Original subtitles

HI, MY NAME IS ROSHANDA PERRIO.

I'M 30 YEARS OLD.

I LIVE IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.

I'M CURRENTLY 783 POUNDS,

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I'M TO THE POINT NOW WHERE...

I CAN'T HARDLY MOVE AROUND LIKE I WANT TO ANYMORE.

IT'S GETTING REAL DIFFICULT, AND...

IF I EVER GET TO WHERE I CAN'T DO NOTHING FOR MYSELF,

I DON'T THINK I WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.

HEY, GUYS. MY NAME IS BRANDIE PERRIO.

I'M FROM ST. MARTINVILLE, LOUISIANA,

BUT I LIVE IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.

I'M 29 YEARS OLD,

AND I WOULD SAY MY WEIGHT IS ABOUT...

BETWEEN 600 AND 650.

I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M JUST WAITING TO DIE,

LIKE, I'M JUST HERE JUST WAITING TO PASS,

AND IF I COULD SEE --

LIKE, IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,

I CAN SEE IF NOTHING CHANGES, IF I DON'T GET ANY HELP,

I CAN SEE MYSELF NOT BEING HERE ANYMORE.

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CLARENCE PERRIO.

I'M THE OLDEST BROTHER OF BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA.

I'M NOT QUITE AS BIG AS THEM, BUT I'M BIG, YOU KNOW?

I THINK ROSHANDA ALWAYS HAD ASPIRATIONS OF DOING MORE THINGS

THAN SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO,

AND HER WEIGHT HAS BEEN HOLDING HER BACK, YOU KNOW?

I'VE TRIED MY BEST, AND I DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP.

YOU KNOW, ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP ON HOPING AND PRAYING

AND KEEP ON COMING EVERY DAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HUMAN HISTORY...

AND THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THAT IS OBESITY.

AND NOW I'M TRAINING OTHER DOCTORS TO UNDERSTAND

HOW THEY CAN TREAT THOSE WHO ARE OVER 600 POUNDS

BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY,

SEVERE OBESITY IS NO LONGER LIMITED TO A SMALL POPULATION.

IT'S STARTING TO AFFECT MORE RANGES OF PEOPLE,

INCLUDING CHILDREN AND WHOLE FAMILIES AT ONE TIME.

I HAVE A BIG SWEET TOOTH. PIES, COOKIES, CHOCOLATES.

I LOVE ICE CREAM.

I HAVE A HALF A GALLON OF COOKIES AND CREAM RIGHT NOW,

AND I MIGHT FIX ME A LITTLE BIT BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AND IN SITUATIONS

THAT WE FIND WHOLE FAMILIES

GAINING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT BY ENABLING EACH OTHER,

IT CAN BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT

TO BREAK THROUGH THAT DYNAMIC TO SAVE THEIR LIVES.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: EVERY DAY,

I WONDER TO MYSELF HOW COULD I LET THINGS GET SO BAD...

...AND HOW I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG

TO WHERE JUST DOING ANYTHING IS SUCH A STRUGGLE.

BUT THAT'S MY LIFE NOW.

AND SOME DAYS I WONDER HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN KEEP DOING THIS...

♪♪

...BECAUSE I'M AT THE POINT NOW

WHERE I AM NO LONGER INDEPENDENT.

♪♪

SO, MY BROTHER CLARENCE HAS HAD TO BECOME MY CARETAKER,

BUT IN THE MORNINGS, HE'S HELPING MY YOUNGER SISTER

BRANDIE BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT, TOO.

WE ALL LIVE ABOUT A BLOCK FROM EACH OTHER,

AND UNTIL THEY CAN HELP ME,

MY NEIGHBOR MISS MARIE HELPS ME.

[ Ringing ]

MARIE: Hello?YOU BUSY?

Unh-unh.

I'M HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING MY PANTS ON.

CAN YOU COME HELP ME?

All right.

[ KNOCKING ]

COME ON.

HEY.HOW YOU DOING, BABY?

I NEED...WHAT YOU NEED ME TO DO?

IT'S GETTING SCARY BECAUSE EVERY DAY IT FEELS LIKE

I CAN DO LESS AND LESS ON MY OWN,

AND I KNOW SOON I'M GONNA BE BEDRIDDEN

AND COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

OKAY.

AND THAT TERRIFIES ME.

I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT POINT BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A LIFE,

BUT RIGHT NOW I HAVE NO IDEA

HOW I CAN STOP IT FROM GETTING TO THAT POINT

BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP EATING.

IT'S ALL I WANT TO DO.

YOU GO, GIRL.

♪♪

SO ONCE I'M DRESSED,

I GO WAIT BY THE FRONT DOOR

FOR CLARENCE AND BRANDIE TO SHOW UP WITH OUR MEAL,

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO GET HERE WITH MY FOOD

SO WE CAN EAT.

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: IT'S GETTING HARD TO KEEP DOING WHAT I DO EVERY DAY

BECAUSE I'M THE ONE WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR MY SISTERS.

SO, THE FIRST THING I DO WHEN I WAKE UP

IS I TEXT ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OKAY

BECAUSE I GET WORRIED THAT SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM

DURING THE NIGHT...

ESPECIALLY ROSHANDA,

SINCE OVER THE YEARS, SHE'S GOTTEN BIGGER.

I WORRY SHE JUST WON'T WAKE UP ONE MORNING.

BUT IF THEY'RE GOOD, I GET DRESSED...

...AND GO GET MY SISTER BRANDIE SO WE CAN EAT.

♪♪

BUT IT'S STARTING TO GET TOUGH FOR ME, TOO,

BECAUSE MY WEIGHT IS STARTING TO GET TO THE POINT

WHERE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET AROUND.

AND THAT SCARES ME...

...BECAUSE I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT MY SISTERS ARE RELYING ON

TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND IF I'M NOT THERE FOR THEM, NO ONE WILL BE.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT,

I CAN'T LET MYSELF GET TO THE POINT

TO WHERE I CAN'T BE THERE FOR THEM.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT.

SO, I USUALLY START OFF MY DAY WITH A SNACK...

...AND THEN I JUST WAIT FOR CLARENCE TO COME GET ME

SO WE CAN GO GET MORE FOOD.

[ EXHALES ]

♪♪

Clarence: READY TO ROLL, MAN?

ALL RIGHT.

AND AS SOON AS HE GETS HERE,

I JUST WANT TO GO AND GET OUR MEAL...

♪♪

...'CAUSE IT'S THE MOST EXCITING PART OF MY DAY.

♪♪

BUT WE ALL EAT PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING,

AND WE KNOW WHAT WE ALL LIKE.

REALLY, ANYTHING FRIED OR PIZZA OR HAMBURGERS

ARE GOOD WITH ALL OF US.

WOMAN: Hi, can I help you?

TWO ORDERS OF THE 10-PIECE CHICKEN TENDERS.

ALSO, A FAMILY FRY AND A SLICE OF PECAN PIE.

First in line. Come to the window.

ALL RIGHT.

♪♪

Brandie: WE TRY TO HURRY 'CAUSE WE KNOW ROSHANDA'S WAITING, TOO,

BUT WE ALL CAN'T WAIT TO EAT.

AND WE USUALLY GET A LOT 'CAUSE WE ALL CAN EAT A LOT.

♪♪

Roshanda: WHEN CLARENCE AND BRANDIE BRING ME SOMETHING TO EAT,

I GET SO EXCITED...

HONEY, I'M HOME.

Roshanda: ...BECAUSE FOOD'S WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY.

IT'S WHAT MAKES US ALL HAPPY

BECAUSE FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR US,

AND IT'S NOT ONLY BROUGHT US CLOSER TOGETHER --

IT'S HELPED US GET THROUGH A LOT.

IT'S WHAT MAKES US FEEL GOOD...

...AND IT'S WHAT WE DO AS A FAMILY,

AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR A WHILE.

♪♪

FOOD HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG PART OF ALL THREE OF OUR LIVES

SINCE WE WERE YOUNG.

THERE IS FOUR OF US --

ME, BRANDIE, CLARENCE, AND OUR OTHER BROTHER, BRANDON.

BUT BRANDON'S ALWAYS DONE HIS OWN THING,

SO IT'S BEEN THE THREE OF US.

WE HAVE STUCK TOGETHER AND FORMED THE BOND WE HAVE.

I WAS HAPPY WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL.

WE WERE ONE BIG FAMILY --

MY MOM AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTER AND MY DAD.

Brandie: WHEN WE WERE ALL REALLY YOUNG,

IT WAS ALWAYS, LIKE, A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY.

WE ALWAYS HAD, LIKE, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND STUFF.

I MEAN, IT WAS NORMAL,

BUT THINGS STARTED TO CHANGE AS WE GOT OLDER.

I REMEMBER MY MOM AND DAD STARTING TO FIGHT A LOT

WHEN I WAS AROUND FIVE

BECAUSE HE STARTED TO DO DRUGS,

AND AS HIS ADDICTION STARTED TO GET WORSE,

HE STARTED TO SET A LOT OF RULES IN THE HOUSE,

LIKE RESTRICTING WHAT WE ATE.

AND BACK THEN, ME AND BRANDIE WERE THE ONES WHO WERE CLOSE,

AND WHAT WE WOULD DO TOGETHER WAS FIND WAYS TO SNEAK FOOD.

YOU KNOW, MY DAD, HE PUT ALL THE JUNK --

THE SWEETS, THE SODAS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT --

IN THE CLOSET, AND HE HAD, LIKE, A LOCK ON THE CLOSET,

BUT WHENEVER WE WANTED SOMETHING, WE JUST --

MY MOMMA HAD THIS CANE THAT WE WOULD TAKE

AND WE WOULD OPEN UP THE CLOSET A LITTLE BIT

'CAUSE IT STILL COULD OPEN A LITTLE BIT

EVEN WITH THE LOCK ON IT.

AND WE WOULD JUST, LIKE, KNOCK STUFF DOWN

AND GRAB IT OUT LIKE THAT.

SO, I KNOW THAT ME AND ROSHANDA STARTED GAINING AROUND THEN.

AND THE EARLIEST I REMEMBER STARTING TO REALIZE

THAT I WAS GETTING BIG WAS AROUND WHEN I WAS SEVEN,

AND I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO 100 POUNDS.

WHEN WE WERE EATING,

THAT'S WHEN WE FELT BETTER AND HAPPY AND SAFE.

AND WE HAD OTHER WAYS OF GETTING FOOD, TOO.

ME AND MY SISTER WOULD GO AND WE WOULD PUT WHAT WE WANTED --

WE WOULD SNEAK WHAT WE WANTED IN A BASKET,

AND THEN WHEN IT WAS TIME TO TAKE THE GROCERIES DOWN,

WE WOULD HIDE WHAT WE WANTED.

WE WOULD GO TAKE THAT OUT OF THE CAR FIRST

AND GO RUN AND HIDE IT IN THE ROOM.

SO, WE KEPT SNEAKING FOOD AND GAINING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 12, I WAS OVER 300 POUNDS.

BUT AT THAT TIME, EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR US

BECAUSE MY DAD KICKED MY MOM AND ALL OF US OUT.

