Destinee: EVERY DAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.
AND EVERY DAY, I'M BECOMING MORE AND MORE HELPLESS.
♪♪
Woman #1: 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: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO LIVE YET.
♪♪
WHY ARE YOU JUMPING ON MY CASE?
YOU'RE OVEREATING, AND YOU'RE YELLING LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.
Woman: I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
♪♪
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE.
YOU EITHER WANT TO DO THIS OR YOU DON'T.
OH, LORD. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
♪♪
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Destinee: EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE IS HARD
BECAUSE EVERY DAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M DYING.
AND EVERY DAY, I'M BECOMING MORE AND MORE HELPLESS.
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN AND I CAN'T MOVE RIGHT.
I FEEL STIFF.
AND IT'S GETTING WORSE
TO WHERE I CAN HANDLE LESS AND LESS EACH DAY,
AND I'M STRUGGLING TO WALK NOW.
♪♪
MY MOBILITY'S REALLY LIMITED.
I CAN ONLY TAKE MAYBE FIVE STEPS,
AND I'M OUT OF BREATH.
SO BEING AS BIG AS I AM IS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE
TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.
EVEN THE SIMPLEST THINGS AREN'T POSSIBLE FOR ME NOW.
TRYING TO GET UP AND USE THE RESTROOM
IS SOMETIMES THE HARDEST THINGS TO DO.
AND I'M REALLY GETTING REALLY CLOSE
TO NOT BEING ABLE TO FIT IN MY SHOWER, AND THAT SCARES ME.
♪♪
BECAUSE I COULD GET STUCK, AND IT COULD BE A WHILE
BEFORE SOMEONE FOUND ME, SINCE I LIVE ALONE.
SO I'VE LET MY WEIGHT GET TO A REALLY DANGEROUS PLACE.
SO I'VE STARTED ASKING MY SISTER, NUNA,
TO COME OVER IN THE MORNING TO GIVE ME PEACE OF MIND,
KNOWING I HAVE HELP IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN.
NUNA! CAN YOU BRING ME A TOWEL, PLEASE?
♪♪
PUT IT ON YOUR BED, OR BRING IT TO YOU?
♪♪
Nuna: MY SISTER'S 27 YEARS OLD.
SHE HAS HER OWN PLACE, BUT I DON'T FEEL
SHE'S COMPLETELY STABLE TO STAY BY HERSELF.
SO I COME EVERY DAY TO HELP HER OUT
BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL LIKE SHE NEEDS HELP
WITH EVERYTHING, EVEN WALKING.
NO, NOT YET.
OKAY.
♪♪
Nuna: I COOK BREAKFAST FOR DESTINEE.
WHATEVER SHE WANTS, I'LL COOK.
EVEN THOUGH I HATE COOKING EXACTLY WHAT ALL SHE WANTS,
'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHE'S GONNA KILL HERSELF WITH FOOD,
BECAUSE THREE TO FOUR PEOPLE CAN FEED OFF HER PLATE.
AND I TELL HER THAT ALL THE TIME,
BUT SHE JUST DOESN'T LISTEN.
♪♪
Destinee: IT'S EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING
TO HAVE TO ASK NUNA TO DO THINGS FOR ME,
BECAUSE I CAN ONLY STAND A COUPLE OF MINUTES
BEFORE THE PAIN GETS UNBEARABLE.
AND IF I FELL, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET UP.
AND SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT COULD END UP KILLING ME.
IT'S LIKE HAVING SOMEONE ON SOME SORT OF DEATH WATCH FOR YOU.
AND I HATE THAT I HAVE TO BURDEN HER WITH THIS RESPONSIBILITY.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE,
I'M LOSING MY ABILITY TO CARE FOR MYSELF.
AND THE BIGGER I GET, THE CLOSER I GET TO BECOMING BEDBOUND
AND HAVING TO BE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT
ON SOMEONE ELSE FOR EVERYTHING.
♪♪
BECAUSE I'M TRAPPED IN THIS ROOM,
UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE ANYMORE...
♪♪
...ALL BECAUSE I WON'T GIVE UP FOOD.
♪♪
ONE, TWO, THREE.
♪♪
SO, YOU WANT ME TO GO FIX YOU A PLATE AND BRING IT IN HERE?
-YEAH, PLEASE. -ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
FOOD IS THE ONLY HAPPINESS I HAVE IN MY LIFE.
IT'S MY ESCAPE.
AND WHEN I HAVE SOMETHING THAT TASTES GOOD IN MY MOUTH,
ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THAT I FEEL GOOD.
AND MY LIFE DOESN'T SEEM THAT BAD IN THAT MOMENT.
SO ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY
AND NEVER STOP,
BECAUSE I NEVER WANT THAT FEELING OF COMFORT
AND SAFETY AND LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO GO AWAY.
♪♪
AND AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT EVEN SURE
I CAN STOP ALL OF THIS FROM GETTING EVEN WORSE.
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WOULD ACTUALLY GET TO BE
OVER 600 POUNDS.
YOU NEVER MAKE THE DECISION TO END UP LIKE THIS.
YOU MAKE OTHER DECISIONS THAT LEAD YOU HERE
WITHOUT EVER REALLY REALIZING
THAT THIS WAS THE PATH THAT YOU WERE ON.
AND YOU'D GIVE ANYTHING TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT,
BUT YOU CAN'T.
THE PAST IS THE PAST,
AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.
♪♪
I WAS BORN AS A BOY, AND MY MOM NAMED ME MATTHEW.
AND RIGHT FROM THE START, MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHAOS
BECAUSE MY MOM WAS ONLY 16 WHEN SHE HAD ME,
AND SHE WASN'T READY.
AND SHE WAS IN A BIRACIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FATHER.
MY MOM'S FAMILY WAS VERY RACIST.
BECAUSE OF THAT, NONE OF HER FAMILY
WAS ABLE TO GIVE HER SUPPORT.
THEY BASICALLY DISOWNED HER.
♪♪
OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AFTER I WAS BORN,
MY MOM HAD MY TWO BROTHERS.
BUT AFTER THAT, MY FATHER LEFT.
SO I HAD A TEENAGE MOM WHO WAS COMPLETELY ON HER OWN,
TRYING TO RAISE THREE KIDS BY HERSELF.
AND IT ENDED UP LEADING HER INTO SOME BAD THINGS.
I WAS REALLY ON MY OWN, SO I TRIED FINDING JOBS.
BUT WITH THREE KIDS, I COULDN'T HAVE A JOB
BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD A BABYSITTER.
SO EVENTUALLY, THINGS JUST GOT REAL ROUGH FOR ME.
♪♪
Destinee: SO EVENTUALLY, THAT LIFESTYLE CAUGHT UP WITH HER,
AND SOCIAL SERVICES GOT INVOLVED.
AND ALL THREE OF US ENDED UP IN FOSTER CARE
BY THE TIME I WAS 4,
AND MY MOM WAS FORCED TO GIVE UP CUSTODY OF US.
BUT SHE STRUCK A DEAL THAT ALLOWED HER
TO STILL BE A PART OF OUR LIVES AND STAY IN TOUCH.
♪♪
BUT IT WAS REALLY HARD ON ALL OF US.
IT HURT ME A LOT TO NOT BE WITH HER AT ALL TIMES.
FROM BIRTH, JUST NOT -- THE FAMILY NOT LIKING YOU,
AND THEN HAVING TO BE PUT IN FOSTER CARE,
AND THEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON GROWING UP --
YOU KNOW, I JUST ALWAYS FELT REJECTED.
I'VE NEVER FELT LIKE I BELONGED ANYWHERE.
SO IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME AND FOR MY BROTHERS.
AND IT JUST GOT HARDER, BECAUSE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,
OUR FOSTER MOM, MAMA ROSE,
ENDED UP HAVING SEVEN OTHER FOSTER KIDS IN THE HOUSE.
AND WITH THAT MANY PEOPLE UNDER ONE ROOF,
THERE HAD TO BE A LOT OF FOOD.
AND MY FAVORITE TIMES WERE WHEN WE WERE EATING,
BECAUSE ALL THE PAIN OF BEING APART FROM MY MOM
AND MISSING HER WOULD ALL FADE AWAY
AS LONG AS I WAS EATING SOMETHING GOOD.
SO FOOD STARTED TO BECOME MY ESCAPE FROM MY LIFE,
AND THAT WAS WHEN I WAS 7.
AND I DOUBLED MY SIZE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS
AND WAS OVER 150 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 9.
UP TO THAT POINT IN OUR LIVES,
MY MOM STAYED IN TOUCH WITH US BY CALLING.
SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAD BIRTHDAYS, SHE WOULD BRING US CAKES.
SHE WOULD BRING US CLOTHES SOMETIMES, SHOES.
I WOULD SAY SHE CAME AROUND EVERY COUPLE MONTHS.
BUT A COUPLE YEARS AFTER I WAS PUT IN FOSTER CARE, MY MAMA --
SHE HAD TO GO TO JAIL FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
EVENTUALLY, I STARTED GETTING IN TROUBLE FROM SHOPLIFTING.
I HAD TO DO TIME. I DID THREE YEARS.
♪♪
Destinee: SO, DURING THAT TIME,
EVERYTHING FELT SO MUCH LONELIER.
AND ASIDE FROM MY BROTHERS, I FELT LIKE I HAD NO ONE
SO I NEEDED THE ESCAPE OF FOOD EVEN MORE.
♪♪
SO, I MADE IT UP TO AROUND 220 POUNDS
BY THE TIME I WAS 12,
AND I WAS STILL GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER
BECAUSE I WOULD EAT MORE AND MORE THE HARDER THINGS GOT.
♪♪
MY FOSTER MOM, MAMA ROSE, DIED.
AND ALL OF HER OTHER FOSTER KIDS WERE SENT TO OTHER HOMES,
SO I WAS SPLIT UP FROM MY BROTHERS,
AND I LOST THEM DURING THAT TIME.
WITH MY MOM GONE, THEY WERE MY ONLY FAMILY.
♪♪
SO I WAS MORE ALONE THAN EVER,
AND I FELT LIKE I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ONE.
SO RIGHT BEFORE MY MOM GOT OUT OF PRISON,
SHE TOLD ME WHO MY DAD WAS,
AND I DECIDED I WANTED TO MEET HIM.
AND WHEN I DID, HE REJECTED ME THAT DAY.
HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH MY MAMA SAYING, "THIS ISN'T MY SON.
MY SON WOULD WANT TO PLAY SPORTS.
HE DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE ME, SO THIS ISN'T MY SON."
AND LITERALLY LIKE, A WEEK LATER,
THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME HE DIED.
I WAS DEVASTATED.
YOU KNOW, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, IT WAS JUST LIKE,
"OKAY, I'M LOSING EVERYBODY ELSE."
JUST -- I DON'T HAVE NOBODY. DIDN'T HAVE NOBODY.
EVERYTHING JUST KEPT FALLING APART.
THE ONLY THING I COULD TRUST TO BE THERE FOR ME WAS FOOD,
SO I JUST KEPT EATING AND GAINING EVEN FASTER.
AND BY THE TIME I WAS 15,
I HAD MADE IT TO BEING OVER 350 POUNDS.
