Original subtitles

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

Milla: I CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

MY CHILDREN HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME.

Charity: I FEEL LIKE SOME MONSTER.

Woman: I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

[ Crying ] IT'S MISERABLE.

Brittani: MY BODY IS THE MOST DISGUSTING THING IN THE WORLD.

**

Woman #2: I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

June: I'M RISKING MY LIFE FOR A BETTER LIFE.

I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.

-OOH, CHILD! -PULL. GOOD. THERE YOU GO!

GOOD JOB.

Teretha: I'M GETTING STRONGER, BUT I KNOW I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

Paula: I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

**

Susan: I AM NOW EXPRESSING MYSELF AND LIVING MY OWN TRUTH.

Milla: I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THE PROGRESS I'VE MADE.

June: I AM LIVING LIFE, AND I'M LOVING EVERY SECOND OF IT.

Ashley: I'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR.

Lupe: THIS FEELS AMAZING.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

FOR TWO DECADES, I'VE BEEN 400 OR 500 POUNDS.

BEING THIS OVERWEIGHT,

EVERYTHING I DO IS HARD, AND IT'S A STRUGGLE.

AND WORDS CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW MUCH I HATE BEING IN THIS BED.

BUT MY HUSBAND, GILBERT, IS MY CARETAKER.

OKAY.

HE TAKES CARE OF ME ALL THE TIME.

[ Crying ] I DON'T WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS ANYMORE.

I WANT A NORMAL LIFE. I WANT TO GET HEALTHY.

I DON'T WANT TO LIVE THIS WAY.

I FOUND A DOCTOR THAT WILL HELP ME LOSE THE WEIGHT,

BUT HE'S IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.

I'M LEAVING EVERYTHING I KNOW TO SAVE MY LIFE.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

I'M NERVOUS, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT,

AND IT'S GONNA SEE ME THROUGH THIS JOURNEY.

-WHAT'S WRONG? -I'M IN PAIN. MY LEGS HURT.

-Yes, this is Dr. Nowzaradan. -I'M CALLING FOR MY WIFE, LUPE.

Okay, come to the hospital.

We'll get her to emergency room immediately.

LUPE IS LUCKY, BECAUSE IF HER CAR RIDE

WAS TWO TO THREE HOURS LONGER, SHE WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.

SHE'S BEEN KILLING HERSELF,

AND HER HUSBAND HAS BEEN HELPING HER TO DO THAT.

TAKE IT EASY. SHE'S IN VERY BAD SHAPE.

HER HEART IS IN FAILURE.

-642 POUNDS. -ARE YOU SURE THAT'S RIGHT?

WE NEED TO GET HER WEIGHT TO START DROPPING DOWN IMMEDIATELY

SO WE CAN GIVE HER HEART A CHANCE TO RECOVER.

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

AND I'M TRYING TO ADJUST TO THE NEW DIET.

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M STARVING ALL THE TIME.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: LUPE HAS DONE WELL, AND WE HAVE HER HEART

AND WHOLE BODY IN MUCH HEALTHIER PLACE.

SO WE ARE SENDING HER HOME

TO TRY AND MAKE PROGRESS ON HER OWN.

Lupe: I KNOW I NEED TO GET MY EATING UNDER CONTROL,

BUT THERE ARE DAYS YOU JUST HAVE TO ENJOY LIFE AND CELEBRATE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT.

-THREE. OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

LUPE, THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT YOU GAINED MORE WEIGHT

THAN YOU LOST IN JUST A MONTH.

SO, I'M KEEPING YOU IN THE HOSPITAL

TO START CONTROL DIET AGAIN.

AND YOU'RE DOWN TO YOUR LAST CHANCE.

**

THERE YOU GO. GOOD JOB.

Lupe: I'M DOING REALLY WELL, AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WALK

MORE THAN I COULD IN THE PAST 10 YEARS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: REGARDLESS OF HER PROGRESS,

SHE HAS TO PROVE THAT SHE CAN DO THIS ON HER OWN.

UNTIL SHE DOES THAT, SHE WILL NOT BE READY

FOR ANY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Lupe: I REALIZED HOW HARD I NEED TO BE WORKING FOR THIS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M RACING A CLOCK RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT MY TIME IS RUNNING SO SHORT.

ALL RIGHT, LUPE. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.

-OKAY. -439 POUNDS.

Gilbert: HEY! OH, MY GOD! THAT'S CRAZY!

ALL RIGHT. YOU DID IT.

I'M APPROVING YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT. WE COMPLETED THE SLEEVE.

AND LUPE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

MY PRIMARY CONCERN NOW

IS CHANGING THE UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC

SHE HAS WITH HER HUSBAND.

**

I DON'T DESERVE ANYTHING LESS THAN ANY WOMAN OUT THERE.

-I KNOW THAT, LOVE. -OKAY, THEN.

Gilbert: OUR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP IS DIFFICULT.

I GET SEXUALLY FRUSTRATED, AND I TEND TO SLIP.

Lupe: I DON'T KNOW HOW TO REPAIR EVERYTHING WITH GILBERT,

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE GIVING UP RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LUPE IS NOT DEALING

WITH THE ISSUES IN HER LIFE IN A RIGHT WAY,

AND THAT IS CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR HER.

SHE HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO MONTHS IN BED

BARELY EVEN MOVING,

AND SHE IS LESS MOBILE NOW SINCE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

I'M NOT GONNA STAND TODAY AND FALL AND GO BACKWARDS.

YOU CAN STAND. YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO STAND.

HERE, I CAN BARELY GET MYSELF TO THE EDGE OF THE BED.

YOU'RE PLAYING WITH EVERYBODY AROUND YOU.

NO, I'M NOT.

YOU GOT TO USE YOUR UPPER BODY AND STAND.

-I'M GONNA FALL. -YOU'RE NOT GONNA FALL.

YOU REFUSE TO GET OUT OF THIS CONDITION.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LAST THING WE'RE GONNA TRY

IS TO SEND A PSYCHOLOGIST TO MEET WITH YOU AND GILBERT

TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT ARE KEEPING YOU IN THE BED.

Gilbert: I WANT OUR MARRIAGE TO WORK.

I WANT YOU TO GET UP. I WANT YOU TO WALK.

WHEN TRUST IN A RELATIONSHIP IS BROKEN,

IT IS VERY, VERY HARD TO GET THAT BACK.

YOU CAN GET THAT BACK, BUT IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK.

Lupe: GILBERT AND I ARE TRYING TO SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER.

AND I'M SO ENCOURAGED

BY EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED LATELY,

THAT IT'S HELPING DRIVE ME TO WANT TO DO MORE.

360.

WHOO!

[ LAUGHTER ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: UNFORTUNATELY, LUPE GOT TO THE POINT

WHERE SHE'S PHYSICALLY LOSING THE ABILITY TO STAND.

SO WE'LL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE

AS YOU START LOSING SOME MORE WEIGHT, OKAY?

WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH HER,

BUT SHE'S A FIGHTER AT THE END OF THE DAY.

**

Lupe: IF YOU WOULD'VE ASKED ME A YEAR AGO

IF I'D THOUGHT I'D BE ABLE TO LOSE ALMOST 300 POUNDS,

I WOULD'VE SAID THERE'S NO WAY.

I WOULD'VE HOPED I COULD,

BUT I WOULD'VE NEVER THOUGHT I COULD MAKE IT AS FAR AS I HAVE.

BUT THE BIGGEST SETBACK FOR ME IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS

HAS BEEN MY HIP PAIN THAT KEEPS ME IN BED.

SO, DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS I NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT I CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS AND LOSING WEIGHT.

SLOW, SLOW, BABE.

RIGHT THERE IS MY BACK. JUST PULL IT.

-PULL IT? -YEAH, STRETCH IT.

OKAY.

AND HE WANTS ME TO TRY AND MOVE AS MUCH AS I CAN

SO IT DOESN'T GET WORSE.

SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH IT HURTS,

I PUSH MYSELF TO SIT UP AND EXERCISE.

THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING HAVING LOST ALL THIS WEIGHT

IS NOT BEING ABLE TO STAND AND WALK.

OKAY, READY?

**

OKAY.

I'M SCARED OF FALLING BECAUSE OF MY BAD HIP.

I DON'T WANT TO BREAK IT.

[ SIGHS ]

-OKAY, I'M DONE. -OKAY.

-SURE? -YES.

SINCE I CAN'T GET UP,

GILBERT HAS BEEN TEACHING ME SHADOW BOXING

TO DO SOMETHING ACTIVE WITH MY UPPER BODY.

GOT THIS, ALI?

AND IT DOES WEAR ME OUT, SO IT'S A GOOD WORKOUT.

AND THAT HELPS ME, 'CAUSE IT KIND OF GETS THE ANGER OUT

AND THE ANXIETY.

[ SMOOCHES ] PROUD OF YOU.

BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING TO STILL BE IN THIS BED

AND THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO DO THINGS FOR MYSELF YET.

OKAY, YOU GOT IT.

LUPE'S DEALING WITH A LOT,

BEING IN BED WITH ALL THAT ENERGY.

SHE WANTS TO GET UP.

AND I TRY TO DO WHAT I CAN FOR HER

TO STOP THE ANXIETY AND THE DEPRESSION,

BUT THERE ARE SOME GOOD MOMENTS EVERY DAY.

LOSING THE WEIGHT HAS BROUGHT US CLOSER,

AND OUR SEX LIFE'S GOTTEN WAY BETTER.

MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN 24/7 UP IN HERE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I STILL HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING FOR HER.

I GOT IT.

AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT.

HOLD ON, BABE. HOLD ON.

BUT I STILL HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE CAN BECOME

MORE LIKE HUSBAND AND WIFE

INSTEAD OF ME BEING HER CARETAKER.

OKAY.

Lupe: IT'S SO FRUSTRATING.

I WANT TO THROW MYSELF OFF THE BED AT TIMES.

BUT I'M TRYING TO STAY ON TRACK,

BECAUSE EVERY DAY, MY HIP HURTS MORE AND MORE,

AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING UNBEARABLE.

SO I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FINALLY GET OUT OF THIS BED

AND START DOING THINGS ON MY OWN.

**

Ashley: THERE'S NOT A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT I DON'T HAVE PAIN,

AND MY WEIGHT HAS MADE IT ALMOST UNBEARABLE TO GET AROUND.

MY STOMACH HANGS SO HEAVY ON MY BACK,

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M STANDING,

I'M SCARED OF PHYSICALLY BREAKING MY OWN BACK.

[ Crying ] I DON'T WANT MY HUSBAND TO HAVE TO BURY ME.

AND IF I KEEP GOING, THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I'M THROWING MY LIFE AWAY FOR FOOD.

**

MY HUSBAND IS A TRUCK DRIVER,

AND HE'S GONE PROBABLY 70 TO 100 HOURS A WEEK.

SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT INVOLVES STANDING

AND WALKING AROUND A LOT, PATRICK DOES FOR ME.

GO GET THE BLUE BUCKET FOR MAMA.

WE'RE GONNA DO SOME LAUNDRY REAL QUICK.

Patrick: IT'S HARD FOR HER TO WALK,

SO I DO THE STUFF THAT SHE WANTS ME TO DO EVERY DAY.

WILL YOU PUT THEM IN THE DRYER, PRETTY PLEASE?

MM-HMM.

Ashley: I JUST WANT TO BE A GOOD MOM AND TAKE CARE OF HIM.

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY I LET MYSELF GET THIS WAY.

I HAVE LET MYSELF DOWN.

I'M LETTING MY HUSBAND DOWN AND MY SON.

I WANT HIM TO HAVE A REAL MOM,

AND I WANT TO DO THE THINGS THAT MY MOM DIDN'T DO WITH ME.

BUT I NEED HELP.

**

I'M NERVOUS TO GO TO THE DOCTOR TODAY.

OTHER DOCTORS HAVE REFUSED TO HELP ME BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.

I'M WORRIED THIS DOCTOR'S GONNA SAY THE SAME THING.

SO THIS HAS POTENTIAL TO BE DEVASTATING

OR ONE OF THE BEST THINGS TO HAPPEN IN MY LIFE.

I JUST HOPE I DIDN'T WAIT TOO LONG.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AT YOUR WEIGHT, EVERY PART OF YOUR BODY

IS UNDER STRAIN JUST TO FUNCTION.

SO YOU NEED TO START A NEW DIET

TO LOSE 50 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

THIS IS GONNA BE THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.

I'M EATING A PIECE OF CHICKEN,

AND JAKE IS EATING, YOU KNOW, A HAMBURGER.

I WISH I HAD MORE OF MY HUSBAND'S SUPPORT.

BUT IN KNEW THE HARDEST PART IS FINDING SOMETHING

THAT REPLACES THE COMFORT THAT FOOD GIVES ME.

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

DR. NOWZARADAN WANTED ME TO GET UNDER 675,

AND I HOPE I'VE DONE THAT.

Woman: 667.

Ashley: I'M KIND OF IN SHOCK.

I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AT THIS POINT

AND APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

-SO, HOW DOES THAT SOUND TO YOU? -GOOD.

I LOVE YOU, MOMMY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO GASTRIC BYPASS ON ASHLEY.

OKAY, WE'RE DONE.

IT WAS CHALLENGING TO DO,

BUT OVERALL, EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

ASHLEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE ABOUT 30 POUNDS A MONTH NOW.

**

Ashley: IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO COPE,

BUT I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS.

[ VOMITING ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: RIGHT NOW, I'M TAKING ASHLEY TO EMERGENCY SURGERY

BECAUSE SHE MAY BE ABUSING HER PAIN MEDICATION,

AND THIS COULD BE A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION

FOR HER RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, PERFORATED ULCER.

THAT'S GONNA BE BAD.

WE HAVE HER STABLE NOW,

BUT SHE'LL BE IN CRITICAL CONDITION FOR NEXT 72 HOURS.

ASHLEY USES SELF-DESTRUCTIVE WAYS TO COPE WITH HER EMOTIONS,

AND THAT HAS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.

Ashley: THE DOC SAID I NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST

AS SOON AS I'M ABLE TO GET AROUND AGAIN.

I WAS A PRODUCT OF SEXUAL ABUSE.

I TURNED TO FOOD FOR COMFORT.

FOOD ALMOST KILLED ME.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TRYING TO DEAL WITH MY EMOTIONS

INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM THEM.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN 255 POUNDS.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO LOSE ALL THAT WEIGHT?

CRAZY. IT'S AMAZING.

ASHLEY HAS MADE GREAT PROGRESS,

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HER HIT HER GOAL WEIGHT

IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

Ashley: I AM SO GLAD FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

NOW I CAN BE A PART OF MY FAMILY

AND GIVE BACK TO THEM INSTEAD OF THEM JUST TAKING CARE OF ME.

**

I'VE COME SO FAR IN THIS PAST YEAR.

I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE,

AND I'M A LOT MORE ACTIVE THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.

YOU READY?

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES

IS HOW I CAN GET UP AND DO THINGS FOR PATRICK NOW,

INSTEAD OF HIM HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME.

HE CAN BE A KID, AND I CAN BE A MOM,

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR.

GET IN, BABY.

SO TODAY, I'M HELPING PATRICK GET READY FOR SCHOOL

BY TAKING HIM TO GET THE SUPPLIES HE NEEDS.

AND I WOULD'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS JUST SIX MONTHS AGO.

THIS YEAR, HE IS GOING INTO THE FIRST GRADE,

AND HE'S SO EXCITED.

PATRICK IS GROWING UP VERY FAST ON ME.

IT'S LIKE I TURNED AROUND, AND HE'S NOT MY BABY ANYMORE.

[ GRUNTS ]

I'M EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND SHARE THIS TIME WITH HIM.

BEFORE, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR

AND GO INTO THE STORE.

YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO COME INSIDE?

NO, BABY, I DON'T WANT TO GO INSIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

IT WOULD'VE HURT TOO MUCH,

AND I WOULD'VE BEEN WAY TOO SELF-CONSCIOUS

AT WHO WAS STARING AT ME.

COME ON.

[ Crying ] I JUST HATE BEING STARED AT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M NOT A PERSON,

LIKE I'M AN OBJECT.

[ SOBS ]

BUT NOW I DON'T EVEN THINK TWICE OR WORRY ABOUT ANYONE.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,

BUT I'M STARTING TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN.

I CAN BE A PART OF MY SON'S LIFE,

AND THAT'S A PRICELESS GIFT.

-YOU READY, BUD? -YEP, I'M READY.

NOW I CAN WALK AROUND AS MUCH AS I WANT AND DO WHAT I NEED.

ALL RIGHT, BABY.

-DO YOU WANT TO GET BLUE? -YEAH.

BUT THE ONLY DIFFICULTY I'M STARTING TO HAVE

IS MY SAGGING SKIN.

AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED AS I CONTINUE TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT...

THANK YOU.

...THAT THE SKIN IS GOING TO GET WORSE

AND MAKE IT HARDER TO MOVE AROUND.

AND I'M SO SCARED THAT IF I START TO SLOW DOWN

AND STOP BEING SO ACTIVE

THAT I'LL START TO GAIN AGAIN

AND THAT I'LL END UP BACK LIKE I WAS.

AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TAKE IT IF THAT HAPPENED.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT MY WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRESS SO FAR.

BUT I'VE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT AT THIS POINT

THAT MY SAGGING SKIN IS STARTING TO BECOME EXTREMELY PAINFUL.

AND WHEN I MOVE AROUND, IT BOUNCES AND HITS MY BODY,

AND IT JUST HURTS A LOT.

BEFORE, WHEN IT WAS SOLID,

MY SKIN, YOU KNOW, WAS TIGHT.

NOW THAT I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT, IT JUST -- IT HANGS.

SO MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS LOSING ENOUGH WEIGHT

TO GET IN THE LOW 350s,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN DR. NOW SAID

I'D BE READY FOR MY FIRST SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

SO I'M GOING TO PUSH MYSELF TO MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS I CAN,

BECAUSE I WANT TO HIT MY GOAL WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE HARD,

BUT I FEEL VERY READY FOR MY NEXT BIG STEP.

**

Lupe: TODAY, I'M GOING TO DR. NOW'S CLINIC FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

BUT I'M NOT SURE IF I'M GONNA EVEN BE ABLE TO STAND UP,

BECAUSE I'M NOT ABLE TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON MY HIP RIGHT NOW.

IT JUST CAN'T TAKE IT.

SO I HAD TO GET AN AMBULANCE TO BRING ME HERE.

BUT I'M HOPING I'VE MADE SOME GOOD PROGRESS

AND LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

AT MY LAST WEIGH-IN, I WAS 360 POUNDS.

360. WHOO!

[ LAUGHTER ]

AND THE DOC WANTS ME TO KEEP LOSING

AT LEAST 20 POUNDS A MONTH RIGHT NOW,

SO I NEED TO BE BELOW 320 TO STAY ON TRACK.

OH, IN JESUS' NAME.

GOOD JOB, LOVE. YOU GOT IT.

**

OKAY, THERE?

-THERE WE GO. -THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA PULL YOU BACK A LITTLE BIT.

I JUST NEED A MINUTE. HOLD ON.

THERE YOU GO. SEE, YOU DID IT.

IT'S NOT WHERE WE QUITE WANT IT, BUT...

I KNOW.

OKAY.

-SORRY. -THERE WE GO.

I'M UPSET THAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING,

NOT HARDLY EATING OR ANYTHING, AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

HE WANTS ME A CERTAIN WEIGHT.

AND I JUST HOPE DR. NOW ISN'T TOO UPSET,

BECAUSE I WANT HIM TO FIND A WAY TO FIX MY HIP,

BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] COME IN.

-HELLO. -HI.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD. GOOD, DOC. HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY.

SO, LOOK LIKE YOU'RE NOT LOSING ANY REAL WEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

YES, THAT'S WHAT I'M FRUSTRATED ABOUT.

WITH ALL THE PROGRESS WE HAD WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

YOU'RE BACK TO SQUARE ONE IN THE STRETCHER,

AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING UP.

WELL, I HAD TO COME IN A STRETCHER BECAUSE MY HIP --

I CAN'T PUSH ON IT.

THIS IS THE SAME HIP AND THE SAME ISSUE YOU HAD

WHEN YOU WERE ALMOST 600 POUNDS.

AND YOU COULD GET UP THEN.

WHEN YOU WERE 600 POUNDS, YOU WERE MOTIVATED.

BUT YOU LOST THE MOTIVATION,

AND THAT'S BECOMING YOUR REAL PROBLEM.

LOOK AT TODAY. YOU STOOD ON A SCALE FOR A MINUTE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO SHOW ME YOUR WEIGHT

AND YOUR PROGRESS TO GET APPROVED, SO YOU'RE MOTIVATED.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT SHE CAN GET THE SKIN REMOVAL?

SHE'S NOT MAKING ANY PROGRESS TO GET SKIN REMOVAL RIGHT NOW.

SHE NEEDS TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT BEFORE SHE'S READY FOR THAT,

AND SHE NEEDS TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND.

AND YOU NEED TO HELP HER WITH THAT.

WITH YOUR BODY TYPE, YOU HAVE TO GET UNDER 300 POUNDS

BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO BE READY FOR ANY SKIN SURGERY.

AND THEN THAT WILL HELP YOU TO GET TO THE 200s.

AND THEN IT WILL BE SAFE FOR US

TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITY OF DOING ANY HIP SURGERY.

LUPE WAS IN A COMA A FEW YEARS BACK,

AND IMMOBILE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

AND THAT CAUSED HER HIP BONE

TO START TO FUSE TO HER UPPER FEMUR.

