All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S07E12

Man: I HATE MY LIFE AND WHAT
I'VE LET IT BECOME.

Woman: HE CAN'T STOP.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.

Woman:
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 ACT
LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.

I KNOW
THAT I'M DYING.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT.

THIS SESSION IS OVER.

I'M DONE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Aaron:
I DREAD WAKING UP IN THE MORNING
BECAUSE IT MEANS

I HAVE TO FACE MY LIFE
FOR ANOTHER DAY.

LIFE IS PURE TORTURE BECAUSE
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN

FROM ALL MY WEIGHT
PULLING DOWN ON MY BODY.

I'M PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE
ON MY LEGS, MY KNEES,

AND IT'S TOO MUCH WEIGHT
BEARING ON MY BACK.

AND I CAN'T GET AROUND
WITHOUT MY CANE NOW

BECAUSE MY LEGS CAN
NO LONGER HANDLE ALL THE WEIGHT.

AND I CAN'T WALK FAR BEFORE
IT GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR ME.

UNLESS I TRY TO GO OUT,
I ONLY HAVE TWO LONG WALKS

I HAVE TO MAKE EVERY DAY --

THE WALK TO THE KITCHEN
AND TO THE BATHROOM.

AND THE BATHROOM IS THE FURTHEST
ONE I HAVE TO WALK TO.

I HAVE TO TRY AND DO IT QUICKLY

BEFORE I RUN OUT OF ENERGY,
AND THERE ARE TIMES

I'M WOOZY AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA PASS OUT.

SO WE HAD TO PUT A CHAIR
THAT CAN HOLD ME IN THE SHOWER

SO I CAN REST.

I STRUGGLE TO STAND
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,

SO I HAVE TO SIT.

IT'S SO EMBARRASSING THAT
I'VE LET IT GET THIS BAD,

BUT I'M NOT LETTING ANYONE
COME BATHE ME

NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GETS.

I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN,

SO I TRY AND CLEAN MYSELF
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

AT MY SIZE, YOUR SKIN CHAFES

FROM ALL THE RUBBING
AGAINST YOUR BODY

TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GET SORES
THAT CAN GET INFECTED,

AND THOSE INFECTIONS
CAN KILL YOU.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT
THAT IS TO STAY CLEAN

AND PUT BABY POWDER
AROUND YOUR WHOLE BODY,

SO I FORCE MYSELF TO DO
THAT EVERY DAY.

BUT IT TAKES ME SO LONG TO TAKE
A SHOWER THAT I'M SO EXHAUSTED,

AND IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ME EVERY
DAY JUST TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

I REFUSE TO ASK MY DAD

FOR ANY HELP
AT ALL IN THE BATHROOM, THOUGH.

HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT
LIVES HERE WITH ME,

AND I CAN'T LET IT
GET TO THE POINT

WHERE HE AS TO DO ANYTHING
LIKE THAT FOR ME.

BUT WHAT'S SCARING ME IS,
I ALREADY CAN'T DO SO MUCH.

I CAN'T EVEN REACH TO CLEAN
MYSELF AFTER I USE THE BATHROOM.

I HAVE TO WRAP THE HANDLE
OF MY CANE WITH A TISSUE TO EVEN

TRY TO REACH MY BACKSIDE, AND
THAT'S ALMOST TOO MUCH FOR ME.

IT'S HUMILIATING, AND HAVING
TO LIVE LIKE THIS

MAKES ME FEEL VERY ANGRY
AND FRUSTRATED,

AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT,
AND I HATE MY BODY.

IT'S HARD TO EVEN LOOK
AT MYSELF ANYMORE.

THIS IS NOT THE LIFE
I EVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE,

AND I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO BE ABLE
TO GO BACK

AND CHANGE ALL THE CHOICES

I'VE MADE AND ALL THE THINGS
THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME

THAT LED ME TO THIS POINT.

I STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT
ALL MY LIFE.

I HAVE TWO OLDER SISTERS,

AND I HAD A VERY STRICT
UPBRINGING.

MY DAD WAS IN THE MILITARY,
SO HE HAD A LOT OF RULES

THAT HE EXPECTED US
TO FOLLOW AS A FAMILY,

BUT HE HAD A LOT
THAT WERE JUST FOR ME.

I, UH, WAS PROBABLY ONE OF
THE MOST STRICT FATHERS.

AARON, HE, UH --
HE WAS THE WORST OF THE BATCH.

Aaron: HE WAS HARDER ON ME --
A LOT HARDER

THAN HE WAS ON MY SISTERS
BECAUSE I WAS A BOY.

SO WHEN I MESSED UP,
USUALLY THAT MEANT

A PRETTY SEVERE BEATING.

HE WOULD SPANK ME PRETTY HARD
WITH THE BELT.

SO I WAS CONSTANTLY AFRAID
OF MY DAD

AND WHAT I WAS GONNA
BE PUNISHED FOR NEXT.

AND I STARTED USING FOOD
TO HELP ME STAY CALM,

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS EATING,
I FELT GOOD.

I WENT TO FOOD FOR COMFORT
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T JUDGE ME.

IT JUST -- IT WAS THERE,
GAVE ME COMFORT,

SO IT BECAME MY BEST FRIEND.

SO I WAS EATING
ALMOST COMPULSIVELY THEN.

IT STARTED WHEN I WAS AROUND 6,
AND BY THE TIME I WAS 8,

I WAS ALREADY GETTING CLOSE
TO BEING ALMOST 200 POUNDS.

AARON JUST STARTED
GAINING WEIGHT,

AND HE WAS SO MUCH HEAVIER
THAN ANY OTHER KIDS AROUND HIM,

AND I COULDN'T STOP HIM.

DOCTORS DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO,

SO THEY KEPT TELLING ME
HE HAD TO STOP EATING.

WELL, YOU CAN'T TELL A KID
HE CAN'T EAT,

I MEAN, HE'S GONNA EAT.

Aaron: BOTH MY PARENTS TRIED
TO STOP ME

FROM EATING AS MUCH AS I DID,
BUT NO ONE COULD REALLY STOP ME.

AND BY THE TIME I TURNED 13,
I MADE IT TO OVER 300 POUNDS.

AND I KNEW I WAS STARTING
TO GET REALLY BIG THEN

BECAUSE I STARTED TO GET PICKED
ON A LOT AT THAT POINT --

NOT ONLY AT SCHOOL,
BUT AT HOME,

ESPECIALLY FROM ONE OF
MY OLDER SISTERS, MARGARET.

AARON AND I HAD SIBLING
FIGHTS AS ALL SIBLINGS DO.

WE'D ARGUE ABOUT EVERYTHING,

BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON,
IN MY EYES,

THAT COULD PICK ON HIM
OR SAY ANYTHING MEAN TO HIM --

YOU KNOW, LITTLE JABS HERE
AND THERE JUST TO --

BECAUSE HE MADE ME MAD.

Aaron:
THE BIGGEST AND MOST HURTFUL
THING SHE EVER SAID TO ME,

THOUGH, WAS WHEN WE WERE
WATCHING THIS MOVIE ON T.V.,

AND IT CAME TO THE PART WHERE
A MAN AND WOMAN WERE KISSING,

AND SHE SAID,
"YOU SEE THAT RIGHT THERE?"

SHE SAYS, "YOU'LL NEVER
EXPERIENCE THAT."

SHE WAS RIGHT, BECAUSE I
NEVER HAD A GIRLFRIEND,

AND I KNOW IT WAS BECAUSE
I'VE ALWAYS JUST BEEN FAT.

I DON'T THINK I'M GOOD ENOUGH
FOR ANYBODY.

I DON'T THINK
I'M WORTH ANYTHING.

SO BY THE TIME I WAS 15,

I HAD MADE IT UP
OVER 400 POUNDS.

I WAS BULLIED IN THE HALLS
BY ALL THE KIDS.

ONE TIME THEY ALL SURROUNDED ME,

THREW ME TO THE FLOOR,
AND KICKED ME.

I NEVER LET ANYBODY KNOW.

I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED.

AFTER THAT DAY, I DIDN'T WANT
TO GO THROUGH THAT ABUSE,

SO I DROPPED OUT AND GOT A JOB
WORKING IN FAST-FOOD PLACES.

UNFORTUNATELY, CONSTANTLY BEING
AROUND FAST FOOD DIDN'T HELP.

I WAS EATING FAST FOOD,
I WOULD SAY,

PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR
OR FIVE DAYS A WEEK,

TWO OR THREE MEALS A DAY.

SO OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

I GOT UP TO OVER 500 POUNDS
BY THE TIME I WAS 18.

BUT MOVING AND GETTING AROUND

WAS STARTING TO GET
EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

I GOT TO THE POINT
WHERE I COULDN'T WORK

A WHOLE SHIFT ANYMORE,
SO I HAD TO QUIT MY JOB.

BUT MY PARENTS HAD ALSO BEEN
GAINING WEIGHT

AND GETTING BIG
DURING ALL OF THIS.

AND THE COMBINATION
OF THEIR AGE AND SIZE

STARTED TO MAKE IT
REALLY HARD FOR THEM

TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

MY MOM WAS OVER 300 THEN,
AND MY DAD WAS OVER 400,

AND THEY WERE BOTH
IN THEIR 60s.

I WAS AROUND 550 AT THE TIME,
BUT I WAS ONLY ABOUT 20 THEN,

SO I COULD STILL GET AROUND,

AND THEY NEEDED SOMEONE
TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO I DECIDED TO MOVE BACK HOME
TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THEM.

SO I GOT CERTIFIED
AS A CAREGIVER

TO LOOK AFTER THEM
AS MY FULL-TIME JOB.

IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO BECOME
A CAREGIVER MAINLY

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE
ON MY FEET FOR EIGHT HOURS --

SIT DOWN, RELAX, BUT IN TIME,
IT BECAME A PROBLEM

BECAUSE I WAS SITTING AT HOME
EATING ALL THE TIME,

AND I JUST KEPT ON
GAINING THE WEIGHT.

AT THAT POINT, I HAD MY DOCTORS
TELLING ME

THAT IF I DIDN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT

THAT I WASN'T GONNA BE AROUND
UNTIL I WAS 35.

BUT THOSE WARNINGS
NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR ME

BECAUSE I NEVER CARED ABOUT
LOSING WEIGHT UP 'TIL THEN.

THE ONLY TIME I EVEN TRIED
WAS WHEN I WAS 27

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN MY MOM DIED.

THE NIGHT THAT SHE PASSED AWAY,
I WENT INTO THE ROOM

AND TOLD HER GOOD NIGHT
AND I LOVE HER AND WENT TO BED.

TEN MINUTES LATER, I GET A PHONE
CALL FROM MY FATHER TELLING ME

THAT I NEED TO HURRY UP
AND GET IN THE ROOM.

SO I GET UP
AND RUN TO THE BEDROOM,

AND MY MOTHER'S SITTING UP
IN HER MOBILITY CHAIR,

BLUE IN THE FACE,
AND NOT ABLE TO BREATHE.

