All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S07E04

Justin: I'VE GIVEN UP
THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE

TO ADDICTION AND ILLNESS.

AT THIS POINT,
I'M KILLING MYSELF.

Woman: HE CAN'T STOP.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.

Woman #2: IT'S TERRIFYING TO
THINK THAT AT ANY MOMENT

YOUR HEART COULD EXPLODE.

Woman #3: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN
TO LIVE YET.

WHY ARE YOU
JUMPING ON MY CASE?

YOU'RE OVEREATING AND YOU ACT
LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.

I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE JUST
UP AND LEFT, JUSTIN.

BUT THAT'S
WHAT YOU DO.

THAT'S WHAT
YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Justin:
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

I'M IN DISBELIEF AT HOW BAD
I'VE LET THINGS GET

BECAUSE OF HOW OUT OF CONTROL
MY WEIGHT'S GOTTEN.

I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG NOW,

DOING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING
IS DIFFICULT.

EVERY DAY IT GETS HARDER
TO MOVE, HARDER TO STAND,

HARDER TO WALK,
AND HARDER TO BREATHE.

SO IT TAKES JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING IN ME

TO FINALLY CONVINCE MYSELF
TO GET UP

BECAUSE I KNOW HOW BAD
IT'S GOING TO BE.

BUT IT'S A STRUGGLE,
AND I HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY.

SO WHEN THAT FIRST WAVE OF PAIN
HITS ME,

I START TO PANIC A LITTLE
BECAUSE MY MIND STARTS RACING

WITH ALL THE THINGS
THAT CAN GO WRONG.

SO MY LIFE JUST FEELS LIKE
A CONSTANT BATTLE

TO DO
EVEN THE SIMPLEST THINGS NOW.

AND IT MAKES ME FEEL A LOT
OF SHAME BECAUSE I KNOW

I'M THE ONLY ONE
TO BLAME FOR THAT.

SO WHEN I GO IN THE BATHROOM,

I DO EVERYTHING I CAN NOT
TO LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR

BECAUSE WHEN I LOOK
IN THE MIRROR, I SEE A MISTAKE,

AND SOMEONE WHO'S DESTROYED
HIS LIFE FOR FOOD

BY BECOMING ONE OF
THE LARGEST PEOPLE ALIVE.

SO SEEING IT IS EVEN WORSE
THAN FEELING IT AT TIMES.

AND ONE OF THE HARDEST
AND SCARIEST PARTS OF MY DAY

IS SHOWERING
BECAUSE I LIVE ALONE

AND THE ONLY PERSON
WHO CHECKS ON ME IS MY MOM.

SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENS
AND I FALL,

I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING
TO BE REALLY BAD.

AND AT MY SIZE,

FALLING WOULD CAUSE
SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE TO MY BODY.

I KNOW I'M ONE MISSTEP FROM NOT
ONLY BEING TRAPPED IN MY BODY,

BUT BEING TRAPPED IN MY BED
RELYING ON SOMEBODY ELSE.

I DON'T WANT TO LET MYSELF
GET TO THE POINT

WHERE I STOP KEEPING UP
WITH MY BASIC HYGIENE.

BUT I KNOW I'M GETTING TO
THE POINT WHERE SOON,

ALL THIS WILL BE
TOO MUCH FOR ME,

AND I'LL BE TOO BIG
TO GET UP AND DO ANYTHING

ALL BECAUSE I WON'T STOP EATING.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH
WHAT I DO ALL DAY LONG NOW.

I HAVE MY FOOD SET UP
FOR DELIVERY

AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY,

SO I ALWAYS HAVE WHAT I NEED,
AND I NEVER HAVE TO GO OUT

BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE
TO EVER GO OUT.

AND WHAT I DO IS
STAY HERE AND EAT.

HOW YOU DOING?
-I'M ALL RIGHT.

HOW ARE YOU?
YOU GOT IT?

YES.

AND A LOT OF DAYS,
THE ONLY PEOPLE I'LL SEE

OR TALK TO
ARE THE DELIVERY PEOPLE.

BUT THIS IS WHAT MY LIFE
HAS COME TO,

AND DOING NORMAL THINGS
AND HAVING A NORMAL DAY

IS JUST NOT SOMETHING
THAT'S POSSIBLE FOR ME ANYMORE.

SO I JUST EAT BECAUSE FOOD
ALWAYS MAKES ME HAPPY.

IT HELPS ME FORGET ABOUT
ALL THE DISGUST

AND FEAR AND PAIN IN MY LIFE,

AND IT'S LIKE IT TRANSPORTS ME
TO THIS BETTER PLACE

JUST FOR A LITTLE WHILE,
AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

BUT IT'S ONLY AS LONG
AS I'M EATING,

SO I DON'T REALLY EVER WANT
TO STOP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I KNOW FOOD
IS WHY MY LIFE IS LIKE THIS.

AND THE MORE I EAT,
THE WORSE IT GETS,

AND I KNOW THAT.

AS I'M EATING, THERE'S LIKE
THIS INTERNAL MONOLOGUE OF,

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

YOU DON'T NEED THIS.

THIS ISN'T GOOD FOR YOU.

PUT IT DOWN. STOP."

BUT EVEN THOUGH I'M THINKING
ALL THOSE THINGS

AND I KNOW THOSE THINGS,

IT'S LIKE IT'S A SEPARATE PART
OF ME THAT'S SAYING THAT.

AND THE PART OF ME THAT WANTS
TO ESCAPE ALWAYS WINS OUT,

AND IT HAS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

MY ISSUE WITH FOOD
STARTED REALLY YOUNG

BECAUSE MY EARLY CHILDHOOD
WAS HARD.

I DIDN'T FULLY REALIZE IT
AT THE TIME,

BUT MY MOM DEVELOPED
A DRUG PROBLEM.

SHE HURT HER BACK AND WITH THAT
GOT ADDICTED TO PAINKILLERS.

AND WHEN THEY STOPPED
HER PRESCRIPTION,

SHE EVENTUALLY STARTED GOING
TO HARDER STUFF LIKE HEROIN.

BUT AS A CHILD, ALL I KNEW

WAS THAT MY MOM
STARTED TO BECOME UNRELIABLE,

AND SHE WOULD EVEN JUST VANISH
FOR PERIODS OF TIME.

SO I REMEMBER EVERYTHING
FELT UNCERTAIN,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN WITH HER,

OR WHETHER SHE'D EVEN BE AROUND.

AND THAT AFFECTED MY FATHER,
TOO,

BECAUSE HE HAD TO WORK
AND TAKE CARE OF ME.

SO WHEN I WAS AROUND 4,
HE DECIDED TO LEAVE HER,

AND HE GOT FULL CUSTODY OF ME.

I WAS DRIVING TRUCKS
OVER THE ROAD,

AND I WAS AWARDED CUSTODY.

AND HIS MOTHER WOULD SAY,

"WELL, I'LL BE THERE
TO PICK YOU UP THIS WEEKEND,"

AND THE POOR KID WOULD GET READY
TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE,

AND SHE WOULD NOT SHOW.

Justin: SO FOR A WHILE IT WAS
JUST ME AND MY DAD,

BUT HE GOT REMARRIED
WHEN I WAS 5,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
MY WHOLE WORLD CHANGED

AND I HAD THIS NEW FAMILY

I DIDN'T REALLY FEEL
LIKE I FIT IN.

I HAD A STEPSISTER
AND A HALF SISTER,

AND MY STEPMOM WAS GENERALLY
THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD

WHILE MY DAD WAS WORKING A LOT.

IT SORT OF MADE ME LIKE
THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION

OF THE "RED-HEADED STEPCHILD."

I ALWAYS KNEW THAT I WAS THE ONE
WHO WASN'T WANTED.

SO I SPENT MOST OF MY TIME
IN MY ROOM ALONE.

BUT WHEN I WAS AROUND 10,

MY MOM STARTED
TO COME BACK INTO MY LIFE.

SHE WAS TRYING TO GET CLEAN,
SO FOR A WHILE,

SHE BECAME RELIABLE.

AND SHE STARTED
TO COME TO VISIT ME

AND TAKE ME FOR WEEKENDS,

AND THAT WAS A REALLY
HAPPY TIME FOR ME.

AND MY MOM HAD A COUPLE OF
SORT OF ROUTINES WITH ME.

SHE WOULD PICK ME UP
ON THE WEEKEND

AND WE'D ALWAYS PICK UP A PIZZA,

AND THEN GO PICK UP A MOVIE FROM
THE LOCAL MOVIE RENTAL PLACE.

AND WE'D HAVE PIZZA THAT NIGHT,
AND WE'D WATCH THAT MOVIE,

AND IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING
THAT I COULD COUNT ON.

SO ALL WEEK, I WOULD LOOK
FORWARD TO MY WEEKENDS WITH HER

WHERE I FELT WANTED AND LOVED.

AND WHEN I WAS WITH HER, MY MOM
ALWAYS FED ME SOMETHING GOOD.

TO THIS DAY, JUSTIN STILL LOVES
MY SAUSAGE GRAVY.

AND WHEN I VISIT, HE WANTS --
HE WANTS ME TO MAKE IT FOR HIM.

THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
HE WANTS ME TO MAKE.

Justin: MY MOM WOULD JUST
CONSTANTLY FEED ME,

SO THAT'S WHEN FOOD BECAME SUCH
AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE

BECAUSE IT STARTED TO BECOME
ASSOCIATED WITH BEING WITH HER.

AND THE TIME
THAT I GAINED THE MOST

WAS WHEN I STAYED WITH HER
FOR A WHILE DURING THE SUMMER.

FIRST TIME THAT JUSTIN'S WEIGHT
GAIN WAS THAT BLATANT TO ME,

HE WAS WITH HIS MOTHER
FOR LIKE FOUR WEEKS.

AND THEN WHEN HE CAME
IN THE DOOR, I WAS STARTLED.

IT WAS LIKE HE PUT ON 30 POUNDS
IN FOUR WEEKS.

Justin: I KNEW MY WEIGHT GAIN
WAS GETTING BAD EVEN THEN,

BUT I DIDN'T CARE.

ALL THAT I CARED ABOUT
WAS THAT I WAS WITH MY MOM

AND I FELT LOVED.

SO IT NOT ONLY CONTINUED, BUT IT
GOT WORSE THE FOLLOWING YEAR

BECAUSE AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF
OF BEING STABLE IN MY LIFE,

MY MOM STARTED TO STRUGGLE WITH
FALLING BACK INTO OLD HABITS

AND DOING DRUGS AGAIN.

BECAUSE I STRUGGLED WITH
MY ADDICTIONS FOR A LONG TIME

AND I FELL BACK
AND I MOVED FORWARD

AND I FELL BACK
AND I MOVED FORWARD,

AND JUSTIN NEVER KNEW
WHETHER HE COULD COUNT ON ME,

WHETHER HE COULD TRUST ME
BECAUSE I WAS GONNA DISAPPEAR

AND LET HIM DOWN AGAIN LIKE I
HAD DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

Justin: WHEN MY MOM VANISHED
AGAIN, I WAS DEVASTATED,

AND I FELT SO ALONE.

MY DAD WAS STILL ON THE ROAD
ALMOST ALL THE TIME STILL,

SO THE ONLY TIME THAT I REALLY
FELT SAFE WAS WHEN I WAS EATING.

AND I GOT UP TO AROUND
200 POUNDS WHEN I WAS 14.

SO I WAS PUTTING ON A LOT
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

AND I FEEL LIKE MY STEPMOM
ONLY MADE IT WORSE

BECAUSE WHEN SHE NOTICED
I WAS GETTING A LOT BIGGER,

SHE TRIED TO CUT OFF
MY FOOD TO STOP ME.

AND THAT MADE ME
ONLY WANT TO EAT EVEN MORE.

SO MY WEIGHT GAIN DIDN'T SLOW
THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

AND INTO COLLEGE.

