Original subtitles

Doug: I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITHOUT PAIN.

I KNOW I NEED HELP OR I'M GONNA DIE.

Man #2: NOT FOR ONE MINUTE DID I THINK MY LIFE WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW, MY LEGS!

Woman: I'M SO FAR GONE.

Woman #2: I ABSOLUTELY NEED HELP, OR I AM GONNA DIE.

-I CAN'T DO THIS! -IT'S RIGHT UNDER YOU.

I NEED IT OVER!

SIT DOWN. YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE.

Woman #3: I FEEL LIKE I LET MY KIDS DOWN.

INSTEAD OF ME TAKING CARE OF THEM,

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF ME.

IT'S YOU. YOU ARE THE ONE KILLING HIM.

YOU'RE OVEREATING NOW.

RIGHT.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

Ashley: IT IS LITERALLY A DO-OR-DIE MOMENT.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Doug: SOMETIMES THE ONLY APOLOGY YOU CAN GIVE

FOR HOW YOU'VE LIVED YOUR LIFE

IS TO CHANGE IT COMPLETELY.

I DREAD GETTING UP IN THE MORNING.

[ BABY CRYING IN DISTANCE ]

I FEEL PAIN FROM THE MOMENT

I WAKE UP, AND IT'S NAGGING PAIN.

IT HURTS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN THINK STRAIGHT.

YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE, JUST IN AGONY,

TRYING TO PRAY THAT IT GOES AWAY.

I'M 36 YEARS OLD.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FEELING LIKE THIS

WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

I FEEL LIKE AN 80-YEAR-OLD MAN.

MY WIFE AND KIDS HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR DAY,

AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE

IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET UP IS IF MY WIFE, ASHLEY, HELPS ME.

ASHLEY.

I FEEL EMBARRASSED

WHEN I HAVE TO ASK ASHLEY TO COME IN AND HELP ME.

IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL LIKE LESS OF A MAN.

GOOD MORNING. YOU HURTING?

YEAH. MY BACK, MY KNEE.

I CAN'T EVEN BE THE HUSBAND

AND THE FATHER THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

PEOPLE SEE ME, AND THEY'RE LIKE,

"HE'S JUST A BIG GUY," BECAUSE I'M 6'6".

TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY.

OKAY. -I'M READY.

BUT 600 POUNDS IS 600 POUNDS,

NO MATTER HOW TALL YOU ARE.

READY?

-MM-HMM. -ALL RIGHT, I'M READY.

Doug: I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BY MYSELF. I FEEL LIKE AN INVALID.

GRAB THE WALL. [ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

Ashley: I LOVE MY HUSBAND, BUT HE HAS TO CONSTANTLY BE TAKEN CARE OF,

AND RIGHT NOW, I'M MOSTLY HIS CAREGIVER.

Doug: I FEEL LIKE I ASK A LOT OF HER,

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT A MARRIAGE SHOULD BE.

I DON'T WANT TO ASK ANY MORE OF HER,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GONNA BE THE DEAL-BREAKER,

THAT ONE NEXT THING I ASK

FOR WILL BE THE ONE THING SHE'S LIKE,

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M DONE."

OKAY.

Ashley: I'M NOT ANGRY WITH HIM. I DON'T RESENT HIM.

BUT IT'S HARD HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE,

INCLUDING TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS AND HIM.

DOUG KNOWS VERY INTIMATELY

WHERE HIS PROBLEMS ARE WITH HIS WEIGHT,

AND SO, I'M JUST WAITING TILL WE GET TO THAT POINT

WHERE HE MAKES THAT FINAL DECISION

TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE'S A GOOD MAN,

AND I WISH THAT EVERYONE KNEW

THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE TO HIM.

HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL MIND AND A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT,

BUT HE'S TRAPPED IN HIS BODY,

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL INCREDIBLY SAD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Doug: THE FACT THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING,

I KNOW, MAKES ASHLEY FRUSTRATED...

ASHLEY, CAN YOU COME HELP ME, PLEASE?

...BECAUSE I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY LIKE THEY NEED.

[ GROANS ]

IT'S HARD TO BE A PARENT WHEN YOU CAN HARDLY WALK.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

HEY, COOPER. GOOD MORNING.

I HAVE A SON NAMED COOPER WHO'S 4,

AND I HAVE TWO TWIN DAUGHTERS,

HARPER AND PARKER,

WHO ARE 3 1/2 MONTHS OLD.

ASHLEY'S USUALLY DOING FOUR TIMES THE WORK THAT I'M DOING...

-WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BUD? -...AND IT FEELS LIKE

I'M JUST KIND OF A BYSTANDER

WHO'S THERE TO HAND THE BABY TO

WHENEVER SHE HAS TO GET UP AND GO GET ANOTHER BABY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M A LIVING BASSINET.

IT IS EXHAUSTING TAKING CARE OF NEWBORNS,

TWINS, WHEN YOU HAVE A SPOUSE

WHO CAN'T HELP YOU LIKE A NORMAL SPOUSE COULD.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING A SINGLE PARENT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT JUST KIND OF MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M KIND OF A DEADBEAT,

AND A LOT OF TIMES I CAN SEE THAT FRUSTRATION,

ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M EATING.

Ashley: DOUG'S EATING HABITS ARE SHOCKING.

I DON'T EVEN TRY TO PORTION-CONTROL HIM.

TIME FOR BREAKFAST.

ALL RIGHT. YES.

I NEVER TELL HIM NO IF HE WANTS SECONDS,

BECAUSE HE'S GONNA GET IT ANYWAY.

Doug: I'M USUALLY EATING, ALMOST ALL DAY,

AND AS SOON AS I FINISH EATING,

I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT I MIGHT HAVE FOR MY NEXT MEAL.

I CAN'T STOP EATING, AND I NEVER IMAGINED

THAT I'D GET TO THIS POINT.

ME AND MY OLDER BROTHER WENT THROUGH A LOT

WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

MY DAD WAS IN THE SERVICE, AND HE WAS STATIONED ABROAD,

SO WE STAYED AT HOME WITH MY MOM.

BUT WHEN I WAS AROUND 6 YEARS OLD,

MY MOM DECIDED TO LEAVE US.

SHE DROVE US OVER TO MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE,

DROPPED US OFF ON HER FRONT PORCH

AND CALLED MY DAD AND TOLD HIM

THAT SHE COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE,

THAT, "YOUR KIDS ARE AT YOUR MOM'S."

MY DAD DID THE BEST HE COULD.

HE WAS IN THE MILITARY, THOUGH,

SO HE WAS AWAY A LOT OF THE TIME.

WE HAD A LOT OF NANNIES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE ACTUALLY NANNIES

AND HOW MANY WERE FRIENDS OF MY DAD.

AND WHEN I WAS 8, A NANNIE'S SON

WHO WAS OLDER DECIDED

TO HAVE AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH ME.

SO, I DEALT WITH THE TRAUMA OF BEING ABUSED BY EATING,

AND I STARTED TO GAIN WEIGHT.

IT SEEMED EVERY TIME WE SEEN HIM THAT HE WOULD BE BIGGER,

BECAUSE HE JUST ATE ALL THE TIME.

HE WOULD GET SICK HE WOULD EAT SO MUCH.

I THINK I NOTICED IT THE MOST AT A REUNION

WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD.

I HAD NOTICED HOW HE KEPT GOING

TO THE DESSERT TABLE AND EATING,

AND THEN HE'D GO PLAY, AND THEN HE'D COME BACK.

DOUG THREW UP THAT NIGHT IN HIS BED.

THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED

HE REALLY WAS ADDICTED TO FOOD.

Doug: MY EATING NEVER SLOWED DOWN, SO I KEPT GAINING.

AND BY SEVENTH GRADE,

I WEIGHED RIGHT AT ABOUT 200 POUNDS.

THAT'S WHEN MY EATING HABITS

HAD GONE TO THE EXCESSIVE SIDE

WITH SWEETS

AND A LOT OF FAST FOOD, A LOT OF SODAS,

JUST ANYTHING UNHEALTHY AT THAT TIME.

BY THE TIME I WAS 18,

I WAS SITTING RIGHT AROUND 350 POUNDS,

AND I WAS LIVING WITH MY HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND.

WE ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED,

BUT SHE COULDN'T HANDLE HOW MUCH WEIGHT I WAS GAINING.

SO, BY THE TIME I WAS 26,

WE GOT DIVORCED, THEN I WEIGHED 450 POUNDS.

I FELT LIKE SUCH A FAILURE.

I JUST DID EVERYTHING I COULD NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED PARTYING EVERY NIGHT,

AND THAT'S ALSO WHEN I MET ASHLEY.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.

Ashley: WHEN DOUG AND I STARTED DATING,

WE WERE IN AN ON-AGAIN, OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP

FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS,

AND AT THE TIME IT JUST WASN'T WORKING.

EVENTUALLY, ASHLEY GOT TIRED OF THE PARTY SCENE

AND THE PERSON

THAT I WAS AT THE TIME, SO SHE DUMPED ME.

Ashley: WE STAYED FRIENDS AND I WANTED TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIM,

NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE WAS MY FRIEND

AND I VALUED HIM,

BUT BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

Doug: AFTER THAT, I HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

FOR TWO YEARS I WAS DOING METH, PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

WHEN I DECIDED TO QUIT USING, I WENT COLD TURKEY.

FOOD WAS BASICALLY MY DRUG TREATMENT.

I WOULD GO GET MY PIZZA AND MY BREADSTICKS

AND MY 2-LITER, COME HOME, EAT IT ALL, GO TO SLEEP.

THE NEXT TIME I STEPPED ON A SCALE

AFTER THAT, I WAS 660 POUNDS.

AND I'M SO BIG NOW I CAN'T WORK.

ASHLEY HAS TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY.

Ashley: WHEN ME AND DOUG FIRST MET,

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT I LOVED ABOUT HIM.

IT WAS HIS PARTYING LIFESTYLE THAT I JUST DIDN'T AGREE WITH.

AND WHEN WE RECONNECTED A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO,

ALL THAT HAD CHANGED.

I WAS DIVORCED, AND I'D ALREADY HAD COOPER.

