All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E09

Nicole:
I HATE WHAT MY LIFE HAS BECOME.

AND IF I DON'T CHANGE,

I'M NOT GONNA
BE HERE MUCH LONGER.

Man: NOT FOR ONE MINUTE
THAT I THOUGHT

MY LIFE
WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW, MY LEG!

Woman #1: I'M SO FAR GONE.

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

-I CAN'T DO THIS.
-WELL, I'M RIGHT UNDER YOU.

-I NEED OVER!
-YOU'RE FINE.

-YOU'RE FINE.
-I HATE THIS.

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

INSTEAD OF ME
TAKING CARE OF THEM,

THEY'RE BEEN TAKING CARE OF ME.

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

CHARLIE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU AREN'T GONNA BE

SUPPORTIVE,
YOU CAN [BLEEP] LEAVE!

I AM BEING SUPPORTIVE!
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!

Nicole: I SHOULD'VE
NEVER TRIED TO DO THIS.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Nicole:
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T CONTROL

THE PLACES YOU END UP IN LIFE.

AND THE CHOICES YOU MAKE
IN THE HARD PLACES

ARE WHAT DETERMINE
YOU FUTURE, ABOVE ALL ELSE.

**

[ GRUNTS ]

EVERY DAY WHEN I GET UP,
I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.

BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARD
FOR ME TO BREATHE,

AND MY LUNGS FEEL
VERY COMPRESSED.

SO I HAVE TO TAKE
EXTRA DEEP BREATHS IN

JUST TO BE ABLE TO MOVE.

AND MY BACK HURTS.

MY BODY JUST TREMBLES IN PAIN.

AND IT NEVER ENDS.

IT JUST GETS WORSE.

AND IT'S HELL TO GET OUT OF BED.

BUT AS SOON AS I GET UP
IN THE MORNING,

I GOT TO EAT SOMETHING, OR
I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA THROW UP.

SO I KEEP SOMETHING TO SNACK ON
IN MY ROOM.

BUT I STILL CAN'T GET UP
TO GET IT MYSELF.

-CHARLIE!
-YEAH?

CAN YOU PLEASE COME HERE?

CAN YOU PLEASE GET ME
THOSE POTATO CHIPS?

I'M GONNA GO GATHER
ALL YOUR BATH STUFF.

THANK YOU.

I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG

THAT I CAN BARELY GET UP
AND GET AROUND.

SO MY PARENTS LIVE WITH US

TO HELP TAKE CARE OF ME
AND MY TWO KIDS.

BUT USUALLY IT'S CHARLIE
WHO HELPS ME IN THE MORNING.

I CAN'T FIT THROUGH
THE BATHROOM DOOR ANYMORE,

SO THEY HAVE TO TAKE EVERYTHING
OUTSIDE ON THE BACK PORCH.

AND I BATHE THERE.

MY DAD HOOKS UP
A GARDEN HOSE

TO THE HOT WATER, THE WASHER,

AND RUNS IT OUTSIDE...

BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE CLEANED
OUTSIDE LIKE AN ANIMAL.

CHARLIE!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

-PLEASE HELP ME.
-WHAT DO YOU NEED?

IT'S VERY EMBARRASSING.

WHO SITS BUTT-NAKED
IN A WHEELCHAIR

ON THEIR BACK PORCH
TO GET A SHOWER?

SHOES, PLEASE.

YOU BATHE YOUR DOG
IN YOUR BACKYARD.

YOU DON'T BATHE YOUR GIRLFRIEND.

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANOTHER OPTION.

EVEN THOUGH CHARLIE'S
VERY DEVOTED TO ME,

I FEEL VERY HUMILIATED.

I KNOW CHARLIE SAYS
HE DOESN'T MIND,

BUT IT'S NOT RIGHT THAT
HE HAS TO DO THIS FOR ME.

Charlie: NICOLE TELLS ME
THAT IT'S VERY HUMILIATING

THAT I HAVE TO HOSE HER BUTT.

IT'S GROSS SOMETIMES,

BUT IT'S WHAT I GOT TO DO TO
TAKE CARE OF THE WOMAN I LOVE.

AND I WOULD JUMP THROUGH
FLAMING HOOPS FOR HER.

ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PROBLEMS,

AND THEY CAN JUST LEAVE THEM
AT HOME OR HIDE THEM.

I CAN'T HIDE MY PROBLEM.
IT'S VISIBLE FOR EVERYBODY.

BEING MY WEIGHT IS HORRIBLE...

BECAUSE I CAN BARELY
EVEN FUNCTION.

I JUST HATE MY WHOLE BODY.

BUT I HATE MY STOMACH THE MOST.

IT HURTS, AND IT'S HANGING.

AND SOMETIMES IT ALMOST FEELS

LIKE IT'S GONNA RIP OFF MY BODY.

YEAH, LEAN BACK.

I'M SICK OF FEELING LIKE THIS.

I'M SICK OF LOOKING LIKE THIS.

AND I'M SICK OF NOT BEING ABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF...

BECAUSE I FEEL VERY TRAPPED.

THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR WHERE
I THOUGHT I WOULD END UP.

AND I DON'T RECOGNIZE
MYSELF ANYMORE.

I WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED THAT
I WOULD BECOME SOMETHING I HATE.

I'VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT
ALMOST MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND EVEN AS A TODDLER,

I REMEMBER FOOD
IS WHAT MADE ME HAPPY.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, ME AND
MY MOM NEVER REALLY GOT ALONG

BECAUSE SHE HAD
A REALLY BAD TEMPER

AND WOULD EXPLODE ON ME

FOR THINGS THAT
I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED,

I WOULD ALWAYS RUN
TO THE GARAGE

BECAUSE MY DAD WAS OUT THERE
WORKING ON SOMETHING.

MY DAD WOULD CALL ME
A DADDY'S GIRL

BECAUSE I WOULD JUST ALWAYS
WANT TO BE AROUND HIM.

SO I WOULD JUST SIT WITH HIM,

AND HE WOULD ALWAYS
GIVE ME A SNACK.

AND THAT WAS SAFETY.

Jim: NICOLE WAS A HAPPY,
KIND OF BIG CHILD GROWING UP.

WE HAD A REAL CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN SHE WAS 7 OR 8 YEARS OLD,

I NOTICED SHE WAS REALLY HEAVY
FOR HER AGE.

AND I THOUGHT SHE'D LOSE
THE WEIGHT WHEN SHE GOT OLDER.

BUT SHE JUST KEPT GETTING
BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

Nicole: I NEVER WANTED
TO LEAVE HIS SIDE.

BUT MY DAD WAS A TRUCK DRIVER,
SO HE WAS ON THE ROAD A LOT.

AND WHEN HE WASN'T THERE,
ALL I HAD TO RUN TO WAS FOOD.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 14,
I WAS WELL OVER 200 POUNDS.

BUT THEN THINGS GOT EVEN WORSE.

MY DAD STARTED USING COCAINE
ON THE ROAD.

AND HE BROUGHT IT HOME
TO MY MOM.

SO THEY BOTH GOT ADDICTED.

AND THINGS GOT A LOT MORE
VIOLENT IN OUR HOUSE AFTER THAT.

MY DAD AND MOM
WOULD GET SO ANGRY

BECAUSE THEY WOULD
RUN OUT OF COCAINE.

MY MOM WOULD STAY UP FOR HOURS

SCREAMING AND CRYING
FOR MORE DRUGS.

SO I WAS SCARED.

AND WHEN MY PARENTS
WERE DOING THE DRUGS,

I WOULD GET SO MAD.

I WOULD SCREAM
AND HOLLER AT THEM.

AND THEY'D JUST IGNORE ME.

AND I WOULD GO IN MY ROOM
AND EAT AND LAY ON MY BED

AND JUST CRY FOR HOURS
TILL I FELL ASLEEP.

FOOD WAS A COMFORT TO ME BECAUSE
WHEN I WOULD EAT SOMETHING

AND I WOULD BECOME FULL,
I FELT COMFORTABLE.

I FELT SAFE. I FELT SECURE.

AND SO I JUST
DIDN'T STOP EATING.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 16,
I WAS APPROACHING 400 POUNDS.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY DAD
GOT ARRESTED

AND WENT TO PRISON FOR DRUGS.

IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TIME
FOR ME AND MY MOM

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A JOB,

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

WE WERE FORCED TO LEAVE

THE HOUSE WE WERE RENTING
AT THE TIME.

AND WE HAD NOWHERE TO GO,
SO WE BECAME HOMELESS.

WE HAD TO RELY ON SOUP KITCHENS.

AND ALL THE SOUP KITCHENS
WOULD SERVE WAS, LIKE,

PASTA AND HIGH-FATTENING FOODS.

AND LIVING MEAL TO MEAL
IS SCARY.

SO WHEN I ATE,
I ATE AS MUCH AS I COULD.

AND BY THE TIME
MY DAD GOT OUT OF PRISON,

WHEN I WAS 18,
I WAS UP TO 500 POUNDS.

AND WITH MY DAD HOME AGAIN,

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A HOUSE
AND GET OFF THE STREETS.

BUT EVEN AFTER HIM BEING SOBER
IN PRISON FOR TWO YEARS,

HIM AND MY MOM
GOT RIGHT BACK INTO DRUGS.

AND SO I MOVED OUT.

AND THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME
IN MY LIFE

WHEN I FELT A LITTLE NORMAL.

I GOT A JOB,

AND I EVEN STARTED
EXERCISING A LITTLE.

AND EVEN THOUGH I WAS VERY BIG,

I WAS JUST YOUR AVERAGE GIRL
THAT JUST LOVED HAVING FUN --

DRIVING AROUND,
LISTENING TO MUSIC,

GOING TO CONCERTS.

I WAS JUST VERY OUTGOING.

AND I EVEN STARTED
DATING SOMEONE.

AND THEN WHEN I WAS 20,
I GOT PREGNANT WITH MY SON.

AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT SCARED
AND LEFT ME AND HIS CHILD.

AND I ENDED UP
GETTING BLOOD CLOTS.

SO I HAD TO STAY ON BED REST.

AND I REMEMBER A DOCTOR

LOOKING ME
RIGHT IN MY FACE SAYING,

"NICOLE, IF I TAKE YOU
OFF THIS I.V. AND YOU GO HOME,

YOU'RE GOING TO DIE."

I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE MY BABY.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE
TO TURN TO.

BUT THAT'S WHEN I MET CHARLIE.

WE MET ONLINE.

AND HE WAS VERY NICE TO ME.

I WAS VERY RUDE TO HIM.

I TOLD HIM TO LEAVE ME ALONE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO HIM.

BECAUSE I WAS STILL HURT
WITH THE FACT

THAT JADEN'S DAD JUST LEFT.

AND CHARLIE JUST KEPT
ASKING ABOUT ME

AND ASKING HOW I WAS DOING.

AND I FELT LIKE
SOMEONE CARED ABOUT ME.

SO HE WENT TO MY ULTRASOUND
APPOINTMENT WITH ME.

