All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S10E03

[woman] My food addiction
is killing me.

And I know it's now or never.

If I don't get the
help that I need,

I'm gonna die.

[woman 2 tearfully] Somewhere
in me it's this little glimmer of hope.

I just wanna be a normal person.

[breathing heavily]

You can't do it and
then I just... man.

If I don't make a change now
I'm scared it's gonna be too late.

[groaning]

It hurts!

[woman3] I refuse
to stop fighting.

I have to do this
for my children.

I'd like to get better
for my kids.

It's not right for you want
me to put my life on hold,

my health on hold for you.
That's not right.

[Bianca] I let me weight get
to the point where

every day is a
struggle for me now.

And it takes a lot of effort
for me to get ready for the day.

Even the basics of what
I have to do is hard for me.

I usually start by
getting cleaned up

and putting lotion on my body.

And in the areas there's
gonna be friction for me,

because of how my body is now.

And that wears me out
even before my day has begun.

So I have to stop and rest
while I'm getting ready.

The most difficult part of
my day is my hygiene routine.

That makes me feel ashamed
that I have gotten to that point.

But that's how it is for me.

So I struggle
through getting ready,

and then I have to
rest up before getting up.

The pain in my body now
is almost unbearable.

It's just the cost of
being this size now.

[groans]

But it makes me sad
'cause I have two young kids.

Simeon, who's five, and
Marcia who's almost two.

[grunts]

And I wanna get up and go see
them first thing each morning, but I cant.

I have to rely on my boyfriend
Romonte to check on them,

since it's just such a
struggle for me to get going.

[Romonte] Bianca's weight
has really affected the household,

kind of because big daddy
gotta do everything.

I'm sick of it, really.

She needs to get it together.
We need to get it together.

Because I need my help-mate.

I'm a old man. She's young.

But, she's not that
active person she used to be.

[grunts]

[whispers] Jesus.

[exhales]

Romonte's had to do
more and more for us.

Because of how I struggle.

And I feel bad for that.

'Cause all of that shouldn't
be on him as much as it is.

Sometime my cousin Neethie
is able to come over

and lend a hand, but most of
the time it falls on Romonte.

Because I'm not able to
walk for long periods of time.

And when I move, I move slow.

Due to my pain in
my back and my knees.

Ooh, Jesus. Oh!

[Romonte] It's kinda
rough this morning.

- I know, baby, I--
- It's kind of real rough.

[sighing in exhaustion]

[Bianca] When I have to
use the bathroom,

I leave the door open
so Romonte can hear me

in case I need him.

That's the most
humiliating time for me

when I need help like that.

So I try to operate on my own.

Because that type
of help is something

I don't wanna burden
anyone else with.

But what helps me with all
this struggle and pain is

the smell of what's coming
when I know I'm gonna eat.

Because food has become
the cause of my pain,

but also the solution to it.

Is it almost done, baby?

[Romonte] ♪ It's ready, baby ♪

I'm hungry.

So, every morning
I can't wait to eat.

And Romonte is good cook,

so I look forward to
everything he makes.

He tries to get me to eat right.

You know, we've both
had weight loss surgery.

And mine failed and his didn't.

So we have
food struggles together.

And he wants me to
lose wight to be healthy.

[sighs wearily]

[grunts]

Oh!

And when it comes to food,
it's my comfort and my addiction.

And it's been hard
for me to give that up.

Whoo! Mmm.

[Romonte] Kids, y'all full, too.

Where my syrup at, baby?

- It'll come, baby. You know, I got you a whole tub of it.
- Mmm.

There you go.

- You got a tub of syrup.
- Whoo!

Yes, yes, yes.

Food is something that always
had a way to make me feel better.

No matter what it is
I'm facing in my life

or what I'm dealing with.

It makes the pain go away.

It just turns things
around like I need.

And it's always been
the comfort that I need.

Baby, there's some
more pancakes left?

No. No, ain't no more.

You ain't getting no more.
It's over.

- [Simeon speaks indistinctly]
- Mm-hmm.

Mm-mmm. Eat your food, baby.

- Mmm.
- [Romonte] Please slow down.

- Slow down?
- Yeah.

For what?

I don't wanna stop
because when I eat

I feel peace, I feel joy.

I feel happiness.

But then when I'm done eating,
that's when I get depressed

and the sadness sets in.

Of, "Why did I do
this to my body again?"

And then to try to
fill that void of guilt

I usually take another bite.

Last bite, baby. Going in.

- Look, baby.
- [Romonte] No.

Baby, look. Look.

[growls happily]

[chuckles]

Whoo!

It's so hard for me
to stop eating

because it's something that
was instilled in me as a child.

- [Simeon] Done?
- I'm done, baby.

[Romonte] You get enough?

- I'm ready for lunch.
- I bet you are.

[Bianca] Food has always
been a comfort to me.

And that started for me very
early on because of my mother.

She struggled with alcohol,
and when she was drinking,

she would get me food
to keep me quiet

so she could go
and drink her liquor.

You know, I didn't
know better at the time.

And in a lot of ways
she was a good mom.

She gave me the
best of everything.

She took good care of me, made
sure I had clean clothes and everything.

A roof over my head.

But I just dealt with my mom
drinking every night and stuff.

Most nights, when she
got drunk and passed out,

I would eat as much as I wanted.

And so I started
putting on a lot of weight,

and got up to 200 pounds
by the age of seven.

And my mom never put me
on a diet or restricted my food.

When I was 12 years old
I was 300 pounds.

And I was diagnosed
with high blood pressure.

It was upsetting
because I had to worry

about taking my
high blood pressure pills.

My self-esteem was low.

'Cause I felt like
I wasn't good enough.

I felt like I wasn't pretty
enough, because of my size.

I went to the only thing that
I knew, that was food.

At that time my mom got married.

I was very happy
about my stepdad.

Because I felt like I had a
parent around who I could trust

when my mom went to drinking.

But towards the end of high
school, my mom got very sick.

She had developed something
called neuropathy.

And she couldn't walk so
I had to start caring for her.

But it was hard for
me as a teenager.

Because shortly after
my mom got sick,

my stepdad died.

'Cause my dad died in 2005.

My stepdad died in 2006
and then my mom died in 2009.

She died of cardiac arrest.

I felt like a part of me died.
I felt alone.

I didn't have anybody else.

I went into a deep depression.

And I just ate and ate.

And the pounds just piled on
and piled on and piled on.

After high school I decided to
become a registered nurse.

I got a job caregiving,
and I did well at it.

But when my mom died I just
spiraled out of control.

Because I just ate, ate,
and ate and ate.

That was a hard time.

With my weight still increasing
I had to stop doing my job.

At that time...

that's when I met
Simeon's father.

Thank you, babe.
[sighs wearily]

[exhales] Ooh!

I would say the first
few years were good.

I got pregnant with my son.

And then after that's when
I went through emotional,

and physical abuse
with my son's dad.

He started to go to alcohol
and he started to get drunk.

And he started
just cussing, spitting.

And then, when I was about
five month's pregnant,

he got violent.

But after that happened, I left.

Then had Simeon
on my own when I was 27.

And when Simeon was three,
I had a gastric sleeve

and started to lose some weight.

But unfortunately
I ended up gaining it back.

So, that didn't last long.

That started when I was pregnant
with my second child, with Romonte.

Whoa, look at that bread.
Uh-uh-uh.

Butter bread!

I met Bianca on
a gastric sleeve chat.

Both of us just had the surgery.

Mine was real complicated,
I suffered a lot.

And she was there to comfort
me and we talked a lot.

[Bianca] Come here, Marcia.

Monte was funny and caring
and that's what attracted me to him.

[Romonte] When we first got
together Bianca was pretty plump.

Got smaller and smaller,
then she gave me a baby.

And now she's back plump.

And she gave up her weight
loss journey to have a child.

So, she sacrificed herself.

I got pregnant with my daughter.

Then started back
picking up bad habits.

So, that's when started back
drinking sodas and eating chips and...

And because of that I gained
all the weight back I lost.

