'My 600-Lb Life': Then and Now Photos of the Show's Stars

Penny is still living in Maryland and raising her son. Her current weight is still a mystery. 13 of 17. Donald my 600 lb life. TLC ... Since2012,TLC’sMy600-LbLifehasdocumentedseveralshockingandinspirationalweightlossstoriesthathaveresultedinsomeamazingbeforeandafterphotos.Theunscriptedseriesfollowsparticipantsastheyundergogastricbypasssurgerytoloseweight.Butoncetheirjourneyisover,fansareleftwonderingwheretheyarenow. FrommemorablestarslikeChristinaPhillips,whoimpressivelyshrankfrom700poundstojust183,toinfamousoneslikePennySaeger,whowascriticizedonlineforbeing“lazy”fornotlosinganyweight,wecheckedintoseeifthesubjectshavemadeanypersonalandphysicalprogresssincetheirshow.Aretheyfeelinghappierandembracingalifewithsmallerportions—orhavetheystucktotheirbadhabitsandstillneedtobecleanedinakiddiepool?Althoughparticipantsontheshowexpectgastricbypasssurgerytobeamagicwandthatfixesalltheirissues,sometimesthatdoesn’thappen. “Youhavetobementallypreparedforit,becauseitisalife-changingsituation,”Season4patientChadDeansaid.“Ifyoudon’tchangeit,it’snotgoingtoworkforyou,”hesaid.“ThebiggestchangeformeistorealizethatI’mnotthatpersonanymore—I’m295poundsnow.Icanfitinachairatthedoctor’soffice,Icanfitinasmallvehicle,butinmymindIstillfeellikeIcan’t.” Dr.YounanNowzaradan,theshow’smedicalexpert,saystheweightlossprocessisasmuchamentaloneasitisaphysicalone. “Severeobesityisacomplexphysicalandpsychologicalconditionwithmanycomponents,”hepreviouslyexplained.“Notrealizinghowmuchoftheirstruggleispsychologicalandnotjustphysicalcanbethebiggestobstacleforchangewithpatients.Manyrefusetoadmittheyhaveanyemotionalcompulsionsorcompulsivepsychologicaldisordersdrivingthemtoovereat.” Overtheyears,therealityserieshasdonealottoimprovethelivesoffolkswhohavebeenburdenedbyextremeweightgain—sogetreadytouseupyourtissueboxoverthesetransformations.Scrollthroughthegallerybelowtoseephotosofwhatthestarsfromtheshowlookliketoday! 1of17TLC,Twitter ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) ChristinaPhillips Christinawas708poundswhenshefirstappearedontheshowin2014.Aftergettinggastricbypasssurgery,shedroppedto183pounds.However,inher2016WhereAreTheyNow?special,sheadmittedtostillfeelinglikeshewas700poundsandoftenwentdayswithouteatingifshegainedanyweight. “Myfearofgainingweighthascrippledme,”shesaidin2016.“ButIhavetomovepastthatfearifIwanttolivemylife.” 2of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) NicoleLewis  Beingraisedbydrug-addictedparents,Nicole’sonlycomfortgrowingupwasfood,whichledher—atjust23yearsold—totipthescalesatover700pounds.“Evenasatoddler,Irememberfoodwaswhatmademehappy,”shesaidonherepisodeoftheshow. “WhenIwaslittle,meandmymomneverreallygotalongbecauseshehadareallybadtemperandwouldexplodeonmeforthingsthatIjustdidn’tunderstand,”shepreviouslysaidaboutherchildhood.“Andwhenthathappened,Iwouldalwaysruntothegarage,becausemydadwouldbeoutthereworkingonsomething.SoIwouldjustsitwithhim,andhewouldgivemeasnack.Andthatwassafety.” Bythetimeshereachedherearlyteens,Nicoleweighedover200pounds,andwhenherparents’drugaddictionworsened,herweightincreasedrapidly.Thesedays,thingsarelookingupforNicole.She’stakingcareofhertwochildrenwithherfiancé,Charlie. 