Annjeanette: IT TAKES A TOLL TO HAVE TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY
AND DEAL WITH THE HARSH REALITY THAT THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS.
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.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION.
NO! AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE EVERY CHOICE
IN YOUR LIFE, AND YOU ARE A GROWN-ASS WOMAN.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Annjeanette: I START EACH MORNING IN DISBELIEF.
JUST TRYING TO GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
IS EXCRUCIATINGLY PAINFUL.
BABE!
SO I NEED HELP FROM MY GIRLFRIEND
JUST TO GET TO MY FEET.
AND JUST DOING THAT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT...
READY?
OKAY.
Both: ONE, TWO, THREE.
COME ON.
OKAY.
...BECAUSE MY BODY IS JUST BREAKING DOWN AT THIS POINT,
AND I'M LOSING THE ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING.
JUST WALKING TO GET AROUND IS THE MOST PAINFUL THING I DO
BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF MY BODY
AND MY STOMACH PULLING DOWN ON ME.
IT'S MISERABLE.
IT'S DEGRADING TO ASK FOR HELP TO TAKE A SHOWER EVERY DAY,
BUT I CAN'T DO IT FOR MYSELF.
I DREAD HAVING TO ASK ERICA FOR HER HELP WITH ANYTHING,
BUT THEN I'M JUST LIKE I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION,
AND I CAN'T STOP SHOWERING BECAUSE I ALSO HAVE CELLULITIS,
AND JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFECTION
CAN CAUSE A FLARE AND MAKE IT A LOT WORSE.
SO THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THAT IS TO KEEP CLEAN.
BUT HAVING TO STAND TO SHOWER IS SO PAINFUL.
I START TO FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT
AND CAN'T REACH TO ALL THE AREAS I NEED.
OKAY.
SO ERICA HAS TO BE MY CARETAKER LIKE I'M A CHILD.
WHOA.
I JUST FEEL LIKE WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO
THAT I HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE SHOWER ME?
SO I HATE IT, AND I HATE MY LIFE.
READY?
I HATE IT FOR MYSELF AND I HATE IT FOR ERICA, TOO.
GOT IT?
BE CAREFUL, ANGIE.
IT SUCKS TO CARRY ALL THIS WEIGHT.
IT FEELS HORRIBLE. IT HURTS.
IT HURTS PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY.
THIS WAY.
IT TAKES A TOLL TO HAVE TO WAKE UP EVERY DAY
AND DEAL WITH THE HARSH REALITY THAT THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS.
I SMELL ALL THE TIME BECAUSE I SWEAT ALL DAY LONG,
AND IT GETS STUCK IN ALL THE FOLDS OF FAT ON MY BODY.
AND I HAVE TO HAVE THE PERSON I LOVE
PUT DEODORANT IN BETWEEN ALL THOSE FOLDS
JUST SO I DON'T REEK ALL DAY.
I JUST FEEL LIKE HOW DID IT EVEN HAPPEN?
HOW DID YOU GET THAT WAY?
I WISH I COULD JUST CHANGE THE PAST, BUT I CAN'T.
I WAS BORN INTO A LARGE FAMILY.
I HAD FOUR SISTERS AND THREE BROTHERS,
AND I'M THE SECOND YOUNGEST.
BUT MY CHILDHOOD WASN'T EASY
BECAUSE OUR MOTHER WAS A DRUG ADDICT.
HER MAIN CHOICE WAS HEROIN.
MY MOM HAD TWO DIFFERENT SIDES.
WHEN SHE WAS NOT ON DRUGS, SHE LOVED EVERYBODY.
WHEN SHE WAS ON DRUGS OR ALCOHOL,
SHE WAS MEAN, VIOLENT.
SHE'D HIT US IF SHE NEEDED TO.
AND I STARTED FINDING COMFORT IN FOOD
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS EATING, I FELT GOOD.
I WAS AROUND 6 AT THAT TIME
AND ONLY PROBABLY AROUND 70 POUNDS THEN.
BUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,
THINGS STARTED TO GET WORSE.
WE WERE GOING TO SCHOOL.
WE WERE JUST DIRTY ALL THE TIME,
AND WE JUST DIDN'T LOOK VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
SO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES STARTED AN INVESTIGATION
INTO OUR FAMILY,
AND WE BASICALLY HAD TO FLEE THE STATE
SO THEY DIDN'T TAKE US AWAY.
SO WE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, AND WE BECAME HOMELESS.
WE ENDED UP LIVING IN A TENT CITY IN SANTA CRUZ,
AND WE LIVED LIKE THAT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
IT WAS LIKE CAMPING FULL TIME.
I HATED LIVING THERE.
LIKE, I WAS ALWAYS IN FEAR OF BEING KIDNAPPED
OR, LIKE, SOMEBODY RAPING US,
AND HOW I DEALT WITH THAT FEAR IS I CONTINUED TO EAT.
MY PARENTS GOT A LOT OF FOOD STAMPS
'CAUSE THEY HAD A LOT OF KIDS.
SO, OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, I GAINED A WHOLE LOT,
AND BY THE TIME I WAS 8, I WAS ALREADY 200 POUNDS,
AND THEN WHEN I WAS 9, THINGS GOT BETTER FOR A TIME
BECAUSE MY MOM FINALLY DECIDED TO GET CLEAN,
AND WE MOVED BACK TO OREGON.
MY DAD GOT A JOB, AND WE FINALLY HAD OUR OWN HOUSE AGAIN.
NOW THAT MY MOM WAS OFF DRUGS,
SHE STARTED COOKING A LOT OF FOOD FOR US.
SO I WAS STILL GAINING THROUGH THIS TIME, AND WHEN I WAS 10,
THEY TOOK ME TO A DOCTOR, AND I WEIGHED IN AT 262 POUNDS.
SO A LOT OF ATTENTION STARTED BEING PUT ON HOW BIG I WAS,
AND THAT ONLY GOT WORSE
BECAUSE EVENTUALLY MY SCHOOL BECAME WORRIED ABOUT MY WEIGHT.
SO THEY REACHED OUT TO MY PARENTS WITH AN IDEA
ABOUT POSTING AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWSPAPER
WITH A PICTURE OF ME ASKING FOR HELP
TO GET PEOPLE TO DONATE MONEY SO I COULD GO TO FAT CAMP.
AND MY PARENTS AGREED, AND WHEN THE ARTICLE CAME OUT,
IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE.
I WAS COMPLETELY EMBARRASSED AND REALLY SAD,
BUT IT JUST GOT WORSE FROM THERE
BECAUSE SHORTLY AFTER THE ARTICLE CAME OUT,
A NATIONAL TV NEWS PROGRAM WANTED TO DO A PIECE ON ME
TO TRY AND RAISE MORE AWARENESS OR SOMETHING.
THEY EXPOSED MY LIFE
SO EVERYBODY COULD SEE WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH.
BUT IT WORKED, AND WE RAISED ENOUGH MONEY FOR ME TO GO.
I WAS DREADING IT, BUT THEY STILL SENT ME,
AND BY THE END OF SUMMER, I HAD LOST 60 POUNDS,
AND I COULDN'T WAIT TO GO BACK TO OREGON
AND SHOW EVERYBODY HOW MUCH WEIGHT I LOST.
BUT WHEN MY DAD CAME TO PICK ME UP,
HE SAID WE WEREN'T GOING BACK,
AND WE MOVED INTO A MOTEL ROOM IN SAN DIEGO,
AND IT WAS SO UPSETTING, AND I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHY WE HAD TO FIT OUR WHOLE FAMILY INTO ONE HOTEL ROOM.
THE REALITY IS, ABOUT THREE MONTHS
AFTER WE MOVED BACK TO CALIFORNIA,
MY MOM RELAPSED AND OVERDOSED, AND SHE DIED.
I WAS 11 THEN, AND I WAS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED.
SHE DID IT ONE MORE TIME,
AND IT KILLED HER THE VERY FIRST TIME.
AND AFTER THAT, THERE WAS ALMOST NO HOPE
FOR ANGIE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HER WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.
Annjeanette: WHEN MY MOM DIED, MY EATING GOT WORSE,
AND BY THE TIME I WAS 14 YEARS OLD, I WAS 375 POUNDS,
AND I JUST STARTED DOING A LOT OF REALLY BAD THINGS.
I DRANK BEER AND SMOKED WEED.
MOST OF MY SIBLINGS STARTED DOING DRUGS THEN, TOO,
AND WHEN I WAS 15, I DECIDED TO TRY METH FOR THE FIRST TIME,
AND I REALLY LIKED IT.
SO AFTER THAT, I WAS EITHER GETTING HIGH OR EATING,
AND I GOT TO BE AROUND 450 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 18.
BUT THEN, YET AGAIN, MY FATHER MOVED US.
HE TOOK US ALL TO WASHINGTON
BECAUSE HE HOPED TAKING US SOMEWHERE
WHERE WE ALL DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET DRUGS
WOULD FORCE ALL HIS KIDS TO GET CLEAN.
MY LIFE STARTED TO GET A LITTLE BETTER AROUND THEN
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN I FINALLY MET SOMEONE, AND I FELL IN LOVE.
I WAS 23 THEN AND CLOSE TO 500 POUNDS.
WE WERE CONNECTED THROUGH A DATING SITE,
AND SHE CONVINCED ME TO MOVE DOWN TO TEXAS.
BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR HER
TO START TO BE VERY MEAN AND ABUSIVE.
SHE WOULD SMACK ME. SHE SPIT ON ME.
SHE WOULD BASICALLY TELL ME,
"NOBODY'S GONNA WANT YOU ANYWAYS."
AND WORST OF ALL, SHE WOULD CONSTANTLY CRITICIZE ME
FOR WHAT I ATE, AND I JUST WOULD NEVER STOP EATING,
AND OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,
I GOT UP TO 560 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 25.
MY FAMILY HAD MOVED BACK TO OREGON,
AND THEY WERE BEGGING ME TO COME BACK HOME.
SO I LEFT MY GIRLFRIEND, AND I MOVED IN WITH MY SISTER VANESSA,
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ALL I DID WAS EAT,
AND I CROSSED THE 600-POUND MARK WHEN I WAS 27.
THE ONLY GOOD THING TO HAPPEN TO ME SINCE LIVING HERE
WAS THAT I MET ERICA ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
I MET ERICA IN A LESBIAN GROUP ONLINE,
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I NOTICED
WAS THAT SHE HAD LOST A TON OF WEIGHT.
