All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S04E14

Marla:
I CAN'T EVEN BATHE MYSELF.

MY KIDS HAVE TO DO THAT FOR ME.

Charity:
I FEEL LIKE SOME MONSTER.

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

Pauline: I AM ABSOLUTELY TRAPPED
IN THIS BODY,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING
EVERY DAY.

Susan:
I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS MY LAST HOPE
TO BECOME NORMAL.

Madison: I NEED MY MOM.
I NEED HER TO BE HERE FOR ME.

**

Man: 10 SECONDS NOW.
HOLD IT, HOLD IT, HOLD IT.

-[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]
-GOOD JOB.

Christina: I HAD TO MAKE
A CHOICE TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

Joe:
I REFUSE TO LET THEM BURY ME.

Susan:
I AM NOW EXPRESSING MYSELF

AND LIVING MY OWN TRUTH.

Olivia: I LOST THE WEIGHT,
BUT I GAINED MY FAMILY.

Zsalynn: LIFE IS AMAZING NOW.
I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

Christina: I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE
THAN I EVER EXPECTED.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Paula:
I'M EMBARRASSED BY MY WEIGHT.

IT HURTS TO MOVE,
IT HURTS TO WALK,

IT HURTS TO DO
JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

MY HUSBAND DIED, AND SO NOW
IT'S MY JOB TO PROTECT MY KIDS.

Madison: I NEED MY MOM.
I NEED HER TO BE HERE FOR ME.

Paula: I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A
BOX SITTING ON MY KIDS' MANTEL.

I HAVE GOT TO DO
SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I HATE FEELING WEIGHT.

EVERYTHING'S SPINNING.

Man:
IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME.

THE WEIGHT -- IT'S A SYMPTOM
OF AN EMOTIONAL OBSTACLE.

I'VE BEEN OVERWEIGHT
SINCE I WAS MOLESTED.

I'VE LIVED
WITH THOSE CONSEQUENCES

FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.

I CAN'T CARRY IT ANYMORE.

I WILL NOT LOSE ALL THE PROGRESS

THAT I'VE MADE
OVER THE LAST YEAR.

MY HEALTH NEEDS TO BE
A PRIORITY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
YOU STOPPED LOSING WEIGHT,

AND YOU'VE GAINED
A COUPLE POUNDS.

I HAD A LOT OF STRESS
IN THE LAST 10 DAYS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
PAULA IS BACK TO MAKING EXCUSES.

Paula:
I DON'T THINK I'LL BE SUCCESSFUL

IF I JUST HEAL MY BODY.

I'VE GOT TO HEAL MY HEAD.

I'M DONE MAKING EXCUSES.

BUT THE TRUE TEST IS THAT SCALE.

YES.

THROUGH THIS JOURNEY,
I'VE LEARNED HOW TO NOT ONLY BE

PHYSICALLY HEALTHY BUT HOW TO BE
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY, AS WELL,

AND IT'S AWESOME.

**

GET UP, SAVANNAH.

IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS
SINCE MY SURGERY

AND THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT
IN MY LIFE NOW.

BEFORE, I WASN'T EVEN ABLE
TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF,

BUT NOW I'M VERY INDEPENDENT,
AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER.

AND MY LIFE HAS CONTINUED
TO CHANGE A LOT,

AND IT'S BEEN HAPPENING
VERY QUICKLY.

MY ELDEST IS IN HER SENIOR YEAR
AT COLLEGE.

MY SON IS LIVING IN ATLANTA.

AND MY DAUGHTER MADISON,
SHE GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,

HAD A BABY, GOT MARRIED,
AND MOVED OUT.

SO MY HOUSE HAS GOTTEN
A LOT EMPTIER.

SAVANNAH!

YOU'RE GETTING UP.

SO NOW IT'S JUST SAVANNAH
AND ME.

GET UP, FOR REAL.

BRUSH YOUR TEETH,
I'M GONNA MAKE SOMETHING TO EAT,

WE'LL GET READY TO GO.

I USED TO BE ADDICTED TO FOOD.

THERE WERE DAYS
THAT I ATE OVER 6,000 CALORIES.

BUT NOW I'VE LEARNED
TO MANAGE MY ADDICTION.

SIX WEEKS AGO,
I WEIGHED 268 POUNDS.

AND I'VE LOST AN ADDITIONAL
28 POUNDS SINCE THEN.

SO I'VE BEEN MAKING
REALLY GOOD PROGRESS.

BUT IT USED TO BE REALLY HARD.

I HAD TO WORK THROUGH
SOME DARK PARTS OF MY PAST.

HI.

HI.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

FORGIVING MY MOM FOR
ALL THE ABUSE THAT SHE ALLOWED

MEANT THAT I COULD MOVE ON
WITH MY LIFE

AND FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST.

AND NOW THE NEXT STEP
IN MY HEALING PROCESS

IS TO HELP OTHERS.

I WANT TO SHARE MY STORY
WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING

WITH OBESITY AND HELP THEM
TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND

SO THAT THEY CAN LOSE WEIGHT.

SO I'M TRYING TO SPEAK
AT DIFFERENT EVENTS,

AND I HAVE SOME ENGAGEMENTS
COMING UP.

AND NOW I'M ALSO WORKING ON
A COOKBOOK

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS PATIENTS.

I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL TRAINER
OR NUTRITIONIST,

SO THE ONLY THING I CAN DO IS
TELL PEOPLE WHAT WORKED FOR ME,

AND THAT'S REALLY
WHAT MY MESSAGE IS ALL ABOUT.

SAVANNAH.

-YEAH.
-FOOD'S READY.

BUT WITH ALL THAT GOING,
THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE

THAT I WANT TO HELP
ARE MY CHILDREN.

IT REALLY UPSETS ME
THAT WHILE I'VE LOST WEIGHT,

MY CHILDREN HAVE GAINED WEIGHT,
ESPECIALLY WITH SAVANNAH,

BECAUSE SHE LIVES WITH ME.

MY HUSBAND AND I ENABLED
EACH OTHER IN OUR OVEREATING,

AND EVENTUALLY,
IT LED TO HIS DEATH.