But now I'm back to being
around 600 pounds.

And let me get about
four or five toasts.

[Romonte] I got you.

♪ Mama mia, mama mia
Mama hmm, hmm ♪

Stop the antics, please, and
just come over with my stuff.

Girl, I know you want
mayo and hot sauce soon.

No, I don't want no hot sauce,
I just want ranch.

- You want ranch, hold on.
- Yeah.

The worst part is that my
weight makes me less of a mom.

And it's just hard because
I'm not able to walk much.

My weight has impacted my family

by not allowing me to interact
with my kids like I want to.

And I can't take care of them
like they deserve.

[Romonte] My hands washed.

Okay, come on, you gotta
make your way to the table now.

Whoo! Whoosh.

You know I contribute to
the income in the house,

because I work a couple
of days out of the week

at a call center,

where I can sit
and stay put all day.

But when it comes
to being a mom,

you can't do that from a chair.

You have to be active
to take care of the kids.

But I can't do that now.

So Monte has to pick up the
slack for me for a lot of things.

[grunts]

[Romonte] All right!

- Here, baby.
- Ooh.

We both take care of the kids but
he does most of the hands-on things,

'cause I'm not able to
take care of them like that.

And it's hard for me.

Because my kids
don't deserve that.

My son didn't sign up to
have a mom like me.

You know,
yes, I provide for him,

yes, I'm a good mom to him,

but he didn't sign up to
have an obese mom.

My daughter didn't
either but she's

not old enough to
understand, but he is.

So I wanna change.

I have to change.

But it's hard for me
to stop eating.

Because the world of food in
my life right now is a comforter.

When I have a let down I go to
food, I feel like it cures all of it.

It helps me emotionally and I
don't know how to stop myself.

- Here, give me a bite.
- Hell no. Here.

- Ah!
- Ah.

[Romonte] Okay, go eat that.

It bothers me because I...
She was so perky.

So energetic.

But now, she's not that
active person she used to be.

Can you imagine...

being a Arabian horse.

Strong, ready to run.

But you're stuck in the
body of an elephant.

Bianca's like that.

I know she wants to be that
vibrant woman that can move around.

But right now...

she can't stand up and cook.

She can't stand up and wash
no dishes, I know that much.

And that ain't cool.

So, I know she struggle,

but she takes real good
care of her kids.

You know, I know for a fact

when she lose this weight
this time, she can do what it do.

But, it's time to move.

You know? It's time.

It's time.

- It's full, baby.
- Okay, babe.

Thank you.

Let me get one more little bite.

[Romonte] Okay.

[children mumble]

I'm scared because of the
hold that food has over me.

It had a poison in my body
every day with the food I put in it.

What scares me
the worst right now

is dying and leaving
my kids motherless.

That scares the
living daylights out of me.

Them having the burden of
trying to figure out this life

alone without me,
without any life lessons.

And not being able to
meet my grandkids

because I was too selfish
to put down that snack.

That I could be selfish and
leave them prematurely.

And I wanna change now because
I don't wanna leave them

to make to make memories
of someone else.

[sighs wearily]

[breathing heavily]

My weight has hindered me
for so many years.

I don't want, every time I go
somewhere, to worry about,

"Do they have the right
accommodation for me?"

I want to actually live,

instead of just being alive,
I want to live.

But I can't as long as
I'm addicted to food.

Because my food addiction
is killing me.

And I know it's now or never.

If I don't get the
help that I need,

I'm gonna die.

I don't think I would make it
another six months to a year.

I feel like at any moment,
that my heart could fail me.

And that could happen to me
without any warning

like when my mom passed,
you know?

There was no
warning signs or nothing.

My mom just died,
she just left me.

And I know that if I don't die,

and I don't lose this weight,
I'll be bedridden

and I'll end up in
a nursing home.

And I refuse to end up in
a nursing home or bedridden.

I got you. I got...
Come on, baby. Come on, baby.

I know that Monte tries
to be strong for me.

But I know deep down
inside he's scared.

It scares him that he
might wake up to

me being dead
in the bed one day.

That he might have to
raise two kids by his self.

So I have to do this now
and get help to change

before that happens
and I don't make it.

Because not gonna
be much longer...

I can't live like this
much longer.

Baby, do you got
everything you need?

[Romonte] Yeah, pretty much.

Can you come in here,
kinda help me finish packing?

Yeah, I'm coming, baby.

Romonte's gonna take me
down to Houston

to have an appointment
with Dr. Now

to see if he can
help me lose weight.

And have
weight loss surgery again

since my first one failed.

Is there anything else you need?

I don't know how
I'm gonna make it.

- I'm so tired.
- You got all your clothes?

No, almost.

[Bianca] But I know this trip is
gonna be a difficult one for me.

I just need to pace myself.

Come on, baby.
Come on. Come on.

- [sighs wearily]
- Come on, now. Come on.

- Oh. Mmm, my knees.
- Uh-huh.

Ooh. [sighs wearily]

Uh-oh, uh-oh.

[exhales]

Oh, God.

Oh!

- Okay.
- You gotta...

[Bianca] I have
a lot of fears doing this.

But I'm facing them.
And not letting them stop me.

I just have to walk slow,
and take my steps carefully.

Let me put these shoes on
these old tender feet of yours.

Okay, please do.

[Bianca] This is the last
option and hope I have.

So if this doesn't work, I
don't know what I'm gonna do.

Okay. Hold on,
let me get this.

Did you already pack
the food for the road?

- Yeah, I got you plenty of snacks.
- Okay.

- You know, your snacks took up half the bag.
- Okay.

But I would like to stop to get
something to eat 'cause I'm hungry.

I bet you are.

- [grunts]
- Come on, why wouldn't you?

- [Bianca exhales]
- Let's go.

[sighs in exasperation]

[Bianca] This is gonna
be a long trip.

We're leaving early enough
to make it in a day but,

it's about
an 11 or a 12 hour drive.

We're gonna leave soon.

Hmm. Come on.

I just had to see how long I
can handle the road at one time.

And I think food,
unfortunately, has got to be

a crutch I'm gonna have to
lean on to get through this trip.

Especially down the road,

when being in the car
starts to get tougher on me.

- Oh!
- Take your time.

Take your time.

[sighs wearily]

There. Don't worry.

[Romonte exhales]

Girl, you got something on there.
You look pretty good. I'm proud of you.

Tuck it in, you ready?

Oop. One more time.

Okay.

Lord, have mercy.

Let me get these kids.

[Romonte grunts]

All right. Ooh.

Okay.

Mmm.

[Romonte grunts]

- All the windows is--
- Ooh, baby. I'm tired.

Let's just get some...
stop and get something to eat.

Yeah, buddy.

[Romonte] We got
a long way, baby.

[Bianca] I know, baby.
I just hope I can make it.

[Romonte] I know you can.

But the main thing here,
you are on your way.

- Yes.
- Yeah.

And that's the
beautiful blessing of it all.

It is. It is.

We have a very small car that I have
to have to have my seat so far back.

The kids are cramped.

I know I'm gonna have to drive
with pain and agony.

I'm gonna have to start out by
getting something to eat.

[Bianca sighs]

Mm-mmm, I just don't
feel good today.

Maybe I'll feel better
if I get the food in me.

[Romonte] I bet you will.

Right now I just feel so weak and
this hurt in my back and my knees.

And to be quite honest the
ultimate pain reliever is when I eat.

Welcome to Jack's.
Can I take your order?

[Bianca] Okay, can I get
the number three,

the bigger Jack burger?

And instead of a soda can I
get a strawberry milkshake?

I want that large.

And then also can I get
a chicken BLT with fries?

And then I just want a big BLT.

[Romonte] Also, give me
three cheeseburgers.

A large order of fries.

And four-piece chicken tender.

[Bianca] And the pain's only
gonna leave for a little bit.

But after that,
and I'm hurting again...

[Romonte] Thank you so much.

[woman] Thank you.
You have a great day.

[Romonte] Think that's gonna
be enough to hold you up?

