All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S07E10

Destinee: EVERY DAY,
I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.

AND EVERY DAY, I'M BECOMING
MORE AND MORE HELPLESS.

Woman #1: HE CAN'T STOP.
HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.

Woman #2: IT'S TERRIFYING
TO THINK THAT AT ANY MOMENT,

YOUR HEART COULD EXPLODE.

Woman:
I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN
TO LIVE YET.

WHY ARE YOU JUMPING
ON MY CASE?

YOU'RE OVEREATING, AND YOU'RE
YELLING LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.

Woman:
I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT.

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
ONE MORE CHANCE.

YOU EITHER WANT TO DO THIS
OR YOU DON'T.

OH, LORD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Destinee: EVERY SINGLE DAY
OF MY LIFE IS HARD

BECAUSE EVERY DAY,
I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.

AND EVERY DAY, I'M BECOMING
MORE AND MORE HELPLESS.

WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN
AND I CAN'T MOVE RIGHT.

I FEEL STIFF.

AND IT'S GETTING WORSE

TO WHERE I CAN HANDLE
LESS AND LESS EACH DAY,

AND I'M STRUGGLING TO WALK NOW.

MY MOBILITY'S REALLY LIMITED.

I CAN ONLY TAKE
MAYBE FIVE STEPS,

AND I'M OUT OF BREATH.

SO BEING AS BIG AS I AM
IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE

TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.

EVEN THE SIMPLEST THINGS
AREN'T POSSIBLE FOR ME NOW.

TRYING TO GET UP
AND USE THE RESTROOM

IS SOMETIMES
THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO.

AND I'M REALLY GETTING
REALLY CLOSE

TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FIT IN
MY SHOWER, AND THAT SCARES ME.

BECAUSE I COULD GET STUCK,
AND IT COULD BE A WHILE

BEFORE SOMEONE FOUND ME,
SINCE I LIVE ALONE.

SO I'VE LET MY WEIGHT GET
TO A REALLY DANGEROUS PLACE.

SO I'VE STARTED ASKING
MY SISTER, NUNA,

TO COME OVER IN THE MORNING
TO GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND,

KNOWING I HAVE HELP
IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN.

NUNA! CAN YOU BRING ME
A TOWEL, PLEASE?

PUT IT ON YOUR BED,
OR BRING IT TO YOU?

Nuna:
MY SISTER'S 27 YEARS OLD.

SHE HAS HER OWN PLACE,
BUT I DON'T FEEL

SHE'S COMPLETELY STABLE
TO STAY BY HERSELF.

SO I COME EVERY DAY
TO HELP HER OUT

BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE
SHE NEEDS HELP

WITH EVERYTHING, EVEN WALKING.

NO, NOT YET.

OKAY.

Nuna: I COOK BREAKFAST
FOR DESTINEE.

WHATEVER SHE WANTS, I'LL COOK.

EVEN THOUGH I HATE COOKING
EXACTLY WHAT ALL SHE WANTS,

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHE'S
GONNA KILL HERSELF WITH FOOD,

BECAUSE THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE
CAN FEED OFF HER PLATE.

AND I TELL HER THAT
ALL THE TIME,

BUT SHE JUST DOESN'T LISTEN.

Destinee:
IT'S EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING

TO HAVE TO ASK NUNA
TO DO THINGS FOR ME,

BECAUSE I CAN ONLY STAND
A COUPLE OF MINUTES

BEFORE THE PAIN GETS UNBEARABLE.

AND IF I FELL,
I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET UP.

AND SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT
COULD END UP KILLING ME.

IT'S LIKE HAVING SOMEONE ON SOME
SORT OF DEATH WATCH FOR YOU.

AND I HATE THAT I HAVE TO BURDEN
HER WITH THIS RESPONSIBILITY.

BUT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE,

I'M LOSING MY ABILITY
TO CARE FOR MYSELF.

AND THE BIGGER I GET, THE CLOSER
I GET TO BECOMING BEDBOUND

AND HAVING TO BE
COMPLETELY DEPENDENT

ON SOMEONE ELSE
FOR EVERYTHING.

BECAUSE I'M TRAPPED
IN THIS ROOM,

UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE ANYMORE...

...ALL BECAUSE
I WON'T GIVE UP FOOD.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

SO, YOU WANT ME TO GO FIX YOU
A PLATE AND BRING IT IN HERE?

-YEAH, PLEASE.
-ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

FOOD IS THE ONLY HAPPINESS
I HAVE IN MY LIFE.

IT'S MY ESCAPE.

AND WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING
THAT TASTES GOOD IN MY MOUTH,

ALL I CARE ABOUT
IS THAT I FEEL GOOD.

AND MY LIFE DOESN'T SEEM
THAT BAD IN THAT MOMENT.

SO ALL I WANT TO DO
IS EAT ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY

AND NEVER STOP,

BECAUSE I NEVER WANT
THAT FEELING OF COMFORT

AND SAFETY AND LOVE
AND HAPPINESS TO GO AWAY.

AND AT THIS POINT,
I'M NOT EVEN SURE

I CAN STOP ALL OF THIS
FROM GETTING EVEN WORSE.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD
ACTUALLY GET TO BE

OVER 600 POUNDS.

YOU NEVER MAKE THE DECISION
TO END UP LIKE THIS.

YOU MAKE OTHER DECISIONS
THAT LEAD YOU HERE

WITHOUT EVER REALLY REALIZING

THAT THIS WAS THE PATH
THAT YOU WERE ON.

AND YOU'D GIVE ANYTHING
TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT,

BUT YOU CAN'T.

THE PAST IS THE PAST,

AND THERE'S NOTHING
YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

I WAS BORN AS A BOY,
AND MY MOM NAMED ME MATTHEW.

AND RIGHT FROM THE START,
MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOS

BECAUSE MY MOM WAS ONLY 16
WHEN SHE HAD ME,

AND SHE WASN'T READY.

AND SHE WAS IN A BIRACIAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FATHER.

MY MOM'S FAMILY WAS VERY RACIST.

BECAUSE OF THAT,
NONE OF HER FAMILY

WAS ABLE TO GIVE HER SUPPORT.

THEY BASICALLY DISOWNED HER.

OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS
AFTER I WAS BORN,

MY MOM HAD MY TWO BROTHERS.

BUT AFTER THAT, MY FATHER LEFT.

SO I HAD A TEENAGE MOM
WHO WAS COMPLETELY ON HER OWN,

TRYING TO RAISE THREE KIDS
BY HERSELF.

AND IT ENDED UP LEADING HER
INTO SOME BAD THINGS.

I WAS REALLY ON MY OWN,
SO I TRIED FINDING JOBS.

BUT WITH THREE KIDS,
I COULDN'T HAVE A JOB

BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD
A BABYSITTER.

SO EVENTUALLY, THINGS
JUST GOT REAL ROUGH FOR ME.

Destinee: SO EVENTUALLY, THAT
LIFESTYLE CAUGHT UP WITH HER,

AND SOCIAL SERVICES
GOT INVOLVED.

AND ALL THREE OF US ENDED UP
IN FOSTER CARE

BY THE TIME I WAS 4,

AND MY MOM WAS FORCED
TO GIVE UP CUSTODY OF US.

BUT SHE STRUCK A DEAL
THAT ALLOWED HER

TO STILL BE A PART OF OUR LIVES
AND STAY IN TOUCH.

BUT IT WAS REALLY HARD
ON ALL OF US.

IT HURT ME A LOT TO NOT BE
WITH HER AT ALL TIMES.

FROM BIRTH, JUST NOT --
THE FAMILY NOT LIKING YOU,

AND THEN HAVING TO BE PUT
IN FOSTER CARE,

AND THEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES
GOING ON GROWING UP --

YOU KNOW,
I JUST ALWAYS FELT REJECTED.

I'VE NEVER FELT LIKE
I BELONGED ANYWHERE.

SO IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME
AND FOR MY BROTHERS.

AND IT JUST GOT HARDER, BECAUSE
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,

OUR FOSTER MOM, MAMA ROSE,

ENDED UP HAVING SEVEN OTHER
FOSTER KIDS IN THE HOUSE.

AND WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE
UNDER ONE ROOF,

THERE HAD TO BE A LOT OF FOOD.

AND MY FAVORITE TIMES
WERE WHEN WE WERE EATING,

BECAUSE ALL THE PAIN
OF BEING APART FROM MY MOM

AND MISSING HER
WOULD ALL FADE AWAY

AS LONG AS I WAS EATING
SOMETHING GOOD.

SO FOOD STARTED TO BECOME
MY ESCAPE FROM MY LIFE,

AND THAT WAS WHEN I WAS 7.

AND I DOUBLED MY SIZE
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS

AND WAS OVER 150 POUNDS
BY THE TIME I WAS 9.

UP TO THAT POINT IN OUR LIVES,

MY MOM STAYED IN TOUCH
WITH US BY CALLING.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAD BIRTHDAYS,
SHE WOULD BRING US CAKES.

SHE WOULD BRING US CLOTHES
SOMETIMES, SHOES.

I WOULD SAY SHE CAME AROUND
EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.

BUT A COUPLE YEARS AFTER I WAS
PUT IN FOSTER CARE, MY MAMA --

SHE HAD TO GO TO JAIL
FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

EVENTUALLY, I STARTED GETTING
IN TROUBLE FROM SHOPLIFTING.

I HAD TO DO TIME.
I DID THREE YEARS.

Destinee:
SO, DURING THAT TIME,

EVERYTHING FELT
SO MUCH LONELIER.

AND ASIDE FROM MY BROTHERS,
I FELT LIKE I HAD NO ONE

SO I NEEDED THE ESCAPE OF FOOD
EVEN MORE.

SO, I MADE IT UP
TO AROUND 220 POUNDS

BY THE TIME I WAS 12,

AND I WAS STILL GETTING
BIGGER AND BIGGER

BECAUSE I WOULD EAT MORE
AND MORE THE HARDER THINGS GOT.

MY FOSTER MOM, MAMA ROSE, DIED.

AND ALL OF HER OTHER FOSTER KIDS
WERE SENT TO OTHER HOMES,

SO I WAS SPLIT UP
FROM MY BROTHERS,

AND I LOST THEM
DURING THAT TIME.

WITH MY MOM GONE,
THEY WERE MY ONLY FAMILY.

SO I WAS MORE ALONE THAN EVER,

AND I FELT LIKE
I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.

SO RIGHT BEFORE MY MOM
GOT OUT OF PRISON,

SHE TOLD ME WHO MY DAD WAS,

AND I DECIDED
I WANTED TO MEET HIM.

AND WHEN I DID,
HE REJECTED ME THAT DAY.

HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY MAMA
SAYING, "THIS ISN'T MY SON.

MY SON WOULD WANT
TO PLAY SPORTS.

HE DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING
LIKE ME, SO THIS ISN'T MY SON."

AND LITERALLY LIKE,
A WEEK LATER,

THEY CALLED ME
AND TOLD ME HE DIED.

I WAS DEVASTATED.

YOU KNOW, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY,
IT WAS JUST LIKE,

"OKAY, I'M LOSING
EVERYBODY ELSE."

JUST -- I DON'T HAVE NOBODY.
DIDN'T HAVE NOBODY.

EVERYTHING JUST KEPT
FALLING APART.

THE ONLY THING I COULD TRUST
TO BE THERE FOR ME WAS FOOD,

SO I JUST KEPT EATING
AND GAINING EVEN FASTER.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 15,

I HAD MADE IT TO
BEING OVER 350 POUNDS.

