All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E03

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.