AND CHARLIE ASKED ME
IF I WOULD BE HIS GIRLFRIEND.

Charlie: THE FIRST TIME
I SAW NICOLE, MY JAW DROPPED.

I WAS LIKE,
"WOW. LOOK AT HER."

AND THE BLUE EYES LOOKED AT ME,

AND I JUST MELTED
RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

Nicole: SO CHARLIE STARTED
TAKING CARE OF ME.

AND I STAYED BEDRIDDEN
UNTIL I GAVE BIRTH.

AND I ENDED UP GAINING
120 POUNDS DURING THAT TIME.

AND JADEN ACTUALLY
CAME OUT NOT BREATHING.

HIS BODY HAD
A VERY BAD DIABETIC ATTACK

BECAUSE HE WASN'T RECEIVING
SUGAR FROM MY BODY ANYMORE.

AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF ME.

I WAS OVER 600 POUNDS THEN.

AND IT ALMOST KILLED
MY NEWBORN CHILD.

AND AFTER I HAD JADEN,

I COULDN'T GET UP
AND DO MUCH ANYMORE,

SO CHARLIE KEPT
TAKING CARE OF ME.

AND WHEN I WAS 22,

I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT
WITH MY SECOND CHILD.

I GAVE BIRTH TO SHELBY.

I'D PUT ON SO MUCH WEIGHT,

I EITHER HAD TO
STAY IN BED ALL DAY

OR USE A WHEELCHAIR
TO GET AROUND...

...WHICH FORCED MY PARENTS
TO MOVE IN WITH ME.

BUT I MADE THEM PROMISE
THAT THEY WERE DRUG-FREE.

AND I TOLD THEM IF THEY
BROUGHT DRUGS INTO MY HOUSE,

THEY WOULD BE GONE
IN A HEARTBEAT.

BUT IF THAT HAPPENED,
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'D DO.

ADDICTION DESTROYED
MY CHILDHOOD.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT FOR THEM.

BUT NOW I'M 23 YEARS OLD,

AND I CAN BARELY WALK
FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE.

AND I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF
OR MY KIDS ON MY OWN.

BUT I HATE
HAVING TO RELY ON MY PARENTS.

Darlene:
JADEN'S IN THE BATHROOM!

BETTER GET HIM
OUT OF THERE, HON!

Nicole: AND MY MOM DOESN'T WANT
TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM

ALL THE TIME, EITHER.

SHE ONLY DOES IT
SO I DON'T LOSE THEM.

BUT IT FRUSTRATES HER.

JADEN.

JADE, COME HERE.

COME HERE.
JADEN, PLEASE?

CAN YOU SHUT THE WATER OFF
AND COME WITH MOMMY?

JADEN, PLEASE COME ON!

OKAY.

I CAN'T FIT
IN THE BATHROOM DOOR.

I CAN'T FIT IN
THE BATHROOM DOOR, MOM.

Darlene: ALL RIGHT.
I'LL GET HIM.

Nicole:
I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, I'M JUST SCARED
HE'S GONNA GET AHOLD OF...

GET AHOLD OF THAT HANDLE

AND GET ON THE HOT SIDE
AND HURT HIMSELF.

COME HERE, SHELBY.

YOU GO IN THERE...

LORD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

Nicole:
AND MY MOM GETS UPSET

BECAUSE I'M SO BIG,
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING,
JADEN?

I'M JUST SICK
OF THIS [BLEEP]

I NEED HELP WITH
THESE DAMN KIDS!

SHE GETS UPSET LIKE SHE DID
WHEN I WAS A CHILD,

AND SHE TAKES IT OUT
ON ME AND MY KIDS.

SOMETIMES SHE'LL CALL ME
A FAT ASS

OR JUST SOME
REALLY VULGAR THINGS

WHEN SHE'S UPSET OR FRUSTRATED.

AND IT HURTS ME
THAT MY KIDS THINK

THEIR GRANDMOTHER IS THEIR MOM
AND THAT I'M NOT EVEN A PARENT.

GO ON.

ONE TIME, I SAID TO MY SON,
"DO YOU LOVE MAMA?"

AND HE LOOKED OVER AT MY MOM
AND SMILED.

AND IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE
HE WAS CALLING HER MAMA.

AND THAT'S VERY HURTFUL.

[ LAUGHING ]

I KNOW THAT
HOW I'M LIVING RIGHT NOW

CAN'T GO ON FOR MUCH LONGER.

SOMETHING'S GONNA BREAK.

EITHER MY BODY'S GONNA GIVE OUT

OR MY WHOLE HOME LIFE
IS GOING TO FALL APART.

**

Nicole:
I HATE WHAT MY LIFE HAS BECOME.

AND I'M ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE...

BECAUSE ALL I DO IS SIT
IN THIS HOUSE ALL DAY.

LA LA LA!

I DON'T LEAVE
EXCEPT TO GET FOOD,

BECAUSE WHEN I'M HUNGRY,

THAT'S WHAT'S
MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT I CAN BARELY MAKE IT
TO THE CAR.

AND THEN I CAN BARELY FIT.

BUT I STILL HAVE TO GO OUT,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T DO IT,

CHARLIE WON'T GET
THE RIGHT STUFF.

AND THEN I WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE
WHAT I WANT FOR MY FAMILY.

I'M GONNA MAKE
MEAT LOAF FOR DINNER,

SO I DEFINITELY NEED
TO GET, LIKE, HAMBURGER,

BUTTER, MASHED POTATOES,
SOME MACARONI AND CHEESE.

GOT TO HAVE YOUR POP.

I DEFINITELY
HAVE TO HAVE POP.

Nicole: SHOPPING FOR FOOD
IS THE ONLY FUN THING I CAN DO.

BUT I CAN'T GET AROUND EASILY.

AND WHEN I GO TO A STORE,

I CAN'T RIDE
ONE OF THE ELECTRIC CARTS

BECAUSE I'M TOO BIG.

SO I HAVE TO BE PUSHED AROUND
IN MY WHEELCHAIR.

I'LL FLAT-OUT MOVE IT.
I DON'T CARE.

I'LL MOVE WHATEVER
I GOT TO MOVE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S VERY DIFFICULT
TO GET AROUND,

I TRULY LOVE SHOPPING FOR FOOD.

TO SEE ALL THE SELECTIONS
AND OPTIONS

MAKES IT WORTH HOW HARD IT IS.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT BRINGS US
TOGETHER, IS OUR LOVE OF...

FOOD, BUT CHIPS,
MOST DEFINITELY.

WE'RE CHIP CONNOISSEURS.

OH, YEAH.

BUT IT IS EMBARRASSING
WHEN THERE'S MOMENTS

WHERE I CAN'T PASS SOMETHING
BECAUSE I'M SO BIG.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS,
I FEEL SO ANXIOUS...

BECAUSE I KNOW
PEOPLE ARE STARING.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.
CHARLIE.

LET'S GET YOU THROUGH HERE,
AND I'LL DO THAT.

-YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO --
-I'LL JUST LEAVE THEM THERE.

BUT WHEN THAT HAPPENS,

I START TO FEEL
LIKE I'M GONNA PANIC.

AND ALL I WANT IS FOOD.

ALL RIGHT. READY?

WHEW.
THAT WAS VERY INTENSE.

BUT I KNOW THE SOONER
I GET THE SHOPPING DONE,

THE SOONER I CAN EAT.

THANK YOU.

HERE.

CANDY. MY LOVE.

OH, MY GOSH. SO EXCITED.

ANOTHER FAVORITE PART
OF THE ENTIRE TRIP

IS GETTING WHAT I WANT.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE PART.

CHARLIE LOVES FOOD, TOO.

AND GROCERY SHOPPING
IS THE ONLY TIME

WE GET TO DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.

IT'S KINDA ROMANTIC
IN A WAY.

WANT TO TRY?

OH, REALLY?

OKAY? [ LAUGHS ]

LOVE YOU.

BUT AFTER WE SHOP, I CAN'T WAIT
TO GET HOME AND EAT.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT
WHAT I JUST BOUGHT...

...I'M LIKE,
"I HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THAT."

HI, BABY.

AND COOKING IS THE ONLY THING
I STILL DO ON MY OWN.

BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO STAND
IN THE KITCHEN AND DO IT.

AND I'M NOT ABLE TO MOVE AROUND
IN MY WHEELCHAIR

IN MY KITCHEN.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I DO ALL THE FOOD PREPARING
FROM THE COUCH

'CAUSE I ABSOLUTELY
LOVE TO COOK.

AND I TAKE MY FOOD
VERY SERIOUSLY.

AND WHEN I WANT
SOMETHING PARTICULAR,

I WON'T LET ANYONE ELSE MAKE IT

BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE DONE
EXACTLY RIGHT

SO IT TASTES
AS GOOD AS IT SHOULD.

AND I'M NOT LETTING
ANYONE MESS IT UP.

ALL RIGHT.
IT'S READY FOR THE OVEN.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEN I KNOW THAT
THERE'S A MEAL BEING COOKED,

I JUST START GETTING
REALLY EXCITED.

I START CRAVING THE FOOD.

I NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT'S BEING COOKED

SO I PREPARE MENTALLY FOR IT.

AND I JUST START FREAKING OUT.

NICOLE'S BEHAVIOR WITH FOOD
IS NOT NORMAL.

IF SHE IS HUNGRY,
SHE WANTS FOOD.

SHE WANTS IT NOW.

GIVE ME SOME YUM-YUM.

I WANT SOME NUM-NUM.

BUT WHEN I GIVE HER
LARGE PORTIONS,

I KNOW IT'S HURTING HER.

I KNOW IT'S DAMAGING HER BODY.

BUT I SEE THAT SHE'S HAPPY.

AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE NICOLE HAPPY.

BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH BIGGER
SHE COULD GET

BEFORE IT'S TOO MUCH?

Nicole: FOOD IS JUST
SIMPLY AMAZING TO ME.

AND IT'S HARD TO STOP EATING.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
I'VE HAD ENOUGH FOOD IN ME.

Darlene: I'M DEFINITELY AFRAID
FOR NICOLE'S LIFE.

THE DOCTORS TOLD HER,

"TIME YOU'RE 25,
YOU'LL BE IN A WHEELCHAIR.

TIME YOU'RE 30, YOU'LL BE DEAD."

Jim: I'M VERY WORRIED
THAT OUR GRANDCHILDREN

ARE GONNA GROW UP
WITHOUT A MOTHER,

BECAUSE I'M AFRAID
SHE'S GONNA DIE.

I'M AFRAID FOR HER LIFE.

Nicole: FOOD IS SOMETHING THAT
MY BODY DEPENDS ON TO SURVIVE.

SO IT'S LIKE PLAYING
RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH MY LIFE.

AND I DON'T WANT MY CHILDREN
TO GROW UP WITHOUT A MOM.

AND I KNOW
THAT IF I DON'T CHANGE,

I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE
MUCH LONGER.

**

CHARLIE,
CAN YOU HELP ME?

