Original subtitles

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: WE'VE BEEN TO DOCTORS OVER THE YEARS WHO HAVE TOLD US

THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP US BECAUSE WE'RE TOO BIG.

BUT NOW, WE'RE SEEING SOMEONE HERE IN LOUISIANA

TO FIND OUT WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE AND IF THEY CAN HELP US.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY

TO SAFELY GET YOU THROUGH THAT OPERATION.

SO I WANT TO REFER YOU TO A SPECIALIZED CENTER

IN HOUSTON OR NEW ORLEANS.

COMPARING FACILITIES AND DOCTORS,

WE THINK THE OPTIONS IN HOUSTON WITH DR. NOWZARADAN

ARE THE BEST CHANCE TO GET HELP IF WE CAN.

I'M TOO BIG TO TRAVEL VERY FAR,

SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN DO THIS

OR IF I'M GONNA EVEN MAKE IT.

I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO GET OUT.

IT'S TOO MUCH.

Clarence: ROSHANDA, YOU MADE IT.

AND WE'RE FINALLY HERE.

Roshanda: NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, I'M GETTING A LITTLE SCARED

BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE.

AND IF THE DOCTOR CAN'T HELP US, IT'LL MEAN IT'S ALL OVER.

SO, ALL TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, YOU ALL WEIGH OVER A TON.

AND THE REALITY IS, NONE OF YOU ARE GOING TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER

IF THINGS DON'T DRASTICALLY CHANGE VERY SOON.

THE PERRIO FAMILY IS CLEARLY A FAMILY IN CRISIS RIGHT NOW,

AND THEY, UNFORTUNATELY, DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

♪♪

Roshanda: FIGURING OUT WHAT MEALS HAVE IN IT

AND HOW MANY CALORIES THEY ARE,

IT'S A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SO, BRANDIE AND CLARENCE,

IT'S CLEAR YOU AREN'T VERY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS YET

AND ARE NOWHERE NEAR READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT, ROSHANDA, YOU HIT YOUR GOAL.

SO, WE'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

♪♪

DR. NOW SAYS THERE'S TOO MUCH STRAIN

ON MY HEART AND MY LUNGS RIGHT NOW

AND THAT I CAN'T HAVE SURGERY UNTIL I ALLEVIATE

THAT BY LOSING AS MUCH WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE.

SO, I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW,

BUT WE STILL PLANNING ON MOVING TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE BRANDIE AND I WANT THIS SURGERY.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH MOVING DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON,

AND I'M JUST HOPING I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK.

Clarence: I'M HOPING TO BE AT MY GOAL, WHICH IS 487 TODAY.

Brandie: TO HIT MY GOAL, I NEED TO HAVE LOST 100 POUNDS

TO GET BELOW 465.

Roshanda: DR. NOW REALLY DIDN'T GIVE ME A GOAL THIS TIME

OTHER THAN TO LOSE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE STRAIN

OFF MY HEART AND MY LUNGS.

AND HE SAID THAT'S LIKELY UNDER 600 POUNDS.

♪♪

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS [BLEEP]

I WANT YOU ALL TO MEET DR. ETTER.

HE'S GOING TO ASSIST ME WITH YOU ALL'S CASE.

OKAY.

OKAY, CLARENCE, I AM APPROVING YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THANK YOU.

AND, BRANDIE.

I'M APPROVING YOU TODAY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, AS WELL.

YES!

BUT, ROSHANDA, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT

THAT YOU GAINED HALF OF THE WEIGHT YOU LOST.

SO YOU NEED TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN BELOW 600.

SO, ROSHANDA, YOU HAVE TO WORK AND TRY HARDER.

BUT, CLARENCE, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US

TO DO YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY FIRST.

AND ONCE YOU RECOVER, WE CAN DO BRANDIE.

♪♪

MY MOM DIED UNDER THE HANDS OF A SURGEON, YOU KNOW?

IT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR A WHILE.

SO, I DON'T THINK I'M IN THE MENTAL PLACE

TO HANDLE THE SURGERY,

AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE IT A SHOT

TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO DO IT ON MY OWN.

ALL RIGHT, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ANYONE

IF YOU DON'T FEEL THAT YOU ARE READY.

SO WE TAKE YOU OFF THE SCHEDULE AND MOVE BRANDIE

UP IN YOUR PLACE.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: I'M TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND

ALL THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT THIS IS REALLY HIGH-RISK SURGERY.

BUT I'M JUST CHOOSING TO FOCUS ON THE FACT

THAT I'M FINALLY GETTING THE HELP I NEED.

BRANDIE!

AS LONG AS I COME OUT. [ LAUGHS ]

ON THE GREEN MILE.LOVE YOU.

WE'LL BE WAITING FOR YOU TO COME OUT.

OH, MAN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR US.

OH, LORDY, THAT'S AROUND MY NECK.

I LOVE YOU, TEETER BUTTER.

Roshanda: I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE ALL LOST OUR MOM

TO A SIMPLE SURGERY WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

SHE GOT AN INFECTION AND SHE DIDN'T SURVIVE IT.

SO THIS IS REALLY SCARY, BECAUSE NONE OF US HAVE HAD

MAJOR SURGERY IN ALL OUR LIVES.

AND NOW BRANDIE IS.

SO, I'M JUST SCARED AT THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING HER.

♪♪

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE DOING A GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE ON BRANDIE.

SHE'S STILL LOSING AND STAYING ON TRACK,

SO WE ARE MOVING AHEAD WITH HER SURGERY TODAY.

AND, FORTUNATELY, SHE PASSED ALL HER MEDICAL TESTS,

BUT BECAUSE SHE STILL HAS A VERY HIGH BMI, SHE'S VERY HIGH RISK.

OKAY, READY FOR THE FIRST INCISION.

WE CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

SO WE WILL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON HOW SHE'S DOING

TO MAKE SURE NOTHING IS PUSHING HER BODY TOO HARD.

Dr. Etter: ALL RIGHT, LET'S HOLD THERE FOR A MOMENT.

BECAUSE ANY NUMBER OF SMALL ISSUES

COULD CAUSE HER BODY TO START TO FAIL VERY QUICKLY.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PULL HER OUT

OR DO ANYTHING TO SAVE HER.

SO, IF WE ENCOUNTER ANY ISSUES,

THEN WE'LL HAVE TO STOP THE OPERATION EARLY.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN

TO SAFELY COMPLETE THE SURGERY TODAY,

BECAUSE BRANDIE REALLY NEEDS THIS OPERATION.

GO FORWARD WITH CAMERA.

JUST A LITTLE BIT BACK.

ALL RIGHT.

THE SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY IS AN OPERATION

THAT REDUCES SIZE OF THE STOMACH BY 70 TO 80 PERCENT.

AND AFTER THE SURGERY, THEIR FOOD DESIRE WILL DIMINISH,

AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO EAT LESS AND LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

Roshanda: IT'S AGGRAVATING, SITTING HERE, WAITING.

AND I'M WORRIED BECAUSE ANYTHING COULD GO WRONG

DURING THE OPERATION.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE HAS SURGERY

SO SHE CAN BETTER HER LIFE, LIVE LONGER

AND DO WHATEVER IT IS THAT SHE DESIRE TO DO.

SO I JUST HOPE THAT NOTHING HAPPEN IN THE PROCESS.

♪♪

Dr. Nowzaradan: PULL IT OUT. PULL IT OUT.

ALL RIGHT.

ROOM LIGHT ON.

Dr. Etter: ALL RIGHT, WE CAN BEGIN SUTURING HER UP.

OKAY, WE'RE DONE.

BRANDIE'S SURGERY WENT WELL TODAY.

WE HAD SOME TROUBLE WORKING WITH HER THICK ABDOMINAL WALL,

BUT WE WERE ABLE TO MANAGE AND COMPLETE THE OPERATION

WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATIONS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BRANDIE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME IN A FEW DAYS.

THEN SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE

AT LEAST 30 POUNDS FOR FIRST MONTH,

AND THEN 20 POUNDS FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTHS,

UNTIL SHE GETS CLOSE TO HER TARGET WEIGHT.

SO BRANDIE TOOK HER FIRST BIG STEP TODAY.

AND NOW WE JUST NEED TO GET THE REST OF THE FAMILY

TO THE SAME PLACE.

BUT THEY ALL STILL HAVE A LONG ROAD AHEAD.

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: SINCE WE HAVE AN APARTMENT NOW,

CLARENCE IS GOING BACK TO LOUISIANA WITH OUR FATHER.

SO THAT MEANS I'M THE ONE WHO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF BRANDIE

WHILE SHE'S RECOVERING.

BUT I'M SCARED I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL THIS

ON MY OWN.

AND I'M A LITTLE OVERWHELMED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER REALLY BEEN WITHOUT CLARENCE.

SO I CALLED ON MY FRIEND TYLISA TO SEE

IF SHE CAN COME STAY WITH US AGAIN

TO HELP GET THE PLACE SET UP FOR ME AND BRANDIE,

BECAUSE I WANT IT TO BE READY WHEN SHE COMES HOME SOON.

I WAS A LITTLE DOWN FOR A BIT

AFTER OUR LAST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE NOW I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I'M EVEN GETTING SURGERY,

OR IF ALL OF THIS IS FOR NOTHING.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO TEETER TODAY?

YEAH.

WHAT'S SHE SAYIN'?

I JUST ASKED HER IF SHE STARTED WALKING.

SHE WALKED WHEN SHE WENT TO THE BATHROOM.

SHE'S NOT IN, LIKE, NO PAIN OR NOTHIN', LIKE, SHE...?

SHE WAS YESTERDAY.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TODAY. SHE DIDN'T SAY.

SO WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT CLARENCE, YOU KNOW --

HOW YOU THINKIN' ABOUT THE SURGERY THING?

HE CLAIMS HE'S GONNA DO HIS OWN THING.

SAYS HE IS SCARED OF SURGERY.

MM-HMM. THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

BUT HIS MIND IS MADE UP,

AND I BELIEVE HE GONNA DO WHAT HE WANT TO DO.

HE JUST REAL STUBBORN AND STUFF, THAT'S ALL.

CLARENCE'S JUST...

CLARENCE.

YOU SCARED?

OF COURSE.

ANY DAY, I COULD DROP DEAD.

EVERY NIGHT LATELY,

I'VE BEEN THINKING SOMETHING GONNA HAPPEN TO ME.

I'M MORE SCARED FOR ME THAN FOR TEETER,

BECAUSE I'M BIGGER THAN HER.

LIKE, SHE GOT SURGERY AT A LITTLE BIT OVER 500.

I'M STILL CLOSER TO 700 THAN I AM TO 500.

AND THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TY'S HERE HELPING ME,

BUT I MISS MY FAMILY,

I MISS MY FRIENDS AND COMMUNITY BACK IN LOUISIANA,

AND I FEEL LIKE I AM NEVER GONNA LOSE THE WEIGHT.

AND THAT JUST MAKES ME REALLY DEPRESSED

AND WORRIED THAT SOON, SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN

AND MY BODY'S JUST GONNA GIVE OUT.

THERE'S A CHANCE I COULD DIE.

SO EVERYTHING JUST FEELS MESSED UP RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I'M STARTING TO FEEL SO ALONE AND HOPELESS.

ROSHANDA, I KNOW THAT SHE'S GOING THROUGH A DEPRESSION MOOD

SOMETIMES,

AND I THINK IT'S WEARING DOWN ON HER RIGHT NOW.

