Original subtitles

James: I FEEL LIKE I'M TRAPPED.

BEING OVERWEIGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS, IT'S DEPRESSING.

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M USELESS.

Woman #1: SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M DEAD,

LIKE THAT I'M NOT ALIVE.

Woman #2: IF I COULD DO IT WITHOUT THE SURGERY,

I WOULD HAVE DONE IT.

MY WAY DOESN'T WORK.

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

[ Voice breaking ] I'M DONE WITH THIS!

I -- I QUIT! I'M DONE!

OH, IT HURTS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

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

OR THE REASON YOU GAIN WEIGHT, PERIOD.

[ Voice breaking ] I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK. I PROMISE.

[ Muffled ] HELP. HELP?

Maggie: WE'VE LOST SO MANY IN THE FAMILY.

I'M NOT READY TO LOSE ANOTHER ONE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

James: PAIN CAN MAKE YOU GIVE UP COMPLETELY,

OR PAIN CAN MAKE YOU START OVER AGAIN.

IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

[ DOG BARKING ] Maggie: JAMES, YOU UP?

IT'S TIME TO GET UP. YOU GONNA EAT ANY BREAKFAST?

SON.

I DON'T CARE.

YOU WANT AN EGG?

I'LL GET UP, MOM. ALL RIGHT.

James: BEING OVERWEIGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS, IT'S DEPRESSING.

MY KNEES WILL JUST ACHE.

JOINTS, LIKE, THEY'RE JUST GRINDING.

I TRY NOT TO MOVE ABOUT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I JUST GET OUT OF BREATH,

FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT.

MY MOM TREATS ME LIKE I'M HELPLESS.

Maggie: GO ON, BUDDY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DO.

IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M USELESS.

ONE OF MY WORST MOMENTS WAS WHEN I HAD AN ACCIDENT DOWNSTAIRS.

I SLIPPED, AND I ENDED UP WEDGED

IN BETWEEN THE WALL AND THE DOOR.

Maggie: ACTUALLY, HE WAS 700 POUNDS AT THAT TIME,

AND HE SCREAMS TO ME, "MAMA, HELP ME, HELP ME! I'M HUNG."

I COULDN'T PICK HIM UP.

James: THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME IN THERE AND BUST THE WALL IN.

I WAS SCREAMING 'CAUSE THE PAIN WAS SO BAD.

Maggie: I CAN'T HARDLY EVEN TALK ABOUT IT

'CAUSE HE SAID, "JUST SHOOT ME, MAMA. JUST SHOOT ME."

HE SAYS, "I'M NOT NO GOOD, ANYWAY."

[ SOBS ]

AND THAT'S WHEN I GOT SO CONCERNED.

JAMES WASN'T OVERWEIGHT AS A BABY.

HE WAS KIND OF SKINNY OR THIN.

HE STARTED GAINING A LITTLE BIT.

HE WENT FROM A SLIM TO A SIZE-12 HUSKY

JUST ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

James: IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I GUESS I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 200.

AND THEN, WHEN I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT 16, I WAS ABOUT 280.

Maggie: AFTER COLLEGE, HE WENT TO WORK AS AN ACCOUNTANT.

I GUESS THAT'S WHEN HE STARTED REALLY PUTTING ON THE POUNDS.

A LITTLE LESS THAN WHAT Y'ALL GOT BACK LAST YEAR.

YEAH?

James: I REALLY STARTED GAINING WEIGHT

WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN THE TAX FIELD --

SITTING THERE ALL DAY LONG,

LISTENING TO PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS AND STRESS.

WELL, THESE ARE OUR SONS' W-2s, I THINK.

OKAY.

AFTER WORK, SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DRINK A BEER

TO RELIEVE STRESS.

I JUST WANT SOMETHING TO EAT.

I'LL STOP THROUGH THE FAST FOOD

PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE TO SIX TIMES A WEEK.

WOMAN: Can I take your order?

YEAH, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A FOOD-LONG, QUARTER-POUND CONEY

WITH CHEDDAR AND PEPPERS, PLEASE.

AFTER I GET OFF WORK, FAST FOOD IS THE EASIEST THING.

THAT WAY, YOU AIN'T GOT TO GO HOME AND COOK NOTHING

AND JUST CRAWL IN BED OR SIT DOWN AND WATCH TV.

GET ME ANOTHER BITE BEFORE THIS LIGHT CHANGES.

Maggie: SOMETIMES, WHEN I'M COOKING SOMETHING,

HE WILL HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH.