[Bianca] Hopefully, baby.
Maybe for about two hours.

[Romonte] I hope so.

[Bianca] Part of me feels like
these are my last meals.

You know, I'm gonna get help
to change my addiction.

So I don't go to food
for comfort like I do.

Mm-hmm. That was so good.

So this is my last chance to enjoy
what tastes good before that happens.

Oh, that's hit the spot, baby.
I already feel better.

- Are you just starting?
- Yeah, I'm just starting.

Okay.

These meals on the road to
Houston are my last like this.

Because I'm ready to change.

[child whining]

[Bianca] What?

Then when I finished eating,
the guilt set in.

Of, "Why'd I put
things in my body

that could prematurely
take me away from my kids?"

[Romonte grunts]

[Bianca grunts]

Now you got a long way to go.

- Come on.
- [sighing in exhaustion]

[continues sighing]

- [Romonte speaks indistinctly]
- I'm about to sit down.

- Hold on.
- Go on.

Go on. There ain't nothing
I can do.

[Romonte] Hmm.

[sighing in exhaustion]

[breathing heavily]

[continues breathing heavily]

Oh. [grunts]

Oh. [exhales]

You okay?

Oh, my feet's so swollen.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

[Bianca] I'm nervous about the
appointment, meeting Dr. Now.

That he's gonna think
that my fat ways

and my life,
is too much for him.

Because of how it is.

Because I choose to eat.

Because I choose to be
overwhelmed by emotions.

And just feed myself to death.

I'm hopeful that he's gonna
get me on this program.

But I'm more scared that
he's gonna tell me no.

You ready, baby?

Is it a long walk?

It's a strong walk.
It's not long but it's strong.

That means you
gotta be strong, baby.

Do you wanna get the kids first?

- Yeah, I'm just gonna get the kids right now.
- Okay.

[Romonte sighs]

[Romonte coughs] Come on.

Come on, let's go.

I'm gonna leave you.
And you have to catch up.

I gotta go.

Come on, son.
Open the door for your mama.

[groans]

[Romonte] You gonna
stay with Mama?

[breathing heavily]

At one point I thought
I wanted to turn around,

that I wasn't gonna be
able to make it.

[breathing heavily]

I'm not gonna make it, baby.

I'm not gonna make it.

Baby, you only got
a couple of more...

You want me to put you on
and push you on this?

I'll push you.
Here, come on.

Hold the door, son.
Hold the door.

Hold the door.
I'm gonna push you.

So you can't take
these last five steps?

And you wanted that good old
Louisiana chicken?

Here you go. There you go.

Ride the cart.

Ride the cart.

You came this far
you can't go that far.

So you gonna give up every time.

When Dr. Now tell you about,
"You can't eat this, you can't eat that."

- You gonna give up?
- [Simeon] Move. Move.

- You gonna give up?
- [Simeon] Move.

[Romonte] Here. There you go.

Whoa. Here, come. on.

I gotta help you up.

Come.

You gotta...
Come on. Come now. Come on.

- [gasps]
- Come on. Come on.

- [whimpering] - Come on, you're
gonna have to get in. Come on.

Hold on. I got to
get myself together.

- You gonna sit right down?
- No.

'Cause you sit right down, I'm
not gonna help you up this time,

you'd likely kill me.

Okay. Come on.

Quick. There's a whole
bathroom in there somewhere.

There's a whole bathroom.

It's a good bathroom.
Come on, she can make it.

Come on. Have yourself a seat.
Come on now.

That's it.

There you go.

Don't know where I'm
gonna sleep but I'll be all right.

So, I'm worried about my
appointment with Dr. Now tomorrow.

Because this is the
last shot I have.

So, no matter what, tomorrow
I'm gonna get up and keep going.

Because I have to.

Because if I walk away
from this,

my family could be
planning my funeral.

Curbed my appetite
for the rest of the day.

- [Romonte coughs]
- I'm gonna lose some weight.

[Romonte] Okay.

[Bianca] We're all in Houston.

But it took us driving
over four hours straight

to get here on time.

- [Romonte] We're here now.
- [Bianca] I'm nervous.

Ah, don't be nervous now.

[car beeping]

- Come on, son.
- Go ahead and get up, Simeon.

- Can I hold that for you, Mom?
- Okay, thank you.

[Romonte] Come on.

[Bianca grunts]

All right.

Now.

Get on up and get out of here.

Let's go.

The queen has arrived!

I have a lot of fears that it's
not going to be possible for me

to get another
weight loss surgery.

Mainly because I've had one
weight loss surgery already.

Miss Hayes.

[Bianca] But I'm keeping
a positive outlook

that this is gonna be something

that's gonna give me
a second chance.

On the road I said goodbye to the
foods that I crave to bring me comfort.

But from here on out
I'm doing what I have to

to succeed,
if I get this chance.

Hopefully my starting point
isn't a lot higher than I expected.

[woman] Step up on
the scale, please.

I think I should be around 600.

So, that's the range
I'm expected to be at today.

But if the number that
comes up is higher,

then that's gonna be a hard
moment for me when I see that.

Well, there it is.

There you go.

What you mean by that?

There it is. There you go.

You know what it is now.

I'm not happy about that weight.

But I'm happy that it's not
higher than I was thinking.

But I'm ashamed that I
let it get as high as it did.

I know I did that to myself.

And I'm praying that
Dr. Now can do something.

Anything to help me change
that and to lose weight.

Because if he gives me
the chance that I need,

I'm ready to do whatever it
takes to get on that right track.

Close it on up.

[Romonte] Come over here,
have a seat.

Here's Bucky Beaver.
Here play with the Beaver.

Hello, how you all doing?

Fine. How are you?

Good.

- So, you must be Bianca?
- Yes, sir.

All right, I'm Dr. Nowzaradan
and you come in all the way from

- Fayetteville, Tennessee?
- Yes, sir.

All right.

Well, glad you're here.

So, and who have
you got with you?

I have my son Simeon, my daughter
Marcia and my boyfriend Romonte.

It looks like the trip
left Marcia in a

- tired and sleepy, huh?
- Yes, she is.

So, tell me what brought you
down to Houston?

Because I wanted to see if
I could get a second chance

at life with
weight loss surgery.

Okay.

And you had weight loss
surgery about four years ago, huh?

Yes. sir. I had
the gastric sleeve.

And then what
happened after that?

I got pregnant with my daughter
and fell back into old habits.

Okay, explain that more.

What do you mean
you fell on old habits?

Sort of back eating slider
foods like chips, drinking soda.

And my problem is I graze eat.

Instead of eating a meal
I graze eat,

and just pick all day and
put stuff in my mouth all day.

Well, there's no operation
that's gonna correct that.

So what's gonna be different
this time

if you have a second chance?

I need to go through therapy

and get down to the root
of my emotional eating.

Well, hold on. What do you
mean "emotional eating"?

Um, I eat when I get upset,
when I get stressed.

If you understand that,
then why haven't you gone

to a therapy to address that
before now?

I'm not sure.

So we need to get you away
from giving yourself a pass

to eat junk food.

And that's typical,

everybody overeats and
their eating disorder,

and they call it, uh,
"Oh, I'm an emotional eater."

Uh, "I'm happy I eat,
I'm sad I eat,"

uh, to give a pass for them
to do that.

But that's not reality.

So, the first step
you're gonna need to take

to show me a second chance
would be different for you

is taking responsibility
for your eating,

not making any more excuse
to yourself,

and showing you're willing

to put in the work
that it's gonna take

to change your life.
You understand that?

- Yes, sir.
- Okay.

Well, you know,
there is no second chance

to get you successful unless
you discipline yourself.

Surgery is not gonna
correct your eating disorder.

- Okay.
- You are the one

that need to do that.

- Okay.
- Okay?

Romonte, you're nodding,

so you agree with me, huh?

Yes, I do.

That's good, so you can be
a support to her with that.

But do not be her enabler,
all right?

Uh-uh.

Me... We both
had the surgery done

around the same time.

I lost the weight.

She went back to her old ways.