BUT SHE DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME.

ROSHANDA?

YOU GONNA LOCK ME OUT?

YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME?

♪♪

COME ON.

LET ME CALL HER ON THE PHONE, MAYBE.

WHAT?

I'M GONNA CALL HER.

♪♪

[ Line ringing ]

[ Voicemail message plays ]

CALL AGAIN.

SHE'S NOT ANSWERING.

SHE IS ANSWER.

NO, SHE'S NOT.

ROSHANDA DO HAVE A TOUGH TIME EXPRESSING HOW SHE FEEL.

SHE REALLY KEEPS A LOT OF THINGS IN,

AND IT CONCERNS ME A LOT THAT SHE HOLDS ALL THIS IN.

ROSHANDA.

Fayden: ROSHANDA.

OKAY, I'M GONNA BE COMIN' IN IN ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

RO!

SAY IF YOU'RE OKAY.

Tylisa: I'M TELLIN' HER TO TALK TO ME,

YOU KNOW, SEEMS LIKE A LOT ON YOU,

IT'S JUST WEARING DOWN, TEARING DOWN ON YOU.

BUT SHE WON'T TALK.

THE ONLY THING SHE'S GONNA DO IS SCREAM.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

YEAH, I DID NOT ASK YOU TO COME IN THAT -- COME ON.

WHY YOU OPEN THE DOOR?

I LOCKED MYSELF IN THE ROOM FOR A [BLEEP] REASON!

[ SCREAMS ]

[ WAILING ]

[ SOBBING ]

[ WAILING ]

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: NOW THAT I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE SETTLED

IN OUR APARTMENT,

I HAD SOME TIME TO GET MY HEAD AND THOUGHTS STRAIGHT,

AND I'M FEELING A LITTLE BETTER AND LESS STRESSED.

BUT, WITH CLARENCE GONE AND BRANDIE IN THE HOSPITAL,

IT JUST FEELS LIKE A LOT'S ON MY SHOULDERS RIGHT NOW,

AND IT'S HARD, BUT TYLISA HAS BEEN A BIG HELP.

AND IT'S ALSO BEEN A BIG HELP TO HAVE A STOVE

AND TO BE ABLE TO COOK HEALTHY MEALS.

SO I'M STILL STICKING TO THE DIET,

EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE NOT TO KNOW

WHEN I'M GETTING SURGERY.

BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP.

SO I'M DOING WHAT I NEED.

♪♪

BRANDIE IS GETTING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW,

AND I'M REAL HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

AND I'M EXCITED, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW THAT TYLISA'S HERE,

ND WE'RE GONNA GO SURPRISE HER WHEN SHE GETS DISCHARGED.

SO RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA TRY AND GET THE PLACE

IN ORDER A BIT MORE SO IT'S READY FOR HER

AND IT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE WHERE SHE CAN RECOVER

AND KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

AND HOPEFULLY, I'LL MAKE IT WITH HER

SO WE CAN BOTH HIT OUR GOALS WHEN WE GO BACK TO SEE DR. NOW.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: I'M REALLY GLAD I WAS ABLE TO FIND AN APARTMENT

FOR THE GIRLS,

BECAUSE ALL THAT TRAVELING AND STAYING IN A HOTEL ROOM

TOGETHER WAS STARTING TO WEAR ON MY DAD.

SO, ONCE I GOT ROSHANDA SET UP

AND SHE AND BRANDIE HAD WHAT THEY NEEDED,

I JUST HAD TO GET HIM BACK HOME.

BUT IT'S HARD BEING IN ANOTHER CITY WITHOUT THEM

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET TO THEM IF THEY NEED ME.

I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO RIGHT TO GET

THE HELP THAT THEY NEED,

BUT I'M NOT SURE DOING A PROGRAM WITH THEM IS WHAT'S GOOD FOR ME.

ONE, TWO...

I'M HAPPY I WAS APPROVED FOR SURGERY,

BECAUSE I WORKED HARD TO GET TO THAT POINT.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT CONVINCED ME THAT I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN

WITHOUT SURGERY.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M GIVING UP

AND NOT TRYING TO STICK TO THE DIET.

IN FACT, I'M TRYING HARDER TO DO THIS ON MY OWN,

BECAUSE I THINK I CAN DO THIS.

AND IF I LOSE THE WEIGHT WITHOUT SURGERY,

THEN I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR IT.

SO, RIGHT NOW, I'M TAKING A BREAK FROM DR. NOW'S PROGRAM

TO WORK AT IT ON MY OWN.

ONE MORE.

SO I'M EATING RIGHT AND I'M GOING TO A NEARBY PARK

TO GET BACK INTO EXERCISING AGAIN.

I USED TO COME TO THIS PARK ALL THE TIME.

I WOULD COME TRAIN AND PLAY BASKETBALL FOR HOURS.

BUT ONCE I GOT INJURED, THAT ALL CHANGED.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'VE BEEN BACK IN AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE AN ATHLETE AND YOU CAN'T PLAY ANYMORE,

THAT IS REALLY HARD ON A PERSON, ESPECIALLY ME.

I WAS ALWAYS THE BIG DUDE IN PLAYING FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL,

AND THAT'S HOW PEOPLE KNEW ME.

NOW I'M JUST A BIG GUY.

AND TO SEE GUYS PLAYING BALL AND KNOW

THAT I CAN'T JUST GO UP AND JOIN IN LIKE

I USED TO BE ABLE TO DO, WELL, IT'S A LITTLE SAD.

BUT IT'S WHY I NEED TO WORK HARD TO DO THIS AND GET HEALTHY.

BECAUSE I KNOW I'LL END UP LIKE BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA IF I DON'T,

AND I DON'T WANT THAT.

SO I WANT TO PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT I CAN DO THIS,

'CAUSE I KNOW I CAN.

I WANT MY LIFE BACK.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: THE PAST FEW DAYS HAVEN'T BEEN THAT HARD.

IT'S WEIRD NOT HAVING NO APPETITE

AND NOT WANTING TO EAT AT ALL.

AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE SOMETHING'S MISSING,

OR LIKE SOMETHING'S WRONG.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE POINT OF THE SURGERY IS.

SO, IT'S JUST AN ADJUSTMENT, MENTALLY,

BECAUSE FOOD ISN'T THE SAME TO ME RIGHT NOW.

BUT I GET TO GO HOME TODAY

AND SEE HOW ROSHANDA'S HANDLED OUR NEW APARTMENT ON HER OWN.

SO, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE TOUGH WITHOUT CLARENCE,

BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT IT.

ROSHANDA AND ME CAN MANAGE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

♪♪

OKAY, BRANDIE, WE ARE DISCHARGING YOU TODAY.

AND I SEE YOU'RE ALREADY DRESSED UP AND READY TO GO HOME.

Brandie: YES.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

SO REMEMBER, YOU ARE ON LIQUID DIET FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

YEAH.

SO, TRY TO DRINK EVERY 5, 10 MINUTES, SOME LIQUID, OKAY?

YES.

AND KEEP IT NUTRITIOUS WITH HIGHER PROTEIN, LIKE BROTH.

BUT YOU WON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN APPETITE FOR A BIT.

SO YOU SHOULD HAVE A LOT OF GOOD WEIGHT LOSS

THIS NEXT MONTH.

ALL RIGHT.

BRANDIE HAS DONE WELL WITH HER RECOVERY,

AND ROSHANDA WILL BE TAKING CARE OF HER.

SO, SHE HAS THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS TO GO HOME AND RECOVER.

AND HOPEFULLY, BRANDIE BEING ON A LIQUID DIET

AND NOT EATING MUCH WILL INFLUENCE ROSHANDA

TO EAT LESS RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

AND BE SURE THAT YOU STAY ACTIVE.

AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, CALL US.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU IN A MONTH.

♪♪

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT CLARENCE DECIDED

TO LEAVE BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA,

BUT HE'S LIKELY PLANNED TO TRY AND DO THIS FOR HIS SISTERS,

SO HE MAY HAVE NEVER SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SURGERY.

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL FOCUS ON ROSHANDA AND BRANDIE,

AND HOPEFULLY, AT THE NEXT APPOINTMENT,

BRANDIE HAS SOME GOOD PROGRESS AND ROSHANDA

IS BACK ON TRACK AND LOSING, AS WELL.

♪♪

Roshanda: WE'RE HEADED TO THE HOSPITAL TO PICK UP BRANDIE

AND GET HER HOME.

RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER,

BECAUSE THIS IS ALL REALLY HARD.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGE AND TRANSITION.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT WE STAY ON TRACK AND DO WHAT WE NEED.

AND IT'S GONNA BE MUCH EASIER IF WE DO THIS TOGETHER.

SO I'M GLAD I GET TO TAKE HER HOME TODAY.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SURPRISE BRANDIE WITH TYLISA.

AND I THINK JUST HER KNOWING WE HAVE SOMEONE ELSE TO RELY ON

WHILE SHE'S RECOVERING,

AND IF WE NEED ANY MORE, IT'LL BE A BIG RELIEF TO HER,

LIKE IT IS TO ME.

SO, I THINK SHE'S GONNA LOVE THIS AND BE SO EXCITED

ONCE SHE SEES HER.

SHE JUST THINKIN' THAT SHE COMIN' HOME.

SHE DIDN'T ASK IF WE WAS COMIN' OR NOT.

I GUESS SHE FIGURE JUST WAS GONNA CATCH A CAB HOME

OR SOMETHING

AND DIDN'T KNOW THAT NOBODY WAS GONNA BE THERE WAITING.

♪♪

♪♪

HEY! [ LAUGHS ]

THEY LIED TO ME.

[ LAUGHS ]

SO YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUTSIDE THAT WHOLE TIME?

[ LAUGHS ]

HEY.

Brandie: I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE ROSHANDA AND TYLISA.

SHE TOLD ME THAT CLARENCE WENT BACK TO LOUISIANA

TO TAKE CARE OF DAD, SO I JUST ASSUMED

I'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT MY WAY HOME.

BUT I AM SO HAPPY THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY

TO GET HERE TO PICK ME UP.

I KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN LONG, BUT RIGHT NOW,

I FEEL LIKE WE NEED EACH OTHER.

IT'S JUST THE TWO OF US FOR A LITTLE BIT.

SO WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER AND BE THERE FOR EACH OTHER.

AND ROSHANDA NEEDS SURGERY,

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE GETS THERE.

SO I KNOW WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS TOGETHER,

AND WE'RE FIGHTING TO GET THIS SECOND CHANCE

BECAUSE OUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THIS.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: IT'S NICE TO BE OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND AT HOME.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THIS PLACE IS NEW FOR ME.

AND WITH THE SURGERY, IT'S JUST A LOT OF TRANSITION.

BUT BEING BACK WITH ROSHANDA, AND HAVING TYLISA HERE,

MAKES THIS A LOT EASIER.

Y'ALL BAKING THAT CHICKEN?HUH?

Y'ALL BAKING IT, OR ARE Y'ALL, LIKE, SAUTéING IT?

BAKING IT.

SAVE ME SOME JUICE.

Roshanda: TY AND I ARE GONNA MAKE SOME FOOD

FOR BRANDIE AND OURSELVES.

FOR TEETY, BECAUSE SHE'S ON A LIQUID DIET,

WE ARE MAKING HER CHICKEN-BONE BROTH,

AND FOR TY AND I, RED BEANS AND RICE AND CHICKEN.

