All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S06E06

L.B.: I FEEL LIKE I'M TRAPPED,

AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH
LIFE FOR DEATH AT THIS POINT.

**

[ GROANING ]

Woman: MY LIFE IS WASTING AWAY,
AND I HATE IT.

Woman #2: I TRY TO CHANGE,

BUT SOMETHING
ALWAYS KNOCKS ME DOWN.

**

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

OH!

OW [BLEEP]

THIS IS NO LIFE FOR ANYONE.

**

Woman #3: OH, JUST PRAY FOR ME.

OW, MY LEG!

SIT DOWN RIGHT THERE.

YOU'RE MAKING ME MAD.

THIS IS COMPLETELY
UNACCEPTABLE.

**

BUT I'M DOING THIS
FOR YOU.

I'M LEAVING EVERYTHING
BEHIND.

AND ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS BITCH AT ME.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

L.B.: THERE ARE TIMES
WHERE YOU'LL FEEL LIKE

YOU LOST ALL HOPE.

BUT IT'S THERE,

AND ALL YOU GOT TO DO
IS GRAB AHOLD OF IT

AND NOT LET IT GO.

**

**

[ SIGHS ]

NO ONE UNDERSTANDS
HOW HARD IT IS

TO BE OVER 600 POUNDS
AND MISSING A LEG.

[ GRUNTING ]

THOSE TWO FACTORS COMBINED

MAKE GETTING AROUND
ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

RIGHT NOW,
THE PROSTHETIC LEG I USE

IS BARELY ABLE
TO HOLD MY WEIGHT.

AND EVERY MORNING,

I HAVE TO FIGHT
TO PUT A LINER ON OVER MY STUMP.

THEN I HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO MAINTAIN MY OWN BALANCE.

SO I GET SHORTNESS OF BREATH
FROM DOING ALL THE SCOOTING

AND LEANING UP AND ALL THAT.

AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE
TO IGNORE THE PAIN

AND THE ACHING AND
JUST THE OVERALL BAD FEELING

BECAUSE MY KNEE'S KILLING ME,

MY BACK'S KILLING ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

SO MY WEIGHT,

IT'S KEEPING ME
FROM HAVING A LIFE.

**

I'VE LITERALLY LET MY WEIGHT
JUST DRAG MY LIFE DOWN

TO WHERE I'M AT NOW.

I'M ALMOST 30 YEARS OLD,
LIVING IN MY PARENTS' GARAGE,

UNEMPLOYED
AND HAVING TO RELY ON THEM.

MY DAD WORKS ALL DAY,

SO MY MOM'S THE ONE
THAT TAKES CARE OF ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

SHE COMES OUT
AND GETS MY LAUNDRY FOR ME.

SHE COMES IN
AND CLEANS MY HOUSE.

WITHOUT MY MOM, I'D...

I'D BE LOST...

BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY I CAN
STAY ON MY FEET LONG ENOUGH

TO GET IT DONE.

**

I DO EVERYTHING FOR L.B.
BECAUSE HE'S MY BABY.

HE'S MY YOUNGEST,

AND I WOULD DO ANYTHING
IN THE WORLD FOR MY SON.

THAT'S HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM.

ALL RIGHT.

I GOT YOUR LAUNDRY.

L.B.: THERE'S DAYS
WHERE I FEEL SO WORTHLESS.

I THINK I'D BE BETTER OFF
IN THE GROUND.

SO I JUST STAY HOME
AND I DON'T GO OUT.

BUT THE ONLY TIME I DO IS
IF MY MOM MAKES ME GO HELP HER.

YEAH.

L.B.?
WHAT?

COME ON AND RIDE
TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH ME.

I REALLY DON'T FEEL
LIKE GOING.

WELL, WE NEED TO GO GET
A FEW THINGS,

AND YOU NEED
TO GET OUT THIS HOUSE.

IT'S LIKE ONCE A MONTH,

SHE REALLY GETS WORRIED
THAT I'M JUST WASTING MY LIFE

STAYING INDOORS.

I GUESS I CAN GO.

I'LL BE OUT THERE
IN A MINUTE.

I GOT THE CAR CRANKED UP,
SO COME ON.

**

BUT IT'S HARD ON ME.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND BARELY DOING ANYTHING
LEAVES ME BREATHING

LIKE I JUST GOT DONE
RUNNING A 5K.

AND I START TO SWEAT

AFTER JUST TAKING A FEW STEPS
OUT THE DOOR.

I'LL DRIVE.

I GOT THE AIR-CONDITIONING
TURNED ON.

AND MY PROSTHETIC LEG
STARTS TO HURT A LOT

IF I STAND ON IT FOR TOO LONG.

SO I TRY TO GET THE TRIP
OVER WITH AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

I ALSO KNOW MY MOM'S
GONNA START GETTING ON MY CASE

IF I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME
WITH HER.

SO IT'S BEST
TO TRY NOT TO FIGHT HER,

BUT I HATE
COMING TO GROCERY STORES.

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE
20 MINUTES AFTER I WALK IN,

I'M GONNA HAVE
A DAMN PANIC ATTACK.

BECAUSE MY WHOLE LIFE,
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW,

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PEOPLE
EVERYWHERE I WENT.

THEN YOU ADD THE FAKE LEG
INTO IT,

AND I'M A 6'4" BALD PIRATE.

OF COURSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA LOOK.

BUT ONCE I START
TO GET THE THINGS I WANT,

I CAN CALM DOWN A BIT.

Karen: WHEN L.B. WANTS
TO GET SODAS AND SNACK CAKES

AND POTATO CHIPS,
IT MAKES ME FEEL AWFUL.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO,
TELL HIM NO?

TO ME, THAT'S THE ONLY THING
LEFT THAT HE HAS.

L.B.: I KNOW MY MOM WANTS ME
TO STOP EATING AS MUCH AS I DO.

BUT IT'S FUNNY,
IF I DON'T ASK FOR SOMETHING,

SHE WON'T SAY ANYTHING,

AND SHE GETS IT FOR ME.

BUT IF I DO ASK FOR SOMETHING,

SHE GIVES ME THIS LOOK
OR THIS TONE.

THEN SHE GETS PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE
ABOUT IT.

AND I DON'T NEED THAT FROM HER.

WILL YOU GRAB A THING
OF THE PEPPERONI PIZZA POCKETS?

**

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

YOU DON'T HAVE
TO TURN AROUND

AND BE A SMART-ASS ABOUT IT
LIKE THAT.

[ LAUGHS ] ALL RIGHT.

YOU READY?

SO WHEN IT STARTS
TO GET TO THAT POINT,

I FIGURE IT'S JUST TIME
TO GO HOME.

Karen: I USUALLY DO
THE GROCERY SHOPPING FOR HIM.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GOOD
FOR ME TO TRY

TO GET HIM OUT OF THE HOUSE
AND GO WITH ME TODAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A GOOD
IDEA FOR ME TO DO THAT OR NOT,

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK HE'S
TOO HAPPY WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

AND I KNOW
IT'S TIME FOR HIM TO GO

'CAUSE HE'S SWEATING A LOT.

HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S GETTING
EXHAUSTED AND TIRED.

ALL RIGHT, IF YOU WANT
TO CRANK UP THE TRUCK,

I'LL PUT THE BUGGY UP.

ALL RIGHT.

L.B.: IT'S JUST SO FRUSTRATING

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHE MAKES
THE WHOLE SITUATION WORSE,

WHEN I COULD JUST STAY AT HOME
AND AVOID ALL THIS.

L.B.: I HATE COMING
TO THE DAMN GROCERY STORE.

Karen: I KNOW,
AND I COULD TELL.

IT MAKES ME FEEL BAD, TOO,
L.B.

I MEAN,
I WISH I COULD CHANGE THINGS.

EVERY TIME WE'VE TRIED
TO TALK ABOUT THIS,

THAT'S HOW YOU DO.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME
ABOUT ANYTHING.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT
TO ANYBODY.

SO THEN HOW DO YOU COPE
WITH IT

IF YOU DON'T
WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT?

I DEAL WITH IT ON MY OWN.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

I JUST DO, MOM.

THIS IS -- THIS IS
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE KEPT POKED
AND PRODDED ABOUT IT.

IF I DON'T WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT,

I DON'T WANT
TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IF I KNEW THAT A TRIP
TO THE GROCERY STORE

WAS GONNA MAKE YOU FEEL
THIS WAY,

I WOULD HAVE WENT
MY DAMN ASS SELF.

YOU'RE TAKING SOMETHING
THAT'S THIS BIG

THAT I CAN DEAL WITH
ON MY OWN

AND YOU KEEP POKING
AND PRODDING AT IT,

AND MAKING IT
MORE AND MORE.

AND IT'S TURNED SOMETHING
THAT I WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH

ON MY OWN AND BEEN OVER
AND DONE WITH BY NOW,

BUT YOU HAD TO KEEP, "WELL, WHY
WON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT IT?

WHY WON'T YOU DO THIS?!

WHY NOT THIS?!"
L.B., YOU DON'T THINK I --

JUST LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE
ABOUT IT.

YOU DON'T THINK
I FELT YOUR ANXIETY

IN THE DAMN GROCERY STORE?

THEN YOU SHOULDN'T KEEP TRYING
TO BRING IT UP.

JUST STOP AT THE MAILBOX AND
LET ME GET THE DAMN ASS MAIL.

I PROBABLY NEED
A BREATHER,

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE DAMN TRUTH.

STOP THE DAMN CAR.

L.B.: I DON'T WANT TO SIT THERE
AND HAVE A CONVERSATION

THE WHOLE WAY HOME ABOUT
WHAT I WAS JUST UPSET ABOUT

IN A STORE.

AND SHE'S ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE

THAT WANTS AN ANSWER
TO EVERYTHING.

AND I'M ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT DON'T WANT

TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING.

AND I GET SO EMOTIONAL
THAT ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT

IS GETTING SOMETHING
TO DRINK AND EAT.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
HOW MOST DAYS GO FOR ME.

THIS SHOULDN'T BE MY LIFE,
AND THIS SHOULDN'T BE HER LIFE.

**

AND IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME
AND CHANGE THE THINGS

THAT HAPPENED
THAT LED ME HERE...

I WOULD DO IT IN A HEARTBEAT.

**

I WAS ADOPTED AS A NEWBORN,

BECAUSE AFTER HAVING
THREE GIRLS,

MY PARENTS DECIDED
TO ADOPT A BOY,

AND SO THEY GOT ME.

MY HUSBAND AND I
ALWAYS WANTED A SON.

SO WHEN WE ADOPTED HIM, WE FELT
SO BLESSED TO BE HIS PARENTS.

Buddy: EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE
A SON, ESPECIALLY ME.

THAT'S ALL I DREAMED OF, HAVING
A BOY, GIVING HIM MY NAME,

LET HIM CARRY ON MY LIFE.

AND MY WHOLE FAMILY
WANTED TO SHARE THIS,

NOT JUST ME AND MY WIFE.

L.B.: SINCE I WAS THE ONLY BOY
IN OUR WHOLE FAMILY,

I WAS THE ONE THAT WAS GONNA
CONTINUE THE BONNER NAME.

SO IT WAS LIKE EVERYONE WAS
RAISING ME, INCLUDING MY AUNT.

SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH MY
UNCLE SAM AND MY AUNT DORA.

I CALLED MA 2 AND DAD 2.

I WAS ALWAYS EXCITED TO GO STAY
WITH MY AUNT AND UNCLE,

BECAUSE EVERY TIME
I'D GET DOWN THERE,

THE FIRST THING SHE'D DO WAS GO
OPEN UP THE CABINETS AND SAY,

"WHAT YOU WANT?"

IT WAS ALWAYS BEEF STICKS OR PIG
IN A BLANKETS OR SNACK CAKES.

I GUESS THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
ASSOCIATING THAT...

THAT COMFORTED
FEELING WITH FOOD.

**

Karen: THEY SPOILED HIM BECAUSE
WHATEVER HE WANTED AT NIGHT,

IF IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE,
IF IT WAS ICE CREAM,

WHATEVER IT WAS,

DORA WOULD GET UP AND FIX IT.

