While a whole lot of drama typically surrounds reality shows, some series showcase astonishing personal transformations. The TLC series My 600-lb Life is one such show that features the incredible journeys taken by brave individuals looking to make a positive change in their life.Thanks to Dr. Younan Nowzaradan’s interventions and weight-loss surgeries, dozens of people suffering from obesity have changed their lives. Many of the cast members want nothing more than to improve their health and accomplish goals they once thought were out of reach. Shedding the weight is no easy task, but these inspiring individuals were determined. Seriously, you won’t belive what the TLC alumni look like today.
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Charity Pierce Is Helping Her Daughter Set Weight-Loss Goals
During her episode on My 600-lb Life, Charity Pierce weighed in at almost 800 pounds. Thanks to Dr. Nowzaradan, Pierce was able to begin her long journey to a healthy lifestyle. After her weight-loss surgery, Pierce lost a whopping 400 pounds, setting her on a great path to a stable weight.
Today, Pierce is no longer alone on her journey. Since the end of her episode, she has been helping her daughter, Charly, conquer milestones, as she struggles with her weight, too. Together, the mother and daughter duo are making it their mission to keep the weight off with healthy eating and exercise.
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Milla Clark Dropped The 600-Lbs From My 600-Lb Life
When viewers first met Milla Clark, she weighed in at a
whopping 751 pounds. She was so unhealthy and out of shape that she was
confined to her bed and needed her children to help her with basic daily
hygiene. But after surgery, a double knee replacement, and mental
perseverance, Clark set a record for the series, dropping 600 pounds!
Today,
Clark is up, moving around, and fully embracing her role as a face for
weight-loss success stories. She is very active on social media,
updating her pages with her life and various workout routines– you go,
girl!
Amber Rachdi Is An Internet Sensation
At the young age of 23, Amber Rachdi weighed 657.6
pounds. To put it mildly, she had a long weight-loss journey ahead of
her. But it wasn’t just the weight that was making a dent in her life,
Rachdi also suffered from anxiety, something that caused her to
binge-eat.
But the young woman was determined to overcome those
obstacles. Today, she is a social media superstar, showing off her
fantastic figure, makeup skills, and ridiculously cute hairstyles. With
her newfound fame, the My 600-lb Life alumn is continuing to take care of herself and work out regularly.
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Cillas Givens’ Story Ended On A Rather High Note
Growing up lonely and depressed is what led Cillas Givens
to find comfort in food. Unfortunately, for the young man, that comfort
led him to weigh a total of 729 pounds. But with support from Dr.
Nowzaradan as well as his girlfriend Jessica and her children, Givens
was ready to make a lifestyle change.
By the end of his time on My 600-lb Life,
Givens lost a staggering 388 pounds, an incredible feat. And, by the
looks of his social media accounts and a GoFundMe page, he is continuing
to make fantastic strides in his weightloss journey.
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Paula Jones Has Become The Queen Of Selfies
Paula “Sunshine” Jones/FacebookToday, the mom of four is loving life and becoming a certified selfie queen. She isn’t afraid to show off her hard work, especially if it helps motivate other morbidly obese individuals. In a social media post, Jones said, “[obesity] is so senseless since it is preventable. It just isn’t easy.”
Chay Guillory Is Finally Living In Her Own Skin
Chay Guillory had arguably one of the most intense transformations of anyone who has appeared on My 600-lb Life
and for more than one reason. Starting at over 600 pounds, Guillory was
determined to lose the extra weight and keep it off. But, ironically,
losing over 500 pounds wasn’t her most dramatic lifestyle change.
During
her follow-up episode, Guillory revealed that she’s transgender and has
been living life as a woman! In 2020, she married her boyfriend Patrick
and is trying her hardest to get to her goal weight of 180 pounds so
that she can qualify for gender confirmation surgery. Congrats!
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Ashley Dunn Bratcher Is The Mother And Wife Her Family Deserves
Ashley Dunn Bratcher weighed in at 725 pounds during her time on My 600-lb Life.
When viewers first met the mom of one, they saw someone who needed her
son to help with simple chores around the house because of her limited
mobility. Now, people see her as a happy mother who couldn’t be more
thrilled that she took the plunge to better her life.
Today,
Bratcher can care for her son like she’s always wanted to. And, unlike a
lot of TLC alumni, Bratcher’s husband couldn’t be more supportive or
proud of his wife. According to Bratcher’s Facebook, the two celebrated
their tenth anniversary in 2019!