I KNOW I NEED HELP NOW.

AND DR. NOWZARADAN MAY BE THE
LAST CHANCE I HAVE TO GET IT.

SO I'VE MADE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE HIM.

AND MY FAMILY'S PACKING
EVERYTHING UP

SO WE CAN MOVE TO HOUSTON

SO I CAN TRY
AND JOIN HIS PROGRAM.

I'M PUTTING MY LIFE ON THE LINE

HOPING THAT
I GET ACCEPTED BY HIM.

AND IT'S THE BIGGEST RISK
I'VE EVER TAKEN.

BUT I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.

BUT MY PARENTS ARE KIND OF
STRESSED OUT ABOUT MOVING.

AND I KNOW THIS IS
THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO.

WATCH OUT, JADEN!

IF Y'ALL CAN'T HELP MOVE,

COULD YOU PLEASE
AT LEAST WATCH THE KIDS?!

I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO.

I WOULDN'T GO
IF IT WASN'T FOR MY DAUGHTER.

NICOLE'S THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO ME.

BUT THIS IS A LIFESAVING THING
FOR MY DAUGHTER,

AND I HAVE TO DO IT.

Nicole:
THIS IS JUST A LOT OF PRESSURE.

BUT ALL THE SCREAMING

AND EVERYONE BEING UPSET
REALLY STRESSES ME OUT.

BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO GET HELP.

I GOT MY KIDS AND MYSELF, AND
THAT'S ALL I EVEN CARE ABOUT.

YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR OWN WAY.
THIS IS FOR ME.

THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING FOR ME.

AND I DON'T CARE
WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND.

YOU ARE EITHER WITH ME
OR YOU'RE WITHOUT ME.

I AM GOING TO TEXAS.

AND I AM GONNA SEE DR. NOW,

AND I'M GONNA COMPLY
WITH WHAT HE SAYS,

AND I'M GONNA GET THIS
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND I'M GONNA BE ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL PATIENTS HE'S HAD.

OH, WEIRD.

I HAVE TO DO THIS...

BECAUSE THIS IS
MY LAST AND ONLY CHANCE

TO SAVE MY LIFE
AND BE THERE FOR MY KIDS.

AND EITHER MY FAMILY CAN HELP ME

OR THEY CAN GET OUT OF MY WAY.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR ABOUT 10 HOURS NOW.

AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO MAKE IT
TO ALABAMA TODAY,

WHICH IS ABOUT
7, 7.5-HOUR DRIVE.

BUT I'M WORRIED THAT HAVING TO
SIT WITH MY LEGS ALL CRAMPED UP,

IF MY KNEES ARE GONNA
BE ABLE TO TAKE IT.

AND IT'S HECTIC IN HERE

BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S
PILED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER --

OUR TWO KIDS, OUR TWO CATS,
MY PARENTS' TWO CATS.

PLUS, OUR DOG
IS ON THIS TRIP WITH US.

I JUST HOPE THE TRIP GOES EASY,
BECAUSE THIS IS A LONG HAUL.

[ CHILD HOLLERS ]

DO YOU WANT TO DRIVE?

IT'S HOT IN HERE,
AND I'M GETTING IRRITATED.

WELL, SHUT UP.

I'M REALLY STRESSED OUT
AND UPSET RIGHT NOW,

SO ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME
TO GET THE KIDS?

-SOME NUGGETS?
-I DON'T KNOW.

I'M JUST --
I'M HOT, CHARLIE.

THIS...

I NEED, UM, TWO
DOUBLE-PATTY BURGERS

WITH TWO FRIES
AND A LARGE COKE.

THANK YOU.

YES.

WHEN I GET STRESSED LIKE
THIS AND I WANT TO EAT,

I START TO THINK ABOUT
ALL THE THINGS I'M CRAVING.

AND ONE PLACE AIN'T GONNA
HAVE EVERYTHING I WANT.

I JUST WANT
THE OVEN-ROASTED CHICKEN,

UM, ON THAT
ONE KIND OF BREAD --

ITALIAN HERB AND CHEESE.

FOOT-LONG.

I CAN'T HELP BUT GIVE IN TO
MY CRAVINGS AND EAT EVERYTHING.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE
UNWRAPPING A BURGER,

AND YOU GET
THAT HOT WRAPPER CHEESE.

BURGER'S JUST FRESH
AND JUST SO IRRESISTIBLE.

THE CATS ARE DYING,
CHARLIE.

THEY NEED TO BE
IN AIR-CONDITIONING.

EATING WHAT I WANT
IS THE ONLY THING

THAT COULD STOP
THE PANIC ATTACKS.

AND IF I CAN'T GET THAT,
I JUST GET ANGRIER.

I DON'T LIKE IT,
BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

I THINK THE KIDS
NEED THEIR ACTS CHANGED.

I DON'T KNOW.

COME ON, CHARLIE.

-WHAT?
-THEY'RE MISERABLE, MAN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT!
LET'S GO!

QUIT, DUDE.

I JUST WANT TO GET ON THE ROAD
AND GET TO HOUSTON.

TODAY, I'VE BEEN
JUST ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE

IN THE FRONT SEAT
OF THIS VEHICLE.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR ABOUT 18 HOURS,

AND WE STILL
HAVEN'T MADE IT TO ALABAMA,

WHERE WE PLAN
TO STOP FOR THE NIGHT.

BUT I CAN'T GO MUCH FURTHER.

I NEED A BED,
AND I HAVE TO SLEEP.

[ GROANS ]

OH, MY KNEES.

Charlie:
BE CAREFUL, BABE.

GOT A BIG BATHTUB
RIGHT HERE, HUH?

GIVE THE KIDS A BATH?

[ GASPING ]

-YOU ALL RIGHT?
-NO.

PLEASE.

-PLEASE. ALL RIGHT.
-ONE, TWO, THREE.

[ GRUNTS ]

THE WHOLE BED
[BLEEP] SLID OUT ON ME.

Charlie: OKAY, UM...
IT'S ON WHEELS.

WHAT THE [BLEEP]
WE C-- IT --

I MEAN, WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT?
[ SOBS ]

NO!
JUST [BLEEP] SHUT UP, MOM!

[ BREATHING RAPIDLY ]

CHARLIE, I CAN'T SLEEP
ON THIS BED.

YOU DIDN'T WANT TO PAY THE OTHER
PRICE FOR THE OTHER ROOM, SO...

WELL, THEY SAID
IT WAS UPSTAIRS.

[BLEEP] IDIOT.

I CAN'T GET ON IT, CHARLIE.
I CAN'T.

JUST GIVE ME THE CHAIR
OVER THERE.

I CAN'T DO THIS.

[ SOBBING ]

MY BACK HURTS!
I CAN'T HARDLY BREATHE!

CHARLIE, YOU KNOW WHAT?
IF YOU AREN'T GONNA

BE SUPPORTIVE,
YOU CAN [BLEEP] LEAVE!

I AM BEING SUPPORTIVE!
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE!

IT'S STUPID WOOD IN HERE.
IT'S STUPID.

WHY WOULD THEY PUT WOOD
ON A FLOOR IN A HOTEL?

TO MAKE IT LOOK NICE?

EVERY DAMN THING I SAY,

YOU CONTRADICT AND TALK [BLEEP]
YOU LITTLE [BLEEP]

I ABOUT HIT THE FLOOR, AND
I HAD TO HOLD MY BODY WEIGHT UP

BECAUSE HE WASN'T IN HERE
AND JUST LALLYGAGGED.

LALLYGAG? I WAS GETTING
THE BAGS AND STUFF!

Jim: WELL, I SAY YOU TRY IT
AGAIN, NIKKI, BEFORE YOU --

OKAY, LET'S JUST TRY IT AGAIN!
YOU BUNCH OF BASTARDS!

[ JADEN CRYING ]

[ GROANING ]

WE'LL TAKE THE MATTRESS
AND THE BOX SPRING OFF.

WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT DOWN.

OH, MY GOD.

Nicole:
THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME.

I SHOULD'VE NEVER LEFT
AND TRIED TO DO THIS.

**

CHARLIE. COME ON, NOW,
WE GOT TO GET GOING.

WE GOT A LONG TRIP.

I KNOW.

I'LL DO ONE LAST LOOK
OVER THE ROOM, AND...

-OKAY.
-...GET IN THE TRUCK.

OHH.

Nicole:
LAST NIGHT WAS MISERABLE.

AND I KNOW I OVERREACTED.

BUT WHEN THE BED SLIPPED,
IT REALLY SCARED ME.

BECAUSE IF I HAD FALLEN,

I KNOW I WOULDN'T HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK UP.

SO I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF
WHY I'M DOING THIS.

I'M 23 YEARS OLD,

AND THERE IS SO MUCH
I'VE NEVER SEEN

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
TRAPPED IN A ROOM.

OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S GORGEOUS.

LOOK AT THAT.
THE WATER.

OH, MY GOD.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

MY WEIGHT'S MADE ME A PRISONER.

AND THERE IS SO MUCH LIFE
I'M MISSING.

BUT AS DESPERATELY
AS I WANT TO CHANGE,

WHEN I GET STRESSED OUT,
I JUST WANT TO EAT.

-WHOA!
-WHAT?

THAT CAR JUST
ABOUT CUT US OFF.

WHY ARE WE GOING 90?!

I'M TRYING TO CATCH UP
WITH YOUR DAD.

I'M GONNA PASS THIS TRUCK,
GET OVER.

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE
TO THAT WALL, BUD!

SLOW DOWN, PLEASE!
I WISH YOU'D PUT THAT CIGAR OUT!

PLEASE! PLEASE!

-IT'S ALL RIGHT, NIKKI.
-NO.

OH, GOD.

WHEN I'M UNCOMFORTABLE
OR HAVE ANXIETY,

FOOD'S, LIKE,
A GATEWAY TO HAPPINESS.

YOU DON'T LISTEN, DUDE,
AT ALL.

I'M NOT LIGHTING IT YET.
I WAS HOLDING IT.

-WHY DO YOU ACT LIKE THAT?
-ACT LIKE WHAT, DUDE?

YOU'RE RUNNING
YOUR MOUTH, MAN.

WE'VE BEEN DRIVING
FOR ALMOST TWO DAYS STRAIGHT.

ENTERING TEXAS.

WE'RE ENTERING TEXAS
RIGHT NOW.

OH, WOW.

THANK GOD.

WE ONLY HAVE ANOTHER DAY
OF DRIVING TO GO.

AND I'M MISERABLE RIGHT NOW.

FINALLY, THE HOTEL.

OH.

OOH.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE
HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE.

AND I JUST HOPE IT'S WORTH IT.

'CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY THINGS

THAT ARE SO UNCERTAIN

ABOUT WHEN I GET TO HOUSTON.

OH, YOU KNOW I'M GONNA
BE BACK DOWN HERE, RIGHT?

YES.

I JUST SEEN THEIR CANDY.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY,

WE JUST PICKED UP OUR LIFE

AND BROUGHT IT WITH US.

