Original subtitles

Bettie Jo: I HATE BEING LIKE THIS.

I AM ALWAYS IN PAIN.

GENTLE.

Man: I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON MY WORST ENEMY.

Woman: I HATE THIS LIFE THAT I HAVE.

DON'T YOU DARE PUT IT ALL OFF ON ME!

SHE IS GOING TO DIE.

BOTH OF Y'ALL, STOP!

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE GOT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

OTHERWISE, SURGERY WOULD NOT BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

[ Voice breaking ] I CAN'T DO THIS

WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP ME SAY "NO."

[ GROANS ] BABE.

[ GROANS ]

I'M GETTING SOME [BLEEP] PEOPLE OUT HERE!

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WHEN YOU'VE SPENT SO LONG LIVING IN THE DARK,

YOU'LL DO ANYTHING TO RUN TOWARD THE FAINTEST LIGHT.

BEING THIS SIZE IS MISERABLE.

I AM ALWAYS IN PAIN.

MY WEIGHT IS KILLING ME.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ON MY OWN.

MY HUSBAND, JOSH, HAS TO HELP ME TAKE A SHOWER

AND WIPE MY BUTT WHEN I USE THE BATHROOM.

IT'S HUMILIATING.

BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT, HE HAS TO BE THE CARETAKER.

IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GUILTY.

I HAVE TAKEN ON A LOT FOR BETTIE JO.

I DO EVERYTHING I CAN.

EVERYTHING.

IT'S HARD.

MY MARRIAGE WITH JOSH IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR US

BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

IT PREVENTS ME FROM HAVING A REAL MARRIAGE

BECAUSE HE HAS TO BE MY CARETAKER.

AND OUR INTIMACY IS SLIM TO NONE.

ME AND JOSH HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR SO LONG

THAT SOMETIMES I THINK, "AM I WITH HIM BECAUSE I LOVE HIM,

"OR AM I WITH HIM

BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE PERSON THAT TAKES CARE OF ME?"

I'M TIRED OF BEING THIS WAY.

I HATE MYSELF.

I HATE THIS LIFE THAT I HAVE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

OUTSIDE OF JOSH, I DON'T EVEN SEE PEOPLE...

HEY. HEY. HOW YOU DOING?

...UNLESS THEY COME TO VISIT ME.

WHAT ARE WE HAVING FOR BREAKFAST?

CHICKEN STRIPS, MAC AND CHEESE, AND APPLESAUCE.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

WHENEVER I SEE BETTIE JO, SHE'S BASICALLY NOT MOBILE AT ALL.

SHE'S USUALLY SITTING ON THE CHAIR.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR ME

TO SEE SOMEONE THAT I KNOW AND CARE ABOUT AND LOVE,

TO SEE THEM THIS WAY.

Billie Jo: HOW'S YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOING?

YOU LOST ANY WEIGHT?

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SINCE THE LAST TIME I SEEN YOU.

YEAH, I DON'T -- I DON'T HAVE A SCALE AROUND TO WEIGH.

Bettie Jo: MY COUSIN, SHE'S CONCERNED,

SO SHE CAN BE REALLY CRITICAL OF MY WEIGHT.

UM, I'LL PROBABLY EAT A COUPLE.

I WAS JUST --

I COULD EAT THAT WHOLE THING MYSELF.

I MEAN...

REALLY? YEAH.

THAT'S A LOT OF CHICKEN.

I THINK JOSH SOMETIMES IS AN ENABLER FOR BETTIE JO

BECAUSE HE DOES BRING THE FOOD TO HER.

I DON'T THINK HE'S HELPING HER AT ALL.

I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BETTIE JO

AND BASICALLY TOLD HER THAT IF SHE DIDN'T CHANGE,

SHE WAS GONNA DIE AT HER SIZE.

I'VE TRIED TO ENCOURAGE HER,

BUT UNTIL SHE WANTS TO MAKE THAT CHANGE

AND SHE GETS THE HELP SHE NEEDS,

I DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S GONNA GET BETTER.

WHAT ARE YOU MIXING?

OH.

[ CHUCKLES ]

INTERESTING TASTE BUDS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

SHE DEFINITELY NEEDS SOME HELP.

I DON'T WANT TO KEEP BEING THIS BIG.

I KNOW MY BODY'S GETTING TO ITS LIMIT,

BUT AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER,

I'VE STRUGGLED WITH BEING OVERWEIGHT.

WHEN I WAS 5 YEARS OLD, I STARTED BECOMING A CHUNKY KID.

AND THEN I KEPT GETTING WORSE AND WORSE,

AND BY THE TIME I HIT 12, I WAS PROBABLY 180 POUNDS.