LIVING THROUGH THAT HELPED ME
TO CHANGE MY LIFE AROUND,

AND I NEED TO MAKE THAT CHANGE
FOR MY CHILDREN, AS WELL.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S HARD,

BECAUSE I'M STILL WORKING ON
MYSELF, TO REACH MY FINAL GOALS.

IN ORDER TO INSPIRE OTHERS
TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK,

I HAVE TO LIVE AND LOOK HEALTHY,
AND WITH ALL THE WEIGHT LOSS,

I'VE DEVELOPED
A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN.

I'VE ALREADY HAD MY SKIN REMOVED
FROM MY STOMACH,

AND NOW I'M WORKING TOWARDS
GETTING THE SKIN REMOVED

FROM MY ARMS AND MY LEGS.

SO WE JUST GOT
WIGGLIES AND JIGGLIES.

GETTING RID OF THE SKIN,
FOR ME, ON MY LEGS

WILL HELP ME WITH EVERYTHING --

GETTING UP, GETTING DOWN,
WALKING, EXERCISING --

EVERYTHING.

BUT TO GET APPROVED
FOR THE SURGERY,

DR. NOW WANTS ME TO BE
UNDER 200 POUNDS.

I FEEL LIKE THESE ARE
THE FINAL STEPS FOR ME,

SO I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN
TO GET APPROVED.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S WARM UP
WITH SOME CROSSES.

KEEP THOSE ELBOWS DOWN.

ALL THE WAY UP.

SO USE THOSE LEGS
TO KIND OF EXPLODE IT UP.

THREE YEARS AGO, I COULD NOT DO
WHAT I'M DOING TODAY.

DUDE, I'M GONNA PASS OUT.

BUT NOW I'M MORE DETERMINED
THAN EVER TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I'VE GOT 40 MORE POUNDS TO LOSE
IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS,

AND I'M GONNA WORK MY BUTT OFF
TO REACH THAT GOAL.

ALL RIGHT. KEEP GOING.

WE'RE DOING AWESOME.
LET'S GO.

Christina:
I'M TRAPPED INSIDE THIS BODY

THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

Tammie: SHE TELLS ME
THAT SHE'S A BURDEN TO ME.

SHE'S NOT A BURDEN.
SHE'S MY PRIDE AND JOY.

MY FEAR IS THAT SHE MIGHT
GO TO SLEEP AND NEVER WAKE UP.

Christina:
MY WEIGHT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE IS NOT
TOO FAR FROM IMMINENT DEATH.

Christina: I WANT TO CHANGE.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

ZACH AND I CAN FINALLY SLEEP
IN THE SAME BED.

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

IT BECAME CLEAR
THAT ME BECOMING INDEPENDENT

WAS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR HIM.

SO ZACH AND I ARE
GETTING A DIVORCE.

I'VE WORKED HARD
TO GET TO THIS GOAL.

AND LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER NOW.

IT HAS BEEN
SUCH A DRASTIC CHANGE.

EVERY NEW EXPERIENCE JUST MAKES
ME WANT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OW, OW, OW.

Woman #2: SHE FAINTED WHENEVER
WE WAS TRYING TO GET HER TO BED.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
CHRISTINA HAS BEEN PUSHING
HERSELF A LITTLE BIT TOO HARD.

WE NEED TO MONITOR HER HEALTH.

Christina:
I'M NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE AT,

BUT I'M GETTING THERE,
AND I WILL GET THERE.

-WOULD YOU LIKE A RIDE TONIGHT?
-SURE.

I NEVER THOUGHT
I WOULD MAKE IT THIS FAR.

AND I'M NOT GONNA WASTE
MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

**

IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS
SINCE I HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND I WOULD'VE NEVER IMAGINED
LIFE COULD BE SO GREAT.

I'VE GAINED
A WHOLE NEW INDEPENDENCE.

AND I FINALLY MOVED OUT
FROM MY FAMILY'S HOUSE.

THEY HAD TO DO EVERYTHING
FOR ME.

THERE.

I HAVE TO HAVE HELP
GETTING DRESSED

OR GETTING UP OUT OF BED
AND BEING PUT IN BED.

AND IT'S BEEN A YEAR
SINCE I FINALIZED THE DIVORCE

WITH MY EX-HUSBAND.

OUR RELATIONSHIP
CENTERED ON HIM ENABLING ME.

ALL RIGHT, HOW MANY NIBBLERS
DOES EVERYBODY WANT?

BUT NOW I CAN FOCUS MORE
ON GETTING HEALTHY.

I LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT
IN THE LAST YEAR,

MOSTLY BECAUSE I'M REALLY
CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I EAT.

BUT WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,
I SEE THE EXCESS SKIN,

FLABBY ARMS, AND I SEE MYSELF
STILL AS A BIG PERSON.

IT'S HARD TO LET IT ALL SINK IN
HOW MUCH HAS CHANGED.

I'M CURRENTLY LIVING
WITH MY BOYFRIEND, SHANE.

HE MOVED IN ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

-HEY.
-HEY.

-YOU WANT TO JUMP IN?
-YEAH.

SHANE AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS
FOR EIGHT YEARS.

HE KNEW ME AT MY BIGGEST AND WAS
ALSO REALLY SUPPORTIVE OF ME.

THAT'S CHEATING.

AFTER DATING FOR A WHILE,
THINGS GOT SERIOUS,

AND I ASKED HIM
TO MOVE IN WITH ME.

Shane: WE'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW EACH
OTHER ON A REALLY DEEP LEVEL.

WE JUST OPEN UP TO EACH OTHER,

AND WE'LL FINISH EACH OTHER'S
SENTENCES SOMETIMES.

LIKE, I'LL BE THINKING
OF SOMETHING,

LIKE A SONG OR SOMETHING,
AND SHE'LL START SINGING IT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST CRAZY.

YOU LOOK UP SOME PLACES,
AND I'LL GO GET READY.

Christina:
SHANE'S REALLY GOOD FOR ME.

HE HELPS ME GET OUT OF THE HOUSE

EVEN THOUGH I FEEL INSECURE
ABOUT HOW I LOOK.

I STILL FEEL LIKE I NEED TO HIDE
MY ARMS AND MY LEGS

WHEN I GO OUT.