I'M PANICKING, NOT UNDERSTANDING
WHAT'S GOING ON,

TRYING TO GET HER TO TELL ME
WHAT'S GOING ON,

AND SHE'S JUST
STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.

HER BODY FINALLY GAVE OUT.

SHE HAD MADE IT TO OVER
400 POUNDS,

AND SHE GOT A BLOOD CLOT,

AND IT LED TO A PULMONARY
EMBOLISM THAT KILLED HER,

AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT
ANYONE COULD DO TO HELP HER.

BY THE TIME THEY BRUNG HER
TO THE HOSPITAL,

SHE HAD ALREADY FLATLINED.

SO SHE WAS GONE.
I LOST MY MOM.

AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC
EXPERIENCE FOR ME

BECAUSE I HAD TO
PRACTICALLY WATCH HER DIE.

I FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

HE'LL NEVER GET OVER THE DEATH
OF HIS MOTHER.

SHE DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.

I MEAN, WE WERE ALL IN THIS ROOM
TOGETHER.

WHEN THEY GOT TO THE HOSPITAL,
THEY WERE WORKING ON HER,

WORKING ON HER, WORKING ON HER,
TRYING TO BRING HER BACK

AND COULDN'T BRING HER BACK.

SO AARON SAW THAT FIRSTHAND.

Aaron: MY MOM DIED
BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT.

IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED
THAT FOOD CAN LITERALLY KILL ME.

SO FOR A LITTLE WHILE AFTER
THAT, I TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND I WAS SUCCESSFUL,
BUT IT DIDN'T LAST.

I JUST WENT RIGHT BACK
TO THE WAY

I WAS EATING,
AND WHATEVER I HAD LOST,

I REGAINED, AND I'VE STILL
BEEN GAINING EVER SINCE THEN.

FOOD HAS BECOME
AN ADDICTION FOR ME.

IT'S JUST LIKE SOMEONE BEING
ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

YOU GOT TO HAVE THAT FIX,
AND, FOR ME, IT'S FOOD.

SO THERE'S NEVER A MOMENT
WHERE I DON'T WANT TO EAT.

BUT AS SOON AS I'M DONE EATING,

I'M ALREADY HUNGRY
FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

AND MOST DAYS, ALL I DO
IS SIT AROUND AND EAT.

THE ONLY TIME I EVER GO OUT

IS TO DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING
TO GET THE FOOD

I NEED, AND I GET MY FATHER
TO GO WITH ME

BECAUSE I CAN'T HANDLE GETTING
OUT AND BEING IN THE STORE

PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY.

YOU READY TO GO, SIR?

YEAH.
LET'S GO.

Aaron: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET GOING.

I CAN BARELY HANDLE THE WALK
TO THE CAR.

SO THERE'S NO WAY I'D BE ABLE
TO LAST IN A STORE.

IF I GOT OUT AND HAD TO WALK
AROUND TO GET EVERYTHING,

THERE'D BE NO WAY
I'D BE ABLE TO LAST.

BUT I DO FEEL BAD THAT I HAVE
TO MAKE MY 76-YEAR-OLD FATHER

DO IT ALL FOR ME.

HE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT
A WHILE AGO,

BUT HE STILL HAS A HARD TIME
GETTING AROUND

BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.

[ HEAVY BREATHING ]

Aaron:
I WORRY THAT'S IT'S GOING TO BE
TOO MUCH

FOR MY FATHER AT SOME POINT.

BUT IT STILL DOESN'T STOP ME
FROM HAVING HIM DO THIS

BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY
TO GET THE GROCERIES

I WANT.

YOU GOT
THE LIST, RIGHT?

I HOPE SO.

Eugene:
AARON CANNOT GET IN AND OUT
OF THE CAR EASILY,

AND HE CAN'T STAND
TO WALK VERY FAR

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE
THE STRENGTH.

I LOVE MY BOY, BUT I DON'T
LIKE HIS EATING HABITS.

AND I DON'T SAY A THING
TO HIM ABOUT IT.

I JUST KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT
BECAUSE

I DON'T WANT HIM
TO GET MAD AT ME.

HI.
HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.
HOW YOU DOING?

-I'M TRYING.
-THERE YOU GO.

Aaron:
IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GUILTY
THAT I CAN'T DO WHAT I SHOULD.

-THANK YOU.
-HAVE A BLESSED ONE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TAKE CARE.

Aaron: I KNOW MY FATHER
CAN'T BE DOING THIS.

HE'S GETTING TOO OLD,

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE
TAKING CARE OF HIM,

NOT HAVING HIM
DO ERRANDS FOR ME.

THE ONLY THING THAT'S KEEPING ME
GOING TO PUSH MYSELF TO DO

ALL THIS IS KNOWING EVERYTHING
I'M GONNA HAVE ONCE WE GET HOME.

OW.

Aaron: IT WILL TAKE ME A LOT
TO RECOVER FROM THE WORKOUT

I HAD LEAVING THE HOUSE.

PHYSICALLY, I'M WORN OUT.

I HAVE NO ENERGY.

I'M SHAKING ALL OVER.

MY BACK AND MY LEGS
AND KNEES ARE IN PAIN.

I'M JUST ALTOGETHER EXHAUSTED.

Aaron: IT WILL LAY ME OUT
FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS

AFTER I PUSH MYSELF THAT HARD
BECAUSE I'LL BE SO SORE,

I'LL BARELY BE ABLE TO MOVE.

[ DOOR KNOCKING ]

[ DOG BARKS ]

Aaron: SO, BECAUSE OF THAT,
THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME,

ME AND MY DAD HAVE TO RELY
ON MY SISTER MARGARET

TO BRING US FOOD
IN BETWEEN SHOPPING TRIPS.

HEY, GUYS.

-HEY.
-COME ON IN.

SHE HAS TO
GO TO THE BATHROOM.

OKAY.
HI, BUDDY.

HOW ARE YOU?
-ALL SET.

HOW ARE YOU?

DOING ALL RIGHT.

BOYS, SIT DOWN
ON THE COUCH.

Girl: WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE'RE SITTING DOWN AND PLAYING
ON THE TABLET.

MOMMY HAS TO GO CHECK
ON UNCLE AARON.

Aaron: MARGARET COMES OVER
TO BRING US FOOD

AND HELP ME
AROUND THE HOUSE EVERY DAY.

AND SHE ALSO HELPS ME TREAT
THE SORES I HAVE ON MY BODY

THAT I DEVELOP ON THE DAYS
WHERE I MOVE AROUND A LOT.

I JUST THINK I GOT SOME
RASHES ON MY STOMACH

AND THE BACK
OF MY LEGS.

THE BACK OF YOUR LEGS?
OKAY.

I COME TO SEE AARON TO DO THINGS

THAT AARON CAN'T DO
BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

I CHECK HIM FOR RASHES
OR SWELLING AND CRACKS

IN HIS SKIN
THAT COULD BECOME INFECTED,

BUT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE
TAKING CARE OF AARON

LIKE I DO NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HEAT
OR WHAT, BUT IT'S BUBBLY.

Aaron:
I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL SHE DOES,
BUT ONCE SHE COMES OVER,

ALL I CAN REALLY THINK
ABOUT IS EATING.

I LIVE TO EAT, BUT I KNOW FOOD
IS WHAT'S KILLING ME.

HOW'S DADDY DOING?

WE JUST GOT DONE DOING
GROCERY SHOPPING,

AND HE'S HURTING.

WHO DROVE?

I DROVE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
I CAN DRIVE.

SCARES ME.

THAT'S WHY I CAN'T LET YOU HAVE
THE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH YOU.

Aaron:
THAT DEPRESSES ME THAT I CAN'T
BE THE UNCLE I SHOULD.

GO PLAY
ON YOUR TABLET, PLEASE.

OR THE BROTHER OR EVEN THE SON
I SHOULD.

INSTEAD, THEY ALL HAVE TO HELP
AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

I'M GETTING HUNGRY.

I'LL MEET YOU
IN THE LIVING ROOM.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

Aaron: AND I KNOW AS LONG AS
I'M EATING AND GETTING BIGGER,

THAT EVENTUALLY FOOD IS GOING
TO TAKE EVERYTHING FROM ME.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
EVERYBODY READY TO EAT?

-YEAH!
-YEAH.

Aaron:
I KNOW MY WEIGHT IS GONNA KILL
ME SOON IF I DON'T CHANGE.

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT I MAY
NOT EVEN HAVE TIME

TO LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE
SOME PART OF MY BODY GIVES OUT.

I'M NOT READY TO DIE
AND LEAVE MY FAMILY.

I JUST CAN'T GIVE UP.

AND I KNOW I CAN'T WAIT
ANY LONGER.

I HAVE TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE
MY LAST DAY ON THIS EARTH

IS COMING SOON,
AND EVERY DAY

I WAIT IS ANOTHER DAY CLOSER
I GET TO THAT.

Aaron:
TODAY MY SISTER IS GONNA HELP
TAKE ME TO SEE DR. NOW.

HE DOES WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
ON PEOPLE AS BIG AS ME,

AND HE'S NOT TOO FAR
FROM WHERE I LIVE.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

HOW ARE YOU?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

Aaron:
HE'S IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS A
2 1/2 TO 3-HOUR DRIVE.

SO MY SISTER SAID
SHE'D DRIVE ME

BECAUSE DRIVING MORE THAN FIVE
OR SO MILES IS TOO MUCH FOR ME,

AND I WOULDN'T MAKE IT.

SO I HAVE TO HAVE HER HELP
TO DO THIS.

I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT AARON
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.

HIS WEIGHT HAS GOTTEN
DRASTICALLY WORSE

AS TIME GOES ON
AND SO HAS HIS HEALTH.

-THERE YOU GO.
-THANK YOU.

Aaron:
ARE YOU READY?

Margaret: YEP.
LET'S GO.

GET IT DONE.

Aaron: THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY
HARD TRIP FOR ME,

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO ME ON THE ROAD,

IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS
FOR ME

BECAUSE I'D BE STUCK WITH NO
PLACE I COULD REST IN THE HEAT.

SO I'D PROBABLY BE DEAD
WITHIN AN HOUR

IF I HAD CAR TROUBLE
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE
THAT WHEN YOU'RE MY SIZE,

YOU CAN'T HANDLE A LOT,

AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO GET
YOURSELF INTO A SITUATION

THAT COULD KILL YOU
IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

SO THERE ARE A LOT
OF NORMAL THINGS

THAT ARE LIFE OR DEATH FOR ME,

AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE
ABOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE.

I WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER IT
IF THIS WASN'T MY LAST

AND ONLY CHANCE
TO GET THE HELP

I HAVE TO HAVE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

HOW YOU FEELING?

NERVOUS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.

I'M REALLY HOPING THAT
HE ACCEPTS ME

AND APPROVES ME
FOR THE SURGERY.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO
IF HE DOESN'T?

HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY BAD
IF I HAVE TO COME HOME

AND SAY I CAN'T GET THE HELP,
'CAUSE DAD'S EXCITED.

HE'S REALLY GOT HIS HOPES
UP FOR IT.

I KNOW HE DOES.

OKAY.

I DO WISH THERE WAS
BETTER OPTIONS.