SOMETIMES I WISH THE CHICKEN WE WERE MAKING WAS FRIED,

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO STICK TO MY DIET.

BUT LATELY, I HAVE HAD CRAVINGS FOR THINGS I KNOW

I SHOULDN'T BE EATING.

I DON'T THINK I COULD EVER BE ON A LIQUID DIET LIKE BRANDIE.

IT JUST LOOKS GROSS, AND IT CAN'T TASTE GOOD.

Brandie: I HAVE TO LIVE OFF A LIQUID DIET

FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS,

BUT IT IS REALLY HARD KNOWING THAT ROSKI AND TYLISA

ARE GONNA BE EATING RED BEANS, RICE, AND CHICKEN.

Tylisa: YOU READY FOR YOUR SUPPER?

STILL SMOKIN'.

DON'T DO ME THAT.

HERE'S YOUR SUPPER, BABY.

IT'S A LOT OF SUPPER.

YOU SEE THAT BAG DOWN THERE?

YOU'RE GONNA BE FULL.

I'M TRYING TO GET ONE OF THEM OTHER LITTLE CUPS.

MAN, THIS IS LIKE AN OUNCE.

THAT CUP IS AN OUNCE?

MM-HMM.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'M FULL FROM JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BROTH.

THAT IS WHAT DR. NOW TOLD ME.

I JUST DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.

IT TASTES A LOT BETTER THAN IT SMELL.

THAT IS THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF FOOD

I CAN REMEMBER EATING AND FEELING FULL.

BUT IF THAT IS WHAT MY BODY IS SAYING,

I NEED TO LISTEN TO WHAT MY BODY IS SAYING.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THE DAY WHEN I CAN CHEW ON SOMETHING

AND NOT DRINK IT.

I'M NOT JOKING.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME HEALTHY [BLEEP] TOO,

LIKE CHICKEN AND VEGGIES.

I'M GONNA CHECK THE POT.

IT'S SMOKIN'.

Roshanda: I'M WAITING FOR THE FOOD TO BE DONE, BUT I'M HUNGRY.

SO, I BROKE DOWN AND I'M HAVING SOME PUDDING.

IT'S JUST SOMETHING SMALL TO GET ME ALONG.

AND THE THOUGHT OF NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO DO THAT

IS NOT SOMETHING I REALIZED UNTIL WATCHING BRANDIE.

SO IT'S HARD TO WATCH AND IT'S SCARY TO REALIZE.

THIS IS WHAT I'LL BE GOING THROUGH, TOO,

IF I GET THE SURGERY.

♪♪

♪♪

ARE YOU GONNA COME OUT, DAD?

I AM REALLY STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M STILL TRYING TO DO MY BEST ON MY DIET AND EXERCISE.

BUT SOMETIMES I JUST GET TIRED OF IT ALL.

I GET SICK OF HAVING TO GO TO THE STORE.

I GET SICK OF COMING HOME TO COOK.

SOMETIMES I JUST WANT FAST FOOD OR SOMETHING EASY.

[ LAUGHS ] HOW YOU BEEN DOING?

I'M FEELING A LOT OF PRESSURE BEING AT HOME,

TAKING CARE OF MY DAD.

AND ME AND THE GIRLS HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING MUCH LATELY.

BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR BRANDIE'S STILL RECOVERING WELL,

AND THAT SHE'S WITH ROSHANDA AND TYLISA.

I KNOW THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE UPSET AT ME RIGHT NOW,

ESPECIALLY ROSHANDA, SO SHE'S NOT REALLY CALLING.

BUT I WANT TO GO DOWN THERE AND SMOOTH THINGS OVER

WITH THEM SOON, BECAUSE I DO REALLY MISS THEM.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND EACH OTHER, AND NOW WE'RE NOT.

AND THAT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO EAT.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GOT A TASTE FOR?

YOU WANT SOME TENDERS?

YEAH. CHICKEN TENDERS?

YOU WANT RICE OR FRIES?

ALL RIGHT, SEE Y'ALL LATER.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD, BUT DIETING IS HARD,

ESPECIALLY WITH THIS 500-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET

THAT DR. NOW WANTED.

AND WITH THE STRESS AND ALL I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR,

OVER MY DAD AND THE WORK I DO,

SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT SOMETHING TO PICK YOU UP

AFTER A HARD DAY.

THIS CHICKEN PLACE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

RO, BRANDIE, AND I HAVE BEEN COMING HERE FOR YEARS.

BEFORE I GOT INJURED, I COULD EAT HERE

AND NEVER GAIN NO WEIGHT.

AND NOW IT IS NOT LIKE THAT,

BECAUSE IF I EAT LIKE THIS A FEW DAYS IN A ROW,

I KNOW I'M GONNA GAIN WEIGHT,

AND DR. NOW WILL NEVER GIVE ME A SHOT AT SURGERY.

BUT IT'S REALLY HARD, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I KNOW

I NEED TO EAT WELL,

I REALLY LIKE THIS FOOD, AND MY POPS DOES, TOO.

EVEN THOUGH I HAVE MY BAD DAYS AND I MAY MESS UP,

I FEEL CONFIDENT I'M GONNA SEE SOME PROGRESS.

♪♪

IT'S GOOD BEING HERE WITH MY POPS, YOU KNOW,

'CAUSE OUR CHILDHOOD WAS DIFFICULT.

MY DAD DEALT WITH HIS OWN ISSUES WHILE WE WERE GROWING UP,

AND HE WASN'T ALWAYS THERE.

BUT NOW HE'S GETTING OLD,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG HE'S GONNA BE AROUND.

BUT IT JUST MAKES THINGS HARD, BECAUSE I KNOW

BRANDIE NEEDS MY HELP LOSING WEIGHT,

AND MY DAD NEEDS ME HERE AT THE SAME TIME.

AND THAT'S PUTTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON ME.

BUT I'M GONNA SHOW EVERYONE THAT I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN,

WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ANY SURGERY.

♪♪

♪♪

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

AND WE'RE HEADED TO SEE DR. NOW AGAIN

FOR A FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT,

AND FOR ROSHANDA TO SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS SHE MADE.

I THINK I'M PROBABLY MAKING THE PROGRESS I NEED,

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN STUCK ON THE LIQUIDS THIS WHOLE TIME.

BUT ROSHANDA HAS ME A LITTLE WORRIED,

BECAUSE I KNOW SHE NEEDS TO MAKE A LOT MORE PROGRESS.

SO I'M HOPING SHE IS AND THAT TODAY

WILL BE A GOOD DAY FOR HER.

Roshanda: I'M HOPING THAT I'VE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT TO PROVE

THAT I'M SERIOUS ABOUT WEIGHT LOSS,

AND SO THAT DR. NOW WILL APPROVE ME FOR SURGERY.

PERRIO FAMILY.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD, BUT I SLIPPED UP A LITTLE.

AND THAT SCARES ME, BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS.

AND MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT IF I'M NOT LOSING WHAT I NEED

OR MAKING THE PROGRESS I SHOULD, THAT HE'S GONNA TELL ME I'M DONE

AND THAT SURGERY IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME ANYMORE.

IF I DON'T GET SURGERY SOON,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME.

BUT I KNOW I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

♪♪

Roshanda: ME AND BRANDIE ARE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE TO SEE

HOW BRANDIE'S DOING AFTER HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND TO SEE IF I'M MAKING THE PROGRESS I NEED.

BUT AT MY LAST WEIGH-IN, I WAS AT 722.

SO THAT MEANS I SHOULD BE AT ABOUT 661 TODAY.

♪♪

THAT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

I'M STILL ALMOST 100 POUNDS AWAY FROM BEING WHERE I NEED TO BE

BEFORE I CAN GET SURGERY.

Brandie: I KNOW ROSHANDA'S DISAPPOINTED IN HER PROGRESS,

AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT HER, TOO.

BUT THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD MAKE THIS WORSE

IS IF I DIDN'T HIT MY GOAL, EITHER.

I WAS AROUND 464 WHEN I HAD MY SURGERY.

SO, THAT MEANS I SHOULD BE DOWN TO AT LEAST 434 TODAY.

♪♪

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. [ CHUCKLES ]

AND DR. NOW SHOULD BE HAPPY WITH THAT, TOO,

BECAUSE I'M DOING EVEN BETTER THAN I'M SUPPOSED TO.

♪♪

Roshanda: PART OF ME JUST WANTS TO GO HOME,

BECAUSE I KNOW I NEED TO LOSE MORE,

AND I'M TRYING TO DO THAT.

BUT I NEED SURGERY TO HELP ME TO DO THAT.

SO IT ALL FEELS A LITTLE HOPELESS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HI.

HELLO.

HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

WE'RE BOTH DOING GOOD.

OKAY, GREAT.

LET'S SEE HOW YOU TWO ARE DOING THIS MONTH.

BRANDIE, YOUR WEIGHT IS DOWN TO 430,

AND YOU WERE AT 464 WHEN YOU WENT INTO SURGERY.

YEAH.

SO THAT IS A WEIGHT LOSS OF 34 POUNDS SINCE THEN,

AND THAT'S IN THE RANGE THAT IT SHOULD BE.

SO YOU'RE DOING WELL.

AND STICK WITH IT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE, HOW IS ROSHANDA DOING?

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOWN TO 709,

SO THAT IS WEIGHT LOSS OF 13 POUNDS OVER LAST MONTH.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE NOT GAINING,

BUT THAT'S NOT A LOT OF WEIGHT LOSS, ROSHANDA.

SO YOU HAVE TO DO MUCH BETTER, BECAUSE AT THIS RATE,

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SIX TO SEVEN MONTHS

TO GET TO WHERE YOU CAN HAVE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TIME.

YOU NEED TO WORK HARDER, BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW,

YOU'RE VERY FAR

FROM BEING READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BOTH, PHYSICALLY, YOU'RE NOT READY,

AND MENTALLY, NOT READY.

WHY YOU SAY MENTALLY?

WITH CLARENCE HAVING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT FEAR OF SURGERY,

TO THE POINT THAT HE COULDN'T MOVE AHEAD

WITH THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND THEN WHEN BRANDIE HAD HER SURGERY,

YOU SHARED THAT YOU HAVE THE SAME FEAR.

I'M CONCERNED IT'S GOING TO BE A SETBACK FOR YOU

IF WE DON'T ADDRESS IT.

SO, IF I'M AFRAID OF SURGERY,

THAT MEANS I SHOULD NEVER HAVE IT THEN, RIGHT?

NO, IT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE NOW

SO WE CAN GET YOU TO SURGERY.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

SO WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IS START YOU GOING TO THERAPY

SO YOU CAN START TO WORK PAST THIS ISSUE,

AS WELL AS OTHER EMOTIONAL AND CORE ISSUES

THAT ARE HOLDING YOU BACK,

SO WE CAN GET YOU LOSING MORE WEIGHT

AND READY FOR SURGERY SOON,

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY MORE TIME

WITH MINIMAL PROGRESS.

AND YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY, ROSHANDA, FROM 803 DOWN TO 709.

SO, YOU FEEL THE DIFFERENCE, RIGHT?

MM-HMM. YES. YEAH.

SO DON'T RISK MESSING THAT UP AND LOSING THAT PROGRESS.

ALL RIGHT, BRANDIE, STAY ON TRACK

AND KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

OKAY.

BUT, ROSHANDA, YOU NEED TO WORK HARDER ON YOUR DIET

AND WE'RE GOING TO SET YOU UP AN APPOINTMENT TO START THERAPY,

AND I WANT YOU TO START GOING.

