All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S05E05

Doug: I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT
IT'S LIKE TO LIVE WITHOUT PAIN.

I KNOW I NEED HELP
OR I'M GONNA DIE.

Man #2:
NOT FOR ONE MINUTE DID I THINK
MY LIFE WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW, MY LEGS!

Woman: I'M SO FAR GONE.

Woman #2:
I ABSOLUTELY NEED HELP,
OR I AM GONNA DIE.

-I CAN'T DO THIS!
-IT'S RIGHT UNDER YOU.

I NEED IT OVER!

SIT DOWN.
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 OVEREATING NOW.

RIGHT.

THAT'S NOT OKAY.

Ashley: IT IS LITERALLY
A DO-OR-DIE MOMENT.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Doug: SOMETIMES THE ONLY APOLOGY
YOU CAN GIVE

FOR HOW YOU'VE LIVED YOUR LIFE

IS TO CHANGE IT COMPLETELY.

I DREAD GETTING UP
IN THE MORNING.

[ BABY CRYING IN DISTANCE ]

I FEEL PAIN FROM THE MOMENT

I WAKE UP,
AND IT'S NAGGING PAIN.

IT HURTS SO BAD THAT YOU CAN'T
EVEN THINK STRAIGHT.

YOU'RE JUST SITTING THERE,
JUST IN AGONY,

TRYING TO PRAY
THAT IT GOES AWAY.

I'M 36 YEARS OLD.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FEELING
LIKE THIS

WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.

I FEEL LIKE AN 80-YEAR-OLD MAN.

MY WIFE AND KIDS
HAVE ALREADY STARTED THEIR DAY,

AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE

IF I'M GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GET OUT OF BED.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET UP
IS IF MY WIFE, ASHLEY, HELPS ME.

ASHLEY.

I FEEL EMBARRASSED

WHEN I HAVE TO ASK ASHLEY
TO COME IN AND HELP ME.

IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL
LIKE LESS OF A MAN.

GOOD MORNING.
YOU HURTING?

YEAH.
MY BACK, MY KNEE.

I CAN'T EVEN BE THE HUSBAND

AND THE FATHER
THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

PEOPLE SEE ME,
AND THEY'RE LIKE,

"HE'S JUST A BIG GUY,"
BECAUSE I'M 6'6".

TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY.

OKAY.
-I'M READY.

BUT 600 POUNDS
IS 600 POUNDS,

NO MATTER HOW TALL YOU ARE.

READY?

-MM-HMM.
-ALL RIGHT, I'M READY.

Doug:
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BY MYSELF.
I FEEL LIKE AN INVALID.

GRAB THE WALL.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

Ashley:
I LOVE MY HUSBAND, BUT HE HAS TO
CONSTANTLY BE TAKEN CARE OF,

AND RIGHT NOW,
I'M MOSTLY HIS CAREGIVER.

Doug:
I FEEL LIKE I ASK A LOT OF HER,

AND THAT'S NOT WHAT
A MARRIAGE SHOULD BE.

I DON'T WANT TO ASK
ANY MORE OF HER,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S GONNA
BE THE DEAL-BREAKER,

THAT ONE NEXT THING I ASK

FOR WILL BE THE ONE THING
SHE'S LIKE,

"YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M DONE."

OKAY.

Ashley: I'M NOT ANGRY WITH HIM.
I DON'T RESENT HIM.

BUT IT'S HARD HAVING TO DO
EVERYTHING AROUND THE HOUSE,

INCLUDING TAKING CARE
OF THE KIDS AND HIM.

DOUG KNOWS VERY INTIMATELY

WHERE HIS PROBLEMS
ARE WITH HIS WEIGHT,

AND SO, I'M JUST WAITING
TILL WE GET TO THAT POINT

WHERE HE MAKES
THAT FINAL DECISION

TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

HE'S A GOOD MAN,

AND I WISH THAT EVERYONE KNEW

THAT THERE WAS
SO MUCH MORE TO HIM.

HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL MIND
AND A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT,

BUT HE'S TRAPPED IN HIS BODY,

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL
INCREDIBLY SAD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Doug: THE FACT THAT
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING,

I KNOW,
MAKES ASHLEY FRUSTRATED...

ASHLEY, CAN YOU
COME HELP ME, PLEASE?

...BECAUSE I CAN'T TAKE CARE
OF MY FAMILY LIKE THEY NEED.

[ GROANS ]

IT'S HARD TO BE A PARENT
WHEN YOU CAN HARDLY WALK.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

HEY, COOPER.
GOOD MORNING.

I HAVE A SON NAMED
COOPER WHO'S 4,

AND I HAVE TWO TWIN DAUGHTERS,

HARPER AND PARKER,

WHO ARE 3 1/2 MONTHS OLD.

ASHLEY'S USUALLY DOING FOUR
TIMES THE WORK THAT I'M DOING...

-WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BUD?
-...AND IT FEELS LIKE

I'M JUST KIND OF A BYSTANDER

WHO'S THERE TO HAND THE BABY TO

WHENEVER SHE HAS TO GET UP
AND GO GET ANOTHER BABY.

I FEEL LIKE
I'M A LIVING BASSINET.

IT IS EXHAUSTING
TAKING CARE OF NEWBORNS,

TWINS, WHEN YOU HAVE A SPOUSE

WHO CAN'T HELP YOU
LIKE A NORMAL SPOUSE COULD.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE BEING A SINGLE
PARENT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT JUST KIND OF MAKES ME FEEL
LIKE I'M KIND OF A DEADBEAT,

AND A LOT OF TIMES
I CAN SEE THAT FRUSTRATION,

ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M EATING.

Ashley: DOUG'S EATING HABITS
ARE SHOCKING.

I DON'T EVEN TRY
TO PORTION-CONTROL HIM.

TIME FOR BREAKFAST.

ALL RIGHT. YES.

I NEVER TELL HIM
NO IF HE WANTS SECONDS,

BECAUSE HE'S GONNA
GET IT ANYWAY.

Doug: I'M USUALLY EATING,
ALMOST ALL DAY,

AND AS SOON AS I FINISH EATING,

I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT
I MIGHT HAVE FOR MY NEXT MEAL.

I CAN'T STOP EATING,
AND I NEVER IMAGINED

THAT I'D GET TO THIS POINT.

ME AND MY OLDER BROTHER
WENT THROUGH A LOT

WHEN WE WERE KIDS.

MY DAD WAS IN THE SERVICE,
AND HE WAS STATIONED ABROAD,

SO WE STAYED AT HOME
WITH MY MOM.

BUT WHEN I WAS
AROUND 6 YEARS OLD,

MY MOM DECIDED TO LEAVE US.

SHE DROVE US OVER
TO MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE,

DROPPED US OFF
ON HER FRONT PORCH

AND CALLED MY DAD AND TOLD HIM

THAT SHE COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE,

THAT, "YOUR KIDS
ARE AT YOUR MOM'S."

MY DAD DID THE BEST HE COULD.

HE WAS IN THE MILITARY, THOUGH,

SO HE WAS AWAY
A LOT OF THE TIME.

WE HAD A LOT OF NANNIES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE
WERE ACTUALLY NANNIES

AND HOW MANY WERE
FRIENDS OF MY DAD.

AND WHEN I WAS 8,
A NANNIE'S SON

WHO WAS OLDER DECIDED

TO HAVE AN INAPPROPRIATE
RELATIONSHIP WITH ME.

SO, I DEALT WITH THE TRAUMA
OF BEING ABUSED BY EATING,

AND I STARTED TO GAIN WEIGHT.

IT SEEMED EVERY TIME WE SEEN HIM
THAT HE WOULD BE BIGGER,

BECAUSE HE JUST
ATE ALL THE TIME.

HE WOULD GET SICK
HE WOULD EAT SO MUCH.

I THINK I NOTICED IT
THE MOST AT A REUNION

WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 9 YEARS OLD.

I HAD NOTICED HOW HE KEPT GOING

TO THE DESSERT TABLE AND EATING,

AND THEN HE'D GO PLAY,
AND THEN HE'D COME BACK.

DOUG THREW UP
THAT NIGHT IN HIS BED.

THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED

HE REALLY WAS ADDICTED TO FOOD.

Doug:
MY EATING NEVER SLOWED DOWN,
SO I KEPT GAINING.

AND BY SEVENTH GRADE,

I WEIGHED RIGHT
AT ABOUT 200 POUNDS.

THAT'S WHEN MY EATING HABITS

HAD GONE TO THE EXCESSIVE SIDE

WITH SWEETS

AND A LOT OF FAST FOOD,
A LOT OF SODAS,

JUST ANYTHING
UNHEALTHY AT THAT TIME.

BY THE TIME I WAS 18,

I WAS SITTING RIGHT
AROUND 350 POUNDS,

AND I WAS LIVING
WITH MY HIGH-SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND.

WE ENDED UP GETTING MARRIED,

BUT SHE COULDN'T HANDLE
HOW MUCH WEIGHT I WAS GAINING.

SO, BY THE TIME I WAS 26,

WE GOT DIVORCED,
THEN I WEIGHED 450 POUNDS.

I FELT LIKE SUCH A FAILURE.

I JUST DID EVERYTHING
I COULD NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
PARTYING EVERY NIGHT,

AND THAT'S ALSO
WHEN I MET ASHLEY.

IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST
MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.

Ashley:
WHEN DOUG AND I STARTED DATING,

WE WERE IN AN ON-AGAIN,
OFF-AGAIN RELATIONSHIP

FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS,

AND AT THE TIME
IT JUST WASN'T WORKING.

EVENTUALLY, ASHLEY GOT TIRED
OF THE PARTY SCENE

AND THE PERSON

THAT I WAS AT THE TIME,
SO SHE DUMPED ME.

Ashley:
WE STAYED FRIENDS AND I WANTED
TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIM,

NOT ONLY BECAUSE
HE WAS MY FRIEND

AND I VALUED HIM,

BUT BECAUSE I WAS
WORRIED ABOUT HIM.

Doug:
AFTER THAT, I HIT ROCK BOTTOM.

FOR TWO YEARS I WAS DOING METH,
PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.

WHEN I DECIDED TO QUIT USING,
I WENT COLD TURKEY.

FOOD WAS BASICALLY
MY DRUG TREATMENT.

I WOULD GO GET MY PIZZA
AND MY BREADSTICKS

AND MY 2-LITER, COME HOME,
EAT IT ALL, GO TO SLEEP.

THE NEXT TIME
I STEPPED ON A SCALE

AFTER THAT, I WAS 660 POUNDS.

AND I'M SO BIG NOW
I CAN'T WORK.

ASHLEY HAS TO PROVIDE
FOR OUR FAMILY.

Ashley:
WHEN ME AND DOUG FIRST MET,

THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS
THAT I LOVED ABOUT HIM.

IT WAS HIS PARTYING LIFESTYLE
THAT I JUST DIDN'T AGREE WITH.

AND WHEN WE RECONNECTED
A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO,

ALL THAT HAD CHANGED.

I WAS DIVORCED,
AND I'D ALREADY HAD COOPER.

DOUG WAS IN A BETTER PLACE
THAN I HAD EVER SEEN HIM BEFORE,

AND HIS SIZE
AND HIS EATING HABITS

DIDN'T STOP ME
FROM WANTING TO BE WITH HIM,

BECAUSE IT'S A DISEASE.

THAT'S LIKE SAYING,
"I'M NOT GONNA LOVE YOU

BECAUSE YOU'RE BALD
BECAUSE YOU HAVE CANCER."

