All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S07E20

Vianey: FOOD IS WHAT KEEPS ME
AND ALLEN GOING.

Allen: IN A LOT OF WAYS,
WE WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.

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 OVER-EATING, AND YOU'RE
ACTING LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.

I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.

I KNOW THAT I'M NOT
GONNA MAKE IT.

WE NEED TO PUMP
ON THE CHEST.

GET THE CRASH CART.
GET THE CRASH CART -- NOW.

OKAY.
CPR, GUYS! GO!

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Allen: MY LIFE FEELS LIKE
A CONSTANT STRUGGLE

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG I AM.

EVERY DAY IS MISERY,

AND WHEN I GET UP
IN THE MORNINGS,

I WAKE UP IN PAIN,

AND IT'S NOT JUST IN PARTS
OF MY BODY -- IT'S EVERYWHERE.

AND IT GETS WORSE BY THE DAY,
BECAUSE I KEEP GETTING BIGGER.

AND NOW IT'S SO BAD, IT'S HARD
TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

BUT THE HARDEST THING FOR ME
IS I HAVE TO SLEEP ALONE NOW.

ME AND MY WIFE
CAN'T BE IN THE SAME BED

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG
WE BOTH ARE NOW.

SO I TRY TO DO WHAT I NEED,
THEN GO AND HELP HER

BECAUSE HER WEIGHT HAS MADE
IT DIFFICULT FOR HER,

AND IT TAKES A LOT MENTALLY
AND PHYSICALLY TO PUSH MYSELF

TO GET OUT OF BED
AND START MY DAY.

AND SHOWERING IS THE MOST
DIFFICULT PART OF THE DAY.

IT'S THE MOST ACTIVE
I HAVE TO BE,

AND I HAVE TO NOT
ONLY BE UP FOR THAT LONG

BUT TRY TO REACH
ALL THE AREAS OF MY BODY

TO WASH MYSELF
UNDER ALL MY FOLDS

TO MAKE SURE
I DON'T GET INFECTIONS.

SO I HAVE TO TRY TO DO THIS
EVERY DAY,

AND THEN I HAVE TO DO IT
FOR VIANEY, TOO,

SO I HAVE TO SAVE
SOME OF MY ENERGY FOR THAT.

THE SECOND THE I START
I FEEL LIKE

I'M STARTING TO HIT MY LIMIT,
I'M DONE WITH MY SHOWER...

...AND I HAVE TO GO SIT DOWN
AS SOON AS I CAN

TO TRY TO CATCH MY BREATH
BEFORE I GET BACK UP.

BUT AT THIS POINT,
I JUST WANT TO LAY DOWN

AND GO BACK TO SLEEP.

BUT I STILL HAVE TO GET DRESSED
AND HELP VIANEY.

AND I KNOW, ONCE I GET DRESSED
AND HELP VIANEY, WE CAN EAT,

SO I TRY TO GET MY SECOND WIND
AND KEEP GOING.

-GOOD MORNING, BABY.
-MORNING, NOW.

I'M EMBARRASSED THAT I HAVE TO
HAVE ALLEN HELP ME LIKE THIS.

I'M PRACTICALLY BEDBOUND
AT THIS POINT.

AND RIGHT NOW, I'M STAYING
IN THE LIVING ROOM,

AND THIS IS LIKE MY BEDROOM,

AND THIS IS WHERE I AM
ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT.

I PRETTY MUCH DON'T GO ANYWHERE,

AND I DO JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING HERE.

I CAN'T MAKE IT ALL THE WAY
TO THE BACK OF THE HOUSE,

AND THAT'S WHERE
THE BATHROOM'S AT,

SO I USUALLY HAVE ALLEN
BRING THE BASIN

WITH SOME WATER AND SOAP

AND GIVE ME, LIKE,
A BATH HERE IN THE BED.

EVEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO,

WHEN I WAS GETTING CLOSE
TO THE WEIGHT I AM NOW,

IT WAS STILL A MUCH BETTER LIFE

BECAUSE I COULD STILL GET UP
AND DO THINGS

AND FEEL LIKE I WAS ALIVE.

BUT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER

BECAUSE OF MY BODY NOW
AND HOW BAD IT IS.

NOW I'M JUST SOME
HELPLESS PERSON

WHO CAN'T DO ANYTHING
FOR HERSELF,

AND I HATE IT.

I JUST WISH IT WAS DIFFERENT.

BUT I KNOW, FOR THAT TO HAPPEN,

ME AND ALLEN WILL HAVE TO CHANGE
THE WAY WE EAT.

BUT IT'S THE ONLY THING
WE HAVE LEFT IN OUR LIVES

THAT BRINGS US
ANY SORT OF HAPPINESS OR JOY,

AND IF WE DIDN'T HAVE FOOD
IN OUR LIVES,

THEN I DON'T KNOW
WHAT WE'D EVEN WAKE UP FOR.

YOU ALL RIGHT?YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GO COOK.
OKAY, BABE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Allen: AFTER I'M DONE HELPING
VIANEY AND SHE'S DRESSED,

WE CAN FINALLY EAT.

AND I START COOKING THE SECOND
I CAN,

BECAUSE BOTH OF US BEEN
WAITING TO EAT SINCE WE WOKE UP.

AND WHEN ME AND VIANEY
ARE EATING,

IT'S LIKE WE'RE IN THIS COCOON
WHERE WE ARE SAFE,

AND THERE'S NOTHING
THAT CAN HURT US.

AND FOR THAT SHORT WHILE,

ALL THE PAIN IN OUR LIVES
IS GONE.

THAT'S WHAT FOOD HAS DONE FOR ME
SINCE I WAS REALLY YOUNG.

IT'S BEEN SAVING ME
MY WHOLE LIFE.

MY LIFE STARTED OUT DIFFICULT.

MY MOM WAS 17 WHEN SHE HAD ME,

AND MY FATHER
WASN'T PART OF MY LIFE

'CAUSE HE'D NEVER STAY AROUND.

SO, ASIDE FROM MY BROTHER
WHO'S ONE YEAR YOUNGER THAN ME,

I WAS ON MY OWN A LOT,
'CAUSE MY MOM HAD A LOT OF WORK.

WHEN I WAS 2 YEARS OLD,
I FELL DOWN SOME BASEMENT STAIRS

AND THEN CRACKED MY HEAD --
ALMOST DIED THAT NIGHT.

AND 'CAUSE OF MY ACCIDENT,
I HAVE A SPEECH PROBLEM.

AND IT MESSED ME UP
A LOT OF WAYS,

'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT KEPT ME
FROM HAVING A LOT OF FRIENDS.

BUT WHEN I WAS 5,
MY MOM GOT REMARRIED,

AND I GOT A NEW STEPDADDY
WHO BECAME MY BEST FRIEND,

AND WE STARTED TO FEEL
LIKE A NORMAL FAMILY

BECAUSE MY MOM DIDN'T
HAVE TO WORK ALL THE TIME

AND COULD STAY HOME WITH US.

BUT WHEN I TURNED 10, MY MOM
AND MY STEPDAD GOT A DIVORCE,

AND IT FELT LIKE
I LOST MY BEST AND ONLY FRIEND.

I JUST WANTED TO STAY IN MY ROOM
AND SLEEP ALL DAY,

'CAUSE I WAS SO SAD.

AND AS LONG AS I ATE,
I STARTED TO FEEL BETTER.

SO I STARTED EATING
ALL THE TIME.

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
TO PUT ON WEIGHT

AND GOT TO BE OVER 200
BY THE TIME I WAS 13.

I STARTED TO GET REALLY BIG,

AND THAT MADE MAKING FRIENDS
EVEN HARDER

BECAUSE EVERYONE AT SCHOOL
JUST STARTED MAKING FUN OF ME

AND CALLING ME
ALL KINDS OF NAMES.

AND IT GOT SO BAD
WHEN I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL,

I JUST STARTED SKIPPING
ALL THE TIME,

SO MY TEACHER ACTUALLY CAME
TO TALK TO MY GRANDMA

TO TELL HER THAT SHE THINK

I SHOULD JUST DROP OUT
AT THAT POINT,

SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

AFTER THAT,

FOOD WAS THE ONE THING
THAT HELPED ME FEEL BETTER,

AND I KEPT GAINING.

AND AS I GOT IN MY 20s,

I WAS CLOSE
TO BEING OVER 400 POUNDS THEN.

BUT MY LIFE WENT INTO
A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR A BIT,

'CAUSE SOME OF THE KIDS
I KNEW WHEN I WAS YOUNG

GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL
AND DIDN'T GET JOBS

OR GO TO COLLEGE
OR DO ANYTHING.

THEY WOULD JUST STAY HOME
ALL DAY LIKE ME,

SO WE ALL STARTED HANGING OUT.

AND AS TIME WENT ON,
WE STARTED GETTING IN TROUBLE

AND DOING STUFF
LIKE STEALING CARS,

SO I GOT ARRESTED
WHEN I WAS 21

AND SPENT
ABOUT 18 MONTHS IN PRISON.

AFTER I GOT OUT, IT WAS
REALLY HARD TO FIND A JOB,

SO I JUST WENT BACK
TO EATING ALL DAY.

AND BY THE TIME I GOT IN MY 30s,
I HAD GOTTEN OVER 500,

AND THAT WAS WHEN MY WEIGHT
WAS SO BAD,

IT GOT HARDER TO DO THINGS,

SO MY LIFE
JUST STARTED TO GO DOWNHILL.

THE ONLY GOOD THING
THAT HAPPENED TO ME SINCE THEN

WAS MEETING VIANEY.

I STARTED GOING
TO ONLINE DATING SITES

TO TRY TO MEET SOMEONE,
AND I DID --

I MET VIANEY,

AND SHE'S BEEN THE BEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

Vianey:
I LOVED ALLEN'S PERSONALITY.

WHEN I MET HIM, HE WAS ALWAYS
A VERY, VERY HAPPY PERSON,

VERY OUTGOING.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY HANG-UPS
ABOUT HIS WEIGHT OR ANYTHING,

AND IT JUST MADE ME
FEEL BETTER ABOUT MYSELF.

Allen: THE BIGGEST THING
WE BONDED OVER WAS FOOD,

SO, IN A LOT OF WAYS,

WE JUST FELT LIKE
WE WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHER.

AND WHEN I WAS 35,
I ASKED HER TO MARRY ME,

AND SHE SAID YES,
SO WE GOT MARRIED.

BUT I KNOW, AT THIS POINT,

FOOD IS STARTING TO TAKE MORE
THAN IT GIVES, BECAUSE --

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WEIGH,

BUT IT'S
PROBABLY OVER 600 POUNDS,

SO WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

BUT GIVING UP FOOD
SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE.

Allen: YEAH?

OH, YEAH.
GIVE ME THE MONEY.

HERE'S THE MONEY.

ALLEN IS THE FIRST PERSON

THAT I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE
TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF MEAL WITH,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE
THERE'S NO JUDGMENT.

WE GIVE EACH OTHER THIS FREEDOM
TO EAT WHAT WE WANT,

AND WE'RE BOTH JUST EATING
AND BEING HAPPY TOGETHER,

AND WHEN I'M EATING,

I CAN FORGET ABOUT MY LIFE
AND HOW MISERABLE IT IS.

SO FOOD IS WHAT
KEEPS ME AND ALLEN GOING.

AND I KNOW, FOR ME,
IT HELPED ME SURVIVE SO MUCH.

GROWING UP, FROM VERY EARLY ON,

THINGS WERE HARD
BECAUSE OF MY MOM.

I HAVE ONE OLDER BROTHER, AND
SHE WASN'T GOOD TO EITHER OF US.

MY MOTHER WAS ABUSIVE PHYSICALLY
AND VERBALLY AND MENTALLY.

SHE WOULD HIT ME WITH BELTS
AND CABLES, EXTENSION CORDS.

I MEAN, ANYTHING THAT SHE COULD
STRIKE ME WITH, SHE WOULD.

AND AT THAT AGE,
ALL THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND

WAS I WAS BAD, AND THAT'S WHY
THIS WAS HAPPENING,

AND THAT'S
WHEN I FIRST REALIZED THAT,

WHEN I WHEN I FELT SAD
OR SCARED, I COULD GO TO FOOD.

IT WAS AN ESCAPE
THAT MADE ME FEEL BETTER.

