All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S11E05

I kept kicking that can
down the road so far

and now it's like
a great, big, heavy can,

I need help to move it.

[woman] Somewhere in me is
this little glimmer of hope.

I just wanna be
a normal person.

[sighs with effort]

[panting]

You can't do it,
and then I just get mad.

[woman] If I don't
make a change now,

I'm scared
it's gonna be too late.

No!

My arm!

[woman] I refuse
to stop fighting.

I have to do this
for my children.

Ooh!

That's exactly
what you're doing,

you're talking
out your [bleep].

you're talking
out your [bleep].

You're not
thinking this through.

Then so be it.
But it's my decision to make.

[groans]

When I open my eyes
in the morning,

it's like, "Oh, [bleep],
tomorrow keeps coming."

it's like, "Oh, [bleep],
tomorrow keeps coming."

It hurts when I move.

Every day gets harder to move,
harder to breathe.

You know?

And then I gotta sit up,

and I gotta kind of
give myself a pep talk.

[exhales]

Just let my joints
kind of get lubricated.

[sighs]

[sighs]

[grunts]

And when I do it,
it's so painful

that I can only walk
maybe 30 steps at a time.

[clattering]

Once I'm under the hot water,

showering's not bad.

I don't really have to stand
all that much.

I'll put my feet up
on the chair

and then I'll sit on the thing
and get all in here.

Sometimes you gotta
put your hand

on the wall
and rotate your body

there is difficulties.

I got
the detachable shower head

where I rinse myself off.

But as soon as
I have to stand again,

the rest of the day after my
shower basically is torture.

[grunts]

When you get to be this size,

you're definitely
broken mentally.

I mean, I know I'm fat.

And I have the ability
to change it.

But I can't stop eating.

Because when I'm eating,
it's the only time

I get relief
from the physical pain.

It's the only time
that I'm happy.

But my relationship with food
is an issue for my family.

Because I've been living
in my parents' guest house

since I became immobile.

My mom and my dad,

My mom and my dad,

they're working hard not to
be enablers, but they are.

My mom's an enabler
to a certain extent.

Because she's coming
from a place of love.

She loves her baby boy.

-[Maria on phone] Hey.
-Good morning, Momma.

[mom speaking]

Good. What are you
thinking for breakfast?

[chuckles] Okay.
Thanks, Momma.

I'll see you in a minute.

[Maria] All right, bye.

-Good morning.
-Hey, good morning.

Do you want
the eggs scrambled?

Doing chorizo,
you could do an omelette.

[Mark] Um, scrambled is good.

I am very conflicted
in providing food for Mark.

-Hey, Ma?
-Yeah?

Can I get a whole lot
of cheese, please?

Okay.

[Mark] Thank you.

[Maria] The food that he needs
is very, very small amounts.

[Maria] The food that he needs
is very, very small amounts.

But I know
if we don't feed him

proportionally
with what he wants,

he'll just order more food.

[Rocky] You need that?

It's a weekend. They can...

[Rocky] Every day's a weekend
for you right now.

[Mark] My dad
tells me what to do.

But it has
a reverse influence on me.

Did you guys already eat?

Uh, yeah, yeah.

Just had a little bit
of coffee and stuff.

Just had a little bit
of coffee and stuff.

There's that.

-Thank you, Momma.
-You're welcome.

[Mark] The more
you come at me like that,

the more it makes me
wanna eat,

and go down that road.

Like, it's always been
a steady uphill struggle.

Growing up, I always
lived in a happy home.

My mom and dad were
really young when they had me.

They were married
when they were really young,

They were married
when they were really young,

and they're still together
to this day.

[Rocky] I was 19 years old
whenever Mark was born,

and, um, my wife and I both
were babies raising babies.

And he didn't come
with an instruction manual.

[Mark] If I had
to put one event

that I contributed
to my addiction on food,

and led me
to where I'm at today,

it would have been
when my dad lost his job.

That had a definite
traumatic effect on me

in so many different ways.

We lost everything.

It was a whole new dynamic
overnight.

It was a whole new dynamic
overnight.

All my old clothes,
my old lifestyle, was gone.

We ended up moving to Arizona.

We lived
on my grandmother's patio,

which is a room, but it was
insulated with newspapers.

Just a horrible,
horrible place.

My first day of school I ended
up getting into a fight.

And it was just,
"This place sucks.

I hate everything about it."

[Maria] When Rocky
got laid off,

and I also got laid off
from my aerospace job,

it was a real big time.

We lived
a very comfortable life.

As the paychecks
weren't coming in,

As the paychecks
weren't coming in,

other priorities
had to happen, you know?

We had to pay
the utilities and...

It was so traumatic.

Mark was about 12.
He was very depressed.

And all he did at my mom's
was sleep. I remember that.

He just slept.
It was just easier to sleep.

You know,
than to deal with it.

I was starting to hold back
a little bit on the food.

It had to have been rationed.

And I'm sure it affected Mark.
Probably scared him.

And I'm sure it affected Mark.
Probably scared him.

"What's going on with
the food?" [laughs] You know?

[Mark] Food is
comforting to me

because it just reminds me
of being happy.

Having that full stomach
and the roof over your head,

you know, and everything's
taken care of.

I think we have an addiction
in our family to food.

I know that I have to get up
and walk away from food.

I know that I have to get up
and walk away from food.

I don't stop eating it.

And I think Mark has a lot
of the same traits that I do

when it comes to that.

[Mark] In high school I was
probably 220, 230 pounds.

My size got the attention
of the football coach.

He wanted to put me
on the line.

Once I made the football team,
they told me,

"Mark, we need to get you up
to 300 pounds."

It was just the excuse
I'd been looking for,

to postpone doing anything
about my food addiction.

to postpone doing anything
about my food addiction.

I was like, "Hell yeah,
I'll have four burgers."

I was a pretty good athlete.

I was faster at the time
than I've ever been,

stronger at the time
than I've ever been.

I got a scholarship to play
football at a junior college.

I was gonna go transfer and
play division one football.

But after that first semester,

we were practicing
and I got hit,

and my knee went
one way and I went the other.

You have to love football
to make it,

and you have to be lucky
to make it.

It's like you really
have to love something

It's like you really
have to love something

to fight through the pain.

And I didn't love it enough
to fight through the pain.

And I just wasn't
in that frame of mind,

where I just,
"I don't want this anymore."

Between my knee being injured,

missing my friends,
missing my family,

travelling out of state,
I was just done with sports.

Then a friend offered me a job
as a bouncer at a concert

for a Top 40 rock band.

Then that led me to
a permanent job

working security

at a well-known music venue
in West Hollywood

at a well-known music venue
in West Hollywood

on Sunset Boulevard.

And it was one of the funnest
jobs I've ever had.

Music replaced
the excitement of football.

Ah.

No matter what race, religion,

sexual orientation,
whatever - music.

That's something
everybody has in common.

But what ended up happening,
I would get distracted

by all the partying
going down after work.

I was doing
recreational drugs,

drinking, and that got me
into binge eating.

drinking, and that got me
into binge eating.

And then all of a sudden
I was 350 pounds.

And then after
a few years security,

the company I was bouncing for
offered me a promotion

at their sister venue
on the strip in Vegas.

And I was kind of
in the moment,

like, "Yeah, I could do that."

So I made the move.

[Mark sighs]

-Thank you.
-[Maria] You're welcome.

Vegas was
a slower pace of life.

Living there didn't help
my fast food addiction.

I partied, I ate, and I drank.

I was consuming so much,
I wound up taking a second job

as a security guy
in a gated community

to try to pay for it all.

When I first started noticing
Mark's weight gain

was in his middle-20s.

We could just kind of tell.

He'd be eating a little more.

He had to buy clothes

He had to buy clothes

to come home and visit
Mom and Dad.

[Mark] I had no idea how much
I weighed at that point.

But my weight,

just keep getting higher
and higher and higher.

And then, boom.

Before I knew it
I was too big to do security.

And the bigger you get,
the harder it is to get a job.

Because there is that negative
connotation with being big.

But I found one where you can
sit down at a sportsbook.

And then a pandemic happened.

That job went away.

So I put myself into storage

So I put myself into storage

and I tucked my tail
between my legs

and moved back home
with Mom and Dad.

I've been looking for work
for the past year and a half,

but now I have stipulations.

