All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E10

MY BODY'S TAKEN OVER ME.

IT'S DESTROYING MY LIFE.

AND THIS PURE HELL.

IT REALLY IS.

**

Man: NOT FOR ONE MINUTE
THAT I THOUGHT MY LIFE

WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW! MY LEGS!

Ashley: I'M SO FAR GONE.

Woman #1:
I ABSOLUTELY NEED HELP,

OR I AM GONNA DIE.

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

-[ Crying ] I NEED OVER!
-YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE.

Woman #2:
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.

I'M HERE TO HELP YOU
SAVE YOUR LIFE.

NOT TO HELP YOU TO JUSTIFY
KILLING YOURSELF FASTER.

SCREW THIS WHOLE PROCESS.
ALL RIGHT.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Tanisha:
SOMETIMES THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

IS A LOT LONGER
THAN YOU EVER REALIZED,

AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE
HOW BAD YOU REALLY WANT IT.

**

[ GROANS ]

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

MY WEIGHT HAS ALMOST
TAKEN EVERYTHING FROM ME.

MY BODY'S TAKEN OVER ME.

IT'S DESTROYING MY LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S TAKEN
EVERYTHING AWAY FROM ME --

EVERYTHING.

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M IMPRISONED IN MY OWN BODY.

I DO FEEL LIKE A CAGED ANIMAL.

I DO.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING
THAT'S ALWAYS HURTING.

MY KNEES WANT TO BUCKLE,
MY BACK FEEL LIKE IT'S BROKEN.

AND IT'S JUST EXCRUCIATING
TO EVEN GET UP.

I CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT
TO THE BATHROOM TO START MY DAY.

JUST SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE,

USING THE RESTROOM,
IS A STRUGGLE.

OW.

I'M TRAPPED IN THIS BODY
AND MY HOME,

AND I CAN'T DO ANYTHING
WITHOUT HELP ANYMORE.

SO MY HUSBAND EMPTIES MY BEDPAN
WHEN I'M DONE

AND BRINGS ME WATER AND SOAP
SO I CAN TRY AND BATHE MYSELF.

Troy: TANISHA WANTS
TO GET OUT THE BED,

BUT SHE SITS
IN THE BED ALL DAY

BECAUSE SHE'S OVERWEIGHT,

AND SHE HATE BEING LIKE THAT.

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL SAD.

Tanisha:
MY HUSBAND IS THE ONLY ONE
I LET HELP ME,

BECAUSE I NEVER WANT THAT
TO BE MY KIDS' JOBS.

I TRY TO WASH MYSELF
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,

BUT I GET TIRED,
AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO MOVE.

SO I CAN'T COMPLETELY
DO IT ON MY OWN,

AND I HAVE TO HAVE HELP.

IT'S HUMILIATING.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE

REACH 30 SPOTS
THAT YOU CAN'T DO,

IT'S HARD.

[ GRUNTS ]

I FEEL LIKE A CHILD,

BECAUSE SOMEONE
HAS TO HELP BATHE ME.

AND WHEN YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING
FOR YOURSELF, IT'S HELL.

THIS IS PURE HELL.
IT REALLY IS.

AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE

THAT I LET MYSELF
GET TO A PLACE LIKE THIS.

I FEEL DISGUSTED.

[ SNIFFLES ]

AND I ALWAYS FEEL, LIKE,

"WHAT COULD I HAVE DONE
DIFFERENT TO PREVENT IT?"

[ GROANS, GRUNTS ]

AND I JUST NEVER
WOULD HAVE IMAGINED

THIS IS WHAT MY LIFE
WOULD END UP LIKE.

WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG,

I DIDN'T REALLY STRUGGLE
WITH MY WEIGHT.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE
A HAPPY CHILDHOOD.

I NEVER GOT TO EVEN HAVE
A CHILDHOOD.

MY MOM STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION
TO ALCOHOL AND DRUGS,

AND HER BOYFRIEND
WAS A VIOLENT ADDICT,

AND HE WOULD TAKE
HIS ANGER OUT ON ME.

BUT I ENDED UP MOVING TO LIVE
WITH MY GRANDPARENTS.

AND I WAS HAPPY FOR A BIT,

BUT IT WASN'T MUCH BETTER
LIVING WITH THEM,

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 9,

I WAS MOLESTED
BY MY GRANDFATHER,

AND THERE WAS NOTHING
I COULD DO TO STOP IT.

AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
TO RUN TO FOOD TO FIND PEACE,

'CAUSE WHEN I ATE,
NO ONE WAS HURTING ME.

SO, I WENT BACK
TO MY MOM'S HOUSE,

AND I STAYED
WITH MY MOM PERMANENTLY.

BUT SHE HAD DIFFERENT PEOPLE
LIVING IN THE HOUSE WITH US,

AND I WAS MOLESTED
BY ONE OF HER BOYFRIENDS.

SO I FELT LIKE I COULDN'T
CONTROL WHO TOUCHED MY BODY.

'NISHA HAD TO GROW UP FAST.

SHE HAD TO GROW UP
BASICALLY WATCHING HERSELF.

SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
A CHILDHOOD.

IT BREAKS MY HEART.

Tanisha:
SO, I STARTED STAYING OUT
AT PARTIES WHEN I WAS 12,

BECAUSE I JUST DIDN'T
WANT TO GO HOME,

BUT ONE NIGHT WHEN I WAS OUT,

A MAN CAME AND PULLED ME
BEHIND THE APARTMENT BUILDING,

AND HE RAPED ME ON TOP OF
THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNIT.

AND I TOLD MY MOM AT ONE POINT,

AND SHE KIND OF MADE ME
FEEL LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT.

I FELT LIKE A PARENT

WAS SUPPOSED TO SHIELD ME
FROM ALL THIS.

YOU WAS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT ME,

AND THEN WHEN I'M TELLING YOU
THAT THIS IS GOING ON

AND YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME,

THAT'S GONNA
INSTANTLY MAKE ME DRAW BACK.

AND SO I ATE
TO DROWN OUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND BY THE TIME
I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL,

I WAS AROUND 180 POUNDS.

THE WEIGHT GAIN DIDN'T EVEN
BOTHER ME AT THE TIME,

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE,

"OKAY, IF I'M BIG
THEY'RE NOT GONNA LIKE ME,

THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ATTRACTED,

THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANT
TO TOUCH ON ME.

BUT IT STARTED TO ATTRACT MEN
WHO WANTED ME FOR MY SIZE.

AND WHEN I WAS 15,
I WAS DATING SOMEONE,

AND I GOT PREGNANT.

AND DURING THE PREGNANCY,

I PUT ON ANOTHER
40 TO 50 POUNDS

AND WAS AROUND 220.

AND WHEN I HIT THAT WEIGHT,

I WAS JUST DISGUSTED
WITH MYSELF.

SO FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
I WAS ACTUALLY BULIMIC,

AND I LOST AROUND 70 POUNDS
DURING THAT TIME.

WHEN I WAS 24,

I GOT PREGNANT
WITH MY SECOND BABY,

AND AS THE PREGNANCY WENT ON,

I STARTED TO HAVE
A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS,

AND I WASN'T GONNA DO ANYTHING
TO HURT MY CHILD,

SO I DIDN'T FORCE MYSELF
TO THROW UP ANYMORE.

AND I PROBABLY PUT ON 100 POUNDS
IN THE FOLLOWING FEW MONTHS.

AT SEVEN MONTHS
INTO MY PREGNANCY,

THINGS GOT SO BAD,

I HAD TO GO ON BED REST
UNTIL THE BABY WAS BORN.

MY WEIGHT JUST
WENT OUT OF CONTROL,

AND I FOUND MYSELF AT 25
OVER 500 POUNDS,

AND I WAS SO DEPRESSED,

BECAUSE MY BODY
WAS WORSE THAN EVER.

SO I COULDN'T GET UP,

AND I STAYED BEDRIDDEN
FOR A WHILE.

AND I KEPT EATING AND GAINING.

SO, I ONLY SAW ONE WAY OUT,
AND THAT WAS TO KILL MYSELF.

SO I SWALLOWED A BUNCH OF PILLS.

BUT AS SOON AS I DID,

I REGRETTED IT
AND MADE MYSELF THROW UP.

SO, I WANTED TO TURN
MY LIFE AROUND,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

SO I GAVE MY LIFE OVER TO GOD,

AND I RELIED ON HIM
DURING THIS TIME,

AND I WAS ABLE TO START
TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND.

AND THEN THINGS STARTED
TO GET A LITTLE BETTER

WHEN I MET TROY
IN AN ONLINE CHAT ROOM.

Troy: I WAS ATTRACTED TO TANISHA
'CAUSE HER PERSONALITY

AND HER HEART
ARE STILL RIGHT THERE.

THAT'S WHO I REALLY FELL
IN LOVE WITH,

SO, THE SIZE, I DIDN'T SEE THAT.

THOUGH,
SHE COULD JUST MOVE AROUND

AND BATHE HERSELF
LIKE SHE WANTED TO

AND COOK WHEN SHE WANT TO,
STUFF LIKE THAT.

Tanisha: NINE MONTHS INTO
OUR RELATIONSHIP, HE PROPOSED.

SO WE GOT MARRIED,

AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR ME
AND THE KIDS EVER SINCE.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER
FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW.

BUT MY WEIGHT GAIN
HAS NEVER REALLY SLOWED DOWN,

'CAUSE I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO TURN AWAY FOOD.

A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK,
MY MOM KICKED HER DRUG HABIT

AND GAVE HER LIFE
TO CHRIST, TOO,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP FOR A FEW YEARS.

AT ONE POINT,
SHE FINALLY SAID "I'M SORRY."

"I'M SORRY FOR THE DRUG USE.

I'M SORRY
FOR NOT PROTECTING YOU,

I'M SORRY
FOR NOT BELIEVING YOU,

I'M SORRY FOR MAKING YOU GROW UP
FASTER THAN YOU SHOULD HAVE,

I'M SORRY THAT I DIDN'T
DO MY JOB AS YOUR MOM,"

AND THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO HEAR.

BUT SHE WAS ADDICTED
TO FOOD, TOO,

AND WAS CLOSE TO 700 POUNDS.

'NISHA'S MOM BECAME BEDRIDDEN
LATER ON

AS SHE PROGRESSED
WITH HER WEIGHT,

AND THAT WEIGHT JUST
ACCUMULATED OVER THE YEARS

AND IT ACCUMULATED FAST.

Tanisha: WE DECIDED WE WERE
GONNA LOSE WEIGHT TOGETHER.

I WAS SO LOOKING FORWARD TO

"MAMA, WE GOT
A LOT OF YEARS LEFT.

WE GOT TIME."

AND WE DIDN'T.

[ SNIFFLES ]

AND THEN SHE WAS FOUND DEAD
IN HER HOME ALONE

BECAUSE HER BODY
COULDN'T HANDLE IT ANYMORE.

THAT WAS MY DARKEST MOMENT.

[ Voice breaking ]
MY MOM WAS YOUNG.

50 IS STILL YOUNG.

BUT I KNOW RIGHT NOW
THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED,

AND THAT SCARES ME.

AND NOW, I SPEND MOST OF MY DAY
IN THIS BED,

TRAPPED IN THIS ROOM,

BARELY ABLE TO FUNCTION
ON MY OWN

ALL BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP EATING.

