Original subtitles

Chad: FOOD IS DEFINITELY KILLING ME.

I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS,

OR ELSE I'M GONNA DIE.

MY WEIGHT HAS GIVEN ME A DEATH SENTENCE.

THE THING I RELIED ON ALL THESE YEARS

IS WHAT'S KILLING ME.

[ Voice breaking ] AND IT'S BROKEN!

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I DON'T KNOW! I CAN'T GET OFF!

-DON'T MAKE ME GO, PLEASE! -I'M NOT.

IT'S HARD TO BE A FATHER FROM A CHAIR.

OH, THANK YOU, HONEY.

I SEE THAT UNWILLINGNESS.

IF YOU WERE SERIOUS, YOU'D MAKE CHANGES.

Chad: I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I NEED TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY.

AND THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR HIM.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Chad: BEING LOST IS NOT THE WORST PLACE TO BE IN LIFE.

IT'S BEING LOST AND REFUSING TO HAVE HELP.

AAH!

MY LIFE IS DEPRESSING.

[ SIGHS ]

I NEED HELP WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

-YOU READY? -YEAH.

MY WIFE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF ME AND CLEAN ME

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO IT BY MYSELF.

IT'S HUMILIATING.

A RELATIONSHIP'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT GIVING AND TAKING,

BUT I JUST TAKE.

THIS TYPE OF LIFE -- IT'S NOT A MARRIAGE.

NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE TWO KIDS,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST ANOTHER KID

THAT SHE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF.

I FEEL VERY GUILTY FOR THAT.

I LOVE HIM, BUT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I DIDN'T PAY IT ANY MIND

UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING TO THE POINT

WHERE HE COULDN'T GET UP TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

YOU KNOW, YOU START TO WONDER, HOW LONG IS IT GONNA BE

BEFORE SHE STARTS TO THINK

"HE'S TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON ME,"

AND SHE'LL LEAVE ME.

[ GROANS ]

ONCE I'M DONE WITH MY BATH,

I AM SO EXHAUSTED THAT I HAVE TO GO BACK TO BED

AND SLEEP.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE LET THINGS GO SO FAR.

GROWING UP, THIS ISN'T THE LIFE THAT I IMAGINED.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE PERSON THAT'S BEEN BIGGER

THAN EVERYBODY ELSE.

I HAD A MOTHER WHO SAW FOOD AS LOVE,

SO THERE WAS A NEVER-ENDING SUPPLY OF FOOD

IN OUR HOUSE GROWING UP.

IF I ATE SOMETHING IN THE FRIDGE,

THE NEXT DAY, IT WAS REPLENISHED.

SO MY BROTHER, MY SISTER,

AND I -- WE ALWAYS HAD FOOD.

AS I GOT OLDER, I JUST KEPT EATING

AND GETTING BIGGER.

I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT DIETING, 'CAUSE MY WEIGHT

DIDN'T PREVENT ME FROM DOING THINGS.

BEING BIG -- IT JUST BECAME WHO I WAS.

WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL,

MY GRANDMOTHER

SEWED TWO UNIFORMS TOGETHER TO MAKE ONE UNIFORM.

THE NEWSPAPER USED TO CALL ME "THE 300-POUND DEAN MACHINE."

AND IT HURTS.

BY THE TIME I GRADUATED SCHOOL,

I WAS PUSHING 400 POUNDS.

AND I GOT A JOB DRIVING TRUCKS,

AND THAT'S WHEN MY WEIGHT REALLY TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

FOR 11, 12, 13 HOURS A DAY,

I JUST HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL AND GRAB YOUR CHIPS.

I WAS DRINKING A 12-PACK OF SODA A DAY,

AND MY EXERCISE WAS NONE.

SO WHEN I MET AYESHA, I WAS ALL OF 500 POUNDS.

WHEN I FIRST MET CHAD, HIS SIZE WASN'T AN ISSUE,

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS HEART

THE WAY HE WAS, THE WAY HE WAS WITH THE KIDS.

THEY BECAME MY FAMILY, AND I WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM,

SO I ASKED HER TO MARRY ME.

WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER, THAT POINT IN MY LIFE WAS GREAT.

YOU KNOW, I PROVIDED FOR HER AND THE KIDS.

AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED.

HOW ARE WE DOING TODAY, BOSS?

ONE DAY, I WENT TO GET UP ON THE TRUCK,

AND I MADE IT TO THE TOP STEP,

AND, BEING, THE SIZE I AM, MY LEFT LEG GAVE...

[ GROANS ]

...AND I CAME OUT OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE GROUND.

IT WAS RIGHT THERE AND THEN IS WHEN I KNEW.

I KNEW DRIVING WAS OVER.

I STILL KEPT EATING.

EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT'S TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME,

I STILL TURN TO IT. I STILL DID IT.

AYESHA'S WHOLE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN THE DAY

I FELL OUT OF THAT TRUCK.