BUT WHEN I WAS 13, MY LIFE TOTALLY CHANGED.

I WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY-GO-LUCKY,

BUT AFTER THAT, I WASN'T EVEN LIKE MYSELF ANYMORE.

I WAS ANGRY. I WAS DEPRESSED.

SO I STARTED EATING MORE.

Billie Jo: BETTIE JO TURNED TO FOOD AS HER COMFORT

AND, THROUGH THE PROCESS, JUST SLOWLY GOT BIGGER.

I THOUGHT THAT IF I WAS BIGGER THAT I COULD PROTECT MYSELF.

RIGHT AFTER I TURNED 17, ME AND JOSH MET.

YOU KNOW, I WAS PROBABLY 400 POUNDS BY THEN.

I COULDN'T HARDLY WALK,

AND I THINK THAT WAS JUST MY BREAKING POINT.

AND I WAS LIKE, "I'M DONE."

MY LIFE TOTALLY WENT DOWNHILL.

I HATED MYSELF. I HATED EVERYTHING.

SO I TRIED TO KILL MYSELF.

I GOT PUT IN THE HOSPITAL, AND THEN I WAS DONE.

I GAVE UP.

I DIDN'T CARE ANYMORE.

BUT I REALIZED I HAVE A LOT TO LIVE FOR.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT EVEN REALLY EXISTING.

I DON'T DO ANYTHING ALL DAY,

AND I ALMOST NEVER GO OUT.

BEING OUT, YOU KNOW, DOING STUFF,

IT'S NOT SO EASY WHEN YOU'RE 600 POUNDS.

[ GRUNTS ]

OH!

OKAY.

I'M IN. WHEW.

YEAH.

I WANT TO HAVE SOME FREEDOM AGAIN.

AND MY WEIGHT IS KEEPING ME FROM THAT.

WAIT.

I'M RIGHT HERE. DON'T WORRY.

WHOA.

OKAY.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

THINK I PULLED A MUSCLE.

OH, YEAH?

Bettie Jo: I HATE GOING OUT IN PUBLIC PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME

BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND PEOPLE'S REACTIONS.

THE WAY I SEE MYSELF ON THE OUTSIDE, I HATE IT.

I FEEL JUDGED, LIKE, "LOOK AT THAT FAT GIRL."

BUT I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DID TO MYSELF.

I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE OF FOOD.

Josh: SHE LIKES FOOD.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY LIKES FOOD, BUT SHE REALLY LIKES FOOD.

NOW WHAT?

Bettie Jo: I WAS RAISED COUNTRY HOME COOKING,

SO I'M JUST A BIG FOOD PERSON.

I LOVE STARCHES, FRIES, MASHED POTATOES.

I CAN EAT A WHOLE BAG OF CHIPS IF I DON'T PAY ATTENTION.

I JUST LOVE FOOD.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Josh: I KNOW I DO BRING A LOT OF THIS FOOD INTO THE HOUSE --

THE FAST FOOD, THE CHIPS, THE SODA.

IT'S KEEPING BETTIE JO THE WAY SHE IS.

I KNOW I'M HELPING KILL HER.

YOU CAN JUST SEE HER LIFE FADING.

I DON'T WANT HER TO DIE ON ME.

BUT MY BIGGEST FEAR IS, IF SHE LOSES THIS WEIGHT,

THEN SHE'S NOT GONNA NEED ME NO MORE.

Billie Jo: I LOVE HER.

I DON'T WANT HER TO DIE AT A YOUNG AGE.

SHE'S ONLY 24.

BUT HER BODY'S JUST NOT GONNA HOLD ON FOREVER.

SHE'S LIKE A WALKING TIME BOMB.

Bettie Jo: MY BIGGEST FEAR IS DYING LIKE THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO WASTE MY LIFE JUST SITTING IN A CHAIR.

I WANT TO HAVE A CAREER.

I WANT TO HAVE A BABY.

I WANT TO GROW OLD.

I HATE BEING LIKE THIS.

AND I KNOW IF I DON'T CHANGE, I'M GOING TO DIE.

[ GRUNTS ]

[ LAUGHS ]

[ GROANING ]

Bettie Jo: WHEN PAIN HAS DESTROYED YOUR LIFE,

IT CAN TAKE SOMETHING JUST AS PAINFUL TO RESTORE IT.

Josh: BABE, GET UP.

GONNA BE A LONG DRIVE.

TODAY, WE ARE GOING DOWN TO HOUSTON.

I FOUND A DOCTOR

THAT SAID HE COULD DO SURGERY ON PEOPLE MY SIZE.

