Original subtitles

J.T.: EVEN WITH ALL I'M AFRAID OF, BECAUSE OF HOW BIG I'M GETTING,

I STILL CAN'T STOP DOING WHAT'S CAUSING IT.

OH!

Woman #1: SOMEWHERE IN ME IS THIS LITTLE GLIMMER OF HOPE.

I JUST WANT TO BE A NORMAL PERSON.

YOU CAN'T DO IT, AND THEN I JUST GET MAD.

Woman #2: IF I DON'T MAKE A CHANGE NOW,

I'M SCARED IT'S GOING TO BE TOO LATE.

IT HURTS!

Woman #3: I REFUSE TO STOP FIGHTING.

I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR MY CHILDREN.

OKLAHOMA OR TIMBUKTU,

YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF WITH THE FOOD.

WHICH PART OF THAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

J.T.: EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

I WAKE UP AND EAT,

AND THEN I TRY TO KEEP EATING FOR AS LONG AS I CAN

BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I LIVE FOR NOW,

AND IT'S ALL I WANT TO DO,

AND I CAN'T START MY DAY UNTIL I'VE HAD SOMETHING,

SO WHEN MY GIRLFRIEND, JESSICA, WAKES UP,

SHE USUALLY GETS UP BEFORE ME AND HEADS OUT,

BUT SHE NEVER LEAVES ME WITHOUT LEAVING

SOMETHING I LIKE BY THE BED.

NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO CAN COMPETE

WITH HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BE EATING

BECAUSE FOOD COMFORTS ME BETTER THAN PEOPLE CAN,

AND IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT BRINGS YOU BACK

TO AT PEACE OR A CENTER.

SO WHY WOULD I EVER WANT THAT TO END

EVEN WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT'S TOO MUCH FOR MY BODY TO HOLD?

WHEN I'M DONE EATING, SOMETIMES I FEEL MISERABLE

JUST BECAUSE I'M SO FULL THAT I CAN'T MOVE,

BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW FULL I FEEL.

FEW MINUTES PASS, I'M HUNGRY AGAIN,

AND I'M READY FOR MY NEXT MEAL,

BUT SOME DAYS I ALSO HAVE TO GET UP AND TRY TO CLEAN MYSELF.

I TRY TO SHOWER AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK,

BUT GETTING OUT OF BED IS SOMETHING I DREAD,

AND IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT

WHERE IT'S ALMOST TOO HARD TO DO IT.

BECAUSE I SINK IN SO DEEP,

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO GET OUT OF COTTON CANDY OR PUDDING.

BUT AS HARD AS IT IS, GETTING UP OUT OF BED IS THE EASY PART

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO

I HAVE ALL THE WEIGHT OF MY BODY PULLING DOWN ON ME,

I ALSO HAVE SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA ON MY LEFT LEG.

I CAN'T WALK PROPERLY

BECAUSE MY LYMPHEDEMA PUSHES AGAINST BOTH OF MY LEGS.

IT HURTS CONSTANTLY.

AND THEN I CAN ONLY STAND FOR MAYBE 15 MINUTES AT A TIME.

MY SIZE AND MY LYMPHEDEMA

MAKE IT HARD TO FIT IN MOST PLACES ANYMORE.

I CAN BARELY GET IN THE BATHROOM AND SIT ON THE TOILET,

AND IF I GET ANY BIGGER, I WON'T BE ABLE TO,

AND I'M SCARED OF WHAT I'M GOING TO DO

WHEN IT GETS TO THAT POINT.

I CAN'T TAKE A SHOWER IN A NORMAL TUB.

I HAVE TO HAVE A STAND-IN SHOWER

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE JUST IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME

TO LIFT MY LEFT LEG OVER THE RIM OF THE TUB.

BUT BECAUSE I HAVE TO STAND,

I CAN'T STAY IN THE SHOWER FOR TOO LONG.

IT JUST HURTS TOO MUCH.

AND TO MAKE IT EVEN WORSE, I CAN'T BE IN WATER FOR TOO LONG

BECAUSE IT'S BAD FOR MY LYMPHEDEMA.

THE HOT WATER MAKES THE SWELLING WORSE,

AND THEN IT STARTS TO BURN.

IT'S IN THERE, SCRUB THE MOST STINKY PARTS AND THEN OUT.

I CAN WASH EVERYTHING ON MY BODY FROM ABOUT MY WAIST UP.

WHEN IT GETS TO MY LEG AND DOWN BELOW MY LEG,

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I DO AS MUCH AS I CAN,

AND THEN I GET OUT BEFORE IT GETS TOO BAD,

BUT I'M VERY LIMITED AT THIS POINT.

I'M BEYOND SCARED TO GET TO A POINT

WHERE I CAN'T TAKE A SHOWER MYSELF, AND I CAN'T --

IT TERRIFIES ME TO GET TO THAT FAR.

BUT I KNOW I'M REALLY CLOSE TO THAT POINT NOW

BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH A STRUGGLE IT IS TO DO ANYTHING,

AND BY THE TIME I'M DONE WITH MY SHOWER,

I'M ALREADY WIPED, AND I HAVE TO SIT AND CATCH MY BREATH

BEFORE I TRY TO PUT MY CLOTHES BACK ON,

BUT AT MY SIZE, I DON'T HAVE MANY OUTFIT OPTIONS.

I HAVE ONE PAIR OF PANTS THAT FIT ME STILL

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG MY LEG IS

AND JUST A COUPLE OF SHIRTS THAT FIT,

BUT THEY'RE GETTING REALLY WORN DOWN AT THIS POINT,

AND IF I GET ANY BIGGER,

THEY'LL EITHER GET TO BE TOO SMALL

OR JUST COMPLETELY FALL APART.

THEN I THINK MY ONLY OPTION TO COVER MYSELF WOULD BE A BLANKET

WHICH WILL BE A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EMBARRASSMENT

FOR ME THAT I'M SCARED OF.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL I'M AFRAID OF HAPPENING SOON

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG I'M GETTING,

I STILL CAN'T STOP DOING WHAT'S CAUSING IT.

AND ONCE I'M DRESSED, IF JESSICA ISN'T BACK YET

TO MAKE ME SOMETHING, THEN I'LL TRY TO DO IT MYSELF

BECAUSE THE PAIN IN MY BODY FROM BEING UP

IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE PAIN OF NOT EATING WHAT I WANT.

AND THE UPSIDE OF WHEN I GET MY OWN FOOD

IS THAT I CAN MAKE AS MUCH AS I WANT,

AND I ALWAYS WANT A LOT.

MY PORTION SIZES ARE VERY LARGE.

I GET LARGE SERVING SIZES OF THINGS,

AND I'LL JUST MAKE THE WHOLE THING,

YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE CAN OF BISCUITS

AND ALL THE SAUSAGE PATTIES.

I'LL EAT IT ALL, AND I WON'T STOP

UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE, SO YOU KNOW JESSICA HAS TO GO SHOP

JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY TO KEEP FOOD IN THE HOUSE

BECAUSE MY APPETITE KEEPS GROWING,

AND I CONSTANTLY NEED A SUPPLY OF FOOD

SO I CAN KEEP EATING AND KEEP THAT FEELING I NEED GOING,

AND NOTHING IN MY LIFE CAN COMPETE

WITH HOW FOOD MAKES ME FEEL, NOT ANYTHING.

EATING IS BETTER THAN SEX FOR ME,

AND EVERY TIME I TAKE A BITE, IT'S LIKE I'M TRANSPORTED

TO THIS OTHER WORLD WHERE THERE'S NO PAIN.

THERE'S NO SADNESS. THERE'S NO JUDGEMENT.

THERE'S ONLY PEACE AND JOY, AND ALL THAT COMES WITH FOOD.

SO I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT IT

BECAUSE IT IS MY LIFE.

IT'S WHAT I'M LIVING FOR AND WHY I GET UP.

IF I'M AWAKE, I'M EITHER EATING OR WAITING TO EAT,

AND IF I'M ASLEEP, I'M DREAMING OF EATING,

SO IT'S ALL I THINK ABOUT AND WANT.

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE AWAKE A LOT OF TIMES IF I CAN'T EAT,

SO IF I'VE EATEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE

AND JESSICA IS NOT BACK YET WITH MORE FOOD,

I JUST GO TO SLEEP

AND WAIT FOR HER TO GET BACK WITH WHAT I NEED.

HEY.

YEAH. I'LL BE OUT THERE IN JUST A SECOND.

JESSICA: All right. Thanks.

BYE.

I HATE WHEN JESSICA ASKS ME TO CARRY THE GROCERIES IN

BECAUSE JESSICA KNOWS I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR FOOD.

JUST BEING AROUND IT, I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT IT,

ESPECIALLY THE CANDY.

I WORRY ABOUT J.T. A LOT,

ABOUT HIS CONDITION AND WEIGHT AND EVERYTHING

AND HOW MUCH HE EATS BECAUSE SINCE I'VE MET J.T.,

HE HAS GAINED WEIGHT.

I THINK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING, HE COULD DO MORE.

NOW I WOULD SAY PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING J.T. DOES,

I SEE HIM STRUGGLE WITH.

I WISH THERE WAS MORE I COULD DO TO HELP HIM,

BUT IF I EXPRESS THOSE WORRIES TO J.T., HE GETS VERY UPSET,

ESPECIALLY WHEN I TRY TO INFLUENCE J.T.'S EATING HABITS

IN ANY WAY, SO I END UP BRINGING HOME

THE FAST FOOD AND GETTING WHAT HE WANTS FROM THE STORE

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT J.T. TO BE MAD AT ME,

SO I JUST DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.

J.T.: ANYTHING WITH SUGAR IS MY BIG WEAKNESS,

ESPECIALLY ANYTHING WITH PEANUT BUTTER IN IT,

WHETHER IT BE MIXED WITH CHOCOLATE,

A COOKIE, CAKE, ICE CREAM.

IT MY GUILTY PLEASURE.

SO EATING PEANUT-BUTTER CUPS

AND ANYTHING PEANUT-BUTTER CANDIES, I LOVE IT.

I FEEL HAPPY WHEN I EAT PEANUT BUTTER.

IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN I WAS A KID HAVING GOOD TIMES,

SO I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THEM.

I JUST WANT TO FEEL THE WAY THEY MAKE ME FEEL FOREVER

BECAUSE SOME OF MY HAPPIEST TIMES OF MY LIFE

ARE WHEN I WAS YOUNG BEFORE THINGS STARTED TO GET HARD.

I HAD A PRETTY BIG FAMILY GROWING UP.

I HAVE TWO SISTERS AND ONE BROTHER,

AND I'M THE OLDEST OF MY SIBLINGS,

AND WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE-KNIT.

WE DID EVERYTHING PRETTY MUCH TOGETHER.

WE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS LIKE ANY OTHER FAMILY,

BUT THINGS WERE GOOD.

WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MONEY,

BUT MY DAD WORKED FOR A HOT-DOG RESTAURANT,

AND WE COULD EAT THERE FOR FREE, SO WE'D HAVE DINNER THERE A LOT,

AND I THINK THOSE ARE MY FAVORITE MEMORIES.

AND I NEVER WANTED THAT TIME TO END

BECAUSE WE WERE ALL TOGETHER EATING AND HAPPY,

BUT FOR A LOT OF REASONS,

THAT ALL STARTED TO CHANGE AS I GOT OLDER,

THE BIGGEST ONE BEING THAT I DIDN'T REALIZE

THAT MY PARENTS STARTED DOING DRUGS,

AND AS I GOT OLDER, THEIR HABIT GOT WORSE.

THEY GOT INTO HARDER STUFF.

INSTEAD OF BUYING THINGS LIKE CLOTHES AND FOOD,

MY PARENTS WOULD USE THE MONEY TO BUY DRUGS AND ALCOHOL

AND COCAINE, ECSTASY, SHROOMS.

METH WAS A BIG PROBLEM.

SO WE STARTED TO STRUGGLE EVEN MORE FINANCIALLY,

AND MY WHOLE FAMILY SITUATION CHANGED.

THINGS JUST GOT A LOT HARDER AND LONELIER

BECAUSE ME AND MY SIBLINGS WERE KIND OF ON OUR OWN

AND HAD TO START TO FEND FOR OURSELVES.

I WAS AROUND 10 AT THE TIME, AND AS THE OLDEST

I FELT A LOT OF PRESSURE TO HELP AND FIGURE THINGS OUT,

BUT THERE WASN'T MUCH I CAN REALLY DO AT THAT AGE.

THE ONLY THING I COULD REALLY STILL DO WAS EAT

TO FORGET ABOUT MY LIFE,

AND I STARTED TO PUT ON WEIGHT FAST.

OVER THE NEXT 3 YEARS FROM THEN, MY WEIGHT TRIPLED.

I HIT 300 POUNDS WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD,

AND GETTING THAT BIG THEN OF COURSE MADE THINGS EVEN HARDER

BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIT IN MY DESK, THEN.

SITTING IN CHAIRS LIKE THE OTHER STUDENTS,

I JUST COULDN'T FIT IN THEM.

THEY WERE TOO SMALL, SO I'D BE IN A CHAIR IN A DESK

IN FRONT OF THE CLASS LIKE I WAS ALMOST OUT ON DISPLAY.

SO I REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS.

I JUST HAD FOOD AND MY FAMILY,

SO I KEPT EATING AS MUCH AS I COULD WHENEVER I COULD

AND PUT ON ANOTHER 150 POUNDS OR SO,

SO I WAS UP AROUND 450 THEN.

BUT AT THAT AGE, MY FAMILY STARTED TO BECOME

A LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME BECAUSE, AS THE OLDEST,

I KIND OF HAD TO START BECOMING THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY

AND TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE

SINCE OUR PARENTS WEREN'T TAKING CARE OF US,

AND I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET A JOB,

SO I BECAME THE MAN OF THE HOUSE.

I GOT A JOB AT A FAST-FOOD PLACE

SO I COULD EARN A PAYCHECK AND KEEP EATING ALL DAY.

I'D GO TO SCHOOL FROM 7:00 UNTIL 3:00,

HAVE TO GO TO WORK FROM ABOUT 3:00 P.M. TO ABOUT 3:00 A.M.

AND THEN HAVE TO BE BACK UP AT 7 A.M. FOR SCHOOL.

AND I MADE WHAT WE NEEDED, BUT THE STRESS OF IT

ALL WAS HARD TO DO SCHOOL AND WORK LIKE THAT,

AND I STARTED TO GET REALLY DEPRESSED,

AND THAT JUST MADE ME WANT TO EAT MORE,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 18 AND GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,

I'D CROSSED WELL OVER INTO THE 500s.

AND THEN WHEN I WAS 19,

I STARTED WORKING IN A PIZZA PLACE,

AND I LOVE PIZZA, BUT THE DEAL WAS THE SAME THERE

WHERE I COULD EAT FOR FREE.

AND BY THE END OF THE DAY, I'D EATEN FOUR OR FIVE PIZZAS

ON MY OWN AND A BUNCH OF BREADSTICKS OR CINNAMON STICKS.

I JUST LOVED IT.

FOOD STARTED BECOMING THIS ALL-CONSUMING PASSION OF MINE.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE EATING, BUT I WAS ALSO THAT PERSON

THAT GOT A SENSE OF JOY OUT OF IT

BECAUSE FEEDING OTHER PEOPLE

BECAME ALMOST LIKE A EUPHORIC THING FOR ME,

AND THAT CAUSED ME TO EAT MORE,

SO MY WEIGHT GAIN JUST KEPT GOING.

MY WEIGHT CLIMBED OVER 600 POUNDS

WHEN I WAS ABOUT 22 YEARS OLD.

RIGHT BEFORE I CROSSED THAT POINT

IS WHEN I STARTED DEVELOPING THE LYMPHEDEMA ON MY LEG.

THIS MASS WAS FORMING ON MY LEG,

SO ME AND MY MOM WENT TO THE DOCTOR,

AND THEY TOLD ME WHAT IT WAS,

AND IT WOULD ONLY GET WORSE IF I DIDN'T LOSE WEIGHT.

THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT IF I DIDN'T CHANGE

THAT I WOULD BE DEAD AT 31,

AND THEY SHOULD PRETTY MUCH SAY THEIR GOODBYES TO ME

IF I DIDN'T CHANGE.

SO ALL THAT GOT ME EVEN MORE DEPRESSED,

BUT WHEN I FELT THAT WAY,

IT MADE ME WANT TO EAT EVEN MORE,

SO IT WAS THIS VICIOUS CYCLE WHERE I JUST KEPT EATING

AND WANTING TO EAT MORE AND MORE,

SO I KEPT GETTING BIGGER,

AND IT KEPT GETTING HARDER TO DO THINGS...

...TO WHERE WHEN I TURNED 25,

I HAD TO COMPLETELY STOP WORKING

BECAUSE I COULDN'T PHYSICALLY DO IT ANYMORE.

I WENT ON DISABILITY.

I'M GUESSING I WAS AROUND 700 POUNDS THEN.

SINCE I COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF MY FAMILY ANYMORE,

THE ONE THING I DIDN'T WANT TO DO

IS BECOME MORE OF A FINANCIAL BURDEN TO THEM,

SO I STARTED LIVING ON MY OWN,

DOING NOTHING REALLY BUT EATING ALL DAY ALONE,

BUT THE LONELINESS DIDN'T HELP MY DEPRESSION.

I GOT A DOG NAMED BELLA TO TRY TO HELP,

BUT NOTHING DOES FOR ME WHAT FOOD DOES,

SO MY EATING HAS NEVER SLOWED DOWN

TO WHERE NOW I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WEIGH.

ALL I KNOW IS IT'S GOTTEN TO BE TOO HARD TO DO MOST EVERYTHING.

IF IT WASN'T FOR JESSICA IN MY LIFE,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO OR HOW I'D SURVIVE.

WE MET ORIGINALLY ON A DATING APP,

AND WHEN I CAME TO J.T.'S HOUSE TO MEET HIM FOR THE FIRST TIME,

I JUST FELT COMFORTABLE, SO I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE

J.T.'S WEIGHT OR HIS SIZE

BECAUSE HIS PERSONALITY COVERS IT UP PRETTY WELL.

I ALWAYS DREAMED OF AND WANTED A FAMILY OF MY OWN.

WHEN JESSICA CAME INTO MY LIFE, IT GAVE ME HOPE,

BUT THE PROBLEM IS I'M STILL 32 AND WEIGH SO MUCH

I CAN HARDLY MOVE,

BUT FOOD IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE.

HOW DO I GIVE UP WHAT MAKES ME FEEL HAPPY AND SAFE

AND LIKE I DID WHEN I WAS A KID?

FOOD IS MY EVERYTHING,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT IT,

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S THE SAME THING THAT'S KILLING ME NOW

AND IT'S TAKING MY FUTURE AND LIFE FROM ME.

Jessica: I LOVE J.T., SO MY DREAM IS TO HAVE A FAMILY WITH HIM,

BUT I'M WORRIED THAT IF HE DOESN'T LOSE WEIGHT,

I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT.

J.T.: THE DOCTORS GAVE ME UNTIL I WAS 30, AND I'M 32 NOW,

SO MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT, SO I DON'T HAVE A LOT LONGER

BECAUSE, AT ANY MOMENT, MY HEART CAN JUST GIVE OUT,

AND THAT DOES SCARE ME,

BUT LOSING FOOD SCARES ME MORE, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD, THOUGH.

-THANKS. -I APPRECIATE IT.

I WANT TO LIVE, BUT I DON'T SEE HOW I CAN WITHOUT FOOD,

SO I KNOW I NEED HELP.

HEY, BABE. IS THERE ANY ICE CREAM IN THERE?

I THINK SO.

HERE YOU GO.

IT'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE DOUGH.

-THANKS. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

J.T.: EVERY NIGHT WHEN I GO TO BED,

I WONDER IF TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT I'M NOT GOING TO WAKE UP

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL SOMETHING BAD COMING.

MY BODY HAS NEVER FELT THIS WAY.

I'VE NEVER HURT AS BAD AS I DO,

AND NOW I STRUGGLE TO BREATHE A LOT,

SO I'M JUST GETTING EVEN WORSE

BECAUSE MY BODY CAN'T TAKE ALL MY WEIGHT ANYMORE.

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

-ARE YOU DONE? -YEAH.

CAN YOU THROW THIS AWAY FOR ME?

YEAH, I WILL.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO WHATEVER TIME I HAVE LEFT, IT'S NOT A LOT.

-BELLA, MOVE OVER. -MOVE OVER, BELLA.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANOTHER YEAR IN ME.

KISS?

SO I EITHER HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION

TO HELP ME FINALLY CHANGE,

OR I KNOW THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO BE ALIVE

FOR MUCH LONGER.

ME AND JESS ARE PREPARING TO TAKE A TRIP TO HOUSTON

TO SEE DR. NOW, BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG

IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO GET THERE.

IT WOULD NORMALLY BE AN 8-HOUR DRIVE,

BUT I KNOW I CAN'T BE IN THE CAR FOR THAT LONG,

AND I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER GONE THIS FAR FROM MY HOME.

IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIT IN A CAR,

SO JESS WENT TO GET A MINIVAN RENTAL,

AND SHE'S GOING TO LAY THE SEATS DOWN IN THE BACK,

AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SEE IF THAT WORKS,

AND I CAN FIT BACK THERE, SO I'M HOPING THIS WORKS.

-HEY. -HEY.

-YOU READY? -YEAH, I'M READY.

