People cope with stress in different ways. Some choose healthy activities like taking long walks or talking with friends, while others, like Ashley Bratcher from Texas, found comfort in food. After her mother abandoned her family when she was young, Ashley turned to overeating to escape emotional pain.
By age 27, she weighed 725 pounds and was unable to do even the simplest tasks, relying completely on her 5-year-old son for help. Feeling she was losing control of her life, Ashley applied to TLC’s My 600-Lb Life and began treatment with Dr. Nowzaradan. She was warned that if she didn’t change, she wouldn’t live past 30. This wake-up call pushed her to take charge.
Before being approved for gastric bypass surgery, she followed a strict calorie-restricted diet…
People cope with stress in different ways. Some choose healthy activities like taking long walks or talking with friends, while others, like Ashley Bratcher from Texas, found comfort in food. After her mother abandoned her family when she was young, Ashley turned to overeating to escape emotional pain.
By age 27, she weighed 725 pounds and was unable to do even the simplest tasks, relying completely on her 5-year-old son for help. Feeling she was losing control of her life, Ashley applied to TLC’s My 600-Lb Life and began treatment with Dr. Nowzaradan. She was warned that if she didn’t change, she wouldn’t live past 30. This wake-up call pushed her to take charge.
Before being approved for gastric bypass surgery, she followed a strict calorie-restricted diet and lost 123 pounds. The surgery was successful, and Ashley lost a total of 255 pounds, regaining her independence and confidence.
In 2018, during the Where Are They Now? follow-up episode, Ashley shared that she weighed under 300 pounds and no longer used food for comfort. She was able to do things she once couldn’t, like going shopping and taking long showers. Ashley is active on Instagram, inspiring many followers with her journey. She emphasizes that “surgery is just a tool; it does not change your mindset.”
Her husband, Jack, has been a huge support throughout her journey, and they recently celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. Ashley’s story is a powerful example of strength, determination, and transformation.