AND BEING THAT SIZE
AS A TEENAGER

DIDN'T REALLY HELP
MY SOCIAL LIFE.

AND TO MAKE IT ALL EVEN HARDER,

I REALIZED AROUND THIS TIME
THAT I WAS GAY.

SO THIS WAS PROBABLY
THE HARDEST TIME IN MY LIFE.

MY MOM HAD BEEN RELEASED
FROM PRISON

BEFORE I ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL,
BUT SHE HAD MET SOMEONE

AND GOTTEN REMARRIED
AND STARTED A NEW FAMILY.

SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE
MUCH TIME FOR ME

AND MY BROTHERS AT THIS POINT,

BECAUSE SHE HAD TWO
YOUNG CHILDREN TO CARE FOR --

MY HALF-BROTHER WAYNE,
AND HALF-SISTER, NUNA.

SO IT STILL FELT VERY MUCH
LIKE ME VERSUS THE WORLD

AND THAT I WAS STILL
COMPLETELY ON MY OWN,

BECAUSE I PRETTY MUCH WAS
UP UNTIL I WAS 18.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS DONE
WITH THE FOSTER-CARE SYSTEM,

MY MOM LET ME MOVE IN WITH HER

UNTIL I COULD GET A JOB
AND PROVIDE FOR MYSELF.

AND FOR A LITTLE BIT,
I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE

I ACTUALLY HAD A FAMILY.

BUT THAT ALL FELL APART
FOR A BIT,

BECAUSE I DECIDED TO COME OUT,

AND MY MOM DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO HANDLE IT.

BUT THANKFULLY,
SHE EVENTUALLY CAME AROUND.

BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE
WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY

WHEN I TOLD THEM.

I CALLED EVERYBODY,
AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM,

"I'M NOT HIDING NO MORE.
I WANT TO BE WHO I WANT TO BE.

I'M GAY, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW,

HOPE THAT I CAN HAVE
Y'ALL APPROVAL."

BUT I WAS LIVING
IN A SMALL TOWN,

AND BEING GAY WASN'T SOMETHING
THAT WAS ACCEPTED.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT ALMOST
COMPLETELY ISOLATED ME

FROM EVERYONE IN MY LIFE.

PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT CARED
ABOUT ME TALKED ABOUT ME

AND SHAMED ME FOR WHAT I AM,
AND IT HURT ME A LOT.

SO I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED.

AND I HAVE NOT YET BEEN HAPPY
SINCE THAT DAY.

I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IF I WOULD'VE
KEPT IT TO MYSELF,

YOU KNOW,
MAYBE I WOULD'VE LIVED BETTER.

THE ONLY PEOPLE
I TRULY FEEL ACCEPTED ME

WERE MY MOM
AND HALF-BROTHER ANTHONY,

AND HALF-SISTER, NUNA.

AND NOT ONLY WAS I GAY, BUT OVER
THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,

I STARTED TO LIVE LIFE
AS A WOMAN.

I DECIDED,
"HEY, I LOOK LIKE A WOMAN.

MAYBE I SHOULD TRY ON WIGS."

AND SO ONE DAY I TRIED
ON CERTAIN WIGS AND MAKEUP,

AND I WAS LIKE,
"OH, I'M SO BEAUTIFUL."

I SAID, I SHOULD -- I SAID,
"I THINK I SHOULD BE A WOMAN."

I SAID, "I LOOK SO GOOD
AS A WOMAN."

AND WHEN I WAS 22, I DECIDED
TO START LIVING MY LIFE

AS A FULL WOMAN,

AND I CHANGED MY NAME
TO DESTINEE.

AND I'VE BEEN A WOMAN
EVER SINCE.

AND THROUGH THAT TIME,
I NEVER FELT JUDGED BY MY MOM

OR ANTHONY AND NUNA.

AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE
SOME FAMILY SUPPORT,

BUT THERE WAS STILL
A LOT OF PAIN AND REJECTION

IN MY LIFE THAT WAS HARD.

AND I WAS, OF COURSE,
STILL USING FOOD

TO HELP DEAL WITH ALL OF THAT.

SO I HAD STILL
BEEN EATING A LOT,

AND I HAD MADE IT
INTO OVER 450 POUNDS.

AND AS A LARGE, GAY,
TRANSGENDER PERSON,

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE
I FIT IN ANYWHERE.

ME AND ANTHONY
HAD GOTTEN CLOSE AS BROTHERS

WHILE I LIVED WITH MY MOM,

AND SO WE HAD MOVED OUT
ON OUR OWN TOGETHER.

SO I NEEDED TO PAY MY FAIR SHARE
OF THE RENT

AND GOT DIFFERENT JOBS
AT A FEW PLACES.

BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME WORK
UNDER MY NEW NAME

OR USE THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM,
SO I STILL WASN'T ABLE

TO LIVE THE TRUE PERSON
THAT I WANTED TO BE.

AND FOOD WAS ALWAYS MY ESCAPE
FROM A LIFE I FELT TRAPPED IN.

BUT WHEN I WAS 25,
THINGS GOT WORSE.

I WAS OVER 500 POUNDS
AT THAT TIME.

BUT DURING THAT TIME, MY BROTHER
ANTHONY HAD TO GET SURGERY.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE
A MINOR PROCEDURE.

BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME,

HE DEVELOPED A BLOOD CLOT
FROM IT.

AND IT CAUSED AN ANEURYSM
THAT KILLED HIM.

HE ENDED UP DYING
IN MY ARMS AT HOME.

WHEN THEY COULDN'T SAVE HIM,
I JUST TRIED TO KILL MYSELF

BECAUSE I JUST WANTED
TO GO JOIN HIM.

BUT I GOT SO DEPRESSED AFTER
THAT THAT I COULDN'T HANDLE IT.

FOOD COULDN'T EVEN
TAKE THAT PAIN AWAY THEN.

TO LOSE MY BABY BROTHER --
HE HAD SO MUCH LIFE IN HIM.

HE JUST WANTED SO MUCH
OUT OF LIFE,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I SHOULD'VE WENT BEFORE HIM.

SO I GOT SENT
TO A MENTAL FACILITY

FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS
UNTIL THEY WERE CONFIDENT

THAT I WASN'T GONNA
HARM MYSELF AGAIN.

BUT I'VE STILL NEVER
FULLY GOTTEN OVER THAT.

I STILL CARRY A LOT OF GUILT
FROM THAT DAY,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
I COULD'VE SAVED HIM.

I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IF I WOULD'VE
WOKE HIM UP EARLIER,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED AWAY.

THAT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,

AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL
MYSELF OUT OF THE DEPRESSION

I'VE HAD SINCE THEN

AND THE PATTERN OF JUST EATING.

WHENEVER I'M FEELING BAD,
ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO IS

JUST LAY IN BED AND JUST EAT.

THIS ROOM AND THIS HOUSE
ARE MY WHOLE WORLD MOST DAYS.

AND IN THE EVENINGS FOR DINNER,

MY MOM WILL COME OVER
TO HELP ME COOK

AND TRY TO GET ME
TO COME OUT OF MY ROOM,

BECAUSE SHE KNOWS
I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR FOOD.

Destinee: HEY, SUGAR BEE.
HOW YOU DOING, DELICIOUS?

ALL RIGHT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

HOW YOU FEELING?

ALL RIGHT.
I'M SO HUNGRY.

-YOU HUNGRY? OKAY.
-YEAH.

-THANK YOU.
-WELCOME.

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

Destinee: I'M JUST 27.

I HAVE SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO DO
AND THAT I NEED TO DO.

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE
THIS IS MY LIFE NOW,

WHERE I JUST LAY HERE ALL DAY
AND WAIT FOR FOOD.

AND I DON'T SEE ANY
OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

UNLESS THEY COME TO SEE ME,

AND IT'S MOSTLY
ONLY MY SISTER AND MOM.

WHEN I COME OVER,
IT'S MOSTLY TO GET

DESTINEE OUT OF THE BED --
TO GET HER UP,

'CAUSE SHE'S USUALLY
JUST LAYING DOWN.

YOU GONNA COME OR NOT?

YES, I AM.

YOU NEED HELP?

HOLD ON.

I FEEL LIKE ALL I'M CONSTANTLY
DOING IS JUST TRYING TO ESCAPE

ALL MY DEPRESSION
AND PAIN AT THIS POINT.

AND FOOD IS THE ONLY THING
I HAVE TO TURN TO TO DO THAT.

BUT THE THING THAT'S
SAVING ME EVERY DAY

IS ALSO WHAT'S DESTROYING
MY LIFE NOW,

TO THE POINT WHERE
I CAN FEEL IT KILLING ME.

I KNOW THERE IS JUST NO WAY

I'M GONNA SURVIVE
FOR A LOT LONGER,

BECAUSE MY BODY CAN'T TAKE
GETTING ANY BIGGER

THAN I'VE ALREADY LET IT.

MY SITUATION IS
AT A BREAKING POINT.

I NEED TO GET HELP.

I NEED TO BE ABLE
TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT,

OR THEY'RE GONNA BE
BURYING ME NEXT.

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK
I COULD LIVE TO NEXT YEAR

BEING THIS BIG.

AT THIS RATE, I GIVE MYSELF
A COUPLE MONTHS.

AND THAT'S NOT THE FUTURE
I SHOULD BE FACING,

BEFORE I'VE HARDLY EVEN HAD
A CHANCE TO LIVE MY LIFE.

SO AS IMPOSSIBLE AND HOPELESS
AS IT SEEMS TO ME

TO TRY AND CHANGE
AND GIVE UP EATING LIKE I DO,

I'M READY TO TRY AND FIND
A WAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

BECAUSE IF I DON'T,
THEN I KNOW I'M ABOUT TO DIE.

SO I HAVE TO AT LEAST TRY.

Destinee: TODAY, I'M GONNA
TRY TO DRIVE TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE DR. NOW THIS AFTERNOON.

NUNA CALLED AND SET IT FOR ME.

AND SHE AND MY MOM ARE GONNA GO
WITH ME TO HELP ME GET THERE,

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW I'M GONNA HANDLE

BEING IN A CAR THAT LONG.

IT'S ONLY ABOUT
A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE,

BUT MY LIMIT
IF I TRY TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE

IS NORMALLY AROUND
10 TO 15 MINUTES.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A WHOLE
NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME,

AND I'M HOPING I CAN MAKE IT.

I KNOW I CAN'T HANDLE DOING
THIS TRIP TWICE IN ONE DAY,

SO WE'RE STAYING IN HOUSTON FOR
THE NIGHT AND THEN COMING BACK.

BUT IT'S STILL GONNA BE A LOT
FOR ME, SO I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

AND A LOT OF THINGS
ARE GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.

I'M NERVOUS THAT IF DR. NOW
DOESN'T TAKE ME AS A PATIENT,

I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP
ME WITH MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DOUBT
AND HIM NOT TAKING ME,

IT KIND OF MAKES ME SAD.

-HEY, HONEY.
-HEY.

CAN YOU HELP ME FOLD SOME
AND PUT THEM IN NOW?

I KNOW THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE
LAST CHANCE TO GET THE HELP

I HAVE TO HAVE TO SAVE MY LIFE
AND AVOID AN EARLY DEATH,

SO THIS IS ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

I'M GONNA EVER DO IN MY LIFE.

SO I'M NOT LETTING ANY OF
MY EMOTIONS AND FEARS STOP ME,

AND THE ONLY THING
I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT

IS MY BODY
BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT.

-ARE Y'ALL READY?
-YEAH.

WE JUST FINISHED PACKING. SO
YOU READY FOR THAT LONG DRIVE?

YEAH.

