Original subtitles

Lashanta: I COULD BE UPSET, AND THEN I EAT MY FOOD

AND IT'LL SOOTHE MY PAIN.

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 #3: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO LIVE YET.

WHY ARE YOU JUMPING ON MY CASE?

YOU'RE OVER-EATING, AND YOU'RE ACTING LIKE IT'S OUR FAULT.

I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT. GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I DON'T BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY,

BECAUSE YOU KEEP LYING AND KEEP LYING TO YOURSELF.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

BABE.

ALL RIGHT.

Lashanta: I HATE WHAT MY LIFE HAS BECOME.

BECAUSE I'M LIVING IN CONSTANT MISERY NOW.

MY WEIGHT HAS GOTTEN SO OUT OF CONTROL.

IT'S TAKEN ALMOST EVERYTHING FROM ME.

AND WITH ALL THIS WEIGHT ON ME,

MY WHOLE BODY FEELS LIKE IT'S CONSTANTLY CRUSHED.

THE PAIN IS UNBEARABLE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I CAN'T GET AROUND.

AND I'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN THIS BED FOR YEARS NOW.

I CAN'T EVEN GO TO THE BATHROOM ON MY OWN ANYMORE.

THE BEST I CAN DO IS SCOOT TO THE END OF MY BED

AND USE A BOWL THAT MY BOYFRIEND J.T. BRINGS ME.

THANK YOU. YOU NEED ANYTHING?

AND THEN HE COMES AND TAKES IT TO DISPOSE OF IT FOR ME.

I WISH THIS WASN'T MY LIFE, BUT IT IS.

I STILL TRY TO DO WHATEVER I'M ABLE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND ONCE J.T. BRINGS ME MY WATER AND MY SOAP,

I TRY AND CLEAN MYSELF.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED?

I GOT EVERYTHING.

ALL RIGHT.

JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR ME TO,

YOU KNOW, GET YOU...

BUT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST STRENUOUS THINGS I DO ALL DAY.

BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRY TO MOVE AROUND

AND REACH ALL THE PARTS OF MY BODY,

AND THEN LIFT MYSELF TO TRY TO CLEAN

OTHER AREAS I NEED.

AND IT GETS TO BE TOO MUCH.

AND SO I EVEN HAVE TO HAVE HELP WITH THAT.

LASHANTA HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHE CANNOT DO,

SO I HAVE TO HELP LASHANTA FROM TIME TO TIME

WITH A LOT OF THINGS THAT SHE NEEDS.

BUT WE GET THROUGH IT.

YOU KNOW, WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND I LOVE HER,

SO I'M GONNA SUPPORT HER AND BE THERE FOR HER.

I JUST WISH I COULD SKIP MY BATH, BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD.

Lashanta: BUT IF I SKIP IT, THEY'LL CHAFING AND THE BEDSORES

I GET WILL GET WORSE, SO I HAVE TO STAY CLEAN

NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL IT IS,

WHEN THE ONLY THING I WANT TO DO IS EAT.

YOU DONE WITH THAT?

FOOD IS THE ONLY JOY AND PLEASURE I HAVE NOW.

IT'S THE ONLY THING I REALLY HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO ANYMORE.

SOMETIMES I'M TIRED OF MY LIFE,

BUT THEN I THINK ABOUT FOOD AND THEN I GET EXCITED AGAIN.

I LIKE TO HAVE A LOT OF IT.

MY SONS, GERAMY AND SHAUN, STILL LIVE WITH ME,

SO I MAKE SURE I MAKE ENOUGH FOR THEM AND J.T. AND ME.

J.T.: LASHANTA, WHEN SHE'S READY TO EAT,

SHE'S READY TO EAT, OKAY?

DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF HER FOOD.

SEE, IF I'M DELAYING HELPING HER COOK,

OR GOING TO THE STORE AND GET FOOD,

AH, SHE GETS MAD.

Lashanta: KNOWING I'M MAKING SOMETHING WONDERFUL

FOR ALL OF US IS EXCITING,

BECAUSE WHEN THE FOOD IS DONE RIGHT

IT'S EVERYTHING GOOD AND WONDERFUL

ALL TOGETHER IN THESE BITES OF JOY.

I CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH.

WHEN I EAT, I BE ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

NOBODY CAN'T TELL ME NOTHING.

WHEN I BE UPSET, WHEN I BE ANGRY, DEPRESSED,

THAT'S WHEN I TURN IN TO MY FOOD.

AND I EAT ENOUGH FOOD FOR THREE PEOPLE,

PLUS BREAD.

I ALWAYS WANT TO EAT.

AND WHEN I STOP AND I FINISH WHAT I HAVE,

I CAN'T WAIT TILL I HAVE MORE,

SO I'M ALREADY THINKING HOW I'M GONNA MAKE THE NEXT MEAL.

Geramy: I THINK MY MOM IS ADDICTED TO FOOD.

I'D RATHER SHE EAT MORE HEALTHY STUFF, YOU KNOW?

BUT, LIKE, IF MY MAMA ASKS ME TO BRING HER SOMETHING,

I'LL BRING IT TO HER.

'CAUSE IF I SAY NO TO MAMA, SHE'LL BE LIKE --

GO ZERO TO 100 ON ME.

Lashanta: FOOD IS MY EVERYTHING.

IT'S MY PURPOSE AND WHAT I LIVE FOR,

SO I KEEP EATING AND I KEEP GETTING BIGGER.

I NEVER THOUGHT MY LIFE COULD WIND UP LIKE THIS.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GROW OUT OF PROPORTION LIKE THIS,

LIVING IN MY BED.

VERY EARLY ON IN MY LIFE, I REMEMBER THINGS WERE GOOD.

MY PARENTS WERE STILL TOGETHER AND WE HAD LOTS OF FAMILY.

I WAS ONE OF FOUR CHILDREN MY PARENTS HAD,

AND THERE REALLY WASN'T ANY FIGHTING OR CHAOS THEN.

THAT DIDN'T START TILL I WAS SEVEN OR EIGHT.

THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT LED TO MY PARENTS

FIGHTING A LOT.

AFTER THAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFLICT

IN THE HOME WITH MY MOM AND MY DAD

FUSSING AND CARRYING ON.

AND IT WAS LIKE THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND DURING THAT TIME, MY MOM DID WHAT SHE COULD

AND TOOK CARE OF ME, BUT MY DAD WAS COLD

AND HE DIDN'T SUPPORT ME.

AND THAT MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WASN'T WANTED.

I DESPERATELY WANTED MY DAD TO SHOW ME THAT HE LOVED ME

AND STILL CARED ABOUT ME.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED THOUGH BECAUSE MY DAD STOPPED BEING

A PART OF MY LIFE WHEN I WAS NINE.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN MY MOM KICKED MY FATHER OUT.

I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MY DAD CHEATED ON MY MOM.

AND THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING FELL APART IN MY FAMILY.

WELL, I KICKED HIM OUT, BABY.

PACK YOUR [BLEEP] AND PUT IT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY,

AND LEFT A NOTE AND TOLD HIM TO GET THE [BLEEP] OUT.

Lashanta: AFTER MY PARENTS' DIVORCE, MY LIFE WAS NEVER THE SAME.

I GUESS I HAD TO GROW UP FAST.

I WAS BARELY JUST 10 YEARS OLD.

SO, THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED WHEN I WAS EATING SOMETHING

THAT I REALLY LIKED, I FELT BETTER,

SO I JUST STARTED EATING A LOT.

AND I DIDN'T HAVE A BABYSITTER.

I WAS THE BABYSITTER. I DID WHAT I WANTED.

AND EATING MADE ME HAPPY, BECAUSE FOOD MADE ALL MY PAIN

AND ALL MY MISERY OF MY LIFE GO AWAY.

SO, AROUND 10, THAT'S WHEN I STARTED

TO EAT A LOT AND GAIN A LOT.

I USED TO TELL HER ALL THE TIME,

"GIRL, YOU'RE GETTING TOO DAMN BIG.

YOU BETTER LOSE SOME WEIGHT."

Lashanta: BY THE TIME I WAS 13, I WAS OVER 200 POUNDS.

BUT THAT WASN'T WHAT CHANGED MY LIFE THE MOST AT THAT TIME.

I WAS DATING A 16-YEAR-OLD BOY THEN,

AND THAT LED TO ME GETTING PREGNANT WHEN I WAS 13.

SO MY LIFE COMPLETELY CHANGED AFTER THAT HAPPENED,

BECAUSE I HAD MY BABY WHEN I WAS 14.

AND MY BOYFRIEND DENIED THAT THE CHILD WAS HIS,

SO WE BROKE UP.

AT FIRST, I HAD KEPT MY PREGNANCY FROM MY MOM.

I REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA GET MAD.

BUT SHE DIDN'T.

SHE JUST TOLD ME "THE FUN TIME IS OVER.

YOU'RE GONNA GET A JOB

AND YOU'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN BABY."

SO I DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AFTER NINTH GRADE,

AND I GOT A JOB AT A FAST-FOOD PLACE.

AND I HAD MY FIRST BABY, TYRONE.

BUT I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED AT THE STATE OF MY LIFE THEN.

I WAS THINKING THAT, "I DON'T REGRET MY BABY,

BUT REALLY, I JUST WISH THAT I'D STAYED IN A CHILD PLACE."

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE GROWN TOO EARLY.

SO, TO DEAL WITH THAT, I STARTED EATING MORE AND MORE.

AND IN THE MIDST OF ALL THAT FOOD AT WORK,

I'D EAT ON THE CLOCK, I'D EAT ON THE BREAK.

I ATE WHEN I CAME HOME, AND IT GOT EVEN WORSE

BECAUSE I MOVED OUT OF MY MOM'S HOUSE.

AT THE AGE OF 15, I HAD MY OWN APARTMENT

AND I CALLED THE SHOTS.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE WEIGHT REALLY INCREASED.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 16, I WAS ALREADY OVER 300 POUNDS.

AND AT THAT TIME, I MET SOMEONE NEW AND WE STARTED DATED.

AND I GOT PREGNANT WITH MY SECOND CHILD.

SO, I HAD MY DAUGHTER GALLERY WHEN I WAS 17.

AND AFTER THAT, MY BOYFRIEND GOT ABUSIVE

AND HE'D GET REALLY JEALOUS AND CONTROLLING OF ME.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME I WAS ASLEEP.

HE CLIMBED THROUGH THE WINDOW AND WAS STANDING OVER ME

WITH A BUTCHER'S KNIFE, AND HIS WORDS WERE TO ME,

"YOU BETTER BE LUCKY NO ONE WAS UP IN HERE WITH YOU,

'CAUSE BOTH OF Y'ALL WAS GONNA BE GUTTED UP LIKE A PERCH."

BUT THE NEIGHBOR OF MINE, SHE CALLED THE POLICE,

AND THE POLICE CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT TRYING TO KILL ME,

SO HE WENT TO JAIL AND I WAS LEFT

TO TAKE CARE OF MY TWO CHILDREN.

SO I DID WHAT I HAD TO TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD.

I NEVER PROSTITUTED MYSELF, BUT I DID THINGS

I'M NOT PROUD OF TO PAY THE BILLS

AND TO PAY FOR MY EATING HABITS, BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT,

MY EATING HABITS NEVER SLOWED DOWN.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 20, I WAS AROUND 425.