AND NOW I'M NOT REALLY LIVING,

SO I DON'T EVEN CONSIDER MYSELF
TO HAVE A LIFE,

BECAUSE THE SIMPLEST THINGS
TO DO IS HARD,

AND I JUST HATE IT.

OKAY, COME ON.

I FEEL LIKE I'M SLIPPING.

OKAY.

BUT TROY TAKES CARE
OF EVERYTHING.

AND IF HE DOESN'T,
IT MAKES ME UPSET,

ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M HUNGRY,

BECAUSE WHEN I CRAVE SOMETHING,
I JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT.

I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY AROUND.

MY COUSINS AND THEIR KIDS

ARE IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE
ALL DAY,

SO I ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE
TO GIVE ME WHAT I WANT.

LIKE, WHEN I'M READY TO EAT,
I DON'T LIKE TO WAIT.

SO TROY BRINGS MY FOOD.

HARRY, YOU GOT THERE
HOW MANY CHALUPAS?

I KNOW I'M ENDING UP
JUST LIKE MY MOM DID,

AND I DON'T WANT THIS FOR ME
OR MY CHILDREN.

MY DAUGHTER Jer'Monika
IS 16 YEARS OLD,

AND MY OTHER DAUGHTER MALAYZHA'S
8 YEARS OLD NOW,

AND I DON'T WANT THEM
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

BUT IT'S LIKE,
SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

MAL, GIVE ME
A PEACH SODA, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

BUT I FEEL LIKE
I SHOULDN'T BE AT THE POINT

WHERE I HAVE TO PUT MY CHILDREN
IN THE SAME SITUATION

THAT I WAS IN WITH MY MOM.

MY MOM --
SHE STAYS A LOT IN HER ROOM,

AND IT MAKES ME SAD

BECAUSE IF WE COULD
SWITCH PLACES --

ME HAVING ALL THAT WEIGHT ON ME,
AND SHE COULD GO OUT AND PLAY --

I WOULD BE REALLY HAPPY,

'CAUSE I COULD SEE HER GO OUT
AND HAVE FUN

INSTEAD OF JUST
SITTING AROUND IN THE HOUSE.

Tanisha:
I'M DEFINITELY MAD AT MYSELF,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
MY WEIGHT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

BUT WHEN I'M EATING,

I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT
ANYTHING ELSE.

I'M JUST LIKE,
"OH, GOD, YES," YOU KNOW.

BUT I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE
I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

I DON'T DO ANYTHING ELSE,

I DON'T DO ANY OTHER
TYPE OF DRUGS OR ANYTHING ELSE,

SO I THINK FOOD IS MY DRUG,

AND I CAN'T STOP.

I NEED HELP,
AND I NEED IT NOW,

'CAUSE I'M KNOCKING
ON DEATH'S DOOR,

AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE HE ANSWERS.

I THINK ABOUT --

ARE MY KIDS GONNA
COME IN ONE DAY

AND FIND ME DEAD?

WHO WANTS TO THINK ABOUT THAT?

I KNOW I HAVE TO STOP
LIVING LIKE THIS,

OR I'M JUST GONNA GO TO SLEEP
AND NEVER WAKE UP.

**

Tanisha:
I AM REALLY NERVOUS TODAY,

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SEE
DR. NOWZARADAN.

YOU GET UP THERE.

I'VE WANTED TO GET HELP
FOR A WHILE,

SO THE FACT
THAT I'M FINALLY DOING THIS

IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME.

A LITTLE NERVOUS,

MORE SO READY TO, YOU KNOW,
GET THERE

AND SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY

AND MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Tanisha:
THIS VISIT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS IS LIKE A MAKE-OR-BREAK
SITUATION FOR ME.

I'VE TRIED OTHER DIET THINGS,
I'VE TALKED TO OTHER DOCTORS.

THIS IS IT.

MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

I LOVE YOU, MAMA.
LOVE YOU.

Tanisha: I'M JUST TRYING
TO PREPARE MYSELF MENTALLY,

BUT I'M VERY ANXIOUS,

BECAUSE THE WORST FEAR
FOR ME A "NO."

A "NO" TO ME IS
A "NO" TO MY LIFE.

READY, MAMA?
YEP. LET'S GO.

OKAY,
HANG ON TO MY SHOULDER.

OH,
I MIGHT NEED IT, BABY.

Tanisha: I FEEL LIKE
GOD HAS BROUGHT ME TO THIS.

HE'S OPENED UP A DOOR FOR ME,

SO I FEEL LIKE
SOMETHING ELSE HAS TO GIVE.

MY SIZE HAS TAKEN AWAY
MY INDEPENDENCE,

TAKEN AWAY MY FREEDOM,

AND I HAVE CHILDREN
THAT I NEED TO LIVE FOR.

SO I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING,
AND I CAN'T DO IT ON MY OWN.

I NEED THE HELP.
OH, LORD.

THE DOCTOR'S ONLY ABOUT
AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM ME,

AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED
ABOUT THE PAIN

OF BEING IN THE CAR THAT LONG.

BUT I KNOW
IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY

TO TRY AND GET HELP

AND THAT I CAN HANDLE IT.

Tanisha:
WE JUST GOT TO HOUSTON.

YOU KNOW, I'M A BALL
OF EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING
ABOUT MY MOM

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW I LOST HER
DUE TO ALL OF THIS,

SO I'M --
A LOT OF THINGS WORRY ME.

IF IT'S A "NO," YOU KNOW,

"COULD THAT BE ME NEXT?"
YOU KNOW.

SO, I'M WORRIED

BUT TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE
AT THE SAME TIME.

Tanisha:
WHAT I'M ABOUT TO BE TOLD
IS OUT OF MY CONTROL.

SO THIS ALL JUST
MAKES ME NERVOUS.

AND WHEN YOU'RE AS BIG AS I AM,

THERE'S NEVER A MOMENT

WHEN YOU AREN'T SCARED
OF THE SCALE.

OH, GOD.

AND I'M NOT SURE
WHAT MY WEIGHT IS,

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN
WEIGHED IN YEARS.

Malayzha: LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S HIGHER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

IT'S A LITTLE SHOCKING,
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE --

TO CHANGE THAT.

I DESPERATELY NEED
A DOCTOR'S HELP,

AND I'M PRAYING TO GOD
THAT HE CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Tanisha: OH, MY GOD.

HEY!
Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO.

I'M SO EXCITED.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
HOW ARE YOU?

SO, YOU'VE BEEN BATTLING
WITH YOUR WEIGHT

QUITE A WHILE, HUH?

IT'S BEEN MANY YEARS.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE
YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE

WITH YOUR DIET?

SWEETS, SODAS.

OKAY, HOW MANY SODAS
DO YOU DRINK A DAY?

OOH!

I CAN DRINK A 12-PACK,

MAYBE A LITTLE MORE
SOMETIMES.

IT JUST DEPENDS.

SO, WHAT DO YOU EAT?

SOMETIMES FAST FOOD,

"LET'S GO GRAB A BURGER,
PIZZA."

I'LL HAVE A SNACK --
YOU KNOW, I LIKE MY CHOCOLATE,

MAYBE SOME CHIPS SOME TIME.

DINNER USUALLY COMES
8:00, 9:00, 10:00 AT NIGHT

THEN I HAVE WHATEVER
I'M GONNA EAT FOR DINNER --

MOSTLY BURGERS OR PIZZA.

SO, WHO BUYS THOSE?

WHO IS YOUR ENABLER?

Tanisha:
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO SAY.

WHO ARE YOU POINTING AT?
HE IS, YOU KNOW.

IT'S LIKE WHATEVER I WANT,
WHENEVER I WANT IT.

IF I WANT -- "OKAY.
I'LL GO GET IT," YOU KNOW.

SO HE DOES --
HE'S MY ENABLER.

EVERYBODY REALLY IS.

OKAY, TANISHA.
THE TIME TO CHANGE IS NOW.

SO, WE'RE NOT GONNA
BUY THIS STUFF.

OKAY.
OKAY?

TANISHA IS GOING TO BE
AN INTERESTING CASE.

AT 5'1", THAT WEIGHT
IS EXTREMELY OUT OF CONTROL.

SHE'S PROPORTIONALLY
EQUAL TO 700 POUNDS

FOR SOMEONE OF
MORE AVERAGE HEIGHT.

SO HER BODY IS BEING PUSHED
TO THE LIMIT RIGHT NOW,

AND ONCE SHE BECOMES
COMPLETELY IMMOBILE,

SHE WON'T LIVE MUCH LONGER
AT THAT POINT.

SO, HOW DO YOU SEE
THAT THE SURGERY

IS GONNA CHANGE
ANY OF THIS?

I FEEL LIKE
IT'S GIVEN ME HOPE,

IT'S GIVEN ME SOMETHING
TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S GONNA CUT WHAT I --

OKAY, NO, NO.
THAT'S A FIGURE OF SPEECH.

GIVE ME "HOW" --
I MEAN --

...THE MOTIVATION,
"HOW."

BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT

THE SURGERY IS GONNA HELP
ONE ASPECT OF YOUR EATING.

YEAH, BUT IT'S GOT TO BE ME
WITH THE OTHER PART --

CUTTING BACK
ON THE FOOD INTAKE,

CUTTING BACK ON THE SODAS,
THE SWEETS,

THE OUTSIDE SNACKING,

YOU KNOW, THE FAST FOOD.
CORRECT.

YOU KNOW, THE TYPE OF FOOD
THAT YOU EAT

IS GONNA BE
YOUR CHOICE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE FREQUENCY THEN IS
GONNA BE YOUR CHOICE...

MY CHOICE --
THAT'S RIGHT.

...AND THE PORTION CONTROL
COMES WITH THE SURGERY.

IN ORDER TO BE
PREPARED FOR SURGERY,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET
A HANDLE ON ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND THEN
IF YOU GET TO THAT POINT,

THEN SURGERY WILL BE
A GOOD OPTION FOR YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TANISHA HAS AN ANSWER
FOR EVERYTHING

BEFORE I EVEN TELL HER.

SO SHE LIKES TO STAY IN CONTROL,

AND SHE'S THE ONE
WHO CLEARLY RUNS THE HOUSEHOLD.

SO THE WHOLE DYNAMIC
OF WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AT HOME

REVOLVES AROUND HER.

YOU'RE ONLY 32,

AND AT THE WEIGHT
YOU ARE RIGHT NOW,

YOU DON'T HAVE
MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

SO THIS IS THE TIME TO CHANGE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,

AND THE PROCESS STARTS

FROM CHANGING YOUR
EATING HABIT, OKAY?

THERE'LL BE NO SODA,
THERE'LL BE NO CHOCOLATE.

YOU'RE GONNA EAT
ONLY PROTEIN AND NO CARBS.

EAT ONLY
TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY --

NO SNACKING IN BETWEEN.

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

AND WITH THAT,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE 30 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO STICK
WITH THE INSTRUCTION

THAT WE GIVE YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT IF YOU EAT WHATEVER
AND WHENEVER,

LIKE YOU'RE EATING NOW,

10 YEARS AFTER SURGERY,

YOU'RE GONNA BE
AT THE SAME PLACE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I KNOW THESE UNHEALTHY
EATING HABITS --

THEY DID NOT
DEVELOP OVERNIGHT.

