Original subtitles

[Amy] Previously on... 1000-lb Sisters.

[Michael speaking]

[Tammy speaking]

[Michael] Yep.

[Amy speaking]

Here's what I need from you.

I need you below 400.

I got four weeks to get under 400 pounds

or I don't get approved for surgery.

You hit that number and we're good to go.

[Chris] There's always that little voice in the back of your head,

"Are you gonna make it?"

[Misty] So what's going on with you and Phillip?

You have such a [bleep] attitude

since you got with him.

I think the boyfriend's a hindrance.

On the internet, I was reading that he doesn't want her to get below 300 pounds...

[Tisa] Yes, you can.

[bleep]

What I want Tammy to do is just try to walk 10 feet from where we was at.

Now, I cannot push you in that wheelchair like that

and hurt myself,

because I know that you can walk.

That's just [bleep]

[Darlene speaking]

[Tammy speaking]

[Tammy speaking]

When's your next appointment with the doctor?

And Chris is gonna go with you out there too?

Maybe it might be part of my fault, and it probably is.

Are you still serious about having the surgery?

Huh?

[Tammy speaking]

[Darlene] So, how's Tisa?

[Tammy speaking] Good.

Okay.

[Tammy speaking]

Yes, took my pain pill.

[knocking at door]

[Tammy speaking]

- Hey. - Hey, girl.

This is my mom.

-Hi. -Your mom? Wow, hey! How are you doing?

- Honey, I'm blessed. - [Tammy chuckles]

[Tisa] This is the first time seeing Tammy after that spat that we had.

I would like an apology from Tammy

but I don't know if that's gonna happen.

I used to be a nurse, I worked in the pelvic room at Job Corps

and we had to the test tubes and all,

see if they had gonorrhea or something like that.

Oh, you got a tough job!

No, it wasn't bad until this girl came in and had this funny smell,

and I turned around and looked at the doctor

and he pulled a $20 bill out of that girl.

Yeah!

- [Tisa exclaims] - Honey, you don't think we didn't clean--

Girl, why'd she have a $20 bill in her coochie for?

I didn't ask no questions.

I just got the heck out of Dodge.

Darlene...

Have you ever...?

She never did tell me why she had it in her coochie.

[Tisa laughs] Tammy, she ain't right.

[Tammy speaking]

It's, like, one of the only memories she tells. [laughs]

How's it going with y'all?

What all happened when y'all went swimming?

[Tisa] Well, hell...

I said, "Well, Tammy, let's just walk

'cause I don't think I can push you on the concrete."

And she said, "No, that ain't gonna work. I'm just not gonna do it."

But she can walk! I know damn well she can walk.

- [Darlene] Yeah. - Walk good!

To push Tammy is just like you're working two 12-hour shifts back-to-back.

You know, I want her to get to have her surgery, like how she wants it,

but she's gonna have to give it,

to get it is not gonna be free.

And she can do it.

I know she can.

[Darlene speaking]

[Tammy speaking]

Well, I didn't know.

[Tammy speaking]

So for me to tell Tisa,

is a big step for me,

Like, I don't tell people [bleep].

I had no idea that you was in any kind of pain.

I hide it.

I don't want people to know how weak I am.

Well, I'm about to cry.

I'm sorry, I should have told you.

- I'm sorry. - I had no idea.

- I still love you. - I still love you, too.

[giggles]

I do.

How am I supposed to know if she's feeling bad?

She needed to tell me, you know,

'cause I'm thinking that she just don't wanna do it.

And if you don't tell me, I'm gonna keep pushing you

till you give me a legitimate reason why.

But I don't want her to use that as excuse

every time when she ain't in pain

to tell me she is in pain.

That's the thing.

I told her, that right there ain't gonna be her permanent spot

sitting in that damn wheelchair right there.

Well, Ms. Darlene, what do you think I can do

to try to get her more motivated about that walking?

Just get off my back about it.

[Darlene speaking]

[voice breaking] It's very important.

[Amy speaking]

Let's go over here and play with some bubbles.

I heard through the grapevine

that Tammy and Tisa got into it,

but I'm glad Tammy finally apologized for being so rude to her

'cause I can't go back to working with Tammy.

I need this time for my family.

