All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S08E15

Ashley: THE LONELINESS
MADE ME DETERIORATE,

SO THAT'S WHEN
I STARTED MY SECOND ADDICTION --

CATFISHING PEOPLE ONLINE.

Woman:
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 GONNA BE TOO LATE.

IT HURTS!

Woman #3:
I REFUSE TO STOP FIGHTING.

I HAVE TO DO THIS
FOR MY CHILDREN.

YOU'RE NOT FITTIN'
TO DISRESPECT ME.

I'VE BEEN NOTHING
BUT NICE TO YOUR ASS.

LET'S GO.
DON'T TRY ME LIKE THAT.

I WILL TRAMPLE
YOUR LITTLE ASS.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

THINGS ARE SO DIFFICULT
IN MY LIFE NOW

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG
I LET MYSELF BECOME

TO WHERE DOING EVERYTHING
IS A CHORE FOR ME.

MY WEIGHT PULLS ON ME.
IT CAUSES PAIN ALL OVER.

MY ARMS HURT, MY LEGS HURT,
EVERYTHING HURTS ON MY BODY.

MY BACK HURTS TREMENDOUSLY,

AND IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT
TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO NOW,

WHICH IS VERY SCARY FOR ME
BECAUSE I LIVE ALONE.

THE STRUGGLE I'M HAVING
IS STARTING TO STOP ME

FROM TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.

EVEN WITH BASIC THINGS
SUCH AS GETTING MYSELF CLEAN

BECAUSE I CAN'T REACH
ALL MY FOLDS.

I JUST DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY
AT TIMES

BECAUSE OF THE PAIN
AND THE FATIGUE

THAT I HAVE
AND IT TERRIFIES ME.

IT TERRIFIES ME TO KNOW THAT
MY BODY IS STARTING TO SHUT DOWN

AND STARTING TO DECLINE
BECAUSE I'M SO YOUNG

AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO
ALL THIS STUFF BY MYSELF.

BUT IF I START TO NEED HELP,

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO

BECAUSE THERE'S NO ONE
TO HELP ME WITH THIS.

I HAVE NO ONE.

SO NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS,
I DO IT MYSELF,

BUT IT TAKES ME MAYBE A GOOD 20
TO 30 MINUTES TO DO IT.

SO I'M GETTING TO A REALLY BAD
PLACE TO WHERE MY SIZE

IS AFFECTING
MY LIFE AT THIS POINT,

BUT I KNOW THE PROBLEM
BEHIND THAT IS MY EATING.

THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE THIS,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'VE NEVER
BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IN MY LIFE

BECAUSE FOOD IS MY GO-TO DRUG.

ANYTIME THERE'S FOOD AROUND ME,

I CAN'T HELP MYSELF
BECAUSE I AM ADDICTED TO FOOD.

I CAN'T STOP.
FOOD IS AN ADDICTION.

EVERYBODY HAS
THEIR ADDICTION OF CHOICE.

MINE JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE FOOD.

IT'S WHAT I USE
TO GET ME THROUGH

ALL MY STRUGGLES IN LIFE.

NO MATTER IF IT'S SADNESS,
DEPRESSION,

BEING BORED, BEING BY MYSELF,

ANY OF THOSE THINGS
WILL TRIGGER ME TO GO EAT

SO THAT I MAKE MYSELF
FEEL BETTER.

BECAUSE WHEN I EAT,
I FEEL COMPLETE JOY,

AND WHEN I STOP
AND THE FOOD IS GONE,

I'M BACK TO THAT DARK HOLE.

SO THAT LEADS ME
TO CONSTANTLY WANT TO EAT,

AND IT'S BEEN THAT WAY
FOR ME MY WHOLE LIFE.

MY CHILDHOOD WAS A HARD TIME
FOR ME.

I GREW UP AS AN ONLY CHILD,

AND IT WAS ONLY ME
AND MY MOM AND MY GRANDMA.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN US THREE
SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN.

I NEVER KNEW MY DAD.

BUT I HAD A LOT OF FEAR
WHEN I WAS YOUNG

BECAUSE OF MY MOM'S ILLNESS.

MY MOM WAS BORN WITH EPILEPSY
AND SHE WAS CRIPPLED

AND SHE'S BEEN SICK ALL MY LIFE
AND ALL HER LIFE.

AND SO WHEN
SHE WOULD HAVE SEIZURES,

IT WOULD REALLY TERRIFY ME

BECAUSE I WAS SCARED
TO LOSE MY MOM.

AND I LIVED IN
CONSTANT FEAR OF THAT,

BUT I WAS ALSO SCARED
FOR MYSELF

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS
3 YEARS OLD,

I WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES.

LUCKILY FOR ME,
MY GRANDMA WAS A NURSE,

SO MY GRANDMA WOULD STEP UP
AND SHE WOULD TAKE CARE OF ME.

MY GRANDMA WORKED TWO JOBS.

THAT MEANT SHE WASN'T
AROUND A LOT OF TIMES,

SO I WOULD HAVE
FREE RANGE OF THE HOUSE,

AND I WAS EATING
WHATEVER I WANTED TO EAT.

AND I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHERE

MY RELATIONSHIP
WITH FOOD STARTED

BECAUSE I STARTED
GOING TO FOOD A LOT

TO GET THAT FEELING OF COMFORT.

AND WITH ALL THE EATING,

MY WEIGHT GAIN STARTED
SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL.

AS A KINDERGARTNER, I WAS
ALREADY OVER 100 POUNDS,

AND I GAINED EVEN MORE
AS I GOT OLDER

BECAUSE EATING BECAME WHAT ME
AND MY MOM DID TOGETHER.

WE WOULD GO OUT TO FAST-FOOD
RESTAURANTS AROUND TOWN.

THOSE ARE THE BEST MEMORIES
OF ME AND MY MOM.

I HAD DOUBLED MY WEIGHT TO 200
BY THE TIME I WAS 7.

SO I GOT REALLY BIG AND EVERYONE
TOOK NOTICE OF THAT,

AND I TRIED MY BEST
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

BUT IT'S JUST FOOD
IS LIKE MY ONLY FRIEND.

FOOD IS MY ONLY OUTLET.
FOOD COMFORTS ME.

AND THINGS IN MY LIFE KEPT
GOING WRONG RIGHT AFTER THAT.

FIRST WHEN I FOUND OUT
WHO MY FATHER WAS

BECAUSE WE HAD
THIS FAMILY FRIEND,

AND I FOUND OUT
THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY MY DAD

WHEN I HAD A DNA TEST.

IT'S LIKE HE IMMEDIATELY
JUST CUT ALL TIES.

I NEVER KNEW
THIS PERSON WAS MY DAD,

SO FOR ME TO FIND OUT
THIS IS MY DAD, IT HURT ME,

AND I USED FOOD
TO CARRY ME THROUGH THAT.

BUT IT WAS LIKE ONE THING AFTER
THE NEXT WENT WRONG AT THE TIME.

BECAUSE SHORTLY AFTER
THAT WAS WHEN

ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HURT ME.

HE LIVED IN THE APARTMENT
ACROSS FROM US,

AND HIS WIFE WOULD ALWAYS SAY,
"COME OVER AND GET COOKIES."

AND SO ONE DAY I WENT OVER THERE
TO GET A COOKIE,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WASN'T
HOME, AND IT HAPPENED.

HE RAPED ME.

HE TOLD ME
IT WAS OUR LITTLE SECRET.

I DIDN'T SPEAK UP ABOUT IT
UNTIL ANOTHER GIRL FROM MY TOWN

CAME FORWARD
AND TOLD HER PARENTS ABOUT IT.

AND SO THEN THAT'S WHEN MY MOM
STARTING ASKING ME,

MY GRANDMA STARTED ASKING ME,
"HAS HE EVER TOUCHED YOU?"

AND I WAS LIKE,
"WELL, YEAH, HE DID."

AND THEY SAID,
"OKAY, THAT'S NOT OKAY."

AND SO HE ENDED UP GOING
TO JAIL FOR A LONG TIME.

AND SO AFTER THAT IS
WHEN I REALLY NEEDED FOOD

TO TRY AND HELP ME
BLOCK IT OUT AND MOVE ON.

SO MY WEIGHT GAIN KEPT GOING

AND I WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING
300 POUNDS BY 10 YEARS OLD.

MY GRANDMOTHER WAS PROBABLY
THE ONE

WHO TRIED THE HARDEST
TO INTERVENE

TO GET MY EATING
UNDER CONTROL.

AND SHE MADE SURE
I WASN'T SNEAKING FOOD.

I HAD MY WAYS TO WORK
AROUND EVERYTHING SHE DID

AND ALL HER RULES,

SO MY WEIGHT GAIN
CONTINUED TO GET OUT OF HAND.

AND WHEN I WAS 12,

I PROBABLY WAS
AROUND 330 OR 340 AT THAT TIME.

I JUST WAS HUNGRY ALL THE TIME.

I HAD TO HAVE IT,
HAD TO HAVE IT, HAD TO HAVE IT.

AND SO MY SIZE
KEPT GETTING WORSE.

AND I HAD GOTTEN UP
TO AROUND 400

BY THE TIME
I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THE BULLYING GOT REAL BAD
WITH THE KIDS IN SCHOOL,

SO THEN I WAS LIKE,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M JUST GONNA STAY
IN THE HOUSE.

IF I STAY IN THE HOUSE,
THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT ME

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T SEE ME."

SOME DAYS, I WOULDN'T
EVEN GO TO SCHOOL.

AT THIS TIME IN MY LIFE,
I BECAME A HOMEBODY.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYONE OUTSIDE
OF SCHOOL WHEN I WENT,

JUST MY MOM.

SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON
CONSISTENT IN MY LIFE,

BUT THAT CHANGED
WHEN I WAS 16,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN
SHE HAD A SEIZURE

AND SHE FELL OUT THE CHAIR.

AND MY AUNT FOUND HER,

AND WE HAD TO RUSH HER
TO THE HOSPITAL.

IT TURNED OUT THAT MY MOM
NEEDED LONG-TERM CARE.

SHE HAD GO IMMEDIATELY
TO A NURSING HOME.

SO THAT'S WHERE SHE'S BEEN
THE LAST 10 YEARS.

MY MOM NEVER GOT TO COME HOME.

BUT WHEN I FOUND OUT,
"OKAY, SHE'S NOT COMING HOME,"

IT TOOK A TOLL ON ME,
LIKE, I WANTED TO DIE.

SO I TURNED TO FOOD.

MY MOM IS GONE, MY DAD NOT
GIVE A ABOUT ME.

LET ME JUST EAT.

BUT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, NOT ONLY
IT'S MADE ME DETERIORATE,

BUT THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
MY SECOND ADDICTION --

CATFISHING PEOPLE ONLINE.

I CREATE THESE FAKE PROFILES
ON SOCIAL MEDIA

AND PRETEND TO BE SOMEONE ELSE.

AND THAT LED TO STARTING
THESE RELATIONSHIPS

WITH PEOPLE
WHO DON'T KNOW IT'S ME.

AND DOING THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS
BECOME AN ADDICTION FOR ME.

BUT FOOD AND EATING HAS ALWAYS
BEEN MY MAIN ADDICTION.

SO I WAS ABLE
TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL,

BUT MY WEIGHT HAD GOTTEN SO BAD
BY THEN

THAT I WAS 500 POUNDS
AT MY GRADUATION.

AND AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, ALL I DID
FOR A WHILE WAS STAY AT HOME

AND EAT TO FORGET ABOUT MY LIFE.

BUT AFTER A COUPLE YEARS,
THINGS CHANGED

AND GOT EVEN WORSE FOR ME
WHEN I WAS 20,

BECAUSE MY GRANDMA
WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER,

AND THAT WAS DEVASTATING TO ME.

I COULDN'T TAKE IT,

BECAUSE IT WAS HURTFUL
SEEING IN HER IN PAIN.

IT WAS HURTFUL SEEING
HER FIGHT A BATTLE

THAT SHE MAY OR MAY NOT WIN.

AND SHE DIDN'T.

MY GRANDMA PASSED AWAY
BEFORE MY 21st BIRTHDAY.

BESIDES MY MOM, SHE'S THE ONLY
PERSON THAT'S EVER LOVED ME.

THE NIGHT MY GRANDMA
PASSED AWAY,

I JUST WANTED --
I WANTED FAST FOOD.

AND I JUST REMEMBER
GETTING PIZZA AND CHICKEN,

JUST SEVERAL DIFFERENT
COMFORT FOODS

TO LAST ME
ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT.

SO I KEPT EATING FOR COMFORT.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I HAD TO
MOVE OUT OF MY GRANDMA'S PLACE.

BUT I HAD ALSO MET SOMEONE
ONLINE WHO I HAD GOT REAL WITH,

AND HE SAID I COULD
MOVE IN WITH HIM.

SO WE GOT TOGETHER
REALLY BRIEFLY,

BUT HE WAS AN EXTREMELY
ABUSIVE PERSON

AND HE WOULD HIT ME
AND TELL ME THINGS LIKE,

"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE,
YOU'RE SO FAT,

NO ONE IS GONNA WANT YOU.

I'M ALL YOU GOT.
YOUR OWN FAMILY DON'T WANT YOU."

SO HE ABUSED ME A LOT
WITH MY WEIGHT,

BECAUSE HE WAS A FEEDEE,

AND HE LOOKS FOR PEOPLE
THAT ARE OVERWEIGHT

SO THAT HE CAN
FEED THEM MORE FOOD.

SO I KNEW I COULDN'T STAY THERE.

I PICKED UP THE CLOTHES,
PUT THEM IN THE CAR,

AND I DIDN'T LOOK BACK.

