All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E02

Ashley:
I LIVE IN THIS CONSTANT SHAME.

HOW DO I FIX THIS?

**

Man: NOT FOR ONE MINUTE
THAT I THOUGHT MY LIFE

WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW! MY LEGS!

Ashley: I'M SO FAR GONE.

Woman #2:
I ABSOLUTELY NEED HELP,

OR I AM GONNA DIE.

-I CAN'T DO THIS.
-I'M RIGHT UNDER YOU.

-[ Crying ] I NEED OVER!
-YOU'RE FINE. YOU'RE FINE.

Woman #3:
I FEEL LIKE I LET MY KIDS DOWN.

INSTEAD OF ME
TAKING CARE OF THEM,

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF ME.

IT'S YOU -- YOU ARE
THE ONE KILLING HIM.

Ashley: I DON'T HAVE
THE STRENGTH TO MOVE FORWARD.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE HAVE TO FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ASHLEY.

HER LIFE COULD BE ON THE LINE.

Ashley: SOMETIMES THE
SAFEST-LOOKING PATH THROUGH LIFE

CAN LEAD
TO THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES.

WHEN I IMAGINED MY LIFE AT 30,

I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE
MY WHITE PICKET FENCE

AND HAVE KIDS.

BUT MY LIFE IS
NOTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

MY ENTIRE BODY
IS IN CONSTANT PAIN.

I'M COMPLETELY MISERABLE.

IT'S A STRUGGLE
TO JUST MOVE AT THIS WEIGHT.

YOU NEED ME
TO HELP YOU UP?

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING
ON MY OWN,

SO MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TO LIVE
WITH MY PARENTS AND MY SISTERS.

I'M ASHAMED OF LIVING
WITH MY PARENTS AT THIS AGE.

THEY HELP TAKE CARE OF ME.

I FEEL LIKE A 30-YEAR-OLD CHILD.

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,
I SEE A MONSTER.

I SEE SOMEONE WHO'S HIDEOUS.

I DON'T RESEMBLE A HUMAN FORM.

I CANNOT STAND
FOR MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES.

SO EVEN WHEN I SHOWER,
I HAVE TO SIT DOWN

AND, LIKE WITH
EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE,

I HAVE TO ASK FOR HELP.

YEAH.

IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE
THE ROUGH PATCHES ON MY SKIN,

MY MOM HAS TO SCRUB ME
REALLY, REALLY HARD

WITH AN ABRASIVE SPONGE.

IT'S OKAY.

I CRY IN THE SHOWER
BECAUSE IT'S JUST PAINFUL.

IT IS PAINFUL SITTING THERE.

IT IS PAINFUL HOLDING MYSELF UP.

IT IS PAINFUL WHEN
MY MOM SCRUBS MY BACK.

Blanca: IT'S REALLY HARD
FOR ASHLEY TO TAKE A SHOWER.

I HAVE TO HELP HER
BECAUSE IF I'M NOT THERE,

SHE HAS TO ASK HER HUSBAND
TO DO IT.

AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I THINK ASHLEY DESERVES
A BETTER LIFE.

THIS WEIGHT PROBLEM HAS KEPT HER

FROM DOING EVERYTHING
SHE WANTS TO DO.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I WEIGH THIS MUCH.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE.
THIS IS MY REALITY.

I'M UNCOMFORTABLE
IN MY OWN SKIN.

OKAY.

I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS
ANYMORE.

HOW DO I FIX THIS?

I FEEL LIKE...

I'M SO FAR GONE.

I LIVE IN THIS CONSTANT SHAME.

I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO FIX IT ANYMORE.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE,

I THOUGHT THINGS WOULD BE
A LOT DIFFERENT FOR ME.

I REMEMBER BEING
A HAPPY TODDLER.

I WAS ACTIVE AND RUNNING,

JUMPING,
PLAYING WITH MY FRIENDS.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS ALREADY
A LITTLE OVERWEIGHT.

I STARTED TO NOTICE
ASHLEY'S WEIGHT PROBLEM

WHEN SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.

SHE WAS THE CHUBBIEST
IN THE CLASS.

BUT I ALWAYS ASSUMED
IT WAS BABY FAT, YOU KNOW?

IT'S GONNA GO AWAY.

Alan:
BACK IN THE DAY, WE DIDN'T THINK

THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG
WITH ASHLEY.

WE THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST PART
OF LIFE, THAT SHE WAS HEALTHY.

WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT
THAT WAS GONNA BE A PROBLEM

LATER ON IN HER LIFE.

Ashley: I GAINED SOME WEIGHT
AS I GOT OLDER,

BUT I REALLY STARTED TO GAIN
AROUND SEVENTH GRADE,

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD,

MY UNCLE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ME.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FEEL SAFE,

SO I WOULD EAT TO GAIN BACK

WHATEVER LITTLE HAPPINESS
I COULD.

FOOD FILLED THE VOID THAT
I WAS FEELING ON THE INSIDE.

AND AT FIRST,
I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE AS LONG
AS HE WAS DOING IT TO ME,

HE WASN'T DOING IT
TO MY SISTERS.

I WASN'T GOING TO ALLOW ANYONE
TO RUIN THEIR CHILDHOOD

AND TAKE AWAY THE INNOCENCE
THAT THEY HAD.

WHEN I FINALLY TOLD MY MOM,
SHE CONFRONTED MY UNCLE.

Blanca: WHEN IT HAPPENED,
I WENT OVER THERE.

AND I SAID,
"HOW DARE YOU BETRAY US?

HOW DARE YOU DO THIS
TO MY LITTLE ONE?"

EVEN THOUGH I TRIED
TO GET HELP FOR HER,

IT WAS VERY HARD FOR HER.

I THINK ASHLEY LOST CONTROL
OVER HER EATING.

MY WEIGHT BALLOONED.
IT REALLY PILED ON.

I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL
AT ABOUT 350.

AFTER THAT, I WENT TO SCHOOL
TO BE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT.

AND I GRADUATED,

BUT NOBODY WOULD HIRE ME
BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

BY THAT TIME,
I WAS OVER 430 POUNDS.

AND THEN I MET MY HUSBAND,
DANIEL, AT A PARTY.

AND WE GOT TO TALKING, LIKE
TRULY TALKING TO EACH OTHER,

AND I FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.

Daniel:
WHEN I FIRST MET HER,

ASHLEY'S SIZE
DID NOT BOTHER ME AT ALL.

WHAT I REALLY LOVED ABOUT HER
WAS HER SENSE OF HUMOR,

HER CHARISMA, HER EYES.

Ashley: WE DID THINGS.
IT WAS LIKE A NORMAL COUPLE.

BUT EACH YEAR,
I KEPT GAINING MORE WEIGHT,

SO WE HAD TO STOP OUR OUTINGS.

WE HAD TO STOP DOING
WHAT WE NORMALLY DO

BECAUSE I WASN'T ABLE
TO DO IT ANYMORE.

UNFORTUNATELY, MY WEIGHT
HAS NOW MADE HIM MY CARETAKER.

HERE'S YOUR SODA.

Daniel:
SOMETIMES I FEEL HELPLESS,

LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY NO.

I WANT TO MAKE HER
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.

WHAT MAKES ASHLEY HAPPY
IS WHEN SHE'S ENJOYING FOOD.

-THAT THE ONE YOU WANTED?
-MM-HMM. THANK YOU.

Ashley: IN MY FAMILY,
WE ALL ENABLE EACH OTHER.

WE ALL LIKE TO EAT.

BUT IT'S NOT LIKE
I HAVE A CHOICE.

I HAVE TO EAT.
EVERYBODY HAS TO EAT.

YOU CAN'T STARVE YOURSELF.

BUT I KNOW THAT I EAT TOO MUCH.

I FEEL GUILTY ABOUT NOT
BEING ABLE TO SAY NO TO FOOD.

BUT I STILL DO IT.

AND THE LAST TWO YEARS,
I PUT ON ANOTHER 150 POUNDS.

AND WHEN WE GOT MARRIED
LAST YEAR,

I COULDN'T HAVE
THE DRESS OF MY DREAMS.

I DEFINITELY COULDN'T HAVE
THE HONEYMOON OF MY DREAMS.

SO I SETTLED FOR THE WEDDING
THAT WE HAD.

BECAUSE WHEN
YOU'RE AS BIG AS I AM,

YOU JUST HAVE TO GIVE UP
ON MORE AND MORE OF YOUR LIFE.

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH I WEIGH AT THIS TIME,

BUT I'M THINKING AROUND 650.

SO I FEEL LIKE I DON'T GIVE HIM
THE FULL EXPERIENCE OF A WIFE,

OF A REGULAR, NORMAL WIFE

BECAUSE HE'S TOO BUSY
TAKING CARE OF ME.

AND I HATE BEING A BURDEN
TO ANYONE.

SO I TRY TO MAINTAIN
SOME INDEPENDENCE.

BUT BEING OVER 600 POUNDS,
I CAN'T DO VERY MUCH.

SO I HAD TO GET A JOB THAT
DOESN'T REQUIRE ME TO BE ACTIVE.

I DO CUSTOMER SUPPORT
ON THE PHONE ALL DAY

SO I DON'T HAVE TO GET UP.

THIS WORLD IS NOT MEANT
FOR PEOPLE MY SIZE.

I CAN BARELY FIT INTO MY CAR,

AND DANIEL DOESN'T HAVE
A LICENSE,

SO IT'S THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE ABLE TO GET AROUND.

DRIVING IS ONE OF THE ONLY
THINGS I CAN STILL DO ON MY OWN.

BUT I'M SCARED I WON'T BE ABLE
TO DO IT MUCH LONGER.

I'M AFRAID OF EVERYTHING
RIGHT NOW.

I'M AFRAID THAT --
IS THIS THE LAST TIME

I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO COME INTO WORK?

AND THE MORE STRESS I GET,

THE MORE I WANT TO EAT.

I WANT TO FEEL COMFORTED.

CAN I GET A LARGE WAFFLE-CONE
ICED CAPPUCCINO?

AND THE SAUSAGE AND CHEDDAR
BREAKFAST SANDWICH.

EVEN THOUGH
I'VE ALREADY HAD BREAKFAST,

I STOP AND GET SOMETHING.

-HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU.

I EAT SWEETS ABOUT FOUR
TO FIVE TIMES A DAY.

EATING CALMS ME.

