All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E18

-- 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.

Nikki:
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

[ Crying ]
IT'S MISERABLE.

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

**

Woman:
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.

Nikki: WORDS LIKE "AMAZING"
AND "FANTASTIC" AND "FABULOUS,"

THEY JUST DON'T
SEEM STRONG ENOUGH.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WHEN I WAKE UP, THE PAIN
THAT I FEEL IS OVERWHELMING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M TRAPPED

BECAUSE IT'S JUST DIFFICULT
TO MOVE MY BODY.

BUT THE HARDEST THING FOR ME
TO LIVE WITH IS MY STOMACH.

IT GETS IN THE WAY
OF EVERYTHING.

IT'S MISERABLE.

WHEN I START MY DAY,

MY DAD WILL MAKE ME A PLATE
AND SEND IT UP TO ME

SO I DON'T HAVE
TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES

THAT I WOULD TALK TO HER
ABOUT HER EATING HABITS,

BUT NIKKI HAS TOLD ME,

"FOOD IS ONE THING
I HAVE CONTROL OVER.

IT HURTS MY FEELINGS
WHEN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT IT."

FINALLY, I'D SAY,
"OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

NIKKI, I DON'T CARE."

FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
AN ADDICTION FOR ME.

AND MY ADDICTION TO IT
IS KILLING ME.

BUT I'VE DONE THIS TO MYSELF,

AND IT FEELS LIKE EVERY DAY,

I CAN DO LESS AND LESS.

AFTER COLLEGE, I MOVED
BACK HOME WITH MY MOM

AND MY DAD
AND MY BROTHER, CHRIS,

BECAUSE LIVING ON MY OWN
IS JUST TOO DIFFICULT.

BUT CHRIS HAS CEREBRAL PALSY,
AND IN MANY INSTANCES,

MY LIMITATIONS FAR EXCEED HIS,

AND THAT'S A BIG STATEMENT,

BECAUSE I NEED
TO BE THERE FOR HIM.

THIS IS MY ROCK BOTTOM
AND MY LAST CHANCE,

AND IF THIS DOCTOR
CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME,

I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL LIKE
IT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE.

Woman: 649.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST
I'VE EVER WEIGHED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NIKKI IS EATING
5 TO 6 TIMES A DAY.

SOME OF THAT IS
ENABLED BY HER FAMILY.

THEY'RE HELPING KILL HER.

I'M GOING TO START YOU
ON 1,200 CALORIE A DAY DIET.

THEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
50 POUNDS OVER NEXT MONTH.

OH, MY GOSH.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE
A LOT OF WEIGHT.

Nikki:
THIS IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING

THAT I HAVE TO DO,

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL
MY BODY DETERIORATING.

SO I KNOW THIS IS A RACE
AGAINST THE CLOCK.

I'M REALLY SCARED

THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE
UNDER 600 POUNDS

TO QUALIFY FOR SURGERY.

I SEE YOU LOST 63 POUNDS
IN ONE MONTH.

-YES.
-YOU DONE VERY WELL,

BUT I NEED TO RUN
SOME TESTS TO BE SURE

THAT YOU ARE READY
FOR SURGERY NOW.

-OKAY?
-OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE CARRY MOST
OF HER WEIGHT IN THE ABDOMEN,

WHICH CAN COMPROMISE
HER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OR HEART.

SO I NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT HER BODY
CAN HANDLE SURGERY,

OR SHE WOULD LIKELY NOT
SURVIVE THE PROCEDURE.

Nikki: I'M NOT SURE
WHAT THE DOCTOR IS LOOKING FOR,

BUT I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW

THAT'S ALL GOING
TO HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.

NIKKI STILL HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT
PUSHING ON HER HEART.

THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT
IS FOR HER TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO LOSE
ANOTHER 50 POUNDS

OVER NEXT COUPLE MONTHS

AND TRY TO ADDRESS
THIS ISSUE.

I WORKED SO HARD.

I JUST FEEL HOPELESS RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WANT TO LIVE.

I DID IT ONCE.
I KNOW I CAN DO IT AGAIN.

AND I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME
IF I DON'T DO THIS.

EVERYTHING LOOKING GOOD.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOUR SURGERY
AT THIS POINT.

EXCELLENT.

I'M GLAD THIS DAY HAS COME,

BUT I FEEL TERRIFIED
ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

-I LOVE YOU.
-I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M RISKING MY LIFE
TO HAVE A LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO
GASTRIC BYPASS ON NIKKI.

AND SURGERY
IS GOING TO HELP HER

MAKE EVEN MORE PROGRESS.

THE BOWEL IS JUST
SO FAR AWAY FROM STOMACH.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO BRING IT UP THAT DISTANCE.

IT CAN BE JUST
AS EFFECTIVE AS BYPASS.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CLOSE HER UP.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD SOME CHANGE OF PLAN,

BUT EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

THE SLEEVE IS GOING TO HELP HER
TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT.

Nikki:
I'M PROUD OF HOW FAR I'VE COME,

BUT MY CRAVINGS
ARE SLOWLY COMING BACK.

SO I'M GOING TO SEE
A THERAPIST TODAY.

Woman: IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEAL
WITH THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT CAUSED THE WEIGHT GAIN
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND ONCE YOU'RE ABLE
TO LET GO OF THAT,

THEN IT BECOMES EASIER
TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF.

I DECIDED IT WAS TIME
TO TALK TO MY MOM.

I THINK I FELT LIKE
I WAS JUST NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

I HATE THAT YOU EVER
FELT THAT WAY.

I HOPE I DON'T EVER
HURT YOUR FEELINGS.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO HIT
449 POUNDS WITHIN A YEAR.

-443.
-WHAT?! NO. [ LAUGHS ]

YOU LOST 200 POUNDS.

-THAT'S VERY GOOD.
-THANK YOU.

I'M STARTING TO BE ABLE
TO DO MORE,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

HERE WE GO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A LONG TIME,

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

**

I'M STARTING TO LOVE
MY LIFE NOW.

I USED TO RUN TO FOOD
WHEN I FELT STRESSED OR UPSET,

AND I DIDN'T CARE WHAT IT DID
TO ME OR MY BODY.

AND NOW I'M NOT DOING THAT.

FOOD IS NOT
MY EMOTIONAL CRUTCH ANYMORE.

IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE,
BUT I'M DEALING WITH THINGS.

AND NOW MY HEALTH
IS THE PRIORITY IN MY LIFE.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING,

AND SO EVERYTHING KIND OF
REVOLVES AROUND THAT.

AND I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER.

I'M LOSING MORE
AND MORE WEIGHT EVERY DAY.

AND I'M AMAZED
AT HOW MUCH I'M ABLE TO DO NOW.

[ CHUCKLES ]

NOW YOU ARE.
[ CHUCKLES ]

BEFORE, MY PARENTS HAD TO DO
ALMOST EVERYTHING FOR ME

EVEN JUST 6 MONTHS AGO.

YOU READY TO GET
OUT OF BED?

-MM-HMM.
-OKAY.

AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS
IN MY JOURNEY TO GET HEALTHY

WAS TO HELP TAKE CARE
OF MY BROTHER, CHRIS,

WHO SUFFERS
FROM CEREBRAL PALSY.

NOW I'M ABLE TO PHYSICALLY
MOVE CHRIS AROUND.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

I'M ABLE TO WALK HIM WITH EASE.

AND BEFORE, IT WOULD FEEL LIKE
I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT.

AND IT JUST WASN'T SAFE
FOR ME TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE YOUR WATCH ON,
DON'T YOU?

-MM-HMM.
-I'LL GO GET YOU SOME SOCKS

AND YOUR GLASSES
AND YOUR RAZOR.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY
TO BE ABLE TO HELP HIM

GET READY FOR THE DAY,

BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME HAPPY

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT
TO HELP MY PARENTS,

BECAUSE FOR YEARS,

THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE
OF ME CONSTANTLY,

PREVENTING CHRIS FROM GETTING
ALL THE CARE THAT HE NEEDED.

AND SO, I THINK
IT REASSURES THEM

THAT I GOT THIS THIS.
LIKE, I CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM.

OH, YOU FOUND
YOUR GLASSES.

-YEAH.
-STINKER.

AND HAVING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

FINALLY ENABLED ME TO DO THAT.

AND THAT IS WHAT
I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR SO FAR

WITH HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED.

ALL RIGHT.
SO, YOU WANT A WAFFLE?

-TWO WAFFLES?
-YEAH.

OKAY.
AWESOME.

AS MY PARENTS AGE,

I KNOW THAT I'LL BE AROUND
TO TAKE CARE OF HIM NOW,

AND MY PARENTS KNOW THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT
GIVES THEM COMFORT.

SO I'M PROUD OF HOW
FAR I'VE COME.

AND I'M GLAD I'M TAKING ON ALL
THE NEW RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO

TO GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT
OF 165.

SO I'M WORKING TO STAY ON TRACK.

AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN
A HUGE SUPPORT FOR ME.

AND ANY TIME
THAT I'M STARTING TO STRUGGLE,

I KNOW THAT I CAN RELY
ON THEM FOR STRENGTH.

Terry:
THANK THEE FOR OUR BLESSINGS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE TOGETHER
THIS EVENING.

AMEN.

Nikki:
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW NOW
THAT I'M LOSING THE WEIGHT.

IT MEANS THERE'S
NO EXCUSE FOR ME

TO NOT START TO FIND
A PLACE OF MY OWN.

BUT IT'S BITTERSWEET
TO THINK ABOUT.

I'M NOT QUITE THERE YET,

BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING
I'M GOING TO NEED TO DO SOON.

DR. NOWZARADAN SAID THAT
I NEED THREE SKIN SURGERIES --

ONE FOR MY STOMACH,
ONE FOR MY ARMS,

AND THEN MY LEGS.

I KNOW THOSE SURGERIES
ARE HARD TO RECOVER FROM.

AND MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED

THAT AFTER THOSE
LAST OPERATIONS,

THAT THAT'S WHEN I'LL BE READY
TO START LOOKING

FOR A PLACE ON MY OWN

AND POSSIBLY TAKE
MY BROTHER WITH ME.

THERE YOU GO.

YEAH, THAT'S WHERE YOU HOLD IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]

SO RIGHT NOW,
I'M WORKING REALLY HARD

TO HIT THAT GOAL

TO TRY AND GET
MY FIRST SKIN SURGERY

BY MY NEXT DOCTOR'S VISIT.

AND MY DAD IS HELPING ME
STAY ACCOUNTABLE

TO MY WORKOUT REGIMEN
BY BEING MY WORKOUT PARTNER.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN
MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER

AND THE PERSON THAT,
NO MATTER WHAT,

HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.

I THINK THE BEST THING
ABOUT THIS WORKOUT ROOM

IS GOING TO BE
THE AIR CONDITIONING.

YEAH.
[ LAUGHS ]

Terry:
WALKING DOWN TO THE CLUBHOUSE --

IT'S A GREAT
EXPERIENCE WITH NIKKI,

BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO DO THAT IN YEARS.

