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.

Nikki: I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

[ Crying ] IT'S MISERABLE.

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

**

Woman: 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.

Nikki: WORDS LIKE "AMAZING" AND "FANTASTIC" AND "FABULOUS,"

THEY JUST DON'T SEEM STRONG ENOUGH.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

WHEN I WAKE UP, THE PAIN THAT I FEEL IS OVERWHELMING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M TRAPPED

BECAUSE IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO MOVE MY BODY.

BUT THE HARDEST THING FOR ME TO LIVE WITH IS MY STOMACH.

IT GETS IN THE WAY OF EVERYTHING.

IT'S MISERABLE.

WHEN I START MY DAY,

MY DAD WILL MAKE ME A PLATE AND SEND IT UP TO ME

SO I DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS.

THERE WERE MANY TIMES

THAT I WOULD TALK TO HER ABOUT HER EATING HABITS,

BUT NIKKI HAS TOLD ME,

"FOOD IS ONE THING I HAVE CONTROL OVER.

IT HURTS MY FEELINGS WHEN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT IT."

FINALLY, I'D SAY, "OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

NIKKI, I DON'T CARE."

FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ADDICTION FOR ME.

AND MY ADDICTION TO IT IS KILLING ME.

BUT I'VE DONE THIS TO MYSELF,

AND IT FEELS LIKE EVERY DAY,

I CAN DO LESS AND LESS.

AFTER COLLEGE, I MOVED BACK HOME WITH MY MOM

AND MY DAD AND MY BROTHER, CHRIS,

BECAUSE LIVING ON MY OWN IS JUST TOO DIFFICULT.

BUT CHRIS HAS CEREBRAL PALSY, AND IN MANY INSTANCES,

MY LIMITATIONS FAR EXCEED HIS,

AND THAT'S A BIG STATEMENT,

BECAUSE I NEED TO BE THERE FOR HIM.

THIS IS MY ROCK BOTTOM AND MY LAST CHANCE,

AND IF THIS DOCTOR CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME,

I WOULD PROBABLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS A DEATH SENTENCE.

Woman: 649.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER WEIGHED.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NIKKI IS EATING 5 TO 6 TIMES A DAY.

SOME OF THAT IS ENABLED BY HER FAMILY.

THEY'RE HELPING KILL HER.

I'M GOING TO START YOU ON 1,200 CALORIE A DAY DIET.

THEN YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE 50 POUNDS OVER NEXT MONTH.

OH, MY GOSH.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WEIGHT.

Nikki: THIS IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS SOMETHING

THAT I HAVE TO DO,

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL MY BODY DETERIORATING.

SO I KNOW THIS IS A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK.

I'M REALLY SCARED

THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE UNDER 600 POUNDS

TO QUALIFY FOR SURGERY.

I SEE YOU LOST 63 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.

-YES. -YOU DONE VERY WELL,

BUT I NEED TO RUN SOME TESTS TO BE SURE

THAT YOU ARE READY FOR SURGERY NOW.

-OKAY? -OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE CARRY MOST OF HER WEIGHT IN THE ABDOMEN,

WHICH CAN COMPROMISE HER RESPIRATORY SYSTEM OR HEART.

SO I NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT HER BODY CAN HANDLE SURGERY,

OR SHE WOULD LIKELY NOT SURVIVE THE PROCEDURE.

Nikki: I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE DOCTOR IS LOOKING FOR,

BUT I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW

THAT'S ALL GOING TO HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.

NIKKI STILL HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT PUSHING ON HER HEART.

THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS FOR HER TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

I WANT YOU TO LOSE ANOTHER 50 POUNDS

OVER NEXT COUPLE MONTHS

AND TRY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

I WORKED SO HARD.

I JUST FEEL HOPELESS RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WANT TO LIVE.

I DID IT ONCE. I KNOW I CAN DO IT AGAIN.

AND I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME IF I DON'T DO THIS.

EVERYTHING LOOKING GOOD. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD

AND APPROVE YOUR SURGERY AT THIS POINT.

EXCELLENT.

I'M GLAD THIS DAY HAS COME,

BUT I FEEL TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN.

-I LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M RISKING MY LIFE TO HAVE A LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO GASTRIC BYPASS ON NIKKI.

AND SURGERY IS GOING TO HELP HER

MAKE EVEN MORE PROGRESS.

THE BOWEL IS JUST SO FAR AWAY FROM STOMACH.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE TO BRING IT UP THAT DISTANCE.

IT CAN BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS BYPASS.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE HER UP.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD SOME CHANGE OF PLAN,

BUT EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

THE SLEEVE IS GOING TO HELP HER TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT.

Nikki: I'M PROUD OF HOW FAR I'VE COME,

BUT MY CRAVINGS ARE SLOWLY COMING BACK.

SO I'M GOING TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.

Woman: IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT CAUSED THE WEIGHT GAIN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND ONCE YOU'RE ABLE TO LET GO OF THAT,

THEN IT BECOMES EASIER TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF.

I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO TALK TO MY MOM.

I THINK I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

I HATE THAT YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY.

I HOPE I DON'T EVER HURT YOUR FEELINGS.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO HIT 449 POUNDS WITHIN A YEAR.

-443. -WHAT?! NO. [ LAUGHS ]

YOU LOST 200 POUNDS.

-THAT'S VERY GOOD. -THANK YOU.

I'M STARTING TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

HERE WE GO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME,

I BELIEVE IN MYSELF.

**

I'M STARTING TO LOVE MY LIFE NOW.

I USED TO RUN TO FOOD WHEN I FELT STRESSED OR UPSET,

AND I DIDN'T CARE WHAT IT DID TO ME OR MY BODY.

AND NOW I'M NOT DOING THAT.

FOOD IS NOT MY EMOTIONAL CRUTCH ANYMORE.

IT'S STILL A STRUGGLE, BUT I'M DEALING WITH THINGS.

AND NOW MY HEALTH IS THE PRIORITY IN MY LIFE.

IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING,

AND SO EVERYTHING KIND OF REVOLVES AROUND THAT.

AND I'VE NEVER FELT BETTER.

I'M LOSING MORE AND MORE WEIGHT EVERY DAY.

AND I'M AMAZED AT HOW MUCH I'M ABLE TO DO NOW.

[ CHUCKLES ]

NOW YOU ARE. [ CHUCKLES ]

BEFORE, MY PARENTS HAD TO DO ALMOST EVERYTHING FOR ME

EVEN JUST 6 MONTHS AGO.

YOU READY TO GET OUT OF BED?

-MM-HMM. -OKAY.

AND ONE OF MY BIGGEST GOALS IN MY JOURNEY TO GET HEALTHY

WAS TO HELP TAKE CARE OF MY BROTHER, CHRIS,

WHO SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL PALSY.

NOW I'M ABLE TO PHYSICALLY MOVE CHRIS AROUND.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

I'M ABLE TO WALK HIM WITH EASE.

AND BEFORE, IT WOULD FEEL LIKE I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT.

AND IT JUST WASN'T SAFE FOR ME TO DO THAT.

YOU HAVE YOUR WATCH ON, DON'T YOU?

-MM-HMM. -I'LL GO GET YOU SOME SOCKS

AND YOUR GLASSES AND YOUR RAZOR.

-OKAY. -OKAY.

IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO HELP HIM

GET READY FOR THE DAY,

BUT IT ALSO MAKES ME HAPPY

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT TO HELP MY PARENTS,

BECAUSE FOR YEARS,

THEY HAD TO TAKE CARE OF ME CONSTANTLY,

PREVENTING CHRIS FROM GETTING ALL THE CARE THAT HE NEEDED.

AND SO, I THINK IT REASSURES THEM

THAT I GOT THIS THIS. LIKE, I CAN TAKE CARE OF HIM.

OH, YOU FOUND YOUR GLASSES.

-YEAH. -STINKER.

AND HAVING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

FINALLY ENABLED ME TO DO THAT.

AND THAT IS WHAT I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR SO FAR

WITH HOW MY LIFE HAS CHANGED.

ALL RIGHT. SO, YOU WANT A WAFFLE?

-TWO WAFFLES? -YEAH.

OKAY. AWESOME.

AS MY PARENTS AGE,

I KNOW THAT I'LL BE AROUND TO TAKE CARE OF HIM NOW,

AND MY PARENTS KNOW THAT.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT GIVES THEM COMFORT.

SO I'M PROUD OF HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND I'M GLAD I'M TAKING ON ALL THE NEW RESPONSIBILITY I HAVE.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO

TO GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT OF 165.

SO I'M WORKING TO STAY ON TRACK.

AND MY FAMILY HAS BEEN A HUGE SUPPORT FOR ME.

AND ANY TIME THAT I'M STARTING TO STRUGGLE,

I KNOW THAT I CAN RELY ON THEM FOR STRENGTH.

Terry: THANK THEE FOR OUR BLESSINGS.

WE'RE GRATEFUL TO BE TOGETHER THIS EVENING.

AMEN.

Nikki: BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW NOW THAT I'M LOSING THE WEIGHT.

IT MEANS THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR ME

TO NOT START TO FIND A PLACE OF MY OWN.

BUT IT'S BITTERSWEET TO THINK ABOUT.

I'M NOT QUITE THERE YET,

BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S SOMETHING I'M GOING TO NEED TO DO SOON.

DR. NOWZARADAN SAID THAT I NEED THREE SKIN SURGERIES --

ONE FOR MY STOMACH, ONE FOR MY ARMS,

AND THEN MY LEGS.

I KNOW THOSE SURGERIES ARE HARD TO RECOVER FROM.

AND MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED

THAT AFTER THOSE LAST OPERATIONS,

THAT THAT'S WHEN I'LL BE READY TO START LOOKING

FOR A PLACE ON MY OWN

AND POSSIBLY TAKE MY BROTHER WITH ME.

THERE YOU GO.

YEAH, THAT'S WHERE YOU HOLD IT. [ CHUCKLES ]

SO RIGHT NOW, I'M WORKING REALLY HARD

TO HIT THAT GOAL

TO TRY AND GET MY FIRST SKIN SURGERY

BY MY NEXT DOCTOR'S VISIT.

AND MY DAD IS HELPING ME STAY ACCOUNTABLE

TO MY WORKOUT REGIMEN BY BEING MY WORKOUT PARTNER.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN MY BIGGEST SUPPORTER

AND THE PERSON THAT, NO MATTER WHAT,

HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.

I THINK THE BEST THING ABOUT THIS WORKOUT ROOM

IS GOING TO BE THE AIR CONDITIONING.

YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]

Terry: WALKING DOWN TO THE CLUBHOUSE --

IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH NIKKI,

BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN YEARS.

AND JUST BEING IN HER COMPANY

AND BEING ABLE TO TALK WHILE WE WALK,

IT'S REALLY QUITE AMAZING TO SEE HOW FAR SHE HAS COME.

Nikki: HOW MUCH MY LIFE HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST YEAR --

IT'S WHAT DRIVES ME TO EXERCISE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK,

BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SO MUCH MORE FOR ME TO EXPERIENCE

AND TO LIVE FOR.

OKAY, WELL, I'M GONNA GO GET ON THE TREADMILL FOR A LITTLE BIT.

OH, I'M GOING TO GET ON THE CRUNCHES.

OKAY. [ LAUGHS ]

GOT TO GET THAT STOMACH GOING.

MY DAD IS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS,

AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO CHANGE.

BUT FOR SO MANY YEARS,

I JUST COULDN'T GO OUT AND DO ANYTHING.

NOW I WANT TO START TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE,

BECAUSE BEING 600 POUNDS FOR SO LONG,

I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

AND THE ONES I DO HAVE I MADE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,

BUT I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM EVER

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOO BIG TO GO OUT

AND SPEND TIME WITH THEM.

WE STILL STAY CONNECTED AND TALK ON THE PHONE

WHEN WE CAN,

AND THE ONES THAT I'M CLOSEST TO

ARE MY FRIENDS MARC AND MICHAEL.

MICHAEL'S MY BEST FRIEND BECAUSE HE'S JUST A LOT OF FUN

AND WE CAN RELATE TO EACH OTHER'S LIVES,

BECAUSE HE STRUGGLES WITH HIS WEIGHT JUST LIKE ME.

HE'S ALMOST 400 POUNDS,

AND HE'S LOOKING TO GET WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT,

BECAUSE HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE

AND HAS ALL THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY WEIGHT LOSS.

AND IT'S BEEN NICE KIND OF MENTORING HIM

THROUGH THIS PROCESS

AS HE PREPARES TO TRY AND GET HIS LIFE BACK, TOO.

SO, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE EVEN GETTING OUT THERE TOGETHER,

BECAUSE HAVING SOMEONE WHO CAN RELATE

TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH

AND KNOWS HOW TO BE THERE FOR YOU

CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

BECAUSE NOTHING ABOUT HAVING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

AND LOSING HUNDREDS OF POUNDS IS EASY.

AND NOW THAT I HAVE A MORE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE,

MY EXCESS SKIN MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT

BECAUSE IT DOES WEIGH ME DOWN.

IT DOES STILL MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I'M 600 POUNDS,

EVEN THOUGH I'VE LOST ALMOST 300 POUNDS.

IT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND I'M SCARED I'M GOING TO BE OUT DOING SOMETHING

AND HIT MY LIMIT AND NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME.

SO I'M WORKING REALLY HARD TO INCREASE MY STAMINA

SO THAT I CAN GO OUT AND NOT WORRY ABOUT HITTING A WALL,

BUT IT'S SO PAINFUL AND HARD TO MOVE AROUND

WITH IT HANGING OVER MY LEGS.

AND I HAVE TO GET IT REMOVED AS SOON AS I CAN.

-I'M DONE. ARE YOU READY? -ALL RIGHT. YEP. I AM.

-I BROKE A SWEAT. -I'M NICE AND SWEATY.

'COURSE, I BROKE THE SWEAT WALKING DOWN HERE.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP GOING

AND MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

AND I'M PUSHING MYSELF TO DO WHAT I CAN

BY MY NEXT DOCTOR'S VISIT,

BECAUSE MY CONFIDENCE AND MY ABILITY TO GET AROUND

ARE JUST GOING TO GET WORSE,

THE WORSE MY EXCESS SKIN GETS.

I WANT TO JUST BE A NORMAL GIRL.

I KIND OF FEEL LIKE, EVEN THOUGH

I KNOW I'M OBVIOUSLY STILL A BIG GIRL,

I FEEL LIKE MY STOMACH

JUST KIND OF SWALLOWS ME.

I KNOW THAT I'M A LOT MORE THAN THIS.

I KNOW THAT I'M A LOT MORE OF A PERSON THAN THIS,

[ Voice breaking ] BUT THIS -- IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE

THIS IS ALL I AM.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT'S NOT TRUE,

BUT WHEN IT'S SUCH A HINDRANCE IN YOUR LIFE

AND IN YOUR EMOTIONAL LIFE,

THEN IT'S HARD TO GET OVER.

IT'S HARD TO BE OKAY WITH IT. IT'S HARD TO COME TO TERMS WITH.

IT IS THE BIGGEST SYMBOL OF BEING IMMOBILE

AND SAD

AND NOT IN CONTROL OF ANYTHING I DID

AND SHUTTING PEOPLE OUT.

LIKE, IT IS THE SYMBOL OF ALL THOSE THINGS THAT I FELT

AND ALL THOSE THINGS THAT I WENT THROUGH.

AND IT'S TIME TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET RID OF IT.

AND I KNOW THAT NO AMOUNT

OF WEIGHT LOSS

WILL GET RID OF IT.

MY SPIRIT FEELS FREE,

BUT I WANT MY BODY TO FEEL FREE.

I WANT THOSE THINGS TO MATCH.

AND SKIN SURGERY --

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

Nikki: SINCE MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS IT'S CHANGED MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE

IS AT WORK.

I'M STILL THE ASSISTANT COSTUME DESIGNER

AT THE ARKANSAS ART CENTER CHILDREN'S THEATER.

AND I DO THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF COSTUMES,

BUT SINCE LOSING THE WEIGHT, I CAN TAKE ON SO MUCH MORE.

AND I'M LOVING IT --

TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE I'M NEEDED,

WHEN BEFORE, I NEEDED PEOPLE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I CAN FINALLY REALLY CONTRIBUTE, AND I FEEL LIKE

I'M ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING EVERYDAY.

DO Y'ALL NEED UNDERSHIRTS OR SOCKS OR TIGHTS?

DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA PAIR OF TIGHTS?

I WILL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU, NIKKI.

I WILL MEET Y'ALL IN THE DRESSING ROOM.

-BYE. -[ LAUGHS ]

BEFORE, IT TOOK EVERYTHING I HAD

JUST TO GET HERE AND GET TO MY CHAIR.

I JUST SAT IN ONE PLACE ONLY DOING WHAT I COULD FROM THERE,

AND THAT WAS EXTREMELY LIMITING FOR MY JOB.

AND IF I HAD TO GET UP FOR SOMETHING,

I WASN'T EVEN SURE THAT I COULD MAKE IT.

BUT THE WORST PART ABOUT BEING SO BIG

WAS TRYING TO GO DOWN THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE

THAT LED TO THE COSTUME STOCK,

BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WAY I COULD FIT,

AND THAT WAS VERY EMBARRASSING.

AND NOW I CAN DO IT WITH EASE.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO SQUEEZE OR TURN SIDEWAYS.

I CAN JUST WALK DOWN IT.

BEFORE, I COULD HARDLY DO ANYTHING,

AND I WOULD COME TO WORK,

AND I WOULDN'T EVEN SEE MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WORK WITH

BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET AROUND.

AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M PART OF THE TEAM.

I'M CONTRIBUTING JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE.

AND THAT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.

-HEY. -HELLO. HELLO.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -GOOD.

OKAY, I HAVE SOME NEW TIGHTS FOR YOU, SHARON.

THANKS! THANK YOU, 'CAUSE THE ONES I HAD DIDN'T FIT, BUT...

OKAY.

ARE YOU GOOD WITH YOUR COSTUME?

I THINK SO.

LIKE, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE, LIKE, A SNAP?

-YOU'RE SUCH A DIVA. -I CAN'T HELP IT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

-ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL. -BYE.

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

NOW I'M LOVING EVERY DAY AT MY JOB,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME,

ALL THE TIME THAT I MISSED

BEING ABLE TO FULLY ENJOY MY JOB,

BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOVE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I LOVE TO DO.

AND I'M NOT TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY I HAVE TO DO THIS

FOR GRANTED AT ALL.

AGAIN, THE ONLY THING THAT'S HOLDING ME BACK

AND MAKING IT HARDER TO STAY ACTIVE IS THE EXCESS SKIN.

I SEE DR. NOW IN A FEW WEEKS

AND I'M GOING TO ASK HIM IF I'VE MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO HAVE THE EXCESS SKIN AROUND MY STOMACH REMOVED.

HE HASN'T GIVEN ME A WEIGHT LOSS GOAL FOR THAT.

BUT I'M HOPING I'M GOING TO BE CLOSE

TO BEING BELOW 400 POUNDS AND THAT HE'LL THINK

THAT THAT'S ENOUGH TO QUALIFY ME FOR SURGERY.

I DON'T WANT ANYTHING ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF MY LIFE

TO CHANGE NOW,

BECAUSE I FOUGHT TO GET HERE.

SO, I JUST REALLY HOPE

MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW IS A GOOD ONE

AND THAT I CAN GET THIS EXCESS SKIN REMOVED REALLY SOON.

SO, I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE DR. NOW.

AND LIKE ALWAYS, I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS,

BUT I'M HOPING THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG DAY FOR ME.

I WAS AT 443 POUNDS LAST TIME I SAW HIM A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

I'M HOPING TO NOT ONLY BE UNDER 400 POUNDS,

BUT THAT IT WILL BE ENOUGH FOR DR. NOW TO THINK

THAT I'M READY FOR SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

HE HASN'T GIVEN ME A GOAL TO HIT FOR IT,

BUT IT'S GETTING SO MISERABLE.

BEFORE I LOST THE WEIGHT,

MY STOMACH DIDN'T HANG AND PULL ON ME.

IT WAS JUST BIG.

BUT LOSING THE WEIGHT IS LIKE DEFLATING A BALLOON.

AND NOW IT JUST PULLS AND HANGS ON MY BODY

IN A WAY THAT IS SO MUCH MORE PAINFUL THAN ANYTHING BEFORE.

THAT'S NOT BAD. I'LL TAKE THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

I WISH I HAD LOST A LITTLE MORE BY NOW,

BECAUSE I WAS HOPING TO BE UNDER 400 POUNDS

AND SEE THAT 3 AT THE BEGINNING OF MY WEIGHT

WHEN I ASK DR. NOW IF I CAN HAVE SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

BUT I HOPE HE THINKS I'M CLOSE ENOUGH TODAY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HI.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY? -GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-ALL RIGHT. -GOOD.