I GOT EVERYTHING PACKED.

AWESOME.

Jessica: I HAVE THE VAN OUT FRONT.

YEAH. HOW YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS TRIP?

GOOD, REALLY GOOD.

IT'LL BE FINE.

IT'S GOING TO BE LONG.

IT IS. IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT.

OKAY. LET'S GO.

Jessica: I WORRY WITH J.T. TRAVELING THIS FAR,

BUT THE TRIP IS IMPORTANT FOR HIM BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO SEE

DR. NOW TO LOSE WEIGHT.

IF DR. NOW SAYS, "NO,"

I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING TO WAKE UP NEXT TO HIM ONE DAY,

AND HE'S NOT GOING TO BE AWAKE.

SO I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY J.T.'S LAST CHANCE.

J.T.: I'M SUPER GRATEFUL THAT JESS IS COMING WITH ME ON THE TRIP.

THERE'D OBVIOUSLY BE NO WAY I CAN DO THIS

WITHOUT HER GETTING THE CAR AND DRIVING ME THERE.

I JUST HOPE IT GOES WELL, BUT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE

THAT I CAN EVEN FIT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE.

OKAY.

I'M GLAD I CAN FIT, BUT IT'S STILL TIGHT,

AND I'M REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE.

HERE, LET ME SPREAD IT OUT.

WANT TO HOLD THE PILLOWS?

YEAH.

OKAY. I THINK I'M READY.

EVEN THOUGH I CAN FIT,

I'M WORRIED IF I HIT MY BREAKING POINT,

IT'LL BE SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD, AND THAT'S POSSIBLY SCARY

BECAUSE IT'S A LIFE-AND-DEATH SITUATION FOR ME.

SO THIS IS A BIG RISK,

AND I HAVE A LOT OF FEAR RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD ABOUT TWO HOURS,

BUT I CAN'T GO MUCH FURTHER.

MY WHOLE BODY IS HURTING TOO MUCH,

AND MY LEGS HAVE GONE NUMB NOW, SO I NEED TO STOP.

HEY, BABE. WE NEED TO STOP.

THINK WE CAN GET SOME FAST FOOD...

-YEAH. -...SOMETHING TO EAT?

OKAY.

I'M HOPING THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO GO LONGER TOMORROW

ONCE I GET SOME REST,

BUT SO FAR, WE'VE ONLY GONE TWO HOURS IN AN EIGHT-HOUR DRIVE.

CAN I GET TWO OF THE BEEF AND CHEDDARS?

SO THAT'S NEARLY AS FAR AS I WAS HOPING,

AND I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF FOR THAT.

THANKS.

-HERE YOU GO. -THANKS.

THANKS.

I ONLY HAVE 2 DAYS UNTIL MY APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

SO WHATEVER IT TAKES, I HAVE TO GO LONGER FOR TOMORROW,

BUT THIS WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I EXPECTED,

AND I'M JUST AT MY LIMIT,

AND I'M HOPING THAT IF I GET SOME SOLID REST AND EAT

THAT I'LL BE READY AGAIN TOMORROW.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT SOMEHOW

TO BLOCK THIS HOLE RIGHT HERE.

OR I CAN USE THIS BLANKET.

CRAP, I HOPE I MAKE IT OVER THAT.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS

THIS IS MORE ACTIVITY THAN I'VE HAD

IN MORE THAN SIX OR SEVEN YEARS,

SO IT'S TAKING EVERYTHING I GOT JUST TO PUSH MYSELF TO DO THIS,

AND I JUST WANT TO GET UPSTAIRS TO REST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

-YOU NEED HELP? -YEAH, GIVE ME A SECOND.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE ROOM IS?

-IT'S ON THE FOURTH FLOOR. -CRAP.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE ELEVATOR IS?

YEAH.

DON'T GET ALL THAT NOW. I NEED TO GET TO THE ROOM.

JUST GIVE ME SOMETHING I CAN CARRY

SO WE CAN GO, LIKE THE PURSE.

CAN YOU HURRY, PLEASE?

CAN YOU CARRY THAT?

HEY, HOLD THAT BETTER. DON'T DROP THAT, PLEASE.

I'M NOT GOING TO DROP IT.

OKAY. COME ON.

LET'S JUST GO.

I HAVE TO LAY DOWN NOW BEFORE I PASS OUT.

LEG.

JESSICA, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD ON.

HEY, JESS. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SECOND.

YOU OKAY?

NO, NOT REALLY.

I'M SORRY.

-WHERE'S THE ELEVATOR? -RIGHT THERE.

406?

YEAH, IT'S RIGHT HERE.

WILL YOU HOLD THIS?

THANK GOD.

I JUST REALLY HOPE THE BEDS ARE GOOD AND THAT THEY CAN HOLD ME

BECAUSE LEGS ARE ABOUT TO GIVE OUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS STABLE FOR ME TO SIT ON.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE ON THE FLOOR.

WELL, TRY TO SIT ON IT.

WHAT IS THAT ON?

OH.

LIKE, SIT DOWN SLOWLY.

THERE'S NO SLOWLY.

IT'S HIGH AS

OKAY.

OKAY.

LET ME PUT THIS UP.

-WHAT? -I WAS PUTTING THIS UP.

THESE.

THANKS.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THAT WAS A BIG RISK, BUT I HAD NO CHOICE.

I COULDN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

MY BODY WAS GOING TO GIVE OUT.

THIS FOOD IS HELPING ME CALM DOWN,

BUT I'M REALLY GLAD THE BED IS HOLDING ME FOR NOW.

WITH A LITTLE LESS THAN TWO DAYS TO GET TO HOUSTON

AND ABOUT 6 OR 7 HOURS OF DRIVING LEFT TO GET THERE,

I AT LEAST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GO AN HOUR LONGER TOMORROW

IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY CHANCE OF MAKING IT ON TIME

BECAUSE IF DR. NOW DOESN'T ACCEPT ME INTO THE PROGRAM,

ALL THIS PAIN, ALL THE STRESS,

ALL THE ANXIETY WILL JUST BE ALL FOR NOTHING.

WITH ME BEING PRETTY MUCH A TICKING TIME BOMB,

TIME ISN'T ON MY SIDE RIGHT NOW,

SO I NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING READY PHYSICALLY

AND MENTALLY TO DO WHAT I NEED TOMORROW

BECAUSE MY WHOLE LIFE DEPENDS ON ME BEING ABLE TO DO WHAT I NEED.

I FEEL LIKE JUST WATCHING SOME TV AND PASSING OUT

SO WE CAN GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND GET ON THE ROAD.

YOU READY FOR THAT?

YEAH, I'M READY.

NO MATTER HOW HARD TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE

OR HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO HURT,

I HAVE TO PUSH MYSELF TO MAKE IT AS FAR AS I NEED,

OR I'LL BE RISKING LOSING EVERYTHING,

AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

J.T.: IT'S DAY THREE OF MY TRIP DOWN TO HOUSTON TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT,

AND WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ALMOST 3 1/2 HOURS TODAY.

WE MADE IT TO HOUSTON, AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO DR. NOW'S.

I JUST HOPE IT GOES WELL AND THAT IT'S NOT TOO SHOCKING

WHEN MY WEIGHT COMES UP.

A LOT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN, SO I'M JUST SCARED,

AND I HOPE THIS WILL ALL BE WORTH IT

BECAUSE DR. NOW SAYS THAT HE CAN HELP ME.

J.T.?

I KNOW I'M OVER 600 POUNDS AND PROBABLY OVER 700, TOO.

I JUST HOPE MY WEIGHT IS NOT A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT.

892.

-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

I'M, LIKE, 8 POUNDS AWAY FROM BEING 900.

IT FEELS LIKE A MISTAKE BECAUSE I NEVER EVEN IMAGINED

THAT I COULD GET THIS BIG,

SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW

I CAN'T GO ON FOR MUCH LONGER AT THIS WEIGHT,

SO I HAVE TO GET THE HELP THAT I NEED NOW

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE TOO LATE SOON.

-HELLO. -HELLO.

HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

WE'RE DOING GOOD, AND YOU?

I'M DOING GOOD, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AND YOU'RE...?

J.T.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN, NICE TO MEET YOU.

-NICE TO MEET YOU. -JESSICA.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

SO WHERE Y'ALL COMING FROM?

-CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA. -OKLAHOMA.

ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S NOT TOO BAD A DRIVE,

BUT YOU'RE ALMOST 900 POUNDS WITH YOUR SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA,

SO I'M SURPRISED THAT YOU'RE STILL EVEN MOBILE AT THIS POINT,

AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR HOW LONG?

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHEDEMA IN 2008.

SO YOU HAVE HAD HAD THAT FOR OVER A DECADE.

MM-HMM.

GRADUALLY IT'S GETTING WORSE, RIGHT?

-YES. -OKAY.

WELL, MY BIG CONCERN IS,

YOU'RE TRAVELING WITH THAT, AND AT YOUR SIZE,

THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION TO CRACK,

BUT IF WE LOSE SOME WEIGHT, WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.

OKAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, LET ME SEE HOW BAD THE SWELLING IS IN YOUR LEG.

OH, THERE, RIGHT NOW, I HURT PRETTY BAD,

OH, IN MY LEFT LEG.

TURN AROUND, LET ME SEE WHAT THE SIDE OF YOUR LEG...

MY ANKLE.

YEAH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU

TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT SO WE CAN HAVE SOME POTENTIAL

OF MAYBE TAKING THAT OFF IN THE FUTURE, HUH?

YEAH.

YOUR BMI IS 121, WHICH IS IN DANGEROUS SITUATION,

SO WITH ALL THIS, I'M GLAD YOU'RE STILL MOBILE.

HOW IS YOUR ACTIVITY?

NONEXISTENT.

OKAY, SO WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?

I SIT DOWN, PRETTY MUCH PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND WATCH TV.

DO YOU HAVE A GOAL IN YOUR LIFE?

I DO HAVE A GOAL IN MY LIFE.

-WHAT IS IT? -I WANT TO SEE THE WORLD.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO JAPAN AND LIVE THERE.

IT'D BE NICE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WELL, THAT'S A NICE GOAL, BUT IF YOU'RE ALMOST IMMOBILE,

THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO SUPPORT YOURSELF OVER THERE?

I HAVEN'T REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT, SO I'M NOT SURE YET.

MY GOAL RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

AND BE RID OF IT.

ALL RIGHT. FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS START YOU

ON A 1,200-CALORIE, HIGH-PROTEIN AND NO-CARB DIET.

-YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT? -I CAN TRY.

SO WHO ELSE IS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD BESIDE YOU?

JUST JESS.

AND YOU TWO ARE DATING, CORRECT?

MM-HMM.

OKAY, SINCE HE'S NOT THAT MOBILE,

YOU'RE BRINGING HIM ALL THE FOOD HE WANTS?

YES.

