When Amber Rachdi of Troutdale, Oregon was 23-years-old she weighed 657 pounds in 2015. She was only able to get around on a motorized scooter and was unable to perform simple tasks like bathing herself. This forced her to have to move back in with her parents.
In an effort to reclaim her life Rachdi, who appeared on TLC’s reality TV show My 600-lb Life, lost more than 400 pounds by changing her eating habits, engaging in physical activity, and having gastric bypass surgery.
Not only does Rachdi look like a completely different person but she is living a more fulfilling and active life.
She now has more than 66,000 followers on Instagram who look to Rachdi as an inspiration to make healthy changes in their own lives.
“It breaks my heart how many folks are coming to me with weight-related health concerns and stories of their struggles,” she wrote on Facebook.
“I resonate so deeply with the fears and feelings of shame people carry to me. But, I am not a doctor or a nutritionist or a health educator. My path isn’t made to be replicated or emulated. I can’t offer real advice about diet or exercise beyond this:
Talk to your doctor. Talk to a nutritionist. Measure and track what you eat HONESTLY for at least a week beforehand. Find an accountability buddy. Reach out. You deserve both personal and professional allies!
“I can’t provide a meal plan or diet or be your support and for this I feel like I am failing people. I don’t know your needs or situations and I would be horribly negligent if I tried to tell anyone what to do with their bodies or health. Please stop asking. I simply don’t have the necessary qualifications. I wish you luck in becoming you best selves! I’m cheering for you!”
Rachdi explains to her followers that surgery isn’t a magical fix for losing weight. It takes lifestyle changes that are a little easier to make because of the surgery.
“I think mostly what it [gastric bypass] does is buy an overweight person time to learn new habits, get into therapy, and learn to make better choices on their own,” Amber wrote on Facebook. “Tons of folks need revision if they don’t focus their energy on learning new skills while the surgery is super restrictive.”
Many of Rachdi’s fans say that she could even be a model with her new look. You can see photos of her drastic transformation here.
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