I can't go work
in an office anymore.

I'm too big for that.
I can't drive to the office.

[Rocky] Hey, Mark.
Let's get ready.

You ready to go?

-Yeah, right now?
-Yeah.

-Okay.
-Yeah?

-Let's go.
-Okay.

-Let's go.
-Okay.

[groans]

I felt like
a complete failure.

It was a hard pill to swallow,

but fortunately, like,
they're okay with it.

I mean, they want
me gone. [chuckles]

They want me out quick.
But at the same time,

they want me to get right
before I get out.

I have a lot of anxiety about
going out into public now.

I don't wanna deal with looks,

I don't wanna
deal with comments.

I don't wanna
deal with any of it.

I don't wanna
deal with any of it.

I'm just over all of it.

You know?

So if I have to do it,

gotta put that brave face on
like, okay, I gotta do it...

but I don't gotta like it.

All right.

The grocery store, it sucks.

Just finding a trolley
that I can sit in,

Just finding a trolley
that I can sit in,

it's like,
"Hoo. Give me a minute."

I don't know
how that's gonna fit.

This isn't gonna work.

You're gonna have to get up

-and push a cart.
-I can't.

You gotta push a cart, Mark.

That's all you can do.

[Mark] By the time
we are inside the store,

both of my knees
are usually throbbing.

both of my knees
are usually throbbing.

And it sucks.

I can't live like this
much longer.

And I know
if something doesn't change,

I don't have long.

[Rocky] I rode
the scooter behind him

so that he could take a break.

-All right, you need to sit?
-Yeah.

[Rocky] I feel
horrible for him.

You know, I was always told

that people in China
are starving to death.

So you finish your meal.

But I am ridden
with a lot of guilt

But I am ridden
with a lot of guilt

because of the way
that Mark is right now.

I know that I've enabled Mark
over the years.

So I try not to enable him
any longer.

They got ice cream down there?

Just one of those, or two?

[Rocky] But I still do,
so often.

It's very hard for me
to break the bad habits.

I want Mark to be healthy.

I want Mark to be healthy.

We can't live this life.

We can't continue
to live this life.

I really believe in him,

but, uh, it's a hard road.

[Mark] I'm definitely
at a crossroads right now.

You know what I mean?
It's... it's urgent now.

[bleep] got real.

That's how you're gonna do it?
You're gonna throw it on,
chef style?

Yeah, dude.

Yeah, dude.

-Thanks, Momma.
-You okay?

Yeah. Are you drinking?

[Maria] No. No way.

-[Mark] Wuss.
-[Maria] No way.

Mark is definitely becoming
a shut-in.

He's home for two,
three months at a time,

and he's just fine with it.

Smelling
pretty scrumptious, man.

I'm starting to worry,
of course, always the weight,

but now I'm starting to worry
more about the mental health.

Mark, you're gonna
have asparagus, right?

Mark, you're gonna
have asparagus, right?

Yes, please.

[Maria] Mark can manipulate me
and Rocky both for the food.

Mostly me,

because I feel
so darn sorry for him.

Move your chair closer, Mark.

[Mark] Yup, I'm on it.

[chuckles]

We are not making Mark
pay any rent,

any utilities, nothing.

We are not
holding him accountable.

Because Mark
basically has spent

all his money on food.

all his money on food.

I'm really excited. This could
really change your life.

I'm not going through
all the [bleep]

-for no reason.
-[Maria] Good.

You know what?
We'll go through it together.

Whenever you get back
from Houston,

I don't think you can make
one of those trips

to the store
like you did today.

I don't think
that ever happens again.

I think you need to make
a lot better choices.

They're not gonna tell me
how many calories to eat.

-They're not gonna tell me
how many bites to eat.
-Yes, they will.

-They're not gonna tell me
how many bites to eat.
-Yes, they will.

They'll tell you
how much protein to have,

how much calories to have,

how much carbohydrates
to have.

They'll tell you everything.

And if you're serious
about listening,

they will really
save your life.

[Mark] That's where we're at.

It's not like
you're gonna die young,

it's like
you're gonna die soon.

You don't have an A path,
a B path,

a C path, a D path,
and an E path anymore,

now you just have A and B.
Live or die.

You were supposed to be
my buddy

that went out with me,

doing everything and stuff
whenever you came to visit.

But instead, you're sitting
in a pool-house.

Yeah.

I feel like
they're disappointed
in me, absolutely.

This isn't how I was raised.
You know what I mean?

Like, I shouldn't be here.

I made virtually every
[bleep] poor choice

you can make in life

I had to have made
to end up right here.

I had to have made
to end up right here.

You really have to buckle down
to do this.

I'm not gonna
harass you tonight.

I want you to enjoy yourself.

-But...
-Well, let's do that.

-I want you
to take it really--
-Let's try that, okay?

Yeah, but I really want you
to take it serious, son.

-[Mark] Well, yeah.
-Just give me that.

That's all.
That's all I'm asking.

I think I've kind of proven
that so far, but...

[Mike] Nah, you haven't
proven [bleep].

It's time to get to work.

-You're right.
-Yeah.

The hard part comes next.

[Mark] I get it.

[Mark] I get it.

You guys ready?

[Maria] Yeah, almost, Mark.
One second.

Are you okay?

-[Mark] Yeah, are you?
-Yeah.

[Mark] Today I'm traveling
to Houston

to meet Dr. Now,

who can hopefully help me
lose some weight.

Yeah. Go ahead.

-Go.
-Okay.

-Go.
-Okay.

We're going in the car so it's
gonna be a pretty long drive.

It's about 13 or 14 hours,

and I'm looking forward
to none of it.

Don't forget your keys.

There's no way
I can last that long

in a car without a break.

So we're gonna split it up
into two days.

I'm very grateful to have
the support of my mom

and my brother-in-law, RJ,

who flew down from Seattle
to help us with the drive.

Because if they
weren't taking me,

I don't know if I would go.

[Maria] What are you gonna do?
Can you lay it down?

[Maria] What are you gonna do?
Can you lay it down?

Can you lay the luggage down
and lay this on top?

Lay the luggage flat.

-[RJ] That work?
-Yeah, then just put this...

[Mark] You comfortable?

[Maria] I am, yeah.
This is nice.

A new beginning.

Are we eating or are we gonna
get on the road?

[RJ] Yeah, we're gonna get
on the road, buddy.
We'll get the gas.

[Maria] So, RJ, you drive
for a little bit
and let me know, okay?

[RJ] Okay. I should be able
to get a good four hours in.

You're fine, aren't you?

-Are you fine?
-Yeah.

[Mark] We've hardly been
on the road very long at all,

maybe a couple of hours.

I'm really struggling
with wanting to eat,

even though I know
I'm gonna get weighed

even though I know
I'm gonna get weighed

when I get to Dr. No's.

[Maria] Is it good, Mark?

[Mark] It's okay.
It gets the job done, right?

What's the job?

-Food.
-Food?

Gas tank, right?

[Maria] I can't eat any more.

[Maria] I can't eat any more.

[Mark grunts]

It's been a long,
terrible day,

and I can't wait to lie down
and get some rest.

I normally don't sleep
that well

but tonight I think I will.

We're more than halfway
to Houston.

That's about
the only silver lining.

[Maria] You okay?

[Mark] If we weren't past
the halfway point already,

I might just decide
to pack it in and go home.

I might just decide
to pack it in and go home.

But I can't do that.

[Maria] Oh, Mark, I'm sorry.

Guys.

[sighs] Hoo.

[sighs]

We finally made it to Houston.

And we're barely gonna make it
on time for my appointment.

We had hoped to check in
at the hotel first,

and maybe rest for a minute
before the appointment,

but there's no time for that.

Here we are.
Let's just get this over with.

Thank you.

This trip was hell.

-Stop.
-Sorry.

You can't do that.

-I love you, okay?
-I love you, too.

[nurse] Mark?

-Hi.
-Hi, how are you?

-Good, how are you?
-Good, thank you.

[Mark] Right now I feel awful.

My body's in pain all over.

And I'm really not
looking forward to
stepping on the scale.

Go ahead
and stand on the scale.

[Mark] The last time I weighed
myself I was 430,

[Mark] The last time I weighed
myself I was 430,

and that was a few years ago.

