All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S06E04

I HATE MYSELF BECAUSE I ALLOWED
MYSELF TO GET THIS SIZE.

I AM VERY MISERABLE IN THIS BODY

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M A TICKING TIME BOMB.

I TRY TO CHANGE, BUT SOMETHING
ALWAYS KNOCKS ME DOWN.

MY LIFE, IT'S LIKE
A LIVING DEATH SENTENCE.

UH! OOH!

AH, [BLEEP]!

THIS IS NO LIFE FOR ANYONE.

OH, JUST PRAY FOR ME.

[ SOBS ]

OW! MY LEG!

SIT DOWN RIGHT THERE.
WAIT.

YOU'RE MAKING ME MAD.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS
COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

IF YOU HAVE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
AND YOU DON'T FOLLOW THAT,

YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

THERE'S NO MAGIC
IN WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Liz: THERE CAN BE SOME REALLY
HARD MOMENTS IN LIFE.

AND YOU CAN EITHER USE THEM
AS AN EXCUSE

OR AS AN OBSTACLE
TO OVERCOME.

[ INHALES,
EXHALES DEEPLY ]

OKAY. ONE BIG ONE.

AH!

AH!!

OH, GOD!

AH! AH!

OH, GOD.

THIS IS MY LIFE.

I'VE BEEN BEDRIDDEN FOR YEARS,

AND I HAVE THESE FOUR WALLS
TO LOOK AT AND THAT'S IT.

I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME
THING EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT FEELS AS THOUGH MY LIFE
IS WASTING AWAY.

I CAN'T EVEN GO SIT
OUTSIDE ON MY PORCH.

CAN'T DO NOTHING.

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY AUNT,

I DON'T KNOW HOW
I'D EVEN SURVIVE.

THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST
I CAN DO WITH THAT.

LIZ'S LIFE RIGHT NOW
IS JUST PURE TORTURE.

SHE FEELS LIKE HER LIFE
IS A LIVING HELL,

AND SHE DON'T WANT
TO LIVE IN THAT BED.

Liz: HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY
TURN YOU OVER AND CHANGE YOU...

...I HATE IT.

Sarah: GIVING LIZ HER BATH,

FOR ME,
IT IS TREMENDOUSLY HARD,

BUT I HAVE TO DO IT.

I FIGHT BACK THE TEARS
AND I PRAY

ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE PROCESS,

AND THAT'S HOW
I MAKE IT THROUGH.

Liz: WHEN I SEE MY AUNT IN PAIN,
IT'S GUT-WRENCHING.

BUT THE WORST PART,
IS I STARTED LIVING HERE

TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM

AND I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT...

I NEED TO COME ON
THAT SIDE.

...BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

SO, I'M ASHAMED I'VE ALLOWED
MYSELF TO BECOME SUCH A BURDEN.

AH!

Sarah: CAN'T GET IT, LIZ.
I NEED HELP.

UGH!

NO, I GOT TO HAVE
HELP ON THIS SIDE.

LET ME GO GET SOME HELP.

AND, UH...

UGH!

I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WOULD HIT
ROCK-BOTTOM AT 35 YEARS OLD.

IT'S DEVASTATING.

I HATE MYSELF BECAUSE I ALLOWED
MYSELF TO GET THIS SIZE.

[ SOBS ]

COME ON, LIZ,
DON'T CRY.

I'M HELPLESS.

I'MA GET IT.

HEY.

Sarah: SO, I NEED HELP.

SO, WHAT I NEED
FOR YOU TO DO IS --

OKAY, YOU NEED ME
TO PULL HER?

THIS WAY, STAND SO
SHE WON'T FALL.

OKAY.

MY MOM CALLS FAMILY MEMBERS
ALL THE TIME TO HELP WITH LIZ,

BUT SHE JUST CONTINUES
TO GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE.

BUT MY MOM ABSOLUTELY CANNOT
CONTINUE TO LOOK AFTER LIZ

AT THE CURRENT STATE
THAT SHE'S IN.

LIZ NEEDS MEDICAL CARE.

**

Sarah: I FEEL HELPLESS EVERY
TIME I WALK IN THE ROOM

AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR HER,

AND WHEN SHE'S REALLY, REALLY
SO DEPRESSED AND SO SAD.

SO I JUST ENCOURAGE HER
AND HELP HER.

AND THE ONLY WAY
SHE'S ENCOURAGED IS WITH FOOD.

AND LIZ EATS...A LOT OF FOOD.

COMPARED TO WHAT I EAT
AND WHAT LIZ EAT,

I COULD FEED MY WHOLE FAMILY.

BUT EATING IS THE ONLY THING
THAT MAKES HER HAPPY.

SO, IF WE DON'T FEED HER,
IT'S GOING TO BE BAD.

Liz: FOOD IS THE ONLY THING
I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN MY DAY.

I ENJOY EATING.

BUT AFTERWARDS, I DON'T
FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF.

FEEL LIKE A FAILURE,
BECAUSE WHAT I'M DOING,

HOW I'M EATING, IS
STEALING MY LIFE

AND MY FUTURE,
AND WHO I WAS.

I HAD HOPES AND DREAMS
AND I WANTED A LIFE.

BUT THE PERSON THAT
I USED TO BE,

THAT PERSON IS DEAD AND GONE,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO GET BACK WHO I WAS.

**

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,
I WAS A NORMAL SIZE.

BUT I WAS BORN WITH
AN ABNORMALITY IN MY LEG.

THE BONE WAS CURVED,
WHICH RESULTED IN ONE LEG

BEING SHORTER THAN THE OTHER.

I WALKED, BUT I WALKED
WITH LIKE A LITTLE LIMP.

SO, I COULDN'T BE AS ACTIVE
AS I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE.

BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO GET
AROUND ALL RIGHT AND DO THINGS.

IT WAS JUST HARDER.

AND SOME OF MY BEST
MEMORIES AS A CHILD

WAS GOING PLACES WITH MY DAD.

WE COULD BE GOING
TO THE CORNER STORE.

I JUST WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.

SO, DESPITE MY SETBACK,

I REMEMBER MY EARLY
CHILDHOOD AS VERY HAPPY.

BUT THAT CHANGED WHEN I WAS SIX,

BECAUSE I WAS MOLESTED
BY SOMEONE THAT MY FAMILY KNEW.

I REMEMBER BEING
SO ALONE AND SCARED,

BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
OR WHO I COULD TELL,

SO I JUST FELT ASHAMED.

I DON'T KNOW IF MY MOM
WOULD'VE BELIEVED ME,

AND I DIDN'T WANT
TO TELL MY DAD

BECAUSE WE WERE SO CLOSE

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE HIM
SEE ME ANY DIFFERENT.

SO, I KIND OF PUSHED IT
OUT OF MY MIND,

'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT
TO THINK ABOUT IT,

AND I JUST TRIED TO PRETEND
IT DIDN'T EXIST.

BUT AS I GOT OLDER,
THINGS GOT WORSE.

MY DAD DEVELOPED
A BAD DRUG ADDICTION,

SO MY PARENTS GOT DIVORCED.

HE LET THAT ADDICTION SUPERCEDE
HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILD.

AFTER THAT, MY LIFE
WAS NEVER QUITE THE SAME.

I WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD THEN,

AND THAT'S WHEN I REMEMBER
TAKING ALL THAT PAIN

AND STARTING TO RUN TO FOOD.

Sarah: I COULD REMEMBER
LIZ WAITING ON HER DAD,

WITH TEARS, AND DAD
NEVER SHOWED UP.

SO, HER ESCAPE WAS TO GO
IN THE KITCHEN

AND EAT TO FILL THE VOID.

Liz: IF I WAS FEELING BAD
OR SAD OR UPSET,

FOOD WOULD MAKE ME NOT THINK
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

AND AS THINGS GOT HARDER,
I JUST ATE MORE.

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11,

I HAD TO GO THROUGH SEVEN
CORRECTIVE SURGERIES ON MY LEG.

LIZ STARTED HAVING
CORRECTIVE SURGERIES,

AND THEN THEY PUT ON HER
A CAGE, WE CALL IT,

AND THE PINS WOULD GO INTO
THE BONE AND HOLD IT STILL.

Liz: WHILE I WAS RECOVERING
FROM EACH OF THESE SURGERIES,

I HAD TO STAY IN BED ALL DAY,

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
TO REALLY GAIN.

AND BY THE TIME I TURNED 13,
I WAS OVER 250 POUNDS.

AND THEN AT THE AGE OF 14,

MY DAD HAD KICKED HIS ADDICTION
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND WHEN HE DID THAT,
WE STARTED TO GET CLOSE AGAIN

AND PICK BACK UP
WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THINGS STARTED
TO GET BETTER WITH MY FATHER,

MY EATING DIDN'T SLOW DOWN.

Reta: AS A TEENAGER,
SHE WAS GETTING FLUFFY,

AND SHE JUST STARTED
TO GROW AND GROW.

Liz: MY MOM TRIED TO PUT ME
ON A DIET, BUT I DIDN'T WORK.

NOTHING DID, SO I
JUST KEPT GAINING,

AND BY THE TIME I GRADUATED
HIGH SCHOOL AT 18,

I WAS OVER 350 POUNDS.

BUT EVEN THOUGH
I WAS STILL GAINING,

I DIDN'T WANT TO JUST BE
STUCK AT HOME ALL DAY.

SO, I STARTED VOLUNTEERING
AT MY CHURCH AND DOING DAYCARE.

I WAS LARGE, BUT I WAS
STILL ABLE TO DO

WHATEVER I WANTED TO DO.

BUT WHEN I WAS 24, I CROSSED
THE 400-POUND MARK,

AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
DEVELOPING LYMPHEDEMA

ON MY LEGS,

SO THAT STARTED MAKING IT
EVEN HARDER TO GET AROUND.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY WEIGHT
REALLY SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 25, MY MOM
GOT SICK AND I ALMOST LOST HER.

SHE HAD DOUBLE PNEUMONIA,
SHE HAD MINI STROKES,

AND WAS HOSPITALIZED,
AND ALMOST DIED.

AND SHE NEVER FULLY
RECOVERED FROM IT ALL

AND NEEDS DIALYSIS NOW,
BUT SHE SURVIVED.

I WAS SO SCARED
DURING THAT TIME.

ALL I REMEMBER IS EATING.

AND OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,
BY THE TIME I WAS 30,

I WAS OVER 500 POUNDS AND MY
LYMPHEDEMA HAD GOTTEN SO BAD,

I STOPPED GOING
OUT OF THE HOUSE,

'CAUSE OF THE WAY PEOPLE
LOOK AND STARE AT YOU.

I JUST WATCHED TV, ATE,
AND WAS HERE.