SO WE GOT MARRIED
ABOUT A YEAR AGO

AND HAD BABIES,
AND HERE WE ARE NOW.

I THINK WE'RE ALREADY TO A POINT
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP

WHERE EITHER I'M GONNA CHANGE

AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

OR WE'RE GONNA CHANGE
AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK UP
OUR FAMILY,

BUT WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS.

ARE YOU HUNGRY?
-ME?

YEAH.
YEAH.

-YEAH.
-ARE YOU HUNGRY?

-YEAH.
-WHAT DO YOU WANT?

-UM, PIZZA?
-I WANT PIZZA.

OF COURSE Y'ALL DO.

Doug: ABOUT THE ONLY THING
I'M GOOD FOR

IS GETTING FOOD
FOR THE FAMILY.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

IT'S HARD TO GO OUT,
BUT I KNOW IT'S MY CHANCE

TO SNEAK AN EXTRA MEAL.

FOR LUNCH, WE USUALLY
GO FAST FOOD...

...AND YOU START GETTING
INTO THAT RHYTHM

OF WHERE YOU CAN GET IT,

JUST LIKE ANY DRUG ADDICT WOULD,

THEY KNOW THE PERSON
THEY CAN GET IT FROM.

I CAN ROLL THROUGH
A DRIVE-THROUGH PIZZA PLACE,

PICK UP A PIZZA,
AND I'M ON MY WAY.

-That it?
-THAT'S IT.

That'll be $18.69.

IT'S JUST THAT EASY.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU.

ALL MY FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT IS
THE MEAL I'M BRINGING HOME.

THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT
HOW MANY OTHER MEALS

I CAN EAT BEFORE I GET BACK.

IT'S USUALLY
A PRETTY NORMAL THING

TO GO TO TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.

WOMAN: Hi. Can I take
your order, please?

YEAH.
I NEED TO GET A NUMBER 4.

A LOT OF BURGER PLACES HAVE THE
SMALL BURGER FOR LIKE A DOLLAR.

I'LL GRAB AN EXTRA ONE OF THOSE

AND EAT IT ON THE WAY HOME.

IT KIND OF FEELS
LIKE I'M DOING SOMETHING

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO DO,

AND JUST KIND OF ADDS
TO THE WHOLE ENJOYMENT OF IT.

I'LL HIDE THIS WRAPPER
IN MY POCKET,

SO I CAN THROW IT AWAY
IN THE HOUSE WHEN I GO IN.

I DO NOT TELL ASHLEY THE TRUTH
ABOUT HOW MUCH FOOD I EAT.

[ HORN HONKS ]

Ashley: DOUG ABSOLUTELY IS
A CLOSET EATER.

I KNOW.
I CAN'T PROVE IT,

BUT I KNOW THAT HE EATS FOOD
WHEN I'M NOT AROUND.

THAT'S WHY I THINK
IT'S SO DANGEROUS WHERE HE'S AT,

IS THAT I CAN'T STOP THAT.

I CAN'T MAKE HIM NOT DO THAT,

BECAUSE HE DOES IT
WHEN HE'S ALONE.

COOPER, ARE YOU READY TO EAT?
-YEAH.

Doug:
IT'S LIKE ANY DRUG ADDICTION.

YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T
HAVE DONE IT.

THE ONLY WAY TO NOT FEEL BAD
ABOUT IT IS TO DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S A VERY SELFISH WAY TO LIVE,

JUST THINKING ABOUT
HOW TO FIX ME

AND NOT THINK ABOUT
HOW TO FIX ANYBODY ELSE.

ONCE I START EATING,
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH,

AND I WON'T STOP
UNTIL IT'S ALL GONE.

I DO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT,

SO I TRY TO HELP OUT WHEN I CAN.

YOU READY TO GO?

Ashley: GO GET YOUR COAT.

LOVE YOU.

Cooper: LOVE YOU.

ASHLEY NEVER GETS
A BREAK AS A MOM.

-PICK ME UP.
-COME ON.

[ GRUNTS ]

SHE'S CONSTANTLY
RUNNING AROUND WITH THE KIDS.

-I LOVE YOU, DADDY.
-I LOVE YOU, COOP.

SO, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
I TRY TO GIVE HER A BREAK

AND TAKE COOPER
WITH ME TO THE STORE.

BUT I HATE GOING OUT
AND DOING ANYTHING.

IT'S MISERABLE AND ALMOST
IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET AROUND.

HEY, COOPER.
-WHAT?

CAN YOU GET SOME
OF THIS SODA DOWN HERE?

RIGHT HERE, THE RED ONE.

MY BODY STARTS
GIVING OUT PRETTY QUICK,

AND I CAN BARELY GET AROUND.

HERE YOU GO, BUD.
SEE THE GREEN ONE RIGHT THERE?

I'M REALLY GOING
TO NEED YOUR HELP.

YEAH.
THANK YOU, BUD.

AND COOPER HAS TO PRETTY MUCH
DO IT ALL FOR ME.

HEY, GIVE ME THAT SMALL
BAG OF SUGAR DOWN THERE.

NOPE. DOWN THERE,
THE PINK BAG.

GIVE ME ONE OF THOSE.
-THAT'S HEAVY, TOO.

YOU LOOK SWEATY.

YES, I AM.

OKAY.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Doug:
BEFORE I'M EVEN HALFWAY DONE

WITH GETTING EVERYTHING
I'M SUPPOSED TO,

I'M SO OUT OF BREATH
I CAN BARELY GO ON.

I AM.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

NO. I CAN DRIVE IT.

PHEW!
I'M JUST GETTING TIRED.

PEOPLE STARE,
AND IT'S EMBARRASSING.

RIGHT NOW I'M FEELING
A LOT OF ANXIETY.

I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE.
I'M...

SWEATING?

ANXIETY.
PEOPLE LOOKING AT ME,

AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO KIND
OF GET OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE.

I'M REALLY HOPING I DON'T RUN
INTO SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS ME.

I HAVE TO JUST CUT
THE TRIP SHORT,

PAY FOR EVERYTHING, AND GET OUT.

GONNA GO THIS WAY.

YEAH, I CAN'T GO
THROUGH THAT WAY.

Woman: WE CAN PUSH THAT
BACK IF YOU WANT.

NO.
THAT'S FINE.

I'LL JUST CUT AND COME
AROUND THAT ONE.

THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD I WAS AT LEAST ABLE
TO PAY FOR WHAT I HAD.

THERE'S BEEN TIMES
THAT I'VE BEEN IN SO MUCH PAIN

THAT I'D JUST ABANDON
THE SHOPPING CART AND GO.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

BUT I CAN'T CATCH MY BREATH.
I CAN BARELY MOVE,

AND MY WHOLE BODY JUST ACHES
LIKE I'M GOING TO DIE.

I CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS.

-LET'S GO TO MY CAR.
-JUST YOU AND ME?

NOPE.
WE'RE ALL GONNA GO.

I WANT TO BE THERE FOR MY FAMILY
AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

-YOU GOT EVERYBODY IN?
-YEP.

-YOU READY TO GO?
-YEAH.

BUT IT'S GETTING TO WHERE
IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE.

[ GRUNTS,
BREATHING HEAVILY ]

OH!

CAN YOU TURN
YOUR LEGS ANY?

Ashley: DOUG KNOWS THAT HE HAS
TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT,

BECAUSE SOMETHING
HAS TO CHANGE.

DOUG HAS TO CHANGE.

I'D NEVER LEAVE DOUG,

BUT DOUG IS GONNA
LEAVE OUR FAMILY

IF HE DOESN'T CHANGE.

I LOST HIM FOR 10 YEARS ALREADY.

I CANNOT FATHOM
LOSING HIM PERMANENTLY.

YEAH,
I'M GONNA TAKE MY CAR.

YOU WANT TO JUST FOLLOW US?
DO YOU NEED HELP?

NO, I GOT IT.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY DOUG'S
LAST CHANCE TO CHANGE.

IT IS LITERALLY
A DO-OR-DIE MOMENT.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

Doug:
I FEEL BAD FOR ASHLEY, BECAUSE
IT SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS.

I KNOW SHE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING,

AND I JUST MAKE THINGS HARDER
A LOT OF TIMES.

Ashley: I LOVE DOING THINGS
TOGETHER AS A FAMILY,

BUT SOMETIMES
IT'S NOT EVEN WORTH IT.

IT'S TOO EXHAUSTING, BECAUSE
ALL DOUG CAN DO IS SIT THERE.

HE'S ALMOST TO THE POINT

WHERE HE'S NOT EVEN PART
OF THIS FAMILY ANYMORE.

COOPER DESPERATELY WANTS
DOUG TO PLAY WITH HIM.

HE LOVES DOUG.
-AWESOME.

I WANT TO, BUD,
BUT I CAN'T.

UGH!

[ CRYING ]

I'M SORRY, BUD.

Ashley: DO YOU WANT ME
TO COME PLAY WITH YOU?

YES.

IT IS HEARTBREAKING
TO WATCH BOTH OF THEM

WHEN DOUG HAS TO TELL HIM NO.

COOPER KNOWS THAT
THERE'S A PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT FAIR.
IT'S NOT FAIR FOR ANYBODY.

Doug: I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D HAVE A FAMILY.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D HAVE KIDS.

THEY'RE JUST THE GREATEST THING
THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

THEY DESERVE SO MUCH MORE
THAN WHAT I GIVE THEM,

ALL BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP EATING.

WHEN I SEE THEM PLAYING
WITHOUT ME OUT THERE,

I SEE WHAT IT WOULD BE
LIKE IF I WERE GONE.

I WANT TO LIVE
MORE THAN ANYTHING.

I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
HER ALONE WITH THOSE KIDS.

I WANT THOSE KIDS
TO KNOW WHO I AM.

I'M GONNA FIGHT WITH EVERYTHING
IN ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I NEED HELP, WHATEVER IT TAKES.

WHATEVER IT TAKES,
I'M GONNA DO IT,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T
I'M GONNA DIE.

Ashley: GO INSIDE
AND TAKE YOUR SHOES OFF, BUD.

Doug:
I KNOW THAT ASHLEY'S GETTING
TO A BREAKING POINT.

AND SHE CAN'T
DO THIS MUCH LONGER.

SHE'S PRACTICALLY
RAISING OUR FAMILY ON HER OWN.

Cooper: SORRY.

I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO HELP RAISE THE KIDS

AND NOT HAVE MY WIFE
DO ALL OF IT.

IF I DON'T MAKE THESE CHANGES

THAT I NEED TO MAKE,
WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP

AM I GONNA HAVE
WITH MY CHILDREN?

HEY. COME ON.
[ CRYING ]

I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING,

SO I CAN BE AROUND
FOR THESE KIDS.

I HAVE TO CHANGE NOW.

WELL, I CAN SIT ON THE COUCH AND
YOU CAN LET ME FEED THEM BOTH.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FEED
BOTH OF THEM.

YOU DON'T THINK?
I MEAN, IF THEY'RE LAYING DOWN.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN FEED
BOTH OF THEM.

OKAY.

CAN YOU FEED ONE
WHILE I COOK, PLEASE?

SIT UP.

[ GRUNTS ]

Ashley: I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS
TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND
WHERE DOUG IS

AND HOW HE HAS GOTTEN
TO THIS POINT,

BECAUSE OF WHERE I'VE BEEN.

ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO,
I WAS OVER 300 POUNDS.