Yeah!

You like the bubbles?

[Michael speaking]

[Amy speaking]

And I'm like, "That reminds me so much of Tammy."

He eats more than I do.

And it's scary because I don't want him to be 600 pounds.

[Amy speaking] My son means the whole world to me,

so I want what's best for him.

I don't want him to struggle like me and Tammy did with our weight.

I want him to be a normal, healthy weight

so he ain't never gotta worry about the bullies in school or anything like that.

You know, sometimes when we go places, like,

to the park or something...

Yeah.

[Amy] I've been working hard to get this weight off.

Last time I weighed myself a few months ago,

I was about 260.

My ultimate goal is 150.

But now it's hard to lose weight.

There's so much excess skin,

and it does make it harder for walking,

so my weight is plateauing.

- Yeah... - You know, to me it's ugly, the way it looks, it's like...

Yeah.

It makes me feel unattractive.

I just don't feel sexy with all this skin.

I mean, I felt more confident when I was 400 pounds

I've actually been doing research for a while now

and I found a place in Evansville

that you know could probably help me.

Well, first I wanna get this

and then this.

If I get all that trimmed up,

And then all this.

- Yeah. - Because I ain't no grandma yet.

[Misty] I don't think we're gonna fit through there.

If you turn...

I'm sorry.

Ow! [bleep]

That [bleep] thing's prickly.

When you go in the door, go to the left.

Do you wanna sit in your chair or on the couch in there?

Okay.

I don't think Tammy thinks this is gonna help her very much.

I think the only reason why Tammy is going to see the therapist

is she has to do it to be cleared for surgery.

She doesn't really wanna go.

- [Tammy pants] - [Dr. Hansen] Hi, Tammy.

Okay, where do you wanna go with it?

Okay, you just walk out, I got it.

Well, it's not locked.

[Misty] Okay.

[Tammy gasps and coughs]

Tammy, can you close that door?

This wasn't [bleep] thought out.

Um...

I'm gonna have to close the door, okay?

What I'm telling you is I gotta catch my breath

before I can stand back up.

[Amy] Today, me and Michael are going to see

about getting skin removal surgery.

As you can see, the volume reduction gives a new jawline.

[Amy speaking]

Let's find out what this number is and then we'll talk.

If Dr. Smith turns me down from having the surgery...

[Dr. Hansen] I'm gonna have to close the door, okay?

It's complete [bleep].

I'm ready to go home.

If you can just move this over here just a little bit,

'cause she's not gonna sit on there.

There we go, yeah. Perfect.

That way maybe we can move her in.

So, our first time meeting is typically what we call an intake session

and it's really more like a Q&A.

It's an opportunity for me to just ask her some questions

and get to know her a little bit,

and to understand the reason why she struggles with food addiction.

I really want to connect,

I really want to establish a rapport with her.

All right. Good morning, Tammy.

Welcome, thank you for showing up today.

Tell me what brings you to therapy.

Okay. So when did it start?

[Dr. Hansen] Okay.

Do you tend to eat more, like, maybe in the evenings?

Do you tend to eat more when you're bored?

[Dr. Hansen] Okay, okay.

Tammy, how do you feel when you eat?

You look like you're scowling at me.

Like you don't want to be here.

How are you feeling right now, Tammy?

I don't know what that means.

[Dr. Hansen] Okay, okay.

I do need you to kinda answer some questions for me, all right?

Okay. I'm not saying you haven't.

I'm just saying I need you to be a little bit more cooperative

if that's possible, okay?

Well, a lot of times,

when I deal with individuals who have some type of an addiction,

often it's because they're struggling with something internally

and that's the best coping that they can find at that time.

Maybe you've used food

to kinda cope with some stuff that you're struggling with.

My first impression is that Tammy is very reserved.

My goal for Tammy is for her to accept,

validate, acknowledge her reasons for eating more than what she should.

She knows the reasons,

but she's afraid to tell me.

She's afraid to tell herself the reasons.

Tammy, in general, how is your mood?

Okay. How about becoming easily annoyed or irritable?

[laughs]

- Why are you laughing. - [continues laughing]

- Because it's true? - [continues laughing]

Okay. So, what are some weaknesses?

Some things that you can kinda work on?