AND YOU HAVE WEIGHT PROBLEM, AND HE HAS A WEIGHT PROBLEM.

-YEAH. -SO THAT'S A BAD COMBINATION.

-YEAH, IT IS. -YES.

SO THIS IS GOING TO TAKE BOTH OF YOU

TO MAKE THE CHANGES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

-YEAH. -OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

BUT, JULIUS, IF YOU STICK TO THE DIET,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EASILY LOSE 150 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

AND IF YOU DO THAT, THEN WE'LL CONSIDER YOU

FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

BUT AT YOUR SIZE AND WITH YOUR ISSUES WITH YOUR LYMPHEDEMA,

I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOU TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH.

SO YOU NEED TO MOVE DOWN TO HOUSTON IMMEDIATELY

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS.

-YOU GOT IT? -OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. HAVE A SAFE TRIP BACK.

DON'T PUSH YOURSELF TOO HARD,

AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, GIVE ME A CALL.

IF NOT, I'LL SEE YOU BOTH IN TWO MONTHS

WITH SOME GOOD PROGRESS, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

AND, J.T., NICE TO MEET YOU,

AND YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF HELP,

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU DOWN TO 220.

-I APPRECIATE IT. -ALL RIGHT?

-SOUNDS GREAT. -WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

YES, YOU, TOO.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AT ALMOST 900 POUNDS

AND WITH SUCH A DEBILITATING LYMPHEDEMA IN HIS LEFT LEG,

I'M SURPRISED JULIUS ISN'T BEDRIDDEN AT THAT POINT,

BUT HIS MOBILITY MAY BE THE ONLY THING THAT HAS KEPT HIS BODY

FROM REACHING A BREAKING POINT ALREADY.

REGARDLESS, WITH HIS WEIGHT AND BMI AS HIGH AS IT IS,

THERE IS NO WAY HE CAN CONTINUE PUSHING HIS SYSTEM

LIKE HE HAS FOR MUCH LONGER,

SO HIS TIME IS GOING TO RUN OUT REALLY SOON

IF HE DOESN'T START TAKING THE STEPS HE NEEDS

TO CHANGE HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

J.T.: I'M STILL TAKING IN A LOT OF WHAT DR. NOW SAID.

-CAN YOU OPEN THE DOOR, MOVE? -YEAH.

I'M JUST GLAD HE'S LETTING ME TRY TO DO HIS PROGRAM,

AND THAT HE'S GIVING ME A CHANCE,

SO I THINK I JUST NEED TO REST AND RECOVER ENOUGH

TO HEAD BACK HOME, AND THEN ONCE WE'RE THERE,

HAVE A LITTLE TIME TO RECOVER FROM THAT TRIP.

I CAN START TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I NEED,

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I'LL JUST FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

BECAUSE I'M BEING GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE,

AND SO I STILL HAVE HOPE THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.

I JUST KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WORK AT IT,

AND IT WON'T BE EASY.

ME AND JESSICA GOT BACK HOME FROM HOUSTON LATE YESTERDAY,

BUT ABOUT AN HOUR OUT, I STARTED TO FEEL SICK,

AND NOW I FEEL HORRIBLE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA THROW UP JUST EVERY TWO SECONDS.

-DO YOU NEED THE BAG? -YEAH, I MIGHT.

OKAY.

I WAS SCARED BEING IN THE CAR FOR AS LONG AS I WAS

HAD PUSHED MY BODY TOO HARD

AND THAT SOMETHING REALLY BAD IS HAPPENING,

SO JESSICA CALLED DR. NOW,

AND HE TOLD HER I NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL NOW

BECAUSE HE'S WORRIED IT COULD BE FROM AN INFECTION

WITH MY LYMPHEDEMA, AND HE SAID IF IT IS,

IT COULD BE REALLY BAD, SO HE WANTS US TO GO NOW.

SO JESS WENT TO GO MAKE ANOTHER MINIVAN RENTAL,

AND SHE'S GOING TO TAKE ME IN THAT,

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE

BEING IN THE CAR WHEN I FEEL THIS BAD.

I'M JUST REALLY SCARED,

AND I'M HOPING SOMETHING ISN'T REALLY WRONG

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.

YOU GOING TO BE OKAY GETTING IN THE VAN?

YEAH, I THINK SO.

OKAY.

I HOPE I CAN DO THIS.

OH, THANKS.

GOT IT? GOT IT?

I FEEL REALLY BAD. AND I'M REALLY SCARED.

MY LYMPHEDEMA HURTS A LOT,

AND IT'S REALLY SWOLLEN.

BUT I'M REALLY HOPING IT'S NOT INFECTED,

OR THAT MY BODY IS BREAKING DOWN.

MAN.

I'M FINALLY TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO FIX THINGS,

SO I CAN'T BE OUT OF TIME

BECAUSE I'M READY TO CHANGE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO GO IN THE PARKING GARAGE?

YEAH, IT'S WHERE YOU PARK AT HERE.

PLEASE DON'T GET SMART

CAN YOU GET OUT?

YEAH.

IT'S HARD TO GET OUT OF THE VAN, BUD.

I'LL SHUT IT.

I'M PRAYING THAT WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH ME

ISN'T SOMETHING REALLY BAD AND THAT IT'S TOO LATE,

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING, AND I'M SCARED IT IS.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY FIRST APP WITH DR. NOW.

I HAD A BIT OF A SCARE WHEN I GOT BACK

BECAUSE I GOT REALLY SICK,

AND I WAS WORRIED THAT I PUSHED MY BODY

TO A BREAKING POINT WITH ALL THE TRAVELING.

BUT I MOSTLY HAD FOOD POISONING

FROM SOMETHING I ATE ON THE ROAD,

BUT I HAD ALSO IRRITATED MY LYMPHEDEMA,

SO IT WAS FLARING UP REALLY BAD,

AND IT WAS STARTING TO GET INFECTED.

SO THEY PUT ME ON ANTIBIOTICS TO CLEAR IT UP BEFORE IT GOT WORSE,

BUT I'M FEELING A WHOLE LOT BETTER NOW,

AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT NOTHING WAS SERIOUSLY WRONG

AND THAT I STILL HAVE TIME TO TRY AND TURN THINGS AROUND.

WANT TO GO OUTSIDE?

YOU WANT TO GO POTTY, HMM?

WANT TO GO PLAY BALL AND POTTY?

COME ON. LET'S GO.

YOU WANT TO GO POTTY? YOU WANT TO GO POTTY?

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

I'VE BEEN WORKING TO DO DR. NOW'S EXERCISES AND DIET.

FOR ACTIVITY, I'VE BEEN GOING OUT TO WALK BELLA,

AND I PLAY WITH HER A LITTLE.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON.

OH, OH!

THE FIRST DAY, I COULDN'T DO IT FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES,

BUT NOW I CAN STAND AND GET AROUND FOR ALMOST 30 MINUTES

BEFORE I HAVE TO REST.

SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT

BECAUSE THAT MEANS I'M MAKING PROGRESS,

BUT I STILL HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL

NOT TO PUSH MYSELF TOO MUCH AT ONCE.

COME ON, COME ON.

COME ON. BELLA, COME ON.

GO ON.

BUT ME AND JESSICA ARE ALSO CHANGING OUR DIETS TO DR. NOW'S,

AND I'M WORKING REALLY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I JUST HOPE THAT I MAKE ENOUGH PROGRESS BY MY NEXT APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED THIS PAST MONTH,

I KNOW I HAVE TO GET HELP NOW MORE THAN EVER.

WE'RE EVEN WORKING ON MOVING TO HOUSTON NEXT MONTH

LIKE DR. NOW SAID.

JESS IS STILL A LITTLE ON THE FENCE ABOUT IT,

BUT IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

BECAUSE IF I LOSE DR. NOW'S HELP, I'LL LOSE EVERYTHING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JULIUS CALLED ME TO TELL ME THAT HE WAS STRANDED

A COUPLE HOURS AWAY, AND AT HIS SIZE,

BEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN TEXAS HEAT

WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING WASN'T GOING TO TURN OUT WELL.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED LONG LIKE THAT,

SO I SENT A TRANSPORT TO PICK HIM UP

AND BRING HIM HERE TO THE HOSPITAL,

SO WE CAN MAKE SURE HE'S DOING OKAY

AND HE HASN'T DONE ANYTHING TO PUSH HIS BODY TOO HARD.

HEY, JULIUS, YOU FEELING OKAY AT THE MOMENT?

MY BODY IS IN A LOT OF PAIN.

MY LEG IS, LIKE, EXTREMELY SWOLLEN.

WELL, I SEE THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO MOVE YOU IN THE BED AND BRING YOU INSIDE,

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU, OKAY?

-OKAY. -OKAY?

OKAY.

MY MAIN CONCERN IS HIS LYMPHEDEMA,

ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE TRAVEL HE'S HAD WITH IT RECENTLY,

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE HE'S DOING OKAY

AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES

THAT WILL BECOME LIFE-THREATENING FOR HIM SOON.

YOU'RE BLEEDING.

YEAH, BECAUSE THAT THING SCRATCHED ME,

AND I'M ALREADY WEEPING FROM HERE

AND SOMEWHERE RIGHT HERE PREVIOUSLY.

NOW LIFT UP THIS HERE.

IN THE BOTTOM, I THINK IT'S BLEEDING A LITTLE.

OKAY, THERE WE GO.

BUT IT PROBABLY IS ALSO IRRITATING

HIS SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA, AND IF THAT AREA GETS INFECTED,

IT COULD LEAD TO SEPSIS VERY QUICKLY,

AND WITH HOW ADVANCED IT IS NOW,

IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE LYMPHEDEMA

BECOMES A SERIOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE

IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.

HAVING ANY PAIN RIGHT NOW?

YEAH, THE WHOLE -- PROBABLY FROM MY HIPS

AND MY BACK DOWN IS JUST...

WELL, THIS MASS IS VERY HEAVY AND PUTTING A LOT OF STRAIN

ON YOUR BACK AND ON YOUR KNEE AND HIP.

YEAH.

AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS MASS OFF,

BUT TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN.

YEAH.

IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOU

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS.

YEAH, I KNOW.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

LET ME CHECK YOUR LEG AND YOUR LYMPHEDEMA.

ALL RIGHT. THERE'S NO SIGN OF INFECTION, WHICH IS GOOD,

BUT IT'S REALLY SWOLLEN AND IRRITATED,

SO TO BE SAFE AND MAKE SURE,

WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME TESTS ON YOU,

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THE KIDNEY FUNCTION IS DOING,

BUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE, LIKE, A LYMPHEDEMA LIKE THIS,

THIS IS, LIKE, THE DEEP PORTION OF THE GROUND.

ALL THE WATER MOVES THERE.

THE TWO THING IMPORTANT WITH THIS --

ONE IS TO LOSE WEIGHT.