AND I'M WORRIED BECAUSE
WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE.

ON TOP OF THAT, CHARLIE NEEDS

TO FIND A JOB
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SO WE CAN GET A PROPER ROOF
OVER THE KIDS' HEADS.

Charlie:
THIS TRIP WAS LONG, FRUSTRATING.

BUT IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT
FOR NICOLE AND MY FAMILY.

SHE'S VERY DETERMINED
TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF

SO SHE CAN BE THE MOTHER
THAT SHE WANTS TO BE.

Nicole:
IF I DON'T CHANGE,

MY KIDS ARE EITHER
GOING TO RELIVE MY CHILDHOOD

OR WATCH ME DIE.

AND I WILL NOT LET MY KIDS
BURY ME IN THEIR DIAPERS.

I REFUSE TO.

**

IT'S DAY THREE ON THE ROAD.

AND WE FINALLY MADE IT
TO HOUSTON.

WE'RE HERE.

BUT AS GLAD AS I AM TO BE HERE,
I'M STILL REALLY NERVOUS

BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYTHING
IS GOING TO RIDE

ON WHAT THE DOCTOR'S
GONNA TELL ME.

WE'RE NOT GONNA
GET IN HERE.

ALL RIGHT.
LET ME TURN YOU AROUND.

-OW!
-SORRY.

GOD!
[BLEEP] IDIOT.

NICOLE LEWIS?

BUT I'M SCARED
THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ISSUE

THAT'LL MEAN HE CAN'T HELP ME

AND THAT I'M TOO FAR GONE
AT THIS POINT.

Woman: 684.

I'M VERY SHOCKED.

684 IS, LIKE,

THREE TIMES
THE NORMAL BODY WEIGHT.

WHEN I SAW THE NUMBER,
IT MADE ME FEEL SCARED...

BECAUSE EVERY TIME
I THINK OF MY WEIGHT

AND MY KIDS AT THE SAME TIME,

I JUST ALWAYS THINK OF MYSELF
LAYING IN A CASKET.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.
-HELLO.

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

-I'M NICOLE.
-YOU'RE NICOLE.

-HEY. I'M CHARLIE.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

ALL RIGHT,
SO, YOU'RE 23 YEARS OLD,

AND YOU ARE
684 POUNDS?

YES.

SO, WHAT DOES YOUR
EATING HABIT LOOK LIKE?

IT'S NOT VERY GOOD.

MY FAMILY
HAS A FAST-FOOD HABIT.

I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE

'CAUSE I CAN'T GET UP
AND STAND AND COOK FOR MYSELF,

SO I HAVE TO EAT
WHAT'S BROUGHT TO ME.

SO WHO BRINGS YOU
THE FOOD?

MY BOYFRIEND
AND MY MOM.

WHY ARE YOU
DOING THAT?

IF SHE WANTS IT,
SHE'LL THROW A FIT

IF I DON'T GET IT
FOR HER.

SO, NICOLE, LET ME
GET THIS STRAIGHT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT
THE BAD FOOD,

BUT YOU HAVE TO BECAUSE
YOUR FAMILY MAKES YOU?

AND YOU BRING THE BAD FOOD
BECAUSE SHE WILL GET UPSET?

SO I THINK I'M PICKING UP
ON SOME OF THE PROBLEM.

NICOLE IS ALMOST 700 POUNDS,

AND THE DYNAMIC SHE HAS AT HOME
LOOKS TERRIBLE.

SHE'S NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HER OWN BEHAVIOR.

HER BOYFRIEND IS ENABLING HER

AND MAY NOT EVEN
WANT HER TO LOSE WEIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT
SITUATION TO ADDRESS HERE.

YOU ARE 684 POUNDS,
AND YOU ARE 23.

YOU KEEP IT UP, DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO BE 30?

I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT
NEXT YEAR.

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING
NOW ABOUT IT.

WHEN I WALK OUT THE DOOR,
I'M OVER IN YOUR HANDS.

I'M READY TO GET HEALTHY
FOR MY CHILDREN.

OKAY.

THE EATING HABIT
NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED

BEFORE WE GET TO THE POINT
THAT WE CAN OFFER YOU SURGERY.

SO I WANT YOU TO READ
THIS MATERIAL EVERY DAY,

THAT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU.

AND THIS IS FOOD TO AVOID.

THIS IS NOT
YOUR GROCERY LIST.

OKAY.

CUT ALL CARBS
OUT OF YOUR DIET.

EAT ONLY
THREE TIMES A DAY.

NO SNACKING
BETWEEN THE MEALS.

SO, YOU READ THAT EVERY DAY
AND POLISH UP YOUR EATING HABIT.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 30 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

IF YOU FOLLOW THIS,

WE'RE GONNA SEE IF WE
CAN GET YOU TO THE POINT

THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE APPROPRIATE
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

-ALL RIGHT.
-OKAY?

SO, ARE YOU GONNA BE

SUPPORTING HER CHANGE
OF EATING HABIT?

-100%.
-OKAY.

-NICE TO SEE YOU.
-NICE TO SEE YOU.

-NICE TO SEE YOU.
-NICE TO SEE YOU.

ARE YOU READY
TO DO THIS WITH ME?

-OF COURSE.
-ALL RIGHT.

Nicole:
I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE TOUGH.

AND I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW,

HEARING EVERYTHING
THE DOCTOR SAID.

Charlie:
I WAS LOOKING ON THAT PAPER,

AND A LOT OF THE FOODS THERE
THAT I LIKE TO EAT.

SO IT'LL BE A CHALLENGE.

BUT I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

Nicole:
30 POUNDS IS A LOT OF WEIGHT.

AND IN THE PAST,

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO COMPLETE DIETS.

SO I'M GONNA WORK HARD.
BUT I'M SCARED.

BECAUSE WHAT IF I CAN'T DO IT?

WHAT IF IT'S TOO HARD
AND I FAIL?

AND I DON'T WANT
TO LET MY KIDS DOWN.

**

Nicole: MY FAMILY AND I
HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE

TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE YET,

SO WE'VE BEEN STAYING
IN A HOTEL.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'VE JUST BEEN
TRYING TO STAY ACTIVE

AND DO AS MUCH AS I CAN TO MAKE
THE PROGRESS THE DOCTOR WANTS.

IT'S STRESSFUL
TO NOT BE IN A HOUSE YET

BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY
IN HOTELS TOO MUCH LONGER.

BUT ONE THING THAT'S BEEN NICE
ABOUT STAYING HERE

HAS BEEN THE POOL

BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH EASIER
TO EXERCISE IN THE WATER.

YOU'RE ONLY GIVEN ONE LIFE.

AND I HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN
TO LIVE A LIFE YET.

SO I'M GONNA DO
MY ABSOLUTE HARDEST

TO LOSE THE WEIGHT
AND FEEL HAPPY FOR ONCE.

HEY, HEY,
GOOD LOOKIN'.

Nicole:
THERE'S MY HANDSOME MAN.

-WHAT'S UP?
-[ LAUGHS ]

-HOW WAS YOUR WORKOUT?
-IT'S REALLY GOOD.

RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING
AS HARD AS I CAN

TO MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

BUT I'M STILL STRUGGLING
AT TIMES.

AND THE TEMPTATION'S THE WORST

WHEN I GET STRESSED OUT
ABOUT WHERE WE'RE LIVING.

BUT I JUST REALLY HOPE
WE FIND A PLACE SOON.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD
TO KEEP LIVING IN HOTELS.

Charlie: WHAT ARE YOU
LOOKING UP?

THIS APARTMENT.

HOW MUCH IS THAT PLACE?

$750 FOR A TWO-BEDROOM.

$850 FOR A THREE-BEDROOM.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.
I PAID $750 FOR A HOUSE.

BUT THAT'S OHIO.
THIS IS TEXAS, HONEY.

Jim: YEAH.
GIVE ALL THAT UP FOR THIS.

HOPE EVERYTHING
GOES GOOD NOW.

Nicole: I'M GETTING
REALLY STRESSED OUT

'CAUSE WE'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND WE STILL HAVEN'T
FOUND A HOUSE.

BEEN LIVING IN HOTELS.

AND WE'RE RUNNING LOW ON MONEY.

Darlene: CHARLIE'S GONNA
HAVE TO GET A JOB, RIGHT?

HE'S BEEN LOOKING. LIKE, SOME
OF THE GAS STATIONS AND STUFF.

WITHOUT CHARLIE GETTING A JOB,
WE'RE STUCK HERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO ONCE WE'RE BROKE.

THIS IS VERY STRESSFUL.

ARE YOU GETTING HUNGRY?

HELLO?

Nicole:
MY ONLY GO-TO THING WAS FOOD.

NOW THAT I'M HERE,
NOW THAT I'VE SEEN THE DOCTOR,

I WANT TO DO THIS.

SO I'M TRYING TO EAT
AS HEALTHY AS I CAN.

HOW MANY OF THESE
DO YOU WANT, NIKKI?

ONE PIECE
IS ONE SERVING.

BUT ME LIVING IN HOTELS,

I DON'T KNOW IF MY WEIGHT LOSS
IS ON TRACK

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T MICROWAVE

A BUNCH OF HEALTHY FOOD
ALL THE TIME.

I'M REALLY TIRED
OF MICROWAVE FOOD.

Jim: I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS
WAS EATING FOR SUPPER,

AND I ATE A BUNCH OF PIZZA.

WHAT?

I WAS UPTOWN RIDING AROUND
A LITTLE BIT AGO,

SO I STOPPED AT THAT PIZZA SHOP,
AND I ATE UPTOWN.

YOU ATE A BIG OLD
PIECE OF PIZZA?

YEAH, I ATE
A BUNCH OF PIZZA.

FOUR SLICES FOR $5.

FOUR SLICES OF PIZZA!

YEAH, AND, I MEAN,
THEY WERE BIG.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
EATING HEALTHY TOGETHER.

I KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHY I ATE IT
BEFORE I COME BACK HERE.

IT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

CHARLIE, THAT'S NOT, LIKE,
A DIPPING SAUCE.

LIKE -- SCHWOOP! --
JUST LET ME DIP IT.

THAT'S A LOT OF BUTTER,
DUDE!

YOU GOT TO HAVE
A LOT OF BUTTER.

Nicole:
I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR MY FAMILY

TO HAVE TO DO THIS WITH ME.

BUT HOW THEY'RE TREATING ME
RIGHT NOW

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
I'M ON MY OWN.

I GO BACK TO SEE THE DOCTOR
IN A WEEK.

AND I JUST NEED
TO STAY ON TRACK TILL THEN.

TODAY, I'M GOING
TO A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT

WITH DR. NOWZARADAN.

OVER THE PAST MONTH,

IT'S BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT
TO STICK TO HIS DIET,

BUT I'VE TRIED REALLY HARD.

NICOLE LEWIS?

HE TOLD ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS
AND GET UNDER 654.

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

Woman: 673.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

THAT I DIDN'T LOSE
WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO.