BUT THEN WHEN I WAS 33,
MY FATHER PASSED.

AND WHEN HE PASSED, I COULDN'T
MAKE IT TO HIS FUNERAL.

I WAS NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY
BE THERE, AT LEAST,

TO JUST LEAN OVER

AND HUG HIM OR TOUCH HIS FACE
OR KISS HIM OR SOMETHING.

AND EVER SINCE THEN,
IT JUST WAS DOWNHILL,

AND I'VE BEEN STUCK IN THE BED.

AND NOW, I KNOW
I'M OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND I COULDN'T GET OUT
OF THIS BED

NO MATTER HOW BAD I WANT TO.

AND MY WEIGHT HAS
COMPLETELY ISOLATED ME.

SO, I'VE BASICALLY
BECOME A RECLUSE.

MOST OF THE DAY, I SIT IN HERE
DEPRESSED AND SAD,

AND FOOD BRINGS ME COMFORT
FOR THE MOMENT.

BUT EVERY DAY,
I'M GETTING WORSE,

AND EVERY DAY,
MY MOM IS GETTING WORSE.

AND I KNOW I SHOULD BE THERE
FOR HER, BUT I'M NOT.

**

AND I HATE FORCING MY MOM
TO WATCH ME LIKE THIS...

...BECAUSE SHE'S WATCHING ME DIE
WHEN I SHOULD BE THERE FOR HER.

AND I KNOW IF MY FAMILY
FINDS ME DEAD IN THIS BED

ONE MORNING, THAT'S GOING TO BE
TOO MUCH FOR MY MOM TO HANDLE,

AND SHE'S GOING TO DIE, TOO.

I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT
THE POSSIBILITY OF ME

HAVING TO BURY MY ONLY CHILD,

AND I DON'T WANT TO LIVE
WITHOUT MY BABY.

SO, THEY COULD JUST BURY ME
RIGHT ALONG WITH HER.

Liz: SO, I KNOW I HAVE TO FIND
SOMEONE TO HELP ME STOP THIS

AND TO CHANGE, OR MY WORST FEARS
ARE ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

**

[ DOOR OPENS ]

OKAY, LIZ, IT'S ME.

Liz: ALL RIGHT. HEY.

HEY. WHAT'S UP?

REMEMBER I WAS
TELLING YOU ABOUT

THE WEIGHT LOSS
SURGERY DOCTOR?

MM-HMM.
UM, I WANT TO CALL IN

AND SET UP AN APPOINTMENT
TO MEET WITH HIM.

OH, OKAY.

IF YOU GET THE APPOINTMENT,
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE,

BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING HERE
THAT CAN TAKE YOU UP THAT FAR,

'CAUSE WE CAN'T JUST USE
A REGULAR STRETCHER.

WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE NO RISK
OF HAVING NO SPILLS, TUMBLES.

NO, NO TUMBLES, AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SOMEBODY

TO HELP DO THE LIFTING.

AND WE GOT TO MAKE SURE
WE HAVE ENOUGH MANPOWER.

YEAH, 'CAUSE --
SO, WE DON'T NEED

TWO SKINNY PEOPLE DOWN HERE.

YEAH.

I'M TIRED OF THIS LIFE, AND I
KNOW I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

AND DR. NOWZARADAN
IS ONE OF THE ONLY DOCTORS

WHO CAN HELP PEOPLE
AS BIG AS ME

TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND GET THEIR LIFE BACK.

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT HE'S GOING TO SAY,

BUT I HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

Woman:
Dr. Nowzaradan's office.

YES. HELLO?

YES, MY NAME
IS LIZ EVANS.

AND I WAS CALLING,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE ABOUT

SETTING UP AN APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: Hello?
YES, HELLO?

Yeah,
this is Dr. Nowzaradan.

OKAY. HELLO, HI, DR. NOW.
THIS IS --

MY NAME IS LIZ EVANS.

Hi, Liz.
How are you?

I WAS CALLING, UM,
TO SEE ABOUT SETTING UP

AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU,

AND I WAS OVER 600 POUNDS
AND ALSO I'M BEDRIDDEN.

I'M NOT ABLE TO.

I-I CAN'T STAND UP.

And are you losing any weight
or your weight is going up?

What's going on with that?

I'M NOT -- I'M NOT
LOSING ANY WEIGHT.

IT VARIES UP AND DOWN

BECAUSE I HAVE A SEVERE
CASE OF LYMPHEDEMA.

Lymphedema
is a separate problem.

Your weight and calorie
intake is another issue.

OKAY.

Okay, well, your situation
does sound very dire,

so I need to see you.

And since you're bedridden
and you're not able

to come to the office,

I will suggest
we get the ambulance

and bring you to the hospital
and assess the situation

and see what the option
we have for you, okay?

YES.
YES, SIR.

So, the EMT service will call
and get all your information

and set a time to pick you up,
and we'll go from there.

Okay?
YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

All right.
Bye-bye.

BYE-BYE.
WOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT IT.

WOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE FINALLY GOT IT!

I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU GOT IT THAT QUICK!

ALL YOU HAD TO DO
IS PUT FORTH AN EFFORT.

YES, I'M SO --
OH, MY GOD.

I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
YOU IN THERE.

THAT'S THE MAIN --
THE BALL IS MOVING

AND THAT'S ALL THAT I WANTED TO
DO WAS TO GET THE APPOINTMENT.

OH, MY GOD.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.

Liz: I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT
OF THIS BED IN YEARS,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW
THIS IS GOING TO WORK

OR IF THEY CAN
GET ME THERE TO HIM,

BUT I'M SO THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL
TO HAVE THIS CHANCE,

BECAUSE I KNOW I'M NOT
GOING TO LAST MUCH LONGER

AND I FEEL MYSELF SLIPPING
AWAY MORE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO, THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,
AND I HAVE TO TAKE IT.

**

**

**

Liz: DR. NOWZARADAN
HAS SET UP A SPECIAL

BARIATRIC EMS SERVICE
TO COME GET ME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO?

BUT I'VE NOT BEEN OUT OF MY BED
AND OUTSIDE FOR YEARS.

**

SO I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT
HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK.

THIS SHEET HERE IS UNDERNEATH
ME, SO ROLL THAT WAY.

1, 2...

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS BEING
DROPPED OR FALLING.

HANG IN THERE, LIZ.

WHOO, THAT WAS GOOD.

BUT I'M FEARFUL OF NOT
BEING ABLE TO GET THIS WEIGHT

UNDER CONTROL AND DYING.

-READY?
-ALMOST THERE.

ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.

AND I KNOW THAT IF I WAS TO DIE,

THAT WOULD LITERALLY
KILL MY MOM.

ALL RIGHT. WATCH YOUR ARM,
WATCH YOUR ARM, SWEETIE.

SO, I HAVE TO DO THIS.

MY MOM NEEDS ME RIGHT NOW.

MY MOM IS SICKLY.

SO, I JUST HOPE AND PRAY DR.
NOWZARADAN JUST APPROVES ME.

THANK YOU.

**

I'M NERVOUS TO SEE
DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M EXCITED, BUT THEN
I'M NERVOUS.

GETTING HELP FROM HIM
IS MY LAST OPTION.

OH, MY LORD.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF DR. NOWZARADAN
BEING STRAIGHTFORWARD,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I NEED...

...AND I PREFER SOMEBODY TO GIVE
IT TO ME JUST HOW IT IS

AND BE TRUTHFUL
AND HONEST WITH ME.

BUT MY BODY IS IN
SUCH BAD SHAPE,

AND I DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME.

SO, WHAT SCARES ME RIGHT NOW
IS IF DR. NOWZARADAN

IS NOT ABLE TO HELP ME
AND HE TURNS ME AWAY.

HI, LIZ.
HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING OKAY.

UH, LET'S GET YOU IN THE BED
AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, OKAY?

YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT.

**

1, 2, 3, SLIDE HER HERE.

1, 2, 3!

**

YOU FEELING OKAY?

ANY PAIN, ANY DISCOMFORT?

JUST A LITTLE BIT IN MY LEGS
OR WHATEVER, BUT I'M OKAY.

OKAY.

AND WHO IS WITH YOU?

THIS MY AUNT.

YOUR AUNT?
YES.

IT'S GOOD TO
MEET YOU, TOO.

SO, LET'S DISCUSS
A COUPLE THINGS.

HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW?

I'M 35.

THE FACT THAT YOU'RE
ONLY 35 AND YOUNG

IS THE ONLY REASON
THAT YOU'RE ALIVE RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW THERE'S NO WAY YOU'RE
LIVING TO YOUR 40s LIKE THIS,

SO YOU REALIZE
HOW BAD YOUR BODY IS

AND HOW CLOSE TO
DEAD YOU ARE.

AND THAT'S WHY
YOU'RE HERE, RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING ABOUT IT?

I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO CUT BACK SOME,

BUT NOW IT'S JUST TOO FAR GONE
AND I'VE BEEN IN THE BED,

YOU KNOW, NOT ABLE TO
GET UP TO MOVE AT ALL.

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

WELL, WE'RE NOT TALKING
ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITY.

WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT
YOUR EATING HABIT.

MY EATING HABIT?
DON'T MIX THE ISSUES.

OKAY?
UH-HUH. OKAY.

SO, EATING HABIT, OBVIOUSLY,
OUT OF CONTROL.

BUT WHO IS PROACTIVE
TO MAKE THE CHANGES?

ME.

WHY HAVEN'T YOU
CHANGED SO FAR?

JUST -- I JUST HAVEN'T.

I JUST HAVEN'T.
WHY?

YOU LIKE WHERE YOU ARE?

NO, SIR, NOT AT ALL.

SO, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

I'M WILLING NOW TO DO
WHATEVER I CAN,

BECAUSE I'M JUST
AT A DEAD END STREET

AND IT'S LIKE,
IT'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

WELL, THE STARTING POINT
IS YOUR EATING HABIT,

AND YOU HAVE TO REALIZE

THAT YOU ARE THE ONE
THAT YOU'RE OVEREATING

AND EVERYBODY ELSE
IS NOT FORCING YOU TO EAT.

THEY'RE NOT FORCING ME.

THEY DON'T MAKE ME.

IT'S -- IT'S THE CHOICE.

I KNOW THAT IT'S THE CHOICES
THAT I MAKE.

OKAY.

SO, FROM THIS POINT,

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE
TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES,

THEN THERE'LL BE NOTHING
WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU.

I'M -- I'M WILLING
TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

I WANT TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.

AND YOUR ENABLERS NEED
TO UNDERSTAND

HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
TO SUPPORT YOU.