AND JUST BEING IN HER COMPANY

AND BEING ABLE TO TALK
WHILE WE WALK,

IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING
TO SEE HOW FAR SHE HAS COME.

Nikki: HOW MUCH MY LIFE
HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST YEAR --

IT'S WHAT DRIVES ME TO EXERCISE
THROUGHOUT THE WEEK,

BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH
MORE FOR ME TO EXPERIENCE

AND TO LIVE FOR.

OKAY, WELL, I'M GONNA GO GET ON
THE TREADMILL FOR A LITTLE BIT.

OH, I'M GOING TO GET
ON THE CRUNCHES.

OKAY.
[ LAUGHS ]

GOT TO GET
THAT STOMACH GOING.

MY DAD IS ONE
OF MY BEST FRIENDS,

AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO CHANGE.

BUT FOR SO MANY YEARS,

I JUST COULDN'T GO OUT
AND DO ANYTHING.

NOW I WANT TO START
TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE,

BECAUSE BEING 600 POUNDS
FOR SO LONG,

I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
A LOT OF FRIENDS.

AND THE ONES I DO HAVE
I MADE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,

BUT I DON'T SEE
ANY OF THEM EVER

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
TOO BIG TO GO OUT

AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

WE STILL STAY CONNECTED
AND TALK ON THE PHONE

WHEN WE CAN,

AND THE ONES THAT I'M CLOSEST TO

ARE MY FRIENDS MARC AND MICHAEL.

MICHAEL'S MY BEST FRIEND
BECAUSE HE'S JUST A LOT OF FUN

AND WE CAN RELATE
TO EACH OTHER'S LIVES,

BECAUSE HE STRUGGLES
WITH HIS WEIGHT JUST LIKE ME.

HE'S ALMOST 400 POUNDS,

AND HE'S LOOKING TO GET
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT,

BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KNOW
WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE

AND HAS ALL THESE QUESTIONS
ABOUT MY WEIGHT LOSS.

AND IT'S BEEN NICE
KIND OF MENTORING HIM

THROUGH THIS PROCESS

AS HE PREPARES TO TRY
AND GET HIS LIFE BACK, TOO.

SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE
EVEN GETTING OUT THERE TOGETHER,

BECAUSE HAVING SOMEONE
WHO CAN RELATE

TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH

AND KNOWS
HOW TO BE THERE FOR YOU

CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

BECAUSE NOTHING ABOUT
HAVING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

AND LOSING HUNDREDS
OF POUNDS IS EASY.

AND NOW THAT I HAVE
A MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE,

MY EXCESS SKIN MAKES IT
EVEN MORE DIFFICULT

BECAUSE IT DOES WEIGH ME DOWN.

IT DOES STILL MAKE ME
FEEL LIKE I'M 600 POUNDS,

EVEN THOUGH I'VE LOST
ALMOST 300 POUNDS.

IT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND I'M SCARED I'M GOING
TO BE OUT DOING SOMETHING

AND HIT MY LIMIT
AND NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME.

SO I'M WORKING REALLY HARD
TO INCREASE MY STAMINA

SO THAT I CAN GO OUT AND NOT
WORRY ABOUT HITTING A WALL,

BUT IT'S SO PAINFUL
AND HARD TO MOVE AROUND

WITH IT HANGING OVER MY LEGS.

AND I HAVE TO GET IT REMOVED
AS SOON AS I CAN.

-I'M DONE. ARE YOU READY?
-ALL RIGHT. YEP. I AM.

-I BROKE A SWEAT.
-I'M NICE AND SWEATY.

'COURSE, I BROKE THE SWEAT
WALKING DOWN HERE.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP GOING

AND MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

AND I'M PUSHING MYSELF
TO DO WHAT I CAN

BY MY NEXT DOCTOR'S VISIT,

BECAUSE MY CONFIDENCE
AND MY ABILITY TO GET AROUND

ARE JUST GOING TO GET WORSE,

THE WORSE MY EXCESS SKIN GETS.

I WANT TO JUST BE A NORMAL GIRL.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE,
EVEN THOUGH

I KNOW I'M OBVIOUSLY
STILL A BIG GIRL,

I FEEL LIKE MY STOMACH

JUST KIND OF SWALLOWS ME.

I KNOW THAT I'M A LOT MORE
THAN THIS.

I KNOW THAT I'M A LOT
MORE OF A PERSON THAN THIS,

[ Voice breaking ] BUT THIS --
IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE

THIS IS ALL I AM.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE,

BUT WHEN IT'S SUCH
A HINDRANCE IN YOUR LIFE

AND IN YOUR EMOTIONAL LIFE,

THEN IT'S HARD TO GET OVER.

IT'S HARD TO BE OKAY WITH IT.
IT'S HARD TO COME TO TERMS WITH.

IT IS THE BIGGEST SYMBOL
OF BEING IMMOBILE

AND SAD

AND NOT IN CONTROL
OF ANYTHING I DID

AND SHUTTING PEOPLE OUT.

LIKE, IT IS THE SYMBOL
OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT I FELT

AND ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT I WENT THROUGH.

AND IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S TIME FOR ME
TO GET RID OF IT.

AND I KNOW THAT NO AMOUNT

OF WEIGHT LOSS

WILL GET RID OF IT.

MY SPIRIT FEELS FREE,

BUT I WANT MY BODY TO FEEL FREE.

I WANT THOSE THINGS TO MATCH.

AND SKIN SURGERY --

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY
FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

Nikki:
SINCE MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS
IT'S CHANGED MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE

IS AT WORK.

I'M STILL THE ASSISTANT
COSTUME DESIGNER

AT THE ARKANSAS ART CENTER
CHILDREN'S THEATER.

AND I DO THE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF COSTUMES,

BUT SINCE LOSING THE WEIGHT,
I CAN TAKE ON SO MUCH MORE.

AND I'M LOVING IT --

TO HAVE A PLACE
WHERE I'M NEEDED,

WHEN BEFORE, I NEEDED PEOPLE
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I CAN FINALLY REALLY CONTRIBUTE,
AND I FEEL LIKE

I'M ACCOMPLISHING
SOMETHING EVERYDAY.

DO Y'ALL NEED UNDERSHIRTS
OR SOCKS OR TIGHTS?

DO YOU HAVE
AN EXTRA PAIR OF TIGHTS?

I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU, NIKKI.

I WILL MEET Y'ALL
IN THE DRESSING ROOM.

-BYE.
-[ LAUGHS ]

BEFORE, IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD

JUST TO GET HERE
AND GET TO MY CHAIR.

I JUST SAT IN ONE PLACE ONLY
DOING WHAT I COULD FROM THERE,

AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY
LIMITING FOR MY JOB.

AND IF I HAD TO GET UP
FOR SOMETHING,

I WASN'T EVEN SURE
THAT I COULD MAKE IT.

BUT THE WORST PART
ABOUT BEING SO BIG

WAS TRYING TO GO DOWN
THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE

THAT LED TO THE COSTUME STOCK,

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY
I COULD FIT,

AND THAT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING.

AND NOW I CAN DO IT WITH EASE.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SQUEEZE
OR TURN SIDEWAYS.

I CAN JUST WALK DOWN IT.

BEFORE, I COULD HARDLY
DO ANYTHING,

AND I WOULD COME TO WORK,

AND I WOULDN'T EVEN SEE
MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH

BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET AROUND.

AND NOW I FEEL LIKE
I'M PART OF THE TEAM.

I'M CONTRIBUTING JUST AS MUCH
AS ANYONE ELSE.

AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.

-HEY.
-HELLO. HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-GOOD.

OKAY, I HAVE SOME NEW TIGHTS
FOR YOU, SHARON.

THANKS! THANK YOU, 'CAUSE THE
ONES I HAD DIDN'T FIT, BUT...

OKAY.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH YOUR COSTUME?

I THINK SO.

LIKE, WOULD YOU RATHER
HAVE, LIKE, A SNAP?

-YOU'RE SUCH A DIVA.
-I CAN'T HELP IT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

-ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL.
-BYE.

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

NOW I'M LOVING EVERY DAY
AT MY JOB,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING UP
FOR LOST TIME,

ALL THE TIME THAT I MISSED

BEING ABLE TO FULLY
ENJOY MY JOB,

BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I LOVE.

IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I LOVE TO DO.

AND I'M NOT TAKING THE
OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO DO THIS

FOR GRANTED AT ALL.

AGAIN, THE ONLY THING
THAT'S HOLDING ME BACK

AND MAKING IT HARDER TO STAY
ACTIVE IS THE EXCESS SKIN.

I SEE DR. NOW IN A FEW WEEKS

AND I'M GOING TO ASK HIM
IF I'VE MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO HAVE THE EXCESS SKIN
AROUND MY STOMACH REMOVED.

HE HASN'T GIVEN ME
A WEIGHT LOSS GOAL FOR THAT.

BUT I'M HOPING
I'M GOING TO BE CLOSE

TO BEING BELOW 400 POUNDS
AND THAT HE'LL THINK

THAT THAT'S ENOUGH
TO QUALIFY ME FOR SURGERY.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE

TO CHANGE NOW,

BECAUSE I FOUGHT TO GET HERE.

SO, I JUST REALLY HOPE

MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW
IS A GOOD ONE

AND THAT I CAN GET THIS EXCESS
SKIN REMOVED REALLY SOON.

SO, I'M ON MY WAY
TO SEE DR. NOW.

AND LIKE ALWAYS,
I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS,

BUT I'M HOPING THIS IS GOING
TO BE A BIG DAY FOR ME.

I WAS AT 443 POUNDS LAST TIME
I SAW HIM A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

I'M HOPING TO NOT ONLY BE
UNDER 400 POUNDS,

BUT THAT IT WILL BE ENOUGH
FOR DR. NOW TO THINK

THAT I'M READY
FOR SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

HE HASN'T GIVEN ME
A GOAL TO HIT FOR IT,

BUT IT'S GETTING SO MISERABLE.

BEFORE I LOST THE WEIGHT,

MY STOMACH DIDN'T HANG
AND PULL ON ME.

IT WAS JUST BIG.

BUT LOSING THE WEIGHT
IS LIKE DEFLATING A BALLOON.

AND NOW IT JUST PULLS
AND HANGS ON MY BODY

IN A WAY THAT IS SO MUCH MORE
PAINFUL THAN ANYTHING BEFORE.

THAT'S NOT BAD.
I'LL TAKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

I WISH I HAD LOST
A LITTLE MORE BY NOW,

BECAUSE I WAS HOPING
TO BE UNDER 400 POUNDS

AND SEE THAT 3
AT THE BEGINNING OF MY WEIGHT

WHEN I ASK DR. NOW IF I CAN HAVE
SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

BUT I HOPE HE THINKS
I'M CLOSE ENOUGH TODAY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HI.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-ALL RIGHT.
-GOOD.