Brandie: THINGS GOT WORSE BETWEEN MY MOM AND DAD.

MY DADDY WAS GOING THROUGH SOME THINGS.

I WOULDN'T SAY HE PUT US OUT THE HOUSE.

HE PUT MY MOM OUT THE HOUSE, AND WE DECIDED TO GO WITH HER.

I MEAN, SHE'S MY MOMMA.

BUT THAT'S WHEN ALL OF US STARTED TO GET MUCH CLOSER --

BECAUSE WE HAD TO.

WE ALL HAD TO BE A TEAM, AND MY MOMMA,

SHE DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF US.

SO, WE WENT AND STAYED WITH MY AUNT FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

THEN MY MOM GOT HER OWN APARTMENT.

BUT WE ALL WORKED TOGETHER.

SO, WE HAD WHAT WE NEEDED.

BUT AFTER MY PARENTS BROKE UP, LIKE, WE DID WHAT WE WANTED.

DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE BOSS WAS.

MY DADDY RAN THE SHOW.

ONCE HE WAS GONE, IT WAS LIKE...

ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE.

...WE FELT LIKE HE HAD NO SAY SO ANYMORE.

WE ESPECIALLY DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM.

AND THE ONE BIG THING THAT WE ALL GOT AWAY WITH

WITH NO WATCHING OR DISCIPLINING US WAS EATING.

IT WAS THE THREE OF US -- ME, ROSHANDA, AND BRANDIE --

WHO STARTED EATING MORE,

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS FOR A FEW YEARS

UNTIL WE ALL GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

AND BY THEN, EVERYBODY HAD PUT ON A LOT OF WEIGHT.

BY THE TIME I WAS 18, I WAS ALREADY 600 POUNDS,

AND BRANDIE WAS AROUND 17 THEN,

AND SHE WAS GETTING TO 500 POUNDS AT THE TIME.

BUT CLARENCE WAS ALWAYS THE SMALLEST BETWEEN US THREE

AND WAS JUST AROUND 350 AT THE TIME.

SO, HE STARTED TO HAVE TO DO THINGS FOR US

AND TAKE CARE OF US.

I REMEMBER LOOKING AT MY SISTERS AND BEING, YOU KNOW --

I KNOW WE COME FROM A HEFTY FAMILY.

WE ALWAYS GONNA BE CHUNKY, BUT, I MEAN,

TO BE CONTINUOUSLY GROWING EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS

AND REACHING A NEW NUMBER IN THE 100-SYSTEM, YOU KNOW,

I MEAN, IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

AND I REALIZED THAT IT WOULD FALL ON ME

TO START TO PROVIDE FOR EVERYONE,

SO I KIND OF BECAME THE MAN OF THE FAMILY.

ON TOP OF ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE GETTING BIGGER AND DOING LESS,

OUR MOM PASSED AWAY,

AND I WAS TRULY THE ONLY ONE LEFT THEN TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

Roshanda: WHEN WE STARTED GETTING OUR OWN PLACES,

ME, BRANDIE, AND CLARENCE STUCK TOGETHER

AND DIDN'T GO FAR FROM EACH OTHER

BECAUSE CLARENCE WAS TAKING CARE OF US,

AND I REALIZED THAT I COULDN'T DO

HALF OF THE THINGS THAT I USED TO,

AND I COULDN'T WALK TO THE CORNER STORE ANYMORE.

WHEN I TRIED TO GET ON THE BUS,

I HAD TO SQUEEZE THROUGH THE AISLE.

AND I WASN'T EVEN ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO THINGS LIKE SHOP.

AND I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED FOR A WHILE,

AND THAT MADE IT ALL WORSE

BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO EAT

MORE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE BAD FOR ME.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 23, I WAS OVER 700 POUNDS.

THAT'S WHEN I COULD TELL MY HEALTH WAS GETTING REALLY BAD,

AND THE SAME WAS HAPPENING WITH BRANDIE.

Brandie: WHEN I WAS 22, I GOT SICK,

AND I ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

I WAS HAVING A LOT OF BREATHING ISSUES

AND I WAS STILL HAVING A LOT OF BREATHING PROBLEMS, LIKE...

I HAVE PAIN IN MY BACK AND MY KNEES.

I CAN'T REALLY WALK THAT FAR.

AND NOW I FIGURE I'M OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND I'M SCARED ROSHANDA MAY BE AS HIGH AS 800 POUNDS,

BUT I'M NOT HOPING NOT.

BUT BOTH OF OUR HEALTH IS REALLY BAD NOW.

I ALWAYS TOLD MYSELF ONCE I WOULD REACH 800 POUNDS,

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.

AND WHEN MY 28th BIRTHDAY CAME AROUND AND I SAW I WAS 749,

I DECIDED TO HAVE A BIG PARTY AND INVITE EVERYONE

BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK

I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE LIKE THIS

FOR ANOTHER YEAR.

SO IT WAS MY WAY OF SAYING GOODBYE TO EVERYONE.

BUT NOW I'M 31, AND I'M EVEN WORSE OFF,

SO I KNOW I CAN'T HAVE MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

Clarence: IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT

TO WHERE I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE,

AND IT SCARES ME TO THINK

THAT THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LIVE MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

BUT THEN I REALIZE THAT I'M GETTING THAT WAY, TOO.

IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I WAS WEIGHED,

AND IT WAS A BIG SHOCK THE LAST TIME I WAS.

AND WHEN I SAW THE SCALE...

WHEN I SAW THE SCALE TIPPING OVER 500 POUNDS,

IT'S A SLAP IN THE FACE,

BUT IT'S REALITY, YOU KNOW?

BUT I CAN'T LET MYSELF GET SO BIG

THAT I CAN'T WORK TO PROVIDE FOR THEM

AND TO TAKE CARE OF THEM

BECAUSE THEN THEY'LL HAVE NO ONE.

I FEEL BAD AND SAD FOR CLARENCE

BECAUSE I KNOW...

THAT HE WAS REALLY A "GO OUT AND GET IT" TYPE OF PERSON,

ACTIVE.

AND RIGHT NOW,

HE'S, YOU KNOW, ON THAT ROAD TO WHERE WE WAS,

AND I KNOW HE'S NOT HAPPY WITH HIMSELF.

Clarence: SO, I CAN'T LET MY WEIGHT GET TO THAT POINT.

AND OUR FATHER HAD RECENTLY RECONNECTED WITH US,

AND WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO TRY TO LET HIM BACK IN OUR LIVES.

SO, I KNOW THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE.

Roshanda: WE ALL KNOW HOW BAD IT IS FOR US RIGHT NOW,

BUT WE'VE BEEN TO DOCTORS OVER THE YEARS

WHO HAVE TOLD US THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP US

BECAUSE WE'RE TOO BIG.

BUT NOW, WE'RE SEEING SOMEONE HERE IN LOUISIANA,

AND TOMORROW WE HAVE OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT

TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE

AND IF THEY CAN HELP US.

BUT WE'RE ALL SCARED TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE GONNA SAY,

AND THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP SOME OF US OR ALL OF US.

SO, I'M JUST REALLY HOPING THAT WE GET GOOD NEWS TOMORROW

BECAUSE ALL THREE OF US ARE OUT OF OPTIONS,

AND IF WE DON'T GET HELP,

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GONNA SURVIVE.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: ALL OF US ARE HERE AT THE DOCTOR'S

FOR OUR FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

WE CAME IN FOR A CHECK-UP,

AND NOW WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT

WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

OR ANY HELP TO LOSE WEIGHT.

IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME WITH ME, I'LL SHOW YOU TO THE ROOM.

I KNOW WE'RE ALL SCARED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IT JUST FEELS LIKE OUR LIVES ARE HANGING IN THE BALANCE

AND THAT THE REST OF OUR LIVES

ARE ABOUT TO BE DETERMINED HERE TODAY.

Clarence: I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP FOR ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE

FOR A WHILE NOW,

AND THIS IS LITERALLY THE LAST PLACE IN LAFAYETTE

THAT CAN HELP US.

SO, IF THEY CAN'T, THEN I'M SCARED

'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

-HEY, GUYS. -HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

I'M DOING WELL. THANKS FOR COMING IN TODAY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GUYS ARE INTERESTED

IN WEIGHT-LOST PROCEDURE.YES, SIR.

AND NO PRIMARY DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO HELP YOU LOSE ANY WEIGHT.

THEY NEVER REALLY TRIED.

ALL THEY WOULD DO IS, LIKE, TELL YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT...

AND THAT'S ALL YOU HEAR EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

RIGHT. RIGHT. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT'S IN OUR CENTER,

MUCH LIKE OTHER CENTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY,

IS THAT WE HAVE A LIMITATION ON THE SIZE OF OUR PATIENTS,

AND YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THAT.

YEAH, THAT'S EVERYWHERE I WENT. THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

YEAH.I TRIED EVERYTHING.

I CALLED ALL OVER.

SO, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST NOT SAFE ENOUGH

TO HAVE SURGERY IN A FACILITY LIKE THIS.

CURRENTLY, MY CENTER LIMITS US TO ABOUT 450 POUNDS.

SO, UNFORTUNATELY, AT YOUR SIZE TODAY,

OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY OR THE RESOURCES

TO SAFELY GET YOU THROUGH THAT OPERATION.

SO, I WANT TO REFER YOU TO A SPECIALIZED CENTER IN HOUSTON

OR MAYBE NEW ORLEANS THAT HAS ALL THE RESOURCES THAT YOU NEED,

EQUIPMENT, AND EXPERTISE OF THE SURGEON

TO GET YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS SAFELY.

OKAY.

THEY STILL MAY WANT YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE SURGERY,

SO YOU GUYS DON'T -- I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE FRUSTRATED.

THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS TELLING ME I GOT TO LOSE 200, 300 POUNDS

BEFORE YOU EVEN, LIKE, SEE ME.

THEY NOT SAYING, "OH,

YOU CAN'T HAVE SURGERY UNLESS YOU LOSE THIS".

-YEAH. -THEY WON'T EVEN SEE YOU.

I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY.

OFTENTIMES, OUR PATIENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOSE WEIGHT

BEFORE SURGERY BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE,

THE MORE WEIGHT YOU LOSE BEFORE SURGERY,

THE SAFER IT'S GOING TO BE.

NUMBER TWO, WE WANT TO SEE COMPLIANCE

BECAUSE THIS IS A RISKY PROCEDURE.

YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING THROUGH THIS,

AND WE WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH YOU'RE WILLING TO INVEST

IN YOUR HEALTH.

OKAY.

WELL, I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT YOU IN TODAY,

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT I'LL GET YOU TO A PLACE

THAT HAS THE HIGHER LEVEL OF RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE

TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

MY OFFICE WILL BE CONTACTING YOU ABOUT YOUR REFERRAL,

AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

THIS WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTING.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T GET HELP HERE,

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE ALL CAN TRAVEL SOMEWHERE THAT FAR.

WE HARDLY EVEN GO OUT.

SO, I'M JUST REALLY UPSET RIGHT NOW.

Clarence: I'M REALLY CONCERNED FOR ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE TAKING THEM TO ANOTHER CITY

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A GOOD OPTION.