So I'm pretty sure
I'm in the 600s by now.

So, your weight is 715.

Hoo.

Get the hell off of that.

I'll beat it.

I'm okay, all right?

I'm okay, all right?

[RJ] We got your back, Mark.

[Mark] No matter
how many excuses,

with your help, I'll beat it.

Holy crap.

I feel bad for my mom
having to see this.

But right now,
this is a business trip.

[knock at door]

-Hello, how you all doing?
-Hello, Dr. How are you?

-How are you doing?
-I'm doing okay.

-Nice to meet you, Mark.
-You too, sir.

Thank you for taking
the time to see me.

Oh, definitely.

All right,
you come in from where?

-Florida. Orlando.
-Orlando?

-Orlando, Florida.
-Well.

We drove a long way
to see you.

Okay. And who
is this young lady?

-This is my mother, Maria.
-Maria.

-This is my mother, Maria.
-Maria.

And that's my brother-in-law.

He's married
to my sister, April.

-[Dr. Now] Okay.
-RJ.

All right, great.

So, what brought you
down to Houston?

[sighs] Well...

I have a little bit
of a weight problem.

Okay. I can see that.

So you came all this way
to get help with that problem.

-[Mark] Yeah.
-Okay.

You're 42 years old.

At what age did you start
struggling with your weight?

-I've always been overweight.
-Okay.

But the past couple years,
this happened.

But the past couple years,
this happened.

So what do you think
is causing you to have

all that issue
with your weight?

[sighs] I definitely
eat too much.

Actually, I wouldn't
even say I eat too...
I eat the wrong things.

[Dr. Now] If you're 700 pounds
you do both.

So what do you think
is driving you to do that?

Um...

Well, hunger sometimes.
Sometimes I'll get mad.

Sometimes it's just
my schedule, you know,

wake up and eat
something for breakfast.

-You know?
-Okay.

So with all
your unhealthy patterns,

So with all
your unhealthy patterns,

you never saw a problem
with any of that?

I saw a lot of things
wrong with it.

And it was always, "I know
I have to take care of it,

but I'll do it tomorrow.

I'm just gonna
eat this right now

and I'll deal
with this later."

Now it's later...

and I kicked the can
so far down the road,

I can't lift it
without your help, so...

All right, so, you live alone
or you live with somebody?

I moved in with them.

[Dr. Now] How long
you been with them?

Couple of years. A year?

Couple of years. A year?

So, are they supporting you
to eat less, or...?

Very supportive of me
to eat less.

So what did they tell you,
eat less? Or you don't listen?

Um, it just depends
how they come off.

Sometimes they [bleep] me off,

and it makes me
wanna eat more,

like, "[bleep] you,
I'll show you."

As stupid as that sounds.

You know what I mean?

Okay.

It's like, I know
what I'm doing is wrong.

I don't need to hear your
[bleep] about me doing it.

Excuse my language, I'm not...

Well, it's not like
you just woke up today

Well, it's not like
you just woke up today

and you realized that
you're eating too much.

So what is different today
than past 42 years?

I was looking for a job.

-And I can't find a job.
-Yeah.

Now I can't even
really leave the house.

I was able to find a job now,

or I'm gonna be
working from home.

But all these jobs out there,

"Oh, there are so many jobs
out there, go get a job,"

that doesn't apply
when you're 700 pounds.

And I don't wanna keep staying
with my mom and dad, like...

I'm 42 years old.
I wanna go out there and...

I'm 42 years old.
I wanna go out there and...

be my own man again.

You know?

So you have gotten too weak
to function like you want,

and you waking up
to your situation?

[Mark] I guess.

[Dr. Now] Okay. All right.

We're gonna give you
some instruction,

and you're gonna
have to follow them

and see if you can
stick with the program.

To start I'm gonna give you
a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet.

Low carb, high protein.

And some exercises that
you need to start immediately

if you want to do my program.

if you want to do my program.

-Okay?
-Okay.

I mean, you are 700 pounds.

If you stick with
the 1,200-calorie diet,

you're gonna be able to lose
more than 100 pounds

in one month easily.

-Okay?
-Okay.

If you do that I will consider
you for weight loss surgery.

Ultimately weight loss
surgery is gonna be

the only option for you
to keep the weight off

-for the long term, okay?
-Okay.

So if you don't have a handle
on your compulsive eating,

you're not gonna succeed
in the long term.

Okay? So you ready
to make the changes?

Okay? So you ready
to make the changes?

I am.

All right, super.

So, we have a couple of
questions. Is it a good time?

Absolutely.

Um, so my daughter is a nurse,

and she's not able to be here
so she sent me a list.

Are you gonna do
any cardiac markers today

to see where he's at?

And will you be checking
his kidney levels?

And, uh, cholesterol?

Once he gets into surgery,
then we gonna see

what is going on
with the heart

-and lung and all that.
-Okay.

But unless we get
to that point,

But unless we get
to that point,

or he has some sort of issue
that we need to look into,

-there's no point to do that.
-Okay.

When was the last time
you had a blood test done?

Never.

So we're gonna do
some blood tests on you today.

And we're gonna make sure
everything's okay.

But we don't need to do
the other tests right now.

-Okay?
-Okay.

-Any other questions?
-That's it.

Uh, I think that's pretty much
a general yes.

[Mark] Thank you, Dr.

All right, let me get
all the stuff for you, okay?

-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you.

-Thank you, sir.
-Thank you.

Now because of my sister
I gotta get blood.

[RJ] Oh, better you than me.

What an [bleep] she is.

[Dr. Now] Hopefully Mark is
as motivated

to change his life
as he claims.

Because at over 700 pounds,

he can't afford
to continue gaining

and waste any more time.

My bigger concern
with Mark right now

is his dynamic at home.

is his dynamic at home.

The family seems supportive,

but it's also clear
from the questions

his mom had from his sister

that they are
a bit overprotective of him,

and they seem
to baby him a little.

If that's the case,
they may be crippling him

in a way that's gonna
make it hard for him

to break free long term.

And they may realize

they may not want him
to do that either.

So we amy potentially have
a bigger situation

that needs to be addressed
with the whole family.

that needs to be addressed
with the whole family.

But right now it is
Mark's responsibility

to turn his life around.

All right, Mark.

What I got here is...

a thing that you need to read.

Okay.

You have to read that
very carefully.

-Okay?
-Okay.

Also my book.

And there's a bookmark in here

to give you the chapter
on exercise.

to give you the chapter
on exercise.

[Mark] Oh, nice.

[Dr. Now] Okay?
So those exercises,

I want you to do them
an hour in the morning,

an hour in the evening.

-Okay?
-Okay.

So, we'll see you
in two months.

In the meantime, if you
need anything, give me a call.

-Thank you.
-Awesome.

Have a safe trip back home.

[both] Thank you.

-Thank you for seeing me.
-[Dr. Now] Any time.

I'll see you all later.

Have a good day, Dr.
Thank you.

[Dr. Now] You too.

[Maria] So, does it say

-what foods to eat?
-[Mark] Mmm-hmm.

-You guys ready?
-[Maria] Yeah.

[Mark] When I saw that number
on the scale today,

my first thought was,
"Holy [bleep]."

It's eye-opening.
It's a big number.

I mean, you think there would
be disappointment,

you think there would be fear.

I'm already past all that.

Disappointment, fear, that was
all on the ride up here.

That was the pre-game.
But now it's game time.

Now it's just
focus on the goal.

I wish I could say
I was gonna start right now.

I wish I could say
I was gonna start right now.

But there's this one
burger place in town

that I really
have to hit first.

But after that, I'm starting,
and there's no looking back.

It's been a month
since I saw Dr. Now,

and I feel like it's been
a really productive time
for me.

I started my job,
so I'm working,

and that feels good.

I got a job as a travel agent
working over the phone.

I got a job as a travel agent
working over the phone.

Good morning,
thank you for calling

the travel department.
How can I help you today?

Oh? We can do that.

What are you thinking?
February? Valentine's Day?

So I don't even
have to leave the house.

The only thing is I don't like
that I'm sitting all day.

So I try to get up and walk
as much as possible.

But it does feel good
to be working again,

since I've been wanting to
contribute to the house fund.

Honestly, in June,
that's summer time.

Honestly, in June,
that's summer time.

I would probably try to do it
during the week

if at all possible.