IT MAKES EVERYTHING OKAY,

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S NOT.

AS I'M EATING, I FEEL NUMB,

AND IT'S BETTER
THAN FEELING STRESSED.

[ HORN HONKS ]

EVERY TIME I GET OUT OF THE CAR,

MY STOMACH IS SO LARGE
THAT IT PRESSES ON THE HORN.

I FEEL GUILTY
FOR DOING THIS TO MYSELF,

AND I'M ASHAMED
OF WHAT I'VE BECOME.

I'M BARELY EVEN MAKING IT
TO WORK AT THIS POINT.

AND I KNOW I'M NOT EVEN GOING
TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS SOON.

MY FAMILY DOESN'T JUST EAT.
WE FEAST.

NO, I'M GOOD.

Blanca: FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN
A COMFORT FOR ALL OF US.

I ALWAYS MAKE A TON OF FOOD
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY OF US,

AND THEN ASHLEY
ALWAYS WANTS SECONDS.

Ashley:
EATING JUST SOOTHES ME.

IT ALWAYS HAS.

AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M REALLY
STRESSED OUT AND I'M EMOTIONAL,

I JUST WANT TO EAT.

GOOD.

Lindsay: I NEVER TALK TO ASHLEY
ABOUT HER WEIGHT

BECAUSE IT'S
A SENSITIVE SUBJECT.

BUT I AM SAD FOR HER.

I FEEL LIKE ONE DAY,
ASHLEY WON'T WAKE UP,

AND I COULDN'T
EVEN SAY BYE TO HER.

Alexis: IT'S HARD TO WATCH
ASHLEY GAIN MORE WEIGHT.

IT'S NOT EVEN SO MUCH
ABOUT WHAT SHE'S EATING.

IT'S ABOUT
HOW MUCH SHE'S EATING.

IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT

THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE
AN OLDER SISTER NEXT YEAR.

I'M STARTING TO SEE
A LOT OF SADNESS,

A LOT OF PITY,

A LOT OF HELPLESSNESS
IN ALL OF THEIR EYES.

MY ENTIRE FAMILY
IS AFRAID OF ME DYING.

I FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE
I KNOW I'M HARMING MYSELF.

I'M CUTTING THE TIME
I GET TO SPEND WITH THEM SHORT.

I KNOW I'M TRADING A FUTURE WITH
THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE FOR FOOD.

THANK YOU, BABY.

Daniel: I DON'T THINK ASHLEY
REALIZES HOW MUCH SHE'S EATING.

I FEEL THAT SHE'S CLOSE
TO THE EDGE.

Alan:
FOOD IS KILLING MY DAUGHTER.

IT IS VERY PAINFUL
TO SEE MY DAUGHTER

GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY.

COME ON, BABE.
CAN YOU HELP ME?

Ashley:
I FEEL COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

I KNOW MY HUSBAND WORRIES
ABOUT ME CONSTANTLY.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME
THAT HE'S TAKEN CARE OF ME

THAT I CAN'T GIVE BACK.

I FEEL DISGUSTED BY MYSELF.

AND HOW COULD HE NOT
FEEL THAT FOR ME, TOO?

IT STRAINS MY MARRIAGE THAT
I CAN'T BE ROMANTIC WITH HIM,

THAT WE CAN'T EXPRESS OUR LOVE
THE WAY WE WANT TO.

BUT I JUST DON'T WANT HIM
TO SEE ME.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS IS THAT
HE IS GOING TO WAKE UP ONE DAY

AND BE LIKE, "I DON'T WANT
TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF HER
LIKE SHE'S A PATIENT."

GOOD NIGHT.

Daniel: WE HAD PLANS
ABOUT HAVING A FAMILY.

BUT IF MY WIFE
DOESN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT,

ALL THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS
ARE GONNA BE SHATTERED.

Ashley: I WORRY IF
I'M GONNA WAKE UP TOMORROW.

I FEEL LIKE MY BODY
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.

BUT IF I GIVE UP,

I'M NOT GONNA LIVE
TO GROW OLD WITH MY HUSBAND.

Ashley:
I THINK THAT'S IT.

I HOPE SO.

Ashley: I FINALLY DECIDED
TO MAKE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE,

AND I'M SCARED.

BUT I'M MORE SCARED OF
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DON'T GO.

MY HUSBAND AND MY SISTERS
AND MY DAD

ARE GOING TO BE STAYING BEHIND,

AND JUST ME AND MY MOM
ARE GONNA GO.

DANIEL HAS TO
STAY BEHIND AND WORK,

AND WE'VE NEVER BEEN APART
LIKE THIS.

SO THIS IS ALL SO HARD TO DO,

BUT I HAVE TO TRY.

JUST WORRYING
ABOUT THE TRIP, YOU KNOW?

-I KNOW.
-IT'S LONG.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ASHLEY
STAY IN A CAR

FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME
SINCE SHE WAS 16.

HER BACK MIGHT GIVE OUT.

HER LEGS ARE GONNA GET CRAMPS.

AND IT'S SCARY BECAUSE MY MOM
BY HERSELF, SHE CAN'T HELP HER.

Ashley:
IF I DON'T TAKE THIS RISK

TO SEE THE DOCTOR
SO THAT HE CAN HELP ME,

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
I HAVE LEFT.

NOTHING COMES EASY,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR HER.

Ashley:
I'VE LIVED LIKE THIS LONG ENOUGH

FOR ME TO BE TIRED
OF BEING LIKE THIS.

Alexis: I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
BECAUSE I KNOW

THIS IS THE LAST CHANCE
FOR MY SISTER.

Daniel:
I'M GONNA MISS HER A LOT,

AND I AM SCARED OF WHAT
THE DOCTOR'S GONNA TELL HER.

I HOPE THAT IT WILL BE

A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
FOR HER.

LOVE YOU.
[ SMOOCHES ]

IF I FEEL NERVOUS,
I WONDER HOW YOU FEEL.

MY STOMACH IS IN KNOTS.

Ashley:
THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS.

DIET AND EXERCISE ALONE

IS NOT GONNA HELP
THE SITUATION THAT I'M IN.

I NEED THE MEDICAL INTERVENTION.

I NEED TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

I'M WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES,

BUT IT'S AT LEAST
A THREE-DAY TRIP TO HOUSTON,

AND I'VE NEVER SPENT
THAT MUCH TIME IN THE CAR.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MY BODY'S
GONNA HANDLE IT.

-YOU'RE TIRED?
-YEAH.

YOU BARELY DID AN HOUR.

MY NECK'S GETTING STIFF.
MY BACK'S KIND OF ACHY.

I'M SORRY, MOM.

-YOU NEED ME TO HELP YOU?
-KIND OF STIFF.

YOU GOT IT?

BE CAREFUL.

Ashley:
I'M KIND OF EMBARRASSED.

I WANTED TO GET
A LOT FURTHER TONIGHT,

BUT MY BODY JUST WON'T LET ME.

I FEEL HEAVY AND TIRED.

AND MY BACK IS HURTING.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA
BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

AND I FEEL GUILTY THAT
MY MOM HAS TO DO EVERYTHING.

SHE ALWAYS DOES EVERYTHING.

SO, TOMORROW, I'LL DRIVE
THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS.

BUT JUST LET ME KNOW
IN CASE

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU
GETTING ANY CRAMPS OR ANYTHING.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS
ABOUT THIS TRIP.

WE BARELY STARTED,

AND I JUST DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.

OKAY, MIJA,
THE CAR'S PACKED UP.

LET'S GO. CAREFUL.

I'M GONNA SEE IF I'M ABLE TO SIT
IN THE BACK SO I CAN RELAX.

Ashley: OKAY.

OW.

I'M NERVOUS THAT I'M NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO DRIVE

AS LONG AS I THINK I CAN.

AND I REALLY WANT
TO HELP MY MOM DRIVE

BECAUSE I KNOW
IT'S A LONG, TEDIOUS ROAD.

I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DRIVE
TO NOT FEEL SO HELPLESS.

I'M AT A POINT WHERE
IF I GET ANY BIGGER,

I'M NOT GONNA BE FITTING
INTO THIS CAR.

SO I'M TRYING TO HOLD ONTO
THE VERY LAST LITTLE BIT

THAT I CAN OF INDEPENDENCE,

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO JUST HELP.

BECAUSE SOON I MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO DO EVEN THAT.

OW.

I GOT TO PULL OVER.
I'M GETTING A CRAMP.

MY LEG'S KILLING ME.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO DRIVE A LOT FURTHER,

BUT I STARTED GETTING A CRAMP,
SO I WASN'T GONNA RISK IT.

I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, MOM,
JUST TAKE OVER."

WHEN I SIT TOO MUCH,
I GET HORRIBLE CRAMPS.

THEY HURT SO BAD.

AND SOMETIMES MY LEGS
GO COMPLETELY NUMB.

AND I WAS JUST SCARED
I WOULD WRECK THE CAR.

Ashley:
THANK YOU FOR TAKING OVER.

YOU'RE WELCOME, MIJA.

MY FOOT WAS NOT --

IT WAS STARTING TO HURT,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO PUSH IT.

THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO
IS HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

I'M EMBARRASSED THAT I CAN'T
HELP MY MOM MORE ON THIS TRIP.

SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE ALL
I CAN REALLY DO ANYMORE IS EAT.

WE SHOULD STOP
AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

YEAH.

DO YOU WANT TO GO INSIDE?

THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE.

-YOU'RE NOT UP TO IT?
-NO.

NO, LET'S GO
BY THE TREE.

-THIS ONE?
-YEAH, THIS ONE.

THIS ONE'S YOURS.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE
TO SEE ME EAT.

WHEN I'M OUT IN PUBLIC,
I FEEL LIKE I'M AT A CIRCUS

AND I'M THE ONE BEHIND THE CAGE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M AN ANIMAL.

WE'VE GOT TO GO.

I CAN'T KEEP LIVING THIS LIFE.

I JUST WANT TO GET HELP.

Ashley:
WE'RE HERE, MOM.

MY STOMACH HURTS.
IT'S THE NERVES, MIJA.

I KNOW.

OH, MY GOD.

Ashley:
I'M SCARED TO SEE THE DOCTOR.

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

WHAT IF I'VE COME ALL THIS WAY

AND HE TELLS ME
THAT HE CAN'T HELP ME?

THERE REALLY IS NO PLAN "B."

EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON THIS.