DOUG WAS IN A BETTER PLACE THAN I HAD EVER SEEN HIM BEFORE,

AND HIS SIZE AND HIS EATING HABITS

DIDN'T STOP ME FROM WANTING TO BE WITH HIM,

BECAUSE IT'S A DISEASE.

THAT'S LIKE SAYING, "I'M NOT GONNA LOVE YOU

BECAUSE YOU'RE BALD BECAUSE YOU HAVE CANCER."

SO WE GOT MARRIED ABOUT A YEAR AGO

AND HAD BABIES, AND HERE WE ARE NOW.

I THINK WE'RE ALREADY TO A POINT IN OUR RELATIONSHIP

WHERE EITHER I'M GONNA CHANGE

AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

OR WE'RE GONNA CHANGE AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK UP OUR FAMILY,

BUT WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS.

ARE YOU HUNGRY? -ME?

YEAH. YEAH.

-YEAH. -ARE YOU HUNGRY?

-YEAH. -WHAT DO YOU WANT?

-UM, PIZZA? -I WANT PIZZA.

OF COURSE Y'ALL DO.

Doug: ABOUT THE ONLY THING I'M GOOD FOR

IS GETTING FOOD FOR THE FAMILY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT'S HARD TO GO OUT, BUT I KNOW IT'S MY CHANCE

TO SNEAK AN EXTRA MEAL.

FOR LUNCH, WE USUALLY GO FAST FOOD...

...AND YOU START GETTING INTO THAT RHYTHM

OF WHERE YOU CAN GET IT,

JUST LIKE ANY DRUG ADDICT WOULD,

THEY KNOW THE PERSON THEY CAN GET IT FROM.

I CAN ROLL THROUGH A DRIVE-THROUGH PIZZA PLACE,

PICK UP A PIZZA, AND I'M ON MY WAY.

-That it? -THAT'S IT.

That'll be $18.69.

IT'S JUST THAT EASY.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU.

ALL MY FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT IS THE MEAL I'M BRINGING HOME.

THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY OTHER MEALS

I CAN EAT BEFORE I GET BACK.

IT'S USUALLY A PRETTY NORMAL THING

TO GO TO TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.

WOMAN: Hi. Can I take your order, please?

YEAH. I NEED TO GET A NUMBER 4.

A LOT OF BURGER PLACES HAVE THE SMALL BURGER FOR LIKE A DOLLAR.

I'LL GRAB AN EXTRA ONE OF THOSE

AND EAT IT ON THE WAY HOME.

IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO DO,

AND JUST KIND OF ADDS TO THE WHOLE ENJOYMENT OF IT.

I'LL HIDE THIS WRAPPER IN MY POCKET,

SO I CAN THROW IT AWAY IN THE HOUSE WHEN I GO IN.

I DO NOT TELL ASHLEY THE TRUTH ABOUT HOW MUCH FOOD I EAT.

[ HORN HONKS ]

Ashley: DOUG ABSOLUTELY IS A CLOSET EATER.

I KNOW. I CAN'T PROVE IT,

BUT I KNOW THAT HE EATS FOOD WHEN I'M NOT AROUND.

THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S SO DANGEROUS WHERE HE'S AT,

IS THAT I CAN'T STOP THAT.

I CAN'T MAKE HIM NOT DO THAT,

BECAUSE HE DOES IT WHEN HE'S ALONE.

COOPER, ARE YOU READY TO EAT? -YEAH.

Doug: IT'S LIKE ANY DRUG ADDICTION.

YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.

THE ONLY WAY TO NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT IT IS TO DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S A VERY SELFISH WAY TO LIVE,

JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW TO FIX ME

AND NOT THINK ABOUT HOW TO FIX ANYBODY ELSE.

ONCE I START EATING, I CAN'T GET ENOUGH,

AND I WON'T STOP UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE.

I DO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT,

SO I TRY TO HELP OUT WHEN I CAN.

YOU READY TO GO?

Ashley: GO GET YOUR COAT.

LOVE YOU.

Cooper: LOVE YOU.

ASHLEY NEVER GETS A BREAK AS A MOM.

-PICK ME UP. -COME ON.

[ GRUNTS ]

SHE'S CONSTANTLY RUNNING AROUND WITH THE KIDS.

-I LOVE YOU, DADDY. -I LOVE YOU, COOP.

SO, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I TRY TO GIVE HER A BREAK

AND TAKE COOPER WITH ME TO THE STORE.

BUT I HATE GOING OUT AND DOING ANYTHING.

IT'S MISERABLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET AROUND.

HEY, COOPER. -WHAT?

CAN YOU GET SOME OF THIS SODA DOWN HERE?

RIGHT HERE, THE RED ONE.

MY BODY STARTS GIVING OUT PRETTY QUICK,

AND I CAN BARELY GET AROUND.

HERE YOU GO, BUD. SEE THE GREEN ONE RIGHT THERE?

I'M REALLY GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP.

YEAH. THANK YOU, BUD.

AND COOPER HAS TO PRETTY MUCH DO IT ALL FOR ME.

HEY, GIVE ME THAT SMALL BAG OF SUGAR DOWN THERE.

NOPE. DOWN THERE, THE PINK BAG.

GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE. -THAT'S HEAVY, TOO.

YOU LOOK SWEATY.

YES, I AM.

OKAY. [ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Doug: BEFORE I'M EVEN HALFWAY DONE

WITH GETTING EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO,

I'M SO OUT OF BREATH I CAN BARELY GO ON.

I AM.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

NO. I CAN DRIVE IT.

PHEW! I'M JUST GETTING TIRED.

PEOPLE STARE, AND IT'S EMBARRASSING.

RIGHT NOW I'M FEELING A LOT OF ANXIETY.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE. I'M...

SWEATING?

ANXIETY. PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME,

AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO KIND OF GET OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE.

I'M REALLY HOPING I DON'T RUN INTO SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS ME.

I HAVE TO JUST CUT THE TRIP SHORT,

PAY FOR EVERYTHING, AND GET OUT.

GONNA GO THIS WAY.

YEAH, I CAN'T GO THROUGH THAT WAY.

Woman: WE CAN PUSH THAT BACK IF YOU WANT.

NO. THAT'S FINE.

I'LL JUST CUT AND COME AROUND THAT ONE.

THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD I WAS AT LEAST ABLE TO PAY FOR WHAT I HAD.

THERE'S BEEN TIMES THAT I'VE BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN

THAT I'D JUST ABANDON THE SHOPPING CART AND GO.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

BUT I CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH. I CAN BARELY MOVE,

AND MY WHOLE BODY JUST ACHES LIKE I'M GOING TO DIE.

I CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS.

-LET'S GO TO MY CAR. -JUST YOU AND ME?

NOPE. WE'RE ALL GONNA GO.

I WANT TO BE THERE FOR MY FAMILY AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

-YOU GOT EVERYBODY IN? -YEP.

-YOU READY TO GO? -YEAH.

BUT IT'S GETTING TO WHERE IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

[ GRUNTS, BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OH!

CAN YOU TURN YOUR LEGS ANY?

Ashley: DOUG KNOWS THAT HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT,

BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

DOUG HAS TO CHANGE.

I'D NEVER LEAVE DOUG,

BUT DOUG IS GONNA LEAVE OUR FAMILY

IF HE DOESN'T CHANGE.

I LOST HIM FOR 10 YEARS ALREADY.

I CANNOT FATHOM LOSING HIM PERMANENTLY.

YEAH, I'M GONNA TAKE MY CAR.

YOU WANT TO JUST FOLLOW US? DO YOU NEED HELP?

NO, I GOT IT.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY DOUG'S LAST CHANCE TO CHANGE.

IT IS LITERALLY A DO-OR-DIE MOMENT.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

Doug: I FEEL BAD FOR ASHLEY, BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS.

I KNOW SHE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING,

AND I JUST MAKE THINGS HARDER A LOT OF TIMES.

Ashley: I LOVE DOING THINGS TOGETHER AS A FAMILY,

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH IT.

IT'S TOO EXHAUSTING, BECAUSE ALL DOUG CAN DO IS SIT THERE.

HE'S ALMOST TO THE POINT

WHERE HE'S NOT EVEN PART OF THIS FAMILY ANYMORE.

COOPER DESPERATELY WANTS DOUG TO PLAY WITH HIM.

HE LOVES DOUG. -AWESOME.

I WANT TO, BUD, BUT I CAN'T.

UGH!

[ CRYING ]

I'M SORRY, BUD.

Ashley: DO YOU WANT ME TO COME PLAY WITH YOU?

YES.

IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO WATCH BOTH OF THEM

WHEN DOUG HAS TO TELL HIM NO.

COOPER KNOWS THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT FAIR. IT'S NOT FAIR FOR ANYBODY.

Doug: I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE A FAMILY.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE KIDS.

THEY'RE JUST THE GREATEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

THEY DESERVE SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I GIVE THEM,

ALL BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP EATING.

WHEN I SEE THEM PLAYING WITHOUT ME OUT THERE,

I SEE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF I WERE GONE.

I WANT TO LIVE MORE THAN ANYTHING.

I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER ALONE WITH THOSE KIDS.

I WANT THOSE KIDS TO KNOW WHO I AM.

I'M GONNA FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING IN ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I NEED HELP, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WHATEVER IT TAKES, I'M GONNA DO IT,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T I'M GONNA DIE.

Ashley: GO INSIDE AND TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, BUD.

Doug: I KNOW THAT ASHLEY'S GETTING TO A BREAKING POINT.

AND SHE CAN'T DO THIS MUCH LONGER.

SHE'S PRACTICALLY RAISING OUR FAMILY ON HER OWN.

Cooper: SORRY.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP RAISE THE KIDS

AND NOT HAVE MY WIFE DO ALL OF IT.

IF I DON'T MAKE THESE CHANGES

THAT I NEED TO MAKE, WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP

AM I GONNA HAVE WITH MY CHILDREN?

HEY. COME ON. [ CRYING ]

I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING,

SO I CAN BE AROUND FOR THESE KIDS.

I HAVE TO CHANGE NOW.

WELL, I CAN SIT ON THE COUCH AND YOU CAN LET ME FEED THEM BOTH.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FEED BOTH OF THEM.