THE OTHER ONE IS THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE THIS SURGICALLY.

EVEN REMOVE IT, IT MAY COME BACK,

BUT IF YOU'RE IN A LOWER WEIGHT, THEN WE CAN DEAL WITH IT,

BUT WHEN YOU'RE 900 OR EVEN 300 OR 400 POUNDS,

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH THIS.

SO WE NEED TO AGGRESSIVELY WORK WITH YOUR WEIGHT,

THINK OF REMOVING THIS MASS.

-YEAH. -BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE

YOU WOULDN'T SURVIVE ANOTHER FEW MONTHS

IF WE LET YOU CONTINUE LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN,

SO AFTER WE RUN OUR TEST,

IF THERE'S NOTHING WE NEED TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY,

WE MAY START YOU ON A CONTROLLED DIET HERE

TO HELP YOU WITH THAT SINCE YOU DON'T LOOK

TO HAVE LOST MUCH WEIGHT -- 20 TO 30 POUNDS AT BEST,

SO YOUR SITUATION IS VERY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IF YOUR LYMPHEDEMA GETS INFECTED,

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO TREAT IT WITH ANTIBIOTIC,

AND IT CAN GET IN BLOODSTREAM, AND AT THAT POINT,

YOU LIKELY WON'T SURVIVE, OKAY?

SO THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION TO HAVE,

AND YOU NEED TO BE VERY PROACTIVE

TO TAKE CARE OF IT RIGHT NOW, OKAY?

OKAY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME LAB WORK ON YOU,

AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN THE TESTS WE NEED ON YOU

AND GO FROM THERE, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

JULIUS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE LOST MUCH WEIGHT

SINCE HIS LAST APPOINTMENT,

AND EVEN IF ALL HIS TESTS ARE GOOD,

AND HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES

DEVELOPING RIGHT NOW, IT'S STILL TOO RISKY TO SEND HIM HOME

AND CONTINUE LIKE THIS.

WITH HOW HE'S GOING RIGHT NOW,

I THINK HE'S GOING TO DEVELOP INFECTION IN HIS LEG

THAT WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR HIS BODY TO HANDLE

AND WILL KILL HIM, ESPECIALLY WITH HOW THE SKIN

IS CRACKED AND LEAKING IN THAT AREA,

SO WE NEED TO KEEP HIM HERE FOR A MONTH OR SO AND CONTROL DIET

TO KEEP HIS WEIGHT DOWN AS MUCH AS WE CAN,

AND TO HELP CLEAR UP SOME OF HIS INFECTION,

BUT ULTIMATELY THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT HIS LYMPHEDEMA

FROM GETTING WORSE IS FOR HIM TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT

TO WHERE WE CAN REMOVE IT SAFELY FROM HIM,

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH JULIUS,

AND WE HAVE TO DO IT QUICKLY

BECAUSE JULIUS DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME LEFT

TO TURN HIS SITUATION AROUND BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THIS WHOLE THING JUST KEEPS GETTING SCARIER AND SCARIER,

BUT AT LEAST I MADE IT, AND I'M GETTING THE HELP I NEED.

FOR A MOMENT, I KNOW ME AND JESSICA WERE BOTH REAL WORRIED

WHEN THE CAR BROKE DOWN

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE LASTED LONG

IF DR. NOW DIDN'T SEND THE AMBULANCE FOR ME.

I STILL HAD TO WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

FOR TWO HOURS FOR IT TO GET THERE,

AND THAT ALONE WAS ALMOST TOO MUCH,

SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT ALL OVER WITH,

BUT MY ANXIETY IS STILL REALLY HIGH

BECAUSE I'M SCARED ABOUT THE TESTS

AND ALL THE STUFF THAT DR. NOW SAID.

I THINK I DID LOSE MORE THAN 20 OR 30 POUNDS

IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, BUT REGARDLESS,

I'M HERE AND READY TO WORK HARD

AND DO WHAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE I DON'T END UP TO WHERE MY BODY

FINALLY GETS TO A BREAKING POINT AND MY WEIGHT FINALLY KILLS ME,

AND I KNOW WITH EACH DAY THAT PASSES,

I HAVE EVEN LESS TIME,

SO I HAVE TO DO THIS NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

J.T.: I'VE BEEN HERE AT THE HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON

FOR A COUPLE DAYS, AND THINGS AREN'T GOING WELL AT ALL,

NOT EVEN REMOTELY.

ME AND JESSICA WERE TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE

HERE IN HOUSTON, BUT JESSICA WAS STILL HESITANT,

SO WE DECIDED TO PUSH THE MOVE TO ONCE I GOT APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT DR. NOW DOESN'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA

FOR ME TO MAKE THAT TRIP AGAIN

BECAUSE HE SAYS MY LYMPHEDEMA HAS A SMALL INFECTION,

AND TRAVELING LIKE THAT IS GETTING TOO RISKY,

SO I HAVE TO STAY DOWN HERE,

WHICH IS THE FIRST UNEXPECTED THING,

BUT EARLIER TODAY, JESSICA TOLD ME SHE DOESN'T WANT TO STAY

DOWN HERE WITH ME RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT SHE WANTS TO GO BACK TO OKLAHOMA,

WHICH I GUESS BASICALLY MEANS WE'RE BREAKING UP.

I DON'T KNOW. SO JUST WHEN I THOUGHT THINGS

COULDN'T GO OFF THE TRACKS EVEN MORE,

THAT WAS ANOTHER THING THAT BLINDSIDED ME.

AND THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF, THE FOOD HERE IS HORRIBLE,

AND I'M NOT ALLOWED ANY COMPROMISES.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO CALM ME DOWN

OR HELP ME DEAL WITH ALL THIS,

AND WITH NOTHING TO HELP ME DEAL,

MY STRESS LEVEL AND ANXIETY JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE.

I'M REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING.

-HI. -HEY.

HOW YOU DOING?

OKAY, I'M JUST SITTING HERE,

JUST BEEN GETTING ANTIBIOTICS.

I'M GOING TO GO HOME

SINCE THERE'S NOT REALLY A SET PLAN RIGHT NOW.

YOU EVEN KNOW WHEN THAT IS?

HOPEFULLY TONIGHT, TOMORROW.

OKAY, YEAH, I MEAN,

YOU HAVE TO GO HOME BECAUSE BELLA IS THERE,

AND I HOPE SHE'S OKAY.

SHE'S OKAY.

ARE YOU EVEN PLANNING ON COMING BACK?

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY YET.

DO YOU WANT ME TO COME BACK?

I MEAN, YEAH. I GUESS.

I MEAN,

I DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, I NEED YOU AROUND STILL, YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T WANT YOU TO COME BACK,

BUT , JESS,

WE JUST SIT HERE AND CONSTANTLY FIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR THE NEXT YEAR?

NO.

Jessica: I FEEL LIKE HE JUST NEEDS ME AROUND JUST TO HELP HIM,

NOT TO BE, LIKE, IN A RELATIONSHIP.

HE GETS MAD WHENEVER I CRY OR WANT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO BOTTLE EVERYTHING UP.

I LOVE J.T. A LOT, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT HARD.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ME LEAVING?

STRESSED. UH...

I MEAN, LIKE, I TOLD YA THIS AIN'T GOING TO BE EASY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE LITERALLY TORTURE,

AND I'M NOT -- I'M DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE EASY

TO COPE WITH DURING IT.

WELL, IT COMES OFF TO ME AS YOU DON'T CARE,

AND THAT'S -- IT HURTS.

JESSICA, WELL,

I'M SORRY,

BUT YOU KNEW THIS WHEN YOU GOT INTO IT.

I LITERALLY TOLD YOU ON DAY ONE.

WELL, PLANS CHANGE, I GUESS.

I JUST WANT TO STAY IN OKLAHOMA.

I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THIS

BECAUSE IT'S JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

WHEN YOU GET FRUSTRATED, MAD, YOU JUST BOLT.

IT'S LIKE, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP?

IF IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, THAN WHAT'S THE POINT?

FINE, THEN JUST GO.

I CAN'T DO THIS.

J.T.: I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL OF THIS HAPPENING.

IN A MATTER OF A FEW DAYS, I PRETTY MUCH LOST MY HOME,

MY CAR, AND MY GIRLFRIEND, AND MY DOG FOR NOW

BECAUSE I CAN'T GO BACK AND GET BELLA.

IT'S LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE IS FALLING APART

RIGHT WHEN I'M TRYING TO SAVE IT,

AND ALL I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW IS EAT,

BUT I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT,

SO NONE OF THIS IS FAIR AT ALL, NOT IN ANY WAY.

I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR A MONTH NOW JUST LIVING AT THE HOSPITAL,

SO MY LIFE STILL IS KIND OF IN THE TOILET RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GOING OUT OF MY MIND HERE,

AND THE TERRIBLE FOOD HERE DOESN'T HELP,

BUT DOC TELLS ME I'M GETTING A CHANGE OF SCENERY FOR THE DAY

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO A REHAB CENTER

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S AS BAD AS IT IS HERE.

BUT DR. NOW SAYS I NEED SOMEONE DOWN HERE TO HELP ME,

SO MY COUSIN BLAIR CAME DOWN TO VISIT ME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

I WAS JUST TOLD BY DR. NOW

THAT I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED TO A REHABILITATION CENTER.

YEAH.

PROBABLY JUST TRY TO LOOK FOR APARTMENTS WHILE THERE,

AND JUST GOING TO FIND OUT A WAY TO GET MY STUFF DOWN HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

Blair: I'VE KNOWN J.T. ALL MY LIFE,

AND I CAME DOWN TO HOUSTON BECAUSE JESS IS GONE,

AND I'M HERE TO TAKE HER SPOT

AND HELP HIM FOCUS ON HIS WEIGHT LOSS

AND SUCCEED IN THAT GOAL.

IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE HAVING SOMEONE DOWN HERE WITH ME

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN REALLY DEPRESSED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'VE HAD J.T. IN THE HOSPITAL

FOR THE PAST MONTH.

HIS BLOOD WORK SHOWED THAT THE INFECTION IN HIS LYMPHEDEMA

WAS STARTING TO COME BACK,

SO WE HAVE BEEN TREATING HIM FOR THAT

AND HAVE HIS OVERALL HEALTH IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE NOW.

THE DAY AFTER HE FIRST ARRIVED HERE AT THE HOSPITAL,

WE CHECKED HIS WEIGHT,

AND HE WAS ONLY DOWN TO 884 POUNDS,

SO IN 2 MONTHS ON HIS OWN, HE ONLY LOST 8 POUNDS,

BUT IN THE MONTH WE HAD HIM HERE

ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY CONTROLLED DIET,

WE HAVE GOTTEN HIM TO LOSE 126 POUNDS

TO GET HIM DOWN TO 758.