IT'S WEIRD, BECAUSE BEFORE,
WHEN I WAS 700 POUNDS,

I COULDN'T EVEN
GET OUT OF THE HOUSE,

AND NOW THAT I CAN,
I STILL DON'T FEEL NORMAL.

BUT DR. NOW HAS APPROVED ME
FOR SKIN SURGERY ON MY ARMS,

SO I'M REALLY HOPING
THAT HELPS ME FINALLY BE HAPPY

WITH HOW I LOOK.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME
TO BE PRESENT

WHEN I'M OUT IN PUBLIC

BECAUSE I'M SO DISTRACTED
WITH THE WAY MY BODY LOOKS.

I'M HOPING THAT ONCE
THE SURGERY'S OUT OF THE WAY

AND I FEEL BETTER ABOUT MY BODY,

IT'LL HELP ME BE
MORE COMFORTABLE

WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP.

ALL RIGHT, MA'AM, YOU'RE GONNA
HAVE OUR PAN-SEARED CHICKEN.

SHANE IS GREAT,
BUT IT'S JUST SO HARD TO BELIEVE

THAT HE WANTS TO BE WITH ME EVEN
WITH THE UGLY BODY I STILL HAVE.

I HAVE THE DESSERT MENU.

DO Y'ALL WANT TO
TAKE A LOOK AT IT?

-OH, NO, THANK YOU.
-YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

YOU SURE?
OKAY.

I JUST WANTED TO GET TO A PLACE

WHERE I FEEL COMFORTABLE
IN MY NEW BODY

INSTEAD OF FEELING LIKE
I'M STILL 700 POUNDS,

AND GETTING RID
OF THIS FLABBY SKIN

IS THE FINAL STEP
I NEED TO TAKE.

-DID YOU HAVE FUN?
-YES, I DID.

I'M READY FOR MY SKIN SURGERY.

**

Paula: I'M FINALLY HEADED IN
FOR MY APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

AND I REALLY HOPE HE APPROVES ME
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
TO GET MY WEIGHT DOWN,

BUT IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE'S GOING TO SAY.

MY FIRST SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
IS COMING UP SOON.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING
THAT I'M UNDER 200 POUNDS

AND I GET APPROVED TODAY.

OTHERWISE,
I WON'T HAVE TIME TO RECOVER.

**

Paula: I NEED TO BE
UNDER 200 POUNDS TODAY

TO BE APPROVED FOR SKIN SURGERY.

Nurse: IT'S 202.

I DIDN'T QUITE HIT MY GOAL,
BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH

THAT DR. NOW WILL ALLOW ME
TO GET SKIN SURGERY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HI.
-HELLO.

-HOW ARE YOU?
-I'M DOING OKAY.

HOW ABOUT YOURSELF?

I'M PRETTY GOOD.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN
TO 202 POUNDS.

THAT'S GREAT.
YOU LOST, WHAT -- 331 POUNDS?

YEP.

YOU'VE DONE WELL,
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOU
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

AWESOME.

PAULA HAS BEEN DOING VERY WELL
WITH HER WEIGHT LOSS LATELY.

SHE DOESN'T COME WITH EXCUSES
ANYMORE, AND THE RESULTS SHOW.

THAT ONE'S THE ONE THAT THE KNEE
HURTS AND THE HIP HURTS.

SHE HAS LYMPHEDEMA IN BOTH LEGS
THAT CAN BE VERY PAINFUL

AND PREVENT HER
FROM MAKING PROGRESS.

SO I'M GOING TO DO SKIN REMOVAL

ON HER LEGS
IN THE FIRST SURGERY,

THEN TAKE CARE OF HER ARM
IN THE SECOND SURGERY.

SO, WE'LL SET YOU UP
FOR SURGERY,

AND THEN WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

-OKEYDOKE.
-ALL RIGHT.

WITH THE SKIN SURGERY,
THAT MIGHT BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT

THAT SHE NEEDS TO STICK
WITH THE DIET

AND GET TO HER GOAL WEIGHT
OF 170.

Paula: I'M REALLY EXCITED
TO FINALLY BE MOVING FORWARD

WITH THESE SURGERIES.

THIS SHOULD ALLOW ME
TIME TO RECOVER

BEFORE MY FIRST
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT.

**

Christina:
TODAY, I'M HAVING SURGERY

TO HAVE THE EXTRA SKIN
ON MY ARMS REMOVED.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT

BY WATCHING WHAT I'M EATING,

AND I'M ANXIOUS TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH THIS NEXT STEP.

-ARE YOU VERY NERVOUS, BABY?
-NO.

I'M NERVOUS.

WELL, YOU'RE ALWAYS NERVOUS.

I'M ALWAYS NERVOUS
WHEN YOU HAVE SURGERY.

IN MY HEAD,
I'M STILL 700 POUNDS.

I'M STILL REALLY INSECURE
ABOUT THE EXTRA SKIN,

AND THE MORE WEIGHT I LOSE,
THE MORE SKIN THERE IS.

IT'S STILL A CONSTANT REMINDER
OF A NEGATIVE PART OF MY LIFE.

I'M TRAPPED INSIDE THIS BODY
THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WORKED
SO HARD TO GET AWAY FROM.

SO I'M READY FOR THIS.

-HOW YOU ALL DOING?
-FINE.

PRETTY GOOD.

ALL RIGHT,
YOU READY FOR SURGERY?

YES, SIR.

SO, YOU LOST 518 POUNDS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT
TO LOSE.

CHRISTINA HAS HAD ONE OF THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATIONS

I HAVE SEEN
AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO, TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GET RID
OF THIS EXTRA SKIN IN HERE.

AT THIS POINT,
SKIN SURGERY IS VERY IMPORTANT

SO SHE CAN BE MORE ACTIVE
AND HAVE A NORMAL BODY CONTOUR.

SO, LET'S GET YOU
FIXED UP.

Christina: I'M READY FOR THIS.

I'M NOT TURNING BACK NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY,
WE'RE GOING TO BE REMOVING

QUITE A LOT OF SKIN
FROM CHRISTINA'S ARMS.