I DON'T EXPECT THEM
TO GO AWAY OVERNIGHT,

BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE
DRASTIC CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

OKAY, THEN.
ALL RIGHT.

FINE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WELL, I'M GONNA
GIVE YOU SOME HOMEWORK.

OKAY.
OKAY?

MAKE SURE
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

OKAY.
OKAY?

BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

THAT YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE PROBLEM IS

AND WHAT
THE SOLUTION'S GONNA BE.

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

Tanisha: I KNOW I HAVE TO DO
WHAT THE DOCTOR IS TELLING ME.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,
AND I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE HARD.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS
MY LAST CHANCE TO HAVE A LIFE.

THERE'S SO MUCH
I WANT TO DO IN MY LIFE.

FOR ME TO STAY WHERE I'M AT,

IT MEANS NOTHING
BUT DEATH TO ME.

SO, NO MATTER HOW HARD THIS IS,
I'M READY FOR IT.

**

TROY,
WHERE'S MY SALAD?

OH.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD
THESE LAST FEW WEEKS

ADAPTING
TO THE DOCTOR'S DIET.

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

AND I'M STARVING,

BECAUSE I'M NOT EATING
ANYTHING I REALLY WANT

OR NEARLY THE AMOUNT
THAT I WANT.

BASICALLY, I CUT BACK.

NO SODAS, NO CHOCOLATES --

AND I'VE BEEN EATING
LOTS MORE SALAD,

AND THAT'S IT.

IT'S HARD,
BUT I'M DEALING WITH IT.

AND THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN
MORE HARD FOR ME TO FOCUS,

BECAUSE I DID JUST LOSE MY MOM,

AND USUALLY WHEN I'M EMOTIONAL,
I'M AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

SO THIS IS THE TIME

THAT I WILL USUALLY GO
TO MY SNACKS AND FAST FOODS

AND JUST DROWN MYSELF
IN WHATEVER.

BUT LOSING HER TO OBESITY --

I JUST DON'T WANT MY KIDS
TO GO THROUGH THE SAME THING,

SO I HAVE TO LOOK
AT THE BIG PICTURE.

AND EVEN THOUGH I LOST MY MOM,

I'M STILL HERE WITH MY CHILDREN.

WHAT IS THE PURPLE STUFF
IN THERE?

IT'S LIKE LETTUCE.
COME ON.

SO I'M PUSHING MYSELF HARD

TO LOSE EVERY POUND I CAN,

AND I'M GOING TO DO THIS
NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE NO CHANCE
LONG TERM WITHOUT SURGERY.

I'M REALLY HOT.

Troy: [ COUGHS ]

I THINK IT'S REALLY COLD
IN HERE.

Tanisha:
I'M HERE FOR MY FOLLOW-UP
APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

OH, JESUS!

AND I'VE BEEN PRAYING
NONSTOP FOR TODAY

AND THAT THE SCALE WILL BE DOWN
TO THE NUMBER I NEED.

MS. CLEVELAND?

I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE THIS IS MY CHANCE
TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND,

AND I'VE WORKED AS HARD AS I CAN
THIS PAST MONTH.

SO NOW
IT'S ALL IN GOD'S HANDS.

**

[ GRUNTS ]

Tanisha: DR. NOW SAID
I NEED TO LOSE 30 POUNDS

TO GET UNDER 558,

AND I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT THE SCALE'S GONNA SAY.

BUT THIS IS THE ONLY THING
THAT CAN SAVE MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

SO MY LIFE
IS IN GOD'S HANDS.

WHOO!
Troy: WHAT DID I SAY?

YES! GO AHEAD.

LOOK! THANK GOD.

WHOO! I AM EXCITED!
YES.

Tanisha: PRAISE GOD.

I AM SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I WAS SO WORRIED
THAT NOTHING I WAS DOING

WAS GONNA HAVE AN EFFECT.

BUT I'M LOSING WEIGHT,

AND I HOPE THE DOCTOR SEES

HOW READY I AM
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

IT'S GONNA BE A LONG ROAD,
IT'S A LONG JOURNEY,

BUT I'M DOING IT,

AND I'M PROUD OF MY PROGRESS.

HELLO.
HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?
HOW Y'ALL DOING?

I'M FINE. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.

HOW ABOUT YOU?
GOOD.

SO, YOU LOST ABOUT,
WHAT, 11 POUNDS?

11 POUNDS.
SO, ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT?

IT'S A START.
I'M VERY HAPPY.

BUT YOU LOST
LESS THAN HALF YOUR GOAL.

AND IF YOU HAD BEEN
FOLLOWING THE DIET,

YOU WOULD EASY HAVE LOST
30 POUNDS.

SO THAT MEANS
THAT YOU ARE NOT DOING

WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

OKAY.

ARE WE BORING YOU?
Troy: YEP.

AND YOU AGREE WITH HER

THAT SHE'S DOING OKAY
WITH THE DIET?

IS HE STILL AN ENABLER --

Tanisha: NO, 'CAUSE I DON'T
ASK FOR ANYTHING.

YOU'RE THE ENABLER
FOR YOURSELF?

NO.
I DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.

I HAVEN'T ASKED
FOR THE FAST FOOD,

NO SODAS, NO SNACKS.

I DON'T ASK FOR ANYTHING,
SO...

TANISHA CAME IN VERY EXCITED
ABOUT HER PROGRESS.

BUT IF SHE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN
ON A 1,200-CALORIE-DAY DIET,

SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM

LOSING THE WEIGHT
I EXPECT HER TO LOSE,

AND THERE SEEMS TO BE
SOME TENSION

BETWEEN HER AND HER HUSBAND,

WHICH MAKES ME WONDER

IF HER HUSBAND
MAY FEEL THREATENED

THAT HE'S LOSING HIS FUNCTION
IN THE RELATIONSHIP,

AND THAT'S ADDING ANOTHER ISSUE
THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE.

ALL RIGHT,
SO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO

IS GO BACK AND MAKE THE PROGRESS
I TOLD YOU MAKE,

AND LOSE 30 POUNDS
IN ONE MONTH

TO SHOW ME
THAT YOU CAN DO THIS.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

YOU DOING OKAY?

LOOK AT THE SMILE --

THAT'S THE ONLY ONE
WHO'S NOT BORED.

OKAY. [ LAUGHS ]

Tanisha: I THOUGHT I DID ENOUGH

TO SHOW DR. NOW
I'M READY FOR THIS,

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN YEARS

SINCE I'VE LOST WEIGHT AT ALL.

AND I FEEL LIKE
HE DOWNPLAYED MY PROGRESS,

AND I DON'T THINK TROY'S BEING
VERY SUPPORTIVE EITHER...

OKAY, HOLD ON.

...AND I DON'T
WANT TO FAIL.

AND I FEEL LIKE
IF I DON'T GET THIS SURGERY,

HOW MUCH LONGER WILL I LIVE?

HOW MUCH MORE LIFE
WILL I HAVE IN ME,

HOW MUCH MORE TIME
WILL MY CHILDREN HAVE WITH ME?

AFTER MY LAST DOCTOR'S VISIT
A FEW MONTHS AGO,

TROY AND I STARTED FIGHTING

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE HE WASN'T
BEING SUPPORTIVE OF ME

TRYING TO GET MY LIFE
TURNED AROUND FOR THE BETTER.

SO HE DECIDED TO LEAVE.

IT WAS DEFINITELY PAINFUL.

I'M THINKING THIS IS
MY SOUL MATE,

THIS THE PERSON I'M GONNA SPEND
THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW I
WAS GONNA MAKE IT FOR A WHILE,

'CAUSE I'M --
LIKE, THIS IS THE MAN

THAT HELPS ME
WITH EVERYTHING, BASICALLY,

YOU KNOW, WITH THE COOKING,
THE CLEANING, RUNNING ERRANDS,

YOU KNOW,
TAKING CARE OF ME PERSONALLY.

AND WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE THAT,
YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE,

"GOD, WHAT AM I GONNA DO?"

SO, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO MAKE TIME

FOR ANY SORT OF DIET
OR WEIGHT LOSS RIGHT NOW.

[ SIGHS ]

HOW CAN I
WORRY ABOUT MY WEIGHT

WHEN I HAVE THE WEIGHT
OF MY WHOLE HOUSE ON ME?

SO, I'M JUST
TAKING A BREAK RIGHT NOW...

...AND I'M NOT SURE WHEN I'M
GONNA GO BACK TO DR. NOWZARADAN.

I NEED TO BE THERE
FOR MY KIDS RIGHT NOW.

BUT ALL THIS MOVING
AROUND AND ACTIVITY

IS TAKING A BIG TOLL ON MY BODY,

AND I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN
MOST OF THE DAY.

FOR ME TO GET
TO WHERE I NEED TO BE,

I HAVE TO PUSH MYSELF,

SO I TRY TO WORK
THROUGH THE PAIN.

BUT IT'S A STRUGGLE AT TIMES.

SO I'M NOT SURE
HOW I'M GONNA KEEP DOING THIS.

HEY, PUD.
HI.

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
GOOD.

WHAT'D YOU DO AT SCHOOL?
YEAH?

WHAT'D YOU DO AT SCHOOL?

NO HOMEWORK?
MNH-MNH.

PAPERS, THOUGH.

YOU NEED TWO...

I TRIED MY BEST.

THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK
EVERY TIME.

[ LAUGHS ]

MM!

NOW, PUT THIS
WHERE I PUT THE PAPERS.

Tanisha:
WHEN I JUST NEED ESCAPE,

FOOD IS THE OPTION I NEED
RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE THAT HELPS ME
TO KEEP GOING

AND RUN THIS HOUSE

AND TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS
LIKE THEY NEED.

AND MY CHILDREN COME FIRST.

Malayzha: I'VE NOTICED THAT
SOME PEOPLE CAN DIE

FROM HAVING ALL THAT WEIGHT,

AND IT JUST MAKES ME WORRY
THAT MY MAMA'S GONNA DIE.

IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME,

BECAUSE WHILE I'M SEEING
ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE

DOING STUFF
WITH THEIR MOMS,

IT MAKES ME SAD THAT I CAN'T
DO THAT STUFF WITH MY MOM.

I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES
IT'S MY FAULT

BECAUSE SHE STARTED
GAINING THE WEIGHT

WHEN SHE WAS PREGNANT WITH ME.

AND I FELT LIKE IT'S MY FAULT,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I PUT ALL THAT WEIGHT ON HER.

I WISH FOR
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE

IS FOR MY MOM TO LOSE WEIGHT

SO SHE CAN DO MORE STUFF
WITH US.

Tanisha: I'M THEIR MOM,
AND THEY NEED ME RIGHT NOW

AND FOOD HELPS ME COPE,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN
MY SITUATION'S GONNA CHANGE

SO I CAN GO BACK
TO TRYING TO GET HELP.

IT'S BEEN A HARD FEW MONTHS,

BUT THINGS HAVE STARTED
TO GET BETTER.

SO I'VE DECIDED
TO GET BACK ON THE PROGRAM

AND GO SEE DR. NOW.

I'M VERY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE'S GONNA SAY.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN
FOLLOWING ANYTHING,

SO I'M EXPECTING WEIGHT GAIN
AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

I'M FRUSTRATED WITH MYSELF

BECAUSE I COULD HAVE TRIED
TO EXERCISE BETTER,

WATCH WHAT I EAT,

BUT 'CAUSE I'M DEALING
WITH STRESSFUL SITUATIONS,

I WASN'T EVEN THINKING
LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WENT BACK
TO MY OLD WAYS.