AND HIS LYMPHEDEMA HAS IMPROVED SOME

BECAUSE IT'S GETTING SMALLER,

SO NOW WHAT WE CAN DO IS SEND HIM TO REHAB,

WHICH WILL HELP HIM GET HIS STAMINA UP,

BUT WON'T HAVE THE SAME CONTROLLED DIET,

SO WE CAN START TO SEE HOW HE'S GOING TO DO ON HIS OWN.

-HI, J.T. -HELLO.

HOW'S YOUR DAY GOING?

IT'S GOING PRETTY GOOD.

OKAY, GREAT. I'M GLAD TO HEAR IT.

AS YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU TO GO TO, YOU KNOW,

WHAT WE CALL A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY, WHICH IS REHAB.

THE GOAL WILL BE TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN UNDER 600 POUNDS,

AND THEN WE CAN EXPLORE THE OPTIONS FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND REMOVING YOUR LYMPHEDEMA. SOUND GOOD?

YES, SIR.

LET ME SEE HOW THINGS LOOKING.

ALL RIGHT. IT'S EVEN A LITTLE BIT SOFTER THAN BEFORE.

MM-HMM.

MAYBE LESS HEAVIER.

OH, OKAY.

SO WE GET THE AMBULANCE TO PICK YOU UP OVER HERE

AND TAKE YOU TO REHAB CENTER

SO WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

GOOD, ANY QUESTIONS?

NO, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU OVER THERE.

-THANK YOU. -SURE.

MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS JULIUS' ATTITUDE.

SINCE JESSICA BROKE UP WITH HIM, HE'S BEEN SULKING,

BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A HARD TIME FOR HIM,

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE

WHETHER HE REALLY WANTS TO SAVE HIS LIFE OR NOT

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO BE ON THE FENCE

ABOUT THIS.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR HIM,

AND WE CAN'T HOLD HIS HAND FOREVER.

AND IF HE WON'T START TO MAKE THE CHOICES HE NEEDS,

THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP HIM MUCH LONGER.

J.T.: I'VE BEEN HERE IN HOUSE IN THIS REHAB FACILITY

FOR ANOTHER MONTH, AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST AS

MISERABLE AS THE FIRST MONTH IN THE HOSPITAL.

THE ONLY GOOD THING HAS BEEN THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BIT

MORE FREEDOM HERE, BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY LONELY.

MY COUSIN HAD TO GO BACK A FEW DAYS AFTER I GOT HERE,

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM JESSICA,

NOT THAT I WANT TO, SO I'VE JUST BEEN FOCUSING ON

TRYING TO MAKE THE PROGRESS DR. NOW WANTS

SO I CAN GET OUT OF HERE SOON, BUT SO FAR THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

YOU'RE DONE?

-YEP. -THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

J.T.: THIS PAST MONTH, JULIUS HASN'T DONE

AS WELL IN REHAB AS I'D HOPED.

HIS BIGGEST PROBLEM IS STILL HIS ATTITUDE.

HE DOESN'T LIKE THE FOOD OR HAVING TO DO THE REHAB

EXERCISES HE NEEDS,

SO HE HASN'T BEEN COMPLIANT WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY A LOT OF DAYS,

AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN ORDERING FOOD FOR DELIVERY

AND NOT STICKING TO THE DIET,

SO IT'S SHOWN US HE'S GOING TO BE IN A BAD SITUATION

IF HE'S ON HIS OWN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD TO

UNDO THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE WITH HIM SO FAR.

-HI, J.T. -HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

DOING OKAY.

SO HOW ARE YOU GETTING ALONG?

OKAY, I GUESS, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'LL BE BETTER WHEN I'M OUT.

YEAH, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR TWO MONTHS,

AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE LOST ANY WEIGHT.

NO, I HAVEN'T.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF COMING DOWN HERE AND NOT DOING DIET?

GUESS I'M NOT SURE.

LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT AND SEE.

OKAY.

WEIGHT ON 0, OKAY.

SO YOU CAN GET ON.

748, HUH?

ACTUALLY, I DID LOSE WEIGHT,

AND I HAVEN'T GAINED ANY WEIGHT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR 700 POUND,

IF YOU STICK WITH THE 1,200-CALORIE DIET,

HOW MUCH YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A MONTH?

I HAVE NO IDEA.

100 POUNDS.

YEAH, I DID THAT LAST MONTH LIKE YOU SAID.

YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE IT AGAIN.

THAT'S JUST ACCORDING TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?

MY MENTAL STATE, ME NOT BEING IN A MENTAL STATE,

ME BEING STRESSED OUT,

MAKES ME EAT, MAKES ME WANT TO EAT.

THAT'S ME BEING HERE.

I'M ASSUMING THAT IF I'D HAVE WENT BACK HOME,

I'D HAVE BEEN LOSING THAT WEIGHT,

AND WE'D BE HAVING SURGERY

AND A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN THIS.

YOU'RE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE.

NO MATTER IF YOU WERE IN HOUSTON OR OKLAHOMA OR TIMBUKTU.

MM-HMM.

NOTHING JUSTIFIED TO BE UNHEALTHY

AND GIVE ME ALL THAT RHETORIC THAT,

"I DIDN'T FOLLOW THAT BECAUSE I WASN'T

PLANNING TO BE IN HERE."

-OKAY. -REALLY?

I MEAN, THIS IS YOURLIFE.

THIS IS YOURHEALTH.

OKAY.

AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT,

AND WE'VE GIVEN YOU HELP AND TOOLS

TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE AND BE HEALTHY,

AND YOU'RE MAKING ALL KIND OF NONSENSE HERE,

REASON NOT TO FOLLOW DIET, RIGHT?

-MAKE SENSE? -SURE.

-IT DOES? -YES.

-TO YOU? -YES.

OKAY, THERE'S NO HOPE FOR YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO KILL YOURSELF YOUNG.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

NOTED.

YOU GAIN THE WEIGHT BACK AND BECOME IMMOBILE,

THEN YOUR HEALTH IS GOING TO GO DOWN THE TUBE,

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

MM-HMM.

YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF WITH THE FOOD.

WHICH PART OF THAT IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE,

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR EATING HABITS.

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR HEALTH.

DON'T MAKE THOSE EXCUSES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU

TO NOT FOLLOW THE DIET BECAUSE THE FLOOR WAS CROOKED.

THE LIGHT WAS NOT GOOD.

THE BED WAS NOT GOOD.

"I WAS NOT PLANNING TO BE HERE,

SO I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF WITH FOOD."

-OKAY. -OKAY?

-YES. -ALL RIGHT.

-MM-HMM. -YOU UNDERSTAND ALL THAT?

-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM.

ALL RIGHT, J.T. THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS,

DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHY? DO YOU WANT TO LIVE LONGER?

DO YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS SITUATION REST OF YOUR LIFE

AND ENJOY SITTING IN THE BED AND EAT YOURSELF TO DEATH?

AND BE TRUTHFUL ABOUT IT, BECAUSE SO FAR YOU HAVEN'T,

AND YOU NEED TO BE UP-FRONT AND TELL US

WHAT YOUR INTENTIONS ARE

BECAUSE IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP MOPING AROUND

AND MAKING EXCUSES INSTEAD OF CHANGING YOUR LIFE,

THEN WE DON'T NEED TO WASTE ANY MORE TIME WITH THIS.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE OR NOT?

WHAT IS IT?

I WILL BE STICKING WITH THE DIET AND STICKING WITH THE PLAN.

WELL, THE QUESTION WAS NOT STICKING WITH THE DIET.

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

YES.

THEN STOP MAKING EXCUSES JUST LIKE YOU HAVE DONE

YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO JUSTIFY

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THAT IS KILLING YOU.

THAT CHOICE AND MIND-SET IS UP TO YOU,

AND ULTIMATELY, THE WORK TO DO THIS IS UP TO YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE TOOL,

BUT YOU ARE THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?

YES.

YOU THINK YOU GOT ENOUGH STAMINA AND INNER FEELING

THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES?

YES.

OKAY, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THE TRUTH,

AND YOU STICK WITH THE DIET LIKE WE DISCUSSED,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE IN ONE MONTH EASILY 100 POUNDS,

BUT THE GOAL I'M GIVING YOU IS JUST TO LOSE 80 POUNDS

IN THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO LOSE THAT,

THEN THAT MEANS YOU'RE NOT STICKING WITH YOUR DIET.

-YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? -YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?

-YEP. -OKAY.

J.T. IS AT A CROSSROAD RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW HE HAS HAD A LOT HAPPEN TO HIM

IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT IT'S UP TO HIM TO DECIDE

WHETHER HE WANTS TO USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO CONTINUE

TO SELF-DESTRUCT AND KILL HIMSELF WITH FOOD

OR WHETHER HE WANTS TO START TO TRULY MAKE THE CHANGES

HE NEEDS TO SAVE HIS LIFE,

BUT WE CAN'T KEEP HIM HERE FOREVER,

SO HE'S GOING TO DECIDE WHICH PATH HE WANTS TO GO DOWN.

J.T.: I GUESS I'M STILL NOT GETTING OUT OF HERE ANYTIME SOON.

NONE OF THIS IS GOING LIKE I THOUGHT IT WOULD,

AND THE HARDER I TRY, THE WORSE THINGS GET.

AFTER DR. NOW CAME BY LAST WEEK,

I WAS STILL STRUGGLING A LOT, BUT I CALLED MY COUSIN BLAIR

TO KIND OF VENT ABOUT THINGS AND HOW HARD IT ALL IS,

AND HE TOLD ME HE'D COME BACK DOWN TO BE WITH ME

AND ENCOURAGE ME,

SO HE'S BEEN BACK IN HOUSTON WITH ME FOR THE PAST WEEK,

AND SO THAT'S HELPED ME A LOT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, MY FOCUS IS ON DOING

WHAT I HAVE TO TO GET OUT OF HERE.

AND THAT MEANS I NEED TO HIT THE GOAL DR. NOW GAVE ME,

SO I'M WORKING REALLY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT.

-THERE YOU GO. -THANK YOU.

BON APPéTIT.

THANKS.

I'M ONLY EATING THE FOOD THEY GIVE ME HERE,

EVEN THOUGH IT'S AWFUL.

DO YOU WANT MY BEANS?

DID YOU TRY THEM?

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ALLOWED TO HAVE THEM.

-SO DO YOU WANT MINE? -NO.

BLAIR HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS FINDING A HOUSING OPTION FOR ME.

HE FOUND A HALFWAY HOUSE FOR MEN DOING REHAB

AND GOING THROUGH MEDICAL PROCEDURES

THAT I MIGHT QUALIFY FOR.

SO IF THAT WORKS OUT, I CAN STAY THERE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

I FEEL LIKE J.T. IS LOSING WEIGHT.

I'M PROUD OF HIM FOR GETTING HIS LIFE TOGETHER.