MY ENTIRE LIFE IS AT STAKE.

Ashley: I'M SEEING DR. NOW
FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY.

I'M NERVOUS AND ANXIOUS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ON A SCALE
IN SUCH A LONG TIME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA
READ, AND I'M AFRAID OF IT.

Woman: 668.

THAT'S A REALLY,
REALLY HIGH NUMBER.

HOW IS IT THAT I'M STILL ALIVE
AT THIS POINT?

I'M TERRIFIED NOW
THAT I'M BEYOND HELP...

...THAT IF HE CAN'T HELP ME,
I'M GONNA DIE.

I KNEW IT WAS BAD, BUT I DIDN'T
KNOW IT WAS THAT BAD, ASHLEY.

AND NOW I AM CERTAIN
THAT IF YOU DON'T GET THE HELP,

I WON'T HAVE YOU LONG.

AND THAT SCARES ME.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO, MOM.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
YOU ARE ASHLEY, HUH?

-YES.
-ALL RIGHT.

AND TODAY
YOU WEIGH 668 POUNDS?

-YES.
-OKAY.

WHAT IS THE HIGHEST
WEIGHT YOU HAVE BEEN?

THIS HAS BEEN
MY HIGHEST WEIGHT.

SO WHAT SEEMS TO
BE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I'M USUALLY JUST
SNACKING ALL DAY LONG.

SO WHY ARE YOU
DOING THAT?

'CAUSE I'M HUNGRY.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T EAT
LIKE I DO.

BUT EVERYTHING I EAT -- I FEEL
SO GUILTY ABOUT EATING IT.

YOU KNOW,
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT

SUPPOSED TO BE EATING SWEETS
OR SUGARY THINGS,

BUT I CRAVE THEM.

AND AT THIS POINT,

I KNOW THAT I NEED
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO YOU ALREADY
FIGURED THE SOLUTION,

BUT YOU NEED TO
FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM.

THE SURGERY
IS GONNA ONLY AFFECT

HOW MUCH YOU'RE GONNA EAT
AT ONE TIME.

THE SURGERY WILL NOT AFFECT
YOUR FREQUENCY OF EATING,

WOULD NOT EFFECT THE TYPE
OF FOOD THAT YOU EAT.

AND UNLESS YOU HAVE
A HANDLE ON THAT,

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
IS NOT GONNA BE A GOOD OPTION.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY'S
SAYING THAT SHE HAS A PROBLEM,

BUT ALSO SHE'S ACTING LIKE

SURGERY IS GOING TO FIX
EVERYTHING.

THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW ME
THAT SHE CAN DO THIS

AND SHE'S WILLING TO WORK

AND NOT JUST TRUST
IN A MAGIC PILL.

YOU ARE AT HOME WITH HER?
OR WHO'S AT HOME WITH HER?

EVENING IS THE ONLY TIME
WE'RE TOGETHER.

AND SO WE HAVE DINNER
EVERY NIGHT.

SO YOU ALL EAT
THE SAME FOOD,

AND YOU ALL SORT OF
ENABLE EACH OTHER.

AND THAT MAY BE
VERY DIFFICULT

TO BREAK THAT DYNAMIC
IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE
PROACTIVE WITH YOURSELF

AND YOU NEED TO ADJUST
YOUR EATING HABITS

BECAUSE OTHERWISE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LAST TOO LONG.

SO, NOW YOU'RE 30.

WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN
WHEN YOU'RE 40?

I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA MAKE IT
TO 40 IF I CONTINUE THIS WAY.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY
CORRECT.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA
MAKE IT TO 40.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY KILLING
YOURSELF WITH THE FOOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS TO UNDERSTAND

THIS IS GOING TO BE
A LONG, HARD PROCESS.

SHE'S CLOSE TO 700 POUNDS,

AND THE HUMAN BODY

IS NOT DESIGNED
TO OPERATE AT THAT WEIGHT.

THERE'S NO WAY
THAT SHE WILL SURVIVE

A FEW MORE YEARS
UNLESS SHE STARTS TO CHANGE NOW

AND START TAKING DRASTIC ACTIONS
TO SAVE HERSELF.

YOU'RE 668 POUNDS.

YOU'RE NOT A CANDIDATE
FOR SURGERY,

BUT YOU HAVE POTENTIAL FOR IT
IF YOU SHOW ME

THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO TAKE
CONTROL OF YOUR SITUATION

AND TRY TO CHANGE.

AT THIS POINT,
YOUR PRIORITY

IS THAT YOU'RE GONNA STICK
TO A 1,200-CALORIE DIET.

YOU'RE GONNA AVOID
ALL THE HIGH-CALORIE

AND CARBS IN YOUR DIET.

AND YOU'RE GONNA START
MAKING A DIFFERENCE

IN YOUR EATING HABIT.

START INCREASING YOUR
ACTIVITY WITH WALKING.

AND I WOULD EXPECT
THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE

TO LOSE 50 POUNDS
IN ONE MONTH.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT?
NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

NICE MEETING YOU.

LET'S GO.

Ashley: I'M DISAPPOINTED,
BUT AT LEAST THERE'S HOPE.

I THINK THAT
I'VE CONDITIONED MYSELF

TO ALWAYS EXPECT THE WORST
OF EVERY SITUATION.

SO FOR HIM TO AT LEAST
GIVE ME THE HOPE THAT,

"HEY, I CAN HELP YOU,

AND WE CAN TOGETHER
GO TO THE NEXT STEP,"

THAT'S REALLY NICE TO HEAR.

AND EVEN THOUGH I'M KIND OF SAD

THAT I WASN'T A CANDIDATE
AT THIS TIME,

I KNOW THAT I'M GONNA
TRY REALLY, REALLY HARD.

THIS IS A DO-OR-DIE SITUATION

WHERE I DO IT
OR IF I DON'T, I DIE.

-YOU READY TO GO?
-YEAH, LET'S GO.

Ashley: I'VE BEEN HOME
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

WORKING HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK, YOU GUYS.

OKAY.

I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO WALK EVERY DAY,

AND EACH TIME I'M ABLE TO GO
A LITTLE BIT FARTHER.

MY SISTERS HAVE BEEN HELPING ME

BECAUSE THEY REALLY WANT ME
TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND GET SURGERY.

-YOU GOOD?
-YEAH.

I'M SCARE OF DISAPPOINTING THEM,

BUT I'M TRYING TO STAY FOCUSED

ON WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR MYSELF.

ONE STEP AT A TIME.
IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SMALL.

I'M IN THIS MIND-SET NOW

THAT I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING
I POSSIBLY CAN

TO GET TO MY GOAL.

DON'T LET IT GO.

I KNOW.
I GOT IT. I GOT IT.

10.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
IN MY POWER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

BEING MORE ACTIVE,
I KNOW I CAN DO LONG-TERM.

I CAME TO HELP.

CHANGING THE FOOD I EAT
IS REALLY THE TOUGHER THING.

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY

IS WILLING TO MAKE
THIS CHANGE WITH ME.

BUT I KNOW
A LOT OF IT'S ON ME, TOO.

-THANK YOU.
-YEAH.

SO SHE WON'T FEEL LEFT OUT.

NO MORE SODA.
NO MORE, YOU KNOW, SWEET STUFF.

I'M GONNA START
PLATING MINE, BABE.

Ashley: STICKING TO
1,200 CALORIES A DAY

IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD.

BUT I MEASURE OUT
EVERYTHING I EAT.

5.25.

I'M GOING TO EAT WHAT
I'M SUPPOSED TO -- NO CARBS.

IF I WORK THIS HARD,

AM I REALLY GONNA THROW
EVERYTHING AWAY FOR A COOKIE?

I TAKE A LOOK BACK
TO WHAT I WAS EATING BEFORE

AND TO WHAT I EAT NOW,

HOW I'M NOT SNACKING IN BETWEEN,

HOW I'M NOT EATING ANY JUNK,

AND I'M PROUD OF THE FACT

THAT I HAVEN'T CHEATED
AND I HAVEN'T GIVEN UP,

NO MATTER HOW HARD IT'S BEEN,
AND IT'S BEEN HARD.

Blanca:
I'M REALLY PROUD OF YOU.

YOU'VE DONE VERY WELL.

Blanca:
IT'S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE --

NOT JUST FOR HER,
IT'S FOR EVERYBODY.

BECAUSE WE CAN'T SUPPORT HER

IF WE'RE NOT GONNA
CHANGE OURSELVES, EITHER.

WE WILL TRY TO DO OUR BEST
AS A FAMILY TO BE THERE FOR HER.

HERE YOU GO, BUBBA.

-IT'S PROTEIN.
-IT'S PROTEIN.

EVEN THE CAT'S ON A DIET.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THAT'S ONE. THAT'S DONE.

TODAY, WE ARE PACKING UP
TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.

DANIEL AND I DECIDED
WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS CHANGE

IF I'M GOING TO BE
FULLY COMMITTED.

SO WE'RE GONNA LIVE IN HOUSTON
FOR A WHILE

TO BE CLOSE TO THE DOCTOR.

THIS STUFF HERE
IS GOOD TO GO.

-ALL OF THIS?
-YEAH.

YEAH.

I'M SAD
'CAUSE I HAVEN'T LEFT YET

AND I'M ALREADY
MISSING MY FAMILY.

IN THE LONG RUN,
I KNOW THIS IS THE BEST THING

THAT COULD HAPPEN FOR ME,

BUT RIGHT NOW

I HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY
AND I'M SCARED.

AND I'M STRESSED OUT,

AND I'M JUST REALLY SAD
TO LEAVE.

MY DAD'S GOING TO DRIVE US DOWN,

BUT THEN HE HAS TO GO BACK
AND LEAVE DANIEL AND ME ALONE.

MY MOM AND MY SISTERS

HAVE BEEN THE ONES
WHO MOSTLY TAKE CARE OF ME.

NOW IT'S GOING TO FALL
ON DANIEL.

YEAH, YOU CAN TAKE THAT.

THERE ARE SOME THING
I HAVE NOT WANTED HIM TO DO.

IF I HAVE TO LET DANIEL
HELP ME TAKE A SHOWER,

I'M WORRIED THAT IT'S GONNA HAVE

A NEGATIVE EFFECT
ON OUR MARRIAGE.

I'M CHANGING EVERYTHING I KNOW.

THIS COULD BE GOODBYE
FOR A WHILE.