One big benefit from my job

is I feel like it distracts me
from being hungry.

So I'm not sitting around
being hungry all day,

watching TV, saying,
"Damn, I'm hungry."

Now I have a little bit
of a purpose to me,

and a little bit of purpose
to your day

where you're not
just existing,

so it defnitely helps.

Thank you for calling.

Have a great day.
Enjoy your trip.

It's like the job
is helping me with the diet,

It's like the job
is helping me with the diet,

and that's a bonus.

Still got a long way to go,
still a long road,

but I'm making progress. I get
better and better every day,

so, one step at a time.

My family really helps me
stay focused.

But my mom is the one
with me every day.

-Hi.
-[Maria] Hey, what's up?

[Mark] Nothing. How are you?

[Mark] Nothing. How are you?

[Maria] I'm good. Just looking
through the magazine.

[Mark] And she's the one
helping me plan meals,

and helping me make sure
that we keep track of it,

and that I stay
on top of the plan.

Are you hungry?

Maybe a little bit,
but I don't know.

You ready to eat a little bit
of something-something?

I don't know, with the doctor
looking at me and all.

Doctor's always
looking at you.

[Mark] Order stuffed crust?

[Maria] A pizza?

How about a little
egg and cheese burrito?

Well, that's a nice
consolation prize.

We'll slap in a couple
little turkey pepperonis.

-I know, right? Okay.
-Yeah.

-Can we do that?
-Yeah.

-This is
low-carb tortillas, right?
-Yes, yes.

Don't be so paranoid. Yes.

-Thank you, Mom.
-All right.

All right. Perfect. 28 grams.

I still don't think
I'm gonna come close

-to my 1,200, Mom.
-No.

All right, Mark. This is gonna
be a little bit simple today.

All right.

I didn't heat
the tortilla either.

Is that okay? Yeah?

-You did good, Ma.
-Thank you.

[Mark] I wouldn't be
the successful

that I have been right now

without the support that I
have of the people around me.

The success that I do have
is a big testament to them.

My mom will go
grocery shopping

and there's no junk
in the house.

And just the words
of encouragement, like,

And just the words
of encouragement, like,

"Hey, you're doing great and
I'm proud of you." So it's...

It's been really cool.

Thank you. I'm gonna go home.

Walk careful.

Have a good day.
We'll talk later.

You're just walking more
and you don't even realize it.

Oh, I realize it.

I'm not kidding, Mark.
You just, you walked out--

I'm not kidding either.
I realize it.

-You do?
-[chuckling] Yeah.

I mean, I called April
in tears. I'm not kidding.

Why? Is it that bad?

No, Mark. You just walked

and you picked up the chair
like it was no big deal.

But it was unbelievable,
you know?

But it was unbelievable,
you know?

It was just...

-I couldn't believe it.
-Yeah?

Wait till you see how quick
I go home now.

[chair scrapes on floor]

Peace out, Ma. Thank you.

-Love you.
-Love you, too. Bye.

Have been progressively
getting better and better.

I feel like I'm seeing
some results from it all,

because I'm able to do more.

But I could always do better
than I'm doing now.

So I try to do better
every day.

All right, baby.

I'm making progress. I can see
that I'm making progress.

The scale says that
I'm making progress, so...

that's all I'm doing,
and I just keep hoping that

tomorrow's gonna be
better than today,

because that's what
I'm working towards.

[panting]

[Rocky] All right,
so we're close.

You anxious?

I'm curious to see
what my weight is right now.

[Rocky] He's gonna say,
"Okay, get ready

for the surgery next week."

-[Mark] I don't think
he's gonna wanna do that.
-Okay.

Turn in here.

We're here.

I'm back in Houston
to meet with Dr. Now

for my first follow-up.

My dad came with me this time.

My dad came with me this time.

The trip was a lot easier
on my body.

So I'm feeling pretty good,

and I'm hoping my progress
is gonna be enough

to show Dr. Now
what I could do.

Thank you.

So, what are you gonna do

if you've only lost,
like, 40 or 50 pounds?

Work harder.

So you're gonna
forgive yourself

and you're gonna keep trying.

Mark.

-Let's go, Padre.
-All right.

-All right, how are you?
-Hello, I'm good. How are you?

-Good.
-Hello.

[Rocky] Hi there.

-[exhales] We meet again.
-The moment of truth, huh?

[nurse] All right, Mark,
you ready?

[Mark] 120 pounds
is a lot to lose,

and I've been working
really hard to hit that goal.

I've needed to turn my life
around for a while now,

and I haven't been able
to do it.

But now this is my big chance,

and I don't wanna mess it up.

So I have to succeed.
There's no other way forward.

I'm at Dr. Now's
and I'm about to find out

how much weight I lost
in the past couple months.

At the first weigh-in
I was 715 pounds.

I'm supposed to lose
120 pounds over two months.

So that would put me at
or below 595.

[nurse] All right,
your weight is 618.

[Rocky] Oh, my God.

I mean,
that's damn impressive, son.

-Long ways to go.
-I understand that.

All right, we're gonna go
to room five.

-All right. Thank you.
-You're welcome.

[Mark] Hey, all right.

That's not too shabby.

I think that's more
than I've lost

in my whole life combined.

Sure, it's not
all the way to my goal,

but it's almost 100 pounds.

And that's pretty damn good.

And I'm pretty sure Dr. Now
will be happy about that.

[knock at door]

-Hello.
-Hey, Doc.

-How you all doing?
-Good, sir. How are you?

I am doing well.

All right, Mark. Well, I see
you lost some weight,

so what changes you made
in your eating habits?

Um, my eating habits
have done a 180.

So I've done really good

as far as everything.
I haven't been perfect.

I had a piece of pie,
I had a piece of fudge,

I had a piece of pie,
I had a piece of fudge,

and other than that
I've been pretty darn good.

So you change
your eating habit

and eating only two or three
times a day, no snacking?

I'm eating
one or two times a day.

I have my protein coffee
in the morning.

I eat vegetables with...
At least once a day.

Um, meat, you know, no breads.
Nothing like that.

Okay, so you made some changes

in your eating habit,
which is good.

-So 220 will be goal weight.
-220?

-So 220 will be goal weight.
-220?

[laughing] I mean, you...

[Rocky] It's a great weight.

Yeah, I don't think
I've been 220

since I've been, like,
10 years old, but...

I mean, I'd love to get there.

[Dr. Now] Well, that is
what you need to be.

All right, Mark,
you're doing good.

Keep it up. I'm pleased to see
that you lost that weight.

I'm proud of your progress.

But keep it up,
and don't make this

as a victory lap
and forget about everything.

Oh, I'm taking this
one day at a time.

So, I'm gonna approve you
for weight loss surgery.

So, I'm gonna approve you
for weight loss surgery.

And as soon as
you move down here,

and as long as
you stay on track,

we will move ahead
with your surgery

and help you to get
to your goal weight.

Do I really
have to move, though?

Yes, you have to move
to Houston for a period

if you want
weight loss surgery.

Right now, I'm feeling good.

I'm taking this step by step.

I mean it's a struggle

that I know I have
so much further to go.

I don't even know.
I can't even say this to you.

Could you help me do this
without the surgery?

Could you help me do this
without the surgery?

Is that possible?

I feel strong in my mind.
I feel like I can do this.

I'm making the right steps.
I know it's gonna be hard.

Can I... Can we try this
without the surgery? Like...

[Dr. Now] Well, right now,
you're doing good.

But as you lose more weight,

your weight loss
will slow down.

And at some point,

your weight loss just stops,

or can't go any further.

Then surgery
would be an option

to give you an extra tool.

to give you an extra tool.

Okay.

[Dr. Now] So if you don't want
to do surgery,

and you want to do my program,

then I'll make you a deal.

As long as you keep losing

the same amount
over the next two months,

then I will agree that you can
do this on your own.

But if the next time,
your weight loss slows,

then you should consider
weight loss surgery.

-Okay?
-Okay.

All right. So at this point,

let's concentrate on

sharpening up
your eating habit.

And don't feel like

what you're doing right now
isn't perfect.

what you're doing right now
isn't perfect.

It's not.
So you're doing good.

But you can do better.

[Mark] So how much
do I need to lose?

Well, you're 600 pounds.