HOPEFULLY, HE CAN LOOK AT ME AND APPROVE ME FOR SURGERY.

Josh: SHE MAY BE DENIED THE SURGERY,

OR SHE CAN BE APPROVED,

AND THEN THERE'S THE RISK OF HER DYING

ON THE TABLE DURING THE SURGERY.

BUT MY BIGGEST FEAR

IS ACTUALLY HER DROPPING THE WEIGHT AND LEAVING ME.

YOU READY?

Bettie Jo: EVERY OTHER DOCTOR HAS TURNED ME AWAY.

SO, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY HOPES UP.

OH.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU ALL RIGHT THERE?

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IF HE TURNS ME DOWN, I DON'T KNOW HOW I'LL TAKE IT.

NERVES ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET TO ME NOW.

THERE IS A LOT ON THE LINE FOR HER TO GET THIS SURGERY.

I HOPE SHE GETS APPROVED.

I REALLY DO.

Bettie Jo: WE HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR FOR ALMOST 13 HOURS ALREADY.

WE'RE FINALLY TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

I'M JUST ANXIOUS TO GET IN AND TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU GOT IT?

YOU READY FOR THIS, BABE?

READY AS I'LL EVER BE.

I'M A LITTLE SCARED TO SEE THE NUMBER ON THE SCALE.

I KNOW I'M OVER 600.

BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH I'VE GAINED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

WOW.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO SEE THE DOCTOR.

I'M HOPING HE CAN TELL ME HE CAN SCHEDULE ME FOR SURGERY.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

I'M NERVOUS. [ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HI.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

DOING PRETTY GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

OKAY. I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M BETTIE JO.

Josh: I'M HER HUSBAND, JOSH.

NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

SO, YOU'RE 5'2" TALL.

YOUR IDEAL BODY WEIGHT IS 120.

[ CHUCKLES ] AND YOU'RE 650.

AT THIS WEIGHT, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO 30.

YEAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BETTIE JO HAS A SMALL FRAME,

WHICH MEANS HER 650 POUNDS

IS MORE LIKE 800 OR 900 POUNDS ON HER BODY.

YOU HAVE TO GET AN EATING HABIT THAT'S GONNA BE SUSTAINABLE.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

I LOVE ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH POTATOES.

WHO DOES THE GROCERY SHOPPING?

SHE MAKES THE LIST. I GO GET THE STUFF.

SO YOU ARE HER ENABLER.

BASICALLY.

I'VE STOPPED TRYING TO ARGUE WITH HER.

I'M CONCERNED THAT HER HUSBAND MAY BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.

HE'S AN ENABLER, BUT HE'S NOT OVERWEIGHT,

WHICH MEANS THAT HE'S FEEDING HER

BECAUSE HE MAY WANT HER TO BE LARGE.

IF THAT'S THE CASE,

IT'S GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT SITUATION TO RESOLVE.

IT SEEMS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY HANDLE ON THE TYPE OF FOOD.

WE DON'T HAVE A HANDLE ON THE FREQUENCY OF EATING.

TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY,

WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT CONTROL ON YOUR EATING HABIT.

SO I NEED YOU TO LOSE 30 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

AND I NEED YOU TO HELP HER.

YOU GOT THAT?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BETTIE JO HAS TO SHOW ME

THAT SHE'S CAPABLE OF LOSING WEIGHT,

OR THERE'S NO POINT IN DOING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WELL, WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN GET THROUGH IT. [ SNIFFLES ]

LOOK, WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

YOU HEAR ME?

I'M AFRAID THAT I'M NOT GONNA HAVE THE WILLPOWER.

YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING ME,

OR THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.

I'M HERE, AIN'T I?

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

I KNOW. BUT YOU HAVE TO NOT BITE MY HEAD OFF

WHEN I DO TRY AND SUPPORT YOU.

IT MIGHT BE REALLY HARD, YOU KNOW?

IT'S LIKE IF I WAS TO TELL YOU COULDN'T SMOKE.

IT'S MY ADDICTION JUST LIKE IT IS YOURS.

Bettie Jo: I NEED JOSH TO HELP ME CHANGE.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS AS A TEAM, I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT.

[ Crying ] I HAVE TO DO THIS.

THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE AT ALL.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE YOUNG.

I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT, "IS IT WORTH IT?

SHOULD I JUST GO HOME?"

BUT I KNOW IF I GO BACK HOME, MY LIFE'S PRETTY MUCH OVER.

WOW.

I THINK IF WE FIX IT UP, IT CAN FEEL LIKE HOME.

IT WON'T EVER BE HOME.