BUT IT JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO MOVE,

BUT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHE CAN'T GET UP.

IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING,

I HAVE TO SEE YOU LOSE WEIGHT AND BE MORE MOBILE.

I'LL GIVE YOU A MONTH.

-YES. -BUT IN A MONTH,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST 20 POUNDS, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-OKAY, GOD BLESS YOU. -GOD BLESS YOU.

-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

YOU HAVE TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

THAT'S WHAT -- I DON'T THINK YOU'RE BEING ENOUGH

AS ACTIVE AS YOU NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW?

I UNDERSTAND THAT. I AM ACTIVE,

BUT HE WANTS ME TO BE MORE. OKAY.

YEAH.

LUPE'S IMMOBILITY IS IN HER HEAD.

SHE'S LIKELY AFRAID WHAT WILL HAPPEN

IF HER DYNAMIC WITH GILBERT IS CHANGED.

BUT SHE CAN'T KEEP LIVING IN FEAR.

SHE HAS TO START TO STAND UP, AND AS SOON AS SHE DOES,

SHE WILL FEEL MORE CONFIDENT,

AND THAT FEAR WILL START TO GO AWAY.

IF SHE DOESN'T, HER CONDITION IS GOING TO GET WORSE AND WORSE.

Lupe: I FEEL DISCOURAGED, BUT I JUST GOT TO TAKE WHAT HE SAID

AND ROLL WITH IT AND PUSH FORWARD.

I CAN'T LET IT BRING ME DOWN AND GO BACKWARDS.

HE GAVE ME A MONTH, SO I REALLY WANT TO PUSH HARD

TO SHOW HIM THAT I NEED THE SURGERY.

I JUST HOPE I CAN DO IT.

Lupe: SINCE SEEING DR. NOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET UP

AND STAND LIKE HE WANTS ME TO.

I STILL DON'T THINK HE REALLY UNDERSTANDS

HOW HARD IT IS TO MOVE EVEN A LITTLE,

BUT I'M TRYING TO DO IT.

AND GILBERT'S BEEN HELPING

BY MASSAGING MY LEGS TO GET MY BLOOD FLOWING.

AND THEN I'M GETTING UP AND SITTING AT THE END OF MY BED

AND TRYING TO STAND FOR A MOMENT.

-READY? -MM-HMM.

SOON AS YOU GET YOUR STEP UP, I'LL MOVE MY FOOT LIKE ALWAYS.

-YEAH, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN. -JUST TELL ME.

OKAY, GO UP. WAIT.

PUT YOUR FOOT -- YOU GOT IT?

I FIGURE IF I PUSH MYSELF A LITTLE MORE EACH TIME,

I'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE AND MORE.

-OKAY, GOT IT? -MM-HMM.

LAST TIME, I WAS ABLE TO STAND FOR FOUR SECONDS.

SO THIS TIME, I WANT TO DO IT FOR AT LEAST FIVE.

-YOU GOT IT, RIGHT? -I KNOW, I KNOW.

DON'T MOVE YET.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR,

FIVE, AND SIX.

-[ SIGHS ] -GOOD JOB.

YEAH!

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO START TO STAND ON MY OWN.

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE MY FIRST STEP YET,

BUT I'M HOPING THAT BY NEXT MONTH I'LL BE ABLE TO,

AND I'LL SHOW DR. NOW HOW MUCH PROGRESS I'M MAKING

AND THAT HE'LL THINK I'M READY FOR SKIN REMOVAL,

BECAUSE MY ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BECOME COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT

AND NOT NEED GILBERT OR ANYONE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I WANT TO BE MY OWN WOMAN, SO I'M FIGHTING HARD FOR THAT,

BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS IF I CAN'T DO THAT.

**

Ashley: I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I WAS OUT WITH MY FATHER AND STEPMOM,

AND I JUST STARTED TO HURT ALL OVER,

AND MY LEGS STARTED GOING NUMB.

SO WE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

-HI, ASHLEY. HOW Y'ALL DOING? -HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

ALL RIGHT, SO, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOU?

MY PROBLEM IS I'M NUMB FROM ABOUT HERE DOWN.

WHEN DID THIS START?

I WENT TO MY DAD'S ON SATURDAY TO VISIT WITH THEM,

AND BY THE TIME I MADE IT IN THE HOUSE, I JUST GOT REALLY DIZZY.

AND I COULDN'T EVEN STAND UP.

I COULDN'T PUT NO WEIGHT ON MY LEGS.

OKAY, WE'LL GET THIS FIGURED OUT.

WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS GO AHEAD AND GET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL.

I WANT AN MRI, AND THEN WE GO FROM THERE.

-OKAY? -THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.

ALL RIGHT, OKAY. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY HAS TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD BACK ISSUES AS A CHILD,

SO IT IS NOT BEYOND THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY

THAT A SLIPPED DISC COULD BE PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE NERVE,

CAUSING HER DIZZINESS AND HER NUMBNESS THAT SHE'S DESCRIBING.

...TO IDENTIFY IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM THERE

THAN CAN BE CAUSING THIS.

Ashley: I HAVE HAD BACK ISSUES EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE.

AND NOW THAT I'VE LOST A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

I HAVE GAINED AN INCH AND A HALF IN HEIGHT.

THE WEIGHT IS COMING OFF,

AND IT'S ALLOWING MY BACK TO STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT.

BUT THE WAY DR. NOWZARADAN EXPLAINED IT TO ME,

AS IT STRAIGHTENS OUT, I CAN PINCH NERVES.

I CAN EVEN BECOME PARALYZED.

-TWO, THREE. -OHH!

WE GOT YOU, DARLING. DON'T YOU WORRY.

AND WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I HAD GOTTEN SO BIG

I COULDN'T FIT IN AN MRI,

SO THEY COULDN'T SEE WHAT WAS WRONG.

SO I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I CAN AT LEAST FIT NOW,

AND THEY CAN RUN THE TESTS THEY NEED TO

TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME.

BUT I'M TRYING TO MENTALLY PREPARE MYSELF

FOR THE WORST RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'M SCARED THAT WHATEVER'S WRONG

MEANS I'M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING

I'VE WORKED SO HARD TO GAIN OVER THIS LAST YEAR.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

PRETTY UNDER-WHELMING OVERALL.

-NO HERNIATIONS. -SUPER. THAT'S GREAT.

NO -- NOTHING SURGICAL, THAT'S FOR SURE.

-ALL RIGHT. -OKAY?

THE TINCTURE OF TIME, HOPEFULLY. THANKS.

SO AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY PHYSICAL ISSUES

THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE, OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING MORE.

GETTING MOBILE AGAIN

AND LOSING THE WEIGHT LIKE ASHLEY HAS IS SCARY,

BECAUSE SHE'S GETTING A LIFE THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED.

AND ONE SMALL SETBACK COULD DISCOURAGE HER SO MUCH

THAT SHE WILL START TO USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO BECOME IMMOBILE,

AND THEN SHE WILL START TO GAIN AGAIN.

SO I NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS AS AT THE ROOT HERE

AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

SO HER SITUATION DOES NOT GET ANY WORSE.

Ashley: YESTERDAY, THEY FINISHED RUNNING ALL THEIR TESTS ON ME.

AND NOW I'M WAITING FOR DR. NOW TO COME TELL ME

WHAT HAS BEEN CAUSING MY NUMBNESS AND DIZZINESS.

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING BAD.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] Ashley: COME IN.

OKAY, ASHLEY. HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

MY LEGS ARE STILL BOTH -- THEY'RE NUMB.

AND THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF JUST PAIN IN IT.

-OKAY. -AND MY HANDS,

BECAUSE I WAS HAVING TO LAY

WITH MY HANDS ABOVE MY HEAD FOR SO LONG...

-MM-HMM. -...I HAVEN'T GOT THE FEELING

BACK IN THEM YET. THEY'RE STILL NUMB.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT'S GOING ON.

YOUR MRI AND ALL YOUR TESTS LOOK GOOD.

THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH YOU.

SO WHAT THIS IS IS YOUR BODY RESPONDING

TO PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE FROM FEAR OR STRESS.

AND THESE ARE JUST HINDERING YOU

FROM PROGRESSING TO NEXT LEVEL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY'S DIZZINESS AND NUMBNESS

ARE NOT RESULT OF ANYTHING PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH HER.

THEY ARE ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL.

SHE HAS A LOT OF FEAR RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT IS STARTING TO AFFECT HER AND HER BODY.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PHYSICAL CAUSE FOR IT,

THE SYMPTOM ARE STILL REAL

AND CAN GET WORSE IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, SHE'LL BRING ABOUT WHAT SHE FEARS MOST.

SHE WILL END UP IMMOBILE AGAIN, AND SHE'LL GAIN WEIGHT.

SO WHEN WE NEED TO TURN THE SITUATION AROUND IMMEDIATELY.

SO, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO TREAT THIS

IS TO GET YOU SOME PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP.

WE NEED YOU TO START SEEING A PSYCHOTHERAPIST,

AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEND YOU TO A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE STAYING ACTIVE

AND ARE DOING YOUR EXERCISES.

WE'RE GOING TO GET ALL THIS FIGURED OUT, OKAY?

OKAY, DR. NOWZARADAN.

OKAY, SO LET ME MAKE ARRANGEMENTS

FOR ALL THOSE THINGS FOR YOU, OKAY?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

**

Ashley: I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS ALL IN MY HEAD.

SO I DON'T SEE HOW THERAPY IS GONNA HELP ME.

BUT IF DR. NOW SAYS IT'LL HELP, I'LL DO IT.

I JUST DON'T GET HOW THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

**

TODAY, I'M GOING TO SEE THE THERAPIST AGAIN.

MY MOM IS GOING WITH ME SO I DON'T CHICKEN OUT,

BUT I DO THINK SEEING A THERAPIST WILL DO SOME GOOD.

IT STILL MAKES ME NERVOUS

TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE EMOTIONS THEY MAY ASK ME ABOUT.

BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD NEXT STEP.

ASHLEY? I'M ANGELA.

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

COME ON IN.

FEEL FREE TO SIT ON THE COUCH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

-AWKWARD. [ CHUCKLES ] -YEAH?

THE FIRST SESSION IS ALWAYS AWKWARD.

YEAH.

WELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME,

OR DO YOU WANT TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND --

UM...

GUESS WE'LL JUST JUMP RIGHT IN.

-OKAY. -YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY

AND HOW WE GOT HERE?

EARLY CHILDHOOD, MY PARENTS GOT A DIVORCE,

AND WE ACTUALLY MOVED IN WITH MY MOM.

WELL, I ENDED UP...

...BEING SEXUALLY ABUSED BY MY BABYSITTER'S HUSBAND.

AND IT KIND OF JUST STARTED ALL THIS, I GUESS.

-HOW OLD WERE YOU? -7 TO 8.