Margaret:
I NEED A NUMBER 6 DOUBLE,
LARGE, WITH A COKE.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GONNA
BE $18.60 AT THE WINDOW.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU.

HERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-THANK YOU. YOU, TOO.

-OKAY.
-SMELLS GOOD.

Aaron:
I KNOW THAT LOSING THIS WEIGHT
AND CHANGING THE WAY

I EAT WON'T BE EASY
BECAUSE I CAN'T GIVE UP FOOD.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT
DR. NOW SAYS HE CAN HELP ME

AND APPROVES ME FOR THE SURGERY

SO I CAN FINALLY
START LOSING THE WEIGHT.

WE'RE IN HOUSTON AND NOT
TOO FAR FROM THE CLINIC.

MY LEGS ARE SWOLLEN.
I'M HURTING.

MY HIPS ARE
STARTING TO HURT.

WE'RE
ALMOST THERE.

THE CLOSER I GET,
THE MORE NERVOUS I'M GETTING.

THE WORST THING THAT COULD
HAPPEN IS BEING TOLD

THAT THERE'S NO WAY
THEY CAN HELP ME.

Aaron: AND NOW THAT I'M HERE,
I'M EVEN MORE SCARED THAN

I WAS
BECAUSE MY ENTIRE LIFE

AND WHETHER I'M ABLE
TO LIVE MUCH LONGER

IS COMPLETELY
RIDING ON THIS.

AND I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT TO EXPECT

OR WHAT DR. NOW IS GONNA SAY.

SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

AARON WASHER?

Aaron: I HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE MY WEIGHT'S AT.

I KNOW I'M PROBABLY IN THE 600s,

AND I THINK THE HIGHEST
I'VE MADE IT IS AROUND 650.

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING
I'M AT LEAST AT.

THAT'S VERY SHOCKING TO SEE.

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.

AND I'M STILL HOPING
IT ISN'T AN ISSUE FOR DR. NOW

TO TREAT ME
BECAUSE WITHOUT HIS HELP,

I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A CHANCE.

SO I'M PRAYING
HE ACCEPTS ME.

-HELLO.
-HI.

HOW ARE YOU?
-I'M JUST FINE. THANK YOU.

I'M
DR. NOWZARADAN.

AARON WASHER.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

-I'M MARGARET, HIS SISTER.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO, WHERE ARE YOU
ALL COMING FROM?

NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS.

OH, NOT
TOO FAR, HUH?

WELL, IT'S GOOD
TO MEET YOU BOTH.

SO, AARON, YOU WANT
TO LOSE WEIGHT, CORRECT?

YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU ARE 30 YEARS OLD.

-YES, SIR.
-AND YOU WEIGH 718 POUNDS.

THAT'S
EXTREMELY HIGH.

SO, WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH THAT?

UM, HONESTLY, I DON'T HAVE
NO EXCUSE -- JUST...

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR EXCUSES,
WE'RE ASKING WHAT'S GOING ON?

I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL
EATING ISSUES.

OKAY.

IT ALL STARTED
WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, SO...

BEING PICKED ON AND BULLIED
BECAUSE OF MY SIZE,

AND I WOULD ALWAYS JUST GO
TO FOOD FOR COMFORT,

AND IT JUST PROGRESSED
FROM THERE.

THAT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE.

IF YOU WERE PICKED ON IN
SCHOOL FOR YOUR SIZE,

THEN YOU WERE ALREADY
OVERWEIGHT.

SO HOW CAN YOU BLAME THAT
FOR YOUR OVEREATING?

WELL, FOOD WAS WHAT HELPED ME
WITH JUST ANYTHING EMOTIONAL

THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME
IN MY LIFE -- ANY DEATHS.

LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER DIED
OR MY MOTHER DYING,

I WOULD END UP EATING

AND CAUSING MYSELF
TO GAIN MORE WEIGHT.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY
EXCUSE YOU COULD FIND,

YOU WOULD USE IT TO JUSTIFY YOUR
OVEREATING SINCE YOU WERE A KID.

WHEN DID YOU NOTICE
YOUR WEIGHT WAS A PROBLEM?

I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE IT UNTIL
I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,

WHERE I COULDN'T FIT
IN THE REGULAR DESK CHAIRS.

AND YOU DECIDED
TO JUST KEEP EATING?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS
WRONG WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

-I EAT A LOT OF JUNK FOOD.
-LIKE WHAT?

LIKE SNACK CAKES AND CHOCOLATE
AND CANDY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

-WHO BUYS YOU THOSE?
-MY DAD.

SO HE'S THE ONE
THAT ENABLES YOU

AND BUYS THE STUFF
AND YOU EAT IT?

-YES, SIR.
-HOW OLD IS YOUR DAD?

HE'S 75 YEARS OLD.

HE'S ACTIVE
AND HE DRIVES, OR...

HE'S NOT ABLE TO DRIVE.
HE HAS VENOSTASIS IN HIS LEGS,

WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE FEELING
IN HIS LEGS.

SO WE DON'T
ALLOW HIM TO DRIVE.

-MM-HMM.
-SO I DO THE DRIVING FOR HIM.

SO YOU DRIVE HIM, AND WHEN
HE GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE,

HE BUYS HIMSELF
THE STUFF, OR...

YEAH. HE'LL GO IN AND DO THE
GROCERY SHOPPING

AND COME BACK OUT,

AND I'LL LOAD UP THE CAR,
AND WE GO HOME.

I'M NOT ABLE TO GO
INTO THE STORE.

SO YOU TAKE HIM, AND YOU FORCE
HIM TO GET YOU YOUR JUNK FOOD,

AND THEN YOU'RE
AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

SO WHAT WILL BE THE
ANSWER FOR YOU?

TAKE CHARGE OF MY LIFE
AND BE ABLE TO GET THE HELP

I NEED TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT
AND HAVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.

OKAY.

YOUR EATING HABIT, YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM,
AND SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE,

YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO SEE
A THERAPIST

TO FIGURE OUT
ALL THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING YOU
TO FOOD

AND HELP YOU TO START
TO COPE WITH THOSE,

AND THAT WON'T BE EASY.

BUT WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW,
FOR YOUR EATING HABIT,

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
SOME WRITTEN INSTRUCTION

THAT I WANT YOU
TO READ EVERY DAY.

OKAY.

IT'S GONNA BE
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY,

HIGH-PROTEIN,
LOW-CARB DIET

THAT YOU'RE GONNA
START IMMEDIATELY.

AND IF YOU DO THAT,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE

AT LEAST 120 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?

OKAY.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY
CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR YOU

TO LEARN TO DISCIPLINE
YOURSELF, OKAY?

BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

YOU NEED TO SHOW ME THAT
YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?
-YES, SIR.

OKAY.
GREAT.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.

GOT IT?
-YES, SIR.

I'M ALSO GONNA GIVE YOU
SOME EXERCISES

THAT I WANT YOU TO START ON
TO GET YOUR STAMINA.

OKAY.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
AT YOUR WEIGHT

TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO KEEP
FROM LOSING YOUR ABILITY

TO GET AROUND
AND TO STAY ACTIVE.

SO WE HAVE TO TURN YOUR WHOLE
SITUATION AROUND RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY CLOSE
TO YOUR BODY'S BREAKING POINT,

AND IT'S GONNA
GIVE OUT VERY SOON.

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE
THAT YOU HAVE LESS

THAN SIX MONTHS
TO LIVE AT THIS POINT.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY

AND YOU DON'T PLAY
ANY GAMES, OKAY?

I'M COMPLETELY READY TO DO THIS
AND BE HEALTHY

AND A WEIGHT WHERE
I CAN BE ABLE TO LIVE LIFE

AND DO THINGS
THAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO.

I HOPE SO.

OKAY. IF YOU NEED
ANYTHING, CALL ME,

AND HAVE
A SAFE TRIP BACK.

NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU ALL SOON, OKAY?

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU ALL LATER.

I'M EXCITED.

-IT'S GONNA BE HARD.
-YEAH.

BUT I KNOW
YOU CAN DO IT.

Dr. Now: AARON IS OBVIOUSLY AT
A VERY CRITICAL POINT

WITH HOW HIGH HIS WEIGHT
ALREADY IS

AND HOW HARD IT IS
FOR HIM TO WALK.

HE'S JUST A MONTH OR TWO
AWAY FROM BECOMING IMMOBILE,

AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, HE WON'T
BE ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.

SO I'M HOPING HE'S TAKING
THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND
AS SERIOUSLY AS HE CLAIMS

AND THAT HE'S DETERMINED
TO DO THIS.

BECAUSE IF HE'S NOT,
THEN IT WON'T BE LONG

BEFORE HE RUNS OUT OF TIME

AND HE DIES BECAUSE HIS BODY
COULDN'T CONTINUE

TO HANDLE THE STRAIN
OF ALL HIS WEIGHT ANY LONGER.

Aaron:
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

'CAUSE LOSING 120 POUNDS
SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT I'M GONNA TRUST THAT IF
DR. NOW SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE

WITH THE DIET, THAT I CAN DO IT.

BUT I'M FEELING EXCITED
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IF I DO THIS,
I'LL FINALLY HAVE THE HELP

I'VE NEEDED FOR SO LONG,
AND I'M DETERMINED TO DO THAT.

AND I THINK MY MOM WOULD BE
SO PROUD OF ME RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I MADE A PROMISE TO HER

THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE
THE WEIGHT

AND GET HEALTHY
AND LIVE A LONG LIFE,

AND THIS IS MY CHANCE
TO KEEP MY PROMISE.

Aaron: THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR

HOW I EXPECTED
THIS PAST MONTH TO GO.

MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK.

HE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME
FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAVE HIM.

BUT WE'RE STILL NOT SURE
IF HE'S GONNA MAKE IT,

AND WHAT'S MAKING ALL THIS
EVEN HARDER FOR ME

IS THAT MY SIZE IS KEEPING ME
FROM BEING THERE WITH HIM.

THERE'S NOWHERE I CAN SIT THERE,

AND I CAN'T BE UP
FOR LONG ENOUGH

TO MAKE IT THERE AND BACK.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE THERE
FOR HIM,

BUT I'M NOT,
AND IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT,

AND I'M NOT ABLE TO BE THERE
WITH HIM IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS,

I'LL NEVER BE ABLE
TO FORGIVE MYSELF.

MY SISTER'S HAD TO BE THERE
FOR HIM

AND TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIM.

THE ONLY THING I CAN EVEN TRY
TO DO

IS LOOK AFTER
MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS

WHILE SHE'S AT
THE HOSPITAL ALL DAY.

AND IT'S MAKING STICKING
TO DR. NOW'S DIET

A LOT HARDER
BECAUSE THE FOOD

I HAVE TO MAKE FOR THEM
AREN'T THINGS ON THE DIET.

BEING AROUND THIS FOOD IS HARD.

GOT TO BLOW ON IT,
COOL IT OFF, OKAY?

BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET IT
ON YOURSELVES.

SO THE DIET'S BEEN DIFFICULT,
AND I CAN'T LEAVE THEM ALONE.

