Original subtitles

-- 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.

Teretha: NOW I AM ACTUALLY WALKING.

Chad: I'M ECSTATIC. I LOVE IT.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Teretha: I'VE JUST LET MYSELF GO TO THE POINT WHERE I'M BEDRIDDEN.

I DO EVERYTHING FROM MY BED.

I'M LITERALLY A PRISONER FROM MY WEIGHT.

I MEAN, MONTHS GO BY, I DON'T GO OUTSIDE.

HELL, SEASON'S CHANGE,

AND I DON'T GET TO GO OUTSIDE.

I HATE BEING LIKE THIS,

BUT I CAN'T STOP EATING.

I WANT SOME COOKIES -- DOUBLE STUF.

THE ICE CREAM SANDWICHES.

LASAGNA, THE BIG RED BOX.

**

I KNOW MY EATING IS KEEPING ME

FROM BEING A PART OF MY FAMILY'S LIFE.

I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN THAT I'M MISSING OUT ON,

AND ANOTHER ONE ON THE WAY.

I HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM THE MEMORIES

THAT MY GRANDMAMA GAVE ME.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT I'M RACING AGAINST TIME

TRYING TO BE THERE FOR THEM.

IF I DON'T GET BACK ON MY FEET,

THEY'LL BE PLANNING MY FUNERAL.

I CAN'T LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE LIKE THIS.

THERE'S A DOCTOR IN HOUSTON NAMED DR. NOW,

AND HE SAID HE COULD HELP ME.

I HAVE NOT LEFT MY HOUSE FOR TWO YEARS.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.

Man #2: YEAH, WE GOT YOU.

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU IN THE CAR.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG AND PAINFUL DRIVE,

BUT I'M DOING IT TO FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TERETHA'S BEEN IN THE CAR FOR 30 HOURS,

AND THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

-HELLO. -HI.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M OKAY.

TERETHA IS IN A VERY DANGEROUS POINT IN HER LIFE.

SHE'S BEEN IMMOBILE AND CONSTANTLY EATING

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

HER BODY IS AT THE BREAKING POINT.

SHE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO START CHANGING,

AND SHE HAS TO DO IT NOW.

**

TERETHA HAS LOST AROUND 210 POUNDS

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

WITH THE WEIGHT SHE LOST,

SHE SHOULD START GETTING OUT OF HER BED.

BUT RIGHT NOW, REALITY IS SHE DOESN'T WANT TO.

WE'RE SENDING YOU HOME TODAY,

AND I WANT YOU TO EXERCISE YOUR LEGS.

AND NEXT TIME I SEE YOU,

I WANT YOU TO BE AT LEAST 60 POUNDS LIGHTER

AND READY TO GET OUT OF THIS BED.

SHE NEED TO SHOW ME THAT SHE CAN KEEP MAKING PROGRESS ON HER OWN.

Teretha: MY HUSBAND, DERRICK, SET UP THE APARTMENT

FOR US HERE IN HOUSTON,

AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY HARD FOR HIM

TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

AND EVEN THOUGH I'VE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS,

I'M STILL STUCK IN THIS BED.

I STILL HAVE CRAVINGS, AND IT'S HARD NOT TO GIVE IN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TERETHA'S BLOOD SUGAR IS SPIKING,

BECAUSE SHE'S EATING FOOD WITH A LOT OF SUGAR

AND NOT STICKING TO HER DIET.

618.

SHE GAINED ALMOST 30 POUNDS SINCE SHE'S BEEN AT HOME.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS.

YOU GOT TO DO WHAT WE TELL YOU TO DO.

YOU WANT HELP, FOLLOW THE RULES.

YOU WANT SURGERY, FOLLOW THE RULES.

IN TWO WEEKS, I WANT YOU READY TO STAND UP

AND GET OUT OF THIS BED.

TERETHA'S PROBLEM IS IN HER HEAD.

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TRY.

SHE STILL REFUSES TO USE HER LEGS.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T GET UP, SHE'S NOT GONNA LAST MUCH LONGER.

OH! I'M DOWN. I'M DOWN. I'M DOWN. I'M DOWN.

I'M DOWN.

JUST LET ME GO DOWN, PLEASE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NOW THAT SHE'S REFUSING TO WALK,

THERE IS NO REASON TO KEEP HER IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO I'M SENDING HER HOME,

AND I'M GONNA SEND A THERAPIST TO HER HOUSE

TO TELL US WHY SHE'S UNWILLING TO TRY.

THIS IS HER LAST HOPE.

I HAD ONE OR TWO BAD EXPERIENCE OF...

-MM-HMM. -...YOU KNOW,

INAPPROPRIATE TOUCHING...

OKAY, OKAY, MM-HMM.

...THROUGH A FAMILY MEMBER.

THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED THAT I AM AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

EXPRESS THOSE EMOTIONS.

LET THEM GO RATHER THAN HOLDING THEM DOWN,

BECAUSE OUR BODIES ARE AFFECTED BY THESE EMOTIONS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M DRIVING TO TERETHA'S APARTMENT RIGHT NOW.

SHE NEEDS TO GET OUT OF HER BED.

ALL SHE NEEDS TO DO IS PUT HER FEET ON THE FLOOR.

IF SHE DOES THAT, I CAN WORK WITH HER.

AND YOU LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE LOST WEIGHT.

DO YOU THINK WE CAN SEE IF YOU CAN STAND UP?

PUSH YOUR FEET AGAINST THE FLOOR.

-[ GRUNTS ] -THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GOOD.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I FEEL LIKE YOU'RE READY FOR SURGERY.

Teretha: I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE LIFE-CHANGING,

AND I'M READY FOR IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE ATTEMPTING

TO DO A GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE ON TERETHA.

WITH TERETHA EATING LESS AND BEING MOBILE,

SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE MUCH MORE PROGRESS NOW.

SURGERY IS OVER.

Teretha: I'VE ADJUSTED TO MY NEW EATING HABIT,

AND NOW I'M MAKING SURE I'M GETTING IN THE 200s.

AND I'M WALKING AROUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SO I CAN GET BACK UP TO DETROIT

AND TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.

I KNOW WHAT I HAVE WAITING FOR ME,

AND NOTHING IS GONNA STOP ME FROM SUCCEEDING.

**

ONE, TWO,

THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND MY BODY IS DOING SO MUCH BETTER.

I'M NO LONGER ON INSULIN

BECAUSE MY DIABETES IS GETTING UNDER CONTROL,

AND I'M SEEING QUITE A FEW CHANGES IN MY BODY.

MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS GOOD.

MY LEGS ARE SHRINKING.

THE SKIN IS SAGGING IN CERTAIN AREAS,

AND MY LYMPHEDEMA MASS HAS GOTTEN SMALLER

WHICH SHOULD MEAN I'M LOSING MORE WEIGHT.

SO, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT I'M MAKING SUCH GOOD PROGRESS.

I'VE BEEN STAYING AS ACTIVE AS I CAN,

BUT I HAVE TO DO MY EXERCISES FROM MY BED

BECAUSE I STILL CAN'T GET UP.

RIGHT BEFORE MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

I MADE IT TO THE EDGE OF MY BED

AND SAT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS.

AND I'M STILL WORKING ON TRYING TO GET OUT OF THIS BED,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO.

MY HUSBAND, DERRICK, HAS BEEN ON DIALYSIS FOR YEARS.

BUT NOW HE HAS TO DO MORE DIALYSIS TREATMENTS EVERY DAY

'CAUSE HIS KIDNEYS ARE GETTING WORSE.

SO I'M ON MY OWN A LOT,

AND MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION'S JUST THAT I'M STILL IN THIS BED.

BUT DERRICK STILL HAS TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME

AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

Derrick: BEING ON DIALYSIS HAS BEEN ROUGH.

I REALLY DON'T GET A CHANCE TO GET ME SOME REST

UNTIL AFTER I DO ALL OF THAT

AND GET HER SETTLED FOR THE NIGHT.

Teretha: EVEN WHEN HE'S HOME,

DERRICK CAN'T REALLY HELP ME GET UP OUT OF BED,

BECAUSE I'M STILL TOO HEAVY FOR HIM

TO BE TRYING TO HELP BALANCE ME AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO I HAVE TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT,

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M FOCUSING ON DOING.

WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE FOR DINNER?

WHAT YOU FEEL LIKE COOKING?

NOTHING.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

I PATTED OUT THOSE TURKEY PATTIES.

OKAY, MAYBE I'LL DO THAT.

WITH THE WORKS -- KETCHUP, MUSTARD, AND PICKLES.

SINCE THE SURGERY, MY DIET

HAS REALLY BECOME REALLY SIMPLE AND BASIC --

NO BREAD, NO PASTA, NO RICE.

AND I KNOW I'M LOSING WEIGHT.

SO THE MAIN REASON I'M STUCK IN THIS BED

IS THE LYMPHEDEMA,

BECAUSE IT WEIGHS SO MUCH AND PREVENTS ME

FROM BEING ABLE TO EVEN STAND UP.

SO I HAVE TO GET IT REMOVED TO START GETTING UP

AND DOING THINGS ON MY OWN.

AND DR. NOW SAYS I HAVE TO GET 450 POUNDS,

AND I'M SO CLOSE RIGHT NOW.

SO, THAT'S MY GOAL FOR WHEN I SEE HIM IN ABOUT A MONTH.

I'M WORKING REALLY HARD TO LOSE THE NEXT 10 POUNDS

AND GET THAT SURGERY.

I THINK I'M GOOD.

I'M ON THE VERGE OF GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

AND WHAT'S MOTIVATING ME TO KEEP PUSHING IS MY GRANDKIDS

AND HAVING A NORMAL LIFE AGAIN WITH MY HUSBAND.

YOU KNOW, WE USED TO TRAVEL AND STUFF,

AND I MISS THAT A LOT.

AND I'M JUST READY TO LIVE A NEW, HEALTHIER LIFE.

SO IT'S MY MISSION RIGHT NOW TO GET MY LIFE BACK,

AND I WANT THIS TO BE THE YEAR THAT I DO THAT.

**

Chad: MY LIFE IS DEPRESSING,

AND I NEED HELP WITH JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

MY WIFE HAS TO TAKE CARE OF ME

AND CLEAN ME BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

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

BUT I JUST TAKE.

MY FAMILY'S ALL I HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFE.

I USED TO BE A TRUCK DRIVER, AND I PROVIDED FOR THE FAMILY,

BUT THEIR LIVES NOW REVOLVE AROUND ME.

Taqua: I WANT MY DAD TO LOSE WEIGHT

SO HE CAN PLAY WITH ME OUTSIDE.

THAT'D BE MY DREAM. I WOULD BE SO HAPPY.