SHE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PERSON
THAT'S ABLE TO GET UP

AND GO TO REFRIGERATOR
OR GO TO KITCHEN TO EAT.

WHO IS BRINGING
HER FOOD?

WHOEVER SHE COULD
GET IT FROM.

THAT'S -- MM-HMM.
OKAY.

HAVE Y'ALL NOTICED THAT
SHE'S OVERWEIGHT

AND THIS WEIGHT
IS HELPING TO KILL HER?

OH, YEAH.
AND THAT HAS TO STOP NOW.

SO, THIS WHOLE DYNAMIC
HAS TO CHANGE,

AND IT STARTS
WITH YOU, LIZ.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
YES, SIR.

OKAY, LET ME CHECK
A COUPLE THINGS.

HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO IN THE BED,
FROM TURNING SIDE TO SIDE?

I HAVE TO HAVE
HELP TURNING.

MY AUNT'S THE ONE
THAT HELPS ME TURN.

OKAY, LET ME SEE
THIS MASS ON YOUR LEG.

THAT'S EXTREMELY BIG.

HOW LONG THIS MASS
HAS BEEN HERE?

IT'S GROWN THE LAST
COUPLE OF YEARS.

IT'S GOTTEN BIGGER AND BIGGER.

**

AND THIS SIDE, YOU GOT
TO THIS MASS IN HERE --

YEAH, I HAVE THAT ONE HERE AND
THEN I HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE.

SO, THESE MASSES ARE BECAUSE
YOUR BODY IS RUNNING OUT

OF PLACES TO STORE FAT

AND THAT'S WHERE THESE MASSES
DEVELOP, FROM OVEREATING.

SO, I'M GOING TO ADMIT YOU
IN THE HOSPITAL

AND START YOU ON
A 1,200 CALORIE A DAY DIET.

AND WE'LL GET YOU
TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

SO THESE MASSES
CAN SHRINK.

AND SECOND THING WE NEED TO DO
IS GET YOU UP AND WALKING,

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT
OPTION WE GOT FOR YOU, OKAY?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, UH, WE'RE GOING
TO RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU

AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE

AND WE SEE WHAT OPTION
WE GOT FOR YOU, OKAY?

YES, SIR.
BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT,

WE NEED TO GET YOU IN THE ROOM
AND CHECK YOUR WEIGHT NOW.

I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT LIZ RIGHT NOW.

BEING IMMOBILE AT HER SIZE
FOR AS LONG AS SHE HAS BEEN,

SHE'S ALREADY PAST ANY SORT OF
LIFE EXPECTANCY ESTIMATES,

AND THERE IS NO WAY
SHE CAN SURVIVE

TOO MUCH LONGER IN THIS STATE.

SO, WE NEED TO GET HER WEIGHT
DOWN IMMEDIATELY

AND GET HER UP AND WALKING SOON.

BUT HER LYMPHEDEMA
IS ABNORMALLY LARGE,

SO WE WILL LIKELY NEED
TO REMOVE THAT,

BUT WE WILL HAVE TO GET HER BODY

TO A STATE WHERE IT WILL
SURVIVE THE SURGERY.

BUT I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT HER
PHYSICAL STATE RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE
HER BODY WILL GIVE OUT VERY SOON

AND THERE WILL BE NOTHING WE CAN
DO TO HELP HER AT THAT POINT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, LIZ.

LET'S SEE WHERE
YOUR WEIGHT IS AT.

**

YOU ARE 721 POUNDS.

**

OKAY, LIZ.

I NEED YOU TO UNDERSTAND
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

THAT WE GET
YOUR WEIGHT DOWN NOW,

BECAUSE YOUR SITUATION
IS VERY DANGEROUS, OKAY.

YOU'VE BEEN IN BED AND IF
ANYTHING HAPPENED TO YOU,

YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO PULL THROUGH.

YES.
YOU KNOW?

IF YOU DEVELOP A BLOOD CLOT
IN THE LEG OR PHLEBITIS

AND YOU HAVE PULMONARY EMBOLISM,
THAT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO START
WORKING TOWARDS GETTING YOU

TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

AND BE ABLE TO STAND UP,
DO SOME WALKING,

AND GET BACK TO NORMAL
ACTIVITY, OKAY?

OKAY.

OUR TIME IS VERY LIMITED
WITH YOU RIGHT NOW,

BUT WE CAN HELP YOU
IF YOU WORK WITH US.

WHATEVER YOU SAY, THAT'S WHAT
I'M GOING TO BE DOING.

ALL RIGHT.
SUPER.

Liz:
SOME OF THE THINGS THE DOCTOR
SAID WERE HARD TO HEAR,

BUT I WAS READY FOR THAT.

THIS IS GOING TO BE SO HARD.

BUT I'M SCARED I DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME, LIKE HE SAID.

AND I WORRY THAT IF SOMETHING
HAPPENS TO ME OR MY MOM

WHILE WE'RE APART, THAT I WON'T
GET TO SAY GOODBYE TO HER.

SO, I CAN'T LET IT
ALL END LIKE THIS.

I WANT A LIFE AND THIS IS
MY CHANCE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

**

Liz: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR TWO MONTHS NOW.

AND AT FIRST, IT WAS
A BIG ADJUSTMENT FOR ME.

THE 1,200 CALORIES A DAY DIET
WAS A LOT LESS THAN

I'M USED TO EATING,

AND I REALLY MISS MY FAMILY.

KNOCK-KNOCK.
HELLO.

ALL RIGHT,
SO YOU READY TODAY?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

AND THEY'VE HAD ME
DOING UPPER BODY EXERCISE

SINCE I'M STILL HAVING
TROUBLE GETTING UP

AND OUT OF BED SO FAR.

HOLD IT.

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING WELL,

AND I'VE SETTLED INTO
A BIT OF A ROUTINE NOW.

ROUND TWO.
WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK-TO-BACK.

HERE WE GO.

READY? GO.
1...

AND TODAY, DR. NOWZARADAN

IS GOING TO SEE
WHAT MY WEIGHT LOSS IS.

...AND 10.
PERFECT.

GOOD JOB.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS

WITH LIZ'S WEIGHT.

BUT THE SCALE ON HER BED
HAS STOPPED WORKING,

SO UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY,
WE HAVE TO PUT HER ON THE LIFT

TO SEE WHAT HER WEIGHT LOSS
IS AT THE TWO-MONTH MARK.

WHOA, WHOA!

Man:
YES, IT'S STILL GOING UP.

500...

Dr. Nowzaradan:
575 POUNDS, CORRECT?

ALL RIGHT, LIZ.
YOU ARE 575 POUNDS.

EXCELLENT.

SO, YOU ESSENTIALLY
LOST 146 POUNDS.

IT'S NOT JUST MIRACULOUS,
YOU KNOW, A MIRACULOUS THING,

BUT IT'S A START.

WELL,
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

BUT THE CONCERN IS NOW,
THAT WE NEED TO GET YOU UP

AND WALKING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO, TO DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO
SEND YOU TO A REHAB FACILITY

THAT WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS
TO GET YOU STANDING.

OKAY.

LIZ HAS DONE WELL AND HAS
BEEN COMPLYING WITH THE PROGRAM.

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS HER FEAR OF WALKING,

BECAUSE OF THE PAIN.

BUT WHEN YOU DON'T USE
YOUR MUSCLES FOR YEARS,

IT'S GOING TO HURT
WHEN YOU USE THEM AGAIN

AND THAT'S NORMAL.

SO, SENDING HER
TO A REHAB FACILITY

WILL HOPEFULLY BE WHAT SHE NEEDS
TO GET HER UP AND OUT OF BED.

AND WHILE SHE'S THERE,

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HER
ON A CONTROLLED DIET

SO THAT SHE KEEPS
LOSING WEIGHT.

SO, LIZ, ONCE YOU'RE
ABLE TO WALK,

THEN WE'RE GOING TO
BRING YOU BACK HERE

AND TAKE THE MASS
ON YOUR RIGHT LEG OFF.

I KNOW IT'S PAINFUL,
BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY HARD

AND PUSH YOURSELF
TO GET UP, LIZ,

BECAUSE THAT MASS,
IT'S GOING TO BE

VERY IMPORTANT
TO GET IT OFF

SO YOU CAN GET IN
BETTER PHYSICAL SHAPE

SO YOU CAN TOLERATE
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS?

NO QUESTIONS.
OKAY. I'LL SEE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

Liz: I KNOW I NEED TO STAND,
BUT I DON'T KNOW

IF DR. NOWZARADAN REALLY
UNDERSTANDS HOW HARD IT IS

FOR ME TO ACTUALLY GET UP.

1, 2, 3.

AND GOING TO A REHAB FACILITY
IS A BIT UNEXPECTED,

BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE CHANCE
TO GET THIS LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED.

SO I'M WILLING TO KEEP TRYING
AS LONG AS I HAVE TO.

AND AS IMPOSSIBLE AS IT SEEMS,

HOPEFULLY, I'LL FIND
A WAY TO DO IT.

**

**

MISS EVANS.

HELLO.
WE ARE BACK.

SO, HOW YOU FEELING?

FEELING ALL RIGHT.
WELL, GOOD.

SO, TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO WORK
ON ATTEMPTING TO STAND, OKAY.

I'VE BEEN HERE AT THE REHAB
FACILITY FOR A MONTH.

OKAY.

AND IT'S BEEN
REALLY HARD ON ME.

I GOT IT.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING
EXERCISES WITH ME,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO STAND JUST YET.

OKAY.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO START TO SIT UP

AND GET TO THE EDGE OF THE BED,

WHICH I FEEL IS GOOD PROGRESS,

BECAUSE THAT'S MORE THAN I'VE
BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A LONG TIME.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO STAND
TO GET MY LYMPHEDEMA SURGERY,

SO I'M TRYING
EVERY TIME TO DO IT.

ARE YOU READY?

OR YOU WANT TO GIVE IT
A MOMENT TO SEE?

HOW YOUR FEET FEEL?

THEY FEEL OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SO, YOU'RE GOING
TO LEAN ONTO THE BALL

AND I'M GOING TO BASICALLY HOLD
FROM BEHIND FOR ANY STABILITY,

OR EITHER GOING
SIDE-TO-SIDE.

OKAY.

IF YOU NEED IT...

IT'S JUST SO HARD,

BECAUSE PHYSICAL THERAPY
IS EXCRUCIATING.

IT JUST HURTS SO BAD.

IT'S LIKE YOUR LEGS
ARE AWAKENING.

THE MUSCLES ARE
COMING BACK ALIVE,

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
LAID UP SO LONG.

GO AHEAD AND LAY BACK.

AND I JUST HAVE SO MUCH
WEIGHT ON MY BODY, STILL.