YOU DON'T THINK? I MEAN, IF THEY'RE LAYING DOWN.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FEED BOTH OF THEM.

OKAY.

CAN YOU FEED ONE WHILE I COOK, PLEASE?

SIT UP.

[ GRUNTS ]

Ashley: I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE DOUG IS

AND HOW HE HAS GOTTEN TO THIS POINT,

BECAUSE OF WHERE I'VE BEEN.

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, I WAS OVER 300 POUNDS.

I COULDN'T BARELY TIE MY SHOES I WAS SO HEAVY.

I WAS MISERABLE. HURT ALL THE TIME.

I WAS TOO YOUNG TO BE THAT BIG AND TO BE THAT SICKLY.

SO I HAD THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WHEN I CAME INTO THIS RELATIONSHIP,

ME AND COOPER WERE VERY HEALTHY EATERS

FOR THE MOST PART.

AND I WAS DOWN TO MY GOAL WEIGHT OF 175 POUNDS.

NOW I'M CLOSE TO 60 POUNDS HEAVIER

THAN I WAS WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING THE MOTIVATION

FOR HIM TO EAT BETTER,

I HAVE, IN TURN, STARTED EATING WORSE.

AND I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE THIS SIZE EVER AGAIN.

I WORKED HARD, AND A LONG TIME, TO GET THERE,

AND I WANTED TO SEE THAT CHANGE IN DOUG, TOO.

BUT I KNEW THAT DOUG HAD TO WANT IT FOR HIMSELF.

I THINK HE KNOWS THAT I'M AT THAT PLACE

WHERE I'M DONE WITH IT.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I KNOW THAT I'M A BAD INFLUENCE,

AND I KNOW IT BOTHERS HER TO HAVE PUT WEIGHT BACK ON,

SO I KNOW I DO HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

-HI, COOPER. -COME IN. COME IN.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HI. COME ON IN.

HOW Y'ALL DOING? HI, ASHLEY.

HEY. HEY.

WHAT AM I HAVING TO EAT TONIGHT?

-A BUNCH OF GOODNESS. -DO YOU NEED ANY HELP?

NO, I'M GOOD.

-SIT DOWN. -SURE.

HAVE A SEAT.

HOW ARE YOU?

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA LOSE YOUR WEIGHT?

I'M LOOKING INTO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

GETTING READY TO FIND OUT IF THAT'S GONNA BE

AN OPTION FOR ME,

AND WHAT I'M GONNA NEED TO DO TO HAVE THAT SURGERY DONE.

THAT'D BE LIKE -- -THAT'S ALL I WANT.

IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND THE THINGS

THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH. -YEP.

AND LOSING WEIGHT IS THE HARDEST ONE OF THEM,

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE.

Allen: I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHEN ALL THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN.

I FOUND A SURGEON IN HOUSTON,

AND WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THERE AND SEE IF HE CAN HELP ME.

GET IT BEHIND THE DOCTOR 100%...

-I AM. -...AND DO AS YOU'RE TOLD.

I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING HE TELLS ME.

I'M READY TO CHANGE.

I'M MORE DEDICATED NOW TO STARTING THIS PROCESS

THAN I HAVE BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE.

I HAVE MORE REASON TO BE NOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT BEING HERE FOR MY FAMILY.

I SEE HER COMPLETELY STRESSED OUT,

DEALING WITH THE BABIES AND, YOU KNOW,

HAVING TO CARRY THE LOAD OF HER AND ME.

SHE'S SO UNDERSTANDING OF EVERYTHING

THAT I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER. -IT'S 'CAUSE I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO. [ CLICKS TONGUE ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

Doug: ME AND ASHLEY ARE GOING TO DRIVE TO HOUSTON

TO GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND HER MOM IS GONNA KEEP THE KIDS FOR US

UNTIL WE GET BACK.

Ashley: THE TWINS ARE ALMOST 4 MONTHS OLD,

AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ANXIETY ABOUT LEAVING THEM,

BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

Doug: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT, BUT ALL I KNOW IS

I'M COMMITTED TO DO WHATEVER I HAVE TO TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I'M LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR TO HELP ME

BECAUSE I'VE TRIED DIETS,

I'VE TRIED FASTING,

I'VE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF,

AND NOTHING'S EVER SEEMED TO BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME.

Ashley: OKAY. WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?

I'M GONNA GET A TRIPLE MEAT, TRIPLE CHEESE...

[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

...TRIPLE BACON.

YEAH, I NEED TO GET A NUMBER 3.

NO VEGETABLES.

REPEAT IT.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ALL LARGE SIZES.

-Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY. -THANK YOU.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T GONNA BE EASY FOR EITHER OF US,

BECAUSE AS MUCH AS ASHLEY NEEDS ME TO CHANGE,

SHE WANTS ME HAPPY.

HERE'S YOUR TRIPLE MEAT, TRIPLE CHEESE, SIR.

-TRIPLE BACON. -AND BACON.

Doug: I DON'T KNOW IF I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO I'M JUST FOCUSING ON GETTING TO HOUSTON

AND SEEING THE DOCTOR.

ARE YOU NERVOUS?

I'M NERVOUS. I'M SCARED THAT

HE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP ME.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IF THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP YOU?

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY ONLY OPTION

AT THIS POINT TO LOSE WEIGHT,

SO I REALLY HOPE HE TAKES ME AS A PATIENT.

-MR. ARMSTRONG? -HELLO.

AND, AT THIS POINT, IT'S THE ONLY CHANCE

I HAVE TO AVOID LOSING EVERYTHING

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S A LOT HIGHER THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M ALMOST 700 POUNDS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO.

-I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M DOUG. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOU ARE? -I'M ASHLEY.

SO, YOU ARE 684 POUNDS.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I THINK IT'S THE AMOUNT THAT I EAT.

MY PORTIONS ARE BIGGER THAN A NORMAL PERSON'S WOULD BE.

IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF BEEN THAT WAY.

WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY EAT IN A DAY?

MOST OF THE TIME, SHE'LL COOK ME BREAKFAST,

IT'LL BE, LIKE, FRIED EGGS, BACON,

TOAST OR BISCUITS,

AND CINNAMON ROLLS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOT ALL OF THEM, WAS IT?

-A LOT OF TIMES, YEAH. -A LOT OF TIMES?

-YEAH. -OKAY. HOW ABOUT DINNER?

DINNER IS WHATEVER SHE'S COOKING.

STEAK MAYBE WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SIDES,

MASHED POTATOES AND MAC AND CHEESE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU COOK ALL THIS STUFF FOR HIM

AND PUT IT ON THE PLATE AND SAY, "EAT."

-AND HE EATS IT. -YEAH.

SO, SHE'S JUST SUPPORTING YOUR EATING HABIT, RIGHT?

SHE DOESN'T REALLY LIKE TO TELL ME NO

AS FAR AS WHAT I'M EATING.

I MAKE THE CHOICE TO EAT IT,

AND SHE'S THERE TO COOK IT FOR ME.

DOUG IS APPROACHING 700 POUNDS, AND HE IS ALMOST IMMOBILE,

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS UNHEALTHY DYNAMICS

BETWEEN HIM AND HIS WIFE.

SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WE CAN DO FOR YOU?

EVERY TIME I'VE DONE ANY KIND OF DIET OR ANYTHING,

I'LL STICK TO THE DIET

AND I'LL SEE RESULTS FROM IT,

BUT I ALWAYS HIT A PLATEAU

AND I GET DISCOURAGED AT THAT POINT,

AND I'LL START GOING BACK TO MY OLD WAYS.

-DIETS NEVER WORK, OKAY? -OKAY.

WHAT IS GONNA WORK IS PERMANENT CHANGES

TOWARD HEALTHY HABITS,

AND YOU DID NOT GET TO BE 600 POUNDS OVERNIGHT.

IT WOULD TAKE 36 YEARS TO GET HERE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT OVERNIGHT, EITHER.

RIGHT.

NOW, I SEE FROM YOUR PAST HISTORY,

YOU'VE GOT ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY.

YOU'RE ADDICTED TO FOOD AND SOME OTHER STUFF.

YOU WALKED AWAY FROM OTHER ADDICTION,

AND THAT'S NOT EASY.

BUT YOU DIDN'T NEED THOSE OTHER THINGS TO LIVE.

YOUR ADDICTION IS FOOD.

YOU NEED TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM HABITS

OF USING IT PROPERLY,

INSTEAD OF JUST REFRAINING FROM IT.

I THINK THERE IS A PART OF DOUG THAT IS SCARED ABOUT HIS WEIGHT

AND WANTS TO CHANGE.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A PART OF HIM

THAT DOESN'T EXPECT TO HAVE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

SO, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU SHOWING ME

THAT YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS.

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

NO CARBS, NO SUGAR, HIGH PROTEIN,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT MONTH. -OKAY.

YOUR BODY WON'T LAST MUCH LONGER AT THIS WEIGHT,

SO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO GET STARTED,

AND LET'S GET THIS 50 POUNDS KNOCKED OFF BEFORE WE COME BACK.

LET'S DO IT.

[ GRUNTS ]

Doug: I WAS WORRIED THE DOCTOR

WAS GONNA TELL ME THAT IT WAS TOO LATE.

BUT I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

TO GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT THAT I WANT TO LOSE

SO I CAN BE THE RIGHT KIND OF FATHER AND HUSBAND

THAT I NEED TO BE.

THIS FEELS LIKE MY LAST CHANCE,

AND I'M NOT GONNA LOSE IT.

Doug: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS

SINCE I SAW THE DOCTOR FOR MY FIRST VISIT,

AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

FOOD WAS A COPING MECHANISM,

AND NOW I DON'T HAVE THAT.

NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DRUGS

AND ALCOHOL FROM MY PARTY DAYS.

I CHANGED THAT PART OF MY LIFE,

BUT FOOD IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING,

BECAUSE YOU CAN AVOID DRUGS

AND YOU CAN AVOID ALCOHOL,

BUT FOOD'S SOMETHING THAT'S THERE EVERY DAY

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GETTING

ANY KIND OF STIMULATION OUT

OF JUST THE ACT OF EATING FOOD,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES.

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THE CHOICES THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE BASED

ON HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL,

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THAT THE WORST ADDICTION

I'VE EVER HAD.