DR. ETTER IS IN SURGERY,

SO HE COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY,

BUT REMEMBER, HE'S AVAILABLE, TOO,

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING AND YOU CAN'T GET HOLD OF ME.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT. I'LL SEE YOU ALL SOON.

OKAY?

♪♪

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M GLAD BRANDIE IS STAYING ON TRACK

AND THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH HER PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.

BUT I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ROSHANDA,

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO START WORKING THROUGH ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING HER TO EAT,

AND THE CHILDHOOD TRAUMA THAT SHE HAD

THAT IS GOING TO MAKE HER TOO AFRAID TO GET SURGERY,

JUST LIKE HER BROTHER.

SO, WE'LL START HER GOING TO THERAPY,

BECAUSE EVERY DAY THAT PASSES

WHERE SHE DOESN'T MAKE MUCH PROGRESS,

SHE'S ROLLING THE DICE ON HER BODY GIVING OUT.

SO, WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE.

Roshanda: I'M FRUSTRATED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M LOSING AS MUCH AS I CAN,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO ANY BETTER,

ESPECIALLY WITHOUT SURGERY.

SO, I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

AND THIS IS JUST REALLY DISCOURAGING.

AND I'M TIRED AND SCARED I'M NEVER GONNA GET THE HELP I NEED.

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: I DECIDED TO GO TO THERAPY LIKE DR. NOW WANTS.

I KNOW I'M STRUGGLING WITH STAYING MOTIVATED,

BUT EVERY DAY THAT PASSES WHERE I DON'T GET TO

WHERE I NEED JUST MAKES IT ALL FEEL FURTHER AND FURTHER OFF.

I'M JUST STARTING TO FEEL LIKE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.

IT'S JUST TAKING SO MUCH LONGER THAN I THOUGHT.

I HIT MY GOAL ONCE, AND THEN, TO GET ANOTHER GOAL

TO WHERE I'M GONNA HAVE TO LOSE 200 POUNDS

BEFORE GETTING SURGERY, MAKES IT ALL FEEL IMPOSSIBLE.

AND, TO BE HONEST, I DON'T SEE

HOW TALKING ABOUT THIS IS GONNA HELP,

BECAUSE WHAT I NEED IS SURGERY TO HELP ME LOSE MORE WEIGHT,

NOT TO TALK ABOUT MY EMOTIONS.

I KNOW I HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT SURGERY,

ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT I SEEN WITH BRANDIE.

THAT'S GIVING ME SECOND THOUGHTS.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO GO ALL THE WAY

AND SAY I'M SCARED OF SURGERY BECAUSE OF IT.

I STILL WANT SURGERY, SO I'M DOING THIS,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA CHANGE ANYTHING.

HI. I'M LOLA.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY, LADY?

ALL RIGHT.

COME ON BACK, MISS ROSHANDA, AND HAVE A SEAT.

♪♪

♪♪

HI, ROSHANDA.

HI. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M LIVING.

[ GIGGLES ]

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOUR EMOTIONS ARE LIKE.

CRAZY. CRAZY?

OKAY.

EXPLAIN THAT TO ME A LITTLE BIT.

THEY JUST BE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

OKAY.

SO, DR. NOWZARADAN TELLS ME

YOU HAVE A SISTER NAMED BRANDIE

THAT JUST COMPLETED SURGERY.

YEAH.

HOW'S THAT BEEN FOR YOU?

GOOD. GOOD?

I'M GLAD SHE GOT IT OVER WITH.

YEAH.

SO, HAS BRANDIE HAVING YOUR SURGERY

INCREASED YOUR ANXIETY AT ALL ABOUT HAVING SURGERY?

I WOULD'VE FELT BETTER IF I WAS HER SIZE HAVING IT,

AND NOT ALMOST 200 POUNDS HIGHER THAN HER.

BECAUSE DR. NOW DID TELL ME

IT WOULD'VE BEEN SAFER FOR ME TO BE UNDER 600 POUNDS.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST FEARFUL OF?

I HAVE ISSUES WITH PUTTING THINGS ON MY FACE.

I GET LIKE -- I DON'T LIKE OXYGEN ON MY FACE AND...

SO, IT CAUSES YOU TO GET FLUSTERED

AND ANXIOUS AND PANICKY?

AND SCARED, YEAH.

AND NINE OUT OF 10, MY BLOOD PRESSURE GONNA BE HIGH,

JUST THINKING ABOUT NOT WAKING UP.

MY THING IS, BEING THE SIZE THAT I AM, ANESTHESIA IS A RISK.

I MEAN, LIKE, IF THEY GIVE ME TOO MUCH, I MAY NOT WAKE UP.

I'M JUST WORRYING ABOUT, LIKE, WHEN MY SISTER WOKE UP,

I SEEN SHE WAS LAYING DOWN IN THE BED,

SHE WAS BASICALLY OUT OF IT AND SHE HAD OXYGEN ON HER FACE.

I CAN'T DEAL WITH THAT

BECAUSE MY MOM PASSED AWAY FROM MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS.

SO, SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS STEM FROM THE FACT

THAT YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH

RESULTED FROM MEDICAL ISSUES IN SURGERY?

YES, DEFINITELY.

I'M GONNA JUST SAY THAT I KNOW THAT...

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TOO MUCH MEDICINE BEFORE

AND DIDN'T WAKE UP FOR DAYS.

IT'S A RISK, BUT IT'S ALWAYS A RISK.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE ARE GONNA BE THE BENEFITS FOR YOU

IN HAVING THE SURGERY?

THE WEIGHT GONNA COME OFF FASTER.

YEAH.

THAT I SEE MORE RESULTS, LIKE, I SEE LITTLE THINGS,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE REALLY SATISFIED

TILL I SEE BIGGER,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE 100 POUNDS OR 105 POUNDS IS AWESOME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S REALLY GREAT,

BUT TO ME, IT'S JUST LIKE LOSING 10 POUNDS, YOU KNOW?

REALLY? YEP.

800 POUNDS IS A LOT.

SO 100 POUNDS IS LIKE NOTHIN' TO ME.

WELL, IT OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING TO YOU

BECAUSE THAT'S NO EASY FEAT,

AND YOU MUST'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCIPLINE

AND DETERMINATION TO DO THAT.

YEAH.

BUT IT'S STILL REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU

TO TAKE TIME AND PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK AND SAY,

"WOW, ROSHANDA, YOU DID IT.

YOU LOST OVER 100 POUNDS."

AND, LIKE, SAY THAT AND LET THAT BE IT.

DON'T DIMINISH IT, DON'T SAY, "I DON'T SEE IT AS A BIG DEAL."

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO TRAIN YOURSELF, MENTALLY,

TO DIMINISH YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

YEP.

SO, ROSHANDA, TODAY, YOU'VE IDENTIFIED

THE BENEFITS OF HAVING THE SURGERY

AND ALSO A LOT OF YOUR FEARS

ASSOCIATED WITH HAVING THE SURGERY.

I REALLY WANT YOU TO GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT

AND REFLECTION TO YOUR LIFE AS IT WAS,

AS IT IS,

AND WHAT IT MAY POSSIBLY BE.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE, OF COURSE, LIKE YOU,

THINK TALKING HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND, TO ME, I MEAN, I AGREE WITH THAT,

BUT IN MY SITUATION, FOR SOME REASON,

TALKING DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP FOR ME.

OH, OKAY.I THINK IT MAKES IT WORSE.

I WILL SAY THIS, THAT OFTEN TIMES,

PROCESSING DIFFICULT FEELINGS CAN FEEL REALLY HORRIBLE.

THAT'S PART OF THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS.

AT TIMES, IT GETS WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

I DEFINITELY WANT US TO CONTINUE HAVING THIS DIALOGUE.

SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND SHARING.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME.

IT WAS GREAT SEEING YOU TODAY.

♪♪

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY,

AND I'LL SEE YOU REAL SOON.

Roshanda: I GUESS I HAD A FEW MORE ISSUES AND CONCERNS

ABOUT SURGERY THAN I THOUGHT.

AND I'M GLAD I GOT THE CHANCE TO REALIZE THAT

AND TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF IT

BECAUSE I CAN SEE HOW THOSE FEARS COULD HAVE GROWN.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING I COULD CONTINUE DOING.

AND I'M WILLING TO GIVE THIS A CHANCE.

AND I'M FEELING BETTER ABOUT MY JOURNEY SO FAR

AND HOW FAR I'VE COME.

AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I CAN MAKE IT.

LIKE DR. NOW SAID, I DID IT ONCE,

SO I CAN DO IT AGAIN.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.

I HAVE 100 POUNDS TO GO

BY MY NEXT APPOINTMENT IN TWO MONTHS.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: AFTER HER THERAPY APPOINTMENT,

ROSHANDA CAME BACK REALLY MOTIVATED

TO WORK HARD AND DO MORE,

AND I'M ALL ON BOARD WITH THAT.

SO ME AND ROSHANDA HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE OUR WORKOUTS UP A NOTCH

AND TO GET A TRAINER

AND START TO REALLY WORK OUT AND PUSH OURSELVES.

I MAY CHANGE MY MIND ONCE WE START, BUT RIGHT NOW

I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT

BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL REALLY BE GOOD FOR US.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUSHING MYSELF TO A NEW LIMIT,

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

HEY, HOW YOU GUYS DOING? DOING ALL RIGHT?

-HEY, I'M THOMAS. -BRANDIE.

-HEY. THOMAS. -ROSHANDA.

SO, I'M YOUR GUY'S TRAINER FOR TODAY.

FIRST WE'RE GONNA START WALKING BY THE TREADMILL,

AND WE'LL START OVER THERE FOR MANY A FEW MINUTES,

AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

Roshanda: I'M EXCITED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WANT TO PUSH MYSELF HARDER,

BUT I'M SCARED IT'S GONNA BE REALLY TOUGH AND HURT.

ALL RIGHT, SO --

BUT I WANT TO MAKE START MAKING EVEN MORE PROGRESS,

AND I'M PLANNING ON DOING THAT

BY STICKING TO THE 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET

AND BY STARTING SOME REAL WORKOUTS WITH THE TRAINER

THAT'LL PUSH US BOTH TO GET EVEN MORE FIT.

SO I KNOW THIS MAY BE HARD, BUT I'M READY.

THIS IS HIGH.

START HERE.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL DO, LIKE, A MINUTE,

AS SOON AS YOU GET TIRED.

IF YOU WANT TO STOP, YOU PRESS "STOP" HERE,

AND YOU CAN HAVE A SEAT ON THE BENCH WHEN YOU GET DONE.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

HEY, SO YOU'RE STARTING RIGHT HERE.

WHEN I GOT HERE, HE WANTED ME TO GET ON THE TREADMILL

BUT I WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THAT,

SO I JUST WALKED AROUND.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T EASY FOR ROSHANDA,

BUT SHE NEEDS TO PUSH HERSELF BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'T,

SHE WON'T LOSE THE WEIGHT SHE NEEDS TO.

YOU FEEL ALL RIGHT? YOU GOOD?

SO NOW WE'LL GO TOWARDS THE BACK AND GET STARTED BACK THERE.

♪♪

TRY TO KEEP IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD, THOUGH. JUST LIKE THAT.

YEAH, PERFECT.

DO ABOUT 10 OF THOSE.

AND...REST. GOOD JOB.

SO, WE'LL COME OVER HERE.

CAN YOU GET THIS ONE?