AND WHEN I WAS 18,
I WAS AROUND 320 TO 330 POUNDS.

WHEN I WENT OFF TO COLLEGE,

MY WEIGHT CONTINUED
TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT,
I WAS AWAY FROM MY STEPMOM

SO THERE WAS NO ONE EVEN TRYING
TO STOP ME FROM EATING.

SO I STARTED GAINING ABOUT
50 POUNDS EVERY YEAR,

AND I KNEW
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,

AND I STARTED GETTING WORRIED

I WASN'T GONNA BE ABLE
TO GRADUATE COLLEGE.

THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO,
JUST BARELY,

BUT I WAS CLOSE TO AROUND 550
WHEN I DID.

BUT BEING THAT BIG AT 22,
I WASN'T ABLE TO GO OUT

AND GET A TRADITIONAL JOB
IN AN OFFICE

BECAUSE I WAS TOO BIG FOR THAT.

BUT THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE
TO START A CAREER

THAT LET ME WORK FROM HOME.

I BECAME A WEB DESIGNER
AND DID A LOT OF FREELANCE WORK.

AND I WAS GOOD AT IT SO I MADE
GOOD MONEY FOR A WHILE.

I WAS ABLE TO BUY THE HOUSE
I LIVE IN NOW

AND TAKE CARE OF MYSELF
FOR A WHILE,

BUT I STARTED TO LIVE
A RECLUSIVE LIFESTYLE

BEING AT HOME MOST OF THE TIME.

AND TO MAKE IT WORSE, I WAS
STILL GAINING THROUGH ALL THIS,

AND IT WAS GETTING EVEN HARD
TO DO SIMPLE THINGS

AND GO OUT AT ALL.

AND I STARTED TO HAVE
A LOT OF ANXIETY,

AND I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED.

AND WHEN IT GOT REALLY BAD
WAS WHEN I WAS 26.

I WAS 600 POUNDS, AND I WASN'T
LEAVING THE HOME

UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

I ORDERED EVERYTHING
I NEEDED ONLINE.

I WAS STARTING TO COME UP
WITH EXCUSES

TO NOT SPEND TIME
WITH MY FRIENDS.

BUT ONE DAY, I HAD TO LEAVE
MY HOUSE AND GO OUT FOR WORK,

AND I STARTED TO FEEL
MY CHEST TIGHTENING,

AND I COULDN'T BREATHE,
SO I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL

FOR WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS A HEART ATTACK.

IT TURNED OUT TO JUST BE
A PANIC ATTACK

THAT WAS ASSOCIATED
WITH MY ANXIETY,

BUT IT WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH
TO SHOW ME WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

BUT THEY GOT MY WEIGHT WHEN
I WAS THERE IN THE HOSPITAL,

AND I WAS OVER 600 POUNDS,
AND I DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT.

I THOUGHT THAT THE SCALE
MUST HAVE BEEN WRONG.

I HAD JUST HAD A HARD TIME
ACCEPTING

THAT I HAD LET IT
ALL GET THIS BAD

AND THAT I WAS AT A POINT NOW

WHERE I WAS NOT
ONLY HAVING TROUBLE FUNCTIONING

AND DOING WHAT I NEEDED,

BUT I WAS ALSO HAVING
DEBILITATING ANXIETY ABOUT IT.

AND MY FEARS OF LEAVING
THE HOUSE ALL REVOLVE

AROUND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT

AND THEY COULDN'T GET ME
OUT OF THE CAR,

OR IF I DIDN'T FIT IN THE PLACE
THAT I EVENTUALLY WENT,

OR IF THERE WASN'T
A PARKING SPACE CLOSE ENOUGH.

SO I HAD THIS FEAR
OF GOING ANYWHERE,

AND MY ANXIETY ABOUT ALL OF
THAT CONTINUED TO GET WORSE.

BUT A FEW YEARS BACK, I FOUND
A THERAPIST WHO WOULD TRY

AND HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT WAS GOING ON.

AND SHE DIAGNOSED ME
WITH AGORAPHOBIA.

AGORAPHOBIA IS THIS REALLY
POWERFUL DREAD

THAT SOMETHING
IS GOING TO GO WRONG

AND I'M GOING TO BE
COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

AND THAT COMBINED WITH MY WEIGHT

HAS ALMOST MADE ME
A COMPLETE SHUT IN NOW.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY THINKS
THEIR LIFE

IS GONNA END UP LIKE THIS.

THIS IS NOT AT ALL
WHAT I HAD PLANNED.

I'VE GIVEN UP THE BEST YEARS
OF MY LIFE

TO ADDICTION AND ILLNESS,

AND I'M ASHAMED OF THAT.

I'VE HAD TO COMPLETELY QUIT WORK
AND GO ON DISABILITY.

AND THE DAY I HAD TO STOP
WORKING, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME

I REALLY FELT LIKE
I WAS WASTING MY LIFE.

AND SINCE THEN, IT'S FELT LIKE

I'M COMPLETELY
WORTHLESS AND USELESS.

I'M 28 NOW AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT MY WEIGHT'S AT.

I JUST KNOW
IT'S GETTING WORSE THAN EVER.

AND THE ONLY REASON I HAVEN'T
BECOME A COMPLETE SHUT IN

IS THAT MY MOM HAS RECENTLY
COME BACK INTO MY LIFE.

SE'S BEEN WORKING HARD
TO TRY AND STAY CLEAN AGAIN.

AND NOW SHE COMES OVER EVERY
OTHER DAY OR SO TO CHECK ON ME

AND SPEND TIME WITH ME
AND FEED ME.

WHAT'S GOING ON, BUDDY?

WHO'S HERE?

HEY, MOM.
-HEY, HONEY.

HOW ARE YOU?

-PRETTY GOOD.
-GOOD.

HI, FINN.
I BROUGHT SOME STUFF.

I FIGURED WE'D MAKE SOME
SAUSAGE GRAVY, HOW'S THAT SOUND?

YEAH,
I'M CLEANING UP RIGHT NOW.

OKAY.

MY FAVORITE MEAL
IS STILL HER SAUSAGE GRAVY,

AND SO SHE MAKES
THAT FOR ME A LOT.

Tara: WHEN I SAW JUSTIN AGAIN,
I WAS BLOWN AWAY.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT HE HAD GAINED
SO MUCH WEIGHT.

AND WHEN I SAW HIM
AND HOW LARGE HE WAS,

IT WAS LIKE MY HEART
BROKE FOR HIM.

IT JUST ABSOLUTELY BROKE.

Justin: I'M REALLY GLAD TO HAVE
MY MOM BACK IN MY LIFE AGAIN.

I STILL TALK TO MY DAD
REGULARLY,

BUT HIM AND MY STEPMOM
GOT DIVORCED

WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE
AND HE MOVED TO MYRTLE BEACH,

WHICH IS ABOUT THREE
TO FOUR HOURS AWAY,

SO HE'S NOT AROUND,
AND I HARDLY EVER SEE HIM.

AND OUTSIDE MY PARENTS,
THERE'S NO ONE

I TALK TO OR SEE
REGULARLY ANYMORE.

SO IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY MOM NOW,
I'D PRETTY MUCH BE ALONE.

AND AT THIS POINT, SHE'S
THE ONLY THING HOLDING ME BACK

AND SAVING ME FROM
A COMPLETELY RECLUSIVE LIFE.

-YOU ABOUT READY FOR YOURS?
-YEAH.

COULD I GET TWO WAFFLES
WITH THAT?

-YEAH, SURE.
-THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO HER VISITS
JUST LIKE I DID

WHEN I WAS YOUNG
BECAUSE WHEN SHE'S HERE,

I FEEL LOVED AND WANTED
JUST LIKE I DID THEN.

AND OUR ROUTINE IS THE SAME
AS IT'S ALWAYS BEEN,

SO FOOD IS A BIG PART
OF OUR TIME TOGETHER,

AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN
ONE OF THE WAYS

MY MOM SHOWS ME SHE CARES.

AND WHENEVER SHE MAKES ME
SOMETHING,

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY
OUT THERE IS WILLING

TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY FOR ME
AND THAT THEY CARE.

YOU WANT
SALT AND PEPPER?

-NO, I'M GOOD.
-YOU SURE?

-YEAH.
-YOU HAVEN'T TASTED IT YET.

I SHOULD BE GOOD.
THANK YOU.

SO I NEVER WANT THAT TIME
AND THAT MEAL TO END.

AND I TRY TO SAVOR IT,

BUT IT'S HARD
BECAUSE AT THE SAME TIME,

ALL I WANT IS THAT NEXT BITE.

AND I CAN'T GET ENOUGH.

AND AS LONG AS I HAVE MY MOM
AND FOOD,

EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

YEAH, GOOD BOY.

BUT WHEN I'M DONE
AND MY MOM HAS TO LEAVE,

IT'S LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE
COMES CRASHING BACK DOWN ON ME

AND THE DEPRESSION
AND FEAR SETS BACK IN.

IT WAS GOOD.

I KNOW IT WAS.

FINN, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED
YOUR LITTLE BIT, TOO.

I'M SURE HE DID.

I THINK I'M GONNA
HAVE TO HEAD OUT.

-DRIVE SAFE.
-I WILL.

ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS NOW
IS THAT SHE'LL LEAVE ME AGAIN

BECAUSE IN THE BACK
OF MY HEAD,

I KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS THAT
CHANCE IT COULD END UP

LIKE IN THE PAST
WHERE SHE STARTS TO STRUGGLE

WITH OLD HABITS
AND VANISHES AGAIN,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED OF THAT

BECAUSE IF THAT HAPPENS,
I'D HAVE NO ONE.

SO WHAT I DO TO DEAL WITH THAT
AND MAKE ALL THAT GO AWAY

IS I KEEP EATING.

FOOD KEEPS ALL THE PAIN
AND MISERY AWAY,

SO I NEVER REALLY STOP.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY
I CAN DEAL WITH IT ALL.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I KNOW
I'M KILLING MYSELF WITH FOOD,

AND EVERY BITE I TAKE GETS ME
CLOSER TO ENDING MY LIFE.

AND WHAT I FEEL IN MY BODY NOW,

THAT TYPE OF PAIN
IS LIKE NOTHING

I'VE FELT BEFORE.

IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE,

BUT IT'S LIKE EVEN MY BONES
HURT AT TIMES.

AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE MY BODY
IS STARTING TO BREAK DOWN

BECAUSE OF ALL THE WEIGHT
I'VE HAD ON IT FOR SO LONG.

I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA LIVE
FOR MUCH LONGER

IF I KEEP DOING THIS.

SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I KNOW
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE

I COULD GO TO SLEEP ONE NIGHT
AND JUST NOT WAKE UP.

BUT WHAT'S EVEN SCARIER TO ME
IS THAT THERE ARE DAYS

WHERE I'M STARTING NOT TO CARE
IF I DIE BECAUSE IT MEANS

I WON'T HAVE TO FIGHT ANYMORE.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP.

I WANT TO LIVE, BUT I KNOW
MY BODY'S GONNA BREAK DOWN SOON,

AND I KNOW I'M GONNA DIE.

I KNOW I'M AT A POINT NOW
WHERE I'VE LET MY WEIGHT

GET SO OUT OF CONTROL

THAT I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE,

SO I'VE DECIDED TO GO TO HOUSTON
TO TRY AND SEE DR. NOW

BECAUSE I NEED SOMETHING
LIKE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND HE'S THE ONLY ONE
WHO REALLY HELPS PEOPLE MY SIZE.

BUT I'M JUST REALLY SCARED
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME

SINCE I'VE LEFT MY HOUSE

OR TRIED
TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

SO I'M REALLY ANXIOUS
AND NERVOUS RIGHT NOW

TO THE POINT WHERE
IT'S MAKING PHYSICALLY ILL.

