Original subtitles

Olivia: MY BODY IS MY PRISON.

I'VE BEEN HIDING FROM THE WORLD JUST WAITING TO DIE.

IT SCARES ME KNOWING THAT, ONE DAY,

I'M NOT GONNA WAKE UP 'CAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

[ SIGHS ]

Woman: SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M DEAD --

LIKE THAT I'M NOT ALIVE.

AND THIS IS THE DYNAMIC THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE NOW.

I'M DONE WITH THIS. I QUIT. I'M DONE.

Olivia: OH, IT HURTS.

Woman: I CAN'T BE THE REASON YOU LOSE WEIGHT

OR THE REASON YOU GAIN WEIGHT -- PERIOD.

I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK. I PROMISE.

Olivia: I CAN'T.

Olga: JUST RELAX. WHAT IS IT?

I CAN'T CLIMB THE STAIRS.

YEAH, YOU CAN, OLIVIA.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

SOMETIMES IN LIFE,

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TRAPPED YOU ARE

UNTIL YOU TRY TO BREAK FREE.

THAT'S WHEN YOU LEARN

WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO CHANGE.

I'M A PRISONER OF MY OWN BODY.

MY WEIGHT IS KILLING ME.

[ GROANING ]

IT'S HARD.

JUST MOVING AROUND IS HARD...

WITH THIS WEIGHT HANGING OVER MY KNEES.

THAT'S WHY I DON'T GO OUT. I DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE.

I WANT TO.

I WANT TO GET UP AND JUST LEAVE.

BUT I CAN'T.

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN SOCIETY IN TWO YEARS.

IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS,

I'VE BEEN AND OUT THE HOSPITAL CONSTANTLY...

[ COUGHS ]

...FOR MY ILLNESSES AND JUST DEPRESSION.

I'VE BEEN ON OXYGEN FOR 11 YEARS.

I GO TO SLEEP WITH IT. I WAKE UP WITH IT.

I SURVIVE WITH THIS.

I'M IN EXTREME PAIN

BECAUSE OF MY STOMACH AND MY LEG.

THIS LEG RIGHT HERE --

THIS IS WHAT HURTS.

I HAVE ALL THIS LYMPHEDEMA HERE, ALL UP IN HERE.

LOOK -- YOU CAN SEE I CAN'T EVEN MOVE IT.

CAN'T EVEN GO UPSTAIRS 'CAUSE IT'S TOO HARD.

OLIVIA'S LIVING SITUATION IS NOT HEALTHY -- PERIOD.

SHE'S IN THE BASEMENT.

SHE LIVES DOWN THERE BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S ON ONE FLOOR.

[ GROANING ]

SHE CAN'T GO UP A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.

IT'S HARD FOR HER. I KNOW IT'S HARD.

SHE DEPENDS ON US FOR FOOD OR TAKING HER TO THE DOCTOR,

HELPING HER WITH THE OXYGEN.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO GRAB YOU A CUP, MOTHER.

OKAY.

I WAS AFRAID FOR HER TO BE BY HERSELF.

YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE WITH THE DOCTOR,

SEE IF I CAN GET AHOLD OF HIM?

OKAY?

YEAH, BUT DON'T BE, LIKE, THE MOTHER --

"YOU BETTER!"

SHE WANTS TO BE INDEPENDENT,

BUT SHE'S NOT IN A GOOD PLACE RIGHT NOW.

[ COUGHS ]

I FEAR BEING A BURDEN ON MY FAMILY.

THEY DO EVERYTHING FOR ME.

YOU WANT SOME FRIES? Olivia: YEAH.

Olga: THOSE ARE COLD. I'LL WARM THOSE UP.

I PRETTY MUCH DO EVERYTHING FOR OLIVIA --

MEDICINES.

WE'RE SO MUCH ALIKE,

BUT THEN AGAIN, WE'RE BOTH DIFFERENT.

WE ALWAYS GOT PICKED ON WHEN WE WERE LITTLE.

IT'S MADE ME STRONGER.

HER, IT JUST -- SHE'S JUST WEAK.

I THINK IT DID AFFECT HER MORE.

Olivia: I STARTED PUTTING ON WEIGHT

IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO WITH BULLYING...

AND MOLESTATION.

I WAS MOLESTED AT 8.

I KEPT THAT SECRET UNTIL I WAS 40.

AS TIME WENT ON, I STARTED PUTTING ON WEIGHT --

A LOT.

IT WAS JUST HORRIBLE.

Olga: SHE JUST TOLD ME A FEW YEARS AGO.

I FELT SO HELPLESS. I COULDN'T DO NOTHING FOR HER.

THAT REALLY SHOCKED ME, 'CAUSE I HAD NO CLUE.