Chad: THERE'S A LOT OF DAYS I WONDER

IF THIS IS THE DAY WHERE AYESHA'S HAD ENOUGH.

Ayesha: THIS IS NOT MY CHAD THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH,

AND THE KIDS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BURY THEIR FATHER.

Chad: WHAT'S HER BREAKING POINT

WHERE SHE FINALLY SAYS, "I CAN'T DO IT NO MORE"?

FOOD IS DEFINITELY KILLING ME.

I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

I FOUND A DOCTOR ONLINE IN THE HOUSTON AREA.

HE SAID HE WOULD SEE ME,

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

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

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

BUT HE'S MY LAST HOPE,

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

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

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

I'M PRAYING THAT THIS ONE CAN.

YOU ARE 700 POUNDS.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GAINED THIS MUCH WEIGHT?

GOT IN THE WRONG EATING HABITS,

AND A LOT OF SODA, A LOT OF ENERGY DRINKS.

I WANT YOU TO LOSE 40 POUNDS OVER NEXT MONTH.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THING'S

I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

NO, WAIT.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DIETED,

BUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

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

YOU LOST 40 POUNDS EXACTLY.

LAST TIME I CAME,

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

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

[ LAUGHTER ]

-AND SO... -I'LL TAKE IT!

AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY.

WOW.

THIS SURGERY IS MY LAST CHANCE.

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

HE IS STILL AROUND 650 POUNDS,

BUT THE SURGERY SHOULD HELP HIM TO LOSE WEIGHT.

AND HE NEEDS TO STAY MOTIVATED AS HE RECOVER

TO KEEP MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

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

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

BUT NOW I GET TO GET MY HUSBAND BACK.

Chad: THIS PAST MONTH, I STARTED LOSING WEIGHT REALLY FAST.

AND PHYSICALLY, I CAN DO A LOT MORE.

TO BE ACTIVE WITH MY FAMILY AGAIN,

EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT,

MAKES EVERYTHING I'M DOING WORTH IT.

I KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

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

BUT I DON'T NEED MY CANE ANYMORE,

AND THAT'S A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ME.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

**

WITH ALL THE CHANGES I'VE HAD OVER THE LAST YEAR,

I'M FEELING SO GOOD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE LOST 260 POUNDS IN JUST A YEAR.

AND I'M STILL GOING STRONG,

BECAUSE I'M COMPLETELY STICKING TO THE DIET,

AND I'M CONSTANTLY WATCHING WHAT I'M EATING.

AND MY ACTIVITY LEVEL HAS GONE FROM A ZERO TO A 100.

I'M TAKING WALKS AND DOING MY EXERCISES EVERY DAY.

TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS AND THE PROGRESS,

IT'S LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB.

AND EVERY DAY, I TRY TO PUSH MYSELF A LITTLE FURTHER.

NOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TRIED TO GO TO A JOB.

TO GET IN THE TRUCK, I COULDN'T GET IN IT.

I WASN'T THERE YET.

BUT BETWEEN THEN AND NOW,

I'M A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON.

IN FACT, I HAD A JOB INTERVIEW WITH A TRUCKING COMPANY

A FEW DAYS AGO, AND THEY HIRED ME AS A DRIVER.

SO I'M GONNA BE WORKING AGAIN SOON.

CONTRIBUTING TO MY FAMILY

HAS BEEN ONE OF MY BIGGEST MOTIVATIONS,

AND TO ACHIEVE A GOAL LIKE THIS FEELS REALLY GOOD.

NEXT, THE DOC WANTS ME TO GET UNDER 350 POUNDS

BEFORE HE THINKS I'LL BE READY FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

I'M STARTING TO NOTICE A LOT OF SAGGING SKIN.

IT'S LIKE A HANDFUL ON EACH ARM.

IT'S A GOOD FEELING IN SOME WAY, 'CAUSE IT AIN'T TIGHT

LIKE IT USED TO BE WHERE I WAS 700 POUNDS.

BUT I'M IN NO HURRY FOR SKIN REMOVAL RIGHT NOW.

I'M GOING TO WORK TO HIT MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL,

BUT I'M GETTING BACK TO MY LIFE RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M GONNA BE STARTING WORK SOON.

I'M MORE OF A HUSBAND AND A FATHER TO MY KIDS NOW

THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.

SO, I TOLD DR. NOW I NEED TO SKIP NEXT MONTH'S APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE I'LL BE ON THE ROAD.

AND HE TOLD ME HE WANTS ME TO KEEP MY GOAL

OF LOSING 30 POUNDS A MONTH

UNTIL I'M IN THE LOW 300s,

SO HE EXPECTS ME TO BE 60 POUNDS LIGHTER

WHEN I SEE HIM NEXT.

THE GOAL IS TO KEEP LOSING AND PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY.

I LOVE MY LIFE NOW,

AND THINGS WITH MY WIFE JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER.

WE ACTUALLY ARE MORE OF A COUPLE NOW.

WE NOW PROVIDE FOR EACH OTHER,

SHE STOOD BY ME AND LOVED ME THROUGH ALL OF THIS,

AND I'VE OWED IT TO HER TO BE THE HUSBAND THAT SHE DESERVES.

AND I'M NOT GIVING THAT UP,

SO I'M GONNA KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

**

Teretha: TODAY, I'M HEADING TO SEE DR. NOW FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

AND I'M REALLY HOPING I'VE LOST ENOUGH

TO GET MY APPROVAL TO GET MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD,

AND I FEEL I'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT I WEIGH.

BUT I'M STILL NERVOUS,

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT DR. NOW IS GOING TO SAY

OR IF HE'S GOING TO THINK I'M READY

EVEN WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS.

I REALLY WANT TO START WALKING AGAIN.

EVERY DAY THAT I DON'T IS ANOTHER DAY THAT I'M STALLED,

AND I RISK GAINING BECAUSE I'M STILL IMMOBILE.

AND EVERY DAY THAT I STAY IMMOBILE IS ANOTHER DAY

THAT I'M NOT GETTING BACK TO MY LIFE.

SO, I'M JUST HOPING THAT I MADE IT BELOW 450 POUNDS TODAY

AND THAT I'M ABOUT TO GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

BECAUSE UNTIL I GET THIS MASS REMOVED,

I'M STUCK IN THIS BED.

Teretha: I'M AT THE HOSPITAL TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND I'M WAITING TO GET MY WEIGHT CHECKED.

I WAS AT 461 POUNDS LAST TIME, AND I JUST NEED TO GET UNDER 450

TO GET APPROVED FOR MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL.

SO, I'M JUST SCARED

ABOUT WHAT DR. NOWZARADAN IS GOING TO SAY TODAY

AND IF I'M GOING TO GET APPROVED.

HI, TERETHA.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

YES, SIR.

480 POUNDS.

THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

SO, INSTEAD OF LOSING 40 POUNDS THIS PAST COUPLE MONTHS,

YOU GAINED ABOUT 20 POUNDS.

SO, WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS, HUH?

NO, THAT'S -- I KNOW THAT'S NOT RIGHT, DR. NOW.

I'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU MADE PROGRESS?

YEAH, I MEAN, LOOK AT ME. I'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

YOU NOTICE, LIKE THIS, DR. NOW.

IF YOU LOOK AT MY LEG, ALL THIS HAS GONE DOWN.

I'M TELLING YOU, THINGS IS DIFFERENT.

DON'T ARGUE WITH ME, THEN. ARGUE WITH THE SCALE.

BECAUSE ACCORDING TO IT, YOU GAINED 20 POUNDS.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT?

BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL VERY FAR AWAY FROM YOUR TARGET WEIGHT.

I FEEL -- I THOUGHT, I FELT LIKE I'VE LOST MORE THAN THAT,

'CAUSE I'M ABLE TO DO THINGS, DR. NOW,

I COULDN'T DO WHEN I GOT HERE.

YOU'RE OVEREATING.

NOW YOU'RE GAINING

WHEN YOU NEED TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN

TO GET UP AND OUT OF THAT BED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TERETHA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING

SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ONLY BEEN A FEW MONTHS AFTER HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND SHE SHOULD EASILY BE ABLE TO LOSE

50 POUNDS A MONTH RIGHT NOW.

SHE HAD A GASTRIC SLEEVE

THAT PREVENTS HER FROM EATING TOO MUCH AT ONCE,

BUT IF SHE EAT A LITTLE BIT ALL DAY LONG,

THEN SHE CAN GAIN AGAIN.

AND THAT WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T IMPROVE,

THEN I HAVE TO CONSIDER MORE DRASTIC MEASURES

SUCH AS DOING A REVISION

TO GIVE HER A FULL GASTRIC BYPASS.

ALL RIGHT, SO, LET'S SEE HOW YOU'RE GETTING ALONG.

SO, THIS IS THE LEG LYMPHEDEMA.

-YEAH. -IS IT TROUBLESOME FOR YOU?

YES, SIR.

-OKAY. -AND SEE HOW I CAN TELL --

SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S REALLY SWOLLEN,

THESE LITTLE MOLES RIGHT HERE...

-MM-HMM. -...THEY GET BIG.

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GET UNDER 450 POUNDS

SO WE CAN REMOVE YOUR LYMPHEDEMA.

BUT YOU DIDN'T,

SO I'M GONNA KEEP YOU HERE ON CONTROLLED DIET

AND TO GET YOUR SWELLING DOWN AND SEE WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE.

BUT AFTER THAT, THERE'LL BE NO EXCUSES.

OKAY.

TO PREVENT TERETHA FROM GOING OFF THE RAILS,

I'M GOING TO KEEP HER HERE ON CONTROLLED DIET.

ONCE WE GET HER LYMPHEDEMA

TO A PLACE WHERE WE CAN SURGICALLY REMOVE IT,

AND THEN SHE SHOULD HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES

TO GET UP AND OUT OF THE BED.

BECAUSE IF SHE STAYS IMMOBILE WITH NO ACTIVITY

AND HER POOR EATING HABITS,

HER BODY WILL START DETERIORATING TOO FAST,

AND SHE WON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER TO LIVE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET YOU SQUARED AWAY, OKAY?

OKAY. THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

**

Teretha: I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED ABOUT MY WEIGHT TODAY.

HE WANTED A BETTER NUMBER FOR ME.

I WANTED A BETTER NUMBER FOR MYSELF.

I BEEN STUCK IN A HOSPITAL BED SINCE JANUARY 2014.

I'M SO TIRED OF BEING IN IT. I'M SO READY TO GET UP

AND BE ABLE TO JUST LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

**

Chad: I'M IN FORT WORTH TODAY, ON THE ROAD FOR MY NEW JOB,

BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE I DEPART WITH MY SHIPMENTS.

AND I'M HAVING TO COMMUTE HERE FROM HOUSTON,

BUT I DON'T MIND THE EXTRA DRIVING

AS LONG AS I'M PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY.