SO, I'VE LOST THE ONE THING

THAT WAS HELPING ME COPE WITH EVERYTHING.

OH.

AND IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN ASHLEY REALIZES,

BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH I WAS ACTUALLY EATING.

DOUG STRUGGLES WITH ANYTHING NEGATIVE,

EMOTIONALLY, IN HIS LIFE,

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY BEEN HARD FOR HIM

TO COPE WITH STRESS IN GENERAL

AND NOT TURN TO FOOD,

SO I'M COUNTING CALORIES NOW

TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN THE DIET.

I CAN SEE HIM GETTING FRUSTRATED,

AND THAT'S GENERALLY THE ONLY TIME HE EVER SAYS,

"I WISH I COULD HAVE A PIZZA,"

OR, "MAN, I WISH I COULD HAVE A HAMBURGER,"

BUT HE KNOWS WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

OUR GAME PLAN AT THIS POINT IS,

WITH THE MEASURING AND THE CALORIE-COUNTING,

HE'LL HELP ME COUNT THE CALORIES,

BUT I DO ALL THE PORTION CONTROL.

AND AS HE GETS MORE CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS,

WE'LL KIND OF BABY-STEP OUR WAY

SO HE IS MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT DOUG LOSES THE WEIGHT

BEFORE THE NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS PART OF THE JOURNEY.

Doug: THIS IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE,

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW,

I NEVER REALLY FEEL CONTENT AND FULL.

EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE, FEELS LIKE A TEST OF MY WILL.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT ON CALORIES?

350.

IT'S SCARY TO NOT KNOW IF I'M GONNA GIVE IN,

BUT I HAVE TO SUCCEED AT THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE DR. NOW.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY LAST VISIT,

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF I'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT

TO GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT STEPPING ON THAT SCALE.

SO MUCH IS RIDING ON ME DOING THIS.

I CAN'T FAIL.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

DR. NOW WANTED ME TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

AND GET UNDER 634,

BUT I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA IF I'M EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.

[ EXHALES SLOWLY ]

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED AT THAT.

PART OF ME IS PROUD I LOST SOME WEIGHT,

BUT I'M FEELING NERVOUS.

I KNOW HOW DR. NOWZARADAN IS ABOUT GOALS.

I'M REALLY JUST KIND OF DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF

FOR NOT REALLY HITTING THE GOAL.

-HELLO. -HEY.

-HELLO. -HOW YOU ALL DOING?

-PRETTY GOOD. -ALL RIGHT.

YOU LOST 28 POUNDS.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU MADE SOME PROGRESS,

BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LOSE

A LOT MORE WEIGHT THIS MONTH.

ANY ISSUES WITH YOUR EATING HABIT, OR ANY PROBLEM?

-NOT AT ALL. -IF THAT WERE TRUE,

YOU WOULD HAVE LOST A LOT MORE WEIGHT.

I'M GLAD TO SEE DOUG HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS,

BUT THE REALITY IS AT HIS HEIGHT AND AGE,

HE COULD HAVE EVEN LOST UP TO 70 POUNDS

ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

DOUG IS MOST LIKELY STILL SNEAKING SOME FOOD

AND EATING SOME THINGS HE SHOULDN'T,

SO THERE'S PROGRESS

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO SHOW ME THAT HE'S READY.

SO, AT THIS POINT,

I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND YOU NEED TO LOSE THE 50 POUNDS

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO.

OKAY.

MAKING CHANGES TO YOUR BEHAVIOR

THAT ARE PERMANENT,

AND NOT JUST TEMPORARY, IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,

AND DOUG HAS TO SHOW ME

THAT HE'S DEDICATED TO THIS PROCESS

BEFORE I CAN HELP HIM.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU ALL LATER.

-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.

Doug: I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

I'VE WORKED SO HARD,

BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

AND I'M REALLY SCARED

I'M NOT DOING THIS FAST ENOUGH TO SHOW ASHLEY

THAT I'M GONNA MAKE THIS CHANGE.

I DON'T WANT HER TO GIVE UP ON ME.

SO, WHATEVER IT TAKES, I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.

Ashley: WANT TO GO TAKE A WALK TO THE PARK?

OOH, YEAH!

NOT GETTING APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

REALLY SCARED ME.

I KNOW EVERYTHING I HAVE TO LOSE,

SO I'VE BEEN 100% COMMITTED TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

I'VE BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD SINCE MY LAST DOCTOR'S VISIT,

BEING MORE ACTIVE.

I COULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH THE BABIES.

YOU READY?

IT'S REALLY BEEN A BIG CHANGE.

Ashley: I AM SO PROUD OF DOUG.

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS IS STARTING TO EVOLVE.

HE'S ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE WITH THEM,

AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO WATCH.

KEEP GOING, COOP.

HE JUST SEEMS LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON RIGHT NOW.

YOU READY?

Doug: I DO THINK I'M LOSING WEIGHT.

I CAN FEEL A DIFFERENCE.

COOPER'S -- HE'S HAPPIER NOW

THAT I CAN GO AND PLAY WITH HIM ON THE PLAYGROUND,

AND I HAVE A LOT MORE ENERGY TO PLAY WITH IT.

SO, 5-YEAR-OLDS, THEY DEFINITELY LIKE THAT.

[ SCREAMS AND LAUGHS ]

DON'T GO INTO THE ROAD.

HOW'S THAT PACE, DAD?

A LITTLE QUICK, BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB! YOU WALKED...

-I FEEL BETTER. -...0.62 MILES,

SO A LITTLE OVER HALF A MILE.

OH, DON'T TOUCH ME WITH YOUR SWEATINESS.

-WHY? YOU LIKE IT. -I LIKE IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

Ashley: WE'RE MAKING THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER,

WE'RE MAKING FOOD CHOICES TOGETHER,

WE'RE EXERCISING TOGETHER AND DOING MORE AS A FAMILY.

ARE YOU ABOUT READY FOR DINNER?

-MM-HMM. -GOOD.

Doug: NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS OR HOW STRONG THE TEMPTATION IS,

I'M ONLY GOING TO EAT WHAT I SHOULD.

ASHLEY KIND OF FINDS CREATIVE WAYS

TO MAKE THE MEALS BIGGER

AND KEEP THE CALORIE COUNTS DOWN.

TA-DA!

WHAT DO YOU THINK? DID I DO GOOD?

YEAH. SEEMS LIKE A LOT FOR 300 CALORIES.

I KNOW, RIGHT?

I'VE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE, AND I FAILED THE FIRST TIME.

-THANK YOU, BUD. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

Doug: I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TOO MANY CHANCES LEFT

AND THAT I HAVE TO DO THIS

AND PROVE TO ASHLEY THIS CHANGE

IS NOT JUST TEMPORARY.

I'M DOING IT FOR HER, AND I'M DOING IT FOR MY KIDS.

I CAN'T LOSE THEM, SO, NO MATTER WHAT,

I HAVE TO LOSE THE 50 POUNDS

BY THE TIME I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I WORKED SO HARD THIS PAST MONTH,

AND I KNOW THIS IS IT.

IF I DON'T HIT MY GOAL THIS TIME,

I MAY BE ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

**

Doug: THE DOCTOR SAID I HAD TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

FROM MY LAST VISIT A MONTH AGO.

THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BE UNDER 607 POUNDS TODAY,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT THE FIRST TIME.

AND IF HAVEN'T DONE IT NOW,

I KNOW I'M PROBABLY OUT OF CHANCES.

-[ GASPS ] -601.

OH, MY GOSH, YOU DID IT!

Doug: THE 600-POUND LIMIT IS A REALLY BIG THRESHOLD FOR ME,

SO IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

BUT I'M SO PROUD OF US.

ASHLEY HELPED ME DO THIS, AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL

WE DID THIS AS A TEAM. [ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO.

HOW YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD. -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, AND SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO 601,

AND YOU ARE 2 POUNDS AWAY FROM BEING UNDER 600.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S 55 POUNDS

YOU'VE LOST THIS PAST MONTH.

YOU'RE GETTING USED TO EATING LESS, HUH?

-YES. -HOW IS YOUR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY?

-OH, GREAT. -VERY GOOD.

TO REFRAIN FROM OVEREATING FOR A MONTH ISN'T EASY,

BUT DOUG HAS SHOWN ME HE IS WILLING TO WORK

AT THIS PROCESS TO LOSE WEIGHT.

OKAY, YOU'VE SHOWN ME THAT YOU CAN WORK HARD AT THIS,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

WE'LL GET YOU ON THE SCHEDULE SOON.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE WELCOME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PATIENTS THAT ARE OVER 600 POUNDS

AND EATING 10,000 OR MORE CALORIES A DAY

CAN SHED A LOT OF WEIGHT QUICKLY

WHEN THEY START A LIMITED DIET,

BUT WHEN THE PATIENT JUST REFUSES TO DIET,

THEY WILL ALWAYS GO BACK

TO OVEREATING AFTER A FEW MONTHS.

SO, THE NEXT STEP IS TO GIVE DOUG WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS A TOOL TO GIVE HIM TIME TO START THERAPY

AND BEGIN DEALING WITH HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING HIM TO EAT.

IT'S IDEAL THAT YOU LOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT

BEFORE YOUR SURGERY. -OKAY.

SO, KEEP AT IT AND GET UNDER 600, OKAY?

-GREAT. -I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.

I DID NOT SEE THAT ONE COMING.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, MY GOD.

-THAT IS CRAZY. -THAT IS.

I'M GENUINELY SURPRISED.

-WOW. -WOW.

AWESOME!

Doug: I'M REALLY HAPPY.

I'VE WORKED SO HARD AT THIS,

AND TO GET IT IS JUST A LITTLE SURREAL.

THIS APPROVAL MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

IT MEANS THAT I'LL HAVE ANOTHER LEASE ON LIFE.

IT MEANS THAT I'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE A LONGER LIFE,

THAT I'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO BE HERE FOR MY KIDS

AND BE HERE FOR ASHLEY.

I FEEL LIKE THE DOCTOR HAS GIVEN ME THIS AMAZING CHANCE

TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

**

YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

HANG ON.

LOVE YOU.