I WENT TO A SHELTER.

I HAD TO GET MY NUMBER CHANGED
SO HE COULDN'T FIND ME.

BUT ONCE I GOT TO THE SHELTER,

I WAS IN A ROOM
WITH FOUR OTHER PEOPLE,

AND I MET FRIENDS,
I MADE FRIENDS, YOU KNOW?

SO THINGS GOT A LITTLE BETTER,
AND I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT BEING ON MY OWN WAS HARD,

BECAUSE I COULDN'T WORK
FOR MY SIZE.

SO I COULDN'T AFFORD
TO GET A PLACE TO LIVE

UNTIL I WAS ABLE
TO GET DISABILITY.

BUT ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT
IS WHEN I GOT MY OWN PLACE.

SO NOW I LIVE ON MY OWN

AND I DON'T HAVE
TOO MANY PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.

MY NEIGHBORS
ARE MY CLOSEST FRIENDS,

QUENTON AND DIERRA,
AND THEY ALL HELP ME OUT A LOT,

AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THEM.

OKAY. ORDER MY FOOD.

12 PIECE CHICKEN,
LARGE MACARONI AND CHEESE,

LARGE OKRA,
AND LARGE MASHED POTATO.

AND NOW I'M 24 YEARS OLD

AND MY WEIGHT
IS UNKNOWN AT THE MOMENT.

IT'S OUT OF CONTROL NOW.

I FEEL TRAPPED INSIDE MY BODY,
I FEEL TRAPPED INSIDE MY HOUSE.

THIS IS NOT HEALTHY.

AND I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE
SO IT DOESN'T GET WORSE.

I NEED TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
FROM MY FOOD TO MY PROFILES,

AND MY CATFISHING
TO MEET PEOPLE,

BECAUSE OF HOW THAT'S HURTING
MY LIFE AND OTHERS.

I HAD RECENTLY GOT CALLED OUT
FOR IMPERSONATING SOMEONE

ON THE INTERNET.

AND I HOPE PEOPLE KNOW THAT
I NEVER MEANT TO HURT ANYONE.

THAT WAS NEVER MY INTENTIONS.

HAD I WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS
GONNA GET OUT OF CONTROL

LIKE THIS,
I WOULD HAVE NEVER DONE IT.

BUT IT HAPPENED AND NOW
I GOT TO LIVE WITH IT.

I OWNED UP TO IT AND I DEALT
WITH IT IN THE BEST WAY I COULD,

AND I'M MOVING FORWARD.

BUT I KNOW IT UPSET
A LOT OF PEOPLE,

AND MY FAMILY FOUND OUT,

AND IT WAS AN EMBARRASSMENT
TO THEM, TOO.

MOST OF THEM, I DON'T TALK
TO MUCH NOW BECAUSE OF IT.

AND I DIDN'T REALIZE
DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT

WOULD HAVE SUCH
AN EFFECT ON MY FAMILY,

BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE HURT,
AND I NEVER WANT MY FAMILY

TO BE HURT
BY ANYTHING I DO.

AND SO THAT'S A PART OF MY LIFE
I WANT TO CHANGE, TOO,

BUT IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO STOP,

BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU GET ADDICTED
TO DOING THAT.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF ADDICTIONS
IN MY LIFE

THAT AREN'T HEALTHY
THAT I KNOW I NEED TO CHANGE,

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE
IS MY EATING.

THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA KILL ME
SOON IF I DON'T FIX THAT.

SO I HAVE TO FIND A WAY
TO HIT THE STOP BUTTON,

BECAUSE I KNOW
IF I DON'T MAKE THAT CHANGE,

I'M NOT GONNA LIVE
TO SEE MY 25th BIRTHDAY.

I'M 24 YEARS OLD, AND I DON'T
LIVE LIKE A 24-YEAR-OLD.

I HAVE SO MANY THINGS
I WANT TO DO.

I WANT TO GET MARRIED,
I WANT TO HAVE KIDS,

AND MY MOM WANTS THAT FOR ME
BEFORE SHE GETS OLDER

AND BEFORE I LOSE HER.

I FEEL GUILTY EVERY DAY,

BECAUSE I'M TRADING
IN BOTH OUR LIVES FOR FOOD,

AND IT'S GETTING WORSE TO WHERE
I'M SLOWLY DIGGING MY GRAVE

EVERY TIME I TAKE A BITE.

WITH EACH BITE,
I'M KILLING MYSELF.

AND EVERY TIME
I GO TO BED AT NIGHT,

THAT'S A 50/50 CHANCE

THAT I'M NOT GONNA
WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING.

AND MY BIGGEST FEAR IS MY MOM
HAVING TO BURY ME,

BECAUSE SHE WOULD NEVER BE ABLE
TO RECOVER FROM THAT.

I'M ALL SHE GOT.

BUT I'VE TRIED FOR YEARS
TO GET HELP,

TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,
AND HAVE A BETTER LIFE,

BUT I FOUND NOWHERE
WILLING TO HELP ME,

SO I'M DOWN TO MY LAST HOPE.

I'M TRYING TO GET HELP
FROM DR. NOW.

I MADE AN APPOINTMENT
FOR NEXT MONTH

TO GO DOWN THERE AND SEE HIM.

AND I'M GONNA TRY
TO START DIETING NOW

TO LOSE AS MUCH AS I CAN
BEFORE I GO

AND SHOW HIM
THAT I'M READY FOR SURGERY NOW.

I HAVE TO GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TO LIVE,

AND I'M READY TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR ME,

BECAUSE I KNOW
THIS IS IT FOR ME.

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

AFTER THIS,
IF THIS DOESN'T WORK,

I'M DONE.
PUT A FORK IN ME, I'M DONE.

SO I NEED TO GET DR. NOW'S HELP
AND THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BECAUSE AT THIS RATE, I'M GOING
TO DIE WITHOUT REALLY LIVING,

AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

Ashley: TODAY I HAVE
MY APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

AND I'M HOPING IT GOES WELL.

I STARTED WORKING ON LOSING
WEIGHT FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS

TO TRY TO LOSE
AS MUCH AS I CAN,

TO SHOW HIM
I'M ALREADY VERY SERIOUS

AND READY FOR
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT I'M JUST NERVOUS

BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE
A LONG TRIP FOR ME,

WITH HIM BEING THREE
TO FOUR HOURS AWAY.

MY NEIGHBORS QUENTON AND DIERRA
ARE DRIVING ME DOWN TO HOUSTON.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS
RACING THROUGH MY HEAD,

LIKE WHAT COULD GO WRONG
DOING THIS?

BUT I'M PUTTING MYSELF
THROUGH THIS TRAVEL

AND RISK GOING OUT BECAUSE,

IF I DON'T GET THE HELP NOW,
IT'S GONNA ONLY GET WORSE.

IT'S BETTER TO CATCH IT HEAD ON

THAN WAIT UNTIL
SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS

BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING
TO GET TRAPPED IN MY HOUSE.

SO I JUST WANT TO GET
ON THE ROAD SOON

BEFORE MY MIND HAS A CHANCE
TO KEEP RACING WITH FEARS.

HEY.
Ashley: HEY.

WHAT'S GOING ON, ASH?
YOU READY?

HEY, YOU ALL.HEY.

YOU READY?

YOU ALL READY
FOR THE TRIP?

YES, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

I'M -- I'M NERVOUS.

JUST THINK ABOUT THE POSITIVE
AND, YOU KNOW...

WE'RE GOING ON THIS TRIP
TO SUPPORT ASHLEY.

JUST HOPE WE HAVE A SAFE TRIP

AND SHE GETS THE HELP
THAT SHE NEEDS.

Quenton: I'M HELPING ASHLEY
BECAUSE EVERYBODY DESERVES

SOMEONE THAT BELIEVES
WHEN NOBODY ELSE WILL BELIEVE.

WHAT WORRIES ME IS,
I KNOW IT'S A LONG DRIVE,

AND ONCE YOU SIT FOR A WHILE,
EVERYTHING IS STARTING TO HURT.

SO, WE'RE TRYING TO GET
ASHLEY THERE FAST ENOUGH

AND AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE, IN A WAY, THIS IS
THE LAST CHANCE FOR ASHLEY

TO POSSIBLY CHANGE
THE OUTCOME OF HER LIFE.

Ashley:
WE FINALLY MADE IT TO HOUSTON.

AND MY ANXIETY IS STARTING
TO KICK IN A LOT MORE NOW

BECAUSE I'M NERVOUS
ABOUT MEETING DR. NOWZARADAN.

I HAVE A MILLION THOUGHTS WHY HE
WOULDN'T WANT TO WORK WITH ME.

AND IF HE DOESN'T TAKE ME
ON AS A PATIENT,

THERE'S NO OTHER OPPORTUNITY
FOR ME TO GET HELP.

ASHLEY.

THE LAST TIME I WAS WEIGHED,
I WAS 630 POUNDS.

AND I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD TO GET THAT

AS LOW AS I CAN
IN PREPARATION OF THIS DAY

AND MEETING DR. NOW

TO INCREASE MY CHANCES OF BEING
HIS PATIENT ON THIS PROGRAM.

AND I'M CURIOUS TO SEE
WHERE I'M AT NOW.

486.

OH, WOW.

I'M EXCITED
ABOUT THAT WEIGHT.

AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT
MYSELF SEEING THAT PROGRESS

AND HAVING SUCH
A BIG DROP ALREADY.

SO I FEEL LIKE I'M ALREADY OFF
TO A VERY GOOD START,

AND I'M HOPING THAT'S A FACTOR
DR. NOW WILL CONSIDER FOR ME

AND MAYBE APPROVE ME
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY

BECAUSE I'M VERY READY FOR IT.

HELLO?
HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M ASHLEY.

ASHLEY TAYLOR, HUH?YES, THAT'S ME.

ALRIGHT, NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO YOU COMING
FROM WHERE?

TEMPLE, TEXAS.

TEMPLE, TEXAS, IT'S ABOUT
THREE HOURS AWAY, HUH?

MM-HMM.

SO WHAT BROUGHT YOU
TO HOUSTON?

I WANT HELP GETTING
THE WEIGHT OFF.

OKAY. SO WHAT IS THE HIGHEST
WEIGHT YOU HAVE BEEN?

I'VE BEEN 630 BEFORE.

BUT MY GRANDMA
PASSED AWAY,

SO I WENT
THROUGH DEPRESSION.

AND SO I KIND OF LIKE LOST IT
BECAUSE OF THE DEPRESSION,

I WASN'T REALLY EATIN.
AND ANYTHING,

I WAS JUST
IN A DARK PLACE.

SO DEPRESSION LED YOU
TO LOSE 150 POUNDS?

YES, SIR.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S USUALLY
THE OPPOSITE OF HOW IT GOES,

SO THAT'S INTERESTING.

YEAH, I KNOW.

I THINK THAT'S JUST
DIFFERENT WITH ME.

OKAY. WELL, ACCORDING TO
YOUR MEDICAL BACKGROUND,

YOU HAVE DIABETES.

I HAVE DIABETES,
YES, SIR.

AND YOU ARE TAKING MEDICINE
FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,

FOR CHOLESTEROL,

FOR ARTHRITIS
AND MIGRAINE, TOO?

YES, SIR.

SO YOU LIVE WITH ANYONE
OR ALONE?

I LIVE ALONE.

OKAY. BEFORE THAT,
WHO WAS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

MY MOM AND MY GRANDMA.

ANY OF THEM TELL YOU
HOW TO EAT THEN WHEN YOU DID?

YEAH, THEY DID.

AND HOW DID THAT WORK?

IT DID NOT WORK OUT.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOUR MOM?

UM...WE...

IT'S ROCKY BETWEEN US.

OKAY. DO YOU HAVE
ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DAD?

NO.

NO RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOUR DAD.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS?

I HAVE A SISTER.
WE DON'T TALK.

YOU DON'T GET ALONG
OR WHAT?

WE JUST DON'T --
WE DON'T COMMUNICATE.

SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY BOYFRIEND
OR ANYBODY?

NO, I'M SINGLE.
ALRIGHT.

SO YOU GOT NO SUPPORT SYSTEM
TO HELP YOU EXCEPT YOURSELF?

I MEAN, I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE
BUT TO DO THAT.

SO YOU EAT AT HOME
OR YOU EAT OUT?

MOST OF THE TIME I EAT OUT
BECAUSE I DON'T COOK.

SO ON A TYPICAL DAY,
WHAT DO YOU EAT OUT?

NORMALLY
I EAT, LIKE, FAST FOOD.

OKAY.
WHAT DO YOU GET TO EAT?

NORMALLY IT'S JUST, LIKE,
TWO OR THREE THINGS.

WHEN YOU EAT NEXT?

AT 6:00.

AND 6:00,
WHERE DO YOU GO TO EAT?

I ORDER PIZZA
OR CHINESE.

DID ANYBODY TELL YOU
THAT PIZZA AND CHINESE

AND FAST FOOD
WERE NOT PART OF YOUR DIET?

NO, BECAUSE
NO ONE'S EVER AROUND.

OKAY. SO WHAT DO YOU
DO MOST OF THE DAY?

NOTHING, WATCH TV.

AND I DO
SOCIAL-MEDIA STUFF.

LIKE I'D BE TALKING
TO MY FRIENDS.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA,
TALKING TO YOUR FRIENDS?

YES. YES, SIR.

AND THAT'S IT?

YES, SIR.

YOU'RE LAUGHING
ABOUT IT,

SO WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON
THAT YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME?

UM...

THE CATFISHING.

SO, DO YOU HAVE A GOAL
IN YOUR LIFE?

NOT REALLY,
NOT AT THE MOMENT, NO.

ALRIGHT.