SO, THIS IS REALLY DISAPPOINTING,

AND I KNOW WE'RE ALL UPSET RIGHT NOW.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK YOU, I WOULDN'T ASK YOU, TRUST ME.

'CAUSE I AIN'T GOT NO CHOICE.

BUT RESPECT MY MIND JUST LIKE I RESPECT YOURS.

-YOU DON'T RESPECT -- -HOW DON'T -- YOU SEE WHAT --

YOU WORRY ABOUT JUST YOU.

YOU AIN'T GOT TO DO A [BLEEP] THING FOR ME,

AND YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.

I'M NOT GONNA BEG NOBODY TO DO NOTHING.

YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE MAKING IT GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, THOUGH.

YOU REACT A CERTAIN WAY, SHE REACTS A CERTAIN WAY,

I REACT A CERTAIN WAY.

HOW WE ALL GONNA MAKE SOMETHING WORK

IF SHE'S SHUTTING DOWN ABOUT WHAT I SAY?

'CAUSE Y'ALL WON'T LISTEN TO MY REASON WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO GO.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE A REASON. YOU JUST SAID NO.

I DID HAVE A REASON.OKAY, OKAY.

BUT YOU JUST SAID NO IN THE BEGINNING.

IT WAS A SPLIT-SECOND FEELING.

DON'T TRY TO HAVE ME FEELING SOME TYPE OF WAY,

MAKING IT LIKE I'M THE BAD PERSON BECAUSE YOU SHUT DOWN,

AND WHEN YOU SHUT DOWN, IT'S "F EVERYBODY."

Brandie: [ CHUCKLES ]

YEAH, I'M MAD BECAUSE

IT SEEMS LIKE Y'ALL DON'T APPRECIATE A [BLEEP], EITHER,

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

YOU'RE SITTING HERE JUST TAKING HER SIDE.

I'M TAKING HER SIDE?

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT WE GO THROUGH!

Y'ALL GOING THROUGH WHAT Y'ALL GOING THROUGH,

BUT, I MEAN, I GOT MY OWN [BLEEP] I GO THROUGH, TOO.

NOBODY'S SAYING YOU DON'T.

AND I STILL GONNA DO FOR Y'ALL.

I DO IT 'CAUSE I LOVE Y'ALL. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

BUT IF YOU AIN'T APPRECIATE NOTHING,

THEN THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH SOMEBODY CAN DO

BECAUSE I GOT A LIFE JUST LIKE YOU GOT A LIFE.

PERIOD, POINT BLANK.

BUT I'M THE ONE THAT'S BEEN HERE.

YEAH, YOU BEEN GOT TO CATCH MY SLACK, TOO,

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

BUT NOT LIKE I BEEN HERE GOT TO CATCH YOURS.

-WHAT SLACK YOU [BLEEP] CATCH? -YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING?

YOU DON'T APPRECIATE A [BLEEP] THING.

'CAUSE YOU CAN TELL ME [BLEEP], BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU [BLEEP].

THIS [BLEEP] JUST STARTING!

IT'S NOT GONNA BE AN EASY ROAD.

I KNOW. YOU ACT LIKE YOU FINE. AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU.

YOU DON'T NEED NONE OF THIS HELP.

DID I SAY --YOU ALWAYS SAYING THAT!

THE ONLY REASON YOU HERE IS FOR US.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY. "I DON'T NEED THIS [BLEEP]!

I CAN LOSE WEIGHT ON MY OWN!"

[ BLEEP ]

WELL, WHY YOU AIN'T LOST IT YET?

GET OUT OF HERE.

[ BLEEP ] ROSHANDA, LOOK, MAN.

LOOK.

IT'S ON YOU. YOU MADE YOUR OWN BED.

NO, YOU MADE YOURS.NO, I DON'T GIVE A...

Clarence: IT'S ALWAYS Y'ALL TWO. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

WHY IS IT ME AGAINST Y'ALL?IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE THAT.

YOU NOT [BLEEP] SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE, THOUGH.

HOW IN THE HELL I AIN'T SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE?

YEAH, I'M BIG, FAT, AND I'M JUST LIKE Y'ALL.

I'M HEADED DOWN THE SAME [BLEEP] PATH, BUT I AIN'T THERE YET.

I CAN STILL TAKE CARE OF MY [BLEEP] SELF!

AND GUESS WHAT?

I'M GONNA DO THE [BLEEP] I NEED TO DO.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE HERE, SO WHY BE HERE?

THIS AIN'T THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE DONE THIS, MAN.

I ALWAYS GOT TO BE THE ONE TO COME APOLOGIZE TO YOU.

-BLAME YOURSELF. DON'T BLAME -- -YOU GONNA SIT THERE AND CRY.

DON'T BLAME NOTHING ON ME. BLAME YOURSELF.

I AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO BLAME MYSELF FOR!

-WE'LL SEE. -ALL RIGHT, THEN YEAH.

MAN, I AIN'T GOT TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS, MAN.

♪♪

[ CRYING ]

Brandie: YOU LEAVING, THAT'S HURTING ME, TOO.

YOU TELL HER TO SPEAK HER MIND, BUT NOW SHE'S SPEAKING HER MIND,

YOU DON'T WANT HER TO SAY [BLEEP]?

CLARENCE, YOU STARTED SOMETHING UP IN THERE.

[ ROSHANDA WAILS, SOBS ]

YOU CAN FEEL HOW YOU FEEL,

BUT YOU AIN'T GOT TO QUIT THIS [BLEEP].

NO, YOU SAY YOU'RE DONE WITH THIS [BLEEP].

ARE YOU DONE WITH US? 'CAUSE IF YOU'RE DONE WITH THAT...

[ CRYING ]

[ WHIMPERS ]

WELL, GO MAKE IT, [BLEEP]!

GO MAKE IT WITHOUT US

'CAUSE YOU AIN'T GOT NO MORE FROM ME, THOUGH.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: AFTER EVERYONE CALMED DOWN SOME,

CLARENCE APOLOGIZED FOR HOW HE ACTED,

AND WE ALL DID FOR THE STUFF WE SAID.

IT'S JUST HARD FOR US BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW BADLY WE NEED HELP,

AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING

THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER CITY TO TRY AND FIND IT.

WE ALL WANT TO GET BETTER AND LOSE THE WEIGHT

'CAUSE WE ALL STILL HAVE A LOT OF HOPES AND DREAMS

AND THINGS WE WANT TO DO,

AND MY BIG DREAM IS TO BE A PERFORMER ONE DAY,

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET ON STAGE

BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO BIG

THAT I COULDN'T STAND THERE LONG.

♪ 'CAUSE I'M STILL HERE ♪

♪ YEAH, I'M STILL ALIVE ♪

♪ I GOT TO MAKE ENDS MEET ♪

♪ JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE ♪

♪ WITH SO MUCH AGAINST ME ♪

♪ YEAH, WITH SO MUCH AGAINST ME ♪

I'VE NEVER GIVEN UP ON LOSING THE WEIGHT

AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT SOMEDAY.

BUT I CAN'T DO THAT ON MY OWN.

NONE OF US CAN.

SO, WE ALL AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO TRY,

AND IF OUR ONLY OPTIONS

ARE EITHER IN NEW ORLEANS OR HOUSTON,

THEN THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO GO.

♪ I DON'T WANT TO CRY♪

♪ I'M SO TIRED OF ALL THESE TEARS♪

♪ I'M STILL HERE♪

♪ YEAH, I'M STILL ALIVE♪

♪ I GOT TO MAKE ENDS MEET♪

♪ JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE♪

♪ WITH SO MUCH AGAINST ME♪

♪♪

Clarence: I FEEL BAD FOR LOSING MY COOL WITH MY SISTERS.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PRESSURE

KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE TO DEPEND SO MUCH ON ME,

AND IF THEY GET THIS HELP, THEY MAY HAVE TO MOVE,

AND THAT WOULD MEAN THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO, TOO.

BUT WITH OUR FATHER BACK IN OUR LIFE,

HE'S BEEN NEEDING SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF HIM

BECAUSE HE'S BEEN GETTING ALONG IN HIS YEARS,

AND HIS HEALTH'S STARTING TO DECLINE, TOO.

PLUS, I HAVE TO WORK, AND MY JOB IS HERE.

BUT I APOLOGIZED TO THEM,

AND I AGREED TO TAKE THEM TO THE DOCTOR IN HOUSTON

AND SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

Brandie: WHEN COMPARING FACILITIES AND DOCTORS,

WE THINK THE OPTIONS IN HOUSTON WITH DR. NOWZARADAN

ARE THE BEST CHANCE TO GET HELP IF WE CAN,

AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT SET FOR TOMORROW.

SO, WE'RE PACKING TO GO DOWN THERE AND MEET DR. NOW

AND SEE IF HE'S WILLING TO HELP US.

Roshanda: THE REASON WE'VE BEEN LOOKING SO HARD

TO FIND A DOCTOR HERE IN LAFAYETTE

IS MOSTLY BECAUSE I'M TOO BIG TO TRAVEL VERY FAR.

SO, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS

OR IF I'M GONNA EVEN MAKE IT...

YEAH.

...AND I DON'T WANT TO RUIN THIS FOR EVERYONE.

Clarence: I KNOW I'M PRETTY NERVOUS

THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE THIS LONG DRIVE TO HOUSTON.

THREE HOURS AT THE MINIMUM IS A LONG TIME TO STAY IN THE CAR.

I'M JUST GONNA BE POSITIVE AND TAKE IT AS IT COMES, YOU KNOW?

Roshanda: CLARENCE'S IDEA IS THAT WE HALFWAY TODAY

AND STOP OFF AT A HOTEL,

AND THEN WE FINISH THE REST OF THE TRIP TOMORROW.

SO, I JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF,

BUT THAT'S STILL GONNA BE A LOT.

♪♪

♪♪

I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN RIGHT NOW. I HAVE TO GET OUT.

IT'S TOO MUCH.

Clarence: THIS WAS MY BIG FEAR FOR ROSHANDA,

THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON.

BUT WE'RE ALREADY AN HOUR DOWN THE ROAD,

SO THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW.

Roshanda: I NEED YOU TO STOP.

I -- I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE.

WE'RE JUST ABOUT HERE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET YOU OUT AND INTO A BED SO YOU CAN REST.

Roshanda: THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN SO MUCH MORE PAINFUL THAN I THOUGHT.

♪♪

AND I JUST NEED TO LIE DOWN.

♪♪

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN, AND MY BODY'S SHAKING,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT,

SO I JUST WANT TO GET IN AND GO TO SLEEP.

AND HOPEFULLY IN THE MORNING, I'LL FEEL BETTER.

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: BRANDIE TOLD ME THAT ROSHANDA GOT REALLY BAD LAST NIGHT,

BUT SHE DIDN'T TELL ANY OF US.

SO, I'M WORRIED WHETHER SHE CAN DO THIS AGAIN.

Clarence: YOU DIDN'T TELL US HOW BAD YOU WERE REALLY FEELING.

BUT WHAT IS HURTING NOW?