AND WITH HOW I'M ABLE TO GET AROUND,

I'M FEELING REALLY CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY

TO DO WHAT I NEED RIGHT NOW AND TO DO MY JOB WELL.

JUST EVEN SIX MONTHS AGO,

I COULDN'T EVEN GET IN THE TRUCK...

UGH.

...BECAUSE I WAS JUST TOO BIG,

AND MY KNEES JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT.

DOESN'T WORK.

AND THAT WAS HUMILIATING.

BUT NOW I'M NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE

GETTING UP AND DOWN LIKE I NEED,

SO I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER RIGHT NOW.

I'M PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY LIKE I SHOULD BE NOW.

OH, IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

IT FEELS GREAT TO BE BACK WORKING.

IT'S LIKE SOMEONE RE-ISSUED MY MAN CARD.

I HAVE A PLACE AGAIN. I HAVE A REASON FOR GOING ON.

I'D HAVE TO SAY THE HARDEST THING

ABOUT TRUCK DRIVING RIGHT NOW

AFTER HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS

IS, OF COURSE, THE FOOD,

BECAUSE ALL YOUR TRUCK STOPS ARE GREASE AND FAT FOOD

AND NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

SO I BRING A LOT OF MY FOOD WITH ME.

BECAUSE IF I START EATING FAST FOOD AT TRUCK STOPS,

I KNOW I'M GONNA JUST START GAINING AGAIN.

OH, FOR EXERCISE, I --

I HAVE MY LITTLE BARBELL.

I'LL LIFT THIS THING ALL DAY LONG.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, I -- JUST GETTING OUT

WHEN I GET FUEL, YOU KNOW,

IT'S A LOT MORE THAN I USED TO DO.

SO, JUST BEING BACK TO WORK IN GENERAL,

MY ACTIVITY LEVEL HAS GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY.

I'VE WORKED TOO HARD TO GET HERE,

SO I DON'T WANT TO START MESSING UP NOW AND START GAINING AGAIN.

I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN IN A MONTH.

I DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT HIM,

AND I WANT TO STAY ON TRACK.

I WANT TO KEEP MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

AND TRY TO GET UNDER 350 POUNDS

TO GET APPROVED FOR MY EXCESS-SKIN REMOVAL.

I'M BECOMING THE HUSBAND AND FATHER I DREAMED OF BEING.

AND I'M NOT MESSING THAT UP FOR ANYTHING --

NOT FOR JUNK FOOD OR ANY EXCUSE.

I'M NOT LETTING HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF.

**

Teretha: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH NOW.

AND HE WHEN HE CAME IN TO SEE ME A FEW DAYS AGO,

DR. NOW SAID MY LYMPHEDEMA HAS GONE DOWN ENOUGH

FOR ME TO HAVE SURGERY TO REMOVE IT.

AND I'M SO EXCITED THAT THIS IS FINALLY HAPPENING.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO BE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE IT'S MAJOR SURGERY,

AND I KNOW THAT I'M STILL HIGH-RISK.

BUT I BELIEVE THIS SURGERY IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN,

SO I HAVE FAITH THAT IT'S ALL GOING TO WORK OUT

AND THAT WHEN I WAKE UP, I KNOW I WON'T HAVE

THIS HUGE ANCHOR ON ME KEEPING ME IN THIS BED.

SO I'M NOT LETTING FEAR GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO PERFORM SURGERY

TO REMOVE THE LYMPHEDEMA MASS FROM TERETHA'S LEG.

WE HAD HER WEIGHT DOWN TO ABOUT 430,

AND THE SWELLING HAS GONE DOWN ENOUGH FOR US

TO BE ABLE TO SAFELY REMOVE IT.

SHE USES THIS AS AN EXCUSE.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT DOES PUT A WEIGHT ON HER LEG,

SHE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WALKING NOW.

KNIFE.

BUT THIS WILL HELP HER TO GET UP MORE EASILY

AND WILL PREVENT ANY DISCOMFORT SHE HAS WHEN WALKING.

THIS IS A COMPLICATED

AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OPERATION.

WE HAVE TO REMOVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TISSUE

AND A LOT OF FLUID LEAKING.

AND THERE ARE MANY BLOOD VESSELS NEED TO BE TIED UP.

IF ANY OF THEM GET LOOSE,

IT CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Derrick: I'M NERVOUS, YES, OF HER BEING IN SURGERY.

IF I LOST TERETHA, IT WOULD BE DEVASTATING.

BUT IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE SURGERY, SHE'D PROBABLY DIE,

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR HER

SO SHE CAN BE ABLE TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MOVE TO THE LEFT.

KEEP GOING. RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, THIS MASS IS OFF NOW.

LET'S GET THE WEIGHT ON IT.

HOW MUCH?

OKAY, LET'S STITCH HER UP.

A COUPLE MORE STITCHES, WE'LL BE DONE.

OKAY, WE'RE DONE.

SURGERY WENT VERY WELL TODAY.

Man: DOING GOOD. BIG, DEEP BREATHS.

ONCE TERETHA RECOVERS IN A FEW DAYS,

THEN WE'LL WORK ON GETTING HER WALKING

AND OUT OF HER BED.

HAVING JUST UNDER 20 POUNDS OFF OF HER LEG

WILL HELP A LOT

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,

ELIMINATES HER FINAL EXCUSE

FOR NOT GETTING UP.

SHE'S STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT

THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE

TO STAY MOBILE AND SURVIVE MUCH LONGER,

SO WE HAVE TO GET HER UP AND MOVING AROUND.

IF SHE REFUSES AND STILL MAKE EXCUSES,

SHE WILL GET TO THE POINT ANY DAY NOW

WHERE HER BODY STARTS TO RAPIDLY DEGRADE.

AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY GIVE OUT AT ANY POINT,

SO SHE NEEDS TO START WALKING IMMEDIATELY.

Chad: I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE FOR MY NEXT CHECKUP.

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS SINCE I WAS WEIGHED LAST,

AND I WAS 441 THEN.

THE DOC WANTED ME TO STAY ON TRACK

BY LOSING 30 POUNDS A MONTH RIGHT NOW

AND GET TO 380 POUNDS.

CHAD DEAN?

AND IF I HIT THAT,

I CAN GET APPROVED FOR MY FIRST SKIN REMOVAL.

I'VE HAD A LOT GOING ON THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

STARTING WORK AND ALL.

BUT I'VE BEEN STAYING ON MY DIET

AND DOING EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO.

THAT'S NOT AS MUCH OF A LOSS AS I WAS HOPING,

BUT IT'S STILL SOME PROGRESS.

SO HOPEFULLY DR. NOW FEELS THE SAME WAY.

I'VE BEEN LOSING ROUGHLY 15 POUNDS A MONTH,

AND I KIND OF FIGURED MY WEIGHT LOSS WOULD SLOW DOWN

AND START TAPERING OUT SOME.

BUT I'M HAPPY WITH IT. IT'S A MINUS.

WHETHER IT'S 5 POUNDS, 10 POUNDS,

IT'S BETTER THAN WHERE I WAS. [ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HOW YOU DOING TODAY, DOCTOR? -HELLO, CHAD.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

AWESOME. BACK DRIVING TRUCK.

DRIVING A TRUCK. OKAY, SUPER.

BUT YOU'RE NO REALLY LOSING THE WEIGHT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

SO, HERE'S WHAT MY CONCERN IS.

YOU STARTED YOUR JOB AS A TRUCK DRIVER AGAIN,

AND THAT'S HOW YOU GAINED

ALL THE WEIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

NOW YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS SLOWING.

HOW ARE YOU NOT SEEING THE CORRELATION?

AND IF YOU START TO GAIN AGAIN,

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN KEEP THE SAME CAREER

UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE BACK 600 POUNDS AGAIN.

OH, I AIN'T NEVER GET BACK THERE.

-I'LL NEVER GET BACK THERE. -WELL, YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE,

-THEY TELL ME -- -I KNOW, I KNOW.

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU NEED TO LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH RIGHT NOW.

AND NEXT APPOINTMENT,

I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE MADE THAT PROGRESS.

YOU NEED TO WORK AND GET UNDER 350 POUNDS

IF YOU WANT TO GET ANY SKIN REMOVAL.

OKAY.

CHAD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TAKING THIS SLOWDOWN

IN HIS WEIGHT LOSS TOO SERIOUSLY.

HE HAS TOLD ME BEFORE THAT HE THINKS ANY LOSS IS POSITIVE,

BUT WHAT HE IS NOT UNDERSTANDING

IS THAT AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SEEING THE WEIGHT LOSS SLOW DOWN

WHILE HE'S STILL OVER 400 POUNDS

IS NOT A GOOD SIGN.

LET ME SEE YOUR EXTRA SKINS.

NOW, IT'S LIKE ALL THIS.

ANY SWELLING IN YOUR LOWER PART OF YOUR LEG?

NO, THESE HAVE BEEN STAYING PRETTY MUCH

-WHERE THEY ARE. -THE SAME. MM-HMM.

SO, CONTINUE LOSING MORE WEIGHT

AND GET BACK ON TRACK, CHAD.

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. -OKAY.

-BYE, DR. NOW. -BYE-BYE.

CHAD THINKS THAT HE'S DOING SO WELL,

BUT IF HE START TO COMPROMISE,

HE'LL BE SURPRISED HOW FAST THINGS WILL TURN AROUND

AND HE'LL START TO GAIN AGAIN.

HOPEFULLY, HE DOESN'T HAVE

TO LEARN THIS LESSON THE HARD WAY.

LET'S GO.

THE APPOINTMENT TODAY DIDN'T GO AS I HAD HOPED.

I KNOW I HAVE TO MAKE THE PROGRESS THAT I SHOULD,

SO I'LL HAVE TO UP MY GAME.

AND I DO HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL BEING BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN,

SO THAT MEANS EVERY DAY ON THE JOB,

I HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN I USED TO.

I'M NOT GONNA LET MYSELF START TO GAIN.

I WORKED TOO HARD TO GET TO WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M NOT LOSING THAT.

**

Teretha: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT RECOVERY.

IT'S TAKEN A LOT TO HEAL,

AND DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS THAT HE'S CONCERNED

THAT I'M STILL NOT UP AND WALKING.

BUT I'M NOT READY.

I WANT TO BE OUT OF THIS BED AND WALKING,

BUT HOW CAN I DO THAT IF MY LEG ISN'T HEALED ENOUGH YET?

SO I'M A LITTLE DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW.

SO, DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT,

AND HE'S COMING BY TODAY TO GIVE ME SOME OPTIONS.

AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT HE'S GOING TO TELL ME.

-HI, TERETHA. -HI, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

I'M OKAY. I'M GETTING BETTER.

