All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S10E07

Food has, just like,
grasp on me.

I think I lean on food more
than I did substances because

when I eat food, I don't think
about the substances.

[woman] Somewhere in me is
this little glimmer of hope.

I just wanna be a normal person.

[breathing heavily]

[man] 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.

[groaning] It hurts.

[woman 3] I refuse
to stop fighting.

I have to do this
for my children.

Can't even get my leg in.

[grunts]

[panting]

[bleep] I hate this car.

[Ryan] The life that I am living
at the size that I am right now, is...

It's something that no one
should ever experience.

It's not really a life.

Because I can't do
anything anymore, really.

I'm too big.

I haven't slept on a bed,
a real bed, in probably,

uh, eight years.

It's just too
hard to get in one.

So I sit in this chair all day
long and try not to get up.

But if I do, all the pain
that's pulling on me

is excruciating.

So I try not to
get up unless I have to.

Usually I only do it
to use the bathroom.

I still have some hardened
lymphedema on my leg

that pulls on me

and swings when I walk.

It makes the
pain ten times worse.

On some days, I can manage.

Other days, it's horrible.
It hurts... significantly.

And, uh,

it's getting harder and harder

to stay mobile and to
get around as I need.

I can't even fit in normal
doorways anymore.

I have to turn sideways to get
through the bathroom door.

Once I make it
to the bathroom, I can't

take too long.
Or I'll get too tired.

And by the time I finish,

I'm so exhausted.

I get winded and out of breath.

I just feel like I'm gasping
and sucking for air constantly.

And I'm gonna have to
take my time getting back.

Because I'm too weak
to walk fast without falling.

So I have to be careful
making it back to my recliner.

But even when I get there,

at my size, it's just not as
simple as sitting back down.

Because my knees can't hold
my weight bending down like that.

So I come down
hard on it each time.

And I know at some point
the recliner has to give.

And if that happens,

I'm scared I'm gonna
get seriously hurt.

But this is the only
way I can manage.

I can't lie down,

or use a normal chair.

So this is where I
stay just about all day.

I even have to
clean myself here.

Because I can't stand long
enough in the bathroom.

Basically, all I can do

is wipe down as best as I can.

And my mom or Leroy,

my mom's boyfriend,

bring me some water
to help me do it.

Most of the time, it's Leroy.

Hey, Leroy, can you please
bring down my towel, please?

- Yeah.
- Thank you.

I let Leroy know that I'm ready

for my bath water,
and he'll bring it down to me.

There you go.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Then him and
my mom, if she's home,

will wait upstairs to
give me some privacy.

But I hate the whole
process of cleaning myself.

Bathing myself, um,

it's just difficult because it's
hard to reach all the places.

I just can't reach around
my whole body anymore.

It's not possible, so I'm
limited in what I can do.

Something that should
take three to five minutes,

you know, takes 15 to 20
at times just because

my physical health.

And, I always have
to stop before I finish.

So I know that I could be
a lot cleaner than I am.

But I just do the best
I can for as long as I can.

Then I have to be done no
matter if I'm fully clean or not.

Then after my bath, it's
my favorite part of the day.

Because I get to
start doing what I love best.

So I re-clothe myself and then

I let them know that
it's safe to come down.

And once I get situated
again, it's time to eat.

So my mom will usually
start breakfast for me,

and Leroy will get my drink.

Can you guys... Leroy, can
you come down and help me?

[Leroy] Yeah.

Can you put some
soda in there, please?

Sure.

I don't usually
eat a big breakfast,

so my drink is what
I really want most.

That's one of the most
important things to me

is to have my cup
filled with what I like.

The soda I like.

And I nurse that all day long
even when I'm not eating.

But I can't get all that myself,

so Leroy helps me a lot.

He's almost the same age as me.

He's just a little older.

So I like hanging out
with him when we can.

He and my mom are
basically my whole world now.

Because all I do is sit
here and eat all day.

But as long as I'm eating
and I have my drink, I'm happy.

- How are you?
- Good morning, Mom.

What would you like
for breakfast, darling?

Uh, couple of
breakfast burritos,

some sausage and
bacon and a bagel.

- Sausage and bacon?
- Yeah.

- Bagel with cream cheese?
- Please.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Eating my favorite foods
make me feel great.

It makes it to where I don't

think about all the other
things that are going on.

Bub, do you want your
meat in your eggs?

Yes, please.

When I'm eating food, there's a
lot of comfort that I get from eating.

I just... don't think
about anything else

and that's also, like--
So it's mind-numbing.

And that's-- that's what I need.

So when I eat,
I never wanna stop.

And I never feel like I have to.

Because I've never really
felt... like I was full.

That's a feeling I never get.

So I only stop when I run out.

But if I didn't, then...

I could keep eating,
and eating and eating.

By the time I finish
the meal that I'm eating,

I'm already thinking
about the next meal.

Like, when I'm eating breakfast, I ask
my mom what we're having for lunch.

I need to know what's
in line, and what's next.

Because I already
can't wait to eat again,

even though I just did.

So, my whole day basically revolves
around me eating and drinking

and how I'm gonna get more
of it, and that's what drives me.

And that's what
consumes my thoughts

and what I do
all day and everyday.

Eating is basically my life.

And honestly, it's been that
way for me for a long time.

My life has
always been a struggle.

I never met my birth father.

And as far as I'm concerned,

all he was was a sperm donor.

And he just didn't care
to stick around.

But for most of my childhood,
I thought that my stepdad,

Jeff, was my biological father.

And so, I didn't
understand growing up

why he never seemed to like me.

I was always seeking
attention from him.

Trying to get him to
wanna do things with me.

But he never wanted to and
never treated me like he cared.

He only cared about
my sister and my mom.

I knew my sister was
his biological child.

Because she was
born when I was three.

But I didn't know I wasn't
Jeff's real son until later on.

He always made
me feel like I was this

burden or problem
he wanted gone.

And then my choice from
that was to turn to food.

Because it always made
me feel better, you know.

You feel bad you,
you eat a doughnut.

And that's how I coped
with a lot of things.

Turned to food to get the
comfort that I was looking for.

And it filled that void, so
food became my best friend.

So I started to eat a lot and
I started gaining from that.

At first, it was slow.

It just seemed like I
was a little overweight.

When I was 10 years old,

I broke the 100-pound mark.

And the difference in my size

started to get hard to ignore.

And I knew it was because
of how I ate, but I didn't care.

Things got worse
with my stepdad.

And I became the fat stepchild.

The ultimate solution
was to get rid of me.

So, as I was going
into middle school,

I moved to be with
my grandparents.

But I didn't mind because
I felt like they cared for me.

When I lived at my
grandparents' house,

my weight was pretty steady.

Because I wasn't

seeking attention, you know, I
was getting attention at that time.

My grandfather did stuff
with me and stuff like that.

And for the first time in my life,
I felt like I actually had a father,

my grandfather.
I was happy.

And things were
good for about a year.

But a year into living with
them is when I found

my dad wasn't my real dad.

My real dad passed away.

My grandparents
showed me the obituary.

He had cancer, he was dead.

And that's when
I ultimately knew that

I would never have that relationship
that I was seeking as a child.

So, I turned back to food

to deal with that, because it
flipped my world to find that out.

But then my grandpa got sick.

As I started middle school,
he went to the doctor.

That was on my 13th birthday.

It happened so fast.

He had cancer in
his foot and he was dead.

It wasn't fair.

From the day that they said

he was terminal,
he lived six days.

And it was over like that.

And that's...

when everything changed.

I was devastated.

I felt alone again.

And what made it worse

is that I had to go back
to living with my parents

and sister and
be around Jeff again.

So I just started eating a lot
again and I put on weight fast.

I knew I did because, later that
year, I wanted to join the football team.

I had to take a
physical for football

and I weighed in at 185.

But on top of that,
I wanted to be a running back.

I wanted that position but
I couldn't run the ball.

They told me,
"You're a lineman."

And that stuck throughout
all my football years.

But being labeled that

mentally destroyed me.

So that started me
on a downward spiral

where I didn't really
wanna be around people.

And all I did was
go home and eat.

When I started partying, drugs
and alcohol with my friends,

freshman and sophomore
year, I partied pretty hard.

I smoked a lot, I drank

more than any
parent knows I did.