Blanca: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT SHE'LL BE ON HER OWN,

BUT I HONESTLY DO THINK
IT'S HER LAST CHANCE.

AND I REALLY HOPE
THAT SHE SUCCEEDS.

Alexis: IT'S JUST HARD
TO HAVE TO LET HER GO.

BUT IF I HAVE TO LOSE HER
TEMPORARILY

FOR HER, YOU KNOW,
TO MOVE TO TEXAS,

THAT'S BETTER THAN
PERMANENTLY LOSING HER.

[ SOBBING ]

Lindsay:
ME AND ASHLEY ARE VERY CLOSE,

AND SHE DEPENDS ON OUR FAMILY
SO MUCH

FOR HER TO EVEN
GET AROUND THE DAY.

SO IT'S SCARY
BECAUSE IT'S SO FAR AWAY.

IT FEELS LIKE MY HEART
IS BEING RIPPED IN TWO

AND I'M LEAVING
HALF OF IT BEHIND.

AND NOT THAT DANIEL
DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL WHOLE,

BUT IT'S DIFFERENT.

I'M LEAVING
EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW.

AND WHAT IF I FAIL?

WHAT IF I AM NOT STRONG ENOUGH
TO DO THIS?

Ashley: WHEN YOU WORK HARD
TO ACHIEVE SOMETHING,

YOU MAY NOT REALIZE

WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE GOAL
WAS REALLY JUST THE FIRST STEP.

FOR THE SECOND TIME
IN ABOUT A MONTH,

I'VE MADE THE TRIP
BACK TO HOUSTON.

MY DAD TOOK TIME OFF WORK
TO HELP US DRIVE,

SINCE I CAN'T DO THE WHOLE DRIVE
ON MY OWN

AND DANIEL DOESN'T HAVE
A LICENSE.

-RIGHT HERE?
-RIGHT HERE.

I THINK THAT THIS ROAD TRIP TOOK
A TOLL ON MY BODY, ON MY MIND.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME
TO GET TO HOUSTON

TO BE CLOSER TO THE DOCTOR.

BUT WE LEFT EVERYTHING.

WE LEFT OUR FAMILY.
WE LEFT OUR FRIENDS.

DANIEL AND I ARE TAKING
A BIG GAMBLE,

AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW

IF DR. NOW IS GONNA
APPROVE ME FOR SURGERY.

AND I HOPE THIS PAYS OFF.

THERE'S SO MANY UNKNOWNS AHEAD.

AND PART OF ME IS WORRIED
I'VE MADE A BIG MISTAKE.

IT WORRIES ME THAT ASHLEY
IS REALLY STRESSED OUT.

WHEN SHE'S REALLY STRESSED OUT,
THAT'S WHEN SHE EATS.

UM, YOU GUYS CAN EAT.
I'M NOT HUNGRY.

DAD, REALLY,
I'M NOT HUNGRY.

Ashley:
I AM COMPLETELY DRAINED.

I AM EMOTIONALLY SPENT.

I AM PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED.

AND ALL I WANT IS FOOD,
BUT I CAN'T MESS THIS UP.

MY OLD EATING HABITS
WERE TO EAT WHATEVER I WANTED

WHEN I WAS STRESSED
TO COMFORT MYSELF

AND MAKE IT BETTER.

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK

INTO THE HABIT
OF STRESSING OUT AND THEN EATING

BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE IT GOT ME.

WHAT A DAY TODAY.

TOMORROW,
MY FATHER FLIES BACK HOME,

AND DANIEL AND I WILL BE ALONE.

AND THEN WE GO SEE THE DOCTOR

TO FIND OUT IF I'M APPROVED
FOR SURGERY.

-WE CAN GO.
-OKAY.

-ALL RIGHT?
-YEAH.

NOW THAT HE'S HELPED US MOVE
AND GET SETTLED IN,

MY DAD'S FLYING BACK HOME TODAY.

Alan: JUST THINK...

DANIEL'S GONNA BE HERE
ALL THE TIME WITH YOU, YOU KNOW?

-YEAH.
-YOU CAN CALL US ANY TIME.

YEAH, I KNOW.

LIVING IN HOUSTON
IS GONNA BE OKAY,

BUT I THINK
THAT AT THE BEGINNING,

SHE'S GONNA MISS HER FAMILY.

IT'S GONNA TAKE TIME
FOR HER TO ADJUST.

-WANT ME TO DRIVE?
-YEAH.

CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE
LEAVING TODAY, DAD.

Alan: ASHLEY -- THIS IS THE
FIRST TIME SHE'S AWAY FROM HOME,

AWAY FROM US, FROM THE FAMILY,
FROM EVERYTHING.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S
MOST TOUGH FOR HER,

TO LET GO OF US.

-HAVE A SAFE FLIGHT.
-ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

TAKE CARE, ALL RIGHT?

Ashley: I MISS THEM.

I MISS HOME.

I AM SO FAR AWAY FROM MY
COMFORT ZONE AT THIS POINT.

BUT MY DAD SAID, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S CERTAIN SACRIFICES

THAT YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER
TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GET.

AND YOU JUST GOT TO BE STRONG.

TODAY, WE ARE ON OUR WAY
TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN

TO CHECK ON MY PROGRESS
AND THEN TO SEE

IF I'M GOING TO BE A CANDIDATE
FOR SURGERY OR NOT.

I KNOW THAT
I'VE BEEN DOING WELL,

AND I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN HARD.

AND I'M NERVOUS TO SEE
WHAT THE SCALE SAYS NOW.

I NEED THE SURGERY SO BAD.

THIS IS THE NEXT STEP
IN THIS JOURNEY,

AND HE HOLDS THE KEY TO THAT.

THANKS, BABY.

Woman: ASHLEY REYES?

Ashley: THE DOCTOR TOLD ME

I NEEDED TO LOSE 50 POUNDS
TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.

SO EVERYTHING DEPENDS
ON THIS WEIGH-IN.

Woman: 614.

AT LEAST
I MET THE 50 POUNDS

THAT THE DOCTOR
WANTED ME TO LOSE.

BUT I'M NERVOUS
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

I WONDER
WHAT HE'S GONNA SAY.

YEAH, BUT IS IT GOOD ENOUGH?
THAT'S THE QUESTION.

-HELLO.
-HI.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-GOOD.

-SO YOU LOST 54 POUNDS.
-YES.

SO HOW IS YOUR
EATING HABIT NOW?

I MEASURE EVERYTHING.
I WEIGH EVERYTHING IN OUNCES,

MAKE SURE THE PORTIONS
ARE UNDER CONTROL.

I ADD MORE PROTEIN,
AND NOW I DON'T SNACK AT ALL.

OKAY, SUPER.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY'S DONE WELL THIS MONTH.

LOSING 54 POUNDS
HAS DEMONSTRATED

THAT SHE'S ABLE TO CONTROL
HER EATING HABIT.

SHE'S SHOWN ME THAT SHE'S
WILLING TO WORK HARD FOR THIS

AND NOT JUST TRUSTING
IN THE MAGIC PILL.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD,
AND YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT.

SO I'M GONNA APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Ashley: OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU FIGURED OUT HOW TO DEAL
WITH THE PROBLEM.

NOW THE SURGERY
WILL HELP YOU EVEN MORE.

I'M GOING TO SCHEDULE
YOUR OPERATION FOR NEXT MONTH.

UNTIL THEN,
STICK WITH THE DIET

SO YOU CAN LOSE
EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T,
WE WON'T BE ABLE

TO MOVE FORWARD
WITH YOUR SURGERY.

SO KEEP AT IT.
GOOD JOB.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
THIS IS ENCOURAGING.

IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE

THAT SHE WILL BE
COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL,

BUT HER HEAD SEEMS TO BE
IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

SHE'S SHOWN ME THAT SHE'S READY
FOR THE NEXT STEP.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR.
-ALL RIGHT.

FEELING GOOD?

YEAH.

Ashley: TO GET A YES FROM
THE DOCTOR MEANS EVERYTHING.

IT MEANS THAT ALL MY EFFORT --

THE MOVE, LEAVING MY FAMILY,

LEAVING EVERYTHING THAT
I KNOW BACK IN CALIFORNIA --

IT'S WORTH IT.

I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL MY FAMILY
THAT I'M APPROVED.

I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
THAT I DIDN'T WAVER

AND I DIDN'T LET MYSELF DOWN

BY GOING BACK
TO MY OLD EATING HABITS

WHEN THINGS GOT REALLY STRESSFUL
OR REALLY BAD.

I FINALLY GET TO SEE THE LIGHT
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

**

I'M EXCITED 'CAUSE MY FAMILY
IS ARRIVING IN HOUSTON TODAY.

IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS
SINCE I'VE SEEN MY FAMILY.

I'M THANKFUL
I HAVE DANIEL HERE WITH ME.

BUT I REALLY NEED THE SUPPORT

OF MY WHOLE FAMILY
GOING INTO SURGERY.

I'M JUST REALLY SCARED.

-HI!
-ASHLEY!

ASH! WE MISSED YOU.

DANIEL!
WHAT'S UP, DANIEL?

YOU CAN SIT, MIJA.

I'M TIRED OF SITTING DOWN,
THOUGH. ALL THE WAY HERE.

DUDE, YOUR FACE
LOOKS SMALLER!

-THANKS.
-SHE LOOKS SO GOOD.

I HAVEN'T NOTICED
A DIFFERENCE YET.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR
THE LITTLE MINOR THINGS.

SO, HOW LONG ARE YOU
GOING TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL?

-DID HE TELL YOU?
-HE SAID ABOUT 3 TO 4 DAYS.

AND THERE'S NO MORE TESTS
THAT YOU NEED TO RUN OR ANYTHING
LIKE THAT? OR THAT'S IT?

NO, HE DID RUN A BUNCH
OF TESTS ALREADY.

-OH, YEAH?
-YEAH.

-AND THEY CAME OUT GOOD?
-YEAH, THEY CAME OUT GOOD.

-YOU KNOW, UM...
-HOW'S THE BLOOD WORK?

I'VE BEEN STRESSING OUT
A LITTLE BIT,

SO MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT UP.

Blanca: I DON'T WANT ASHLEY
TO SEE ME WORRIED ABOUT HER,

BUT I'M SCARED FOR HER.

I'M SCARED FOR THE FACT
THAT IT'S NOT A LITTLE SURGERY.

IT'S A MAJOR SURGERY.