Confidence. Do you struggle a lot with that?

Yeah, okay.

Are you nervous that people are gonna judge you and...

Okay. That's a great attitude,

but sometimes it's harder to practice that, right?

Excellent, okay.

Yeah.

Okay, believing in yourself, yeah.

That's really hard work, isn't it? Yeah, okay.

What is your goal?

Okay. Is that something that you think you could probably do it?

Or are you like, "Gosh, that's a huge mountain, I'm not sure I could climb"?

You can do it? Okay.

I'm not hearing a lot of confidence in that.

[mumbles]

Tammy, what are your thoughts about the session thus far?,

Okay. I don't know what that means,

so you're gonna have to verbalize it.

Okay. There's no thoughts about the things that we talked about today?

Okay...

I never want to force anyone into therapy.

What are your thoughts, Tammy, about maybe coming back to see me?

- I guess. - Okay, okay.

I'm not sensing a lot of motivation or commitment on your part.

What are your thoughts as you hear me say that?

'Cause, as I was listening to you and kinda watching you,

I wasn't getting a lot of information from you.

As our session progressed--

Exactly. And I was just gonna say,

as our session progressed, you did open up a little bit.

I think underneath all of the stuff,

I think there's somebody who's really hurt.

That's just my impression right now.

[Dr. Hansen] So, can you talk to me a little bit more about this food addiction?

Tammy shut down.

I think she has a lot of things that she wants to say,

but she is finding it hard to trust somebody to share

some of her deep secrets with.

Okay, yeah.

Are we walking every day?

- No. - No.

Today is Chris and I's follow-up appointment.

[Dr. Smith] All the things we asked you to do, you didn't do.

It kinda ticks me off.

[Amy speaking]

So, today me and Michael are going to a plastic surgeon's office

to see about getting skin removal surgery.

It really affects my confidence

because my belly hangs over.

[Julie] Hello!

[Amy speaking] You know what a droopy dog is?

Yeah.

All right, guys. So, I'm going to get you ready

for your chat with Doctor Zieg.

First of all, you and I need to discover

exactly what changes you're looking to do.

- All right. Well, we have a solution for that. - And right here.

We're gonna do a virtual image of your face,

- and I'm gonna show you the changes that we can make. - Okay.

Go ahead and stand in front of this machine.

Now scoot forward one inch.

No, an inch is, like, this big, okay? So here we go.

And you can go and have a seat.

- So, here we go. - [Amy] Oh, my God. I'm ugly.

Let's start with the chin because that's everybody's major concern.

- Mmm-hmm. - We'll let Dr. Zieg make all the decisions,

but probably starting with just some liposuction and skin tightening.

As you can see here, the volume reduction gives a new jawline.

[Amy] Yeah.

So we're gonna soften this line here.

It's not gonna be completely gone because that would be awkward

but it's gonna be less noticeable. And then...

[Julie laughs]

We have the magic.

Hello?

- I'm Paul Zieg. - Nice to meet you. I'm Amy.

- Hi. - Hey, I'm Michael.

Hi, Michael.

-So, you had a gastric bypass a couple of years ago, -[Amy] 2019.

- And lost about 140 pounds? - [Amy] Yeah.

So, let me see your arm, if I can.

Want you to, kind of, make a muscle for me.

I'm going to say that's probably about five pounds of fat.

- If you can lay back for me for a moment. - Can I pull this down?

Yeah, you can.

- So do you get rashes in the summertime? - [Amy] Yeah.

- Right here? - Especially now that I've lost all the weight.

- Yeah. - It wasn't as bad as before.

[Dr. Zieg] That's a very common problem.

[Amy] He examined every part of me. My boobs, my necks,

So, what I find is that folks search me out after they get to their goal.

[Dr. Zieg] It would probably be best for us to focus on

waiting to see how things go for you.

My suggestions for Amy is continue on her weight loss journey.

Her body will still have changes.

After she's done with that then we can proceed with having the surgery.

I've been down this road with folks, kind of, hitting a brick wall.

- And things just aren't... - Yeah. It's kind of...

[Dr. Zieg] Budging anymore.

And they get kind of frustrated.

[Amy] It's hard because, after my weight loss surgery,

for the first year I dropped weight like it was nothing.