I THINK THE HARDEST PART IS FINDING AN APARTMENT,

AND I JUST WANT TO HELP HIM STRESS LESS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I GOT BACK TO HOUSTON,

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOME HOPE, AND I FEEL MOTIVATED AGAIN.

I JUST NEED TO KEEP AT IT BECAUSE I KNOW

I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,

SO IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR ME TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN

SO I DON'T MESS THIS UP AND LOSE THE CHANCE

I STILL HAVE AT THE LIFE I WANT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS,

I'M REALLY EXCITED

BECAUSE I'M FINALLY GETTING TO LEAVE THE REHAB FACILITY.

WHEN THEY MOVED ME TO A BIGGER ROOM,

I STARTED TO THINK THE PLAN WAS FOR TO BE HERE FOREVER,

BUT YESTERDAY, I HIT DR. NOW'S WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

HE GAVE ME A MONTH AGO, SO HE'S FINALLY DISCHARGING ME,

AND I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT OF HERE.

MY COUSIN BLAIR HAD TO GO BACK HOME

ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO,

BUT HE WAS DOWN HERE FOR ALMOST A MONTH

AND REALLY HELPED ME OUT.

I DON'T THINK I COULD'VE DONE THIS WITHOUT HIM,

AND I WOULDN'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO NOW IF IT WEREN'T FOR HIM

BECAUSE HE GOT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT,

AND I WAS APPROVED TO MOVE INTO THE HALFWAY HOUSE,

AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M HEADED,

BUT I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO EXPECT,

SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THAT

BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE NEW,

AND THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE PEOPLE I'M LIVING WITH.

BUT MOSTLY, I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE GETTING OUT OF HERE

AND THAT I HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE FOR NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OVER THE LAST MONTH,

J.T. HAS STARTED TO WORK A LITTLE BIT HARDER

AND HAS HAD A TURNAROUND IN HIS ATTITUDE AND PERSPECTIVE,

SO THAT'S BEEN NICE TO SEE,

AND I'M PROUD OF HIM FOR GETTING MORE MOTIVATED

AND MAKING THE CHOICE TO START DOING

WHAT HE SAYS HE WANTS TO DO.

I GAVE HIM A GOAL TO LOSE 80 POUNDS OVER THE LAST MONTH,

AND HE LOST 77, SO HE'S DOWN TO 671,

SO HE'S HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND SHOWING ME HE'S READY TO BE ON HIS OWN AGAIN,

BUT IF HE WANTS TO KEEP MOVING AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

HE'S GOING TO NEED TO GET UNDER 600 POUNDS

AND TO SHOW ME HE'S WILLING TO KEEP DOING THE WORK

HE NEEDS TO DO THIS FOR THE LONG-TERM.

OKAY, MR. CLARK, YOUR RIDE IS HERE.

YOU NEED HELP WITH ANYTHING?

-NO, MA'AM. -YOU'RE GOOD?

-YEP. -WE ENJOYED YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

SO I'VE GIVEN HIM A GOAL TO LOSE ANOTHER 75 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,

BUT NOW HE JUST HAS TO DO IT COMPLETELY ON HIS OWN.

HOPEFULLY HE'S GOING TO STAY ON TRACK,

BUT THAT'S ALL UP TO HIM NOW.

I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT ALL THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE,

AND THAT IN JUST 3 MONTHS, I'VE MADE IT DOWN TO THE 600s.

IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GET AROUND, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

BUT I KNOW I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO

AND THAT I CAN'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE

WITH MY PROGRESS RIGHT NOW,

SO I WANT TO KEEP WORKING HARD TO HIT MY NEXT GOAL

AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND I THINK BEING OUT OF THE FACILITY

AND ON MY OWN IS GOING TO HELP ME DO THAT

BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP MY MIND-SET,

AND BEING IN THIS HOME WITH OTHER PEOPLE

IS GOING TO HELP ME WITH MY LONELINESS, TOO.

BECAUSE WHEN I'M LONELY, THAT ALSO MAKES ME WANT TO EAT,

SO I THINK I'M GOING INTO A BETTER SETUP FOR ME

TO KEEP DOING WHAT I NEED TO MAKE IT TO MY GOALS.

THIS PLACE SEEMS GOOD,

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD FOR ME.

I JUST HOPE THE PEOPLE HERE ARE COOL AND FRIENDLY

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO BE LIVING HERE FOR A WHILE.

MY PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN

TO HIT DR. NOW'S GOAL IN TWO MONTHS AND GET APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

BECAUSE I HAVE A LIFE I WANT TO REBUILD AND START AGAIN,

AND THAT'S NOT REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN

UNTIL I LOSE THE WEIGHT AND GET MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED.

SO I'M GOING TO WORK REALLY HARD TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN

BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO START THAT LIFE

AS SOON AS I CAN.

I'VE BEEN OUT OF REHAB AND LIVING IN MY SHARED HOME

FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW, AND I'VE HAD MY UPS AND DOWNS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I'M STILL TRYING TO GET USED TO

AND MANAGE, MAINLY BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CAR

OR ANY WAY TO GET ANYWHERE,

SO I MOSTLY JUST STAY HERE ALL DAY AND WATCH TV,

AND I'M ALONE MOST OF THE TIME.

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST THING

I THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT HERE

BECAUSE IT'S A GROUP HOME WHERE I'M LIVING WITH OTHERS,

BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE WITH ME HERE

ARE GONE DURING THE DAY,

SO LONELINESS HAS STILL BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR ME

LIKE IT WAS IN THE MEDICAL FACILITY.

BUT IT'S BEEN NICE HAVING SOME OF MY FREEDOM BACK

WITH MY MEALS.

I'M STICKING TO DR. NOW'S DIET, BUT IF I'M BEING HONEST.

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

BUT I HAVEN'T LOST MY FOCUS, AND I'M CONFIDENT

I'M LOSING THE WEIGHT STILL, LIKE I NEED.

I'M NOT GIVING INTO MY CRAVINGS, AND I'M RESISTING TEMPTATION

BECAUSE GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS THE WHOLE REASON WHY I'M DOWN HERE

AND SACRIFICED MOST OF MY LIFE, EVEN IF IT WAS ALL UNEXPECTEDLY.

SO I'M MAKING SURE THAT ALL WASN'T FOR NOTHING,

AND THAT I'M MOVING TOWARDS THE LIFE I WANT.

AND THAT'S ONLY GOING TO HAPPEN IF I HIT MY GOAL

AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT, SO THAT'S WHAT I INTEND TO DO.

I'M HEADED TO SEE DR. NOW AT HIS CLINIC

FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WEIGHT

I'VE LOST OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS SINCE LEAVING REHAB

AND WHETHER OR NOT I'M APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

MY ONLY OPTION TO GET AROUND RIGHT NOW

IS MEDICALLY-EQUIPPED TRANSPORT LIKE THIS.

I'M GLAD TO BE GOING ANYWHERE, EVEN IF IT IS TO A CLINIC.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT.

I KNOW HOW HARD I'VE BEEN WORKING TO STICK TO THE DIET,

SO I'M CONFIDENT I'M GOING TO HAVE A GOOD WEIGHT LOSS TODAY,

BUT JUST NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

MAKES IT HARD NOT TO BE ANXIOUS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN SO MUCH IS RIDING ON THE RESULTS.

AND SO IF I DON'T GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY TODAY,

IT'LL MEAN I'M NOT MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

J.T.?

MY BODY COULD GIVE OUT AT ANY MOMENT.

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THAT IS TO KEEP LOSING

AND GET TO WHERE ALL THE STRAIN FROM MY WEIGHT IS OFF MY BODY.

AND WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ME

BE ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,

SO I JUST REALLY HOPE I MADE IT.

I'M AT DR. NOW'S, ABOUT TO FIND OUT

IF I LOST THE WEIGHT I NEED TO HIT MY GOAL.

TWO MONTHS AGO, I WAS DOWN TO 671,

AND I NEEDED TO LOSE 75 POUNDS BY TODAY,

SO IF I DID IT, I'LL BE UNDER 596.

THAT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

I'M HAPPY I'M LOSING, BUT I WORKED REALLY HARD,

SO I'M EXPECTED THAT NUMBER TO BE LOWER.

AND I'M A LITTLE UPSET THAT IT'S NOT.

I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT WHAT DR. NOW IS GOING TO TELL ME

BECAUSE I DIDN'T LOSE ENOUGH.

AND I'M SCARED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.

-HI, J.T. -HEY.

-HOW ARE YOU? -DOING OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO TODAY, YOU'RE DOWN TO 619.

ALMOST GETTING INTO THE 500s, HUH?

-YES, SIR. -BUT NOT QUITE THERE YET.

OVERALL, YOU'RE DOWN JUST OVER 270 POUNDS.

-YES. -SO CAN YOU TELL ANY DIFFERENCE?

A LITTLE BIT, YEAH. I CAN MOVE AROUND A LOT MORE.

OKAY, SO HERE IS THE DEAL.

YOU DIDN'T HIT YOUR GOAL.

I KNOW.

BUT YOU SHOWED ME ENOUGH FOR ME TO SEE

THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT YOU NEED

AND MAKING SOME EFFORT,

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY, GREAT. THANKS.

BUT THE CATCH IS THAT I'M GOING TO SCHEDULE IT

FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.

IN THAT TIME, I WANT YOU TO LOSE ANOTHER 40 POUNDS.

-OKAY? -OKAY.

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

OKAY, GREAT, BUT IF YOU DON'T, AND YOU SHOW UP,

AND YOUR PROGRESS HAS SLIPPED, THEN WE WON'T MOVE AHEAD.

-YOU GOT IT? -YES, SIR.

WELL, LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, J.T.

OKAY.

SEE YOU SOON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT J.T.

HAS MADE SOME GOOD PROGRESS ON HIS OWN,

AND HAS AT LEAST ENOUGH WEIGHT-LOSS TO SHOW ME

HE'S MOVING IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION,

BUT I STILL NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM HIM

BECAUSE HE SHOULD HAVE EASILY LOST MORE

THAN HE DID OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

SO I NEED TO SEE A LITTLE MORE PROGRESS FROM HIM

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

J.T.: WHEN DR. NOW SAID HE WAS GOING TO APPROVE ME,

I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE FOR A SECOND,

SO THIS IS GREAT, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED,

BUT AT LEAST I KNOW ALL I'M SACRIFICING IS WORTH IT,

AND THERE'S PURPOSE FOR EVERYTHING

I'M PUTTING MYSELF THROUGH.

BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT HITTING ANOTHER GOAL

AS LONG AS IT MEANS I GET SURGERY.