I ALLOWED LIFE AND EVERYTHING
I WAS GOING THROUGH

TO SIDETRACK ME,

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M READY.

I'M IN A DIFFERENT SPACE,
SO I'M READY TO MOVE FORWARD.

SEPARATING FROM TROY
WAS DEFINITELY HARD FOR ME,

BUT NOW A LOT OF THINGS
ARE BETTER IN MY LIFE,

AND I'M READY TO TRY AGAIN,
BECAUSE I'M HAPPY NOW.

I HAVE A NEW MAN IN MY LIFE.

HIS NAME IS DAVID.

THANK YOU.

WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS
FOR OVER 12 YEARS,

AND WITH MY SEPARATION

AND ALL THAT, YOU KNOW,
WE WERE STILL JUST FRIENDS.

HE WAS STILL SUPPORTING ME,

AND WE JUST KIND OF TRANSITIONED
INTO A RELATIONSHIP.

David: WE'VE BEEN BEST FRIENDS

BEFORE ANY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP
CAME INTO PLAY,

SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT WAS
JUST A NATURAL TRANSITION.

SHE'S JUST FULL OF LIFE,
YOU KNOW?

AND WHO WOULDN'T
BE DRAWN TO THAT?

IT'S WHY I LOVE HER TO DEATH.

WELL, HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

[ SIGHS ]
JUST NOT FEELING GOOD --

MY LEGS HURT IN THE DAY
AND MY STOMACH GOING...

THIS IS ALL NERVES
OR WHATEVER.

WHY ARE YOU NERVOUS?

WELL, I'M NOT SURE
WHAT HE'S GONNA SAY.

I'M PRAYING
FOR GOOD NEWS, THOUGH.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THOUGH --

I LOOK CUTE TODAY,
SO THAT'S A PLUS FOR ME.

YEAH, HE'S GONNA THINK SO,
TOO.

David:
I WORRY ABOUT TANISHA A LOT,

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE
DEVASTATING TO HER KIDS

IF SOMETHING HAPPENED
IN OUR FAMILY,

BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
ARE JUST IRREPLACEABLE.

BUT I'M FEELING HOPEFUL

THAT NO MATTER
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY

THAT THE DOCTOR
WILL STILL SEE

THAT SHE'S WANTING TO DO THIS,

NOT ONLY FOR THE SHORT TERM
BUT THE LONG TERM,

AND TRY TO HELP HER
THE BEST HE CAN,

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT WANT TO SEE HER SUCCEED.

Tanisha: [ SIGHS ]

DAVID WILL BE WITH ME
AT DR. NOW'S TODAY,

BUT I'M ALREADY NERVOUS

AND NOT SURE
WHAT THE SCALE'S GONNA SAY,

WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY,

SO HAVING HIM THERE
WILL DEFINITELY COMFORT ME.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO IS THAT
I HAVEN'T LOST THE WEIGHT

AND DR. NOW TURNS ME AWAY.

BUT I JUST HOPE HE LETS ME
COME BACK AND TRY AGAIN,

AND THAT ALL THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED TO ME

DIDN'T CAUSE ME TO LOSE
MY ONLY CHANCE TO GET HIS HELP.

**

Tanisha: TODAY I'M GOING BACK
TO SEE DR. NOW.

IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS
SINCE I WENT BACK TO SEE HIM,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING
HE TAKES ME BACK.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN
STICKING TO THE DIET,

BUT I HAD A LOT OF THINGS
ON MY PLATE

THAT I DIDN'T EXPECT,

SO I HAD TO TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

BUT I'M READY NOW TO TRY AGAIN

AND GET BACK TO DOING
WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING.

I KNOW I PROBABLY GAINED
A LITTLE WEIGHT

SINCE I'VE SEEN HIM LAST.

WE'RE AT IT AGAIN.

I JUST HOPE HE'S NOT TOO UPSET
AND THAT HE TAKES ME BACK.

BACK WHERE I STARTED.

MY GOD.

IT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT,
BUT I'M DEFINITELY NOT HAPPY.

Tanisha:
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT I LOST,
I'VE GAINED BACK.

I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF.

YOU KNOW,
I'LL SAY THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE,

SO I HAVE TO FACE REALITY,

AND I KNOW THAT
THE ROAD THAT I'M GOING

IS DEFINITELY NOT HEALTHY.

HELLO.
HELLO, HOW ARE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

ALL RIGHT.

TELL ME WHAT'S HAPPENING.

WELL,
I KNOW I SEE I'VE GAINED.

BASICALLY,
EVERYTHING THAT I LOST,

I'VE GAINED IT BACK.

SO, I'M DEFINITELY
NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
FOR SIX MONTHS.

LIFE CHANGES
IN GENERAL --

NOT MAKING ANY EXCUSE,

BUT DEFINITELY DIFFERENT,
STRESSFUL SITUATIONS,

NOT THE RIGHT SUPPORT,
THINGS LIKE THAT,

AND I ALLOWED IT
TO GET TO ME.

BUT I KNOW I WASN'T DOING
WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I WASN'T EATING RIGHT,
YOU KNOW, MOVING,

ANYTHING LIKE THAT,
SO...

SO, LET ME EXPLAIN
THE SITUATION TO YOU.

YOU GAINED MORE WEIGHT,

AND YOUR BMI IS 100.

100.

THAT'S VERY HIGH RISK
FOR ANY KIND OF SITUATION.

IF YOU GET EVEN THE FLU,

I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

SO, I DON'T THINK
YOU REALIZE

HOW DANGEROUS
THIS SITUATION IS.

I DEFINITELY REALIZE THAT.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHY
I'M REACHING OUT.

WHEN YOU HAVE
AN ADDICTION PROBLEM,

YOU KNOW,
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE SUPPORT,

THE MOTIVATION,
ALL OF THAT,

AND I HAVE A BETTER
SUPPORT SYSTEM NOW,

AND I'M JUST --

I'M READY TO DO
WHAT I NEED TO DO.

AND SO, TELL ME ABOUT

WHAT'S GONNA BE DIFFERENT
THIS TIME?

[ SIGHS ]

I WAS DEALING WITH
A HUSBAND

THAT WAS NEVER THERE,
NEVER SUPPORTED ME,

STILL DEALING
WITH THE DEATH OF MY MOM.

SO I'M NOW
I'M GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE

AND, YOU KNOW --

BASICALLY ALL THE NEGATIVE
THING ARE GONE.

TANISHA ESSENTIALLY JUST DECIDED
TO QUIT THE PROGRAM

FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS,

AND MY BIGGEST CONCERN
IS HER BELIEF

THAT THE STRESS AND HARD TIME

JUSTIFY ABUSING HER BODY
LIKE SHE HAS.

BUT, HOPEFULLY,
SHE'S NOT BACK

ONLY UNTIL SOMETHING STRESSFUL
HAPPENS AGAIN.

I REALLY DOUBT
THAT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE

ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
FROM LAST TIME,

BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
A CHANCE, OKAY?

THANK YOU.

HERE'S THE LIST AGAIN.

SO YOU CAN GO BACK
TO A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

THIS IS A LIST OF ALL ITEMS
AND FOR THE FOOD

THAT YOU NEED TO AVOID,
OKAY?

SO YOU'VE
RUN OUT OF EXCUSES.

NOW IT'S TIME TO CHANGE.

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

JUST LIKE YOUR FIRST TIME.

OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD.

SO, WE'RE GONNA MAKE
THE CHANGES, RIGHT?

DEFINITELY.

AND, DAVID, I HOPE YOU WILL
HELP HER TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW,
I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN,

BUT I KNOW
SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

GOD.

HE MIGHT AS WELL
HAVE JUST PUT ON HERE

"DON'T EAT NOTHING."

LORD.

WHEN YOU HAVE A DOCTOR SAYING,
"HEY," YOU KNOW,

"IF YOU DON'T GET THIS
UNDER CONTROL,

THAT'S IT," YOU KNOW,
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE."

THAT'S A REALITY CHECK.

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO REALLY
PROVE MYSELF THIS TIME.

SO I'M GONNA WORK HARDER
THAN BEFORE TO HIT HIS GOAL

SO I CAN GET APPROVED
FOR SURGERY.

BUT I'M FEELING HOPEFUL...

...AND FAILURE IS NOT
AN OPTION RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO DO IT.

**

SINCE I LAST SAW THE DOCTOR,

I'VE BEEN FULLY
COMMITTED TO THE DIET,

AND I'M ONLY EATING WHAT
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EATING.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY
THIS TIME AROUND,

I HAVE HAD NO SET BACKS,

BECAUSE THE MORE I DO IT,

THE MORE IT'S BECOMING
NATURAL TO ME.

I GET MY LITTLE PORTION
TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY,

AND THAT'S IT.

SCOOT.

IT'S REALLY NOT BAD, THOUGH.

LIKE, I COULD EAT IT
ON A REGULAR BASIS,

ESPECIALLY
EATING LIKE THIS.

I REALLY COULD.

AND I'M ALSO
MAKING MY DAUGHTERS

STICK TO WHAT I EAT
WITH ME.

Jer'Monika: NOT BAD.

UGH!
YOU SAY "UGH" NOW.

I'M TRYING TO PREVENT YOU
FROM GETTING THIS SIZE.

IT'S NOT NO FUN.

Tanisha:
I THINK THE LIFESTYLE CHANGE

HAS AFFECTED EVERYONE
IN A POSITIVE WAY,

BECAUSE THEY SEE ME GETTING UP
AND DOING THINGS FOR MYSELF

AND GETTING UP AND WANTING
TO DO THINGS WITH THEM.

SO EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.

BE WITH ME, JESUS.

EVERY TIME I'VE EVER
CAME OUT OF MY HOUSE

HAS ALWAYS BEEN
IN THE WHEELCHAIR.

SO ACTUALLY SEE
YOUR MAMA WALK SO DIFFERENT.

TO BE ABLE TO STEP
OUTSIDE THE DOOR,

NOT "I ROLLED OUT,"

BUT TO SAY "I WALKED
OUTSIDE MY DOOR,"

FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN
BEDRIDDEN FOR YEARS,

THAT'S A LOT.

OHH.

THANK YOU, JESUS.

OH, LORD.

OH!

THANK YOU, LORD.

[ EXHALING DEEPLY ]

Malayzha: LOOK.

I WENT FROM
THIS SIDE TO THIS SIDE.

[ SIGHS HEAVILY ]

[ SNIFFLING ]

[ Crying ] THANK YOU, JESUS.

[ Voice breaking ]
I'M SO GRATEFUL TO GOD...

...FOR THE PUSH

AND THE WILLPOWER
AND THE STRENGTH.

THE STRENGTH...

WE GIVE IN TO PAIN SO MUCH.

WE JUST SIT THERE,
AND WE WALLOW IT IN FOR SO LONG.

BUT WHEN I SEE
THE LOOK ON HER FACE,

JUST ME BEING HERE,

AND AS SHE CHEERS ME ON,

IT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.

YOU STARTING ALREADY, GIRL.

YOU CLOWNING YOURSELF.

[ LAUGHS ]

Tanisha: YOU'RE CLOWNING.

THERE'S GONNA COME A DAY

WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO WALK
AND GET TIRED,

AND I DON'T HAVE
TO WALK AND SIT.

