Original subtitles

Olivia: MY WEIGHT IS KILLING ME.

James: IT'S DEPRESSING,

BEING OVERWEIGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS.

Zsalynn: I'VE MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH OF MY DAUGHTER'S CHILDHOOD.

Christina: I FEAR THAT I'LL JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER

UNTIL I DO DIE.

Penny: THIS IS MY LIFE,

AND I'M GONNA FIGHT FOR THIS LIFE.

ARE YOU IN PAIN? [ GROANING ]

WE CAN GIVE YOU SOME MEDICINE, OKAY?

COME ON.

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

THERE YOU GO. WORK IT, GIRL.

Chuck: THE VERY REASON I PUT THE WEIGHT ON

IS BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVEN'T DEALT WITH.

Paula: IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE I WAS ABLE TO DO

A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING NOW.

Tara: IT FEELS LIKE A NEW LIFE.

Zsalynn: I'M A WORK IN PROGRESS,

BUT WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.

Woman: COME A LONG WAY IN A YEAR.

YES, MA'AM.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

I HAVEN'T BEEN IN SOCIETY IN YEARS.

Olga: SHE'S IN THE BASEMENT,

BECAUSE EVERYTHING'S ON ONE FLOOR.

Olivia: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I CAN'T.

JUST RELAX. WHAT IS IT?

[ Crying ] I CAN'T CLIMB THE STAIRS.

YEAH, YOU CAN, OLIVIA.

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

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING.

HOW MUCH IS YOUR PAIN LEVEL FROM 1 TO 10?

[ GROANS ]

WHEN CAN I HAVE THIS REMOVED?

YOU SEE HOW HEAVY IT IS.

I'M PUSHING MYSELF HARDER THAN I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

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

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE TAKING ALL THIS BIG MASS OFF OF HER.

YEAH!

I CAME BACK TO LIFE.

THIS HAS BEEN ONE LONG, HARD JOURNEY.

BUT AT THE END, IT FEELS WONDERFUL,

IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND LIFE IS SO DIFFERENT NOW.

I WAS ALMOST 600 POUNDS.

NOW I'M HALF THE SIZE OF THAT,

AND I'M DOING THINGS I COULDN'T DO.

A YEAR AGO, I HAD SECLUDED MYSELF.

I WASN'T LIVING LIFE.

AND NOW...

...I'M ABLE TO PITCH IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO MY FAMILY

INSTEAD OF THEM TAKING CARE OF ME.

I FEEL HAPPY FOR HER, 'CAUSE SHE'S DOING

A LOT OF THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME

THAT SHE HASN'T DONE IN A LONG TIME, OR EVER.

SO I'M HAPPY THAT I COULD BE THERE TO EXPERIENCE IT WITH HER.

Olivia: GIVING BACK HAS BEEN HUGE FOR ME.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF STUFF I WANT TO DO.

MY GOAL IS TO BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT,

MAYBE HAVE A PLACE OF MY OWN.

I'VE HAD BROCCOLI.

NEXT MONTH, I'M TAKING A BIG STEP

AND I'M GOING BACK TO CHICAGO.

I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS ABOUT THE FLIGHT.

BUT IT HASN'T HIT ME YET.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME EVER ON A PLANE.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

EXCITED ABOUT?

JUST GO BACK AND SEE FAMILY.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH EXCITED EVERYBODY'S REACTION.

I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS ABOUT THE REACTION.

YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT FROM THERE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE MY MOTHER'S SEEN ME,

AND I'M EXCITED TO SHOW HER HOW MUCH WEIGHT I'VE LOST.

WELL, YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THAT...

THAT "BLAH."

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M PROUD OF HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND I'M GETTING CLOSER TO MY TARGET GOAL OF 170.

AFTER THIS TRIP, THE NEXT BIG STEP,

HOPEFULLY, IS MY LAST SURGERY.

[ WATER RUNNING ]

I HAVE A LOT OF LOOSE SKIN.

IT'S JUST UNCOMFORTABLE.

I WANT ALL THAT REMOVED.

HE WANTS TO DO MY LEGS FIRST.

BUT I WANT MY ARMS DONE AS WELL,

'CAUSE YOU CAN SEE, THEY LOOK LIKE BATS.

[ SIGHS ] THEN I CAN HAVE SOME GUNS.

PROBABLY SOME LOOSE SKIN FROM THE BACK,

'CAUSE THAT'S STARTING TO HANG.

I BEEN WANTING THIS SURGERY FOR A WHILE.

I CAN'T WAIT.

THE NEXT SURGERY'S GONNA BE BIG FOR ME.

I HAVE TO LOSE 20 MORE POUNDS TO BE APPROVED,

AND I'M GONNA WORK HARD TO DO IT.

BEING OVERWEIGHT FOR SO MANY YEARS,

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M USELESS.

Woman: HE SAID, "JUST SHOOT ME, MAMA. JUST SHOOT ME."

[ Crying ] "I'M NOT NO GOOD, ANYWAY."

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

IT'S KILLING ME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES' DAD AND SISTER DIED FROM OBESITY.

HE'S ON THE SAME PATH.

James: I MET THIS GAL ONLINE,

AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING FOR A WHILE,

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

I'M PUSHING MYSELF PRETTY DAMN HARD.

I'VE LET SO MUCH TIME PASS ME BY.

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

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

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

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

LOSING 300 POUNDS HAS GIVEN ME THE CONFIDENCE

TO GET OUT INTO THE WORLD AND SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE.

LOSING THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST IN THE PAST YEAR

HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE WORLD.

YOU READY TO GO DO SOME WALKING?

LET'S DO THIS.

A YEAR AGO, I WASN'T VERY ACTIVE AT ALL.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BACK WHEN I WAS 750 POUNDS,

I WOULD SIT AROUND THE HOUSE IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD,

AWAY FROM EVERYBODY.

OKAY. LET'S JUST FIRST STRETCH.

TOUCH YOUR TOES.

Summer: WE HAVE SO MUCH FUN TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE SO MANY THINGS.

AND FOR HIM TO GET OUT HERE AND DO STUFF IS GOOD FOR HIM.

GETTING TO SEE HIM DO NEW THINGS

AND EXPERIENCE NEW STUFF IS SO FUN.

James: I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE

SOMEBODY LIKE SUMMER IN MY LIFE.

SO, THIS LINE TO THIS LINE.

JOG IT.

WE'VE CONTINUED TO GET CLOSER,

AND I'M CONSIDERING TAKING THE NEXT STEP.

I'M THINKING ABOUT ASKING HER TO MARRY ME.

FIRST CHALLENGE. [ SMOOCHES ] YOU MADE IT.

REMEMBER, ROME WASN'T BUILT IN A DAY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT HER NOW.

IT'S BEEN ONE OF MY HOPES FOR LOSING THIS WEIGHT --

TO START A NEW LIFE,

AND TO DO IT WITH SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT.

SEVEN MORE LAPS AROUND.

AFTER MY NEXT SKIN SURGERY, I'LL BE AROUND MY WEIGHT GOAL.

I'M ALMOST THERE.

AND I KNOW WITH SUMMER, I CAN GET THERE.

THERE'S A LOT I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO NOW.

WHEN I WAS 735 POUNDS, EXISTENCE WAS PRETTY LONELY.

I HAD NO HOPE OF EVER MEETING SOMEONE.

SUMMER CAME ALONG AND CHANGED ALL THAT,

AND SHE WAS THERE BEFORE I LOST THE WEIGHT.

SHE'S BEEN MY ROCK THROUGH IT ALL,

AND I WANT HER TO STAY BY MY SIDE.

HELLO, SIR. HOW YOU DOING? HELLO.

I'M LOOKING FOR SOME FLOWERS.

SOME FLOWERS. WHAT IS THE OCCASION?

I'M GONNA ASK A FRIEND OF MINE TO MARRY ME.

OHH, WONDERFUL.

BEING WITH SUMMER FOR THE PAST YEAR

HAS GIVEN ME THAT CONFIDENCE TO BE THE PERSON I AM NOW.

I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY.

YOU TOO. THANK YOU.

I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT SHE IS THE ONE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

OH, THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS IS WHAT I WANT.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT HER.

I KNOW SUMMER CARES ABOUT ME,

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'LL SAY.

IT IS A LITTLE SCARY.

JUST HOPE THAT SHE FEELS THE SAME WAY.

James: WHAT YOU SMILING ABOUT?

I'M NOT. YOU MAKING ME SMILE.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD. [ CHUCKLES ]

I BROUGHT SUMMER HERE TO ASK HER TO MARRY ME.

I CAN'T PICTURE MY FUTURE WITHOUT HER,

SO I'M READY TO MAKE THIS COMMITMENT.

I JUST HOPE SHE'S READY AND WANTS TO, ALSO.

IT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS

THINKING THAT SHE MIGHT NOT SAY YES,

BUT GOT TO TAKE THAT CHANCE.

LET ME SEE YOUR HAND.

WILL YOU MARRY ME?

WELL, OF COURSE.

I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M NERVOUS, BUT I'M EXCITED, TOO.

I'M READY TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH SOMEONE.

IT'S VERY PRETTY.

I LOVE IT.

THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT HER,

AND THE WAY SHE FEELS ABOUT ME,

I JUST THINK SHE IS THE ONE.

I LOVE HER.

COME ON, MY FUTURE HUSBAND.

WHEN I HAD BYPASS SURGERY, I HAD A SECOND CHANCE.

AND NOW I AIN'T LETTING THE SECOND CHANCE GO AWAY.

READY TO GO VENTURE OUT AND SEE MY FAMILY?

YEAH.

[ LAUGHS ]

I COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT 'CAUSE THE DAY'S HERE.

IT'S 4:00 A.M., AND I'M ABOUT TO GET ON A PLANE.

I'M GONNA GO VISIT MY PARENTS, MY TWIN.

I'M EXCITED.

LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, BUT I'M EXCITED. VERY EXCITED.

I WAS TELLING MY MOM ABOUT ALL THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE,

AND SHE WANTS TO COME DOWN AND SEE ME.

BUT SHE'S GETTING OLDER,

SO I DECIDED I'M GONNA GO SEE HER.

YOU GOOD? YEAH.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I CAN SAY, "I'M COMING TO YOU."

HOW YOU FEELING NOW?

I'M EXCITED.

I COULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED DOING THIS TWO, THREE YEARS AGO.

BEFORE, I COULDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE.

[ SIGHS ]

NEVER TRAVELED ANYWHERE BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

NOW I'M DOING EVERYTHING.

FEELS GREAT TO HAVE MY LIFE BACK.

YOU READY? LET'S GO. COME ON.

YEAH, I'M READY. LET'S DO THIS.

WHERE Y'ALL GOING?

CHICAGO.

I CAN DO THAT.

THANK YOU.

I'M NERVOUS.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A PLANE BEFORE

'CAUSE I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOO BIG.

I'M AFRAID I WON'T FIT DOWN THE AISLES OR IN A SEAT.

THAT'S EMBARRASSING.

LOOK AT THAT.

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TURN SIDEWAYS.

Edith: YOU'RE ON A PLANE.

YES, I AM.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO FIT ON A CHAIR IN AN AIRPLANE.

OH, MY GOD. MY EARS.

POPPING?

YOU CAN TELL IT'S MY FIRST FLIGHT, RIGHT?

YEP. [ LAUGHS ]

YOU KEEP ON LOOKING DOWN THE AISLE.

THIS IS ANOTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO.

WHEW!

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

SMELLS LIKE CHICAGO.

JUST WAITING ON MY TWIN NOW.

I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HER.

HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

YEAH.

HOW YOU DOING?

FREEZING!

IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE MY MOM HAS SEEN ME.

ARE YOU GLAD TO BE BACK?

YEAH.

THIS JUST FEELS LIKE... HOME.

HERE WE ARE.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE MY MOM.

SEEING MY MOM HAPPY IS EVERYTHING.

IT'S EVERYTHING TO ME.

I COULDN'T HAVE DONE THESE STEPS BEFORE.

GOOD JOB.

ALL RIGHT? YEAH.

HELLO!

HI, MOM.

DON'T CRY.

[ SOBS ]

OOPS, WATCH IT.

I GOT TO COME IN.

WHEN I SAW HER, I THOUGHT, "OH, MY GOD."

[ LAUGHS ]

Olivia: MY MOM'S ALWAYS BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORT,

AND SHE WANTED ME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND GET HELP.

I KNOW BECAUSE I FINALLY DID, SHE'S PROUD OF ME,

AND IT FEELS AMAZING.

HOW DO I LOOK?

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

AND YOU EVEN LOOK HAPPIER.

OH, I AM. MUCH HAPPIER.

I'M GLAD.

IS THAT SHARON? YES!

OPEN THE DOOR.

GO! SOMEBODY GO GET --

WAIT. WAIT.

YOU REMEMBER ME?!

OHHH!

GIRL!

[ LAUGHS ]

I JUST GOT BACK.

I DIDN'T EVEN THINK I WAS GONNA SEE YOU AGAIN.

YEP. THANK YOU.

HOW YOU FEELING?

I FEEL GREAT. YOU FEEL GREAT?

LIKE I'M, LIKE, BORN AGAIN.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

WOW, SHE SQUEEZED ME TO DEATH.

SHE SAID SHE THOUGHT SHE'D NEVER SEE ME AGAIN.

SHE WAS CRYING OUT THERE.

AWW.

I NEVER REALLY --

KNEW WHO SHARON WAS? DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.

BECAUSE I COULDN'T COME UPSTAIRS,

SHE WOULD BRING THE MAIL TO ME DOWNSTAIRS

AND LEAVE IT DOWNSTAIRS BY THE DOOR.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE GOTTEN A PICTURE OF THAT FACE --

THE LOOK ON HER FACE.

"REMEMBER ME?" [ GASPS ]

I KNOW.

IT REALLY FEELS GOOD TO BE BACK HOME HERE WITH MY FAMILY.

IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES I CAN SIT WITH THEM

AND NOT FEEL LIKE A BURDEN.

IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING.

WELL, TODAY WE'RE HEADED TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

FOR MY CHECK-UP VISIT.

James: I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.

LAST TIME I WAS AT THE DOCTOR,

HE SAID I HAD TO GET DOWN TO UNDERNEATH 350 POUNDS

BEFORE HE WOULD DO SKIN SURGERY ON ME.

I'M HOPING THAT HE'LL SAY THAT HE'S GONNA GO AHEAD

AND TAKE THE LOOSE SKIN OFF THE LEGS.

Woman: MR. JONES.

James: FIRST TIME I STEPPED ON THE SCALE,

I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE WHAT THE SCALE ACTUALLY READ.

I THINK I HAVE CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS.

I JUST HOPE THE SCALES SHOW THAT AND I'M BELOW 350.

ONCE I GET THE SKIN SURGERY DONE,

MY LIFE WILL BE A WHOLE LOT EASIER.

HELLO.

HELLO, DOCTOR.

HOW YOU ALL DOING?

BETTER THAN I WAS LAST WEEK.

[ CHUCKLES ]

SO, YOU'RE UNDER 350, HUH? YES.

YOU'VE LOST MORE THAN HALF OF YOUR WEIGHT, HUH?

OH, YEAH.

HOW IS YOUR ACTIVITY AND ALL THOSE THINGS?

I'M TIRED OF THESE BIG LEGS OF MINE,

YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THIS LOOSE SKIN ON.

WELL, I TELL YOU WHAT.

YOU GET UNDER 300, WE'LL DO YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

LAST TIME I WAS IN,

YOU TOLD ME I NEEDED TO GET UNDER 350.

I GOT UNDER 350.

WHY'D YOU CHANGE IT TO 300?

HE'S WORKED SO HARD TO MEET YOUR GOALS EACH TIME.

I MEAN, IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING.

HE'S NOT WORKING FOR MY GOAL.

HE'S WORKING TOWARD HIS GOAL, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT I CAN TELL THERE'LL BE MORE EXCESS SKIN

AFTER MORE WEIGHT LOSS.

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE DO SKIN SURGERY

AT THE RIGHT TIME

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY, YOU KNOW, UNNECESSARY SURGERY.

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL HAVING SURGERY NOW?

HIS 20-YEAR HIGH-SCHOOL REUNION...

IS WHEN?

AT THE END OF JULY. AT THE END OF JULY.

I THINK HE NEED TO LOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT

BEFORE HE'S REALLY READY FOR SKIN SURGERY.

BE PATIENT.

WE GONNA SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING IN ONE MONTH.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

ARE YOU UPSET?

WELL, YEAH.

IT MAKES ME MAD.

NOW HE WANTS ME TO LOSE ANOTHER 50 POUNDS.

IT MAKES ME FEEL HOPELESS.

I'M GONNA GO DOWNSTAIRS FOR A LITTLE BIT.

YEAH.

BE CAREFUL, OKAY?

YEAH.

I'VE BEEN DREADING GOING BACK IN THE BASEMENT

I LIVED IN FOR YEARS.

I'M GOING DOWN 'CAUSE I NEED TO FACE IT.

I NEED TO FACE THE OLD PRISON.

LOOKS LIKE A DUNGEON.

IT LOOKS -- UGH.

IT'S JUST DEPRESSING.

JUST THESE FOUR WALLS RIGHT HERE EVERY DAY.

THIS WAS A PLACE I WAS TRAPPED IN FOR SO MANY YEARS.

IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE I KNEW.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS IS ENDING UP BACK HERE.

I WAS ALONE.

I COULDN'T DO NOTHING FOR MYSELF.

THIS IS ALL I DID, WAS JUST LOOK OUT THE DOOR.

I WAS TRAPPED IN THIS HELL HOLE FOR 13 YEARS.

IT WAS THE ONLY PLACE I KNEW.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO COME DOWN HERE --

TO REMIND MYSELF OF HOW TRAPPED I WAS,

HOW SMALL MY WORLD WAS,

AND THAT I NEVER WANT TO END UP BACK HERE AGAIN.

WHEN I GET HOME, I'M GONNA START LOOKING FOR A PLACE OF MY OWN.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE THE FINAL STEPS

AND BECOME TRULY INDEPENDENT.

[ WEED WHACKER WHIRS ]

James: SINCE BEING REJECTED FOR THE SKIN SURGERY,

I'VE BEEN PRETTY STRESSED OUT.

I WENT BACK TO THE DOCTOR LAST MONTH,

AND HE STILL DIDN'T APPROVE ME.

TO KEEP HAVING THAT JERKED AWAY FROM ME IS PRETTY ROUGH.

THE DOCTOR SAYS I NEED TO GET DOWN TO 325 POUNDS

TO BE APPROVED.

THAT'S BETTER THAN 300,

BUT IT'S GETTING HARD TO LOSE THE LAST BIT OF WEIGHT.

AND I'VE BEEN TAKING MY STRESS OUT ON SUMMER.

IT'S STARTING TO TAKE A TOLL ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU RAKE,

YOU CAN PROBABLY DRAG THAT VINE.

BUT IT'S STILL HARD TO LOSE THAT LAST BIT OF WEIGHT,

AND THAT MAKES ME EVEN MORE SCARED

THAT I'M GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING I'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD FOR.

I'M NOT ON THE TREE!

I THOUGHT I WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD.

AND TO BE TOLD THAT'S NOT ENOUGH,

IT MAKES ME AFRAID THAT I'M GONNA FAIL.

THERE YOU GO.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU USE BOTH HANDS

AND DO IT NOT THE LAZY-MAN WAY?

YOU USED A WHOLE LOT LESS TIME,

SOMETHING WE NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF.

I'M ALWAYS HURRYING YOU UP.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T BE SO DISCOURAGED,

BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL

LIKE EVERYTHING'S SLIPPING AWAY RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO GET PAST THIS.

I HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET THE SURGERY.

I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

IF I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE

IF THE STRAIN AND LACK OF PROGRESS

IS GONNA BE TOO MUCH FOR MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SUMMER.

I CAN'T LOSE EVERYTHING I WORKED SO HARD TO GAIN.

I JUST CAN'T.

IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS,

I'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON LOSING MORE WEIGHT

SO I CAN BE APPROVED FOR SKIN SURGERY.

AND IN THE LAST VISIT, THE DOCTOR APPROVED ME.

I'VE BEEN WANTING THIS SURGERY FOR A WHILE,

'CAUSE I WANT TO HAVE A NORMAL LEG.

I'M BACK. HELLO.

BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

THE ONLY THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THESE SURGERIES

IS THE RECOVERIES

BECAUSE THEY MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M BACK AT MY ORIGINAL WEIGHT.

I'M TRAPPED IN BED ALL DAY,

AND PEOPLE HAVE TO COME AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG STEP FOR ME,

SO I JUST HAVE TO PUSH THROUGH THIS FEAR.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA DO SKIN SURGERY ON HER,

TAKE SOME LYMPHEDEMA MASS.

THIS IS VERY MAJOR SURGERY.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE THE NERVE

AND THE BLOOD SUPPLY,

OTHERWISE OLIVIA MAY END UP LOSING HER LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LET ME HAVE THE KNIFE.

WE ARE REMOVING THE EXTRA SKIN FROM OLIVIA'S LEG.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO DISRUPT BLOOD FLOW

TO PREVENT ANY LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS.

THIS IS THE MASS THAT WAS HANGING ON HER THIGHS.

NOW WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE SKIN.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE LOOK GOOD.

OLIVIA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

NOW WE'RE GONNA GET HER BACK TO A RECOVERY ROOM.

THIS LYMPHEDEMA TISSUE WE TOOK OFF THE THIGH

SHOULD BRING GREATER MOBILITY.

OVERALL, SHE HAD VERY GOOD OPERATION.

I THINK OLIVIA IS GONNA DO WELL,

BUT RECOVERY IS GONNA BE TOUGH FOR HER.

THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS HAVE BEEN HARD.

SUMMER AND I HAVE SEPARATED FOR NOW,

SO I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE AT MY OFFICE.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST FOUR MONTHS

SINCE THE DOCTOR TOLD ME TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT,

AND I STILL HAVEN'T MADE IT DOWN TO 325.

[ SIGHS ]

TODAY IS MY 20-YEAR HIGH-SCHOOL REUNION.

I WAS GONNA SKIP IT, BUT I DECIDED I SHOULD GO.

I WISH SUMMER WAS COMING WITH ME,

BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

KIND OF FEELING A LITTLE NERVOUS.

HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS PRETTY MUCH THE BLACK SHEEP OF THE CLASS.

I WOULD GET TEASED AND MADE FUN OF BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY FUTURE HOLDS FOR ME,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE GOOD TO CONFRONT MY PAST.

I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THE SKIN REMOVAL BEFORE THIS.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

FEELS LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AGAIN.

I STILL FEEL LIKE JUST THE FAT KID.

Man: WHAT'S UP, JAMES?

NOT MUCH. HOW ABOUT YOU, CLINT?

GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN. SAME HERE.

YOU DOING ALL RIGHT? YEAH.

WE JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE'RE PROUD OF YOU.

YEAH, SEE, I'M SMALLER NOW THAN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I KNOW! THAT'S GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL SEE YOU, BUD.

Man #2: WHAT'S UP, JAMES? HEY, MAN.

HOW YOU BEEN DOING, BUD?

YOU LOOK GOOD, BUDDY.

THANK YOU. YES, SIR, YOU DO.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD-SIZED FELLA.

NOW, YOU KNOW, HE'S SLIM.

HE SEEMS HAPPIER TO ME, YOU KNOW?

DON'T HAVE THAT BELLY ANYMORE, DO I?

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.

WELL, I DO. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET RID OF MINE.

THAT BEER KEEPS PUTTING IT ON THERE, THOUGH.

[ LAUGHTER ]

James: I FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER

NOW THAT I RUN INTO A FEW PEOPLE THAT I GREW UP WITH.

EVEN WITHOUT THE SKIN REMOVAL,

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE TOTALLY SHOCKED ABOUT MY PROGRESS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU. I'M GLAD YOU GOT TO COME.

THANK YOU. GLAD YOU'RE DOING WELL.

SO FAR.

Drew: I WAS IMPRESSED TO SEE HIM,

AND SEE ALL HIS HARD WORK AND HOW IT PAID OFF FOR HIM.

James: I'M REALLY GLAD I CAME TONIGHT.

IT'S GIVEN ME A BIG BOOST TO KEEP WORKING HARD

TO LOSE THE LAST BIT OF WEIGHT.

I FEEL LIKE 325 POUNDS ISN'T THAT FAR AFTER ALL.

THIS LAST MONTH HAS BEEN GOOD.

MY LEG IS HEALED,

AND I FEEL MORE MOBILE THAN I EVER HAVE.

WHEN I LIVED IN THAT BASEMENT AND I HAD THE LYMPHEDEMA,

I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I COULDN'T MOVE.

SINCE LOSING MOST OF MY WEIGHT,

I'M DOING THINGS I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER DO.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT'S KEPT ME FROM FEELING INDEPENDENT

IS THAT I'VE ALWAYS LIVED WITH SOMEBODY

WHO HAD TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

AND I'LL TAKE THIS MUCH.

I DON'T NEED THAT ANYMORE.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

SO TODAY'S THE DAY I'M GONNA MOVE INTO MY OWN PLACE.

[ GRUNTS ]

WOW, I CAME DOWN THEM STAIRS?

ALL RIGHT, JAVI.

YEAH.

WELL, SAY BYE TO EVERYBODY.

ALL RIGHT. BYE, TíA.

DON'T BE A STRANGER.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER.

I'M GONNA MISS HER AT THE SAME TIME,

BUT I'M PROUD SHE'S GETTING ON HER FEET.

SHE'S DOING REAL GOOD.

Olivia: IT'S A LITTLE SAD TO LEAVE, BUT I KNOW IT'S TIME.

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,

I DO HAVE THAT LITTLE FEAR, THOUGH,

ABOUT WHETHER I CAN DO IT.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING? I GOT EVERYTHING.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ON MY OWN, AND THAT IS SCARY.

I HOPE I'M MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.

I'M SO EXCITED.

THIS IS LIKE A DREAM.

LIVING IN THAT BASEMENT IN CHICAGO FOR SO MANY YEARS,

I NEVER DREAMED OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER BEING POSSIBLE FOR ME.

IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ON MY OWN.

BUT IT'S BITTERSWEET.

MY MOTHER'S GOTTEN REALLY SICK.

A BIG PART OF ME WANTS TO GO BACK AND TAKE CARE OF HER.

SHE TOOK CARE OF ME FOR SO MANY YEARS.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER.

IT'S HARD.

BUT RIGHT NOW,

MY FOCUS IS WORKING TO GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT.

James: I'M GOING TO SEE THE DOCTOR AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN ROUGH THIS LAST SIX MONTHS,

BEING TOLD I DON'T QUALIFY.

I'M SUPPOSED TO GET DOWN TO 325 POUNDS FOR SKIN SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN TRYING EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET THERE.

I FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT WHAT THE SCALE'S GONNA SAY TODAY,

BUT I'M SCARED TO GET THE DOCTOR'S ANSWER AGAIN.

MR. JONES?

I CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER CHANGE TO MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

FEEL PRETTY GOOD.

I'M HAPPY ABOUT MY WEIGHT,

BUT I'M STILL SCARED

THAT I'M NOT GONNA BE APPROVED FOR SKIN SURGERY.

SO, YOU LOST SOME MORE WEIGHT SINCE LAST TIME, HUH?

YES, SIR.

HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING WITH YOUR SKIN?

WELL, IT'S STILL HANGING LIKE IT WAS,

AND IT'S GOT EVEN LOOSER NOW.

THE EXTRA SKIN IS EASY TO TAKE OFF.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A LOT OF FAT TO TAKE OFF WITH IT,

FAT DOESN'T HEAL VERY MUCH. RIGHT.

THE MORE WEIGHT YOU LOSE, THE FASTER YOU HEAL.

OKAY. LET'S HAVE A LOOK AT IT, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

NOT INFECTED, AND --

WELL, IT GETS INFECTED.

I HAVE TO PUT CREAM AND STUFF ON IT,

AND IT HEALS BACK UP.

OKAY.

SO, THE SKIN IRRITATION IN THE LEG

IS REALLY BOTHERING YOU, HUH?

RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, JAMES.

WE'RE GONNA DO YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

PHEW!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS.

I'M SO EXCITED.

I JUST WISH SUMMER WAS HERE TO SEE THIS.

I WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH HER.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOR A LONG TIME.

I'M GOING TO GET READY FOR SURGERY.

HUH?

WELL, YOU CAN BE BACK HERE IN A MINUTE.

I HOPE SUMMER STOPS BY.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LITTLE BIT,

AND SHE SAYS SHE'LL COME BY AND SEE ME IN THE HOSPITAL.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HER.

YOU READY FOR IT? I'M READY.

HOPEFULLY, WHEN YOU LEAVE THE HOSPITAL,

YOU'LL BE UNDER 300 FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES IS IN FOR SKIN SURGERY ON HIS RIGHT LEG.

HE HAS A LOT OF SWELLING, GOT A LYMPHEDEMA.

SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE THAT TISSUE OFF OF THE THIGH

AND SEE HOW HE WILL DO WITH THAT.

James: EVERY TIME THEY PUT ME TO SLEEP,

IT CROSSES MY MIND

THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN DURING SURGERY,

AND THERE'S ALWAYS THAT FEAR OF NOT WAKING UP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE USUALLY START ON THE TOP PART.

BLEEDING IS THE MOST COMMON COMPLICATION

THAT WE HAVE TO WORK FOR,

AND ALSO THE DEGREE OF THE PAIN.

'CAUSE THE BIG PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES YOU OVERESTIMATE

HOW MUCH SKIN YOU'RE GONNA TAKE OFF,

AND YOU END UP TAKING OFF TOO MUCH SKIN,

THEN IT WON'T COME TOGETHER.

COUPLE MORE STITCHES, WE'LL BE DONE.

JAMES' SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

I TOOK LYMPHEDEMA TISSUE OFF OF THE THIGH.

IT LOOKED PRETTY GOOD.

AND AT THIS POINT,

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEE HOW HE DOES

IN THE NEXT TWO, THREE DAYS.

YEAH, I WAS SITTING IN THAT CHAIR YESTERDAY EVENING.

BEFORE YOU GOT HERE, I, LIKE, NEVER GOT UP OUT OF IT.

NEED A FORKLIFT?

YEAH.

[ CHUCKLES ]

IS YOUR PILLOW OKAY?

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO SLIDE OUT FROM UNDERNEATH YOU.

FLUFF ME UP. I'LL FLUFF YOU UP.

James: IT MEANS A LOT THAT SUMMER'S HERE TODAY.

THINGS ARE STILL A LITTLE ROUGH BETWEEN US,

BUT I'M HOPING WE CAN WORK IT OUT.

I'M HOPING THIS'LL BE THE FIRST STEP

IN REPAIRING OUR RELATIONSHIP.

LOSING MY MOTHER'S THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED.

I NEVER REALLY IMAGINED MY LIFE WITHOUT HER.

THIS LITTLE NECKLACE RIGHT HERE, IT'S HER THUMBPRINT.

SHE'S ALWAYS WITH ME.

MY DAD GAVE ME SOME OF HER CLOTHES.

I ACTUALLY FIT IN SOME OF HER CLOTHES.

I'M STILL UNPACKING,

AND THERE'S LITTLE REMINDERS OF HER EVERYWHERE.

[ SNIFFLES ] SOME OLD PHOTOS.

OLD.

AFTER HER PASSING,

THERE WAS TIMES THAT I'D CATCH MYSELF JUST WANTING TO EAT,

[ Crying ] 'CAUSE THAT WAS MY COMFORT.

BUT I DIDN'T DO IT.