I was still
eating all the time, also.

And that just got worse and
spiraled more out of control.

By the time I was 17,

I was already up to 300 pounds.

But that was a bad year for me.

Because that was my junior year,

and I got caught with a
gram of marijuana at school.

And that led to me getting
kicked off the football team.

And that was the
icing on the cake.

So that led me to
just keep spiraling.

Where I just ate and
got high all the time.

That's all I cared about, so...

My weight continued to get worse

and I continued using

cocaine, other pills,
and opiates.

And then at that time is
was when I realized I

really had a problem,
so I got clean

and stopped using.

I was 18 then.

And I knew things
were getting out of hand.

So, I was headed in
a very bad direction.

That's when I made
the huge choice to...

To help change my environment...

So when I was 18,
I quit school and

went to Job Corps in Yachats,
Oregon, to be a welder,

and I excelled there.

I got clean, 100%.

And, I ended up
being the dorm captain

which was the highest ranked
student that you could be in the dorm.

I was shop foreman
for the welding class.

I was somebody there.

And that felt great, amazing.

But I was still eating
a lot and gaining a lot.

That was the one thing
that never slowed down.

So I was good until I
graduated the Job Corps

and started looking
for a welding job.

Because once I did, I realized

there were already too
many unemployed wilders.

And I just couldn't get work
to take care of myself then.

I was 21 then,

over 500 pounds,

and I didn't wanna be in that
house with my stepfather.

So every chance I could,

I'd get out and get high,

or go party.

And I was more out
of control than ever.

It was bad.

Bad enough to where a
friend from high school, Jeremy,

who lived in Montana,

he'd see it over social media,
exactly what was going on.

And he gave me a phone call

and said, "Hey, man, I can get
you a job and I got a room for you.

Get over here."
And that's what we did.

Because I knew if I stayed,

it could get even worse.

And it gave me a chance to
get away from my stepfather.

So I just told my mom that
I was moving to Montana.

Got on a train, headed there

to live with Jeremy
and his wife.

And Jeremy was good to his word.

So he got me a job
at a call center.

And I was good at it.

Being part of that
team felt great.

And I felt good
about myself again.

Like I did when
I was at Job Corps.

And it was like that
for a few years.

I was even able to save up

and get a place on my own.

And I felt independent again.

So I was happy.

But after a while,

it just got to the point to where
they expected so much out of us,

that we all got so stressed
out and overwhelmed.

And that led me
to eating more again.

So I gained even more weight.

And when I was 25,

I got to over 600 pounds.

And I started to
struggle getting around.

When one day, I was at
work and my boss came to me.

And told me, I was
too fat to work for him

and I couldn't come back to work

until I got my
weight back closer

to where it was
when I started, and...

I felt like I had just got
punched in the guts.

I was shocked
because all my hard work

and all I had done for that
store meant nothing now.

I mean, I felt like I lost.
I lost the battle.

So what I did was

I just stayed in my
place for a while

and used all the money I
had saved up for food and rent.

And just sat constantly
for a couple of years.

So by the time I was around 28,

I was over 700 pounds.

And that is when I
started to become immobile.

So my everyday life
was changed drastically.

From, you know,
going outside and

enjoying the outdoors to now
sitting in a chair and that's all I do.

So I had gotten to a point where

I couldn't take care of myself
anymore and I needed help.

And I was also really worried
about my mom around then, too,

because she finally got
the courage to leave Jeff.

I was proud of
her for doing that.

But I know it wasn't easy
for my mom to leave Jeff.

But everything came
together when she met Leroy.

Because he was able
to help provide for her,

and in the end, me too.

Because I was telling her I
didn't know what I was gonna do.

And how I was gonna take care
of myself because of my size.

And she said that she and
Leroy would move to Montana.

So they moved up here,

and I moved in with them so
they could help take care of me.

And I've been here living
with my mom and Leroy

for the past couple
of years now.

[melancholy music playing]

[Tammy mumbling indistinctly]

- Leroy, food's here.
- [Leroy] Okay.

But it still does
depress me at times.

The fact that I'm 31 and
living with my mom. That's...

a pretty defeating feeling.

It's just like I failed.

So I just eat to forget about
it and not think about it.

But that's what's killing me,

because I'm over 700 pounds.

I had to go to the hospital
a couple months ago.

And they told me

I was 740 pounds.

And I never thought I'd
be of that weight ever.

I could barely get around
and I'm just getting worse.

So I'm just stuck in
this downward spiral

because of my love for food.

And how I can't give it up.

The relationship that
I have with food is

kind of similar to the same
relationship I had with substances.

It's a way to escape, it's a
way to feel good for a moment.

And it's an addiction like
other substances, but it's worse,

because you can't completely
give up this addiction.

No matter what,
you still have to eat.

So, this addiction is harder
to deal with, in my eyes.

Food has, just like,
grasp on me.

And I think I lean on food
more than I did substances,

because when I eat food, I
don't think about the substances.

So, my food addiction helps
me resist other addictions.

So, it's one of those
addictions that I don't think

I can just let go.

So, right now, I eat all
day so I can stay happy.

Sour candy, jerky, soda, chips,

cookies...

I probably eat anywhere from
5,000 to 10,000 calories a day.

There's a lot of
snacking that happens,

so I can keep eating.

But I know that I'm at a point

where I have to find
a way to cut back

and get more
control of how I eat,

because it's getting so bad.

So I know that
something's gotta give

and that I have
to stop this somehow.

I have to break the cycle

because my addiction
to food is killing me.

Everyday I have more pain

and I struggle more.

And I'm scared soon it's gonna
lead to me dying in my sleep.

That's how I think I'm gonna go.

And I worry most nights
that I go to sleep

that this could be the night,

and my mom or
Leroy will find me dead.

Because I let my
weight destroy my body.

Or because of
my heart giving out

or something else
that my size led to.

Because I lost my war on food.

So I have to do something
to stop that before it's too late.

[solemn instrumental
music playing]

I'm doing a call with Dr. Now
today to see if he'll help me

and if I can go to
Houston to do his program.

And I'm hoping that
he let's me because

I don't have any other
options to lose weight.

So getting his help is the
only chance I can see

to change anything
and save my life.

[Skype ringtone ringing]

Hello.

Hi.

Hey, Ryan, how are you doing?

I'm good, Doc, how are you?

I'm doing well.

So, you tried to
contact us, uh...

because you need some help?

Yes, that's correct.

All right, how
old are you, Ryan?

I'm 31.

Okay.

And how much do you weigh?

Uh, last time, I weighed
about 740 pounds.

And that was how long ago?

Roughly, two months ago.

And do you think you gained
since that time, or no?

I think I'm probably somewhere
about in the same ballpark.

How tall are you?

I'm six... 5'11" and
three quarters on paper.

Okay.

Hmm, so,

if all that information you
gave me is accurate,

then your BMI is 103.

Which is extremely
high and it means

your body has
a lot of strain on it.

And that it is a very
dangerous place for you to be.

So how long have you
been overweight?

I've always been a
bigger kid my entire life,

but when I turned 13--

Was a day that a very tragic

incident happened in my life and

from 13 years old to now is when

weight significantly
gotten worse.

You said something
tragic happened.

Have you seen a
therapist for that?

Yeah, I have gotten help for it.

So, what seems to
be issue at this point?

I just think that

moving to Montana was
one of the big things is

I moved here and

I don't have any friends here.

Everything I've ever
had was in Oregon.

My mom lives here now,

so I'm just not nearly
as active as I once was.

I used to go
hunting and fishing.

And at least be out and about.

You know, moving and Montana,

you know, you have
snow on the ground

five months out of the year.

So there's that issues
from the fall factor

and, uh, the last year prior
before reaching out to you,

I just wasn't taking
care of myself

and I let it get to where
it got out of hand

and now I can't seem to get it
back under control by myself.

So long have you been
in Montana?

Five years.

So what brought you to Montana?

Uh, the friends that I was
hanging out with in Oregon

decided to go down
a nasty dark path

and I had the opportunity
to move over here

with one of my friends

that did here at the time.

Um, so I wouldn't try
to follow them down that path.

And so that's what I did.
I up and left Oregon,

so I didn't make
the bad life decisions

that my friends at the time
were making and came here.