AND THE MASSES ON MY LEG
START TO HANG DOWN AND PULL

AND MAKE IT EVEN MORE PAINFUL.

SO, THIS IS JUST REALLY,
REALLY HARD.

OKAY, I JUST...

1, 2, HIT IT.

[ WHIMPERS ]

YOU NEED HELP UP?

MM-HMM.

OW!

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT!

[ SOBS ]

IT'S DISCOURAGING THAT I HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO DO IT YET.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO, SO I'M
GOING TO KEEP TRYING UNTIL I DO.

WHEN YOU FIRST CAME IN
AND YOU WAS TOUCHING IT,

YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T --

IT WASN'T AS PAINFUL,
YOU KNOW, BUT --

UNTIL YOU PUT
WEIGHT ON IT.

YEAH. ONCE I START TRYING TO

PUT WEIGHT ON IT,
THEN IT JUST...

MNH-MNH.
OKAY.

WE'LL JUST HAVE TO KEEP
BUILDING IT UP.

THAT'S JUST THE MAIN OBJECTIVE,
TO GET ON THOSE FEET.

TRUST ME, I'M WILL TRY
TO GET IT, 'CAUSE I'M TRYING.

ALL RIGHT,
HAVE A GOOD ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT THE LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED
AND I WANT WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

AND I CAN'T MOVE AHEAD
UNTIL I DO THIS.

I JUST WISH I WAS MAYBE
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER,

BUT I CAN'T PUSH IT.

SO, I'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

AND WHEN I DO,
I'M GOING TO BE SO EXCITED.

**

**

**

I AM VERY CONCERNED LIZ
IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SO, WE HAVE TO GET HER UP
AND SURGERY

IS THE BEST OPTION
TO MOVE HER CLOSER TO THAT.

SO, WE ARE DOING AN
ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND RUNNING TESTS

ON HER TO EVEN SEE

IF WE CAN DO HER
LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL.

BUT HIGH RISK FACTORS
OF DOING SURGERY ON HER

WHILE SHE'S IMMOBILE
ARE STILL A VERY BIG CONCERN.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT
SHE CONTINUED TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND IS DOWN TO 506 POUNDS.

BUT WITH ALMOST
NO ACTIVITY FOR YEARS,

HER HEART IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN,

BECAUSE IT MAY JUST NOT
BE STRONG ENOUGH

TO MAKE IT THROUGH SURGERY.

AND IF WE AREN'T ABLE
TO PERFORM SURGERY,

THEN LIZ HAS A LIMITED AMOUNT
OF TIME TO GET MOBILE AGAIN

BEFORE HER HEALTH START
TO DECLINE RAPIDLY

AND THERE'LL BE NOTHING
WE CAN DO TO STOP IT.

**

Liz:
TODAY IS SUCH A BIG DAY FOR ME,

BECAUSE I'M FINALLY GETTING
MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED,

AND MY MOM IS HERE
WITH ME FOR THE SURGERY.

**

THIS HAS BEEN THE LONGEST I'VE
EVER GONE WITHOUT SEEING HER,

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T
GET AROUND TOO EASILY.

BUT THIS SURGERY IS A BIG DEAL

AND WE ALL KNOW
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN,

SO SHE WANTED TO BE HERE
WITH ME FOR THIS.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW ME.

SEE...

WE GOT THIS.

I'M TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT
THE WORST POSSIBLE THINGS

THAT COULD HAPPEN.

I'VE COME SO FAR IN SUCH
A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,

BUT I STILL HAVE
A LONG WAYS TO GO,

AND IF I DON'T GET THIS SURGERY,

THEN I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO, I'M JUST TRUSTING I'M GOING
TO WAKE UP IN A BETTER PLACE

AND CLOSER THAN EVER
TO GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan:
AFTER RUNNING TESTS AND DOING
AN ECHO ON LIZ'S HEART,

SHE WASN'T IN A HEALTHY ENOUGH
STATE FOR US TO DO HER SURGERY,

PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE FACT
THAT SHE HAS AN ENLARGED HEART.

SO, WE'VE BEEN TREATING HER
WITH MEDICATION,

AND WE CREATED A WINDOW WITH HER

WHERE SHE'S HEALTHY
ENOUGH FOR SURGERY

THAT WON'T LAST THAT LONG.

SO, WE ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE
OF THIS OPPORTUNITY

AND WE ARE DOING
THE LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL

TO TAKE OFF THE LARGE MASS
ON LIZ'S RIGHT LEG.

OKAY, READY FOR
THE FIRST INCISION.

SO, WE'RE TAKING
ALL PRECAUTIONS WE NEED

TO REDUCE RISK IN HER SURGERY.

BUT THIS IS A VERY
COMPLICATED OPERATION.

THE LYMPHEDEMA MASS
REMOVAL ON LIZ'S LEG

IS AN OPERATION THAT
REQUIRE LARGE INCISION

THAT WILL INVOLVE TYING UP
HUNDREDS OF BLOOD VESSELS,

BUT HER BODY WON'T BE ABLE
TO HANDLE TOO MUCH,

SO WE HAVE TO BE
VERY CAREFUL WITH HER TODAY.

Reta: EVEN THOUGH
IT MAKES ME NERVOUS,

I KNOW SURGERY IS GOING
TO CHANGE HER LIFE

AND I WANT HER
TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

SO, IF SHE WANTS A REAL SHOT
AT A NORMAL LIFE,

SHE NEEDS TO HAVE THIS DONE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ONCE WE REMOVE THIS MASS,

SHE SHOULD BE 20-TO-30
POUNDS LIGHTER,

AND HAVING ALL THAT WEIGHT
OFF OF HER LEG

COULD BE A BIG HELP GETTING HER
TO FINALLY STAND UP,

HOPEFULLY, TO GET THE POINT

THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE

TO HAVE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

BUT LIZ HAS TO START WALKING
SOON AND SHE HAS NO OPTION

IF SHE WANT TO PREVENT HER BODY
FROM GETTING EVEN WORSE.

COME ON OVER HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO
TAKE THIS THING OFF.

GRAB OVER THE OTHER SIDE OF HER.

OVER, OVER.

THERE.

OKAY, WE CAN START
TO SUTURE HER UP.

PUT A FEW MORE STITCHES
AND WE'LL BE ALL DONE.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

LIZ'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

OKAY.

LET'S GET THE WEIGHT ON THAT.

AND I NEED ONE MORE PERSON.

**

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY 21 POUNDS,

ABOUT 3, 4 POUNDS
OF FLUIDS LEAK OUT,

SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY
25 POUNDS.

WHEN WE TOOK THIS MASS OUT,

WE PROBABLY TIED ABOUT
400 BLOOD VESSELS.

IT WAS FAIRLY COMPLICATED,

BUT WE HAVE
BEEN CAREFUL WITH OUR TIME

AND LIZ IS STILL DOING WELL.

BUT FOR NOW,
WE GET HER TO RECOVERY

AND KEEP HER HERE
FOR A LITTLE BIT.

BECAUSE IF WE SEND HER HOME
AND ALLOW FOR ANY CHANCE

FOR HER TO GAIN WEIGHT

TOO SOON AFTER RECOVERY,

THE LYMPHEDEMA WILL START
TO DEVELOP AGAIN IMMEDIATELY.

SO, WE NEED TO KEEP HER
IN THE HOSPITAL NOW

TO KEEP HER ON TRACK

AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE'S DOING
EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS TO.

HELLO.
HELLO.

HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.

AND LIZ DID VERY WELL
WITH HER SURGERY.

WE TOOK THE MASS OFF
OF THE RIGHT THIGH,

AND SHE ESSENTIALLY
LOST 25 POUNDS TODAY.

-PRAISE THE LORD.
-THANK GOD.

AND ONCE IT HEAL, SHE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO STAND UP AND WALK.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE
Y'ALL LATER.

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

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR.

HEY,
YOU'RE QUITE WELCOME.

I'LL SEE Y'ALL.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan:
STAYING COMPLETELY IMMOBILE
IS THE GREATEST RISK

LIZ IS TAKING WITH HER LIFE
AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE NOW.

**

**

Liz: MY RECOVERY HAS BEEN TOUGH.

I'M CERTAINLY GLAD
MY LYMPHEDEMA IS GONE,

BUT IT FEELS LIKE
I'M MISSING SOMETHING NOW,

SO IT'S JUST BEEN A BIT
OF AN ADJUSTMENT FOR ME.

**

HI, LIZ.

HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW YOU DOING?
I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.

HOW YOU DOING?
ALL RIGHT.

SINCE WE LOST THAT 25 POUND
OF MASS FROM YOUR LEG,

HAVE YOU GOT A CHANCE
TO LOOK AT IT?

I HAVEN'T.

WHY, YOU AFRAID YOU'RE GOING
TO MISS THOSE LUMPS?

NO, I'M NOT GOING
TO MISS IT.

I'VE JUST BEEN A LITTLE SCARED
TO LOOK AT IT.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME LOOK AT IT
AND WE SEE HOW IT'S HEALING.

**

ALL RIGHT, THAT INCISION
IS LOOKING VERY GOOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
LIZ HAS DONE VERY WELL SO FAR,

BUT SHE REALLY HASN'T HAD
ANY TEMPTATION WHILE SHE'S HERE.

SO, THE BIG TEST IS GOING TO BE

WHETHER SHE CAN MAINTAIN
HER WEIGHT LOSS

BACK IN HER OLD ENVIRONMENT
WITH HER ENABLERS.

OKAY, SO YOUR WEIGHT NOW
IS DOWN TO 458 POUNDS,

BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ON A
CONTROLLED DIET FOR FIVE MONTHS.

AND NOW THIS REMOVAL
OF YOUR LYMPHEDEMA,

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED
TO STAND AND START WALKING.

SO, WE GET YOU GOING HOME TODAY
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO START

SENDING PHYSICAL THERAPY
TO YOUR HOUSE

THREE TIMES A WEEK
TO GET YOU UP.

OKAY, THEN.

AND I WANT YOU TO SHOW ME
THAT YOU CAN STICK TO THE DIET

ON YOUR OWN
AND LOSE 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT
TWO MONTHS.

OKAY.
OKAY.

BUT THE PRIORITY IS
GETTING UP AND STANDING.

YES, SIR.

IT IS MOSTLY FEAR OF PAIN
THAT IS HOLDING LIZ BACK,

BUT SHE CAN'T AFFORD
TO STAY INACTIVE.

EVERY DAY SHE IS, HER BODY
AND HER HEART GETS WEAKER.

AND IT COULD BE A MONTH
OR SIX MONTHS,

BUT HER TIME WILL RUN OUT SOON.