Doug: I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE

AND HAPPY THAT I'M GETTING THIS SURGERY,

BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO BE SCARED.

BECAUSE OF MY SIZE,

THERE IS A RISK THAT SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG,

SO IT'S THE UNEXPECTED, I THINK, IS MY BIGGEST FEAR.

I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DONE

SO I CAN GET MOVING TO THE NEXT STEP

AND MAKING SOME MORE PROGRESS.

Man: NICE, BIG, DEEP BREATH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

A GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY ON DOUG.

HIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT MAKES HIM

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO POSITION

WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CAN BE MANEUVERED INSIDE OF HIM,

SO WE'RE POSITIONING THE TABLE

IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THIS,

BUT HE CAN'T STAY THAT WAY FOR LONG.

SO, IF WE ENCOUNTER ANY DELAYS,

WE MAY HAVE TO END THE SURGERY EARLY.

GASTRIC BYPASS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY

TO TREAT MORBIDLY OBESE PATIENTS,

AND WE DO BYPASS TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE STOMACH

TO THE SIZE OF A SMALL ORANGE

TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD

THE PATIENT CAN EAT AT ONE TIME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE ALSO REMOVE PART OF INTESTINE

SO THEY CAN ABSORB FEWER CALORIES

FROM WHAT THEY EAT.

Ashley: I'M ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT HOW THE PROCEDURE HAS GONE.

DOUG IS MY VERY BEST FRIEND.

HE IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FAMILY.

I WOULD JUST BE A COMPLETE WRECK WITHOUT HIM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.

WE NEED O.G. TUBE TO COMPRESS THE STOMACH

IF YOU CAN GET THAT DONE.

GO BACK. GO BACK.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE RIGHT NOW IS THAT...

...WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE INSTRUMENTS.

SO, THERE IS A LONG DISTANCE

BETWEEN HIS INTESTINES AND WHERE I NEED IN TO REACH

TO CONNECT TO HIS NEW SMALLER STOMACH.

THAT ISSUE IS MAKING THIS A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT. ROTATE AND DON'T DO ANYTHING.

ROTATE THE OTHER WAY.

OPEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ALL RIGHT. WE GOT IT.

SUPER.

ALL RIGHT, ROOM LIGHT ON.

LET'S GET HIM CLOSED UP RIGHT NOW.

THAT SHOULD DO IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

HE HAD A FULL GASTRIC BYPASS,

AND EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.

THIS IS WILL HELP HIM TO CONTINUE TO LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT THIS IS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING FOR DOUG.

SURGERY PREPARES THE BODY FROM BEING ABLE

TO TAKE IN SO MUCH AT ONCE

AND HELP THE PATIENT GET FULL REALLY QUICKLY.

IT ESSENTIALLY REMOVED THE PHYSICAL ELEMENT

THAT ALLOWED HIM TO GAIN WEIGHT AND CLEARED THE WAY

TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL ELEMENT OF OVEREATING.

SO, THE REAL WORK FOR DOUG IS GOING TO START NOW.

HE HAS DONE WELL,

BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO FACE HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES

IF HE WANTS TO SUCCEED LONG-TERM.

Doug: I'M GETTING HUNGRY, BABE.

Ashley: ME, TOO.

ARE YOU HUNGRY? -COUNT ME IN!

[ Chuckling ] OKAY.

WHAT KIND OF SOUP DO I HAVE?

I THINK YOU HAVE BROCCOLI-CHEESE --

REDUCED-FAT BROCCOLI-CHEESE.

-WE'LL DO THAT, YEAH. -OKAY.

WHO WANTS TO HELP ME COOK?

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA COOK OUR FOOD.

-ARE YOU GONNA COME HELP? -YEAH.

OKAY.

WHOO!

Doug: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE HARDER THAN I EXPECTED.

FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY APPETITE AT ALL,

BUT I'VE STARTED TO HAVE SOME CRAVINGS HERE AND THERE,

AND SOME OF THE TEMPTATIONS HAVE BEEN COMING BACK.

I'VE BEEN ON A LIQUID DIET, SO I EAT A LOT OF SOUP.

BUT THE DOCTOR SAYS I'M GONNA BE ABLE

TO START SOLID FOODS AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

Cooper: THIS PIECE OF BROCCOLI HAS TO BE DAD.

WELL, HE CAN'T EAT THE BROCCOLI.

I'M GONNA RECUPERATE A LITTLE BIT FROM SURGERY,

AND THEN, I'M GONNA GO BACK DOWN TO HOUSTON

TO SEE THE DOCTOR AND GET AN EVALUATION

AND SEE HOW I'M HEALING UP AFTER SURGERY,

AND KIND OF HOPING TO SEE IF I CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

ON THIS DIET TO KIND OF EXPAND MY MEALS,

KIND OF GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT MORE VARIETY.

IT SCARES ME WHEN I START TO FEEL THAT DESIRE

TO EAT STUFF I SHOULDN'T.

IT WAS WEIRD FOR A WHILE NOT HAVING ANY CRAVINGS.

WHEN THEY COME BACK, IT MAKES ME WORRY

THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE SOME CHOICES I SHOULDN'T

AND THEN END UP GAINING AGAIN.

IF THAT HAPPENS, I KNOW I'M NOT GETTING A SECOND CHANCE.

THIS WAS IT.

SO I CAN'T FAIL.

CAPISCE.

DO YOU LIKE THE BANANA PUDDING?

MM-HMM.

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU'RE EATING THAT AS FAST AS YOU ARE.

PUDDING'S THE EASIEST THING FOR ME TO EAT.

-REALLY? -YEAH.

LIKE, IT HAS, LIKE, NO EFFECT.

I'M DOING THIS SO I CAN HAVE A BETTER LIFE WITH MY FAMILY.

IT'S NOT EASY, BUT I KNOW IT WILL BE WORTH IT.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I SAW HIM A MONTH AGO AND ONLY LOST 12 POUNDS,

SO HE WANTED ME TO DO BETTER THIS MONTH.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD,

BUT IT'S BEEN MORE OF A STRUGGLE NOT TO OVEREAT

NOW THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO EAT SOLID FOOD.

SO, I REALLY HOPE I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT

I'M SUPPOSED TO THIS MONTH.

BUT IF I HAVEN'T STAYED ON TRACK AND MY PROGRESS IS STILL SLOW,

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EMBARRASSING.

-THAT'S PRETTY DISCOURAGING. -ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD

AND GO TO ROOM 5.

Doug: I'M FEELING A LITTLE ANXIOUS

JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE DOCTOR TO THINK

THAT I'M NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

SO, I'M JUST ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT HE SAYS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO.

-HOW YOU DOING? -I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.

SO, THIS IS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AFTER YOUR SURGERY.

Doug: YES.

SO, IN ONE MONTH, YOU ONLY LOST 10 POUNDS?

-RIGHT. -WHICH MEANS

THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD. -RIGHT.

AND SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

WELL, I WAS, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO SOLID FOODS

AND JUST NOT USING THE RIGHT PORTION SIZES

AND EATING THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOODS.

OKAY. SO, WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?

I'M NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDING.

YOU HAD A BYPASS... -RIGHT.

-...YOU HAD A SMALL STOMACH... -RIGHT.

...YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

RIGHT.

-YOU ONLY LOST 10... -RIGHT.

...BECAUSE YOU'RE OVEREATING NOW,

AND WHAT ISSUE --

WELL, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY -- IT WASN'T OVEREATING.

I WASN'T EATING TOO MUCH. IT WAS WHAT I WAS EATING.

IT WAS, LIKE -- SO, SOMETIMES IT WAS BREADS

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WAS BASICALLY THE WRONG CHOICES, RIGHT?

DOUG, TWO MONTHS AFTER SURGERY,

YOUR STOMACH IS STILL SO SMALL

THAT YOU CAN'T EAT MUCH OF ANYTHING.

SO, TO ONLY LOSE 10 POUNDS IN A MONTH MEANS

YOU'RE ALSO STARTING TO EAT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY.

YOU THINK THAT'S OKAY. THAT'S NOT OKAY.

DOUG STARTING TO SLACK OFF WITH HIS WEIGHT LOSS

DOESN'T SURPRISE ME,

BUT IT'S HAPPENING SOONER THAN I EXPECTED IT TO.

HE IS COMPLETELY GIVING IN TO HIS CRAVINGS,

AND AT THIS RATE, BY NEXT MONTH,

HE'LL BE GAINING AGAIN.

SO, I'M GOING TO SEND HIM TO A THERAPIST

SO HE CAN START TO ADDRESS

THE CORE ISSUES DRIVING HIM TO EAT.

HE HAS TO FIGURE THIS OUT

IF HE'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM.

SO, WE GOT A VERY BAD START.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE UP FOR IT.

-OKAY. -BUT SNACKING IS

A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON.

RIGHT.

AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT PART

OF A HEALTHY EATING HABIT. -RIGHT.

ONCE YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM,

THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT THE SOLUTION.

SO, WE'LL SET YOU UP TO SEE A THERAPIST

SO YOU CAN START TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT DRIVE YOU TO FOOD. -OKAY.

DON'T WAIT TOO LONG ON THIS,

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO START GAINING AGAIN SOON, OKAY?

-YES. -WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

Doug: I'M FEELING A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

AFTER I SAW I ONLY LOST 10 POUNDS,

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR WAS GOING TO SAY.

[ SIGHS ]

BUT THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

HEARING THE DOCTOR SAY

I'M ONLY A MONTH AWAY FROM GAINING IS SCARY.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE,

BUT I KNOW IT'S GETTING HARDER FOR ME TO DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO FAIL AT THIS,

SO THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL.

**

Ashley: OKAY, HONEY, I GOT TO GO TO WORK.

-OKAY. -I MADE YOU A LITTLE LIST

OF SOME FOOD CHOICES.

[ SIGHS ] OKAY.

HONEY,

DON'T SNACK DURING THE DAYTIME.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

-YEP. -LOVE YOU.

Ashley: WHEN I GO TO WORK OR HAVE TO RUN ERRANDS...

-LOVE YOU. -LOVE YOU. BYE.

...DOUG HAS TO MAKE HIS OWN MEALS.

DOUG IS BABY-STEPPING HIS WAY INTO THE KITCHEN.