EVERYTHING I LOST,
I'M GONNA GET BACK.

Malayzha: YES. YES.

WHY?

'CAUSE I WANT TO SWIM
WITH YOU.

WHEN I SEE DR. NOW
NEXT WEEK,

I'M HOPING TO SHOW HIM
EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDS TO SEE

TO PROVE TO HIM I'M COMMITTED
AND I CAN DO THIS.

**

[ SIGHS ]

I'M HERE TO SEE DR. NOW AGAIN
FOR MY FOURTH APPOINTMENT.

MY LAST DOCTOR'S VISIT

DIDN'T GO ACCORDING TO
HOW I THOUGHT IT SHOULD,

AND IT WAS A REALITY CHECK
FOR ME.

AND HE WANTED ME
TO LOSE 30 POUNDS,

SO HOPEFULLY, I'VE LOST
WHAT HE WANTED ME TO LOSE.

I'M DOWN TO MY LAST CHANCE.

MY PROGRESS TODAY
IS GOING TO DETERMINE

IF I'M EVER GOING TO
GET THIS SURGERY.

**

Tanisha: I'M AT DR. NOW'S
TO SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS I MADE

OVER THE LAST MONTH.

HE NEEDED ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS
AND GET UNDER 558.

SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'M CONFIDENT I DID WELL

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING
AS HARD AS I CAN.

WHAT?

[ CHUCKLES ]

YES! YES.

WOW.

I'M VERY RELIEVED.

I HAVE MIXED EMOTIONS.

ONE PART OF ME WAS LIKE,
"YOU'VE DONE THE WORK,"

BUT THEN THERE'S STILL,

"OKAY, WELL, WHAT IF
YOU DIDN'T DO ENOUGH?"

I'M PRAYING THAT HE SAYS
I'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT AND,

"LET'S GET YOU APPROVED
FOR SURGERY."

THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I REALLY WANT TO HEAR RIGHT NOW.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO.
[ CHUCKLES ]

HOW ARE WE DOING?

NOT BAD.
ARE WE DOING OKAY?

DOING FINE.
ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

SO, I SEE YOU LOST
SOME WEIGHT SINCE LAST TIME.

SO, YOU'RE DOING GOOD
WITH YOUR DIET, HUH?

DOING GREAT.

I'M HAPPY
YOU'RE LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN,

BUT I'M
A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED

THAT YOU DIDN'T QUITE GET TO
THE 30-POUND WEIGHT LOSS.

WHAT IS
YOUR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY?

I'VE BEEN MOVING MORE.

I USED TO JUST DO EXERCISE
IN THE BED SOMETIME, YOU KNOW,

BUT NOW I'M STARTING
TO GET UP AND WALK MORE.

YOU KNOW, IT HURTS,
BUT I PUSH MYSELF.

ALL RIGHT.
THIS IS A GOOD START,

BUT IF YOU ARE ACTUALLY ON
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

AT YOUR WEIGHT, YOU COULD HAVE
EASILY LOST 40 POUNDS

THIS PAST MONTH.
OKAY.

SO, THAT TELLS ME
THAT YOU HAVE CUT BACK,

BUT THERE ARE STILL
SOME FOOD AND BIG PORTIONS

THAT YOU'RE NOT CHANGING.
OKAY.

SO, WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO
IS STICK WITH IT

AND HIT THE 30-POUND
WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

I GAVE YOU, OKAY?

OKAY?
KEEP AT IT,

AND I'LL SEE YOU
NEXT MONTH.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
I'M HAPPY THAT TANISHA
IS MAKING SOME PROGRESS,

BUT THERE'S NO REASON

SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE LOST
30 POUNDS LAST MONTH.

AND HER HISTORY
OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS

HAS ME CONCERNED

THAT SHE'S JUST WORKING
A LITTLE BIT HARDER TEMPORARILY.

SO I NEED TO SEE
MORE PROGRESS FROM HER

BEFORE I'M CONFIDENT
THAT SHE'S READY

FOR THE NEXT BIG STEP
LIKE SURGERY.

Tanisha: I'M A LITTLE FRUSTRATED
RIGHT NOW

'CAUSE I'M WORKING HARD,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE
I CAN DO TO PROVE IT TO HIM.

THERE'S A PART OF ME
THAT'S NOT SURE

I WANT TO KEEP DOING THIS
OR TRY ANYMORE

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I'VE DONE ENOUGH.

BUT I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO LOSE THIS CHANCE.

**

IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS
SINCE I'VE SAW DR. NOW,

AND I'VE BEEN
STICKING TO THE DIET.

BUT FOR THIS WEEK,

I'M JUST TAKING
A LITTLE BREAK FROM IT ALL.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF STRESSFUL THINGS GOING ON,

AND IT WAS REALLY HARD
TO GET LET DOWN LIKE THAT

WHEN I SAW THE DOCTOR LAST.

HOLY MERCY.

OH, LET ME SEE...

WHAT'S THE CLOSEST THING
FOR ME TO SNACK ON?

**

[ GRUNTS ]

SO I'M GIVING IN A LILLIE BIT...

MERCY, JESUS.

...AND I'M NOT GONNA LIE --
I HAVE BEEN EATING FAST FOOD.

AND EATING SOME OF THE FOOD
I REALLY LIKE

BEFORE I GO BACK ON THE DIET.

BUT WHEN I REALLY THINK
ABOUT IT ALL,

DR. NOW DIDN'T REALLY GIVE ME
A GOOD PLAN TO FOLLOW.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO HAVE A GAME PLAN

BECAUSE FOR SOMEONE
WHO'S USED TO EATING WHATEVER,

WHENEVER -- YOU KNOW,
IT'S LIKE YOU NEED STRUCTURE.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY FRUSTRATING.

**

WHAT IS THAT?

A SHAKE.

WHAT KIND OF SHAKE?

**

I SEE THE DOCTOR AGAIN SOON,

AND I'M GONNA START
EATING RIGHT AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS

AND STAY ON THE DIET
SO I HAVE PROGRESS TO SHOW HIM.

AND I'M HOPING THAT SHOULD BE
ENOUGH FOR HIM TO APPROVE ME.

'CAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD,

AND I DESERVE TO BE ABLE
TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

**

I'M HEADED TO SEE DR. NOW AGAIN,

AND I JUST WANT TO
GET THIS APPOINTMENT OVER WITH.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN DOING
AS WELL ON MY DIET,

SO I JUST WANT TO GET THERE
AND FIND OUT

IF I'M GETTING
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

**

WHEW!

BUT I'VE PUSHED MYSELF
TO DO THIS FOR MONTHS NOW,

AND I'VE DONE ALL I CAN
TO PROVE THAT I'M READY.

SO I THINK IT'S TIME
I GET TO MOVE FORWARD,

AND I'M HOPING TODAY
IS THE DAY I GET APPROVED.

**

THE SCALE SAYS I GAINED A POUND.

THAT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING,
BUT IT'S NOT A HUGE GAIN.

I FEEL DR. NOW --
HE'S NOT GONNA BE PLEASED

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE
WORKING ON LOSING WEIGHT,

YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT
EXPECTING YOU TO BE GAINING.

Tanisha:
HOO, ALL RIGHT.

HELLO.
HELLO, HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

COULD BE BETTER.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
"COULD BE BETTER"?

DEPENDING ON
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY.

ALL RIGHT, TANISHA,
LET'S SEE...

A MONTH AGO,
YOU WERE 561 POUNDS...

YEAH,
I GAINED A POUND.

...AND NOW YOU'RE 562.

WHY IS IT THAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL
YOUR EATING HABIT AT ALL?

I KNOW
I'M AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

I KNOW THAT ABOUT MYSELF.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

ANY STRESS THAT ARISES
IN MY LIFE --

SNACKING, YOU KNOW.

AND NOW THAT
I'M DEALING WITH

A LOT OF STRESSFUL THINGS
BESIDES MY HEALTH,

THAT'S WHAT I RUN TO.

THAT IS YOUR EXCUSE
TO YOURSELF,

AND IT'S ONLY ACCEPTABLE
TO YOU.

WHAT HAPPENED
TO STICKING TO THE PLAN?

[ CHUCKLES ]

IT WENT OUT THE WINDOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TANISHA IS VERY UNRELIABLE.

SHE'S NOT ABLE TO CONTROL
HER EATING HABIT,

AND THERE'S NO REASON
TO START ANY JOURNEY

AT WEIGHT LOSS

AND NOT BE ABLE
TO EVEN LOSE A FEW POUNDS.

RIGHT NOW SHE HAS
A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE SHE'S A CANDIDATE
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

YOU AREN'T GETTING
ANY OF THIS, TANISHA.

WELL, WHAT I'M SAYING
IS WHEN I GET STRESSED,

I LOSE FOCUS,
IS BASICALLY WHAT I'M SAYING.

ALL RIGHT.
THE STRESS IS NOT GONNA GO AWAY,

YOUR BEHAVIOR IS NOT
GONNA CHANGE,

THE SURGERY IS NOT
GONNA CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR.

YOU DON'T SEE
YOUR EXCUSES,

AND YOU DON'T SEE
HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO DEATH.

YOU'RE THE ONE --
YOU'RE MAKING A CHOICE,

AND YOU'RE THE ONE
WHO DOESN'T DO WHAT YOU NEED.

AND I KIND OF LAUGH TO --

TO KEEP FROM GETTING
SO AGGRAVATED.

MM.

I'M HERE TO HELP YOU
SAVE YOUR LIFE,

NOT FIND A WAY
TO HELP YOU

TO JUSTIFY
KILLING YOURSELF FASTER.

SCREW THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS THE END OF THE LINE
FOR TANISHA

IF SHE'S NOT
TAKING SURGERY SERIOUSLY

AND SHE'S NOT ABLE
TO FOLLOW THE DIET.

THAT'S A VERY BAD SIGN
THAT SURGERY'S NOT GONNA BE

THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR HER.

HOPEFULLY, SHE DECIDES
TO MAKE THE CHANGES SHE NEEDS

AND STICKS TO IT
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

I FEEL LIKE CRAP
RIGHT NOW.

[ SNIFFLES ]

EVEN THOUGH I'M COMING FORTH
AND I'M BEING HONEST

THAT I DIDN'T
PUT THE WORK IN,

I ATE WHAT
I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO EAT --

EVEN THOUGH I'M SAYING ALL THAT,

I FEEL LIKE I WAS MADE TO FEEL
BASICALLY LIKE I WAS A LIAR.

THIS IS AN ADDICTION.

DON'T SIT UP HERE
AND JUST BE LIKE --

ACTING LIKE I HAVE A FALSE SENSE
OF REALITY OR WHATEVER.

[ SIGHS ]

AND I'M PISSED OFF!

SHOOT.

YOU KNOW,
I'M A FULL-TIME MOM.

I HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND I'VE DONE
EVERYTHING HE'S ASKED OF ME

AND WORKED AS HARD AS I CAN,
SO I'M DONE.

I DON'T NEED HIM,

AND I'LL BE BETTER OFF
WITHOUT HIS WHOLE PROGRAM.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

HEY, TANISHA?

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

**

HI, TANISHA.
IT'S SARAH FROM THE SHOW.

WE'RE AT YOUR HOUSE,

WANTED TO BE LET INSIDE,
AND PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL BACK.