AND I'M SCARED ABOUT
WHAT THE DOCTOR'S GONNA SAY.

BUT I HOPE DR. NOW SEES
THAT I AM MAKING PROGRESS

SO I CAN GET BARIATRIC SURGERY.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

STRUGGLING
WITH SOME STRESS.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE YOUR
SORT OF, UH, STRESS?

WE STILL NEED TO FIND
AN APARTMENT.

WE'RE GOING BACK AND FORTH
TO DIFFERENT HOTELS.

MY FAMILY PUTS
ALL THE STRESS ON ME

AND WANTS ME
TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING

INSTEAD OF TRYING
TO HELP ME FIND A PLACE.

SO YOUR FAMILY
IS THE PROBLEM AGAIN?

I'M EATING THE BEST I CAN
WITH THE HOTEL.

I FOUND, LIKE, SOME PRE-COOKED,
LIKE, GRILLED CHICKEN

AND THINGS LIKE THAT
I CAN MICROWAVE.

BUT MY FAMILY
IS EATING FAST FOOD.

AND IT'S SUCH A STRUGGLE
TO FIGHT CRAVINGS

WHEN EVERYONE AROUND YOU
IS EATING THINGS

THAT YOU'RE USED TO.

ALL RIGHT. I SEE.

NICOLE'S STILL NOT
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

AND BLAMING
EVERYBODY AROUND HER.

SO THAT'S THE PRIMARY ISSUE

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS
RIGHT NOW.

NICOLE, I'M NOT APPROVING YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND IF YOU WANT
ANY CHANCE TO DO THIS,

YOU HAVE TO STOP
BLAMING YOUR FAMILY.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT
NEEDS TO MAKE THE CHANGES.

SO LOSE 30 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH

AND SHOW ME
THAT YOU CAN DO THIS.

-SOUNDS GOOD.
-I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

Charlie: READY?

ALL RIGHT.

Nicole: I FEEL
A LITTLE FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I WORKED REALLY HARD,

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW I COULD DO ANY BETTER.

BUT I'M SCARED BECAUSE I KNOW
THIS MAY BE MY LAST CHANCE.

AND IF I SCREW UP AGAIN,

I'M GONNA HAVE NO HOPE
AT SURVIVING ANOTHER YEAR.

**

Nicole: SO, EVERYTHING IS
REALLY STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW.

Charlie: I GOT THE FOOD.

Nicole: I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO DO BETTER THIS MONTH,

BUT UNTIL WE FIND A PLACE
TO LIVE, WITH A KITCHEN,

WE'RE STILL MOSTLY RELYING
ON TAKE-OUT AND FAST FOOD.

AND EVEN WHEN WE COULD PICK
SOME HEALTHIER PLACES,

MY FAMILY DOESN'T WANT TO EAT
FROM THERE.

Charlie: I GOT CHERRY SYRUP
PUT IN MINE.

YEAH. THIS IS YOURS.

SO I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT
TO ORDER SOMETHING UNHEALTHY.

THIS IS ALL STUFF
THAT I CAN'T EAT.

-I CAN'T HAVE BREAD.
-WELL, I KNOW THAT.

AND THAT'S
WAY TOO MUCH MEAT.

MY FAMILY ISN'T
SUPPORTING ME AT ALL.

MY PARENTS ARE EVEN THREATENING
TO TAKE OUR KIDS BACK TO OHIO

WITHOUT ME AND CHARLIE.

SO I HAVE TO FIND A PLACE
FOR US TO LIVE.

Woman: Thank you for choosing...
How may I assist you?

HI. MY NAME IS NICOLE.

I'M CALLING ABOUT A PROPERTY
YOU HAVE FOR RENT.

IT'S ON BEXLEY STREET.

Um, we do have an open
waiting list right now,

From six months to one year.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YEAH.
I NEED SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY.

WE NEEDED SOMETHING
TWO DAYS AGO.

WE'RE DOWN TO LIKE $580.

WHEN THAT MONEY'S GONE,
IT'S GONE.

AND MY FAMILY,
WE'RE GONNA BE HOMELESS.

AND I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN
TO MY KIDS.

THIS SUCKS.

GIVING UP WHAT WE HAD TO GIVE.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THIS AIN'T MY FAULT.

THIS IS JUST A SITUATION
THAT HAPPENED

THAT WE GOT TO GET THROUGH
TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

IT DOESN'T HELP WHEN
I'M GETTING JUMPED

EVERY DAY
OVER THE SITUATION.

I'M NOT JUMPING, DUDE.
I NAG YOU. I DON'T JUMP ON YOU.

MY MOM NAGS ME AND SAYS SHE
WISHES SHE WAS STILL IN OHIO.

I DON'T SEE NONE OF YOU GUYS
HELPING ME. I'M LITERALLY...

'CAUSE YOU GOT ONE LAPTOP
YOU WON'T LET NOBODY USE.

I'M THE ONE OUT
LOOKING FOR JOBS.

I'M THE ONE OUT
HAVING JOB INTERVIEWS.

I DON'T SEE NOBODY ELSE GETTING
JOBS, GETTING JOB INTERVIEWS.

I HANDLE ALL YOUR
JOB APPLICATIONS,

-TALK TO REAL-ESTATE AGENTS.
-RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND I'M NOT SAYING
YOU DON'T DO NOTHING.

Darlene: LIVING IN OHIO,
WE HAD A HOUSE.

THE KIDS HAD A PLACE
TO STAY AND PLAY, HON.

YOU GUYS ARE DRIVING ME
[BLEEP] NUTS.

WONDER WHY I WANT TO GO HOME.
I DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP]

[BLEEP]

Nicole: ALL THIS IS
TEARING MY FAMILY APART.

[ CHILD YELLS ]

MY KIDS ARE LITERALLY MY ONLY
MOTIVATION TO SAVE MY LIFE.

SO IF MY MOM
TAKES THEM BACK TO OHIO,

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO THIS,

AND I'M GONNA DIE.

**

CHARLIE AND I HAVE BEEN OUT
ALL DAY LOOKING FOR A JOB,

BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T
FOUND ANYTHING.

IT'S BEEN
SUCH A STRESSFUL MONTH.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO
TO MY LAST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

SO RIGHT NOW,
I JUST WANT TO FORGET

ABOUT ALL MY PROBLEMS AND EAT

BECAUSE THIS IS STARTING TO
BECOME TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BEAR.

-How can I help you?
-UM...

CAN I GET
A DOUBLE-MEAT CHEESEBURGER?

-What kind of drink?
-LARGE FRUIT PUNCH.

AND I WANT, UH,
A NUMBER THREE.

-Anything else for you?
-NO.

Nicole: I'VE BEEN
HOLDING BACK FOR SO LONG.

AND RIGHT NOW, I JUST
CAN'T WAIT TO EAT SOMETHING

THAT TASTES SO GOOD.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T THE FOOD
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EATING,

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
CAUSE TOO MUCH DAMAGE

TO CHEAT JUST A LITTLE BIT
WHEN I REALLY NEED IT.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS
TO SEE THE DOCTOR

AFTER HAVING MISSED
MY LAST APPOINTMENT.

NICOLE LEWIS?

I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS SUPPOSED
TO LOSE 30 POUNDS STILL

OR WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO.

SO I'M SCARED.

IF THE DOCTOR
DOESN'T APPROVE ME TODAY,

MY FAMILY'S GONNA GIVE UP
AND MOVE BACK TO OHIO.

IF THAT HAPPENS, I HAVE NO HOPE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT THE SCALE SAID.

IT'S DEPRESSING.

I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT
DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY TO ME.

I JUST HOPE THAT HE'S VERY
UNDERSTANDING OF MY SITUATION.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

-HOW ARE YOU?
-ALL RIGHT.

SO, I GAVE YOU A CHALLENGE
TO LOSE 30 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH,

AND YOU LOST 11.

I TOLD YOU TO TRY AGAIN
AND WORK HARDER,

AND YOU LOST 6 POUNDS
IN TWO MONTHS.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON?

I DIDN'T HAVE A REFRIGERATOR,
A MICROWAVE.

SO WE COULDN'T EAT HEALTHY.

AND MY FAMILY
WOULD BE EATING --

OKAY. I DON'T WANT
ANY MORE EXCUSES.

YOU'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE
FOR YOUR CHOICES

AND WHAT YOU EAT.

TO BE QUITE HONEST,
I'M NOT HAVING

VERY MUCH
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AT HOME.

AND IT'S JUST MADE ME UPSET
AT THIS POINT.

I JUST FEEL LOST INSIDE.

NICOLE, YOU'RE NOT
LISTENING TO ME.

THIS IS
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

I AM VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT NICOLE RIGHT NOW.

SHE MISSED HER LAST APPOINTMENT,
AND HER PROGRESS IS EVEN WORSE.

AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT,
SHE STILL HAS A BIT

OF A DELUSIONAL PERSPECTIVE
ON THINGS.

SHE IS USED TO MANIPULATING
EVERYBODY AROUND HER

TO THE POINT THAT SHE EVEN
BELIEVES HER OWN EXCUSES.

SO I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO
HAVE ANY CHANCE OF SUCCESS

UNTIL WE START TO GET HER
TO WAKE UP FROM HER DELUSION.

WHEN LIFE GETS TOUGH,
YOU DON'T GET A PASS.

YOU ARE THE ONE THAT...

YOU GOT YOURSELF
IN THIS SITUATION.

-THAT'S CORRECT.
-AND YOU'RE THE ONE YOU HAVE

TO GET OUT
OF YOUR SITUATION.

NOBODY IS GONNA
PULL YOU OUT.

-RIGHT.
-YOU ARE, WHAT?

-23 YEARS OLD?
-YES.

-AND YOU HAVE TWO KIDS?
-YES.

AND YOU GOT TO BE
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FOR THEM.

-EXACTLY.
-AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO

BECOME
A STRONGER PERSON.

SO I'M GOING TO SEND YOU
TO A THERAPIST

SO WE CAN START TO GET
ON THE SAME PAGE

ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO.

AND BECAUSE YOU MADE
SO LITTLE PROGRESS,

I'M REQUIRING YOU TO LOSE
30 POUNDS IN A MONTH

-FOR TWO MONTHS IN A ROW.
-OKAY.

-OKAY?
-ALL RIGHT.

I NEED TO KNOW
THAT YOU CAN DO THIS

AND YOU CAN STICK TO IT.

UNTIL THEN, SURGERY
IS NOT AN OPTION.

KEEP WORKING AT IT.
AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M REALLY DISCOURAGED.

I'M WORSE OFF
THAN WHEN I STARTED

BECAUSE I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT
OVER TWO MONTHS NOW.

AND THE DOCTOR
JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH,

BECAUSE I'M COMPLETELY
DEPENDENT ON MY FAMILY.

I JUST HOPE THE THERAPIST HELPS,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T SUCCEED
THIS TIME,

I'M COMPLETELY OUT OF CHANCES.

**

I'M GOING TO SEE
THE THERAPIST TONIGHT

LIKE DR. NOW WANTED ME TO.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND THE THOUGHT OF IT KINDA
MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH.