I KNOW THAT IF SHE WAS HERE, SHE WOULD TELL ME, "DON'T DO IT.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF."

I NEED TO FOCUS ON MOVING FORWARD AND NOT SLOWING DOWN,

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED.

[ Voice breaking ] WITH HER PASSING,

I CAN EASILY GIVE UP AND JUST SAY, "I DON'T CARE."

[ PEOPLE SCREAMING ]

James: OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS,

ME AND SUMMER WAS ABLE TO WORK THINGS OUT

AND GET BACK TOGETHER AGAIN.

HAVING A LOT OF THE STRESS GONE HAS HELPED.

AND I'VE LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT BETTER.

I'M NOT TAKING IT OUT ON HER.

OH, WHAT DO YOU KNOW? THERE'S BIG TEX.

THERE HE IS!

I'M SO HAPPY THAT SHE'S BACK IN MY LIFE NOW.

WHOO!

YOU MADE IT. YEP.

WE SET A DATE FOR OUR WEDDING.

WE'LL BE MARRIED IN A FEW MONTHS.

AFTER LOSING ALL THIS WEIGHT,

LIFE HAS A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO ME.

MR. JONES.

HOW YOU DOING? GOOD.

290 POUNDS WAS MY TARGET, AND I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT HERE.

THAT I WOULD LOSE OVER 400 POUNDS,

I'M NOT SURE IF I COULD'VE BELIEVED THAT TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU'VE DONE VERY WELL,

AND I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU CHANGED YOUR LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JAMES HAS LOST INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

HE HAD A LITTLE HARD TIME WITH THIS LAST BIT, BUT HE DID IT.

AND I THINK HE'S GONNA KEEP AT IT,

AND HE IS GONNA DO WELL.

KEEP THE GOOD WORK, AND I'LL SEE YOU, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

James: I'M LIVING TO ENJOY LIFE NOW.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG ROAD, BUT I MADE IT.

LONG TIME, NO SEE.

YOU HAVE LOST THAT WEIGHT.

YEAH.

YOU ABOUT READY TO CUT UP A TREE?

I GUESS.

WEIGHT LOSS HAS BROUGHT ME BACK TO MY HAPPINESS.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT, MAN.

THE REAL JAMES.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW SLIM YOU LOOK.

YOU DONE EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, MAN. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME.

WHEN I HEAR FRIENDS SAY THAT,

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME GOING.

THERE'S DAYS I WANT TO GIVE UP,

BUT THEN I HEAR THAT VOICE

OF THEM TELLING ME HOW PROUD THEY ARE,

AND IT JUST MAKES ME KEEP GOING.

I FEEL LIKE THE REAL ME IS FINALLY COMING OUT

AND NOT HIDING FROM ANYBODY ANYMORE.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR ME.

THESE LAST FEW MONTHS

HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED.

I STILL MISS MY MOM DEARLY,

BUT I REALIZE I GOT TO SAY GOODBYE.

I GOT TO SHOW HER THAT SHE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ME ANYMORE.

DON'T CUT YOUR FINGERS. JUST SHAVE IT LIKE THAT, SEE?

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

I CAN GIVE BACK NOW.

I KNOW MY WHOLE FAMILY NEEDS ME NOW MORE THAN EVER.

IT'S DONE. I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE IT.

I LOST THE WEIGHT, BUT I GAINED MY FAMILY.

AND THANK YOU, MAMA, FOR TEACHING ME HOW TO COOK.

Woman: AMEN TO THAT.

WHEN MY MOM DIED, I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF

TO KEEP GOING ON MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD EXPERIENCE LIFE LIKE THIS.

Woman: 192.

YES!

YES!

OH!

[ SNIFFLES ]

JUST WISH MY MOM WAS HERE.

I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN THAT NUMBER

PROBABLY SINCE I WAS IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH GRADE.

I AM PROUD OF YOU THAT YOU DID ALL THIS WORK.

YOU LOOK VERY, VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M REALLY PROUD OF OLIVIA.

SHE HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD

TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT THAT SHE DID,

AND SHE'S DOING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU. BEST DOCTOR EVER.

OH, THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU DOING SO WELL.

OKAY? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

BYE.

JUST ABOUT 20 POUNDS TO GO. THAT'S IT.

BYE.

I'M DOING MORE THAN I EVER IMAGINED,

AND IT FEELS AWESOME.

I'VE DONE SO MUCH, AND I'VE COME SO FAR.

I KNOW MY MOM'S LOOKING DOWN ON ME AND IS PROUD.

I'M ALWAYS GONNA KEEP GOING FOR HER.

THERE'S STILL SO MANY NEW ADVENTURES AHEAD OF ME.