Olivia: HIGH SCHOOL --

I WOULD SAY I WAS PROBABLY WEIGHING 250.

I DIDN'T CARE ANYMORE. I DIDN'T CARE.

PUTTING ON THE WEIGHT IS HOW I AVOIDED PEOPLE.

THE LAST TIME I WAS WEIGHED WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO.

I WENT FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I WAS 578.

I WAS LIKE, "WOW."

HOW CAN YOU GET TO THAT WEIGHT, YOU KNOW?

THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY DIDN'T WORK.

I KNOW THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT EFFORT,

BUT I GAVE UP ON LIFE -- I JUST GAVE UP ON MYSELF.

ON A TYPICAL DAY, I REALLY DON'T DO ANYTHING.

WHEN SHE MOVED OVER HERE TO MY MOM'S HOUSE,

SHE JUST, LIKE, CONFINED HERSELF IN THE HOUSE --

STAYED IN THE HOUSE, DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT.

SHE JUST LET HERSELF GO.

SHE WANTS TO LIVE ON HER OWN, BUT THERE'S NO WAY.

Olivia: I FEEL LIKE THESE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON ME.

[ PANTING ]

THAT'S MY LIFE -- THESE FOUR WALLS.

I WORRY ABOUT HER.

SHE'S VERY DEPRESSED.

Olivia: TWO YEARS AGO, I GAVE UP.

ME BEING SICK, LIVING HERE, BEING ALONE --

I TRIED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

I HAD NEVER FELT SO ALONE.

WOW.

IF I'M FEELING SAD, ALONE, DEPRESSED,

FOOD IS WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY,

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT COMFORTS ME.

I'M EATING AND EATING, AND I KNOW I'M FULL,

AND I CAN FEEL THAT I'M FULL,

BUT I'M STILL EATING.

I THINK HER EATING IS OUT OF CONTROL.

I THINK TO COVER HER STRESS, SHE EATS.

Olivia: AT TIMES, WHAT I EAT CAN BE VERY EXCESSIVE.

I WOULD ORDER PIZZA, EAT SIX TO SEVEN SLICES.

AFTER EVERYBODY LEFT AT NIGHT, I'D GO HAVE ANOTHER PIECE.

AND SO, I TELL THEM NOW -- I SAY, "DON'T LEAVE STUFF HERE."

IT'S LIKE AN ALCOHOLIC.

IF YOU PUT A BEER IN FRONT OF THAT ALCOHOLIC,

AND YOU SAY, "DON'T DRINK IT,"

THEY'RE GONNA DRINK IT ONCE YOU TURN YOUR BACK.

AFTER I'M DONE, I'M JUST THINKING, LIKE,

"WOW. WHAT DID YOU JUST EAT?"

I START TO CRY.

BUT OVER ALL THAT CRYING,

I'LL GET UP AND GO GET A CUPCAKE IF IT'S THERE,

'CAUSE IT'S COMFORTING ME.

[ GROANS ]

IF I WASN'T LIKE THIS,

I'D PROBABLY BE SOMEBODY RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO HAVE MY HOUSE.

I WANT TO HAVE MY CAR, MY FREEDOM.

I WANT ALL THAT BACK.

I HAD IT.

I WANT IT BACK.

WE'VE NEVER BEEN APART. EVER.

YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY. YOU GOT TO DO THIS.

YOU BETTER GO.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A BURDEN ON ANYBODY'S LIFE,

ESPECIALLY MY TWIN.

I MEAN, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING.

[ GRUNTS ]

HERE IT GOES.

YOU AIN'T GOT NO GLOVES FOR YOUR HANDS, NOTHING?

I CAN'T.

[ Voice breaking ] I CAN'T.

OKAY, JUST RELAX. WHAT IS IT?

I CAN'T CLIMB THE STAIRS.

YEAH, YOU CAN, OLIVIA.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND. COME ON.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND. OLIVIA.

I CAN'T LIFT IT, OLGA. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

PULL ME.

YOU READY? READY? ONE, TWO, THREE.

THERE WE GO, SEE? YOU GOT IT. YOU GOT IT.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

THERE WE GO. SEE? OKAY. ONE MORE.

HOW HIGH IS THAT LAST STEP?

RIGHT THERE. RIGHT THERE. ONE, TWO, THREE.

YOU FEAR FOR HER LIFE. I JUST WANT HER TO GET BETTER.

YEAH, YOU GOT THIS.

THROW YOUR LEG IN. OH, I CAN'T.

OLIVIA, STOP SAYING YOU CAN'T. YOU CAN DO THIS.

THERE WE GO.

THERE YOU GO. SEE?

PUSH OFF MY LEG.