AND THE NEXT SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS OF MY LIFE,

I JUST FEEL LIKE I WAS IN THIS REPEATING CYCLE,

BECAUSE I MET SOMEONE NEW WHEN I WAS 21

AND I GOT PREGNANT WITH MY THIRD CHILD

AND HAD GERAMY WHEN I WAS 22.

BUT HIS FATHER LEFT ME TO RAISE HIM ON MY OWN,

SO I WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN.

ALL I DID WAS WORK AND EATING FOR THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

AND I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE 500 MARK THEN.

AND THEN WHEN I WAS 27, I STARTED DATING SOMEBODY

I MET WHO TREATED ME REALLY WELL,

AND I HAD MY FOURTH CHILD WITH HIM, SHAUN, WHEN I WAS 28.

BUT HE STARTED TO BECOME ABUSIVE TOWARD ME

AND STARTED CHEATING ON ME, SO I LEFT HIM.

AND WHEN I WAS AROUND 35,

I WAS GETTING CLOSE TO BEING 600 POUNDS.

I WAS STILL MOBILE, BUT THAT'S WHEN THAT STARTED TO CHANGE.

IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT MY LEGS WOULD GET STIFF A LOT.

I HAD TO WALK WITH CRUTCHES.

THEN IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I COULDN'T WALK AT ALL.

SO, FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS OF MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN BED-BOUND.

MY SONS, G. AND SHAUN, STARTED DOING EVERYTHING FOR ME.

AND I FEEL ASHAMED OF THAT.

BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE AT THIS POINT.

COME IN!

AND WHEN MY BOYS AND J.T. AREN'T AROUND,

MY NEIGHBORS HAVE TO HELP ME AND BRING ME FOOD.

THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU!

NEED ANYTHING ELSE?

UM...NO, THIS IS IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

I'VE BEEN CONCERNED, YOU KNOW?

NO MOTHER DO NOT LIKE NO BIG FAT-ASS DAUGHTER.

LASHANTA REALLY CANNOT DO NOTHING FOR HERSELF.

HE GOT THE WIG.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, MY HEALTH HAS GONE

DOWNHILL FAST, AND THINGS HAVE JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE.

THERE'S ONLY ONE GOOD THING THAT'S COME FROM IT.

ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

BECAUSE I WAS HAVING SOME ISSUES,

AND I MET J.T.

I MET LASHANTA AT THE HOSPITAL.

I WAS AT A -- AN APPOINTMENT.

I LOOKED OVER AND I SAW SHE WAS ON A STRETCHER.

YOU KNOW, SHE WAS BEAUTIFUL. HAD A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.

SO, IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SITE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ATTRACTED TO BIG WOMEN, YOU KNOW?

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE BIGGER WOMEN ARE NICER, MORE CUDDLY.

Lashanta: MY FIRST DATE WAS IN THIS BED WITH JEREMY,

'CAUSE EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN THIS BED.

WE HAD GOTTEN SOME TAKEOUT,

AND WE ATE AND WE WATCHED MOVIES.

AND WE CHILLED.

AND SINCE THEN, WE'VE BEEN DATING.

AND HE HELPS TAKE CARE OF ME NOW,

AND MOVED IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.

MY MOM COMES TO CHECK ON ME EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS,

BUT AT THIS POINT I KNOW SHE'S SO WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH.

NOW SHE SPENDS MOST OF HER TIME HERE,

GETTING ON ME ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT AND MY EATING.

LASHANTA, HOW YOU DOING?

MY KNEE'S KILLING ME.

YOUR LEG IS KILLING YOU?

MY KNEE.

YOU PUT SOME CREAM ON YOUR KNEE?

YEAH.

IT WORK?

SO SO.

YOU NEED ANYTHING?

NO. I'M GOOD.

I COME OVER HERE AND MOP,

WASH DISHES, AND CHECK HER OUT.

BUT I WORRY ABOUT HER WEIGHT.

MY WORST FEAR IS THAT I MIGHT COME HERE

AND SHE'S DEAD IN A BED.

SO I ALWAYS TALKED TO LASHANTA ABOUT HER WEIGHT,

BUT SHE GETS MAD.

FAT PEOPLE DON'T LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL THEM THEY'RE FAT, YOU KNOW?

OOH. A BURGER? OOH. I'M SO HUNGRY.

HEY. HOW YOU DOING? YOU FEELING ALL RIGHT TODAY?

I'M FEELING ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU? I'M OKAY.

YEAH? I GOT TO GO TO WORK, YEAH, SO.

Lashanta: HAVE A GREAT ONE.

YOU TOO.

♪ KISS, KISS, KISS ♪

LOOK, BABY GIRL.

I'LL BE SO GLAD...

OH, LORD. HERE IT COMES. ...WHEN YOU LOSE WEIGHT.

HERE IT COMES.

BECAUSE YOU CAN GET UP AND DO THE THINGS

THAT YOU NEED TO DO, YOU KNOW?

HERE IT COMES.

COOK. WASH. GO TO THE STORE.

I STILL COOK.

ALL IS NEED IS SOMEBODY TO BE MY LEGWORK.

MAN, I'LL LIKE YOUR LEGS WHEN YOU CAN GET UP

AND DO FOR YOURSELF AND GET AROUND.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

YEP.

FAITH ONLY GOT ME WHERE I'M AT NOW.

Lashanta: I KNOW MY MOM'S AFRAID OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME,

BUT WHEN SHE TALKS TO ME ABOUT IT

IT'S FRUSTRATING AND IT MAKES ME EMOTIONAL,

AND THEN I FEEL LIKE I NEED IT EVEN MORE.

I COULD BE UPSET, AND I'LL EAT MY FOOD

AND IT'LL SOOTHE MY PAIN.

OKAY. I'M ABOUT TO JET.

ALL RIGHT, HONEY. TAKE CARE, BABE.

I KNOW FOOD IS KILLING ME, AND NOT ONLY THAT,

HOW I EAT IS HURTING MY FAMILY, TOO.

BECAUSE IT'S TAKING A MOM FROM HER SONS.

BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO GO OUT AND EXPERIENCE

ANYTHING WITH THEM.

BYE, SHAUN!

Deshaun: BYE!

AND NOW MY OLDEST SON TYRONE, HE WENT TO JAIL.

AND I FEEL GUILTY SOMETIMES BECAUSE JUST,

TAKING CARE OF MY CHILDREN.

I CAN'T DO THAT BEING A MOTHER FROM THE BED.

I'M GONNA WIND UP DYING IN THIS BED.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE THAT LONG LEFT.

I'M ABOUT TO LEAVE MY CHILDREN WITHOUT A MOTHER.

AND, THINKING ABOUT THAT, IT HURTS.

IT REALLY DO.

IT HURTS BECAUSE I KNOW I NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE.

SO I HAVE TO DO THIS NOW BEFORE FOOD TAKES

THE LAST THING IT CAN FROM ME, AND I EAT MYSELF TO DEATH.

Lashanta: I'M HOPING MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGES TODAY,

BECAUSE I'VE GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

SO I'M GOING TO HOUSTON TO GO SEE HIM,

TO TRY TO GET THE HELP I NEED.

AND IF I DO, I KNOW IT WILL MEAN EVERYTHING

WILL START GETTING BETTER FOR ME.

BUT I'M NERVOUS ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE,

'CAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF THIS HOUSE

AND THIS BED FOR YEARS.

I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME HELP CARRY ME OUT

AND INTO MY COUSIN LARRY'S VAN.

HE'S BRINGING IT OVER AND WE'RE PUTTING

A MATTRESS DOWN IN THE BACK.

IT'S ABOUT A SIX-TO-SEVEN-HOUR DRIVE TO HOUSTON,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF MOVING AROUND FOR ME,

SO I'M HOPING I MAKE IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.

Larry: LET'S SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HERE, MAN.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HERE?

YOU MADE IT!

YEAH, I MADE. WHAT? YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T?

I MEAN, DISAPPOINTMENTS AFTER DISAPPOINTMENTS.

WELL, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS IS OVER WITH.

WE'RE GONNA JUMP IN THIS VAN AND GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

Lashanta: WE'VE GOT MY NEIGHBORS COMING TO CHECK ON MY KIDS

WHILE I'M IN HOUSTON, BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE

A HANDLE ON THINGS AND WILL BE ALL RIGHT.

I JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON DOING THIS

AND MAKING IT TO DR. NOW TO GET THE HELP I NEED.

NOW, YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE GONE.

YOU'RE THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.

YOU GOT TO KEEP EVERYTHING AFLOAT.

I LOVE YOU, SON.

Geramy: I LOVE YOU, TOO.

Larry: Y'ALL READY? Y'ALL READY TO ROLL?

WHAT'S GOING ON, GIRL? YOU ALL RIGHT?

YOU FEELING OKAY?

-YEAH. -YOU READY FOR THIS TRIP?

I'M READY FOR THIS TRIP.

I'M READY TO HEAR IT, I'M READY TO SEE...

YOU'RE READY.

...THE OBSTACLES THAT I'VE GOT TO GO ACROSS.

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT.

YEAH, I'M GONNA MAKE IT.

WITH FLYING COLORS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO? -COME ON!

OH, MY.

-COME THIS WAY. -HI.

FINE.

OKAY.

Man: NONE OF THIS IS GONNA BE EASY,

BUT WE'RE GONNA DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH YOU.

OH. ALL RIGHT?

Woman: WHEN YOU'RE READY TO START, WE'RE READY.

WELL, I NEED SOMEBODY OVER HERE.

HOLD UP. LET'S USE THIS. JUST USE THAT.

-HOLD ON. LET ME -- -OH, NO, I CAN SLIDE.

-YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO... -I GOT THIS.

-YOU WANT TO KINDA SLIDE? -I CAN SHOW Y'ALL.

I CAN GET THIS.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

NOW, I GOT TO TURN -- I GOT TO TURN AROUND,

AND I'M GONNA COME BACK WITH IT AND SCOOT BACK THIS WAY.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

COME ON, BABY.

IT'S KINDA HIGH.

LET US KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO HELP.

IT'S ABOUT THREE OR FOUR INCHES YOU GOT TO GET UP.

-GIVE ME A MINUTE. -TAKE YOUR TIME.

-TAKE A BREAK. -ONE. TWO.

ALL RIGHT. OH YEAH, BABY.

ONE. TWO. THREE.

-THERE YOU GO. -YOU'RE ON THERE.

-OKAY. -YOU READY TO BE BRAVE?

ONE. TWO. THREE.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

GOOD ENOUGH. GOOD.

OOH! STOP! STOP! STOP!

-HOLD UP. -KEEP COMING.

TIMOTHY, ADAM, PUSH DOWN.

-READY. -ALL RIGHT.

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. IT'S YOU FIRST.

-JUST DON'T GO DOWN. -DON'T GO UP.

I'M ALL RIGHT.

READY? ONE. TWO. THREE.

Woman: OKAY, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.

YOU UNDERSTAND IF WE TURN YOU AROUND,

YOU GET IN AN CAR ACCIDENT, THAT'S PROBABLY IT?

THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE IT. -RIGHT.