I COULDN'T BARELY TIE MY SHOES
I WAS SO HEAVY.

I WAS MISERABLE.
HURT ALL THE TIME.

I WAS TOO YOUNG TO BE
THAT BIG AND TO BE THAT SICKLY.

SO I HAD
THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WHEN I CAME INTO
THIS RELATIONSHIP,

ME AND COOPER WERE
VERY HEALTHY EATERS

FOR THE MOST PART.

AND I WAS DOWN TO MY GOAL
WEIGHT OF 175 POUNDS.

NOW I'M CLOSE
TO 60 POUNDS HEAVIER

THAN I WAS
WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DATING.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING
THE MOTIVATION

FOR HIM TO EAT BETTER,

I HAVE, IN TURN,
STARTED EATING WORSE.

AND I NEVER EXPECTED
TO BE THIS SIZE EVER AGAIN.

I WORKED HARD,
AND A LONG TIME, TO GET THERE,

AND I WANTED TO SEE
THAT CHANGE IN DOUG, TOO.

BUT I KNEW THAT DOUG HAD
TO WANT IT FOR HIMSELF.

I THINK HE KNOWS THAT
I'M AT THAT PLACE

WHERE I'M DONE WITH IT.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE
LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I KNOW THAT I'M A BAD INFLUENCE,

AND I KNOW IT BOTHERS HER
TO HAVE PUT WEIGHT BACK ON,

SO I KNOW I DO HAVE
TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

[ DOORBELL RINGS ]

-HI, COOPER.
-COME IN. COME IN.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

HI. COME ON IN.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?
HI, ASHLEY.

HEY.
HEY.

WHAT AM I HAVING TO EAT
TONIGHT?

-A BUNCH OF GOODNESS.
-DO YOU NEED ANY HELP?

NO, I'M GOOD.

-SIT DOWN.
-SURE.

HAVE A SEAT.

HOW ARE YOU?

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA
LOSE YOUR WEIGHT?

I'M LOOKING INTO WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

GETTING READY TO FIND OUT
IF THAT'S GONNA BE

AN OPTION FOR ME,

AND WHAT I'M GONNA NEED TO DO
TO HAVE THAT SURGERY DONE.

THAT'D BE LIKE --
-THAT'S ALL I WANT.

IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND
THE THINGS

THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH.
-YEP.

AND LOSING WEIGHT
IS THE HARDEST ONE OF THEM,

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE.

Allen: I JUST WANT TO KNOW
WHEN ALL THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN.

I FOUND A SURGEON
IN HOUSTON,

AND WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THERE
AND SEE IF HE CAN HELP ME.

GET IT BEHIND THE DOCTOR
100%...

-I AM.
-...AND DO AS YOU'RE TOLD.

I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING
HE TELLS ME.

I'M READY TO CHANGE.

I'M MORE DEDICATED NOW
TO STARTING THIS PROCESS

THAN I HAVE BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE.

I HAVE MORE REASON TO BE NOW.

I CAN'T IMAGINE
NOT BEING HERE FOR MY FAMILY.

I SEE HER
COMPLETELY STRESSED OUT,

DEALING WITH THE BABIES
AND, YOU KNOW,

HAVING TO CARRY THE LOAD
OF HER AND ME.

SHE'S SO UNDERSTANDING
OF EVERYTHING

THAT I'M GOING
THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S WHY I LOVE HER.
-IT'S 'CAUSE I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.
[ CLICKS TONGUE ]

[ CHUCKLES ]

Doug: ME AND ASHLEY ARE GOING
TO DRIVE TO HOUSTON

TO GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND HER MOM IS GONNA
KEEP THE KIDS FOR US

UNTIL WE GET BACK.

Ashley: THE TWINS ARE ALMOST
4 MONTHS OLD,

AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF ANXIETY ABOUT LEAVING THEM,

BUT IT'S JUST SOMETHING
THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

Doug:
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT,
BUT ALL I KNOW IS

I'M COMMITTED TO DO WHATEVER
I HAVE TO TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I'M LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR
TO HELP ME

BECAUSE I'VE TRIED DIETS,

I'VE TRIED FASTING,

I'VE TRIED JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF,

AND NOTHING'S EVER SEEMED TO BE
THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME.

Ashley: OKAY.
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?

I'M GONNA GET A TRIPLE MEAT,
TRIPLE CHEESE...

[ INHALES SHARPLY ]

...TRIPLE BACON.

YEAH,
I NEED TO GET A NUMBER 3.

NO VEGETABLES.

REPEAT IT.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE
THAT'S ALL LARGE SIZES.

-Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD DAY.
-THANK YOU.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T GONNA
BE EASY FOR EITHER OF US,

BECAUSE AS MUCH AS ASHLEY
NEEDS ME TO CHANGE,

SHE WANTS ME HAPPY.

HERE'S YOUR TRIPLE MEAT,
TRIPLE CHEESE, SIR.

-TRIPLE BACON.
-AND BACON.

Doug: I DON'T KNOW IF I'M
A GOOD CANDIDATE

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO I'M JUST FOCUSING
ON GETTING TO HOUSTON

AND SEEING THE DOCTOR.

ARE YOU NERVOUS?

I'M NERVOUS.
I'M SCARED THAT

HE'S NOT GONNA BE
ABLE TO HELP ME.

WHAT WILL YOU DO
IF THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP YOU?

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I FEEL LIKE THIS IS
MY ONLY OPTION

AT THIS POINT TO LOSE WEIGHT,

SO I REALLY HOPE
HE TAKES ME AS A PATIENT.

-MR. ARMSTRONG?
-HELLO.

AND, AT THIS POINT,
IT'S THE ONLY CHANCE

I HAVE TO AVOID
LOSING EVERYTHING

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME.

I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S A LOT HIGHER
THAN I THOUGHT.

I'M ALMOST 700 POUNDS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M DOUG.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND YOU ARE?
-I'M ASHLEY.

SO, YOU ARE 684 POUNDS.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE

WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I THINK IT'S THE AMOUNT
THAT I EAT.

MY PORTIONS ARE BIGGER
THAN A NORMAL PERSON'S WOULD BE.

IT'S ALWAYS
KIND OF BEEN THAT WAY.

WHAT DO YOU TYPICALLY EAT
IN A DAY?

MOST OF THE TIME,
SHE'LL COOK ME BREAKFAST,

IT'LL BE, LIKE,
FRIED EGGS, BACON,

TOAST OR BISCUITS,

AND CINNAMON ROLLS,
THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOT ALL OF THEM,
WAS IT?

-A LOT OF TIMES, YEAH.
-A LOT OF TIMES?

-YEAH.
-OKAY. HOW ABOUT DINNER?

DINNER IS WHATEVER
SHE'S COOKING.

STEAK MAYBE WITH A COUPLE
OF DIFFERENT SIDES,

MASHED POTATOES AND MAC
AND CHEESE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU COOK
ALL THIS STUFF FOR HIM

AND PUT IT ON THE PLATE
AND SAY, "EAT."

-AND HE EATS IT.
-YEAH.

SO, SHE'S JUST SUPPORTING
YOUR EATING HABIT, RIGHT?

SHE DOESN'T REALLY
LIKE TO TELL ME NO

AS FAR AS WHAT I'M EATING.

I MAKE THE CHOICE TO EAT IT,

AND SHE'S THERE
TO COOK IT FOR ME.

DOUG IS APPROACHING 700 POUNDS,
AND HE IS ALMOST IMMOBILE,

BUT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS UNHEALTHY DYNAMICS

BETWEEN HIM AND HIS WIFE.

SO, THIS IS GOING TO BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
WE CAN DO FOR YOU?

EVERY TIME I'VE DONE
ANY KIND OF DIET OR ANYTHING,

I'LL STICK TO THE DIET

AND I'LL SEE RESULTS FROM IT,

BUT I ALWAYS HIT A PLATEAU

AND I GET DISCOURAGED
AT THAT POINT,

AND I'LL START GOING BACK
TO MY OLD WAYS.

-DIETS NEVER WORK, OKAY?
-OKAY.

WHAT IS GONNA WORK
IS PERMANENT CHANGES

TOWARD HEALTHY HABITS,

AND YOU DID NOT GET TO BE
600 POUNDS OVERNIGHT.

IT WOULD TAKE 36 YEARS
TO GET HERE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE
THAT OVERNIGHT, EITHER.

RIGHT.

NOW, I SEE FROM
YOUR PAST HISTORY,

YOU'VE GOT
ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY.

YOU'RE ADDICTED TO FOOD
AND SOME OTHER STUFF.

YOU WALKED AWAY
FROM OTHER ADDICTION,

AND THAT'S NOT EASY.

BUT YOU DIDN'T NEED
THOSE OTHER THINGS TO LIVE.

YOUR ADDICTION IS FOOD.

YOU NEED TO DEVELOP
LONG-TERM HABITS

OF USING IT PROPERLY,

INSTEAD OF JUST
REFRAINING FROM IT.

I THINK THERE IS A PART OF DOUG
THAT IS SCARED ABOUT HIS WEIGHT

AND WANTS TO CHANGE.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME,
THERE'S A PART OF HIM

THAT DOESN'T EXPECT TO HAVE
TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

SO, HERE'S WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO START
WITH YOU SHOWING ME

THAT YOU CAN CHANGE
YOUR EATING HABITS.

I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

NO CARBS,
NO SUGAR, HIGH PROTEIN,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE
AT LEAST 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT MONTH.
-OKAY.

YOUR BODY WON'T LAST MUCH
LONGER AT THIS WEIGHT,

SO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

ALL RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK THAT WE JUST
NEED TO GET STARTED,

AND LET'S GET THIS 50 POUNDS
KNOCKED OFF BEFORE WE COME BACK.

LET'S DO IT.

[ GRUNTS ]

Doug:
I WAS WORRIED THE DOCTOR

WAS GONNA TELL ME
THAT IT WAS TOO LATE.

BUT I'M WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES

TO GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

I'M GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT
THAT I WANT TO LOSE

SO I CAN BE THE RIGHT KIND
OF FATHER AND HUSBAND

THAT I NEED TO BE.

THIS FEELS LIKE MY LAST CHANCE,

AND I'M NOT GONNA LOSE IT.

Doug:
IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS

SINCE I SAW THE DOCTOR
FOR MY FIRST VISIT,

AND IT'S BEEN TOUGH.

FOOD WAS A COPING MECHANISM,

AND NOW I DON'T HAVE THAT.

NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT
I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DRUGS

AND ALCOHOL FROM MY PARTY DAYS.

I CHANGED THAT PART OF MY LIFE,

BUT FOOD IS A TOTALLY
DIFFERENT THING,

BECAUSE YOU CAN AVOID DRUGS

AND YOU CAN AVOID ALCOHOL,

BUT FOOD'S SOMETHING
THAT'S THERE EVERY DAY

AND, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU'RE GETTING

ANY KIND OF STIMULATION OUT

OF JUST THE ACT OF EATING FOOD,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE
THE RIGHT CHOICES.

YOU'RE GONNA MAKE THE CHOICES
THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE BASED

ON HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL,

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES
THAT THE WORST ADDICTION

I'VE EVER HAD.

SO, I'VE LOST THE ONE THING

THAT WAS HELPING ME COPE
WITH EVERYTHING.

OH.

AND IT'S A LOT HARDER
THAN ASHLEY REALIZES,

BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW
HOW MUCH I WAS ACTUALLY EATING.