OKAY?

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE.

READY? ONE, TWO.

STAND UP.

THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

SEE?

I'M TIRED -- I'M TIRED OF BEING TIRED.

I'M WILLING TO CHANGE MY LIFE TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

I JUST WANT TO BE FREE FROM ALL THIS.

Olivia: WOW, LOOK AT THAT SUN.

TO BE SECLUDED FOR TWO YEARS AND THEN GET OUT,

AND EVEN THE SUN LOOKS AMAZING.

LOOK AT THAT.

NOW YOU SEE WHAT PRISONERS FEEL LIKE

WHEN THEY GET OUT OF JAIL.

Olivia: BOTH LEGS ARE PRETTY SWOLLEN RIGHT NOW

FROM, YOU KNOW, SITTING.

HOW MANY HOURS?

IT WAS A VERY LONG DRIVE.

[ SIGHS ] Marcos: IS THAT AUNT OLIVIA?

Sal: UH-HUH.

[ GROANING ]

LIKE THIS.

OH. OH, WATCH OUT.

SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN.

RIGHT THERE. YOU'RE GOOD.

OH, MY GOD. I'M SO EXHAUSTED.

PUT THE BRAKE ON, TOO.

[ GROANS ]

I MADE IT.

Edith: SO, HOW YOU FEELING, OLIVIA?

Olivia: I'M NERVOUS.

I HOPE HE SAYS

THAT I'M ABLE TO HAVE THIS SURGERY THAT I NEED.

I DON'T KNOW, EDITH, BUT...

I KNOW THAT WHEN I FIND OUT...

YOU'LL BE OKAY.

[ SOBS ]

Sal: YOU GOT IT ALL?

[ GROANING ]

JUST LIKE THAT. RIGHT THERE.

YOU GOT IT. Edith: THERE IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WEIGH, BUT I KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA,

'CAUSE, I MEAN, I'M CARRYING THE WEIGHT.

WE'LL SEE.

CRUZ?

[ GROANS ]

[ PANTING ]

I DON'T WANT TO LOOK, BUT -- OH, MY JESUS.

Woman: OKAY. YOU CAN SIT DOWN.

WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT THIS WAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OLIVIA, I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAD A LOT OF ISSUES IN YOUR PAST

AND YOU HAD THE LAP-BAND SURGERY?

I HAD AN EXPERIMENTAL SURGERY. MM-HMM.

THEY CUT 4 INCHES OF MY INTESTINES.

AND THE SECOND SURGERY WAS THE LAP-BAND,

WHICH I HAVE NOW.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS DRIVING YOU TO DO THAT?

I WOULD SAY A LOT OF IT HAD TO DO --

JUST DEPRESSION, THE LIFE I WAS LIVING.

I WAS IN A VERY STRESSFUL HOME.

OBVIOUSLY, TWO SURGERIES HASN'T CHANGED THAT.

RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK A THIRD SURGERY'S GONNA DO TO IT?

THE THIRD SURGERY -- IF IT WERE THE GASTRIC BYPASS,

MY STOMACH WOULD BE SMALLER.

SMALL STOMACH IS NOT GONNA KEEP YOU FROM EATING ALL DAY.

Edith: WELL, CAN I -- CAN I --

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.

I'M WILLING TO HELP AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

I'LL NEED TO PUT HER IN THE HOSPITAL

TO RUN SOME TESTS ON HER

AND SEE WHAT KIND OF OPTION WE GOT FOR HER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OLIVIA'S CONDITION IS PRETTY BAD.

SHE'S IN SOME SORT OF SELF-DESTRUCTIVE MODE.

[ GROANS ]

SHE HAS A VERY COMPLEX MENTAL HISTORY,

VERY COMPLEX PSYCHOLOGICAL MAKEUP.

[ GROANS ] OOPS.

I'M GONNA OBSERVE HER FOR 48 HOURS.

IF SHE FOLLOWS THE DIRECTIONS

AND SHE SHOWS ME SHE CAN CONTROL HER EATING,

THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD WITH THE SURGERY.

ALL RIGHT, I WANT TO TEST YOUR BALANCE A LITTLE BIT,

SO I'M GONNA HAVE YOU STAND UP FOR ME.

OKAY, JUST GIVE ME SOME SPACE.

[ GRUNTS ]

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE EASY FOR OLIVIA.

SHE'S USED TO GIVING UP WHEN IT GETS HARD.

THIS IS A CRUCIAL MOMENT FOR HER.

[ SIGHS ]

SHE NEEDS TO DECIDE ONCE AND FOR ALL

THAT SHE CAN DO IT.

SO THE DIET I'M ON IS A 1,000-CALORIE BARIATRIC DIET.