IT WAS VERY DEGRADING TO HAVE TO ASK MY WIFE

TO GO BACK TO WORK.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE A MAN NO MORE.

AND NOW MY LIFE IS THIS CHAIR,

FROM THE TIME I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING

TILL THE TIME I GO TO BED AT NIGHT.

[ CLEARS THROAT ] QUICK, QUICK, HAND ME MY COAT.

WHERE DO I HELP MY FAMILY?

-I'M NOT. -THANK YOU, HONEY.

ALL THAT'S FALLING ON MOM.

OKAY, QUICK. LET'S GET READY TO GO TO THE PARK.

IT'S HARD TO BE A FATHER AND A HUSBAND FROM A CHAIR.

WE HAVE TWO KIDS.

TAQUA, SHE'S 10,

AND JO JO, WHO IS 9, WHO IS AUTISTIC.

THE KIDS HAVE TO ENTER MY WORLD TO DO ANYTHING WITH ME.

I CAN'T GO OUT AND DO ANYTHING.

IF I TRY TO GO, I CAN BARELY MAKE IT.

[ GROANS ]

-YOU IN? -YEAH.

I THINK I'M A VERY BIG BURDEN ON MY FAMILY.

[ GROANS ]

I HAVE KIDS THAT JUST WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH ME,

AND I CAN'T.

AYESHA DOES EVERYTHING.

SHE'S DOING THE BATHS. SHE'S DOING THE DRESSING.

SHE'S DOING THE LAUNDRY.

WAIT A MINUTE, JO JO.

I'M SITTING.

Ayesha: WE ARE A FAMILY, BUT IT DOESN'T FEEL THAT WAY.

WHEN HE FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK,

HE GOT IT INTO HIS HEAD "I CAN'T DO IT."

[ LAUGHS ]

AND EVER SINCE, ALL HE HAS DONE

WAS SIT AND EAT AND EAT.

Chad: FOOD IS DEFINITELY KILLING ME.

MY FAMILY IS ALL I HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFE,

BUT I'M ADDICTED TO EATING FOOD.

FOOD IS THE ONLY THING IN MY LIFE THAT'S NEVER CHANGED.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE.

WOMAN: Hi. How can I help you?

YEAH, CAN I GET TWO CHEESEBURGERS, TWO FRIES?

THAT WILL BE IT.

THERE'S TIMES WHEN I'LL BE EATING,

AND I'M NOT EVEN HUNGRY.

IT'S MORE OF A HABIT.

FOOD'S TAKING CONTROL OVER MY LIFE.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD TO A POINT,

UNTIL I'M DONE EATING IT. THEN I FEEL GUILTY.

THIS IS NOT THE LIFE THAT I WANT.

JO JO, DID YOU HAVE FUN?

THIS IS NOT THE LIFE THAT MY WIFE DESERVES.

IT'S NOT WHAT MY KIDS DESERVE.

THEIR LIVES NOW REVOLVE AROUND ME.

OH! OH!

I WANT MY DAD TO LOSE WEIGHT SO HE CAN ACTUALLY BE ABLE

TO PLAY WITH ME OUTSIDE.

[ GROANS ]

THAT'D BE, LIKE, MY ULTIMATE, NUMBER-ONE DREAM.

I'D BE SO HAPPY.

HEY, QUA, THAT'S MY WATER RIGHT THERE.

Ayesha: TAQUA CARRIES THE BURDEN OF A PARENT AT 10 YEARS OLD.

THANK YOU.

SHE DOESN'T MIND DOING THE THINGS.

[ SNIFFLES ]

BUT IT BOTHERS ME.

SHE'S 10 YEARS OLD.

SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE A KID.

SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO WHAT KIDS DO.

Chad: I DON'T KNOW WHY I CAN'T STOP,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M WORTHLESS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DAYS I WONDER IF THIS IS THE DAY

WHERE AYESHA'S HAD ENOUGH.

WHAT'S HER BREAKING POINT BEFORE SHE FINALLY SAYS,

"I CAN'T DO IT NO MORE?"

THIS IS NOT MY CHAD THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH.

THIS CHAD GAVE UP ON HIMSELF.

NOW I'M FIGHTING TO KEEP MY FAMILY TOGETHER.

I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU.

Chad: IF I DON'T CHANGE THE CYCLE,

ONE OF TWO THINGS ARE HAPPENING --

EITHER MY FAMILY'S GONNA LEAVE ME

OR ELSE MY BODY'S GONNA GIVE OUT AND I'M GONNA DIE.

-GOT IT? -YEAH.

[ GRUNTS ]

HEY, COME ON, GIRL.

USE THEM MUSCLES. YOU GOT THEM.

PUSH, PUSH.

I FOUND A DOCTOR ONLINE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

HE SAID HE WOULD SEE ME.

AND WE'RE SELLING THE ONLY THING THAT WE OWN, WHICH IS OUR HOUSE.

AND WE'RE UPROOTING, AND WE'RE MOVING,

AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S IN STORE FOR US.