**

WE'RE AT TANISHA'S HOUSE TODAY
TRYING TO GET INSIDE,

AND SHE WILL NOT LET US INSIDE.

**

SHE WON'T ANSWER ANY PHONE CALLS
OR ANY TEXTS, SO...

I'M AT A LOSS.

HEY, THERE SHE IS.

HEY, TANISHA?
HELLO?

**

HI.
HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S SARAH.
HOW ARE YOU?

YOU HERE? HI.

I'M SO SORRY
TO BOTHER YOU.

ARE YOU NOT
FEELING WELL TODAY?

Tanisha: IT'S A LOT OF THINGS
THAT'S GOING ON.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

I COULD STILL DO
THE WEIGHT LOSS WITHOUT DR. NOW

OR ANY OTHER
WEIGHT-LOSS DOCTOR,

PERIOD, POINT BLANK.

I DON'T NEED THIS.
THIS IS NOT BENEFITING ME.

MNH-MNH.

MNH-MNH,
MNH-MNH, MNH-MNH.

I CAN'T.
I CANNOT DEAL.

OH, MY GOD.

Tanisha: THIS LAST YEAR
HAS BEEN REALLY DIFFICULT.

I'M STILL TRYING TO DEAL
WITH THE DEATH OF MY MOM,

DEALING WITH
MY OWN HEALTH ISSUES,

TRYING TO HAVE
A PROSPEROUS RELATIONSHIP,

TRYING TO RAISE KIDS,

AND THEN TRYING TO BASICALLY
FIND MY OWN LIFE.

IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS

SINCE I STOPPED
DR. NOW'S PROGRAM.

AFTER SEEING HIM THE LAST TIME,
I WAS REALLY UPSET FOR A WHILE

AND DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THE PROGRAM.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

IT KIND OF PUT ME
IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION

AND WITH THAT, ANGER, AS WELL.

SINCE I BACKED AWAY
FROM THE PROGRAM,

I WENT THROUGH A DOWNWARD SPIRAL
FOR, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS.

I WAS ANGRY WITH MYSELF.

I WENT BACK TO EATING
HOWEVER I WANTED TO EAT,

BEING LAZY AGAIN,
NOT REALLY DOING ANYTHING.

I'M NOT UPSET ANYMORE,

BUT I DO THINK THAT I'M DONE
WITH THE PROGRAM.

'LAY, GO SET THIS
ON MY DRESSER, PLEASE.

I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW MUCH I WEIGH RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE I'M AT LEAST
BACK TO MY ORIGINAL WEIGHT,

IF NOT A LITTLE MORE.

I'LL EAT THAT, SO...

Jer'Monika:
PHYSICALLY IN THE LAST YEAR,

MY MOM HAS CHANGED

BY GAINING MOST OF THE WEIGHT
THAT SHE LOST BACK.

[ SIGHS ]

SHE HASN'T BEEN STICKING
TO ANY TYPE OF DIET PLAN,

AND I'M DEFINITELY WORRIED
ABOUT HER HEALTH.

**

[ GRUNTS ]
OH, LORD HAVE MERCY.

MY HEALTH
HAS GOTTEN WORSE AGAIN,

ESPECIALLY WITH MY BREATHING.

IT GIVES ME BAD ANXIETY.

WHEN YOU CAN'T BREATHE,
THAT'S AN AWFUL FEELING.

I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT
BEING AT THIS SIZE.

I'M AT THE POINT NOW

WHERE I FEEL LIKE
I'VE HIT ROCK BOTTOM,

AND THE ONLY THING AFTER THIS
IS DEATH.

BUT I DON'T WANT
TO GIVE UP AND JUST DIE.

SO I NEED HELP,
BUT AT THIS POINT,

I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.

**

TODAY, I'M HEADED TO CHURCH
WITH THE FAMILY.

MY FAITH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THAT IS THE ONLY THING

THAT'S GOTTEN ME THROUGH
THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

I'VE BEEN PRAYING A LOT LATELY

BECAUSE MY BODY
HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE

AND I'M IN A LOT MORE PAIN.

PRAISE GOD
IN FAITHFULNESS...

Tanisha:
I'VE BEEN SCARED, AND I'VE BEEN
TAKING THAT FEAR TO GOD.

Brooks:
WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THIS --

EVERYONE IN HERE
NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU --

BLESSINGS WILL ONLY COME
FROM UNCOMFORTABLE STATES.

[ CROWD MURMURING ]

[ APPLAUSE ]

Tanisha: IT NEVER FAILS --
WHATEVER I'M GOING THROUGH,

IT SEEMS LIKE MY PASTOR

IS TALKING DIRECTLY TO ME
AND TO MY SITUATION.

Brooks:
YOU WILL NEVER IN LIFE

BE PREPARED FOR SOMETHING
YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO.

[ APPLAUSE ]

Tanisha: I THINK THE MAIN WORD
TODAY THAT SPOKE TO ME

WERE WHEN HE SAID
THAT BASICALLY, A BLESSING

WAS COMING OUT OF
AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION.

THAT REALLY STUCK TO ME,

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT
I'M GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.
[ APPLAUSE ]

[ APPLAUSE ]

I KNOW GOD HAS
A BLESSING FOR ME,

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M COMPLETELY
HELPLESS IN MY SITUATION.

* THE NAME OF JESUS *

SO I STARTED PRAYING
THAT I CAN WORK UP THE COURAGE

TO GO BACK TO THE DOCTOR
AND THAT HE'LL ACTUALLY HELP ME.

BUT I'VE GONE BACK TO HIM TWICE
AND STARTED OVER,

AND I FAILED BOTH TIMES.

Brooks:
IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

Tanisha: SO, I HAVE NO IDEA
IF HE'LL EVEN CONSIDER ME AGAIN,

AND THAT MAKES ME SCARED
TO EVEN TRY.

SO, I'M PRAYING
GOD GIVES ME THE STRENGTH

TO AT LEAST FIGHT
FOR MY LIFE AND TRY AGAIN.

JESUS LOVES YOU.

[ CHEERING ]
HALLELUJAH.

Tanisha:
I JUST NEED ONE MORE CHANCE.

**

**

HEADED TO DR. NOW'S TODAY
FOR A CHECK-UP.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

I LOOK AT TODAY
AS A FRESH START FOR ME.

AND I'M PRAYING
THAT HE TAKES ME BACK

AND LETS ME
START THE PROGRAM AGAIN.

IT'S BEYOND TIME
FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT I'M REALLY SCARED
RIGHT NOW TO FIND OUT

HOW HE'S GONNA REACT
TO ME COMING BACK.

I'M GONNA DO THAT.

AND I'M ALSO REALLY NERVOUS
TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT I GAINED.

I'M JUST HOPING
I'M NOT TOO MUCH HEAVIER

THAN WHAT I WAS ORIGINALLY.

**

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE GAINED
THAT MUCH WEIGHT.

**

THAT NUMBER IS GONNA
KEEP FLASHING IN MY HEAD.

AND I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW
TO EVEN SEE DR. NOW.

I FEEL LIKE AT THE POINT
I'M AT RIGHT NOW,

YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT GONNA GET APPROVED.

IT'S LIKE, I ALREADY KNOW THAT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO!
MM.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'VE BEEN BETTER.

COME ON,
LET'S GET IT OVER WITH.

COME ON.

OKAY, TANISHA,
SO, YOU ARE 602 POUNDS --

HIGHER THAN EVER.

YES.

SO, YOUR EATING HABITS
ARE WORSE.

MM-HMM.
IT'S BAD.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIME --
LIKE, I WON'T EAT ALL DAY,

AND THEN I'LL BE
SO HUNGRY AT NIGHT

THAT I'LL EAT
MORE THAN I SHOULD.

THAT'S MY MAIN THING,
'CAUSE I HAVE TO --

I'M MAKING UP
FOR WHAT I DIDN'T EAT.

ALL RIGHT,
SO, HOW DO YOU SEE

THAT YOU CAN MAKE ANY CHANGES
ON YOUR EATING HABIT?

SOMETHING GOT TO GIVE --

I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS BIG
IN MY LIFE,

AND THAT
KIND OF HIT ME.

OKAY. SO, YOU WANT
TO START THE PROGRAM AGAIN?

I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF
I DIDN'T WANT TO STICK WITH IT,

IF I DIDN'T WANT
THE HELP.

I KNOW I NEED THE HELP.
OKAY.

SO, WE CAN DO THAT,

BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS
TO LOSE 30 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.

SAME SONG -- HOPEFULLY
DIFFERENT DANCE THIS TIME, OKAY?

[ CHUCKLES ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M GLAD
TANISHA WANTS TO TRY AGAIN,

BUT IT'S BEEN
OVER A YEAR AND A HALF

SINCE SHE STARTED THIS PROGRAM,
AND SHE'S HEAVIER THAN EVER.

TANISHA'S STARTING TO UNDERSTAND
A LITTLE

ABOUT HOW SERIOUS
HER SITUATION IS.

BUT THAT WON'T MATTER
WHEN SHE GETS STRESSED AGAIN.

SO WE NEED TO ADDRESS
HER INABILITY

TO DEAL WITH DIFFICULT MOMENTS

WITHOUT RUNNING TO FOOD
AND MAKING EXCUSES.

IF SHE DOESN'T DO THIS,
SHE LIKELY WON'T SURVIVE

MORE THAN SIX MONTHS
AT THIS POINT.

YOUR EATING HABIT IS GONNA
HAVE TO BE CONTROLLED BY YOU,

AND YOU'VE TOLD ME
A NUMBER OF TIMES

THAT YOU'RE READY
TO WORK,

BUT YOU GO BACK TO FOOD
WHEN YOU'RE STRESSED.

MM-HMM.

SO I WANT US TO TAKE A DIFFERENT
APPROACH THIS TIME, OKAY?

I WANT YOU TO SEE A THERAPIST
TO START WORKING THROUGH

HOW YOU HANDLE
SOME OF YOUR STRESS.

SO, ARE YOU WILLING
TO DO THAT?

I THINK
THAT WOULD HELP.

THIS IS
YOUR LAST CHANCE.

LET'S WORK AT THIS
AND DO IT, OKAY?

OKAY.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.
ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU THEN.

MM-HMM.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

Tanisha:
I ACTUALLY THOUGHT

DR. NOW WAS GONNA COME IN
AND BE HARD ON ME,

AND IT'S LIKE HE WAS
TO A CERTAIN EXTENT,

BUT IT'S -- YOU KNOW,
IT'S KIND OF LIKE,

"HEY, YOU NEED
TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS."

HE JUST WANTS THE BEST FOR ME.

HE WANTS ME TO BE ABLE
TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND LIVE MY OWN LIFE.

SEEING A THERAPIST IS SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER THOUGHT OF

AND I WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO,
BUT I'M WILLING TO DO

WHATEVER HE THINKS
WILL HELP ME SUCCEED RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M SO THANKFUL
TO HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE.

TODAY, I'M HEADED TO SEE
THE THERAPIST

DR. NOW WANTED ME TO SEE.

TALKING ABOUT MY FEELINGS IS NOT
SOMETHING I WOULD NORMALLY DO.

**

BUT GETTING ON THAT SCALE
WAS A WAKE-UP CALL,

AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP DYING

BECAUSE MY BODY
COULDN'T TAKE MY WEIGHT ANYMORE.