AND...

SO, BASICALLY IT'S ROPE SLAM.

YOU CAN DO FIVE WITH ONE ARM, FIVE HERE.

FIVE. GOOD JOB.

YEAH.

FOUR. FIVE -- SWITCH ARMS.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SWITCH.

Roshanda: THIS WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT,

BUT I'M NOT REGRETTING DOING THIS

BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S GOOD PAIN

AND IT'S HELPING ME GET TO WHERE I NEED.

Thomas: TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

GOOD. REST. GOOD.

Roshanda: SO I'M PLANNING ON US DOING THIS EVERY WEEK

UNTIL WE GET STRONG ENOUGH TO DO IT EVEN MORE.

THIS WAS TOUGH, AND I'M HURT RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW THIS IS GONNA PUSH ME HARD,

BUT IT PUSHED ME HARDER THAN THAT.

BUT I STILL LIKED IT,

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING IT AGAIN.

EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX --

I'M FEELING OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THIS NEXT MONTH,

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESS

I KNOW I'M GONNA MAKE BUT BECAUSE

CLARENCE IS COMING DOWN TO VISIT US.

RIGHT NOW, WE JUST WANT TO KNOW THAT HE'S STAYING ON TRACK

LIKE HE NEEDS,

BECAUSE WE SET OUT TO THIS AS A FAMILY,

AND THAT MEANS WE NEED CLARENCE TO DO IT WITH US.

BUT IF ANYTHING, I'M GONNA WORK AS HARD AS I CAN

SO WHEN I STAND ON THAT SCALE AT THE NEXT APPOINTMENT

I HIT MY GOAL, AND I FINALLY GET MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

'CAUSE I KNOW I HAVE NO MORE TIME TO WASTE,

AND I'M RISKING GETTING TO A DANGEROUS POINT

WITH ALL THE STRAIN ON MY BODY.

AND IF I DON'T DO THIS, I MAY JUST RUN OUT OF TIME,

AND I'VE COME TOO FAR AND WORKED TOO HARD TO LET THAT HAPPEN.

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: RIGHT NOW, ME AND MY FRIEND ALICIA

ARE GOING TO THE PARK TO PLAY SOME BASKETBALL.

SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH ME TO HELP KEEP ME MOTIVATED,

AND HAVING SOMEONE TO DO THIS WITH HELPS A LOT.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN PERFECT WHEN IT COMES TO MY DIET,

BUT I'VE BEEN PUSHING MYSELF TO TAKE ALL THIS MORE SERIOUSLY.

I'VE BEEN GOING TO THE PARK AND WALKING AND RUNNING,

BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME

SINCE I EVEN FELT GOOD ENOUGH TO TRY AND PLAY BALL.

♪♪

ONCE I GOT INJURED AND STARTED PUTTING ON THIS WEIGHT,

I STOPPED ALTOGETHER BECAUSE I WAS IN SO MUCH PAIN,

AND ONCE YOU STOP IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET BACK TO IT.

BUT I'M WORKING EVEN HARDER NOW.

I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HOW HARD IT WAS GONNA BE OVER TIME.

AT FIRST IN THE BEGINNING, IT'S A LOT EASIER

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS GOAL AND YOU'RE MOTIVATED

AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF FOR SO LONG,

BUT EVENTUALLY IT TAKES MORE WORK TO STICK TO IT

BECAUSE THE CRAVINGS GET STRONGER,

AND IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD NOT TO WANT TO EAT SOMETHING

TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN THINGS ARE STRESSFUL

OR YOU HAVE A HARD DAY.

SO I'M STILL WORKING TO FIND A BALANCE.

BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT GOING BACK DR. NOW

AND SEE IF HE'LL CONSIDER ME FOR THE BALLOON

OR SOMETHING TO HELP ME...

HELL YEAH.

BECAUSE I'M SEEING THE NEED FOR THAT AND HOW THAT CAN BE HELPFUL

TO KEEP ME ON TRACK LIKE I NEED,

AND IF I DON'T GET IT, THEN I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE

TO STICK TO THIS FOR THE LONG TERM,

AND EVENTUALLY I'LL END UP NEEDING THE SAME HELP

THAT BRANDIE AND ROSHANDA NEED TO GET THEIR LIFE BACK.

AND I CAN'T LET IT GET THAT FAR.

AND THAT IS WHY I HOPE I'VE DONE ENOUGH TO PROVE

TO DR. NOW THAT I'M READY...

SO THAT DR. NOW IS WILLING TO LET ME DO MY SURGERY AGAIN.

SO I'M HEADED TO HOUSTON IN A FEW WEEKS TO SEE MY SISTERS

AND GO WITH THEM ON THEIR APPOINTMENT.

BUT I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM,

AND I HOPE BY THEN I'VE MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS

FOR DR. NOW AND I'M READY TO HAVE SURGERY AGAIN.

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: WE'RE ALL REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TODAY

BECAUSE CLARENCE IS COMING TO VISIT US,

AND THIS IS THE LONGEST WE'VE ALL GONE BEING APART.

WE WERE A LITTLE UPSET AT HIM FOR LEAVING US,

ESPECIALLY ROSHANDA

BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO HIM FOR A WHILE,

BUT NOW THAT I'M PAST SURGERY AND TYLISA HAS STAYED DOWN HERE

TO HELP ME AND ROSHANDA, WE'RE DOING BETTER,

AND WE JUST WANT US ALL TO GET THE HELP WE NEED.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Clarence: USE YOUR KEY! [ LAUGHS ]

-HEY. -WHAT'S UP?

MADE IT SAFE AND SOUND IN ONE PIECE, HUH?

CLARENCE, GET ME A WATER?

WHAT?!

[ LAUGHTER ]

I SMELL YOUR COOKING. YO, WHAT Y'ALL COOK?

MY FAMOUS CHILI.

YOU SAVE ME SOME CHILI?

YEAH, I FROZE IT FOR YOU.

OH. LET'S DEFROST IT.

SO YOU FEELING LIKE YOU'RE RECOVERED?

-WHERE'S MY COLD WATER? -YEP.

-WATCH YOUR STOMACH. -SHE WATCHING IT?

NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.

HOW YOU FEELING? FEELING LIKE YOU CHEATED DEATH?

I'M TIRED.

SHUT UP!

A FEW MORE MONTHS, I'M GONNA BE RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ]

Brandie: I'M WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO GET APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY THIS NEXT TIME,

AND HOPEFULLY CLARENCE WILL MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, TOO,

AND THIS APPOINTMENT WILL BE GOOD FOR ALL OF US.

GIVE ME A POPSICLE, TYLISA, THE TROPICAL BOX.

Tylisa: ALL RIGHT.

WE SET OUT TO DO THIS AS A FAMILY

AND FOR ALL OF US TO GET HEALTHY TOGETHER

AND STAY THAT WAY FOR A LIFETIME.

SO HOPEFULLY TOMORROW OUR APPOINTMENT GOES WELL,

AND ROSHANDA GETS APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AND CLARENCE GETS BACK ON THE PROGRAM WITH US.

♪♪

Roshanda: WE'RE ALL AT DR. NOW'S FOR OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT,

AND I CAN'T HELP BUT BE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I HAVE TO HAVE GOOD PROGRESS TODAY.

Brandie: IT'S NICE TO ALL BE GOING TOGETHER AGAIN.

SO I'M STAYING POSITIVE THAT WE ALL LEAVE

THE APPOINTMENT FEELING GOOD AND HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PERRIO FAMILY.

Clarence: IT WAS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO

THAT I HAD MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

AND SINCE I'VE DECIDED TO DO THIS ON MY OWN,

DR. NOW DIDN'T REALLY GIVE ME A WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.

AND I WAS DOWN TO 491 THEN, BUT I FEEL CONFIDENT

I'M GONNA HAVE SOME GOOD PROGRESS TODAY.

I JUST HOPE IT'S ENOUGH FOR DR. NOW.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S SOME GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT HOPEFULLY DR. NOW AGREES.

Brandie: IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE MY LAST

DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE LOSING 20 POUNDS A MONTH.

I WAS AT 430 LAST TIME, SO IF I STAYED ON TRACK,

TODAY I SHOULD BE UNDER 390.

SO HOPEFULLY I DID THAT.

THAT'S NOT BAD.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHERE I NEED TO BE.

Roshanda: I CAN'T HELP BUT BE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ANOTHER TWO MONTHS

AND I JUST NEED MY WEIGHT TO BE UNDER 600.

♪♪

THAT'S NOT BAD, BUT IT DOESN'T GET ME UNDER 600,

AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA BE ENOUGH.

SO WE'RE SCARED THIS IS STILL TOO FAR TO GET APPROVED TODAY.

BUT IT'S GETTING TOO HARD TO DO THIS ON MY OWN,

AND I FEEL LIKE NO ONE GETS THAT AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO ALONE.

HELLO.

-HI. -HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

CLARENCE, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I HOPE YOU'VE BEEN STICKING TO YOUR DIET.

YES, SIR.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEONE ELSE WITH YOU,

SO IT'S A PARTY TODAY, HUH?

[ LAUGHS ]

OKAY, LET'S START WITH YOU, BRANDIE.

TODAY YOU'RE DOWN 392.

SO THAT IS 38 POUNDS IN WEIGHT LOSS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

THAT'S JUST A COUPLE POUNDS SHY OF YOUR GOAL,

SO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS SLOWING A LITTLE,

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED RIGHT NOW.

SO YOU'RE DOING WELL.

WITH ALL THIS WEIGHT OFF YOU, HOW'S YOUR ENERGY LEVEL?

IT'S ACTUALLY GOTTEN BETTER NOW.

SO ARE YOU ABLE TO BE A LOT MORE ACTIVE NOW?

BETTER THAN BEFORE -- DEFINITELY, YEAH.

ANY PROBLEM?

MNH-MNH. GREAT.

SO STICK TO YOUR DIET, AND TRY TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST

20-POUND WEIGHT LOSS A MONTH, OKAY?

YES, SIR.ALL RIGHT.

ROSHANDA, YOU'RE DOWN TO 632 WHICH IS 77-POUND WEIGHT LOSS

OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

YES.

SO YOU'RE NOT QUITE TO 600,

BUT YOU YOU'RE MAKING YOUR PROGRESS

AND YOU'RE GETTING THERE, SO I THINK YOU'RE DOING WELL.

I THINK SO, TOO.

SO, CAN I GET THE BALLOON TO KEEP ME ON TRACK

UNTIL I GET SURGERY?

WELL, THE BALLOON IS GONNA BE A --

I DON'T WANT -- NO, I WANT THE SURGERY.

I JUST WANT IT WHEN YOU -- YOU TOLD ME

THAT I NEEDED TO BE UNDER 600 POUNDS

FOR ME TO BE SAFE, SO THAT'S ALL I EVER WANTED.

BUT WHEN YOU TOLD ME I WAS APPROVED THE FIRST TIME,

I DON'T SEE WHY I DIDN'T GET THE BALLOON

AND WHY IT CAN'T HELP ME LOSE THIS LAST BIT OF WEIGHT.

THE BALLOON HASN'T BEEN AN OPTION FOR YOU

BECAUSE IT'LL STILL PUT YOUR BODY UNDER STRAIN

TO PERFORM THE PROCEDURE, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY ISSUE.

THE OTHER ISSUE IS THAT YOU NEED WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

TO DO THIS FOR LONG-TERM, NOT THE BALLOON.

