Man: I HATE MY LIFE AND WHAT I'VE LET IT BECOME.
♪♪
Woman: HE CAN'T STOP.
HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.
Woman: 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 ACT LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.
I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
THIS SESSION IS OVER.
I'M DONE.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
Aaron: I DREAD WAKING UP IN THE MORNING BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE TO FACE MY LIFE FOR ANOTHER DAY.
LIFE IS PURE TORTURE BECAUSE I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN
FROM ALL MY WEIGHT PULLING DOWN ON MY BODY.
I'M PUTTING TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON MY LEGS, MY KNEES,
AND IT'S TOO MUCH WEIGHT BEARING ON MY BACK.
AND I CAN'T GET AROUND WITHOUT MY CANE NOW
BECAUSE MY LEGS CAN NO LONGER HANDLE ALL THE WEIGHT.
AND I CAN'T WALK FAR BEFORE IT GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR ME.
UNLESS I TRY TO GO OUT, I ONLY HAVE TWO LONG WALKS
I HAVE TO MAKE EVERY DAY --
THE WALK TO THE KITCHEN AND TO THE BATHROOM.
AND THE BATHROOM IS THE FURTHEST ONE I HAVE TO WALK TO.
I HAVE TO TRY AND DO IT QUICKLY
BEFORE I RUN OUT OF ENERGY, AND THERE ARE TIMES
I'M WOOZY AND I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT.
♪♪
SO WE HAD TO PUT A CHAIR THAT CAN HOLD ME IN THE SHOWER
SO I CAN REST.
I STRUGGLE TO STAND FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
SO I HAVE TO SIT.
IT'S SO EMBARRASSING THAT I'VE LET IT GET THIS BAD,
BUT I'M NOT LETTING ANYONE COME BATHE ME
NO MATTER HOW HARD IT GETS.
I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN,
SO I TRY AND CLEAN MYSELF AS MUCH AS I CAN.
AT MY SIZE, YOUR SKIN CHAFES
FROM ALL THE RUBBING AGAINST YOUR BODY
TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GET SORES THAT CAN GET INFECTED,
AND THOSE INFECTIONS CAN KILL YOU.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THAT IS TO STAY CLEAN
AND PUT BABY POWDER AROUND YOUR WHOLE BODY,
SO I FORCE MYSELF TO DO THAT EVERY DAY.
BUT IT TAKES ME SO LONG TO TAKE A SHOWER THAT I'M SO EXHAUSTED,
AND IT'S A STRUGGLE FOR ME EVERY DAY JUST TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I REFUSE TO ASK MY DAD
FOR ANY HELP AT ALL IN THE BATHROOM, THOUGH.
HE'S THE ONLY ONE THAT LIVES HERE WITH ME,
AND I CAN'T LET IT GET TO THE POINT
WHERE HE AS TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR ME.
BUT WHAT'S SCARING ME IS, I ALREADY CAN'T DO SO MUCH.
I CAN'T EVEN REACH TO CLEAN MYSELF AFTER I USE THE BATHROOM.
I HAVE TO WRAP THE HANDLE OF MY CANE WITH A TISSUE TO EVEN
TRY TO REACH MY BACKSIDE, AND THAT'S ALMOST TOO MUCH FOR ME.
♪♪
IT'S HUMILIATING, AND HAVING TO LIVE LIKE THIS
MAKES ME FEEL VERY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED,
AND I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT, AND I HATE MY BODY.
IT'S HARD TO EVEN LOOK AT MYSELF ANYMORE.
THIS IS NOT THE LIFE I EVER THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE,
AND I'D GIVE ANYTHING TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK
AND CHANGE ALL THE CHOICES
I'VE MADE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME
THAT LED ME TO THIS POINT.
♪♪
I STRUGGLED WITH WEIGHT ALL MY LIFE.
I HAVE TWO OLDER SISTERS,
AND I HAD A VERY STRICT UPBRINGING.
MY DAD WAS IN THE MILITARY, SO HE HAD A LOT OF RULES
THAT HE EXPECTED US TO FOLLOW AS A FAMILY,
BUT HE HAD A LOT THAT WERE JUST FOR ME.
I, UH, WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST STRICT FATHERS.
AARON, HE, UH -- HE WAS THE WORST OF THE BATCH.
Aaron: HE WAS HARDER ON ME -- A LOT HARDER
THAN HE WAS ON MY SISTERS BECAUSE I WAS A BOY.
SO WHEN I MESSED UP, USUALLY THAT MEANT
A PRETTY SEVERE BEATING.
HE WOULD SPANK ME PRETTY HARD WITH THE BELT.
SO I WAS CONSTANTLY AFRAID OF MY DAD
AND WHAT I WAS GONNA BE PUNISHED FOR NEXT.
AND I STARTED USING FOOD TO HELP ME STAY CALM,
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS EATING, I FELT GOOD.
I WENT TO FOOD FOR COMFORT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T JUDGE ME.
IT JUST -- IT WAS THERE, GAVE ME COMFORT,
SO IT BECAME MY BEST FRIEND.
SO I WAS EATING ALMOST COMPULSIVELY THEN.
IT STARTED WHEN I WAS AROUND 6, AND BY THE TIME I WAS 8,
I WAS ALREADY GETTING CLOSE TO BEING ALMOST 200 POUNDS.
AARON JUST STARTED GAINING WEIGHT,
AND HE WAS SO MUCH HEAVIER THAN ANY OTHER KIDS AROUND HIM,
AND I COULDN'T STOP HIM.
DOCTORS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
SO THEY KEPT TELLING ME HE HAD TO STOP EATING.
WELL, YOU CAN'T TELL A KID HE CAN'T EAT,
I MEAN, HE'S GONNA EAT.
Aaron: BOTH MY PARENTS TRIED TO STOP ME
FROM EATING AS MUCH AS I DID, BUT NO ONE COULD REALLY STOP ME.
AND BY THE TIME I TURNED 13, I MADE IT TO OVER 300 POUNDS.
AND I KNEW I WAS STARTING TO GET REALLY BIG THEN
BECAUSE I STARTED TO GET PICKED ON A LOT AT THAT POINT --
NOT ONLY AT SCHOOL, BUT AT HOME,
ESPECIALLY FROM ONE OF MY OLDER SISTERS, MARGARET.
AARON AND I HAD SIBLING FIGHTS AS ALL SIBLINGS DO.
WE'D ARGUE ABOUT EVERYTHING,
BUT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON, IN MY EYES,
THAT COULD PICK ON HIM OR SAY ANYTHING MEAN TO HIM --
YOU KNOW, LITTLE JABS HERE AND THERE JUST TO --
BECAUSE HE MADE ME MAD.
Aaron: THE BIGGEST AND MOST HURTFUL THING SHE EVER SAID TO ME,
THOUGH, WAS WHEN WE WERE WATCHING THIS MOVIE ON T.V.,
AND IT CAME TO THE PART WHERE A MAN AND WOMAN WERE KISSING,
AND SHE SAID, "YOU SEE THAT RIGHT THERE?"
SHE SAYS, "YOU'LL NEVER EXPERIENCE THAT."
SHE WAS RIGHT, BECAUSE I NEVER HAD A GIRLFRIEND,
AND I KNOW IT WAS BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS JUST BEEN FAT.
I DON'T THINK I'M GOOD ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY.
I DON'T THINK I'M WORTH ANYTHING.
SO BY THE TIME I WAS 15,
I HAD MADE IT UP OVER 400 POUNDS.
I WAS BULLIED IN THE HALLS BY ALL THE KIDS.
ONE TIME THEY ALL SURROUNDED ME,
THREW ME TO THE FLOOR, AND KICKED ME.
I NEVER LET ANYBODY KNOW.
I WAS TOO EMBARRASSED.
AFTER THAT DAY, I DIDN'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT ABUSE,
SO I DROPPED OUT AND GOT A JOB WORKING IN FAST-FOOD PLACES.
UNFORTUNATELY, CONSTANTLY BEING AROUND FAST FOOD DIDN'T HELP.
I WAS EATING FAST FOOD, I WOULD SAY,
PROBABLY ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE DAYS A WEEK,
TWO OR THREE MEALS A DAY.
SO OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
I GOT UP TO OVER 500 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 18.
BUT MOVING AND GETTING AROUND
WAS STARTING TO GET EXTREMELY PAINFUL.
I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I COULDN'T WORK
A WHOLE SHIFT ANYMORE, SO I HAD TO QUIT MY JOB.
BUT MY PARENTS HAD ALSO BEEN GAINING WEIGHT
AND GETTING BIG DURING ALL OF THIS.
AND THE COMBINATION OF THEIR AGE AND SIZE
STARTED TO MAKE IT REALLY HARD FOR THEM
TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
MY MOM WAS OVER 300 THEN, AND MY DAD WAS OVER 400,
AND THEY WERE BOTH IN THEIR 60s.
I WAS AROUND 550 AT THE TIME, BUT I WAS ONLY ABOUT 20 THEN,
SO I COULD STILL GET AROUND,
AND THEY NEEDED SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
SO I DECIDED TO MOVE BACK HOME TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THEM.
SO I GOT CERTIFIED AS A CAREGIVER
TO LOOK AFTER THEM AS MY FULL-TIME JOB.
IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO BECOME A CAREGIVER MAINLY
BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE ON MY FEET FOR EIGHT HOURS --
SIT DOWN, RELAX, BUT IN TIME, IT BECAME A PROBLEM
BECAUSE I WAS SITTING AT HOME EATING ALL THE TIME,
AND I JUST KEPT ON GAINING THE WEIGHT.
AT THAT POINT, I HAD MY DOCTORS TELLING ME
THAT IF I DIDN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT
THAT I WASN'T GONNA BE AROUND UNTIL I WAS 35.
BUT THOSE WARNINGS NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR ME
BECAUSE I NEVER CARED ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT UP 'TIL THEN.
THE ONLY TIME I EVEN TRIED WAS WHEN I WAS 27
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN MY MOM DIED.
THE NIGHT THAT SHE PASSED AWAY, I WENT INTO THE ROOM
AND TOLD HER GOOD NIGHT AND I LOVE HER AND WENT TO BED.
TEN MINUTES LATER, I GET A PHONE CALL FROM MY FATHER TELLING ME
THAT I NEED TO HURRY UP AND GET IN THE ROOM.
SO I GET UP AND RUN TO THE BEDROOM,
AND MY MOTHER'S SITTING UP IN HER MOBILITY CHAIR,
BLUE IN THE FACE, AND NOT ABLE TO BREATHE.
I'M PANICKING, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON,
TRYING TO GET HER TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND SHE'S JUST STRUGGLING TO BREATHE.
HER BODY FINALLY GAVE OUT.
