All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E15

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

Milla: I CAN'T EVEN
TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

MY CHILDREN HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING FOR ME.

Charity:
I FEEL LIKE SOME MONSTER.

Woman:
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

[ Crying ]
IT'S MISERABLE.

Brittani: MY BODY IS THE MOST
DISGUSTING THING IN THE WORLD.

**

Woman #2:
I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

June: I'M RISKING MY LIFE
FOR A BETTER LIFE.

I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.

-OOH, CHILD!
-PULL. GOOD. THERE YOU GO!

GOOD JOB.

Teretha:
I'M GETTING STRONGER, BUT I KNOW
I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

Paula: I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

**

Susan: I AM NOW EXPRESSING
MYSELF AND LIVING MY OWN TRUTH.

Milla: I'M SO HAPPY
ABOUT THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE.

June: I AM LIVING LIFE, AND
I'M LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT.

Ashley: I'VE ACCOMPLISHED
A LOT THIS YEAR.

Lupe: THIS FEELS AMAZING.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

FOR TWO DECADES,
I'VE BEEN 400 OR 500 POUNDS.

BEING THIS OVERWEIGHT,

EVERYTHING I DO IS HARD,
AND IT'S A STRUGGLE.

AND WORDS CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW
MUCH I HATE BEING IN THIS BED.

BUT MY HUSBAND, GILBERT,
IS MY CARETAKER.

OKAY.

HE TAKES CARE OF ME
ALL THE TIME.

[ Crying ] I DON'T WANT
TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I WANT A NORMAL LIFE.
I WANT TO GET HEALTHY.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE THIS WAY.

I FOUND A DOCTOR THAT WILL HELP
ME LOSE THE WEIGHT,

BUT HE'S IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

I'M LEAVING EVERYTHING I KNOW
TO SAVE MY LIFE.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

I'M NERVOUS,
BUT I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT,

AND IT'S GONNA SEE ME THROUGH
THIS JOURNEY.

-WHAT'S WRONG?
-I'M IN PAIN. MY LEGS HURT.

-Yes, this is Dr. Nowzaradan.
-I'M CALLING FOR MY WIFE, LUPE.

Okay, come to the hospital.

We'll get her
to emergency room immediately.

LUPE IS LUCKY,
BECAUSE IF HER CAR RIDE

WAS TWO TO THREE HOURS LONGER,
SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.

SHE'S BEEN KILLING HERSELF,

AND HER HUSBAND HAS BEEN
HELPING HER TO DO THAT.

TAKE IT EASY.
SHE'S IN VERY BAD SHAPE.

HER HEART IS IN FAILURE.

-642 POUNDS.
-ARE YOU SURE THAT'S RIGHT?

WE NEED TO GET HER WEIGHT TO
START DROPPING DOWN IMMEDIATELY

SO WE CAN GIVE HER HEART
A CHANCE TO RECOVER.

Lupe: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW,

AND I'M TRYING TO ADJUST
TO THE NEW DIET.

BUT I FEEL LIKE
I'M STARVING ALL THE TIME.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: LUPE HAS DONE
WELL, AND WE HAVE HER HEART

AND WHOLE BODY
IN MUCH HEALTHIER PLACE.

SO WE ARE SENDING HER HOME

TO TRY AND MAKE PROGRESS
ON HER OWN.

Lupe: I KNOW I NEED TO GET
MY EATING UNDER CONTROL,

BUT THERE ARE DAYS YOU JUST HAVE
TO ENJOY LIFE AND CELEBRATE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LET'S CHECK YOUR
WEIGHT AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT.

-THREE. OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

LUPE, THIS IS RIDICULOUS
THAT YOU GAINED MORE WEIGHT

THAN YOU LOST
IN JUST A MONTH.

SO, I'M KEEPING YOU
IN THE HOSPITAL

TO START
CONTROL DIET AGAIN.

AND YOU'RE DOWN
TO YOUR LAST CHANCE.

**

THERE YOU GO.
GOOD JOB.

Lupe: I'M DOING REALLY WELL,
AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WALK

MORE THAN I COULD
IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
REGARDLESS OF HER PROGRESS,

SHE HAS TO PROVE
THAT SHE CAN DO THIS ON HER OWN.

UNTIL SHE DOES THAT,
SHE WILL NOT BE READY

FOR ANY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Lupe: I REALIZED HOW HARD
I NEED TO BE WORKING FOR THIS.

I FEEL LIKE
I'M RACING A CLOCK RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT MY TIME
IS RUNNING SO SHORT.

ALL RIGHT, LUPE.
THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

-OKAY.
-439 POUNDS.

Gilbert:
HEY! OH, MY GOD! THAT'S CRAZY!

ALL RIGHT. YOU DID IT.

I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.
WE COMPLETED THE SLEEVE.

AND LUPE'S SURGERY
WENT VERY WELL.

MY PRIMARY CONCERN NOW

IS CHANGING
THE UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC

SHE HAS WITH HER HUSBAND.

**

I DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING LESS
THAN ANY WOMAN OUT THERE.

-I KNOW THAT, LOVE.
-OKAY, THEN.

Gilbert: OUR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP
IS DIFFICULT.

I GET SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED,
AND I TEND TO SLIP.

Lupe: I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REPAIR
EVERYTHING WITH GILBERT,

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
GIVING UP RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
LUPE IS NOT DEALING

WITH THE ISSUES IN HER LIFE
IN A RIGHT WAY,

AND THAT IS CREATING A VERY
DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR HER.

SHE HAS SPENT
THE LAST TWO MONTHS IN BED

BARELY EVEN MOVING,

AND SHE IS LESS MOBILE NOW
SINCE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

I'M NOT GONNA STAND TODAY
AND FALL AND GO BACKWARDS.

YOU CAN STAND.
YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO STAND.

HERE, I CAN BARELY GET MYSELF
TO THE EDGE OF THE BED.

YOU'RE PLAYING
WITH EVERYBODY AROUND YOU.

NO, I'M NOT.

YOU GOT TO USE YOUR UPPER BODY
AND STAND.

-I'M GONNA FALL.
-YOU'RE NOT GONNA FALL.

YOU REFUSE
TO GET OUT OF THIS CONDITION.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
LAST THING WE'RE GONNA TRY

IS TO SEND A PSYCHOLOGIST
TO MEET WITH YOU AND GILBERT

TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES
THAT ARE KEEPING YOU IN THE BED.

Gilbert:
I WANT OUR MARRIAGE TO WORK.

I WANT YOU TO GET UP.
I WANT YOU TO WALK.

WHEN TRUST IN A RELATIONSHIP
IS BROKEN,

IT IS VERY, VERY HARD
TO GET THAT BACK.

YOU CAN GET THAT BACK,
BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

Lupe: GILBERT AND I ARE TRYING
TO SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER.

AND I'M SO ENCOURAGED

BY EVERYTHING
THAT'S HAPPENED LATELY,

THAT IT'S HELPING DRIVE ME
TO WANT TO DO MORE.

360.

WHOO!

[ LAUGHTER ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: UNFORTUNATELY,
LUPE GOT TO THE POINT

WHERE SHE'S PHYSICALLY LOSING
THE ABILITY TO STAND.

SO WE'LL ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE

AS YOU START LOSING
SOME MORE WEIGHT, OKAY?

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO WITH HER,

BUT SHE'S A FIGHTER
AT THE END OF THE DAY.

**

Lupe: IF YOU WOULD'VE ASKED ME
A YEAR AGO

IF I'D THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE
TO LOSE ALMOST 300 POUNDS,

I WOULD'VE SAID THERE'S NO WAY.

I WOULD'VE HOPED I COULD,

BUT I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT I
COULD MAKE IT AS FAR AS I HAVE.

BUT THE BIGGEST SETBACK FOR ME
IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS

HAS BEEN MY HIP PAIN
THAT KEEPS ME IN BED.

SO, DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS
I NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT I CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS
AND LOSING WEIGHT.

SLOW, SLOW, BABE.

RIGHT THERE IS MY BACK.
JUST PULL IT.

-PULL IT?
-YEAH, STRETCH IT.

OKAY.

AND HE WANTS ME TO TRY AND MOVE
AS MUCH AS I CAN

SO IT DOESN'T GET WORSE.

SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS,

I PUSH MYSELF
TO SIT UP AND EXERCISE.

THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING
HAVING LOST ALL THIS WEIGHT

IS NOT BEING ABLE
TO STAND AND WALK.

OKAY, READY?

**

OKAY.

I'M SCARED OF FALLING
BECAUSE OF MY BAD HIP.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT.

[ SIGHS ]

-OKAY, I'M DONE.
-OKAY.

-SURE?
-YES.

SINCE I CAN'T GET UP,

GILBERT HAS BEEN TEACHING ME
SHADOW BOXING

TO DO SOMETHING ACTIVE
WITH MY UPPER BODY.

GOT THIS, ALI?

AND IT DOES WEAR ME OUT,
SO IT'S A GOOD WORKOUT.

AND THAT HELPS ME, 'CAUSE
IT KIND OF GETS THE ANGER OUT

AND THE ANXIETY.

[ SMOOCHES ]
PROUD OF YOU.

BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING
TO STILL BE IN THIS BED

AND THAT I'M NOT ABLE
TO DO THINGS FOR MYSELF YET.

OKAY, YOU GOT IT.

LUPE'S DEALING WITH A LOT,

BEING IN BED
WITH ALL THAT ENERGY.

SHE WANTS TO GET UP.

AND I TRY TO DO
WHAT I CAN FOR HER

TO STOP THE ANXIETY
AND THE DEPRESSION,

BUT THERE ARE SOME GOOD MOMENTS
EVERY DAY.

LOSING THE WEIGHT
HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER,

AND OUR SEX LIFE'S GOTTEN WAY
BETTER.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN 24/7
UP IN HERE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I STILL HAVE TO DO
EVERYTHING FOR HER.

I GOT IT.

AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

HOLD ON, BABE. HOLD ON.

BUT I STILL HOPE AND PRAY
THAT WE CAN BECOME

MORE LIKE HUSBAND AND WIFE

INSTEAD OF ME
BEING HER CARETAKER.

OKAY.

Lupe:
IT'S SO FRUSTRATING.

I WANT TO THROW MYSELF
OFF THE BED AT TIMES.

BUT I'M TRYING TO STAY ON TRACK,

BECAUSE EVERY DAY,
MY HIP HURTS MORE AND MORE,

AND I FEEL LIKE
IT'S GETTING UNBEARABLE.

SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW
TO FINALLY GET OUT OF THIS BED

AND START DOING THINGS
ON MY OWN.

**

Ashley: THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT
GOES BY THAT I DON'T HAVE PAIN,

AND MY WEIGHT HAS MADE IT ALMOST
UNBEARABLE TO GET AROUND.

MY STOMACH HANGS SO HEAVY
ON MY BACK,

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M STANDING,

I'M SCARED OF PHYSICALLY
BREAKING MY OWN BACK.

[ Crying ] I DON'T WANT
MY HUSBAND TO HAVE TO BURY ME.

AND IF I KEEP GOING,
THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I'M THROWING MY LIFE AWAY
FOR FOOD.

**

MY HUSBAND IS A TRUCK DRIVER,

AND HE'S GONE PROBABLY 70
TO 100 HOURS A WEEK.

SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING
THAT INVOLVES STANDING

AND WALKING AROUND A LOT,
PATRICK DOES FOR ME.

GO GET THE BLUE BUCKET
FOR MAMA.

WE'RE GONNA DO SOME LAUNDRY
REAL QUICK.

Patrick:
IT'S HARD FOR HER TO WALK,

SO I DO THE STUFF THAT SHE WANTS
ME TO DO EVERY DAY.

WILL YOU PUT THEM IN THE DRYER,
PRETTY PLEASE?

MM-HMM.

Ashley: I JUST WANT TO BE
A GOOD MOM AND TAKE CARE OF HIM.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHY I LET MYSELF GET THIS WAY.

I HAVE LET MYSELF DOWN.

I'M LETTING MY HUSBAND DOWN
AND MY SON.

I WANT HIM TO HAVE A REAL MOM,

AND I WANT TO DO THE THINGS
THAT MY MOM DIDN'T DO WITH ME.

BUT I NEED HELP.

**

I'M NERVOUS TO GO
TO THE DOCTOR TODAY.

OTHER DOCTORS HAVE REFUSED
TO HELP ME BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.

I'M WORRIED THIS DOCTOR'S
GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.

SO THIS HAS POTENTIAL
TO BE DEVASTATING

OR ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
TO HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.

I JUST HOPE
I DIDN'T WAIT TOO LONG.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AT YOUR WEIGHT,
EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY

IS UNDER STRAIN
JUST TO FUNCTION.

SO YOU NEED
TO START A NEW DIET

TO LOSE 50 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

THIS IS GONNA BE THE HARDEST
THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

I'M EATING A PIECE OF CHICKEN,

AND JAKE IS EATING,
YOU KNOW, A HAMBURGER.

I WISH I HAD MORE
OF MY HUSBAND'S SUPPORT.

BUT IN KNEW THE HARDEST PART
IS FINDING SOMETHING

THAT REPLACES THE COMFORT
THAT FOOD GIVES ME.

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

DR. NOWZARADAN WANTED ME
TO GET UNDER 675,

AND I HOPE I'VE DONE THAT.

Woman: 667.

Ashley:
I'M KIND OF IN SHOCK.

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AT THIS POINT

AND APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

-SO, HOW DOES THAT SOUND TO YOU?
-GOOD.

I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO
GASTRIC BYPASS ON ASHLEY.

OKAY, WE'RE DONE.

IT WAS CHALLENGING TO DO,

BUT OVERALL, EVERYTHING WENT
VERY WELL.

ASHLEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
ABOUT 30 POUNDS A MONTH NOW.

**

Ashley: IT'S GETTING HARDER
AND HARDER TO COPE,

BUT I CAN'T GO BACK
TO THE WAY I WAS.

[ VOMITING ]

Dr. Nowzaradan:
RIGHT NOW, I'M TAKING ASHLEY
TO EMERGENCY SURGERY

BECAUSE SHE MAY BE ABUSING
HER PAIN MEDICATION,

AND THIS COULD BE
A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION

FOR HER RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, PERFORATED ULCER.

THAT'S GONNA BE BAD.

WE HAVE HER STABLE NOW,

BUT SHE'LL BE IN CRITICAL
CONDITION FOR NEXT 72 HOURS.

ASHLEY USES SELF-DESTRUCTIVE
WAYS TO COPE WITH HER EMOTIONS,

AND THAT HAS TO STOP
IMMEDIATELY.

Ashley: THE DOC SAID
I NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST

AS SOON AS I'M ABLE
TO GET AROUND AGAIN.

I WAS A PRODUCT
OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

I TURNED TO FOOD
FOR COMFORT.

FOOD ALMOST KILLED ME.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD
TRYING TO DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS

INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM THEM.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN
255 POUNDS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO LOSE ALL THAT WEIGHT?

CRAZY.
IT'S AMAZING.

ASHLEY HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS,

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
SEEING HER HIT HER GOAL WEIGHT

IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

Ashley:
I AM SO GLAD FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

NOW I CAN BE A PART OF MY FAMILY

AND GIVE BACK TO THEM INSTEAD
OF THEM JUST TAKING CARE OF ME.

**

I'VE COME SO FAR
IN THIS PAST YEAR.

I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE,

AND I'M A LOT MORE ACTIVE
THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.

YOU READY?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES

IS HOW I CAN GET UP
AND DO THINGS FOR PATRICK NOW,

INSTEAD OF HIM
HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME.

HE CAN BE A KID,
AND I CAN BE A MOM,

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST
THANKFUL FOR.

GET IN, BABY.

SO TODAY, I'M HELPING PATRICK
GET READY FOR SCHOOL

BY TAKING HIM
TO GET THE SUPPLIES HE NEEDS.

AND I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO DO THIS JUST SIX MONTHS AGO.

THIS YEAR, HE IS GOING
INTO THE FIRST GRADE,

AND HE'S SO EXCITED.

PATRICK IS GROWING UP
VERY FAST ON ME.

IT'S LIKE I TURNED AROUND,
AND HE'S NOT MY BABY ANYMORE.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M EXCITED
TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND SHARE THIS TIME WITH HIM.

BEFORE, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR

AND GO INTO THE STORE.

YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT
TO COME INSIDE?

NO, BABY,
I DON'T WANT TO GO INSIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

IT WOULD'VE HURT TOO MUCH,

AND I WOULD'VE BEEN
WAY TOO SELF-CONSCIOUS

AT WHO WAS STARING AT ME.

COME ON.

[ Crying ]
I JUST HATE BEING STARED AT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL
LIKE I'M NOT A PERSON,

LIKE I'M AN OBJECT.

[ SOBS ]

BUT NOW I DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE
OR WORRY ABOUT ANYONE.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE
A LONG WAY TO GO,

BUT I'M STARTING
TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN.

I CAN BE A PART
OF MY SON'S LIFE,

AND THAT'S A PRICELESS GIFT.

-YOU READY, BUD?
-YEP, I'M READY.

NOW I CAN WALK AROUND AS MUCH
AS I WANT AND DO WHAT I NEED.

ALL RIGHT, BABY.

-DO YOU WANT TO GET BLUE?
-YEAH.

BUT THE ONLY DIFFICULTY
I'M STARTING TO HAVE

IS MY SAGGING SKIN.

AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED AS I
CONTINUE TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT...

THANK YOU.

...THAT THE SKIN
IS GOING TO GET WORSE

AND MAKE IT HARDER
TO MOVE AROUND.

AND I'M SO SCARED
THAT IF I START TO SLOW DOWN

AND STOP BEING SO ACTIVE

THAT I'LL START TO GAIN AGAIN

AND THAT I'LL END UP
BACK LIKE I WAS.

AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE
TO TAKE IT IF THAT HAPPENED.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT
MY WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRESS SO FAR.

BUT I'VE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT
AT THIS POINT

THAT MY SAGGING SKIN IS STARTING
TO BECOME EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

AND WHEN I MOVE AROUND,
IT BOUNCES AND HITS MY BODY,

AND IT JUST HURTS A LOT.

BEFORE, WHEN IT WAS SOLID,

MY SKIN, YOU KNOW, WAS TIGHT.

NOW THAT I'VE LOST A LOT OF
WEIGHT, IT JUST -- IT HANGS.

SO MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW
IS LOSING ENOUGH WEIGHT

TO GET IN THE LOW 350s,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN DR. NOW SAID

I'D BE READY FOR MY FIRST
SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

SO I'M GOING TO PUSH MYSELF TO
MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS I CAN,

BECAUSE I WANT TO HIT MY GOAL
WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE HARD,

BUT I FEEL VERY READY
FOR MY NEXT BIG STEP.

**

Lupe:
TODAY, I'M GOING TO DR. NOW'S
CLINIC FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GONNA
EVEN BE ABLE TO STAND UP,

BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO PUT ANY
PRESSURE ON MY HIP RIGHT NOW.

IT JUST CAN'T TAKE IT.

SO I HAD TO GET AN AMBULANCE
TO BRING ME HERE.

BUT I'M HOPING
I'VE MADE SOME GOOD PROGRESS

AND LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

AT MY LAST WEIGH-IN,
I WAS 360 POUNDS.

360. WHOO!

[ LAUGHTER ]

AND THE DOC WANTS ME
TO KEEP LOSING

AT LEAST 20 POUNDS A MONTH
RIGHT NOW,

SO I NEED TO BE BELOW 320
TO STAY ON TRACK.

OH, IN JESUS' NAME.

GOOD JOB, LOVE.
YOU GOT IT.

**

OKAY, THERE?

-THERE WE GO.
-THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA
PULL YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT.

I JUST NEED A MINUTE.
HOLD ON.

THERE YOU GO.
SEE, YOU DID IT.

IT'S NOT WHERE WE
QUITE WANT IT, BUT...

I KNOW.

OKAY.

-SORRY.
-THERE WE GO.

I'M UPSET THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO DO EVERYTHING,

NOT HARDLY EATING OR ANYTHING,
AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

HE WANTS ME A CERTAIN WEIGHT.

AND I JUST HOPE
DR. NOW ISN'T TOO UPSET,

BECAUSE I WANT HIM
TO FIND A WAY TO FIX MY HIP,

BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP
LIVING LIKE THIS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
COME IN.

-HELLO.
-HI.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD. GOOD, DOC.
HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY.

SO, LOOK LIKE YOU'RE NOT LOSING
ANY REAL WEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

YES, THAT'S WHAT
I'M FRUSTRATED ABOUT.

WITH ALL THE PROGRESS WE HAD
WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

YOU'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE
IN THE STRETCHER,

AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING UP.

WELL, I HAD TO COME
IN A STRETCHER BECAUSE MY HIP --

I CAN'T PUSH ON IT.

THIS IS THE SAME HIP
AND THE SAME ISSUE YOU HAD

WHEN YOU WERE
ALMOST 600 POUNDS.

AND YOU COULD GET UP THEN.

WHEN YOU WERE 600 POUNDS,
YOU WERE MOTIVATED.

BUT YOU LOST
THE MOTIVATION,

AND THAT'S BECOMING
YOUR REAL PROBLEM.

LOOK AT TODAY. YOU STOOD ON A
SCALE FOR A MINUTE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU KNOW THAT
YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME YOUR WEIGHT

AND YOUR PROGRESS TO GET
APPROVED, SO YOU'RE MOTIVATED.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT SHE CAN GET
THE SKIN REMOVAL?

SHE'S NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS
TO GET SKIN REMOVAL RIGHT NOW.

SHE NEEDS TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT
BEFORE SHE'S READY FOR THAT,

AND SHE NEEDS TO GET UP
AND MOVE AROUND.

AND YOU NEED
TO HELP HER WITH THAT.

WITH YOUR BODY TYPE, YOU HAVE
TO GET UNDER 300 POUNDS

BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO BE READY
FOR ANY SKIN SURGERY.

AND THEN THAT WILL HELP YOU
TO GET TO THE 200s.

AND THEN IT WILL
BE SAFE FOR US

TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY
OF DOING ANY HIP SURGERY.

LUPE WAS IN A COMA
A FEW YEARS BACK,

AND IMMOBILE
FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THAT CAUSED HER HIP BONE

TO START TO FUSE
TO HER UPPER FEMUR.

BUT IT JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT
FOR HER TO MOVE,

BUT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT SHE CAN'T GET UP.

IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING,

I HAVE TO SEE YOU LOSE WEIGHT
AND BE MORE MOBILE.

I'LL GIVE YOU A MONTH.

-YES.
-BUT IN A MONTH,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE
AT LEAST 20 POUNDS, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-OKAY, GOD BLESS YOU.
-GOD BLESS YOU.

-THANK YOU.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU HAVE TO BE
MORE ACTIVE.

THAT'S WHAT -- I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE BEING ENOUGH

AS ACTIVE AS YOU NEED TO BE,
YOU KNOW?

I UNDERSTAND THAT.
I AM ACTIVE,

BUT HE WANTS ME TO BE MORE.
OKAY.

YEAH.

LUPE'S IMMOBILITY
IS IN HER HEAD.

SHE'S LIKELY AFRAID
WHAT WILL HAPPEN

IF HER DYNAMIC WITH GILBERT
IS CHANGED.

BUT SHE CAN'T
KEEP LIVING IN FEAR.

SHE HAS TO START TO STAND UP,
AND AS SOON AS SHE DOES,

SHE WILL FEEL MORE CONFIDENT,

AND THAT FEAR
WILL START TO GO AWAY.

IF SHE DOESN'T, HER CONDITION
IS GOING TO GET WORSE AND WORSE.

Lupe: I FEEL DISCOURAGED, BUT
I JUST GOT TO TAKE WHAT HE SAID

AND ROLL WITH IT
AND PUSH FORWARD.

I CAN'T LET IT BRING ME DOWN
AND GO BACKWARDS.

HE GAVE ME A MONTH,
SO I REALLY WANT TO PUSH HARD

TO SHOW HIM
THAT I NEED THE SURGERY.

I JUST HOPE I CAN DO IT.

Lupe: SINCE SEEING DR. NOW,
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET UP

AND STAND LIKE HE WANTS ME TO.

I STILL DON'T THINK
HE REALLY UNDERSTANDS

HOW HARD IT IS
TO MOVE EVEN A LITTLE,

BUT I'M TRYING TO DO IT.

AND GILBERT'S BEEN HELPING

BY MASSAGING MY LEGS
TO GET MY BLOOD FLOWING.

AND THEN I'M GETTING UP
AND SITTING AT THE END OF MY BED

AND TRYING TO STAND
FOR A MOMENT.

-READY?
-MM-HMM.

SOON AS YOU GET YOUR STEP UP,
I'LL MOVE MY FOOT LIKE ALWAYS.

-YEAH, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN.
-JUST TELL ME.

OKAY, GO UP. WAIT.

PUT YOUR FOOT --
YOU GOT IT?

I FIGURE IF I PUSH MYSELF
A LITTLE MORE EACH TIME,

I'LL BE ABLE TO DO
MORE AND MORE.

-OKAY, GOT IT?
-MM-HMM.

LAST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO STAND
FOR FOUR SECONDS.

SO THIS TIME, I WANT TO DO IT
FOR AT LEAST FIVE.

-YOU GOT IT, RIGHT?
-I KNOW, I KNOW.

DON'T MOVE YET.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,

FIVE, AND SIX.

-[ SIGHS ]
-GOOD JOB.

YEAH!

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO START TO STAND ON MY OWN.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO TAKE MY FIRST STEP YET,

BUT I'M HOPING THAT
BY NEXT MONTH I'LL BE ABLE TO,

AND I'LL SHOW DR. NOW
HOW MUCH PROGRESS I'M MAKING

AND THAT HE'LL THINK
I'M READY FOR SKIN REMOVAL,

BECAUSE MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS
TO BECOME COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT

AND NOT NEED GILBERT OR ANYONE
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I WANT TO BE MY OWN WOMAN,
SO I'M FIGHTING HARD FOR THAT,

BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
IF I CAN'T DO THAT.

**

Ashley:
I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I WAS OUT WITH MY FATHER
AND STEPMOM,

AND I JUST STARTED
TO HURT ALL OVER,

AND MY LEGS STARTED GOING NUMB.

SO WE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

-HI, ASHLEY. HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

ALL RIGHT, SO,
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

MY PROBLEM IS
I'M NUMB FROM ABOUT HERE DOWN.

WHEN DID THIS START?

I WENT TO MY DAD'S ON SATURDAY
TO VISIT WITH THEM,

AND BY THE TIME I MADE IT IN THE
HOUSE, I JUST GOT REALLY DIZZY.

AND I COULDN'T EVEN
STAND UP.

I COULDN'T PUT NO WEIGHT
ON MY LEGS.

OKAY, WE'LL GET THIS
FIGURED OUT.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO AHEAD
AND GET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL.

I WANT AN MRI,
AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE.

-OKAY?
-THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.

ALL RIGHT, OKAY.
WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

-THANK YOU.
-MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD
BACK ISSUES AS A CHILD,

SO IT IS NOT BEYOND
THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

THAT A SLIPPED DISC COULD BE
PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE NERVE,

CAUSING HER DIZZINESS AND HER
NUMBNESS THAT SHE'S DESCRIBING.

...TO IDENTIFY
IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM THERE

THAN CAN BE CAUSING THIS.

Ashley: I HAVE HAD BACK ISSUES
EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE.

AND NOW THAT I'VE LOST
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

I HAVE GAINED AN INCH AND A HALF
IN HEIGHT.

THE WEIGHT IS COMING OFF,

AND IT'S ALLOWING MY BACK
TO STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT.

BUT THE WAY DR. NOWZARADAN
EXPLAINED IT TO ME,

AS IT STRAIGHTENS OUT,
I CAN PINCH NERVES.

I CAN EVEN BECOME PARALYZED.

-TWO, THREE.
-OHH!

WE GOT YOU, DARLING.
DON'T YOU WORRY.

AND WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,
I HAD GOTTEN SO BIG

I COULDN'T FIT IN AN MRI,

SO THEY COULDN'T SEE
WHAT WAS WRONG.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD
THAT I CAN AT LEAST FIT NOW,

AND THEY CAN RUN
THE TESTS THEY NEED TO

TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME.

BUT I'M TRYING
TO MENTALLY PREPARE MYSELF

FOR THE WORST RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'M SCARED
THAT WHATEVER'S WRONG

MEANS I'M GOING
TO LOSE EVERYTHING

I'VE WORKED SO HARD TO GAIN
OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

PRETTY UNDER-WHELMING
OVERALL.

-NO HERNIATIONS.
-SUPER. THAT'S GREAT.

NO -- NOTHING SURGICAL,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

-ALL RIGHT.
-OKAY?

THE TINCTURE OF TIME, HOPEFULLY.
THANKS.

SO AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT SURE
IF THERE IS ANY PHYSICAL ISSUES

THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE,
OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE.

GETTING MOBILE AGAIN

AND LOSING THE WEIGHT
LIKE ASHLEY HAS IS SCARY,

BECAUSE SHE'S GETTING A LIFE
THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED.

AND ONE SMALL SETBACK
COULD DISCOURAGE HER SO MUCH

THAT SHE WILL START TO USE IT
AS AN EXCUSE TO BECOME IMMOBILE,

AND THEN SHE WILL START
TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO I NEED TO DETERMINE
WHAT IS AS AT THE ROOT HERE

AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SO HER SITUATION
DOES NOT GET ANY WORSE.

Ashley: YESTERDAY, THEY FINISHED
RUNNING ALL THEIR TESTS ON ME.

AND NOW I'M WAITING FOR DR. NOW
TO COME TELL ME

WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING
MY NUMBNESS AND DIZZINESS.

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS
IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING BAD.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Ashley: COME IN.

OKAY, ASHLEY.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

MY LEGS ARE STILL BOTH --
THEY'RE NUMB.

AND THIS ONE HAS
A LOT OF JUST PAIN IN IT.

-OKAY.
-AND MY HANDS,

BECAUSE I WAS
HAVING TO LAY

WITH MY HANDS ABOVE MY HEAD
FOR SO LONG...

-MM-HMM.
-...I HAVEN'T GOT THE FEELING

BACK IN THEM YET.
THEY'RE STILL NUMB.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU
WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOUR MRI AND ALL YOUR TESTS
LOOK GOOD.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH YOU.

SO WHAT THIS IS
IS YOUR BODY RESPONDING

TO PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE
FROM FEAR OR STRESS.

AND THESE ARE JUST
HINDERING YOU

FROM PROGRESSING
TO NEXT LEVEL.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY'S DIZZINESS AND NUMBNESS

ARE NOT RESULT OF ANYTHING
PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH HER.

THEY ARE ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL.

SHE HAS A LOT OF FEAR RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT IS STARTING
TO AFFECT HER AND HER BODY.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PHYSICAL
CAUSE FOR IT,

THE SYMPTOM ARE STILL REAL

AND CAN GET WORSE IF WE DON'T
ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, SHE'LL
BRING ABOUT WHAT SHE FEARS MOST.

SHE WILL END UP IMMOBILE AGAIN,
AND SHE'LL GAIN WEIGHT.

SO WHEN WE NEED TO TURN THE
SITUATION AROUND IMMEDIATELY.

SO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO TREAT THIS

IS TO GET YOU SOME
PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP.

WE NEED YOU TO START SEEING
A PSYCHOTHERAPIST,

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEND YOU
TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE STAYING ACTIVE

AND ARE DOING
YOUR EXERCISES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THIS
FIGURED OUT, OKAY?

OKAY, DR. NOWZARADAN.

OKAY, SO LET ME
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS

FOR ALL THOSE THINGS
FOR YOU, OKAY?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

**

Ashley:
I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND
HOW THIS IS ALL IN MY HEAD.

SO I DON'T SEE
HOW THERAPY IS GONNA HELP ME.

BUT IF DR. NOW SAYS IT'LL HELP,
I'LL DO IT.

I JUST DON'T GET HOW THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

**

TODAY, I'M GOING
TO SEE THE THERAPIST AGAIN.

MY MOM IS GOING WITH ME
SO I DON'T CHICKEN OUT,

BUT I DO THINK SEEING
A THERAPIST WILL DO SOME GOOD.

IT STILL MAKES ME NERVOUS

TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE EMOTIONS
THEY MAY ASK ME ABOUT.

BUT I THINK
THIS WILL BE A GOOD NEXT STEP.

ASHLEY? I'M ANGELA.

-I'M ASHLEY.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

COME ON IN.

FEEL FREE
TO SIT ON THE COUCH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

-AWKWARD. [ CHUCKLES ]
-YEAH?

THE FIRST SESSION
IS ALWAYS AWKWARD.

YEAH.

WELL, DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME,

OR DO YOU WANT
TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND --

UM...

GUESS WE'LL JUST
JUMP RIGHT IN.

-OKAY.
-YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY

AND HOW WE GOT HERE?

EARLY CHILDHOOD,
MY PARENTS GOT A DIVORCE,

AND WE ACTUALLY
MOVED IN WITH MY MOM.

WELL, I ENDED UP...

...BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED
BY MY BABYSITTER'S HUSBAND.

AND IT KIND OF JUST
STARTED ALL THIS, I GUESS.

-HOW OLD WERE YOU?
-7 TO 8.

THAT'S HARD STUFF.

AND I KIND OF BUILT UP,
LIKE, A SECURITY WALL.