SO THERE'S NO WAY I CAN GO OUT
FOR A WALK

OR DO MY EXERCISES RIGHT NOW.

SO THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE REALLY
LIMITING ME RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M TRYING AND I'M DOING
THE BEST I CAN

BECAUSE I REALLY WANT
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

BECAUSE I WANT TO BE THERE
FOR MY FATHER.

I JUST HOPE HE GETS BETTER
AND COMES HOME SOON.

THIS PAST MONTH,
THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER.

THANKFULLY, THEY WERE ABLE
TO TREAT MY DAD,

AND HE WAS ABLE TO COME
BACK HOME A FEW WEEKS AGO.

THEY SAID HIS HEART ATTACK
WAS CAUSED BY ISSUES

WITH HIS DIABETES

AND THAT HE CAN HAVE
A HEART ATTACK AGAIN

IF HE DOESN'T START
TO EAT BETTER.

SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
THAT WE BOTH FOCUS

ON OUR HEALTH RIGHT NOW.

I WAS TERRIFIED THAT I WAS GONNA
LOSE MY FATHER

JUST LIKE I LOST MY MOM,

AND I'M SO GLAD
THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

SO WITH THINGS
SETTLING BACK DOWN,

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO START
AN EXERCISE ROUTINE,

AND I'M WALKING EVERY DAY
IN THE MORNINGS WHEN IT'S COOL.

I CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM
WHAT HAPPENED

TO MY DAD LAST MONTH

AND THAT I KNOW I PROBABLY
DIDN'T MAKE THE PROGRESS

I NEEDED DURING THAT TIME,

BUT IF HE GAVE ME
AN EXTRA MONTH,

I KNEW I COULD MAKE IT UP.

AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS
NO REASON

TO COME ALL THE WAY
BACK TO HOUSTON

IF I ALREADY KNOW
I DIDN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND HE WANTS ME TO REALIZE
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

THAT I GET A LOT OF WEIGHT

AND STRAIN
OFF MY BODY IMMEDIATELY.

SO I'M NOT JUST MAKING SURE
I WORK OUT.

I'M DOING THE DIET
LIKE I NEED NOW.

PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES
ARE MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS,

BUT I'M WORKING
ON GIVING THEM UP

FOR THE MEALS
I'M MAKING FOR ME AND MY DAD.

I'M MAKING SURE THERE'S A LOT
OF GOOD PROTEIN

WITH MINIMAL TO NO CARBS.

HI.
HOW YOU DOING?

I'M FINE.
HOW ARE YOU?

DOING PRETTY GOOD.

HERE'S YOUR DINNER.
-THANK YOU.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY.

OH.

I GOT UP AND WENT
FOR A WALK TODAY.

I KEEP ON PUSHING MYSELF
A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH DAY.

MM-HMM.

I'M ABLE
TO STAND AND COOK

AND NOT HAVE TO SIT DOWN
ALL THE TIME.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD.

YOU'VE LOST A GOOD PIECE
OF WEIGHT,

AND I JUST WANT YOU
TO CONTINUE TO LOSE IT,

AND THEN ALL I CAN SAY TO YOU
THEN AFTER THIS IS OVER WITH,

PLEASE DON'T GET
BACK UP THERE AGAIN.

I DON'T
PLAN ON IT, DAD.

I WISH YOUR MOTHER WAS HERE
TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

I WISH SHE WAS, TOO.

I LOVE HER.

TREMENDOUSLY.

AND MISS HER
TO PIECES.

BUT, ANYWAYS.
-ALL RIGHT, DADDY.

WELL, I'M GONNA GO
PUT THE DISHES UP.

Aaron:
I FEEL LIKE I'VE COME A REALLY
LONG WAY THIS PAST MONTH.

AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR THAT.

BUT I KNOW I ONLY HAVE ONE
MORE MONTH

BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.

I MAY MAKE SOME MISTAKES,
AND I'M NOT PERFECT,

BUT WITH HOW HARD
I'M WORKING, I FEEL CONFIDENT

I'LL BE WHERE I NEED
WHEN I GO BACK.

I'M BACK IN HOUSTON FOR MY
FOLLOW-UP WITH DR. NOW.

MY DAD'S WITH ME BECAUSE
MY SISTER COULDN'T COME TODAY,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING
TO MAKE HIM PROUD TODAY

BY HITTING MY GOAL
AND GETTING APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
THIS TIME.

AND IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME
FOR MY DAD

TO BE HERE TO SHOW HIM FIRSTHAND
HOW I'M TURNING MY LIFE AROUND

AND KEEPING
MY PROMISE TO MOM.

LOSING 120 POUNDS IS A LOT,

AND IF I DIDN'T LOSE THAT TO GET
MY SURGERY APPROVAL TODAY,

IT'S GONNA BE
DEVASTATING TO ME.

AARON WASHER?

BECAUSE I WORKED SO HARD TO
MAKE SURE I HIT MY GOAL TODAY.

MY CHANCE TO LIVE AND HAVE
A FUTURE

ARE ALL RIDING ON WHAT
THE SCALE'S ABOUT TO SAY.

AND IF I DON'T MAKE IT,
I'M AFRAID IT WILL MEAN

I'LL HAVE LOST MY ONLY CHANCE
TO HAVE ALL THAT

BECAUSE I'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

Aaron:
ME AND MY DAD ARE BACK
AT DR. NOW'S

FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT.

THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE,
I WAS 718.

THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO,

BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE
AN EXTRA MONTH

WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED
WITH MY DAD.

SO IF I MADE IT
TO MY GOAL TODAY,

IT'LL MEAN
I'M AT LEAST BELOW 598.

THAT NUMBER IS EXTREMELY
DISAPPOINTING TO SEE.

IT'S A LOSS, BUT NOT NEARLY
WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE

OR WHERE I NEEDED TO BE.

SO ALL I BASICALLY DID
WAS BRING MY DAD

ALL THE WAY HERE
TO SHOW HIM THAT I FAILED.

SO I'M FEELING EMBARRASSED AND
REALLY DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M SCARED BECAUSE I DON'T
KNOW WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY.

HELLO.

-HELLO.
-HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

ALL RIGHT.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, WHO DO YOU HAVE
WITH YOU TODAY?

THIS IS MY FATHER,
EUGENE WASHER.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING
FINE, SIR.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO I HEAR THAT YOU'RE BATTLING
WITH YOUR HEALTH ISSUES.

YEAH.

I HAVE A PROBLEM
WITH MY SUGAR DIABETES.

IT JUST
GOES UP AND DOWN.

OKAY.

AT LEAST HE DOESN'T
HAVE THAT YET.

WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOU'RE DOING BETTER.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, AARON.

SO, LAST TIME I SAW YOU,
YOU WERE 718,

AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE
120 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS.

YES, SIR.

IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS,
BUT TODAY YOU'RE 696.

YOU ONLY LOST 22 POUNDS
IN THREE MONTHS.

I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT
WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER.

IT WAS HARD
FOR ME TO DEAL WITH.

AND ONCE
HE WAS RECOVERING,

I'VE BEEN STICKING TO MY DIET
AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I MEAN, I STILL HAVE
A LITTLE BIT OF PROBLEMS

WITH EATING CERTAIN THINGS LIKE
PEANUT BUTTER.

I'M HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING
AWAY FROM PEANUT BUTTER.

IT'S...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
"PEANUT BUTTER"?

PEANUT BUTTER ON BREAD.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING
I LIKE EATING.

PEANUT BUTTER
ON BREAD

IS NOT WHAT KEPT YOU
FROM LOSING WEIGHT.

YOU EXCEEDED THAT.

I'M SORRY WHAT YOU
ALL WENT THROUGH,

BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE
TO HAVE NOT DONE THE DIET.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,
IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS.

YOU STILL HAD TWO MONTHS
EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT

TO DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO,
BUT YOU DIDN'T.

WHAT IS WITH THAT?
-I DON'T KNOW, SIR. YOU KNOW...

WHAT DO YOU
MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?

YOU KNOW EXACTLY.

YOU DON'T WANT
TO DO THE WORK,

AND YOU WANT TO BLAME
EVERYTHING ELSE

FOR WHY
YOU'RE NOT DOING IT.

WHAT'S THE POINT
OF THAT?

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO SAY, SIR.

WHAT IS
YOUR EXPECTATION?

YOU WANT US TO DO SOMETHING
FOR YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT YOU CONTINUE DOING
WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING BEFORE?

-NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO...
-SO, HOW IS THAT GONNA HAPPEN?

HOW?

I'M GONNA CHANGE.
I REALLY AM.

I'M TRYING...
-WHEN?

WHEN ARE
YOU GONNA CHANGE?

I'M IN THE PROCESS
OF CHANGING, SIR.

I REALLY AM.
-NO, YOU'RE NOT.

WHAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU IS
THE FIRST STEP TO CHANGE.

YOU EITHER TAKE IT
OR YOU DON'T.

THE CHOICE
IS UP TO YOU.

YOU GOT IT?

YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO MAINTAIN
WEIGHT OF 696 POUNDS,

YOU'RE STILL EATING AROUND
10,000 CALORIES A DAY.

THAT'S NOT TRYING.

THAT'S NOT
EVEN CLOSE.

SO I GIVE YOU TWO MORE MONTHS
TO LOSE 120 POUNDS.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS,
THEN LOSE THAT WEIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T,
THEN WE DON'T NEED

TO WASTE MORE TIME
PLAYING GAMES WITH YOU.

GOT IT?
-YES, SIR.

WHO BUYS THE PEANUT BUTTER
AND BREAD?

-I DO.
-MY DAD.

YOU BUY IT FOR HIM
OR YOU BUY IT FOR...

I BUY IT FOR THE HOUSEHOLD,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M NOT GONNA
BUY NO MORE.

OKAY.

AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE EATING THAT
WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE, OKAY?

-YEAH.
-YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. THIS IS
YOUR LAST CHANCE, AARON.

YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS
VERY SERIOUSLY

BECAUSE THE CLOCK
IS TICKING ON YOU.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS.
-THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU TAKE CARE.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE
THAT NOTHING CHANGED

WITH AARON
OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

HE'S BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE
TO SAVE HIS LIFE,

BUT HE'S STILL CHOOSING
TO MAKE EXCUSES.

AND AS SORRY AS I AM HIS FATHER
STRUGGLES WITH HIS HEALTH,

AND THAT WAS A SCARE
FOR ALL OF THEM,

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT

THAT AARON'S BODY CAN'T HANDLE
ALL THE STRAIN

THAT HIS WEIGHT IS PUTTING
ON IT FOR MUCH LONGER.

SO IF HE DOESN'T START
TO DRASTICALLY LOSE

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT
OF WEIGHT NOW,

THEN HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO PHYSICALLY GO ON MUCH LONGER,

AND HE'S GONNA DIE.

Aaron:
I'M REALLY UPSET AT MYSELF,

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO DO
BETTER THIS TIME.

AND HEARING DR. NOW
SAY THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

IT'S ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GOING
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

I NEED AND HIT MY GOAL
BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

AND I'M NOT MAKING
ANY MORE EXCUSES

OR BLAMING
ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE.