DOUG STRUGGLES
WITH ANYTHING NEGATIVE,

EMOTIONALLY, IN HIS LIFE,

AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY
BEEN HARD FOR HIM

TO COPE WITH STRESS IN GENERAL

AND NOT TURN TO FOOD,

SO I'M COUNTING CALORIES NOW

TO MAKE SURE WE STAY
WITHIN THE DIET.

I CAN SEE HIM
GETTING FRUSTRATED,

AND THAT'S GENERALLY
THE ONLY TIME HE EVER SAYS,

"I WISH I COULD HAVE A PIZZA,"

OR, "MAN, I WISH I COULD
HAVE A HAMBURGER,"

BUT HE KNOWS WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

OUR GAME PLAN AT THIS POINT IS,

WITH THE MEASURING
AND THE CALORIE-COUNTING,

HE'LL HELP ME COUNT
THE CALORIES,

BUT I DO ALL
THE PORTION CONTROL.

AND AS HE GETS MORE
CONFIDENT IN THE PROCESS,

WE'LL KIND OF BABY-STEP
OUR WAY

SO HE IS MORE
SELF-SUFFICIENT.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT DOUG LOSES THE WEIGHT

BEFORE THE NEXT DOCTOR'S
APPOINTMENT.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT
OF THIS PART OF THE JOURNEY.

Doug: THIS IS THE HARDEST THING
I'VE EVER DONE,

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW,

I NEVER REALLY FEEL
CONTENT AND FULL.

EVERY DAY, EVERY MINUTE,
FEELS LIKE A TEST OF MY WILL.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING
AT ON CALORIES?

350.

IT'S SCARY TO NOT KNOW
IF I'M GONNA GIVE IN,

BUT I HAVE TO SUCCEED AT THIS.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE
DR. NOW.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH
SINCE MY LAST VISIT,

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE
IF I'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT

TO GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT
STEPPING ON THAT SCALE.

SO MUCH IS RIDING
ON ME DOING THIS.

I CAN'T FAIL.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

DR. NOW WANTED ME
TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

AND GET UNDER 634,

BUT I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA
IF I'M EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.

[ EXHALES SLOWLY ]

I'M A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTED AT THAT.

PART OF ME IS PROUD
I LOST SOME WEIGHT,

BUT I'M FEELING NERVOUS.

I KNOW HOW DR. NOWZARADAN IS
ABOUT GOALS.

I'M REALLY JUST KIND
OF DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF

FOR NOT REALLY HITTING THE GOAL.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

-HELLO.
-HOW YOU ALL DOING?

-PRETTY GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT.

YOU LOST 28 POUNDS.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU
MADE SOME PROGRESS,

BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO LOSE

A LOT MORE WEIGHT
THIS MONTH.

ANY ISSUES WITH YOUR
EATING HABIT, OR ANY PROBLEM?

-NOT AT ALL.
-IF THAT WERE TRUE,

YOU WOULD HAVE LOST
A LOT MORE WEIGHT.

I'M GLAD TO SEE DOUG
HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS,

BUT THE REALITY IS
AT HIS HEIGHT AND AGE,

HE COULD HAVE EVEN
LOST UP TO 70 POUNDS

ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

DOUG IS MOST LIKELY
STILL SNEAKING SOME FOOD

AND EATING SOME THINGS
HE SHOULDN'T,

SO THERE'S PROGRESS

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO SHOW ME
THAT HE'S READY.

SO, AT THIS POINT,

I WANT YOU TO CONTINUE
TO LOSE WEIGHT,

AND YOU NEED TO LOSE
THE 50 POUNDS

YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO.

OKAY.

MAKING CHANGES
TO YOUR BEHAVIOR

THAT ARE PERMANENT,

AND NOT JUST TEMPORARY,
IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,

AND DOUG HAS TO SHOW ME

THAT HE'S DEDICATED
TO THIS PROCESS

BEFORE I CAN HELP HIM.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU
NEXT MONTH.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU ALL LATER.

-THANK YOU.
-MM-HMM.

Doug: I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED
RIGHT NOW.

I'VE WORKED SO HARD,

BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH
TO GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

AND I'M REALLY SCARED

I'M NOT DOING THIS
FAST ENOUGH TO SHOW ASHLEY

THAT I'M GONNA MAKE THIS CHANGE.

I DON'T WANT HER
TO GIVE UP ON ME.

SO, WHATEVER IT TAKES,
I'VE GOT TO DO THIS.

Ashley: WANT TO GO TAKE
A WALK TO THE PARK?

OOH, YEAH!

NOT GETTING APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

REALLY SCARED ME.

I KNOW EVERYTHING
I HAVE TO LOSE,

SO I'VE BEEN 100% COMMITTED
TO MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

I'VE BEEN DOING REALLY GOOD
SINCE MY LAST DOCTOR'S VISIT,

BEING MORE ACTIVE.

I COULD ACTUALLY HELP
WITH THE BABIES.

YOU READY?

IT'S REALLY BEEN
A BIG CHANGE.

Ashley:
I AM SO PROUD OF DOUG.

HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KIDS
IS STARTING TO EVOLVE.

HE'S ABLE TO DO
SO MUCH MORE WITH THEM,

AND IT'S BEEN EXCITING TO WATCH.

KEEP GOING, COOP.

HE JUST SEEMS LIKE
A DIFFERENT PERSON RIGHT NOW.

YOU READY?

Doug: I DO THINK
I'M LOSING WEIGHT.

I CAN FEEL A DIFFERENCE.

COOPER'S --
HE'S HAPPIER NOW

THAT I CAN GO AND PLAY
WITH HIM ON THE PLAYGROUND,

AND I HAVE A LOT MORE
ENERGY TO PLAY WITH IT.

SO, 5-YEAR-OLDS,
THEY DEFINITELY LIKE THAT.

[ SCREAMS AND LAUGHS ]

DON'T GO INTO THE ROAD.

HOW'S THAT PACE, DAD?

A LITTLE QUICK,
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

GOOD JOB!
YOU WALKED...

-I FEEL BETTER.
-...0.62 MILES,

SO A LITTLE OVER
HALF A MILE.

OH, DON'T TOUCH ME
WITH YOUR SWEATINESS.

-WHY? YOU LIKE IT.
-I LIKE IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

Ashley: WE'RE MAKING
THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER,

WE'RE MAKING
FOOD CHOICES TOGETHER,

WE'RE EXERCISING TOGETHER
AND DOING MORE AS A FAMILY.

ARE YOU ABOUT
READY FOR DINNER?

-MM-HMM.
-GOOD.

Doug: NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS
OR HOW STRONG THE TEMPTATION IS,

I'M ONLY GOING TO EAT
WHAT I SHOULD.

ASHLEY KIND OF FINDS
CREATIVE WAYS

TO MAKE THE MEALS BIGGER

AND KEEP THE CALORIE
COUNTS DOWN.

TA-DA!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
DID I DO GOOD?

YEAH. SEEMS LIKE A LOT
FOR 300 CALORIES.

I KNOW, RIGHT?

I'VE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE,
AND I FAILED THE FIRST TIME.

-THANK YOU, BUD.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

Doug: I KNOW I DON'T HAVE
TOO MANY CHANCES LEFT

AND THAT I HAVE TO DO THIS

AND PROVE TO ASHLEY THIS CHANGE

IS NOT JUST TEMPORARY.

I'M DOING IT FOR HER,
AND I'M DOING IT FOR MY KIDS.

I CAN'T LOSE THEM,
SO, NO MATTER WHAT,

I HAVE TO LOSE THE 50 POUNDS

BY THE TIME I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I WORKED SO HARD
THIS PAST MONTH,

AND I KNOW THIS IS IT.

IF I DON'T HIT
MY GOAL THIS TIME,

I MAY BE ABOUT
TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

**

Doug: THE DOCTOR SAID
I HAD TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

FROM MY LAST VISIT A MONTH AGO.

THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BE
UNDER 607 POUNDS TODAY,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE
I DIDN'T DO IT THE FIRST TIME.

AND IF HAVEN'T DONE IT NOW,

I KNOW I'M PROBABLY
OUT OF CHANCES.

-[ GASPS ]
-601.

OH, MY GOSH,
YOU DID IT!

Doug: THE 600-POUND LIMIT IS
A REALLY BIG THRESHOLD FOR ME,

SO IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

BUT I'M SO PROUD OF US.

ASHLEY HELPED ME DO THIS,
AND I'M JUST SO THANKFUL

WE DID THIS AS A TEAM.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

HOW YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT,
AND SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO 601,

AND YOU ARE 2 POUNDS AWAY
FROM BEING UNDER 600.

ALL RIGHT,
THAT'S 55 POUNDS

YOU'VE LOST
THIS PAST MONTH.

YOU'RE GETTING USED
TO EATING LESS, HUH?

-YES.
-HOW IS YOUR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY?

-OH, GREAT.
-VERY GOOD.

TO REFRAIN FROM OVEREATING
FOR A MONTH ISN'T EASY,

BUT DOUG HAS SHOWN ME
HE IS WILLING TO WORK

AT THIS PROCESS
TO LOSE WEIGHT.

OKAY, YOU'VE SHOWN ME
THAT YOU CAN WORK HARD AT THIS,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

WE'LL GET YOU
ON THE SCHEDULE SOON.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE WELCOME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PATIENTS
THAT ARE OVER 600 POUNDS

AND EATING 10,000
OR MORE CALORIES A DAY

CAN SHED A LOT OF WEIGHT QUICKLY

WHEN THEY START A LIMITED DIET,

BUT WHEN THE PATIENT
JUST REFUSES TO DIET,

THEY WILL ALWAYS GO BACK

TO OVEREATING
AFTER A FEW MONTHS.

SO, THE NEXT STEP IS TO GIVE
DOUG WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS A TOOL TO GIVE HIM TIME
TO START THERAPY

AND BEGIN DEALING
WITH HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING HIM TO EAT.

IT'S IDEAL THAT YOU LOSE
A LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT

BEFORE YOUR SURGERY.
-OKAY.

SO, KEEP AT IT
AND GET UNDER 600, OKAY?

-GREAT.
-I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

-THANK YOU.
-MM-HMM.

I DID NOT SEE
THAT ONE COMING.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, MY GOD.

-THAT IS CRAZY.
-THAT IS.

I'M GENUINELY SURPRISED.

-WOW.
-WOW.

AWESOME!

Doug: I'M REALLY HAPPY.

I'VE WORKED SO HARD AT THIS,

AND TO GET IT IS
JUST A LITTLE SURREAL.

THIS APPROVAL MEANS
EVERYTHING TO ME.

IT MEANS THAT I'LL HAVE
ANOTHER LEASE ON LIFE.

IT MEANS THAT I'LL HAVE A CHANCE
TO LIVE A LONGER LIFE,

THAT I'LL HAVE A CHANCE
TO BE HERE FOR MY KIDS

AND BE HERE FOR ASHLEY.

I FEEL LIKE THE DOCTOR HAS
GIVEN ME THIS AMAZING CHANCE

TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

**

YOU'RE GONNA DO GREAT.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

HANG ON.

LOVE YOU.

Doug:
I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE

AND HAPPY THAT I'M GETTING
THIS SURGERY,

BUT IT'S HARD
NOT TO BE SCARED.

BECAUSE OF MY SIZE,

THERE IS A RISK
THAT SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG,

SO IT'S THE UNEXPECTED,
I THINK, IS MY BIGGEST FEAR.

I JUST WANT TO GET THIS DONE

SO I CAN GET MOVING
TO THE NEXT STEP

AND MAKING SOME MORE PROGRESS.