BUT I JUST KEEP THINKING
IT'S FOR HER OWN GOOD.

I'M HAPPY,

AFTER ALL THIS TIME,
AFTER ALL THE SACRIFICES.

BUT IT'S SCARY,
AND I'M VERY NERVOUS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE CLOSING THE BOOK

ON THIS PART OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE NEW
SET OF OPPORTUNITIES

THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE
BEFORE.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS
ALL WORTH IT.

NOW WE'RE GETTING
THE CHANCE

AND ASHLEY'S GETTING THE CHANCE
TO SEE A FUTURE FOR HERSELF.

THAT'S WHAT I KEEP
TELLING MYSELF.

Ashley:
I'M SO GLAD MY FAMILY'S HERE

BECAUSE I'M REALLY SCARED
ABOUT TOMORROW.

AND I'M JUST NOT SURE
IF I CAN DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

TODAY I AM FINALLY GETTING

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
AFTER SO LONG.

I'M SCARED,
BUT IT FEELS GOOD TO KNOW

MY FAMILY WILL BE THERE
WHEN I WAKE UP.

I THINK I'M MORE NERVOUS
THAN YOU.

SEE YOU IN A BIT.
LOVE YOU!

Ashley:
I AM REALLY NERVOUS.

IF THERE WAS ANOTHER WAY,
I WOULD'VE DONE THAT,

BUT THERE'S NO OTHER CHOICE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO TRY

TO DO A GASTRIC BYPASS PROCEDURE
ON ASHLEY.

BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT

HOW MUCH OF HER WEIGHT
IS AROUND HER STOMACH.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT

TO MANIPULATE THE INSTRUMENT.

BUT ONCE I AM ABLE
TO SEE INTO HER ABDOMEN,

WE'LL SEE IF WE HAVE ROOM
TO DO A GASTRIC BYPASS

OR IF WE NEED TO DO
ANOTHER PROCEDURE.

GASTRIC BYPASS IS
THE MOST EFFECTIVE TYPE

OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND IT'S A PROCEDURE
THAT NOT ONLY REDUCES

THE SIZE OF
THE PATIENT'S STOMACH,

BUT BYPASS
SOME OF THE INTESTINES

SO THEY WILL ABSORB
FEWER CALORIES.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR HER
TO OPEN HER EYES AND BE OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW
I WOULD LIVE WITHOUT HER.

AND IT'S VERY SCARY TO THINK
THAT THERE COULD BE

A POSSIBILITY
THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE DON'T HAVE
ROOM IN THE ABDOMEN,

SO WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO DO A SLEEVE.

A GASTRIC SLEEVE
IS AN OPERATION --

WE REMOVE THE MAJORITY
OF THE STOMACH,

LEAVING IN 20% TO 30%
OF ORIGINAL STOMACH.

THE BENEFIT AFTER
GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

IS THAT THEY CAN EAT
ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT

AND THEY GET FULL REAL QUICK,

WHICH WILL HELP THEM
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

SHE HAS A VERY BIG STOMACH.

SO WE ARE REDUCING IT
A GREAT DEAL.

ALL RIGHT. ROOM LIGHT ON.

ASHLEY'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

MAKING HER STOMACH THIS SMALL

WILL CAUSE HER TO EAT MUCH LESS.

HOWEVER,
IF SHE PUSH HERSELF TO OVEREAT,

SHE CAN STRETCH
HER STOMACH BACK OUT

AND ESSENTIALLY UNDO
THIS SURGERY.

Woman: TIME TO WAKE UP.
SURGERY'S ALL FINISHED.

THE SURGERY IS
A VERY EFFECTIVE TOOL.

BUT FOR HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL
LONG-TERM,

SHE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE
THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT SHE USES FOOD TO AVOID
ARE ADDRESSED.

BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SHOULD BE ABLE

TO LOSE 20 TO 30 POUNDS
A MONTH ONCE SHE RECOVERS.

Blanca: I FEEL A SENSE OF RELIEF
THAT ASHLEY'S ALIVE,

THAT SHE CAME OUT GOOD
AFTER THE SURGERY, YOU KNOW?

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
I'M STILL NOT AT EASE.

I'M HOPING THAT SHE'LL BE FINE.

[ ASHLEY GROANING ]

-WANT ME TO LIFT YOU UP?
-PLEASE.

Blanca: BREATHE.

Ashley: YOU TRY TO PREPARE
YOURSELF FOR THE PAIN

'CAUSE YOU KNOW
THERE'S GOING TO BE PAIN.

BUT NOT UNTIL YOU'RE THERE
DO YOU ACTUALLY REALIZE

HOW MUCH PAIN
IT WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BE.

I'M SORRY, ASHLEY.
I CAN'T STAY.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

YOU KNOW WE CAN'T STAY ANY
LONGER 'CAUSE WE HAVE TO DRIVE.

IT'S A REALLY,
REALLY FAR DRIVE.

DON'T DO THAT. I CAN'T.
I CAN'T GO LIKE THIS.

IT'S JUST SO MUCH HARDER THAN
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING
TO DO THIS WITHOUT THEM.

Ashley: TRYING TO AVOID THE PAIN
AND HURT IN OUR PAST

CAN CONSUME US SO COMPLETELY,

IT STARTS KILLING OFF
THE FUTURE.

Ashley:
LET'S GO FOR A WALK.

AND THAT WAY, I CAN STRETCH
MYSELF OUT A LITTLE BIT.

ONE, TWO...

PULL.

THAT'S MY GIRL.

IT'S MY FOURTH DAY IN RECOVERY,
AND I'M STILL REALLY SORE.

IT'S BEEN HARD
TRYING TO WALK AGAIN.

BUT YOU GOT TO WALK
THROUGH THE PAIN.

I FEEL LIKE
MY STOMACH'S COMPRESSED,

AND WHEN I STAND UP,
IT SLOWLY RELEASES.

THAT'S GOOD.

IT'S JUST I GUESS BABY STEPS
AT THIS POINT.

I WISH I HAD
MY ENTIRE FAMILY HERE,

BUT I HAVE DANIEL NEXT TO ME.

WATER BREAK.

I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD
DO THIS WITHOUT HIM.

LET ME GET SOME...

HE LOVES ME SO MUCH.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.

[ GROANS ]

I WISH I COULD GUZZLE
MY WATER, BUT I CAN'T.

Daniel: ASHLEY NEEDS SOME HELP
BASICALLY ON EVERYTHING NOW,

BECAUSE I GOT TO
PREPARE HER FOOD,

MAKE SURE SHE DRINKS HER LIQUIDS
THAT SHE NEEDS TO BE DRINKING.

OH, IT'S BEEF.

Ashley: RIGHT NOW
I'M NOT CRAVING ANYTHING,

I DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE.

IT'S AN ODD SENSATION

'CAUSE I EAT 'CAUSE I HAVE TO
BUT NOT 'CAUSE I WANT TO.

I NEVER FELT THIS WAY BEFORE
IN MY LIFE.

I'M DONE WITH BROTH.

Daniel: I'M GONNA BE IN CHARGE
OF ASHLEY'S RECOVERY AT HOME,

AND I'M WORRIED
THAT WHEN SHE GETS HOME

SHE'S GONNA BE IN PAIN.

NOBODY WANTS TO SEE
A LOVED ONE IN PAIN.

Ashley: I'VE BEEN HOME FROM
THE HOSPITAL ALMOST A MONTH,

AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO
GET BETTER A LOT SOONER.

BUT THE PAIN
REALLY TOOK ITS TOLL.

AND I FELT REALLY SICK AND WEAK,

AND I'M SCARED
SOMETHING'S WRONG.

OKAY.

I'LL SEE IF I CAN HAVE
A FEW BITES OF THAT.

RIGHT NOW I'M STILL
ON A LIQUID DIET,

SO I'M MOSTLY JUST EATING SOUPS.

I KNOW DANIEL FEELS GUILTY
EATING SOLID FOOD OR NORMAL FOOD

THAT WE USED TO EAT TOGETHER.

BUT IT'S OKAY. I'M NOT HUNGRY.

Daniel: I'M REALLY PROUD OF
ASHLEY 'CAUSE IT'S BEEN HARD,

BUT I SEE A LOT OF DETERMINATION
IN ASHLEY

THAT SHE WANTS TO DO
THE BEST SHE CAN

AND THAT SHE WILL...
AS FAST AS SHE CAN,

BUT I STILL WORRY ABOUT HER.

-THAT IT?
-THAT'S IT, BABY.

I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO FINISH THAT, BUT THANK YOU.

Ashley:
I DON'T KNOW IF MAYBE THE FOOD

THAT I'M EATING RIGHT NOW,
I'M NOT ENJOYING IT

BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME THING
OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

UM, NO.
I JUST FEEL REALLY FULL.

[ GROANS ]

I'M JUST NOT FEELING
THE ENERGY TO DO ANYTHING.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE, I WANTED
TO GO OUTSIDE AND WALK,

I WANTED TO FEEL THE SUNSHINE,
AND I WANTED TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

NOW IT'S LIKE I WANT TO WALK,
THE WANT IS THERE,

BUT THE ABILITY TO DO SO
IS HARD.

OKAY.

NOW IT'S LIKE EVEN IF I WANT TO,
IS MY BODY ABLE TO HANDLE IT?

I THINK I'M LOSING WEIGHT,
BUT I'M STILL REALLY WORRIED

THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
FROM SURGERY.

I WANT MY LIFE
JUST TO BE BACK TO NORMAL --

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER "NORMAL" IS
NOW THAT THE SURGERY IS HERE.

I'M JUST READY
TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN.

I'M LIGHTHEADED.

[ BREATHES DEEPLY ]

-HELLO.
-HEY, DOCTOR.

-HOW ARE YOU DOING?
-I'M, LIKE, QUEASY.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN
HAVING NAUSEA.

AND HAVE YOU
ACTUALLY VOMITED?

YEAH, I VOMITED TODAY,
BUT IT'S JUST FOAM.

IT'S NOT FOOD
OR ANYTHING.

OKAY.
YOU HAVEN'T EATEN ANYTHING?

NO.

OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN
AND DO AN ENDOSCOPY ON YOU,

LOOK INSIDE THE STOMACH,
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH YOUR STOMACH.

-PLEASE.
-OKAY.

-THANK YOU, DOCTOR.
-ALL RIGHT.

I'M REALLY WORRIED RIGHT NOW.