-SO, HOW YOU GETTING AROUND? -IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

I'M DOING PRETTY GOOD.

SO, TODAY, YOU LOST AROUND 250 POUNDS.

-REALLY? -CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN DAY 1 TO NOW?

YES. [ CHUCKLES ] YEAH, I DIDN'T --

I DIDN'T THINK -- I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS THAT MUCH.

-250 POUNDS. -THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT.

I CAN DEFINITELY TELL A DIFFERENCE.

MY LIFE IS A LOT MORE ACTIVE THAN IT HAS BEEN

-IN FOREVER. -OKAY.

LIKE, I JUST HAVE MORE ENERGY, AND I MOVE AROUND A LOT MORE,

AND I PARK FARTHER AWAY.

OKAY, BUT YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS SLOWING DOWN SOME.

-I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. -MM-HMM.

AND YOU SHOULD BE LOSING

AT LEAST 25 POUNDS A MONTH RIGHT NOW.

IF I DO THAT, ANY CHANCE YOU THINK

I'M CLOSE TO GETTING MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY?

YOU KNOW, GET UNDER 300 POUNDS,

AND THEN POSSIBILITY OF SKIN SURGERY

WILL BE MUCH MORE REALISTIC.

I REALLY WANT IT REMOVED SOON

BEFORE IT HAS A CHANCE TO GET EVEN WORSE.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR STOMACH.

ALL RIGHT. YEAH, PULL IT UP LITTLE BIT MORE,

AND I CAN SEE. ALL RIGHT.

NIKKI HAS AN UNFORTUNATE COMBINATION OF ISSUES

WITH THE EXCESS SKIN AROUND HER STOMACH.

SHE HAS A LARGE COLLECTION OF FAT,

AND ON TOP OF THAT,

THE SKIN THERE IS VERY DISTENDED

AND HAS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE.

WITHOUT THOSE ISSUES,

SHE WOULD BE READY FOR SKIN REMOVAL NOW.

BUT WITH THOSE FACTORS,

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SAFE FOR US TO REMOVE ANYTHING

AROUND THERE RIGHT NOW.

AM I READY?

RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS LIKE

YOU NEED TO MAKE MUCH MORE PROGRESS

BEFORE YOU'RE READY FOR SKIN SURGERY.

AND I KNOW IT'S STARTING TO BECOME EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE

AND YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS,

BUT YOU'RE JUST NOT THERE YET.

-OKAY. -SO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

YOU LOSE ENOUGH WEIGHT

SO IT CAN HEAL PROPERTY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOSE A LOT,

AND GET UNDER 300 POUNDS BEFORE YOU'LL BE READY.

-OKAY. -IF YOU STAY ON TRACK,

YOU CAN BE THERE IN FOUR MONTHS.

YEAH? OKAY.

BUT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE WAIT

UNTIL IT'S SAFE TO DO THE REMOVAL.

SO, I'LL SEE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT IN TWO MONTHS.

AND IF YOU'RE ON TRACK, YOU'LL BE DOWN IN 350s.

IF THAT THING GIVE YOU ANY TROUBLE, COME BACK SOONER.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. NOW. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

WE HAVE TO BE SAFE WITH NIKKI,

BECAUSE HER SKIN REMOVAL AROUND HER STOMACH

IS GOING TO BE AS COMPLICATED AS IT GETS

FOR A PROCEDURE LIKE THIS.

SHE HAS TO STAY ON TRACK A LOT LONGER

BEFORE THAT OBSTACLE CAN BE ADDRESSED FOR HER.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE FOR HER

BUT IS THE REALITY OF HER SITUATION.

Nikki: IT WAS A HUGE SHOCK TO HEAR DR. NOWZARADAN SAY

THAT I'M STILL 100 POUNDS AWAY

FROM BEING APPROVED FOR SKIN REMOVAL.

MY HEART JUST SANK.

BUT IF IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO BEFORE THEN,

THEN I CAN'T BE TOO UPSET.

SO I JUST HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT I NEED.

AND I NEED TO DO IT FAST TO HIT MY GOAL IN FOUR MONTHS OR LESS.

SO I'M GOING TO WORK EVEN HARDER,

BECAUSE I DESPERATELY NEED THIS.

**

I'M REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME RIGHT NOW.

I JUST HEARD THAT MY BEST FRIEND MICHAEL PASSED AWAY,

AND I'M DEVASTATED.

HE WENT IN FOR HIS GASTRIC BYPASS AND HAD THE OPERATION.

BUT THERE WERE COMPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT,

AND HE JUST DIDN'T MAKE IT.

HE WAS MY CLOSEST FRIEND,

AND HE DIED BECAUSE HE WANTED TO CHANGE HIS LIFE

JUST LIKE I DID.

MICHAEL WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

HE HAD A BIG VOICE, HAD A BIG LAUGH,

HAD A BIG HEART.

HE WAS JUST SO CHARISMATIC AND WONDERFUL,

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE NOW.

I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM FOR TRYING TO LOSE THE WEIGHT,

AND HE KNEW THE RISK,

BUT IT'S EASY TO FORGET HOW DANGEROUS THIS OPERATION IS

WHEN YOU'RE AS BIG AS WE ARE.

BUT I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE DR. NOW AS MY SURGEON,

A DOCTOR WHO IS REALLY EXPERIENCED

IN TREATING HIGH-RISK PATIENTS.

AND NOT EVERYONE GETS THAT.

WE WERE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD

TO THIS LIFE OF LOSING THE WEIGHT TOGETHER

AND GETTING OUR LIVES BACK.

AND AFTER SURGERY, HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE

TO GO OUT WITH ME TO CELEBRATE.

Michael: I THINK THAT A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK BACK,

AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN GOING TO FEEL LIKE THE SAME PERSON.

I HOPE SO. [ CHUCKLES ]

Michael: THEN WHEN WE'RE FABULOUS-LOOKING AND SKINNY

AND, LIKE, YOU KNOW,

WEARING TAILOR-FIT CLOTHES --

I'M NOT EVEN WORRIED ABOUT, LIKE, BEING SKINNY,

I'M LIKE, IF I CAN JUST, LIKE,

WALK INTO THE GROCERY STORE -- [ LAUGHS ]

I WILL THROW YOU A PARTY AT THE GROCERY STORE.

I WILL GET, LIKE, STREAMERS.

I'LL GET THOSE LITTLE POPPING THINGS,

THE FIREWORK THINGS YOU HAVE TO --

I'M GONNA THROW AT YOUR FEET. WE GOT STUFF TO DO.

-WE GOT TO GO TRAVEL. -WE GOT STUFF TO DO.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS TOGETHER. WE ALWAYS DO IT TOGETHER.

THAT'S RIGHT. WE DO.

HE WAS SUCH A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT,

AND I COULD ALWAYS DEPEND ON HIM TO BE THERE FOR ME.

I ALREADY MISS HIM SO MUCH.

AND MY LIFE ISN'T GOING TO BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM.

WE HAD SO MANY PLANS, AND I STILL HAVE THOSE PLANS,

BUT IT'S BETTER WITH HIM.

LIFE SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS.

I SHOULD NOT GET TO LIVE THROUGH THIS LIFE WITHOUT HIM.

THIS IS A REMINDER TO ME OF HOW FRAGILE LIFE CAN BE.

AND I WAS LIVING ON THE EDGE FOR SO MANY YEARS,

AND I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO BEFORE I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE.

BUT I'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS SECOND CHANCE THAT OTHERS DON'T GET.

AND I REALIZE HOW IT COULD'VE BEEN ME THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT,

SO I CAN'T TAKE A SINGLE DAY I HAVE FOR GRANTED.

I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT WASTE THIS CHANCE

TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE,

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE

THAT WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO WHEN I HAVE MOMENTS I START TO STRUGGLE

OR WANT TO GIVE IN TO MY CRAVINGS,

I'M GOING TO THINK OF MICHAEL FOR INSPIRATION TO KEEP GOING.

I'M NOT GOING TO FAIL.

I OWE THAT TO MYSELF AND TO MICHAEL

AND TO ANYONE ELSE WHO'S BEEN WHERE I'VE BEEN.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANY OF US DOWN.

Nikki: I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE

TO SEE IF I'VE STAYED ON TRACK THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NIKKI WEBSTER.

THE GOAL HE GAVE ME WAS TO GET DOWN UNDER 300 POUNDS

IN FOUR MONTHS TO GET APPROVED FOR MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND IF I STAYED ON TRACK OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS,

I SHOULD BE DOWN TO 350 POUNDS TODAY.

SO THAT'S THE NUMBER I'M HOPING TO SEE.

THAT'S ABOUT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE, SO I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

AND I'M HOPING TODAY THAT MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE

HAVING LOST ANOTHER 50 POUNDS MADE THE DIFFERENCE I NEED

TO GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND MAYBE TODAY HE'LL ACTUALLY CONSIDER ME FOR APPROVAL.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HI. -HELLO.

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

-HOW ABOUT YOU? -GOOD.

SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO ABOUT 350 POUNDS,

WHICH MEANS YOU'RE STAYING ON TRACK.

THAT'S GOOD.

SO, YOU DOING OKAY WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I HAD A COUPLE OF ROUGH MONTHS,

BUT I FEEL LIKE MY WEIGHT'S STILL GOING DOWN.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF ROUGH MONTHS?

WELL, I HAD, UM...

MY BEST FRIEND PASSED AWAY,

AND I JUST GOT KIND OF DISTRACTED.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

THAT HAD TO BE HARD,

BUT I'M PROUD OF YOU FOR STAYING ON TRACK.

SO WITH ALL MY GOOD PROGRESS, IS THERE ANY CHANCE

I'M READY FOR MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL NOW?

LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SKIN

TO SEE WHAT OPTION WE GOT FOR YOU.

OKAY. MY STOMACH HANGS REALLY LOW,

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT JUST KIND OF, LIKE --

-IT JUST, LIKE, COVERS ME UP. -OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO --

Dr. Nowzaradan: NIKKI IS VERY ANXIOUS

TO HAVE HER FIRST EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL AROUND HER ABDOMEN.

AND THAT'S VERY UNDERSTANDABLE,

BECAUSE SHE HAS 50 TO 60 POUNDS OF SKIN

PULLING ON HER STOMACH.

AND THAT IS VERY PAINFUL FOR HER,

BUT SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT

UNTIL SHE HAS LOST ENOUGH FAT AROUND HER STOMACH.