THE PAIN IS GETTING BETTER,

BUT YOU'RE STILL NOT GETTING UP,

AND THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT.

TERETHA'S STILL GIVING EXCUSES

FOR WHY SHE CAN'T GET UP AND STAND.

WE REMOVED THE LYMPHEDEMA FROM TERETHA'S LEG

ALMOST A MONTH AGO,

AND THERE IS NO REASON SHE SHOULD BE IN BED

AND REFUSE TO GET UP,

ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO.

SO WE HAVE TO GET MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH HER TREATMENT.

SO, WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS NOW.

THE FIRST IS THAT WE SEND YOU TO A REHAB FACILITY

THAT WILL FOCUS ON GETTING YOU UP

AND WALKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

-OKAY. -AND IF THAT FAIL,

THE SECOND OPTION IS TO CONVERT YOUR GASTRIC SLEEVE

TO GASTRIC BYPASS SO YOU WILL LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

BECAUSE IF YOU STILL CANNOT GET UP,

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUR WEIGHT REDUCES.

IF YOU REMAIN IMMOBILE AND START TO GAIN AGAIN,

THAT'S GOING TO BE A DEATH SENTENCE FOR YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT.

-OKAY. -SO I'M GONNA DO MY DAMN BEST

TO CONTINUE TO WORK REALLY HARD

AT WHAT WE INITIALLY STARTED AT.

GOOD. THEN THAT'LL BE OUR GOAL.

YES, THAT'LL BE OUR GOAL.

SO, THE AMBULANCE IS COMING RIGHT NOW

TO TAKE YOU TO A REHAB FACILITY

SO YOU CAN START TO TRY TO STAND.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL COME AND SEE YOU SOON.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M SENDING TERETHA TO A REHAB FACILITY

THAT SPECIALIZES IN TYPE OF REHAB SHE NEEDS.

THEY HAVE A TREATMENT TO HELP HER

SLOWLY GET OUT OF THE BED.

AND IF SHE STILL REFUSES AT THAT POINT,

WE HAVE TO START TAKING A DIFFERENT APPROACH

TO GET HER TO A BETTER PLACE QUICKLY,

BECAUSE SHE'S RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

Man: TWO, THREE.

Teretha: I'M NOT HAVING A SECOND PROCEDURE.

I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE I'M GONNA DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO

WITH THE ONE PROCEDURE THAT I HAVE.

I'M READY TO GO HOME,

BUT IF THIS IS THE NEXT STEP THAT I HAVE TO TAKE

IN ORDER TO GET UP, THEN I WILL.

I WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS BED,

AND I DON'T THINK THAT DR. NOWZARADAN UNDERSTANDS THAT,

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET TO MY TARGET

AND MOVE BACK TO DETROIT THIS YEAR.

I'M GONNA MAKE IT WORK.

I'M NOT GONNA DISAPPOINT MYSELF OR MY FAMILY,

SO THAT'S WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.

**

Chad: I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS,

AND IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BE AWAY FROM MY FAMILY

FOR AS LONG AS I HAVE TO RIGHT NOW.

I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY ROUTE

TO CALIFORNIA UP TO OREGON AND BACK,

SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HOME.

I'VE MISSED MY FAMILY, BUT IT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO

TO MAKE A LIVING AND PROVIDE FOR THEM.

AND I'M JUST HAPPY TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

-HONEY, I'M HOME. -HI, HONEY.

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

GOOD. I'M HOME FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

YOU'RE ALWAYS HOME FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

I GOT TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK OUT.

SO, QUAY-QUAY, DID YOU MISS ME?

-YEAH. -HI, DADDY.

HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOING ON THE ROAD WITH YOUR EATING?

NOT BAD.

HOW 'BOUT WHEN YOU GO INSIDE THE TRUCK STOPS?

I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SODA OR ANYTHING.

I'VE HAD -- I DID HAVE ONE ENERGY DRINK.

ACTUALLY, I HAD TWO ON THE ROAD.

-SO... -CHAD.

-BUT AS FAR AS JUNK FOOD -- -CHAD!

DON'T SKIP PAST WHAT YOU JUST SAID REAL QUICK.

AS FAR AS JUNK FOOD,

I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD ANY JUNK FOOD.

ALL YOUR JUNK FOOD IS IN THAT ONE ENERGY DRINK.

YEAH. EXACTLY.

NO, I'M NOT GETTING BACK INTO 'EM LIKE I WAS.

-MM-HMM. -I CAN'T.

HOW MANY YOU HAD?

A COUPLE.

Ayesha: HIS WORK DID MAKE ME NERVOUS

AT THE BEGINNING WHEN HE FIRST WENT BACK,

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HE HAS TO STOP AT TRUCK STOPS.

HE HAS TO GO IN AND GET A RECEIPT.

AND WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, YOU SEE NOTHING BUT JUNK.

I MEAN, IT IS HARD. BUT HE DOES KNOW,

"IF I GET THIS, AND I EAT IT,

I'LL JUST BE, YOU KNOW, CHEATING MYSELF."

I'M GONNA GET A GLASS OF ICED TEA.

Chad: BEING BACK TO WORK HAS AFFECTED THE WEIGHT LOSS.

I DON'T LOSE AS FAST NOW BECAUSE I'M NOT AT THE GYM AS MUCH.

BUT I'M MAKING PROGRESS WITH HOW MY BODY IS GETTING.

YOU KNOW, WHERE BEFORE EVERYTHING WAS HARD,

NOW IT'S SQUISHY.

MY SON LOVES IT. HE'S ALWAYS PLAYING

WITH THE SWINGING -- I CALL IT THE SWINGING MEAT.

HE'S ALWAYS COMING UP AND PUTTING HIS FACE INTO IT.

BUT I KNOW TRUCK DRIVING

IS WHAT LED ME TO START GAINING ALL MY WEIGHT THE FIRST TIME,

AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

RIGHT NOW, I'M MAKING TOO MANY COMPROMISES ON THE ROAD

AND THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO WORK ON.

WELL, I HAVE AN IDEA I WANT TO RUN PAST YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IF WE PUT ALL THIS IN STORAGE,

AND YOU AND THE KIDS COME WITH ME FOR THE SUMMER?

AND THAT WAY, YOU CAN HELP KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE.

WHAT, JUST GIVE THIS APARTMENT UP AND JUST GO?

THIS WORKED GREAT FOR WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE.

YEAH.

SO, WHY DON'T WE MOVE OUT?

'CAUSE I ALREADY RENTED A STORAGE UNIT.

OH, REALLY?

WELL, WHAT ABOUT ME?

YOU DIDN'T ASK? YOU -- NOTHING?

JUST GO AND RENT A STORAGE UNIT?

WE'LL SAVE A MONTH'S RENT,

'CAUSE WE WON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT AGAIN.

-SO, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? -FOR HOW LONG?

A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS.

WELL, I GUESS YOU ARE RIGHT TO SAVE MONEY

'CAUSE HOW MUCH WE PAY HERE. [ LAUGHS ]

NO, I'M FINE WITH IT.

IT MAY BE KIND OF FUN FOR US AND THE KIDS.

YOU WANT TO THROW THE BAGS IN THE BEDROOM,

AND MOMMY AND I WILL DINNER GOING?

-THANKS, HON. -MM-HMM.

-READY, BABE? -YEAH.

-LET'S GO DO SOME COOKING. -YEP.

Chad: I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS,

AND I HOPE THE KIDS WILL BE, TOO.

AYESHA WILL HELP KEEP ME IN LINE,

AND I'LL HAVE MY FAMILY WITH ME FOR THE SUMMER

SO I DON'T HAVE TO BE AWAY FROM THEM FOR SO LONG.

SO I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT,

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR US ALL TO HIT THE ROAD TOGETHER.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME,

I KNOW I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING TO STAY ON TRACK.

I CAN'T LET MYSELF SLIP TOO MUCH,

SO I'M NOT GONNA LET MY GUARD DOWN.

Teretha: I'VE BEEN HERE AT THE REHAB FACILITY

FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND EVERYONE HERE HAS BEEN TRYING TO HELP ME GET UP.

BUT I'VE JUST HAD TOO MUCH PAIN IN MY LEG.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYONE BELIEVES THAT.

SINCE I CAN'T GET UP RIGHT NOW,

THEY HAVE BEEN DOING A DIFFERENT TYPE

OF PHYSICAL THERAPY EXERCISE WITH ME.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.

THIS ACTIVITY WE CALL THE TILT TABLE,

IT'S TO HELP ME START TO BEAR WEIGHT

ON MY KNEES AND MY ANKLES

AND EASE ME INTO WALKING AGAIN.

SO TELL ME WHEN THERE IS ANY INCREASE IN PAIN IN THE KNEE...

ALL RIGHT. GO DOWN.

DR. NOW IS COMING BY TO CHECK UP ON ME TODAY

AND SEE HOW I'M DOING,

BUT I'M NOT SURE HE'LL UNDERSTAND

THAT I'M DOING MY BEST RIGHT NOW

AND THAT I JUST NEED MORE TIME.

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

HOW YOU DOING, TERETHA?

I'M -- I'M DOING OKAY.

OKAY, SO, YOU'RE STILL NOT GETTING UP

AND WALKING LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

-WHY IS THAT? -THERE'S SOME PAIN IN THIS LEG.

WELL, THAT -- YOU KNOW WHY YOU HAVE PAIN IN THAT LEG?

-YES, SIR. -'CAUSE YOU HAD SURGERY.

SURGERY, YES, SIR.

TERETHA, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

THERE IS NO REASON YOU SHOULD STILL BE IN THIS BED.

YOUR WEIGHT HAS TO START COMING DOWN,

AND YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND WALK.

NOT DOING EITHER OF THOSE THINGS

IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW.

TERETHA IS ONCE AGAIN REFUSING TO GET UP AND WALK,

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

SHE BLAMED HER WEIGHT, AND WE DID WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SHE BLAMED HER LYMPHEDEMA, AND WE REMOVED IT.

AND THIS FACILITY IS NOT ONE THAT IS ENABLED

TO DO RESTRICTED, LOW-CALORIE, HIGH-PROTEIN DIET.

SO SHE'S STARTING TO GAIN AGAIN.

AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO CORRECT THAT NOW.

ONLY THING I GOT TO DO IS JUST KEEP WORKING AT THIS.

AIN'T NO TURNING BACK.

I'M NOT GONNA LET THIS TOOL GO TO WASTE.

MAYBE IT'S TIME TO CONSIDER A FULL GASTRIC BYPASS.

SO I'M GIVING YOU TWO MORE WEEKS.

AND IF YOU DON'T GET UP,

WE NEED TO DISCUSS ANOTHER SURGERY.