So you moved
to Montana for friends?

But now after five years,
you have no friends?

And it snows a lot and you
overeat because of that?

I wouldn't say it like that.

However you say it, that's
what you're telling me.

So it's concerning

if you think those
are actual excuses.

My life's a lot harder
than you'd understand.

I heard that a lot of times.
But that's not the issue.

The issue is whether you're
going to keep making excuses

and blaming everything else
for your situation,

or if you're ready to wake up
and get your life together.

I'm ready to do what I need
to get healthy, Dr. Now.

All right. So if food
is destroying your life,

then what's seems to be
issues with your eating habit?

My eating habits now is,
just, I like pastas.

It's a big--
Like, I say kryptonite,

I guess I would say.

I guess something
I have trouble with.

I'm trying to wean off
of it and, uh, I eat late.

So, I don't have a real schedule

due to not being able to go out.

So sometimes I eat
at six o'clock at night,

sometimes I eat at midnight.

And I know
that's a big part of it.

So what do you do all day?

Uh, usually I talk
to friends at home

or play video games as of now.

Okay, and do you have any

goal in your life?

Absolutely. I want
to get my life back.

I want to loose weight
and be successful.

Not have to rely on my mom
that I do now at 31 years old.

And eventually, start my own
family and be independent.

All right.
So do you work?

As of now, no.

I've been on disability.
But prior to that, I did work.

What did you do?

I was a wireless sales
consultant for cellphones.

And that was getting out
of the house

and doing things
or was it online?

No, that was out of the house.
Eight hours a day.

So now you don't get out

of the house
and you're on disability.

Yes.

So you are on disability
because of your weight

or high blood pressure or what?

I'm on disability
because of my weight

and being on high
blood pressure, yes.

I can't stand for those long
periods of time anymore.

Okay. You sit at home
all day now?

Yes.

So who else is in the house
besides you?

There's me, my mom,
and my mom's boyfriend.

Okay, so is your mom working?

No, my mom is--

She's always been
a stay-at-home mom,

and her boyfriend
is also on disability.

So you all live off
of disability?

My mom is supported by her
ex-husband for alimony.

Okay, let's get back
to the goal in your life.

You said you want to get
your life back and all that.

Those are figure of speech.

But what exactly you want to do

or see yourself doing
10 years down the road?

Um, if I lost--

Actually, I'm not
going to say "if."

After, 'cause I'm committed
to this, I'll loose the weight

and get back
to a healthy number.

I want to be a fire fighter.

So you want to be
a fire fighter?

Yeah. That's my ultimate
dream, my overall goal.

[sighs softly]

Okay. Well,
that's a good goal.

But you obviously have
to get in shape for that.

I know. [sighs]

So for that, you're going
to have to do the hard work.

You know that, right?

I do know that.
Yes, Dr. Now.

But still, what are willing
to do to get to that point?

I am as of now, I am willing to do
anything I have to do to get to that point.

- I know...
- Okay.

what's right around the corner
for me if I don't change my ways.

And I-- That's-- I'm not
willing to die at my age

so I'm willing to do
anything I can.

So you are committed
to make the changes

to help your weight
and your health.

- Absolutely.
- Okay.

So what have you tried so far
that hasn't working?

Uh, I tried water aerobics
at one time to like--

You know,
for the exercise aspect.

And, um, that didn't work--

I think what my
biggest problem is

is I'm a very
goal-orientated person.

So if I have someone telling me

"Hey, Ryan,
you need to loose 10 pounds,

you know, or this."

But I've never
had the structure.

I've always-- It's always been
like go do it on your own.

I've never had a doctor tell me,

"Hey Ryan,
you need to do this."

I had a doctor here one time

tell me that "Wow,
you're actually that big?

Oh, you don't look that big.
I'm surprised."

But that's no help.

So, I just...

I need to be accountable.
I just need to do it.

Okay. Well, Ryan you need

to be under 200

and you are over 500 pounds.

And this extra 500 pounds,

uh, is going to put a lot
of strain on your system.

And most people at your weight,

they don't survive too long.

So can you tell me

why haven't you done anything

about it up to this point?

Well, I put myself on a diet

that I'm on right now

to loose weight.

So you're dieting right now?

Yes.

Okay. Is it working?

Yeah. It actually
has been working.

I don't snack nearly
as much as I used to.

Well, if it is working and
you think you're losing weight,

why did tell me you think
you're same weight

as you were
a couple of months ago?

I'm just not sure
how much I lost.

Okay.

So in a typical day,
what do you eat?

[Ryan exhales]

Um, it really varies.

Some days,
I'll personally order food

like pizza or sandwiches
and have it delivered.

And then other days,

you know, my mom cooks.

So eggs and sausages
is a big one for me.

I like breakfast burritos,

so I'll put eggs in it,
sausage in it, cheese in it.

And I'll usually have

two of those.

And then dinner is chili,

enchiladas, spaghetti,
like a lot of pastas, tacos.

All right.
So, do you snack?

Uh, I do still snack.

Not nearly as much as I
was but I definitely snack.

But you cut back on the snacking

because you're on
a diet you made up.

Yeah.

What do you snack on?

Crackers, uh, string cheese

Any kind of popcorn.
It can be

cheddar popcorn,
buttered, caramel.

Anything like that.

I chew on a lot of ice.
Like ice chips.

Which isn't-- I'm sure
that's okay but--

You can have
all the ice you want

but what else do you eat?

Um, some candy.

I'm like-- I'm a sour guy.

I like sour stuff so like
sometimes sour gummy bears,

sour gummy worms,
or sour peak candy.

Okay.

So you eat whatever
whenever, right?

Yeah.

Well, if you eat that,

pretty soon you're gonna
hit 800 pounds.

So with your stash,
who buys you those?

Uh, my mom and Leroy her
boyfriend go to the store for me.

So you give them the order
to buy what you want?

Yes, I do.

Okay. So can you
inform them

that there'll be no
snacking from this point on?

Yes, I will definitely do that.

All right. Do you have any
brother or sister

or anything like that?

I have a sister.
She still lives in Oregon.

Does she have any
weight problem?

No, she does not
have a weight issue.

Her and I have different dads.

My-- [exhales sharply]

I don't want to make any excuse.

A lot of my weight might be--

My real dad when
he died at 40 years old,

uh, was like over 800 pounds.

So you had one parent
that he was overweight.

- Yeah.
- Right?

Yeah, and he had a heart
attack due to his health,

like his being overweight.

And then he also
had a drug problem.

So those two went hand in hand
and he died at a young age.

How old was he when he deceased?

Uh, like, I think at 41.
Somewhere in there, 40-41.

So you're not too
far away from that, huh?

No. I'm not.

Okay, Ryan.

If you want to make
any positive change,

you're gonna have
to change your eating habit.

You think you can do that?

I-- I definitely think
I can do that, Doc, yes.

Okay. All right, but let me make
something clear to you right now, Ryan.

I can't magically
make you lose weight.

You're gonna have to do
the hard work

and change your eating habits.

Because whatever
you are doing right now,

clearly isn't working.

So you think you can do that?

Absolutely.

All right. You need
to also understand

that if you want
to do my program,

you'll also need to move
out to Houston

for at least a year.

Um, I am 100% willing
to transition. That's--

Just to be honest with you
right now, that's a little bit--

[exhales]

Like I need a couple months to tie
up my loose ends here in Montana,

but, uh, my family is on board with
me, as in my mom and her boyfriend.

Um, we are ready to this.
They're more--

They're 100% supportive
of me getting this help.

So whatever has to happen,
I'm willing to do it.

Okay. Well, before you
come down here,

I need to get
a current weight on you

and get some tests done

to see how your health is doing

before you drive from Montana.

So I will set up for you
to go a local clinic

and let you know
when that will be.

So we can do all that

and then I'm gonna go ahead
and give you some instructions

to start you on a diet
and exercise plan.

We're gonna email you
some dietary instructions.

So the first rule
we're gonna follow is

that there'll be
no snacking, okay?

Okay.

So snacking is out.

The second rule
I'm gonna follow is

that you eat only
three times a day.

Okay.

And those three times,
400 calories per meal.

Okay.

There'll be no carb
on your diet.

All is going to be
vegetable and protein.

- Okay?
- Okay.