-ALL RIGHT. -ONE. TWO. THREE.

ONE. TWO. THREE.

-ALL RIGHT. -THERE YOU GO.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU, TEAM.

[ GRUNTS ] WHOO!

PUT THE PILLOWS RIGHT HERE. I'M GONNA BE RIGHT HERE.

I'M GOOD. -ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU! -YEAH.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, ALL RIGHT?

-ALL RIGHT. -GIVE ME SOME LOVE.

I MADE IT! I MADE IT!

Larry: YOU READY TO ROLL?

YEAH.

I'M GOOD NOW.

ALL RIGHT THEN, Y'ALL.

OKAY. I LOVE YOU. YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

GO ON WITH Y-- ALL OF Y'ALL.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

LOOK, I'M GONNA CALL YOU WHEN I GET SETTLED.

YOU STOMP IT. YOU GOT TO HOMP IT.

-YOU GOT TO STOMP IT. -STOMP IT. HOMP IT. HIT IT.

DO IT. BE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

-TAKE CARE OF HER. -ALL RIGHT.

THEY'RE ALWAYS A BIT OF A TRIP, BUT THANKFULLY, I MADE IT.

I'M IN THE VAN, AND I'M FEELING EXCITED

ABOUT BEING ABLE TO GO TO HOUSTON

AND BEING OUT OF MY HOUSE.

BEING BACK HERE IS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE,

AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING IN HERE

FOR THE NEXT SIX TO SEVEN HOURS,

BUT I KNOW IF I GET SOMETHING TO EAT

THEN I'M NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT IT,

BECAUSE FOOD HELPS ME DEAL WITH ANYTHING

AND I JUST NEED SOME TO HELP GET ME THERE.

I AIN'T RODE IN A CAR IN SO LONG.

YEAH.

YOU GOT TO REMEMBER WE'RE STOPPING TO GET SOME FOOD

BEFORE WE GET GOING ON THE FREEWAY.

I BROUGHT MY COUPONS BECAUSE I KNEW

WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING TODAY, SO I'M READY FOR THIS.

IT'S LIKE MY LITTLE REWARD FOR PUSHING MYSELF AND DOING THIS.

HEY, CAN I GET AN EIGHT-PIECE WITH TWO SIDES.

FRIES? AND MASHED POTATOES?

-SHEILA! -LARGE OR SMALL?

I KNOW HER. PUT THAT WINDOW DOWN.

SHEILA!

HEY, GIRL! WHAT'S GOING ON, BOO?

LISTEN TO ME AND LISTEN TO ME GOOD.

I WANT WHAT WAS ON THAT COUPON.

GET ME A FRY. AND GET ME A MASHED POTATO.

AND LOOK...

[ LAUGHS ]

THANK YOU, HONEY.

IT WAS A NICE SURPRISE BEING ABLE TO SHOW MY FRIEND

I'M OUT AND BEING ACTIVE LIKE THIS.

I HADN'T SEEN HER IN YEARS, AND SHE KNEW

I'D BEEN BED-RIDDEN, SO I THINK THAT BLEW HER MIND.

I'VE BEEN HIDDEN AWAY FOR SO LONG,

AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE OUT.

AND I'M ALSO FEELING REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I'M MAKING THIS EFFORT TO DO THIS AND SAVE MY LIFE.

I'M FIGHTING INSTEAD OF GIVING UP,

AND I'M FEELING REALLY HOPEFUL RIGHT NOW.

Larry: WELL, LASHANTA, IT'S LOOKING LIKE MADE IT.

Lashanta: IT'S BEEN A LONG TRIP, BUT WE MADE IT.

WE'RE FINALLY IN HOUSTON, AND I'M READY

TO GET OUT OF THIS VAN AS SOON AS I CAN

BECAUSE I'M REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE AND MY BODY IS REALLY STIFF

FROM BEING IN HERE FOR SO LONG.

MOSTLY MY KNEES.

THEY'RE HURT A WHOLE LOT, SO I'M EXCITING

BY BEING ABLE TO GET OUT.

AND I'M ALSO REALLY EXCITED TO GET TO MEET DR. NOW.

I FEEL LIKE I'M ABLE TO MEET A REAL-LIFE HERO.

BECAUSE THERE AREN'T MANY DOCTORS WHO WOULD EVEN CONSIDER

TAKING ON A PATIENT LIKE ME.

AND I JUST REALLY NEED HIS HELP TO CHANGE MY LIFE

AND GET THIS WEIGHT OFF OF ME,

AND I'M VERY, VERY READY TO DO THAT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'VE BEEN EXPECTING THE ARRIVAL

OF LASHANTA HERE AT ANY MINUTE.

ONCE SHE DOES, THE PRIORITY IS TO GET HER IN

AND CHECK AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT SHE'S BEEN IMMOBILE FOR AWHILE,

AND THAT LACK OF MOVEMENTS FOR THAT LONG

CAN CAUSE BLOOD CLOTS TO FORM IN HER LEGS.

AND WITH ALL THE ACTIVITY OF HE TRAVELING,

THE BLOOD CLOTS COULD HAVE DISLODGED.

AND IF THAT HAPPENED, IT CAN TRAVEL TO HER HEART

AND LUNGS AND CAUSE A DEADLY PULMONARY EMBOLISM

THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT'S NOT HAPPENING,

OR THAT SHE'S FACING ANYTHING ELSE LIFE-THREATENING

WE NEED TO ADDRESS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

HI, THERE.

HEY! I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU.

WELL, NICE TO SEE YOU.

SO, HOW LONG A DRIVE HAVE YOU HAD?

-ALMOST SIX HOURS. -ABOUT SIX HOURS?

ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU DOING OKAY? NO PAIN?

MY KNEES.

MY KNEES ARE ALWAYS BOTHERING ME, THOUGH.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S BRING YOU INSIDE AND CHECK

YOU OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, OKAY?

OKAY.

ABOUT TO GET IT STARTED.

I WANT TO GET IT STARTED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CAN WE PUT THE MATTRESS ALL THE WAY UP?

ALL RIGHT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

ALL RIGHT.

I MADE IT.

-ROOM TWO. -YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. YOU FEELING OKAY?

YEAH.

HOW'S YOUR KNEE DOING?

OH.

ALL RIGHT, LASHANTA, THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO

IS RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU TO MAKE SURE THERE IS

NO LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY.

OKAY.

SO, WE'RE GETTING EVERYTHING READY TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS BEFORE THAT

SO I CAN LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.

OKAY.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BED-RIDDEN?

ABOUT TWO YEARS OR SOMETHING.

TWO YEARS?

TWO YEARS AND A HALF, MAYBE.

OKAY. CAN YOU GET IN A WHEELCHAIR?

OH, NO. I'M NOT ABLE TO STAND TO GET IN A WHEELCHAIR.

OKAY. BUT, DESPITE THAT, YOU STILL CONTINUE EATING

AND MAKING YOUR SITUATION WORSE ALL THESE YEARS.

WHY IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW. IT'S JUST WANT IT WHEN I WANT IT.

I GET HUNGRY.

SO, IF YOU KEEP DOING THAT THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE TOO LONG.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

BUT YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT?

YOU KNOW HOW YOU GET SOMETHING IN YOUR HEAD

AND IT GOES OUT OF ONE EAR, AND IT GOES OUT THE OTHER?

SO, WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME IS, YOU KNOW THE FOOD

IS GONNA KILL YOU SOON, BUT YOU'RE IGNORING THAT FACT

AND YOU REFUSE TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR.

SO THEN, WHY ARE YOU HERE?

I'M -- I WANT...

THAT'S WHY I WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.

I WANT TO -- I WANT TO MAKE A CHANGE.

WELL, WHAT'S BEEN HOLDING YOU

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS TO MAKE THE CHANGES?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW THE ANSWER --

THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP FOOD.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

SO...HOW ARE WE GONNA CORRECT THAT PROBLEM?

I'M GONNA EAT HEALTHY.

JUST LIKE THAT? YOU'RE GONNA START NOW?

YEAH.

WELL, YOU SAY THAT.

WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS -- IF YOU HAVEN'T CARED ENOUGH

TO DO THAT BEFORE, WHAT MAKES DOING THIS NOW ANY DIFFERENT?

THIS IS MY SECOND CHANCE.

OKAY, BUT, YOUR CHANCE, IT DEPENDS ON YOU, OKAY?

WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT, THEY HAVE THIS INTENTION

TO LOSE WEIGHT, BUT THEY COME HERE.

THEY WANT US TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THEM LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT THEY STILL CONTINUE TO DO THE SAME THING.

I KNOW. BUT I KNOW -- I KNOW -- I KNOW IT STARTS FROM ME.

I KNOW I'VE GOT TO -- I'VE GOT TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

OKAY.

SO, YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE FINALLY READY

TO WORK TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND AND DO THIS?

YEP. I'M DETERMINED.

WHATEVER MEASURES/STEPS THAT I'VE GOT TO MAKE

TO GET THE HELP I NEED,

TO GET MYSELF AND MY BODY TOGETHER,

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

OKAY, I HOPE SO.

BECAUSE AT YOUR CONDITION, YOUR BODY IS VERY FRAGILE.

IT IS GONNA GIVE UP ANY DAY NOW.

SO IF ONE THING PUSHES IT TO ITS LIMIT AND THAT HAPPENS,

THEN NOBODY CAN DO ANYTHING TO SAVE YOU.

RIGHT. OKAY?

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS

THAT YOU MAKE THE CHANGES YO U SAY YOU WANT RIGHT NOW.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?

YEAH. 'CAUSE THIS IS MY LAST STOP.

THIS IS IT. OKAY.

SO, I'M GONNA ADMIT YOU NOW AND RUN OUR TESTS.

AND IF WE FIND ANYTHING LIFE-THREATENING

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS, WE'RE GONNA KEEP YOU HERE TO DO THAT.

AND IF NOT, WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU HOME WITH A NEW DIET

THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO CHANGE YOUR EATING HABIT,

WHAT TO EAT, WHAT NOT TO EAT.

AND THAT WILL HELP YOU HIT A WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

I WILL GIVE YOU FOR YOU TO PROVE TO ME

EVERYTHING YOU'RE TELLING ME.

OKAY.

THERE IS NO EXCUSES. YOU GOT THAT?

I UNDERSTAND. OKAY.

WE'LL START RUNNING THE TESTS WE NEED,

AND I'LL CHECK ON YOU HERE SHORTLY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHAT LASHANTA SHOWS US WILL DETERMINE

THE NEXT STEP WE TAKE WITH HER,

AND WHETHER WE NEED TO KEEP HER HERE FOR THE LONGER TERM

OR WE SEND HER HOME TO START ON THE DIET

TO SHOW ME THAT SHE'S READY TO WORK TO TURN

HER LIFE AROUND LIKE SHE CLAIMS.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T MAKE THE CHANGES SHE NEEDS RIGHT NOW,

SHE'S GONNA RUN OUT OF TIME VERY SOON.

Lashanta: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A DAY,

AND I'M FEELING A LITTLE ANXIOUS

BECAUSE I'M WAITING TO HEAR THE RESULTS

FROM ALL MY TESTS, AND I'M REALLY HOPING

THERE'S NOTHING REALLY WRONG THAT THEY HAVE TO TREAT ME FOR.