YOU NEED TO WORK HARD
AND DO THIS, LIZ.

OKAY.

AND IF YOU HIT THIS GOAL,

I'LL APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.
SOUNDS GOOD?

YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

ALRIGHTY.
OKAY.

**

Liz: I'M GLAD TO FINALLY
BE ABLE TO GO HOME.

I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG,
BUT I'M PROUD OF THE PROGRESS

I'VE MADE SO FAR AND I KNOW
I HAVE TO KEEP IT GOING,

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE
MAKE OR BREAK FOR ME,

BECAUSE IF I FAIL AT THIS,

I'M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING...

**

...AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

**

**

-HEY.
-HEY.

HOW'S IT BEEN?
HOW'S IT BEEN GOING?

IT'S GOING ALL RIGHT.

**

GO AHEAD
AND GRAB YOUR STICK.

LET'S DO ABOUT 10 WARM-UPS.

**

YEAH.

**

SHOW ME.

AND I WILL HAVE TO MOVE
THIS LEG OFF THE BED, SO...

LOOK AT THAT, LOOK AT THAT,
LOOK AT THAT.

SEE?

A GOAL.
LOOK AT THAT.

COME ON, COME ON,
GIVE IT UP, GIVE IT UP.

LOOK HOW --
LOOK AT THAT.

WOW.

**

ALL RIGHT, COME ON.

**

EXCELLENT.

**

THERE YOU GO.

GOOD, GOOD.

**

HOW DOES YOUR LEG FEEL?

OKAY.
NO PAIN?

A LITTLE PAIN,
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, AWESOME.

NOW LET'S DO
SOME LUNGING FORWARD.

Liz: BUT IT'S STILL A PRETTY
PAINFUL PROCESS.

STRETCH ON YOUR BACK.
GOOD.

AND IT HURTS TO USE
MY LEGS AT ALL,

BECAUSE THE MUSCLES HAVE
A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE THEY'RE BACK
ENOUGH TO USE THEM.

GOOD.
HOW ABOUT YOUR KNEES?

LET'S BRING YOUR KNEES UP.

COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT.
RIGHT, GOOD.

I LOVE THAT,
I LOVE THAT.

I BELIEVE IN ABOUT A MONTH
OR SO, HOPEFULLY LESS,

I'LL BE ABLE
TO STAND ON MY OWN.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO PUT
THAT SHOE ON TODAY

WAS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

ALL RIGHT.
TALK TO YOU LATER.

BYE-BYE.
BYE-BYE.

I WANT TO GET WEIGHT
LOSS SURGERY

AND I'M WORKING HARD TO HIT
DR. NOWZARADAN'S GOAL

AND DO WHAT I NEED TO.

**

**

THINGS HAVE BEEN HARDER
THIS PAST MONTH.

I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL
DOING GOOD,

BUT FOR THE PAST
COUPLE OF WEEKS,

MY MOM HASN'T
BEEN FEELING WELL.

SHE'S JUST TIRED
AND DON'T WANT TO COOK,

SO WE'LL EAT WHATEVER WE HAVE.

AND LATELY, WE EAT A LOT
OF FAST FOOD.

AND THEN THAT'S WHAT I'LL HAVE,
BECAUSE IF I DON'T EAT THAT,

THEN IT'S REALLY
NOTHING ELSE TO EAT.

**

PIZZA'S HERE.

Liz: OKAY.

Liz: SO, IT GETS HARD NOT
TO ORDER SOMETHING

THAT JUST TASTES
GOOD SOMETIME.

THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU, MOM.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
I'M JUST GIVING IN

ALL THE TIME RIGHT NOW.

BUT PIZZA IS ONE OF
MY FAVORITE FOODS.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T
REALLY BE HAVING IT,

BUT IT'S JUST SOME MEALS.

YOU WANT ME TO PUT YOU
SOME ON -- ON YOUR PLATE?

MM-HMM.

MY MOM DOES SO MUCH AND WHEN
SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL,

I DON'T WANT TO ADD
TO HER BURDEN.

I THINK THAT IT TAKES TIME TO
MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

IT DIDN'T COME UP
ON HER OVERNIGHT

AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO WORK WITH

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

MAYBE IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT
BETTER THAN HAVING LIKE A --

A MEAT LOVERS OR SOMETHING,
WITH THE SPINACH

AND THEN THE ITALIAN SAUSAGE
AND IT'S A PROTEIN.

THERE ARE BUMPS IN THE ROAD,

THERE ARE THINGS
THAT WE'RE ADAPTING TO,

BUT ALL IN ALL,
WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

Liz: I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR ME TO PROVE MYSELF

TO DR. NOW.

AND MY TWO-MONTH FOLLOW-UP IS
SOON AND I'M STILL WORKING HARD.

IT'S JUST SOME MEALS,
I HAVE TO GIVE IN.

**

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL DOING
WELL, BECAUSE FOR MOST MEALS,

THEY'RE EXACTLY WHAT THE
DOCTOR'S DIET SAYS I SHOULD EAT.

SO, I FEEL CONFIDENT I'M GOING
TO SHOW HIM ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

**

**

TODAY, I'M GOING BACK
TO THE HOSPITAL

FOR MY FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I'VE BEEN GLAD TO BE HOME,
BUT I KNOW IT'S TIME FOR ME

TO GO BACK TO SHOW
DR. NOWZARADAN MY PROGRESS.

**

I'M DOING GOOD.

I'M FINE.

1, 2, 3.

**

BYE, BOO.
LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.
I'LL BE BACK.

Man: YOU READY?
MM-HMM.

LOVE YOU.

**

Liz:
I'M JUST HOPING TODAY GOES WELL

AND THAT I HIT MY GOAL

AND THAT DR. NOWZARADAN IS HAPPY
WITH MY PROGRESS,

BECAUSE THE NEXT BIG STEP
FOR ME IS WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

AND WITHOUT IT, I KNOW
MY STRUGGLE WITH THE CRAVINGS

WILL GET EVEN HARDER,

AND THAT I COULD
START TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT TODAY GOES WELL,

BECAUSE I HAVE TO SUCCEED
AND GET MY LIFE BACK

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M SO CLOSE RIGHT NOW...

...SO I CAN'T START
TO MESS IT ALL UP.

**

Liz: I'M BACK AT
ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL.

I'M WAITING ON DR. NOW

AND I WAS SUPPOSED
TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,
BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS

BECAUSE I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE SCALE IS GOING TO SAY.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT I'LL QUALIFY

FOR MY WEIGHT LOSS
SURGERY TODAY.

**

HEY, LIZ.

HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

WELL, IT'S TWO MONTHS
SINCE I SAW YOU LAST TIME.

HOW ARE YOU GETTING ALONG?

UM, I'M DOING
PRETTY GOOD.

I HEAR YOU'RE STILL
NOT UP AND WALKING,

BUT HAVE YOU
MAINTAINED A DIET?

I DO GOOD AND THEN I DONE
HAD A COUPLE OF HICCUPS

HERE AND THERE,
BUT OVERALL,

I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO STICK WITH THE DIET.

OKAY. TWO MONTHS AGO,
WE SAW YOU IN HERE

AND YOU WERE DOWN
TO 458 POUNDS

AND YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOAL
WAS 50 POUNDS.

THAT SHOULD PUT YOU
AT 408 POUNDS TODAY.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW YOU DID
AND WHERE YOU'RE AT.

**

WELL, YOU LOOK TO BE BACK UP
OVER 500 POUNDS,

AT 508 POUNDS.

SO, INSTEAD OF LOSING 50 POUNDS,
YOU GAINED 50 POUNDS.

THAT MAKES YOU 100 POUNDS
OFF OF YOUR GOAL TODAY

AND THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

I GUESS, STILL EATING
SOME OF THE THINGS

I SHOULDN'T BE EATING.

YOU STILL CAN'T WALK.
NO.

SO, ARE YOU ASKING FOR IT
OR THEY BRINGING IT TO YOU?

I MEAN, IF THEY --
THEY BRINGING ME FOOD

OR WHATEVER,
CERTAIN THINGS,

THEN IF THAT'S
WHAT WE HAVE TO EAT,

THEN MOST OF THE TIME,
I EAT IT.

SO, THEY HELP YOU GET IT.

SO, WE HAVE THE SAME
UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC AS WE DID.

NOTHING IS CHANGING.

NO, SIR.

SO, HERE'S THE SITUATION.

IT'S BEEN SEVEN MONTHS
SINCE YOU ARRIVED.

WE HELPED YOU GET 150 POUNDS
OFF IN THE FIRST MONTH

BY GIVING YOU A DIET
THAT WAS HEALTHY.

YOU GO HOME,
YOU GAINED WEIGHT.

PRETTY SOON, YOU'RE GOING
TO BE BACK TO 721 POUNDS.

THIS IS NOT GOOD.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE
FOR THIS, LIZ.

FOR TWO MONTHS, WE WENT
OVER DIET EVERY DAY WITH YOU

AND LOOK LIKE THAT
HAS WENT ALL OUT A WINDOW.

IF YOU HAVE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
AND YOU DON'T FOLLOW THAT,

YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

THERE'S NO MAGIC
IN WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE
HOW DANGEROUS IT IS

FOR YOU TO STAY
IN THAT BED LONGER.

SO, THERE IS NO POINT
SENDING YOU HOME WITH ANY GOALS,

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO HIT IT.

AND THIS NEXT TIME,
THAT WILL LIKELY KILL YOU.

WE HAVE TO FIX THIS
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT QUICKLY.

SO, I'M PUTTING YOU ON
A CONTROLLED DIET AGAIN,

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TIME
TO WASTE IN YOUR CONDITION.

AND AT THIS POINT, WE GOT
SOME SERIOUS DECISIONS

TO MAKE ABOUT YOU.
OKAY.

BUT I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED
WITH YOUR LACK OF PROGRESS, LIZ.

AND I'M GIVING YOU ONE MONTH
TO STAND ENOUGH

TO PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON
YOUR LEGS AND TAKE ONE STEP.

IF YOU DO, THEN WE'LL
KEEP WORKING WITH YOU.

BUT IF YOU CONTINUE
TO REFUSE TO STAND,

THEN WE'RE NOT GOING
TO BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL
SEE YOU TOMORROW.

WE NEED TO GET LIZ'S WEIGHT
BACK DOWN IMMEDIATELY

AND WE NEED TO GET HER WALKING.

SO, SHE HAS ONE MONTH
TO HIT THE GOAL

SHE SHOULD HAVE
SIX MONTHS AGO.

WE HAVE DONE ALL WE CAN,

NOW IT'S HER TURN AND HER LIFE
IS DEPENDING ON THIS.