SO I STARTED TO EAT A LOT.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 7,

I WAS
A LITTLE OVER 70 POUNDS OR SO.

SO I WAS OVERWEIGHT THEN,
BUT NOT A WHOLE LOT.

BUT WHEN MY WEIGHT GAIN STARTED,

IT CAUSED EVEN MORE PROBLEMS
BETWEEN ME AND MY MOM,

BECAUSE SHE SEEMED LIKE
SHE WAS JUST DISGUSTED BY ME,

AND SHE BECAME OBSESSED
WITH MAKING ME LOSE THE WEIGHT.

MY MOM STARTED
GIVING ME DIET PILLS,

EVEN THOUGH THEY
WERE NOT PRESCRIBED

OR RECOMMENDED
FOR CHILDREN TO TAKE.

SHE DIDN'T CARE.

SHE WAS GONNA GET ME
TO BE SKINNY.

BUT THE HARDER SHE TRIED
TO CONTROL ME,

THE MORE I'D FIND WAYS
TO SNEAK FOOD,

AND I KEPT GAINING,
AND THAT ULTIMATELY

WAS THE BIGGEST RIFT
IN OUR RELATIONSHIP,

BECAUSE, EVENTUALLY, SHE GAVE UP
AND JUST SEEMED TO SETTLE

INTO THIS DISGUST
AND RESENTMENT OF ME.

SHE WAS ASHAMED OF HAVING
A FAT DAUGHTER.

SHE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW
THAT I WAS HER DAUGHTER.

IT MADE ME FEEL UNWANTED,
UNLOVED, REJECTED.

LIKE, IF MY OWN MOTHER
COULDN'T LOVE ME,

I'M LIKE, "WHO CAN?"

TO WHERE I JUST NEEDED TO ESCAPE
WITH FOOD MORE AND MORE,

AND I GOT TO 100 POUNDS
BY THE TIME I WAS 8.

SO I WAS GAINING WEIGHT
FASTER THEN,

BUT IT STILL WASN'T
OUT OF CONTROL.

WHAT GOT IT TO THAT POINT
HAPPENED WHEN I WAS 10,

BECAUSE AROUND THEN,

MY PARENTS RENTED
ONE OF THE BEDROOMS IN OUR HOUSE

TO A MAN AND HIS TEENAGE SON,

AND HIS SON STARTED TELLING ME
HE WAS GONNA RAPE ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO --

JUST ALWAYS FELT LIKE,
IF I EVER TOLD MY MOTHER,

SHE WOULD GET MAD AT ME
INSTEAD OF HIM,

SO I JUST KEPT IT TO MYSELF

AND LIVED
IN THIS CONSTANT TERROR.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD
TO LIVE IN YOUR OWN HOUSE

AND NOT FEEL PROTECTED.

AND OVER TIME, IT GOT WORSE
BECAUSE HE STARTED TO DO THINGS

THAT CROSSED OVER
INTO ACTUALLY MOLESTING ME.

SO I STARTED EATING MORE --

NOT JUST TO TRY TO ESCAPE
HOW I FELT,

BUT I THOUGHT,
MAYBE THE MORE I GAINED WEIGHT,

THE LESS ATTRACTIVE I WOULD BE,

AND I GOT TO BE OVER 200 POUNDS
BY THE TIME I WAS 13.

AND IT GOT EVEN WORSE
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.

I WAS THANKFUL

BECAUSE THE MAN AND HIS SON
MOVED OUT OF OUR HOUSE,

BUT MY MOM
STARTED TO GET SICK.

MY MOM WAS DIAGNOSES
WITH CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER,

AND THE DOCTORS -- THEY COULDN'T
DO ANYTHING FOR HER

SO SHE DECIDED TO TRY TO GO TO
MEXICO AND SEE A DOCTOR THERE.

I THINK
MY MOM WAS AN ALCOHOLIC,

AND I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
AS A KID

BECAUSE HER LIVER
WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED

AND NOBODY COULD HELP HER.

SO SHE BASICALLY
RETURNED HOME TO DIE.

I WAS 15 THEN
AND CLOSE TO 400 POUNDS,

AND SHE WAS
SO DISGUSTED WITH ME

THAT SHE JUST STOPPED
TALKING TO ME,

AND THAT DEVASTATED ME.

EVEN THOUGH MY MOM HAD BEEN
ABUSIVE TO ME,

I STILL LOVED HER,

AND I WAS UPSET
MORE THAN ANYTHING

THAT SHE DIED WITHOUT US
COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.

SO, AFTER THAT,
I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED,

AND ALL I DID WAS EAT.

I PACKED EVEN MORE WEIGHT ON

TO THE POINT WHERE, BY THE TIME
I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL,

I WAS OVER 400 POUNDS.

I FELT LIKE GIVING UP ON LIFE.

AND, LIKE, NO MATTER WHAT,

I WAS NEVER GONNA GET PAST
ALL MY DEMONS,

SO MY LIFE
FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS

PRETTY MUCH BECAME
STAYING AT HOME AND EATING

AND GETTING BIGGER.

BUT WHEN I TURNED 25,

I DECIDED I WANTED
TO TRY AND MEET SOMEONE.

I WAS TIRED OF BEING SO ALONE.

SO I PUT UP A PROFILE
ON AN ONLINE DATING SITE,

AND I MET ALLEN, AND WE STARTED
GETTING CLOSE REALLY QUICK.

I FELL IN LOVE WITH ALLEN, AND
I JUST WANTED TO BE WITH HIM,

SO WHEN HE ASKED ME
TO MARRY HIM, I SAID YES.

AND THIS IS OUR LIFE NOW.

FOR THE LAST
SIX OR SEVEN YEARS,

ALL WE'VE DONE
IS STAY HOME AND EAT.

SO WE BOTH CONTINUED TO GAIN

TO WHERE OUR MARRIAGE
AND OUR LIVES

JUST REVOLVES AROUND FOOD.

BUT I WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING
TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE

AND TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO
THINGS LIKE OTHER PEOPLE...

BECAUSE, WITH HOW BIG WE ARE,

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING
LIKE NORMAL COUPLES DO.

SO WHAT WE HAVE ISN'T EVEN
A LIFE AT THIS POINT.

BUT AS LONG AS I'M EATING
LIKE I AM AND GAINING,

THAT'S NEVER GONNA CHANGE.

HERE'S YOURS.

TOOK A LONG TIME.

AND I'M ONLY GETTING WORSE.

I'M 35 NOW, AND I'M PROBABLY
OVER 600 POUNDS.

AND NOW I'M AT A POINT
WHERE I CAN FEEL

MY BODY BREAKING DOWN
MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY

TO THE POINT WHERE I KNOW

MY HEART OR MY LUNGS
IS GONNA GIVE OUT SOON.

THE ONLY THING THAT SCARES ME
MORE THAN THE THOUGHT OF DYING

IS THE THOUGHT OF LOSING
ALLEN.

GETTING FULL, BABE?

GETTING THERE.

CAN I HAVE THAT SLICE?

OH, YOU WANT THIS SLICE?

THANK YOU, BABE.
HERE.

WHOO-HOO -- THE SLICE.

Allen: I LOVE VIANEY,
AND I'D DO ANYTHING FOR HER,

AND THE THOUGHT OF LOSING HER
BREAKS MY HEART.

BUT I KNOW IF I DON'T CHANGE,
I'M GONNA DIE.

WE BOTH HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS.

WE WANT TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE

WHERE WE CAN HAVE KIDS
AND BE A FAMILY.

BUT IT'S NOT GONNA BE POSSIBLE
IF WE DON'T FIND HELP.

-TAKE ME A LITTLE NAP.
-YOU CAN SLEEP.

AL.
HMM?

THE QUESTION IS...
WHAT?

...WHAT ARE WE GONNA HAVE
FOR DINNER?

I DON'T WANT TO EAT FOR,
LIKE, A WEEK.

YOU'RE LYING. YOU KNOW YOU'RE
GONNA BE HUNGRY IN A MINUTE.

Allen: WE BOTH KNOW,

IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HELP US
STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING,

THEN WE'RE GONNA KEEP EATING
TILL IT KILLS US.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES,
I'M READY TO FIND HELP

AND DO WHATEVER I CAN
TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

Vianey: ME AND ALLEN
HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT

HOW WE CAN DO SOMETHING
TO TRY AND GET HELP

SO WE BOTH DON'T END UP DYING
SOON BECAUSE OF OUR WEIGHT.

BUT THERE AREN'T A LOT
OF OPTIONS FOR US TO GET HELP.

ONE OF THE ONLY ONES
WE COULD FIND WAS DR. NOW.

HE'S PRACTICALLY THE ONLY PERSON
WHO'S WILLING

TO DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
ON PEOPLE OUR SIZE.

SO WE DECIDED TO REACH OUT,

AND HIS OFFICE SET UP A TIME
TO DO A VIDEO CALL.

AND IT'S TODAY, SO THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO, BUT...

I'M REALLY NERVOUS
TO TALK TO DR. NOW

BECAUSE WE NEED HIS HELP,

AND I'M HOPING THERE'S
SOME OPTION THAT WE CAN GET IT.

WHAT IF HE DOESN'T WANT
TO TAKE US AS HIS PATIENTS?

WE CAN'T DO THIS
ON OUR OWN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IF HE DON'T TAKE US.

Allen:
AS FAR AS I CAN SEE,

DR. NOW IS THE ONLY HOPE
WE HAVE LEFT.

SO I'M HOPING HE SAYS
THAT HE CAN HELP US TODAY.

NERVOUS.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
HI. I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

-HELLO.
-HI. HI, DR. NOW.

I'M VIANEY.

AND I'M ALLEN.

WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU BOTH.
WHERE ARE YOU ALL LOCATED?

WE'RE LOCATED
IN CHICAGO.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH?

I'M ALMOST 600 POUNDS.

600 POUNDS?

ALMOST.

I THINK YOU ARE PROBABLY
A LITTLE BIGGER

THAN WHAT
YOU THINK YOU ARE.

WELL, HOW MUCH ARE YOU ABLE
TO WALK,

OR WHAT
YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF?

I'M ALMOST BEDRIDDEN,
DR. NOW,

BECAUSE THE ONLY TIME
I GET UP IS TO WALK,

MAYBE, TO THE BATHROOM.

BUT I -- THAT'S
THE ONLY THING I REALLY DO,

IS TO GET UP TO GO
TO THE BATHROOM.

ALL RIGHT. HOW LONG
HAVE YOU BEEN LIKE THAT?

I'VE BEEN LIKE THIS,
DR. NOW,

FOR OVER A YEAR,
MAYBE CLOSE TO TWO YEARS.

WHAT ARE
YOUR EATING HABITS?

WELL, DR. NOW,
I'M ADDICTED TO CARBS.

I CAN'T LET THE CARBS GO.

SO, IF YOU CAN'T LET CARBS GO,
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT ME TO DO?

I DON'T KNOW, DR. NOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW, HUH?

WELL,
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT
YOU SHOULDN'T BE EATING CARBS

OR HIGH-CALORIE FOOD
AT YOUR WEIGHT,

AND IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU
HAVE ANY PLANS TO CHANGE THAT.

SO I DON'T GET IT --

WHY HAVEN'T YOU
MADE THE CHANGES?

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW, DR. NOW.

I -- I'M READY NOW.

I WASN'T READY BEFORE
TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

OKAY.
SO YOU THINK YOU'RE READY NOW.

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU, ALLEN?
HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH?

I WEIGHT PROBABLY OVER
600 POUNDS.

THAT'S A SAFE ASSUMPTION.

AND WHAT IS YOUR MOBILITY?

ALLEN --
HE CAN DO EVERYTHING.

HE CAN WALK.
HE CAN DRIVE.

HE'S NOT AS BAD AS I AM.

SO, ALLEN, WHAT DOES YOUR
EATING HABIT LOOK LIKE?

WELL, MY HABIT IS LIKE PIZZA
AND ICE CREAM --

STUFF, YOU KNOW,
STUFF LIKE THAT --

JUNK FOOD.

SO, YOU ENABLE EACH OTHER
WITH YOUR UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE

WHERE YOU BOTH HELP THE OTHER
SLOWLY KILL THEMSELVES.

WELL, DR. NOW,
FOOD IS ALL WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE.