THAT'S HARD STUFF.

AND I KIND OF BUILT UP, LIKE, A SECURITY WALL.

[ SNIFFLES ] AND MINE WAS WITH FOOD,

SO I LITERALLY BUILT A WALL AROUND ME, SO...

I'M NOT ONE THAT OPENS UP A LOT.

BUT NOW I'M BATTLING SOMETHING THAT'S INSIDE,

AND NOT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT.

WE CAN BURY AND BURY, AND THEN EVENTUALLY, IT HAS TO COME OUT.

AND IT USUALLY COMES OUT

IN ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, OR ADDICTION.

[ Chuckling ] YEAH, I'M PROOF.

YEAH.

I SPEND A LOT OF TIME BY MYSELF.

-YEAH. -I'M A STAY-AT-HOME MOM.

MY HUSBAND'S GONE A LOT.

AND I KNOW WHO I AM,

BUT THEN AGAIN, I HAVE NO SENSE OF WHO I AM.

SOUNDS LIKE WE NEED TO WORK

ON YOU OWNING YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW?

-I THINK -- -THAT'S WHERE I'M LOST.

YEAH, I CAN HEAR THAT.

I THINK, YOU KNOW --

I'M, LIKE, IN LIMBO.

YEAH, YEAH.

AND I CAN LOOK AT PICTURES AND SEE HOW MUCH I'VE CHANGED.

BUT THEN AGAIN, I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,

AND SOMETIMES, I JUST STILL SEE MY 725-POUND SELF.

YEAH.

IT'S STARTING TO WEAR -- IT'S STARTING TO WEAR ME OUT.

SURE, YEAH. IT'S EXHAUSTING.

-YEAH. -YEAH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

-I FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIGHTER. -OKAY.

I DO. I FEEL LIKE I'VE TALKED ABOUT THINGS

THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF GET OFF MY CHEST,

-SO I'M GLAD YOU LISTENED. -YEAH. OF COURSE.

I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY AROUND ME

THAT KIND OF UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH, SO...

YEAH. OKAY.

WELL, I DO WANT TO SEND YOU AWAY WITH SOME HOMEWORK.

I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO TRACK YOUR MOODS.

SO ANY TIME THOSE SELF-DEFEATING THOUGHTS START TO COME UP,

ESPECIALLY AROUND BODY IMAGE, I WANT YOU TO WRITE THAT DOWN.

AND THEN WE CAN DIRECTLY COUNTERACT THOSE THOUGHTS

AND THOSE THEMES.

-WELL, THANK YOU. -DEFINITELY.

-THANK YOU. -HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

YEAH.

I'LL SHOW YOU OUT HERE.

Ashley: I'M GLAD I CAME TODAY.

IT FELT REALLY GOOD TO GET SOME OF THESE THINGS

THAT I'VE HAD BOTTLED UP INSIDE OUT IN THE OPEN.

I FEEL 100 TIMES BETTER

NOW THAT I JUST KIND OF LET IT OFF MY CHEST --

WHAT I'M FEELING, WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH.

AND HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE

TO MAKE THIS A CONSISTENT THING IN MY LIFE,

BECAUSE I THINK THIS COULD REALLY HELP ME A LOT

ON MY JOURNEY.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

**

Lupe: I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUSH MYSELF TO STAND UP AND TAKE SOME STEPS.

AND I WAS TRYING TO WALK,

AND I FELT SOMETHING POP IN MY HIP,

SO I CALLED 911.

AND I'M REALLY WORRIED I'VE BEEN PUSHING MY BODY TOO HARD...

ONE, TWO, THREE.

...AND THAT I REALLY HURT MYSELF.

I'M HOPING THIS HOSPITAL VISIT WON'T SET ME BACK.

-HOW YOU HOLDING UP, LOVE? -OKAY.

THEY DIDN'T GIVE YOU ANYTHING YET, DID THEY?

LIKE MEDICINE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

NO, THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME ANYTHING.

WELL, HAVE THEM CHECK,

'CAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT PREGNANT.

JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE.

WITH ALL MY WEIGHT I'VE LOST, GILBERT AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO BE MORE INTIMATE AND SEXUALLY ACTIVE.

AND I HAVEN'T HAD MY PERIOD FOR LIKE A MONTH, MAYBE FIVE WEEKS.

AND I'VE BEEN GETTING SICK.

SO I TOLD GILBERT I COULD BE PREGNANT.

SO WE'RE CONCERNED.

THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RUN SOME TESTS

BECAUSE IT COULD HURT THE BABY IF I'M PREGNANT.

I HAVE WANTED A BABY,

BUT I DON'T WANT THEM TRYING TO TAKE MY BABY AWAY

BECAUSE I'M NOT CAPABLE OF GETTING OUT OF BED

OR TAKING CARE OF IT.

I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT --

WHAT IS SHE GETTING DONE RIGHT NOW,

-A SONAR? -A C.T. OF HER STOMACH.

OH, OKAY. JUST BECAUSE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY

THAT SHE COULD BE PREGNANT, BUT I'M NOT SURE.

I JUST WANT TO BE SAFE, THAT'S ALL.

OKAY. LET ME TALK TO THEM FOR A MINUTE.

OKAY.

Gilbert: IF SHE TURNS OUT TO BE PREGNANT,

THEN I GUESS IT'S GONNA PUT A PAUSE ON ALL THE PROCEDURES,

AND WE'RE GONNA GO A DIFFERENT ROUTE ON THE JOURNEY,

A MORE HEALTHIER ROUTE FOR HER AND OUR BABY.

BUT IF NOT, THEN WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO PUSH

AND CONTINUE TO GET MY WIFE ON HER FEET.

[ CHUCKLES ] THAT'D BE SOMETHING.

OH, MY GOSH. [ LAUGHS ]

OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT, SIR.

-MY BAD. -IT'S OKAY.

Lupe: I'VE WANTED A BABY FOR SO LONG,

BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING THAT I'M NOT READY TO BE PREGNANT.

AND RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE BEST TIME.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I'D TAKE CARE OF IT...

...AND HOW GILBERT WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE BABY AND ME.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,

AND I'M JUST FEELING REALLY OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE NOW'S NOT THE TIME FOR ME TO BE PREGNANT.

Lupe: I'M IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I TRIED TO WALK,

I FELT A POP AND SOME PAIN.

SO I CALLED 911 TO FIND OUT IF I REALLY HURT MYSELF OR NOT.

BUT GILBERT STOPPED THEM FROM RUNNING TESTS ON ME

BECAUSE WE THOUGHT I MIGHT BE PREGNANT.

SO THEY GAVE ME A PREGNANCY TEST,

BUT THAT CAME BACK NEGATIVE.

Gilbert: I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I THOUGHT LUPE AND I WERE FINALLY HAVING A BABY.

BUT IT WASN'T OUR TIME, I SUPPOSE.

WE HAVE TO GET LUPE TO A MORE HEALTHY PLACE

BEFORE SHE'S READY,

BUT IT WON'T STOP US FROM TRYING.

Lupe: PART OF ME IS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED,

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF ME THAT'S RELIEVED.

AND NOW I'M JUST WONDERING

ABOUT WHAT I MAY HAVE DONE TO HURT MYSELF.

SO I'M HOPING TO GET THAT ANSWER HERE REALLY SOON.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

GOOD MORNING.

-GOOD MORNING. -GOOD MORNING.

WELL, HOW ARE YOU FEELING THIS MORNING?

THIS PAIN DON'T REALLY HURT

UNLESS I'M SITTING UP ALL THE WAY.

LIKE, IF IT HANGS A LITTLE BIT RIGHT HERE.

OKAY. AND HAVE YOU BEEN UP TODAY?

-NO. -OKAY.

SO, WE HAVE DONE COMPLETE CHECKUP ON YOU.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NO NEW INJURY

-OR DAMAGE TO YOUR BODY, OKAY? -OKAY.

...EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD, AND YOU ARE DOING FINE.

OKAY.

SO, THIS IS WHAT IT MEANS, RIGHT?

YEAH.

IT MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO SETBACK

OR CONCERN ABOUT GETTING UP AND WALKING AGAIN.

THE ISSUE IS THAT YOU'RE JUST AFRAID TO DO IT.

-YEAH. -AND EXCUSES NEED TO STOP, OKAY?

OKAY.

LUPE IS CONTINUING MAKING EXCUSES

AS TO WHY SHE CAN'T GET UP AND WALK.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF SHE WANTS TO CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS,

SHE NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF BED.

AND SKIN SURGERY WILL HELP WITH THAT.

YOU NEED TO HIT YOUR GOALS TO GET YOUR SKIN SURGERY.

AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN FIX YOUR HIP, OKAY?

OKAY.

HEY, WE BOTH CAN FIT IN THE BED, DOC.

ALL RIGHT, SO I GUESS THAT'S IMPROVEMENT?

-THAT'S IMPROVEMENT. -OKAY.

KEEP MAKING THE PROGRESS I TOLD YOU TO MAKE

AND LOSE 20 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I'M READY, WHENEVER.

ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

-THANK YOU. -OKAY.

LUPE NEEDS TO STOP COMING UP WITH A REASON AND EXCUSES

WHY SHE CANNOT START WALKING

AND PUSH TO MAKE THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS

SO SHE DOESN'T GO BACKWARD AGAIN.

Lupe: I KNOW I NEED TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN.

BUT IF DR. NOW WANTS ME TO WORK HARDER AT IT, I WILL.

FOR SO MANY YEARS, I WAS SCARED TO FALL

BECAUSE I KNEW NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE

TO HELP PICK ME UP IF I DID.

AND THAT FEAR DOESN'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

BUT I'M DETERMINED TO DO THIS NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS,

BECAUSE NOTHING ELSE MATTERS

IF I HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE IN BED.

**

Ashley: ALL RIGHT, BABY. I'LL BE BACK.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL BE RIGHT HERE.

YOU BETTER BE.

Ashley: AFTER SEEING THE THERAPIST, I'VE BEEN FEELING A LOT BETTER.

OOH, IT'S COLD.

MY NUMBNESS AND DIZZINESS HAVEN'T COMPLETELY GONE AWAY,

BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS IT WAS.

DR. NOW HAD A PHYSICAL THERAPIST COME OVER A FEW TIMES,

AND HE TOLD ME THE GOAL

IS JUST FIND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING ACTIVE EVERY DAY.

SO MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN TAKING WALKS DOWN THE STREET AND BACK.

WE'VE STARTED TALKING SOME,

AND I FEEL LIKE JUST DOING THIS IS BRINGING US CLOSER TOGETHER.

AND I'M FOCUSING ON MAKING ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO GET MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING TO A GYM WITH A TRAINER.

-UH-HUH. -I THINK JUST FOOD AND WALKING'S

-NOT GONNA GET IT ANYMORE. -NO, IT'S NOT.