I KNOW THIS IS ALL UP TO ME NOW,
AND I'M NOT GONNA FAIL.

THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE
TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

FOR THE PAST MONTH,
I'VE STARTED WORKING HARDER

THAN I EVER HAVE TO TRY AND LOSE
AS MUCH WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE

BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.

TO UP MY LEVEL OF EXERCISE
AND INCREASE MY ACTIVITY,

I JOINED A GYM,
AND I'M GOING THERE

THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK
TO WORK OUT.

AT FIRST I WAS REALLY
INTIMIDATED,

SO IT WAS HARD TO CONVINCE
MYSELF TO START DOING THIS.

BUT I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT
GOING BACK TO SEE DR. NOW

WITHOUT HAVING MADE IT
TO MY GOAL.

THE THOUGHT OF THAT TERRIFIES ME

FAR MORE THAN THE THOUGHT
OF PEOPLE STARING AT ME

OR LAUGHING AT THE BIG GUY

WHO CAN BARELY DO MUCH
AT THIS POINT.

SO I'VE LOOKED UP SOME EXERCISES
ON THE INTERNET,

AND I'VE BEEN COMING HERE
TO WORK OUT

FOR ALMOST A FULL MONTH NOW.

I STILL CAN'T DO A WHOLE LOT,

BUT I CAN DO A GOOD BIT MORE
THAN WHEN I STARTED.

AND EVERY TIME I LIFT
OR DO SOME REPS,

I PUSH MYSELF PAST THE PAIN
TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER.

I USED TO SEE THAT PAIN
AS A PROBLEM

OR THAT I WAS
PUSHING MYSELF TOO HARD,

AND AFTER 5, 10 MINUTES,
I WAS READY TO GO.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE
NO MORE,

BUT NOW I'M ABLE TO STAY LONGER,
DO A LOT MORE,

AND I HAVE MORE ENERGY
AND NOT HURTING AS MUCH.

AND EVERY TIME
I COME TO THE GYM,

I PUSH MYSELF
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER

JUST TO SEE HOW MUCH
FURTHER I CAN GO,

HOW MUCH MORE I CAN DO.

BUT NOW I SEE IT AS A LIMIT
I WANT TO BREAK,

AND I'M NOT AFRAID OF IT.

SO I'M HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS
WITH THAT.

I ALSO FEEL LIKE I'M DOING GOOD
WITH MY DIET.

I GOT RID OF THE PEANUT BUTTER

AND ALL THE LITTLE PACKETS
OF CANDY

AND SWEET STUFF THAT WERE STILL
KIND OF HIDDEN AROUND THE HOUSE.

WHEN I FOUND THEM, I'D EAT THEM
AND JUSTIFY IT

BY THINKING IT WAS
JUST A LITTLE TREAT

TO HELP ME STAY ON TRACK
BY SATISFYING MY CRAVINGS

WITHOUT GETTING
SOMETHING BIGGER.

AND I THINK ALL THAT ADDED UP
MORE THAN I REALIZED,

BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM,

AND MY FATHER
SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM.

SO IT'S ALL GONE NOW.

SO ME AND MY DAD
ARE ONLY EATING HEALTHY.

BUT AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,
IT WAS REALLY EMBARRASSING

TO SEE SUCH LITTLE PROGRESS
IN FRONT OF MY FATHER.

I LET HIM AND EVERYONE DOWN.

I KNOW YOU
WORKED HARD AT IT,

SO I DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU CAN'T MEET YOUR GOALS.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE
DONE IT THIS TIME.

I'VE BEEN WORKING OUT
AT THE GYM.

I'VE BEEN
STICKING TO MY DIET.

I'M STILL A LITTLE NERVOUS,
BUT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,

I HOPE AND PRAY THAT
HE'S HAPPY WITH WHAT I DO,

AND I'M HOPING THAT HE WILL
APPROVE ME THIS TIME,

AND JUST KEEP ON GOING.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTING
YOU EVERYTHING YOU DO.

-I KNOW.
-YOU JUST NEED TO JUST DO IT.

THAT'S ALL, SON.

Aaron:
I'M GONNA CONTINUE WORKING
AS HARD AS I CAN THIS MONTH

SO WHEN I STEP ON THAT SCALE,
I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE

'CAUSE I KNOW 100% THAT DR. NOW
IS RIGHT,

AND IF I LOSE THIS CHANCE
TO GET MY LIFE BACK,

THAT WILL BE THE END
OF THE ROAD FOR ME.

I'LL BE DONE.

Aaron: ME AND MY SISTER ARE BACK
IN HOUSTON

FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW,

AND I DID THE BEST
I POSSIBLY COULD THIS TIME.

BUT IT STILL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH,

AND DR. NOW COULD TELL ME
I'M COMPLETELY DONE TODAY,

BUT I'M HOPING THE PROGRESS
I MADE IS GONNA BE ENOUGH.

AARON WASHER?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
TWO MONTHS AGO,

I WAS 696, AND DR. NOW TOLD ME

I NEED TO LOSE
120 POUNDS BY TODAY.

SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO HAVE
MADE IT BELOW 576

TO HAVE HIT MY GOAL.

571.
OKAY.

YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD
AND GO TO ROOM 5.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND SEEING HOW MUCH I LOST MAKES
ME FEEL REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF,

AND I'M CONFIDENT
I'M READY FOR THIS.

SO I JUST HOPE DR. NOW
AGREES WITH THAT

AND APPROVES ME TODAY.

HELLO.
-HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU
ALL DOING?

-GOOD.
-REAL GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, AARON.

OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,
YOU LOST 125 POUNDS.

-YES, SIR.
-THAT'S EXCELLENT.

YOU STUCK
TO THE DIET THIS TIME.

YES, SIR, I'M DOING
EVERYTHING THAT YOU,

YOU KNOW, TOLD ME TO DO,
AND...

HOW'S YOUR ACTIVITY?

I'M EXERCISING.

I'M WALKING.

I'M GOING TO THE GYM.

YOU'RE GOING
TO A GYM, TOO?

YEAH, I'M GOING.

THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, YOU DID GREAT.

SO, THIS TIME WE'RE GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERY.

YOU SHOWED ME THAT YOU'RE READY
FOR THIS NEXT STEP.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

BUT DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE,
BECAUSE IF YOU GAIN ANY WEIGHT,

OR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS SLOWS DOWN,
WE WON'T MOVE AHEAD,

AND I WILL CANCEL IT.
YOU UNDERSTAND?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU'RE DOING GREAT
AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

AND STICK WITH THAT.

AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
GIVE ME A CALL, OKAY?

IF NOT, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,
AND I'LL SEE YOU IN A MONTH.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-OKAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

-DID IT!
-DID IT.

I'M SO HAPPY.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU'VE DONE
SUCH A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU.

Dr. Now: I'M VERY PROUD OF AARON

AND IMPRESSED
WITH HIS RECENT PROGRESS.

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DESIRE
AND HIS COMMITMENT

TO DO THIS
AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS,

BUT NOW HE'S DOING WHAT HE NEEDS
TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.

SO I'M VERY CONFIDENT HE'S READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND AS LONG AS HE STAYS FOCUSED
AND CONTINUES MAKING PROGRESS,

AND WE DON'T FIND ANY MEDICAL
ISSUES THAT CONCERN US,

THEN WE WILL MOVE AHEAD
WITH THAT IN A MONTH.

Aaron:
I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

I'VE DREAMED OF GETTING
THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SO LONG.

SO I'M GONNA
CONTINUE WORKING HARD

JUST LIKE DR. NOW SAID TO DO

BECAUSE I FINALLY MADE IT
TO THIS POINT,

AND I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING
HAPPEN TO LOSE THIS CHANCE.

I'M AT THE HOSPITAL TO GET
MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THEY HAD ME WEIGH IN RIGHT
WHEN I GOT HERE,

AND DR. NOW SAID I'VE LOST
ENOUGH TO SHOW HIM

I'M STAYING ON TRACK.

YEAH.
I'M JUST -- I'M SCARED.

DON'T BE SCARED.

I KNOW. I'M TRYING
NOT TO BE, I'M JUST...

EVERYTHING'S
GONNA BE OKAY.

[ SNIFFLING ]

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE.

AND YOU'RE GONNA COME OUT
OF THE SURGERY,

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE
IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION

AND HAVE
A MUCH BETTER LIFE.

I KNOW.

YOU WANT
TO GET CHANGED?

YEAH, I NEED TO GET
INTO MY GOWN, I GUESS.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'M GONNA STEP OUT
IN THE HALLWAY.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

Aaron:
NOW THAT IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING,

MY NERVES ARE STARTING
TO GET THE BEST OF ME.

KNOWING THIS IS SO HIGH RISK
AND THAT THERE'S A CHANCE

I CAN DIE ON THE TABLE TODAY
HAS ME REALLY, REALLY SCARED.

I REALLY HOPE I'M DOING
THE RIGHT THING.

-READY, MR. WASHER?
-YES, SIR.

Aaron:
BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF I
DON'T HAVE THIS SURGERY TODAY,

THERE IS NO CHANCE
I'LL BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER,

SO I JUST KEEP REMINDING MYSELF
OF THAT AND OF MY PROMISE

TO MY MOM TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I KNOW SHE WOULD BE SO HAPPY
AND SO EXCITED FOR ME

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SURGERY

AND TO BE ABLE
TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

SO AS SCARED AS I AM,
I'M READY FOR THIS,

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE LIFE

THAT'S GONNA BE
POSSIBLE AFTER THIS.

Dr. Now:
TODAY WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO
A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON AARON.

HE'S CONTINUED LOSING WEIGHT
OVER THE LAST MONTH,

AND HE'S DOWN TO 525 TODAY.

SO HE'S LOST ANOTHER 46 POUNDS,

AND I'M PROUD OF HIM
FOR STICKING TO THIS

AND FOR CONTINUING TO DO
WHAT HE NEEDS.

SO I'M CONFIDENT HE'S READY

FOR THIS NEXT STEP
OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY, STARTING
THE FIRST INCISION.

BUT AT OVER 500 POUNDS,
AARON IS STILL VERY HIGH RISK

BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRAIN
HE STILL HAS ON HIS BODY

BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING
CONCERNING,

WE WILL NEED TO STOP
THE PROCEDURE

AND END THE OPERATION EARLY.

BUT IF WE ARE ABLE
TO SUCCESSFULLY

COMPLETE THIS OPERATION
FOR HIM TODAY,

IT'S GOING TO BE
A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL TO HELP

AARON CONTINUE
TO STAY ON TRACK

AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT
LIKE HE NEEDS,

BECAUSE WHAT THE SURGERY 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

FROM OVEREATING,
AND THE PATIENT IS LESS HUNGRY.

SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY

TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

Margaret:
THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT THINGS

I'VE EVER HAD TO DO
WAS TO SIT AND WAIT.

MY BROTHER IS MY WORLD.

HE'S MY BEST FRIEND,
AND IF I LOST AARON,

IT WOULD KILL ME.

