Original subtitles

I FEEL LIKE A PRISONER.

MY LIFE IS PRETTY MUCH OVER IF THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR ME.

I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON MY WORST ENEMY.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

Woman: I HATE THIS LIFE THAT I HAVE.

DON'T YOU DARE PUT IT ALL OFF ON ME!

LISTEN, SHE IS GOING TO DIE. PERIOD.

BOTH OF Y'ALL, STOP. JUST STOP!

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'VE GOT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

OTHERWISE, SURGERY WOULD NOT BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

[ Voice breaking ] I CAN'T DO THIS

WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP ME SAY NO.

YOU ARE ON BORROWED TIME HERE.

YOU'RE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.

TRY AGAIN.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Joe: YOU HAVE TO KNOW TRUE DESPAIR

BEFORE YOU'RE WILLING TO RISK EVERYTHING TO MAKE A CHANGE.

[ TELEPHONE RINGING ]

I NEED YOU TO SEND AN AMBULANCE OUT HERE.

DISPATCHER: What's the problem?

Tell me exactly what's happening.

I STOOD UP LAST NIGHT.

MY LEFT KNEE POPPED REAL LOUD, AND THE PAIN'S UNBEARABLE.

Have you been in the floor this whole time,

or were you able to get back up?

NO, I'VE BEEN IN THE FLOOR.

All right.

We're sending them out there to you, okay?

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

Bye-bye. BYE.

BEING THIS SIZE, I'M IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN ALL THE TIME.

[ GROANS ]

I'M 31 YEARS OLD, BUT MY JOINTS ARE JUST SHOT.

I FALL -- THAT'S INEVITABLE.

MY LEG GOES WEAK, AND DOWN I GO.

[ COUGHING ]

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL 10 TIMES OVER 9 MONTHS.

YOU ABLE TO SAW IT?

I CAN'T GO UP AND DOWN STAIRS --

CAN'T EVEN GET BY THE STEERING WHEEL OF A CAR ANYMORE.

READY? YOU READY?

I'VE BEEN HOMEBOUND, AND IT'S VERY LONELY.

THERE WE GO.

OHH! OH, OH, OH, OH.

EVERYBODY READY?

AND 3. 1...2...3.

[ GROANS ]

I FEEL LIKE A PRISONER INSIDE THIS BODY.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON MY WORST ENEMY.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE,

ONE THAT I WISH VERY MUCH I COULD WAKE UP FROM.

[ GRUNTS ]

WHEN I FALL, I JUST CAN'T GET UP ON MY OWN,

SO I HAVE TO CALL AN AMBULANCE.

IT'S REALLY EMBARRASSING.

AFTER THEY CHECK ME OUT, THEY USUALLY JUST SEND ME HOME.

I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE SO FAR

TO HAVE IT HAPPEN WHEN I'M ON THE CARPET.

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT I FEAR, IF I AM IN THE BATHROOM,

I'LL FALL AND BREAK MY NECK.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ GRUNTS ]

NO ONE WILL BE AROUND,

AND THEY'LL FIND ME THE NEXT MORNING.

[ WATER RUNNING ]

BUT I REFUSE TO LET SOMEONE BATHE ME.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I WON'T ALLOW.

IT WOULD JUST BE TOO HUMILIATING.

I CAN BARELY DO IT FOR MYSELF RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'D RATHER DIE THAN HAVE TO MAKE SOMEONE DO THAT FOR ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]

MNH.

OHH.

DEAR GOD. I MEAN...

[ CLATTERS ]

MNH. DAMN IT.

OHH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ CLATTERING ]

MY LIFE IS PRETTY MUCH OVER IF THIS IS ALL THAT'S LEFT FOR ME.

[ METAL CLATTERING ]

[ PANTING ]

MY WORST MOMENT WITH THIS CURSE WAS WHEN I WAS ABOUT 28.

I HAD JUST FALLEN IN THE FLOOR AGAIN,

AND I HAPPENED TO SEE A SHOW ABOUT A GUY

THAT WAS SUFFERING THE SAME KIND OF PROBLEMS,

AND HE ENDED UP DYING.

I LOST IT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE.

I WAS LOOKING AROUND,

TRYING TO FIND SOME WAY TO OFF MYSELF --

KEPT THINKING IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.

I JUST...DIDN'T CARE ANYMORE.

THE ENTIRE TIME, I WAS THINKING,

"I DON'T WANT TO BE A BURDEN TO ANYBODY ANYMORE."

I CAN'T DO A LOT FOR MYSELF ANYMORE.

MY SISTER'S HAVING TO DO STUFF FOR ME NOW.

I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE IT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE INDEPENDENT.

COME IN.

HEY, HOW'S IT GOING?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

I'VE SEEN BETTER DAYS.

YEAH, I HEARD YOU WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THIS MORNING.

HOW WAS THAT?

YOU KNOW, THEY -- I FELL AGAIN

AND DID THE WHOLE ROUTINE THAT I USUALLY END UP HAVING TO DO.

DID THEY FIND ANYTHING ON THE X-RAYS OR...

NO.

THEY SAID THERE WAS SOME MILD INFLAMMATION.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO EAT?

[ CLEARS THROAT ] YEAH.

Annie: ME AND MY BROTHER HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REALLY CLOSE.

WE HAD A NOT-SO-PLEASANT CHILDHOOD.

MOM AND DAD SPLIT UP. DAD WENT AND DID HIS OWN THING.

JOEY'S ALWAYS BEEN BIGGER,

BUT AFTER THAT, IT JUST SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.

Joe: GROWING UP, I COULD HAVE NEVER IMAGINED

ENDING UP LIKE THIS.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY WEIGHT,

EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE.

BAD HABITS GOT PICKED UP EARLY.

I PRETTY MUCH HAD FREE REIN TO DO WHATEVER I WANTED,

AND THAT INCLUDED WHATEVER I WANTED TO EAT.

JOEY STARTED GAINING WEIGHT REAL EARLY.

HIS DADDY DECIDED IT WAS EASIER TO GET HIM TO EAT FAST FOOD

INSTEAD OF OTHER THINGS.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ME AND MY DAD WAS STRAINED.

JOEY WANTED TO BE CLOSE TO HIS DAD,

AND INSTEAD OF HIS DAD BEING THERE,

HE WOULD BUY HIM THINGS LIKE VIDEO GAMES AND MOVIES.

Joe: I THINK THAT WAS HIS WAY OF DEALING WITH ME

SO HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO.

I WOULD HAVE GIVEN UP EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I HAD

IF HE HAD HAVE PAID ME ANY ATTENTION,

AND...I FELT LIKE LIFE WAS PUNISHING ME

FOR SOME SIN THAT I DIDN'T EVEN COMMIT.

THANK YOU.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SEEM LIKE I WAS WEAK,

SO I ATE TO DEAL WITH MY FEELINGS,

AND I NEVER STOPPED.

AND NOW I'M JUST NOT LIVING A LIFE.

Annie: JOEY'S BEEN A RECLUSE PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE.

HE DOESN'T GO OUT IN PUBLIC.

[ Crying ] IF THERE WAS SOME WAY THAT I COULD FIX HIM MYSELF,

I WOULD, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I JUST WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

OKAY. I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

SEE YOU.

BYE.

Joe: I'VE BEEN DESPERATELY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,

"WHY AM I LIKE THIS?

WHAT DID I DO WRONG?"

HEY. YOU READY FOR DINNER?

Joe: OH, YEAH, SURE.

COOL.

SEEING JOEY LIKE THIS IS MURDER.

IT'S LIKE HE'S IN A PRISON.

[ GRUNTS ] OKAY.

HERE'S YOURS.

I'M SCARED THAT, ONE DAY, I'M GONNA COME AROUND,

AND HE'S GONNA JUST BE LAYING THERE DEAD SOMEWHERE.

I WANT TO DO ANYTHING I CAN TO HELP HIM,

BUT IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR HANDS ARE TIED.

THANK YOU.

YEAH. THIS WILL BE GOOD.

I CAN SEE IT IN HER EYES THAT SHE'S CONCERNED.

I DON'T THINK ANY PARENT SHOULD HAVE TO BURY THEIR KID.

THAT'S THE ROAD I'M ON RIGHT NOW.

Robin: [ Crying ] HIS SPIRIT'S BEEN BROKEN,

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS

THAT CAN HAPPEN TO SOMEBODY.

Robin: AND I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

TAKE CARE.

Joe: I GOT TO GET THIS WEIGHT OFF OF ME.

IF I DON'T, I WILL BE CONFINED HERE...

UNTIL I DRAW MY LAST BREATH.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Joe: SOMETIMES, THE SOUL SEARCHING YOU NEED TO DO

MEANS YOU'LL END UP WRESTLING WITH SOME DEMONS.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 15 HOURS,

AND I'M READY TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR.

IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG JOURNEY DOWN HERE --

BEEN VERY, VERY TAXING, VERY PAINFUL.

I HOPE THIS DOCTOR CAN HELP ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

ALL RIGHT. DOWN.

I'M WORRIED THAT HE'S GOING TO LOOK AT ME AND GO,

"NO, I CAN'T DO IT."

[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]

"YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS DONE."

IF I DON'T HAVE THE SURGERY DONE,

THEN THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE END OF THE ROAD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY, GROANS ]

YOU OKAY?

MM-HMM.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WOW.

I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED.

I JUST HAD NO IDEA I'D GOTTEN THIS BIG.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. SO, TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON.

A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON WITH THE SIZE, OBVIOUSLY.

I KEEP FALLING, AND IT'S JUST HARD

TO GO ANYWHERE WALKING OR DO ANYTHING, YOU KNOW.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT.

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU EAT IN 24 HOURS?

ACTUAL MEALS -- TWICE A DAY, BUT I'M SNACKING ALL DAY.

SO, WHO BUYS YOUR FOOD?

MY SISTER.

AND PROBABLY YOUR MOM SOME, TOO.

SHE DOES WHAT I TELL HER TO

BECAUSE SHE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ME UPSET

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

JOE IS NOT UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW MUCH HE EATS.

HE HAS TO EAT AROUND 10,000 CALORIES A DAY

TO MAINTAIN HIS WEIGHT AND GAIN LIKE HE HAS.

CLEARLY, WE HAVE SOME EATING DISORDER,

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, WITH BEING 800 POUNDS,

YOU'RE BY NO MEAN IN CONDITION

TO CONSIDER ANY KIND OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

IN ORDER TO CIRCULATE, YOU KNOW, BLOOD IN THE 800 POUNDS,

YOUR HEART HAS TO WORK 4 OR 5 TIMES HARDER,

YOUR LUNG IS GONNA BE MORE STRESSED,

YOUR JOINT IS MORE STRESSED, SO THIS IS A VERY HIGH RISK.

AND YOU WOULD NOT BE A CANDIDATE TO PUT TO SLEEP FOR SURGERY.

AT 800 POUNDS,

JOE IS TOO HIGH-RISK TO DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

IF WE'RE GOING TO SAFELY DO THE SURGERY,

I NEED YOU TO GET DOWN TO 650 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

SO I WANT YOU TO EAT ONLY 2 OR 3 TIMES A DAY.

AND I WANT YOU TO NOT DEMAND ANYBODY

GET YOU ANY KIND OF DELIVERY.

AND NO SNACKING IN BETWEEN.

MM-HMM.

WE HAVE TO GET YOU TO THE SAFER WEIGHT TO DO THE SURGERY,

AND YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME

THAT YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR EATING HABIT, TOO.

LET'S START WITH THIS,

AND LET'S START MAKING ALL THOSE CHANGES.

OKAY.

JOE HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO BEFORE HE'S READY FOR SURGERY.

HE CANNOT AFFORD TO FAIL AT THIS.

Joe: I KNEW I'D PROBABLY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE SURGERY,

BUT TO LOSE THAT MUCH?

IT SCARES ME TO HEAR THAT NUMBER

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT.

[ Voice breaking ] SOMETHING'S GOT TO CHANGE,

OR I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE.

THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT, AT MY SIZE,

IT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

THAT HE BE ABLE TO DO FOLLOW-UPS ON ME.

SO TOMORROW, ME AND MOTHER -- WE'RE MOVING TO HOUSTON.

AND TONIGHT, WE'RE DOING A GOING-AWAY PARTY.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THEM.

COME ON IN.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH LONGER NOW.

I'M GONNA MISS MY SISTER ANNIE AND MY NIECE AUBRIE.

UNCLE JOJO!

IF I WANT TO BE AROUND TO BE IN ALL THESE PEOPLE'S LIVES,

THEN I KNOW I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.

CAN I HAVE A HUGGY-HUGGY? AWW, LOOK AT THAT.

Annie: IF HE DIDN'T GET TO GO DOWN TO HOUSTON

AND HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY,

THEN I'M ABOUT GUARANTEEING

THAT I WOULD WIND UP BURYING MY BROTHER.

BUT YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE WHAT-IFs.

WHAT IF THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M GONNA SEE MY BROTHER?

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA TRY THIS. [ CHUCKLES ]

Joe: IT MAY BE THE LAST TIME I EVER SEE THEM,

IF I DON'T SUCCEED AND GET THE SURGERY.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD BEING AWAY,

BUT I KNOW THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AWW. HUGGY-HUGGY.

OH.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

GETTING READY FOR THIS MOVE, I'VE JUST BEEN A WRECK.

I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THIS.

THEN, JUST THE STRESS FROM THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF MOVING.

[ GRUNTS ]

Joe: SO MANY THINGS RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD.

MY MAMA'S LEAVING BEHIND EVERYTHING

TO COME AND HELP TAKE CARE OF ME.

ON THE ROAD WE GO.

AND I'M SCARED.

WHAT IF I JUST CAN'T DO THIS?

I WANT TO BELIEVE THAT I CAN

BECAUSE, IF I DON'T, I'M GOING TO DIE.

GREG, CAN WE STOP AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT?

Greg: LARGE SWEET TEA,

10-PIECE CHICKEN NUGGET WITH RANGE AND BARBECUE.

WOMAN: All right.

I'M GONNA TRY AND RESIST TEMPTATION

AS MUCH AS I CAN AND DO THIS.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EAT LESS,

BUT WITH THE STRESS OF MOVING AND BEING ON THE ROAD,

I'M NOT SURE HOW WELL I'M DOING.

THIS IS A HUGE TASK... BUT I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

I HAVE TO DO THIS.

WE'RE HEADED TO THE DOCTOR FOR A FOLLOW-UP VISIT

TO SEE IF I'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT.

I REALLY FEEL NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW

HOW WELL I'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

HOW ARE YOU? HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.

YEAH. MY FUTURE IS RIDING ON THIS.

MY LIFE IS RIDING ON THIS.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Woman: YOU WENT UP.

OKAY.

YEAH.

I'M MAD AT MYSELF.

NOT ONLY DID I NOT LOSE, BUT I GAINED.

[ BREATHING QUICKLY ]

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

HELLO.

HELLO.

SO, I SAW YOU A COUPLE MONTHS AGO

AND GAVE YOU A CHANCE.

YOU STILL GAINED WEIGHT.

WELL, I RECENTLY JUST MOVED DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON,

SO WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD A LOT,

SO, YOU KNOW, CONVENIENCE, IT'S FAST FOOD.

WE HAD TO DO IT.

IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW, STOP AT THE REST STOP,

FILL UP WITH GAS, GET SOMETHING TO EAT, THEN GO.

HOW MANY TIMES A DAY?

WE WERE GOING TWO TIMES A DAY --

SANDWICHES, LIKE GRILLED SANDWICHES.

HOW MANY? JUST ONE.

NOW, COME ON, JOE.

THAT'S MATHEMATICALLY NOT POSSIBLE.

JOE IS STILL IN DENIAL ABOUT HOW MUCH IS HE EATING.

HE'S STILL EATING JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE.

YOU ARE ON BORROWED TIME HERE.

AND YOU'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

YOU'RE SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE?

AT THIS RATE, EVERY DAY IS A QUESTION

AS TO WHETHER HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.

ANY NUMBER OF THINGS COULD BE A DEADLY SITUATION WITH HIM.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE HE'S EVEN OKAY TO GO HOME AT THIS POINT.

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT

AND WHAT IT'S DOING TO YOUR BODY,

SO I NEED TO GET A FULL EVALUATION

BEFORE YOU GO HOME.

I'M GOING TO SEND HIM TO THE HOSPITAL

TO GET A COMPLETE CHECKUP.

IF HE'S NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH TO GO HOME,

WE HAVE TO KEEP HIM IN THE HOSPITAL ON A CONTROLLED DIET.

IF YOU'RE DOING WELL ENOUGH,

I'LL SEND YOU HOME TO KEEP WORKING ON YOUR DIET.

BUT IF I DO THAT...

YEAH, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.

WELL, TRY AGAIN.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

THIS IS GONNA BE A TEST.

DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS DONE?

I'VE GOT TO FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS

ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT MONTHS OF MY LIFE.

HI. I'M GOING TO DO ULTRASOUND ON YOU, ON YOUR HEART.

OKAY.

I ADMITTED JOE TO THE HOSPITAL TO RUN A SERIES OF TESTS.

I'LL MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO IMMINENT PROBLEM

THAT IS GONNA LEAD TO HEART FAILURE

AND RESPIRATORY FAILURE.

AT HIS WEIGHT, A CONDITION LIKE THAT CAN DEVELOP VERY QUICKLY.

[ ULTRASOUND PULSING ]

HE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION IS.

Joe: IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE AND HARD TO UNDERGO ALL THESE TESTS.

I DON'T LIKE BEING HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO END UP BEDRIDDEN IN A HOSPITAL.

THE BODY IS NOT MEANT TO FUNCTION AT THIS SIZE.

Man: SO, IT'LL BE TO CHECK OUT YOUR HEART.

A SIMPLE COLD CAN PUSH HIS BODY OVER THE LIMIT RIGHT NOW.

HE'S ONE SMALL EVENT AWAY FROM DEATH.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHERE THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE

AND THE BODY CANNOT FUNCTION LIKE THIS.

Joe: I JUST DON'T WANT TO FAIL.

THE MOMENT I GIVE UP, THE FIGHT'S OVER,

AND I'M NOT A QUITTER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE NEXT TIME I SEE JOE,

HE NEEDS TO LOSE A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

OR THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO FOR HIM.

UNTIL THEN, WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN,

BUT THE REST IS IN JOE'S HANDS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Robin: COME ON IN.

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?

JOE. KIM.

WE'RE GONNA SEE TODAY KIND OF HOW YOU'VE BEEN EATING

AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME WAYS

TO HELP YOU LOSE THAT WEIGHT QUICKLY,

SO YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SURGERY.

OKAY, TELL ME, DO YOU EVER EAT

OUT OF ANY TYPES OF BEHAVIORS LIKE STRESS OR BOREDOM?

MY GREATEST STRUGGLE WITH FOOD IS EMOTIONAL EATING.

IF I FEEL BAD, I GO TO IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CATCHES PEOPLE A LOT

IS STRESS EATING OR EMOTIONAL EATING,

AND WHEN YOU DO EAT, ALWAYS ASK YOURSELF THE WHY.

YOU KNOW, THE SURGERY'S LIFE-CHANGING,

AND SO YOU WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO MAKE SOME LIFE CHANGES

AND TO PREPARE YOURSELF.

OKAY, SO, NOW, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING ABOUT LABELS.

IF WE CAN LOOK AT THIS ONE HERE...YOU CAN SEE --

WHAT I WANT YOU TO ZERO IN ON THESE LABELS,

FIRST OF ALL, IS PROTEIN.

YOU CAN SEE THE PROTEIN CONTENT THERE.

MM-HMM.

LOOK RIGHT ABOVE THE PROTEIN, AND YOU SEE SUGAR, OKAY?

MM-HMM.

IF YOU CAN FIND PRODUCTS WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT GRAMS OF PROTEIN,

SINGLE-DIGIT GRAMS OF SUGAR, AND SINGLE-DIGIT GRAMS OF FAT,

THOSE WILL BE FOODS THAT WILL BE BETTER OPTIONS FOR YOU.

WOULD IT BE OKAY IF WE GO CHECK AND SEE

WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND NOW?

YEAH, SURE. I DON'T CARE.

OKAY, OKAY. OKAY, GREAT.

SO, YOU'VE GOT A GOOD SUPPLY OF EGGS, I SEE.

YOU CAN EAT AS MANY EGG WHITES AS YOU WANT.

THE YOLKS HAVE FAT AND CHOLESTEROL IN IT,

SO YOU DO WANT TO LIMIT YOLKS.

SO, WHAT'S... SLICED HAM.

SLICED HAM? YEP.

YOU CAN GET SOME LEAN HAM,

BUT YOU WANT TO GET A HAM THAT'S GONNA BE A LEANER HAM.

AND OF COURSE, YOU DO HAVE THE SODIUM IN THE HAM, AS WELL.

OKAY, AND WE HAVE SOME ICE CREAM.

SOMETHING YOU CAN DO, IF YOU LIKE ICE CREAM,

IS TO TAKE THE YOGURT, THE GREEK YOGURTS,

AND FREEZE THEM -- LESS FAT AND MORE PROTEINS.

DO YOU EAT THE SALAD DRESSING?

YEAH.

ON THIS, LOOK AT THE --

LOOK AT YOUR LABEL.

SOME OF THEM CAN HAVE A GOOD BIT OF SUGAR,

SO ALWAYS CHECK SUGARS ON ANY KIND OF A DRESSING.

YEAH. AND A LOT OF FAT.

A LOT OF FAT, RIGHT. YEP.

Joe: JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I EAT IS BAD FOR ME.

I HAD NO IDEA.

IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU.

YOU CAN DO THIS, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE LIFE CHANGES.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

MY MOM'S TAKING US TO THE GROCERY STORE

SO I CAN GO GROCERY SHOPPING TODAY.

SO, I'M GOING TO GET SOME MORE OF THE STUFF

THE NUTRITIONIST SAID I SHOULD BE EATING.

WHEW.

THE NEXT TIME I SEE THE DOCTOR,

I HAVE TO HAVE LOST THE WEIGHT.

IF I DO IT, I HAVE A CHANCE AT LIFE.

IF I FAIL, I'M ALREADY AS GOOD AS DEAD.

YEAH, WE'LL JUST ROLL RIGHT ON BY THAT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YEAH.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M STARTING TO DOUBT MYSELF.

YEP.

8 OUNCES HAS 14 GRAMS OF SUGAR.

YEAH, IT'S GOT A LOT OF VITAMIN C IN IT,

BUT IT'S SWEET, SUGARY, NEVERTHELESS.

THIS IS GONNA BE HARD.

I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT I CAN'T DO THIS.

Joe: WELL, WE'RE HEADED BACK TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

[ GRUNTS ]

EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON MY PROGRESS TODAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

IF I GET ON THE SCALE AND I HAVEN'T LOST WEIGHT,

THEN I KNOW I'M NOT GETTING THE SURGERY,

AND THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO TO HELP ME.

HOPEFULLY, WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY.

OKAY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

Woman: 721. [ LAUGHS ]

HEY, THAT'S GOOD.

HOLY CRAP.

[ CHUCKLES ]

WOW.

THAT WAS VERY SURPRISING AND VERY AWESOME.

I MEAN, I REALLY PUSHED MYSELF, AND THE NUMBERS ARE THERE,

SO NOW IT'S JUST WAITING TO SEE WHAT DR. NOW SAYS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ DOOR OPENS ]

HELLO.

HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY. HOW ABOUT YOURSELF?

I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, NOW, YOU'VE FIGURED OUT WHAT CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE

TO HAVE HAD A QUICK WEIGHT LOSS.

I'VE CUT OUT MY SUGARY DRINKS.

I'M DRINKING WATER NOW, SO...

OKAY.

YEAH, I'M FEELING GREAT.

THIS SHOWS YOU THAT YOU CAN DO IT,

AND THAT'S GOOD,

BUT I NEED YOU TO CONTINUE GOING

AND GET DOWN TO 650 POUNDS, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M GLAD TO SEE JOE MAKING PROGRESS,

BUT HE'S STILL TOO HEAVY FOR DOING A SAFE SURGERY.

[ CHUCKLES ]

HE NEEDS TO LOSE 170 POUNDS

TO GET DOWN AT LEAST TO 650 BEFORE HE'S READY.

Joe: THIS IS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT,

BUT TO STILL NOT BE APPROVED FOR SURGERY IS HARD TO HEAR.

I CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS.

I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

EITHER MY BODY'S GONNA GIVE OUT, OR MY WILL IS.

[ DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE ]

NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]

I'M A LITTLE DEPRESSED, BUT I'M PUSHING ON.

I'M TRYING TO GET UP MORE

AND WORK OFF SOME OF THE WEIGHT BY MOVING AROUND.

I KNOW I HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF ME,

AND THE REST IS GONNA BE EVEN HARDER,

BUT I JUST THINK ABOUT MY FAMILY,

AND I KNOW I NEED TO KEEP GOING.

A LOT OF STUFF IS COMING UP TO THE SURFACE,

AND IT'S HARD NOT TO GET DEPRESSED.

THE LAST TIME I GOT THIS DEPRESSED,

I THOUGHT ABOUT HURTING MYSELF.

AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP IN A PLACE THAT DARK AGAIN.

[ GROANS ]

I THINK ABOUT DYING AND LEAVING MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER BEHIND.

I REFUSE TO DO THAT TO THEM.

I'M HURTING.

THE PAIN IS EXCRUCIATING.

[ PANTING ]

I REFUSE TO LET THEM BURY ME.

THIS PAST MONTH, I'VE GOTTEN MORE DEPRESSED,

BUT I'VE TOLD THE DOCTOR.

HE SET ME UP WITH A THERAPIST TO TALK WITH ME

AND HELP ME WORK THROUGH MY EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW.

[ BREATHING SHARPLY ]

Rachel: HI. Joe: HI.

HOW ARE YOU? JOE, GREAT TO MEET YOU.

I'M RACHEL. PLEASURE.

COME ON BACK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR STORY?

I...I'VE ALWAYS BEEN LARGE,

AND IT HAS BALLOONED INTO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.

I WAS FEELING SUICIDAL AT SOME POINTS.

I NEVER WANT TO FEEL THAT WAY AGAIN.

YEAH, WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON, THEN.

DO YOU WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAYBE,

YOU KNOW, WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP?

UM.

SO...MY FATHER...

...HE WOULD IGNORE ME COMPLETELY.

I ASKED MYSELF,

"WHY DOESN'T THIS MAN WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO ME?"

WHEN YOU'RE A KID, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE SENSE OF THAT.

LIKE, SOMETIMES, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD

CAN BE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS PSYCHOLOGICAL

AND NOT PHYSICAL, YOU KNOW...

MM-HMM.

...LIKE THE COMFORT, THE FRIEND.

THE FOOD WAS AN ESCAPE FOR ME,

AND IF I'M TO BECOME COMPLETELY BETTER, SO TO SPEAK,

THEN I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS.

YEAH.

YOU'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE.

RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE KIND OF OPTIMISM

AND THE STRENGTH THAT YOU NEED, I THINK,

TO GET THROUGH THIS. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, JOE, IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU.

OKAY.

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO TALK AND LET SOME OF MY EMOTION OUT.

I'VE NEVER REALLY DONE THAT.

I'VE JUST ALWAYS EATEN MY FEELINGS.

THIS PAIN AND THIS DEPRESSION AREN'T GONNA GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

I DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER,

AND THERE'S A LOT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH

TO GET THROUGH THIS DEPRESSION AND GET THE SURGERY.

Joe: WHEN YOU FAIL ENOUGH TIMES,

THAT'S WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE TO START LOOKING

FOR A SOLUTION OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO THE GYM FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I'M GONNA WORK OUT WITH A TRAINER

AND BURN SOME CALORIES.

I SAW THE PSYCHIATRIST AGAIN,

AND SHE'S HELPING ME WORK THROUGH A LOT OF THE PAIN

I'VE HAD FOR SO MANY YEARS.

I KNOW I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING THROUGH THIS EMOTION

AND DEALING WITH IT.

HI. HOW'S IT GOING? GOOD.

I'M ADAM. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

HANGING IN THERE.

BUT IT'S NOT GOING AWAY OVERNIGHT.

WE'LL START OFF WITH SOME SHOULDER WORKOUTS, OKAY?

YOU'RE GONNA PUT THEM ON HERE TO THE SIDE,

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING UP.

IN THE PAST, IF I FELT DOWN OR A LITTLE SAD...

10.

...ALL I HAD TO DO WAS EAT,

AND THEN THAT HAPPINESS WAS THERE.

[ GROANS ]

GOOD? [ Strained ] YEAH.

UP.

1. UP.

I CAN'T LET THAT HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.

TWO MORE. KEEP PUSHING.

I WON'T LET IT HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.

I HAVE TO RESIST TEMPTATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

OH, YOU GOT IT? ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

I JUST HAVE TO STAY MOTIVATED AND KEEP WORKING AT IT.

DEFINITELY FEELING THAT, RIGHT?

COOL.

I SEE THE DOCTOR IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS,

AND I HAVE TO HIT 650 POUNDS BY THEN.

I HAVE FAITH I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

[ SIGHS HEAVILY ]

I JUST HAVE TO STICK WITH IT AND KEEP FIGHTING.

FOOD IS KILLING ME

WHEN IT SHOULD BE DOING THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

SO I'M TRYING TO EAT EVEN HEALTHIER.

ONE BIG THING I'VE CHANGED RECENTLY

IS I'VE STOPPED ASKING MY MOM TO GET ME FOOD.

SO, I WILL START COOKING MY OWN FOOD.

IT'S REALLY NOT EASY,

BUT I'M TRYING TO COUNT MY CALORIES.

I'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.

MY WHOLE, ENTIRE BREAKFAST IS 210 CALORIES.

THAT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A LOT OF FOOD, TOO.

I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF AS HARD AS I CAN

TO GET TO THE WEIGHT I NEED.

DO YOU FEEL FULL NOW?

OH, LORD, YEAH.

EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON HITTING MY GOAL.

I SEE THE DOCTOR NEXT MONTH,

AND I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

I'M GOING TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S TODAY

FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I'VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR A YEAR, AND THIS IS IT.

I EITHER GET APPROVED FOR THE SURGERY,

OR MY JOURNEY IS OVER TODAY.

IF I HAVEN'T SUCCEEDED, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT I WILL DO.

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

AND EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON WHAT THE SCALE SAYS.

Joe: THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Woman: 652.

I REALLY HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH FOR THE DOCTOR.

I'VE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET THIS FAR.

[ SIGHS ]

I'M TOO CLOSE TO NOT MAKE IT.

HELLO.

HEY. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD. YOU?

I'M ALL RIGHT.

YOU'VE LOST ALMOST 150 POUNDS.

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

I CAN.

I DEFINITELY CAN DO A LOT MORE, FOR SURE,

SO, YEAH, I CAN DEFINITELY TELL.

SO, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY?

I'VE BEEN READY SINCE I CAME DOWN HERE.

SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL SETTING YOU UP FOR SURGERY NEXT WEEK?

OKAY. YEAH, SURE.

[ CHUCKLES ] OKAY.

ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT.

[ Sighing ] WOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

HE FINALLY APPROVED ME FOR SURGERY.

I'VE WAITED SO LONG FOR THIS.

IF I COULD JUMP UP AND DOWN FOR JOY, I WOULD RIGHT NOW.

I'M JUST HAPPY AS CAN BE.

THIS IS GOOD. THIS IS VERY GOOD.

[ SIGHS ]

SURGERY'S NEXT WEEK.

NEXT WEEK?

YEP. WHOA!

[ CRYING ]

WE'VE WAITED SO LONG TO HEAR THIS HAPPENED,

AND IT'S FINALLY HERE.

[ SNIFFLES ] YEP.

THIS IS LIKE A MIRACLE.

I FINALLY GET TO PUT TO REST THE CURSE

THAT HAS FOLLOWED ME AROUND SINCE I WAS 2 YEARS OLD.

THIS BEGINS THE NEW CHAPTER,

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE THE BOOK LEADS.

TODAY IS THE MOMENT I RETAKE MY LIFE AND SAY, "NO MORE."

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND GET THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY FOR JOE.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE TYPE OF SURGERY FOR THIS SIZE PATIENT

IS GASTRIC BYPASS.

TURN THE ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

ESSENTIALLY, WE TAKE ABOUT 80% OF STOMACH OUT,

SO THE PERSON CAN EAT A SMALL AMOUNT --

GET FULL REAL QUICK.

JOE HAS LEARNED SOME INVALUABLE LESSONS OVER PAST YEAR.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT AID TO HIM AFTER SURGERY.

JOE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

Woman: TURN ON THE LIGHTS.

JOE HAS A LONG JOURNEY TO GO, BUT I THINK, WITHIN A YEAR,

HE WILL BE AROUND HIS TARGET WEIGHT.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF JOE AND HIS PROGRESS.

JOE IS GONNA START TO LOSE WEIGHT REAL QUICK NOW.

HI. HEY.

YOU READY TO GO GET WEIGHED?

YEAH. OKAY.

IF I COULD LOSE 150 POUNDS TO GET THE SURGERY,

THEN I KNOW I CAN LOSE 450 POUNDS WITH THE SURGERY.

Woman: IT'S LOOKING GOOD.

YEAH. REALLY IS.

[ CHUCKLES ] WOW.

CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

I KNOW I'M GONNA KEEP GOING, AND THEN I'LL GET TO MY TARGET.

YOU READY TO GO HOME?

IT'S BEEN SUCH A HARD YEAR,

BUT IT'S BEEN ONE THAT'S CHANGED MY LIFE.

OH, YEAH, MUCH BETTER.

AND I WILL NEVER FORGET WHAT I LEARNED

ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS.

THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES FOR MY FUTURE NOW.

WORDS JUST CAN'T DESCRIBE HOW I FEEL.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME,

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE HOPE.

HOME, SWEET HOME.