'CAUSE MENTALLY,

I KNOW I'VE LOST THE WEIGHT,

BUT WHEN I SEE IT MYSELF,

IT'S LIKE I CAN'T GET IT THROUGH MY THICK SKULL,

'CAUSE IT'S STILL HERE.

YEAH.

I WANT THIS SKIN OFF OF ME.

JUST A YEAR AGO, I WOULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED I COULD DO THIS.

MY STOMACH HANGS SO HEAVY ON MY BACK.

SOMETIMES WHEN I'M STANDING,

I'M SCARED OF PHYSICALLY BREAKING MY OWN BACK.

DR. NOW TOLD ME TO GET BELOW 350 POUNDS

TO GET TO WHERE I WOULD BE READY FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO WALK WITH ME.

WELL, OF COURSE, DEAR.

YOU KNOW, I TOLD YOU I WOULD WALK WITH YOU WHEN I'M HOME.

I KNOW, AND I NEED TO TAKE YOU UP ON IT MORE OFTEN.

RIGHT NOW, I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING.

AND WHEN I SEE DR. NOW SOON,

I HOPE THE SCALE SHOWS THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO I'M WORKING MY HARDEST TO GET THERE AND HIT MY GOAL.

**

Lupe: OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS...

DON'T EVEN NEED ME ANYMORE.

...I'VE BEEN GETTING UP AND OUT OF BED AS MUCH AS I CAN.

MORE INDEPENDENT BY YOURSELF WITH THAT WALKER NOW.

IT WAS REALLY HARD AT FIRST, BUT I PUSHED MYSELF

UNTIL I COULD STAY OUT OF MY BED ALL DAY.

YOU GONNA MAKE ME A BURGER, OR WHAT?

YEAH.

HERE YOU GO.

I'M EVEN STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE MORE INDEPENDENT

AND CONFIDENT IN MYSELF.

AND I TRY TO HELP DO SOME CHORES AROUND THE HOUSE

AND COOK DINNER.

SO I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD,

AND I THINK I'M MAKING PROGRESS WITH MY WEIGHT, TOO.

I STILL CAN'T EAT MUCH SINCE I HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT I DO MISS THE FOOD I CRAVE SOMETIMES.

OKAY.

AND WHEN I DO, I DON'T FEEL LIKE

GILBERT REALLY UNDERSTANDS MY STRUGGLE.

I'M READY TO DRINK.

CELEBRATE.

JUST A BEER OR TWO, THOUGH. SOCIAL DRINKING.

I'M NOT DRINKING.

I CAN'T EVEN REALLY EAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

YEAH, 'CAUSE YOU WANT TO DRINK. THAT'S ALL.

-NO, NO. 'CAUSE I'M ANXIOUS. -YES, EXACTLY.

I FEEL REALLY ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW. NO, YOU'RE ANXIOUS

'CAUSE YOU WANT TO DRINK, OKAY?

-NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE. -YES.

I'M NERVED UP. I DON'T SHOW IT A LOT.

YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE THE LAST TIME,

AND YOUR WIFE AIN'T DRINKING, SO YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRINKING.

JUST SOCIAL DRINKING.

IS IT SOCIALLY WHEN YOU'RE BY YOURSELF DRINKING?

BABE, COME ON. DON'T START TRIPPING. IT'S A GOOD DAY.

EXACTLY.

WHEN GILBERT GETS LIKE THIS,

IT MAKES ME WONDER IF HE'S UP TO HIS OLD GAMES AGAIN,

TALKING TO OTHER WOMEN BEHIND MY BACK.

I HEAR YOU TELL THIS CHICK THAT,

"OH, I'LL SHOW YOU A GOOD TIME, AND THEN WE'LL GO ON

-FROM THERE." -I DON'T KNOW HOW

YOU GOT ON THE PHONE RIGHT WHEN THAT HAPPENED,

BUT THAT'S ON ME.

I GOT CAUGHT, SO...

AND NO MATTER WHAT, I DON'T DESERVE THAT.

SO NOTHING IS GONNA STOP ME

FROM GETTING TO A PLACE WHERE I CAN BE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE. JUST A COUPLE BEERS, LOVE.

I'LL JUST DRINK LIKE A 40 AND BE GOOD.

Ashley: TODAY, I'M HEADED TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S OFFICE

TO SEE WHAT MY CURRENT WEIGHT IS

AND IF IT'S ENOUGH TO GET SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

LAST THEY CHECKED MY WEIGHT

WAS WHEN I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL,

AND I HADN'T LOST MUCH FROM MY 470 WEIGH-IN.

IF I STAYED ON TRACK AND LOST 20 POUNDS EACH MONTH SINCE THEN,

I SHOULD BE BELOW 410 POUNDS TODAY.

OKAY, GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

BUT I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD,

SO I HOPE I'M CLOSER TO THE 350 MARK

SO THAT I CAN GET APPROVED FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY TODAY.

Woman: 397.

-GOOD JOB. -ALL RIGHT!

IT'S NOT AS LOW AS I WAS HOPING,

BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE MYSELF UNDER 400 POUNDS FINALLY.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT.

NOW BACK DOWN TO THE SIZE I WAS WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT I REALLY HOPE THIS IS ENOUGH

TO GET APPROVED FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

DID GOOD.

THANK YOU.

-HELLO. -HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW YOU DOING, ASHLEY?

I'M DOING GOOD. I'M EATING FINE.

I USUALLY EAT TWO TO THREE TIMES A DAY,

-AND I'M MAINLY DOING PROTEIN. -GOOD.

SO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS GOING WELL, AND YOU ARE AT 300s NOW.

-ARE YOU EXCITED? -YES, SIR. [ CHUCKLES ]

HOW'S YOUR ACTIVITY?

IT'S INCREASED QUITE A BIT.

ANY ISSUE WITH THE EXTRA SKIN ON YOUR BODY?

YES, MY STOMACH

AND ESPECIALLY THIS RIGHT HERE.

THIS EXTRA SKIN RIGHT HERE --

IT GETS IRRITATED RIGHT HERE REAL BAD.

-UH-HUH. -AND I HAVE SO MUCH SKIN

ON MY ABDOMEN THAT IT GETS IRRITATED.

OKAY.

AND I CAN FOLD IT UP LIKE A TACO.

[ CHUCKLES ]

OKAY, LET ME SEE YOUR EXCESS SKIN.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU GOT A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN GOING AROUND IN HERE

THAT NEED TO COME OFF.

BUT YOU STILL NEED TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS BEFORE YOU'RE READY.

YOU NEED TO GET DOWN BELOW 350 STILL.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY HAS A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN,

BUT SHE STILL HAVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF FAT IN HER ABDOMEN

THAT NEED TO BE REDUCED

BEFORE SHE'S READY FOR ANY SKIN REMOVAL.

BUT IF SHE STAYS ON TRACK, SHE WILL BE READY SOON.

IF YOU LOSE 20 POUNDS A MONTH,

YOU WILL BE READY IN A FEW MONTHS.

I'M READY TO GET THIS OFF OF ME.

ARE YOU GETTING ANY SUPPORT FROM YOUR FAMILY?

IS YOUR HUSBAND DOING DIET WITH YOU?

I'M NOT AS STRICT AS SHE IS, BUT JUST KIND OF PLAYING AROUND,

I'VE ABOUT 20, 25 POUNDS.

YOU SHOULD STICK WITH THE PLAN THAT SHE'S ON AND DO IT WITH HER

-TO AT LEAST SUPPORT HER. -YEP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY PROBABLY HAS BEEN BIG ENABLERS IN HER PAST,

BUT RIGHT NOW, ASHLEY'S WORKING HARD

AND STAYING STRONG TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS.

KEEP AT IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. SUPER.

SEE YOU IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

**

Ashley: I WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET APPROVED TODAY,

SO IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT I DIDN'T DO IT.

BUT I'M STICKING WITH IT BECAUSE I'M AT LEAST CLOSE TO MY GOAL.

I'M NOT LETTING THIS SLOW ME DOWN OR GET OFF TRACK.

I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, THE MORE WEIGHT I LOSE,

THE MORE SKIN HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF,

AND THE BETTER THE OUTCOME WILL BE.

**

Lupe: MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW IS IN A FEW DAYS.

AND I'M HOPING HE'LL BE REALLY IMPRESSED

WITH HOW FAR I'VE COME.

ONE, TWO.

I'VE PUSHED MYSELF EVERY SINGLE DAY

TO DO WHAT HE'S TOLD ME.

AND NOW I'M NOT ONLY GETTING UP AND WALKING,

BUT I CAN MAKE IT INTO THE OTHER ROOM BEFORE I HAVE TO SIT DOWN.

SO I'M HOPING DR. NOW THINKS I'M READY FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL,

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY STARTING TO HOLD ME BACK.

GOT YOUR WALK ON. BABE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'M IN BACK OF YOU WHEN YOU'RE WALKING. YOU KNOW THAT?

-I'M-A SQUEEZE YOUR CHEEKS. -PLEASE STOP. STOP!

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HOW IT'S GONNA CHANGE MY BODY

TO HAVE ALL THIS EXTRA SKIN GONE.

I WANT TO THROW THIS DAMN WHEELCHAIR OUT THE WINDOW.

SICK AND TIRED OF THIS DAMN WHEELCHAIR.

YOU KNOW WHAT, LOVE?

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU. OKAY?

-WHAT, NOT DRINKING ANYMORE? -'CAUSE OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS,

MAYBE I CAN GET A BEER AFTER THIS?

NO. [ BOTH LAUGH ]

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

I KNOW THAT ME GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE I'M DOING MORE FOR MYSELF ISN'T EASY FOR GILBERT.

BUT HE SHOULD BE PROUD OF ME,

AND I FEEL LIKE HE'S STARTING TO SEE THAT.

THIS IS FOR YOU, MY LOVE.

SO PROUD OF YOU.

**

MY BABY.

I LOVE YOU, LOVE.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF

AND EXCITED ABOUT ALL MY PROGRESS.

I JUST HOPE DR. NOW THINKS IT'S ENOUGH WHEN I SEE HIM.

**

I'M PRAYING THAT TODAY I GET APPROVED FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

I WAS 356 POUNDS THE LAST TIME I WAS WEIGHED WITH DR. NOW.

LUPE SAMANO?

AND THAT WAS ALMOST SIX MONTHS AGO.

I KNOW I SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP

WITH MY WEIGHT CHECKS MORE

AND THAT MY WEIGHT LOSS HAD SLOWED DOWN.

BUT I'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING DR. NOWZARADAN HAS ASKED ME.

SO I'M JUST HOPING ALL THAT PAYS OFF

WITH THE NUMBER I'M ABOUT TO SEE.

Woman: 280.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

-THAT'S GOOD, LOVE. 280. -YEAH.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THAT WEIGHT

SINCE I WAS ABOUT MAYBE 9 YEARS OLD.

SO THAT'S A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR ME, AND IT'S A BIG DEAL.