OKAY, LET'S BEGIN.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
WITH THIS OPERATION

WITH THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD LOSS.

OKAY.
WE GOT ONE SIDE OFF.

CAN YOU NOW LEVEL THE TABLE
TO THE OTHER SIDE?

MY WORST FEAR IS HER GOING UNDER
AND NOT COMING BACK OUT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE DOESN'T HAVE
MUCH FAT ON HER SKIN.

SHE REALLY HAS LOST
A LOT OF WEIGHT.

REMOVING SKIN FROM THE OTHER ARM
AND THE CHEST.

NOW WE JUST FINISH STITCHING
HER UP,

AND WE'RE DONE.

LET'S GET HER
TO A RECOVERY ROOM.

SURGERY WENT VERY WELL,

AND WE WERE ABLE TO REMOVE
30 INCHES OF SKIN FROM EACH ARM.

WE DIDN'T REMOVE MUCH WEIGHT

BECAUSE THERE WAS
VERY LITTLE FAT.

IT SEEMS THAT CHRISTINA
IS PUSHING HERSELF

TOO HARD WITH HER DIET.

IF SHE DOESN'T GET
PROPER NUTRITION,

IT CAN CAUSE
SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS.

SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
SHE'S EATING ENOUGH

OF THE RIGHT FOOD
TO LET HER BODY HEAL.

SHE'S FINE.

**

Paula:
YOU WANT TO GO FOR A WALK?

I GUESS.

MY LEG SURGERY'S COMING UP
IN A COUPLE WEEKS,

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M
STAYING AS HEALTHY AS POSSIBLE

GOING INTO THE OPERATION.

AND I'M TRYING TO USE THIS TIME
TO SHOW SAVANNAH

HOW SHE NEEDS TO CHANGE
HER HABITS...

HI.

...EVEN IF IT'S JUST GETTING
OUTSIDE, AWAY FROM THE TV.

FOR A LONG PERIOD, I WAS THE
WORST ROLE MODEL FOR MY KIDS.

OOH, YOU GUYS GOT A LINE TODAY.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF HEALTHY
OPTIONS AT DRIVE-THROUGHS,

BUT MY KIDS HAVE TO EAT.

NOW I'M TRYING TO REPLACE
THOSE MEMORIES WITH GOOD HABITS,

BUT IT'S HARD
BECAUSE OUR LIVES ARE FULL.

I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL,
BECAUSE IN THE PAST,

WHEN I'VE BEEN STRESSED,
I TURN TO FOOD.

YOU STOPPED LOSING WEIGHT,

AND YOU'VE GAINED
A COUPLE POUNDS.

I'M DOING 900 CALORIES
A DAY,

BUT I HAD A LOT OF STRESS
IN THE LAST 10 DAYS.

MY JOB CHANGED, AND MY WHOLE
JOB DESCRIPTION CHANGED,

PLUS I'M STILL WORKING
80 HOURS A WEEK.

PAULA, UNTIL YOU MAKE IT A GOAL
TO BE UNDER 350 POUNDS,

I'M NOT APPROVING
YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

IF I'M GOING TO BE A ROLE MODEL
FOR MY CHILDREN

AND OTHER PEOPLE,
I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN.

IT'S JUST NOT AN OPTION.

TODAY, I'M FINALLY HAVING
SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY ON MY LEGS.

THERE'S A RISK TO ANY SURGERY.

BUT I'M EXCITED
TO MAKE THIS STEP

SO THAT I CAN SHOW MY CHILDREN
AND OTHER PEOPLE

WHAT THE FINAL GOAL LOOKS LIKE
AFTER LOSING ALMOST 400 POUNDS.

MY CHILDREN SAW ME AT MY
ABSOLUTE WORST FOR MANY YEARS,

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT THEY SEE ME AT MY BEST.

AT THIS WEIGHT, I AM HEAVILY
DEPENDENT ON MY CHILDREN.

I HAD FOOT LOTION ON HER LEGS
AND PUT HER SOCKS AND SHOES ON.

KIND OF FEELS LIKE
SHE'S HANDICAPPED.

Paula:
THIS EXCESS SKIN IS REALLY

THE LAST PIECE OF MY OLD LIFE.

I AM BEYOND READY
FOR THIS SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY,
WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

A THIGH LIFT
ON BOTH OF PAULA'S LEGS.

IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL,

SHE'S GOING TO BE VERY HAPPY
WITH HER INCREASED MOBILITY.

LET'S BEGIN.

SUCTION.

WHEN A PATIENT LOSES
AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

THERE'S STILL A LARGE NETWORK
OF BLOOD VESSELS

AND VARICOSE VEINS IN THE LEG.

WE CANNOT JUST REMOVE THE SKIN

WITHOUT ADDRESSING
THESE BLOOD VESSELS.

WE HAVE TO TIE OFF HUNDREDS
OF VESSELS DURING THE OPERATION.

WHAT?!

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

CLIP, CLIP, CLIP.

PUT A HEMOSTAT ON IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
CLIP, CLIP, CLIP.

WE FINISHED REMOVING SKIN
FROM PAULA'S FIRST LEG,

BUT SHE'S LOSING A LOT OF BLOOD.

SOME PATIENTS BLEED
MORE THAN OTHERS,

SO WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED
FOR THAT.

SHE LOST TOO MUCH BLOOD
TO CONTINUE DOING THE OTHER LEG.

ALL RIGHT,
GO AHEAD AND CLOSE HER UP.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WERE ONLY ABLE

TO COMPLETE SURGERY
ON PAULA'S RIGHT LEG.

TO BE SAFE,
WE GAVE HER A TRANSFUSION,

AND SHE'S DOING BETTER,

BUT WE HAVE TO
LET HER BODY RECOVER

BEFORE WE CAN ATTEMPT SURGERY
ON HER LEFT LEG.

**

Paula: IT WAS REALLY HARD
WAKING UP TO FIND OUT

THAT THEY COULD ONLY OPERATE
ON ONE LEG.

I KNOW I'M MAKING PROGRESS,

BUT IT FEELS LIKE
SUCH A HUGE SETBACK.

THIS IS GOING TO DELAY
EVERYTHING I HAD PLANNED.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

ALL RIGHT,
HERE'S THE SITUATION.

YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE'S
TOO LOW.

ALSO, YOUR BLOOD COUNT
HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY.

AND YOUR PROTEIN LEVELS
ARE VERY LOW.

THESE ISSUES
ARE NOT UNCOMMON

FOR SOMEBODY WHO LOST
A LOT OF BLOOD.

Paula: SO WHAT
ARE THE DETERMINING FACTORS

OF GETTING
THE OTHER LEG DONE?

GETTING MY BLOOD PRESSURE UP,
MY PROTEIN UP, AND MY IRON UP?

YEAH, WE GOT TO
GET THOSE BUILT UP.

OKAY,
LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT

AND SEE HOW
YOUR RIGHT LEG LOOKS.

PAULA HAS BEEN IMPROVING,
BUT WE GOT TO PUT HER

ON A PROTEIN I.V.
AS WELL AS MEDICATION.

ONCE PAULA'S BODY RECOVERS,

WE CAN CONSIDER PERFORMING
SURGERY ON HER OTHER LEG.

IT CAN BE A WEEK,
OR SHE MAY HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?
-OKEYDOKE.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

Paula: IT'S SO HARD,
BECAUSE I WANT TO FIX THIS.

BUT ALL I CAN DO IS SIT HERE.

[ ALARM BEEPING ]

Christina:
IT'S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH

SINCE I HAD SKIN SURGERY
ON MY ARMS.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.

I'VE BEEN KIND OF NEGATIVE,

AND I'M NOT TOO HAPPY
ABOUT THE WAY I LOOK.

I JUST THOUGHT
THAT, AFTER SURGERY,

I WOULD FEEL SO MUCH BETTER
ABOUT MYSELF.

I'M GRATEFUL
FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES I'VE HAD

TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHY I FEEL THIS WAY.

MORNING.
HOW'D YOU SLEEP?

GOOD.

FEELING ALL RIGHT TODAY?

STILL HURTING?
-YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I STILL SEE
THAT 700-POUND PERSON

AND WHY I'M STILL HATING
MY BODY.

BUT SHANE HAS BEEN A BIG HELP,

AND THAT HAS BEEN
PRETTY AWESOME.

THERE YOU GO.

YOU GOOD?

I'M JUST TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE
AND HEAL

SO I CAN GET MY NEXT SURGERY
AND PUT ALL THIS BEHIND ME.

**

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS
SINCE MY ARM SURGERY,

AND I'M PRETTY MUCH
DONE HEALING.

BUT I STILL DON'T FEEL GOOD
ABOUT MY BODY.

THE SKIN ON MY LEGS
I REALLY WANT REMOVED,

SO I'VE BEEN EATING LESS
AND HOPING THAT THE DOCTOR

WILL APPROVE ME FOR SURGERY.

I USED TO HATE
HAVING TO WEIGH MYSELF.

I WAS SCARED
I'D BREAK THE SCALE.

BUT NOW I HAVE
NO REASON TO BE SCARED.

Nurse:
OKAY. IT'S 160.

WOW.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT AT ALL.

I FEEL GOOD
ABOUT DR. NOW APPROVING ME.

HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

ALL RIGHT,
I SEE YOU'RE DOWN TO 160.

WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH YOUR EATING HABITS?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU LOST 13 POUNDS
IN THE LAST MONTH.

THAT'S TOO MUCH
FOR SOMEBODY YOUR WEIGHT.

SO, WHAT DO YOU EAT
FOR BREAKFAST?

I DON'T EAT BREAKFAST.

HOW MANY CALORIES DO YOU THINK
YOU'RE EATING IN A DAY?

400, 450.

THAT'S FAR BELOW
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE GETTING.

YOU SHOULD DOUBLE THAT,
AT LEAST.

YOU'RE GOING FROM ONE EXTREME
TO THE OTHER.

THEY'RE BOTH UNHEALTHY.

OKAY.

EATING 450 CALORIES A DAY
FOR SOMEBODY THAT IS 160 POUNDS,

IT MEANS THAT
SHE'S COMPLETELY MALNOURISHED.

CLEARLY,
THERE ARE SOME BIGGER ISSUES

THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH.

IN MY HEAD,
EVEN WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,

I DON'T SEE
WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEES.

IT JUST -- IT REALLY CONFUSES ME
WHEN SOMEONE'S LIKE,

"OH, YOU NEED TO
STOP LOSING WEIGHT."

IT'S NOT ABOUT
HOW MUCH WEIGHT YOU LOSE.

HAVING A HEALTHY BODY IS
THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.

BUT WHEN CAN WE DO
THE LEG SURGERY?

BECAUSE I CAN'T FIT
IN ANY SMALLER CLOTHES.

LIKE, MY JEANS ARE
REALLY BAGGY,

BUT BECAUSE OF MY LEGS,
I CAN'T GET ANY...

SEE?

SKIN SURGERY IS NOT EVEN A TOPIC
OF CONSIDERATION RIGHT NOW.

UNTIL WE ADDRESS EATING HABITS
AND GET YOUR BODY HEALTHY,

WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD.

THERE ARE CLEARLY
SOME EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT CHRISTINA NEEDS TO
DEAL WITH,

BUT FIRST, WE NEED TO GET
HER BODY IN A BETTER POSITION.

I GOT YOU ON PREDNISONE
TO DEVELOP SOME MUSCLE MASS.

AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS
PROTEIN SHAKE EVERY DAY.

YES, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO
GAIN MUSCLE WEIGHT.

LOOKING AT
YOUR CONCAVE COLLARBONE,

I CAN SEE THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE
ENOUGH BODY FAT.

SO YOU NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT
YOU NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I'M ALSO SENDING YOU
TO A THERAPIST.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS
ALL THESE ISSUES.

CHRISTINA NEEDS TO
GET TO THE ROOT OF HER ANXIETY

WITH HER BODY IMAGE.

SHE WILL NOT BE HEALTHY
IN LONG TERM

IF SHE DOESN'T RESOLVE
THESE ISSUES.

NEXT TIME, I WANT TO SEE
THAT YOU'VE GAINED 15 POUNDS.