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David Bolton Is Engaged To His Longtime Girlfriend
David Bolton weighed in at 747 pounds during his time on My 600-lb Life.
Unfortunately, for Bolton, he was so out of shape at the peak of his
weight that he was unable to do a lot of things for himself, including
holding a job.
But he decided to turn it all around. He dropped a
staggering 420 pounds by the end of his time on the show. Today, he is
continuing to improve his health, slimming down even more, according to a
family member. Bolton also proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Carrie!
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Laura Perez Enrolled In Beauty School
When Laura Perez was on My 600-lb Life, her peak
weight was 594 pounds. She was so obese in adulthood that she stopped
being able to care for herself, needed an oxygen tank, was
wheelchair-bound, and required assistance from her then-husband Joey for
everyday tasks. According to Dr. Nowzaradan, Perez was in one of the
worst shapes she has ever seen.
Since the end of the show, Perez
is down to 182 pounds. But with every milestone she conquered, more
strain was placed on her relationship. Thankfully, Perez knows her
worth, and decided independence, and following her beauty school dreams
were more important than someone who wasn’t willing to support her
journey.
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Bettie Jo Elmore Welcomed A Baby Boy
When viewers first met Bettie Jo Elmore, she weighed 654
pounds. It was apparent she was vastly out of shape and needed to commit
to a life-changing weight-loss journey. With a whole lot of mental
strength and perseverance, Elmore was able to shed the weight, but not
without obstacles.
During her journey, she found out she had a
mass growing at the base of her spine. Elmore could have undergone
surgery, but she was pregnant, and the operation could harm the baby.
So, she decided to face the consequences of not undergoing surgery.
Thankfully, both mommy and baby are healthy and well! And Elmore was
able to continue her weight-loss journey.
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Melissa Morris Was Finally Able To Have Children
Amazingly, after her time on the show and getting rid of a few hundred pounds of extra baggage, Morris became a mom! On May 1, 2010, Morris gave birth to her daughter, Allona. Since then, she has had two more children!
Nikki Webster Went Pants Shopping For The First Time In Ten Years
It was hard not to smile along with Nikki Webster during her segment of My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? Since
being on the lifechanging show and having an intervention with the
infamous Dr. Nowzaradan, Webster has dropped 450 pounds, a huge
accomplishment!
Now, she’s nothing less than ecstatic about life.
For the first time in ten years, the newly transformed woman went pants
shopping, something she never thought was going to be possible. Even
better, Webster tied the knot with the love of her life back in 2017. In
a social media post, Webster wrote, “I’ve been able to experience a
happiness I never thought possible.”
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Joe Wexler Finally Got His Fairytale Ending
Weighing in at 800 pounds during the third season of My 600-lb Life
was Joe Wexler. It took some time, but with the help of Dr. Nowzaradan,
exercise, diet, and a whole lot of mental strength, Wexler was able to
drop 500 pounds — an amazing milestone if there ever was one.
Now, he’s living a fairytale with the woman of his dreams. In My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now? Wexler
revealed he met someone, a lady named Sarah, who just so happened to
have a daughter. Things became serious, and the two married in 2016!
Pretty much, Wexler got a family and a fairytale to highlight his
journey.
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Zsalynn Whitworth Is Now A Confident Woman
From there, it was all uphill. Whitworth has a newfound confidence, most likely due to the promise she made to herself to be more active and to put herself out there. Now, if you look at Whitworth’s social media accounts, you can see her with what looks like a new beau.
Brittani Fulfer Is GoingTo Concerts And Having Adventures
Since her episode of My 600-lb Life, Brittani
Fulfer has dropped more than half her peak weight of 605 pounds. If
you’re familiar with the TLC alum’s story, then you know that Fulfer has
battled with mental health issues, namely depression.
But after
dropping the weight, going on adventures, and even seeing her favorite
band in concert, Third Eye Blind, it’s safe to say Fulfer is living her
life to the absolute fullest. And with the addition of a baby boy to her
small family, her mental health is getting better every day.
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Justin McSwain Is Getting Inked And Traveling The Country
At his peak weight, Justin McSwain was boasting a
688-pound body. McSwain is known for being one of the most agreeable
patients on My 600-lb Life, so it’s not surprising that he was
able to shed the extra pounds rapidly. He literally dropped half of his
body weight by the end of his episode!