I KNOW THE BENEFITS
OF THE SURGERY

DEFINITELY OUTWEIGH THE RISKS,

BUT I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON,

I WANT TO KNOW HOW HE'S DOING,
AND I WANT TO KNOW HE'S OKAY.

Dr. Now: ALL RIGHT.
YOU CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.

OKAY.
ALL FINISHED.

ALL RIGHT.

AARON'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL,

AND THERE WERE
NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL.

SO WE COMPLETED HIS
SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

AND WE REMOVED
ABOUT 90% OF HIS STOMACH.

I'M FILLING THE PART OF
THE STOMACH REMOVED WITH WATER,

AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU
SOME IDEA HOW LARGE IT WAS.

BUT THIS IS ONLY
AT REGULAR SIZE.

IF YOU REALIZE, IT CAN SURGE
TO FIVE TIMES

THIS AMOUNT WHEN HE EATS,

AND IT WILL ALMOST BE THE WIDTH
OF THIS TABLE AT THAT POINT.

BUT AT THAT SIZE, IT WILL HOLD
A LOT OF FOOD AND FLUID,

SO HE WAS CAPABLE OF TAKING IN A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT AT ONE TIME.

SO THIS OPERATION IS GOING TO
RESTRICT HIS ABILITY

TO EAT LIKE HE HAS.

BUT NOW I'M GOING TO
GET HIM TO RECOVERY,

AND THEN HE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GO HOME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

FOR THE NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA
KEEP HIM ON A LIQUID DIET

UNTIL HE FULLY RECOVERS,
AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE

AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 POUNDS
IN THAT TIME.

AND THEN AFTER THAT,
IF HE'S STAYING ON TRACK,

HE WILL LOSE AT LEAST
30 POUNDS A MONTH

UNTIL HE GETS CLOSE
TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT.

BUT IF AARON GOES HOME

AND STARTS TO SLOWLY
PUSH HIMSELF TO OVEREAT,

HE CAN START TO STRETCH
HIS STOMACH OUT OVER TIME

TO GET IT BACK
TO ITS ORIGINAL SIZE.

SO WHEN HE GOES OFF
HIS LIQUID DIET,

WE'LL START HIM
GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY

TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HIM

DEALING WITH
HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

FOR NOW, HIS PHYSICAL DRIVE
TO EAT IS SUPPRESSED BY SURGERY.

AND WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY,

THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT BEHIND
HIS PATHOLOGICAL DRIVE TO EAT

ARE GOING TO COME
TO THE SURFACE.

SO THE HARDER STRUGGLE
FOR AARON IS STILL UP AHEAD,

AND HOW HE HANDLES IT
WILL DETERMINE

WHETHER HE IS GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO THIS FOR THE LONG-TERM

OR IF HE WILL START TO GIVE IN
AND GO BACK TO USING FOOD

TO COPE UNTIL HE GAINS
ALL HIS WEIGHT BACK

AND ENDS RIGHT BACK UP
WHERE HE STARTED.

Aaron: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER
TWO WEEKS SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND I'VE MOSTLY
JUST BEEN TRYING TO ADAPT

TO HOW I FEEL ABOUT FOOD NOW.

FOR THE FIRST WEEK
AFTER SURGERY,

I JUST HAD NO DESIRE TO EAT,

WHICH WAS AN INCREDIBLY
WEIRD FEELING

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER FELT
THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THERE WERE MOMENTS
THAT WERE A LITTLE SCARY.

IT WAS LIKE LOSING SOMETHING
REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT SOME OF THE CRAVINGS
HAVE STARTED TO COME BACK,

SO IT'S GETTING A LITTLE HARDER.

I'M ON WHAT DR. NOW
SAYS IS STAGE 3 LIQUIDS NOW,

WHICH MEANS I CAN HAVE
THICKER LIQUIDS AND SOUPS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
IF ALL MY CRAVINGS COME BACK.

I KNEW SURGERY WASN'T JUST GONNA
SOLVE ALL MY ISSUES WITH FOOD,

BUT I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED
HOW I CAN BE COMPLETELY FULL

AND FEEL LIKE I COULDN'T EAT
ANOTHER BITE

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I KNOW DR. NOW SAID I CAN START

TO STRETCH MY STOMACH BACK OUT
IF I'M NOT CAREFUL,

AND THE POSSIBILITY
OF MESSING UP MY SURGERY

IS WHAT'S REALLY
SCARING ME RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I KNOW
IF I MESS THIS UP,

THERE'S NOTHING ELSE
I CAN DO TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

SO NO MATTER WHAT,
I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

TODAY ME AND MY SISTER ARE BACK
IN HOUSTON TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR MY ONE-MONTH
FOLLOW-UP AFTER SURGERY,

AND I'M FEELING GOOD
ABOUT HOW I'M DOING.

I KNOW I'VE STILL BEEN
LOSING WEIGHT

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO REALLY EAT ANYTHING.

SO I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE
MESSED UP MY PROGRESS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE
AS ACTIVE AS I WANT,

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE HAD
TO TAKE IT EASY WHILE I RECOVER.

BUT I'M HOPING DR. NOW

CLEARS ME TO START DOING MORE
AND THAT HE TELLS ME

I CAN GO BACK ON
SOLID FOODS AGAIN TODAY.

AARON?

BUT I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS
ON HOW I'M RECOVERING

AND IF I'M ON TRACK TODAY.

AT MY SURGERY A MONTH AGO,
I WAS DOWN TO 525.

AND DR. NOW SAID I SHOULD AT
LEAST LOSE 40 POUNDS THIS MONTH.

SO THAT MEANS I'LL BE
BELOW 485 TODAY.

THAT'S NOT AS MUCH
AS I SHOULD HAVE LOST,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS
OR WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY.

SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
RIGHT NOW.

HI, AARON.
HOW YOU DOING?

DOING ALL RIGHT.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.
THANKS.

SO, HOW ARE
YOU GETTING ALONG?

-DOING REALLY GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE HOW
THE INCISION LOOKS.

ALL RIGHT. THEY LOOK
LIKE THEY ARE HEALING.

OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD. OKAY.

HAS ALL
YOUR WEIGHT LOSS

BEEN MAKING ANY BIG DIFFERENCE
IN YOUR ACTIVITY?

OH, YEAH.
LOSING THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST NOW

HAS TOTALLY CHANGED THE WAY
THINGS ARE WORKING FOR ME NOW,

SO...

-ALL RIGHT.
-I CAN'T WAIT TO LOSE MORE.

AND REMEMBER, LIQUID DIET
DOES NOT INCLUDE ALCOHOL.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WITH THINGS GOING OKAY,
WE CAN GO AHEAD

AND ADVANCE YOU
TO GOING BACK TO SOLID FOOD.

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE ON
SOLID FOOD,

WE'RE GONNA START YOU
ON PSYCHOTHERAPY

STARTING IMMEDIATELY.
-OKAY.

SO FAR YOU LOST ALMOST
220 POUNDS, WHICH IS GOOD,

BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT
WHERE ALL THAT CAN CHANGE

IF YOU'RE
NOT CAREFUL.

AND I'M ALREADY
A LITTLE CONCERNED

BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST
DOUBLE THIS PAST MONTH.

SO IF YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUES
ARE COMING TO THE SURFACE,

AND YOU'RE STARTING TO USE
FOOD TO COPE AGAIN,

THEN WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE
A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION

WITH YOU STARTING
TO OVEREAT AGAIN,

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
WE PREVENT THAT

OR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS WILL STOP,
AND IN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS,

YOU COULD START TO GAIN AGAIN.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS,

YOUR CHANCES
FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS

WILL DROP TO ALMOST ZERO
AT THAT POINT.

SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
YOU UNDERSTAND?

-I UNDERSTAND.
-GREAT.

SO WE GOT
300 MORE POUNDS TO GO,

SO THERE IS STILL
A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

-YES, SIR.
-OKAY.

HOW IS YOUR DAD DOING?
-HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.

HE'S REALLY PROUD OF ME,
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.

HE'S UP AND GOING AGAIN, SO...

GOOD PROGRESS
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, HUH?

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS
AND KEEP WORKING HARD, OKAY?

-THANK YOU.
-OKAY.

I'LL SEE YOU BOTH IN A MONTH,
AND YOU NEED TO HAVE LOST

AT LEAST
30 POUNDS BY THEN.

OKAY, AARON?
-OKAY. APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.
NICE TO SEE YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
-YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Now:
FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS,

AARON HAS WORKED REALLY HARD
AND MAKING REGULAR PROGRESS,

AND I'M VERY PROUD
OF HIM FOR THAT,

BUT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
THAT FOR THE LONG-TERM

IF HE DOESN'T ADDRESS
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND
ALL HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL EATING

BECAUSE THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES
ARE GOING TO START

TO GET STRONGER AND STRONGER
UNTIL HE DEALS WITH THEM.

SO HE'S COMING UP ON A CROSSROAD
WHERE HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO

THAT IF HE WANTS
HIS PROGRESS TO CONTINUE.

BUT THE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD

AARON GETS IN
THE WRONG DIRECTION,

THE HARDER IT WILL BE
TO GET HIM BACK.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE DO
EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT

THAT FROM HAPPENING.

Aaron:
I'VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL,

AND I DON'T WANT TO LET
ANYTHING THREATEN THAT.

SO WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO
TO STAY ON TRACK,

I'M READY TO TRY AND DO IT.

AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND
WHAT DR. NOW

IS SAYING ABOUT MY EMOTIONS.

BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE WITH WHAT
I'VE BEEN FEELING LATELY

AND THE STRUGGLE I STARTED
HAVING WITH MY CRAVINGS.

IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE
HOW IT FEELS, EXACTLY,

BUT IF IT IS BECAUSE
OF ALL THE EMOTIONS I HAVE,

THEN I'LL GO TO THERAPY
LIKE DR. NOW SAYS,

AND I'LL TRY TO FACE
WHATEVER I HAVE TO.

THE THOUGHT OF DOING
THAT IS REALLY SCARY,

BUT WHAT'S EVEN SCARIER TO ME

IS LETTING ANYTHING HAPPEN
TO MESS UP ALL MY PROGRESS,

AND I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.

Aaron:
TODAY I'M GOING TO MY FIRST
THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

DR. NOW SAYS I HAVE TO ADDRESS A
LOT OF THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND ALL MY
OVEREATING FOR MY WHOLE LIFE

IF I WANT TO STAY ON TRACK
AND SUCCEED AT MY WEIGHT LOSS.

NOW THAT I'VE HAD THE SURGERY,
I DON'T FEEL HUNGRY.

BUT I STILL HAVE THE DESIRE
FOR FOOD THAT COMES

AND GOES THAT'S JUST THIS WANT.

IT'S THAT
SECURITY-BLANKET FEELING,

AND I CAN SEE HOW MY EMOTIONS
ARE TIED TO THAT CLEARLY NOW.

SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
THAT I DO THIS.

-HELLO, AARON.
-YES, HI.

HI. I'M LOLA.

-I'M AARON.
-COME ON BACK.