Man:
NICE, BIG, DEEP BREATH.

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

A GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY
ON DOUG.

HIS HEIGHT AND WEIGHT
MAKES HIM

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO POSITION

WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CAN BE
MANEUVERED INSIDE OF HIM,

SO WE'RE POSITIONING THE TABLE

IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THIS,

BUT HE CAN'T STAY
THAT WAY FOR LONG.

SO, IF WE ENCOUNTER ANY DELAYS,

WE MAY HAVE TO END
THE SURGERY EARLY.

GASTRIC BYPASS IS
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY

TO TREAT
MORBIDLY OBESE PATIENTS,

AND WE DO BYPASS TO REDUCE
THE SIZE OF THE STOMACH

TO THE SIZE OF A SMALL ORANGE

TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF FOOD

THE PATIENT CAN EAT AT ONE TIME.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE ALSO REMOVE PART OF INTESTINE

SO THEY CAN ABSORB
FEWER CALORIES

FROM WHAT THEY EAT.

Ashley: I'M ANXIOUS TO FIND OUT
HOW THE PROCEDURE HAS GONE.

DOUG IS MY VERY BEST FRIEND.

HE IS THE FOUNDATION
FOR OUR FAMILY.

I WOULD JUST BE
A COMPLETE WRECK WITHOUT HIM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
ALL RIGHT.

WE NEED O.G. TUBE
TO COMPRESS THE STOMACH

IF YOU CAN GET
THAT DONE.

GO BACK.
GO BACK.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE BIGGEST
OBSTACLE RIGHT NOW IS THAT...

...WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO MANEUVER THE INSTRUMENTS.

SO, THERE IS A LONG DISTANCE

BETWEEN HIS INTESTINES
AND WHERE I NEED IN TO REACH

TO CONNECT
TO HIS NEW SMALLER STOMACH.

THAT ISSUE IS MAKING THIS
A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.
ROTATE AND DON'T DO ANYTHING.

ROTATE THE OTHER WAY.

OPEN IT UP
A LITTLE BIT MORE.

ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT IT.

SUPER.

ALL RIGHT,
ROOM LIGHT ON.

LET'S GET HIM CLOSED UP
RIGHT NOW.

THAT SHOULD DO IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

HE HAD A FULL GASTRIC BYPASS,

AND EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.

THIS IS WILL HELP HIM
TO CONTINUE TO LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT THIS IS REALLY
JUST THE BEGINNING FOR DOUG.

SURGERY PREPARES THE BODY
FROM BEING ABLE

TO TAKE IN SO MUCH AT ONCE

AND HELP THE PATIENT
GET FULL REALLY QUICKLY.

IT ESSENTIALLY REMOVED
THE PHYSICAL ELEMENT

THAT ALLOWED HIM TO GAIN WEIGHT
AND CLEARED THE WAY

TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL
ELEMENT OF OVEREATING.

SO, THE REAL WORK FOR DOUG
IS GOING TO START NOW.

HE HAS DONE WELL,

BUT NOW IT'S TIME
TO FACE HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES

IF HE WANTS TO SUCCEED
LONG-TERM.

Doug:
I'M GETTING HUNGRY, BABE.

Ashley: ME, TOO.

ARE YOU HUNGRY?
-COUNT ME IN!

[ Chuckling ] OKAY.

WHAT KIND OF SOUP
DO I HAVE?

I THINK YOU HAVE
BROCCOLI-CHEESE --

REDUCED-FAT BROCCOLI-CHEESE.

-WE'LL DO THAT, YEAH.
-OKAY.

WHO WANTS TO HELP ME COOK?

YEAH, WE'RE GONNA COOK
OUR FOOD.

-ARE YOU GONNA COME HELP?
-YEAH.

OKAY.

WHOO!

Doug: IT'S BEEN A MONTH
SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE HARDER
THAN I EXPECTED.

FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I DIDN'T HAVE
ANY APPETITE AT ALL,

BUT I'VE STARTED TO HAVE
SOME CRAVINGS HERE AND THERE,

AND SOME OF THE TEMPTATIONS
HAVE BEEN COMING BACK.

I'VE BEEN ON A LIQUID DIET,
SO I EAT A LOT OF SOUP.

BUT THE DOCTOR SAYS
I'M GONNA BE ABLE

TO START SOLID FOODS
AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

Cooper: THIS PIECE OF BROCCOLI
HAS TO BE DAD.

WELL, HE CAN'T EAT
THE BROCCOLI.

I'M GONNA RECUPERATE
A LITTLE BIT FROM SURGERY,

AND THEN, I'M GONNA GO
BACK DOWN TO HOUSTON

TO SEE THE DOCTOR
AND GET AN EVALUATION

AND SEE HOW I'M HEALING UP
AFTER SURGERY,

AND KIND OF HOPING TO SEE
IF I CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL

ON THIS DIET
TO KIND OF EXPAND MY MEALS,

KIND OF GIVE ME
A LITTLE BIT MORE VARIETY.

IT SCARES ME WHEN I START
TO FEEL THAT DESIRE

TO EAT STUFF I SHOULDN'T.

IT WAS WEIRD FOR A WHILE
NOT HAVING ANY CRAVINGS.

WHEN THEY COME BACK,
IT MAKES ME WORRY

THAT I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME CHOICES I SHOULDN'T

AND THEN END UP GAINING AGAIN.

IF THAT HAPPENS, I KNOW
I'M NOT GETTING A SECOND CHANCE.

THIS WAS IT.

SO I CAN'T FAIL.

CAPISCE.

DO YOU LIKE
THE BANANA PUDDING?

MM-HMM.

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU'RE EATING
THAT AS FAST AS YOU ARE.

PUDDING'S THE EASIEST THING
FOR ME TO EAT.

-REALLY?
-YEAH.

LIKE, IT HAS,
LIKE, NO EFFECT.

I'M DOING THIS SO I CAN HAVE
A BETTER LIFE WITH MY FAMILY.

IT'S NOT EASY, BUT I KNOW
IT WILL BE WORTH IT.

TODAY, I'M GOING
TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I SAW HIM A MONTH AGO
AND ONLY LOST 12 POUNDS,

SO HE WANTED ME
TO DO BETTER THIS MONTH.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD,

BUT IT'S BEEN MORE
OF A STRUGGLE NOT TO OVEREAT

NOW THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO EAT SOLID FOOD.

SO, I REALLY HOPE
I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT

I'M SUPPOSED TO THIS MONTH.

BUT IF I HAVEN'T STAYED ON TRACK
AND MY PROGRESS IS STILL SLOW,

IT'S GOING TO BE
REALLY EMBARRASSING.

-THAT'S PRETTY DISCOURAGING.
-ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD

AND GO TO ROOM 5.

Doug: I'M FEELING
A LITTLE ANXIOUS

JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T WANT THE DOCTOR TO THINK

THAT I'M NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

SO, I'M JUST ANXIOUS
TO SEE WHAT HE SAYS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-HOW YOU DOING?
-I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.

SO, THIS IS ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AFTER YOUR SURGERY.

Doug: YES.

SO, IN ONE MONTH,
YOU ONLY LOST 10 POUNDS?

-RIGHT.
-WHICH MEANS

THAT'S NOT VERY GOOD.
-RIGHT.

AND SO WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

WELL, I WAS, YOU KNOW,
GOING BACK TO SOLID FOODS

AND JUST NOT USING
THE RIGHT PORTION SIZES

AND EATING
THE RIGHT KINDS OF FOODS.

OKAY. SO, WHAT ARE YOU
TRYING TO TELL ME?

I'M NOT COMPLETELY
UNDERSTANDING.

YOU HAD A BYPASS...
-RIGHT.

-...YOU HAD A SMALL STOMACH...
-RIGHT.

...YOU'RE SUPPOSED
TO LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

RIGHT.

-YOU ONLY LOST 10...
-RIGHT.

...BECAUSE
YOU'RE OVEREATING NOW,

AND WHAT ISSUE --

WELL, IT WASN'T NECESSARILY --
IT WASN'T OVEREATING.

I WASN'T EATING TOO MUCH.
IT WAS WHAT I WAS EATING.

IT WAS, LIKE --
SO, SOMETIMES IT WAS BREADS

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT WAS BASICALLY
THE WRONG CHOICES, RIGHT?

DOUG, TWO MONTHS
AFTER SURGERY,

YOUR STOMACH IS
STILL SO SMALL

THAT YOU CAN'T EAT
MUCH OF ANYTHING.

SO, TO ONLY LOSE 10 POUNDS
IN A MONTH MEANS

YOU'RE ALSO STARTING TO EAT
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE DAY.

YOU THINK THAT'S OKAY.
THAT'S NOT OKAY.

DOUG STARTING TO SLACK OFF
WITH HIS WEIGHT LOSS

DOESN'T SURPRISE ME,

BUT IT'S HAPPENING SOONER
THAN I EXPECTED IT TO.

HE IS COMPLETELY GIVING IN
TO HIS CRAVINGS,

AND AT THIS RATE,
BY NEXT MONTH,

HE'LL BE GAINING AGAIN.

SO, I'M GOING TO SEND HIM
TO A THERAPIST

SO HE CAN START TO ADDRESS

THE CORE ISSUES
DRIVING HIM TO EAT.

HE HAS TO FIGURE THIS OUT

IF HE'S GOING
TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM.

SO, WE GOT
A VERY BAD START.

NOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO MAKE UP FOR IT.

-OKAY.
-BUT SNACKING IS

A BEHAVIORAL ISSUE
THAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON.

RIGHT.

AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND
THAT THIS IS NOT PART

OF A HEALTHY EATING HABIT.
-RIGHT.

ONCE YOU KNOW THE PROBLEM,

THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT
THE SOLUTION.

SO, WE'LL SET YOU UP
TO SEE A THERAPIST

SO YOU CAN START TO ADDRESS
THE UNDERLYING EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT DRIVE YOU TO FOOD.
-OKAY.

DON'T WAIT TOO LONG
ON THIS,

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO START
GAINING AGAIN SOON, OKAY?

-YES.
-WE'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.

Doug: I'M FEELING
A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

AFTER I SAW
I ONLY LOST 10 POUNDS,

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE DOCTOR
WAS GOING TO SAY.

[ SIGHS ]

BUT THAT WAS
PRETTY MUCH WORST-CASE SCENARIO.

HEARING THE DOCTOR SAY

I'M ONLY A MONTH AWAY
FROM GAINING IS SCARY.

I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE,

BUT I KNOW IT'S GETTING HARDER
FOR ME TO DO THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO FAIL AT THIS,

SO THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL.

**

Ashley: OKAY, HONEY,
I GOT TO GO TO WORK.

-OKAY.
-I MADE YOU A LITTLE LIST

OF SOME FOOD CHOICES.

[ SIGHS ]
OKAY.

HONEY,

DON'T SNACK
DURING THE DAYTIME.

-OKAY.
-OKAY?

-YEP.
-LOVE YOU.

Ashley: WHEN I GO TO WORK
OR HAVE TO RUN ERRANDS...

-LOVE YOU.
-LOVE YOU. BYE.

...DOUG HAS TO MAKE
HIS OWN MEALS.

DOUG IS BABY-STEPPING
HIS WAY INTO THE KITCHEN.

HE'S WORKING
ON LEARNING NEW THINGS.

LIKE, MAKING
HIS OWN BREAKFAST CONSISTS

OF GETTING YOGURT
IN THE MORNING.