IT CAN BE HOME FOR US FOR NOW.

IT CAN BE A HOUSE, BUT IT WON'T EVER BE HOME.

IT LOOKS DONE TO ME.

I'M TRYING TO EAT RIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE -- ABOUT 1/2 A CUP.

I HAVE TO BREAK A LOT OF OLD HABITS.

THERE ARE SMALLER PORTIONS -- A LOT SMALLER THAN BEFORE.

I CAN'T SHARE WITH YOU NOW.

YOU'D EAT THE WHOLE THING.

THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE NONE.

THIS DOESN'T REALLY FILL ME UP.

I'M HOPING THAT ONCE I GET THE SURGERY,

I WON'T HAVE HUNGER PAINS LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I'VE ALSO BEEN TRYING TO EXERCISE

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.

I GOT TO DO 20, REMEMBER?

5, 4, 3...

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD, BUT A LITTLE FUN.

6...

JOSH HAS BEEN A BIG HELP THIS PAST MONTH.

HE HASN'T BOUGHT AS MUCH BAD FOOD,

SO IT'S HELPED ME RESIST TEMPTATION.

[ BREATHES SHARPLY ]

I ACTUALLY DID 50 AB CRUNCHES.

I WAS PRETTY EXCITED.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN YEARS.

YOU WANT TO DO 50 AB CRUNCHES?

I'M GOOD. COME ON.

I WILL PUSH MYSELF AS HARD AS I CAN TO GET THIS SURGERY.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

Woman: MRS. ELMORE?

WE ARE HERE FOR MY FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

AND I AM A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE WEIGH-IN.

I JUST HOPE TODAY'S A GOOD DAY.

YES.

HEY. 599.

I HOPE THE DOCTOR IS HAPPY.

I'VE LISTENED TO EVERYTHING HE TOLD ME TO DO,

AND IT'S PAID OFF.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HELLO.

SO, HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?

I FEEL PRETTY AWESOME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BETTIE JO HAS DONE WELL

THESE PAST COUPLE MONTHS.

SHE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL HER DIET

AND GET SUPPORT FROM HER HUSBAND WITH THAT.

NOW, HOW IS YOUR EATING HABIT COMING ALONG?

Bettie Jo: PRETTY GOOD.

I'VE REALLY BEEN MAKING A BIG EFFORT.

I'VE NOTICED AROUND THE HOUSE,

SHE DON'T NEED MY HELP AS MUCH,

OR GETTING IN AND OUT OF VEHICLES,

SHE DON'T NEED MY HELP AS MUCH.

DOES THAT BOTHER YOU THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED ANY OF YOUR HELP?

IT'S STARTING TO, YEAH.

I'M STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE BIT USELESS.

I THINK THE ISSUE WITH HER HUSBAND IS BECOMING APPARENT.

HE WANTS TO BE NEEDED, AND THAT IS HIS PRIMARY CONCERN.

BETTIE JO IS READY FOR SURGERY,

BUT SHE STILL NEEDS TO ADDRESS A LOT OF ISSUES

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG TERM.

ARE YOU READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY?

YES. I'M 100% READY.

WE PUT YOU ON THE SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK.

JUST CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS

ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS UNTIL SURGERY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE ROAD FOR BETTIE JO WON'T BE EASY,

BUT SHE HAS TO DO IT IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE.

LET'S GO.

OH.

Bettie Jo: I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE IS FINALLY HELPING ME.

AND I'M GOING TO GET THE SURGERY.

I AM SO EXCITED.

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Bettie Jo: WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP LIVING IN FEAR,

YOU REALLY GET A FULL PICTURE

OF HOW MUCH IT'S CONSUMED YOUR LIFE.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE READY.

I'M EXCITED.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS, TOO.

IT'S THE GETTING-PUT-TO-SLEEP PART THAT FREAKS ME OUT.

BUT IT'S NOT MUCH OF A RISK

BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A LIFE RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE DOING REALLY WELL NOW.

READY?

I'VE LIVED FOR SO LONG JUST DOING NOTHING.

I'M READY.

I'M READY TO START A NEW LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BETTIE JO IS HAVING HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE

TO DO GASTRIC BYPASS ON HER.

THERE IS A LOT OF RISK WITH THIS OPERATION.

THESE PATIENTS ARE HEAVY,

AND THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF PRESSURE

ON THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.

FIRST, WE'LL BEGIN USING THE LONG TROCAR.

Nurse: YES, SIR.

WE ARE IN A SITUATION THAT THE RISK OF OPERATION IS HIGH,

BUT IT'S NOT AS HIGH AS NOT DOING ANY PROCEDURE ON HER.