She really did. So...

she's the only person
that could make this happen.

You're right.

We agree about that

because we each
have to make the choices

not to be unhealthy,
no matter what the excuse.

- Okay?
- Okay.

That is something
that is not easy,

but it is something
you have to do

if you want to save your life.

- Yes, sir.
- So if you feel like

you're ready to do this now,

then what we can do to help you

is give you some instructions
as a guide

that will help you understand
what to do.

But the choice to do it
is up to you.

The first thing is going
to break down for you is

a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet

that focuses on protein,
not carbs.

And I want you
to start that immediately.

- Okay.
- Okay?

And the instructions
will also have

some exercises
for you to do every day.

So how is your activity?

Uh, my activity, it's okay.

My back starts hurting and stuff

when I get tired sometimes.

But you get up and walk
and do things?

- Yes, sir.
- Okay.

So, what we're gonna start
doing here is

walk at least once
in the morning,

once in the evening.

If you do that, then you
should easily be able

to make the goal
I'm gonna give you

to lose 55 pounds
over the next two months.

- Okay.
- Is that something

you think you can do?

Yes, I can do that.

Okay, if you meet that goal,
then at that point,

we're gonna see what option
we have for you,

- okay?
- Okay.

But if we move ahead with you,
you're gonna move to Houston

if you want to do the program
since you live so far away.

Is that something you think
you can do, too?

I'll have to see.

But I'll do whatever it takes

because I'm about,
you know, saving my life.

So I'll do it.

But I guess it depends
on how soon I have to do that.

Well, we'll see about that
after you make it to the goal.

Okay.

But if you just, um,

go back and fall
to the same old habit,

and you eat whatever, whenever,

then there's not much
we can do for you.

- Okay.
- Okay?

So, there will be no point
in you moving down here

- if that's the case, okay?
- Yes, sir.

So right now, we give you
the tools to change,

if you do that, then we're
gonna see what else we've got.

Okay. All right.

I'm gonna bring in some stuff,

- and go work, okay?
- Okay.

All right.

We just thought we had it
worse, didn't we?

The ball is in your court,

it's been in your court
from the beginning.

[Dr. Now] It's always
a concern

if any patient looking
for weight loss surgery

has already had one and failed.

In those situations,

the chances of long-term success

are less than 1%.

Because they have already
been giving her tools

that took away
the physical drive to eat,

but they chose to continue,

justifying their overeating,

hoping that the surgery

would magically fix everything
for them

no matter what they did.

And usually, that justification

revolves around needing food
for comfort.

Whether it's life situations
or a particular circle,

that patient hasn't given up
the excuse of overeating,

and eating unhealthy food
to get through things.

And it's clear, that's
the case with Bianca,

because she was very ready
to offer up that excuse

of emotional eating

as the reason why
she undid her gastric sleeve.

And gained all her weight back.

All right.

Now, this is what I want you
to read every day.

- Okay.
- So let's go over that now.

Long term, we're gonna need
to help Bianca

address the emotional issues
that drive her to eat.

But she needs
to take the first step

and show a willingness

to take control
of her behavior and choices,

because if she's not at a point

where she's gonna do that,

then no tool anyone gives her

is gonna make anything
but a temporary change.

And the book,
this is the exercise chapter.

Okay.

So you start doing
those exercises

an hour in the morning,

an hour in the afternoon.

So these are the starting point.

- Okay.
- And if you follow this,

and change your eating habit,
you should be able to lose

at least 40 to 50 pounds
easily in one month.

So if you're sticking
to the diet,

there is no excuse for you
not to lose that.

- Okay.
- Okay, so any questions?

- No, sir. Thank you so much.
- All right.

Let me leave that all with you,

since she has her hands full.

[Romonte] I'm gonna
read these myself.

All right.

"The scale does not lie."

People do!

Thank you.

So this is gonna be
a starting point,

and let's see

if you can make
all those changes, okay?

Okay. Thank you, Doctor.

All right, nice
to meet you guys.

- Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you, too.

- You all take care.
- [both] You too.

[Bianca] The appointment went

better than I thought
it was gonna go.

I was scared that there
wasn't gonna be

a second chance for me.

But I'm thankful
for what happened instead.

He basically just laid down
on the table

He said the ball's in my court,

and it's up to me to play it
the way that I want it.

The main thing that stood out
to me that he said was

I have to change
my eating habits.

That's the only way
he's gonna be able to help me,

if I help myself first.

And he said that, basically,

no weight loss surgery
was gonna help me

if I don't get down to the root

of why I just eat
just to be eating.

And hearing that
was a real wake-up call.

Because if I think about it,
it makes sense to me

when he said that I'm just
making excuses to eat.

Because all my life, I've
just always have excuses

to just eat and eat and eat.

And now, I'm just ready
for a change.

No matter if I did grow up
with an alcoholic mom,

no matter what happened
to my life,

what I put
into my mouth determines

if I wanna live
or if I wanna die.

And at this point,

I wanna eat to live,
not eat to die.

So no more excuses.

I know what I need to do,
so I'm gonna go do it.

Because I'm determined
to do this.

Failure is not an option

unless I wanna be
six feet under.

[Simeon] Right here beside you?

Yeah, you can get
on this side of me.

Stand right here.

Okay, let's see what's first.

Since coming back
from my first appointment

with Dr. Now,

I reshaped
how I'm doing everything

with my eating
and my exercising,

and I'm doing it all in
accordance to the instructions

in this book he gave me

with the diet
and exercise guide.

I'm gonna do the first count,
and then you count.

Okay, you ready?

Mm-hmm.

One,

two...

My exercises,
I do three times a day.

When I very first started
I was just sitting here and,

my son, he just said,
"Momma, can I do it?"

He just does it right there
along with me.

Five,

four,

three,

two,

one.

We do our shoulders to the side.

Ten,

nine,

eight...

So he's my workout partner,
and I love that.

My exercise time with him

has become
one of my favorite times

with him because of that.

one.

The food and what I'm eating

is something that I'm
on my own with right now.

I prepare and cook my own meals

apart from what Monte cooks
for himself and the kids.

And the rest of my family,

they still eat
what they want to,

because my kids are still kids.

Yes, I still make them eat
healthy choices.

They can still have certain
things in moderation also.

But the focus is mostly on me.

I have to focus on Bianca.

Because Bianca got Bianca
to where Bianca's at.

Either I'm gonna eat healthy
and live,

or either I'm gonna eat
what I want to

and die.

I hope that I reached my goal
for this appointment.

[Romonte] We don't know
what's gonna come,

but whatever comes,

we are gonna be ready.

Me and Monte are back
in Houston again

for my second appointment
with Dr. Now.

But I'm a little nervous

to see how much I've been
able to drop off my weight.

Bianca?

At my first appointment
with Dr. Now two months ago,

I weighed 604 pounds.

And then Dr. Now
gave me a goal

of losing 55 pounds by today

to show that I'm taking control,

and I'm willing to make
the changes that I need

for his program and get surgery.

Okay, you can step up
on the scale.

So if I did that and made it,

then my weight
would be under 551.

- And now we're gonna go to Room 5, Okay?
- Okay, thank you.

You know, that's a large
amount of weight for me to lose.

But I missed my goal
from Dr. Now

'cause that is still
not enough progress

for me to move ahead.

Hello, how are you all doing?

- Fine. How are you.
- [Romonte] Hey, Dr. Now.

You all doing oaky?

- Yes, sir.
- Good.

All right. How was your trip
to Houston this time?

It was a lot better this time.

So then you figured out
what made it better?

Yes, sir, 'cause I've lost
some weight.

Yes you have, and you
lost 46 pounds,

which isn't as much as
you could have,

but it's still not bad.

So I'm happy with that.

That's very good.

So what changes have you made
in your eating habit?

I've been using my food scale,

I've been eating protein
and vegetables,

and I've been exercising
three times a day.

Well, I'm glad to see that
you're in the right track,

and doing the right thing.

So, keep it up and we're
gonna set you up

- for endoscopy...
- Okay.

to look down your stomach

and see what issue
you got there.