Do you do any exercise?

Uh, no but I'm going to start.

All right.

You think you can do that?

Yes, I do.

All right. So we're going
to email you all the stuff

that you need,
and from this point,

everything is going
to be up to you.

And if you are motivated
to change your life,

you're going
to be able to do this.

But everything is going
to be up to you

to make the changes

and this is something
you need to understand.

That you're in very
dangerous situation

and your body's not
going to tolerate that.

- Okay?
- Okay.

If you're not able to do that,

there is nothing
we can do for you.

- Okay?
- Okay.

I don't know how much you weigh

but if you're about 700 pounds,

if you stick with
the 1,200 calorie diet

that we're going to send you,

you're going to be
able to lose at least

seventy pounds in one month.

- Okay?
- Okay. Okay.

So, at this point,
the starting point

is going to be totally up to you

to change your
eating habit, okay?

Okay.

So we'll set up somewhere
to get some tests done

and check your weight

and you can give me a call and
let me know how much you weigh.

And then we're going to decide

what will be the best
option for you.

- Okay?
- Okay.

All right, do you
have any questions?

No, that's--
No questions at this time.

I'm just ready.

I'm so ready to be able to

walk and everything. [sighs]

Okay, well, what on earth
that happens

is going to be all up to you.

You got that?

Absolutely.

All right, Ryan,
it was nice talking to you

and if you need anything

before then, give me a call.

All right. Thank you
so much, Dr. Now.

You're welcome.
All right, bye now.

Bye-bye.

[computer clicks]

[mellow music playing]

[Ryan] Dr. Now said
a lot of stuff,

so I'm taking it
all in right now.

I'm processing it.

But I'm ready to do this.

More than ready.

Because I want
to get my life back.

So no matter what it takes,
I'll move to Houston

and show Dr. Now what he needs
so I can get on this program

and change my life
before it's too late.

Hey, Leroy.

[Leroy] Yeah.

You about ready to go?

Yup.

I going to get my shoes on,

but will you go warm up the car,

'cause it looks
Arctic fresh out there.

Yeah.

And then I'll just
meet you out there.

[exhales]

[sniffs]

[breathing heavily]

All right, I'll just go
around the--

[panting]

[coughing]

[straining]

Damn it!

[exhales heavily]

I can't even get my leg in.

[clears throat]

[grunting]

[panting heavily]

[bleep]

[sighs]

[whimpering]

[bleep] I hate this car!

[breathing heavily]

[engine starts]

[indistinct conversation]

[Ryan] A couple of days ago,
I had a call with Dr. Now,

and he wanted me to go
to a clinic here in Montana...

[indistinct conversation]

so I could get
a current weight

and to have some tests run.

So he set that up.

And Leroy's driving me there
now to go do all that.

Is there any way that you can
put that heat on the floor, please,

'cause I cannot feel my feet.

Yeah.

- Should I go around this way?
- Go right, yeah.

'Cause there's a handicap spot
right in front of the clinic.

Okay.

[indistinct conversation]

I have to be really careful
walking outside in the snow.

[grunts]

[clears throat]

I never go out in it, because
if I fall, it'll be really bad.

So I'm really nervous,
having to do this.

[panting]

- Good morning.
- Good morning. How are you?

I'm good.
How are you?

Good. I have an appointment
for Ryan.

Okay.
Let's get you checked in.

[Ryan clears throat]

Perfect.

I've got you checked in if you
want to have a seat over there.

- All right. Thank you.
- We'll get you called back.

[clears throat]

[coughs]

Okay. Ryan,
are you ready?

- Yeah.
- We're ready for you.

- Perfect.
- I'm gonna have you come on back.

- We're gonna get your weight.
- Thank you.

- How are you today?
- Good. How are you?

I am great.

I think the diet I put myself
on before talking to Dr. Now

is gonna pay off
with the weight drop today,

because I was at 740 pounds
a couple of months ago.

[nurse] Let me turn this on.

But I think
I'm less than that now.

Go ahead and step up for me.

Perfect.

Oh, I'm sorry, but it won't
read your weight today.

I going to have you come in here

and have a seat in these chairs.

All right. Thank you.

[Ryan clears throat]

If you want to have a seat

and I will be back
in a couple of minutes

and get your
vital signs. Okay?

- Okay. Thank you.
- You're welcome.

[line ringing]

Hello, Dr. Now.

Hi, Ryan.
How are you?

I'm good.
How are you?

I'm doing okay.

So what's going on with you
and your weight?

Um, their scale cannot
read my weight.

The weight meter in the scale
they have seems to be 660 pounds.

What we got is of your
exact weight.

I'm gonna give you
the same goal.

In two months, I want you
to get down to 650 pounds.

You think you can do that?

Yeah, I think I can do that.

And if you stick
with a healthy you can

lose that and easily get
under 650 in less than a month.

- Okay.
- Okay?

But if you still getting it wrong,
then you're likely in the low 700s.

You are looking
at weight loss going off

at around 60 to 70 pounds
over the next two months.

You get to 650 and then we
can check your weight.

So stick with the
healthy eating habit

and do a diet and exercise.

The diet and exercise

three times a day, no snacking.

And three times a day would
be about 400 calorie per meal.

And we have protein, no carb.

- Okay?
- Okay.

And do some exercises

an hour in the morning,
an hour in the afternoon

and see if we can keep
your weight down

as soon as possible to 650.

And if you do that and
get to where your body

can handle the trip
to over here to Houston,

we'll set you on my program.

- Okay?
- Okay.

All right, Ryan, they're going to
try something new before you go,

so we can see where you're at with
something and then you'll be done.

But at this point, we need
to get your weight down,

at least down to 650 pound.

All right.
That sounds good.

All right, Ryan, if you need
anything, give me a call.

And start working hard on
your exercise and your diet.

And see what kind of progress
you make in two months, okay?

All right, Dr. Now.
Thank you so much.

- All right. Bye now.
- Bye-bye.

[Ryan] That's a big
amount to lose.

So I feel like Dr. Now
is asking a lot from me,

but I know I need this help

and I have to change now.

So I'm going to do it.

Whatever it takes, I know I
have to do this and I can't fail.

Because without this chance,
I have no hope at all.

So I'll do what I have
to do to get it

before my body gives up

and something really
bad happens to me

and I don't make it.

Or I know something bad
is going to happen, too,

and it's going to happen soon.

[mellow piano playing]

It's been a week since I
talked to Dr. Now the first time

and started his diet
and exercise plan.

[coughing]

And I've been able to start
to make some of the changes

to my diet, to eat healthier.

But to say that there's
a lot of requirements

and rules in what
Dr. Now sent

would be an understatement.

Because basically it's like
I can't eat anything anymore.

Except meat, chicken,
fish and vegetables.

And none of it can be made with
any thing that makes it taste good.

No, butter or salt or anything.

So basically I'm eating
like a rabbit.

That's the diet.

So that's not a simple
change for anyone.

I think even someone
who's in perfect shape

and always eats
healthy, they would

have a hard time
with a diet like this.

So I'm not doing it
perfectly right now,

and I think that's
to be expected

with something
as drastic as this.

But I've made a lot of changes

to how I eat that I'm proud of.

Because even those have
taken a lot of will power to do.

But that's how
committed I am to doing this.

And I'm not
backing down from it,

even though it's extreme.

So I'm working on it
and I'm making progress.

It's only been a week, but I'm
already feeling a little better.

Like I have some
more energy when I get up.

But I'm still not able
to be very active, yet.

That's not my choice, though.

That's because of the weather
and how much it has been snowing.

And how that's iced over
the walkways and driveway.

It's way too dangerous
for someone my size,

to even attempt to try to walk
in these conditions.

It could kill me because if I
slipped, it could take me out.

And that'd be it for me.

So I'm having to be safe
and wait to do the exercises

until the weather improves.

Because there's no room
to do it all, in here.

The best I can do right now is

I can manage to get on my
own feet, most of the time.

So, I have to get up and
get some exercise then.

[clears throat]

[coughs]

And I'm checking outside to see

if the ice and snow
has gotten better.

Because the second I am able
to safely walk outside, I'm doing it.

But I feel here, how much I
am already doing on the roll.

And my progress
I'm making because of that,

even in just the first week.