I AM LITERALLY STARVING, OKAY?

GOING TO BED HUNGRY.

[ SIGHS ]

BUT I'M STICKING TO IT.

REST EASY.

I'M SCARED. YOU KNOW, I WASTED OTHER OPTIONS.

I KNOW I CAN DO IT.

[ GRUNTS ]

I JUST HAVE TO PROVE MYSELF TO THE DOCTOR.

WELL, TODAY'S THE DAY -- SURGERY.

THE DAY I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A WHILE.

I'M READY.

ALL RIGHT.

SEE YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OLIVIA'S DONE VERY WELL OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

I THINK OLIVIA IS MOTIVATED.

I THINK WE'RE GONNA FIND A WAY TO HELP HER.

I KNOW YOU HAD TWO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERIES BEFORE,

BUT THIS ONE THAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY

WILL BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.

TODAY, WE'RE GONNA MAKE SOME POSITIVE IMPACT.

OKAY.

Olivia: I'M READY FOR THIS.

I WANT THIS NOW.

I'M NOT GONNA LET MY DEPRESSION BRING ME DOWN ANYMORE.

I'M NOT LETTING THE PAST BOTHER ME ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

THAT'S WHY I'M DOING THIS -- SO I CAN LIVE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THE LAP-BAND.

AND ALSO, WE'RE GONNA DO AN OPERATION

CALLED A SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY.

THIS WILL GIVE HER

A BANANA-SHAPED, NARROWER, SMALLER STOMACH

THAT SHE CAN EAT A SMALL AMOUNT AND LOSE WEIGHT.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR OLIVIA WILL BE

THAT WHEN SHE GOES BACK HOME,

SHE SHOULD BE ON A DIFFERENT DIET

THAN REST OF THE FAMILY.

THIS CAN BE AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR HER.

OLIVIA? HEY! BIG BREATHS FOR ME.

I WANT TO GET THAT TUBE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

IN THE SHORT TERM, OLIVIA'S GOT TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I'M HOPING THAT SHE'LL BE ENCOURAGED

TO CONTINUE WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS AND MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT.

MISS CRUZ?

TAKE A DEEP BREATH, OKAY?

YOU'RE STILL IN A LOT OF PAIN?

ZERO TO 10. WHAT DO YOU SAY IT IS?

10? 10.

Olga: Shh.

AAH! Shh.

[ SOBS ]

Olga: I WORRY. WE ALL DO.

THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. I WANT TO HELP HER.

I TOLD HER NOT TO WORRY.

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES, I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

I KNOW. IT'S ALL THAT PRESSURE.

TODAY'S A LIFE CHANGER FOR HER AND FOR US.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE -- TO GET HER LIFE BACK.

YOU CAN BREATHE. YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

Olga: SHE DID HAVE TWO PREVIOUS SURGERIES THAT FAILED,

SO I'M HOPING THAT THIS ONE WILL WORK AND CHANGE HER LIFE.

Olivia: NOBODY CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THIS,

BUT NOTHING GOOD EVER COMES WITHOUT A STRUGGLE.

THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT THERE.

IT'S OKAY. LIKE THAT?

TODAY, I'M NOT FEELING GOOD.

I'M NOT CRAVING NOTHING.

THE SMELLS JUST UPSET MY STOMACH.

JUST A COUPLE SPOONFULS OF BROTH,

AND I FEEL FULL -- VERY FULL.

RECOVERY'S HARD.

THE END OF MY JOURNEY, I KNOW, IS GONNA BE WELL WORTH IT.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO WHERE I WAS.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT PLACE.

I-I-I HAVE TO DO THIS.

[ SIGHS ]

MY TWIN, OLGA -- SHE WORRIES A LOT ABOUT ME.

I KNOW SHE WANTS ME TO BE BETTER.

I WANT TO BACK YOU UP.

GO FORWARD. I'M GONNA GO FORWARD.

Olga: WHEN SHE LIVED IN THE BASEMENT,

WE TRIED TO GET HER TO GO OUT PLACES WITH US,

BUT I THINK, BEING AT HER WEIGHT,

SHE JUST WANTED TO STAY THERE, SECLUDED SO NOBODY SEES HER.

AND SHE JUST BECAME LIKE A PRISONER IN THERE.

FEEL BETTER GETTING OUT OF THE BED?

OH, YEAH.

SHE'S NOT STOPPING NOW.

SHE WANTS TO LIVE A HEALTHIER LIFE.

SHE'S DETERMINED TO DO THIS,

AND BEFORE, SHE WASN'T LIKE THAT.

Man: HI, OLIVIA. HOW YOU DOING?

I'M ALL RIGHT. I'M READY TO GO.

Woman: GET A WEIGHT ON HER.