♪♪
AND BEING THAT SIZE AS A TEENAGER
DIDN'T REALLY HELP MY SOCIAL LIFE.
AND TO MAKE IT ALL EVEN HARDER,
I REALIZED AROUND THIS TIME THAT I WAS GAY.
SO THIS WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST TIME IN MY LIFE.
MY MOM HAD BEEN RELEASED FROM PRISON
BEFORE I ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL, BUT SHE HAD MET SOMEONE
AND GOTTEN REMARRIED AND STARTED A NEW FAMILY.
SO SHE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME FOR ME
AND MY BROTHERS AT THIS POINT,
BECAUSE SHE HAD TWO YOUNG CHILDREN TO CARE FOR --
MY HALF-BROTHER WAYNE, AND HALF-SISTER, NUNA.
SO IT STILL FELT VERY MUCH LIKE ME VERSUS THE WORLD
AND THAT I WAS STILL COMPLETELY ON MY OWN,
BECAUSE I PRETTY MUCH WAS UP UNTIL I WAS 18.
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS DONE WITH THE FOSTER-CARE SYSTEM,
MY MOM LET ME MOVE IN WITH HER
UNTIL I COULD GET A JOB AND PROVIDE FOR MYSELF.
AND FOR A LITTLE BIT, I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE
I ACTUALLY HAD A FAMILY.
♪♪
BUT THAT ALL FELL APART FOR A BIT,
BECAUSE I DECIDED TO COME OUT,
AND MY MOM DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT.
BUT THANKFULLY, SHE EVENTUALLY CAME AROUND.
BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY
WHEN I TOLD THEM.
I CALLED EVERYBODY, AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM,
"I'M NOT HIDING NO MORE. I WANT TO BE WHO I WANT TO BE.
I'M GAY, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW,
HOPE THAT I CAN HAVE Y'ALL APPROVAL."
BUT I WAS LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN,
AND BEING GAY WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS ACCEPTED.
SO I FEEL LIKE IT ALMOST COMPLETELY ISOLATED ME
FROM EVERYONE IN MY LIFE.
♪♪
PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT CARED ABOUT ME TALKED ABOUT ME
AND SHAMED ME FOR WHAT I AM, AND IT HURT ME A LOT.
SO I GOT REALLY DEPRESSED.
AND I HAVE NOT YET BEEN HAPPY SINCE THAT DAY.
I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IF I WOULD'VE KEPT IT TO MYSELF,
YOU KNOW, MAYBE I WOULD'VE LIVED BETTER.
THE ONLY PEOPLE I TRULY FEEL ACCEPTED ME
WERE MY MOM AND HALF-BROTHER ANTHONY,
AND HALF-SISTER, NUNA.
AND NOT ONLY WAS I GAY, BUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,
I STARTED TO LIVE LIFE AS A WOMAN.
I DECIDED, "HEY, I LOOK LIKE A WOMAN.
MAYBE I SHOULD TRY ON WIGS."
AND SO ONE DAY I TRIED ON CERTAIN WIGS AND MAKEUP,
AND I WAS LIKE, "OH, I'M SO BEAUTIFUL."
I SAID, I SHOULD -- I SAID, "I THINK I SHOULD BE A WOMAN."
I SAID, "I LOOK SO GOOD AS A WOMAN."
AND WHEN I WAS 22, I DECIDED TO START LIVING MY LIFE
AS A FULL WOMAN,
AND I CHANGED MY NAME TO DESTINEE.
AND I'VE BEEN A WOMAN EVER SINCE.
AND THROUGH THAT TIME, I NEVER FELT JUDGED BY MY MOM
OR ANTHONY AND NUNA.
AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SOME FAMILY SUPPORT,
BUT THERE WAS STILL A LOT OF PAIN AND REJECTION
IN MY LIFE THAT WAS HARD.
AND I WAS, OF COURSE, STILL USING FOOD
TO HELP DEAL WITH ALL OF THAT.
SO I HAD STILL BEEN EATING A LOT,
AND I HAD MADE IT INTO OVER 450 POUNDS.
AND AS A LARGE, GAY, TRANSGENDER PERSON,
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I FIT IN ANYWHERE.
ME AND ANTHONY HAD GOTTEN CLOSE AS BROTHERS
WHILE I LIVED WITH MY MOM,
AND SO WE HAD MOVED OUT ON OUR OWN TOGETHER.
SO I NEEDED TO PAY MY FAIR SHARE OF THE RENT
AND GOT DIFFERENT JOBS AT A FEW PLACES.
BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME WORK UNDER MY NEW NAME
OR USE THE WOMEN'S RESTROOM, SO I STILL WASN'T ABLE
TO LIVE THE TRUE PERSON THAT I WANTED TO BE.
AND FOOD WAS ALWAYS MY ESCAPE FROM A LIFE I FELT TRAPPED IN.
BUT WHEN I WAS 25, THINGS GOT WORSE.
I WAS OVER 500 POUNDS AT THAT TIME.
BUT DURING THAT TIME, MY BROTHER ANTHONY HAD TO GET SURGERY.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MINOR PROCEDURE.
BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME,
HE DEVELOPED A BLOOD CLOT FROM IT.
AND IT CAUSED AN ANEURYSM THAT KILLED HIM.
HE ENDED UP DYING IN MY ARMS AT HOME.
WHEN THEY COULDN'T SAVE HIM, I JUST TRIED TO KILL MYSELF
BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO GO JOIN HIM.
♪♪
BUT I GOT SO DEPRESSED AFTER THAT THAT I COULDN'T HANDLE IT.
FOOD COULDN'T EVEN TAKE THAT PAIN AWAY THEN.
♪♪
TO LOSE MY BABY BROTHER -- HE HAD SO MUCH LIFE IN HIM.
HE JUST WANTED SO MUCH OUT OF LIFE,
AND I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD'VE WENT BEFORE HIM.
SO I GOT SENT TO A MENTAL FACILITY
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS UNTIL THEY WERE CONFIDENT
THAT I WASN'T GONNA HARM MYSELF AGAIN.
BUT I'VE STILL NEVER FULLY GOTTEN OVER THAT.
I STILL CARRY A LOT OF GUILT FROM THAT DAY,
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I COULD'VE SAVED HIM.
I FEEL LIKE MAYBE IF I WOULD'VE WOKE HIM UP EARLIER,
HE WOULDN'T HAVE PASSED AWAY.
THAT WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL MYSELF OUT OF THE DEPRESSION
I'VE HAD SINCE THEN
AND THE PATTERN OF JUST EATING.
WHENEVER I'M FEELING BAD, ALL I KNOW HOW TO DO IS
JUST LAY IN BED AND JUST EAT.
THIS ROOM AND THIS HOUSE ARE MY WHOLE WORLD MOST DAYS.
AND IN THE EVENINGS FOR DINNER,
MY MOM WILL COME OVER TO HELP ME COOK
AND TRY TO GET ME TO COME OUT OF MY ROOM,
BECAUSE SHE KNOWS I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR FOOD.
Destinee: HEY, SUGAR BEE. HOW YOU DOING, DELICIOUS?
ALL RIGHT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HOW YOU FEELING?
ALL RIGHT. I'M SO HUNGRY.
-YOU HUNGRY? OKAY. -YEAH.
-THANK YOU. -WELCOME.
-I LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU, TOO.
Destinee: I'M JUST 27.
I HAVE SO MUCH THAT I WANT TO DO AND THAT I NEED TO DO.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS MY LIFE NOW,
WHERE I JUST LAY HERE ALL DAY AND WAIT FOR FOOD.
AND I DON'T SEE ANY OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
UNLESS THEY COME TO SEE ME,
AND IT'S MOSTLY ONLY MY SISTER AND MOM.
WHEN I COME OVER, IT'S MOSTLY TO GET
DESTINEE OUT OF THE BED -- TO GET HER UP,
'CAUSE SHE'S USUALLY JUST LAYING DOWN.
♪♪
YOU GONNA COME OR NOT?
YES, I AM.
YOU NEED HELP?
HOLD ON.
♪♪
I FEEL LIKE ALL I'M CONSTANTLY DOING IS JUST TRYING TO ESCAPE
ALL MY DEPRESSION AND PAIN AT THIS POINT.
AND FOOD IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO TURN TO TO DO THAT.
♪♪
BUT THE THING THAT'S SAVING ME EVERY DAY
IS ALSO WHAT'S DESTROYING MY LIFE NOW,
TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN FEEL IT KILLING ME.
I KNOW THERE IS JUST NO WAY
I'M GONNA SURVIVE FOR A LOT LONGER,
BECAUSE MY BODY CAN'T TAKE GETTING ANY BIGGER
THAN I'VE ALREADY LET IT.
MY SITUATION IS AT A BREAKING POINT.
I NEED TO GET HELP.
I NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT,
OR THEY'RE GONNA BE BURYING ME NEXT.
BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I COULD LIVE TO NEXT YEAR
BEING THIS BIG.
AT THIS RATE, I GIVE MYSELF A COUPLE MONTHS.
AND THAT'S NOT THE FUTURE I SHOULD BE FACING,
BEFORE I'VE HARDLY EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO LIVE MY LIFE.
SO AS IMPOSSIBLE AND HOPELESS AS IT SEEMS TO ME
TO TRY AND CHANGE AND GIVE UP EATING LIKE I DO,
I'M READY TO TRY AND FIND A WAY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
BECAUSE IF I DON'T, THEN I KNOW I'M ABOUT TO DIE.
SO I HAVE TO AT LEAST TRY.
♪♪
Destinee: TODAY, I'M GONNA TRY TO DRIVE TO HOUSTON
BECAUSE I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE DR. NOW THIS AFTERNOON.
NUNA CALLED AND SET IT FOR ME.
AND SHE AND MY MOM ARE GONNA GO WITH ME TO HELP ME GET THERE,
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA HANDLE
BEING IN A CAR THAT LONG.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE,
BUT MY LIMIT IF I TRY TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE
IS NORMALLY AROUND 10 TO 15 MINUTES.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME,
AND I'M HOPING I CAN MAKE IT.
I KNOW I CAN'T HANDLE DOING THIS TRIP TWICE IN ONE DAY,
SO WE'RE STAYING IN HOUSTON FOR THE NIGHT AND THEN COMING BACK.
BUT IT'S STILL GONNA BE A LOT FOR ME, SO I'M REALLY NERVOUS.
AND A LOT OF THINGS ARE GOING THROUGH MY HEAD.
I'M NERVOUS THAT IF DR. NOW DOESN'T TAKE ME AS A PATIENT,
I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO HELP ME WITH MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.
SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE DOUBT AND HIM NOT TAKING ME,
IT KIND OF MAKES ME SAD.
♪♪
-HEY, HONEY. -HEY.
CAN YOU HELP ME FOLD SOME AND PUT THEM IN NOW?
I KNOW THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE LAST CHANCE TO GET THE HELP
I HAVE TO HAVE TO SAVE MY LIFE AND AVOID AN EARLY DEATH,
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS
I'M GONNA EVER DO IN MY LIFE.
SO I'M NOT LETTING ANY OF MY EMOTIONS AND FEARS STOP ME,
AND THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
IS MY BODY BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT.
♪♪
-ARE Y'ALL READY? -YEAH.