You can lose 50, 60 pounds
easily in a month.

-Okay.
-Okay?

So, you know, stick with
your healthy eating habit,

and increase your activity,

and become more independent.

See where we go
with that, okay?

Thank you, Doc.

So, you know, we'll figure out
if you can do that on your own

So, you know, we'll figure out
if you can do that on your own

or you're gonna
hit the plateau

and we're gonna have to
get you to surgery

to get to your goal weight.

But in the meantime,

you can keep focused,
and, you know, take care.

[Mark] You also.
Have a good night.

All right, well,
see you all later.

That's exciting though, right?

I mean, now you know
you have it, I mean,

I know you're trying to do it
on your own,

but you know you have this.

I'm really proud of Mark.

I'm really proud of Mark.

He was able to lose almost
100 pounds in two months.

So he stick with the diet
and did very well.

But I have
a lot of concerns with him.

He lives with his parents

that look like
they're enabling him.

So I'm hoping that
he will be able to

move out and be on his own,

and not depend on parents,

and have better outlook
on his life.

At this point I'm gonna

approve Mark
for weight loss surgery.

But I'm gonna give him
two more months

and see how he's gonna do.

and see how he's gonna do.

I'm hoping that he will
continue with his weight loss.

I'm encouraged
with his progress.

And let's see how Mark will do
next couple of months.

I just have a lot of people
invested in this.

Like my parents,
my family, my cousin,

my sister.

I owe myself,
but I owe a lot of people.

Like, there's... I got a lot
of supporters out there.

So just time to go to work.

No time to, "Ooh, 100 pounds!
Ooh!" You know what I mean?

Be like "Oh, holy [bleep].
I did it."

Be like "Oh, holy [bleep].
I did it."

That's what I'll say
at the end of it.

Looking back, like,
"Damn, I did it."

And getting the surgery
right now

just feels like a cheat.

So I wanna keep this up.

And I'm gonna give it
everything I have

to make sure that I do.

It looks like
there's only one hotel

that matches your criteria.

Rates aren't that bad.

If you want a balcony it'll be
860 for the whole trip,

if you want the balcony
for the three nights.

Yeah do you wanna
use your points on that,

or do you wanna do...?

Mark.

You ready?

Don't... Come on.

[Mark] I'm thankful for
how supportive my family
has been to me,

even if it's been
annoying at times.

My mom and sister
have both been on me

for working as much as I have,

and for not going out much.

[Maria] Hi, guys.

Mia.

[Maria] Can you help?

-Yeah.
-What are you making?

[Maria] We'll do
a quick lunch.

[Mark] Okay.

And I feel like
my family needs

And I feel like
my family needs

to give me
some breathing room.

But I know
they're all proud of me.

[Maria] Cauliflower.

[Mark] My mom and my sister

have both told me
they think I'm doing great,

and my weight loss
has been an inspiration

to the whole family.

But they seem to kinda doubt
whether I can keep doing this

on my own without surgery.

-What do I do with this one?
-Keep going.

-[Maria] Yeah, keep going.
-[Rocky] It's not done.

[Rocky] I think he could be
doing a little bit better.

But I'm proud
of Mark's progress so far.

I keep telling him,
"Cut back on the portion."

I keep telling him,
"Cut back on the portion."

I used a protein shake
as the creamer.

[Rocky] And what's the coffee?

-[Maria] I really think
you're gonna like this.
-It'll be okay.

So April weighed out his...
um, his portion.

[Rocky] Oh, good.

April is really focused
on making healthy foods.

I love it. I think Mark needs
to just suck it up.

He's being a little whimp.

This is a leaf!

[April] Yeah. It's good.

It's good, Mark.

-You think about cooking it?
-[Mark groans]

[Maria] I'm here
at home with Mark

but I don't see him all day.

but I don't see him all day.

He works from home.

You know, there's still
a lot of struggles.

You know, he won't go out.

You know, it's hard.
It's hard for me.

This is good.

You can have, like,
maybe three wings tonight?

You don't need
four or five or six.

You need to start getting your
stomach strengthened, right?

[Mark] You're my trigger.

Yeah, you're my trigger, too.

Anybody ever tell you that?

-That was really good.
-It really was.

[Maria] He ate a little bit,
but could have been better.

[Lily] Ooh, yeah.

Wow. Wow.

-All right, Mark, you're up.
-On your feet.

Watch your toes.

[laughs]

[Mark] At first, when I
started Dr. Now's program,

getting surgery was the goal.

getting surgery was the goal.

And when I got his instruction

on what I need to do to
lose weight and get healthy,

I realized that I just needed
that guidance

of somebody breaking it down
for me like that.

And then we learned that
I needed

to move to Houston for a year,

just because of the surgery.

It was kinda the final thing

that pushed me over
to realize that

I don't need the surgery,
you know?

I know what I need to do,
and I have all the support

that I need
here with my family.

And I think leaving that,

And I think leaving that,

giving that up, would actually
be bad for my progress.

-I think I'm done.
-[Rocky] Are you really?

[Mark] Think so.

So, going to Dr. Now's for my
second follow-up appointment.

Right here.

-Here.
-Yeah, right here?

[Mark] Since I last seen him,

he wanted me
to lose 100 pounds.

So we'll see
what the scale says.

I think I did good.
My diet's been good.

Like, I haven't really screwed
anything up, I don't think.

Mark.

-[sighs] Hi.
-[nurse] Hello.

-How are you?
-I'm okay, how are you?

-[sighs] I don't know.
-Oh. Hi.

[Mark] I can't wait
to prove to Dr. Now

that I can do this on my own,

that I can do this on my own,

and I don't even need
the surgery.

Okay, step up on the scale.

[exhales heavily]

[bleep]

All right.

Me and my dad are back
in Houston again

to see Dr. Now.

I'm supposed to lose
100 pounds over two months.

So that would put me
at or below 500 pounds.

-[nurse] Your weight is 576.
-[Mark exhales]

[Rocky] See?
You lost more weight.

That's not bad, right?

Ah, you know.

And we'll be going
to room five, okay?

And we'll be going
to room five, okay?

[Mark] All right.
42 pounds isn't bad.

I mean,
it's pretty good weight loss.

But I don't know
what Dr. Now is gonna say.

Probably that
I need the surgery.

But I'm still not sure
that I agree with him.

[coughs]

[knock at door]

Hello, how you all doing?

[Mark] How you doing, Doc?
Good to see you.

[Dr. Now] Nice to see you.

Well, let's look at
what's going on.

You started from 715 pounds.

You're down to 576.

So overall that make it
139-pound weight loss.

But you went from
losing 50 pounds a month

to 20 pounds a month,
which is a huge drop.

And so your progress is
slowing just like I told you.

It will get slower,
and that is normal,

It will get slower,
and that is normal,

because you get closer to
where your body should be at.

So weight loss surgery
is going to be

a way to get
to your goal weight.

But not 100%.

-You still have to do...
-[Mark] Right.

...some work with that
to make that happen.

So, what will be next step

if we consider
weight loss surgery?

The next step will be that we
need to do some testing on you

to make sure
it is safe for you

to have weight loss surgery.

And to see that
surgery is going to be

a reasonable risk to take
in doing the operation.

a reasonable risk to take
in doing the operation.

So, what do you do all day?

Oh, I'm a travel agent.

I book vacations for people.

-Okay, so you work at home?
-Yeah, I work at home.

So you can do that anywhere,

where you are, or in Houston?

-Um, I can, yeah.
-Okay.

So for weight loss surgery,

one of the big step
is gonna be

that you have to
move down here.

So we'll do your surgery

and make sure
everything's okay,

and make sure
everything's okay,

then you can travel
when we okay you.

But will be a while
before you're ready
to travel back home.

Okay? So at this point I think
you're on the right track.

You continue
with your weight loss,

so this is not
the end of the road

that you stop your effort
to lose weight.

-No.
-Just keep it up.

And we will start the process
of getting you ready

for weight loss surgery, okay?

All right, so we're gonna do
some blood tests on you

and get your EKG today.

and get your EKG today.

And we need you to come back
one day, middle of the week,

for you to have
endoscopy done.

And we'll set up
your psych evaluation,

all those, you can do those
when we are back at home.

Once we see that
you're okay for surgery,

you then can make arrangements
to stay in Houston.