I DID HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING ANOTH--

HAVING A SECOND PROCEDURE DONE.

-IT'S A FEAR. -THE GOOD THING WITH THE BYPASS

WILL BE THAT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS WILL BE MUCH EASIER,

BUT YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

IF YOU DON'T START TO FIND MOTIVATION TO DO THIS,

THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME EXTREME MEASURE

TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

OKAY. OKAY.

-ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU LATER. -SEE YOU.

-ALL RIGHT, YOU TAKE CARE. -ALL RIGHT, HON. THANK YOU.

OKAY.

Teretha: I DON'T THINK DR. NOWZARADAN REALLY UNDERSTANDS

A LOT OF WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT DID WAS MY FAMILY.

MY GOAL IS TO GET BACK TO THEM THIS YEAR,

AND I'M DOING THAT NO MATTER WHAT.

SO MAYBE I NEED TO START FIGURING OUT

OTHER OPTIONS OF MY OWN.

**

Chad: HEY, HONEY, I'LL PACK UP SOME OF THE STUFF IN THE KITCHEN.

TODAY, WE'RE PACKING ALL OF OUR THINGS UP

SO WE CAN MOVE OUT OF OUR APARTMENT.

MY FAMILY IS GONNA LIVE WITH ME ON THE ROAD FOR THE SUMMER,

AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED.

IF I HAVE LOST ALL THE WEIGHT JUST FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY,

THEN IT WOULD BE WORTH IT.

DO YOU HAVE THE TAPE GUN, HON?

ALL RIGHT, THIS ONE'S READY TO TAPE.

YOU WANT TO DO IT, OR YOU WANT ME TO DO IT?

GO AHEAD.

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY FAMILY WITH ME --

IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE.

SO I'VE DECIDED I'M PUTTING MY APPOINTMENTS WITH DR. NOW

ON HOLD FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

-THAT'S GOOD. -REAL QUICK.

I STILL PLAN ON STICKING TO MY DIET AND MAKING PROGRESS.

IN FACT, THAT'S ONE OF THE BENEFITS

OF HAVING MY FAMILY WITH ME, ESPECIALLY AYESHA,

'CAUSE I KNOW SHE'S GONNA KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE.

I KNOW DR. NOW WANTS ME TO MAKE

A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PROGRESS EVERY MONTH,

BUT I FEEL LIKE AS LONG AS I'M MOVING FORWARD,

HOWEVER MUCH OR LITTLE,

ANY PROGRESS IS PROGRESS.

ALL RIGHT, SOME SPICES.

JUST SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS AGO...

...I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE ALL DAY LONG.

NOW NOT ONLY AM I GETTING OUT AND DOING THINGS,

I'M ABOUT TO TAKE MY FAMILY

AND SHOW THEM THIS INCREDIBLE COUNTRY THAT'S OUT THERE.

AND NOW I'M LIVING A LIFE I COULD ONLY DREAM OF.

I'M PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY AND I'M SPENDING TIME WITH THEM,

SO I CAN'T WAIT.

THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT FAMILY VACATION.

WITH AYESHA'S HELP AND TAQUA'S HELP,

I KNOW I'M GONNA MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED ON THE ROAD.

SO JUST BECAUSE I'M TAKING SOME TIME OFF FROM MY APPOINTMENTS,

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT GONNA BE MAKING PROGRESS.

I CAN JUST DO IT ON MY TIMETABLE,

DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO.

MY FAMILY'S MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, AND I'M NOT GONNA MISS OUT

ON ANY OPPORTUNITY WITH THEM LIKE THIS.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GONNA HEAD TO FORT WORTH

TO MOVE THE FAMILY INTO MY RIG AND THEN HEAD OUT

TO SPEND THE SUMMER TOGETHER ON THE OPEN ROAD.

**

Teretha: IT'S BEEN HARD TO BE AWAY FROM HOME AS LONG AS I HAVE,

SO I DECIDED I WAS DONE

AND THAT IT WAS TIME THAT I LEAVE.

IT'S NOT REALLY HELPING BEING HERE AT ALL,

BECAUSE THEY REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND

HOW I NEED TO MAKE PROGRESS.

INSTEAD, THEY KEEP PUSHING ME TO DO MORE BEFORE I'M READY,

AND I DON'T NEED THAT ANYMORE.

DR. NOWZARADAN HAS BEEN SAYING IF I DON'T MAKE PROGRESS,

THEN HE THINKS I'LL NEED A GASTRIC BYPASS.

AND I'M NOT ALLOWING ANY MORE PROCEDURES TO BE DONE ON ME,

SO THERE'S NOT ANY REAL HELP LEFT FOR ME AT THE HOSPITAL

OR AT THE REHAB FACILITY.

AND I'VE BEEN THINKING IT MAY BE TIME

FOR ME TO GO BACK TO DETROIT.

I'M JUST TIRED OF NOT HAVING THE HELP THAT I NEED.

SIR, IF YOU COULD JUST WATCH HER LEGS,

WE'LL DO THE LIFTING.

AND JUST SUPPORT HER LEG, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T HIT NOTHING.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.

Teretha: GOOD.

MY FAMILY CARING FOR ME

AND TRYING TO HELP ME GET BACK ON MY FEET --

IT'D BE A POSITIVE FOR MY PROGRESS.

I KNOW DR. NOWZARADAN ISN'T HAPPY,

BUT THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR ME.

-GOOD LUCK TO YOU, MA'AM. -THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, TILL NEXT TIME.

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

I KNOW THAT THE BIGGEST HELP I CAN GET IS MY FAMILY.

THEY KNOW ME, AND THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR ME.

DR. NOWZARADAN HELPED ME GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED,

AND THOSE WERE THE TWO BIG THINGS

I CAME TO HOUSTON FOR.

AND I HAVE THOSE NOW,

SO I THINK I HAVE SOME HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE,

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE

IF BEING IN HOUSTON ANYMORE MAKES SENSE.

Chad: FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS,

I'VE BEEN TRAVELLING THE COUNTRY WITH MY FAMILY.

I TOOK THEM TO CALIFORNIA ON MY FIRST RUN WITH THEM,

AND THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.

WELL, WE GOT A LOAD WE GOT TO PICK UP AT TUESDAY MORNING,

AND IT DELIVERS TO PORTLAND, OREGON.

IT'S ABOUT 2,000 MILES.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO OREGON?

YEP, WE GOT TO GO TO OREGON.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, QUAY?

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE COOL.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STATES.

YEAH, I WANT TO SEE THE GRAND CANYON

AND A BUNCH OF HILLS.

SNOW-TOPPED MOUNTAINS --

YOU NEVER SEEN SNOW-TOPPED MOUNTAINS BEFORE.

-NO, THAT'S DIFFERENT. -WE DON'T WANT TO SEE SNOW.

-I DO! I WANT TO SEE SNOW. -OF COURSE YOU DO.

Ayesha: THE KIDS ARE VERY EXCITED.

MY DAUGHTER, SHE JUST WANT TO SEE MOUNTAINS AND SNOW TOPS.

AND IT'S GONNA BE FUN.

MY FAMILY IS ALL IN ONE PLACE,

AND THAT'S ALL I COULD EVER ASK FOR.

READY TO GO?

-YEAH. -YEP, LET'S HIT THE ROAD.

HERE WE GO, GUYS.

IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL BEING WITH CHAD ON THE ROAD.

THE KIDS ARE LOVING IT,

AND THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THEY REMEMBER

FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

SO, I'M REALLY PROUD OF HIM

FOR HOW HARD HE'S WORKING

AND FOR WANTING TO DO THIS.

CHAD LOVES HIS FAMILY,

AND HE'S A GREAT HUSBAND AND FATHER.

AND I'M GRATEFUL WE GET THIS TIME WITH HIM.

AND WE'VE BEEN KEEPING HIM ON TRACK OUT HERE.

HE TRIES TO GRAB AN ENERGY DRINK

OR JUNK FOOD EVERY NOW AND THEN,

AND ME AND TAQUA REMIND HIM THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR HIM,

AND HE PUTS IT BACK.

IT'S JUST OLD HABITS HE'S HAVING TO UNLEARN RIGHT NOW.

Chad: I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEXT RUN,

'CAUSE IT'LL BE OUR LAST FEW WEEKS

BEFORE THE KIDS HAVE TO GET BACK AND START SCHOOL AGAIN.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SHOW THEM THE WORLD THAT'S OUT THERE.

I'M GLAD MY KIDS GET TO SEE THIS JOURNEY THAT I'M DOING,

BECAUSE HOPEFULLY IT'LL OPEN UP THEIR EYES ON EATING HEALTHIER.

HOPEFULLY, IT'LL OPEN UP THEIR EYES ON,

YOU KNOW, "IF I DON'T, I COULD END UP LIKE DADDY WAS."

AND IT'S NOT A GOOD PLACE FOR ANYBODY TO BE.

BEING AS BIG AS I WAS,

MY WEIGHT NOT ONLY TRAPPED ME AT HOME...

QUAY-QUAY, CAN YOU GET MY FOOTSTOOL

WHEN YOU GET A SECOND, HONEY?

...BUT TRAPPED MY FAMILY,

BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAD TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS

I WANTED TO GIVE BACK TO THEM FOR THAT.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE MORE PROGRESS TO MAKE,

AND THAT WHEN I GO BACK TO SEE DR. NOW IN A MONTH,

THAT HE EXPECTS ME TO BE DOWN TO THE 360s.

I WAS OKAY WITH TAKING MY WEIGHT LOSS

A LITTLE SLOWER THAN WHAT THE DOCTOR WANTED,

BUT BEING OUT ON THE ROAD

AND AS ACTIVE AS I AM WITH MY FAMILY,

MY EXCESS SKIN IS REALLY STARTING TO GET IN THE WAY,

AND IT'S GETTING UNCOMFORTABLE.

SO I WANT TO GET SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY

AS SOON AS I CAN.

ME AND AYESHA DECIDED

MAYBE IT'S BEST TO STICK TO THE DOCTOR'S TIMETABLE.

I STARTED THIS JOURNEY,

AND I CAN'T STOP OR SLOW DOWN TILL I FINISH IT.

THE DOC WANTED ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH,

AND IF I DID THAT, I'D BE UNDER THE 350-POUND GOAL I NEEDED

TO GET SKIN REMOVAL.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING HARD TO DO.

**

Teretha: I DECIDED THAT IT'S TIME FOR ME AND DERRICK

TO GO BACK TO DETROIT

AND END MY CARE WITH DR. NOWZARADAN IN HOUSTON.

I STILL PLAN TO KEEP WORKING ON GETTING UP AND LOSING WEIGHT,

AND I'M HOPING THAT DR. NOWZARADAN

STILL CHECKS IN ON ME

AND GIVES ME GUIDANCE AND ADVICE.