IT'S GONNA BE A BIG DAY,
A LONG DAY.

I'M READY
WHENEVER Y'ALL ARE.

I'M THELMA, YOU'RE LOUISE.
I'M BONNIE, SHE CLYDE.

-[ LAUGHS ]
-LET'S GO.

Nuna:
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR DESTINEE
TO GO TO THIS DOCTOR APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS
THE PROPER HELP.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE
SHE'S MISERABLE.

SHE CAN'T REALLY LIVE HER LIFE
HOW SHE WANTS TO

BECAUSE SHE'S PICKED UP ON
SO MUCH WEIGHT.

TIME TO GO, BABY.

Destinee:
MY SISTER IS TOO YOUNG TO DRIVE,

AND MY MOM
HAS REALLY BAD EYESIGHT.

SO I HAVE TO BE THE ONE
TO DRIVE.

SO THAT'S GONNA MAKE THIS
A LITTLE TOUGHER,

BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE
IS EVEN MORE CRAMPED.

MY STOMACH GOES UP TO THE WHEEL

AND ALMOST PUSHES
AGAINST IT TOO MUCH,

SO IT'S GONNA BE A TIGHT FIT,

AND I'M NOT GONNA GET
THE CHANCE TO LEAN BACK MUCH.

BUT AT LEAST I FIT.

I JUST HOPE I CAN LAST
FOUR HOURS LIKE THIS.

BUT IF I WANT THIS CHANCE,
I KNOW I HAVE TO.

WE FINALLY MADE IT TO HOUSTON,

AND I'VE COME ABOUT ALMOST
300 MILES TO SEE THIS DOCTOR.

I'M FEELING A CERTAIN PAIN
IN MY LEG AND IN MY SIDES.

I HAVE A LOT OF SWELLING
IN MY LEGS AND NEUROPATHY,

AND THE PAIN IS PRETTY BAD.

BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
I'M REALLY HUNGRY.

WE ONLY STOPPED ONCE
AT A GAS STATION,

AND I GOT A SANDWICH AND CHIPS.

BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY EATEN
MUCH THESE LAST FOUR HOURS,

AND I'M GONNA
HAVE TO EAT SOMETHING

RIGHT AFTER I SEE DR. NOW.

BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE,
MAYBE HAVING AN EMPTY STOMACH

WILL HELP ME WEIGH A FEW POUNDS
LESS WHEN I GET ON THE SCALE.

BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS
AND HOWEVER MUCH I WEIGH,

I JUST HOPE
I GET THE HELP I NEED TODAY.

AND THE ONLY THING
THAT REALLY HAS ME SCARED

IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT DR. NOW

COULD SAY HE DOESN'T THINK
HE CAN TREAT ME.

DESTINEE LaSHAEE?

IF THAT HAPPENS,
IT'S GONNA BE LIKE BEING TOLD

I'M GONNA DIE

AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO
TO CHANGE THAT.

AND I'M NOT READY FOR THAT.

I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED.

OKAY, YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD
AND GO TO ROOM 5.

I'M GLAD
I'M STILL IN THE 600s,

BUT IT'S STILL
A REALLY HIGH NUMBER.

SO I'M EMBARRASSED AT HOW BAD
I'VE LET MY SITUATION GET,

AND IT'S IMPORTANT I GET
THE HELP I NEED TODAY

SO I CAN CHANGE THIS.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M DESTINEE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
AND YOU ARE?

-I'M NUNA.
-AND YOU?

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

-I'M GOOD. AND YOU?
-I'M VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE COMING
FROM, UH, WHERE?

UH, PINEVILLE, LOUISIANA.

OKAY.
SO, HOW WAS THE TRIP?

YOU MADE IT OKAY?
YES, SIR.

I'M JUST A LITTLE SORE,
BUT I'M OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU ARE 668 POUNDS.

SO, I TAKE IT YOU HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND YOU'RE HERE
FOR SOME HELP.

-I HAVEN'T BEEN TRYING.
-YOU HAVEN'T?

NO, SIR.

SO, DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT?
WHAT IS THE PLAN?

THE PLAN IS TO TRY TO GET
YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR HELP

TO WHERE I CAN TRY TO GET
MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

OKAY.

SO, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS?

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
GIVING ME THE IMPRESSION

YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED
IN LOSING WEIGHT.

WELL, I DO, BUT I HAVE
A LOT OF, UM --

I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

AND I THINK I HAVE A LOT
OF EMOTIONAL EATING PROBLEMS.

ALL RIGHT.
SUCH AS WHAT?

WELL, UM,
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT,

BEING TRANSGENDER
AND GAY

AND, YOU KNOW,
BEING PICKED ON A LOT

AND JUST GROWING UP
JUST STRUGGLING

AND JUST NOT BEING ABLE
TO FIND A GOOD JOB AND STUFF.

AND THE LOSS OF MY BROTHER

IS WHERE I REALLY PICKED UP
A LOT OF WEIGHT.

OKAY.
I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

BUT HOW DOES
ANY OF THAT JUSTIFY

OVEREATING TO THE POINT
WHERE YOU'RE HURTING YOURSELF

AND, ULTIMATELY,
SHORTENING YOUR LIFE?

I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK IT'S A LOT OF --

A LOT OF TO DO WITH
MY EMOTIONS AND STUFF.

OKAY.

BUT IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE
A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE A CAUSE
OF YOUR OVEREATING,

HAVE BEEN SEEING A THERAPIST
TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT?

NO, SIR.

SO YOU HAVE REALLY NOT DONE
ANYTHING TO TRY TO CHANGE

YOUR EATING HABIT
AND LOSE WEIGHT.

NO, SIR.

I ASSUME YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND

AND LOSE WEIGHT
TO HAVE THE LIFE YOU WANT.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY.

SO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE
IN YOUR LIFE IN 10 YEARS?

HOW DO YOU SEE
WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE

AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO?

IN 10 YEARS, I WANT TO SEE
MYSELF HAVING A FAMILY.

I WANT TO GET MARRIED.
I WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.

I WANT TO HAVE
A SUCCESSFUL JOB.

I WANT TO JUST LIVE LIFE.

THOSE ARE ALL GOOD GOALS.

BUT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT

IF YOU KEEP EATING
LIKE YOU HAVE?

NO, SIR.

TELL ME ABOUT
YOUR EATING HABITS.

I, UM -- I TEND TO SLEEP
A LOT DURING THE DAY.

AND THEN, LIKE, I'LL WAKE UP
IN THE AFTERNOON,

AND I'LL MAYBE EAT,
LIKE, A BIG MEAL.

AND THEN AT NIGHT,
I'LL EAT A BIG MEAL, AS WELL.

DO YOU EAT AT HOME,
OR YOU EAT OUT?

I EAT MOSTLY AT HOME,
OR SOMETIMES I'LL GO EAT OUT.

WHO COOKS FOR YOU?

SOMETIMES I'LL COOK,
OR MY MOM WILL COME OVER,

AND WE'LL COOK TOGETHER.

DOES SHE BRING FOOD
FOR YOU?

SOMETIMES SHE'LL
BRING FOOD FOR ME,

AND SHE'LL COME OVER
AND HELP ME COOK.

AND MY SISTER HELPS ME,
AS WELL.

AND YOU BRING THAT
TO HELP OUT,

OR ARE YOU JUST,
UM, DOING THAT TO...?

NO. WE JUST COOK,
LIKE, FAMILY MEALS.

SO, ARE YOU
GONNA BE ENABLING,

OR ARE YOU
GONNA BE HELPING?

NO, I'M GONNA HELP.

IN FACT, WE ARE --
MY DAUGHTER, TOO.

I HOPE SO, BECAUSE SHE'S NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS

IF YOU CONTINUE
TO ENABLE HER

AND DON'T GIVE HER
THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS.

SO THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN YOU ALL
NEED TO CHANGE NOW.

-YES.
-OKAY.

-ANY QUESTIONS?
-NO, SIR.

-JUST READY TO GET STARTED.
-OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU
ON A 1,200-CALORIE DIET,

WHICH IS GONNA BE EATING
400 CALORIE PER MEAL...

-OKAY.
-...HIGH-PROTEIN, NO-CARB DIET.

-YES, SIR.
-START ON THAT IMMEDIATELY.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS
IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A GOAL THAT
WE'RE GONNA WORK TOWARD, OKAY?

AND IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU
WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM,

THEN I'LL APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

AND WE'RE GONNA START YOU
ON PSYCHOTHERAPY

BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW THERE ARE
A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES

BEHIND YOUR PATHOLOGICAL
OVEREATING,

THEN A BIG PRIORITY
WILL BE THAT WE NEED

TO GET YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUE
UNDER CONTROL.

OKAY.

BECAUSE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL

IF YOU STILL GOT
EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN TO FOOD.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY?

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY
DIFFICULT SITUATION

TO GET YOU OUT OF THIS.
YES, SIR.

SO WE HAVE
A LOT OF WORK TO DO,

BUT IT ALL STARTS
WITH YOU SHOWING ME

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

AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY
HITTING THE WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.

OKAY.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU FEEL
LIKE YOU'RE READY TO DO?

-YES, SIR.
-GREAT.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE MOBILE
FOR MUCH LONGER

WITH THE WAY YOU ARE.

AND ONCE YOU BECOME
BEDRIDDEN,

YOUR HEALTH IS GONNA START TO
DECLINE RAPIDLY AT THAT POINT.

SO THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO CHANGE
THAT IF YOU WANT. GOT IT?

YES, SIR.
I FEEL LIKE I'M READY.

GOOD.
WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT. NICE TO MEET YOU.

-NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
I'M CONCERNED RIGHT NOW
THAT DESTINEE IS NOT REALLY

THAT COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT SHE
NEEDS TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.

SHE SEEMS RELUCTANT
ABOUT EVEN LOSING THE WEIGHT

AND TURNING AROUND THE LEVEL
OF PATHOLOGICAL EATING IT TAKES

TO GET OVER 600 POUNDS.

TO SUCCESSFULLY LOSE AROUND
450 POUNDS AND THEN KEEP IT OFF

IS GOING TO TAKE
A LOT OF TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH,

ESPECIALLY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
AND PSYCHOTHERAPY.

BUT ALL OF THAT WILL BE USELESS

IF DESTINEE ISN'T WILLING
TO PUT IN THE WORK SHE NEEDS,

BECAUSE NONE OF THIS
WILL DO THE WORK FOR HER.

SO THIS IS ALL ULTIMATELY
IN HER HANDS.

AND IF SHE WANTS TO MOVE AHEAD
AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

THEN SHE NEEDS TO START
BY WORKING TO HIT THE GOAL

I HAVE GIVEN HER

AND SHOW ME SHE'S AS COMMITTED
AS SHE NEEDS

AND THAT SHE'S READY TO DO THIS.

Destinee: I'M RELIEVED THAT
DR. NOW IS WILLING TO HELP ME.

FINDING THAT OUT
HAS LIFTED A WEIGHT OFF OF ME.

BUT I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

THAT I HAVE TO DO A DIET
TO START.

AND TO LOSE 80 POUNDS
IN TWO MONTHS IS A LOT.

BUT IF THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO
TO GET DR. NOW'S HELP,

THEN I'LL TRY TO WORK
AS HARD AS I CAN

TO GET TO THAT GOAL
BEFORE I COME BACK.

BECAUSE IF I FAIL AT THIS,
IT WILL COST ME MY LIFE.

Destinee: THIS LAST MONTH HAS
BEEN A BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT.

DR. NOW'S DIET ISN'T EASY.