BUT I DON'T WANT
TO LOSE DR. NOW'S HELP.

SO I'M DOING WHAT HE'S TOLD ME,

EVEN THOUGH IT MAKES ME
REALLY NERVOUS.

-HELLO.
-HI, NICOLE. I'M VANESSA.

-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU ALSO.

SO, NICOLE, TELL ME
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

HOW YOU GOT
TO WHERE YOU ARE.

I GREW UP IN, WHAT I'D SAY,
A PRETTY BROKEN HOME

WITH MY PARENTS JUST
DOING HARD-CORE DRUGS.

AND I WAS OUT OF SIGHT,
OUT OF MIND, YOU KNOW?

THEY HAD ONE FOCUS,
AND THAT WAS DRUGS.

AND I'VE BEEN INVISIBLE TO THEM
BASICALLY MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL.

HOW'S THAT
RELATIONSHIP NOW?

I'M STRESSED BECAUSE
I HAVE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

BUT I DON'T GET
ANY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.

SO MY BARRIERS ARE JUST
THE NEGATIVITY AND THE ANGER

THAT'S IN MY HOME.

PEOPLE ARE
ALWAYS ARGUING.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS YELLING.
IT'S VERY STRESSFUL.

ESPECIALLY
FOR CHARLIE AND I.

I'M IN THIS DARK PLACE

BECAUSE ALL THE HURT,

ALL THE PAIN AND ANGER
THAT I'VE FELT OVER THE YEARS,

I'VE JUST HID IT
INSIDE ME,

AND I'VE HID IT
IN MY FEELINGS.

AND I'M TIRED OF
TURNING TO FOOD.

UNLIKE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOOD.

-RIGHT.
-YOU CAN'T ABSTAIN FROM IT.

SO EVERY DECISION
YOU MAKE ABOUT FOOD,

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

-YES.
-SO THAT IMPACTS EVERYTHING.

-EVERYTHING.
-YOUR WHOLE DAY.

HOW ARE YOU MAKING
THOSE CHANGES?

I JUST --

I DO IT ONE STEP AT A TIME,
EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL DAY LONG.

I DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO
AVOID THINKING ABOUT FOOD.

AND IF I CAN'T HAVE
THEIR SUPPORT,

THEN I'M GONNA HAVE TO
BE MY OWN SUPPORT SYSTEM

AND JUST DO IT FOR ME.

I ENCOURAGE YOU,
VERY, VERY MUCH,

TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS.

BE A LITTLE SELFISH.

MAKE THIS ABOUT YOU.

YOU CAN MAKE IT
ABOUT THEM LATER.

BUT MAKE IT ABOUT YOU.

-OKAY.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOUR STORY.

I FEEL ENCOURAGED TALKING
TO THE THERAPIST TODAY.

THERE'S SO MUCH OF MY LIFE

THAT'S BEEN OUTSIDE
OF MY CONTROL.

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
I HAVE NO CHOICE

IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS.

BUT I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
AND MAKE THE CHANGES I NEED,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T AND I FAIL,

DR. NOW IS GONNA TURN ME AWAY,

AND I'M GONNA LET DOWN
EVERYONE I LOVE.

**

COME ON, BUD.
YOU CAN DO IT.

Nicole: IT'S BEEN
A REALLY GOOD FEW WEEKS.

CHARLIE FOUND A JOB.

AND WE WERE FINALLY ABLE
TO AFFORD TO RENT A HOUSE.

NOW THAT MY FAMILY
HAS SOME SPACE TO SPREAD OUT,

WE'RE GETTING ALONG
A LITTLE BETTER.

YOU GOT CURLS LIKE
YOUR DAD, GIRL.

I'M FOCUSING MORE ON THINGS
IN MY LIFE THAT MAKE ME HAPPY.

AND I'M FINDING NEW WAYS
TO STAY MOTIVATED.

I HAVE MY WEAK MOMENTS,
BUT RIGHT NOW,

I FEEL REALLY ENERGIZED

TO MAKE SURE I REACH MY GOAL.

SO I'VE STARTED EXERCISING
A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH DAY.

I STILL CAN'T DO A LOT,

BUT THE GOAL
IS JUST TO STAY ACTIVE

AND STICK TO THE DIET.

SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE.

CHARLIE'S BEEN A BIG HELP.

HE COACHES ME AND HELPS

WITH EXERCISES
I CAN'T DO BY MYSELF.

SO I'M THANKFUL FOR HIM

AND FOR HOW THINGS ARE
RIGHT NOW.

-REACH FOR THE SAND.
-THREE.

RIGHT. THERE YOU GO.

-GRAB A HANDFUL.
-SIX.

THROW IT AT YOU.
SEVEN.

I REALLY HOPE I MAKE THE
PROGRESS I NEED BY NEXT MONTH.

IF I DON'T REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT,

DR. NOW SAYS I CAN'T BE
HIS PATIENT ANYMORE.

MY HEART IS GONNA BE SHATTERED.

I'M BACK
AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE AGAIN,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS
BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT

IF I'VE STAYED ON TRACK
THIS MONTH.

NICOLE LEWIS?

HE WANTED ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS
TO GET UNDER 637.

BUT SO FAR,
I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN CLOSE

TO REACHING HIS GOALS.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA
IF THIS MONTH IS ANY BETTER.

ALL I KNOW IS I'VE TRIED
AS HARD AS I CAN.

AND IF I FAIL, I JUST DON'T
KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO.

THAT'S THE BEST
I'VE DONE SO FAR.

BUT IT'S STILL NOT
WHAT HE WANTED ME TO LOSE.

HOPEFULLY DR. NOW SEES

THAT I'M MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND LETS ME KEEP TRYING,

BECAUSE I CAN'T LOSE
THIS CHANCE.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-DOING OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SO, TODAY
YOU WERE 640 POUNDS.

-YEAH.
-HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?

IT'S ACTUALLY
A LOT BETTER NOW.

I'M STARTING TO ENJOY
HEALTHIER FOOD.

AND I'M ONLY
DRINKING WATER.

AND WHAT ABOUT
THE THERAPIST?

-DID YOU SEE HER?
-YES.

AND, UM,
SHE'S KIND OF TEACHING ME

HOW TO BE
MY OWN SUPPORT SYSTEM.

AND I FEEL MORE POSITIVE.

SO WE'RE ON
THE RIGHT TRACK.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
NICOLE IS DOING MUCH BETTER NOW

THAN SHE DID
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS.

SHE DIDN'T HIT THE WEIGHT-LOSS
GOAL I GAVE HER,

BUT THREE POUNDS
IS CLOSE ENOUGH,

BECAUSE SHE'S STARTING TO GET
ON TRACK LIKE SHE NEEDS TO.

AND I FEEL LIKE
SHE STARTED TO TAKE

SOME RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HER CHOICES.

SO, HERE'S THE SITUATION.

EVEN THOUGH YOU DIDN'T HIT
THE 30-POUND MARK,

YOU MADE GOOD PROGRESS
THIS MONTH.

SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND
COUNT THIS AS A SUCCESS,

AS LONG AS NEXT MONTH,

YOU MAKE UP FOR IT
AND LOSE 33 POUNDS.

ALL RIGHT.
SOUNDS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. SUPER.
GOOD JOB.

-AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.
-ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU.
-MM-HMM.

-GOOD JOB.
-THANKS.

I FEEL LIKE DR. NOW
WAS PROUD OF ME.

HE KNOWS THAT I'M TRYING.

AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO
HAVE HIM VALIDATE ME LIKE THAT.

IT'S ENCOURAGING TO FINALLY
START TO SEE SOME PROGRESS.

AND I JUST WANT TO DO MORE
NEXT MONTH

AND FINALLY GET APPROVED.

NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME
FROM HITTING THE GOAL

AND SAVING MY LIFE.

**

PLEASE SHUT UP.

Nicole:
MY DAD'S REALLY ANGRY

BECAUSE THERE WAS A DRUG RAID
IN OUR BACK APARTMENT

THAT WE RENTED OUT.

COPS TOLD ME THAT
THEY FOUND NARCOTICS

AND STUFF LIKE THAT
IN THE BACK APARTMENT.

SO THE TENANTS WENT TO JAIL.

THE POLICE HAVE TO SEARCH
THE ENTIRE PREMISES,

SO THEY TORE THE REST
OF MY HOUSE APART,

BROKE MY FRONT DOOR
OFF THE HINGES,

FLIPPED OVER COUCHES,

MOVED MY STOVE
AND REFRIGERATOR OUT.

AND I JUST IMMEDIATELY
GOT SCARED,

BECAUSE JADEN WAS CRYING.

THE COP TOLD ME
TO PUT MY HANDS UP.

THE POLICE LITERALLY
MADE ME LIFT MY STOMACH

TO SEE IF I HAD DRUGS
UNDER MY STOMACH.

I FEEL VERY VIOLATED.

Darlene: WHEW!

A VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION
FOR EVERYBODY IN THE HOUSE.

Jim: SHUT THIS
[BLEEP] OFF RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO
WITH YOU LOSING WEIGHT.

THIS SHOW'S ABOUT YOU,

NOT WHAT HAPPENS ON
OUR DAY-TO-DAY PERSONAL LIFE

AND OUR GETTING DESTROYED
BY THE [BLEEP]

HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT!

IT'S ABOUT MY JOURNEY
AND MY LIFE

-AND MY EVERYDAY CHALLENGES.
-THAT'S RIGHT.

DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH WHAT YOU ATE TODAY?

IT HAS A LOT
TO DO WITH IT.

IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

-IT'S PART OF MY LIFE.
-PART OF YOUR LIFE.

-WILL YOU JUST CALM DOWN?
-NO. I WON'T.

Jim: IT AIN'T COOL, MAN.

Nicole:
I'M REALLY UPSET RIGHT NOW.

I FELT LIKE THINGS
WERE GOING SO WELL.

AND I WAS FINALLY
MAKING PROGRESS.

AND THIS WHOLE SITUATION
IS THE LAST THING I NEED,

'CAUSE ALL I WANT TO DO
RIGHT NOW IS GIVE IN AND EAT.

BECAUSE FOOD
IS LIKE A FRIEND TO ME.

IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

IT ALWAYS COMFORTS ME.

AND WHEN I FEEL LIKE MY WORLD
IS FALLING APART,

IT'S BEEN THE ONE THING
THAT'S SAFE.

[ SIGHS ]

AND RIGHT NOW,
THAT'S ALL I WANT,

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THIS.

**

Nicole: THE PAST WEEK
HAS BEEN EXTREMELY HARD.

SINCE THE POLICE RAID,

MY HOUSEHOLD IS FULL
OF JUST COMMOTION.

AND IT MAKES ME SCARED
AND STRESSED,

JUST LIKE WHEN I WAS A KID.

AND THAT'S MAKING IT
SO INCREDIBLY HARD

NOT TO RUN TO FOOD.