BUT I'M VERY THANKFUL THAT
WHEN I TOLD MY MOM

I NEEDED TO DO THIS

THAT SHE SAID
SHE'D GO WITH ME AND HELP ME.

-HEY, HON.
-HEY.

-YOU ALL PACKED UP?
-I THINK SO.

I DON'T KNOW, I HAVEN'T TAKEN
A TRIP LIKE THIS IN A LONG TIME,

SO I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE
OF EVERYTHING THAT I NEED,

BUT I THINK
I HAVE IT ALL.

AT LEAST IT'S ONLY
FOR A COUPLE DAYS.

IT WON'T BE THAT BAD.

JUST A LITTLE NERVOUS.

KIND OF WANT
TO JUST GET IT DONE.

YOU NERVOUS ABOUT
BEING ON THE PLANE?

NOT SO MUCH FLYING JUST
THE PEOPLE ON THE PLANE.

YEAH.

WELL, WHAT THEY SAY,
WHAT THEY DO,

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

YEAH.

IT'S JUST A LONG TRIP,

SOMETHING I HAVEN'T DONE
IN A LONG TIME.

YEAH.

LET'S GO.

ALL RIGHT. LET ME GRAB MY BAGS
AND GET THEM OUT.

Tara:
FOR JUSTIN TO TAKE THIS STEP,

IT MEANS EVERYTHING
IN THE WORLD TO ME.

I'M HERE TO KEEP HIS SPIRITS UP.

I'M HERE TO BE ANYTHING
AND EVERYTHING THAT I CAN BE

BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS
THE ONLY WAY

THAT HE'S GOING
TO BE ABLE TO FIND HELP.

Justin:
FLYING OUT TO MEET DR. NOW

IS JUST GUT WRENCHING
AT THIS POINT.

I'M SO NOT USED TO BEING OUT IN
A PUBLIC PLACE LIKE AN AIRPORT.

BUT THE WAY I'M TRYING
TO LOOK AT THIS IS

I'M ON A MISSION
TO SAVE MY LIFE,

AND I NEED TO DO AND FACE
WHATEVER IT TAKES,

NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS

IF I WANT TO HAVE THE CHANCE
TO BE AROUND MUCH LONGER.

YEAH.

OKAY.

I'M TAKING DEEP BREATHS
AND DOING ALL THE EXERCISES

I LEARNED IN THERAPY
TO STAY CALM.

I JUST NEED TO HOLD IT TOGETHER
FOR A LITTLE BIT.

SO I JUST WANT TO GET TO
THE PLANE AS SOON AS I CAN

BECAUSE THIS IS ALREADY
REALLY HARD FOR ME,

AND I'M GETTING A LITTLE SCARED.

AND I HAVEN'T EVER REALLY
PUSHED MYSELF LIKE THIS,

SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN
I'M GONNA HIT A WALL

AND GET TO MY LIMIT.

I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT WHERE
THERE'S GOING TO BE CHAIRS

AND PLACES TO EVEN REST.

I'M MANAGING, BUT THE QUICKER
WE CAN GET ON THE PLANE,

THE BETTER.

BEING FORCED TO STAND AND BE
AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE

WAS PRETTY MUCH THE NIGHTMARE
SCENARIO I DIDN'T WANT.

BUT I'M TRYING TO
HOLD IT TOGETHER,

AND I'M FREAKING OUT
A LITTLE BIT.

Woman: WE WILL NOW BEGIN
THE PRE-BOARD PROCESS

FOR FLIGHT 624
WITH SERVICES TO HOUSTON.

Justin: I WAS STARTING TO GET
WORRIED BECAUSE MY LEGS

ARE REALLY HURTING,
AND I NEED TO SIT DOWN.

SO I'M HOPING TO FIT IN THESE
SEATS AND THERE'S NO ISSUES,

BUT IF I DON'T, I'M NOT SURE
WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

I'M REALLY HAPPY I MADE IT

AND THAT
I'M FINALLY ON THE PLANE,

BUT BEING AT THE FRONT
WITH EVERYONE PASSING ME BY

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE
I'M THIS FREAK ON DISPLAY.

AND I HAVEN'T EATEN IN A WHILE,

AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT HELPING
MY EMOTIONAL STATE EITHER,

SO HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE A CHANCE
TO CALM DOWN

ONCE WE'RE IN THE AIR.

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN.

I'M STARTING TO GET FRUSTRATED.

AND JUST BEING IN AN ENCLOSED
SPACE, IT'S NERVE WRACKING,

BUT I'M HOPING THE HARDEST PART
OF THIS WHOLE TRIP

IS BEHIND ME NOW.

I'M REALLY GLAD
WE'RE FINALLY HERE,

BUT I'M NOT REALLY GONNA
BE ABLE TO WALK FAR

BECAUSE MY LEGS ARE DONE,

SO I HAVE TO GET
SOME ASSISTANCE.

I JUST HOPE THEY HAVE
A WHEELCHAIR

THAT'S BIG ENOUGH FOR ME

BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA FIT
IN A REGULAR ONE.

AND IF THEY DON'T, I'M GONNA
BE IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

I'M TIRED, I'M HUNGRY,
AND I JUST WANT TO LAY DOWN,

BUT WE JUST NEED TO GET OUR BAGS
AND THE RENTAL CAR,

AND THEN I CAN EAT AND REST.

-OKAY.
-WE GOOD?

Tara: WE TAKE THIS SHUTTLE
OVER TO THEIR STATION.

I MEAN, IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO FAR.
DO YOU THINK YOU CAN WALK IT?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

YEAH, I DON'T KNOW WHERE
TO PUT THIS CHAIR THOUGH.

THERE'S WHEELCHAIRS OVER THERE.
WE'LL JUST --

I'LL GO RUN IT OVER THERE.

OKAY.

I THINK JUSTIN IS KIND OF
STRESSED RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE FLIGHT
WAS ROUGH ON HIM.

ONCE WE LEAVE THE AIRPORT,

I THINK JUSTIN AND I
ARE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND GET THE RENTAL CAR,
WE'RE GONNA HEAD TO THE HOTEL,

AND WE'RE DEFINITELY
GONNA GET SOMETHING TO EAT

BECAUSE BOTH OF US
ARE REALLY HUNGRY.

AND THEN I THINK WE'RE JUST
GONNA SHUT IT DOWN

FOR THE NIGHT
AND GO TO BED.

ALL RIGHT.
THANKS, MAN.

Justin: I CAN'T WAIT FOR
THIS TRIP TO BE OVER WITH,

BUT I HAVE TO EAT SOON,
SO HOPEFULLY

WE CAN GET OUR RENTAL QUICKLY
AND GET GOING.

THE ONLY THING I WISH
I COULD AVOID IS DRIVING,

BUT MY MOM DOESN'T HAVE
A CREDIT CARD,

SO I HAVE TO RENT THE CAR.

SO AS WIPED OUT AS I AM,

I THINK I'M THE ONE THAT
HAS TO DRIVE US TO THE HOTEL.

ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS...

-THROUGH THERE.
-...WE GO UP THAT WAY.

BUT SO FAR, THIS HAS BEEN
SUCH A LONG TRIP,

AND I'M REALLY CLOSE
TO MY LIMIT.

HI.
WE HAVE A RESERVATION

FOR A LARGE S.U.V.
THAT WE NEED TO GET.

AS LONG AS IT'S A BIG CAR,
THAT SHOULD WORK

BECAUSE I DON'T DO WELL
IN SMALL CARS.

I'M A LITTLE BIT WORRIED
RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE
HOW BIG THIS VEHICLE'S GONNA BE.

BUT IF IT'S TOO SMALL, THEN
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO FIT,

AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY
GONNA BE AN ISSUE.

THERE IT IS.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIGHT.

IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

IT'S NOT GONNA WORK?

WELL, YOU CAN'T EVEN FIT
IN THERE, CAN YOU?

-NOT REALLY.
-OKAY.

WILL YOU GO AND SEE
IF THERE'S ANYTHING BIGGER?

AND ASK ABOUT
MAKING YOU A DRIVER.

OKAY.

I REALLY
CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

THIS IS
THE LAST THING I NEED.

I'M TRYING REALLY HARD NOT TO
SPIRAL AND HAVE A PANIC ATTACK.

BUT I'M BEYOND MY LIMIT
AT THIS POINT,

AND IF WE DON'T FIND
A SOLUTION QUICKLY,

IT'S GONNA GET REALLY BAD,

AND I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

Justin: MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN
TRAVELING ALL DAY,

AND WE'RE FINALLY IN HOUSTON.

ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET
SOMETHING TO EAT

AND GET TO OUR HOTEL AND REST,

BUT THE CAR RENTAL PLACE
MESSED UP OUR RESERVATION.

BUT IF WE DON'T FIGURE
THIS OUT SOON,

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO LAST MUCH LONGER.

IS THIS IT?
THE LIGHTS JUST TURNED ON.

TRY IT.

IF YOU DRIVE.

IT'S $13 A DAY.

IT.

I MEAN, HE SAID HE CAN PUT US
IN THE TRUCK.

DO YOU WANT TO
TRY THE TRUCK?

PROBABLY.

YEAH.

AS WIPED OUT AS I AM, I DON'T
WANT MY MOM TO HAVE TO DRIVE

BECAUSE SHE'S ALREADY DONE
A LOT FOR ME.

THIS LOOKS BETTER.

NOPE.

SHE HAS TO DRIVE.

OKAY.

SO WHICH ONE
DO YOU WANT?

I THINK
THIS IS THE BIGGEST.

IF WE CAN.

OKAY, WE'RE JUST GONNA
HAVE TO ADD ME AS A DRIVER.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
WE DIDN'T FIND A VEHICLE

I CAN DRIVE.

BUT AT THIS POINT,
WE JUST NEED TO GET THIS DONE

AND GET TO WHERE I CAN REST.

I'M SO WIPED OUT,
BUT THIS IS ALMOST OVER.

I JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT
FURTHER TO GO.

IT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

OH, I THINK
I'M GONNA LIKE THIS.

WE HAVE TO STOP
SO I CAN EAT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?

SWEET AND SPICY
BACON BURGER COMBO.

OKAY.

WE'LL TAKE A BACON
AND CHEESEBURGER.

Man:
Will that complete your order?

NO, CAN I GET A PATTY MELT
WITH BACON?

$17.62.

-THANK YOU.
-Thank you.

THANK YOU.

Justin: I'VE NEVER PUSHED MYSELF
ANYWHERE NEAR LIKE I HAVE TODAY,

SO THIS HAS BEEN REALLY HARD,

AND I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER GONE
THIS LONG WITHOUT EATING.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND GRAB
EVERYTHING OUT OF THE BACK.

SO THIS HAS ALL BEEN A LOT,

AND I'M JUST HOPING IT'S GONNA
TURN OUT TO BE WORTH IT.

LET'S HAVE DINNER
AND GO TO BED.

I HAVE MY FIRST APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW IN THE MORNING,

AND IF HE DOESN'T
LET ME DO HIS PROGRAM

AND GIVE ME A CHANCE
TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

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

IT'S NOT ABOUT TONIGHT,
IT'S ABOUT TOMORROW.

YEP.

I AM REALLY NERVOUS
ABOUT TOMORROW.

ARE YOU?

JUST BECAUSE
IT'S GETTING CLOSER TO THAT

EITHER MAKE OR BREAK
TIME.

MY MOM AND I ARE HEADED
TO DR. NOW'S CLINIC

FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT
WITH HIM.

I'M FEELING A LOT BETTER
AFTER RESTING SOME,

BUT MY ANXIETY
IS STILL REALLY HIGH

BECAUSE I KNOW I HAVE TO SEE
WHERE MY WEIGHT'S AT,

AND I'M HOPING
IT'S IN THE UPPER 500s

OR LOW 600s AT LEAST.

JUSTIN McSWAIN?