WE JUST FINISHED PACKING. SO YOU READY FOR THAT LONG DRIVE?
YEAH.
IT'S GONNA BE A BIG DAY, A LONG DAY.
I'M READY WHENEVER Y'ALL ARE.
I'M THELMA, YOU'RE LOUISE. I'M BONNIE, SHE CLYDE.
-[ LAUGHS ] -LET'S GO.
♪♪
Nuna: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR DESTINEE TO GO TO THIS DOCTOR APPOINTMENT
BECAUSE SHE NEEDS THE PROPER HELP.
RIGHT NOW, I JUST FEEL LIKE SHE'S MISERABLE.
SHE CAN'T REALLY LIVE HER LIFE HOW SHE WANTS TO
BECAUSE SHE'S PICKED UP ON SO MUCH WEIGHT.
TIME TO GO, BABY.
Destinee: MY SISTER IS TOO YOUNG TO DRIVE,
AND MY MOM HAS REALLY BAD EYESIGHT.
SO I HAVE TO BE THE ONE TO DRIVE.
SO THAT'S GONNA MAKE THIS A LITTLE TOUGHER,
BECAUSE THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS EVEN MORE CRAMPED.
MY STOMACH GOES UP TO THE WHEEL
AND ALMOST PUSHES AGAINST IT TOO MUCH,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A TIGHT FIT,
AND I'M NOT GONNA GET THE CHANCE TO LEAN BACK MUCH.
♪♪
BUT AT LEAST I FIT.
I JUST HOPE I CAN LAST FOUR HOURS LIKE THIS.
BUT IF I WANT THIS CHANCE, I KNOW I HAVE TO.
♪♪
WE FINALLY MADE IT TO HOUSTON,
AND I'VE COME ABOUT ALMOST 300 MILES TO SEE THIS DOCTOR.
I'M FEELING A CERTAIN PAIN IN MY LEG AND IN MY SIDES.
I HAVE A LOT OF SWELLING IN MY LEGS AND NEUROPATHY,
AND THE PAIN IS PRETTY BAD.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I'M REALLY HUNGRY.
WE ONLY STOPPED ONCE AT A GAS STATION,
AND I GOT A SANDWICH AND CHIPS.
BUT I HAVEN'T REALLY EATEN MUCH THESE LAST FOUR HOURS,
AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO EAT SOMETHING
RIGHT AFTER I SEE DR. NOW.
BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, MAYBE HAVING AN EMPTY STOMACH
WILL HELP ME WEIGH A FEW POUNDS LESS WHEN I GET ON THE SCALE.
BUT WHATEVER HAPPENS AND HOWEVER MUCH I WEIGH,
I JUST HOPE I GET THE HELP I NEED TODAY.
AND THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY HAS ME SCARED
IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT DR. NOW
COULD SAY HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN TREAT ME.
DESTINEE LaSHAEE?
IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S GONNA BE LIKE BEING TOLD
I'M GONNA DIE
AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO CHANGE THAT.
AND I'M NOT READY FOR THAT.
♪♪
I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED.
OKAY, YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO ROOM 5.
I'M GLAD I'M STILL IN THE 600s,
BUT IT'S STILL A REALLY HIGH NUMBER.
SO I'M EMBARRASSED AT HOW BAD I'VE LET MY SITUATION GET,
AND IT'S IMPORTANT I GET THE HELP I NEED TODAY
SO I CAN CHANGE THIS.
♪♪
-HELLO. -HELLO.
I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
I'M DESTINEE. NICE TO MEET YOU.
NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO. AND YOU ARE?
-I'M NUNA. -AND YOU?
-I'M CHASITY. -ALL RIGHT. HOW Y'ALL DOING?
-I'M GOOD. AND YOU? -I'M VERY GOOD, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE COMING FROM, UH, WHERE?
UH, PINEVILLE, LOUISIANA.
OKAY. SO, HOW WAS THE TRIP?
YOU MADE IT OKAY?YES, SIR.
I'M JUST A LITTLE SORE, BUT I'M OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO YOU ARE 668 POUNDS.
SO, I TAKE IT YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND YOU'RE HERE FOR SOME HELP.
-I HAVEN'T BEEN TRYING. -YOU HAVEN'T?
NO, SIR.
SO, DO YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT? WHAT IS THE PLAN?
THE PLAN IS TO TRY TO GET YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR HELP
TO WHERE I CAN TRY TO GET MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK.
OKAY.
SO, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT YOU WANT TO ADDRESS?
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING ME THE IMPRESSION
YOU'RE VERY INTERESTED IN LOSING WEIGHT.
WELL, I DO, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF, UM --
I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.
AND I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL EATING PROBLEMS.
ALL RIGHT. SUCH AS WHAT?
WELL, UM, I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT,
BEING TRANSGENDER AND GAY
AND, YOU KNOW, BEING PICKED ON A LOT
AND JUST GROWING UP JUST STRUGGLING
AND JUST NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND A GOOD JOB AND STUFF.
AND THE LOSS OF MY BROTHER
IS WHERE I REALLY PICKED UP A LOT OF WEIGHT.
OKAY. I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.
BUT HOW DOES ANY OF THAT JUSTIFY
OVEREATING TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE HURTING YOURSELF
AND, ULTIMATELY, SHORTENING YOUR LIFE?
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT'S A LOT OF --
A LOT OF TO DO WITH MY EMOTIONS AND STUFF.
OKAY.
BUT IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT ARE A CAUSE OF YOUR OVEREATING,
HAVE BEEN SEEING A THERAPIST TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT?
NO, SIR.
SO YOU HAVE REALLY NOT DONE ANYTHING TO TRY TO CHANGE
YOUR EATING HABIT AND LOSE WEIGHT.
NO, SIR.
I ASSUME YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND
AND LOSE WEIGHT TO HAVE THE LIFE YOU WANT.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY.
SO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IN YOUR LIFE IN 10 YEARS?
HOW DO YOU SEE WHERE YOU'RE GONNA BE
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO?
IN 10 YEARS, I WANT TO SEE MYSELF HAVING A FAMILY.
I WANT TO GET MARRIED. I WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN.
I WANT TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL JOB.
I WANT TO JUST LIVE LIFE.
THOSE ARE ALL GOOD GOALS.
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF THAT
IF YOU KEEP EATING LIKE YOU HAVE?
NO, SIR.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABITS.
I, UM -- I TEND TO SLEEP A LOT DURING THE DAY.
AND THEN, LIKE, I'LL WAKE UP IN THE AFTERNOON,
AND I'LL MAYBE EAT, LIKE, A BIG MEAL.
AND THEN AT NIGHT, I'LL EAT A BIG MEAL, AS WELL.
DO YOU EAT AT HOME, OR YOU EAT OUT?
I EAT MOSTLY AT HOME, OR SOMETIMES I'LL GO EAT OUT.
WHO COOKS FOR YOU?
SOMETIMES I'LL COOK, OR MY MOM WILL COME OVER,
AND WE'LL COOK TOGETHER.
DOES SHE BRING FOOD FOR YOU?
SOMETIMES SHE'LL BRING FOOD FOR ME,
AND SHE'LL COME OVER AND HELP ME COOK.
AND MY SISTER HELPS ME, AS WELL.
AND YOU BRING THAT TO HELP OUT,
OR ARE YOU JUST, UM, DOING THAT TO...?
NO. WE JUST COOK, LIKE, FAMILY MEALS.
SO, ARE YOU GONNA BE ENABLING,
OR ARE YOU GONNA BE HELPING?
NO, I'M GONNA HELP.
IN FACT, WE ARE -- MY DAUGHTER, TOO.
I HOPE SO, BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS
IF YOU CONTINUE TO ENABLE HER
AND DON'T GIVE HER THE SUPPORT SHE NEEDS.
SO THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN YOU ALL NEED TO CHANGE NOW.
-YES. -OKAY.
-ANY QUESTIONS? -NO, SIR.
-JUST READY TO GET STARTED. -OKAY.
WE'RE GONNA GET YOU ON A 1,200-CALORIE DIET,
WHICH IS GONNA BE EATING 400 CALORIE PER MEAL...
-OKAY. -...HIGH-PROTEIN, NO-CARB DIET.
-YES, SIR. -START ON THAT IMMEDIATELY.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?
AND THAT'S GONNA BE A GOAL THAT WE'RE GONNA WORK TOWARD, OKAY?
AND IF YOU DO THAT AND YOU WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM,
THEN I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
OKAY.
AND WE'RE GONNA START YOU ON PSYCHOTHERAPY
BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES
BEHIND YOUR PATHOLOGICAL OVEREATING,
THEN A BIG PRIORITY WILL BE THAT WE NEED
TO GET YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUE UNDER CONTROL.
OKAY.
BECAUSE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IS NOT GOING TO BE HELPFUL
IF YOU STILL GOT EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN TO FOOD.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY?
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION
TO GET YOU OUT OF THIS.YES, SIR.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO,
BUT IT ALL STARTS WITH YOU SHOWING ME
THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD TO DO THIS.
AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY HITTING THE WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.
OKAY.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE READY TO DO?
-YES, SIR. -GREAT.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE MOBILE FOR MUCH LONGER
WITH THE WAY YOU ARE.
AND ONCE YOU BECOME BEDRIDDEN,
YOUR HEALTH IS GONNA START TO DECLINE RAPIDLY AT THAT POINT.
SO THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO CHANGE THAT IF YOU WANT. GOT IT?
YES, SIR. I FEEL LIKE I'M READY.
GOOD. WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN A COUPLE MONTHS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO. -THANK YOU SO MUCH.
MM-HMM.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M CONCERNED RIGHT NOW THAT DESTINEE IS NOT REALLY
THAT COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND.
SHE SEEMS RELUCTANT ABOUT EVEN LOSING THE WEIGHT
AND TURNING AROUND THE LEVEL OF PATHOLOGICAL EATING IT TAKES
TO GET OVER 600 POUNDS.
TO SUCCESSFULLY LOSE AROUND 450 POUNDS AND THEN KEEP IT OFF
IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TOOLS TO ACCOMPLISH,
ESPECIALLY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY AND PSYCHOTHERAPY.
BUT ALL OF THAT WILL BE USELESS
IF DESTINEE ISN'T WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK SHE NEEDS,
BECAUSE NONE OF THIS WILL DO THE WORK FOR HER.
SO THIS IS ALL ULTIMATELY IN HER HANDS.
AND IF SHE WANTS TO MOVE AHEAD AND GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
THEN SHE NEEDS TO START BY WORKING TO HIT THE GOAL
I HAVE GIVEN HER
AND SHOW ME SHE'S AS COMMITTED AS SHE NEEDS
AND THAT SHE'S READY TO DO THIS.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M RELIEVED THAT DR. NOW IS WILLING TO HELP ME.
FINDING THAT OUT HAS LIFTED A WEIGHT OFF OF ME.
BUT I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
THAT I HAVE TO DO A DIET TO START.
AND TO LOSE 80 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS IS A LOT.
BUT IF THIS IS WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO GET DR. NOW'S HELP,
THEN I'LL TRY TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN
TO GET TO THAT GOAL BEFORE I COME BACK.