SHE HAD MADE IT TO OVER 400 POUNDS,
AND SHE GOT A BLOOD CLOT,
AND IT LED TO A PULMONARY EMBOLISM THAT KILLED HER,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT ANYONE COULD DO TO HELP HER.
BY THE TIME THEY BRUNG HER TO THE HOSPITAL,
SHE HAD ALREADY FLATLINED.
SO SHE WAS GONE. I LOST MY MOM.
AND IT WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR ME
BECAUSE I HAD TO PRACTICALLY WATCH HER DIE.
I FELT COMPLETELY HELPLESS.
HE'LL NEVER GET OVER THE DEATH OF HIS MOTHER.
SHE DIED RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.
I MEAN, WE WERE ALL IN THIS ROOM TOGETHER.
WHEN THEY GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY WERE WORKING ON HER,
WORKING ON HER, WORKING ON HER, TRYING TO BRING HER BACK
AND COULDN'T BRING HER BACK.
SO AARON SAW THAT FIRSTHAND.
Aaron: MY MOM DIED BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED THAT FOOD CAN LITERALLY KILL ME.
SO FOR A LITTLE WHILE AFTER THAT, I TRIED TO LOSE WEIGHT,
AND I WAS SUCCESSFUL, BUT IT DIDN'T LAST.
I JUST WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE WAY
I WAS EATING, AND WHATEVER I HAD LOST,
I REGAINED, AND I'VE STILL BEEN GAINING EVER SINCE THEN.
♪♪
FOOD HAS BECOME AN ADDICTION FOR ME.
IT'S JUST LIKE SOMEONE BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.
YOU GOT TO HAVE THAT FIX, AND, FOR ME, IT'S FOOD.
SO THERE'S NEVER A MOMENT WHERE I DON'T WANT TO EAT.
BUT AS SOON AS I'M DONE EATING,
I'M ALREADY HUNGRY FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
AND MOST DAYS, ALL I DO IS SIT AROUND AND EAT.
♪♪
THE ONLY TIME I EVER GO OUT
IS TO DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING TO GET THE FOOD
I NEED, AND I GET MY FATHER TO GO WITH ME
BECAUSE I CAN'T HANDLE GETTING OUT AND BEING IN THE STORE
PHYSICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY.
YOU READY TO GO, SIR?
YEAH. LET'S GO.
Aaron: ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET GOING.
I CAN BARELY HANDLE THE WALK TO THE CAR.
SO THERE'S NO WAY I'D BE ABLE TO LAST IN A STORE.
IF I GOT OUT AND HAD TO WALK AROUND TO GET EVERYTHING,
THERE'D BE NO WAY I'D BE ABLE TO LAST.
BUT I DO FEEL BAD THAT I HAVE TO MAKE MY 76-YEAR-OLD FATHER
DO IT ALL FOR ME.
HE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT A WHILE AGO,
BUT HE STILL HAS A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND
BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.
♪♪
[ HEAVY BREATHING ]
♪♪
Aaron: I WORRY THAT'S IT'S GOING TO BE TOO MUCH
FOR MY FATHER AT SOME POINT.
BUT IT STILL DOESN'T STOP ME FROM HAVING HIM DO THIS
BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE GROCERIES
I WANT.
YOU GOT THE LIST, RIGHT?
I HOPE SO.
Eugene: AARON CANNOT GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR EASILY,
AND HE CAN'T STAND TO WALK VERY FAR
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH.
I LOVE MY BOY, BUT I DON'T LIKE HIS EATING HABITS.
AND I DON'T SAY A THING TO HIM ABOUT IT.
I JUST KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT BECAUSE
I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET MAD AT ME.
HI. HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD. HOW YOU DOING?
-I'M TRYING. -THERE YOU GO.
♪♪
Aaron: IT MAKES ME FEEL REALLY GUILTY THAT I CAN'T DO WHAT I SHOULD.
-THANK YOU. -HAVE A BLESSED ONE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TAKE CARE.
Aaron: I KNOW MY FATHER CAN'T BE DOING THIS.
HE'S GETTING TOO OLD,
AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE OF HIM,
NOT HAVING HIM DO ERRANDS FOR ME.
THE ONLY THING THAT'S KEEPING ME GOING TO PUSH MYSELF TO DO
ALL THIS IS KNOWING EVERYTHING I'M GONNA HAVE ONCE WE GET HOME.
♪♪
OW.
Aaron: IT WILL TAKE ME A LOT TO RECOVER FROM THE WORKOUT
I HAD LEAVING THE HOUSE.
PHYSICALLY, I'M WORN OUT.
I HAVE NO ENERGY.
I'M SHAKING ALL OVER.
MY BACK AND MY LEGS AND KNEES ARE IN PAIN.
I'M JUST ALTOGETHER EXHAUSTED.
Aaron: IT WILL LAY ME OUT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS
AFTER I PUSH MYSELF THAT HARD BECAUSE I'LL BE SO SORE,
I'LL BARELY BE ABLE TO MOVE.
♪♪
[ DOOR KNOCKING ]
[ DOG BARKS ]
♪♪
Aaron: SO, BECAUSE OF THAT, THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME,
ME AND MY DAD HAVE TO RELY ON MY SISTER MARGARET
TO BRING US FOOD IN BETWEEN SHOPPING TRIPS.
HEY, GUYS.
-HEY. -COME ON IN.
SHE HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.
OKAY. HI, BUDDY.
HOW ARE YOU? -ALL SET.
HOW ARE YOU?
DOING ALL RIGHT.
BOYS, SIT DOWN ON THE COUCH.
Girl: WHAT ARE WE DOING?
WE'RE SITTING DOWN AND PLAYING ON THE TABLET.
MOMMY HAS TO GO CHECK ON UNCLE AARON.
Aaron: MARGARET COMES OVER TO BRING US FOOD
AND HELP ME AROUND THE HOUSE EVERY DAY.
AND SHE ALSO HELPS ME TREAT THE SORES I HAVE ON MY BODY
THAT I DEVELOP ON THE DAYS WHERE I MOVE AROUND A LOT.
I JUST THINK I GOT SOME RASHES ON MY STOMACH
AND THE BACK OF MY LEGS.
THE BACK OF YOUR LEGS? OKAY.
I COME TO SEE AARON TO DO THINGS
THAT AARON CAN'T DO BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.
I CHECK HIM FOR RASHES OR SWELLING AND CRACKS
IN HIS SKIN THAT COULD BECOME INFECTED,
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE TAKING CARE OF AARON
LIKE I DO NOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HEAT OR WHAT, BUT IT'S BUBBLY.
Aaron: I'M THANKFUL FOR ALL SHE DOES, BUT ONCE SHE COMES OVER,
ALL I CAN REALLY THINK ABOUT IS EATING.
I LIVE TO EAT, BUT I KNOW FOOD IS WHAT'S KILLING ME.
HOW'S DADDY DOING?
WE JUST GOT DONE DOING GROCERY SHOPPING,
AND HE'S HURTING.
WHO DROVE?
I DROVE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I CAN DRIVE.
SCARES ME.
THAT'S WHY I CAN'T LET YOU HAVE THE KIDS IN THE CAR WITH YOU.
Aaron: THAT DEPRESSES ME THAT I CAN'T BE THE UNCLE I SHOULD.
GO PLAY ON YOUR TABLET, PLEASE.
OR THE BROTHER OR EVEN THE SON I SHOULD.
INSTEAD, THEY ALL HAVE TO HELP AND TAKE CARE OF ME.
I'M GETTING HUNGRY.
I'LL MEET YOU IN THE LIVING ROOM.
-OKAY. -OKAY.
Aaron: AND I KNOW AS LONG AS I'M EATING AND GETTING BIGGER,
THAT EVENTUALLY FOOD IS GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING FROM ME.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS. EVERYBODY READY TO EAT?
-YEAH! -YEAH.
Aaron: I KNOW MY WEIGHT IS GONNA KILL ME SOON IF I DON'T CHANGE.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT I MAY NOT EVEN HAVE TIME
TO LOSE WEIGHT BEFORE SOME PART OF MY BODY GIVES OUT.
I'M NOT READY TO DIE AND LEAVE MY FAMILY.
I JUST CAN'T GIVE UP.
AND I KNOW I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
I HAVE TO DO IT NOW BECAUSE MY LAST DAY ON THIS EARTH
IS COMING SOON, AND EVERY DAY
I WAIT IS ANOTHER DAY CLOSER I GET TO THAT.
♪♪
Aaron: TODAY MY SISTER IS GONNA HELP TAKE ME TO SEE DR. NOW.
HE DOES WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON PEOPLE AS BIG AS ME,
AND HE'S NOT TOO FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE.
-HELLO. -HEY.
HOW ARE YOU? -DOING ALL RIGHT.
Aaron: HE'S IN HOUSTON, WHICH IS A 2 1/2 TO 3-HOUR DRIVE.
SO MY SISTER SAID SHE'D DRIVE ME
BECAUSE DRIVING MORE THAN FIVE OR SO MILES IS TOO MUCH FOR ME,
AND I WOULDN'T MAKE IT.
SO I HAVE TO HAVE HER HELP TO DO THIS.
I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT AARON FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
HIS WEIGHT HAS GOTTEN DRASTICALLY WORSE
AS TIME GOES ON AND SO HAS HIS HEALTH.
-THERE YOU GO. -THANK YOU.
Aaron: ARE YOU READY?
Margaret: YEP. LET'S GO.
GET IT DONE.
♪♪
Aaron: THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY HARD TRIP FOR ME,
AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE ROAD,
IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME
BECAUSE I'D BE STUCK WITH NO PLACE I COULD REST IN THE HEAT.
SO I'D PROBABLY BE DEAD WITHIN AN HOUR
IF I HAD CAR TROUBLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU'RE MY SIZE,
YOU CAN'T HANDLE A LOT,
AND IT'S REALLY EASY TO GET YOURSELF INTO A SITUATION
THAT COULD KILL YOU IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF NORMAL THINGS
THAT ARE LIFE OR DEATH FOR ME,
AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE ABOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE.
I WOULDN'T EVEN CONSIDER IT IF THIS WASN'T MY LAST
AND ONLY CHANCE TO GET THE HELP
I HAVE TO HAVE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
♪♪
HOW YOU FEELING?
NERVOUS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
I'M REALLY HOPING THAT HE ACCEPTS ME
AND APPROVES ME FOR THE SURGERY.
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO IF HE DOESN'T?
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S GONNA BE REALLY BAD IF I HAVE TO COME HOME
AND SAY I CAN'T GET THE HELP, 'CAUSE DAD'S EXCITED.
HE'S REALLY GOT HIS HOPES UP FOR IT.
I KNOW HE DOES.
OKAY.