DR. NOW HAS DONE

TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR MY LIFE --

MY BARIATRIC SURGERY

AND THE REMOVAL OF A LYMPHEDEMA MASS.

BUT I JUST NEED MY FAMILY RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP ME

LIKE I NEED AT THIS POINT IN MY JOURNEY.

THEY WON'T PUSH ME TOO HARD

AND WILL ACTUALLY HELP ME START TO MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

AND MY SON, DARIUS, HAS BEEN WORKING HARD

TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO WORK WITH ME

TO GET UP AND WALK ONCE I'M BACK HOME.

HEY. MAN, I MISS YOU.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE Y'ALL.

I'M TIRED OF SEEING Y'ALL OVER THE PHONE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU GOT A GAME PLAN

AS FAR AS ME STARTING STANDING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I'M GLAD THAT ME AND YOU ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S BABY STEPS. I'M JUST EXCITED.

YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA BE, LIKE, ME AND YOU.

ALL RIGHT, HON.

LOVE YOU, TOO, SMOOCHES.

DARIUS IS GOING TO BE THE ONE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

FOR MY PHYSICAL THERAPY BACK HOME.

AND HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET ME TO A PLACE

WHERE I CAN STAND AGAIN.

SO AS HARD AS IT IS FOR ME TO MAKE THIS CHOICE,

I KNOW THAT IT IS THE RIGHT ONE FOR ME.

**

I'M EXCITED TO BE FINALLY HEADED HOME.

DERRICK AND I HAVE PACKED UP OUR PLACE,

AND NOW THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HERE

TO HELP ME GET IN THE CAR.

I DIDN'T EXPECT TO LEAVE HOUSTON THE SAME WAY I ARRIVED.

10 FIREFIGHTERS DOING THE SAME THING --

CARRYING ME OUT TO PUT ME IN THE BACK OF A MINI VAN.

AND HERE I AM, GOING HOME THE EXACT SAME WAY.

IT REALLY DID BOTHER ME. THIS WASN'T MY PLAN

AND THE WAY I INTENDED TO GO HOME.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN MY LIFE

OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.

[ DERRICK SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

MY LAST WEIGHT CHECK AT THE HOSPITAL

WAS AROUND 390 POUNDS,

SO THERE'S SO MUCH FOR ME TO BE THANKFUL FOR RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW DR. NOWZARADAN IS REALLY WORRIED

ABOUT ME LEAVING RIGHT NOW,

BUT I TOLD HIM I'M GOING TO WORK HARD

TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS

AND TO DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO

TO GET OUT OF THIS BED.

MY FAMILY IS WHAT'S MOTIVATING ME

TO COMPLETE THIS TRIP

AND TO CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY OF BEING HEALTHY

AND BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON MY FEET

AND TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE,

YOU KNOW, AS HEALTHY AND MOBILE AS BEST TO MY ABILITY.

I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED.

SO, IT'S TIME I GO BACK,

NO MATTER WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE.

Teretha: I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD A LITTLE OVER 25 HOURS,

AND I'M EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED.

I'M IN AN AWFUL LOT OF PAIN.

BUT I'M ABOUT 10 MINUTES OUT FROM MY MOM'S HOUSE,

AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE HER.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MY MOTHER SINCE LAST YEAR,

THE DAY I LEFT TO LEAVE TO GO TO HOUSTON.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW I'M HERE.

THIS WILL BE A TOTAL SURPRISE TO HER.

SHE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR BECAUSE SHE HAD A STROKE 16 YEARS AGO,

AND I REALLY WANTED TO BE STANDING

AND BE ABLE TO REACH DOWN

AND BEND TO GIVE HER HUG, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

I'M COMING BACK HEALTHIER AND EVERYTHING.

SHE'S GOING TO SEE HOW MUCH I'VE LOST

AND THAT MY LYMPHEDEMA IS COMPLETELY GONE.

-OH, MY GOD! -MA. OKAY, STOP YELLING.

-OH! OH! OH! OH! -STOP YELLING.

[ Laughing ] OH!

OH, GOD. OH, GOD BLESS ME,

OH, MY GOD.

OH, I PRAYED THIS MORNING FOR YOU.

OH, MY GOD.

YEP. SO, I'M HOME NOW.

YOU CAN TALK TO MY FACE.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

[ Laughing ] OH.

SHE'S FINALLY SPEECHLESS.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WE -- WE MUST MARK THIS DATE.

MOM IS SPEECHLESS.

-CAN'T BELIEVE IT. -OH, MY GOD.

Teretha: THIS IS WHY I NEEDED TO COME BACK.

SEEING MY MOM TODAY,

THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO BE RIGHT NOW.

OH, MY BABY HOME. OOH.

YOUR FAVORITE CHILD.

YEP.

ALL RIGHT, Y'ALL. COME ON. LET'S GO.

I GOT TO GET OUT THIS VAN.

I HOPED TO RETURN HERE MUCH FURTHER ALONG,

BUT I HAVE A PLAN TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT

AND TO GET UP AND WALK AGAIN.

I'M GOING TO BE WORKING WITH MY FAMILY

TO DO MY EXERCISES EVERY DAY.

DERRICK AND I ARE GOING TO BE LIVING WITH MY SON, DARIUS.

I KNOW THAT HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE

TO HELP ME LIKE I NEED

AND PUSH ME AT THE PACE THAT WORKS FOR ME.

I'M GOING TO DO THIS.

I'M GOING TO GET UP AND WALKING BEFORE THE YEAR IS UP,

JUST LIKE I INTENDED.

**

Chad: WE'VE BEEN BACK FROM BEING ON THE ROAD

FOR ABOUT A WEEK NOW.

THE KIDS HAVE TO START SCHOOL,

SO WE FOUND A PLACE IN FORT WORTH

THAT THEY CAN LIVE, CLOSER TO MY WORK.

BUT I'M IN HOUSTON TODAY FOR MY CHECKUP WITH DR. NOW.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS AT 422.

BUT I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS.

-CHAD DEAN? -AND TO STAY ON TRACK

WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS LIKE THE DOCTOR WANTED,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO BE UNDER 330 POUNDS TODAY.

SO I'M HOPING I DID THAT

AND THAT THE DOC IS GONNA APPROVE ME

FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY TODAY.

AWESOME.

-I'M HAPPY. -YEAH, ME, TOO.

IT'S NOT AS LOW AS THE DOCTOR WANTED,

BUT IT'S PRETTY DARN CLOSE,

SO I'M PROUD OF THAT, AND I HOPE DR. NOW IS, TOO.

AND I LOST IT ALL ON THE ROAD.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,

I GOT UNDER THE 350-POUND MARK

THAT THE DOC TOLD ME I NEEDED TO HIT

TO GET APPROVED FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HOW YOU DOING, DOCTOR? -HELLO.

WELL, YOU LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT

I ALMOST DIDN'T RECOGNIZE YOU.

THAT'S A GOOD THING. [ LAUGHTER ]

SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO 338 POUNDS.

THAT'S AWESOME. THAT'S AWESOME.

YOUR GOAL WAS TO GET DOWN TO 330 POUNDS,

BUT I THINK YOU HAVE DONE WELL, AND YOU STAYED ON TRACK.

AND YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO BE BACK ON THE ROAD

WITHOUT GOING BACK TO OLD HABITS.

YEAH, I FEEL --

I FEEL TOTALLY DIFFERENT, DAY AND NIGHT.

YOU DOING ANY EXERCISE ACTIVITY?

YEAH, I LIFT WEIGHTS IN THE TRUCK DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

I DO A LOT MORE WALKING.

LIKE, AT A TRUCK STOP, I PARK FURTHER AWAY

SO I HAVE TO WALK THAT MUCH FURTHER.

SO I'M GETTING A LOT MORE MOBILE THAN I USED TO BE.

WELL, YOU LOOK DIFFERENT.

AND IT'S A GREAT THING YOU CHANGED YOUR LIFE

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL FOR YOU.

IT'S GETTING THERE, GETTING THERE.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF CHAD,

AND HE'S MAKING A BIG EFFORT

TO CHANGE HOW HE DEALS WITH HIS ENVIRONMENT

WHILE BEING ON THE ROAD.

SO I THINK HE'S DOING VERY WELL,

AND HE'S READY FOR HIS FIRST SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

WITH ALL THIS WEIGHT LOSS,

I'M SURE THIS EXCESS SKIN

IS BECOMING A REAL BIG ISSUE.

WHICH IS ONE IS MORE PROBLEM FOR YOU,

YOUR STOMACH OR YOU LEG?

OH, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE LEGS.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THEM AND SEE WHICH IS, UH --

WHAT DO YOU WANT, THE LEGS?

YEAH.

ALL THIS HERE -- THAT'S THE MAIN ONE.

SO THE LEFT LEG IS THE BIGGEST ONE.

LET ME SEE WHAT YOUR STOMACH IS DOING.

IT JUST HANGS DOWN.

WELL, I THINK THE STOMACH IS DOING PRETTY GOOD.

WE CAN WAIT ON THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY, AND YOU'RE DOING WELL,

SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU

FOR SKIN SURGERY FOR YOUR LEFT THIGH.

ALL RIGHT.

[ SNIFFLES ]

ALL RIGHT, SHE'S EXCITED AS MUCH AS YOU ARE, HUH?

IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD.

THAT'S SUPER.

-I'LL SEE YOU THEN. -ALL RIGHT.

WE WASN'T PLANNING ON HIM SAYING IT,

BUT YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY.

I AM. ALL RIGHT.

I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD OF MYSELF.

AND I THINK I'M STILL TRYING TO PROCESS

THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH RECOVERY.

BUT WITH MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT,

I KNOW I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

**

OKAY.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY SON, DARIUS,

THIS PAST MONTH TO TRY TO GET UP AND WALK.

CAN YOU SLIDE FROM HERE, OR YOU STILL NEED ME TO PULL?

BUT MY PROGRESS IS STILL NOT GOING

LIKE I HOPED IT WOULD.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

I'M STILL DOING EVERYTHING FROM THE BED.

IT BOTHERS ME, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS

TO BE STILL IN THE BED.

SO TODAY, I'M GOING TO TRY TO STAND.

TWO.

[ GRUNTS ] OKAY, I'M SLIDING.

THIS AIN'T GONNA GET IT. IT'S TOO FAR DOWN.

IT'S TOO FAR DOWN?

THE BED IS TOO FAR DOWN.

I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE AN ATTEMPT

TO TRY TO GET UP TODAY,

BUT IT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

MY HUSBAND AND SON, THEY'RE DOING THEIR BEST,

BUT IT JUST DOESN'T WORK.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO HELP SOMEONE MY SIZE

GET UP WITH THE SUPPORT THAT I NEED.