WE -- WE, LIKE --
THAT'S WHAT MAKES US HAPPY.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS
OR FAMILY OR ANYTHING,

SO WE EAT.

WELL, BOTH OF YOU
ARE AROUND 600, 700 POUNDS,

AND YOU ALREADY KNOW

THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE
EATING ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GAIN

BY COMING TO HOUSTON,

BECAUSE WHAT IT SEEMS IS

THAT YOU TWO WANT
SOME SORT OF MAGIC FIX,

BECAUSE YOU JUST EXPECT ME
TO MAKE THE CHANGES FOR YOU.

BUT THE MATTER IS GONNA BE YOU
CHANGING YOUR EATING HABIT.

YEAH.

AND IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THEM,

THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO FOR YOU.

OKAY?
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

YES, DR. NOW,
WE UNDERSTAND.

ALL RIGHT.
CAN YOU STAND UP, PLEASE?

YEAH.

LET'S SEE, ALLEN...

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT
HANGING OFF YOUR ABDOMEN.

AND THAT CAN PULL DOWN AND PUT
A LOT OF STRAIN ON YOUR ORGANS.

SO YOU NEED TO START LOSING
THAT WEIGHT TO CHANGE THAT.

-OKAY. VIANEY, HOW ABOUT YOU?
-YES.

CAN YOU STAND UP,
PLEASE?

YEAH.

OKAY.

YOUR ABDOMEN
IS EVEN MORE DISTENDED...

SO YOU BOTH NEED

TO START LOSING
A LOT OF WEIGHT IMMEDIATELY

TO TURN
YOUR SITUATION AROUND

BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE.

AND HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THAT IS

I'M GONNA SEND YOU SOME
MATERIAL TO READ AND FOLLOW,

WHICH WILL BREAK DOWN
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY,

HIGH-PROTEIN,
AND LOW-CARB DIET.

AND IF YOU FOLLOW THIS DIET,

THEN YOU'RE GONNA LOSE
50 POUNDS A MONTH -- AT LEAST.

THAT'S GOOD. OKAY?

OKAY.

AND I'M ALSO GONNA SEND
BOTH OF YOU ON AN EXERCISE PLAN

TO START INCREASING
YOUR ACTIVITY.

AND IF YOU ALL WANT MY HELP,

YOU NEED TO MAKE
ALL THESE CHANGES NOW

TO SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE WILLING
TO PUT IN THE WORK

INSTEAD OF HOPING THAT
I'M GONNA DO IT FOR YOU

OR SURGERY'S GONNA BE
A MAGIC SOLUTION.

WE UNDERSTAND.
YEP.

BUT IF YOU'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT DOING THIS

AND COMING DOWN HERE,

THEN YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
MOVING HERE FOR THE LONG TERM

BECAUSE I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT
BOTH OF YOU COMING TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE ABLE
TO HANDLE

TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH
LIKE THAT,

AND IT'S GONNA BE VERY RISKY
FOR BOTH OF YOU.

SO I WANT YOU TO START LOSING
WEIGHT BEFORE YOU DO THAT...

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

...AND SEE IF WE CAN INCREASE
YOUR MOBILITY TO THE POINT

THAT IT'S GONNA BE SAFE
FOR BOTH OF YOU TO TRAVEL.

OKAY, DOCTOR.
ALL RIGHT.

WE WANT TO TAKE THIS RISK.
WE'RE SERIOUS.

YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.

I'M NOT GIVING YOU
ANY WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS,

SINCE I DON'T KNOW
YOUR CURRENT WEIGHTS.

BUT WE'LL SET A CALL
FOR A MONTH FROM NOW,

AND I'LL CALL THEN
TO SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING.

AND WHEN THE BOTH OF YOU
HAVE MADE IT

TO A SAFE ENOUGH PLACE
TO FOLLOW DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON.

OKAY.

YES, DOCTOR.

OKAY, I'LL TALK
TO BOTH OF YOU SOON.

AND IF EITHER OF YOU
NEED ANYTHING IN THE MEANTIME,

GIVE ME A CALL, OKAY?

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

BYE, DR. NOW.
BYE-BYE.

BYE.

BYE-BYE.

LET'S DO IT.

LET'S CHANGE OUR LIVES.

AND WE CAN GO
DOWN THERE.

YEAH.

GOT TO DO
WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID.

Allen:
THIS IS GONNA BE A LOT,

BUT I'M GONNA HAVE TO
MAKE SURE WE DO THIS.

WE WON'T LIVE LONG IF I DON'T,
SO WE HAVE TO GET THIS HELP,

NO MATTER HOW MUCH
OF A STRUGGLE IT IS.

OVER THE PAST WEEK,
ME AND VIANEY

HAVE BEEN GOING OVER
DR. NOW'S DIET.

BUT GETTING HIS DIET
WAS A BIT OF SHOCK

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE TO
GIVE UP EVERYTHING GOOD,

AND THAT'S JUST NOT
WHAT WE WERE EXPECTING.

MY BIG CONCERN
IS MOSTLY FOR VIANEY.

I'M WORRIED IF SHE'S FIRST TO
GIVE UP EVERYTHING SHE LIKES

INSTANTLY OVERNIGHT

THAT SHE COULD GET
REALLY DEPRESSED.

I'D SEEN THAT BEFORE
WHEN SHE'S TRIED A DIET,

AND I DON'T WANT THAT
TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

OKAY.

SO I'M GETTING US
A LOT OF HIGH-PROTEIN OPTIONS.

I'M ALSO GETTING US
SOME SNACKS

TO MAKE SURE
THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THAT WILL HELP US SLOWLY GET RID
OF EVERYTHING

WE AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE.

SO I'M GETTING
JUST A HANDFUL OF THINGS

THAT WE CAN HAVE
A LITTLE OF

ONCE WE HAVE A HEALTHY MEAL
LIKE STEAK AND CHICKEN.

AND MY PLAN EVERY FEW DAYS
WE LOSE A COUPLE MORE SNACKS

TILL WE'RE ONLY DOING
WHAT'S ON THE DIET,

SO I FEEL LIKE
THAT'S A SAFER PLAN

THAT WILL HELP US TO DO THIS.

AND WHEN WE HAVE OUR NEXT
VIDEO CALL WITH DR. NOW,

WE ARE HOPING TO HEAR
FROM HIM WE DONE ENOUGH

TO MAKE
THE TRIP TO HOUSTON SAFELY,

BECAUSE WE BOTH KNOW WE DON'T
HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME

BEFORE OUR BODIES
START GIVING OUT.

SO IF WE DON'T DO THIS AND GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

BEFORE THAT HAPPENS,

THEN WE ARE NOT GONNA BE ALIVE
MUCH LONGER,

SO OUR OPTIONS ARE DOWN TO
DOING THIS OR DIE,

AND NEITHER ONE OF US
IS READY TO DIE.

UM, WANT TO DO
A COUPLE OF LAPS?

YEAH.

I'LL HELP YOU.

OKAY.

Allen: ME AND VIANEY HAVE BEEN
WORKING HARD

TO MAKE THE PROGRESS WE NEED
FOR THREE MONTHS,

BECAUSE DR. NOW --

HE WASN'T GONNA ALLOW US
TO COME DOWN

UNTIL WE CAN AT LEAST WALK
LIKE WE NEED TO

TO MINIMIZE THE RISK

OF ANYTHING BAD HAPPENING TO US
ON THE ROAD.

AND VIANEY WAS REALLY STRUGGLING
TO BE ABLE TO WALK MUCH,

BUT HER WORK PAID OFF.

ALL RIGHT, GO THAT WAY.

WE HAD OUR LAST VIDEO CALL
WITH DR. NOW A WEEK AGO,

AND HE TOLD US
THAT HE DOES THINK

WE'RE BOTH ABLE
TO BE ACTIVE ENOUGH

TO MAKE THE TRIP
DOWN TO HOUSTON,

BUT ONLY AS LONG AS
WE'RE GONNA STAY DOWN THERE.

WE TOLD HIM WE WAS
MORE THAN READY,

SO WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED
RIGHT NOW

TO FINALLY MAKE THE MOVE
AND EVEN GO DOWN THERE TODAY.

THAT'S IT. I'M TIRED.

WELL, YOU KNOW
YOU'RE GONNA BE --

YOU'RE GONNA BE READY.

SO, WHAT ELSE DO WE NEED
TO PACK UP, AL?

MY ROOM AND LITTLE BIT
IN THE KITCHEN.

YEAH, I STILL HAVE TO
GO THROUGH ALL THIS.

Vianey: I'M REALLY EXCITED
THAT ME AND ALLEN

ARE FINALLY ABLE
TO GO TO HOUSTON.

THANKFULLY,
ALLEN'S COUSIN JUNIOR

AND ONE OF HIS CHILDHOOD
FRIENDS, JOHNNY,

SAID THEY'D HELP US PACK UP,

THEN TO ALSO GO DOWN

AND HELP US GET MOVED INTO
OUR NEW APARTMENT.

BUT IF THEY HADN'T,

I DON'T THINK WE'D BE EVEN
BE ABLE TO GO TO HOUSTON,

BECAUSE JUST PACKING UP
THIS PLACE IS A LOT

FOR JUST
THE TWO OF US TO DO.

OKAY, WE GOT THE TRUCK.

WE'RE READY TO LOAD.

-YOU GUYS GOT THE TRUCK ALREADY?
-YEAH.

-WE'RE READY TO --
-YEP, READY TO ROLL.

THAT'S YOU.

WE ALMOST HAVE EVERYTHING
WE'RE GONNA NEED

FOR THE NEXT YEAR
PACKED UP,

SO WE ARE ABOUT TO HEAD OUT.

SOME OF THE BIGGER STUFF

JUNIOR AND JOHNNY ARE GONNA PUT
IN A STORAGE UNIT FOR US

WHEN THEY COME BACK.

I'M JUST A LITTLE WORRIED
ABOUT HOW LATE IT IS

AND HOW VIANEY'S GONNA HANDLE
BEING CRAMMED IN THE TRUCK

WHEN SHE'S THIS TIRED.

Y'ALL READY?

YEAH, I'M READY TO GO.

I'M READY TO GO.

ALL RIGHT,
WELL, LET'S DO IT.

LET'S GO.IT'S TIME TO GO.

ALL RIGHT.

Vianey: I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY
GETTING ON THE ROAD.

BUT I KNOW THIS ISN'T
GONNA BE EASY FOR ME.

IT WOULD NORMALLY BE
AROUND A 17-TO-18-HOUR TRIP,

BUT I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO SAY IN A CAR

FOR NEAR THAT LONG --

MAYBE JUST 3 TO 4 HOURS A DAY,
DEPENDING ON HOW I FEEL.

SO I PLAN TO JUST TAKE
A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME,

AND IF I GET TO A POINT
WHERE I FEEL LIKE IT'S TOO MUCH

AND MY BODY IS STRUGGLING,
THEN WE'LL HAVE TO STOP,

AND THAT'LL HAVE TO BE IT
FOR THE DAY,

BECAUSE AS BAD
AS I WANT TO GET THERE

AND DO DR. NOW'S PROGRAM
AND GET MY SURGERY,

IT WON'T MATTER AT ALL

IF I END UP PUSHING MY BODY
TO A BREAKING POINT

WHERE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME
AND I DON'T EVEN MAKE IT.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR A FEW HOURS, AND I'M DONE.

SO WE NEED TO STOP AND REST
FOR THE NIGHT.

OHH. I DIDN'T THINK
IT WAS GONNA BE THIS HARD.

MY LEGS HURT.

I CAN'T BE BENT LIKE THIS
FOR HOURS AND HOURS.

CAN'T DO IT --
I CAN'T KEEP GOING.

I'M STARVING.

I GOT TO DO IT.
I GOT TO EAT.

I NEED SOMETHING NOW.

I CAN'T WAIT.

BUT AFTER THAT, I NEED TO GET
A ROOM AND LAY DOWN,

'CAUSE I'M TIRED EMOTIONALLY.

I JUST -- I'M DRAINED.

CAN I GET THE FAMILY MEAL,
THE 16-PIECE?

GIVE ME FOUR FISH
AND THE REST CHICKEN.

GIVE ME TWO FRIES
AND TWO HUSH PUPPIES.

ALSO, COULD I GET
A LARGE STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE?

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU.