BUT I LOST MORE THAN 40 POUNDS THIS TIME,

SO I KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AND THAT I CAN DO IT,

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

AFTER 10 MONTHS OF SACRIFICE AND HARD WORK,

I'VE FINALLY MADE IT TO GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I JUST WISH I HAD SOMEONE HERE WITH ME FOR IT

BECAUSE IT'S A BIG OPERATION

AND A LITTLE SCARY TO BE GOING THROUGH.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS A MAJOR STEP

IN GETTING TO WHERE ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS CAN COME TRUE,

AND I'M DOING THIS TO GET THAT LIFE.

SO I'M MORE THAN READY TO DO THIS

BECAUSE AFTER THE SURGERY TODAY,

I'LL BE CLOSER THAN EVER TO HAVING IT.

THIS SIDE?

YEAH, THAT'S GOOD.

PERFECT. PERFECT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON J.T.

TWO MONTHS AGO, I APPROVED HIM FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS LONG AS HE LOST 40 MORE POUNDS BY TODAY,

AND OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,

J.T. GOT DOWN TO 571,

WHICH IS A WEIGHT LOSS OF 48 POUNDS DURING THAT TIME,

SO HE LOST MORE THAN HIS GOAL, AND HE'S SHOWN ME

THAT HE'S READY FOR THIS OPERATION TODAY.

BUT DOING ANY OPERATION ON HIM AT HIS CURRENT WEIGHT

IS NOT ONLY HIGH-RISK BECAUSE OF THE STRAIN

ALL HIS WEIGHT PUTS ON HIS BODY,

BUT BECAUSE HIS LYMPHEDEMA MASS

IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT

TO KEEP HIM ON THE TABLE LIKE WE NEED.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO TAKE SOME EXTRA MEASURES

TO SECURE HIS LEG AND HIS WHOLE BODY TO THE TABLE

BECAUSE IF HIS LEG OR ANY PART OF HIM

COMES OFF THE OPERATING TABLE,

IT WILL TAKE HIS WHOLE BODY WITH IT.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

TO MAKE SURE NOTHING HAPPENS DURING SURGERY

THAT CREATES A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION WITH HIM

TO WHERE WE AREN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE THE OPERATION

LIKE WE NEED.

OKAY, STARTING THE FIRST INCISION.

BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY

COMPLETE THE SURGERY, THEN WHAT THIS WILL DO FOR J.T.

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,

SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM

AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

SO THIS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT TOOL

TO HELP HIM TO STAY ON COURSE AND LOSE WEIGHT

AS LONG AS HE CONTINUES TO WORK HARD LIKE HE NEEDS.

CAN YOU TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON?

OKAY, ALL FINISHED.

J.T.'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL, AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

WAS TO PUT HIM ON THE O.R. TABLE AND SECURE HIM

TO THE POINT THAT WE CAN DO HIS SURGERY SAFELY.

NOW THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE TO GET HIM OFF THE TABLE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF HIS LEG WHEN WE UNSTRAP HIM.

IF IT FALLS OFF, IT WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR HIS BODY TO HANDLE,

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET MORE PEOPLE IN HERE

AND MOVE HIM CAREFULLY.

OKAY.

ARE YOU LOCKED?

OKAY.

-READY? -ONE, TWO, THREE.

THAT'S IT.

NOW THAT WE'VE SUCCESSFULLY TRANSFERRED J.T.

BACK TO THE BED,

WE'LL GET HIM TO RECOVERY SO HE CAN REST.

SINCE HE DOESN'T HAVE ANYONE AT HOME TO HELP HIM

AND HE'S THE ONLY SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR HIMSELF,

SO BECAUSE OF THAT,

I PLAN TO KEEP HIM HERE UNTIL HE FULLY RECOVERS,

BUT FOR THE NEXT MONTH, HE WILL BE ON LIQUID DIET,

AND IN THAT TIME, HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE AT LEAST 40 POUNDS,

AND THEN AT LEAST 25 POUNDS EACH MONTH AFTER THAT.

J.T.'S GOAL WEIGHT WILL BE AROUND 220 POUNDS,

SO AS FAR AS HE'S BEEN ABLE TO COME,

HE STILL HAS A LOT OF PROGRESS HE NEEDS TO MAKE

AND HARD WORK AHEAD OF HIM TO DO THAT.

BUT IF HE DOESN'T CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE NEEDS,

HE COULD EASILY START TO GAIN AGAIN

AND END UP BACK WHERE HE STARTED AT 900 POUNDS

AND FACING AN EARLY DEATH.

SO HE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE ALL HIS PROGRESS

DOESN'T END UP JUST BEING TEMPORARY

BECAUSE HE GAINS ALL HIS WEIGHT BACK.

SO HE'S NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET,

AND HE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE HE STAYS MOTIVATED

AND KEEPS PUSHING HIMSELF

TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

J.T.: I'VE BEEN TRAPPED HERE IN THE HOSPITAL SINCE MY SURGERY.

I TOLD DR. NOW THAT I THOUGHT I HAD PROVEN MYSELF TO HIM

AND SHOWED HIM I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.

HE SAID IT'S NOT THAT, AND THAT HE WANTED ME TO HAVE HELP

WHILE I RECOVERED BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYONE,

AND I COULDN'T ARGUE WITH THAT.

BUT AT LEAST MY SURGERY WENT WELL,

AND I'M MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

BUT DOC SAID HE'S COMING BY TO SEE ME,

AND IF I'M DOING WELL ENOUGH THAT HE'S GOING TO DISCHARGE ME,

SO MY HOPES ARE UP THAT I CAN GET OUT OF HERE TODAY

AND GO BACK TO HAVING A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM AGAIN.

-HI, J.T. -HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

-DOING OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU READY TO GO HOME?

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S SEE WHERE YOUR WEIGHT IS AT,

AND THEN WE CAN GET YOU ON YOUR WAY, OKAY?

OKAY.

MOVING THE SCALE IN, AND WE'LL CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

OKAY, 519, SO YOU'VE LOST ANOTHER 52 POUNDS

THIS PAST MONTH, SO THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. J.T., YOU'RE DOING GOOD,

SO WE'LL GET MEDICAL TRANSPORT HERE FOR YOU

AND GET YOU GOING HOME.

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES, GIVE ME A CALL.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT IN A MONTH.

OKAY.

I'M PROUD OF YOU, SO KEEP WORKING HARD

AND MAKING THE CHOICES YOU NEED.

AND ONCE YOU GET UNDER 450,

WE CAN TRY TO REMOVE YOUR LYMPHEDEMA MASS.

SOUND GOOD?

THAT SOUNDS VERY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

I APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY, TAKE CARE.

I'M PROUD OF J.T. FOR HOW FAR HE HAS COME THIS PAST YEAR.

IN THE BEGINNING, HE HAD SOME ISSUES

WITH HIS PERSPECTIVE AND MOTIVATION

THAT LED HIM TO BE NONCOMPLIANT FOR A WHILE,

BUT I HAVE BEEN VERY GLAD TO SEE HIS TURNAROUND

AND TO SEE HOW HARD HE'S WORKED FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

AND AT THIS POINT, I'M CONFIDENT

HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO STICK WITH IT,

SO WE CAN GET HIM TO HIS GOAL OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

HE MAY HAVE SOME UPS AND DOWNS ALONG THE WAY,

BUT AS LONG AS HE KEEPS WORKING LIKE HE HAS BEEN,

HE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR THE LONG-TERM.

J.T.: I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE GOING HOME AGAIN.

I START TO GET WORRIED IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN

AFTER A WHILE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE.

I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL THE HELP I GET AT THE MEDICAL FACILITY,

BUT I'M READY TO KICK INTO HIGH GEAR ON MY OWN

AND TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN TO GET MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED NEXT,

SO I'M GOING TO KEEP PUSHING MYSELF TO LOSE LIKE I NEED

UNTIL I GET APPROVED FOR IT.

AND THEN I DON'T PLAN TO STOP

UNTIL I GET TO MY GOAL OF 220 POUNDS,

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

WITH ALL MY WEIGHT LOSS AND PROGRESS,

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD MY STAMINA UP

TO WALK A WHOLE LOT FURTHER

THAN I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GO FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS,

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE WALKS OUTSIDE

FOR MY DAILY EXERCISE.

AND A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I WAS ABLE TO GO FAR ENOUGH

TO DISCOVER A NEARBY PARK.

IT'S SMALL, BUT IT'S NICE,

AND WITHOUT A CAR, IT'S AT LEAST A PLACE

I CAN GO TO FEEL LIKE I'M ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS.

IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT WHEN YOU'RE ALMOST 900 POUNDS,

YOU FORGET WHAT THE SUN AND WIND FEEL LIKE ON YOUR SKIN

BECAUSE YOU EITHER NEVER GO OUTSIDE ANYMORE, OR YOU DO,

AND YOU'RE SWEATING SO MUCH THAT IT'S ALL YOU CAN FEEL.

SO I'M SAVORING BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS NOW.

AS SIMPLE AS THAT IS, IT'S A BIG DEAL TO ME

BECAUSE IT SHOWS ME HOW FAR

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME IN THE LAST YEAR.

I HAD MY TWO-MONTH POST-SURGERY FOLLOW-UP WITH DR. NOW

A FEW DAYS AGO, AND I'M JUST BARELY IN THE 400s AT 491.

AND I'VE JUST BARELY LOST OVER 400 POUNDS.

I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT

AND FOR THE WAYS I CAN SEE MY LIFE STARTING TO GET BETTER,

AND IF I CAN STAY ON TRACK, IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP ON

GETTING BETTER BECAUSE DR. NOW SAID IF I DO,

I'LL BE READY FOR MY LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

AND THAT COULD TAKE UP TO ANOTHER 100 POUNDS OFF ME,

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME.

NOT TO JUST DROP MORE WEIGHT,

BUT BECAUSE THIS THING HAS BEEN PULLING ON ME

AND KEEPING ME FROM GETTING AROUND

FOR MORE THAN A THIRD OF MY LIFE.

SO I'M EXTREMELY MOTIVATED TO MAKE SURE I HIT THAT GOAL

AND GET THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

AND IF I DO, IT'LL ALSO MEAN

I'LL BE IN THE LOWER-300s VERY SOON.

SO I FEEL LIKE ALL THE HARD WORK

AND ALL THE SACRIFICE THIS TOOK IS PAYING OFF.

A YEAR AGO, I COULDN'T EVEN SEE A FUTURE FOR MYSELF.

I WASN'T GOING TO SURVIVE LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE,

BUT NOW I DO.

AND I'M GETTING CLOSE ENOUGH TO THAT FUTURE

AND THAT LIFE I WANT TO WHERE I CAN SEE IT,

AND I CAN BELIEVE I'M GOING TO MAKE IT,

SO I'M MORE MOTIVATED THAN EVER TO PUSH MYSELF TO GET THERE

AND START A LIFE I GAVE UP ON.

SO I'M NOT SLOWING DOWN OR GETTING OFF TRACK

BECAUSE I CAN SEE THE LIFE I WANT ON THE HORIZON.

I'LL BE THERE SOON, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.