AND I'LL SAY SOMETHING.

HE SAYS, "WELL, I ALREADY HAD SOMETHING TO EAT."

"WELL, WHY DID YOU EAT THIS?"

"WELL, YOU COOKED IT."

I REMEMBER ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO,

I WENT TO THE DOCTOR,

AND THEY BROUGHT THESE BIG SCALES IN.

AND I STEPPED ON THEM,

AND MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS...

"CAN'T BE. NO WAY."

Maggie: HE WAS 750 POUNDS,

AND HE'S BEEN THAT SIZE EVER SINCE.

HERE YOU ARE, PUTTING THIS PIE ON HERE,

KNOWING I AIN'T SUPPOSED TO EAT IT.

I GUESS JAMES BLAMES ME FOR HIS WEIGHT.

I JUST -- I COOKED HOW I KNEW TO COOK.

I HOPE HE'S NOT TOO BITTER AT ME.

IT'S NOT REALLY HIS FAULT THAT HE'S AT THIS WEIGHT.

A LOT OF IT IS OUR FAMILY HISTORY.

MY DAD STRUGGLED WITH HIS WEIGHT.

WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, HE WAS IN THE MID-400s.

IT HURT HIM WHEN HIS DADDY DIED,

BUT WHEN HIS SISTER DIED, SIX MONTHS LATER,

JAMES ALMOST LOST IT.

HIM AND HER WERE ALMOST LIKE TWINS.

James: DOCTORS SAID WEIGHT CAUSED

MY DAD AND MY SISTER'S PROBLEMS.

THEY SAY THAT LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD...

THAT I'M GONNA HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

[ SIGHS ]

Maggie: WE HAVE THE HOSPITAL BED IN THERE.

MY HUSBAND WAS USING IT.

WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, MY DAUGHTER MOVED TO THAT BED,

'CAUSE SHE SAID, "MAMA, I'M GONNA SLEEP IN HERE.

I CAN REST BETTER ON THIS BED."

WELL, AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY,

MY SON HAS TAKEN THE BED.

WHEN HE TOOK THE BED OVER, I THOUGHT,

"WHAT IS THIS? IS HE THE NEXT IN LINE?"

James: WORST THING I CAN HEAR TODAY

WOULD PROBABLY BE THAT I'M TOO BIG,

THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO.

I'VE HEARD THEM WORDS BEFORE.

BUT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS PRETTY MUCH TURNED ME AWAY.

Woman: MR. JONES? JAMES?

[ SIGHS ] HELLO.

OKAY, MR. JONES, I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO STEP ON THE SCALE

AND JUST LOOK AT ME WHILE YOU'RE DOING IT, OKAY?

OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA GO RIGHT THIS WAY.

James: I THOUGHT I'D BE A WHOLE LOT LESS.

[ SIGHS ]

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HELLO.

JAMES, I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M JAMES. NICE TO MEET YOU, DOCTOR.

I'M MAGGIE. I'M HIS MOTHER.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR EATING HABIT?

I EAT QUITE A BIT AND QUITE OFTEN.

SO, IN THE SPAN OF A DAY, HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU EATING?

PROBABLY TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES A DAY.

DO YOU COOK FOR HIM, OR...?

I GUESS -- I THOUGHT I WAS COOKING HEALTHY FOR HIM A LOT,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WHAT I'VE COOKED IS NOT THE GOOD FOODS.

IT'S, LIKE, POTATOES, AND, YOU KNOW, THE STARCHES.

AND HE LIKES TO EAT LOTS OF SWEETS --

PIES, COBBLERS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOT RIGHT NOW. I JUST LOST MY DAUGHTER AND MY HUSBAND.

OH, YES. HE WAS CLOSE TO 500 POUNDS.

500 POUNDS.

HE WAS 65 WHEN HE DIED.

JAMES IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER

AT THIS WEIGHT.

THINGS HAVE TO CHANGE. THEY HAVE TO CHANGE NOW.

BUT HE'S OVER 700 POUNDS.

HE'S VERY HIGH-RISK FOR SURGERY.

YOU CAN'T HAVE SURGERY WHEN YOU'RE 730 POUNDS,

SO WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES ON YOUR DIET.

HE NEEDS TO LOSE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS

BEFORE WE CAN DO SURGERY ON HIM.

IT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING WHEN HE SAID

THAT I WOULDN'T LIVE TO BE AS OLD AS MY DAD.

