACK UP TO

600 POUNDS.

I'VE LOST 210 POUNDS, BUT I'M

STILL FAT.

SEE THIS?

THAT ABSOLUTELY GROSSES ME OUT.

I CAN'T STAND TO LOOK AT MYSELF

IN THE MIRROR.

IT JIGGLES.

LIKE, TERRIBLY JIGGLES.

YEAH, I CAN LIFT, AND IT'S

JUST LIKE, "UGH."

THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS I

CAN'T WAIT FOR HIM TO REMOVE,

BUT IT'S EMBARRASSING AT THE

SAME TIME TO SHOW YOU.

IT'S JUST A FAT PACK OF SKIN AND

FAT.

ISN'T THAT DISGUSTING?

AND IT WAS BIGGER.

ON FRIDAY, HE'S GOING TO REMOVE

THE FAT PACK AND THEN SOME

STOMACH SKIN.

I CANNOT WAIT.

I CANNOT WAIT.

>> JUST A SECOND, MISS MELISSA,

OKAY, HONEY?

>> OW.

>> I'M SORRY.

>> MELISSA, IT'S OKAY.

>> GOING INTO SURGERY, I WAS

SCARED TO DEATH.

>> HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

>> [ Voice breaking ] IT WAS

EASIER LAST TIME.

>> OKAY.

>> I WAS CRYING HYSTERICALLY.

JUST REALLY SCARED.

I DON'T REMEMBER BEING THIS

SCARED LAST TIME.

WHAT IS THAT SAYING?

"NO PAIN, NO GAIN."

[ CHUCKLES ]

IN MY CASE, "NO PAIN, NO LOSS."

[ CHUCKLES ]

DR. NOWZARADAN ASKED ME

THREE TIMES OUTSIDE THE

OPERATING ROOM IF I WAS SURE

THAT I WANTED TO GO THROUGH WITH

THIS.

I WAS SO SCARED, BUT I WAS

READY.

>> TODAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME

EXCESSIVE SKIN OFF OF MELISSA'S

THIGH AND ABDOMEN, TO HELP HER

TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND AND

WALK BETTER.

>> I ALWAYS SAY THEY DID SURGERY

ON MY STOMACH, BUT HE REALLY

SHOULD HAVE DONE IT ON MY BRAIN,

BECAUSE IT GOES THAT DEEP.

THE ROOT OF MY PROBLEMS GO TO

CHILDHOOD.

EVERY SINGLE POUND THAT WAS ON

MY BODY WAS AN EMOTION OF

SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN MY

LIFE.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WAS

MOLESTED.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I BLAMED

MYSELF INSTEAD OF BLAMING THE

PERSON WHO REALLY DID IT.

HOW A PERSON COULD DO THAT TO A

CHILD, I DON'T KNOW.

AND MINE WEREN'T GROWN ADULTS.

THEY WERE OLDER, BUT THEY

WEREN'T GROWN ADULTS.

THEY WERE TEENAGERS -- 16, 17,

18 -- I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY.

I WAS YOUNG ENOUGH -- I THINK I

WAS IN SECOND, THIRD GRADE, SO

I DON'T THINK THAT I CONSCIOUSLY

THOUGHT, "I'M GONNA GET FAT AND

THEY WON'T DO IT."

I'VE NEVER HAD THE GUTS TO SAY

ANYTHING TO THE TWO PEOPLE WHO

DONE IT.

BUT IF I DID, THE FIRST THING I

WOULD SAY TO THEM IS, "YOU ARE

A MAJOR PART -- A MAJOR PART OF

WHY I AM LIKE I AM TODAY."

I AM THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY I

GOT LIKE I AM BECAUSE OF ME.

BUT THAT IS A MAJOR PART.

I NEVER DEALT WITH THE HURT.

IT WAS JUST THERE.

OH, GOSH. IT HURTS.

>> I THINK THEY SAID THEY

STARTED AT 9:30, SO 6 HOURS TO

GET OFF 60 POUNDS.

>> IT'S THE FINAL PRODUCT.

>> WOW. OKAY.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF SKIN.

>> NOW, DOES THAT GO ON ICE OR

SOMETHING?

>> YES.

>> YEAH.

>> HURTS SO BAD.

DO I LOOK DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, YOU DO.

YOU DO.

>> [ TALKING INDISTINCTLY ]

>> I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.

I'M GLAD THAT SHE DECIDED TO DO

IT AND DIDN'T BACK OUT AND HAD

THE COURAGE TO GO THROUGH IT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.