MY WORST FEAR IS THAT
THE DOCTOR'S GOING TO TELL ME

THAT I NEED FURTHER SURGERY.

I REALLY DON'T WANT
SURGERY AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN PAIN.

I NEVER IMAGINED MY RECOVERY
WOULD HEAD ME DOWN THIS PATH.

BY NOW I THOUGHT I'D BE BETTER,
IN MY NORMAL ROUTINE.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH ME?

AND IT SCARES ME
'CAUSE IT COULD BE ANYTHING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY HAS BEEN
FEELING WEAK AND NAUSEATED.

THIS MAY BE ROUTINE DISCOMFORT
FOR ASHLEY AFTER SURGERY.

BUT SHE'S CONCERNED ENOUGH
TO COME INTO THE HOSPITAL.

WE NEED TO TAKE ANY LONG-TERM
DISCOMFORT SERIOUSLY

TO MAKE SURE THERE IS
NO LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE

THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD
AND DO ENDOSCOPY.

ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
COMPLICATIONS

OF GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY

IS THE STOMACH LEAKING
AT THE STAPLE LINE.

THIS CAN LEAD
TO THE INFLAMMATION
OF THE ABDOMINAL WALL

AND SEPSIS
AND POTENTIALLY DEATH.

WE HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S
GOING ON WITH ASHLEY RIGHT NOW.

HER LIFE COULD BE ON THE LINE.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS BEEN WITH SOME NAUSEA

AND NOT BEEN ABLE
TO KEEP FLUID DOWN,

SO WE'RE DOING AN ENDOSCOPY

TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON
INSIDE OF HER STOMACH.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE
HER STOMACH IS INTACT

AND THERE IS NO LEAKAGE
AT THE STAPLE LINE

THAT COULD POTENTIALLY DEVELOP
INTO A FATAL CONDITION.

CAN YOU LEVEL THE TABLE?

COME ON THIS SIDE.
LIGHT UP HERE. LIGHT UP HERE.

OKAY, NOW HOLD.

PULL IT BACK.
PULL IT BACK ONE SECOND.

OKAY, NOW YOU HOLD THIS.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOOD.

OKAY. WE'RE OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

Man: ASHLEY, OPEN YOUR EYES.
THERE YOU GO.

OKAY.
BREATHING TUBE'S COMING OUT.

WE'RE ALL DONE.
EVERYONE WENT WELL.

IT ALL LOOKED GOOD, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: IT'S GOOD
THAT WE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE

THERE'S NOTHING
PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH ASHLEY.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING
IS SHE'S DEVELOPING

PSYCHOSOMATIC SYMPTOMS,

WHICH MEANS HER FEAR IS MAKING
HER PHYSICALLY SICK RIGHT NOW.

HER DISCOMFORT IS EMOTIONAL.

SO FOR NOW
I'M GOING TO SEND HER HOME

TO KEEP WORKING ON HER DIET

AND TRANSITIONING TO SOLID FOOD.

BUT I THINK THAT SHE'S GOING TO
NEED TO START THERAPY SOON

AND START TO
DEAL WITH HER EMOTIONS.

Ashley: I WAS REALLY SURPRISED
WHEN THE DOCTOR

DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG
WITH MY STOMACH.

HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO START
DEALING WITH MY EMOTIONS.

I'M GETTING BACK
TO EATING SOLID FOODS.

LET'S GO. COME ON.

I HAD PICTURED RECOVERY
A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY

THAN IT ACTUALLY
HAS BEEN.

HI.

ENH. I JUST DIDN'T WANT
TO BE IN MY ROOM ANYMORE.

I CAN KEEP FOOD DOWN NOW,

BUT EVERYTHING
MAKES ME NAUSEOUS.

THE NAUSEA COMES IN WAVES,

AND IT DOESN'T REALLY ANNOUNCE
WHEN IT'S COMING.

IT JUST COMES.

OOH. I'M QUEASY.

I KNOW THAT THE FOOD THAT
I'M PUTTING INTO MY BODY

IS FOR ENERGY.

IT'S FOR NUTRIENTS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT --
IT'S GONNA HELP ME RECOVER.

BUT I JUST DON'T ENJOY
EATING ANYMORE.

[ GROANS ]

I FEEL LIKE I CAN
NO LONGER PROCESS THE WORLD.

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF.

FOOD WAS A COMFORT AND A JOY.

AND IT'S NOT THAT ANYMORE.

AND I'VE GOT NOWHERE TO GO
WITH MY EMOTIONS.

AND I JUST FEEL LOST RIGHT NOW.

Woman: ASHLEY REYES?

Ashley: TODAY I'M GETTING
A CHECKUP FROM DR. NOW.

AND I HAVE BEEN
TRYING REALLY HARD,

BUT I HAVEN'T HAD THE ENERGY
TO EXERCISE MUCH.

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW MUCH PROGRESS I'M MAKING.

SO I DON'T REALLY WANT
TO CHECK MY WEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

Woman: 531.

ENH.

THANK YOU.

I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH THAT.

I KNOW AT THIS POINT

I SHOULD BE AVERAGING
ABOUT 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT MAKING
THE PROGRESS I SHOULD.

-HELLO.
-HI, DOCTOR.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
-DOING OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO TODAY
YOU ARE DOWN TO 531, HUH?

YOUR WEIGHT LOSS
SHOULD BE

APPROXIMATELY
ABOUT 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

AND OVER
THE LAST TWO MONTHS,

YOU ONLY LOST
15 POUNDS PER MONTH.

SO HOW IS YOUR LEVEL
OF ACTIVITY?

HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO?

I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED
WITH MY OWN ACTIVITY LEVEL

JUST BECAUSE BEFORE THE SURGERY
WHEN YOU HAD ME ON THE DIET

AND EXERCISE,
I WAS DOING SO MUCH MORE.

AND NOW I'M THINKING
I'VE LOST WEIGHT.

I SHOULD HAVE THE ENERGY
AND THE ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND.

BUT I'VE JUST FELT SO TIRED.

EVERY DAY,
EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO,

YOU NEED TO GET UP
AND WALK.

OKAY.

EXERCISE IS CRITICAL
TO YOUR CONTINUED WEIGHT LOSS.

YOU HAVE TO
PUSH YOURSELF, OKAY?

YOU'RE LOSING WEIGHT
ONLY BECAUSE THE SURGERY

IS LIMITING THE AMOUNT
OF CALORIES YOU CAN TAKE IN.

A YEAR DOWN THE ROAD, IF YOU
DON'T CHANGE THIS BEHAVIOR,

YOU WILL START GOING
BACK TOWARD 600 POUNDS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY HAS DONE VERY WELL,

BUT HER WEIGHT LOSS HAS SLOWED

BECAUSE SHE'S HAVING TO DEAL
WITH THE CORE ISSUES

OF HER EMOTIONS.

IT IS NOT UNTIL
A COPING MECHANISM IS REMOVED

AND THAT LOSS IS FELT

BEFORE PATIENT IS READY
TO START ADDRESSING THAT.

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SEE A
THERAPIST TO GET BACK ON TRACK.

OKAY.

GO AHEAD AND INCREASE
YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

AND IF YOU HAVE
ANY PROBLEMS, CALL US.

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

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

-OKAY. NICE TO SEE YOU.
-THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

THANK YOU.
SEE YOU THEN.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ASHLEY'S AT A TURNING POINT.

FOR THIS TO BE
A LONG-TERM SUCCESS,

SHE HAS TO WORK REALLY HARD

ON BOTH THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
ASPECT OF THIS PROCESS.

IF SHE DOESN'T,

THE SURGERY MIGHT NOT
BE SUCCESSFUL FOR ASHLEY.

Ashley: I FEEL LIKE
I LET DR. NOW DOWN.

I KNOW I NEEDED
TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

AND I KNOW THE DOCTOR'S RIGHT

WHEN HE TELLS ME
TO PUSH MYSELF MORE.

IT'S HARD,
BUT WHAT I REALLY DON'T WANT

TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH
RIGHT NOW ARE MY EMOTIONS.

AND THAT SCARES ME.

BUT I'M WILLING TO TRY IF THAT'S
WHAT I HAVE TO DO RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. HERE'S YOUR SWEATER.
YOU READY?

YEAH.

Ashley: I'M TRYING TO PUSH
MYSELF TO BE MORE ACTIVE

LIKE DR. NOW WANTED.

I'M GOING ON WALKS EVERY DAY,
EVEN WHEN IT'S RAINING.

I'M HOPING,
BY DOING MORE EXERCISE,

I CAN MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED

BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY WANT
TO GO TO A THERAPIST.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK
ABOUT ANYTHING

THAT STRESSES ME OUT RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE THAT MAKES ME WANT
TO RUN TO FOOD.

AND I'M TRYING TO AVOID THAT.

OH, MY GOD!

SOMEONE DECIDED
TO STEAL MY TIRES.

[ BLEEP ]

ALL FOUR OF THEM.

WE'RE BY OURSELVES,
AND WE HAVE ONE CAR.

AND I HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THAT NOW,

ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S THE LAST THING
WE NEED, DANIEL. [BLEEP]

OTHER THAN THE SURGERY,

NOTHING HAS GONE RIGHT
SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON.

I THROW UP
ALMOST EVERYTHING I EAT,

AND NOW WE DON'T EVEN FEEL SAFE
IN OUR OWN HOME.

ALL RIGHT.
I CAN'T. I CAN'T EVEN.

I'M GETTING STRESSED IN ALMOST
EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.

NO, I'M NOT OKAY.

OKAY.
I GOT TO SIT DOWN.

I CANNOT DO THIS.

I HAVE ENOUGH STRESS
GOING ON AS IT IS.

MAYBE I'M NOT MEANT
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

**

Ashley:
I'M IN A VERY DARK PLACE.

AND I KNOW MY WEIGHT LOSS
IS SLOWING.

THANK YOU.

SO I'M GOING TO SEE
A THERAPIST TODAY.

I'M HOPING THAT
HE'S ABLE TO GUIDE ME

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AS FAR AS FINDING WAYS

TO COPE WITH FEELINGS I HAVE
ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

BUT I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD

TO DISCUSSING THINGS
I'VE BEEN AVOIDING.

Dr. Paradise:
SO, WELCOME TO MY OFFICE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOURSELF AND YOUR SITUATION

AND HOW YOU ENDED UP HERE.