How that work for you?

I appreciate that, Doc.
Thank you so much

for taking the time.
Thank you for everything.

All right, you're welcome.

All right, you're welcome.

That's my job to change
your life, okay?

And it's very much
appreciated, thank you.

[Dr. Now] You're welcome.

If you need anything, call us.

Otherwise I'm gonna
wait for you

to let me know when
you can come in a week

for doing your endoscopy.

-All right?
-Sounds good,
thank you for everything.

-You're welcome.
-I appreciate you.

-Very much. Thank you.
-You're quite welcome.

Yeah, thank you, Dr. Now.
Appreciate it.

All right, you all take care.

-All right.
-We will, sir.

All right,
have a safe trip back home.

Thank you, sir.

You come see me
in Florida one day.

I'll send you
on a good vacation.

I'll send you
on a good vacation.

-I'll get you a good package.
-All right, thank you.

I was happy to see that Mark
continued to lose weight.

But it will be highly unlikely

that he will be able
to reach his goal

with the diet and exercise.

He won't be able to do that
without weight loss surgery.

I think he's coming
to the reality that

weight loss surgery is going
to be only option for him.

At this point we're gonna set
him up for doing some tests,

At this point we're gonna set
him up for doing some tests,

and if all those tests
are showing that

weight loss surgery
is a safe option for him

to get him to his goal weight.

[Mark] After the appointment,

I'm considering
doing the surgery.

What's holding me back
to saying yes,

I still think
I could do it on my own.

I have a lot to work on.

And if I get the surgery,

I don't want it
to go to waste.

I want it to be
for the right reasons,

and be
completely successful and...

and be
completely successful and...

I just wanna wash my hands
and be done with this.

I need to have a serious
sit-down with my family

then I have to sit down
and make a final decision.

Wrap it up
and put it in the fridge.

[Mark] It's been a week
since my last appointment

where Dr. Now told me
he wants to move ahead

where Dr. Now told me
he wants to move ahead

with weight loss surgery.

My pants are falling down.

Well, yeah, that's because

you need, like,
two sizes too small.

[Mark] I had all my tests done

and I was cleared
to move ahead,

so all I would have to do
is move to Houston.

[Maria] Do you not have
a drawstring on them?

[Mark] It's tight.
It keeps falling.

But I don't think
I need to take

such a drastic step just yet.

Especially because
all my tests show that

I'm still in pretty darn
good shape overall.

Dr. Now's diagnosis
also doesn't take into account

the fact that I got
this trainer

that is really helping me.

that is really helping me.

He's helped me take
my workouts to a new level,

and he's also been
helping me plan meals,

so I can take my weight loss
up a notch.

-He's home.
-Hi, guys.

-Hey.
-What up, Padre?

What's going on?

Nothing, just Mark
finished his lunch.

-Oh, okay.
-Just hanging out.

Do another pizza bowl?

Okay. I'm not surprised.

I get it. I like it, too.

Let's have a drink.
We need to have a talk.

Okay.

[Mark] You got it?

[Rocky] Yeah, I'll get it.

[Rocky] Yeah, I'll get it.

[Mark] All right.

[Rocky] You wanted to talk?

[Mark] Yeah.

So, everything's
been going good.

I've been working with
a trainer at the gym.

Been losing weight,

he's happy with the progress
I've been making.

But with all that
being said...

All that being said, what?

All that being said, what?

Um...

You sound nervous.

[sighs]

I'm not gonna do the surgery.

-Okay.
-Not this month.

Hopefully not ever.

Mark, this is
a real big decision

and I think you need to get
your sister involved in this.

I'll tell her.

Yeah, let's let her know
at least.

Okay, there she is.

Hold the phone.

Don't... There's no time
to waste.

Hey, how's it going?

[Mark] Hi. Are you okay?

Yeah, are you?

[Mark] Yeah.

You look like crap.

I'm tired.

Yeah. I told
Mom and Dad my decision.

What decision?

About moving to Houston

and getting the surgery
and all of that.

Are you gonna do it?

No.

Why?

It's a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity.

Yeah, I get it.

Yeah, I get it.

I got the greatest weight loss
doctor in the world,

and all you guys
want me to do it.

It's not an easy decision
for me not to do this.

So you understand, 550.

You haven't even lost
200 pounds.

-I know.
-Okay?

You've lost what, 160 pounds?

And 250 more

and you're down around 300?

[Mark] I can't hear that.

-You have to.
-I can't hear that.

Okay, but you have to.

That's the same [bleep]
Dr. Now did.

That's the same [bleep]
he was saying.

"You still have
300 pounds to lose."

Like, yeah, I don't care.

Like, yeah, I don't care.

You work hard,
you do everything you can,

and the number on the scale,

that's gonna
take care of itself.

What's three months
from now look like?

I can't have...

a long-term thing on
the [bleep] 'cause you're...

-You do.
-No.

You have a long-term thing
no matter what.

I have no intention
on going backwards.

I know, but you're not gonna
get the opportunity again.

I know, but I'm gonna get
the opportunity

to see what I'm made of
right now.

to see what I'm made of
right now.

And that's more valuable.

'Cause you know what?
You guys are...

There's a possibility
you guys are all right.

But we won't know
until we know.

[April] I have to go.

I think you should
do the surgery.

-[Mark] Okay.
-I think she's right on.

You always think
she's right on.

-I do too, though.
-She's smarter than you.

You got my back
if I don't do it, right?

No, you're out on your own
if you don't do it.

Think you got about two weeks
to get to Houston.

Think you got about two weeks
to get to Houston.

You can always
change your mind.

It won't make you
any less of a man.

-I'm not afraid
to change my mind.
-Okay.

-I have to see
what I'm made of first.
-All right.

-[Maria] Okay.
-[Rocky] All right.

I hope it all works well.

See you later.

[Maria] I just don't know
why he would sway from it,

why he wouldn't just jump
at the opportunity.

But he's a grown man.

I love you, Momma.

-Pops?
-Yeah?

-You're a [bleep].
-Yeah.

That's where I would get
my breakfast right there.

Every day.

Right now I'm going to the gym
to work out

with my trainer Alejandro.

I've been working
with Alejandro

for a couple months now.

I see him three times a week,

and it's really helping
to motivate me

to get off my butt,
and do what I gotta do.

With Alejandro's help,
I've really taken

With Alejandro's help,
I've really taken

my weight loss journey
to the next level.

-What's going on, brother?
-[chuckles] Hey!

Hey!

-All clean shaven.
-That's right.

-Hey, man, got the hair!
-All right.

Remember, today,
work on that deep breathing.

The challenges that Mark faces
unlike the average person,

is because of his weight,
with his body,

it does very extreme stress
on the joints.

it does very extreme stress
on the joints.

So I like to try
and keep him moving,

but I also let him have
his rest periods in between.

Let's go.

Come on, Mark.
Keep it up, buddy.

I believe Mark
will actually get

to his goal weight without
the weight loss surgery

because of the willpower
that he has.

Success starts within. If you
believe that in yourself

that you can make it,
you're gonna make it.

I'll go first, bad boy.

110%, let's go.

[Alejandro grunts]

[Alejandro grunts]

[Mark] I'm loving the
motivation Alejandro gives me.

It's been great.

And I feel like
it's making me work harder.

Not just with the workouts
but with how I eat, too.

He's showing me a new diet

that can help me
do even better.

And it's been exciting,
because I feel like

I'm getting
all these great tools

to turn my life around.

And I didn't move to Houston.

Dr. Now called me
to check up on me,

Dr. Now called me
to check up on me,

and I told him
I decided against the surgery.

I told him that
I have a good trainer,

and he's helping me
do a lot better.

He wanted to set up
a local place for me

to get my weight checked.

If I do that,

and my weight loss
has slowed again,

I told him that I would
consider the surgery then.

[Alejandro] What you feeling
right now?

It was hard.

Got a long way to go, dog.

Long way to go,
but at the same time,

Long way to go,
but at the same time,

you gonna be proud of yourself
when you finish it.

-Yeah.
-I get you.

'Cause nobody else did it
but yourself.

All I'm doing is just giving
you the support that you need.

-You're doing a lot more
than that, homeboy.
-[Alejandro chuckles]

[coughs]

Where's Stupid?

-[Maria] Uh, April?
-Yeah.