THAT'S GOOD. I'D SAY THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH. VERY GOOD.

AND YOU LOOK GOOD.

I'M READY TO BE HOME.

Edith: YAY! Marcos: HEY!

COME AND TAKE ME HOME!

YOU READY?

HI, BABY!

I WANT MY INDEPENDENCE BACK, START LIVING MY LIFE AGAIN.

[ GRUNTS ]

EVEN IF IT'S AT 47, IT'S STARTING OVER.

[ SIGHS ]

LET'S GO.

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE WELL WORTH IT.

[ SIGHS ]

I CAN GO OUT ANYWHERE NOW WITHOUT OXYGEN.

OH, YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.

NO MORE OXYGEN. Sal: NO MORE OXYGEN.

I FEEL NAUSEATED RIGHT NOW.

ALMOST HOME.

OH.

JUST NOT FEELING GOOD NOW.

I FEEL SICK.

YOU'RE FINE.

[ SPITS ]

YOU WANT TO GO UPSTAIRS AND LAY DOWN?

I CAN TRY.

[ GRUNTS ]

MOVE OUT THE WAY, BOY.

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, HERE I COME.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING OUT OF BREATH

ONLY ON THE FIRST STEP.

OW -- MY KNEE HURTS, GUYS.

I THINK SO.

Minerva: CAN YOU?

[ SIGHS ]

NOT TODAY, SAL. I CAN'T GO UP THERE.

MY KNEE HURTS.

I WANT TO COME OUT OF THIS BODY ALREADY.

WHAT I NOTICE DIFFERENT ABOUT MY BODY NOW --

I'M STARTING TO FEEL BONES ON MY BODY

THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE BEFORE.

I'VE NOTICED MY FACE.

I CAN ACTUALLY SEE, LIKE, A JAWLINE SOMETIMES.

IT'S A STRUGGLE TRYING TO WALK THE STAIRS...

...BUT I DO IT.

IT'S GETTING EASIER.

THERE'S STILL A LITTLE PAIN, BUT I JUST DO IT.

YOU SEE ALL THIS CHANGE HAPPENING TO ME?

WHEN THEY REMOVE THIS SKIN RIGHT HERE, YOU KNOW...

I OFTEN WONDER, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE LIKE

TO JUST SIT BACK, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME LEGS, MY KNEES?

THOSE ARE THE THINGS I THINK OF WHEN I CAN'T SLEEP.

I HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH DR. NOWZARADAN IN THREE WEEKS.

I'M A BIT ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW MUCH I WEIGH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M JUST REALIZING NOW?

Sal: HUH?

MY WEIGHT LOSS.

IN THE SHADOW? MY SHADOW.

[ LAUGHS ]

IT DON'T LOOK SO ROUND NO MORE.

YEAH.

WOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE MY SHADOW IS THAT SMALL TODAY.

I CAN'T.

THIS IS A NEW LIFE FOR ME.

I'M GETTING A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

OH.

LET ME SIT HERE FOR A MOMENT.

BUT ONE STEP AT A TIME.

[ GRUNTS ]

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE GONE FARTHER.

ONE DAY, I KNOW I CAN DO IT.

I'M DETERMINED.

Woman: CRUZ?

I HOPE I LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT

SO THE DOC CAN MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS SURGERY.

I DIDN'T LOSE NO WEIGHT.

WELL, I DIDN'T GAIN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CAUSING THAT?

I'M STILL DOING MY SAME DIET, AND I'M EATING VERY LITTLE.

THE CALORIES THAT YOU'RE TAKING NOW

IS SUPPORTING A 350-POUND PERSON.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M EATING A LOT, DOCTOR.

I REALLY DON'T.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU FEEL, OKAY?

YOU'RE OVEREATING.

YOU'RE TAKING TOO MANY CALORIES.

YOU'RE EATING TWICE AS MANY CALORIES

THAT YOU SHOULD EAT.

AND I EXPLAINED TO YOU MANY TIMES WHAT YOU SHOULD EAT,

AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S CATCHING WITH YOU.

NEXT TIME YOU COME IN, YOU'RE GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE HOW YOUR LYMPHEDEMA IS DOING.

WHEN CAN I HAVE THIS REMOVED?

WHEN YOU'RE UNDER 300 POUNDS.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LYMPHEDEMA TISSUE --

THAT'S WHERE THE BODY STORES FAT.

IF WE DO THAT SURGERY WHILE SHE NEEDS TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT,

THE GROWTH WILL COME BACK.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOSE 50 POUNDS.

IN A MONTH, YOU WANT ME TO LOSE 50 POUNDS?

YOU SHOULD.