HE'S WORKING ON LEARNING NEW THINGS.

LIKE, MAKING HIS OWN BREAKFAST CONSISTS

OF GETTING YOGURT IN THE MORNING.

WE'LL KEEP TRYING AS HE GOES ALONG

AND GETS MORE CONFIDENT IN WHAT HE'S DOING,

BUT I'M WORRIED

THAT HE'S STARTING TO STRUGGLE MORE AND MORE.

Doug: WITH ASHLEY GONE ALL THE TIME,

IT'S HARDER FOR ME TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THE DIET,

BECAUSE I DON'T HOLD MYSELF AS ACCOUNTABLE AS SHE DOES.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT I'VE BEEN SNACKING

AND MAKING SOME POOR CHOICES WITH MY DIET.

I'VE BEEN MAKING SURE TO HIDE IT

SO ASHLEY AND THE DOCTOR DON'T FIND OUT.

IF DR. NOW KNEW I WAS STILL SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS,

EVEN IF IT'S JUST SUGAR-FREE POPSICLES,

OR A FEW TORTILLA CHIPS,

I KNOW HE WOULDN'T BE HAPPY.

FOOD IS ONE OF MY ADDICTIONS,

AND IT'S REALLY BEEN THE HARDEST ONE TO KICK.

I'VE RECOVERED FROM MY ADDICTION TO METH AMPHETAMINE.

I'VE RECOVERED FROM MY ADDICTION TO COCAINE.

ALL THESE OTHER DRUGS THAT I'VE HAD IN MY SYSTEM --

FOOD IS THE ONE THAT'S REALLY DONE THE MOST DAMAGE TO ME.

AND I KNOW THERE'S SOMETHING DRIVING ME TO EAT.

ONCE I GOT THE SURGERY,

I THOUGHT ALL THE TEMPTATION AND CRAVINGS WERE BEHIND ME,

SO I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO SEE THE THERAPIST

BECAUSE I HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Doug: I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.

DR. NOWZARADAN SAID THAT I NEEDED TO SEE

IF I CAN GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM --

WHY I'M CHOOSING TO KEEP EATING

WHEN I KNOW THAT I DON'T NEED TO EAT ANYMORE.

BUT I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT MOST OF THOSE ISSUES ARE.

BUT I KNOW THAT I NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT AND ADDRESS IT

IF I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF.

-HOW YOU DOING? -HELLO.

-HOW ARE YOU? -DOING ALL RIGHT.

-YOU READY? -YEAH.

-HI. -HI.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M DOING GOOD.

Dr. Stewart: SINCE YOUR SURGERY, HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?

Doug: SINCE THE SURGERY, REALLY WHAT I'M

KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH IS FOOD ADDICTION.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I'M AT HOME

AND WHEN I'M BY MYSELF THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED

TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SNACK WHEN I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO

OR EAT SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO.

-MM-HMM. -I'M NOT OVERDOING IT,

BUT IT'S STILL -- MY BRAIN STILL WANTS TO TELL ME,

"OH, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL," YOU KNOW?

MM-HMM.

IS ADDICTION SOMETHING THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH?

UP TILL ABOUT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO,

I ALWAYS HAD SOME KIND OF VICE.

I WAS SMOKING CIGARETTES, OR I WAS ON DRUGS,

OR I WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL OR SOMETHING.

AND SO, LET'S STAY THERE FOR A MINUTE,

BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY A CONCERN.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY

THAT YOU CAN RECALL NEEDING SOME TYPE OF VICE.

WHEN I WAS REAL LITTLE, I WAS OCD

ABOUT SEPARATING THE COLORS OF LEGOS.

I NEVER REALLY PLAYED WITH THEM.

I'D JUST ORGANIZED THEM, AND I'D COUNT THEM

AND DO ALL THAT STUFF.

I HAD 4,000 BASEBALL CARDS,

AND I'D COUNT THEM, LIKE, ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS...

-OKAY. -JUST ONE AT A TIME.

HOW OLD WERE YOU?

I'D SAY 6, SO I'M GUESSING IT WAS RIGHT AROUND THE TIME

THAT MY MOM LEFT.

SO, RIGHT AROUND THE TIME WHEN YOUR MOM LEFT,

YOU CAN RECALL NEEDING ORDER IN YOUR LIFE.

I DON'T GENERALLY SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TWO.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER --

IT'S NEVER BEEN AN ACTIVE THOUGHT IN MY HEAD.

AFTER IT HAPPENED, WOULD YOU SAY

THAT YOU JUST KIND OF PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND?

-I THINK SO. -OKAY, SO WHAT HAPPENS

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS THEY SEPARATE THEMSELVES

FROM THE ACTUAL INCIDENT

ALMOST AS IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO THEM.

SEEING IT FROM OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE.

RIGHT, LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING IT ON TV,

NEVER REALLY CONNECTING THE DOTS

TO SEE HOW THEY ACTUALLY AFFECT YOU.

-RIGHT. -WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IS

USING FOOD TO REALLY FILL THAT EMPTINESS THAT IS INSIDE

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REALLY ARTICULATE

WHAT IT IS YOU NEED TO FEEL WHOLE.

I HAVE KIDS NOW, AND THERE'S NOTHING RIGHT NOW

THAT WOULD MAKE ME WALK AWAY FROM THEM.

-RIGHT. -SO, MY MOM,

FOR HER TO HAVE DONE THAT --

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

I WENT THROUGH THINGS MYSELF. -RIGHT.

AND THERE'S STILL NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME LEAVE MY KIDS.

SO, WHILE IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST --

AND, NO, YOU CANNOT GO BACK AND CHANGE ANYTHING --

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT YOU WERE FEELING IN THE MOMENT

AND THEN BE ABLE TO KNOW,

"THIS IS NOT WHO I AM RIGHT NOW."

-RIGHT. -DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

-YEAH. -SO, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU

TO WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR MOTHER

TO REALLY GET THOSE THINGS OUT,

BECAUSE UP UNTIL THIS POINT,

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM.

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ARTICULATE

WHAT THOSE THINGS DID TO YOU, RIGHT?

RIGHT, SO, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M READY TO WRITE

ANYTHING TO HER JUST YET.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

IS NOT FOR THEM.

IT'S REALLY FOR YOU.

YOU WANT YOUR RESULTS TO BE LASTING,

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME MIND-SET SHIFTS

BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH THIS INSIDE.

AND HOW ELSE WOULD YOU GET IT OUT?

EVEN IF YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP IT IN A JOURNAL OR WHATEVER,

I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET IT OUT OF YOU

BECAUSE IT CAN BE LIKE A CANCER,

AND IT CAN SPREAD INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BODY,

SO YOU NEED TO GET IT OUT.

IS THAT DOABLE? -IT'S DOABLE.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

-YEAH. THANK YOU. -APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

Doug: IT WAS PAINFUL WHEN MY MOTHER LEFT US

WHEN I WAS A KID.

I GUESS I NEVER REALIZED JUST HOW MUCH IT AFFECTED ME, THOUGH,

AND I KNOW I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING

TO DEAL WITH THAT EMOTION.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

[ SEAGULLS CAWING ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Doug: IT'S BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS.

A LOT OF STUFF CAME TO THE SURFACE

AFTER TALKING TO THE THERAPIST,

AND I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST GOING TO GIVE UP.

COME OVER HERE AND HELP ME GET THESE SNACKS.

SO ASHLEY AND I DECIDED TO TRY TO GET OUT OF TOWN

AND TAKE A QUICK VACATION TO GET MY MIND OFF EVERYTHING,

SO WE'RE IN GALVESTON TO GO TO THE BEACH AS A FAMILY,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING

THAT'S RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD.

I'M STILL SNEAKING FOOD, AND ASHLEY DOESN'T KNOW THAT,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED I'VE STARTED GAINING WEIGHT AGAIN.

I KNOW I HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW.

AAH! YEAH!

Doug: I'M REALLY DEPRESSED RIGHT NOW

AND FEELING A LITTLE HOPELESS.

YEAH!

I GOT MINE. YOU GOT YOURS?

-UH-HUH. -ALL RIGHT.

Ashley: I'VE NOTICED DOUG STARTING TO FEEL RUN DOWN

AND STRUGGLING A LOT.

WHERE ARE WE SANDCASTLING? LIKE, RIGHT HERE, BABE?

-RIGHT HERE. -NO.

HE TOLD ME SOME OF THE STUFF HE TALKED ABOUT

WITH THE THERAPIST, AND I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA

FOR HIM TO WRITE A LETTER TO HIS MOM TELLING HER

HOW HE FEELS BECAUSE I THINK

THAT'S PROBABLY THE GREATEST PAIN

HE'S EVER HAD IN HIS LIFE.

COME ON, COOP, WE'RE GONNA DO IT OVER HERE

'CAUSE DAD WANTS TO DO IT OVER HERE.

THIS SAND'S ACTUALLY PRETTY MOLDABLE.

Doug: ASHLEY'S BEEN ENCOURAGING ME

TO WRITE THE LETTER TO MY MOM THE THERAPIST SUGGESTED.

HEY, OVER HERE. -GRAB THAT.

NOW, I NEED YOU TO POUR THE WATER OUT RIGHT THERE.

-LET'S DO THIS. -LET'S DO THIS.

I'M GONNA POUR THIS ONE OUT

SO WE CAN GET RID OF THIS BUCKET.

Doug: BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT.

I LOVE MY FAMILY,

AND THEY'RE A HUGE MOTIVATION FOR ME.

AND...

ALL RIGHT, IT'S GOOD. HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE.

-WOW! -WHOA.

SO, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STAY ON TRACK,

I'VE GOT TO DO IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO START GAINING AGAIN.

**

Doug: CAN YOU BACK THAT TRAILER IN?

Man: YEAH.

TODAY, WE ARE MOVING TO A NEW HOUSE.

THIS ISN'T A ONE-MAN JOB,

SO I HAVE A FRIEND COMING OVER TO HELP.

ASHLEY HAS WANTED A BIGGER PLACE

NOW THAT WE HAVE THREE KIDS,

BUT I'VE TOLD HER THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE,

BECAUSE I KNEW I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT.