BECAUSE IF I FAIL AT THIS, IT WILL COST ME MY LIFE.
♪♪
Destinee: THIS LAST MONTH HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT.
DR. NOW'S DIET ISN'T EASY.
IT CUTS OUT A LOT OF STUFF THAT I LIKE TO EAT,
AND IT'S BEEN HARD TO CHANGE ALL THAT AND ADAPT.
BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING AT IT,
AND I DO FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING PROGRESS.
MY CLOTHES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE FITTING A LITTLE BETTER,
AND I'M LOOKING SMALLER.
SO I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT,
AS LONG AS I DON'T LOSE MY BREASTS,
BECAUSE MY BREASTS HELP ME FEEL LIKE A WOMAN.
BUT OVERALL, I'M MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.
SO ALL THAT'S REALLY ENCOURAGING
AND HELPS TO MOTIVATE ME TO KEEP GOING.
♪♪
I'M MOSTLY MAKING A LOT OF SALAD.
IT'S LOW-CALORIE, SO I CAN HAVE AS MUCH OF IT AS I WANT.
AND I'M ALSO EATING A LOT OF PROTEIN.
BUT WITHOUT SOME OF WHAT I LIKE TO EAT, IT'S BEEN HARD TO FIGHT
ALL THE SADNESS AND DEPRESSION I HAVE.
BUT I'M NOT LETTING THAT MESS ME UP,
AND I'M STICKING WITH IT.
THANKFULLY, THE EXERCISING HASN'T BEEN AS HARD.
♪♪
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
COME IN.
HEY!
-HEY, HONEY. -HOW YOU DOING?
I'M GOOD.
YOU READY TO GO FOR OUR DAILY WALK?
-YEAH, I'M READY FOR IT. -GOOD. LET'S GO.
I TOLD ONE OF MY OLD FRIENDS WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO,
AND I ASKED HER IF SHE'D START DOING MY WALKS WITH ME.
SO SHE'S BEEN COMING OVER EVERY DAY TO DO THAT WITH ME,
AND WE JUST WALK DOWN THE ROAD AND BACK.
THE FIRST WEEK WAS THE HARDEST, BUT I CAN GO FURTHER NOW,
AND IT'S NICE TO FEEL THAT PROGRESS.
SO HOW'S THE DIET BEEN GOING?
WELL, I HAVE A GOAL OF 80 POUNDS SOON.
SO AS LONG I JUST KEEP LOSING, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
-THAT'S GOOD. -THAT'S MY GOAL.
I CAN SEE YOU'RE LOSING A LITTLE WEIGHT IN YOUR FACE.
YEAH, I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN LOSING A LOT.
JUST KEEP YOUR FAITH. YOU'RE GONNA DO IT.
I WILL.
[ LAUGHING ]
I REBUKE SATAN.
I KNOW I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE MONTH
BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME
TO MAKE THE REST OF THE PROGRESS I NEED.
SO I'M NOT GONNA LET MYSELF SLOW DOWN
BECAUSE WHEN I SEE HIM,
I WANT TO MAKE DR. NOW PROUD BY HITTING HIS GOAL
AND GETTING APPROVED FOR MY SURGERY.
♪♪
ME AND MY MOM ARE BACK IN HOUSTON
FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
WHERE WE FIND OUT WHETHER I MADE IT TO MY GOAL OR NOT.
AND I'M EXTREMELY ANXIOUS.
♪♪
THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT
BECAUSE IT'S WHERE I FIND OUT HOW WELL I DID
AND WHETHER OR NOT I HIT MY GOAL
AND THEN WHETHER I GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY LIKE I NEED.
BUT I'VE WORKED SO VERY HARD FOR THIS,
AND I'M JUST HOPING THAT ALL THAT WORK
IS REFLECTED ON THE NUMBER THE SCALE GIVES TODAY.
DESTINEE?
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT TWO MONTHS AGO,
MY WEIGHT WAS 668.
AND DR. NOW TOLD ME I NEEDED TO LOSE 80 POUNDS
BY TODAY'S APPOINTMENT,
SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO BE BELOW 588.
♪♪
I'M DISAPPOINTED IT'S NOT A BIGGER LOSS,
BUT IT'S STILL WEIGHT LOSS AND PROGRESS.
SO I'M HOPING THAT DR. NOW SEES THAT I'M MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
AND FOCUSES ON THAT AND THE PROGRESS I DID MAKE.
♪♪
-HELLO. -HELLO.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?
-I'M GOOD. AND YOU? -WE'RE GOOD.
I'M JUST FINE, THANK YOU. OKAY.
SO, YOU'RE DOWN TO 644.
YES, SIR.
WHICH IS A LOSS OF 24 POUNDS OVER TWO MONTHS,
WHEN YOUR GOAL WAS TO LOSE 80 IN THAT TIME.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
I MADE A BAD CHOICE, AND I WENT TO GO GET SOME BAD FOOD.
BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, I FELT BAD ABOUT IT
AND GOT BACK ON MY DIET AND STUFF.
AND RIGHT AFTER THAT,
I GOT HIT WITH BAD NEWS ABOUT MY MAMA.
SHE'S BEEN HAVING A LOT OF HEART PROBLEMS,
SO THEY'RE TRYING TO SEE HOW MUCH
BLOCKAGE SHE HAS ON HER HEART AND STUFF.
SO I'VE BEEN STRESSED OUT A LOT BECAUSE OF THAT.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
WELL, I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU TWO ARE DEALING WITH THAT.
BUT STRESS IS PART OF OUR LIFE, OKAY?
AND THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN LIVE THROUGH THIS LIFE
WITHOUT HAVING STRESS.
YES, SIR.
BUT WE SHOULD NOT LET STRESS MAKE US EAT UNHEALTHY.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY?
YOU EITHER WANT TO DO THIS, OR YOU DON'T.
RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE YOU DON'T,
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SHOWING ME THERE IS ANY REAL DESIRE
WITH YOU TO PUT ANY EFFORT INTO SAVING YOUR LIFE.
SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
SHOW ME THE PROGRESS YOU NEED TO MAKE.
OKAY.
DESTINEE, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE
TO LOSE 80 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?
OH, OKAY.
YOU DO THAT, I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEN I'LL KNOW YOU STILL DON'T HAVE
ANY INTEREST IN WORKING AT THIS
AND THAT WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME.
AND THERE WILL BE NO POINT IN MOVING AHEAD WITH YOU, GOT IT?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS.
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
-OKAY. YES, SIR. -OKAY?
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR HEART TEST, OKAY?
-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER.
-ALL RIGHT. I'M-A DO GOOD. -GOOD.
-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU THEN.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: DESTINEE'S POOR PROGRESS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS
IS VERY DISAPPOINTING.
AND IT LEAVES ME WITH THE SAME CONCERNS
I ORIGINALLY HAD THAT SHE'S NOT FULLY COMMITTED TO DOING THIS
AND EXPECTS ALL THE HARD WORK TO BE DONE FOR HER.
SHE'S BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO SAVE HER LIFE.
AND IF SHE'S NOT GONNA TAKE IT SERIOUSLY,
THEN THE SURGERY AND EVERYTHING WE DO FOR HER
WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL,
AND WHATEVER PROGRESS SHE MAKES WILL BE UNDONE.
SO THERE IS NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR HER
UNTIL SHE STARTS DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS
AND SHOW ME SHE WON'T END UP WASTING THE TOOLS
AND OPPORTUNITY WE GIVE HER.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED
THAT I DIDN'T GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
I PUT IN A LOT OF HARD WORK OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,
AND I DON'T FEEL THAT WAS RECOGNIZED
OR THAT ANY CREDIT WAS GIVEN FOR THAT.
BUT I GUESS THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE NOW IS TO TRY AGAIN.
IT'S EITHER THAT, OR I GIVE UP.
AND I CAN'T GIVE UP, BECAUSE THAT WOULD MEAN
GIVING UP ON EVERYTHING, INCLUDING MY LIFE.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY A CHOICE. I HAVE TO DO THIS.
♪♪
Destinee: I'VE GIVEN MY SITUATION A LOT OF THOUGHT,
AND I'VE DECIDED I WANT TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.
I FOUND AN APARTMENT, AND IT'S READY FOR ME TO MOVE ON.
SO I RENTED A MOVING TRUCK AND HIRED SOME MOVERS.
AND ONCE I GET ALL PACKED UP, I'M HEADED THERE.
DR. NOW TOLD ME
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T NEED TO MOVE TO HOUSTON
SINCE I'M ALREADY CLOSE ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIM EASILY,
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO DO.
BEING HERE, I'M STUCK IN A LOT OF MY OLD PATTERNS AND WAYS.
AND I THINK THE BEST WAY TO START TO BREAK THOSE
IS TO GET OUT OF MY OLD ENVIRONMENT
AND INTO A NEW ONE WHERE I CAN START NEW HEALTHY HABITS.
AND I WANT TO BE CLOSER TO DR. NOW
AND SHOW HIM THAT I'M READY TO COMPLETELY COMMIT
TO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO DO HIS PROGRAM.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, I FEEL LIKE
I FACED A LOT OF JUDGEMENT HERE AS A LARGE TRANSGENDER PERSON.
AND I KNOW THAT'LL BE TRUE NO MATTER WHERE I AM,
BUT I'LL BE ABLE TO FIND MORE PEOPLE
THAT WILL ACCEPT ME IN A BIG CITY.
♪♪
SO AS MUCH AS I'LL MISS MY FAMILY,
IT'S TIME TO SPREAD MY WINGS AND FLY.
♪♪
BUT AT LEAST FOR A WHILE, I'M NOT GONNA TELL DR. NOW
BECAUSE I'M MOVING BY MYSELF,
AND ONE OF HIS REQUIREMENTS
IS THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH YOU TO HELP YOU.
AND I'M GONNA BE DOING IT COMPLETELY ON MY OWN.
MY MOM WAS GONNA GO WITH ME TO HELP ME FOR A WHILE,
BUT SHE'S SICK RIGHT NOW, SO SHE'S NOT COMING.
BUT I'LL TELL DR. NOW ONCE HE SEES MY PROGRESS
SO HE KNOWS I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.
♪♪
-GIRL, I -- -Oh, what happened?
I JUST GOT TO FINISH THIS, UM --
FINISH GETTING THIS STUFF OUT THE HOUSE
AND TRY TO GET ON THIS ROAD. -Okay.
YOU BETTER STOP ALL THAT CRYING.
[ Sniffles ]
I LOVE YOU. I'M-A, UM, TEXT YOU.
I love you, too.
I'M-A TEXT YOU AS SOON AS I, UH, GET ON THE ROAD AND STUFF.
-Okay. -ALL RIGHT, BYE.
♪♪
IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, BUT IT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO.
♪♪
BECAUSE IF I DON'T GET THIS SURGERY,
I HAVE NOTHING --
NO LIFE, NO FUTURE, NO HOPE, NOTHING.
♪♪
SO I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE SURE
I GET APPROVED AT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,
AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT
SO I CAN START MY NEW LIFE IN THE BIG CITY,
LIKE I'VE DREAMED OF DOING MY WHOLE LIFE.
♪♪
I'M CURRENTLY IN HOUSTON.