Hopefully, it's still possible
to do a revision,

or add another weight loss
surgery on you.

- If we did, that will be good.
- Okay.

And if we determine that,

then you will need
to move down to Houston.

And if you stay on track
up to that point,

then we will move ahead
with weight loss surgery for you

once you're down here.

Okay.

You think you can do that?

Yes, sir. If I can get
a surgery, I can do that.

Okay, good. So...

we'll figure out what's
going on with your stomach.

Okay, thank you.

But if there is too much
scar tissue,

or any other issues
to where it is not possible

to move ahead
with any surgery options,

then we're gonna stick
with your diet.

But hopefully, we will figure
out an option for you, okay?

If you stay in town tonight,

I can schedule that
for tomorrow.

Would that work for you?

Yes, I can do that.
Thank you, Dr. Now.

All right, you're welcome.

That went a lot better
than expected.

See there?

See? Well,

you don't have to be nervous,
you did your part.

I'm happy to see
that Bianca went back

and made some important changes

to lose almost 50 pounds.

If she had been sticking
to the diet completely,

she would have lost
around twice that.

So she is still likely eating

around 2,000 to 3,000 calories
a day,

but she has shown me
enough improvement

to feel confident about moving
ahead with her.

But the big question now is

what kind of weight loss
surgery or revision

is possible for her, if at all.

Because the scar tissue
that has formed

from the first surgery she had

could prevent us from being
able to do much

with a second surgery.

So we will know more
about what's possible

after endoscopy.

And if there is a path,

we can move ahead with
weight loss surgery for her.

- You want me to put your hair...
- Yes, please.

Okay, I got you.

I'm here at the hospital
to have my endoscopy

and find out if it's possible

for another weight loss
surgery for me.

And I'm a little nervous

about what the result
of the procedure could be.

Because the option
of my weight loss surgery

hangs in the balance with that.

But even if I don't have it,

I'm gonna stick to the plan.

I've already started
my new life,

but I'm looking forward
to a better life.

And I'm just ready
to lose more weight

and keep having
a better quality life.

'Cause I'm inspired
by the more stamina

I'm getting day by day

and the healthier I'm getting
day by day.

So I could already imagine 75
pound or 100 pound weight loss

could be like, months from now.

So I'm just ready to keep
pushing regardless.

[Romonte] You look like...

the duchess of Zubundu.

Okay, thank you.

[Dr. Now] Today, we're going
to do an endoscopy on Bianca

and look at her stomach, to see how things
look from her first weight loss surgery,

because she had
a sleeve gastrectomy

and she gained
all her weight back.

We could have you go to the
waiting room right over there, okay?

Okay, thank you.

No problem.

[Dr. Now] So depending what
we're gonna find in endoscopy,

we're gonna make a decision
what will be best option for Bianca.

[woman speaking]

[Dr. Now] All right,
I think we can line her.

[woman speaking]

[woman speaking]

[Dr. Now speaking]

[woman speaking]

[Dr. Now] She's released
for stomach back out.

And it is probably bigger now than it
was before her first weight loss surgery.

[Dr. Now] All right, removing
the scope. We're done.

[Dr. Now] The procedure
went well today.

And we were able to find out what we needed
to determine the next steps with Bianca.

Unfortunately,
one of the things we learned

was that Bianca has a stretched
hernia sleeve, a tremendous sleeve.

That's one of the reasons
that she's not losing weight.

The issue is that Bianca does have
a significant amount of scar tissue

from her previous weight loss
surgery that may make it difficult

for us to perform
a full gastric bypass on her.

The good news is that we
should be able to perform

a gastric sleeve for her.

But since she already had
one weight loss surgery,

the most optimal thing
is to do gastric bypass.

So that's what
we will attempt to perform.

But whether or not we are able
to successfully do that

will have to be determined
during the procedure.

However, either option
should be enough to give her

the tools she needs
to lose more weight.

So ultimately,
that's the good news.

Do you have your sunglasses on?

All right, Bianca. Well,
you know, you had a sleeve.

And it looked like the
sleeve is a little bit dilated.

So you have really stretched
it back out.

But I think it's gonna be
possible for us to do a full bypass.

- Okay.
- So we can do another weight loss surgery on you.

So as soon as you move down to
Houston, we will set you for surgery.

- Okay.
- Okay?

Okay.

So this is gonna be something
that's gonna help you a lot.

- Okay.
- Okay?

Okay.

- All right, if you need anything, let me know.
- Okay, thank you.

- Okay. Bye-bye.
- Bye.

During a full gastric bypass
on Bianca will give her

a more aggressive tool this time
to help her to lose more weight.

And then after surgery, we will
start her going to psychotherapy

to help her work on dealing
with her emotional issues.

Normally we wait until there
is some struggle after surgery.

Because once the physical
drive to overeat is gone

and they still struggle,

the patient is far more
receptive to see and understand

the emotional component
to their overeating

and embrace what they
need to do to address that.

But since Bianca has already
had one weight loss surgery

and failed it, we'll start that
immediately after surgery.

So we have our plan with Bianca
and know what next steps are for her.

So we will move ahead with her

as long as she stays on track
and moves down to Houston.

[Bianca] I've been doing okay
the past few months.

I was very relieved and excited

when Dr. Now said my results
were good for my endoscopy,

and that I could get weight loss
surgery as long as I move to Houston.

Okay, we got a little
bit more stuff in here.

I'm gonna slip around.

I'm gonna put some
of this medicine in here.

[Bianca] You know, that
was almost four months ago.

So it's taken a bit
to get it all figured out

because it's a lot.

But we started to get
what we need straightened out.

My cousin Neethie is over
helping me with that now.

And then my Aunt Judie and my
Uncle Darrell and his wife Odessa

are gonna come spend some time
with us since we're leaving soon.

So things are comin' together,
but it hasn't been easy.

It's hard to move on your own.

But it's even harder with a
whole family and two young kids.

And what's been the most difficult
is finding an apartment for us.

I mean, if it was
just me and Monte,

we could, you know,
make it work.

But when you have kids, there's
a lot of things you can't settle for.

I have two kids,
so I have to make sure

it's good for me
and my two kids.

[Bianca] Neethie, do you mind
helping me with this box right here?

[Bianca] It was very hard.

I mean, it was some blood,
some sweat, some tears.

Some days when I was
stressed and Monte told me,

"Hey, just back away
and just pray about it.

If it was meant to be,
God'll find a place for us

If it was not meant to be,
then we won't find a place."

And after about a
month and half of feeling

like I wasn't finding
good options,

that started to get to me.

And I would try to go to foods
that I wasn't supposed to have,

and Monte would slap it
out of my hand and say,

"You know
you're not gonna do that.

'Cause it's not worth it.
Look how far you've came."

He'll trash it.
And when I mean trash it,

he'll take it from me, put it in the
trash can, and walk it to the dumpster.

And he's like,
"If you want it, go get it."

So when I have my weak
moments, he keeps me in line.

But thankfully,
we found a place.

And all of us are moving
to Houston for a year.

So it's all come together,
and we're making it happen.

[Romonte]
Come on in here, baby!

[Bianca] Hey, how y'all doin',
Uncle Darrell and Aunt Odessa?

[Bianca] How y'all been doin'?

[Romonte] Come on in here!

How you doin'?

You doin' all right, sweetie?

Oh, hi. I'm doin' good.
I'm doin' good.

[Bianca] I do think the move is gonna
be positive and something good for us.

But leaving the family
we have here

is the only really hard part
for me.

That's hard for me to do.

They're a big support for me.

And not seeing them
is gonna be hard.

And I would never wanna do
that outside of a situation like this.

I mean, it's very scary.

[crying] That's why... You know, I
had to go to the bathroom while ago...

and just get my emotions out
'cause it's very, you know, scary.

It very scary.

With two kids, you know, and going
all the way across the world. It's scary.

[sniffles] You know, I don't
show my emotions a lot,

but it's scary.

But it's something
that I have to do,

so I can be around
for my kids. You know?