**

**

Liz: SEEING MY WEIGHT GAIN

AND HEARING WHAT DR. NOWZARADAN
SAID GOT TO ME,

SO I'VE BEEN WORKING
MY HARDEST THIS PAST MONTH,

DOING ALL OF MY EXERCISES
AND PUSHING MYSELF.

BUT I KNOW MY BIG GOAL
IS THAT I HAVE TO STAND.

AND TODAY,
IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

GOOD MORNING,
MISS EVANS.

GOOD MORNING.
HI.

ALL RIGHT,
YOU READY TO GET UP?

YEAH.
OKAY.

Liz: I HAVE TO DO THIS,
BUT I'M REALLY SCARED,

BECAUSE EVERYTHING
IS RIDING ON THIS NOW.

HI, LIZ.
HELLO.

HOW YOU FEEL?

FEELING ALL RIGHT.
IT'S BEEN A MONTH.

ARE YOU READY TO STAND
AND TAKE A STEP TODAY?

I'MA SEE.

LIZ HAS BEEN WORKING HARD
THIS PAST MONTH.

SHE WORKED WITH THE DIET
AND WE HAVE HER BACK

DOWN TO 448 POUNDS,

SO HER WEIGHT LOSS IS
IN THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN.

THE QUESTION IS WHETHER
SHE'S WILLING TO STAND TODAY

AND IF SHE CAN PUSH
THROUGH THE PAIN

AND SHOW ME THAT
SHE'S WILLING TO DO THAT,

THEN I WILL APPROVE HER
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

IF NOT, THEN WE ARE GOING
TO SEND HER HOME,

BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL CANNOT
TAKE CARE OF HER FOREVER.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

LET'S TRY THIS.

[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

OKAY, LEAN FORWARD.
COME FORWARD,

COME FORWARD,
COME FORWARD.

COME ON, LIZ.
COME ON.

OKAY, STAND TALL.
WHAT'S HURTING?

THE LEG.
THE RIGHT LEG?

-OKAY.
-GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.

-THAT HURT.
-OKAY.

FEEL LIKE YOU CAN TRY
IT ONE MORE TIME?

YOU CAN DO IT, LIZ.

**

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT, PUSH UP, PUSH UP.

LEAN FORWARD.
THERE YOU GO.

OKAY, LEAN FORWARD.

-THERE YOU GO.
-YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan: GREAT.

COME ON.
PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR ARMS.

THERE GO YOU.
ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB.
FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU STAND.

NOW, JUST TAKE ONE STEP.

ALL RIGHT.
COME ON.

JUST MOVE YOUR FOOT
A LITTLE.

COME ON.
MOVE THAT RIGHT LEG.

COME ON, COME ON.
COME ON, PICK IT UP.

COME ON, THERE YOU GO,
COME ON.

THERE YOU GO.

IT'S A TINY STEP,
BUT I'LL TAKE IT.

GOOD JOB.

HOW YOU FEEL?

FEEL OKAY.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK
FOR YOU, HUH?

YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT.

SINCE YOU'RE
PUSHING YOURSELF,

I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

BUT AFTER SURGERY, IT'S TIME
TO WORK EVEN HARDER.

YES, SIR.

YOU NEED TO KEEP GOING,
TAKE ANOTHER STEP,

THEN ANOTHER, UNTIL
YOU'RE WALKING AGAIN, OKAY?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, LIZ.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I'M PROUD OF YOUR EFFORT.

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.

AND KEEP WORKING.

OKAY.
SEE YOU SOON.

LIZ DID VERY WELL TODAY
AND I'M PROUD OF HER.

THIS NEEDS TO BE THE START
OF HER DOING MORE

AND STARTING TO WALK SOON.

BUT THE FACT THAT SHE'S TRYING
AND WITH HER WEIGHT DOWN,

I FEEL SHE'S READY
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

BUT AFTER THAT, WE'LL NEED
TO SEND HER HOME AGAIN

TO SEE IF SHE CAN
DO THIS ON HER OWN.

BUT IF SHE GETS OFF TRACK AGAIN,

ANY SETBACK COULD
EASILY SEND HER

RIGHT BACK TO WHERE SHE STARTED,

AND SHE WON'T SURVIVE LONG
ENOUGH TO DO THIS ALL AGAIN.

**

**

**

Liz: I THOUGHT THE LYMPHEDEMA
SURGERY WOULD BE SCARIER,

BUT FOR SOME REASON, I'M MORE
SCARED TODAY THAN I WAS THEN.

BUT I KNOW WITHOUT
THIS OPERATION,

I'M NOT GOING TO SUCCEED,

BECAUSE I CAN'T
DO THIS ON MY OWN.

I TRIED AND FAILED,

SO I KNOW JUST HOW BAD
I NEED THIS.

AND AS FAR AS I'VE COME
ON MY JOURNEY,

THIS IS THE BIGGEST STEP

I'M TAKING SO FAR
TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE
DOING A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON LIZ.

SINCE WE HAVE HER WEIGHT
DOWN IN THE 400s,

A LESS AGGRESSIVE SURGERY
WILL BE FINE FOR HER,

INSTEAD OF A BYPASS.

BUT EVEN WITH HER WEIGHT DOWN,

SHE'S STILL HUNDREDS OF POUNDS
OVER HER IDEAL BODY WEIGHT

AND THAT MAKES HER
HIGH RISK FOR SURGERY,

SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY
DANGEROUS OPERATION FOR HER.

ANY COMPLICATION
DURING THE SURGERY

COULD HAVE FATAL CONSEQUENCES.

WE CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

SO, WE STILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
NOT TO PUSH HER BODY TOO HARD,

AND THAT MEANS THE TIME
SHE'S UNDER ANESTHESIA

NEED TO BE LIMITED

AND WE HAVE TO WORK FAST.

AND IF THERE ARE
ANY COMPLICATIONS

THAT SLOW US DOWN TOO MUCH,

THEN WE HAVE TO END
THE PROCEDURE EARLY.

BUT IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL,
THIS WILL HELP

LIZ TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND START TO GET HER
EATING HABITS UNDER CONTROL.

BECAUSE GASTRIC SLEEVE IS
AN EFFECTIVE PROCEDURE

WHERE WE REMOVE 70%
TO 80% OF THE STOMACH

AND LEAVE A SMALL, SKINNY TUBE
SHAPED LIKE A SLEEVE.

AND IT WILL CHANGE
THEIR METABOLISM TO SOME DEGREE

AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO BEGIN LOSING WEIGHT,

BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S FOOD
INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.

ALL RIGHT, LOOKS GOOD.

OH, MY GOD.

SO, THIS WILL HELP LIZ

TO WORK TO CONTROL
HER COMPULSION TO EAT.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

ALL RIGHT, LIZ'S SURGERY
WENT VERY WELL.

ELIZABETH, TAKE SOME
DEEP BREATHS FOR ME.

[ BREATHES ]

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE WILL GET HER TO RECOVERY

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO
SEND HER HOME SOON.

SHE WILL BE ON A LIQUID DIET
FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

THEN AS SHE GOES BACK
ON SOLID FOODS,

IT WILL BE THE REAL TEST
FOR HER TO SEE

IF SHE STARTS TO GO BACK
TO HER OLD HABITS

OR IF SHE STICKS WITH IT
AND STAYS ON TRACK.

SO, THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE
FOR HER TO SEE IF SHE CAN USE

THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO START CHOOSING TO DO THIS
ON HER OWN,

AND TO STOP GIVING IN
TO HER DESIRE TO GO TO FOOD.

**

**

HEY, LIZ.

HELLO, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

I'M DOING OKAY.

READY TO GO HOME?

YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT.

WHEN YOU GET HOME, YOU HAVE
PHYSICAL THERAPY, RIGHT?

YES, SIR.

OKAY, SO YOU NEED
TO START GETTING UP

AND START WALKING, OKAY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE IMPORTANT
THING THAT YOU NEED TO DO.

AND REGARDING YOUR DIET, YOU'RE
GOING TO STAY ON CLEAR LIQUID

FOR ANOTHER THREE DAYS.
OKAY.

ONLY THREE DAYS.
THREE MORE DAYS.

AND THEN AFTER THAT,
YOU GO TO STAGE TWO OF DIET,

WHICH IS FULL LIQUID.

MAKE SURE NOBODY BRING YOU
SOMETHING SOLID TO EAT

OR GIVE YOU THAT,
BECAUSE TO DO THAT,

IT CAN DAMAGE YOUR STOMACH

AND YOU CAN CREATE
COMPLICATION.

ALL RIGHT, LIZ,
YOU'RE DOING GREAT,

BUT BY THE TIME
THAT YOU COME TO OFFICE,

MAKE SURE THAT
YOU CAN STAND

ON A SCALE
AND CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

SO YOUR GOAL WILL BE,
WHEN YOU GO HOME,

START WALKING, OKAY?
OKAY.

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

ALL RIGHT.

LIZ IS RECOVERING WELL
AND WE HAVE HER WEIGHT

DOWN A LITTLE BIT
MORE TO 443 POUNDS.

BUT SHE HAS WEIGHT LOSS GOAL
OF 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

AND WHEN SHE COME BACK HERE
FOR HER NEXT APPOINTMENT,

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE
TO WALK TO THE SCALE.

SO, STARTING TO WALK THIS
NEXT MONTH IS HER SECOND GOAL.

LIZ SEEMS TO BE COMPLETELY
UNAWARE OF HER EMOTIONS

BEHIND HER PATHOLOGICAL
COMPULSION TO EAT.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO SEND
A PSYCHOTHERAPIST TO HER HOUSE

SO SHE CAN START TO DEAL
WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES

BEHIND HER EATING TO GIVE HER
A BETTER CHANCE.

THE SURGERY WILL KEEP HER
CRAVINGS UNDER CONTROL

FOR A LITTLE WHILE,

BUT THEY WILL COME BACK

IF SHE DOESN'T DEAL
WITH HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

SO, SHE WILL HAVE BEEN GIVEN
EVER TOOL POSSIBLE

TO HELP HER DO THIS,

AND THERE'LL BE NO EXCUSE
FOR HER TO FAIL.

AND EITHER SHE MAKE PROGRESS
OR SHE'S DONE WITH THIS PROGRAM.

**

Liz: I'M REALLY NERVOUS TO BE
GOING HOME RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE LAST TIME, I DIDN'T
DO AS WELL AS I THOUGHT.

AND I KNOW I CAN'T LET
THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

SO, I'M HOPING, SINCE
I HAD THE SURGERY,

THIS TIME, IT WON'T BE
AS MUCH OF A STRUGGLE.