SO I'M EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT DR. NOWZARADAN THINKS TODAY.

HELLO.

-HI. -HEY. HOW YOU DOING, DOC?

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

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU FINALLY HIT THAT 280 MAGIC NUMBER, HUH?

-YEAH, IT'S LIKE THAT. -ALL RIGHT.

SUPER.

SO, ARE YOU GETTING UP EVERY DAY AND WALKING?

EXCELLENT. YOU'RE DOING GREAT,

AND YOU MADE IT UNDER 300 POUNDS,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU FOR SKIN SURGERY.

-OKAY. -BUT THIS IS A VERY BIG SURGERY.

THIS IS GOING TO TAKE FOUR TO SIX HOURS,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO REMOVE BETWEEN 20 TO 30 POUNDS.

BUT IT IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.

-OKAY. -OKAY.

-YEAH. -IT'LL BE BETTER, YEAH.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SKIN.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE LUPE IS DOING WELL.

AND GILBERT SEEMS TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF HER RIGHT NOW.

SHE'S GETTING UP AND WALKING AND OVERCOMING HER FEAR.

SO REMOVING ALL THIS EXCESS SKIN WILL NOT ONLY HELP HER

TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND EASIER,

BUT WILL ALSO HELP HER TO GET CLOSER

TO HAVE CORRECTIVE SURGERY FOR HER HIP.

THAT WILL BE A VERY HIGH-RISK PROCEDURE,

SO SHE NEEDS TO GET CLOSER TO HER TARGET WEIGHT

BEFORE SHE CAN HAVE THAT SURGERY.

YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY FROM BEING 600 POUND TO 280, HUH?

YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

-YEAH. -WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME.

THAT'S MY JOB TO GET YOU WELL.

YOU'VE SAVED MY LIFE, SO...

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AND GET YOU FIXED UP, OKAY?

-ALL RIGHT. -ENJOY YOUR EVENING.

THIS IS IT, LOVE.

**

Lupe: I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET HERE.

AND TO HEAR DR. NOWZARADAN TELL ME I'M DOING GOOD

IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG SURGERY,

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHOLE LOT TO EVEN RECOVER FROM IT.

BUT I'M READY.

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET GOING MORE WITH MY LIFE.

IT'S FINALLY STARTING TO HAPPEN.

**

Lupe: THE DAY OF MY SKIN REMOVAL IS FINALLY HERE.

THE CLOSER IT'S GOTTEN TO THIS DAY, THE MORE SCARED I'VE BEEN.

BUT I CAN'T BE UP AND INDEPENDENT LIKE I WANT

IF I DON'T GET THE SURGERY.

Woman: THIS IS SO AWESOME!

SO NO MATTER HOW SCARED I GET OR HOW HARD IT IS,

I'M GOING THROUGH WITH THIS TODAY.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY ON LUPE.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT

FOR HER BODY AND HER MOBILITY.

BUT THIS IS A VERY COMPLICATED PROCEDURE

THAT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME.

AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

TO MAKE SURE EVERY BLOOD VESSEL IS TIED OFF

SO THERE IS NO EXCESS BLEEDING

THAT WILL BECOME LIFE-THREATENING.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE

EVERYTHING IS REMOVED PROPORTIONALLY

SO IT ALL LOOK RIGHT WHEN IT HEALS.

IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE TWO OF YOU TO TAKE IT OVER THERE.

OKAY, WE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED THE EXCESS SKIN

FROM HER LOWER ABDOMEN.

AND NOW WE JUST NEED TO SUTURE HER UP, AND WE'LL BE DONE.

LUPE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

IT'S A LOT OF SKIN WE TOOK OFF OF HER.

ALL THIS, THEY'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THE SCALE.

32 POUND.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR HER.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.

-GOOD JOB. -WATCH THOSE MUSCLES.

IT WILL TAKE LUPE A FEW WEEKS TO FULLY HEAL.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE

SHE DOESN'T USE THE DIFFICULTY OF RECOVERY

AS AN EXCUSE TO BECOME IMMOBILE AGAIN.

SHE NEEDS TO TAKE IT EASY FOR A BIT

AND MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T OVERDO IT

AND DAMAGE THE SUTURES.

BUT SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER WELL

AND GET BACK TO EVERYTHING SHE WAS DOING VERY SOON.

**

Ashley: AFTER SEEING DR. NOW AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT I DIDN'T GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

HEY, PEP-PEP, COME HERE.

GET MOMMY THE WORCESTERSHIRE.

BUT I HAVEN'T LET IT GET ME DISCOURAGED.

AND I'M STILL STICKING TO THE DIET

AND WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EATING.

I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF TRACK AND START GAINING AGAIN.

YES, PLEASE, MOM.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ALL MY PROGRESS,

AND MY GOAL IS STILL TO GET BELOW 350

SO I CAN GET APPROVED NEXT TIME.

-ALL RIGHT. IT'S COOKING. -ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MAMA.

I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP ALL MY PROGRESS,

SO I'M STICKING TO MY DIET AND EATING HEALTHY.

I'M GONNA PUT THESE IN THE FRIDGE.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

DR. NOWZARADAN'S RIGHT THAT IT'S HARDER

WITHOUT MY FAMILY EATING WHAT I EAT.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME, THEY AREN'T ME.

I'M GONNA SET THIS TIMER SO WE DON'T FORGET, OKAY, MOM?

AND I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO HAVE TO EAT WHAT I EAT.

BUT IT HAS BEEN A LITTLE HARDER RECENTLY.

THE LONGER YOU GO WITHOUT EATING THE THINGS YOU LIKE,

THE HARDER IT IS TO RESIST THEM.

BUT I'M TRYING TO EAT EVEN HEALTHIER RIGHT NOW

AND PUSHING MYSELF TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

SO I DECIDED I DON'T WANT TO HIT MY GOAL IN THREE MONTHS

LIKE DR. NOW SAID.

I WANT TO LOSE THE NEXT 50 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS.

SO I'M EATING REALLY SMALL PORTIONS,

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY

AS SOON AS I CAN.

THE VEGGIES ARE DARK BECAUSE I PUT WORCESTERSHIRE SA--

-[ SCOFFS ] -WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE ON IT?

I WANT DR. NOW TO BE SURPRISED AT HOW WELL I'VE DONE

AND HOW MUCH I'VE LOST.

AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR HIM SAY HE THINKS I'M READY FOR SURGERY.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

**

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME.

A FEW DAYS AGO, MY STOMACH STARTED TO REALLY HURT.

AND THEN THIS MORNING, THE PAIN GOT UNBEARABLE,

AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS I HAVE TO GO INTO SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

[ WOMAN SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A. ]

ASHLEY HAS BEEN PUSHING HERSELF TO LOSE WEIGHT VERY RAPIDLY.

BUT A SIDE EFFECT OF RAPID WEIGHT LOSS

CAN BE FORMATION OF GALLSTONES,

WHICH IS NOT ONLY PAINFUL,

BUT CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION...

SO WE NEED TO GET HER INTO SURGERY FAST

AND REMOVE HER GALLBLADDER NOW...

Woman: THIS IS JUST OXYGEN.

...BEFORE ANYTHING LIFE-THREATENING OCCURS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ASHLEY HAS BEEN PUSHING HERSELF

TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT REALLY FAST.

BUT A SIDE EFFECT OF RAPID WEIGHT LOSS

CAN BE FORMATION OF GALLSTONES.

AND HER GALLBLADDER IS IN VERY BAD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE NEED TO DO AN EMERGENCY SURGERY SO I CAN REMOVE IT.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT SURGERY,

BECAUSE IF IT'S RUPTURED, IT CAN BE DEADLY.

CAN YOU TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF?

A LITTLE TO THE LEFT. [ MONITOR BEEPING RAPIDLY ]

SLOWLY.

SHE HAS A LOT OF FATTY TISSUE IN HER ABDOMEN,

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.

KEEP GOING.

ALL RIGHT. I'M ALMOST THERE.

OKAY. LET'S REMOVE IT.

**

OKAY. THE GALLBLADDER HAS BEEN REMOVED.

LET'S SUTURE HER UP.

**

SURGERY IS COMPLETE.

ALL RIGHT. ASHLEY'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

WE GOT HER GALLBLADDER OUT.

SHE HAD A LOT OF SCAR TISSUE FROM PREVIOUS SURGERY.

WE TOOK THOSE DOWN, AND SHE SHOULD DO OKAY.

THIS WILL KEEP ASHLEY IN BED FOR THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECOVER COMPLETELY

AND GET BACK TO HER WEIGHT LOSS.

BUT THIS TIME AROUND, SHE NEEDS TO NOT PUSH HERSELF SO HARD.

EATING ALMOST NOTHING ISN'T HEALTHY.

IT IS ABOUT EATING RIGHT,

AND EATING LESS IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER.

AND SO WE WILL MAKE SURE SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT,

AND SHE'LL GET BACK TO LOSING WEIGHT AT A HEALTHY PACE.

ASHLEY GETS AFRAID VERY EASILY.

AND IF SHE STARTS TO BECOME AFRAID

OF HOW LITTLE SHE'S EATING,

SHE MAY START TO OVEREAT AND GAIN AGAIN.

BUT WE WILL ADDRESS EVERYTHING WITH HER

AND SEE IF WE CAN CORRECT HER BEHAVIOR.

**

Lupe: IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH

SINCE I HAD MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY,

AND I WAS HEALING WELL.

YOU NEED TO COME AND CHECK MY WOUND, BABE.

THEY'RE STILL HURTING.

MM-HMM.

BUT GILBERT WAS REALLY INSISTENT

THAT WE HAVE SEX WHEN I GOT HOME,

BECAUSE WITH ME BEING IN THE HOSPITAL, IT HAD BEEN A WHILE.

AND AFTERWARDS, IT FELT LIKE I HAD RIPPED OPEN MY SUTURES.

OW, THAT HURT.

[ WHIMPERS ]

I WAS HOPING IT WOULD START TO HEAL,

BUT THE PAIN IS SO UNBEARABLE RIGHT NOW.

I ASKED GILBERT TO CALL AN AMBULANCE

TO TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL SO I CAN SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

OW.

SORRY, LOVE, FOR KIND OF [BLEEP] UP YOUR WOUND

FROM SEX.

I APOLOGIZE.

I DO WHAT I GOT TO DO. I'M A MAN.

I HAVE MY NEEDS.

BUT YOU AIN'T GOT TO BRING THAT UP TO THE DOCTOR.

HE DON'T NEED TO KNOW THAT [BLEEP]

JUST SAY IT'S THE DRAINAGE TUBES.

WE'LL JUST MOVE ALONG WITH THAT [BLEEP]

-DON'T BRING THAT UP, PLEASE? -I'M NOT! LEAVE ME ALONE.

-MY GOD. -[BLEEP]

I FEEL LIKE WHEN I REALLY NEED GILBERT,

HE ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE, AND HE ISN'T THERE FOR ME.