SO THE HELP THAT YOU NEED
FROM US IS GUIDANCE.

SO WE ARE GOING
TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

STARTING WITH
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

WHICH IS HIGH-PROTEIN,
LOW-CARB DIET,

THAT WILL BREAK DOWN
WHAT TO DO,

WHAT NOT TO DO
WITH YOUR EATING HABIT.

TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
PROPER NUTRITION IS, OKAY?

DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THAT?

YES, SIR.

OKAY. SO NEXT THING IS,

I WANT YOU TO START
DOING SOME EXERCISE.

DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THAT?

YES, SIR.

OKAY. AND IF YOU START
DOING YOUR EXERCISE

AND CHANGING EATING HABIT
ACCORDING TO WHAT WE GIVE YOU,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO START LOSING

ABOUT 20 POUNDS A MONTH.
OKAY?

AND IF YOU DO THAT
AND SHOW ME

THAT YOU'RE TAKING
THIS SERIOUSLY,

WE WILL CONSIDERING
MOVING AHEAD

WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
FOR YOU, OKAY?

YES, SIR.

SO I WANT TO SEE YOU
IN ONE MONTH,

AND YOU NEED TO LOSE
20 POUNDS BY THEN.

OKAY.
OKAY?

SO ULTIMATELY,
YOUR EATING DISORDER

NEED TO BE CORRECTED BY YOU
WITH FOLLOWING THIS DIET.

AND DOWN THE ROAD,
IT MAY TAKE SOME OTHER TOOLS

TO HELP YOU
WITH LIFE PSYCHOTHERAPY.

YOU THINK THAT WOULD
BE HELPFUL FOR YOU

TO SEE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE
TO TALK TO?

NO, NOT REALLY.
WHY?

I DON'T THINK I NEED
A PSYCHIATRIST.

ALRIGHT, WELL, WE'LL DISCUSS
THIS MORE AS WE GO,

AND WE'LL SEE
HOW YOU'RE DOING, OKAY?

YES, SIR.

ALRIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS?

NO, SIR.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE
YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME?

NO. THAT'S IT.

OKAY. BUT FOR MOST
OF WHAT YOU SAID,

THE ENTIRE TIME
YOU'RE HERE,

YOU NEVER MADE
EYE CONTACT WITH ME.

SO IS THAT BECAUSE

YOU'RE A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR
OR WHAT?

BECAUSE I'M NERVOUS.

YOU'RE NERVOUS.
MM-HMM.

OKAY.
EVEN NERVOUS PEOPLE,

WHEN THEY TALK TO SOMEBODY,
THEY HAVE --

I HAVE ANXIETY. I'M NERVOUS.
I'M SORRY.

ALRIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

BYE-BYE.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
LET ME KNOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
RIGHT NOW, I HAVE A NUMBER
OF CONCERNS ABOUT ASHLEY,

BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT SHE SAYS
DOESN'T ADD UP

OR MAKE MUCH SENSE,
AND HER BEHAVIOR ALSO INDICATES

SHE'S NOT BEING COMPLETELY
TRUTHFUL TO ME ABOUT EVERYTHING,

BECAUSE SHE SAYS
SHE ALREADY LOST

A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

AND THAT'S BECAUSE HER EMOTIONS
MAKE HER WANT TO EAT LESS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT
I GET HER RECORDS

TO DETERMINE
WHAT HER MEDICAL HISTORY IS

AND IF THE ACCOUNT SHE GAVE
FOR HER WEIGHT LOSS IS ACCURATE

AND IF SHE WAS EVER
WERE 630 POUNDS.

BUT FOR NOW, WE WILL GIVE HER
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT,

AND IF SHE MEETS
THE SIMPLE GOAL OF WEIGHT LOSS

I GAVE HER,
THEN WE WILL CONSIDER NEXT STEPS

AND WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
WITH HER.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T, THERE MAY BE
SOME SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH HER

THAT WILL NEED TO BE
ADDRESSED IN PSYCHOTHERAPY.

FROM WHAT SHE SAYS,

SHE HAS BURNED MOST
OF THE BRIDGES WITH HER FAMILY,

SO THERE'S LIKELY
A CONSISTENT ISSUE

BETWEEN ALL OF THEM THAT
INVOLVES ASHLEY'S BEHAVIOR,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE
VERY IMPORTANT

THAT WE START TO GET HER WEIGHT
DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,

BECAUSE SHE ALREADY HAS
A NUMBER OF MEDICAL ISSUES

ADDING STRAIN TO HER BODY.

AND IF SHE DOESN'T START
TO TAKE STEPS

TO TURN THINGS AROUND SOON,

HER SITUATION CAN GET
VERY DANGEROUS VERY QUICKLY.

Y'ALL READY?

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL
AT THIS POINT.

I FEEL LIKE THE DOCTOR
DIDN'T TAKE ME SERIOUS.

I FEEL LIKE HE DIDN'T THINK
I WANTED IT WHEN I DID WANT IT,

AND THAT'S HURTFUL,
AND THAT'S NOT FAIR.

BUT NO MATTER
HOW NEGATIVE HE WAS,

I WAS VERY RESPECTFUL
TO HIM

TO SHOW HIM HOW SERIOUS
I AM ABOUT DOING THIS.

AND THE PROGRESS
I'VE MADE LETS ME KNOW

THAT DOING ANOTHER 20 POUNDS
SHOULD BE EASY FOR ME.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE
MY FOCUS FOR THE NEXT MONTH.

SO THAT WHEN I COME BACK
THE NEXT TIME,

I CAN BE SURE
TO GET MY APPROVAL THEN,

BECAUSE WITHOUT
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT AND CHANGE MY EATING.

Ashley:
IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS

SINCE MY FIRST APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER,

I STRUGGLED SOME
FROM BEING FRUSTRATED

BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET
THE SURGERY

I NEEDED WHAT I KNOW
I'M READY FOR IT.

BUT ONCE I GOT HOME,
AND I TOOK EVERYTHING IN,

I READ ALL THE PAPERWORK
HE GAVE ME, I WAS LIKE,

"I CAN DO THIS."

WHAT UP, WHAT UP, WHAT UP?
YOU READY TO EAT?

YEAH, I'M READY FOR LUNCH,
SOMETHING QUICK.

ALRIGHT.

SO I'VE BEEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS
TO LOSE THE 20 POUNDS

I NEED TO SHOW DR. NOW
AN EXAMPLE OF MY HARD WORK.

I HAVE MADE DRAMATIC CHANGES.
I DON'T EAT FAST FOOD ANYMORE.

I DON'T EAT
FRIED FOODS ANYMORE.

AND I'VE ALWAYS MADE SURE
I HAVE THE FOOD

I LIKE AROUND ME, AND I STILL
HAVE STASHES AROUND MY HOUSE.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
BUT I HAVEN'T TOUCHED THEM,

AND I FEEL MYSELF GETTING BETTER
WITH THAT, YOU KNOW?

MY BODY IS CHANGING IN WAYS

I NEVER THOUGHT
IT WAS ABLE TO DO,

AND I FEEL LIKE THE EXERCISE
IS HELPING ME, TOO,

BECAUSE I'M MOVING AROUND
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

SO I'M FOLLOWING EVERYTHING
DR. NOW GAVE ME TO FOLLOW,

AND I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.

WANT ME TO GET YOU
MY RANCH OR NO?

NO, IT'S OKAY.
I'M GOOD.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT SALAD,

YOU CAN HAVE AS MUCH
AS YOU WANT, SO...

BUT I FEEL LIKE A RABBIT.

AND SO MY HOPE
IS THAT THIS TIME,

WHEN I GO BACK IN TWO WEEKS,

HE TAKES ME MORE SERIOUS
AND HE APPROVES ME FOR SURGERY,

BECAUSE I NEED IT
AND I'M MORE THAN READY FOR IT.

I'VE COME BACK DOWN TO HOUSTON
FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT

AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS ONE
IS A BETTER OUTCOME,

BUT I'VE CHANGED UP
MY WHOLE LIFESTYLE

TO GET TO DR. NOW'S GOAL.

I MADE A LOT OF CHANGES AND
I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT THINGS.

YOU KNOW, I CAN FEEL MY PROGRESS

AND THAT I'M VERY READY
FOR MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I'M JUST HOPING TO HEAR
THAT I DID GOOD

AND THAT HE SEES THE PROGRESS
THAT I'VE BEEN MAKING

BECAUSE I'VE REALLY BEEN TRYING
SINCE I LAST SEEN HIM.

ASHLEY?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

I HAD DROPPED
DRASTICALLY TO 486.

MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL I WAS GIVEN
WAS TO LOSE 20 POUNDS,

SO I SHOULD BE
AT 466 FOR THAT.

476.

THANK YOU.

I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A GOOD DROP,
REALLY GOOD.

I FEEL HAPPY ABOUT THAT NUMBER,
THAT MEANS IT'S COMING DOWN.

IT MAKES ME HAPPY BECAUSE I'VE
BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF WORK.

IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE NUMBER

BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY
COMING OFF.

I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOD,
I'M MAKING PROGRESS."

HOPEFULLY DR. NOW
SEES THAT, TOO,

AND SEES HOW SERIOUS I AM

AND APPROVES ME
FOR SURGERY TODAY.

HELLO.
Ashley: HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?I'M GREAT. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.
SO HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

I'VE BEEN GREAT.

ALRIGHT, SO YOU LOST
LIKE 10 POUNDS?

YES, SIR.

THAT'S NOT AS MUCH
AS YOU SHOULD HAVE.

TELL ME WHAT KIND OF CHANGES
YOU MADE IN YOUR EATING HABIT.

I STOPPED EATING OUT,
LIKE YOU TOLD ME TO.

OKAY.I STOPPED DRINKING SODA.

OKAY.
AND NOW I'M COOKING

AND I'M DOING THE PAPER
THAT YOU GAVE ME.

I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING
ALL THE STUFF

AND I'M WORKING OUT NOW.

OKAY, SO THAT'S A GOOD
STARTING POINT.

BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT
EVEN THOUGH YOU MADE

SOME ADJUSTMENT
IN YOUR EATING HABIT,

YOU'RE STILL EATING 4,000
TO 5,000 CALORIES A DAY.

WHAT WE CAN DO NOW IS

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU
TO SEE A THERAPY,

SEE IF WE CAN WORK
WITH YOU ON SOME THINGS.

SO I WANT YOU
TO START THAT.

I KNOW YOU DON'T THINK
YOU NEED IT,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE
PART OF THIS PROCESS

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS.

SO DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THAT?

YES, SIR.

ALRIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS?

NO, SIR.

OKAY. YOU NEED TO TAKE
THIS MORE SERIOUSLY, ASHLEY,

BECAUSE YOU STILL HAVE
A VERY HIGH BMI.

NORMAL BODY MASS INDEX
IS 18 TO 25.

YES.

SO A BMI OF 86
IS VERY HIGH.

YES, SIR.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT,
AS YOUNG AS YOU ARE,

THAT WE GET YOU
TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT THE HEALTHY
EATING HABIT IS

AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
HEALTHY WEIGHT

WHEN YOU'RE 50s AND 60s.

BUT THAT'S NOT GOING
TO BE POSSIBLE

IF YOU DON'T START DOING
WHAT YOU NEED NOW.

YOU ONLY EAT TWO
OR THREE TIME A DAY,

NO SODA, NO SUGARY THING,
NO CARB.

THEN I WANT YOU
TO LOSE 40 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
OKAY?

YES, SIR.

THAT'S THE SAME AMOUNT
YOU SHOULD BE LOSING IN A MONTH,

BUT I WANT YOU
TO SHOW ME

SOME CONSISTENCY
WITH THAT, TOO.

OKAY.

AND HOPEFULLY THERAPY
WILL HELP YOU WITH THAT.

ALRIGHTY.

OKAY. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
GIVE ME A CALL.

OKAY.

UNFORTUNATELY, ASHLEY DOESN'T
SEEM TO BE TAKING HER SITUATION

AS SERIOUSLY AS SHE SAYS.

I GAVE HER A VERY MODEST GOAL

THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE
THAN EASY FOR HER TO ACCOMPLISH,

BUT DESPITE SOME PROGRESS,
SHE'S STILL FAR OFF

FROM MAKING THE CHANGES
SHE NEEDS.

I STILL HAVE THE SAME CONCERN
I HAD AT THE LAST APPOINTMENT,

WHERE THINGS DON'T ALL ADD UP
WITH HER AND WHAT SHE SAYS.

I'M HOPING STARTING
PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR HER WILL HELP,

BECAUSE IF ASHLEY HAS SPENT
A SIGNIFICANT PART OF HER LIFE

PRETENDING TO BE THINGS SHE
ISN'T AS A MEANS OF MANIPULATION

TO GET WHAT SHE WANTS,

THERE IS NO REASON
THIS SITUATION

IS GOING TO BE
ANY DIFFERENT FOR HER.

UNTIL THAT CHANGES, WE'RE NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE MUCH,

IF ANY,
PROGRESS WITH HER.

Ashley: I'M DISAPPOINTED,
I'M NOT GONNA LIE,

BECAUSE I WAS HOPING
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BEING TOLD I NEED
TO GO TO THERAPY,

THAT'S FRUSTRATED ME SOME.

IT'S HARD TO HEAR THAT
I'M STILL NOT GETTING SURGERY,

BECAUSE I KNOW
I DESERVE THE SURGERY,

BUT I DO FEEL LIKE
I STAYED RESPECTFUL

EVEN WHEN DR. NOW
WAS NEGATIVE ABOUT THINGS.

I KNOW I JUST HAVE TO DO THIS

AND JUST CONTINUE
WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING,

JUST DO IT
10 TIMES HARDER NOW.