So, I have no doubt at all that,

over the next couple of months,

I'm gonna be able to get to
Dr. Now's goal on time.

Even though it's a big one.

So, me and my family
are making plans

to move to Houston
in a few months.

Because by then, I know
Dr. Now will have approved me.

To go to Houston, and get weight
loss surgery, and do his program.

I'm looking forward to that and all
the positive changes coming to me.

Because I'm on a mission
to get my life back.

And I'm not gonna back down
and rest until I do that,

and succeed.

[Ryan] It's been a month, since
I started Dr. Now's diet plan.

Doing all that stuff
that he sent,

to make progress,
and help me get to my goal.

And I feel I've been
doing really well at it

because I have made
a lot of changes,

but my mom disagreed.

Ready for dinner?

Yeah, can we have, like,
chicken and veggies, tonight?

Yes, I can do it.
Are you gonna help?

Yeah, I'll help you. Okay.

[Ryan] She thinks
I'm not doing enough.

She told me that she thinks
I should be doing more,

and I wasn't eating
healthy enough.

So, she says that she's taking
control over some of my meals.

So, I have healthier options.

And she's making me help her, so I
have to get up to get some activity in.

But most of what she's
prepared, hasn't been that great.

So, I'm not really liking it,

but I haven't complained because
I know this is what I have to do.

No matter how bad
the food tastes.

If I have to pick,

I'd say that the grilled
chicken and vegetables

as the meal I hate the least.

It's not great
but it's not terrible.

I can use some of the
seasoning salt, right, a little bit?

Instead of real salt?

- [Ryan] Yeah.
- Okay.

Okay, you got it.

[Ryan] My time on my feet
is still limited,

because I still haven't been
able to do much of any exercising

to build up my abilities.

Even though it's not snowing,
it's hard, it's really cold outside.

So, I still have to be safe
and careful about going out.

So, I know I'm behind
with all that.

And I still have
to take breaks from it,

just to help with pain
and to catch my breath.

But I can go for longer and I
think it's because I'm feeling lighter.

What I had done before
my mom got involved,

was I'd cut back from
my eating significantly.

And then focused on things
like salads and stuff.

I went through
all the to-go menus online.

I made a list of all the healthy
options, so I could order.

And I was the one
getting those meals

for every meal,
everyday of the week.

Except for Sunday.

I was letting Sunday
be my cheat day,

and I was researching how to
deal with all the drastic changes.

And one of the articles that I
found, that was really helpful,

suggested doing a cheat day, because
it helps to get over all your cravings.

And stick to your diet, like,
the other 90% of the time.

And I think, that has
helped me a lot,

because I was completely sticking
to the diet the rest of the week.

Without a single slip-up, and
I was making good progress.

But I think my mom was just focusing
on what I was doing for my cheat day,

and made a bunch of assumptions
that aren't right about how I'm doing,

instead of understanding how much
I have cut back to change my diet

and how well I've been doing
because of that.

[Tammy] Is there
anything else you want, love?

No, that should be all right.
Thank you.

[Ryan] I can feel the progress
I've been making

and I'm getting better

so I know how I was doing it
is working.

And that cheat day
actually helping.

But she doesn't get that.

And I know it's only because she
wants me to do good with all of this.

So, I can do it my mom's way
for at least the next month.

And I'm actually okay
with cutting back even more

until my next weigh-in.

Because I wanna make as much
progress as I can by then.

So, I'm dealing with it all, I'm doing what
I need, to lose as much weight as I can.

So, I figure, that's positive,

because it shows
I'm making progress.

- Need a napkin or anything?
- No, this should be all right.

- All right.
- Thank you.

If you need anything,
holler at me.

[Ryan] So, I think if I keep
this up over the next month,

I'll be ready to go show
Dr. Now my weight loss progress.

And that I made it
to my goal in time,

I know I'm on track to do that.

So I'm feeling really good.

And I'm fully confident
about how well I'm doing.

I can feel it.

So, there's no way I'm gonna
go back to the next appointment,

and not have the result I need.

That's not gonna be me.

So, I'm actually looking
forward to next month

and getting on the scale again

to see all my hard work pay off.

Because once
Dr. Now sees where I'm at,

I'm gonna be able to take
a big step forward,

to continue living
toward my goal.

And make it to where I wanna be.

I'm at the clinic again,
here in Montana,

where Dr. Now has me going
to do my weight check.

[grunting]

The last couple of months,
got a little crazy for me.

[grunting] All right.

I have a friend, back in
Oregon, who's not doing well.

And that's messed
with my vitality.

It made me struggle a lot.

[woman] Hi, Ryan,
how are you today?

- Good. How are you?
- We are good.

- You're here for an appointment?
- Yes ma'am.

Okay, I'll get you checked in.

You wanna have a seat over
there, and we'll get you called back.

All right. Thank you.

[Ryan] I know I've taken a
little longer to do my follow up.

But it was hard for me
to justify focusing on me,

when I have a friend,
who could be dying.

But I've been trying and
working hard as much as I can.

And I'm proud of
myself for doing that,

despite what I've had to face
in my life, recently.

I took something hard,
and didn't let it stop me.

And I've even used it to
motivate myself even more.

Because I wanna lose weight,
more than ever,

so I can be there for them
other people I care about.

- Hi, Ryan. How are you doing?
- Hi. How are you?

- I'm good. Things have been going good?
- Yeah.

-You wanna come back with me? We'll get you back here.
-Absolutely.

- Get your weight updated.
- [groans]

[Ryan]
And I think that alone shows,

how committed I'm to this

because it's been
a really hard time for me.

And I've had to juggle a lot.

But I'm still sticking with it
no matter how hard it's been,

to resist the temptation,

to just go to food for solace.

So, I've done well, I'm just
hoping it all pays off now

for the weight loss I need.

So, I can keep moving forward,
and get my life back.

I'm at a clinic here in Montana,

to find out if I have lost what
Dr. Now wanted me to lose,

to get to my goal.

In my last appointment, the
scale couldn't read my weight

because it has
a 660-pound limit.

Dr. Now thinks
I was in the low 700's,

because of
how I can get around still,

but he gave me a goal,
to get down the 650.

To make it safer for me
to travel to Houston.

And so that the scale can
start to read my weight.

And I think,
I've not only done that,

but that I might even be much
lower than that today.

[woman] We are going to
go right in this room here,

and then let you have a seat.

[gasps]

Take your time.

[clears throat]

[breathing heavily]

[exhales]

[Ryan]
I don't understand that.

I think the scale
is malfunctioning.

It has to be,

because I know
I've lost a lot of weight.

So, that's not right.

It can't be.

But I don't know how Dr. Now
is gonna view this,

and if he's gonna understand
how hard I worked.

And how this can't be right.

[line ringing]

Hello, Dr. Now.

[Dr. Now] Hey, Ryan,
how you doing?

I'm good. How are you?

I'm good. Thank you.

So, how's your weight
going today?

I'm not sure.

The scale's malfunctioning,
it won't give me a weight.

[Now] Is it malfunctioning

or you are still over
the weight limit of the scale.

I know I made it
to the goal, Dr. Now.

I worked hard. So, I'm at least
under 650 pounds right now.

So, you believe
you're under 650 pounds?

- That's correct.
- All right.

[Now] We will agree
to disagree then,

because you don't know that you
have lost much weight since our last call.

So, I think the issue is

that you're still over the
660 pounds limit for the scale

to be able to get your weight.

So, whatever progress you made,

it wasn't a lot.

So, that's not good.

But the test we ran on you
last time

showed that
it is safe for you to travel.

So, you can make
the trip to Houston.

So, just go ahead and...

See if you can come down
here soon and visit me here.

We can check your weight
with our scale.

Okay. I can do that.

But it is still gonna be too much
for your body to go back and forth.

So, if you come here,
you need to commit yourself

to move down to Houston. Okay?

Yeah, I'm ready to move
to Houston, doc.

Okay. And you need
to also realize that,

if you haven't lost
the weight by then,

then we won't be moving
ahead with you.

You understand that?

Completely, Dr. Now.

All right, we're still gonna set
appointments for you for two months,

and you need to lose
another 60 pounds,

to get under 600.

Okay. that sounds good.

So, you realize if you haven't
lost the weight like you think,

that's gonna be a lot of
weight for you to lose by then.

