Original subtitles

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.