AND ON TOP OF ALL THIS, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE WILL DO -- WE WILL GO AHEAD,

AND RUN ALL THE TESTS ON YOU AGAIN,

AND IF YOUR HEALTH DOES IMPROVE

AND IF YOU STAY ON TRACK THIS NEXT ONE,

THEN I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

DOES THAT SOUND GOOD?

YES. YOU'RE SO CLOSE.

JUST DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. YOU CAN DO IT.

Clarence: YOU CAN DO IT, RO. I THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU CAN DO IT, YEAH.

YOU'VE BEEN DOING GREAT.

DON'T YOU THINK?

I THINK IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR MENTAL TOUGHNESS

IF YOU DO IT, BECAUSE IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL

TO GET TO THE WEIGHT THAT YOU WANT TO BE

FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

IS GONNA REQUIRE A COMMITMENT FROM YOU,

AND I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THAT.

IT'D BE DIFFERENT IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO LOSE ANY WEIGHT

AT ALL UP TO THIS POINT, BUT YOU'VE SHOWN YOU CAN DO IT

AND SO THIS IS JUST ONE MORE STEP

TO GET WHERE YOU NEED TO GO.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE THE BEST ADVANTAGE,

'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO LOOK AT TY,

AND IT'S GONNA BENEFIT YOU.

I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, BUT YOU CAN DO IT

'CAUSE YOU'VE PROVEN IT.

ALL RIGHT, SO, CLARENCE,

LET'S GO BACK TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS.

FIRST WE APPROVED YOU FOR SURGERY

BEFORE BRANDIE HAD THE SURGERY,

AND THEN YOU CAME BACK HERE

AND SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE SURGERY

BECAUSE YOU HAD A FEAR FROM YOUR MOM DYING,

SO YOU QUIT THE PROGRAM AND YOU WENT BACK TO LOUISIANA.

SO ARE YOU BACK NOW BECAUSE YOU DECIDED

THAT YOU MIGHT WANT AN OPERATION?

YES, SIR.

SO YOU HAVE NO CONCERN ABOUT MOVING AHEAD WITH THAT?

NO, SIR.

OKAY, LET'S SEE HOW YOU'VE DONE, FIRST.

SO, IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE YOU WERE LAST HERE,

AND YOU WERE AT 491 THEN, AND NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO 437.

SO YOU LOST 54 POUNDS.

THAT NOT A WHOLE LOT OF WEIGHT LOSS IN THAT TIME,

BUT IT SHOWS ME THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON YOUR OWN

AND TRYING TO MAKE IT PERMANENT.

RIGHT.

SO IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE READY,

I'M APPROVING YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SO WE WILL SCHEDULE YOUR SURGERY FOR A MONTH FROM NOW

TO GIVE YOU TIME TO GET YOUR FATHER TAKEN CARE OF

AND FIGURE ALL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES OUT.

OKAY.BECAUSE, CLARENCE,

REMEMBER IF YOU DO THIS,

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY IN HOUSTON

FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

YES, SIR.ALL RIGHT.

I'M PROUD OF ALL THREE OF YOU.

I KNOW THIS ISN'T EASY, BUT EACH OF YOU HAS COME A LONG WAY.

I COMPLETELY AGREE.

THIS HAS BEEN A LONG ROAD FOR YOU ALL,

AND YOU STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO,

BUT YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE PROGRESS YOU EACH HAVE MADE,

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

SO YOU ALL KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,

AND WE GET YOU ALL TO YOUR TARGET AS A FAMILY.

OKAY.ALL RIGHT, SUPER.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

-BYE. -BYE.

Dr. Etter: I THINK THE PERRIO FAMILY IS DOING WELL OVERALL.

ALL THREE OF THEIR WEIGHT LOSS COULD BE A LITTLE BETTER,

BUT THE PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE IS PROMISING.

SO HOPEFULLY SOON WE'LL GET THE POINT WHERE ALL THREE PERRIOS

WILL HAVE HAD WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

RIGHT NOW BRANDIE'S DOING WELL, AND I THINK ROSHANDA IS, TOO.

IF SHE WAS STICKING TO THE DIET, SHE WOULD HAVE LOST A LOT MORE,

BUT I SEE THAT SHE'S TRYING SO WE'LL SET UP A TIME

IN THE NEXT WEEK TO HAVE HER GO TO THE HOSPITAL

SO WE CAN RUN THE TEST

AND SEE IF SHE'S GETTING TO THE SAFER PLACE WE NEED.

BUT ROSHANDA IS VERY EMOTIONAL, AND IF SHE GETS TOO UPSET

IT COULD LEAD HER TO OVEREAT AGAIN,

SO HOPEFULLY SHE STAYS ON TRACK BECAUSE SHE'S SO CLOSE.

AS FOR CLARENCE, SEEING THAT HE HAD A LOSS,

EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T AS MUCH AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN,

SHOWED ME THAT HE IS SEROUS AND WORKING HARD.

BUT HE HASN'T HAD ANY THERAPY TO HELP HIM DEAL

WITH HIS FEARS YET.

SO THE DEADLINE I'M GIVING HIM IS NOT JUST SO HE CAN GET

ALL HIS RESPONSIBILITIES SQUARED AWAY,

BUT TO GIVE HIM ENOUGH TIME TO PROCESS MOVING AHEAD.

AND IF HE CANCELS AGAIN, MAYBE WE CAN USE THAT TO CONVINCE HIM

TO START GOING TO THERAPY MORE THAN ONCE.

Clarence: I FEEL REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

I TRIED ON MY OWN, AND IT SHOWED ME HOW HARD IT IS

TO DO THIS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

SO I KNOW THIS IS WHAT I NEED,

AND I FEEL READY FOR IT THIS TIME.

BUT I HAVE TO GET MY FATHER SET UP FIRST,

SO THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE IS I HAVE TO BRING HIM

BACK HERE TO HOUSTON TO STAY WITH US WHILE I RECOVER.

SO ONCE I DO THAT AND I'M BACK, THEN I'LL BE READY.

♪♪

♪♪

Roshanda: IT'S BEEN HARD LATELY, AND I'M STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW.

IT FEELS LIKE I'M NEVER GONNA GET TO WHERE I NEED,

SO IT'S DISCOURAGING.

BUT WITH CLARENCE GETTING THE SURGERY,

HE HAS TO BE DOWN HERE FOR A WHILE

SO HE BROUGHT MY FATHER DOWN TO STAY WITH US FOR A BIT.

SO IT'S BEEN NICE HAVING CLARENCE

AND MY FATHER DOWN HERE.

AND IT'S BEEN NICE GETTING TO TALK TO HIM

AND SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIM.

I KNOW AS A FAMILY WE HAVE A LOT OF HISTORY,

BUT WE GOOD BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS NOW,

SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT,

AND IT'S BEEN NICE HAVING MORE FAMILY WITH US

BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING REALLY LONELY BEING AWAY

FROM EVERYONE FOR SO LONG.

ROSHANDA, WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR SISTER AND BROTHER

GETTING SURGERY BEFORE YOU?

I'M GLAD THEY GETTING IT. I GET TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

[ LAUGHS ]

THEY GONNA DEMONSTRATE ON THEM FIRST

SO I GET TO SEE WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

HEY, THAT'S -- IF THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENS,

THEN IT WASN'T MEANT FOR ME.

I AIN'T GONNA BE MAD.

I MIGHT BE NEXT AFTER YOU.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YOU AIN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO PUT THEM COOKIES DOWN.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

IT'S GONNA HURT YOUR STOMACH.

THAT'S WHAT THEY GONNA DO.

THEY GONNA MAKE YOUR STOMACH THIS BIG.

THAT MEANS YOU'RE ONLY GONNA BE ABLE TO EAT ONE COOKIE.

UH-HUH. NOT ME -- YOU.

NO, I'M NOT GONNA BE EATING NO COOKIES.

YOU JUST SAID YOU WERE GONNA BE NEXT.

I WAS JOKING.

I NEVER HAD SURGERY BEFORE.

I HAD A COLONOSCOPY, AND THEY HAD TO PUT ME TO SLEEP.

WHEN I WOKE UP MY HEART START GOING CRAZY.

THEY CHECKED ME OUT. NOTHING WRONG WITH MY HEART.

I WAS JUST NERVOUS GOING IN THAT ROOM.

AND AFTER, WHEN YOU WAKE UP?

OH, WASN'T FEELING NOTHING --

I LAID DOWN THERE A WHILE, THEN I GOT UP AND WALK AWAY.

OKAY, WHAT'S THE NEXT GOAL?

MY NEXT GOAL IS TO KEEP THIS --

KEEP LOSING TILL I HAVE ENOUGH --

TILL I LOST ENOUGH TO REMOVE SOME SKIN.

OKAY.

I WANT MY STOMACH GONE FIRST -- GOT TO GO.

OH, AND THEY'LL START CUTTING THAT SKIN.

THEY JUST USE A RAZOR BLADE.

[ LAUGHS ]

QUICK.

SO, YOU KNOW YOU GONNA HAVE PLENTY OF SKIN HANGING?

LIKE THAT? YEAH.

[ LAUGHS ]

I'M GONNA WORK IT OUT.

YEAH, PUT THEM MUSCLES ON, GIRL.

YES, I'M GONNA HAVE SKIN,

BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO HAVE AS LESS AS POSSIBLE.

LIKE MINE?

LOOK, IT'S EVEN -- IT'S SHRIVELING UP ALREADY, TOO?

ROSHANDA, WHEN YOU USED TO BE 800 POUNDS, I WORRIED.

I STILL WORRY.

I GUESS I'M GONNA WORRY A LONG TIME.

I'M GONNA WORRY TILL I DIE, BUT I'M GONNA WORRY.

I HATE TO SEE MY CHILDREN BIG LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?

DR. NOW SAYS WE'RE DOING MY MEDICAL TESTING AGAIN SOON

AND THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE TO MAKE IT

AND TO GO TO MY NEXT THERAPY APPOINTMENT

TO KEEP WORKING ON THINGS, SO I WILL.

BUT I'M WORRIED THE RESULTS ARE GONNA BE THE SAME,

AND IF I GO TO MY NEXT APPOINTMENT

AND DR. NOW TELLS ME THAT I'M STILL NOT

READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

THEN IT'S GONNA BE SO DISCOURAGING,

AND IT'S ALREADY HARD ENOUGH AS IT IS.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP DOING THIS,

SO I HAVE TO GET APPROVED NEXT TIME.

OR THIS MAY BE IT FOR ME.

AND BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP MOTIVATING MYSELF,

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S NO END IN SIGHT

AND THAT I'M NEVER GONNA GET THE HELP I NEED.

♪♪

♪♪

Clarence: I'M NERVOUS ABOUT TODAY BECAUSE ALL I THINK ABOUT

IS HOW MY MOM WENT IN FOR A SIMPLE PROCEDURE,

AND BECAUSE OF A COMPLICATION, SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

SO I HAVE THAT SAME FEAR THAT I DID LAST TIME,

AND I'M JUST READY TO GET IT OVER WITH

BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.

-GOOD MORNING. -GOOD MORNING.

MORNING, GENTS. HOW YOU ALL DOING?

GOOD. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I DIDN'T REALLY GET NO SLEEP LAST NIGHT.

ARE YOU NERVOUS?

OH, YEAH.

YOU ARE NERVOUS, HUH?MM-HMM.