Ashley: I'M HEADING
TO THE THERAPY

DR. NOW TOLD ME I NEEDED,

BUT I THINK DOING THIS
IS AN UNNECESSARY PROCESS,

BECAUSE I'M MAKING PROGRESS

AND WHAT I NEED
TO FOCUS ON RIGHT NOW

IS PUSHING MYSELF HARDER
WITH THE DIET AND MY EXERCISES,

BUT I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
AND ENDURE

THIS PROCESS
IF I NEED TO SHOW DR. NOW

MY COMMITMENT AND
MY SERIOUSNESS TO THIS PROGRAM.

HOPEFULLY THIS GOES WELL AND IS
NOT A BAD EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

OKAY, ASHLEY.

JUST COME AND HAVE A SEAT
ANYWHERE YOU'RE COMFY.

ALRIGHTY.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

WELL, WELCOME, ASHLEY.

HI.

SO NOW, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
YOUR CHILDHOOD GROWING UP?

IT WAS GOOD.

I DIDN'T WANT FOR ANYTHING.

MY GRANDMA ALWAYS MADE SURE
I HAD EVERYTHING I NEEDED,

HER AND MY MOM.

TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DO YOU
HAVE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS

WITH EMOTIONAL ISSUES,

PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES
OR SUBSTANCE-USE PROBLEMS?

NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE,
I DO NOT,

BUT I'M NOT CLOSE
WITH MY FAMILY.

WHAT PROMPTED
THAT DECISION?

IT'S JUST I'VE DONE SOME STUFF,
THEY'VE DONE SOME STUFF.

I'VE DONE MORE
THAN THEM, BUT --

SO YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT YOU'VE DONE SOME THINGS.

MM-HMM, I'VE DONE
SOME STUFF TO HURT THEM.

I'M NO ANGEL.

SO NOW
YOU HAVE ME CURIOUS.

TELL ME MORE.

SINCE I WAS
CATFISHING PEOPLE,

AND I WENT VIRAL.

THAT'S WHY ME AND MY FAMILY
DON'T TALK,

BECAUSE IT HURT THEM.

AND PEOPLE JUST
KEEP LIKE, "OH..."

JUST SO THAT I'M CLEAR,
YOU'RE SAYING

THAT YOU PARTICIPATED
IN CATFISHING PEOPLE?

YEAH.

AND THAT YOUR FAMILY
GOT SOME BACKLASH

FROM ONE OF YOUR
ONLINE PERSONAS?

EXACTLY.

SO YOUR ALTER EGO,
THIS OTHER PERSONA,

IT WAS BORN OUT OF WHAT?

IT WAS SOMETHING
I JUST MADE UP

AND IT CREATED
A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

WERE THERE MORE THAN ONE?

DID YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER PERSONAS?

YEAH, IT WAS 3,000.

YOU HAD 3,000?

YEAH,
IT WAS 3,000 PERSONAS.

AND SO,

CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT SOME
OF THESE PERSONALITIES

REPRESENTED FOR YOU?

SOME OF THEM
REPRESENTED FUN,

SOME OF THEM
REPRESENTED SADNESS,

SOME OF THAT
REPRESENTED MADNESS.

WHAT PORTION REPRESENTED
MADNESS?

WHAT PERCENTAGE?

10% OF THEM
HAD MADNESS IN IT.

OKAY.

AND WHAT PERCENTAGE
REPRESENTED SADNESS?

50%.

50%.

1% REPRESENTED PEACE.

1%?

AND THE REST
WAS JUST FEAR.

WOW. ASHLEY, I WANT YOU
TO LISTEN

TO WHAT I'M ABOUT
TO DESCRIBE TO YOU.

OKAY? YOU'RE DESCRIBING
A PSYCHOTIC BREAK.

THAT'S A BREAK FROM REALITY
BECAUSE YOUR REAL LIFE

WAS TOO MUCH TO COPE WITH.

YEAH. NO ONE KNEW WHAT
I WAS GOING THROUGH.

NO ONE KNEW I WAS HURTING
ON THE INSIDE. NO ONE KNEW.

I'M SORRY, ASHLEY.

I'M SORRY THAT YOU WERE
IN SO MUCH PAIN

AND NO ONE NOTICED.

SO I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK
FOR YOU.

OKAY.

FOR YOU TO WRITE

A TRUTHFUL, TRANSPARENT
ONLINE DESCRIPTION

AND PROFILE FOR YOURSELF.
OKAY?

I WANT YOU TO SHARE
WHO YOU REALLY ARE.

OKAY.

IS THAT SOMETHING
YOU CAN DO?

I CAN DO IT.

OKAY, ASHLEY.

THANKS SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY, ASHLEY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR HAVING ME.

YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY.

Ashley: I FEEL LIKE THIS THERAPY
IS SOMETHING THAT I DIDN'T WANT.

IT TOOK ME BACK
TO SOME THINGS

THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE
BEHIND AND MOVE PAST.

SO I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL
ABOUT THAT.

LOLA DID GIVE ME SOME FOOD
FOR THOUGHT

WITH SOME OF
THE THINGS SHE SAID.

SO I SEE THE POSITIVE IN THAT.

SO I'LL THINK ABOUT IT ALL,
BUT RIGHT NOW,

I'M NOT SURE WHAT MY NEXT STEPS
ARE GONNA BE NECESSARILY.

I'M WILLING TO DO THOSE THINGS,
BUT THE THING FOR ME IS,

RIGHT NOW MAY NOT BE
THE BEST TIME.

SO I'LL THINK ABOUT IT
AND WE'LL SEE.

AFTER MY THERAPY
APPOINTMENT WITH LOLA,

I GAVE THE THING SHE SAID FOR ME
TO DO SOME VERY SERIOUS THOUGHT

AND I DECIDED IT WOULD BE GOOD
FOR ME TO DO THEM,

BUT NOT RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE THAT APPOINTMENT
HAD ALREADY MADE ME EMOTIONAL

TO THE POINT WHERE
I HAD BEEN STRUGGLING MORE.

WHAT I NEED TO DO
IS FOCUS ON MY DIET,

BUT THE REALITY IS,
WITH THE STRESS OF THERAPY,

I'VE EARNED A LITTLE TREAT
FOR TAKING SOME GOOD STEPS.

PIZZA IS HERE.

I'M HUNGRY.

HI.HI. IT'S $44.30.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.
YOU KEEP THE CHANGE.

THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

YOU TOO.

BIGGEST THING I'VE LEARNED
IS CONTROLLING PORTION SIZE

SO I CAN AFFORD
SOME THINGS LIKE THIS.

IT'S NOT A LOT.

IF I MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND TREAT
MYSELF WITH HAVING MY PROGRESS,

I STAY IN CONTROL
OF MY PORTIONS, LIKE I SHOULD.

SO I KEEP MY CALORIES OUT
AND STAY IN MY LIMITS.

EVEN WHEN I WANT TO EAT
THE WHOLE PIZZA,

I JUST HAVE TO STOP MYSELF
AND SAY,

"THAT'S ENOUGH FOR NOW."

I'M BEING VERY FOCUSED
TO DO THIS

AND MAKE SURE I MAKE
EVEN MORE PROGRESS THIS TIME

SO I CAN GO BACK TO DR. NOW
AND FINALLY GET MY SURGERY.

AND I'M MAKING SURE
TO KEEP MY EYE ON THAT

AND STAY MOTIVATED
AND IN CONTROL TO DO THAT.

Ashley: I'M BACK TO SEE
DR. NOW ONCE AGAIN

AND I'M HONESTLY
A LITTLE NERVOUS.

OKAY, LET'S DO IT.

Y'ALL READY?
COME ON, AMIGOS.

I KNOW HOW HARD I WORKED AGAIN

AND HOW I PUSHED MYSELF
EVEN MORE THIS TIME

AND THAT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE,
BUT I STILL HAVE A LOT OF FEARS

RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD AGAIN
FOR THIS APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
TO ME

THAT I GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
THIS TIME.

ASHLEY?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,
I WAS AT 476

AND DR. NOW WANTED ME
TO LOSE ANOTHER 40 POUNDS.

SO TO HAVE THAT DONE

MEANS I HAVE TO HAVE
A NUMBER LOWER THAN 436.

475.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT,

BUT THAT NUMBER
IS VERY UPSETTING

AND IT IS NOT MAKING SENSE TO ME

BECAUSE I KNOW
THE LEVEL OF MY WORK.

AND THERE'S NO WAY
THAT NUMBER REFLECTS THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED,

BUT I'M VERY UPSET
AND WORRIED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE WHAT I NEED
IS WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

FROM DR. NOW.

IF I'M NOT GONNA GET
AN APPROVAL TODAY,

THEN THE LEAST HE CAN DO
IS RESPECT HOW HARD I'M WORKING.

HELLO.
HEY, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-ALRIGHT.
-GOOD.

GOOD.
ALRIGHT, ASHLEY.

YOU GOT THE WHOLE CREW
WITH YOU TODAY.

WHO DO YOU GOT WITH YOU?

THIS IS MY FRIEND DEE.
THIS IS MY FRIEND MAC.

OKAY, WELL,
GOOD TO MEET YOU ALL.

ALRIGHT, ASHLEY.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

I'VE BEEN GOOD.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?

I'M GOOD, BUT I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

ONE IS
YOUR LACK OF WEIGHT LOSS

BECAUSE YOU ARE
475 TODAY,

WHICH IS
PRETTY MUCH NO PROGRESS.

THAT MEANS
YOU'RE STILL EATING

BETWEEN 4,000
TO 5,000 CALORIES A DAY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE CHANGES ARE

THAT YOU HAVE MADE?

I'VE BEEN DOING
THE EXERCISES MORE.

I'VE BEEN DOING THE DIET,
LIKE YOU TOLD ME.

I CUT OFF ALL THE SODA,
NO MORE SODA.

THEY GOT RID
OF EVERYTHING FOR ME.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T LOST
MUCH WEIGHT.

IF YOU MADE
ALL THESE POSITIVE CHANGES,

WHY IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.
I'VE BEEN DOING WHAT I SHOULD.

I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS
WITH MY MOM ALSO.

I'VE BEEN HAVING FAMILY
PROBLEMS, TOO.

WITH YOUR MOM.
ABOUT WHAT?

'CAUSE SHE'S BEEN
A LITTLE SICK.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO
WITH NOT LOSING WEIGHT?

BECAUSE I'M HER ONLY CHILD.
I'VE GOT TO BE THERE FOR MY MOM.

I'M STILL NOT UNDERSTANDING
WHAT THAT MEANS.

YOU COULD EAT HEALTHY
AND DO WHAT YOU NEEDED

IF YOU HAD TO BE WITH HER
BECAUSE TAKING CARE OF HER

DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU
HAVE TO OVEREAT, RIGHT?

NOBODY OVERATE NOTHING.

SO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS THAT
WITH THE SCALE?

IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.
I KNOW WHAT I DID.

ALRIGHT, ASHLEY.

THE BIG QUESTION IS,

WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE
WITH THIS PROGRAM

AND SAYING
YOU WANT TO DO THIS

IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA TRY
AND LOSE WEIGHT?

I WANT TO GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND LOSE THE WEIGHT
AND JUST BE MORE HEALTHIER.

SO YOU WANT TO HAVE
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY?

YES, SIR.

OKAY. WE WANT TO GET
SOME LAB WORK FROM YOU,

BUT YOU REFUSED.

SO WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOUR LAB WORK IS.

WE TRIED
TO GET YOUR LAB WORK.

YEAH, I'M GONNA GO
TO THE DOCTOR TOMORROW

AND LET MY PEOPLE
DRAW MY BLOOD

BECAUSE I KNOW MY VEINS
AND THE LADY

THAT I GO TO GET MY BLOOD DRAWN,
SHE ALWAYS FINDS IT.

I'D RATHER JUST HAVE HER DO IT

AND I CAN JUST HAVE THEM
SEND YOU ALL OF THE STUFF.

I'M GONNA GO TO THEM
TOMORROW WHEN I GET UP.

OKAY.
SO LET ME UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND --

YOU DON'T TRUST US
TO DO YOUR BLOOD TEST,

BUT YOU TRUST US TO DO
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON YOU?

NO. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT
TO ME?

NO, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT,
DR. NOW.

I TRUST YOU ALL.

I WOULDN'T BE HERE
IF I DIDN'T TRUST YOU.

WELL, BUT NOT ENOUGH
TO DO YOUR BLOOD,

BUT DO YOU WANT US TO DO
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON YOU?

I DON'T GET THAT.

IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T TRUST YOU,
DR. NOW.

IT'S JUST, ONCE AGAIN,

I'D RATHER HAVE MY LADY
DRAW MY BLOOD

BECAUSE SHE KNOWS MY VEINS.

AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HER.

IF WE'RE BEING HONEST,

I'M COMFORTABLE WITH HER,
NO OFFENSE.

NONE TAKEN,

BUT WE SEE A LITTLE
BIT DISCONNECTING HERE. OKAY?

IF WE ARE NOT ABLE
TO DO YOUR WORKUP,

WE'RE NOT ABLE
TO GET YOUR BLOOD

AND WE'RE NOT ABLE
TO DO ANYTHING,

HOW ARE WE GOING
TO DO YOUR SURGERY?

I'M NOT GONNA HAVE SOME STRANGER
DRAW MY BLOOD.

I TOLD YOU THAT I WAS GOING
TO HAVE MY LADY DRAW MY BLOOD

AND I WAS GONNA
SEND IT OVER HERE.

IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.

WE'VE DONE PEOPLE
THAT OVER 1,000 POUNDS.