YOU CAN GO RIGHT
INTO THE BLUE ROOM

AND HAVE A SEAT ANYWHERE
YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.

OKAY.

SO WHY DON'T
WE START OFF

BY YOU TELLING ME
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE
WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

GROWING UP,
IT WAS DIFFICULT

'CAUSE I WAS BULLIED
A LOT BY OTHER KIDS.

IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS
GETTING KICKED AROUND,

PUNCHED AROUND,
THROWN AROUND IN SCHOOL.

SO YOU WOULD BE PHYSICALLY
ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL

BY YOUR PEERS?

YES.

SO YOU MUST HAVE SPENT SO MUCH
OF YOUR CHILDHOOD

BEING ABSOLUTELY
TERRIFIED.

YES, I DID.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.

YOU KNOW, MY MOM,
SHE WAS THE ONE I COULD GO TO,

AND THREE YEARS AGO,

SHE PASSED AWAY.
SO, AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY,

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY
TO TURN TO.

I CAN SEE THAT'S STILL
VERY HARD FOR YOU.

IT IS.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.

SHE WAS, UM,
MY BEST FRIEND.

SHE REALLY WAS.

I CAN GO
TO HER FOR EVERYTHING.

SHE WAS JUST --
SHE WAS MY COMFORT.

IT SOUNDS AS IF,
FROM HER,

YOU RECEIVED UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE.

YEAH.

AND SO THAT'S A REALLY
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP

TO BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM.
-RIGHT.

OF ALL YOUR OTHER
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS,

WHICH ONE HAS HAD THE MOST
NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOU?

HONESTLY, MY FATHER.

YOU KNOW, HIM COMING
FROM MILITARY,

HE DIDN'T WANT US STEPPING
OUT OF LINE FOR NOTHING.

IF WE DID, WE GOT IN TROUBLE.
WE GOT GROUNDED.

WE GOT PUNISHED
FOR IT.

HE EXPECTED MORE OUT OF ME
ALL THE TIME.

AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO LIVE UP
TO THOSE EXPECTATIONS.

YES.

AND JUST TO THIS DAY,
IT STILL -- IT HURTS.

IT HURTS A LOT.

WHAT DOES THE RELATIONSHIP
LOOK LIKE NOW?

IT'S A LOT BETTER,
BUT I DON'T OPEN UP TO HIM

BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT,
YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HOW HE WAS.

SO YOU DON'T TRUST HIM IS WHAT
I'M HEARING YOU SAY.

PRETTY MUCH, YES.

YOU FEAR
THAT HE'LL DO OR SAY

SOMETHING TO BE HARMFUL
OR HURTFUL TO YOU,

BUT YOU ARE AN ADULT,
AND YOU HAVE THE POWER

TO MAKE THE CHOICE THAT NO ONE
WILL EVER, EVER AGAIN HURT YOU.

RIGHT.

TO THIS DAY, YOU KNOW,
WHEN I DO SOMETHING,

I STILL THINK, YOU KNOW, "WELL,
I NEED TO KEEP THIS FROM MY DAD

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM
TO KNOW ABOUT IT."

AND MY SISTER, SHE'S LIKE,
"WHY DO YOU DO THAT?"

SHE SAYS,
"YOU ARE AN ADULT."

AND I WAS LIKE,
"BECAUSE IT'S DAD."

AND I QUESTION MYSELF.

I'M LIKE, "WHY DO I NEED
TO HIDE THIS?"

YOU KNOW,
I'M AN ADULT.

I HAVE MY OWN,
YOU KNOW, LIFE NOW.

BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE I NEED
TO HIDE IT FROM HIM BECAUSE...

YOU FEAR JUDGMENT.

-YEAH.
-AND YOU FEAR CRITICISM.

MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

SO, AARON, I WANT TO GIVE YOU
SOME HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.

THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS,
I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

HAVING A CONVERSATION
WITH YOUR DAD

REGARDING HOW HIS BEHAVIORS
SHAPED YOUR LIFE

AND THE PERSON
THAT YOU ARE TODAY.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO?

YES.

ALSO, I REALLY FEEL LIKE
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU

TO GET TO KNOW HIM
A LOT BETTER.

SO, AARON, THINK OF AN ACTIVITY
THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR DAD,

BUT DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING
TO RESONATE WITH HIM.

-RIGHT.
-GET TO KNOW HIM.

GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

YEAH, I'M GONNA
HAVE TO DO THAT.

THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO, YOU KNOW,
BOND WITH HIM IN THAT WAY.

OKAY?

WELL, AARON, I WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.

OKAY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING
YOU AGAIN REALLY SOON.

Aaron: I'M REALLY GLAD I DID
THAT.

THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GONNA
NEED TO KEEP DOING,

BUT I'M OVERWHELMED
ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.

I DON'T DOUBT I NEED TO DO
THOSE THINGS,

AND I'M WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
IT'S NOT GONNA BE

ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING
TO DO ANY OF THIS.

BUT I KNOW LOLA
AND DR. NOW ARE RIGHT,

AND I HAVE TO DO THIS
IF I WANT TO SUCCEED.

I EITHER LET MY FEAR WIN
OR I WORK UP THE COURAGE

SOMEHOW TO TAKE THESE STEPS.

Aaron: THINGS HAVE BEEN TOUGH
FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
TRYING TO WORK THROUGH

WHAT I DISCUSSED
WITH LOLA

AND THE THINGS SHE SAID
I NEEDED TO DO

TO BREAK THE PATTERN
I HAVE WITH FOOD.

BUT ALL THAT STUFF ISN'T EASY
TO DO,

SO IT'S BEEN TAKING
ME SOME TIME

TO START TAKING
SOME OF THOSE STEPS.

BUT THE CRAVINGS AND THE
TEMPTATION TO GIVE INTO THEM

IS STARTING TO GET STRONGER.

IN MY LAST APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW A FEW DAYS AGO,

I MISSED MY MONTHLY GOAL,
AND HE SAID MY WEIGHT LOSS

WAS DEFINITELY
STARTING TO SLIP NOW.

AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT
IF I DON'T DO

WHAT I NEED TO
TO GET CONTROL OF THINGS,

I COULD BE A FEW MONTHS
FROM GAINING AGAIN,

AND I'M NOT GONNA
LET THAT HAPPEN.

SO I KNOW I NEED TO TAKE
A BIG STEP TO DO THAT.

THE BIGGEST AND SCARIEST THING
THAT LOLA TOLD ME I NEED TO DO

IS TO TALK TO MY DAD

ABOUT THE WAY HE MADE ME FEEL
WHEN I WAS A KID

AND HE WOULD PUNISH ME
AS SEVERELY AS HE DID.

-THANK YOU.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

Aaron:
SO I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO TALK
TO MY DAD ABOUT THOSE FEELINGS.

BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST
AND SCARIEST THING

I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

-YOU GOT TIME TO TALK?
-SURE.

I ALWAYS HAVE
TIME FOR YOU.

WELL, GOING THROUGH MY THERAPY
WITH LOLA AND EVERYTHING,

SHE BRUNG UP, YOU KNOW,
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD

AND HOW THINGS WENT
IN MY CHILDHOOD AND STUFF.

AND SHE WANTED ME TO TALK
TO YOU AND GET SOME --

ME TO GET SOME THINGS
OFF MY CHEST

BECAUSE SHE THINKS
IT'S THE ONLY WAY

I'M GONNA GET THROUGH
A LOT OF MY ISSUES

WITH MY EMOTIONS
AND STUFF, AND...

OKAY.

-UM.
-WHAT KIND OF THINGS?

FOR ME, GROWING UP AND
EVERYTHING, I ALWAYS FELT...

I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT YOU'VE
RESENTED ME OF BEING YOUR SON.

WHY WOULD
YOU THINK THAT?

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE --

I JUST FELT LIKE YOU WERE
ALWAYS JUDGING ME AND...

NO.

YOU DIDN'T LIKE
THE FACT THAT,

YOU KNOW,
I WAS THE WAY

I WAS, AND BECAUSE OF THE
FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,

I WAS YOUR SON,
THAT YOU EXPECTED ME

TO BE MORE OF A MANLY
TYPE PERSON THAN I WAS.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF US ARE BORN
TO A DIFFERENT TUNE, AARON.

SOME OF US ARE MORE TIMID
THAN OTHERS,

AND YOU'VE BEEN
A VERY TIMID YOUNG MAN.

BUT I AM
VERY PROUD OF YOU,

AND I WANT YOU
TO KNOW THAT, OKAY?

-YES, SIR.
-I DO. I AM.

I'M VERY
PROUD OF YOU, SON.

THAT MEANS
A LOT TO HEAR, DAD.

NOW.

GET THE LONG FACE OFF.

I LOVE YOU, SON.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

IS THAT ALL THAT'S
BOTHERING YOU?

PRETTY MUCH.

I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW,
LET YOU KNOW HOW I FELT ABOUT

THAT AND HOW, YOU KNOW --
I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST FELT LIKE YOU --

LIKE I SAID,
THAT YOU RESENTED ME.

YOU DIDN'T WANT ME.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT PART
OF IT AT ALL.

I DON'T BECAUSE
I DEFINITELY WANTED YOU.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX
THAT FOR YOU.

JUST PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND
AND THROW IT AWAY NOW, OKAY?

I KNOW THAT'S NOT GONNA
BE EASY FOR YOU TO DO,

BUT YOU NEED
TO DO THAT.

YEAH, BUT, I MEAN, A LOT
OF TIMES, LIKE, WHEN --

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU
WHUPPED ME WITH A BELT,

I FELT --
YOU KNOW, IT SCARED ME.

THERE'S TIMES I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WHY I WAS GETTING PUNISHED.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

AND I'M NOT
EXPECTING YOU TO GO

AND TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF
OR EXPLAIN YOURSELF.

I'M NOT
TRYING TO DEFEND MYSELF.

IF I DID SOMETHING,
I DID IT,

AND IT'S MY FAULT,
AND I APOLOGIZE.

THAT'S ALL
I CAN DO, SON.

ALL WE GOT TO DO NOW IS PICK
IT UP FROM HERE AND GO ON.

AND I'VE
JUST ABOUT HAD IT.

THIS SESSION IS OVER.

OKAY?

I'M DONE.

Aaron: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

UPSETTING MY DAD WAS
THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO,

BUT I CAN'T LET THIS BECOME
ANOTHER THING

I JUST PUSH DOWN
AND PRETEND NEVER HAPPENED.

IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE IT
ALL WORSE,

AND THE WHOLE REASON
FOR DOING THIS

WAS TO TRY
AND MAKE IT BETTER.

SO I CAN'T LET IT GO LIKE THIS.

-HEY, DAD.
-YEP?

I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE I
WAS TARGETING YOU FOR ANYTHING.

I HAD TO GET
THIS OFF OF ME.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I
WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO STOP

GOING TO FOOD
FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS

I'M HOLDING IN, BECAUSE IT WAS
STILL BOTTLED UP INSIDE OF ME.

OKAY.