OLIVIA LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT, BUT SHE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

NOW SHE HAS TO LEARN TO DO IT ON HER OWN.

I WANT TO GET RID OF THIS LYMPHEDEMA.

I HAVE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT, AND I CAN'T MESS IT UP.

IT'S TOO IMPORTANT.

Olivia: SOMETIMES CHANGE REQUIRES A LEAP OF FAITH.

IT'S JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME AND ONE STEP AT A TIME.

[ DOG BARKING ]

LAST MONTH HAD BEEN REALLY HARD.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ARE SOMETIMES THE SMALLEST THINGS.

WHAT YOU COOKING?

PAPAS? SMELLS GOOD.

THAT'S POTATOES WITH HOT PEPPER, ONIONS.

OH, YEAH. LOOK AT THAT.

SEE? I CAN'T HAVE THAT.

IT'S FATTENING.

THERE IS A LOT OF TEMPTATIONS IN THE HOUSE,

AND OF COURSE IT'S HARD.

JUNK FOOD -- NAUGHTY CABINET.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CANDIES -- JELLIES.

MY FAMILY -- THEY'RE BUYING A LOT OF JUNK.

THIS IS LIKE, "OH, I WISH I COULD HAVE THIS,

OR I WISH I COULD HAVE THAT."

BUT YOU GOT TO HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO NOT TOUCH IT.

I'M GOING TO JUST HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE

AND A SLICE OF RAISIN TOAST.

THAT'S MY BREAKFAST, RIGHT THERE.

LET'S SEE. WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

TOSTADAS. GROUND BEEF. HMM.

[ SIGHS ] I'M THINKING...

I'M STICKING TO THE TUNA AND CHICKEN.

EVERY DAY IS A STRUGGLE,

BUT I'M TAKING IT ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I'M GONNA GO FOR A WALK.

LET'S GO.

I STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

I HAVE 50 POUNDS TO LOSE IN A MONTH.

MY BIGGEST VICTORY SO FAR --

I'VE MADE IT AS FAR AS THE MAILBOXES,

WHICH WAS 800 FEET ONE WAY.

YEAH.

I'M TIRED.

WANT TO GO BACK? OR YOU WANT TO A LITTLE MORE?

A LITTLE MORE.

RIGHT THERE.

IT'S THE FARTHEST I'VE GONE.

YEAH.

MY BODY'S PROBABLY IN SHOCK, LIKE, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I'M PUSHING MYSELF HARDER

THAN I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, THERE IT IS.

I FEEL GOOD.

IT'S FUN.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA COLLAPSE.

YOU MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CORNER,

TO THE BLUE BOTTLE, AND BACK.

THAT'S FAR. SEE, YOU CAN DO IT.

[ PANTING ]

BREATHE!

I HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING MYSELF EVERY DAY.

I'M NOT GONNA GIVE INTO TEMPTATION.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD, BUT I'M GONNA DO IT.

I'M GONNA GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN TODAY.

I'M HOPING I LOST THE WEIGHT.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE, BUT THEN, THAT'S WHAT I SAID LAST TIME.

MY LAST APPOINTMENT, HE WANTED ME TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

SO THAT WE CAN DO THE SKIN REMOVAL.

SO, I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.

YES! YES!

YES! YES!

OH, MAN, IF I COULD JUMP -- IF I COULD, I WOULD.

I LOST THE 50 HE WANTED.

THIS IS SO INCREDIBLE.

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN THE 200s.

YES!

I CAN'T WAIT TILL HE COMES THROUGH THAT DOOR,

SEE WHAT HE TELLS ME.

OLIVIA. Olivia: HELLO.

YOU'VE LOST A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT

SINCE LAST TIME I SAW YOU.

SO, I DID GOOD WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS?

YOU DID GREAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR.

WHAT ARE WE DOING DIFFERENT?

STICKING TO MY DIET.

SO, HOW IS THE LYMPHEDEMA LOOKING?

IT'S GETTING HEAVIER.

[ GRUNTS ] YOU SEE HOW HEAVY IT IS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT

THAT SITS ON MY KNEE -- ALL THIS.

WHEN CAN I HAVE THE SURGERY?

WELL, YOU'RE READY FOR IT,

SO IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR YOU.

I CAN'T WAIT, DOCTOR.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE'S DONE VERY WELL.

I THINK SHE'S GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL

IN GETTING DOWN TO HER IDEAL BODY WEIGHT PRETTY SOON.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

Olivia: [ GASPS ] OH!

I JUST TEXTED MY TWIN, AND SHE TEXTED ME BACK.

SHE SAID I'M FIVE POUNDS LIGHTER THAN HER.

YEAH!

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HEAVIER THAN HER ALL MY LIFE.