WELL, I'VE BEEN BATTLING
WITH MY WEIGHT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AND I HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
OKAY.

HOW'S IT BEEN FOR YOU
SINCE THE SURGERY?

I FEEL LIKE I'M DISAPPOINTED
IN MYSELF, IN MY BODY,

IN THE WAY
THAT I'M RECOVERING

BECAUSE BEFORE MY SURGERY,

I WAS EXERCISING
AND I WAS SO ENERGETIC.

SURE.

AND NOW I'M JUST
REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE

WITH THE NAUSEA
AND THE FATIGUE.

AND THAT MAKES EXERCISE
ESPECIALLY HARD TO DO.

YEAH, AND THEN
WHEN I GET SICK,

WHEN I EAT SOMETHING
MY BODY DOESN'T LIKE,

IT'S LIKE I'LL GET SICK,
I'LL VOMIT, WHATEVER,

AND IT JUST GOES BACK AND FORTH,
BACK AND FORTH.

SO THAT'S TIRING.

I JUST DON'T WANT
TO DEAL WITH IT ANYMORE.

YEAH.

I DIDN'T EXPECT
ALL THE COMPLICATIONS.

I DIDN'T EXPECT
ALL THE MENTAL,

YOU KNOW,
PROBLEMS WITH IT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT
THE MENTAL STUFF.

I MEAN, MY RELATIONSHIP WITH
FOOD HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY.

BEFORE THE SURGERY,

WHETHER IT WAS FEELINGS
OF HAPPINESS

OR I WAS SAD OR I WAS STRESSED
OR I WAS ANGRY,

IT WAS ALWAYS
STRAIGHT TO FOOD.

SO IT WAS
YOUR GO-TO COMFORT.

-IT WAS MY GO-TO, YEAH.
-OKAY.

NOW THERE'S NO ENJOYMENT
IN EATING.

IT'S A TASK. IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I HAVE TO DO

TO FUEL MY BODY
SO THAT I DON'T GET SICK.

SO FOOD WAS LIKE
A HUGE THING.

I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE LOVE
FOR YOU, RIGHT?

MM-HMM.

I'M SORRY.

DON'T APOLOGIZE.

THIS IS A GOOD PLACE
TO LET THINGS OUT.

AND I UNDERSTAND
IF YOU CAN'T.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MIGHT MARK SUCCESS FOR YOU

IS FOCUSING MORE ON OTHER
ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE.

SO WHAT ARE GOOD THINGS
IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

-MY HUSBAND.
-WHAT'S YOUR HUSBAND'S NAME?

-DANIEL.
-DANIEL, OKAY.

SO, LIKE, IF YOU WERE GONNA
FOCUS ON YOUR RELATIONSHIP

AND YOUR MARRIAGE, WHAT
WOULD YOUR GOALS BE THERE?

WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST
BE MORE ACTIVE WITH HIM.

MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE BEFORE,
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING,

WE WERE ALWAYS OUT --
WE WERE NEVER HOME --

AND DOING FUN THINGS.

AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS,
THAT'S STOPPED.

YEAH.

WE WANT TO IMAGINE A DAY

WHERE HE DOESN'T
HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

SO WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU
MORE SUCCESSFUL?

JUST NOT FEELING SO BAD.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

AND HAVING CONTROL
OVER HOW --

MY ANXIETY, YOU KNOW?
MM-HMM.

'CAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST
THINGS I THINK, RIGHT NOW,

YOU KNOW, AS FAR
AS THE MENTAL ASPECT,

IS MY ANXIETY.

SO ONE THING
WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE

THAT YOU HAVE THE GREATEST
SENSE OF CONTROL OVER THAT.

IT'S THE REASON
THEY GIVE THE PEOPLE

THE BUTTONS TO ADMINISTER
THEIR PAIN MEDICINE.

THEY DON'T GET
ANY MORE MEDICINE

THAT THEY WOULD IF
THE NURSE GAVE IT TO THEM,

BUT BY GIVING THEM
CONTROL OVER IT,

IT SEEMS TO HELP.

SO ONE THING
WE MIGHT WANT TO DO

IS FIGURE OUT WAYS FOR YOU

TO HAVE THE GREATEST
SENSE OF CONTROL

IN DEALING
WITH YOUR SYMPTOMS.

GOING OUT MORE,
DOING MORE STUFF.

AND AS THE WEIGHT COMES OFF,
THAT'LL BE EASIER AND EASIER,

RIGHT?
YEAH.

SO A GOOD DAY
MIGHT BE THE DAYS

WHEN YOU PUSH THROUGH.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA FIND
THAT YOU'RE GONNA PUSH THROUGH.

-IT WAS REALLY GOOD TO MEET YOU.
-THANK YOU.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD
TO MEET YOU, TOO.

-TAKE CARE.
-THANK YOU.

Ashley: IT WAS HARD TO TALK
ABOUT SOME OF MY ANXIETY.

I KNOW I RUN TO FOOD TO COPE.

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE
HOW DEPENDENT I WAS ON IT

AND HOW HARD IT WAS GOING TO BE

TO LOSE THAT FEELING
OF HAPPINESS AND LOVE.

AND I THOUGHT DOING THAT
ONLY DAMAGED MY BODY,

BUT I KNOW THAT THERE IS
A LOT FROM MY PAST

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FACE

IF I EVER WANT MY ANXIETY
TO GET UNDER CONTROL.

I'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH
A LOT OF MY EMOTION

AND TRYING TO DO
WHAT THE THERAPIST TOLD ME.

[ CHATTER ]

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS

THAT I KNOW HAS AFFECTED ME
MY WHOLE LIFE

IS GETTING HURT AS A CHILD.

RAISE IT UP!
CONTROL!

EVER SINCE THAT MOMENT,

I'VE NOT FELT LIKE
I'M IN CONTROL,

AND I'VE LIVED IN FEAR.

EVEN THOUGH I'M BIGGER,
IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD,

I'M SCARED OF SOMEONE
HURTING ME.

SO I'VE DECIDED I DON'T WANT
TO FEEL WEAK AND SCARED ANYMORE,

SO I'M TAKING
A SELF-DEFENSE CLASS.

YOU READY
TO JUMP INTO A CLASS?

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

-HI, I'M MICHAEL BY THE WAY.
-ASHLEY.

ASHLEY,
NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO MICHAEL AND I
HAVE BEEN TRAINING TOGETHER

FOR PROBABLY 10 YEARS.

AND A BIG PART OF BEING ABLE
TO PUNCH AND KICK

AND DEFEND YOURSELF
IS BEING FIT.

WOULD YOU LIKE US
TO SHOW YOU

A FEW THINGS
THAT YOU COULD DO AT HOME?

-AS LONG AS I DON'T OVERDO IT.
-RIGHT.

-IT'S OVERWHELMING TO WATCH...
-UH-HUH.

...JUST 'CAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD
THAT TYPE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S STRONG,
BUT IT'S --

I MEAN, IT'S EMPOWERING
AT THE SAME TIME.

ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE
ANY CLEARANCE

FROM YOUR DOCTORS

ON ANYTHING THAT
YOU'RE ABLE TO DO?

I MEAN, I CAN PRETTY MUCH
DO EVERYTHING.

STAIRS ARE A PROBLEM
RIGHT NOW.

-LET'S GO.
-ALL RIGHT, COOL.

-LET'S GIVE IT A SHOT.
-OH, MAN.

SO BEING ABLE
TO GET UP THE STAIRS --

THAT'LL BE YOUR GOAL.

WANT ME
TO GO WITH YOU?

OR DO YOU WANT TO GO
BY YOURSELF?

-I WANT TO GO BY MYSELF.
-OKAY.

**

GOOD JOB!
YOU'RE THERE!

I KNEW
YOU COULD DO IT!

Ashley: I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER
THE LAST TIME

I CLIMBED THAT MANY STAIRS.

IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.

I DON'T THINK
I WOULD'VE EVER DONE THIS

HAD IT NOT BEEN
FOR JUST THE PUSH SAYING,

"WHY DON'T YOU TRY?"

Woman: GO FORWARD.
BOOM, RIGHT?

NOW GIVE ME A SCOWL.

MEAN FACE.
-I CAN'T.

Woman: ALL RIGHT?
OH, YOU GOT IT!

WE ARE GONNA SHIFT OUR WEIGHT
BACK AND FORTH.

I WANT YOU TO JUST
BEND YOUR KNEES

AND JUST SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT
FROM SIDE TO SIDE.

AFTER THE STAIRS, YOU KNOW,
IT'S WHAT ELSE SHOULD I TRY

THAT I THOUGHT I COULDN'T DO?

IF YOU'RE GONNA BE
ELBOWING SOMEONE,

YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE
YOU NEED TO HIT THEM, RIGHT?

-BREATHE OUT LOUD.
-REMEMBER TO BREATHE.

BREATHE OUT LOUD.

SHH!

-YES, GOOD!
-GOOD!

LOOK AT THAT,
YOU'RE KNOCKING ME OVER.

-SHH!
-GOOD!

Ashley:
I'M FEELING REALLY EMPOWERED.

I CAN PUNCH THINGS
AND ACTUALLY MOVE.

HANDS UP.

I KNOW LEARNING SELF-DEFENSE
DOESN'T CHANGE THE PAST,

BUT I FEEL LIKE
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP

FOR ME TO FEEL EMPOWERED...

-OH, MY GOD!
-THAT WAS GREAT!

GOOD JOB.
GOOD JOB.

Ashley: ...AND LIKE I'M
TAKING BACK CONTROL OF MY LIFE.

**

[ Ringing ]

IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS
SINCE I'VE SEEN MY FAMILY.

I'VE NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM THEM
SO LONG.

-Hi, mija.
-HI, MOM!

Ashley: OOH, I LIKE YOUR HAIR,
YOU CHANGED THE COLOR?

Yes!

-Give me your look.
-CAN YOU SEE?

Oh, look at you!
[ Whistles ]

You look good, mama.
How've you been doing?

I'VE BEEN OKAY.
I'M ABLE TO MOVE AROUND MORE,

COOK DINNER,
WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.

YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE.

Yeah, I was super,
super worried about you.

I KNOW.

I wish I was there
all the time, but I can't.

I KNOW.

WELL, I MEAN,
NOT TO TAKE CARE OF ME,

BUT JUST
FOR YOUR COMPANY.

-I know.
-[ CHUCKLES ]

I am so,
so proud of you, my love.