I understand, Dr. Now.
And I'm gonna do it.

All right. See you then, okay.

All right. That sounds good.
Thank you so much.

And you may...

I think, between
your diet and exercises,

we're gonna get some
updated testing before you go,

to make sure nothing has
changed in the past few months.

Okay.

And then let me know,

when you plan
to come to Houston, okay?

I will, Dr. Now.

Don't take too long,
because if you do,

then we're gonna need
to do another appointment,

to do a self-testing,
to make sure

you can still handle the trip.

So, don't take too much time,
if you want to do this.

I won't, Dr. Now.

I'm coming as soon as I can.

Me and my family have already
been working on doing that

so it won't be too hard to
figure out moving there soon.

Okay, so check your
eating habits

and work hard

and I'll see you when you
come down to Houston, okay?

That sounds good.
Thank you so much, Dr. Now.

All right. Stick with your
exercise and your diet, okay?

All right.

All right. We'll see you then.

All right. Thank you so much.
Bye-bye.

Bye bye.

[Ryan] I was a little worried
before the call

because I didn't know how
Dr. Now was gonna react.

Or if he was gonna understand
how hard I've worked

with the scale not showing it.

So, I'm glad that he knows
I'm ready to go to Houston.

Because I'm ready to
take some big steps

to get closer to a better life.

- Hi.
- Hi.

We're gonna get
your vitals here.

Okay.

[Ryan] And I think,
once I get there to Houston,

I'll be able to show
Dr. Now even more progress.

So, I'm very excited
and I'm ready to do this.

Any changes in your overall
health? Any chest pain?

- Nothing like that. No.
- Okay.

[Ryan] The new goal
he gave me is a lot.

Bit I know
I can rise that challenge

because I have so far.

So, my plan is to keep doing,
what I'm doing,

and make my progress.

And me and
my family's gonna work

on getting ready to move to
Houston as soon as possible.

So, I can keep this
journey going.

And lose even more weight
and get to where I wanna be.

And I'm excited about that.

- Take care.
- You too.

[exhales]

[doorbell ringing]

[Ryan] After my appointment
yesterday,

I came home and told my
mom and Leroy the good news,

that Dr. Now says,
I'm ready to go to Houston.

That we need to figure out
our move down there.

Because I want to go
as soon as possible.

So, we need to start
getting ready for that.

[man] Hey, how are you?

Good. Thank you.

[Ryan] They said,
they were proud of me.

And excited that I'm gonna be
able to get the help I need.

So, it was a good day
and it felt really great too.

I don't always see
all my hard work pay off,

but tonight my mom
and Leroy were proud of me.

So, the next step for me,

is to decide one of
the apartment options

in Houston, so that
we can move there.

And to keep working hard
to lose the next goal amount

that Dr. Now gave me.

So, when I get there,
I'm down to 590.

But now that I made it
to this point,

I need to go back to
how I was doing the diet,

before my mom intervened,

where I had my cheat days.

Because that got me through
the first month of doing this.

And not being able to have that,

made the last couple of months
way too hard.

I invited myself to
go back to my way,

and enjoy one day of week
with whatever I want.

I just wanna enjoy something

that tastes good
and makes me feel good.

And that'll get me through
the rest of the week.

I keep doing the diet
and stay on track,

like I need to
get to my next goal.

[Leroy] Honey,
better come and see this.

[Leroy] Right.

[Ryan] I didn't tell my mom because I
knew she wasn't gonna agree with me.

And I didn't wanna argue.

So, I waited until she and Leroy
told me they were taking a nap,

and they wouldn't hear the
door. But, I guess, they weren't.

Ryan cheating?

- What are you doing?
- I was just...

- Eating some chicken.
- I'm making dinner!

[exhales] Okay.

So, the dogs will have chicken
for their dinner.

This is not on your diet.

[Ryan] Snitch.

[Ryan]
I'm a little frustrated.

Because I don't think that
I'm doing anything wrong.

I know what I'm doing,
and I'm doing good.

My mom and Leroy
think they're helping.

But they don't understand
how this works.

And how I need to do this in a way
I can maintain for the rest of my life.

Because cutting out
everything isn't sustainable.

So, I have to find a balance.

I don't know what
we're gonna do about this.

What can I do to help you?

You know...

If you do need help, it's okay.

I know.

I appreciate it.

Every step back's like, you
gotta take five more steps forward,

than you had to take before.

I get it.

Makes me worry about you more.

I know, if I'm worried,

you know,
your mom's falling apart.

I get that.

It's a waste of time to argue,
so I don't waste my breath.

But I'm committed to losing
the weight and getting healthy,

so, I'll figure out
how to do this,

in a way I can maintain,
so I can keep going.

With how good I feel,

I know I've made
a lot of progress already.

And I'm not gonna mess it up.

The salad is good.

But it's not a chicken strip.

I understand
your cravings, but...

We have a goal here.

And we need to stick to it.

[Ryan] With how good I feel,

I know I've made
a lot of progress already.

And I'm not gonna mess it up.

That's what they don't get,

is that I'm not
gonna do anything

to go back
in the wrong direction,

and start gaining again.

I'm proud of how I'm doing
and I wanna keep going

to lose even more
and make it to my next goal,

by the time we all
move to Houston.

So, I'm just gonna focus
on doing that, the best I can.

I will help you however I can.

I need to lock stuff
or whatever,

I will do that.

Okay.

And if I find some time to
get a cheat meal in, I will.

Although as I'll do my best
to do it how my mom wants,

only because I know,
she's just trying to help me.

This is actually really good,
Mom, thank you.

You are very welcome.

[Ryan] We have more important
things to focus on,

like our move to Houston.

That's gonna take
a while for us to do.

Because I have to pick a place
for us to live there.

Then we have to pack all of
our stuff and move down there.

So, I'm just gonna put my
energy towards doing all that,

so I can keep moving forward.

Do Dr. Now's program
and get weight loss surgery.

Now, we take it
one day at a time.

Yeah. And we will
beat this thing.

We will be in Cancun...
[mumbles]

I sure hope so.

[Ryan] So, I'm gonna keep
working my hardest,

and get over
how frustrated I feel.

Because my priority is on getting
healthy and starting a new life.

[exhales]

[grunts]

[Ryan] And doing whatever I
have to do to make it happen.

My mom caught me trying to eat
another cheat meal.

It wasn't even
a whole cheat day.

It was just one meal,
and she got upset

and we sort of
went at it for a bit.

Because I don't think
any of this is fair.

I told her I need
to do this diet in a way

that works for me
to be successful.

But she doesn't care.

So, now she's decided
the best thing to do,

is throw out anything
in the house,

with carbs and sugar or anything
that's not on Dr. Now's diet.

That's basically
everything in the house,

and she's throwing it all away.

It's gonna be a lot of food.

I hope this helps you, bub.

There's a lot of stuff in here.

[Ryan] So, I'm frustrated right now, because
I don't think any of this is helpful.

I know my mom thinks it is,
but she's wrong.

It's gonna make this
harder for me.

I guess I just have
to deal with it

because I don't have
any other option right now.

[Tammy] None
of this stuff is mine.

[Ryan] But it's hard
for me to even watch.

Holy smokes,
that's a lot of food.

I know.

[Ryan] Despite being forced
to doing this in a way,

that makes it harder
than it should be,

I'm sticking with it.

I'm not going to argue with her.

I'll just do it her way,
for now.

But so far, I know I've made
some really good progress.

And I know I'm gonna
make a lot more.

So, I feel like I'm gonna be
able to get to my next goal

by the time I go see
Dr. Now in Houston.

My mom, Leroy and I are
working on moving our whole lives

down to Houston,
in the next couple months.

I wanted to do it sooner,
but it's just not feasible

with everything that
we have to figure out.

With getting everything wrapped
up here and then finding a place,

and packing everything up
and taking it all to Houston,

it's a lot.

So, it's unrealistic of me to
think we could do that quickly.

Because it's been tough, even
figuring out where we're gonna live.

I've narrowed it down to the three
different apartments we can afford.

But honestly,
none of them are my favorite.

They seem to be crammed and I'm
worried about having enough space

to get around in them.

And I'm holding out
a little longer

to see if we can find
something better for me.

It'll just make it easier
on me in the end.