JUST WISH MY LIFE
WAS DIFFERENT --

LIKE, I COULD JUST BE
A NORMAL PERSON,

TO EAT -- LIKE,
HAVE ONE LITTLE FISH THING.

IS THERE TARTAR SAUCE
IN THERE?

-YES.
-OKAY, THANK YOU.

Allen: VIANEY --
SHE'S IN A LOT OF PAIN.

HER LEGS ARE HURTING HER,

'CAUSE SHE CAN'T SIT
A VERY LONG TIME.

NO MORE --
NO MORE DRIVING TONIGHT.

VIANEY -- SHE'S IN PAIN,

BUT I THINK SHE DID GOOD
FOR THE FIRST DAY.

GIVE ME A HAND.

I NEED TO GET OUT.

-LET'S GO.
-GET THE DRINKS IN.

Vianey:
IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY,

A REALLY LONG,
HARD, EXHAUSTING, TIRING DAY.

RIGHT NOW,
I JUST WANT TO EAT.

I NEED TO EAT.

YOU HUNGRY?

MNH. I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

TOMORROW, WE HAVE TO
GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

WE STILL HAVE
A LOT OF DRIVING TO DO,

AND IF THE PAIN
GETS TOO UNBEARABLE,

I KNOW I CAN MAKE
SOME EXCEPTIONS

TO GET SOME FOOD
TO HELP ME GET PAST IT.

IT'S NOT THE BEST,
BUT IT'S AN OPTION.

AND AT THIS POINT,
I HAVE TO GET TO HOUSTON,

NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

Allen: TODAY IS THE SECOND DAY
ON THE HIGHWAY.

WE HOPE WE CAN GET OUT
OF ILLINOIS TODAY.

Vianey:
I DON'T SLEEP VERY GOOD.

MY LEGS WERE JUST HURTING,
AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GO.

BUT TODAY,
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO GO LONGER,

SO I HAVE TO TRY
FOR SIX TO SEVEN HOURS.

ALLEN,
I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN.

YOU IN PAIN, BABY?

MY LEG IS JUST HURTING ME
SO BAD.

I'M, LIKE --
I'M JUST SO OVER IT ALREADY.

LIKE...
I JUST WANT TO BE THERE.

FEELS GOOD TO BE
OUT OF THE HOUSE,

BUT I'M IN TOO MUCH PAIN
TO ENJOY IT.

THE ONLY THING THAT I HATE
ABOUT THIS TRUCK

IS THAT
MIDDLE THING, AL.

IT'S LIKE IF EVERYTHING
WOULD HAVE BEEN FLAT,

I WOULD HAVE BEEN COOL
WITH MY LEG, YOU KNOW?

YEAH.
IT'S LIKE --

ALLEN.

WHAT?
WHAT HAPPENED?

DID OUR MATTRESS
FALL OFF?

WE GOT TO PULL OVER.

LET ME ASK JUNIOR.

WHAT HAPPENED, JUNIOR?

Junior: THE MATTRESS
FLEW OFF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK.

MAN, WE LOST THE BED --

ALLEN, WE LOST --
WE LOST MY BED?

THE ONE WITH
THE PLASTIC ON IT.

THAT WAS MY BED.

DAMN, MAN.
MY BED.

I WOULD FLY--

I GUESS -- GUESS
I WAS GOING TOO FAST.

IT WAS LIKE A PARACHUTE.

OHH, THAT WAS MY BED.

THEN IT WENT
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO
SLEEP ON NOW?

I DON'T HAVE A BED NOW.

I DON'T HAVE
A BED.

WE'LL HAVE TO GET ONE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD NO BED.

I DON'T HAVE NO BED.

-I CAN'T SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.
-OHH.

CAN YOU GUYS JUST MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING DOESN'T FLY OFF?

YEAH,
EVERYTHING ELSE IS --

EVERYTHING ELSE IS TIED UP
IN THERE.

SHOULD WE STOP
BY THE GAS STATION?

ALLEN WANTS TO STOP
AT THIS GAS STATION

TO SEE IF THEY HAVE
ANY TIE-DOWNS OR SOMETHING.

ALL RIGHT.

MY BED.

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

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO

WHEN I GET TO
THE APARTMENT --

I DON'T HAVE NOWHERE TO LAY.
I'VE...

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I THOUGHT I WAS DOING
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,

BUT IT'S LIKE --
NOW I'M LIKE,

"OKAY, SHOULD WE HAVE
JUST STAYED IN CHICAGO, AND..."

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE --
NOW I'M LIKE,

"IS THIS THE RIGHT THING?
DID WE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE?"

AND I'M, LIKE, REGRETTING IT.

WE CAN'T AFFORD
ANOTHER MATTRESS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE MONEY.
WE'RE FLAT BROKE.

I NEED SOME CHOCOLATE.

I NEED SOMETHING
TO JUST CALM ME DOWN.

MY NERVES ARE JUST ON EDGE.

RIGHT NOW,
I'M SUPPOSED TO EAT HEALTHY.

I'M --
I JUST CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

I NEEDED MY COMFORT FOOD
TO GET ME THROUGH THIS.

Vianey:
WE'RE ON OUR FOURTH DAY,

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE IT

BEFORE THE APARTMENT BUILDING
LEASE OFFICE CLOSES.

I HAVE TO GIVE THEM
THE PAPERWORK THAT THEY WANT,

AND THEN I HAVE TO
GIVE THEM MONEY ORDERS.

WE'RE JUST BARELY GONNA MAKE IT
TO GET EVERYTHING TURNED IN

AND GET THE KEYS
TO THE APARTMENT.

I WAS STARTING TO FEEL LIKE WE
WERE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT HERE.

BUT I'M SO THANKFUL
WE FINALLY DID.

OOH.

OH, MY LEGS.

THIS TRIP
HAS BEEN EXHAUSTING,

AND I'M REALLY READY
FOR IT TO BE OVER.

AND I'M HOPING THE PLACE
IS NICE,

BECAUSE IT'S ONE
OF THE ONLY PLACES

WE COULD FIND
THAT WE COULD AFFORD.

AND I'M NERVOUS TO SEE
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE,

BUT I'M ALSO EXCITED
TO BE HERE.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

-I HAVE MY MONEY ORDERS HERE.
-OKAY. PERFECT.

AWARD LETTERS ARE -- THEY
GOT PACKED, THE RECENT ONES,

BUT I HAVE THE...

YEAH.

NO, THE OTHER ONES GOT PACKED
IN THE -- IN THE STUFF.

I KNOW.

Allen: OHH.

Woman: YEAH.

I GUESS, THEN,
WE'LL STAY IN THE TRUCK.

I GUESS.

HOW MUCH IS IT?
LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW?

-YEAH.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO, WE FINALLY MADE IT
TO HOUSTON.

THE OFFICE CLOSES AT 5:30.

WE LITERALLY GOT THERE
LIKE FIVE MINUTES AFTER,

AND WE DIDN'T GET THE APARTMENT.

I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GET THE
APARTMENT, AND IT'S LIKE, NO.

I DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT FORMS
THAT THEY NEEDED FOR THE INCOME,

SO IT DIDN'T PAN OUT
THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.

NOW WE CAME ALL THE WAY
FROM CHICAGO,

AND WE HAVE NOWHERE TO STAY,
NOWHERE TO SLEEP.

WE CAN'T AFFORD
ANOTHER HOTEL.

WE DON'T HAVE
ANY MORE MONEY.

WE'RE ALL SPENT.

AND I GUESS ME AND ALLEN
ARE GONNA SLEEP IN THE PICKUP.

AND JUNIOR AND JOHNNY WILL SLEEP
IN THE -- IN THE TRUCK.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WE DIDN'T GET THE APARTMENT.

Allen: 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
THE PROOF OF OUR INCOME.

IT'S PACKED UP
IN THE U-HAUL SOMEWHERE.

IT'S PACKED UP
IN THE U-HAUL SOMEWHERE.

-I'M SORRY, GUYS.

I UP.
I MESSED UP.

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE I PACKED THOSE THINGS,

AND I JUST --

I REMEMBER I HAD THEM IN --
I DON'T KNOW WHICH BOX,

AND THE OFFICE CLOSED,
SO WE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET IT,

AND WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO SLEEP IN THE TRUCK.

I'M SORRY, GUYS.

I DON'T KNOW, JUNIOR.

WE CAN'T GO BACK
TO CHICAGO.

WE'RE STUCK IN TEXAS, AND I
DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

Allen:
WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW

TO GET THIS PAPER
TO GET THE APARTMENT,

AND WE RAN OUT OF MONEY
GETTING FOOD AND GAS

ON THE WAY DOWN HERE.

SOMETIMES, YOU JUST
CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS.

JOHNNY AND -- AND JUNIOR --
THEY'RE PROBABLY UPSET,

'CAUSE NOW WE DON'T HAVE
THE MONEY TO SEND THEM HOME.

I GUESS
WE'RE NOT EATING, BRO.

HELLO.

Woman: Hey.
What's going on?

MAN, WE'RE STUCK
OUT HERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE NO MONEY,
THE PLACE IS CLOSED,

SO WE GOT TO SLEEP
IN A TRUCK.

I AM SO FURIOUS
AND PISSED OFF RIGHT NOW,

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.

-HELLO?
-YES.

HI, MOM.

I AM...

STILL THE SAME .

I AM FUMING.

I GUESS THEY DID.
I GUESS THAT'S ALL SPENT UP.

I GUESS THAT'S ALL GONE.
YEP.

I BASICALLY JUST CAME OUT HERE
FOR NO REASON.

I WANT TO WALK HOME
OR, LIKE, KILL MYSELF,

BECAUSE I AM SO
DONE WITH THIS.

Jason: Hello?

JASON.

Allen: HEY, JAY.Yeah?

SO, WE MADE IT.
WE'RE OVER HERE IN TEXAS.

Oh, really?
You're in Houston?

YEAH.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST --

WE'RE, LIKE,
IN A LITTLE PREDICAMENT.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET
THE APARTMENT TODAY,

SO WE GOT TO BASICALLY
BUNK OUT HERE IN --

IN THE PICKUP
TILL THE MORNING.

MM-HMM.
ALL RIGHT?

I don't know.

I really wish
there was money

I could send you guys to --
guys get a room,

but I don't have
any money myself.

WE ALREADY KNOW THIS,
JAY.

All right, well

Go ahead
and get off the phone with me

and conserve as much battery
as you can

till tomorrow morning.

YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, JAY.

-ALL RIGHT, JAY.
-WE'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, THEN.

Vianey: I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST ONE THING
AFTER ANOTHER.

IT'S, LIKE, JUST EVERYTHING
THAT COULD GO WRONG WENT WRONG,

AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET
JOHNNY AND JUNIOR BACK HOME,

TOO, LIKE --

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
TO GET THEM BACK HOME.

NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I MADE
THE RIGHT CHOICE.

I JUST WANT HELP SO BAD
FOR ME AND ALLEN.

I CAN'T BLAME ANYBODY
BUT MYSELF, YOU KNOW?

EVERYTHING'S MY FAULT.

I'M JUST STRESSED
TO THE POINT

I JUST DON'T WANT TO DEAL
WITH IT ANYMORE.

I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

I'M TIRED.

I'M JUST, LIKE --
EVERYTHING'S JUST ALL MESSED UP.

SO, WHO NEXT?

I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S SEE.

Vianey: LAST NIGHT
WAS A REALLY HARD NIGHT

SINCE WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO MOVE INTO OUR APARTMENT

BECAUSE
THE MANAGEMENT OFFICE CLOSED

BEFORE
WE COULD FIND OUR PAPERS.

BUT WE FOUND IT AND GAVE IT
TO THEM THIS MORNING.

SO EVERYTHING
FINALLY SORTED,

AND WE'RE ABLE TO START
MOVING IN NOW.

AND I'M HOPING WE CAN GET
EVERYTHING UNPACKED AND INSIDE

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OH, WOW.
OOH, THAT'S A LITTLE TIGHT.

ARE WE EVEN GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET IN THERE?

GOT TO WALK SIDEWAYS.

SIDEWAYS?IT'S, LIKE, THIS BIG.

OH, MAN.

CAN I EVEN FIT SIDEWAYS,
THOUGH?

-CAN YOU?
-HOLD ON.

YOU GONNA HAVE TO.

OH, MY GOD.

YEAH.

OH, MY GOD.