MY KNEES, THE SIDE OF MY LEGS,

BUT MY MAIN PROBLEM -- THAT WAS NOTHING.

MY MAIN PROBLEM I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT LAST NIGHT

WAS I WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING LAYING DOWN.

I WANTED TO CALL 911 LAST NIGHT.

I WANTED TO CALL.

SHOULD'VE SAID SOMETHING.

THAT WAS THE WORST RIDE EVER.

THAT WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THIS?

I JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT I'VE ALREADY DONE,

AND THEN I'LL BE SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN GET HELP.

THEN WE CAN LOAD UP.

Roshanda: I JUST HAVE TO FIND THE STRENGTH TO MAKE IT THE LAST BIT,

AND I HAVE NO CHOICE.

LET'S GO, TEETY. IT'S TIME TO GO.

IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THERE AS IT IS TO GO BACK HOME.

Brandie: I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT ROSHANDA RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW YESTERDAY WAS HARD ON HER.

AND I'M SCARED SHE'S PUSHING HERSELF TOO HARD.

SO, I'M PRAYING THAT SHE CAN HOLD UP

UNTIL WE GET THERE AND SEE THE DOCTOR.

♪♪

I'VE NEVER SEEN HER STRUGGLE THIS MUCH, SO IT'S SCARY.

♪♪

Clarence: WELCOME TO HOUSTON, GUYS.

♪♪

I JUST NEED US TO GET THERE SO I CAN GET OUT OF THIS CAR.

I JUST HURT SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.

ROSHANDA, YOU MADE IT.

AND WE'RE FINALLY HERE.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

Roshanda: I'M REALLY CRAMPING UP, EVEN MORE THAN YESTERDAY.

BUT NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, I'M GETTING A LITTLE SCARED

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE...

...AND WHAT I'M MOST SCARED ABOUT

IS I'M GONNA GET ON THAT SCALE

AND FIND OUT THAT I'M TOO BIG TO GET HELP.

AND IF THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP US,

IT'LL MEAN IT'S ALL OVER.

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: WE FINALLY MADE IT HERE FOR OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT,

AND WE'RE ALL EXTREMELY NERVOUS

BECAUSE NONE OF US KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA GO

OR WHETHER THE DOCTOR'S GONNA BE WILLING TO HELP US.

SO, I'M HOPING THAT THIS GOES WELL

BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T GET HELP HERE,

THEN I DON'T THINK OUR OPTION IN NEW ORLEANS WILL PAN OUT,

EITHER.

SO, THIS IS IT.

PERRIO FAMILY.

AND WE DIDN'T COME ALL THIS WAY

AND PUT ROSHANDA THROUGH ALL SHE'S BEEN THROUGH

JUST TO HEAR WE'RE BEYOND HELP,

SO I'M EXPECTING SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY.

582.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M SURE I'M STILL SMALLER THAN BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA,

BUT I GUESS I'M CATCHING UP TO THEM SOME.

BRANDIE.

Brandie: I WOULD SKIP THIS PART IF I COULD.

WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO SEE IF I WAS I THE 500s?

BUT THAT MAY BE WISHFUL THINKING.

620.

THAT NUMBER IS EMBARRASSING,

BUT THE ONLY OTHER NUMBER I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT

IS ROSHANDA'S WEIGHT.

CLARENCE AND ME ARE JUST NERVOUS

TO FIND OUT HOW HIGH IT'S GOTTEN FOR HER

AND IF SHE COULD BE GETTING CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS.

Roshanda: I REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THIS...

...BECAUSE I THINK OUT OF ALL OF US,

I'M THE MOST LIKELY TO BE SO BIG THAT THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP ME.

803.

DAMN.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS AFRAID OF.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

♪♪

IT FEELS LIKE A MISTAKE.

♪♪

I DON'T SEE HOW MY WEIGHT CAN BE THAT HIGH.

OKAY, YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND FOLLOW ME,

AND WE'LL HEAD TO THE ROOM.

I'M REALLY SCARED NOW THAT THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP ME...

...AND THAT THE ONLY OPTION HE'S GONNA HAVE FOR ME

IS TELL ME TO LOSE WEIGHT.

BUT I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP SAVE ME FROM MYSELF.

HELLO.

-HI. -GOOD AFTERNOON.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

HOW WE DOING TODAY?

ALL RIGHT, I'M DR. NOWZARADAN, AND YOU ARE?

BRANDIE.BRANDIE, NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M CLARENCE. NICE TO MEET YOU.

CLARENCE.

ROSHANDA.

ROSHANDA, NICE TO MEET YOU.SAME TO YOU.

ARE YOU ALL COMING FROM LOUISIANA?

-YES, SIR. -YES, SIR.

WELL, THEN WELCOME TO THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS.

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT,

SO YOU'RE SIBLINGS LOOKING TO LOSE WEIGHT TOGETHER?

-YES, SIR. -YES, SIR.

BECAUSE ROSHANDA, YOU ARE 803 POUNDS?

YES. THAT'S WHAT THE SCALE SAYS.

CLARENCE, YOU ARE 582 POUNDS.

YES, SIR.

AND BRANDIE IS... 620, HUH?

SO, ALL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, YOU ALL WEIGH OVER A TON.

OH, WOW.

[ ROSHANDA AND CLARENCE CHUCKLE ]

SO, AS A FAMILY,

YOU HAVE CLEARLY GOTTEN TO A CRITICAL POINT

WITH THE STATE OF YOUR HEALTH WHERE THE REALITY IS,

NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER

IF THINGS DON'T DRASTICALLY CHANGE VERY SOON.

AND THE FACT THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN ENABLING EACH OTHER

MAKES THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE

BECAUSE YOU ALL USED EACH OTHER

AS AN EXCUSE TO OVEREAT AND FEED EACH OTHER.

IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT?

WE COME FROM A BIG FAMILY.

LIKE, ALL OUR FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ON THE HEAVY SIDE.

MY DAD IS ON THE HEAVY SIDE, MY MOM WAS ON THE HEAVY SIDE.

SO, EVERYBODY IN FAMILY IS OVERWEIGHT?

ESPECIALLY ON MY MOM'S SIDE.

IT'S MOSTLY FROM MY MOMMA'S SIDE.

OKAY. HERE'S AN ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND.

THE REASON YOU ARE THE SIZE YOU ALL ARE IS BECAUSE YOU OVEREAT.

THAT'S THE PRIMARY ISSUE.

YES, SIR.

SO, WE NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON EATING HABITS FIRST.

SO, I'M GOING TO PUT ALL OF YOU

ONTO A 2100-CALORIE HIGH-PROTEIN LOW-CARB DIET.

AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME STUFF TO READ,

AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT EVERY DAY.

WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THREE THINGS

THAT CONTROL YOUR EATING HABITS.

ONE IS YOUR FREQUENCY OF FEEDING.

WE WANT TO GET THAT TO TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY

WITH NO SNACK IN BETWEEN, OKAY?

YEAH.

THEN, WE'RE GONNA FOCUS ON THE SIZE OF PORTION

OF FOOD WE'RE EATING.

WE'RE GONNA ADJUST THE AMOUNT

TO ALMOST GETTING CLOSE TO 400 CALORIES PER MEAL.

AND THE THIRD THING IS TYPE OF FOOD.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LIST OF FOOD THAT WE NEED TO AVOID,

AND THOSE ARE THE FOOD THAT WE NEED TO

START ELIMINATING FROM YOUR DIET.

AND THAT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE THE HARDEST PART.

SO, WHEN DO WE HAVE TO START THIS NEW DIET?

WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IT AS A FORM OF A DIET, OKAY?

BECAUSE DIET IS A TEMPORARY EFFORT

TO CHANGE TO HELP YOU LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

-YES, SIR. -BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE FROM HERE TO END OF YOUR LIFE.

THIS IS NOT A DIET. THIS IS JUST EATING PROPERLY.

MM-HMM.

BUT IF YOU DO THIS, YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM

HITTING THE WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL YOU NEED.

BRANDIE, YOUR GOAL IS TO LOSE 100 POUNDS

OVER NEXT THREE MONTHS.

OKAY? -YEAH.

AND YOU, CLARENCE, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS

OVER NEXT THREE MONTHS. -YES, SIR.

AND, ROSHANDA, I NEED YOU TO LOSE 120 POUNDS

OVER THE TIMEFRAME.

I'M ALSO GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME BASIC EXERCISES

I WANT ALL OF YOU TO START DOING.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCESS

FOR YOU ALL TO ADAPT

SO YOU'RE GETTING EXTRA HELP FROM ME

BECAUSE I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS GOING TO BE AS A FAMILY,

BUT YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

THAT YOU ALL DO THIS NOW. -MM-HMM.

BECAUSE BETWEEN YOU THREE,

IT IS ONLY MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE ONE OF YOU IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON

AND YOUR BODY JUST GIVES OUT AND YOU WON'T MAKE IT,

ESPECIALLY YOU, ROSHANDA.

NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE IN THIS PLANET MAKE IT TO 800 POUNDS

AND SURVIVE FOR TOO LONG.

HOW MUCH LONGER DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GO LIKE THIS?

NOT LONG. EVERY DAY I GO TO SLEEP

WONDERING IF I'M GONNA WAKE UP THE NEXT DAY.

OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME BLOOD WORK

AND MAKE SURE NONE OF YOU HAVE ANY LIFE-ENDING ISSUE CURRENTLY.

BUT, ROSHANDA, I THINK WE NEED TO DO MORE THOROUGH EXAM ON YOU.

SO, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD

AND SEND YOU TO CHECK IN THE HOSPITAL, OKAY?

YES.

IF EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY, THEN I WILL SEND YOU HOME.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE.

AND FOR YOU TWO,

LET ME DO A LITTLE CHECK AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

AND I'M GONNA LISTEN TO YOUR LUNG IN THE BACK.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

OKAY.

CLARENCE, YOU SEEM FINE AT THE MOMENT

ASIDE FROM THE IMPENDING ISSUES WE DISCUSSED.

BUT, BRANDIE, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HOW YOUR LUNGS SOUND,

SO I WANT TO CHECK YOU IN THE HOSPITAL, AS WELL,

TO RUN SOME TEST ON YOU, TOO.

OKAY? -OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU ALL IN THE HOSPITAL.

OKAY, ONCE THE TESTS ARE DONE, BRANDIE MAY BE OKAY,

ROSHANDA MAY BE A LITTLE WORSE OFF OR VICE VERSA,

IS THERE A CHANCE THAT BRANDIE WILL GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

BEFORE I LEAVE TO GO BACK HOME?

WELL, IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE FIND WHEN THEY'RE TESTING.

-RIGHT. -BUT IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK...

OH, YES. I HAVE TO BE BACK HOME

BECAUSE I HAVE TO GO CHECK ON MY DAD.

YEAH, AS SOON AS WE CAN RELEASE THEM, WE WILL.

WORST COMES TO WORST, YOU CAN GO BACK ON YOUR OWN

AND WE'LL KEEP THEM HERE

UNTIL YOU'RE READY TO COME PICK THEM UP.