SO I'M WILLING
TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE

TO DO WHAT I NEED TO START
MAKING PROGRESS THAT CAN LAST.

HI, TANISHA.
I AM LAURIE SMITH.

IT'S VERY NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

YOU READY TO COME ON IN?
I'M READY.

GOOD.

WE'LL GET STARTED.

[ SIGHS ]

HAVE YOU EVER
BEEN TO A COUNSELOR BEFORE?

IS THIS
YOUR FIRST TIME?

IT'S THE FIRST TIME.
OKAY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT

OR EXPECT OUT OF
THESE COUNSELING SESSIONS.

[ SIGHS ]

I WANT TO NOT BE SO ANGRY,
BECAUSE EVEN DAVID --

HE'LL TELL ME ALL THE TIME,
"YOU'RE SUCH AN AWESOME WOMAN,

BUT YOUR ANGER --
YOUR ATTITUDE GETS SO BAD."

I NEED TO FORGIVE.

AND I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO HELP OTHERS

WHO HAVE BEEN WHERE I'VE BEEN
OR WHO ARE WHERE I'VE BEEN.

SO, TANISHA,
MY FIRST QUESTION

THAT MAY SEEM
A LITTLE INVASIVE IS,

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
SEXUALLY ABUSED?

YES.
OKAY.

AND HOW LONG
DID THAT LAST?

FROM LIKE 7
TO MAYBE 16, 17?

THAT WAS
A VERY LONG TIME.

A VERY LONG TIME.

WAS THAT
A FAMILY MEMBER?

ONE WAS ACTUALLY BLOOD.

THE OTHER ONE WAS ONE OF MY
MOTHER'S BOYFRIENDS AT THE TIME.

AND THAT'S HARD TO DEAL WITH
AS A LITTLE GIRL.

FAMILY MEMBERS
WERE YOUR ABUSERS.

CAN I ASK YOU
WHO THOSE ABUSERS WERE?

[ SIGHS ]

ONE OF THE MAIN
WAS MY GRANDFATHER.

SO, THE GRANDFATHER ABUSE
WENT ON FOR A LONG TIME?

OH, THAT WAS YEARS,

AND THAT'S WHEN I REALLY
STARTED PICKING UP,

YOU KNOW, WITH THE FOOD.

IT WAS JUST LIKE
EAT WHATEVER I WANTED.

HOW DID YOU HANDLE
TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM HIM?

IT WAS REALLY HARD
BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE,

YOU KNOW,
MY PRIMARY RESIDENCE WAS.

AND SO IT WAS LIKE
HOW DO YOU ESCAPE IT,

YOU KNOW, BESIDES
RUNNING THE STREETS?

AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I FELT LIKE
IF I'M GOING TO BE,

YOU KNOW,
TOUCHED IN WHATEVER WAY,

THEN I'M GOING TO CHOOSE
WHO I WANT TO DO IT.

JUST TRYING DIFFERENT THINGS
WITH ANYBODY --

UNPROTECTED SEX
WITH ANY AND EVERYBODY.

YOU KNOW, I COULD REMEMBER
ALL THAT, AND I'M LIKE, "MAN.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE YOU
THINKING BACK THEN?"

I'VE DONE SO MUCH.
OH, MY GOD.

WELL, THE THING ABOUT
BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED

IS THAT SOME MANY TIMES,
THERE'S MANY,

MANY DIFFERENT CHARACTER DEFECTS
THAT COME FROM THAT.

EATING ADDICTION
COMES ALONG WITH THAT.

IT'S THE COMFORT FOOD.
IT'S SOOTHING TO YOU.

AND INAPPROPRIATE
EXPRESSED SEXUALITY, THOUGH,

GOES WITH
THE SEXUAL ABUSE, AS WELL.

WHEN YOU'RE TAUGHT THAT SEX
IS SOMETHING THAT'S OKAY TO DO

BY SOMEONE THAT CLAIMS
TO LOVE YOU,

THEN YOU BEGIN TO THINK
THAT SEX EQUALS LOVE.

EVEN THOUGH
THAT YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG,

IF GRANDPA DOES IT,
IT MUST BE OKAY.

SO, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN TO WORK
ON FORGIVENESS IN YOURSELF

AND GETTING RID OF
SOME OF THAT GUILT AND SHAME

BECAUSE ALL THOSE
DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT YOU HAD

WHEN YOU WERE
BEING PROMISCUOUS

WAS SIMPLY
A CRY FOR HELP, REALLY.

OKAY.
WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON DOING

IS BRINGING YOU
INTO A PLACE OF ACCEPTANCE

SO THAT YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD
IN YOUR OWN LIFE.

SO TELL ME ABOUT,
YOU KNOW, YOUR EATING.

DO YOU TRY TO EAT
JUST THREE MEALS A DAY?

WHAT DOES THAT
LOOK LIKE?

I'M NOT A BREAKFAST PERSON.
I DON'T DO LUNCH.

IT'S THE
LATE-NIGHT EATING.

DID A LOT OF YOUR ABUSE
HAPPEN AT NIGHTTIME?

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
THINGS LIKE THAT, YEAH.

AND THAT
BECOMES A TRIGGER.

YOU BEGIN TO DEVELOP
A FEAR OF NIGHTTIME,

SO WHEN THE SUN
BEGINS TO GO DOWN,

THEN YOUR BODY
BECOMES ON FULL ALERT.

AND WHAT I WANT YOU
TO START DOING

IS I WANT YOU TO TRY TO GET
ON A GOOD SLEEP PATTERN,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR
VERY FIRST HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT,

IF YOU WILL.

WE CAN BEGIN
THIS JOURNEY

AND GET YOU TO A PLACE
OF HEALTHY TANISHA.

I WANT
TO GET RID OF ALL THIS,

'CAUSE I NEED TO BE ABLE
TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW?

OBESITY RUNS
IN THE FAMILY, RIGHT?

YES.

SO THAT'S A GENERATIONAL CURSE
IN YOUR FAMILY, THEN.

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA BE
THE ONE TO BREAK THAT.

[ CHUCKLES ] YEAH.
TANISHA, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY,

REALLY GREAT TO MEET YOU TODAY.
IT WAS AWESOME TO MEET YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU MORE.

I'M GLAD I OPENED UP TODAY.

I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS
I HAVE TO DEAL WITH

TO START TO HEAL
FROM A LIFETIME OF PAIN,

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO GET SERIOUS
ABOUT DOING THINGS

I DON'T WANT TO DO
SO THAT I CAN START TO CHANGE...

...BECAUSE IF I DON'T,
I KNOW I'M GONNA FAIL AGAIN.

**

Tanisha: TODAY, I'M HEADED BACK
TO THE CLINIC

TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN AGAIN.

**

IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR AND A HALF
I'VE TRYING TO PROVE TO HIM

I'M READY FOR
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY...

**

...AND I'VE BEEN WORKING HARDER

THAN I EVER HAVE
THIS PAST MONTH.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DEAL
WITH MY EMOTIONS

IN WAYS THAT DON'T INVOLVE FOOD

LIKE I TALKED ABOUT
WITH THE THERAPIST

SO THAT I CAN BEGIN
TO MAKE CHANGES

AND TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY
FOR MYSELF.

I KNOW I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,
BUT I'M HOPING

I LOST THE 30 POUNDS
I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOSE

AND HIT MY GOAL.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'M REALLY GLAD I HIT MY GOAL,

AND I'M EXCITED
FOR THE DOCTOR TO SEE THAT.

**

BUT MY EXPECTATIONS
ARE LOW RIGHT NOW

THAT HE'LL APPROVE ME
FOR SURGERY

BECAUSE I'VE LET HIM DOWN
SO MANY TIMES.

BUT I KNOW I NEED THIS SURGERY.

IT'S HARD DOING IT BY MYSELF,

AND I KNOW I NEED THIS
TO HELP ME OUT.

HELLO.
HEY, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU?
YOU'RE JUST OKAY,

BUT YOU LOST
34 POUNDS THIS MONTH.

YOU MADE GOOD PROGRESS.
YOU'RE NOT EXCITED ABOUT THAT?

[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'S FINE.

I MEAN, ANYTHING
IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG
IT TOOK YOU TO DO THIS?

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
WE SAW YOU.

LOOK AT THE DATE.

OKAY?
MM-HMM.

SEE WHAT YOU WEIGHED?

MM-HMM.

NOW YOU'RE 568.

YOU LOST OVER 30 POUNDS
THIS LAST MONTH.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED
TO SEE FROM YOU.

OKAY.
SO, WITH THAT,

I THINK YOU'RE READY
FOR SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

TO CONTINUE YOUR
WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.

OKAY.
GOOD JOB, TANISHA.

KEEP MAKING PROGRESS,
AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

ALL RIGHT.

TANISHA HAS CERTAINLY HAD
HER UPS AND DOWNS,

BUT SHE FINALLY HIT HER
WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

AND WENT TO A THERAPIST.

AND I FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT SHE'S WILLING

TO FINALLY WORK HARD
AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES.

SO I'M COMFORTABLE

APPROVING HER
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Tanisha:
I'M IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW.

I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD

ABOUT BEING APPROVED
FOR THE SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN BATTLING
THIS WEIGHT LOSS UP AND DOWN.

I'VE BEEN YO-YOING UP AND DOWN,

AND I KNOW THAT I CAN'T DO IT
ON MY OWN.

SO TO HEAR DR. NOW SAY,
YOU KNOW,

THAT HE'S
GONNA AT LEAST TAKE A CHANCE

AND TRY TO DO THE SLEEVE ON ME,
THAT'S EXCITING.

YOU KNOW,
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED.

SO, I'M HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

**

I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

**

MOST OF MY FAMILY
CAN'T BE HERE,

EXCEPT MY COUSIN CHADSIDY,
BECAUSE EVERYONE HAD TO WORK.

AND I JUST WISH I HAD
MY WHOLE FAMILY HERE.

**

WHAT YOU CRYING FOR?
ME AND MY MAMA --

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
DOING THIS TOGETHER,

SO I JUST KEEP --
JUST KEEP THINKING ABOUT,

YOU KNOW...

I JUST HATE
THAT SHE PASSED AWAY BEFORE I --

YOU KNOW,
THIS DAY COULD COME.

IT'S A LITTLE SAD.

SHE WON'T BE ABLE
TO SEE ME

MAKING SOMETHING
OUT OF MYSELF.

ASIDE FROM MY C-SECTIONS,
I'VE NEVER HAD SURGERY.

SO THIS IS REALLY SCARY

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TODAY.

BUT IF I CHANGE MY MIND
AND QUIT NOW,

THEN I KNOW MY FATE IS SEALED.

BUT I HAVE TOO MUCH TO LIVE FOR,
SO I HAVE TO DO THIS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, I'M ATTEMPTING TO DO
A SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY ON TANISHA.

HOPEFULLY,
THIS WILL HELP TANISHA

TO BE ABLE
TO CONTROL HER EATING HABIT.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW
IS HER TWO PAST C-SECTIONS.

ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

THAT CAN TAKE A LOT TO GET PAST
OR MAY PREVENT US

FROM BEING ABLE
TO DO THE OPERATION.

FOR A SUPER MORBID OBESE
PATIENT,

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
IS GOING TO BE

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

DURING GASTRIC SLEEVE OPERATION,
WE REMOVE APPROXIMATELY

70% TO 80% OF STOMACH
THROUGH A SMALL INCISION.