But now it's, like, hard to lose a pound.

While it's not an immediate gratification to get what you want,

the results are nicer.

- It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. [laughs] - [Amy] Oh.

My next steps are to, you know, lose more weight because

[Chris] My sister's got this crazy-ass idea

to go to the spa.

Oh, God.

I might have a problem.

She doesn't...

- There we go. Got it. - Okay. I got it now.

- That's definitely a small spot. - [Tammy laughs]

[Chris speaking]

Hey, y'all. It's Amy.

Hey, it's Tammy.

[Amy] And...

- Me. - [all laughing]

Putting up with these two [bleep].

In a couple of days, Chris has his doctor's appointment

to see if he's gonna get approved for surgery.

And if he gets approved he's gonna get his surgery the next day.

Dude, he's got this, so it's just nice to go out

and just let loose for a little bit

[Amy speaking]

[Tammy speaking]

We have a esthetician coming in,

and we're doing facials and

[Chris] It is relaxing, so I'm not going to sit there

and say that I didn't enjoy it.

I'm just saying I'm glad they're paying for it because I'm not paying for it.

So, we are doing a belly wax today?

- Yep. - Okay.

I figured, you know, just want a little strip because, God willing,

if I get my surgery there is gonna be

four incisions across my stomach.

So they've talked me into getting that area waxed.

- Oh, golly, that's gonna hurt like hell. - [all laughing]

- All right, are you ready? - Mmm-hmm.

All right.

[Esthetician] One...

[Esthetician] Two...

Three.

- Oh, that wasn't even that bad. - That wasn't.

- That wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. - [Estheticians laugh]

No, it didn't really hurt as bad as I expected it to, you know?

- I don't know how women survive. - [laughs]

[Chris speaking]

I don't know what this is called, but hey.

I really want to prove to Tammy that I'm here,

I'm showing her support, we're working out together.

- Ow. - [laughs]

Oh.

Oh, God.

[Dr. Smith] Let's get on the scale.

I'm angry with the fact that she did not do anything that I asked her to do.

I just really feel like she's wasting her time.

[Tammy speaking]

I haven't been doing what Doctor Smith's been asking me.

So now I'm trying to get this weight loss taken care of because

[Amy speaking] Tammy has a doctor's appointment with Doctor Smith coming up,

so I really want to prove to Tammy that I'm here,

I'm showing her support.

I'm right here, we're working out together.

But, in reality,

Like this.

Okay.

- Ow. - [laughs]

Oh.

Oh, God.

It seems like Amy has forgotten everything she learned from Fit 4 Mom.

[Tammy] Hey, I just realized my massive...

- I missed it. - [bleep]

Oh, my God.

[Amy speaking]

He loves big women, but she needs to lose this weight.

[sighs]

Just...

[Tammy speaking]

[Amy speaking]

Tammy told me she broke up with Phil and I'm like...

Now you need to work on yourself.

Tammy don't need somebody that wants her to be a glutton.

Now that your Doctor Smith appointment is coming up

you got to show some real progress, so we got to do this,

- like, every day. - I know.

Even when I'm not around.

[Amy speaking]

- So, you ready to do some squats? - No. I can't do squats.

[Amy speaking]

Tammy, let me get the door real quick.

[Chris] This is going to be the moment of truth.

I'm going to Doctor Smith's to do a final weigh-in.

[Chris] The last few weeks I've tried really hard to stay on track.

No starches at all.

Chicken stir-fry and cauliflower rice.

[Chris speaking]

- [Brittany] No, it's not. - Yeah, it is.

- Is everybody ready to go? - [Misty] I think so.

- There's a whole lot of ass in this van today. - [Misty] Yep.

[Chris] We brought Misty along because

somebody has to push Tammy if I get my surgery.

Brittany can't do it.

So, how does everybody feel about this doctor's appointment?

Why?

Hopefully, God willing and the creek don't rise,

So...

What happens if you don't make weight when we get there?

I'll probably be more depressed than anything. I don't know.

I was gonna say, it would kill me working that hard to do it

and then not, you know...

- Not getting it? - Yeah. That would really mess me up.

[Chris] It's gonna suck.