AND I DON'T WANT THIS
TO MESS THINGS UP.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO US
MOVING ON

AND HAVING A CLOSER,
BETTER RELATIONSHIP.

I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT,
AARON, JUST THAT'S IN THE PAST.

COME HERE.

COME ON.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON.

I DON'T WANT
TO HURT YOU.

I DON'T EVER WANT
TO HURT YOU, EITHER.

I'M SORRY.

LOVE YOU.

Aaron:
THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING
I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

DISAPPOINTING MY FATHER
IS ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS.

BUT AS MUCH AS I LOVE HIM,
I KNOW THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS

WAS TO START TAKING
SOME CONTROL BACK IN MY LIFE

BY FACING WHAT I DID TODAY.

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF
AND HAPPY

I DID IT, EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY
DIDN'T GO AS I HOPED OR PLANNED.

BUT I'M REALLY THANKFUL,
IN THE END

THAT MY DAD WAS WILLING
TO LISTEN TO ME,

AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO LET OUT
SOME OF WHAT I NEEDED.

SO I KNOW THIS HELPED ME TODAY
EVEN THOUGH

I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL
ANY BETTER RIGHT NOW.

MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH
DR. NOW IS IN TWO MONTHS,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING
WHEN I GO BACK,

MY WEIGHT LOSS
IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE

BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD
TO MESS THIS UP

AND LET MYSELF
START GAINING AGAIN.

I'M BACK AT DR. NOW'S

AND I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT
WHAT I'VE LOST

OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS

AND WHETHER I'M BACK TO HITTING
MY MONTHLY GOALS OR NOT.

SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
TO FIND OUT.

AARON?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
TWO MONTHS AGO,

I WAS 461 POUNDS,
AND DR. NOW SAID

I SHOULD BE LOSING AT LEAST

30 POUNDS A MONTH
IF I'M STAYING ON TRACK.

SO THAT MEANS I SHOULD BE DOWN
TO 401 TODAY.

THAT'S SUCH A RELIEF.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD
AND EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

I ALMOST HIT MY GOAL EXACTLY,

SO I THINK DR. NOW WILL BE HAPPY
WITH THAT AND TO SEE

THAT I'M BACK ON TRACK
LIKE HE WANTED.

-HELLO.
-HEY, AARON.

HOW ARE YOU?
-DOING GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.
THANKS.

SO, YOU'RE
ALONE TODAY.

-YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

STARTING TO TRAVEL
SAFELY ON YOUR OWN.

-YES.
-WELL, THAT'S GREAT.

YOU'RE
BECOMING INDEPENDENT.

YES.
A LOT MORE.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE.

SO, TODAY
YOU'RE DOWN TO 402.

THAT'S FANTASTIC.

YOU'RE STAYING ON TRACK
AND ALMOST IN 300s,

AND SO FAR, YOU HAVE
LOST OVER 300 POUNDS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT,
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.

AND IF YOU LOSE
ANOTHER 80 POUNDS

AND GET INTO
THE LOWER 300s,

THAT WILL GET YOU WHERE WE NEED
TO START LOOKING AT

IF POSSIBLE
TO YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

OKAY?
-AWESOME.

IF YOU KEEP UP THIS PROGRESS,
YOU SHOULD BE AT THAT POINT

IN A COUPLE MONTHS,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AROUND

40 TO 50 POUNDS
OF EXCESS SKIN IN TOTAL,

AND REMOVING ALL THAT WILL
HELP YOU TO YOUR GOAL, TOO.

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

HOW'S YOUR DAD DOING?

HE'S DOING GREAT.
HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.

HE'S REALLY PROUD OF ME.
-THAT'S GREAT.

HE SHOULD BE BECAUSE
YOU HAVE DONE GREAT.

I'M PROUD
OF YOUR PROGRESS.

KEEP THE GOOD WORK.
-THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT.
-TAKE CARE.

ALL RIGHT.
I WILL SEE YOU SOON.

Dr. Now:
I'M VERY PROUD OF AARON.

HIS START WAS A LITTLE ROCKY,
BUT ONCE WE GOT HIM TO WAKE UP

AND TO UNDERSTAND
HOW DANGEROUS HIS SITUATION WAS,

HE GOT DETERMINED AND STARTED
DOING WHAT HE NEEDED

AND HASN'T LOOKED BACK
OR SLOWED DOWN AT ALL.

SO, AT THIS POINT,
I HAVE NO DOUBT

HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE DOING

WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO GET
TO HIS TARGET RATE SOON

AND TO MAKE SURE
HE'S SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG RUN.

Aaron:
I'M REALLY HAPPY AT MY RESULTS

AND HOW THE APPOINTMENT
WENT TODAY.

AND I'M FEELING REALLY
ENCOURAGED AND CONFIDENT

RIGHT NOW ABOUT
HOW WELL I'M DOING.

I WAS A KID THE LAST TIME
I WAS IN THE 300s,

SO TO BE PRACTICALLY THERE
IS EXCITING.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP
MAKING MORE PROGRESS

AND TO SEE ALL THE THINGS
I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO

AS SOON AS I GET CLOSER
TO MY TARGET WEIGHT.

HEY, PRETTY GIRL.
HOW ARE YOU?

-HI, UNCLE AARON!
-HEY, GUYS.

-HI, UNCLE AARON.
-OH, MY GOODNESS.

Aaron:
TODAY I'M GOING WITH MY SISTER
AND MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS

TO THE NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS,
AND I'M VERY EXCITED.

Margaret: ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GO.

Aaron:
I'VE ALWAYS TOLD MY SISTER
HOW I WISH I CAN GO WITH THEM

WHEN THEY DID FUN THINGS
WITH THE KIDS.

AND WITH ALL THE WEIGHT
I'VE LOST,

I REALIZE I CAN DO THIS
IF I WANTED NOW.

AND IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE THIS CHANCE.

I WISH MAMAW WAS HERE
TO DO THIS.

I DO, TOO, BUDDY.

WELL, MAMAW CAN DO IT,
BUT SHE'S UP IN HEAVEN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Aaron:
WHEN I WAS ALMOST 700 POUNDS,

I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO HANDLE THIS CAR RIDE.

BUT NOW I CAN GET OUT
AND WALK ALL DAY.

THIS IS GONNA BE
THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.

I'M STILL SCARED OF FALLING,
SO I'M CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.

BUT I DON'T WORRY ABOUT
HITTING MY LIMIT

OR WHERE I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO SIT NOW WHEN I'M OUT.

AND THAT'S SUCH A FREEING
AND INCREDIBLE FEELING.

Man: SO ALL THE CAVE FORMATIONS
ARE FORMED BY WATER,

BUT THE ROOMS, BY VOLUME,

ARE THE LARGEST OF ANY
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

Aaron: THAT'S SO COOL.

Man:
TAKE OUR TIME AS WE CLIMB OUT,
ALL RIGHT?

Aaron:
THE BEST THING ABOUT TODAY
IS JUST BEING HERE

AND BEING ABLE TO BE OUT WITH
MY FAMILY, HAVING FUN WITH THEM,

ENJOYING THE FAMILY TIME
THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER.

Man:
IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA DO.

YOU'RE GONNA BE MINERS.

YOU'RE GONNA TAKE
YOUR LOOSE TRAY,

AND YOU'RE GONNA GO BACK
AND FORTH LIKE THAT,

AND ALL THE STUFF AND TREASURE
IS GONNA BE LEFT BEHIND.

Margaret: THERE YOU GO.
GOOD JOB.

-THERE'S ONE!
-LOOK AT THIS ONE.

Girl: I WANT TO KEEP IT!

Margaret:
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO
SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH AARON

IN YEARS
BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

AARON IS SO MUCH
MORE HAPPY

AND IS DOING SUCH
AN AMAZING JOB AT LIFE

THAT I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.

Aaron:
I DON'T PLAN TO STOP HERE.

I WANT TO KEEP GOING OUT
AND DOING EVEN MORE WITH THEM

AND TO BE PART OF MY NIECE
AND NEPHEWS' CHILDHOOD.

Eugene: RIGHT THERE.

Aaron:
TODAY I'M TAKING MY DAD OUT
TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH HIM.

I ASKED HIM WHERE HE WANTED
TO GO,

AND HE SAID HE WANTED
TO GO TO TWO PLACES.

FIRST, HE WANTS TO GO
TO A LOCAL WAR MEMORIAL

TO PAY TRIBUTE
TO SOME OF HIS BUDDIES,

AND THEN HE WANTS TO GO TO

THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE
BASE IN SAN MARCOS.

SO I'M GONNA TAKE HIM TO BOTH.

HE'S HARDLY BEEN ABLE TO GO
ANYWHERE

AND DO ANYTHING FOR YEARS

BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO TAKE HIM PLACES.

SO I KNOW HE'S JUST AS EXCITED
AS I AM TO DO THIS TODAY.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME
A YEAR AGO

IF I THOUGHT I'D BE OUT
DOING ALL THAT I AM

AFTER HAVING LOST
OVER 300 POUNDS,

I WOULD HAVE SAID
THERE WAS NO EARTHLY WAY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR SERVICE

THAT YOU'VE DONE
FOR OUR COUNTRY, DAD.

MEANS A LOT.

I LOOK UP
TO YOU FOR THAT.

YOU APPRECIATE IT NOW,
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M PROUD OF YOU, TOO.

-THANK YOU.
-AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I MEAN, THAT'S
FANTASTIC, SON.

-I LOVE YOU, DADDY.
-I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET GOING.

Aaron:
I'M SO AMAZED AND GRATEFUL
FOR THIS CHANCE

TO GET MY LIFE BACK
AND TO BE MAKING MY DAD PROUD.

I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE

THAT BONDING
TIME WITH MY FATHER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT
IN A LONG TIME.

MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY HAS BEEN
SO MUCH HARDER

THAN I THOUGHT UP
TO THIS POINT,

AND I KNOW IT MAY GET
EVEN HARDER.

BUT WITH WHAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED,
AND HOW FAR I'VE COME,

I'M DETERMINED TO GET THERE
AND START LIVING THE LIFE

I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.

GOLLY.
THAT'S A BIG PLANE.

I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME

I DID ANYTHING LIKE THIS
WITH AARON,

AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE
WERE ABLE TO DO IT TODAY.

WHEN I WATCHED AARON WALK UP
ON THAT PLANE, I THOUGHT, "WOW."

BECAUSE A YEAR AGO,
HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

Aaron:
THIS IS AWESOME.

Eugene: I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD
OF MY SON, AARON,

TO START A PROGRAM LIKE THIS
AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH

AND DO IT AND LOSE THE WEIGHT
THAT HE'S LOST ALREADY,

IT'S AMAZING, AND I THINK
IT'S THE MOST FANTASTIC THING

I'VE EVER SEEN HIM DO.

Aaron:
MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT TODAY
WAS JUST BEING ABLE

TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FATHER
AND BE ABLE TO GET OUT

AND DO THINGS I HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO DO IN A LONG TIME.

I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD
TO BEING ABLE TO DO

A LOT MORE STUFF WITH MY FATHER

AND JUST GET OUT
AND SEE THE WORLD.