THIS IS THE BIGGEST LEAP OF FAITH WE HAVE EVER TAKEN.

[ GROANS ]

Chad: BUT HE'S MY LAST HOPE,

AND THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT CAN HELP ME.

MY WIFE AND KIDS

ARE SACRIFICING PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING

SO I CAN DO THIS.

I CAN'T FAIL THEM.

Chad: CAN YOU GUYS HELP? I'M SORRY.

AS SOON AS YOU GET UP IN HERE, I'LL TAKE IT.

READY?

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA DO THIS.

BUT I THE TO TRY.

OH, YEAH. I GOT THIS.

I GOT IT, QUA.

[ SIGHS ]

[ GROANS ]

THAT'S ALL RIGHT. JUST LEAVE IT, PLEASE.

I GOT TO SIT DOWN.

[ GROANING ]

OH, MY GOD.

[ SIGHS ]

IT'S NOT HIS FAULT HE JUST CAN'T HELP AS MUCH AS HE'D LIKE TO.

BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR ME. IT IS.

IT'S JUST ALL TOO MUCH.

Chad: I'M HOPING THAT THE DOCTORS DOWN THERE CAN HELP ME.

THIS IS IT.

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

**

Chad: IT'S BEEN A HARD FEW DAYS ON THE ROAD,

AND I JUST HOPE IT'S ALL WORTH IT.

THE DRIVE'S BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

I'VE EVER HAD TO ENCOUNTER IN MY LIFE.

HERE WE ARE, GUYS. JO JO, HERE WE ARE.

OH!

MY LEGS ARE DONE, MY KNEES ARE DONE,

AND IT'S JUST BEEN EXHAUSTING.

[ SIGHS ] THAT AIN'T WORKING.

WE CHECKED INTO A HOTEL UNTIL WE CAN FIND A HOME,

BUT NOW MY PRIORITY IS TO SEE THE DOCTOR

AND FIND OUT WHAT HE CAN DO.

WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

UNDER A MILE TO GO, AND REALITY'S SETTING IN,

AND REALLY NERVOUS.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN ANY DOCTORS.

[ GROANING ]

Chad: I HAVEN'T FOUND ANY THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP ME.

I'M PRAYING THAT THIS ONE CAN,

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO,

AND I REALLY HOPE WE DIDN'T MAKE THIS JOURNEY FOR NOTHING.

-OH! -701.

[ SIGHS ]

CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

MY MIND JUST TOTALLY BLANKED WHEN I SAW IT.

I HOPE IT'S NOT TOO LATE. I HOPE I'M NOT TOO FAR GONE.

[ KNOCKS AT DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY. I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

CHAD.

VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU ARE 700 POUNDS. WOW.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GAINED THIS MUCH WEIGHT?

GOT INTO THE WRONG EATING HABITS AND A LOT OF SODA,

A LOT OF ENERGY DRINKS, AND IT WAS,

BOTTOM LINE, MY OWN STUPIDITY.

SO, WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?

SIT AND WATCH TV.

WHO FIXES THE FOOD?

HER AND MY DAUGHTER.

AND THEY OKAY WITH THAT?

THEY'RE NOT OKAY WITH IT.

THE PROBLEM IS, IF I DON'T GET IT,

I BECOME MEAN -- NOT MEAN VIOLENT MEAN, BUT...

OBNOXIOUS.

YES.

SO YOU TURNED THE WHOLE FAMILY INTO ENABLERS.

IF THEY DON'T FEED YOU, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOU.

CHAD IS CLOSE TO HIS BREAKING POINT.

HE NEEDS SURGERY, BUT I'M NOT SURE HE'S READY FOR IT.

YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ANYTHING TODAY TO CONVINCE ME

THAT YOU ARE MENTALLY READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT IF YOU ARE, I WANT YOU TO SHOW ME

BY LOSING 40 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE,

AND THE FAMILY DYNAMICS HAVE TO CHANGE, TOO.

THE REALITY IS IF CHAD WANTED TO CHANGE,

HE WOULD HAVE TRIED OVER THE YEARS,

BUT HE'S DONE NOTHING.

CHAD HAS TO WANT THIS.

SO, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?

-I KNOW I CAN. -ALL RIGHT.

-I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER. -THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HE NEEDS TO SHOW ME HE'S NOT AFRAID TO WORK.

OH!

Chad: I HAVE A MONTH TO PROVE,

NOT JUST TO MYSELF, BUT TO THE DOCTOR,

THAT I CAN CONTROL MY EATING HABITS,

THAT I CAN LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

IT'S TIME WHERE I HAVE TO START RELYING ON MYSELF

AND NOT TAQUA OR AYESHA.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD. IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING

I GOT TO GET USED TO.

2. AAH!

NO, WAIT. WAIT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

1, 2.

[ GROANS ]

ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE TO DO THIS. THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.