Justin: BUT I'M ALSO REALLY
NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW

IF THERE'S GONNA BE SOME REASON
THAT MAKES DR. NOW THINK

HE CAN'T HELP ME,

SO I'M HOPING IT GOES WELL
AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THAT NUMBER IS SHOCKING TO SEE

BECAUSE I KNEW
I WAS LIKELY IN THE 600s,

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS
THE LOW 600s,

SO GETTING HELP IS EVEN
MORE URGENT THAN I THOUGHT.

AND IT MAKES ME WORRY THAT
THERE'S A GREATER CHANCE

HE MAY SAY HE CAN'T HELP ME
SINCE I'M SO BIG.

-HELLO.
-HI.

-HI.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

ALL RIGHT.
YOURSELF?

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

-JUSTIN.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

I'M TARA.

AND YOU ARE...

-HIS MOTHER.
-HIS MOTHER.

OKAY.
WHERE ARE Y'ALL COMING FROM?

SOUTH CAROLINA.

SOUTH CAROLINA.
GREAT.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP
DOWN TO HOUSTON?

IT WAS THE LONGEST TRIP
I'VE TAKEN IN A WHILE.

YOU FEELING OKAY?

-YEAH.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO I TAKE IT YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE
YOU WANT TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT.

YEAH.

AND YOU ARE
27 YEARS OLD.

-YES, SIR.
-AND 687 POUNDS.

THAT'S A LOT OF WEIGHT GAIN
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

I HAD A LOT OF ISSUES
WITH FOOD GROWING UP

JUST WITH HOW MUCH
IT WAS CONTROLLED.

AND WHEN I GOT TO COLLEGE,
I LET IT GET OUT OF HAND.

IS THAT FROM PROBABLY
BEING IN A DORM?

WERE YOU ON YOUR OWN
DURING THAT TIME?

-YEAH.
-SO YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN ENABLER,

WHICH MEANS
YOUR PATHOLOGICAL EATING

IS MOSTLY THE RESULT
OF SOME SEVERE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE GOING TO RUN
REALLY DEEP WITH YOU.

I'VE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS
WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY

THAT I DIDN'T DEAL WITH
FOR A LONG TIME.

WHAT TRIGGERED
THE DEPRESSION?

A LOT OF THAT CAME FROM
JUST CHILDHOOD

AND THE WAY
THAT I WAS RAISED.

THERE WERE A LOT OF ISSUES
THAT I'VE ONLY JUST STARTED

SORT OF REALLY GETTING INTO
WITH MY PSYCHIATRIST.

OKAY, WELL, IT'S GOOD YOU'VE
BEEN GOING TO SEE A PSYCHIATRIST

BECAUSE DEALING WITH
THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES

IS GONNA BE
VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT I'M CONCERNED IT HASN'T
LED YOU TO ANY WEIGHT LOSS,

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT
YOUR EATING HABITS NOW.

DO YOU EAT AT HOME
OR YOU EAT OUT?

I EAT AT HOME.

SO WHO COOKS?

I'LL COOK FOR MYSELF.

I HAVE GROCERIES
DELIVERED.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
GROCERIES DELIVERED?

YOU CAN'T GO AND BUY
YOUR OWN GROCERIES?

I'M NOT ABLE TO WALK AROUND
LONG ENOUGH

TO GO TO
THE GROCERY STORE.

A FEW MINUTES TOPS.

WHO ELSE LIVES
IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD?

I LIVE ALONE.

BUT MY MOM COMES OVER
TO HELP ME OUT.

DOES YOUR MOM
BRING YOU FOOD NOW?

-YEAH.
-SO SHE'S YOUR ENABLER NOW.

AND THAT COMBINED WITH
YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUES

DRIVING YOU TO EAT
CREATE THE POTENTIAL

FOR YOU TO GAIN MORE
THAN YOU EVER HAVE,

AND THAT'S NOT
A GOOD SCENARIO AT ALL

BECAUSE YOU ALREADY
ARE ALMOST 700 POUNDS.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE SOLUTION

WILL BE TO YOUR PROBLEM?

I NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY
THAT I HANDLE FOOD.

I WOULD AGREE,
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW

IF YOU GAIN ANOTHER 50
TO 70 POUNDS,

YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO MOVE
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE BEDRIDDEN.

YEAH.

AND IF YOU LET THAT HAPPEN,
IF YOU LIVE ALONE,

WHO'S GONNA
TAKE CARE OF YOU?

I DON'T HAVE ANYONE
IN THAT CASE.

YOU HAVE YOUR MOTHER,
BUT I KNOW

YOU DON'T WANT THINGS
TO BE THAT WAY.

NO.

SO YOU REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO MAKE

THE CHANGES YOU NEED NOW?

-I DO.
-BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE 27,

IF YOU KEEP THIS UP
AND THE WAY YOU'RE GOING,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT
TO 30, OKAY?

YEAH.

SO YOU NEED TO WORK ON THAT
AND MAKE THE CHANGES RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT I NEED TO SEE FROM YOU
BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING ELSE

IS A WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARD
AT MAKING THOSE CHANGES.

AND TO DO THAT, I'M GONNA
PUT YOU ON A 1,200 CALORIE,

HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB DIET THAT
YOU NEED TO COMPLETELY STICK TO.

AND IF YOU DO THAT,
WHEN YOU ARE 600 POUNDS,

YOU CAN EASILY LOSE
50 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.

BUT I'M GIVING YOU TWO MONTHS
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU

TRAVELLING BACK
AND FORTH TOO MUCH

TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T PUT
TOO MUCH STRAIN ON YOUR BODY

RIGHT NOW.
-OKAY.

SO I WANT TO SEE 100-POUNDS
WEIGHT LOSS IN THAT TIME,

AND I WANT YOU
TO START EXERCISING

FOR AT LEAST
30 MINUTES A DAY.

-OKAY.
-YOU'RE RELATIVELY YOUNG,

SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE
ACTIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM.

GOT IT?
-YEAH.

IF YOU DO THAT AND HIT YOUR GOAL
BY YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT,

I'LL APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

BUT IF WE DO THEN YOU'RE GONNA
NEED TO MOVE DOWN HERE

TO HOUSTON,

AND YOU WILL NEED
SOMEONE TO MOVE WITH YOU

BECAUSE
YOU WILL NEED HELP

UNTIL YOU START LOSING
A LOT OF WEIGHT.

SO YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THAT?

AT THIS POINT, I'M COMMITTED
TO GETTING HEALTHY

AND LOSING THE WEIGHT
NO MATTER WHAT.

THAT'S MY PRIORITY, SO IF
IT MEANS MOVING TO HOUSTON,

THEN YES, I'M ABSOLUTELY WILLING
AND READY TO DO THAT.

RIGHT.

AND THE LAST THING THAT'S
GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT

FOR A SURGERY
ARE YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

OKAY.

IF WE APPROVE YOU
AND YOU JOIN THE PROGRAM,

WE WILL NEED TO SET YOU UP
WITH A THERAPIST DOWN HERE

BECAUSE
I NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY DEALING
WITH WHAT YOU NEED.

I'D LIKE THAT.

THAT'S GOOD
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T,

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUE WILL
COME TO SURFACE SOONER OR LATER

AND GONNA DERAIL
ALL THE PROGRESS YOU MAKE

WITH THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
-YEAH.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
VERY IMPORTANT,

BUT WE'LL GET YOU
THE HELP YOU NEED

AS LONG AS YOU
DO YOUR PART.

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.
-THANK YOU.

YOU, TOO.
-ALL RIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU.

-THANK YOU SO MUCH.
-ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL.

-THANK YOU.
-THANK YOU.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WITH WHAT
I ALREADY SEE FROM JUSTIN,

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT

BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR HE HAS
SIGNIFICANT EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT ARE BEHIND HIS PATHOLOGY
TO OVEREAT

AND USE FOOD AS A WAY
OF COPING WITH HIS LIFE,

AND IT'S NOT GONNA
BE EASY TO CHANGE THAT.

ON TOP OF THAT, IT REMAINS
TO BE SEEN BY ME

IF HIS MOM IS A POSITIVE OR
NEGATIVE INFLUENCE IN HIS LIFE,

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF OBSTACLES
TO OVERCOME WITH JUSTIN

TO GET HIM TO
WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE.

BUT IT'S UP TO HIM TO TAKE
THE FIRST STEP

TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.

Justin:
I'M FEELING A LITTLE RELIEVED
THAT DR. NOW IS GONNA HELP ME.

BUT I KNOW IF I DON'T DO THIS
AND HIT DR. NOW'S GOAL,

IT WILL NOT ONLY MEAN I'M NOT
GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT I COULD ALSO LOSE
THIS CHANCE TO GET HELP.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS,
IT WILL BE DEVASTATING

BECAUSE MY LIFE
IS DEFINITELY IN THE BALANCE.

DR. NOW IS MY BEST HOPE,

SO IT'S DEFINITELY
NOW OR NEVER.

Justin: SINCE SEEING DR. NOW,

I'VE BEEN HITTING MY DIET
AND EXERCISE HARD.

I'VE STARTED WORKING OUT
AT A NEARBY GYM,

AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME
I'VE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

AND NORMALLY, I WOULDN'T HAVE
EVEN CONSIDERED IT

BECAUSE OF MY ANXIETY,
BUT MY MOM FOUND ME A GYM NEARBY

THAT HAS A MORE PRIVATE ROOM
TO WORK OUT,

AND I'VE REALLY STARTED
TO ENJOY THAT TIME.

THE FIRST FEW TIMES
WERE REALLY HARD,

BUT NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M ABLE TO
DO MORE AND I'M MAKING PROGRESS.

AND WHEN PEOPLE COME IN,
AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TOO MANY,

I CAN HANDLE IT.

TAKING THAT TRIP TO HOUSTON
HELPED ME

GET A LITTLE MORE
USED TO BEING IN PUBLIC

BECAUSE I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
A CHOICE THEN.

AND I GOT TO SEE HOW MUCH
I COULD HANDLE

BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS JUST AVOIDED
GOING OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,

AND IF I HAD TO,
I MADE IT QUICK.

BUT I'M TRYING TO WORK ON THAT
FEAR AND ANXIETY OF BEING OUT

BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GONNA
HAVE TO DO IT MORE

ESPECIALLY
FOR MY NEXT TRIP TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE MY MOM ISN'T GONNA
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

SHE'S TRAVELING FOR A FEW WEEKS,

BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISS
MY APPOINTMENT.

SO I PLAN TO MAKE THE TRIP
ON MY OWN,

NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

AND IF I GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

MY MOM IS EVEN GONNA
PUT HER WHOLE LIFE ON HOLD

TO MOVE DOWN TO HOUSTON WITH ME,

AND I'M THANKFUL AND EXCITED
ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.

WHEN I RUN OUT OF GROCERIES
AT THE HOUSE,

THERE'S ONLY REALLY ONE PLACE

I CAN GO TO GET SOMETHING
THAT'S DECENT,

SO I'M ON MY WAY THERE NOW TO
JUST GET SOME GRILLED CHICKEN.

Woman: Hi, what can I get
for you today?

CAN I GET TWO 12-COUNTS
OF THE GRILLED NUGGETS,

JUST THE ENTREE,
AND A LARGE ICE WATER?

NOPE, THAT'S IT.

-HERE YOU GO, SIR.
-THANKS, MAN.

-MY PLEASURE.
-YOU HAVE A GOOD ONE.

IT FEELS LIKE I'VE REVAMPED MY
WHOLE LIFE FROM THE GROUND UP.

AND INSTEAD OF
JUST EATING ALL DAY,

I'M STICKING TO EATING
ONLY THREE TIMES A DAY

WITH FOOD THAT'S ON
DR. NOW'S DIET PLAN,

SO THAT'S A HUGE CHANGE FOR ME.

HEY, FINN.
HEY, BUDDY.

I JUST HAVE TO KEEP WORKING HARD
AND MAKE SURE

I HIT MY GOAL
BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.