A LITTLE BIT MORE,

AND I WASN'T GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET IN HERE.

OOH, THAT'S TIGHT.

WOW.

WELL, AS LONG
AS I CAN GET IN THERE.

Allen: I WAS REALLY GLAD

THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE
IN OUR NEW PLACE NOW,

BUT I STILL HAVE TO
MAKE SURE

THAT ME AND VIANEY CAN FIT
EVERYWHERE THAT WE NEED.

BUT IF ALL THAT LOOKS GOOD,

I KNOW WE'RE GONNA NEED
TO GET VIANEY IN BED QUICKLY

TO MAKE SURE SHE CAN REST BEFORE
SHE STARTS TO GET REALLY TIRED.

Vianey:
I CALLED DR. NOW YESTERDAY

WHEN I THOUGHT WE WERE
GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE IN,

SO HE SET AN APPOINTMENT
WITH US FOR TOMORROW.

I'M EXCITED AND NERVOUS
ABOUT IT AT THE SAME TIME,

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA GET HELP,
AND HOPEFULLY ME AND ALLEN

WILL GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT I'M ALSO NERVOUS,

BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A LONG WHILE,

WE'RE GONNA SEE OUR WEIGHTS,

AND I'M NOT SURE
I WANT TO SEE THAT.

SO I KNOW PARTS OF IT
AREN'T GONNA BE FUN,

BUT, OVERALL, I KNOW
THIS IS GONNA GIVE US A CHANCE

TO SAVE OUR LIVES
AND HAVE A FUTURE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
ME AND ALLEN HAVE BEEN WANTING

FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

ME AND ALLEN --
WE'RE HEADED TO SEE DR. NOW.

THIS IS GONNA BE OUR FIRST
APPOINTMENT WITH HIM IN PERSON.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD
FOR ALMOST FOUR MONTHS NOW,

AND I KNOW
WE'VE HAD SLIP-UPS.

BUT I'M REALLY HOPING
THAT DR. NOW SEES

THAT ME AND ALLEN
HAVE BOTH BEEN WORKING HARD.

VIANEY RODRIGUEZ
AND ALLEN LEWIS.

Allen:
I KNOW I'M BIGGER THAN VIANEY,

BUT I THINK SHE NEEDS
THE HELP MORE.

I WANT HER TO GET IT
MOST OF ALL.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT I WEIGH
IN YEARS,

SO THERE'S THAT FEAR THAT
I COULD SEE A REALLY BIG NUMBER.

I JUST WANT IT TO BE AS LOW
AS POSSIBLE.

WOW.

THAT'S
A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING,

BUT I'M HOPING VIANEY
DOES A LOT BETTER THAN ME.

Vianey:
I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHATEVER
NUMBER'S GONNA COME UP FOR ME.

BUT I KNOW DR. NOW CAN'T TELL
HOW I'M DOING WITHOUT IT,

SO THERE'S NO WAY AROUND IT.

I'M AT LEAST BELOW 600,
BUT NOT BY MUCH,

SO MY WEIGHT'S
STILL REALLY HIGH.

BUT THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE,
TO CHANGE THAT,

AS LONG WE'RE ABLE TO
GET THE HELP WE NEED TODAY.

BECAUSE WITHOUT IT,

THOSE NUMBERS ARE JUST GONNA
KEEP GETTING BIGGER.

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD.
-DOING GOOD.

SO, I'M GLAD
YOU MADE IT HERE

AND THAT YOU ALL TOOK THE CHANCE
AND MOVED DOWN TO HOUSTON.

YEAH.
AND HOW WAS THE TRIP?

YEAH, IT WAS -- IT WAS HARD.

IT WAS HARDER ON ME,
I THINK, THAN HIM.

-YEAH.
-YEAH.

WELL, I'M GLAD
YOU MADE IT SAFELY.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT WAS
THE BIG CONCERN I HAD.

BUT THAT'S GOOD YOU MADE IT
WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

LET'S START WITH ALLEN.

YOU'RE DOWN TO 648.
YEAH.

SO, YOU WERE PROBABLY AROUND
670 TO 680 WHEN WE FIRST TALKED.

SO YOU'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS,
BUT HOW IS YOUR ACTIVITY?

GOOD SO FAR.

YOU'RE WALKING,
DOING PRETTY GOOD WITH THAT?

YEAH.

OKAY, I WANT YOU
TO KEEP THAT UP

AND TRY TO WALK
A LITTLE MORE EVERY DAY

TO CONTINUE BUILDING
YOUR STAMINA.

OKAY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

VIANEY,
YOU'RE DOWN TO 594,

SO YOU PROBABLY
WERE AROUND 620 TO 630.

SO IT IS THE SAME DEAL
AS WITH ALLEN --

IT'S PROGRESS,
BUT NOT A LOT.

BUT HOW IS YOUR MOBILITY?

I CAN GET UP SOME NOW,
BUT I CAN'T GO FAR STILL.

OKAY, IN ADDITION
TO THE DIET,

GETTING MOBILE
IS GONNA BE

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR HEALTH.

ALL RIGHT.
OKAY?

MM-HMM.SO I WANT YOU EVERY DAY

TO WORK ON
GETTING UP AND WALKING,

AND THEN THE NEXT DAY,
TRY TO GO FURTHER AND DO MORE.

OKAY?
OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

I SEE YOU HAVE
A DISTENDED ABDOMEN

AND SOME LYMPHEDEMA
IN YOUR LEG.

DOES THAT GET IN THE WAY
FOR YOU A LOT?

YES, ON MY LEFT LEG, AND THEN
ALL THIS, LIKE, STOMACH,

AND THEN I HAVE,
LIKE, A SORE HERE, TOO, SO...

WHAT IS IT --
ON YOUR STOMACH?

YEAH. THERE'S, LIKE, A SORE DOWN
HERE THAT'S KIND OF --

I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S, LIKE...

I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN SEE...

ALLEN -- IT'S, LIKE,
SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

THAT'S JUST THE WEIGHT
OF THE FAT...

MM-HMM.

...INFECTING
ALL THE SKIN CONTOUR.

AND LET'S SEE -- WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO REDUCE THE WEIGHT

SO WE CAN GET THAT
FAT OFF OF IT, OKAY?

SO, LOSING WEIGHT
WILL HELP THAT.

DO YOU BOTH STILL HAVE
THE 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY,

HIGH-PROTEIN,
LOW-CARB DIET, RIGHT?

WE DO.

GOOD, BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA
COMPLETELY STICK TO THAT

FROM HERE ON OUT

AND ONLY EAT
WHAT'S ON THE DIET.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY?
MM-HMM.

AND IF YOU DO ALL THAT,

YOU BOTH SHOULD BE ABLE TO
EASILY LOSE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT MONTH,

SO THAT'S A GOAL
I'M GIVING YOU.

AND WHEN YOU COME BACK,
IF YOU HAVE DONE THAT,

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

BUT IF YOU DON'T,
THEN ONE OF YOU

WILL LIKELY BE BURYING
THE OTHER ONE SOON.

YOU GOT THAT?YEAH, WE DO.

ALL RIGHT.
ANY QUESTIONS?

NO.

ALL RIGHT,
SEE YOU ALL SOON.

OKAY, THANK YOU.
MM-HMM.

VIANEY AND ALLEN
HAVE STARTED MOVING

IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
WHICH IS POSITIVE.

BUT THEIR WEIGHT LOSS SO FAR
IS NOWHERE NEAR

WHERE IT SHOULD BE
AT THIS POINT,

BECAUSE IF THEY WERE
REALLY DOING THE DIET

FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS
LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE,

THEY WOULD HAVE LOST
OVER 150 POUNDS EACH BY NOW.

SO THEY BOTH STILL HAVE
A LONG WAY TO GO TO SHOW ME

THAT THEY'RE WILLING
TO WORK HARD

AND DO WHAT THEY NEED
TO SUCCEED AT THIS.

BUT THEY DEVELOPED A UNIQUE
DYNAMIC OVER MANY YEARS

THAT'S PARTICULARLY
DYSFUNCTIONAL

WITH HOW
THEY ENABLE EACH OTHER

IN A WAY
THAT NOT ONLY ENCOURAGES

BUT SEEMS TO JUSTIFY THE OTHER'S
UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR

TO THE POINT
WHERE THEIR RELATIONSHIP

IS NOW EXTREMELY CODEPENDENT
ON FOOD,

AND CHANGING THAT
IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF WORK

FROM THEM AND US.

BUT THE FIRST STEP
STARTS WITH THEM,

AND THEY HAVE TO SHOW US

THEY'RE NOT EXPECTING THE WORK
TO BE DONE FOR THEM

AND THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIFE

BY HITTING THEIR
WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS.

Allen: THE GOAL THAT DR. NOW
GAVE US BOTH SEEMS LIKE A LOT,

BUT I KNOW WE ARE WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER WE NEED

TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD.

Vianey: DR. NOW STILL WANTS US
TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND HIT A GOAL

BEFORE HE THINKS WE'RE READY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT AT LEAST
HE'S GIVING US THIS CHANCE.

JUST KNOWING THAT

DR. NOW IS GONNA HELP ME
TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT,

I FEEL LIKE IT'S GIVEN ME
THAT MOTIVATION THAT I NEEDED,

SO I'M GONNA DO
WHAT IT TAKES.

Vianey: ME AND ALLEN HAVE MADE
A LOT OF BIG CHANGES

TO OUR WHOLE LIVES

WITH HOW WE EAT
AND OUR ACTIVITY.

WE GOT RID OF ALL THE CARBS AND
SUGARY STUFF IN THE APARTMENT,

SO THERE'S NO TEMPTATION
AROUND US,

AND WE'RE COMPLETELY
STICKING TO THE DIET.

HERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU, BABE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'RE TRYING TO BE A SUPPORT
TO EACH OTHER,

INSTEAD OF ENABLING EACH OTHER
LIKE DR. NOW SAID.

SO I MOTIVATE HIM,
AND HE MOTIVATES ME TO EXERCISE,

AND I'M FEELING CONFIDENT THAT,
WHEN WE GO BACK,

WE'LL GET APPROVED
FOR OUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERIES.

Allen: IT'S STILL IMPORTANT
TO ME THAT WE DO THIS TOGETHER.

BUT WHEN I GO OUT
TO RUN ERRANDS,

WHEN MY CRAVINGS
GET REALLY BAD,

I GIVE IN A LITTLE

AND GET SOMETHING QUICK
FROM A FAST-FOOD PLACE.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T,
BUT I'M TRYING THE BEST I CAN.

IT'S JUST SOMETIMES

I HAVE TO GET SOMETHING
THAT I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE.

IT'S LIKE
A ONCE-A-WEEK CHEAT DAY.

A LARGE ORDER OF
THE NACHO CHEESE, THE STEAK.

AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE
A HALF A BURRITO,

JUST WITH RICE AND CHEESE.

-JUST RICE AND CHEESE?
-YEAH.

THAT'D BE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.

I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T
MESS MY PROGRESS UP,

BECAUSE I WANT US BOTH
TO GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY

AT THIS NEXT APPOINTMENT.

Vianey:
ME AND ALLEN ARE HEADED BACK

TO SEE DR. NOW
FOR OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT.

AND I'M SO NERVOUS,

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
IF EITHER OF US HIT OUR GOALS.

Allen:
I'M HOPING THAT ME AND VIANEY

BOTH GET APPROVED
FOR SURGERY TODAY.

ALLEN AND VIANEY.

Allen: AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT
I WAS AT 648,

AND DR. NOW'S GOAL WAS TO LOSE
50 POUNDS THIS PAST MONTH,

SO I HAVE TO BE UNDER 598 TODAY
TO GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

THAT'S PROGRESS.

I DIDN'T MAKE IT
TO MY WEIGHT GOAL,

SO I'M NOT SURE IF DR. NOW
IS GONNA THINK IT'S GOOD.

Vianey:
AFTER SEEING ALLEN'S WEIGH-IN.

I'M EVEN MORE NERVOUS NOW.

I WAS AT 594
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

SO IF I LOST
THE 50 POUNDS I NEED,

I'D BE BELOW 544 TODAY.

AND I'M PRAYING I'M AT LEAST
NOT FAR OFF FROM THAT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I LOST THAT MUCH.

I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING
REALLY WELL,

BUT YOU JUST
DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.