HONEY, YOU SAID YOU WAS GOING WALKING TODAY.

[ GROANS ]

THE DOCTORS SAID I NEED TO MOVE MORE,

AND I'M JUST DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN.

[ GROANS ]

I'VE SET SIMPLE GOALS, LIKE WALK OUTSIDE AND GET THE MAIL.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ LAUGHS ]

RIGHT NOW, JUST GETTING UP TO WALK OUTSIDE

IS JUST TOO MUCH.

I'VE SAT AROUND FOR WAY TOO LONG.

I HAVE TO BUILD UP THE STRENGTH IN MY LEGS,

IN MY KNEES, IN MY BODY.

OH!

Chad: I HAVE TO MAKE PROGRESS,

'CAUSE IF I DON'T, I KNOW I'M GONNA DIE.

-I'M GONNA GO CHECK THE MAIL. -OKAY.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

IT STILL HURTS TO MOVE, BUT I CAN WALK FURTHER.

I STILL GOT A LOT OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH,

BUT IT'S GETTING THERE SLOWLY.

HEY, WE GOT MAIL, QUA.

Chad: IT'S JUST KEEPING MY MIND OFF THE REFRIGERATOR,

KEEPING MY MIND OFF THE SNACKS.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DIETED IN MY LIFE.

I'M STARTING TO LEARN IT'S NOT SO MUCH

EATING TO GET FULL,

IT'S JUST EATING JUST TO SATISFY YOURSELF

FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

OH, THAT LOOKS GREAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

I JUST HOPE IT ALL WORKS.

Woman: MR. DEAN?

THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

THE DOC SAID I HAD TO LOSE 40 POUNDS

TO GET DOWN TO 660,

AND I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT IF I DID IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.

IT'S STILL A SAD NUMBER,

BUT IT'S A LOT HAPPIER FROM WHERE IT WAS.

IF I THOUGHT MY KNEES WOULD HAVE HELD IT,

I WOULD HAVE JUMPED FOR JOY.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT JUST HOPEFULLY SHOWS THE DOCTOR

HOW DEDICATED WE ARE.

-HELLO. -HOW ARE WE DOING TODAY?

I'M DOING OKAY. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

GOOD, GOOD.

YOU LOST 40 POUNDS EXACTLY. EVERYONE DID GREAT.

LAST TIME I CAME,

YOU SAID I DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE SURGERY AT ALL.

NOW THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I'LL TAKE IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHAD'S DONE VERY WELL.

HE STILL HAS A LONG ROAD AHEAD OF HIM.

BUT I BELIEVE HE'S MENTALLY READY TO START THIS JOURNEY NOW.

AT THIS MOMENT, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY.

WOW.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.

-ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

BYE.

[ LAUGHS ]

YES! THAT WAS AWESOME!

[ GASPS ]

[ LAUGHS ]

Chad: TO FINALLY HEAR HIM SAY,

"YOU'RE NOW APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,"

THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO HEAR.

I WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY,

AND THIS IS MY CHANCE TO DO THAT.

**

Chad: THIS SURGERY IS MY LAST CHANCE.

WHO'S THAT, JO JO?

Chad: HI, JO JO.

I'M READY FOR MY LIFE TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

LOVE YOU.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO PLAY WITH THE KIDS AGAIN,

BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS

THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR YOUR FAMILY.

I OWE IT TO THEM, AND I OWE IT TO MYSELF.

BUT I DON'T WANT NOTHING TO GO WRONG.

IT'S COME TOO FAR TO HAVE IT END NOW.

OKAY, BIG, DEEP BREATHS, CHAD.

YOU ARE GOING TO SLEEP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO

GASTRIC BYPASS ON CHAD.

HE'S STILL AROUND 650 POUNDS,

AND HIS WHOLE BODY HAS BEEN LIVING IN A COMPROMISED STATE.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES OR COMPLICATIONS

THAT PUSH HIS BODY OVER THE LIMIT.

BUT THE SURGERY SHOULD HELP HIM TO LOSE WEIGHT.

YOU CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

GASTRIC BYPASS IS THE GOLD STANDARD OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THE PROCEDURE ESSENTIALLY WILL REDUCE

THE SIZE OF THE STOMACH ABOUT 90%

AND RE-ROUTE THE INTESTINE TO THAT SMALL STOMACH.

THIS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT

OF FOOD INTAKE AND CALORIE ABSORPTION.

THE RESULT IS THE PATIENT WILL EAT LESS

AND LOSE WEIGHT QUICKLY.

Ayesha: I'M NERVOUS. I'M STRESSED OUT.

SO I JUST PRAY AND HOPE HE COMES THROUGH.

BUT HE HAS TO HAVE THE SURGERY.

HE HAS TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION.

ROOM LIGHT ON.

START CLOSING.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE WERE ABLE TO DO GASTRIC BYPASS

WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATIONS.

I THINK CHAD IS GOING TO DO VERY WELL.