-OKAY. -BUT IF WE MOVE AHEAD

WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY -- WHAT YOU WANT --

THEN ALL OF YOU WILL NEED TO MOVE TO HOUSTON,

SO YOU WILL NEED TO START TO ARRANGE THAT, OKAY?

-YES, SIR. -OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU ALL AT THE HOSPITAL.

THE PERRIO FAMILY IS CLEARLY A FAMILY IN CRISIS RIGHT NOW,

AND GOING FROM A DYSFUNCTIONAL DYNAMIC

BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE AND A THIRD PERSON

TAKES IT TO A LEVEL

THAT IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS.

BUT THEY, UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

ROSHANDA IS MY BIGGEST CONCERN,

BUT I'M ALSO EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT BRANDIE

AFTER HEARING HER HEART AND LUNG.

SO, THE PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE

THAT THEY CURRENTLY AREN'T FACING ANY ISSUES

THAT WILL LEAD TO THEIR BODY GIVING UP

IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

Roshanda: I'M REALLY RELIEVED THAT DR. NOW IS STILL GONNA HELP ME,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

TO HAVE TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT IS A BIG CHALLENGE.

IT'S NOT A 200-300 POUND CHALLENGE

LIKE THE OTHER DOCTORS WE'VE SEEN,

BUT IT'S STILL A LOT.

SO, I'M REALLY HOPING I CAN DO IT.

Brandie: I'M SO HAPPY THAT ALL OF US HAS THIS CHANCE TO GET HELP,

BUT IT WAS A LITTLE CONCERNING

THAT THE DOCTOR WANTED ME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

SO, I'M REALLY HOPING THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME

OR ROSHANDA.

♪♪

♪♪

Dr. Nowzaradan: AFTER THE APPOINTMENT YESTERDAY,

I ADMITTED ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE TO THE HOSPITAL

AND WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING TESTS ON THEM

TO SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEIR CONDITION IS.

BUT THE RESULTS SO FAR HAVE ME A LITTLE CONCERNED,

SO I'M GOING TO KEEP THEM FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK,

AND IF WE FIND ANYTHING CONCERNING,

THEN WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP THEM HERE LONGER.

♪♪

BOTH OF THEM ARE PHYSICALLY IN VERY BAD SHAPE

AND I'M ACTUALLY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT BRANDIE RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH SHE'S THE SMALLER ONE,

HER BODY IS LOOKING TO BE FAR WORSE OFF THAN ROSHANDA'S.

SHE HAS SOME HEART ISSUES, DIABETES, AND ASTHMA,

AND RIGHT NOW, SHE'S THE CLOSEST TO HER BODY GIVING UP.

THEIR BROTHER CLARENCE WENT BACK TO LOUISIANA

AND HE PLANNED TO COME AND GET THEM WHEN WE RELEASE THEM.

BUT HOPEFULLY NEITHER OF THEM HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IF THEY DO, AND IT'S BAD ENOUGH,

IT IS POSSIBLE THEY MAY ALREADY BE TOO FAR GONE

FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING

AND THEY WON'T SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: WE'RE GLAD THEY CHECKED US OUT AND MADE SURE WE'RE DOING OKAY,

BUT IT WAS REALLY SCARY AT FIRST WITH HOW WORRIED EVERYONE WAS.

AND BEING ON A DIET HERE HAS BEEN HARD,

SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO GO HOME TODAY.

I'M READY TO GO.

I AIN'T LIKE THE FOOD AT ALL.

IT WAS EDIBLE, BUT IT WASN'T NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

A FEW OF THE VEGGIES I AIN'T NEVER ATE BEFORE.

IT WAS, LIKE, MY FIRST TIME TASTING IT.

SO, I GUESS IT WAS 1,200 CALORIES?

1,200 CALORIES A DAY WASN'T -- IT WASN'T TOO BAD.

LIKE, I WASN'T REALLY WAKING UP HUNGRY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I WAS, I GUESS, FULL OFF IT,

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE I AIN'T HAD

NOTHING ELSE TO EAT, I AIN'T HAD NO CHOICE.

BUT AT HOME, I'MA HAVE A CHOICE.

WHEN WE GO HOME, IT'S GONNA BE EVEN HARDER.

IT'S GONNA BE ON US TO TRY TO MAKE THE MEALS UP

AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO...

WE NEED A GAME PLAN.

♪♪

Roshanda: I'M HOPING WE HAVE OTHER WAYS OF EATING

SOME OF THE THINGS WE LIKE

AND STILL STICKING TO 1,200 CALORIES.

BUT CLARENCE SHOULD BE HERE SOON TO PICK US UP,

AND THEN DR. NOW IS SUPPOSED TO COME DISCHARGE US.

♪♪

Clarence: BEING AWAY FROM MY SISTERS FOR TWO WEEKS,

I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I MISS THEM SO MUCH, BUT I REALLY DO.

I'M JUST HAPPY THAT THEY'RE TAKING THE FIRST STEP

TOWARD GOING THE HEALTHY ROUTE

BECAUSE SOME DAYS, I DID THINK ABOUT,

"WHAT IF WE WAKE UP AND ONE OF US ARE GONE?"

-OOH, SMELL GOOD IN HERE. -HEY!

-DAMN! -BOY, I FEEL LIKE IT BEEN...

-FOREVER. -IT'S BEEN A LITTLE MINUTE, HUH?

FOR REAL.

SMELL GOOD IN HERE, DON'T TASTE GOOD IN HERE.

NO? WHAT Y'ALL EATING?

Roshanda: SOME GINGER CHICKEN.

TASTE LIKE GINGER?

NO, I'M EATING SOME DRY CHICKEN.

I'M GETTING TIRED OF SEEING FOOD ON TV

AND SEEING PEOPLE POST FOOD I CAN'T HAVE.

-GET USED TO IT. -I KNOW.

♪♪

HELLO.

-HEY. -HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, SO I SEE YOU RIDE IS HERE.

YES, SIR.

SO, WE'RE SENDING YOU TWO HOME TODAY NOW THAT WE HAVE MADE SURE

THAT YOU TWO ARE HEALTHY ENOUGH

AND WITH BOTH YOUR WEIGHT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION NOW.

HOPEFULLY CLARENCE IS DOING THE SAME.

CLARENCE, HOW ARE YOU DOING SINCE YOU LEFT?

HOW IS YOUR EATING HABIT COMING?

I'VE BEEN MEAL PREPPING THE WHOLE WEEK.

UH-HUH.

AND I HAVEN'T TOUCHED A CARBONATED DRINK

OR ANYTHING WITH SUGAR IN IT SINCE I LEFT HERE.

SO, I THINK I GOT A GOOD START.

THAT'S GREAT. MAKE SURE Y'ALL STICK WITH THE DIET.

-YES, SIR. -AND START MORE EXERCISE.

OKAY.

BECAUSE IT'S TIME FOR YOU THREE TO WORK TOGETHER

AND TO SHOW ME THAT YOU CAN DO THIS.

BUT WE'LL CHECK YOUR WEIGHT NOW

AND SEE WHAT PROGRESS YOU MADE SO FAR.

-OKAY? -OKAY.

WELL, LET'S START WITH YOU, CLARENCE,

AND SEE WHAT YOUR WEIGHT IS AT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

♪♪

♪♪

SO, YOU'RE AT 577.

SO, YOU ONLY LOST 5 POUNDS, HUH?

WELL, THAT'S NOT A LOT.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO WORK HARDER.

LET'S SEE HOW YOUR SISTERS ARE DOING.

OOH, LORD.

ALL RIGHT, BRANDIE, YOU'RE NEXT.

[ CHUCKLES ]

♪♪

♪♪

ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE DOWN TO 589.

THAT'S 31 POUNDS IN TWO WEEKS.

THAT'S EXCELLENT. AND YOU'RE BELOW 600 NOW.

-GO BRANDIE. -GOOD.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD START.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, ROSHANDA, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.

DO I HAVE TO?

Clarence: DRUM ROLL PLEASE.

IN THE LONG RUN, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE MORE THAN ALL OF US.

♪♪

♪♪

765. THAT'S A WEIGHT LOSS OF 38 POUNDS.

SO, YOU'RE DOING GREAT, AND WE HAVE YOU IN THE 700s.

SO, YOU AND BRANDIE ARE DOING WELL

AND GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

BUT THIS WAS ALL ON A CONTROLLED DIET.

AND GOING HOME, YOU TWO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK

A LOT HARDER TO DO THIS.

BUT YOU HAVE TO STICK WITH IT,

AND CLARENCE, YOU HAVE TO PICK UP THE PACE,

BECAUSE YOUR RATE OF PROGRESS IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT.

-ALL RIGHT. -OKAY?

YOU ALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY

IN THESE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS

BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME,

AND THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

AND IF YOU ALL HIT YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

AND ALL YOUR TESTS LOOK GOOD,

THEN WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

FOR EACH OF YOU.

SO, RIGHT NOW, YOU ALL HAVE A LOT OF PROGRESS

TO MAKE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,

PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL US. OKAY?

-YEP. -YES, SIR. THANK YOU.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL SOON.

ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE HAVE MADE GOOD PROGRESS

THESE PAST COUPLE WEEKS

AND HOPEFULLY THEY KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING

AND ENCOURAGE CLARENCE TO DO MUCH BETTER, TOO,

INSTEAD OF ALL OF THEM GOING BACK TO ENABLING EACH OTHER,

BECAUSE NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE.

Roshanda: I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE GOING HOME.

CLARENCE SAID HE'S RENTING A BIGGER VEHICLE

AND IT'LL BE A LOT LESS PAINFUL FOR ME GOING BACK.

BUT HE HAS WORK TOMORROW, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND DRIVE

STRAIGHT THROUGH TO GET HOME TONIGHT

WITHOUT ANY STOP,

AND I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

IT'S BEEN, LIKE, TWO AND A HALF HOURS.

SO, WE'RE GETTING THERE.

AND I'M HOLDING UP OKAY, BUT I'M STILL IN A GOOD AMOUNT OF PAIN.

AND I'M TRYING TO PUSH AND JUST GET HOME.

AND I THINK I CAN DO IT IF WE TAKE A BREAK TO EAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HEALTHY OPTIONS THERE ARE

AT THE FAST FOOD PLACES WE CAN STOP.

THE DOCTOR HAD A NUTRITIONIST COME TALK TO US IN THE HOSPITAL

AND SHE EXPLAINED HOW ALL THE CALORIES

AND STUFF FROM RESTAURANTS ARE ONLINE

AND WE CAN RESEARCH IT ALL TO MAKE SURE WE STICK TO THE DIET.

I REALLY NEED TO EAT,

AND WE NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE WITH A SALAD OR SOMETHING.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE TACO SALAD, BUT NOT THE TACO SHELL.

-JUST DON'T EAT THE SHELL. -SO, I WONDER IF THE SHELL

IS PART OF THE CALORIES.

-PROBABLY. -IT IS.

THE SHELL IS THE BOWL.

SO, THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE MOST OF THE CALORIES AT?

-MM-HMM. -OH, MY GOD.

WHAT'S WRONG?

I NEED TO EAT SOMETHING.