-SO, HOW YOU GETTING AROUND?
-IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.

SO, TODAY, YOU LOST
AROUND 250 POUNDS.

-REALLY?
-CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN DAY 1 TO NOW?

YES. [ CHUCKLES ]
YEAH, I DIDN'T --

I DIDN'T THINK -- I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT IT WAS THAT MUCH.

-250 POUNDS.
-THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT.

I CAN DEFINITELY
TELL A DIFFERENCE.

MY LIFE IS A LOT MORE ACTIVE
THAN IT HAS BEEN

-IN FOREVER.
-OKAY.

LIKE, I JUST HAVE MORE ENERGY,
AND I MOVE AROUND A LOT MORE,

AND I PARK FARTHER AWAY.

OKAY, BUT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS
IS SLOWING DOWN SOME.

-I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
-MM-HMM.

AND YOU SHOULD BE LOSING

AT LEAST 25 POUNDS
A MONTH RIGHT NOW.

IF I DO THAT,
ANY CHANCE YOU THINK

I'M CLOSE TO GETTING
MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY?

YOU KNOW,
GET UNDER 300 POUNDS,

AND THEN POSSIBILITY
OF SKIN SURGERY

WILL BE MUCH
MORE REALISTIC.

I REALLY
WANT IT REMOVED SOON

BEFORE IT HAS A CHANCE
TO GET EVEN WORSE.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK
AT YOUR STOMACH.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH, PULL IT UP
LITTLE BIT MORE,

AND I CAN SEE.
ALL RIGHT.

NIKKI HAS AN UNFORTUNATE
COMBINATION OF ISSUES

WITH THE EXCESS SKIN
AROUND HER STOMACH.

SHE HAS A LARGE
COLLECTION OF FAT,

AND ON TOP OF THAT,

THE SKIN THERE IS VERY DISTENDED

AND HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE.

WITHOUT THOSE ISSUES,

SHE WOULD BE READY
FOR SKIN REMOVAL NOW.

BUT WITH THOSE FACTORS,

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SAFE
FOR US TO REMOVE ANYTHING

AROUND THERE RIGHT NOW.

AM I READY?

RIGHT NOW,
IT LOOKS LIKE

YOU NEED TO MAKE
MUCH MORE PROGRESS

BEFORE YOU'RE READY
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

AND I KNOW IT'S STARTING TO
BECOME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE

AND YOU'RE WORRIED
ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS,

BUT YOU'RE JUST
NOT THERE YET.

-OKAY.
-SO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

YOU LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT

SO IT CAN HEAL PROPERTY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO LOSE A LOT,

AND GET UNDER 300 POUNDS
BEFORE YOU'LL BE READY.

-OKAY.
-IF YOU STAY ON TRACK,

YOU CAN BE THERE
IN FOUR MONTHS.

YEAH? OKAY.

BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE WAIT

UNTIL IT'S SAFE
TO DO THE REMOVAL.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU FOR YOUR
NEXT APPOINTMENT IN TWO MONTHS.

AND IF YOU'RE ON TRACK,
YOU'LL BE DOWN IN 350s.

IF THAT THING GIVE YOU
ANY TROUBLE, COME BACK SOONER.

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. NOW.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE HAVE TO BE SAFE WITH NIKKI,

BECAUSE HER SKIN REMOVAL
AROUND HER STOMACH

IS GOING TO BE
AS COMPLICATED AS IT GETS

FOR A PROCEDURE LIKE THIS.

SHE HAS TO STAY
ON TRACK A LOT LONGER

BEFORE THAT OBSTACLE
CAN BE ADDRESSED FOR HER.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE FOR HER

BUT IS THE REALITY
OF HER SITUATION.

Nikki: IT WAS A HUGE SHOCK
TO HEAR DR. NOWZARADAN SAY

THAT I'M STILL 100 POUNDS AWAY

FROM BEING APPROVED
FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

MY HEART JUST SANK.

BUT IF IT'S NOT SAFE
TO DO BEFORE THEN,

THEN I CAN'T BE TOO UPSET.

SO I JUST HAVE TO LOSE
THE WEIGHT I NEED.

AND I NEED TO DO IT FAST TO HIT
MY GOAL IN FOUR MONTHS OR LESS.

SO I'M GOING TO WORK
EVEN HARDER,

BECAUSE I DESPERATELY NEED THIS.

**

I'M REALLY HAVING
A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.

I JUST HEARD THAT MY BEST FRIEND
MICHAEL PASSED AWAY,

AND I'M DEVASTATED.

HE WENT IN FOR HIS GASTRIC
BYPASS AND HAD THE OPERATION.

BUT THERE WERE COMPLICATIONS
BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT,

AND HE JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.

HE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND,

AND HE DIED BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO CHANGE HIS LIFE

JUST LIKE I DID.

MICHAEL WAS A FORCE
TO BE RECKONED WITH.

HE HAD A BIG VOICE,
HAD A BIG LAUGH,

HAD A BIG HEART.

HE WAS JUST SO CHARISMATIC
AND WONDERFUL,

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE
HE'S GONE NOW.

I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM
FOR TRYING TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND HE KNEW THE RISK,

BUT IT'S EASY TO FORGET
HOW DANGEROUS THIS OPERATION IS

WHEN YOU'RE AS BIG AS WE ARE.

BUT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE DR. NOW
AS MY SURGEON,

A DOCTOR WHO IS
REALLY EXPERIENCED

IN TREATING HIGH-RISK PATIENTS.

AND NOT EVERYONE GETS THAT.

WE WERE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD

TO THIS LIFE OF LOSING
THE WEIGHT TOGETHER

AND GETTING OUR LIVES BACK.

AND AFTER SURGERY,
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE

TO GO OUT WITH ME TO CELEBRATE.

Michael:
I THINK THAT A YEAR FROM NOW,
YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK,

AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING
TO FEEL LIKE THE SAME PERSON.

I HOPE SO.
[ CHUCKLES ]

Michael: THEN WHEN WE'RE
FABULOUS-LOOKING AND SKINNY

AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

WEARING
TAILOR-FIT CLOTHES --

I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED
ABOUT, LIKE, BEING SKINNY,

I'M LIKE,
IF I CAN JUST, LIKE,

WALK INTO THE GROCERY STORE --
[ LAUGHS ]

I WILL THROW YOU A PARTY
AT THE GROCERY STORE.

I WILL GET,
LIKE, STREAMERS.

I'LL GET THOSE LITTLE
POPPING THINGS,

THE FIREWORK THINGS
YOU HAVE TO --

I'M GONNA THROW AT YOUR FEET.
WE GOT STUFF TO DO.

-WE GOT TO GO TRAVEL.
-WE GOT STUFF TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER.
WE ALWAYS DO IT TOGETHER.

THAT'S RIGHT. WE DO.

HE WAS SUCH
A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT,

AND I COULD ALWAYS DEPEND ON HIM
TO BE THERE FOR ME.

I ALREADY MISS HIM SO MUCH.

AND MY LIFE ISN'T GOING
TO BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM.

WE HAD SO MANY PLANS,
AND I STILL HAVE THOSE PLANS,

BUT IT'S BETTER WITH HIM.

LIFE SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS.

I SHOULD NOT GET TO LIVE
THROUGH THIS LIFE WITHOUT HIM.

THIS IS A REMINDER TO ME
OF HOW FRAGILE LIFE CAN BE.

AND I WAS LIVING ON THE EDGE
FOR SO MANY YEARS,

AND I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO
BEFORE I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE.

BUT I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS SECOND
CHANCE THAT OTHERS DON'T GET.

AND I REALIZE HOW IT COULD'VE
BEEN ME THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT,

SO I CAN'T TAKE A SINGLE DAY
I HAVE FOR GRANTED.

I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO NOT WASTE THIS CHANCE

TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE,

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY
OTHER PEOPLE

THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO WHEN I HAVE MOMENTS
I START TO STRUGGLE

OR WANT TO GIVE IN
TO MY CRAVINGS,

I'M GOING TO THINK OF MICHAEL
FOR INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING.

I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL.

I OWE THAT TO MYSELF
AND TO MICHAEL

AND TO ANYONE ELSE
WHO'S BEEN WHERE I'VE BEEN.

AND I'M NOT GOING
TO LET ANY OF US DOWN.

Nikki:
I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE

TO SEE IF I'VE STAYED ON TRACK
THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NIKKI WEBSTER.

THE GOAL HE GAVE ME
WAS TO GET DOWN UNDER 300 POUNDS

IN FOUR MONTHS TO GET APPROVED
FOR MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND IF I STAYED ON TRACK
OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS,

I SHOULD BE DOWN
TO 350 POUNDS TODAY.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER
I'M HOPING TO SEE.

THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED
TO BE, SO I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

AND I'M HOPING TODAY
THAT MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE

HAVING LOST ANOTHER 50 POUNDS
MADE THE DIFFERENCE I NEED

TO GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND MAYBE TODAY HE'LL ACTUALLY
CONSIDER ME FOR APPROVAL.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HI.
-HELLO.

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

-HOW ABOUT YOU?
-GOOD.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN
TO ABOUT 350 POUNDS,

WHICH MEANS YOU'RE
STAYING ON TRACK.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO, YOU DOING OKAY
WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I HAD A COUPLE
OF ROUGH MONTHS,

BUT I FEEL LIKE MY WEIGHT'S
STILL GOING DOWN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU HAD
A COUPLE OF ROUGH MONTHS?

WELL, I HAD, UM...

MY BEST FRIEND
PASSED AWAY,

AND I JUST GOT
KIND OF DISTRACTED.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

THAT HAD TO BE HARD,

BUT I'M PROUD OF YOU
FOR STAYING ON TRACK.

SO WITH ALL MY GOOD PROGRESS,
IS THERE ANY CHANCE

I'M READY FOR MY EXCESS
SKIN REMOVAL NOW?

LET ME TAKE A LOOK
AT YOUR SKIN

TO SEE WHAT OPTION
WE GOT FOR YOU.

OKAY.
MY STOMACH HANGS REALLY LOW,

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE
IT JUST KIND OF, LIKE --

-IT JUST, LIKE, COVERS ME UP.
-OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU WANT ME TO --

Dr. Nowzaradan:
NIKKI IS VERY ANXIOUS

TO HAVE HER FIRST EXCESS SKIN
REMOVAL AROUND HER ABDOMEN.

AND THAT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE,

BECAUSE SHE HAS 50
TO 60 POUNDS OF SKIN

PULLING ON HER STOMACH.

AND THAT IS
VERY PAINFUL FOR HER,

BUT SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT

UNTIL SHE HAS LOST ENOUGH FAT
AROUND HER STOMACH.

YOU'RE NOT
QUITE READY YET.

YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU GOT
A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN

-BUT YOU GOT A LOT OF FAT.
-RIGHT.

AND THAT'S GOING
TO BE AN ISSUE

WITH THE HEALING
OF THESE WOUNDS.