I NEED A BEER, LOVE. I'M STRESSING.

IT'S THE WEEKEND. I'M STRESSING

'CAUSE OF THIS [BLEEP] WE KEEP GOING THROUGH,

THIS ROLLER-COASTER JOURNEY.

I NEED TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW,

AND ALL HE CAN THINK ABOUT IS GETTING DRUNK.

I'M NOT DRINKING TO GET [BLEEP] UP.

I'M DRINKING TO GET A SLIGHT BUZZ, AND THAT'S IT, SO...

**

WHY CAN'T I HAVE NORMAL WEEKEND?

WE'RE ALWAYS AT THE HOSPITAL ON THE WEEKENDS.

[ LAUGHS ]

FIVE HOURS IN THE E.R.

OH, MY GOD. UNBELIEVABLE.

**

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HI. -HI.

YEAH, COME IN. HI.

Gilbert: I'VE BEEN PUTTING MY WIFE FIRST AND TAKING CARE OF HER

AND MAKING SURE SHE GETS TO WHERE SHE HAS TO BE.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

ONE, TWO, THREE.

-OH, MY GOD. -NO, DON'T MOVE.

Lupe: I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I NEED GILBERT TO BE BY MY SIDE,

NOT DRUNK AND BARELY ABLE TO STAND.

I DESERVE A LOT BETTER THAN THAT.

HE CARES MORE ABOUT HIMSELF AND WHAT HE WANTS THAN ME.

-YOU GOT IT FROM HERE? -YEAH.

SO I'LL GO BY MYSELF.

OKAY.

AND I MAY NEED TO THINK

ABOUT MAKING SOME BIGGER CHANGES IN MY LIFE.

**

Ashley: WHEN I HAD TO GO INTO EMERGENCY SURGERY LAST MONTH,

IT REALLY SCARED ME.

WELL, THEY'RE GONNA EAT WHAT I MAKE THEM EAT, BUT --

I DIDN'T REALIZE LOSING WEIGHT THAT FAST COULD DO THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO LOSE WEIGHT SO I COULD GET SKIN REMOVAL.

BUT I UNDERSTAND NOW HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS.

SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I EAT MORE THAN I WAS

AND THAT I DON'T PUSH MYSELF TO LOSE TOO MUCH TOO QUICK.

SO, RIGHT NOW, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND THE BALANCE

SO I CAN KEEP MOVING TOWARD GETTING UNDER 350 POUNDS,

SO I CAN FINALLY GET MY SKIN SURGERY APPROVAL.

[ MICROWAVE BEEPS ]

Boy: I LOVE MY CARROTS.

Boy #2: HOW CAN YOU LOVE YOUR CARROTS?

I SEE THE DOCTOR IN A MONTH.

AND I'M JUST TERRIFIED THAT WORST-CASE SCENARIO,

I'M GOING TO START TO GAIN AGAIN.

AND JUST THE THOUGHT OF THAT MAKES ME SO AFRAID.

I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS,

SO NO MATTER WHAT, I HAVE TO STAY ON TRACK.

IF I DON'T, I'M GOING TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

Lupe: AFTER A REALLY HARD MONTH,

THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BETTER FOR ME.

WHEN I GOT TO THE HOSPITAL,

DR. NOWZARADAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT MY SUTURES

AND RUSHED ME INTO SURGERY.

AND IT WAS A REALLY HARD RECOVERY AFTER THAT.

BUT I'M STARTING TO TURN A CORNER NOW.

Gilbert: I'M BACK, LOVE.

AND THINGS ARE BETTER WITH ME AND GILBERT.

HE APOLOGIZED FOR HOW HE ACTED,

AND HE'S BEEN REALLY SWEET TO ME SINCE THEN.

BECAUSE I'M SO PROUD OF YOU, LOVE,

I GOT YOU SOME NEW OUTFITS.

OOH-HOO!

YOU GONNA PUT THIS ON FOR ME LATER TONIGHT?

-YES, GILBERT. -OKAY.

THANK YOU, BABE.

I FIGURED WE'D GO OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW?

Gilbert: I WANT LUPE TO REALIZE THE FACT

THAT SHE'S NOT 650 OR 700 NO MORE.

SHE'S MY WEIGHT OR LESS.

SHE DON'T NEED TO BE IN THE BED ALL DAY, YOU KNOW?

Lupe: I'M REALLY PUSHING MYSELF TO DO MORE RIGHT NOW.

AND EVERY DAY, GILBERT HELPS ME STAND.

AND THEN WE GO OUTSIDE, AND I SEE HOW FAR I CAN WALK.

AND I TRY TO GO A LITTLE BIT FARTHER

THAN I DID THE LAST TIME.

YOU GOT IT, BABY. THERE YOU GO.

I KNOW SOMETIMES GILBERT CAN BE A LITTLE SELFISH,

BUT I KNOW IT HAS TO BE HARD TO DO EVERYTHING HE DOES FOR ME.

THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANT TO GET MORE INDEPENDENT

AND DO THINGS FOR MYSELF,

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO ANYMORE,

AND WE CAN BE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

-I WANT TO SIT DOWN, BABE. -OKAY.

MY RIGHT LEG'S GIVING OUT.

THAT WAS GOOD.

SO I'M DOING THIS NO MATTER WHAT.

Lupe: YOU WANT TO RACE?

**

Ashley: I'M AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

Woman: ASHLEY DUNN?

LAST TIME I HAD MY WEIGHT CHECKED, I WAS DOWN TO 361.

SO ALL I HAD TO LOSE TO GET DOWN UNDER 350

AND QUALIFY FOR SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY WAS 11 POUNDS.

BUT SINCE I'VE BEEN HAVING TO EAT MORE,

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MY PROGRESS HAS BEEN.

Woman: 395.

LIKE, WHAT THE HELL?

I'M LITERALLY IN SHOCK RIGHT NOW.

I'M ALMOST BACK UP TO WHAT I WAS FOUR MONTHS AGO.

Ashley: I'M JUST TIRED OF THIS.

I THOUGHT I HAD KIND OF CONQUERED THE DEMONS,

BUT I HAVEN'T. THEY'RE STILL THERE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO, DR. NOWZARADAN.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -I'VE BEEN BETTER.

I WASN'T TOO HAPPY WITH MY SCALE WEIGHT THIS TIME.

YOU GAINED OVER 30 POUNDS THIS PAST MONTH,

WHICH ISN'T GOOD AT ALL.

I CAN'T LIE TO YOU. I'VE BEEN MESSING UP.

I THINK IT'S JUST MY BRAIN.

-IT'S WHAT? -IT'S JUST MENTAL, THOUGH.

WE WALKED THROUGH THIS AFTER SURGERY,

BECAUSE THIS WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS.

YOU GET AFRAID, AND YOU START OVER-THINKING THINGS,

AND YOU START TO LET THAT FEAR

AFFECT YOUR BEHAVIOR IN NEGATIVE WAYS.

I'VE GOT PRETTY GOOD CONTROL OVER IT MOST OF THE TIME.

BUT IT GETS THE BETTER OF ME.

YOU'RE USING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH YOUR GALLBLADDER

AS AN EXCUSE RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW.

ONE OF ASHLEY'S BIGGEST ISSUES

IS HOW SHE DEAL WITH FEAR IN SELF-DESTRUCTIVE WAYS.

SHE LET HER FEAR JUSTIFY GIVING IN TO HER TEMPTATION,

BUT SHE KNOWS BETTER.

SHE HAS A MANUAL ON HOW TO DO THIS,

COVERING WHAT SHE SHOULD EAT.

SO, TELL ME HOW YOU CHANGED YOUR EATING HABITS.

I EAT MEAT AND VEGGIES, AND I EAT THREE TIMES A DAY.

YOUR STOMACH IS MUCH SMALLER AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO YOU ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR PROTEIN.

VEGETABLE AND SALAD WILL FILL YOU WITH VERY LITTLE NUTRITION,

AND YOUR BODY WILL STILL BE HUNGRY,

AND YOU'LL OVEREAT AGAIN.

I GOT TO GET MY STUFF TOGETHER.

AND YOU NEED TO STAY ACTIVE, TOO.

OKAY, GET BACK ON TRACK AND LOSE 20 POUNDS A MONTH.

NO MORE EXCUSES OR LETTING FEAR GET TO YOU.

YOU CAN DO THIS, ASHLEY.

I CAME TOO FAR NOW TO GO BACK.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU NEXT MONTH.

-THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN. -ALL RIGHT.

THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION

IS THAT ASHLEY KNEW WHEN SHE WAS OVEREATING.

AND I NEED HER TO GET BACK ON TRACK NOW,

BECAUSE ONCE THE WEIGHT GAINS START AGAIN,

IT MAY BECOME OUT OF CONTROL.

**

WE CAN'T GIVE UP.

I'M NOT.

IT'S JUST LIFE, AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Ashley: I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF.

I WAS SO DETERMINED TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

WHEN I GOT THROWN FOR A CURVE WITH MY GALLBLADDER,

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SO I JUST ATE.

BUT I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS.

MY SON AND MY HUSBAND ARE RELYING ON ME,

AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET THEM DOWN.

NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES,

I'M GONNA WORK AS HARD AS I'VE EVER WORKED.

**

BABE, ALL I'M SAYING IT'S 10 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER,

AND YOU WANT TO BREAK THIS UP.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ME,

YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ME, AND ALL THIS STUFF,

BUT YOU WANT TO SEPARATE.

YOU COULD GIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE, LOVE.

THAT'S ALL I ASK.

10 YEARS, LOVE. 10 YEARS OF ME TAKING CARE OF YOU.

YOU CAN GIVE ME ONE CHANCE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING.

SHE'S WORRIED THAT I'M DOING SOME OF THE SAME STUFF AGAIN.

I'M ASKING YOU, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON YOUR PHONE?

I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO ON THERE AND FIND OUT FOR MYSELF.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CHICKS.

SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M OUT LOOKING FOR AFFECTION SOMETIMES

'CAUSE I DON'T GET IT FROM YOU.

I LOVE YOU, LOVE.

I KNOW I LIED, BUT 10 YEARS TOGETHER --

I'VE BEEN BY HER FOR ALL THAT TIME TAKING CARE OF HER

AND NEVER WOULD EXPECT IT TO GET TO THIS.

[ Crying ] THIS IS TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE.

[ CRYING ]

PLEASE HELP HER UNDERSTAND, LORD,

THAT I NEED HER TO HELP ME.

[ CRYING ]

Lupe: I'M IN A HOTEL RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I'VE LEFT GILBERT.

I'M DONE WITH HIS CHEATING, HIS DRINKING, AND HIS ABUSE.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT AS I LOSE WEIGHT MORE,

IT'S GETTING WORSE -- HIS INSECURITIES, HIS JEALOUSY.