HE NEEDS TO STAY MOTIVATED

AS HE RECOVERS TO KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE SURGERY WILL HELP HIM WITH THAT.

TAKE CARE, AND HAVE A GOOD DAY, SIR.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

OHH.

LIKE I'M HIT BY A TRUCK.

Ayesha: FOR ME, IT'S AWESOME

'CAUSE NOW I GET TO GET MY HUSBAND BACK.

AND I HONESTLY THINK THAT IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THIS SURGERY,

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE.

I'D PROBABLY BE HOME PLANNING MY HUSBAND'S FUNERAL.

BUT WE GOT A LONG ROAD TO GO STILL.

-LOVE YOU. -LOVE YOU, TOO.

[ SIGHS ]

[ SIGHS ]

Chad: I'VE BEEN BACK HOME FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW SINCE SURGERY.

IT'S BEEN HARD ADJUSTING TO EVERYTHING SINCE THEN.

I'M STILL ON LIQUID DIET RIGHT NOW.

Chad: UGH.

MENTALLY, I'M STILL THE 700-POUND PERSON.

AS FAR AS THE CRAVINGS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

OOH, THEY'RE CRUNCHY. YAY.

I STILL WANT TO EAT THINGS.

IT'S HARD TO BE AROUND ALL THIS FOOD AND NOT HAVE IT.

MNH-MNH.

I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT ONE 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE.

I GET TO GO BACK TO EATING SOLID FOOD IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

BUT I WANT TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS,

SO I'M STICKING TO WHAT I SHOULD EAT.

THIS PAST MONTH, I STARTED LOSING WEIGHT REALLY FAST.

PHYSICALLY, I CAN DO A LOT MORE.

I'VE KEPT WITH MY EXERCISE,

AND I CAN GO OUT FOR SMALL SPURTS HERE AND THERE.

Chad: JO JO, YOU WANT TO GO SWING?

TO BE ACTIVE WITH THEM AGAIN, EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT,

MAKES EVERYTHING I'M DOING WORTH IT.

-YAY! -COME HERE.

I SPENT SO LONG MISSING OUT WITH THEM.

READY?

I DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THEM ANYMORE.

[ LAUGHS ]

I STILL CAN'T WALK AS FAR AS I WANT.

I GOT TO SIT DOWN FOR A MINUTE. MY KNEE.

[ SIGHS ]

BUT I DON'T NEED MY CANE ANYMORE,

AND THAT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ME.

COME ON.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WALK WITHOUT IT.

I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA KEEP GOING AND MAKE MORE PROGRESS.

[ GROANS ]

RIGHT NOW I'M HAVING SOME PROBLEMS.

I CAN'T EAT ANYTHING.

WHENEVER I DO, I GET VOMITING OR DRY HEAVES.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT AT LEAST THREE OUNCES OF MEAT,

A LITTLE BIT OF VEGETABLES,

WHERE I EAT MAYBE THE SIZE OF A HALF A DOLLAR,

AND THAT'S IT. I'M DONE.

AND 15, 20 MINUTES LATER,

IT'S COMING RIGHT BACK OUT.

HE HASN'T BEEN EATING NOTHING. THE ONLY THING

THAT HE'S HAD THAT'S BEEN STAYING DOWN IS PUDDING.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M SCARED SOMETHING'S REALLY WRONG,

BUT I STILL DON'T WANT TO ASK THE DOC ABOUT IT

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I KNOW I HAVE TO TELL HIM

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING REALLY BAD

IS GONNA HAPPEN IF I DON'T GET THIS FIXED.

**

-CHAD? -YEP?

Chad: IT'S MY THREE-MONTH CHECKUP SINCE SURGERY.

I CAN'T REALLY EAT ANYTHING WITHOUT GETTING SICK.

AND IT'S GETTING WORSE.

I HAVEN'T TOLD THE DOC I'M HAVING TROUBLE YET.

I'M JUST HOPING SOMETHING REALLY SERIOUS ISN'T THE CAUSE.

I'M LOSING A LOT OF WEIGHT,

BUT I KNOW SOMETHING'S WRONG AT THIS POINT.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO BACK.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY, HON.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

HELLO.

HOW YOU DOING TODAY, DOC?

I'M DOING OKAY.

SO, HOW IS YOUR EATING HABIT COMING ALONG?

I CAN DRINK NO PROBLEM.

MM-HMM.

I EAT, AND IT'LL COME UP.

ARE YOU TAKING YOUR MEDICATION?

HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THOSE?

I KNOW ONE OF THEM I WASN'T TAKING

'CAUSE IT WAS TOO MUCH -- THEY WERE TOO MUCH.

I COULDN'T AFFORD THEM.

CHAD, YOU CAN'T DECIDE NOT TO TAKE YOUR MEDICATION.

THEY WANT $200 SOME A MONTH FOR THAT.

WELL, IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS, YOU LET US KNOW.

WE'LL FIND A WAY TO GET IT.