USUALLY, TYPICALLY, THEY TAKE
ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO HEAL.

-MM-HMM.
-SO THE NEXT 50 POUNDS

SHOULD GET YOU THERE,
BUT IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO YET.

I CAN DO THAT.

-ALL RIGHT.
-I CAN LOSE THAT.

YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT,

BECAUSE EVEN BELOW
300 POUNDS,

THIS IS GOING TO BE
A HARD SURGERY TO RECOVER FROM

BECAUSE OF THE SHEER
AMOUNT OF SKIN

-THAT HAS TO BE REMOVED.
-OKAY.

STAY ON TRACK AND LOSE
25 POUNDS A MONTH,

AND IF YOU DO THAT,
WHEN I SEE YOU

FOR YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
IN TWO MONTHS,

YOU SHOULD BE READY THEN.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

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

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WHEN NIKKI WAS OVER 600 POUNDS,

SHE CARRIED A LARGE PORTION
OF HER WEIGHT

IN HER LOWER ABDOMEN.

AND OVER THE YEARS,

THAT HAS CAUSED
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE

TO THAT AREA OF HER BODY.

SO NO MATTER WHAT,

IT'S GOING TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO REPAIR.

AND IF WE DO IT TOO EARLY,

IT'S GOING TO INCREASE
HER RISK OF ISSUES

AND INFECTIONS SIGNIFICANTLY.

Nikki:
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.
I REALLY GOT MY HOPES UP

THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE
TO GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVED

A LITTLE EARLY.

BUT IF I'M NOT READY,
THEN I'M NOT READY,

BUT I'M NOT GOING
TO LET IT GET ME DOWN

OR CONTINUE TO DISCOURAGE ME,

BECAUSE I WANT THIS,

AND IF I HAVE TO WORK
HARDER FOR IT,

THEN THAT'S WHAT
I'M GOING TO DO.

I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT MICHAEL A LOT LATELY.

I THINK WHAT I MISS MOST
ABOUT HIM IS NO MATTER WHAT,

HE JUST GOT OUT THERE
AND DID HIS THING.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE

TO ENCOURAGE ME
TO PUSH MYSELF HARDER

OR TO SEE THINGS
FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.

AND I FEEL LIKE
THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

I HEARD HIS VOICE
IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD

ENCOURAGING ME
NOT TO LET MY EXCESS SKIN

OR ANYTHING HOLD ME BACK

AND TO START LIVING LIFE AGAIN.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

I'M NOT WAITING TO GET OUT THERE
AND START LIVING AGAIN.

SO TONIGHT, I'M GOING OUT
TO HANG OUT

WITH A FEW OF MY OLD FRIENDS
I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

I'M NOT HIDING IN THIS HOUSE
ANY LONGER.

I'VE DONE THAT FOR YEARS,
AND THERE'S NO REASON

I SHOULDN'T BE GOING
AND DOING WHAT I WANT RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN JUST HEAR
MICHAEL'S VOICE IN MY HEAD

TELLING ME ALL THESE THINGS.

AND AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT IS,

I'M JUST GOING TO TRY
TO IGNORE MY EXCESS SKIN

AND BE A NORMAL PERSON --

OUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE
OR BE ASHAMED OF.

HEY, Y'ALL.

-HEY, NIKKI!
-HEY!

-HOW ARE Y'ALL?
-WE'RE GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD.
-WE ARE HUNGRY.

-OH, ME, TOO.
-FINALLY.

I KNOW, GIRL.

Nikki:
BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL

NOT TO FALL BACK
INTO OLD HABITS.

WHO I AM AT THE CORE, I LOOK
AT THIS MENU, AND I'M LIKE,

"I WANT THE GRILLED
SHRIMP PIZZA,"

BUT I WOULD GET A WHOLE PIZZA,

AND THEN I WOULD PROBABLY
EAT THAT PIZZA,

AND THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD,
SO I WON'T DO THAT.

BEFORE, I ALWAYS ATE
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

SO NO ONE WOULD JUDGE ME

AND SEE HOW MUCH I WAS EATING.

SO IT'S A BIG DEAL
THAT I'M EATING IN PUBLIC NOW.

BUT I DON'T EAT
THE SAME WAY ANYMORE.

-I'LL GET THE GRILLED SALMON.
-THANK YOU.

IT WAS A REALLY LONELY LIFE
BEING AS BIG AS I WAS.

AND I'VE REALLY MISSED
JUST HANGING OUT

AND BEING ABLE TO JUST TALK.

WHEN YOU'RE OVER 600 POUNDS,

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
YOU WOULD DO,

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE
THE ENERGY TO WALK IN HERE.

AND THEN I WOULDN'T FIT
IN THIS BOOTH,

AND EVERYONE WOULD BE
STARING AT ME.

I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M GLAD I'M GETTING
OUT THERE AND DOING THIS.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I'VE DECIDED
TO TAKE AN EVEN BIGGER STEP,

BECAUSE MY FRIEND MARC
ASKED ME OUT,

SO I'LL BE GOING OUT ON
A REAL DATE FOR THE FIRST TIME

IN A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I'M EXCITED...
Y'ALL HAVE FUN TOMORROW.

...BECAUSE I'M NOT LETTING
ANYTHING HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.

SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO,
I NEVER THOUGHT

THAT I'D BE GOING ON A DATE.

-WHAT UP?
-HEY.

IT STILL FEELS WEIRD FOR ME,

BECAUSE ALL THOSE
INSECURITIES I HAD

WHEN I WAS 600 POUNDS
JUST DON'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

BUT I'M NOT GOING
TO LET THAT FEAR

AND INSECURITY HOLD ME BACK,

AND I'M GOING TO WORK THROUGH IT
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

MARC AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS,

BUT TO THINK
OF MYSELF DIFFERENTLY,

THAT SOMEONE SEES ME
AS ATTRACTIVE,

IS A BIG SHIFT

THAT I STILL CAN'T
REALLY WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.

TWO.

Nikki: SO I KNOW IT'S GOING
TO TAKE ME A WHILE

TO START SEE MYSELF
IN THAT LIGHT

AND TO REALIZE THAT I'M NOT
THAT 600 POUND GIRL ANYMORE.

THIS PLACE IS FUN.

YEAH.

I'M LIVING A DIFFERENT LIFE NOW,

AND I KNOW THAT I STILL HAVE
A WAYS TO GO.

I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE
THE PAN-ROASTED RED SNAPPER.

-THE SNAPPER?
-MM-HMM.

BUT NOW THERE'S THIS LIFE

THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME
THAT WASN'T BEFORE.

I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A FAMILY
OF MY OWN ONE DAY AND CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING
WHEN YOU WERE AT A POINT

WHERE YOU GAVE UP
ALL THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS.

-OH, BOY.
-THERE YOU GO.

-LOOK AT IT.
-OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU CAN HAVE A BITE, RIGHT?
JUST A BITE?

-I CAN HAVE A BITE, YEAH.
-OKAY, JUST A BITE.

I HAVE MY NEXT
DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND I'M PUSHING MYSELF
TO HIT MY 300 POUND GOAL,

AND FINALLY GET MY EXCESS
SKIN REMOVAL APPROVED,

BECAUSE I KNOW
THAT'S THE NEXT BIG STEP

I NEED TO TAKE ON MY JOURNEY
TO THIS NEW LIFE.

AND I'M DETERMINED TO HIT IT.

**

I'M HEADED TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE

TO SEE IF I HIT
MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

AND FINALLY GET APPROVED
FOR MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND I'M REALLY HOPING TODAY'S
THE DAY IT FINALLY HAPPENS.

THIS WEIGHT ON MY STOMACH
HAS BECOME SO MISERABLE

AND SO PAINFUL.

THERE ARE DAYS I FEEL LIKE I DID

WHEN I WAS OVER 600 POUNDS

AND I'M NOT SURE
I WANT TO GET UP,

BUT I PUSH MYSELF TO.

SO IT WILL CHANGE MY LIFE
TO FINALLY GET THE SURGERY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT
ANOTHER TWO MONTHS.

IT'S SO PAINFUL,

AND I JUST NEED IT GONE NOW.

Nikki:
I'M HEADED TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE.

I JUST REALLY HOPE
I HIT MY GOAL TODAY

AND I REACHED THE 300-POUND MARK

SO I CAN FINALLY GET APPROVED
FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL.

ARE YOU SURE THAT'S RIGHT?
[ CHUCKLES ]

THAT'S SO DISAPPOINTING.

I ONLY LOST 8 POUNDS.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'VE WEIGHED IN

AND HAVE FELT FRUSTRATED

AND ANGRY.

I JUST FEEL VERY ANXIOUS,

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK DR. NOW
IS GOING TO BE HAPPY AT ALL.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU?

DOING PRETTY GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.

BUT YOU'RE AT 345 POUNDS,
WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

THAT'S ONLY 4 POUNDS
A MONTH THAT YOU'RE LOSING.

YOU SHOULD BE LOSING
25 POUNDS A MONTH STILL.

-IN A MONTH.
-SO WHAT'S GOING ON

WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?

I THINK THAT MAYBE IT'S
IN MY CHOICES OF WHAT I EAT.

WHAT ARE YOU CHOOSING
TO EAT, THEN?

MAYBE I'M EATING MORE CARBS
THAN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EATING.

ARE YOU EATING AT HOME,
OR ARE YOU EATING OUT?

WELL, YEAH,
THAT'S THE OTHER THING.

I DO GO OUT
MORE SOCIALLY NOW

THAN I DID BEFORE.

I'M SPENDING MORE TIME
WITH FRIENDS,

AND MOST OF THE TIME,
WE EAT OUT WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE
AND HAVING FUN, THAT'S GOOD.

BUT YOU CAN'T FORGET
PORTION CONTROL

AND IGNORE
YOUR EATING HABITS.

YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE
THE IMPRESSION

THAT YOU DON'T EAT
VERY MUCH,

BUT THE SCALE DOESN'T
AGREE WITH THAT.

NIKKI'S LACK OF PROGRESS
THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS

IS VERY CONCERNING.

SHE WAS DOING SO WELL,

BUT NOW SHE'S GOING OUT
TO SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS,

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING,

BUT THAT'S WHERE IT'S HARDEST

NOT TO MAKE EASY COMPROMISES,

LIKE HAVING ANOTHER DRINK

OR EATING SOME CHIPS

OR EATING MORE BECAUSE
THE PORTIONS ARE A LOT BIGGER.

SO, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
TO LEARN TO MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT

AND STILL KEEP TRACK
OF HER EATING HABITS.

I KNOW YOU WERE HOPING

TO GET APPROVED
FOR EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL,

AND THAT'S NOT
GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.

-OKAY.
-BUT YOU LEARNED SOMETHING,

AND NOW IT'S TIME
TO FACE WHAT YOU DID.

SO, LET'S TRY AGAIN, OKAY?