THAT'S NOT A LIFE FOR ME.

AND FINDING OUT HE WAS STILL CONTACTING OTHER WOMEN ONLINE

WAS THE FINAL STRAW FOR ME.

I DESERVE BETTER.

BUT I STILL NEED SOME HELP.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

SO MY COUSIN IS COMING IN FROM SAN ANTONIO TO MEET ME TODAY.

-HEY! -HEY.

OH, MY GOD. GIRL, YOU LOOK GOOD.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ CRYING ]

-THANK YOU. -WE'RE GONNA DO THIS TOGETHER.

GIRL, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

YOU'RE VERY STRONG. LOOK AT HOW FAR YOU'VE COME.

WANT TO GO SIT DOWN?

NO, LIKE, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. LET ME HELP YOU.

[ BOTH CHUCKLE ]

SO, HOW IS IT GOING?

I FINALLY MADE THE MOVE THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE

A LONG TIME AGO, YOU KNOW?

-I AGREE. -AND AS MUCH AS IT HURTS ME,

I HAVE TO STAND STRONG.

JUST BECAUSE HE TAKES CARE OF ME, HE WIPES MY ASS,

WHATEVER HE DOES, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I HAVE TO PUT UP

-WITH WHAT I PUT UP WITH. -NO, YOU DON'T.

I'M SORRY. I'M NOT GONNA LIVE THIS WAY NO MORE.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

I KNOW IT'S HARD. I KNOW IT'S HARD.

GIRL, IT IS HARD AFTER ALMOST NINE YEARS.

IT HAS TO CHANGE.

I'M NOT GILBERT, BUT I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, YOU KNOW?

I JUST NEED -- LIKE I TOLD HIM, I NEED SPACE.

I'M FEELING LIKE I CAN FINALLY START TO BE ME NOW.

THERE'S SO MUCH LIFE I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED,

AND GILBERT'S NOT GOING TO STOP ME FROM THAT NO MATTER WHAT.

**

Ashley: I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT

ABOUT WHAT DR. NOWZARADAN SAID AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

AND I KNOW HE'S RIGHT.

SO I'M GETTING BACK ON TRACK.

I ALSO TALKED TO MY WHOLE FAMILY ABOUT SUPPORTING ME MORE.

AND JAKE SAID HE WASN'T SURE HE COULD DO THE DIET WITH ME.

BUT HE'LL AT LEAST WORK OUT WITH ME.

ALL RIGHT, BABY. YOU READY?

[ SIGHS ] ARE YOU?

AS I'LL EVER BE.

SO TODAY, WE ARE STARTING A NEW WORKOUT PLAN TOGETHER,

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

MY GOAL IS TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED

TO FINALLY GET APPROVED FOR SKIN SURGERY.

BRING THAT WOODEN CHAIR OVER HERE.

SET IT RIGHT THERE.

READY? SET?

OKAY, GO.

BUT ALL I WANT TO START SEEING IS PROGRESS AGAIN.

WALK.

SO MY GOAL FOR MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT NEXT MONTH

IS TO AT LEAST LOSE 20 POUNDS.

I JUST HAVE TO COMMIT.

-OTHER ONE NOW? -YEP.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

NO MORE EXCUSES OR GIVING INTO FEAR,

BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN DO THIS.

-YOU DID GOOD, BABE. -YEAH. YOU, TOO.

**

Lupe: TODAY, I'M HERE TO SEE DR. NOW

TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH PROGRESS I'M MAKING.

LUPE SAMANO?

I WAS AT 243 POUNDS AFTER MY SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY.

AND MY GOAL IS TO GET TO 180

AND THEN GET MY HIP SURGERY.

SO I'M HOPING I'M AT LEAST CLOSE TODAY.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW,

AND I HOPE DR. NOW IS, TOO.

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

GOOD AND NOT GOOD.

WE HAD A LOT GOING ON BETWEEN ME AND GILBERT.

WE'D BEEN ARGUING AND THAT, AND IT STARTED GETTING PHYSICAL,

SO I HAD TO TAKE MYSELF OUT OF THE SITUATION, YOU KNOW?

WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT. BUT YOU'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

AND YOU'RE LESS THAN 40 POUNDS FROM YOUR FINAL TARGET WEIGHT.

AND ONCE YOU HIT YOUR TARGET,

OUR GOAL WILL BE TO TRY TO FIX YOUR HIP.

SO MAKE SURE THAT SHE STICKS WITH THE DIET, OKAY?

-YES, SIR. -THAT'S GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, YOUR LIFE WILL BE COMPLETELY CHANGED.

-THANK YOU. -OKAY?

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN ONE MONTH, OKAY?

OKAY.

LUPE HAS LOST OVER 420 POUNDS IN 2 YEARS,

WHICH IS A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HOPEFULLY, SHE WILL NOT ALLOW GILBERT

TO DO ANYTHING TO SLOW DOWN HER PROGRESS,

BUT I THINK SHE'S GROWING STRONGER EVERY DAY.

AND SHE CAN HANDLE HERSELF NOW THAT SHE'S BECOMING MORE MOBILE.

-I LIKE THAT MAN. -[ CHUCKLES ]

HE IS STRAIGHT TO THE POINT.

SO, THERE YOU GO.

Lupe: DR. NOW -- I KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS,

YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M GOING THROUGH AND ALL THAT.

I HAVE A DOCTOR THAT REALLY CARES AND IS THERE

AND THAT BELIEVES IN ME.

HE'S SEEN HOW FAR I'VE COME, AND HE'S PROUD OF ME.

AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE DR. NOW SO MUCH.

I'M GOING TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT AND HIT MY GOAL,

BECAUSE I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HIP SURGERY.

AND I'M FINALLY WITHIN ARM'S REACH OF IT.

SO I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING STOP ME FROM GETTING THERE.

**

RIGHT NOW, I'M ON THE WAY TO GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

MY LAST APPOINTMENT WAS NOT AS GOOD

AS I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN.

**

Woman: ASHLEY DUNN?

SO TODAY, I'M JUST HOPING

I STARTED MY WEIGHT GOING BACK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Woman: 375.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS I WOULD'VE WANTED BEFORE,

BUT NOW I KNOW IT'S GOOD PROGRESS.

AND I'M ONLY 25 POUNDS AWAY FROM GETTING MY SKIN REMOVAL.

HELLO.

-HEY. -HI, DR. NOWZARADAN.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -DOING GOOD.

SO YOU LOST 20 POUNDS, AND YOU'RE BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

UM, I'M GOOD,

BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE I ACCOMPLISHED A LOT THIS YEAR.

YOU HAD A LOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR,

AND YOU WORKED THROUGH PSYCHOSOMATIC CONDITIONS.

YEAH. AND YOU'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD.

YOU DIDN'T GET SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY, BUT YOU'RE VERY CLOSE,

AND YOU'RE DOING GOOD NOW.

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOURSELF, BECAUSE I AM, OKAY?

YEAH.

AND WE'LL SEE HOW YOU DO NEXT MONTH,

AND THEN WE'LL THINK ABOUT GETTING THAT SKIN OFF.

THANK YOU. THAT'S MY TOP PRIORITY.

-THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN. -ALL RIGHT. SUPER.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF ASHLEY HAD MADE MORE PROGRESS,

BUT IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING SHE HAD TO DEAL WITH,

A 100-POUND WEIGHT LOSS FOR THIS YEAR IS GOOD.

AND I THINK THIS NEXT YEAR WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR ASHLEY.

Ashley: THIS PAST YEAR HASN'T BEEN WHAT I EXPECTED AT ALL.

BUT HEARING DR. NOWZARADAN PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE LIKE HE DID

HELPED ME SEE THAT I HAVE DONE A LOT THIS YEAR.

AND I'M NOT LETTING FEAR OR ANYTHING ELSE

CONTROL ME ANY LONGER.

I'M IN CONTROL OF MY CHOICES,

AND I'M CHOOSING THE LIFE I WANT TO HAVE.

AND NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GETTING THERE.

**

Lupe: TODAY, I'M TAKING MY THINGS

AND MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO WITH MY COUSIN.

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING GILBERT.

I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HIM TRYING TO TALK ME OUT OF IT

OR ARGUING WITH ME.

MISS ME, MY LOVE?

YES, I MISS YOU.

OKAY.

GOT YOU THIS, BABY.

IT'S FOR YOU.

-WHY CAN'T YOU LOOK AT ME? -[ SIGHS ]

WHY? BECAUSE IT HURTS ME WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH,

BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE. THAT'S WHY.

YOU THINK IT'S EASY 'CAUSE I'M GOING? IT'S NOT.

-IT'S NOT. -SO, YOU ASK ME

WHY I'M NOT LOOKING AT YOU -- THAT'S WHY.

YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR WAYS.

DON'T DRINK NO MORE. HONESTLY.

I CAN'T BE HERE EVERY DAY LIKE THIS,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHY I'M DRINKING. YOU'RE NOT SAFE TO BE HERE.

-I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO BE HERE. -I FEEL IF I GO SOMEWHERE,

-YOU'RE GONNA TRIP. -YEAH, I DO TRIP,

BUT HAVE THE REASON TO TRIP BECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU ARE.

WELL, WHY THE HELL YOU LEAV-- WHY YOU WANT YOUR COUSIN FOR?

WE'RE TAKING TIME APART, GILBERT.

-AREN'T WE SPLIT UP? -SPLIT UP, TAKING TIME APART.

WHENEVER YOU WANT TO COME BACK, THOUGH, I'M HERE, LOVE.

I AM, FOR YOU, FOR US, TO FIGHT FOR THIS MARRIAGE,

'CAUSE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BABY.

I KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND GIVE IT UP.

**

Lupe: THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE,

BECAUSE I DO LOVE GILBERT.

BUT HE WON'T CHANGE HOW HE TREATS ME,

AND I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.

IT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR ME TO BECOME THE PERSON I WANT.

SO IT'S TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON.

**

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS SINCE I MOVED OUT,

AND NEXT MONTH, I'LL BE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO WITH MY COUSIN.

BUT I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

I'M GONNA GET THE TWO FISH TACOS.

-I'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THOSE. -THANK YOU.

SO, HOW ARE YOU LIKING YOUR NEW LIFE?

IT, LIKE, BRINGS FEAR, BUT I'M CONQUERING IT.

I CAN DO THIS.

THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD YOU SAY,

"I CAN DO SOMETHING."

-THERE YOU GO. -THANK YOU.

AND THERE'S YOUR SALAD.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET AND MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

AND THE MORE I'M AWAY FROM GILBERT,

THE MORE I SEE HOW HE WAS HOLDING ME BACK.

AND I'M SO EXCITED TO TRY AND DO MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY.

THE NEW LUPE'S COMING OUT.

I NEVER WANT TO GO BACK TO THE OLD LUPE.

[ Chuckling ] AND THE WORLD BETTER BE READY FOR THE NEW LUPE.