I MADE IT.
I DROVE STRAIGHT HERE WITH NO STOPS
BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO GET HERE.
THANKFULLY, THIS IS A BIG TRUCK,
SO I HAVEN'T BEEN CRAMPED LIKE I HAVE BEEN IN MY CAR.
♪♪
BUT I'M STILL SORE FROM SITTING UP FOR SO LONG,
AND I'M READY TO GET OUT AND STRETCH MY LEGS, EAT,
AND USE THE BATHROOM.
BUT FIRST, I HAVE TO GET MOVED IN.
I'M MEETING THE APARTMENT MANAGER
TO GET THE APARTMENT I'M RENTING.
AND ONCE I GET IN AND HAVE ACCESS,
I'M CALLING THE MOVERS SO THEY CAN COME MEET ME
AND UNLOAD ALL MY STUFF SO I CAN GET SETTLED IN.
-HI. -HEY, TORY.
I'M GOOD. AND YOU?
YEAH, I'M READY.
♪♪
I'M GUESSING IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS,
BUT I'M HOPING TO GET IT DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
SO I CAN REST.
OKAY. OHH.
OH, YEAH? I DON'T KNOW.
WAIT. THIS IS THE --
NO WAY. THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
OH, [BLEEP]. OH, MY. THIS IS TOO MUCH.
♪♪
OH, [BLEEP] [BLEEP].
THIS ISN'T WHAT I WAS EXPECTING.
THE CABINETS ARE DIRTY.
THERE ARE SCUFF MARKS EVERYWHERE ON THE WALLS.
AND I REFUSE TO STAY IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
OH, NO...
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE,
AND THEY NEED TO FIX THIS, BECAUSE I'M NOT MOVING.
ABOUT TO JUST GO TO THE HOTEL.
[BLEEP] MUCH.
Woman: Many concerns can be resolved
Once our location is aware of your experience.
[ BEEP ]
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
NO ONE'S GETTING BACK TO ME RIGHT NOW,
SO I GUESS I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE TONIGHT.
AND I'M TOO TIRED TO DEAL WITH THIS,
SO I JUST NEED TO GET A HOTEL.
♪♪
ALL THIS IS NOT TURNING OUT TO BE A GREAT NIGHT IN HOUSTON.
HOPEFULLY, TOMORROW GETS BETTER.
[ DOOR-AJAR BELL DINGING ]
BUT SO FAR, THIS HASN'T BEEN WHAT I EXPECTED.
AND THE LAST THING I NEED IS ALL THIS ADDED STRESS
WHEN I'M TRYING TO GET MY LIFE RIGHT.
♪♪
I HAVEN'T EATEN ALL DAY, AND I'M STARVING.
AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS GET SOME FAST FOOD
TO FORGET ABOUT ALL THIS,
BUT I'M TRYING HARD TO DO WHAT I NEED.
SO I CAN'T, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP MY PROGRESS.
I HAVE A RESERVATION FOR MATTHEW VENTRESS.
-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. -NO PROBLEM.
♪♪
BUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS IS THE LAST THING I NEEDED,
SO I'M DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW.
AND I'M NOT SURE DOING THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA,
BECAUSE NOW I'M ALONE IN A BIG CITY
WITH EVERYTHING GOING WRONG,
AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS EAT.
AND I'M SCARED I'M REALLY CLOSE TO JUST GIVING IN.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M HEADED BACK TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX THIS MORNING.
THE MOVERS ARE GONNA MEET ME THERE
AND GET ALL MY STUFF THERE TO MY NEW PLACE,
SO I'LL HOPEFULLY BE SETTLED IN SOON.
♪♪
MAKING THE MOVE DOWN HERE HASN'T GONE AS PLANNED SO FAR.
THE PLACE THEY HAD FOR ME WASN'T TO MY LIKING.
OH, LORDY.
SO I WAS HOPING THEY COULD GET ME IN A BETTER UNIT,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT GONNA BE SOMETHING THEY COULD DO
FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER MONTH OR SO.
AND CONSIDERING I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS,
I REALLY DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
AND I DON'T NEED TO BE DEALING WITH THIS, WHEN I SHOULD BE ABLE
TO JUST FOCUS TO GET TO MY GOAL BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.
BUT INSTEAD, I'M IN A SITUATION WHERE I'M REALLY STRUGGLING.
SO THIS HAS BEEN REALLY FRUSTRATING.
THE ONLY POSITIVE THING TO DEVELOP
WAS THAT A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHO LIVES HERE IN HOUSTON
SAID SHE'D HELP ME OUT WHILE I WAS DOWN HERE.
HER NAME IS SANTANA. HER SISTER LIVED IN PINEVILLE.
AND WE USED TO COME VISIT HER HERE IN HOUSTON TOGETHER.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO RECONNECT WITH HER
AND TO FEEL LIKE I HAVE SOMEONE HERE IN HOUSTON.
-OKAY, PULL! -PUSH!
Man: PULL IT. PULL IT!
Santana: RIGHT NOW, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR DESTINEE TO MOVE ALONE.
AND SO I WANTED TO COME AND HELP OUT WITH THAT.
I LIVE HERE IN HOUSTON, MAYBE 20 MINUTES AWAY
FROM DESTINEE'S APARTMENT.
SO IT'S GONNA BE REAL NICE TO DROP IN ON HER SOMETIMES.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT DESTINEE MOVED TO HOUSTON
TO BE CLOSER TO THE DOCTOR,
BUT IT'S EVEN BETTER THAT SHE'S CLOSER TO ME.
[ LAUGHS ]
Destinee: NOW I JUST NEED TO GET MOVED IN
SO I CAN RE-CENTER MYSELF
AND GET BACK TO DOING WHAT I NEED.
WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY,
I GAVE IN A LITTLE
AND ORDERED SOME STUFF IN THE HOTEL THAT WASN'T ON MY DIET.
AND THAT CAN'T CONTINUE, BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE
ONE MONTH LEFT BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW.
AND EVERYTHING I WANT IS COMPLETELY RIDING ON ME
HITTING MY GOAL, AND I HAVE TO MAKE SURE
I'M DOING EVERYTHING I SHOULD TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND ONCE I GET MOVED IN AND THIS STRESS IS BEHIND ME,
I'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU.
Santana: I AM SO TIRED. LIKE, I'M EXHAUSTED.
♪♪
I'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR A MONTH NOW,
AND THE TRANSITION DOWN HERE AND BEING AWAY FROM MY FAMILY
HASN'T BEEN AN EASY ADJUSTMENT.
BUT LATELY, I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH FEELING LONELY,
AND I'M A LITTLE DEPRESSED BECAUSE OF THAT.
I THINK THE MAIN STRESS WHILE I'VE BEEN OUT HERE IS MY MOM --
HER BEING SICK, AND JUST ME NOT BEING CLOSE TO HER.
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M LETTING HER DOWN IN A WEIRD WAY
AND THAT I SHOULD BE THERE FOR HER
WHILE SHE HAS HER HEART ISSUES.
SO WITH ALL THIS STRESS,
I KNOW I LET THAT TAKE A TOLL ON MY EATING HABITS.
I'VE DEFINITELY HAD CRAVINGS,
BUT I'M TRYING TO STICK TO WHAT I'M DOING.
IT'S DEFINITELY HARD PASSING UP THOSE FAST-FOOD PLACES
THAT I'M USED TO GOING TO.
I'LL BE LIKE, "NO, DON'T DO IT. NO, DON'T DO IT."
♪♪
BUT A FEW TIMES, I DID.
I GAVE IN.
SO I'M FOCUSING ON SALADS AGAIN
AND TRYING TO FILL UP WITH THOSE
AND MAKING SURE I HAVE MORE PROTEIN MIXED IN
AND MOSTLY WATER TO DRINK.
THOSE MEALS DON'T REALLY HIT THE SPOT,
BUT I'M STILL HOLDING OUT HOPE
FOR A GOOD DRESSING THAT'S LOW-CALORIE.
BUT FOR NOW, I TRY TO SEASON IT AS MUCH AS I CAN.
♪♪
I CALLED DR. NOW'S CLINIC AND TOLD HIM
I NEED AN EXTRA MONTH BEFORE I COME BACK TO SEE HIM.
I WAS TOO SCARED TO TALK DIRECTLY TO DR. NOW,
SO I JUST TOLD WHOEVER PICKED UP THE PHONE.
BUT I'M GUESSING HE WASN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
BUT WITH THIS LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME,
I KNOW I CAN GET BACK ON TRACK.
SO THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DELAY,
BUT I'M USING THIS EXTRA TIME TO WORK HARD,
AND I STILL FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING PROGRESS.
I'VE ALSO STARTED BACK UP WITH MY WALKS AND EXERCISES,
AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.
I THINK ABOUT THE LIFE I WANT
AND REMIND MYSELF WHY I'M DOING THIS
TO MOTIVATE MYSELF SOME MORE.
SO OVERALL, I THINK I'M DOING WELL.
AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT I'LL MAKE IT TO MY GOAL
BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW.
♪♪
I'VE HAD SEVERE STOMACH PAIN FOR A FEW DAYS NOW,
SO MY MOM CAME DOWN TO HELP ME AND BE WITH ME.
SHE CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND HE SAID I NEED TO COME TO HIS CLINIC NOW.
SO I'M A LITTLE SCARED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, I DON'T FEEL LIKE
I'M READY TO HAVE MY WEIGHT CHECKED AGAIN.
I HOPE THE FOCUS STAYS ON FIGURING OUT MY STOMACH PAIN
AND NOT MY WEIGHT, BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE
I'VE HAD THE TIME I NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
AND IF I HAVEN'T, THEN MY FEAR IS THAT DR. NOW
WILL TELL ME I'M DONE, AND THAT'LL BE IT FOR ME.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,
AND I'M ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M AT DR. NOW'S BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERE STOMACH PAIN.
BUT I'M WAITING ON HIM TO CALL ME,
AND I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO DO A WEIGHT CHECK FIRST.
AND I'M SCARED BECAUSE I WASN'T PLANNING ON COMING HERE TODAY,
AND I'M NOT READY.
♪♪
DESTINEE?
DR. NOW WANTED ME TO LOSE 80 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING CLOSE,
BUT I NEED SOME MORE TIME.
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT THREE MONTHS AGO,
I WAS AT 644.
AND IF I HIT MY GOAL, I SHOULD BE AT LEAST DOWN TO 564,
AND I THINK I'M CLOSE TO THAT.
♪♪
I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S ACCURATE.
I'VE WORKED TOO HARD TO SEE SUCH A LOW LOSS LIKE THAT,
BUT I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DISCUSS MY PROGRESS.
I'M HERE TO FIGURE OUT MY STOMACH PAIN,
AND I HOPE DR. NOW FOCUSES ON THAT
BECAUSE MY WEIGHT LOSS NEEDS TO WAIT
UNTIL ANOTHER APPOINTMENT.
♪♪
-HELLO. -HELLO.
-HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING? -FINE.
I'M HERE.
SO, HOW IS YOUR STOMACH DOING, DESTINEE?
ANY BETTER SINCE WE TALKED?
NO, SIR.
YOU STILL FEEL LIKE YOU'RE RUNNING A FEVER?