OVER NEXT TWO MONTHS,
LOSE 50 POUNDS,

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN APPROVE YOU
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

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

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

**

Nikki: IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL
TO HEAR DR. NOW SAY THINGS

LIKE YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL
OF GAINING YOUR WEIGHT BACK.

I MEAN, THAT'S HEART WRENCHING.

THAT'S LIKE HAVING
THIS NEW LIFE

AND HAVING THE PROMISE
OF AN EVEN BETTER LIFE,

AND HAVING IT RIPPED
AWAY FROM YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE NO ONE
TO BLAME BUT MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

I DIDN'T HIT MY GOAL,
AND THAT'S DEVASTATING,

BECAUSE I DESPERATELY
WANT THIS SURGERY.

AND NOW IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY

TO GET BACK ON TRACK
AND HIT THE GOAL I WANT.

**

I LOVE WORKING OUT WITH MY DAD.

BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN
WE WORK OUT ON OUR OWN,

THAT I'M NOT REALLY PUSHING
MYSELF AS HARD AS I NEED.

SO TODAY, I AM GOING TO MEET UP

WITH MY NEW TRAINER, AMY,

AND WE'RE GONNA WORK OUT.

I'VE COME A LONG WAY
FROM WHERE I WAS,

BECAUSE I COULD BARELY MAKE IT

UP THE STAIRS
AT MY HOUSE BEFORE.

AND I HAD TO REST BY THE TIME
I MADE IT TO THE TOP.

AND I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE NOW.

BUT I'M NOT REALLY SEEING
MY STAMINA AND ENERGY

INCREASE ANYMORE.

SO, WHAT WE'VE GOT TODAY --
WE'VE GOT A CIRCUIT TO DO.

-ALL RIGHT, READY?
-YES.

ALL RIGHT.
SO, LET'S GO FOR 2 MINUTES HERE.

PICK IT UP JUST
A LITTLE BIT FOR 40 SECONDS.

GOOD.
KEEP THAT UP.

3, 2, 1.

NICE. GOOD.

-FELT THAT?
-I DID.

OKAY, YOU GOT
TO PUSH THE SLED.

I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT I HAVE
NEVER PUSHED MYSELF THIS HARD.

BUT I'M DOING THIS
TO GET STRONGER.

GRAB THE ROPES.

I'M STICKING TO MY DIET

AND NOT MAKING A SINGLE
COMPROMISE RIGHT NOW.

3, 2, CHECK.

IT FEELS GOOD TO GET
THROUGH A HARD WORKOUT.

AND THERE'S A PART OF ME
THAT LIKES THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WEIRD,
BUT I LIKE GOING PAST MY LIMITS

AND DOING MORE
THAN I THOUGHT I COULD.

I'M GOING TO BE DOING THIS
3 TIMES A WEEK,

AND I AM NOT LETTING UP.

I'M HITTING MY GOAL
NO MATTER WHAT.

SO, I'M HEADED BACK
TO DR. NOW AGAIN.

AND I'M GOING TO SEE
IF I HIT MY GOAL

OF GETTING BELOW 300 POUNDS.

I HAD 45 POUNDS TO LOSE
IN 2 MONTHS TO DO THIS.

AND TO SAY I'M NERVOUS WOULD BE
AN UNDERSTATEMENT RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER
BEEN MORE SCARED

OF GETTING ON THE SCALE
IN MY LIFE,

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SHOCK
OF LAST TIME,

WHEN I DIDN'T MAKE
MUCH PROGRESS.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING
THAT ALL OF MY HARD WORK

THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS
IS ABOUT TO PAY OFF

AND I HIT THE 300-POUND MARK

TO FINALLY GET MY EXCESS
SKIN REMOVAL APPROVED.

Woman: 301.

OKAY.

I'M -- OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD.
[ LAUGHS ]

OKAY. EXCELLENT.

OKAY, THANKS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO BE APPROVED,
AND I WANT SKIN SURGERY.

LIKE, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M STILL NERVOUS
WHETHER HE'LL APPROVE ME.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE I'M
SO CLOSE TO THAT LINE.

BUT I DESPERATELY HOPE HE DOES.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HI, DR. NOW.

HEY.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING WELL.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, YOU HAVE LOST
350 POUNDS,

AND YOU ARE SMALLER THAN HALF
OF WHAT YOU USED TO BE.

[ Chuckling ] THAT'S INSANE.

I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND
WHAT THAT MEANS.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE MOTIVATED
TO HAVE SKIN SURGERY, RIGHT?

I AM MOTIVATED
TO HAVE SKIN SURGERY.

SO, LET'S SEE
IF THAT WAS ENOUGH.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN

THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND REMOVE
THIS PORTION OF IT,

BECAUSE WE NEED
TO PULL THIS DOWN.

OKAY.

AND WE HAVE TO
TAKE ALL THIS OUT.

-RIGHT.
-OKAY?

I'M HAPPY TO SEE
THAT NIKKI GOT BACK ON TRACK.

SHE'S IN A GOOD PLACE

WHERE SHE LOST ENOUGH FAT
ON HER STOMACH

TO MAKE THE PROCEDURE
SAFE ENOUGH TO PERFORM.

BUT IT'S STILL GOING
TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT

AND LONG RECOVERY FOR HER,

BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT
OF SKIN WE NEED TO REMOVE

AND THE DEGREE OF REPAIR
THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

ALL RIGHT, SO, THIS IS
A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN,

AND IT IS A LOT OF DAMAGE

-TO TRY TO REPAIR.
-RIGHT.

AND SO WE'LL SET
YOU UP FOR SURGERY.

BUT THIS RECOVERY IS GOING
TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU,

SO YOU NEED TO BE
PREPARED FOR THAT.

BUT WE'LL GET YOU
FIXED UP, OKAY?

THANK YOU.

AND YOU'VE DONE VERY GOOD, OKAY?
THANKS, DR. NOW.

SEE YOU SOON.

SO, THIS WILL BE
A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR NIKKI,

BUT THE ROAD TO GET THERE
IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.

Nikki:
I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS GOING TO
TOTALLY CHANGE MY LIFE.

COMING IN HERE
THAT VERY FIRST DAY,

BEING TERRIFIED
AND BARELY ABLE TO BREATHE

AND WEIGHING 650 POUNDS --

THIS SURGERY
BEING APPROVED TODAY

MAKES THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE
COME FULL CIRCLE.

AND ALTHOUGH I AM NOT DONE,

ALTHOUGH I KNOW
I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,

ESPECIALLY THROUGH SURGERY,
I FEEL ACCOMPLISHED,

AND THAT IS AN AMAZING
FEELING TO HAVE.

Terry: LET'S GO.

GRAB MY PURSE.

TODAY, MY FAMILY AND I
ARE HEADED TO HOUSTON

FOR MY SKIN SURGERY.

IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HAS NEEDED TO HAPPEN,

AND I'M GLAD THE DAY
IS FINALLY HERE.

**

NO MATTER THE RISK,
I HAVE TO GET THIS SURGERY.

DR. NOW TOLD ME
I COULD DEVELOP COMPLICATIONS

LIKE BLEEDING TOO MUCH
OR ISSUES HEALING.

BUT I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT,
ESPECIALLY WITH MY FAMILY.

Nikki:
THANKS FOR DOING THIS WITH ME.

YOU BET.

-I LOVE YOU.
-I LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD.

BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP LIVING
WITH THE MISERABLE PAIN

FROM THIS SKIN
HANGING OFF OF ME.

SKIN REMOVAL IS KIND OF
LIKE A REBIRTH FOR ME.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S
GETTING RID OF BAGGAGE.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING
RID OF THINGS FROM MY PAST.

IT'S GETTING RID OF THINGS THAT
I'VE DEALT WITH THIS LAST YEAR.

AND I FEEL LIKE
IT'S JUST STARTING OVER.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE
THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT

OF EXCESS SKIN NIKKI HAS
AROUND HER ABDOMEN.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OPERATION.

ALL THE SKIN IN THAT AREA

PROBABLY WEIGHS CLOSE
TO 60 POUNDS,

WHICH MAKES IT HARD
TO MANEUVER AND WORK AROUND.

AND NIKKI HAS CARRIED
THAT WEIGHT

IN HER ABDOMEN FOR SO MANY YEARS

THAT IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE
IN HER BODY AND THAT AREA.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REPAIR

THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
TO STITCH HER UP

AND MAKE HER BODY
PROPORTIONATE AGAIN.

THIS SKIN REMOVAL IS GOING TO BE

AS COMPLICATED AS IT GETS,

AND THE RISKS
ARE VERY HIGH, TOO.

SO THIS SURGERY WILL ALSO
TAKE A VERY LONG TIME,

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT
OF BLOOD VESSELS

THAT WE NEED TO TIE OFF.

BUT WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM,
AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE

SHE COMES OUT OF THIS

WITH AS LITTLE
COMPLICATION AS POSSIBLE.

AS A PARENT, SITTING IN
THE WAITING ROOM

IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN,

GOING THROUGH A SURGERY
LIKE THIS, OF LOSING HER,

AND THAT WOULD BE
JUST DEVASTATING.

SO I'M DOING MY VERY BEST
TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE,

AND I HOPE SURGERY'S
GOING TO GO WELL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, THIS IS
GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HEAVY.

-DO YOU HAVE IT?
-TWO, THREE.

NOW CHECK THE WEIGHT AND SEE
HOW MUCH SKIN WE TOOK OFF.

ALL RIGHT.
HOW MUCH IT WEIGHED?

Man: 56.5.

-HOW MUCH?
-56.5 POUNDS.

56 1/2?

ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

OKAY.
WE NEED TO CLOSE HER UP NOW.

THERE HAS TO BE SO MUCH
REPAIR DONE TO HER BODY,

THAT IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR HER
TO FULLY HEAL FROM THIS.

ONCE SHE DOES, SHE'S GOING
TO FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD
2 TO 3 MONTHS FOR HER,

ASSUMING THERE ARE NO
UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS.

AND WE'RE DONE.

NIKKI'S SURGERY
WAS VERY DIFFICULT,

AND IT TOOK 6 HOURS TO COMPLETE.

Woman:
YOU'RE ALL DONE, JUST WAKING UP.

BUT EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL,
AND THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS.

SO NOW WE WILL
GET HER TO RECOVERY,

BUT SHE'S STILL IN
A VERY DELICATE PLACE

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS
OF BLOOD VESSELS

WE TIED OFF TODAY,

AND IF EVEN ONE
OF THEM OPENS UP,

IT COULD BECOME
A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION

IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT IN TIME.

FOR AN OPERATION
AS EXTENSIVE AS NIKKI'S,

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE
SHE MAY DEVELOP A BLEEDER.

IF SHE DOES, SHE MAY
START TO FEEL SICK,

AND HER BLOOD PRESSURE
WILL DROP.

SO WE WILL NEED
TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER,

AND IF SHE DEVELOPS
ANY OF THOSE SYMPTOMS,

WE WILL NEED
TO CHECK HER FOR THAT.