Today, McSwain works as a
graphic designer and continues to shed weight and live a healthy
lifestyle. He’s also enjoyed his newfound health and freedom by taking
the time to travel, exploring places like New Orleans. He’s also been
getting tattoos, including with his father and other TLC alumni.
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Tiffany Barker Is Crushing Personal Milestones
During her time on My 600-lb Life, Tiffany Barker
went from having to rely on her boyfriend to crushing personal
milestones. Starting at 673 pounds, Barker had a difficult time
beginning her weight-loss journey. But she prevailed and was able to
lose 250 pounds by the end of her time on the show.
Today, she is
killing it. Barker continues to exercise and diet, so she never gets
back to that dark place. Also, she hit overtime at work, leading to her
boss to send her home! That’s something she never thought she would
physically be able to accomplish.
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Destinee Lashaee Is Flaunting Everything She Worked For
Destinee Lashaee has had quite the journey. After being
distinguished as a male at birth, Lashaee went through her adolescence,
confused while growing up in the foster care system. Then, when she came
out as transgender, she felt even more isolated, ultimately turning to
food as a coping mechanism.
Her depression, weight, and overall mental health changed after her time on My 600-lb Life.
Starting at 669 pounds, Lashaee dropped 229 pounds by the end of her
episode. And that’s not including the weight she’s lost since! Now,
Lashaee is a confident woman who isn’t afraid to flaunt her new body on
social media.
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Nicole Lewis Landed A Job She Really Wanted
As a result, Lewis shed 326 pounds by the end of her episode. Unfortunately, she also had a few setbacks, including losing her home in Texas, resulting in her return to junk foods. But she didn’t let the slip-up dictate her life. Lewis is very committed to her journey. She even landed a job she was pinning over!
After A Lot Of Grief, June McCamey Finally Found Happiness
After a lifetime of heartache, June McCamey finally took
the time to better her life and make a positive change. As a result of
grief over losing her son, McCamey overate to the point of weighing 590
pounds. Then, in her follow-up episode, the mom revealed that she had
recently lost her other son.
But she wasn’t going to be swallowed
up by her grief again; she was determined to remain healthy in memory
of her boys. Today, McCamey is confident in showing off her body. She
even got married to the woman of her dreams in 2019. We’re so happy she
found happiness!
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Christina Phillips Broke A Record For Her Weightloss
When Christina Phillips joined My 600-Pound Life,
she weighed in at 708 pounds. Even Dr. Nowzaradan was surprised to
discover that the 23-year-old was consuming 7,000 calories per day.
She wowed the doctor once again when she appeared on Where Are They Now?
having lost 538 pounds, more than anyone in the history of the show up
to that point. Now 172 pounds and feeling incredible, Christina is proud
to be living proof that it’s never too late. She’s happily an aunt to
three children and has completed her first 5k!
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Marla McCants Proved She McCan!
Marla McCants was one of the heaviest contestants on My 600-Pound Life,
weighing in at nearly 800 pounds. Having been traumatized by a violent
ex-boyfriend who was on the run, Marla turned to emotional eating.
Today, she’s using her experience in her works as a motivational speaker
and philanthropist.
After obtaining gastric bypass surgery while
on the show, she lost 266 pounds. Though she completed the show at 534
pounds, it’s clear that her journey had just begun. She hasn’t revealed
her weight today, but it’s evident by her pictures and lifestyle that
she’s reached a healthy weight and found joy.
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Donald Shelton Is Still Thriving, Even With A Syndrome
Donald Shelton won the hearts of viewers as he admitted
that he would be helpless without his parents. Weighing in at 678
pounds, Donald could hardly walk. After he received gastric bypass
surgery, Donald was able to drop 300 pounds. But his difficulties didn’t
end there.
After having a fall, Donald was hospitalized and fell
into a coma. Doctors discovered that Donald had Guillain-Barre syndrome,
which led to him no longer being able to walk. The emotional anguish
led to Donald’s weight fluctuating, but he’s since refocused and has
remained well below his peak weight.
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Chuck Turner Lost Nearly 2/3 Of His Body Weight!
When Chuck Turner joined the season 2 cast, he weighed in
at nearly 700 pounds! His wife had to care for not only their adopted
son, but also Chuck. After she admitted that she felt like a servant,
Chuck knew it was time to make a change.