YES, SIR.
AND I'M FEELING -- I'M FEELING WEAK.
NO NAUSEA? NO VOMITING?
NO, SIR.
OKAY.
SO, WE NEED TO CHECK YOUR STOMACH, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
CAN I GET YOU ON THE TABLE?
WE'RE GONNA NEED TO PRAY BEFORE WE TRY TO GET ME UP THERE.
-WHY? -'CAUSE I'M BIG AS HELL.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE LAUGHING, DOES STOMACH HURT?
NO, IT DOESN'T HURT WHEN I LAUGH.
WELL, THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN. THAT'S A VERY GOOD SIGN.
LET ME GET YOU UP ON THE TABLE
AND SEE IF WE CAN CHECK YOUR STOMACH.
OKAY.
♪♪
FROM WHAT DESTINEE HAS ALREADY DESCRIBED TO ME,
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG
WITH HER RIGHT NOW.
AT HER WEIGHT, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE ANY CHANCES.
SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ISSUES.
BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THE REALITY IS THAT SHE'S DIETING
FOR A BIT AND THEN BINGEING,
AND THAT'S A SOURCE OF HER DISCOMFORT AND PAIN RIGHT NOW.
IT MAY HAVE CAUSED SOME MUSCLE SPASM OR GAS,
SO THE ONLY PROBLEM I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT
IS THE FACT THAT SHE HAS HARDLY LOST ANY WEIGHT IN THREE MONTHS.
YOU CAN DO IT. ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. ANY PAIN IN HERE?
-NO, SIR. -ALL RIGHT. ANY PAIN IN HERE?
-RIGHT HERE. -RIGHT HERE HURT?
-YEAH. -OKAY.
ANY PAIN IN HERE?
NOT REALLY, RIGHT THERE.
OKAY, JUST RELAX. RELAX. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
♪♪
HOW ABOUT WHEN I LET GO?
OKAY. THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.
SO YOU DON'T HAVE WHAT WE CALL REBOUND TENDERNESS IN HERE.
THIS IS JUST PROBABLY A MUSCULAR PAIN, OKAY?
-OKAY. -OKAY. SO YOU CAN SIT UP AGAIN.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
SO THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT,
AND YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WORKOUT IN THE PROCESS.
[ LAUGHS ]
SO I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
HOWEVER, WHAT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT
IS THAT YOU MISSED YOUR APPOINTMENT LAST MONTH,
WHERE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LOST 80 POUNDS.
BUT INSTEAD, IN THREE MONTHS, YOU ONLY LOST 17.
SO I'M NOT TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE STILL NOT TAKING ANY OF THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
I'M GONNA SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH PSYCHOTHERAPY,
AND I WANT YOU TO START GOING TO THAT
SO THEY CAN HELP GIVE YOU SOME TOOLS
TO TRY TO CONTROL AND COPE WITH YOUR EMOTIONS BETTER.
AND IF YOU SKIP THAT AND DON'T LOSE 80 POUNDS
IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, THEN THAT WILL BE IT.
YOU'LL BE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.
SO THIS TIME, YOU WAKE UP AND DO THIS.
-YOU GOT IT? -YES, SIR.
GOOD.
ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN GET DOWN IF YOU WANT TO.
OKAY. OHH.
♪♪
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO DO THIS, DESTINEE. DON'T WASTE IT.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE IN A COUPLE MONTHS.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -MM-HMM.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: HOPEFULLY, PSYCHOTHERAPY WILL HAVE SOME SUCCESS
HELPING DESTINEE GET HER EMOTIONAL EATING
UNDER CONTROL ENOUGH
TO START MAKING THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS.
BUT THERE IS STILL A BIG DISCONNECT WITH HER
BETWEEN WHAT SHE THINKS SHE'S WORKING FOR
AND WHAT SHE IS ACTUALLY WILLING TO DO,
BECAUSE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON
SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT FORWARD SOME EFFORT
FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO I STILL HAVE THE SAME CONCERN I HAD IN THE BEGINNING
THAT SHE'S NOT REALLY COMMITTED TO THIS
AND STILL EXPECTS THE HARD WORK TO BE DONE FOR HER.
SO IF SHE'S COUNTING ON SURGERY TO BE WHAT DOES THAT FOR HER,
THEN THAT IS A SETUP FOR FAILURE
AND THERE IS NO POINT IN MOVING AHEAD.
BUT IF SHE DOESN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN,
THEN SHE NEEDS TO START DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS.
♪♪
Destinee: I WAS REALLY HOPING THAT DR. NOW WOULD UNDERSTAND
THAT I WAS ONLY THERE
BECAUSE I WAS SCARED ABOUT MY STOMACH PAIN.
BUT AFTER I GOT ON THE SCALE AND SAW MY WEIGHT,
I KNEW THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE HE'D WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT.
BUT AT LEAST DR. NOW IS GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE.
♪♪
RIGHT NOW, I'M HEADED TO MEET THE THERAPIST.
DR. NOW SAID THAT IT'LL BE A BENEFIT
TO HELP ME OUT IN THE LONG RUN,
SO I'M GOING TO THERAPY TODAY TO TRY TO GET SOME HELP
WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I'M DEALING WITH.
♪♪
BUT I DON'T REALLY EXPECT IT TO HELP ME THAT MUCH.
♪♪
AND I DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHAT TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT AT LEAST I THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO FEEL BETTER AFTERWARDS.
BUT WHO KNOWS?
IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO JUST START TALKING ABOUT YOUR EMOTIONS.
♪♪
-MS. DESTINEE? -HEY.
-HI. -HOW YOU DOING, DARLING?
GOOD. IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
AND WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON IN
AND HAVE A SEAT WHEREVER YOU'RE MOST COMFORTABLE.
OKAY.
SO, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE GROWING UP?
OH, LORD.
DISASTER.
MY MAMA, SHE GAVE ME AND MY TWO BROTHERS UP...
OKAY. ...BECAUSE SHE WAS YOUNG
AND SHE, UM, GOT INTO SOME TROUBLE.
SO WE HAD TO BE RAISED IN A FOSTER-CARE HOME.
SO, DESTINEE, WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR YOU GROWING UP
IN THE FOSTER-CARE SYSTEM?
LORD. OH, IT WAS REALLY HARD.
WERE YOU IN THE SAME HOME WITH YOUR SIBLINGS?
YES, MA'AM.
-WELL, THAT'S FORTUNATE. -YEAH.
AND WHAT'S YOUR RELATIONSHIP LIKE WITH YOUR SIBLINGS TODAY?
MY YOUNGER BROTHER, HE ENDED UP PASSING AWAY.
AND, UM, MY OTHER BROTHER --
I DON'T REALLY TALK TO HIM THAT MUCH.
YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER PASSED AWAY?
-YES, HE DID. -I'M SORRY.
YEAH, THANK YOU.
THAT MUST'VE BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME IN YOUR LIFE.
YEAH, THAT WAS --
LOSING MY BROTHER WAS, LIKE, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS.
-MY BROTHER DIED IN MY ARMS. -MM-HMM.
AND SO EVER SINCE THAT DAY --
I JUST BASICALLY WANTED TO BE WITH HIM.
LIKE, I DIDN'T WANT TO EXIST IN A WORLD WITHOUT MY BROTHER.
I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE NO MORE,
SO I HAD TO GO IN THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.
SO YOU WERE REALLY DEPRESSED.
I WAS DEPRESSED A LOT.
AND I'VE -- I'VE ALWAYS BEEN DEPRESSED A LOT
BECAUSE OF BEING GAY AND BEING TRANSGENDER --
YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST WOULDN'T THINK WAS NORMAL.
THAT HAD TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
YEAH, IT WAS HARD.
DESTINEE, CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME,
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU FIRST RECALL
FEELING THAT YOU WERE NOT IN THE RIGHT BODY?
FIRST, I REALIZED THAT I WAS GAY.
BUT I THINK I WAS LIKE 21 WHEN I DECIDED TO DRESS AS A WOMAN,
TO LIVE MY LIFE AS A WOMAN.
AND SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU WHEN YOU FINALLY DECIDED
TO EMBRACE YOUR FEMININITY AND DO THAT?
IT WAS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO BE LIKE
WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE.
BUT WITH THAT CAME A LOT OF NONACCEPTANCE.
LIKE, THE DAY I STARTED DRESSING AS A WOMAN
AND LIVE MY LIFE AS A WOMAN
IS WHEN EVERYTHING JUST WENT BAD.
I STILL HAVE TROUBLE GETTING A GOOD JOB.
I'M LIKE, "WHAT IF I GO BACK TO BEING A MAN?
WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'LL MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAPPY."
DESTINEE, DON'T SAY THAT.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE WHO YOU ARE,
EVEN WHEN OTHERS DON'T APPROVE.
YOU'RE ON THIS JOURNEY NOW WHERE YOU'RE BECOMING
MORE OF WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
YES.
SO NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD,
YOU CAN'T EVER GO BACK AND RUN AND HIDE.
YEAH. YEAH, I KNOW THAT.
MY DREAM IS TO HAVE THE TRANSITION.
I WANT TO TRANSITION INTO A WOMAN,
BUT I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO LOSE THE WEIGHT
AND GET SMALL AND GET LOST.
'CAUSE I FOUND MYSELF BEING BIG.
OH, DON'T SAY "GET LOST."
YOU'RE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THAT.
YEAH.
YOU'RE MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN THE BODY THAT YOU'RE IN.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
SO, I HAVE SOME HOMEWORK FOR YOU, DESTINEE.
BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH TRAUMATIC LOSSES,
YOU'VE DEVELOPED SOME ISSUES AROUND DEATH.
MM-HMM.
AND SO I REALLY WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME OUT
AND JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU FEEL DEATH LOOKS LIKE.
OKAY.
AND THEN I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF,
"WHO AM I? WHO IS DESTINEE?"
YEAH. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THE TYPE OF WOMAN THAT YOU ARE...
AND WHAT YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE.
YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, MS. DESTINEE.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME.
ANYTIME, ANYTIME.
♪♪
Destinee: I LIKE LOLA, AND I ENJOY TALKING TO HER.
I THINK SHE'S REALLY NICE.
BUT EVERYTHING SHE SAID, IT'S A LOT TO THINK ABOUT.
AND IF I'M BEING HONEST, I'M JUST NOT SURE
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SHE WANTS ME TO DO.
BUT I KNOW I NEED TO DO SOMETHING,
BECAUSE IF I GO BACK TO DR. NOW ONE MORE TIME
WITHOUT HITTING MY GOAL, THEN THAT'S IT FOR ME.
SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
Destinee: AFTER SEEING LOLA,
I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT EVERYTHING,
ESPECIALLY THE HOMEWORK SHE WANTED ME TO DO
TO START TO FACE SOME OF MY EMOTIONS --
THE BIG ONE BEING MY BROTHER'S PASSING.
SO WHAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS DRIVE BACK HOME TO LOUISIANA
AND VISIT HIS GRAVE AND TALK TO HIM SOME.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA TALK OUT LOUD.
I'M GONNA DO IT IN MY HEART,
AND IT'S GONNA JUST BE BETWEEN ME AND HIM.