BUT FOR NOW, SHE NEEDS TO REST,

AND THEN WE TRY
TO GET HER UP IN A DAY OR SO

AND SEE HOW SHE'S DOING.

SHE HAS A LONG ROAD
OF RECOVERY AHEAD OF HER,

AND WE'LL HELP HER THROUGH IT
TO GET HER TO THE OTHER SIDE.

**

Nikki: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DAYS
SINCE MY SURGERY.

AND I'M TRYING
TO SLOWLY RECOVER.

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,

AND I'M TRYING TO SLOWLY
MOVE AROUND AGAIN,

BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH,

BECAUSE THERE'S
JUST TOO MUCH PAIN.

AND IT FEELS SCARY TO BE
STUCK LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW,

THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS

THAT COULD GO WRONG
WITH THIS RECOVERY.

THIS FEAR AND THIS ANXIETY

THAT I HAVE
OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE

AND BEING ABLE
TO GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

AND RECOVER SAFELY.

AND WHAT IF I CAN'T RECOVER?
WHAT WOULD I DO THEN?

BUT THEN I LOOK DOWN AND SEE
ALL THAT MISERABLE SKIN IS GONE.

AND THAT MAKES ME
SEE WHAT I'M WORKING FOR.

SO I'M TRYING NOT
TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS

THAT MAKE ME AFRAID

AND FOCUS ON THE THINGS
I'M THANKFUL FOR RIGHT NOW.

-HI.
-HEY, LAURA.

I THINK I'M GONNA HEAD
TO THE BATHROOM.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT.
[ CHUCKLES ]

I'M GONNA SIT HERE FOR A MINUTE.
SURE. GO AHEAD.

A LITTLE BIT.

I'M GONNA GET UP
ON THE COUNT OF THREE.

1, 2 --

ALL RIGHT.
LOOK AT YOU.

-WOW.
-DON'T FAINT ON US.

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT --

IT'S A DIFFERENT FEELING.

I'LL BET IT IS,
ISN'T IT?

OH, MY GOSH.

YOU NEED A WALKER?

YEAH, I'M USED
TO HAVING, LIKE, A --

60-POUND STOMACH RIGHT HERE,

SO IT'S VERY STRANGE.

I FEEL VERY DIZZY.

I FEEL VERY, VERY DIZZY.

YEAH, I'M VERY DIZZY.

**

OKAY. YEAH.

I FEEL REALLY DIZZY.

OKAY.

I'M GETTING REALLY SCARED,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO BE WRONG WITH ME.

I KNOW I COULD HAVE ANY NUMBER
OF ISSUES GO WRONG RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT IF IT'S
SOMETHING REALLY BAD,

OR IT'S SOMETHING
THEY CAN'T FIX?

FEEL LIKE I CAN'T BREATHE.

OKAY.

YEAH, THAT IS LOW.

OKAY.

-OHH.
-I'M SORRY.

-YOU OKAY?
-YEAH.

-THAT'S JUST THE PAINFUL PART.
-OKAY.

I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

Nikki: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN TO ME RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED.

DR. NOW THINKS THAT I MAY
HAVE SOME INTERNAL BLEEDING

AND THAT I NEED
TO GO BACK TO SURGERY.

AND I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW

THAT SOMETHING ELSE
COULD HAPPEN

OR THAT IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE NIKKI

INTO EMERGENCY SURGERY
RIGHT NOW.

EARLIER TODAY, SHE DEVELOPED
AN INTERNAL BLEED,

AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

BUT IT'S NOT LIFE-THREATENING
IF WE ADDRESS IT IMMEDIATELY.

OKAY. LET'S BEGIN.

I'M OPENING THE SUTURES NOW
TO LOCATE THE BLEEDER.

I FOUND IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TIE
THE BLEEDER OFF AGAIN,

CLEAN OUT THE DRY
BLOOD INTERNALLY,

AND SUTURE HER UP
SO SHE CAN FULLY RECOVER.

SUCTION, SUCTION, SUCTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD HERE,

SO WE NEED TO SUCTION
ALL THIS OUT

AND CLEAN UP THE SUTURES.

IT'S TIED OFF NOW.

OKAY, EVERYTHING
IS LOOKING GOOD.

NOW WE'RE CLOSING THE INCISION.

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

**

NICOLE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP HER
UNDER WATCH IN ICU

FOR A FEW DAYS

AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE
IS NOT ANOTHER OCCURRENCE.

AND AFTER SHE GETS PAST
THE NEXT 72 HOURS,

IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL

AND THERE ARE NO
FURTHER COMPLICATIONS,

WE'LL WORK ON GETTING HER UP
AND MOVING HER AROUND AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD
COUPLE MONTHS FOR HER,

BUT NIKKI IS STRONG,
AND I THINK SHE CAN HANDLE IT.

**

Nikki: IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS
SINCE MY EMERGENCY SURGERY.

AND I HAVEN'T DEVELOPED
ANY MORE ISSUES.

AND DR. NOW SAYS THE POSSIBILITY

OF DEVELOPING ANY MORE BLEEDERS
IS BEHIND ME.

SO NOW I NEED TO FOCUS
ON GETTING UP

AND MOVING AROUND AGAIN,

BUT I'M IN A LOT
OF PAIN RIGHT NOW.

SO I KNOW THIS ISN'T
GOING TO BE EASY.

THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN
A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT,

BUT I'M STILL GLAD I DID IT.

GETTING SKIN REMOVAL
ON MY BELLY,

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS
A NECESSARY EVIL.

A LOT OF SCARY THINGS HAPPENED.

TRAUMATIZING, BUT I CANNOT

GO FORWARD IN MY LIFE
WITH THAT STOMACH.

-HELLO.
-HI.

HOW'S THE PAIN
AND DISCOMFORT?

I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED PAIN
LIKE THIS BEFORE.

SO, THIS TAKE ABOUT
A COUPLE MONTHS TO HEAL.

-RIGHT.
-AND WE CAN GET YOU

UP AND WALKING,
BUT NOT DOING TOO MUCH, OKAY?

THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED
TO NOT HAVING ALL THAT

60 POUNDS OF TIRE
AROUND YOU.

I KNOW.

I FEEL KIND OF LIKE A TODDLER
LEARNING HOW TO WALK AGAIN.

I FEEL VERY LIGHT ON MY FEET,

NOT HAVING THAT GRAVITY
PULL ME DOWN.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
NIKKI IS RECOVERING WELL,

BUT HER BALANCE IS GOING
TO BE COMPLETELY OFF

UNTIL SHE LEARNS TO ADJUST.

AND SHE WILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL

WITH HER SUTURES
AND HOW SHE MOVES.

IN A COUPLE WEEKS, ALL THE
FLUIDS ARE GONNA GO AROUND,

AND YOU SHOULD BE
AROUND PROBABLY 240.

I'LL BELIEVE THAT WHEN I SEE IT.
[ LAUGHS ]

-ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL LATER.
-THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHTY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE SKIN
AROUND HER STOMACH IS WEAK,

AND HER SUTURES ARE GOING
TO OPEN UP OCCASIONALLY,

BECAUSE THERE WAS
AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT

OF DAMAGE TO THE AREA
AROUND THE STOMACH.

SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE GAPS
IN THE SUTURES

THAT WILL DEVELOP,
AND WE NEED TO TREAT TO CLOSE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE NORMAL,

BUT WE HAVE TO WORK
TO NOT DO ANYTHING

TO INCREASE THOSE GAPS.

BUT I'M GOING TO REQUIRE HER
TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR AT LEAST 2 MONTHS
SO WE CAN TREAT HER

UNTIL SHE'S HEALED ENOUGH
TO GO HOME.

OH, WOW.
MY BODY FEELS REALLY DIFFERENT.

IF YOU NEED TO GO BACK,
WE'LL TURN AROUND.

Nikki: DR. NOW IS RIGHT.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE
I'M HAVING TO LEARN

HOW TO WALK RIGHT AGAIN.

MY CENTER OF GRAVITY
WAS MY STOMACH,

'CAUSE IT WAS SO LARGE,
AND IT PULLED ME DOWN,

LIKE, A CERTAIN PART OF MY BODY,

AND I JUST GOT USED
TO WALKING THAT WAY.

BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER
THE LAST TIME

I COULD STAND UP
STRAIGHT LIKE THIS.

AND I CAN ALREADY TELL THIS
IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR ME.

I JUST HOPE I CAN STAY STRONG

AND, WITH MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT,
MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.

Nikki: IT'S BEEN A MONTH
SINCE MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

AND ABOUT A WEEK AGO,
DR. NOW SAID

I WAS HEALING ENOUGH
TO BE DISCHARGED,

BUT THAT I HAD
TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR ANOTHER 6 WEEKS AT LEAST

SO THAT HE CAN
MONITOR MY RECOVERY,

BECAUSE IF THERE'S
ONE LITTLE ISSUE

THAT DOESN'T GET
TREATED IN TIME,

HE SAID IT COULD END UP
SERIOUSLY DELAYING MY RECOVERY.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT,
SO MY MOM AND I ARE RENTING

THE SAME LAKE HOUSE
I RECOVERED IN

AFTER MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD
BEING BACK HERE.

IT'S JUST MOM AND I HERE,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND I'M FEELING LIKE I DID THEN,

JUST CUT OFF
FROM THE WORLD SOME.

SO IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M
BACK TO THE WAY I WAS BEFORE,

WHEN I WAS 600 POUNDS.

BUT I KNOW I NEED TO TAKE
THE TIME TO HEAL PROPERLY.

DR. NOW TOLD ME THERE
COULD BE A LOT OF ISSUES,

AND ONE OF THEM
IS THAT THE SUTURES

MAY HAVE TROUBLE STAYING CLOSED.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED,

SO I HAVE THIS WOUND VAC
THING ON ME.

IT'S THIS SPONGE
THAT HELPS REMOVE SWELLING

AND SLOWLY CLOSES ANY OPENINGS

WITH THIS SUCTION PRESSURE.

IT'S LIKE A TIGHT VACUUM SEAL.

AND ATTACH THIS HOSE.

IT JUST [SLURPS]

SUCKS OUT ALL OF THE NASTINESS.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
IS ALL OF MY INSIDES

ARE BEING SUCKED OUT.

AND THIS ONE HURTS.
LIKE, THIS HURTS TO TOUCH IT.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME
FOR ME TO HEAL

AND FOR MY SKIN
TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

IT'S VERY TIGHT.
IT FEELS LIKE A CORSET.

AND I HAVE TO KEEP IT
ON ME ALL THE TIME.

SO RECOVERING FROM THIS SURGERY
IS SO MUCH HARDER

THAN THE LAST ONE.

I THOUGHT THAT I WAS PREPARED
FOR THIS SURGERY,

AND IT JUST HIT ME
LIKE A MACK TRUCK.

AND IT HAS DAMPENED MY SPIRIT.