[ SNIFFLES ]
AND MINE WAS WITH FOOD,

SO I LITERALLY BUILT A WALL
AROUND ME, SO...

I'M NOT ONE
THAT OPENS UP A LOT.

BUT NOW I'M BATTLING
SOMETHING THAT'S INSIDE,

AND NOT EVERYBODY
UNDERSTANDS THAT.

WE CAN BURY AND BURY, AND THEN
EVENTUALLY, IT HAS TO COME OUT.

AND IT USUALLY COMES OUT

IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION,
OR ADDICTION.

[ Chuckling ]
YEAH, I'M PROOF.

YEAH.

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME
BY MYSELF.

-YEAH.
-I'M A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

MY HUSBAND'S GONE A LOT.

AND I KNOW WHO I AM,

BUT THEN AGAIN,
I HAVE NO SENSE OF WHO I AM.

SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO WORK

ON YOU OWNING YOUR PLACE
IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW?

-I THINK --
-THAT'S WHERE I'M LOST.

YEAH, I CAN HEAR THAT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW --

I'M, LIKE, IN LIMBO.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND I CAN LOOK AT PICTURES
AND SEE HOW MUCH I'VE CHANGED.

BUT THEN AGAIN,
I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,

AND SOMETIMES, I JUST STILL
SEE MY 725-POUND SELF.

YEAH.

IT'S STARTING TO WEAR --
IT'S STARTING TO WEAR ME OUT.

SURE, YEAH.
IT'S EXHAUSTING.

-YEAH.
-YEAH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

-I FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER.
-OKAY.

I DO. I FEEL LIKE
I'VE TALKED ABOUT THINGS

THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO KIND OF GET OFF MY CHEST,

-SO I'M GLAD YOU LISTENED.
-YEAH. OF COURSE.

I FEEL LIKE I DON'T
HAVE ANYBODY AROUND ME

THAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDS
WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH, SO...

YEAH. OKAY.

WELL, I DO WANT TO SEND YOU AWAY
WITH SOME HOMEWORK.

I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD
TO TRACK YOUR MOODS.

SO ANY TIME THOSE SELF-DEFEATING
THOUGHTS START TO COME UP,

ESPECIALLY AROUND BODY IMAGE,
I WANT YOU TO WRITE THAT DOWN.

AND THEN WE CAN DIRECTLY
COUNTERACT THOSE THOUGHTS

AND THOSE THEMES.

-WELL, THANK YOU.
-DEFINITELY.

-THANK YOU.
-HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

YEAH.

I'LL SHOW YOU OUT HERE.

Ashley:
I'M GLAD I CAME TODAY.

IT FELT REALLY GOOD
TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS

THAT I'VE HAD BOTTLED UP INSIDE
OUT IN THE OPEN.

I FEEL 100 TIMES BETTER

NOW THAT I JUST KIND OF
LET IT OFF MY CHEST --

WHAT I'M FEELING,
WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

AND HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE

TO MAKE THIS A CONSISTENT THING
IN MY LIFE,

BECAUSE I THINK
THIS COULD REALLY HELP ME A LOT

ON MY JOURNEY.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

**

Lupe:
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH MYSELF
TO STAND UP AND TAKE SOME STEPS.

AND I WAS TRYING TO WALK,

AND I FELT SOMETHING POP
IN MY HIP,

SO I CALLED 911.

AND I'M REALLY WORRIED I'VE BEEN
PUSHING MY BODY TOO HARD...

ONE, TWO, THREE.

...AND THAT I REALLY
HURT MYSELF.

I'M HOPING THIS HOSPITAL VISIT
WON'T SET ME BACK.

-HOW YOU HOLDING UP, LOVE?
-OKAY.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE YOU
ANYTHING YET, DID THEY?

LIKE MEDICINE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

NO, THEY DIDN'T
GIVE ME ANYTHING.

WELL, HAVE THEM CHECK,

'CAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE
YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT.

JUST TO BE
ON THE SAFE SIDE.

WITH ALL MY WEIGHT I'VE LOST,
GILBERT AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO BE MORE INTIMATE
AND SEXUALLY ACTIVE.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD MY PERIOD FOR
LIKE A MONTH, MAYBE FIVE WEEKS.

AND I'VE BEEN GETTING SICK.

SO I TOLD GILBERT
I COULD BE PREGNANT.

SO WE'RE CONCERNED.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO RUN SOME TESTS

BECAUSE IT COULD HURT THE BABY
IF I'M PREGNANT.

I HAVE WANTED A BABY,

BUT I DON'T WANT THEM
TRYING TO TAKE MY BABY AWAY

BECAUSE I'M NOT CAPABLE
OF GETTING OUT OF BED

OR TAKING CARE OF IT.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT --

WHAT IS SHE GETTING DONE
RIGHT NOW,

-A SONAR?
-A C.T. OF HER STOMACH.

OH, OKAY. JUST BECAUSE
MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY

THAT SHE COULD BE PREGNANT,
BUT I'M NOT SURE.

I JUST WANT TO BE SAFE,
THAT'S ALL.

OKAY. LET ME TALK TO THEM
FOR A MINUTE.

OKAY.

Gilbert:
IF SHE TURNS OUT TO BE PREGNANT,

THEN I GUESS IT'S GONNA PUT
A PAUSE ON ALL THE PROCEDURES,

AND WE'RE GONNA GO A DIFFERENT
ROUTE ON THE JOURNEY,

A MORE HEALTHIER ROUTE
FOR HER AND OUR BABY.

BUT IF NOT, THEN WE'RE GONNA
CONTINUE TO PUSH

AND CONTINUE
TO GET MY WIFE ON HER FEET.

[ CHUCKLES ]
THAT'D BE SOMETHING.

OH, MY GOSH.
[ LAUGHS ]

OKAY.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, SIR.

-MY BAD.
-IT'S OKAY.

Lupe:
I'VE WANTED A BABY FOR SO LONG,

BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING THAT
I'M NOT READY TO BE PREGNANT.

AND RIGHT NOW
IS NOT THE BEST TIME.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW
HOW I'D TAKE CARE OF IT...

...AND HOW GILBERT WOULD BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THE BABY AND ME.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

AND I'M JUST FEELING
REALLY OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE NOW'S NOT THE TIME
FOR ME TO BE PREGNANT.

Lupe:
I'M IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE
THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO WALK,

I FELT A POP AND SOME PAIN.

SO I CALLED 911 TO FIND OUT
IF I REALLY HURT MYSELF OR NOT.

BUT GILBERT STOPPED THEM
FROM RUNNING TESTS ON ME

BECAUSE WE THOUGHT
I MIGHT BE PREGNANT.

SO THEY GAVE ME
A PREGNANCY TEST,

BUT THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE.

Gilbert: I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED
RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I THOUGHT LUPE AND I
WERE FINALLY HAVING A BABY.

BUT IT WASN'T OUR TIME,
I SUPPOSE.

WE HAVE TO GET LUPE
TO A MORE HEALTHY PLACE

BEFORE SHE'S READY,

BUT IT WON'T STOP US
FROM TRYING.

Lupe: PART OF ME
IS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED,

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF ME
THAT'S RELIEVED.

AND NOW I'M JUST WONDERING

ABOUT WHAT I MAY HAVE DONE
TO HURT MYSELF.

SO I'M HOPING TO GET THAT ANSWER
HERE REALLY SOON.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

GOOD MORNING.

-GOOD MORNING.
-GOOD MORNING.

WELL, HOW ARE YOU FEELING
THIS MORNING?

THIS PAIN DON'T REALLY HURT

UNLESS I'M SITTING UP
ALL THE WAY.

LIKE, IF IT HANGS A LITTLE BIT
RIGHT HERE.

OKAY.
AND HAVE YOU BEEN UP TODAY?

-NO.
-OKAY.

SO, WE HAVE DONE
COMPLETE CHECKUP ON YOU.

IT SEEMS LIKE
THERE IS NO NEW INJURY

-OR DAMAGE TO YOUR BODY, OKAY?
-OKAY.

...EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,
AND YOU ARE DOING FINE.

OKAY.

SO, THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS,
RIGHT?

YEAH.

IT MEANS THAT
THERE ARE NO SETBACK

OR CONCERN ABOUT GETTING UP
AND WALKING AGAIN.

THE ISSUE IS THAT YOU'RE
JUST AFRAID TO DO IT.

-YEAH.
-AND EXCUSES NEED TO STOP, OKAY?

OKAY.

LUPE IS CONTINUING
MAKING EXCUSES

AS TO WHY SHE CAN'T
GET UP AND WALK.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF SHE WANTS
TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS,

SHE NEEDS TO BE ABLE
TO GET OUT OF BED.

AND SKIN SURGERY
WILL HELP WITH THAT.

YOU NEED TO HIT YOUR GOALS
TO GET YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE
IF WE CAN FIX YOUR HIP, OKAY?

OKAY.

HEY, WE BOTH CAN
FIT IN THE BED, DOC.

ALL RIGHT,
SO I GUESS THAT'S IMPROVEMENT?

-THAT'S IMPROVEMENT.
-OKAY.

KEEP MAKING THE PROGRESS
I TOLD YOU TO MAKE

AND LOSE 20 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I'M READY, WHENEVER.

ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

-THANK YOU.
-OKAY.

LUPE NEEDS TO STOP COMING UP
WITH A REASON AND EXCUSES

WHY SHE CANNOT START WALKING

AND PUSH TO MAKE
THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS

SO SHE DOESN'T
GO BACKWARD AGAIN.

Lupe: I KNOW I NEED
TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN.

BUT IF DR. NOW WANTS ME
TO WORK HARDER AT IT, I WILL.

FOR SO MANY YEARS,
I WAS SCARED TO FALL

BECAUSE I KNEW
NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE

TO HELP PICK ME UP IF I DID.

AND THAT FEAR
DOESN'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

BUT I'M DETERMINED TO DO THIS
NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS,

BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

IF I HAVE TO SPEND
THE REST OF MY LIFE IN BED.

**

Ashley: ALL RIGHT, BABY.
I'LL BE BACK.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL BE RIGHT HERE.

YOU BETTER BE.

Ashley:
AFTER SEEING THE THERAPIST,
I'VE BEEN FEELING A LOT BETTER.

OOH, IT'S COLD.

MY NUMBNESS AND DIZZINESS
HAVEN'T COMPLETELY GONE AWAY,

BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY
AS BAD AS IT WAS.

DR. NOW HAD A PHYSICAL THERAPIST
COME OVER A FEW TIMES,

AND HE TOLD ME THE GOAL

IS JUST FIND A WAY TO DO
SOMETHING ACTIVE EVERY DAY.

SO MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN TAKING
WALKS DOWN THE STREET AND BACK.

WE'VE STARTED TALKING SOME,

AND I FEEL LIKE JUST DOING THIS
IS BRINGING US CLOSER TOGETHER.

AND I'M FOCUSING
ON MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO GET MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING
TO A GYM WITH A TRAINER.

-UH-HUH.
-I THINK JUST FOOD AND WALKING'S

-NOT GONNA GET IT ANYMORE.
-NO, IT'S NOT.

'CAUSE MENTALLY,

I KNOW
I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT,

BUT WHEN I SEE IT MYSELF,

IT'S LIKE I CAN'T GET IT
THROUGH MY THICK SKULL,

'CAUSE IT'S STILL HERE.

YEAH.