NOW THAT I'M LOSING WEIGHT AND GETTING MORE ACTIVE,

I DECIDED FINALLY WE COULD DO IT.

YOU CAN JUST SET IT ON THERE. IT'LL ROLL.

-YEAH. -AND IT'S BEEN GREAT SO FAR.

IT'S NEVER FUN TRYING TO PACK EVERYTHING UP,

BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING I CAN DO NOW,

NOT JUST BECAUSE I CAN HELP OUT AND DO SO MUCH...

-READY? -UH-HUH.

...BUT BECAUSE THIS FEELS LIKE A FRESH START FOR BOTH OF US.

Shaun: YOU READY?

[ Chuckling ] NO. I AM NOT READY.

OH, GOD. BABY STEPS.

Doug: ASHLEY AND I SAT DOWN AND TALKED MORE

ABOUT MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

-Y'ALL ARE DOING GREAT. -SHUT UP.

I WAS TRYING TO BE POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Doug: AS I SHARED MORE WITH HER ABOUT WHAT I DISCUSSED,

IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT I NEED TO DO

WHAT SHE SUGGESTED AND WRITE A LETTER TO MY MOM.

EVEN IF I DON'T SEND IT, I HAVE TO FIND AN OUTLET

TO AT LEAST START TO DEAL WITH IT.

SHARING ALL THIS WITH ASHLEY

HAS BEEN HELPING US FEEL LIKE WE'RE CONNECTING MORE

AND THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP IS GROWING A LITTLE DEEPER.

THERE WE GO.

-BUENO? -BUENO.

YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A RIDE BACK?

-GET ON. -[ Chuckling ] NO.

-GET ON. -AAH! [ LAUGHS ]

Doug: AND I WANT TO KEEP DOING ALL THAT I CAN TO MAKE HER HAPPY

AND TO SEE THAT SMILE ON HER FACE.

PLEASE DON'T DROP ME! PLEASE DON'T DROP ME.

DO YOU REALIZE YOU'RE CARRYING, RIGHT NOW,

HOW MUCH YOU LOST? -YEP.

[ BOTH LAUGH ] WHOO!

THAT WAS CLOSE.

Doug: SO, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I'M DREADING THIS,

I'M GONNA DO IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE IN TO THE NEW HOUSE,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S A FRESH START FOR US.

MOVING TO A NEW HOUSE IS SORT OF A REBIRTH

FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP AND FOR OUR FAMILY.

I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH HIS ABILITY

TO DO NORMAL THINGS,

JUST KEEP THE PACE, LIKE, WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

Shaun: YOU GOT IT?

I REALLY THINK HE IS DISCOVERING WHO HE IS.

I THINK THAT HE IS LEARNING FOOD'S ROLE IN HIS LIFE

AND HOW THAT'S CHANGING FOR HIM.

ALL DONE.

SO, HE'S REALLY KIND OF IRONICALLY GROWING INTO HIS OWN

AS HE'S GETTING SMALLER.

MOMMY!

I GOT SNACKS. COME HERE.

Doug: WE'VE FINISHED MOVING IN TO OUR NEW PLACE,

SO I'M KEEPING MY WORD AND WRITING A LETTER TO MY MOM.

IT'S NOT EASY TO SHARE HOW I FEEL LIKE THIS,

BUT I'M STILL DOING IT.

WHEN MY MOM WENT AWAY, IT LEFT SO MANY QUESTIONS

AND EMOTIONS RUNNING THROUGH ME.

AND WHEN YOU'RE 6, YOU DON'T KNOW

WHAT TO DO WITH ANY OF THAT.

SO, I JUST BURIED IT ALL AND ATE.

AND IT LED ME DOWN A PATH

WHERE I ALMOST GOT TO 700 POUNDS.

AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO LEARN TO LET ALL THAT OUT

AND ADDRESS IT

IF I WANT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE IN MY LIFE PERMANENT.

Ashley: DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT YOU'VE GOT SO FAR?

"I THINK THAT YOU WERE WRONG FOR LEAVING.

I THINK THAT THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WAS

A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT,

BECAUSE IF YOU'D BEEN THERE, IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED."

NOW THAT I HAVE KIDS, I COULDN'T EVEN IMAGINE IT, YOU KNOW?

I WANT HER TO KNOW, I GUESS, THAT I FORGIVE HER

AND THAT I'M SORRY FOR NOT BEING

A STRONGER PERSON AS FAR AS NOT TELLING HER

HOW I TRULY FELT ABOUT IT.

YOUR WHOLE LIFE, IT'S BEEN YOUR FAULT IN YOUR EYES.

OH, NO.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WAS YOUR FAULT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TELLING HER

THAT YOU'RE SORRY FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE

AND THAT THESE THINGS ARE YOUR FAULT.

I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE, YOU KNOW, OBJECTIVITY.

NO, NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT -- I'M NOT SAYING, LIKE,

I'M APOLOGIZING FOR THIS OR THAT.

I'M SAYING THAT I WAS WRONG

BECAUSE I WAS PASSIVE ABOUT IT

AND I WANT TO MAKE THAT RIGHT,

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT ON MY CONSCIENCE.

THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

Ashley: I DON'T KNOW IF WRITING A LETTER IS ENOUGH FOR DOUG,

BUT I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY

TO SAY WHAT HE NEEDS TO SAY TO HER

WHETHER HE GIVES HER THE LETTER OR NOT.

THE LETTER IS A GOOD START.

HEY, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA TYPE?

Doug: I'M GONNA GET AS MUCH OUT AS I CAN,

BUT THIS IS ALL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I'M NOT GONNA FIX IT OVERNIGHT.

I JUST HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE,

AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO KEEP TAKING ONE STEP AT A TIME.

NO MATTER HOW SMALL, I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD

SO I LEAVE THE OLD ME BEHIND

AND SO I CAN FINALLY BE THE ME I WANT TO BE.

AS I'VE GOTTEN MORE AND MORE ACTIVE,

JUST WALKING AROUND THE HOUSE IS NOT GIVING ME

AS MUCH OF A WORKOUT AS I NEED.

SO I FOUND A GYM THAT I'VE STARTED GOING TO

A FEW TIMES A WEEK.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT A NEW PERSPECTIVE

SINCE I WROTE THE LETTER TO MY MOTHER.

IT WASN'T EASY, BUT I WAS REALLY GLAD I DID IT.

THERE'S SO MUCH I'D PUSHED DOWN OVER THE YEARS

AND I'VE JUST TRIED TO RUN FROM.

AND THE PROCESS OF LETTING SOME OF IT OUT

HAS STARTED TO MAKE ME REALIZE

JUST HOW MUCH THERE IS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME.

WHEW!

AND I KNOW, AS GOOD AS IT FELT TO WRITE,

THAT WHAT I REALLY NEED TO DO IS TELL MY MOM

THESE THINGS IN PERSON.

THAT THOUGHT TERRIFIES ME,

BUT I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING I HAVE TO DO.

AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.

I JUST KNOW I HAVE TO START THE PROCESS,

JUST LIKE I DID WITH THE LETTER.

SO, AS FRIGHTENED AS I AM RIGHT NOW,

I'M TAKING THIS LEAP OF FAITH,

BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S THE GREATEST OBSTACLE

I HAVE TO FACE TO TRY TO COMPLETE THIS JOURNEY.

Doug: AVOIDING YOUR PAST CAN NOT ONLY AFFECT YOUR PRESENT,

BUT IT CAN TAKE AWAY YOUR FUTURE,

AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT BACK IS

TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING FROM.

I'M DRIVING TO A COFFEE SHOP

WHERE MY MOM IS GONNA MEET ME SO WE CAN TALK.

WE'VE STAYED IN TOUCH OVER THE YEARS,

BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A RELATIONSHIP.

AND I'VE NEVER TOLD HER HOW HARD IT WAS

AND HOW MUCH IT HURT WHEN SHE LEFT US.

I JUST WANT TO CLEAR THE AIR WITH US.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER A WHOLE LOT

IN THE LAST, I'D SAY, A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.

MY BIGGEST WORRY RIGHT NOW IS THAT,

YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T GO WELL

BECAUSE SHE THINKS THAT I'M TRYING TO ATTACK HER

OR BLAME HER, AND THAT'S THE ONE THING

I JUST REALLY DON'T WANT HER TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST QUESTION I'VE HAD ALL THESE YEARS

IS JUST WANTING TO KNOW WHY SHE LEFT.

THAT EMOTION HAS BEEN BEHIND A LOT OF MY DESIRE TO EAT.

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO TRY TO BUILD UP THE COURAGE

TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THAT TODAY.

HI.

HOW YOU DOING?

Doug: BUT PART OF ME DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I'M SCARED ABOUT HOW SHE'S GONNA REACT.

DID YOU BRING THE KIDS?

-MNH-MNH. -NO?

I MEAN, HOW OLD ARE THE GIRLS?

THEY'RE A YEAR.

I KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIX.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE THERAPY THING,

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LEFT

AND THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

SO, UM, WHAT WAS THE MIND-SET?

-WHEN I LEFT? -YEAH.

-JUST BECAUSE -- -I WAS FIXING TO HURT YOU.

-OKAY. -I WOULD LOSE MY TEMPER,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REGAIN CONTROL.

AND THEN, THAT LAST TIME, IT WAS LIKE -- I CAME SO CLOSE.

I GRABBED DARRELL BY HIS SHIRT,

AND I WAS GONNA HIT HIM.

AND I SAID, "I CAN'T DO THIS,"

AND I WALKED AWAY.

YEAH.

BUT IT WAS FOR Y'ALL THAT I LEFT.

RIGHT. RIGHT.

WELL, SEE, I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT.

I PROBABLY TOOK THE EASY WAY OUT,

BUT THAT WAS MY ONLY CHOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO HOLD ON TO ANY OF THAT STUFF

BECAUSE IT'S NOT DOING ANYBODY ANY GOOD.

I NEEDED THIS CONVERSATION,

BECAUSE I WANTED TO CLEAR THE AIR, YOU KNOW?

-SO YOU STILL BLAME ME? -NO.

I DON'T.

I DON'T.

I WANT YOU IN MY LIFE,

AND I THINK WE'RE AFRAID TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK IT'S 'CAUSE YOU THINK THAT I RESENT YOU,

AND I THINK THAT YOU RESENT ME.