BUT IF YOU DON'T TAKE YOUR MEDICATION,

IT CAN CAUSE SWELLING AND A COMPLICATION

LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOD DOWN.

CHAD HAS AN ISSUE WITH DOING WHATEVER HE WANTS.

IT'S THE SAME REASON HE GOT UP TO 700 POUNDS.

HE'S NOT TAKING HIS MEDICATION LIKE HE'S SUPPOSED TO,

AND THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR HIM.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS SEND YOU TO A HOSPITAL

TO FIX THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY.

ALL RIGHT.

Chad: I HAVEN'T HAD THIS MEDICINE HE'S TALKING ABOUT

SINCE IT STARTED.

I JUST HOPE I HAVEN'T CAUSED ANY PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY BODY.

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SINCE CHAD HAS BEEN SKIPPING HIS MEDICATION,

I SUSPECT THAT HE HAS SOME SERIOUS SWELLING

THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED,

PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF THE HOOK-UP

FOR THE STOMACH TO THE INTESTINE WHERE THE BYPASS IS.

ROOM LIGHT OFF.

THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION

PREVENTING HIM FROM KEEPING FOOD DOWN.

AND I NEED TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT, GO UP TO 12.

TREATMENT IS VERY EASY.

WE INFLATE THE BALLOON TO STRETCH THE OPENING

THAT HAS BEEN NARROWED BY SWELLING.

THE PROCEDURE TODAY WENT VERY WELL.

CHAD, OPEN YOUR EYES.

YOU OKAY, BUDDY?

CHAD SHOULD BE ABLE TO EAT AND KEEP FOOD DOWN NOW.

HE JUST NEEDS TO FOLLOW DIRECTIONS THIS TIME AROUND.

IF HE WANTS TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS OVER LONG TERM,

HE NEEDS TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT HIS HEALTH

AND DO WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO,

OTHERWISE SURGERY WILL HAVE BEEN POINTLESS.

HONEY, WOULD YOU LIKE SOME SOUP?

ALL RIGHT, LOVE YOU.

Chad: AYESHA'S SICK TODAY, SO I'M TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE TAKEN CARE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE.

IT'S KIND OF NICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND CONTRIBUTE THE WAY I SHOULD.

SINCE THE DOCTOR'S FIXED THE SWELLING IN MY STOMACH,

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP FOOD DOWN.

QUA, TAKE THIS TO YOUR MOTHER, PLEASE.

CAREFUL. IT'S HOT.

GOT IT?

-YEP. -OKAY.

MY WEIGHT LOSS HAS SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE I'M ACTUALLY EATING NOW.

BUT I'M STILL LOSING WEIGHT.

HAVING TO GO BACK IN THE HOSPITAL

LIKE I DID ALL BECAUSE OF A CHOICE

THAT I MADE THAT HURT ME MADE ME REALIZE SOMETHING IMPORTANT --

I'M STILL DOING WHAT I'VE ALWAYS DONE.

THE TRUTH IS I DIDN'T GET UP FROM MY CHAIR

FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO.

I JUST WANTED TO EAT.

IF I'M GONNA BE THE FATHER AND THE HUSBAND THAT I WANT TO BE,

I HAVE TO STOP MAKING EXCUSES

AND START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY.

I'M GONNA DO WHAT I TOLD AYESHA

I WAS GONNA DO WHEN WE GOT MARRIED,

AND THAT'S TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY.

AAH!

[ LAUGHTER ]

TO DO THAT I HAVE TO KILL THE OLD ME

AND APOLOGIZE FOR THE CHOICES I'VE MADE.

I'M BROKEN.

[ LAUGHS ]

HEY, HONEY, CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE?

I REALLY WANT AYESHA TO KNOW HOW SORRY I AM FOR EVERYTHING

THAT I'VE DONE THESE PAST FEW YEARS.

I, UH...JUST KIND OF WANT TO SAY SORRY

FOR NOT BEING THERE FOR YOU GUYS.

I JUST SAT THERE AND LET YOU DO EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S NOT -- IT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU.

IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE KIDS.

I JUST WANT TO TRY TO BE THE MAN THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

IT'S TIME TO STOP LOOKING FOR EXCUSES

AND START DOING THE THINGS I SAID I WANT TO DO

BECAUSE I HAVE LOST QUITE A BIT OF WEIGHT

AND I DO FEEL A LOT BETTER.

AND I'M TRYING.

YOU'RE NOT TRYING. YOU'RE DOING IT.

THE DAY THAT YOU MADE THIS CHANGE IS THE DAY

THAT I FORGAVE YOU.

-THANK YOU. -AND I'M PROUD OF YOU.

Ayesha: I'M PROUD OF CHAD FOR DOING EVERYTHING HE'S DOING NOW

AND STICKING TO IT.

AS LONG AS HE'S TRYING, I'M TRYING.

Chad: AYESHA SAYING THAT SHE FORGIVES ME

IS A HUGE BURDEN OFF OF ME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT I'M GONNA START

PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY AGAIN.

IT'S TIME I BECOME THE MAN I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.

**

Chad: GOOD MORNING, HONEY.

Ayesha: MORNING. NERVOUS?

A LITTLE BIT.

GOOD LUCK.

OKAY, LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

Chad: TODAY I HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH A LOCAL TRUCKING COMPANY.

I'M EXCITED JUST TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO GET BACK OUT THERE.

I WANT TO START PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY AGAIN

AND ALLEVIATE THAT BURDEN FROM AYESHA.

Chad: IN MY HEART, I FEEL LIKE I'M READY FOR IT.

NOW IT'S JUST TO SEE IF MY BODY SAYS I'M READY.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS BEING ABLE TO CLIMB UP IN THE TRUCK.

HOW YOU DOING TODAY, BOSS?

BECAUSE THE LAST TIME THAT I TRIED,

THAT'S HOW I SLIPPED AND FELL.

I COULDN'T DO IT.

BUT I NEED TO START WORKING AGAIN.

-HOW LONG YOU BEEN DRIVING? -ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.

I WORKED FOR A COMPANY OUT OF IOWA FOR QUITE A WHILE.

YEAH.

THE ONLY REASON I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK --

I LET MY WEIGHT GET WAY TOO MUCH.

-I WAS UP AROUND 700 POUNDS. -SURE.

I'VE LOST QUITE A BIT OF WEIGHT,

AND I NEED SOMETHING THAT'S MORE PHYSICAL --

GET ME DOING THINGS.

THIS JOB -- IT'S A LOT OF PHYSICAL WORK.

YOU NEED TO LIFT AT LEAST 100 POUNDS.

AND IT IS A DIRTY JOB.

RAIN, SLEET, SNOW -- WE'RE OUT THERE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE EQUIPMENT,

WE'LL GO OUT HERE AND CHECK IT OUT.

ALL RIGHT, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND HOP IN IT?

[ GRUNTING ]

[ GRUNTING ]

IT AIN'T -- IT AIN'T -- NOPE.

-IT AIN'T HAPPENING? -NOPE.

YEAH, IT PRETTY MUCH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

AH, YOU'LL GET THERE.

Chad: IT'S REALLY DISCOURAGING.

I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW.

-THANK YOU. -TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

I THOUGHT I WAS READY, BUT I WASN'T.

I KNOW THIS MEANS I HAVE TO WORK HARDER.

I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED.

I CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO GET INTO A TRUCK

DURING MY INTERVIEW,

I REALIZED I HAVE A JOB ALREADY.

MY JOB IS TO GET FIT ENOUGH SO I CAN GET A JOB.

SO I'M GOING SOMEWHERE TODAY WHERE I HAVEN'T GONE

SINCE HIGH SCHOOL -- THE GYM.

LET'S START OVER HERE.

I'M GONNA WORK AROUND THE CLOCK IF I HAVE TO.

PULL. GOOD.

THERE YOU GO. STRETCH.

I WENT HOME AND TOLD AYESHA ABOUT MY JOB INTERVIEW.

SHE WAS PROUD THAT I TRIED,

AND SHE SAID I'LL GET IT NEXT TIME.

I DON'T WANT TO LET MY FAMILY DOWN.

HALFWAY THERE. YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

I WAS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO GET A JOB.

SO I NEED TO CHANGE THAT.

I KNEW WALKING IN THE GYM, IT WAS GONNA TAKE TIME

TO GET BACK TO HOW I USED TO FEEL ABOUT IT.

A YEAR FROM NOW, IT'LL BE WELL WORTH IT.

WHOO! CHAD! GOOD JOB!

-DAY ONE IS IN THE BOOKS. -MM-HMM.

AND YOU DID FANTASTIC. PROUD OF YOU, BROTHER.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA DO THIS THING, ALL RIGHT?

I'M GONNA KEEP LOSING THE WEIGHT

AND KEEP BUILDING UP MY STAMINA AND STRENGTH.

AND I'M GONNA GET TO WHERE I NEED TO BE.

THIS IS THE NEW ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

I HAVE A FEW JOB INTERVIEWS LINED UP,

SO AYESHA AND I ARE GOING CLOTHES SHOPPING.

THE ONES I HAVE NOW ARE GETTING PRETTY BAGGY ON ME.

-HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY, BOSS? -I'M DOING ALL RIGHT, MY FRIEND.

I CAN'T GO ON A JOB INTERVIEW LOOKING LIKE A SLOB.

-I'M LOOKING FOR SOME SHIRTS. -ALL RIGHT, MY FRIEND.

I STOPPED BUYING MY CLOTHES IN A STORE OVER 20 YEARS AGO.

HOW ABOUT THAT? YOU LIKE THAT?

THAT'S NICE.

BEFORE, I USED TO WEAR AN 8X.

BUT NOW I CAN FIT INTO A 4X.