Nurse #2: YOU GOT A PICTURE? YES.

SO FAR, WE'RE ABLE TO GET IN WITH NO DIFFICULTY.

SEE IF WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE BYPASS OPERATION.

Josh: I'M VERY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

HOPING EVERYTHING GOES GOOD IN THE SURGERY.

KIND OF SCARES ME A LITTLE BIT.

KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

DON'T LET UP. DON'T LET UP.

OKAY. SO FAR, EVERYTHING IS GOING GOOD.

GASTRIC BYPASS REDUCES THE STOMACH TO A MUCH SMALLER SIZE.

SO SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EAT LARGE AMOUNT,

AND SHE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

GO FORWARD.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL.

WELL, BETTIE JO'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL,

AND SHE SHOULD BE OKAY.

Nurse: YOU'RE JUST WAKING UP, HON.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I THINK BETTIE JO'S BIGGEST CHALLENGE

IS GONNA BE THAT SHE'S DEPENDING ON HER HUSBAND

TO PROVIDE HER WITH PROPER NUTRITIONAL FOOD.

THAT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE --

THAT WE GET HIM TO GET THE RIGHT STUFF FOR HER.

BUT I WOULD ASSUME IN THREE MONTHS,

SHE SHOULD LOSE OVER 200 POUNDS.

I'M KIND OF UPSET.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] Nurse: HELLO?

HELLO.

IT MAKES ME A LITTLE SCARED,

'CAUSE I NEED JOSH MORE THAN EVER.

IF IT WAS HIM, I WOULDN'T LEAVE HIS SIDE AT ALL.

WE HAVE TO BE A TEAM, AND I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO RELY ON HIM.

AND IT HURTS THAT HE'S NOT HERE.

IF I DON'T HAVE HIS SUPPORT,

I DON'T THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

Josh: FEEL HUNGRY YET?

VERY MUCH SO.

I'M OVERWHELMED.

I'VE BEEN HOME FOR A MONTH,

AND IT HASN'T BEEN AS EASY AS I'D HOPED.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

COOKING. WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?

YOU CAN MAKE SOME GREEN BEANS.

WITH HAMBURGER HELPER?

YEAH.

I JUST THINK THAT'S KIND OF WEIRD --

SOME GREEN BEANS WITH STROGANOFF HAMBURGER HELPER.

THAT EVEN SOUNDS WEIRD.

REALLY?! "REALLY" WHAT?

JOSHUA!

JOSH IS THE ONE THAT IS PRETTY MUCH PREPARING MEALS.

HE DOESN'T NECESSARILY WANT TO FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S DIET.

JOSH IS DEPRESSED, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

Josh: I'M GETTING A LITTLE FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

I GAVE UP EVERYTHING TO COME DOWN HERE.

I WAS HOPING IT WOULD GO A LITTLE BIT BETTER

THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN.

BUT IT HASN'T.

I'M GONNA GO SIT DOWN.

Bettie Jo: I KNOW HE CARES,

BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE HE'S NOT MOTIVATED TO HELP ME.

Josh: I FEEL LIKE IF WE DIDN'T EVEN COME DOWN HERE,

SHE WOULDN'T BE HOW SHE IS, AND WE'D BE OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH US.

I DON'T KNOW THE DAMAGE

THAT'S GONNA BE DONE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.

Bettie Jo: ME NEEDING HIM COULD POSSIBLY BE THE ONLY THING

THAT'S KEEPING US TOGETHER.

HE SUPPORTED ME AFTER THE FIRST DOCTOR VISIT,

BUT I THINK NOW HE'S SCARED.

NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THE REASON IS,

BUT I KNOW IF HE'S NOT THERE FOR ME, I WILL FAIL.

EXCUSE ME!

COME ON, HONEY.

COME ON. BABE.

HONEY. [BLEEP] [BLEEP]

I'M GETTING SOME [BLEEP] PEOPLE OUT HERE!

Bettie Jo: I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED.

I FELT LIKE I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK,

AND THEN I KEPT BLACKING OUT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BETTIE JO WAS IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

I'M GLAD SHE CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME.

IF SHE DIDN'T COME, WE WOULD HAVE LOST BETTIE.

THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'VE EVER SEEN HER LIKE THIS -- EVER.

YEAH.

SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM HEAT STROKE,

AND WHEN SOMEBODY IS AS HEAVY AS BETTIE JO,

HEAT EXHAUSTION CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

Josh: MY HEART DAMN NEAR FELL OUT OF MY CHEST.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS DYING.

IT WAS VERY SCARY FOR ME.