WE'LL KEEP TRYING
AS HE GOES ALONG

AND GETS MORE CONFIDENT
IN WHAT HE'S DOING,

BUT I'M WORRIED

THAT HE'S STARTING TO STRUGGLE
MORE AND MORE.

Doug: WITH ASHLEY GONE
ALL THE TIME,

IT'S HARDER FOR ME
TO STAY ON TRACK WITH THE DIET,

BECAUSE I DON'T HOLD MYSELF
AS ACCOUNTABLE AS SHE DOES.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW THIS,
BUT I'VE BEEN SNACKING

AND MAKING SOME POOR CHOICES
WITH MY DIET.

I'VE BEEN MAKING SURE
TO HIDE IT

SO ASHLEY AND THE DOCTOR
DON'T FIND OUT.

IF DR. NOW KNEW I WAS
STILL SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS,

EVEN IF IT'S
JUST SUGAR-FREE POPSICLES,

OR A FEW TORTILLA CHIPS,

I KNOW HE WOULDN'T BE HAPPY.

FOOD IS ONE OF MY ADDICTIONS,

AND IT'S REALLY BEEN
THE HARDEST ONE TO KICK.

I'VE RECOVERED FROM MY ADDICTION
TO METH AMPHETAMINE.

I'VE RECOVERED
FROM MY ADDICTION TO COCAINE.

ALL THESE OTHER DRUGS
THAT I'VE HAD IN MY SYSTEM --

FOOD IS THE ONE THAT'S REALLY
DONE THE MOST DAMAGE TO ME.

AND I KNOW THERE'S
SOMETHING DRIVING ME TO EAT.

ONCE I GOT THE SURGERY,

I THOUGHT ALL THE TEMPTATION
AND CRAVINGS WERE BEHIND ME,

SO I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I KNOW
I HAVE TO SEE THE THERAPIST

BECAUSE I HAVE
TO FIGURE THIS OUT

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Doug: I'M ON MY WAY
TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.

DR. NOWZARADAN SAID
THAT I NEEDED TO SEE

IF I CAN GET TO THE ROOT
OF THE PROBLEM --

WHY I'M CHOOSING TO KEEP EATING

WHEN I KNOW THAT I DON'T NEED
TO EAT ANYMORE.

BUT I'M REALLY NOT SURE
WHAT MOST OF THOSE ISSUES ARE.

BUT I KNOW THAT I NEED
TO FIGURE IT OUT AND ADDRESS IT

IF I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND KEEP IT OFF.

-HOW YOU DOING?
-HELLO.

-HOW ARE YOU?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

-YOU READY?
-YEAH.

-HI.
-HI.

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

Dr. Stewart: SINCE YOUR SURGERY,
HOW IS EVERYTHING GOING?

Doug: SINCE THE SURGERY,
REALLY WHAT I'M

KIND OF STRUGGLING WITH IS
FOOD ADDICTION.

THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN I'M AT HOME

AND WHEN I'M BY MYSELF
THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED

TO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SNACK
WHEN I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO

OR EAT SOMETHING
THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO.

-MM-HMM.
-I'M NOT OVERDOING IT,

BUT IT'S STILL -- MY BRAIN
STILL WANTS TO TELL ME,

"OH, IT'S NOT A BIG DEAL,"
YOU KNOW?

MM-HMM.

IS ADDICTION SOMETHING
THAT YOU STRUGGLE WITH?

UP TILL ABOUT THREE
OR FOUR YEARS AGO,

I ALWAYS HAD
SOME KIND OF VICE.

I WAS SMOKING CIGARETTES,
OR I WAS ON DRUGS,

OR I WAS DRINKING ALCOHOL
OR SOMETHING.

AND SO, LET'S STAY THERE
FOR A MINUTE,

BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY
A CONCERN.

TELL ME
ABOUT YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY

THAT YOU CAN RECALL NEEDING
SOME TYPE OF VICE.

WHEN I WAS REAL LITTLE,
I WAS OCD

ABOUT SEPARATING
THE COLORS OF LEGOS.

I NEVER REALLY PLAYED
WITH THEM.

I'D JUST ORGANIZED THEM,
AND I'D COUNT THEM

AND DO ALL THAT STUFF.

I HAD
4,000 BASEBALL CARDS,

AND I'D COUNT THEM, LIKE,
ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS...

-OKAY.
-JUST ONE AT A TIME.

HOW OLD WERE YOU?

I'D SAY 6, SO I'M GUESSING
IT WAS RIGHT AROUND THE TIME

THAT MY MOM LEFT.

SO, RIGHT AROUND THE TIME
WHEN YOUR MOM LEFT,

YOU CAN RECALL NEEDING ORDER
IN YOUR LIFE.

I DON'T GENERALLY SEE
A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TWO.

I DON'T, YOU KNOW,
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER --

IT'S NEVER BEEN
AN ACTIVE THOUGHT IN MY HEAD.

AFTER IT HAPPENED,
WOULD YOU SAY

THAT YOU JUST KIND OF PUT IT
OUT OF YOUR MIND?

-I THINK SO.
-OKAY, SO WHAT HAPPENS

FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IS
THEY SEPARATE THEMSELVES

FROM THE ACTUAL INCIDENT

ALMOST AS IF IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN TO THEM.

SEEING IT
FROM OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE.

RIGHT, LIKE YOU'RE
WATCHING IT ON TV,

NEVER REALLY CONNECTING
THE DOTS

TO SEE HOW THEY
ACTUALLY AFFECT YOU.

-RIGHT.
-WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IS

USING FOOD TO REALLY FILL
THAT EMPTINESS THAT IS INSIDE

AND NOT BEING ABLE
TO REALLY ARTICULATE

WHAT IT IS YOU NEED
TO FEEL WHOLE.

I HAVE KIDS NOW,
AND THERE'S NOTHING RIGHT NOW

THAT WOULD MAKE ME
WALK AWAY FROM THEM.

-RIGHT.
-SO, MY MOM,

FOR HER
TO HAVE DONE THAT --

I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

I WENT THROUGH THINGS MYSELF.
-RIGHT.

AND THERE'S STILL NOTHING THAT
WOULD MAKE ME LEAVE MY KIDS.

SO, WHILE IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST --

AND, NO, YOU CANNOT GO BACK
AND CHANGE ANYTHING --

IT IS IMPORTANT
TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT YOU WERE FEELING
IN THE MOMENT

AND THEN BE ABLE TO KNOW,

"THIS IS NOT
WHO I AM RIGHT NOW."

-RIGHT.
-DOES IT MAKE SENSE?

-YEAH.
-SO, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU

TO WRITE A LETTER
TO YOUR MOTHER

TO REALLY GET
THOSE THINGS OUT,

BECAUSE
UP UNTIL THIS POINT,

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO ADDRESS THEM.

YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO ARTICULATE

WHAT THOSE THINGS DID
TO YOU, RIGHT?

RIGHT, SO, I DON'T KNOW
IF I'M READY TO WRITE

ANYTHING TO HER JUST YET.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER

IS NOT FOR THEM.

IT'S REALLY FOR YOU.

YOU WANT YOUR RESULTS
TO BE LASTING,

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE
SOME MIND-SET SHIFTS

BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL STRUGGLING
WITH THIS INSIDE.

AND HOW ELSE
WOULD YOU GET IT OUT?

EVEN IF YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP IT
IN A JOURNAL OR WHATEVER,

I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE YOU
TO GET IT OUT OF YOU

BECAUSE IT CAN BE
LIKE A CANCER,

AND IT CAN SPREAD
INTO OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BODY,

SO YOU NEED
TO GET IT OUT.

IS THAT DOABLE?
-IT'S DOABLE.

OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

-YEAH. THANK YOU.
-APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

Doug: IT WAS PAINFUL
WHEN MY MOTHER LEFT US

WHEN I WAS A KID.

I GUESS I NEVER REALIZED JUST
HOW MUCH IT AFFECTED ME, THOUGH,

AND I KNOW
I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING

TO DEAL WITH THAT EMOTION.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I DON'T
EVEN KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.

[ SEAGULLS CAWING ]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Doug: IT'S BEEN
A TOUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS.

A LOT OF STUFF CAME
TO THE SURFACE

AFTER TALKING TO THE THERAPIST,

AND I FELT LIKE
I WAS JUST GOING TO GIVE UP.

COME OVER HERE AND HELP ME
GET THESE SNACKS.

SO ASHLEY AND I DECIDED
TO TRY TO GET OUT OF TOWN

AND TAKE A QUICK VACATION
TO GET MY MIND OFF EVERYTHING,

SO WE'RE IN GALVESTON TO GO
TO THE BEACH AS A FAMILY,

BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP
THINKING ABOUT EVERYTHING

THAT'S RUNNING THROUGH MY HEAD.

I'M STILL SNEAKING FOOD,
AND ASHLEY DOESN'T KNOW THAT,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED I'VE
STARTED GAINING WEIGHT AGAIN.

I KNOW I HAVE
TO FIGURE THIS OUT,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW.

AAH! YEAH!

Doug: I'M REALLY DEPRESSED
RIGHT NOW

AND FEELING A LITTLE HOPELESS.

YEAH!

I GOT MINE.
YOU GOT YOURS?

-UH-HUH.
-ALL RIGHT.

Ashley: I'VE NOTICED
DOUG STARTING TO FEEL RUN DOWN

AND STRUGGLING A LOT.

WHERE ARE WE SANDCASTLING?
LIKE, RIGHT HERE, BABE?

-RIGHT HERE.
-NO.

HE TOLD ME SOME OF THE STUFF
HE TALKED ABOUT

WITH THE THERAPIST,
AND I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA

FOR HIM TO WRITE A LETTER
TO HIS MOM TELLING HER

HOW HE FEELS
BECAUSE I THINK

THAT'S PROBABLY
THE GREATEST PAIN

HE'S EVER HAD IN HIS LIFE.

COME ON, COOP,
WE'RE GONNA DO IT OVER HERE

'CAUSE DAD WANTS
TO DO IT OVER HERE.

THIS SAND'S ACTUALLY
PRETTY MOLDABLE.

Doug:
ASHLEY'S BEEN ENCOURAGING ME

TO WRITE THE LETTER TO MY MOM
THE THERAPIST SUGGESTED.

HEY, OVER HERE.
-GRAB THAT.

NOW, I NEED YOU TO POUR
THE WATER OUT RIGHT THERE.

-LET'S DO THIS.
-LET'S DO THIS.

I'M GONNA POUR
THIS ONE OUT

SO WE CAN GET RID
OF THIS BUCKET.

Doug:
BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT.

I LOVE MY FAMILY,

AND THEY'RE
A HUGE MOTIVATION FOR ME.

AND...

ALL RIGHT, IT'S GOOD.
HERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE.

-WOW!
-WHOA.

SO, WHATEVER IT TAKES
TO STAY ON TRACK,

I'VE GOT TO DO IT.

I'M NOT GOING
TO START GAINING AGAIN.

**

Doug: CAN YOU BACK
THAT TRAILER IN?

Man: YEAH.

TODAY, WE ARE MOVING
TO A NEW HOUSE.

THIS ISN'T A ONE-MAN JOB,

SO I HAVE A FRIEND
COMING OVER TO HELP.

ASHLEY HAS WANTED
A BIGGER PLACE

NOW THAT WE HAVE THREE KIDS,

BUT I'VE TOLD HER
THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE,

BECAUSE I KNEW
I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT.