IT CUTS OUT A LOT OF STUFF
THAT I LIKE TO EAT,

AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO
CHANGE ALL THAT AND ADAPT.

BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT IT,

AND I DO FEEL LIKE
I'M MAKING PROGRESS.

MY CLOTHES FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE FITTING A LITTLE BETTER,

AND I'M LOOKING SMALLER.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT,

AS LONG AS I DON'T LOSE
MY BREASTS,

BECAUSE MY BREASTS
HELP ME FEEL LIKE A WOMAN.

BUT OVERALL,
I'M MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

SO ALL THAT'S
REALLY ENCOURAGING

AND HELPS TO MOTIVATE ME
TO KEEP GOING.

I'M MOSTLY MAKING
A LOT OF SALAD.

IT'S LOW-CALORIE, SO I CAN HAVE
AS MUCH OF IT AS I WANT.

AND I'M ALSO EATING
A LOT OF PROTEIN.

BUT WITHOUT SOME OF WHAT I LIKE
TO EAT, IT'S BEEN HARD TO FIGHT

ALL THE SADNESS
AND DEPRESSION I HAVE.

BUT I'M NOT LETTING THAT
MESS ME UP,

AND I'M STICKING WITH IT.

THANKFULLY, THE EXERCISING
HASN'T BEEN AS HARD.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

COME IN.

HEY!

-HEY, HONEY.
-HOW YOU DOING?

I'M GOOD.

YOU READY TO GO
FOR OUR DAILY WALK?

-YEAH, I'M READY FOR IT.
-GOOD. LET'S GO.

I TOLD ONE OF MY OLD FRIENDS
WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO,

AND I ASKED HER IF SHE'D START
DOING MY WALKS WITH ME.

SO SHE'S BEEN COMING OVER
EVERY DAY TO DO THAT WITH ME,

AND WE JUST WALK
DOWN THE ROAD AND BACK.

THE FIRST WEEK WAS THE HARDEST,
BUT I CAN GO FURTHER NOW,

AND IT'S NICE
TO FEEL THAT PROGRESS.

SO HOW'S THE DIET
BEEN GOING?

WELL, I HAVE A GOAL
OF 80 POUNDS SOON.

SO AS LONG I JUST KEEP LOSING,
I'M FINE WITH THAT.

-THAT'S GOOD.
-THAT'S MY GOAL.

I CAN SEE YOU'RE LOSING
A LITTLE WEIGHT IN YOUR FACE.

YEAH, I FEEL LIKE
I'VE BEEN LOSING A LOT.

JUST KEEP YOUR FAITH.
YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.

I WILL.

[ LAUGHING ]

I REBUKE SATAN.

I KNOW I ONLY HAVE
ONE MORE MONTH

BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW,

SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME

TO MAKE THE REST
OF THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO I'M NOT GONNA
LET MYSELF SLOW DOWN

BECAUSE WHEN I SEE HIM,

I WANT TO MAKE DR. NOW PROUD
BY HITTING HIS GOAL

AND GETTING APPROVED
FOR MY SURGERY.

ME AND MY MOM
ARE BACK IN HOUSTON

FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW,

WHERE WE FIND OUT WHETHER
I MADE IT TO MY GOAL OR NOT.

AND I'M EXTREMELY ANXIOUS.

THIS IS SUCH
AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE IT'S WHERE I FIND OUT
HOW WELL I DID

AND WHETHER OR NOT
I HIT MY GOAL

AND THEN WHETHER I GET APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
LIKE I NEED.

BUT I'VE WORKED SO VERY HARD
FOR THIS,

AND I'M JUST HOPING
THAT ALL THAT WORK

IS REFLECTED ON THE NUMBER
THE SCALE GIVES TODAY.

DESTINEE?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
TWO MONTHS AGO,

MY WEIGHT WAS 668.

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME
I NEEDED TO LOSE 80 POUNDS

BY TODAY'S APPOINTMENT,

SO THAT MEANS
I NEED TO BE BELOW 588.

I'M DISAPPOINTED
IT'S NOT A BIGGER LOSS,

BUT IT'S STILL WEIGHT LOSS
AND PROGRESS.

SO I'M HOPING THAT DR. NOW
SEES THAT I'M MOVING

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND FOCUSES ON THAT
AND THE PROGRESS I DID MAKE.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HELLO.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

-I'M GOOD. AND YOU?
-WE'RE GOOD.

I'M JUST FINE, THANK YOU.
OKAY.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO 644.

YES, SIR.

WHICH IS A LOSS OF 24 POUNDS
OVER TWO MONTHS,

WHEN YOUR GOAL WAS TO
LOSE 80 IN THAT TIME.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.

I MADE A BAD CHOICE, AND I WENT
TO GO GET SOME BAD FOOD.

BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT,
I FELT BAD ABOUT IT

AND GOT BACK ON MY DIET
AND STUFF.

AND RIGHT AFTER THAT,

I GOT HIT WITH BAD NEWS
ABOUT MY MAMA.

SHE'S BEEN HAVING A LOT
OF HEART PROBLEMS,

SO THEY'RE TRYING
TO SEE HOW MUCH

BLOCKAGE SHE HAS
ON HER HEART AND STUFF.

SO I'VE BEEN STRESSED OUT
A LOT BECAUSE OF THAT.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.

WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT
YOU TWO ARE DEALING WITH THAT.

BUT STRESS IS PART
OF OUR LIFE, OKAY?

AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT
WE CAN LIVE THROUGH THIS LIFE

WITHOUT HAVING STRESS.

YES, SIR.

BUT WE SHOULD NOT LET STRESS
MAKE US EAT UNHEALTHY.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY?

YOU EITHER WANT TO DO THIS,
OR YOU DON'T.

RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU DON'T,

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SHOWING ME
THERE IS ANY REAL DESIRE

WITH YOU TO PUT ANY EFFORT
INTO SAVING YOUR LIFE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD,
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

SHOW ME THE PROGRESS
YOU NEED TO MAKE.

OKAY.

DESTINEE, I'M GONNA
GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE

TO LOSE 80 POUNDS OVER
THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?

OH, OKAY.

YOU DO THAT, I'LL APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEN
I'LL KNOW YOU STILL DON'T HAVE

ANY INTEREST
IN WORKING AT THIS

AND THAT WE ARE
WASTING OUR TIME.

AND THERE WILL BE NO POINT IN
MOVING AHEAD WITH YOU, GOT IT?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU
IN TWO MONTHS.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
LET ME KNOW.

-OKAY. YES, SIR.
-OKAY?

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND GOOD LUCK WITH
YOUR HEART TEST, OKAY?

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER.

-ALL RIGHT. I'M-A DO GOOD.
-GOOD.

-ALL RIGHT.
-ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU THEN.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
DESTINEE'S POOR PROGRESS
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS

IS VERY DISAPPOINTING.

AND IT LEAVES ME
WITH THE SAME CONCERNS

I ORIGINALLY HAD THAT SHE'S NOT
FULLY COMMITTED TO DOING THIS

AND EXPECTS ALL THE HARD WORK
TO BE DONE FOR HER.

SHE'S BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE
TO SAVE HER LIFE.

AND IF SHE'S NOT GONNA
TAKE IT SERIOUSLY,

THEN THE SURGERY
AND EVERYTHING WE DO FOR HER

WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL,

AND WHATEVER PROGRESS SHE MAKES
WILL BE UNDONE.

SO THERE IS NOTHING MORE
WE CAN DO FOR HER

UNTIL SHE STARTS DOING
WHAT SHE NEEDS

AND SHOW ME SHE WON'T END UP
WASTING THE TOOLS

AND OPPORTUNITY WE GIVE HER.

Destinee:
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.

I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED

THAT I DIDN'T GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I PUT IN A LOT OF HARD WORK
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,

AND I DON'T FEEL
THAT WAS RECOGNIZED

OR THAT ANY CREDIT
WAS GIVEN FOR THAT.

BUT I GUESS THE ONLY OPTION
I HAVE NOW IS TO TRY AGAIN.

IT'S EITHER THAT, OR I GIVE UP.

AND I CAN'T GIVE UP,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN

GIVING UP ON EVERYTHING,
INCLUDING MY LIFE.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A CHOICE.
I HAVE TO DO THIS.

Destinee: I'VE GIVEN MY
SITUATION A LOT OF THOUGHT,

AND I'VE DECIDED
I WANT TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.

I FOUND AN APARTMENT, AND
IT'S READY FOR ME TO MOVE ON.

SO I RENTED A MOVING TRUCK
AND HIRED SOME MOVERS.

AND ONCE I GET ALL PACKED UP,
I'M HEADED THERE.

DR. NOW TOLD ME

I ACTUALLY DIDN'T NEED
TO MOVE TO HOUSTON

SINCE I'M ALREADY CLOSE ENOUGH

TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE
TO HIM EASILY,

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING
I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DO.

BEING HERE, I'M STUCK IN A LOT
OF MY OLD PATTERNS AND WAYS.

AND I THINK THE BEST WAY
TO START TO BREAK THOSE

IS TO GET OUT
OF MY OLD ENVIRONMENT

AND INTO A NEW ONE WHERE I CAN
START NEW HEALTHY HABITS.

AND I WANT TO BE CLOSER
TO DR. NOW

AND SHOW HIM THAT I'M READY
TO COMPLETELY COMMIT

TO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO DO HIS PROGRAM.

AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT,
I FEEL LIKE

I FACED A LOT OF JUDGEMENT HERE
AS A LARGE TRANSGENDER PERSON.

AND I KNOW THAT'LL BE TRUE
NO MATTER WHERE I AM,

BUT I'LL BE ABLE
TO FIND MORE PEOPLE

THAT WILL ACCEPT ME
IN A BIG CITY.

SO AS MUCH AS
I'LL MISS MY FAMILY,

IT'S TIME TO SPREAD MY WINGS
AND FLY.

BUT AT LEAST FOR A WHILE,
I'M NOT GONNA TELL DR. NOW

BECAUSE I'M MOVING BY MYSELF,

AND ONE OF HIS REQUIREMENTS

IS THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE
WITH YOU TO HELP YOU.

AND I'M GONNA BE DOING IT
COMPLETELY ON MY OWN.

MY MOM WAS GONNA GO WITH ME
TO HELP ME FOR A WHILE,

BUT SHE'S SICK RIGHT NOW,
SO SHE'S NOT COMING.

BUT I'LL TELL DR. NOW
ONCE HE SEES MY PROGRESS

SO HE KNOWS
I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.

-GIRL, I --
-Oh, what happened?

I JUST GOT TO
FINISH THIS, UM --

FINISH GETTING THIS STUFF
OUT THE HOUSE

AND TRY TO GET ON THIS ROAD.
-Okay.

YOU BETTER STOP ALL THAT CRYING.

[ Sniffles ]

I LOVE YOU.
I'M-A, UM, TEXT YOU.

I love you, too.

I'M-A TEXT YOU AS SOON AS I,
UH, GET ON THE ROAD AND STUFF.

-Okay.
-ALL RIGHT, BYE.

IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY,
BUT IT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

BECAUSE IF I DON'T GET
THIS SURGERY,

I HAVE NOTHING --

NO LIFE, NO FUTURE,
NO HOPE, NOTHING.

SO I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO MAKE SURE

I GET APPROVED
AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT

SO I CAN START MY NEW LIFE
IN THE BIG CITY,

LIKE I'VE DREAMED OF DOING
MY WHOLE LIFE.

I'M CURRENTLY IN HOUSTON.

I MADE IT.

I DROVE STRAIGHT HERE
WITH NO STOPS

BECAUSE I JUST
WANTED TO GET HERE.