WE DRAW BLOOD
ON ALL THOSE PEOPLE.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

IF I'M COMFORTABLE --
NOW I'M GETTING MAD.

SO NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO JUST
TALK TO YOU

LIKE I TALKED TO THEM.Quenton: OH, GOD.

ASHLEY,
YOU HAVE TO TRUST US

TO TREAT YOU
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS.

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ISSUES
YOU MAY HAVE IF YOU DON'T.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE
WITH THAT,

HOW DO YOU EXPECT THIS
TO WORK?

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GIVE YOU
AN I.V. FOR SURGERY.

THAT'S THE SAME THING

AND WE CAN'T HAVE
YOUR PERSON HERE FOR THAT.

SO THIS IS AN ISSUE.

YOU HAVEN'T LOST
ANY WEIGHT

AND YOU WANT US
TO DO MAGIC FOR YOU.

ASHLEY, DON'T DO IT.
NO, DON'T DO IT.

OH, GOD. I CAN'T.
THIS IS GOING ALL WRONG.

SO IF YOU STICK WITH THE DIET
AND YOU EAT LOW CALORIE,

YOU SHOULD
LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

IS THAT HARD
TO UNDERSTAND?

MNH-MNH.
MNH-MNH.

MNH-MNH.

THINK ABOUT THAT REALLY HARD
BEFORE YOU SAY THAT.

OH, MY GOD.

I NEED A MINUTE
BECAUSE THIS IS GOING ALL WRONG

AND I'M TRYING TO BE
RESPECTFUL,

BUT THIS IS JUST, LIKE...

ASHLEY, WHAT THIS COMES
DOWN TO IS SIMPLE.

IF YOU WON'T DO THE THINGS
YOU NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT,

HOW DO YOU THINK
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS GONNA MAKE YOU
LOSE WEIGHT?

I KNOW IT'S GONNA HELP ME
LOSE WEIGHT.

AND AT THE END OF THAT,
I KNOW WHAT I WANT FOR MYSELF.

NO, NO.
THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION.

HOW DO YOU THINK WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERY IS GONNA HELP YOU?

IT'LL HELP ME IN SO MANY WAYS.

IT'LL HELP ME
TO GET MORE HEALTHIER.

IT'LL HELPED ME
WITH LOSING THE WEIGHT.

OKAY.
WITH HELPING LOSING WEIGHT.

HOW IT'S GONNA HELP YOU
LOSE WEIGHT?

THAT'S WHAT
THE QUESTION IS. HOW?

THE QUESTION IS HOW?
HOW IS IT GONNA HELP YOU?

DO YOU WANT ME
TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWER?

Y'ALL FITTIN' TO GO?
'CAUSE I'M DONE.

I'M DONE.

OKAY, LOOK AT ME.

IT'S GONNA HELP YOU
BY MAKING YOU EAT LESS.

YOU GOT THAT?MM-HMM.

OKAY. SO WHEN YOU HAVE
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

YOU'RE GONNA EAT LESS

AND YOU'RE GONNA
LOSE WEIGHT, RIGHT?

YEAH.
OKAY.

NOW THAT YOU'RE
NOT EATING LESS,

YOU'RE NOT LOSING WEIGHT,
YOU GET THAT?

YEAH, DR. NOW.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT WILLING
TO EAT LESS

AND YOU'RE CHOOSING
TO OVEREAT,

THEN SURGERY IS NOT
GONNA CHANGE THAT.

AND IN LONG TERM

IS GONNA FAIL TO DO
ANYTHING FOR YOU.

SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING
WRONG WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

NO, BECAUSE, LIKE, NOW

I'VE RARELY
BEEN EATING NOWADAYS.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON.

I GET THAT YOU THINK THAT,
BUT IT'S NOT REALITY.

SO NO MATTER
WHAT YOU SAY TO ME,

IF YOU DON'T LOSE WEIGHT,
THEN THAT'S AN ISSUE.

EVEN IF YOU BRING
SOMEONE TO WITNESS

TO CONVINCE ME THAT
YOU'RE NOT EATING...

I DIDN'T BRING THEM HERE
TO DO ANYTHING.

I BROUGHT MY FRIENDS IN
FOR SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
Y'ALL READY TO GO?

BECAUSE I'M NOT DOING THIS.

I'M NOT. HE'S NOT FITTIN'
TO TALK TO ME LIKE I'M CRAZY.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO THIS
APPOINTMENT.

YOU'RE NOT FITTIN'
TO DISRESPECT ME.

I'VE BEEN NOTHING
BUT NICE TO YOUR ASS.

YOU'RE NOT FITTIN'
TO DO ME LIKE THAT.

Y'ALL READY TO GO
BECAUSE I'M READY TO GO?

LET'S GO.

MOVE.

YOU WILL GET TRAMPLED.

UM...

YOU KNOW, I WOULD TAKE
A COUPLE OF DEEP BREATHS.

NO, I'M DONE.

LIKE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I'M BEEN COMING THERE --

LIKE, NO, I'M NOT GONNA
WASTE MY MONEY

COMING TO THIS
APPOINTMENT.

I'VE BEEN AT WORK ALL
I'VE GOT TOO MUCH GOING ON.

HE'S NOT GONNA
TALK TO ME LIKE THAT.

LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW ME, BRUH.

I'M GONNA GET THIS PLACE
SHUT THE DOWN.

LET'S GO.

IT JUST DOES ME NO GOOD.

THEY CAN PAY UP,
BECAUSE I DON'T NEED THIS.

I CAN GO BACK
HOME.

HE GOT THE RIGHT ONE.

HE GOT THE RIGHT ONE
BECAUSE I DON'T DO DISRESPECT.

I'M UPSET AT DR. NOW
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I DON'T APPRECIATE
HOW HE PUSHES ME.

BUT QUENTON AND DIERRA
TALKED ME INTO GOING BACK IN

AND FINISHING MY APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE
IF I WAS TO JUST GO HOME,

THAT WOULD BE A SLAP
IN THE FACE NOT ONLY FOR ME,

BUT TO THEM ALSO.
THAT WOULD BE DISRESPECTFUL.

AND I'M NOT GOING
TO DISRESPECT THEM

BECAUSE THEY HELP ME
ON A DAILY BASIS.

THEY AIN'T GOT TO DO THAT.

SO I OWE IT TO THEM,
BUT I'M STILL EXTREMELY UPSET.

AND IF IT GOES
THE SAME WAY AGAIN,

THEN I'M DONE BECAUSE
I DON'T DESERVE THAT.

AND I JUST DON'T NEED
THE NEGATIVITY

WHEN I'M TRYING TO PUT MY LIFE
BACK TOGETHER AND BETTER MYSELF.

ALRIGHT, ASHLEY,
YOU'RE BACK IN.

YEAH, DOC, I DECIDED
TO GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE.

OKAY, WELL,
I'M GLAD YOU'RE BACK,

BUT THE PROBLEM
IS STILL THE SAME.

AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA
ANSWER MY QUESTIONS

AND YOU'RE GONNA GET UPSET
AND STORM OUT OF HERE,

THEN THAT'S
NOT GONNA WORK.

YOU THINK THAT'S OKAY?

FOR REAL? FOR REAL?

SO THIS IS THE PROCESS

THAT WE GRILL EVERYBODY
10 TIME,

ASK THE QUESTION,
GET THEIR ATTITUDE RIGHT

AND SEE
IF THEY'RE COMPLIANT

AND SEE WHAT THEIR LEVEL
OF TOLERANCE IS.

AND YOU SHOW THAT
YOU HAVE NO TOLERANCE

AND YOU GOT THE VERY
EXPLOSIVE PERSONALITY

AND YOU GET VERY UPSET.

AND YOU'RE NOT
TRUSTING US

AND YOU JUST WANT US
TO DO A SURGERY ON YOU.

AND THAT'S NOT
VERY GOOD SETUP. OKAY?

IF YOU DON'T TRUST US
TO DO ANYTHING,

THEN YOU SHOULDN'T
HAVE SURGERY WITH US.

OKAY?

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT
VERY COMFORTABLE FOR YOU.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
RIGHT?

YES.

OKAY. SO WHY ARE YOU
GETTING UPSET?

IT'S MY TURN.
IT'S MY TURN TO TALK NOW?

YES.
OKAY.

I TRUST YOU,
BUT I KNOW MY VEINS

AND IT'S...

I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I DID GET UPSET WITH YOU,

AND I SAID MY APOLOGIZE,
BUT YOU WAS TRYING ME.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST...

I DIDN'T MEAN TO STORM OUT
ON YOU, DR. NOW.

IT'S JUST, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

I'M COMMITTED TO THIS.

IF I WASN'T COMMITTED,
I WOULD BE HOME RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M TIRED, BUT I STILL
CAME TO THIS APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE I AM DEDICATED TO THIS.
IF I WASN'T DEDICATED,

I WOULDN'T HAVE MY FRIENDS
OUT HERE. THEY GOT KIDS.

IF WE KEEPING IT
ALL THE WAY REAL.

I AM DEDICATED TO THIS.
I DO TRUST Y'ALL, IT'S JUST,

I'D RATHER HAVE SOMEBODY
WHO I KNOW

HAS TAKEN MY BLOOD
SEVERAL TIMES DO THAT FOR ME.

AND IF Y'ALL CAN'T RESPECT THAT,
THEN I'M SORRY.

OKAY, WELL, WHAT WAS IT
TO GET YOU UPSET?

WHAT GOT YOU UPSET

OR IS I GAVE AN ANALOGY
AFTER SURGERY, YOU EAT LESS...

NO, THAT AIN'T MAKE ME --...AND YOU LOSE WEIGHT.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE ME UPSET.
THAT DIDN'T MAKE ME UPSET.

THAT DIDN'T GET YOU UPSET?NO, SIR.

SO WHAT DID YOU
GET UPSET FOR?

IT'S JUST THE FACT,
LIKE, OKAY,

THIS IS
MY THIRD TIME MEETING YOU.

AND IT'S LIKE EVERY TIME

I'VE CAME TO YOUR OFFICE,
THE LAST FEW TIMES,

I'VE BEEN NOTHING
BUT NICE TO YOU.

AND YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING
BUT RUDE.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST
LIKE YOU POKE,

YOU POKE, YOU POKE, YOU POKE.

EVENTUALLY, YOU KEEP
POKING AT SOMEBODY,

THEY GONNA BLOW UP
ON YOUR ASS.

AND THAT'S JUST
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY.

AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT.
I'M SORRY FOR BLOWING UP ON YOU,

BECAUSE I DO RESPECT YOU
AS A DOCTOR.

I HAVE NOTHING
BUT RESPECT FOR YOU,

BECAUSE YOU ARE THE BEST DOCTOR.
I HAVE RESEARCHED YOU,

BECAUSE I DO RESEARCH ON THE
PEOPLE THAT WORK ON MY BODY.

BUT IT'S JUST YOU KEEP POKING
AND POKING AND POKING.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY FOR ME.

AND I'M SORRY
FOR TAKING IT OUT ON YOU,

BUT YOU CAN'T KEEP POKING.

YOU CAN'T KEEP JUST,
"EH, EH, EH, EH."

YOU CAN'T KEEP DOING THAT.
I UNDERSTAND.

YOU GOT TO DO YOUR JOB,
THAT'S WHAT YOU GET PAID FOR.

BUT I COME TO THIS STRIP MALL
TO SEE YOU,

AND I COME HERE, YOU KNOW,
TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT.

AND TRY TO HOPEFULLY
GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

I'M NOT SAYING I WANT YOU
TO MAGICALLY MAKE ME SKINNY.

OH, YEAH, MAKE ME SKINNY.
MAKE ME SKINNY.

I DON'T WANT THAT.
NO.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, THOUGH,

IT'S A LOT OF RESPECT
THAT HAS TO BE UNDERSTOOD,

BECAUSE MY MOM --

MY MOM DON'T TALK TO ME
THE WAY YOU TALK TO ME.

NO ONE TALKS TO ME THAT WAY.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND.

YOU'RE DOING YOUR JOB.
I GET THAT.

IT'S JUST THE LEVEL OF RESPECT
THAT HAS TO BE SHOWN.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN NOTHING
BUT NICE TO YOU.

EVEN WHEN YOU DISRESPECTED ME,
I'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT NICE.

AND YOU, NO OFFENSE,
BUT YOU'VE BEEN A

AND THAT'S ALL
I GOT TO SAY.

OKAY, ASHLEY, FIRST,
THIS IS A PROCESS

THAT WE ASK YOU A QUESTION,

AND YOU CALL THAT
POKING AT YOU?

NO, I'M NOT.
SEE, YOU GETTING MAD, DR. NOW.

WELL, THIS IS A PROCESS
THAT EVERYBODY GO THROUGH.

AND I GET THAT, BUT YOU'RE NOT
FITTIN' TO GET LOUD WITH ME.

Quenton: ASHLEY.

NO, NO, NO.

BRING IT DOWN.
COUPLE OF NOTCHES.

YOU GET LOUD WITH ME
WHEN I'M RIGHT HERE.

WE RIGHT HERE
WITH EACH OTHER.

YOU NOT GONNA
GET LOUD WITH ME.

NO, DON'T DO THAT.
I GET WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I GET THE PROCESS,
I GET ALL OF THAT.

AND I'M WILLING TO COMPLY.

BUT YOU CANNOT GET LOUD!

YOU'RE OKAY TO USE
THE "F" WORD,

AND THEN WALKING OUT
AND ALL THAT.

AND YOU THINK
I AM LOUD WITH YOU?

YOU BEING LOUD RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M LITERALLY
TWO FEET AWAY FROM YOU.

LIKE, I UNDERSTAND.