I NEED TO GO INTO AN INPATIENT REHAB FACILITY

WHERE THEY HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT

THAT CAN HELP ME GET UP, YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE IT TAKES MORE THAN TWO PEOPLE

TO TRY TO HELP ME TO STAND.

AND THEN, I'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

JUST THE THOUGHT OF NOT BEING STUCK

IN ANOTHER ROOM

IN ANOTHER BED

IS ALL THE MOTIVATION I NEED,

'CAUSE I'M DONE WITH ALL OF THIS.

I'M HOPING COMING BACK HOME DIDN'T CONDEMN ME

TO BE IN THIS BED FOREVER

AND THAT I'VE LOST MY ONLY CHANCE TO WALK AGAIN,

BECAUSE I KNOW MY LIFE DEPENDS

ON ME BEING ABLE TO GET UP AND WALK

BEFORE MY BODY GETS TOO BAD TO DO IT.

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Chad: WE FINISHED MOVING ALL OF OUR STUFF OUT OF STORAGE

AND INTO OUR NEW APARTMENT IN FORT WORTH.

BUT I'M TAKING A FEW WEEKS OFF FROM DRIVING

BECAUSE TOMORROW, I'M HAVING SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

GAINING ALL THE WEIGHT I DID DID A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MY BODY,

AND WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, I SEE AN OLD MAN.

AND NOW THAT I'M LOSING THE WEIGHT,

MY BODY JUST LOOKS LIKE IT'S MELTING.

SO I KNOW I'M GONNA NEED MULTIPLE SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERIES.

BUT THIS ONE TOMORROW IS GONNA BE THE BIGGEST

JUST BECAUSE OF HOW BAD OFF MY LEGS ARE.

SO, SURGERY TOMORROW. WELL, I'M GLAD IT'S HAPPENING,

BUT IT'S ALMOST A FOOT THEY'RE TAKING OFF.

IT'S A LOT OF SKIN. YOU FIGURE,

THERE'S MY LEG OVER THERE.

YEAH, I KNOW.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO GET AROUND

EVEN MORE AFTER I RECOVER FROM THIS SURGERY,

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TOMORROW.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE DOING EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL

OF THE LARGE MASS FROM CHAD'S LEFT LEG.

OKAY.

I THINK WE PROBABLY GONNA BE ABLE TO REMOVE

8 TO 10 POUNDS OF SKIN OFF OF CHAD'S THIGH.

CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT, CUT.

AND THAT'S GONNA HELP CHAD

WHEN HE WALK AND DO ACTIVITY.

Ayesha: I'M FEELING ANXIETY, SCARED.

I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE THAT'S MY HUSBAND IN THERE.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

AND FOR HIM TO GO IN THERE AND SOMETHING TO GO WRONG,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY.

GOT A COUPLE MORE STITCHES, AND WE'LL BE ALL DONE.

ALL RIGHT, ALL FINISHED.

THE SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

AND NOW WE'RE GONNA CHECK THE WEIGHT.

CHAD LOST 10 POUNDS TODAY.

HERE'S SOME OXYGEN.

IT SHOULD TAKE A FEW WEEKS FOR CHAD TO FULLY RECOVER.

IT TAKES LONGER TO HEAL

WHEN THE REMOVAL IS IN A SENSITIVE AREA LIKE THE LEG,

BECAUSE OF ALL THE BENDING AND MOTION

AT THE PART OF THE BODY.

SO CHAD HAS TO TAKE IT EASY

TO PREVENT ANY ISSUES WITH HIS RECOVERY.

THEN WHEN HE RECOVERS ENOUGH,

I'LL CLEAR HIM TO GO BACK TO WORK

AND GET BACK TO HIS LIFE LIKE IT WAS.

**

Teretha: AFTER TRYING TO MAKE PROGRESS BACK HOME ON MY OWN,

I REALIZED THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT

THAT WE NEEDED FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO GET UP AND WALK.

SO I TALKED TO DR. NOWZARADAN, AND HE HELPED ME ARRANGE

TO GO TO A CARE FACILITY HERE IN DETROIT.

HE TOLD ME TO STICK WITH THE PROGRAM,

AND HE HAD GIVEN ME ALL THE HELP THAT I NEED,

AND HE WANTS ME TO LOSE ABOUT 25 POUNDS A MONTH.

SO, I TOLD HIM I'LL DO THAT,

AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO HAVE THIS SECOND CHANCE.

AND THE STAFF HERE IS REALLY HELPING ME MAKE SOME PROGRESS.

-HEY, "T," HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

-YOU READY? -READY.

-ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO IT. -LET'S DO IT.

I'VE ALREADY MADE A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT

JUST BY BEING ABLE TO GET INTO THIS WHEELCHAIR.

AND TODAY, I'M GONNA TRY AND STAND

AND COMPLETELY HOLD MYSELF UP.

I HAVEN'T STOOD ON MY OWN TWO FEET

WITHOUT ANYONE HOLDING ME UP FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS,

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A HUGE MOMENT FOR ME.

WE'RE GONNA COUNT AND GET YOUR WEIGHT FORWARD, OKAY?

-ONE, TWO, THREE. -ONE, TWO, THREE, PUSH.

-COME ON, "T." COME ON, "T." -USE THOSE LEGS.

-GIVE ME THAT HAND. -PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

-COME ON. YOU CAN DO IT. -I GOTCHA.

-COME ON. -YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT.

-YOU GOT IT. THERE YOU GO. -THERE YOU GO.

SEE IF YOU CAN STRAIGHTEN OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

COME ON, PUSH. THERE YOU GO. GOOD.

GOOD.

YOU GOT IT. GOOD JOB.

I'M SO AMAZED AT MY PROGRESS

IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO, MY GOAL NOW IS TO START TO WALK ON MY OWN.

-EXCELLENT. -THERE YOU GO.

-GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. -OKAY.

YOU NEED A DRINK?

I HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT HERE,

AND I PLAN TO WALK OUT OF HERE WHEN MY TIME HERE IS DONE.

I DIDN'T START THIS WHOLE JOURNEY

AND MOVE TO HOUSTON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF

TO ULTIMATELY STILL BE STUCK IN MY BED.

I'M GONNA START WALKING AGAIN. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

AND HOW MUCH MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

SO I'M GOING TO WORK MY HARDEST TO DO THIS AND SUCCEED.

Teretha: I'VE BEEN AT THE REHAB FACILITY FOR TWO MONTHS NOW,

AND I'M AMAZED AT MY PROGRESS.

I'M DOING SO MUCH MORE NOW.

YEAH, WE NEED TO DO THE WALK FIRST.

AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO START WALKING LIKE I WANTED.

WHEN I GOT BACK HERE FROM HOUSTON,

I WORKED MY WAY UP TO START STANDING

TO LIKE A MINUTE AND A HALF.

AND NOW I'M NOT ONLY STANDING

AND TAKING STEPS, I'M ACTUALLY WALKING.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE DOOR

AT THE END OF MY REHAB ROOM.

AND I'VE GOTTEN CLOSE,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT YET.

AND I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HERE UNTIL I DO THAT,

SO I'M DOING IT TODAY.

GET THAT DOOR.

HIT IT. YEAH! [ TAP ]

HAVE A SEAT.

OKAY, WE GOT YOU.

YAY!

Woman: WHOO!

I KNOW THAT I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO TO DO THIS ON MY OWN

AND TRULY BE INDEPENDENT,

BUT I'M GETTING SO CLOSE,

AND I'M HITTING ALL MY GOALS NOW ONE BY ONE.

NOW MY NEXT GOAL IS TO GO HOME, GET UP,

AND START TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.

AND I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO DO THAT.

**

Chad: I'VE BEEN HOME FROM MY SKIN SURGERY FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND I'M HEALING WELL,

BUT IT STILL HURTS SOME.

IT WAS REALLY PAINFUL THERE FOR A WHILE.

OHH!

OH, GOD!

-YOU OKAY? -MAN.

WHEN I GET UP, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFICULT

FOR ME TO GET AROUND.

BUT I'M STAYING ACTIVE LIKE I'M SUPPOSED TO

SO I CAN RECOVER AS FAST AS I CAN.

Ayesha: NOW THAT CHAD'S BACK HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL,

THE BEST WAY TO HEAL IS TO GET UP AND GET MOVING

AND DOING WHATEVER IT IS YOU HAVE TO DO.

SITTING ON THE COUCH, FLASHBACK,

MIGHT TAKE HIM BACK TO 700 POUNDS.

SO, WHEN HE TELLS ME HE WANTS TO GET UP,

AND HE WANTS TO MOVE, I LET HIM.

HE KNOWS HOW FAR TO TAKE IT AND WHEN TO STOP,

AND IF HE NEEDS HELP, HE DOES ASK.

Chad: I HAVE MY LIMITS WHEN WALKING.

IT GETS TOO PAINFUL, AND I HAVE TO LAY BACK DOWN.

BUT WHAT I REALLY HATE RIGHT NOW

ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION AND MY WHOLE RECOVERY...

HEY, HONEY, CAN I HAVE A PILLOW? I NEED TO PROP MY LEG UP.

...IS HOW AYESHA HAS TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME RIGHT NOW.

[ GROANS ]

I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST LIKE I WAS BACK AT 600 POUNDS,

HAVING TO HAVE MY FAMILY TAKE CARE OF ME.

OHH.

YOU WANT SOMETHING TO DRINK?

YEAH, I'LL TAKE A LITTLE ORANGE JUICE

IF YOU DON'T MIND.

OHH.

I FEEL LIKE I'M FAILING RIGHT NOW,

BUT I KEEP TELLING MYSELF

THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY --

THAT VERY SOON, I'M GONNA BE FULLY RECOVERED.

BUT I'M GONNA MAKE IT UP TO AYESHA

FOR HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF ME AGAIN.

-DO YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE? -NO, I'M FINE, THANK YOU.

SO I NEED DR. NOW TO CLEAR ME TO GO BACK TO WORK.

NOW THAT I'M WORKING AND BRINGING IN AN INCOME,

MY FAMILY IS DEPENDING ON ME,

SO I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN GONE FOR A MONTH,

AND IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW

BACK IN HOUSTON TO TRY TO GET CLEARED.

SO I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE TIME WORKING.

AND IF DR. NOW DOESN'T CLEAR ME,

I MAY EVEN HAVE TO TRY TO PUSH MYSELF TO STILL GO BACK

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, I HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK.

Chad: TODAY, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW

FOR HIM TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY LEG

AND TELL ME IF I'VE RECOVERED ENOUGH TO GO BACK TO WORK.

AND I'M REALLY HOPING I AM,

BECAUSE I'M ITCHING TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND GET ACTIVE.