I DON'T RESENT YOU.

WELL, I DON'T RESENT YOU, EITHER.

SO WE NEED TO GET ALL THAT CLEARED OUT OF THE AIR

AND JUST BASICALLY START OVER

AND THEN, LIKE, JUST MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE,

REBUILD A RELATIONSHIP THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.

I WANT TO.

YEP? ALL RIGHT.

I LIKE SEEING YOU HAPPY AGAIN.

-DO I LOOK SKINNY? -AND SKINNY.

-MY PANTS FALLING OFF. -[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S SO BAD.

Doug: I'M REALLY GLAD I DID THIS TODAY.

MY WHOLE LIFE, I NEVER KNEW WHY MY MOM LEFT,

AND HEARING THAT THE REASON WASN'T ME HAS BEEN SOMETHING

I'VE WANTED TO HEAR SINCE THAT DAY.

BYE. OHH.

I WILL TALK TO YOU SOON.

-OKAY, BE CAREFUL. -I FEEL LIKE,

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,

IT'S POSSIBLE TO FORGIVE MY MOM FOR WHAT SHE DID.

I'LL PROBABLY ALWAYS FEEL PAIN WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT,

BUT NOW I CAN START TO MOVE FORWARD

AND FOCUS ON MY OWN FAMILY.

THEY'RE MY WORLD,

AND THEY'RE WHY I'VE PUSHED MYSELF TO DO ALL THIS.

[ SIGHS ]

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M FINALLY STARTING TO SEE

A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY BODY.

A LOT OF MY SKIN IS SAGGING

BECAUSE OF ALL THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST,

AND I CAN FIT INTO CLOTHES I HAVEN'T WORN IN YEARS.

I'VE HAD A PAIR OF JEANS I COULDN'T EVEN GET OVER MY LEGS,

AND NOW I CAN PULL THEM ALL THE WAY UP

WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

I'M AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE I'M STARTING TO SEE IN MY BODY.

AND THE DOCTOR SAID THAT AS SOON AS I GET UNDER 480,

HE'LL CONSIDER ME FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

SO THAT'S MY GOAL FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE THE SAGGING SKIN IS STARTING TO REALLY CHAFE

AND GET IN MY WAY OF BEING ACTIVE.

I'M ALMOST AT A POINT WHERE IT'S TOO PAINFUL TO KEEP LOSING,

AND MY CONCERN IS STARTING TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT ALL I HAVE,

BECAUSE I WANT THIS SKIN REMOVAL REALLY BAD.

TODAY I'M SEEING DR. NOW FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED TO GET ON THE SCALE TODAY.

I KNOW I'M DOING WELL BECAUSE I CAN FEEL IT

AND I CAN SEE IT.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS IF I GOT BELOW 480

SO THE DOC WILL CONSIDER ME FOR SKIN SURGERY.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S FOUR RIGHT THERE.

Woman: ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STEP ON THERE.

Doug: ALL RIGHT.

AND I REALLY, REALLY WANT SKIN REMOVAL.

**

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND STEP ON THERE.

Doug: ALL RIGHT.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT SEEING MY WEIGHT TODAY,

BUT I'M MOSTLY EXCITED BECAUSE I KNOW

I'M MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.

AND I REALLY HOPE I GOT UNDER 480 POUNDS

AND THE DOCTOR THINKS

I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

462.

-THAT'S AWESOME. -MM-HMM.

ALL RIGHT.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD AFTER SEEING THAT NUMBER.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE AT THAT WEIGHT AGAIN.

I JUST HOPE THE DOCTOR IS HAPPY WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO.

-HI. -HELLO.

-HOW YOU ALL DOING? -DOING ALL RIGHT.

SO, TODAY, YOU'RE DOWN TO 462 POUNDS

AND YOU'VE LOST OVER 200 POUNDS.

-YEP. -GREAT.

SO, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO LOSE ALL OF THAT WEIGHT?

I FEEL GREAT. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SUPER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: DOUG HAS BEEN DOING VERY WELL.

HE'S MAKING THE PROGRESS HE SHOULD,

AND HE'S STAYING ON TRACK.

WITH ALL HIS WEIGHT LOSS, HIS SKIN HAS STARTED TO SAG,

AND I THINK, AT THIS POINT, IT WOULD BE GOOD

TO DO SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY ON HIM

TO PREVENT ANY DISCOMFORT AND RISK HIM BECOMING

LESS ACTIVE BECAUSE OF THAT.

WELL, YOU'RE DOING GREAT,

AND I THINK YOU'RE READY FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

KEEP WORKING HARD, AND WE'LL GET YOU

TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHT SOON.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

Doug: IT'S UNREAL TO ME, LOSING 200 POUNDS.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE DREAM NUMBER.

IT'S NOTHING LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.

IT'S SO MUCH BETTER.

IF YOU TOLD ME THIS TIME LAST YEAR

THAT I'D BE HALFWAY TO MY TARGET WEIGHT,

I JUST WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED IT.

IT'S A REALLY SURREAL THING.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF THAT OTHER PERSON DIDN'T EVEN EXIST.

[ BABY COOS ]

HEY. GOOD MORNING.

[ BABY LAUGHS ]

Doug: EVERY DAY IS SO DIFFERENT NOW

THAN IT WAS WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY.

[ BABY CRIES ] I KNOW.

HERE, YOU TAKE THAT.

A YEAR AGO, I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING

TO HELP ASHLEY AROUND THE HOUSE.

I WAS BASICALLY ANOTHER KID FOR HER TO TAKE CARE OF.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW I'M ACTUALLY FEELING

LIKE THE FATHER I SHOULD BE TO MY KIDS.

DADDY, IT'S TIME FOR BREAKFAST.

WHAT KIND OF CEREAL YOU WANT, BUD?

WHAT KIND DO WE WE HAVE?

YOU WANT THESE?

YES.

Doug: I LOVE HAVING SOME TIME TO SPEND WITH JUST COOPER.

I LIKE WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE.

Doug: MM-HMM.

Doug: IT CRUSHED ME WHEN HE WAS SAD

THAT I WAS SO HEAVY I COULDN'T PLAY WITH HIM.

I LIKE WHEN WE EAT THE BREAKFAST WHEN IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US.

YEAH, ME, TOO.

Doug: SO, TO BE A PART OF HIS LIFE NOW IS REALLY REWARDING.

BEFORE, THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET A MEAL FOR THE FAMILY

WAS TO GO TO A DRIVE-THROUGH.

BUT NOW I'M DOING A LOT OF COOKING AT HOME.

-HELLO, HELLO. -HEY.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN,

AND I KNOW ASHLEY APPRECIATES IT.

WHAT ARE YOU COOKING?

PORK CHOPS WITH POTATOES AND MUSHROOMS.

WOW.

THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.

IT'S SUCH A RELIEF TO BE ABLE TO COME HOME FROM WORK

AND DOUG'S ALREADY STARTED DINNER.

I'M SO USED TO KIND OF JUST DOING ALL OF THAT MYSELF

THAT WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO -- WHO DOESN'T LOVE THAT?

YOU READY TO EAT SOME FOOD?

Doug: I STILL FEEL CRAVINGS OCCASIONALLY,

BUT I DON'T GIVE IN MUCH ANYMORE.

I'VE REALLY STOPPED SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS,

AND I'M STICKING TO THE HEALTHY DIET

THE DOCTOR WANTS ME TO.

WHO'S LOVING THIS DINNER?

-ME. -YOU DID GOOD.

-DID I? -YEAH.

Doug: ASHLEY AND I ARE BOTH LOSING WEIGHT,

AND WE'RE SHARING OUR NEW HEALTHY HABITS WITH COOPER.

I WANT HIM TO GROW UP SEEING FOOD A LOT DIFFERENTLY

THAT I DID AS A KID.

AND I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO MOVE OUR WHOLE FAMILY

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

NOW THAT I'M ABLE TO GET AROUND SO MUCH MORE,

I'M THINKING OF WAYS THAT I CAN START TO PROVIDE

FOR MY FAMILY AGAIN.

BEFORE, I HAD MY OWN LITTLE PRINT SHOP

AND DID A LOT OF WORK FOR LOCAL STORES AROUND TOWN.

THEN, I GOT SO BIG, I JUST KIND OF GAVE UP ON IT ALL.

BUT MY WEIGHT LOSS HAS CHANGED THAT.

I REALLY WANT TO HELP ASHLEY

TAKE CARE OF THE FAMILY FINANCIALLY,

AND THIS MIGHT BE A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.

AND ART IS SOMETHING THAT I CAN USE INSTEAD OF FOOD

TO COPE WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH.

THERE IT IS.

Y'ALL READY? -I'M READY.

-LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN. -YEAH!

Doug: WE'VE STARTED TO DO SO MUCH MORE AS A FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT, PUT YOUR SHOES RIGHT HERE.

Doug: WE'RE GETTING OUT, ENJOYING EACH OTHER,

AND DOING SOME STUFF THAT I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE

TO DO JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. -HOW DO I GET IN?

YOU GOT TO CRAWL THROUGH, LIKE WHOO-HOO!

Cooper: WHOO!

OKAY.

Ashley: WHEW! LOOK AT YOU, SKINNY MINNY.

Doug: I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT

AND GET ACTIVE WITH COOPER.

THIS IS AN AMAZING CHANGE,

AND OUR RELATIONSHIP IS FINALLY STARTING TO BECOME

WHAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE.

YOU TOTALLY COULD'VE GONE AROUND THE SIDE WAY.

[ LAUGHS ]

Ashley: SO MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP.

HE'S WORKED SO HARD TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HIM RIGHT NOW.

OH, NO!

Doug: I CAN'T WAIT TO WATCH MY KIDS GROW UP,

AND I'M GOING TO BE THE FATHER THEY DESERVE

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I'M TELLING YOU -- YOU'VE GOT TO GET SMALLER BRITCHES.

-ARE YOU DONE? -YEAH.

-DID YOU HAVE FUN? -YEAH.

YEAH? WELL, LET'S GO.

OHH.

Doug: I'VE GOT MY LIFE BACK,

AND I'M NEVER GIVING IT BACK UP.