MOVE THAT.
OKAY.

RIGHT THERE.

AFTER WE REMOVE
THE MAJORITY OF THE STOMACH...

...WHICH LIMITS THE AMOUNT
THAT THEY CAN EAT AT ONE TIME.

**

Chadsidy:
TANISHA MEANS A LOT TO ME.

SHE'S LIKE MY SECOND MOM.

AND I KNOW
THERE'S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY

THAT SHE WON'T COME TO
WITH THE ANESTHESIA,

BUT I HAVE TRUST THAT GOD IS
GONNA PULL TANISHA THROUGH THIS.

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS IS
A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT

WITH THE SCARRING
THAN I WOULD PREFER.

SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO.

LIGHT OVER HERE.

PULL BACK THAT WAY.

**

OKAY.
I'M CLEAR NOW.

OKAY.
WE WILL START TO SUTURE HER.

ALMOST DONE.

**

AND WE'RE FINISHED.

ALL RIGHT.

TANISHA'S SURGERY'S OVER,
AND SHE DID VERY WELL.

BUT SHE HAD A LOT OF ADHESIONS
FROM PREVIOUS C-SECTIONS,

SO IT TOOK A LONG TIME
TO TAKE THOSE DOWN,

BUT OTHERWISE, SHE'S DOING OKAY.

TANISHA'S JUST BEGUN
TO WORK THROUGH

SOME OF HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

BUT NOW THAT SHE'S
PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO OVEREAT,

IN THE NEAR FUTURE,
SHE'LL BE FORCED

TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS
IN A MUCH BIGGER WAY.

SO SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
A FEW DIFFICULT MONTHS,

BUT WE'RE GOING HELP HER
KEEP MAKING PROGRESS

SO SHE DOESN'T START
GAINING AGAIN.

Nurse: JUST GAVE YOU
SOME MORE MEDICINE, OKAY?

GIVE IT
A FEW MINUTES TO WORK.

IF SHE DOES,
SHE HAS USED ALL HER CHANCES,

AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE
WE CAN DO TO HELP HER.

**

Tanisha:
IT'S BEEN A HARD MONTH.

AFTER I GOT HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL,

IT TOOK ME A BIT
TO GET MY ENERGY BACK

BECAUSE I WAS HARDLY EATING
AND ALL MY CRAVINGS WERE GONE.

BUT I'M FEELING LIKE
I'M DOING BETTER NOW,

AND I'M STAYING ACTIVE
DOING THINGS

AND TAKING CARE OF MY HOUSE.

**

THE MOST CHALLENGING PART
IS THE STANDING FOR ME.

I'M SO USED TO SITTING
OR RELYING ON THE WHEELCHAIR,

YOU KNOW, SO THE STANDING
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME

IS REALLY CHALLENGING.

NOT WANTING TO GO BACK
TO BEING DEPENDENT ON OTHERS,

BEING RESTRICTED
FROM ENJOYING LIFE,

AND THINGS WITH MY CHILDREN,
AND JUST THINGS FOR MYSELF.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

WHEN I WANT A SNACK, THAT'S
WHAT'S KEEPING ME FROM SAYING,

"NO," YOU KNOW,
"DON'T TOUCH THAT.

DON'T GO TO THE CHIPS,"
YOU KNOW,

"GRAB A SALAD OR SOMETHING."
SO, I THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

**

GETTING THIS SURGERY
IS THE MIRACLE

THAT I'VE PRAYED FOR
FOR SO LONG.

SO I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP

AT THIS STAGE
OF THE GAME RIGHT NOW,

AND I DON'T WANT

THE POSITIVE CHANGE
THAT'S HAPPENING IN MY LIFE

TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S
INDEPENDENT FROM MY FAMILY.

**

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO
SO MUCH MORE TOGETHER,

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED
BECAUSE TODAY,

I'M TAKING MY GIRLS
TO HAVE A SPA DAY

AND GET OUR NAILS
AND OUR MAKEUP DONE.

HOW ARE YOU
FEELING TODAY?

-PERFECT.
-HI.

Tanisha:
I LOVE GOING OUT WITH THE GIRLS.

I LOVE BEING FREE NOW

AND NOT JUST BEING
ALL BOXED UP IN THE HOUSE,

SO IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO GET OUT.

ARE YOU NERVOUS?
IS THIS YOUR FIRST MANICURE?

YES. [ CHUCKLES ]

RELAX, RELAX!

SO, WHAT COLOR
DID YOU PICK?

Woman: PORT.

OH, IT'S PORT.
PORT.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

IT'S FUN SPENDING TIME
WITH MY FAMILY,

'CAUSE WE USUALLY
DON'T GET TO DO THAT.

Tanisha:
I'M GOING TO MAKE IT TO MY GOAL

AND BECOME THE MOM
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE.

EACH DAY, I'M ABLE
TO DO MORE AND MORE,

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD
FOR MY RELATIONSHIP

WITH MY FAMILY,
ESPECIALLY WITH MALAYZHA.

**

AND RECENTLY, SHE STARTED
OPENING UP TO ME.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

OKAY, UM...

I GUESS WHEN YOU STARTED GAINING
WEIGHT, I SORT OF FELT BAD,

'CAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WAS MY FAULT.

WHY WOULD YOU THINK
THAT IT WAS YOUR FAULT?

**

HEY, WHAT?

GUESS I REALLY
DON'T KNOW WHY.

MAYBE 'CAUSE YOU'VE HEARD
SO MANY STORIES

OF WHEN I GOT PREGNANT
WITH YOU, IS THAT WHY?

THAT MAY BE WHY,
BUT IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT.

I CHOSE TO HAVE YOU.
I KNEW THE RISKS

AND THE COMPLICATIONS
THAT I WOULD FACE

BY BEING PREGNANT WITH YOU
AND BY HAVING YOU,

AND I STILL
CHOSE TO DO IT.

SO WHATEVER HAPPENED,
THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

THAT'S ON ME.

SO YOU SHOULD NEVER
FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.

I FEEL BAD BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW,

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO BE A MOTHER TO YOU

AND YOUR SISTER
LIKE I WOULD WANT TO BE.

SHE JUST TOLD ME
THAT I'M NOT THE REASON

THAT SHE'S OVERWEIGHT,
AND SHE DID MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.

AND I AM EXCITED FOR EVERYTHING
THAT SHE'S GOING TO DO WITH ME.

ARE YOU OKAY
NOW THAT WE'VE TALKED?

FEELING GOOD?
MM-HMM.

HIGH TENS?

HIGH TEN!

Tanisha: I KNOW MY STRUGGLES
WITH MY WEIGHT

HAVE INFLUENCED MY CHILDREN
TO FOLLOW ON MY PATH

LIKE I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
ON MY MOM'S PATH,

AND I WANT
TO BREAK THAT CYCLE NOW.

I DON'T WANT THERE
TO EVEN BE A CHANCE

THAT MY GIRLS COULD END UP
ON THE SAME PATH AS ME,

SO I WANT US TO MAKE
THIS CHANGE AS A FAMILY.

I'M GRATEFUL
THAT I'VE HAD YOU GUYS,

'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES,

IF IT WOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN FOR Y'ALL,

I PROBABLY
WOULDN'T EVEN BE HERE.

SO Y'ALL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
HAVE REALLY SAVED MY LIFE.

I WANT MALAYZHA TO KNOW THAT
I APPRECIATE HER, I LOVE HER,

I COULD ASK
FOR A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM.

THOSE DAYS OF HER ALWAYS
HAVING TO HELP ME ARE OVER,

AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL.

BUT IT'S TIME FOR ME
TO BE MOM NOW.

ANOTHER. [ SMOOCHING ]

I LOVE MY FAMILY,
AND I'M DOING THIS ALL FOR THEM.

**

I'M TRYING TO SERVE MORE
AT CHURCH,

AND THEY'VE ASKED ME
TO COME IN TO DISCUSS

A MORE ACTIVE ROLE WITH THEM.

HOW YOU DOING
THIS MORNING?

ALL IS WELL.
ALL IS WELL.

[ CHUCKLES ]
ALL IS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.

[ GRUNTS ]
I GOT A JOB FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW WE'RE GETTING READY
TO START THE MISSION.

A MISSION, SIMPLY WHAT IT IS,
IS TO GO OUT TO HELP OTHERS...

THAT'S RIGHT.
...BUT IN THE PROCESS,

WHEN YOU HELPING OTHERS,
GOD GONNA BLESS YOU.

WE NEED
A VICE PRESIDENT.

WILL YOU TAKE ON
THAT ROLE?

WOW.

THIS IS LIKE MY DREAM JOB.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED
TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND NOW THAT
I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS,

IT'S LIKE I CAN HELP OTHERS NOW.

SO IT'S LIKE I'M JUST GONNA
DEFINITELY PUSH HARDER

TO GET THIS DONE.

NOW, WOULD YOU BE
WILLING TO DO IT?

[ LAUGHS ] YES.
HOW CAN I SAY NO?

[ LAUGHS ]
YOU CAN'T SAY NO.

I'VE HAD THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY
TO CHANGE MY LIFE,

SO I OWE IT TO OTHERS
TO GIVE BACK AND TO HELP THEM.

SO...
AMEN.

AMEN.
[ LAUGHS ]

HI, HOW ARE YOU?
HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU?
GREAT.

MY NAME'S MARK.
I'M TANISHA.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TANISHA.
AND...?

Tanisha: TODAY, ME AND THE GIRLS
ARE GOING TO THE PARK

TO TAKE SOME FAMILY PHOTOS.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS,

I HAVEN'T WANTED
TO TAKE PICTURES OF MYSELF,

AND THAT MEANS I DON'T HAVE
ANY PICTURES WITH THEM.

SO I WANTED TO CHANGE THAT.

I THINK AS TIME GOES ON,
ME AND MY GIRLS --

WE'LL JUST GET CLOSER.

YOU KNOW, I'LL BE ABLE
TO DO MORE THINGS WITH THEM,

AND THAT'LL DRAW AN EVEN
STRONGER BOND BETWEEN US.

JUST LIKE I WANT
TO BE A BETTER MOM,

I WANT TO BE A BETTER
GIRLFRIEND TO DAVID.

SOMETHING LOOK GOOD.
Man: EXCELLENT.

HERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Tanisha: A LOT OF THINGS HAVE
CHANGED WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS.

I'M ABLE TO DO MORE,
GOING OUT MORE,

JUST BEING ADVENTUROUS,
JUST ENJOYING LIFE.

**

YOU LIKE IT?

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M HAPPY ABOUT
ALL THE CHANGES IN MY LIFE.

WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY,
I WASN'T SURE HOW IT WOULD GO,

AND I WAS DEFINITELY
TAKING LONGER THAN I THOUGHT.

BUT NOW THAT I'M HERE
LOOKING BACK,

I'M THANKFUL BEYOND WORDS
FOR ALL THE HELP I'VE GOTTEN

AND ALL THE PROGRESS I'VE HAD.

GOD HAS BLESSED ME
WITH ANOTHER CHANCE AT LIFE,

AND I'M GONNA TAKE IT.

David: YOU LOOK
REALLY BEAUTIFUL TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, BABY.

YOU LOOK HANDSOME.

THANK YOU.

AND I'M NOT STOPPING
FOR ANYTHING.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN SO, SO LONG,

I HAVE HOPE.