SO WHEN I WOULD FINALLY
GET L.B.

HOME AFTER A FEW DAYS,
HE'S SCREAM AND HE'D CRY,

AND HE'D WANT ICE CREAM.

BUT HE WOULD NOT
GET REST OR SLEEP

UNTIL HE HAD WHAT
HE WANTED TO HAVE.

**

L.B.: OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS
OF GOING TO MY AUNT'S HOUSE,

I GAINED A LOT OF WEIGHT.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 8,
I WAS ALREADY 150 POUNDS.

BUT WHEN I WAS ALMOST 9,

AUNT DORA GOT DIAGNOSED
WITH CANCER,

AND SHE ENDED UP PASSING AWAY.

**

Karen: I'M TELLING YOU,
WHEN HIS MA 2 DIED,

IT'S LIKE THIS LITTLE BOY
WAS JUST CRUSHED.

IT WAS JUST LIKE HIS
WHOLE WORLD FELL APART.

L.B.: I'M 29 NOW,
AND IT'S STILL THE HARDEST LOSS

I'VE EVER WENT THROUGH.

AND AFTER MY MA 2 DIED,

I'D PROBABLY EAT A PACK
OF HOT DOGS EVERY TWO DAYS.

FOOD WAS THE ONLY
THING THAT HELPED,

BUT THE PAIN WOULD COME BACK.

SO I'D START EATING AGAIN.

AND ANY TIME I'D JUST KIND OF
HAVE THAT BLAH, EMPTY FEELING,

YOU KNOW, AFTER MY PARENTS
WENT TO BED AT 8:00 OR 9:00,

I'D GO INTO THE REFRIGERATOR,

AND I'D EAT WHATEVER
WAS IN THERE.

SO I JUST KEPT GAINING.

AND I HIT 200 WHEN I WAS 12.

AND THAT'S WHEN
MY WEIGHT STARTED

PREVENTING ME
FROM DOING NORMAL THINGS.

I REMEMBER WE WENT TO SIGN ME UP
FOR FOOTBALL,

AND I WAS TOO BIG.

I WAS OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT.

AND I COULD JUST SEE
IN MY DAD'S FACE

THAT I HAD DISAPPOINTED HIM.

**

BUT IN HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WERE
NO WEIGHT LIMITS FOR FOOTBALL.

SO THAT'S WHEN I GOT
REALLY INVOLVED.

AND I MEAN,
FROM THAT POINT FORWARD,

IT WAS KIND OF ENCOURAGED
FOR ME TO STAY

AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
GUYS ON THE TEAM.

AND I FEEL LIKE
THE ONLY PROUD TIMES

MY DAD EVER HAD WAS
DURING FOOTBALL GAMES.

Buddy: L.B. WAS A GOOD PLAYER.

AND WHEN HE WAS A SOPHOMORE
IN HIGH SCHOOL,

HE WON OFFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR,

SO THAT'S A BIG ACHIEVEMENT
FOR SOMEBODY BEING A SOPHOMORE.

AND I WAS PROUD OF HIM.

L.B.: BUT THAT COULDN'T LAST,
BECAUSE I STARTED TO GET

SO BIG IT AFFECTED MY HEALTH.

I WAS 17 AND OVER 400 POUNDS
AT THAT POINT.

SO I QUIT FOOTBALL.

AND I FELT LIKE I WAS
LETTING EVERYBODY DOWN,

ESPECIALLY MY DAD.

I HAD A HUGE AMOUNT
OF GUILT OVER IT.

AND I JUST COULDN'T TAKE IT.

SO A FEW WEEKS
AFTER I QUIT FOOTBALL,

ENDED UP DROPPING OUT
OF HIGH SCHOOL.

I STARTED PARTYING
A LITTLE BIT MORE.

THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT
WHEN I STARTED KIND OF...

DRINKING,
THEN GOING TO EAT LATE-NIGHT,

STUFF LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DROWN
OUT ALL THE PAIN

AND GUILT I HAD.

SO WHEN I WAS AROUND 19,
I WAS APPROACHING 500 POUNDS.

BUT I FELT HORRIBLE
AT THAT POINT, ABOUT MY LIFE

AND ALL THE WAYS
I'D DISAPPOINTED MY FAMILY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL
THESE EXPECTATIONS

OF WHAT THEY WERE GETTING,

AND I DIDN'T MEET ANY OF THEM.

AND EVER SINCE I QUIT
PLAYING FOOTBALL,

I JUST FEEL LIKE MY DAD'S

NEVER HAD ANYTHING
TO BE PROUD OF ME ABOUT.

AND HIS BIG DREAM FOR ME
WAS HE WANTED ME

TO LEARN THE FLOORING BUSINESS,

FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PASS
THAT DOWN TO ME ONE DAY.

MY WEIGHT WON'T LET ME
LEARN FLOORING.

BUT AS I WAS GAINING WEIGHT
IN MY EARLY 20s,

ONE OF THE DAYS THAT I REGRET
THE MOST HAPPENED.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
AT A MOTHER'S DAY LUNCH,

AND ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS,
HE WANTED TO GO RIDE

FOUR-WHEELERS THAT WEEKEND.

I KNEW IT WASN'T A GOOD IDEA
AT MY WEIGHT,

BUT I WANTED TO HAVE SOME FUN.

THE LAST TRAIL WE WERE ON

IS WHERE I ENDED UP
GETTING INTO MY ACCIDENT,

SHATTERING A BUNCH OF STUFF
IN MY FOOT.

AND AFTER A FAILED
SURGERY ATTEMPTED,

I ENDED UP
WITH A BONE INFECTION.

AND IT LEFT ME
WITH ONLY A FEW OPTIONS,

AND THE OPTION WE WENT WITH
WAS AMPUTATION.

Karen: WHEN L.B. HURT HIS LEG
AND THE SURGERY FAILED,

IT WAS JUST TOO PAINFUL.

AND HE SAID, "MOM, YOU KNOW,

I'M GONNA BE BETTER OFF
WITHOUT THE LEG."

AND HE THOUGHT WHEN
HE GOT IT AMPUTATED

THAT IT WAS GONNA BE BETTER.

BUT IT WAS HARD FOR HIM
TO GET AROUND,

AND IT WASN'T WHAT HE THOUGHT
IT WAS GONNA BE.

I WAS TIRED OF FEELING

LIKE I MADE
THE COMPLETE WRONG DECISION,

BECAUSE MY PARENTS HAD TO START
DOING EVERYTHING FOR ME

AND TAKING CARE OF ME LIKE I WAS
A KID AGAIN, ESPECIALLY MY MOM.

SO I MOSTLY JUST STAY AT HOME
AND LAY IN MY BED

OR WATCH TV ON THE COUCH.

AND I DON'T SEE
A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE,

EXCEPT WHEN MY FAMILY
HAS OUR MONTHLY COOKOUT.

BUT EVEN THEN, I DON'T REALLY
WANT TO FACE ANYONE

BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE SUCH
A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT, LET-DOWN,

AND I FEEL LIKE MY PARENTS
COMPLETELY REGRET THE DAY

THAT THEY SIGNED
ADOPTION PAPERS ON ME.

WELL,
I THINK HE'S IN HIS ROOM.

HE MUST BE UPSET.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE OF L.B.

IF HE CAN'T TELL ME.

BUT HE NEVER OPENS UP TO ME.

SO ALL I KNOW TO DO
IS CONSTANTLY STAY ON HIM.

DO NOT CHECK OUT ON LIFE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-L.B.?
-WHAT?

COME ON OUTSIDE
AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE BEING
AROUND ANYBODY RIGHT NOW.

WELL, WE WANT YOU TO COME OUT
AND TRY TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

CAN YOU EAT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT
FOR A FEW MINUTES

AND COME ON OUT?

JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT.

IF NOT,
I'M COMING BACK IN HERE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
10 MINUTES.

CAN'T JUST LAY
AROUND HERE ALL DAY.

YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GET
OUT OF THIS BEDROOM.

YES, MOTHER.

**

L.B.: I'M THANKFUL MY MOM
TAKES CARE OF ME,

BUT I'M MISERABLE HERE.

I'M ALMOST BEING SMOTHERED HERE.

THAT LITTLE BIT OF INDEPENDENCE
THAT I STILL HAVE LEFT,

I ALMOST FEEL LIKE
IS BEING ENCROACHED ON.

AND MY MOM WILL DO ANYTHING
IN THE WORLD TO HELP ANYBODY.

BUT SHE'S GONNA TAKE
EVERY OPPORTUNITY

SHE CAN TO REMIND YOU
THAT SHE'S DONE IT FOR YOU.

OH.
DID YOU DECIDE TO COME OUT?

YEAH.

I JUST WISH SHE'D GIVE ME
SOME SPACE AT TIMES AND LET UP

BECAUSE SOMETIMES I JUST
WANT TO SECLUDE MYSELF

SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE
AN EMBARRASSMENT

OR A BURDEN TO MY FAMILY.

L.B.,
YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT?

YEAH. JUST GIVE ME TWO HOT DOGS
AND TWO HAMBURGERS.

WHEN L.B. FINALLY COMES
OUT OF HIS ROOM OR HIS HIDING,

I GUESS WE ALL FEEL LIKE
WE'RE TRYING TO COMFORT L.B.,

AND FOOD IS ONE OF THE WAYS
THAT COMFORTS HIM.

THANK YOU.

L.B.: WHEN I'M IN A REAL DARK
PLACE WHERE I TURN TO FOOD

FOR KIND OF THAT SAFE,
COMFORTED FEELING,

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME

TO EAT THE PORTIONS
OF TWO OR THREE GROWN MEN.

AND I'LL KEEP EATING OR DRINKING
UNTIL I GET THAT,

LIKE, FULL FEELING.

Tera: I THINK EMOTIONALLY,
HE HAS JUST GIVEN UP ON LIFE.

AND IF GIVING MY BROTHER FOOD
IS THE ONLY THING

THAT WILL MAKE HIM
HAPPY AT THE POINT

IN HIS LIFE NOW WHERE HE IS,

THEN THAT'S WHAT WE
ALL DO AS A FAMILY.

Buddy: I NEVER THOUGHT
ENABLING L.B.

WOULD LEAD TO WHAT IT IS NOW.

I FEEL LIKE HE'S NOT
GONNA LIVE LONG.

I WORRY ABOUT HIM EVERY NIGHT.

MY WIFE HAS TO GET UP AND GO
CHECK ON HIM EVERY MORNING,

MAKE SURE HE'S ALIVE.

'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW
ONE MORNING OR THE NEXT

IF HE'S GONNA BE THERE OR NOT.

L.B.: I NEED HELP.

AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH
LIFE OR DEATH AT THIS POINT.

AND IF I CAN'T FIND SOME WAY
TO STOP ALL THIS AND CHANGE,

IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE I'M GONE.

**

**

**

L.B.: MY MOM AND ME ARE GONNA
FLY TO HOUSTON TO SEE

DR. NOWZARADAN.

AND IT'S ONLY
A THREE-HOUR FLIGHT,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE A LONG DAY,

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA DRIVE
STRAIGHT FROM THE AIRPORT

TO GET TO OUR APPOINTMENT
ON TIME THIS AFTERNOON.

AND WE'RE GONNA STAY THE NIGHT
AND FLY BACK TOMORROW.

SO IT'S GONNA BE
A REALLY LONG TWO DAYS.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT

BECAUSE I'M NOT USED
TO GOING OUT IN PUBLIC.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE A LOT
OF ANXIETY DURING ALL THIS.

AND BEING WITH MY MOM IS
PROBABLY NOT GONNA MAKE IT

ANY BETTER.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

L.B.,
YOU GOT EVERYTHING READY?

I WAS GETTING ANXIOUS ABOUT
DEALING WITH EVERYTHING

AT THE AIRPORT
AND THE PLANE

AND ALL THAT STUFF.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU
CAN WALK THAT FAR, IF WE HAVE --

IT'S NOT THE WALKING PART
THAT'S GOT ME WORRIED.