SO SEEING THAT IS
A BIG ENCOURAGEMENT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT MEANS

THAT WE BOTH DIDN'T HIT
OUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS.

SO I'M STILL ANXIOUS

ABOUT HEARING
WHAT DR. NOW IS GONNA SAY.

HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-HELLO. HI.
-HEY.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, HOW IS EVERYBODY
GETTING ALONG?

GOOD.
I SEE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, SO,
LET'S START WITH VIANEY.

TODAY,
YOU'RE DOWN TO 526,

SO, OVER THE LAST MONTH,
YOU LOST 68 POUNDS.

-YEAH.
-GOOD.

THAT'S ALMOST
20 POUNDS A WEEK.

SO, I'M PROUD OF YOU,
AND SINCE YOU DID SO WELL,

I'M GONNA APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Allen: YEAH, BABY.

THANK GOD.
THANK YOU.

AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NO PROBLEM
HAVING THE SURGERY FIRST.

OKAY.
GOOD.

COOL.
OKAY?

I WANT HER TO GO FIRST.

WELL, THAT'S GOOD,

BECAUSE YOUR PROGRESS
ISN'T AS GOOD, ALLEN.

YOU LOST LESS THAN HALF
OF WHAT VIANEY DID,

SO YOU SEEM TO BE
SNEAKING FOOD STILL,

AND THAT'S NOT GOOD
AT ALL.

SO YOU NEED TO DECIDE

IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY LIKE VIANEY IS,

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T,
THEN THE NEXT ISSUE IS THAT

YOU'RE GONNA START TO MAKE HER
STRUGGLE WITH HER PROGRESS,

AND THAT'S GONNA
START CAUSING PROBLEMS

WITH
YOUR RELATIONSHIP, TOO.

SO THAT WON'T BE GOOD,
WILL IT?

NO, IT WON'T.

SO, WITH
VIANEY'S SURGERY,

YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO HELP HER
AND BE THERE FOR HER,

AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE
SOME TIME.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
TWO MONTHS

TO LOSE AT LEAST 80 POUNDS,

AND IF YOU DO THAT,

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

IF NOT, THEN WE ARE NOT MOVING
AHEAD WITH YOU, ALL RIGHT?

OKAY.

BUT, VIANEY, WE'RE GONNA
SCHEDULE SOME TESTS ON YOU

TO MAKE SURE
THAT ARE NO ISSUES

THAT PREVENT YOU
FROM HAVING THE OPERATION.

AND IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD
WITH THAT

AND YOU'RE STILL MAKING PROGRESS
WHEN YOU SHOW UP,

WE WILL MOVE AHEAD
WITH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

SOUNDS GOOD?

-MM-HMM.
-YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

THEN, ALLEN,
WORK TOWARDS YOUR GOAL

IF YOU WANT TO BE NEXT,
OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.SEE YOU THEN.

ALL RIGHT.ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M VERY HAPPY
TO SEE THE PROGRESS

VIANEY'S MADE
THIS PAST MONTH.

SHE'S DONE VERY WELL,

AND SHE'S TAKING HER SITUATION
AS SERIOUSLY AS SHE NEEDS.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND,

I'M VERY CONCERNED
ABOUT ALLEN RIGHT NOW,

NOT ONLY
BECAUSE OF HIS PROGRESS,

BUT WITH HOW THE DYNAMIC
BETWEEN HIM AND VIANEY

IS GOING TO START TO SHAPE.

IF HE DOESN'T START TO TAKE THIS
AS SERIOUSLY AS SHE IS,

BECAUSE, DOWN THE ROAD,
HIS UNHEALTHY BEHAVIOR

IS GONNA LEAD HER
TO STRUGGLE,

AND SHE WILL LIKELY
START TO RESENT THAT.

SO THAT WILL LEAD TO CONFLICT
BETWEEN THEM --

THEY'RE GOING TO START
TO HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS

ON BOTH THEIR PROGRESS,

SO ALLEN NEEDS TO START DOING
WHAT HE SHOULD NOW.

Allen:
I'M REALLY, REALLY HAPPY

THAT VIANEY GOT APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT I'M STILL EMBARRASSED
ABOUT MY PROGRESS.

I KNOW I HAVE TO WORK
A LOT HARDER

TO MAKE SURE
I DO IT THIS TIME.

Vianey: I'M AT THE HOSPITAL
FOR MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.

I'M HERE ALONE
BECAUSE ALLEN GOT SICK,

AND SO HE COULDN'T COME TODAY.

BUT I GOT HERE OKAY,
AND DR. NOW WAS PLEASED

WITH THE WEIGHT LOSS I'VE HAD
OVER THE LAST MONTH,

SO HE'S MOVING AHEAD
WITH MY SURGERY TODAY.

I'VE WORKED HARD TO GET
THIS SECOND CHANCE,

AND WITHOUT IT, I HAVE NO HOPE
FOR A FUTURE AT ALL,

SO I HAVE TO GET THIS,
NO MATTER HOW TERRIFIED I AM.

Dr. Nowzaradan:,
TODAY WE'RE ATTEMPTING

TO PERFORM A GASTRIC SLEEVE
ON VIANEY.

HER TESTS ALL LOOK GOOD,

AND SHE LOST ANOTHER 44 POUNDS
OVER THE LAST MONTH,

PUTTING HER AT 482 POUNDS,

WHICH MEANS SHE'S UNDER
THE 500 MARK

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ALMOST 20 YEARS.

SO, SHE'S STILL MAKING
GOOD PROGRESS,

AND SHE HAS PROVED TO ME

SHE'S READY
TO HAVE THIS OPERATION TODAY.

BUT EVEN THOUGH VIANEY HAS LOST
OVER 120 POUNDS,

AT THIS POINT,
SHE'S STILL OVER 400 POUNDS...

WE CAN
TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

...AND DOING ANY SURGERY
ON A PERSON THIS SIZE

IS EXTREMELY HIGH RISK,

BECAUSE OF THE ENORMOUS STRAIN

THEIR BODY IS ALREADY UNDER
WITH THEIR WEIGHT.

SO ANY ADDITIONAL STRAIN,
NO MATTER HOW SMALL,

COULD PUSH THEIR BODY TO A POINT
WHERE THERE'S TOO MUCH,

AND IT STARTS TO GIVE OUT.

SO IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES
THAT CONCERN US,

WE WILL HAVE TO STOP
THE SURGERY EARLY.

BUT IF WE ARE ABLE
TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE

HER GASTRIC SLEEVE TODAY,

IT WILL HELP VIANEY
TO STAY ON TRACK AS SHE NEEDS

AND LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT,

BECAUSE THE SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
IS AN OPERATION

THAT WILL REMOVE 80% TO 90%
OF THE STOMACH,

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

SO THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE
IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.

SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY

TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

Woman: FLATTEN TABLE.

-WATCH OUT.
-ROOM LIGHTS ON. ROOM LIGHTS ON.

WE NEED TO PUMP IN
HER CHEST.

I DON'T FEEL A PULSE.

GET THE CRASH CART,
GET THE CRASH CART NOW.

Man:
OKAY, CPR, GUYS. GO.

I NEED AN ART-LINE, STAT!

EPI.

EPI AND ATROPINE
ARE BOTH IN...

Man: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE WORKING ON A-LINE
OVER HERE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GET THIS
OUT OF THE WAY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO...

COMPRESSIONS.

CHECK FOR A PULSE.
CHECK FOR A PULSE.

-KEEP COMPRESSIONS!
-I GOT YOU.

I'M GONNA TAKE
A BLOOD PRESSURE.

YEAH. YEAH, OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DO

VIANEY'S
GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE,

HER BODY STARTED TO
STRUGGLE FROM THE STRAIN,

AND THEN HER CONDITION
STARTED TO DECLINE RAPIDLY

UNTIL HER HEART STOPPED.

SO EVEN THOUGH ALL HER TESTS
WERE GOOD PRIOR TO THE SURGERY,

THE STRAIN OF ALL THE WEIGHT
SOMEONE THIS SIZE HAS ON THEM

MEANS THEIR BODY
COULD HIT ITS LIMIT AT ANY POINT

AND START TO STRUGGLE
LIKE THIS.

AND IN VIANEY'S CASE,
HER PULMONARY SYSTEM

WASN'T ABLE TO HANDLE
THE OPERATION RIGHT NOW.

SO WE IMMEDIATELY REVIVED HER
AND STABILIZED HER,

AND RIGHT NOW,
WE'RE WAKING HER UP

AND PULLING HER
OUT OF ANESTHESIA

TO GET HER TO RECOVERY
SO SHE CAN REST,

BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE TOO RISKY

TO ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE
HER OPERATION TODAY.

-CAN WE GET CARDIAC ENZYME?
-YEAH.

WE'LL DO -- YEAH.

SHE'S STABLE.
SHE'S STABLE.

YEAH, SHE'S STABLE.

-ORIENTATION IS GOOD.
-PRESSURE IS GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU DOING OKAY?

-MM-HMM.
-ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD TO STOP THE OPERATION
BECAUSE YOUR PRESSURE DROPPED

AND YOUR HEART STOPPED
FOR A FEW SECONDS, OKAY?

MM-HMM.

YEAH.
BUT WE DIDN'T THE SURGERY.

-NO?
-NO.

BUT YOU'RE DOING OKAY.

WE HAD TO STOP
THE OPERATION. OKAY?

YOU'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT,
YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

ALL RIGHT?

VIANEY, YOU'RE OKAY.

NOW, YOU KNOW,
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

OKAY?

YOU'RE GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT, OKAY?

WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING'S OKAY.

ALL RIGHT?

Dr. Nowzaradan: I KNOW VIANEY
IS VERY DISAPPOINTED

THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO
COMPLETE HER GASTRIC SLEEVE,

BUT THE RISK TO TRY AGAIN TODAY
WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE

SINCE IT'S CLEAR
HER BODY'S ALREADY STRUGGLING.

THE ONLY REASON WE WERE
EVEN ABLE

TO PULL HER OUT OF HER SITUATION
WITHOUT ANY LASTING DAMAGE

IS BECAUSE WE WERE
MONITORING HER VERY CLOSELY,

SO WE WERE ABLE
TO REACT IMMEDIATELY.

BUT IF HER SYSTEM WAS PUSHED
ANY FURTHER,

IT COULD HAVE BEEN
TOO MUCH FOR HER,

AND SHE WOULDN'T
HAVE MADE IT.

FOR YEARS,
SHE HAD A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT

OF EXCESS WEIGHT
ON HER BODY,

PUTTING A GREAT DEAL OF STRAIN
ON HER WHOLE SYSTEM,

AND VIANEY IS AT A POINT

WHERE HER SYSTEM
IS STARTING TO GIVE OUT.

SO IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE TIME

TO TRY AND BUILD HER HEALTH
AND STAMINA BACK UP

BEFORE WE CAN ATTEMPT
TO DO THIS OPERATION AGAIN.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
WE WORK WITH VIANEY

TO HELP HER
CONTINUE LOSING THE WEIGHT

TO NOT ONLY
GET TO THAT POINT,

BUT TO ALSO REDUCE THE STAIN
ON HER SYSTEM,

SINCE IT'S OBVIOUSLY
AT ITS LIMIT

AND READY TO GIVE OUT ANY DAY

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO LOSE

AS MUCH WEIGHT OFF OF HER
AS POSSIBLE

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT, UNFORTUNATELY,
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS NOT AN OPTION FOR HER
TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

I'M EVEN MAD THAT
DR. NOW BROUGHT ME BACK.

LIKE, HE SHOULD'VE
JUST LET ME GO.

BABY.

YOU'LL BE FINE.

Allen: VIANEY HAS BEEN HOME
FROM THE HOSPITAL

ABOUT FOUR WEEKS NOW.

WHEN SHE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER,

I WAS SO SCARED, BUT I WAS
TOO SICK TO GO TO HER,

AND DR. NOW
KEPT HER THERE OVERNIGHT

TO MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T HAVE
ANY OTHER ISSUES.

BUT I JUST WANT
TO BE WITH HER,

SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY
WHEN SHE GOT BACK HERE.

BUT SHE'S BEEN REALLY SAD
ABOUT NOT GETTING THE SURGERY.

I'LL GET YOU
YOUR DINNER, OKAY?