I THOUGHT, "WOW. I'M GONNA ASK HER HOW SHE DID IT."
SHE HAD HAD A GASTRIC SLEEVE DONE,
SO THAT REALLY DIDN'T HELP ME.
BUT SOON, WE STARTED CALLING EACH OTHER EVERY DAY,
AND AS WE GOT CLOSER, WE WANTED TO BE TOGETHER.
SO SHE DECIDED TO MOVE OUT HERE TO BE WITH ME,
AND MY SISTER SAID SHE COULD LIVE WITH US.
SO FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER.
THE FIRST THING I NOTICED ABOUT ANGIE
WAS SHE MADE ME FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NO JUDGMENT,
LIKE I CAN BE MYSELF AROUND HER,
AND I WAS REALLY ATTRACTED TO HER PERSONALITY.
SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH ANGE, HER WEIGHT HAS GONE UP.
HER MOBILITY HAS GOTTEN WORSE.
AND I HAVE GAINED LIKE 60 POUNDS.
I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD GET THIS BAD.
Annjeanette: I CAN'T STOP EATING.
IT'S ALMOST ALL I THINK ABOUT ALL DAY LONG,
AND IF I'M NOT EATING, THEN I'M WAITING FOR MY SISTER
OR ERICA TO BRING ME FOOD,
BUT MOSTLY MY SISTER BECAUSE SHE'S THE ONE
THAT GETS MOST OF WHAT I WANT.
HI.
WHAT'S UP, SISTER?
DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE YOU A BAGEL?
YEAH, I'LL TAKE A BAGEL.
OKAY.
SHE'S LIKE MY EATING BUDDY
BECAUSE SHE'S ALWAYS DOWN TO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT,
AND EATING WITH HER IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO,
BECAUSE MY SISTER IS MY BEST FRIEND,
AND WHATEVER IT IS I WANT, SHE NEVER TELLS ME NO.
Vanessa: FOOD IS AN EVERYDAY SOCIAL EVENT
FOR ME AND ANNJEANETTE.
BECAUSE OF HER BEING HOMEBOUND,
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ELSE WE CANDO BUT EAT AS FUN.
IT'S HOW WE'RE SOCIAL WITH EACH OTHER.
CAN YOU TAKE ME TO GET A QUICK SNACK
TO TIDE ME OVER FOR DINNER?
I'M DOWN. LET'S DO THIS.
ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T SEE A BIG PERSON WHEN I LOOK AT MY SISTER.
I JUST SEE MY SISTER, YOU KNOW,
UNTIL SHE'S STRUGGLING TO DO SOMETHING,
AND IT BREAKS MY HEART 'CAUSE SHE CAN BARELY WALK, YOU KNOW?
IT'S A TERRIBLE FEELING.
Annjeanette: I USUALLY GET MY SISTER TO GET FAST FOOD IN THE AFTERNOON.
AT THAT POINT, I'VE ALREADY HAD BREAKFAST
AND LUNCH AND SOME SNACKS.
BUT IT'S MY CHANCE TO GET SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF I CRAVE
AWAY FROM EVERYBODY SO THEY DON'T KNOW AND SAY ANYTHING.
IT'S LIKE ME AND MY SISTER'S SECRET EXTRA MEAL.
BUT I CAN'T GO FAR
BECAUSE I CAN'T REALLY FIT IN THE CAR ANYMORE.
SO WE HURRY AND GET SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN CRAVING
BEFORE ERICA GETS HOME FROM WORK
BECAUSE SHE THINKS I WAIT FOR HER TO EAT ALL DAY.
THAT WAY I CAN GET HER TO BRING ME SOMETHING, TOO.
SO THE AFTERNOON TO THE EVENING,
I HAVE MY SYSTEM TO WHERE I COULD JUST EAT NONSTOP.
HI. CAN I GET A CARNE ASADA BURRITO --
TWO.
TWO OF THOSE.
THREE CARNE ASADA TACOS, FRIES, AND ONE CHURRO, AND THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
Annjeanette: FOOD IS THE BEST PART OF MY LIFE,
AND TO EAT SOMETHING I'VE BEEN CRAVING,
IT'S LIKE LITTLE BITES OF HEAVEN,
AND WHEN I'M EATING,
I DON'T FEEL ALL THE PAIN OF MY LIFE.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT DYING OR WHAT I'M DOING TO MY FAMILY.
ALL I CARE ABOUT IS THE FOOD,
AND EATING WITH MY SISTER
IS LIKE BEING WITH MY TWO BEST FRIENDS.
WHEN I'M DONE, I'M SAD IT'S OVER,
SO I CAN'T WAIT TO EAT AGAIN.
BUT I NEED TO GET HOME BEFORE ERICA SO SHE DOESN'T KNOW I ATE.
I NEVER WANT TO STOP EATING.
BUT I KNOW IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT
WHERE I HAVE TO BECAUSE FOOD IS KILLING ME.
I CAN'T STOP, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
Erica: ANGIE IS KILLING HERSELF.
IF SHE DOESN'T GET HEALTHY, SHE'S GONNA DIE.
IF I LOSE HER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.
Annjeanette: I'M GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I'M SO BIG,
I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA LAST MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.
Vanessa: IF I HAD TO BURY MY LITTLE SISTER,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.
MY SISTER NEEDS SOMETHING DRASTIC.
I DON'T THINK THAT SHE CAN GET
TO WHERE SHE NEEDS TO BE ON HER OWN.
Annjeanette: IF I DON'T GET HELP, THEN I'M GONNA DIE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS IT.
I WILL END UP GOING TO BED SOON AND DYING IN MY SLEEP,
AND THEN I'M NOT GONNA BE HERE FOR MY FAMILY,
FOR MY NIECE, FRANKIE, MY NEPHEWS, VINCE AND ABEL,
OR MY SISTER OR ERICA,
AND THE THOUGHT OF THAT BREAKS MY HEART.
SO I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO CHANGE THAT
TO MAKE SURE I DON'T LET FOOD KILL ME.
TODAY ME AND ERICA ARE FLYING TO HOUSTON TO SEE DR. NOW.
HE'S ONE OF THE ONLY DOCTORS
WHO HELPS PEOPLE MY SIZE GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
ERICA SAID GETTING IT HELPED HER LOSE OVER 200 POUNDS.
SO DOING THIS MAY BE THE ONLY CHANCE I HAVE LEFT
TO SAVE MY LIFE,
AND IT'S THE ONLY REASON
I'LL BE WILLING TO TRY TO DO A TRIP LIKE THIS AT MY SIZE,
BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS GONNA BE PAINFUL
AND REALLY HARD ON ME AND MY WHOLE BODY.
I FEEL LIKE THIS TRIP
IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR ME.
I FEEL LIKE EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON IT.
BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A PLANE BEFORE.
I'M SO SCARED. I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA BE SICK.
YOU OKAY?
I'M NOT GONNA FIT IN THE FRONT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GONNA WORK.
COME ON -- IN THE BACK. COME ON.
THAT THE CAR RIDE IS GOING TO BE THIS HARD ON ME,
I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A CHANCE.
THANKFULLY, ERICA CAN CALM ME DOWN.
SHE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN REALLY DO THAT FOR ME,
AND SHE IS THE ONE THAT'S LIKE, "OH, IT'S GONNA BE OKAY."
SO I'M THANKFUL SHE'S GOING WITH ME TODAY...
...BECAUSE I KNOW I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT HER.
-OKAY? -YEAH.
I'M HAVING REALLY BAD ANXIETY.
I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO WALK THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
I CAN'T BREATHE. I JUST KIND OF WANT TO CRY.
I WISH THERE WAS SOME OTHER WAY TO DO THIS.
I DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND ALL THESE PEOPLE.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME
SINCE I'VE BEEN IN PUBLIC LIKE THIS, AND AS WE GET CLOSER,
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GETTING HARDER FOR ME TO BREATHE.
HOLD THAT, BABY.
OH, MY FEET HURT.
I HATE THIS, AND I HATE HAVING TO USE THIS WHEELCHAIR.
WATCH IT. MY BOOK BAG'S RIGHT THERE.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL.
CAN YOU STAND BEHIND IT?
HUH?
-WILL YOU STAND -- -YEAH, I KNOW.
I JUST WANT TO GET ON THE PLANE.
BUT I KNOW I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT IF I HAVE TO WALK.
ALL RIGHT. READY FOR YOUR FEETS?
WHEN I HAVE TO BE IN PUBLIC, I TAKE A BLANKET
JUST BECAUSE IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I CAN COVER MYSELF
AND KEEP EVERYONE FROM SEEING ME.
THANKFULLY, ERICA CALLED THE AIRPORT BEFORE WE LEFT,
AND THEY SAID THEY'LL HAVE SOMEONE HELP US CHECK IN OUTSIDE
AND THEN TAKE ME STRAIGHT TO THE GATE
SO I CAN GET ON THE PLANE,
AND I'M HOPING THAT WILL NOT ONLY CUT DOWN
HOW MUCH I HAVE TO DO,
BUT ALSO AVOID BEING AROUND TOO MANY PEOPLE FOR TOO LONG
SO I DON'T START TO ATTRACT ATTENTION.
YOU HAVE TWO ITEMS GOING TO HOUSTON.
GATE C-12.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TO THE GATE.
I HOPE TO GOD THAT I CAN FIT ON THIS PLANE.
IF I GET STUCK, IT'S GONNA BE ONE OF THE MOST MISERABLE
AND EMBARRASSING MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.
Attendant: IS THAT Y'ALL'S WHEELCHAIR?
-YEAH. -OKAY.
WE JUST SIT IN THE FRONT? OKAY.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
I'M RELIEVED WE MADE IT, AND I THAT I FIT.
I WAS SO SCARED THAT I WAS GONNA GET ON,
AND THAT I WAS GONNA BE TOO BIG TO FIT IN THE AISLE.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD THIS WORKED.
WE FINALLY MADE IT,
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OFF THIS PLANE
BECAUSE I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.
I JUST WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET ME IN MY WHEELCHAIR
AND GET FOOD AND GET TO THE HOTEL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THESE FOOT PEDALS ARE VERY TRICKY.
OKAY, WE GOT IT.
-ALL RIGHT. -GOOD TO GO.
YOU CAN SIT BACK DOWN NOW.