YOU'RE NOT QUITE READY YET.

YOU KNOW, I SEE YOU GOT A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN

-BUT YOU GOT A LOT OF FAT. -RIGHT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE

WITH THE HEALING OF THESE WOUNDS.

USUALLY, TYPICALLY, THEY TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO HEAL.

-MM-HMM. -SO THE NEXT 50 POUNDS

SHOULD GET YOU THERE, BUT IT'S NOT SAFE TO DO YET.

I CAN DO THAT.

-ALL RIGHT. -I CAN LOSE THAT.

YOU NEED TO BE PATIENT,

BECAUSE EVEN BELOW 300 POUNDS,

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HARD SURGERY TO RECOVER FROM

BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT OF SKIN

-THAT HAS TO BE REMOVED. -OKAY.

STAY ON TRACK AND LOSE 25 POUNDS A MONTH,

AND IF YOU DO THAT, WHEN I SEE YOU

FOR YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT IN TWO MONTHS,

YOU SHOULD BE READY THEN.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

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

YOU'RE WELCOME.

WHEN NIKKI WAS OVER 600 POUNDS,

SHE CARRIED A LARGE PORTION OF HER WEIGHT

IN HER LOWER ABDOMEN.

AND OVER THE YEARS,

THAT HAS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE

TO THAT AREA OF HER BODY.

SO NO MATTER WHAT,

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO REPAIR.

AND IF WE DO IT TOO EARLY,

IT'S GOING TO INCREASE HER RISK OF ISSUES

AND INFECTIONS SIGNIFICANTLY.

Nikki: I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED. I REALLY GOT MY HOPES UP

THAT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVED

A LITTLE EARLY.

BUT IF I'M NOT READY, THEN I'M NOT READY,

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET IT GET ME DOWN

OR CONTINUE TO DISCOURAGE ME,

BECAUSE I WANT THIS,

AND IF I HAVE TO WORK HARDER FOR IT,

THEN THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT MICHAEL A LOT LATELY.

I THINK WHAT I MISS MOST ABOUT HIM IS NO MATTER WHAT,

HE JUST GOT OUT THERE AND DID HIS THING.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS THERE

TO ENCOURAGE ME TO PUSH MYSELF HARDER

OR TO SEE THINGS FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE.

AND I FEEL LIKE THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

I HEARD HIS VOICE IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD

ENCOURAGING ME NOT TO LET MY EXCESS SKIN

OR ANYTHING HOLD ME BACK

AND TO START LIVING LIFE AGAIN.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING.

I'M NOT WAITING TO GET OUT THERE AND START LIVING AGAIN.

SO TONIGHT, I'M GOING OUT TO HANG OUT

WITH A FEW OF MY OLD FRIENDS I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

I'M NOT HIDING IN THIS HOUSE ANY LONGER.

I'VE DONE THAT FOR YEARS, AND THERE'S NO REASON

I SHOULDN'T BE GOING AND DOING WHAT I WANT RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN JUST HEAR MICHAEL'S VOICE IN MY HEAD

TELLING ME ALL THESE THINGS.

AND AS UNCOMFORTABLE AS IT IS,

I'M JUST GOING TO TRY TO IGNORE MY EXCESS SKIN

AND BE A NORMAL PERSON --

OUT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE OR BE ASHAMED OF.

HEY, Y'ALL.

-HEY, NIKKI! -HEY!

-HOW ARE Y'ALL? -WE'RE GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD. -WE ARE HUNGRY.

-OH, ME, TOO. -FINALLY.

I KNOW, GIRL.

Nikki: BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL

NOT TO FALL BACK INTO OLD HABITS.

WHO I AM AT THE CORE, I LOOK AT THIS MENU, AND I'M LIKE,

"I WANT THE GRILLED SHRIMP PIZZA,"

BUT I WOULD GET A WHOLE PIZZA,

AND THEN I WOULD PROBABLY EAT THAT PIZZA,

AND THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD, SO I WON'T DO THAT.

BEFORE, I ALWAYS ATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

SO NO ONE WOULD JUDGE ME

AND SEE HOW MUCH I WAS EATING.

SO IT'S A BIG DEAL THAT I'M EATING IN PUBLIC NOW.

BUT I DON'T EAT THE SAME WAY ANYMORE.

-I'LL GET THE GRILLED SALMON. -THANK YOU.

IT WAS A REALLY LONELY LIFE BEING AS BIG AS I WAS.

AND I'VE REALLY MISSED JUST HANGING OUT

AND BEING ABLE TO JUST TALK.

WHEN YOU'RE OVER 600 POUNDS,

THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD DO,

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO WALK IN HERE.

AND THEN I WOULDN'T FIT IN THIS BOOTH,

AND EVERYONE WOULD BE STARING AT ME.

I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

AND I'M GLAD I'M GETTING OUT THERE AND DOING THIS.

NOT ONLY THAT, BUT I'VE DECIDED TO TAKE AN EVEN BIGGER STEP,

BECAUSE MY FRIEND MARC ASKED ME OUT,

SO I'LL BE GOING OUT ON A REAL DATE FOR THE FIRST TIME

IN A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I'M EXCITED... Y'ALL HAVE FUN TOMORROW.

...BECAUSE I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.

SEE YOU LATER, ALLIGATOR.

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I NEVER THOUGHT

THAT I'D BE GOING ON A DATE.

-WHAT UP? -HEY.

IT STILL FEELS WEIRD FOR ME,

BECAUSE ALL THOSE INSECURITIES I HAD

WHEN I WAS 600 POUNDS JUST DON'T GO AWAY OVERNIGHT.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT FEAR

AND INSECURITY HOLD ME BACK,

AND I'M GOING TO WORK THROUGH IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.

MARC AND I HAVE BEEN FRIENDS,

BUT TO THINK OF MYSELF DIFFERENTLY,

THAT SOMEONE SEES ME AS ATTRACTIVE,

IS A BIG SHIFT

THAT I STILL CAN'T REALLY WRAP MY HEAD AROUND.

TWO.

Nikki: SO I KNOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME A WHILE

TO START SEE MYSELF IN THAT LIGHT

AND TO REALIZE THAT I'M NOT THAT 600 POUND GIRL ANYMORE.

THIS PLACE IS FUN.

YEAH.

I'M LIVING A DIFFERENT LIFE NOW,

AND I KNOW THAT I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE THE PAN-ROASTED RED SNAPPER.

-THE SNAPPER? -MM-HMM.

BUT NOW THERE'S THIS LIFE

THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME THAT WASN'T BEFORE.

I CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A FAMILY OF MY OWN ONE DAY AND CHILDREN.

AND THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING WHEN YOU WERE AT A POINT

WHERE YOU GAVE UP ALL THOSE HOPES AND DREAMS.

-OH, BOY. -THERE YOU GO.

-LOOK AT IT. -OH, MY GOODNESS.

YOU CAN HAVE A BITE, RIGHT? JUST A BITE?

-I CAN HAVE A BITE, YEAH. -OKAY, JUST A BITE.

I HAVE MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND I'M PUSHING MYSELF TO HIT MY 300 POUND GOAL,

AND FINALLY GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL APPROVED,

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S THE NEXT BIG STEP

I NEED TO TAKE ON MY JOURNEY TO THIS NEW LIFE.

AND I'M DETERMINED TO HIT IT.

**

I'M HEADED TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE

TO SEE IF I HIT MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL

AND FINALLY GET APPROVED FOR MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL.

AND I'M REALLY HOPING TODAY'S THE DAY IT FINALLY HAPPENS.

THIS WEIGHT ON MY STOMACH HAS BECOME SO MISERABLE

AND SO PAINFUL.

THERE ARE DAYS I FEEL LIKE I DID

WHEN I WAS OVER 600 POUNDS

AND I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO GET UP,

BUT I PUSH MYSELF TO.

SO IT WILL CHANGE MY LIFE TO FINALLY GET THE SURGERY.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN WAIT ANOTHER TWO MONTHS.

IT'S SO PAINFUL,

AND I JUST NEED IT GONE NOW.

Nikki: I'M HEADED TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE.

I JUST REALLY HOPE I HIT MY GOAL TODAY

AND I REACHED THE 300-POUND MARK

SO I CAN FINALLY GET APPROVED FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL.

ARE YOU SURE THAT'S RIGHT? [ CHUCKLES ]

THAT'S SO DISAPPOINTING.

I ONLY LOST 8 POUNDS.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE WEIGHED IN

AND HAVE FELT FRUSTRATED

AND ANGRY.

I JUST FEEL VERY ANXIOUS,

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK DR. NOW IS GOING TO BE HAPPY AT ALL.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU?

DOING PRETTY GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.

BUT YOU'RE AT 345 POUNDS, WHICH IS NOT GOOD.

THAT'S ONLY 4 POUNDS A MONTH THAT YOU'RE LOSING.

YOU SHOULD BE LOSING 25 POUNDS A MONTH STILL.

-IN A MONTH. -SO WHAT'S GOING ON

WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?

I THINK THAT MAYBE IT'S IN MY CHOICES OF WHAT I EAT.

WHAT ARE YOU CHOOSING TO EAT, THEN?

MAYBE I'M EATING MORE CARBS THAN I'M SUPPOSED TO BE EATING.

ARE YOU EATING AT HOME, OR ARE YOU EATING OUT?

WELL, YEAH, THAT'S THE OTHER THING.

I DO GO OUT MORE SOCIALLY NOW

THAN I DID BEFORE.

I'M SPENDING MORE TIME WITH FRIENDS,

AND MOST OF THE TIME, WE EAT OUT WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE AND HAVING FUN, THAT'S GOOD.

BUT YOU CAN'T FORGET PORTION CONTROL

AND IGNORE YOUR EATING HABITS.

YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE THE IMPRESSION

THAT YOU DON'T EAT VERY MUCH,

BUT THE SCALE DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT.

NIKKI'S LACK OF PROGRESS THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS

IS VERY CONCERNING.

SHE WAS DOING SO WELL,

BUT NOW SHE'S GOING OUT TO SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS,

AND THAT'S A GOOD THING,

BUT THAT'S WHERE IT'S HARDEST

NOT TO MAKE EASY COMPROMISES,

LIKE HAVING ANOTHER DRINK

OR EATING SOME CHIPS

OR EATING MORE BECAUSE THE PORTIONS ARE A LOT BIGGER.

SO, SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN TO MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT

AND STILL KEEP TRACK OF HER EATING HABITS.