You've done a lot of things
that are so hard,

and I'm so happy
for you.

I'm thinking of you.
Love you.

OKAY.
LOVE YOU, TOO.

-Bye.
-BYE.

Ashley:
I MISS MY FAMILY SO MUCH.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN MY LIFE, A SMALL PART OF ME

IS STARTING TO SEE
THE POSSIBILITY

OF DANIEL AND ME
HAVING A LIFE OF OUR OWN.

**

OKAY.

**

I DON'T WANT TO STAY
IN HOUSTON LONG-TERM,

BUT DANIEL AND I HAVE NEVER
REALLY HAD A CHANCE

TO HAVE A REAL MARRIAGE...

BECAUSE EVERYONE'S HAD TO
TAKE CARE OF ME.

AND WITH THAT CHANGING,

I KNOW I NEED TO FOCUS
ON OUR MARRIAGE

AND GET OVER MY FEARS
OF INTIMACY.

I LOVE HIM.

AND MY SITUATION
HAS NOT BEEN FAIR.

I WANT TO BECOME
THE WIFE HE DESERVES...

AND THE WIFE I WANT TO BE.

**

Ashley:
SOMETIMES LETTING GO

OF WHAT YOU'VE HELD ON TO
SO TIGHTLY

IS THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE FORWARD.

**

TONIGHT, I'M GOING ON
A DATE WITH DANIEL.

IN THE PAST,
WE'D NEVER GO ON DATES

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT
TO GO OUT IN PUBLIC.

AND I COULDN'T WALK THAT FAR.

**

AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL
WITH THE ANXIETY OF IT ALL.

SO I ASKED DANIEL
IF WE COULD GO ON A DATE.

**

I WANT US TO WORK ON
OUR MARRIAGE,

AND I WANT US
TO GROW CLOSER TOGETHER.

I'M REALLY HAPPY
WE GOT TO GO OUT TONIGHT.

I'M STILL SCARED ABOUT
SHOWING HIM MY BODY,

BUT I'M WORKING ON THAT.

CAN I HAVE THE GRILLED
BIG PLATE?

AND THEN I'LL HAVE
THE GRILLED CHICKEN BOWL.

I'M STICKING WITH THE DIET

AND WORKING HARDER
THAN EVER TO BE ABLE TO --

TO DO THIS.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO.

IT'LL BE LIKE BEFORE.

CAN'T WAIT TO GO
TO THE BEACH AGAIN.

I WANT TO GO TO A LAKE
AND HAVE A PICNIC.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD'VE
DONE IF YOU WEREN'T HERE.

HONESTLY.

MY SISTERS AND MOM,
EVERYBODY,

THEY'RE SUPPORTING ME
FROM FAR AWAY,

BUT YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY
HAVE SOMEONE THERE WITH YOU,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS
REALLY, REALLY TOUGH.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I COULDN'T IMAGINE
YOU NOT BEING HERE.

THERE'S NO WAY.

**

THANK YOU.

IT LOOKS DELICIOUS.
THANK YOU.

I LOVE DANIEL, AND I'M SO HAPPY
TO HAVE HIM IN MY LIFE.

SO I'M GOING TO WORK HARD

TO CHANGE EVERYTHING
THAT I WANT TO CHANGE.

I'M OKAY.
YEAH, I'M GOOD.

YEAH.

**

I SAW A LITTLE SPARKLE
IN HER EYE THAT SHE WAS HAPPY.

SO, YOU KNOW, AS LONG
AS SHE'S HAPPY, I'M OKAY.

I'LL TAKE THIS.

YOU'LL TAKE IT FOR ME?
OKAY, THANK YOU.

I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.
I'LL TAKE YOUR BAG.

Ashley: A YEAR AGO,
MY HUSBAND WAS MY CARETAKER.

NOW I'M NO LONGER HIS PATIENT.

AND IT FEELS MORE LIKE
WE'RE A NORMAL MARRIED COUPLE.

HONESTLY, AT THIS POINT,
I JUST LOOK FORWARD

TO ALL THE FUN THINGS THAT
WE'RE GONNA DO TOGETHER NOW.

IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE
I'VE STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY.

IT'S BEEN HARDER
THAN I COULD'VE IMAGINED,

BUT I'M SO GLAD I STUCK WITH IT.

**

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,

I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED
TO GET ON THE SCALE.

DANIEL AND I
HAVE GROWN EVEN CLOSER,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN DOING
THIS FOR HIM AS MUCH AS FOR ME.

**

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME
I WAS IN THE 400s.

THIS IS SO INCREDIBLE.

-HELLO.
-HI.

-HI.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

-PRETTY GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?
-ALL RIGHT.

ASHLEY, YOU'RE DOWN
TO 462 POUNDS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO LOSE 200 POUNDS?

HONESTLY, I'M HAPPY,

BUT I FEEL LIKE MY RECOVERY
HAS BEEN REALLY SLOW.

AND I JUST WISH
IT WAS MORE.

[ LAUGHS ]

YOU DID NOT GAIN THIS WEIGHT
TO BE 668 POUNDS

IN A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME.

SO IF YOU LOSE
AT 30 POUNDS A MONTH,

IN A YEAR,
THAT'S ALMOST 400 POUNDS.

WELL, IF YOU PUT IT THAT WAY,
THEN IT MAKES IT --

YOU SEE?

YEAH,
IT MAKES IT BETTER.

ALL RIGHT,
SO WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR,

YOU'RE GONNA BE
UNDER 200.

-OH, THAT'S...
-OKAY?

I CAN'T EVEN
IMAGINE IT.

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

WHEN I FIRST SAW HER, I KNEW
THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES

THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED
WITH HER.

BUT SHE'S CONSTANTLY
FORGED AHEAD

AND DONE WHAT SHE NEEDS.

AND I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE

SHE'S GOING TO MAKE IT
TO HER TARGET WEIGHT NEXT YEAR.

YOU'VE DONE VERY WELL,
AND I'M PROUD OF YOU.

JUST STICK
WITH THE PROGRAM,

AND YOU'RE GETTING
VERY GOOD PROGRESS, OKAY?

I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

**

Ashley:
I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT MYSELF.

A YEAR AGO, MY FAMILY HAD TO
HELP ME DO ALMOST EVERYTHING.

NOW I'M ABLE TO BE
MORE INDEPENDENT,

AND I'M BUILDING THE LIFE
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED.

THERE ARE SO MANY POSSIBILITIES
THAT I CAN BELIEVE IN NOW.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

**

I'M REALLY PLEASED
WITH THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST.

SO IN CELEBRATION,

TODAY, I'M TREATING MYSELF
TO A MAKEOVER.

OH, MY GOD!
OH, MY GOD!

[ GASPS ]

I JUST GOT OUT OF THE CAR,
AND THE CAR DIDN'T HONK.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME
SINCE THAT'S HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW HOW LOUD
THAT WOULD'VE BEEN BEFORE?

Daniel: YEAH.

I'VE BEEN PUSHING MYSELF
AND FACING A LOT OF THE THINGS

THAT HAVE MADE ME
FEEL OUT OF CONTROL

AND ANXIOUS ABOUT LIFE.

-YOU EXCITED FOR TODAY?
-I AM.

AWESOME.
WELL, WE'LL GET YOU STARTED.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOU
LOOK WONDERFUL.

-THANK YOU.
-COMFORTABLE HERE.

-I FIT!
-YAY!

-ALL RIGHT.
-AWESOME!

Ashley: I WANT TO BE THE PERSON
THAT I SHOULD

FOR THE PEOPLE I LOVE.

AND I'VE NEVER BEEN
PROUD OF MYSELF

FOR ANYTHING I'VE DONE --
OR FOR HOW I LOOK.

AND THAT'S CHANGING NOW.

**

ALL RIGHT.
EXCITED?

I'M EXCITED.
I'M EXCITED.

LET'S DO THIS.

[ GASPS ]
OH, MY GOD!

SOME NICE CURLS,
SOME REALLY NICE MOVEMENT.

-WOW!
-YOU'VE GOT BODY ON THE TOP.

HOW DO YOU LIKE
YOUR LASHES?

-I HAVE LASHES!
-I KNOW!

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Ashley:
I LOVE IT.

HI! [ LAUGHS ]

IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE DANIEL
HAS SEEN ME LIKE THIS.

Woman:
IT'S BEAUTIFUL, RIGHT?

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.

YOU'RE VERY MUCH WELCOME.

THE GIRL IN THE MIRROR IS
SOMEONE THAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH

BUT I NEED TO GET TO KNOW.

SHE'S NEW.

I'VE NEVER WANTED TO
TAKE PICTURES OF MYSELF,

BUT I'M STEPPING OUT
OF MY COMFORT ZONE

AND WE'RE GETTING
PORTRAITS MADE.

HI!

-I'M SHANNON. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

-WELL, COME IN!
-THANK YOU.

SO WHAT KIND OF PHOTOS
ARE WE LOOKING FOR TODAY?

JUST, LIKE, REALLY FLATTERING,
ROMANTIC TYPE OF...

OKAY!
WELL, THEN, LET'S GET STARTED.

Ashley: THIS IS A TOTALLY NEW
EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

IF YOU TOLD ME A YEAR AGO

THAT DANIEL AND I WOULD BE OUT
ON A DATE GETTING PHOTOS DONE...

I LOVE THAT.
AWESOME.

Ashley: ...I WOULD NEVER
HAVE BELIEVED YOU.

DANIEL HAS BEEN BY MY SIDE
AT MY ABSOLUTE WORST.

AND HE'S HERE NOW AS THINGS
ARE GETTING BETTER, DAY BY DAY.

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD'VE
DONE THIS WITHOUT HIM.

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M PROUD OF HOW I FEEL
AND HOW I'M STARTING TO LOOK.

MY MOM
IS GONNA LOVE THESE.

SHE HASN'T HAD PICTURES OF ME
LIKE THIS IN LIKE YEARS.

Daniel: ASHLEY IS FEELING
MORE COMFORTABLE,

AND SHE'S STARTING TO REALLY
GO OUT INTO THE WORLD.

I DON'T REMEMBER HOW LONG
I'VE SEEN HER SMILE LIKE THIS.

**

Ashley:
I'M FINALLY STARTING TO FEEL

LIKE I HAVE A MARRIAGE
AND A LIFE.

I'M SO HAPPY, AND I JUST WANT
TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.