I MISS ANTHONY WITH ALL MY HEART,
SO DOING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY HARD FOR ME.
IT BRINGS UP A LOT OF PAIN AND ALL THAT GUILT OF FEELING
LIKE I COULD'VE SAVED HIM.
SO THIS ISN'T EASY AT ALL.
♪♪
IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I MISS HIM.
HE WAS ONE OF THE KINDEST
AND MOST SUPPORTIVE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.
AND EVER SINCE I LOST HIM,
THERE'S BEEN THIS EMPTINESS AND DEPRESSION IN ME
THAT'S NEVER GONE AWAY.
I KNOW I'VE USED FOOD TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT.
I JUST MISS HIM SO, SO MUCH.
IT SUCKS TO NOT HAVE HIM HERE THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW,
A LOT OF THINGS THAT I'M GOING THROUGH
AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT MY FAMILY'S GOING THROUGH.
HIS LOSS TOOK A TOLL ON ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE GRIEF.
♪♪
BUT I'M GETTING TO A BETTER PLACE.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE PAIN OF NOT HAVING HIM IN MY LIFE
WILL EVER GO AWAY,
AND I WISH I COULD SOMEHOW SEE HIM ONE LAST TIME.
HE WAS TAKEN SO ABRUPTLY.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT I COULD JUST GET A HUG.
YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT I COULD JUST...
♪♪
LOSING MY BROTHER ANTHONY WAS THE GREATEST PAIN I EVER FELT.
IF HE HADN'T DIED LIKE HE DID,
THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE ENDED UP LIKE THIS.
SO I CAN'T DENY THERE ARE ISSUES I HAVE TO ADDRESS,
LIKE THE PAIN I HAVE FROM HIS DEATH AND MY EATING.
I JUST HOPE THIS WAS A STEP
TOWARDS LETTING SOME OF IT OUT LIKE LOLA WANTED.
♪♪
GOING TO MY BROTHER'S GRAVE WAS REALLY HARD.
AND I'M STILL A LITTLE EMOTIONAL ABOUT THAT.
BUT SINCE DOING IT, I'VE BEEN FEELING LIKE
SOMETHING IN ME OPENED UP.
IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN, REALLY,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE ANY OF THE PAIN HAS GONE AWAY.
♪♪
BUT IT'S LIKE I FEEL LIKE THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT PAIN
NOT BEING THERE AS MUCH IS WHAT CHANGED.
♪♪
SO IT FEELS LIKE IT WAS A GOOD STEP FOR ME,
SO I WANT TO KEEP GOING AND DOING MORE.
BUT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT WORKS FOR ME
AND THAT I'M COMFORTABLE WITH.
♪♪
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS LOLA WANTED ME TO DO
WAS TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MYSELF
AND WITH WHAT IT MEANS FOR ME TO BE A WOMAN.
AND PART OF THAT WAS GETTING MORE COMFORTABLE WITH MY BODY,
BECAUSE ONE OF MY FEARS, IF I LOSE THE WEIGHT,
IS LOSING MY CURVES AND MY BREASTS.
SO TO GET MORE IN TOUCH WITH MY BODY AND FEMININITY,
I DECIDED TO TAKE A BURLESQUE DANCING CLASS.
IT'S SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ACTIVE ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT NOW.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT DOING THIS.
I JUST HOPE I CAN KEEP UP
AND THAT I DON'T GET WINDED TOO QUICK.
-HI! -HELLO.
GET COMFORTABLE. MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME.
-HEY! -HEY.
-HI! -SO GLAD YOU ALL ARE HERE.
SO, BURLESQUE IS, ESSENTIALLY, THE ART OF THE TEASE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF TEASING TODAY.
GET UP NOW.
WE'RE JUST GONNA DO A LITTLE FOLLOW-ALONG.
DOWN.
AND WE'RE GONNA GO UP, AND WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD.
SO POINT YOUR TOES FORWARD AND ROLL ON UP, OKAY?
Destinee: I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.
I DO FEEL LIKE A CONFIDENT AND SEXY WOMAN RIGHT NOW,
SO I'M GONNA DEFINITELY KEEP COMING TO THIS.
FOR SO LONG, I HAD TO HIDE WHO I WAS.
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'VE EVER TAKEN THE TIME
TO TRULY EXPLORE BEING COMFORTABLE WITH WHO I AM.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AROUND DOING IT.
IT'S NEVER GONNA BE EASY TO BREAK OUT OF THAT.
BUT BEING HERE TODAY FEELS LIKE A GOOD STEP FOR ME,
AND IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I WANTED TO BE HERE IN HOUSTON --
TO HAVE OPPORTUNITY AND FIND GROUPS
THAT WILL ACCEPT ME LIKE THIS.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION IN A SMALL CITY,
SO I'M REALLY GLAD I'M DOING THIS,
AND I THINK ALL OF THIS IS HELPING ME.
BUT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT IS IN TWO WEEKS,
AND I'LL FIND OUT THEN
WHETHER I'M APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
OH, YEAH!
♪♪
I'M HEADED TO MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.
SANTANA SAID SHE'D COME WITH ME FOR SUPPORT.
ONE OF THE TWO THINGS IS GONNA HAPPEN AT THIS APPOINTMENT.
I'M EITHER GONNA HIT MY GOAL AND GET APPROVED,
OR I'M NOT, AND DR. NOW IS GONNA TELL ME
I'M COMPLETELY DONE WITH HIS PROGRAM.
♪♪
SO HOW DO I BE ANYTHING BUT EXTREMELY NERVOUS,
WITH PRETTY MUCH MY WHOLE LIFE RIDING ON IT?
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN
THESE PAST TWO MONTHS, FROM DOING THE DIET
TO EXERCISING
TO TRYING TO DEAL WITH SOME OF MY EMOTIONS.
SO I'M PRAYING IT'S ALL GOOD ENOUGH
TO GET ME TO WHERE I NEED.
♪♪
DESTINEE?
BECAUSE IT'S SO IMPORTANT I GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.
IF I DON'T, I'M GONNA END UP EATING MYSELF TO DEATH.
AND THAT CAN'T BE HOW IT ALL ENDS FOR ME.
♪♪
Destinee: ME AND SANTANA ARE AT DR. NOW'S
TO FIND OUT IF I GOT TO MY GOAL
AND IF I'M GETTING APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
SO THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BE DOWN BELOW 547 IF I HIT MY GOAL.
♪♪
THAT'S MORE THAN I'VE LOST SO FAR COMBINED, I THINK.
BUT IT'S STILL NOT MY GOAL.
SO I'M REALLY, REALLY SCARED
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE IT FOR ME.
♪♪
-HELLO. -HELLO.
-HOW YOU DOING? -I'M DOING GOOD, AND YOU?
I'M DOING ALL RIGHT. WHO'S THE FRIEND?
-THIS IS MY FRIEND SANTANA. -HOW YOU DOING?
I'M FINE. AND YOURSELF?
I'M VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SO, DESTINEE, YOU'RE DOWN TO 565 TODAY.
SO YOU LOST 62 POUNDS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,
TO BRING YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS TOTAL TO 103 POUNDS
SINCE YOU STARTED EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
THAT SOUND CORRECT?YES, SIR.
WELL, YOU DIDN'T HIT YOUR GOAL, BUT I THINK YOU'VE SHOWN ME
YOU'RE NOT GIVING UP AND THAT YOU'RE WORKING AT THIS.
SO AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD
AND APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
-ARE YOU SERIOUS? -YES.
-ALL RIGHT. -NO.
-YEAH. -ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YES. OKAY?
[ CRYING ]
I'M SORRY, Y'ALL.
-ARE YOU SERIOUS? -YES.
BUT...THERE IS A CERTAIN CONDITION WE HAVE TO MEET, OKAY?
OKAY.
BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN YOU A WHILE TO GET TO THIS POINT,
I'M SCHEDULING YOUR SURGERY FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.
AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST ANOTHER 60 POUNDS BY THEN
AND SHOW ME THE RECENT PROGRESS IS NOT TEMPORARY.
-OKAY? -OKAY.
BUT IF YOU DON'T LOSE WEIGHT, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO YOUR SURGERY.
-OKAY. -WE'RE GONNA CANCEL IT, OKAY?
OKAY. YES, SIR.
AND THEN IT'S GONNA BE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT
YOU KEEP GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY...
OKAY.
...BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE
WORKING ON TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG RUN.
ARE YOU GONNA DO THAT?YES, SIR. I WILL.
ALL RIGHT. SUPER. WELL, KEEP UP THE HARD WORK.
YES, SIR. I WILL.
AND MAKE SURE TO KEEP LOSING.
AND IF YOU DO, WE'LL MOVE AHEAD
WITH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IN TWO MONTHS.
I'M SPEECHLESS RIGHT NOW.
-ALL RIGHT. -OH, LORD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.
WELL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK FOR IT.
-OKAY? -I AM.
ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTION?
CAN I JUST GIVE YOU A HUG?
SURE. OKAY.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME. I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD DAY.
YOU'RE WELCOME. ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M HAPPY TO SEE DESTINEE'S WORKING HARDER
AND THAT HER PROGRESS IS STARTING TO IMPROVE.
EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T HIT HER GOAL, LOSING WHAT SHE DID
SHOWS SHE'S PICKING UP THE PACE WITH HER WEIGHT LOSS
AND APPLYING HERSELF MORE LIKE SHE NEEDS.
AND A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT SHE'S TAKEN A STEP
TOWARDS STARTING TO DEAL WITH SOME OF HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO STICK WITH THAT
IF SHE'S GONNA HAVE ANY CHANCE TO MAINTAIN HER PROGRESS
AND KEEPING THE WEIGHT OFF IN THE LONG RUN.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF
BECAUSE I DIDN'T JUST WORK HARD THISTIME --
I'VE WORKED HARD THIS ENTIRE TIME.
AND I FINALLY FEEL THAT WAS RECOGNIZED TODAY.
THIS MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GOOD.
SO EVEN IF I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MORE MONTHS
AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT TO GET IT,
I KNOW I CAN, BECAUSE I'VE MADE IT THIS FAR.
SO I HAVE NO DOUBT I'M GONNA DO THIS
AND WHEN I SHOW UP FOR MY SURGERY
THAT I'M GONNA BE WHERE I NEED.
♪♪
I'M HERE AT THE HOSPITAL
FOR WHAT I'M HOPING IS THE DAY OF MY SURGERY.
BUT I HAVE TO GET MY WEIGHT CHECKED FIRST TO SEE
IF I HIT THE GOAL DR. NOW GAVE ME,
SO MY NERVES ARE ON EDGE,
AND I'M JUST HOPING I MADE IT TO WHERE I NEED.
BUT OVER THESE PAST TWO MONTHS,
I'VE NOT ONLY WORKED TO STICK TO MY DIET AND EXERCISES,
BUT I'VE CONTINUED TRYING TO FACE ALL THE THINGS
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE WRESTLING WITH.
AND I'M HOPING IT'S CONTINUED TO PAY OFF TODAY
WITH WHAT I SEE ON THE SCALE.
♪♪
I SURE CAN.
♪♪
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT TWO MONTHS AGO,
I WAS DOWN TO 565,
AND DR. NOW WANTED ME TO LOSE ANOTHER 60 POUNDS.