James: I'M NOT WANTING TO LEAVE MY MOM ALONE,

'CAUSE I KNOW IT'D BE HARD ON HER,

AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE MY SISTER AND MY FATHER.

AND I DON'T REALLY THINK

THAT SHE COULD MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER ONE.

SO I HAVE TO DO IT.

I HAVE TO CHANGE.

James: COMMITMENT TO SOMETHING HARD CAN BREAK YOU,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE NEVER COMMITTED TO ANYTHING BEFORE.

FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS,

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO STICK TO MY DIET

AND EAT WHAT THE DOCTOR WANTS ME TO EAT.

I'M GETTING PRETTY SICK OF EATING EGGS.

I'M GETTING WHERE I CAN'T STAND THEM ANYMORE.

[ DOG BARKING ]

I'VE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO STAY ACTIVE

AND DO WHAT I CAN AROUND THE HOUSE...

[ MOTOR TURNS OVER ]

...AND TAKING CARE OF THINGS OUT IN THE PASTURE.

HARDEST THING FOR ME TO DO, PHYSICALLY,

IS CLIMBING ON AND OFF THE TRACTORS AND THE EQUIPMENT

TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.

THE SUCKER WILL CRANK, WON'T IT?

YEP. GUARANTEE YOU, IT'LL CRANK.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO START A SIDE BUSINESS

BALING AND SELLING HAY.

BUT BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT,

I CAN'T STAY ON THE TRACTOR MUCH.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ] THERE YOU GO.

I KNOW IF I REALLY WANT TO MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT I WANT,

I HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

Don: JAMES BOUGHT HIMSELF A BRAND-NEW TRACTOR.

ONLY WAY I CAN PUT HIM ON IT

IS TO PICK HIM UP WITH THAT ONE.

HE'S MY BUDDY.

HE DON'T NEED TO BE PICKED UP.

THAT RIGHT?

RIGHT.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME, KNOWING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE,

THEY CARE ABOUT ME AND WANT ME TO DO WELL.

I DO HAVE A FEW PEOPLE IN MY LIFE

THAT I KNOW ARE THERE FOR ME.

YOU GOT MY HAY, FINALLY? James: YEAH.

COOL. COOL.

LORICA'S A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE,

AND WHEN I DO GET A CHANCE TO SEE HER, SHE BRIGHTENS MY DAY.

GOD DANG, DID YOU SHOVE IT IN THERE, OR WHAT?

I LIKE JAMES BECAUSE WE GET ALONG GOOD,

WE CAN WORK GOOD TOGETHER.

AND HE'S FUNNY. [ LAUGHS ]

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY! [ CHUCKLES ]

James: WHEN I'M AROUND LORICA,

I DON'T FEEL LIKE WEIGHT IS AN ISSUE.

Lorica: I CARE ABOUT HIM.

I JUST WANT HIM TO GET WELL, YOU KNOW?

AND I KNOW HE'S MISERABLE, AND I JUST WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY.

[ Voice breaking ] AND I THINK I'LL BE LOST IF I LOST HIM.

IT WORRIES ME BECAUSE I'M AFRAID HE'S GONNA DIE.

James: I KNOW I'VE BEEN HIDING BEHIND MY WEIGHT FOR TOO LONG.

GO ON.

IT'S KILLING ME.

AS SCARED AS I AM TO DO IT, I KNOW IT'S TIME TO CHANGE.

Woman: MR. JONES.

[ GRUNTS ]

James: I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT TODAY.

I KNOW I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

I HOPE IT'S AS MUCH AS I NEED FOR THE DOCTOR TO DO MY SURGERY.

OH, MY GOSH!

SO, JAMES, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'VE TRIED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES.

YES, SIR. SUPER.

I'M ENCOURAGED BY HOW MUCH WEIGHT JAMES LOST LAST MONTH,

AND HE'S SHOWN THAT HE'S GONNA DO WELL WITH LOSING WEIGHT.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND SET YOU UP FOR SURGERY.

IT'S GOOD? IT'S GOOD, YEAH!

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU FIXED UP. YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES DID A GOOD JOB.

HE'S GONNA DO VERY WELL WITH BYPASS SURGERY.

James: I WASN'T SURE IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN,

BUT I'M GLAD I'M GONNA GET THE SURGERY.

IT'S THE FIRST STEP TO MY LIFE REALLY CHANGING.

I BELIEVE TODAY'S GONNA BE THE JUMP START OF MY NEW LIFE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

I CAN'T FAIL, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE

THAT I DON'T WANT TO DISAPPOINT...