I DO WISH THERE WAS BETTER OPTIONS.
♪♪
Margaret: I NEED A NUMBER 6 DOUBLE, LARGE, WITH A COKE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT'S GONNA BE $18.60 AT THE WINDOW.
-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU.
HERE YOU GO. THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY. -THANK YOU. YOU, TOO.
-OKAY. -SMELLS GOOD.
Aaron: I KNOW THAT LOSING THIS WEIGHT AND CHANGING THE WAY
I EAT WON'T BE EASY BECAUSE I CAN'T GIVE UP FOOD.
SO I'M REALLY HOPING THAT DR. NOW SAYS HE CAN HELP ME
AND APPROVES ME FOR THE SURGERY
SO I CAN FINALLY START LOSING THE WEIGHT.
♪♪
WE'RE IN HOUSTON AND NOT TOO FAR FROM THE CLINIC.
MY LEGS ARE SWOLLEN. I'M HURTING.
MY HIPS ARE STARTING TO HURT.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
THE CLOSER I GET, THE MORE NERVOUS I'M GETTING.
THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS BEING TOLD
THAT THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN HELP ME.
Aaron: AND NOW THAT I'M HERE, I'M EVEN MORE SCARED THAN
I WAS BECAUSE MY ENTIRE LIFE
AND WHETHER I'M ABLE TO LIVE MUCH LONGER
IS COMPLETELY RIDING ON THIS.
AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT
OR WHAT DR. NOW IS GONNA SAY.
SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.
AARON WASHER?
Aaron: I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE MY WEIGHT'S AT.
I KNOW I'M PROBABLY IN THE 600s,
AND I THINK THE HIGHEST I'VE MADE IT IS AROUND 650.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING I'M AT LEAST AT.
♪♪
THAT'S VERY SHOCKING TO SEE.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.
AND I'M STILL HOPING IT ISN'T AN ISSUE FOR DR. NOW
TO TREAT ME BECAUSE WITHOUT HIS HELP,
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A CHANCE.
SO I'M PRAYING HE ACCEPTS ME.
♪♪
-HELLO. -HI.
HOW ARE YOU? -I'M JUST FINE. THANK YOU.
I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
AARON WASHER. NICE TO MEET YOU.
-I'M MARGARET, HIS SISTER. -ALL RIGHT.
SO, WHERE ARE YOU ALL COMING FROM?
NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS.
OH, NOT TOO FAR, HUH?
WELL, IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU BOTH.
SO, AARON, YOU WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT, CORRECT?
YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. SO YOU ARE 30 YEARS OLD.
-YES, SIR. -AND YOU WEIGH 718 POUNDS.
THAT'S EXTREMELY HIGH.
SO, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?
UM, HONESTLY, I DON'T HAVE NO EXCUSE -- JUST...
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR EXCUSES, WE'RE ASKING WHAT'S GOING ON?
I HAVE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL EATING ISSUES.
OKAY.
IT ALL STARTED WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, SO...
BEING PICKED ON AND BULLIED BECAUSE OF MY SIZE,
AND I WOULD ALWAYS JUST GO TO FOOD FOR COMFORT,
AND IT JUST PROGRESSED FROM THERE.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
IF YOU WERE PICKED ON IN SCHOOL FOR YOUR SIZE,
THEN YOU WERE ALREADY OVERWEIGHT.
SO HOW CAN YOU BLAME THAT FOR YOUR OVEREATING?
WELL, FOOD WAS WHAT HELPED ME WITH JUST ANYTHING EMOTIONAL
THAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IN MY LIFE -- ANY DEATHS.
LIKE MY GRANDMOTHER DIED OR MY MOTHER DYING,
I WOULD END UP EATING
AND CAUSING MYSELF TO GAIN MORE WEIGHT.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY EXCUSE YOU COULD FIND,
YOU WOULD USE IT TO JUSTIFY YOUR OVEREATING SINCE YOU WERE A KID.
WHEN DID YOU NOTICE YOUR WEIGHT WAS A PROBLEM?
I DIDN'T REALLY NOTICE IT UNTIL I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL,
WHERE I COULDN'T FIT IN THE REGULAR DESK CHAIRS.
AND YOU DECIDED TO JUST KEEP EATING?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS WRONG WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?
-I EAT A LOT OF JUNK FOOD. -LIKE WHAT?
LIKE SNACK CAKES AND CHOCOLATE AND CANDY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
-WHO BUYS YOU THOSE? -MY DAD.
SO HE'S THE ONE THAT ENABLES YOU
AND BUYS THE STUFF AND YOU EAT IT?
-YES, SIR. -HOW OLD IS YOUR DAD?
HE'S 75 YEARS OLD.
HE'S ACTIVE AND HE DRIVES, OR...
HE'S NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. HE HAS VENOSTASIS IN HIS LEGS,
WHERE HE DOESN'T HAVE FEELING IN HIS LEGS.
SO WE DON'T ALLOW HIM TO DRIVE.
-MM-HMM. -SO I DO THE DRIVING FOR HIM.
SO YOU DRIVE HIM, AND WHEN HE GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE,
HE BUYS HIMSELF THE STUFF, OR...
YEAH. HE'LL GO IN AND DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING
AND COME BACK OUT,
AND I'LL LOAD UP THE CAR, AND WE GO HOME.
I'M NOT ABLE TO GO INTO THE STORE.
SO YOU TAKE HIM, AND YOU FORCE HIM TO GET YOU YOUR JUNK FOOD,
AND THEN YOU'RE AN EMOTIONAL EATER.
SO WHAT WILL BE THE ANSWER FOR YOU?
TAKE CHARGE OF MY LIFE AND BE ABLE TO GET THE HELP
I NEED TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT AND HAVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
OKAY.
YOUR EATING HABIT, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM, AND SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE,
YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO SEE A THERAPIST
TO FIGURE OUT ALL THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT ARE DRIVING YOU TO FOOD
AND HELP YOU TO START TO COPE WITH THOSE,
AND THAT WON'T BE EASY.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW, FOR YOUR EATING HABIT,
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU SOME WRITTEN INSTRUCTION
THAT I WANT YOU TO READ EVERY DAY.
OKAY.
IT'S GONNA BE A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY,
HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB DIET
THAT YOU'RE GONNA START IMMEDIATELY.
AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
AT LEAST 120 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS, OKAY?
OKAY.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A REALLY CHALLENGING SITUATION FOR YOU
TO LEARN TO DISCIPLINE YOURSELF, OKAY?
BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
YOU NEED TO SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WORK HARD.
YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT? -YES, SIR.
OKAY. GREAT.
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU.
GOT IT? -YES, SIR.
I'M ALSO GONNA GIVE YOU SOME EXERCISES
THAT I WANT YOU TO START ON TO GET YOUR STAMINA.
OKAY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AT YOUR WEIGHT
TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO KEEP FROM LOSING YOUR ABILITY
TO GET AROUND AND TO STAY ACTIVE.
SO WE HAVE TO TURN YOUR WHOLE SITUATION AROUND RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO YOUR BODY'S BREAKING POINT,
AND IT'S GONNA GIVE OUT VERY SOON.
THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT YOU HAVE LESS
THAN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE AT THIS POINT.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
AND YOU DON'T PLAY ANY GAMES, OKAY?
I'M COMPLETELY READY TO DO THIS AND BE HEALTHY
AND A WEIGHT WHERE I CAN BE ABLE TO LIVE LIFE
AND DO THINGS THAT NORMAL PEOPLE DO.
I HOPE SO.
OKAY. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, CALL ME,
AND HAVE A SAFE TRIP BACK.
NICE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL SOON, OKAY?
-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU ALL LATER.
I'M EXCITED.
-IT'S GONNA BE HARD. -YEAH.
BUT I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT.
Dr. Now: AARON IS OBVIOUSLY AT A VERY CRITICAL POINT
WITH HOW HIGH HIS WEIGHT ALREADY IS
AND HOW HARD IT IS FOR HIM TO WALK.
HE'S JUST A MONTH OR TWO AWAY FROM BECOMING IMMOBILE,
AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, HE WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.
SO I'M HOPING HE'S TAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND AS SERIOUSLY AS HE CLAIMS
AND THAT HE'S DETERMINED TO DO THIS.
BECAUSE IF HE'S NOT, THEN IT WON'T BE LONG
BEFORE HE RUNS OUT OF TIME
AND HE DIES BECAUSE HIS BODY COULDN'T CONTINUE
TO HANDLE THE STRAIN OF ALL HIS WEIGHT ANY LONGER.
Aaron: I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED
'CAUSE LOSING 120 POUNDS SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.
BUT I'M GONNA TRUST THAT IF DR. NOW SAYS IT'S POSSIBLE
WITH THE DIET, THAT I CAN DO IT.
BUT I'M FEELING EXCITED RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IF I DO THIS, I'LL FINALLY HAVE THE HELP
I'VE NEEDED FOR SO LONG, AND I'M DETERMINED TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK MY MOM WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ME RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I MADE A PROMISE TO HER
THAT I WAS GOING TO LOSE THE WEIGHT
AND GET HEALTHY AND LIVE A LONG LIFE,
AND THIS IS MY CHANCE TO KEEP MY PROMISE.
♪♪
Aaron: THIS IS NOWHERE NEAR
HOW I EXPECTED THIS PAST MONTH TO GO.
MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK.
HE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL IN TIME FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO SAVE HIM.
BUT WE'RE STILL NOT SURE IF HE'S GONNA MAKE IT,
AND WHAT'S MAKING ALL THIS EVEN HARDER FOR ME
IS THAT MY SIZE IS KEEPING ME FROM BEING THERE WITH HIM.
THERE'S NOWHERE I CAN SIT THERE,
AND I CAN'T BE UP FOR LONG ENOUGH
TO MAKE IT THERE AND BACK.
♪♪
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE THERE FOR HIM,
BUT I'M NOT, AND IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT,
AND I'M NOT ABLE TO BE THERE WITH HIM IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS,
I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FORGIVE MYSELF.
MY SISTER'S HAD TO BE THERE FOR HIM
AND TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HIM.
THE ONLY THING I CAN EVEN TRY TO DO
IS LOOK AFTER MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS
WHILE SHE'S AT THE HOSPITAL ALL DAY.
AND IT'S MAKING STICKING TO DR. NOW'S DIET
A LOT HARDER BECAUSE THE FOOD
I HAVE TO MAKE FOR THEM AREN'T THINGS ON THE DIET.
BEING AROUND THIS FOOD IS HARD.
GOT TO BLOW ON IT, COOL IT OFF, OKAY?
BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET IT ON YOURSELVES.
SO THE DIET'S BEEN DIFFICULT, AND I CAN'T LEAVE THEM ALONE.
SO THERE'S NO WAY I CAN GO OUT FOR A WALK
OR DO MY EXERCISES RIGHT NOW.
SO THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE REALLY LIMITING ME RIGHT NOW.
BUT I'M TRYING AND I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN
BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT
BECAUSE I WANT TO BE THERE FOR MY FATHER.
I JUST HOPE HE GETS BETTER AND COMES HOME SOON.
♪♪
THIS PAST MONTH, THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER.
THANKFULLY, THEY WERE ABLE TO TREAT MY DAD,
AND HE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK HOME A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THEY SAID HIS HEART ATTACK WAS CAUSED BY ISSUES
WITH HIS DIABETES
AND THAT HE CAN HAVE A HEART ATTACK AGAIN
IF HE DOESN'T START TO EAT BETTER.
SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE BOTH FOCUS
ON OUR HEALTH RIGHT NOW.
I WAS TERRIFIED THAT I WAS GONNA LOSE MY FATHER
JUST LIKE I LOST MY MOM,
AND I'M SO GLAD THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.
SO WITH THINGS SETTLING BACK DOWN,
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO START AN EXERCISE ROUTINE,
AND I'M WALKING EVERY DAY IN THE MORNINGS WHEN IT'S COOL.
I CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAPPENED
TO MY DAD LAST MONTH
AND THAT I KNOW I PROBABLY DIDN'T MAKE THE PROGRESS
I NEEDED DURING THAT TIME,
BUT IF HE GAVE ME AN EXTRA MONTH,
I KNEW I COULD MAKE IT UP.
AND HE TOLD ME THERE WAS NO REASON
TO COME ALL THE WAY BACK TO HOUSTON
IF I ALREADY KNOW I DIDN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT,
AND HE WANTS ME TO REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS
THAT I GET A LOT OF WEIGHT
AND STRAIN OFF MY BODY IMMEDIATELY.
SO I'M NOT JUST MAKING SURE I WORK OUT.
I'M DOING THE DIET LIKE I NEED NOW.
PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES ARE MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS,
BUT I'M WORKING ON GIVING THEM UP
FOR THE MEALS I'M MAKING FOR ME AND MY DAD.
I'M MAKING SURE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD PROTEIN
WITH MINIMAL TO NO CARBS.
HI. HOW YOU DOING?
I'M FINE. HOW ARE YOU?
DOING PRETTY GOOD.
HERE'S YOUR DINNER. -THANK YOU.
HOW YOU DOING?
I'M DOING OKAY.
OH.
I GOT UP AND WENT FOR A WALK TODAY.
I KEEP ON PUSHING MYSELF A LITTLE BIT MORE EACH DAY.
MM-HMM.
I'M ABLE TO STAND AND COOK
AND NOT HAVE TO SIT DOWN ALL THE TIME.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
YOU'VE LOST A GOOD PIECE OF WEIGHT,
AND I JUST WANT YOU TO CONTINUE TO LOSE IT,
AND THEN ALL I CAN SAY TO YOU THEN AFTER THIS IS OVER WITH,
PLEASE DON'T GET BACK UP THERE AGAIN.
I DON'T PLAN ON IT, DAD.
I WISH YOUR MOTHER WAS HERE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WISH SHE WAS, TOO.
I LOVE HER.
TREMENDOUSLY.
AND MISS HER TO PIECES.
BUT, ANYWAYS. -ALL RIGHT, DADDY.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO PUT THE DISHES UP.
Aaron: I FEEL LIKE I'VE COME A REALLY LONG WAY THIS PAST MONTH.
AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF FOR THAT.
♪♪
BUT I KNOW I ONLY HAVE ONE MORE MONTH
BEFORE I SEE DR. NOW AGAIN.
I MAY MAKE SOME MISTAKES, AND I'M NOT PERFECT,
BUT WITH HOW HARD I'M WORKING, I FEEL CONFIDENT
I'LL BE WHERE I NEED WHEN I GO BACK.
♪♪
I'M BACK IN HOUSTON FOR MY FOLLOW-UP WITH DR. NOW.
MY DAD'S WITH ME BECAUSE MY SISTER COULDN'T COME TODAY,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING TO MAKE HIM PROUD TODAY
BY HITTING MY GOAL AND GETTING APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY THIS TIME.
AND IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME FOR MY DAD
TO BE HERE TO SHOW HIM FIRSTHAND HOW I'M TURNING MY LIFE AROUND
AND KEEPING MY PROMISE TO MOM.
LOSING 120 POUNDS IS A LOT,
AND IF I DIDN'T LOSE THAT TO GET MY SURGERY APPROVAL TODAY,
IT'S GONNA BE DEVASTATING TO ME.
AARON WASHER?
BECAUSE I WORKED SO HARD TO MAKE SURE I HIT MY GOAL TODAY.
MY CHANCE TO LIVE AND HAVE A FUTURE
ARE ALL RIDING ON WHAT THE SCALE'S ABOUT TO SAY.
AND IF I DON'T MAKE IT, I'M AFRAID IT WILL MEAN
I'LL HAVE LOST MY ONLY CHANCE TO HAVE ALL THAT
BECAUSE I'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.
♪♪
Aaron: ME AND MY DAD ARE BACK AT DR. NOW'S
FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT.
THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS 718.
THAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO,
BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE AN EXTRA MONTH
WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED WITH MY DAD.
SO IF I MADE IT TO MY GOAL TODAY,
IT'LL MEAN I'M AT LEAST BELOW 598.
♪♪
THAT NUMBER IS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE.
IT'S A LOSS, BUT NOT NEARLY WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
OR WHERE I NEEDED TO BE.
SO ALL I BASICALLY DID WAS BRING MY DAD
ALL THE WAY HERE TO SHOW HIM THAT I FAILED.
SO I'M FEELING EMBARRASSED AND REALLY DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW,
AND I'M SCARED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY.
♪♪
HELLO.
-HELLO. -HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?
ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING GOOD.
SO, WHO DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU TODAY?
THIS IS MY FATHER, EUGENE WASHER.
HOW YOU DOING?
I'M DOING FINE, SIR.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
SO I HEAR THAT YOU'RE BATTLING WITH YOUR HEALTH ISSUES.
YEAH.
I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY SUGAR DIABETES.
IT JUST GOES UP AND DOWN.
OKAY.
AT LEAST HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT YET.
WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU'RE DOING BETTER.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, AARON.
SO, LAST TIME I SAW YOU, YOU WERE 718,
AND YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO LOSE 120 POUNDS IN TWO MONTHS.
YES, SIR.
IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS, BUT TODAY YOU'RE 696.
YOU ONLY LOST 22 POUNDS IN THREE MONTHS.
I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER.
IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO DEAL WITH.
AND ONCE HE WAS RECOVERING,
I'VE BEEN STICKING TO MY DIET AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I MEAN, I STILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PROBLEMS
WITH EATING CERTAIN THINGS LIKE PEANUT BUTTER.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME STAYING AWAY FROM PEANUT BUTTER.
IT'S...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "PEANUT BUTTER"?
PEANUT BUTTER ON BREAD.
IT'S JUST SOMETHING I LIKE EATING.
PEANUT BUTTER ON BREAD
IS NOT WHAT KEPT YOU FROM LOSING WEIGHT.
YOU EXCEEDED THAT.
I'M SORRY WHAT YOU ALL WENT THROUGH,
BUT THAT'S NO EXCUSE TO HAVE NOT DONE THE DIET.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS.
YOU STILL HAD TWO MONTHS EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT
TO DO WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, BUT YOU DIDN'T.
WHAT IS WITH THAT? -I DON'T KNOW, SIR. YOU KNOW...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?
YOU KNOW EXACTLY.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE WORK,
AND YOU WANT TO BLAME EVERYTHING ELSE
FOR WHY YOU'RE NOT DOING IT.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF THAT?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY, SIR.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATION?
YOU WANT US TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT,
BUT YOU CONTINUE DOING WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING BEFORE?
-NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO... -SO, HOW IS THAT GONNA HAPPEN?
HOW?
I'M GONNA CHANGE. I REALLY AM.
I'M TRYING... -WHEN?
WHEN ARE YOU GONNA CHANGE?
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING, SIR.
I REALLY AM. -NO, YOU'RE NOT.
WHAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU IS THE FIRST STEP TO CHANGE.
YOU EITHER TAKE IT OR YOU DON'T.
THE CHOICE IS UP TO YOU.
YOU GOT IT?
YES, SIR.
YOU KNOW, FOR YOU TO MAINTAIN WEIGHT OF 696 POUNDS,
YOU'RE STILL EATING AROUND 10,000 CALORIES A DAY.
THAT'S NOT TRYING.
THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE.
SO I GIVE YOU TWO MORE MONTHS TO LOSE 120 POUNDS.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, THEN LOSE THAT WEIGHT.
IF YOU DON'T, THEN WE DON'T NEED
TO WASTE MORE TIME PLAYING GAMES WITH YOU.
GOT IT? -YES, SIR.
WHO BUYS THE PEANUT BUTTER AND BREAD?
-I DO. -MY DAD.
YOU BUY IT FOR HIM OR YOU BUY IT FOR...
I BUY IT FOR THE HOUSEHOLD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M NOT GONNA BUY NO MORE.
OKAY.
AND YOU SHOULDN'T BE EATING THAT WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE, OKAY?
-YEAH. -YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE, AARON.
YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY
BECAUSE THE CLOCK IS TICKING ON YOU.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS. -THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. YOU TAKE CARE.
♪♪
IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT NOTHING CHANGED
WITH AARON OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
HE'S BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE TO SAVE HIS LIFE,
BUT HE'S STILL CHOOSING TO MAKE EXCUSES.
AND AS SORRY AS I AM HIS FATHER STRUGGLES WITH HIS HEALTH,
AND THAT WAS A SCARE FOR ALL OF THEM,
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT
THAT AARON'S BODY CAN'T HANDLE ALL THE STRAIN
THAT HIS WEIGHT IS PUTTING ON IT FOR MUCH LONGER.
SO IF HE DOESN'T START TO DRASTICALLY LOSE
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT NOW,
THEN HE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PHYSICALLY GO ON MUCH LONGER,
AND HE'S GONNA DIE.
Aaron: I'M REALLY UPSET AT MYSELF,
AND I KNOW I HAVE TO DO BETTER THIS TIME.
AND HEARING DR. NOW SAY THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,
IT'S ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING.
SO, NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GOING TO LOSE THE WEIGHT
I NEED AND HIT MY GOAL BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.
AND I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE EXCUSES
OR BLAMING ANYTHING ELSE IN MY LIFE.
I KNOW THIS IS ALL UP TO ME NOW, AND I'M NOT GONNA FAIL.
THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO LET THAT HAPPEN.
♪♪
FOR THE PAST MONTH, I'VE STARTED WORKING HARDER
THAN I EVER HAVE TO TRY AND LOSE AS MUCH WEIGHT AS POSSIBLE
BEFORE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.
TO UP MY LEVEL OF EXERCISE AND INCREASE MY ACTIVITY,
I JOINED A GYM, AND I'M GOING THERE
THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK TO WORK OUT.
AT FIRST I WAS REALLY INTIMIDATED,
SO IT WAS HARD TO CONVINCE MYSELF TO START DOING THIS.
BUT I'M MORE WORRIED ABOUT GOING BACK TO SEE DR. NOW
WITHOUT HAVING MADE IT TO MY GOAL.
THE THOUGHT OF THAT TERRIFIES ME
FAR MORE THAN THE THOUGHT OF PEOPLE STARING AT ME
OR LAUGHING AT THE BIG GUY
WHO CAN BARELY DO MUCH AT THIS POINT.
SO I'VE LOOKED UP SOME EXERCISES ON THE INTERNET,
AND I'VE BEEN COMING HERE TO WORK OUT
FOR ALMOST A FULL MONTH NOW.
I STILL CAN'T DO A WHOLE LOT,
BUT I CAN DO A GOOD BIT MORE THAN WHEN I STARTED.
AND EVERY TIME I LIFT OR DO SOME REPS,
I PUSH MYSELF PAST THE PAIN TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER.
I USED TO SEE THAT PAIN AS A PROBLEM
OR THAT I WAS PUSHING MYSELF TOO HARD,
AND AFTER 5, 10 MINUTES, I WAS READY TO GO.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE NO MORE,
BUT NOW I'M ABLE TO STAY LONGER, DO A LOT MORE,
AND I HAVE MORE ENERGY AND NOT HURTING AS MUCH.
AND EVERY TIME I COME TO THE GYM,
I PUSH MYSELF A LITTLE BIT FURTHER
JUST TO SEE HOW MUCH FURTHER I CAN GO,
HOW MUCH MORE I CAN DO.
BUT NOW I SEE IT AS A LIMIT I WANT TO BREAK,
AND I'M NOT AFRAID OF IT.
SO I'M HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS WITH THAT.
♪♪
I ALSO FEEL LIKE I'M DOING GOOD WITH MY DIET.
I GOT RID OF THE PEANUT BUTTER
AND ALL THE LITTLE PACKETS OF CANDY
AND SWEET STUFF THAT WERE STILL KIND OF HIDDEN AROUND THE HOUSE.
WHEN I FOUND THEM, I'D EAT THEM AND JUSTIFY IT
BY THINKING IT WAS JUST A LITTLE TREAT
TO HELP ME STAY ON TRACK BY SATISFYING MY CRAVINGS
WITHOUT GETTING SOMETHING BIGGER.
AND I THINK ALL THAT ADDED UP MORE THAN I REALIZED,
BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM,
AND MY FATHER SHOULDN'T HAVE THEM.
SO IT'S ALL GONE NOW.
SO ME AND MY DAD ARE ONLY EATING HEALTHY.
BUT AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT, IT WAS REALLY EMBARRASSING
TO SEE SUCH LITTLE PROGRESS IN FRONT OF MY FATHER.
I LET HIM AND EVERYONE DOWN.
I KNOW YOU WORKED HARD AT IT,
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU CAN'T MEET YOUR GOALS.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE IT THIS TIME.
I'VE BEEN WORKING OUT AT THE GYM.
I'VE BEEN STICKING TO MY DIET.
I'M STILL A LITTLE NERVOUS, BUT MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,
I HOPE AND PRAY THAT HE'S HAPPY WITH WHAT I DO,
AND I'M HOPING THAT HE WILL APPROVE ME THIS TIME,
AND JUST KEEP ON GOING.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTING YOU EVERYTHING YOU DO.
-I KNOW. -YOU JUST NEED TO JUST DO IT.
THAT'S ALL, SON.
Aaron: I'M GONNA CONTINUE WORKING AS HARD AS I CAN THIS MONTH
SO WHEN I STEP ON THAT SCALE, I'M WHERE I NEED TO BE
'CAUSE I KNOW 100% THAT DR. NOW IS RIGHT,
AND IF I LOSE THIS CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK,
THAT WILL BE THE END OF THE ROAD FOR ME.
I'LL BE DONE.
♪♪
Aaron: ME AND MY SISTER ARE BACK IN HOUSTON
FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
AND I DID THE BEST I POSSIBLY COULD THIS TIME.
BUT IT STILL MAY NOT BE ENOUGH,
AND DR. NOW COULD TELL ME I'M COMPLETELY DONE TODAY,
BUT I'M HOPING THE PROGRESS I MADE IS GONNA BE ENOUGH.
AARON WASHER?
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT TWO MONTHS AGO,
I WAS 696, AND DR. NOW TOLD ME
I NEED TO LOSE 120 POUNDS BY TODAY.
SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO HAVE MADE IT BELOW 576
TO HAVE HIT MY GOAL.
571. OKAY.
YOU GUYS CAN GO AHEAD AND GO TO ROOM 5.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
AND SEEING HOW MUCH I LOST MAKES ME FEEL REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF,
AND I'M CONFIDENT I'M READY FOR THIS.
SO I JUST HOPE DR. NOW AGREES WITH THAT
AND APPROVES ME TODAY.
HELLO. -HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?
-GOOD. -REAL GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, AARON.
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, YOU LOST 125 POUNDS.
-YES, SIR. -THAT'S EXCELLENT.
YOU STUCK TO THE DIET THIS TIME.
YES, SIR, I'M DOING EVERYTHING THAT YOU,
YOU KNOW, TOLD ME TO DO, AND...
HOW'S YOUR ACTIVITY?
I'M EXERCISING.
I'M WALKING.
I'M GOING TO THE GYM.
YOU'RE GOING TO A GYM, TOO?
YEAH, I'M GOING.
THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, YOU DID GREAT.
SO, THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
YOU SHOWED ME THAT YOU'RE READY FOR THIS NEXT STEP.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BUT DON'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE, BECAUSE IF YOU GAIN ANY WEIGHT,
OR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS SLOWS DOWN, WE WON'T MOVE AHEAD,
AND I WILL CANCEL IT. YOU UNDERSTAND?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
WELL, YOU'RE DOING GREAT AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS,
AND STICK WITH THAT.
AND IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, GIVE ME A CALL, OKAY?
IF NOT, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, AND I'LL SEE YOU IN A MONTH.
-THANK YOU SO MUCH. -OKAY.
APPRECIATE IT.
-DID IT! -DID IT.
I'M SO HAPPY.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
YOU'VE DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB.
THANK YOU.
Dr. Now: I'M VERY PROUD OF AARON
AND IMPRESSED WITH HIS RECENT PROGRESS.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS DESIRE AND HIS COMMITMENT
TO DO THIS AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS,
BUT NOW HE'S DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO TURN HIS LIFE AROUND.
SO I'M VERY CONFIDENT HE'S READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
AND AS LONG AS HE STAYS FOCUSED AND CONTINUES MAKING PROGRESS,
AND WE DON'T FIND ANY MEDICAL ISSUES THAT CONCERN US,
THEN WE WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH THAT IN A MONTH.
Aaron: I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.
I'VE DREAMED OF GETTING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR SO LONG.
SO I'M GONNA CONTINUE WORKING HARD
JUST LIKE DR. NOW SAID TO DO
BECAUSE I FINALLY MADE IT TO THIS POINT,
AND I'M NOT LETTING ANYTHING HAPPEN TO LOSE THIS CHANCE.
♪♪
I'M AT THE HOSPITAL TO GET MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
THEY HAD ME WEIGH IN RIGHT WHEN I GOT HERE,
AND DR. NOW SAID I'VE LOST ENOUGH TO SHOW HIM
I'M STAYING ON TRACK.
YEAH. I'M JUST -- I'M SCARED.
♪♪
DON'T BE SCARED.
I KNOW. I'M TRYING NOT TO BE, I'M JUST...
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE OKAY.
[ SNIFFLING ]
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE.
AND YOU'RE GONNA COME OUT OF THE SURGERY,
AND YOU'RE GONNA BE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION
AND HAVE A MUCH BETTER LIFE.
I KNOW.
YOU WANT TO GET CHANGED?
YEAH, I NEED TO GET INTO MY GOWN, I GUESS.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M GONNA STEP OUT IN THE HALLWAY.
-OKAY. -OKAY.
♪♪
Aaron: NOW THAT IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING,
MY NERVES ARE STARTING TO GET THE BEST OF ME.
KNOWING THIS IS SO HIGH RISK AND THAT THERE'S A CHANCE
I CAN DIE ON THE TABLE TODAY HAS ME REALLY, REALLY SCARED.
I REALLY HOPE I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING.
♪♪
-READY, MR. WASHER? -YES, SIR.
Aaron: BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IF I DON'T HAVE THIS SURGERY TODAY,
THERE IS NO CHANCE I'LL BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER,
SO I JUST KEEP REMINDING MYSELF OF THAT AND OF MY PROMISE
TO MY MOM TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.
I KNOW SHE WOULD BE SO HAPPY AND SO EXCITED FOR ME
TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SURGERY
AND TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE MY LIFE.
SO AS SCARED AS I AM, I'M READY FOR THIS,
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE LIFE
THAT'S GONNA BE POSSIBLE AFTER THIS.
Dr. Now: TODAY WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON AARON.
HE'S CONTINUED LOSING WEIGHT OVER THE LAST MONTH,
AND HE'S DOWN TO 525 TODAY.
SO HE'S LOST ANOTHER 46 POUNDS,
AND I'M PROUD OF HIM FOR STICKING TO THIS
AND FOR CONTINUING TO DO WHAT HE NEEDS.
SO I'M CONFIDENT HE'S READY
FOR THIS NEXT STEP OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
OKAY, STARTING THE FIRST INCISION.
BUT AT OVER 500 POUNDS, AARON IS STILL VERY HIGH RISK
BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRAIN HE STILL HAS ON HIS BODY
BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.
SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING CONCERNING,
WE WILL NEED TO STOP THE PROCEDURE
AND END THE OPERATION EARLY.
BUT IF WE ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
COMPLETE THIS OPERATION FOR HIM TODAY,
IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY IMPORTANT TOOL TO HELP
AARON CONTINUE TO STAY ON TRACK
AND LOSE MORE WEIGHT LIKE HE NEEDS,
BECAUSE WHAT THE SURGERY 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
FROM OVEREATING, AND THE PATIENT IS LESS HUNGRY.
SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.
Margaret: THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS
I'VE EVER HAD TO DO WAS TO SIT AND WAIT.
MY BROTHER IS MY WORLD.
HE'S MY BEST FRIEND, AND IF I LOST AARON,
IT WOULD KILL ME.
I KNOW THE BENEFITS OF THE SURGERY
DEFINITELY OUTWEIGH THE RISKS,
BUT I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON,
I WANT TO KNOW HOW HE'S DOING, AND I WANT TO KNOW HE'S OKAY.
Dr. Now: ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN TURN THE ROOM LIGHT ON.
OKAY. ALL FINISHED.
ALL RIGHT.
AARON'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL,
AND THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS AT ALL.
SO WE COMPLETED HIS SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
AND WE REMOVED ABOUT 90% OF HIS STOMACH.
I'M FILLING THE PART OF THE STOMACH REMOVED WITH WATER,
AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU SOME IDEA HOW LARGE IT WAS.
BUT THIS IS ONLY AT REGULAR SIZE.
IF YOU REALIZE, IT CAN SURGE TO FIVE TIMES
THIS AMOUNT WHEN HE EATS,
AND IT WILL ALMOST BE THE WIDTH OF THIS TABLE AT THAT POINT.
BUT AT THAT SIZE, IT WILL HOLD A LOT OF FOOD AND FLUID,
SO HE WAS CAPABLE OF TAKING IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT AT ONE TIME.
SO THIS OPERATION IS GOING TO RESTRICT HIS ABILITY
TO EAT LIKE HE HAS.
BUT NOW I'M GOING TO GET HIM TO RECOVERY,
AND THEN HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
FOR THE NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA KEEP HIM ON A LIQUID DIET
UNTIL HE FULLY RECOVERS, AND HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
AT LEAST ANOTHER 40 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, IF HE'S STAYING ON TRACK,
HE WILL LOSE AT LEAST 30 POUNDS A MONTH
UNTIL HE GETS CLOSE TO HIS TARGET WEIGHT.
BUT IF AARON GOES HOME
AND STARTS TO SLOWLY PUSH HIMSELF TO OVEREAT,
HE CAN START TO STRETCH HIS STOMACH OUT OVER TIME
TO GET IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SIZE.
SO WHEN HE GOES OFF HIS LIQUID DIET,
WE'LL START HIM GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY
TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HIM
DEALING WITH HIS EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
FOR NOW, HIS PHYSICAL DRIVE TO EAT IS SUPPRESSED BY SURGERY.
AND WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY,
THE EMOTIONAL COMPONENT BEHIND HIS PATHOLOGICAL DRIVE TO EAT
ARE GOING TO COME TO THE SURFACE.
SO THE HARDER STRUGGLE FOR AARON IS STILL UP AHEAD,
AND HOW HE HANDLES IT WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER HE IS GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS FOR THE LONG-TERM
OR IF HE WILL START TO GIVE IN AND GO BACK TO USING FOOD
TO COPE UNTIL HE GAINS ALL HIS WEIGHT BACK
AND ENDS RIGHT BACK UP WHERE HE STARTED.
♪♪
Aaron: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS SINCE MY SURGERY,
AND I'VE MOSTLY JUST BEEN TRYING TO ADAPT
TO HOW I FEEL ABOUT FOOD NOW.
FOR THE FIRST WEEK AFTER SURGERY,
I JUST HAD NO DESIRE TO EAT,
WHICH WAS AN INCREDIBLY WEIRD FEELING
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER FELT THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
THERE WERE MOMENTS THAT WERE A LITTLE SCARY.
IT WAS LIKE LOSING SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
BUT SOME OF THE CRAVINGS HAVE STARTED TO COME BACK,
SO IT'S GETTING A LITTLE HARDER.
I'M ON WHAT DR. NOW SAYS IS STAGE 3 LIQUIDS NOW,
WHICH MEANS I CAN HAVE THICKER LIQUIDS AND SOUPS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IF ALL MY CRAVINGS COME BACK.
I KNEW SURGERY WASN'T JUST GONNA SOLVE ALL MY ISSUES WITH FOOD,
BUT I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED HOW I CAN BE COMPLETELY FULL
AND FEEL LIKE I COULDN'T EAT ANOTHER BITE
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
I KNOW DR. NOW SAID I CAN START
TO STRETCH MY STOMACH BACK OUT IF I'M NOT CAREFUL,
AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MESSING UP MY SURGERY
IS WHAT'S REALLY SCARING ME RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I KNOW IF I MESS THIS UP,
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.
SO NO MATTER WHAT, I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
♪♪
TODAY ME AND MY SISTER ARE BACK IN HOUSTON TO SEE DR. NOW
FOR MY ONE-MONTH FOLLOW-UP AFTER SURGERY,
AND I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT HOW I'M DOING.
I KNOW I'VE STILL BEEN LOSING WEIGHT
BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REALLY EAT ANYTHING.
SO I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE MESSED UP MY PROGRESS.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE AS ACTIVE AS I WANT,
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I'VE HAD TO TAKE IT EASY WHILE I RECOVER.
BUT I'M HOPING DR. NOW
CLEARS ME TO START DOING MORE AND THAT HE TELLS ME
I CAN GO BACK ON SOLID FOODS AGAIN TODAY.
AARON?
BUT I GUESS IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW I'M RECOVERING
AND IF I'M ON TRACK TODAY.
AT MY SURGERY A MONTH AGO, I WAS DOWN TO 525.
AND DR. NOW SAID I SHOULD AT LEAST LOSE 40 POUNDS THIS MONTH.
SO THAT MEANS I'LL BE BELOW 485 TODAY.
♪♪
THAT'S NOT AS MUCH AS I SHOULD HAVE LOST,
SO I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS OR WHAT DR. NOW'S GONNA SAY.
SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
♪♪
HI, AARON. HOW YOU DOING?
DOING ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING OKAY. THANKS.
SO, HOW ARE YOU GETTING ALONG?
-DOING REALLY GOOD. -ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE HOW THE INCISION LOOKS.
ALL RIGHT. THEY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HEALING.
OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. OKAY.
HAS ALL YOUR WEIGHT LOSS
BEEN MAKING ANY BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ACTIVITY?
OH, YEAH. LOSING THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST NOW
HAS TOTALLY CHANGED THE WAY THINGS ARE WORKING FOR ME NOW,
SO...
-ALL RIGHT. -I CAN'T WAIT TO LOSE MORE.
AND REMEMBER, LIQUID DIET DOES NOT INCLUDE ALCOHOL.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WITH THINGS GOING OKAY, WE CAN GO AHEAD
AND ADVANCE YOU TO GOING BACK TO SOLID FOOD.
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
BUT NOW THAT YOU'RE ON SOLID FOOD,
WE'RE GONNA START YOU ON PSYCHOTHERAPY
STARTING IMMEDIATELY. -OKAY.
SO FAR YOU LOST ALMOST 220 POUNDS, WHICH IS GOOD,
BUT THIS IS THE MOMENT WHERE ALL THAT CAN CHANGE
IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.
AND I'M ALREADY A LITTLE CONCERNED
BECAUSE YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST DOUBLE THIS PAST MONTH.
SO IF YOUR EMOTIONAL ISSUES ARE COMING TO THE SURFACE,
AND YOU'RE STARTING TO USE FOOD TO COPE AGAIN,
THEN WE ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION
WITH YOU STARTING TO OVEREAT AGAIN,
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PREVENT THAT
OR YOUR WEIGHT LOSS WILL STOP, AND IN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS,
YOU COULD START TO GAIN AGAIN. AND IF THAT HAPPENS,
YOUR CHANCES FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS
WILL DROP TO ALMOST ZERO AT THAT POINT.
SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU UNDERSTAND?
-I UNDERSTAND. -GREAT.
SO WE GOT 300 MORE POUNDS TO GO,
SO THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
-YES, SIR. -OKAY.
HOW IS YOUR DAD DOING? -HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.
HE'S REALLY PROUD OF ME, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
BUT HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.
HE'S UP AND GOING AGAIN, SO...
GOOD PROGRESS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, HUH?
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS AND KEEP WORKING HARD, OKAY?
-THANK YOU. -OKAY.
I'LL SEE YOU BOTH IN A MONTH, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE LOST
AT LEAST 30 POUNDS BY THEN.
OKAY, AARON? -OKAY. APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT. NICE TO SEE YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. -YES, SIR.
ALL RIGHT.
Dr. Now: FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS,
AARON HAS WORKED REALLY HARD AND MAKING REGULAR PROGRESS,
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF HIM FOR THAT,
BUT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT FOR THE LONG-TERM
IF HE DOESN'T ADDRESS THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND ALL HIS PSYCHOLOGICAL EATING
BECAUSE THOSE EMOTIONAL ISSUES ARE GOING TO START
TO GET STRONGER AND STRONGER UNTIL HE DEALS WITH THEM.
SO HE'S COMING UP ON A CROSSROAD WHERE HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO
THAT IF HE WANTS HIS PROGRESS TO CONTINUE.
BUT THE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD
AARON GETS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION,
THE HARDER IT WILL BE TO GET HIM BACK.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT
THAT FROM HAPPENING.
Aaron: I'VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL,
AND I DON'T WANT TO LET ANYTHING THREATEN THAT.
SO WHATEVER I HAVE TO DO TO STAY ON TRACK,
I'M READY TO TRY AND DO IT.
AND I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT DR. NOW
IS SAYING ABOUT MY EMOTIONS.
BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE WITH WHAT I'VE BEEN FEELING LATELY
AND THE STRUGGLE I STARTED HAVING WITH MY CRAVINGS.
IT'S HARD TO DESCRIBE HOW IT FEELS, EXACTLY,
BUT IF IT IS BECAUSE OF ALL THE EMOTIONS I HAVE,
THEN I'LL GO TO THERAPY LIKE DR. NOW SAYS,
AND I'LL TRY TO FACE WHATEVER I HAVE TO.
THE THOUGHT OF DOING THAT IS REALLY SCARY,
BUT WHAT'S EVEN SCARIER TO ME
IS LETTING ANYTHING HAPPEN TO MESS UP ALL MY PROGRESS,
AND I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING.
♪♪
Aaron: TODAY I'M GOING TO MY FIRST THERAPY APPOINTMENT.
DR. NOW SAYS I HAVE TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THE EMOTIONAL ISSUES
THAT HAVE BEEN BEHIND ALL MY OVEREATING FOR MY WHOLE LIFE
IF I WANT TO STAY ON TRACK AND SUCCEED AT MY WEIGHT LOSS.
NOW THAT I'VE HAD THE SURGERY, I DON'T FEEL HUNGRY.
BUT I STILL HAVE THE DESIRE FOR FOOD THAT COMES
AND GOES THAT'S JUST THIS WANT.
IT'S THAT SECURITY-BLANKET FEELING,
AND I CAN SEE HOW MY EMOTIONS ARE TIED TO THAT CLEARLY NOW.
SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT I DO THIS.
-HELLO, AARON. -YES, HI.
HI. I'M LOLA.
-I'M AARON. -COME ON BACK.
YOU CAN GO RIGHT INTO THE BLUE ROOM
AND HAVE A SEAT ANYWHERE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE.
OKAY.
♪♪
SO WHY DON'T WE START OFF
BY YOU TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?
WHAT WAS YOUR LIFE LIKE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?
GROWING UP, IT WAS DIFFICULT
'CAUSE I WAS BULLIED A LOT BY OTHER KIDS.
IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS GETTING KICKED AROUND,
PUNCHED AROUND, THROWN AROUND IN SCHOOL.
SO YOU WOULD BE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL
BY YOUR PEERS?
YES.
SO YOU MUST HAVE SPENT SO MUCH OF YOUR CHILDHOOD
BEING ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.
YES, I DID.
IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.
YOU KNOW, MY MOM, SHE WAS THE ONE I COULD GO TO,
AND THREE YEARS AGO,
SHE PASSED AWAY. SO, AFTER SHE PASSED AWAY,
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY TO TURN TO.
I CAN SEE THAT'S STILL VERY HARD FOR YOU.
IT IS.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR MOTHER.
SHE WAS, UM, MY BEST FRIEND.
SHE REALLY WAS.
I CAN GO TO HER FOR EVERYTHING.
SHE WAS JUST -- SHE WAS MY COMFORT.
IT SOUNDS AS IF, FROM HER,
YOU RECEIVED UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE.
YEAH.
AND SO THAT'S A REALLY POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP
TO BE ABLE TO DRAW FROM. -RIGHT.
OF ALL YOUR OTHER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS,
WHICH ONE HAS HAD THE MOST NEGATIVE IMPACT ON YOU?
HONESTLY, MY FATHER.
YOU KNOW, HIM COMING FROM MILITARY,
HE DIDN'T WANT US STEPPING OUT OF LINE FOR NOTHING.
IF WE DID, WE GOT IN TROUBLE. WE GOT GROUNDED.
WE GOT PUNISHED FOR IT.
HE EXPECTED MORE OUT OF ME ALL THE TIME.
AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO LIVE UP TO THOSE EXPECTATIONS.
YES.
AND JUST TO THIS DAY, IT STILL -- IT HURTS.
IT HURTS A LOT.
WHAT DOES THE RELATIONSHIP LOOK LIKE NOW?
IT'S A LOT BETTER, BUT I DON'T OPEN UP TO HIM
BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER HOW HE WAS.
SO YOU DON'T TRUST HIM IS WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY.
PRETTY MUCH, YES.
YOU FEAR THAT HE'LL DO OR SAY
SOMETHING TO BE HARMFUL OR HURTFUL TO YOU,
BUT YOU ARE AN ADULT, AND YOU HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE THE CHOICE THAT NO ONE WILL EVER, EVER AGAIN HURT YOU.
RIGHT.
TO THIS DAY, YOU KNOW, WHEN I DO SOMETHING,
I STILL THINK, YOU KNOW, "WELL, I NEED TO KEEP THIS FROM MY DAD
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT HIM TO KNOW ABOUT IT."
AND MY SISTER, SHE'S LIKE, "WHY DO YOU DO THAT?"
SHE SAYS, "YOU ARE AN ADULT."
AND I WAS LIKE, "BECAUSE IT'S DAD."
AND I QUESTION MYSELF.
I'M LIKE, "WHY DO I NEED TO HIDE THIS?"
YOU KNOW, I'M AN ADULT.
I HAVE MY OWN, YOU KNOW, LIFE NOW.
BUT I STILL FEEL LIKE I NEED TO HIDE IT FROM HIM BECAUSE...
YOU FEAR JUDGMENT.
-YEAH. -AND YOU FEAR CRITICISM.
MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
SO, AARON, I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.
THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DAD
REGARDING HOW HIS BEHAVIORS SHAPED YOUR LIFE
AND THE PERSON THAT YOU ARE TODAY.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO?
YES.
ALSO, I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU
TO GET TO KNOW HIM A LOT BETTER.
SO, AARON, THINK OF AN ACTIVITY THAT YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR DAD,
BUT DO SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO RESONATE WITH HIM.
-RIGHT. -GET TO KNOW HIM.
GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
YEAH, I'M GONNA HAVE TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO, YOU KNOW, BOND WITH HIM IN THAT WAY.
OKAY?
WELL, AARON, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TODAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
OKAY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN REALLY SOON.
♪♪
Aaron: I'M REALLY GLAD I DID THAT.
THIS IS SOMETHING I'M GONNA NEED TO KEEP DOING,
BUT I'M OVERWHELMED ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
I DON'T DOUBT I NEED TO DO THOSE THINGS,
AND I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT GONNA BE
ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING TO DO ANY OF THIS.
BUT I KNOW LOLA AND DR. NOW ARE RIGHT,
AND I HAVE TO DO THIS IF I WANT TO SUCCEED.
I EITHER LET MY FEAR WIN OR I WORK UP THE COURAGE
SOMEHOW TO TAKE THESE STEPS.
♪♪
Aaron: THINGS HAVE BEEN TOUGH FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK THROUGH
WHAT I DISCUSSED WITH LOLA
AND THE THINGS SHE SAID I NEEDED TO DO
TO BREAK THE PATTERN I HAVE WITH FOOD.
BUT ALL THAT STUFF ISN'T EASY TO DO,
SO IT'S BEEN TAKING ME SOME TIME
TO START TAKING SOME OF THOSE STEPS.
BUT THE CRAVINGS AND THE TEMPTATION TO GIVE INTO THEM
IS STARTING TO GET STRONGER.
IN MY LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW A FEW DAYS AGO,
I MISSED MY MONTHLY GOAL, AND HE SAID MY WEIGHT LOSS
WAS DEFINITELY STARTING TO SLIP NOW.
AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF I DON'T DO
WHAT I NEED TO TO GET CONTROL OF THINGS,
I COULD BE A FEW MONTHS FROM GAINING AGAIN,
AND I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN.
SO I KNOW I NEED TO TAKE A BIG STEP TO DO THAT.
THE BIGGEST AND SCARIEST THING THAT LOLA TOLD ME I NEED TO DO
IS TO TALK TO MY DAD
ABOUT THE WAY HE MADE ME FEEL WHEN I WAS A KID
AND HE WOULD PUNISH ME AS SEVERELY AS HE DID.
-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.
Aaron: SO I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO TALK TO MY DAD ABOUT THOSE FEELINGS.
BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THE HARDEST AND SCARIEST THING
I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
♪♪
-YOU GOT TIME TO TALK? -SURE.
I ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR YOU.
WELL, GOING THROUGH MY THERAPY WITH LOLA AND EVERYTHING,
SHE BRUNG UP, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD
AND HOW THINGS WENT IN MY CHILDHOOD AND STUFF.
AND SHE WANTED ME TO TALK TO YOU AND GET SOME --
ME TO GET SOME THINGS OFF MY CHEST
BECAUSE SHE THINKS IT'S THE ONLY WAY
I'M GONNA GET THROUGH A LOT OF MY ISSUES
WITH MY EMOTIONS AND STUFF, AND...
OKAY.
-UM. -WHAT KIND OF THINGS?
FOR ME, GROWING UP AND EVERYTHING, I ALWAYS FELT...
I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT YOU'VE RESENTED ME OF BEING YOUR SON.
WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT?
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE --
I JUST FELT LIKE YOU WERE ALWAYS JUDGING ME AND...
NO.
YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT,
YOU KNOW, I WAS THE WAY
I WAS, AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW,
I WAS YOUR SON, THAT YOU EXPECTED ME
TO BE MORE OF A MANLY TYPE PERSON THAN I WAS.
YOU KNOW, ALL OF US ARE BORN TO A DIFFERENT TUNE, AARON.
SOME OF US ARE MORE TIMID THAN OTHERS,
AND YOU'VE BEEN A VERY TIMID YOUNG MAN.
BUT I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU,
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, OKAY?
-YES, SIR. -I DO. I AM.
I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU, SON.
THAT MEANS A LOT TO HEAR, DAD.
NOW.
GET THE LONG FACE OFF.
I LOVE YOU, SON.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
IS THAT ALL THAT'S BOTHERING YOU?
PRETTY MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, LET YOU KNOW HOW I FELT ABOUT
THAT AND HOW, YOU KNOW -- I DON'T KNOW.
I JUST FELT LIKE YOU --
LIKE I SAID, THAT YOU RESENTED ME.
YOU DIDN'T WANT ME.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF IT AT ALL.
I DON'T BECAUSE I DEFINITELY WANTED YOU.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THAT FOR YOU.
JUST PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND AND THROW IT AWAY NOW, OKAY?
I KNOW THAT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY FOR YOU TO DO,
BUT YOU NEED TO DO THAT.
YEAH, BUT, I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES, LIKE, WHEN --
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WHUPPED ME WITH A BELT,
I FELT -- YOU KNOW, IT SCARED ME.
THERE'S TIMES I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHY I WAS GETTING PUNISHED.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
AND I'M NOT EXPECTING YOU TO GO
AND TRY TO DEFEND YOURSELF OR EXPLAIN YOURSELF.
I'M NOT TRYING TO DEFEND MYSELF.
IF I DID SOMETHING, I DID IT,
AND IT'S MY FAULT, AND I APOLOGIZE.
THAT'S ALL I CAN DO, SON.
ALL WE GOT TO DO NOW IS PICK IT UP FROM HERE AND GO ON.
AND I'VE JUST ABOUT HAD IT.
THIS SESSION IS OVER.
OKAY?
I'M DONE.
♪♪
Aaron: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
UPSETTING MY DAD WAS THE LAST THING I WANTED TO DO,
BUT I CAN'T LET THIS BECOME ANOTHER THING
I JUST PUSH DOWN AND PRETEND NEVER HAPPENED.
IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE IT ALL WORSE,
AND THE WHOLE REASON FOR DOING THIS
WAS TO TRY AND MAKE IT BETTER.
SO I CAN'T LET IT GO LIKE THIS.
-HEY, DAD. -YEP?
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE I WAS TARGETING YOU FOR ANYTHING.
I HAD TO GET THIS OFF OF ME.
IT WAS THE ONLY WAY THAT I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO STOP
GOING TO FOOD FOR ALL THESE PROBLEMS
I'M HOLDING IN, BECAUSE IT WAS STILL BOTTLED UP INSIDE OF ME.
OKAY.
AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO MESS THINGS UP.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO US MOVING ON
AND HAVING A CLOSER, BETTER RELATIONSHIP.
I GOT NO PROBLEM WITH THAT, AARON, JUST THAT'S IN THE PAST.
COME HERE.
COME ON.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON.
I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU.
I DON'T EVER WANT TO HURT YOU, EITHER.
I'M SORRY.
LOVE YOU.
Aaron: THAT WAS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE.
DISAPPOINTING MY FATHER IS ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS.
BUT AS MUCH AS I LOVE HIM, I KNOW THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS
WAS TO START TAKING SOME CONTROL BACK IN MY LIFE
BY FACING WHAT I DID TODAY.
AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF AND HAPPY
I DID IT, EVEN THOUGH IT REALLY DIDN'T GO AS I HOPED OR PLANNED.
BUT I'M REALLY THANKFUL, IN THE END
THAT MY DAD WAS WILLING TO LISTEN TO ME,
AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO LET OUT SOME OF WHAT I NEEDED.
SO I KNOW THIS HELPED ME TODAY EVEN THOUGH
I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL ANY BETTER RIGHT NOW.
MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW IS IN TWO MONTHS,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING WHEN I GO BACK,
MY WEIGHT LOSS IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE
BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO MESS THIS UP
AND LET MYSELF START GAINING AGAIN.
♪♪
I'M BACK AT DR. NOW'S
AND I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHAT I'VE LOST
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS
AND WHETHER I'M BACK TO HITTING MY MONTHLY GOALS OR NOT.
SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS TO FIND OUT.
AARON?
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT TWO MONTHS AGO,
I WAS 461 POUNDS, AND DR. NOW SAID
I SHOULD BE LOSING AT LEAST
30 POUNDS A MONTH IF I'M STAYING ON TRACK.
SO THAT MEANS I SHOULD BE DOWN TO 401 TODAY.
♪♪
THAT'S SUCH A RELIEF.
I FEEL REALLY GOOD AND EXCITED RIGHT NOW.
I ALMOST HIT MY GOAL EXACTLY,
SO I THINK DR. NOW WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT AND TO SEE
THAT I'M BACK ON TRACK LIKE HE WANTED.
-HELLO. -HEY, AARON.
HOW ARE YOU? -DOING GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING OKAY. THANKS.
SO, YOU'RE ALONE TODAY.
-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.
STARTING TO TRAVEL SAFELY ON YOUR OWN.
-YES. -WELL, THAT'S GREAT.
YOU'RE BECOMING INDEPENDENT.
YES. A LOT MORE.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE.
SO, TODAY YOU'RE DOWN TO 402.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
YOU'RE STAYING ON TRACK AND ALMOST IN 300s,
AND SO FAR, YOU HAVE LOST OVER 300 POUNDS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. [ LAUGHS ]
IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
YOU'RE DOING GREAT, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.
AND IF YOU LOSE ANOTHER 80 POUNDS
AND GET INTO THE LOWER 300s,
THAT WILL GET YOU WHERE WE NEED TO START LOOKING AT
IF POSSIBLE TO YOUR SKIN SURGERY.
OKAY? -AWESOME.
IF YOU KEEP UP THIS PROGRESS, YOU SHOULD BE AT THAT POINT
IN A COUPLE MONTHS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AROUND
40 TO 50 POUNDS OF EXCESS SKIN IN TOTAL,
AND REMOVING ALL THAT WILL HELP YOU TO YOUR GOAL, TOO.
-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.
HOW'S YOUR DAD DOING?
HE'S DOING GREAT. HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.
HE'S REALLY PROUD OF ME. -THAT'S GREAT.
HE SHOULD BE BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE GREAT.
I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS.
KEEP THE GOOD WORK. -THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE THAT. -TAKE CARE.
ALL RIGHT. I WILL SEE YOU SOON.
Dr. Now: I'M VERY PROUD OF AARON.
HIS START WAS A LITTLE ROCKY, BUT ONCE WE GOT HIM TO WAKE UP
AND TO UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS HIS SITUATION WAS,
HE GOT DETERMINED AND STARTED DOING WHAT HE NEEDED
AND HASN'T LOOKED BACK OR SLOWED DOWN AT ALL.
SO, AT THIS POINT, I HAVE NO DOUBT
HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE DOING
WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO GET TO HIS TARGET RATE SOON
AND TO MAKE SURE HE'S SUCCESSFUL IN THE LONG RUN.
Aaron: I'M REALLY HAPPY AT MY RESULTS
AND HOW THE APPOINTMENT WENT TODAY.
AND I'M FEELING REALLY ENCOURAGED AND CONFIDENT
RIGHT NOW ABOUT HOW WELL I'M DOING.
I WAS A KID THE LAST TIME I WAS IN THE 300s,
SO TO BE PRACTICALLY THERE IS EXCITING.
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO KEEP MAKING MORE PROGRESS
AND TO SEE ALL THE THINGS I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO
AS SOON AS I GET CLOSER TO MY TARGET WEIGHT.
♪♪
HEY, PRETTY GIRL. HOW ARE YOU?
-HI, UNCLE AARON! -HEY, GUYS.
-HI, UNCLE AARON. -OH, MY GOODNESS.
Aaron: TODAY I'M GOING WITH MY SISTER AND MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS
TO THE NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS, AND I'M VERY EXCITED.
Margaret: ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO.
Aaron: I'VE ALWAYS TOLD MY SISTER HOW I WISH I CAN GO WITH THEM
WHEN THEY DID FUN THINGS WITH THE KIDS.
AND WITH ALL THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST,
I REALIZE I CAN DO THIS IF I WANTED NOW.
AND IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CHANCE.
I WISH MAMAW WAS HERE TO DO THIS.
I DO, TOO, BUDDY.
WELL, MAMAW CAN DO IT, BUT SHE'S UP IN HEAVEN.
THAT'S RIGHT.
Aaron: WHEN I WAS ALMOST 700 POUNDS,
I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HANDLE THIS CAR RIDE.
BUT NOW I CAN GET OUT AND WALK ALL DAY.
THIS IS GONNA BE THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE.
I'M STILL SCARED OF FALLING, SO I'M CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.
BUT I DON'T WORRY ABOUT HITTING MY LIMIT
OR WHERE I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO SIT NOW WHEN I'M OUT.
AND THAT'S SUCH A FREEING AND INCREDIBLE FEELING.
Man: SO ALL THE CAVE FORMATIONS ARE FORMED BY WATER,
BUT THE ROOMS, BY VOLUME,
ARE THE LARGEST OF ANY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
Aaron: THAT'S SO COOL.
Man: TAKE OUR TIME AS WE CLIMB OUT, ALL RIGHT?
Aaron: THE BEST THING ABOUT TODAY IS JUST BEING HERE
AND BEING ABLE TO BE OUT WITH MY FAMILY, HAVING FUN WITH THEM,
ENJOYING THE FAMILY TIME THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER.
Man: IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE GONNA DO.
YOU'RE GONNA BE MINERS.
YOU'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR LOOSE TRAY,
AND YOU'RE GONNA GO BACK AND FORTH LIKE THAT,
AND ALL THE STUFF AND TREASURE IS GONNA BE LEFT BEHIND.
Margaret: THERE YOU GO. GOOD JOB.
-THERE'S ONE! -LOOK AT THIS ONE.
Girl: I WANT TO KEEP IT!
Margaret: I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH AARON
IN YEARS BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.
AARON IS SO MUCH MORE HAPPY
AND IS DOING SUCH AN AMAZING JOB AT LIFE
THAT I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.
Aaron: I DON'T PLAN TO STOP HERE.
I WANT TO KEEP GOING OUT AND DOING EVEN MORE WITH THEM
AND TO BE PART OF MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS' CHILDHOOD.
♪♪
Eugene: RIGHT THERE.
Aaron: TODAY I'M TAKING MY DAD OUT TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH HIM.
I ASKED HIM WHERE HE WANTED TO GO,
AND HE SAID HE WANTED TO GO TO TWO PLACES.
FIRST, HE WANTS TO GO TO A LOCAL WAR MEMORIAL
TO PAY TRIBUTE TO SOME OF HIS BUDDIES,
AND THEN HE WANTS TO GO TO
THE COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE BASE IN SAN MARCOS.
SO I'M GONNA TAKE HIM TO BOTH.
HE'S HARDLY BEEN ABLE TO GO ANYWHERE
AND DO ANYTHING FOR YEARS
BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE HIM PLACES.
SO I KNOW HE'S JUST AS EXCITED AS I AM TO DO THIS TODAY.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME A YEAR AGO
IF I THOUGHT I'D BE OUT DOING ALL THAT I AM
AFTER HAVING LOST OVER 300 POUNDS,
I WOULD HAVE SAID THERE WAS NO EARTHLY WAY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE
THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR OUR COUNTRY, DAD.
MEANS A LOT.
I LOOK UP TO YOU FOR THAT.
YOU APPRECIATE IT NOW, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M PROUD OF YOU, TOO.
-THANK YOU. -AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
I MEAN, THAT'S FANTASTIC, SON.
-I LOVE YOU, DADDY. -I LOVE YOU, TOO, SON.
THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S GET GOING.
♪♪
Aaron: I'M SO AMAZED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS CHANCE
TO GET MY LIFE BACK AND TO BE MAKING MY DAD PROUD.
I WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
THAT BONDING TIME WITH MY FATHER.
I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN A LONG TIME.
MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY HAS BEEN SO MUCH HARDER
THAN I THOUGHT UP TO THIS POINT,
AND I KNOW IT MAY GET EVEN HARDER.
BUT WITH WHAT I'VE ACCOMPLISHED, AND HOW FAR I'VE COME,
I'M DETERMINED TO GET THERE AND START LIVING THE LIFE
I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF.
GOLLY. THAT'S A BIG PLANE.
I CANNOT REMEMBER THE LAST TIME
I DID ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITH AARON,
AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IT TODAY.
WHEN I WATCHED AARON WALK UP ON THAT PLANE, I THOUGHT, "WOW."
BECAUSE A YEAR AGO, HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.
Aaron: THIS IS AWESOME.
Eugene: I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF MY SON, AARON,
TO START A PROGRAM LIKE THIS AND ACTUALLY FOLLOW THROUGH
AND DO IT AND LOSE THE WEIGHT THAT HE'S LOST ALREADY,
IT'S AMAZING, AND I THINK IT'S THE MOST FANTASTIC THING
I'VE EVER SEEN HIM DO.
Aaron: MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT TODAY WAS JUST BEING ABLE
TO SPEND TIME WITH MY FATHER AND BE ABLE TO GET OUT
AND DO THINGS I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A LONG TIME.
I'M DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DO
A LOT MORE STUFF WITH MY FATHER
AND JUST GET OUT AND SEE THE WORLD.