I USED SOME "F" BOMBS, AND I
DROPPED A COUPLE OF "F" BOMBS.

OKAY, ASHLEY,
THIS IS REALITY.

YOU ARE NOT CANDIDATE
FOR ANY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE
RIGHT ATTITUDE.

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO WELL
WITH THE SURGERY, EITHER.

ALRIGHT.
SO THERE IT IS.

OKAY?
THAT'S A WRAP.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING

THAT PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND
THE PROCESS,

THEY ANSWER THE QUESTION
WHEN WE ASK THEM,

THEY DON'T GET UPSET,

THEY DON'T
BECOME IRRATIONAL

AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO DO, EDUCATE THEM.

BUT WHEN WE ASK YOU A QUESTION,
YOU GET VERY DEFENSIVE.

YOU DON'T WANT
TO ANSWER THE QUESTION...

YOU'RE TALKING TO ME CRAZY.

...BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE
OF THE QUESTION AND ANSWER

IS TO GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE PROCESS IS GONNA DO.

OKAY, YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT.YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

I'M WRONG.

AND THAT QUESTION
IS NOT POKING,

AND THAT'S NOT
BEING DISRESPECTFUL.

AND THIS IS NOT THE PROCESS
THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH

WITHOUT US MAKING SURE
YOU UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS.

BECAUSE SURGERY
IS NOT SOMETHING BENIGN.

THERE'S A RISK WITH IT.

AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW TO USE THAT TOOL,

YOU CAN HARM YOURSELF.

SO THIS IS EDUCATIONAL THING
THAT WE ASK YOU.

OKAY.

AND EVERY TIME I ASK YOU
A QUESTION, YOU DON'T ANSWER.

ALRIGHT.
OKAY?

YOU'RE RIGHT.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?YES, SIR.

YOU SEEM TO BE A LITTLE
SARCASTIC, SO I'M NOT SURE.

AND YOU NEED
TO UNDERSTAND.

FROM THIS POINT

TO THE POINT THAT
YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHY,

THERE'S A STEP
TO GO THROUGH.

YOU HAVE
TO MAKE THOSE STEPS.

WE ARE HERE TO GUIDE YOU
IN THE RIGHT CHANNEL.

WE GIVE YOU THE ROADMAP,

BUT WE CAN'T MAGICALLY
MAKE THOSE THINGS TO HAPPEN.

OKAY?

SO WHEN
I'M ASKING A QUESTION,

THAT YOU'RE NOT
LOSING WEIGHT,

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT YOU'RE OVEREATING.

OKAY?
AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND,

THE ONLY WAY THIS SURGERY'S
GONNA CHANGE THAT IS,

IF YOU'RE WILLING
TO MAKE THE CHOICES

TO STOP OVEREATING.

IT'S NOT GONNA HELP YOU
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT.

OKAY?

SO THE SURGERY IS GOING
TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES

THAT YOU SHOULD BE MAKING
THOSE CHANGES NOW.

IF IT'S GONNA HAVE
AN EFFECT AT ALL

AND FOR YOU TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN THE LONG RUN.

YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT I'M SAYING?

OKAY?

SO, THE QUESTION IS,
DO YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE?

OKAY. THEN, IF YOU'RE
BEING HONEST ABOUT THINGS,

AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING,
THEN TELL ME,

DO YOU SEE ANY PROBLEM
WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING

WITH YOUR CHOICES

THAT ARE KEEPING YOU
AT THIS WEIGHT?

OKAY.
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM

THAT HOLDING YOU
FROM THIS POINT

TO GET TO THE POINT
THAT YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT?

MYSELF, AND I OVEREAT.

AND I DID CHEAT
A COUPLE OF TIMES

SINCE OUR LAST APPOINTMENT.

ASHLEY,
A FEW MINUTES AGO,

I ASKED YOU
IF YOU WERE OVEREATING,

YOU SAID YOU NEVER --YES, I DO OVEREAT.

OKAY, THIS IS A GOOD STEP
TO ADMIT THAT.

BUT THEN HOW DO YOU SEE
THE SURGERY

IS GONNA CHANGE THAT?

I HAVE TO CHANGE THAT FIRST
BEFORE I GET THE SURGERY,

AND I'M WILLING TO CHANGE THAT.

I KNOW NOW, I CAN'T TURN
TO FOOD WHENEVER I'M MAD.

I'M USED TO DOING THAT.

TAKE THE SURGERY OFF THE TABLE.

I HAVE TO WORK ON MYSELF
BEFORE I CAN GET THE SURGERY.

BECAUSE IF I'M NOT
HEALTHY MENTALLY,

PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY,
THEN THE SURGERY, IT WILL FAIL.

I DON'T WANT THE SURGERY TO FAIL
BECAUSE THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

OBVIOUSLY I'M SERIOUS
ABOUT THE PROGRAM

BECAUSE I'M DRIVING --
WE LIVE FOUR HOURS.

I LIVE FOUR HOURS AWAY,
FOUR, THREE HOURS AWAY.

I'M COMING AFTER WORK
WHEN I COULD BE HOME,

DOING OTHER STUFF.
BUT, YEAH, I'M HERE.

NOT SAYING THAT THAT'S...

I'M OBVIOUSLY
TAKING THIS SERIOUS,

BECAUSE NORMALLY
WHEN I GET OFF OF WORK,

I GO TO BED TO GET READY
FOR THE NEXT DAY.

BUT I'M SERIOUS ABOUT THIS,
AND I HOPE YOU GIVE ME A CHANCE.

I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO
GIVE ME A CHANCE,

BUT I'M HOPING YOU DO
BECAUSE I AM SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

OKAY, ASHLEY.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT IS
AN ELEMENT OF FOOD COMFORT.

YOU FEEL UPSET AND YOU EAT.
YOU FEEL BETTER.

YES.

OKAY, SO THAT'S WHY

YOU NEED TO KEEP WORKING
WITH PSYCHOTHERAPY.

OKAY?
YEAH.

DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU
NEED TO WORK ON NOW

AND WHAT DO YOU NEED
TO DO?

YEAH, NOW I'M PSYCHED.

NOW I KNOW I HAVE
TO COPE WITH --

I HAVE TO START
LETTING MY EMOTIONS OUT

BECAUSE, IT'S JUST,
I'VE BEEN SAD LATELY.

BUT I KNOW ONCE I HAVE THE
SURGERY, IF I HAVE THE SURGERY,

I HAVE TO FIND NEW WAYS
TO COPE WITH MY EMOTIONS.

I HAVE TO LET THEM OUT.
I CAN'T JUST HOLD THEM IN.

I HAVE TO ACTUALLY
TALK TO PEOPLE

AND I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE
WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON,

STUFF WILL BE GOING ON IN MY
LIFE AND I WON'T TELL NOBODY.

OKAY?
SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

IS A STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

AND I'M PROUD
OF YOU FOR THAT,

BUT RIGHT NOW YOU HAVE TO
TAKE THERAPY SERIOUSLY

AND WORK WITH THEM.

AND THEN I WANT YOU
TO SHOW ME THAT WITH ACTION

BY LOSING 40 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT 2 MONTHS, OKAY?

OKAY.

SO YOU NEED TO START
MAKING CHANGES

AND DO WHAT YOU NEED.
OKAY?

I WILL. BUT I'VE BEEN DOING
THE STUFF ON THE PAPER,

THE BAD STUFF
AND THE GOOD STUFF.

I'VE BEEN TAKING THIS STUFF.

IT'S JUST I'VE BEEN
OVEREATING WITH IT.

BUT HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE YOU TOLD ME

YOU'RE NOT OVEREATING?

I KNOW, DR. NOW,
BUT I REALLY AM OVEREATING.

SO WHICH ONE OF THEM
I SHOULD BELIEVE?

I JUST TOLD YOU I'M OVEREATING.
I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.

I'M OVEREATING.
I OVEREAT THE FOOD.

NO, SHE'S TELLING YOU
THE TRUTH.

SHE'S DOING THAT.
THAT'S THE TRUTH.

NOW THE TRUTH
IS COMING OUT.

YES, NOW THE TRUTH
IS COMING OUT.

I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.
I'M OVEREATING THE FOOD.

I BOUGHT THE HEALTHY FOOD.
I DID EVERYTHING ON THE LIST.

I WENT, I GOT ALL THE BAD STUFF
OUT MY HOUSE, BUT IT'S JUST NOW

I'M OVEREATING
THE HEALTHY FOOD.

AND NOW SHE'S TELLING
ON HERSELF,

SO SHE'S TELLING HE TRUTH.

I OVEREAT THE HEALTHY FOOD.

OKAY, SO HOW ARE Y'ALL
GONNA HELP HER?

OH, SHE ALREADY KNOWS
ABOUT THAT ONE.

Ashley: THEY GOT RID OF ALL
THE UNHEALTHY FOOD

YOU DIDN'T WANT ME
TO EAT.

WE WAS TOLD THAT
SHE WAS EATING LIKE

SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO.

NOW WE GOT
TO WATCH HER ASS.

YEAH.
NOW WE GONNA BE THE ONES

WHO HAVE TO PREPARE
YOUR MEALS FOR YOU.

I STARTED COOKING, DR. NOW.

THEY COME OVER AND I COOK,

BUT THEN WHEN THEY LEAVE,
I EAT ALL I COOKED.

YEP. THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT SHE DOES.

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO WATCH YOUR ASS EAT.

AND THEN PUT THE FOOD UP.

OKAY, ASHLEY, DO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO ALL THAT?

I SAID I WOULD AND I'M ADMITTING
TO MY WRONGS, DR. NOW,

WHICH IS HARD FOR ME

BECAUSE I DON'T ADMIT
TO NONE OF MY WRONGS.

YEAH, THAT'S REALLY
HARD TO DO.

I LIKE YOU BECAUSE
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT I DID

BECAUSE I DON'T TELL ON MYSELF.
I TAKE IT TO THE GRAVE.

TAKE THE DOC.
TAKE THE WIN.

ALRIGHT, ASHLEY,
MAKE SURE YOU GO

TO YOUR NEXT
THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

WORK WITH LOLA
TO START TO ADDRESS

THE THINGS
HOLDING YOU BACK.

AND THEN LOSE 40 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT 2 MONTHS.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?YES, SIR.

IF YOU'VE DONE GOOD,
YOU CHANGE YOUR EATING HABIT,

IT'S GONNA SHOW
ON THE SCALE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE HONEST
BECAUSE EVERY TIME

I ASK YOU ABOUT
YOUR EATING HABITS,

YOU SORT OF KEEP THAT
UNDER CARPET.

I'VE NEVER WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW
HOW MUCH I REALLY EAT.

IT'S OVER TIME,
I JUST STARTED HIDING

HOW MUCH I WAS REALLY EATING.

BUT NOW I KNOW
I CAN'T DO THAT WITH YOU.

SO I'M NOT GONNA DO
THAT NO MORE. NO MORE.

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD,
NO MORE, DR. NOW.

OH, NO. NO, WE'RE GOING
TO MAKE SURE. TRUST ME.

OKAY. SO YOU HAVE
A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM.

AND I GIVE YOU BOTH COPY
OF HER DIET AND EXERCISE, TOO,

SO THEY KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GONNA EAT.

-YEAH.
-GIVE IT TO THEM.

Dierra: BECAUSE NOW
SHE GOT TO BE SUPERVISED,

BECAUSE SHE WASN'T
TELLING THE TRUTH.

9 TIMES OUT OF 10,

THEY NOT GONNA LET ME
COOK FOR MYSELF NO MORE.

SEE, I STARTED COOKING
FOR MYSELF LIKE YOU TOLD ME.

THIS IS WHERE WE GOT.

OH, YEAH,
THAT'S OUT THE WINDOW.

WELL, EATING SALAD
IS NOT COOKING. OKAY?

NO, SHE ACTUALLY
COOKED SALMON.

HOLD UP, DOC,
I NEVER COOK FOR MYSELF.

I DIDN'T EVEN
BURN DOWN MY HOUSE.

SHE BEEN BINGE-WATCHING AUNT
FAYE'S AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

EXACTLY.

IS THAT IT?

ALRIGHT, ASHLEY. I DON'T WANT
YOU TO COME BACK HERE

AND TELL ME
YOU'RE NOT OVEREATING.

"I DON'T KNOW WHY
I DIDN'T LOSE ANY WEIGHT."

I GOT YOU. I GOT YOU.

WHY AM I GONNA DO THAT?
I'M GONNA LOSE THE 40 POUNDS.

AND WHEN I ASK YOU
WHAT YOU EAT,

DON'T CALL US
THAT WE POKING AT YOU.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY
THAT NO MORE.

I DID THAT THIS ONE TIME, DOC.

I'M NOT GONNA DO YOU
LIKE THAT NO MORE.

NOW, YOU, ME, WE LIKE HERE.
WE FAMILY NOW. I GOT YOU.

ALRIGHT, IN TWO MONTHS,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE

40 POUNDS
IN 2 MONTHS.

SO IN THE MEANTIME,

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION,
GIVE ME A CALL.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE
HOW YOU DO IN TWO MONTHS.

OKAY?

ALRIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU
IN TWO MONTHS.

ALRIGHT.

YOU TAKE CARE.
NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

AND I'LL GET YOU THE STUFF.
OKAY?

-OKAY.
-YES, SIR.

ALRIGHT.

I WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY CONCERNED

WHEN ASHLEY GOT UPSET
AND STORMED OUT.

I THOUGHT THAT COULD
BE IT FOR HER,

BUT THANKFULLY SHE CAME BACK

AND WAS WILLING TO TALK TO ME
AFTER A LITTLE BIT

AND MADE SOME POSITIVE STEPS
COMING CLEAN ABOUT HER

EATING HABITS AND BEING HONEST
WITH ME ABOUT THAT.