WHAT'S GOT ME WORRIED
IS I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE

LOOKING AT US LIKE,

"WHY IS OLD FATTY
NOT PAYING FOR TWO SEATS?"

I LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS,
L.B.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GET
YOUR MAMA FIRED UP

'CAUSE SOMEBODY
SAYS SOMETHING.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE'S LOOKS
ARE A LOT WORSE

THAN IF THEY WERE
ACTUALLY TO SAY SOMETHING.

YOU KNOW NOBODY'S GONNA
WALK UP AND SAY

[BLEEP] TO ME.

MM-HMM.
DO ME A FAVOR.

IF YOU CAN TELL I'M STARTING
TO GET ANXIOUS,

IF YOU CAN TELL THAT I JUST
WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE,

JUST DO THAT. LET IT BE
AND LET ME GET THROUGH IT.

LET'S JUST HOPE WE GET THERE
EARLY AND ASK THEM

IF WE CAN HAVE
THE FRONT ROW.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S
HOW IT WORKS.

YOU DON'T ASK THEM
WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SIT.

I'M GONNA TELL 'EM.
OH.

ALL RIGHT, SWEETIE.
WE'LL GET THROUGH IT.

I'LL GIVE YOU
A FEW MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT.
I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

**

L.B.: AND NEITHER OF US ARE
HAPPY THAT IT'S COME TO THIS.

IT IS HARD TO REALIZE THAT
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS MY ONLY OPTION

BECAUSE I WON'T STOP EATING.

-I LOVE YOU, MAN.
-LOVE YOU.

GOOD LUCK.

L.B.: AND I'M THANKFUL
FOR THIS CHANCE,

'CAUSE I KNOW
I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I JUST HOPE WE BOTH SURVIVE
BEING TOGETHER

NONSTOP FOR TWO DAYS.

WHAT YOU GONNA DO,
TELL ME NOT TO TALK TO YOU?

NO.

I JUST GOT A LOT
ON MY MIND RIGHT NOW.

I'LL MAKE YOU A PROMISE
IF YOU MAKE ME ONE.

WHAT?

IF YOU TRY TO BE NICE
AND LOOK AFTER ME...

EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE FINE
AS LONG AS -- IF YOU --

YOU KNOW BETTER
THAN ANYBODY

WHEN MY ANXIETY
STARTS GETTING UP.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE
POKED AND PRODDED

LIKE YOU'RE BAD
ABOUT DOING.

**

MY GREATEST DREAM IS TO MAKE
MY FAMILY PROUD OF ME ONE DAY.

BUT IT'S HARD TO CONVINCE
YOURSELF TO HAVE HOPE

AND START TO BELIEVE
IN THOSE THINGS.

SO I'M JUST GONNA FOCUS
ON WHAT'S IMMEDIATELY AHEAD,

AND THAT'S FINDING A WAY
TO LOSE WEIGHT

BEFORE I HIT 700 POUNDS
AND BECOME IMMOBILE.

**

I'LL TAKE THE LUGGAGE UP HERE
AND SIT AND WAIT ON IT,

'CAUSE I CAN'T MAKE THE WALK
FROM THE PARKING LOT.

OKAY.

MAN.

**

I'M ALREADY KIND OF
HITTING MY LIMIT.

I JUST WANT TO GET
THIS OVER WITH

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL MY ANXIETY
JUST STARTING TO CLIMB ALREADY.

ALL RIGHT.

I PARKED.

WE JUST GOT TO CHECK IN
AND GET OUR BOARDING PASSES.

**

YES, MA'AM.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.

**

I'M FEELING EXHAUSTED,
AND I'M JUST READY

FOR THIS TO BE OVER WITH.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE
BEEN AROUND THIS MANY PEOPLE,

SO MY ANXIETY IS
JUST GETTING WORSE.

AND I'M REALLY READY
TO JUST BE ON THE PLANE

AND BE OUT OF VIEW
FROM ALL THESE PEOPLE...

BECAUSE I JUST FEEL
LIKE A FREAK ON DISPLAY

FOR EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW.

**

YOU'RE SWEATING,
L.B., SO BADLY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING
A [BLEEP] ANXIETY ATTACK.

FEEL LIKE MY DAMN HEART'S
ABOUT TO BEAT OUT MY CHEST.

L.B.: I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS
KIND OF HITTING ON THE WAY HERE,

BUT NOW IT'S REALLY
GETTING REAL NOW.

SO NOW IT'S JUST A WAIT
AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE

ONCE WE'RE ON THE PLANE.

BUT I THINK I'LL BE FINE,

'CAUSE I'VE GOT TWO SEATS
TO MYSELF

AND MY MOM'S IN THE THIRD SEAT.

BUT I NEED TO SIT ON THE AISLE
BECAUSE I CAN'T BEND MY LEG.

**

I THOUGHT IF I SAT BY THE AISLE
WITH MY FAKE LEG,

IT WOULD BE EASIER
SINCE I CAN'T BEND IT.

BUT IT'S FALLING IN THE AISLE,

AND IT'S EXTREMELY
PAINFUL TO HOLD IT IN.

SO I HAVE TO MOVE.

I CAN'T KEEP MY LEG
OUT OF THE AISLE.

I NEED TO SWITCH SEATS.

**

**

I'M REALLY HURTING RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE
ON MY LEG AND MY WHOLE BODY.

**

AND MY STUMP'S ABSOLUTELY
KILLING ME RIGHT NOW.

IMAGINE HAVING TWO BONES
JUST SQUARED OFF

AND HAVING JUST
A PIECE OF MUSCLE

AND A PIECE OF SKIN
OVER THE END OF IT.

AND IMAGINE HAVING 600 POUNDS
COME DOWN ON IT.

**

ON LIKE A ONE-TO-10 SCALE,
IT'S LIKE AN EIGHT.

BUT I THINK IF I JUST REST
AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT,

I'LL HAVE THE ENERGY TO MAKE IT.

LET ME GET
A LARGE NUMBER FIVE.

SO I JUST NEED SOMETHING
TO HELP ME DEAL WITH THE PAIN.

**

Karen: I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN
WITH L.B.

MORE IN THE LAST DAY
THAN WE USUALLY SPEND

IN A WEEK TOGETHER.

AND IT'S HARD TO SEE
YOUR CHILD SUFFER LIKE THAT.

**

L.B.: I KNOW
I SHOULDN'T BE EATING

RIGHT BEFORE I SEE THE DOCTOR,

BUT I JUST NEED TO GET
SOMETHING TO KEEP ME GOING,

'CAUSE MY LEG HAS
NEVER HURT THIS BAD.

READY?

I'M GETTING OLD.

NOW I JUST WANT
TO GET EVERYTHING

AND GET TO MY APPOINTMENT
AS FAST AS I CAN.

**

BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT
RIDING ON THE APPOINTMENT TODAY.

**

AND IT'S GONNA BE
BASICALLY WALKING

INTO THE COMPLETE UNKNOWN.

OH, GOODNESS.

WHERE'S IT AT?

AND I'M TRYING NOT
TO LET THE EMOTIONS

OF THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT
GET TO ME YET.

I TELL YOU...

YEAH.

AND I'M EXCITED, I'M NERVOUS,
ANXIOUS, SCARED.

YOU KNOW, I WANT THINGS TO GO
AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE AND...

YOU KNOW, ME FIND OUT THAT TODAY
IS GONNA BE THE FIRST DAY

OF THE REST OF MY LIFE.

LET'S JUST THINK POSITIVE.

**

L.B.: I'M AN EMOTIONAL WRECK
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE EVERYTHING
IS AT STAKE FOR ME

FOR THIS APPOINTMENT TODAY.

AND IT'S BEEN SO LONG
SINCE I'VE BEEN ON A SCALE.

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

BUT THE THING THAT'S GOT ME THE
MOST NERVOUS IS BEING REJECTED

OR TOLD I'M NOT
RIGHT FOR THE PROGRAM.

JAMES BONNER.

L.B.: THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE
TO GET THE HELP AND THE TOOLS

I NEED TO TURN IT AROUND.

SO I'VE GOT EVERYTHING RIDING
ON THIS APPOINTMENT RIGHT NOW.

I'M JUST SCARED [BLEEP]-LESS.

**

L.B.: IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE
I'VE BEEN ON A SCALE,

AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW
HOW BIG I'VE GOTTEN,

SO I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING THAT NUMBER COME UP.

**

SEEING THAT MAKES ME
FEEL WORTHLESS.

AND IT'S A VALIDATION OF HOW
BAD I REALLY NEED THIS HELP.

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER SEEN
THAT NUMBER GO DOWN,

AND I'M SO CLOSE TO GETTING
TOO BIG FOR MY LEG

AND BECOMING IMMOBILE.

AND IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF YOU
TO REALIZE YOU'RE AT A POINT

WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE
LOST CONTROL OF YOURSELF

AND YOU GOT TO ASK FOR HELP.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE LET MYSELF
GET UP THAT HIGH.

I CAN'T, EITHER, L.B.

AND...

[ SIGHS ] I JUST...

THIS IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

**

-JAMES?
-YEP.

HOW ARE YOU?
-I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-L.B.'s MOM KAREN.

HI, HOW ARE YOU?
YEAH, I GO BY L.B.

WHAT DOES L.B.
STAND FOR?

MY DAD'S NAME'S BUDDY,
AND WHEN THEY FOUND OUT

THEY WERE ADOPTING
A LITTLE BOY,

HE TOLD EVERYBODY HE WAS FINALLY
GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BUDDY

TO HANG OUT WITH, SO...

YOU'RE NOT LITTLE
BY ANY MEANS.

NO, NO.
NO, MY HUSBAND IS, THOUGH.

MY DAD IS ABOUT 5'5",
ABOUT 140 POUNDS, SO...

SO YOU'RE IN HOUSTON NOW
TO SEE ME TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

YES, SIR.

I FINALLY ACCEPTED THE FACT
THAT I NEED HELP --

BAD -- TO REGAIN MY LIFE.

AND IF I DON'T GET HELP SOON,
I DON'T THINK I'LL SEE 35 OR 40.

I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.

YOU ARE ACTUALLY
CLOSER TO 700 TODAY

IF WE FACTOR IN WHAT
YOUR LEG WOULD WEIGH.

SO IF YOU KEEP GOING LIKE THIS,
YOU'LL BE IN THE 800s SOON,

AND YOU WON'T LAST MUCH
LONGER AFTER THAT.

OH, YEAH, I KNOW.

SO HOW DID YOU END UP
AT THIS POINT?

I GOT A BAD HABIT OF
BINGE EATING, BINGE DRINKING,

EATING REAL LATE A NIGHT.

SO WHAT DO YOU EAT
WHEN YOU DO THAT?

I EAT A LOT OF FRIED FOOD,
A BURGER, WINGS.

OKAY.
DO YOU GET DRUNK?

NO, SIR.

OKAY, SO YOU'RE JUST GETTING
BIGGER AND BIGGER.

AND IT MUST BE DIFFICULT
FOR YOU TO GET AROUND

BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE
A LOT OF STRAIN

ON THAT PROSTHETIC
WITH YOUR WEIGHT.

YEAH. THERE'S ONLY ONE COMPANY
IN THE COUNTRY

THAT WAS WILLING
TO BUILD ME A FOOT,

AND THEY'VE TOLD ME
SEVERAL TIMES

THAT IF I GAIN
ANY MORE WEIGHT,

THERE'S NOT GONNA BE
A FOOT AVAILABLE FOR ME.

SO IF YOU DON'T CHANGE NOW,

IT'S GOING TO BE
A MUCH WORSE SITUATION

IF YOU ARE IMMOBILE.

IF I DON'T TURN MY LIFE AROUND,
I MEAN, I'M DOING NOTHING

BUT, YOU KNOW,
DESTROYING MYSELF

AND DESTROYING
MY FAMILY, AS WELL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: L.B. HAS
A UNIQUE SITUATION,

BEING THE SIZE HE IS
AND HAVING A PROSTHETIC LEG.