I KNOW YOU WERE HOPING

TO GET APPROVED FOR EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL,

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW.

-OKAY. -BUT YOU LEARNED SOMETHING,

AND NOW IT'S TIME TO FACE WHAT YOU DID.

SO, LET'S TRY AGAIN, OKAY?

OVER NEXT TWO MONTHS, LOSE 50 POUNDS,

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN APPROVE YOU FOR SKIN SURGERY.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU.

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

**

Nikki: IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL TO HEAR DR. NOW SAY THINGS

LIKE YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF GAINING YOUR WEIGHT BACK.

I MEAN, THAT'S HEART WRENCHING.

THAT'S LIKE HAVING THIS NEW LIFE

AND HAVING THE PROMISE OF AN EVEN BETTER LIFE,

AND HAVING IT RIPPED AWAY FROM YOU.

AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

I DIDN'T HIT MY GOAL, AND THAT'S DEVASTATING,

BECAUSE I DESPERATELY WANT THIS SURGERY.

AND NOW IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY

TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND HIT THE GOAL I WANT.

**

I LOVE WORKING OUT WITH MY DAD.

BUT I KNOW THAT WHEN WE WORK OUT ON OUR OWN,

THAT I'M NOT REALLY PUSHING MYSELF AS HARD AS I NEED.

SO TODAY, I AM GOING TO MEET UP

WITH MY NEW TRAINER, AMY,

AND WE'RE GONNA WORK OUT.

I'VE COME A LONG WAY FROM WHERE I WAS,

BECAUSE I COULD BARELY MAKE IT

UP THE STAIRS AT MY HOUSE BEFORE.

AND I HAD TO REST BY THE TIME I MADE IT TO THE TOP.

AND I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE NOW.

BUT I'M NOT REALLY SEEING MY STAMINA AND ENERGY

INCREASE ANYMORE.

SO, WHAT WE'VE GOT TODAY -- WE'VE GOT A CIRCUIT TO DO.

-ALL RIGHT, READY? -YES.

ALL RIGHT. SO, LET'S GO FOR 2 MINUTES HERE.

PICK IT UP JUST A LITTLE BIT FOR 40 SECONDS.

GOOD. KEEP THAT UP.

3, 2, 1.

NICE. GOOD.

-FELT THAT? -I DID.

OKAY, YOU GOT TO PUSH THE SLED.

I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER PUSHED MYSELF THIS HARD.

BUT I'M DOING THIS TO GET STRONGER.

GRAB THE ROPES.

I'M STICKING TO MY DIET

AND NOT MAKING A SINGLE COMPROMISE RIGHT NOW.

3, 2, CHECK.

IT FEELS GOOD TO GET THROUGH A HARD WORKOUT.

AND THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT LIKES THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WEIRD, BUT I LIKE GOING PAST MY LIMITS

AND DOING MORE THAN I THOUGHT I COULD.

I'M GOING TO BE DOING THIS 3 TIMES A WEEK,

AND I AM NOT LETTING UP.

I'M HITTING MY GOAL NO MATTER WHAT.

SO, I'M HEADED BACK TO DR. NOW AGAIN.

AND I'M GOING TO SEE IF I HIT MY GOAL

OF GETTING BELOW 300 POUNDS.

I HAD 45 POUNDS TO LOSE IN 2 MONTHS TO DO THIS.

AND TO SAY I'M NERVOUS WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE SCARED

OF GETTING ON THE SCALE IN MY LIFE,

ESPECIALLY AFTER THE SHOCK OF LAST TIME,

WHEN I DIDN'T MAKE MUCH PROGRESS.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT ALL OF MY HARD WORK

THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IS ABOUT TO PAY OFF

AND I HIT THE 300-POUND MARK

TO FINALLY GET MY EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL APPROVED.

Woman: 301.

OKAY.

I'M -- OKAY.

THAT'S GOOD. [ LAUGHS ]

OKAY. EXCELLENT.

OKAY, THANKS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO BE APPROVED, AND I WANT SKIN SURGERY.

LIKE, THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M STILL NERVOUS WHETHER HE'LL APPROVE ME.

PRIMARILY BECAUSE I'M SO CLOSE TO THAT LINE.

BUT I DESPERATELY HOPE HE DOES.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

HEY. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING WELL. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING GOOD.

SO, YOU HAVE LOST 350 POUNDS,

AND YOU ARE SMALLER THAN HALF OF WHAT YOU USED TO BE.

[ Chuckling ] THAT'S INSANE.

I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE MOTIVATED TO HAVE SKIN SURGERY, RIGHT?

I AM MOTIVATED TO HAVE SKIN SURGERY.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THAT WAS ENOUGH.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA SKIN

THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF.

SO, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND REMOVE THIS PORTION OF IT,

BECAUSE WE NEED TO PULL THIS DOWN.

OKAY.

AND WE HAVE TO TAKE ALL THIS OUT.

-RIGHT. -OKAY?

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT NIKKI GOT BACK ON TRACK.

SHE'S IN A GOOD PLACE

WHERE SHE LOST ENOUGH FAT ON HER STOMACH

TO MAKE THE PROCEDURE SAFE ENOUGH TO PERFORM.

BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT

AND LONG RECOVERY FOR HER,

BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT OF SKIN WE NEED TO REMOVE

AND THE DEGREE OF REPAIR THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

ALL RIGHT, SO, THIS IS A LOT OF EXCESS SKIN,

AND IT IS A LOT OF DAMAGE

-TO TRY TO REPAIR. -RIGHT.

AND SO WE'LL SET YOU UP FOR SURGERY.

BUT THIS RECOVERY IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOU,

SO YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.

BUT WE'LL GET YOU FIXED UP, OKAY?

THANK YOU.

AND YOU'VE DONE VERY GOOD, OKAY? THANKS, DR. NOW.

SEE YOU SOON.

SO, THIS WILL BE A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR NIKKI,

BUT THE ROAD TO GET THERE IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.

Nikki: I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS GOING TO TOTALLY CHANGE MY LIFE.

COMING IN HERE THAT VERY FIRST DAY,

BEING TERRIFIED AND BARELY ABLE TO BREATHE

AND WEIGHING 650 POUNDS --

THIS SURGERY BEING APPROVED TODAY

MAKES THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE COME FULL CIRCLE.

AND ALTHOUGH I AM NOT DONE,

ALTHOUGH I KNOW I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO,

ESPECIALLY THROUGH SURGERY, I FEEL ACCOMPLISHED,

AND THAT IS AN AMAZING FEELING TO HAVE.

Terry: LET'S GO.

GRAB MY PURSE.

TODAY, MY FAMILY AND I ARE HEADED TO HOUSTON

FOR MY SKIN SURGERY.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS NEEDED TO HAPPEN,

AND I'M GLAD THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE.

**

NO MATTER THE RISK, I HAVE TO GET THIS SURGERY.

DR. NOW TOLD ME I COULD DEVELOP COMPLICATIONS

LIKE BLEEDING TOO MUCH OR ISSUES HEALING.

BUT I HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY WITH MY FAMILY.

Nikki: THANKS FOR DOING THIS WITH ME.

YOU BET.

-I LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD.

BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP LIVING WITH THE MISERABLE PAIN

FROM THIS SKIN HANGING OFF OF ME.

SKIN REMOVAL IS KIND OF LIKE A REBIRTH FOR ME.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING RID OF BAGGAGE.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING RID OF THINGS FROM MY PAST.

IT'S GETTING RID OF THINGS THAT I'VE DEALT WITH THIS LAST YEAR.

AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST STARTING OVER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT

OF EXCESS SKIN NIKKI HAS AROUND HER ABDOMEN.

THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT OPERATION.

ALL THE SKIN IN THAT AREA

PROBABLY WEIGHS CLOSE TO 60 POUNDS,

WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO MANEUVER AND WORK AROUND.

AND NIKKI HAS CARRIED THAT WEIGHT

IN HER ABDOMEN FOR SO MANY YEARS

THAT IT HAS CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE IN HER BODY AND THAT AREA.

SO THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REPAIR

THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STITCH HER UP

AND MAKE HER BODY PROPORTIONATE AGAIN.

THIS SKIN REMOVAL IS GOING TO BE

AS COMPLICATED AS IT GETS,

AND THE RISKS ARE VERY HIGH, TOO.

SO THIS SURGERY WILL ALSO TAKE A VERY LONG TIME,

BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF BLOOD VESSELS

THAT WE NEED TO TIE OFF.

BUT WE HAVE A GOOD TEAM, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE

SHE COMES OUT OF THIS

WITH AS LITTLE COMPLICATION AS POSSIBLE.

AS A PARENT, SITTING IN THE WAITING ROOM

IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.

THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN,

GOING THROUGH A SURGERY LIKE THIS, OF LOSING HER,

AND THAT WOULD BE JUST DEVASTATING.

SO I'M DOING MY VERY BEST TO LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE,

AND I HOPE SURGERY'S GOING TO GO WELL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HEAVY.

-DO YOU HAVE IT? -TWO, THREE.

NOW CHECK THE WEIGHT AND SEE HOW MUCH SKIN WE TOOK OFF.

ALL RIGHT. HOW MUCH IT WEIGHED?

Man: 56.5.

-HOW MUCH? -56.5 POUNDS.

56 1/2?

ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

OKAY. WE NEED TO CLOSE HER UP NOW.

THERE HAS TO BE SO MUCH REPAIR DONE TO HER BODY,

THAT IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR HER TO FULLY HEAL FROM THIS.

ONCE SHE DOES, SHE'S GOING TO FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD 2 TO 3 MONTHS FOR HER,

ASSUMING THERE ARE NO UNEXPECTED COMPLICATIONS.

AND WE'RE DONE.

NIKKI'S SURGERY WAS VERY DIFFICULT,

AND IT TOOK 6 HOURS TO COMPLETE.

Woman: YOU'RE ALL DONE, JUST WAKING UP.

BUT EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL, AND THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS.

SO NOW WE WILL GET HER TO RECOVERY,

BUT SHE'S STILL IN A VERY DELICATE PLACE

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF BLOOD VESSELS

WE TIED OFF TODAY,

AND IF EVEN ONE OF THEM OPENS UP,

IT COULD BECOME A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION

IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT IN TIME.

FOR AN OPERATION AS EXTENSIVE AS NIKKI'S,

THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE SHE MAY DEVELOP A BLEEDER.