**

I HAD A LOT OF APPREHENSION
COMING INTO SURGERY,

BECAUSE MY FRIEND MICHAEL DIED

AFTER HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS,

SO I'VE BEEN SCARED
FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND EVERY TIME
I HAD A COMPLICATION

OR IT FELT LIKE
SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG,

I THOUGHT, "COULD THIS BE
WHAT LEADS ME TO A PLACE

WHERE I WON'T MAKE IT?"

SO THIS HAS BEEN
A SCARY TIME FOR ME.

AND I STILL HAVE
ANOTHER MONTH HERE IN HOUSTON.

SO I'M TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE.

BUT I'M REALLY READY
FOR ALL THIS TO BE OVER

AND TO GET HOME AND BACK
TO MY LIFE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

**

RECENTLY, I FEEL LIKE

I'M STARTING TO TURN A CORNER
WITH MY RECOVERY.

I'M FEELING BETTER, AND A LOT
OF THE PAIN IS GOING AWAY.

AND I'M HAVING AN EASIER TIME
GETTING AROUND,

SO I KNOW
I'M HEALING A LOT MORE.

MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN
IN HOUSTON

FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW.

AND I'M HOPING
THAT WE'LL BE ABLE

TO GO BACK TO LITTLE ROCK SOON.

BUT AS HARD AS THIS RECOVERY IS,

AND AS MUCH AS I WANT
TO GET HOME AND BACK TO MY LIFE,

I'VE BEEN REALLY THANKFUL
FOR THE TIME

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND
WITH MY MOM HERE.

HEY, GIRL! I'M HOME.

-HI, MOM.
-GOT GROCERIES.

SHE HAS BEEN AMAZING.

OH, I HAD THIS
GREAT IDEA FOR DINNER.

I SAW THIS RECIPE THE OTHER DAY
THAT I KEPT,

AND YOU MAKE,
LIKE, AN OMELET,

AND YOU PUT ONIONS IN IT,
AND YOU LET IT COOK,

AND THEN YOU PUT
ALL THE BLACK BEANS

AND THE TOMATOES

AND AVOCADO ON TOP OF THAT,
AND YOU ROLL IT UP.

-THAT SOUNDS FUN.
-THAT SOUNDS GOOD AND HEALTHY,

-DOESN'T IT?
-SOUNDS GOOD.

I FEEL LIKE OUR RELATIONSHIP

HAS GROWN A LOT,
EVEN OVER THE PAST YEAR.

YOU WANT TO COME CHOP?
YOU FEEL LIKE IT?

-NO, I CAN. I CAN DO IT.
-OKAY.

WE'VE HAD A HARD
RELATIONSHIP IN THE PAST,

AND TO GET PAST
WHAT WAS DRIVING ME

TO EAT ALL THESE YEARS,

I HAD TO ADDRESS

HOW I NEVER FELT
GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY MOTHER

AND HOW I FELT JUDGED BY HER.

AND WE FINALLY TALKED
ABOUT THAT AND LET THAT GO.

I THINK I FELT LIKE I WAS
JUST NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

I HATE THAT YOU
EVER FELT THAT WAY.

I HOPE I DON'T EVER
HURT YOUR FEELINGS.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

BUT AFTER THAT, I FEEL LIKE
IT'S NOT ONLY ENABLED ME

TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS,
BUT IT'S ALSO ALLOWED US

TO START HAVING
A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S BEEN ENJOYABLE
FOR NIKKI AND I

JUST TO BE HERE BY OURSELVES.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME
JUST BEING TOGETHER.

WE DON'T EVER HAVE
THAT KIND OF TIME

JUST TO TALK WITH EACH OTHER
AND ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.

Nikki:
SO, AS HARD AS IT'S BEEN,

I WOULDN'T TRADE THIS TIME
FOR THE WORLD,

BUT I KNOW WE'RE BOTH LOOKING
FORWARD TO GETTING BACK HOME

AND OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

I WANT TO GET BACK
AND SEE MY FRIENDS,

GO BACK TO WORK,
AND SEE MARC AGAIN.

AFTER OUR FIRST DATE, MARC AND I
WENT OUT A COUPLE MORE TIMES.

SO WE'RE SORT OF
DATING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT TOO SERIOUS, BUT IT
MAY BE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING HIM AGAIN,

BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON IF DR. NOW
CLEARS ME TO FINALLY GO HOME

AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

THERE ARE JUST SO MANY THINGS

I FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM
RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M JUST VERY ANXIOUS
TO GET BACK HOME.

THERE'S A PART OF ME
THAT'S AFRAID

I'M GOING TO LOSE
ALL THE NEW THINGS

AND PEOPLE IN MY LIFE
IF I'M AWAY FOR TOO LONG.

AND I KNOW THAT'S CRAZY.

IT'S JUST HARD TO BE AWAY
FROM YOUR LIFE FOR 2 MONTHS.

SO I JUST NEED TO GET BACK.

Nikki:
I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE FOR
MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M HOPING HE CLEARS ME
TO GO HOME TODAY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M RECOVERING WELL,
BUT I STILL HAVE A GAP

IN MY SUTURES
THAT NEEDS CLOSING.

AND AS GROSS AS THAT IS,

IT'S STILL HEALING
AND GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY.

NIKKI WEBSTER?

I'M ALSO CURIOUS TO SEE
WHAT MY WEIGHT IS NOW.

BECAUSE WHEN I LEFT
THE HOSPITAL ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO,

I WAS JUST UNDER 240 POUNDS.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE

IF I'M CLOSE TO BEING
UNDER 200 POUNDS NOW.

236.

KIND OF STAYED THE SAME.

-I DON'T SEE HOW.
-I KNOW. I DON'T GET IT.

THAT'S EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT
TO LET THE DOCTOR DOWN

AFTER GETTING MY SKIN
REMOVAL SURGERY.

BUT HOPEFULLY MY WEIGHT TODAY

DOESN'T PLAY INTO
WHETHER OR NOT I CAN GO HOME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HI, DR. NOW.

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

YOU ARE 236 TODAY.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WEIGHT
YOU WERE AT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

-I KNOW.
-SO YOU LOST NOTHING

IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS,
SO WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?

WELL, I WAS REALLY SICK
FOR A WHILE,

AND I COULDN'T HOLD
ANYTHING DOWN FOR LIKE A WEEK.

AND SO I GOT BETTER,

AND NOW I CAN EAT,

AND I'VE GAINED THAT WEIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE SAME CYCLE
OVER AND OVER.

YOU GET AMBITIOUS.
YOU STOP LOSING.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO START WORKING

ON KEEPING YOUR HEALTHY
CHOICES CONSISTENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET OUT
OF THIS PATTERN.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU'RE STILL 80 POUNDS
FROM YOUR TARGET WEIGHT.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME
TO SLOW DOWN.

OKAY.

OKAY, SO LET ME
GET YOU ON THE TABLE.

WE CAN CHECK YOUR INCISIONS
AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
I CAN TELL THAT YOU'RE PUTTING

A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TAPE
ON THE SKIN.

OKAY.
[ CHUCKLES ]

SO YOU NEED TO
SORT OF TONE IT DOWN.

[ Laughing ]
OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THESE ARE ALL HEALING NICE.

I'M GONNA PUT SOME SILVER
NITRATE ON SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

AND THESE WOUNDS ARE
TRADITIONALLY DIFFICULT TO HEAL.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT UNUSUAL
THAT MAY OPEN UP,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S HEALING VERY WELL.

IT SHOULD BE ABLE
TO CLOSE UP COMPLETELY

AND HEAL
IN THE NEXT MONTH.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
NIKKI IS HEALING WELL,

BUT SHE HAS A PATTERN
OF STAYING ON TRACK

FOR A FEW MONTHS,
THEN GETTING DISTRACTED.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT SHE'S GOING TO NEED

TO GET A HANDLE ON.

BECAUSE IF SHE STARTS
TO GAIN WEIGHT NOW,

THAT WILL PREVENT HER
FROM HEALING CORRECTLY

AND MAY CAUSE
SOME SERIOUS ISSUES

THAT SIGNIFICANTLY
DELAY HER RECOVERY.

ALL RIGHT, NIKKI,
YOU CAN GO BACK TO ARKANSAS.

KEEP YOUR SUTURE CLEAN

AND MAKE SURE
YOU'RE NOT TAPING IT TOO TIGHT

SO YOUR OPENING CAN BREATHE.

AND START LOSING
WEIGHT AGAIN

AND MAKE SURE
YOU'RE NOT GAINING.

ALL RIGHTY.

THE PART OF HER STOMACH

THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED
BY HER WEIGHT THE MOST

IS TAKING LONGER
TO HEAL AND CLOSE.

BUT SHE SHOULD CONTINUE
TO HEAL WELL

AS LONG AS SHE
KEEPS HER SUTURE CLEAN

AND DOESN'T IRRITATE IT
TOO MUCH.

OKAY.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

SO?
[ SIGHS ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I GET TO GO HOME.

I KNOW!

Nikki:
I'M EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK

AND PICK UP RIGHT WHERE
I LEFT OFF WITH EVERYONE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I'M NOT ANY LESS
DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF

FOR NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT
DURING THIS TIME.

I KNOW I HAVE TO GET CONTROL
OF THAT AGAIN

AND DO LIKE DR. NOW SAYS
AND NOT GET DISTRACTED BY LIFE

OR WHAT I'M DEALING WITH
WHEN IT COMES TO MY HEALTH.

MY HEALTH IS STILL
MY HIGHEST PRIORITY,

AND WHEN I'M MESS UP LIKE THIS,

I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO FIX IT.

**

LOOK AT HARLEY. SHE THINKS
SHE'S GOING. YOU'RE NOT GOING!

I'VE BEEN BACK HOME
FOR A FEW DAYS,

AND I TOLD MY BROTHER,

TO MAKE UP
FOR BEING GONE SO LONG,

I'LL TAKE HIM TO DO
WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO.

AND HE SAID HE WANTS
TO GO PAINT WITH ME,

SO I'M TAKING HIM TO THIS
POTTERY PLACE I HEARD ABOUT.

I'M STILL A LITTLE SWOLLEN,

AND I CAN'T GET AROUND
COMPLETELY LIKE I DID,

BUT I KNOW I'LL BE THERE SOON.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

THAT I STILL HAVEN'T
REACHED ALL MY GOALS,

LIKE GETTING TO MY TARGET
WEIGHT IN A YEAR.

-HELLO!
-HI!

-HI.
-HOW ARE YOU?

ALL THE POTTERY
IS ALONG THE WALL.

FEEL FREE TO WALK AROUND.

PICK OUT
WHAT YOU WANT TO PAINT.

Nikki: AND A BIG FUTURE GOAL
IS FINDING A PLACE OF MY OWN

WHERE BOTH ME AND MY BROTHER,
CHRIS, CAN LIVE SOMEDAY.

BUT MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED

I WOULDN'T MOVE OUT
UNTIL MY FINAL SKIN REMOVAL.