[Darrell speaking]

[Bianca speaking]

[Odessa speaking]

[Darrell speaking]

So I'm just taking it
day by day.

I can't worry about next week.
I can't worry about next year.

I can't worry about next month.

All I can worry about is today.

So that' what I'm doing.

- [Darrell] It's going to be okay.
- Yeah, it is.

They're gonna take
good care of ya.

I know they are.

[Bianca] So I'm hoping here soon

we'll have all the final
things we need figured out.

So we can head to Houston
and start the new life

that's full of promise, hope, and
opportunity for me and all of us.

- Lean into him.
- Lean on him.

- Prayers every day.
- Yep.

[Bianca] That's Marcia's dad, and I
love him whether Monte know it or not.

You know, K.K., that I always
look after his best interest.

And all he keeps saying, K.K.,
is that I'm leaving him.

I said, Monte,
I'm not leaving you.

I have to do what I gotta do
for my health.

I got to get better for my kids.

It's not right for you want me to put my
life on hold and my health on hold for you.

That's not right.

[K.K.] Go on
and do what you got to do.

Yes, ma'am.

[Bianca] The past week has
been hard on me and Romonte.

With all we've been trying
to figure out

for the final steps
and move to Houston.

And the stress has been getting
to us, so we've been fighting a lot.

Me and Monte have had
different views on some things.

And it got to a point where
last night I just got frustrated,

so I told him to stop.

I just need a break
from the arguing.

I didn't tell Romonte that I
wanted to break up with him.

I didn't tell Romonte
that I wanted to leave him.

I told Romonte that I
have to get Bianca together

so I can take care of my kids.

Our kids.

Me and Romonte were together
for three years.

And I still worry about him.

But like I told Romonte, I love
him, but I love my kids more.

And I have to get better
for my kids

so I can be around for them.

My plan is still to go
to Houston. I'm a fighter.

This is just a steppin' stone and
gonna be part of my testimony.

You know, I'm gonna continue to pray for
him, continuing to wish the best for him.

But I have to continue
on my journey.

I'm gonna finish packing up some
boxes and just get everything together

so we can still move.

And, luckily, Neethie said that
she'll move with me, so that's a plus.

So I'm gonna figure it out
and get to Houston.

[woman speaking]

Okay.

Okay. I see it. Mm-hmm.

Mommy.

Okay.

[Bianca] Me and Neethie
have been working

to get all the last things
we need done

to get on the road
and move to Houston.

And right now,
we're gettin' the movin' van.

- [Bianca] Are we going out this door?
- [woman] Yeah.

[Bianca] This was something that
Romonte was gonna do, but it's on me now.

And I've never done
anything like this

because I have to drive it, too.

[Bianca] Yeah.

Does the seat let back
any more, miss?

Okay. Okay, thank you.

[Bianca] But I'm ready to do
whatever I have to.

To keep moving forward
no matter what I face.

[Bianca grunts]

[Bianca] No!

[turn blinker clicking]

[woman on phone speaking]

[Bianca speaking]

[Bianca] Okay, thank you,
sweetheart.

[Bianca speaking]

[Bianca] I've hired some movers
to help us get everything loaded up.

So having the extra strength will
hopefully get us on the road quickly.

Because once we get loaded up,

we're gonna head out and
start the journey to Houston.

[Bianca] It's dragging
right there on the floor.

[Bianca] Y'all gotta get it
off that grass

'cause there be chiggers
and stuff on that grass.

Y'all need me to try
to help y'all?

'Cause I don't want it on that
grass. My kids'll be on that.

I'll try to help y'all.
Come on.

'Cause I don't need it
on that grass.

Tacor, you wanna come help
them, and I'll pay you somethin'.

I got you, bro.

[Bianca] 'Cause you know
how expensive that furniture is.

I wasn't trying to be rude.

But my baby got ate up
by chiggers.

I just don't want the, you
know, chiggers in the couch

and her to get ate up.

[Bianca clears throat]

[Bianca] Just recently, this level of
moving activity wouldn't have been possible.

[Bianca] Yeah, I told them I didn't
know anything about taking the bed down.

They said y'all could take
that bed down.

Uh-huh, yeah, I'd like to take
them all with me

'cause I like to, you know,
be better safe than sorry.

- I get ya.
- Uh-huh.

[Bianca] I stuck to the
diet and exercise religiously

to insure
that I keep moving forward.

The only period I've let myself
struggle and given in for some comfort

is recently
with everything going on.

And I plan to keep working
hard once I get to Houston,

even moving forward without
Romonte to do a lot on my own.

That's scary.

But I believe in myself,
and I know I can do this.

[exhales] Oh, Jesus, give
me the strength, Lord. I'm tired.

[exhales]

Gotta keep goin' though,
for my kids.

I gotta keep goin'.

[Tacorey] Thank you.

-Well, thank you. Enjoy Houston.
-Thank you.

Thank you so much.
Her bed's already gone out?

- No, it's the last one we're gettin'.
- Okay.

[Bianca] This was tough
to get done physically.

But we got it done in two hours.

I did more than I thought
I was able to.

I pushed my body
to the limit today.

And I'm know I'm gonna
be very sore tomorrow.

When I say I'm tired,
it's an understatement.

Neethie has always been
a plan B.

Because, deep down, I kind of...

I kind of figured that Neethie
was gonna come anyway.

So, Neethie-- once I asked her,
you know, could she come with me

'cause I still want to complete
this journey that I started,

she agreed to it.

I hope Houston is ready for
myself, Neethie and my kids

because we're ready for Houston.

[Bianca] Oh, you're
gonna carry her, Neethie?

I handled the travel
better this time,

but the packin' up before
we left took a lot out of me.

So I just wanna get moved in
and rest.

So we have some movers

that will help us with all
the big and strenuous stuff.

What you think, Marcia?

- Do you like it?
- I like it.

[Bianca] As of lately,
I've had some slip-ups,

but that's only very recent.

In the majority of all that time,
I was doing exactly as I need.

You know, it's been months
of eating right and exercise

and just about every day as I've dealt
with everything that has come my way.

So, as soon as we get settled
and have some time to recoup,

I'm gonna call Dr. Now
to set an appointment

so I can show him my progress

and that I'm still
sticking to it,

and doing what I need
since my last appointment.

Simeon, be good.

[GPS automated voice] Use the
right two lanes to exit right to I45.

[Bianca]
We're heading to Dr. Now's

to get my weight
and my progress checked.

And to, hopefully, get my
weight loss surgery approval

now that I'm here.

And I'm ready to do this.

Here we are, ya'll.
Dr. Now's office.

[shuts car door]
[Bianca] Come on.

Come on.

Bianca?

- [Bianca] How are you?
- I'm okay. Hi.

[Bianca]
At my last appointment,

I was 558 and Dr. Now
didn't give me a specific goal.

Since I met the one he gave me,

he told me just to make sure
that I keep making progress.

[woman]
Okay, so step up on the scale.

[Bianca] I'm losing like I
should and I think I've done that.

So hopefully
I have a good number

that Dr. Now
will be happy with.

- We're gonna be going to Room 5.
- Okay. Come on.

[Bianca]
It's discouraging

because I think if I had my
weight checked just two weeks ago,

it would have showed
a lot of progress.

[Bianca]
Over here, baby, come on.

Hopefully,
Dr. Now doesn't think

this means I'm not dedicated

and try my hardest
because I have been.

I just had a really bad
couple of weeks.

[knocking at door]

[Bianca] Come in.

[Dr. Now]
Hello, how ya'll doing?

Okay, how are you?

All right.

Well, nice to see you
again, Bianca.

Good to see you also.

How you been?

I've been going through a
lot, Dr. Now, but I'm here.

I, I've finally
moved to Houston,

but this week was a tryin' week,

it was a very hard week for me.

Well, what happened?

[sighs] Well, you know, you see,
as you see, Romonte is not here.

We had an argument.

He had tough times dealing with
the stress of this move to Houston.

And he told me that he knows
that I don't care about him.