BUT I CALLED MY THERAPIST,

AND WE TALKED ABOUT FINDING
OTHER OUTLETS FOR MY EMOTIONS.

ONE OF THOSE IDEAS
WAS TO WRITE DOWN HOW I FEEL.

SO I'VE BEEN WRITING POEMS
AND SOME SONGS.

"SITTING IN THIS DARK PLACE,
FROZE IN MY SEAT.

IN CLOSED SPACE,
COMMOTION SURROUNDS ME.

MY THOUGHTS BEGIN TO RACE.

MY MIND STARTS TO WIND,
AND I START TO FEEL THE RAGE.

HANDS START TO SHAKE,
AND I'M LOSING GRIP,

AND I'M READY TO BREAK.

ABOUT TO BLOW MY TOP
AND TEAR UP THIS WHOLE PLACE."

I'M TRYING HARD
TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR MY OWN CHOICES

AND NOT BLAME MY FAMILY.

BUT IT WOULD MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE

TO FEEL LIKE
I HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.

SO I'M WORKING UP THE COURAGE

TO TELL THEM HOW HARD IT IS
TO DO THIS WITHOUT THAT.

TONIGHT, I ASKED MY FAMILY
TO SIT DOWN WITH ME

SO I CAN TALK WITH THEM

AND SHARE A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT HOW I FEEL.

AND I'M SCARED
TO DEATH RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW IT'S GONNA GO.

OHH.

IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE.

SO WE JUST NEED TO COME TOGETHER
AS A FAMILY

AND ALL STAY
ON THE SAME PAGE.

I KNOW THAT EVERYONE'S
GAVE UP A LOT

JUST TO COME DOWN HERE
FOR ME.

AND HERE WE SIT. AND I STILL
DON'T HAVE THE SURGERY.

AND I KNOW THAT
THAT FRUSTRATES YOU.

I KNOW IT DOES,
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW

THAT THE DOCTOR'S
PROUD OF ME.

I KNOW HE IS, BECAUSE
I HAVEN'T GAINED ANY WEIGHT.

I'M DOING WHAT I'M SUPPOSED
TO DO. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUT HE JUST NEEDS ME
TO STAY MORE FOCUSED

BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE MEETING
THE GOALS AT EACH APPOINTMENT.

SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE
NO ONE'S REALLY HERE FOR ME.

AND ME AND MOM DON'T SEE
EYE TO EYE SOMETIMES,

'CAUSE WE'RE
ALWAYS ARGUING.

I KNOW WE GET INTO IT
ALL THE TIME,

BUT I DO CARE ABOUT YOU.

I KNOW YOU DO.

I'M JUST TRYING MY BEST
TO GET THIS SURGERY

SO I CAN MAKE
EVERYBODY BELIEVE IN ME.

Jim: WELL,
I BELIEVE IN YOU, NIKKI.

YOU'RE LOSING
MORE WEIGHT NOW

THAN YOU HAVE
YOUR WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE.

RIGHT.

YOU DON'T NEED
TO GET THIS SURGERY

FOR NOBODY
OTHER THAN YOURSELF.

YOU NEED TO DO THIS FOR YOU
AND THEM TWO KIDS RIGHT THERE.

-UH-HUH.
-YEP.

-THEM KIDS NEED A MOTHER.
-YEAH.

AND I DON'T WANT TO
HAVE TO BURY MY KID.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I'M JUST TRYING.

BUT MAYBE SOMETIMES
YOU GUYS

SHOULD TRY TO JUST EAT
A HEALTHY MEAL WITH ME.

LIKE, MAYBE ONCE A WEEK
START TRYING TO DO IT, YOU KNOW?

-YEAH.
-ONE MEAL, ONCE A WEEK?

RIGHT.
AND I PROMISE YOU GUYS

I'M NOT GONNA BRING YOU GUYS
DOWN HERE TO WATCH ME FAIL.

I'M GONNA SUCCEED
IN WHAT I NEED TO DO.

-AND YOU'VE SUCCEEDED THUS FAR.
-YOU STICK TO IT.

YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
GOING THE RIGHT WAY.

WITH YOU GUYS AS MY SUPPORT,
I'M GONNA DO IT.

YEAH, I JUST APPRECIATE
EVERYBODY SITTING AROUND

AND TALKING TO ME
AND WANTING ME

TO GET SOME THINGS
OFF MY CHEST

AND JUST LISTENING
TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

YOU OUGHT TO TALK
MORE OFTEN.

Nicole:
I'M GLAD I DECIDED TO DO THIS.

AND I FEEL LIKE
MY FAMILY HEARD ME.

AND THEY UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL.

I HOPE THAT
THEY JUST START SHOWING

THAT THEY'RE HERE FOR ME

AND THEY WANT
TO HELP ME SUCCEED,

ALONG WITH TRYING
TO GET HEALTHY THEMSELVES.

AND WITH THEIR SUPPORT,
I'M HOPING I CAN DO THIS.

I SEE THE DOCTOR IN A FEW DAYS,

AND I FIND OUT IF I MADE
THE PROGRESS I NEEDED

AND WHETHER OR NOT
I'M GETTING THE SURGERY

I NEED TO SAVE MY LIFE.

**

WE'RE BACK AT DR. NOW'S AGAIN,

AND I'M MORE NERVOUS THIS
TIME THAN I'VE BEEN BEFORE.

Woman: NICOLE LEWIS?

THIS HAS BEEN ONE
OF THE HARDEST MONTHS

NOT TO RUN TO FOOD.

BUT I FOUGHT EVERY CRAVING.

I'M SUPPOSED TO LOSE MORE
THAN I EVER HAVE.

AND I'M SO SCARED
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE DONE THAT

AND I'M ABOUT TO LOSE
MY ONLY CHANCE

TO SAVE MY LIFE.

**

Nicole: I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT

IF I'M GETTING APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

DR. NOW SAID
I HAD TO LOSE 33 POUNDS

TO GET UNDER 607.

AND I'VE TRIED HARDER
THAN I EVER HAVE TO DO THIS.

Woman: 608.

Nicole: THAT'S SO CLOSE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD
BE EXCITED OR SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I JUST HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH

AND I'M NOT GONNA GET
SENT AWAY OVER ONE POUND.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ALL RIGHT, SO, NICOLE,

YOU LOST 32 POUNDS
THIS PAST MONTH.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO LOSE 33.

YOU ALMOST MADE IT,
BUT CLOSE ENOUGH.

I'M GONNA APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

-OH, MY GOSH.
-OKAY?

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR YOU?

-YES, IT'S WONDERFUL NEWS.
-ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
AT THE BEGINNING,

NICOLE DIDN'T DO WELL,

AND SHE WASN'T TAKING
RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER ACTIONS.

BUT DEDICATION
TO LOSING WEIGHT

IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS SHOWS

THAT SHE'S READY
TO MAKE CHANGES.

AND I THINK THE SURGERY WILL BE
AN APPROPRIATE TOOL

TO HELP HER TO MOVE FORWARD.

I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU
ON A SCHEDULE HERE

FOR SURGERY SOON.

BUT YOU HAVE A HISTORY
OF DEVELOPING BLOOD CLOTS

LIKE YOU DID
IN YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY.

THOSE CAN BE DEADLY.

SO I WANT YOU TO GET
YOUR AEROBIC ACTIVITY UP

BY WALKING EVERY DAY.

AND WHEN YOU CAN WALK
FOR 10 MINUTES

WITHOUT SITTING DOWN,

THEN WE'LL SCHEDULE YOU
FOR SURGERY.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,
AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR EVERYTHING.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

-IT HAPPENED.
-I GOT IT.

-I KNOW.
-[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S AWESOME.
-I TOLD YOU.

Charlie: I TOLD YOU
YOU GOT THIS.

Charlie: I'M SUPER EXCITED.
I'M KIND OF EMOTION ABOUT IT.

'CAUSE I LOVE HER SO MUCH.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER DIE
BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT.

NOW SHE'S GONNA HAVE
THE SURGERY,

AND I'LL HAVE THE WOMAN
I WANT TO BE WITH BESIDE ME.

Nicole:
I'M SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF.

AND I'M GETTING MY STAMINA UP
TO WHAT THE DOCTOR NEEDS

SO I CAN GET MY SURGERY
AS FAST AS I CAN.

I'M GONNA TRY
TO AVOID MY WHEELCHAIR

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT
TO HAVE THE SURGERY

AND START TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

**

I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET
MY STAMINA UP ENOUGH

FOR DR. NOW TO SAY
I'M READY FOR SURGERY.

AND NOW THAT
THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE,

I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

I'M SCARED.

YOU'LL JUST GO TO SLEEP.

WHEN YOU WAKE UP,
YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL BETTER.

BUT JUST -- IF I DON'T,

[ Voice breaking ] JUST PLEASE
TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

Nicole: I JUST WANT TO TELL
MY PARENTS, CHARLIE,

AND MY KIDS
THAT I'M SORRY FOR...

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

BEING BIG
AND BEING A BURDEN ON THEM.

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME,

JUST KNOW
THAT I'LL WATCH OVER YOU.

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS SOMETHING
COULD GO WRONG IN THE SURGERY

BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.

BUT I'M TIRED OF FIGHTING
EVERY DAY TO LIVE.

SO I HAVE TO DO THIS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, NICOLE IS HAVING
HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I'M PLANNING ON DOING
A GASTRIC-SLEEVE PROCEDURE

ON HER BECAUSE
MOST OF HER WEIGHT IS

IN HER ABDOMEN.

SO THERE'S NOT GOING
TO BE ENOUGH SPACE

TO DO A PROCEDURE LIKE A BYPASS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CAN YOU TURN
THE ROOM LIGHT OFF?

Dr. Nowzaradan: DURING
A GASTRIC-SLEEVE OPERATION,

WE REMOVE THE MAJORITY
OF THE STOMACH.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
DROP IT DOWN TO THE BOWEL.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
A SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY LIMITS

WHAT A PATIENT CAN EAT
IN ONE SITTING.

AND IF THE PATIENT
REMAINS DEDICATED,

THEY WILL LOSE
A LOT OF WEIGHT QUICKLY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
I'M TEARING UP THE TISSUE.

DON'T PULL HARD.

Charlie: WAITING FOR NEWS
IS JUST HARD.

MY EMOTIONS ARE
ALL OVER THE PLACE.

ONE MINUTE I'M HAPPY,

THEN I'M SCARED
THAT SHE'S NOT GONNA WAKE UP,

SHE'S GONNA DIE
ON THE OPERATING TABLE.

BUT SHE'S TAKING
THE RISK FOR ME AND KIDS.

ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME
ONE MORE DRAIN, PLEASE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE'S GOT
A LOT OF SCAR TISSUE

FROM HER C-SECTIONS,
AND HAVING TO CUT PAST IT ALL

MAKES THE PROCEDURE
A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED.

WATER, WATER, WATER.

BE CAREFUL.

OKAY, WE'VE GOT THAT
FIGURED OUT.

LET'S REMOVE THE STOMACH.

EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD.

WE CAN START TO CLOSE HER UP.

THE ROOM LIGHT ON.

-YES.
-ALL RIGHT.

THAT LOOKS GOOD.

NICOLE'S SURGERY WENT
PRETTY WELL.

WE ENCOUNTERED A LOT OF ADHESION
FROM A PREVIOUS C-SECTION,

BUT I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE IT

AND STILL SUCCESSFULLY
PERFORM THE SLEEVE.

Woman: NICOLE,
WE'RE ALL DONE, OKAY?

YOU DID GREAT.

THIS SURGERY WILL KEEP HER
FOCUSED FOR A BIT.

BUT SHE STILL HAS TO DEAL
WITH HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES

TO KEEP MAKING
PROGRESS LONG TERM.

AND THAT'S GOING
TO BE HARD FOR HER.

NIKKI.

HEY, BABY.
YOU ALL RIGHT?

YOUR DAD'S LEG
WAS HURTING,

SO THEY WENT HOME.

THEY'VE BEEN GONE
FOR A WHILE.

I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOU'RE AWAKE,

YOU'RE ALIVE,
AND YOU WOKE UP.

THINK ABOUT THIS --

THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF THE REST OF OUR LIVES.

I KNOW.

Nicole: IT'S BEEN FIVE DAYS
SINCE MY SLEEVE SURGERY,

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO STAY AS ACTIVE AS I CAN.

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO DEVELOP ANY ISSUES,

AND I JUST REALLY WANT
TO GO HOME.

I HAVEN'T REALLY FELT HUNGRY.

THE NIGHT BEFORE MY SURGERY,

I WAS ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE
OF A GROCERY STORE.

AND I LITERALLY HAD
A BREAKUP WITH FOOD.

I SAID, "I'VE NEEDED YOU
FOR SO LONG.

AND I'M GONNA NEED FOOD
FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,

BUT I CAN'T DO THE RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOU ANYMORE.

I HAVE TO END IT."

AND IT KIND OF MADE ME
FEEL BETTER.

SO, YOU READY TO GO HOME?

I AM,
BUT I'M WORRIED

BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRESS
AND DRAMA

THAT TAKES PLACE
IN THE HOUSE.

Nicole: I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S GONNA BE THE SAME

WHEN I GO HOME

BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING
GOING ON BETWEEN ME AND MY DAD.

HE HASN'T COME TO VISIT ME
IN THE HOSPITAL.

[ Voice breaking ]
AND HE WOULDN'T EVEN CALL ME

OR ANYTHING.

IT HURTS.

IT BREAKS MY HEART.

[ SNIFFLES ]

SO, AS MUCH AS I WANT
TO GO HOME, I'M SCARED TO

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW THINGS ARE GONNA GO.

I GOT HERE BECAUSE
I MADE BETTER CHOICES,

AND I HAD MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT.

AND IF THAT'S
NO LONGER THE CASE,

I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA HAVE
THE STRENGTH

TO STICK WITH THIS FOR LONG.

**

Nicole: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE
OF MONTHS SINCE SURGERY,

AND I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD TO STAY ON TRACK.

WHEN I GOT HOME,
THINGS STAYED STRAINED

BETWEEN ME AND MY DAD,

SO I'VE JUST TRIED
TO STAY FOCUSED

AND AVOID ANY TEMPTATION
WHEN I FEEL OVERWHELMED.

CHARLIE AND I HAVE BEEN
GOING OUT TO STAY ACTIVE

AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER
NOW THAT I CAN DO MORE

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
PRETTY MUCH BEDRIDDEN

OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THAT'S CHANGING.

-I'M KIND OF...
-[ Chuckling ] WHAT?

I HAVE SOMETHING
TO SAY TO YOU.

I'VE GOT MY THOUGHTS
WRITTEN DOWN.

YOU WROTE ME A LETTER?

"WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER
FOUR YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A CRAZY RIDE
FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS,

AND I'M GLAD
THEY'VE BEEN WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER GAVE TO ANYONE.

IT'S MY HEART.

YOU ARE THE ONE
I WANT TO GROW OLD WITH.

WHEN I THINK ABOUT YOU,

I FEEL THE LOVE
I'VE WANTED MY WHOLE LIFE.

MY HEART BEATS FOR YOU.

I LOVE YOU WITH EVERYTHING
I'VE GOT, NIKKI."

I WANT TO ASK YOU SOMETHING.

[ Laughing ] OKAY.
WHAT?

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

[ SNIFFLES ]

ARE YOU CRYING?

DON'T CRY.

SO?
-[ LAUGHS ]

-SO?
-YES.

-OKAY.
-[ LAUGHS ]

THAT GOOD?

I WANT TO DO THIS JOURNEY
WITH YOU FOREVER.

IT'S NOT YOUR JOURNEY ANYMORE.
IT'S OUR JOURNEY.

I LOVE YOU.

SHE SAID YES!
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED.

AT THIS MOMENT,
I'M FEELING ECSTATIC --

ENGAGED WITH THE WOMAN
I WANT TO BE WITH

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I NEVER EXPECTED THIS.

Nicole: I, LIKE, FEEL
ON TOP OF THE WORLD,

AND, LIKE, I'M FINALLY STARTING
TO HAVE A REAL LIFE.

I NEVER PICTURED
YOU PROPOSING TO ME.

[ LAUGHS ]

**

Nicole: TODAY, I'M GONNA TRY
TO TALK TO MY MOM

BECAUSE OUR LIVING SITUATION
ISN'T GONNA WORK ANYMORE.

[ SIGHS ]

I NEED TO BE
IN A MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENT

IF I'M GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL

AND BE THE MOM MY KIDS DESERVE.

I REALLY WANTED TO HAVE THIS
CONVERSATION WITH YOU AND DAD,

BUT HE'S JUST
NOT AROUND RIGHT NOW,

SO I GUESS I'LL
JUST HAVE TO TALK TO YOU.

WE MOVED TO TEXAS FOR ME
TO GET MY LIFE BACK,

FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
AND BE ON MY OWN

AND NOT HAVE YOU HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF ME

OR RAISE MY KIDS
BECAUSE I'M TOO IMMOBILE TO.

SO I WANT CHARLIE AND THE KIDS
TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT

AND GET OUR OWN PLACE

BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND I THINK
IT'S BEST THAT WAY

BECAUSE THERE'S
A LOT OF SCREAMING

AND YELLING AND NEGATIVITY
IN THIS HOUSE.

AND I JUST --
I CAN'T DEAL WITH IT ANYMORE.

I AIN'T GONNA BE MAD AT YOU
'CAUSE THAT'S

WHAT YOU COME
DOWN HERE FOR.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOUR FATHER.

HE HAS A PROBLEM, MOM.

THERE IS THOUGHTS IN MY MIND
THAT DAD IS DOING DRUGS AGAIN.

AND I DON'T WANT
THAT AROUND THE KIDS

BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA GROW UP
THE SAME WAY I DID.

BUT I'M THANKFUL
THAT YOU'RE HERE.

YOU'RE MY MOM,
AND I LOVE YOU.

AND I LOVE MY DAD,
BUT I HAVE TO STAND UP

AND BE THE MOM
THAT THE KIDS NEED ME TO BE.

I'M TIRED OF SITTING
ON THE SIDELINES.

[ Voice breaking ] I'VE SAT
ON THE SIDELINES MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND THAT'S WHY
I MADE THIS CHANGE

TO GET RID OF ALL THIS WEIGHT
AND TO GET BETTER.

YOU'RE DOING IT.

I WANT YOU TO BE
INDEPENDENT AND SUCCESSFUL,

AND I HOPE YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE
TO THE FULLEST TO THE END.

[ SIGHS ]

I KNOW.

[LAUGHS] I KNOW.
THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK GOOD.

[ LAUGHS ]

Darlene: I WANT NICOLE TO DO
WAY BETTER THAN I'VE EVER DID

WITH HER CHILDREN.

AND THEN, I HOPE
HER CHILDREN WILL DO WAY BETTER

THAN ALL OF US HAVE EVERY DONE.

Nicole:
I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE HARD.

AND I LOVE MY PARENTS,

BUT THIS IS
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

**

I'M AT THE DOCTOR'S TO SEE
HOW MUCH PROGRESS I'VE MADE.

BUT I FEEL REALLY GOOD.

AND RIGHT NOW,
I'M NOT EVEN NERVOUS

ABOUT GETTING ON THE SCALE

BECAUSE I COULD FEEL
THE DIFFERENCE IN MY BODY.

[ GASPS ]

-YEAH.
-YES.

IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE
I'VE SEEN MY WEIGHT THAT LOW,

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HI.

-HELLO.
-TODAY, YOU'RE DOWN

TO 521 POUNDS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL?
-IT FEELS AMAZING.

IT'S AN ENTIRE PERSON
I LOST OFF MY BODY.

AND I'M JUST DOING MY BEST,
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

WELL, I'M PROUD
OF YOU, TOO.

AND, CHARLIE, I'M GLAD THAT
YOU'RE NOT ENABLING HER ANYMORE.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
AND GOOD LUCK.

-THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
-ALL RIGHT.

NICOLE'S DONE VERY WELL.

IT TOOK HER A WHILE TO GET
GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

BUT SHE'S DEALING WITH
THE ISSUES THAT SHE NEEDS TO,

AND I'M CONFIDENT SHE WILL STAY
ON TRACK OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

Nicole:
I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN
SO MANY INCREDIBLE CHANGES

TO MY LIFE OVER THE PAST YEAR,
AND I'M SO FOCUSED ON BECOMING

THE PERSON AND THE MOM
I'VE WANTED TO BE.

**

CHARLIE AND I ARE
IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING

A NEW PLACE TO LIVE
AND MOVING OUT.

MY PARENTS ARE GONNA STAY HERE
TILL THE LEASE IS UP

AND THEN MOVE BACK TO OHIO.

COULD YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF
IN THERE HAVING FUN?

DO YOU WANT TO GO?

SO, FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP,

WE'RE GONNA BE LIVING ALONE

BECAUSE I CAN DO
SO MUCH MORE NOW,

NOT JUST ON MY OWN,
BUT WITH MY FAMILY.

LOOK AT YOU, BUBBA!

Nicole: I'VE ALWAYS WANTED US
TO BE A FAMILY...

WHEE!

Nicole: AND THE ONLY THING
THAT'S HELD US BACK

HAS BEEN ME AND MY WEIGHT.

SHELBY.

Nicole: AND NOW
I'M MAKING CHOICES DAILY

TO PUT MY FAMILY
FIRST AND MY HEALTH FIRST.

AND EVERY TIME
I SEE MY KIDS SMILE,

IT JUST MAKES ME WANT
TO WORK EVEN HARDER.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO STOP.
-WHOO!

Nicole: I'VE GOT A NEW LIFE...

COME HERE
AND GIVE MOMMY A HUG.

Nicole: AND I CAN'T WAIT
TO SEE WHERE IT TAKES ME NEXT.