Vianey:
WHEN I WOKE UP AND FOUND OUT

I HADN'T GOTTEN THE SURGERY,

IT WAS LIFE-SHATTERING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE WORST
AND MOST DEFEATING FEELINGS

I'VE EVER HAD.

I'M JUST REALLY STRUGGLING
RIGHT NOW,

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO GET PAST IT.

I MISS MY CARBS.

I KNOW, BABY.

I'M SICK OF PROTEIN.

I FEEL LIKE I DON'T HAVE
ANY MOTIVATION

TO BE ACTIVE
OR TO DO THE DIET.

IT'S JUST TAKING
EVERYTHING I GOT RIGHT NOW

TO KEEP GOING.

DR. NOW TOLD ME I HAD TO

BECAUSE MY HEART
IS STARTING TO GIVE OUT

FROM THE STRAIN I'VE PUT ON IT
FOR SO MANY YEARS.

SO I'M PUSHING MYSELF AS HARD
AS I CAN TO STAY MOTIVATED,

BUT IT'S HARD BECAUSE I FEEL,

NO MATTER HOW HARD I WORK
AND WHAT I'M ABLE TO DO,

IN THE END, I'M JUST CONDEMNED
TO LIVE LIKE THIS

UNTIL MY WEIGHT
ENDS UP KILLING ME,

AND I CAN'T DO THAT.

TASTED LIKE CRAP TO ME.

Allen: ME AND VIANEY
ARE HEADED BACK TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR OUR NEXT APPOINTMENT

AND TO FIND OUT IF WE ARE BOTH
STAYING ON TRACK

LIKE WE NEED.

ALLEN AND VIANEY.

I CALLED DR. NOW,

AND HE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED
TO HAVE LOST 120 POUNDS

SINCE MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

AND I WAS 620 POUNDS THEN.

SO I SHOULD BE BELOW 500 TODAY
IF I DID THAT.

Woman: 487.

487, BABY.

THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH.

Vianey:
I'M HAPPY FOR ALLEN.

BUT I DON'T THINK MY PROGRESS
IS GONNA BE AS GOOD AS HIS.

WHEN I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL
TWO MONTHS AGO,

I WAS AT 482,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT,

SINCE I HAD LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT
UP UNTIL THAT POINT,

THAT I ONLY NEED TO LOSE
30 POUNDS EACH MONTH,

SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO BE
422 TODAY IF I HIT MY GOAL.

-I THOUGHT I GAINED.
-NO.

THAT'S DISAPPOINTING.

PART OF ME IS HAPPY.

I'M AT LEAST STILL LOSING.

BUT I DON'T THINK DR. NOW'S
GONNA SEE IT THAT WAY.

HELLO.

-HELLO.
-HI.

HOW YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW
YOU'RE ALL DOING TODAY.

WHO'S FIRST?

ALLEN.

ME. YOU CAN DO ME.
ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, ALLEN,
LET'S START WITH YOU.

SO, AS OF TODAY,
YOU MADE IT DOWN TO 487.

YEAH.

YOU'RE LOST 133 POUNDS
OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

WOW! THAT'S GOOD.

I FEEL GOOD, TOO.

I'M IMPRESSED.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE
FINALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS.

SO, CAN YOU TELL
THE DIFFERENCE?

YEAH, I CAN -- I CAN TIE
MY SHOES AND STUFF NOW,

SO, YEAH.

YOU FEELING MUCH BETTER
WITH THE...

YEAH, I FEEL A LOT BETTER
AND STUFF, YEAH.

SUPER. GREAT.

ARE YOU GETTING ALONG BETTER
AND WALKING AROUND

AND ABLE TO DO MORE NOW?

-YEAH.
-ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GREAT.

WELL, YOU'RE READY
FOR YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

YEAH, I'M READY.

OKAY. YOU'RE DOING GREAT,
SO WE'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU,

AND I'M GONNA SET YOU UP
FOR ONE MONTH FROM NOW

WITH THE SAME DEAL
AS VIANEY.

YOU NEED TO KEEP LOSING
AND MAKE GOOD PROGRESS.

IF YOU DO THAT
AND ALL YOUR TESTS ARE GOOD,

THEN WE WILL MOVE AHEAD
WITH YOUR OPERATION.

IF NOT,
THEN WE WILL CANCEL IT.

YOU GOT IT?

YES, SIR, I DO.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

SO, DOING GOOD --
STICK WITH YOUR DIET

AND DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE
NOW, OKAY?

I'M NOT.
ALL RIGHT.

SO, THIS YOUNG LADY --
HOW ARE YOU DOING, TOO?

I'M OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW IS YOUR ACTIVITY DOING?

I'M TRYING TO MOTIVATE MYSELF,
DR. NOW.

I HAVEN'T REALLY PROCESSED
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED.

I'M A LITTLE BIT DEPRESSED
ABOUT IT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I DIDN'T GET THE SURGERY.

LIKE, I'M STILL --
I'M UPSET ABOUT THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT YOU CAN'T LET THAT
AFFECT YOUR PROGRESS,

BECAUSE YOU ONLY LOST 18 POUNDS
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,

WHICH IS NOT A LOT AT ALL.

SO AS HARD AND DISAPPOINTING
AS THINGS ARE,

YOUR ONLY CHOICE
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS

IS TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT --

AT LEAST AROUND 100 POUNDS
BEFORE THE STRAIN IN YOUR SYSTEM

IS REDUCED ENOUGH
TO MAKE MORE OF A DIFFERENCE.

I KNOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT,
BUT YOU TO HELP YOU DO THAT,

I'M GONNA START YOU
GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY.

SO I'LL SET YOU UP FOR THAT
IN A FEW DAYS.

OKAY.

AND IF YOU STICK WITH IT,
I PROMISE YOU,

WE'LL BE ABLE
TO DO YOUR SURGERY.

OKAY, COOL.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS
DEPRESSED ABOUT.

I WAS THINKING
I'LL NEVER HAVE IT, SO...

NO, YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE AS LONG
AS YOU KEEP LOSING WEIGHT.

OKAY.
I FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER NOW.

I TOLD YOU HE'S NOT GONNA
GIVE UP ON YOU.

DR. NOW, I THOUGHT I'M DOOMED
TO BE THIS FAT GIRL FOREVER.

NO.
LIKE, THIS IS IT.

THIS IS HOW I'M GONNA DIE,
IN THIS BODY.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.OKAY.

I'M PROUD
OF ALL YOUR PROGRESS,

SO KEEP IT UP,
AND YOU'LL BE FINE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALLEN

STARTING TO MAKE THE PROGRESS
HE NEEDS NOW.

AFTER THE LAST APPOINTMENT,
I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT HIM,

BUT HE HAS
TURNED THINGS AROUND,

AND I'M PROUD OF HIM
FOR TAKING THE INITIATIVE

AND WORKING HARD

TO LOSE AS MUCH AS HE DID
OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.

BUT WITH THE DROP
IN VIANEY'S PROGRESS,

SHE'S NOW MY BIG CONCERN

BECAUSE HER SYSTEM
CANNOT AFFORD

TO TAKE A LOT MORE STRAIN
FOR MUCH LONGER,

AND LOSING WEIGHT
IS THE ONLY THING

THAT WILL START
TO ALLEVIATE THAT

ENOUGH TO PREVENT HER HEART
FROM GIVING OUT SOON.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
WE KEEP HER ON TRACK,

BECAUSE,
IF SHE STARTS TO GAIN AGAIN,

IT COULD BE TOO MUCH
FOR HER BODY TO HANDLE.

BUT, HOPEFULLY, PSYCHOTHERAPY

WILL BE ABLE TO HELP HER
START TO COPE

WITH HOW SHE FEELS
IN HEALTHIER WAYS.

Allen: I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT GETTING MY SURGERY.

I JUST WISH VIANEY
WAS GETTING IT, TOO.

AND IF I CAN TRADE PLACES
WITH HER, I WOULD.

Vianey: EVEN THOUGH MY PROGRESS
WASN'T THAT GREAT,

I FEEL GOOD ABOUT
THE APPOINTMENT TODAY.

HEARING DR. NOW SAY

HE GUARANTEES
I'LL GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS LONG AS I KEEP LOSING

WAS REASSURING TO HEAR,

SO I FEEL A LITTLE BETTER.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY
FOR ALLEN.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE
A LOT OF HARD WORK

AND SOME CATCHING UP TO DO,
BECAUSE I'M DONE WITH THIS LIFE,

AND I'M REALLY READY
FOR THAT NEW ONE.

DR. NOW SET UP MY FIRST
PSYCHOTHERAPY APPOINTMENT,

SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT NOW.

AND I'M NOT SURE
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM IT,

BUT I THINK
IT'LL FEEL GOOD TO DO THIS.

I KNOW MY EMOTIONS PLAY A PART
IN MY EATING,

AND SO IF THIS IS SOMETHING
I NEED TO DO

TO LOSE WHAT I NEED AGAIN,
THEN I'M WILLING TO DO IT.

-VIANEY.
-HI.

HI. I'M LOLA.

Vianey: HI.

IT'S A PLEASURE
TO MEET YOU.

AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY,
YOU CAN COME RIGHT ON BACK

AND HAVE A SEAT
ANYWHERE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.

OKAY.

AND YOU'LL JUST GO
STRAIGHT ON BACK THERE.

OKAY, VIANEY.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE
WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

WELL, I DON'T HAVE, LIKE,

TOO MANY HAPPY MEMORIES
ABOUT IT.

SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE CHILDHOOD
WAS A ROUGH TIME FOR YOU.

YEAH, IT WAS.

I MEAN, MY MOM --
SHE WAS PRETTY ABUSIVE.

I MEAN, I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF
BEATINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

DID ANYONE EVER INTERVENE
ON YOUR BEHALF?

MY DAD NEVER KNEW.

VIANEY, IN WHAT WAYS
DID THE EXPERIENCE

OF BEING ABUSED
BY YOUR MOTHER

CHANGE YOU IN THE WAY YOU FELT
ABOUT YOURSELF, YOUR LIFE?

WELL,
I MEAN, TO THIS DAY,

I JUST FEEL LIKE,
BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT,

I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

LIKE, IT WAS KIND OF LIKE
THIS -- THIS PROPHECY

THAT MY MOM WOULD TELL ME.

SHE WAS LIKE,
"YOU'RE GONNA GROW UP

TO BE THIS OBESE PERSON
THAT LAYS IN BED,

AND YOU'RE GONNA WEAR
BEDSHEETS FOR CLOTHES

BECAUSE YOU WON'T FIND
CLOTHES THAT FIT YOU,"

AND SHE WAS RIGHT.

LOOK WHERE I'M AT NOW.

YOU KNOW, VIANEY,
I'M HONESTLY VERY SORRY

THAT YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT
AND ENDURE THAT,

BUT YOUR MOTHER
DIDN'T HAVE PSYCHIC POWERS.

SHE CRIPPLED YOU.

SHE STUNTED
YOUR DEVELOPMENT

AND YOUR ABILITY
TO DREAM.

YEAH, AND NOW THAT I'M DOING
THIS WEIGHT-LOSS THING,

IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING'S
KIND OF LIKE

COMING TO THE SURFACE
WITH HER,

AND I DIDN'T GET TO SAY
GOODBYE TO HER.

THE LAST TIME I'D SEEN HER,
SHE DIDN'T SAY GOODBYE.

YOU KNOW, VIANEY,
I THINK IT'S TIME

FOR YOU TO WRITE YOUR MOTHER
A GOODBYE LETTER

TO SAY ALL THE THINGS

YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY

ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

YEAH.

SO, VIANEY, I WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR COMING TODAY.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME, AND I HOPE TO
SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON.

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN
REAL SOON.

OKAY.

OHH.

IT'S HARD TO GET UP.

Vianey: THAT WASN'T EASY,

BUT IT WAS REALLY INSIGHTFUL
FOR ME.

AND I KNOW THIS IS JUST
THE FIRST STEP

TO START TO COPE WITH THINGS

IN BETTER WAYS
INSTEAD OF WITH FOOD.

BUT DOING WHAT LOLA SAID
SO I CAN GET TO THAT POINT

IS GONNA BE
SOME OF THE HARDEST STUFF

I'VE EVER HAD TO DO.