I got all the food wrapped.

There you go.

- Donate it.
- [Tammy] Yeah.

Hopefully,
now you can start buying,

like, better stuff for me.

Will Dr. Now give you a list?

- I'm hoping.
- Of something you can eat.

Yeah. I'm hoping.

Can we support that?

I know that I can't snack or
anything. So, it's just gonna...

Be chicken and veggies.

So, I don't-- Really don't see why the
stuff won't go on the shelf from here on out

In the end, it'll be good.

Get you anything tonight?

- You got water?
- Nothing else.

Okay.

[Ryan] But overall, we're making
progress and we'll get it done.

Because I'm determined
to keep moving forward,

and my family wants
me to get this help,

so I wanna get this all
figured out too.

Okay, if you need me,
just scream.

- No. Thank you.
- Come on, baby girl.

Zee, come.

[Ryan] I just wish while we're doing
all this, working out what we need,

I didn't have to deal with
this stuff from my mom,

which is making it
even harder for me.

But I'm not gonna
let that discourage me

or slow me down.

I'm gonna keep working hard.

And do what I have to do,
to make it to my goals

and get to where I need.

Because I'm dedicated to this
process, and doing whatever it takes,

to lose the weight
and have a better life.

No matter how hard it gets.

I feel like the past months have
been really productive for me.

Because I'm doing
well with my diet,

and started
exercising a lot more.

It's still a little too cold
outside to risk walking,

so my mom and I
came up with the idea

of doing chores
around the house,

to get a lot of activity
I need, in.

So, I'm getting up everyday
to do that and help out

Mostly with stuff
like the laundry.

I'm doing some sweeping
and vacuuming too.

But that still takes
a lot out of me.

So, helping with the laundry,

is what I like to focus on
for my exercising.

Because I can do some of it
sitting down and rest when I need to.

Make sure I don't push
myself too hard.

But I can already feel my stamina
and energy levels getting better,

just from doing this
the past month.

So, I'm feeling really good.

And I feeling like I'm
getting a lot stronger too.

Because I'm doing my upper
body exercising everyday, as well.

I was really sore at first,

but now doing all of this
doesn't even faze me.

And I'm feeling muscle in my
arms I didn't even know I had.

So, I know
I'm building muscle mass

and improving my body like that.

And I'm excited to keep doing it

and getting even stronger.

I'm even thinking
about joining a gym.

I'm also sticking to my diet

and doing it my mom's way,
with no cheat days.

And I know I'm losing
a lot more weight

because I can feel it
in my knees when I walk.

So I should be on track
to hit my next goal

by the time I go back
to see Dr. Now again.

So, overall, I'm feeling
really good about this.

The plan is to move down
to Houston next month,

in time for my next
appointment with him.

So that means we need to pack up

and head there
in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, I didn't find

a better apartment,
like I was hoping.

So we're just moving
on the best option

from what I have to pick from.

And hope that it works out
like need.

So everything
is coming together,

and I'm making big strides,

and I'm excited
to be doing this.

I'm moving to Houston
to get the help I need.

[music playing]

[Ryan] My family and I need to move
down to Houston in the next week,

if I'm gonna get there in time for
my next appointment with Dr. Now.

It's in about nine days from
now and I don't wanna miss it,

because I've been
working really hard,

and I wanna show
Dr. Now how well I'm doing.

But my mom and Leroy are saying

they need more time
to get things ready.

And so I've been
frustrated with them,

because they knew I had
this appointment coming up.

So, I told them,
one way or another,

I'm getting down there.

And I asked Leroy
to get me some boxes

so I can start
packing up my stuff,

because come hell or high water

I'm gonna find a way
to get to Houston.

With or without them,
if I have to.

I moved to Montana on my own,

so I can move to Texas
on my own.

Especially with how much
progress I'm making.

I'm getting healthier
and stronger everyday,

and I'm rising
to the challenges I need.

So if this is just one more
obstacle I have to overcome,

then I will.

But right now,
everything is up in the air.

I'm pushing my mom and Leroy
to figure everything out,

and take this more seriously

because my whole life
is depending on this.

And they know how
important this is to me,

and how much I'm sacrificing.

You know, my friend in Oregon,
who is sick,

he's getting worse,

and I've been ignoring them
to keep losing weight...

And it's made me feel
like a horrible friend.

That's how committed
I am to doing this,

and getting life right.

So if my mom and Leroy don't
come through like I need them to,

then I plan to just
figure it out on my own

because I'm ready to
do whatever it takes,

to keep going
and do Dr. Now's program,

with or without them.

And I've already started
with back up options.

I started calling friends to
come pick me up and take me.

And I have someone that says

that they'll drive me to
Houston if it comes down to that.

So at least, I have a driver.

I'll figure out
where I'm staying

and everything else too
if I have to.

I've come too far
and worked too hard

to let things start to
get missed up now.

So I don't know exactly
what I'm gonna do,

or how I'm gonna
figure it all out.

But what I do know is that I
will, no matter what it takes.

Because I'm not missing my
next appointment and risking

my only chance
to get my life back.

[sighs]

[Dr. Now]
Since my last call with Ryan

a few months ago

he seemed to have fallen
off the map.

We set an appointment with him,

here in Houston,
to see where his weight is,

and if he is actually
losing like he said,

but that was supposed to be
a month ago,

and he never showed up.

And he hasn't been
answering my calls.

But my office finally
got hold of him

and set up a call
with him today.

So we'll see what he has to say

because he has said he
was moving here to Houston

but that doesn't seem
to have happened

and we have to know
what's going on with him

but so far it doesn't really
seem like he's very committed

to doing what he needs
to get healthy

and save his life.

[Skype ringing]

[grunts]

It looks like he's not answering

and he's not
showing up on video.

For past two months
every time we call him,

he doesn't answer his call...

And seems like he's not
serious about saving his life.

So I'm not sure
where we go with Ryan.

So I'm going to call him
on cell phone and see.

[line ringing]

Hello.

- [Ryan] Hello.
- Ryan?

Yeah, Dr. Now,
how are you?

I'm doing okay.
How have you been?

All I'm doing,
right now I'm dealing

with some family stuff
here in Oregon.

Um, but-- We're dealing.

What's going on?

Well, you haven't been
answering your calls

so we haven't been
able to get in touch with you

and see what's going on.

Yeah. This is the first time
I've seen you call

'cause I have you
on my phone under Dr. Now so.

I don't have any
missed calls from you.

Well, you missed a lot of
calls from me and my office.

And so what's going on whit you?

You were talking about coming
down to Houston a few months ago,

but you missed the appointment
we had for you, last month

and we haven't heard from you.

What-- What happened with that?

Uh, I didn't-- My driver--
I ended up with another driver

I got all taken care of now.

Uh, I do have a driver now.

Okay. Uh, so are you
doing your diet?

Yeah. You know, I've got
a gym membership at home.

Gym is good but it's not
affecting your weight,

your weight has to do
with your eating habits.

Are you watching your diet?

Yep, I've been doing chicken
breast and, like, veggies.

Um, it's almost too much
but I've stayed with it

I-- I honestly follow
95% of the time.

I follow my diet.

You feel like
you've lost any weight?

Oh, in my knees for sure.

Absolutely.

So how much you think you lost?

Um, I don't know.

I feel easily
40-50 pounds minimum.

On top of the weight you think
you lost already or total?

On top of how much I'd lost.

Okay.

So when do you think
you're coming down to Houston?

So, ASAP if all goes well

So hopefully by the beg--
End of this coming week

or beginning
of the following week

will be the worst case scenario

Okay. We'll set an
appointment for you to be here

at the end of next week

to give you time to come here,

but before you do,
it's been do long

since we had the tests done

that we need to make
appointment at the clinic over there

and get you over there
and check your weight and see

what you progress is,

and run some tests on you again

to make sure there are
no issues with your health

that will make it
unsafe for you to travel.

- Okay.
- But you need to stop giving me excuses

because saving your life
is more important

than any other event
in your life.

So this is something that
you need to be proactive for it.

- And--
- Mm-hm.

And it's not something that you
should play around and waste time on it

because you don't
have much time.

The way your body is built up

and your weight and all,

the strain you have
on your system.

So the priority should be saving
your life and try to lose weight.