BUT DR. NOWZARADAN
KEEPS TELLING ME

THAT THIS WILL ONLY BE
A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION

IF I DON'T START DEALING
WITH CERTAIN ISSUES.

AND THE THOUGHT OF DOING
THAT IS MAKING ME SCARED.

BUT I CERTAINLY KNOW HOW STRONG
THOSE CRAVINGS

AND THE TEMPTATION
TO EAT CAN BE.

**

**

**

**

HEY, BAE.

HI, MOM.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.

DOING PRETTY GOOD?

LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU GET
READY FOR YOUR LUNCH.

YEAH, I'LL BE --
I'M READY FOR IT NOW.

WHAT'S YOUR ORDER, MA'AM?

PROBABLY THE CHICKEN
NOODLE SOUP.

WILL THAT COMPLETE
YOUR ORDER?

THAT'LL BE IT.

I'LL BE BACK IN A JIFFY.

**

HERE LATELY, THINGS HAVE BEEN
GOING REALLY WELL

WITH LIZ FOR HER RECOVERY.

SHE'S GREATLY IMPROVING
DAY BY DAY,

AND I THINK LIZ IS WORKING
DOUBLE HARD TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT.

SHE'S COME A LONG WAY.

Liz: I HAVEN'T CHEATED SINCE
I'VE HAD MY SURGERY.

THE KINDS OF THINGS
THAT I'M EATING, UM,

LIKE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP,
ALL KIND OF SOUPS.

I JUST KEEP ON
SWITCHING UP THE SOUPS.

I JUST TRY DIFFERENT SOUPS AND
THEN JUST THE BROTH OFF OF IT.

Reta: I AM VERY HAPPY
AT THE LEVEL OF WORK

THAT LIZ HAS PUT INTO THIS.

IT SAVED HER LIFE.

THIS IS A NEW LIFE,

A NEW LIZ.

HOT, HOT, HOT, HOT.

I GOT IT, THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

EMOTIONALLY, RIGHT NOW,
I AM DOING GOOD.

I'M IN A GOOD STATE OF MIND,
GOOD STATE --

MY SPIRITS ARE HIGH.

IT'S GOOD, THANK YOU.

I WANT TO HIT
MY WEIGHT LOSS GOAL

AND I'M TRYING TO EXERCISE
AND GET TO THE POINT

WHERE I CAN WALK TO THE SCALE
LIKE DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS,

BY MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE THINGS TO COME.

BUT DR. NOWZARADAN HAS ME
STARTING PSYCHOTHERAPY TOMORROW,

AND I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THAT,

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS
I DON'T FEEL LIKE

I'M READY TO TALK ABOUT YET.

AND I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
AGREEING

THAT I'M READY FOR THIS.

**

THE THERAPIST IS ABOUT TO BE
HERE AND I'M MORE NERVOUS NOW.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE THERE'S
MUCH TO TALK ABOUT,

AND WHAT I CAN TALK ABOUT,
I DON'T REALLY WANT TO.

SO, I'M DOING THIS,
EVEN THOUGH I PREFER NOT TO.

**

LIZ.
Liz: HELLO.

HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

GOOD, GOOD. IS THIS WHERE
I'M GOING TO BE?

YEAH.
OKAY.

OH, MY GOODNESS.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT

YOUR BACKGROUND,
YOUR HISTORY?

HOW DID WE GET
TO THIS PLACE?

WELL,
WHEN I WAS GROWING UP,

I WAS AN AVERAGE-SIZE CHILD,
BUT AROUND 10

I STARTED, YOU KNOW,
GRADUALLY PUTTING ON WEIGHT.

WHAT WAS GOING ON
IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT AT AGE 10?

MY MOM AND DAD
HAD GOTTEN DIVORCED.

AND MY DAD WAS A GOOD FATHER,
WAS A GOOD MAN,

BUT HE HAD A SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PROBLEM,

WHICH LED TO MY MOTHER
DIVORCING HIM.

BACK THEN, I WOULD
SEE HIM GO MISSING

OR NOT THERE OR NOT AROUND,
AND IT JUST TOOK A TOLL ON ME.

SO, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU DEALT
WITH YOUR EMOTIONS?

JUST PROBABLY FINDING
COMFORT IN THE FOOD

AND THEN JUST SPIRALING
OUT OF CONTROL

AFTER, YOU KNOW, SO LONG.

FOOD BECOMES COMFORTING,
RIGHT?

SO, THE EMOTIONS
WON'T GO AWAY.

EMOTIONS COME FOR US
TO EXPRESS THEM.

BUT IF I KEEP TALKING
ABOUT THAT SITUATION,

THEN IT PUTS ME
IN A STATE OF DEPRESSION.

AND MY FATHER
PASSED IN 2015.

THAT'S A SUBJECT THAT
I DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO GO
TO HIS FUNERAL,

BECAUSE I'M NOT BEING
ABLE TO BE MOBILE.

AND EVEN LIKE LEADING UP TO IT,
WHEN HE WAS SICK, YOU KNOW,

NOT BEING ABLE TO GO UP
THERE TO BE WITH HIM.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT
I'MA HAVE TO JUST CARRY

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

AND I KNOW THAT
IF I GET DEPRESSED,

WHAT DO I FIND COMFORT IN?
FOOD.

THERE'S A WAY FOR YOU
TO HONOR YOUR SADNESS

AND TO HONOR YOUR GRIEF.

WHATEVER THE FEELINGS ARE,
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM,

WE EXPRESS THEM,
WE DEAL WITH THEM,

THEN WE HEAL THEM.

SO, WE'LL LOOK AT THE FEELINGS
AND REALLY TEACH YOU

HOW TO EXPRESS
THOSE FEELINGS

AND THEN LOOK AT THE THOUGHTS
THAT YOU'RE HOLDING.

SO, IF I ASK HOW DO YOU
FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?

OH, I MEAN, I CAN HONESTLY SAY,
I'M ASHAMED.

AND THAT'S WHY I CLOSE MYSELF
OFF, I HADN'T BEEN OUT MY HOUSE.

I AM ASHAMED THAT I LET MYSELF,
LET IT GET THIS FAR.

THE WEIGHT IS NOT ABOUT
JUST THE FOOD.

WE KNOW THAT UNDERNEATH,
THAT THIS IS A SYMPTOM OF TRAUMA

THAT NEEDS TO BE HEALED.

THE REASON WHY I'M HERE
IS TO INVITE YOU

TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE THOUGHTS,
THE FEELINGS, THE TRAUMA,

THE SADNESS, EVERYTHING
THAT'S BEHIND THAT

SO YOU CAN HAVE
A FULL-ON RECOVERY,

NOT JUST THE PHYSICAL ASPECT.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?

MY MAIN, MAIN GOAL
IS TO GET BACK UP WALKING,

BE ABLE TO INTERACT
BACK IN THE WORLD.

THE PROCESS OF FULL RECOVERY
IS TO REALLY GOING BACK

TO LOOK AT WHAT'S UNDERNEATH
THAT NEEDS TO BE HEALED.

AND JUST BECAUSE
WE DON'T REVEAL IT,

AND JUST BECAUSE
WE DON'T DEAL WITH IT,

DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S IT --
NOT THERE, YEAH.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
ALL ASPECTS OF WHO YOU ARE.

YOU'RE JUST NOT A PHYSICAL
BEING, YOU'RE A MENTAL BEING,

AND YOU'RE
A SPIRITUAL BEING.

OKAY?
OKAY.

I AM SO INSPIRED BY YOUR COURAGE
AND YOUR BOLDNESS

TO TAKE BACK YOUR LIFE
AND DO THIS JOURNEY.

THANK YOU.
OKAY.

OKAY.

BYE.
BYE.

I LIKE THE THERAPIST
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE

SHE PUSHED ME TOO HARD,

BUT I FEEL REALLY
EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE THINGS
I HAVE TO DEAL WITH

IF I WANT TO GET
AHOLD OF THE CAUSE

OF WHY I'VE BEEN OVEREATING.

IT'S JUST NOT AN EASY
OR PLEASANT PROCESS.

BUT IF I HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THOSE THINGS IN ORDER

TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF
FOR A LIFETIME, THEN I WILL.

BUT THE SCARY THING IS, I DON'T
KNOW ALL THE PAIN AND EMOTION

I HAVE BENEATH THE SURFACE.

I'VE PUSHED IT ALL DOWN AND
BURIED IT WITH FOOD FOR SO LONG,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
AND THAT'S SCARY.

**

**

I'M BACK AT THE HOSPITAL
TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN

TO FIND OUT IF I HIT
MY WEIGHT LOSS GOAL.

THE ONLY THING IS,

I HAVE TO WALK OVER TO THE SCALE
TO DO THAT.

AND I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE
I'VE WORKED HARD AT IT,

BUT IT STILL HURTS
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE

I'M IN A GOOD PLACE TO DO IT.

SO, I'M REALLY SCARED THAT THIS
IS ALL GOING TO GO VERY BADLY.

AND IF I FAIL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT WILL BE

AND IF I'LL LOSE
ALL THE HELP I NEED.

HI, LIZ.
HELLO, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?
I'M DOING OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LIZ IS HERE TO
SHOW ME HER WEIGHT LOSS PROGRESS

AND ALSO TO SHOW ME
SHE CAN WALK NOW.

SO, WE'LL SEE
IF LIZ STAYED ON TRACK

OR IF SHE'S GOING IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION AGAIN.

BUT IF SHE GAINED AND STILL
ISN'T WILLING TO DEAL

WITH THE PAIN,
THAT WILL BE UNFORTUNATE,

BECAUSE THAT WILL MEAN

THAT THERE IS NOTHING
MORE WE CAN DO FOR HER.

YOU READY TO GET UP AND WALK
TO THE SCALE TODAY?

YES, SIR.
OKAY, GREAT.

WE'LL GET
THE SCALE IN HERE

AND YOU CAN SHOW US
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

**

**

**

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, LIZ,
YOU READY TO DO THIS?

1, 2...

**

OKAY, YOU HAVE YOUR WEIGHT
ON YOUR LEGS.

YOU OKAY?

YOU NEED TO SIT BACK?

MM-HMM.

-WHAT'S HURTING?
-WHAT'S HURTING YOU?

Woman:
LEFT LEG, RIGHT LEG?

THE RIGHT ONE.

LIZ, YOU FEEL WEAK
WITH YOUR LEG OR PAIN?

IT'S -- IT'S -- UM, IT'S LIKE
IN THE KNEE WHEN I STAND,

IT BE KIND OF LIKE,

LIKE IT'S GOING TO KIND OF
GO OUT OR SOMETHING.

YOU WANT TO GIVE IT
ANOTHER TRY?

I'MA TRY TO STAND AGAIN.
OKAY.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN.