THANKFULLY, THIS IS A BIG TRUCK,

SO I HAVEN'T BEEN CRAMPED
LIKE I HAVE BEEN IN MY CAR.

BUT I'M STILL SORE
FROM SITTING UP FOR SO LONG,

AND I'M READY TO GET OUT
AND STRETCH MY LEGS, EAT,

AND USE THE BATHROOM.

BUT FIRST,
I HAVE TO GET MOVED IN.

I'M MEETING
THE APARTMENT MANAGER

TO GET THE APARTMENT
I'M RENTING.

AND ONCE I GET IN
AND HAVE ACCESS,

I'M CALLING THE MOVERS
SO THEY CAN COME MEET ME

AND UNLOAD ALL MY STUFF
SO I CAN GET SETTLED IN.

-HI.
-HEY, TORY.

I'M GOOD. AND YOU?

YEAH, I'M READY.

I'M GUESSING IT WILL TAKE
AT LEAST A FEW HOURS,

BUT I'M HOPING TO GET IT DONE
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

SO I CAN REST.

OKAY. OHH.

OH, YEAH?
I DON'T KNOW.

WAIT. THIS IS THE --

NO WAY.
THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

OH, [BLEEP]. OH, MY.
THIS IS TOO MUCH.

OH, [BLEEP] [BLEEP].

THIS ISN'T WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.

THE CABINETS ARE DIRTY.

THERE ARE SCUFF MARKS
EVERYWHERE ON THE WALLS.

AND I REFUSE TO STAY
IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

OH, NO...

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
AND UNACCEPTABLE,

AND THEY NEED TO FIX THIS,
BECAUSE I'M NOT MOVING.

ABOUT TO JUST GO TO THE HOTEL.

[BLEEP] MUCH.

Woman: Many concerns
can be resolved

Once our location is aware
of your experience.

[ BEEP ]

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

NO ONE'S GETTING BACK TO ME
RIGHT NOW,

SO I GUESS I DON'T HAVE
A PLACE TO LIVE TONIGHT.

AND I'M TOO TIRED
TO DEAL WITH THIS,

SO I JUST NEED TO GET A HOTEL.

ALL THIS IS NOT TURNING OUT
TO BE A GREAT NIGHT IN HOUSTON.

HOPEFULLY, TOMORROW GETS BETTER.

[ DOOR-AJAR BELL DINGING ]

BUT SO FAR, THIS HASN'T BEEN
WHAT I EXPECTED.

AND THE LAST THING I NEED
IS ALL THIS ADDED STRESS

WHEN I'M TRYING
TO GET MY LIFE RIGHT.

I HAVEN'T EATEN ALL DAY,
AND I'M STARVING.

AND ALL I WANT TO DO
IS GET SOME FAST FOOD

TO FORGET ABOUT ALL THIS,

BUT I'M TRYING HARD
TO DO WHAT I NEED.

SO I CAN'T, BECAUSE I DON'T
WANT TO MESS UP MY PROGRESS.

I HAVE A RESERVATION
FOR MATTHEW VENTRESS.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-NO PROBLEM.

BUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS
IS THE LAST THING I NEEDED,

SO I'M DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M NOT SURE DOING THIS
WAS A GOOD IDEA,

BECAUSE NOW I'M ALONE
IN A BIG CITY

WITH EVERYTHING GOING WRONG,

AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT.

AND I'M SCARED I'M REALLY CLOSE
TO JUST GIVING IN.

Destinee: I'M HEADED BACK TO THE
APARTMENT COMPLEX THIS MORNING.

THE MOVERS ARE GONNA
MEET ME THERE

AND GET ALL MY STUFF THERE
TO MY NEW PLACE,

SO I'LL HOPEFULLY
BE SETTLED IN SOON.

MAKING THE MOVE DOWN HERE
HASN'T GONE AS PLANNED SO FAR.

THE PLACE THEY HAD FOR ME
WASN'T TO MY LIKING.

OH, LORDY.

SO I WAS HOPING THEY COULD
GET ME IN A BETTER UNIT,

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT
GONNA BE SOMETHING THEY COULD DO

FOR AT LEAST
ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.

AND CONSIDERING I HAVE
NO OTHER OPTIONS,

I REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

AND I DON'T NEED TO BE DEALING
WITH THIS, WHEN I SHOULD BE ABLE

TO JUST FOCUS TO GET TO MY GOAL
BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.

BUT INSTEAD, I'M IN A SITUATION
WHERE I'M REALLY STRUGGLING.

SO THIS HAS BEEN
REALLY FRUSTRATING.

THE ONLY POSITIVE THING
TO DEVELOP

WAS THAT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE
WHO LIVES HERE IN HOUSTON

SAID SHE'D HELP ME OUT
WHILE I WAS DOWN HERE.

HER NAME IS SANTANA.
HER SISTER LIVED IN PINEVILLE.

AND WE USED TO COME VISIT HER
HERE IN HOUSTON TOGETHER.

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY
TO RECONNECT WITH HER

AND TO FEEL LIKE I HAVE
SOMEONE HERE IN HOUSTON.

-OKAY, PULL!
-PUSH!

Man: PULL IT. PULL IT!

Santana:
RIGHT NOW, IT'S REALLY HARD
FOR DESTINEE TO MOVE ALONE.

AND SO I WANTED TO COME
AND HELP OUT WITH THAT.

I LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON,
MAYBE 20 MINUTES AWAY

FROM DESTINEE'S APARTMENT.

SO IT'S GONNA BE REAL NICE
TO DROP IN ON HER SOMETIMES.

I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT
DESTINEE MOVED TO HOUSTON

TO BE CLOSER TO THE DOCTOR,

BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER
THAT SHE'S CLOSER TO ME.

[ LAUGHS ]

Destinee:
NOW I JUST NEED TO GET MOVED IN

SO I CAN RE-CENTER MYSELF

AND GET BACK TO DOING
WHAT I NEED.

WITH EVERYTHING
THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY,

I GAVE IN A LITTLE

AND ORDERED SOME STUFF IN THE
HOTEL THAT WASN'T ON MY DIET.

AND THAT CAN'T CONTINUE,
BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE

ONE MONTH LEFT
BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW.

AND EVERYTHING I WANT
IS COMPLETELY RIDING ON ME

HITTING MY GOAL,
AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE

I'M DOING EVERYTHING I SHOULD
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.

AND ONCE I GET MOVED IN
AND THIS STRESS IS BEHIND ME,

I'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU.

Santana: I AM SO TIRED.
LIKE, I'M EXHAUSTED.

I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON
FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND THE TRANSITION DOWN HERE
AND BEING AWAY FROM MY FAMILY

HASN'T BEEN AN EASY ADJUSTMENT.

BUT LATELY, I'VE BEEN
STRUGGLING WITH FEELING LONELY,

AND I'M A LITTLE DEPRESSED
BECAUSE OF THAT.

I THINK THE MAIN STRESS WHILE
I'VE BEEN OUT HERE IS MY MOM --

HER BEING SICK, AND JUST ME
NOT BEING CLOSE TO HER.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M LETTING
HER DOWN IN A WEIRD WAY

AND THAT I SHOULD BE THERE
FOR HER

WHILE SHE HAS HER HEART ISSUES.

SO WITH ALL THIS STRESS,

I KNOW I LET THAT TAKE A TOLL
ON MY EATING HABITS.

I'VE DEFINITELY HAD CRAVINGS,

BUT I'M TRYING TO STICK
TO WHAT I'M DOING.

IT'S DEFINITELY HARD PASSING UP
THOSE FAST-FOOD PLACES

THAT I'M USED TO GOING TO.

I'LL BE LIKE, "NO, DON'T DO IT.
NO, DON'T DO IT."

BUT A FEW TIMES, I DID.

I GAVE IN.

SO I'M FOCUSING ON SALADS AGAIN

AND TRYING TO FILL UP
WITH THOSE

AND MAKING SURE I HAVE
MORE PROTEIN MIXED IN

AND MOSTLY WATER TO DRINK.

THOSE MEALS
DON'T REALLY HIT THE SPOT,

BUT I'M STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE

FOR A GOOD DRESSING
THAT'S LOW-CALORIE.

BUT FOR NOW, I TRY TO
SEASON IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I CALLED DR. NOW'S CLINIC
AND TOLD HIM

I NEED AN EXTRA MONTH
BEFORE I COME BACK TO SEE HIM.

I WAS TOO SCARED
TO TALK DIRECTLY TO DR. NOW,

SO I JUST TOLD
WHOEVER PICKED UP THE PHONE.

BUT I'M GUESSING HE WASN'T
TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT WITH THIS LITTLE BIT
OF EXTRA TIME,

I KNOW I CAN GET BACK ON TRACK.

SO THIS MIGHT BE
A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY,

BUT I'M USING THIS EXTRA TIME
TO WORK HARD,

AND I STILL FEEL LIKE
I'M MAKING PROGRESS.

I'VE ALSO STARTED BACK UP
WITH MY WALKS AND EXERCISES,

AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.

I THINK ABOUT THE LIFE I WANT

AND REMIND MYSELF
WHY I'M DOING THIS

TO MOTIVATE MYSELF SOME MORE.

SO OVERALL,
I THINK I'M DOING WELL.

AND I FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT I'LL MAKE IT TO MY GOAL

BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW.

I'VE HAD SEVERE STOMACH PAIN
FOR A FEW DAYS NOW,

SO MY MOM CAME DOWN
TO HELP ME AND BE WITH ME.

SHE CALLED DR. NOW
AND TOLD HIM WHAT'S GOING ON,

AND HE SAID I NEED TO COME
TO HIS CLINIC NOW.

SO I'M A LITTLE SCARED
ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,
I DON'T FEEL LIKE

I'M READY TO HAVE
MY WEIGHT CHECKED AGAIN.

I HOPE THE FOCUS STAYS ON
FIGURING OUT MY STOMACH PAIN

AND NOT MY WEIGHT,
BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE

I'VE HAD THE TIME I NEED
TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

AND IF I HAVEN'T,
THEN MY FEAR IS THAT DR. NOW

WILL TELL ME I'M DONE,
AND THAT'LL BE IT FOR ME.

SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,

AND I'M ABSOLUTELY
TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

Destinee:
I'M AT DR. NOW'S BECAUSE
I HAVE SEVERE STOMACH PAIN.

BUT I'M WAITING ON HIM
TO CALL ME,

AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO WANT
TO DO A WEIGHT CHECK FIRST.

AND I'M SCARED BECAUSE I WASN'T
PLANNING ON COMING HERE TODAY,

AND I'M NOT READY.

DESTINEE?

DR. NOW WANTED ME TO LOSE
80 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M GETTING CLOSE,

BUT I NEED SOME MORE TIME.

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
THREE MONTHS AGO,

I WAS AT 644.

AND IF I HIT MY GOAL, I SHOULD
BE AT LEAST DOWN TO 564,

AND I THINK I'M CLOSE TO THAT.

I DON'T SEE
HOW THAT'S ACCURATE.

I'VE WORKED TOO HARD TO SEE
SUCH A LOW LOSS LIKE THAT,

BUT I DIDN'T COME HERE
TO DISCUSS MY PROGRESS.

I'M HERE TO FIGURE OUT
MY STOMACH PAIN,

AND I HOPE DR. NOW
FOCUSES ON THAT

BECAUSE MY WEIGHT LOSS
NEEDS TO WAIT

UNTIL ANOTHER APPOINTMENT.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?
-FINE.

I'M HERE.

SO, HOW IS YOUR STOMACH
DOING, DESTINEE?