THEN WE CAN DISCUSS
YOUR NEXT SURGERY.

YOU HAVE TO BE HEALTHY,
CHRISTINA.

OKAY.

Christina:
THE DOCTOR DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

THAT I DON'T WANT TO
GAIN WEIGHT.

I'VE BEEN BIG MY WHOLE LIFE.

I WANT TO BE HEALTHY,

BUT I'VE WORKED SO HARD
TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY.

SO HAVING TO GAIN WEIGHT
SCARES ME TO DEATH.

I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU.

Paula: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL
FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW,

AND I'VE FINALLY
RECOVERED ENOUGH

TO MOVE AHEAD
WITH MY SECOND LEG SURGERY.

WE'RE GOING THAT WAY.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH PROCESS,
BUT ONCE I HEAL,

I'LL BE ABLE TO GET BACK
TO BEING WITH MY FAMILY

AND HELPING MY CHILDREN.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
AFTER A COUPLE WEEKS
OF TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL,

PAULA'S BODY
HAS FINALLY RECOVERED

TO THE POINT THAT I CAN COMPLETE
THE SURGERY ON HER OTHER LEG.

OKAY.
STARTING INCISION.

BECAUSE OF THE COMPLICATION
WITH HER FIRST SURGERY,

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
A CLOSE WATCH ON HER BLOOD LOSS.

IF WE ARE ABLE TO COMPLETE
THIS SURGERY SUCCESSFULLY,

PAULA SHOULD SEE A DRAMATIC
INCREASE IN HER MOBILITY.

I HOPE THE SURGERY
WILL DO SOMETHING GREAT

FOR MY MOM SO THAT WAY SHE CAN
DO THE THINGS SHE WANTED TO DO,

LIKE RUN, RIDE A BIKE NOW.

SHE CAN HAVE LOTS OF FUN,
AND I COULD HAVE FUN WITH HER.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
HOW IS THE BLOOD LOSS?

PAULA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

WE REMOVED
ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF SKIN,

BUT IT WILL MAKE
A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR HER.

WE'LL GET HER INTO RECOVERY,
AND AS SOON AS SHE'S READY,

SHE'LL BE ABLE TO HEAD HOME
AND LET HER LEGS HEAL.

**

Christina: DR. NOW HAS ASKED ME
TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.

HE THINKS I'M PUSHING MYSELF
TOO HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT.

I KNOW
I'M NOT 700 POUNDS ANYMORE,

BUT I STILL FEEL THAT WAY,

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO CHANGE HOW I FEEL.

HI, CHRISTINA.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

COME ON BACK.

Christina: LATELY, I'VE JUST
BEEN GOING THROUGH A LOT.

I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT
THE PAST COUPLE YEARS,

AND LATELY,
ANYTIME I SEE THE SCALE GO UP,

I TEND TO FREAK OUT,

AND I WILL STOP EATING
FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE
FOOD'S ALMOST BECOME YOUR ENEMY.

I MEAN, I STILL SEE MYSELF
AS 708 POUNDS,

AND PEOPLE
ARE STARING AT ME.

IT JUST -- IT MAKES ME NOT
WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE AT ALL.

IT'S HARD TO SHIFT
TO SEEING YOURSELF

THE WAY THAT YOU ARE NOW.
-MM-HMM.

BESIDES THE FEAR
OF GAINING WEIGHT,

WHAT OTHER THINGS
ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

DISAPPOINTING PEOPLE.

I MEAN, IN THE BEGINNING,
I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE DOUBT ME.

PEOPLE THAT YOU CARED ABOUT,
LIKE FRIENDS OR FAMILY?

WELL, I MEAN, I WAS IN
A REALLY ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP,

AND THAT DEFINITELY,
I THINK, HAS HAD

A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON ME
A LITTLE BIT.

IT REALLY IMPACTED
YOUR SELF-ESTEEM.

-IT HURTS.
-IT HURTS.

IN MY HEART, IN MY HEAD.

EVERYWHERE.

IF YOU WERE GONNA TAKE
ONE LITTLE SMALL STEP

JUST TO KIND OF MOVE INTO
YOUR LIFE A LITTLE BIT MORE,

WHAT DO YOU THINK
WOULD BE HELPFUL?

MAYBE NOT BE SO HARD
ON MYSELF, LIKE,

AS FAR AS THE SCALE GOES, LIKE,
LEARNING TO JUST BE OKAY.

I MEAN, IT --

HOW OFTEN
ARE YOU WEIGHING YOURSELF?

SEVERAL TIMES A DAY.

THAT'S YOUR SELF-ESTEEM MONITOR,
WHICH IS LIKE UP AND DOWN.

AND WE WANT TO MOVE AWAY
FROM THAT,

AND WE WANT TO MOVE INTO
SELF-COMPASSION.

'CAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY ABOUT
THE OUTSIDE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE SCALE
OR THE FOOD OR THE WEIGHT.

IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL
ON THE INSIDE.

CHRISTINA, I LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU

AND SEEING YOU AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
IT WAS NICE MEETING YOU, TOO.

TAKE CARE.

I KNOW I NEED TO WORK THROUGH
SOME THINGS.

WHEN I WAS 700 POUNDS,
I FELT WORTHLESS

AND LIKE I DIDN'T DESERVE
ANYTHING BETTER

THAN THE LIFE I HAD.

AND NOW MY FEAR OF GAINING
WEIGHT HAS CRIPPLED ME.

BUT I HAVE TO MOVE PAST THAT
FEAR IF I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE.

**

I'VE BEEN STARTING
TO WORK OUT LATELY.

...AND YOU'RE GONNA COME HERE
AND THEN BACK UP.

DR. NOW WANTS ME WORKING OUT
FIVE DAYS A WEEK TO BUILD MUSCLE

AND GAIN 15 POUNDS
BEFORE MY NEXT VISIT.

BLOW IT OUT.
THERE YOU GO. GOOD JOB.

I'VE NEVER FOCUSED
ON STRENGTH TRAINING BEFORE.

WANT YOU TO SQUEEZE
THOSE SHOULDERS TOGETHER.

