From the archives: This story was last updated in August 2019.
Amber Rachdi, from Portland, Oregon, had the face of an angel, but because of her morbid obesity, she couldn’t stand on her own, let alone perform simple tasks. Fortunately, she joined the TLC’s My 600-Lb Life TV show and set out on a journey to save her own life.Rachdi had always been considered obese. As a 5-year-old, she weighed in at 160 pounds (approx. 73 kg); when she reached sweet 16, she could no longer walk unaided and had to use a wheelchair to get around.
She knew she had to change, or else she wouldn’t live to see her 30th birthday. And also, she felt she didn’t live up to her parents’ expectations.
“I see a lot of pity in my mom’s face when she looks at me and I can’t handle that,” she said.
When Rachdi joined the TLC reality series, she weighed a whopping 657 pounds (approx. 298 kg). Due to her weight, she couldn’t even do simple tasks like standing on her legs. She would have to sit down after standing for just half an hour.
Ever since she dropped out of college years ago, she had been unemployed. Unable to move around, she had been housebound for several years in Troutdale, Oregon.
She stepped out of the house only when her then-boyfriend Rowdy brought her to the supermarket to buy more food. She would navigate the supermarket aisles on a motorized scooter.
Calling herself a “nasty yucky monster,” Rachdi depended on her parents and boyfriend to cook her huge portions of meals four to five times daily to feed her stomach, which was “never full.”
She relied on eating as a way to combat her anxiety. “I have a lot of anxiety and I am at peace when I eat,” she said. “I could be stuffed sick but I would still want to eat something if it was put in front of me.”
Through the show, Rachdi underwent gastric bypass surgery to limit how much food she can eat, as well as strict dieting and therapy sessions. She managed to lose 267 pounds (approx. 121 kg).
Over the past few years, she had shed more than 400 pounds (approx. 181 kg)!
On her journey to good health, Rachdi earned the respect of thousands on social media, who helped support her on her mission.
The end result of her journey is inspiring. With a slimmer body, combined with her great instinct for style and her makeup expertise, she has totally transformed and looks nothing short of gorgeous.
Rachdi oozes self-confidence and is now able to live independently, driving and shopping by herself. She even got engaged in 2016 with another man, and they have since tied the knot.
Her determination has turned her health around just in time. She was happy to share her story to help inspire others to start their own journey back to health.
Even years after Rachdi’s story was aired on TLC, she continues to be an inspiration to others.
In a Facebook post, she offered some wise advice to individuals who are struggling with weight-related health concerns.
As one Chinese saying goes: “To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.” The first step is always the hardest, whether it’s to change your eating habits, get more exercise, quit smoking, or change some other destructive health habits. However, the end result will be well worth it.
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