I'm tired of being on a diet all the time to work towards the surgery

that's, kind of, like I'm never going to get.

- I'd probably bawl. - I don't know,

If Doctor Smith turns me down from having the surgery...

I don't know what I'm going to do.

[Chris] This is it.

If I'm under 400 pounds that means tomorrow I'm getting my surgery.

I was going to get the door.

- Well, I didn't see that thing. - Well...

[Tammy] Today is Chris and I's one month follow-up appointment.

He's going to find out if he might get approved for surgery and...

I'm worried about my appointment too, because...

I know I haven't been doing exactly everything

Doctor Smith has wanted me to do.

- Hey, guys. - [both] Hey.

- How are we? - I'm good.

Tammy, when I saw you last time I gave you some goals.

How's that been going?

Not good? Why?

- You don't know? - I really don't know.

So portion control's gotten worse?

[Dr. Smith] It's not improving. Okay.

I think some of the other goals we had were steps,

and we were going to start at 75 and go up by five each day.

How are we on that?

[Dr. Smith] No?

[Tammy speaking]

Are we walking every day?

No. So we're not even doing the 75 a day.

I'm angry with the fact that she did not do anything that I asked her to do.

I just really feel like she's wasting her time.

Let's get on the scale. Let's have you weigh, and then let's talk, okay?

[Tammy speaking]

[Dr. Smith] 639.

[Tammy speaking]

That's the first time that I've seen you in follow-up

- that you didn't gain weight. - Right.

And that is a positive, and I'm not going to make light of it,

but it kind of ticks me off.

And you know why?

You told me all the things we asked you to do,

you didn't do.

Can you imagine if you would actually do these things that we're working with?

What I'm trying to get you to understand is that

if you will do what I'm asking you to do every single day,

you will see results.

The fact of the matter is it works. It will work.

[Chris] You know, the rumor is Tammy's relationship is over.

So I don't know if she's been eating her feelings.

Hell, I don't know what the hell's going on, but it's frustrating as hell.

What are you thinking right now?

I want to see you back in about a month, okay?

I'm going to give you the same goal.

I'm not going to reduce it just because you're not meeting it.

- Right. - Tammy, I want to see a log when you come next time.

I want to see a piece of paper,

or something in your phone that you can show me,

that you put a date that you walked.

And if you didn't walk on a date just write you didn't walk.

All right. So we'll see you in about a month. I want to see 25 pounds gone.

I'll never quit on you, you don't ever quit on me, and we'll get there.

But right now...

No offence, I think I want it more than you do for you.

Prove me wrong, okay? I want you to prove me wrong.

[Tammy speaking]

Chris?

- Okay? - Mmm-hmm.

- [Tammy] Good luck. - Appreciate it.

I've been trying to get this surgery 11 years.

Been a lot of setbacks for one reason or another.

This is it.

- Hey, guys. - How's it going?

- [Brittany] Hello. - How are ya?

Great.

So, I guess the final verdict is we want to see what this number is,

- don't we? - Yeah, I guess.

How has your activity level been?

[Dr. Smith] Okay. Good.

- You feel like you've done what you can do? - Yeah.

Okay. Good deal. Well, let's find out what this number is,

- and then we'll talk, okay? - Yeah.

All right, hop up here for me.

[Chris] I'm taking my shoes off.

[Dr. Smith] Okay, take your shoes off. We can do that.

Let's weigh you how we have before.

[Chris] Here we go.

This is it and I am stressing.

I have really buckled down on what I've been eating, but...

- [Amy] Come play with something you can play with. - [Michael] Ouch.

[Amy] Oh, I knew you were going to hit your head.

[Tammy] Next time on 1000-lb Sisters.

- I can't believe how fast Gage is growing. - [Michael] I know.

We definitely need more space.

Look at that little house.

Our house is getting too small for the three of us. We have to move.

-That's perfect. It's right next to the park. -Yeah.

I'm nervous to tell Tammy I'm moving out, but it's time.

My ex-boyfriend has been...

harassing me.

The situation with Phillip got way out of hand.

I got the police involved,

and I never thought I'd be in this kind of situation.

You know, my job is to do what's best for you,

and sometimes that may be an answer you don't want to hear.

I don't understand it.

I don't know how in the hell this is possible.