I HAVE A LITTLE OVER A MONTH
BEFORE THAT,

AND I DON'T PLAN TO LET UP
EVEN FOR A MOMENT UNTIL THEN.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET
AND PUSHING MYSELF TO WORK

AS HARD AS I CAN

SO THAT WHEN I GO BACK DOWN
AND STEP ON THAT SCALE,

I KNOW THAT NO MATTER
WHAT THAT NUMBER IS,

I DID EVERYTHING I COULD
TO GET WHERE I NEED.

I JUST REALLY HOPE IT'S ENOUGH.

I'M CURRENTLY BACK IN HOUSTON
AND ON MY WAY TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR MY FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE
A LOT IS RIDING ON TODAY.

THE PAST TWO MONTHS
HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD.

BUT KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT
THIS IS,

I'VE WORKED AS HARD AS
I COULD TO STICK WITH IT,

AND I KNOW I'VE MADE PROGRESS

BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH EASIER
IT IS TO GET AROUND.

I JUST NEED IT TO BE ENOUGH.

JUSTIN McSWAIN?

Justin: WHEN I WAS HERE LAST,
I WAS UP TO 687,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME
I HAD TO LOSE

AT LEAST 100 POUNDS
OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

THAT MEANS IF I HIT MY GOAL,

I'LL BE DOWN TO 587 TODAY,

WHICH I'M REALLY HOPING I DID.

595.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S AMAZING.

I KNOW I'M NOT QUITE
TO THE GOAL DR. NOW GAVE ME,

BUT THIS IS A LOT
OF WEIGHT LOSS,

AND I'M HOPING
IT SHOW'S DR. NOW

I'M READY FOR SURGERY
AND HE APPROVES ME TODAY.

HI, JUSTIN.
HOW ARE YOU?

PRETTY GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GREAT, ESPECIALLY SEEING
YOUR WEIGHT LOSS.

YOU LOST 92 POUNDS
IN TWO MONTHS.

NOT QUITE 100,
BUT THAT'S CLOSE ENOUGH,

SO I'M APPROVING YOU
FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT?

AWESOME.

BUT BEFORE WE MOVE AHEAD,

YOU NEED TO MOVE DOWN HERE
TO HOUSTON,

SO YOU READY FOR THAT?

OKAY. YEAH.

GREAT.

BUT REMEMBER, YOU NEED
SOMEONE TO MOVE WITH YOU

BECAUSE, AT YOUR SIZE,

IT CAN BE DANGEROUS TO LIVE ON
YOUR OWN LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN.

SO IF YOU MAKE THE MOVE
DOWN TO HOUSTON,

WHO'S GONNA LIVE
WITH YOU?

MOST LIKELY MY MOTHER.
OKAY.

THAT SOUNDS FINE, AS LONG AS YOU
DON'T LET HER ENABLE YOU.

BUT WITH YOUR CURRENT PROGRESS,
IT SEEMS THAT YOU ALREADY MADE

SOME CHANGES
IN YOUR DYNAMIC WITH HER.

SO AS LONG AS IT STAYS THAT WAY,
IT SHOULD BE FINE, OKAY?

OKAY.

SO AS SOON AS YOU'RE
FULLY DOWN HERE,

LET ME KNOW AND WE'LL GET YOU
ON THE SCHEDULE

AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO LOSE
AND STAY ON TRACK, OKAY?

OKAY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T,

WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

AND WE'LL NEED TO START
THIS PROCESS AGAIN, GOT IT?

YES, SIR.

BUT RIGHT NOW
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I'M VERY PROUD OF JUSTIN
AND THE PROGRESS HE HAS MADE.

HE'S MADE AN EFFORT TO START
TO CHANGE

THE DYSFUNCTIONAL DYNAMIC
BETWEEN HIM AND HIS MOM,

AND I KNOW ALL
THAT WASN'T EASY.

BUT ULTIMATELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL
IN THE LONG TERM,

JUSTIN IS GONNA NEED
TO WORK

THROUGH A LOT
OF HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE NEXT STEP
FOR HIM

WILL BE TO GET
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

AND AS SOON AS HE AND HIS MOM
HAVE MOVED DOWN HERE,

WE WILL MOVE
AHEAD WITH THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

KEEP LOSING LIKE YOU ARE
AND STAY ON TRACK.

AND I'LL WAIT FOR YOU
TO GET DOWN TO HOUSTON

AND WE'LL SEE YOU THEN,
OKAY?

-THANK YOU, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT.

Justin: I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY
RIGHT NOW

ABOUT HOW THIS APPOINTMENT WENT

AND THAT I'M APPROVED
FOR SURGERY.

I WISH MY MOM WAS HERE
TO FIND OUT WITH ME,

BUT I'M EXCITED AND I KNOW
MY MOM'S EXCITED FOR ME, TOO.

SHE'S PUTTING A LOT OF THINGS
ON HOLD FOR ME

TO HELP ME DO THIS,
AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL.

I'VE WANTED TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND HAVE MY MOM
IN MY LIFE AGAIN,

AND I'M GETTING BOTH,

SO I'M VERY EXCITED
AND I CAN'T WAIT.

SINCE I GOT BACK HOME
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,

I'VE BEEN GETTING READY
TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.

MY MOM IS STILL TRAVELING
FOR ANOTHER WEEK,

AND MY GOAL HAS BEEN TO GET AS
MUCH DONE BEFORE SHE GETS BACK.

BUT I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I'M
TALKING TO HER IN A LITTLE BIT,

AND I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO TELL
HER I'VE ALREADY GOT A LOT DONE.

I EVEN FOUND SOME RENTERS
TO LEASE MY HOUSE.

I ALSO FOUND AN APARTMENT ONLINE
FOR ME AND MY MOM.

IT FEELS LIKE EVERYTHING'S
FALLING INTO PLACE,

SO ONCE MY MOM
GETS BACK INTO TOWN,

ALL SHE HAS TO DO
IS PACK WHAT SHE WANTS,

AND THEN WE CAN GO AND I CAN GET
MY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

THIS COULD DEFINITELY BE
AN OPPORTUNITY

TO REBUILD THE RELATIONSHIP
THAT I HAVE WITH MY MOM.

THIS IS A REAL GOOD TIME FOR HER

TO BE A SOLID PRESENCE
IN MY LIFE,

SO RIGHT NOW
I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

HEY, MOM, HOW ARE YOU?

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

All right.

YEAH.
THAT'S GOOD.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO WHEN YOU GET BACK

SO THAT WE CAN
HEAD DOWN TO HOUSTON.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE CARE
OF EVERYTHING

BECAUSE I KNOW
THIS IS A BIG MOVE

FOR YOU ALL THE WAY OUT
TO TEXAS IS KIND OF...

It's a long way to go.

YEAH.
IT'S A REALLY LONG WAY TO GO.

SO, DO YOU THINK YOU'LL BE
READY WHEN YOU GET BACK?

Mm.

Not really.

It's kind of a struggle.

Everything has turned
into a struggle right now.

I thought I had a lot of --
well, not a lot,

but I thought I had
a couple good prospects

anyway with a job,
but that didn't work out,

and it's been a struggle
keeping bills paid.

It's been a struggle
keeping everything together

and it's just not working,
it's falling apart,

which kind of brings me
to the whole point of,

I'm not gonna be able
to move with you, honey.

I want to.
I want to really bad.

I hope you know that,
but it's just financially,

there's no way I can do it.

I can't afford things
down there,

and it's just not possible.

YEAH.

You know, I hope you realize
that I really --

from the beginning, I wanted
to do this with you so bad.

I UNDERSTAND.

I'LL FIND A SOLUTION.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE
TO FIND A SOLUTION.

I feel really bad
for letting you down again.

I KNOW IT'S NOT WHAT EITHER
OF US WANTED, BUT...

I do.
I wanted to be there.

I'll just have to do it
a little bit from a distance.

I mean, I still support
you 100%.

You okay?

YEAH.

I MEAN, I DON'T REALLY
HANDLE EMOTIONS VERY WELL.

I know, sweetheart.

I'M FEELING A LITTLE
DISAPPOINTED.

REAL THOUGHT RIGHT NOW
IS JUST FINDING A SOLUTION.

-Yeah.
-THIS IS JUST REALLY BAD TIMING.

IT WOULD JUST BE NICE IF LIFE
WORKED OUT THE WAY

THAT WE WANTED IT TO
A BIT MORE OFTEN.

Yeah.

You can say that again.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE JOURNEY
AS LONG AS YOU HAVE WITH ME.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

Okay.
ALL RIGHT.

BYE.

Justin: FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
MY MOM WAS SAYING

THAT SHE WAS GONNA BE THERE
BY MY SIDE

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE THING.

BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME
THAT MY MOM

HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO COME THROUGH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO,

OR IF I'M EVEN ABLE
TO MOVE TO HOUSTON,

BUT IF I DON'T, THEN IT'S GONNA
COST ME THE LAST CHANCE

I HAVE TO SAVE MY LIFE.

Justin:
THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN HARD,

AND IT HAS NOT GONE
ANYWHERE NEAR HOW I HOPED

BECAUSE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO,

I WAS ABOUT READY
TO MOVE DOWN TO HOUSTON,

BUT MY MOM DECIDED THAT
SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE

TO MOVE DOWN WITH ME.

SO I CALLED MY DAD TO COME UP
AND SEE ME

AND TO HELP ME
FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION.

BUT WHAT HE DOESN'T REALIZE
IS THAT

I'M HOPING HE'LL CONSIDER
MOVING TO HOUSTON WITH ME

SO I CAN DO THIS.

BECAUSE MY WHOLE LIFE
IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE.

HEY.
-WHAT'S UP?

NOTHING.
COME ON IN.

WHAT'S HAPPENING,
FINN?

YOU BEEN GOOD, BUDDY.

THANKS FOR COMING OVER.

MM-HMM.

I HAD A TALK WITH MOM,

AND SHE'S NOT GONNA BE
MAKING IT TO HOUSTON WITH ME.

SEE, I WASN'T REALLY SHOCKED
ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

IT'S DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE
I REALLY DID WANT...

IT'S TERRIBLY DISAPPOINTING,
I'M SURE.

I WANTED IT TO WORK,
BUT...

WHAT DO YOU DO NOW?
WHO DO YOU TAKE?

I WAS KIND OF HOPING
YOU'D BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

NOW I'M SHOCKED.

I KNOW IT'S A LOT TO ASK,
AND ON PRETTY SHORT NOTICE.

YOU GOT TO GO TO HOUSTON?

HOUSTON, TEXAS.

WE GOT DOCTORS HERE,
DON'T WE?

YEAH, BUT WE DON'T HAVE
DR. NOW.

SO IF IT COULD WORK OUT,
WHEN WOULD WE HAVE TO BE THERE?

HE WANTS ME THERE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER
I WAS LOOKING FOR.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS HE WANTS
ME THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESS
THAT I'VE MADE.

ALL RIGHT. I CAN'T ARGUE
WITH THAT LOGIC, THEN,

I'M GOOD
WITH THAT, TOO, THEN.

DAMN.

AND IT'S FOR 12 MONTHS?

-YEAH.
-ALL 12 OF THEM?

YEAH.

I'M NOT TRYING TO PUSH IT
ON YOU.

WELL, IF I HADN'T WITNESSED
HOW HARD YOU BEEN WORKING,

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T
EVEN BE CONSIDERING IT.

AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE
DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND I'M AFRAID IF YOU DON'T
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT,

YOU'RE GONNA WIND UP DEAD.

YOU'RE NOT WRONG.

WE'LL COME UP
WITH SOMETHING.

THANK YOU.

IF IT'S GOT YOU LOSING
THE WEIGHT,

WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT
THAT WAY.

YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, DUDE.

I'M GONNA HEAD TO THE HOUSE.