SO, LET'S JUST DO TACO SALADS

BECAUSE THE SHELL HAS TO BE COUNTED AS PART OF THE CALORIES.

SO, IT'LL BE 700 CALORIES, AND WE HAVEN'T EATEN MUCH TODAY.

SO, THAT SHOULD BE OKAY.

HELLO, HOW YOU DOING?

UH, WHAT KIND OF SALADS DO YOU OFFER?

CAN I HAVE TWO STEAKS AND ONE CHICKEN?

THANK YOU.

HELLO.

WELCOME TO "WHO WANTS TO DATE A FAT GUY?"

-HUH? -[ LAUGHS ]

THANK YOU.

♪♪

♪♪

THIS TRIP BACK WASN'T THAT BAD, BUT I'M STILL REALLY SORE.

AND I'M GLAD WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN FOR A WHILE.

BUT I JUST WANT TO GET IN AND EAT AND GO TO BED.

WANT TO TURN IT SOME MORE?

YOU'RE SLIPPING.

Clarence: PART OF ME IS IMPRESSED WITH HOW CAREFUL

ROSHANDA WANTS TO BE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I HAVE TO MAKE MY OWN WAY AND DO THIS FOR MYSELF

WHEN IT COMES TO MY DIET.

-HOW MUCH WAS IT WITH THE SHELL? -700 AND SOMETHING CALORIES.

BUT THAT WAS WITH THE SHELL, THE RICE, AND THE SOUR CREAM.

I'M EATING MY SHELL.

Roshanda: FIGURING OUT WHAT MEALS HAVE IN IT

AND HOW MANY CALORIES THEY ARE,

IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

SO, WE'LL JUST KEEP TRACK OF OUR CALORIES AS BEST WE CAN.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT

AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY WHEN WE GO BACK TO SEE DR. NOW.

BECAUSE I KNOW IF WE DON'T, IT WON'T BE GOOD.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: WE ALL TALKED AND DECIDED

THAT IT'S TOO RISKY TO KEEP EATING OUT.

BECAUSE SOME OF THE SITES ARE CONFUSING

ABOUT HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN THE FOOD.

SO, WE CAN'T REALLY TRACK OUR CALORIES ACCURATELY.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO DO MEAL PREP FOR THE WEEK,

AND I AGREED TO GO GET ALL THE FOOD AND DO THE SHOPPING,

AND ROSHANDA'S GONNA PREPARE AND COOK ALL THE MEALS FOR US.

SO, WE MADE A LIST, AND I'M HERE TO TRY AND GET EVERYTHING.

BUT THIS IS ALL A LITTLE NEW FOR ME.

UH...

SO, THIS IS GONNA BE A BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE FOR ME

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S HEALTHY OR NOT.

BUT AT LEAST I HAVE MY FRIEND TEE TOT HERE HELPING ME.

THAT'S THE RIGHT WATER?

THAT'S GOOD.

AND TOGETHER, I THINK THAT WE CAN FIGURE THIS OUT

AND GET THE RIGHT STUFF.

BECAUSE THIS TAKES SOME LEARNING TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO GET HEALTHY STUFF.

-I LIKE ASPARAGUS. -COLLARED GREENS.

Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO TRY ASPARAGUS?

-THAT'S WHAT THAT IS? -YEAH.

THAT GO GOOD WITH, LIKE, CHICKEN OR SHRIMP.

IT'S A GOOD SIDE.

I THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO STICK TO BASICS RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'MA TRY IT ONE DAY.

I'MA DO IT AND I'MA BRING YOU SOME TO SEE IF YOU LIKE IT.

YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT THE CABBAGE.

LIKE, WHICH ONE LOOK BETTER?

I THINK WHATEVER ONE PRETTY TO ME.

I SHOULD'VE LISTENED WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER TRIED

TO TEACH ME THAT.

OH, YEAH! IT'S BY HOW HARD IT IS, I THINK.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BUT THIS IS A LOT OF WORK TO GO OUT AND DO EVERY WEEK.

SO I JUST HOPE IT ALL TASTES GOOD.

I'M JUST HOPING IT'S NOT AS BAD AS THE HOSPITAL FOOD.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT IF ANYONE CAN MAKE THIS TASTE GOOD, IT'S ROSHANDA.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: I'VE BEEN STUDYING DR. NOW'S DIET

AND WORKING TO LEARN WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY MEALS FOR US.

BUT I COULD ONLY USE VERY SMALL AMOUNTS OF THE STUFF

THAT MAKES IT TASTE GOOD,

AND IT'S A FRACTION OF WHAT I WOULD NORMALLY USE,

BUT IT'S NOT EASY TO MAKE SOMETHING THAT TASTES GOOD

AND IS HEALTHY FOR YOU.

BUT I KNOW I'LL GET BETTER AT IT.

Clarence: ME AND BRANDIE ARE REALLY THANKFUL THAT

ROSHANDA'S DOING THIS FOR US.

'CAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HELP US STAY ON THE DIET.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SO, EVEN IF IT'S NOT THE MOST FLAVORFUL,

IT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO EAT AND STICK TO RIGHT NOW.

[ WHISTLES ]

Roshanda: THIS IS A LITTLE TOUGHER THAN I THOUGHT.

BUT I JUST HOPE ALL THIS WILL BE ENOUGH FOR US

TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT WE NEED.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: ME AND ROSHANDA HAVE BEEN EXERCISING

FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

BUT CLARENCE CAN'T PICK US UP TO MEET EVERY DAY,

SO WE JUST VIDEO CHAT EACH OTHER

TO MAKE SURE WE'RE BOTH STICKING TO IT

AND DOING WHAT WE NEED.

-HEY, BIG SEXY. -HEY, SHON.

IT'S FEELING A LITTLE BETTER OUTSIDE.

I'M ABOUT TO TRY TO DO SOME WALKING.

[ CHUCKLES ] ALL RIGHT.

TOODLES!

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BOTH DOING WELL AND I'M FOCUSING ON

WALKING AROUND OUTSIDE AND SEEING HOW MANY LAPS I CAN DO.

WHEN I STARTED, I COULD DO ONE.

BUT NOW I CAN DO ABOUT 10 BEFORE I START TO GET TOO TIRED.

SO, I'M MAKING PROGRESS, AND ROSHANDA'S MAKING PROGRESS, TOO.

CLARENCE IS, TOO, BUT HE'S BEEN REALLY BUSY

BECAUSE HE'S STILL HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF US.

AND OUR FATHER IS LIVING WITH HIM,

SO HE HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATE,

AND HE'S HAVING TO DO HIS OWN THING.

BUT WE'RE EACH DOING IT IN OUR OWN WAY

AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: I DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA THAT BRANDIE HAS YET,

SO I CAN'T WALK AS MUCH.

SO I'VE BEEN USING A BAND THAT HELPS ME STRETCH

AND A VARIETY OF ARM LIFTS.

AND IT GIVES ME A GOOD WORKOUT.

BUT THE HARDEST THINGS ARE THE SIT-TO-STAND EXERCISES.

THEY'RE PAINFUL, AND I DON'T LIKE THEM.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO, SO I AM,

AND I'M NOT CHEATING ON ANYTHING,

BECAUSE WE'RE A MONTH OUT FROM SEEING THE DOCTOR.

AND NO DOCTOR I'VE EVER SEEN HAS GIVEN ME THE CHANCE TO DO THIS.

SO, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ME

BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

AND I'M SCARED THAT I IF I SHOW UP FOR MY APPOINTMENT

AND I HAVEN'T HIT MY GOAL,

THAT'LL MEAN I'LL LOSE EVERYTHING.

SO, MY WHOLE LIFE IS DEPENDING ON ME DOING THIS.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

WE'RE ON OUR WAY FOR OUR SECOND APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW

AND I'M HOPING WE ALL DID WELL TODAY.

I KNOW I WORKED MY HARDEST,

SO I'M HOPING THE SCALE SHOWS THAT TODAY.

♪♪

♪♪

IT JUST NEEDS TO BE ENOUGH

SO I CAN GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT IF I DON'T HIT MY GOAL, IT'S GONNA BE DEVASTATING,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA HANDLE IT.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: ALL THREE OF US ARE IN HOUSTON

FOR OUR FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW

AND WE'RE ALL A LITTLE NERVOUS.

PERRIO FAMILY.

BUT I THINK OVERALL, WE FEEL CONFIDENT

IN THAT WE'RE GONNA SEE SOME GOOD RESULTS TODAY.

Clarence: I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME TODAY.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING WELL.

THE DOC WANTED ME TO LOSE A LOT TO GET UNDER 502 TODAY

IF I HIT MY GOAL.

SO, I THINK I DID THAT.

♪♪

♪♪

IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE I WANTED TO LOSE MORE

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO SAY.

YOU READY?

Brandie: IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

I WAS 620 AT OUR FIRST VISIT,

SO I NEED TO BE AROUND 520

AND HAVE LOST 100 POUNDS TO HIT DR. NOW'S GOAL.

♪♪

565.

I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED I DIDN'T HIT THE DOCTOR'S GOAL.

I JUST HOPE ROSHANDA DID WELL.

Roshanda: I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT MY NUMBER

IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE I NEED TO LOSE AT LEAST 120 POUNDS

TO GET BELOW 683.

♪♪

PBBT! [ CHUCKLES ]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I DID SO MUCH BETTER THAN I THOUGHT.

I KNOW I WORKED HARD,

BUT YOU STILL HAVE THAT FEAR

THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

THEN TO SEE THAT NUMBER AND HOW WELL I DID

IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

SO, I REALLY HOPE THIS MEANS I'M ABOUT TO GET APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

-HELLO. -HI.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -GOOD EVENING.

-HELLO. -HOW WE DOING TODAY?

ALL RIGHT. WELL, IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS,

SO LET'S SEE WHERE YOU ALL ARE AT.

AND BRANDIE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, YOU LOST 55 POUNDS.

YES.

AND YOUR GOAL WAS TO LOSE AT LEAST 100 POUNDS.

SO, THAT IS A GOOD BIT BELOW YOUR GOAL,

ESPECIALLY FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU WERE GIVEN,

AND THE FACT WE DID MOST OF THAT IN THE HOSPITAL

ON A CONTROLLED DIET.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED?

I KNOW I ATE SOME STUFF I SHOULDN'T, BUT WE STILL

WAS DOING -- FOLLOWING THE SAME KIND OF --

THE 1,200-CALORIE DIET.

NO, YOU DIDN'T STICK TO THE DIET.

IF YOU STUCK TO IT, YOU WOULD HAVE LOST DOUBLE THAT.

SO, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK ON.

ALL RIGHT, CLARENCE,

YOU LOOK TO BE EVEN WORSE THAN BRANDIE BECAUSE

YOU ONLY LOST 15 POUNDS.

THAT IS ALSO WELL BELOW YOUR GOAL TO LOSE 80 POUNDS.

SO, WHAT HAPPENED WITH YOU?

MY FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS WAS VERY GOOD,

I DID EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID TO DO.

THEN IT GOT TOUGH, AND THEN I KNOW I GOT A LITTLE STRESSED.

I FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING, AND I THOUGHT I DID BETTER.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T. YOU JUST KEPT EATING LIKE YOU WANTED.

AND NOW YOU'RE JUST 2 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN BRANDIE,

SO YOU'RE NO LONGER THE SMALLEST ONE.

SO, IT'S CLEAR YOU AREN'T VERY SERIOUS

ABOUT THIS YET AND ARE NOWHERE NEAR READY

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT WHAT HAS ME VERY ENCOURAGED

RIGHT NOW IS YOUR PROGRESS, ROSHANDA.

YOU LOST 152 POUNDS.

WOW, THAT'S GOOD, IMPRESSIVE.

I'M GLAD TO SEE ONE OF YOU TOOK THIS SERIOUSLY.

SO, WHAT DID YOU DO DIFFERENTLY

THAT YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER DIDN'T?

Roshanda: I WAS THE ONE WHO COOKED FOR EVERYONE

AND I ONLY MADE HEALTHY MEALS.

I DID GROCERY SHOPPING.

OH, YOU DID THE SHOPPING, AND SHE DID COOKING?

YEAH.

BUT YOU TWO CLEARLY

DIDN'T STICK TO JUST EATING THOSE MEALS.

ALL RIGHT, ROSHANDA, YOU HIT YOUR GOAL,

SO WE'RE GOING TO RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU TODAY,

AND IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,

THEN WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS.

AND BRANDIE, YOU NEED TO LOSE 100 POUNDS,

BUT INSTEAD OF THREE MONTHS, I'M GIVING YOU ONLY TWO.

SAME FOR YOU, CLARENCE.

YOU NEED TO LOSE 80 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS,

AND YOU BOTH SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THIS

IF YOU STICK TO THE DIET.

AND THEN IF ROSHANDA IS GOING TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND YOU ALL PLAN TO DO THIS TOGETHER,

THEN YOU NEED TO START THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO HOUSTON.

I'M NOT MOVING. IT'S GONNA BE IMPOSSIBLE

FOR ME TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.

I GOT STUFF I GOT TO WORRY ABOUT AT HOME.

MY LIFE DON'T STOP EVERYWHERE, YOU KNOW?

I STILL GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO

WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S ON MY PLATE.

ALL RIGHT, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE, THEN,

BECAUSE I EXPLAINED WHAT THIS ALL WOULD REQUIRE.

WELL, I TOLD YOU I UNDERSTAND. I KNOW THAT I NEED TO BE HERE.

I JUST GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE

WHAT'S GOING ON ON MY PLATE.

MY LIFE'S STILL GOT TO GO ON, YOU KNOW?

OKAY, WELL, HOW ABOUT YOU TWO?

YOU THINK YOU'RE READY TO BE HERE IN HOUSTON TO DO THIS?

I MEAN, EVENTUALLY, THAT'S THE PLAN.

ALL RIGHT, I CAN MAKE THIS DEAL WITH YOU.

I CAN AGREE TO YOU ALL ONLY STAYING SIX MONTHS IN HOUSTON

AFTER YOUR SURGERY.

SOUND FAIR?

YEAH.

ROSHANDA, I'LL MEET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL

SO WE CAN RUN SOME TESTS.

BUT IF Y'ALL DON'T FIGURE OUT MOVING HERE,

THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD

WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY UNTIL YOU ALL DO.

NICE TO SEE YOU, BRANDIE.

-SAME. -CLARENCE.

AND NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF ROSHANDA.

SHE DID VERY WELL,

AND SHE HAS SHOWED ME THAT SHE

IS WILLING TO WORK HARD AND READY FOR THIS.

BUT HOPEFULLY THEY'LL WORK OUT WHAT THEY NEED

TO MOVE TO HOUSTON TO SUPPORT ROSHANDA RIGHT NOW.

SO, THE PERRIOS STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF THEM,

AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT I START TO BRING IN

MORE SUPPORT TO HELP THEM.

♪♪

Roshanda: I'VE WANTED THIS SINCE I WAS 18.

SO, THIS FEELS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

AND I'M STARTING TO REALLY BELIEVE I CAN DO THIS.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

DR. NOW SAYS THERE'S TOO MUCH STRAIN ON MY HEART

AND MY LUNGS RIGHT NOW AND THAT I CAN'T HAVE SURGERY

UNTIL I ALLEVIATE THAT BY LOSING AS MUCH WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

SO, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW,

BUT WE STILL PLANNING ON MOVING TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE BRANDIE AND I WANT THIS SURGERY.

Brandie: BUT THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER WE GOT BACK,

CLARENCE WASN'T INTERESTED IN MOVING TO HOUSTON.

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR ME

AND ROSHANDA TO BE ABLE TO MOVE DOWN.

AND CLARENCE IS GOING TO ADD TO WHAT HE HAS ON HIS PLATE

TO DO THIS FOR US.

BECAUSE PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH MOVING US,

IT'S GOING TO TAKE, LIKE, FOUR OR FIVE DAYS TO GET STUFF

PACKED UP AND DRIVE DOWN AND THEN GET STUFF IN STORAGE

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE YET.

AND ALL THAT'S NOT QUICK.

BUT CLARENCE CAN'T LEAVE OUR FATHER,

SO HE FIGURES OUR FATHER CAN COME WITH US

AND WE'LL JUST ALL DO THIS AS A FAMILY.

WATCH YOUR STEP.

SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

AND I'M EXCITED TO GO,

BUT THE NEGATIVES I THINK ABOUT MOVING TO HOUSTON

IS NOT KNOWING ANYBODY OVER THERE WHERE I'M MOVING TO.

BUT THE POSITIVE IS BEING THERE

AND GETTING THE HELP THAT I NEED.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE...

IT'S GONNA BE GREAT IN THE END.

OUR WHOLE LIVES HAVE BEEN HERE IN LAFAYETTE,

AND IT'S NOT EASY JUST TO PICK UP AND MOVE SOMEWHERE.

SO, IT'S A LITTLE STRESSFUL RIGHT NOW,

BUT I'M THANKFUL THAT WE'RE FIGURING IT OUT.

IT'S JUST A LOT OF WORK, AND IT'S NOT EASY.

LET'S GO.

I'M HOPING THE STRESS OF THIS MOVE AND EVERYTHING GOING ON

DOESN'T ADD TOO MUCH FOR ALL THREE OF US.

WE CAN'T LET ANY OF THIS MESS US UP NOW

BECAUSE IF WE START TO GAIN OR EVEN MISS OUR GOALS

AND CAN'T GET SURGERY, THEN ALL THIS WORK IN MOVING TO HOUSTON

WILL END UP BEING A WASTE AND FOR NOTHING.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH MOVING DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON.

WE GOT ALL OUR STUFF MOVED DOWN AND PUT IN A STORAGE UNIT,

BUT WE STILL DON'T HAVE A PLACE,

SO WE ALL CRAMMED INTO A HOTEL ROOM TOGETHER.

BUT THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS WE CAN'T PREPARE OUR MEALS

SINCE I DON'T HAVE A KITCHEN.

SO, WE'RE EATING OUT A LOT.

I'M HUNGRY. I WANT CHICKEN.

YOU WANT CHICKEN?

-BAKED CHICKEN? -FRIED CHICKEN.

♪♪

LET ME TRY THE NUMBER 13.

CAN I HAVE TWO GRILLED CHICKEN SALADS?

I'D LIKE TO TRY A PRIME RIB CHEESE STEAK.

UH, GIVE ME THE CURLY FRIES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

♪♪

-THANK YOU. -DADDY WANT HIS FOOD, THOUGH.

SO, WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN.

BUT IT'S STILL HARD TO FIGURE OUT

HOW MANY CALORIES ARE IN THINGS.

♪♪

SO, I KNOW I'VE BEEN GIVING IN AT TIMES.

♪♪

IT'S JUST REALLY HARD RIGHT NOW.

SO, I'M MAKING SURE I DON'T OVERDO IT.

BUT I CAN'T WAIT TILL WE FIND OUR OWN PLACE

AND GET SETTLED IN.

AND I'M GLAD WE'RE HERE IN HOUSTON.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: WE'RE HEADED TO SEE DR. NOW AGAIN FOR OUR THIRD APPOINTMENT,

AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF MONTHS ON US ALL.

BUT WE'VE STUCK WITH IT.

SO I'M HOPING OUR HARD WORK PAYS OFF TODAY.

Roshanda: WITH THE MOVE AND EVERYTHING, IT'S BEEN REALLY STRESSFUL.

SO, I'M JUST HOPING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK.

BUT I'VE BEEN TRYING.

PERRIO FAMILY.

Clarence: I'M OPTIMISTIC TODAY.

I NEED TO HAVE LOST 80 POUNDS,

AND I'M HOPING TO BE AT MY GOAL, WHICH IS 487 TODAY.

SO, I WANT TO BE AT OR BELOW THAT.

♪♪

-BOOM! YEAH! -WHOO!

I'LL TAKE THAT.

I DID WHAT I NEEDED, SO I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

Brandie: I'M REALLY PROUD OF CLARENCE.

I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF HARD WORK FOR HIM,

ESPECIALLY WITH ALL HE HAS TO DO AND TAKE CARE OF.

I JUST HOPE I DID THE SAME.

TO HIT MY GOAL, I NEED TO HAVE LOST 100 POUNDS

TO GET BELOW 465.

♪♪

I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT QUITE MY GOAL, BUT IT'S ALMOST RIGHT THERE,

AND I HOPE DR. NOW SEES THIS PROGRESS AND KNOW HOW HARD

I'M TRYING AND THAT HE KNOWS I'M READY TODAY TO GET THIS SURGERY.

♪♪

Roshanda: I DID SO WELL LAST TIME,

DR. NOW REALLY DIDN'T GIVE ME A GOAL THIS TIME

OTHER THAN TO LOSE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE STRAIN

OFF MY HEART AND MY LUNGS.

AND HE SAID THAT'S LIKELY UNDER 600 POUNDS,

SO I KNOW I JUST NEED TO BE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS [BLEEP]

THAT'S LIFE.

I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF

AND DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M SCARED ABOUT HOW DR. NOW IS GONNA REACT.

I HOPE THIS DOESN'T MESS UP ANY OF MY CHANCES TO GET SURGERY.

♪♪

♪♪

HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING?

HELLO!

I WANT YOU ALL TO MEET DR. ETTER.

HE'S ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER,

AND HE'S GOING TO ASSIST ME WITH SOME OF MY SURGERIES

AND WITH YOUR ALL'S CASE.

BECAUSE YOU THREE HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD,

BUT WITH MY CONCERN ABOUT HOW MUCH WORK WE ALL HAVE TO DO

TO START TO ADDRESS YOUR FAMILY DYNAMIC IN THE LONG RUN.

YOU EACH ARE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF ATTENTION,

AND BETWEEN TWO OF US, WE'RE GONNA STAY AVAILABLE FOR YOU.

SO, YOU'LL HAVE TWO GREAT DOCTORS WORKING WITH YOU

TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED.

OKAY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DR. NOWZARADAN

TO HELP YOU THREE GET DOWN TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHTS

AND STAY THERE IN A WAY THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL

FOR A LIFETIME.

AND IF YOU WORK WITH ME, I'LL WORK WITH YOU.

YES, SIR.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU TWO MOVED TO HOUSTON?

-YES. -YES.

WELL, I'M GLAD THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO MOVE DOWN HERE,

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU GAINED

HALF OF THE WEIGHT YOU LOST, ROSHANDA.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT WAS HARDER THIS TIME WITH THE MOVE AND EVERYTHING.

I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE EASIER IN THE BEGINNING,

YOU KNOW?

YOU MISSING THE POINT.

WHAT POINT I'M MISSING?

WHAT HAPPENED?

I SAID THERE WAS SOME UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES, LIKE THE MOVE.

BUT THEY DID BETTER THAN ME SOMEHOW, SO GOOD JOB!

-I'M NOT FAT LIKE YOU. -IT DOESN'T MATTER.

I STILL WORKED HARD.

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY THINK YOU DID,

BUT USING STRESS TO JUSTIFY THE FACT

THAT YOU DIDN'T STICK TO THE DIET THIS TIME.

SO, AS SOON AS YOU GET UPSET, YOU'RE GOING TO GO RIGHT BACK

TO YOUR OLD BEHAVIOR, AND IF YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS,

DON'T YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS?

NO, IT JUST WON'T WORK BECAUSE BARIATRIC SURGERY

IS A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH.

BASICALLY, ONE OF THE PRONGS IS US,

WHICH IS THE SURGERY AND MEDICATION,

BUT THE OTHER TWO ARE YOU.

THAT MEANS CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE.

-THAT MEANS CHANGING HOW YOU -- -I DID CHANGE MY LIFESTYLE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE IT MORE

IF YOU WANT A GOOD RESULT.

ROSHANDA, YOU NEED TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN BELOW 600,

AND YOU NOW NEED TO LOSE AT LEAST 170 POUNDS TO DO THAT.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. MY THING IS -- I FEEL LIKE

IF I HIT THE GOAL, IF I ALREADY DID IT, WHY DO IT AGAIN?

WHAT YOU LOST WAS A RESULT OF TEMPORARY CHANGE.

SO, ROSHANDA, YOU HAVE TO WORK AND TRY HARDER.

THAT'S YOUR OPTION IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS.

YOUR HEALTH HAS BEEN EXTREMELY POOR

AND YOU'RE HIGH RISK AT YOUR WEIGHT.

SO, EVEN IF THERE IS ONE ISSUE OF CONCERN,

IT WILL BE ENOUGH TO KILL YOU, AND WE CAN'T ALLOW FOR THAT.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

OKAY, CLARENCE, I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT YOU LOST 83 POUNDS.

THAT IS A BIT OF SURPRISE,

BUT I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT DOWN TO 484, AND THAT'S EXCELLENT.

SO, I'M APPROVING YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THAT WORK FOR YOU?

-YES, SIR. -CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU.

OKAY, BRANDIE.

YOUR PROGRESS HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY,

AND YOU DID WELL, TOO.

AND YOU'RE DOWN TO 473, AND YOU LOST 92 POUNDS.

YEAH, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

WHAT? YEAH. I FEEL A LOT BETTER

AND I CAN GET AROUND A LOT BETTER.

BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO STOP, THOUGH.

IT'S ABOUT TO GET TO THAT POINT

WHERE I'M GONNA STOP LOSING WEIGHT LIKE ROSHANDA.

WELL, YOU'VE SHOWN ME THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD,

AND YOUR WEIGHT LOSS HAS IMPROVED.

SO, I FEEL THAT YOU'RE CLOSE ENOUGH TO YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU TODAY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY AS WELL.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT SOUNDS GREAT.

BUT, CLARENCE, I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD FOR US

TO DO YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY FIRST.

AND ONCE YOU RECOVER, WE CAN DO BRANDIE.

WE CAN GO TOGETHER, I DON'T MIND.

OUR HOPE WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO HELP

TAKE CARE OF YOU ALL AFTERWARDS.

YOU DON'T KNOW. HE MIGHT NOT BE HERE WHEN WE HAVE THE SURGERY.

WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR BOTH OF YOU

TO HAVE IT AT THE SAME TIME

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG YOU ALL STILL ARE.

SO, CLARENCE,

WE'LL SCHEDULE YOU FOR SURGERY IN TWO WEEKS.

AND BRANDIE, AS SOON AS CLARENCE HAS RECOVERED,

WE'LL SCHEDULE YOU AS LONG AS YOU'RE LOSING WEIGHT

AND YOU PASS YOUR MEDICAL TESTS.

BUT, CLARENCE, REMEMBER, IF YOU'RE GETTING SURGERY,

THEN WE'RE GONNA NEED YOU TO STAY IN HOUSTON FOR A WHILE

SO WE CAN DO PROPER FOLLOW-UP WITH YOU.

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS

THAT CLARENCE AND BRANDIE MADE IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS,

BUT IT'S OBVIOUSLY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ROSHANDA'S WEIGHT GAIN.

SHE'S BLAMING THE STRESS OF THE MOVE DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON,

BUT I THINK THE REALITY IS SHE GOT DEPRESSED

WHEN HER TESTS REFLECTED

THAT SHE WASN'T PHYSICALLY READY TO UNDERGO SURGERY.

AND INSTEAD OF THAT MOTIVATING HER TO TAKE HER SITUATION

MORE SERIOUSLY, SHE USED IT AS AN EXCUSE

TO GO BACK TO OVEREATING.

SO, THERE IS A LOT WE STILL NEED TO ADDRESS.

AND ONCE WE GET CLARENCE AND BRANDIE THROUGH SURGERY,

THE WHOLE FAMILY NEEDS TO START TO UNDERGO

EXTENSIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY.

THE PERRIO FAMILY CERTAINLY HAS A UNIQUE DYNAMIC

AND OVERALL SITUATION.

BUT AS WE GET THEM THROUGH SURGERY

AND START THEM GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY,

WE HOPEFULLY WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE DEEPER ISSUES.

WE'LL GET THEM THERE.

Clarence: I'M REALLY PROUD OF BRANDIE FOR HER GETTING HER APPROVAL.

AND I'M PROUD FOR THE WORK THAT I DID TO GET APPROVED.

Brandie: I WISH ROSHANDA WAS IN A HEALTHY ENOUGH PLACE TO GET SURGERY,

BUT SHE KNOWS IT'S NOT SAFE FOR HER RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M JUST GLAD I'M GETTING SURGERY AND I REALLY CAN'T WAIT.

Roshanda: I'M REALLY UPSET AT MYSELF RIGHT NOW,

AND THIS APPOINTMENT WAS DISCOURAGING.

AND I'LL BE HONEST, THIS IS HARD FOR ME RIGHT NOW.

AND THERE ARE MOMENTS WHERE I'M NOT SURE I CAN MAKE IT.

♪♪

♪♪

CLARENCE PERRIO.

♪♪

Clarence: I'M HAVING SOME SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT SURGERY.

I DON'T THINK I NEED IT.

SO, I'M GONNA TALK TO DR. NOW

BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE RIGHT TIME

AND IT'S NOT THE RIGHT MOVE FOR ME,

SO I NEED TO KEEP WORKING AT IT IN MY OWN WAY.

AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA WORK FOR ME.

♪♪

♪♪

FOLLOW ME.

I JUST GOT TOO MUCH GOING ON IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW TO DO THIS.

THANK YOU.

♪♪

-GOOD AFTERNOON. -HI, CLARENCE.

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

-HOW ABOUT YOURSELF? -ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

SO, WHAT'S GOING ON?

SINCE I HEARD ABOUT HAVING SURGERY,

I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME CONCERNS AND I...

I DON'T WANT TO DO THE SURGERY.

SO, YOU'RE FEELING LIKE THE SURGERY IS NOT

THE RIGHT TIMING FOR YOU?

NO, SIR, I DO NOT THINK I'M IN THE MENTAL PLACE

TO HANDLE THE SURGERY,

AND I'M AT THE POINT TO WHERE IT'S THE LAST HOPE FOR ME,

YOU KNOW? AND, OBVIOUSLY, IF I DO WHAT YOU TELL ME TO DO,

AND I FOCUS ON MYSELF,

THE WEIGHT CAN COME OFF, YOU KNOW?

I'M AT A PLACE IN MY LIFE WHERE I'M NOT ON DISABILITY

AND I'M NOT HANDICAPPED YET,

BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT

TO BE ABLE TO TRY AND DO IT ON MY OWN.

IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR ME TO FOCUS ON ME

AND ACTUALLY GIVE IT A SHOT AND BE SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ANYONE

IF YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU ARE READY.

SO, WE TAKE YOU OFF THE SCHEDULE

AND MOVE BRANDIE UP IN YOUR PLACE.

BUT YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU WANT TO TRY

AND DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.

BUT IT'S BEEN A WEEK, AND YOU GAINED 7 POUNDS.

THAT DOESN'T ADD UP.

WELL, IS THERE ANY OTHER THING THAT YOU OFFER?

I HEARD ABOUT THE GASTRIC BALLOON.

WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING I QUALIFY FOR?

THAT IS AN OPTION AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT GAINING,

BUT I THINK YOU'RE NOT BEING UP FRONT

ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

I CAME IN TODAY TO LET YOU KNOW

THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THE SURGERY.

AND MY MAIN REASON IS BECAUSE MY MOM DIED

UNDER THE HANDS OF A SURGEON, YOU KNOW?

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A WHILE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA DEALT WITH IT, BUT...

IT'S -- IT'S SOMETHING THAT CHANGED ME OVER TIME.

SO, IT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE.

I SEE. SO, WE'LL HELP YOU WORK THROUGH THAT.

YES, SIR.

OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT APPOINTMENT THEN,

AND I EXPECT YOU TO BE BACK ON TRACK.

YES, SIR.

AND IF YOU GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN

AND SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO CHANGE THAT,

MAYBE WE'LL CONSIDER THE BALLOON FOR YOU.

YES, SIR.

OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

♪♪

CLARENCE IS CLAIMING HE WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT ON HIS OWN,

BUT HE'S GAINING AGAIN.

SO, IT'S ALL CLEARLY EXCUSES FOR THE FACT

THAT HE'S SCARED RIGHT NOW.

THE EVENT WITH HIS MOM DYING AFTER SURGERY

SEEMS TRAUMATIC FOR HIM,

AND THAT MAY BE LEADING HIM TO SELF-SABOTAGE RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT COULD BE BEHIND HIS RECENT WEIGHT GAIN.

SO, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE BRANDIE'S SURGERY UP,

AND HOPEFULLY SHE DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

BUT IF ALL GOES WELL,

BRANDIE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE HER FIRST BIG STEP

WITH THIS OPERATION.

AND AFTER THAT, WE WILL HOPEFULLY BE ABLE

TO GET ROSHANDA BACK ON TRACK

TO LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT TO HAVE SURGERY.

AND THEN WE'LL WAIT TO SEE

WHETHER CLARENCE DECIDES TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM.

SO, THE PERRIOS ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO GET THE WHOLE FAMILY

TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

♪♪