- He said he rather just end it instead of moving to Houston.
- Okay.

So, I have my cousin,
Neethie, with me

and she didn't hesitate
when I picked up the phone

and asked her could she come to Texas with
me and my kids to help me on this journey.

Well, I'm, uh, sorry that
you're going through that.

[Bianca] Thank you. But
I'm still focused on being here

and doing what I need
for my kids and my life.

I can't focus on that right now,
I have to focus on my journey.

- So, he has to focus on himself right now.
- [Dr. Now] Okay.

All right, so, it's you
and your kids and her.

- Yes, sir, my cousin Neethie.
- Okay.

So, y'all situated
in here and all that?

[Bianca]
Yes, sir, we got all situated.

[Dr. Now] Okay, so,

how you doing with your
eating habits during all this?

You didn't lose any more
weight over the last four months.

[Bianca] Um, it's been
okay, it's been up and down.

I've been, you know, making
some mistakes and stuff,

but I've been trying to stick
with it despite all of that.

I've just been, you know, going
back to old habits and stuff like that

and it's been stressing through this
past week or two with the move and stuff.

Okay. I can understand that.

Things have been tough, but you
still have to focus on your health.

And you could have easily lost
over 150 pounds

since the last time
you were here.

But the fact that you didn't
lose anything is a bit concerning.

The last time,
you lost some weight,

but you could have
done better...

- Yes, sir.
- with your weight loss.

But it was still enough
to show me

that you are taking control of
things to turn your life around.

So, that's why I approved you for weight
loss surgery if you moved down here.

Now that you got in here,

I have some concerns
with your lack of progress

and how you're doing with everything
that happened to you recently.

So, I'm gonna postpone the new
weight loss surgery for two things.

Okay.

Okay, the first is,
I want you to see a therapist,

so you can start meeting with
them about your emotional issues.

But also, because
I want them to asses

if they think you still ready to
move ahead with weight loss surgery.

Okay.

So, let's start focus on getting
your weight down and see a therapist

- and we'll pick it up from here. Okay?
- [Bianca] Okay.

- All right, I'll see you later.
- Okay, thank you.

[door closes]

So I know things aren't
easy for her right now.

But as hard as it has been
for her to get here,

it's not gonna be good
for us to move ahead with her

and do any sort
of weight loss surgery

if she's not in a place
where she's focused

on doing
what she needs right now.

She used her circumstances
and her emotions

to justify her waiting
for her whole life.

And now, all she has
going on in her life,

I need to know it's not
gonna be too much for her.

If everything looks good
in a couple of months,

I will move ahead
with her surgery.

But if not, then we'll have to start
working on a different plan with her.

[Bianca] I'm disappointed I'm not getting
to move ahead with my surgery right now,

but I can understand
Dr. Now's thinking.

And I was happy
that the appointment

went better
than I thought it would.

I thought that he was gonna be
very upset with me,

but he was more concerning
with my mental health

and making sure that I was okay

with what happened with Romonte.

Come on, Marcia and Simeon.

Um, he's gonna set
a therapy for me.

Go ahead and get in
and buckle up for me.

So I'm staying focused
and doing with I need

because I didn't bring my family to
Houston, Texas, just to play any games.

I could have stayed
in Tennessee and played games.

You know, the ball's
in my court now,

this is my opportunity
and I'm not gonna mess it up.

[Bianca]
Yesterday, I met with Dr. Now

and I told him about everything
that happened with Romonte.

And he told me
that he thought it was best

that I went and saw a therapist.

So, I'm nervous about it, but I
know that it's very much needed.

And I'm tired of my kids having to
be hindered from living a fulfilling life

because they have a mother
that's obese

and not able to take on
the activity of just walking

from day to day
without getting exhausted.

Bianca, I'm Dr. Paradise
Come on in.

Welcome. So,
what was your childhood like?

My childhood was okay.

My mom took care of me,
she was a good mom.

- She was just an alcoholic.
- Okay.

So, what she would do is

she would be drinking and to
keep me quiet, she would feed me.

Who was in your house?
Who did you grow up with?

- My mom an then, my stepdad.
- Okay.

So, she got drunk that meant
you got cookies and chips and...

It was even deeper
than that, Dr. Paradise.

I could remember times when
I would eat pizza and throw up.

And then after that, she
was giving me some burgers.

It was to that point.

What do you think she was
doing by feeding you so much?

- Just trying to keep me quiet so she could drink.
- Okay.

Did you have friends?

Um, I didn't really
call 'em friends

'cause friends don't talk
about you.

- Okay, so, the kids were mean.
- Mm-hmm.

And that's a kid that sounds
like junior high, middle school.

Okay, what did...
What did the teasing do?

Did it motivate you
to lose weight?

- It just made me eat more.
- Okay.

What's goin' on at home
with this...

Mom and stepdad still together?

Okay, my dad died in 2005,

my stepdad died in 2006,

and then my mom died in 2009.

- Are you--
- I found my mom dead.

Oh.

Okay, tell me about that.

When we walked in there,
she was already dead.

Her lips were already blue
like she had aspirated.

Then they said that it was cardiac
arrest, she had a heart attack.

And that's what makes me wanna
fight so hard, too, Dr. Paradise,

because my kids shouldn't
have to go through that with me.

You know, it hurts me

because the last thing I should've
told my mom was I love her

and the last thing I had with
my mom was an argument

'cause I just begged her...
[crying]

[sniffles]
I begged her not to drink.

I just didn't want her to drink.

I just begged her,
I said, "Please.

Please, Mama,
don't drink tonight, please."

And she still drank.

I just... It's very hard. That's why I
named my daughter after my mom.

So she can live on.

So, Bianca,
let's talk about that idea

that the last interaction you
had with her was an argument.

I feel like you were trying
to help her.

I was trying to help her, I was.

It wasn't an angry argument,
it was a loving argument, right?

Yes.

I mean, the last interaction you had
was, was an attempt to help her out.

Yes. I just, I just wanted
her to stop drinking.

I just wanted her to get better.

Yeah, I hear
that commitment to your kids.

And you're committed
more than anything

to make sure that your
kids don't go through

all the bad things
that you went through.

Yeah, I, I kind of want that to
be the thing that mobilizes you.

Right.

You know, when an airplane's going
down and the oxygen masks drop,

they say, "Put the
mask on yourself first

before you put it
on your kids."

So, we gotta get you taking care
of yourself before anything else.

The best way to take care
of your kids is to focus on you.

And coming her to Houston
is a great example of that.

Do you believe you're
gonna be successful here?

I know I'm gonna be successful.

- Okay, prove it to me.
- I will.

- Have a good night, okay?
- You too, thank you.

[Bianca] A lot of what I discussed
was hard for me to go through.

- Take care.
- You too.

[Bianca]
But it felt good to do.

And I know getting healthy
physically and mentally is the only way

I'm gonna be able to get my
approval to move ahead with surgery.

[Bianca] I'm headed to see
Dr. Now for my next appointment

and find out where my weight

and on my progress stands
for the past two months.

- Okay, Simi, we're here.
- [Simeon] Yay!

[Bianca] I'm nervous
to get on the scale.

I won't move forward if my
progress isn't sufficient for Dr. Now.

So, that's all
I'm nervous about.

I was only 557 two months
ago at my last appointment.

Come on, Simeon.

And that was pretty much
where I was the prior time

I got my weight checked
before that.

So, Dr. Now needed to see me
go in the right direction

by losing at least 30 pounds
today to get down to 527.

Simeon, stand still.

Bianca?

[machine beeping]

[sighs in relief]

Thank you, Simeon.

Thank you.

- [woman] So, we are gonna be going to Room 5.
- [Bianca] Okay.

[Bianca] You know, seeing that
number feels really good.

I'm making a such a huge leap
in my weight loss.

I feel really proud
of myself right now.

Close the door, Simeon.

- [knock at door]
- [Bianca] Come in.

- Hello.
- Hello, how are you?

-I'm doing okay. How you doing?
-Good.

- Well, I can see that.
- How are you?