Justin:
AFTER MY MOM BACKED OUT,

I WAS FEELING SO EMPTY
AND HOPELESS

FOR THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS,

SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL
FOR MY DAD.

ALL RIGHT.
I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'LL LET YOU KNOW
HOW IT GOES.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW HE CARES ABOUT ME
AND WANTS ME TO BE ALL RIGHT,

SO HIM BEING HERE FOR ME
NOW MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME.

TWO MONTHS HAS PASSED
SINCE I TALKED TO MY DAD,

AND HE SAID HE'D MOVE
TO HOUSTON WITH ME.

IT'S TAKEN A LOT LONGER
THAN I EVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED

TO FINALLY BE ABLE
TO MAKE THIS MOVE,

BUT I'M JUST REALLY GLAD MY DAD
IS READY AND WE'RE DOING THIS.

HE ALREADY HAS HIS STUFF
PACKED UP,

SO ONCE WE GET ALL MINE
LOADED IN THE TRAILER,

WE'RE HEADED DOWN.

BUT THIS IS A LOT MORE WORK
THAN I EXPECTED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH STUFF
I HAD,

SO THIS IS A LOT
OF ACTIVITY AND LIFTING.

I STACKED SOME MORE BOXES
AS SOON AS YOU GO IN THE DOOR.

OKAY.

WOULD YOU MIND CLEARING OUT
SOME MORE SPACE ON THE LEFT?

YEAH.

I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT HOW
I'M GONNA HANDLE

BEING ON THE ROAD
AND IN A CAR FOR SO LONG.

BUT THANKFULLY, I'VE BEEN
ABLE TO WORK OUT

THE SAME APARTMENT OPTION
I ORIGINALLY HAD.

SO IT ALL WORKED OUT,
AND IT'S A RELIEF TO KNOW

WE HAVE A PLACE READY TO MOVE
INTO ONCE WE GET DOWN THERE,

BUT I STILL REALLY
WOULD HAVE PREFERRED

MOVING DOWN TO HOUSTON EARLIER
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD

TRYING TO STICK TO WHAT I NEED
FOR SO LONG,

ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S BEEN
REALLY STRESSFUL AT TIMES.

SO I'M JUST HOPING I'M PAST
THE WORST OF THIS NOW,

AND ONCE WE GET DOWN THERE,
I'LL GET SURGERY,

AND THINGS
WILL START TO GET EASIER.

BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND
OF PROGRESS I'VE BEEN MAKING.

DR. NOW TOLD ME HE'S REALLY
CONCERNED ABOUT

HOW LONG IT'S BEEN
SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK TO SEE HIM

AND WHAT THAT COULD MEAN
ABOUT MY WEIGHT.

Johnny: JUSTIN HASN'T LIVED WITH
ME SINCE HE WENT TO COLLEGE,

SO WE'RE BOTH GONNA
HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

AND LEARN OURSELVES OVER AGAIN.

BUT I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT.

LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,
TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH,

BECAUSE HE'S MY SON

AND I'D DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
FOR HIM, YOU KNOW.

HEY, BUDDY.

HI, ROCKSTAR,
YOU READY TO GO?

HE TOLD ME ONCE I GOT HERE
THAT HE'S GONNA BRING HIS DOG,

AND I TOLD HIM THAT'S OKAY
BECAUSE I WAS GONNA WAIT

UNTIL I GOT HERE
TO BREAK IT TO HIM

THAT I WAS BRINGING MY BIRD,

SO I GUESS WE BOTH
WENT DOWN THAT ROAD.

GIVE ME KISSES.

ON THREE.
ON THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

GOOD GIRL.

Justin: DR. NOW SAID
THAT IF I HAVEN'T

CONTINUED
TO MAKE PROGRESS

THAT WE WON'T BE MOVING AHEAD
WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN I
DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

ALL RIGHT, DUDE,
LET'S GO.

BECAUSE I CAN'T HAVE COME THIS
FAR AND WORKED THIS HARD

JUST TO END UP
LOSING IT ALL IN THE END.

Justin: AFTER TWO DAYS ON THE
ROAD, WE'VE MADE IT TO HOUSTON.

IT WAS A HARD DRIVE,
AND I'M EXTREMELY SORE.

BEING IN A CAR FOR TWO DAYS
HAS TAKEN A BIT OF A TOLL ON ME.

COME ON, FINN.

I'M SORRY, BUDDY.

SO I'M JUST WORN OUT RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE.

THE ONLY THING IS NOW, WE HAVE
TO GET EVERYTHING MOVED IN

AND THE TRAILER RETURNED TODAY.

Johnny: I FEEL EXHAUSTED.

GOT A LOT MORE KINKS IN MY BODY
THAN I USED TO,

SO JUSTIN, HE'S GONNA UNLOAD IT,
BUT HE'S EXHAUSTED, TOO.

I'VE ALREADY SEEN A CHANGE
IN HIM, BUT YOU KNOW, I MEAN,

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH
HE CAN DO BY HIMSELF.

Justin: THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN
HARDER THAN I THOUGHT

ESPECIALLY AFTER SUCH
A LONG TRIP.

MY DAD'S HAVING A HARD TIME
EVEN MOVING AROUND

BECAUSE HE HAS
A BAD BACK INJURY,

SO HE'S IN SO MUCH PAIN
RIGHT NOW,

AND HE'S NOT IN
ANY STATE TO HELP.

SO THIS IS STARTING TO FEEL
LIKE THIS IS JUST TOO MUCH.

DAD.
YEAH.

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO FINISH THIS TODAY.

I CAN GET YOUR BED
AND STUFF OUT,

BUT I CAN'T FINISH THIS
TODAY.

I FEEL LIKE
I'M GONNA PUKE.

I'LL PAY WHATEVER EXTRA IT COSTS
FOR THE LATE FEE.

I DON'T KNOW, MAN.

YEAH, IT'S FINE.

GO INSIDE AND CHILL OUT
IN THE A/C.

I'LL GET THE REST OF THIS.

Justin: I'VE COME A LONG WAY,
BUT I'M AT MY LIMIT,

BUT WE HAVE TO GET
EVERYTHING IN TOMORROW

BECAUSE I CALLED DR. NOW
ON THE WAY DOWN AND TOLD HIM

THAT I'M FINALLY GONNA
BE HERE IN HOUSTON

AND THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD

AND MADE A LOT
OF PROGRESS AGAIN.

AND HE SCHEDULED MY SURGERY
FOR A FEW DAYS FROM NOW.

BUT HE TOLD ME IF I WAS WRONG

AND I SHOW UP
AND HAVEN'T MADE THAT PROGRESS

THEN WE WON'T MOVE AHEAD
WITH MY SURGERY.

SO AS HAPPY AS I AM
TO FINALLY BE HERE

AND TO HAVE A DATE FOR SURGERY,

I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS
ABOUT THAT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY
FOR THREE MONTHS,

BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW
IF IT'S GONNA HAPPEN,

SO I'M JUST TRYING
TO HOLD IT TOGETHER.

I'M FIDGETY AND NERVOUS
AND ANXIOUS.

I JUST WANT THIS DONE.

HEY, JUSTIN.

AT MY LAST WEIGH IN,
I WAS DOWN TO 595,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME
I NEED TO MAKE SURE

I KEPT LOSING A GOOD AMOUNT
OF WEIGHT,

SO I'M HOPING I MADE
ENOUGH PROGRESS TO DO THAT.

I WAS HOPING I'D BE IN THE 400s,

BUT THAT'S ALMOST 90 POUNDS
OF WEIGHT LOSS IN THREE MONTHS.

BUT I GUESS WHAT ULTIMATELY
MATTERS IS WHETHER OR NOT

DR. NOW THINKS IT'S ENOUGH
TO MOVE AHEAD WITH MY SURGERY.

HI, JUSTIN.

HEY, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

ANXIOUS.
WELL, THAT'S NORMAL.

YOU'RE GOING TO SURGERY,
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PICNIC.

SO SURGERY GONNA TAKE
ABOUT AN HOUR,

AND THEN LATER ON,
YOU'RE GONNA BE UP

AND WALKING AND TAKING
SOME LIQUID, OKAY?

OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GET YOU FIXED UP
SHORTLY.

-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT. TAKE CARE.

Justin: I GUESS DR. NOW
THINKS I'M READY

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS
AND WHAT IT MEANS.

I'M READY FOR MY LIFE TO CHANGE.

I'VE BEEN READY FOR MY LIFE
TO CHANGE.

ALL RIGHT.
I LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'LL SEE YOU IN A BIT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA
BE A PROBLEM.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S RISKS
INVOLVED IN SURGERY,

BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBTS
OR REGRETS ABOUT THIS.

THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO NO MATTER WHAT, I KNOW
I'M MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION

BECAUSE THIS SURGERY
IS GONNA GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
TODAY WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO

A GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE
ON JUSTIN.

HE STAYED DETERMINED AND
ON TRACK WITH HIS WEIGHT LOSS,

SO I FEEL LIKE HE'S MORE
THAN READY FOR THIS OPERATION.

BUT EVEN WITH
ALL HIS WEIGHT LOSS,

HE'S STILL OVER 500 POUNDS,

AND ANY OPERATION ON A PATIENT
THAT SIZE IS VERY HIGH RISK

BECAUSE THEIR BODY IS ALREADY
UNDER SO MUCH STRAIN

FROM THEIR WEIGHT THAT ANY
ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THEIR BODY

CAN BE ENOUGH TO PUSH IT
OVER THE LIMIT

TO WHERE A LIFE-THREATENING
SITUATION CAN DEVELOP AGAIN.

SO AS ALWAYS, WE'RE GONNA KEEP
A CLOSE EYE ON JUSTIN

AND MAKE SURE THAT
THERE IS NOTHING

THAT HAPPENS THAT CONCERNS US.

AND IF THERE IS ANYTHING,

WE WILL HAVE TO END
THE OPERATION EARLY,

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE
TO COMPLETE

JUSTIN'S OPERATION TODAY

BECAUSE THIS WILL BE
AN IMPORTANT TOOL FOR JUSTIN

TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK
AND CONTINUE LOSING WEIGHT.

BECAUSE GASTRIC SLEEVE
IS AN OPERATION

THAT REDUCES
THE STOMACH BY 90%,

LEAVING A SMALL, NARROW TUBE
THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A SLEEVE.

SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM

AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

Johnny:
I'M JUST KIND OF NERVOUS.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO SIT HERE

AND WAIT FOR THAT DOCTOR
TO COME BACK

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
TO HAPPEN TO JUSTIN.

HE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME,

AND I'D BE DEVASTATED
IF I LOST HIM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT,
CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.

OKAY.
ALL FINISHED.

JUSTIN'S SURGERY
WENT VERY WELL.

WE WERE ABLE TO DO
THE DISCECTOMY

AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES
OR COMPLICATIONS,

SO NOW WE TAKE HIM
TO RECOVERY,

AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO GO HOME IN A FEW DAYS.

HE WILL BE ON A LIQUID DIET
FOR THE FIRST MONTH,

SO HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
ANOTHER 40 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.

AND AFTER THAT, HE SHOULD BE
ABLE TO LOSE AT LEAST

25 POUNDS A MONTH UNTIL HE GETS
CLOSE TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT.

UP TO THIS POINT, JUSTIN HAS
STAYED VERY DETERMINED

AND FOCUSED AND HAS DONE WELL.

BUT NO MATTER HOW HARD HE'S
WILLING TO WORK, AT SOME POINT,

JUSTIN'S SEVERE EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING HIM

TO EAT FOR YEARS
WILL START TO OVERWHELM HIM.

SO AS SOON AS HE'S RECOVERED
ENOUGH FROM HIS SURGERY,

HE'S GONNA NEED TO START
WORKING WITH A PSYCHOTHERAPIST.

AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT HE DOES THAT

BEFORE THOSE ISSUES
COME BACK TO THE SURFACE

AND START TO DRIVE HIM
TO OVEREATING.

AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS

IF WE DON'T DO THIS.

Justin:
SINCE MY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY,

I'VE HAD A CHECKUP
WITH DR. NOW

AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED
TO SEE MY WEIGHT

AND FIND OUT I WAS IN THE 400s.

SO THE SURGERY'S WORKING,
AND I FEEL GOOD AND LIKE,

THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

BUT DR. NOW TOLD ME
IT'S TIME

I START THE PROCESS
OF ADDRESSING

THE OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE LED
TO ALL MY WEIGHT GAIN,

SO I'M HEADED TO
MY FIRST APPOINTMENT

WITH A THERAPIST TODAY.

AND OVERALL, I HAVE
MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT IT,

BUT I KNOW
IT'S SOMETHING IMPORTANT

I HAVE TO DO,
SO I'M WILLING TO DO IT.

HI, I'M DR. PARADISE.

JUSTIN.
GOOD TO MEET YOU.

-YOU TOO.
-COME ON IN.

YEAH.

SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

THANK YOU.TELL ME ABOUT GROWING UP.

WHO WAS IN YOUR HOUSE
GROWING UP?

I GREW UP WITH MY DAD,
MY STEPMOM, A STEPSISTER,

AND A HALF SISTER.

OKAY.
SO YOU GREW UP IN THAT HOUSE.

WHERE WAS
YOUR BIOLOGICAL MOM?

MY ACTUAL MOM CAME IN
AND OUT A LOT.

SHE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH DRUGS
AND SHE'D SORT OF DROP OFF

THE FACE OF THE EARTH
FOR, YOU KNOW, A MONTH...

WOW. YEAH.
...OR YEARS.

DO YOU REMEMBER HAVING FEELINGS
ABOUT YOUR MOM

BEING SO INCONSISTENT?

YEAH.

I REMEMBER FEELING LIKE LIFE
WAS UNFAIR,

AND LOOKING BACK AT IT NOW,

I FEEL LIKE I ACTED OUT
A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THAT.

A LOT OF IT WAS
TURNING TO FOOD.

HAVE YOU EVER EXPRESSED
ANY DISAPPOINTMENT TO HER?

HAVE YOU EVER TALKED TO HER
ABOUT NOT BEING AROUND?

NO, ACTUALLY, IT'S THE OPPOSITE
WITH MY MOM,

ESPECIALLY GROWING UP,
I DID NOT STAND UP FOR MYSELF.

I WONDER WHAT AFFECT
THAT'S HAD ON YOU.

PROBABLY NOT A GOOD ONE.

WELL, YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE HOLDING A LOT BACK.

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

I WONDER IF THERE
ARE OPPORTUNITIES

TO STICK UP FOR YOURSELF
WITH YOUR MOM

IN WAYS THAT INCREASE
YOUR SELF-WORTH MOVING FORWARD.

HAVE YOU FORGIVEN HER?

I FORGIVE HER, BUT THAT --
I MEAN, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN FORGIVING
AND FORGETTING.

SHE'S THE ONE WHO TOLD ME
IF I DON'T GET MY HOPES UP,

I CAN'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

OH, SHE TOLD YOU THAT?YEAH.

LET'S BRING IT UP
TO THE PRESENT.

WHAT ARE THE BIG OBSTACLES
FOR YOU RIGHT NOW?

ANXIETY IS MY BIGGEST ISSUE.OKAY.

THE BIGGEST TRIGGERS HAVE ALWAYS
BEEN LEAVING THE HOUSE

AND GOING OUT.

ONE OF THE WORST THINGS
YOU CAN DO FOR ANXIETY

IS TO DO THE DYSFUNCTIONAL THING
THAT MAKES IT GO AWAY.

SO IF YOU'RE FEELING ANXIOUS
ABOUT STAYING IN THE HOUSE

AND THEN YOU DON'T GO OUT,

IT INCREASES YOUR ANXIETY
THE NEXT TIME.

IT BUILDS THE ANXIETY.

SO WHEN YOU'RE FEELING ANXIOUS
ABOUT GOING OUT,

THAT'S EVEN MORE REASON
TO LEAVE THE HOUSE

BECAUSE THAT WILL, OVER TIME,
DESENSITIZE YOU TO THAT FEELING.

SORT OF LIKE JUST FACING
YOUR FEARS HEAD ON?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

I WANT TO BE HOPEFUL FOR YOU.

YEAH.

I HOPE YOU KEEP
ON LOSING WEIGHT.

THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE
YOUR COMING IN.

YEAH, THANK YOU.GREAT TO MEET YOU.

YOU TOO.

TAKE CARE.

Justin: I FEEL LIKE HE GAVE ME
SOME GOOD ADVICE,

BUT I KNOW THE BIG THING IS
STARTING THAT PROCESS

OF ADDRESSING ALL THE
EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT I NEED.

AND I KNOW MY MOM
IS A BIG PART OF THAT

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PAIN
AND REJECTION

FROM THE THINGS SHE DID

AND HOW SHE TREATED ME
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

AND EVEN NOW, BECAUSE SHE'S
STILL KIND OF

DOING THE SAME THINGS TO ME.

SO I HAVE NO QUESTION THAT THIS
IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT

FOR ME TO DO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S SCARY
AND I DON'T KNOW

IF I'M GONNA HAVE
THE NERVE TO DO IT,

SO I JUST NEED TO TRY
AND WORK MYSELF UP

TO A PLACE
WHERE I'M READY FOR THAT.

THIS PAST MONTH OVERALL
HAS BEEN GOOD

BECAUSE I'M STAYING FOCUSED
RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST MY EMOTIONS THAT FEEL
LIKE THEY'VE ALL COME

TO THE SURFACE RIGHT NOW.

AND I KNOW IT'S STUFF
I HAVE TO DEAL WITH,

SO I'VE PLANNED A TRIP
BACK TO SOUTH CAROLINA

AND I'M LEAVING TODAY
TO GO BACK.

AND I'M HOPING TO SEE
SOME FAMILY

AND MAYBE CHECK ON MY HOUSE
IF I'M ABLE.

BUT THE BIG REASON IS TO SEE
MY MOM

AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HER

ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT
SHE'S DONE THAT HURT ME

AND STILL HURT ME TODAY.

EVER SINCE DR. PARADISE
BROUGHT UP DOING THIS,

JUST THINKING ABOUT IT
MAKES ME SO NERVOUS

THAT I START TO GET NAUSEOUS.

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

AND WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH HER,

I'M GONNA BE
JUST ABOUT TERRIFIED.

SO I HOPE I DON'T
COMPLETELY LOSE MY NERVE

BECAUSE I KNOW DOING
THIS IS VITAL.

I'D LIKE TO HOPEFULLY
MOVE FORWARD

WITH A FEW OF THE ISSUES
THAT WE'VE YET TO RESOLVE.

MY PHYSICAL DRIVE
TO EAT IS GONE,

SO IT'S NOT AN EXCUSE ANYMORE.

AND WITH ALL THE EMOTIONS
AND STUFF,

I KNOW I CAN'T RUN ANYMORE.

I KNOW I HAVE TO START TO DEAL
WITH THEM,

OR IT WILL BE JUST
A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE I START GOING BACK
TO MY OLD HABITS

AND USING FOOD
TO DEAL WITH IT ALL.

YOU'RE CHECKING ONE BAG?

YEP.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO I CAN EITHER TAKE THIS CHANCE
AND DO WHAT I HAVE TO,

OR I CAN TRY TO BURY IT ALL
AND IGNORE IT.

BUT IF I DO THAT, I KNOW
I'LL JUST END UP

GAINING ALL THE WEIGHT BACK.

AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS,

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK TO WHERE
I WAS BEFORE I STARTED ALL THIS.

ONLY THIS TIME, I WON'T HAVE
ANY OPTIONS OR HOPE LEFT,

SO I HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH
AND DO THIS

BECAUSE IF I LET FEAR

AND MY EMOTIONS
CONTINUE TO CONTROL ME,

THEN IT'S GONNA COST ME MY LIFE.

Justin: I'M BACK IN
SOUTH CAROLINA RIGHT NOW.

I GOT BACK IN LAST NIGHT,

AND THE TRIP HERE
WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING

BECAUSE I COULD FIT IN MY SEAT
ON THE PLANE A LOT BETTER,

AND I DIDN'T GET NEARLY
AS WINDED WITH ALL THE ACTIVITY.

SO I CAN SEE WAYS I'M MAKING
A LOT OF PROGRESS.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
I KEEP DOING THAT

AND HEADING IN
THE POSITIVE DIRECTION I AM NOW.

AND ONE BIG STEP IN DOING THAT
IS TALKING TO MY MOM

ABOUT SOME THINGS SHE'S DONE
THAT HAVE HURT ME

ESPECIALLY MOST RECENTLY
WITH HER BACKING OUT

OF HER COMMITMENT
TO COME TO HOUSTON WITH ME

AND BEING THERE FOR ME
WHEN I NEEDED HER THE MOST.

MY FEAR IS THAT WORST CASE,
SHE COULD JUST LEAVE AND VANISH

FROM MY LIFE
LIKE SHE HAS BEFORE,

AND THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME
I SEE HER.

HI.
HEY.

OH, MY GOD.

LOOK AT YOU.

YOU LOOK AMAZING.

THANK YOU.

WOW.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M ALL RIGHT. YOU?

PRETTY GOOD.

OH, MY GOSH.
I'M GONNA CRY.

I'M SORRY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I'M GOOD.

YEAH.
I FEEL A LOT BETTER.

I BET.
THAT'S GOOD.

STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO,
BUT IT'S...

YOU'RE HALF...
YEAH.

...THE PERSON THAT YOU WERE.

-YEAH.
-IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

-ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.
-THANK YOU.

-YOU'RE WELCOME.
-THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.YOU'RE WELCOME.

SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE GETTING
ALONG REALLY WELL.

I'M TRYING.

EVERY DAY IS WORK,
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS

I WANTED
TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT.

OKAY.

COMING TO HOUSTON, WHENEVER
I WOULD ASK YOU QUESTIONS

OR TRY TO PLAN,

YOU WOULD EITHER CHANGE
THE SUBJECT OR GET FRUSTRATED,

AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN
A RED FLAG TO ME

THAT IT WASN'T GONNA HAPPEN.

IN MY HEART,
I WANTED TO BE THERE.

THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY...

I REALLY DID WANT FOR US
TO HAVE THAT CHANCE

TO BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP

THAT WE NEVER HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR.

SO DID I.

AND WHEN THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN,
I ACTUALLY FELT GUILTY

BECAUSE I WAS A LITTLE RELIEVED
WHEN IT WAS DAD

WHO ENDED UP
COMING OUT THERE WITH ME INSTEAD

BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT FEAR
YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TO LEAVE,

AND I WAS GONNA BE STUCK OUT
THERE ALONE, ESPECIALLY...

I WOULD NEVER HAVE JUST UP
AND LEFT, JUSTIN.

BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU DO
IS YOU JUST UP AND LEAVE.

THAT'S WHAT
YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE.

AND ALL I CAN EVER DO IS SAY
THAT I'M SORRY

FOR NOT BEING
THE MOTHER THAT YOU DESERVE.

I JUST KIND OF FEEL LIKE AFTER
ALL THIS TIME AND EVERYTHING...

I DON'T KNOW
IF WORDS ARE ENOUGH.

I JUST HAVE TO SEE
A CHANGE.

WHAT KIND OF CHANGE
ARE YOU WANTING TO SEE?

BECAUSE I'M WILLING TO DO
WHAT I NEED TO DO.

I JUST NEED TO BE ABLE
TO RELY ON YOU.

I NEED TO SEE THE STABILITY
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I THINK

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MISSING
FROM YOU IS STABILITY.

I THINK THAT'S
A FAIR ASSESSMENT.

