27-year-old Ashley Bratcher of Texas, who is a wife and a mother, gained extra weight after eating unhealthy food whenever she wanted to run away from the pain she felt after her mother abandoned her and her siblings when they were still very young.
”If my mother had been paying attention I think she could’ve changed a lot of stuff that was going on. As the oldest one, I felt like I had to protect my brother and sister because they were really little. So I let it happen to me, so it wouldn’t happen to them,” she shared.
When she finally told herself enough is enough, Ashley weighted 725 pounds.
In hopes of finding a new solution to tackle her weight, she applied for the TLC’s show My 600-Lb Life and reached out one of the best weight loss surgeons there are, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, who has helped hundreds of people gain control over their eating habits and their lives.
Ashley wasn’t able to do even the simplest things. Instead, her 5-year-old son did everything for her. ”He’s my legs, he helps me with just about everything. Without him, I’d be lost,” she said back in 2016 when she entered the show.
As much she was doing that for her, she was also doing that for her son.
Before Dr. Now approved of her gastric bypass surgery, Ashley was put on a calorie-restricted weight loss program.
Losing whopping 123 pounds, her weight made many people surprise. Her surgery was a huge success. Ashley lost 255 pounds and was finally able to get control of her life. “This whole journey has been not only a physical rollercoaster, it’s been very a much an emotional rollercoaster,” she shared.
In 2018, Ashley appeared in the show My 600-Lb Life – Where are they now?
She shared with the followers that she weighted under 300 pounds and didn’t use food as comfort any longer. She became a “new” woman and was able to do all the things she couldn’t do in the past, like going shopping, and taking long showers.
Meanwhile, Ashley shares photos of herself on her Instagram account. She has a lot of fans who admire her dedication and hard work. “Surgery is just a tool. It does not change your mindset,” she says.
Ashley’s husband, Jack, with whom she recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary is her huge support.
We are so happy for Ashley. You go, girl!