I DON'T EVER WANT TO LOSE HER.

RIGHT NOW, WE STABILIZED HER, AND SHE'S DOING BETTER.

WE'RE GONNA KEEP HER FOR OBSERVATION,

BUT WITH A LITTLE REST, SHE SHOULD BE FINE.

HELLO.

HI.

HOW YOU DOING, BETTIE?

OKAY.

SO, YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

YOU NEED TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD

ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT OUTSIDE OF HOSPITAL.

MY EATING HABIT IS GOOD.

I MEAN, I MAINLY EAT, LIKE, RAISIN BRAN.

WELL, THAT IS A HIGH-CALORIE FOOD.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, "RAISIN BRAN"?

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS SINCE SURGERY.

BETTIE JO, SHE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST LOST ANOTHER 60 POUNDS.

THE FACT THAT SHE HASN'T LOST ANY WEIGHT

MEANS THAT SHE'S OVEREATING.

JUST PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I TELL YOU, OKAY?

IF THE CALORIES YOU TAKE

AND THE CALORIE YOU SPEND IS EQUAL,

YOUR WEIGHT WILL STAY THE SAME.

I HAVE BEEN KIND OF OVEREATING

'CAUSE I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE DEPRESSED AND STUFF.

JUST TO GET YOUR PERCEPTION IN THE RIGHT PLACE...

YOU'RE GONNA SUFFOCATE.

OVEREATING HAS LIMITED YOUR LUNG FUNCTION

TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE NOT TOO FAR FROM DYING.

BETTIE JO'S BODY CANNOT TAKE MUCH MORE OF THIS.

SHE'S GOING TO KILL HERSELF

IF SHE DOESN'T GET HER EATING UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT.

[ Crying ] HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DO THAT

WHEN MY HUSBAND DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT WITH ME?

LIKE, HE WANTS TO EAT ALL OF THE JUNK,

AND THAT'S ALL HE WANTS TO BUY.

AND -- AND...

I'M NOT GETTING NO SUPPORT FROM HIM AT ALL.

I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP ME SAY NO.

I WANT BETTIE JO TO GO SEE A THERAPIST NEXT MONTH

TO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE BIG ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING HER TO EAT.

WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME

BEFORE IT'S GOING TO BE TOO LATE FOR BETTIE JO.

Bettie Jo: I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SPEAKING TO THE DOCTOR IN THE HOSPITAL

WAS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THE BOTH OF US.

SO THE DOCTOR SET UP A THERAPIST FOR JOSH AND I TO SEE.

HI. I'M SANTHI.

HI. I'M BETTIE.

NICE TO MEET YOU. HI.

I'M JOSH. NICE TO MEET YOU.

COME ON AND HAVE A SEAT.

WE KNOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE THIS OUT,

OR I'M NOT GONNA BE AROUND MUCH LONGER.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU BOTH TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

AND KIND OF WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

WELL, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD SOME ISSUES,

BUT FOR LIKE THE LAST TWO MONTHS NOW,

WE'VE JUST KIND OF BEEN BITING EACH OTHER'S HEADS OFF, I GUESS.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE.

IN MY OPINION, IT STARTED WHEN I HAD MY SURGERY.

THE FIRST NIGHT,

HE PROMISED THAT HE WOULD STAY AT THE HOSPITAL WITH ME,

AND HE DIDN'T.

WONDER, JOSH, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OR FEELING,

OR HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU?

THE WEIGHT LOSS OR THE SURGERY,

AND JUST HOW HAS THAT CHANGED YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

I USED TO TAKE CARE OF HER. MM-HMM.

I USED TO BE HER CAREGIVER... MM-HMM.

...DO WHAT SHE NEEDS,

BUT NOW SHE'S STARTING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND AND STUFF,

AND, IN A WAY, THAT REALLY SCARES ME

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT HER TO LEAVE ME, SO...

LATELY, HE KIND OF FEELS THAT I'M PUSHING HIM AWAY

AND NOT WANTING TO BE WITH HIM,

AND THAT'S NOT QUITE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF TRANSITION.

HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK YOUR WEIGHT

IS PROTECTIVE OF YOURSELF?

YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, I WAS RAPED.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF WORRIES ABOUT GETTING SMALLER.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS?

I MEAN, I HAVEN'T BEEN TOUCHED SINCE I'VE BEEN BIG,

AND THAT'S PART OF ME AND MY HUSBAND'S PROBLEM,

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE INTIMATE TIME.

I JUST NEVER FEEL IN THE MOOD, I GUESS,

AND I JUST...DON'T WANT IT.

DO WE HAVE TO BRING THIS UP?

RUDE.