SO IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT
HE START TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND AVOIDS BECOMING IMMOBILE.

BECAUSE ONCE HE DOES,
HIS BODY WILL START

TO GET EVEN WORSE MUCH FASTER.

OKAY, L.B.,

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU
ON A LOW-CARB, HIGH-PROTEIN DIET

THAT IS 1,200 CALORIES A DAY.

IF YOU STICK TO THE DIET,
THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM

HITTING A WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL OF
50 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

YES, SIR.

AND WE'RE GONNA STOP
DRINKING

BECAUSE ALCOHOL IS
NO LONGER ON THE LIST

IF YOU WANT
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY?

SO YOU NEED TO MAKE
THAT CHANGE NOW.

RIGHT.

AND I KNOW IT'S HARD
WITH YOUR PROSTHETIC

HAVING ISSUES
WITH YOUR WEIGHT,

BUT YOU NEED TO WORK
TO GET YOUR ACTIVITY UP.

-RIGHT. RIGHT.
-OKAY?

OKAY, YOU DO ALL THIS,
THEN WE'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

OKAY?
YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE
YOU ALL LATER.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU.

**

L.B.: I'M A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I WAS HOPING
THE DOCTOR WOULD TELL ME

I WAS A CANDIDATE
FOR SURGERY TODAY.

YOU READY TO GET OUT OF HERE?

YEAH.

AND I'VE NEVER EVEN COME CLOSE
TO LOSING 50 POUNDS AT ANY TIME.

SO THAT HAS ME
REALLY WORRIED.

BUT IN ALL HONESTY,
THE HARDEST THING

IS GONNA BE
LEAVING BOOZE ALONE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HURDLES
STILL AHEAD,

BUT I'M UP FOR THE CHALLENGE

BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT MONTHS OF MY LIFE,

AND I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP
GOING ON LIKE THIS MUCH LONGER.

**

**

AFTER COMING HOME
FROM SEEING DR. NOW,

I CLEANED ALL THE BAD FOOD
OUT FROM THE HOUSE,

AND I GOT RID OF THE BEER.

I DRANK SOME OF IT BECAUSE
I COULDN'T WASTE IT,

BUT IT'S GONE NOW,
AND I'M STICKING TO THE DIET.

BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT
GETTING MORE ACTIVE

BECAUSE MY PROSTHETIC LEG'S BEEN
MAKING NOISES WHEN I MOVE,

AND I'M WORRIED
IT'S ABOUT TO GIVE OUT.

SO TODAY I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
WITH MY PROSTHESIS MAKER

TO SEE IF HE CAN FIX
WHATEVER IT IS.

BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT,
MY PROSTHETIC BREAKS A GOOD BIT.

AND I FEEL LIKE MY CURRENT ONE
IS ABOUT TO DO THE SAME.

AND I DON'T WANT MY WORRY
OF IT BREAKING OR ME FALLING

TO HOLD ME BACK FROM
DOING MY EXERCISES EVERY DAY.

I GOT THIS FOOT MADE PROBABLY
100, 120 POUNDS AGO.

AND SINCE I'VE BEEN
GAINING WEIGHT,

IT'S JUST CAUSING
MORE AND MORE WEAR

AND TEAR AT THREE TIMES
THE PACE IT SHOULD.

SO I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY
AT ITS LIMIT RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M HOPING
IT CAN BE FIXED.

L.B.?

BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD FOR IT
TO BREAK RIGHT NOW,

WHEN I NEED TO BE
MAKING PROGRESS.

L.B.
WHAT'S UP, MAN?

HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?

CAN'T COMPLAIN.

HOW YOU BEEN?

ROUGH. THIS THING'S STILL
DIGGING INTO ME PRETTY GOOD,

AND NOW I GOT A SQUEAK.

YEAH.
WELL, HOW'S YOUR WEIGHT, DUDE?

STILL PICKING UP?
YEAH.

IT'S UP THERE PRETTY GOOD.

BUT I'M TRYING
TO LOSE RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S YOUR BODY WEIGHT NOW?

642.

WOW, DUDE.

YOUR FOOT WAS ORDERED
WHEN YOU WERE

IN THE 500-POUND RANGE,
RIGHT?

YEP.

SO YOU'RE TECHNICALLY WAY OVER
THE WEIGHT LIMIT ON THIS FOOT,

AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE
THE SQUEAK'S COMING FROM.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED
IF I TOOK IT BACK HERE

AND TOOK IT APART
AND IT'S BROKEN.

SO YOU GET ANY HEAVIER,
MAN,

I MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE
TO GET A FOOT GOING.

THIS IS GETTING
TO THE POINT

WHERE THIS IS GETTING PRETTY
DAGGUM SERIOUS RIGHT NOW.

YEAH.

GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES,
AND I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

THE FIRST TIME
I MET L.B. BONNER,

HE WAS PROBABLY
AROUND 520, 525 POUNDS.

FIRST THING WE TALKED
ABOUT WITH L.B.

WAS HE NEEDED TO GET
THE WEIGHT DOWN.

IT'S BEEN THREE AND A HALF,
FOUR YEARS NOW.

AND IF HE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING
ABOUT HIS WEIGHT,

IT'S GONNA GET TO WHERE I'M NOT
EVEN GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP HIM.

HOW'S IT LOOKING?

ALL RIGHT, L.B...

I CAN'T REALLY REINFORCE
THIS PROSTHETIC

TO DO ANYTHING
TO HELP YOU OUT RIGHT NOW.

EVERY STEP YOU TAKE,
YOU'RE PUSHING DOWN THROUGH IT,

IT'S BLOWING RIGHT
THROUGH THE FOOT SHELL,

AND YOU GOT SOME STRESS
CRACKS IN THE CARBON.

REMEMBER
WHEN THAT FOOT BROKE?

OH, YEAH.
YOU WENT DOWN, DIDN'T YOU?

YEAH.
HARD.

OKAY, SAME THING'S GONNA HAPPEN
IF THE FOOT BREAKS AGAIN.

I MEAN, IT'S...

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING
THAT CAN BE DONE.

YOU JUST NEED A NEW ONE.

THAT'S WHAT I WASN'T
LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING.

AND THEY'RE NOT GONNA
MAKE ONE FOR SOMEONE

THAT'S OVER 600 POUNDS.

I'D TAKE IT EASY.

APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, MAN.

JUST KEEP THAT
ABOUT YOUR HEAD.

I WILL.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.

ALL RIGHT, MAN.

**

[ GRUNTS ]

L.B.: RIGHT NOW,
I'M FEELING PRETTY WORRIED

AND KIND OF SCARED.

I JUST WASN'T SURE
IT WAS THAT BAD.

I FINALLY HAVE THIS CHANCE
TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND...

BUT NOW I HAVE A CATCH-22.

I NEED TO PUSH MYSELF TO DO
MORE AND LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT THAT COULD BREAK MY LEG.

AND IF IT COMES APART
WHILE I'M WALKING,

THAT COULD BE REALLY BAD FOR ME.

**

WHEN THIS FOOT BREAKS,
IT'S NOT JUST LIKE

YOU'RE STILL ABLE
TO KIND OF LIMP AROUND.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO WALK
AT ALL WHEN IT BREAKS.

AND IF I CAN'T HAVE THAT
LITTLE BIT OF MOBILITY,

THEN I'LL BE BEDRIDDEN.

THAT'S GONNA CAUSE ME
TO JUST GIVE UP.

I KNOW IT AIN'T GOOD FOR ME,

BUT WHENEVER I GET
BAD NEWS LIKE THIS,

THE FIRST THING
I ALWAYS WANT TO DO

IS GO GET SOMETHING
TO EAT AND DRINK.

**

YES, MA'AM.

LET ME GET A BACON KING COMBO
WITH A LARGE SWEET TEA.

LET ME ADD A 10-PIECE NUGGET
TO IT, TOO.

AND I NEED AN ORDER
OF CHICKEN FRIES, TOO.

I FEEL LIKE IF I GO GET
SOMETHING TO EAT OR DRINK,

THEN IT'S GONNA TAKE
THAT EDGE OFF OF FEELING

SO DISAPPOINTED
OR UPSET BY THE NEWS.

THANK YOU, BUD.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE NO MATTER
WHAT, I CAN NEVER GET AHEAD.

SOMETHING ALWAYS GOES WRONG.

I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

AND I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER
IT TAKES AND WORK HARD.

BUT IT JUST SEEMS
LIKE EVERY TIME I TRY,

SOMETHING HAPPENS
THAT SETS ME BACK.

BECAUSE IF MY LEG IS THAT
CLOSE TO GIVING OUT,

THEN I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO

OR HOW I'M GONNA MEET THE GOALS

I NEED.

AND THEN THERE'S NO WAY
THAT I CAN LOSE THIS WEIGHT

AND GET MY LIFE BACK.

UGH.

THAT SUCKS.

**

IT'S ON THERE NOW.

SO I'M JUST FEELING
HOPELESS RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'M SCARED
IT'S ALREADY TOO LATE FOR ME.

**

L.B.: IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS
SINCE I'VE SEEN DR. NOW

FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT.

I'VE HAD A FEW HICCUPS,

BUT I'VE WORKED HARD
TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

AFTER GETTING THE BAD NEWS
ABOUT MY PROSTHETIC,

I WAS REALLY DEPRESSED.

BUT MY SISTER SUGGESTED
I COULD START DOING

MY WALKING IN HER POOL,

BECAUSE THAT WILL TAKE
THE PRESSURE OFF MY LEG.

SO EVERY MORNING,
I'VE BEEN GOING OVER

TO HER PLACE TO DO THAT.

-HEY!
-WHAT'S UP?

Tera: HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD.
GOOD.

YOU COME
TO GET IN THE POOL?

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, I'M PROBABLY
GONNA HANG OUT

AND WATCH YOU A LITTLE BIT.

HOW'S THAT?

FINE WITH ME.
THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.
I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

Tera: BEFORE L.B.
STARTED THIS JOURNEY,

ALL THAT I SAW, IT WAS A STATE
OF DEPRESSION

THAT L.B. WOULD NOT EVEN
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

WATCHING HIM GETTING UP
AND GETTING OUT

HAS BEEN QUITE REWARDING FOR ME.

**

L.B.: I HAVE ONE MORE WEEK
TILL I SEE DR. NOW.

AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
FOR ME TO HIT MY GOAL BY THEN.

I DON'T WANT TO KEEP
LETTING MY FAMILY DOWN.

I WANT TO MAKE THEM PROUD.

AND I KNOW MY LIFE AND
EVERYTHING ARE DEPENDING ON ME

DOING THIS.

**

**

MY MOM AND ME
ARE BACK IN HOUSTON

FOR MY FOLLOW-UP
APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

AND I'M OBVIOUSLY ANXIOUS
TO SEE IF I HIT MY GOALS OR NOT.

AND NOT KNOWING
IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW.

**

Woman: L.B.

MY GOAL WAS TO LOSE
AT LEAST 50 POUNDS TODAY,

SO IF I DID THAT,
I'D BE AT OR BELOW 592 TODAY.

AND I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT
IF I DID THAT.

**

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED THAT
I MISSED IT BY A LITTLE BIT.

BUT AT LEAST I'M MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I'M HOPING DR. NOW
SEES HOW HARD I TRIED.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HOW'S IT GOING?

ALL RIGHT.
HOW Y'ALL DOING?

PRETTY GOOD.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

OKAY, L.B., YOU'RE JUST
TWO POUNDS SHY OF 50 POUNDS.

BUT 48 POUNDS IS CLOSE.

YEP.
THAT'S GOOD.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD
A DROP OF ALCOHOL

SINCE BEFORE MY LAST
APPOINTMENT, EITHER.

WELL, YOU'VE SHOWN ME

THAT YOU'RE WILLING
TO WORK HARD TO DO THIS,

SO I THINK YOU'RE READY,
AND WE'LL GO AHEAD

AND PREPARE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I DEFINITELY WASN'T EXPECTING
TO HEAR THAT,

BUT THAT'S AWESOME NEWS.

SO WE'RE GONNA START DOING
SOME TESTING ON YOU.

AND IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,
WE'LL GET YOU ON THE SCHEDULE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE
DOING GREAT, L.B.

BUT KEEP LOSING WEIGHT
AND GETTING ACTIVE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME,
SOUTH CAROLINA IS TOO FAR

FOR YOU TO COME AND GO

IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE
PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

SO I NEED YOU TO GO AHEAD
AND MAKE THE MOVE TO HOUSTON

FOR AT LEAST
THE NEXT YEAR.

CAN YOU DO THAT?
YES, SIR.

THAT WOULD BE SUPER.

L.B. COULD HAVE LOST MORE WEIGHT
THIS PAST MONTH,

BUT HE'S CLOSE ENOUGH
TO HIS GOAL FOR ME

TO SEE THAT HE'S
WILLING TO WORK HARD,

SO I FEEL HE'S READY
FOR THE NEXT STEP.

AND WITH BOTH FOOD AND ALCOHOL

HAVING BEEN SUCH
A BIG PART OF HIS LIFE,

THIS WON'T BE AN EASY
PROCESS FOR HIM.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
KEEP IT UP.

AND I WILL SEE YOU BOTH
SOON.

L.B.: AWESOME.
I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU, TOO.

**

Karen: I'M REALLY PROUD OF L.B.

BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD
HE'S BEEN TRYING.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED THAT L.B.
GOT APPROVED FOR SURGERY TODAY.

**

L.B.: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

KNOWING THAT I HAVE THIS CHANCE
TO GET THIS HELP IS AWESOME.

BUT I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT BEING
AWAY FROM MY FAMILY FOR A YEAR.

SO IT'S A LOT OF MIXED
FEELINGS RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW I STILL CAN'T BE
ON MY OWN, THOUGH,

SO IF I HAVE TO MOVE TO HOUSTON,

MY MOM PROBABLY
HAS TO MOVE WITH ME.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE,

I JUST HOPE THAT WE BOTH
CAN SURVIVE THAT.

**

**

MY MOM AND I FOUND A PLACE
IN GALVESTON

RIGHT OUTSIDE HOUSTON,
WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING

TO BE CLOSER TO DR. NOW
FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

SO TODAY, WE'RE KIND OF HAVING
KIND OF A FAREWELL PARTY

FOR ME AND MOM.

I KNOW THIS IS GONNA
BE HARD ON EVERYONE.

-HEY, L.B.!
-WHAT'S UP?

THERE HE IS!
THERE HE IS!

BECAUSE WITH MY MOM
MOVING DOWN WITH ME,

IT MEANS EVERYBODY ELSE
HAS TO GO

WITHOUT HER FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

L.B.!
WHAT'S UP?

**

MY BIGGEST WORRY ABOUT MOM
BEING DOWN THERE

IS SHE'S GETTING PRETTY...

PRETTY ANXIOUS AND EMOTIONAL
ABOUT LEAVING.

I THINK IT'S JUST THE FEAR
OF THE UNKNOWN.

YOU KNOW, SHE HATES NEW PLACES.

WHERE IS MOM?

Angela: I THINK SHE WENT UP
TO THE HOUSE.

I'M GONNA GO CHECK ON HER.
Tera: I'LL GO WITH YOU.

LET'S GO CHECK ON HER.

**

IT'S IRONIC BECAUSE MY MOM
IS MY BIGGEST SUPPORT.

BUT SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE THE
STRESS FROM OUR RELATIONSHIP

IS WHAT CAUSES ME
TO GO TO FOOD THE MOST.

SO THERE'S THE GOOD AND
THE BAD TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

MAMA?

WHY ARE YOU IN HERE
BY YOURSELF?

I'M SO WORRIED
ABOUT YOUR DADDY.

Y'ALL PROMISE ME THAT YOU
WILL MAKE SURE HE'S OKAY.

YOU PROMISE ME.
YEAH.

I'LL TRY TO GET
YOUR BROTHER HEALTHY.

EVERY TIME I GET AROUND...

PEOPLE, I START CRYING.

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT I'M GONNA
BE LIKE WEDNESDAY WHEN I LEAVE?

YOU KNOW WHAT?

A YEAR
REALLY FLIES BY QUICK.

IT'S GOING TO FLY BY QUICKER
THAN YOU THINK, AND --

OH, I LOVE YOU GIRLS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO
GO OUT THERE AND EAT,

'CAUSE EVERYBODY IS HERE,

WAITING FOR YOU JUST
AS MUCH AS L.B.

L.B.: I FEEL RESPONSIBLE
FOR A LOT OF THE FEELINGS

THAT SHE'S GOT
GOING ON RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE, I MEAN,
SHE'S, YOU KNOW,

BASICALLY LEAVING EVERYTHING
BEHIND TO DO THIS FOR ME.

**

I'M IN A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION.

ON ONE HAND, I'M GETTING
THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,
I'M PUTTING SO MUCH STRAIN

ON MY FAMILY'S RELATIONSHIP.

I KNOW MY MOM'S TAKING THIS LEAP
TO BASICALLY SAVE MY LIFE.

AND IF I DON'T COMPLETELY TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY,

THEN I'VE BASICALLY
RUINED OUR FAMILY.

AND WORDS CAN'T
DESCRIBE HOW TIRED

I AM OF FEELING
LIKE A DISAPPOINTMENT.

**

**

L.B.: MY MOM AND I
ARE PACKING UP

BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING TO
THE HOUSTON AREA TOMORROW.

SO I'M EXTREMELY
STRESSED AND ANXIOUS

AND WORRIED ABOUT THE MOVE
BECAUSE THE REALITY

OF EVERYTHING'S REALLY
STARTING TO SET IN.

I'M A LOT MORE EMOTIONAL
ABOUT IT

THAN I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE.

AND I CAN TELL IT'S ALL HARD
FOR MY MOM, TOO.

Karen: IT'S JUST TOO DAMN MUCH
[BLEEP] TO DEAL WITH.

NO, IT'S NOT.

I'M AT THE POINT
I DON'T CARE.

I HAD IT IN HERE,
IT FIT PERFECT.

Man: THE TABLE'S
RIGHT OVER HERE.

DAD?

MOM'S ALREADY ON A RAMPAGE.

**

YOU ALL RIGHT?
NO!

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I'M DOING THIS FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW, I'M LEAVING
EVERYTHING BEHIND.

I'M NOT GONNA HAVE
MY DAUGHTERS,

AND ALL YOU WANT TO DO
IS BITCH AT ME ALL THE TIME.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP ME.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

YOU SAID THAT YOU
KEEP TELLING ME --

EVERYTHING I'VE SAID I WAS
GONNA DO HAS GOTTEN DONE.

NO, L.B.

I JUST NEED HELP,
AND I NEED --

I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU, MOM,

BUT YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY
HAVE BEEN EASY

TO DEAL WITH THROUGH THIS.

YOU KNOW, WORDS CAN'T EXPRESS
HOW THANKFUL I AM

THAT YOU'RE WILLING
TO MAKE THIS CHANGE FOR ME.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TRY TO RELAX
A LITTLE BIT TO JUST --

WELL, HONEY, YOU SEE
WHAT TIME IT IS?

IT'S 1:30.
OKAY.

IT IS -- WAIT A MINUTE,
LET ME FINISH,

AND THEN YOU CAN SAY
WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY.

IT'S 1:30.

I STILL HAVE LAUNDRY TO DO,
IRONING TO DO,

I HAVE TO FINISH PACKING.

I STILL HAVE TO GO OVER THINGS
WITH YOUR FATHER AS FAR

AS THE BILLS AND WHAT
COMES OUT EVERY MONTH,

AND ALL THE CODES
AND THE PASSWORDS,

I HAVE TO TAKE TIME
FOR THAT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND I HAVE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO?

JUST KNOW THAT I LOVE YA,

AND I'M GONNA TAKE CARE
OF YOU WHEN WE GET THERE.

A YEAR IS GONNA FLY BY.

L.B., I HAVE RAISED YOU
FOR 29 YEARS.

SEE, THIS IS WHAT --
AND YOU AIN'T NEVER TOLD ME

YOU'RE GONNA
TAKE CARE OF ME.

THIS IS WHAT PISSES ME
AND DAD OFF.

YOU MAKE US OUT TO BE
LIKE WE'RE [BLEEP]

DAMN WORTHLESS.

YOU BELITTLE US EVERY TIME
WE TRY TO SAY SOMETHING

OR EVERY TIME WE OR EVERY TIME
WE VOLUNTEER TO DO SOMETHING,

AND MAKE IT OUT TO BE LIKE WE
CAN'T EVEN WASH OUR OWN ASSES.

[BLEEP] DAMN, I TRY TO COME
IN HERE AND POUR MY [BLEEP]

EMOTIONS OUT,
AND I GET THIS.

**

L.B.: I TRIED TO GO IN
AND TALK TO MY MOM

ABOUT JUST MAKING
SURE SHE'S OKAY

AND JUST LETTING
HER KNOW HOW MUCH

I APPRECIATE HER
DOING THIS FOR ME,

AND IT JUST COMPLETELY
WENT OFF TRACK

AND TURNED INTO AN ARGUMENT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I
CAN TAKE A YEAR OF THIS,

SO I JUST NEED TO
CALM DOWN RIGHT NOW.

**

**

MY MOM AND I HAVE COOLED
DOWN SINCE YESTERDAY,

AND WE'RE GETTING READY
TO GET ON THE ROAD.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT
ALL YOUR STUFF?

YEAH, I GOT EVERYTHING.

TODAY, WE'RE JUST AGREEING
TO TRY TO MAKE THIS DRIVE

TO TEXAS WITHOUT ARGUING,

BUT I'M NOT SURE
IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

WE STILL HAVE AT LEAST
A 15-HOUR DRIVE AHEAD OF US...

AND I'M ALREADY WORRIED I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT ALL THE WAY.

SO I'M STILL NOT SURE
HOW ALL THIS IS GONNA GO.

THERE AIN'T A MOMENT I'M NOT
THANKFUL FOR THE SACRIFICE

MY MOM'S MAKING FOR ME.

BUT THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN
US BEING TOGETHER

CONSTANTLY IS THE BEST IDEA.

I'LL CALL YOU WHEN WE
GET THERE TONIGHT, OKAY?

I'LL TAKE CARE OF HER.

-I LOVE YOU.
-LOVE YOU.

L.B.: BUT THIS IS THE ONLY
OPTION TO SAVE MY LIFE.

SO RIGHT NOW OUR FOCUS
IS JUST TO GET THERE.

AND, HOPEFULLY,
WE DON'T KILL EACH OTHER.

**

WE'VE ALMOST MADE IT TO OUR
NEW HOME FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT MY MOM AND ME
HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING MUCH.

WE JUST BEEN ENJOYING
THE PEACE AND QUIET.

**

SO I THINK MY BIOLOGICAL FATHER
IS OUT OF JAIL

BECAUSE HE SENT ME A MESSAGE.

WHY DID HE SEND YOU
A MESSAGE?

HE'S LIKE --

I HOPE HE AIN'T PLANNING ON
COMING UP HERE AND SEEING YOU.

NO, NO.

WATCH OUT FOR THIS TRUCK.

I PUT AN END TO THAT,
QUICK-LIKE.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

HE SAID, "I STUMBLED
ON YOUR PROFILE,

AND I JUST WANTED
TO SAY THAT...

YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'VE
HEARD A LOT ABOUT ME,

AND I'M A -- YOU KNOW,
I'VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES,

BUT I'M STILL YOUR DAD,"
AND I WENT OFF.

I WAS LIKE, "ACTUALLY,
YOU'RE NOT MY DAD.

I WANT NOTHING TO DO
WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A HORRIBLE
EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING."

WHAT DID HE
GET ARRESTED FOR?

DRUG POSSESSION.

WELL, THERE'S ONE THING
I'M THANKFUL FOR.

I'M THANKFUL THAT YOU NEVER
GOT HOOKED ON DRUGS.

NO.

IF I WOULD HAVE DONE
LIKE OTHER PEOPLE

IN MY BIOLOGICAL FAMILY,
WITHOUT A DOUBT,

I'D EITHER BE IN PRISON
OR DEAD BY NOW,

ESPECIALLY WITH HOW
MY TEMPER CAN BE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE WHEN
YOU GET THIS NEW LIFE STARTED,

THAT YOU WILL HAVE BETTER
CONTROL OVER YOUR TEMPER.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING
I NEED TO WORK ON.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

SOME OF THE CRAZY THINGS
THAT YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR LIFE,

IS IT BECAUSE YOU FELT LIKE YOU
WERE AN OUTSIDER OF THIS FAMILY?

I MEAN, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY,
DID ME OR DADDY EVER SHOW

YOU ANY DIFFERENCE
IN OUR LOVE

FOR YOU AS WE DID
FOR THE GIRLS?

IT'S NOT THAT Y'ALL --

IT'S NOT THAT Y'ALL
SHOWED A DIFFERENCE

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST...

I GUESS CHOICES AND DECISIONS
THAT I MADE

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER REALLY
MADE ME FEEL LIKE...

REALLY MADE ME
FEEL LIKE I WAS...

A DISAPPOINTMENT
AND A REGRET TO Y'ALL.

AND I'VE SPENT
A LOT OF MY LIFE

TRYING TO PUSH
EVERYBODY AWAY FROM ME,

TO TRY TO MAKE Y'ALL
NOT CARE.

**

SO YOU WANTED US
TO BE RID OF YOU.

TO BE RID OF ME, YEAH.

AND DO YOU KNOW THAT,
L.B.,

THAT PARENTS CAN'T DO THAT.

NO MATTER WHAT THEIR CHILDREN
DO, THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

WELL, IN THE MIND-SET THAT
I HAD, FOR THE LONGEST TIME,

I FELT LIKE I DIDN'T
DESERVE TO BE A BONNER.

THE POINT ABOUT IT IS,
L.B.,

AS MUCH TROUBLE AS YOU
GOT INTO, YOUR DADDY

AND I ALWAYS
STOOD THERE BY YOU.

WE WOULD NEVER ABANDON YOU,
AND I ALWAYS TOLD YOU THIS --

"I'M GONNA LOVE YOU
NO MATTER WHAT."

BUT YOU GOT TO LEARN
TO LOVE YOURSELF

BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE
CAN LOVE YOU.

YOUR DADDY AND I WANT YOU
JUST TO BE HAPPY.

THAT'S ALL WE'VE EVER
WANTED FOR YOU.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT
YOU HAVE EVER REALLY OPENED UP

AND REALLY SPOKE TO ME.

AND I'M PROUD OF YOU, YOU KNOW,
FOR MAKING THIS CHANGE.

THAT'S ENOUGH EMOTIONAL
[BLEEP] FOR NOW.

ALL RIGHT,
LET'S JUST BE QUIET.

**

**

L.B.:
I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY HERE.

IT FEELS AMAZING
GETTING INTO GALVESTON.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S BEEN A LONG RIDE.

I'M HURTING,
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S --

THIS IS ALL THE FIRST STEP
OF A HUGE JOURNEY.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE
SOME BUMPY TIMES IN THE ROAD,

BUT I'M REALLY GLAD AND THANKFUL
THAT MY MOM'S WITH ME.

AND WE'VE HAD A LOT
OF CONVERSATION,

THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THINGS
WE'VE NEVER TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

I KNOW THAT EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE WORTH IT,

AND I'M HOPING
IN THE LONG RUN

THAT THIS IS GONNA MAKE
OUR RELATIONSHIP BETTER.

**

AND NOW THAT WE MOVED
TO TEXAS, DR. NOW SAID

HE'D SCHEDULE
MY SURGERY TO HAPPEN SOON.

SO IT'S COMING UP FAST,

AND I'M GETTING NERVOUS.

I KNOW THIS IS A DANGEROUS
SURGERY AT MY WEIGHT...

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOME,
SWEET HOME FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

...AND THAT THERE'S ALWAYS
A POSSIBILITY I WON'T WAKE UP.

SO I'M TRYING NOT TO THINK
ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE IF I THINK
ABOUT IT TOO MUCH,

I MAY END UP CHICKENING OUT.

SO I'M FOCUSING ON THE GOOD
THAT'S GONNA COME WITH THIS

INSTEAD OF THE WORST-CASE
SCENARIO THAT COULD HAPPEN,

BECAUSE MY ONLY OTHER OPTION
IS JUST TO LAY DOWN

AND ACCEPT MY FATE.

AND THAT'S NOT HOW
I WANT TO GO OUT.

SO EITHER THIS WORKS
OR I DIE TRYING.

**

**

L.B.: I'M NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I NEED THIS SURGERY TO BE ABLE
TO MOVE FORWARD IN MY LIFE

AND CONTINUE TO GET
HEALTHY AND LOSE WEIGHT.

BUT THE DIFFICULT PART OF IT

IS JUST TRY TO MENTALLY
PREPARE MYSELF TO GO UNDER,

SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE FAMILY
HERE TO BE WITH ME TODAY.

MY UNCLE FLEW DOWN,
AND I'M THANKFUL HE'S HERE,

BECAUSE ALL THE SUPPORT
I HAVE TODAY IS APPRECIATED.

-HELLO, HELLO.
-YOU'RE READY TO TAKE HIM, HUH?

-YEAH.
-I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

MY ANXIETY LEVEL IS DEFINITELY
PRETTY HIGH RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'M READY FOR THIS.

AND I'M THANKFUL I HAVE THIS
CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

I'M JUST EXTREMELY ANXIOUS
TO GET IT OVER WITH.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: L.B. HAS
CONTINUED TO DO WELL

OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS.

HE HAS LOST ANOTHER 74 POUNDS,
BRINGING HIS WEIGHT DOWN TO 520.

SO TODAY, WE'RE DOING
A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON L.B.

**

HE ALSO HAS A HIATAL HERNIA
THAT I'LL BE REPAIRING.

BUT HE'S STILL
SEVERELY OVERWEIGHT.

WE CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

SO HIS SURGERY
IS HIGH-RISK TODAY.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,

L.B. HAS A VERY THICK
ABDOMINAL WALL.

SO THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER

THE INSTRUMENT
INSIDE HIS ABDOMEN.

**

SO, HOPEFULLY,
THERE'LL BE NO ISSUES

GETTING EVERYTHING
WE INTEND DONE.

BUT IF THERE ARE ANY
COMPLICATIONS, WE WILL STOP.

**

Karen: IT'S VERY NERVE-WRACKING
FOR ME,

'CAUSE ANYTHING CAN GO
WRONG DURING SURGERY.

AND SOMETIMES L.B.
HAS THE WORST COMPLICATIONS.

SO UNTIL I KNOW THAT HE'S OKAY,
I'M GONNA BE A NERVOUS WRECK.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: L.B. HAS PUT HIS
BODY THROUGH A LOT OF ABUSE.

BUT, HOPEFULLY TODAY, WE'LL BE
ABLE TO TURN THAT TREND AROUND,

BECAUSE GASTRIC SLEEVE
IS AN OPERATION

THAT REDUCES THE STOMACH BY 90%,

LEAVING A SKINNY AND LONG TUBE
THAT LOOKS LIKE A SLEEVE

THAT CONNECTS THE ESOPHAGUS
TO THE SMALL INTESTINE.

HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

OKAY, RIGHT THERE.

A GASTRIC SLEEVE WILL CHANGE
THE METABOLISM TO SOME DEGREE

AND WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY

TO BEGIN LOSING WEIGHT,

BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S
FOOD INTAKE

IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.

ALL RIGHT, LOOKS GOOD.

ROOM LIGHT ON.

LET'S CLOSE IT UP.

ALL RIGHT, ALL FINISHED.

L.B.'s SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

HE HAD A GOOD SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
AND HIATAL HERNIA REPAIR.

SO WE WILL GET HIM TO RECOVER
AND SEND HIM HOME IN A FEW DAYS.

L.B. HAS DONE WELL
UP TO THIS POINT.

AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
40 POUNDS THIS FIRST MONTH.

THEN 30 POUNDS
EACH MONTH AFTER THAT.

BUT AS HE STARTS TO RECOVER
AND REALIZES THAT OVEREATING

IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION

AND THAT COMFORT AND
SECURITY BLANKET IS NOW GONE,

HE WILL HAVE TO START
DEALING WITH HIS EMOTIONS,

OR THEY WILL GET
THE BEST OF HIM.

BUT I'LL GIVE L.B.
A COUPLE MONTHS TO SHOW ME

THAT HE'S WORKING
THROUGH WHAT HE NEEDS.

IF NOT, HIS EMOTIONS WILL START
TO GET OUT OF CONTROL,

AND WE'LL HAVE
TO DEAL WITH THAT.

**

**

L.B.: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A
MONTH SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME.

AND FOR THE FIRST COUPLE WEEKS,
I HARDLY WANTED TO EAT.

BUT AS I RECOVERED MORE,
SOME OF THE CRAVINGS

WERE STARTING TO COME BACK.

BUT MY BIGGEST FRUSTRATION AND
STRUGGLE HAS BEEN WITH MY MOM,

BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL
LIKE SHE UNDERSTANDS

HOW HARD THIS IS FOR ME TO BE
ON THIS DIET RIGHT NOW.

AND INSTEAD OF SUPPORTING ME
IN THAT STRUGGLE,

SHE'S BEEN BRINGING THINGS HOME
THAT SHE WANTS TO EAT OR DRINK,

AND THAT'S A HUGE
TEMPTATION FOR ME.

AND THAT MAKES IT SO MUCH
HARDER FOR ME TO DO THIS.

WHAT YOU DRINKING?

Karen: WATERED-DOWN BEER.

WATERED-DOWN BEER,
OR A BEER AND SOME ICE?

A LOT OF ICE AND BEER,
WATERED-DOWN.

YOU DON'T THINK THAT SINCE
I'M MAKING SOME CHANGES,

THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD WORK
ON MAKING SOME, TOO?

NO, I NEED A COUPLE BEERS
IN THE EVENING OR A FEW.

IT MAKES ME STRESS-FREE.

I DON'T GO CRAZY WITH MINE.

WELL, I MEAN, I USED TO DRINK
TO RELIEVE STRESS, TOO,

AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT
IT TURNED INTO.

WELL, THAT'S THE ONE THING
THAT I JUST ENJOY.

YOU DON'T EVER THINK ABOUT
HOW IT MAKES ME FEEL,

COMING FROM THE FACT
THAT I HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM

FOR THERE TO BE BEER
IN REFRIGERATOR.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH AN AWFUL LOT
OF STRESS OVER THE YEARS.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT
THERE'S OTHER --

LIKE, I'M HAVING TO FIND
OTHER WAYS TO DEAL

WITH MY STRESS THAN --
WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO
CONTROL YOUR HABIT.

YOU'RE THE ALCOHOLIC,
NOT ME.

SO YOU DO THINK I HAD
A DRINKING PROBLEM.

OH, HELL,
YOU DRINK LIQUOR.

I DRANK BEER, TOO.

BUT YOU DRANK GALLONS OF LIQUOR
LIKE THIS AND TURNED THEM UP.

IT WASN'T JUST, YOU KNOW,
A FEW BEERS.

YOU'D DRINK
A GALLON OF LIQUOR.

LISTEN,
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA WORRY

OR EITHER CARRY ON
THIS CONVERSATION ANYMORE.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT.

OH, MY GOD.

I'M DONE.

**

Karen:
[ Voice breaking ] IT SEEMS LIKE
THE MORE I DO FOR HIM,

THE MORE HE'S GOT TO FIND
SOME DAMN WAY TO BITCH

ABOUT SOMETHING THAT I DO.

AND I GUARANTEE YOU

I'M THE ONLY DAMN ONE
THAT DOES ANYTHING FOR HIM --

THE ONLY ONE!

MOST MOTHERS WOULD HAVE
GIVEN UP A LONG TIME AGO,

AND I'M STILL HERE.

**

L.B.:
I CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS.

THE LONGER MY MOM HAS TO
STAY OUT HERE IN TEXAS,

THE WORSE IT IS
FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T AT LEAST
TRY TO MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE,

THEN I DON'T KNOW HOW
I'M GONNA HAVE ANY CHANCE

AT STICKING TO THIS
FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

AND I'M WORRIED
I'M JUST GONNA GIVE IN.

**

**

L.B.: IT'S BEEN A BIT
OF A ROUGH MONTH

BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
TENSION BETWEEN ME AND MY MOM.

I STILL FEEL LIKE SHE'S JUST NOT
VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS CHANGE

I'M TRYING TO MAKE...

BECAUSE SHE'S DRINKING
EVEN MORE AROUND ME

AND STILL BRINGING IN THINGS

THAT ARE JUST A HUGE
TEMPTATION FOR ME.

AND IF I BRING IT UP,
WE JUST FIGHT ABOUT IT.

SO I'VE BEEN REALLY
STRESSED OUT.

JAMES BONNER.

L.B.: DR. NOW TOLD ME
I SHOULD LOSE 40 POUNDS

THE FIRST MONTH AFTER SURGERY,

AND THEN 30 POUNDS
EVERY MONTH AFTER THAT.

SO I SHOULD BE AROUND 450 TODAY.

**

IT'S NOT 70 POUNDS,
BUT IT'S WEIGHT LOSS.

AND, HOPEFULLY, DR. NOW THINKS
IT'S GOOD ENOUGH

BECAUSE I'M DOING
THE BEST I CAN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT.
HOW Y'ALL DOING?

WE'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT.

SO, L.B., YOU ONLY LOST
ABOUT HALF OF THE WEIGHT

YOU SHOULD HAVE.

SO HOW IS YOUR EATING HABIT
COMING ALONG?

I THINK I'M DOING GOOD
WITH IT.

SHE OVER-EXAGGERATES
THE LITTLE AMOUNT

THAT I'M TAKING IN, BUT...

HE GETS ONE OF THOSE PROTEIN
LITTLE MILK THINGS,

HE TAKES IT TO BED
WITH HIM AT NIGHT.

I GO IN THERE, HE'S DRANK
ABOUT THIS MUCH.

THAT'S ALL HE HAS EATEN
ALL DAY LONG.

AND, DR. NOW, I'VE BEEN WITH HIM
24 HOURS A DAY,

AND I KNOW
HE HAS NOT EATEN,

AND HE IS NOT DRINKING
BUT THIS MUCH.

WELL, HE DIDN'T STAY ON TRACK,
SO YOU'RE WRONG,

AND YOU DON'T NEED
TO PUSH HIM TO EAT MORE.

SO GIVE HIM A LITTLE ROOM
AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

WELL, HE'S HAVING
HEADACHES, TOO.

THE HEADACHES ARE
BECAUSE OF YOU.

OH, IT IS NOT.

IT IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT
EVEN TOGETHER DURING THE DAY.

YOU'RE ALWAYS IN YOUR ROOM.

YOU JUST SAID
YOU'RE WITH ME 24/7.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TAKING.

BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
TAKING IN YOUR BEDROOM.

[BLEEP] DAMN.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE NOT DRINKING
ANY ALCOHOL

OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

MNH-MNH.

THAT'S NOT PART
OF YOUR LIQUID DIET.

THAT'S PART OF MINE NOW.

YEAH, THAT'S...

'CAUSE HE DRIVES ME
THAT WAY.

HE DRIVES YOU TO DRINKING.

I GOT IT.
OKAY.

SO, L.B.,
YOU'RE A PRETTY EMOTIONAL GUY,

AND YOUR MOM SEEMS TO
THE SOURCE OF 98% OF THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR
YOU TO START SEEING A THERAPIST.

I'M A LITTLE HESITANT
ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER...

NEVER DONE IT.

HERE'S THE SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE
ENDED UP OVER 600 POUNDS

IF THERE WEREN'T
EMOTIONAL ISSUES

DRIVING YOU TO USE
FOOD FOR COMFORT.

OKAY.

SO WE NEED TO START TO PROCESS
OF DEALING WITH THAT

BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.

OKAY.

ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU TWO
HAVE SO MUCH FRICTION.

L.B.'s WEIGHT LOSS OVER THE PAST
TWO MONTHS ISN'T BAD,

BUT IT'S CLEARLY
STARTING TO SLOW,

WHICH MEANS HIS EMOTIONS ARE
COMING TO THE SURFACE RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE SURGERY HAS CHANGED
HIS DYNAMIC WITH FOOD.

SO HE NEEDS TO START DEALING
WITH THOSE ISSUES,

AND THEY MOSTLY SEEM TO
REVOLVE AROUND HIS MOTHER.

SO THEY NEED A LOT OF HELP
BEFORE THINGS GET WORSE

BETWEEN THEM
AND HE STARTS TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO LET'S SEE A THERAPIST,

BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO DO.

OKAY?
OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU
IN TWO MONTHS.

AND YOU NEED TO BE
60 POUNDS LIGHTER BY THEM.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

**

L.B.: I'VE NEVER DONE THERAPY
BEFORE,

AND THE THOUGHT OF IT
DOESN'T APPEAL TO ME.

BUT THINGS ARE GETTING WORSE
BETWEEN ME AND MY MOM,

AND I WANT TO CHANGE THAT.

SO I'LL DO WHAT I NEED.

AND, HOPEFULLY, IT GOES WELL.

**

**

TODAY I'M HEADING TO THERAPY.

I CHICKENED OUT
ON MY FIRST APPOINTMENT,

SO DR. NOW SET ANOTHER ONE.

I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL
ISSUES TO DEAL WITH...

ESPECIALLY WITH MY MOM.

BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW
WHERE TO START.

**

-L.B.
-HOW ARE YOU?

FINE.
I'M LOLA.

WHAT A PLEASURE.
NICE TO MEET YA.

COME RIGHT ON IN.

AND HAVE A SEAT ANYWHERE
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.

**

OKAY.

SO GLAD
YOU COULD MAKE IT TODAY.

ME, TOO.
YEAH?

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF, L.B.,

ABOUT HOW YOU GREW UP.

UH, I WAS...

ADOPTED AS A NEWBORN,

AND I'VE STRUGGLED A LOT
MY WHOLE LIFE

WITH FEELING KIND OF
LIKE A BURDEN

AND A DISAPPOINTMENT
TO MY FAMILY IN GENERAL.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST
BEGIN FEELING THAT WAY?

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER
FELT LIKE I WAS...

LIVING UP
TO WHAT MY MOM AND DAD EXPECTED

OUT OF THEIR ONLY SON.

YOU KNOW, L.B.,
ADOPTION IS A SPECIAL THING,

BECAUSE IT MEANS
YOU WERE CHOSEN.

YOU HELPED THEM
EXPAND THEIR FAMILY

AND EXPAND THEIR LIVES
AS A WHOLE.

BUT SOMEHOW,
YOU DON'T VIEW YOURSELF

AS HAVING
GIVEN THEM ANYTHING,

AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE.

WHAT'S YOUR HEART'S DESIRE?

TO GET APPROVAL
FROM MY FAMILY.

THAT'S NOT A LIFE PLAN.

FIRST OF ALL,
FOR SOME REASON,

YOU DON'T SEEM
TO VALUE YOURSELF.

AND IF YOU'RE UNABLE TO SEE
YOUR WORTH AND VALUE,

YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE DIFFICULTY

EXPERIENCING OTHERS

PERCEIVING YOUR WORTH.

NOW, APPROVAL
MAY NEVER COME.

BUT SELF-VALIDATION IS
WHAT'S MOST MEANINGFUL.

I'VE NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT THAT.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THE QUALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP

YOU HAVE WITH
YOUR PARENTS TODAY?

I FEEL LIKE MY DAD
CAN'T EVEN LOOK AT ME

AND MY MOM CONSTANTLY
REMINDS ME

OF WHERE I SHOULD BE IN LIFE
VERSUS WHERE I'M AT.

AND I LOVE HER TO DEATH, BUT WE
CAN'T BE AROUND EACH OTHER

FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT
OF TIME.

WHY IS THAT?

MY MOM KIND OF HARPS
ON THINGS A LOT.

AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S GOT TO BE HER WAY

RIGHT THEN
ALL THE TIME.

-HAS IT ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY?
-OH, YEAH.

BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE
TO FIND YOUR VOICE AND SAY,

"OKAY, I HEAR YOU,
BUT I'M SATISFIED, I'M HAPPY."

AND YOU HAVE IT WELL
WITHIN YOUR RIGHT

TO INSTRUCT PEOPLE
TO NOT CRITICIZE YOU.

YOU CAN SAY THAT.
NOT TO HER.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF YOU SAID THAT TO HER?

THAT JUST MAKES IT
10 TIMES WORSE.

SHE'S A HANDFUL.

THAT CAN CHANGE.

YOU'RE FOCUSED AND
YOU'RE AUTONOMOUS RIGHT NOW,

AND YOU'RE GOING
TO TEACH YOUR MOM

TO RESPECT THAT
INDEPENDENCE AND AUTONOMY.

AND IT'S OKAY TO SEPARATE
YOURSELF FROM CIRCUMSTANCES

OR PEOPLE IF THOSE THINGS
ARE UNHEALTHY FOR YOU.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN
TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS

AND ASSERT YOURSELF,

ESPECIALLY WITH
THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE

THAT YOU FIND IT MOST DIFFICULT
TO COMMUNICATE WITH.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.

I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE
YOU LISTENING.

OKAY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO THE NEXT APPOINTMENT.

I DO, AS WELL.

HAVE A GREAT REST
OF YOUR DAY.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

BYE.

**

L.B.: I DEFINITELY AM MORE OPEN
TO THERAPY AFTER THIS SESSION

THAN I WAS BEFORE IT.

AND I THINK I NEEDED
THIS KIND OF REALITY CHECK,

BECAUSE WHEN I FALL SHORT,
I FEEL GUILTY.

AND IF ALWAYS HAVING MY MOM
DO EVERYTHING FOR ME

IS THE BIGGEST
SOURCE OF MY GUILT,

THEN MAYBE THE ONLY OPTION
IS TO TELL MY MOM

TO GO BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW
SHE'S GONNA TAKE THAT.

NO MATTER HOW SCARY
OR HARD IT IS,

I THINK THIS IS
WHAT I NEED TO DO.

**

L.B.: A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT
HOME FROM MY THERAPY SESSION,

I TOLD MY MOM

I THINK SHE NEEDS TO MOVE
BACK HOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND SHE WAS UPSET AT FIRST,

BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT IT,

IT TURNED OUT TO BE
A GOOD CONVERSATION,

BECAUSE SHE AGREED.

IT'S BEEN FIVE MONTHS
SINCE WE'VE BEEN BACK HOME,

AND SHE KNOWS THAT THIS ISN'T
WORKING AS MUCH AS I DO,

SO SHE'S GOING BACK TOMORROW.

BUT THE THERAPIST THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE GOOD BEFORE SHE LEFT

THAT I TELL MY MOM THANK YOU
AND SHARE HOW I FEEL.

**

BUT I'M JUST HOPING
IT DOESN'T TURN INTO

ANOTHER ARGUMENT OR FIGHT.

I WANT US
TO PART ON GOOD TERMS.

MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I JUST GOT FINISHED
CLEANING THE KITCHEN UP.

WHAT YOU DOING?

DO YOU WANT TO COME IN HERE
AND TALK FOR A MINUTE?

WHAT'S UP?

ALL RIGHT.

I JUST WANT TO SAY A FEW THINGS
AND YOU NOT SAY ANYTHING.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST OF ALL,

I'M REALLY THANKFUL THAT
YOU TOOK TIME TO COME OUT HERE

AND HELP ME GET SITUATED

AND GET THROUGH MY SURGERY
AND ALL THAT.

BUT I'VE STRUGGLED
FOR A REALLY LONG TIME,

FEELING LIKE A DISAPPOINTMENT
AND A LET-DOWN TO OUR FAMILY,

AND I STILL STRUGGLE
WITH THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT I STILL
DON'T FEEL LIKE

I'VE ACCOMPLISHED ANYTHING
FOR Y'ALL TO BE PROUD OF.

BUT I DON'T WANT OR INTEND
TO HAVE TO RELY ON YOU

AND DAD ANYMORE.

I THINK ME BEING OUT HERE

AND GETTING KIND OF
A FRESH LEASE ON LIFE

IS THE BEST THING FOR ME
AND FOR OUR FAMILY IN GENERAL.

I LOVE YOU AND DAD TO DEATH
AND ALL MY SISTERS.

I'M THANKFUL THAT I'VE HAD
Y'ALL'S SUPPORT THIS FAR.

NOW CAN I SAY SOMETHING?

YEAH.

YOU ARE NO DIFFERENT
TO ME

THAN YOUR SISTERS ARE,

AS IF I HAD GIVEN BIRTH
TO YOU, YOU CARRY MY BLOOD.

WHEN YOU HURT OR WHEN
YOUR LEG WAS

CUT OFF OR WHEN
YOU'RE IN PAIN,

I FEEL THAT PAIN.

I JUST DON'T FEEL
LIKE MY SELF-WORTH

HAS BEEN DESERVING
OF THOSE FEELINGS.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS
WORLD THAT YOU CAN DO THAT

I'M GONNA STOP
LOVING YOU FOR.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST
THE BOND THAT I HAVE.

AND I CAN'T EVER GET
THROUGH TO YOU

THAT YOU MEAN
THAT MUCH TO ME.

AND I AM HAPPY THAT YOU
HAVE MADE THIS CHANGE, L.B.,

AND THAT YOU'RE READY
TO STEP UP AND BE A MAN,

AND YOU'RE READY TO TAKE
CARE OF YOUR OWN PROBLEMS.

**

I KNOW THAT THEY ALWAYS SAY
L.B. AND I

ARE LIKE OIL AND WATER
AND WE FIGHT ALL THE TIME.

BUT I COULDN'T LOVE...

ANYBODY AS MUCH AS I LOVE HIM.

AND HE'S GIVEN ME MORE TROUBLE

THAN ALL OF MY
CHILDREN TOGETHER,

BUT THE LOVE IS STILL THERE.

L.B.: I THINK THAT TALK
WENT PRETTY GOOD,

AND IT FELT GOOD TO KIND OF
CLEAR MY CHEST TO MY MOM

AND LET HER KNOW
HOW I FELT ABOUT THINGS,

AND I KNOW IT PUT HER
AT EASE TO KNOW

THAT I'M AT A MENTALLY
GOOD PLACE FOR HER

TO GO BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

**

OKAY, I'M ALL PACKED.

YOU READY
FOR YOUR FLIGHT?

YES, I AM.

I DO HAVE ONE FAVOR TO ASK OF
YOU BEFORE YOU LEAVE, THOUGH.

CAN YOU THROW AWAY
YOUR DOUGHNUTS

AND THE BREAD
OUT OF THE CABINET?

MM-HMM, SURE.

**

**

I GUESS WHENEVER YOU GET BACK,
JUST LET EVERYBODY KNOW

I MISS 'EM.

I JUST WANT YOU
TO STAY STRONG, L.B.

IF YOU NEED ME,
JUST CALL ME.

OKAY?

I'M 97% BACK TO NORMAL NOW.

58%.
NO.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU, TOO.

[ CAR HORN HONKS ]

CAB'S HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL GRAB YOUR BAG FOR YA.

**

L.B.: THERE'S A LITTLE BIT
OF LONELINESS

I FEEL RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S A LITTLE SCARY.

I JUST HOPE I'M ABLE
TO DO THIS BY MYSELF,

AND THAT I DON'T END UP
MAKING A MESS OF THINGS.

THIS IS MY CHANCE
TO PROVE MYSELF.

AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY
SCARY, IT FEELS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, I LOVE YOU.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I WILL.

**

LET ME KNOW WHEN
YOU MAKE IT HOME.

ALL RIGHT.

**

BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF BEING
A FAILURE AND A BURDEN

AND THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE
THAT IS TO DO THIS,

NO MATTER WHAT LIFE'S ABOUT
TO THROW AT ME.

**

**

L.B.: IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH
SINCE MY MOM MOVED BACK

TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVE
A HANDLE ON THINGS.

I'M LOOKING AFTER MYSELF
AND CLEANING UP

AND COOKING MY OWN MEALS.

AND I DEFINITELY FEEL
MORE RELAXED

AND A LITTLE MORE MOTIVATED
SINCE MY MOM'S NOT HERE.

I'VE MADE A COUPLE
LITTLE MISTAKES

AND CHEATED A LITTLE BIT,

BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S DERAILED ME.

BECAUSE WEIGHT'S
STILL COMING OFF

AND I'M STILL GETTING MORE
AND MORE ACTIVE EVERY DAY.

AND I'VE BEEN RIDING
AN OLD BIKE I GOT

BECAUSE IT'S EASIER ON MY LEG,

AND IT HELPS ME
GET MY HEART RATE UP.

BUT WHAT I'D REALLY LOVE TO DO
IS START RUNNING AGAIN.

BUT I KNOW I NEED TO GET
A NEW PROSTHETIC TO DO THAT.

I'D ALSO HAVE TO GO BACK
TO MY GUY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

TO GET FITTED.

BUT HE SAID WHAT WOULD BE BEST

IS IF I MADE IT
TO THE 400s FIRST.

SO I'M USING THAT AS
A MOTIVATOR FOR ME TO

GET DOWN TO THAT WEIGHT.

WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON
AND MY MOM LEAVING,

I MISSED MY LAST DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT.

DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT I HAD
TO STAY ON TRACK

AND LOSE ANOTHER
30 POUNDS THIS MONTH.

SO I HAVE A BIG GOAL TO HIT
WHEN I SEE HIM NEXT,

AND I'M WORKING AS HARD
AS I CAN TO DO THAT.

**

Woman: JAMES BONNER.

L.B.: TODAY I'M GONNA SEE WHERE
MY PROGRESS IS AT

AND IF I HIT
MY WEIGHT LOSS GOALS.

HE'S GETTING ME BELOW 392.

**

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

I KNEW I WAS DOING WELL,

BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BETTER
THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M GUESSING THE DOC'S
GONNA BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

HEY, L.B.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE LOST 102
POUNDS OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

YEP.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

I AM PROUD OF YOU.

WELL, I CAN'T THANK YOU
ENOUGH FOR GIVING ME

THE TOOLS I NEEDED.

SO MY WHOLE OUTLOOK'S
CHANGED.

I -- I KNOW FOR SURE I NEVER
WANT TO BE THE PERSON

I USED TO BE WHEN IT COMES
TO FOOD OR ALCOHOL AGAIN.

I NEVER WANT TO FALL
BACK INTO THAT.

WELL, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,
BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I WILL.
ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU LATER.
THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

**

I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT TODAY
AND HOW IT WENT.

I DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE
I'VE GOT ALL THE TOOLS

THAT I NEED TO WIN MY BATTLE
WITH NOT ONLY MY WEIGHT,

BUT MY ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

SO I LOOK FORWARD
TO PUSHING MYSELF

A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERY DAY

TO MAKE TODAY BETTER
THAN YESTERDAY.

**

**

I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR TWO DAYS NOW.

I DECIDED I WANTED TO GO HOME
TO SOUTH CAROLINA FOR A VISIT.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE
AND SHOW 'EM THE PROGRESS

I'VE MADE.

BUT I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GET
FITTED FOR A NEW LEG

WHILE I'M HERE.

AND I ALSO HAVE
A SURPRISE FOR MY DAD.

SO THIS WHOLE TRIP
IS A BIG DEAL.

**

[ CHEERING ]

LOOK AT YOU!

-IT'S LIKE IN HIGH SCHOOL!
-HEY, L.B.!

YOU LOOK SO YOUNG!

Karen: SEEING L.B. TODAY
HAS MADE ME REALLY HAPPY.

HE LOOKS SO GOOD,
I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.

**

YOU LOOK SO GOOD!

STILL FAT, THERE'S JUST
A LITTLE LESS OF ME.

-A LOT LESS.
-A LOT LESS!

RIGHT.

I'VE HAD TO ADD
THREE BELT LOOPS AND...

[ LAUGHTER ]

RIGHT.

Buddy: WAIT A MINUTE.

LOOKING GOOD, BUD.

L.B.: COMING HOME AND SEEING
ALL THE SUPPORT

THAT MY FAMILY GAVE ME
ABOUT THE WEIGHT

I'VE LOST SO FAR DEFINITELY
MADE ME FEEL GOOD.

I EXPECTED IT TO BE
OVER-EXAGGERATED

AND REALLY OVER THE TOP,

AND IT WAS A LOT MORE GENUINE
THAN I WAS EXPECTING IT TO BE.

**

**

AND GRAB THAT STRETCHER
OVER THERE.

**

THIS MORNING, I SURPRISED
MY DAD BY TELLING HIM

THAT I WANTED TO GO WITH HIM
TO WORK AND GIVE HIM A HAND.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME

THAT I SPEND SOME TIME
WITH HIM ON THIS TRIP,

AND I WANTED TO AT LEAST
DO THIS WITH HIM

TO SHOW HIM
HOW MUCH MORE I CAN DO.

Buddy: I'M PROUD OF L.B.

AND ALL I WANT FOR MY SON
IS TO BE HEALTHY AND HAPPY

AND LIVE A LONG LIFE.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE
THAT HAPPENING.

I LIKE HIS PROGRESS.

TO ME, HE'S DONE IT A LITTLE
QUICKER THAN WE THOUGHT

HE WOULD DO IT.

USUALLY, THAT TAKES
A LITTLE TIME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

AND GET IN BETTER SHAPE,
AND HE'S DONE IT QUICK.

L.B.: I KNOW HE'S ALWAYS
HOPED AND DREAMED

THAT I'D TAKE OVER THE
FAMILY BUSINESS SOME DAY.

AND I'M SHOWING HIM THAT MAYBE
THAT'S POSSIBLE IN THE FUTURE.

**

**

MY NEW PROSTHETIC
FINALLY CAME IN.

BECAUSE I'VE LOST
SO MUCH WEIGHT,

I'M ABLE TO GET A SMALLER ONE
THAT'S EASIER TO USE

AND DOESN'T CAUSE
AS MANY ISSUES.

I CAN ALREADY TELL IT
FEELS A LOT BETTER.

AND I'M HOPING I CAN
DO SOMETHING TODAY

I HAVEN'T DONE
IN AROUND 15 YEARS.

I'M HOPING I'LL BE ABLE
TO START RUNNING.

AND IF I CAN, THAT WILL MEAN
I CAN GET EVEN MORE ACTIVE,

AND, HOPEFULLY,
MAKE PROGRESS EVEN FASTER.

BUT THIS IS A LITTLE SCARY.

BECAUSE IF I SLIP AND FALL,
I CAN GET SERIOUSLY HURT.

**

**

I'M EXHAUSTED,
BUT THAT WAS AWESOME.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE
TO DO THAT AGAIN.

A YEAR AGO, I WAS LIVING
IN MY PARENTS' GARAGE,

OVER 600 POUNDS, AND HARDLY
EVER LEAVING THE COUCH.

**

BUT I'M AMAZED AT HOW MUCH MY
LIFE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

THE DOC SAYS I'LL BE READY
FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL SOON.

AND AFTER THAT, I'LL BE
GETTING REALLY CLOSE

TO MY TARGET WEIGHT.

SO MY FUTURE AHEAD IS BRIGHT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE
WHAT IT HOLDS FOR ME NOW.