IF SHE DOES, SHE MAY START TO FEEL SICK,

AND HER BLOOD PRESSURE WILL DROP.

SO WE WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON HER,

AND IF SHE DEVELOPS ANY OF THOSE SYMPTOMS,

WE WILL NEED TO CHECK HER FOR THAT.

BUT FOR NOW, SHE NEEDS TO REST,

AND THEN WE TRY TO GET HER UP IN A DAY OR SO

AND SEE HOW SHE'S DOING.

SHE HAS A LONG ROAD OF RECOVERY AHEAD OF HER,

AND WE'LL HELP HER THROUGH IT TO GET HER TO THE OTHER SIDE.

**

Nikki: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DAYS SINCE MY SURGERY.

AND I'M TRYING TO SLOWLY RECOVER.

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,

AND I'M TRYING TO SLOWLY MOVE AROUND AGAIN,

BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH,

BECAUSE THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH PAIN.

AND IT FEELS SCARY TO BE STUCK LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW,

THINKING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS

THAT COULD GO WRONG WITH THIS RECOVERY.

THIS FEAR AND THIS ANXIETY

THAT I HAVE OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE

AND BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOSPITAL

AND RECOVER SAFELY.

AND WHAT IF I CAN'T RECOVER? WHAT WOULD I DO THEN?

BUT THEN I LOOK DOWN AND SEE ALL THAT MISERABLE SKIN IS GONE.

AND THAT MAKES ME SEE WHAT I'M WORKING FOR.

SO I'M TRYING NOT TO THINK ABOUT THE THINGS

THAT MAKE ME AFRAID

AND FOCUS ON THE THINGS I'M THANKFUL FOR RIGHT NOW.

-HI. -HEY, LAURA.

I THINK I'M GONNA HEAD TO THE BATHROOM.

I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT IT. [ CHUCKLES ]

I'M GONNA SIT HERE FOR A MINUTE. SURE. GO AHEAD.

A LITTLE BIT.

I'M GONNA GET UP ON THE COUNT OF THREE.

1, 2 --

ALL RIGHT. LOOK AT YOU.

-WOW. -DON'T FAINT ON US.

IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT --

IT'S A DIFFERENT FEELING.

I'LL BET IT IS, ISN'T IT?

OH, MY GOSH.

YOU NEED A WALKER?

YEAH, I'M USED TO HAVING, LIKE, A --

60-POUND STOMACH RIGHT HERE,

SO IT'S VERY STRANGE.

I FEEL VERY DIZZY.

I FEEL VERY, VERY DIZZY.

YEAH, I'M VERY DIZZY.

**

OKAY. YEAH.

I FEEL REALLY DIZZY.

OKAY.

I'M GETTING REALLY SCARED,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO BE WRONG WITH ME.

I KNOW I COULD HAVE ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES GO WRONG RIGHT NOW.

AND WHAT IF IT'S SOMETHING REALLY BAD,

OR IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN'T FIX?

FEEL LIKE I CAN'T BREATHE.

OKAY.

YEAH, THAT IS LOW.

OKAY.

-OHH. -I'M SORRY.

-YOU OKAY? -YEAH.

-THAT'S JUST THE PAINFUL PART. -OKAY.

I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

Nikki: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED.

DR. NOW THINKS THAT I MAY HAVE SOME INTERNAL BLEEDING

AND THAT I NEED TO GO BACK TO SURGERY.

AND I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW

THAT SOMETHING ELSE COULD HAPPEN

OR THAT IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE GOING TO TAKE NIKKI

INTO EMERGENCY SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

EARLIER TODAY, SHE DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL BLEED,

AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

BUT IT'S NOT LIFE-THREATENING IF WE ADDRESS IT IMMEDIATELY.

OKAY. LET'S BEGIN.

I'M OPENING THE SUTURES NOW TO LOCATE THE BLEEDER.

I FOUND IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TIE THE BLEEDER OFF AGAIN,

CLEAN OUT THE DRY BLOOD INTERNALLY,

AND SUTURE HER UP SO SHE CAN FULLY RECOVER.

SUCTION, SUCTION, SUCTION.

THERE IS A LOT OF BLOOD HERE,

SO WE NEED TO SUCTION ALL THIS OUT

AND CLEAN UP THE SUTURES.

IT'S TIED OFF NOW.

OKAY, EVERYTHING IS LOOKING GOOD.

NOW WE'RE CLOSING THE INCISION.

ALL RIGHT. A COUPLE MORE STITCHES, AND WE'LL BE DONE.

**

NICOLE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP HER UNDER WATCH IN ICU

FOR A FEW DAYS

AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOT ANOTHER OCCURRENCE.

AND AFTER SHE GETS PAST THE NEXT 72 HOURS,

IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL

AND THERE ARE NO FURTHER COMPLICATIONS,

WE'LL WORK ON GETTING HER UP AND MOVING HER AROUND AGAIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE A HARD COUPLE MONTHS FOR HER,

BUT NIKKI IS STRONG, AND I THINK SHE CAN HANDLE IT.

**

Nikki: IT'S BEEN FOUR DAYS SINCE MY EMERGENCY SURGERY.

AND I HAVEN'T DEVELOPED ANY MORE ISSUES.

AND DR. NOW SAYS THE POSSIBILITY

OF DEVELOPING ANY MORE BLEEDERS IS BEHIND ME.

SO NOW I NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING UP

AND MOVING AROUND AGAIN,

BUT I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN RIGHT NOW.

SO I KNOW THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY.

THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT,

BUT I'M STILL GLAD I DID IT.

GETTING SKIN REMOVAL ON MY BELLY,

I FEEL LIKE IT WAS A NECESSARY EVIL.

A LOT OF SCARY THINGS HAPPENED.

TRAUMATIZING, BUT I CANNOT

GO FORWARD IN MY LIFE WITH THAT STOMACH.

-HELLO. -HI.

HOW'S THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT?

I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED PAIN LIKE THIS BEFORE.

SO, THIS TAKE ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS TO HEAL.

-RIGHT. -AND WE CAN GET YOU

UP AND WALKING, BUT NOT DOING TOO MUCH, OKAY?

THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO NOT HAVING ALL THAT

60 POUNDS OF TIRE AROUND YOU.

I KNOW.

I FEEL KIND OF LIKE A TODDLER LEARNING HOW TO WALK AGAIN.

I FEEL VERY LIGHT ON MY FEET,

NOT HAVING THAT GRAVITY PULL ME DOWN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NIKKI IS RECOVERING WELL,

BUT HER BALANCE IS GOING TO BE COMPLETELY OFF

UNTIL SHE LEARNS TO ADJUST.

AND SHE WILL NEED TO BE CAREFUL

WITH HER SUTURES AND HOW SHE MOVES.

IN A COUPLE WEEKS, ALL THE FLUIDS ARE GONNA GO AROUND,

AND YOU SHOULD BE AROUND PROBABLY 240.

I'LL BELIEVE THAT WHEN I SEE IT. [ LAUGHS ]

-ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL LATER. -THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHTY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE SKIN AROUND HER STOMACH IS WEAK,

AND HER SUTURES ARE GOING TO OPEN UP OCCASIONALLY,

BECAUSE THERE WAS AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT

OF DAMAGE TO THE AREA AROUND THE STOMACH.

SO THERE ARE GOING TO BE GAPS IN THE SUTURES

THAT WILL DEVELOP, AND WE NEED TO TREAT TO CLOSE.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE NORMAL,

BUT WE HAVE TO WORK TO NOT DO ANYTHING

TO INCREASE THOSE GAPS.

BUT I'M GOING TO REQUIRE HER TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR AT LEAST 2 MONTHS SO WE CAN TREAT HER

UNTIL SHE'S HEALED ENOUGH TO GO HOME.

OH, WOW. MY BODY FEELS REALLY DIFFERENT.

IF YOU NEED TO GO BACK, WE'LL TURN AROUND.

Nikki: DR. NOW IS RIGHT.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING TO LEARN

HOW TO WALK RIGHT AGAIN.

MY CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS MY STOMACH,

'CAUSE IT WAS SO LARGE, AND IT PULLED ME DOWN,

LIKE, A CERTAIN PART OF MY BODY,

AND I JUST GOT USED TO WALKING THAT WAY.

BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME

I COULD STAND UP STRAIGHT LIKE THIS.

AND I CAN ALREADY TELL THIS IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR ME.

I JUST HOPE I CAN STAY STRONG

AND, WITH MY FAMILY'S SUPPORT, MAKE IT THROUGH THIS.

Nikki: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

AND ABOUT A WEEK AGO, DR. NOW SAID

I WAS HEALING ENOUGH TO BE DISCHARGED,

BUT THAT I HAD TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR ANOTHER 6 WEEKS AT LEAST

SO THAT HE CAN MONITOR MY RECOVERY,

BECAUSE IF THERE'S ONE LITTLE ISSUE

THAT DOESN'T GET TREATED IN TIME,

HE SAID IT COULD END UP SERIOUSLY DELAYING MY RECOVERY.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT, SO MY MOM AND I ARE RENTING

THE SAME LAKE HOUSE I RECOVERED IN

AFTER MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND IT'S A LITTLE WEIRD BEING BACK HERE.

IT'S JUST MOM AND I HERE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY.

AND I'M FEELING LIKE I DID THEN,

JUST CUT OFF FROM THE WORLD SOME.

SO IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I'M BACK TO THE WAY I WAS BEFORE,

WHEN I WAS 600 POUNDS.

BUT I KNOW I NEED TO TAKE THE TIME TO HEAL PROPERLY.

DR. NOW TOLD ME THERE COULD BE A LOT OF ISSUES,

AND ONE OF THEM IS THAT THE SUTURES

MAY HAVE TROUBLE STAYING CLOSED.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE TREATED,

SO I HAVE THIS WOUND VAC THING ON ME.

IT'S THIS SPONGE THAT HELPS REMOVE SWELLING

AND SLOWLY CLOSES ANY OPENINGS

WITH THIS SUCTION PRESSURE.

IT'S LIKE A TIGHT VACUUM SEAL.

AND ATTACH THIS HOSE.

IT JUST [SLURPS]

SUCKS OUT ALL OF THE NASTINESS.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IS ALL OF MY INSIDES

ARE BEING SUCKED OUT.

AND THIS ONE HURTS. LIKE, THIS HURTS TO TOUCH IT.

IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME FOR ME TO HEAL

AND FOR MY SKIN TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

IT'S VERY TIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE A CORSET.

AND I HAVE TO KEEP IT ON ME ALL THE TIME.

SO RECOVERING FROM THIS SURGERY IS SO MUCH HARDER

THAN THE LAST ONE.

I THOUGHT THAT I WAS PREPARED FOR THIS SURGERY,

AND IT JUST HIT ME LIKE A MACK TRUCK.

AND IT HAS DAMPENED MY SPIRIT.

**

I HAD A LOT OF APPREHENSION COMING INTO SURGERY,

BECAUSE MY FRIEND MICHAEL DIED

AFTER HAVING GASTRIC BYPASS,

SO I'VE BEEN SCARED FROM THE BEGINNING.

AND EVERY TIME I HAD A COMPLICATION

OR IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS GOING WRONG,

I THOUGHT, "COULD THIS BE WHAT LEADS ME TO A PLACE

WHERE I WON'T MAKE IT?"

SO THIS HAS BEEN A SCARY TIME FOR ME.

AND I STILL HAVE ANOTHER MONTH HERE IN HOUSTON.

SO I'M TRYING TO STAY POSITIVE.

BUT I'M REALLY READY FOR ALL THIS TO BE OVER

AND TO GET HOME AND BACK TO MY LIFE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

**

RECENTLY, I FEEL LIKE

I'M STARTING TO TURN A CORNER WITH MY RECOVERY.

I'M FEELING BETTER, AND A LOT OF THE PAIN IS GOING AWAY.

AND I'M HAVING AN EASIER TIME GETTING AROUND,

SO I KNOW I'M HEALING A LOT MORE.

MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON

FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS NOW.

AND I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE

TO GO BACK TO LITTLE ROCK SOON.

BUT AS HARD AS THIS RECOVERY IS,

AND AS MUCH AS I WANT TO GET HOME AND BACK TO MY LIFE,

I'VE BEEN REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE TIME

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEND WITH MY MOM HERE.

HEY, GIRL! I'M HOME.

-HI, MOM. -GOT GROCERIES.

SHE HAS BEEN AMAZING.

OH, I HAD THIS GREAT IDEA FOR DINNER.

I SAW THIS RECIPE THE OTHER DAY THAT I KEPT,

AND YOU MAKE, LIKE, AN OMELET,

AND YOU PUT ONIONS IN IT, AND YOU LET IT COOK,

AND THEN YOU PUT ALL THE BLACK BEANS

AND THE TOMATOES

AND AVOCADO ON TOP OF THAT, AND YOU ROLL IT UP.

-THAT SOUNDS FUN. -THAT SOUNDS GOOD AND HEALTHY,

-DOESN'T IT? -SOUNDS GOOD.

I FEEL LIKE OUR RELATIONSHIP

HAS GROWN A LOT, EVEN OVER THE PAST YEAR.

YOU WANT TO COME CHOP? YOU FEEL LIKE IT?

-NO, I CAN. I CAN DO IT. -OKAY.

WE'VE HAD A HARD RELATIONSHIP IN THE PAST,

AND TO GET PAST WHAT WAS DRIVING ME

TO EAT ALL THESE YEARS,

I HAD TO ADDRESS

HOW I NEVER FELT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MY MOTHER

AND HOW I FELT JUDGED BY HER.

AND WE FINALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT AND LET THAT GO.

I THINK I FELT LIKE I WAS JUST NEVER GOOD ENOUGH.

I HATE THAT YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY.

I HOPE I DON'T EVER HURT YOUR FEELINGS.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

BUT AFTER THAT, I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT ONLY ENABLED ME

TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS, BUT IT'S ALSO ALLOWED US

TO START HAVING A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S BEEN ENJOYABLE FOR NIKKI AND I

JUST TO BE HERE BY OURSELVES.

WE'VE HAD A GREAT TIME JUST BEING TOGETHER.

WE DON'T EVER HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME

JUST TO TALK WITH EACH OTHER AND ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY.

Nikki: SO, AS HARD AS IT'S BEEN,

I WOULDN'T TRADE THIS TIME FOR THE WORLD,

BUT I KNOW WE'RE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK HOME

AND OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

I WANT TO GET BACK AND SEE MY FRIENDS,

GO BACK TO WORK, AND SEE MARC AGAIN.

AFTER OUR FIRST DATE, MARC AND I WENT OUT A COUPLE MORE TIMES.

SO WE'RE SORT OF DATING RIGHT NOW.

IT'S NOT TOO SERIOUS, BUT IT MAY BE HEADED IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HIM AGAIN,

BUT IT ALL DEPENDS ON IF DR. NOW CLEARS ME TO FINALLY GO HOME

AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

THERE ARE JUST SO MANY THINGS

I FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M JUST VERY ANXIOUS TO GET BACK HOME.

THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT'S AFRAID

I'M GOING TO LOSE ALL THE NEW THINGS

AND PEOPLE IN MY LIFE IF I'M AWAY FOR TOO LONG.

AND I KNOW THAT'S CRAZY.

IT'S JUST HARD TO BE AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE FOR 2 MONTHS.

SO I JUST NEED TO GET BACK.

Nikki: I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE FOR MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M HOPING HE CLEARS ME TO GO HOME TODAY.

I FEEL LIKE I'M RECOVERING WELL, BUT I STILL HAVE A GAP

IN MY SUTURES THAT NEEDS CLOSING.

AND AS GROSS AS THAT IS,

IT'S STILL HEALING AND GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY.

NIKKI WEBSTER?

I'M ALSO CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT MY WEIGHT IS NOW.

BECAUSE WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO,

I WAS JUST UNDER 240 POUNDS.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE

IF I'M CLOSE TO BEING UNDER 200 POUNDS NOW.

236.

KIND OF STAYED THE SAME.

-I DON'T SEE HOW. -I KNOW. I DON'T GET IT.

THAT'S EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO LET THE DOCTOR DOWN

AFTER GETTING MY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

BUT HOPEFULLY MY WEIGHT TODAY

DOESN'T PLAY INTO WHETHER OR NOT I CAN GO HOME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

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

YOU ARE 236 TODAY.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE WEIGHT YOU WERE AT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

-I KNOW. -SO YOU LOST NOTHING

IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS, SO WHAT'S GOING ON NOW?

WELL, I WAS REALLY SICK FOR A WHILE,

AND I COULDN'T HOLD ANYTHING DOWN FOR LIKE A WEEK.

AND SO I GOT BETTER,

AND NOW I CAN EAT,

AND I'VE GAINED THAT WEIGHT.

YOU HAVE THE SAME CYCLE OVER AND OVER.

YOU GET AMBITIOUS. YOU STOP LOSING.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START WORKING

ON KEEPING YOUR HEALTHY CHOICES CONSISTENT.

SO YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS PATTERN.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

YOU'RE STILL 80 POUNDS FROM YOUR TARGET WEIGHT.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SLOW DOWN.

OKAY.

OKAY, SO LET ME GET YOU ON THE TABLE.

WE CAN CHECK YOUR INCISIONS AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. I CAN TELL THAT YOU'RE PUTTING

A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TAPE ON THE SKIN.

OKAY. [ CHUCKLES ]

SO YOU NEED TO SORT OF TONE IT DOWN.

[ Laughing ] OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THESE ARE ALL HEALING NICE.

I'M GONNA PUT SOME SILVER NITRATE ON SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

AND THESE WOUNDS ARE TRADITIONALLY DIFFICULT TO HEAL.

SOMETIMES IT'S NOT UNUSUAL THAT MAY OPEN UP,

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S HEALING VERY WELL.

IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO CLOSE UP COMPLETELY

AND HEAL IN THE NEXT MONTH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NIKKI IS HEALING WELL,

BUT SHE HAS A PATTERN OF STAYING ON TRACK

FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN GETTING DISTRACTED.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHE'S GOING TO NEED

TO GET A HANDLE ON.

BECAUSE IF SHE STARTS TO GAIN WEIGHT NOW,

THAT WILL PREVENT HER FROM HEALING CORRECTLY

AND MAY CAUSE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES

THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY HER RECOVERY.

ALL RIGHT, NIKKI, YOU CAN GO BACK TO ARKANSAS.

KEEP YOUR SUTURE CLEAN

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT TAPING IT TOO TIGHT

SO YOUR OPENING CAN BREATHE.

AND START LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN

AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT GAINING.

ALL RIGHTY.

THE PART OF HER STOMACH

THAT HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY HER WEIGHT THE MOST

IS TAKING LONGER TO HEAL AND CLOSE.

BUT SHE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HEAL WELL

AS LONG AS SHE KEEPS HER SUTURE CLEAN

AND DOESN'T IRRITATE IT TOO MUCH.

OKAY. WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

SO? [ SIGHS ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I GET TO GO HOME.

I KNOW!

Nikki: I'M EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK

AND PICK UP RIGHT WHERE I LEFT OFF WITH EVERYONE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I'M NOT ANY LESS DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF

FOR NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT DURING THIS TIME.

I KNOW I HAVE TO GET CONTROL OF THAT AGAIN

AND DO LIKE DR. NOW SAYS AND NOT GET DISTRACTED BY LIFE

OR WHAT I'M DEALING WITH WHEN IT COMES TO MY HEALTH.

MY HEALTH IS STILL MY HIGHEST PRIORITY,

AND WHEN I'M MESS UP LIKE THIS,

I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIX IT.

**

LOOK AT HARLEY. SHE THINKS SHE'S GOING. YOU'RE NOT GOING!

I'VE BEEN BACK HOME FOR A FEW DAYS,

AND I TOLD MY BROTHER,

TO MAKE UP FOR BEING GONE SO LONG,

I'LL TAKE HIM TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO.

AND HE SAID HE WANTS TO GO PAINT WITH ME,

SO I'M TAKING HIM TO THIS POTTERY PLACE I HEARD ABOUT.

I'M STILL A LITTLE SWOLLEN,

AND I CAN'T GET AROUND COMPLETELY LIKE I DID,

BUT I KNOW I'LL BE THERE SOON.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

THAT I STILL HAVEN'T REACHED ALL MY GOALS,

LIKE GETTING TO MY TARGET WEIGHT IN A YEAR.

-HELLO! -HI!

-HI. -HOW ARE YOU?

ALL THE POTTERY IS ALONG THE WALL.

FEEL FREE TO WALK AROUND.

PICK OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO PAINT.

Nikki: AND A BIG FUTURE GOAL IS FINDING A PLACE OF MY OWN

WHERE BOTH ME AND MY BROTHER, CHRIS, CAN LIVE SOMEDAY.

BUT MY FAMILY AND I DECIDED

I WOULDN'T MOVE OUT UNTIL MY FINAL SKIN REMOVAL.

RIGHT NOW, MY NEXT GOALS

ARE TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS

AND TRY TO MAKE IT UNDER THE 200-POUND MARK

IN A FEW WEEKS

AND TO ALSO GO GET SOME PANTS.

IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE SINCE I'VE BEEN ABLE

TO EVEN WEAR PANTS,

BECAUSE ALL THE SKIN

AND EVERYTHING HANGING OVER MY STOMACH

JUST MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE.

SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES.

-UH-HUH. -YEAH.

THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD!

AND I STILL PLAN TO FINISH THIS YEAR STRONG.

THERE MIGHT ONLY BE A MONTH LEFT,

BUT I INTEND TO HIT A LOT OF GOALS

AND SEE HOW FAR I MAKE IT IN THAT TIME.

TODAY, I'M HEADED TO A LITTLE BOUTIQUE.

AND I'M GOING TO TRY ON PANTS

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 10 YEARS.

AND WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TRY ARE BLUE JEANS.

SO I'M HOPING THE SWELLING HAS GONE DOWN WITH MY SUTURES.

BUT I WENT TO A LOCAL DOCTOR TO GET SOME NEW BANDAGES,

AND THEY PUT A WOUND VAC BACK ON ME.

BUT I'M NOT LETTING THAT HOLD ME BACK TODAY.

I'M GONNA FIND A PAIR OF JEANS THAT WILL FIT,

AND I'M TRYING THEM ON.

AND IF I LOOK AS GOOD AS I HOPE IN THEM,

I'M BUYING THEM.

I CURRENTLY DON'T OWN A SINGLE PAIR OF PANTS.

AND I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY FOREVER.

**

I NEVER, EVER REALLY BELIEVED

THAT I WOULD BE AT THIS POINT,

AND I AM.

I LOOK CUTE.

[ LAUGHS ]

I FEEL GOOD IN THEM.

I FEEL WOMANLY AND SASSY.

IT TAKES A LOT FOR ME TO FEEL SASSY.

WHEN I LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR,

SOMETIMES IT'S HARD FOR ME.

I HAVE TO KIND OF, LIKE, READJUST MY EYES

BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I'M SEEING WHAT I'M SEEING.

BUT TO BE ABLE TO START TO RESEMBLE

WHAT I FELT LIKE ON THE INSIDE,

IT'S EXTREMELY POWERFUL.

THAT CONFIDENCE IS SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.

I'M EXCITED TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND PUT ON NEW CLOTHES.

HERE ARE YOUR NEW PANTS AND YOUR TOP, GIRL.

-YAY! -THANKS FOR COMING IN.

THANKS SO MUCH. SEE YOU LATER.

-I'LL SEE YOU LATER. -BYE.

SO, I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW ABOUT EVERYTHING,

ABOUT HOW MY BODY IS STARTING TO LOOK,

ABOUT HOW I FEEL, ABOUT ALL THE NEW

AND EXCITING THINGS I HAVE IN MY LIFE,

AND ABOUT ALL THE POSSIBILITIES THAT I HAVE NOW.

**

TONIGHT, I'M HEADED TO BRUNO'S LITTLE ITALY,

IT'S A LITTLE ITALIAN RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN.

AND I'M GONNA SPEND THE EVENING WITH MARC.

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HIM.

I WAS AWAY FOR SO LONG,

AND I HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIM

AND SPEND SOME GOOD TIME WITH HIM.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

HEY, BOO! LOOK AT YOU ALL DOLLED UP.

AWW, YOU'RE SWEET.

MM. HOW'S IT GOING?

-GOOD. -HOW WAS PARKING?

[ LAUGHS ]

THINGS HAVE BEEN GOING REALLY WELL BETWEEN US,

AND I LIKE HIM A LOT.

IT ALL NEEDS BUTTER.

HE'S A REALLY GOOD GUY,

AND I HAVE A LOT OF FUN WHEN I'M WITH HIM.

-THANK YOU! -[ CHUCKLES ]

AND THE MORE TIME WE SPEND TOGETHER,

THE MORE I CAN SEE THE POSSIBILITY

OF A FUTURE BETWEEN US.

AND THAT ALONE IS INCREDIBLE TO EVEN BE ABLE TO THINK.

TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN I STARTED THIS JOURNEY,

I JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ROMANCE, LOVE.

I JUST HAD ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT IT WAS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THINGS ARE GONNA GO WITH MARC,

BUT THE FEELINGS THAT I'M HAVING,

THE LOVE AND AFFECTION I FEEL FROM HIM,

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

THAT'S THE PART OF MYSELF THAT I COVERED UP FOR SO LONG,

AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT LOSING THIS WEIGHT,

HAVING SURGERY,

HAS HELPED ME ACHIEVE ALL OF THAT.

AND I'M ABLE TO FEEL THOSE THINGS.

AND I WOULD NOT TRADE WHO I AM RIGHT NOW,

IN THIS MOMENT, FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

**

I'M ABOUT TO HEAD TO HOUSTON FOR MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

AND NOW THAT I'M SO SMALL,

I DECIDED I CAN MAKE THESE TRIPS DOWN ON MY OWN

AND THAT I CAN FLY ON MY OWN NOW.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME SINCE I'VE FLOWN,

AND SO, JUST THE LOGISTICS STRESSES ME OUT.

-CHAUFFEUR'S HERE. -HEY!

[ LAUGHS ] CHAUFFEUR'S HERE.

HOW ARE YOU, MARC?

-GOODBYE, GUYS. -ALL RIGHT.

-SEE Y'ALL LATER. -BYE.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I CAN DO THIS NOW,

I'M STILL REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT IT.

I STILL THINK OF MYSELF, IN A LOT OF WAYS,

IN A 600-POUND BODY.

SO THE FEAR OF "WILL I FIT INTO THE SEAT?" IS VERY REAL.

BUT I KNOW I'M READY TO DO THIS.

CLOSE SIZE.

LOOK AT THAT.

AND I EVEN HAD TO TIGHTEN IT.

NOW THAT I'M HERE, AND I FIT IN THE SEAT

WITH NO PROBLEM, I'M JUST EXCITED.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

AND, IN A WAY, THIS OPENS THE WHOLE WORLD TO ME,

BECAUSE NOW I AM PHYSICALLY ABLE TO TRAVEL

ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

SO THIS IS JUST A START FOR ME.

AND I'VE WORKED SO HARD

TO GET BACK ON TRACK THESE PAST TWO MONTHS.

YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.

ANY MY GOAL WAS TO FINALLY GET UNDER 200 POUNDS.

AND I'M HOPING I DID THAT.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!

I'M LIKE 30 POUNDS FROM MY TARGET WEIGHT NOW

AND TWO SKIN SURGERIES AWAY FROM MY GOAL.

AND THAT'S AMAZING FOR ME TO EVEN THINK ABOUT.

-HELLO! -HI, DR. NOW.

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

-HOW ARE YOU? -GREAT.

AND YOU ARE DOWN TO 194 POUNDS.

THAT'S 455-POUND WEIGHT LOSS.

THAT NUMBER IS BREATHTAKING TO ME.

I'M PROUD OF YOU. YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

NIKKI IS BACK TO MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,

AND SHE'S VERY CLOSE TO HER TARGET WEIGHT.

BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREATMENT

SHE RECEIVED ON HER SUTURES.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOU NOW...

OKAY.

...AND DEAL WITH THIS WOUND VAC YOU MENTIONED.

OKAY. THIS IS ALL WRONG

AND IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD.

AND SEE THIS STUFF IN HERE --

-WOUND VAC DON'T PICK THAT UP. -MM-HMM.

THIS NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP WITH THE GAUZE.

-OKAY. -YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE

A WOUND VAC ON YOU AT THIS POINT,

AND YOU'RE NOT HEALING BECAUSE OF IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE NIKKI WENT TO SOME LOCAL DOCTORS

AND GOT VERY BAD MEDICAL TREATMENT

THAT HAS PREVENTED HER WOUND FROM CLOSING.

SO I HAVE REMOVED THE WOUND VAC AND CLEANED UP THAT AREA.

IF SHE DOESN'T IRRITATE IT AND KEEPS IT CLEAN,

THEN THE OPENING WILL CLOSE AND HEAL

WITHIN A MONTH OR SO.

BUT SHE'S STILL DOING WELL,

AND I THINK WE CAN GET HER THERE.

-I'M PROUD OF YOU, OKAY? -THANK YOU.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU SO MUCH, DR. NOW.

-I WILL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY? -I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL DO IT.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.

I THINK SHE'LL BE ABLE TO HIT HER TARGET WEIGHT

WITHIN A COUPLE MONTHS.

ONCE SHE HEALS FROM HER FIRST SKIN SURGERY,

WE CAN DISCUSS HER FINAL SKIN REMOVALS,

AND THEN SHE'LL BE COMPLETELY DONE.

Nikki: I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT

THAT I GOT MEDICAL ADVICE THAT WASN'T GOOD

AND THAT SET ME BACK,

AND THAT I COULD BE COMPLETELY HEALED AT THIS POINT.

BUT I'M GLAD TO HAVE THAT WHOLE THING OFF ME.

I WAS SO UPSET WHEN THEY PUT IT BACK ON.

BUT I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN,

AND I'M JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON HOW FAR I AM

AND HOW MUCH I HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.

I'VE COME SUCH A LONG WAY IN 2 YEARS,

AND I'M ALMOST THERE.

**

TODAY I'M MEETING MY FRIEND CEANNE,

AND WE'RE GOING TO RENT SOME BIKES,

AND I'M GOING TO RIDE A BIKE AGAIN,

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS.

-HEY! -YOU READY FOR THIS?

-[ GROANS ] -[ CHUCKLES ]

I JUST HOPE I CAN REMEMBER HOW TO DO IT.

THEY SAY ONCE YOU LEARN, YOU NEVER FORGET,

SO I HOPE THEY'RE RIGHT.

I TRULY LOVE MY LIFE NOW

AND HOW IT IS JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EVERY DAY.

SO I'M JUST AMAZED AT WHAT I CAN DO NOW,

AND HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT YEAR

AND ALL I'M GOING TO ACCOMPLISH.

AND I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE THIS CHANCE.

I'M KEEPING MY HEALTH A PERMANENT PRIORITY,

AND I'M GRABBING AHOLD OF LIFE NOW WITH BOTH HANDS,

AND I'M NOT LETTING GO.