THE MENTAL PREPARATION -- YOU KNOW, JUST KNOWING,

JUST KNOWING IT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S NORMAL, OKAY, BUT TODAY'S GONNA BE A BIG DAY FOR YOU.

YES, SIR.

AND IT'S GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR GOOD,

AND YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO GET DOWN TO 200.

I THINK I MIGHT 250, THOUGH, 'CAUSE...

[ LAUGHS ]

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

YES, SIR.ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

SEE YOU IN A BIT.

LOVE YOU, SIS. SEE YOU IN A FEW.

Brandie: IT'S HARD NOT TO BE A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW,

EVEN THOUGH I'M CONFIDENT

CLARENCE IS GONNA COME THROUGH JUST FINE.

DEUCES.

IT'S JUST STILL MAJOR SURGERY THAT'S HIGH-RISK,

AND ALL OF US KNOW THAT ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

TO ANY OF US GOING THROUGH WITH A SURGERY.

BUT BEFORE WE EVEN STARTED ALL THIS, WE ALL TALKED

AND DECIDED THAT THIS RISK IS WORTH IT,

BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE TO LOSE NOT DOING IT.

BUT KNOWING ALL THAT STILL DOESN'T MAKE IT

ANY LESS SCARY TO GO THROUGH --

I WATCHED SOMEONE I CARE ABOUT GO THROUGH.

SO I'M JUST GONNA THINK POSITIVE,

AND I HOPE HE COMES OUT SAFE AND AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

Dr. Etter: TODAY WE'RE PERFORMING A GASTRIC SLEEVE

ON CLARENCE THAT WILL HELP HIM STAY ON TRACK

WITH THIS WEIGHT LOSS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CLARENCE HAS LOST A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

AND HE'S UNDER 500 POUNDS.

BUT HE'S STILL SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE,

AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE FACT

THAT HE HOLDS A LOT OF HIS WEIGHT IN HIS ABDOMEN.

Dr. Etter: WE'RE MAKING THE FIRST INCISION.

AND HE LIKELY HAS A VERY THICK ABDOMINAL WALL,

SO IT MAY BE EXTREMELY TOUGH TO MANEUVER

AN INSTRUMENT IN HIS ABDOMEN TODAY,

AND THAT COULD EXTEND HOW LONG THE SURGERY IS TAKING.

BUT CLARENCE IS STILL A HIGH-RISK PATIENT AT HIS WEIGHT,

SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO PUSH HIS BODY TO ITS LIMIT,

AND KEEPING HIM ON THE ANESTHESIA

FOR TOO LONG WILL DO THAT.

SO IF WE ENCOUNTER TOO MUCH OF A DELAY,

THEN WE NEED TO STOP THE PROCEDURE EARLY.

BUT WE'LL KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HIM

AND MAKE SURE THAT HE'S DOING OKAY

AND WORK AS FAST AS WE SAFELY CAN

BECAUSE THIS SURGERY IS GOING TO BE A NECESSARY HELP FOR CLARENCE

TO KEEP HIM LOSING WEIGHT BECAUSE THE GASTRIC SLEEVE

IS AN OPERATION THAT REDUCES THE STOMACH BY 90%,

LEAVING A SKINNY, LONG TUBE THAT LOOKS LIKE A SLEEVE

THAT CONNECTS THE ESOPHAGUS TO THE SMALL INTESTINE.

A GASTRIC SLEEVE WILL CHANGE THEIR METABOLISM TO SOME DEGREE

AND WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY

TO BEGIN LOSING WEIGHT

BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.

Brandie: WAITING AROUND DOING NOTHING -- IT'S JUST HARD,

AND UNTIL I CAN SEE HIM AND KNOW HE'S ALL RIGHT,

I'M JUST GONNA BE WORRIED.

SO I'M HOPING IT ALL GOES WELL.

♪♪

Dr. Etter: ALL RIGHT, HOLD IT THERE.

OKAY. LET'S PULL IT OUT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: A COUPLE MORE STITCHES,

AND WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSING.

OKAY. WE'RE DONE.

ALL RIGHT.

CLARENCE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

IT WAS A LITTLE HARD TO MANEUVER,

BUT THAT DID NOT SLOW US DOWN TOO MUCH,

SO WE HAD NO ISSUES FINISHING HIS OPERATION

WITHOUT ANY COMPLICATION.

SO WE'LL GET HIM TO RECOVERY,

AND THEN WE'LL GET HIM HOME HERE IN A FEW DAYS.

Dr. Etter: WITH CLARENCE'S GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY,

WHAT WE SHOULD SEE FROM HIM IS A WEIGHT LOSS

OF 20 TO 30 POUNDS A MONTH

UNTIL HE STARTS TO GET CLOSE TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT.

SO HE'LL START HAVING MORE CONSISTENT WEIGHT LOSS

RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIRST MONTH

WHEN HE'S ON A LIQUID DIET.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WITH THIS SURGERY, CLARENCE SHOULD HAVE

AN EASIER TIME STAYING ON TRACK WITH HIS WEIGHT LOSS

UNTIL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY

TO START HIM GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY,

AND HOPEFULLY HE WILL NOT ONLY BE WILLING

TO COOPERATE WITH THAT BUT ALSO START GOING TO

GROUP THERAPY WITH HIS SISTER SO WE CAN ADDRESS

THE FAMILY DYSFUNCTION LIKE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE

THE PERRIO FAMILY IS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE LONG TERM.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Brandie: YEAH.

I KNOW THIS ALL HAS BEEN HARD FOR ROSHANDA,

BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN SO LONG FOR HER TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND SHE WAS STARTING TO GET A LITTLE LAX WITH HER DIET

AND EVERYTHING AFTER HER LAST APPOINTMENT.

BUT LATELY I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED

BECAUSE SHE'S FOUND A WAY TO MOTIVATE HERSELF AGAIN,

AND SHE'S EATING RIGHT.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF HER,

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE HER DRIVE RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE SHE'S MAKING SURE WE STICK TO

300-, 400-CALORIE MEALS A DAY.

TEETY, WHAT'S HAPPENING, PEACH?

BUT WE'RE MOSTLY EATING HER LOW-CALORIE CHILI.

THANK YOU.

IT CAN GET A LITTLE OLD, BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING,

AND I'LL KEEP EATING THIS CHILI FOR EVERY MEAL

IF IT MEANS SHE'S GONNA DO THIS.

Roshanda: NOT GETTING SURGERY AGAIN GOT ME DOWN,

AND IT'S JUST BEEN HARD TO FIND THE MOTIVATION

TO KEEP DOING THIS

WHEN IT FEELS LIKE MY GOAL IS ALWAYS JUST OUT OF REACH.

BUT AFTER TALKING WITH MY DAD AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF

HOW I FEEL AND HAVING ANOTHER THERAPY SESSION,

I KNOW I'M GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE IT'S GONNA BE HARDER FOR ME

TO RESIST TEMPTATION AND GIVING IN.

SO I'M MOTIVATING MYSELF THIS NEXT MONTH TO DO THIS

ONE LAST PUSH TO TRY AND MAKE IT.

SO THE FIRST THING I'M MAKING SURE TO DO

IS TO COMPLETELY STICK TO JUST 1,200 CALORIES A DAY.

I MADE SOME LOW-CALORIE CHILI, AND ONE 1/2 BOWL SERVING

IS EXACTLY 400 CALORIES.

AND WE'RE EATING IT FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER

RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE WE STICK TO EXACTLY 1,200 CALORIES.

BUT I KNOW EATING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER

IS NOT BRANDIE'S FAVORITE RIGHT NOW,

AND I KNOW SHE'S JUST OKAY WITH IT TO SUPPORT ME.

BUT THE OTHER THING I'M DOING IS WORKING OUT

THREE TIMES A WEEK NOW.

♪♪

BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A LOT TOUGHER

THAN STICKING TO THE DIET.

STRAIGHT UP HERE.

AND START.

'CAUSE I'M PRACTICALLY SORE EVERY DAY NOW.

9 AND 10.

GOOD JOB.

BRANDIE'S STILL COMING WITH ME ONCE A WEEK,

BUT SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S NOT READY TO JUMP TO THIS LEVEL,

SO I'M HERE BY MYSELF, BECAUSE IF I LOSE THIS CHANCE

AND IF I DON'T GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY,

THEN AT LEAST I CAN KNOW IT'S NOT

BECAUSE I DIDN'T TRY MY HARDEST.

6, 7, 8, 9, AND 10.

GOOD JOB.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT SET.

I KNOW IF I'M GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE I PHYSICALLY CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS,

SO I'M WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN RIGHT NOW TO PUSH MYSELF

AND MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS

AS I CAN BY MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

4, 3, 2, 1.

REST. GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.

THAT WAS GOOD.

BECAUSE EITHER I DO THIS OR THIS WILL LIKELY BE IT FOR ME.

Thomas: 1...

SO, WE'VE DONE ABOUT EIGHT EXERCISES.

LAST TIME, WE DID ABOUT MAYBE THREE OR FOUR.

SO YOU'VE DOUBLED WHAT YOU DID LAST TIME.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, MAN.

SO THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

I HAVE TO MAKE THIS WORK.

♪♪

♪♪

WE'RE BACK TO SEE THE DOCTOR FOR OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS

IF I'M NEVER GONNA GET SURGERY.

AND I'M SO SCARED THAT I'M GONNA STILL GET THE SAME ANSWER,

THAT I'M NOT READY

'CAUSE I NEED TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT TO GET HEALTHY.

BUT I'M GETTING TO MY BREAKING POINT, AND I JUST NEED SURGERY.

Brandie: I KNOW ROSHANDA'S EXTREMELY NERVOUS BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE,

FOR HER, EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON THIS APPOINTMENT,

AND IF SHE DOESN'T GET IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SO I'M REALLY SCARED IF THAT HAPPENS,

THEN THAT MAY BE IT FOR HER.

Roshanda: IF I DON'T GET THIS HELP, THEN I KNOW

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO KEEP GOING MUCH LONGER.

SO THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

AND I'M JUST TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

♪♪

Brandie: WE'RE BACK AT DR. NOW'S TO FIND OUT

IF ROSHANDA MADE IT TO HER GOAL THIS TIME.

AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR HER TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE SHE FEELS LIKE SHE CAN'T GO ON.

PERRIO FAMILY?

SO I'M REALLY HOPING SHE'S GONNA HAVE A GOOD WEIGH-IN TODAY

AND HIT HER GOAL.

BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT MYSELF.

I THINK I'M ON TRACK.

SO ALL I CARE ABOUT TODAY IS HER PROGRESS.

I MADE IT DOWN TO 392 LAST TIME,

AND MY GOAL NOW IS TO KEEP LOSING

20 POUNDS A MONTH UNTIL I GET TO MY TARGET WEIGHT.

SO I SHOULD BE DOWN TO 372 TODAY.

♪♪

IT'S A LITTLE LOWER THAN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE,

BUT ALL I REALLY CARE ABOUT RIGHT NOW

IS WHETHER ROSHANDA HITS HER GOAL OR NOT.

ROSHANDA, YOU'RE NEXT.

Roshanda: I'M SO SCARED THIS IS GONNA JUST BE ANOTHER TIME

I STILL DON'T GET UNDER 600 POUNDS,

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN I THINK I'M DONE,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE AS MUCH AS I CAN WITHOUT SURGERY.

♪♪

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOOD OR BAD,

SO I'M SO SCARED RIGHT NOW,

'CAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY

OR WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT THIS HAS TO BE ENOUGH BECAUSE I'M WORKING SO HARD

AND I NEED TO JUST FINALLY GET THERE.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HOW'S IT GOING?