I NEED TO START PROVIDING FOR MY FAMILY AGAIN,

SO I REALLY HOPE TODAY GOES WELL,

BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD OF MYSELF.

I'M HITTING MY GOALS,

AND I'M JUST REALLY HAPPY NOW.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HI, DOCTOR.

-HELLO. -HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

I'M DOING OKAY, HOW 'BOUT YOURSELF?

GOOD, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE DOWN ALMOST 400 POUNDS IN TWO YEARS.

THAT'S GREAT.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW YOUR LEG IS DOING.

YOU LOOK TO BE HEALING WELL,

SO I'M CLEARING YOU TO GO BACK TO WORK.

SO I CAN GO BACK TO WORK LIKE MONDAY OR TUESDAY?

-YEAH. -AWESOME.

SO LET'S GET YOU ON A TABLE TO REMOVE SOME OF YOUR SUTURES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHAD IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

HE WILL NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST TWO

OR THREE ADDITIONAL SKIN REMOVALS

TO GET RID OF ALL HIS EXCESS SKIN.

AND IF HE STAYS ON TRACK,

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ALL THOSE

WITHIN NEXT SIX MONTHS.

AT THAT POINT, HE'LL BE VERY CLOSE

TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT OF 180 POUNDS.

SO HE'S DOING VERY WELL RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M PROUD OF HIM.

ALL RIGHT, CHAD. YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

KEEP IT UP, AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

-I'M BACK TO WORK. -[ CHUCKLES ]

**

Teretha: I'VE BEEN HOME FROM THE REHAB FACILITY

FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW.

MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LIVING IN OUR OWN PLACE

THAT'S CLOSE TO FAMILY.

AND THIS TIME, MY WORLD HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED,

BECAUSE I CAN FINALLY GET UP AND OUT OF MY BED

ALL ON MY OWN.

MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S COMING BY TODAY,

SO I'M UP COOKING A MEAL FOR HER,

BECAUSE I WANT TO START TAKING CARE OF MY FAMILY

AND DOING STUFF FOR THEM.

AND I'M ABLE TO START TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF NOW.

AND THAT'S AMAZING TO ME,

BECAUSE MY GOAL WAS TO GET UP AND BECOME INDEPENDENT

SO NO ONE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

AND I'VE DONE THAT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS TO BE THERE FOR MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS

AND TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH DERRICK.

AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SIT ON THE FRONT PORCH WITH THEM.

BUT THE STAIRS ARE THE BIG OBSTACLE FOR ME TO DO THAT.

AND I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS ONE STEP AT A TIME.

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE

TO GO DOWN OR UP ANY STAIRS.

I'M READY TO BE BACK IN THE WORLD AGAIN,

AND I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT I'VE COME THIS FAR

AND I'M DOING ALL THAT I AM.

AND I INTEND TO DO EVEN MORE EACH DAY.

**

Chad: TODAY, I'M TAKING MY FAMILY TO THE ZOO IN SAN ANTONIO

AS A THANK-YOU FOR TAKING CARE OF ME

WHILE I WAS RECOVERING FROM MY SKIN SURGERY.

I LOVE THEM, AND THEY'VE BEEN MY INSPIRATION

TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND GET MY LIFE BACK.

AND DOING STUFF LIKE I'M DOING WITH THEM TODAY

IS WHY I'VE WORKED AS HARD AS I DID OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

AND I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR THEM.

IT FEELS GOOD NOT SITTING IN A VEHICLE,

JUST BEING ABLE TO WATCH THEM IN THE PARKING LOT,

WALK IN THE PLACE, AND WAIT FOR THEM,

AND THEN SEE THE PICTURES AND HEAR ABOUT WHAT THEY DID.

WHERE I'M ACTUALLY HERE NOW. I'M LIVING IT.

IT'S A RIOT.

-SEE THE KITTY? -THAT'S A BIG KITTY!

YOU WANT TO TAKE THE KITTY HOME?

-DON'T THINK SO. -NO?

TWO YEARS AGO, I COULDN'T WALK MORE THAN A FEW FEET,

AND I HAD TO HAVE MY CANE TO DO IT.

NOW I'M DOING STUFF LIKE WALKING AROUND THIS WHOLE ZOO,

AND I'M NOT EVEN SLOWING DOWN.

AND THAT'S A HUGE CHANGE FOR ME.

JO-JO.

OH, MY GOODNESS!

YOU WANT TO FEED HIM ONE?

GIVE IT TO HIM.

Ayesha: GOOD JOB, JO-JO!

Chad: I'M LIVING LIFE, AND BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

EVERYTHING I HAD HOPED AND DREAMED FOR

WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS IS COMING TRUE.

I FEEL LIKE AS A FAMILY, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER NOW,

AND ALSO WITH ME AND AYESHA.

BEING THE SIZE I WAS,

I TURNED HER INTO A CAREGIVER FOR ME.

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT A MARRIAGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND NOW I FEEL LIKE WE CAN BE HUSBAND AND WIFE

AND START DOING THINGS THAT REGULAR MARRIED PEOPLE DO.

ME AND CHAD'S RELATIONSHIP HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD,

BUT WE'RE ABLE TO DO MORE THINGS

NOW THAT HE'S HAD THE SURGERY AND LOST THE WEIGHT.

AND SO NOW WE CAN GO OUT WHILE THE KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL

AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE LUNCH.

OR SOMETIMES, WE JUST GO WALKING AROUND, AND IT'S FUN.

Chad: AND THE MORE I LOSE, THE MORE I CAN DO.

AND THAT MAKES ME MORE EXCITED TO MAKE EVEN MORE PROGRESS

AND WORK TO GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT SOON.

I'M STARTING TO FIND ME AGAIN.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ENERGETIC, ON THE MOVE.

AND SOMEWHERE BETWEEN POINT "A" AND POINT "B,"

I FORGOT ALL THAT, AND I LET MYSELF GET OUT OF SHAPE.

AND I AIN'T GOING BACK THERE.

THAT OLD CHAD IS BURIED.

THE WIFE DUG A HOLE OUT IN THE YARD,

AND HE'S 8-FOOT UNDER SOMEWHERE.

**

Teretha: TODAY, I'M GOING TO HAVE A VIDEO CONFERENCE CALL

WITH DR. NOW.

I'M EXCITED TO SHOW DR. NOW THAT I AM UP AND WALKING.

HE HAS NEVER SEEN ME WALK.

HE HAS NEVER SEEN ME STAND.

I KNOW DR. NOWZARADAN WAS CONCERNED

ABOUT ME COMING HOME AND LEAVING HOUSTON,

SO I WANT TO TELL HIM THAT I'M DOING IT

AND STILL MAKING GOOD PROGRESS ON MY OWN,

AND THAT I'M DOWN TO 364 POUNDS.

-Hi, Teretha. -HEY, DR. NOW.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'm doing okay. How 'bout you?

I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.

You're looking good. So, what's new with you?

A LOT IS NEW.

I'M UP AND MOBILE.

I CAN STAND AND TRANSFER,

AND I'M WALKING WITH A WALKER.

BUT THE GOOD THING IS I'M UP OUT OF THAT BED.

Can you show me how you can get up and walk

and let me see it to believe it?

SURE. NO PROBLEM.

Oh, and you're able to stand up on your own!

YES, SIR.

AND I WALK TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY AROUND MY HOUSE.

Well, I'm proud of you that you're up and walking around.

Now that you're up and walking, nobody can stop you anymore.

NO, SIR. THE BED DAYS IS OVER WITH.

Well, looks like you lost some weight, too.

[ LAUGHS ] CAN YOU TELL?

Yes, yes, you have lost some weight.

You still need to stay 100% in step with your diet.

I WILL DO THAT. YES, SIR.

You should be down to 300 pounds around six months from now.

And then you're gonna be ready

for your skin-removal surgery, okay?

OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. NOW. I APPRECIATE IT.

-You're welcome. -ALL RIGHTY.

TAKE CARE.

HE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS PLEASED.

I THINK THAT WENT WELL,

AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT HE'S STILL WILLING TO TREAT ME

AND THAT SKIN SURGERY IS STILL AN OPTION

IF I MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO I'M GOING TO KEEP AT IT AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

MY WORLD WAS MY BED FOR THREE YEARS,

AND NOW THE WHOLE WORLD IS OPEN TO ME.

MY FUTURE IS ONE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES

AND OPTIONS NOW, WHEN IT USED TO BE NOTHING

WITH JUST TWO OPTIONS -- SLEEP OR EAT.

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR ME

NOW THAT I'M HITTING MY GOALS SUCCESSFULLY.

**

Chad: ONE THING AYESHA'S ALWAYS ASKED ME FOR

BUT I NEVER GAVE HER WAS FAMILY PORTRAITS.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE 700 POUNDS,

YOU DON'T WANT TO REMEMBER THAT.

SO I DIDN'T EVER WANT TO BE IN PICTURES.

YOU MUST BE AMANDA?

CHAD, NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO REMEMBER THAT.

BUT NOW I'M TRYING TO UNDO

YEARS OF FORCING MY FAMILY TO TAKE CARE OF ME

BY GIVING THEM THE THINGS I COULDN'T BEFORE.

AND I'M MAKING MEMORIES

THAT I WANT TO GO BACK AND REMEMBER.

SMILE! FUNNY FACE!

I KNOW I STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO

TO GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT

AND UNDO SOME OF ME BEING ABSENT FROM THEIR LIVES

IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

I'VE MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH WITH THEM,

AND TAKING CARE OF THEM HAS BEEN MY HIGHEST ASPIRATION.

Ayesha: WELL, OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN THROUGH A LOT,

YOU KNOW, WITH CHAD BEING 700 POUNDS

AND NOT HAVING THE HELP TO GETTING THE HELP

AND GOING THROUGH ALL THE SURGERIES

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THINGS.

BUT IT WAS WORTH BEING THROUGH THE HARD TIMES,

'CAUSE NOW HERE'S THE OUTCOME.

HE'S ABLE TO DO THINGS WITH US.

HE'S ABLE TO FEEL LIKE HE BELONG IN THE FAMILY,

NOT FEEL USELESS ANYMORE.

MY DAD IS DIFFERENT NOW THAN HE WAS TWO YEARS AGO,

BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, HE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING.

HE WANTED TO DO STUFF, BUT HE REALLY COULDN'T.

BUT NOW, IF HE WANTS TO DO IT,

HE WILL ACTUALLY GET UP AND DO IT.

Chad: AND NOW THAT I HAVE MY CHANCE,

THERE'S NO FOOD OR SITUATION

WORTH LOSING THE LIFE I HAVE NOW.

I HAVE HOPE, AND THAT'S A FIRST FOR ME.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT DAY HOLDS.

AND NOW THE WORLD IS MY OYSTER, AS THEY SAY.