3of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) DianaBunch  Weighinginatover600pounds,Dianafacedextremelymphedema(swelling)inherlegs,aswellasopensoresandblisters.Asviewerswatchedherjourneyunfold,theycametolearnthatshewasmolestedasachildbytwoolderboys.Atthetimeofherabuse,shewasunabletoturntofoodascomfort,ashermotherinsistedonstrictdieting.Asateen,sheonlyweighed115pounds. However,whenshewentoffonherown,theaddictionspiraled.ItwassooutofcontrolthatshewasdischargedfromtheAirForce.AsDianacontinuedtoreflectonherstruggle,shecametorealizethatherchildhoodwasdefinitelyarootcause. Fortunately,Dianawasabletoturnhercircumstancearoundandnowadays,she’slivingapositive,healthylife.AfterappearingontheTLCrealityshow,Dianalost265poundsfromagastricsleevesurgerythatremoved70percentofherstomach. 4of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) JanineMueller Atthetimeofherepisode,Janinefoundherselfatherheaviestatabout629pounds.ShedecideditwastimetofinallytakeherlifeintoherownhandsandbookedaflighttoHoustontomeetwithDr.Now.Onceunderhiscare,hesuggestedthatJaninefollowastrict1200-caloriedietinordertolose100poundsbeforeshecouldqualifyforgastricbypasssurgery—butshestruggledtocontrolhereatinghabits. WhenshereturnedtoDr.Now’sofficetotrackherprogress,shefoundoutthatshehadactuallygainedweight.Hethenadmittedherintothehospitalsothatshecouldbeputonacontrolleddiet.Duringherhospitalstay,Janinelost118poundsbutshestillstruggledwithhernewdiet. Dr.Nowapprovedherforagastricballoonsurgery,andwhenherepisodeended,Janineweighed566pounds.Shehassincedroppeddownto312pounds. 5of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) TaraTaylor  FansremembermeetingTaraasa606-poundwomanwhostruggledtowalk,breath,andwhoexperiencedseverejointpain.ViewerssawamiserableTaraadmitthatshehadnosociallifebecauseofherexcessweight.She’dneverevenbeenonadate. ShewasengagedtoEugenePerkins,whomshemetontheWhereAreTheyNow?episode.HepoppedthequestioninOctober2015—butinearly2020,sherevealedhewascheatingonviaonlinedatingapps. Taraisstillcarefulabouthereatingandexercisehabits.“NowthatIhavelosttheweight,thisisawholenewworldforme,”sherevealed. 6of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) LauraPerez Shewas541poundswhenshefirstappearedontheshowin2015.Afterdropping300pounds,theshowrevisitedherforaWhereAreTheyNow?specialin2016,wheresherevealedshewastryingtolose80morepounds.Afterhertransformation,Lauraconfessedthathermarriagefeltstrainedandthatherhusbandwas“jealous”ofherweightloss. Laurahassincelostevenmoreweight,weighinginat182pounds. 7of17GettyImages ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) AmberRachdi Amberweighed660poundswhenshefirstappearedontheshowin2015,andtoday,shehaslostmorethan400pounds. “On#my600lblifeIcouldn’tclimbintomyparents’minivanwithoutastepstool,”shewroteonTwitterunderapictureofherselfclimbingatree.“Feelslikelifetimesago.” 8of17Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) CharityPierce Shewas778poundsbeforeundergoinggastricbypasssurgery,aswellassubsequentsurgeriestoremovelargemassesfromherlegsand38poundsofskin. Today,she’sdropped500pounds. 9of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) PaulaJones In2014,Paulawas533poundsandfearfulofdyingandleavingherchildrenwithoutamother.Afterundergoingsurgery,shedroppedto269poundsoveraspanofayear. Today,shecontinuestolivehernewhealthylifestyleandsharesphotosonInstagramofherselfatthegym. 10of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) JuneMcCamey BeforeJunegotgastricbypasssurgery,sheweighedalmost600poundsandatefastfoodeveryday.Afterthesurgery,shedroppedto389pounds. Today,JunestilllivesinTexasandiscontinuingherweightlossregimen. 11of17TLC,GettyImages ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) MelissaD.Morris WhenMelissafirstappearedontheshow,shewas653pounds.Aftergastricbypasssurgery,shelost500poundsandlethernewweightlosspropelhertodowhatshealwayswantedtodo—havechildren.However,afterhavingtwokids,sherealizedhowharditwastostayfitwhileraisingchildren. “Ididn’trealizehowharditwasgoingtobewhenyouhavekidsandhavefoodforthemaroundyoualldaylong,”shesaidduringherWhereAreTheyNow?specialthatairedin2016.