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

-HOW Y'ALL DOING? -OKAY.

SO, BRANDIE, DOING ALL RIGHT?

YES. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S START WITH YOU.

TODAY, YOU'RE DOWN TO 382 POUNDS,

WHICH IS WEIGHT LOSS OF 10 POUNDS FOR THIS PAST MONTH.

SO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS HAS SLOWED EVEN MORE NOW,

BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY EATING A LITTLE BIT MORE DURING THE DAY

AND IN SMALLER DOSES. THAT'S SLOWING YOUR WEIGHT LOSS.

SO I THINK IT'S TIME YOU START PSYCHOTHERAPY TO GET

AT WHAT'S DRIVING YOU TO EAT RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU THINK YOU CAN DO?

YEP.

OKAY, GREAT.

YOU'RE STILL LOSING WEIGHT, AND YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY

WITH A TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS OF 238 POUNDS OVER THE LAST YEAR.

BUT WE WANT YOU TO KEEP GOING AND GET TO WHERE YOU NEED.

SO, YOU'RE FEELING GOOD?FEELING GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

LET'S SEE HOW ROSHANDA'S DOING.

SO, ROSHANDA, TODAY YOU'RE DOWN TO 605 POUNDS,

AND THAT'S 127 POUNDS YOU LOST THIS PAST MONTH.

IT'S NOT QUITE BELOW 600, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

IS THAT WE HAVE GONE OVER YOUR MEDICAL TESTS,

AND YOU HAVE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT FOR US

TO APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

HOW'S THAT SOUND?

[ CHUCKLES ]

THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

Dr. Etter: ROSHANDA, WE KNOW THIS WASN'T EASY FOR YOU,

BUT YOU WORKED HARD.

AND, BRANDIE, SINCE YOU HIT YOUR FIRST WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL,

YOU'VE NOT GAINED WEIGHT,

SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF BOTH OF YOU.

YOU'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS THAT ARE GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

DON'T EVER GO BACK.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GOING BACK,

REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO CARRY AROUND ALL THAT WEIGHT

AND WHERE YOU ARE NOW, AND THAT'LL HELP YOU GET

WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

RIGHT NOW, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PERRIOS' PROGRESS,

AND I'M PROUD OF THEM FOR HOW FAR

ALL OF THEM HAVE COME INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A FAMILY.

BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE BEING THE NEED FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

TO GO THROUGH PSYCHOTHERAPY

TO START TO ADDRESS THE ENABLING DYNAMIC

THAT IS STILL THERE AND WILL DERAIL THEM IN THE LONG RUN

IF WE AREN'T ABLE TO DO THAT.

SO ONCE CLARENCE RECOVERS,

HOPEFULLY HE WILL BE WILLING TO START BACK WITH THEM

SO WE CAN DO GROUP THERAPY

AND BE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH ROSHANDA'S WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US TO GET THE FAMILY

TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

ALL RIGHT, SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK,

BUT REMEMBER TO KEEP AT IT AND STICK TO YOUR DIETS

SO YOU LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

OKAY.

AND, BRANDIE, YOU STAY ON TRACK,

AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR NEXT BIG STEP HERE

SOON WITH A SKIN REMOVAL IN NEXT FOUR MONTHS OR SO.

BUT RIGHT NOW, FOCUS ON YOUR PSYCHOTHERAPY

AND WORKING ON THAT.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL SEE YOU FOR SURGERY

AND SEE YOU FOR A FOLLOW-UP, OKAY?

-OKAY. -YES, SIR.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.

Both: YOU, TOO.

♪♪

Roshanda: I'M SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE THIS MEANS I'M FINALLY GONNA BE ABLE

TO GET WHAT I NEED TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT

AND TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND.

AND I REALLY CAN'T WAIT.

THIS WAS SO HARD, BUT TO FINALLY GET HERE

AND GET MY APPROVAL MAKES IT WORTH IT.

AND I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF AND EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

♪♪

Brandie: ME AND ROSHANDA ARE GOING SHOPPING TODAY

TO CELEBRATE HOW FAR WE'VE BOTH COME AND HOW MUCH WEIGHT WE LOST

AND BECAUSE ALL OUR CLOTHES ARE GETTING REALLY BAGGY.

BUT IT'S EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO DO

BECAUSE ME AND ROSHANDA HAVE BEEN SO BIG

THAT WE HAD TO ORDER ALL OUR CLOTHES,

BECAUSE NO PHYSICAL STORE HAS HAD OUR SIZE.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WE BOTH KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT TO LOSE,

SO WE'RE NOT OVERDOING IT AND BUYING TOO MUCH,

BECAUSE THERE'S NO SENSE IN THAT WHEN IT'S NOT GONNA FIT SOON.

WE JUST WANT A FEW OPTIONS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE WE CAN BOTH FINALLY GO TO A STORE.

Cassandra: HELLO, HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S A DRESS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OR TOPS?

Brandie: DRESS, TOPS, TOO, AND BOTTOMS.

OKAY, SO, THE TOPS WILL BE RIGHT HERE, WHERE I HAVE -- HERE.

AND I HAVE MORE OVER DOWN HERE.

BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO WANT TO BUY EVERYTHING THAT LOOKS CUTE

AND THAT FITS, BECAUSE I WAS OVER A 10X.

BUT NOW I'M AROUND A 6X,

AND THEY HAVE THAT SIZE IN SOME STORES.

OH!

AND BRANDIE WAS AN 8X, AND NOW SHE'S DOWN TO HALF THAT SIZE

AND CAN FIT IN A 4X.

SO IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND START TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN

INSTEAD OF SOMEONE WHO'S JUST DISQUALIFIED FROM LIFE

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG WE ARE.

AND I'M INTO FASHION.

I LIKE WHAT'S OUT RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S POPPIN',

SO IF THEY GOT IT IN MY SIZE, I'MA WEAR IT.

Tylisa: GO AHEAD, ROSKI.

WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, I SEE A MUCH HAPPIER PERSON.

SELF-ESTEEM IS, YOU KNOW, BACK UP THERE WHERE IT USED TO BE.

BUT COMING HERE, I WAS KIND OF DOUBTING IT,

THINKING THAT IT WOULD'VE BEEN HORRIBLE,

BUT IT WASN'T THAT BAD.

GO 'HEAD, TEETY.

GIRL, YEAH. WOW.

IT'S A LITTLE SNUG, BUT STILL, I MEAN...

STILL ROOMY, LIKE...

Brandie: I HAVEN'T BEEN IN A CLOTHING STORE IN OVER 10 YEARS.

EVERYTHING WAS ALWAYS ONLINE SHOPPING.

THAT'S A TOGA. UNH-UNH.

[ LAUGHS ]

-WHAT'S THE MATTER? -NO, SHE -- HUH?

THAT SHE CAN FIT IT.

Casssandra: OH, OKAY.

Roshanda: I CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT, BUT SEEING BRANDIE

GET INTO A SMALLER SIZE, SHE LOOKS WEIRD,

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SO USED TO SEEING SOMEBODY A CERTAIN WAY.

BUT, I MEAN, I'M HAPPY FOR HER.

SHE'S, LIKE, TRYING ON 4Xs

AND MAYBE EVEN 3Xs AND GETTING INTO IT.

I MEAN, IT'S BETTER THAN HER WEARING THEM BIG-ASS CLOTHES

SHE'S BEEN WALKING AROUND THE HOUSE FALLING OFF ANYWAYS.

LET ME TAKE THOSE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

Brandie: THIS IS NOT SOMETHING EITHER ME OR ROSHANDA

WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO LAST YEAR.

SO THIS WAS REALLY GREAT AND A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT

FOR BOTH OF US TO KEEP WORKING HARD

TO GET TO OUR TARGET WEIGHTS,

BECAUSE WE BOTH WANT TO EXPERIENCE LIFE AND GO OUT

AND BE ABLE TO DO THINGS ON OUR OWN AND AS A FAMILY.

SO THIS WAS A NICE TASTE OF THE LIFE WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS.

♪♪

♪♪

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

AND I'M FEELING GOOD,

ESPECIALLY NOW SINCE I'M BACK ON SOLID FOODS.

DR. NOW SAYS I'M DOING WELL,

AND SINCE I HAD MY ONE-MONTH APPOINTMENT,

HE THINKS IT'S OKAY IF I START GOING BACK TO LOUISIANA

AS LONG AS I KEEP UP WITH MY APPOINTMENTS AND WEIGHT LOSS.

SO ME AND MY FATHER ARE HEADED BACK TO LOUISIANA SOON,

BUT THE GIRLS KNOW I'M GONNA BE BACK OFTEN TO SEE THEM

AND MAKE IT TO MY APPOINTMENTS.

BUT TODAY, WE'RE ALL ABOUT TO CELEBRATE

HOW FAR WE'VE COME AS A FAMILY.

1, 2, 3, GO.

Brandie: YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN CATCHING THAT.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO WRECK.

OOH! POW!

ALL TOGETHER, WE'VE LOST ALMOST 700 POUNDS THIS PAST YEAR,

AND THAT'S AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT.

SO OUR LIVES ARE COMPLETELY CHANGING.

[ LAUGHTER ]

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH JOURNEY FOR ALL OF US,

AND WE EACH KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO DO,

BUT WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT, BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE.

IT LOOKED LIKE HE ALMOST WENT IN THERE, TOO.

Brandie: WE'VE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWN,

BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF VICTORIES THIS PAST YEAR,

AND WE SET OUT TO ALL GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND NOW ME AND CLARENCE HAVE IT,

AND ROSHANDA'S ABOUT TO GET IT, SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY GOOD YEAR.

AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT WE'VE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY

AND THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS AS A FAMILY.

OH, SHE ROLLED IT. SHE'S CHEATING.

SHE CHEATING.

YO, THAT'S A STRIKE, BRO.

GO!

Roshanda: NOW THAT CLARENCE IS FEELING RECOVERED,

DR. NOW PUT MY SURGERY ON THE SCHEDULE FOR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW,

AND I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED.

AND CLARENCE SAID HE'LL BE BACK DOWN FOR THAT.

UH-OH. WHERE YOU GOING?

CLEAR IN THERE, SHONDA.

DAMN, THAT'S --

[ CHEERING ]

Roshanda: I KNOW IT WILL GET SCARIER

AS I GET CLOSER TO MY SURGERY,

BUT I WANTED IT SINCE I WAS 18, NOT JUST THIS PAST YEAR.

AND I WAS TRULY GETTING TO THE POINT

WHERE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST NEVER GONNA HAPPEN FOR ME.

AW, LOOK AT YOU.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE A TURNING POINT IN MY LIFE.

Tylisa: THEY A CHEAT, MAN.

AND IT'S BECAUSE I WORKED SO HARD

AND STUCK WITH IT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

BUT WE EACH HAVE COME SO FAR, AND I'M REALLY PROUD

OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

WE ALL KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF HARD WORK AHEAD,

BUT I KNOW WE'RE READY FOR IT, AND WE CAN HANDLE IT.

AS A FAMILY, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT,

BUT NO MATTER WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US,

THICK AND THIN, WE STUCK TOGETHER.

SO I HAVE NO DOUBT WE'RE GONNA BE STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THIS

AS LONG AS WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER

AND SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER AS A FAMILY.

AND THE WINNER IS BIG TEETY!

[ LAUGHS ]

♪♪