ALL MY LIFE -- EVEN WHEN WE WERE BORN.

WHAT A DAY.

I FEEL GOOD.

Olivia: YOU DREAM FOR SOMETHING FOR SO LONG,

AND THEN YOU FINALLY GET IT,

AND YOU JUST HOPE IT TURNS OUT THE WAY YOU EXPECTED IT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOR A LONG TIME,

AND IT'S HERE.

IT'S HAPPENING.

A LOT OF LASTS TODAY, BUT NEW BEGINNINGS.

[ GRUNTS ]

TODAY I'M GOING FOR MY LYMPHEDEMA SKIN REMOVAL.

I'M NOT GONNA SEE THIS NO MORE AFTER TODAY.

I WAS TOLD BY THE DOCTOR

ALL THIS RIGHT HERE -- RIGHT HERE --

COULD WEIGH AT LEAST 50 POUNDS.

SO IF I WERE TO PICK THIS UP --

THERE'S MY KNEES RIGHT THERE, MY LEGS.

[ SIGHS ]

AND IT'S HEAVY.

AND IT HITS THE FLOOR.

THAT'S HORRIBLE. LOOK AT THAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO NOT HAVE THIS ON ME,

YOU KNOW, AFTER SO MANY YEARS, SO...

I JUST KNOW IT'S GONNA BE A LIFE CHANGE FOR ME.

THEY'RE HAPPY TEARS.

IT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S STILL, LIKE, SURREAL TO ME RIGHT NOW.

HOW AM I GONNA FEEL WHEN I WAKE UP AFTER THE SURGERY?

I'M GETTING NERVOUS.

I WANT TO SLEEP. I WANT TO GET THIS OVER WITH.

TOMORROW, I'M GONNA WAKE UP AND SEE MY LEGS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M WAITING FOR. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE.

I'M READY.

I'M READY. IT'S GO TIME.

WOW.

YEAH, WOW.

THANK YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU WHEN I GET OUT.

BYE-BYE, OLIVIA. BYE-BYE. MWAH!

GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU.

[ GROANS ]

HI, OLIVIA. HELLO, DOCTOR.

HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT.

YOU READY FOR SURGERY?

I'M READY. OKAY.

SO, YOU GOT ALL THIS BIG MASS,

AND THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT.

I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD FOR THIS DAY, DOCTOR.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OLIVIA GOT THE LYMPHEDEMA TISSUE

AND A LOT OF WEIGHT HANGING IN THE LOWER ABDOMEN.

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE 40 TO 50 POUNDS

THAT NEED TO COME OFF SO SHE CAN WALK

AND DO EXERCISE AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

BIG, DEEP BREATHS.

IT'S GONNA BE A BIG PROCEDURE.

AND THE TABLE DOWN.

AND LET IT GO. THERE YOU GO.

OLIVIA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

OLIVIA WAS ALMOST 600 POUNDS.

NOW TODAY, AFTER THIS SURGERY, SHE'LL PROBABLY BE UNDER 250.

OLIVIA? [ SIGHS ]

OLIVIA, OPEN YOUR EYES FOR ME.

YOU JUST HAD SURGERY.

IS SHE UP? AH!

Sal: YOUR WHAT?

YOUR BELLY BUTTON HURTS? 'CAUSE YOU GOT A NEW ONE.

WOW.

HOW MUCH IS YOUR PAIN LEVEL FROM 1 TO 10?

10. OKAY.

RIGHT. WHERE YOU GOING?

OW!

RELAX. YOU'RE GONNA END UP HURTING YOURSELF.

OH, IT HURTS.

Olga: I'M NERVOUS FOR HER.

OLIVIA DOESN'T HANDLE PAIN VERY WELL.

I THINK IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR HER.

SHE'S IN PAIN. SHE'S GETTING ANXIETY.

WHAT DID YOU JUST --

MAN, SHE'S RIPPING OFF THINGS.

RIGHT HERE IS WHERE I HAD

THAT 41-POUND LYMPHEDEMA TUMOR, AND IT'S GONE.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WANTING FOR SO MANY YEARS.

NOW I CAN SEE MY LEGS, MY KNEES, MY THIGHS.

BEFORE, THIS LEG WAS THE SIZE OF THIS.

THIS IS AMAZING TO SEE MY LEGS LIKE THIS.

I THINK ANOTHER HUNDRED POUNDS LOST,

I THINK I'M AT WHERE I WANT TO BE.

Olivia: HELLO. HELLO!

Woman: WE'RE HERE TO TAKE YOU HOME.

Olivia: I'M EXCITED.

THE LAST TIME I FELT THIS FREE

WOULD PROBABLY BE IN GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

I DO THINGS THAT I COULDN'T DO BEFORE.