SO I'M READY FOR THIS.

BUT ONE OF MY FEARS IS NOT BEING ABLE TO WAKE UP.

Man: HAVE SOME NICE, BIG, DEEP BREATHS IN AND OUT.

AT JAMES' WEIGHT AND FAMILY HISTORY,

NOTHING BUT SURGERY IS GONNA HELP HIM.

JAMES' DAD AND SISTER DIED FROM OBESITY,

AND HE'S ON THE SAME PATH.

JAMES IS ONE OF THE LARGEST PATIENTS WE HAVE OPERATED ON.

THERE ARE EXTRA DIFFICULTIES

GETTING INTO THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY.

AND THERE IS A RISK OF STRAINING THE HEART AND THE LUNGS.

SURGERY'S GONNA BE CHALLENGING.

WHEN WE DO THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

WE MAKE A SMALL GASTRIC POUCH, A SMALL STOMACH,

MAYBE THE SIZE OF MAYBE TWO TO FOUR OUNCES...

1, 2, 3.

[ Muffled ] HELP. HELP.

HELP? ARE YOU IN PAIN? HELP!

YEAH.

OKAY. WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME MEDICINE, OKAY?

JAMES. HI, SON!

WE'VE GOT SOME VISITORS FOR YOU.

YOU AWAKE? YEAH.

Maggie: I CAN'T LOSE ANOTHER CHILD TO OBESITY.

I WANT MY SON TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND LIVE.

JAMES, IT'S TIME TO GET UP.

OKAY. OKAY.

James: I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF TO DO WELL.

I WANT TO START GETTING OUT AND EXPERIENCING THINGS...

ESPECIALLY SINCE I'VE MET SOMEONE NEW.

James: NOT YET.

I MET THIS GAL ONLINE, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE,

AND I THINK THINGS ARE GOING WELL BETWEEN ME AND HER.

[ LAUGHS ]

Summer: I MET JAMES ON A SINGLES WEBSITE.

I USED TO WEIGH 350 POUNDS.

I HAD GASTRIC BYPASS 10 YEARS AGO,

AND SO WE HAVE SOME THINGS IN COMMON HERE.

I'VE WALKED A MILE IN HIS SHOES BEFORE.

JAMES HAS SUCH A SWEET HEART.

BUT WHO KNOWS?

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

YOU GOT ALL QUIET ON ME.

HAVE YOU BEEN WALKING AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?

YEAH. OKAY.

James: SUMMER AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE.

HER VISIT TODAY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

I WAS EXPECTING LORICA TO BE HERE, TOO, BUT SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN

BETWEEN ME AND SUMMER.

[ DOG BARKING ]

IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY SURGERY.

I'M VERY EXCITED NOW THAT I CAN GET OFF MY LIQUID DIET

AND EAT SOME REAL FOOD.

I WANTED TO EAT SOMETHING I LIKED.

Maggie: I'M EXCITED JAMES WILL BE ABLE TO EAT REGULAR FOOD AGAIN.

I'M GONNA TRY TO FEED HIM LESS, BUT IT'S HARD.

James: COME ON.

HE USUALLY EATS TILL HE'S FULL.

I'M STUFFED. I CAN'T EAT NO MORE.

ALL RIGHT.

MY BELLY DONE STARTED HURTING.

James: I THINK I OVERDID IT.

James: TEMPTATION AND FAILURE GO HAND IN HAND.

IF YOU'VE BEEN FAILING FOR YEARS,

YOU KNOW TEMPTATION ALL TOO WELL.

[ DOG BARKING ]

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE

TO EAT SOMETHING I LIKE.

I'VE STARTED ON SOLID FOODS AGAIN,

AND, BOY, DID I OVERDO IT.

I STILL HAVE SOME OF THE CRAVINGS.

BUT I LEARNED MY LESSON.

SO I'M GONNA STICK TO MY BYPASS DIET FROM HERE ON OUT.

I'M ON MY WAY RIGHT NOW TO SEE MY FRIEND, LORICA.

I HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER SINCE THE SURGERY.

IT KIND OF HURT MY FEELINGS THAT SHE NEVER SHOWED UP.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

OH, JUST THOUGHT I'D COME VISIT.

I AIN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.

MINE. I HAD TO WORK.

SOME PEOPLE WORK FOR A LIVING.

AND I DON'T?

[ GROANS ]

SO, HOW DID THE SURGERY GO?

WERE YOU SCARED?