SO, THAT WAS ENCOURAGING.

BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT
SHE'S STILL NOT LOSING WEIGHT

AND SHOWING ME
SHE'S TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

AND THERE STILL SEEM
TO BE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL

AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES

THAT SHE NEEDS TO START
WORKING ON

TO GET PAST
WHAT IS HOLDING HER BACK

AND KEEPING HER FROM MAKING
THE CHANGES SHE NEEDS.

SO SHE'S STILL VERY FAR
FROM WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE

TO BE READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS
THAT SHE NEED TO KEEP WORKING

WITH PSYCHOTHERAPY RIGHT NOW
TO TURN THINGS AROUND.

AND UNTIL SHE DOES THAT, THEN WE
WON'T BE MOVING AHEAD WITH HER.

Ashley:
I'M GLAD I CAME BACK IN

BECAUSE I STILL NEED
THIS SURGERY, THOUGH,

SO I CAN START LIVING
BECAUSE I DO WANT TO LIVE.

I WANT TO START
LIVING MY LIFE.

I DON'T WANT TO BE
TRAPPED IN THIS BODY.

DOING THIS IS HARD,
BUT ALL I CAN DO IS TRY AGAIN

AND KEEP DOING MY BEST

BECAUSE I NEED
TO GO BACK TO LOLA.

I NEED MORE ASSISTANCE.

SO I'LL GO BACK
AND TRY TO WORK ON THINGS.

AND HOPEFULLY
WHEN I COME BACK NEXT TIME,

IT'LL BE ENOUGH TO SHOW DR. NOW
WHAT HE NEEDS TO SEE FROM ME

TO MOVE AHEAD
WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

SO I CAN FINALLY GET CLOSER
TO THE LIFE I WANT

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
THIS IS ALL FOR.

Ashley: I HAD ANOTHER
APPOINTMENT WITH LOLA,

AND SHE TALKED TO ME AGAIN

ABOUT THE THINGS WE DID
THE FIRST TIME.

AND SHE STILL THINKS
I NEED TO CREATE A PROFILE

OF MYSELF THAT'S TRUTHFUL,

WHICH IS HONESTLY SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER DONE.

I'VE CREATED
THOUSANDS OF PROFILES

AND I'VE USED THEM
FOR CATFISHING.

SOME HAVE SOME REALNESS TO THEM,

BUT NOTHING THAT'S JUST ME
TO THE WORLD.

BUT I'M WILLING TO DO THE STEPS
I NEED TO TRY AND GROW AND DEAL

WITH MY ISSUES
THAT ARE HOLDING ME BACK

SO THAT I CAN GET
TO A HEALTHIER PLACE.

THIS IS HARD BECAUSE
IT'S SCARY TO ME

TO PUT MYSELF
OUT THERE LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE MY TEMPTATION
IS GONNA BE TO TRY AND CHANGE

SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF.

COME IN.

AND THEN IT'LL PROBABLY
JUST END UP LIKE

ONE OF MY OTHER PROFILES.

QUENTON SAID HE'LL COME OVER
TO HELP ME WITH IT.

MM-HMM.

I'M SO MAD RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?

YOU KNOW,
MY ANXIETY KICKS IN.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING
TO MAKE EXACTLY?

JUST
A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT.

ALRIGHT.

NOTHING SERIOUS.

OKAY. WHAT KIND OF USERNAME
DO YOU WANT?

I DON'T KNOW.

OKAY.

I KNOW THAT SEEMS
LIKE A SIMPLE THING,

BUT THIS IS A BIG STEP FOR ME.

BUT I KNOW FROM WHAT
LOLA SAYS, IT HELPS ME GROW

TO WHERE I COULD BE OKAY
PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE.

I'M GONNA TAKE
A PICTURE OF YOU.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT,
YOU CAN DELETE IT.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE.
ALRIGHT.

SO I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS TODAY,

BUT I KNOW IT'S JUST
THE EARLY STEP IN MY PROCESS.

BECAUSE LOLA GAVE ME
OTHER THINGS

I NEED TO WORK ON DOING, TOO,

LIKE DOING SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
TO WHERE I CAN MEET PEOPLE.

SO I KNOW I NEED TO KEEP GOING
AND DO THAT TO BETTER MYSELF.

SO I'M GONNA FOCUS
ON THAT STEP NEXT

SO I CAN KEEP PUSHING FORWARD
WITH MY GROWTH HOW I NEED IT.

AND HOPEFULLY AS I DO THAT,

I'LL START TO SEE THE GROWTH
WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS, TOO.

ALRIGHT, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND FINISH THIS UP.

SO WHY DO YOU FEEL LIKE
LOLA WANTED YOU TO DO THIS?

BECAUSE SHE WANTED ME

TO COME UP OUT
OF MY SOCIAL-ANXIETY SHELL.

I FEEL LIKE
IF I COME OUT MY SHELL,

PEOPLE ARE JUST
GONNA ATTACK ME

AND THEN I'M GOING
TO ATTACK THEM.

SEE, THAT'S THE THING.

IF THEY DO,
THEN THAT'S ON THEM.

REMEMBER, SOCIAL MEDIA
NEEDS YOU, YOU DON'T NEED IT.

I KNOW.
THERE YOU GO.

SEE, LOOK.

I LIKE THAT ONE.

BECAUSE THAT'S STILL MY PRIMARY
FOCUS TO GET TO WHERE I WANT

AND THAT STILL ALL DEPENDS
ON MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND GETTING THAT.

SO, I KEEP PUSHING FORWARD
AND DOING ALL THE THINGS

I CAN TO GET THERE
AND MAKE SURE I DO THAT.

TONIGHT I'M TAKING ANOTHER STEP

THAT ACCOMPLISHES
SOME THINGS FOR ME.

ONE THING IS THAT LOLA GAVE ME
THE TASK OF BEING MORE SOCIAL.

AND SINCE I NEED
TO DO EXERCISES, TOO,

WHAT I DECIDED WAS TO DO
AN ACTIVITY CLASS

AT THE GYM
WHERE WE DO SOME BOXING.

HELLO.
HI.

NICE TO MEET YOU, LONZO.
ALRIGHTY.

FIRST TIME DOING THIS?
YEAH.

OKAY.
SO FIRST THINGS FIRST,

WE'LL KIND OF JUST GET
THESE ON RIGHT NOW

AND THEN WE'LL JUST
EASE INTO THAT. OKAY?

I THINK DOING THIS WILL ALSO
HELP ME GET STRONGER,

BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS
WANTED TO KNOW

HOW TO DEFEND MYSELF
IN CASE I NEED TO.

SO, I'M KILLING A LOT OF BIRDS
WITH ONE STONE.

IT'S JUST OUTSIDE
MY COMFORT ZONE.

AND NOW THAT I'M HERE,
MY NERVOUSNESS IS GROWING.

BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE GOOD
FOR ME, SO I'M DOING THIS.

ASHLEY, WE'LL GET YOU
ON THIS BAG RIGHT HERE.

SO WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO HERE,

WE'RE JUST THROWING
THE LEFT HAND RIGHT HERE.

YEP.
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

GOOD. ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE
GONNA SWITCH STANCES NOW.

Man: READY? AND ONE.

JAB, TWO KNEES.
BOOM, BOOM.

JAB, TWO KNEES.

GOOD. JAB, ONE.
AND THEN THE OTHER KNEE.

EXCELLENT.

MORE JAB, BOOM.
KNEE, BOOM, KNEE, BOOM.

EXCELLENT.

JAB, BOOM.
KNEE, BOOM.

EXCELLENT.

KNEE, BOOM, KNEE.
EXCELLENT. ONE MORE.

JAB, KNEE, BOOM, BOOM.

EXCELLENT.
GOOD WORK.

Alonzo:
GLOVES OFF, GLOVES OFF.

I CAN GET THEM OFF YOU.

THAT TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME,
BUT I FEEL GOOD

AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR PUSHING MYSELF TO DO THIS.

AND I DO FEEL LIKE BEING OUT
AND BEING MORE SOCIAL,

IT'S HELPING ME BETTER MYSELF.

SO I THINK I'M MAKING
A LOT OF GOOD PROGRESS NOW

AND I'M TURNING THINGS AROUND
TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE

AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

SO WHEN I GO BACK TO DR. NOW,
I'LL FINALLY BE --

HE SEES MY HARD WORK
AND MY DETERMINATION TO DO THIS.

I KNOW I HAVE MORE WORK
IN MY LIFE

TO DO TO GET BETTER,
BUT I'M NOT STOPPING

AND I'M DOING WHAT I NEED
TO FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING NOW
THAT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT

IS THE TIME
WHERE IT'LL ALL PAY OFF FOR ME

WHEN I FINALLY GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Ashley: OVERALL, THIS PAST MONTH
HAS BEEN GOOD.

IT'S JUST WHEN YOU WORK SO HARD
TO STAY ON TRACK,

IT MAKES MOMENTS
LIKE THIS THAT MUCH HARDER

BECAUSE THE NEXT THING
I TRIED TO DO FROM LOLA'S ADVICE

WAS TO REACH OUT TO MY FAMILY

I NEED TO MAKE AMENDS WITH,
TO RESTORE MY RELATIONSHIPS.

YES.
-HELLO.

-HI.
-WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?

LET ME GET
A LARGE MANGO SMOOTHIE.

LARGE MANGO SMOOTHIE.WHAT'S YOU WANT?

Quenton: OH, CAN I GET A BLENDED
CREAM VANILLA BEAN

WITH ORANGE MARMALADE?

-ORANGE MARMALADE?
-YES, MA'AM.

DID YOU WANT WHIPPED CREAM
ON YOURS?

YES, MA'AM.LET ME GET THAT FOR YOU.

-APPRECIATE IT.
-ALRIGHTY.

Ashley: AND I'M TRYING TO DO
THAT STARTING WITH MY AUNT

BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED
WITH HER

WHEN IT CAME OUT
I WAS CATFISHING.

BECAUSE I KNOW I SAID
SOME THINGS ONLINE I REGRET.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANT
TO MAKE AMENDS FOR IT.

EVEN THOUGH SHE SAID SOME
DISRESPECTFUL THINGS TO ME, TOO.

BUT SO FAR SHE HADN'T
PICKED UP MY CALLS,

SO I HAVEN'T BEEN
ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO I'M JUST WORRIED
WITH THE OBSTACLES I'M FACING,

IT'S GONNA HOLD ME UP
FOR MY PROGRESS.

SO QUENTON IS TRYING
TO TAKE MY MIND OFF THINGS

AND LET ME VENT SOME OF MY
EMOTIONS TO HIM TO BE SUPPORTIVE

BECAUSE HE SEES
MY STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON?

EVERYTHING.

REALLY?
MM-HMM.

GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY?
I GOT TO MY MOM'S.

OH, THAT'S GOOD.
MM-HMM.

I WAS TELLING HER
ABOUT MY JOURNEY

AND EVERYTHING
I'M GOING THROUGH.

SHE'S JUST UNDERSTANDING.

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

SHE WAS JUST SAYING
SHE'S THERE FOR ME

AND SHE WISHED
SHE COULD BE HERE.

BUT I WAS DEALING
WITH MY SHRINK, LOLA.

SHE WAS JUST SAYING
I NEED TO MAKE AMENDS

AND TRY TO REBUILD BRIDGES
AND START REKINDLING STUFF

WITH MY FAMILY.

AND I'M TRYING.
I MISS THEM.

SHE GOT YOU TO REKINDLE
WITH YOUR FAMILY?

YEAH.

I'M IMPRESSED.

WHAT ELSE DID YOU
AND LOLA TALK ABOUT?

BECAUSE I KNOW LOLA GOT INTO IT,
GOT INTO IT.

WE TALKED ABOUT
MY SOCIAL ANXIETY.

WAIT,
SHE GOT YOU TO SPEAK?

ALRIGHT. I'M IMPRESSED,
MISS LOLA. I'M IMPRESSED.

YEAH, MY SOCIAL ANXIETY,
SHE WAS TELLING ME ABOUT IT

AND I WAS TELLING HER,
"I FEAR GOING OUT.

I'M SCARED TO GO OUT,

BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS THINKING
SOMEBODY'S AFTER ME."

BUT WHAT
I'M ABOUT TO TELL YOU

IS THE WORLD
AIN'T AGAINST YOU,

IF YOU KNOW THAT.

THAT'S THE THING, I KNOW
THE WORLD'S NOT AGAINST ME,

IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW.

AS LONG AS FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE IN A GOOD PLACE,

THEN I'M ROOTING FOR YOU.

BUT LET'S KNOCK OFF
THIS 20 POUNDS,

LET'S GET THIS SURGERY DONE,
AND LET'S JUST CALL IT.

I'M AT A POINT IN MY LIFE
WHERE I'M LIKE,

"WHATEVER HAPPENS,
HAPPENS."

I'M NOT FORCING NOTHING.
I'M NOT CHASING NOBODY.

I AIN'T BEGGING NOBODY
TO TALK TO ME.

BUT AS FAR AS 20 POUNDS GO,
I MEAN, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

LET'S DO IT.
LET'S GET IT OVER WITH.

I'M TRYING MY BEST TO TAKE
ALL THE STEPS

I NEED AND TAKE MY WALLS
DOWN TO MOVE FORWARD,

BUT I CAN'T CONTROL
OTHER PEOPLE'S ACTIONS

AND THEIR CHOICES TO ME.

I CAN ONLY DO WHAT I CAN DO,

AND I'M JUST HOPING
NONE OF THIS HOLDS ME BACK.