BUT I'M READY
TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS

TO TRY TO LOSE
THE 100 POUNDS

THAT DR. NOW SAID I NEED
TO GET SURGERY AGAIN,

BECAUSE I KNOW THE REWARD
FOR DOING THAT WILL BE

I GET TO HAVE A FUTURE

AND THE LIFE I'VE WANTED
AND DREAMED OF

FOR ALMOST ALL MY LIFE.

Allen:
IT'S THE DAY OF MY SURGERY,

AND I AM EXCITED IT'S HERE.

THEY GOT MY WEIGHT A LITTLE
EARLIER WHEN I GOT HERE,

AND I LOST ANOTHER 28 POUNDS.

SO I'M AT 459,
SO DR. NOW SAID I'M READY.

I KNOW I'M IN GOOD HANDS,
AND IF I DON'T DO THIS,

I'M NOT GONNA HAVE
MUCH OF A LIFE, ANYWAY.

SO I'M READY TO TAKE THIS LEAP
AND HAVE THIS OPERATION TODAY.

Vianey: I THINK
I'M MORE SCARED FOR ALLEN

THAN I WAS FOR MYSELF,

AND I'M PRAYING
REALLY HARD FOR HIM

AND THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES
LIKE THERE WERE WITH MINE.

I KNOW YOU'RE SCARED,
BUT IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU,
ALLEN.

NOTHING BAD'S GONNA HAPPEN
TO YOU.

Woman: HOLD ON.

Allen: I KNOW THIS SURGERY'S
GONNA BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME,

BECAUSE OF HOW IT'S GONNA
HELP ME LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

BUT PART OF ME FEELS BAD

THAT I'M HAVING IT FIRST
BEFORE VIANEY,

'CAUSE I WANT TO KNOW
IF SHE'S GONNA BE OKAY.

SO AFTER I RECOVER FROM THIS,
I'M GONNA MAKE IT MY MISSION

TO HELP HER
DO WHATEVER SHE NEEDS

TO GET TO
WHERE SHE CAN GET IT AGAIN

AND HAVE
THIS OPPORTUNITY, TOO.

'CAUSE I'M DOING THIS
TO LIVE LONGER WITH HER.

AND EVEN THOUGH
I'M TAKING THIS STEP TODAY,

I'M ONLY DOING IT
'CAUSE I HAVE FAITH

SHE'S GONNA GET IT, TOO,
HERE SOON,

AND WE'RE BOTH GONNA
DO THE JOURNEY TOGETHER,

'CAUSE THE ONLY FUTURE I WANT
IS ONE WITH HER.

SO THAT'S WHY I HAVE NO DOUBT
I'M READY FOR THIS.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE LIFE
THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE HERE SOON

AND ALL THAT
THERE IS WAITING FOR ME.

SO ONCE I DO THIS, I'M GONNA
WAKE UP TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD,

AND I CAN'T WAIT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM

A GASTRIC SLEEVE
ON ALLEN TODAY.

HE'S DONE WELL OVER
THE LAST FEW MONTHS,

AND HE'S SAYING ON TRACK
LIKE HE NEEDS,

SO HE'S READY TO TAKE THIS STEP
AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT JUST LIKE WITH VIANEY,
ALLEN IS STILL VERY HIGH-RISK

BECAUSE THERE'S STILL
A GREAT DEAL OF EXCESS WEIGHT

PUTTING A LOT OF STRAIN
ON HIS WHOLE BODY.

SO IT WILL HELP
TO MAKE SURE

THAT HE DOESN'T DEVELOP
ANY CONCERNING ISSUES,

BUT WE WILL HAVE TO STOP
THE OPERATION IF HE DOES

TO MAKE SURE HIS BODY DOESN'T
GET PUSHED BEYOND ITS LIMIT.

BUT, HOPEFULLY,
THERE WON'T BE ANY ISSUES,

AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE HIM
THIS WEIGHT-LOSS TOOL

TO HELP HIM CONTINUE
TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS.

Vianey: RIGHT NOW
IT'S KILLING ME TO SIT HERE

AND NOT KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON,

AND I'M JUST WORRIED.

OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME

TO HAPPEN TO HIM,

BECAUSE ALLEN
MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

HE'S EVERYTHING TO ME,

AND IF I LOST HIM,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.

OKAY.

-ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN
TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.

OKAY, ALL FINISHED.

ALLEN'S SURGERY
WENT WELL TODAY.

WE DIDN'T ENCOUNTER ANY ISSUES,

SO WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE
HIS OPERATION.

WE REMOVED
ABOUT 80% OF HIS STOMACH.

AND THIS ALLEN'S STOMACH
THAT WE TOOK OUT

AND FILLED WITH WATER
TO SHOW THE SIZE.

WHEN THE FOOD GETS
IN THE STOMACH,

IT EXPANDS
AND HOLDS A LOT OF VOLUME.

WHEN WE TAKE IT OUT
IN THE LABS,

IT LOOKED VERY SMALL,

BUT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY
THE STOMACH WE TOOK OUT.

SO NOW WE WILL GET HIM
TO RECOVERY,

AND HE CAN REST,

AND AFTER A FEW DAYS,
HE WILL BE ABLE TO GO HOME,

AND THEN HE'LL BE ON
LIQUID DIET FOR A MONTH.

SO HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
AT LEAST 35 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.

THEN, AFTER THAT, HE SHOULD LOSE
AT LEAST 25 POUNDS A MONTH

UNTIL HE GETS CLOSE
TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT,

BUT ONLY IF HE STICKS
TO WHAT HE NEEDS.

BECAUSE IF ALLEN PUSHES HIMSELF
TO OVEREAT,

THEN HE CAN START TO STRETCH
HIS STOMACH BACK OUT,

AND OVER TIME,
IT'S POSSIBLE FOR HIM

TO GET IT BACK TO THE SIZE
IT WAS BEFORE SURGERY.

SO THIS WILL HELP ALLEN
START TO LOSE A LOT MORE WEIGHT.

BUT WHETHER HE MAINTAINS IT
WILL DEPEND ON

WHETHER HE STARTS TO GIVE IN
TO TEMPTATION AT SOME POINT

AND WHAT CHOICES
HE MAKES THEN.

BUT WE'VE GIVEN HIM

A VERY IMPORTANT
AND EXTREMELY HELPFUL TOOL

TO KEEP HIS PROGRESS
GOING FOR NOW.

AND, HOPEFULLY,
IT WON'T BE TOO LONG

BEFORE WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT
FOR VIANEY, AS WELL.

Vianey: I'VE BEEN STAYING STEADY
ON TRACK WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS,

AND DR. NOW SAYS,
IF I KEEP IT UP,

I'LL BE READY TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS
SURGERY AGAIN IN A FEW MONTHS.

I'VE KEPT GOING TO LOLA,

AND I'M DOING THE THERAPY TESTS
SHE GIVES ME.

AND TODAY, WHAT I'M DOING
IS WRITING A LETTER TO MY MOM.

BUT DOING THIS IS A LOT HARDER
THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,

BECAUSE IT DIGS UP A LOT.

BUT I GUESS THAT'S THE POINT.

YEAH, THAT WORKS.
WE CAN PUT IT IN THERE.

WHEN YOU'VE SPENT A LIFETIME
BURYING THINGS,

YOU END UP HAVING
TO DIG THEM UP TO FACE THEM.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO IT

IF I WANT
TO MAKE THE PROGRESS I NEED.

SO I'M NOT BACKING DOWN,
NO MATTER HOW PAINFUL IT IS.

RIGHT HERE, BABY.

SO...

"DEAR MOM, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS
SINCE I LAST SPOKE TO YOU.

BEFORE YOU DIED, YOU STOPPED
TALKING TO ME BECAUSE I WAS FAT.

I FELT REJECTED.

I GREW UP FEELING
ASHAMED AND GUILTY.

I HAD A HORRIBLE CHILDHOOD,
AND I BLAME YOU FOR IT.

YOU TORTURED ME
WITH DIETS

AND MADE ME DEVELOP
AN EATING DISORDER.

YOU KILLED MY HOPES
AND MY DREAMS.

YOU SAID I WOULD NEVER BE LOVED
OR GET MARRIED

OR BECOME A MOTHER
BECAUSE I WAS FAT.

I WON'T LET YOU OR THE PAST
HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.

I ALWAYS WANTED YOU
TO LOVE ME,

BUT I REALIZE NOW THAT I HAVE
TO LEARN TO LOVE MYSELF.

I HOPE, AT THE END, YOU FOUND
FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR SINS

AND YOUR SOUL
IS RESTING IN PEACE.

IF YOU ARE IN HEAVEN,
I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN ONE DAY.

YOUR DAUGHTER, VIANEY."

Allen: I'VE BEEN REALLY PROUD
OF VIANEY,

AND IT'S MY MISSION RIGHT NOW

TO MAKE SURE
SHE GETS WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS SOON AS SHE CAN.

IT'S HELPED ME A LOT,

SO I'M MAKING
A LOT OF PROGRESS,

AND I JUST WANT THAT
FOR VIANEY.

I LOVE HER SO MUCH,

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO
WHERE WE BOTH NEED TOGETHER.

Vianey: TODAY, ME AND ALLEN
ARE GOING ON A DATE.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PICNIC
IN THE PARK,

WHICH IS SOMETHING WE WOULD
HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO

OR EVEN CONSIDERED
A YEAR AGO.

SO, THINGS ARE GOING
REALLY WELL,

AND IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE

WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO
EACH DAY NOW.

BUT AS PROUD OF THAT AS I AM,

THE THING I'M MOST THANKFUL
FOR RIGHT NOW

IS MY EMOTIONAL GROWTH.

ONE OF THE BIG TESTS THAT LOLA
GAVE ME WAS TO WORK ON INTIMACY,

BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS
FROM MY CHILDHOOD

LEFT A LOT OF THAT PAIN
AND FEAR,

AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD

IN OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP.

SO THIS PAST YEAR HASN'T ONLY
STARTED GIVING ME A NEW LIFE,

BUT IT'S GIVEN ME HOPE

THAT THE LIFE
ME AND ALLEN CAN HAVE NOW

WILL BE THE ONE
WE'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.

Allen:
I'VE BEEN REALLY LOVING LIFE.

I FEEL GREAT,
AND I'M FINALLY IN THE 300s,

WHICH IS A WEIGHT I NEVER
THOUGHT I'D BE DOWN TO AGAIN.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED

WE'D BE DOING
WHAT WE ARE RIGHT NOW,

AND EVERY DAY, IT GETS BETTER
AS WE LOSE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW
AND ALL THE DAYS AFTER THAT...

HERE YOU GO.
YOU CAN DO THAT.

...BECAUSE I KNOW I GET TO DO
THEM WITH THE WOMAN I LOVE

WHO IS MY WHOLE MOTIVATION
FOR DOING ALL THIS.

SO I CONSIDER MYSELF
BLESSED.

I LOVE MY LIFE NOW,

SO I'M NOT GONNA LET
A SINGLE THING

MESS THAT UP FOR BOTH OF US,
NO MATTER WHAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I'M JUST HAPPY.

ME, TOO, BABY.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER 10 YEARS,
AND WE NEVER WENT ON A DATE.

NO.

BUT HERE WE ARE, BABY.

IT JUST MAKES ME THINK

OF ALL THE YEARS
WE WASTED, YOU KNOW?

I'M HOPING
THE NEXT 10 YEARS

WE'LL MAKE IT DIFFERENT,
YOU KNOW?

IT'S GONNA BE BETTER.

WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF DATES.

LET'S EAT.

MM.

Vianey:
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,

DR. NOW TOLD ME
HE THINKS I'M READY

TO TRY TO HAVE
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY AGAIN.

HERE'S YOUR CUP.
MAKE SURE YOU MEASURE IT OUT.

BUT HE SCHEDULED IT
FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW,

AND I NEED TO KEEP LOSING
AND GET UNDER 350.

AND I'M LESS THAN 20 POUNDS
AWAY FROM THAT,

SO I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA
HAVE A PROBLEM MAKING THAT.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT,
AS LONG AS WE HAVE EACH OTHER

AND WE'RE DOING THIS TOGETHER,

WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING
AND EVERYTHING WE NEED

TO MAKE OUR GOALS

AND GET THAT LIFE

WE BOTH HAVE DREAMED
OF TOGETHER

ALL OF OUR LIVES.

AND I KNOW WE BOTH ABSOLUTELY
CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT,

AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR US.