AND I THINK ABOUT WHAT DR. NOW SAID ABOUT THE BLOOD CLOT.

AND IT HAS ME REAL SCARED.

I DIDN'T THINK BEING IN BED ALL DAY

CAN DO THAT AND BE SO DANGEROUS.

SO I'M JUST A LITTLE EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M HOPING DR. NOW COMES BACK SOON AND TELLS ME

EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: FOR THE PAST 24 HOURS, WE HAVE HAD LASHANTA IN

THE HOSPITAL, RUNNING TESTS TO SEE

IF THERE ARE ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES

WITH HER THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

SURPRISINGLY, WE HAVE FOUND NO IMMEDIATE ISSUES

OTHER THAN HER EXTREME WEIGHT.

BUT, WE GOT HER WEIGHT, AND SHE'S 662 POUNDS,

WHICH IS A LOT FOR HER FRAME.

BUT IF SHE LOSES A LITTLE WEIGHT,

SHE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING UP AND WALKING AGAIN.

BECAUSE HER LEGS AND HER MUSCLES WEREN'T AS ATROPHIED

AS I WOULD EXPECT AFTER TWO YEARS IN BED,

SO I THINK THE REAL ISSUE WITH LASHANTA BEING BED-RIDDEN

IS THAT SHE JUST DECIDED ONE DAY

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET UP ANYMORE.

AND WHEN HER BOYFRIEND AND EVERYONE AROUND HER

WAITED ON HER HAND AND FOOT, SHE HAS HAD NO REASON TO.

SO, SHE NEEDS TO WORK ON GETTING UP AND WALKING

INSTEAD OF CHOOSING TO LIVE THE SEDENTARY LIFE.

BUT THERE IS NO REASON FOR US TO KEEP HER HERE,

SO WE CAN SEND HER HOME TODAY WITH A DIET-AND-EXERCISE PLAN,

BECAUSE HER PRIORITY IS TO GET HER LOSING WEIGHT AND UP

AND OUT OF THAT BED BEFORE HER HEALTH

STARTS DETERIORATING FURTHER.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HEY, DR. NOW.

HI, LASHANTA.

-HI. -HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I'M FEELING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, ALL YOUR TESTS ARE LOOKING GOOD,

SO IT'S GONNA BE SAFE FOR YOU TO GO BACK HOME.

OOH. I CAN GO.

YES.

AND, NO BLOOD CLOT. AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS.

EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD EXCEPT THAT YOUR WEIGHT

IS OVER 600 POUNDS.

SO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE IMMEDIATELY,

AS WELL AS GETTING YOU UP WALKING AGAIN.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A HIGH-PROTEIN,

LOW-CARB, 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

OKAY.

AND I WANT YOU TO START ON THAT IMMEDIATELY, OKAY?

OKAY.

ASIDE FROM THAT,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO START DOING SOME EXERCISES.

AN HOUR OF EXERCISE IN THE MORNING.

AN HOUR IN THE AFTERNOON.

TWO HOURS OF EXERCISE.

SO, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXERCISE PLAN FOR THAT, TOO.

THAT INCLUDES SOME LEG WORKOUTS.

BUT THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO BE IN THIS BED ANY LONGER.

ALL RIGHT.

AND IF YOU STICK TO ALL THAT,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE 50 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH EASILY.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

IF YOU DO THAT BY YOUR FOLLOW-UP,

THEN THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU IS TO MOVE DOWN HERE

TO HOUSTON SO WE CAN GET YOU PHYSICAL THERAPY

TO WORK WITH YOU. YEAH.

...AND GET YOU OUT OF BED AND WALKING AGAIN.

THAT'D BE EXCITING. [ SQUEALS ]

I AGREE.

AND IF WE GET TO THAT POINT

AND YOU'RE STILL LOSING WEIGHT,

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

OKAY. OKAY?

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS?

NO. I'M JUST SO EXCITED.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE A TEAM UP HERE SHORTLY TO GET YOU BACK DOWN

TO YOUR VEHICLE AND GET YOU BACK HOME.

AND THEN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS,

ANY PROBLEMS, CALL US.

OKAY.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BOTH HERE AGAIN SOON.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

NICE MEETING YOU.

NICE MEETING YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M GLAD TO SEE LASHANTA'S POSITIVE ATTITUDE

AND THE EXCITEMENT SHE HAS AT THE PROSPECT

OF GETTING HER LIFE BACK.

BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT SHE'S NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING

HOW HARD THIS IS GONNA BE FOR HER.

BUT I'M HOPING SHE WILL STILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN HER POSITIVITY,

AND LOSE THE WEIGHT SHE NEEDS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

AND WE COMING BACK!

OH, WE COMING BACK. WE DEFINITELY COMING BACK.

[ LAUGHING ]

Lashanta: I'M GLAD I CAN GO HOME, BECAUSE I WASN'T PLANNING

ON BEING AWAY FROM MY KIDS FOR TOO LONG.

-HI. -HI.

AND I'M REALLY GLAD THERE ARE NO BIG ISSUES

OR MEDICAL PROBLEMS WITH ME.

ONE. TWO. THREE.

DR. NOW DON'T PLAY.

YOU GOTTA DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO.

AND I KNOW THAT DIET AND IMPROVING MY EATING HABIT

IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS.

IF I IMPROVE THE EATING HABITS AND KEEP UP WITH THE EXERCISING,

THAT WEIGHT IS GONNA FALL OFF IN NO TIME.

AFTER THIS, NO MORE CHANCES.

SO THIS A -- THIS IS A MUST.

SO I HAVE TO DO THIS, OR I'M GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING,

INCLUDING MY LIFE.

Lashanta: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE MY APPOINTMENT

WITH DR. NOW, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON STUFF

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING ON, BUT IT'S A LOT TO DO.

I KEEP GOING OVER HIS DIET, AND NOTHING I REALLY LIKE

OR WANT IS ON THE LIST OF WHAT I CAN HAVE.

IT'S JUST LIKE, EVERY FOOD I LIKE IS GONE.

SO I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

HERE YOU GO. YEAH, TAKE ALL OF THAT.

I GOT TO DO MY EXERCISE.

THE EXERCISE HASN'T BEEN TOO BAD, THOUGH.

SOME OF THEM, I CAN DO EVERYTHING I NEED,

LIKE MY ARMS AND UPPER BODY.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF LOWER-BODY ONES

THAT DR. NOW GAVE ME TOO THAT I CAN'T DO

BECAUSE I'M IMMOBILE, LIKE TRYING TO STAND

AND PUT WEIGHT ON MY LEGS.

BUT I'M TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN,

BECAUSE I DO WANT TO MAKE PROGRESS.

YOU WANT THIS RIGHT HERE? THIS IS FOR YOU.

WITH MY DIET, I DID GIVE UP A LOT OF THINGS COLD TURKEY

LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED, BUT I HAVE TO MAKE A FEW TWEAKS

TO FIND THE BALANCE.

LIKE DR. NOW SAID, I CAN HAVE CHICKEN.

SO I'M EATING MY GRILLED CHICKEN,

BUT I STILL HAVE TO MAKE THE FRIED CHICKEN

LIKE I ALWAYS DO FOR MY FAMILY.

BECAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF ME.

AND I JUST SNEAK A LITTLE BIT OF IT

WHEN NO ONE IS LOOKING, AND MAYBE STASH A LITTLE FOR LATER.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT WORKING HARD.

I'M STILL DOING THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE MY VEGETABLES

ARE STEAMED WITH NO BUTTER, LIKE DR. NOW SAID.

SO, I'M DOING MY BEST TO WORK ON IT.

AND JEREMY, TOO, YOU KNOW?

HE'S NOT BRINGING ME ANY JUNK FOOD.

SO WE'RE BOTH TRYING TO FIND THE BALANCE WE NEED,

BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT BACK HE TALKED TO ME

ABOUT BEING WORRIED THAT I WOULD LOSE TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

AND I TOLD HIM, "I'M STILL GONNA BE SEXY

NO MATTER HOW MUCH I LOSE."

J.T.: I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ATTRACTED TO BIG WOMEN.

SO WHEN I SEE LASHANTA IS CONTINUING TO LOSE WEIGHT,

LIKE, I WORRY A LITTLE BIT.

Lashanta: I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT MY PROGRESS,

AND I FEEL LIKE THE WEIGHT IS ALREADY STARTING TO COME OFF.

AND WHEN I GO TO SEE DR. NOW IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I'LL HIT THE GOAL I'M SUPPOSED TO HIT WITH NO PROBLEM.

THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THINGS HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD

BECAUSE J.T. AND ME BROKE UP.

I KNOW HE'D BEEN WORRYING ABOUT ME LOSING TOO MUCH WEIGHT,

BUT I THOUGHT I STILL HAD HIS SUPPORT TO DO THIS.

AND HE JUST SAID IF I LOST THE WEIGHT,

HE WOULDN'T BE ATTRACTED TO ME NO MORE.

AND THEN HE LEFT ME.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

WITHOUT J.T., I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO HELP ME NO MORE.

AND THAT CHANGES ALL THE PLANS FOR HOUSTON, TOO.

SO I'M REALLY DEPRESSED ABOUT ALL THIS,

BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE EVERY TIME I TRY

TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND AND GET MY HEAD ABOVE WATER,

IT JUST FEELS LIKE SOMETHING'S THERE TO TRIP ME UP

AND DRAG ME BACK DOWN.

[ PHONE RINGING ]

MISSY: Hello?

HEY, HONEY. HOW YOU DOING?

I'm good. How about you?

YOU KNOW, ME AND J.T., WE BROKE UP.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA REALLY

DO THIS NOW, ABOUT TEXAS NOW.

Oh.

EVERY TIME I GET SOMETHING STARTED, SOMETHING ALWAYS FAILS.

SOMETHING'S ALWAYS BLOCKING IT.

Sometimes things happen for your greater good, so...

Maybe you need that to leave so you can concentrate

and be focused on what you need to be focused on.

IF I DON'T SHAPE UP AND GET MYSELF TOGETHER

AND GET THE HELP I NEED, IT'S GONNA BE OVER FOR ME.

LIFE'S GONNA PASS ME BY.

I'M GONNA BE IN THIS BED.

I AIN'T GONNA HAVE NO WAY OUT.

I AIN'T GONNA HAVE NOTHING TO DO.

I'M GONNA JUST BE...

IT'S JUST -- IT'S GONNA BE AWFUL.

Well, it starts with you,

and you're the only one that could stop you.

You're the only could stop Lashanta,

so just think positive.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

WELL, HONEY, I AIN'T GONNA HOLD YOU.

I'M GONNA LET YOU GO.

Call me if you need me.

ALL RIGHT, BABY. TAKE CARE.

Okay. All right. Goodbye.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK TO SEE DR. NOW TWO DAYS AGO,

BUT I WASN'T ABLE TO GO DOWN WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON.

THERE IS NO WAY I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN, AND RIGHT NOW,

I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN EVEN MANAGE HERE

WITH STUFF LIKE GOING TO THE BATHROOM AND TAKING A BATH.

BUT I CAN'T MESS THIS UP

NO MATTER WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY LIFE.

BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS,

AND THAT I'M NOT GONNA LAST LONG IF I DON'T GET THE HELP I NEED.

Lashanta: I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK AT DR. NOW'S

LAST MONTH FOR MY FOLLOW-UP,

BUT BECAUSE MY BOYFRIEND LEFT ME I DON'T HAVE ANYONE

TO GO WITH ME, SO I DON'T KNOW

HOW I'M GONNA MAKE IT BACK DOWN RIGHT NOW.

BUT DR. NOW TRIED TO CALL ME EARLIER TODAY AND I MISSED IT.

BUT HE LEFT ME A MESSAGE SAYING HE'S GONNA TRY ME BACK TODAY.

BUT I'M SCARED TO TALK TO HIM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM

TO THINK I'M NOT SERIOUS ABOUT DOING THIS.

AND I'M REALLY HOPING HE STILL LETS ME TRY AND COME BACK

FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WHEN I CAN.

THE PROBLEM IS, I JUST DON'T KNOW

WHEN I'LL BE ABLE TO RIGHT NOW.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

Yeah. This is Dr. Nowzaradan.

Is that Lashanta?

HI, DR. NOW. YEAH, THIS IS LASHANTA.

What's going on?

Because you were supposed to be back for your

follow-up a few days ago, and show me

that you're sticking to the diet.

So, why haven't you been back to see us?

WELL...THE REASON WHY I HAVEN'T BEEN COMING IS,

THAT I HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN MY LIFE.

'CAUSE I'M GOING THROUGH SOME FINANCIAL STUFF,

AND ME AND BAE, MY BOYFRIEND, ARE NOT TOGETHER NO MORE.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

But usually when someone gives me the excuses,

it means they haven't been doing the diet,

so is that what's going on with you?

I MUST -- I MUST CONFESS, DR. NOW, I'VE BEEN CHEATING.

What happened to all the positivity

about turning your life around

and telling me you're ready to do whatever it takes?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S JUST BEEN A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

So, what?

Does that mean that you should just give up

on your health and your life?

NO, I DON'T THINK THAT.

Okay, then.

It is time to start taking responsibility.

And prioritizing your health can save your life.

Is that something you think you can do?

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA DO BETTER. I PROMISE.

Okay, but you don't have any more time

to miss...

You're 5'2" and almost 700 pounds.

That is a lot of strain on your body,

and you're gonna get clear breaking points.

So, if you wanted to do this, you need to do this now.

If not, then we're done.

OH, DR. NOW, GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE.

I'm telling you, getting second chances

is up to you.

You have to do your part and stop making excuses.

You haven't done your diet and what you need,

and you miss your appointment.

And if you want me to believe that you really mean it

when you say you want to do this,

then you have to do better.

I KNOW THAT I CAN DO BETTER, SO I'MA COME.

I'MA COME DOWN FOR THE VISIT.

Okay, then, I'm gonna give you one more month.

But here's the deal.

If you're sticking to the diet that you should,

then you will be losing

more than 50 pounds a month, easily.

So, for every month I don't see you from now,

I'm adding around 50 pounds to your weight loss goal.

So, if you come down in a month,

I should see 100 pounds weight loss for you.

If it is two months from now, then 150 pounds.

And if you continue to do that, then you're gonna hit your goal,

then you need to work on moving here to Houston

so we can start your physical therapy

and get you mobile again,

because the longer you're negligent,

the lower the odds you will be able

to survive much longer.

So, there is no more time to waste with any of this.

You got it?

I DO. Okay, good.

Because if you don't do all this,

then there's nothing we can do to help you.

WELL, DR. NOW, I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING

YOU JUST TOLD ME TO DO.

STICK TO THE DIET,

AND I'MA GET ON TO MAKE MY ARRANGEMENTS

TO GET DOWN THERE TO YOUR OFFICE AND DO EVERYTHING I NEED.

I'MA MAKE YOU PROUD AND SHOW YOU, OKAY.

All right.

Do you need anything else from us?

NO, DR. NOW.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

All right, bye-bye.

BYE-BYE.

Lashanta: I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA MOVE TO HOUSTON,

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO EITHER DO IT AND FIGURE IT OUT

OR LOSE THE HELP I NEED,

AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FINDING A PLACE IN HOUSTON,

BUT I'M NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK FIGURING IT ALL OUT.

AND IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME I TRY TO MAKE ONE STEP,

I ALWAYS GOT TO MAKE TWO BACK.

HERE YOU ARE, BABY.

WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

[ MUMBLES ]

THAT THIRSTY, HUH?

YEAH, I'M THIRSTY, NERVOUS BAD.

I HOPE I GET THIS HOUSE.

THE LADY, SHE'S GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND

ABOUT THE HOUSE.

YEAH.

GIVE ME A PLATE. I'MA GIVE YOU SOME OF THIS.

Lashanta: YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT I HAD

THE SUPPORT OF MY BOYFRIEND,

BUT I DIDN'T.

BUT I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MY SONS, NOW.

I TALK TO MY BOYS, AND THEY SAID

THEY'LL MOVE DOWN WITH ME

AND HELP PACK ALL OUR STUFF.

THEY'VE BEEN REALLY STEPPING UP AND HELPING ME

AND TAKING CARE OF ME, SO I KNOW I CAN DO THIS.

BUT I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME, TOO.

I HAVE TO GET THERE ASAP.

AND THE LONGER I TAKE TO DO THAT,

THE BIGGER MY WEIGHT LOSS WILL GET.

AND I WORRY DR. NOW IS GONNA GIVE UP ON ME

WHEN I'M WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN,

SO I EITHER GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT

OR I LOSE ANY CHANCE FOR MY LIFE.

THEY'RE READY TO GO. THOSE ARE FULL.

YEAH, PUT THAT ON THE CHAIR.

Lashanta: I KNOW IT'S TAKEN ME A WHILE,

BUT I'M FINALLY MOVING TO HOUSTON.

IT WASN'T EASY, BUT I GOT A PLACE SET UP

FOR ME AND THE BOYS.

THEY'RE MOVING DOWN WITH ME TO DO THIS.

SO I CALLED DR. NOW

AND TOLD HIM I'M FINALLY COMING, LIKE I TOLD HIM I WAS.

AND HE TOLD ME HE WAS SENDING A MEDICAL TRANSPORT

TO COME GET ME SO IT'S SAFE.

SO, I APPRECIATE THAT,

AND I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS FINALLY COMING TOGETHER.

MS. WHITE, WE'RE HERE TO TAKE YOU TO HOUSTON.

ALL RIGHT.

WE WANT TO GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD

SO WE'RE NOT DELAYING THE DOCTOR AND EVERYBODY, OKAY?

Lashanta: OKAY.

WE GOT A GOOD, LITTLE DRIVE AHEAD OF US.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE...

TWO, THREE, COME ON.

[ GRUNTING ]

NOW LET ME SCOOT THIS WAY.

Lashanta: I'M PROUD OF MYSELF FOR STICKING IT OUT

AND NOT GIVING UP THIS WHOLE THING.

AND I FEEL NOW THAT THINGS ARE STARTING TO TURN AROUND,

AND I HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

WAITING FOR ME AT TEXAS.

Man: YOU EXCITED FOR YOUR MOVE?

SCARED, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

SAY BYE TO MAMA, HERE, AND WE'LL GET A LITTLE RIDE.

BABE, I'M ABOUT TO GO.

I GOT TO LOVE YOU AND LEAVE YOU.

YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT. I LOVE YOU.

I'M PRAYING UP -- YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

BYE!

BYE! GOOD LUCK!

Dr. Nowzaradan: LASHANTA WILL BE ARRIVING BACK HERE,

AT THE HOSPITAL SHORTLY,

BUT IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE HER LAST APPOINTMENT.

SHE'S BEEN GIVING EXCUSES

ABOUT WHY SHE CAN'T COME BACK DOWN FOR THAT WHOLE TIME

BUT FINALLY SAID SHE WAS READY.

SO WE SENT AN AMBULANCE TO TRANSPORT HER HERE

SO WE CAN SEE HOW SHE'S DOING

AND WHAT, IF ANY, WEIGHT SHE HAS LOST.

BUT THE GOAL I GAVE HER WAS TO LOSE 50 POUNDS A MONTH.

SO IF SHE'S BEEN STICKING TO THE DIET,

SHE WOULD HAVE LOST AROUND 300 POUNDS AT THIS POINT.

BUT REALISTICALLY,

IF SHE LOST AROUND 80 POUNDS OVER THAT TIME,

IT WOULD, AT LEAST, SHOW ME SOME EFFORT

AND THAT SHE'S AT LEAST TRYING.

SO ONCE SHE GETS HERE,

WE WILL GET HER TRANSFERRED INSIDE

AND SEE HOW SHE'S DOING.

HI, LASHANTA.

Lashanta: HI, DR. NOW.

HOW WE DOING?

MY KNEES JUST HURT. I'M JUST READY TO GO HOME.

YOUR LEGS ARE HURTING?

MY KNEES. OKAY.

WE'LL GET YOU IN THERE AND CHECK YOU OUT, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

MAN...

MY LEG'S KILLING ME [BLEEP].

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M CONCERNED ABOUT

HOW LASHANTA LOOKS RIGHT NOW.

BRINGING HER HERE BY MEDICAL TRANSPORT

HELPED MAKE SURE SHE DIDN'T DEVELOP ANY ISSUES ON THE ROAD

THAT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.

BUT HER OVERALL CONDITION HAS APPEARED

TO HAVE DETERIORATED,

AND SHE'S NOT TAKING CARE OF HERSELF.

YOU CAN SMELL SHE HASN'T BATHED,

AND IF HER BOYFRIEND HELPED HER WITH HER HYGIENE,

SINCE HE'S GONE,

SHE MAY JUST HAVE GIVEN UP ON THAT.

AND IF THAT'S THE CASE,

SHE LIKELY STOPPED TAKING CARE OF HERSELF COMPLETELY RIGHT NOW.

AND FROM THE LOOKS OF HER,

SHE'S EVEN BIGGER NOW THAN SHE WAS SIX MONTHS AGO.

SO MY BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS HOW MUCH HER HEALTH HAS DECLINED

SINCE SHE WAS LAST HERE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

ALL RIGHT.

ONE, TWO, THREE. [ GRUNTS ]

ONE, TWO.

THERE YOU GO.

[ Panting ] ALL RIGHT.

PUT THIS BEHIND ME -- THIS SLIPPY BAG.

THANK YOU.

NO PROBLEM.

[ Sighing ] OH, GOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LASHANTA, YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOUR CONDITION IS

VERY CONCERNING RIGHT NOW.

SO WE NEED TO RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU IMMEDIATELY

TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU

BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS, AND IT'S TOO LATE.

HOW YOU FEELING NOW?

MY KNEES HURT, BUT IT'S EASING UP A LITTLE BIT.

NOT MOVING MUCH AIR, HUH?

DO YOU FEEL SHORT OF BREATH?

NO.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT TO HOOK YOU UP TO A MONITOR,

SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, OKAY?

OKAY.

OVERALL, LASHANTA LOOKS TO BE IN VERY POOR HEALTH,

AND I'M WORRIED, WITH HOW LONG SHE'S GONE NOW

WITH ALL THIS WEIGHT ON HER,

THAT HER BODY IS STARTING

TO REACH A BREAKING POINT.