I HAVEN'T WORN A 4X SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S PHENOMENAL TO SEE

HOW MUCH WEIGHT I'VE LOST IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

I FEEL LIKE THAT MOVIE -- "BIG GUY IN A LITTLE SHIRT".

[ LAUGHTER ]

Ayesha: TO SEE HIM EXCITED TO GET HIS OWN CLOTHES --

I FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE NOW HE FEEL MORE INDEPENDENT.

HE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HE'S WORTHLESS ANYMORE.

SO I'M PROUD OF HIM.

SO WE GO FROM THIS, HONEY...TO THIS.

-EXACTLY. -SUPERSTAR!

I'M GETTING A LOT CLOSER TO THE PERSON I WANT TO BE.

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, BOSS.

I'M GOING IN WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE,

A NEW LOOK, AND I'M GONNA LAND THE JOB.

NOTHING IS GONNA STOP ME.

Chad: ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS TO REMEMBER

IS THAT IT ONLY TAKES ONE RIGHT TURN

TO MAKE UP FOR ALL THE WRONG TURNS IN YOUR LIFE.

ONE OF MY INTERVIEWS LAST MONTH WAS WITH A CAR-RENTAL PLACE,

AND THEY OFFERED ME THE JOB.

I, OF COURSE, ACCEPTED.

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE BACK AT WORK AND TO BE CONTRIBUTING.

-HI, CHAD. -HOW YOU DOING?

WELCOME BACK, BUDDY.

OKAY, SO TODAY, WE'RE PRETTY BUSY.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE YOU GO DOWN...

IT'S NOT TRUCK-DRIVING,

BUT IT'S TIME FOR A NEW CAREER.

THANKS.

TRUCKING IS HOW I GAINED A LOT OF MY WEIGHT,

SO MAYBE NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IN THE TRUCK

IS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE.

NOW I CAN DO WHAT THE JOB

REQUIRES AND STAY ACTIVE ALL DAY LONG.

ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I COULD BARELY STAND.

NOW I'M UP AND I'M ON MY FEET ALMOST ALL DAY LONG.

I WAKE UP EVERY MORNING WITH A PURPOSE.

INSTEAD OF BEING A BURDEN ON MY FAMILY,

NOW I'M STARTING TO BE THE PROVIDER FOR MY FAMILY,

AND IT'S AMAZING.

MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT IN A MONTH WILL BE ONE YEAR

SINCE I'VE STARTED THIS JOURNEY.

EACH APPOINTMENT WITH A DOCTOR NOW,

I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE MY PROGRESS.

I AM A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON NOW.

I'VE COME SO FAR. A YEAR AGO,

I WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED THAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS.

I DID IT.

THAT'S AWESOME.

WOW.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THIS SIZE IN 20 YEARS.

ALL RIGHT, CHAD, YOU LOST 260 POUNDS.

-[ LAUGHS ] -THAT'S EXCELLENT.

AND CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

OH, YEAH, I FEEL GREAT.

CHAD -- HE'S DONE VERY WELL.

I FULLY EXPECT HIM TO HIT HIS TARGET WEIGHT

IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

-I'LL SEE YOU LATER. -THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE WELCOME. BYE-BYE.

Chad: EVERY DAY I SEE MYSELF DOING MORE AND MORE,

AND THAT'S AN AMAZING FEELING.

I FEEL LIKE A NEW MAN.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M KEEPING TO MY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY,

AND I STARTED TAKING WALKS WITH AYESHA

SO I CAN WORK OUT AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH HER.

-BEAUTIFUL DAY. -MM-HMM.

A LOT BETTER THAN LAST TIME.

PUSH ON A LITTLE FARTHER?

IT'S UP TO YOU.

WHY NOT?

A YEAR AGO, I WAS PRETTY MUCH ON MY DEATH BED,

AND NOW I'M LIVING AGAIN.

IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIFE.

IT'S A BETTER LIFE.

THANKS. WANT TO CARRY ME?

GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

[ LAUGHS ]

WE CAN FINALLY DO FUN THINGS TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

THIS IS SOMETHING I COULD NEVER DO WHEN I WAS 700 POUNDS.

GET THIS FOOT ON THAT DOT.

SO GO STRAIGHT UP.

THIS IS EVERYTHING I WISHED FOR -- YOU KNOW,

FOR HIM TO GET BETTER SO HE CAN DO MORE THINGS WITH THE KIDS.

HE IS A CHANGED MAN.

WOW!

TO ACTUALLY SEE HIM UP THERE AND BOWL, IT MADE ME HAPPY.

HE'S A GREAT DAD.

Chad: OKAY, JO JO.

Chad: I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER SEEN

THAT MANY SMILES WITHIN MY FAMILY.

UH-OH. UH-OH!

THIS IS A NEW LIFE. THAT WAS AWESOME.

I'M NOT JUST BECOMING THE HUSBAND AND FATHER I WANT.

I AM THAT MAN.

HEY!