ANY BETTER
SINCE WE TALKED?

NO, SIR.

YOU STILL FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE RUNNING A FEVER?

YES, SIR.

AND I'M FEELING --
I'M FEELING WEAK.

NO NAUSEA?
NO VOMITING?

NO, SIR.

OKAY.

SO, WE NEED TO CHECK YOUR
STOMACH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

CAN I GET YOU
ON THE TABLE?

WE'RE GONNA NEED TO PRAY BEFORE
WE TRY TO GET ME UP THERE.

-WHY?
-'CAUSE I'M BIG AS HELL.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE LAUGHING,
DOES STOMACH HURT?

NO, IT DOESN'T HURT
WHEN I LAUGH.

WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.

LET ME GET YOU
UP ON THE TABLE

AND SEE IF WE CAN
CHECK YOUR STOMACH.

OKAY.

FROM WHAT DESTINEE HAS
ALREADY DESCRIBED TO ME,

I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANYTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG

WITH HER RIGHT NOW.

AT HER WEIGHT, WE'RE NOT
GONNA TAKE ANY CHANCES.

SO WE WILL MAKE SURE
THERE ARE NO ISSUES.

BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THE
REALITY IS THAT SHE'S DIETING

FOR A BIT AND THEN BINGEING,

AND THAT'S A SOURCE OF HER
DISCOMFORT AND PAIN RIGHT NOW.

IT MAY HAVE CAUSED
SOME MUSCLE SPASM OR GAS,

SO THE ONLY PROBLEM
I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT

IS THE FACT THAT SHE HAS HARDLY
LOST ANY WEIGHT IN THREE MONTHS.

YOU CAN DO IT.
ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
ANY PAIN IN HERE?

-NO, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT. ANY PAIN IN HERE?

-RIGHT HERE.
-RIGHT HERE HURT?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

ANY PAIN IN HERE?

NOT REALLY, RIGHT THERE.

OKAY, JUST RELAX.
RELAX. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

HOW ABOUT WHEN I LET GO?

OKAY.
THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT WE CALL
REBOUND TENDERNESS IN HERE.

THIS IS JUST PROBABLY
A MUSCULAR PAIN, OKAY?

-OKAY.
-OKAY. SO YOU CAN SIT UP AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THERE'S NOTHING
TO WORRY ABOUT,

AND YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT
OF WORKOUT IN THE PROCESS.

[ LAUGHS ]

SO I'M NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT.

HOWEVER, WHAT I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT

IS THAT YOU MISSED YOUR
APPOINTMENT LAST MONTH,

WHERE YOU WERE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE LOST 80 POUNDS.

BUT INSTEAD, IN THREE MONTHS,
YOU ONLY LOST 17.

SO I'M NOT TOO HAPPY
ABOUT THAT.

YOU'RE STILL NOT TAKING
ANY OF THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.

THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA SET AN APPOINTMENT
WITH PSYCHOTHERAPY,

AND I WANT YOU
TO START GOING TO THAT

SO THEY CAN HELP
GIVE YOU SOME TOOLS

TO TRY TO CONTROL AND COPE
WITH YOUR EMOTIONS BETTER.

AND IF YOU SKIP THAT
AND DON'T LOSE 80 POUNDS

IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,
THEN THAT WILL BE IT.

YOU'LL BE DONE
WITH THE PROGRAM.

SO THIS TIME,
YOU WAKE UP AND DO THIS.

-YOU GOT IT?
-YES, SIR.

GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN
GET DOWN IF YOU WANT TO.

OKAY. OHH.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DO
THIS, DESTINEE. DON'T WASTE IT.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE
IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
HOPEFULLY, PSYCHOTHERAPY
WILL HAVE SOME SUCCESS

HELPING DESTINEE
GET HER EMOTIONAL EATING

UNDER CONTROL ENOUGH

TO START MAKING
THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS.

BUT THERE IS STILL
A BIG DISCONNECT WITH HER

BETWEEN WHAT SHE THINKS
SHE'S WORKING FOR

AND WHAT SHE IS
ACTUALLY WILLING TO DO,

BECAUSE THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY NO REASON

SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO PUT FORWARD SOME EFFORT

FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

SO I STILL HAVE THE SAME CONCERN
I HAD IN THE BEGINNING

THAT SHE'S NOT REALLY
COMMITTED TO THIS

AND STILL EXPECTS THE HARD WORK
TO BE DONE FOR HER.

SO IF SHE'S COUNTING ON SURGERY
TO BE WHAT DOES THAT FOR HER,

THEN THAT IS A SETUP FOR FAILURE

AND THERE IS NO POINT
IN MOVING AHEAD.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T
WANT THAT TO HAPPEN,

THEN SHE NEEDS TO START DOING
WHAT SHE NEEDS.

Destinee: I WAS REALLY HOPING
THAT DR. NOW WOULD UNDERSTAND

THAT I WAS ONLY THERE

BECAUSE I WAS SCARED
ABOUT MY STOMACH PAIN.

BUT AFTER I GOT ON THE SCALE
AND SAW MY WEIGHT,

I KNEW THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE
HE'D WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.

BUT AT LEAST DR. NOW
IS GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE.

RIGHT NOW, I'M HEADED
TO MEET THE THERAPIST.

DR. NOW SAID
THAT IT'LL BE A BENEFIT

TO HELP ME OUT IN THE LONG RUN,

SO I'M GOING TO THERAPY TODAY
TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP

WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES
THAT I'M DEALING WITH.

BUT I DON'T REALLY EXPECT IT
TO HELP ME THAT MUCH.

AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW
WHAT TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT AT LEAST I THINK I'LL BE
ABLE TO FEEL BETTER AFTERWARDS.

BUT WHO KNOWS?

IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO JUST START
TALKING ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS.

-MS. DESTINEE?
-HEY.

-HI.
-HOW YOU DOING, DARLING?

GOOD. IT'S A PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU.

PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU, TOO.

AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY,
YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON IN

AND HAVE A SEAT WHEREVER
YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE.

OKAY.

SO, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE
GROWING UP?

OH, LORD.

DISASTER.

MY MAMA, SHE GAVE ME
AND MY TWO BROTHERS UP...

OKAY.
...BECAUSE SHE WAS YOUNG

AND SHE, UM,
GOT INTO SOME TROUBLE.

SO WE HAD TO BE RAISED
IN A FOSTER-CARE HOME.

SO, DESTINEE, WHAT WAS LIFE
LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP

IN THE FOSTER-CARE SYSTEM?

LORD.
OH, IT WAS REALLY HARD.

WERE YOU IN THE SAME HOME
WITH YOUR SIBLINGS?

YES, MA'AM.

-WELL, THAT'S FORTUNATE.
-YEAH.

AND WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP
LIKE WITH YOUR SIBLINGS TODAY?

MY YOUNGER BROTHER,
HE ENDED UP PASSING AWAY.

AND, UM,
MY OTHER BROTHER --

I DON'T REALLY TALK
TO HIM THAT MUCH.

YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER
PASSED AWAY?

-YES, HE DID.
-I'M SORRY.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

THAT MUST'VE BEEN
A DIFFICULT TIME IN YOUR LIFE.

YEAH, THAT WAS --

LOSING MY BROTHER WAS, LIKE,
ONE OF THE WORST THINGS.

-MY BROTHER DIED IN MY ARMS.
-MM-HMM.

AND SO EVER SINCE
THAT DAY --

I JUST BASICALLY WANTED
TO BE WITH HIM.

LIKE, I DIDN'T WANT TO EXIST
IN A WORLD WITHOUT MY BROTHER.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO LIVE NO MORE,

SO I HAD TO GO
IN THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

SO YOU WERE REALLY DEPRESSED.

I WAS DEPRESSED A LOT.

AND I'VE -- I'VE ALWAYS
BEEN DEPRESSED A LOT

BECAUSE OF BEING GAY
AND BEING TRANSGENDER --

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE

JUST WOULDN'T THINK
WAS NORMAL.

THAT HAD TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT.

YEAH, IT WAS HARD.

DESTINEE, CAN YOU
DESCRIBE TO ME,

AT WHAT AGE
DID YOU FIRST RECALL

FEELING THAT YOU WERE NOT
IN THE RIGHT BODY?

FIRST, I REALIZED
THAT I WAS GAY.

BUT I THINK I WAS LIKE 21 WHEN
I DECIDED TO DRESS AS A WOMAN,

TO LIVE MY LIFE
AS A WOMAN.

AND SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU
WHEN YOU FINALLY DECIDED

TO EMBRACE YOUR FEMININITY
AND DO THAT?

IT WAS AMAZING
TO BE ABLE TO BE LIKE

WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED
TO BE.

BUT WITH THAT CAME
A LOT OF NONACCEPTANCE.

LIKE, THE DAY I STARTED
DRESSING AS A WOMAN

AND LIVE MY LIFE AS A WOMAN

IS WHEN EVERYTHING
JUST WENT BAD.

I STILL HAVE TROUBLE
GETTING A GOOD JOB.

I'M LIKE, "WHAT IF I GO
BACK TO BEING A MAN?

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'LL MAKE
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY."

DESTINEE, DON'T SAY THAT.

YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF
PERMISSION TO BE WHO YOU ARE,

EVEN WHEN OTHERS
DON'T APPROVE.

YOU'RE ON THIS JOURNEY NOW
WHERE YOU'RE BECOMING

MORE OF WHO
YOU REALLY ARE.

YES.

SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD,

YOU CAN'T EVER GO BACK
AND RUN AND HIDE.

YEAH.
YEAH, I KNOW THAT.

MY DREAM IS TO HAVE
THE TRANSITION.

I WANT TO TRANSITION
INTO A WOMAN,

BUT I DON'T WANT TO
HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

AND GET SMALL
AND GET LOST.

'CAUSE I FOUND MYSELF
BEING BIG.

OH, DON'T SAY "GET LOST."

YOU'RE MORE SIGNIFICANT
THAN THAT.

YEAH.

YOU'RE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN
THE BODY THAT YOU'RE IN.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO, I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK
FOR YOU, DESTINEE.

BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE
THROUGH TRAUMATIC LOSSES,

YOU'VE DEVELOPED
SOME ISSUES AROUND DEATH.

MM-HMM.

AND SO I REALLY WANT YOU
TO TAKE SOME TIME OUT

AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT
YOU FEEL DEATH LOOKS LIKE.

OKAY.

AND THEN I WANT YOU
TO ASK YOURSELF,

"WHO AM I?
WHO IS DESTINEE?"

YEAH.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE TYPE OF WOMAN
THAT YOU ARE...

AND WHAT YOU WANT
YOUR LEGACY TO BE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
MS. DESTINEE.

THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.

ANYTIME, ANYTIME.

Destinee: I LIKE LOLA,
AND I ENJOY TALKING TO HER.

I THINK SHE'S REALLY NICE.

BUT EVERYTHING SHE SAID,
IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.

AND IF I'M BEING HONEST,
I'M JUST NOT SURE

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING
SHE WANTS ME TO DO.

BUT I KNOW
I NEED TO DO SOMETHING,

BECAUSE IF I GO BACK TO DR. NOW
ONE MORE TIME

WITHOUT HITTING MY GOAL,
THEN THAT'S IT FOR ME.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE
WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

Destinee:
AFTER SEEING LOLA,

I THOUGHT A LOT
ABOUT EVERYTHING,

ESPECIALLY THE HOMEWORK
SHE WANTED ME TO DO

TO START TO FACE
SOME OF MY EMOTIONS --

THE BIG ONE BEING
MY BROTHER'S PASSING.