I NEED AIR. NOPE.

WHAT?

Josh: BETTIE JO BROUGHT UP A TOPIC

THAT IS REALLY EMOTIONAL FOR ME, AND I JUST --

I HAD TO GO GET SOME AIR AND COOL MY HEAD.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT,

BUT I WANT US TO BE HAPPY.

SHE'S THE ONLY GIRL I'VE EVER LOVED.

Dr. Periasamy: I'M GLAD THAT YOU FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH

TO SHARE AS MUCH AS YOU DID.

IT'S NOT EASY, AND I GET IT.

SO, YOU'RE AFRAID THAT SOMEHOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP

IS DEPENDENT ON THE WEIGHT AND THE NEED,

AND IF THAT WAS TO GO AWAY, WHAT WOULD BE LEFT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, JOSH?

HOW DOES IT AFFECT

WHAT YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE RELATIONSHIP IS?

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU'D PUT THAT.

WHAT ARE SOME REASONS, LIKE, YOU KIND OF KEEP GOING?

LIKE, WHAT HELPS YOU TO KEEP GOING?

MY ANSWER IS HER.

OKAY.

SO KIND OF LOVE AND THAT AFFECTION

THAT YOU HAVE IN THE RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?

I MEAN, I WANT TO ACTUALLY HAVE, YOU KNOW,

A MARRIAGE LIKE WE WERE BEFORE --

BEFORE I GOT THIS BIG.

IT SOUNDS LIKE, ULTIMATELY, YOU BOTH WANT TO FIND A WAY

TO HAVE, LIKE, THAT HAPPINESS IN THE RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER.

OKAY. WELL, IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU TODAY, OKAY?

THANK YOU. NICE MEETING YOU.

I THINK IT HELPS UNDERSTANDING HOW AFRAID JOSH IS.

I THINK TELLING HIM THAT I'M SCARED OF LOSING HIM

WILL HELP HIM UNDERSTAND I DO LOVE HIM.

HE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT,

BECAUSE I NEED HIM THERE TO HELP ME DO THIS...

...AND TO DEAL WITH THIS PAIN FROM MY PAST

THAT'S LEADING TO ALL OF THIS.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

AND I FEEL LIKE, AFTER TODAY, THAT IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD COUPLE MONTHS.

JOSH AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARDER TO EAT HEALTHIER.

IT'S NOT BEEN EASY, BUT DOING IT TOGETHER HAS HELPED A LOT.

THE DOCTOR SAYS I NEED TO MOVE AROUND AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

SO JOSH HAS BEEN TAKING ME TO THE GYM.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE STARTING TO BECOME A COUPLE AGAIN,

THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MARRIAGE.

YOU MUST BE BETTIE JO.

YES, I AM. HI. I'M SUNNY.

I'LL BE YOUR TRAINER FOR TODAY.

I'LL HAVE YOU TAKE A SEAT RIGHT OVER HERE.

AND ALL I WANT YOU TO DO IS JUST A BASIC BICEP CURL.

I DEFINITELY WANT TO KEEP PUSHING TO LOSE WEIGHT...

PERFECT. GOOD. OKAY.

...AND FOR US TO START HAVING A LIFE TOGETHER AGAIN.

Josh: I THINK BETTIE JO'S DOING REALLY GOOD,

ESPECIALLY COMING OUT TO A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE THIS

AND ACTUALLY GETTING INTO IT.

5...6...

IT'S BEEN NICE TO DISCOVER

THAT WE STILL CARE SO MUCH ABOUT EACH OTHER.

THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND JOURNEY HAS TAUGHT US THAT.

BREATHE OUT.

THREE. THERE YOU GO.

[ GRUNTS ]

MY ARMS DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GONNA FALL OFF.

OKAY.

I WAS SCARED WE DIDN'T LOVE EACH OTHER ANYMORE,

BUT I LOVE JOSH MORE THAN EVER,

AND I KNOW HE LOVES ME JUST AS MUCH.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR ME TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND FOR US TO START HAVING A LIFE TOGETHER AGAIN.

YOU HAVE FUN?

DEFINITELY.

I'M GLAD YOU LIKED IT.

SO, WE GOT EVERYTHING?

THINK SO.

WITH ALL THE PROGRESS THAT I'VE MADE,

I THINK I'M READY TO DO SOMETHING BIG.

I THINK IT'S TIME TO TRY AND GO BACK HOME AND SEE EVERYONE.

I'M OVER 100 POUNDS LIGHTER NOW,

AND I'M GONNA SHOW EVERYONE HOW GOOD I'M DOING.