[Maria] She's driving
with Dad.

-Is she a couple cars
in front of us?
-Yeah.

I might get over real quick.

[Mark] Me and my family
are heading

to the local clinic
here in Florida

that Dr. Now is sending me to,

because they supposedly have

because they supposedly have

a scale that can
weigh me accurately.

My sister
and my brother-in-law
are back in town,

so I asked everyone
to tag along.

Because I wanna show everyone
that I was right,

and that I'm succeeding
on my own.

And I wish they could've
just believed me

in the first place.

-Hello, Mark.
-Hi.

My name's Melanie,
nice to meet you.

Mark. Nice to meet you.
Thank you.

We're gonna go ahead
and take your vitals, okay?

[Mark] Okay.

But Dr. Now and my family,

everyone thinks I'm gonna have
less progress than before.

But I've been working hard
to prove them wrong.

And that's what
I'm gonna try to do.

All right, here we go.

At my last weigh-in
four months ago,

I lost 42 pounds

to get down to 576.

Then Dr. Now said
my weight loss

is gonna slow even more.

I've been working hard
to lose more this time,

and show everyone
once and for all that

I'm gonna succeed at this.

All right.

Come on Mark,
we're gonna go ahead into--

[Mark] Well, okay.

Not quite
what I was looking for.

-Hi.
-[Rocky] Hey.

[Mark] Now I'm supposed
to call Dr. Now.

I already know
what he's gonna say.

[cell phone ringing]

[Dr. Now on phone]
Hello. Hi Mark.

[Mark] How you doing, sir?

Nice to see you.

Nice to see you, too.
What's going on with you?

Um, nothing.
Same old, same old,

Um, nothing.
Same old, same old,

just trying to stay busy,
keep working out.

And that's great.
So how is your weight doing?

[Mark] Um...

I actually gained
a few pounds.

Believe it or not.

So what happened?

[Mark] Yeah, I...

I don't know.

Um, I don't wanna
come up with any excuses.

I haven't really used the
bathroom in a couple days.

But...

no excuses,
just gotta work harder.

Mark, the reality is that
we told you

that it's going to be
statistically impossible

that it's going to be
statistically impossible

to hit your goal weight.

Statistically for success,

for this type of thing
without any surgery,

with exercise and diet, is 0%.

So what are
the solutions for you?

If you want fresh advice
from me,

it's going to be
come back to Houston

and have
your weight loss surgery.

So let's keep your goal
of losing 50 pounds a month.

So let's keep your goal
of losing 50 pounds a month.

And then come and see us
for weight loss surgery.

Even that's gonna be
a challenge for you.

Right, well...

Doc, my life is going
really good right now.

You know,
work is going really good,

I'm making really good
progress at the gym,

I'm feeling good,
I'm feeling healthy.

Um...

Like, I'll definitely lose,

like, 20 pounds in a month.
Like, I like that goal.

I can't give up on doing this
on my own.

I just can't.

I just can't.

[Dr. Now] You're playing
a risky game, Mark.

So here's what I want to do.

If you want to stay
in my program,

then I want to set up
a therapy appointment

over video
with you and your family

to talk through things.

You think that is something
we can do?

[Mark] Okay.

Okay. If you need anything,
give me a call.

Thank you, Doc. You have
a great day, sir. Thank you.

You too.

-Bye.
-Bye now.

I really like him.

Then you need to start
talking to him.

Then you need to start
talking to him.

'Cause what
he's telling you is true.

And your attitude of,
"Oh, I can have

a couple of cookies,"
[bleep] like that,

you're stupid to think that.

I gotta do it my way.

I feel like no one understands
what I'm trying to say.

Dr. Now probably thinks
I'm crazy.

But I'm not. I just have
to do it my way.

But I'm not. I just have
to do it my way.

Today we're doing a video call

with a therapist
Dr. Now set up for us.

He wanted my mom and my dad

and my sister
to be a part of it.

But my sister can't,

But my sister can't,

so it's just gonna be
me and my parents.

I'm just gonna take the call
in the pool-house.

[Dr. Paradise] Mark.

Dr. Paradise,
thank you for taking the time.

You're more than welcome.
And I have Rocky and Maria.

-Yes, hi. Good to meet you.
-Okay.

And you guys are all,

you're in the same house,
different rooms, right?

you're in the same house,
different rooms, right?

-Right.
-Okay.

So, it's good to talk to you.

I'm glad we're all
finally connecting.

Mark, can you tell me
where you're at with, um,

your weight loss
and the surgery?

I understand
there's some decisions
being made right now.

I'm not doing the surgery.

I wanna see if I can
do this on my own.

Like, to me, for me,
it feels like

if I take the surgery
right now,

I'd be giving up on myself.

[Dr. Paradise] Mark,
what I'm interested in is

why you wouldn't
take advantage

why you wouldn't
take advantage

of something
that could be helpful?

You could be 300 pounds
in no time.

There's a 16-year-old girl who
I recently became close to.

She suffers from CRGS.

Which I know, you obviously
know what that is,

but she can't even
put on her shoe.

You know what I mean?
If she's fighting this battle,

it's like
if this 16-year-old girl

going through
can fight this battle,

I can go through
and fight this battle. It's...

[Dr. Paradise] Mark, what does
that have to do with

getting the surgery?

Surgery is not
an option for her.

Surgery is not
an option for her.

There's no quick fix for her.

If she can fight through this,
then I can fight through it.

[Dr. Paradise] My guess
if I talked to her and I said,

"Do you want Mark not to have
the surgery so he can...

you guys can share
the hopelessness

of not having
any intervention?"

She would say,
"Absolutely not."

She would say, "I would take
a surgery yesterday."

So I'm trying to figure out
whether it's denial,

whether it's fear that
you're gonna use that tool

and you're gonna fail.

and you're gonna fail.

I don't know why
you're rejecting it.

I see Mark progressing,

Mark's moving,
he's going to the gym,

he's really
picked up the pace.

But I feel, my heart feels,

do the surgery
to better yourself.

You're getting older.

Thank God you're not diabetic.

But if things
don't happen fast enough,

you know,
his health will change.

I'm not afraid
to get the surgery,

when I need
to prove this to myself

when I need
to prove this to myself

through grit and tenacity.

You know what I mean? Like,
I'm not afraid of failing.

I've been failing
my whole life.

[Dr. Paradise]
Mark, what's the real fear?

There's no real fear.

What I'd like to do
is what feels right.

[Dr. Paradise] This is
make-or-break time right now.

And I feel like
you're asking for, like,

an extension on a homework
assignment. [laughs]

You know what I mean?

Like, "I'll get it done,

just give me
a couple more days."

Mark, you're past the weight,

Mark, you're past the weight,

and you've been
past the weight

where we think,
"Oh, this is just
a willpower issue," right?

You are in the "your weight's
gonna kill you" category.

And this is the medically
reccommended treatment.

There's all kinds of people,
including your doctors,

that are giving you
strong advice

that this surgery is your
best possible bet right now,

and it doesn't make sense
that you're turning it down.

And you need to ask yourself,

"Why am I going against
medical advice?"

"Why am I going against
medical advice?"

I need to know
I'm betting on myself

for the first time
in a long time.

[Dr. Paradise] I don't know
that it's really
betting on yourself.

Your very best bet
is to have the surgery.

And I hope that
you reconsider.

I hope that you think about
what it means

to not take advantage of

the tool that you have
in front of you.

Thank you so much
for taking the time,

and I'm so sorry,
I don't wanna disappoint you.

Mark, this is isn't about
my being disappointed.

This is about
my making recommendations

This is about
my making recommendations

based on data and experience.

I like you. You seem like
a really nice guy.

You seem like you have
incredible willpower.

Good luck, and I can't wait
to hear how you do.

Take care, guys.

[Mark] I like Dr. Paradise.

He said I was
going against medical advice,

and it's scary because...

I don't know if what I'm doing
is the right thing.

But I'm gonna try it.

[Rocky] A lot of times,

[Rocky] A lot of times,

the way you have to
deal with Mark is

you have to let him
fall flat on his face.

But I'm always gonna be there
to pick him up.

I can't not do that.

What do you do
for consequences

for a 43-year-old man?

You know, he's not some teen.

I can't take away his car.

He's gonna do
what he's gonna do.