RIGHT NOW, MY NEXT GOALS

ARE TO GET BACK ON TRACK
WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS

AND TRY TO MAKE IT
UNDER THE 200-POUND MARK

IN A FEW WEEKS

AND TO ALSO GO GET SOME PANTS.

IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE
SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE

TO EVEN WEAR PANTS,

BECAUSE ALL THE SKIN

AND EVERYTHING
HANGING OVER MY STOMACH

JUST MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

IT'S ONE
OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES.

-UH-HUH.
-YEAH.

THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD!

AND I STILL PLAN
TO FINISH THIS YEAR STRONG.

THERE MIGHT ONLY BE
A MONTH LEFT,

BUT I INTEND TO HIT
A LOT OF GOALS

AND SEE HOW FAR I MAKE IT
IN THAT TIME.

TODAY, I'M HEADED
TO A LITTLE BOUTIQUE.

AND I'M GOING TO TRY ON PANTS

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN OVER 10 YEARS.

AND WHAT I REALLY WANT
TO TRY ARE BLUE JEANS.

SO I'M HOPING THE SWELLING
HAS GONE DOWN WITH MY SUTURES.

BUT I WENT TO A LOCAL DOCTOR
TO GET SOME NEW BANDAGES,

AND THEY PUT A WOUND VAC
BACK ON ME.

BUT I'M NOT LETTING THAT
HOLD ME BACK TODAY.

I'M GONNA FIND A PAIR OF JEANS
THAT WILL FIT,

AND I'M TRYING THEM ON.

AND IF I LOOK AS GOOD
AS I HOPE IN THEM,

I'M BUYING THEM.

I CURRENTLY DON'T OWN
A SINGLE PAIR OF PANTS.

AND I'VE BEEN WAITING
FOR THIS DAY FOREVER.

**

I NEVER, EVER REALLY BELIEVED

THAT I WOULD BE AT THIS POINT,

AND I AM.

I LOOK CUTE.

[ LAUGHS ]

I FEEL GOOD IN THEM.

I FEEL WOMANLY AND SASSY.

IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME
TO FEEL SASSY.

WHEN I LOOK AT MYSELF
IN THE MIRROR,

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR ME.

I HAVE TO KIND OF, LIKE,
READJUST MY EYES

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT I'M SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING.

BUT TO BE ABLE
TO START TO RESEMBLE

WHAT I FELT LIKE ON THE INSIDE,

IT'S EXTREMELY POWERFUL.

THAT CONFIDENCE
IS SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.

I'M EXCITED TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY
AND PUT ON NEW CLOTHES.

HERE ARE YOUR NEW PANTS
AND YOUR TOP, GIRL.

-YAY!
-THANKS FOR COMING IN.

THANKS SO MUCH.
SEE YOU LATER.

-I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
-BYE.

SO, I'M REALLY HAPPY
RIGHT NOW ABOUT EVERYTHING,

ABOUT HOW MY BODY
IS STARTING TO LOOK,

ABOUT HOW I FEEL,
ABOUT ALL THE NEW

AND EXCITING THINGS
I HAVE IN MY LIFE,

AND ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES
THAT I HAVE NOW.

**

TONIGHT, I'M HEADED
TO BRUNO'S LITTLE ITALY,

IT'S A LITTLE ITALIAN
RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN.

AND I'M GONNA SPEND
THE EVENING WITH MARC.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HIM.

I WAS AWAY FOR SO LONG,

AND I HAVEN'T REALLY
BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIM

AND SPEND SOME GOOD TIME
WITH HIM.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING
FORWARD TO THIS.

HEY, BOO!
LOOK AT YOU ALL DOLLED UP.

AWW, YOU'RE SWEET.

MM.
HOW'S IT GOING?

-GOOD.
-HOW WAS PARKING?

[ LAUGHS ]

THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING
REALLY WELL BETWEEN US,

AND I LIKE HIM A LOT.

IT ALL NEEDS BUTTER.

HE'S A REALLY GOOD GUY,

AND I HAVE A LOT OF FUN
WHEN I'M WITH HIM.

-THANK YOU!
-[ CHUCKLES ]

AND THE MORE TIME
WE SPEND TOGETHER,

THE MORE I CAN SEE
THE POSSIBILITY

OF A FUTURE BETWEEN US.

AND THAT ALONE IS INCREDIBLE
TO EVEN BE ABLE TO THINK.

TWO YEARS AGO,
WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY,

I JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN
ROMANCE, LOVE.

I JUST HAD ACCEPTED THE FACT
THAT IT WAS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THINGS
ARE GONNA GO WITH MARC,

BUT THE FEELINGS
THAT I'M HAVING,

THE LOVE AND AFFECTION
I FEEL FROM HIM,

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

THAT'S THE PART OF MYSELF
THAT I COVERED UP FOR SO LONG,

AND I'M SO THANKFUL
THAT LOSING THIS WEIGHT,

HAVING SURGERY,

HAS HELPED ME
ACHIEVE ALL OF THAT.

AND I'M ABLE TO
FEEL THOSE THINGS.

AND I WOULD NOT TRADE
WHO I AM RIGHT NOW,

IN THIS MOMENT,
FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

**

I'M ABOUT TO HEAD TO HOUSTON FOR
MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

AND NOW THAT I'M SO SMALL,

I DECIDED I CAN MAKE
THESE TRIPS DOWN ON MY OWN

AND THAT I CAN FLY
ON MY OWN NOW.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME
SINCE I'VE FLOWN,

AND SO, JUST THE LOGISTICS
STRESSES ME OUT.

-CHAUFFEUR'S HERE.
-HEY!

[ LAUGHS ]
CHAUFFEUR'S HERE.

HOW ARE YOU, MARC?

-GOODBYE, GUYS.
-ALL RIGHT.

-SEE Y'ALL LATER.
-BYE.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW
I CAN DO THIS NOW,

I'M STILL REALLY
NERVOUS ABOUT IT.

I STILL THINK OF MYSELF,
IN A LOT OF WAYS,

IN A 600-POUND BODY.

SO THE FEAR OF "WILL I FIT
INTO THE SEAT?" IS VERY REAL.

BUT I KNOW I'M READY TO DO THIS.

CLOSE SIZE.

LOOK AT THAT.

AND I EVEN HAD TO TIGHTEN IT.

NOW THAT I'M HERE,
AND I FIT IN THE SEAT

WITH NO PROBLEM,
I'M JUST EXCITED.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

AND, IN A WAY, THIS OPENS
THE WHOLE WORLD TO ME,

BECAUSE NOW I AM
PHYSICALLY ABLE TO TRAVEL

ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

SO THIS IS JUST A START FOR ME.

AND I'VE WORKED SO HARD

TO GET BACK ON TRACK
THESE PAST TWO MONTHS.

YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.

ANY MY GOAL WAS TO FINALLY
GET UNDER 200 POUNDS.

AND I'M HOPING I DID THAT.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!

I'M LIKE 30 POUNDS
FROM MY TARGET WEIGHT NOW

AND TWO SKIN SURGERIES
AWAY FROM MY GOAL.

AND THAT'S AMAZING FOR ME
TO EVEN THINK ABOUT.

-HELLO!
-HI, DR. NOW.

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

-HOW ARE YOU?
-GREAT.

AND YOU ARE DOWN
TO 194 POUNDS.

THAT'S 455-POUND
WEIGHT LOSS.

THAT NUMBER IS
BREATHTAKING TO ME.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

NIKKI IS BACK
TO MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

AND SHE'S VERY CLOSE
TO HER TARGET WEIGHT.

BUT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THE TREATMENT

SHE RECEIVED ON HER SUTURES.

SO, LET'S TAKE
A LOOK AT YOU NOW...

OKAY.

...AND DEAL WITH THIS WOUND VAC
YOU MENTIONED.

OKAY.
THIS IS ALL WRONG

AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

AND SEE THIS STUFF
IN HERE --

-WOUND VAC DON'T PICK THAT UP.
-MM-HMM.

THIS NEEDS TO BE
PICKED UP WITH THE GAUZE.

-OKAY.
-YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE

A WOUND VAC ON YOU
AT THIS POINT,

AND YOU'RE NOT HEALING
BECAUSE OF IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE NIKKI WENT
TO SOME LOCAL DOCTORS

AND GOT VERY BAD
MEDICAL TREATMENT

THAT HAS PREVENTED
HER WOUND FROM CLOSING.

SO I HAVE REMOVED THE WOUND VAC
AND CLEANED UP THAT AREA.

IF SHE DOESN'T IRRITATE IT
AND KEEPS IT CLEAN,

THEN THE OPENING
WILL CLOSE AND HEAL

WITHIN A MONTH OR SO.

BUT SHE'S STILL DOING WELL,

AND I THINK WE CAN
GET HER THERE.

-I'M PROUD OF YOU, OKAY?
-THANK YOU.

-ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. NOW.

-I WILL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?
-I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL DO IT.

-ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.

I THINK SHE'LL BE ABLE
TO HIT HER TARGET WEIGHT

WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS.

ONCE SHE HEALS
FROM HER FIRST SKIN SURGERY,

WE CAN DISCUSS
HER FINAL SKIN REMOVALS,

AND THEN SHE'LL
BE COMPLETELY DONE.

Nikki: I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
TO FIND OUT

THAT I GOT MEDICAL ADVICE
THAT WASN'T GOOD

AND THAT SET ME BACK,

AND THAT I COULD BE
COMPLETELY HEALED AT THIS POINT.

BUT I'M GLAD TO HAVE
THAT WHOLE THING OFF ME.

I WAS SO UPSET
WHEN THEY PUT IT BACK ON.

BUT I'M ON THE RIGHT
TRACK AGAIN,

AND I'M JUST GOING
TO FOCUS ON HOW FAR I AM

AND HOW MUCH I HAVE
TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.

I'VE COME SUCH A LONG WAY
IN 2 YEARS,

AND I'M ALMOST THERE.

**

TODAY I'M MEETING
MY FRIEND CEANNE,

AND WE'RE GOING
TO RENT SOME BIKES,

AND I'M GOING TO RIDE
A BIKE AGAIN,

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS.

-HEY!
-YOU READY FOR THIS?

-[ GROANS ]
-[ CHUCKLES ]

I JUST HOPE I CAN REMEMBER
HOW TO DO IT.

THEY SAY ONCE YOU LEARN,
YOU NEVER FORGET,

SO I HOPE THEY'RE RIGHT.

I TRULY LOVE MY LIFE NOW

AND HOW IT IS JUST GETTING
BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY.

SO I'M JUST AMAZED
AT WHAT I CAN DO NOW,

AND HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THE NEXT YEAR

AND ALL I'M GOING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND I FEEL SO BLESSED
TO HAVE THIS CHANCE.

I'M KEEPING MY HEALTH
A PERMANENT PRIORITY,

AND I'M GRABBING AHOLD OF LIFE
NOW WITH BOTH HANDS,

AND I'M NOT LETTING GO.