I REALLY DO BECAUSE I'VE NEVER
BEEN STABLE FOR YOU.

I LOVE YOU, SWEETHEART.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

CAN I HAVE A HUG?

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

YOU GONNA BE OKAY?

YEAH. YOU?

YEAH, AS SOON AS I CAN PUT
SOME ICE PACKS ON MY EYEBALLS.

ALL RIGHT.
CALL ME, PLEASE.

-I WILL.
-OKAY.

Justin: I THINK THE TALK
WITH MY MOM WENT VERY WELL,

AND I'M GLAD
THAT I DID IT.

IT'S NOT LIKE OUR RELATIONSHIP
IS MAGICALLY HEALED,

BUT I FEEL LIKE
I STOOD UP FOR MYSELF,

AND LIKE WE HAVE SOMETHING
TO BUILD ON

TO ACTUALLY HAVE A REAL
RELATIONSHIP IN THE FUTURE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M GONNA LET
THINGS SETTLE DOWN

AND SEE HOW THE NEXT MONTH
OR TWO GOES BETWEEN US,

AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT
FROM THERE.

BUT I FELT THIS WAS
VERY POSITIVE

AND A BIG STEP FOR BOTH OF US,

AND I'M HOPING THAT'S REFLECTED
IN MY WEIGHT LOSS.

SO I HOPE WHEN I STEP
ON THAT SCALE,

I'M BACK MAKING THE PROGRESS
I SHOULD.

IF NOT, THEN I'M NOT SURE
WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO.

Justin: ME AND MY DAD
ARE AT DR. NOW'S

FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE MADE
SOME PROGRESS.

I JUST HOPE IT'S ENOUGH.

JUSTIN?

AT MY LAST WEIGH IN
TWO MONTHS AGO,

I WAS DOWN TO 446.

AND DR. NOW SAID I SHOULD BE
LOSING AT LEAST

20 POUNDS A MONTH AT THIS POINT.

SO IF I'M BACK ON TRACK,
THAT WILL MEAN

I'LL AT LEAST BE BELOW
406 TODAY.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.
-THAT'S KILLING IT, MAN.

-THAT'S A REALLY GOOD ONE.
-IT'S KILLING IT.

THAT'S A LOT LOWER THAN WHAT
IT'S BEEN IN A LONG TIME.

THAT'S CRAZY.

SUCH A LONG TIME.

THANK YOU.
SORRY.

Justin:
I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I'M MORE
THAN BACK ON TRACK.

AND TO SEE A 3 COME UP
BEFORE MY WEIGHT IS AMAZING,

SO I HOPE DR. NOW'S HAPPY
WITH WHERE I'M AT

BECAUSE I AM AND I FEEL
REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU, DOCTOR?

SO, JUSTIN, YOU ARE DOWN
TO 395 TODAY.

YES, SIR.

AND YOU HAVE LOST 292 POUNDS
FROM DAY 1 I SAW YOU.

YEAH.

SO THAT'S ALMOST LOSS OF
300 POUNDS IN A YEAR.

THAT'S EXCELLENT.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

HOW YOU FEEL LOSING
ALL THAT WEIGHT?

INCREDIBLE.
IT JUST MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.

WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU.

AND AT THIS RATE, YOU'RE GONNA
NEED EXTRA SKIN REMOVAL SOON.

ANY EXTRA SKIN
IS ANY PROBLEM WITH YOU?

YEAH, THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOME EXTRA SKIN...

EVERYWHERE?
YEAH.

MOSTLY UNDER MY ARMS
AND LIKE MY THIGHS,

BUT IT HASN'T REALLY
CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS YET.

THAT'S GOOD, BUT I THINK
THE AREA AROUND YOUR ABDOMEN

IS GOING TO BE WHERE YOU START
TO FEEL THE MOST DISCOMFORT SOON

BECAUSE I CAN ALREADY SEE A LOT
HANGING OFF OF YOU THERE.

YEAH.

SO ONCE YOU GET UNDER 300
HERE SOON,

WE WILL CONSIDER YOU
FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT.
THAT SOUNDS AWESOME.

THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT?

I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS.

-THANK YOU.
-AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU AGAIN, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.
TAKE CARE.

LET'S GO LOSE
SOME MORE WEIGHT.

YEAH.

I'M VERY PROUD OF JUSTIN
AND ALL THE PROGRESS

HE HAS MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR.

HE'S DONE GREAT, AND HE HAS BEEN
ONE OF THE MOST DETERMINED

AND HARD-WORKING WEIGHT-LOSS
PATIENT I HAVE EVER HAD.

AND AS LONG AS HE CONTINUES
GOING TO THERAPY

AND WORKING THROUGH
HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES,

I'M VERY CONFIDENT

HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT
TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT SOON,

AND THEN BE ABLE TO DO THIS
FOR THE LONG-TERM.

Justin: IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
TO BE AT THIS POINT

AFTER WORKING AS HARD
AS I HAVE FOR SO LONG.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP GOING
AND MAKE EVEN MORE PROGRESS.

TODAY I'M TAKING AN INTRODUCTORY
FLIGHT SCHOOL COURSE.

WITH THE SKIN SURGERIES
I'M PROBABLY GONNA START TO HAVE

IN A FEW MONTHS
AND THE RATE I'M LOSING,

I'LL BE DONE WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS
JOURNEY IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

SO I STARTED THINKING MORE
SERIOUSLY ABOUT A CAREER

AND DOING SOMETHING
I TRULY LOVE.

HEY.
-YOU MUST BE JUSTIN.

YES, SIR.

OUTSTANDING.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

-DAVID BOND.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE.
WE'RE GONNA GO UP TO THE SIM

AND START PLAYING
IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU.

YEAH, SOUNDS GREAT.

Justin: WHEN I WAS YOUNG, BEING
A PILOT WAS A DREAM OF MINE,

BUT I HAD GIVEN UP ON IT
BEFORE I WAS EVEN IN HIGH SCHOOL

BECAUSE I WEIGHED MORE THEN
THAN I DO NOW,

BUT NOW I'M GETTING TO A PLACE

WHERE MY DREAMS
ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN.

THERE IT IS.
OKAY.

OKAY.
COOL.

SO YOU'RE JUST GONNA APPLY POWER
NICE AND EASY.

THERE YOU GO.
BEAUTIFUL.

A LITTLE BIT MORE RUDDER.

AND FULL POWER.

NOW PUT YOUR HAND
ON THE YOKE.

START PULLING BACK VERY NICELY,
AND SHE'S IN THE AIR.

NOW JUST HOLD HER
RIGHT THERE.

BEAUTIFUL.

SO I'M NOT HOLDING BACK AND
MAKING SURE I DREAM BIG AGAIN.

AND IF THIS GOES WELL TODAY,

THEN I'M GONNA WORK TO GET
MY PILOT'S LICENSE

AND LEARN TO FLY AND SEE
WHERE THINGS TAKE ME FROM THERE.

BEAUTIFUL.

NOW YOU CAN SEE YOUR RUNWAY
RIGHT HERE AT THE LIGHTS.

SO NOW WE CAN CONTINUE
THE TURN.

JUST VERY SLOWLY PULL
THE NOSE.

OKAY,
HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

HOLD IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

OKAY.

I LIKED THAT A LOT.

A LITTLE DISORIENTING
GETTING OUT.

IT DIDN'T HAVE THE THRILL
OF BEING IN THE AIR,

BUT IT WAS CLOSE,

AND I WAS GLAD JUST TO BE ABLE
TO FIT IN THE SIMULATOR.

SO I LIKED IT A WHOLE LOT.

AND I'M GONNA GO FOR IT AND TRY
TO GET MY PILOT'S LICENSE.

SO THIS WON'T BE THE LAST TIME
I DO THIS.

AND HOPEFULLY, AS I GET DOWN
IN THE 200s,

I'LL BE ABLE TO OFFICIALLY START
FLYING AND GET UP INTO THE AIR.

SO THIS HAS BEEN
REALLY EXCITING.

AND I WOULD SAY WITH THE FUTURE
I HAVE NOW,

I WOULD SAY
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

BUT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY
ABOUT THAT,

I WOULD GO BEYOND IT.

AS I PREPARE TO OFFICIALLY CROSS

THE ONE-YEAR MARK
OF MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY,

I'VE STARTED REFLECTING
ON HOW FAR I'VE COME,

AND I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING
TO GIVE ME

A PERMANENT REMINDER
OF MY JOURNEY

SO FAR BY GETTING A TATTOO.

I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
GET HERE WITHOUT MY DAD

AND EVERYTHING HE'S DONE
AND SACRIFICED FOR ME.

SO I ASKED HIM
TO DO THIS WITH ME.

HE SAID YES.

WHAT'S UP, MAN?
-HOW'S IT GOING?

-PRETTY GOOD.
-HOW CAN I HELP Y'ALL?

WE'RE HERE FOR A TATTOO.

Joseph:
I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.

COME ON BACK.

THIS LAST YEAR
HAS SAVED MY LIFE.

A YEAR AGO,
I WASN'T HAPPY VERY OFTEN.

IT WAS JUST A CHALLENGE
BECAUSE

I WAS IN A REALLY BAD SPOT
MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

THE DESIGN THAT I'M GETTING
HAS A PHOENIX

AND THE STATE OF TEXAS IN IT.

AND THE PHOENIX IS A PRETTY
COMMON SYMBOL FOR REBIRTH

AND STARTING YOUR LIFE OVER.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT
THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN ABOUT

IS MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

THIS HAS BEEN A SECOND CHANCE
FOR A LOT OF THINGS,

BOTH MY HEALTH
AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD.

HURT?

IT'S A LITTLE TENDER.

SO HAVING THE PHOENIX,
IT JUST FEELS RIGHT.

-ALL RIGHTY.
-ALL GOOD?

-THAT LOOKS GOOD.
-YOU LIKE IT?

YEAH.
I LIKE IT.

I DO, TOO.

Justin: AND MY DAD'S GETTING
THE SAME EXACT TATTOO

BECAUSE HE'S BEEN
ON THIS JOURNEY WITH ME.

SO THIS IS A REALLY
SPECIAL MOMENT,

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY WE'RE AT
THIS POINT AND BOTH CAN DO THIS.

YOUR TURN.

BECAUSE HE'S BEEN WITH ME
THROUGH IT ALL.

AND I KNOW HE'S GONNA
CONTINUE TO BE THERE

FOR ME UNTIL THE END.

Johnny: THESE TATTOOS WILL
REPRESENT THE JOURNEY THAT HE

AND I WENT THROUGH OUT HERE,
WHICH WAS ONE HELL OF A JOURNEY,

WHICH I WOULDN'T HAVE MISSED IT
FOR THE WORLD.

A YEAR AGO, I WOULD NEVER HAVE
BELIEVED WHERE WE ARE NOW.

I'M DEFINITELY
GETTING MY SON BACK.

I MEAN, IT JUST --
HE'S JUST A DIFFERENT PERSON.

GOD KNOWS I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS.

EVERY DAY.

Justin: I'VE DONE THIS
WITH THE HELP AND SACRIFICE

AND LOVE OF MY FATHER,

SO I'M GONNA MAKE SURE
I CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING

I CAN TO MAKE HIM PROUD
AND GET TO WHERE I NEED.

AND THIS JOURNEY TO GET THERE
HAS NOT ONLY

GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK,

IT'S GIVEN ME A CHANCE TO GET
SOMETHING I MISSED GROWING UP.

SO I FEEL LIKE, IN A WAY,

IT'S GIVEN ME A PAST
ALONG WITH A NEW FUTURE.

SO THE ONLY WAY I CAN PUT IT
IS THAT I FEEL REBORN

BECAUSE I HAVE
A WHOLE NEW LIFE NOW.

THAT'S MORE THAN I COULD HAVE
EVER DREAMED

WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME.

YOU FLEXING?THERE YOU GO.

OF COURSE HE IS.