BUT I'M DOING WHAT I CAN
AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING SO HARD

TO GET TO MY GOAL
FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

AND I ONLY HAVE ABOUT A WEEK

UNTIL MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.

AND I NEED TO MAKE
AS MUCH PROGRESS

AS I CAN TO INCREASE
MY CHANCES

BECAUSE I NEED TO HIT MY GOAL
AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

WHICH IS THE WHOLE REASON
FOR ALL OF THIS

BECAUSE I'M VERY READY
TO GET TO THE LIFE I REALLY WANT

AND START LIVING
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

TRULY LIVE.

SO I'M WORKING
MY HARDEST TO DO THAT

AND I JUST HOPE IT'S ENOUGH.

I'M BACK AT DR. NOW'S
AND I'M VERY NERVOUS,

EXTREMELY BECAUSE
THIS HAS TO BE IT FOR ME.

I WORKED MY HARDEST
TO TAKE ALL THE STEPS

I NEED TO GET TO MY GOAL.

ASHLEY.

AND SO NOW I FEEL LIKE
IT'S ALL ON THE LINE

BECAUSE I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN
AND I NEED THIS SURGERY.

AND I KNOW IT'S GONNA ALL
COME DOWN TO MY WEIGHT AGAIN.

SO, I'M REALLY HOPING I'M WHERE
I NEED AND I MADE IT TO MY GOAL

BECAUSE ALL MY HOPES
AND MY DREAMS

AND MY WHOLE LIFE
ARE DEPENDENT ON THIS.

Ashley: I'M AT DR. NOW'S AGAIN
TO FIND OUT MY WEIGHT,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT
WITH HOW MUCH HARDER I TRIED,

THAT I MET MY GOAL THIS TIME.

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
I WAS AT 475.

AND DR. NOW SAID I NEEDED
TO LOSE 40 POUNDS.

SO THAT WOULD PUT ME AT FOR 435

IF I'M THERE
AND WHERE I NEED TO BE.

THAT'S AT LEAST MORE THAN
LAST TIME, SO THAT'S A POSITIVE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF THAT'S HOW DR. NOW

IS GONNA SEE IT TO AGREE
BECAUSE IT'S NOT TO MY GOAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW
THIS IS GONNA GO,

BUT PROBABLY NOT LIKE I NEED IT.

SO I'M JUST VERY DISAPPOINTED
AND WEARY RIGHT NOW.

COME IN.

HELLO.
HELLO.

-HELLO.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

WE'RE DOING GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I'M GOOD. THANK YOU.

I SEE YOU'RE 469 TODAY.

YES, SIR.

OKAY. MY MAIN CONCERN

IS THAT YOU'RE NOT
LOSING ENOUGH WEIGHT

SINCE YOU STARTED
THE PROGRAM.

AND SO THAT'S
AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I LOST ALMOST
20 POUNDS TOTAL,

SO I'VE MADE IT
TO YOUR GOAL.

BUT IT'S TAKING YOU SIX TIMES
LONGER TO DO THAT,

SO THAT'S A FACTOR
THAT SHOWS

THAT YOU'RE STILL NOT
CUTTING BACK

YOUR EATING
LIKE YOU SHOULD.

BUT I LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT
ON TOP OF THAT

BECAUSE I REALLY STARTED AT 630.

REALLY?
YES, SIR.

WELL, I GOT THE REST
OF YOUR MEDICAL RECORD

FROM WHEN YOU TRIED
TO DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

FROM THE PREVIOUS CLINIC
YOU WENT TO.

YES, SIR.

IT GOES BACK
TO THREE YEARS AGO.

YES, SIR.

AND THREE YEARS AGO,

THEY SAID
YOU WERE AT 449 POUND.

AND THEN THREE YEARS AGO,
477 POUNDS.

AND THEN 479.

SO NOW 469.

JUST PRETTY MUCH
THE SAME WEIGHT

YOU HAVE BEEN
FOR PAST THREE YEARS.

SO I CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU HAVE
LOST MUCH OF ANY WEIGHT

RECENTLY OR IN THE PAST
THREE YEARS.

SO THERE IS
STILL NO EVIDENCE

THAT YOU ARE TAKING
THIS SERIOUSLY LIKE YOU NEED.

BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL NOT
LOSING WEIGHT.

AND MY BIG CONCERN
IS THAT YOUR BMI

IS STILL VERY HIGH.

YES, SIR.

IT'S ALMOST 84.

AND THIS IS A GOOD WAY

TO HAVE BLOOD PRESSURE
AND DIABETES

AND WITH
THE UNKNOWN CONDITION

THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO FULLY DETERMINE

BECAUSE YOU HAVE REFUSED
TO LET US DO

ALL THE TESTING
IN THE PAST.

SO BEFORE
WE DO ANYTHING ELSE,

I WANT TO DO
SOME TESTS ON YOU

AND SEE WHAT THE KIND
OF HEALTH ISSUE YOU HAVE.

AND WE NEED
TO DO THAT TODAY

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE
WITH THE PROGRAM.

OKAY?
OKAY.

SO YOU'RE WILLING
TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW?

YES, SIR.
I'M WILLING TO DO IT.

OKAY. LET'S GET THAT GOING
AND THEN I WILL COME BACK

AND DISCUSS
THAT FURTHER WITH YOU.

COME IN.

HELLO. I'M HERE TO GET
YOUR BLOOD WORK.

OKAY.

I'M GETTING NERVOUS.

I'M GETTING NERVOUS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IT'S POSITIVE

THAT ASHLEY
IS FINALLY ALLOWING US

TO RUN SOME OF THE TESTS
WE HAVE NEEDED ON HER.

AND MY CONCERN IS THAT
WITH HOW LONG

SHE HAS HAD THIS AMOUNT
OF WEIGHT ON HER BODY,

SHE COULD HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE
AT THIS POINT

THAT WE NEED TO SEND HER
TO THE HOSPITAL TO TREAT.

SO BEFORE WE DO
ANYTHING ELSE WITH HER,

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
TO RUN SOME TESTS

AND SEE WHAT HER SITUATION IS,

SO WE CAN GET AHEAD
OF ANY ISSUES WE NEED WITH HER

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

HI, ASHLEY.

HEY, DOCTOR.

SO WE GOT YOUR BLOOD TESTS
AND WE GOT YOUR EKG.

SO THAT'S GOOD

THAT YOU FINALLY COOPERATING
WITH US FOR THAT

BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT
WE ARE ABLE TO FULLY TREAT YOU.

AND SO FAR THE TEST SHOWS
THAT THERE'S NOTHING

LIFE-THREATENING GOING ON,
WHICH IS GOOD,

BUT THAT CAN CHANGE
VERY QUICKLY FOR YOU

AS LONG AS YOU PUTTING
ALL THE STRAIN

IN YOUR SYSTEM
WITH YOUR WEIGHT.

SO YOU NEED
TO GET TO A POINT

WHERE YOU'RE LOSING AT LEAST
20 POUNDS A MONTH,

CONSISTENTLY, OVER A PERIOD
OF TIME AT THIS POINT.

AND YOU CAN START
TO SHOW ME THAT

BY LOSING AT LEAST 40 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT 2 MONTHS.

AND PSYCHOTHERAPY NEED
TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS WITH YOU

BEFORE WE CONSIDER YOU
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE CANDIDATE

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?

OKAY. ALRIGHT, ASHLEY.
I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS.

AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING
IN THE MEANTIME,

GIVE ME A CALL.

ALRIGHTY.ALRIGHT. SEE Y'ALL LATER.

ALRIGHT.
IT WAS GOOD SEEING YOU.

Dierra:
YOU TOO. TAKE CARE.

I THINK AT THIS POINT,
OUR FOCUS WITH ASHLEY

NEEDS TO BE
ON PSYCHOTHERAPY,

BECAUSE THERE SEEMS TO BE
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER

OF EMOTIONAL
AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES

HOLDING HER BACK
THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS

BEFORE IT'S LIKELY WE ARE GOING
TO SEE MUCH PROGRESS WITH HER.

SO EVEN THOUGH
WE HAVE SEEN ASHLEY

TAKE SOME POSITIVE STEPS
OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS,

SHE'S STILL FAR AWAY
FROM WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE,

TO BE READY FOR
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS,

THERE IS NOT MUCH MORE
WE CAN DO FOR HER.

Ashley: THIS IS KILLING ME,
BUT THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO

BUT KEEP TRYING
AND DO WHAT DR. NOW SAYS.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO.

I'M JUST GONNA KEEP IT
GOING, LIKE, WHAT CAN I DO?

BECAUSE I CAN'T FAIL AND LOSE
THIS BECAUSE IF I GIVE UP,

THEN I WILL
AND I'M SCARED OF FAILURE.

SO, I'LL KEEP GOING
AND DO MY THERAPY

AND TRY TO WORK
ON THINGS BETTER.

BECAUSE I HAVE TO DO THIS
OR I KNOW I'LL LOSE EVERYTHING

AND I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

I'M HEADED BACK TO LOLA
FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT

TO KEEP WORKING ON THINGS.

I KNOW I NEED IT
AND THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT.

ASHLEY.
HEY, MISS LOLA.

COME ON BACK.

ALRIGHTY. I'M READY.

BUT I'M A LITTLE DOWN ABOUT HOW
LONG THE PROCESS IS TAKING.

I JUST HOPE I'M ABLE
TO ADVANCE MORE HERE SOON.

OKAY, SO WELCOME BACK.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

I'M ON AN EMOTIONAL
ROLLER COASTER.

ONE MINUTE I'M HAPPY
AND I'M OKAY.

AND NEXT MINUTE,
I'M CRYING, I'M SAD.

I'M JUST NONSTOP CRYING.

YOU KNOW, ASHLEY,
AFTER OUR INITIAL MEETING

WHERE WE HAD
THE FIRST ASSESSMENT,

I WAS ABLE TO THOROUGHLY
REVIEW YOUR ASSESSMENT

AND GO OVER SOME THINGS
IN THE NOTES.

AND IT APPEARS THAT
YOU DEFINITELY SUFFER

WITH MAJOR
DEPRESSIVE DISORDER.

AND ALONG WITH THAT,

THERE SEEM
TO BE SOME COMPONENTS

OF BORDERLINE
PERSONALITY DISORDER.

OKAY.

AND SO MORE THAN LIKELY,

YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE
ROUTINE THERAPY

ON A CONTINUING BASIS

PRIOR TO ACTUALLY
MOVING FORWARD

WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO IT'S GONNA BE
REALLY IMPORTANT

IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN FOR YOU,

THAT YOU HAVE
A SIGNIFICANT STRETCH

OF EMOTIONAL STABILITY

WITHOUT ANY OF THE DIPS
OR THE ROLLER COASTER

THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING.

YEAH.

I'M HOPING WE GET
TO HAVE THE SURGERY

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

IF I DON'T HAVE
THE SURGERY,

THEN THIS WAS
A WASTE OF MY TIME.

A LITTLE SELF-INTROSPECTION
WILL GO A LONG WAY

IN HELPING YOU DEVELOP
THE EMOTIONAL DEPTH,

THE EMPATHY, THE REMORSE
AND JUST THE COMPASS

THAT YOU NEED
TO NAVIGATE YOUR JOURNEY.

OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.

SOME OF THAT WAS SHOCKING
TO HEAR FROM LOLA

ABOUT MY PERSONALITY DISORDER.

I'VE KNOWN I'VE HAD DEPRESSION
FOR A LONG TIME,

BUT NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME
THAT ABOUT MY PERSONALITIES.

SO I HAVE A LOT TO PROCESS
FOR MYSELF

AND THINK OVER TO GET
TO A BETTER PLACE WITH IT

BEFORE I TALK ABOUT IT
OR MAKE ANY PLANS WITH IT.

BUT AS HARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE
IT WAS AT MOMENTS,

I THINK THIS IS GOOD TODAY
FOR ME AND WILL HELP ME.

AFTER MY LAST APPOINTMENTS
WITH DR. NOW AND LOLA,

I HAD TO DO SOME SOUL
SEARCHING WITHIN MYSELF

BECAUSE I HAD A LOT TO KIND OF
WRESTLE WITH, I GUESS

WITH ALL THE THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN SAID,

AND WITH WHAT LOLA TOLD ME
ABOUT MY PERSONALITY DISORDER.

BUT THE QUESTION BEFORE ME WAS,

AM I GONNA STICK
WITH THIS OR NOT?

BECAUSE THIS HAS BECOME A LOT
MORE THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS.

SO AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT
A GOOD DEAL,

I'VE DEFINITELY DECIDED
THAT I'M 100% COMMITTED TO THIS

AND THAT I'M NOT STOPPING
UNTIL I GET HEALTHY

IN ALL THE WAYS I NEED,
EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY.

BECAUSE I KNOW ALL OF ME
HAS TO GET BETTER.

AND I'M GONNA KEEP GOING
TO LOLA FOR MY APPOINTMENTS

WITH HER AND MOVE FORWARD
WITH MY LIFE AND MY HEALTH.

I'M PROUD OF ALL THAT
I'VE ALREADY BEEN ABLE

TO ACCOMPLISH SO FAR.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE JOURNEY
IS A LOT FURTHER

THAN I REALIZE,
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP

AND I'M NOT GOING
TO FAIL AT THIS

BECAUSE THERE'S A FUTURE
OUT THERE

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MINE
TO BEGIN WITH.

AND I GAVE IT UP TO FOOD

AND OTHER THINGS
THAT HAVE KEPT ME FROM IT.

SO I'M FIGHTING TO GET BACK
WHAT'S MINE

AND I'M NOT GONNA LET MYSELF
STOP UNTIL I SUCCEED.