I'm doing good.

- So, it looks like you lost some weight.
- Yes, sir.

[Dr. Now]
Good. That's a good progress.

- Yes, sir.
- And so, you've done good job on losing weight now.

Which is good.
And Dr. Paradise feels

like you are able to focus and
what you need right now.

So, I'm gonna approve you
for weight loss surgery.

- Are you serious?
- Yes.

Oh, my gosh.
Thank you so much.

I'm gonna set you up
for next month.

But don't get comfortable and
start to step on your progress, okay?

- Okay.
- Keep your weight going in the right direction.

- You got it?
- Got it.

Al right. You're doing great
and I'm proud of your progress.

So, keep it up and we get you
to the operation and this time,

you want to be successful.

Okay. Thank you so
much Dr. Now.

- And you're welcome.
- Did you understand what he said, Simeon?

He's gonna do Mommy's surgery.

Are you excited?

Hmm?

You excited?

[Dr. Now] He's not sure
about it now.

He's proud of Mom, too.

You are! Go take a seat.

Thank you.

Is everybody doing well and
getting settled in?

- Everything's going good.
- Okay, that's good.

Keep going to therapy and
working on things with Dr. Paradise.

That's important. And then
keep up the good work.

And we'll see next month.

- Okay?
- Okay, thank you so much, Dr. Now.

You're welcome. And in the meantime,
you need anything, you may call.

Okay, thank you so much, Dr. Now.
You made my day. Thank you.

-All right. I'll see you later.
-Okay, see you later.

- Okay, make sure if you need anything, give me a call.
- Okay, I will.

- Are you excited?
- Give me a kiss.

[kissing]

- Mama!
- What?

What if they go on my cheek?

- [kisses]
- [laughing]

I'm gonna go
look in the bathroom mirror.

[Dr. Now] I'm very happy to see
that Bianca has continued to work hard

to make sure she kept her
progress going in the right direction.

- Too slow!
- [laughs]

[Dr. Now] I know that wasn't easy for
her with everything she had going on.

But she's proving that she's
determined to turn her life around

no matter what her situation
is. So, because of that and

since Dr. Paradise feels
she is ready for this next step,

we will move ahead with her
weight loss surgery next month

as long as she keeps
making progress.

But I think Bianca is motivated
to stay on track until then.

[Bianca] I'm very excited right now.
You know, to finally have my approval.

Give me the keys, Simeon.

Come on.

I'm very glad that Simeon was
here to share this moment with me.

So, this was a big day
for both of us

because of what this means
for our future.

[indistinct conversation]

- All right, love you.
- I love you too. Okay?

[Bianca]
I'm very excited about today.

And I'm thankful Dr. Now is
gonna do weight loss surgery on me.

Ready to rock and roll?

He gave me a second chance
at my life.

I know that many people
in my situation

aren't able to have
a opportunity like this twice.

[nurse] I want you to take
nice big deep breaths for me.

Okay, keep that.

[Dr. Now] Today we are attempting
to do a gastric bypass on Bianca.

We are going to do this
operation robotically.

And that will help give us more
precision during the surgery.

But my concern is, that the scar tissue
from her previous bypass surgery...

may prevent us from completing
a full bypass.

If it does, then we'll
perform a slee4ve on her.

Both procedures will give her
an effective tool

to keep losing weight
and making progress.

But a bypass would be best

since she already had one
weight loss surgery and failed.

Bring the robot.

But the same procedure will
reduce the stomach by 90%,

leaving a small narrow tube
that looks similar to a sleeve,

so the patient's food intake
is physically limited

and the patient is less hungry.

So, this operation will give them an
opportunity to loose even more weight.

So, it will help her
a great deal.

But with a full bypass, it will also
bypass a portion of her intestines

to reduce the amount of
calories she can absorb.

So, it will be an added bonus
to help her out even more,

that we would normally wait on if
this was her first weight loss surgery.

But we will have to see what's
possible here in the moment

depending on the extend
of her scar tissue.

My name is Sebastian.
I'm Bianca's best friend,

and I flew all the way out
from Charlotte, North Carolina.

It's been almost five hours
since they took her back.

So, I said goodbye to her,
gave her a hug.

And told her I love her and
I'm here waiting on her.

I'm nervous for her and I've gone to the
nurses' station maybe three or four times now.

They kept telling me 45 minutes, and
they've told me that so far three times.

And that has me
a little bit nervous.

I'm praying for the best,
absolutely.

[Dr. Now] She had a lot of scar
tissue that's being very problematic.

So, with that looking like, we
can't safely do the full bypass,

and we're gonna
have to do a sleeve.

Okay, we are almost done.

Okay, all finished.

Nurse, disconnect the robot.

Room light on.

Bianca's surgery didn't go as planned
because she had a lot of scar tissue.

We had to take a lot of scar
tissue to get inside the abdomen.

So, there was no way to do
a bypass on her.

So we had to improvise and
do another surgery.

And we did a gastric sleeve
instead, and it will reduce the stomach

by about 70%. And that should
give her a better chance to lose weight

because her stomach was very
dilated, so we made it much smaller.

So, this will be a very
helpful tool for her.

My only concern is that she has
already failed one weight loss surgery

so, a more aggressive tool would
have been better than a sleeve.

It is not that effective
as gastric bypass,

but it can yield the same
results in the long term,

If Bianca is at this time, where
she is physically restricted

from overeating.

That leads her to
emotionally overeat.

It's gonna be very important that
we get her to go to psychotherapy and

that she sticks with that and she
keeps working on her emotional issues

and learning healthy ways to
cope that aren't self-destructive.

Because we have known from her
first weight loss surgery that over time,

she will go back to bad habits if she doesn't
get at the core of what she needs this time.

So, for the same reason that
she failed the first operation,

we need to make sure that she
doesn't fail the second operation.

And dealing with her emotional issues
is the only way to make sure of that.

So that's what we need to do
long term.

But right now, Bianca needs
to focus on recovering,

and then when she goes home,

she will be on a liquid diet
for one month.

And she'll lose around
35 pounds in that time.

And then if she stays on track,
she should lose 15 to 20 pounds

a month after that until she
gets close to her target weight.

She has shown me she is very determined
to pursue every obstacle she needs

to keep moving forward. But Bianca
still has a lot of hard work ahead of her

to get to where she needs.

[Bianca] It's been a little
over a month since my surgery.

I'm down to the 400s now,
and I'm feeling great.

Dr. Now said my progress should
stay around 20 pounds a month now.

So I'm working hard to maintain
that goal and stay on track.

And I feel like it's getting
easier the more weight I lose.

Because the more independent I become,
the more it inspires me to keep going.

Hi!

You know, I joined a gym and I'm doing
water aerobics two to three times a week.

That's made my exercising
easier on my joints and bones.

Nice, pound it off hard.
Come on.

But I'm finding things that I
enjoy trying,

they get me out and moving
around as much as I can.

You got this.
Come on, let's work.

I've even been able
to get a new job.

Working at a grocery store,
bagging groceries.

So that's been a very big step
for me that I'm excited about.

Yeah, you ready to go home, We
gotta go get Simeon. You ready?

- Today is the day you can play with us, right?
- Mm-hmm, yeah.

Yeah!

Feet up, Mommy.

[Bianca] But the thing that
I'm most excited about?

My progress has led me
to do more with my kids.

Get over that way, you ready?

Here.

Here.

Throw it to me.

- Come on, Simeon.
- Okay.

Come on.

Come on, Marcia.

- [Bianca] Good job, Marcia.
- [Simeon] Good job.

You having fun?

Good job, Simeon.

[Bianca] I'm keeping my focus
where it needs to keep going.

And I'm not stopping until,
I get to my goal.

Because I've missed out
on too much of my life.

And my kids already. And I'm thankful
for the second chance I have with them.

You know, I'm willing to do anything,
I can to give them a better life.

So, there's nothing on this earth
that I will let mess it up for me.

All right, good job, Simeon.
Let's go, come on.

[Simeon] Come on, Marcia.