ALL BECAUSE LASHANTA HAS CHOSEN

TO CONTINUE HER SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

AND LET HERSELF GET TO THIS POINT

BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THE WORK SHE NEEDS

AND GIVE UP THE FOOD SHE WANTS.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

ALL RIGHT, LASHANTA. YEAH?

YOU STILL DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

WHAT IS YOUR ABILITY TO STAND UP?

I'VE BEEN TRYING, BUT IT'S BEEN KIND OF SLIM.

WELL, IF YOU STILL CAN'T GET UP AND YOUR BOYFRIEND IS GONE,

WHO'S BRINGING YOU FOOD?

THE MAN ACROSS THE STREET -- MY NEIGHBOR.

HE'S TRYING TO KILL YOU OR WHAT?

HE ALWAYS CALLING ME,

"LASHANTA, YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE STORE FOR YOU?"

LASHANTA, DON'T WASTE YOUR BREATH WITH SOME GAME

WHERE YOU PRETEND YOUR NEIGHBOR IS FORCING YOU TO EAT.

YOU FIND ANOTHER PERSON TO MANIPULATE

INTO ENABLING YOU,

SO YOU'RE THE ONE DOING IT.

SO, WHEN ARE YOU GONNA STOP?

I'MA STOP EATING THE FOOD, DR. NOW.

WHEN?

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS WE DIDN'T SEE YOU,

AND YOU HAVEN'T MADE ANY EFFORT TO LOSE ANY WEIGHT.

PLAYTIME OVER.

YOU SAID THAT LAST TIME,

AND YOU KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT YOU GAIN.

SO THIS IS ALL JUST A GAME TO YOU.

WHEN YOU TRY TO MANIPULATE EVERYONE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT,

AND YOU THINK THAT INCLUDES ME, AND IT DOESN'T.

YOU HAVE TO PROVE TO ME WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,

BUT YOU HAVEN'T, SO WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE

IT'S GONNA BE ANY DIFFERENT WITH YOU THIS TIME?

BECAUSE I DONE TRAVELED ALL THESE MILES

TO GET DOWN HERE TO CHANGE MY LIFE AROUND,

AND I CAN'T GO BACK TO WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

BUT YOU COULD HAVE CHANGED YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU WERE IN LOUISIANA.

IF YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T CONTINUE DOING THIS,

THEN WHAT STOPPED YOU FROM DOING IT LAST TIME?

WHAT WAS THE HOLDUP?

GOING THROUGH ALL THOSE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS,

TRYING TO FIND A HOUSE,

TRYING TO GET OUT HERE.

GETTING DISGUSTED.

THESE ARE JUST MORE EXCUSES

BECAUSE YOU'D RATHER BLAME EVERYTHING ELSE

FOR YOUR SITUATION

AND ACT LIKE YOU HAVE NO CONTROL.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO YOUR PART.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

AND THIS ISN'T THE SAME PATHOLOGICAL SITUATION.

AND IF YOU DON'T START TO DO WHAT YOU NEED NOW,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER,

NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IF NOTHING'S GONNA CHANGE.

I'MA DO IT THIS TIME. I PROMISE.

WELL, YOU TOLD ME THAT SEVERAL TIMES.

I KNOW. I'M SERIOUS, DR. NOW. I'M SERIOUS.

STOP TELLING ME AND START SHOWING ME.

THAT'S IT.

AND JUST BECAUSE YOU COME DOWN HERE

DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, OKAY.

BUT SO FAR, YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING ON YOUR PART,

AND YOU EXPECT US TO MAKE YOU LOSE WEIGHT.

WATCH, I'M A DO MY PART THIS TIME.

YOU GONNA SEE.

OKAY, I REALLY HOPE SO, FOR YOUR SAKE.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IF LASHANTA DOESN'T START TO WAKE UP,

SHE'S GONNA GET TO A POINT HERE SOON

WHERE IT WON'T MATTER WHAT WE DO.

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO STOP HER BODY FROM GIVING OUT,

SO SHE NEEDS TO GET HER WEIGHT DOWN

AND GET OUT OF THE BED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE PRIORITY FOR US RIGHT NOW IS TO DETERMINE

WHAT LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES SHE'S FACING

AND WORK TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THEY GET WORSE,

AND IT'S TOO LATE FOR HER.

Lashanta: THIS PAST MONTH HASN'T GONE HOW I EXPECTED IT.

I GOT STUCK HERE AT THE HOSPITAL 'CAUSE OF MY MEDICAL ISSUES.

AND I WAS FORCED ON A DIET HERE,

SO THAT WAS A SHOCK.

BUT I'M GLAD I'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT HERE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ME UP OUT OF THE BED

AND WALKING WITH THEIR PHYSICAL THERAPY.

BUT I KEEP TELLING THEM IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

BUT DR. NOW SAYS

I'M FINALLY ABLE TO GO HOME, AND I'M EXCITED.

I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN OUR NEW PLACE,

BUT MY BOYS SAID THEY GOT EVERYTHING IN,

LIKE THEY NEEDED,

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THEM FOR TAKING CARE OF THEYSELF.

BUT I KNOW IT'S NO TIME TO PLAY, THOUGH,

BECAUSE DR. NOW GAVE ME A NEW WEIGHT LOSS GOAL

AND SAYS I HAVE TO KEEP DOING MY PHYSICAL THERAPY AT HOME.

SO I GOT TO DO THIS BECAUSE NOW IS MY CHANCE

TO FINALLY GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE DISCHARGING LASHANTA

FROM THE HOSPITAL AND SENDING HER HOME.

FOR THE PAST MONTH, WE'VE HAD TO KEEP HER HERE

TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF MEDICAL ISSUES SHE DEVELOPED

THAT WERE VERY DANGEROUS FOR HER.

SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH HER KIDNEYS,

AND HER WHOLE PULMONARY SYSTEM WAS VERY WEAK.

SO, MY CONCERN WAS, IF WE SEND HER HOME,

SHE WOULD NOT HAVE LIVED FOR MUCH LONGER,

SO ADMITTED HER TO TREAT THOSE ISSUES

AND ALSO, PUT HER ON A CONTROLLED DIET

TO WORK ON GETTING HER WEIGHT DOWN

BECAUSE SHE WAS UP TO 689.

SO, IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, INSTEAD OF LOSING ANY WEIGHT,

SHE GAINED 27 POUNDS.

BUT WHILE SHE WAS HERE,

WE GOT HER WEIGHT DOWN TO 579 POUNDS

AS OF TODAY.

SO THAT'S A WEIGHT LOSS OF 110 POUNDS

IN ONE MONTH FOR HER.

SO THAT SHOULD SHOW HER WHAT IT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

WHEN SHE'S ON A DIET.

WE ALSO HAVE HAD P.T. WORKING WITH HER

TO TRY AND GET HER STANDING AGAIN.

BUT SHE'S BEEN VERY RESISTANT TO THAT.

SO, I'M SENDING HER HOME WITH TWO GOALS.

THE FIRST THING IS -- I'M GIVING HER TWO MONTHS

TO LOSE 100 POUNDS ON HER OWN.

THE SECOND IS -- I WANT HER TO GET UP

AND OUT OF HER BED

AND PUT HER WEIGHT ON HER LEGS FOR A FEW SECONDS

WITHOUT ANY ASSISTANCE.

IF SHE MEETS THOSE TWO GOALS BY HER NEXT APPOINTMENT,

THEN I'LL APPROVE HER FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T, THEN I'M DONE

WITH ALL OF HER EXCUSES AND PROMISES,

BECAUSE SHE JUST KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING.

BUT TO TRY AND HELP WITH THAT PROBLEM,

WE'RE GONNA START HER GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY

TO TRY AND SEE IF LOLA CAN BREAK THROUGH TO HER.

BUT IF LASHANTA DOESN'T DO IT THIS TIME,

WE'RE DONE PLAYING GAMES WITH HER

AND PUTTING UP WITH HER LIES.

SO SHE CAN DO THIS NOW OR LOSE THIS CHANCE.

THE CHOICE IS COMPLETELY UP TO HER.

Lashanta: I'VE BEEN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL

FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW.

AND I WAS REALLY PROUD TO SEE THE PLACE.

MY BOYS HAD IT READY FOR ME AND HAD IT SET UP REAL NICE.

SO I HAVE JUST BEEN SETTLING IN, MOSTLY.

BEING IN THE HOSPITAL WAS VERY RESTRICTIVE,

BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST THERE,

AND I DO WANT TO KEEP IT UP.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS DR. NOW SAID I COULD KEEP DOING THAT IS

STARTING MEETING WITH A THERAPIST

TO TALK ABOUT MY EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING TODAY.

DR. NOW HAS A THERAPIST WHO'S COMING HERE

FOR ME TO TALK TO.

AND I DO PROBABLY NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.

AND WHAT I'M HOPING TO GET OUT OF THERAPY

IS SOME HEALING --

SOME HEALING FOR MYSELF.

HELLO! HI, I'M LOLA.

GERAMY. NICE TO MEET YOU.

Lashanta: SO, I'M HOPING THIS HELPS ME TODAY

SO I CAN CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS LIKE I WANT.

Lashanta: HOW YOU DOING, LOLA?

HI!

NICE TO MEET YOU, MS. LASHANTA.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

OKAY.

SO, LASHANTA, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT

ABOUT YOUR LIFE GROWING UP.

MY LIFE GROWING UP --

I GOT MY HIGHS, AND I GOT MY LOWS,

AND WHEN MY MOM AND MY DAD HAD SPLIT UP,

THAT'S WHEN I WENT TO EATING MORE.

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOUR PARENTS SPLIT UP?

I WAS LIKE 9.

SO, MS. LASHANTA, YOU DISCOVERED EARLY ON IN LIFE

THAT FOOD WAS AN IMMEDIATE FIX

TO PROBLEMS OR NEGATIVE FEELINGS.

YEAH.

NOW, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME

YOU WERE ABLE TO GET UP AND MOVE ABOUT?

OH, THREE YEARS AGO -- LIKE 3 1/2 YEARS GO.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO

ABOUT BEING UP AND ABOUT AGAIN?

I JUST WANT TO ANSWER THE DOOR, COOK A MEAL FOR THE CHILDREN,

AND GO TO THE BEAUTY PARLOR.

SO, SOME SIMPLE THINGS.

THAT'S IT.

MS. LASHANTA, WHAT ARE THE NAMES

AND AGES OF YOUR CHILDREN?

TYRONE IS 25 NOW.

MY DAUGHTER IS 22.

HER NAME IS GALLERY.

GERAMY'S 18.

AND DESHAUN IS 12.

DESHAUN AND GERAMY ARE HERE WITH YOU?

YEAH.

OKAY.

AND WHERE DO TYRONE AND GALLERY LIVE?

GALLERY'S STAYING IN NEW ORLEANS,

AND TYRONE IS INCARCERATED.

HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN INCARCERATED?

ABOUT A YEAR AND SOMETHING NOW.

TYRONE IS YOUR FIRSTBORN, RIGHT?

YEAH, CORRECT.

SO, YOU TWO SORT OF GREW UP TOGETHER,

TO A LARGE DEGREE.

RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S SEEN A LOT.

KIND OF A SHAME TO SAY,

BUT I HAVE SOLD DRUGS TO TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY.

OKAY.

AND I FEEL LIKE IF...

I DIDN'T EXPOSE HIM

TO WHAT I HAD GOING ON,

MAYBE HE WOULDN'T BE IN THE SITUATION HE IN.

AND THAT'LL BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION

FOR YOU TO HAVE WITH TYRONE.

OKAY.

BECAUSE I REALLY WANT YOU TO LET GO

OF ANY FEELINGS OF SHAME AND GUILT AND REGRET.

SHAME JUST WEIGHS US DOWN

AND LEADS US TO MAKE POOR DECISIONS

BECAUSE IT LOWERS OUR SELF-WORTH.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

YOU ARE A RESILIENT AND STRONG AND CARING WOMAN,

AND YOU'RE STARTING OVER.

YOU'RE REDEFINING WHAT LIFE LOOKS LIKE

FOR YOU

AND FOR YOUR FAMILY.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO FEEL TRAPPED ANYMORE,

SO YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SETTING YOURSELF FREE.

I AM, HUH, MS. LOLA.

YOU ARE.

WELL, MS. LASHANTA, I REALLY FEEL

LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO DO INCREDIBLY.

[ CHUCKLING ]

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU SOON.

BYE-BYE.

Lashanta: I THINK I DO FEEL BETTER NOW

THAT I GOT ALL THAT STUFF OUT,

ESPECIALLY ABOUT MY OLDEST SON

BECAUSE I HAD THAT GUILT FOR A LONG TIME.

LOLA DID HAVE A LOT OF GOOD INSIGHT FOR ME,

BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO REALLY THINK.

ABOUT EVERYTHING LOLA SAID I HAVE TO DO,

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE SHE CAN SEE

HOW MUCH I ALREADY BEEN HELPED TODAY.

SO I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD, AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF.

I'M GETTING CLOSE THAN EVER TO BEING WHAT I NEED,

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT HELPED ME

WITH ALL THE PROGRESS I'M MAKING.

IT'S BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT...

Lashanta: GIVE ME THAT BOARD DOWN THERE.

Lashanta: ...BECAUSE I THINK

TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING, LIKE I DID,

ENDED UP HAVING THE OPPOSITE EFFECT ON ME.

I BROUGHT ALL THAT EMOTION TO THE SURFACE,

SO NOW I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING EVEN MORE.

MY CRAVINGS HAVE COME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE,

AND THEY'VE BEEN SO POWERFUL.

SO, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH THAT

BECAUSE I JUST HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING

TO HELP ME DEAL RIGHT NOW,

JUST TO HELP ME GET PAST EVERYTHING I'M FEELING.

I AM HUNGRY, AND I WANT SOMETHING TO EAT.

LIKE WHAT?

I GOT A TASTE FOR SOME PIZZA.

DESHAUN, I CAN'T TAKE THIS.

I JUST NEED ABOUT TWO, THREE SLICES,

AND I CAN WORK IT OFF.

YOU HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I NEED SOME GREASE.

[ CELLPHONE CLICKING ]

WOMAN: Thank you for calling.

CAN I HAVE ME A PEPPERONI PIZZA?

I WANT HALF PEPPERONI AND HALF SAUSAGE.

Okay.

We'll be there in about 30 minutes.

THANK YOU.

[ DOOR BEEPS ]

[ WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY ]

COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Lashanta: I HAVE ONE MORE MONTH BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN,

AND I'M STILL DETERMINED TO HIT MY GOAL.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STAND YET WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY

LIKE DR. NOW WANTS,

BUT I KNOW I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP LOSING

AND GET TO MY GOAL SO THAT I CAN GET WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

I JUST HAVE MY MOMENTS, SO I STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M TRYING THE BEST I CAN

BECAUSE I KNOW IF I MESS THIS UP,

DR. NOW SAID HE'S GONNA KICK ME OUT THE PROGRAM.

SO I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

Lashanta: I'M HEADED BACK TO SEE DR. NOW,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA GO.

I KNOW I TRIED HARD AND PUSHED MYSELF

TO GET TO WHERE I NEED, ESPECIALLY THIS PAST MONTH.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THERAPY BACKFIRED ON ME

AND MADE IT EVEN TOUGHER ON ME.

AND I KNOW I DID MAKE PROGRESS DESPITE THAT.

BUT MY FEAR IS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH PROGRESS I MADE,

IT'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH,

AND DR. NOW'S GONNA TELL ME I'M DONE WITH HIS PROGRAM.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT GOES TODAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE BRING LASHANTA BACK

TO THE HOSPITAL FOR HER NEXT CHECKUP

TO SEE IF SHE HIT HER WEIGHT LOSS GOAL.

SHE HASN'T MADE MUCH PROGRESS WITH P.T.,

BUT BECAUSE SHE'S STILL REFUSING TO STAND AND WORK WITH THEM

TO USE HER LEGS LIKE SHE SHOULD,

SO WE STILL HAVE TO TRANSPORT HER,

WHICH ISN'T A GOOD SIGN ABOUT HER OVERALL PROGRESS.

WE WERE TELLING HER LAST TIME

THAT THIS IS HER LAST CHANCE.

SO, HOPEFULLY THAT COMBINED WITH STARTING HER PSYCHOTHERAPY

HAS HELPED WAKE HER UP.

BUT IF SHE HASN'T, THEN THIS WILL BE IT FOR HER

BECAUSE SHE GOT EVERY TOOL AND OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

HI, LASHANTA. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO.

NOW THAT WE GOT YOU IN A BED WITH A SCALE,

LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT.

OKAY.

YOU WERE 579 POUNDS

WHEN YOU LEFT THE HOSPITAL TWO MONTHS AGO,

AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE 100 POUNDS.

SO, YOU SHOULD BE 479 POUNDS TODAY.

BUT TODAY, YOU'RE AT 576.

YOU LOST A WHOLE 3 POUNDS.

SO, IT'S CLEAR YOU WENT HOME AND YOU DIDN'T DO YOUR DIET

AND KEEP SAYING, "I'M GONNA DO IT"

AND "GIVE ME THE CHANCE."

WE'VE GIVEN YOU EVERY CHANCE POSSIBLE NOW.

AND YOU'RE GONNA KILL YOURSELF FOR THE FOOD,

AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO STOP YOU FROM THAT.

YOU KEEP PROMISING AND PROMISING

AND BEGGING FOR ANOTHER CHANCE.

THIS IS ALL JUST A GAME TO YOU,

AND YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

YOU'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO THIS FOR NINE MONTHS,

BUT INSTEAD, YOU KEEP LYING TO YOURSELF

AND KEEP LYING TO ME.

SO AT THIS POINT, ALL THE EVIDENCE IS TELLING ME

THAT YOU'RE NEVER GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I AM GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT, DR. NOW.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I AIN'T COME DOWN HERE FOR NOTHING.

YES, YOU DID.

YOU CAME DOWN HERE FOR NOTHING.

BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING HERE

THAT YOU DID BACK HOME.

NOTHING IS DIFFERENT WITH YOU EXCEPT YOUR LOCATION.

SO YOU MADE YOUR CHOICE,

AND YOUR CHOICE IS TO KILL YOURSELF WITH FOOD.

GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE.

NO, NO. WE GAVE YOU ALL THE CHANCE YOU NEED.

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.

YOU CAN GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE, DR. NOW.

WELL, I --

YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF THE CHANCE, NOT ME.

I AM GONNA GIVE MYSELF A CHANCE,

BUT I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME ONE MONTH.

NO. NO, LASHANTA, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE YOU THE CHANCES.

YOU'RE GONNA KILL YOURSELF WITH THE FOOD.

ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'M GONNA GET A CALL

THAT THEY FIND YOU DEAD OR YOU HAD A CHEST PAIN,

A HEART ATTACK, YOUR BODY GAVE OUT,

AND THIS IS IT.

YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, THEY COME WITH THE SAME STORY?

I END UP WRITING THEIR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

THAT'S IT.

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ANY DIFFERENT

BECAUSE YOU KEEP SAYING NINE MONTHS --

WHEN YOU GOT HERE, YOU WERE IN HOSPITAL,

WE GAVE YOU ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED.

WE EVEN GAVE YOU PSYCHOTHERAPY.

BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS

IF YOU WON'T MAKE THE CHOICE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED,

SO THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO.

THERE'S NOTHING.

AND YOU CAN BEG ME FOR MANY MORE CHANCES.

IT'S NOT GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING.

WE CAN'T EVEN CONSIDER YOU FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY RIGHT NOW

AS A LAST-DITCH OPTION

'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA... WITH THE OPERATION,

NOT GONNA SURVIVE THAT SURGERY IN THE CONDITION YOU'RE IN.

SO THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO FOR YOU.

GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH TO LOSE THE 50 POUNDS!

YOU'RE NOT GONNA LOSE THE 50 POUNDS.

YES, I AM! I'MA SHOW YOU. I'MA SHOW YOU.

GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH.

DON'T SHUT THE DOOR ON ME RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT SHUTTING IT. YOU ARE.

I'MA LOSE THE WEIGHT. GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

I DON'T BELIEVE A WORD YOU SAY BECAUSE YOU KEEP LYING,

AND YOU KEEP LYING TO YOURSELF,

AND THERE'S NOTHING MORE I CAN DO FOR YOU.

I CAN'T GO HOME LIKE THIS. I CAN'T GO HOME.

I CAN'T GO HOME LIKE THIS... LIKE IT'S OVER.

NO! UNH-UNH!

I CAN'T DO THIS.

YOU GOT TO GIVE ME ONE MONTH.

YOU GOT TO GIVE ME ONE MONTH TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I CAN'T GO HOME

AND TELL MY CHILDREN THAT IT'S OVER.

I CAN'T GO HOME

AND TELL MY MAMA THAT IT'S OVER.

I CAN'T. I CAN'T!

YOU GOT TO GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH!

I'M ASKING YOU. GIVE ME ONE MORE MONTH!

YOU'VE HAD NINE ALREADY.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

I DON'T WANT TO BE KICKED OUT THE PROGRAM.

YOU NEVER STARTED THE PROGRAM.

TO DO THE PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE DIET.

YOU HAVEN'T DONE THAT, SO WHAT PROGRAM

HAVE YOU BEEN PARTICIPATING IN?

BECAUSE IT'S NOT THIS ONE.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE, DR. NOW!

ONE MORE CHANCE WILL JUST LEAD YOU TO COME BACK

AND TELL ME YOU NEED ONE MORE CHANCE.

NO, I AIN'T TAKE IT NO MORE.

AFTER THIS, I AIN'T GONNA TAKE IT NO MORE.

YOU AIN'T GONNA HEAR NOTHING FROM ME.

NO MORE SAYING, "ONE MORE."

OKAY, YOU HAVE ALL THE TIME YOU WANT.

YOU WANT ONE MONTH, YOU HAVE IT.

YOU WANT TWO MONTHS, YOU HAVE IT.

BE MY GUEST.

AND I'LL MAKE YOU THE SAME DEAL AS ALL THE OTHER PATIENTS

WHO MADE THE CHOICE YOU HAVE,

BUT IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK, THEN LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE APPOINTMENTS WITH YOU.

BUT AFTER THAT, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN

BECAUSE YOU HAD YOUR DIET INSTRUCTION

AND YOU HAD ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED.

SO DON'T CALL ME UNLESS YOU LOSE THE WEIGHT.

AND IF IT IS 50 POUNDS,

THEN I'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU.

BUT IF YOU CALL ME

AND YOU TELL ME YOU LOST THE WEIGHT

AND WE GET HERE AND YOU HAVEN'T,

THEN YOU'RE GOING RIGHT BACK HOME

UNLESS YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

BUT OTHERWISE, WE'RE DONE, OKAY.

OKAY. OKAY.

LOSE YOUR WEIGHT. I AM.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU. I BELIEVE THE SCALE.

BUT WE'RE GONNA DO SOME TESTS TO MAKE SURE

THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU

THAT IS LIFE THREATENING TO YOU.

AND IF ALL THOSE TESTS ARE NEGATIVE,

WE'RE GONNA SEND YOU HOME.

AND THEN DON'T CALL ME AGAIN UNLESS YOU HIT YOUR GOAL.

BUT SO FAR...

NO, I'M NOT GOING HOME. I'M STAYING HERE.

THAT CHOICE ISN'T UP TO YOU.

CHANGING YOUR EATING HABIT IS, BUT NOT THAT ONE.

SO, YOU TAKE CARE, LASHANTA, AND GOOD LUCK.

WATCH, I'MA SHOW YOU. I'MA SHOW YOU.

I'MA SHOW YOU WHEN I COME BACK HERE.

I'M SERIOUS. I'M SERIOUS. I'MA SHOW YOU.

AND WHEN I LOSE IT, I'MA TELL YOU --

YOU CAN SAY ALL YOU WANT.

I'MA SAY, "DR. NOW, YOU REMEMBER YOU SAID

I WASN'T GONNA LOSE THAT WEIGHT?

I LOST THAT WEIGHT."

WATCH.

ALL RIGHT. I'MA SHOW YOU.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO.

TAKE CARE.

I'M OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

IN LASHANTA AND HER CHOICES

OVER THE LAST NINE MONTHS.

SHE'S CONTINUED HER SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

WHILE WE HAVE GIVEN HER EVERY TOOL THAT WE CAN

TO HELP HER CHANGE HER LIFE AND GET HEALTHY

BEFORE HER WEIGHT KILLS HER.

BECAUSE SHE'D RATHER BLAME HER SITUATION

ON EVERYTHING ELSE.

SO, UNLESS SHE STARTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR THE CHOICES SHE'S MAKING

AND LOSES THE WEIGHT SHE NEEDS,

THERE'S NO REASON FOR US TO CONTINUE ON WITH HER.

BUT HOPEFULLY, SHE WAKES UP SOON

BECAUSE SHE'S STILL RUNNING OUT OF TIME FAST.

Lashanta: WHEN DR. NOW SAID THOSE WORDS,

I WANTED TO PASS OUT RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

I WAS JUST TRYING TO HOLD A GOOD FACE

'CAUSE I WANTED TO BREAK RIGHT THEN AND THERE,

BUT I JUST...

TRIED TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.

BUT THAT WAS DEVASTATING TO HEAR.

THE THOUGHT OF ME GOING HOME AND TELLING MY FAMILY

THAT I CAME OUT HERE FOR NOTHING...

IS WORSER THAN DR. NOW TELLING ME I'M KILLING MYSELF.

BECAUSE I CAN'T GO HOME

AND DID ALL THIS TO COME OUT HERE --

CHANGED, TOOK MY CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEY FAMILY.

I CAN'T BEAR TO DO THAT.

I GOT TO HANDLE MY BUSINESS.

AND I KNOW IF I WANT TO LIVE, IF I WANT THIS CHANCE,

I GOT TO DO WHAT I GOT TO DO.

SO I AM BECAUSE I'M NOT PREPARED TO GO HOME A FAILURE.

I'M NOT GONNA BE NO FAILURE.

I'MA GO HOME,

AND I'MA TAKE CARE OF MY BUSINESS

AND LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND I'MA COME BACK HERE,

AND I'MA GET ON THE SCALE,

AND I'MA LOSE THE 50 POUNDS.

AND I'MA TELL DR. NOW, "I DONE IT."

AND I'MA TELL HIM, "I HEARD YOU, DR. NOW.

I REALLY HEARD YOU."

Lashanta: AFTER MY LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS

AND WAYS I HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES

BECAUSE I KNOW IF I DON'T, I'M LOSING THIS CHANCE.

SO I'M TAKING EVERYTHING MORE SERIOUSLY

THAN I EVER HAVE.

IT'S A LOT HARDER TO FACE THINGS THAN I EVEN THOUGHT.

THE THING THAT WEIGHED ON ME THE MOST IN THE RECENT YEARS

IS THE GUILT THAT I FELT OVER MY OLDEST SON

AND HOW I RAISED HIM.

SO, I FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM IN AND OUT OF JAIL

'CAUSE OF THINGS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST

AND THINGS HE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO.

BUT THAT GUILT HAS BEEN ON MY HEART FOR YEARS.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A CALL TODAY,

AND I'M JUST WAITING FOR THAT.

AND WHEN HE DOES,

I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO SHARE WHAT I NEED.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

AUTOMATED VOICE: An inmate at [bleep].

You may start the conversation now.

HEY, SON.

TYRONE: Hey, mama.

I miss you so much.

I MISS YOU, TOO.

What going on with you?

You been on your diet and stuff?

YEAH, I'VE BEEN ON MY DIET, SON.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET FOR REAL THIS TIME.

BUT, SON, I GOT SOMETHING I WANT TO TELL YOU.

NO, YOU AIN'T DID NOTHING WRONG.

I DID SOMETHING WRONG.

I JUST FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU IN AND OUT OF JAIL

AND THE TROUBLE YOU'VE BEEN IN.

'CAUSE MAYBE IF I WOULD'VE BROUGHT YOU UP BETTER,

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I WANT YOU TO FORGIVE ME.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.

I really do, ma.

I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON.

WHEN YOU GET OUT OF JAIL, NO --

You have one minute left.

WHEN YOU GET OUT OF JAIL, NO BAD-DOING,

NONE OF THAT CARRYING ON, YOU HEARD ME?

I promise.

Give me a kiss.

MWAH!

Mwah!

[ CHUCKLES ]

HAVE A GREAT DAY, SON.

Goodbye.

[ SIGHS ]

THAT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

I'VE DONE IN MY LIFE -- OWNING THAT.

AND IT MEANT A LOT TO HEAR HIM SAY HE FORGIVES ME.

AND IT FEELS LIKE A WEIGHT ON MY HEART HAS BEEN LIFTED.

SO NO MATTER IF THIS HELPS ME WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS OR NOT,

I'M GLAD I DID IT,

AND I FACED MY FEAR JUST FOR THAT.

BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T TAKE TOO MUCH LONGER.

'CAUSE DR. NOW WILL MOVE ON, SO I KNOW THIS IS IT.

I DO IT OR I LOSE EVERYTHING.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

I'M SO VERY NERVOUS.

I CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM I DID IT.

I KNOW I LOST THE WEIGHT THIS TIME.

AND IF HE'D JUST GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE,

I COULD PROVE IT TO HIM,

BUT I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I'VE LOST.

AND DR. NOW IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY UPSET WITH ME

IF I DIDN'T DO IT.

LASHANTA CALLED ME,

AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE THINKS SHE'S MAKING PROGRESS NOW

AND THAT SHE BELIEVES SHE HIT HER WEIGHT LOSS GOAL.

SO WE BROUGHT HER BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

TO CHECK HER WEIGHT,

AND WE'LL DO IT JUST LIKE WE TOLD HER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE SCALE SAYS,

AND IF SHE'S FINALLY MAKING THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS,

THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING WITH HER.

IF NOT, AS LONG AS SHE DOESN'T HAVE

ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES,

WE'LL SEND HER BACK HOME IMMEDIATELY

BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PLAYING ANY MORE GAMES WITH HER.

HI, LASHANTA.

HI, DR. NOW.

HOW WE DOING?

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU TOLD US

YOU'VE BEEN STICKING TO YOUR DIET,

AND YOU THINK NOW YOU LOST AT LEAST 50 POUNDS.

YES.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CHECK YOUR WEIGHT,

AND IF YOU DID, WE'LL TALK.

IF NOT, WE'LL SEND YOU HOME

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE OF YOUR PROMISES.

ALL RIGHT, LAST TIME, YOU WERE AT 576,

AND I TOLD YOU YOU HAVE TO LOSE 50 POUNDS,

SO YOU SHOULD BE AT 526 TODAY.

AND YOU ARE AT 529,

AND THAT'S A LOSS OF 47 POUNDS.

SO, YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT, NOT QUITE 50,

BUT WE'LL ROUND UP FOR YOU, OKAY.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU FINALLY FIGURED OUT

WHAT TO DO TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT AND STICK WITH YOUR DIET.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT,

SO THIS IS POSITIVE, SO YOU DID WELL.

I'M GLAD TO SEE

YOU'RE NOT PLAYING THE SAME GAMES ANYMORE.

I KNOW I WAS PLAYING GAMES.

BUT YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS RIGHT NOW,

SO WE'LL FOCUS ON THAT.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY?

DEFINITELY OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BUT HERE'S THE CATCH.

BEFORE WE CAN MOVE AHEAD WITH THAT,

YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GET OUT OF BED

AND START TO TAKE SOME STEPS.

SO, WE'RE GONNA ADMIT YOU TO KEEP YOU IN THE HOSPITAL

AND WORK WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY.

ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET UP AND WALK,

THEN WE'LL DO A WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

ALL RIGHT, LASHANTA.

I'LL BE BACK TO CHECK ON YOU SOON.

I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS, OKAY?

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. TAKE CARE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M PROUD OF LASHANTA,

AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT SHE FINALLY FOUND

SOME MOTIVATION TO START DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS

BEFORE HER HEALTH AND BODY GET TO THEIR BREAKING POINT.

WE STILL HAVE A VERY LONG ROAD AHEAD WITH HER,

BUT THINGS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO TURN

IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION FOR LASHANTA.

SO, I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL BE ABLE

TO KEEP HER GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND GET HER TO START WALKING AGAIN

AND DOWN TO WHERE SHE NEEDS SOON.

Lashanta: I'M SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL MY BOYS THE FANTASTIC NEWS.

I KNOW THEY'LL BE JUST AS EXCITED AS I AM

BECAUSE I DID IT.

I WORKED HARD,

AND I GOT BACK ON DR. NOW'S PROGRAM.

I KNOW IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

AND STOP MY GAMES AND MESSING AROUND.

BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT I'M DOING IT NOW,

AND I'M ON THE RIGHT PATH.

AND I'M GONNA BE GETTING MY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY SOON,

AND I CAN'T WAIT.

MY GOAL IS TO BE STARTING WALKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

AND GET THE SURGERY AND LOSE THE WEIGHT

BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

SO I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF MYSELF,

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THE POSITIVE AND GOOD STUFF

I HAVE COMING TO ME.