**

TRY TO PUSH AS HARD
AS YOU CAN.

NOW, GRAB THE WALKER.

PUSH ON YOUR HAND,
PUSH ON YOUR HAND.

LOOK UP.
USE THOSE ARMS, OKAY?

RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.

PUSH.

NOW, BEND THOSE ARMS.

YOU'RE STARTING
TO FALL.

SIT DOWN NOW.

RIGHT THERE,
RIGHT THERE.

NICE AND SLOW, OKAY.

STOP LEANING BACK, OKAY?

YEAH, DON'T LEAN.

RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
YOU MAY HAVE CAUGHT YOUR KNEE
WRONG ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT

AND TWISTED IT A LITTLE,
SO WE NEED TO CHECK IT OUT.

YEAH.

SIT BACK ON THE BED
SO YOU DON'T FALL.

Woman #2:
SIT UP A LITTLE BIT.

**

[ PANTING ]

OKAY, LIZ, ARE YOU
HAVING ANY PAIN?

A -- A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY.

WELL, WE'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD

AND SEE WHAT YOUR
BED SCALE WEIGHT IS.

OKAY.

OKAY, LIZ, YOUR WEIGHT
IS AT 391 POUNDS.

SO, YOU LOST 52 POUNDS.

THAT'S EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I AM HAPPY
WITH LIZ'S PROGRESS TODAY.

I THINK IT IS LIKELY
THAT SHE TRIED TO TAKE

THAT FIRST STEP
A LITTLE TOO QUICKLY

AND PULLED SOMETHING
IN HER KNEE.

BUT WITH WHAT I SEE
FOR HER WEIGHT LOSS

AND HOW HARD SHE PUSHED
HERSELF TO WALK,

I THINK SHE'S DOING WELL.

AND I KNOW WE'LL GET HER
TAKING SOME STEPS HERE SHORTLY.

SHE JUST NEEDS
TO START THE PROCESS.

OKAY, LIZ, YOU MAY HAVE
A LITTLE SPRAIN IN YOUR KNEE,

SO WE WILL CHECK THAT OUT,
BUT I CAN SEE YOU TRYING HARD,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR SKIN REMOVAL,

PENDING YOU START
WALKING FIRST.

OKAY.

AND ONCE YOU DO,

THEN WE'LL GET YOU SCHEDULED
FOR SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

AND WE CAN GET YOU
DOWN TO 200s

HERE IN A FEW MONTHS.
OKAY.

SO, I'M PROUD
OF YOU, LIZ.

LIZ IS COMING ALONG
AND WHAT HAPPENED TODAY

WAS OUT OF HER CONTROL.

BUT DEALING WITH THE PAIN,
INSIDE AND OUT,

IS THE ONLY WAY
WEIGHT LOSS PATIENTS

WILL SUCCEED IN THE LONG RUN.

AND SHE'S DOING THAT.

SO, I'M CONFIDENT AND PROUD
OF HOW SHE'S DOING.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE
YOU LATER, OKAY?

ALRIGHTY.

ALL RIGHT,
KEEP WORKING ON IT.

**

Liz: I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
IN MYSELF THAT I COULDN'T DO IT,

BUT I REALLY DID
TRY MY HARDEST.

AND TO HEAR DR. NOWZARADAN

SAY HE WAS PROUD OF ME
WAS SUCH A RELIEF,

SO I FEEL REALLY
ENCOURAGED RIGHT NOW

AND I'M GOING TO
KEEP WORKING HARD,

'CAUSE I KNOW THE ONE AREA
I HAVE TO CONQUER IS WALKING,

AND I'M GOING TO GET THERE, TOO.

**

**

**

**

**

THE DOCTOR SAID HE'S NOT
LETTING UP UNTIL I WALK,

SO PHYSICAL THERAPY IS COMING
TO MY HOME EVERY DAY,

AND I'M STICKING WITH
SEEING THE PSYCHIATRIST

AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH
SOME OF MY EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

I KNOW THERE'S A LOT AROUND
MY DAD AND MY CHILDHOOD

THAT I'VE NEVER
REALLY LOOKED AT.

I JUST ATE.

AND I KNOW THAT IF I WANT TO
STAY IN CONTROL OF MY CRAVINGS,

THAT I HAVE TO KEEP
WORKING ON ALL THAT.

HEY, GIRL.

HEY, MAMA.

WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA
FOR TODAY?

I'M GOING TO DO A LITTLE
THERAPY,

GOING TO TRY TO STAND UP.

HMM.

AND TRY AND SEE IF I CAN
TAKE THAT STEP TODAY.

OOH, THAT'D BE GREAT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

MISS EVANS? IT'S KENDELL,
THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST.

COME ON BACK!

MISS EVANS.

FIRST THINGS FIRST,
WE GOT TO SCOOT

TO THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE BED.

OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU GOT BIG GOALS TODAY.

YEAH, I KNOW.

GOAL NUMBER ONE --
STANDING.

GOAL NUMBER TWO --
IF WE'RE STANDING,

MIGHT AS WELL SEE IF WE CAN
TAKE A STEP AGAIN.

OKAY. MOST DEFINITELY.
ALL RIGHT.

AND I SEE WE HAVE
A BRAND-NEW WALKER HERE.

YEAH, I GOT IT TODAY.

SO, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
WHENEVER YOU'RE STANDING UP,

YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR WEIGHT
OVER YOUR FEET, OKAY?

SO, YOU HAVE TO LEAN FORWARD.

MM-HMM.
ONCE WE GET UP,

WE'RE GOING TO TRY
AND TUCK THAT BUTT IN,

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET
AS TALL AS WE CAN GET, OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO ROCK,
LEFT TO RIGHT.

'CAUSE IN ORDER
TO TAKE A STEP,

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET
THE WEIGHT ONTO THAT RIGHT LEG.

SO, FIRST THINGS FIRST --
NOSE OVER YOUR TOES.

HALFWAY UP, YOU'RE GOING
TO REACH FOR THE WALKER.

ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?
YOU GOT THIS, LIZ.

1, 2...

UP, UP, UP,
UP, UP, UP.

KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING,
KEEP COMING.

UP, UP, UP, UP.
TUCK THAT BUTT IN,

TUCK THAT BUTT IN.
NICE AND TALL, NICE AND TALL.

TUCK THAT BUTT IN.

KEEP COMING UP,
KEEP COMING UP.

HOW TALL CAN YOU GET, LIZ?

HOW TALL CAN YOU GET,
LIZ?

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, LET'S GO LEFT TO RIGHT,
LEFT TO RIGHT.

KEEP THAT HEAD UP,
KEEP THAT HEAD UP, LIZ.

KEEP THAT HEAD UP,
LIZ, KEEP THAT HEAD UP.

KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING,
KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING.

GOT TO SIT DOWN.

THAT WAS GOOD.

Kendall: YOU WERE UP.
THAT'S A GOOD STEP.

[ GASPS ]

MOVE THAT RIGHT FOOT UP
JUST A LITTLE BIT,

BRING IT BACK,
AND THEN WE'LL SIT DOWN.

YOU CAN DO IT, LIZ.

UP, UP, UP, UP, UP,
UP, UP, UP, UP.

KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING,
KEEP COMING, KEEP COMING.

KEEP COMING.
YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.

COME ON, COME ON,
COME ON, PUSH IT.

TUCK YOUR BUTT IN, TUCK YOUR
BUTT IN, TUCK YOUR BUTT IN.

TUCK YOUR BUTT IN,
NICE AND TALL,

NICE AND TALL,
NICE AND TALL.

KEEP COMING UP, KEEP COMING UP.
WHERE'S YOUR HEAD?

MOVED IT A LITTLE BIT,
BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT.

BRING IT BACK.

PULL THAT WEIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,
ALL RIGHT.

HAVE A SEAT.
HAVE A SEAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT ABOUT THIS MUCH
FOR THE RIGHT FOOT,

FORWARD AND BACKWARD.

YEAH.

KEEP WORKING ON IT, OKAY?

TO SEE LIZ MAKE THAT STEP
MADE ME JUST SO HAPPY,

SO ELATED,

AND I'M SO GLAD
THAT I WAS HERE TO WITNESS IT,

BECAUSE IT MAKES ME
FEEL GOOD TO KNOW

THAT SHE'S GOING
TO REACH HER GOALS.

LIZ DID REALLY, REALLY GOOD.

I WOULD REALLY, REALLY
JUST BE FLABBERGASTED

IF I COULD JUST SEE HER
TAKE SOME STEPS NEXT WEEK.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUSH IT
AND SAY, BY THIS WEEKEND,

BUT IF SHE COULD DO
SOMETHING FOR ME

BY WEDNESDAY OF NEXT WEEK --
HALLELUJAH,

THANK YOU, JESUS,
WE ON THE ROAD.

[ LAUGHS ]

GIVE ME FIVE.

[ BOTH LAUGHING ]

Liz: THIS HAS BEEN SUCH
A LIFE-CHANGING YEAR.

ALL BY YOURSELF.
MM-HMM.

I THINK THAT'S A FIRST.

I'M HALF THE WEIGHT I WAS,
I DON'T HAVE THE BIG LYMPHEDEMA

AND I'M STANDING AGAIN.

SO, IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL
AND MIRACULOUS,

AND I KNOW THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS

ARE GOING TO BE EVEN
MORE LIFE-CHANGING.

AND THE BIGGEST THING
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO

IS STARTING TO TAKE
CARE OF MY MOM.

THAT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD'VE
BEEN DOING A LONG TIME AGO.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO START TO DO THAT,

AND I CAN'T UNTIL
I CAN WALK.

YES, MA'AM.

IT'S PAINFUL, BUT I KNOW
IT'S GOING TO IMPROVE

AS I DO IT MORE AND MORE
AND MORE, YOU KNOW.

YEAH.

EVERY DAY, WORK ON IT,

IT'LL START TO GET
BETTER, YOU KNOW.

ONE LITTLE STEP'LL TURN INTO TWO
AND TWO'LL TURN INTO THREE,

THREE'LL TURN
INTO FOUR, FIVE, SIX.

AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
I'LL BE UP AND ABOUT.

A WISE MAN ONCE SAID,

"THE LONGEST JOURNEY

BEGINS WITH A SINGLE STEP."

MM-HMM.

WHAT YOU DID TODAY
WAS A SINGLE STEP.

**

I'VE MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH,

AND I'M NOT GOING TO
LET THAT HAPPEN ANYMORE.

I KNOW I CAN DO THIS
AND I WILL,

AND I'M CLOSER THAN
I'VE BEEN IN 20 YEARS.

SO NOTHING'S GOING TO STOP ME
FROM GETTING TO WHERE I NEED.