Chuck identified the
murder of his first wife as the tipping point in his weight gain. After
receiving the emotional and physical help he needed, Chuck was able to
drop nearly two-thirds of his body weight, bringing him down to 260
pounds!
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Olivia Cruz Is Pursuing Her Dream Of Becoming A Chef!
When Olivia Cruz appeared on My 600-Pound Life,
she weighed 578 pounds. After two unsuccessful weight loss surgeries,
Dr. Now decided that she needed gastric sleeve surgery. Sure enough, the
procedure led to her losing almost 400 pounds!
Olivia Cruz wasn’t
done, though. Stuck at the 200-pound mark, she was determined to lose
enough to get skin removal surgery. Determined as ever, Olivia managed
to achieve her goals and healed her knee in the process. Now able to
move around freely, she’s pursuing her dream of becoming a chef!
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Diana Bunch Is Done Filming After Achieving Her Goal Weight
Diana Bunch reached 620 pounds after emotional eating
became her outlet. Having been abused, Diana needed emotional and
physical support to lose weight. She additionally was diagnosed with
lymphedema, but still managed to maintain a positive outlook.
By
the end of her season, Diana had lost 265 pounds thanks to gastric
sleeve surgery. She still had 165 pounds to go to reach her target
weight. On Where Are They Now? Diana revealed she hit her goal,
weighing in at 195. It was then that she decided her airtime was over,
though she is full of gratitude for the life she has now.
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Tara Taylor Is Ready To Walk Down The Aisle!
When Tara Taylor aired on My-600 Pound Life, she weighed just over 600 pounds and had no social life. The overweight woman had trouble breathing and severe joint pain. In Where Are They Now?, Tara not only revealed she reached 278 pounds but also that she was ready to date.
After
falling for Eugene Perkins, the two decided to tie the knot. Sadly,
Tara revealed the following season that Eugene had been pursuing other
women behind her back. On the bright side, Tara has newfound confidence.
She posted on social media, “I hope you find what ur looking for Mr.
Perkins!!!”
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James Jones Fulfilled His Hope Of Inspiring Others
James Jones was the heaviest contestant in season two,
weighing in at 750 pounds. The Texan had a father and sister who passed
from obesity, but he managed to turn his emotional anguish into
motivation. After losing 53 pounds in just two weeks, James underwent
gastric bypass surgery.
James continued his weight loss journey
and received skin removal surgery. He now is down to 239 pounds,
bringing his total weight loss to 511 pounds! Though James says he’s
“Not into all the attention,” he adds that he “went on the show to
inspire people.” That’s just what he’s done.
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Angel Parrish Has A Better Relationship With Motherhood
Angel Parrish’s journey began with her weighing in at 570
pounds. She revealed on the show that her overeating stemmed from the
pain of giving her daughter up for adoption when Angel was only
14-years-old. The trauma re-emerged in the form of postpartum depression
after giving birth to her son, Andrew.
In 2016, Angel revealed on Where Are They Now?
that she was down to 230 pounds. She happily stated, “I wake up, and
it’s not to eat — it’s to get Andrew ready for school!” A more recent
photo reveals she’s lost even more weight and looks lovely.
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Susan Farmer Can Wear Jeans Again!
When Susan first joined My 600-Pound Life, she
tipped the scales at 607 pounds. After undergoing gastric bypass
surgery, Susan lost 267 pounds! She looked forward to her next surgery,
which would remove the lymphoma on her stomach.
Susan said, “This
whole belly just needs to go. Having it gone will be like being set free
from prison.” After hard work and help from healthcare workers, Susan
ended up at 210 pounds! She was able to put on a pair of jeans for the
first time since she was a teen!
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Pauline Potter Finally Took Her Weight Seriously
Pauline Potter was already famous for her weight before she appeared on My 600-Pound Life. She’s in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records for being the heaviest woman alive and was on an episode of Dr. Phil! Pauline struggled with denial over her weight, but eventually found the courage to face her reality.
Pauline rounded out her season with a total weight loss of 149 pounds. Once she appeared on Where Are They Now?, she was down 300 pounds and eligible for skin removal surgery. Based on her recent photos, she’s slimmed down significantly!