WHEN I WAS 600 POUNDS,
I WOULD STRUGGLE

WITH EVEN THE SMALLEST AMOUNT
OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

JUST SIMPLY WALKING FROM
THE LIVING ROOM TO THE BEDROOM,

I'M OUT OF BREATH.

NOW I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE
THAN I EVER EXPECTED.

GOOD. FANTASTIC.

BUT IT'S HARD TO LET GO
OF MY FEARS OF GAINING WEIGHT.

REMEMBER, THE WEIGHTLIFTING,
THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU

NOT ONLY BUILD MUSCLE
BUT ALSO BURN FAT.

ALL RIGHT,
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

BUT KNOWING I CAN GET MY FINAL
SKIN SURGERY KEEPS ME MOTIVATED.

YEAH.

I'M ALSO TRYING REALLY HARD
TO EAT THE RIGHT FOODS

AND ENOUGH OF THE RIGHT FOODS,

SO I'M STICKING
TO HIGH-PROTEIN FOODS

THAT HELP ME GAIN MUSCLE WEIGHT.

LAST YEAR,
I WOULDN'T HAVE DREAMED

OF EATING THIS MUCH FOOD,
BUT I'M TRUSTING

WHAT THE DOCTOR'S TOLD ME
I NEED TO DO.

I REALLY WANT TO HAVE

ALL THESE SKIN SURGERIES
BEHIND ME,

SO I'M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN
TO DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.

CHRISTINA.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
TO EAT BETTER

AND BUILD SOME MUSCLE.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD
TO TAKING THIS FINAL STEP

AND GETTING THIS SKIN REMOVED
FROM MY LEGS.

I HOPE
I'VE MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS.

Nurse: CHRISTINA.

Christina: I'M BACK
AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE TO SEE

IF I'VE GAINED ENOUGH WEIGHT
TO GET APPROVED

FOR MY LEG SURGERY.

177.4.

IT'S STILL A LITTLE HARD FOR ME
TO SEE THAT NUMBER GO UP,

BUT I DID WHAT DR. NOW WANTED
AND GAINED SOME WEIGHT.

HELLO.

OKAY.
SO YOU WEIGHED IN AT 177.

THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S 17 POUNDS UP.

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY
FROM 708 POUNDS.

THAT'S GREAT.

I THINK YOU'RE READY
FOR THE SURGERY AT THIS TIME,

AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW
WHEN WE CAN SCHEDULE IT, OKAY?

MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
CHRISTINA HAS DONE WELL,

SO I'M GOING TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH HER LEG SURGERIES.

SHE HAS A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN
ON HER LEGS,

SO THE SURGERY WILL TAKE
SOME TIME.

ALL RIGHT,
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-THANK YOU.
-OKAY.

BUT I THINK CHRISTINA WILL BE
REALLY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

Christina: I CAN'T WAIT TO GET
THIS LAST SURGERY ON MY LEGS.

I'M STARTING TO FEEL LIKE

I'M FINALLY ABLE TO SEE
THAT I'M WORTH IT.

AND I'D BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO
WHERE I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE.

Paula:
IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO MONTHS
SINCE MY LAST LEG SURGERY,

AND I'VE HEALED VERY WELL.

TODAY, I'M BRINGING SAVANNAH
TO THE GROCERY STORE,

AND WE'RE GONNA BUY
SOME HEALTHY, NUTRITIOUS FOOD

AND LEARN ABOUT WHICH FOODS
WE SHOULD BUY.

SAY YES, BUT OKAY.

ALL OF MY CHILDREN HAVE SEEN ME
BUY AND EAT UNHEALTHY FOODS.

I SHOWED NO RESTRAINT.

I DON'T EAT JUST FOR FUEL.
I EAT FOR ENJOYMENT.

NOW I FEEL LIKE
I HAVE TO ROLL BACK

THOSE BAD HABITS AND SHOW THEM
THE JOY OF EATING HEALTHY NOW.

THESE ARE MY GO-TO THINGS.

IT DOESN'T SAY SALT.
IT'S SODIUM...

480.

Paula: RIGHT.

SAVANNAH, AT 11 YEARS OLD, SHE
WEIGHS MORE THAN I DO RIGHT NOW.

SO I FEEL LIKE
I CAN HELP HER THE MOST

BY HELPING HER FIND
HEALTHY FOODS

AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR
WHEN DECIDING WHAT TO EAT.

WHAT ABOUT THIS STUFF?

-LOOK AT IT.
-22 CARBOHYDRATES.

THESE ARE PRETTY GOOD,
RIGHT?

-NO. SORRY.
-OH.

NOW THAT I'VE MOSTLY HEALED
FROM MY LEG SURGERY,

I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO GETTING THE EXCESS SKIN

FROM MY ARMS REMOVED.

DR. NOW IS GOING TO SCHEDULE
THE SURGERY

WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

MY BIGGEST FEAR
GOING INTO SURGERY IS

THAT THEY WON'T BE ABLE
TO DO BOTH ARMS

AND THAT WILL DELAY MY RECOVERY
EVEN FURTHER.

I REALLY NEED TO GET
THIS FINAL SURGERY BEHIND ME.

SEE YOU WHEN YOU WAKE UP.

Christina: I'M SO EXCITED
TO FINALLY BE GETTING

THIS LAST SURGERY ON MY LEGS.

I CAN'T WAIT
TO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I FEEL LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE
HAS BEEN LEADING UP TO THIS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY,
WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

THE FINAL SKIN SURGERY
ON CHRISTINA.

OKAY. KNIFE, PLEASE.

WE'RE DOING A SPIRAL THIGH LIFT

AND REMOVING A CONSIDERABLE
AMOUNT OF SKIN FROM HER LEGS.

WE'LL START REMOVING TISSUE
FROM THE BACK OF HER LEGS

AND LOWER BUTTOCKS
ON BOTH SIDES.

Nurse #2: 1, 2, 3.

THEN WE'LL TURN HER OVER,

AND WE'LL CONTINUE
ON THE FRONT SIDE OF HER LEGS.

AND WE'LL BRING
HER SKIN TOGETHER

AND MAKE HER THIGHS
TIGHT AND NORMAL.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

CLEAN HER UP AND GET HER UP
TO A RECOVERY ROOM.