NOW THAT I'M LOSING WEIGHT
AND GETTING MORE ACTIVE,

I DECIDED FINALLY
WE COULD DO IT.

YOU CAN JUST SET IT ON THERE.
IT'LL ROLL.

-YEAH.
-AND IT'S BEEN GREAT SO FAR.

IT'S NEVER FUN TRYING
TO PACK EVERYTHING UP,

BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED
ABOUT EVERYTHING I CAN DO NOW,

NOT JUST BECAUSE I CAN HELP OUT
AND DO SO MUCH...

-READY?
-UH-HUH.

...BUT BECAUSE THIS FEELS LIKE
A FRESH START FOR BOTH OF US.

Shaun: YOU READY?

[ Chuckling ] NO.
I AM NOT READY.

OH, GOD.
BABY STEPS.

Doug: ASHLEY AND I SAT DOWN
AND TALKED MORE

ABOUT MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT.

-Y'ALL ARE DOING GREAT.
-SHUT UP.

I WAS TRYING TO BE
POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Doug: AS I SHARED MORE WITH HER
ABOUT WHAT I DISCUSSED,

IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME
THAT I NEED TO DO

WHAT SHE SUGGESTED
AND WRITE A LETTER TO MY MOM.

EVEN IF I DON'T SEND IT,
I HAVE TO FIND AN OUTLET

TO AT LEAST START
TO DEAL WITH IT.

SHARING ALL THIS WITH ASHLEY

HAS BEEN HELPING US FEEL
LIKE WE'RE CONNECTING MORE

AND THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP
IS GROWING A LITTLE DEEPER.

THERE WE GO.

-BUENO?
-BUENO.

YOU WANT TO GIVE ME
A RIDE BACK?

-GET ON.
-[ Chuckling ] NO.

-GET ON.
-AAH! [ LAUGHS ]

Doug: AND I WANT TO KEEP DOING
ALL THAT I CAN TO MAKE HER HAPPY

AND TO SEE THAT SMILE
ON HER FACE.

PLEASE DON'T DROP ME!
PLEASE DON'T DROP ME.

DO YOU REALIZE
YOU'RE CARRYING, RIGHT NOW,

HOW MUCH YOU LOST?
-YEP.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]
WHOO!

THAT WAS CLOSE.

Doug: SO, NO MATTER
HOW MUCH I'M DREADING THIS,

I'M GONNA DO IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE IN
TO THE NEW HOUSE,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
IT'S A FRESH START FOR US.

MOVING TO A NEW HOUSE IS
SORT OF A REBIRTH

FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP
AND FOR OUR FAMILY.

I'M SO IMPRESSED
WITH HIS ABILITY

TO DO NORMAL THINGS,

JUST KEEP THE PACE,
LIKE, WITH EVERYBODY ELSE.

Shaun: YOU GOT IT?

I REALLY THINK
HE IS DISCOVERING WHO HE IS.

I THINK THAT HE IS LEARNING
FOOD'S ROLE IN HIS LIFE

AND HOW THAT'S CHANGING FOR HIM.

ALL DONE.

SO, HE'S REALLY KIND OF
IRONICALLY GROWING INTO HIS OWN

AS HE'S GETTING SMALLER.

MOMMY!

I GOT SNACKS.
COME HERE.

Doug: WE'VE FINISHED MOVING IN
TO OUR NEW PLACE,

SO I'M KEEPING MY WORD
AND WRITING A LETTER TO MY MOM.

IT'S NOT EASY TO SHARE
HOW I FEEL LIKE THIS,

BUT I'M STILL DOING IT.

WHEN MY MOM WENT AWAY,
IT LEFT SO MANY QUESTIONS

AND EMOTIONS RUNNING THROUGH ME.

AND WHEN YOU'RE 6,
YOU DON'T KNOW

WHAT TO DO WITH ANY OF THAT.

SO, I JUST BURIED IT ALL
AND ATE.

AND IT LED ME DOWN A PATH

WHERE I ALMOST GOT
TO 700 POUNDS.

AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE
TO LEARN TO LET ALL THAT OUT

AND ADDRESS IT

IF I WANT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE
IN MY LIFE PERMANENT.

Ashley: DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME
WHAT YOU'VE GOT SO FAR?

"I THINK THAT YOU WERE WRONG
FOR LEAVING.

I THINK THAT THE THINGS
THAT HAPPENED WAS

A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT,

BECAUSE IF YOU'D BEEN THERE,
IT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED."

NOW THAT I HAVE KIDS, I COULDN'T
EVEN IMAGINE IT, YOU KNOW?

I WANT HER TO KNOW, I GUESS,
THAT I FORGIVE HER

AND THAT I'M SORRY
FOR NOT BEING

A STRONGER PERSON
AS FAR AS NOT TELLING HER

HOW I TRULY FELT
ABOUT IT.

YOUR WHOLE LIFE, IT'S BEEN
YOUR FAULT IN YOUR EYES.

OH, NO.

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WAS
YOUR FAULT.

YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT TELLING HER

THAT YOU'RE SORRY
FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE

AND THAT THESE THINGS
ARE YOUR FAULT.

I JUST DON'T WANT YOU TO LOSE,
YOU KNOW, OBJECTIVITY.

NO, NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT --
I'M NOT SAYING, LIKE,

I'M APOLOGIZING
FOR THIS OR THAT.

I'M SAYING THAT I WAS WRONG

BECAUSE I WAS PASSIVE
ABOUT IT

AND I WANT TO MAKE
THAT RIGHT,

'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DEAL
WITH THAT ON MY CONSCIENCE.

THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

Ashley: I DON'T KNOW IF WRITING
A LETTER IS ENOUGH FOR DOUG,

BUT I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY

TO SAY
WHAT HE NEEDS TO SAY TO HER

WHETHER HE GIVES HER
THE LETTER OR NOT.

THE LETTER IS A GOOD START.

HEY, YOU DON'T
EVEN KNOW HOW TO SPELL.

HOW ARE YOU GONNA TYPE?

Doug: I'M GONNA GET
AS MUCH OUT AS I CAN,

BUT THIS IS ALL
A WORK IN PROGRESS.

I'M NOT GONNA FIX IT OVERNIGHT.

I JUST HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE,

AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO KEEP
TAKING ONE STEP AT A TIME.

NO MATTER HOW SMALL,
I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD

SO I LEAVE THE OLD ME BEHIND

AND SO I CAN FINALLY BE
THE ME I WANT TO BE.

AS I'VE GOTTEN MORE
AND MORE ACTIVE,

JUST WALKING AROUND THE HOUSE IS
NOT GIVING ME

AS MUCH OF A WORKOUT AS I NEED.

SO I FOUND A GYM
THAT I'VE STARTED GOING TO

A FEW TIMES A WEEK.

I FEEL LIKE
I'VE GOT A NEW PERSPECTIVE

SINCE I WROTE THE LETTER
TO MY MOTHER.

IT WASN'T EASY,
BUT I WAS REALLY GLAD I DID IT.

THERE'S SO MUCH
I'D PUSHED DOWN OVER THE YEARS

AND I'VE JUST TRIED TO RUN FROM.

AND THE PROCESS OF LETTING
SOME OF IT OUT

HAS STARTED TO MAKE ME REALIZE

JUST HOW MUCH THERE
IS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME.

WHEW!

AND I KNOW,
AS GOOD AS IT FELT TO WRITE,

THAT WHAT I REALLY NEED
TO DO IS TELL MY MOM

THESE THINGS IN PERSON.

THAT THOUGHT TERRIFIES ME,

BUT I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING
I HAVE TO DO.

AND I HAVE NO IDEA
HOW IT'S GOING TO GO.

I JUST KNOW I HAVE TO START
THE PROCESS,

JUST LIKE I DID WITH THE LETTER.

SO, AS FRIGHTENED
AS I AM RIGHT NOW,

I'M TAKING THIS LEAP OF FAITH,

BECAUSE I KNOW
IT'S THE GREATEST OBSTACLE

I HAVE TO FACE
TO TRY TO COMPLETE THIS JOURNEY.

Doug: AVOIDING YOUR PAST CAN
NOT ONLY AFFECT YOUR PRESENT,

BUT IT CAN TAKE AWAY
YOUR FUTURE,

AND THE ONLY WAY
TO GET IT BACK IS

TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
RUNNING FROM.

I'M DRIVING TO A COFFEE SHOP

WHERE MY MOM IS GONNA MEET ME
SO WE CAN TALK.

WE'VE STAYED IN TOUCH
OVER THE YEARS,

BUT WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD
A RELATIONSHIP.

AND I'VE NEVER TOLD HER
HOW HARD IT WAS

AND HOW MUCH IT HURT
WHEN SHE LEFT US.

I JUST WANT TO CLEAR
THE AIR WITH US.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED
TO EACH OTHER A WHOLE LOT

IN THE LAST, I'D SAY,
A YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS.

THIS HAS BEEN
A LONG TIME COMING.

MY BIGGEST WORRY
RIGHT NOW IS THAT,

YOU KNOW, THIS DOESN'T GO WELL

BECAUSE SHE THINKS
THAT I'M TRYING TO ATTACK HER

OR BLAME HER,
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING

I JUST REALLY DON'T WANT HER
TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS.

I THINK THE BIGGEST QUESTION
I'VE HAD ALL THESE YEARS

IS JUST WANTING TO KNOW
WHY SHE LEFT.

THAT EMOTION HAS BEEN BEHIND
A LOT OF MY DESIRE TO EAT.

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO TRY
TO BUILD UP THE COURAGE

TO TALK ABOUT
SOME OF THAT TODAY.

HI.

HOW YOU DOING?

Doug: BUT PART OF ME
DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I'M SCARED
ABOUT HOW SHE'S GONNA REACT.

DID YOU BRING THE KIDS?

-MNH-MNH.
-NO?

I MEAN,
HOW OLD ARE THE GIRLS?

THEY'RE A YEAR.

I KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT
I'M TRYING TO FIX.

YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN GOING
THROUGH THE WHOLE THERAPY THING,

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LEFT

AND THINGS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

SO, UM,
WHAT WAS THE MIND-SET?

-WHEN I LEFT?
-YEAH.

-JUST BECAUSE --
-I WAS FIXING TO HURT YOU.

-OKAY.
-I WOULD LOSE MY TEMPER,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO REGAIN CONTROL.

AND THEN, THAT LAST TIME,
IT WAS LIKE -- I CAME SO CLOSE.

I GRABBED DARRELL
BY HIS SHIRT,

AND I WAS GONNA HIT HIM.

AND I SAID,
"I CAN'T DO THIS,"

AND I WALKED AWAY.

YEAH.

BUT IT WAS FOR Y'ALL
THAT I LEFT.

RIGHT.
RIGHT.

WELL, SEE,
I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT.

I PROBABLY TOOK
THE EASY WAY OUT,

BUT THAT WAS
MY ONLY CHOICE.

I DON'T WANT TO HOLD ON
TO ANY OF THAT STUFF

BECAUSE IT'S NOT DOING
ANYBODY ANY GOOD.

I NEEDED
THIS CONVERSATION,

BECAUSE I WANTED
TO CLEAR THE AIR, YOU KNOW?

-SO YOU STILL BLAME ME?
-NO.

I DON'T.

I DON'T.

I WANT YOU IN MY LIFE,

AND I THINK WE'RE AFRAID
TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.

AND I THINK IT'S 'CAUSE
YOU THINK THAT I RESENT YOU,

AND I THINK
THAT YOU RESENT ME.