>> IT'S FUNNY TO BE ABLE TO SEE

MY LAP.

>> SHE LOOKS GOOD.

>> MY LEGS LOOK HUGE NOW.

[ CHUCKLES ]

THEY WEIGHED ME THIS MORNING,

AND SHE'S LIKE, YOU'RE 389

POUNDS.

389 POUNDS.

IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS SINCE I'VE

BEEN 389 POUNDS.

IT WAS JUST EXCITING TO BE UNDER

400 POUNDS.

OH, IT'S SO EXCITING.

>> I'M JUST DOING THAT.

SHE SAID THAT DRESS DEFINITELY

LOOKS DIFFERENT ON HER NOW THAN

WHEN SHE CAME IN HERE.

>> YES!

>> IT'S NICE TO REALIZE THAT

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT LESS OF ME.

IF I HAD OPENED MY EYES AND

REALIZED WHAT I REALIZE NOW, I'D

NEVER BE IN THIS SITUATION.

I, EVERY DAY, WAKE UP AND SAY,

"I NEED A REASON NOT TO EAT A

PIECE OF CAKE TODAY.

I NEED A REASON NOT TO EAT A

GALLON OF ICE CREAM TODAY."

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL SEE Y'ALL NEXT TIME.

>> MY MAIN REASON FOR DOING IT

IS LIVING.

>> GET DOWN.

SOMETIMES I LOOK IN THE MIRROR

AND I DON'T KNOW THE FACE

LOOKING AT ME, BECAUSE I DON'T

REMEMBER LOOKING LIKE THIS

BEFORE.

THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD A PAIR

OF BLUE JEANS ON WAS

APRIL 1, 1999.

OH, MY GOSH! THEY FASTEN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I GOT JEANS ON.

I FEEL LIKE I'M STARTING A WHOLE

NEW LIFE, THAT I'M GETTING A

SECOND CHANCE.

THE FIRST TIME I WEIGHED IN AT

THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE, I WEIGHED

IN AT 653 POUNDS.

[ LAUGHS ]

>> I TOLD YOU. I TOLD YOU.

>> YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

>> I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU ALL

WEEK.

>> IT'S LIKE, I'M HALF THE WOMAN

I USED TO BE.

I'M JUST HALF THE PERSON I USED

TO BE.

THIS IS MY FOURTH OUTFIT TODAY.

>> PLEASE, CAN WE JUST GET

GOING?

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE MY DRIVER'S

TEST.

THE COOL THING ABOUT ME GETTING

MY DRIVER'S LICENSE IS I'LL

NEVER BE HOME.

>> [ SIGHS ]

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

BEFORE WE BEGIN?

>> I GUESS I JUST WANT HER TO DO

GOOD AND GET HER DRIVER'S

LICENSE BACK SO I DON'T HAVE TO

[Chuckling] DO ALL THE DRIVING

ANYMORE.

>> I AM VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY

HAPPY.

>> IS THAT ALL?

>> THAT'S IT. YOU'RE ALL DONE.

>> THANK YOU. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO

DRIVE?

>> I'M POSITIVE. THANKS.

THIS IS MY CHART.

I STARTED MARKING THEM OUT TO

THE WEIGHTS I WAS LOSING.

THAT'S WHERE I'M AT AND WHERE I

WANT TO BE.

BUT THAT HELPS ME.

ANYTIME I FEEL LIKE SNACKING, I

COME IN HERE AND I LOOK AT IT,

BECAUSE THERE'S, LIKE, JUNK FOOD

ALL AROUND THIS HOUSE.

CHRIS PACKS HIS LUNCH.

CHRIS EATS JUNK FOOD.

THIS STOMACH AREA WAS 120 INCHES

IN CIRCUMFERENCE.

AND NOW IT IS...

WHAT IS IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T -- MOVE

YOUR FINGER A LITTLE BIT.

48".

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> YES, IT IS

>> IT'S TWISTED OR SOMETHING.

IT CAN'T BE THAT LITTLE.

>> IT'S 48"!

WHY WOULD I LIE ABOUT IT?

>> IT IS 48", AIN'T IT?

>> YEAH.

>> [ CHUCKLES ]

THAT'S AMAZING.

I LOVE LIFE.

I REALLY FEEL IT IS A SHAME THAT

I HAVE TO SLEEP, BECAUSE I FELT

LIKE I WASTED SO MUCH OF MY

LIFE.

COME ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I HAD SO MUCH ENERGY, AND I

WAS READY FOR IT.

I WAS READY TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

>> NO, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TAG

BACK LIKE THAT.