And all these delays
that you're making...

At some point, you're
going to run out of time

if you don't take care
of yourself.

So that's important
thing for you...

priority should be
to saving your life

and try to lose weight
and take care of yourself.

And-- But you making
all these other priorities

and you're putting
everything back on hold

and that doesn't seem that
you're taking things seriously.

Oh, I'm-- I mean,
I'm taking it seriously

it's just I did not
have a driver the first time

so I'm taking
it serious, I mean...

I'm coming there a 100%.

It's just a couple of things
came up

and I had to get those

ducks on a row, so to speak,

in order to even be able
to come there at all.

- So...
- All right.

And you're doing your exercises?

Yeah. [clears throat]

Okay.

So after they get your
current weight at the clinic.

I want you to give me a call on
video and see how you look like.

Okay.

So we'll set that
appointment for you

and then if everything
looks good

with your weight and the tests

I'll see you here in Houston
at the end of next week.

That sounds great.

All right. Talk to you later.

- All right, Bye bye.
- Bye bye.

[mellow music playing]

[sighs]

It looks like Ryan keeps
making excuses

so I'm not sure where we
go with that, with Ryan.

I think Ryan is intentionally

avoiding video call with me.

So he either has not made
any more progress

or put on some weight,

because my guess is it's
likely he's still in the 700s

but hopefully
that's not the case

and he's making progress

and hopefully Ryan
is telling me the truth

when he said
he's ready to do this.

But I am skeptical.

We'll see where his weight is at

and once we learn that,
that will tell me a lot.

Because, if the scale still
cannot read his weight,

then he can't continue
with the argument

that it is still malfunctioning.

But if he is still over
the weight limit of the scale,

then we will have to run
the test on him again.

Because he could be gaining,
and if that's the case,

then not only will I have
concern about him travelling

thousands of miles with all
that strain on his body,

but it will show me
he is not really

taking his situation seriously
and he's playing games.

And if that's the case, then there is
no point for him to come down here

and put his body through all
that just to waste everyone's time.

Because we're not moving ahead
with him until he proves to me

he's ready to do what he needs
to succeed at this.

[slow song fading]

Lately, it's been a really
hard time for me.

I've been struggling a lot

and that started about
a month and a half ago,

when a lot of bad things
happened to me.

First, my mom and Leroy decided
they weren't coming with me to Houston.

And that they weren't
gonna move with me after all.

Which hit me hard.

'Cause I thought I had their
support and they'd be there for me.

Do you need anything else?

- No, I'm good.
- You good? You sure?

Yep.

I was wrong about that though.

And that's been very hard
for me to accept.

Keep going.

[Ryan] Because I've been
really frustrated at them

for doing that to me

and making me feel
completely abandoned.

But I wasn't gonna
let that stop me

from getting help,
so I called some friends

to see if someone
can take me to Houston

and help get me there.

And someone said they would.

And the day before we were
gonna leave,

he called and told me he had
to back out and couldn't do it.

So, I was just left with
just no options at all.

But I didn't give up even then.

I kept calling around
to find someone

who could take me,
but no one could.

There was absolutely no one
I could go to in my life

for any type of support.

So, I'm completely alone
and on my own.

And that alone was depressing.

So I know I'd
shut down for a bit.

[line ringing]

[man] Hello.
How can I help you today?

Hi, I'd like to place an order
for delivery, please?

[man] All right, go ahead,
whatever you like.

Can I please get two Philly
steak and cheese sandwiches,

an eight-piece order of wings,

and a large cheese
curd with ranch?

- [man] What else can I get for you?
- Uh, that's it.

Um, give us about 40 minutes
and we'll have that right on at ya.

- All right, thank you so much.
- [man] I'll see you shortly.

[Ryan] On top of losing my
mom and Leroy's support and help,

recently, things got
even worse for me

when I found out about my
friend back in Oregon who is sick,

is practically gone
at this point.

Their health is so bad
that they don't have long...

[clears throat]

and when I found that out, it
made me feel like such a horrible friend

because I sacrificed
being there for them.

To try and focus on me.

[knocking on door]

And it's hard not to feel like that
was not only completely selfish of me

but that choice might
have stolen my last chance

to be there for them
and see them.

And that depressed me even more.

-[delivery man] Here it is.
-[Ryan] Thank you. Have a good one.

[clears throat]

So, life has just been
a struggle for me lately.

To where it feels like there's
just no one in my corner.

And no matter what I do,

I just can't get ahead.

But despite all this
and all the setbacks,

I haven't let that stop me
from doing what I need.

I've still been
sticking to the diet

and working hard
at my exercises.

But the reason I've been
able to stick to it like I need

is that I'm having
some cheat meals.

Not whole cheat days,

just a meal
once or twice a week.

That looks good.

Well, everything I eat doesn't
have to be something from the diet.

I usually wait until
my mom and Leroy go out

so I don't have them in my face.

I don't know what my weight is,

but I know it's a lot less
than it was.

And probably in the 500s
at this point.

Perfect.

But I haven't been able

to go back and get
my weight checked yet.

I talked to Dr. Now
couple of weeks ago

and he wanted me to go
back to the local clinic.

But then right after
is when I found out

what was going on
with my friend in Oregon

and how bad off they were,
and I had to postpone

just because
it wasn't a good time,

and I was too depressed.

And that also delayed
me going to Houston.

But my plan is to
reach out to Dr. Now again

here in a few weeks

and get him to reschedule
the appointment here

he wants me to have.

[clears throat]

And so, I can go
show him how I'm doing

and so, I can
keep moving forward

because I'm still just
as committed to doing this

and getting healthy as I was
as when I started.

It's just, life's been
throwing me some curve balls

and I'm trying to figure it
all out as fast as I can.

It's not ideal, but it's life.

I can't control
when bad things happen.

And it feels like
once there's one thing,

a ton of other issues and
problems are right behind it.

[clears throat]

Not only have I had

all the setbacks of moving in
with my friend,

but because of the delay
in moving to Houston,

I even lost the
apartment option I had.

[clears throat]

So, I have to figure that again

and figure out how to move
down to Houston on my own.

So, there's a lot that's
on me to figure out.

That was good.

This is hard.

Some days, I'm so close
to quitting, it's ridiculous.

But mama didn't raise
no quitter, so I can't.

Just gonna keep going,

gonna prove that I can do this.

[sighs]

[chiming from laptop]

Oh.

Ryan had an appointment
and he's not showing up.

I'm gonna call him on the phone.

[number pad beeping]

[line ringing]

Over the past few months,

I have made
a number of appointments

to make video calls with Ryan

and he has missed all of them.

[continues ringing]

I guess he's not
picking up the phone.

And it looks like he is
doing that again today.

I had a call with him right now

and he's not picking up again.

So, it looks like

he's been avoiding me
and playing games.

In a few days,
after he misses each call,

he sends me different excuses.

Once he said
he had moved to Oregon

to take care of a dying friend.

And he's now living there

and has to prioritize
being a good friend

instead of doing the program.

But I find it hard to believe

at 700 lb. he is able
to take care of anyone.

Then he told me
he is still in Montana.

But that he is sick and dying

and that he has a friend
of their family

who is a doctor,
who is taking care of him

and he doesn't need
my help anymore.

But a couple weeks after that,
he sent me a message

that he changed his mind

and that he wants to come
to Houston and get my help.

And then, this last month,

he said he moved to Oregon again

and he's helping his friend out.

But he won't talk to me

any time I set a call with him.

Because if he doesn't pick up,

so I think, at this point,

Ryan has made his choice.

He doesn't see the
urgency in his situation

to do anything about his health

and still thinks he
can continue to lie

and manipulate
everybody around him

to do whatever he wants,
whenever he wants.

So, at this point, there is
nothing more we can do for Ryan

and there is no point in
playing his game any longer.

I think his motives
for reaching out to me

were for other reasons
than to get the help he needs.

Hopefully, he wakes up

to start doing what he
needs before it's too late.

And if he ever
decides to do that

and actually starts
telling me the truth,

and starts following through
with what he says,

then I may consider him
at that point.

But as of right now,

we're not moving
forward with Ryan

because he has no intention
to comply with the program

and I'm not sure he ever did.

So, I wish him the best

and truly hope he can
turn his life around soon,

before it's too late for him.