SO I NEED TO AT LEAST BE DOWN TO 505 TODAY,
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET MY SURGERY.
♪♪
OH, THANK GOODNESS.
I LOST ONE MORE POUND THAN LAST TIME.
♪♪
BUT ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT I HIT MY GOAL.
SO I SHOULD BE GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
♪♪
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR HOW FAR I'VE COME.
AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR DR. NOW TO FIND OUT.
Woman: LAY BACK FOR ME, PLEASE.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
-HI, DESTINEE. -HEY, DR. NOWZARADAN.
YOU HIT YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
SO, ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR BIG DAY?
YES, SIR.
SO, OUR PLAN IS TO DO SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY.
SO THAT'S GONNA HELP YOU A LOT TO LOSE WEIGHT.
-OKAY. -AND SOME OF THE TESTS SHOW
THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR APPENDIX,
SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR APPENDIX.
IF THERE IS ANY PROBLEM, WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT OUT.
OKAY? YES, SIR.
-ALL RIGHT. -I HAD A QUESTION.
YEAH.
IF YOU DO, AM I ABLE TO KEEP IT IN A JAR AS A MEMENTO?
NO, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO KEEP IT BECAUSE THERE'S A FEDERAL LAW
THAT ANYTHING COMES OUT OF A BODY
CANNOT BE RETURNED TO PATIENT OR ANYBODY.
EVEN WHEN WE TAKE A BULLET, THE PATIENT CANNOT HAVE THE BULLET.
WELL, THEY TAKE A BABY OUT.
A BABY IS DIFFERENT.
SO WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE FOR YOU.
-OKAY. -GIVE YOU A PICTURE.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GET YOU FIXED UP.
-THANK YOU. -MM-HMM.
♪♪
I'M GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS NOW THAT I'M GOING IN,
BUT I'M STILL MOSTLY EXCITED.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT STEP FOR ME
BECAUSE IT'S GONNA HELP ME LOSE A LOT MORE WEIGHT.
I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW DESTINEE
AT THE END OF ALL THIS.
-ALL RIGHT. COME ON OVER. -OKAY.
-THERE WE GO. HOW YOU DOING? -I'M FABULOUS.
THIS IS GONNA HELP CREATE A NEW ME, AND I CAN'T WAIT.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO
A GASTRIC SLEEVE PROCEDURE ON DESTINEE.
UP TO THIS POINT, IT'S BEEN A BIG STRUGGLE
FOR HER TO LOSE WEIGHT.
SO THIS SURGERY WILL HELP HER A GREAT DEAL.
ALL RIGHT. ROOM LIGHT OFF.
BECAUSE WHAT THIS OPERATION DOES IS REDUCE THE STOMACH BY 90%,
LEAVING A SMALL, NARROW TUBE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A SLEEVE.
SO THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED,
AND THE PATIENT IS LESS HUNGRY.
♪♪
SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.
SO THIS SURGERY WILL BE
A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL FOR HER ONCE WE FINISH.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT PROCEDURE,
WE MAY ALSO NEED TO REMOVE HER APPENDIX.
HER TESTS HAVE SHOWN SHE MAY HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH IT.
AND IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE CASE,
WE WILL NEED TO REMOVE IT
TO PREVENT IT FROM GETTING ANY WORSE
AND BECOMING LIFE-THREATENING FOR HER.
BECAUSE ANY LITTLE ISSUE COULD EASILY
PUSH HER BODY OVER THE EDGE
AND END UP BEING TOO MUCH FOR HER TO HANDLE,
EVEN WITH SURGERY,
BECAUSE DESTINEE'S STILL AROUND 500 POUNDS.
AND ANY OPERATION ON A PERSON THAT SIZE IS VERY HIGH-RISK.
SO IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS WE HAVE,
WE MAY HAVE TO END THE SURGERY EARLIER
TO PREVENT A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION
FROM DEVELOPING WITH HER.
BUT HOPEFULLY, THAT WON'T BE THE CASE TODAY.
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
♪♪
ALL RIGHT. TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.
♪♪
OKAY. ALL FINISHED.
DESTINEE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.
WE COMPLETED HER GASTRIC SLEEVE WITHOUT ANY ISSUE.
AND LUCKILY, HER APPENDIX IS STILL HEALTHY ENOUGH
TO WHERE WE DIDN'T NEED TO REMOVE IT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET HER TO RECOVERY ROOM NOW.
AND THEN WE'LL GET HER HOME IN A FEW DAYS,
BUT DESTINEE WILL NEED TO BE ON A LIQUID DIET FOR ABOUT A MONTH.
AND IN THAT TIME, SHE SHOULD LOSE ANOTHER 35 POUNDS.
AND THEN SHE SHOULD LOSE AT LEAST 25 POUNDS A MONTH
UNTIL SHE GETS CLOSE TO HER TARGET.
BUT THE ONLY WAY SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE
AT STAYING ON TRACK LONG-TERM
IS IF WE MAKE SURE SHE KEEPS GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY
AND WORKING ON HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
IF SHE DOESN'T, IT WILL ONLY TAKE ONE HARD MOMENT
TO SEND HER RIGHT BACK TO USING FOOD TO COPE.
AND IF SHE DOES THAT, SHE CAN SLOWLY STRETCH
HER STOMACH BACK OUT.
SO THIS SURGERY IS A VERY IMPORTANT
AND HELPFUL TOOL FOR HER,
BUT THE MAIN BENEFIT IS THAT IT SUPPRESSES
HER PHYSICAL DRIVE TO EAT
SO SHE CAN FOCUS ON DEALING WITH HER EMOTIONAL DRIVE
TO PATHOLOGICALLY EAT.
BUT IF SHE DOESN'T DO THAT,
THIS SURGERY WILL INEVITABLY FAIL,
AND SHE WILL END UP RIGHT BACK WHERE SHE STARTED.
♪♪
Destinee: I'M BACK IN LOUISIANA TODAY TO SEE MY FAMILY,
SINCE I'VE MISSED THEM,
AND TO SHOW THEM HOW WELL I'M DOING.
♪♪
BUT I'M MEETING MY SISTER AT THIS NAIL SALON
TO REWARD MYSELF FOR ALL MY HARD WORK.
THE LADIES WHO WORK HERE ARE MY FRIENDS,
AND THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ME
SINCE BEFORE I STARTED MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.
SO IT'LL BE FUN SEEING EVERYONE'S REACTION,
BECAUSE I'VE COME A LONG WAY.
SISSY!
MISSED YOU.
YOU LOOK GOOD.
GIRL...
-FEELING IT, FEELING IT. -I AM.
Destinee: I'M FINALLY IN THE 400s,
AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING.
I'VE LOST ANOTHER 35 POUNDS
BEING ON THAT LIQUID DIET FOR THE LAST MONTH.
SO I'M STAYING ON TRACK, AND DR. NOW IS PROUD.
AND I'M JUST FEELING FANTASTIC.
I'M PROUD OF YOU, THOUGH.
THANK YOU. IT'S A BIG CHANGE.
I FEEL A LOT BETTER. YOU KNOW, LIKE I'M A SEXY BAE.
[ LAUGHS ]
AND I'M REAL EXCITED ABOUT LOSING EVEN MORE HERE SOON
AND GETTING TO MY TARGET WEIGHT IN THE NEXT NINE MONTHS.
AND I KNOW I CAN DO THAT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, HONEY.
I'M STILL WORKING WITH LOLA, AND I'M DOING THE HOMEWORK
SHE'S GIVING ME BECAUSE I SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
SO I CAN START TO TAKE CONTROL BACK
INSTEAD OF GIVING IT UP TO FOOD.
I NEVER WANT TO GO TO THAT PLACE AGAIN
NOW THAT I'VE LEARNED THAT IT'S POSSIBLE
TO FACE A PAINFUL OR EMOTIONAL SITUATION
WITHOUT RUNNING TO FOOD.
SO I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL TO BE WHERE I'M AT,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING MY BEST LIFE.
♪♪
THIS PAST MONTH, I DECIDED IT'S TIME
I START TO PURSUE SOME OF MY DREAMS.
AND I MADE A LIST OF THINGS I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO,
AND I STARTED TO PUSH MYSELF TO GO OUT THERE
AND DO THEM ONE BY ONE.
ONE OF THE FIRST ONES WAS GET A JOB,
BECAUSE I CAN GET AROUND A LOT EASIER NOW
AND I HAVE THE STAMINA TO BE OUT
AND TO BE RELIED UPON, LIKE I SHOULD.
I'M DOING FOOD DELIVERIES, AND I'M LOVING IT SO FAR
BECAUSE IT'S GETTING ME OUT EVERY DAY
AND I'M MEETING NEW PEOPLE.
SO I REALLY LIKE IT,
AND IT FEELS GOOD TO BE EARNING A PAYCHECK AGAIN.
♪♪
IT MAY SOUND SILLY, BUT LOSING THE ABILITY
TO PROVIDE FOR MYSELF WAS A HUGE BLOW
WHEN I COULD NO LONGER WORK BECAUSE OF MY SIZE.
SO TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS FEELS WONDERFUL.
♪♪
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS I WANT TO DO TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME,
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY I WANT TO MEET SOMEONE AND START A FAMILY.
BUT RIGHT NOW, MY PRIORITY IS GETTING HEALTHY
AND FINISHING DR. NOW'S PROGRAM.
SO I'M COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO THAT.
♪♪
AND DR. NOW SAYS IF I KEEP UP MY CURRENT PACE,
I COULD BE READY FOR MY FIRST SKIN-REMOVAL IN FOUR MONTHS.
SO THAT'S MY NEXT BIG GOAL.
Destinee: FOR COLIN? THANK YOU.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HOW MY BODY IS CHANGING.
I MAY LOSE SOME CURVES WHEN I GET SMALLER,
BUT I GET NEW ONES AT THE SAME TIME.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO,
I WASN'T SURE I EVEN WANTED TO KEEP LIVING.
NOW I'M EXCITED ABOUT MY FUTURE AND THE LIFE I COULD HAVE.
AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO MESS THAT UP,
SO I'M LISTENING TO EVERYTHING DR. NOW HAS TOLD ME TO DO,
AND I'M MAKING SURE TO KEEP SEEING LOLA CONSISTENTLY.
Woman: YOU'VE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION.
I HAVE AROUND 250 POUNDS LEFT TO LOSE,
SO I'M ALWAYS HALFWAY TO WHERE I NEED.
BUT I KNOW THIS LAST HALF WILL BE EVEN HARDER TO LOSE,
BUT I'M NOT AFRAID OF THAT, AND I'M READY FOR IT.
I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE EXCUSES
OR AVOIDING ANYTHING I NEED TO FACE,
'CAUSE I KNOW I CAN HAVE THE LIFE I WANT.
THAT'S WHAT'S GUIDING ME NOW,
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA FOCUS ON.
AND I MAY NOT KNOW ALL THE THINGS
THAT ARE WAITING FOR ME,
BUT WHATEVER IT IS,
AS LONG AS I'M LETTING LOVE WIN OVER FEAR,
I HAVE NO DOUBT IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLE.
AND I CAN'T WAIT.