NOW WE GOT 140 MILES DOWN THIS ROUTE.

AND WE ONLY GOT 464 TO GO.

I HOPE IT'S NOT TOO MUCH FOR ME,

BUT I'M EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE RIGHT NOW.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO SEE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO REACT.

HOPEFULLY, THEY SEE THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE.

IT WILL BE REALLY DISCOURAGING

IF THEY DON'T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN ME.

Bettie Jo: I'M EXCITED TO SEE EVERYONE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ON HOW THEY'RE GONNA REACT.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Cheryl: HELLO?

OH, HI, BETTIE JO. HI.

HOW YOU FEELING?

I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?

WELL, YOU LOOK GOOD.

THANK YOU.

I CAN TELL.

A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WENT DOWN THERE.

YOU COULDN'T EVEN WALK HARDLY WHEN YOU WENT DOWN THERE.

YOU LOOK BETTER.

THE MAIN REASON I WANTED TO DO THIS

WAS SO I COULD ACTUALLY BE PART OF THE FAMILY

BECAUSE NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH THEM HURT A LOT.

YEAH. Woman: OH, MY GOD.

Billie Jo: I THINK BETTIE JO AND JOSH ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

THEM BEING DOWN THERE IN TEXAS,

THEY HAVE TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN,

AND I THINK IT'S MAKING THEIR RELATIONSHIP STRONGER

AND MAKING THEM STRONGER AS INDIVIDUALS.

I TOLD HER, FOR EVERY POUND SHE LOST,

I'D GIVE HER A QUARTER.

Cheryl: I WOULD JUST PUT IT AS A DOLLAR A POUND.

OH, YEAH.

I KNOW.

YEAH, I GUESS SO. [ CHUCKLES ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

I'M SO HAPPY I CAME HOME AND DID THIS.

KNOWING THAT THEY ARE PROUD OF ME MAKES ME WANT TO KEEP GOING.

ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO

IS FIND A WAY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU'RE OVER 600 POUNDS, YOU NEED EVERYONE TO HELP YOU.

SO I'M VOLUNTEERING TO HELP PUT TOGETHER FOOD BAGS

FOR CHILDREN IN NEED.

SO, IT'S TWO APPLESAUCE, ONE CARROT...

CARROT. OKAY.

Bettie Jo: I WANT TO GIVE BACK BECAUSE I SPENT SO LONG TAKING.

TO BE ABLE TO COME DOWN HERE BY MYSELF

AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP OTHERS,

I FEEL LIKE I'M BECOMING MORE THE PERSON I WANT TO BE.

I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JOSH.

WE LOVED EACH OTHER WHEN WE GOT MARRIED,

BUT WE WERE NEVER ABLE TO LIVE LIKE A MARRIED COUPLE.

NOW THAT WE CAN, WE WANT A FRESH START,

AND JOSH AND I HAVE NEVER REALLY BEEN ON A DATE.

THANK YOU.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SO BIG, I COULDN'T REALLY GO OUT.

[ CHUCKLES ] YOU GOT IT ON YOUR NOSE.

MM-MM-MM-MM-MMM.

DO YOU NEED SOME MORE NAPKINS?

PLEASE.

Josh: I THINK, WITH MY FEAR

OF BETTIE JO LOSING THE WEIGHT AND LEAVING ME,

I'M GETTING TO A COMFORTABLE PLACE WITH IT.

IT DON'T FRIGHTEN ME SO MUCH ANYMORE.

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.

SO, WHAT DO YOU FORESEE OUR FUTURE?

HOPEFULLY HAVING A HOUSE.

YEAH.

Bettie Jo: I'M SO THANKFUL THIS JOURNEY

HAS SHOWED ME JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM

AND TO KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME.

AND I WANT TO KEEP DOING NEW THINGS WITH JOSH.

OH. WE COULD DO OUR RECEPTION UNDER THAT THING.

MM-HMM.

TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S FOR A WEIGH-IN.

I'M GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO THE 400s,

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN I WAS THAT SMALL.

Josh: THAT'S AWESOME.

WAY TO GO.

SO, FINALLY UNDER 500 POUNDS, HUH?

YES. FEEL A LOT BETTER.

FEEL LIKE A DIFFERENT PERSON?

YEP.

BETTIE JO IS STICKING WITH IT,

AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF BOTH OF THEM FOR DOING THAT.

AND SO, THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER FOR YOU, HUH?

A LOT BETTER.

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL GET TO HER TARGET WEIGHT.

Bettie Jo: I KNOW I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,

BUT I KNOW I CAN DO IT BECAUSE I HAVE JOSH.

AND THAT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

I HAVE HOPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE.