Original subtitles

I CAN FEEL MY BODY IS ALMOST DONE.

IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING, I'LL DIE.

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.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

Cynthia: THAT PISSES ME OFF.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS [BLEEP] NO MORE!

-YES, WE DO! -NO, THE [BLEEP] WE DON'T!

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Cynthia: LIFE HAS A WAY OF TAKING YOU

TO A LOW PLACE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE.

BUT YOU HAVE TO FIND THE MOTIVATION

NOT TO GIVE UP AND STAY THERE.

WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

I START HURTING 'CAUSE THE PAIN IS INTENSE.

MY ANKLES ARE SWOLLEN ALL THE TIME.

MY KNEES ARE CONSTANTLY IN PAIN.

MY BODY IS PRETTY STIFF 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T MOVED ALL NIGHT.

SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WALK.

AND I HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF BREAKS.

I TRY NOT TO DO A WHOLE LOT OF MOVING AROUND

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN I DO TOO MUCH WALKING,

I BREAK OUT IN HIVES ON MY LEGS.

I HATE IT.

I'M JUST COMPLETELY TRAPPED IN THIS BODY.

BUT BEING MY SIZE,

I REALLY HAVE TO TRY TO STAY AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE OF ALL THE FOLDS IN MY SKIN.

BATHING MYSELF IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I DO.

IT HURTS.

AND IT'S HARD TO REACH AROUND MY BODY.

BUT IF I DON'T, I COULD GET TERRIBLE RASHES

THAT COULD TURN INTO OPEN SORES.

EVERY DAY, I'M JUST PRAYING THAT THIS BODY DOESN'T GIVE OUT.

BUT THERE'S ALREADY SO MUCH I CAN'T DO ON MY OWN,

AND MY WEIGHT HAS BECOME A BURDEN TO MY FAMILY.

KIAH!

CAN YOU COME DO MY LEGS?

ONCE I GET OUT THE SHOWER, MY DAUGHTER COMES IN,

AND SHE'LL CLEAN OUT THE BACK OF MY LEGS

BECAUSE MY ARMS ARE TOO SHORT TO REACH.

Ukiah: WELL, SHE TRIES TO DO EVERYTHING.

SHE TRIES NOT TO BE LAZY.

SHE TRIES TO DO A LOT.

BUT SHE CAN'T.

Cynthia: UKIAH DOES A LOT.

SHE IS A 40-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

IN AN 11-YEAR-OLD'S BODY.

AND IT IS EMBARRASSING FOR HER TO SEE ME LIKE THIS.

SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO IT,

AND I FEEL HORRIBLE THAT I HAVE TO ASK HER

TO DO SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO MYSELF.

OKAY. I'M FINISHED.

I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN CARE OF MY CHILDREN.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT TO THIS POINT,

WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I'VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT ALL MY LIFE.

I NOTICED AROUND SECOND, THIRD GRADE

I WAS BIGGER THAN THE OTHER KIDS.

AND I WAS PROBABLY IN, LIKE, A WOMEN'S 20

BY THE TIME I WAS IN FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE.

BUT MY FAMILY NEVER MADE A BIG DEAL ABOUT MY SIZE.

SIZE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS SEEN

AS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF A BIRTHRIGHT IN OUR FAMILY.

WE LOVED TO EAT.

IT WAS KIND OF A RUNNING JOKE

THAT IF YOU WERE BIG, YOU WERE A WELLS.

Cynthia: I WAS GAINING WEIGHT FROM A YOUNG AGE,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,

I WAS ALREADY 250 POUNDS.

THE KIDS IN SCHOOL WOULD TEASE ME BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.

AND SOME OF MY EARLIEST MEMORIES WERE FEELING SO ALONE.

I REMEMBER DIETING ALL THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANTED TO LOSE WEIGHT

'CAUSE I WANTED TO LOOK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

BUT I NEVER LOST MUCH WEIGHT,

AND I KEPT FEELING LIKE I WASN'T LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

THEN I STARTED HAVING SEIZURES.

EVERY TIME I HAD A SEIZURE,

IT WAS WHILE I WAS WATCHING TV OR A MOVIE.

AND IT MADE ME FEEL EVEN MORE ALONE

BECAUSE SO MUCH WAS WRONG WITH ME.

I SAW THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MY MOM AND DAD

AND HOW MUCH MY DAD LOVED MY MOM,

AND I REMEMBER THINKING

I'M NEVER GONNA HAVE SOMEONE LOVE ME LIKE THAT.

AND THAT FEELING OF LONELINESS AND REJECTION

JUST GOT WORSE OVER TIME.

IN HIGH SCHOOL, VALENTINE'S DAY

WAS THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR ME.

I FELT ALONE AND UGLY.

WHY DOES NOBODY LIKE ME?

ONE VALENTINE'S DAY, IT GOT REALLY DARK.

AND THE ONLY WAY I KNEW TO END IT

WAS TO TAKE A BUNCH OF PILLS.

MY GOAL WAS TO KILL MYSELF.

BUT I JUST GOT REALLY SICK, AND THANKFULLY, I SURVIVED.

I WAS SO DEPRESSED.

FOOD WAS THE ONLY THING THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.

WHEN I ATE, I WASN'T ALONE.

THEN MY WEIGHT JUST STARTED TO SPIRAL AT THAT POINT.

OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, I SLOWLY GAINED WEIGHT.

BUT I WAS STILL ACTIVE IN TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.

AND THEN EVERYTHING CHANGED.

AT 28, THERE WAS A SITUATION THAT OCCURRED

THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE CUSTODY OF THREE OF MY COUSIN'S KIDS.

THEIR DAD HAD BEEN ABUSING THEM,

AND MY COUSIN COULD NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THEM.

I WENT FROM ZERO KIDS TO THREE KIDS OVERNIGHT.

HAD A 4-MONTH-OLD WITH BROKEN RIBS,

A KID IN A FULL-BODY CAST.

I NEEDED TO PROTECT THEM,

AND THAT WAS JUST MY M.O. AT THAT POINT.

I WAS AT THE POINT IN MY LIFE

WHERE I FELT NO ONE WAS EVER GONNA LOVE ME.

I WAS IN MY LATE 20's TAKING CARE OF CHILDREN --

CHILDREN WHO HAD SPENT THEIR LIFE BEING ABUSED BY A MAN.

SO I DECIDED I COULDN'T BRING ANOTHER MAN INTO THEIR LIVES.

I JUST HAD TO FOCUS ON THEM.

AND EVEN THOUGH I GAVE UP ON FINDING LOVE,

I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON HAVING CHILDREN OF MY OWN.

SO I DATED AND GOT PREGNANT WITH MY TWO YOUNGEST CHILDREN.

BEING A MOTHER WAS SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS WANTED.

AND THE SITUATION JUST GAVE ME MORE DESIRE

TO HAVE A CHILD OF MY OWN.

SO AFTER I HAD JORDAN,

I GOT PREGNANT TWO YEARS LATER WITH SHAQUILLE.

I WAS TOO BIG TO WEIGH ON THE OFFICE SCALE,

SO I HAD TO GO TO THE FREIGHT SCALE.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS ABOUT 480,

AND I SPENT ALL MY TIME

FOCUSED ON TAKING CARE

OF EVERYBODY ELSE INSTEAD OF MYSELF.

I THINK WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE.

EATING RIGHT WASN'T EVEN AN OPTION.

IT WAS JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET BY.

SO I JUST KEPT GAINING WEIGHT.

NOW I'M A SINGLE MOTHER OF FIVE CHILDREN,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WEIGH.

MY OLDEST IS PLANNING ON MOVING OUT SOON,

BUT MY LIFE IS STILL DEDICATED TO RAISING MY OTHER CHILDREN.

AND I'M GETTING TO A POINT

WHERE I CAN'T PHYSICALLY DO THAT ANYMORE.

IT SCARES ME.

JEFFREY IS 16.

ROBERT IS 13.

UKIAH'S 11.

JORDAN IS 10.

AND SHAQUILLE IS 7.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING, MOM.

MY FAMILY IS MY LIFE.

AND MY BIGGEST THING RIGHT NOW IS JUST BEING A BETTER MOTHER.

ROBERT, JEFFERY, JORDAN, SHAQUILLE.

YOU NEED TO WASH YOUR HANDS.

BUT MY WEIGHT LIMITS ME SO MUCH,

SO I WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

BUT WHEN THE CRAVINGS COME, ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT.

AND WHEN I GIVE IN, I GET EVEN MORE DEPRESSED.

SO I JUST GO BACK TO BED FOR A WHILE.

I WANT TO BE THERE FOR MY KIDS,

BUT I JUST CAN'T BE THE MOM THAT I WANT TO RIGHT NOW.

-MAMA. -WHAT'S UP?

I GUESS.

GET UP, GET UP.

Cynthia: MY SIZE IS KEEPING ME FROM BEING ACTIVE WITH MY KIDS.

I THINK THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO BE MORE ACTIVE WITH ME.

AND THEY JUST DON'T SAY IT

BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'LL HURT MY FEELINGS.

I FEEL SO GUILTY, SO I PUSH MYSELF.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH I WANT TO TRY,

I JUST CAN'T DO MUCH.

SO I HAVE TO WATCH FROM THE PARKING LOT.

I CAN SEE THE BENCHES AND THE PLAYGROUND AREA,

BUT THEY'RE TOO FAR FOR ME TO GET TO,

AND THERE'S NOTHING BETWEEN FOR ME TO STOP AND REST.

ON A SCALE TO 1 TO 10,

HOW MUCH I WOULD LIKE MY MOM TO BE OUT HERE IS 100.

IT MAKES ME KIND OF SAD

SEEING MY MOM STANDING BY THE CAR

AND SHE DOESN'T GET TO PLAY WITH US.

Cynthia: THESE ARE, LIKE, THE BEST YEARS OF THEIR LIVES

THAT I'M MISSING OUT ON.

MAMA!

'CAUSE YOU ONLY GET THIS TIME ONCE.

WATCH ME!

I STILL HAVE TIME TO ENJOY THESE YEARS

IF I CAN TAKE THE RIGHT STEPS.

BUT IF I DON'T, THEN THESE YEARS WILL BE LOST.

I HAVE A FEAR THAT EVENTUALLY

I WON'T BE ABLE TO WALK OR MOVE AROUND

IF I KEEP GAINING WEIGHT.

AND I KNOW THAT NOT BEING THERE FOR THEM

IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST REGRETS OF MY LIFE.

OKAY, COME ON.

AS DIFFICULT AS IT IS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE,

I STILL HAVE TO BE A MOTHER.

I'M THE SOLE PROVIDER FOR MY KIDS.

BUT AT MY WEIGHT, JUST GETTING THROUGH EACH DAY IS A STRUGGLE.

AND BEFORE I EVEN GET TO WORK,

THE STRESS OF THE DAY IS ALREADY ON ME.

SO EVEN THOUGH I'VE HAD BREAKFAST,

I STOP TO GET A SNACK.

I NEED THREE LARGE JALAPEÑO KOLACHES,

TWO GLAZED TWISTS,

A DOUGHNUT HOLE, A SMALL ORANGE JUICE,

AND A LARGE ORANGE JUICE.

I AM A SPECIAL-EDUCATION TEACHER.

AND BEING A TEACHER REQUIRES BEING ON YOUR FEET ALL DAY.

COME ON.

BUT WHEN I GET TO WORK,

I CAN'T EVEN MAKE IT IN THE BUILDING

AND TO MY CLASSROOM WITHOUT STOPPING.

SO I KIND OF MAP MY ROUTE

TO WHERE I KNOW THERE ARE CHAIRS THAT I CAN SIT IN.

SO I'LL SIT AND CATCH MY BREATH,

AND THEN I GET UP AND KEEP MOVING.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

BY THE TIME I GET TO MY ROOM,

I'M SO PHYSICALLY WIPED OUT,

AND I'M STARVING.

BUT I'M CONSTANTLY AROUND FOOD.

I HAVE THE SNACKS I BROUGHT, AND THERE'S ALWAYS MORE AROUND.

AND IF I RUN OUT, IT'S USUALLY AROUND LUNCHTIME.

I DO LOOK AT THE FOOD IN FRONT OF ME

AND SAY, "I DON'T NEED IT."

BUT IT'S GOOD, SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP EATING.

EVEN WHEN I'M FULL,

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY ENJOYED EATING,

I WILL EAT UNTIL IT'S GONE.

AS FAR AS CAREER, I'M DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO.

BUT IT'S GETTING TO A POINT

WHERE I CAN'T PHYSICALLY DO IT ANYMORE.

IT'S HARD TO BE A GREAT TEACHER

WHEN YOU'RE ALWAYS SITTING IN A CHAIR.

IF I LOST THIS JOB,

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MY KIDS WOULD SURVIVE.

FOOD IS DESTROYING MY LIFE.

IT'S STARTING TO KEEP ME

FROM EVERYTHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

BUT I JUST CAN'T STOP EATING.

BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT, WE HAVE ADJUSTED

AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE THIS WORK,

BUT IT'S PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE.

IT'S REALLY HEARTBREAKING AND SAD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO

IF SHE DIED OR SHE WAS STUCK IN THE BED OR SOMETHING.

I WANT HER TO BE HEALTHY.

Cynthia: AT THIS POINT, WE NEED SOMETHING DRASTIC TO HAPPEN

TO GET US BACK TO WHERE

I'M THE PARENT AND THEY'RE JUST KIDS.

IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING DRASTIC, SOMETHING NOW,

I'LL DIE AT AN EARLY AGE.

I NEED TO BE HERE FOR MY KIDS. NOBODY ELSE IS HERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

THEY'VE HAD SUCH A HARD LIFE AND SO MUCH DISAPPOINTMENT.

I DON'T WANT TO BE THE NEXT ONE TO ADD TO THAT.

I'M IN A DIRE SITUATION

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL MY BODY IS ALMOST DONE.

**

YOU READY TO GO TO DANCE CLASS?

YEAH.

Ukiah: TODAY, I HAVE DANCE CLASS.

I LIKE IT. I DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT DANCES.

IT'S FUN.

I HAVE A FESTIVAL COMING UP, AND I WANT MY MOM TO COME.

ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO COME TO THE FESTIVAL?

Cynthia: PROBABLY NOT THIS YEAR.

I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO DO WHAT I DID LAST YEAR

AND DROP YOU OFF 'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,

I CAN'T DO ALL THAT WALKING.

BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO WATCH YOU DANCE TODAY.

Cynthia: I WANT TO BE OUT THERE WITH MY KIDS.

THAT'S WHAT A PARENT IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I WANT TO SEE THEM DO THINGS.

I'M PROUD OF THEM.

I WANT TO BE THERE WHEN THEY LOOK UP IN THE STANDS

BECAUSE KIDS NEED THAT.

THAT MAKES THEM GO HARDER.

IT'S TOO MUCH WALKING. I CAN'T DO IT.

SHE'S A DANCER. SHE PERFORMS.

AND I CAN'T MAKE IT TO HER PERFORMANCES.

I KNOW SHE'S AMAZING,

BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE WHAT THEY SEE.

THAT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO.

Woman: VERY NICE.

[ Crying ] I'VE NEVER SEEN HER PRACTICE BEFORE.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME.

SHE'S BEEN DANCING SINCE SHE WAS IN KINDERGARTEN.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE EVERYTHING SHE DOES.

I SEE THAT I'M HARMING THEM AS MUCH AS I'M HARMING ME

'CAUSE I'M NOT LETTING THEM LIVE

TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, AS WELL.

THEY JUST SACRIFICE BECAUSE THEY LOVE ME,

AND THEY DON'T ARGUE OR GRIPE ABOUT IT.

BUT I'M MISSING THEIR WHOLE CHILDHOOD.

YOU ALL SET TO GO?

KEYS, PLEASE.

Clarence: WE'RE A CLOSE-KNIT FAMILY,

AND I DEFINITELY WANT MY SISTER TO GET HELP.

I'VE SEEN HER STRUGGLES

THROUGHOUT HER LIFE WITH HER WEIGHT,

AND I DEFINITELY WANT TO GIVE HER ANYTHING THAT SHE NEEDS.

SO I DON'T WANT HER TO HAVE TO STRESS OUT ABOUT THE DRIVE DOWN.

I CAN DO ALL OF THAT AND LET HER CONCENTRATE

ON WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO.

Cynthia: SEEING UKIAH DO BALLET WAS A WAKE-UP CALL.

I HAVE TO GET HELP.

BUT THIS IS GONNA BE A HARD DRIVE --

IN THE CAR FOR EIGHT HOURS.

I KNOW FOR CERTAIN

THAT IF I DON'T GET MY WEIGHT UNDER CONTROL,

INEVITABLY MY LIFE WILL BE SHORTENED.

BUT MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT I WILL DRIVE

ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON AND HE'LL SAY

THAT THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO FOR ME,

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY LAST SHOT.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO EXERCISE. HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

I DON'T WANT TO DO IT, BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO.

BY THE TIME YOU GO TO WORK AND THEN YOU DEAL WITH KIDS,

WHEN IS THERE GONNA BE TIME FOR YOU TO DO IT?

WELL, DON'T PUSH, 'CAUSE IF YOU PUSH I'M GONNA PUSH BACK.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MAKE-OR-BREAK FOR ME.

IF DR. NOW DOESN'T THINK THAT I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY OTHER OPTIONS ARE.

MISS WELLS.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

I HAVEN'T CHECKED MY WEIGHT IN YEARS.

AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT MYSELF.

610 IS NOT WHAT I WANTED TO SEE.

I KNOW I NEED TO DO SOMETHING, AND I NEED TO DO IT NOW.

I JUST HOPE THE DOCTOR HELPS ME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOING?

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M CYNTHIA WELLS.

ALL RIGHT. NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M CLARENCE. I'M CYNTHIA'S BROTHER.

-HOW YOU DOING? -ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU WEIGH 610 POUNDS.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABITS.

MY WEIGHT HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL,

AND I HAVE SOME PRETTY UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS.

I EAT IN EXCESS IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY ENJOY.

I EAT A LOT OF IT.

SO YOU DON'T GET FULL?

I GET FULL, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING I ENJOY,

I'LL JUST KEEP EATING.

ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE IN YOUR FAMILY IS OVERWEIGHT?

EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY IS OVERWEIGHT.

-HE'S NOT. -HE IS.

HE'S PROBABLY THE SMALLEST ONE.

ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU ACTIVE AT ALL?

I'M A TEACHER, SO I HAVE TO BE ACTIVE FOR THAT.

OKAY. DO YOU EAT AT HOME?

-YES. -WHO IS IN THE HOUSE BESIDE YOU?

MY FIVE CHILDREN.

SO YOU COOK FOR EVERYBODY AND FOR YOURSELF, TOO.

YES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CYNTHIA IS OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND IT'S QUITE REMARKABLE

THAT SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF FIVE CHILDREN

AT THAT WEIGHT.

BUT SHE'S MAKING FOOD FOR A LARGE HOUSEHOLD,

WHICH MEANS THERE IS A LOT OF FOOD

CONSTANTLY IN THAT HOUSE.

SO SHE'S AROUND FOOD ALL DAY LONG.

THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY BIG CHALLENGE

FOR HER TO CHANGE HER EATING HABIT.

YOU'RE A MOM, AND YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR KIDS.

SO FROM THIS POINT ON,

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR EATING HABIT.

I GOT SOME SCHOOL MATERIAL.

YOU KNOW HOW THE HOMEWORK WORKS.

YOU NEED TO STICK WITH A LOW-CARB DIET

AND EAT ONLY THREE TIMES A DAY AND NO SNACKING.

THIS WILL BE A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

WHAT IS YOUR ABILITY TO DO EXERCISE AND WALK?

I REALLY DON'T DO A LOT WALKING.

HOW MUCH YOU CAN WALK

BEFORE YOU FEEL TIRED AND GIVE UP?

MAYBE LIKE FROM HERE TO YOUR WAITING ROOM.

-THAT'S IT? -[ LAUGHS ]

THAT'S ABOUT AS MUCH AS SHE WANTS TO DO.

OKAY, SO, YOU'RE 42.

AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO 50

ARE NOT VERY GOOD IF YOU KEEP THIS UP.

SO IF YOU WANT TO BE AROUND FOR YOUR KIDS,

YOU NEED TO START MAKING CHANGES NOW.

I WANT YOU TO WALK, REST, WALK, REST.

HOW MUCH YOU WALK IN ONE DAY IS GONNA BE IMPORTANT.

IF WE STICK WITH THIS DIET,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE 30 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.

AND IF YOU CAN MAKE THESE CHANGES,

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY COULD BE AN OPTION

-FOR YOU DOWN THE ROAD. -OKAY.

THIS NEXT MONTH WILL SHOW ME WHETHER OR NOT

CYNTHIA CAN GET CONTROL OF HER HOME DYNAMIC

AND COMMIT TO THIS CHANGE

OR IF SHE IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS.

-OKAY, I'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER. -THANK YOU.

-OKAY. -THANK YOU.

CYNTHIA IS GOING TO HAVE TO REALIZE

JUST HOW HARD THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR HER.

SO... YOU GONNA WALK?

I DON'T NEED YOU BREATHING DOWN MY THROAT.

I JUST DON'T. IT'S NOT HOW I FUNCTION.

AND YOU KNOW THAT. I'M NOT TRYING --

OKAY, WELL, THEN LET ME DO THIS.

ALL RIGHT.

I DO HAVE SOME RESERVATIONS

ABOUT HOW EASY SHE THINKS IT'S GONNA BE

BECAUSE 30 DAYS TO LOSE 30 POUNDS,

I THINK, IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGE FOR HER.

Cynthia: I REALLY FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT.

THE THINGS THAT THE DOCTOR ASKED ME TO DO ARE VERY DOABLE.

I KNOW IT WILL BE TOUGH, BUT THIS IS MY TIME TO CHANGE.

I'LL PUSH THROUGH 'CAUSE IT'S JUST WHO I AM.

**

THAT'S ONE.

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE I'VE SEEN DR. NOW,

AND I'M DOING MY BEST TO FOLLOW HIS PLANS.

THAT'S TWO.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

THREE.

I'M DOING WHAT I NEED,

BUT IT'S HARD TO RESIST ALL THE SNACK FOOD.

THIS IS THE KIDS' SNACK CABINET.

I ALSO HAVE SNACKS STACKED UP IN CRATES.

SO A LOT OF DAYS I DON'T HARDLY EAT ANYTHING AT HOME

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION.

BUT IT BECOMES A LOT HARDER

WHEN I LEAVE THE HOUSE

WITH FIVE KIDS AND ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES.

SEATBELTS.

THERE'S JUST NO TIME TO DO ANYTHING BUT GET FAST FOOD.

AND THERE'S REALLY NO SUCH THING AS HEALTHY FAST FOOD.

-Y'ALL WANT ICE CREAM? -YES!

[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG DAY.

I'M GONNA GET THEM A SNACK AND GET ME SOMETHING TO EAT.

CAN I HAVE TWO SINGLE DIPS OF VANILLA IN A CUP?

-ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU? -A LARGE FRY AND A SMALL FRY.

-ANYTHING ELSE? -THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

IT'S HARD TO GO

FROM BEING ABLE TO EAT WHATEVER I WANT

TO BEING LIMITED TO 1,200 CALORIES A DAY.

BUT I AM TRYING TO EAT LESS.

I'M GOING TO SEE THE DOCTOR IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND HE'S EXPECTING ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS,

AND I THINK I'M DOING THAT.

**

I'M GOING TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN TODAY FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS ONLY 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO WEIGH

OR KEEP TRACK OF, LIKE, MY PROGRESS.

SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW, LIKE, WHERE I STAND.

YOU PUT IN THE WORK, RIGHT?

I DID THE BEST I COULD DO,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN 100% GOOD ALL THE TIME.

DR. NOW -- HE WANTED ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS

AND GET UNDER 580.

CYNTHIA WELLS.

AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT I DID.

Woman: 586.

24 POUNDS.

I AM 6 POUNDS SHORT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THE DOCTOR'S GONNA REACT.

BUT I HOPE AT LEAST HE SEES I'M TRYING.

-A LITTLE. -I'M STILL PROUD OF YOU, THOUGH.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -GOOD. YOU?

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU LOST 24 POUNDS.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT

AND WHAT CHANGES YOU MADE.

IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS KIND OF HARD,

AND I JUST -- I WAS AFRAID TO EAT THE WRONG THING.

AND THEN I WOULD BE SUPER-HUNGRY BY THE END OF THE DAY,

AND I WOULD MAKE BAD CHOICES.

BUT, LIKE, BY WEEK, MAYBE, 2.5,

I WAS MAKING GOOD CHOICES, HIGH-PROTEIN FOODS.

YOUR EATING DISORDER IS NOT GONNA GO AWAY

UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE KEY ISSUE FOR YOU

BEFORE SURGERY AND EVEN AFTER SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CYNTHIA HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS,

AND I CAN SEE SHE'S TRYING.

BUT SHE'S STILL NOT READY FOR SURGERY.

SHE'S STILL LETTING CIRCUMSTANCES IN HER LIFE

DICTATE HER EATING HABITS,

AND SHE NEEDS TO LEARN MORE CONTROL.

SO FOR THIS NEXT MONTH,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE ANOTHER 30 POUNDS

LIKE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO.

SHOW ME YOU CAN DO THIS.

IF YOU DO, I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY,

BUT NOT AT THIS POINT YET, OKAY?

IF YOU STICK WITH THE DIET,

YOU COULD EASILY LOSE 30 POUNDS IN A MONTH.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I'LL SEE YOU IN A MONTH.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

Cynthia: I WAS 6 POUNDS SHORT.

I'M EXTREMELY LET DOWN

THAT I'M STILL NOT APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE.

[ HORN HONKING ]

SHAQUILLE. WILL YOU GET MY PURSE FOR ME?

HEY. WILL YOU HELP ME GET UP?

ONE, TWO...THREE.

IT'S BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I WAS PROUD OF THE PROGRESS I MADE.

BUT THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT

HOW IT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR DR. NOW,

THE MORE DISCOURAGED AND FRUSTRATED I'VE BEEN.

AND NOW I'M FEELING SICK AND RUN-DOWN,

SO THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO IS EXERCISE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S GETTING EXPENSIVE

TO TRY TO BUY HEALTHY OPTIONS FOR EVERY MEAL.

SHAQUILLE, YOU WANT TO GO GET SOMETHING TO EAT?

YES.

I THINK THERE HAS TO BE

A REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN IT ALL.

SO I DON'T THINK EVERY MEAL HAS TO BE THE BEST CHOICE.

LET ME HAVE A LARGE PHILLY SANDWICH,

A LARGE ORDER OF POTATO CAKES,

AND A LARGE ORDER OF CURLY FRIES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

-HAVE A NICE DAY. -YOU TOO.

[ SIGHS ]

I'M STILL COMMITTED TO THE DIET,

BUT RIGHT NOW I'M NOT EVEN FOCUSED

ON THE NEXT DOCTOR VISIT.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THROUGH ONE DAY AT A TIME.

I'M HERE FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

CLARENCE AND JORDAN DROVE DOWN WITH ME,

BUT I ASKED THEM TO STAY IN THE CAR

BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT THEM TO SEE THE SCALE.

CYNTHIA WELLS.

THE DOCTOR, HE WANTED ME TO LOSE

ANOTHER 30 POUNDS THIS PAST MONTH

AND GET BELOW 556.

BUT I'M WORRIED I DIDN'T HIT MY GOAL AGAIN.

I THOUGHT I MADE A LITTLE PROGRESS.

BUT I HAD NO IDEA I'D GONE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

HI. HOW YOU DOING, CYNTHIA?

I'M DOING GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, SO, I NOTICED YOU GAINED 4 POUNDS.

MM-HMM.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

I'VE BEEN KIND OF SICK THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WHAT KIND OF SICKNESS?

I'VE HAD, LIKE, AN UPPER-RESPIRATORY.

HAVING AN UPPER-RESPIRATORY INFECTION

IS NOT AN INDICATION OF FALLING OFF YOUR DIET.

I HAVEN'T BEEN GOING TO THE GYM.

-WHAT? -I HAVEN'T BEEN EXERCISING.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT EXERCISING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR EATING HABIT.

I PROBABLY EAT ONCE A DAY.

OKAY, IF YOU'RE EATING ONCE A DAY

AND YOU'RE GAINING 4 POUNDS,

WE GOT A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH YOU.

EVEN IF YOU'RE EATING ONE TIME A DAY,

I CAN TELL YOUR CALORIE INTAKE RIGHT NOW

IS ABOUT THREE TO FOUR TIMES WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

THIS IS NOT THE SITUATION

THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

YOU NEED TO LOSE THE 30 POUNDS IF YOU WANT THIS CHANCE.

OKAY?

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

Cynthia: REALLY? IT'S FOUR POUNDS.

I DON'T THINK THE DOCTOR REALIZED

HOW MUCH COMING TO HOUSTON ONCE A MONTH

STRESSES MY FINANCES.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD THE THINGS THAT I NEED TO EAT,

SO I'VE EATEN WHAT I COULD.

I DON'T THINK HE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT

THE SACRIFICES THAT ARE BEING MADE.

IT PISSES ME OFF.

Clarence: HOW'D EVERYTHING GO?

I GAINED 4 POUNDS,

AND THAT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR HIM.

SO WHAT DID HE SAY THE NEXT STEPS ARE?

I HAVE TO LOSE 30 MORE POUNDS.

BY...?

WHATEVER. I'M OVER IT.

IT'S 4 POUNDS.

I FEEL LIKE I GOT BEAT UP OVER 4 POUNDS.

-ALL HE CARES ABOUT IS NUMBERS. -WE'LL GET BACK ON TRACK.

AND I'M STRUGGLING TO PAY

TO GET DOWN TO TEXAS FOR THIS DOCTOR!

MY KIDS LOOK AT ME EVERY GOD [BLEEP] NIGHT,

"MAMA, WHAT'S FOR DINNER?"

SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE A [BLEEP] ANSWER!

I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER

'CAUSE I'M TRYING TO GET MY ASS DOWN HERE!

AND IF THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA TURN ME INTO,

THEN I DON'T WANT TO DO IT.

I'M OVER IT.

YOU'RE DOING IT FOR YOUR KIDS.

YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU,

SO KEEP GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT I'M SACRIFICING!

LOOK WHAT THE [BLEEP] I'M SACRIFICING, CLARENCE!

IT'S ME AND MY KIDS, NOBODY ELSE!

NO, BECAUSE I GAVE UP THIS WEEKEND

WHEN I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH MY DAUGHTER.

I'M GIVING UP FOR YOU.

I'M SACRIFICING FOR YOU.

I'M PUTTING MY JOB ON THE LINE FOR YOU, TOO.

SO THAT IS NOT JUST YOU GIVING UP STUFF.

AND I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, BUT IT'S ALL OF US.

WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER WITH YOU.

YOU'RE NOT GOING THROUGH IT BY YOURSELF.

WE HURT JUST RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS [BLEEP] NO MORE.

-YES, WE DO! -NO, THE [BLEEP] WE DON'T!

CYNTHIA.

WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS [BLEEP] ANYMORE!

NOBODY HAS TO SACRIFICE [BLEEP] ANYMORE!

WE CAN GO BACK TO OUR FAT LIVES

THE WAY THE [BLEEP] WE WERE AND [BLEEP] ALL THESE [BLEEP]

**

Cynthia: HEY, I'M GONNA GO WALKING.

-CAN I COME? -SURE.

Cynthia: I'VE BEEN A LITTLE EMOTIONAL

SINCE MY LAST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

I FELT LIKE THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

WAS JUST SNATCHED AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE I GAINED 4 POUNDS.

BUT ONCE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT MORE,

ALTHOUGH I DON'T COMPLETELY AGREE WITH DR. NOWZARADAN,

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO I'VE DECIDED TO KEEP TRYING AND WORK EVEN HARDER TO DO THIS

BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

UKIAH HAS BEEN OFFERING TO TAKE WALKS WITH ME

AND HELP ME STAY ON TRACK,

AND I DON'T WANT TO LET HER DOWN.

SO I'M WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN RIGHT NOW,

BUT EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARK IS THEY HAVE SEATS,

AND I DON'T SEE ANY.

-YEAH, THEY DO. -WHERE?

RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE, RIGHT THERE.

Ukiah: WHEN MY MOM STARTED THIS PROCESS,

I WAS REALLY EXCITED THAT SHE WOULD LOSE THE WEIGHT.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE SHE IS JUST MORE STRESSED OUT LATELY.

JUST TRYING TO BREATHE.

I'M JUST OUT OF BREATH.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

YOU SOUND LIKE IT.

Cynthia: UKIAH WAS UPSET WHEN SHE FOUND OUT

I WASN'T HAVING SURGERY.

SO THEY KIND OF GO THROUGH THE ROLLER COASTER WITH ME.

I HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE

HOW MUCH OF WHAT I DO AFFECTS THEM.

I ENJOY OUR WALKS TOGETHER.

I KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME

'CAUSE YOU HAVE DANCE AND CHEER.

YOU CAN STILL DO IT YOURSELF.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GO ON WALKS

A LOT MORE THAN WE ARE NOW.

YOU KNOW PART OF THE REASON I'M DOING ALL THIS

IS FOR YOU AND ROBERT AND JEFFREY

AND JORDAN AND SHAQUILLE. YEAH.

SO THAT'S WHY I DEPEND ON YOU TO PUSH ME.

SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO

IS TEACHING YOU DANCES.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Cynthia: IN A LOT OF WAYS, I GAVE UP MY LIFE FOR MY KIDS.

BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE THE ONES GIVING ME MY LIFE BACK.

CAN I HAVE A PIGGYBACK RIDE?

I'M GOING TO DO THIS, AND I'M GOING TO SUCCEED FOR THEM.

WHETHER I HAVE TO LOSE ANOTHER 30 POUNDS OR 50 POUNDS,

WHATEVER THE GOAL IS,

IF IT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DO IT, I'LL DO IT.

WHAT YOU GONNA EAT?

-WE COULD MAKE A WRAP. -A WRAP?

OH, 'CAUSE WE GOT THAT LETTUCE, TOO.

MY LITTLE COUSIN, T.T., IS STAYING WITH US.

AND SHE ACTUALLY CALLED ME ONE DAY OUT THE BLUE

AND SAID THAT I HAD ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR HER,

AND SHE STRONGLY FELT LIKE SHE WANTED

TO COME HELP ME THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.

-YOU WANT SOME RED ONIONS? -OH, YES.

CUCUMBERS?

T.T. IS A VERY POSITIVE PERSON,

AND SHE TRIES TO KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE IN MY DIET.

T.T.: CYNTHIA MEANS THE WORLD TO OUR FAMILY,

AND MY GOAL IS TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT I CAN

TO HELP HER AND THE KIDS WITH THIS WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.

THAT'S WHAT FAMILY'S FOR.

Cynthia: IT'S BEEN SO ENCOURAGING

HAVING EVERYONE SUPPORTING ME AND BEING THERE FOR ME.

THE TURKEY BREAST IS 70 CALORIES.

THE CHEESE IS 70 CALORIES.

AND THE RANCH IS 70 CALORIES.

WHERE ARE YOU FOR TODAY?

LIKE, I STILL HAVE 369.

I KNOW I'M MAKING PROGRESS, AND I'M WORKING HARD.

BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR MY DOCTOR'S VISIT LAST MONTH,

I WA SO SCARED, I SKIPPED IT.

I'M GOING TO SEE HIM AGAIN IN A WEEK,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

NOW I REALIZE THERE IS TOO MUCH AT STAKE

FOR ME TO START BACKSLIDING.

SO, Y'ALL BEEN OUTSIDE ALL DAY, RIGHT?

YEP!

NOTHING MOTIVATES ME MORE THAN SEEING MY KIDS HAPPY.

I DON'T WANT TO LET MYSELF DOWN.

I DON'T WANT TO LET MY FAMILY DOWN.

SO I'M DOING THIS.

I'M AT THE DOCTOR FOR MY FOURTH APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M HOPING TO FINALLY GET APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

CYNTHIA WELLS.

HE SET A GOAL OF LOSING 30 POUNDS IN A MONTH.

I MISSED MY APPOINTMENT LAST MONTH,

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS

HE'S GOING TO WANT ME TO HAVE LOST 60 POUNDS.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT RIGHT NOW.

**

Cynthia: I'M REALLY NERVOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT MY PROGRESS IS.

THE DOCTOR WANTED ME TO LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

BUT IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS,

SO I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HE EXPECTS FROM ME TODAY.

ALL I KNOW IS I'VE WORKED HARDER THAN I EVER HAVE TO DO THIS.

Woman: 533.

I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

I KNEW I WAS WORKING HARD,

BUT TO SEE HOW MUCH I LOST IS AMAZING.

I JUST REALLY HOPE THIS PROVES TO DR. NOW

I'M READY FOR THE SURGERY.

-HELLO. -HOW YOU DOING?

-YOU DOING OKAY? -YEAH. HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.

I SEE THAT YOU'RE DOWN TO 534 POUNDS,

SO TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS FROM DAY ONE -- 77 POUNDS.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD TURNAROUND.

DO YOU FEEL ANY BETTER YOU LOST WEIGHT?

-OH, YEAH. -HOW'S YOUR ACTIVITY?

I'M GETTING AROUND THE BUILDING MORE AT WORK.

I KNEW WHAT YOU WANTED ME TO DO, AND SO I NEEDED TO PROVE TO YOU

THAT I KNEW WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DO

AND THAT I COULD GET BACK ON TRACK.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT CYNTHIA.

NOT ONLY DID SHE START TO GAIN WEIGHT,

BUT SHE MISSED HER APPOINTMENT LAST MONTH.

AT THAT POINT, I WASN'T SURE

THAT I WAS GOING TO SEE HER EVER AGAIN.

BUT SHE'S HERE TODAY,

AND SHE'S MADE SOME REALLY GOOD PROGRESS.

THIS IS A REALLY NICE SURPRISE, AND I'M VERY ENCOURAGED.

I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR GETTING ON THE PROGRAM.

YOU'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE

A CANDIDATE FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

BUT YOU STILL HAVE A BMI CLOSE TO 100.

AND THAT'S VERY RISKY FOR PUTTING SOMEBODY ASLEEP

AND DOING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO I'M GONNA SEND YOU TO THE HOSPITAL

SO WE CAN RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU,

MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE FOR ANESTHESIA.

IF ALL THOSE TESTS ARE GOOD, I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY.

OH.

I WANT YOU TO MAKE EFFORT

TO LOSE ALL THE WEIGHT THAT YOU CAN PRIOR TO SURGERY,

AND THAT'S GONNA DECREASE THE CHANCES OF COMPLICATION.

-OKAY? -OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN, OKAY?

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT. SUPER.

[ Ringing ]

Cynthia: MY KIDS ARE GONNA BE SUPER-EXCITED

'CAUSE WHEN I LEAVE EVERY TIME,

THEY'RE SITTING BY THE PHONE WAITING TO HEAR.

-Ukiah: Mama! -HEY.

SO, I HAVE TO GET A FEW MORE TESTS DONE,

BUT I SHOULD BE APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

[ Cheering ]

-THANK YOU, KIAH. -Bye! Love you!

BYE. LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.

AND I'M GLAD THAT I DIDN'T LET THE DISCOURAGEMENT

OF NOT QUALIFYING THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES

KEEP ME FROM DOING THIS.

I HAD WANTED TO GIVE UP AFTER THAT LAST DOCTOR VISIT,

BUT MY FAMILY KEPT ME GOING.

AND NOW TO SEE IT ALL PAYING OFF IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

I NEVER HAD AN ENDOSCOPY BEFORE.

KIND OF NERVOUS 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

I KNOW DR. NOW IS LOOKING TO MAKE SURE

THAT MY STOMACH IS SAFE AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

OKAY.

AS BAD AS I WANT THIS SURGERY,

I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO DO IT IF MY BODY CAN'T HANDLE IT.

-GOOD MORNING. -GOOD MORNING.

-HOW YOU DOING TODAY? -GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, SO, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE MEDICATION.

AND I PUT THE SCOPE DOWN THERE AND LOOK INSIDE THE STOMACH.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET YOU STARTED IN A FEW MINUTES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE ENDOSCOPY BEFORE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS A SIMPLE PROCEDURE WE DO, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S OKAY,

THERE IS NO POLYP OR TUMOR

IN THE STOMACH THAT'S GONNA PREVENT US

FROM DOING THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Woman: I WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME BIG, DEEP BREATHS

THROUGH YOUR NOSE FOR ME, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: CYNTHIA HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS.

I AM PROUD OF HER, BUT SHE STILL HAS A BMI OF OVER 100.

SO THIS IS STILL GOING TO BE A VERY RISKY SURGERY.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH CYNTHIA

THAT WOULD PUT HER IN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION.

I'M GONNA LOOK AT THE UPPER PART OF THE INTESTINE,

MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. EVERYTHING LOOKS OKAY.

CYNTHIA GOT NORMAL STOMACH, NORMAL ESOPHAGUS,

SO IT'S GONNA BE GOOD FOR DOING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Woman: YOU'RE ALL DONE, SWEETHEART, OKAY? YOU DID GREAT.

THE ONLY THING IS THAT SHE HAS VERY HIGH BMI,

SO HER TOLERANCE FOR THE ANESTHESIA

IS NOT VERY GOOD.

SO, SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY IS THE BEST OPTION

FOR CYNTHIA'S WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

BECAUSE IT IS A MUCH FASTER PROCEDURE THAN A FULL BYPASS.

HI, CYNTHIA. HOW DO YOU FEEL?

-GOOD. -YOUR ENDOSCOPY LOOKS VERY GOOD.

-EVERYTHING LOOKED NORMAL. -OKAY.

SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY

AND PUT YOU IN THE SCHEDULE FOR NEXT MONTH.

-OKAY. -I KNOW YOU NEED TO GO BACK

AND GET TIME OFF OF WORK.

SO UNTIL THEN, KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

IF YOU SHOW UP FOR SURGERY AND HAVEN'T MADE GOOD PROGRESS,

I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE AHEAD WITH YOUR SURGERY.

-OKAY. -YOU'VE DONE WELL.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OKAY.

Cynthia: I'M SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

THIS WAS THE LAST STEP, AND A PART OF ME

FELT LIKE THEY WERE GONNA FIND SOMETHING

TO SABOTAGE MY SURGERY.

BUT I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME

AND SEE THE LOOKS ON MY KIDS' FACES

WHEN I TELL THEM I'M FINALLY GETTING SURGERY.

-IS THIS ONE ME? -OH, YEAH, THE LITTLE ONE.

-THAT'S YOU. -THIS IS ME.

-THAT'S JORDAN. -THAT'S ROBERT.

THAT'S ME, THAT'S JEFFREY, AND THAT'S MAMA IN THE MIDDLE.

IT TAKES A STRONG MAN TO GET THAT UP THERE.

SO, BEFORE YOU LEAVE IN THE MORNING,

DON'T FORGET TO GET YOUR TOOTHBRUSH.

Cynthia: TOMORROW I LEAVE FOR HOUSTON TO GET MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND I'M SAD TO BE LEAVING THE KIDS.

I KNOW THIS IS HIGH-RISK SURGERY

AND THAT IT'S POSSIBLE I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT THROUGH.

BUT I'M DOING THIS FOR THEM SO WE CAN HAVE A LIFE TOGETHER.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.

I CAN'T DO -- [ LAUGHS ]

I KNOW THEIR UNCLE WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM,

BUT WHEN WE'RE NOT ALL TOGETHER,

IT FEELS LIKE A PART OF ME IS MISSING.

-HEY, ROBERT AND JORDAN! -YES, MA'AM.

CAN Y'ALL CUT THE GAME FOR LIKE FIVE MINUTES

SO WE CAN HAVE A POWWOW?

HEY, SO, LISTEN.

I'M LEAVING SOMETIME TOMORROW.

UNCLE JEFF -- HE SHOULD BE HERE,

HOPEFULLY, BEFORE Y'ALL GET OUT OF SCHOOL TOMORROW.

HOW LONG ARE YOU GONNA BE IN HOUSTON?

AT LEAST TWO WEEKS OR MORE

BECAUSE I HAVE SURGERY ON MONDAY,

AND I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP A WEEK LATER.

I DON'T KNOW AFTER THAT.

WHO'S GONNA SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM?

Jordan: OH, MY GOD.

ROBERT, YOU WANT TO SLEEP IN MY ROOM?

-YES, I DO. -NO!

-Y'ALL CAN ALL SLEEP IN MY ROOM. -YAY.

SLUMBER PARTY IN MOMMY'S ROOM TOMORROW NIGHT!

WHAT ARE MY EXPECTATIONS?

NO DISRESPECT, BE GOOD, MAKE GOOD GRADES.

HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

WHAT IS THE SURGERY, AND WHAT DO IT DO?

THEY'RE GONNA CUT MY STOMACH

DOWN TO THE SIZE OF A LEMON.

I'LL SHOW YOU THE VIDEO.

Ukiah: I LOVE MY MOM A LOT.

AND I AM KIND OF WORRIED ABOUT MY MOM HAVING SURGERY

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S KIND OF SCARY.

BUT I'M VERY EXCITED FOR HER AT THE SAME TIME.

OKAY. HERE WE GO.

OH, THAT'S NASTY. I DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT.

THIS IS HOW THEY DO THE SURGERY.

THIS IS YOUR STOMACH RIGHT HERE,

JUST THIS LITTLE -- WHERE YOU SEE THAT BLUE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY CUT.

THAT'S YOUR INTESTINES.

Cynthia: IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT MY KIDS UNDERSTAND

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN

BECAUSE THIS SURGERY IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF OUR LIVES.

SINCE THEY CAN'T BE WITH ME IN HOUSTON,

MY NUMBER-ONE PRIORITY BEFORE I LEAVE

IS TO MAKE SURE MY KIDS FEEL OKAY WITH EVERYTHING.

DO Y'ALL UNDERSTAND BETTER NOW THAT YOU SAW THE VIDEO,

-WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? -YEAH.

SO, LIKE, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

-I FEEL EXCITED. -BECAUSE?

BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE

AND OUR LIVES, TOO.

I'M EXCITED 'CAUSE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE THINGS,

HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN WHAT YOU HAD BEFORE.

JORDAN?

I FEEL NERVOUS

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO HURT MY MOTHER

OR DO SOMETHING

THAT CAUSE YOU TO DIE.

WELL, JORDAN, THAT'S WHY I PICKED THIS DOCTOR,

BECAUSE HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE,

LIKE, THE BEST PERSON AT DOING THIS SURGERY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MUCH,

BECAUSE I KNOW HOW GOOD HE IS.

OKAY.

YOU FEELING NERVOUS OR SCARED IS NORMAL.

IT'S OKAY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS PROCESS?

KIAH, HONESTLY,

RIGHT NOW I DON'T THINK IT'S HITTING ME

THAT IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS.

-RIGHT? -YEAH.

Cynthia: I WANT TO GET THIS SURGERY

SO I CAN START ENJOYING

SOME THINGS THAT I'VE MISSED OUT ON.

BUT ULTIMATELY, MORE THAN ANYTHING,

MY KIDS WILL BENEFIT A LOT.

SO ONCE I'M HEALTHY,

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW FAR THIS FAMILY CAN GO.

I LEAVE FOR HOUSTON TOMORROW.

I'M SCARED, BUT I'M READY.

[ LAUGHTER ]

**

Cynthia: T.T. AND I ARE STAYING IN HOUSTON

FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS SO I CAN GET MY SURGERY

AND RECOVER BEFORE I GO BACK TO OKLAHOMA.

SHE'S GONNA HELP TAKE CARE OF ME

UNTIL I CAN RECUPERATE ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVE BACK.

I GOT PRETTY DOUBTFUL THAT THIS DAY WOULD COME,

SO I HAD MY MOMENTS

WHERE THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

BUT IT'S REALLY HARD

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM MY KIDS THIS LONG.

AND I'M ALREADY MISSING THEM A LOT.

I'M SCARED ABOUT SURGERY,

AND SO MANY THINGS KEEP RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND.

WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?

WHAT IF I'M NOT ABLE TO SEE THEM AGAIN?

I WISH THE KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

KIAH COULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS.

I COULD'VE BEEN ASLEEP. [ LAUGHS ]

I GUESS I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP MY MIND OFF IT,

SO I'M KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT MY KIDS ARE DOING,

YOU KNOW, GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL.

BUT I DO WISH MY KIDS COULD BE HERE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-AUNTIE! -WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

HI, AUNTIE!

HEY. WHAT Y'ALL DOING HERE?

OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Cynthia: I CAN'T BELIEVE THE KIDS SHOWED UP THIS MORNING.

KNOWING THAT THEY'RE HERE GIVES ME A LOT OF STRENGTH.

AM I GONNA GET MY LOVE, LITTLE BOY?

I FEEL PRETTY COMPLETE NOW.

THEY WERE THE MISSING PART TO THIS WHOLE PUZZLE.

WHAT TIME Y'ALL LEAVE THIS MORNING?

-8:30 OR 9:00. -REALLY?

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR HER TO KNOW

THAT WE'RE WITH HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO ME TO BE HERE FOR HER SURGERY.

THAT WAY, I CAN KNOW IF SHE'S OKAY OR NOT,

'CAUSE IF I WAS IN OKLAHOMA,

I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

Cynthia: THEY'VE BEEN AS BIG A PART OF THIS AS ANYBODY,

SO KNOWING THAT THEY'RE HERE,

I CAN KIND OF FOCUS ON MY SURGERY

AND THAT THEY'LL KNOW THAT I'LL BE OKAY.

T.T.: YOU WANT TO GO TO THE RIGHT

SO THAT YOU CAN JUST PULL IN TO GO TO THE VALET.

GOING THROUGH THIS TODAY WITHOUT THEM BEING HERE WITH ME

WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT HARDER THAN I'D LIKE TO ADMIT.

WE'RE NEVER, EVER COMING BACK IN HERE.

BUT THEY'RE HERE RIGHT NOW, AND I'M SO EXCITED.

AND I'M READY FOR ANYTHING

BECAUSE I HAVE MY FAMILY RIGHT HERE BESIDE ME.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M SO GLAD THIS DAY HAS FINALLY COME.

ALL RIGHT.

Woman: HI!

Cynthia: I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT

TURNING POINTS IN MY LIFE.

-HEY, BABY. -HI.

EVEN THOUGH I'M HIGH-RISK GOING INTO SURGERY,

RIGHT NOW I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE ALL RIGHT,

AND THIS IS THE FIRST BIG STEP TO MY RECOVERY.

-KINDA -WELL, TALK TO ME.

WHAT'S WRONG?

I CAN TELL. TALK TO ME.

-WHAT? -I'M GOOD.

YOU'RE NOT. WHAT'S WRONG?

Cynthia: BEING HERE RIGHT NOW AND SEEING UKIAH GET EMOTIONAL,

IT'S HARD NOT TO BE OVERCOME

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR OF SOMETHING GOING WRONG.

ROBERT, COME HERE.

FOR REAL.

I LOVE Y'ALL.

-WE LOVE YOU, TOO. -LOVE YOU, TOO.

Cynthia: WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS,

THE BIGGEST FEAR YOU HAVE IS LEAVING THEM.

BUT I KNOW THEY WILL 100% LOSE ME

IF I DON'T GO THROUGH WITH THIS TODAY.

[ SIGHS ]

I'M TERRIFIED OF LEAVING THEM.

THREE OF THEM HAVE ALREADY LOST ONE MOTHER.

SO THIS SURGERY IS MY GREATEST CHANCE

FOR A FUTURE WITH MY CHILDREN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE DOING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON CYNTHIA.

SHE HAS LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT,

BUT SHE STILL HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH BMI OVER 100,

WHICH MAKES HER VERY HIGH-RISK FOR SURGERY.

ONE SMALL THING CAN PUSH HER BODY OVER THE LIMIT,

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

TO AVOID ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE A FATAL SCENARIO

WHERE CYNTHIA WOULD NOT SURVIVE THIS SURGERY.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

A SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY ON CYNTHIA.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

NOT TO DO ANYTHING TO PUSH HER BODY OVER THE LIMIT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO WORK FAST.

TURN THE ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

BECAUSE THE LONGER SHE'S UNDER,

THE GREATER THE CHANCES OF A FATAL EVENT OCCURRING.

DURING GASTRIC SLEEVE OPERATION,

WE REMOVE 70% TO 80% OF THE STOMACH.

AFTER WE REMOVE THE MAJORITY OF THE STOMACH,

WE LEAVE A LONG, SKINNY TUBE IN PLACE.

GO FORWARD. LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

IN THE SHORT TERM, SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY CAN BE

AS EFFECTIVE AS GASTRIC BYPASS

BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE IS DRASTICALLY LIMITED.

SO THEY WILL FEEL FULL VERY QUICKLY AFTER EATING,

WHICH WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY

TO BEGIN LOSING WEIGHT.

MY MOM IS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY WHOLE LIFE,

PROBABLY LIKE THE TOP OF THE LIST.

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER DIE.

Ukiah: RIGHT NOW IT IS A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING FOR ME

'CAUSE I JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT SHE'S OKAY.

I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HER

TO KNOW THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR HER

AND WE'RE WITH HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHEN YOU HAVE A STOMACH THAT THAT'S BIG,

YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET FULL.

ALL RIGHT. LOOKS GOOD.

LET'S GET HER CLOSED UP.

OKAY. ROOM LIGHT ON.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

CYNTHIA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

THIS WAS AN OPERATION

THAT DIDN'T TAKE MORE THAN HALF AN HOUR,

SO THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH ANESTHESIA.

AND SHE DID VERY WELL WITH HER SURGERY.

CYNTHIA IS VERY EMOTIONAL,

AND SHE HAS WORKED HARD TO ACHIEVE THIS SPECIFIC GOAL.

NOW THAT THE GOAL IS NO LONGER THERE

AND THE HARD WORK HAS TO CONTINUE,

SHE MAY STRUGGLE LIKE SHE DID IN THE BEGINNING

AND RUN THE RISK OF HER LIFE

AND CIRCUMSTANCES CONTROLLING HER AGAIN.

THIS SURGERY WILL HELP

TO PREVENT HER FROM TURNING TO FOOD.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T DEAL WITH SOME OF HER DEEPER ISSUES,

IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SHE TURNS BACK TO IT.

Cynthia: IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE MY SURGERY.

I WAS DISCHARGED YESTERDAY, AND I'M RECOVERING IN THE HOTEL.

RIGHT NOW I'VE LOST ALL CRAVINGS FOR FOOD,

AND IT'S A COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR SENSATION TO ME.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

THE DOCTOR WANTS TO ME TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR ANOTHER WEEK TO BE SAFE.

BUT MY FAMILY HAD TO GO BACK TO OKLAHOMA.

SO MY BROTHER'S COMING DOWN TO VISIT ME

TO SEE HOW I'M DOING.

HEY, WHAT'S UP, T.T.?

-HEY. -HOW YOU DOING?

HEY, MAMA. WHAT'S GOING ON?

-HOW YOU FEELING? -GOOD.

I DON'T WANT TO HURT NOTHING.

HURTING? I'M GOOD.

SO, HOW'D EVERYTHING GO?

IT WENT GOOD.

CAN I GET SOME DETAILS? WHAT THE DOCTOR SAY?

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SURGERY,

THE PAIN WAS LIKE WORSE THAN GIVING BIRTH TWICE.

-REALLY? -YEAH, I WAS LIKE,

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?

CAN YOU SHOW ME YOUR SCARS?

NO, I'M NOT GONNA SHOW YOU MY SCARS.

HOW IS SHE DOING?

'CAUSE I'M ONLY GONNA GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF INFORMATION.

I MEAN, I'M GOOD.

THE WORST PAIN THAT SHE HAS

IS PROBABLY WHEN SHE'S ASLEEP

'CAUSE SHE CAN'T GET COMFORTABLE.

TAKE THE PAIN MEDICATION TO HELP YOU RELAX.

CLARENCE, THAT'S -- OKAY.

PAIN MEDICATION IS NOT GONNA FIX

ME BEING ABLE TO SLEEP ON MY STOMACH.

AND IT HURTS TO SLEEP ON MY BACK.

PAIN MEDICATION IS NOT GONNA FIX THAT, EITHER.

I GOT A BIG BOOTY. SO THE FACT OF ME --

YOU WANTED TO GO THERE, SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GONNA GO.

Clarence: I WAS EXPECTING TO SEE SOME RELIEF

AND A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT,

AND I DON'T THINK SHE IS ALLOWING HERSELF

TO FEEL ANY OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

CYNTHIA DOESN'T OUTWARDLY SHOW THE EMOTIONS ALL THE TIME.

SHE KEEPS A LOT OF HER FEELINGS BOTTLED UP,

AND THAT'S BEEN HER WHOLE LIFE.

-SO... -YES.

WHAT ARE YOU ABLE TO EAT?

FOUR OUNCES EVERY HOUR.

JELL-O, POPSICLES, CHICKEN BROTH, WATER.

HELL, I'VE BEEN STARVING FOR THREE DAYS.

HOW'S YOUR MIND-SET NOW?

I MEAN, YOU GOT THE SURGERY FINALLY.

I THINK MY FEELINGS ARE NUMB

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

THROUGH THIS ALL, I HAVE HAD TO MAKE

FIVE KIDS GO WITHOUT SOMETHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

WELL, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM TO MAKE THEM GO WITHOUT.

I HAD MY DOUBTS ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD GET HERE,

AND I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW SITTING RIGHT HERE

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

[ LAUGHS ]

YOU SHOWED MY A WHOLE DIFFERENT SIDE OF YOU.

OKAY, SO, LISTEN.

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FROM DAY ONE.

YOU HAVE STUCK IT OUT

THROUGH MY TEMPER TANTRUMS AND...

PITY PARTIES.

I'M NOT NECESSARILY GONNA SAY I HAVE PITY PARTIES.

I JUST DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ME

'CAUSE I'M A COMPLEX BEING.

THAT'S A NICE WAY OF PUTTING IT.

YOUR ACTS OF KINDNESS HAVE NOT GONE UNNOTICED,

AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE

AND EVERYTHING YOU WILL DO FROM HERE ON OUT.

AND I LOVE YOU.

I DID WHAT A BIG BROTHER'S SUPPOSED TO DO.

Clarence: MY MIND-SET WITH HER HAS ALWAYS BEEN,

"I'M GONNA PUSH YOU. I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO BE INVITED TO THE PITY PARTY.

I WANT YOU TO GET BACK IN THE FIGHT, AND LET'S FINISH THIS."

AND IT TOOK HER A LITTLE BIT TO GET BACK ON TRACK,

BUT SHE DID, AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD AND EXCITED FOR HER.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

Cynthia: I'M GLAD MY BROTHER CAME TO VISIT ME.

IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING,

AND HE'S ALWAYS BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT ME.

THIS IS ALREADY HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

SO I KNOW I'M GOING TO NEED EVERYONE'S SUPPORT TO DO THIS.

TODAY, I'M SEEING THE DOCTOR FOR MY FIRST SURGERY FOLLOW-UP.

HE'S GONNA SEE HOW I'M DOING AND WHAT PROGRESS I'M MAKING

TO SEE IF I'M READY TO GO HOME.

CYNTHIA WELLS.

IT'S BEEN 10 DAYS SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND I HAVE TO GET BACK TO MY KIDS.

MY CAR IS PACKED AND READY,

SO I'M EXPECTING MY PROGRESS TO BE GOOD

AND FOR THE DOCTOR TO GIVE ME SOME GOOD NEWS.

I'VE KEPT ON WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS.

THERE'S NO REASON HE SHOULD KEEP ME HERE ANY LONGER.

-510. -THAT'S GOOD.

Cynthia: I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT NUMBER.

I'M CLOSE TO THE 400s, AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR ME.

LETS ME KNOW THAT I ACTUALLY DID HAVE SURGERY.

[ LAUGHS ]

BUT I'M GONNA BE REALLY UPSET

IF HE DOESN'T CLEAR ME TO RETURN BACK HOME TODAY.

-HELLO. -HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD.

TODAY IS YOUR 10 DAY AFTER SURGERY, HUH?

YEP.

ALL RIGHT. HOW IS EVERYTHING COMING ALONG?

GREAT.

HOW IS YOUR PAIN AND DISCOMFORT?

-I DON'T HAVE ANY. -OKAY.

AND LIQUID GOING DOWN OKAY?

-MM-HMM. -OKAY.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE INCISION LOOKS LIKE.

OKAY, THEY'RE ALL HEALING PRETTY GOOD.

SO, YOU ARE DOWN TO ABOUT 510.

THIS EXACTLY -- YOU HAVE LOST 100 POUNDS SO FAR.

DO YOU FEEL ANY DIFFERENT?

-I DO. -YOU DO?

-YEAH. -YOU'RE OKAY TO TRAVEL.

-YOU CAN GO BACK. -OKAY.

BUT I'M ARRANGING FOR YOU

TO START SEEING A THERAPIST IN OKLAHOMA CITY.

-OKAY. -BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO START

DISCUSSING SOME THINGS WITH THEM

SO YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG TERM.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: CYNTHIA IS FINE TO GO BACK HOME.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS ONLY ABOUT SEVEN HOURS AWAY,

SO SHE CAN DRIVE BACK TO SEE ME IF SHE'S HAVING ANY PROBLEMS.

SHE IS STAYING ON TRACK RIGHT NOW,

BUT SHE WAS VERY EMOTIONAL IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE SHE LEFT.

SO I'M CONCERNED THAT SHE'S GOING TO START

TO GO BACK TO FOOD

IF SHE DOESN'T ADDRESS WHAT HAS BEEN AT THE CORE

OF HER OVEREATING ALL THESE YEARS.

SO, THE GOAL WILL BE THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE

-TO LOSE 25 POUNDS A MONTH. -OKAY.

AND SO, OVER THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS,

-YOU'RE GONNA BE UNDER 400. -OKAY.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE A NEW WEIGHT FOR YOU, OKAY?

-IT IS. -HAVE A GOOD TRIP.

-THANK YOU. -I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-BYE. -I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

CYNTHIA SEEMS TO BE IN SOME DENIAL

ABOUT THERE BEING ANY CORRELATION

BETWEEN HOW SHE FEELS AND HER DRIVE TO EAT.

SO WE NEED TO GET AT THAT,

OR SHE'S GOING TO GAIN WEIGHT IN THE LONG TERM.

Cynthia: I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I GET TO GO HOME AND SEE MY KIDS.

BEING APART FROM THEM HAS BEEN THE HARDEST PART

OF THIS WHOLE SURGERY.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING DR. NOW IS SAYING,

BUT I DON'T THINK I NEED TO GO TO ANY THERAPY.

EVERYONE THINKS I USE FOOD TO DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS,

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

I JUST LOVE TO EAT, AND I'M LOSING WEIGHT NOW.

SO I DON'T SEE A NEED TO DO ANY THERAPY RIGHT NOW.

SO I'M GONNA GET HOME AND KEEP DOING WHAT I'M DOING.

**

Cynthia: I'VE BEEN BACK HOME FOR A DAY NOW.

IT WAS SO GOOD TO GET BACK,

AND I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK HOME WITH MY KIDS.

ROBERT, KIAH, JORDAN, AND SHAQUILLE.

THEY'VE BEEN SUCH A BIG PART OF MY MOTIVATION,

AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO SHOW THEM

HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM

AND HOW MUCH THEY'VE BEEN ON MY MIND.

OKAY, SO, WHILE I WAS IN HOUSTON,

I WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING SPECIAL

FOR EACH ONE OF YOU ALL.

LIKE, I JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS, LIKE, THE PERFECT PICTURE

OF YOU RIDING MY SHOULDERS.

I WAS MISSING THEM SO MUCH,

SO MADE THEM EACH A KIND OF PERSONALIZED

PICTURE FRAME TO SHOW OFF THEIR PERSONALITY.

I JUST WANTED THEM TO KNOW HOW MUCH I WAS THINKING OF THEM.

I ONLY SAW MOM ONLINE WHILE SHE WAS AWAY.

I WAS HOPING THAT SHE WAS OKAY 'CAUSE I WASN'T THERE.

IT SHOCKED ME A LOT TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT SHE'S LOST.

AT FIRST, WHEN I SAW THE PICTURES OF YOU --

AND YOUR CHEEKS, THEY USED TO BE LIKE BIG LIKE THIS,

LIKE A SQUIRREL. -LOOK AT THAT PICTURE.

BUT NOW WHEN YOU SMILE, YOUR FACE IS LIKE THIS.

[ LAUGHS ]

YOUR BELLY USED TO BE TOUCHING THE STEERING WHEEL.

YOU WERE LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH, I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT,

JUST, O.M.G."

I THINK YOU SHOULD DO EACH AND EVERY ONE

OF THESE PICTURES OVER AGAIN

AND SEE HOW MUCH IT CHANGED.

PRETTY MUCH, WE'RE GOING TO HELP HER

BY SUPPORTING HER AND BEING A FAMILY.

Cynthia: I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE START OF A NEW LIFE FOR ME.

LIKE, I'M EXCITED TO SEE

WHAT HAPPENS WITH, LIKE, EVERY 50 POUNDS.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DOING MORE WITH THEM.

I'VE ALREADY MISSED OUT ON DOING SO MUCH.

I DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANOTHER MINUTE.

WHY YOU KEEP PUTTING DOWN 3s?

[ LAUGHTER ]

THEY'RE SUCH A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I JUST WANT TO BE THERE FOR THEM.

THEY KEEP ME MOTIVATED.

THEY'RE THE REASON I WAS ON THIS JOURNEY

IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO I JUST TRY

TO DISCIPLINE MYSELF TO REFRAIN FROM EATING

THE STUFF THAT I COOK FOR THEM.

I'VE BEEN STARTING TO FEEL THE TEMPTATION TO EAT A LITTLE.

BUT I'VE BEEN PUSHING PAST IT

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GIVE IN AND START GAINING AT ANY POINT.

Ukiah: IT'S DELICIOUS.

I WANT TO KEEP MAKING THE PROGRESS I HAVE BEEN.

AND I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO MESS THAT UP.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO GET MY HAIR DONE.

I'M ALWAYS THERE FOR EVERYONE,

SO I DECIDED I COULD DO SOMETHING LITTLE FOR ME TODAY.

I LOVE GOING TO GET MY HAIR DONE,

SO I'M, LIKE, SUPER EXCITED.

I'VE HAD A HAIR STYLIST WHO'S BEEN WITH ME FOR YEARS.

-WHAT'S UP? -WHAT'S UP?

AND IT WAS GETTING HARD FOR ME TO GOT TO HER

AND SIT IN HER LITTLE CHAIR.

OKAY.

CYNTHIA LOOKS DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN DEFINITELY TELL THERE'S A DIFFERENCE,

THAT SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

SO YOU SEEM LIKE YOU'RE GETTING AROUND STUFF, GIRL.

GIRL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

IT'S, LIKE, REALLY SCARY 'CAUSE I HAVE NO PAIN.

I MEAN, LIKE, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE AFTER THAT FIRST DAY.

MM-HMM. OH, YEAH, YOU DID GOOD THEN.

Cynthia: IT HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT

WHERE I COULDN'T HANDLE SITTING IN THE CHAIR OF SO LONG

AND MOVING AROUND SO MUCH. -COME ON OVER HERE.

LET'S GET THIS RELAXER WASHED OUT.

-OKAY. -LOOK AT YOU ALL EASING

IN THE CHAIR LIKE IT AIN'T NOTHING NOW.

LOOK AT YOU! -[ LAUGHS ]

WHEN SHE USED TO COME IN, IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME

FOR HER TO GET IN THE CHAIR AND GET UP AND GO TO THE DRYER

OR COME BACK TO THE SHAMPOO BOWL.

IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF A STRUGGLE.

BUT SHE DID IT WITH EASE TODAY.

Nikky: WHAT CAN YOU EAT NOW? HOW MUCH CAN YOU EAT?

Cynthia: RIGHT NOW, I CAN ONLY EAT PUREED FOODS.

-BABY FOOD. -RIGHT, BABY FOOD.

I'M STILL ONLY ABLE TO EAT SMALL AMOUNTS, THOUGH, NIKKY.

THAT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME.

IT'S GOOD. TRY IT, IT'S PROTEIN.

OH, MY GOD. TREY!

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

YOU WANT SOME OF MY BAR?

I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT YOUR BAR, TREY.

-PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH. -[ LAUGHS ]

CAN YOU GET AWAY FROM US SO I CAN FINISH MY CLIENT?

Cynthia: I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW FAR I'VE COME EVEN NOW.

ALL RIGHT, CYNTHIA, YOU ARE DONE, GIRL.

-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.

Cynthia: I THINK I'M MORE CONFIDENT

THE MORE WEIGHT I LOSE.

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.

I WILL SEE YOU.

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. -NEXT TIME -- YOU'RE WELCOME!

-THANK YOU, LARRY. -I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY?

E.J., I'M NOT SAYING "THANK YOU" TO YOU.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Cynthia: GETTING MY HAIR DONE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON.

AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE I'M BECOMING.

Cynthia: YOU KNOW WHAT?

Y'ALL IN THESE JEANS THAT I'M NOT SURE

Y'ALL CAN EVEN WEAR ANYMORE.

Cynthia: OVER THE PAST MONTH,

I'VE FELT LIKE I'M HITTING A SMALL WALL.

IT'S BEEN HARDER TO DO THINGS,

AND I FELT THE CRAVINGS START TO COME BACK.

JORDAN, COME HELP ME WITH THE LAUNDRY.

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD

TO AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO EAT A LOT OF THINGS.

GIVE ME THE LITTLE BOTTLE OF -- YEAH.

Cynthia: BUT I'VE STUCK WITH IT.

IT'S JUST MORE OF A STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW.

AND I DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO GET THIS HARD.

HEY, SHAQUILLE, GIVE ME THAT GARBAGE BAG.

Cynthia: GETTING BACK TO LIFE AND CHORES

AND TAKING CARE OF A FAMILY IS HARD WORK.

HEY, PUT THIS HANGER UP AND PUT IT IN THERE.

Cynthia: I AM CONCERNED

THAT IT'S GONNA KEEP GETTING WORSE AND HARDER, THOUGH.

I DON'T WANT TO START GAINING AGAIN.

I'VE COME SO FAR FOR MY KIDS,

AND I'M SCARED IF I CAN'T STICK WITH IT,

I'M GONNA GIVE IN.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS THIS UP.

Cynthia: MAKING THE DECISION TO CHANGE IS

THE SECOND-HARDEST THING YOU CAN DO IN LIFE.

MAKING THAT CHANGE HAPPEN IS THE HARDEST.

I'M GOING TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.

DR. NOW HAS BEEN PUSHING ME TO SEE A THERAPIST

TO WORK ON MY EMOTIONAL TRIGGER

LEADING ME TO FOOD.

BUT I DON'T HAVE AN EMOTIONAL TRIGGER.

I JUST LOVE TO EAT,

AND I NEED HELP GETTING RID OF THE CRAVINGS.

AND I THOUGHT SURGERY WAS GOING TO DO THAT.

HEY, CYNTHIA. I'M ASHLEY.

-HOW YOU DOING? -GOOD.

NICE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

I DON'T HAVE A FOOD ADDICTION, AND I NEVER HAVE.

I JUST LOVE TO EAT.

SO, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?

I'VE HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN IN THIS PROCESS FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS NOW.

MY DOCTOR WANTS HIS PATIENTS

TO SEE A THERAPIST

BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT YOU GO THROUGH.

BUT I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE ANY ISSUES

THAT I NEED TO POUR MY HEART OUT.

I'M NOT AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

I DON'T HAVE --

I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR ME TO COME TO THERAPY.

OKAY.

SO, WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

KIND OF A SELFLESS PERSON --

I'M WORRIED ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO HOW DOES THAT RELATE,

OR HOW DID THAT RELATE TO THE WEIGHT GAIN?

MY OLDEST THREE KIDS ARE ADOPTED.

SO I WENT FROM BEING A SINGLE, 28-YEAR-OLD FEMALE

TO HAVING THREE PRETTY BANGED-UP KIDS OVERNIGHT.

SO, I MEAN, JUST -- LIFE HAPPENED.

I HEARD YOU SAY IN ONE BREATH,

"I'M NOT AN EMOTIONAL EATER."

BUT THEN, IN ANOTHER BREATH, YOU SAID, "LIFE HAPPENED."

SO, I GUESS, FOR ME, I'M CONFUSED.

WITH ALL OF THOSE EMOTIONS,

HOW WERE YOU COPING AT THAT TIME

IF YOU WEREN'T EATING?

I DIDN'T TURN TO FOOD AT ANY POINT.

I DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AN EMOTIONAL EATER.

I DON'T TURN TO FOOD WHEN IT GETS HARD.

MM-HMM, SO, AT WHAT POINT

DID THE POUNDS START TO PILE ON?

WELL, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OVERWEIGHT.

I MEAN, I DON'T EVER REMEMBER NOT --

EVEN BEFORE THE KIDS AND ALL THAT,

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OVERWEIGHT.

IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL.

BUT WE'RE SITTING HERE WHERE WE'VE GOTTEN TO A POINT

WHERE YOU WERE 600 POUNDS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE GENUINE CONCERNS

THAT I HAVE FOR YOU IS,

"WHAT IF LIFE HAPPENS AGAIN?"

IS THAT GOING TO CAUSE YOU TO SPIRAL BACK

INTO THE CYCLE OF WEIGHT GAIN?

THERE'S NO GUARANTEE ON ANYTHING.

-RIGHT. -I TAKE IT AS IT COMES.

SO, IF WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOME GOALS

FOR YOU COMING HERE,

WHAT WOULD BE SOME OF THOSE GOALS,

SOMETHING THAT WE COULD WORK ON?

I DON'T KNOW 'CAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE

I NEED TO WORK ON ANYTHING. -NOTHING?

AT THIS TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT CYNTHIA IS

VERY RECEPTIVE TO THERAPY.

SHE DENIES THAT HER EATING MIGHT CONNECT

WITH HER EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.

SHE HAS BUILT THIS STRONG AND TOUGH EXTERIOR

THAT I'M AFRAID MAY BE A BARRIER FOR HER

AS SHE GOES ON THIS JOURNEY TO LOSING THE WEIGHT

AND MAINTAINING HER WEIGHT LOSS.

Bryant: I JUST WANT YOU TO START THINKING ABOUT --

EVEN IF IT'S NOT WITH ME, EVEN IF IT'S ON YOUR OWN --

JUST THINKING ABOUT, "IF SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENS

IN MY LIFE, HOW AM I GONNA GET THROUGH THIS

WITHOUT PUTTING THE WEIGHT BACK ON?"

WELL, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN

AND TELLING ME YOU STORY.

-OKAY. -IT WAS REALLY NICE MEETING YOU.

NICE MEETING YOU, TOO.

Cynthia: TODAY WAS A BIT OF A WASTE OF MY TIME

IN MY OPINION.

I DON'T THINK I RUN TO FOOD FOR COMFORT.

SOMETIMES, IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL BETTER,

BUT I THINK THAT'S THE WAY IT IS FOR EVERYONE.

THERE'S NOTHING TO FIX WITH WHO I AM.

I DON'T NEED THIS KIND OF HELP.

I NEED REAL HELP.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO MORE

AND GET OUT WITH MY FRIENDS AND STAY ACTIVE.

IT'S GETTING REALLY HARD...

-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? -GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

Cynthia: ...BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M READY

FOR A LOT RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT THIS WAY.

AND IT'S BEEN HARDER LATELY TO STAY MOTIVATED.

I JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY.

AND IT'S HARD DEALING WITH THE CRAVINGS.

ARE YOU HAPPY TO BE OUT AND AWAY FROM THE KIDS?

I'M NEVER HAPPY TO BE AWAY FROM MY KIDS.

-SO YOU'D RATHER BE AT HOME? -OF COURSE I WOULD.

MY GIRLS WANT ME TO START GETTING BACK OUT THERE

AND MEET SOMEONE.

BUT I'M JUST NOWHERE NEAR READY.

-HOW WE DOING TONIGHT? -FINE.

Cynthia: MY FOCUS IS STILL MY KIDS,

AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S GONNA STAY.

I JUST HAVE TO TRY AND KEEP MY CRAVINGS UNDER CONTROL.

JUST WANT THE FRENCH ONION. -CUP OR A BOWL?

UH...GIVE ME A BOWL.

I DO INDULGE A LITTLE.

BUT NOTHING IS TOO MUCH FOR ME.

PASS THAT BUTTER OVER HERE, PLEASE.

YOU'RE TRYING TO TAKE ME BACK TO THE DARK SIDE.

I DO GIVE IN

AND EAT SOME THINGS I SHOULDN'T.

IT'S NOT A LOT,

SO I KNOW MY BALANCE RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS JOURNEY

FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

BUT IT IS YOUR TIME FOR YOU TO START

JUST DOING SOMETHING FOR YOU.

IT'S YOUR TURN. -IT'S MY TURN?

MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW THAT LITTLE, CUTE GUY YOU WAS TELLING ME ABOUT?

WHICH ONE?

[ LAUGHTER ]

I GOT FIVE KIDS. I NEED A MAN WITH NO KIDS.

[ LAUGHS ]

-YOUR KIDS NEED A DADDY. -NO, THEY DON'T.

YOU NEED TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE.

-NO, I DON'T. -MM-HMM.

-THAT'S MY MISSION. -IS TO DO WHAT?

-FIND YOU SOMEBODY. -I DON'T -- IT'LL HAPPEN.

I WANT TO GO AT MY OWN PACE.

WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS, I'LL PROBABLY BE WILLING

TO PUT MYSELF OUT THERE MORE.

BUT I DON'T NEED THEIR HELP.

-I ENJOYED THIS. -I DID, TOO.

YEAH.

AND I DON'T NEED EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS ON ME

TO DO WHAT THEY THINK I SHOULD DO,

WHETHER IT'S MY FAMILY, DR. NOW, OR WHOEVER.

I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING.

THIS HAS BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THE DESIRE TO EAT A LOT OF WHAT I SHOULDN'T

IS REALLY STRONG.

SO I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY MIND OFF OF FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I'VE BEEN GOING OUT TO EXERCISE AND STAY MOTIVATED,

BUT IT'S HARD.

I'VE DECIDED TO STOP TRYING TO LIVE UP

TO EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS OF ME,

INCLUDING DR. NOW'S.

I APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP HE'S GIVEN ME,

BUT I'VE DECIDED IF HE'S PUSHING ME FOR THERAPY

I DON'T NEED TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW.

AND I NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME DOING THIS MY WAY.

I DON'T NEED HIM TRYING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS TO THINGS

THAT AREN'T THERE.

I NEVER USED FOOD TO DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS,

AND ANYONE TELLING ME THAT'S WHAT MY ISSUE IS

DOESN'T KNOW ME AND CAN'T HELP ME.

SO HE CAN'T HELP ME AT THIS POINT.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MY KIDS.

THEY ARE MY WHOLE WORLD.

I'M WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN,

AND I THOUGHT THE SURGERY WOULD FIX EVERYTHING.

BUT IT DIDN'T.

SO I HAVE TO FIGHT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

I'VE COME SO FAR,

AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP GOING BACK AND GAINING WEIGHT.

I JUST THINK I HAVE TO DO IT ON MY OWN RIGHT NOW.