SO WHAT I DECIDED TO DO
WAS DRIVE BACK HOME TO LOUISIANA

AND VISIT HIS GRAVE
AND TALK TO HIM SOME.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA TALK OUT LOUD.

I'M GONNA DO IT IN MY HEART,

AND IT'S GONNA JUST BE
BETWEEN ME AND HIM.

I MISS ANTHONY
WITH ALL MY HEART,

SO DOING THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY HARD FOR ME.

IT BRINGS UP A LOT OF PAIN
AND ALL THAT GUILT OF FEELING

LIKE I COULD'VE SAVED HIM.

SO THIS ISN'T EASY AT ALL.

IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE
HOW MUCH I MISS HIM.

HE WAS ONE OF THE KINDEST

AND MOST SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE
IN MY LIFE.

AND EVER SINCE I LOST HIM,

THERE'S BEEN THIS EMPTINESS
AND DEPRESSION IN ME

THAT'S NEVER GONE AWAY.

I KNOW I'VE USED FOOD
TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT.

I JUST MISS HIM SO, SO MUCH.

IT SUCKS TO NOT HAVE HIM HERE
THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW,

A LOT OF THINGS
THAT I'M GOING THROUGH

AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT
MY FAMILY'S GOING THROUGH.

HIS LOSS TOOK A TOLL ON ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE GRIEF.

BUT I'M GETTING
TO A BETTER PLACE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE PAIN
OF NOT HAVING HIM IN MY LIFE

WILL EVER GO AWAY,

AND I WISH I COULD SOMEHOW
SEE HIM ONE LAST TIME.

HE WAS TAKEN SO ABRUPTLY.

YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT
I COULD JUST GET A HUG.

YOU KNOW, I WISH
THAT I COULD JUST...

LOSING MY BROTHER ANTHONY WAS
THE GREATEST PAIN I EVER FELT.

IF HE HADN'T DIED LIKE HE DID,

THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE
ENDED UP LIKE THIS.

SO I CAN'T DENY THERE ARE ISSUES
I HAVE TO ADDRESS,

LIKE THE PAIN I HAVE
FROM HIS DEATH AND MY EATING.

I JUST HOPE THIS WAS A STEP

TOWARDS LETTING SOME OF IT OUT
LIKE LOLA WANTED.

GOING TO MY BROTHER'S GRAVE
WAS REALLY HARD.

AND I'M STILL A LITTLE
EMOTIONAL ABOUT THAT.

BUT SINCE DOING IT,
I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE

SOMETHING IN ME OPENED UP.

IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, REALLY,

BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE
ANY OF THE PAIN HAS GONE AWAY.

BUT IT'S LIKE I FEEL LIKE
THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT PAIN

NOT BEING THERE AS MUCH
IS WHAT CHANGED.

SO IT FEELS LIKE
IT WAS A GOOD STEP FOR ME,

SO I WANT TO KEEP GOING
AND DOING MORE.

BUT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR ME

AND THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS
LOLA WANTED ME TO DO

WAS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MYSELF

AND WITH WHAT IT MEANS
FOR ME TO BE A WOMAN.

AND PART OF THAT WAS GETTING
MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MY BODY,

BECAUSE ONE OF MY FEARS,
IF I LOSE THE WEIGHT,

IS LOSING MY CURVES
AND MY BREASTS.

SO TO GET MORE IN TOUCH
WITH MY BODY AND FEMININITY,

I DECIDED TO TAKE
A BURLESQUE DANCING CLASS.

IT'S SOMETHING
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTIVE
ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT NOW.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT DOING THIS.

I JUST HOPE I CAN KEEP UP

AND THAT I DON'T GET WINDED
TOO QUICK.

-HI!
-HELLO.

GET COMFORTABLE.
MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.

-HEY!
-HEY.

-HI!
-SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE.

SO, BURLESQUE IS, ESSENTIALLY,
THE ART OF THE TEASE.

SO WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING
A LITTLE BIT OF TEASING TODAY.

GET UP NOW.

WE'RE JUST GONNA DO
A LITTLE FOLLOW-ALONG.

DOWN.

AND WE'RE GONNA GO UP,
AND WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD.

SO POINT YOUR TOES FORWARD
AND ROLL ON UP, OKAY?

Destinee:
I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.

I DO FEEL LIKE A CONFIDENT
AND SEXY WOMAN RIGHT NOW,

SO I'M GONNA DEFINITELY
KEEP COMING TO THIS.

FOR SO LONG,
I HAD TO HIDE WHO I WAS.

AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE
I'VE EVER TAKEN THE TIME

TO TRULY EXPLORE
BEING COMFORTABLE WITH WHO I AM.

THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR
AROUND DOING IT.

IT'S NEVER GONNA BE EASY
TO BREAK OUT OF THAT.

BUT BEING HERE TODAY
FEELS LIKE A GOOD STEP FOR ME,

AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I
WANTED TO BE HERE IN HOUSTON --

TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY
AND FIND GROUPS

THAT WILL ACCEPT ME LIKE THIS.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE
THAT OPTION IN A SMALL CITY,

SO I'M REALLY GLAD
I'M DOING THIS,

AND I THINK ALL OF THIS
IS HELPING ME.

BUT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
IS IN TWO WEEKS,

AND I'LL FIND OUT THEN

WHETHER I'M APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OH, YEAH!

I'M HEADED TO MY NEXT
APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

SANTANA SAID SHE'D COME WITH ME
FOR SUPPORT.

ONE OF THE TWO THINGS IS GONNA
HAPPEN AT THIS APPOINTMENT.

I'M EITHER GONNA HIT MY GOAL
AND GET APPROVED,

OR I'M NOT,
AND DR. NOW IS GONNA TELL ME

I'M COMPLETELY DONE
WITH HIS PROGRAM.

SO HOW DO I BE ANYTHING
BUT EXTREMELY NERVOUS,

WITH PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE
RIDING ON IT?

I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN

THESE PAST TWO MONTHS,
FROM DOING THE DIET

TO EXERCISING

TO TRYING TO DEAL WITH
SOME OF MY EMOTIONS.

SO I'M PRAYING
IT'S ALL GOOD ENOUGH

TO GET ME TO WHERE I NEED.

DESTINEE?

BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT
I GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.

IF I DON'T, I'M GONNA END UP
EATING MYSELF TO DEATH.

AND THAT CAN'T BE
HOW IT ALL ENDS FOR ME.

Destinee:
ME AND SANTANA ARE AT DR. NOW'S

TO FIND OUT IF I GOT TO MY GOAL

AND IF I'M GETTING APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BE DOWN
BELOW 547 IF I HIT MY GOAL.

THAT'S MORE THAN I'VE LOST
SO FAR COMBINED, I THINK.

BUT IT'S STILL NOT MY GOAL.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY SCARED

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS
TO BE IT FOR ME.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW YOU DOING?
-I'M DOING GOOD, AND YOU?

I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.
WHO'S THE FRIEND?

-THIS IS MY FRIEND SANTANA.
-HOW YOU DOING?

I'M FINE.
AND YOURSELF?

I'M VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.

SO, DESTINEE,
YOU'RE DOWN TO 565 TODAY.

SO YOU LOST 62 POUNDS
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,

TO BRING YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS
TOTAL TO 103 POUNDS

SINCE YOU STARTED
EIGHT MONTHS AGO.

THAT SOUND CORRECT?
YES, SIR.

WELL, YOU DIDN'T HIT YOUR GOAL,
BUT I THINK YOU'VE SHOWN ME

YOU'RE NOT GIVING UP AND
THAT YOU'RE WORKING AT THIS.

SO AT THIS POINT,
I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

-ARE YOU SERIOUS?
-YES.

-ALL RIGHT.
-NO.

-YEAH.
-ARE YOU SERIOUS?

YES. OKAY?

[ CRYING ]

I'M SORRY, Y'ALL.

-ARE YOU SERIOUS?
-YES.

BUT...THERE IS A CERTAIN
CONDITION WE HAVE TO MEET, OKAY?

OKAY.

BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN YOU A WHILE
TO GET TO THIS POINT,

I'M SCHEDULING YOUR SURGERY
FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST
ANOTHER 60 POUNDS BY THEN

AND SHOW ME THE RECENT
PROGRESS IS NOT TEMPORARY.

-OKAY?
-OKAY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T LOSE WEIGHT,
WE'RE NOT GONNA DO YOUR SURGERY.

-OKAY.
-WE'RE GONNA CANCEL IT, OKAY?

OKAY. YES, SIR.

AND THEN IT'S GONNA
BE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT

YOU KEEP GOING
TO PSYCHOTHERAPY...

OKAY.

...BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT
OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE GOING TO BE
VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE

WORKING ON TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN THE LONG RUN.

ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT?
YES, SIR. I WILL.

ALL RIGHT. SUPER.
WELL, KEEP UP THE HARD WORK.

YES, SIR. I WILL.

AND MAKE SURE
TO KEEP LOSING.

AND IF YOU DO,
WE'LL MOVE AHEAD

WITH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
IN TWO MONTHS.

I'M SPEECHLESS RIGHT NOW.

-ALL RIGHT.
-OH, LORD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

WELL, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.

-OKAY?
-I AM.

ALL RIGHT.
ANY QUESTION?

CAN I JUST GIVE YOU
A HUG?

SURE. OKAY.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME.
I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.
ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M HAPPY TO SEE
DESTINEE'S WORKING HARDER

AND THAT HER PROGRESS
IS STARTING TO IMPROVE.

EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T HIT HER
GOAL, LOSING WHAT SHE DID

SHOWS SHE'S PICKING UP THE PACE
WITH HER WEIGHT LOSS

AND APPLYING HERSELF MORE
LIKE SHE NEEDS.

AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH
THE FACT THAT SHE'S TAKEN A STEP

TOWARDS STARTING TO DEAL WITH
SOME OF HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
TO STICK WITH THAT

IF SHE'S GONNA HAVE ANY CHANCE
TO MAINTAIN HER PROGRESS

AND KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF
IN THE LONG RUN.

Destinee:
I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF

BECAUSE I DIDN'T JUST
WORK HARD THIS TIME --

I'VE WORKED HARD
THIS ENTIRE TIME.

AND I FINALLY FEEL
THAT WAS RECOGNIZED TODAY.

THIS MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD.

SO EVEN IF I HAVE TO WAIT
TWO MORE MONTHS

AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT TO GET IT,

I KNOW I CAN,
BECAUSE I'VE MADE IT THIS FAR.

SO I HAVE NO DOUBT
I'M GONNA DO THIS

AND WHEN I SHOW UP
FOR MY SURGERY

THAT I'M GONNA BE WHERE I NEED.

I'M HERE AT THE HOSPITAL

FOR WHAT I'M HOPING
IS THE DAY OF MY SURGERY.

BUT I HAVE TO GET MY WEIGHT
CHECKED FIRST TO SEE

IF I HIT THE GOAL
DR. NOW GAVE ME,

SO MY NERVES ARE ON EDGE,

AND I'M JUST HOPING
I MADE IT TO WHERE I NEED.

BUT OVER THESE PAST TWO MONTHS,

I'VE NOT ONLY WORKED TO STICK
TO MY DIET AND EXERCISES,

BUT I'VE CONTINUED TRYING
TO FACE ALL THE THINGS

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
WRESTLING WITH.

AND I'M HOPING IT'S CONTINUED
TO PAY OFF TODAY

WITH WHAT I SEE ON THE SCALE.

I SURE CAN.