NOT REALLY SCARED. JUST NERVOUS.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT SINCE I'VE SEEN YOU LAST.

HAVE I? MM-HMM.

THAT'S GOOD.

BUT ANYWAY, SO, I HEARD YOU MET SOMEBODY.

YEAH.

HUH.

WHAT IS SHE LIKE?

SHE'S, UH, TALL. SHE'S BLOND.

I'D LIKE TO MEET HER.

WELL, SHE WANTED TO MEET YOU, TOO,

WHEN SHE CAME TO VISIT ME IN THE HOSPITAL.

BUT YOU NEVER SHOWED UP.

I HAD TO WORK.

YEAH, I KNOW. YOU TOLD ME.

[ SMACKS LIPS ] WELL.

YOU KNOW I DO. I KNOW.

[ SIGHS ]

[ SOBS ]

WHY ARE YOU CRYING, ANYWAY?

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME CRY.

[ SNIFFLES ] SORRY.

IT'S TOO HOT.

ALWAYS.

J.J.

I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT LORICA DOES CARE.

BYE.

BUT I DON'T THINK I WANT TO KEEP GETTING HURT BY HER.

WELL, TODAY I'M HEADED TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S OFFICE

FOR A FOLLOW-UP VISIT.

I'M KIND OF ANXIOUS TO SEE

HOW MUCH I HAVE LOST SINCE THE SURGERY.

THERE'S NO SPACE.

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT.

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT TODAY.

HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

I KNOW I'VE BEEN LOSING WEIGHT.

I FEEL LIGHTER, AND I CAN MOVE AROUND A WHOLE LOT EASIER.

I'M JUST EXCITED TO SEE HOW MUCH I'VE LOST.

YEAH, I KNEW IT.

JAMES. HELLO, DOCTOR.

SO, YOU LOST 150 POUNDS.

PRETTY MUCH EXCITED ABOUT IT? VERY.

JAMES IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AND STICKING TO THE DIET.

LET ME SEE YOUR SKIN.

BUT HE STILL HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE NEED TO REMOVE THE APRON OF THE SKIN

TO IMPROVE JAMES' MOBILITY.

IF WE LOSE A TOTAL OF 200 POUNDS,

WE'LL SET YOU UP FOR THE SURGERY,

GET THIS MASS OFF OF YOUR ABDOMEN.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. ALL RIGHT.

UNLESS THE EXCESS SKIN IN THE LOWER ABDOMEN

GET VERY UNCOMFORTABLE,

HE NEEDS TO LOSE AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 POUNDS.

James: I REALLY WANT THIS EXTRA SKIN TAKEN OFF OF ME.

SO I'M GONNA FOCUS REAL HARD

TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

TONIGHT, I'M GONNA GO OUT WITH SUMMER ON A DATE,

SEE HOW EVERYTHING GOES BETWEEN ME AND HER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ON A DATE BEFORE. I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

SUMMER MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

I'M REALLY GLAD I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET HER.

HEY, YOU.

THAT MEANS QUITE A BIT TO ME,

THAT I HAVE SOMEBODY TO ACCEPT ME FOR WHO I AM.

GRILLED CHICKEN. ALL RIGHT.

GRILLED SALMON.

AWW!

James: WE'RE JUST TAKING THINGS ONE STEP AT A TIME RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE TRIED TO EAT REAL FOOD

BESIDES THE STUFF THAT DIDN'T HOLD DOWN.

ME AND SUMMER SPENDING MORE TIME TOGETHER

HAS GOT ME THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE,

AND ONE OF MY GOALS IS FINDING SOMEBODY

TO SETTLE DOWN WITH AND HAVE A FAMILY.

OH, YEAH.

I'VE LET SO MUCH TIME PASS ME BY.

I'VE BEEN WORRIED THAT IT'S TOO LATE FOR ME,

THAT I WOULDN'T GET A CHANCE LIKE THIS.

I'LL CALL YOU LATER. I HOPE SO.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

GOOD NIGHT! GOOD NIGHT.

NOW I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A WHOLE NEW WORLD OUT THERE.

THIS PAST MONTH, THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING WELL,

BUT THE CRAVINGS HAVE COME BACK.

I HAVE A FEELING I CAN GIVE IN A LITTLE BIT AND STILL BE OKAY.

WOMAN: Can I help you?

GIVE ME A FOUR-PIECE ORDER OF STEAK FINGERS.

THANK YOU.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. YOU TOO.

THAT IS HOT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA STOP MY PROGRESS.

I JUST HOPE I CAN CONTROL IT.

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

I DON'T WANT TO SCREW THIS UP.

James: THERE COMES A TIME WHEN YOU HAVE TO START FACING

ALL THE CHALLENGES YOU'VE BEEN HIDING FROM.

MY MOM WANTS TO GO PUT FLOWERS

ON MY SISTER AND DAD'S GRAVE SITE.

SO WE'RE GONNA HEAD OVER TO THE CEMETERY TO DO THAT.

I MISS THEM BOTH.

I NOTICED CHANGES IN THEM

WAY BEFORE THEY GOT REAL BAD SICK.

AND I TRIED FOR YEARS TO GET THEM TO DO SOMETHING,

AND THEY WOULD SAY, "IT'S MY BODY, NOT YOURS."

IT MADE ME WANT TO GIVE UP, MYSELF.

HERE'S OUR TOMBSTONES.

FOR ME TO BE HERE LOOKING AT THEIR GRAVE SITES AND EVERYTHING

IS A GOOD REMINDER FOR ME TO KNOW WHAT PUT THEM THERE.

YOU KNOW, I STARTED FALLING BACK IN SOME OLD HABITS.

AND I THINK MY MOM WANTED TO REMIND ME OF WHAT'S AT STAKE.

Maggie: THE DOCTOR SAID

THAT IF WE DIDN'T DO SOMETHING AND DO IT FAST

THAT HE COULD BE HERE IN A YEAR'S TIME.

James: I KNOW I NEED TO STAY ON TRACK AND KEEP MAKING PROGRESS,

OR IT'S NOT GONNA BE TOO LONG BEFORE I KNOW I'M GONNA BE HERE.

I THINK ABOUT MY MOM.

I DON'T WANT TO --

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HER ALONE.

SHE DON'T HAVE THEM ANYMORE.

WENT THROUGH TWO OF THEM.

I DON'T THINK SHE CAN GO THROUGH ANOTHER ONE.

I KNOW I NEED TO STAY ON TRACK AND KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

I STARTED WORKING OUT.

ONE BICEP-TRICEP. PULL IT IN, PUSH IT BACK.

PULL IT IN, PUSH IT BACK. KEEP IT UP!

I'M PUSHING MYSELF PRETTY DAMN HARD

SO I CAN MAKE SURE I LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT FOR SKIN SURGERY.

PUSH! FIVE! PUSH! FOUR! GET THEM UP!

THE WATER MAKES YOU SO LIGHT,

AND YOU DON'T HAVE AS MUCH PAIN ON YOUR JOINTS.

PUSH DOWN! TEN!

LOOK OVER YOUR LEFT SHOULDER. HOLD IT.

LOOK OVER THE RIGHT SHOULDER. HOLD IT.

I FEEL THINNER, AND I'M ACTUALLY HAVING FUN.

I THINK IT WAS A GOOD WORKOUT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF MYSELF.

[ CROWS CAWING ]

TODAY I'M LOOKING FORWARD

TO TRY SOMETHING I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO YET.

WE'RE HEADED BACK OVER TO MY HOUSE TO SEE

IF I CAN GET MY TRACTOR FIRED UP AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF MOWING.

I BOUGHT THIS TRACTOR A YEAR AGO.

I'M VERY PROUD OF IT.

AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT.

WHAT'S UP?

SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS TRACTOR CRANKED.

WELL, IT SHOULD.

YOU'RE GONNA SEE IF YOU CAN START IT?

YEAH.

THIS TRACTOR I'M ABOUT TO GET ON

IS MY BABY, MY PRIDE AND JOY.

BUT I'VE BEEN TOO BIG TO CLIMB ON IT.

COME ON!

OH, BOY! YOU DID GET IN THERE!

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD GET IN THERE!

[ LAUGHS ]

James: FEELS PRETTY GOOD TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

I REALLY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GROW MY SIDE BUSINESS

INTO WHAT I WANT IT TO BE.

NOW MY WEIGHT'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HOLD ME BACK.

THIS IS SUCH A GREAT FEELING.

[ GROANS ]

I HAVEN'T BEEN FEELING WELL,

AND I GOT A LOT PAIN IN MY STOMACH.

I'M WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.

HI, JAMES. YOU FEELING OKAY?

NOT REALLY.

[ GROANS ]

WHERE IS YOUR STOMACH HURTING?

RIGHT HERE, AND THEN IT MOVES OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES CALLED AND SAID

THAT HE WAS HAVING A LOT OF PAIN IN HIS STOMACH.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE NOTHING IS WRONG

AND NOTHING NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SURGICALLY.

[ MONITORS BEEPING, INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

James: EVERYTHING SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING PRETTY GOOD UNTIL NOW.

I LEARNED THE HARD WAY ABOUT NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IF JAMES IS HAVING AS MUCH PAIN THAT HE'S TELLING ME,

SOMETHING'S WRONG.

[ AIR HISSING ]

OPEN UP.

GOOD JOB. ALL FINISHED. YOU DID GREAT.

UH-HUH.

YEAH.

I JUST DID THE PROCEDURE ON JAMES

TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS BYPASS.

EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD.

USUALLY, WE LIKE TO WAIT TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

BEFORE WE DO A SKIN SURGERY, BUT IN CASE OF JAMES,

BECAUSE HE'S HAVING SO MUCH ABDOMINAL PAIN FROM EXTRA SKIN,

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND DISCHARGE HIM HOME

AND SET HIM UP FOR A SKIN SURGERY.

THIS IS GONNA HELP HIM TO MOVE AROUND AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

James: I WAS REAL WORRIED THERE FOR A BIT.

THAT WAS SCARY,

NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG, WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PAIN.

Woman: YOU'RE LEAVING? YEP.

I'M REAL EXCITED.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT I WAS KIND OF SURPRISED TO HEAR

I WAS APPROVED FOR SKIN SURGERY.

IT WAS NICE TO MEET YOU. SAME HERE.

OKAY.

BUT IF THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THE PAIN,

I'M EXCITED TO GET IT OFF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SUMMER IS GETTING PRETTY SERIOUS.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING EACH OTHER FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS NOW.

I'M HEADED TO SUMMER'S HOUSE

TO PICK HER UP, GO OUT TO DINNER,

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO HER FAVORITE HANGOUT AFTERWARDS.

HEY. WHAT'S UP?

WHAT'S UP WITH YOU? NOTHING MUCH.

HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT.

WE SEEM TO ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND EVERYTHING

WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.

Summer: I REALLY LIKE JAMES. JAMES IS A WONDERFUL MAN.

WE SEEM TO BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT PRETTY WELL.

NOW, THAT'S THE BOMB. [ LAUGHS ]

James: BEING IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH SUMMER

HELPS ME STAY MOTIVATED TO LOSE WEIGHT.

SHE'S THE ONE REASON I'M OUT GOING PLACES NOW.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN.

LET'S GO.

THAT IS A GOOD LOOK FOR YOU.

I THINK PURPLE WOULD BRING OUT THE COLOR IN YOUR EYES.

YOU THINK SO? I DO.

I THINK PURPLE WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO.

NICE TO MEET YOU, MR. PEPPER.

YOU SURPRISED I WAS ABLE TO WALK ALL THIS?

YES. I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU. THANK YOU.

BEFORE, NOBODY WANTED TO GO ANYWHERE WITH ME

OR HANG OUT OR ANYTHING

THE WAY ME AND SUMMER HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT.

I FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE GOING OUT AND HAVING A GOOD TIME.

THINGS SEEMS TO BE GOING PRETTY GOOD.

I'M ENJOYING MYSELF,

AND IT SEEMS LIKE SUMMER'S ENJOYING HERSELF.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

JUST KIND OF NERVOUS BEING OUT THERE ON THE DANCE FLOOR

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT 20 YEARS.

MAN, THAT WAS SO COOL.

THAT WAS COOL. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

YOU'RE WELCOME. I'M GLAD YOU COULD COME.

I'M GLAD YOU DANCED WITH ME.

I'LL DANCE WITH YOU AGAIN.

OH, LORDY. [ LAUGHS ]

THINGS ARE GETTING SERIOUS WITH SUMMER.

I REALLY LIKE HER A LOT. I THINK SHE FEELS THE SAME WAY.

IT'S NICE TO FEEL I MIGHT HAVE A FUTURE WITH HER.

OH!

Summer: HE IS SUCH A KIND PERSON.

I THINK I MIGHT BE FALLING FOR JAMES.

I DO LOVE YOU, AND I'M SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

SO GLAD YOU'RE IN MY LIFE.

I AM, TOO.

I'LL SEE YOU IN A FEW.

JUST DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU.

I WILL.

HAVING BYPASS WAS THE FIRST STEP,

BUT IT FEELS LIKE TODAY'S AN EVEN BIGGER STEP.

TO GET ALL THIS SKIN REMOVED

IS REALLY GONNA MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON.

Maggie: YES, IT BOTHERS ME. IT WORRIES ME.

ANYTIME SOMEONE'S PUT TO SLEEP, IT'S DANGEROUS.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE CHANCE OF NOT WAKING BACK UP.

WE'VE LOST SO MANY IN THE FAMILY.

Woman: IT'S GONNA STING.

I'M NOT READY TO LOSE ANOTHER ONE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LET ME HAVE A KNIFE.

Man: YES, SIR.

DOWN.

72.4.

[ GROANS ]

YOU ALL RIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH HE'S HURTING, THIS IS JUST ONE STEP.

HE'S GONE INTO THE COCOON,

NOW HE'S COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY.

James: FIXING A BIG PROBLEM IS NEVER EASY,

AND IT'S NEVER GONNA GET FIXED WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF PAIN.

AFTER I FIRST WOKE UP FROM THE SURGERY,

I JUST FELT LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I'VE BEEN AS ACTIVE AS I AM NOW.

FEELS LIKE I CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

Maggie: I AM AMAZED AT THE PROGRESS THAT JAMES HAS MADE.

HE'S ABLE TO HELP AROUND THE HOUSE A LOT MORE.

AND HE'S SO MUCH HAPPIER.

I LOVE WATCHING HIM GROW INTO THE MAN THAT HE WAS MEANT TO BE.

James: LOSING THE WEIGHT, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE FREE AGAIN.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THE DOCTOR TODAY.

I'VE BEEN MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

HOPEFULLY, I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

TO BE UNDER THE 400-POUND MARK,

THAT'S A PRETTY BIG ACHIEVEMENT FOR ME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: YOU HAVE COME QUITE A LONG WAY.

I'VE PROUD OF YOU STICKING OUT WITH THE PROGRAM.

IT WASN'T ALWAYS EASY.

WELL, YOU LOST OVER 350 POUNDS. THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT.

THAT'S TWICE AS MUCH AS ME. RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES IS A DIFFERENT PERSON.

HE'S ENCOURAGED, AND HE'S ACTIVE.

I'M PROUD THAT YOU DID THAT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING TO HEAR.

OKAY.

JAMES HAS DONE VERY WELL,

AND I DON'T THINK HE'S GONNA HAVE ANY PROBLEM

REACHING HIS GOAL.

James: HONESTLY, A YEAR AGO,

I DIDN'T SEE MYSELF LOSING 350 POUNDS,

SO TODAY MAKES ME FEEL PRETTY PROUD OF MYSELF.

I'M HAPPIER, AND I FEEL BETTER.

I FEEL LIKE A WHOLE NEW MAN.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ENJOYING MY NEW LIFE NOW.

IF I'M GONNA GET SERIOUS ABOUT STARTING A FAMILY,

I'M GONNA HAVE TO FIND MY OWN PLACE.

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO START GETTING OUT ON MY OWN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ONE?

MAN, THIS LOOKS PRETTY NICE SO FAR.

A WOMAN WOULD LOVE THIS.

PEACEFUL OUT HERE. OH, IT'S VERY PEACEFUL.

LOOKING AT HOUSES MAKES ME EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE.

NOW I ACTUALLY THINK I'M IN LOVE WITH SUMMER,

AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY

OF GETTING MARRIED SOON AND STARTING A LIFE TOGETHER.

HI. COME ON IN. HELLO.

James: YEAH, IT'S BEEN PRETTY IMPORTANT,

HER BEING THERE TO HELP SUPPORT ME.

HOW ARE YOU?

ANYBODY BEING PROUD OF YOU

IS A PRETTY GOOD MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING.

YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU COOK?

SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT. ALL RIGHT.

HOPEFULLY, YOUR PARENTS WILL LIKE OUR COOKING.

[ CHUCKLES ] OH, BOY.

Summer: I'M SO PROUD OF THE MAN JAMES IS BECOMING.

I CAN'T WAIT TO BE WITH HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I LOVE HIM MORE EACH DAY JUST BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS.

A YEAR AGO, I WAS SCARED TO LET PEOPLE GET TOO CLOSE.

IT'S AMAZING HOW FAR YOUR LIFE CAN COME IN A YEAR.

OH, GOODNESS. I'M TIRED NOW.

I WENT FROM THE DESPAIR OF LOSING MY DAD AND MY SISTER

AND FEARING FOR MY OWN LIFE

TO A WORLD OF NOTHING BUT HOPES AND POSSIBILITIES.

MWAH!