[Mark] All right. I'm heading
back to the local clinic

with my family right now

in order to get weighed
once again.

And this is a big one.

I made a choice
to go out on my own.

To continue with
my weight loss journey

without the surgery.

without the surgery.

[Rocky] What do you think
you weigh?

[Mark] Anything over 220
and I'm disappointed.

[Rocky] I think
you're three times 220.

I would go with that.

[Mark] And it's
been challenging.

But ironically enough,

the most difficult part

has not been the diet
or the exercise.

It's been trying to convince
my family that I got this.

I can't say that
I know what I'm doing,

because I [bleep] have no idea
what I'm doing.

I'm not confident that
I made the right decision.

I'm not confident that
I made the right decision.

-Hello.
-Hi there.

-Hi Mark. How are you?
-[Mark] Good, how are you?

Good. Nice to meet you,
my name's Tina.

-Mark. Nice to meet you.
-Why don't you come on back?

Go ahead
and step on the scale.

I want to take a picture,

-get a picture of the scale.
-Okay. You do it.

Get your picture.

[Mark] The last time
I weighed myself,

I was 570-something.

I'm supposed
to lose 20 pounds,

to get down to 550-ish.

Okay, you go ahead
and have a seat.

We ready to talk to the doc?
Let's do it.

[cell phone ringing]

Hi Mark, you doing okay?

Good to see you, sir.
Always good to see you.

Yeah, I'm doing good, man.

What did you weigh today?

[Mark] 578.

Well, you were down
two months ago to 579.

So essentially your
weight loss has slowed down.

-And that's you not...
-Considerably.

...making any progess with it.

All right, Mark, so this is
not working for you.

And so your weight
is plateauing now,

and once we've got those
you stay that for a while,

then start going up
slowly a pound or two.

And then next thing you know,

you're back
to the original weight.

you're back
to the original weight.

I won't go back to my weight.

I hope to God
I won't go back to my weight.

Doc, I worked so hard
to get to this point.

You have to work harder

to maintain that
rest of your life.

I understand
that's your feelings, I do.

But it's like right now,

I just feel like
I can do this.

And I need to see
if I'm right.

-You know?
-All right.

If you wanna continue
with exercise and diet,

then I wish you the best.

And there's not much more
we can do for you for that.

And there's not much more
we can do for you for that.

And in any point in the future

that you come to reality
that this is not gonna work,

then let us know, and then

see what options we got
for you, okay?

And you are running the risk
of being back to 700 pounds

in just
a matter of time. Okay?

-Yes, sir.
-All right, if you need
anything, give me a call.

Always good to see you, sir.
Thank you.

All right. Bye now.

-Have a good day.
-You too.

-Have a good day.
-You too.

[Rocky] What do you think?

-[Mark] Mmm-mmm.
-You ready?

-I don't know.
-What do you know?

[Mark] Mmm-mmm.

[Rocky] What would you say
if you found out

you didn't
lose a couple of pounds?

[Rocky] If that?

I'm not worried
about my weight right now.

I'm getting better.

I mean, this ain't a game,
this is your life.

You don't think
I understand that?

You don't think
I understand that?

Okay. So no matter
what you do,

it's gonna be hard work.
And no matter what,

even if you do it on your own,

you're still gonna have
skin surgery,

so you're still
gonna have surgery.

I'm not... I don't have a
problem with the skin removal.

I'm trying to get
to that point first.

I don't have
a problem with the...

I need to see
if I can do this!

I understand that, love.

-Why can't you support that?
-I am supporting you.

But I, I--

Then stop bringing it up.
Every [bleep] third...

Every third word you [bleep]
say to me is [bleep] surgery.

I don't need to hear
about surgery from you

I don't need to hear
about surgery from you

-six times a day, please.
-Hey, hey, back off.

You just need
to sleep on everything

that's been said to you,

and think about

what the conversation was
with Dr. Paradise.

Dr. Paradise,
he's a frickin' doctor.

He's not just talking
out his [bleep].

And something... That's
exactly what you're doing.

You're talking
out your [bleep].

You're not
thinking this through.

You're just determined
to do it your way

which is not
necessarily the right way.

Then so be it,
but it's my decision to make,

and if you need me to move out
I'll move out.

and if you need me to move out
I'll move out.

No, it's your decision
to make.

But if you keep being
a [bleep] with us about this

because Mom mentions it
or something like that,

that ain't gonna work.

I don't need to hear it
every freaking day,

multiple times a day.

Well then, you have a choice.

But we live there,

and you're not
gonna disrespect your mom.

I'm asking you
not to bring up the surgery.

I'm not gonna [bleep] forget
the surgery is an option.

-Yeah.
-It's not gonna slip my mind.

Well, you know, even if
you have the surgery, Mark,

it's still a tremendous amount
of work.

it's still a tremendous amount
of work.

-I understand!
-Okay, but you think that--

I heard this from the doctors,
I understand--

[Rocky] Well then
why don't you just listen

to your mom and let her talk?

But you think
you're getting off easy

doing the surgery
and "poof" you're done,

but that's when
the real hard work starts.

You guys
haven't been listening to...

-[Maria] Yeah, I have.
-No, you haven't.

You [bleep] haven't.

We have,
but at the same point,

we're just hearing
the same load of [bleep]

-that we've heard
for so many things...
-Great.

...in your life. Okay, great.

...in your life. Okay, great.

Yeah.

I'm done talking. All you guys
want me to do is talk

and I don't wanna
[bleep] talk.

No, I don't want you
to talk anymore.

-We gotta go. Let's just go.
-We're good.

Yeah, let's call it.

-We're not getting anywhere.
-[Rocky] Yep.

[Dr. Now] I'm proud of Mark
for his hard work

and the progress he has made.

But if he continues
on the path he's on,

he's gonna undo that all
very soon.

he's gonna undo that all
very soon.

And we can see from his weight

that process
has already started.

So it is unfortunate

that Mark is continuing
this path,

where he says
he wants to prove himself

and he feels like
surgery means

he's given up on himself.

But really
all those statements

and excuses are a smoke screen

for the fact that he's scared
to leave what's safe for him.

And so that is the real issue
that his family

is gonna have to work with him
at this point.

They clearly love him and want
what is best for him.

They clearly love him and want
what is best for him.

They need to give him
some more tough love

if he's gonna keep
acting like a child.

Because his choices
and behavior right now

is gonna ultimately lead to
a very bad place for Mark.

Hopefully he comes around

and starts to see
reality soon.

But until then, we've done
all we can for him.

[Maria] Okay, we're ready
to eat, guys.

[Rocky] Awesome.

[Rocky] Awesome.

[Maria] Let's keep it covered,

I don't want
husky food in there.

[Rocky] Mark, look at
all that food, my God.

-I know.
-[Maria] Mark, get your...

-Yup.
-[Rocky] He'll be back.

[Maria] No, you won't.
You're done.

You guys get out of my way.

I'm trying to,
I got a fan behind me.

[Mark] You know what? I worked
really hard last month,

harder than ever.

And I got a scale that I can
use to weigh myself now.

Dr. Now says that those aren't
accurate for someone my size

Dr. Now says that those aren't
accurate for someone my size

if they're not
professional ones,

but it seems
to be working for me.

I lost a few pounds
again this week,

so I know
I'm turning things around.

And I'm going to improve it.

I'm gonna keep working hard.

[Maria] What do you think
about Uncle Mark?

Well, I'm kinda confused.

Are you doing the surgery?

Mmm-mmm.

-I hope not.
-Why not?

I'm gonna try not to do it.

[Rocky] You think he should?

What's wrong with the surgery?
Why not?

Yeah, I think it would.

So why not do it? It would
make it so much easier.

[Mark] My mom and dad
have been talking about
me moving out.

Mostly my dad.

Because I can tell
my mom isn't as crazy about

kicking me out.

Let's be honest,

I wanted to get out of there
for a while now.

Get my own place or something,

Get my own place or something,

so I have a roof over my head
that's mine.

You want some dessert?

Or you want something?

-I have these pecans,
I'm good.
-You good?

I think I'm gonna go to bed
here soon, guys,

believe it or not.

The point is, I'm gonna
work hard to succeed.

No matter what anybody says,

or even what the scale says.

That's what's about to happen.

And that is where I'm going.

Always forward, never back.