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
TWO MONTHS AGO,

I WAS DOWN TO 565,

AND DR. NOW WANTED ME
TO LOSE ANOTHER 60 POUNDS.

SO I NEED TO AT LEAST
BE DOWN TO 505 TODAY,

BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET
MY SURGERY.

OH, THANK GOODNESS.

I LOST ONE MORE POUND
THAN LAST TIME.

BUT ALL THAT MATTERS
IS THAT I HIT MY GOAL.

SO I SHOULD BE GETTING
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND I CAN'T WAIT
FOR DR. NOW TO FIND OUT.

Woman:
LAY BACK FOR ME, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT.

-HI, DESTINEE.
-HEY, DR. NOWZARADAN.

YOU HIT YOUR
WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO, ARE YOU READY
FOR YOUR BIG DAY?

YES, SIR.

SO, OUR PLAN IS TO DO
SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY.

SO THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU
A LOT TO LOSE WEIGHT.

-OKAY.
-AND SOME OF THE TESTS SHOW

THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE
WITH YOUR APPENDIX,

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK
AT YOUR APPENDIX.

IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM,
WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT.

OKAY?
YES, SIR.

-ALL RIGHT.
-I HAD A QUESTION.

YEAH.

IF YOU DO, AM I ABLE TO KEEP IT
IN A JAR AS A MEMENTO?

NO, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP IT
BECAUSE THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW

THAT ANYTHING
COMES OUT OF A BODY

CANNOT BE RETURNED
TO PATIENT OR ANYBODY.

EVEN WHEN WE TAKE A BULLET, THE
PATIENT CANNOT HAVE THE BULLET.

WELL, THEY TAKE A BABY OUT.

A BABY IS DIFFERENT.

SO WE'LL TAKE
A PICTURE FOR YOU.

-OKAY.
-GIVE YOU A PICTURE.

ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL GET YOU FIXED UP.

-THANK YOU.
-MM-HMM.

I'M GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS
NOW THAT I'M GOING IN,

BUT I'M STILL MOSTLY EXCITED.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
STEP FOR ME

BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HELP ME
LOSE A LOT MORE WEIGHT.

I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEW DESTINEE

AT THE END OF ALL THIS.

-ALL RIGHT. COME ON OVER.
-OKAY.

-THERE WE GO. HOW YOU DOING?
-I'M FABULOUS.

THIS IS GONNA HELP CREATE
A NEW ME, AND I CAN'T WAIT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO

A GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE
ON DESTINEE.

UP TO THIS POINT,
IT'S BEEN A BIG STRUGGLE

FOR HER TO LOSE WEIGHT.

SO THIS SURGERY
WILL HELP HER A GREAT DEAL.

ALL RIGHT. ROOM LIGHT OFF.

BECAUSE WHAT THIS OPERATION DOES
IS REDUCE THE STOMACH BY 90%,

LEAVING A SMALL, NARROW TUBE
THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A SLEEVE.

SO THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE
IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED,

AND THE PATIENT IS LESS HUNGRY.

SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM

AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

SO THIS SURGERY WILL BE

A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HER
ONCE WE FINISH.

BUT IN ADDITION
TO THAT PROCEDURE,

WE MAY ALSO NEED
TO REMOVE HER APPENDIX.

HER TESTS HAVE SHOWN SHE MAY
HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH IT.

AND IF THAT TURNS OUT
TO BE THE CASE,

WE WILL NEED TO REMOVE IT

TO PREVENT IT
FROM GETTING ANY WORSE

AND BECOMING
LIFE-THREATENING FOR HER.

BECAUSE ANY LITTLE ISSUE
COULD EASILY

PUSH HER BODY OVER THE EDGE

AND END UP BEING TOO MUCH
FOR HER TO HANDLE,

EVEN WITH SURGERY,

BECAUSE DESTINEE'S
STILL AROUND 500 POUNDS.

AND ANY OPERATION ON A PERSON
THAT SIZE IS VERY HIGH-RISK.

SO IF THERE ARE
ANY CONCERNS WE HAVE,

WE MAY HAVE TO END
THE SURGERY EARLIER

TO PREVENT
A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION

FROM DEVELOPING WITH HER.

BUT HOPEFULLY,
THAT WON'T BE THE CASE TODAY.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

ALL RIGHT.
TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.

OKAY. ALL FINISHED.

DESTINEE'S SURGERY
WENT VERY WELL.

WE COMPLETED HER GASTRIC SLEEVE
WITHOUT ANY ISSUE.

AND LUCKILY, HER APPENDIX
IS STILL HEALTHY ENOUGH

TO WHERE WE DIDN'T NEED
TO REMOVE IT.

SO WE'RE GONNA GET HER
TO RECOVERY ROOM NOW.

AND THEN WE'LL GET HER HOME
IN A FEW DAYS,

BUT DESTINEE WILL NEED TO BE ON
A LIQUID DIET FOR ABOUT A MONTH.

AND IN THAT TIME, SHE SHOULD
LOSE ANOTHER 35 POUNDS.

AND THEN SHE SHOULD LOSE
AT LEAST 25 POUNDS A MONTH

UNTIL SHE GETS CLOSE
TO HER TARGET.

BUT THE ONLY WAY
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE

AT STAYING ON TRACK LONG-TERM

IS IF WE MAKE SURE SHE KEEPS
GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY

AND WORKING ON
HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

IF SHE DOESN'T, IT WILL
ONLY TAKE ONE HARD MOMENT

TO SEND HER RIGHT BACK
TO USING FOOD TO COPE.

AND IF SHE DOES THAT,
SHE CAN SLOWLY STRETCH

HER STOMACH BACK OUT.

SO THIS SURGERY
IS A VERY IMPORTANT

AND HELPFUL TOOL FOR HER,

BUT THE MAIN BENEFIT
IS THAT IT SUPPRESSES

HER PHYSICAL DRIVE TO EAT

SO SHE CAN FOCUS ON DEALING
WITH HER EMOTIONAL DRIVE

TO PATHOLOGICALLY EAT.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T DO THAT,

THIS SURGERY
WILL INEVITABLY FAIL,

AND SHE WILL END UP
RIGHT BACK WHERE SHE STARTED.

Destinee: I'M BACK IN LOUISIANA
TODAY TO SEE MY FAMILY,

SINCE I'VE MISSED THEM,

AND TO SHOW THEM
HOW WELL I'M DOING.

BUT I'M MEETING MY SISTER
AT THIS NAIL SALON

TO REWARD MYSELF
FOR ALL MY HARD WORK.

THE LADIES WHO WORK HERE
ARE MY FRIENDS,

AND THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ME

SINCE BEFORE I STARTED
MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.

SO IT'LL BE FUN SEEING
EVERYONE'S REACTION,

BECAUSE I'VE COME A LONG WAY.

SISSY!

MISSED YOU.

YOU LOOK GOOD.

GIRL...

-FEELING IT, FEELING IT.
-I AM.

Destinee:
I'M FINALLY IN THE 400s,

AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING.

I'VE LOST ANOTHER 35 POUNDS

BEING ON THAT LIQUID DIET
FOR THE LAST MONTH.

SO I'M STAYING ON TRACK,
AND DR. NOW IS PROUD.

AND I'M JUST
FEELING FANTASTIC.

I'M PROUD OF YOU, THOUGH.

THANK YOU.
IT'S A BIG CHANGE.

I FEEL A LOT BETTER.
YOU KNOW, LIKE I'M A SEXY BAE.

[ LAUGHS ]

AND I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT
LOSING EVEN MORE HERE SOON

AND GETTING TO MY TARGET WEIGHT
IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.

AND I KNOW I CAN DO THAT.

WELL, THANK YOU
FOR COMING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, HONEY.

I'M STILL WORKING WITH LOLA,
AND I'M DOING THE HOMEWORK

SHE'S GIVING ME BECAUSE
I SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

SO I CAN START
TO TAKE CONTROL BACK

INSTEAD OF GIVING IT UP TO FOOD.

I NEVER WANT TO GO
TO THAT PLACE AGAIN

NOW THAT I'VE LEARNED
THAT IT'S POSSIBLE

TO FACE A PAINFUL
OR EMOTIONAL SITUATION

WITHOUT RUNNING TO FOOD.

SO I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL
TO BE WHERE I'M AT,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M LIVING MY BEST LIFE.

THIS PAST MONTH,
I DECIDED IT'S TIME

I START TO PURSUE
SOME OF MY DREAMS.

AND I MADE A LIST OF THINGS
I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO,

AND I STARTED TO PUSH MYSELF
TO GO OUT THERE

AND DO THEM ONE BY ONE.

ONE OF THE FIRST ONES
WAS GET A JOB,

BECAUSE I CAN GET AROUND
A LOT EASIER NOW

AND I HAVE THE STAMINA TO BE OUT

AND TO BE RELIED UPON,
LIKE I SHOULD.

I'M DOING FOOD DELIVERIES,
AND I'M LOVING IT SO FAR

BECAUSE IT'S GETTING ME OUT
EVERY DAY

AND I'M MEETING NEW PEOPLE.

SO I REALLY LIKE IT,

AND IT FEELS GOOD
TO BE EARNING A PAYCHECK AGAIN.

IT MAY SOUND SILLY,
BUT LOSING THE ABILITY

TO PROVIDE FOR MYSELF
WAS A HUGE BLOW

WHEN I COULD NO LONGER WORK
BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.

SO TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
FEELS WONDERFUL.

SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT
TO DO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME,

BECAUSE ULTIMATELY I WANT TO
MEET SOMEONE AND START A FAMILY.

BUT RIGHT NOW,
MY PRIORITY IS GETTING HEALTHY

AND FINISHING DR. NOW'S PROGRAM.

SO I'M COMPLETELY
COMMITTED TO THAT.

AND DR. NOW SAYS IF I KEEP UP
MY CURRENT PACE,

I COULD BE READY FOR MY FIRST
SKIN-REMOVAL IN FOUR MONTHS.

SO THAT'S MY NEXT BIG GOAL.

Destinee:
FOR COLIN? THANK YOU.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT
HOW MY BODY IS CHANGING.

I MAY LOSE SOME CURVES
WHEN I GET SMALLER,

BUT I GET NEW ONES
AT THE SAME TIME.

JUST A FEW YEARS AGO,

I WASN'T SURE
I EVEN WANTED TO KEEP LIVING.

NOW I'M EXCITED ABOUT MY FUTURE
AND THE LIFE I COULD HAVE.

AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO MESS THAT UP,

SO I'M LISTENING TO EVERYTHING
DR. NOW HAS TOLD ME TO DO,

AND I'M MAKING SURE TO
KEEP SEEING LOLA CONSISTENTLY.

Woman: YOU'VE ARRIVED
AT YOUR DESTINATION.

I HAVE AROUND 250 POUNDS
LEFT TO LOSE,

SO I'M ALWAYS HALFWAY
TO WHERE I NEED.

BUT I KNOW THIS LAST HALF
WILL BE EVEN HARDER TO LOSE,

BUT I'M NOT AFRAID OF THAT,
AND I'M READY FOR IT.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE EXCUSES

OR AVOIDING ANYTHING
I NEED TO FACE,

'CAUSE I KNOW
I CAN HAVE THE LIFE I WANT.

THAT'S WHAT'S GUIDING ME NOW,

AND THAT'S WHAT
I'M GONNA FOCUS ON.

AND I MAY NOT KNOW
ALL THE THINGS

THAT ARE WAITING FOR ME,

BUT WHATEVER IT IS,

AS LONG AS I'M LETTING LOVE WIN
OVER FEAR,

I HAVE NO DOUBT
IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLE.

AND I CAN'T WAIT.