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Chad Dean No Longer Relies On Fast Food
Chad Dean was always a big boy, earning the nickname
“Dean Machine” in high school. After a back injury prevented Chad from
continuing his career as a chef, he started driving trucks cross-country
and ballooned up to 700 pounds. Once his weight prevented him from even
being able to drive, he knew it was time to make a change.
Chad successfully lost 260 pounds while on My 600-Pound Life.
After continued determination and two skin removal surgeries, he was
able to get down to 300 pounds. He’s back to driving trucks, this time
preparing his own meals so he doesn’t rely on fast food.
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Dottie Perkins Continues To Overcome Tragedy
Dottie Perkins’ story was one that melted the hearts of
viewers. After her son, Daniel, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, his
father left them. As Dottie fought to take care of her son on her own,
her weight climbed to 640 pounds.
Despite her emotional pain, Dottie was able to drop 149 pounds on the show. In Where Are They Now?,
Dottie revealed that Daniel passed away in 2016. Rather than reverting
to her old ways, she stayed strong and honored her late son by
continuing to get healthy. She’s now down 346 pounds, bringing her
weight to 194!
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Gideon Yeakley Is A Healthier Father
Gideon Yeakley began My 600-Pound Life at 650
pounds! Not only was his wife having to care for him, but so was their
son. Despite going through bouts of depression related to his new diet,
Gideon was able to push through and drop 221 pounds on the show!
A
year later, Gideon and his wife welcomed a baby girl! All the while,
Gideon continued to lose weight and is reportedly down to 330 pounds!
After recovering from a mysterious trip to the hospital in 2019, he was
able to attend his wife’s college graduation as she pursues a career as a
counselor.
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Teretha Hollis-Neely Keeps A Positive Attitude
Teretha Hollis-Neely weighed in at almost 800 pounds when
season four began. Having spent two years in bed, she was in desperate
need of help. In just two months, Teretha lost more than 200 pounds! By
the end of her time on the show, she was down 340 pounds, but still
needed help standing up.
When she returned for Where Are They Now?,
Dr. Now approved a lymphedema operation for Teretha’s legs. Since the
procedure, Teretha has been in physical therapy for her cellulitis.
Despite her long recovery, she’s maintained a positive attitude and is
active on social media.
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Randy Statum Is Making His Daughter Proud
Randy Statum was being told by his daughter that he was
“too fat to be a father” when he first arrived on the show. Randy had a
weight problem all of his life, but when he peaked at 640 pounds, he
knew it was time for a change.
After receiving gastric bypass
surgery and putting in the hard work, Randy dropped down to 350 pounds!
On social media, he appears even thinner than he was at the show’s
conclusion. We’re sure his daughter is thrilled.
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Lupita Samano Honors Her Late Lover With Her Health
Lupe Samano was one of the most successful participants on My 600-Pound Life.
After spending the better part of a decade in bed and weighing 700
pounds, she dropped more than 400 pounds while on the show.
Despite
her success with her weight, life took her for another loop. In January
2020, Lupe lost her boyfriend, Andrew, to kidney failure. Despite her
heartache, she’s remained determined to reach her goal weight of 180.
Lupe reported on social media that she’s down to 200 pounds!
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Brandi And Kandi Dreier Are Sisters In Health
Season five brought us twins Brandi and Kandi Dreier, two
600-pound women who suffered from an abusive childhood. After receiving
weight loss surgery, the twins were able to lose 200 pounds each. On Where Are They Now?, the twins revealed they’d lost even more weight and were ready for skin removal surgery.
Everything
changed when Brandi discovered that she was pregnant! Brandi has since
given birth to a beautiful baby girl and gotten married to a loving
husband. Based on their most recent photos, the twins have continued to
blast through milestones in their weightloss journey.
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Doug Armstrong
Doug Armstrong was up to 648 pounds when he joined the cast of My 600-Pound Life. He dropped down to 462 pounds by the time he came back for Where Are They Now? Despite his success, Doug’s wife expressed some concerns about his lack of motivation, and Doug agreed to go back to therapy.
Since
then, the season 5 star has been looking better and better on social
media. Though he doesn’t share his weight with the public, it’s clear
that Doug has improved significantly over the years.
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Henry Foots Turned His Life Around Before It Was Too Late
At the show’s completion, Henry had dropped 440 pounds, bring his weight to 275 pounds. He had finally turned his life around, and just in time. Sadly, Henry passed in 2013 for reasons unrelated to his weight. At least he was able to reach his goals before then.
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