OKAY. AWESOME.
Annjeanette: I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
THIS IS REALLY EMBARRASSING.
I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE HAS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO ME EVERY TIME.
I FEEL LIKE SHE MAKES A BIG DEAL OUT OF EVERYTHING
WHEN I JUST NEED A MOMENT TO CALM DOWN
INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING
THAT BRINGS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO ME
WHEN I JUST WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE.
OKAY, MA'AM.
YEAH, THANK YOU.
-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.
NO PROBLEM.
I GOT OUR LUGGAGE.
I'M JUST WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO COME HELP ME WITH SOMETHING.
STOP BEING MEAN TO ME.
I'M NOT. YOU'RE BEING MEAN TO ME.
I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY WAS YOU CRYING.
YOU JUST SNAPPED AT ME.
I WAS JUST A CONCERNED GIRLFRIEND.
LET ME JUST LET MY GIRLFRIEND CRY.
OKAY. LET HER CRY.
I'M READY TO GO.
THIS HAS JUST BEEN ONE OF THE WORST DAYS OF MY LIFE,
AND I'M STARVING BECAUSE I HAVEN'T EATEN ALL DAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET SOME FOOD AND GO TO BED
AND GET THIS ALL OVER WITH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,
BUT I JUST HOPE WE CAN FIND A GOOD TAXI
BECAUSE THE LAST THING I NEED
IS TO HAVE TO GET INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE
I CAN BARELY FIT IN.
I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET UP IN THAT.
I KNOW.
IT'S TOO HIGH. LIKE, I CAN'T.
YEAH. SHE NEEDS TO GO TO THE CURB
SO SHE CAN GET UP AND GET IN THERE, OKAY?
-CAN YOU PULL CLOSE? -MAKE SURE YOU PULL IT CLOSE.
I WILL TRY -- TRY TO GET OVER THERE.
I HATE THIS.
WHY CAN'T ANYTHING BE SIMPLE?
WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GET IN THE BACK?
THE BACK ONE HAS A LOWER STEP THAN THAT ONE.
I CAN TRY.
YOU CAN TRY?
-OWW. -GO AHEAD.
THAT HURTS.
GO AHEAD. BACK IT UP.
THERE YOU GO. READY?
OKAY.
HOLD ON. I'LL GO ON THE OTHER SIDE.
IT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU.
OKAY.
THIS TRIP HAS BEEN MISERABLE
AND ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.
I JUST HOPE IT'S WORTH IT
AND I GET THE HELP I NEED TOMORROW.
I'M ALREADY NERVOUS ABOUT SEEING DR. NOW
BECAUSE HE'S THE ONLY CHANCE I HAVE LEFT.
SO IF HE DOESN'T HELP ME, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
TODAY I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
AND I'M SO INCREDIBLY NERVOUS.
I WISH I HAD ANOTHER DAY
TO REST AND RECOVER FROM THE WHOLE TRIP HERE,
BECAUSE I'M STILL REALLY SORE,
AND MY WHOLE BODY'S IN A LOT OF PAIN.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO BACK HOME TOMORROW, SO THERE'S NO TIME,
AND I HAVE TO PUSH MYSELF
NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS TO DO THIS.
WHAT HAPPENS TODAY WILL DETERMINE EVERYTHING FOR ME.
I EITHER GET HIS HELP IN WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
OR I'VE LOST EVERY OPTION AND CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK,
AND JUST KNOWING THAT MAKES ME SO NERVOUS I WANT TO THROW UP.
I HAVE TWO REALLY BIG FEARS RIGHT NOW.
THE FIRST ONE IS THAT DR. NOW TELLS ME THAT HE THINKS MY BODY
IS IN TOO BAD OF SHAPE TO DO ANYTHING AND GET AN OPERATION.
BUT MY OTHER REALLY BIG FEAR IS THAT WHEN I GET ON THAT SCALE,
MY WEIGHT IS HIGHER THAN I THOUGHT.
ANNJEANETTE WHALEY?
-YOU CAN GET UP? -I GOT IT. I GOT IT.
DO YOU WANT ME TO BRING THIS?
-YEAH, JUST IN CASE. -OKAY. BE CAREFUL.
I KNOW I'M PROBABLY IN THE 600s,
BUT I DON'T THINK I'M MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M HOPING THE NUMBER ENDS UP.
YOU CAN STEP OFF.
YOU OKAY?
ALL RIGHT. COME ON.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
I'M DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF, AND SEEING THAT NUMBER,
I'M HUMILIATED AND SCARED TO SEE WHAT DR. NOW IS GONNA SAY.
SO I'M TRYING TO HOLD IT TOGETHER
AND NOT LET MYSELF START TO SPIRAL RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO HAVE A REALLY BAD PANIC ATTACK.
HELLO.
-HELLO. -HI.
HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M GOOD. I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
I'M ANNJEANETTE.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
ERICA. NICE TO MEET YOU.
SO WHERE YOU COMING FROM?
OREGON.
THAT'S A LONG TRIP.
HOPEFULLY YOU MADE IT WITHOUT TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY.
I MEAN, IT WAS HARD, BUT WORTH IT IF I CAN GET HELP.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT WILL BE MORE UP TO YOU THAN ME,
BUT TODAY YOU WEIGH 679 POUNDS,
AND YOU'RE 5'1", HUH?
YEAH.
YOUR BMI IS 128.
YOU'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST BMI WE HAVE SEEN,
SO THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BMI TO HAVE,
AND WITH A BMI THIS HIGH,
ONCE A PATIENT BECOMES IMMOBILE, THEY DIE SOON AFTER THAT.
SO, HOW IS YOUR MOBILITY?
IT'S NOT GOOD -- NOT RIGHT NOW IT'S NOT GOOD.
I'M NORMALLY ABLE TO WALK.
MM-HMM.
BUT OVER THE LAST --
COUPLE DAYS.
...COUPLE DAYS, JUST THE SHORTEST DISTANCE
IS TAKING MY BREATH AWAY.
SO YOU ARE AT A VERY CRITICAL POINT,
BECAUSE WITH ALL YOUR FACTORS HERE,
YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER TO LIVE --
LIKELY LESS THAN A YEAR IF NOTHING CHANGES.
SO WE HAVE TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN IMMEDIATELY.
SO WHAT SEEMS TO BE CHALLENGES WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?
I THINK MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS MY MOBILITY.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO STAND A LOT,
SO I USUALLY JUST GRAB WHATEVER'S --
QUICK AND EASY.
...QUICK AND EASY --
I GUESS WHATEVER IS ACCESSIBLE TO ME.
COME ON. SERIOUSLY?
YOU'RE TELLING ME IF YOU WERE ABLE TO MOVE,
YOU WOULD EAT BETTER?
NO.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SAYING --
THAT WALKING TO A SALAD IS HARDER THAN WALKING TO A PIZZA.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?
PROBABLY NOT.
SO, THE WRONG ANSWER.
SO, LET'S TRY AGAIN.
SO YOU EAT A LARGE AMOUNT OR WHAT?
YEAH.
SO, YOU CAN'T STOP EATING -- YOU HAVE NO CONTROL ON IT?
DO YOU LIVE WITH OTHERS?
YEAH, I DO -- MY SISTER AND HER KIDS.
OKAY. SO YOU LIKELY HAVE MULTIPLE ENABLERS.
ERICA, WHEN SHE ASKS YOU FOR THE FOOD SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE,
WHY DON'T YOU EVEN TRY TO TELL HER NO?
I DON'T SAY ANYTHING.
SHE TRIES TO SAY STUFF.
SHE DOES SOMETIMES SAY,
"YOU NEED TO WATCH WHAT YOU'RE EATING,"
AND I GET MAD.
I TELL HER, "IF YOU CHEW YOUR FOOD MORE,
YOU CAN GET FULLER IF YOU CHEW IT BETTER, AND YOU WON'T"...
I EAT FAST.
SO YOUR IDEA OF HELPING HER
IS TO TELL HER TO CHEW THE PIZZA BETTER
INSTEAD OF TELLING HER NO TO WHAT'S KILLING HER?
MM-HMM.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXCUSES YOU-ALL ARE GIVING ME,
AND YOU TWO NEED TO UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU CAN'T KEEP PLAYING THIS GAME ANY LONGER
BECAUSE, ANNJEANETTE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE THAT LONG
AT THIS POINT UNLESS YOU BOTH CHANGE
WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW,
AND THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD --
ALL THE ENABLERS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
YEAH.
WE'RE CUTTING EVERYTHING.
WE'RE GONNA GET HARD. SHE'S GONNA GET ON A DIET.
I'M NOT GIVING HER ANYTHING.
WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
IT'S OKAY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT. TALKING IS EASY.
CHANGE IS HARD, THOUGH.
BUT IF YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU'RE READY FOR THIS, ANNJEANETTE,
THEN THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO DO IS WE'RE GONNA START YOU
ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB DIET,
AND FROM HERE ON OUT,
YOU'RE ONLY GONNA EAT THREE TIMES A DAY.
AND THE SECOND THING IS,
YOU'RE GONNA START EXERCISING TWICE A DAY.
I WANT YOU TO DO THIS AN HOUR IN THE MORNING
AND AN HOUR IN THE EVENING.
YOU CAN BREAK IT UP, BUT YOU NEED TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN
TO GET YOUR STAMINA UP
AND PREVENT YOURSELF FROM BECOMING IMMOBILE.
OKAY? -OKAY.
THEN, LASTLY, YOU NEED TO MOVE DOWN TO HOUSTON
AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE
BECAUSE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WHERE YOU ARE,
AND THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE AROUND MUCH LONGER
IF WE DON'T START TO MAKE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES WITH YOU NOW.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, THOUGH.
IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT,
THEN I NEED YOU TO HIT A WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL
TO SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE READY TO WORK HARD,
AND IF YOU STICK WITH A 1,200-CALORIE DIET IN ONE MONTH,
YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO LOSE 100 POUNDS.
BUT IF YOU COME BACK WITH MORE EXCUSES
AND YOU CANNOT STOP EATING AND CONTROL IT,
THEN THAT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM,
AND WE WON'T MOVE AHEAD WITH SURGERY.
GOT IT?
YEAH.
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NOW IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.
OKAY?
OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS?
NO. SO THAT MEANS, LIKE, MOVE NOW IF POSSIBLE?
-YES. -OKAY.
YEAH, THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR ONLY CHANCE TO LIVE.
OKAY? -OKAY.
YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?
I CAN DO IT.
WE'RE GOING TO DO IT NOW.
GOOD. ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU BOTH IN A MONTH.
IN THE MEANTIME, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, GIVE ME A CALL.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
WITH SUCH A SMALL BODY FRAME, ANNJEANETTE HAS
AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON HER BODY,
AND IT'S SIMILAR TO SOMEONE OF AVERAGE HEIGHT
HAVING OVER 900 POUNDS ON THEM.
SO IT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT SHE'S STILL ABLE TO GET UP
AND MOVE AROUND AND THAT SHE'S NOT IN WORSE CONDITION ALREADY,
BUT SHE'S CLOSE TO BECOMING IMMOBILE, AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME LEFT
BEFORE HER BODY GIVES OUT,
AND IF SHE'S GONNA BE PART OF OUR PROGRAM,
SHE HAS TO MOVE TO HOUSTON
BECAUSE HER BODY ISN'T GOING TO HANDLE THE TRAVEL
BACK AND FORTH TO OREGON,
AND THAT WILL ALSO GET HER OUT OF THE HOUSE
THAT IS LIKELY FILLED WITH ENABLERS.
ANNJEANETTE DOESN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE,
SO HOPEFULLY SHE'S TAKING THIS AS SERIOUSLY AS SHE NEEDS,
AND SHE'S READY, AND SHE STARTS MAKING THE CHANGES SHE HAS TO
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
Annjeanette: I KNOW I'VE BEEN IN A REALLY BAD PLACE
WITH MY HEALTH FOR A WHILE,
BUT HEARING A DOCTOR TELL YOU
THAT, BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT,
YOU'RE GONNA DIE SOON, IT'S HORRIFYING,
AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT ME AND ERICA
HAVE TO UPROOT OUR LIVES NOW,
AND I'M OVERWHELMED,
AND I'M JUST HOPING I COULD DO THIS,
BECAUSE I KNOW IF I CAN'T, THEN I'M GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING.
ME AND ERICA HAVE BEEN HOME FROM SEEING DR. NOW
FOR A MONTH NOW,
AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO MY EXERCISES
AND STICK TO DR. NOW'S DIET, BUT BOTH HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD.
WITH MY EXERCISES, MY BIGGEST OBSTACLE
IS THAT I JUST CAN'T MOVE AROUND A LOT...
...AND BY THE TIME I MANAGE TO GET UP,
I'M PRACTICALLY WORN OUT.
BUT I'M TRYING TO GET UP LIKE DR. NOW WANTS
AND DO WHAT I CAN EVERY DAY,
AND WITH MY DIET, I'VE MADE A LOT OF THE ADJUSTMENTS I NEED.
THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS THAT ARE TOO HARD FOR ME
TO COMPLETELY GET RID OF -- LIKE PEANUT BUTTER.
WE'RE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO BE BACK IN HOUSTON TODAY,
SEEING HIM FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT...
...BUT IT'S TAKING ME AND ERICA LONGER TO GET BACK DOWN THERE
BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING
ON FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE IN HOUSTON.
BUT I CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM WE'RE STILL COMING,
WE JUST NEED A COUPLE MORE WEEKS,
AND HE TOLD ME FOR EVERY WEEK LONGER IT TAKES ME,
THAT I NEED TO ADD 10 MORE POUNDS TO MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL,
AND IT'S GOT ME FREAKED OUT BECAUSE LOSING 100 POUNDS
IS ALREADY A LOT TO LOSE.
Annjeanette: ME AND ERICA ARE LEAVING FOR HOUSTON TODAY.
WE HAVE OUR BAGS PACKED, AND WE HAVE A PLACE
READY FOR US TO MOVE INTO ONCE WE GET DOWN THERE.
BUT WE'RE ONLY TAKING WHAT WE CAN CARRY
BECAUSE WE'RE FLYING BACK TO HOUSTON.
EVERYTHING BIG LIKE FURNITURE BELONGS TO MY SISTER,
SO WE DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH.
SO AS LONG AS I CAN HANDLE THE TRIP AGAIN,
IT'LL BE EASY TO MOVE DOWN.
BUT DOING THIS AND LEAVING MY FAMILY
IS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
SO I'M REALLY STRUGGLING 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.
MY FAMILY'S HERE IN OREGON,
AND I CAN'T IMAGINE MISSING OUT ON MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS
FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
THEY'RE GONNA BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE
WHEN I'M ABLE TO SEE THEM AGAIN.
SO I'M HEARTBROKEN TO HAVE TO DO THIS, BUT I KNOW I NEED TO.
BECAUSE IF I DON'T, THEN I'LL STILL BE LEAVING THEM,
JUST IN A MORE PERMANENT WAY.
SO THIS IS JUST A TRADE-OFF
WHERE I'M GONNA GET SOMETHING MUCH BETTER IN THE END,
AND I JUST HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING MYSELF OF THAT.
BUT THIS IS STILL THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER DONE.
BUT I PLAN TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AS FAST AS I CAN
AND GET BACK HERE TO OREGON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOU WILL.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS SINCE I'VE SEEN DR. NOW,
SO I WANT TO GET DOWN THERE AS SOON AS I CAN
TO HAVE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT WHEN I DO,
I HIT MY GOAL AND GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
SO I CAN TAKE THE NEXT BIG STEP I NEED
TO GET TO THE LIFE I WANT
AND TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK HOME TO FAMILY.
ME AND ERICA ARRIVED IN HOUSTON LATE LAST NIGHT,
AND IT WAS ANOTHER TOUGH TRIP.
BUT WE GOT HERE SO LATE THAT WE JUST HAD TO GET A HOTEL ROOM
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GET THE KEYS TO OUR NEW PLACE.
BUT I WAS GLAD BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A BED RIGHT NOW.
SO I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO GET ONE MORE NIGHT WITH A BED
AFTER ALL THAT TRAVELING,
BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF OUR NEW PLACE
IS GONNA WORK FOR ME AND BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE WHAT I NEED,
OR WE WON'T BE ABLE TO STAY THERE
BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE AS BIG AS ME,
YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN FIT IN PLACES LIKE THE BATHROOM.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET STUCK SOMEWHERE SMALL.
IF I DO, THE ONLY WAY TO GET ME OUT
IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TO COME CUT ME OUT,
AND I'M NOT GONNA LET THERE BE ANY CHANCE OF THAT HAPPENING.
SO IT ALL HAS TO WORK FOR ME IF I'M GONNA STAY THERE.
BUT I'M HOPING IT'S ALL GOOD.
OKAY.
A BIG CLOSET.
IT'S GONNA BE TIGHT.
BUT IT'S A NICE, STURDY TOILET.
HOLY
I CAN BARELY FIT THROUGH THE BATHROOM DOOR.
I HAVE TO SQUEEZE.
AND WE NEED A NEW TOILET SEAT.
OKAY.
ARE YOU EXCITED? I'M EXCITED.
Annjeanette: IT'S A LITTLE SMALLER IN PLACES,
BUT I CAN MAKE IT WORK.
AND NOW THAT I'M HERE, THIS IS A LITTLE EXCITING.
YOU WANT TO SIT HERE WHILE I BRING THE LUGGAGE IN?
OH, DUDE'S BRINGING IT.
ME AND ERICA HAVE NEVER LIVED ON OUR OWN,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE FOR US.
LET'S SEE IF I CAN MAKE A BED.
THE ONLY THING I'M REALLY SCARED ABOUT
IS THAT ERICA'S LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB HERE IN HOUSTON,
AND IF SHE GETS ONE SOON,
IT WILL MEAN I'LL BE ON MY OWN DURING THE DAY,
AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ON MY OWN SINCE I GOT THIS BIG.
I MISS MY FAMILY JUST A LOT.
I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER
'CAUSE I HAVE TO KEEP MY EYE ON THE PRIZE,
AND THE PRIZE IS MAKING IT.
YOU READY FOR BED? I'M TIRED.
I JUST... I JUST DON'T KNOW
IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO GET BACK UP OFF THE FLOOR.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. I PROMISE.
READY?
WE CALLED DR. NOW AND TOLD HIM WE WERE GONNA BE DOWN HERE
AND THAT I WAS READY TO COME BACK FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.
SO IT'S SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW, AND I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE THAT MEANS I FIND OUT
THE COURSE OF THE REST OF MY LIFE IN ONE DAY.
GO AHEAD.
I'LL HOLD IT RIGHT HERE. COME ON.
YOU GOT IT.
OKAY.
PUT THAT ONE RIGHT THERE.
SO I'M REALLY HOPING AND PRAYING THAT ALL THIS SACRIFICE AND PAIN
WILL PAY OFF LIKE I NEED.
I JUST HAVE TO KEEP REMINDING MYSELF
THAT THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
ME AND ERICA ARE FINALLY HEADED BACK TO DR. NOW'S
FOR MY SECOND APPOINTMENT,
AND I'M SO NERVOUS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
WITH MY DIET AND MAKING THE CHANGES I WAS SUPPOSED TO.
BUT THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT,
THE MORE WORRIED I GET THAT IT WASN'T ENOUGH.
I KNOW I TRIED HARD, BUT I ALSO KNOW
I'VE HAD SOMETHING I SHOULDN'T HAVE AT TIMES,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I'VE BEEN STRESSED.
AND GETTING MOVED HERE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY STRESSFUL.
SO I'M SCARED ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,
AND IF I HAVEN'T MADE IT TO MY GOAL, WHAT THAT WILL MEAN.
ANNJEANETTE WHALEY?
MY WHOLE LIFE IS RIDING ON ME GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
AND WHETHER OR NOT I AM
COMES DOWN TO WHAT NUMBER'S ON THE SCALE TODAY.
SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW.
MY WHOLE FUTURE IS ABOUT TO BE SHOWN TO ME,
AND IT'S EITHER GONNA BE GOOD OR REALLY, REALLY BAD.
Annjeanette: I'M AT DR. NOW'S,
AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOSE 140 POUNDS BY TODAY
SINCE HE ADDED 10 POUNDS FOR EVERY WEEK
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BACK FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
SO THAT MEANS I HAVE TO BE BELOW 539 TODAY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.
I KNOW THERE WERE SOME BAD DAYS,
AND I WAS STRESSED A LOT WITH THE MOVE,
BUT I WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD,
AND I'M REALLY SCARED NOW
HE'S NOT GONNA GIVE ME WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
HELLO.
-HI. -HELLO.
HOW YOU ALL DOING?
WE'RE GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING FINE. THANKS.
ALL RIGHT. SO, HOW YOU GETTING ALONG?
WE'RE -- WE'RE MAKING IT.
OKAY. HAVE YOU TWO BEEN ABLE TO MOVE TO HOUSTON?
YEAH. WE LIVE IN HOUSTON. WE MOVED.
OKAY, WELL, THAT'S ONE GOOD THING
BECAUSE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS ISN'T THAT GREAT.
SINCE IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS,
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE LOST AT LEAST 140 POUNDS,
BUT YOU ONLY LOST 33 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.
YEAH.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED?
BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE DONE THE DIET,
YOU WOULD HAVE LOST MORE THAN THAT.
UM, I HAD A ROUGH TIME WITH IT,
BUT I FEEL LIKE I DID REALLY GOOD.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE DONE A BIG CHANGE FROM BEFORE.
NOT REALLY. A 30-POUND WEIGHT LOSS WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU
CAN BE DONE QUICKLY WITH A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT.
SO, THE REALITY IS, YOU DIDN'T CHANGE THAT MUCH.
OKAY.
YOU NEED TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
SO MY GOAL FOR YOU IS THE SAME AS THE FIRST TIME.
LOSE 100 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.
NO MORE EXCUSES. YOU GOT THAT?
YEAH.
YOU NEED TO STOP WASTING TIME YOU DON'T HAVE,
OR THINGS ARE GONNA GET MUCH WORSE FOR YOU, ANNJEANETTE,
VERY SOON, AND ONCE IT DOES,
YOUR HEALTH WILL DECLINE RAPIDLY,
AND THEN YOUR BODY WILL JUST GIVE OUT, AND YOU WILL DIE.
SO YOUR ONLY CHANCE IS TO STOP PLAYING GAMES AND CHANGE NOW.
SO LOSE 100 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. YOU UNDERSTAND?
OKAY.
OKAY, YEAH. I HOPE YOU'RE MORE SERIOUS THIS TIME
WHEN YOU SAY THAT.
I'LL SEE YOU BOTH IN A MONTH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING YOUR WEIGHT DOWN
AND GET YOU IN BETTER HEALTH, BUT NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
-NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. -OKAY?
SO... THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Dr. Nowzaradan: ANNJEANETTE'S LACK OF PROGRESS
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DISAPPOINTING,
AND IF SHE CONTINUES TO ONLY LOSE AT THIS RATE,
IT WILL TAKE HER FIVE TO SIX MONTHS
BEFORE SHE MAKES ENOUGH PROGRESS
TO RELIEVE ENOUGH STRAIN ON HER BODY
TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
BUT IN HER CONDITION, SHE LIKELY WON'T BE ABLE TO LAST THAT LONG.
SO SHE HAS TO START MAKING MUCH MORE PROGRESS IMMEDIATELY,
AND IF SHE DOESN'T, OUR ONLY OPTION TO SAVE HER LIFE
MAY BE TO ADMIT HER TO HOSPITAL
AND PUT HER ON A CONTROLLED DIET.
BUT THAT WOULD STILL ONLY DELAY THE INEVITABLE
IF ANNJEANETTE ISN'T GOING TO START DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS
TO SAVE HER OWN LIFE,
BECAUSE WE CAN'T ULTIMATELY DO THIS FOR HER.
SO, WHAT HAPPENS AND WHETHER OR NOT
SHE'S ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER IS ALL IN HER HANDS.
Annjeanette: IT'S UPSETTING TO KEEP HEARING
HOW I'M GONNA DIE SOON
AND FOR DR. NOW TO TREAT ME LIKE I DON'T CARE.
SO I'M JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T THINK DR. NOW UNDERSTANDS HOW HARD IT IS
WITH ALL THE STRESS I HAVE ON ME.
GO AHEAD.
THERE YOU GO.
BUT I GUESS MY ONLY OPTION
IS TO TRY HARDER TO GET TO THE GOAL HE'S GIVING ME,
BECAUSE I KNOW OUTSIDE OF THIS, I DON'T HAVE ANY OPTIONS LEFT.
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,
ME AND ERICA HAVE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES TOGETHER.
THE FIRST THING WE DID RIGHT AFTER MY LAST APPOINTMENT
WAS THAT ERICA WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE
AND GOT A BUNCH OF GOOD AND HEALTHY FOOD
AND INGREDIENTS SO WE CAN MAKE HEALTHY MEALS.
SO I'M TRYING TO COMPLETELY STICK
TO DR. NOW'S DIET THIS TIME.
AND WE ALSO DID SOMETHING
TO HELP MOTIVATE ME TO EXERCISE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
ME AND ERICA GOT A PUPPY, AND IT'S MY JOB TO WALK HIM.
COME ON, PUPPY.
NO MATTER WHAT, I CAN'T SKIP MY WALK
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET UP AND TAKE HIM OUT EVERY DAY.
COME ON. THIS WAY.
IT'S LIKE YOU GOT TO TALK HIM INTO IT.
YEAH, HE DOESN'T LIKE IT.
SO FAR HE'S NOT VERY COMPLIANT AND DOESN'T WANT TO COOPERATE.
SO IT'S EVEN MORE OF A WORKOUT TRYING TO DRAG HIM RIGHT NOW.
COME ON.
IF YOU NEED TO LEAN ON ME, LET ME KNOW, OKAY?
COME ON.
SO THAT'S PROGRESS, AND, OVERALL,
I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M DOING A LOT BETTER THIS TIME,
AND I THINK IF I KEEP IT UP FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS,
I'LL BE ABLE TO HIT MY GOAL BY MY NEXT APPOINTMENT.
I'M SO NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.
THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST OF MY LIFE
BECAUSE I SACRIFICED SO MUCH AND WORKED AS HARD AS I COULD
TO MAKE SURE I MADE IT TO MY GOAL THIS TIME.
I JUST NEED IT TO BE ENOUGH.
I FEEL LIKE I JUST BARELY MADE IT TO TODAY WITHOUT GIVING IN.
SO IF I DON'T MAKE IT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
ANNJEANETTE?
SO I'M SCARED BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T MAKE IT
TO WHERE I NEED TODAY, THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GONNA DO,
BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANY BETTER THAN I DID THIS TIME.
SO I EITHER MADE IT TODAY
OR I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
Annjeanette: I'M AT DR. NOW'S AGAIN FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING I MADE IT TO MY GOAL THIS TIME.
ON MY LAST APPOINTMENT A MONTH AGO, I WAS 646.
SO DR. NOW GAVE ME THE SAME GOAL
OF LOSING THE 100 POUNDS THIS MONTH.
556.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW IT'S NOT ALL THE WAY UP TO MY GOAL,
BUT IT'S A LOT FOR ME TO LOSE IN A MONTH -- A WHOLE LOT.
SO I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF,
AND I KNOW DR. NOW WILL BE IMPRESSED WITH IT, TOO,
AND SEE HOW I AM READY FOR SURGERY.
HELLO.
-HELLO. -HI.
HOW YOU ALL DOING?
WE'RE GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING ALL RIGHT.
SO YOU'RE DOWN TO 556 TODAY.
YEAH.
SO YOU LOST 90 POUNDS.
THAT'S A LITTLE BIT SHORT OF YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL
OF 100 POUNDS, BUT IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT
OVER THE LAST TIME.
SO YOU'RE MAKING SOME GOOD PROGRESS AND TRYING HARDER.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY. OKAY?
YAY!
BUT HERE'S THE CATCH. IT'S CONTINGENT ON TWO THINGS.
THE FIRST IS THAT WE'RE GONNA SCHEDULE YOU
FOR A SERIES OF TESTS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR BODY CAN HANDLE THE SURGERY, OKAY?
OKAY.
THE SECOND THING IS, SINCE YOU DIDN'T QUITE HIT YOUR GOAL,
I'M GONNA SCHEDULE YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW SO YOU CAN SHOW ME
THAT YOU'RE GONNA STILL STICK WITH DOING WHAT YOU NEED
AND WORKING HARD.
IF YOU DO THAT, WE WILL MOVE AHEAD
WITH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
BUT IF YOU SHOW UP, AND YOU'RE NOT MAKING
THE PROGRESS YOU SHOULD, OR YOU GAIN,
THEN WE'LL CANCEL YOUR SURGERY, AND YOU WON'T GET IT,
AND WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.
OKAY, I WON'T. I WON'T GAIN ANY WEIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
BECAUSE YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK RIGHT NOW.
SO STAY MOTIVATED AND DON'T GET COMFORTABLE
AND START TO SLIP, OKAY?
OKAY.
YOU BROUGHT YOUR BMI DOWN TO 105,
WHICH IS A LOT BETTER THAN 128,
BUT THE LOWER YOU GET BEFORE SURGERY,
THE LOWER THE RISK,
AND THAT'S GONNA BE AN IMPORTANT THING, OKAY?
OKAY.
SO KEEP WORKING HARD AND LOSE ANOTHER 50 POUNDS
TO GET YOURSELF IN GOOD SHAPE FOR SURGERY, OKAY?
OKAY.
I'LL SEE YOU TWO IN TWO MONTHS.
AND MAKE SURE YOU KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.
Dr. Nowzaradan: I AM VERY HAPPY
THAT ANNJEANETTE HAS TRIED HARDER THIS PAST MONTH
AND THAT SHE'S TAKING HER SITUATION MORE SERIOUSLY.
EVEN THOUGH SHE SHOULD HAVE LOST MORE,
SHE'S APPLIED HERSELF AND TRYING TO WORK HARDER.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS WHETHER HER MOTIVATION IS GOING TO LAST
LIKE IT NEEDS OR IF IT'S GONNA BE SHORT-LIVED
BECAUSE IF SHE HAD STUCK TO A 1,200-CALORIE DIET
LIKE SHE SHOULD HAVE, AT HER HEIGHT AND HER WEIGHT,
SHE WOULD HAVE LOST OVER 120 POUNDS OVER THE LAST MONTH.
SO EVEN THOUGH SHE'S DOING BETTER,
SHE'S STILL STRUGGLING WITH GIVING UP
ALL THE THINGS SHE SHOULDN'T BE EATING.
SO BEFORE I'M CONFIDENT SHE'S READY TO MOVE AHEAD,
I NEED HER TO PROVE TO ME THAT SHE'S GONNA STICK WITH IT
TO SHOW ME SHE'S STILL NOT THINKING
THE SURGERY IS A MAGIC PILL
THAT'S GONNA DO ALL THE WORK FOR HER WHEN SHE GETS IT.
Annjeanette: I'M SO EXCITED, AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF.
HOPEFULLY THE NEXT TWO MONTHS GO BY REALLY QUICK
BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY SURGERY
AND START THE NEW LIFE I'VE WANTED WITH ERICA AND MY FAMILY.
I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'M SCARED I REALLY MESSED UP.
MS. ANNJEANETTE?
DR. NOW SCHEDULED THE TEST AND EVALUATION
HE SAID I HAVE TO HAVE BEFORE SURGERY.
SO I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE THOSE DONE,
AND WHEN I WAS THERE, THEY CHECKED MY WEIGHT,
AND IT SAID I HAD GAINED,
AND WHILE I WAS THERE,
DR. NOW CALLED ME TO TELL ME
TO COME BACK INTO HIS CLINIC TO SEE HIM TODAY.
SO I'M GOING OUT OF MY MIND RIGHT NOW.
I REALLY WISH I HAD ERICA WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
SHE HAD TO START HER NEW JOB AND COULDN'T COME IN TODAY.
BUT I REALLY, REALLY NEED HER WITH ME
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M BARELY HOLDING IT TOGETHER.
I JUST HOPE I DIDN'T MESS THIS ALL UP.
HI, ANNJEANETTE.
HELLO.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?
FINE. BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT YOU.
WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU HAVE GAINED 15 POUNDS.
YEAH.
SO, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
I KNOW THAT I'M GAINING FLUID.
I DON'T THINK THE WHOLE 15 POUNDS IS FLUID.
I THINK I MIGHT BE OVEREATING, OBVIOUSLY,
'CAUSE 15 POUNDS IS 15 POUNDS.
I DON'T HAVE EXCUSES FOR YOU, SO...
SO YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT GIVING ME EXCUSES,
AND THEN YOU GIVE ME EXCUSES.
TO GAIN 15 POUNDS IN A FEW WEEKS
MEANS YOU'VE TAKEN 7,000 TO 8,000 CALORIES A DAY RIGHT NOW.
YOU THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT?
I THINK IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I SEE A LOT WRONG WITH THAT.
SO WHY ARE YOU DOING IT?
I DON'T -- I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T HAVE WORDS FOR IT.
DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME
AND PRETEND YOU'RE CONFUSED AND YOU DON'T KNOW.
YOU GOT YOUR APPROVAL, AND YOU THOUGHT NOW WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
IS GONNA DO ALL THE WORK FOR YOU
AND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TRY ANYMORE AND DID NOT.
SO, DID YOU COME TO HOUSTON TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?
YES.
OKAY, SO EATING WHATEVER WHENEVER
AND NOT CARING ABOUT YOURSELF
IS GONNA GET YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE GONNA DIE SOON.
SO THIS IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOU.
OKAY?
SO YOUR SURGERY IS STILL SCHEDULED
FOR FIVE WEEKS FROM NOW, AND IF YOU WANT TO MOVE AHEAD,
THEN I WANT YOU TO LOSE THE 50 POUNDS I TOLD YOU,
PLUS THE 15 POUNDS YOU GAINED.
SO YOU NEED TO LOSE 65 POUNDS FROM TODAY BY YOUR SURGERY
OR WE AREN'T MOVING AHEAD AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT.
YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
OKAY.
YOU CAN EITHER WORK TO FIX THE DAMAGE YOU HAVE DONE
AND THEN HIT YOUR GOAL,
OR YOU CAN MAKE EXCUSES BECAUSE THERE'LL BE NO POINT.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE.
OKAY.
GOOD. BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
I'LL SEE YOU IN FIVE WEEKS.
Dr. Nowzaradan: ANNJEANETTE IS PLAYING A VERY DANGEROUS GAME
RIGHT NOW, AND SHE'S RISKING HER LIFE IN THE PROCESS.
THE FACT THAT SHE'S ONCE AGAIN MAKING EXCUSES
FOR HER POOR CHOICES GIVES ME A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT WHETHER SHE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS OR NOT.
SO SHE NEEDS TO TURN THINGS AROUND RIGHT NOW
AND START DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS
TO GET BACK ON TRACK IMMEDIATELY.
IF SHE DOESN'T, AND SHE CONTINUES TO GAIN,
THEN SHE WILL NOT ONLY LOSE HER CHANCE
TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, BUT SHE'S GONNA RUN OUT OF TIME,
AND IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE HER BODY CAN'T HANDLE IT,
AND IT GIVES UP.
Annjeanette: I CAN'T BELIEVE I LET THIS HAPPEN.
I'M JUST GLAD I DIDN'T LOSE MY SURGERY.
BUT I KNOW IF I DON'T MAKE UP FOR THIS AND FIX IT,
I STILL CAN.
SO I'M REALLY UPSET AND SCARED NOW
'CAUSE I CAN'T LOSE MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
IF I DO, I HAVE NO HOPE FOR A FUTURE OR LIFE OR ANYTHING.
SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I GET IT NO MATTER WHAT.
ANNJEANETTE IS HERE IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW
FOR HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
BUT WHETHER OR NOT WE MOVE AHEAD TODAY
STILL DEPENDS ON IF SHE HIT HER WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL
SHE NEEDED TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
IF SHE DIDN'T, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING AHEAD
WITH HER OPERATION TODAY.
BUT WHAT'S ALREADY CONCERNING ME
IS THAT SHE'S SAYING SHE'S NOT FEELING WELL
AND THAT SHE FEELS LIKE SHE'S SHORT OF BREATH,
AND SO WITH THE INITIAL RESULT OF THE TESTS
WE'VE BEEN RUNNING HERE TODAY ARE SHOWING SOME FLUID RETENTION
THAT HAS ADDED SOME STRAIN TO HER BODY, AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
SO HER CONDITION HAS DETERIORATED SOME
SINCE LAST TIME I SAW HER,
AND THAT MAY MEAN SHE'S NOT MAKING THE PROGRESS SHE NEEDS.
HELLO.
-HI. -HELLO.
HOW YOU FEELING TODAY?
EMOTIONAL.
OKAY.
YOU FEELING SHORT OF BREATH?
YEAH, AND I FEEL SWOLLEN, AND MY LEGS AND MY STOMACH,
IT'S REALLY HARD FOR ME
TO REACH PLACES THAT I COULD REACH BEFORE.
SOME FLUID RETENTION COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THAT,
WHICH WOULD MEAN YOU'RE GAINING,
BUT LET ME LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, SEE HOW THINGS ARE.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
YOUR HEART SOUNDS FINE RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
SO, LET'S GET YOUR WEIGHT CHECKED,
AND LET'S GET UP TO DO THAT.
ALL RIGHT.
WITH THE WEIGHT YOU GAINED, YOU WERE 571 A MONTH AGO,
AND YOUR GOAL WAS TO LOSE 65 POUNDS.
SO YOU SHOULD BE 506 TODAY.
SO LET'S SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT.
563.
SO YOU ONLY LOST EIGHT POUNDS,
AND WITH A POUND OR TWO OF FLUID RETENTION,
WE ROUND UP TO 10.
BUT THAT'S STILL A LONG WAY FROM WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE.
SO YOU'RE LIKELY STILL EATING AROUND 4,000 TO 5,000 CALORIES
A DAY RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
SO WE WON'T BE MOVING AHEAD WITH YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.
BUT SINCE YOU HAVE SOME FLUID IN YOUR SYSTEM,
AND YOU ARE ALREADY ADMITTED, WHAT WE WILL DO IS
PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL
SO WE CAN GET ALL THAT EXTRA FLUID OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM.
OKAY.
GET YOU IN BETTER SHAPE, OKAY, IN A COUPLE DAYS OR SO.
-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, ANNJEANETTE. HERE'S THE DEAL.
YOUR LACK OF PROGRESS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.
I'VE ALREADY EXPLAINED TO YOU HOW CLOSE TO DEATH YOU ARE
AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS THAT YOU KEEP OVEREATING.
UNLESS YOU WAKE UP, YOUR HEALTH IS GOING TO DETERIORATE RAPIDLY,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE ONCE IT DOES.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONLY ONE MORE CHANCE,
AND THEN THAT'S IT.
AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
I'M GONNA RESCHEDULE YOUR SURGERY FOR TWO MONTHS FROM NOW.
IN THAT TIME, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 65 POUNDS.
OKAY.
IF YOU DON'T, THAT'LL BE IT,
AND THEN YOU'LL BE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.
YOU GOT IT?
OKAY.
GOOD. AND WHAT ELSE YOU'RE GONNA DO IS,
IN A FEW DAYS WHEN I SEND YOU HOME,
YOU'RE GONNA START GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY.
OKAY.
WE'LL SET THAT UP FOR YOU.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT YOU TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY
BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.
IF YOU DON'T, THEN THAT WILL BE IT.
YOU'LL BE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.
YOU GOT IT?
OKAY.
I HOPE SO. ALL RIGHT.
IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
OKAY.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'LL GET YOU TAKEN CARE OF.
-OKAY. -OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.
MM-HMM.
IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO SEE ANNJEANETTE CONTINUE TO MAKE
THE CHOICES SHE IS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M NOT ONLY CANCELING HER SURGERY,
BUT HER HEALTH IS STARTING TO DETERIORATE EVEN FURTHER.
SO WE'LL TREAT HER FOR THE ISSUES SHE DEVELOPED
OVER THE LAST MONTH TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET TO THE POINT
WHERE THEY'RE LIFE-THREATENING FOR HER.
BUT SHE'S PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME WITH HER LIFE
WHEN SHE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT,
AND IF SHE'S GONNA CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH,
THEN THERE IS NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR HER.
Annjeanette: I'M HEADED TO SEE A THERAPIST TODAY.
DR. NOW IS SENDING ME TO ONE
TO START WORKING ON EMOTIONAL ISSUES
HE SAYS I NEED TO TRY AND ADDRESS.
WHAT WOULD HELP ME THE MOST RIGHT NOW
IS GETTING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
BUT I'M HOPING IF I JUST DO WHAT DR. NOW TELLS ME,
THAT I'LL BE ABLE TO GET MY SURGERY SOON.
I STILL FEEL DEVASTATED I DIDN'T GET IT WHEN I SHOULD HAVE,
AND I FELT BAD FOR MY DAD BECAUSE HE FLEW IN FOR IT,
BUT HE SAID HE'S GONNA STAY
BECAUSE HE KNOWS I'LL FIGURE THIS OUT AND I'LL HAVE IT SOON.
AND HE WANTS TO BE THERE FOR IT.
SO I REALLY HOPE HE'S RIGHT.
HI.
HI, MS. ANNJEANETTE.
-HI. -I'M LOLA.
-IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU.
-HI, THERE. -ERICA.
NICE TO MEET YOU, ERICA.
MS. ANNJEANETTE, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY, FOLLOW ME ON IN.
-ALL RIGHT. LET'S GO. -AFTER YOU.
GO RIGHT ON IN AND HAVE A SEAT ANYWHERE YOU'D LIKE.
OKAY.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, ANNJEANETTE.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CHILDHOOD?
UM, MY MOM HAD A HEROIN ADDICTION, WHICH CAUSED HER --
LIKE, SHE WOULD TAKE OFF FOR DAYS AT A TIME,
AND SO MY DAD WAS ALWAYS HAVING TO LEAVE AND GO FIND MY MOM.
MY DAD, LIKE, HE NEVER DID DRUGS,
BUT HE SOLD DRUGS WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND -- I DON'T KNOW.
THERE WAS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT MY CHILDHOOD,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT MUCH.
IT WAS ACTUALLY ANYTHING BUT NORMAL.
I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT.
YEAH.
SO, ANNJEANETTE, WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE TODAY AT THIS MOMENT?
I AM HERE BECAUSE MY ONLY EVER ADDICTION HAS EVER BEEN FOOD,
AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP.
I'M TRYING TO GET SURGERY, AND NOW MY DAD'S HERE,
AND HE EATS WHATEVER HE WANTS, AND SO IT'S, LIKE, HARD FOR ME.
SO DAD EATS POORLY AND BRINGS IT INTO THE HOME?
YEAH. HE BRINGS IT, AND I FEEL FRUSTRATED
BECAUSE I JUST WANT A BITE, AND I CAN'T DO THAT.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME HOMEWORK.
I WANT YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DAD.
YOU'VE HAD SO MUCH INCONSISTENCY AND INSTABILITY IN YOUR LIFE
THAT YOU NEED A SUPPORT SYSTEM,
AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DAD,
AND SO I'M JUST WONDERING,
IN TERMS OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ERICA,
HAS SHE BEEN REALLY SUPPORTIVE?
um...
WE FIGHT A LOT LATELY, ACTUALLY.
YOU FIGHT A LOT?
WE FIGHT A LOT BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE SHE'S MAD AT ME
BECAUSE I AM GETTING HEALTHIER.
WELL, IT LEAVES HER IN A POSITION
TO REDEFINE HER ROLE FOR YOU.
I'M SURE THAT FOR SOME TIME NOW,
SHE'S HAD A PARENTAL, MOTHERLIKE ROLE IN YOUR LIFE,
AND NOW YOU'RE GROWING.
YEAH. I JUST FEEL LIKE MOVING HERE,
LIKE, GAVE ME SO MUCH INDEPENDENCE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, I JUST FEEL LIKE I NEVER LIVED,
AND NOW, LIKE, I'M LIVING.
I WANT YOU TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR PARTNER
AND OUTLINE SOME SHORT-TERM GOALS FOR YOURSELVES
AND THEN DISCUSS THOSE GOALS AND SEE IF ANY OF THEM
ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT THE OTHER PERSON WANTS.
BECAUSE YOU TWO NEED TO REALLY DISCUSS THE FUTURE
OF THIS RELATIONSHIP
AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.
THAT'S A LOT OF HOMEWORK.
IT IS.
THANKS FOR TALKING TO ME, ANNJEANETTE.
YEAH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN.
-YES, DEFINITELY. AWESOME. -IT'S A PLEASURE.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
-BYE. -BYE.
-GET HOME SAFELY. -YEAH.
THAT WASN'T WHAT I EXPECTED AT ALL.
HAVING TO TALK TO MY DAD AND ERICA ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF
IS GONNA BE REALLY HARD,
AND, TO BE HONEST, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO IT RIGHT NOW.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW IF I DON'T,
THAT I'M GONNA LOSE ANY CHANCE TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
SO THIS FEELS A LITTLE LIKE A NO-WIN SITUATION RIGHT NOW.
Annjeanette: IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS
SINCE I'VE HAD MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT WITH LOLA,
AND I'VE BEEN GOING OVER EVERYTHING IN MY HEAD CONSTANTLY
THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO FOR MY HOMEWORK
TO HELP ME DEAL WITH SOME OF MY ISSUES.
AND I DECIDED TO TRY AND TALK WITH MY DAD,
BUT I DECIDED I WANT TO WAIT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH ERICA
UNTIL AFTER I GET SURGERY.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE,
I AT LEAST WANT TO FEEL LIKE I HAVE A CHANCE
AT A FUTURE WITH HER.
BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK UP THE COURAGE TO TALK TO MY DAD.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I'M JUST READING THIS BOOK. WHAT'S UP?
SO, IN THERAPY,
SHE GAVE ME SOME HOMEWORK,
AND SHE WANTED ME TO TALK TO YOU,
AND SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF I DID,
AND I JUST KIND OF --
I NEED MORE SUPPORT FROM EVERYBODY.
I NEED -- I NEED YOU GUYS
TO EAT WITH ME, LIKE, WHAT I EAT.
OKAY.
YOU KNOW, NOT KEEP THINGS IN THE HOUSE THAT I CAN'T HAVE
BECAUSE IT'S, LIKE, STUPID.
IT'S HARD FOR ME.
YEAH, IT'S NOT ONLY STUPID, IT'S RUDE.
i-I AGREE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT. IF I FEEL THE NEED
TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE,
I WON'T DO IT WHERE YOU ARE.
YOU COULD EAT IT AT THE STORE...
RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT.
...AT THE RESTAURANT -- ANYWHERE.
JUST NOT HERE.
ARE YOU UP FOR IT?
SURE.
LISTEN. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU EXPRESSED YOURSELF
BECAUSE PROBABLY WE SHOULD HAVE MORE TIMES TO TALK THAN WE HAVE.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I'M HAPPY THAT YOU DID,
AND I'M GONNA GO TAKE A SHOWER, OKAY?
-YEAH. ME TOO. -ALL RIGHT.
CARRY ON BRAVELY. -WAIT.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A HUG.
I KNOW. I'LL GIVE YOU ONE.
YOUR CUTE LITTLE SHOES.
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE.
LOVE YOU, TOO.
LIFE -- MORE THAN LIFE.
ALL RIGHTY. CARRY ON BRAVELY.
THAT WENT BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.
SO I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN EFFECT THIS IS GONNA HAVE
ON MY WEIGHT LOSS, BUT I HOPE IT'S EITHER WHAT I NEED
OR IT GETS ME GOING IN A BETTER DIRECTION
SO I CAN LOSE MORE --
AT LEAST ENOUGH TO HIT MY GOAL TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
HI.
I'M REALLY EXCITED AND PROUD OF MYSELF FOR GETTING TO THIS POINT
AND THAT THIS SURGERY IS FINALLY HAPPENING.
PART OF ME CAN'T BELIEVE IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME...
I'M HAVING REALLY BAD ANXIETY. I'M FREAKING OUT...
BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A BIG OPERATION,
AND THERE'S A LOT OF RISK HAVING IT AT MY SIZE.
BUT I KNOW I NEED TO TAKE THIS STEP TODAY,
AND THAT IT'S NOW OR NEVER.
I DON'T WANT TO CRY ANYMORE, SO...
OKAY. GOOD.
I'LL BE HERE.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, TOO.
OKAY? -THANK YOU.
ONCE I RECOVER, I'M GONNA HAVE THE TALK
LOLA TOLD ME TO HAVE WITH ERICA,
AND I'M ACTUALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT NOW...
BECAUSE AFTER MY OPERATION,
MY LIFE IS GONNA BE FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.
SO I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS AND START THAT LIFE WITH ERICA.
Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY WE'RE ATTEMPTING
TO DO A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON ANNJEANETTE.
ALL HER TESTS LOOK GOOD, AND WE WEIGHED HER,
AND SHE'S DOWN TO 492 TODAY.
SO SHE LOST 71 POUNDS OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS,
WHICH IS MORE THAN THE 65-POUND GOAL I GAVE HER.
SO SHE'S BACK ON TRACK,
AND SHE'S READY FOR THIS NEXT STEP TODAY.
BUT AT THE SIZE ANNJEANETTE STILL IS,
ANY SURGERY PERFORMED ON HER IS HIGH RISK
BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRAIN
HER WEIGHT IS PUTTING ON HER SYSTEM.
SO IF AT ANY POINT WE HAVE ANY CONCERN
THAT THE SURGERY IS ADDING TOO MUCH ADDITIONAL STRAIN,
WE WILL HAVE TO END THE SURGERY EARLY
TO PREVENT HER BODY FROM HITTING ITS LIMIT.
BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE
BECAUSE THIS SURGERY IS THE TOOL THAT ANNJEANETTE NEEDS
TO BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF IN THE LONG-TERM,
BECAUSE WHAT THIS OPERATION DOES
IS REMOVE 80% TO 90% OF THE STOMACH,
LEAVING A SMALL, NARROW TUBE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO A SLEEVE.
SO THE PERSON'S FOOD INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.
SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.
Erica: I'M A LITTLE OVERWHELMED.
IT'S VERY HARD TO SIT HERE AND WAIT,
AND I'M JUST ANXIOUS TO SEE HER.
I NEED TO KNOW IF SHE'S OKAY.
SO I'M MOST SCARED ABOUT COMPLICATIONS
OR THAT SOMETHING MAY GO WRONG,
BUT THIS PROCEDURE FOR ANGIE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US,
AND I HOPE THE SURGERY GOES GOOD.
PULL IT OUT. PULL IT OUT.
THERE. THAT'S HER STOMACH.
ALL RIGHT. ROOM LIGHT ON, PLEASE.
OKAY. ALL FINISHED.
ALL RIGHT.
ANNJEANETTE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL,
AND THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS WITH HER SURGERY TODAY,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE HER OPERATION WITHOUT ANY ISSUE.
SHE HAD A HERNIA THAT WE FIXED,
AND THEN WE DID A SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY,
AND THIS IS THE STOMACH WE TOOK OUT,
BUT SHE HAD A BELLY-BUTTON HERNIA.
IT WAS A BIG HERNIA, AND PART OF THE OMENTUM,
WHICH IS A FATTY TISSUE AROUND THE INTESTINE AND STOMACH.
BUT AFTER REMOVING ALL THIS, SHE SHOULD FEEL BETTER NOW
BECAUSE THE HERNIA AND THE SLEEVE PROCEDURE WAS SUCCESSFUL,
AND THE SLEEVE WILL HELP HER TO STAY ON TRACK
WITH HER WEIGHT LOSS
WHILE SHE CONTINUES TO WORK ON HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
FOR THE NEXT MONTH, SHE WILL NEED TO STAY ON A LIQUID DIET,
AND SHE SHOULD LOSE AT LEAST 35 POUNDS AT THAT TIME,
AND THEN IF SHE STAYS ON TRACK,
SHE WILL BE ABLE TO LOSE AT LEAST 20 POUNDS A MONTH
UNTIL SHE GETS IN THE 200s.
BUT ANNJEANETTE HAS SHOWN US SHE HAS A TENDENCY
TO JUSTIFY HER POOR CHOICES
AND VERY EASILY AND QUICKLY GETS BACK OFF TRACK,
AND IF SHE DOES THAT
AND STARTS TO PUSH HERSELF TO TRY TO OVEREAT,
THEN SHE CAN START TO STRETCH HER STOMACH BACK OUT
UNTIL SHE UNDOES THE SURGERY.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT WE MAKE SURE
WE DON'T LOSE THE MOMENTUM SHE HAS RIGHT NOW.
SO AS SOON AS SHE RECOVERS, WE MAKE SURE
SHE CONTINUES WITH HER PSYCHOTHERAPY
AND DEALING WITH HER CORE ISSUES BEHIND HER OVEREATING.
BECAUSE IF SHE STARTS TO GAIN AGAIN,
SHE COULD VERY QUICKLY REGAIN ALL THE WEIGHT SHE LOST,
AND AT THAT POINT, SHE WILL HAVE LOST HER LAST CHANCE TO LIVE.
Annjeanette: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M FULLY RECOVERED.
DR. NOW MOVED ME BACK TO SOLID FOODS AND SAID I'M ON TRACK.
SO HE'S HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS.
BUT HE REMINDED ME
I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING ON MY EMOTIONAL ISSUES.
SO I HAD ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH LOLA,
AND SHE PUSHED ME TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ERICA NEXT
ABOUT OUR FUTURE AND OUR GOALS,
BECAUSE I SHARED WITH LOLA HOW ERICA'S GETTING INSECURE
WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS, AND SHE'S SCARED I'M GONNA LEAVE HER.
-HI. -WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU WANT TO COME TALK TO ME IN THE ROOM FOR A LITTLE BIT?
-SURE. -OKAY. LET'S DO IT.
I'M GOING OUT AND I'M DOING THINGS,
AND I WANT TO ENJOY THEM,
AND SO IF SHE'S NOT GONNA ENJOY THEM,
IT'S LIKE THE POINT OF THIS JOURNEY WAS TO LIVE,
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M READY TO HAVE A TALK WITH ERICA
ABOUT MY NEEDS AND OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BOO?
SO, THE THERAPIST SAID THAT WE SHOULD WRITE DOWN OUR GOALS,
AND, YOU KNOW -- SEPARATELY AND SEE IF THEY ALIGN.
SO, WHAT -- I MEAN, WHAT ARE MY GOALS?
JUST YOUR -- YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
LIKE, WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING?
SO HARD TO WRITE WITH NAILS.
WHAT IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME GOALS?
I DON'T KNOW, ERICA, BECAUSE LIFE IS SHORT,
AND, IT'S, LIKE, YOUR GOALS ARE YOUR GOALS.
I'M DONE.
OKAY. YOU WANT TO READ THEM OUT LOUD?
OKAY.
YOU READ YOURS.
READ ME YOURS FIRST.
I SAID YOU FIRST.
THIS WAS MY IDEA, SO YOU READ YOURS FIRST.
UH, "MARRIAGE, TRAVEL, CHILDREN, A HOUSE,
A GOOD JOB, BEING ABLE TO SEE BOTH OUR FAMILIES,
TO BE ABLE TO TRUST EACH OTHER, AND GO BACK TO SCHOOL."
-MM. -NOTHING?
"CONTINUE LOSING WEIGHT."
"SKIN SURGERY.
FOCUS ON THE DIET."
"G.E.D.
MOVE HOME TO BE AROUND MY FAMILY.
STABILITY.
BECOME MY OWN PERSON."
"MOVE HOME" MEANING MOVE BACK TO YOUR FAMILY?
BUT YOU KNEW THAT.
SO IT'S WHATEVER YOU WANT, RIGHT?
-NO. -YEAH, IT IS.
IT'S WHAT YOU SAY GOES.
THAT'S NOT FAIR.
YET IT'S FAIR FOR ME, RIGHT?
OREGON.
YOU KNOW WHAT, ERICA?
WHATEVER.
NO, IT'S NOT "WHATEVER."
IT IS WHATEVER, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION.
NO! AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU HAVE EVERY CHOICE IN YOUR LIFE,
AND YOU ARE A GROWN-ASS WOMAN. SO YOU NEED TO STOP.
THE POINT IS, YOU'RE BEING SELFISH
BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE YOU
AND UNDERSTAND THAT --
HOW IS THAT ACCOMMODATING ME?
EITHER YOU CAN GO BACK TO OREGON
OR LET'S BREAK UP.
THAT'S ACCOMMODATING.
STOP MAKING ME OUT TO BE THE BAD ONE
WHEN YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO GO BACK, TOO.
THAT'S NOT FAIR, ERICA.
OKAY.
ALL I'M SAYING IS I LOVE YOU.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR ME THIS WHOLE JOURNEY.
I'M GRATEFUL.
BUT YOU CAN'T BE MAD AT ME
JUST BECAUSE I JUST WANT TO LIVE A LIFE WITHOUT FIGHTING.
WHATEVER, DUDE.
AND YOU WANT TO LIVE YOUR LIFE 'CAUSE NOW YOU GET TO BE FREE.
THAT'S ALL IT IS.
I DON'T KNOW, ERICA.
ARE WE DONE?
YEP. DONE.
DONE.
IT DIDN'T GO LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AT ALL.
AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
I FEEL SO DEVASTATED,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR SAY.
ONE.
IN THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,
I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN GETTING STRONGER
AND FINDING MORE OF MYSELF AS I WORK THROUGH THE THINGS I NEED.
FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER BREAKING UP WITH ERICA,
I REALLY JUST WANTED TO EAT EVERYTHING I COULD,
BUT I DIDN'T, AND I KNOW IT'S BECAUSE
I'M GROWING AND MAKING PROGRESS WITH HOW I'M DOING WITH THINGS.
SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON TRACK LIKE I NEED,
AND DR. NOW SAYS HE'S PROUD OF ME,
AND IF I KEEP IT UP,
I'LL BE IN THE LOW 300s
IN THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.
AND HE SAID ONCE I DO THAT, I CAN GET EXCESS SKIN REMOVAL
BECAUSE IT'S STARTING TO SAG ON ME,
AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AS I LOSE MORE WEIGHT.
SO THAT'S MY NEXT BIG GOAL.
AND MY DAD IS HELPING ME DO IT.
HE HAD GONE BACK TO OREGON AFTER MY SURGERY,
BUT SINCE I'M ON MY OWN NOW WITH ERICA GONE,
HE DECIDED TO COME STAY WITH ME AND HELP ME FOR A BIT,
AND I'VE REALLY ENJOYED MY TIME WITH HIM,
AND I'M SUPER MOTIVATED
TO MAKE IT TO MY TARGET WEIGHT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE ONCE I DO, I CAN MOVE BACK TO OREGON
TO BE WITH MY FAMILY, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT
BECAUSE I MISS THEM SO MUCH.
I'VE BEEN DOING VIDEO CALLS WITH THEM
ALMOST EVERY WEEK OR SO TO SHOW THEM MY PROGRESS
AND HOW I LOOK NOW.
I'VE LOST ALMOST 300 POUNDS, AND THAT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME...
...BECAUSE I'M ALMOST HALFWAY TO MY TARGET WEIGHT ALREADY,
AND I KNOW AFTER I GET APPROVED FOR MY SKIN REMOVAL,
I'LL BE SO CLOSE AND ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS GET MY DEGREE ONLINE,
SINCE I NEVER FINISHED SCHOOL BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT,
AND THEN GET A JOB SO THAT I COULD START SUPPORTING
AND CONTRIBUTING TO MY FAMILY.
MY WEIGHT HAS KEPT ME FROM MY DREAMS
AND FROM TRULY LIVING MY WHOLE LIFE,
AND, IN SOME WAYS,
IT FEELS LIKE I'M HAVING TO LEARN TO REALLY LIVE.
BUT I'M LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT,
AND I FEEL SO FREE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
HI.
YOU LOOK PRETTY.
THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA SHOW ALL OF YOU GUYS WHAT I LOOK LIKE --
ALL THE WEIGHT I LOST.
ARE YOU GUYS READY TO SEE?
YES.
I'M GONNA STAND UP AND SHOW YOU.
-WHOA!
I HAVE CONFIDENCE I CAN DO THIS, AND I BELIEVE IN MYSELF AGAIN.
AND SO I HAVE NO DOUBT NOW
I'M GONNA MAKE IT TO WHERE I WANT
AND HAVE THE LIFE I WANT TO.
SO NOW WHEN I COME HOME,
WE GET TO GO DO FUN STUFF.
YOU CAN TAKE US TO THE PARK?
EVEN IF IT DOESN'T LOOK EXACTLY LIKE I WANTED,
AS LONG AS I'M HEALTHY AND HAPPY,
IT'S STILL THE LIFE I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF,
AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT NEW AND EXCITING THINGS
THAT LIFE AND FUTURE HAVE IN STORE FOR ME.