“It’shardtosticktoadiet.” TodayshelivesinTexaswhereshe’sabusymom. 12of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) PennySaeger Perhapsoneofthemostcontroversialpeoplefeaturedontheshow,Pennybecameinfamousforbeingtheonlypersonontheshowtonotsuccessfullyloseweightaftersurgery.Herdoctor,Dr.Nowzaradan,accusedherofbeing“delusional”forrefusingtofollowherstrictdietorcurbherportioncontrol.WhentheshowvisitedheragainfortheWhereAreTheyNow?special,Pennyadmittedthat“notmuchhaschanged,”butthatshelost35pounds. PennyisstilllivinginMarylandandraisingherson.Hercurrentweightisstillamystery. 13of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) DonaldShelton Duringhis2012episodewhichdocumentedhisweightlossjourneyforfouryears,Donaldwas675poundsandslimmeddownto295poundsaftersurgery.However,halfwayintohisweightlossjourney,hewasdiagnosedwithGuillain-Barrediseasewhichmadehimtooweaktowalk.Heeventuallygainedback200pounds,butafterbreakinghiswheelchair,hedecidedtomakeanewefforttoloseweightandkeepitoff. Today,Donaldisstillboundtohischair,buthasmadeprogressonhisweightloss. 14of17TLC,Facebook ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) ZsalynnWhitworth In2014,Zsalynnweighedwellover600poundsandwassodesperatetoearnmoneyforgastricbypasssurgerythatshestartedmodelingfor“fatfetish”websites.Aftersuccessfullygettingthesurgeryanddropping300pounds,sheconfessedduringher2015WhereAreTheyNow?specialthatsheandherhusbandgotadivorce. Today,shehasdroppedevenmoreweightafterhaving52poundsofexcessskinremovedfromherbody. 15of17TLC,Twitter ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) BrittaniFulfer Brittaniwas605poundswhensheappearedontheshowin2016andwasdesperatetoloseweightsothatshecouldhaveasexlifewithherhusbandagain.“Idon’twalkaroundnakedbecauseIamafraidthathewillbeabsolutelydisgustedifheseesmeandthathewillneverlookatmethesamewayagain,”shesaidontheshow. Afterdroppingmorethan200poundsviagastricbypasssurgery,Brittaniisnowhappilyenjoyinglifewithherhusband. 16of17TLC ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) ChuckTurner Inhis2014episode,hewas693poundsandlost433poundsaftergastricbypasssurgery.Hisnewweightlossmadehimmorephysicallyabletodotheworkneededtorunhistowtruckbusiness.In2015,herevealedthathewaslookingforlove—thoughitdoesn’tseemhehasfoundTheOneyet. 17of17TLC ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) ClicktoshareonTwitter(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonFacebook(Opensinnewwindow)ClicktoshareonPinterest(Opensinnewwindow) Tags: My600-lbLifewherearetheynow Picture KaleyCuocoLooksSo~Fly~!SeeHerHottestBikiniandSwimsuitPhotos ~Hero~inaBikini!SeeHaydenPanettiere’sHottestSwimsuitMoments CarmenElectra'sSexiestBikiniLooksAsSheTurns50:SmolderingPics BathingSuitBabe!SeePhotosofBellaThorne'sBestBikiniMoments BellaThorne*Kindof*BaresItAllinRedDress:SeePhotos Exclusives Here'sWhereGigiHadidandZaynMalikStandAfterTheir2021Split TheUltimatum’sAlexisandHunterAre‘SoExcited’AboutWeddingPlanning TheUltimatum’sMadlynandColbyAre‘Loving’MarriedLifePost-Show ‘Bachelor’CatherineLoweSaysSheandSeanAreOpentoAdoptionForBabyNo.4 HowKourtneyFeelsAboutScottDatingNewGirlfriendRebeccaDonaldson NikkiBella’s1RuleforHerBachelorettePartyAmidArtemWeddingPlans Inside'90DayFiance'StarJessCaroline's$4,000CosmeticMakeover KeanuReevesReadytoProposetoAlexandraGrant:She's'TheOne' InsideAshleyIaconettiandJaredHaibon'sNurseryforBabyDawson Account MyAccount SignOut