BUT LIFE IS STILL A LITTLE

OVERWHELMING FOR ME.

I CRAVE THE WEIRDEST THINGS --

SALT, SALTINE CRACKERS, CHINESE

FOOD.

I KNOW, WHEN I'M GOING TO EAT

THEM, THAT I'M GOING TO THROW

UP.

BUT SOMETIMES, HONESTLY, IF I'M

CRAVING IT BAD ENOUGH, IT'S

WORTH GETTING SICK FOR.

>> REMEMBER, WHEN YOU FIRST

WALKED IN, YOU COULDN'T -- I

MEAN, I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOSH.

SHE'S NOT GONNA FIT THROUGH THE

HALL," 'CAUSE YOU WERE SO BIG.

AND LOOK AT YOU NOW.

>> I'M STILL BIG.

LOOK AT THE SADDLEBAGS.

>> OH, NO.

>> OH, THAT'S CHANGED.

THAT'S CHANGED.

>> HEY. HOW ARE YOU, MELISSA?

>> I'M DOING GOOD.

>> LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOU.

>> LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH, MY LEGS ARE AWFUL.

>> YEAH, TURN AROUND MORE AND

MORE AND MORE.

I THINK PRIORITY WILL BE TO

GET RID OF THIS.

MELISSA HAS A LOT OF WEIGHT TO

LOSE, AND SO SHE'S GONNA HAVE A

LOT OF LOOSE SKIN.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE 50 TO 60

POUNDS OF EXTRA SKIN.

SHE'S GONNA NEED MULTIPLE

SURGERY TO REMOVE THE EXTRA

SKIN.

BY THE TIME WE FINISH YOUR

SURGERY, YOU'RE GONNA BE LIKE

280 POUNDS OR LESS.

>> I WANT TO BE.

>> NOW, YOU WANT TO BE WHAT YOU

GOT TO BE, AND JUST TAKE IT ONE

STEP AT A TIME AND QUIT TRYING

TO RUSH THINGS.

I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU SINCE

DAY ONE, PERFECTION TAKES TIME.

>> IF HE LIPOSUCTIONS NOT JUST

EXCESS SKIN, BUT IF HE ACTUALLY

LIPOSUCTIONS FAT, THEN IT MAY

BE A BIGGER NUMBER, TOO.

I JUST WANT TO BE DONE.

I'M READY TO BE A MOM.

I'M READY TO HAVE A JOB.

>> YOU CAN'T RUSH IT.

YOU CANNOT RUSH PERFECTION.

HELLO?

ARE YOU MAD AT ME?

>> I THINK, HONESTLY, SOMETIMES

YOU MISS THE FAT ME.

>> AND WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

>> 9 TIMES OUT OF 10, WHEN WE

EAT OUT, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE

HUNGRY.

BUT YOU DON'T DISCOURAGE ME WHEN

YOU SEE ME DOING THINGS THAT I

SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

>> I THINK THAT YOU LIKED

KNOWING THAT I NEEDED YOU.

I CAN'T BELIEVE WE FORGOT THE

CAN OPENER.

>> I DIDN'T FORGET IT.

I'LL MAKE THIS WORK.

ARE YOU KIDDING?

OH, RIGHT HERE.

I'M A BIG BOY.

I KNOW HOW TO OPEN UP A CAN OF

CHILI.

I'LL ASK HER IF SHE NEEDS HELP,

AND SHE'S LIKE, "LEAVE ME ALONE.

I GOT IT."

"OKAY."

>> IT'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT

COME ALONG WITH LOSING WEIGHT.

CHRIS AND I HAVE TO REBUILD A

WHOLE NEW RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE

OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WAS BASED

ON ME BEING FAT.

IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT

IT WAS GONNA BE.

BUT EVEN THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT

I'VE BEEN THROUGH, EVEN THROUGH

EVERYTHING THAT CHRIS AND I HAVE

BEEN THROUGH, I AM LIVING THE

BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.

I KNEW, 100%, WITHOUT THIS

SURGERY, I WAS GONNA DIE.

EVERYTHING THAT I COULDN'T DO

BEFORE, I DO, AND MORE.

I CAN MOVE AND BREATHE AND NOT

WAKE UP EVERY DAY HURTING.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT WORTH IT.

NOTHING IN MY LIFE HAS BEEN

EASY -- NOTHING.

THIS IS A BATTLE THAT I WANT TO

WIN.

THIS IS SOMETHING I WANTED TO

FIGHT FOR.

THIS IS HOW YOU'RE WALKING.

GOT TO KEEP GOING.

GOT TO KEEP GOING.