I DON'T RESENT YOU.

WELL, I DON'T
RESENT YOU, EITHER.

SO WE NEED TO GET ALL THAT
CLEARED OUT OF THE AIR

AND JUST
BASICALLY START OVER

AND THEN, LIKE,
JUST MOVE FORWARD FROM THERE,

REBUILD A RELATIONSHIP
THAT WE WANT TO HAVE.

I WANT TO.

YEP?
ALL RIGHT.

I LIKE
SEEING YOU HAPPY AGAIN.

-DO I LOOK SKINNY?
-AND SKINNY.

-MY PANTS FALLING OFF.
-[ LAUGHS ]

IT'S SO BAD.

Doug: I'M REALLY GLAD
I DID THIS TODAY.

MY WHOLE LIFE,
I NEVER KNEW WHY MY MOM LEFT,

AND HEARING THAT THE REASON
WASN'T ME HAS BEEN SOMETHING

I'VE WANTED TO HEAR
SINCE THAT DAY.

BYE.
OHH.

I WILL TALK TO YOU SOON.

-OKAY, BE CAREFUL.
-I FEEL LIKE,

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE,

IT'S POSSIBLE TO FORGIVE MY MOM
FOR WHAT SHE DID.

I'LL PROBABLY ALWAYS FEEL PAIN
WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT,

BUT NOW I CAN START
TO MOVE FORWARD

AND FOCUS ON MY OWN FAMILY.

THEY'RE MY WORLD,

AND THEY'RE WHY I'VE PUSHED
MYSELF TO DO ALL THIS.

[ SIGHS ]

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M FINALLY STARTING TO SEE

A REALLY BIG DIFFERENCE
IN MY BODY.

A LOT OF MY SKIN IS SAGGING

BECAUSE OF ALL THE WEIGHT
I'VE LOST,

AND I CAN FIT INTO CLOTHES
I HAVEN'T WORN IN YEARS.

I'VE HAD A PAIR OF JEANS I
COULDN'T EVEN GET OVER MY LEGS,

AND NOW I CAN PULL THEM
ALL THE WAY UP

WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

I'M AMAZED AT THE DIFFERENCE
I'M STARTING TO SEE IN MY BODY.

AND THE DOCTOR SAID
THAT AS SOON AS I GET UNDER 480,

HE'LL CONSIDER ME
FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

SO THAT'S MY GOAL
FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE THE SAGGING SKIN IS
STARTING TO REALLY CHAFE

AND GET IN MY WAY
OF BEING ACTIVE.

I'M ALMOST AT A POINT WHERE
IT'S TOO PAINFUL TO KEEP LOSING,

AND MY CONCERN IS STARTING
TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT
ALL I HAVE,

BECAUSE I WANT
THIS SKIN REMOVAL REALLY BAD.

TODAY I'M SEEING DR. NOW
FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT.

I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED
TO GET ON THE SCALE TODAY.

I KNOW I'M DOING WELL
BECAUSE I CAN FEEL IT

AND I CAN SEE IT.

DOUGLAS ARMSTRONG.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS
IF I GOT BELOW 480

SO THE DOC WILL CONSIDER ME
FOR SKIN SURGERY.

YEAH.

AND THAT'S FOUR
RIGHT THERE.

Woman: ALL RIGHT, YOU CAN
GO AHEAD AND STEP ON THERE.

Doug: ALL RIGHT.

AND I REALLY, REALLY WANT
SKIN REMOVAL.

**

YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND STEP ON THERE.

Doug: ALL RIGHT.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
ABOUT SEEING MY WEIGHT TODAY,

BUT I'M MOSTLY EXCITED
BECAUSE I KNOW

I'M MAKING REALLY GOOD PROGRESS
RIGHT NOW.

AND I REALLY HOPE
I GOT UNDER 480 POUNDS

AND THE DOCTOR THINKS

I'M A GOOD CANDIDATE
FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

462.

-THAT'S AWESOME.
-MM-HMM.

ALL RIGHT.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD
AFTER SEEING THAT NUMBER.

I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D BE AT THAT WEIGHT AGAIN.

I JUST HOPE THE DOCTOR
IS HAPPY WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO.

-HI.
-HELLO.

-HOW YOU ALL DOING?
-DOING ALL RIGHT.

SO, TODAY,
YOU'RE DOWN TO 462 POUNDS

AND YOU'VE LOST
OVER 200 POUNDS.

-YEP.
-GREAT.

SO, HOW DOES IT FEEL
TO LOSE ALL OF THAT WEIGHT?

I FEEL GREAT.
IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SUPER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: DOUG HAS BEEN
DOING VERY WELL.

HE'S MAKING
THE PROGRESS HE SHOULD,

AND HE'S STAYING ON TRACK.

WITH ALL HIS WEIGHT LOSS,
HIS SKIN HAS STARTED TO SAG,

AND I THINK, AT THIS POINT,
IT WOULD BE GOOD

TO DO SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY
ON HIM

TO PREVENT ANY DISCOMFORT
AND RISK HIM BECOMING

LESS ACTIVE BECAUSE OF THAT.

WELL, YOU'RE DOING GREAT,

AND I THINK YOU'RE READY
FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

KEEP WORKING HARD,
AND WE'LL GET YOU

TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHT SOON.

ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT.

Doug: IT'S UNREAL TO ME,
LOSING 200 POUNDS.

THAT WAS KIND OF
THE DREAM NUMBER.

IT'S NOTHING LIKE
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.

IT'S SO MUCH BETTER.

IF YOU TOLD ME
THIS TIME LAST YEAR

THAT I'D BE HALFWAY
TO MY TARGET WEIGHT,

I JUST WOULDN'T
HAVE BELIEVED IT.

IT'S A REALLY SURREAL THING.

IT'S ALMOST AS IF THAT
OTHER PERSON DIDN'T EVEN EXIST.

[ BABY COOS ]

HEY.
GOOD MORNING.

[ BABY LAUGHS ]

Doug: EVERY DAY IS
SO DIFFERENT NOW

THAN IT WAS
WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY.

[ BABY CRIES ]
I KNOW.

HERE, YOU TAKE THAT.

A YEAR AGO,
I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING

TO HELP ASHLEY
AROUND THE HOUSE.

I WAS BASICALLY ANOTHER KID
FOR HER TO TAKE CARE OF.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW I'M ACTUALLY FEELING

LIKE THE FATHER
I SHOULD BE TO MY KIDS.

DADDY, IT'S TIME
FOR BREAKFAST.

WHAT KIND OF CEREAL
YOU WANT, BUD?

WHAT KIND DO WE WE HAVE?

YOU WANT THESE?

YES.

Doug: I LOVE HAVING SOME TIME
TO SPEND WITH JUST COOPER.

I LIKE WHEN YOU SIT DOWN
AT THE TABLE.

Doug: MM-HMM.

Doug: IT CRUSHED ME
WHEN HE WAS SAD

THAT I WAS SO HEAVY
I COULDN'T PLAY WITH HIM.

I LIKE WHEN WE EAT THE BREAKFAST
WHEN IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US.

YEAH, ME, TOO.

Doug: SO, TO BE A PART OF HIS
LIFE NOW IS REALLY REWARDING.

BEFORE, THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET
A MEAL FOR THE FAMILY

WAS TO GO
TO A DRIVE-THROUGH.

BUT NOW I'M DOING
A LOT OF COOKING AT HOME.

-HELLO, HELLO.
-HEY.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN,

AND I KNOW
ASHLEY APPRECIATES IT.

WHAT ARE YOU COOKING?

PORK CHOPS
WITH POTATOES AND MUSHROOMS.

WOW.

THAT IS IMPRESSIVE.

IT'S SUCH A RELIEF TO BE ABLE
TO COME HOME FROM WORK

AND DOUG'S
ALREADY STARTED DINNER.

I'M SO USED TO KIND OF
JUST DOING ALL OF THAT MYSELF

THAT WHEN I DON'T HAVE TO --
WHO DOESN'T LOVE THAT?

YOU READY TO EAT SOME FOOD?

Doug: I STILL FEEL CRAVINGS
OCCASIONALLY,

BUT I DON'T GIVE IN
MUCH ANYMORE.

I'VE REALLY STOPPED SNACKING
BETWEEN MEALS,

AND I'M STICKING
TO THE HEALTHY DIET

THE DOCTOR WANTS ME TO.

WHO'S LOVING THIS DINNER?

-ME.
-YOU DID GOOD.

-DID I?
-YEAH.

Doug: ASHLEY AND I ARE
BOTH LOSING WEIGHT,

AND WE'RE SHARING OUR NEW
HEALTHY HABITS WITH COOPER.

I WANT HIM TO GROW UP
SEEING FOOD A LOT DIFFERENTLY

THAT I DID AS A KID.

AND I THINK WE'RE STARTING
TO MOVE OUR WHOLE FAMILY

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

NOW THAT I'M ABLE
TO GET AROUND SO MUCH MORE,

I'M THINKING OF WAYS
THAT I CAN START TO PROVIDE

FOR MY FAMILY AGAIN.

BEFORE, I HAD
MY OWN LITTLE PRINT SHOP

AND DID A LOT OF WORK
FOR LOCAL STORES AROUND TOWN.

THEN, I GOT SO BIG, I JUST
KIND OF GAVE UP ON IT ALL.

BUT MY WEIGHT LOSS
HAS CHANGED THAT.

I REALLY WANT TO HELP ASHLEY

TAKE CARE
OF THE FAMILY FINANCIALLY,

AND THIS MIGHT BE
A GREAT WAY TO DO IT.

AND ART IS SOMETHING
THAT I CAN USE INSTEAD OF FOOD

TO COPE WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH.

THERE IT IS.

Y'ALL READY?
-I'M READY.

-LET'S GO HAVE SOME FUN.
-YEAH!

Doug: WE'VE STARTED TO DO
SO MUCH MORE AS A FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT,
PUT YOUR SHOES RIGHT HERE.

Doug: WE'RE GETTING OUT,
ENJOYING EACH OTHER,

AND DOING SOME STUFF
THAT I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE

TO DO JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
-HOW DO I GET IN?

YOU GOT TO CRAWL THROUGH,
LIKE WHOO-HOO!

Cooper: WHOO!

OKAY.

Ashley: WHEW!
LOOK AT YOU, SKINNY MINNY.

Doug: I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE
TO GO OUT

AND GET ACTIVE WITH COOPER.

THIS IS AN AMAZING CHANGE,

AND OUR RELATIONSHIP IS
FINALLY STARTING TO BECOME

WHAT I'VE
ALWAYS WANTED IT TO BE.

YOU TOTALLY COULD'VE GONE
AROUND THE SIDE WAY.

[ LAUGHS ]

Ashley: SO MUCH HAS CHANGED
WITH OUR RELATIONSHIP.

HE'S WORKED SO HARD
TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND I COULDN'T BE
MORE PROUD OF HIM RIGHT NOW.

OH, NO!

Doug: I CAN'T WAIT
TO WATCH MY KIDS GROW UP,

AND I'M GOING TO BE
THE FATHER THEY DESERVE

EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I'M TELLING YOU -- YOU'VE GOT
TO GET SMALLER BRITCHES.

-ARE YOU DONE?
-YEAH.

-DID YOU HAVE FUN?
-YEAH.

YEAH?
WELL, LET'S GO.

OHH.

Doug: I'VE GOT MY LIFE BACK,

AND I'M NEVER GIVING IT BACK UP.