CHRISTINA'S SURGERY WENT GREAT.

HER NEW LEG CONTOUR
LOOKS VERY NATURAL.

SKIN SURGERY ON THE LEGS CAN BE
A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT

IN THE RECOVERY.

SO CHRISTINA WILL NEED TO TAKE
IT EASY AND LET HER BODY HEAL.

Shane: I KNOW
IT'S SOMETHING SHE'S WANTED,

SOMETHING SHE'S FOUGHT FOR
OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS.

AND I HOPE THAT THIS IS

THE BEGINNING
OF SOMETHING NEW FOR HER.

**

Paula: TODAY, I'M GOING IN
FOR SKIN SURGERY ON MY ARMS.

I BOOKED MY FIRST SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENT BACK IN ATLANTA,

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING THIS SURGERY COMPLETED.

I AM A LITTLE CONCERNED
ABOUT MY BLOOD-LOSS ISSUES,

ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HAPPENED
WITH MY LEG SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO ATTEMPT
SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY

ON PAULA'S ARMS.

SHE POSES
SOME UNIQUE RISK FACTORS

BECAUSE OF HER ISSUES
WITH BLOOD LOSS IN THE PAST.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

LET'S GET STARTED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PAULA IS HAVING
SKIN SURGERY TODAY FOR HER ARMS.

OKAY, STARTING INCISION.

PAULA HAS GOOD MUSCLE TONE
IN HER ARM,

BUT LOSING WEIGHT CAUSED HER
TO GAIN THIS SAGGING SKIN.

WE'RE REMOVING THE SKIN
DOWN THE LENGTH OF HER ARM

AND A LITTLE FROM HER CHEST.

OKAY, AND STITCH HER UP.

OKAY.
PAULA'S SURGERY IS OVER.

PAULA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

AND I THINK SHE'LL BE
VERY HAPPY ONCE SHE HEALS.

**

Christina: I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY HARD LATELY

TO BE OKAY WITH WHO I AM.

AND NOW THAT I FINISHED
MY SKIN SURGERY,

IT'S NICE TO BUY CLOTHES
THAT SPEAK TO WHO I AM.

IT'S MAKING IT
A LITTLE BIT EASIER

TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEES.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY
A CONFIDENCE BOOST.

WHEN I WAS 700 POUNDS,

I COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE
IN PUBLIC,

LET ALONE GO SHOPPING
FOR CLOTHES.

THANK YOU.
HAVE A GREAT DAY.

YOU TOO!

SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL I CAN DO
NORMAL THINGS LIKE THIS.

Nurse: MISS PHILIPS.

I'VE BEEN LEARNING

THAT THE NUMBER
DOESN'T MATTER AS MUCH,

AND THE PRIORITY IS
THAT I NEED TO BE HEALTHY.

171.

ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU'VE LOST 537 POUNDS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT
TO LOSE.

THANK YOU.

CHRISTINA IS
A REALLY AMAZING SUCCESS STORY.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN
A DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR HER

TO HAVE A HEALTHY OUTLOOK
ON FOOD AND HER SELF-IMAGE,

BUT SHE'S MADE GREAT PROGRESS.

YOU'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB,
AND I'M PROUD OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

Christina: IT'S STILL SO HARD
TO BELIEVE I'VE COME THIS FAR.

AND NOW THAT MY SKIN SURGERY'S
BEHIND ME,

I'M GLAD TO BE DONE
WITH THIS PROCESS.

AND I'M READY TO LIVE MY LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE
I'M STARTING A NEW JOURNEY.

I'M SO GLAD I FOUND SOMEONE
THAT LOVES ME LIKE SHANE.

NOW MY LIFE IS FULL
OF SO MANY NEW EXPERIENCES

THAT I COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED
WHEN I WAS BIG.

Nurse: PAULA JONES.

Paula: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS
SINCE MY ARM SURGERY,

AND I'M HERE FOR A FOLLOW-UP
WITH DR. NOW.

WHEN I WALKED INTO THIS CLINIC
FOR THE FIRST TIME,

I DON'T THINK
I EVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED

THAT I'D MAKE IT THIS FAR.

YEAH.

IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE TO COME
FROM 533 TO UNDER 200 POUNDS.

YOU DIDN'T THINK
I'D MAKE IT THAT FAR.

I DID HAVE SOME DOUBTS
IN THE BEGINNING.

BUT FINALLY,
YOU FIGURED IT OUT.

PAULA HAS ACHIEVED A LOT OF
SUCCESS, AND I'M PROUD OF HER.

Paula :
THIS IS, BY FAR, THE HARDEST
THING THAT I'VE EVER DONE.

BUT MOST OF ALL,
I HOPE THAT MY CHILDREN SEE

THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

MY DAUGHTER SAVANNAH
HAS LOST A LITTLE BIT OF WEIGHT,

BUT WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT
IS THAT I THINK

WE'RE FINALLY ON THE RIGHT PATH
AS A FAMILY,

AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR ME
TO TAKE MY STORY OUT

TO THOSE WHO NEED HELP THE MOST.

I'M FINALLY HEADED TO MY FIRST
SPEAKING EVENT IN ATLANTA.

I FEEL LIKE I CAN FINALLY LEAD
BY EXAMPLE AND BE PROUD OF IT.

Y'ALL READY FOR PAULA?

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

GO AHEAD.

EVEN THOUGH THE SURGERY,
AT FIRST, MADE ME LOSE WEIGHT,

I HAD TO RE-LEARN EVERYTHING
I EVER DID,

AS FAR AS FOOD,
NUTRITION, EVEN WORKING OUT.

SINCE I STARTED THIS JOURNEY,

I'VE FELT LIKE IT WAS
MY PURPOSE TO MOTIVATE OTHERS

TO BE HEALTHY,
AND I'M FINALLY DOING IT.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

I'M REALLY PROUD OF MY MOM.

SHE SPOKE FROM HER HEART.
SHE HAS BEEN REALLY INSPIRING.

-I ENJOYED YOU.
-THANK YOU.

Paula:
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY
HARD TIMES IN THIS JOURNEY,

BUT I'M SO GLAD
I PUSHED THROUGH.