I WANT THIS SKIN
OFF OF ME.

JUST A YEAR AGO, I WOULD NEVER
HAVE GUESSED I COULD DO THIS.

MY STOMACH HANGS
SO HEAVY ON MY BACK.

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M STANDING,

I'M SCARED OF PHYSICALLY
BREAKING MY OWN BACK.

DR. NOW TOLD ME
TO GET BELOW 350 POUNDS

TO GET TO WHERE I WOULD BE READY
FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING
TO WALK WITH ME.

WELL, OF COURSE, DEAR.

YOU KNOW, I TOLD YOU I WOULD
WALK WITH YOU WHEN I'M HOME.

I KNOW, AND I NEED TO TAKE
YOU UP ON IT MORE OFTEN.

RIGHT NOW,
I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING.

AND WHEN I SEE DR. NOW SOON,

I HOPE THE SCALE
SHOWS THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO I'M WORKING MY HARDEST
TO GET THERE AND HIT MY GOAL.

**

Lupe:
OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS...

DON'T EVEN
NEED ME ANYMORE.

...I'VE BEEN GETTING UP
AND OUT OF BED AS MUCH AS I CAN.

MORE INDEPENDENT BY YOURSELF
WITH THAT WALKER NOW.

IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST,
BUT I PUSHED MYSELF

UNTIL I COULD STAY OUT OF MY BED
ALL DAY.

YOU GONNA MAKE ME
A BURGER, OR WHAT?

YEAH.

HERE YOU GO.

I'M EVEN STARTING TO FEEL
A LITTLE MORE INDEPENDENT

AND CONFIDENT IN MYSELF.

AND I TRY TO HELP DO SOME CHORES
AROUND THE HOUSE

AND COOK DINNER.

SO I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD,

AND I THINK I'M MAKING PROGRESS
WITH MY WEIGHT, TOO.

I STILL CAN'T EAT MUCH
SINCE I HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT I DO MISS THE FOOD
I CRAVE SOMETIMES.

OKAY.

AND WHEN I DO,
I DON'T FEEL LIKE

GILBERT REALLY UNDERSTANDS
MY STRUGGLE.

I'M READY TO DRINK.

CELEBRATE.

JUST A BEER OR TWO, THOUGH.
SOCIAL DRINKING.

I'M NOT DRINKING.

I CAN'T EVEN REALLY EAT,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

YEAH, 'CAUSE YOU WANT TO DRINK.
THAT'S ALL.

-NO, NO. 'CAUSE I'M ANXIOUS.
-YES, EXACTLY.

I FEEL REALLY ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW.
NO, YOU'RE ANXIOUS

'CAUSE YOU WANT
TO DRINK, OKAY?

-NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
-YES.

I'M NERVED UP.
I DON'T SHOW IT A LOT.

YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE
THE LAST TIME,

AND YOUR WIFE AIN'T DRINKING,
SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRINKING.

JUST SOCIAL DRINKING.

IS IT SOCIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
BY YOURSELF DRINKING?

BABE, COME ON. DON'T START
TRIPPING. IT'S A GOOD DAY.

EXACTLY.

WHEN GILBERT GETS LIKE THIS,

IT MAKES ME WONDER IF HE'S
UP TO HIS OLD GAMES AGAIN,

TALKING TO OTHER WOMEN
BEHIND MY BACK.

I HEAR YOU
TELL THIS CHICK THAT,

"OH, I'LL SHOW YOU A GOOD TIME,
AND THEN WE'LL GO ON

-FROM THERE."
-I DON'T KNOW HOW

YOU GOT ON THE PHONE
RIGHT WHEN THAT HAPPENED,

BUT THAT'S ON ME.

I GOT CAUGHT, SO...

AND NO MATTER WHAT,
I DON'T DESERVE THAT.

SO NOTHING IS GONNA STOP ME

FROM GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE
I CAN BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
JUST A COUPLE BEERS, LOVE.

I'LL JUST DRINK LIKE A 40
AND BE GOOD.

Ashley: TODAY, I'M HEADED
TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S OFFICE

TO SEE WHAT MY CURRENT WEIGHT IS

AND IF IT'S ENOUGH
TO GET SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

LAST THEY CHECKED MY WEIGHT

WAS WHEN I WENT
INTO THE HOSPITAL,

AND I HADN'T LOST MUCH
FROM MY 470 WEIGH-IN.

IF I STAYED ON TRACK AND LOST
20 POUNDS EACH MONTH SINCE THEN,

I SHOULD BE BELOW
410 POUNDS TODAY.

OKAY, GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD,

SO I HOPE I'M CLOSER
TO THE 350 MARK

SO THAT I CAN GET APPROVED
FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY TODAY.

Woman: 397.

-GOOD JOB.
-ALL RIGHT!

IT'S NOT AS LOW AS I WAS HOPING,

BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE
MYSELF UNDER 400 POUNDS FINALLY.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.

NOW BACK DOWN TO THE SIZE I WAS
WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT I REALLY HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH

TO GET APPROVED
FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

DID GOOD.

THANK YOU.

-HELLO.
-HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW YOU DOING, ASHLEY?

I'M DOING GOOD.
I'M EATING FINE.

I USUALLY EAT
TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY,

-AND I'M MAINLY DOING PROTEIN.
-GOOD.

SO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS GOING
WELL, AND YOU ARE AT 300s NOW.

-ARE YOU EXCITED?
-YES, SIR. [ CHUCKLES ]

HOW'S YOUR ACTIVITY?

IT'S INCREASED QUITE A BIT.

ANY ISSUE WITH THE EXTRA SKIN
ON YOUR BODY?

YES, MY STOMACH

AND ESPECIALLY THIS RIGHT HERE.

THIS EXTRA SKIN RIGHT HERE --

IT GETS IRRITATED RIGHT HERE
REAL BAD.

-UH-HUH.
-AND I HAVE SO MUCH SKIN

ON MY ABDOMEN
THAT IT GETS IRRITATED.

OKAY.

AND I CAN FOLD IT UP
LIKE A TACO.

[ CHUCKLES ]

OKAY, LET ME SEE
YOUR EXCESS SKIN.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU GOT A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN
GOING AROUND IN HERE

THAT NEED TO COME OFF.

BUT YOU STILL NEED TO MAKE MORE
PROGRESS BEFORE YOU'RE READY.

YOU NEED TO GET DOWN
BELOW 350 STILL.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN,

BUT SHE STILL HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT
OF FAT IN HER ABDOMEN

THAT NEED TO BE REDUCED

BEFORE SHE'S READY
FOR ANY SKIN REMOVAL.

BUT IF SHE STAYS ON TRACK,
SHE WILL BE READY SOON.

IF YOU LOSE
20 POUNDS A MONTH,

YOU WILL BE READY
IN A FEW MONTHS.

I'M READY
TO GET THIS OFF OF ME.

ARE YOU GETTING ANY SUPPORT
FROM YOUR FAMILY?

IS YOUR HUSBAND
DOING DIET WITH YOU?

I'M NOT AS STRICT AS SHE IS,
BUT JUST KIND OF PLAYING AROUND,

I'VE ABOUT 20, 25 POUNDS.

YOU SHOULD STICK WITH THE PLAN
THAT SHE'S ON AND DO IT WITH HER

-TO AT LEAST SUPPORT HER.
-YEP.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY PROBABLY HAS BEEN
BIG ENABLERS IN HER PAST,

BUT RIGHT NOW,
ASHLEY'S WORKING HARD

AND STAYING STRONG
TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS.

KEEP AT IT,
BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. SUPER.

SEE YOU
IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

**

Ashley: I WORKED REALLY HARD
TO GET APPROVED TODAY,

SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING
THAT I DIDN'T DO IT.

BUT I'M STICKING WITH IT BECAUSE
I'M AT LEAST CLOSE TO MY GOAL.

I'M NOT LETTING THIS SLOW ME
DOWN OR GET OFF TRACK.

I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE,
THE MORE WEIGHT I LOSE,

THE MORE SKIN HE'S GONNA BE ABLE
TO TAKE OFF,

AND THE BETTER
THE OUTCOME WILL BE.

**

Lupe: MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW IS IN A FEW DAYS.

AND I'M HOPING
HE'LL BE REALLY IMPRESSED

WITH HOW FAR I'VE COME.

ONE, TWO.

I'VE PUSHED MYSELF
EVERY SINGLE DAY

TO DO WHAT HE'S TOLD ME.

AND NOW I'M NOT ONLY
GETTING UP AND WALKING,

BUT I CAN MAKE IT INTO THE OTHER
ROOM BEFORE I HAVE TO SIT DOWN.

SO I'M HOPING DR. NOW THINKS
I'M READY FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL,

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY STARTING
TO HOLD ME BACK.

GOT YOUR WALK ON.
BABE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'M IN BACK OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE
WALKING. YOU KNOW THAT?

-I'M-A SQUEEZE YOUR CHEEKS.
-PLEASE STOP. STOP!

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW
IT'S GONNA CHANGE MY BODY

TO HAVE ALL THIS
EXTRA SKIN GONE.

I WANT TO THROW THIS DAMN
WHEELCHAIR OUT THE WINDOW.

SICK AND TIRED
OF THIS DAMN WHEELCHAIR.

YOU KNOW WHAT, LOVE?

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU. OKAY?

-WHAT, NOT DRINKING ANYMORE?
-'CAUSE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

MAYBE I CAN GET A BEER
AFTER THIS?

NO.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

I KNOW THAT
ME GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE I'M DOING MORE FOR MYSELF
ISN'T EASY FOR GILBERT.

BUT HE SHOULD BE PROUD OF ME,

AND I FEEL LIKE
HE'S STARTING TO SEE THAT.

THIS IS FOR YOU, MY LOVE.

SO PROUD OF YOU.

**

MY BABY.

I LOVE YOU, LOVE.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF

AND EXCITED
ABOUT ALL MY PROGRESS.

I JUST HOPE DR. NOW THINKS
IT'S ENOUGH WHEN I SEE HIM.

**

I'M PRAYING THAT TODAY I GET
APPROVED FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

I WAS 356 POUNDS THE LAST TIME
I WAS WEIGHED WITH DR. NOW.

LUPE SAMANO?

AND THAT WAS ALMOST
SIX MONTHS AGO.

I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN
KEEPING UP

WITH MY WEIGHT CHECKS MORE

AND THAT MY WEIGHT LOSS
HAD SLOWED DOWN.

BUT I'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING
DR. NOWZARADAN HAS ASKED ME.

SO I'M JUST HOPING
ALL THAT PAYS OFF

WITH THE NUMBER
I'M ABOUT TO SEE.

Woman: 280.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

-THAT'S GOOD, LOVE. 280.
-YEAH.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THAT WEIGHT

SINCE I WAS ABOUT
MAYBE 9 YEARS OLD.

SO THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR ME, AND IT'S A BIG DEAL.

SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT
DR. NOWZARADAN THINKS TODAY.

HELLO.

-HI.
-HEY. HOW YOU DOING, DOC?

I'M DOING OKAY. HOW Y'ALL DOING?
DOING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU FINALLY
HIT THAT 280 MAGIC NUMBER, HUH?

-YEAH, IT'S LIKE THAT.
-ALL RIGHT.

SUPER.

SO, ARE YOU GETTING UP EVERY DAY
AND WALKING?

EXCELLENT.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT,

AND YOU MADE IT
UNDER 300 POUNDS,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

-OKAY.
-BUT THIS IS A VERY BIG SURGERY.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE
FOUR TO SIX HOURS,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO
REMOVE BETWEEN 20 TO 30 POUNDS.

BUT IT IS GOING TO MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

-YEAH.
-IT'LL BE BETTER, YEAH.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK
AT YOUR SKIN.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE
LUPE IS DOING WELL.

AND GILBERT SEEMS TO BE
SUPPORTIVE OF HER RIGHT NOW.

SHE'S GETTING UP AND WALKING
AND OVERCOMING HER FEAR.

SO REMOVING ALL THIS EXCESS SKIN
WILL NOT ONLY HELP HER

TO GET UP
AND MOVE AROUND EASIER,

BUT WILL ALSO HELP HER
TO GET CLOSER

TO HAVE CORRECTIVE SURGERY
FOR HER HIP.

THAT WILL BE
A VERY HIGH-RISK PROCEDURE,

SO SHE NEEDS TO GET CLOSER
TO HER TARGET WEIGHT

BEFORE SHE CAN HAVE
THAT SURGERY.

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM
BEING 600 POUND TO 280, HUH?

YEAH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

-YEAH.
-WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THAT'S MY JOB
TO GET YOU WELL.

YOU'VE SAVED MY LIFE, SO...

ALL RIGHT.
YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL
AND GET YOU FIXED UP, OKAY?

-ALL RIGHT.
-ENJOY YOUR EVENING.

THIS IS IT, LOVE.

**

Lupe: I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF
RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET HERE.

AND TO HEAR DR. NOWZARADAN
TELL ME I'M DOING GOOD

IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

I KNOW THIS IS GOING
TO BE A BIG SURGERY,

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHOLE
LOT TO EVEN RECOVER FROM IT.

BUT I'M READY.

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT
TO GET GOING MORE WITH MY LIFE.

IT'S FINALLY STARTING TO HAPPEN.

**

Lupe: THE DAY OF MY SKIN REMOVAL
IS FINALLY HERE.

THE CLOSER IT'S GOTTEN TO THIS
DAY, THE MORE SCARED I'VE BEEN.

BUT I CAN'T BE UP
AND INDEPENDENT LIKE I WANT

IF I DON'T GET THE SURGERY.

Woman:
THIS IS SO AWESOME!

SO NO MATTER HOW SCARED I GET
OR HOW HARD IT IS,

I'M GOING THROUGH
WITH THIS TODAY.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO
SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY ON LUPE.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE
A HUGE IMPROVEMENT

FOR HER BODY AND HER MOBILITY.

BUT THIS IS
A VERY COMPLICATED PROCEDURE

THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.

AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

TO MAKE SURE EVERY BLOOD VESSEL
IS TIED OFF

SO THERE IS NO EXCESS BLEEDING

THAT WILL BECOME
LIFE-THREATENING.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE

EVERYTHING IS REMOVED
PROPORTIONALLY

SO IT ALL LOOK RIGHT
WHEN IT HEALS.

IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE TWO OF YOU
TO TAKE IT OVER THERE.

OKAY, WE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED
THE EXCESS SKIN

FROM HER LOWER ABDOMEN.

AND NOW WE JUST NEED TO SUTURE
HER UP, AND WE'LL BE DONE.

LUPE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

IT'S A LOT OF SKIN
WE TOOK OFF OF HER.

ALL THIS, THEY'RE GONNA
PUT IT ON THE SCALE.

32 POUND.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR HER.

Man:
ONE, TWO, THREE.

-GOOD JOB.
-WATCH THOSE MUSCLES.

IT WILL TAKE LUPE
A FEW WEEKS TO FULLY HEAL.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE

SHE DOESN'T USE THE DIFFICULTY
OF RECOVERY

AS AN EXCUSE
TO BECOME IMMOBILE AGAIN.

SHE NEEDS TO TAKE IT EASY
FOR A BIT

AND MAKE SURE
SHE DOESN'T OVERDO IT

AND DAMAGE THE SUTURES.

BUT SHE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO RECOVER WELL

AND GET BACK TO EVERYTHING
SHE WAS DOING VERY SOON.

**

Ashley: AFTER SEEING DR. NOW
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT I DIDN'T
GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

HEY, PEP-PEP, COME HERE.

GET MOMMY THE WORCESTERSHIRE.

BUT I HAVEN'T LET IT
GET ME DISCOURAGED.

AND I'M STILL
STICKING TO THE DIET

AND WHAT I'M SUPPOSED
TO BE EATING.

I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF TRACK
AND START GAINING AGAIN.

YES, PLEASE, MOM.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE
ALL MY PROGRESS,

AND MY GOAL IS STILL
TO GET BELOW 350

SO I CAN GET APPROVED NEXT TIME.

-ALL RIGHT. IT'S COOKING.
-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAMA.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP
ALL MY PROGRESS,

SO I'M STICKING TO MY DIET
AND EATING HEALTHY.

I'M GONNA PUT THESE
IN THE FRIDGE.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

DR. NOWZARADAN'S RIGHT
THAT IT'S HARDER

WITHOUT MY FAMILY
EATING WHAT I EAT.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ON THIS
JOURNEY WITH ME, THEY AREN'T ME.

I'M GONNA SET THIS TIMER
SO WE DON'T FORGET, OKAY, MOM?

AND I DON'T EXPECT THEM
TO HAVE TO EAT WHAT I EAT.

BUT IT HAS BEEN
A LITTLE HARDER RECENTLY.

THE LONGER YOU GO WITHOUT EATING
THE THINGS YOU LIKE,

THE HARDER IT IS TO RESIST THEM.

BUT I'M TRYING TO EAT
EVEN HEALTHIER RIGHT NOW

AND PUSHING MYSELF
TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

SO I DECIDED I DON'T WANT
TO HIT MY GOAL IN THREE MONTHS

LIKE DR. NOW SAID.

I WANT TO LOSE THE NEXT
50 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS.

SO I'M EATING
REALLY SMALL PORTIONS,

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET
MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY

AS SOON AS I CAN.

THE VEGGIES ARE DARK BECAUSE
I PUT WORCESTERSHIRE SA--

-[ SCOFFS ]
-WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE ON IT?

I WANT DR. NOW TO BE SURPRISED
AT HOW WELL I'VE DONE

AND HOW MUCH I'VE LOST.

AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR HIM SAY
HE THINKS I'M READY FOR SURGERY.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

**

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME.

A FEW DAYS AGO, MY STOMACH
STARTED TO REALLY HURT.

AND THEN THIS MORNING,
THE PAIN GOT UNBEARABLE,

AND I WAS RUSHED
TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS I HAVE
TO GO INTO SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

[ WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY
OVER P.A. ]

ASHLEY HAS BEEN PUSHING HERSELF
TO LOSE WEIGHT VERY RAPIDLY.

BUT A SIDE EFFECT
OF RAPID WEIGHT LOSS

CAN BE FORMATION OF GALLSTONES,

WHICH IS NOT ONLY PAINFUL,

BUT CAN LEAD
TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION...

SO WE NEED TO GET HER
INTO SURGERY FAST

AND REMOVE
HER GALLBLADDER NOW...

Woman:
THIS IS JUST OXYGEN.

...BEFORE ANYTHING
LIFE-THREATENING OCCURS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS BEEN PUSHING HERSELF

TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT
REALLY FAST.

BUT A SIDE EFFECT
OF RAPID WEIGHT LOSS

CAN BE FORMATION OF GALLSTONES.

AND HER GALLBLADDER
IS IN VERY BAD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE NEED TO DO AN EMERGENCY
SURGERY SO I CAN REMOVE IT.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE
A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY,

BECAUSE IF IT'S RUPTURED,
IT CAN BE DEADLY.

CAN YOU TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF?

A LITTLE TO THE LEFT.
[ MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY ]

SLOWLY.

SHE HAS A LOT OF FATTY TISSUE
IN HER ABDOMEN,

SO THIS IS GONNA BE
A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.

KEEP GOING.

ALL RIGHT. I'M ALMOST THERE.

OKAY. LET'S REMOVE IT.

**

OKAY. THE GALLBLADDER
HAS BEEN REMOVED.

LET'S SUTURE HER UP.

**

SURGERY IS COMPLETE.

ALL RIGHT.
ASHLEY'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

WE GOT HER GALLBLADDER OUT.

SHE HAD A LOT OF SCAR TISSUE
FROM PREVIOUS SURGERY.

WE TOOK THOSE DOWN,
AND SHE SHOULD DO OKAY.

THIS WILL KEEP ASHLEY IN BED
FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO RECOVER COMPLETELY

AND GET BACK TO HER WEIGHT LOSS.

BUT THIS TIME AROUND, SHE NEEDS
TO NOT PUSH HERSELF SO HARD.

EATING ALMOST NOTHING
ISN'T HEALTHY.

IT IS ABOUT EATING RIGHT,

AND EATING LESS
IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.

AND SO WE WILL MAKE SURE
SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT,

AND SHE'LL GET BACK TO LOSING
WEIGHT AT A HEALTHY PACE.

ASHLEY GETS AFRAID VERY EASILY.

AND IF SHE STARTS
TO BECOME AFRAID

OF HOW LITTLE SHE'S EATING,

SHE MAY START
TO OVEREAT AND GAIN AGAIN.

BUT WE WILL ADDRESS
EVERYTHING WITH HER

AND SEE IF WE CAN
CORRECT HER BEHAVIOR.

**

Lupe:
IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH

SINCE I HAD
MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY,

AND I WAS HEALING WELL.

YOU NEED TO COME
AND CHECK MY WOUND, BABE.

THEY'RE STILL HURTING.

MM-HMM.

BUT GILBERT WAS REALLY INSISTENT

THAT WE HAVE SEX
WHEN I GOT HOME,

BECAUSE WITH ME BEING IN THE
HOSPITAL, IT HAD BEEN A WHILE.

AND AFTERWARDS, IT FELT LIKE
I HAD RIPPED OPEN MY SUTURES.

OW, THAT HURT.

[ WHIMPERS ]

I WAS HOPING
IT WOULD START TO HEAL,

BUT THE PAIN IS SO UNBEARABLE
RIGHT NOW.

I ASKED GILBERT
TO CALL AN AMBULANCE

TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL
SO I CAN SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

OW.

SORRY, LOVE, FOR KIND OF
[BLEEP] UP YOUR WOUND

FROM SEX.

I APOLOGIZE.

I DO WHAT I GOT TO DO.
I'M A MAN.

I HAVE MY NEEDS.

BUT YOU AIN'T GOT
TO BRING THAT UP TO THE DOCTOR.

HE DON'T NEED
TO KNOW THAT [BLEEP]

JUST SAY
IT'S THE DRAINAGE TUBES.

WE'LL JUST MOVE ALONG
WITH THAT [BLEEP]

-DON'T BRING THAT UP, PLEASE?
-I'M NOT! LEAVE ME ALONE.

-MY GOD.
-[BLEEP]

I FEEL LIKE
WHEN I REALLY NEED GILBERT,

HE ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE,
AND HE ISN'T THERE FOR ME.

I NEED A BEER, LOVE.
I'M STRESSING.

IT'S THE WEEKEND.
I'M STRESSING

'CAUSE OF THIS [BLEEP]
WE KEEP GOING THROUGH,

THIS ROLLER-COASTER JOURNEY.

I NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL
RIGHT NOW,

AND ALL HE CAN THINK ABOUT
IS GETTING DRUNK.

I'M NOT DRINKING
TO GET [BLEEP] UP.

I'M DRINKING TO GET A SLIGHT
BUZZ, AND THAT'S IT, SO...

**

WHY CAN'T I
HAVE NORMAL WEEKEND?

WE'RE ALWAYS AT THE HOSPITAL
ON THE WEEKENDS.

[ LAUGHS ]

FIVE HOURS IN THE E.R.

OH, MY GOD.
UNBELIEVABLE.

**

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HI.
-HI.

YEAH, COME IN. HI.

Gilbert:
I'VE BEEN PUTTING MY WIFE FIRST
AND TAKING CARE OF HER

AND MAKING SURE SHE GETS
TO WHERE SHE HAS TO BE.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

ONE, TWO, THREE.

-OH, MY GOD.
-NO, DON'T MOVE.

Lupe:
I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I NEED GILBERT
TO BE BY MY SIDE,

NOT DRUNK
AND BARELY ABLE TO STAND.

I DESERVE A LOT BETTER
THAN THAT.

HE CARES MORE ABOUT HIMSELF
AND WHAT HE WANTS THAN ME.

-YOU GOT IT FROM HERE?
-YEAH.

SO I'LL GO BY MYSELF.

OKAY.

AND I MAY NEED TO THINK

ABOUT MAKING SOME BIGGER CHANGES
IN MY LIFE.

**

Ashley: WHEN I HAD TO GO INTO
EMERGENCY SURGERY LAST MONTH,

IT REALLY SCARED ME.

WELL, THEY'RE GONNA EAT
WHAT I MAKE THEM EAT, BUT --

I DIDN'T REALIZE LOSING WEIGHT
THAT FAST COULD DO THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO LOSE WEIGHT
SO I COULD GET SKIN REMOVAL.

BUT I UNDERSTAND NOW
HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS.

SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE
I EAT MORE THAN I WAS

AND THAT I DON'T PUSH MYSELF
TO LOSE TOO MUCH TOO QUICK.

SO, RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST TRYING
TO FIND THE BALANCE

SO I CAN KEEP MOVING TOWARD
GETTING UNDER 350 POUNDS,

SO I CAN FINALLY GET
MY SKIN SURGERY APPROVAL.

[ MICROWAVE BEEPS ]

Boy:
I LOVE MY CARROTS.

Boy #2: HOW CAN YOU
LOVE YOUR CARROTS?

I SEE THE DOCTOR IN A MONTH.

AND I'M JUST TERRIFIED
THAT WORST-CASE SCENARIO,

I'M GOING TO START
TO GAIN AGAIN.

AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF THAT
MAKES ME SO AFRAID.

I CAN'T GO BACK
TO THE WAY I WAS,

SO NO MATTER WHAT,
I HAVE TO STAY ON TRACK.

IF I DON'T,
I'M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

Lupe:
AFTER A REALLY HARD MONTH,

THINGS ARE GETTING
A LITTLE BETTER FOR ME.

WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL,

DR. NOWZARADAN
TOOK ONE LOOK AT MY SUTURES

AND RUSHED ME INTO SURGERY.

AND IT WAS A REALLY HARD
RECOVERY AFTER THAT.

BUT I'M STARTING
TO TURN A CORNER NOW.

Gilbert:
I'M BACK, LOVE.

AND THINGS ARE BETTER
WITH ME AND GILBERT.

HE APOLOGIZED FOR HOW HE ACTED,

AND HE'S BEEN REALLY SWEET TO ME
SINCE THEN.

BECAUSE I'M SO PROUD
OF YOU, LOVE,

I GOT YOU
SOME NEW OUTFITS.

OOH-HOO!

YOU GONNA PUT THIS ON FOR ME
LATER TONIGHT?

-YES, GILBERT.
-OKAY.

THANK YOU, BABE.

I FIGURED WE'D GO OUTSIDE,
YOU KNOW?

Gilbert:
I WANT LUPE TO REALIZE THE FACT

THAT SHE'S NOT 650
OR 700 NO MORE.

SHE'S MY WEIGHT OR LESS.

SHE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BED
ALL DAY, YOU KNOW?

Lupe: I'M REALLY PUSHING MYSELF
TO DO MORE RIGHT NOW.

AND EVERY DAY,
GILBERT HELPS ME STAND.

AND THEN WE GO OUTSIDE,
AND I SEE HOW FAR I CAN WALK.

AND I TRY TO GO
A LITTLE BIT FARTHER

THAN I DID THE LAST TIME.

YOU GOT IT, BABY.
THERE YOU GO.

I KNOW SOMETIMES
GILBERT CAN BE A LITTLE SELFISH,

BUT I KNOW IT HAS TO BE HARD
TO DO EVERYTHING HE DOES FOR ME.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
I WANT TO GET MORE INDEPENDENT

AND DO THINGS FOR MYSELF,

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANYMORE,

AND WE CAN BE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

-I WANT TO SIT DOWN, BABE.
-OKAY.

MY RIGHT LEG'S GIVING OUT.

THAT WAS GOOD.

SO I'M DOING THIS
NO MATTER WHAT.

Lupe:
YOU WANT TO RACE?

**

Ashley: I'M AT MY NEXT
APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS
RIGHT NOW.

Woman:
ASHLEY DUNN?

LAST TIME I HAD MY WEIGHT
CHECKED, I WAS DOWN TO 361.

SO ALL I HAD TO LOSE
TO GET DOWN UNDER 350

AND QUALIFY FOR SKIN-REMOVAL
SURGERY WAS 11 POUNDS.

BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN
HAVING TO EAT MORE,

I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT MY PROGRESS HAS BEEN.

Woman: 395.

LIKE, WHAT THE HELL?

I'M LITERALLY IN SHOCK
RIGHT NOW.

I'M ALMOST BACK UP
TO WHAT I WAS FOUR MONTHS AGO.

Ashley:
I'M JUST TIRED OF THIS.

I THOUGHT I HAD KIND OF
CONQUERED THE DEMONS,

BUT I HAVEN'T.
THEY'RE STILL THERE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-I'VE BEEN BETTER.

I WASN'T TOO HAPPY
WITH MY SCALE WEIGHT THIS TIME.

YOU GAINED OVER 30 POUNDS
THIS PAST MONTH,

WHICH ISN'T GOOD AT ALL.

I CAN'T LIE TO YOU.
I'VE BEEN MESSING UP.

I THINK IT'S JUST MY BRAIN.

-IT'S WHAT?
-IT'S JUST MENTAL, THOUGH.

WE WALKED THROUGH THIS
AFTER SURGERY,

BECAUSE THIS WAS
ONE OF MY CONCERNS.

YOU GET AFRAID, AND YOU START
OVER-THINKING THINGS,

AND YOU START
TO LET THAT FEAR

AFFECT YOUR BEHAVIOR
IN NEGATIVE WAYS.

I'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD CONTROL
OVER IT MOST OF THE TIME.

BUT IT GETS THE BETTER OF ME.

YOU'RE USING EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED WITH YOUR GALLBLADDER

AS AN EXCUSE RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW.

ONE OF ASHLEY'S BIGGEST ISSUES

IS HOW SHE DEAL WITH FEAR
IN SELF-DESTRUCTIVE WAYS.

SHE LET HER FEAR JUSTIFY
GIVING IN TO HER TEMPTATION,

BUT SHE KNOWS BETTER.

SHE HAS A MANUAL
ON HOW TO DO THIS,

COVERING WHAT SHE SHOULD EAT.

SO, TELL ME HOW YOU CHANGED
YOUR EATING HABITS.

I EAT MEAT AND VEGGIES,
AND I EAT THREE TIMES A DAY.

YOUR STOMACH IS MUCH SMALLER
AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO YOU ONLY HAVE ROOM
FOR PROTEIN.

VEGETABLE AND SALAD WILL FILL
YOU WITH VERY LITTLE NUTRITION,

AND YOUR BODY
WILL STILL BE HUNGRY,

AND YOU'LL OVEREAT AGAIN.

I GOT TO GET
MY STUFF TOGETHER.

AND YOU NEED
TO STAY ACTIVE, TOO.

OKAY, GET BACK ON TRACK
AND LOSE 20 POUNDS A MONTH.

NO MORE EXCUSES
OR LETTING FEAR GET TO YOU.

YOU CAN DO THIS, ASHLEY.

I CAME TOO FAR NOW TO GO BACK.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.
-ALL RIGHT.

THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION

IS THAT ASHLEY KNEW
WHEN SHE WAS OVEREATING.

AND I NEED HER
TO GET BACK ON TRACK NOW,

BECAUSE ONCE THE WEIGHT GAINS
START AGAIN,

IT MAY BECOME OUT OF CONTROL.

**

WE CAN'T GIVE UP.

I'M NOT.

IT'S JUST LIFE, AND I'M GONNA
HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Ashley: I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED
IN MYSELF.

I WAS SO DETERMINED
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

WHEN I GOT THROWN FOR A CURVE
WITH MY GALLBLADDER,

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SO I JUST ATE.

BUT I CAN'T GO BACK
TO THE WAY I WAS.

MY SON AND MY HUSBAND
ARE RELYING ON ME,

AND I'M NOT GOING
TO LET THEM DOWN.

NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES,

I'M GONNA WORK AS HARD
AS I'VE EVER WORKED.

**

BABE, ALL I'M SAYING IT'S 10
YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER,

AND YOU WANT TO BREAK THIS UP.

YOU'RE SAYING
THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME,

YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ME,
AND ALL THIS STUFF,

BUT YOU WANT TO SEPARATE.

YOU COULD GIVE ME
ONE MORE CHANCE, LOVE.

THAT'S ALL I ASK.

10 YEARS, LOVE. 10 YEARS
OF ME TAKING CARE OF YOU.

YOU CAN GIVE ME ONE CHANCE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
THIS IS HAPPENING.

SHE'S WORRIED THAT I'M DOING
SOME OF THE SAME STUFF AGAIN.

I'M ASKING YOU, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING ON YOUR PHONE?

I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO ON THERE
AND FIND OUT FOR MYSELF.

THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF CHICKS.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M OUT
LOOKING FOR AFFECTION SOMETIMES

'CAUSE I DON'T GET IT
FROM YOU.

I LOVE YOU, LOVE.

I KNOW I LIED, BUT 10 YEARS
TOGETHER --

I'VE BEEN BY HER FOR ALL THAT
TIME TAKING CARE OF HER

AND NEVER WOULD EXPECT IT
TO GET TO THIS.

[ Crying ] THIS IS TOO MUCH
FOR ME TO HANDLE.

[ CRYING ]

PLEASE HELP HER
UNDERSTAND, LORD,

THAT I NEED HER TO HELP ME.

[ CRYING ]

Lupe: I'M IN A HOTEL RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'VE LEFT GILBERT.

I'M DONE WITH HIS CHEATING,
HIS DRINKING, AND HIS ABUSE.

AND I'VE SEEN
THAT AS I LOSE WEIGHT MORE,

IT'S GETTING WORSE --
HIS INSECURITIES, HIS JEALOUSY.

THAT'S NOT A LIFE FOR ME.

AND FINDING OUT HE WAS STILL
CONTACTING OTHER WOMEN ONLINE

WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR ME.

I DESERVE BETTER.

BUT I STILL NEED SOME HELP.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

SO MY COUSIN IS COMING IN FROM
SAN ANTONIO TO MEET ME TODAY.

-HEY!
-HEY.

OH, MY GOD.
GIRL, YOU LOOK GOOD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ CRYING ]

-THANK YOU.
-WE'RE GONNA DO THIS TOGETHER.

GIRL, YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO DO THIS.

YOU'RE VERY STRONG.
LOOK AT HOW FAR YOU'VE COME.

WANT TO GO SIT DOWN?

NO, LIKE, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
LET ME HELP YOU.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

SO, HOW IS IT GOING?

I FINALLY MADE THE MOVE
THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE

A LONG TIME AGO,
YOU KNOW?

-I AGREE.
-AND AS MUCH AS IT HURTS ME,

I HAVE TO STAND STRONG.

JUST BECAUSE HE TAKES CARE
OF ME, HE WIPES MY ASS,

WHATEVER HE DOES, IT DOESN'T
MEAN THAT I HAVE TO PUT UP

-WITH WHAT I PUT UP WITH.
-NO, YOU DON'T.

I'M SORRY. I'M NOT GONNA
LIVE THIS WAY NO MORE.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

I KNOW IT'S HARD.
I KNOW IT'S HARD.

GIRL, IT IS HARD
AFTER ALMOST NINE YEARS.

IT HAS TO CHANGE.

I'M NOT GILBERT, BUT I WILL
TAKE CARE OF YOU, YOU KNOW?

I JUST NEED --
LIKE I TOLD HIM, I NEED SPACE.

I'M FEELING LIKE I CAN FINALLY
START TO BE ME NOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH LIFE
I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED,

AND GILBERT'S NOT GOING TO STOP
ME FROM THAT NO MATTER WHAT.

**

Ashley:
I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT

ABOUT WHAT DR. NOWZARADAN SAID
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

AND I KNOW HE'S RIGHT.

SO I'M GETTING BACK ON TRACK.

I ALSO TALKED TO MY WHOLE FAMILY
ABOUT SUPPORTING ME MORE.

AND JAKE SAID HE WASN'T SURE
HE COULD DO THE DIET WITH ME.

BUT HE'LL AT LEAST
WORK OUT WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT, BABY.
YOU READY?

[ SIGHS ]
ARE YOU?

AS I'LL EVER BE.

SO TODAY, WE ARE STARTING
A NEW WORKOUT PLAN TOGETHER,

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

MY GOAL IS TO GET BACK ON TRACK
AND LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED

TO FINALLY GET APPROVED
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

BRING THAT WOODEN CHAIR
OVER HERE.

SET IT RIGHT THERE.

READY? SET?

OKAY, GO.

BUT ALL I WANT TO START SEEING
IS PROGRESS AGAIN.

WALK.

SO MY GOAL FOR MY DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT NEXT MONTH

IS TO AT LEAST LOSE 20 POUNDS.

I JUST HAVE TO COMMIT.

-OTHER ONE NOW?
-YEP.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

NO MORE EXCUSES
OR GIVING INTO FEAR,

BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN DO THIS.

-YOU DID GOOD, BABE.
-YEAH. YOU, TOO.

**

Lupe:
TODAY, I'M HERE TO SEE DR. NOW

TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH PROGRESS
I'M MAKING.

LUPE SAMANO?

I WAS AT 243 POUNDS
AFTER MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

AND MY GOAL IS TO GET TO 180

AND THEN GET MY HIP SURGERY.

SO I'M HOPING
I'M AT LEAST CLOSE TODAY.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED
RIGHT NOW,

AND I HOPE DR. NOW IS, TOO.

-HELLO.
-HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

GOOD AND NOT GOOD.

WE HAD A LOT GOING ON
BETWEEN ME AND GILBERT.

WE'D BEEN ARGUING AND THAT,
AND IT STARTED GETTING PHYSICAL,

SO I HAD TO TAKE MYSELF OUT
OF THE SITUATION, YOU KNOW?

WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
BUT YOU'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

AND YOU'RE LESS THAN 40 POUNDS
FROM YOUR FINAL TARGET WEIGHT.

AND ONCE YOU HIT YOUR TARGET,

OUR GOAL WILL BE
TO TRY TO FIX YOUR HIP.

SO MAKE SURE THAT SHE STICKS
WITH THE DIET, OKAY?

-YES, SIR.
-THAT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, YOUR LIFE
WILL BE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

-THANK YOU.
-OKAY?

-THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN ONE MONTH,
OKAY?

OKAY.

LUPE HAS LOST OVER 420 POUNDS
IN 2 YEARS,

WHICH IS A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HOPEFULLY,
SHE WILL NOT ALLOW GILBERT

TO DO ANYTHING
TO SLOW DOWN HER PROGRESS,

BUT I THINK SHE'S GROWING
STRONGER EVERY DAY.

AND SHE CAN HANDLE HERSELF NOW
THAT SHE'S BECOMING MORE MOBILE.

-I LIKE THAT MAN.
-[ CHUCKLES ]

HE IS STRAIGHT
TO THE POINT.

SO, THERE YOU GO.

Lupe: DR. NOW --
I KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS,

YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH
AND ALL THAT.

I HAVE A DOCTOR
THAT REALLY CARES AND IS THERE

AND THAT BELIEVES IN ME.

HE'S SEEN HOW FAR I'VE COME,
AND HE'S PROUD OF ME.

AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE
DR. NOW SO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT
AND HIT MY GOAL,

BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT
TO GET MY HIP SURGERY.

AND I'M FINALLY
WITHIN ARM'S REACH OF IT.

SO I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING
STOP ME FROM GETTING THERE.

**

RIGHT NOW, I'M ON THE WAY
TO GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

MY LAST APPOINTMENT
WAS NOT AS GOOD

AS I WOULD'VE LIKED
TO HAVE BEEN.

**

Woman: ASHLEY DUNN?

SO TODAY, I'M JUST HOPING

I STARTED MY WEIGHT GOING BACK
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Woman: 375.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT AS MUCH
AS I WOULD'VE WANTED BEFORE,

BUT NOW I KNOW
IT'S GOOD PROGRESS.

AND I'M ONLY 25 POUNDS AWAY
FROM GETTING MY SKIN REMOVAL.

HELLO.

-HEY.
-HI, DR. NOWZARADAN.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-DOING GOOD.

SO YOU LOST 20 POUNDS, AND
YOU'RE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

UM, I'M GOOD,

BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE
I ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR.

YOU HAD A LOT HAPPEN
THIS YEAR,

AND YOU WORKED THROUGH
PSYCHOSOMATIC CONDITIONS.

YEAH.
AND YOU'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD.

YOU DIDN'T GET SKIN-REMOVAL
SURGERY, BUT YOU'RE VERY CLOSE,

AND YOU'RE DOING GOOD NOW.

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF,
BECAUSE I AM, OKAY?

YEAH.

AND WE'LL SEE HOW YOU DO
NEXT MONTH,

AND THEN WE'LL THINK
ABOUT GETTING THAT SKIN OFF.

THANK YOU.
THAT'S MY TOP PRIORITY.

-THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.
-ALL RIGHT. SUPER.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF
ASHLEY HAD MADE MORE PROGRESS,

BUT IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING
SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH,

A 100-POUND WEIGHT LOSS
FOR THIS YEAR IS GOOD.

AND I THINK THIS NEXT YEAR
WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR ASHLEY.

Ashley: THIS PAST YEAR HASN'T
BEEN WHAT I EXPECTED AT ALL.

BUT HEARING DR. NOWZARADAN PUT
IT IN PERSPECTIVE LIKE HE DID

HELPED ME SEE THAT I HAVE DONE
A LOT THIS YEAR.

AND I'M NOT LETTING FEAR
OR ANYTHING ELSE

CONTROL ME ANY LONGER.

I'M IN CONTROL OF MY CHOICES,

AND I'M CHOOSING
THE LIFE I WANT TO HAVE.

AND NO MATTER WHAT,
I'M GETTING THERE.

**

Lupe:
TODAY, I'M TAKING MY THINGS

AND MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO
WITH MY COUSIN.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING GILBERT.

I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM
TRYING TO TALK ME OUT OF IT

OR ARGUING WITH ME.

MISS ME, MY LOVE?

YES, I MISS YOU.

OKAY.

GOT YOU THIS, BABY.

IT'S FOR YOU.

-WHY CAN'T YOU LOOK AT ME?
-[ SIGHS ]

WHY? BECAUSE IT HURTS ME
WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH,

BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.
THAT'S WHY.

YOU THINK IT'S EASY
'CAUSE I'M GOING? IT'S NOT.

-IT'S NOT.
-SO, YOU ASK ME

WHY I'M NOT LOOKING AT YOU --
THAT'S WHY.

YOU HAVE
TO CHANGE YOUR WAYS.

DON'T DRINK NO MORE.
HONESTLY.

I CAN'T BE HERE
EVERY DAY LIKE THIS,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I'M DRINKING.
YOU'RE NOT SAFE TO BE HERE.

-I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO BE HERE.
-I FEEL IF I GO SOMEWHERE,

-YOU'RE GONNA TRIP.
-YEAH, I DO TRIP,

BUT HAVE THE REASON TO TRIP
BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU ARE.

WELL, WHY THE HELL YOU LEAV--
WHY YOU WANT YOUR COUSIN FOR?

WE'RE TAKING TIME APART,
GILBERT.

-AREN'T WE SPLIT UP?
-SPLIT UP, TAKING TIME APART.

WHENEVER YOU WANT TO COME BACK,
THOUGH, I'M HERE, LOVE.

I AM, FOR YOU, FOR US,
TO FIGHT FOR THIS MARRIAGE,

'CAUSE I LOVE YOU
SO MUCH, BABY.

I KNOW
WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE
AND GIVE IT UP.

**

Lupe: THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST
THINGS I'VE EVER DONE,

BECAUSE I DO LOVE GILBERT.

BUT HE WON'T CHANGE
HOW HE TREATS ME,

AND I DON'T HAVE
TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

IT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR
ME TO BECOME THE PERSON I WANT.

SO IT'S TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON.

**

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS
SINCE I MOVED OUT,

AND NEXT MONTH, I'LL BE LIVING
IN SAN ANTONIO WITH MY COUSIN.

BUT I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD
RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA GET
THE TWO FISH TACOS.

-I'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THOSE.
-THANK YOU.

SO, HOW ARE YOU LIKING
YOUR NEW LIFE?

IT, LIKE, BRINGS FEAR,
BUT I'M CONQUERING IT.

I CAN DO THIS.

THAT IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE HEARD YOU SAY,

"I CAN DO SOMETHING."

-THERE YOU GO.
-THANK YOU.

AND THERE'S YOUR SALAD.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET
AND MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

AND THE MORE I'M AWAY
FROM GILBERT,

THE MORE I SEE
HOW HE WAS HOLDING ME BACK.

AND I'M SO EXCITED TO TRY
AND DO MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

THE NEW LUPE'S COMING OUT.

I NEVER WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE OLD LUPE.

[ Chuckling ]
AND THE WORLD BETTER BE READY
FOR THE NEW LUPE.