I COULDN'T PULL UP MY SOCKS, I COULDN'T TOUCH MY TOES.

AND MY FAMILY REALLY NEVER SAW ME WEARING REAL CLOTHES.

BYE-BYE.

I'M EXCITED.

I JUST WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND DO STUFF --

START MY LIFE.

THERE YOU GO.

BAM! THERE YOU GO.

I'M REBORN.

AFTER THIS LAST SURGERY, I FEEL LIKE I'M REBORN AGAIN.

I CAME BACK TO LIFE.

THIS JOURNEY WAS NOT EASY --

EVERY PAIN, EVERY STITCH, EVERY TEAR THAT I CRIED.

BUT I DIDN'T GIVE UP.

AND I'LL DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN,

'CAUSE I KNOW IN THE END, IT'S GONNA BE WELL WORTH IT.

BEFORE, I'D BE LIKE, "GET MY WALKER. GET MY CHAIR."

I MADE UP MY MIND THAT I GOT TO START

NOT DEPENDING ON THEM ANYMORE.

AND TODAY'S THE DAY.

LET'S DO THIS.

I'M GETTING MY INDEPENDENCE BACK --

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, BUT I'M GETTING IT BACK.

Woman: WE HAVE A PROGRAM FOR ADULTS TO TAKE DRIVER'S EDUCATION.

IT'S BEEN OVER 15 YEARS SINCE I DROVE A CAR.

I CAN HARDLY REMEMBER IT.

PULL UP TO THE ONE ON THE CURB? UH-HUH.

THAT POLE WILL BE LINED UP WITH OUR BACK WHEELS.

OKAY. BE A LITTLE MORE ON THE LEFT.

[ CLAPS ] PERFECT!

I THINK YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM PASSING YOUR TEST.

I'M GETTING A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

I DO THINGS THAT I THOUGHT I COULD NEVER DO BEFORE --

SIMPLE THINGS PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED.

YOU REMEMBER THE LAST STORE YOU'VE EVER GONE TO?

PROBABLY 12, 13 YEARS AGO.

THE STYLES HAVE CHANGED FROM BACK THEN.

WOW.

AT MY HEAVIEST, I WOULD ORDER MY CLOTHES ONLINE,

'CAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD FIND CLOTHES

FOR SOMEBODY MY SIZE.

WOW.

I'VE COME A LONG WAY IN A YEAR.

YES. GOOD JOB. YES, MA'AM.

I FEEL LIKE I'M A NEW PERSON.

I REALLY, REALLY DO.

I WAS SECLUDED IN MY BASEMENT FOR TWO YEARS.

I'M NOT ASHAMED ANYMORE.

I WANT TO BE SEEN.

MISS CRUZ.

I WANT DR. NOW TO SAY THAT I DID GOOD,

'CAUSE I KNOW AT THE BEGINNING HE HAD DOUBTS.

YEAH!

Woman: GOOD JOB.

Dr. Nowzaradan: EVERYTHING LOOKING GOOD.

YOU'RE DOWN TO 250 POUNDS.

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY.

YOU LOOK LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON.

I FEEL ALIVE AND HAPPY.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

UNBELIEVABLE TRANSFORMATION FOR OLIVIA.

SHE'S MOTIVATED, AND I THINK SHE'S DOING GREAT.

Olivia: I'M MORE THAN GRATEFUL.

THIS DOCTOR SAVED MY LIFE, GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

I'M LOVING LIFE AS A NEW PERSON WITH THIS WEIGHT OFF.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE

AND ENJOY IT AGAIN.

I'M ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW.

HOW DO I LOOK, SAL? HOW DO I LOOK, BROTHER?

Sal: YOU LOOK GOOD. YOU LOOK DIFFERENT.

NEVER SEEN YOU LIKE THAT. NEVER SEEN ME LIKE...?

ARE THEY COMING OUT?

OH, MY GOD. IT'S BEEN SO LONG.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE LONG, HARD JOURNEY.

BUT AT THE END, IT FEELS WONDERFUL,

'CAUSE I'M NOT WHO I USED TO BE.

THIS IS A PHOTO OF ME BEFORE SURGERY.

Woman: OH, WOW.

I'M LIVING PROOF THAT IT CAN HAPPEN.

I GOT A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

WHERE'S MY TWIN?

[ LAUGHS ]

Olga: I'M HAPPY. I'M VERY PROUD OF OLIVIA.

I KNEW SHE COULD DO IT. I NEVER DOUBTED.

Woman: ONE, TWO, THREE.

I WILL FIND A JOB AND PROVIDE FOR MYSELF.

I HAVE A LOT MORE LIFE TO LIVE, AND I'M GONNA LIVE IT.